Seek and Destroy
In Cybertron's greatest city, Cybertropolis, the Quintessons have set up their headquarters. It is here that all planetary operations are coordinated. A meeting is going on with the top ranking Quintesson officials regarding the planet's production.
"Quintesson Planetary Committee now in session," the head Quintesson declares. His name was Krem. He was the General in the Quintesson invasion force the conquered Cybertron. That successful campaign is the reason he holds this position of power.
"Production is up 3% from last stellar cycle. But the last pockets of technorganic materials are disappearing." Phoclon was the prodcution expert. He had successfully run countless planets across the galaxy.
"What course of action do you suggest?" Krem asks him.
"We must make the shift to a complete factorial planet. We will ship in raw materials from other planets. I have ten listed in my monthly report that would be suitable."
"I have something of considerable importance to report," the third Quintesson, Urlacher, says.
"Out with it," Krem commands.
"Five solar cycles ago a Maximal ship identified as the Autobot-1 arrived from an outer colony. It was about to land when the Maximal Resistance Force intercepted it. We were able to gain some information before our connection was broken."
"Send that data to my console immediately!" Krem roars. Urlacher transfers the data to Krem's computer. He sees the ship's name, the fact that there were five passengers, and the passenger's names. One of the names catches his eye, and he furiously slams the computer screen to the ground.
"From this point forward we must play our cards perfectly. For the enemy now has a wild card......."
Back at the Maximal base, Optimus and Technobot are going over battle strategies. A major operation is already under way. The Maximals are preparing to take out a Quintesson power station.
"Here is a list of power stations and their functions." Technobot presses a button and the list pops up on the main computer screen.
"I suggest we take down station 713," Technobot says. "That will shut down security forces in Cybertropolis. Then we can attack and take out their base of operations early. The sooner we end this war the better."
"We don't have the resources for the follow up assault on Cybertropolis," Optimus informs him. "I think we'll go with station 373. It powers the guardian robots in the Maximal holding areas. One group will assault the power station while another awaits to free a group of Maximals."
"Hmm. I'll inform the others," Technobot says as he walks out of the room.
Optimus looks over the plans one last time and then leaves the room to prepare for the mission.
The Maximals split into two groups. Optimus, Hip-Hop, Tri-Fire, and StealthCat are making the assault on the power station. Mauler is leading EagleClaw, Cyberlink, Elita-7, and StarStreaker to free the Maximals when the guardian robots go down.
"Hey, Tri-Fire, what do you make of Optimus' new form?" StealthCat asks.
"How do you mean?"
"He doesn't have a beast form anymore. Why would the Autobot Matrix give him a new form without a beast mode. Something is fishy about this. I don't trust him."
"Let's not jump to conclusions. Soon we'll take our new 'leader' to see the Oracle. Then, we'll know for sure."
Hip-Hop wheels around and says, "Hey, you bots better get ready, cause we're almost there." he speeds off to catch up with Optimus, who has landed some distance beyond them.
[Hip-Hop and Tri-Fire have beast modes and vehicle modes. Hip-Hop has a motorcycle like vehicle mode similar to Thrust. Tri-Fire has a tank like vehicle mode. Optimus, now having no beast mode, has an air assault and ground assault vehicle modes similar to Optimal Optimus.]
Tri-Fire and StealthCat catch up with Optimus and Hip-Hop. A few hundred clicks in front of them lie the guardian robots that protect the power station.
"OK, Cop-op," Hip-Hop says. "Let's go over this one more time. Horn head attacks the guardians creating a distraction. Then you fly over head and drop me and this fur ball inside the factory."
"That about sums it up," Optimus replies.
"So basically, I gotta do all the work!"
Optimus shakes his head. "Tri-Fire, what kind of strategy are you going to use until I get back?"
"The only way," Tri-Fire states, "to get through them is to go strait through the middle!"
Tri-Fire transforms to his vehicle mode and begins to role in the direction of the guardians. The tips of his three horns sink in and reveal three missles. He fires one at each of the three guardian robots in site. The ensuing explosion leaves a huge cloud of smoke.
"Time to move," Optimus says. He picks up Hip-Hop and StealthCat and takes off. He flies over the top of the power station.
"Make sure you plant enough charges to completely demolish this place." He drops them into the power station. Hip-Hop and StealthCat transform before they land.
"All right, junior, listen up," Hip-Hop says. "Just listen to me, and stay out of my way."
"No time to listen to your bantering, amphibian." StealthCat pushes Hip-Hop out of the way and begins to plant an explosive.
Hip-Hop grits his teeth and begins to plant some explosives.
Outside, Tri-Fire is having trouble with the guardian robots. He transforms to robot mode (the Triceratops head is located on his chest in robot mode) and fires three more missles at the robots. His attacks are having minimal damage.
"Slag, I need a new plan." He sees Optimus flying back from the power station. His comlink goes off.
"Tri-Fire, distract the other two robots. I'll fly behind and plant a charge on the third one," Optimus commands.
"You want a distraction, you got it!" Tri-Fire breaks out his twin slag canons and begins to rapidly fire at the guardian robots.
Optimus flies in and places an explosive on the back of the guardian robot's head. He jets away and sets off the explosive. The blast blows the robots head off.
Tri-Fire transforms to beast mode and charges at one of the other robots from behind. He lowers his head and rams his horns into the robots knee, ripping apart the gears. The third robot comes up behind and attempts to blast Tri-Fire, but he rolls out of the way and the downed robot is blasted instead.
Optimus flies in, draws his energon sword, and offs the final guardian robot's head. He then lands beside Tri-Fire.
"Nice moves," Tri-Fire says.
"Not to bad yourself," Optimus replies.
Suddenly they hear a running engine. They both look and see Hip-Hop and StealthCat fleeing the power station at full speed.
"It's gonna blow!" Hip-Hop cries.
"Optimus transforms to flight mode and Hip-Hop jumps on. Tri-Fire transforms to his vehicle mode and StealthCat hops on. They both take off at full speed. A few seconds later the power station explodes. It is completely destroyed.
"Optimus Major to Maximal base. Phase 1 complete. Contact the others and begin Phase 2."
"Why didn't I get stuck with an easy job?" Hip-Hop asks.
In his office, Krem has just received word of the attack on the power station and the escape of many Maximal slave workers.
"It seems the situation just got more interesting," Krem says as he looks at Optimus Major's profile. "Very interesting indeed."