Forge of War
by Tremor3258
Chapter 1: Scions of Promises Past
**************
War was a constant on Cybertron. For the last nine million years, the planet had known no peace. Autobot and Decepticon, ideological lines drawn for the future of the species. Both sides now hunt the stars for resources, and grind their home to dust. But differences in conduct and bearing remain, and indeed, are almost desperately clung to, the only dividing line between two groups locked in long and futile stalemate. Death after death has not changed the status quo, despite even the planet being removed from its own galaxy by the force of the conflict.
Things had begun to slow down as of late, at long last. Transformers live a long time, but even their spirits grow weary. Cybertron's return to the ranks of planets-that-orbit stars also affected those in war. The return of an energy supply one did not have to fight tooth, nail, and laser for made many feel that the war's final days had arrived. And no one wanted to be the last casualty.
However, as many things in life are, civil war had come to an unexpected conclusion on Cybertron. This change was sadly not a welcome one, as now death was raining from the skies. The "Freedom Armada" had arrived, and in such force as Cybertron had not seen for millions of years.
The Decepticons, currently rulers of the planet, were not fazed. They were a race of warriors, and there were very few who could equal them in combat. The planet they were on had been home to civilization since before a meteorite wiped out the dinosaurs. And Shockwave, leader of the Cybertronian-based Decepticons, had spent literally hundreds of thousands of years into improving the planet's defenses with every scrap of material he could get his eager hand on.
Now, Shockwave was doing what he did best, filtering a massive stream of data into a series of orderly, and most importantly logical conclusions. "Vortex, relay to sector commanders. Previous statement considering Aramda's resistance to laser fire is to be disregarded," Shockwave stated, making small adjustments to the targeting systems of the few orbital defense satellites that he had managed to put up. Vortex, interrogator for the Combaticon subgroup, had relatively weak firepower, so Shockwave had placed him on communications duty with little regret.
Onslaught, the commander of the Combaticon combiner group, stated, "Vortex, add that plans beta-15 through beta-40 should be revised to include amount of laser fire up by twenty percent." Onslaught was one of the best Decepticon military planners, and Shockwave knew he needed the old strategist's help. For one thing, the Armada had illogically blazed forward without sending reconnaissance flights, and they had not even paused despite the firepower coming from the long-range arrays on Cybertron's moons. Onslaught had agreed with Shockwave's conclusion that the bizarre actions weren't merely bravado. The Armada had started with twice the firepower of every weapon, Autobot, Decepticon, or drone, on the planet, but that didn't excuse the sheer sloppiness, as their armor didn't seem that much improved over Cybertron's alloys.
Their actions were cutting heavily into their number of light flanking units, and the mine field Shockwave had deployed would cost them more. However, their larger ships, mounted with some firepower that certainly looked the part for planetary bombardment cannons, seemed to mount thick enough armor that a good portion of them would survive to orbit.
"This doesn't make sense!" Onslaught growled, slamming the sensor control panel he had been working at with his fist. Shockwave and Vortex looked at him strangely. The purple and dark green Combaticon normally gave Shockwave a run for his money as 'most emotionless Decepticon'. Onslaught was unapologetic and blazed forward, "What sort of plans can we make that have any meaning? For that matter, how did a fleet that size suddenly appear over Cybertron? We have spies scattered through every port in a hundred light years!"
"Unknown," Shockwave stated, ignoring the fact that the question was rhetorical, "Presumably some unknown FTL technology was used. The group requested our unconditional surrender, so it would make little sense for them to have some cloaking technology and simply disregard it at a range sufficiently far from Cybertron to allow us to make initial deployments and observations."
"Like that trans-warp you've been working on?" Vortex asked, sounding slightly distracted as he relayed the activities of fifteen separate groups of Decepticons.
Shockwave paused to rub the bottom of his face plate with his hand before replying, "Possible, but hypothesis would require careful examination of the point where the fleet arrived. Ninety-six percent probability that my time would be better spent attempting to analyze enemy tactical systems." Onslaught shook his head, gathering his courage.
"I've been wondering this since getting back to Cybertron," Onslaught preambled, "Where do you get these numbers?"
Shockwave simply stared, single optic to Onslaught's visored visage. "Ninety-one percent probability you would be more content without that knowledge," he stated mechanically, before returning to his work. Vortex, considered unbalanced even among a group as loopy as the Combaticons, pointed at Shockwave while indicating through gestures he thought the leader was nuts. Onslaught nodded quickly before going back to his work of subtly refining the defense plans.
They were on their own. Shockwave's message would not reach Megatron for another Earth half-hour. Once they had a response, a near real-time FTL message could be established, but it was very likely they would not hold the tower when that time occurred. Still, Onslaught knew his troops would account for themselves well. Even if they all died, the enemy would have learned to fear the Decepticons.
*************
Ultra Magnus prowled through the warrens that made up Cybertron's lower levels. He remained in his carrier mode, as it was actually easier for his bulky truck form to get through the low tunnels than his extremely tall robot form. He moved slowly, for the Autobot freedom fighters had been forced so far underground that even Kup was hard-pressed to remember much about this level. It was all too easy to suddenly fall through a weakened section of plating, or perhaps the legendary Transorganics.
The Technobots also moved cautiously, though except for Nosecone, they were all in their robot form, feeling comfortable with heavier firepower over a bit more ease at keeping up with Ultra Magnus's stately pace.
The group was exploring these deep and unknown depths as they were the Autobots', at least the Autobots under Ultra Magnus's command, new home. Due to the scattered nature of the Autobots, Ultra Magnus's group, despite being large, had received little support from Earth, due to their busy nature and operating far from any space-bridge or open area that the Autobots could attempt to transfer supplies to them with.
The Technobots were an addition by Optimus Prime to help make up for several of Magnus's number being sent to Earth as part of an attempt to destroy the Decepticon's chain of supply. Unfortunately, the Technobots weren't quite integrated with the unit yet, and this little excursion was as much a chance for Magnus to become familiar with their nuances as the tunnel system.
Not that this was merely a joyride. Magnus wasn't the type to go for some fresh air when he needed to think. Hot Rod and Springer had gotten some echoes on their initial sweep that indicated the possibility of a large cavern. The Autobots needed the space desperately, as there spare part bank was running low, and their current quarters were too cramped to safely use their small mobile manufacturing rigs. "Not to mention it would be nice not to stoop every now and then," Magnus chuckled to himself.
Magnus was shaken from his musings as energy fire passed in front of his cab, quickly slamming on the brakes. "I'm s-sorry sir," Strafe said nervously, holding his gun out limply. "I thought I heard a noise," he finished lamely.
It was a few moments before Magnus felt he had enough control to speak. "It's all right, soldier. We're all nervous down here. Just... put that away for a while, all right?" Ultra Magnus said, inching back away from Strafe's immediate line-of-sight.
"Right sir," Strafe said shamefacedly. As he started to store the gun on his body, he suddenly turned and pivoted to face the corridor down which they had came. Afterburner and Scattershot, now familiar with their teammate, immediately dropped to the tunnel's deck as fire shot over their heads.
Afterburner yelled frantically while he cowered, "By all that's good in the universe, put the damn SAFETY on, you slag-sucker, before I do it permanently!" Strafe fumbled with the gun for a moment, the click of the safety echoing through the tunnels, before the soft sound of footsteps was heard from behind them.
"Knew I heard something!" Strafe said triumphantly, before being shushed by the other five Autobots.
"You nearly hit something too," said Springer irritably as he walked into view. "What's his job again, anyway? I mean, besides Autobot slag-pile maker?" he snapped at Scattershot.
Scattershot winced and murmured, "Well, um, sniper." Springer stared at Scattershot in amazement, and the Technobot commander said defensively, "He's really quite good as long as he has a specific target."
Springer snapped his fingers in sudden remembrance, "Speaking of targets, Magnus, we've picked up some weird communication fragments since you left. It looks like Shockwave's mobilizing everyone with a gun and a mean disposition."
"All right. See if you can get a tightbeam transmission to Elita-1's group," Magnus ordered. "They're close enough to Shockwave's tower to have a clear picture. I'll be back shortly."
Afterburner asked angrily, "We've got the 'cons busy topside, planning Primus knows what, and you want to sight-see instead of plan with the other Autobots? Did you have a bad breakup recently or something?"
Magnus sighed with long-withheld irritation as Springer contented himself with shaking his head sadly, "If you must know... my turning radius is too large for this corridor, and I don't quite have the clearance I need to transform."
Afterburner coughed slightly and nervously chuckled, "Oh." he said simply.
"Technobots, fall in!" Scattershot commanded, hopefully before his trooper could get them into more trouble. Ultra Magnus and his escort roared off down long-hidden paths. Springer watched for a moment before switching to his ground mode and racing back towards the Autobot encampment.
****************
Far away from Ultra Magnus's fighters, and the minds of Deception warlords, the female Autobots were also studying the situation. "Well, looks like I win the pool!" Moonracer whispered happily, "I said less than one thousand vorns after Megatron came back, old Shockers would complete lose it! Pay up, girls!" The femmes were currently huddled only a layer under the surface, looking up through an access vent as sentinels streamed away from the tower to destinations unknown.
Firestar arced an optical ridge at the younger femme. "Here we are, smack in the middle of Shockwave's defense nets, watching them unravel around us... and you want to talk about the betting pool."
Moonracer shrugged, "You're just mad you lost. Besides, what other reason is there for Shockwave to send most of the Sentinels away from the tower?" The group of five Autobots, among the very last built along the female line in the Golden Age, shrugged at that, with one exception.
"Well.. we don't know what came through the last space bridge... Maybe Megatron dropped another gestalt team into the middle of the compound," said Arcee, looking a bit worried.
"Oh please... Elita, you'd think someone based on your designs would have some tactical grasp!" Moonracer said irritably. "You think Megatron would risk losing more troops with Optimus kicking butt?"
Arcee looked offended, but the other femme merely grinned. Moonracer had picked up on their similar paint jobs, and immediately drawn the conclusion that they were from the same blueprints at the least, if not a Spark Alpha Trion had taken from data cross-referenced from Elita and Optimus when he visited the female Autobots almost a decade and a half ago.
"Enough, people!" Elita whispered harshly, "Remember, this IS Shockwave's citadel. We've had it easy for a few vorns with Shockwave distributing things, but one wrong step in here, and don't expect Megatron to go and call up some help to get us out again," Elita snapped, then her eyes softened. "Sorry, that's harsh. But be careful in here, or be slagged!" Elita turned to each of the femmes in turn, waiting for them to nod in solemn agreement before moving on to the next. Elita paused, looking up for a moment at the continued exodus, before declaring. "Arcee. You stay here... Anything else odd happens, you're our cover fire."
Arcee's optics flashed quickly, and irritably, but after glancing at Elita's expression, she bowed her head and stayed put while the others ran a quick scan and then cut a hole in the side of the tunnel, into a disused basement.. All hilarity and joking was gone, as the warrior Autobots were now in their traditional element. Delivering a minor, yet potent, sting to Decepticon warlords. Arcee was left alone, as the noises of the other femmes disappeared, masked by the most sophisticated stealth systems Alpha Trion could design. Arcee sighed, rifle in guard position, as she leaned against the tunnel wall.
Several cycles passed quietly, before the ground suddenly shook around her. Arcee, caught by surprise, slip down the wall, catching herself at the last moment. A few moments later, the tunnel shook again. Worried, Arcee switched to car mode, and swerved as far back and forth as she could in either direction along the curved walls, using the traction to deal with the quakes, before she got under the grating, at which point she drove as far up one wall she could, transforming and kicking off as well to reach the grating. She was too low, slamming into the side of the cut out region before her scrambling fingers found purchase. Annoyed, Arcee pulled herself to the surface.
"I really hope this is nothing," Arcee whispered, before looking around cautiously. She had never seen Shockwave's citadel from above ground at this short range before. Suddenly, the ground nearly gave before her, as a massive sphere was shot from several stories up the tower. "Orbital mines? Are they running a drill?" Arcee's eyes widened, "This place is target number 1!" Arcee flipped open her communicator, but a harsh squeal rang out. The communicator shifted through its available frequency range to no avail, before shutting off.
Arcee's expression faded to horror, "That wasn't something transmitting, that's jamming! Shockwave wouldn't cut himself off-" Arcee's optics widened even as a visor slipped over her eyes. Scanning the stars, the visor cut the scanner's information load down to a reasonable level. "Battle cruisers?" she asked out loud, and covered her mouth, realizing her location next to danger. The ear-splitting roar of another mine being launched reminded her that her main worry of detection was her paint job.
Still, in an emergency, she could run away, the femmes would find it more difficult. "No way Shockwave could hold off that fleet! There aren't that many Decepticons anymore! There's got to be some way to warn the girls and get them out of there..." Arcee thought, then shrugged, pulling out her pistol and taking aim at the citadel. "No time for anything fancy... let's hope this sets off every alarm in the place!" Arcee's finger moved to squeeze the trigger, but instead, she found herself being lifted through the air in a wave of heat and pressure, until all suddenly became darkness.
************
Onslaught nearly fell over when an explosion rang out by the tower base. Before he could demand answers, Vortex responded automatically, "Mechanical failure... one of the magnetic guide rails on the last orbital mine cut off, and it slammed into the surface four hundred meters from here. Luckily the warhead didn't activate, or we wouldn't be here."
"Blast!" Onslaught said with feeling, looking at a database entry. Something was... wrong about that pattern.
"Exactly," said Vortex cheerfully, chuckling at the pained look on Onslaught's face before going back to work.
"Laughter is not recommended," stated Shockwave, "That hole in the defense scheme moves up our evacuation time... We will have no chance to activate the space bridge now."
Onslaught said, "I agree completely. We may want to advance it a bit further than that, Commander," he said glumly. "I have rerun the numbers again, accounting for recent behavior and information from the database. The Decepticons have not been involved in full fleet combat since the Iacon Debacle."
Shockwave nodded at the bitter tone. The remaining Decepticon fleet, twice the size of the Autobots', had moved in to obliterate the final stronghold, but the Autobots had somehow gotten preemptive intelligence on the assault. Onslaught, leading the ground force, had been ambushed, captured, and put into a personality prison with the rest of the Combaticons. The ground troops, still not organized for the assault, and now leaderless, were scattered. The fleet moved to cover, and now out of position as well, the Autobot fleet engaged. Coordinated and determined, their scarifice ensured no more 'single battles deciding the war'. By the end of the cycle, Cybertron no longer had more of a fleet besides scattered transports.
"Yes, Decepticons are trained for single combat, but they are also trained in ways to break up enemy divisions into smaller groups," Shockwave stated, "The fleet's aggregate strength will be of low concern once they are through the point-defense systems and into our engagement range."
"Shockwave, you miss the point," Onslaught said, irritated, "That fleet doesn't behave like a Decepticon or Autobot fleet would! That fleet barrels forward, using its screening elements as shields. Decepticons would have concentrated on removing the opposition before moving into more of it, and the Autobot's protective instincts would have ensured far deeper cover fire from their main ships! Instead, they conserve their energy, and the only defense against our missiles comes from the light units we shatter!"
Shockwave nodded again, "Agreed. Fleet does not move within three standard deviations of standard approach tactics for either side. I currently believe there is an eighty-seven percent chance Decepticon sigils were copied in an attempt to intimidate us."
Onslaught clenched a fist at that. Mere pretenders to the name was aggravating. Shockwave's refusal to simply be quiet and let Onslaught explain more so. But, Shockwave
could easily destroy him in combat, and Onslaught managed to bring his temper under control.
"Quite possibly sir," he said, albeit a little stiffly for agreeing to an officer who was technically in command. "However, these people have none of our sensibility towards waste. While they're not in effective energy range to fire through the atmosphere yet, they have been using an enormous supply of missiles. I believed they were dummies, forcing us to waste our fire against them. Upon reconsideration and review of our data, rather than our suppositions, into account, I believe they have been using warheads this whole time."
Shockwave thought for a moment, and countered, "Solar panels on moons are at full efficiency, and capacitors are at fifty-three percent charge. One hundred percent chance we will be able to keep up full anti-missile fire until Armada passes lunar orbital radius if they continue current tactics. Seventy-eight percent chance we can keep up full rate of assault against Armada ships until same point. Forty-five percent chance of retaining full anti-missile capabilities until Armada hits lunar orbit if Armada switches tactics to engaging lunar batteries only."
Onslaught nodded in agreement, "I know. I gave you most of those numbers. But, there is, naturally, a chance that missiles can slip through the defense grids, correct?" Shockwave nodded, body posture conveying irritation. Onslaught was unfazed, "The Armada seems to be willing to risk playing those odds, despite heavier and heavier effective fire from our defenses. One heavy proton-energon warhead, and they could destroy the greater portion of the citadel's communication systems. They may, quite simply, be stupid enough to concentrate against the citadel."
Shockwave's eye flashed, but he didn't respond for several seconds, before turning towards the other present Combaticon. "Signal all troops. Activate the land-line relay stations, and switch primary tactical authority to auxiliary command post. Give the evacuation code to all but primary command staff, and order them to initiate backup plan Theta-8."
Vortex nodded, going to work. Onslaught nodded as well, pleased. Shockwave had agreed to his plans, and perhaps more of a willingness to accept him as co-command. Megatron had wanted to punish the Combaticons for being frequently insubordinate and tending to do their own thing. As with many things since reawakening, Megatron had forgotten that he who holds Cybertron, holds the future of their race.
**************
"It's too quiet in here," Chromia noted. "Something's definitely up." The five had continued upward, and had yet to encounter more resistance than a few easily-fooled camera. "We're getting into the residential sections, and Shockwave's tripled the citadel guard since our little party here. Maybe it really is too good to be true. Elita, it might be a good idea to go back and wait for word from the south about that message."
"You mean wait for Optimus?" Elita said cooly. Chromia hesitated, and Elita asked, voice sharper, "Just hang back, and see if the mighty Autobot army and the valiant Optimus Prime will save us all from the Decepticons?" Elita scoffed, "Well, in case you forgot, we're part of that army as well. Forget the energon! If Shockwave is moving for a push somewhere else, then this is the perfect time to make sure they can't come back."
Firestar said, horrified, "You mean the space bridge? You mean head up to the command levels, knock on the door, let ourselves in, and try and take out the space bridge?" she hissed. Elita nodded confidently.
"Listen... you know how Optimus stopped by to create all those new troops to help us?" Elita asked angrily. Firestar nodded. Of course she knew. Arcee didn't just appear out of a dream. Elita continued, "You know why he was willing to make all those new troops for Cybertron?" Firestar opened her mouth, but Elita cut her off, "Because he practically thinks he's from Earth now. His big trip here to help out, knock out a few 'Cons, keep the fight alive? Not true." Elita said coldly, "The only reason he came back was to retrieve the Matrix of Leadership, since he didn't even think it was safe here any more. He wrote us off. Arcee is a going-away present." she said.
Firestar, shocked at the show of bittereness, moved her arm to try and grip Elita in a comforting manner, but Elita slapped it away. "Oh, you can dress it up in symbolism, or claim it's not true... but he's forgotten the main objective of the Autobots, and I doubt even the Matrix could guide him back to it. Now, we can either go back to base, scavenge for energon now and then, and wait for word on high like Magnus and be a good little drone-soldier, or we can show Shockwave that the Autobots refuse to be intimidated! Whose with me?" she demanded.
Moonracer and Chromia, eager to slag some Decepticons, cheered. Hesitantly, after a moment, Firestar joined in. Satisfied, Elita continued her way through the fortress.
*You're wrong, Elita* thought the femme, *You may have forgotten, but Optimus hasn't. We took up arms to stop the Decepticon's from terrorizing innocents, and even in the dark days towards the Ark, he never let that burden slip. If our objective was to destroy evil rather than protect against it, Optimus could have drained Earth dry and scoured this planet clean. It's tough, but no one said being a hero was easy.* Firestar smiled, relieved at still having strength in her convictions. *When we're done with this mission, somehow, I'll remind you of that.* she decided, running to catch up with the others.
************
Shockwave checked the time. Three Earth minutes until Megatron could, in the best case, respond and a space bridge be opened. They had cut it close, but the Armada was a minute from breaching lunar orbit. As Onslaught had predicted, missile after missile had continued to rain out, with warhead impacts gradually getting closer and closer. Once they got past the moons, point defense effectiveness would drop. The orbital mines had to be preserved to attack the ships when they tried for energy range, rather than be wasted against missiles.
"Sir, we have a registered security breach in the tower!" Vortex shouted, relaying a message from one of the few remaining Sentinels. Vortex paused, wincing slightly from memory of Megatron's reaction to bad news, "Transmission ceased, sir."
"That decides it," Shockwave ordered, "Final evacuation of the tower, now! All units, retreat to auxiliary posts! All defenses to local or automated control!" Vortex and Onslaught tapped a last few commands in, programs long in place for this expected answer. Vortex went about it a bit happier. He still wasn't use to Shockwave's tendency to not shoot the messenger, and every time he walked away from talking about some minor delay with limbs and rotors intact was a happy one.
Onslaught stated, "Commanders report ready. All systems switched from citadel command. Expected loss of effectiveness.. about twenty percent, judging from simulation drills."
Shockwave nodded, "Good. Vortex, Onslaught, go to the tertiary command post, ensure our troops are ready and that the most critical portions of our infrastructure have been hidden. I will take command of the Sentinels near here and prepare a local response." The two Combaticons nodded, running out of the room.
Shockwave watched the scanners to make sure they were actually gone, before throwing a final row of switches. The citadel rumbled slightly, as the computer banks in its base were destroyed. The administrator sighed. Millions of years of records vanished in an instant. True, he had ensured there were backups scattered on and off-world, but it would take time to reassemble the records once the enemy was defeated. Last job done, Shockwave sighed as he rushed out of the room as well, transforming to his cannon-mode as he flew low over the ground, away from his home for eons.
************
Several minutes later, the door Shockwave left from was exploded down as the four Autobots blasted their way into the room. "Yes!" Elita shouted in triumph, looking over the empty room. "Moonracer, plant the charges. Chromia, see if you can tap the fuel lines to the spacebridge. Firestar, get me the data banks."
The three moved out around the room. Elita grinned. There hadn't been any trap apparent so far, but even if it sprung now, they would take Shockwave's line of support with it. Elita looked around Shockwave's domain, pausing at the situation boards. Evidently, Shockwave had thought they were far away, and was running some sort of invasion drill. As soon as Firestar encouraged the data banks to talk, they would know the details.
Then, everything went south. Firestar snapped, "Elita! There's nothing here but the operating system! The computer's wiped!"
"What?" Elita asked, "How could that be? This computer's practically tied into everything Decepticon on the planet!"
"I don't know.. there's nothing in storage! And active memory's pretty low, except for something on the communication system," Firestar reported, "Let me bring it up!" she tapped a few buttons, and the speakers crackled to life.
"Megatron to Shockwave... where is that fool?" came a voice over the speakers, before a video snapped on as well. The femmes, and Megatron, gasped at seeing each other. Megatron, to his credit, quickly recovered, "Elita-One! I demand you tell me why you are in Shockwave's tower, and what you've done to him! Rrggh! An Autobot fleet! How did Prime pull it off?" muttered Megatron to himself.
Chromia and Firestar didn't pay much attention, going about their business even quicker, evidence now this was some multi-world plot. They really didn't want to get captured again. Elita claimed, "If we knew where he was, bucket-head, we'd need to be going on a Matrix voyage!" Elita smirked inwardly at Megatron's suddenly horrified expression. It was good to see Cybertron's greatest villain looking scared.
"You're unable to go on a Matrix voyage? That means... The Matrix is no longer on Cybertron!" Megatron concluded triumphantly. The Decepticon emperor's eyes narrowed, as he thought out loud, "Of course! Prime knows he's unable to beat me even with human help, so he's finally carrying the Matrix around again!" Meagtron leaned closer to the screen, "Thank you, Elita! You female Autobots may be annoying, and Shockwave will be difficult to replace, but now crushing Prime will truly mean the end of your race's pitiful existence!" The communication suddenly clicked out.
The female Autobots stared at the screen in disbelief for a few moments, before Chromia asked in disbelief, "How did he go from figuring we killed Shockwave to figuring out where the Matrix was?"
"Even he has good days?" Moonracer said weakly.
A slow beeping, increasing gradually in tempo, was heard throughout the room. Firestar reported, "I found something else! It looks like sensor logs, and... oh slag!" Firestar cursed, turning to Elita. "Elita! Someone's dropped a proton bomb right towards us!"
"Warn them off!" Elita yelled, "If it is the Autobots..."
Chromia interrupted, "Too late for that... Any remote-controlled bomb wouldn't be launched against here. Shockwave's computers and jammers are too good!"
"Everyone out now! To the lower levels!" Elita yelled, desperately. The day had started out with hopes of victory, and now this. The female Autobots, used to quick fades from missions, dropped what they were doing and charged out. Alarms started to ring as the bomb got closer.
*Optimus.. I guess I was wrong about you* was the last thought to ever be generated by Elita-One's processor.
************
Shockwave's flight path was staggered as the, well, shockwave from the bomb caught up to him. Shockwave turned around, hovering in cannon mode to study the after-effects. The proton bomb had removed the top levels of the citadel completely. The communication arrays, command centers, and space bridge were all gone.
Shockwave hesitated for a moment. Logical he may be, but he was still a creature of emotions... and more so were those under his command. Raising the barrel to the sky, Shockwave fired a quick salvo of laser fire, saluting the throne from which he'd conquered Cybertron's surface. Done, Shockwave turned and flew on... There was a great chance of far more sacrifices before this fight was over... but all wounds would be paid in time.
End chapter 1
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Author's Notes: Don't worry Shockwave, they can always rebuild! Occasionally I get the feeling he never really ever left that place for four million years, busy pushing counters around a map. No wonder he and Onslaught get along so well.
Chapter title is a very in-joke. I promised myself to tie up loose ends if I wrote in the period between second season and the movie... and the female Autobots were loose ends. Sorry to their fans..
Another big one was the Matrix. If it wasn't there in Prime Problem, and no one found it surprising, how DID everyone know about it by the movie? Megatron, following up odd trains of thought (let's rebuild New York being the most commonly cited), figured it out and blabbed, naturally enough. Until next time!