Disclaimer: Hasbro et al still haven't given me a percentage shareholding of Transformer so, sadly, I still don't own them. Night-stalker, Dive-bomber blah, blah, blah are mine yadda, yadda, yadda.

This chapter sees the return of some favourite characters, as well as me having to add others in order to move the story along.

Some things within this story are not seen as 'true' Transformer history, but I've put them in as for me it explains differences between Beast Wars and G1.

Questions, queries, comments please feel free to e-mail me and please read, enjoy and review.

Now, lets get started!

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            "The Maximal Elders have agreed to give control of their forces to Obsidian and Strika, however they are to have two of their force Commanders present throughout the planning and attack stages" Night-stalker stood on the glowing dais in the centre of the darkened communications room looking up at the large holographic head of his contact within the Predacon Intelligence Agency giving his report. "Also, as we predicted the Council has used the Decepticon situation to attempt to increase its power base within Cybertron. They have attempted to have both myself and the Maximal Council killed using the Decepticons. I have been able to deal with their informant on board my ship however how much information he may have passed on to them about our operating procedures are currently unknown"

"Very well" said the head. "However, we were unprepared for such a rash move from the Council this soon. It appears we may have to deal with a certain new member quickly"

"New member?" asked Night-stalker inquisitively. Generally new members of the Predacon Council were vetted by the Intelligence Agency and the information passed around to all senior officials.

"Yes. Little is known of who this Transformer is. He seemed to appear approximately two decacycles ago and immediately joined the Council"

"What is his name?"

"Starstrike" Night-stalker checked his databank. Predacons who take up positions on the Council were normally fairly well known, even though this one had seemingly got through the standard vetting procedure, however he found that he had no knowledge of this individual.

"What do we know of him?"

"As I said, very little. As soon as he appeared he somehow got onto the Predacon Council. Since then he appears to be the driving force behind almost every decision the Council make. The problem for us is the more decisions that they make, the more difficult it becomes to actually control the Predacon population"

"Why haven't we disposed of him yet? Surely we could make it seem accidental. I can have a team ready in less than three megacycles"

"Sadly for us he appears to be ready for any such intrusions into his affairs. He has made many allies throughout the military and though they may, for the most part, be quite foolish they do have more resources than we do. But do not concern yourself, we have him under surveillance if he makes a mistake he will be dealt with. For now you are to continue with your assignment. Have you sent the request for the Maximal commanders to join you?"

"They should join us at the station"

"Excellent"

"One more thing, do we have any information on the Decepticons?"

"They are under surveillance"

"My I ask by whom?"

"The information will be sent in the data stream. This communication ends"

The holographic head disappeared as the lights of the room brightened and resumed their original intensity. Night-stalker inputted a small disc into the computer console in front of him. A few nano-klics later the disc ejected. He removed it from the console and started walking towards the exit. As he did so he inserted the disc into the small reader in his chest. As the information downloaded into his central processor he smirked. Could they seriously have sent him to watch the Decepticons? He was definitely small enough but he had a habit of talking to himself, not a good thing for an undercover operative to do. He walked out of the room and headed towards the control centre.

            When he had joined the Predacon Intelligence Agency he was guaranteed that it would lead him to power and greatness. They had even promised to rebuild his body. But now here he was, stuck on the back of a huge, hulking, gas-guzzling Decepticon with his vocaliser deactivated and feeling what could only be compared to sea sickness as this great hulking brute bounced up and down as he walked. Oh woe is me, I who should be in control of everything. Poor me, poor poor me. Poor Waspinator. He knew he should really be listening to the Decepticons around him but he really didn't want to. He didn't want this stupid assignment; he didn't want to be stuck here listening to what he was told was Galvatron, screaming at the others. So this was the vaunted Decepticon army that the Predacon history records talked about, the one that Megatron had gone on so much about. He could have done a better job of commanding them; at least he could if he had had a better body instead of this technorganic mini-fly he was now. Again he slipped into feeling sorry for himself. If it weren't for the small recording, and tracking, device that the Agency had attached to him they would never receive a report worth getting. All he had to do was sit there, how boring. He would show them, he would show everyone. He would become ruler of Cybertron and he was sure that wherever he was going attached to the back of this Decepticon would bring him great power, ooh yes, great power indeed.

            Again the Decepticons had stopped moving forwards whilst they waited for Blitzwing and Motormaster to cut down the organic growth ahead of them. Shockwave looked on impassively as Blitzwing turned to him.

"I don't think we're gonna be able to cut our way through here, its just too thick"

"Very well" replied Shockwave. He activated his communicator "Shockwave to Mixmaster" after a few moments the tinny voice of Mixmaster came over Shockwave's comm system.

"Mixmaster here, go ahead"

"Report to me at once, I have use for your expertise"

"On my way" came the reply. From behind where Shockwave and the other Decepticons stood could be heard a vehicle engine start up in the distance.

            "I still don't agree with giving any form of control to the Predacons. How can we be sure we can trust them? They're probably waiting behind that door to kill us all and try and make a deal with the Decepticons, they are their descendants" Stormchaser stormed up and down the small quarters that the Maximals had been led to by the Predacon orderly. Before him the remaining Maximal Elders and Cheetor sat on small 'stools', the three purely mechanical Elders plugged into recharging conduits.

"Would you just sit down and stop complaining. They haven't harmed us yet, what makes you so sure that they will? Anyway we need their help if we're going to have any way of getting the Decepticons off Cybertron" said one of the seated Elders.

"Humph" snorted Stormchaser. "All we need them for is getting ourselves killed, I would have thought that you of all 'bots would have agreed with me," he said pointing an accusing finger at Cheetor.

"As far as I've seen so far they haven't tried anything against us, though I would recommend caution especially when dealing with Night-stalker. He doesn't seem to have led us astray yet but I don't entirely trust him"

"Entirely trust him" retorted Stormchaser. "I don't at all trust him. He's a scheming piece of Predacon slag and we should never have accepted him as their representative"

"We didn't have much of a choice over who they recommended for their own representative on the Council" said one of the seated Elders. "We couldn't exactly have told them no now could we? We are trying to improve relations between the Predacons and ourselves. Perhaps if we work together on this mission to deal with the Decepticons then we can at last look forward to peace and cooperation between us all"

"You're a fool," snapped Stormchaser. "Remember what happened last time we started to reduce security? Megatron and his cronies stole the Golden Discs and the Darkside. Its 'bots like you that make it to easy for them and the only way they'll change my mind is if they prove they can be trusted which, as yet, they haven't done"

            "Why do we still allow them to say such things about us? They're on our ship after all" Dive-bomber turned from the monitor showing the Maximals arguing in their room to look at Night-stalker who was seated next him. They were in Night-stalkers office, all traces of Darkfires body had been removed and it seemed to Dive-bomber that it had almost never happened.

"Politics my friend" came Night-stalkers cool reply. "If we allow them to say exactly what they think of us without interruption then we know our enemy much better than we would if we stopped them"

"But its because of us that they are still alive" said Dive-bomber, he was starting to feel exasperated. He never liked politics and, to be honest, didn't really like the stuck-up nature of the Maximals. "We have to prove ourselves to them? It's disgraceful. We have nothing to prove. We aren't the ones who act high and mighty and then force an entire section of the community to live as nothing more than slaves as the Maximals strut around looking down upon us like we're pieces of dirt on the bottom of their feet" Night-stalker just smiled. He knew that if the roles between the Predacons and Maximals had been reversed that things would be similar than they were now except for one great difference, the Maximals probably wouldn't exist as a culture. He continued to smile at this little thought until he was abruptly brought back to reality by Dive-bomber's continual complaints.

"By the Pit, they're blaming us all now for that traitor Megatron" cried Dive-bomber who had now begun pacing back and forth in front of the desk. "Haven't they got over that yet?"

"Obviously not" Night-stalker calmly replied. If looks could kill Night-stalker knew he would dead now as he looked into Dive-bomber's optics, he just smiled back. A flashing light on Night-stalkers desk interrupted the tense silence that had descended upon the room. Night-stalker leant over and pressed a button on the small console in front of him and a tinny voice came out of a hidden speaker.

"We're approaching station Omega, we should be docked in approximately 5 cycles"

"Have the Maximal Commanders arrived at the station?"

"They have just docked and will meet you and the Elders in the planning room"

"Very well" answered Night-stalker and deactivated the comm. "Well, do you want to join me in interrupting their little conversation" Night-stalker asked looking over at Dive-bomber.

"Gladly"

            Onslaught watched as Buzzsaw was intercepted by Blastoff as he approached his position. He and the other Combaticons had been left on guard duty outside of the tunnel that the other Decepticons had delved into and since then nothing had really happened. As he watched Buzzsaw approach he could see that he was clearly holding something in his claws. Finally, he thought, we might actually have something to do. The most they had been doing was shooting down unmanned spy craft, not exactly a relishing challenge. Buzzsaw dropped his 'cargo' in front of Onslaught and landed allowing Ravage to climb off his back as Blastoff transformed back to robot mode. Onslaught looked down at the two Maximal Elders. One was clearly partially organic, with techno matter used throughout his body; the other seemed to be a norm. Brawl, who was stood next to Onslaught looked at the elders, then turned his attention to Buzzsaw.

"What'd you bring these back for?" he asked motioning towards the Maximals. "Why didn't you just annihilate them?"

"Please Brawl" said Blastoff as he stepped towards the smaller Transformers. "Wouldn't it seem the prudent thing to interrogate them first?" Swindle grabbed the Technorganic Elder and hoisted him into the air.

"Tell us everything we want to know, or I let Brawl here have his way with you"

"You need to ask him a question first," sighed Blastoff. "Anyway it would be much better to allow someone with at least a little interrogation experience handle this" Swindle threw the Elder to the ground as Vortex advanced menacingly towards the two Maximals.

"What do you want with us?" asked the purely technological Elder.

"Isn't it obvious?" scoffed the other Elder. "They mean to kill us"

"No, we want information. We're a bit behind the times," replied Buzzsaw.

"Then maybe we'll kill 'em," laughed Brawl.

            Night-stalker and Dive-bomber stood outside the door to the Maximal quarters. They could hear the raised voices of a heated discussion, though they couldn't make out exactly what was being said. Night-stalker smiled and pressed the panel next to the door and the door slid open.

"Don't you know how to knock?" snapped Stormchaser turning towards the two Predacons stepping into the room.

"Yes"-answered Night-stalker. He smiled at the Maximal Elder and said graciously "I just thought that you might like to know that we have arrived at our destination and that you're army Commanders are awaiting our presence on the station"

"Its about time" said Stormchaser and began to move towards the open door. He turned back to the other Elders "You coming then or are we just going to let these Predacons make all the decisions for us?" he snapped. Night-stalker raised his hand to stop Dive-bomber saying something that he shouldn't, smiled and graciously motioned for the Maximals to precede them out of the open door.

            Vortex landed and transformed back into his robot mode, dumping the technorganic Maximal on the ground.

"Now then are you going to answer my question about Maximal and Predacon force sizes or do I take you for another 'spin'?" The Maximal laid on the floor a crumpled wreck. The other Elder moved over to him, checked him briefly and turned to the Decepticons hate clearly showing in his optics.

"What by Primus is your problem?! Your old, out of date, worth only scrap, deal with it. Don't you have any feelings within your withered sparks?" The Decepticons stopped, a puzzled expression on each of their faces. Swindle looked at the Elder and broke the silence.

"What's a spark?" It was now the Elders turn to look puzzled.

"What sort of question is that?"

"One that if you don't answer I'll blow your stink'n body apart" Brawl replied.

"Well, basically its you. It's your life essence. Surely you know this"

"Don't you tell us what we know or what we don't" snapped Brawl. He turned to Onslaught "So what's a spark?"

"I don't know. Life essence indeed." Scoffed Onslaught. He looked down at the Maximal. "My 'life' is contained within my personality component not some 'spark' so why don't you stop wasting our time and tell us the truth before I let Brawl here crush the life out of you, however you believe it to be held"

"But…but" stammered the Elder. "We're all linked to the Matrix through our sparks"

"Linked to the Matrix?" laughed Swindle. "Now that's a new one. You might be you are a descendant of an Autobot but I'm definitely not 'one with the Matrix' or any of that mumbo jumbo"

"If he's got a spark I say he shows us or we rip it out of him" shouted Brawl.

"He's right he has got a spark" The Decepticons turned to look at the voice. Ravage just stared impassively up at them. The Combaticons had all forgotten that he was even there, they weren't used to such small beings. "He has a spark, as do all Maximals and Predacons," continued Ravage. "You and I however don't"

"Impossible" cried the Elder. "How could you function without one?"

"Simple" replied Ravage. "We have a personality component upon which all our actions are based. You have a spark which is a modified component introduced by the Autobot Maximal alliance after the final battle. This component allowed the recreation and restoration of the Matrix after all of its knowledge was lost after the hate plague incident. With all future Transformers linked to the Matrix it meant that their knowledge would be able to be accessed by the next generation"

"Really" said the Elder mockingly. "So how do you come to have this knowledge?"

"Simple, unlike the rest of you I am a first generation reconstruction. I am not nor ever have been a Predacon. My program was altered to repress certain memories but with a little help I was able to recover them"

"So why don't I know any of this?" asked the Elder doubtfully.

"Why should you? Elder you might be, but how old are you? I would guarantee younger than me. I'm sure it's written down on some record somewhere, some record that's been deemed to harmful for society. Nobody will read it. Nobody will question why anything happens it just does and you Elders have become too lazy you don't even bother to read your own records"

"Sounds like Predacon rhetoric to me" scoffed the Elder. Ravage leapt forward knocking the Elder to the ground.

"Perhaps your friend here would be more cooperative if he saw what will happen if he's not helpful. Brawl, you wanted to see what a spark looks like? It looks like this" Ravage pinned the Maximal to the ground and began to tear chunks of his armour to pieces.

            The lift door slid open revealing the planning room for the coming battle. Night-stalker, Dive-bomber, Cheetor and the Maximal Elders all stepped out of the lift. Night-stalker surveyed the room. Before them they could see a large table with holographic maps of the area, showing the remains of what was once Mechacity and the approximated positions of the Decepticons. Surrounding these were holographic images of Maximal and Predacon forces of all types ranging from ariel landing craft to ground based artillery howitzers. To the right of the table stood the Maximal commanders, the left the Predacon Generals. The Predacon Generals, Night-stalker knew, had both been chosen not so much for their tactical brilliance but for their loathing of the Maximals. The Predacon Council had decided that if they chose them than they would be sure that the operation would not be carried and completed with Predacon percentage loses higher than those of the Maximals. The Maximals, of course, were chosen again not because of their excellent strategic planning, though they believed they were the best no doubt, but because of their brilliant use of political power. Their armour showed their pomposity, with bright reds and silvers. That would make them really difficult to see on the battlefield, typical Maximal self-delusion thought Night-stalker. He also noted that though the Maximals held that subdivision of the races was wrong, and that choices would never be made on that account that their were no technorganics present on either side, save the few Elders. Both groups seemed to be arguing over some tactical procedure that, no doubt, neither understood completely. At the far end of the table, ignoring both groups, stood Obsidian and Strika. Night-stalker noticed Cheetor visibly shudder when he saw the two of them stood there.

            Cheetor left the lift and looked round the room. His optics first fell on the table and he felt a twinge of sorrow when he saw the holographic remains of Mechacity, the shattered remnants of the once great dome still visible. He looked at the two Predacon Generals to the left of the table. They looked sinister in appearance. Their armour coloured dark blue and purple, and their sharp angular features made them look quite foreboding. Typical Predacons, Cheetor thought. He then looked at the Maximals. They looked much more like how Cheetor expected military commanders to look. They were tall and almost regal looking, though their apparent lack of ability to discuss things amicably with the Predacons did worry Cheetor a little. They were definitely chosen by Stormchaser. He then looked to the far end of the table and he visibly shuddered, feelings of dread he had wished to forget came flooding back to him. Before him stood Obsidian and Strika, looking almost exactly as he remembered them in their Vehicon forms. The memories made him immediately realise that he had not, as yet, contacted any of his friends. He didn't even know whether they were still alive or whether they had been caught in the Decepticon attack. He looked round the room quickly and saw an unmanned computer console. Luckily for him it was near the lift, however getting to it without anyone noticing would be hard enough but then when he did the computer would no doubt have security lockouts. He wished Rattrap were here. A pain in the diode he might be but he could crack almost any computer code with ease. He watched as the rest of the group headed further into the room, as they did he slowly began edging towards the computer.

            "Well now we're here we can begin" started Stormchaser walking over to the end of the table. The Predacons and Maximals at the table stopped arguing and turned to the newcomers.

"And what makes you think we would have waited for you to arrive before beginning the plans for this operation?" scoffed one of the Predacon Generals. "After all its not as if you're going to be involved in this in any way"

"Show more respect for the Elders" snapped the Maximal Commander closest to Stormchaser, his bright blue optics glowing brightly. The Predacon merely sneered in the direction of the Maximals, then turned away and began speaking conspiratorially with his comrade. The Maximal Commander turned to Stormchaser and the other elders and saluted.

"General Lightfire at your command, and this is Air-Commander Nightflight" Nightflight bowed his head briefly. "We are almost prepared for the final assault though we are having some difficulties with the a few intricacies"

"For example?" asked Stormchaser.

"For example they want the Predacons to move in and attack first," snapped the Predacon General looking up from his own conversation. "That way we soften up the Decepticons and take the highest losses allowing you the easier task of attacking a weakened enemy and provides you with increased strength after this little problem is dealt with for the subjugation of the Predacon people" Stormchaser turned to the Predacon.

"And you are?" he asked sternly. Typical Predacon can't even allow a private discussion to occur without attempting to get involved.

"Who I am is none of your business. Suffice to say that I will not allow my troops to be deployed in such a way that mass casualties are unavoidable"

"But mass casualties are unavoidable" said Obsidian looking up from a small data pad he held. "This is war. If you expect that casualties will be low then you are very much mistaken. This will be a difficult campaign fought against one of the strongest enemies we have ever dealt with but, with a little cooperation from both sides, we should triumph"

"So you do believe that we can win this," asked Stormchaser, his voice maintaining a challenging tone whilst also, for once, not sounding rude.

"Of course. As long as our information is up to date, and the troops obey their orders" This last statement seemed to be aimed directly at the Predacon and Maximal Generals.

"And who will lead this operation" pushed Stormchaser.

"We will," replied Obsidian motioning towards Strika.

"And us?" asked Lightfire.

"As we already informed you, your assistance will not be required"

"And as we already informed you" spat the Predacon General. "We will not allow our forces to be commanded by anyone else other than a Predacon"

"That was not what we agreed," shouted Stormchaser.

"What we agreed?" mocked the General. "Maybe not what you agreed, but we agreed to nothing"

"Than this plan will fail," said Obsidian matter-of-factly. "Discuss this matter between yourselves, however when we are ready to carry out this operation we expect your complete cooperation" The Maximals and Predacons again began arguing between themselves.

Night-stalker had maintained his position back from the group whilst listening to their 'discussion'. He knew that the Predacons had agreed that Obsidian and Strika would have command and that the General was merely pushing in order to try and improve his status, not only with the group, but also later when he reported back to the Predacon Council. For a while he just listened then a thought occurred to him, where was Cheetor. He had entered the room with them yet was not with the Elders now. He quickly scanned the room and saw him stood at a console talking quietly into a receiver. Night-stalker began to silently creep unnoticed towards Cheetor; he wanted to know to whom he was talking and what he was talking about.

Swindle stood holding the Maximal Elders spark between his thumb and forefinger. It was tiny compared to the Decepticon and he was examining it with great interest.

"So this controls all their internal thought processes?" he asked. Ravage merely nodded. "Incredible technology"

"It just looks like a tiny power core," shouted Brawl.

"It is. It's a merger of the personality component and the power core. This way the spark is the fundamental piece of equipment which not only powers them but also is them, less parts means less problems" answered Ravage.

"It is some serious technology," agreed Swindle. "I wonder how much one of these is worth"

"Probably more to him than it is to you" laughed Buzzsaw motioning towards the shattered Maximal.

"I wonder what would happen if we placed one of our power cores inside a Maximal or Predacon chassis?" wondered Swindle.

"They'd probably either be forced to expand the size of there chassis, or blow up. Either way might be fun to see," answered Vortex. Whilst the Decepticons were talking the technorganic Elder had begun to come around. He looked around himself and saw the shattered remains of his comrade. He then looked up at Swindle and saw him inspecting the spark of his friend. Anger welled up inside him as he tried desperately to think of some way of avenging his friend and also find some way of escape for himself. He looked over at the entrance to the tunnel which the other Decepticons had left through, perhaps he could do something there to trap the others underground, at least for a while whilst the Maximals were able to prepare some form of attack plan.

"Hey the other ones come round," shouted Brawl. Slag, thought the Elder. So this was it then, death by Decepticon. And Stormchaser thought the Predacons were the problem. He felt himself being hoisted into the air and found himself face to face with Vortex.

"So are going to answer my question or not?"

"What question was that?" he knew he had little or no chance of survival, but he really didn't want his last few cycles to be with Vortex in another one of his Ariel manoeuvres. Primus help me. Suddenly they all turned towards the tunnel entrance as a high-pitched scream was heard from inside.

            Well, he was at the computer console, but how to access it. Cheetor searched the panel in front of him; no doubt there would be a single button to press to access the basic functions but then what? There would be some form of encryption on the communication system and he would have to mask the signal to that he wasn't detected. Again he wished Rattrap were here. He pressed what looked to be an 'on' button of some sort and was pleased when the screen lit up. At least that was easy, he thought. He began switching through different programs in an attempt to find the communications equipment. What, by the matrix, were the Predacons doing up here? There were so many different menus to access, nearly all of which were encrypted. Finally he found the communication rely system but, as he thought, there was an encryption on it though, surprisingly; it was only a low level one. After a short time he seemed to break the code, a little to quickly he thought, but he couldn't worry about that know. He activated the rely. A small red light started blinking, obviously someone had detected him. He had better just be quick then hadn't he, he thought.

"Rattrap, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia someone answer me" please he thought. After a few nano-klics a voice came through the small speaker.

"Spots, is that you?" a fuzzy picture slowly appeared on the viewer. Cheetor could see enough to realise who it was.

"Rattrap, thank the matrix I've found you. Are you ok?"

"Not really. Where are you?"

"On a Predacon orbital facility"

"Oh geez, they got you too?"

"Got me too? What are talking about? Who's got me? Where's Silverbolt and Blackarachnia?"

"The Preds sent some mech's out. We lost Silverbolt and Legs about a Megacycle ago. Haven't been able to get through to the kid yet, guessing the Preds got him to. Why're you on a Pred station if they ain't got you?"

"I'm with the Elders. What do you mean the Preds sent mech's out to get you? Where's Botanica?"

"Shrub's 's with me. Don't know what the Preds are after but they sure don't wanna give up" suddenly Cheetor heard a scream from somewhere behind Rattrap. "SHRUBS!" cried Rattrap, then the screen went dead.

"Rattrap, RATTRAP" said Cheetor, but there was no response then he felt a hand on his shoulder.

            Shockwave turned as Mixmaster transformed into his robot mode.

"You requested my assistance?" asked Mixmaster.

"Affirmative. The vegetation seems to be extremely thick down this final section of corridor and is hampering our advance"

"You're so powerful Shockwave, that you're defeated by a large plant. How do you ever believe that you can defeat me and lead the Decepticons," sneered Galvatron, still unable to free himself from his energon bonds. Shockwave continued, ignoring the deranged Decepticon.

"I want you to mix a highly corrosive compound in order to destroy the organism at its molecular level. Is this possible?"

"Of course" answered Mixmaster. "It'll be my pleasure" He transformed into his vehicular mode and advanced toward the blocking plant mumbling to himself about different possible mixtures as he went. As he approached the organism he released a spray from a small 'gun' from above his cab. As soon as it made contact with the plant a tremendous 'scream' reverberated around them and the organism immediately began withdrawing its tendrils from around and in front of the Decepticons clearing the path. Fascinating, thought Shockwave as the Decepticons advanced with Mixmaster leading the way.

            Cheetor spun round to find the slightly shorter form of Night-stalker looking up at him. He scowled at the Predacon.

"Temper, temper" cooed Night-stalker, his voice retaining its customary coolness. "Now, to business. May I ask what you are doing at a computer terminal and whom you were talking to?"

"You can ask. But I've got a question for you" he snapped, anger clearly showing in his optics. "Why are the Predacons chasing my friends?" Night-stalker looked shocked and seemingly hurt that Cheetor would accuse him of any involvement, though Cheetor could see a questioning gleam in his optics. He obviously knew something, he thought.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Why, whom do you think the Predacons are chasing? And what proof do you have of this?"

"Don't give me that. You've been keeping me with the Elders since the time the Decepticons attacked, why? And why have I not been allowed access to communications equipment?" Night-stalker smiled behind his faceplate.

"One, nobody forced you to stay with us after Iacon, you didn't have to join us here. Two, you never asked to use any communications equipment. Also I would like to remind you who saved you from what might have been a very unlucky predicament when the Decepticons attacked, you were in the middle of it all after all" Night-stalkers voice never wavered, it maintained its incessant smooth, almost obnoxious tone throughout. Cheetor felt like hitting him in the face, just to see if he could break that faceplate of his, then lets see him smile. He also knew that everything that Night-stalker had just said was true, but he was also sure that Night-stalker knew something about the Predacons that were trying to catch his friends.

"Alright, but what about my friends" he pressed.

"What about them?"

"Why are the Predacons trying to track them down?"

"I'm sure I have no idea" Night-stalker suddenly gained a devious glint in his optic. "Tell you what, when we've dealt with the Decepticons I'll personally lead an investigation into what happened with your friends, satisfied?" Before Cheetor could answer Night-stalker turned and stalked back over to the planning table. Cheetor felt like there was even more weight on his shoulders than before, and talking to Rattrap hadn't made him feel better rather it had put more questions into his mind. He had a thought of trying to communicate with Rattrap again but then thought that he might be pressing his luck. As of yet the Predacons hadn't sent someone to investigate who had been using the console and Cheetor thought that it would be best that they didn't. With a last look at the console he walked slowly towards the arguing Maximals and Predacons.

            The Decepticons stood in front of two large sliding doors. On one side there was a computer panel where Soundwave was working on the controls. Suddenly with a hiss and loud bang the doors slowly began to slide open. When the doors had opened as far as they could the Decepticons advanced into the large chamber, Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge being pushed forward in the centre of the group. When they were all inside Shockwave turned to Soundwave.

"Soundwave, activate the computer"

"As you command" answered Soundwave walking toward a large, glowing, golden globe. On the top of it was a small opening allowing access for some type of 'key'. Soundwave retracted his hand, replacing it with two long metal 'prongs' designed to fit within the opening. Soundwave inserted them into the opening and attached them to two receptors within the globe creating a connection within. He quickly withdrew his arm leaving the two 'prongs' inside to maintain the connection. The sphere brightened exponentially as power coursed through its circuits. Then slowly it rose into the air.