Era of Change II Army of the Void

by TB the Third

The Gundam pilots and Transformers thought their battle was over-they thought wrong, for War is coming, and the epic is just beginning...

4. Faustus

ERA OF CHANGE II; THE ARMY OF THE VOID

DISCLAIMER: The following piece of work is written for non-profit but merely entertainment. All contained therein is adapted from trademarked characters, devices, situations and locations. These all belong to their respective owners, not myself.

THANKS TO:

BRAX THE GREAT: Thanks for the compliments. I have made some sketches of Darkflight, Whiteflight, gundamised Starscream and some other doodles, and I'd scan them online if I only had a scanner.

CYBLADE SILVER: Glad someone picked up on the Jurassic Park references. As thanks for your constant reviews for my fics, I have named one of Galvatron's new weapons after you.

COBALT CAT: You're welcome.

SHAWN PROVONCHA: Ditto and thanks.

RA88: Well done for noticing the homages. Re. Your questions and suggestions; the 'White Giant' is another vessel of the Jupiter Mining Corporation mentioned in one of the 'Red Dwarf' novels. Sorry, but all the Isla Nublar dinos were destroyed after the movie, and the Isla Sorna animals are all dead due to limited food supply on the island. But I might throw in a sequence with the Dinobots for a joke. Also, the Decepticon Matrix does not resemble the Autobot Matrix in that the gem is entirely concealed within the Adamantium casing, which on the outside looks like an American Football (or for British readers, a rugby ball). Thanks again.

MICROWAVE JOCKEY: Glad you enjoyed Wheeljack. I initially threw him in just for you but it soon developed into a nice way to 'discover' the Decepticon Matrix. More on that later. Yes, Omega Supreme will appear, but not for a long time. See ya! Buttocks? That was disturbing.

JOSH: Here's that new chapter you wanted.

ANDREW: I WILL write up those comic relief shorts, but if you read below you will find a slight reference as thanks for the amusement they gave me.

Cheers guys and enjoy!

A/N: As promised, this chapter is concerned solely with the Transformers in order to make up for the prevailing use of Gundam characters in the previous chapters. Gundam fans need not fear however because the events of this chapter are merely the prelude to the next battle for the GW cast and to a greater extent the rest of this fic. Also, if you get confused with a lot of the Cybertronian terms and history below, the second Profiles chapter includes a glossary to help. Enjoy.

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CHAPTER 3. FAUSTUS

"...buthtepoitnistisclearlytobotmatrixdershipasthatsthe..."

Optimus Prime stared and shook his head, sharing a glance with Megatron, who shrugged. Before them an irate Wheeljack paced Prime's quarters frantically, babbling to himself rapidly, obviously expecting the two leaders to understand him as he talked double-dutch at two-to-the-dozen.

While Prime tried to get a word in edgeways to plug the outpouring flow of words, Megatron calmly chewed on an energon goodie, thankful that he had always had the Constructicons to rely on for scientific duties and not this eccentric.

"...onlyotherdeadumisthbotmatrixothisis..."

The two leaders flicked their optics briefly at the unassuming device that had caused this outburst in Wheeljack, sitting innocently on a table. It was a completely smooth cylinder, taping to a point at both ends. Set around each of the blunt tips were several data-sockets, waiting to receive whatever fitted in them.

"...neverthouamythbuttnfrontofyou."

Wheeljack finished and stared at the two Transformers as if expecting a pat on the back and a pay raise. Megatron looked down and rubbed his optics as Prime tried to hide his laughter.

"What's so funny?"

Megatron nudged Prime forward while reaching into a small container beside him. As Prime tried to explain to his best researcher that they had not understood a word of what he had been saying over the past breem Megatron happily devoured a further batch of energon snacks which he had purloined from Prime in recent weeks over the Cybertron equivalent of a game known to humans as poker.

After Prime had calmed Wheeljack sufficiently the scientist started again at a more reasonable pace.

"This," he rested a hand on the object, "is the core unit from Megatron's fusion cannon. It is the power source for a compact fusion generator, but I'm slagged if I know what's inside. However, I do have certain theories..."

Wheeljack turned to Megatron, now curious enough to have set his hard-won energon snacks aside.

"Commander Megatron, what do you know for certain about the fusion cannon's past?"

Megatron leant back in his seat and stared at the ceiling as he cast his mind back.

"It's a hereditary weapon, passed down from one Decepticon leader to another. I took it from Skorpinok at the gates of Iacon. He was in turn presented with it by Bludgeon when he succeeded the office. I don't really recall the Decepticon genealogy well once you go back beyond Bludgeon's age, not much happened to be worthy of historical note between the first and second Cybertronian wars. But the fusion cannon was always there, the weapon of choice for whoever was in command. To many it's a symbol of the Decepticons as much as our insignia."

Wheeljack nodded sagely.

"I recall the same. However, when I was a student of science prior to the war, I found an extract of the 'Covenant of Primus' in the historical archives that made reference to a 'Matrix of Power' that was used in the War of Liberation as well as the 'Matrix of Leadership', but which disappeared completely after that end of the war."

"Our war against the Quintessons," Prime murmured. Wheeljack snapped his fingers.

"Exactly. This Matrix of Power could date back to the time when Vector Sigma and the Transformers first gained sentience."

"In myth by the power of Primus," Megatron added.

"Correct. And do you recall the two who led us against the Quints?"

"Alpha Trion, the first Transformer to awake, the first to wield the power of the Matrix of Leadership," Prime tapped his chest. Wheeljack continued.

"And Raksha, who after the war founded the Decepticon Military to protect Cybertron against the Quints. If there was anyone who would have wielded a second Matrix, it's him.

Prime rubbed his chin, thoughtful.

"And just like Trion passed his Matrix along to his successor in government, making it the Autobot Matrix, Raksha could have passed his along through the military he created, making it the Decepticon Matrix."

Megatron spoke quietly, his voice faltering.

"There was once a myth of a Decepticon Matrix...Has the fusion cannon..."

Silence fell as they all looked at the innocent device.

-------------------------------------------

The world spun giddily, and Onslaught came to as searing heat burning his face. Rubbing his groggy head he lifted himself to his knees, then finally took stock of his surroundings.

"No!"

Sick with fear, Onslaught sprang to full awakening. Above him towering monoliths stared down silently, the stony stare of the many statues grinding into his spark, relentless, merciless, accusing. Hot ash swirled in the air as he stumbled to the edge of the balcony, and reared back in horror. Beneath, the molten liquid bubbled and flared, reaching out to ensnare him and drag him down into its red-hot bosom.

"Not here! Not again!"

Legs spinning, he ran and tripped for safety as hundreds upon thousands of heads turned silently to follow him, red, amber and blue optics as cold and unforgiving as the frozen gazes of long-dead transformers.

As he passed beneath the battlements of the coliseum and tried to hide from his past, the enshrouding darkness spun to blinding light, harsh sterility. As he ground to a halt, he stepped to the Plexiglas of the covered walkway, and looked down into yet another memory.

Decepticons, millions in rank stretched to the distant horizon of this cavernous chamber, marching in proper order, armaments proudly polished and displayed. As Onslaught stared, a regiment of Seekers marched to a halt and about-faced, then saluted, the amplified mechanical crunch of their movements drowning out his audios.

High above on an elevated balcony stood a figure that was long dead. Heavy green and purple armour covered his body, and his arms ended in sharp violet claws. On his left arm sat the obsidian bulk of the fusion cannon, the mighty weapon dwarfed only be the mech who carried it.

Skorpinok!

Like a ghost risen from the dead the former Decepticon leader raised his arms to the silent masses, roaring to the mighty show of force.

"My Decepticons! My loyal troops! The day has come, for our ascension!"

Hushed, stunned silence. Skorpinok's mouth twisted into a grin, and as he continued to speak, Onslaught began mouthing the familiar words in time with him. He'd heard this exact same speech before.

"There is not one among you, not one, who does not love Cybertron, and all that she stands for! But now, in her time of need she calls on you. The Transformer race has grown weak under the hand of the Autobots. Lest we forget, our finest hour when all trembled at the name Decepticon. Today! You shall recapture that strength, that pride, that honour. Today, you fight, and shall be immortalized as Heroes of Cybertron!"

All of the gathered soldiers stood in shock as Skorpinok lowered his arms, and rested his claws on the banner. Then, a single voice cried out, and more joined it, the roar of exhilaration swelling to immense proportions, until it took on a power of its own and swept the minds and hearts of those gathered along with it, that single crescendo of strength and power through arms.

-------------------------------------------

Skorpinok's frame trembled at the power before him, the power he wielded, and slowly looked left and right. As far as could been seen, there were Decepticon warriors, all crying the name of Skorpinok, his name, his power. And now his war. With a single lightening strike, he would sweep aside the weak and decadent Autobot government, and Cybertron would awake to a new dawn, a new era.

As exhilarated as his troops, he glanced over at his shoulder to the two figures standing behind him on the balcony.

"What do you think?"

The larger of the two Decepticons was silver and black, his body strong and gleaming. Two plasma rifles sat on his arms, and his alliance was declared by the proud sigil on his chest. The face that framed the two scarlet optics was young, yet hardened by long years of fighting, the ingrained lines accounting to a mind older than its years. Although overwhelmed by the show of force, the expression was pensive, worried.

Little did Skorpinok know he was looking into the face of his future executor. Megatron spoke.

"Incredible, an amazing answer to your call to arms. But perhaps..."

He trailed off. Skorpinok gestured for him to continue. Megatron sighed.

"Aren't we underestimating the Autobots and the Neutrals? They may seem weak but they did fight the Quintessons, they fought as hard to overthrow our oppressors as we did. Might they not still summon the strength to retaliate."

The words seemed to strike a chord in Skorpinok, who frowned slightly, turning over the suggestion of defeat. Before he could respond however; the second machine spoke out. He was smaller than Megatron, and clearly weaker. Green, tan and black covered him, and his face was an expressionless mouthplate and visor.

"A ridiculous notion Commander, no force could stand in the way of your army...Victory for the Decepticons is inevitable."

Skorpinok nodded slightly, before addressing his two lieutenants.

"I appreciate your advice Megatron, but I am inclined to agree with Zarak. Our victory is inevitable..."

As Megatron shot the sycophantic Zarak a look of disgust, Onslaught's thoughts from across the hall were driven away by a voice...THE voice, inside his mind.

"CURIOUS...VERY CURIOUS INDEED."

Despair overwhelming him, Onslaught sank to the ground, hands pressed over his audios to drown out his master, and the memory began to fade to inky blackness, dotted with silver light.

"CLEAR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENCE, TO CLIMB SO HIGH, AND SWAY THE THOUGHTS OF SKORPINOK...YET YOU JOINED MY FOLLOWERS, MISGUIDED FOOLS. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BETTER OF A TRANSFORMER OF SUCH MENTAL POWER..."

As he sank into the dark, further voices were dredged up from Onslaught's memory.

-------------------------------------------

"...You swear yourself to this covenant, to forever serve the Devourer and to subvert those his enemies?"

"I do."

"Do you swear to turn aside from the path of the false-deity Primus, and to forever hold the bond of our master?"

"I do."

"And do you swear to serve this order with honour and loyalty till the end of days, when there is nothing but the Devourer and the Void?"

"I do."

"The pact is sealed, thrice declared by your word. Now and forever you are bonded to this covenant of energon and oath brother Zarak."

"ALL POWER TO UNICRON AND HIS ARMY OF THE VOID!"

-------------------------------------------

Onslaught hovered in darkness, his body without substance, a thin illusion of his former self. He looked around, searching for anything to distract him from the horrific sight before him.

He floated in space, by what means or reason he could not fathom, surrounded by the remains of his army. As well as his Decepticons, the shattered chassis of his drone forces decorated the space, forming a ring of twisted shattered metal that stretched around the monster he beheld. He then noticed one absentee. The traitor Tallgeese.

He was oddly curious about how he had come to be here, according to his ghostly inertial navigators as far beyond the outliers of the Sol system.

"ONSLAUGHT."

With horror touching his core like the icy finger of the Grim Reaper, he turned back to the source of that massive, all encompassing voice.

His master, the Dark Lord of Chaos. Unicron. The giant planet hung in space before him, the circular, fanged mouth stretching many miles either side of him. Two giant mandibles reached out towards him. As Unicron 'spoke', ghastly white light poured out of his mouth and bathed Onslaught in its sterility.

"YOU HAVE FAILED."

"No."

"YES! YOU SWORE YOURSELF TO ME IN RETURN FOR YOU LIFE TO BE SPARED WHEN ALL ELSE IS DESTROYED AND THE STORMS OF CHAOS SWEEP THE EMPTY VOID. I ORDERED OF YOU BUT ONE THING. TO REMOVE THE THREAT OF THE TWO ENERGIES. AND AFTER MANY MEGAVORNS, WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED, NOTHING!"

Onslaught moved to protest, but his voice was cut off by a new sensation.

PAIN!

Even though he lacked a body, he was being consumed in a fire of agony like nothing he could remember. It was as if he were within a vice, gradually squeezing him, the pressure being first noticeable, then a mere nuisance, before progressing to outright torture, all the while his body feeling as if its innards were gradually melting, each non-existent nerve ending crackling and sparking with the pain of ages. Through the inferno, he could still hear...no...feel that presence, that voice in his mind that filled ever crack of his cranium. This time it was lower, subtler, like velvet dripping upon his CPU, softly probing each terminal, each facet of memory.

"Do you remember? That day you gave yourself to me?"

-------------------------------------------

'Harsh faces staring at me, dark, accusing, not a shard of mercy, as cold as the walls of the Chamber of Ancients, where the council of elders held court.

"And so Zarak, for your betrayal of Primus, his sacred covenant, and the hallowed order of the Decepticons, you are hereby sentenced to deactivation at the Smelting Pools of Iacon, effective immediately..."'

-------------------------------------------

Unlike the central hall, the walls of the coliseum glowed red, their walls holding but a mere faction of the heat of the pits that filled the circular hollow walls. Inside the dripping tanks lay nightmares that went beyond pain and death, the remains of shattered dreams and lives.

"...and hereby at the third astrocycle of the 5th quintun since your capture, you are to be executed by commander Megatron..."

-------------------------------------------

'The jeers and cries of hatred rose into the sky, stars hidden by the acrid fumes of the pits, as if the heavens in turn refuse to show me mercy at the moment of my death. I am prodded out onto the balcony, like a common criminal, my wrists bonded together by laser bolts. My tormentor steps before me, armour gleaming, weapon primed and ready for use. He stares into me, not a shred of sympathy or compassion in his optics. He turns, and addresses the crowds filling the balconies that run right around the circular walls that surround the pits, addressing them with all the charisma that he as an orator can muster.'

-------------------------------------------

"This is the one, the traitor...the blasphemer...he declares himself a servant of the tyrant Skorpinok. Who here objects to his passing?"

'A great roar of loathing rises up, condemning me to 'purification by fire'.

"DOES HE DESERVE TO DIE?"

"YES!"

"THEN DIE HE MUST!"

'And with that, my executor aims his cannon down at the tank of solid metal beneath my platform and fires. Soon the alloys begin to melt under the barrage, loosening, rippling, burning. In moments where there was a block of solid metal, is now a deep pit filled with boiling, undulating slag, fingers of flame and burning gas floating up as if to grasp me and pull me into their embrace.'

-------------------------------------------

"I PLEAD FOR MERCY!"

'As I gaze up in hope of a saviour, they turn their backs to me, offering me as much comfort as the gothic, foreboding architecture.'

-------------------------------------------

'I see hope. A lone figure on the peak of the coliseum, face eerily lit by the flames below.

Alpha Trion, the saviour of all Transformers, who led us in our war of liberation.

I stare at him, and he stares right back.

Slowly, he shakes his head.

As my platform trembles and begins to lower me towards the smelting, molten fluid, a new emotion overrides the fear, burying it deep within, coming to a climax before releasing it in a surge.

RAGE!

Megatron smirks at me.

"You have the right to a final prayer in order to prepare your spark for judgement."

"CURSE YOU ALL! AND CURSE PRIMUS AS WELL!"

I turn to the heavens and scream, a final plea to the only other being of power enough to save me.

"IF PRIMUS HAS TURNED ME ASIDE, THEN I DO THE SAME. SPARE ME, AND I PRESENT MY SPARK TO THEE...UNICRON!"

As hush descends on all, including Megatron. They do not understand what I have just said, except that I have turned aside my one chance of redemption. After tense moments, my platform suddenly tilts beneath me and I fall. The distance is only twice my height, yet it seems to take an eternity.'

-------------------------------------------

'Before I strike I gaze up at the rapidly receding figures, and the smog above blows aside for a brief moment, revealing the sky.

Yet no stars shine in the heavens. Except for a single red pinprick, directly above, shining down on me, before I am consumed by fire.'

-------------------------------------------

"YES." That same dripping velvet voice, "I BREATHED FRESH LIFE, NEW POWER INTO YOU, WITH BUT ONE COMMAND. DESTROY THE TWO THAT COULD RIVAL ME. AND YOU FAILED! AFTER TEN MEGAVORNS, HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED THAT GOAL, THAT SINGLE STEP. NO!"

"Master, I...ARRRGHHIIEEEE!"

Onslaught's pleading voice descended into screams of agony, as his spectral armour splintered and crunched, jewel-like innards drifting out of the holes the invisible force wrought on him.

"I...I'm sorry master...I'm sorry, have mercy on me, I BEG OF YOU!"

"SILENCE!!"

Stars would have extinguished themselves at a command from that voice, no longer soft and tempting, but dark, hollow and as dead as the vast nothingness. Onslaught gasped as the pain eased, tightly scrunched optics opening cautiously.

"YOUR PLEAS MEAN NOTHING TO ME SLAVE. YES, SLAVE, YOU BELONG TO ME AND I VALUE YOU AS NOTHING!"

Unicron's presence continued to dabble in Onslaught's mind, until he found what he was searching for. And it amused him.

"AH! POWER," the demigod chortled, "THAT WAS YOUR GOAL. ZARAK THE COWARD, SIDING FIRST WITH SKORPINOK, MOST POWERFUL OF HIS TIME, AND THEN WITH UNICRON, MOST POWERFUL IN EXISTENCE...ALL TO ADVANCE HIS OWN POSITION. SELF- ADVANCEMENT AND BACKSTABBING, ADMIRABLE QUALITIES IN THE DECEPTICON ARMY...BUT NOT TO ME."

As he continued to chuckle, Unicron squeezed again with his mental fist

"WERE NOT THE HOUR SO LATE I WOULD RENDER YOU LIMB FROM LIMB, STRIP YOU INTO SUBATOMIC DUST. LOOK!"

Images burned themselves into Onslaught's mind, a great armada, a fleet of space firepower surging through the blackness, heading towards...Sol, and Earth. At the forefront of the fleet, gleaming like the tip of a sabre were two vessels that surpassed the others in all regards. Two symbols adorned them, and as he recognised them, his mind quaked in first horror, then rage.

"PRIME WAS RIGHT! YOU DESTROYED IT! YOU DESTROYED CYBERTRON, WHICH YOU PROMISED TO ME, UGH!"

Onslaught quaked again as the spectral fist clenched him, pain burning his sensory conduits.

"PROMISE! I SHALL DO AS I PLEASE! AND WHO ARE YOU TO STOP ME, WORM!"

Onslaught was spun to gaze into the pitiless maw, dark energies sparking from jaw to jaw. He could see no eye, yet he felt the soul, the very essence of Unicron boring into his spark.

"AT A TIME, I CONSIDERED SPARING YOUR WRETCHED LITTLE PLANET CYBERTRON. AND IT WAS YOUR NEGLIGENCE THAT BROUGHT ABOUT ITS DISMEMBERMENT! AND NOW, IT'S TIME TO PAY THE PIPER FOR YOUR LACKING DILIGENCE..."

Trembling, Onslaught tried to avert his gaze, but his attention was drawn to a tingling in his forearm, which suddenly erupted into agony. He held his hand up, and screamed in pain as the fingers melted, molten metal dribbling down over his gauntlet. Underneath, his skeletal supports twitched, sickening streams of metal and fluid hanging between them.

The corrosive effect spread to his arms, exposing cylinders and fuel lines, which sprayed their contents like blood, forming small constellations in the airless void. As his upper-chest was dissolved, the left arm, without the support of the armour, destroyed itself as cylinders compacted, buckling the understructure out of shape, splitting and fracturing the struts.

Finally, his fuel tank burst, and flaming energon coated his arms as electrical energy crackled between his limbs, simultaneously burning and electrocuting him. Onslaught screamed, and screamed.

And screamed.

Over his agony, the dark lord of chaos spoke.

"THE SPARK OF CREATION, WILL FLICKER AGAIN. MY ERA OF CHANGE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!"

As the last shards of his former existence were burned away, Onslaught's corporeal spark rose from the ashes. He felt strangely numb, all feelings nulled, not even fear or the least semblance of pain.

"IN MY QUEST OF DESTRUCTION, I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED ALONE. INNUMERABLE WORLDS HAVE QUAKED UNDER MY WRATH, BUT NOW I WILL CHOOSE MY ACOLYTES, MY HERALDS OF APOCALYPSE."

Onslaught stared, the faintest shard of curiosity rising within him as his three remaining commanders burned as he had, but unlike him, faint ghosts of their forms remained, almost an x-ray, each wire, pipe and rod highlighted in unearthly green. Unicron rumbled in approval, and Onslaught could feel that he was probing the minds of each mobile suit, not only their programming, but also the human memories that Onslaught had suppressed.

"EXCELLENT. MY HERALDS SHALL BEAR A BADGE OF DISTINCTION, A MARK TO SET THEM ABOVE YOUR INFERIOR KIND. AND THE STYLE OF THESE WEAPONS, THESE, GUNDAMS APPEALS TO ME..."

Vayeate, the four Combatacons and Astrotrain were drawn forward, and in a weird ballet of new life, their innards shifted and their bodies rearranged, as Unicron toyed with his fresh canvas, till he had found a form that pleased him. When he spoke again, it was with a touch of pride.

"EXCELLENT."

As he spoke, scraps of metal and the remains of Onslaught's drones flew onto the images of the new warriors, building them up from the core.

"I RAVAGE ALL IN MY PATH, AS DOES WAR, SO YOU SHALL BE WAR, AND YOUR NAME, SHALL BE BATTLEMASTER."

With a flash of jade green optics, the machine named Battlemaster came to life, and Onslaught gazed upon the first of his new minions.

Battlemaster was a blood red, tinted in gold and black and in appearance slightly resembled the Gundam known as Heavyarms. From the distinctive V- fin on the forehead to the two massive dual cannons mounted on his back, the influence of Unicron's design could be seen. As life flowed into the new beast, he threw his head back, opened his mouth and brayed to the eternal night. The cry was cold and deep, filled with the screams and agonies of battle. He was indeed, War.

"AND HIS ELITES."

The remains of the four combatacons and Astrotrain moved, and Battlemaster gazed on his troops with approval. Though smaller and weaker than him, they still radiated a vast power. One resembled a seeker, though slimmer and sharper. Battlemaster spoke.

"Raptor."

The second was distinguished by a pair of razor sharp blades on his arms, and a vast cannon barrel that rose from his back.

"Skyblade."

The next warrior was an imposing machine that appeared to be able to take a nuclear explosion in the face and keep going. His face was an impassive visor, and he carried a futuristic weapon, which gleamed a shining gold.

"Ajax."

The next resembled Battlemaster in weaponry and appearance, but with a lighter build.

"Juggernaught."

The final Elite looked...odd. In movements he was swift and fluid, he seemed to carry no weapons save two giant devices on his back and white light gleamed in his hands. Battlemaster nodded.

"Spectrum."

With that the six warriors turned and kneeled before their master, who turned his attention to the ruins of Epyon.

"I SEEK ALL OUT, HUNTING THEM AND SLAYING THEM, AS DOES DISEASE, SO YOU SHALL BE PESTILENCE, HUNTER, TRACKER, AND YOU SHALL BE SCOURGE."

Scourge's body closely resembled Epyon's, sleek and deadly, though less bulky. The massive shield had been removed but the deadly heat rod remained, tucked into the right arm, along with a second unit on the left arm. On the right hip the lethal beam sword hung. From his back rose a pair of dark wings. He was jet black, his eyes and the gem on his chest a deep crimson. The only other colour was silver details to his wings, fingertips and his V-fin.

Onslaught paused and stared into the face. It was sharp edged; it's distinctive feature a silver beard and long moustache that framed a hard, cruel mouth. It was a cultured, wise face, forever set in a gaze of deep contemplation. The eyes came to life, and the mouth opened to reveal a pair of sharp fangs set among his otherwise perfect teeth.

Scourge examined his new body, and then swept round with lightning speed. He roared a cold, chill cry, and at his own bidding, not Unicron's, his followers were called into being.

"AND HIS CORPSMEN, THE WRAITHS!"

The three former coneheads were identical to Scourge except in their colour scheme, deep blue and red, and less ornate heads. Silent and brooding, they awaited their orders.

Scourge's wings swept down around his body like a cloak, and he drifted along his ranks, not bothering to name them until he reached the front. Behind him, his men lowered their wings, and they waited, like a quartet of bizarre monks, bowing their heads in submission.

"MERCURIUS IS A SHIELD, A PROTECTOR, BUT THE SHIELD CARRIES A SWORD, AND SO, LIKE FAMINE STRIKING FROM ABOVE, TURNING LUSH PLAIN TO BARREN DESERT, SHALL YOU - CYCLONUS THE LIEUTENANT AND HIS IMPERIAL ARMADA."

Cyclonus was shaded in the pallors of death and disease, greys, purples and blues. From his back projected two wings, and he carried himself with the pride and dignity of a born warrior. Onslaught knew that this was a servant who would deliver nothing but perfection and utter loyalty to the bitter end.

In form, Cyclonus resembled a strange hybrid of Wing Zero and a Seeker. His back was a cockpit, and his legs were engines. The chest below his face was broad and strong, and his head was elegantly sculpted, rising up into two towers, like a bishop's mitre. His features were fine, handsome, but his expression serious and grave. His only hand-held weapons were what appeared to be a pair of giant rail-guns fitted like gloves over the forearms. Within his shoulders were racked missiles and projecting from the backs of his hands were two staff-like projections, their ends wickedly honed barbs.

His three minions, the former Stunticons, were similar in appearance to him, but of a sleeker and lighter design, the other noticeable difference being the front-mounted Seeker cockpit. Onslaught slowly took them in and realised Unicron had made Cyclonus leader of a trio of femmebots. Like their leader, they carried powerful firearms, but this time each wielded two arm-mounted beam rifles. On their hips were two beam sabres, and they lacked the harpoon-like devices of Cyclonus.

Cyclonus and the armada bowed before Unicron, who addressed him.

"YOUR FOLLOWERS PLEASE YOU?"

"They do, my lord."

"THEN NAME THEM WELL."

"Famine is an invisible menace lord that withers and burns, like a poisonous radiation. So do they, and thus I name them Alpha, Beta and Gamma."

Unicron boomed in laughter.

"EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT. AND NOW..." He turned to Onslaught, "MY ONCE AND FORMER SERVANT? YOU PLEAD FOR MERCY, AND I SHALL GRANT IT. BUT DO NOT THINK THAT THIS PLACES YOU IN MY FAVOUR. I TRUST YOU, AND I TRUST YOU NOT. PREPARE TO FALL ONSLAUGHT, AND LET A NEW LIFE TAKE YOUR PLACE."

Through the haze of numbness fear struck deep into Onslaught's soul, before he was cut down in his tracks in a new pain, destruction was an energon bath in comparison with this, the blazing agony, the building energy, like a sun burns it's brightest before it's destruction.

"I AM ALL THESE THINGS. WAR, PESTILENCE, FAMINE. BUT THESE ARE BUT PATHS TO MY ULTIMATE SELF, MY ULTIMATE DESTINY. I BRING FINALITY, DESTRUCTION, PAIN, GRIEF AND SORROW.

I AM DEATH, AND NOW, SO ARE, YOU!"

Through the agony, the eternal, unforgiving turmoil, Onslaught, no, Onslaught was dead, could sense the changes being wrought in his body as it built to a crescendo...

...and vanished.

He felt a new fire in him, new life, but a coldness, that permeated his every fibre of being. Truly, he was now death incarnate. Born in fire, he rose, a phoenix from the ashes that were what remained of Onslaught.

"BEHOLD - GALVATRON!"

Unicron's newest servant studied the form his master had bestowed upon him. Yes...this would do nicely.

His body was regal in tone and form, perfect for a monarch in the making. He was dark and powerful, royal purple in colour, and upon his head was a crown, inlaid with gems of ruby.

Galvatron flexed an arm, and marvelled at the fluidity with which he moved, mechanical muscles bulging beneath his metal skin with a strange organic grace

And his weapon - never in his life had he seen such a fusion of deadly elegance and raw power. A vivid neon in colour, sleek and wicked. He could feel it. Feel the lethal power that brewed within it, within himself, the same power that tied him to Unicron himself.

As Galvatron lowered the cannon, his hand fell to his hip and landed upon a metal hilt. Grasping it, he drew forth a mighty blade of Gundanium, its edge burning like St. Elmo's fire. Entranced, Galvatron swung it and it cut a swift path across the void of space, screaming with a keening tone. In its wake flames danced with an almost mystical air. Galvatron spun it, testing its weight, and was pleased with what his master had crafted.

"THE CYBLADE...THE MOST POWERFUL SWORD IN EXISTENCE."

As Galvatron sleathed his sword, weird lights dancing along the Cyblade's silver finish, he allowed himself a slight smirk.

'Megatron will never know what hit him...'

Before he could complete the thought a wave of pain struck him down again, causing him to writhe in agony through the emptiness of space.

"MEGATRON...MEGATRON! YOU THINK I SHALL LET YOU GO FREE, TO DO AS YOU PLEASE ON THE ACCURSED MUDBALL EARTH!"

Galvatron realised with horror that Unicron had read his thoughts, and he had not felt the dark presence in his mind.

'He's linked me to him...We're connected.'

"CORRECT! I SEE THAT YOU HAVE LOST NONE OF ONSLAUGHT'S INTELLIGENCE. NOW...MY HERALD...HERE ARE YOUR ORDERS...SEEK OUT AND GATHER THE TWO TRANSFORMER MATRIXES. BRING THE DECEPTICON ENERGY TO ME, BUT DESTROY THE MATRIX OF LEADERSHIP!"

Galvatron had heard this one before. As Unicron continued to rant, he drew within himself to block out the pain, and tried to force his mind back into Unicron's through their mental link, and he felt something...It was but a single drop of knowledge in the ocean of Unicron's mind, but it was a crucial bit of data.

Before Unicron could notice his presence, Galvatron snapped back into consciousness, as the last agonising surges of pain broke over him...Had Unicron still been torturing him while he explored his mind? Odd that he hadn't noticed...

Galvatron crushed those thoughts beneath him, lest Unicron notice them and have something to say. Meanwhile the demi-god ended his tirade and paused for effect. Immortal and infinite in wisdom or not, Unicron was one for style, the dramatics in life.

"NOW, GO!"

Galvatron turned, and faced the forces at his disposal. Cyclonus, Scourge and Battlemaster all dipped their heads, as did their troops. All in all, Galvatron commanded fourteen highly powerful warriors. Fourteen, set against the hundreds the allied Transformers had at their disposal. He pondered the odds for a second, and then chuckled hollowly. He pitied those traitors, unaware of the swift power that was soon to descend on them.

"My Tyrranicons! To Earth!"

Galvatron focused for a second and fired the Vernier thrusters built into his new form, amazed with the new abilities presented by this body. As he took off for the distant light of Sol, the Imperial Armada of Cyclonus and the femmes took up defensive positions around him, testing their new aircraft alt-modes to the limit. Further back flew the Elites, and finally the silent corpsmen of the Wraiths.

As the gargantuan sphere of Unicron began to dwindle in the distance, Galvatron allowed himself a single thought.

'Unicron not only knows of the Decepticon matrix, he knows it.'

-------------------------------------------

"We've been thinking about this wrong. We can't find out what Raksha did with the Decepticon Matrix, but we could try to reverse-engineer history and find out where he got it from."

"Okay, shoot."

It was several hours later. Prime, Megatron and Wheeljack were still working despite the fact that the sun had set long before. Rather than just have Megatron try to open the fusion-cannon's core, not knowing what might be inside, the three Transformers had decided to try and work out for certain if the cannon really was...well, holy.

Numerous empty energon cubes lay around the floor. Prime was currently engrossed in a data-track disk, while Megatron and Wheeljack swapped ideas. Other data tracks littered Prime's quarters, along with a copy of 'The Covenant of Primus', the Transformer bible.

Wheeljack went first.

"Raksha was a hero of the war and one of the first Transformers. He didn't follow his fellow heroes into government however but founded the Decepticons. But after he stepped down from power he became a recluse, and many deca-vorns later was executed. Why?"

Megatron tossed aside his empty energon cube.

"I don't really known my history but I can answer that one. Raksha was a heretic. After he left the Decepticons he founded that cult..."

"The Army of the Void...Yes, I know, but doesn't that strike you as strange in itself?"

Megatron pondered. All Transformer religions believed in a god called Primus. The actual way of worshipping him could vary wildly but the core deity was always the same. The fact that Raksha should have ever believed in another God didn't make sense.

Wheeljack poured together the dregs of several cubes and swallowed the sickly substance, retching slightly.

"We know that that access to the complete historical archives of Cybertron was often suppressed by the council of elders. It was even rumoured that they deleted some sections...Is it possible that a large number of Transformers once believed in another God besides Primus, and were either executed or driven into hiding because of religious persecution from the council, who then tried to pretend this faith never existed by deleting all record of it..."

Megatron held a hand up.

"...Are you suggesting that the Decepticon Matrix was a religious artefact to Raksha's religion?"

"Why not? Vector Sigma bequeathed the Autobot Matrix of Leadership to Alpha Trion. It is sacred to many."

Megatron scratched his nose.

"What about the Quintessons? Didn't they have their own beliefs? Could Raksha's Matrix have been a religious icon for them? Could he have even been carrying on their faith?"

"Don't know, but that might explain why the council tried to quash the Army of the Void, and even put many to death for being members of it over the whole course of our history. Don't want people worshipping the gods of your enemies."

Prime finally looked up from the data-track.

"Nothing about the Army of the Void, save a list of those executed for practising it. Looks like you were right Wheeljack. Anything relating to what they believed in was deleted from all archives.

Megatron tapped his chin.

"There are two possibilities. Perhaps the 'Covenant of Primus' has a record of other Transformer or Quintessian religions? The other is that there might still be a Transformer still alive who has memory of Raksha, and might have known what he believed in?"

Prime shook his head.

"Only one Cybertronian could have helped you there. All modern copies of the Covenant of Primus are abridged. They don't contain the opening books of History or the closing books of Prophecy. We have one of the full copies on board but it's written in the Lex."

"Ancient Cybertronian."

"Yes. All of the first Cybertronians spoke it, but now it's a dead tongue. Of all of those Transformers only Alpha Trion lived through to our age, making him the only one who spoke the Lex and who was old enough to know Raksha, and he's dead, along with Cybertron. And he was the one who translated what we have of the Covenant from the Lex."

Megatron sighed.

"Another dead end."

-------------------------------------------

Two Decepticons staggered away from the Vengeance's re-charge facility, their inability to walk in a straight-line testimony to their condition.

"So...so I tell him...(hic)...that's no Autobot...(hic)...that's Rumble...Are you even listening to me Runamuck?"

"Runabout...You're over-energised, I'm over-energised...(hic)...All I want to do is get back to my quarters without decorating the bulkheads with regurgitated energon."

"Hey boys."

The two drunken twins whipped round - or as close as they could come without falling over, and liked what they saw.

A slender purple femmebot was standing in the shadows, beckoning to them. Smiling broadly, Runamuck staggered to her, after punching his brother out on the floor.

"Hey sweet thing."

"Come with me, and I'll show you things I've never shown anyone before."

Dumbly, Runamuck stepped into the shadows.

"I think I've gone to the Matrix."

"Not yet."

BA-DAMPF!

There was a small explosion, and a smouldering object rolled out of the opened his optics to be confronted by his brother's severed head!

-------------------------------------------

Back in Prime's quarters, no progress had been made. Wheeljack bashed his head on the table.

"Why, does, this, have, to, be, so, difficult! Raksha got his flaming Matrix from somewhere at the same time as Trion received his Matrix and the Covenant from Vector Sigma, but from where...I thought if I could just work out where the pit it came from I'd know what was inside without having to open it!"

Prime gave up and rubbed his head.

"Perhaps we're all wrong. Maybe the Decepticon Matrix never existed, and it was just a myth..."

A new voice suddenly broke into the conversation; old and wise, but weary, as if the weight of ages was bearing down on its owner.

"Myth...No...That is the Decepticon Matrix of Power..."

The three turned to the open bulkhead door. Almost blinded by the light streaming through it they could barely make out the spindly figure before them. Slowly, their optics adjusted and they recognised the alien robot that had fallen from the skies a week ago. Huge, luminous eyes fixed on the Decepticon Matrix he advanced slowly towards them.

"...And the greatest weapon the Transformers possess."

-------------------------------------------

The Salvation had been surprised to near orbit of Sol-3 to discover numerous large constructs arrayed around the planet in positions of gravitational stability. Further careful probing had revealed extensive development on both the planet and to a lesser extent it's sole moon, apparently the work of a relatively intelligent species. What was instantly clear was that these orbiting facilities were not the work of Transformers, showing none of the signs of Cybertronian construction or culture.

Eventually, after calculating the area of highest alien activity to be in the tract of space between the planet and its moon, the Autobot vessel had finally anchored on the opposite side in high planetary orbit. In human terms, the ship was parked directly on the straight line linking Earth with the L1 colony cluster, further out towards the sun. Thankfully Transformer technology allowed the ship to remain completely cloaked or every spacecraft in the Earthsphere would have quickly gathered around the vessel.

On the bridge Ultra Magnus and Shockwave studied the blue ball of the globe. Shockwave was studying a read-out of basic data collected on the planet and relaying it to Magnus. As the highest-ranking Decepticon, Shockwave had been invited on board the Salvation for this initial foray, while the Vengeance remained in orbit of Sol-4. Sunstorm had also come as Shockwave's brightest officer.

"75% percent of the planet is covered in water, and the land-mass seems to be mainly verdant, with varying climates. All artificial structures appear to have been constructed by the planet's dominant species, presumably organics in nature. Most of the globe and surrounding space seems to be mildly irradiated with charged particles similar to the after-effects of energy weapons."

"Battle?"

"I would hazard a war of some kind. However radiation decay indicates very few large releases of such energy for the past half-vorn."

"What about Transformer weapon discharge?"

"Some recently but none currently, or the atmosphere is clouding the ship's sensors. The energy signatures however are coming through clearly, they are gathered together in a tiny portion of the north-western quadrant of one of the smaller continents."

Magnus sighed slightly, a faint grin on his face.

"They've stopped fighting. Well that makes our job a lot easie....UGH!"

The ship was suddenly jolted hard, violently enough to pitch everyone on the bridge off their feet. Outside the blue globe spun dizzyingly. Magnus pulled himself to his command console.

"SPRINGER! DAMAGE REPORT!"

One lime green Autobot nodded and ran off to check on various substations on the ship. As the Salvation whiplashed again Magnus gritted his teeth.

"STABILIZE THE SHIP!"

Officers crawled to their controls and managed to bring the out-of-control vessel back into line. Shockwave, meticulous as ever called his findings from a console he had commandeered.

"Energy blasts have struck us amidships. Possible crippling damage to the engine-room. Weapon energy signatures match those of the Vengeance!"

As Shockwave finished his analysis the bridge's crew began to mutter amongst themselves. Arcee, the pink femme' worked the holotable and got a reading.

"Shockwave's right! The Vengeance is anchored twelve klicks astern and starboard. Energy fluctuations indicate she just decelerated from hyperspace."

Magnus snarled at Shockwave.

"What the slag is your crew up to?"

Shockwave bridled.

"My crew is 100% loyal to our cause. They would not fire on us!"

One console started beeping loudly. The officer in charge called it out.

"The aft starboard airlock was just opened from the outside! We're being boarded!"

Magnus and Shockwave shared a glance as a distant explosion echoed along the ship and the Autobot commander jumped into action.

"Seal the blast-doors. Open communications with all compartments. Issue orders to repel the boarders."

Autobots scrambled to carry out their orders as giant blast-doors sealed the bridge off. As distress alarms erupted from all corners of the ship over the next few breems, Magnus and Shockwave tried to rally scattered soldiers and force a counterattack. The more time that passed however, the less the pitiful screams and sounds of cannon fire faded away on the comm- lines. One technician turned from his console.

"Engine Room communications just ceased, and fire-control is under attack. The only place left untouched is here."

Magnus turned.

"Break radio silence. Send an open distress call on all sub-harmonic frequencies. If Optimus Prime is down there I want him to know we're in trouble!"

"But sir! You're inviting Megatron up as well!"

"Damn it we have to take that chance!"

Nodding the technician worked the controls and sent the message. Seconds later the main power failed, and the bridge was plunged into the semi- darkness of the emergency lighting. And then the blast doors began to groan as a heavy object outside began to pummel them.

-------------------------------------------

The blast doors were pounded several times, their armoured plating buckling under the stress. Then the unknown assailants ceased, and a hushed silence fell.

Lit by the faint light of the distant Earth, Shockwave raised his radiation cannon, while Sunstorm took up a Metalikato fighting stance, a martial art known to few Transformers. Sunstorm of course, could always throw his own twist on an accepted fighting style. No other warrior fought with balls of solar energy in their fists. Magnus locked and loaded a fresh energon clip into his rifle.

Outside, a faint repetitive sound was heard, growing in volume each time.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Footsteps, a slow, solemn rhythm, coming nearer. Autobots and Decepticons tensed themselves, preparing for action.

The sound of a sole figure marching grew to the point where vibrations could be felt in the floor, and then stopped directly beyond the blast door. There was a faint 'hiss'...

...and then the blast door was cleaved diagonally in two!

The shining blade that had done the damage withdrew, then cut again at ninety degrees to its previous stroke. With a heavy-hearted groan, the four- quartered panel of durasteel buckled and collapsed in on itself. Smog poured through the breach.

As the Decepticons stared a figure slowly advanced from the darkness, faint creating gleaming highlights on his armour.

"Come out Transformers, come out and die..."

Ultra Magnus levelled his cannon at the purple giant.

"State your name and function."

All laughter ceased.

"My name...is GALVATRON...Learn it well. And my function..."

'Galvatron' rapped his fist against the symbol on his chest, visually identical to the Decepticon sigil but coloured in silver, outlined in violet.

"...Is leader of the Tyrranicon military, and Harbinger..."

He paused for a second, choosing his words. Sunstorm briefly flicked an eye at Shockwave, trying to convey that this was the Transformer he had sensed from Mars's orbit. Galvatron ran his tongue over his molars and continued.

"...Harbinger of the blood red twilight that descends on this world, and all worlds. The black night of chaos and uncreation comes...And UNICRON IS ITS NAME..."

As Galvatron cackled he was suddenly thrown back through the door and into the corridor bulkhead by a searing energy blast. Shockwave lowered his hissing weapon.

"I've heard enough of this drivel..."

Magnus chuckled darkly as Galvatron's prone chassis failed to stir.

"Agreed."

Celebrations were cut short as Galavtron suddenly leapt to his feet, not even scratched by the double weapon impact. Three shadowed figures emerged either side of him, and he cracked his knuckles, ready for a fight. The other Transformers tensed. Galvatron smirked, then threw his arm open.

"ATTACK!"

The four Tyrranicons leapt through the shattered hatch. Magnus raised his gun.

"Transformers...Repel boarders with extreme prejudice."

The opening salvo was short and decided. As the Tyrranicon commanders let loose with exotic weaponry the Transformers could not comprehend they were forced to leap behind control stands and seats for cover. Cover that was quickly torn to shreds by further beam fire.

Magnus and Shockwave were crouched together behind the main console, thicker protection than the others. Magnus leant out and fired off a laser blast at what looked like an arsenal with legs, the weapon fire simply deflecting off his chest armour.

"We can't faze em'!"

Shockwave looked left, and hoped his next gamble would pay off.

"Sunstorm! Choose a target and ATTACK! Magnus and I will concentrate our fire on their artillery support. All others engage at close-combat."

Sunstorm nodded and flipped himself over the console with easy grace. His target was quickly obvious. Galavtron was holding back, allowing the other three to do his fighting for him. As Magnus and Shockwave blasted into view and began firing on the red and black gun-on-legs, several weakened Transformers began striking back against a purple-warrior who was firing back with a pair of advanced railguns. That only left...

Scourge was not enjoying himself. While Battlemaster and Cyclonus continued to blast away with their guns, he was left to try and get whatever he could. And in the confined quarters he could not use his superior speed to outmatch the enemy.

Suddenly, a gold-hued Decepticon jumped into view before him and tried to blast him with his arm-lasers. Scourge knocked the energy beam aside with a flick of his hand and smiled. Perhaps this would yield some amusement.

Galvatron watched and yawned with slight boredom as his Tyrannicons made scrap of the Transformers. However, he did not want the situation to go too far...

"Remember. I want no fatalities on either side. These weaklings can be of use to us."

With little else to do, he pulled forward a half-charred chair and watched Scourge and an oddly coloured Seeker trade blows back and forth. Scourge was making swift cuts and swings, trying to rake his opponent apart with his clawed fingers, but the golden Con' simple dodged every swing and blocked every thrust, before going in with a series of swift attacks of his own, ending with a devastating blow to the Wraith commander's face.

Scourge reeled back and felt fluid dribbling down his face. He wiped it up with his fingers and licked them with a reptilian tongue, savouring the look of disgust on Sunstorm's face.

"Metalikato. I'm impressed Sunstorm."

Sunstorm's stony expression faltered, "How do you know my name."

"Oh, you'd be surprised what I can do," Scourge drew one of his beam swords and levelled it towards Sunstorm like a pikestaff, "very surprised."

With that, he thrust the energy blade directly at Sunstorm.

Barely having enough time to dodge the shot Sunstorm leapt, and rolled to his feet.

'What kind of armaments are these? First beam attacks more powerful than our own, now energy weapons?'

Forced to counter-attack the relentless Scourge, Sunstorm extended his hands and focused. Solar energy condensed in his palms for a second then shot out, forming into similar blades to Scourge's. Not willing to give up the fight, Sunstorm continued to duel with Scourge, red blade meeting amber.

Shockwave was being driven back by Battlemaster, firing off shots while dragging Ultra Magnus with his hand, the Autobot commander's chest a sickening mass of exposed wiring and split energon. Around him Transformers were being felled by the second, the occasional foolhardy one trying to get the jump on their assailants and getting pummelled into the ceiling for it. Eventually, he was the only one left, aside from Sunstorm who was still warring with the indomitable Scourge. As if by a silent agreement, both Shockwave and Battlemaster ceased to watch the conclusion to this micro- epic.

Sunstorm was young, and strong, but Scourge was powered by something other than Minovsky fusion. The EPYON system that formed his mind's core was racing ahead, speeding up his reflexes and allowing him to counter Sunstorm's moves microseconds before he made them. Eventually, the gold Seeker's counter-attacks became weaker, slower, and Scourge began to tire of a one-sided fight.

Deciding to end it quickly. Scourge threw his arms high and shot off his twin heat-rods, wrapping them around an exposed pipe, before quickly retracting them and yanking himself off his feet. As he sprang forward he raised his heels and kicked Sunstorm viciously enough to shatter the younger warrior's cockpit glass, exposing the mechanisms beneath.

Bowled backwards, Sunstorm collided first with Shockwave, breaking the commander's grip on Ultra Magnus, and then propelled them both into the massive curved viewports of the bridge. Sunstorm folded forwards off the wall and lay still. Shockwave slid down the wall, but managed to hold his footing, standing resolute before the Tyrranicons despite his low fuel reserves.

Clapping resounded through the bridge of the ghost-ship and Galvatron stepped into view.

"An admirable stand Shockwave, but foolhardy, and hopeless. Why not surrender now and end your pain?"

Held behind Shockwave's back, no one save him noticed the gradually charging cannon that formed his left arm as he responded, his bass tones reeking of hatred and contempt.

"Surrender...to you...Unicron's cowardly puppet - NEVER!"

Before Galavtron could respond, Shockwave leapt forward, grabbed Sunstorm round the torso, then fired off all the energy he had mustered...right into the view port behind him.

The material shattered, and the entire ship depressurised in seconds. Reaching to grab Ultra Magnus as well as Sunstorm, Shockwave was arrested by the air streaming through the bridge and yanked backwards through the rift he had created, dragging the unconscious Seeker with him. Unfazed by the howling vortex around them, the Tyrranicons stood fast and watched the faint blob that was the two Decepticons hurtle away, and gradually be consumed by the blinding light of the Earth. As the pressure gradually stabilized Galvatron shot a look around him.

"Cyclonus, Battlemaster, return to the Vengeance. Scourge, begin the download."

Battlemaster inclined his head slightly.

"You don't want us to transport them?"

Galvatron chuckled darkly.

"No, no, no. The Earth-bound Transformers and those meddling humans will most likely send a party up here in hours. I'd like them to have a nice...surprise when they board."

Battlemaster smiled sadistically as he and Cyclonus turned to leave, the lieutenant saluting smartly. Scourge meanwhile, had knelt beside the prostate form of Ultra Magnus, slowly running a taloned finger up and down the Autobot's chest armour. Eventually he hit something and a small plate popped up, exposing a diagnostics screen underneath. Satisfied, Scourge reached out and clenched Magnus' throat in a stranglehold, digging his claws right through the metal and into the nervous conduits within.

"Commencing infection."

The EPYON casing in Scourge's chest came to life, gleaming blood red. As the light reached a blinding level, the blinding light spread across his chest in hair-thin streaks, being conducted through wiring to his shoulders and down his arms, tracing a thin pattern to his hand. When it reached his fingers they began to spark heavily, spitting electrical current into Magnus' neck.

As soon as that current touched Magnus' inner circuitry his optics flashed open, and he began to scream loudly, his arms and legs writhing as Scourge's infection bit deeper. He thrashed so hard that he worsened the damage in his own neck, tearing a giant hole around Scourge's hand, snapping struts, spilling fluid, almost severing his head completely from his shoulders.

As Magnus' screams reached their peak he began to spew up waste energon, his cries gargling as the blue-tinted fluid bubbled from his mouth and throat, his wild gyrations flinging it all across the bridge. Scourge began to pant, his breathing deepening, but not with exhaustion. His optics began to burn with demonic lust, and unable to resist, he withdrew his hand and plunged his fanged mouth into Magnus' throat, causing the Autobot commander to scream harder as Scourge sucked and regurgitated fluid, drawing it out of Magnus' fuel lines and replacing it with his own.

As Scourge continued to administer his treatment, Galvatron watched with morbid fascination, not fearful, but engrossed in Scourge's ungodly abilities. It should have been a silent display due to the vacuum of space, but Magnus' screams and Scourge's desperate gasps and hungry snarls came to him loud and clear over his in-built radio.

Eventually, Magnus's cries became weaker, the spitting energon ceased to flow, and his body sagged. Tearing himself away, Scourge stared upwards as his dilated optics returned to normal, Magnus' energon and genetic smeared around his mouth and down his front. Shuddering in the afterglow of his climax, Scourge trailed his fingers through the fluid, taking a perverse, almost erotic pleasure from the feel of it, scooping it up and drinking it from his cupped hand. Galvatron allowed him a few seconds to compose himself, and eventually the sucking noises ceased and Scourge stood up, calm and composed. Galvatron nodded and smiled.

"Engrossing material Scourge. Did you really have to do all that?"

Scourge dabbed around his mouth and checked down at the display in Magnus' chest, which calmly blinked - MORNINGSTAR VIRUS DOWNLOAD COMPLETE - FULL REBOOT - 200 BREEMS.

"No, but I was thirsty. And I do enjoy to hear them scream..."

Sharing an evil smile they turned and walked through the bridge slowly. As they went, Scourge dragged a single finger over any Transformer they passed, leaving a faint scarlet trail behind him, which gradually brightened and melted the armour, leaving a thin rent on each chassis, underneath of which the arrayed circuits and microprocessors began to hum and click.

In five minutes the bridge was empty, leaving just the scattered corpses. The ghost ship Salvation continued to drift in Earth's orbit. Eventually, the emergency power began to fail, and the ship passed into the planet's darkside, leaving the bridge lit only by the red glow of the many Transformer optics...

TO BE CONTINUED...

Well? What do you think of Galvatron and his new forces. I love my new Scourge, and that last bit scared me, the writer when I drafted it.

Again, I love your feedback.

PS. Just to make up for the lack of GW action in this chappie, here's a little joke. What were the boys doing for this chapter?

Recording their debut album. After seeing 'Thunderbirds' at the cinema last week I became fixated on the song 'Thunderbirds are Go' recorded by boyband 'Busted' for the end credits. In order to get it off my mind, I wrote some new lyrics;

GUNDAM TEAM IS GO! (sing to 'Thunderbirds are Go!')

Heero (lead vocalist, electric guitar) Duo (lead vocalist, electric guitar) Trowa (chorus vocalist, synthesizer) Quatre (chorus vocalist, electric guitar) Wufei (chorus vocalist, percussion)

Easter's come around and now our heroes can't be found, there's something major going down around the Earthsphere, (Earthsphere).

Robots underground keep this our planet safe and sound, but Unicron just came around and we're all frightened, (frightened).

But now the bots' are back in town. Now we won't be held down, (down).

Chorus Can't hold back now, war is raging. Just be glad that we're defending, Transformers are ever changing GO! Not no little battle no when the Gundam Team is go.

Teens are learning fast, they know their mecha kick some a$$, just can't afford to come out last when fighting hell's side, (hell's side).

Autobots are cool but Decepticons just plain rule, you know that you'd just be a fool to take on these guys, (these guys).

But now the bots' are back in town. Now we won't be held down, (down).

Chorus Can't hold back now, war is raging. Just be glad that we're defending, Transformers are ever changing GO! Not no little battle no when the Gundam Team is go.

Gundam Team is go, go, go...

Chorus Can't hold back now, war is raging. Just be glad that we're defending, Transformers are ever changing GO! Not no little battle no when the Gundam Team is go.

Gundam Team is, Gundam Team is go, Gundam Team is, Gundam Team is go, Gundam Team is, Gundam Team is, GUNDAM TEAM IS, GUNDAM TEAM IS GO!

See Ya'.