You have my utmost apologies for the time it took for me to get this update up and... updated *groan* I blame spring, and the inevitable cold that comes with it. At least the fever dreams were interesting... anyway, update has arrived, so without further ado:

Chapter 173 - Execute

(SePOV)

Sentinel sat, content with the company surrounding him. A few extra joor of recharge and mid-grade? New bot.

Ironhide was still pink, and obviously grumpy about it, but no doubt he would re-paint later, now was the time to discuss tactics, while their processors were fresh from rest and relaxation. Kae was quiet, listening intently beside him.

"So when we reach Cybertron," Sideswipe was stating seriously, manipulating the holograms in front of them. "We're going to need to get rid of a ton of Decepticons, their main bases will be here in Kaon, and here, in Iacon."

"Recommendation: Revival of Wrecker forces," Soundwave stated, pointing to Iacon.

"If the complex hasn't been completely destroyed," Sunstreaker frowned.

"Destruction of complex: has not happened." Soundwave stated patiently.

"How long-"

Lena and Jolt chose that moment to stride in, hand in hand to remain close enough to maintain their accidental, fragile bond.

Adorable.

Lena froze, staring at Ironhide, Jolt looking at his mate in amusement.

"What?" Ironhide rumbled grumpily.

"That pink! Can I be that pink!?" Lena asked brightly. Ironhide promptly looked somewhat less grumpy.

"I'll see what I can do," Sunstreaker snorted with a broad grin.

"What is the date of the last status report?" Sentinel asked patiently, looking at Soundwave.

"Last Cybertronian status report: fourteen breem. Decepticon forces: finally giving up attempts to break open wrecker complex."

"Fourteen breem?" Ironhide rumbled in a dangerous tone.

"Soundwave: primary communications officer. I tended to attend the communications with my personal Comm, it saved the auto-bot forces figuring out my frequencies."

The entire central froze and stared at the bot. Because his final sentence had been stated with an unmistakeable grin.

"Your voice is changing?" Kae asked curiously.

"Emotional circuitry: beginning to repair." Soundwave shrugged. Kae was beaming at him the next moment.

"So in other words, you're still listening to the Decepticon communications." Ironhide rumbled, relaxing again.

"And you're letting your emotional circuits repair!" Lena bubbled with a bright smile. Soundwave nodded.

"So tactics wise, I go in, revive the wreckers and rejoin the main force with them," Kae stated calmly. "Give the Decepticons a solid beat down and adjourn to the guardian's fall-!"

Kae squeaked and the entirety of Central went absolutely silent, staring at Soundwave.

The mech. Had cuffed Archangel Prime. Upside the helm.

She was blinking in surprise now, looking at the bot curiously even as her mate's engines growled threateningly.

Sentinel had been tempted to, but Soundwave had beaten him to the punch!

"Tactic: Unwise. Safety of Archangel Prime, Optimus Prime and All-spark: paramount." Soundwave stated sternly. Optimus stopped growling.

"The wreckers are in stasis-lock in the safety of their stronghold are they not?" Kae demanded flatly.

"Statement: correct. Stasis Lock: automatically countermanded by presence of sufficient energon. Presence of Lady High Protectorate: Unnecessary. It's a foolhardy risk on your spark, Lady Prime. We need you alive in order to win. The fact that you and Optimus are bonded is a liability. Femme Prime must remain online!"

The Central sat in stunned shock as Kae nodded to her advisor.

"And your recommendation?"

"Soundwave: accompanied by wreckers Roadbuster, Topspin, Leadfoot. Infiltrate Wrecker stronghold, revive Wreckers, rendezvous with main force." Soundwave stated calmly again, manipulating the holograms in the middle of central. "Reasoning: Soundwave: capable of hiding wrecker force from immediate Decepticon detection. Wreckers: Capable of infiltrating wrecker stronghold without use of force."

Sentinel looked at the mech's suggested tactics and felt his brow ridges rising.

The tactics involved weaknesses in the Decepticon defences that the bots had never discovered.

Evidently, the mech was not above sharing his knowledge with them.

Particularly the weaknesses across the walls of the strongholds, had Sentinel known those weaknesses, he would never have had to defect in the first place!

It would be close. The Decepticons had strength in numbers. But they would win.

He was certain of it.

(WhPOV)

Wheelie rolled through the air-ducts, tazers in hands. Patrol.

Oh. He was just waiting for the chance to use these tasers! He'd got away with taking down a couple of humans now.

Invading humans being injured by human weapons? Totally didn't count.

Mind. There were a few humans allowed through these ducts.

Director Matteer for example.

Director Matteer didn't count as invading human though. Shit. He even sorted out the passwords, new password to be changed every week. They sorted 'em out at the beginning of every human month.

A clang.

"What's the password?" Wheelie shouted out.

Silence.

Ooooh... phase one. Nothing clanged in this sector, nothing but the grill leading outdoors.

It didn't blow in the wind, neither.

Somebody's gettin' tased.

Wheelie grinned to himself and crept toward his favourite ambush spot, backing in and waiting.

::. Wheelie to Jackson.:: he sent over the comm.

::. Jackson responding.::

::. Got a possible weasel coming in sector two.::

::. Standing by.:: Jackson informed him immediately.

Which was Jackson for "gotcha, I'm headed your way to pull down the unconscious human, and if something worse is coming in, go ahead and get the fuck out, I'mma shootin' it."

Wheelie loved their system. He tucked himself into the prime concealed spot for the sector, watching for the incoming weasel.

But he damn near shorted to see what came toward him.

"DING!?"

"WHEELIE!? Everybody said you was dead!" Ding shouted right back at him. "What are you doing in the Autobot base!?"

"I defected," Wheelie informed his fellow drone proudly.

"You mean you don't gotta work for them lousy Decepticreeps!?" Ding demanded in shock.

"Nope," Wheelie grinned at him. "And lemme tell you Ding, workin' for them Auto-bots is the prime gig!"

"No slag," Ding grinned. "Sign me up Wheels!"

"First things first Ding, send 'em out your offline signal, then we'll get down to some serious introducin'!" Wheelie grinned. He grinned all the more to sense the standard sparked-drone's offlined signal.

::. Hey Jackson! We got us another recruit!.:: Wheelie sent cheerfully, leading the way back through the ducts toward his human partner's position.

::. 'Nother drone like you Wheels?.::

::. Yup.::

::. He got any info for Optimus?.::

::. Ooh! Good question! Probably.:: "Hey Ding, you kept up your spyin' on the big aft-holes?" Wheelie asked his fellow drone cheerfully.

"What, you thought I'd stop?" Ding snorted.

"Sweet, first bot we're gonna have you talkin' to is the Prime. Don't be worried tho Ding, the Primes are fraggin' cool about talkin' to the drones."

Ding looked at him sceptically for a long second.

"No seriously, Brains made a bet with the big ones that Soundwave'd come here the second the Lord High Protector was re-designated. They actually gave him five rell o' high-grade, even though he was a bit wrong about the timing." Wheelie grinned.

"Five rell!?"

"Yup," Wheelie grinned, spying Jackson at their usual exit-point.

"New recruit?" Jackson asked with a grin. "How's..."

"His," Wheelie prompted the human.

"How's his energon levels doing?"

"The first thing the human asks is how my energon reserves are doing?" Ding husked behind Wheelie.

"Told ya Ding, awesome gig," Wheelie smirked, jumping into Jackson's waiting hands. That was the other thing Wheelie liked about these humans. They were great about being concientious about their size differences. Jackson set him down lightly on his tires and straightened, offering his hands to Ding.

Hesitantly, Ding jumped and stared in shock as the soldier caught him and leaned down, carefully picking Wheelie up again.

Wheelie grinned and held onto the soldier's hair, nodding for Ding to do the same as his human counterpart began striding back to the main areas again.

"Didn't hear the answer on that, you hungry man?" Jackson asked, glancing at Ding.

"A... a little?"

"Right, first stop med-bay then," Jackson grinned, turning a corner into the massive corridors of their home.

(MnPOV)

Megatron parked outside of the pathetic little human's city. Biding his time. Shockwave had dropped the drone near the Auto-bot headquarters.

The drone had yet to report back.

Megatron growled to himself, and hoped for his own sake that the drone had simply had a difficult time getting into the base, or getting a signal out.

He checked the drone's signal and snarled.

It was showing an offline drone.

Slag it all.

Very well, plan B.

::. Shockwave, destroy the city.:: Megatron ordered with a low growl.

Off on the other side of the human's state, Shockwave and Driller came up from the ground, and began destroying the infrastructure the humans had taken so long to build. Without doubt, that would draw the majority of the Auto-bots out of their base.

Megatron settled in his place somewhat, watching the skies, and listening to the frequencies as best he could. The auto-bots were blocking their signals, and no doubt Soundwave was blocking his own.

Then, out of the blue, Megatron caught sight of a flier, streaking toward Shockwave's position.

A flier that Megatron was incredibly familiar with.

Evidently, the ever emotionless Soundwave had been sent to deal with his former ally. His plan could not have gone better. Megatron let loose a gleeful snarl and blasted himself into the air, chasing after his communications officer.

(OPOV)

Optimus came out of a leisurely recharge cycle and stretched. His Kae was still nestled against him, her face buried into his chest. She would be rousing soon.

Her body was almost fully repaired, and his protective circuitry was almost at full stand down. It was a bitter-sweet feeling. By no means did he wish injury or even a minor scratch upon his Kae.

But he would be lying to state that he had not enjoyed the chance to protect and dote on his mate.

A gentle hand was on his chest, slender fingers ever so lightly tangled in a bundle of neural fibres. Optimus smiled and gently covered the hand on his chest, making every effort to burn this image, this feeling into his permanent memories.

His beautiful, gentle-sparked mate, so peaceful and calm recharging in his arms.

Her spark rested beside his own, she had chosen him. Her peaceful, recharging countenance belied her strength, her ferocity. Pushed enough, his mate would release a firestorm of rage and destruction. He had witnessed it, stood stock still in awe and watched his mate in battle.

The doors to his quarters opened, and Sentinel peered through.

"Sentinel," Optimus rumbled quietly, nodding to the older Prime.

"Optimus, will Kae be rousing soon?"

Optimus nodded and smiled as his femme shifted slightly in his arms, her optics coming dimly online as she looked up at him.

"Good morning, my mate," he murmured gently.

His Kae smiled and shifted slightly, reaching up for a kiss.

"A femme of such status should be more wary when waking to strange voices," Sentinel rumbled mildly.

"My Optimus is relaxed, calm, and far more along in his onlining than I," Kae murmured with a smile. "I'll rouse to strange voices in battle mode when the situation warrants it. Your voice is not strange to me Sentinel, neither is your spark."

Sentinel snorted as Optimus grinned.

Then, as fate was want to do in perfect moments, the alarms began blaring. Kae was on her feet, striding down the corridors before Optimus even had his armour on.

"Attend your armour properly, young warrior," Sentinel ordered him patiently before turning and striding after the femme. "Kae! Slow down!" Sentinel shouted out. Optimus sent his wordless gratitude to his father-mentor, the older Prime covering his back in the midst of his surprise.

"Alarms!" her voice shouted back. She sounded as though she were already at communications.

::. All call! Status report!.:: Optimus sent over the primary, settling his shoulder plates properly into place and striding into the corridors after his mate and old friend.

::. Soundwave reporting: dual Decepticon signals. Signature designation: Shockwave. Signature designation: Driller. Location: Richmond, Virginia."

Optimus snarled. Shockwave.

"Path Path Path!" he roared, thundering to communications. Kae was standing beside Sentinel, a matching snarl bending her faceplates as she gazed at the holo-screens lighting the room. The humans were scrambling, the NEST core and their subordinates already running for their equipment.

"Prime!" Will bellowed from the catwalk.

"Shockwave, and Driller," Optimus growled.

"Soundwave: Request." the acting communications officer stated flatly. Optimus turned to look at him. "Soundwave: immediate responder. Mission: minimize city damage."

That and no doubt Soundwave wished to remove Shockwave's helm.

"Permission granted, keep your processors clear, Soundwave," Optimus ordered flatly. "Keep Shockwave there, we will be close behind you."

Soundwave nodded, snapped to attention and saluted.

A soldier down to his core processors.

"Dismissed," Optimus stated flatly.

Soundwave nodded again, and in seconds he disappeared.

"Auto-bots!" Optimus rumbled, on the primary and aloud. "All available warriors! Headcount!"

::. Sideswipe.::

::. Sunstreaker.::

::. Ironhide.::

::. Arcee-Chromia-Flareup.:: The femme trine were already combined. Optimus nodded.

::. Skids-Mudflap reporting.:: The twins had already combined! Optimus rapidly made a note to commend them for it later.

::. Jazz reh'portin'::

::. Bumblebee responding.::

::. Mirage in the house.::

::. Archangel Prime.:: his Kae stated sternly.

::. Sentinel Prime.::

::. Wreckers responding!.::

::. Prowl reporting, battle computations being sent now.::

In an instant, Optimus was observing the computations, the battle plans, the list of bots with the best chance of surviving this surprise skirmish. A split moment, with all of the sparks around him, the co-operation and joined processors of the auto-bot unit a split moment was all that was needed.

"Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Ironhide, Bumblebee," he growled out. "Report to the entrance bay. All other bots please resume your prior duties. Sentinel, Kae, you have the lectures to attend to," he added, nodding to the Primes standing beside him.

The light of surprise in his Kae's eyes bespoke her having forgotten the lectures, she nodded to him.

"Be careful, my mate," she ordered him sternly, reaching up to press a kiss to his jaw.

Optimus nodded and turned, fully prepared to stride into battle.

(SwPOV)

Shockwave.

It was all Soundwave could do to keep the resultant surge of rage from crippling what progress his self-repair functions had made on his emotional circuitry.

The Prime was already there, and the Lady High Protector. The Lady High Protector was not fit for battle yet, she had not been returned her armour. That made Soundwave the fastest in base. That was the logical argument he could use at any rate.

But the Primes were a mated pair, perhaps... perhaps they would simply allow him this. Femme Prime already knew his history...

"Soundwave: Request." Soundwave stated flatly. Optimus turned to look at him. "Soundwave: immediate responder. Mission: minimize city damage."

He wanted Shockwave's helm.

"Permission granted, keep your processors clear, Soundwave," Optimus ordered flatly. "Keep Shockwave there, we will be close behind you."

Soundwave nodded, that was a highly logical order. He snapped to attention and saluted his acceptance of those orders.

"Dismissed," Optimus stated flatly.

Soundwave nodded again, and turned, immediately striding to the entrance bay. He could certainly get used to following the orders of the Prime. The order had not been to kill, had not been to not kill.

Merely an order to keep his processors about him and not get offlined.

Highly reasonable.

Soundwave transformed and shot himself into the air, automatically tracking his target signals.

Shockwave.

Soundwave had been waiting vorns, vorns upon vorns of waiting to destroy the twisted 'scientist' mech. The spark of his sweet Nightsong would rest in the Well, comfortable with the knowledge that he still remembered her, and that he had finally avenged her. Soundwave threw on all speed, streaking toward the sadist he had been forced to call ally.

The sadist was attacking humans, that was not truly his style.

He was far more likely to simply capture a few dozen and experiment on them.

Soundwave would have to inquire as to the reason for the assault, before he tore the spark chamber from his chest. Such a thing, such a thought would normally have his spark twisting in disgust. He was not so violent by nature.

But some things bore exception.

He idly considered returning with Shockwave's helm. As a gift for Banshee-hawk femme and her mate. He wondered if the human behaviours still evident in Banshee would find offence in that.

He didn't think so, the femme was highly sensitive and protective of her mate.

Target close, target acquired. Soundwave cleared his processors of everything but the fight ahead of him. Driller was cheerfully demolishing buildings.

There were humans in those buildings.

His mistress was a former human. They were a species of tiny, sentient beings. Tiny, sentient beings that under the correct circumstances revealed the presence of powerful sparks.

Already, there were two Cybertronian femmes within the auto-bot ranks that were born human. Therefore, no longer would he allow the injury to these tiny creatures.

The scout, after all, had stated that his own mate could be among these beings. That brought the rage, his mate could be injured! Injured by the sadist and his pet destroyer! It took no more than a moment for his battle computations to come to the forefront processors. Where to strike, how to strike, how first to cripple then to kill. Soundwave kept his processors clear, as the Prime had ordered.

Shockwave battled alone, it was the mech's pattern, his style. His belief that nothing could hurt him with his pet destroyer present was to be his downfall this orn.

Soundwave dove, and began disabling. For the first time in vorns, a snarl of rage burst from his vocal processors, and that seemed to shock the creature all the more.

Disable, not kill, he wanted answers first.

A blow.

A blow from behind?

The destroyer was flailing, Soundwave could hear it's shrill request to retreat from the firestorm of his rage.

But it had not been the destroyer to strike him.

He was conscious, undamaged.

Another blow, not a blow, a shot.

Disabling shot, a weapon of Shockwave's design, literally, a stunner.

Why was it coming from behind?

Soundwave turned and bit down the groan that wished to rise in his vocal processors.

Megatron was grinning at him, even as the darkness fell over his optics.

(BPOV)

Soundwave hadn't switched his primary language. It didn't matter to him that his signal had disappeared, Bumblebee raced toward his last co-ordinate ping. It's what scouts did.

Because despite Soundwave's conscious signal disappearing, at this range Bee could still trace the other's spark. That in itself had put Soundwave securely in the circle of bots Bee trusted. No-bot who planned on betraying them would give a scout their spark signature. No smart bot anyway, and Soundwave sure as the pit burned wasn't stupid.

He crested another hill and screeched to a halt.

Megatron. Megatron, Shockwave, Driller and an unconscious Soundwave.

::. SLAG!.:: Bumblebee shouted on the comm.

::. Bumblebee! Report!.:: Optimus rumbled instantly.

::. Soundwave got drawn out, he's online, he's been stunned!.:: Bumblebee shouted. Immediately, he began sending the visuals.

Soundwave was in Shockwave's claws, Megatron was grinning. Bee had learned his lesson the first time, waiting for his Prime to come back him up. If Megatron hadn't already offlined Soundwave for defecting, it meant the Decepticons wanted their communications officer back.

Prime was a half breem behind him, the terror twins two minutes now. Bee threw himself forward, racing after the mechs gloating over their prize.

He transformed and began letting off shots, firing on Megatron and Shockwave.

Megatron turned and began firing at him. But the twins were now hot on his bumper.

Shockwave, behind Megatron grinned at them, dragging Soundwave's prone form a bit closer, Driller wound it's tentacles around Shockwave and began receding into the ground.

All of a moment. It's all it took.

Megatron grinned at them the second Shockwave was clear and blasted himself into the air.

They were too late.

Prime rolled up beside him and transformed, first looking at Megatron's shrinking silhouette, then the hole in the ground where Soundwave had been.

Silence.

::. What do we tell Kae?.:: Bee sent softly. He couldn't even get a trace on Soundwave's spark now. Not under the ground...

Optimus vented a sigh, and glanced down at him.

::. The truth.:: Kae's voice stated flatly. ::. My advisor has been kidnapped.::

Bee winced. Oh. He could already hear the anger in her tone.

::. They're gonna slag him!.:: Jolt sent in horror.

::. We gotta find him!.:: Lena sent in counterpart.

::. Now where is my armour?.:: Kae demanded.

::. Kae...:: Optimus started softly.

::. He is my advisor, my mate, I will not tolerate his kidnapping by our enemies.:: Archangel Prime stated flatly. ::. I am fully healed. You know it. I know it. Now where the slag is my armour?.::

Bee watched in awe as his Prime scowled at the air, and the hole in the ground.

::. It is in the storage bay.:: he finally rumbled tiredly.

::. Ratchet, how long until you can get here?.:: Kae sent immediately. Oh right, she was still in the lecture hall...

::. Four Breem.:: Ratchet sent flatly. ::. I need to get your armour out and make sure it's not damaged.::

::. The switch out will be easiest during the intermission.:: Sentinel added.

Kae nodded on the Primary, relaxing somewhat. Bee sighed.

::. How're you gonna find him sis?.:: he asked softly.

::. I already know where he is.::

::. How?.::

::. I have absolutely no idea, I just know where my advisor is.::