Disclaimer: Beast Wars belong to Hasbro but I'm not telling you whom Silver Dawn belongs to because that would give away too much. :P

Author's note: Primus, I can't believe I've gotten so far! So here we are in the continuation of "Could have". Expect some surprises here, if I'm lucky enough to manage them :D. And I hope you enjoy!

Prologue

I dedicate this whole part of the "Could have" series to anyone who guesses the secret about Silver Dawn before it's revealed some chapters later!

Politics is a dirty business. It does turn you into an ignorant power-hungry slob most of the times. But every government has its white sheep. It would simply be unrealistic if it didn't. In the Maximal High Council that was Elder Accolade.

Elder Accolade was an elderly transformer with no distinguishable appearance. His moderate size and dull green-gray colour made him look insignificant. Of course, Accolade had all the means to change the way he looked but he wouldn't do that for the whole of Cybertron (a big part of which he already owned). That very appearance served perfectly to cover his razor-sharp intelligence which, in turn, often proved to be the only obstacle in the way of his less noble colleges' power games. He had already managed to stop some of the Government's overly foolish and risky 'top secret' plans. What was more, he had done that without the other Elders becoming suspicious of him. He was so good in looking insignificant that they never considered him a threat.

Truth be told, they never considered him at all. They only regarded him as an empty-headed old bot who had grown roots in the Council and wouldn't go away. And that was just fine with him. But the down side of it was that they didn't feel obliged to tell him about their more shady schemes and he couldn't always rely on his knowledge of what they were up to.

The frown dominating his features right now showed that he had just been informed of something he hadn't known. He was sitting behind the desk in his office, hands folded in front of him, absently staring into space, thinking. The only other transformer in the room with him, a tall slender femme of silver, orange and crimson was leaning on the wall, waiting patiently for the Elder to come to a decision. Her vivid ruby optics were gazing dreamily out the window. Though not a noticeable beauty, there was something about her that just wouldn't let you look away. Maybe it was the fact that she was positively… radiant. Her energy and will to live could be practically felt.

And her thirst for learning new things was unmatched. For her relatively short life she had acquired more knowledge and skills than half of Cybertron's Scientific Institute and Police Academy combined. That was one of many reasons why she was Accolade's right hand bot under cover.

The Elder finally sighed and looked at her.

"Well, I'm afraid I simply can't think of anything else to do so it's once again up to you, agent Silver Dawn. You'll just have to go there and… Silver!"

"Huh?" she tore her optics from the window. "Sorry."

The old bot shook his head.

"With the kind of life you lead it's really amazing how you still find it possible to daydream. I was saying that I have no other choice but to send you to colony Omicron to check it out. I'm afraid that Optimus Primal's information might be true after all. If even a quarter of what he says is true, something must be done about it now. I found out that the scientists there lost one of their doctors some time ago under mysterious circumstances. You are to take his place."

"Understood, sir." Came the serious reply. Silver Dawn was capable of other things besides daydreaming and one of them was to be serious when needed.

"It's a risky assignment even by your standards, agent. Do you think you'll manage?"

"I'll do my best, sir."

"Do that but keep safe."

"I will, sir."

With a last nod of acknowledgement she headed for the door.

"Silver…"

She turned around. Accolade hesitated.

"You know I love, don't you? And I don't want you to risk your life. If you decide not to do this… "

"I know, Dad. I love you too. But you needn't be so anxious. Think of it as if I'm only leaving for work just like any other young femme."

She flashed him a brilliant smile and a wink and she was gone.

"You're like no other femme, Silver." He though out loud after the door closed in her wake.

A/N: As always, comments are HIGHLY appreciated. Thank you for reading!