Welcome back everyone and sorry for the delay. I wanted to get this finished sooner but the Thanksgiving rush hit me like a shot hitting Waspinator. However I did finally learn how to use the horizontal line scene breaks and will be editing the previous chapters later to include them. That said a lot happens in this chapter to move this story along. Please enjoy as I hope I put a little something in for everyone.


Megatron walked into the Nemesis' science labs with Starscream in tow. "Shockwave." He began. "How goes the restoration of the Omega Lock?"

Shockwave turned to Megatron. "We salvaged much of the wreckage of the Omega Lock, but the damage was quite extensive." He began. "At present it could take centuries to fabricate the necessary components to restore it. Therefore, I propose the selective use of human technology to facilitate the procedure. Retrofitting its' operating systems would cut the work down to a matter of cycles."

"Very well." Megatron replied. "Turn your 'wish list' over to Starscream." He said, turning to the bot in question, startling him. "You shall oversee the acquisitions. Use any and all bots you require to retrieve the necessary components."

"But master." Starscream stammered. "Wouldn't it be easier for Shockwave to retrieve the necessary."

Megatron cut him off. "While we await the components, Shockwave shall turn his attention to the stabilization of the cyber matter with the aid of Oil Slick and Tarantulas. You have your orders."

"Yes master." Starscream bowed before heading out of the lab. He began grumbling to himself as he stepped up to a communications console. "Reduced to a lowly courier. All available Decepticons report to the Space Bridge staging area." Shutting down the console he looked Shockwaves' list over as he made his way to his destination.


Arriving at the staging area he saw that in addition to several Vehicons, most every Decepticon had arrived. "Time is of the essence." He began looking over the crowd. "Lord Megatron, with some assistance from Shockwave has found a way to restore the Omega Lock and by extension, Cybertron." He waited a moment as the collective bots cheered.

"However, we require parts and equipment to restore it. I am now asking for volunteers to assist me in retrieving them." He continued, smirking a little as most every single con took a step forward.

"Very well." Starscream began, consulting the list Shockwave had given him as well as the bots before him. "Galavar, Lugnut, take the Mayhem Attack Squadron and head to the coordinates given, we require nuclear control rods."

Galavar scoffed. "Why must we dirty our hands for such a-." He was cut off as Lugnut hoisted him into the air by his neck.

"If Lord Megatron requires something, we shall retrieve it, whelp." Lugnut growled. With that he dropped the gasping Decepticon on his aft.

Starscream snorted in mirth at the upstarts' predicament. "Punch, Blitzwing, take the Predacons with you and retrieve a human quantum computer. It's horrendously slow by our standards but the hardware should suffice. Punch, you may use the Apex Armour after Tarantulas gives you control of the Predacons." He only advised the armors' use to put Punch on par with Blitzwing.

As Punch nodded, Blitzwings' face changed to the blue one. "Ve are going to human school? Vat ze know of ze universe could fit in mien servo." He switched to his red face. "Either vay, ve shall conquer zis institute and capture ze equipment!" The black face came up. "And zen ve can play a game of Hackey Sack."

Rolling his optics, Starscream turned to Oil slick and Tarantulas. "After Tarantulas gives Punch control of the Predacons, report to Shockwaves' lab." Turning to the remaining bots. "Runamuck, Runabout, you shall join me and the Constructicons in retrieving a particle collider, Astrotrain shall be coming along as transport." As the most sensitive piece of equipment, he would oversee its' recovery personally.

"You know your assignments." Starscream spat. "Move out."


Meanwhile at the Maximals' den, a couple of debates were taking place.

"I'm telling you, Blackarachnia would totally work as Mrs. D's codename." Miko exclaimed.

"There's no black anywhere on her in either mode." Raf argued. "It doesn't make sense. Crystal Widow would work better."

"Jack, back me up here." Miko said, turning to her boyfriend.

"I'm staying out of this." Jack answered, transforming into his beast mode and backing away.

"Wuss puss." Miko growled.

"Alright, that's it." June grumbled as she dropped from the ceiling and landed between the two teenage Maximals in her spider mode, causing the two to back up a step. She was already having issues with her new body. Particularly the fact that she could no longer have coffee after discovering that coffee worked like alcohol on her.

The morning after her transformation into a Maximal, she'd consumed two Maximal sized cups of coffee (better known as a bucket) and managed to become highly intoxicated. June had been mortified when she'd sobered up and Arcee had told her she'd drunkenly speculated about whether Optimus would find her sexy now that she was part Cybertronian. She'd thought she was over her crush on him, and it didn't help that Arcee had heard and teased her about it. At least she'd woken up so early that the kids hadn't heard her.

"Both of you, what's spider in another language?" She demanded while transforming, she hoped to end this debate quickly.

"Kumo." Miko answered in Japanese.

"AraƱa" Raf added in Spanish.

June mulled the words around in her head. "Alright, in the field call me Kumara." She watched as her two charges looked at each other and nodded.

Miko turned to apologize to Jack only for her attention to be drawn into a corner of the ceiling. "There's that Insecticon again." She groused, seeing the orange and green dragonfly. Apparently, Airachnid had used it as a spy before her attack a few days ago and after it was over it had decided to follow her, much to her chagrin. They first noticed it when they found it examining her old guitar.

"Sorry Miko, I keep trying to catch it, but it keeps avoiding my webs." June replied. Despite her best efforts, the dragonfly somehow managed to keep dodging her and keep close to Miko. June had honestly begun to wonder just how smart it was, given that it hadn't transformed at all.

On the other side of the den, meanwhile, another debate was going on.

"Oh, come on Grimlock!" Allison exclaimed. "You Dinobots would make a great combiner team! Six robot Dinos that can become one great robot warrior, it's bad ass."

Grimlock scoffed at his teams' neighbor. "We Dinobots, bad aft enough."

"Look, Allie." Slash began, walking up to her. "Combining is not what you think it is, if you don't believe me, ask the Protectobots." She advised.

Vince and Sierra looked at each other. Allie? She only let those close to her call her that. Seems Sierra might have to give the 'Protective Sister' speech at some point.

Before the discussion could go further a gust of wind signaled the arrival of Mike Fowler with his father clinging to his back. "Okay, urgent or not, next time I'll walk on my own." He said, getting shakily off his sons' back. "Everyone to the Lost Light, we got con activity."

As the collective bots filed out to go to the ship June stopped and looked at Fowler. "How much trouble are you in for my using the chamber?" She asked. This was the first time she'd seen the bots' government liaison since the day after her transformation.

"Not as much as you think." He answered as he followed her out the door. "I caught some flak but since you're unofficially registered as a field medic they backed down. Although they want me to make sure that the third new Maximal is a capable field soldier."

June gave a sigh of relief as they picked up the pace towards the lift.


Several minutes later the collective Autobot and Maximal forces were gathered near the Lost Lights' space bridge. Fowler was going over his intel on a map.

"We have three simultaneous reports of con activity across the country." He said indicating the three dots on the map. "First one is the Pomona nuclear power plant." Fowler explained, indicating the dot in southern California. "Second is in MIT in Massachusetts with the third being a government black site in Utah." He finished, indicating the dots on both the east coast and near Salt Lake City.

"So, a nuclear power plant." Ratchet began. "Somewhere known for advanced human technology and some kind of device the government feels the need to keep secret." He reasoned, much to the irritation of both Fowlers. "It sounds like a supply run."

"The question is then." Optimus interjected. "What are the Decepticons looking to build?" He turned to the collective bots and Maximals. "We shall divide three separate teams to repel the raiders."

He turned to Rodimus. "Rodimus." He began. "I'd like you and Arcee to take the Maximals to the human college. Please keep close to June as it will be her first mission as a Maximal." He added in a whisper that the Maximal in question heard.

June bit down on her lip before nodding. She couldn't argue with that stipulation without feeling like a hypocrite. After all, she'd insisted on it for her own children. Not that they knew it, of course.

"Ultra Magnus." He continued, turning to his second in command. "Take the Wreckers and head for the nuclear plant and take Bumblebee with you to scout out the area. Use caution, nuclear radiation is as toxic to humans as us, so we don't want to risk damaging the reactor."

"Finally." Optimus spoke, turning to Grimlock. "I require Perceptor and the Dinobots to accompany me to the Utah site. Whatever the Decepticons are attempting to acquire could be dangerous in the wrong hands, and it is possible that a larger number of troops will be present."

Grimlock snorted. "Normally me would tell you to go frag yourself." Grimlock answered, causing looks of disgust from several observers. "But whatever cons making probably built by Shockwave, so Dinobots shall assist on principal."

"Very well." Optimus replied solemnly. For Grimlock that was almost as good as a 'yes sir'. "Autobots, transform and roll out." With that the groups dispersed through the space bridge. Although the Maximals never realized that a certain Insecticon had snuck along.


As Arcee, Rodimus and the Maximals exited the space bridge they found much of the campus deserted. "Where is everybody?" Jack quired.

"The spring semester ended a week ago. Which is good for us since the odds of human witnesses will be minimal." Raf replied. At the collective looks he received he explained. "I looked up MIT before." He paused a moment. "Before."

June went to comfort Raf but Mike got to him first. "Hey, from what I've seen of your tech skills you are smarter than most of the professors here. If anything, they would've probably held you back."

Raf smiled at the older Maximal. "Thanks Mike."

A loud boom on the other side of the campus drew their attention. "Since we just went on the clock, better call me Cheetor."

The group arrived to find the 2.0 Predacons in beast mode, as well as a Decepticon they'd never met before accompanied by a single Vehicon.

"We were trying for stealth Blitzwing." Punch grumbled. He hadn't expected his partner to collapse the ceiling above the quantum computer laboratory.

"I believe I can speak on behalf of ze court vhen I say, oops." Blitzwing responded, his black face coming around and surprising the Maximals.

Infernus looked over and saw the advancing Maximals and Autobots. "Your regencies, we have interlopers!" He yelled.

"Scrap." Punch grumbled. He had hoped that commander Magnus or Optimus would be the ones to arrive so he could convincingly loose the Apex armour to the bots. Oh well, can't break cover now. "Infernus, Iguanus, gather the equipment and prepare to transport it. Everyone else, buy them time."

Blitzwings' red face spun up. "Hold on von moment, I ze higher ranking Decepticon, I shall zay ven ve attack." His black face spun back around. "Ven ve attack." He giggled, pointing at the group.

Punch shook his head. Where did Megatron get this bot? "Predacons, terrorize!" He yelled, triggering the hyper aggression command that had been programmed into their minds. Admittedly this had been passed off as a way to boost their strength while hiding the fact it made them subservient.

Mikos' jaw dropped when she heard the command. "They have a catchphrase?" She called out. "Okay, we SO need to make one of our own."

"Not the time Wingsaber, we need to help against the Man-E-Faces knockoff." Leobolt commented hinting at Blitzwing.

"The who?" Wingsaber, as well as Arcee and Rodimus asked, looking at him.

"Never mind just combine." Rhinox yelled as the three bolted towards each other and combined to Magnaboss.

"Vell, vat are you waiting for?" Blitzwing said to the Predacons. "Engraved invitations?"

"Spittor, terrorize." The blue and orange frog flipped into his robot mode. Deploying a pair of wrist mounted guns, he began firing at the Maximal combiner.

"Can't let hop bot have all the funzzz." Buzzed Waspinator. "Waspinator, terrorizzzze." Transforming into his bot mode, Waspinator opened fire on Magnaboss as well. Only to have to dodge fire from Rodimus.

"Arcee, stay close to June." Rodimus ordered, remembering Optimus' request. "Everyone, pick a dance partner."

"Un wunderbar suggestion Rodimus." A now blue faced Blitzwing commented stepping up to stand by the Predacons. "And allow me to provide ze musical accompaniment vith mien number von hit." With that, Blitzwing rapidly transformed into a tank with two cannons on it. "Ze Blitzwing Bop!" He finished with a shout as he opened fire.

Rodimus and Magnaboss dodged the shots and charged toward the triple changer. Said bot seemingly did a backflip in his tank mode and transformed into a jet before taking to the sky. "I forgot he can do that." Rodimus grumbled.

Magnaboss charged in front of Rodimus, deflecting several of Waspinators' stingers with their sword. "Careful, it looks like both of these cons use Tox-En." They called.

As the two toxic Predacons kept Magnaboss and Rodimus busy, Blitzwing was circling around for an attack. "Zis shall be too easy." He smirked to himself. He carefully took aim at Rodimus and Magnaboss. "A one, a two-hoo, a three."

Unfortunately, before he could fire an orange and green dragonfly Insecticon latched onto his nosecone. "Ah, ick get it off me." In his blind panic he hadn't realized that he slammed right into Waspinator and that the impact from the blow had unbalanced Spittor enough for Cheetor to speed by and knock him into the crater with them. Looking over he saw Punch fall into the crater without the armor. What happened there?

On the other side of the crater, Nightscream was being harrased by Rampage. "You know." He grinned with his mandibles. "I'm just 'batty' about exotic meats. Can't wait to see what techno organic bat wings taste like." He finished with a smack of the lips.

He took a step forward before a plasma disk hit him in the chest and knocked him back several feet. "He ain't on the menu Rampage." Depthcharge glowered. "Stay behind me kid, I can take him." He whispered to Nightscream

"I'm not helpless either." With that he let loose a sonic shriek that knocked Rampage back several feet more. "Got any advice for him?" He asked at Depthcharges' impressed look.

"Rampage is vain and likes to talk." He began, drawing his sword. "He'll try to get inside your head and trick you into a position he wants you in."

"Wait." Nightscream said as he watched their opponent get up. "I like to talk too. Let's see how he likes his own medicine." He added with a smirk of his own.

Rampage growled as he got up. He was going to cook that Maximal slowly and make Dreadwing watch. "Insolent scrap. Who do you think you're up against?" He yelled, firing a missile at the pair.

"Not a celebrity, that's for sure." Nightscream taunted as he dodged the missile, watching it explode in the sky. "No one ever gave you the time of day when you were young, and that's why you decided to become a killer isn't it?"

"Don't play psycho analyst with me boy." Rampage hissed.

"We don't need to be Rung to figure you out." Depthcharge smirked, deciding to get in on the act. "All those kills were just your way of gaining attention, weren't they? A way to stand out? Prove you weren't just another knockoff." He knew Rampage was constructed cold and called that when he was young.

Rampage shifted into his tank mode. "Shut your port!" He yelled, speeding towards them. Nightscream and Depthcharge transformed and took to the air.

"So what, you get sorted into the army after the plague of rust, couldn't cut it and decided to become a serial killer. What, you couldn't get work as a slag shoveler?" Depthcharge added with a laugh, throwing salt in the wound.

Rampage transformed and took aim at Depthcharge. "Try and laugh this off you." Rampages' vision began to blur as he suddenly felt weak. He felt a light sting on his neck as Nightscream retracted his fangs. He'd been so focused on one bot; he'd forgotten there was a second one there.

Depthcharge knocked the weakened Rampage onto his back in his flight mode before transforming and standing on his chest. "This is for Sunstorm, and everyone else you killed to get your jollies." He drew his sword and plunged it deep into Rampages chest, right through his mutilated spark. A moment later the crazed Predacons' body stopped twitching as he died.

"Well, that was a, woah!" Nightscream exclaimed as plasma disc from Depthcharge destroyed Rampages' head. "What the hell?"

"Somtimes, you need to make sure." He explained.

"Terrorsaur, terrorize!"

"Now come on, let's go help the others." The two transformed and took off.

Somewhere between the two battles, Botanica and Mach Hoof were trying to fend off Terrorsaur with limited success. Neither of them were flyers and the prehistoric Predacon was too fast for them to hit.

"What's the matter? Can't hit the broad side of a-" Terrorsaur was cut off as a high-speed pass from behind by Depthcharge caught him off guard. This was enough for Botanica to hit the flyer with a seed snare. A second later Nightscream kicked the ball of vines that was Terrorsaur across the crater with Mach Hoof hitting him with Nucleon for good measure. The Predacon then slammed into the large armored figure that Arcee and Kumara were fighting... wait, what?

While in theory, fighting a lone Vehicon would've been a good idea for June, or Kumara, to get used to fighting while on a mission, Arcee had not been expecting said Vehicon to be wielding the Apex armour. Honestly, she was beginning to think they should've gone up against Blitzwing.

Several web throwing stars were embedded in the armour and it wasn't even slightly hindered. Arcees' blasters hadn't even scorched it. Punch smirked as he eyed Arcee. "I'm not some regular rank and file Vehicon you know." He swung a fist at the two femmes who leapt out of the way. "I had to punch and kick my way up the ranks just to earn a place on the Nemesis."

Punch grabbed onto Arcee by the leg and held her upside down as Kumara began slashing at the back of his suit. Holding up a fist as if to punch Arcee and seeing Terrorsaur flying at him he decided to end this. "Tell Magnus to check his messages." He whispered to a now confused Arcee as the electrified Predacon hit him in the suit, causing it to convulse. Ejecting himself from the armor, Punch let himself fall into the crater. While it hadn't gone the way he'd planned, he was still able to get the Apex armour to the Autobots.

"Regent, the equipment is ready to move." Infernus called. Turning, Punch saw that the quantum computer was loaded on a hover platform with the two predacons acting as cart horses. Seeing Blitzwing and the other Predacons freeing themselves, he figured a tactical retreat was what was now needed.

"Right, Soundwave we need an emergency bridge." Seconds later the group were fleeing through the portal, computer in tow. Hopefully it would be enough to stave off Megatrons' wrath about losing Rampage.

The group of Maximals and Autobots reconvened at the edge of the crater. "So, they were after a quantum computer?" Cheetor asked.

"Apparently, those are some of the fastest and advanced computers on the planet, almost on par with older Cybertronian technology." Rodimus answered. He'd been able to figure out what they were after by the wreckage they left behind.

Leobolt, Rhinox, and Wingsaber however were more interested in the Insecticon that had saved them from Blitzwing. "I wonder why it helped us?" Leobolt asked. A sound that was similar to an old radio communication answered.

Rhinox narrowed his eyes. "It said its' name is Tonebot. It was wanting to thank us for freeing it from Airachnid." He smirked. "It also said that Miko was the most interesting of us so it's been following her."

Wingsaber growled. "Very funny full pint." To her surprise, Tonebot flew over to her and transformed. Not into a bot mode, but into an orange and green copy of her guitar.

"No way." She said wide eyed at the instrument. She'd been so sad that she couldn't play her guitar anymore and apparently Tonebot decided to remedy that. Smiling wide, Miko strummed a chord on the guitar that turned into a short jam.

Hearing the tune, Arcee groaned and rubbed her optics. She'd gotten too used to things being quiet at the base. "Let's get back to base and report. Blaster, we need a bridge." Moments later the group were headed back to base.


Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus was sneaking around the outside of the Pomona nuclear plant. With him were Bulkhead, Wheeljack, Smokescreen, Skidz and to his annoyance, Whirl. "Remember team, we have to ensure the reactor is undamaged. By us, or the cons." He'd sent Bumblebee on ahead to find a route that would take the cons by surprise.

"Your stealth could use work. We knew you had arrived here. Surprise is now ours." Came a disturbingly familiar voice. Turning they saw the forms of Bludgeon, Stranglehold, Galavar and Lugnut.

"What the pit." Ultra Magnus sputtered. "How, what have you done to Bumblebee?" He didn't see the scout held prisoner and feared the worst.

"We are doing nothing to bug scout." Stranglehold laughed. "We are using drone to send him on what humans call wild goose chase."

"A chase that shall eventually end in a turkey shoot, yes." Galavar grinned. He'd been irritated to be stuck on this mission; but things were looking up. "Although we can get some practice in on you." The fight broke out from there.

Stranglehold laughed as he pinned Bulkhead to the wall with his hand. "Be telling me Wrecker, you ever wondering why I'm called Stranglehold?" He began to squeeze Bulkheads' neck. While he didn't need oxygen or to breath, he knew what the Mayhem Attack Squad member was talking about. "I shall be giving you honor of having head on my." Stranglehold was cut off by a pair of legs landing on his shoulders and a set of hooks rapping on his head like a bongo drum.

Whirl looked down over Strangleholds' helmet; his single optic filled with malice and glee. "Guess who?"

Stranglehold removed his hand from Bulkhead to remove Whirl. The Wrecker however flipped off the larger bots' shoulders and transformed into his helicopter mode, unleashing a barrage of missiles forcing him back. Bulkhead had thrown a punch at the brute as well, sending him sprawling.

Across the courtyard, Drift and Wheeljack had engaged Bludgeon. "Two against one then?" Bludgeon began as he examined the swordsbots before him. "My skills are enough for two. No great challenge yet."

"Say all you will Bludgeon." Drift hissed at the Decepticon. "I let my anger get the best of me before, and that is why you walked away. But I swear, I shall terminate you and take master Yoketrons' helmet back from your cold dead husk."

"You mean he's the one who." Wheeljack began before being cut off by the skeletal samurais' laughter.

"From my cold dead husk." He laughed as Drift Charged. "Greater than you have tried it." Drawing his sword, he blocked Drifts' attack. "Yet I stand here still." Out of the corner of his optic, Bludgeon saw Wheeljack attempt to strike him from the side. Backstepping to force Drift around he caused Wheeljack to strike him instead.

"Oh scrap, Drift!" Wheeljack yelled in horror. Bludgeon capitalized on this to sever Wheeljacks' hands at the forearms with his blade before putting him down with a kick to the head.

"From Banzai-Trons' lips. The first rule of warriors." Bludgeon grinned. "Plan for all you see."

While the swords bots went toe to toe, Smokescreen had gotten into a battle with Galavar. "Hmm, to be honest I was expecting my disgrace of a sister." He groused as he fired his arm cannon at the young warrior.

Dodging left, Smokescreen fired several shots of his own. It was times like this he really missed the phase shifter. "Well, she probably has better things to do than listen to her whiny brother." He taunted.

Firing into the ground to disorient him, Galavar charged forth and lifted Smokescreen by the neck. "Well then, your dead body can be my greeting card to her, yes." He charged up his cannon to fire again when a yellow and black blur came racing towards him with horn blaring.

Caught off guard, Galavar turned and was slammed into head on by Bumblebees' vehicle mode. "Thanks for the save bee, that was too close." Smokescreen breathed. Bumblebee transformed and beeped his agreement. The two of them had to dodge another blast from Galavars' cannon.

"I see the drone failed its' mission, and I shall not be bested by a second-rate warrior and a scout, no." Galavar ranted. "I shall enjoy melting you both down into." He stopped as he saw movement out of the corner of his optic. "Lugnut no, not here!" A large explosion cut him off.

Ultra Magnus had been attempting to take out Megatrons' old body guard Lugnut. Unfortunately, the burly bot was larger than he was, so even with Skidz and his replicated combat skills it was a dead heat. "What is Megatron attempting to build Lugnut? Whatever his plans, you know he'll fail."

"Fool, Lord Megatrons' glorious might shall reach out and claim every inch of both this world and Cybertron. Not that you will be here to see it." With that Lugnut retracted his hands and transformed his wrists into explosives. He slammed his fist into the ground, ignoring Galavars' warning and unleashing his infamous Punch Of Kill Everything aka, the POKE.

Galavar shook his head and got up. Looking to his right he saw Bludgeon getting back to his feet and picking up his sword. On his left he saw Stranglehold on all fours with a servo on his head to clear the cobwebs. The various Autobots were in similar states. "Lugnut you buffoon, how many times have we told you, give us some warning before you use the punch?"

Galavars' comms beeped. "What the leaky pit was that mates?" Came Octopunches' voice. He'd been left behind to supervise the Vehicons transfer of the control rods. "We just finish moving our booty and now we got us a maelstrom that cracked the reactor."

That got everyone's' attention. "Reactor is cracked? We must be getting back to the bridgeshky." Transforming into his monster truck mode he took off to the rendezvous point, Bludgeon and Galavar in hot pursuit as well.

Lugnut growled. "This is not the end Autobots." Transforming into a bomber, he jetted away from the Autobots who were just getting back on their feet.

"I'll stop them." Whirl called, preparing to transform.

"Negative." Magnus replied. "We have wounded and a reactor to patch." He activated his comms. "Blaster, send in Ratchet and Nautica, we have a situation."

A few minutes later, Ratchet was Reattaching Wheeljacks' hands as Nautica was prepping what looked like a cross between a mortar launcher and a cement mixer.

"Okay." She began. "With this I can inject a compound of lead and concrete into the crack directly, patching it and stabilizing it until the humans can do a more thorough repair job." She looked at Ultra Magnus. "Did anyone find out what they were attempting to steal?"

"About twenty tons of control rods according to the security tape we're now wiping." Lightbright replied over the comms. "As to what for, no clue. Oh, and we have a message from Arcee, they recovered the Apex armour and something about you needing to check your messages." She cut the comms after that.

Magnus frowned. Check his messages? The only one he could've received one from was. His optics shot open. Between the incidents with Mindwipe and Airachnid not to mention his tribunal, he'd completely forgotten about him. He'd have to speak with Optimus at once.


Arriving at their destination, Optimus, Perceptor and the Dinobots felt for a moment that they hadn't left the base. The Utah black site was almost a carbon copy of the Unit-E base. Only without the Insecticon damage in various stages of repair.

"Did we walk through a space bridge or a mirror?" Snarl asked as he looked around.

Swoop took to the air. "Well, judging by the woah." He dove down to avoid a pair of laser blasts. "Space bridge, definitely spaces bridge." He transformed and landed. "We got Constructicons loading stuff into what looks like Astrotrain."

"Astrotrain?" Optimus asked. "Are you sure?"

"Kind of hard to miss a purple bullet train." Swoop snarked back.

"Whatever the Decepticons are attempting to steal has to be a critical component for Megatron to have the Constructicons relocate it." Optimus began. "We need to sneak up on them and attempt to capture it ourselves."

"Cons already see Swoop." Grimlock argued. "Sneaking around pointless, we need go in maws blazing."

"We could potentially destroy the entirety of this base if we're not careful Grimlock." Perceptor countered.

"Do we not have Autobots who could fix what we break?" Grimlock snarled. "Enough this. Dinobots, transform!" In a flurry of movement, Grimlock, Slug, Sludge, Snarl, Swoop and Slash transformed into their Dino modes. "Now charge!" He roared.

"Grimlock, wait." Optimus called, but the six ignored him.


Starscream knew this mission was going too well. He felt it in his spark. He and the Constructicons had located the Particle collider relatively easily. However, having to watch as Hook and Scrapper dismantle it as Longhaul, Mixmaster, Bonecrusher, and Scavenger load it into Astrotrain with Runamuck and Runabout standing guard had been dreadfully boring. The laser blasts were the first clue.

"What are those two imbeciles up to now?" Starscream grumbled as he went to check on the battle chargers. He only got part way though as they met him at the hangar door. "Why are you two not at your posts?"

"Sir, we just saw a Dinobot, the flyer." Runabout exclaimed in a panic.

Starscream scoffed. "Those prehistoric peons haven't been seen in millions of years, why would they be-" His reply was cut off by a roar that he knew from the war for Cybertron. "Oh scrap." He deadpanned.

Running back to the site, Starscream yelled out to Scrapper. "Scrapper, please tell me you're finished."

Scrapper put down his torch. "We are now, was that what I thought it was?"

"If you mean those reject Predacons of Shockwaves' the Dinobots, yes!" Starscream exclaimed.

Scrapper cursed under his breath. "Fragging figures. Alright, have Runamuck and Runabout load and secure these last few pieces into Astrotrain. They brought out the heavy artillery? Then we'll do the same, only heavier."

Hook gulped. "Scrapper, you can't really mean for us to face them." For all his snobbish behavior, Hook believed in his own survival first and foremost.

"Hook, this is important, we can't leave it to chance." Scrapper argued. "Now transform and meet me and the others at the entrance." Hook gave a reluctant nod and transformed.

Looking at Starscream, Scrapper continued. "The minute they're loaded, have Astrotrain get clear, we can't risk a space bridge in a firefight this time. Follow him and call for a bridge back to the Nemesis." With that, he transformed and headed for the other Constructicons.

Starscream looked at the battle chargers. "Don't just stand there you two, get going." He yelled as he picked up one of the parts they left behind. He didn't want to think of Megatrons' wrath if he failed this mission.


As Grimlock and the Dinobots reached Astrotrain, they were unsurprised to find six familiar construction vehicles waiting for them.

"Constructicons, transform. Phase two." Scrapper called. The Constructicons, spurred on by the approaching threat, seemed to set a new record for assembling Devastator.

Slamming his fists into the ground, Devastator gave a bone rattling roar that the Dinobots answered. Slug, in a fit of rage, charged in first. Devastator stepped to the left causing the Triceratops to only graze his right leg before slamming into another hangar. Stepping back, he had to raise a hand to block one of Snarls electro balls.

Sludge attempted to take a swing at Devastator with his colossal tail only for the combiner to grab it and throw him into Snarl. Slash leapt from a nearby rooftop onto Devastators face, slashing and clawing it as hard as she could. This caused Devastator to shake his head in such a way as to attempt to swallow the small Dinobot, disaster only averted by Swoop snatching her off of the Combiner. Dropping her on another rooftop, Swoop circled around and launched a stream of fire in Devastators' face as Slug rammed him in the side.

Grimlock, finally stepping into the fray, continued the fiery onslaught. Finally having enough, Devastator engaged his vortex. This forced the Dinobots to transform in order to hold onto whatever they could to keep from being sucked in. Moments later, the vortex stopped and Devastator glared at Grimlock. Preparing to fire his plasma stream, he was forced to redirect it towards a new target as Optimus Prime unleashed his own guns on the combiner. Unleashing the superheated plasma from his maw, Devastator attempted to shoot Prime down. Unfortunately for him, Prime was more than capable of dodging the stream.

During the fight, Starscream Runamuck and Runabout had loaded the last of the components into Astrotrain. Starscream slammed the hatch shut and heard the reaffirming hiss of the locks. Hearing fresh laser blasts, he saw Perceptor attempting to get close to the hangar to try and stop them. The battle chargers combined blasts keeping him at bay.

"Astrotrain, blast off!" He yelled, backing up a bit.

"Contact." He yelled back in his metallic echo. Astrotrain began to move across the ground, his Cybertronian bullet train mode changing back into the transport ship that had brought the Decepticon reinforcements months ago. With a burst from his engines, the triple changer was airborne.

Seeing Astrotrain fleeing, Optimus turned to give chase. Hopefully the Dinobots could hold Devastator until he returned. Hitting his thruster, Optimus began catching up to Astrotrain. "Not this time." Optimus spoke to himself as he leveled his gun Astrotrains' thrusters.

"You're right Prime, not this time." Came Starscreams' voice. Optimus turned just in time to see a missile from the seeker barreling towards him. Optimus attempted to bank right only for the missile to destroy his left wing. He could only watch helplessly as Starscream caught up to Astrotrain.

"Soundwave, bridge Astrotrain and I back then send a bridge for the others." Seconds later, the two vanished through the space bridge as Optimus felt something grab him and slow his fall.

Looking up, Optimus saw that Swoop had been the bot to catch him. Using what was left of his flight packs' reserve power he helped Swoop to land them both safely on the ground as Runamuck and Runabout led Devastator back through the space bridge. As the bridge closed, Grimlock walked over to Optimus.

"Optimus." Grimlock sighed. "Me Grimlock sorry. They were ready for head on attack. Me put mission and Dinobots in danger."

"We wouldn't have been able to sneak in anyway." Optimus consoled. The Constructicons would've formed Devastator regardless, so stealth would've been pointless." He turned to Perceptor. "Do we know what was stolen here?"

Perceptor nodded. "A particle collider, a device believed to have the power to create a black hole."

"Now what would the humans, or anyone for that matter, want with something that could do that? Destroy their own world?" Snarl mused.

"No." Comprehension dawning on his face. "To create one." He activated his comms. "Blaster bridge us back to base and have Agent Fowler, Ratchet, Ultra Magnus and Rodimus meet me in my quarters."


Half an hour later, the group Optimus called for were convened. "I apologize in advance." Ultra Magnus began. "In light of everything that's been going on, I forgot entirely about agent Counterpunch."

"More than understandable Magnus." Optimus replied. "Now, if you could play the message. I have a theory about what this message may be about, but we must be sure." The group listened on in growing horror to Counterpunches' report."

"Prime, this is serious." Fowler said, looking up at Optimus. "If your spy is correct, then those supplies the Cons stole today are going to be used to finish that lock of theirs. We may need to strike sooner rather than later."

"I'm in agreement with Fowler." Rodimus added. "I also believe that we are past the point where secrecy is of the essence."

"Agreed." Ultra Magnus added. He wasn't about to make the same mistake twice.

"It's unanimous then." Optimus continued. "We must assemble all of our forces. Our mission, an all out assault on the Nemesis."


Back on the Nemesis, the returned Constructicons were reassembling the particle collider and modifying it to Shockwaves' specifications. Between himself, Oil Slick and Tarantulas, they'd been able to perfect the synthetic energon formula to stabilize the cyber matter. "We are beginning mass production of the Cyber matter now, Lord Megatron. The Omega Lock itself should be ready within twenty-four Earth hours." Shockwave explained.

"Yes, Starscream performed exceptionally well in recovering the necessary components." Megatron replied, giving the smug aerospace commander a rare compliment. "Soon we shall have the power to both restore Cybertron, and Cyberform the Earth as well."

"Pardon my impudence, my lord." Shockwave began. "But what is the importance of ruling two worlds?" He asked.

"As I learned some time ago Shockwave, Earth and Cybertron are linked." He explained. "Earth and Cybertron, Primus and Unicron, two halves of a whole. To rule only one, is to have never ruled either at all."


Meanwhile on the other side of the ship, Galavar and Tarantulas were preparing their own plans. The two were examining a chess board with replicas of several Autobots and Decepticons.

"We are nearly there." Galavar commented. "Our pieces are in place, now it's just a matter of making the correct moves to remove our opponents' stronger pieces. We shall have to remove the Autobot spy immediately once our move is made." He added. He knew that while leaving Counterpunch in place was risky, it would be essential to remove Megatron from the board.

"To say nothing of making sure their king is ready to lead them into battle." Tarantulas added.

"Of course. Now, you're sure the synthetic frequency for the Enigma of Combination is perfected?" Galavar asked.

"Of course." Tarantulas reassured him. "With it we can infuse the Dark Matrix of Chaos into your very being. The chaos cyber matter preventing you from becoming corrupted by Unicrons' essence."

"Thereby giving me control over anything infused with dark energon with my own willpower, yes." Galavar continued. "And you procured the CNA samples I asked for?"

Tarantulas nodded and gestured to the Predacon tooth and vial of energon. "The tooth contains the CNA that was used to clone Scourge. Although I have to ask, why did you want Megarons' CNA?" He asked.

"Because my amoral arachnid, victory tastes best, when seasoned with irony, yes." Galavar grinned in the light of the Dark Matrix.


A/N- And so we have it. The stage is set for the final chapter of the second arc. Now, I swear that I will have the next chapter finished and posted by New Year. On a side note, a few reviews have asked about Beast Wars Megatron appearing. Well, if you look closely, you'll see he's already there. I thought I was being obvious. Until then, follow, favorite and review.

Next time: Siege on the Nemesis, and a new enemy shows his face.

One last thing, to anyone here who plays Transformers Earth Wars. The Spedabot alliance is in need of recruits. However, we do require a level 6 HQ and around 1000 medals as well as active participation in all alliance events. Thank you