5 Days after meeting the Senior Officers of the SEEKERS Unit-1984 [Standard Shipboard Time]...
The Enterprise, much like her predecessor, had seen much in its brief existence. Though now playing host to a technologically advanced race of beings that had incidentally created a third of the crew she housed was something she alone could now claim to.
Acting as an escort to the much sleeker Scout Class vessel behind her, the Enterprise broadcast clear to all the Federation vessels in her space. This was an honored guest and they were due at Yorktown for a lengthy shore leave. As she made way through the frontier back to the border that separated the known from the beyond, other vessels from all classes, gathered on either side adding to the escort of the one in the center.
If it could the ship would have felt proud and pleased as she returned at the head to the place of her birth; Yorktown. Behind her, the cause of this excitement however could feel, and what she was feeling was a mixture of awe with an inkling of fear.
Sub-Commander Aurora and two of her loyal Mini-Cons accompanied her as she walked through the hallways of the Enterprise, marveling at the structure and its construction. If only Optimus could see this. She smiled softly at the imagery that created of the stoic Prime seeing for himself all that this new race the Allspark created had accomplished all on their own.
True, they were far from perfect, but she kept constantly monitoring the net and learning of their history. This Federation was a true culmination of all that Optimus Prime had once envisioned of their race.
She stopped outside a crew lounge and simply watched them. Some were eating, others conversing like equals, there were a few playing music with lovely singing voice accompanying it.
She pushed away from the bulkhead and was about to continue walking with no destination in mind until she nearly ran into the First Officer, the half-Vulcan, Mr. Spock.
"Sub-Commander Aurora, I trust you are finding your way around the ship?"
She gave a small nod with a slight smile as her mind compared him to a certain Mini-Con that was currently acting as Commander of the vessel behind them.
"I am Commander Spock. It is quite refreshing to be surrounded by all of this. It is not what I am used to..."
Spock cocked a brow at the drop in her usually musical sounding voice pattern. It seemed the war she had spoken of had left more than its fair share of scars upon the people that fought in it.
"If you would be accepting Sub-Commander, I was about to play Chess in just a moment. Would you care to join me?"
She turned and flashed a much appreciative smile for the change of topic.
"That sounds perfect. Please, lead on Commander."
Spock nodded and led the Sub-Commander into the lounge.
Upon watching Mr. Spock play against the shipboard computer and come to a draw, Sub-Commander Aurora insisted upon playing, citing that she had to make sure her mind had not grown lax in its prolonged hibernation.
As they played, casual conversation sprung up between the duo, completely oblivious to the small crowd they had gathered. The topics of their discussion varied from the sciences to the exploration of the stars.
For Spock it was a highly enlightening conversation, the Sub-Commander proved to not only be knowledgeable of various scientific topics but also pose answers to hypothetical theories that were only being considered by the newly rebuilt Vulcan Council. He also knew better than to lose concentration on the game. She played with a highly unorthodox style that masked a highly logical mind. Sacrificing a Bishop, she had maneuvered several of his Pawns into a box trap between her Rooks and Knights.
For Aurora it was a pleasing time to discuss something that wasn't combat, casualties or losses. She and several of her sisters of the 'Valkyrie' flight line had sided with the Autobots during the early days of the war. She lost two to anti-air bombardment and three turned 'Con. That still left one unaccounted for. She prayed to Primus that she survived and was safely within the Autobot ranks.
She had come across her siblings that betrayed her only once, she didn't want to ever think of them like that ever again. She only wanted to remember them as they were before this stupid war.
She pushed such thinking aside as she sprung her second trap. Mr. Spock was proving to be a challenging opponent and it was good that he could not only distract her with questions of scientific theory but also keep her attention with his own play style.
"Sub-Commander Aurora, I must say, you are proving to be quite the player despite this being your first time."
Mr. Spock muttered, while concentrating on the boards.
"Likewise Commander Spock."
Mr. Spock thought hard for a few more moments before grasping a Rook piece and moving it to a high upper right board.
"Rook to E 7."
Aurora merely smiled as she grasped her Bishop and slid it back to E 7, collecting Mr. Spock's Rook along the way. Mr. Spock's eyebrows raised at the deft movement while he began reevaluating the boards.
"Impressive."
Aurora smiled again and held her hand palm up to him, silently giving him permission to evaluate the boards.
"I am curious Sub-Commander, you seem to be highly intelligent and from what I have learned from your kind through our various discussions, your kind as a species also think similarly. My question is why your civil war happened?"
He picked up one of his remaining Knights and moved it in front of her Queen.
Aurora sighed as she concentrated and picked up one of her Pawns.
"To fully understand the cause of our petty conflict, one must first understand the past of Cybertron. Prior to our recorded historical files, our planet was enslaved by an alien race called the Quintessons. We rebelled against them and entered a Golden Age through the creation of a caste system."
She moved the piece in front of Mr. Spock's remaining Rook, then resumed her tale. Both still unaware of the group around them that was at first betting, but now listening with rapt attention to the unexpected history lesson.
"For a time we lived in harmony but as with all great power, corruption is unavoidable if the proper steps are not taken against it. We did not, and this led to inequality among the masses. In the twilight hours of our Golden Age, a Data Clerk in Iacon's Hall of Records, named Orion Pax, overheard a declaration. A gladiator who had named himself after one of the thirteen original Primes; Megatronus made a vow to challenge Cybertron's leadership and demand that all Cybertronians be treated as equals. Orion began corresponding with Megatronus, who came to be something of a mentor to him. A member of the High Council, Alpha Trion, set up their meeting with the entire Council and it was here that a newly dubbed Megatron began to show his true colors."
Spock moved his Knight to an opening that would lead to the Sub-Commander's King in the next move. Once he'd been reseated he motioned for her to continue.
Aurora looked at the boards but the way her eyes seemed distant, one could tell she wasn't paying attention to the game anymore.
"He proclaimed the need to overthrow the old guard with force, and arrogantly demanded to be named the next Prime. But Orion Pax didn't believe it violence as a means of achieving justice. The Council, so moved by his words, believed that Orion would lead Cybertron in a way that the current Prime, Sentinel, couldn't. So they rechristened him as Optimus Prime and removed Sentinel Prime from power. However, that title could only be ever truly earned by finding the legendary Matrix of Leadership. None who have held the mantle of Prime have ever found it. Regardless of this the Council moved forward and for a brief time, it seemed Optimus and Megatron had done it, and were restoring Cybertron to its former glory. No one knew it at the time but Megatron believed that Orion had betrayed him. Megatron's thwarted ambitions would later be the catalyst that began the Cybertronian Civil War with his loyal followers, the Decepticons. Several cycles later when Megatron served as Lord High Protector for all of Cybertron and had power second to only a Prime, he began the war via coordinated ambush tactics. He vowed to be named Prime by claiming the legendary power of the Allspark for himself. In time warfare consumed Cybertron, damaging the planet to its very core. Orion journeyed there, hoping to find a way to halt the imminent doom of our home. As he approached, he found himself before our very maker Primus himself. Primus sensed the innate nobility with Orion and bestowed the Matrix of Leadership upon him, it was thus that a surprised and humbled Orion Pax came to truly be Optimus. The last of the Primes. It was eventually decided we too must leave Cybertron in order for our world to truly recover from its grievous war wounds. This, among many other events, led to jettisoning the Allspark into deep space, all of which has led to now."
Aurora leaned forward and plucked her remaining Bishop, before sliding it forward to a stop just in front of Mr. Spock's King.
"Checkmate Commander Spock."
Spock simply evaluated the boards in their entirety as his mind processed all that had been told to him.
"Thank you Sub-Commander Aurora for a most excellent game."
Aurora stood and smiled before nodding to the half-Vulcan and walking out with Soundjaw and Depthfeather close behind. At least Commander Spock appeared to be a decently good person. She was sure the sadness in her gaze was easy to detect, thankfully Commander Spock hadn't pressed. She wasn't sure if she could handle it. She didn't know how they would react if they knew the scope of her relationship with the now infamous Lord of the Decepticons.
She halted and silently clasped her hand over her heart and bowed her head.
"Why Megatronus, why did you leave me like this?"
A single tear cut a trail down her cheek as she remembered a time when the dreaded Decepticon Lord was once someone she had loved very much.