Conqueror had expected it. After becoming the only nuclear submarine to sink a warship, the sub affectionately known as "Conks" had known that Victory's next deputy would be her. Even so, it was still somewhat of a shock. It was even more of a shock for her to learn this morning that the old warship had passed away, finally released of her curse. Conks was grateful that Long Shadow had finally come to her senses but this left her as flagship of the Royal Navy. A position that she wasn't particularly fond of. It wasn't that she doubted her abilities. She never did. Victory wouldn't have chosen her if she couldn't perform her duties. But feeling the minds of the entire fleet, now hers, connected within her own was a bit unnerving. She could just think something and they'd follow her command without question. She could order 'Launch a nuclear strike on the United States" (not that she would ever do such a thing!) and they would do it. The very thought of this blind following made her shudder.
"You think too much, Conks." Conks hid her smile under a grimace. Only one ship had the sass to talk to her in that cockney accent. "Wasn't it you who told me that thinking was a good thing, Alliance. Think before you act sort of thing." She could practically see the older sub shrug before she replied "You're mind is a hurricane of thoughts Conks. Thinking is all well in good when its a breeze." "Impertinent." Conks muttered. "I don't know why I listen to you sometimes." "Sure you do." Alliance replied in a cheeky tone. "It's cause you know I'm right and you want to hear my advice." Conks rolled her eyes. Of course she was right, but the Churchill-class sub would be a pile of scrap metal before she admitted it. Not that Alliance ever needed her admission. She always seemed to know what her flagships were thinking. As though she and no one else could get inside their heads. "Okay, you got me and I'm listening." "Knew you'd come around." Alliance laughed, then her tone turned serious. "Come to Gosport and I'll tell you." "I'm seriously beginning to question your position in this fleet. I'm flagship, I should be giving the orders. For this I should have you court marshaled." "Aw, thanks for loving me so much, Conks." "I hate you." No she didn't, not in a million years. Alliance just laughed.
That afternoon saw her docked alongside Alliance while the older sub preened herself free of pigeon droppings. They'd been sitting together in the sun for an hour already and the older sub had yet to say a word. Conks was getting impatient. Just as she was about to speak, Alliance said "time for a bath". She gathered herself and leaped over the drydock wall and Conks before splashing down in the water beside her. Conks was doused in the wave. She spat brine and glared. Alliance rolled about like an otter, clearly enjoying herself. She'd always enjoyed the water more than the other subs. Yes, it was the natural environment of their kind but Alliance relished in it like she'd never felt it before. It left Conks dumbfounded. "You're too impatient Conks. That is your biggest problem. You need to learn patience." "Like what you've just been teaching me." Conks sighed. So there was a method to her madness after all. Not that she ever thought otherwise. There was always reason behind everything the old sub did.
Eventually rolling back to an even keel, Alliance took a moment to catch her breath beside Conks. Conks, now aware that school was in session, let her teacher take her time. After a minute, Alliance spoke again. "Change is coming Conks. Change more dangerous than we were ever meant to cope with." "What kind of change?" Conks asked. Alliance looked away. "Alliance, tell me. What's coming?" "Nothing." Alliance replied in a quiet voice. "Nothing is coming, Conks." Conks was confused until she added "It's already here." Conks circled around to look her in the eye. "Tell me everything Alliance. What can I do to stop them?" "You don't understand." Alliance began. "There's more to it. There always was." "Alliance..." "They keep coming. Here. It's always here. Why? Why you ask? Why this one world, out of hundreds of thousands?" She stared directly into her flagship's eyes with a gaze that unnerved Conks who took the bait. "Why then?" She asked. Alliance didn't answer for a moment and when she did, it was with actions more than words. She lunged at Conks, bowling the flagship over and pinning her before she could react.
Being forced to look directly into Alliance's deep blue gaze she was struck at just how blue the other sub's eyes were. There was no black pupil, just a darker shade of blue surrounded by the lighter iris. And they glowed. Of course all sub's eyes did but hers were different. Conks was shocked she hadn't seen it before. Alliance's past had always been shrouded in mystery, her origins even more so and rumors circulated amongst the fleet of a "coverup". But now Conks felt with absolute certainly that she knew just who Alliance really was. "You-you're..." Alliance wouldn't let her finish. "Two brothers. An eternal struggle. The weapon shall be reborn, the talisman holds the key. Two world's collide, but only one survives." She collapsed and Conks wriggled her way free, pressing a fin to Alliance's neck. She wasn't sure that would work but she was relieved nonetheless when she felt a pulse. Alliance coughed and opened her eyes, which had dulled significantly. They looked almost normal now. "Hadn't had that happen for a while. I, didn't hurt anyone did I?" She asked. Conks shook her head, wincing. Alliance had a strong grip. "You're lying through your teeth." The old sub said. "It's not that bad." Conks managed. "As the Yanks say, bullshit. Come here." Conks sighed and let Alliance look at her injuries. Alliance was gentle as she examined them. Conks kept still. "I could turn you in, you know." She said. "Aye, you could. Technically, I'm outlawed from this planet. I wouldn't hold it against you if you did." "But you know more than what you're letting on. There's a way to fight back isn't there? And only you can find it." "So you do know how to use that brain of yours." Alliance grinned, giving her a quick rap on the head. Conks winced. "Alliance, I wouldn't turn you in even if you were a completely useless bucket of bolts. If that were the case, I'd just end you myself." "I'll ignore the underhanded jab on my life and take that as a compliment." Alliance said with her typical cockiness. Ah, back to normal. Well, what passed as normal anyways. Conks didn't think she could ever look at her closest confidant the same way again.
Alliance finished dressing her wounds but her fins still remained on Conk's body. She gently tilted Conk's head to look at her, eye to eye. "You've known what I am for 15 minutes and you still haven't asked me." She said. "So go on, ask. Because you won't get another chance." Conk's took a deep breath. "Why choose Earth? You're..." "Terran." Alliance replied. "Completely and wholly Terran. The only difference is what's on the outside. I can't even transform. As soon as I scanned this form I tore out my T-cog. I am Cybertronian by birth only." "But why, Alliance?" Alliance looked deep into Thresher's eyes. Her gaze was becoming more natural by the second. The blue pupil had faded to black and the iris was dulling its glow. "Because this world, above all the others, is the only place that has ever allowed me to call her home. This is my home Conqueror. This is where I belong. And to my dying breath will I defend it." She panted. "Help me back to my berth please Conks. I sense the time is nigh. Soon will we all have to defend our home." Conks pressed her nose to her flank, feeling the pulse of life there but it was so familiar, so un-alien that it took her breath away for a moment. "You're becoming Terran." She realized. "I chose my side a long time ago, child." Alliance rasped. "I do not regret it." Conks recalled what she had learned of Transformer biology, courtesy of Topeka who had become the world's leading expert on the subject. Topeka had told her that while extremely rare, a Cybertronian could evolve into an organic Terran but the process was long, dangerous and killed more often than not. No Cybertronian had been known to survive it. "And if you survive?" Conks asked out loud. "That is, a far possibility Conks." Alliance sighed. "But if you do, what happens?" Conks pressed. "If I do survive both the coming war and my own conversion then I will lose the Cybertronian knowledge I carry forever. I will become completely Terran and serve you, my flagship. And this country." Conks pressed their foreheads together, her right fin caressing her friends face. "The peace be all around you, my knight." Alliance was so stunned at hearing her own language she took a moment to respond but did so by placing her own fin on Conks face. "And may the seas calm to your presence, my flagship."