Ch. 128

Dreadwing looked up from a datapad as familiar pedfalls came to greet him. Sharp, quick, confident. Definitely C.Y.L.A.S. And the blue seeker was somewhat surprised to see a strong smirk accompanying the stride to match. Someone was happy.

"Evening, Dreadwing," the black mech called, "Do you have a moment?"

Dreadwing set his datapad on a console, murmuring for a drone to care for it, and stepped aside, "Of course. Shall we walk?"

C.Y.L.A.S. nodded and waited for the seeker before the two began making their way down a hall, "I am somewhat perplexed. I need another fast working mind to give me some input on a plan I wish to put into action."

Dreadwing gave a look of warning, but nodded, "Does... this have anything to do with...?"

"Perhaps," the black mech folded his arms, "but it is in no way a means to usurp a certain someone or force one of us to make the ultimate sacrifice. I still need your input. I... am concerned about where it may lead."

Dreadwing's red optics glowed then dimmed, "I am intrigued. Please, continue."

C.Y.L.A.S. smirked, "I knew you'd come through... The plan is simple: lure the Autobots out into the open with the intent of capturing at least one of them along with Starscream. I had a few areas in mind that could grant us access to the seeker... problem is it either exposes too much of us to the rest of human kind or the chances of Starscream being a part of the party is too slim."

Their steps slowed and the blue mech hummed deeply, "I can see where that would be an issue. What have you considered to rectify this?"

C.Y.L.A.S.'s spider legs twitched, "Somewhere I may not be able to go if my... human side is anything to go by. And this may drain a large part of our resources if not put into practice carefully..."

Somewhere C.Y.L.A.S.'s human body couldn't go? Dreadwing's optics widened.

"You wish to use Cybertron as a means to lure them out?"

The black mech sneered, "Why not? The Autobots would be very curious to see what we're up to if we were moving supplies or even very large pieces of equipment to their home planet. Starscream would be more likely to be there as well. From what I've studied in our battles with them, a select handful stay behind. Usually the medic, Ratchet, and more recently Knockout and Soundwave as well. They may have that new white Autobot, but if we were to coordinate carefully, we could still have the upper hand."

Dreadwing looked very excited and determined, a matching sneer developing on his faceplates, "And with this, we'll be able to forgo forsaking any of our kin," he stared at his companion, "But yes, your... human body..." the mech sighed, "There's no safe way for you to be able to transform once you were on the surface. And I highly doubt your chassis could keep it warm enough or hold enough oxygen within to sustain you."

C.Y.L.A.S. looked disappointed, "I want to be there. I need to be there. Having this frame, this new expansion of possibilities, is everything I wanted. Is there any way to make sure I can stay like this?"

The blue seeker frowned, "There may be a way. For now, go to Lord Megatron and tell him of your plan. Smooth out some of the details with him if you can. I'll see if there's anything I can put together to make your 'expansion of possibilities' a little more permanent."

C.Y.L.A.S. nodded, "Dreadwing, thank you. I'll COMM you as soon as I have any information."

Megatron growled from his throne, his claws digging into the arm rests, "I gave you two days, forty-eight hours, to deliver me a report on your fellow officers. And you come back to me with battle schematics?!"

C.Y.L.A.S. held firm, "My lord, our numbers are too low to sacrifice even one soldier. You want someone's spark? Why not an Autobot's?"

The warlord's glare began to dig into him, "And how are we to go about acquiring one?"

The black mech's wings perked, "We will need the use of your space bridge, large transports of energon, and most of the troops waiting on the other side. The plan will take time to set, but if we make our efforts look like a recolonization effort on Cyberton or better yet, we could make the move look as though supplies were coming from the planet. The Autobots will want to investigate, of course, and once they're on Cybertron we cut them off and take our pick. If we make the scene look large enough, Starscream will be asked to accompany the Autobots to make up the numbers."

Megatron's glare softened and became a frown as he began to think, "... How long will this take?"

C.Y.L.A.S. crossed his arms, "A week or two. We can make smaller runs of energon to the planet's surface along with stores of supplies so that the reentry of these items will look as though they're coming fresh from an associate."

The warlord stood, "I am impressed, C.Y.L.A.S. Come back to me with battle plans within the next few days. I want to see positions, formations."

The back mech flinched, "There... may be a small issue regarding my-"

Megatron laughed, "Yes! Your humanity... A pesky thing, isn't it? Go to the med bay and wait there. I will send some med drones to attend, if Dreadwing is not already there himself."

C.Y.L.A.S.'s wings flattened and the larger mech smirked, "My chassis may not be everywhere, but my optics and audials still miss very little. Remember that, C.Y.L.A.S. I could be everywhere and you would never know it. Now, go to the med bay. Let's see if we can't get you in full working order..."

The black mech was nervous. Megatron knew about him and Dreadwing talking earlier, so there was quite a bit that said he knew about other conversations they may have had. But the warlord hadn't said anything about it, so maybe...

Dreadwing looked up from a med table as C.Y.L.A.S. walked in, surprised, "You arrived quickly."

C.Y.L.A.S. shrugged, "Megatron liked the plan enough to ask that my human-side be removed. Permanently."

The blue seeker flinched, "Did you ask-"

"No," the mech responded quickly, "I didn't. Seems we're not as discreet as we thought... No matter. He still enjoyed the plan. I'll need to iron out some of the major details, which can only be done if I can go to Cybertron."

Dreadwing nodded, "Fair enough..." he pulled out a cortical patch cord, holding it up, "You're familiar with something like this by now."

C.Y.L.A.S. smirked, "Yes. Will that be helping me today?"

The seeker set the cord back down, "In a sense..."

The med bay doors opened again and two Vehicons came through, both beginning to tend to the medical tools placed about the room.

"Have a seat, C.Y.L.A.S.," Dreadwing offered, patting against the med berth, "When you wake up, you won't be human anymore."