AN: Ladies and gentlemen, the team-up of Murrue Ramius and Natarle Badgiruel is here, and it will speed certain events of Gundam SEED up so that they happen sooner, okay an event, but it will also give you something that I think all of us we're expecting to happen somewhere in the time that Murrue and Natarle we're together aboard the Archangel so without further ado...the halfway point of Orb Missions Arc, and yes there are only three more of these chapters to go including the next chapter before we get back to the Gundam SEED side of the story.

I do not own anything from either the Gundam or Transformers franchises

Chapter 15: Cave Crawlers

Things had become rather quiet and dull around the Autobot base as of late. With both the Archangel and the Omega II nearly fully repaired, and Kira's work with Morgenroete almost finished, the crew of the Earth Forces ship were working overtime to make sure that they did not miss anything before they headed back out of Orb Waters and off to Alaska and the Autobots were facing a big question of their own. That question the Autobots were facing was whether or not they remain in Orb or go to Alaska aboard the Omega II with the Archangel, something that the Autobots were finding hard to answer and with very good reason.

Dreadwing's unit of Decepticons were still out there and more than likely working with the Z.A.F.T. team that piloted the stolen G-Weapons and Optimus felt that he and his team needed to make sure that they were safe. When he voiced his concerns, most of the Autobots that had been with himself and the Archangel since their time in Africa agreed that they should travel with the Archangel over the sea aboard the Omega II, including Bumblebee naturally. That did not mean that there were not some objections to the idea, as the rest of them argued that they could simply give the Archangel a special transmitter to contact them for help and Ground Bridge to help the Earth Forces ship if they needed to, the leader of this argument being Ratchet. Now do not misunderstand, Ratchet wanted make sure that their new human friends were able to safely make it to the Earth Forces Alaska base just as much as the others, but he was more concerned about his fellow Autobots' safety than he was a few humans that they had only met a few months ago.

The matter was not something that was being discussed by the Autobots alone though, as members of the crew of the Archangel was either wondering what the Autobots' plans involving them were or were just trying to think on whether or not they should bring the Autobots with them to Alaska by force if necessary. The ones at the head of the later discussion more specifically were Lieutenant Junior Grade Natarle Badgiruel and Lieutenant Commander Murrue Ramius, as the latter wanted to respect whatever decision the Autobots made while the former wanted to use whatever force was necessary to bring them along. Natarle and Murrue had both made enough mentions of the Autobots in their reports, which meant that, as Natarle had stated multiple times, they had to at least speak with command about them and more than likely meet them.

This argument between the two was getting to be something that they would get into quite often as of late. In fact it happened so often that they went into it even while they were simply just walking down the hallway and happened to bump into one another. The most recent round of this debate was happening right now in the Autobot base as they were visiting with Kira, Mu La Flaga, Cagalli, and Miriallia. Needless to say, everyone was getting more than a little annoyed with the two and they all knew for a fact that this argument was about to bring every last bit of tension between the two to a head.

"I really must insist. We have no choice but to bring them with us. Not only have they fought with us but they have asked for services that require our aid and technology, namely the that of Strike," Natarle told Murrue.

"Even so, we can't just order them to come with us," Murrue argued. "They aren't a part of the Earth Forces military and they also aren't even of our world so who's to say what rules apply to them?"

"That's even more reason why they need to be brought with us! They're aliens so there are no rules in our military or even our world that apply to them or protect them so what is to stop us from forcing them to come with us? More importantly who's to say that they won't turn on us as soon as they don't need us anymore?"

"Lieutenant Junior Grade Badgiruel you are out of line!"

Natarle could feel her anger with Murrue rising more and more every minute. "Well forgive me if I don't see any reason for letting them just wander around free and doing whatever they think they can as they have been doing!"

Now Murrue was normally very calm, but Natarle was finally trying her patience to its limits. "Alright then Natarle. Drop the rank, the regulations, and everything else and let's hear exactly what you really think."

Natarle took a moment to process what the Archangel's captain had just said to her, and finally just nodded. The next thing that happened was not entirely unexpected but still surprising all the same. Natarle hit Murrue in the face. Hard. Before anyone knew it, the two clearly pissed off female officers were engaged in full on brawl on the deck of the raised platform of the central hub.

Not wanting this to continue, for the sake of the two women and everyone else there, Mu decided to break their fight up before it got more serious than need be. Not that he did not enjoy watching a good cat fight any less than the next person, but this was not the time or place for it and they were supposed to be better than this. "Hey you two come on! Break it up," Mu called out as he tried to reach out to stop them.

This proved to be a bad idea, as he received an elbow to his face for his efforts. Kira, Cagalli, and the others all ran over to help him up as he groaned at himself for his stupidity. Before anyone else could move to stop them, Mu raised a hand and said, "If you really need a better reason to understand why hell hath no fury than a woman scorned, then by all means be my guest."

Needless to say, the kids all stayed right where they were and just watched as the two commanding officers of the Archangel fought with each other. Even Cagalli was afraid of moving to try and stop them surprisingly. It would have continued had a pair of large hands not scooped up Murrue and Badgiruel like a pair of rag dolls and held them apart from one another as they continued thrashing around trying to get at them. Those hands belonging to a certain Autobot first lieutenant.

"Put me down Jazz! Let me at her," Murrue shouted, making it crystal clear that she was not even close to starting to cool down.

"I'm surprised you'd even want to take such action Captain," Natarle spat.

"Alright both of ya'll just chill out and shut the Pits up for Primus's sake," Jazz shouted angrily. That caused the entire room to go silent save for the computer and other equipment that was running. Never once had any of the humans seen Jazz anything remotely close to angry, but the Autobots who knew him understood that it took a lot to make Jazz actually angry and it seemed that the two Earth Forces soldiers had crossed that threshold. "You seriously think that any of this will solve anything?! You're both on the same damn side so ya can either chill and act like adults or ya can keep fighting each other and acting like a pair of sparklings both on this matter and everything else you two have an issue over!"

"Considering what that issue is I'm surprised that you aren't involving yourself in their fight Jazz," Ratchet muttered. Unfortunately, he was not quite enough for Jazz to not hear.

"Doc, now's not the time," Jazz warned.

"If anything now's exactly the time," Ratchet told him. "I mean given what just happened how can any of you support the idea of traveling with them? Just for the sole purpose of stopping one Decepticon unit? We're facing our own war against the entire Decepticon army! We can't concern ourselves with a single human ship and whether or not it and its massive weapon arrive at its destination!"

Jazz would have said something had Optimus not stepped in and spoken up. "I understand what you are saying old friend, and if the circumstances were different then I might agree with you. However I am afraid that I must argue your point. We have already brought our new friends into our war and their enemies have allied with our own. Can we truly allow them to face such danger alone?"

Ratchet and everyone in the room was immediately silenced with much more to think about in the case of the Autobots traveling to Alaska with the Archangel. Everyone would have thought on it a little more had the Autobots' scanner not started going off. Ratchet immediately ran over to see what they had picked up. "It seems we're picking up signs of…an untapped energon mine!"

"You sure 'bout that Ratchet," Jazz asked. "I mean just about every energon supply that we've picked up on had already been seized by the 'Cons or Z.A.F.T."

"I'm absolutely certain," Ratchet answered as he typed some in commands. "And here's something that you'll find surprising. It's in the Earth Forces' territory."

"That's a first," Arcee commented, and with good reason. As Arcee had stated, most of the sources of energon that the Autobots picked up on had been in either Z.A.F.T. territory or in neutral territory so the Bots were either unable to do much or were just simply not able to get there soon enough. The fact that it was in the territory of the forces that the Archangel's crew served under was a welcome surprise.

"We cannot risk Megatron seizing this energon source before we do," Optimus stated. "If we do not act now then there may be a chance that Earth Forces soldiers will be harmed or killed by the Decepticons."

"And if we get spotted by any Earth Forces soldiers there's a chance they may mistake us for enemies," Arcee pointed out.

"In that case you should let some of us go with you just in case that does happen," Mu stated.

Kira nodded in agreement at that as he stated, "Commander La Flaga and I can go with whoever you send out Optimus."

"Actually Kira I was thinking of having Captain Ramius and Lieutenant Badgiruel go out," Mu stated. That got everyone's attention.

"Uh Commander," Miriallia inquired, voicing everyone's thoughts. "Are you sure that's a good idea given the circumstances?"

"Of course. After all what better way to work out your differences than going on a small assignment together right?"

Optimus nodded in agreement. "Very well. Ratchet, you and Jazz will head to the coordinates of the energon reading with Captain Ramius and Lieutenant Badgiruel accompanying you. Arcee shall man the Ground Bridge until you return."

Arcee nodded and moved to relieve Ratchet of his position as Jazz moved to get a Scatter Blaster from the base's weapons locker. Ratchet however, was a bit hesitant to move. "Optimus, I believe my efforts and skills would be better suited remaining here."

"Be that as it may my friend, I feel that perhaps the fact you have been in this base for so long has caused you to lose sight of why we must fight with humanity and what we are fighting for," Optimus told him.

Now Ratchet may be an old Bot, but he is a reasonable one as well and he knew when he was not going to win an argument, and that fact was especially true when it came to arguments with Optimus. With that said, Ratchet just sighed and gave a simple yes sir in reply to Optimus's order as he moved to the weapons locker as well. A few minutes later Jazz and Ratchet were both equipped with a Scatter Blaster and an Energon Repair Ray respectively and Natarle and Murrue were both given a comm. link headset and an energon pistol each. Since the Wreckers' mission with Sai, Mu, and Murdoch in which they had brought back one of Z.A.F.T.'s new energon rifles, Erica and Ratchet had been working on designing their own versions of the weapons after they determined they were safe to use and even diversifying them so that it was not just a rifle that they would have had to carry on their backs.

Now that the team was fully equipped for action, the four moved to the Ground Bridge to prepare for departure. One command for Ground Bridge activation later and the team was quickly racing through the green vortex and on sight at the entrance to a cave that was clearly the source of the energon signal. After getting an all clear from Natarle and Murrue, Ratchet and Jazz transformed to robot mode and moved into the cave with scanners in hand.

For some time the team searched the cave for the energon source in a silence. Now if one were actually present they would have a hard time being able to tell you if it was an awkward silence or a tense one, because the two Earth Forces soldiers had a hard time looking directly at one and other without the glance turning into a glare and Jazz was not sure if he and Ratchet should try to do something. Finally the two teams came to a point where the cave split off in two directions.

"Which way now Ratchet," Jazz asked.

Ratchet waved his scanner between the two paths a few times before he groaned, "I'm not certain. For some reason the energon readings seem to change in their intensity for both paths. One moment they are both the same, the next one is stronger than the other, and then it becomes the other way around."

"Perhaps we should investigate both paths just to be safe," Murrue suggested. She then gave a side glare in Natarle's direction as she continued, "That is unless there are any objections reasonable or otherwise."

"No of course not," Natarle replied in a snide tone. "But then again it's not like you would actually listen to other suggestions if they were given unless you'd agree with them no matter how unreasonable."

"Okay let's just get rollin' on this," Jazz cut in before things turned ugly. "Ratchet, how about you and Murrue head down the left path while Natarle and I cruise down the right?"

Ratchet was confused at first by Jazz's decision at first, until he glanced at the two previously mentioned women and said, "Oh yes of course. I don't see why not. Just be sure that you keep your comm. links open at all times just to be safe."

"No problem Doc." Jazz then transformed into his vehicle mode with his headlights on and a door open with Ratchet following his actions soon after. Natarle and Murrue just gave a snappish fine to the suggestion and climbed into their assigned Autobots before the two drove off down the chosen paths.

As he drove Jazz decided it was high time he got some answers from Natarle on a few things and asked, "So I gotta ask, why are ya gettin' on Ramius's case so harshly all of sudden?"

Natarle just sighed after a moment before answering, "I wouldn't exactly say it was all of a sudden. I guess it was just building up to this. I mean I understand where she's coming from on the matters that we've argued over but I can't just ignore what I was trained and raised on."

"Raised on?"

Natarle sighed as she explained, "I've actually come from a long military family history of honor and prestige to the Earth Alliance, and so it was natural for me to continue the lineage as a career soldier. I've always been raised to be less emotional, caring, strict, and by-the-book when it came to taking action, but to also do whatever is necessary to accomplish a goal, so naturally that kind of mentality tends to conflict with someone like Murrue Ramius. It also means that I'm normally driven by my sense of duty which also tends to require an emotional protective nature so I can't afford to ever show my softer side for anyone. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if most of the crew hates me especially in the captain's case."

Jazz let that sink in for a moment before he started to chuckle, much to Natarle's surprise. "You're kidding right? I've actually had a number of chats with Murrue and everyone else from the Archangel and they've never once given any indication that they hate you. They may not agree with some of the things you've done but they understand your reasons. I even heard Murrue say that you are one of the finest officers that she's ever seen and had the pleasure of servin' with."

"What?" Now that came as a major surprise for Natarle as she had no idea that the others thought of her like that or ever even said anything like that. She would have commented further on the matter when Jazz suddenly hit the brakes and screeched to a stop. "Jazz what's wrong?"

"Quiet," Jazz hushed. "I thought I heard something."

Natarle asked Jazz to roll down a window a little for her so she could listen as well. The two then sat there for a moment listening for any indication of something but there was nothing. "I don't hear anything Jazz," Natarle whispered. "What are we listening for anyways?"

"I'm not sure but it somehow seemed familiar to me for some freaky reason," Jazz replied ominously. The two then listened for another moment before they heard a strange scuttling sound. It was not like the sound of Scraplets running along the ground but it was similar in a sense and familiar to Jazz somehow.

"Ratchet, I think there's a chance we're not alone down here," Jazz called over his radio.

"Understood Jazz. We'll be careful," Ratchet replied from where he and Murrue were. The two were driving in silence for some time now when they got Jazz's call, neither one knowing what to say to the other and each stewing in their own thoughts. After receiving word from Jazz about his concerns though, Murrue was brought out of her thoughts and figured that she should at least try and talk with Ratchet.

Before Murrue could say anything though, Ratchet beat her to the punch. "I suppose you're not even the least bit worried about your comrade?"

"You may find this hard to believe, but despite our differences I do actually think very highly of Natarle," Murrue replied. "She's always provided good points when it comes to making a decision and I've always thought that input was extremely helpful in some of my decisions. To be honest, I'm certain I'm the one she's not too fond of, which I can understand."

"And why is that?"

"Ratchet, I don't need you or Natarle to tell me that I'm not a very good captain, and that's why I'm extremely grateful for having Natarle by my side. There's no doubt in my mind she would make a fine captain, which is why sometimes I feel like she should have been the one to assume command of the Archangel."

Ratchet was stunned by that. Despite their differences and all that was between the two of them, Murrue actually thought very highly of Natarle Badgiruel and felt that she was not as good a captain for her ship as her second in command could have been. He thought about all this for a moment before saying, "I don't think the Archangel could ever have asked for a better captain than you Murrue Ramius, but perhaps you should let Natarle know how you really feel."

Murrue nodded in thanks to Ratchet for that when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. "Ratchet stop! I think I saw something!"

Ratchet immediately came to a stop and started to look and listen for whatever it was the Murrue had seen as he asked, "What was it?"

"I'm not sure, but it looked like a large bug or something."

Ratchet felt himself freezing up at those words. "Did you say large bug?"

Before his question could be answered something rammed into his side hard, sending him tumbling across the cave floor until he transformed to robot mode to land on his feet with the Archangel captain in one hand and his Energon Repair Ray readied in the other. He then looked and saw what looked like a massive Cybertronian beetle which was letting out a loud screech.

"By the AllSpark! An Insecticon Bruiser," Ratchet cried out in shock. He quickly let Murrue down before shifting the hand that previously held her into a sword and charging the large bug. Though his attacks were ineffective at first, using his Repair Ray he was able to drain out most of his attacker's energon to the point where a swift stab from his blade caused the bug to cease functioning completely.

"What in the world was that," Murrue cried out as she readied her energon pistol, just to be on the safe side.

"An Insecticon drone," Ratchet answered. "But I had thought that they were all left on Cybertron under the command of Megatron's best scientist."

"Well at least its dead now."

"That may be, but this is far from over." At Murrue's questioning gaze Ratchet elaborated, "As I said this is just a drone and when it comes to Insecticons, the drones never stray too far from their hive leaders."

"Have you dealt with them before?"

"Personally no, but one member of our group has, and I doubt he will be too fond to hear this news." Ratchet then tamped his comm. link as he called out, "Jazz this is Ratchet. Murrue Ramius and I have just encountered one of the few things that would be able to defeat Grimlock's team and I think it would be best if we left before we encountered more."

"Well now that's a mighty fine shame Doc," Jazz replied.

"And why is that?"

"I think we're about to."

Ratchet and Murrue looked to one and other before Ratchet quickly transformed and started racing back the way they came. "Jazz get out of there! We need to head for the exit now before they seal us in!"

"Already got metal to the pedal on that Doc! I just hope that we don't have any more problems come up before we get out of here."

Ratchet and Murrue to found themselves mentally praying that Jazz was right in hoping that they did not encounter any more problems before they left the cave.

Sadly, the four found that Jazz's hopes were that of an optimistic fool, as when they finally reached said cave entrance, they found that it was completely blocked by rocks leaving them all sealed inside.

"What now," Natarle asked.

"Well we can't blast our way out of here but we definitely don't want to stay here either especially if you consider the swarm of bugs that you and I encountered back there was any indication," Jazz answered.

"Jazz is right," Ratchet agreed. "If we try to use our weapons to force our way out we may bring the cave down on top of our heads."

Murrue thought over what had just been said for a moment before asking, "What if we didn't force our way out?" When she received a confused glance from everyone present she elaborated by asking, "What if we got the Insecticons to do it for us? I think you can understand what I'm suggesting Lieutenant."

Natarle looked at her captain for a moment before she simply smirked in reply stating, "Yes I think I do Captain."

Jazz and Ratchet just looked at each other with the same thought going through their processors. We're about to be used as bait aren't we?

A short while later, Jazz and Ratchet were walking back down into the cave and this time they both took the path that Jazz and Natarle had taken earlier as the number of Insecticons that Jazz and Natarle had encountered was much larger which meant that it was a much quicker path to the hive's nest than the other route. In no time at all, after fending off the few drones they encountered, they found themselves in a massive cavern that was crawling with Insecticon drones and in the center of the room, atop a small mound of rocks, were the three Insecticon hive leaders Kickback, Hardshell, and their leader Sharpshot.

"I remember you Jazzzz. Do you remember me, me, me," Kickback, the insane one of the three, buzzed.

"All too well unfortunately," Jazz moaned. The last time he met the Insecticons was also the first time any of the Autobots encountered them and the impression that Kickback left on Jazz was that to say the bug was insane would be a compliment to Kickback.

Before things had a chance to ugly, or rather uglier, Ratchet cut in saying, "We did not want any trouble. We were just investigating an energon reading."

"We know," Sharpshot told him. "We make energon reading go off. We want Autobots to come so we can enjoy."

"Enjoy what," Jazz groaned.

"Enjoy new hunt," Hardshell replied. "Hunt blue planet creatures boring. No challenge. Not even small pink ones."

As he said that they indicated a small section of the massive cavern that showed the remains of multiple Earth creatures, and to the shock of both Autobots, and to the disgust of any sensible man, some of those creatures were wearing both Z.A.F.T. and Earth Forces uniforms.

"Oh man now that is sick and wrong in so many ways," Jazz moaned.

"You thought that you could attack them and feed on whatever energon spilled from them until you realized that they had none in their systems," Ratchet gasped.

"Yezzz," Sharpshot replied. "Energon in cave only so good. Fresh supply from otherzzz much better. Now we have two suppliezz."

"Yeah we'll just see about that," Jazz said as he whipped out his Scatter Blaster and fired off a few rounds at the three. At once all of the Insecticons went into an uproar of a frenzy as Ratchet had soon joined in the shooting of the miserable monsters with everything they could until finally the bugs had enough.

"Attack!" Sharpshot cried out, and then the Insecticons swarmed towards the Autobots in their bug modes. As soon as they saw that they were swarming towards them Jazz and Ratchet smirked to each other and transformed into vehicle mode as they raced back the way they came as fast as they could. They were chased by all manner of Insecticon all the way to the cave entrance. The problem was that once the Insecticons reached the entrance, the two Autobots had seemed to have disappeared.

"Where'd they go, go, go," Kickback asked after he and his two brothers transformed back into robot mode.

"You lose them," Hardshell shouted as he hit Kickback across the back of the head.

"Actually, you just lost the hunt," a voice called out. All the Insecticons, masters and drones alike, all spun around to see the smirking faces of Natarle Badgiruel and Murrue Ramius as the two pointed their energon pistols at the three lead bugs.

"If anything," Murrue continued from what she was saying earlier.

"You've now become the hunted," Natarle finished. The two then fired off as many rounds as they could from the two pistols causing all of the Insecticons to back away and thrash around in fear until finally one of the ones thrashing hit the blocked entrance opening up the path. Before the bugs could try and stop them, the sound of engines reached audio receptors and ears alike and the vehicle modes of both Jazz and Ratchet rammed through what Insecticons blocked the passage still. With the way clear, Natarle and Murrue both took off and ran through the entrance right behind their Autobot partners, shooting the oversized bugs as they went. Once all four had cleared the entrance, there was just one thing left to do.

Jazz and Ratchet reassumed robot mode once more and, with Murrue and Natarle's help, blasted the cave until the entrance was blocked once more, trapping those who now resided within it inside, hopefully for a long time. The two Archangel officers both looked at one and other with a smile and a simple nod as show of both thanks and good work, leading the two Autobots with them to smile as they radioed the base for a Ground Bridge home.

That evening, Natarle, Murrue, and the rest of the Archangel crew had returned to the ship for the night and it found Murrue and Natarle sitting in the ship's mess hall having a drink, both feeling the need to talk to each other about some issues that were still unresolved.

"Captain," Natarle began.

"Natarle there's no need to be formal when neither one of us is on duty. You can just call me Murrue if you'd like," Murrue interrupted.

Natarle gave a small smile and nodded at that as she continued. "Murrue, I know that I probably shouldn't be saying this, but I honestly think you're right in saying that whatever choice the Autobots make when it comes to whether or not they come with us to Alaska we should respect it. Just please try to understand. I never have nor ever will criticize you out of any personal dislike, I've merely always tried to point out the vital importance of maintaining some semblance of order and that doesn't change simply because of field promotions or emergency situations."

"Yes I understand that, or at least the concept anyway."

"And a military must be regulated. It requires both soldiers who follow the orders of their superiors and commanders who can see the larger picture and make the appropriate decisions otherwise the ship cannot be victorious or hope to survive in battle, and I'm certain that some of the Autobots feel the same way."

Murrue smiled at Natarle before she said her piece. "Some of us know that but still can't do it." At Natarle's understanding hum, Murrue continued by saying, "Natarle I'm fully aware of the fact that I'm not suited for this position."

"Murrue I only meant-," Natarle tried to protest, but she was interrupted when Murrue raised a hand in a gesture to let her continue.

"It's alright. I already know the truth Natarle. A lot has come between us, but I am truly grateful for all your help thus far and that I'm sure you will continue to give so long as you and I both serve aboard this ship together. Believe me, there is no doubt in my mind that you will make a fine captain someday."

Natarle looked at Murrue in shock at that, and then simply smiled and said, "You know your problem is that you're just too soft." Normally that comment would have been said in the way one would expect it to be said when coming from Natarle, but this time, as she said it with a smile, it was clear she had meant it lightly. Especially since she continued by saying, "But I guess a lot of us on this ship are the same, and it is an honor serving aboard the Archangel with you."

Murrue then raised her glass to Natarle as she toasted, "To the Archangel then, and to the fortune that brought us together as her crew and commanding officers."

Natarle clinked her glass against Murrue's with a simple, "Here, here." That night, while they would not say they were on the best terms with each other, the two women would definitely agree that they were on understanding terms and would both consider this the start of a newly strengthened friendship.

The Insecticons moaned in both pain and anguish as they sat in the darkness of the cave that they were buried in, humiliated in their defeat and in the fact that they were outsmarted by mere humans. Sharpshot swore to his brothers and hive that they would get revenge on the two human women that did this to them and all those close to them, including the Autobots, but at the moment even he was starting to doubt he could keep his word to the hive. The next thing he heard was the sound of explosions on the other side of the blocked entrance, and Sharpshot had a pretty good idea what was coming next.

"Get away," Sharpshot shouted as he scattered with his two brothers and their followers. A moment later, the blockage was blown apart by a massive explosion, opening up the cave once more. The three Insecticons looked to the entrance and saw the familiar sight of a silver and dark grey figure stepping forward and into the now revealed moonlight.

"Well now this is a welcome surprise," came the smug voice of the former Decepticon first lieutenant-turned traitor, Starscream. "I come looking for energon and I find some old friends."

"Starscream," Sharpshot asked. "Why you here? Where'zz Megatron?"

"I no longer serve Megatron, and am now in fact forming my own Decepticon army. A true Decepticon army, and I believe I may know of a possible ally here on this planet that may further my cause. Though I will admit having you on board will give me an extra edge that I am sure will be of use to both me and this possible ally. Interested?"

The three Insecticons looked between themselves until Hardshell stated, "You help us get even with humanzzz who do thizzz to us and help Autobots, and we help."

"Ah I take it that means you've met some of the crew of the human ship that Optimus Prime and his Autobots are now aligned with then," Starscream inquired. When he received three nods in reply the treacherous Seeker continued, "Well then I can assure you this will most assuredly give you just the revenge you seek. So then, do we have a deal?"

The Insecticons all nodded and Starscream smirked at his latest accomplishment as he declared, "Then be ready to transform and move out my friends, we have a meeting with the one called Muruta Azrael."

AN: Okay show of hands, who else had moments during Gundam SEED where they half expected Murrue and Natarle to start throwing punches at each other? I honestly thought that with everything that had happened between them, and after adding in the whole situation with the Autobots and their plans would've brought about a breaking point that would have led to...well you saw what happened here. Anyways, next chapter will not have any of the specific team-ups but it will have a major influence on the story's overall plot. If you can't figure out what it is based on the preview, then the only other hint I will give you is that it's based on a certain adventure from Transformers Prime Season 2. Now then, preview time...

A tragedy befalls the young Autobot scout as Bumblebee finds himself unable to assume his vehicle mode after being attacked by an unknown assailant. What will the already voiceless scout do to regain what he had lost, and just what will the Autobot chief medical officer be willing to sacrifice for the brave scout? Meanwhile, Azrael, Blue Cosmos, and the command staff of the Earth Forces meet with Starscream as their next goals in military advancement are finally revealed, which leads to the beginning of an alliance that may change the fate of the war and cause the Autobots grave problems. Next time on Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Prime…Chapter 16: Operation Cosmos. Brace yourself for a cruelty unlike any other Bumblebee!

Please read and review, and I'll see you next chapter!