Beast Wars and all characters and things related are copyright and trademark of Hasbro and Mainframe Entertainment. This work, however, is the original work of the author.
Note: This story takes place immediately after "Rude Homecoming".
Discoveries, Chapter 3
By TVfan
Underground Caves
"I'll admit this, Primal, you've done a fairly decent job of preparing a secret base for us to operate from," Queen commented, as she and Optimus supervised the construction of the new 'Resistance' base against the Tripredicus Council.
"It's all the things that need to be done before we can take any further steps against the Tripredicus Council," Optimus answered, "Which will need to be our next mission."
"Further steps?" Queen asked.
"Finding out what they're planning," Optimus answered, "It'll help us figure out how to stop them."
"They plan to take over Cybertron," Queen answered, "which, technically they've already done. We must fight them for that. Besides, we will need stocks of energon if we're to keep fighting."
"Yes, I know," Optimus sighed, "but they can't be limited to only ruling Cybertron. If they're anything like Megatron, they'll likely move on take over more of the galaxy or find some sort of super weapon that would make our fighting unimportant. We need to find that out for sure so that way we can counter their moves."
"I'd prefer just taking them out," Queen growled, "Forget their plans."
"It's better to fight smarter," Optimus argued, "if we fight a series of 'minor' engagements to gain information or supplies, we're bound to run into some of their forces, and if they are beaten, that will weaken their overall position. Saving us from having to risk maximum losses to take minor positions or risking annihilation attacking strong points."
Queen only growled heavily as she found Optimus's style of warfare to be exceedingly cautious. She respected his ability to put together a base that the Tripredicus Council didn't know of, and she could moderately understand his want to protect any possible wounded Maximals, as these were things that Maximals held as 'virtues'. But they were at war now, and the Tripredicus Council was the enemy. It was unwise, in Queen's opinion to simply nip at the edges. They had to hit hard, hit fast, and hit soon, and the base that had been built would allow them to do just that.
"And if we need to obtain a large supply of energon for 'food' or fuel, mindlessly assaulting Tripredicus instillations is not the way to secure them," Optimus then added as they continued.
"Perhaps we can continue with the small 'divide and conquer' missions then," Queen sighed, knowing the Resistance would need energon stocks to keep fighting, "You and your Maximals can go running after what useless pieces of information you want. My fighters will secure what is truly important."
Optimus could only nod, sensing that he wasn't likely to get the female Predicon to change her mind.
Tripredicus Council Headquarters
"Has there been any positive report from the tunnelers?" General Seaclamp asked nervously as the Tripredicus Council met in their primary headquarters area.
"None," General Ramhorn answered, "Wherever they've built this base, they've either hidden it quite well, or the have very successful defenses."
"None of our tunneller patrols have reported losses," General Cicadacon grumbled, "I'd think it's the former. They've hidden it well."
"There has to be some way we can find them without all this work," Seaclamp grumbled, "some sort of scanning system or something."
"We have that sort of technology," Ramhorn reminded him, "It comes standard with all Cybertronian security systems. The problem is the range. We can install the program on the drones, but they would have to get within one hundred yards of the target, and installing the detection gear would force us to remove their communication and homing signal devices."
General Seaclamp growled in frustration. He had expected to be celebrating the destruction Optimus Primal and his Maximals. Instead, they had robbed several facilities needed to build a base, which would mean that their fights with the resistance would become much more serious.
"We can safely assume that Primal has not only linked up with the Resistance, but has taken on a command role," General Cicadacon spoke, "we can also assume that he's establishing a base from which he can attack us."
"We know that!" General Seaclamp yelled in frustration.
"Then you can also guess what Primal's next move will be," General Cicadacon told his frustrated partner.
That actually intrigued both of the other Council members.
"They have a base, yes," General Cicadacon then explained, "but they have no way of easily supplying it. They will have to depend on various Maximal and Predicon supply depots for weapons, ammunition, and above all energon. If they're really brave, they might even raid the depots that we use for our own enforcers or drones."
"You're suggesting we use these places as bait?" General Ramhorn asked.
"Yes, saturate them with hidden drones and an enforcer or two and wait until a small team of Resistance fighters arrives," General Cicadacon smiled, "the Resistance members are then overpowered and brought before us, and we can then interrogate them on the location of their base."
"That might work, if it weren't for the fact that Curser an Vile are both in CR chambers after the latest Resistance activities and most of our other enforcers aren't on this part of Cybertron," General Seaclamp grumbled, "our drones won't do much if Primal sends one of is 'advanced' warriors."
"We may have to recruit the traveler that we found in space," General Ramhorn sighed, "from what he told us when we captured him, he even has experience with both Primal and Megatron's followers."
"Are you sure we can trust him though?" General Cicadacon asked his partner, "Even I'm concerned on his loyalties, given his history."
"We know that Megatron enslaved Rampage to serve him on Earth," General Ramhorn said confidently, "Tarantulus managed to tell us of that before his demise."
"A shame," General Seaclamp sighed, thinking of the transmetal spider, "Tarantulus was one of our best operatives."
"Yes, but we can duplicate what Megatron did with our guest," Ramhorn spoke, "It may be the only thing we can do to provide for us a warrior who can match the Resistance fighters."
Underground Caves
Gathering up all of the Maximals and Resistance fighters took a fair while as some where guarding the entrance and others were exploring the area that they were now inhabiting. They then gathered around a crudely readied computer that they had earlier stolen which was currently displaying a map of the local area that had been mapped.
"Now that our base is established," Queen began, "it is now time to begin insuring that we have the supplies to allow us to fight the Tripredicus Council. Optimus Primal and I have agreed to a two pronged strategy. Bomb will lead Terrorsaur, Spine, Quickstrike, and Jawbreaker to an old Predicon storage facility. You are to recover as much energon and, or, weaponry as possible."
"I'd actually prefer it if you kept all your Resistance members here for the time being," Rhinox spoke up, before Optimus could explain his part in 'Queen's' operation.
"What?!" Queen demanded, "You dare command my followers?!"
"No, it is merely that now with the equipment we've recently collected, I have the ability to find out what is preventing you and your followers from transforming," Rhinox explained with a sigh, "I would prefer to have them here so that I can perform basic scans on them and on you."
"How long will it take you to cure us?" Queen then demanded.
"That depends on what is actually blocking your ability to transform," Rhinox answered, "It could be as simple as an anti-virus, or it could be as complicated as reformatting you, giving you a new alternate form. But I need you and all your followers her so that I can get started."
"Fine," Queen sighed, "but who is going to guide my team to proper location?"
"I'll go," Cheetor volunteered, "I know my way pretty well around Cybertron and help out if there is any trouble."
"I can provide your 'team' with the necessary firepower as well," Tigerhawk added, "If that is alright with Optimus."
"It's alright with me," Optimus nodded and then coughed to try and regain the attention of the gathered transformers.
Once Optimus was sure he had their attention, he continued with his part of the mission to be assigned.
"While Queen's group goes to get energon, Maximals," Optimus spoke, "our goal is to try and gather whatever evidence we can on what the Tripredicus Council is planning and try to gather whatever information possible that might betray how strong they actually are."
"You mean, walk up to their door and ask, 'what are ya doin'?'" Rattrap asked, "Are you nuts?"
"You're not going to knock on the door, and you're to avoid getting into a fight as much as possible," Optimus answered with a sigh, "You, Blackarachnia, and Squeak are to sneak in, get what you can, and sneak out."
"Should be fun," Blackarachnia commented, "but we'll probably need some force to distract them. They've probably done the most to guard their own headquarters above all other things."
"Depthcharge, Silverbolt, Airazor, and Snowstalker will follow behind you as 'backup'" Optimus spoke, "If you get discovered, they'll respond and allow you to escape."
"I should have known you were tryin' ta kill me," Rattrap grumbled.
Optimus sighed and ignored Rattrap's complaints.
"The rest will continue the basic exploring and mapping of these caves or patrolling the tunnels for their tunneler drones," Optimus continued, "but remember that such patrols are not to go far from the entrance."
The others soon nodded.
Storehouse, Later
It took forever for the raiding group found the old Predicon storehouse that Queen wanted them to hit. The time that had been used in getting there did not sit well with the Predicons in the group.
"You little runt," Terrorsaur growled, sounding angry, "You said you knew your way around Cybertron!"
"I do," Cheetor answered with a weak smile, "but it's both dated and incomplete. It's from when I was a 'sparkling' and I never hung out in any Predicon parts of town."
Terrorsaur growled and was about to attack the transmetal two cheetah, when he felt a large hand restrain him. Terrorsaur looked back to see that it was Tigerhawk restraining him and that the other Predicons with them looked at least hesitant to attack the two Maximals.
"Your 'new' leader and her original followers need to be checked to see what the Tripredicus Council has done to prevent them from being able to transform to their alternate mode," Tigerhawk spoke in a firm voice, "And very few of Optimus's crew even have memories or have even been on Cybertron."
"And besides, Terrorsaur," Spine spoke up, "we may need them to beat what they got guarding their warehouse."
Terrorsaur then looked out from their position in an alley to look at the warehouse. It was part of a larger complex and there were no fences there, but the transmetal two pteranodon could see several tank drones pacing in front of the doors with at least three jet drones flying overhead.
"Yeah, it might be good to have you two along," Terrorsaur answered, "I'll deal with the jet drones. Tigerhawk, Cheetor, it would be appreciated if you could deal with their tank drones."
Cheetor and Tigerhawk nodded.
"What about the rest of us?" Quickstrike asked and then hesitantly added, "boss?"
"The rest of you are to rush into the warehouse and get the energon," Terrorsaur answered, "you are only to fight if you are directly attacked on the way in or out. Fighting isn't the main goal of this mission."
Quickstrike looked depressed and looked down.
"Fine," the Predicon fuzor sighed.
Outside the Tripredicus Council Building
The two Maximal teams meanwhile approached a lone black tower that stood out against several smaller defense towers that surrounded. They quickly climbed to the roof of a nearby building to get a better look at the structure and see if there was any way in.
"Man," Rattrap groaned, "that place has enough trainable automatic guns to slag half of Cybertron on its own. No way we can just walk past them."
Blackarachnia looked out at the tower defenses, and largely found Rattrap's assessment to be accurate. Each defense tower had at least two laser cannons that would normally be mounted on battle cruisers in space. There were also at least four smaller laser cannons mounted in various locations on each tower, and there was at least one sensor device on each tower as well. Because of walls connecting each tower, Blackarachnia couldn't be certain if there were any drones there as well.
"I'm sure we can find a way around," Blackarachnia commented, but then glanced at the other team crouching behind them, "or you guys could distract them."
"Distract them?" Airazor asked, slightly confused as their assignment was only to move in if Rattrap, Blackarachnia, and Squeak needed to be rescued, "what if you get into trouble?"
"You're all out here, and we'll be in there," Blackarachnia answered, "if we get in trouble, you wouldn't be able to help us. And right now, there is no way of getting in. If you draw their attention, we can sneak in while they're distracted. Once we're in, you can break off and find someplace 'safe' to wait for us to get out."
"I'll go with you, to help," Silverbolt was quick to offer.
"Sorry, bowser, but this is spy work," Blackarachnia replied, "not exactly something a knight is good at."
"Be careful, then," Silverbolt gave a heavy sigh.
"I try to be," Blackarachnia gave a confident smile.
"The real question, is how do we distract them?" Snowstalker questioned, "If we fire on them from here, all their guns will fire on this position. You won't be able to sneak in when they're all aimed at you."
"We'll have to move to a different spot to sneak in," Rattrap grumbled, "Probably one closer to the ground."
"And their exterior guns won't be much of an obstacle for long, if they're anything like the automated defenses Megatron had around the Darkside during the Beast Wars," Airazor commented, "I'd be more concerned with the possible drones or 'loyal' transformers they have behind that wall."
"Their drones aren't very strong," Depthcharge answered, "they can easily be dealt with. The best question is how many transformers will they have with them, and who effective are they."
"We still have to carry out the mission," Blackarachnia pointed out.
"Yeah," Depthcharge sighed, "You go and wait for our 'distraction'. You'll know when we've launched it."
Blackarachnia slowly nodded and then lead Rattrap and Squeak back down the flight of stairs they had come up. Depthcharge merely glanced back at the defenses in front of them.
"So, what's the plan?" Snowstalker asked.
"We need to draw them out and toward us," Depthcharge answered, "Getting rid of their guns will be the first task."
"I can do that," Airazor answered, "I can fly faster then the speed of sound. The guns won't survive the shockwave of the sound barrier breaking. You all might want to cover your audio sensors as I do so, though."
"And once their guns are destroyed, they'll have to come out and fight us," Silverbolt spoke.
Depthcharge nodded, "We won't stay here long, though. We're to gradually pull back, drawing their drones or transformers away from the area, letting Blackarachnia and her group get in."
The others nodded.
"I'd best get going," Airazor sighed, "I'll need to be in beast mode to achieve my top speed."
Underground Base
Optimus watched quietly as Rhinox conducted the tests needed to determine what was affect Queen and her followers. He was just as curious as Rhinox was, if not as scientifically skilled. Queen and her original resistance members remained relatively quiet through all the procedures that Rhinox performed. Most of them were basic diagnostic scans, but Rhinox also found it necessary to extract samples of mechfluid for closer analysis.
"Have you found anything so far?" Optimus asked as he came closer to his old friend.
"Nothing really worth reporting," Rhinox sighed, "the scans so far only indicate that they've got some kind of transformation-lock virus, but not which one and no specifics on how it works. So the scans only prove to us what they've told us so far."
"And you think taking our mechfluid will clarify this?" Queen questioned as she approached the makeshift table from the other side.
"It should," Rhinox answered, "It'll at least allow me to get a closer look at what has actually prevented your ability to switch between your robot and alternate modes. Once we know that, we can then take the proper steps to reverse the effects of the virus and you'll be able to affect your own internal repairs for any small injuries."
Rhinox then turned to the tubes of mechfluid that had been gathered and prepared to place them in on of the makeshift computers that they had captured to continue the analysis. The process took a fair amount of time as he equipment, being assembled in a manner that much of the equipment had not been designed to deal with, and was connected to other computers that were not entirely compatible. The result of this took longer then what was normal.
After a few moments, the computer began to process the results of the tests on the mechfluid that had been collected. When Rhinox looked at it, he was surprised beyond all belief as to what it was.
"What?" Queen demanded, "What is it?"
"It's as I feared," Rhinox sighed, "The Tripredicus Council has used a variant of the trans-lock 9000 virus."
"Trans-lock 9000?" Queen asked.
"A specialized virus created toward the end of the Great War," Rhinox answered, "in which the virus infects a transformers bodily systems and gets them to 'digest' either the alternate form or the robot form, depending on which one the transformer is in when infected. With all the gears and mechanisms that make transforming possible gone, the victim is looked in the form they were in. Thankfully, the Great War was practically over when it was developed, and thus played no major role."
"Can it be cured?" Queen questioned.
"Nothing short of a full reformatting, and the new form would be better suited to be an 'beast' mode rather then a vehicle mode, given that the trans-lock 9000 virus also does damage to vehicles and is far more likely to infect a vehicle rather then an animal mode."
"How can you be sure?" Optimus asked.
"Runner, Repair, and Wired are all Maximals," Rhinox explained, "from what I've been able to see through the scans and tests on their mechfluid, they contracted the virus through either a gas or through some direct beam. Queen, Grease, and Bomb's mechfluid seems to indicate that the virus was mixed in with whatever energon they've consumed. And there's likely to still be trans-lock 9000 still in the atmosphere as well."
"Then how come we haven't shown signs of infection?" Optimus asked, "and how come none of those serving the Tripredicus Council have shown no sign of infection?"
"I don't really know for sure," Rhinox sighed, "maybe the fact that we have beast modes instead of vehicle modes provides us with some defense. I'd need to run more tests to be certain. And those serving the Tripredicus Council have likely been vaccinated or given a new form with the vaccine in it."
"Do we have the equipment needed to reformat them?" Optimus asked.
Rhinox shook his head, "We'll need scanners, and given our best guesses at the moment, DNA scanners specifically, and animal DNA."
"We'd have to go to Earth to get that!" Queen gasped.
"Possibly," was all Rhinox could sigh back.
Warehouse
Two tank drones patrolling outside a warehouse exploded as a large missile came out of an ally and exploded between the two drones. The remaining drones then turned to face the alley as Tigerhawk and Cheetor came rushing out of it. Terrorsaur flew out above them to challenge the flying jet drones. The tank drones turned to fire, but Cheetor was quick to open up with his own blaster while Tigerhawk flew in beast mode near the ground blasting the tank drones with his chain guns. These drones blew up rapidly, almost before they could even fire a shot.
Once the tank drones appeared to be clear, Quickstrike, Jawbreaker, and Spine then rushed out to rush for the warehouse and its contents. Above them, Terrorsaur rushed forward, slashing two jet drones with his claws and transforming to his robot mode soon afterward. He destroyed that drone with his optics lasers.
"This was barely worth my time," Terrorsaur grumbled expecting a greater fight out of the drones.
He was hit in the back by two missiles which sent him tumbling out of the air. As he spiraled toward the ground he heard a voice speak to him.
"I'm sorry I didn't arrive fast enough, then," the voice taunted him.
Terrorsaur managed to regain control of his flight path and turned toward where the voice had come from. He was then shocked by what he saw. Covered in red, white, and blue paint was a transformer who's vehicle mode had to be an F-15 fighter jet from earth.
"Starscream?! But he died years ago! Centuries even!" Terrorsaur gasped.
"My body, yes, my spark, NO!" Starscream answered, "and now the Tripredicus Council has given me the opportunity to get revenge on Optimus Primal and Blackarachnia for defeating me in the Beast Wars!"
"They aren't here," Terrorsaur answered, no really caring if this really was Starscream or not, "so you'll have to be destroyed by me."
Terrorsaur then fired his lasers at the recreated Decepticon, but Starscream managed to avoid taking a hit and fired his own lasers back. Terrorsaur only just managed to avoid taking a direct hit. That made him growl slightly. From what he had overheard from the Maximals and their assessments of their new enemy, even the transformers on the Tripredicus Council's side were not effective, but so far, clone or not, this Starscream had brought him to straight up draw. He was sure it would be tough to win.
Tripredicus Council Chambers
General Ramhorn was knocked off his feet when a great 'boom' shook the tower that he and the other Tripredicus Council members used. He was then startled by the computers in the tower then piped to life through the main loudspeakers.
"Attention, Maximal energy signature detected," spoke the automated loudspeakers.
General Ramhorn rushed to the closest window and looked out to see a peregrine falcon transformer in beast mode fly off in the distance. He also noticed that nearly all the guns on the defense towers had been destroyed by what appeared to be a shockwave of sound. He then heard the sounds of explosions coming from the other direction, and he quickly rushed down the hallway to get to another window. He ran into General Seaclamp when he arrived.
"We're under attack!" Seaclamp exclaimed, partially reporting the situation.
"And Starscream has been sent to protect the warehouses," Ramhorn grumbled as he looked out and watched a group of Maximals fire at the defense towers and walls, as if they were trying to blast a hole to charge through.
"Come on," Seaclamp urged, "we have to organize a counter attack, even if wee have to lead it ourselves."
Outside, Depthcharge watched as he and his group fired on the defense towers and walls, hoping their fire would open a path for Rattrap's group to get through. Airazor returned to their position while they were firing.
"They're starting to send drones out," Airazor commented, "We'll know for certain if we've really diverted all their attention from the others."
They then looked down to see three fairly large transformers leading a horde of drones behind them. The transformers were unfamiliar too them, but considering that each was just as large as Optimus was, they had to be fearsome.
"I'd say we have their attention," Silverbolt commented as he fired some feather missiles at the drones behind the three leading transformers, "are we to pull back now that they're coming?"
"We wait until they actually start firing," Depthcharge answered, "I'll carry Snowstalker, and we'll withdraw to the ground about a block away. We have to make it look like they're actually winning the fight."
They fired another series of rounds down on the drones, which destroyed several of them. By that time, however, the three leading transformers had gotten everything organized to fire on their position, and the group was soon taking fire as well.
"Time to go!" Snowstalker said urgently as they began pulling back.
Airazor provided enough covering fire to allow them to leave the rooftop.
"I'd think that some of the reports we received were inaccurate!" General Cicadacon exclaimed as they watched the visible Maximals pull back, "they ran at the first sign of a counter attack."
"They've been fighting Megatron before they came here," General Seaclamp commented, "considering the fools he recruited when he went rogue, I highly doubt they even expected a fight from us. Let us advance. Perhaps they will lead us to their new base."
Meanwhile, Rattrap peaked around a corner to watch the three large transformers lead at least a regiment of drones after Depthcharge's decoy group.
"Man, those guys are big," Rattrap commented, "Hate to meet them in a dark alley."
"I doubt they're agents of the Tripredicus Council, or at least, not low ranking agents," Blackarachnia commented, "At that size, they have to be individually powerful, and Predicons of that size do not take to being followers. They're either leaders or rogues. Without a piece of Rampage's spark, Megatron could have never controlled him."
"Sister, loyalty ain't exactly a Predicon virtue," Rattrap answered back, "Most of the ones that didn't plot against Megs only did so because they were scared of him."
"That's sorta my point," Blackarachnia sighed, "If those guys aren't the Tripredicus Council members themselves, they're likely either in the position Rampage was in or plotting on their own."
"I don't mean to but in, but they've gone," Squeak spoke up, "we can get in now."
The two then looked to see that the drones and three massive transformers were in fact gone. Blackarachnia was quick to move up the side of the wall, and left cyberweblines for Rattrap and Squeak to climb up. They found no sign of anyone guarding the now abandoned tower.
Warehouse District
It took a fair while, but eventually Quickstrike, Spine, and Jawbreaker came running out of the warehouse carrying crates full of energon cubes. Outside, Tigerhawk and Cheetor patiently stood guard, blasting any tank drone that dared approach, which now appeared to have been completely destroyed.
"Was there any trouble in there?" Tigerhawk asked.
"No," Spine answered simply and then carried on with the crate he was carrying.
Tigerhawk then glanced up as the sounds of battle between Terrorsaur and Starscream grew louder.
"Something wrong?" Cheetor asked.
"Something could be," Tigerhawk answered, "can you insure the others get to safety?"
Cheetor then glanced upward toward the sounds of battle above them.
"He said he wanted to deal with the jet drones himself," Cheetor told the transmetal two fuzor, "I'm sure he wouldn't get himself into a fight he can't win. He can't be that stupid."
"That is not the sound of an easy battle, little cat," Tigerhawk answered, "It has to be something more dangerous."
Above them, Terrorsaur was doing all he could, just to maintain a stalemate. Whoever this new Starscream was, he was at least as skilled as his likely namesake was. His lasers were not that powerful, but his missiles did pack a powerful punch, and despite his transmetal two armor, Terrorsaur was careful not to let those missiles hit him twice. He fired a wide spread of his own lasers at the other transformer in front of him. Starscream dodged and fired his missiles back.
Terrorsaur dodged the missiles, but ended up getting hit by Starscream's lasers, knocking him back a bit.
"Come on," Starscream taunted, "I'd been told you guys were wiping up the floor with the Council's drones. I was expecting more of a challenge."
Terrorsaur glanced down to see that his comrades escaping with the crates of energon.
"You've failed to stop us from getting the energon," Terrorsaur pointed out.
"Ah, but that wasn't my mission," Starscream smiled, "my mission was to destroy resistance fighters, and the Council will reward me for destroying a flyer."
Starscream was unable to continue as he was suddenly hit by several gatling gun bullets that pushed him back. He turned to see a large transmetal two fuzor approaching, and that he had just fired a missile that was headed directly for him. He had no time to dodge the incoming missile, and the resulting explosion knocked him off of the battlefield, and he landed on a road almost a mile away.
Terrorsaur, meanwhile, turned to face Tigerhawk as he approached him.
"I wanted you to guard against drones," Terrorsaur growled.
"The drones are all gone, and judging by the sounds I heard, you were in need of help," Tigerhawk spoke back.
Terrorsaur looked in the direction in which Tigerhawk had sent Starscream flying.
"Well," Terrorsaur admitted, "you did get rid of him."
"Who was that?" Tigerhawk asked.
"Said he was Starscream, and looked like the Great War Decepticon, too, but not as big," Terrorsaur answered.
"So he wasn't destroyed," Tigerhawk groaned.
"Huh?" Terrorsaur questioned.
"All questions will be answered later," Tigerhawk told him, "meanwhile, the others have left. We'd best do the same."
Tripredicus Council Tower
The entire tower was empty as Rattrap, Blackarachnia, and Squeak made their way in. There was virtually no sign of any security.
"What do we check for first?" Squeak asked.
"Computer nerve centers," Rattrap answered, "any plans they have layin' around are gonna be there."
"Any possible weapons caches might also be a good target," Blackarachnia added, "might help explain how largely poorly armed drones with sparse transformer support took over all of Cybertron."
They kept going for a while through the tower, going up each floor one at a time. They found no weapons caches, but Squeak did see several rooms that looked medical experiment labs as they moved. Eventually they came to the top floor, which was the last hope for any such information. They found themselves in a long hallway with a row of doors on either side leading to a window that appeared to look out over the battle scene they had left earlier.
"Squeak, go stand by that window," Blackarachnia ordered, "let us know if you see any sign of the drones coming back."
Squeak glanced at Rattrap who nodded and then moved toward the window. Blackarachnia and Rattrap, meanwhile, began to check the doors in the hallway. The first two doors lead to what appeared to be individual quarters, and the third was a 'dining' area, stocked with energon cubes. The fourth was a large circular conference room with a large round table. There appeared to be various computer and holographic devices as part of the table and lead to doors on the other end.
"I'll check in here," Blackarachnia spoke, "You keep the other rooms."
Rattrap sighed and kept going. The sixth door was another quarters room, but the seventh door and final one in the hallway was a door to a computer intelligence room and that made the transmetal rat smile.
"Score," Rattrap smiled.
Squeak meanwhile remained quiet at her guard post at the window. She watched patiently while Rattrap and Blackarachnia searched for what would help them gain more knowledge about what the Tripredicus Council had planned for Cybertron. After about ten minutes of watching, Squeak noticed movement approaching the damaged walls outside the tower. She then set about gathering the others.
Outside, General Ramhorn sighed heavily as they made their way to the tower. They had lost more then seventy percent of their drones, and they themselves had taken some damage in pursuing the Maximals, but they were successful in driving them off. It still seemed like a wasteful defense.
"That was futile," General Ramhorn groaned, "they got away."
"At least we did some damage to the flyer and the cat," General Cicadacon spoke up, sounding optimistic, "that'll prove they can't just wantonly attack us."
"Yes, but the one that was made up of two animals and the upgraded one suffered little if any damage," General Seaclamp grumbled, "and we lost a large number of drones just driving them off."
They then made their way into their tower while the drones with them took up defensive positions. The three council members rode their elevator up to the top floor and then moved to their main situation room.
"We'd best contact Starscream, see how he faired," General Cicadacon spoke and then pressed a button.
What popped up was a holographic image of Blackarachnia's head. The image was smiling.
"Congratulations, your computer network has been infected by the Blackarachnia Computer Virus," the computer spoke.
Everything in the room then went dark.
Underground
"That's impossible," Queen gasped, "Starscream was destroyed in the Great War!"
"His body was, but his spark seemed to be almost immune to 'death'," Optimus sighed, "His spark showed up in the Beast Wars and possessed Waspinator."
"Waspinator hate old Jet-bot!" Waspinator buzzed, remembering the fact that he had been blown to bits at the end of Starscream's scheme in the Beast Wars.
"His weapons were strong enough to be the original Starscream," Terrorsaur grumbled.
"And was partially why the Maximal elders allowed the creation of protoform X, who was also a thorn in our side during the Beast Wars," Optimus sighed.
"So how do we beat him for good?" Queen questioned.
"I had to ram a shard of raw energon into X to destroy him," Depthcharge spoke up, "but I doubt there is anything like that here."
"We might be able to capture him though," Tigerhawk added, "although that might be somewhat tough."
Optimus nodded, "All of that can be sorted out and planned later. In the meantime, what are the results of our other mission?"
"We destroyed most of the drones they sent out at us, and did some damage to three large transformers leading the drones," Silverbolt reported, "which allowed Blackarachnia, Rattrap, and Squeak to get into the main tower that the they had."
"Did you find anything interesting?" Optimus asked, turning to Rattrap and Blackarachnia.
Rattrap nodded, "We might finally have the answers we've been looking for, right here."
The transmetal rat then held up a series of data disks. Optimus took them and put the first on in the makeshift computer panel that had been assembled. A holographic image of General Seaclamp then appeared above the panel's holo-projector.
"Megatron's actions have opened up a window of opportunity for Plan Omega," Seaclamp's image spoke, "The Maximal elders have weakened their space fleet in the Cybertron sector to search the missing Axalon, and with them, half of their ground troops have also been sent on this rescue mission."
They all gathered around the image to watch the information, apparently a private journal, be presented.
"The detection of a transwarp shockwave reinforced this opportunity," the image continued, "we ordered three ships of the Predicon Alliance to act as though they had gone rogue with Megatron and destroyed the Maximal detection satellites that they would have needed to detect the transwarp wave."
The Maximals from the Beast Wars looked on, remembering why there was a transwarp wave and what the consequences of it were.
"While the Maximal elders focused on their search for Optimus Primal and after our ruse with their satellites, with hunting the 'rogues' we were now ready to begin Operation Omega," the image continued, "We ordered the construction of three million tank drones, two million jet drones, and began notifying loyal Predicons throughout Cybertron that the hour of glory had arrived."
The image then vanished and the disk automatically ejected. Optimus placed it on top of the computer and put the next data disk in. It then portrayed the image of General Ramhorn.
"The first Phase of Operation Omega has proceeded well," the image began, "the Maximal elders, distracted by other matters never saw our attack coming and their council chambers was easily overrun, and all guarding Maximals were either destroyed or damaged. The Maximal Elders are no more."
Runner, Repair, and Wired looked down with a heavy sigh. The Predicons had done more then assault the elder's council chambers, but that was apparently the main goal.
"With control of Cybertron firmly in Predicon hands, we then began work to insure its control by the Tripredicus Council for all time," the image continued, "trans-lock 9000 gas was dropped on Maximal settlements while separate trans-lock 9000 vials were prepared to be injected into energon cubes. With that all transformers not of our origins will be weakened and ready for phase two."
Queen shared a short glance with other members of her resistance movement, now knowing why she couldn't take her alternate mode.
"We have also begun construction of Omega One in orbit around Cybertron," the image continued, "It should be complete in one year and will serve well for our final victory."
The image then vanished. Once again, Optimus replaced the disks. This time, the image was of General Cicadacon.
"Phase two has begun," the image spoke, "we have begun capturing Maximals that survived the take over and have extracted their sparks, and have them secured in our facility on Cybertron's moon. We have also begun gathering up Predicons not sharing our origins and have been sending their sparks to the same location."
That raised several gasps of horror from all present.
"Progress on Omega One continues as scheduled, and will be able to secure ultimate power, soon, not even this growing resistance will be able to stand in the way of the Tripredicus Council," the image finished.
The image then went out again.
"They're stealing sparks!" Cheetor exclaimed, "That's low, really low."
"At least they're not killing them," Silverbolt commented, "we can still save them."
"If we can get a ship to the moon," Queen commented.
"What about this thing about 'origins' that they were talking about?" Packadex asked.
"The origins of the Tripredicus Council," Queen answered, "They're descendents of Unicron, and since the Predicon faction was in complete disarray when the Decepticons lost the Great War and became the Predicons, they were easily able to take over the faction. Apparently, they don't want any Maximal or Predicon that doesn't share their origins around."
"Then why haven't they destroyed the sparks they've already taken?" Rapther questioned, "Even if they transfer them to another body, they'll still be either a Maximal or a Predicon."
"That information can be explained in these disks," Blackarachnia spoke up and handed Optimus another set of disks, "they are largely plans. Omega One, appears to be a large drone, but with a power scale off the charts, and according to the disks, should be about the size of a moon, which I assume is the reason why it'll take them a year to finish."
"A moon sized drone?" Optimus asked, "with great power? You wouldn't think they're trying to recreate Unicron do you?"
"It wouldn't surprise me, considering some of the things that Tarantulus did during the Beast Wars," Blackarachnia answered, "and that isn't all. They've been working on some sort of semi-mystical link with both the Oracle and the Matrix and are building it in 'Omega One', probably some effort to get Unicron's spark back."
"That must be why they've been collecting the sparks," Rhinox commented, "Unicron's spark is powerful, and it's not unheard of for a transformer to make direct contact with the Matrix or the Oracle. They likely intend to exchange the live sparks they've collected for Unicron's dead spark, turning the Omega One drone into a new Unicron."
Optimus looked at his group and then at Queen and her resistance fighters and gave a heavy sigh.
"Well that's just prime," Optimus then spoke.
The End…