In a region beyond the planets of this solar system, known to human astronomers as the Kuiper belt, Soundwave stood on one of the numerous frozen objects that made up the belt, optics on the dwarf planet the humans called Pluto. An impressive sight to behold, the Decepticon communications specialist listened to the chatter of his symbiotes as they did their rounds, checking up on security and the progress of his project.
-- Replication unsuccessful --
He showed no reaction to the brief message. -- Switch to alternative design – he finally sent.
He was given a confirmation.
Something approached, a jet of Cybertronian design, and the mech transformed as he landed, inclining his head in a greeting.
"We're almost done, Soundwave. You're sure this'll work?"
"Affirmative. Calculated rate of success: 95.976 %."
The Seeker looked unconvinced. "This is old stuff. Really old stuff. We're sticking together circuitry and hope it's working. We could blow up the whole planetoid."
The red visor shield met the equally red optics of the flyer. "We will proceed."
The Seeker shrugged. "Sure. Your call. Just sayin'."
With that he transformed and shot off.
Soundwave remained behind, linked into every symbiote as they were his eyes and ears throughout this area of space, around the construction sites, and on the moons of some of this solar system's uninhabited planets.
There were too few Decepticons with him. Megatron's forces had been scattered to the corners of the universe, some lost forever, some hiding, some reluctant to acknowledge Soundwave's call. Those would be dealt with later. For now he had to make due with those who had come. A handful. Pitiful when compared to the troops under Megatron's command millennia ago.
Soundwave wasn't deterred, though. Those he could be assured were loyal he had put on the most delicate of tasks. The others were mere foot soldiers, used to bring the raw material needed.
Optics found the center piece of his master plan. If this worked, victory would soon be his. If this worked, Cybertron would be restored. Without the Allspark.
If he had been able to smile, he would have done so. Instead his visor band darkened and satisfaction spread through him. The Autobots wouldn't be able to stop him.
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The mine was truly an out of the way spot, even for this remote location. The access roads were nothing but barely recognizable lines in the dust. The track they had taken was a graded, dirt road and although navigable by two-wheel drive vehicles in an emergency, a four-wheel drive was required. Some parts of the road were prone to severe corrugations, as their guides had told them, making for an uncomfortable and slow drive at times. Sideswipe had experienced that first hand when they had hit such a spot and he had cursed softly to himself.
The part of the country they were in consisted mostly of sandy plains. A lot of it was covered in spinifex grass, low acacias, some spindly grevilleas and other small trees, and lots of termite hills. In the distance were low ranges. The grass had reclaimed most of the 'road', with potholes and rocky obstacles a given. Sideswipe grumbled to himself, adjusting his shocks. He knew he should have listened to Jolt when the other mech had chosen a more sensible alt mode. Of course he could have reconfigured himself, but he hadn't. He loved his sleek looks. Now the sleek looks were a pain in the diodes.
"Recent tracks," Charles announced, studying scuffed marks on hard packed ground.
His fellow Aborigines nodded. One was further up ahead, binoculars against his eyes and scanning the mining site.
The site was a shallow indention in the ground that sloped sharply down after a few feet and disappeared from sight. From the rim there was a good view of the mine's entrance, which was larger than it would have been if only humans used it. Someone had widened the hole and installed something like tracks, but clearly not for a human rail system.
"Can't see anyone," Sideswipe commented.
Natan walked over to them, barely kicking up any dust. "There is someone there. I can see it in the air."
The two mechs exchanged brief looks.
"Explain," Jolt then said.
"You can't see it, but we can. Someone is in there, someone was here, and still is. The air is moving differently."
It had to be something human, Sideswipe decided. At least something specific to these humans. The ones he had been in contact with hadn't shown such abilities.
"We should take a look," Jolt decided.
Sideswipe agreed. There was nothing on their scanners that suggested Decepticons near-by. They would have a look around, scout, slag the Cons who got in their way, and report back to Prowl.
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Rodimus had retreated back into the shade of the above-ground hangar that made up the Australian base so far, transformed into his alternate mode, and had accessed his messages. He was amused to find one from Tony.
How's the Australian summer? Hot enough? it read. Looks like I got some time in my schedule to drop by for a little fun in the sun. Pepper's been unable to fill my social calendar to the last second of every day while I'm forced on this horrendously superfluous presentation gig.
Rodimus chuckled to himself. Stark had spent the last week in Japan and the days before that in India. Stark Industries had a branch office in both countries and Tony had had to make an appearance because of several business matters. Rodimus, while no longer Stark's guardian, was kept up to date on Tony's schedule by Pepper. She had never taken him off the cc-list and Rodimus knew it wasn't simply an oversight. She wanted him to know and he appreciated it.
I'll drop by on our way home, Tony added to his email.
The new Prime checked the time stamps and found that it would be soon. Yes, it would be nice to see Tony again. He missed the easy days down in the workshop, watching the human work, listen to his mutters and complaints, talk to him, the easy banter…
Yes, it would be very nice. The presence of Decepticons in Australia wouldn't stop Stark at all, so he didn't even try that argument. He simply sent an affirmative, then informed Captain Burns, as well as Lieutenant Monash.
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Not even four hours later the Stark Industries private jet landed on the dusty, hard-packed desert ground and rolled to a stop outside the hangar. Rodimus watched in amusement as Tony sauntered down the stairs, lazily saluting the soldiers.
"Miss me?" the industrialist billionaire asked.
"Like cosmic rust," he answered easily.
Tony grinned. "So I'm a disease?"
"Worse."
"I knew you loved me."
Rodimus just grinned back.
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The mining complex was gigantic. The main shaft had been built to accommodate a Cybertronian of average size and the maze of tunnels and access routes that must have been built to service the complex had been widened. Sideswipe carefully snuck deeper, gun ready, nodding at Jolt. There was no one here.
The humans were safely outside. He wouldn't risk their lives on this recon mission. They were scouts, not Cybertronian warriors.
There was a noise from up ahead and they slowly approached an intersection with no sign of anyone around, but Sideswipe's scanners told him that something was here.
Close.
"Down!" he yelled and shoved Jolt to the floor.
Something hit the wall behind them, turning it into a smoldering mass. Jolt's head whipped around to stare at the wall, then back to the attackers. They looked like drones and exactly alike, bristling with weapons.
"Guard dogs," he growled.
Sideswipe didn't even hesitate to take them out. Their smoldering forms crashed to the dusty and rocky ground.
"Where there's dogs, there's something to guard," Jolt muttered.
"So let's have a look," Sideswipe quipped, optics aglow.
They went deeper into the mine, weapons ready.
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"Nice," Tony commented as he was led through the Australian base, which was still rather make-shift. "So this is where the next order goes to?"
Rodimus nodded. Stark Industries had become a major part of the Autobots' bases, as well as AIDDE, and Stark not only supplied satellite surveillance systems, interfaces between human and Cybertronian tech, and spread the hybrid technology, mixing it more and more with Earth technologies. He had also given the arc reactor schematics to Optimus Prime personally. For the mechs the reactor in Tony's chest was tiny, but it was immensely powerful. Ratchet had marveled at the ingenuity of it all and in the past he had often requested Tony's cooperation on including this technology.
It had taken years and the building of a lot of trust until Tony had handed Prime the blueprints.
"Take care of this," had been his only comment.
"I will," had been the solemn promise.
Today the Ghosts ran on arc reactors and the power of the bases was relying on the clean energy source. Emergency back-ups consisted of human technology generators, as well as Cybertronian based ones, but the arc reactors were the primary power source.
"Enjoying your new post?" Tony asked when they were back outside.
"It could be worse," Rodimus answered vaguely.
Stark grinned up at him. "Sucks to be Prime, huh?"
"Rodimus laughed. "Kinda. I enjoyed our time together a lot more."
"That either makes me feel very good or like I'm the world greatest bore."
"Take number one. It was never boring with you, Tony."
"Don't make me blush, Roddy." The alert eyes looked around the desert landscape all around the base. "Heard you got trouble here."
"You hear a lot."
"Big ears."
"Right…"
Tony smiled. "I'm in on this, Roddy. Like all of you. I get the memos. I get the mission briefings."
"I know, Tony."
"So?"
"You got the reports; you know all we know."
That got Rodimus a sigh. "You're still in baby-sitter mode, hm?"
Rodimus chuckled. "Can't kick that habit with you. Must be your accident-prone nature."
"Hardy har-har."
"We don't really know much," the mech finally said. "Sideswipe and Jolt are on their trail, but they're good and despite sightings at night through the humans here, there has been no direct contact."
Tony was silent for a second, then gave his friend a brilliant smile. "Well, I've got some time to kill. What's on offer for refreshment and recreation around here?"
Rodimus gave a good impression of rolling his optics.
tbc...