-Personal Log: Entry #009-
It has been more than three solar megacycles since the day I spoke to Megatron, and I've kept myself pretty busy. Tigatron was right; Optimus doesn't mind letting me have my fun. Asking is only a formality now, as long as I keep an eye out for Predacon activity.
I did have to answer for leaving Rattrap behind. The reprimand was bearable, but my own sense of guilt over losing control the way I had prevented me from looking Optimus in the optics for a solar cycle afterward.
Each new sunrise promises new opportunities. I've made good progress on my flying lessons with Airazor, and have moved on to aerial combat training.
Tigatron and Cheetor take me sightseeing sometimes, and have taken to calling me Black Cat. They themselves have taken the names Big Cat and Little Cat, respectively. I'm honored to have such good friends.
Dinobot, having once been a Predacon, understands what it means to endure Rattrap's open distrust. When I need to blow off steam, I can spar with him in his quarters, which he has turned into a small dojo.
Twice now, Optimus has tried to speak to me alone, as I requested. Twice we have been interrupted, right off the bat. Such, it seems, is the burden of leadership. I am considering withdrawing the request, if for no other reason than to give Optimus a moment of peace.
In the end, I may use flight as a catalyst and think the issue over myself. Shaking off the bonds of gravity often seems a simple pleasure, but I find that the open sky helps me clear my head.
Nightshade was spending an afternoon in beast mode, taking some downtime in his quarters, when his door opened.
"Yah!"
"Easy, Nightshade. It's me." Optimus entered, in robot mode.
"That may be the first time on this planet that I've been crept up on."
"I can't take credit for it. You were half-asleep."
"Still am." Nightshade yawned. "So, what brings you here?"
"You've lost track of time, haven't you? Your lunar cycle of probation officially ended this past sunrise."
"Wild. You'll forgive me if I don't show the highest level of enthusiasm." Nightshade yawned again. "That last sparring session took a lot out of me."
"Dinobot or Airazor?"
"Both at once. Heh. No wonder."
"Prime. Now, once and for all, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Nightshade was suddenly wide awake. "You are certain we will not be overheard?"
"You can relax, Nightshade. I've got everyone on scout patrol. Rhinox is the only other person onboard right now, and he'll be kept busy with the com-links, sorting through all the separate reports."
"Still, sound carries through corridors. Door close."
Thirty cycles later, Cheetor's voice carried bad news to their audio receivers.
"Megatron's setting up a full-force assault!"
"I'm sorry, Nightshade, but I have to deal with this," Optimus said, leaving the room. "All I can tell you right now is to deal with your problem as you need to."
"I will, sir," Nightshade said, following closely.
"Just as soon as I figure out how to deal with it," he added to himself.
"Where did you see the Predacons, Cheetor?" Optimus asked.
All eight of the Maximals, including Nightshade, were standing on the bridge, looking at the three-dimensional map of the area between the Axalon and Predacon base that glowed above the center of the table.
Cheetor leaned down and pointed at the map. "Right here."
"That's pretty close," Rhinox said, punching up a circular border. "Isolate, and magnify."
The map zoomed in on the space Cheetor had indicated.
"It's also a good place strategically," Dinobot said. "There's not much cover for a spy, and even less for an ambush."
"What exactly were the Predacons doing there?" Nightshade asked. "Were they just loading their weapons, or what?"
"I... I'm not sure," Cheetor said, stunned by the severity in Nightshade's voice.
"Not sure isn't good enough, Little Cat. Search your memory, while it's still fresh."
"Hey, give the kid a break, will ya?" Rattrap asked. "He's had a rough day, and you're not making it any easier."
"'Know yourself, know your adversary, and you hold the key to victory,'" Nightshade quoted. "I can't plan a counter-offensive without an idea of the enemy's attack strategy."
"And what makes you think you can plan a counter-offensive at all? Last I checked, you weren't a command unit."
"Just because I wasn't built for the job, doesn't mean I can't do it."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"Listen, robo-rube," Nightshade retorted. "I've been a counter-strategist for a long time. I've helped bring down my share of Decepticon would-be uprisings, because I know how they think. And I chose not to take active command of the raiding parties."
They glared at each other for a few clicks, their optics shooting daggers. Then Cheetor called Nightshade's attention.
"I remember, Megatron was saying something about a secret weapon," Cheetor said. "I couldn't hear what the weapon was, but judging from what I did hear, it's powerful. Megatron said that when it came into play, the battle could tip either way, depending on how well it worked."
"Okay, that helps, thank you," Nightshade said, his tone softening. "And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so severe."
"No, you were right. Not sure isn't good enough."
"Okay, that's behind us," Optimus said. "Now, did you see the Predacons building this weapon, or bringing it to that location?"
"Sorry, Big-bot, no," Cheetor replied. "The Preds found me pretty quick, and ran me off. Like Dinobot says, there wasn't much cover. But I get the feeling Megatron let me go, really. Like he was confidant his new weapon would work the way it was supposed to."
"Then he's a fool," Nightshade said. "One should not rely on an untested variable in battle."
"Megatron is many things," Dinobot said. "But he is no one's fool."
"Well, either way, we know little of his weapon, apart from its power--which isn't your fault, Cheetor. You did what you could," Nightshade said, seeing the hurt look on the kid's face. "So, I propose we hit hard, fast, and relentless, forcing him to bring it forward."
"A frontal attack?" Dinobot objected. "Pure madness."
"That may be, but there's no right answer here," Nightshade said. "If we don't draw out Megatron's weapon quickly, we risk giving him a chance to test it, and we still wouldn't know what it was."
"You would have us rely on an untested variable," Rhinox said.
"No choice," Airazor replied. "The sooner we know about this new weapon, the better our chances of surviving it."
"It is the lesser of two evils," Tigatron added. "Any plan is better than no plan."
"Thanks, guys," Nightshade said. "Now, using what I know about each of you, I believe I have a strategy for the attack itself. If you guys will listen to the ramblings of a young old soldier."
"Old soldiers are often the most reliable," Optimus said. "It will be worth hearing."
"All right." Nightshade began to mark starting positions on the map. "We can use these cliffs for cover until we've taken our positions..."
"You've thought this out well," Optimus said five cycles later, after Nightshade had finished outlining his plan.
"Well, like I said, I've been doing this for awhile," Nightshade said.
"Does anyone have anything to add?" Optimus asked the rest of the Maximals.
No one said anything.
"Then we follow Nightshade's plan. You're all clear on your role in this counter-attack?"
In turn, each of the Maximals rattled off his or her tasks.
"Looks like they know what to do, sir," Nightshade said.
"Prime. You have a megacycle to prepare. We attack at sunset."
-End Chapter Nine-