Note -- this takes place in the Binaltech universe. For more info on it, check out the Wikia.

Disclaimer: Last time I checked, I didn't own them. I'm pretty sure I still don't.

16 -- Dominant

"The art of leading, in operations large or small, is the art of dealing with humanity, of working diligently on behalf of men, of being sympathetic with them, but equally, of insisting that they make a square facing toward their own problems." -- Unknown

The base stationed on Dinobot Island was abuzz with activity as mechs hurried to and fore checking graphs, eyeing defense parameters, and making sure that the path to the time anomaly was clear. At the center of all the activity was Skids, frowning down at the screen before him as if it was the cause of all their current problems. However, the poor screen was not to blame; it was all that blasted Decepticon Ravage's fault.

"Perceptor, how is Wheeljack's memory databank download going?" He asked via the base's comm. system while he simultaneously checked on the progress of the drone being built to deliver it. So far, everything was going exactly according to plan. It made Skids feel uneasy.

There was a brief pause before the other mech responded. "We are at eighty-seven percent with the download," the brisk voice said through the speakers. "It shan't take much longer if the process continues on as efficiently as it has been. We should be ready within the next breem or two."

The feeling of unease increased. Skids ignored it in favor of sending an affirmative to Perceptor and checking up on the defense parameters again. It was all too easy. Why would Ravage go through all that trouble to alter history, ensuring that the Autobots would fall to Unicron, only to allow it be corrected without a fight? The statistics just didn't add up to the theoretician.

He didn't allow his insecurity to show on his face. It wouldn't be very leader-ish of him to unnecessarily worry his troops. They needed him to stay calm, be the voice of reason if an emergency flared up. He could not, under any circumstance, loose his processor. Optimus Prime himself had chosen him to lead this mission; failure was not an option.

"Sir, the drone has been complete!" Skids snapped out of his thoughts to nod at the mech his acknowledgement.

"Please go prep it to receive the databank." The mech saluted and briskly walked back the way he came. Skids watched him go with the uneasy feeling growing tenfold in his spark. Something bad was going to happen, that he knew for sure, but when? And how?

The feeling continued to plague him until he was distracted from it with the news that the download of Wheeljack's memory databank had been successfully completed. "The drone has already been prepped, Perceptor," he responded back after hearing the good news. "Please go load it immediately. The faster the time stream is corrected, the better I believe."

"Affirmative. I will begin the outfitting immediately. Perceptor out." Skids sat back and released a pent up air take. Perhaps his uneasy feeling was just all in his processor. All they had to do now was send the drone into the time anomaly and hope that their message got through safely. Against all odds it seemed like they were -

Just as the proximity alarms went off, a large blast shook the base to its very foundation. Standing mechs stumbled before righting themselves and rushing off towards their battles stations as Skids shouting out orders to prepare for combat. I knew Ravage would not sit idly back! He thought bitterly to himself as he keyed in a few commands to bring up an outside video feed and felt his spark lurch in his chassis.

An entire fleet of Decepticons were knocking at their doorstep and every single one of they had their weapons trained on the base. Skids only allowed a split second of terror grip him before shaking it roughly aside for later. He needed to hold them off, at least until the drone had successfully launched.

"All front line warriors, we need you to hold the Decepticons back!" He issued on every frequency the base had while scanning to see how many they were up against. He wished Prowl was with him instead of at Autobot City; he could really use his strategic mind right about now. "Snipers hide in the foliage and cover the warriors while making sure the path to the anomaly stays clear at all costs! We cannot fail in delivering that databank!"

A chorus a confirmations answered him. The next few breems were filled with stressed orders and curses as both sides engaged in battle. The Decepticons were slowly but surely gaining ground as Skids waited impatiently for Perceptor to finish loading the precious cargo. After what seemed like an eternity, the green light was given and Skids ordered the drone's immediate launch as soon as they were given a window of opportunity.

"Launch the drone now!" Skids shouted over the comm. as soon as one such window presented itself. The mechs hastened to comply and they all watched with hopeful optics as it slipped through the Decepticon blockade and disappear into the time anomaly unscathed. Whoever was in charge of the Decepticon attack force ordered the retreat when they failed to shoot their target out of the sky. The Autobot forces cheered as one as they saw their enemy turn tail and flee.

Skids leaned back in his chair and released an air take slowly, mimicking a human sigh of relief. He allowed to his spark to rise with hope; everything would go on in the way it was originally preordained now hopefully. He had fulfilled his last job in this time verse.

He welcomed the time stream merging with open arms and did not notice the large, black mech fading into existent behind him.