Chapter 5 Escalation
Brilliant light lit up the skies of Dastrylk as soon as Sixshot had descended upon the planet; his engines were intensely bright to the inhabitants. Assuming protoform, the Decepticon super soldier fell upon the ground with such force that the ground trembled. Without warning, his Sonic Barrage pistols emerged from his hands and he started disintegrating the cities with lethal streams of energy. At once the planetary military was scrambled to defend their world and began to counterattack. No matter how much resistance they used against him, Sixshot shrugged off every attack and eradicated the entire military and all others who challenged him. He reverted back into his Cybertronian assault jet alt-mode and strafed a number of cities with powerful energy blasts, several which were leveled.
Sixshot was extremely dexterous, having obliterated the other two planets already, and slaughtered the fearsome Reapers with relative ease. Gliding close to the ground, he adopted a second alt-mode, this one being a Cybertronian main battle tank. The tank mode was also dual-barreled and deadly blasts of energy obliterated an entire mountain, the rubble and debris crushing a city underneath its weight. As he continued his destructive streak, he indulged in the destruction, the chaos, the screams, and the panic. And the more he indulged, the more he became one with the destruction.
A few more blasts of energy levelled another mountain and lava poured out of it, which made the super soldier conclude that it was a volcano. From tank mode he assumed a third alt-mode of an armoured car mounted with huge plasma cannons on the top. With this third alt-mode, he annihilated a number of smaller villages to the south of the volcano, and triggered a few other volcanoes in the area. From there, he obtained a fourth alt-mode, a laser gun, and blew apart several mass-populated cities with a single shot to each city. Other defenders came out to stop him and he blew them into oblivion.
By the time he reverted back to protoform, half the planet was already destroyed. Dastrylk was indeed a huge planet, much larger than Cybertron. Sixshot determined that it would take a little more than a cycle to finish off the remainder of the planet. Noticing several hundred inhabitants that looked like pigs, he ultimately transformed into yet a fifth alt-mode of a winged wolf, and ripped them to shreds with his powerful claws. Much blood poured away from his dead victims and it covered his entire chassis. None had entered his mouth, since it was shielded by a mouthplate that had been made to withstand the force of a supernova.
The Decepticon super soldier transformed back into his assault jet alt-mode and barraged the remainder of the planet with powerful blasts of energy and missiles. To be sure that the planet and all its citizens were deceased, he went into his armoured vehicle form once more, obliterating every structure and detonating every volcano around the planet. Satisfied with the devastation, Sixshot halted on top of a mountain that peeked above the others and crossed his arms.
Too easy, he thought as he surveyed all the destruction. While he marveled at his art, his sensitive audio receptors detected the vaguely familiar sound of rocket engines. Not even having to look, he fired a shot from one of his Sonic Barrage pistols and shot down the escapee vessel, I just point, shoot, and down they go.
"Sixshot to Megatron,"
"Megatron here. Report."
"All three planets obliterated. Minimal resistance encountered."
Megatron at first was speechless but then he replied, "Excellent work, Sixshot. Report back to Rystolth at once. Megatron out."
"Affirmative." Sixshot was about to transform then his energy detectors began to detect a vast source of energy at a far distance. Energon? No, it couldn't be. The signal he was receiving was far too strong to be that of any source of Energon variety. Still, the super soldier recorded it into his memory banks to present it to Megatron…
Decepticon Headquarters, Rystolth…
"Soundwave reporting, Lord Megatron…" the spymaster Decepticon walked over to his Master.
"Report, Soundwave."
"Sensors have detected a vast source of energy…"
"Energon?" Megatron leaned forward, intrigued by Soundwave's report.
"Negative. The signal is far too strong."
"Well what do you believe it is to be?"
"A new source of power, Mightiness. I have calculated the magnitude of the source and it is the equivalent of a supernova without the actual event occurring."
"Power? I MUST HAVE IT! Where is it located?"
"In a non-existent part of the Universe… sir."
"What do you mean 'non-existent', Soundwave? If the source can be detected, it can be located."
"No. All data surrounding that area is non-existent, therefore in theory, there is no location."
Shockwave was present in the command centre at the time and turned his head over, "Illogical. There must always be a position if there is a source."
"Either that or I am unable to pinpoint this location." The Communications Officer shrugged.
"Well, perhaps you'd be able to process information faster if you delete much of the junk stored in that over-filled processor of yours."
"I've deleted all emotions that affect me; there is nothing left to hinder my information's processing."
Megatron began to broaden the options, "There has to be a solution to this problem. If such power does exist, which naturally does, it must have a location… coordinates of some kind."
"I propose that it is floating aimlessly in space," the maddened scientist argued.
"No coordinates… no location… my database contains nothing regarding the place." Soundwave glanced up at the ceiling, pondering the strange concept, "Suggestion: all data regarding such a place was erased from every document existent on Cybertron."
"But why would someone delete all information regarding one specific location?"
"Because they don't want it to be discovered, Shockwave." The Decepticon leader relaxed in his throne-like seat, "Something is out there that is desired not to be found… and I WANT to find it."
A deep silence fell over all the Decepticons present in the room.
"Oh great. More travelling…" Ransack growled.
"To a non-existence part of space? Are you out of your circuits?" Sideswipe enquired sharply.
Soundwave looked over at his leader, "I just detected this source of energy; if it were already in existence I would have detected it long ago."
"Soundwave's right, Megatron," Shockwave agreed, "This energy source must have been created very recently… but by what?"
"So many questions with so little time." Megatron stood up, and turned to Brawl, "Get a fleet ready. I want to be the first at that location before any Autobot!"
"Yes, Lord Megatron." Brawl motioned for Killstreak to follow him.
The entire room was silent as the Decepticons awaited further orders from their leader. It was probable to assume that he was formulating a plan in his processor.
"Soundwave, do have an estimate location?"
"I would state that it is perhaps 1 000 000 000 parcycles from Cybertron which is 500 000 000 parcycles from Tranquility which in turn is 800 000 000 parcycles from us."
"2.3 billion parcycles… perhaps farther? And this source of energy can be detected from out here?"
With a quick nod, Soundwave dimmed the lighting in the room and projected a map of the Universe that was currently known to them. Other Decepticon officers gathered around it and got ready to voice their own opinion about the energy source and its mysterious location. Barricade requested Soundwave to project names of all the galaxies and the important planets within them.
"We are here on Rystolth in the Dystros Region of Galaxy Nexus II." Soundwave began, "Here in the Colossus Galaxy is located Tranquility the Autobots headquarters. Cybertron is here is the Polaris Galaxy and the source of energy is way out here…" Soundwave stepped out of the map towards the farthest point of the room, "…I would assume."
"No one has ever ventured beyond the Gridder Mark before," Barricade stated, pointing at the galaxy closest to where Soundwave was standing, "We don't even know if it is empty space or another universe entirely! Journeying to such a place can potentially be very dangerous, my lord."
The doors opened and a victorious Sixshot entered the room. A few Deceptions gawked at seeing their super soldier so unexpectedly soon; they assumed it would take at least several solar-cycles to complete his destructive task. Megatron welcomed him back and requested for him to stand next to him.
"I understand that before you became who you now are, you were once an engineer in the Smelting District of the Wasyt Galaxy. Is this correct, Sixshot?"
Sixshot thought about it for a moment, "Yes."
"Have you ever travelled past the Gridder Mark which is about 50 000 parcycles from your former place of operations?"
"Once or twice."
Now every Decepticon present in the room had gathered around the holographic map, quite interested in the conversation.
"What's past the Gridder Mark, Sixshot?" Sideswipe asked, "I've heard stories that it is the domain of Primus…"
"No. More stars and galaxies and planets lie past it. Why is it relevant to discuss the Universe, Master?"
Banging his fist like a gavel to maintain control over the raucous Decepticons, Megatron went on to explain the predicament that had aroused, regarding the energy source. While listening, Sixshot's right optic widened a little, knowing what energy source they were discussing; he had detected it when he was on what was left of Dastrylk.
"I detected the same energy source when I was on Dastrylk, and I'm certain that its location was not always unknown to us; the exact location may be undetermined but the general area is known as the Sursanic System, if I remember correctly."
"Do you have coordinates to this system, Sixshot?"
"Of course."
The Decepticon super soldier transmitted the coordinates to Soundwave who then projected it with the holographic map; every Decepticon realized that it would be farther than Soundwave first predicted.
"Well, this will be one long flight," Barricade snarled in his usual sarcastic way.
Starscream entered the room with several of his Seekers: Thundercracker, Skywarp, Genesis, Jetfire, and Airwave; all battle-hardened from fighting fleeing escapee vessels.
"My Master," the Air Commander bowed before his leader respectfully, "Apologies for my tardiness."
"Wut be goin' on here, eh?" Thundercracker enquired.
"Silence!" Megatron snorted, "We're having a discussion regarding a new source of power that had been detected quite recently."
"I have something worthy to report," Starscream smirked, "The Autobot's main field medic, Ratchet, has been confirmed to be MIA. Now is the perfect time to strike against the Autobots!"
The Decepticon leader raised an optic, "Missing in action, you say?"
"Affirmative. Jetfire intercepted an Autobot transmission and it claims that Ratchet, who was travelling without any company, went missing after it ventured past the Gridder Mark, several solar decacycles ago. It is fair to assume that he has now been rendered 'non-functional'."
Although Jetfire was smiling at the credit he received, the only praise he received from Soundwave was a sharp glare. Apparently the Communications Officer preferred to be the only one to be intercepting transmissions from any enemy position.
"That area will be flooded with Autobots searching for their fellow mech," Megatron growled, "Quick Decepticons, board the warships. We shall depart immediately! Set your courses for the Sursanic System. Blackout, prepare your men. All who had accompanied me to Rystolth will go… except for you, Turmoil… I need you to be certain that this planet remains under Decepticon control. You may handpick a militia to assist you, but none who will be travelling."
"Master, may I accompany you on this mission?" Sideswipe enquired, "It has always been my desire to see what is beyond the Gridder Mark."
"Very well then, Sideswipe. You may join us. Killstreak, you'll come too."
Both Sideswipe and Killstreak saluted and moved to the battlecruiser that Starscream and his soldiers had arrived on. Its name was Nemesis and a second battlecruiser that had been captured was named Dreadnought. The Nemesis itself was Megatron's personal warship and the flagship of the Decepticon fleet. Second to it was the Dreadnought which had been modified to serve as a secondary flagship and decoy for its counterpart.
Megatron, Starscream, Blackout, Soundwave, Shockwave, Brawl, Barricade, and Grindor all boarded the Nemesis while the other Decepticon officers boarded the latter. Several other smaller warships known as destroyers: Revenge, Crucible, Invincible, and Havoc; were crewed and began to depart. With the Nemesis in the lead, the other warships followed close behind. The hunt for the mysterious system has begun.
"Soundwave, contact Oracle on Lo Kiepo."
"As you command, Lord Megatron." The Communications Officer did exactly what he was ordered to.
"Oracle, this is Megatron."
A holographic image of a female Cybertronian Seeker appeared on the large communications screen, "Oracle reporting, my lord."
"I want you to rendezvous with me at the Ostarice System with your destroyer Bloodhand and all other warships under your command."
"It shall be done, my lord."
"Be there no later than several decacycles from now. Megatron, out."
The screen flickered to black until Megatron told his trusted lieutenant to also contact the Decepticon-occupied planet of Tyrannus.
"Silverdo, this is Megatron. Do you read me?"
Once more the screen flickered to life, "That's Silverdo Prime, Megatron. Yes, I'm receiving your message. What can I do for you?"
"Rendezvous at the Ostarice System with Trypticon and whatever warships are within your sector. We're going beyond the Gridder Mark and I want you to accompany me."
"I shall. Would you like me to bring the Battle Maximus team as well?"
"Do not hesitate to do so, Silverdo Prime. I look forward to meeting with you in person once more."
"Likewise, Master."
"Excellent. Megatron, out."
Silence had filled the command centre of the Nemesis as soon as Megatron had finished with his couple of transmissions. The only noises breaking the silence were the miniscule reverbs of ship diagnostics and control surfaces that echoed off the walls ever so lightly. Most Decepticons aboard were well-aware that when you were to serve Megatron on an utterly important mission, it was prudent to remain silent. No one seemed to mind the silence; they preferred it since it was easier to work in.
Seated in an observatory position near the co-pilot, Sideswipe was busy writing a personal log on a datapad, recording all the day's events. He felt a little guilty for his sudden change of affiliation and the slaughter of his own soldiers; but Energon was scarce amongst the Autobot ranks and it appeared that the Decepticons were abundant with the vital liquid. He included these thoughts in it, and also began inscribing what he thought resided on the other side of the Gridder Mark. New worlds, new species, new composite materials… he was rather scientific than a soldier.
On his left, a Decepticon named Thunderbolt was in the co-pilot seat, assisting the pilot in whatever way he could. Next to him was Barricade, the pilot who was charting a route-of-best-course. Stockade sat in the navigator's seat on his left, giving Barricade suggestions for a route to take. Behind the pilot was Brawl who was overseeing the weapons and defence systems of the Nemesis along with the shield diagnostics. Next to him was Shockwave who maintained control over the core processing components of the battlecruiser and observed the energy levels of the ship's core. Grindor sat behind him opposite of Killstreak who was assisting Brawl, and he analyzed all the other parts of the vessel that did not concern the maddened scientist. In the middle of the two was Soundwave who controlled the flow of information and commanded all communications within a fifteen thousand cycle range.
Elevated a little from the rest was Blackout who sat on the right side of the ship. He was in a sense the Executive Officer of the Nemesis and oversaw all the ongoing operations on the bridge. Across from him was Starscream in the 2IC seat, while compiling a log and maintaining overall control over the armada. And lastly in the middle of the two and elevated higher than the rest was Megatron who broke the silence and started to bark out orders at the Decepticons.
"Full speed ahead, Barricade." Megatron ordered, "First re-direct course to the Ostarice System."
"Yes, Lord Megatron."
"Stockade, change navigation charts to the Fyrall Sector."
The ship veered left by thirty two degrees so it maintained a track towards the indicated system.
"Starscream, inform the fleet of the changes to our course."
"At once, Mightiness!"
"Soundwave, where is Sixshot?"
"Troop bay, sir." Soundwave replied.
"Notify him that his presence has been requested at the bridge."
"Affirmative."
Megatron nodded his head and smirked. The power would soon be his and he would be ultimately unstoppable and the Autobots' destruction would be assured.
"Megatron, I am detecting a stronger signal of the power than before. Magnitude has altered to that of a large-scale supernova. This may be dangerous to trifle with, Master…"
"I DON'T CARE about the logic behind it, Soundwave! IT WILL BE MINE!"
Sighing a bit, Soundwave began to trace the source of power and began to calculate its actual intensity. He nearly jumped out of his seat at the results; whatever it was, it could decimate an entire planet if it ever reached a shock wave form…