Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. If I did there would be a lot explosions and car chases and hot female robots (just kidding about that last one).

I got a rather interesting review last chapter so I decided to clarify some things. This is not going to be a complete rip off of the '86 movie. However, that doesn't mean that it won't be heavily influenced by it. I apologize if anyone takes offence to dialogue being lifted from it. It's often better than what I could write. This chapter is really setting things up, but I hope you guys enjoy it.

Barricade turned on to the dirt road. He followed it for a while, and eventually stopped in a large, deserted clearing. He had been told to wait here, so he did. He always did as he was told. That didn't mean he didn't have reservations, though. Megatron had been a strong, powerful, and dynamic leader. He was the kind of leader an underling either feared or admired. Either way they followed him. Starscream was a different story, though. He couldn't inspire fear, he was weak. He couldn't inspire respect, he was foolhardy. But he had been Megatron's lieutenant, and no one had challenged him, so he was leader now. Regardless of what Barricade thought.

Finally he could see three jets coming. Quickly they descended and transformed, and a tail-less scorpion hopped of the middle one's back. Barricade transformed and greeted them.

"Skywarp, Thundercracker, Mighty Starscream," he hated saying that last one. "Are these all the reinforcements?"

"One more, and he should be here by now." replied an angry Starscream. At last a military Hummer pulled up with a large machine gun attached. It too quickly transformed.

"Swindle!?" barked Mighty Starscream. "Where were you?!"

"Do you know how hard it is to get out of a flesh-creature military base undetected? They constantly watch the vehicles now. After the destruction of the Allspark it's like they expect everything to just transform and walk away."

"I will not tolerate failure in my command!" He emphasized the words I and my. Apparently he liked to hear them around words like command.

"Okay, okay, don't worry about it, I got here didn't I?" To this Starscream could only grunt.

"So what's the plan?" asked Skywarp. He transformed into a raptor, just like Starscream, but in robot mode he was taller and thinner, with long lanky limbs and a Roswell alien shaped head.

"Revenge and conquest, the two things we Decepticons are best at. We shall exact our revenge upon the Autobots, and conquer this race of flesh creatures and use them as cannon fodder in our conquest of the galaxy!"

"Care to be more specific on how you intend to achieve this lofty goal, O Mighty Starscream?" asked Thundercracker with mock enthusiasm. In comparison to Starscream, he was short and squat, and always seemed to have a sense of humor.

"As a matter of fact, I would."

Bumblebee continued to drive Sam and Mikaela to see the new arrivals. Word had come that some Autobots had received the message sent out by Prime and had recently come to Earth. It had been a year after the whole Allspark incident, and amazingly enough the young humans were still going steady. This had come as a shock to everyone at school, but eventually they just got used to it. Finally Bumblebee stopped next to a semi, an ambulance, and a large black GMC truck. Sam and Mikaela got out as the Autobots transformed, waiting for the others to arrive.

Finally a police car drove up and transformed in front of them. He was followed by a tomcat jet that quickly landed and turned into a robot.

"Skyfire, Prowl, it's been a long time." Optimus greeted them cheerfully. The very fact that there were more Autobots besides the ones he traveled with was enough to warm his metaphorical heart.

"Normally I wouldn't question your judgment, Optimus," Skyfire began, "But why this planet? Its inhabitants are petty, violent creatures that squabble over everything, only twenty-five percent of its surface is good for development of any sort, and as far as technology goes, they don't even have cold fusion."

"You're just full of optimism, aren't ya? You know I take offence to that!" Sam shouted. Skyfire groaned.

"Don't tell me you treat them as equals."

"Skyfire, the humans aren't as bad as you make them out to be, in time you will understand that." Optimus knew he had to defuse the situation as quickly as possible.

"And Sam, don't get so angry at everything Skyfire says, that's just who he is."

"Yeah, I'll try to keep that in mind." Sam said, feeling incredibly stupid.

"Lord Galvatron, what is your plan?" asked Cyclonus as they flew over they flew closer and closer to the West Coast.

"Before I do anything, Cyclonus, I must attend to a personal matter. I cannot allow that fool Starscream to command my Decepticons. We are going to find that idiot and relieve him of his command."

Now that you've read it, review!