Astrosecond~ .498 seconds, milli-cycle~1 sec, cycle~1 min, breem~ 8.3 minutes, mega-cycle~1 hour, meta-cycle~1\2 hours, solar cycle~1 day, day~ 20 hours, orbital cycle~ 1 month, gigacycle~ 1 year, deca-cycle~10 years, vorn~ 83 years, stellar cycle~400 year, mechanometer~ 1 meter, vun~ hectometer, hic~ 1 kilometer

Thoughts, 'binary code', (alien language), "talking"

As Vibes and Tali moved through the facility, Vibes was starting to get a bad feeling about all of this. Vibes stopped behind a well-covered area, "Something's not right Tali'Zorah."

Tali caught up, "What's the matter Vibes? Have we run into any of those Decepticons?"

Vibes was still keeping an optic and her scanners looking for Decepticon and their energy signatures, "No, and that's the problem." Vibes continued to look around, "The Decepticons should have been easily detected my energy signature the moment I left the Normandy and none of the Decepticons I can detect are trying to move in on us."

Vibes peered around a corner to listen in on a conversation between a pair of Decepticons, (I still don't get why Megatron want this Autobot captured. I say the moment we see her we slag her and tell Megatron she was too much trouble to keep online.)

The other Decepticon shock his head, (Do you really wanna test Megatron? If Soundwave or one of his minions snitches you out to Megatron, he'll slag both of us, Crankcase.)

Vibes quickly pulled back and muttered to herself, "Aw, slag!" She looked to Tali, "Tali'Zorah, I want you to find a nice safe and secure location the Decepticons won't be able to find you in nor their weapons can destroy. I'm going to get surrounded by Decepticons soon but I know they won't hesitate to kill you."

Tali had to ask, "Vibes, why are you asking me this? What are you planning on doing?"

Vibes looked around, "I'm not planning anything. The Decepticons have us cornered and I didn't even realize it." Vibes slowly and gently placed an index finger on Tali's shoulder, "Listen, no matter what happens to me, I want you to think about what is best for you. Don't try to help me, and definitely don't try to attack the Decepticons, just live."

Tali didn't like the way Vibes was talking but she promised she would listen to her. Disheartened, the quarian finally seceded, "I'm going."

Vibes pulled out her rifle, attached her scope and took aim at Crankcase's head. Vibes was waiting for Tali to find a hiding place before she took the shot. Regrettably, one of the seekers had spotted Tali moving. The purple and teal jet launched a volley of missiles towards Tali. Vibes' sensors detected the approaching danger, but their trajectory wasn't aimed at her. "Tali!" Vibes stepped in the way and started to shot as many missiles as she could. Vibes was unable to hit one and didn't have time to reload so she used her back to take the hit. Vibes let out a painful scream and fell to her knees making sure not to land anywhere near Tali.

Tali ran back to Vibes, "Hang on, I'll start fixing you up."

"No time! I told you not to worry about me! I'll hold them off, get moving!" Vibes stood back up and started to open fire at the seeker. As expected the jet easily avoided all of her shots letting the many drones take some of the hits for it.

With all of the commotion, more Decepticons started to move in from all areas. Vibes quickly dispatched of any Decepticon that saw where Tali was hiding while trying to stay online.

Shepard, Miranda and Samara were making good progress until they spotted a pair of Decepticons loitering in the area. One large colored was purple and grey, and didn't seem as important as the one it was with. The other was smaller and yellow. The two of them seemed to be having some sort of argument about something.

They didn't look like they were going to be leaving anytime soon. Shepard didn't want to engage if he didn't have to, but of neither one moved they would be spotted fairly easily. Shepard was trying to formulate a plan in his mind when suddenly the two large robots received a transmission. Whatever was said got their attention that they both turned into strange cars and drove off in a hurry. Shepard could only worry about what could have gotten their attention so badly. Please Vibes, keep your promise, but also stay alive yourself. With the coast clear now, they moved on…

Slipstream shouted as she took a few moments away from the fighting, "To all available Decepticons, I have engaged the Autobot target. Because of Lord Megatron's orders, I'm losing seekers here! The Autobot is protecting an organic and is taking hits for it. Any Decepticons who want to share in this 'glory' better come here before she has time to retreat."

A skeletal team was left to continue creating energon cubes as Soundwave released some of his Recordicons, "Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Ravage, Ratbat. Eject. Operation: Take down."

Without a word the three beast-like minions went straight to the location with Soundwave and the other Decepticons close behind. At the scene Ravage stopped around a corner as a Decepticon's head was sniped off, almost blasting Ravage from the Con still pulling the trigger. Ratbat and Laserbeak joined Slipstream in the aerial assault but saw no sign of the reported organic.

The Autobot was on her last leg but she was still putting up a fight. If the Decepticons were not trying to keep her functioning, the Autobot would have been destroyed cycles ago. Ravage was smart and he was also brave. As soon as Vibes was occupied with Laserbeak and Ratbat's attack, Ravage took the opportunity to grab Vibes' blaster out of her hand. Ravage returned to his master and passed the rifle to Soundwave.

"You Decepticons have only brought this upon your selves." Vibes then pulled out a pair of energy swords. One was hers; the other once belonged to Backbite, one of three assassins who tried to killed Optimus after his ascension to Prime. "Come on Decepticons!" Vibes shouted as she started to twirl the blades in her hands.

Vibes defended herself valiantly against the horde, slicing through at least a dozen more Decepticons before finally being blasted by sound blasts from Soundwave that pinned her against several pipes continuing to hold her against the pipes as she dropped her blades. Slipstream flew down to transform and retrieve Vibes' swords. Slipstream bowed as their leader past her, "Lord Megatron."

After falling to the floor, Soundwave handed Vibes' blaster to another Decepticon as he placed an energy binder around her. Megatron easily lifted her with one hand grasping the back of her head, "You've caused me quite a bit of trouble, little Autobot. But today I'm feeling rather generous. You can join your fellow Autobots in the scrap heap…or, you can join us and become a very powerful ally." Megatron wanted nothing more than to destroy ever last Autobot but after showing her resilience and will to survive he saw a potentially strong new Decepticon for his army if her will could be broken.

Her visor was cracked, her body dented and scarred, she was bleeding a few places, but Vibes had nothing but contempt for all of the Decepticons, "You'll have better chance talking to a Slaarg."

Megatron was displeased but he had a sudden change in mood, "If I can't convince you to join, I guess I'll have no choice but to feed you to the Insecticons. But before that, I want you to witness the death of the fleshling you we're so eagerly trying to protect."

Slipstream displayed an image she saw earlier from the skies, "It looks like the size of a Recordicon, maybe smaller, in some type of armor. The thing can't have gone far without us seeing it."

Suddenly Vibes started to shout in some unknown alien language, (Tali'Zorah, stay away from any doors and windows! Just hide! The Decepticons will show you no mercy so please, just hide! Don't use your radio or make any noises or Soundwave will find you!)

Megatron demanded, "What did you say? Who did you speak to? Was it the organic?"

Vibes answered, "Go suck an exhaust port, Deceptiscum."

Megatron was about to smash her head against one of the building when Slipstream stopped him, "Now, now my lord. That's no way to treat a fembot." Slipstream gave the blades to the same Con Soundwave had given Vibes' weapon to earlier and moved closer to the dangling Autobot. Standing directly in front of her, Slipstream started to slowly drag her recently sharpened nails across Vibes' armor. "Tell us who you were speaking to and all this pain will go away." When the pain was enough for her to bear, Vibes took the opportunity to spit oil onto Slipstreams face. Slipstream slowly wiped the fluid off her face before she let her anger take over, "Why you filthy fleshling lover!"

Slipstream formed her sharp fingers into a spear and plunged into Vibes' abdominal region, purposefully missing her spark by mere inches. Vibes let out a pain filled screams as Slipstream started to twist her arm inside of her and just as suddenly Slipstream pulled her arm out. Megatron told Vibes, "It is a pity you chose this for yourself. But before you join your fellow Autobots, you'll have the honor to watch your little meatbag friend be crushed first. Soundwave!"

Soundwave released more of his minions, "Buzzsaw, Rumble, Frenzy, Slugfest, Overkill. Eject. Ravage, Laserbeak, Ratbat. Operation: Search and retrieve."

They all scattered to try and find the fleshling as Vibes tried to plea with the cruel tyrant, "Don't! She has nothing to do with us! Leave her alone!"

Megatron laughed, "You chose both of your fates by rejecting us. Continue the search!"

Mirage was hooked up to a makeshift machine created by Wheeljack, and double checked by the others, to let the ship use his special ability of optical cloaking. Wheeljack asked, "You doin' OK, Mirage?"

Mirage only had complaints for the mad inventor, "This is really starting to put a strain on my spark."

Glyph tried to assure him, "Don't worry, you're using the normal level of power, as if you were using your ability for yourself. The ship is compensating you with its own power supply to cloak all of us."

Optimus was with many of the Autobots near one of the doorways, "Ratchet, how is Vibes?"

"Not good Optimus." Ratchet was retrieving data from a terminal, "Her energy signature is starting to get weaker and she is surrounded by a heavy concentration of Decepticon energy signatures. There are small patrols around the perimeter, as well as air patrols, and a small group within the facility with…with a large quantity of energon…"

Prime started to give orders, "Autobots, our priorities are the lives of our sister and that of the organics within the facility. We are to drive the Decepticons off this facility at all cost. Dynobots, you'll be dropped in the middle of the Decepticons surrounding Vibes. The Aerialbots will occupy the Seekers. Once the Decepticons start to scatter, more Autobots will continue the chase. Ratchet and his medical team will be dropped to check on Vibes. Let's hurry Autobots!"

The Ark had entered the planet's atmosphere outside of the Nemesis' radar. The clocked Ark flew as fast as they could to drop the Autobots.

The five silver, gold and red colored Dynobots transformed and dropped from the Ark. Grimlock was a large truck with a heavily armored front, Slag had changed into a three-cannon tank, Snarl became a heavy all terrain armored vehicle, Sludge transformed into a Cybertronian driller, Swoop was now a jet with wings that could cut through Cybertronian armor and a nosecone that could pierce through any Cybertonian tank.

Soundwave detected the sudden anomalies and pulled back the Recordicons, "Megatron, the Dynobots are approaching. 0.762 megamiles and closing." Soundwave pointed up.

As subtle as a brick, Grimlock openly shouted, "Dynobots, transform and destroy Decepticons!"

Slug fired six rounds before he transformed back into robot mode along with most of the Dynobots. When the Dynobots landed they crushed at least one Decepticon, two were under Grimlock's feet.

Optimus then ordered the Aerialbots, "Aerialbots, launch! Ratchet, be ready to drop as soon as the area is clear. Autobots, let's roll!" Optimus Prime himself then jumped out of the Ark and soon after several more Autobots with jetpacks jumped. The Aerialbots launched giving the Seekers a taste of their own sneak attack.

Starscream advised his lord as he evaded missiles and blaster fire, "Megatron, we should retreat for now. The Autobots took us by surprise. I say we grab what energon there is and leave."

Breakdown was drive as fast as he could to get to cover near his leader, "I wouldn't think any less of you if you did call the retreat… Are you going to call the retreat?"

Megatron was visibly furious, slamming his fist into a cylinder. "We have what we wanted. The Autobots can have this pathetic facility and the fleshling. Decepticons, fall back to the Nemesis! We are leaving." Megatron then radioed to the Constructicon leader, "Scrapper, get all of those energon cubes back to the ship and set the charges! I want to see this place burn before we leave the system!"

"By your will, Lord Megatron." Scrapper shouted to his fellow Decepticons, "Mixmaster, set the charges! Astrotrain, we need you!"

The larger grey and purple Transformer changed into an enclosed troop transport shuttle and opened one of his bay doors. The Constructicons and the other Decepticons quickly started to load the energon cubes inside Astrotrain. After all of the energon cubes were loaded up Mixmaster created and hid a very powerful explosive near the fuel. With everything set, the Decepticons boarded. With that, Astrotrain took off, "You guys owe me after this one." Astrotrain was then escorted by a pair of Seekers as they returned to the Nemesis.

Several troop transports soon arrived onto the facility awaiting Megatron and the others. The Autobots started to press the attack when Optimus Prime ordered, "Pull back. The Decepticons are in retreat now. Remember our objectives."

Grimlock was finishing a Decepticon off with his energo-sword when the order was given. "Me Grimlock say we push hard now! We finish Megatron today!" Grimlock ignored Prime as he led his team, "Dynobots, continue attack! Kill all Decepticons!"

Ironhide was next to Optimus when he asked him, "Should I go round them up?"

Optimus just shook his head, "No. Let them be my friend. For now we have more pressing concerns to deal with. Get a bomb squad together and search the facility, I don't want to find the explosives after they detonate."

Ratchet started the repair work on Vibes as soon as he arrived. "First Aid, hand me the EMP generator. We need to anesthetize her before we can perform any deeper operations."

Vibes was still functioning and had enough energy to grab Ratchet's arm, "Ta…Tali. Where's Tali'Zorah."

Ratchet was more concerned with her, "Calm down soldier. We need to start fixing you up now before…"

With all of her energy she argued, "No! She's my responsibility…I have to make sure…make sure she's safe…"

Dropshot was with the others, watching as the battles were starting to die down. Garrus looked down, "I hope Shepard's alright down there."

Dropshot was still confident, "Don't worry, Garrus. Like I said, Vibes wouldn't let any of them get hurt."

Legion looked up to the Autobot, "Unit-Dropshot. Did you not also state earlier you worried Unit-Vibes would perform actions that would endanger her?"

Dropshot turned back to look at the facility. On the radio one of the Autobots shouted, "The Cons are retreating! We got them running with their tailpipes between their legs!"

Dropshot didn't like the sound of that, "The Decepticons wouldn't just up and leave like that. They must've got what they wanted. But why leave all of a sudden…" Dropshot was looking around in the hangar and shouted, "Hey, Sky Lynx. Are you still in here?"

A large white shuttle with a wheeled blue transport attached to the underside rolled out of the shadows. "Have no fear! The great Sky Lynx is here!"

Jacob sarcastically noted, "He sure is a modest one."

Before Dropshot could say anything Ratchet called, "Dropshot, can you hear me?"

Dropshot responded, "What's the matter, Ratchet?"

"It's Vibes. She severally injured, but keeps asking about someone named Tali'Zorah. She won't let us operate on her vital components until she sees this person is safe."

Dropshot answered, "We planned on coming down anyway." He turned to Garrus and the others, "Seems my worries were right on the ball. Vibes probably told the little ma'am to hide while she took on the Cons alone. I don't know how trusting Tali would be if she was found by one of us."

Kasumi answered Dropshot, "Tell Vibes we'll find her soon."

Sky Lynx boldly said, "A search and rescue mission? With me there is no chance of failure. Get on so we may begin the search."

Dropshot transformed and opened his doors, "I'd suggest gettin' in. Just for your safety."

With everyone inside, Dropshot rolled into Sky Lynx. Sky Lynx continued towards the ground only to tell them, "Dropshot, I'm going to have to drop you. My wingspan will not permit me to land like this in such a small facility."

Jacob asked, "What does he mean by 'drop us'?"

Dropshot laughed, "You'd understand if you could see it."

Sky Lynx patched video to Dropshot, "If you wish to see my excellence, then they can view it from here." The screen was slip in two. As soon as they heard the detaching sound they could see which was which. The white shuttle part of Sky Lynx started to transform into a large aviary creature with razor sharp teeth, a long red neck and a long tail. The component they were in, started to turn into a large feline like creature as it slide down the sides of buildings and landed next to Ratchet. Sky Lynx then combined shouting, "A perfect ten point landing if I do say so myself."

Bluestreak and some other Autobots who were once under Vibes' command were huddled around her as close as Ratchet would let them. Vibes may have been injured but she could still see, "Good to see you made it, Dropshot. Are the others alright?"

The others disembarked from Dropshot as he replied, "My team's fine, what about yours?"

"Scattered. Shepard and his group are searching for the workers. Tali'Zorah's hiding in one of the nearby buildings. I told them radio silence because of Soundwave. The Normandy should be somewhere in orbit."

Dropshot radioed, "Powerglide, you still flying around good buddy?"

Powerglide answered him, "Nope. I'm on the ground with the other aerialbots. Why do you need me to be in the sky? I'll be happy to do, whatever, as long as I'm in the air."

Dropshot continued, "We got a ship somewhere in within the planet's orbit. Could you find 'em and tell 'em the skies are clear of Cons."

Powerglide transformed, "Don't worry I'll find this group. Come on guys. And awaa-aa-aay we go!" Two other aerialbots flew off with him. While launching Powerglide start to barrel roll around the others.

"Wait, Powerglide I forgot to…" Dropshot only heard white noise. "Frag it, not again."

Jacob asked him, "What's wrong now?"

Dropshot rubbed his hand behind his head as he explained, "Powerglide's a big showboat when it comes to flying. Sometimes he forgets to hear all of the details before going off doing a bunch of tricks. He knows there's a ship in orbit but he doesn't know it has organics, he doesn't know how to contact the ship, and he doesn't know the ship's name. He'll find them, and show off, but it'll be longer than it should. Now let's try finding the little ma'am."

Garrus looked around, "If the Decepticons wanted to tear this place apart I don't see much stopping them."

Kasumi moved towards the other Autobots, "Tali's smart. She should know how structurally sound her hiding place should be."

Legion accessed data from the Morning War and data it had on quarian enviro-suit systems. Legion found what he was looking for. A minute trail of gases and detectable footprints leading away from Vibes' current location. Legion spoke up, "We have found a trail. It should lead us to Creator-Tali'Zorah."

Garrus said, "Lead the way."

The two of them ran off into a nearby building. Kasumi then said, "Looks like I'll find Shep and the other." Using her acrobatics, Kasumi used Dropshot to climb up and started to use the pipes to start searching.

Dropshot asked one of the nearby Autobot, "Bluestreak. How is she?"

The Autobot answered, "Not good, Dropshot. Vibes is only letting them work on the superficial stuff until this organic is found. Ratchet wants to fully examine her but he needs to stun her to do so. Vibes is Vibes; she won't do anything for herself until she knows others are safe first."

Dropshot muttered to himself remembering the recent incident that almost cost Vibes her spark, "I kinda wish she would let others help her more sometimes."