Chapter 7
SilverBlade stands outside of a large Predacon vessel, while other soldiers arrive and enter it. Soon after, Perceptor, Wheeljack and Rhinox enter the hanger. The Maximal leader looks towards the view port, watching various Maximal vessels dock at the other hangers. A hint of depression shows on his face, as he does not think this mission will do any difference to stop the Predacons.
"SilverBlade, there is a less then two-percent chance that our mission will be a success" Perceptor stated coldly and sharply.
"I know, Perceptor, I know. That is why I gave everyone time to say goodbye to their loved ones. Is everyone ready?"
"Everyone is ready, SilverBlade, now lets get this mission over with. I want to see Megatron hanged for his crimes" Rhinox states in an angry tone.
"Predacon vessel Radeon has been boarded, open the hanger bay doors" Wheeljack says after tapping the communications button on the console.
"Opening bay doors now, Wheeljack, Good luck on the mission," Rodimus Prime responds from the other end of the radio.
The Predacon vessel floats out of the hanger slowly. Wheeljack begins to type at the controls and an electric warp field appears in front of the ship. The vessel flies into the warp, and disappears.
"Make sure you keep the transwarp field steady, Perceptor. The last time I used a Predacon transwarp field, I ended up lost for a few thousand years..." SilverBlade says with a worried tone.
"Just because it happened once, doesn't mean it will happen again..." Wheeljack says with much confidence. Though SilverBlade still felt uneasy about being in a transwarp conduit.
SilverBlade looked over at the soldiers at the back of the vessel "We all know our roles for our mission on Cybertron?"
They all respond with "Sir, yes sir!" They all respond as well as any well-trained military personnel would.
Rhinox picks up one of his chain guns, and it begins to spin "I want to see his head detached from his body..."
Silver looks over to Rhinox. "That really isn't like you to wish death on anybody..."
Rhinox sighed, and looks over to Silver "We were stationed on earth when the Predacon invasion began…"
-Flashback scene, with Rhinox narrating-
"We were stationed on earth at Maximal City when the Predacon invasion began. Rodimus Prime had told us to try to repel the Predacon forces until we had no choice but to leave."
"Rat Trap came running into the command center. The overhead speaker was blaring 'Predacon forced detected on earth'. Primal and a few other Maximals were standing over a holographic projection table, watching the battle take place outside.
"'We're loosing forces fast due to this invasion' Primal says to the room, as he noticed our soldiers were dropping rapidly. SilverBolt returned with 'This is no invasion, it is a slaughter.'"
"'What is our status on our air forces?' Primal asked, even though he clearly didn't look at the numbers of the aerial troops. 'They are falling faster then the ground troops, Sir.' SilverBolt responded to him. Optimus Primal then turned his attention to me and asked 'What about the auto cannons, Rhinox?' I was typing away at the computer console as I responded with 'The self-replication modules aren't keeping up. We're loosing auto cannons faster then they are being produced. We have to call an evacuation now Optimus...'"
"Suddenly, a huge explosion could be felt throughout the entire command center. The speakers begins to blare 'Predacon forces have entered the base; The Predacons have entered the base.'
Optimus looked over to Rat Trap and gave a quick command 'Send out an evacuation order to every Maximal on the planet. We can no longer counter-attack.' It was then I knew that the Predacon forces were too much for us. But SilverBolt didn't want to give up. He looked over to Primal, in almost shock and asked 'So we're retreating, and leaving the humans to be at their mercy?!' 'We have no choice; we have to retreat so we can regroup with reinforcements. Get to the ship, that's an order people!' Primal responded with a commanding tone. I knew the situation was serious, so I left my post and followed the others out just as the speakers began to announce 'All Maximals, retreat to the nearest transport vessel, all Maximals, retreat to the nearest transport vessels.'
"As I was running to the hanger with the others, I paused and looked back. Energy shots were whipping by us. Some Maximals were hit, but not fatally so they continued. Others were not and were killed in their tracks. The surviving Maximals, wanting to get to the transports quickly, trampled over the dead soldiers. I wanted to get those dead soldiers onto the transports too, but there wasn't enough time."
Optimus Primal reached the boarding ramp to one of the transports first and yelled out 'Let's move soldiers!' as the remaining Maximals boarded the transports. I saw Silverbolt and Cheetor run up the ramp as I entered the hangar, and Rat Trap was 10 feet behind me. I turned back to yell at him 'Move those skinny legs, Rat Trap!' He yelled back to me with 'You try running with rat legs!' Just as he finished saying that, an explosion in the hallway knocked him forwards onto his face. As the dust cleared, Optimus looked into the rubble, and said something I would never thought I would hear 'Megatron'"
"I looked over to Megatron, who stood in the recently made hallway, and Predacon soldiers were pouring into the base and firing at the transports. The shields activated around all of the transports, except the one that Optimus Primal stood beside.
"'Computer, activate auto cannons now!' Primal ordered and the auto-cannons from the floors, ceiling, walls, and from the hulls of the ships rose up and begin to fire on the Predacon soldiers. They begin to fall rapidly, but more keep pouring into the base."
"I saw Rat Trap climb onto his feet and begins to try to run, but only to have a large metallic object thrust into his back and come out his chest. I yelled to him as I saw Megatron easily lift him in the air with his arm. I attempted to run towards Megatron, but Primal grabbed onto my arm and said sternly 'There's nothing more that we can do, we have to leave NOW' I tried to plead with him to attempt to save Rat Trap as he was pulling me onto the transport. It was taking a pounding from Predacon weapon fire. As we got inside the shields activated and the boarding ramp closed."
"I continued to plead with Primal, saying 'Let me out, I need to save him!' I even attempted to re-open the ramp, but Primal wrestled me to the floor. Looking towards Silverbolt in the pilot's chair, he ordered 'Tell all pilots to launch and to head to the nebula.' I heard the sound of all of the transports lifting off and cloaking so they could leave Earth's atmosphere without being attacked. I looked over to Primal again, almost screaming at him in frustration 'Why did you not let me try to save him?' He calmly answered 'You would have been killed as well, and we can't afford to loose anymore friends...' I was devastated. I really wanted to save Rat Trap, but the consequences we too high. I would have been killed as well, and I wouldn't be here, attempting to save the galaxy from his clutches.
"Now I understand why you want him dead..." SilverBlade said with a calm tone.
Approaching Cybertron now, commander" Wheeljack turned his head.
Inside of a Predacon Space Port on Cybertron, some Predacon members sit at various computer terminals, looking at readouts about air and space traffic. One of the Predacons calls over to Shockwave "Sir, there's a transwarp conduit opening outside of the planetary shield"
"Show it on the screen" Shockwave responds back.
The Predacon soldier taps a few commands into the console, the main screen shows a swirling mass of energy, and a Predacon shuttle exits. The transwarp conduit closes behind the shuttle.
"This is Predacon transport shuttle 7031, requesting permission to dock" came over the intercom.
"This is Predacon Command. Please send your clearance and landing numbers"
"Transmitting numbers now"
Various Cybertronian symbols, letters and numbers appear on the screen.
"The numbers are verified, Shockwave. Should I let them through?" asked the Predacon at the console.
"They are a few hours early, which is unsettling. Let them through" Shockwave responded.
"Predacon Transport shuttle 7031, you are cleared to land at Star Port Delta. A security team will wait for you to transport your cargo."
Inside of the shuttle, Rhinox looks over to SilverBlade. "Do you think they suspected anything commander Blade?" Rhinox asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
"I'm not too sure. But we have to be prepared for anything."
The crew looks out the front view port to see a section of the shield disappear. The shuttle flies through the opening, and the opening seals behind then. The shuttle flies then past various other Predacon vessels, including battleships, cruisers, pyramid fighters, and transport vessels. The crew looks out the windows to see humanoid slaves, almost everywhere, being forced to work for their Predacon masters. The Predacon drones fired warning shots at everyone who slowed down, even the slightest bit. The slaves did their best to keep up, even though they were already exhausted beyond their limit. The Maximal couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the sight; the urge to run in and save them building up inside him. "How awful..." SilverBlade said with a hint of anger. Though the intense desire to run out and stop the Predacons right there was building. But he knew that wouldn't help at all. He was there to do a job, despite his personal feelings.
"Hopefully, within a few more days, this will all be changed..." Wheeljack says, as he pilots the shuttle to the star port. The shuttle lands in the middle of a group of Predacons. The soldiers open the back doors to find a shipment of missiles; they also scan for Maximal signatures.
"No Maximals detected, Commander Shockwave" One of the soldiers speaks as he looks into a holographic screen extending from his forearm.
"Excellent. Teleport the missiles to the armory"
The soldier salutes to Shockwave. The holographic screen vanishes, and the soldiers place the missiles on the ground. The 'lead' soldier taps a few commands on his wrist, and the missiles are teleported away. The soldiers also leave the landing pad.
The pilots nod to each other, and walk towards the door to the building.
"Now that phase 1 is done. Rhinox, go to the shield array with Wheeljack and 5 soldiers. I will take Perceptor and the rest of the soldiers to the holo-done center. If you are finished, join us" SilverBlade 'spoke' to the other Maximals under disguise or cloak, but only the Maximals heard the communication. 2 'Predacon' Pilots (Rhinox and Wheeljack) exit the star port and head in one direction, while the other 2 pilots (SilverBlade and Perceptor) go in another.
Ultra Magnus, Rodimus, and some of the other Maximals are in the command center. Gold bug, Cliffjumper, and other Maximals sit at the consoles, looking at Ultra Magnus and Rodimus.
Ultra Magnus looks over to Rodimus and says "All of the Maximal battle cruisers and Star Hoppers have been filled to capacity. Every Maximal is accounted for on the cruisers."
"And what about the armor?" Rodimus asks in return.
"Everyone has been fused with it, Rodimus." Ultra Magnus responds.
"When are our allies scheduled to arrive?"
"The last of the allies should be here within 8 hours"
Rodimus nods, and looks at the others. "Teleport to the flag ship, and tell the others to double-check everything they can within those 8 hours"
The entire crew vanishes, and appears in the Maximal Flag Ship.
Rodimus takes the Captain's chair. "Gold Bug, have every vessel check in with their main flag ships according to race."
Gold Bug salutes, and begins to hit keys at his console.
Outside of the Predacon Shield Array, the two Predacon pilots enter the massive building. They head over to one of the Predacon scientists at a console.
"Shut down the planetary shields, now" SilverBlade demands
One of the technicians yells back. "Are you crazy? Megatron will kill me!"
SilverBlade extends the claws from his left hand, and stabs the scientist in the stomach. The scientist looks at the pilot/SilverBlade in shock.
The other scientists in the room try to head to other consoles, obviously to call for help, but the Maximal soldiers de-cloak, and grab them before the Predacon scientists could call for help.
The technician looks up at SilverBlade. "It can't be…you're..."
"About to kill you if you don't shut down the main shield reactor" SilverBlade says colder
The scientist reaches his hand over to the communications console, but the hand was destroyed by an energy shot by the second pilot/Perceptor, and the scientist yelled in pain.
"I suggest you do what he asked, or do you want me to enter your head and take the codes?" Perceptor asks the technician.
"Alright…alright…you made your point..." The technician says in a panic.
SilverBlade withdrew his claws from the scientist's midsection "Try to call for help again and the next thing to be chopped off is your worthless head, as well as one of your buddies will have their arms torn off. Get to work before I lose my leniency."
The scientist begins to type at the console. He works for a few minutes. On his forearm, panels separate, and a laser weapon rises to the surface. He attempts to point and fire at Silver, but Silver was too quick, and the scientist's head explodes from an energy shot. The body of the scientist lands on the floor.
SilverBlade looks to the other scientists. "For that, all of you will share his fate, kill them."
"For that, all of you will share his fate….kill them" SilverBlade says as he turns to the other scientists. The Maximal soldiers, almost heartlessly fire on the other Predacon scientists.
"Perceptor, shut down the shields" SilverBlade orders.
Perceptor nods and begins to frantically type at the console. Various spots on his head light up as he works.