Chapter 8
Inside the Maximal flagship, the crew is busy preparing for the task ahead, checking systems and readouts, and passing data pads from one to another. There is a tense and fearful atmosphere in the vessel as no one stops for idle conversation. Rodimus stands up from the captain's chair, and looks at the very large three-dimensional holographic display of the fleet. He looks over to his right at Cliffjumper.
"Cliffjumper, open a channel to every Maximal, Federation, Klingon, Romulan, Nabooine, Coruscantian vessel, and everyone in between."
"All ships are reporting in- all are accounted for," GoldBug says as he looks at the incoming information on the screen.
"The line open, sir." Cliffjumper says after tapping commands on the console.
"This is Rodimus Prime, Maximal Commander speaking. Ten-thousand years ago, the Predacons ruthlessly began to conquer this galaxy and no one had the power to stop them. The Maximals, along with the human alliances kept within the shadows, planning, stealing from the Predacons, and sharing intelligence. The human races have been able to survive this long because of the advances in cloning technology," Rodimus pauses to collect his thoughts. "Each generation passing along information and instructions down to the next so one day, we can strike back. Now, ten-thousand years after the Predacons began to conquer, we are ready to strike back! We are ready to finally end Predacon oppression. We have seen our families, relatives, friends, and neighbors being raped, murdered, enslaved, or experimented on because of this Predacon oppression. I know the battle will be long, and countless lives will be lost. But we can not give up or turn away. We will fight until the last organic or non-organic being falls. Now is the time to strike back, to take what is rightfully ours. Now is the time to reclaim our freedom, now is the time to reclaim our property, now is the time to reclaim the enslaved, and now is the time to kick Predacon ass!"
. "Gold Bug, send a message to the Klingons to take the lead. Every other race follows like we had planned." Ultra Magnus says as he types on his console.
Gold Bug immediately begins to type into his console. The holographic image in front of the Captain's chair shows the fleet beginning to move into the agreed formation, with the Klingons at the front, and the Maximals at the rear.
Meanwhile, inside of the Predacon Shield Array, Perceptor remains at the controls of the console, typing away frantically. SilverBlade looks over to him annoyed. "You're the smartest hacker in the Maximal ranks, can't you work faster?"
"The encryption protecting this computer is more complex then I had previously anticipated." Perceptor says looks back over to his superior officer
One of the Maximal soldiers looks over on one of the monitors "Routine patrol drones are approaching. What should we do if they come inside?"
SilverBlade looks over to the solider who spoke "How many?"
"I'm counting 50, sir."
"I suspected as much. All soldiers cloak immediately. And hope they can't detect cloaked objects." SilverBlade ordered, and they all cloak one after the other.
"And what if they do?" Rhinox asks.
"Then we will have to fight our way through and take the risk of them alerting Megatron of our presence."
"If they see the screens, they will know someone is using the computer," Perceptor states.
"Scan the scientist, and project a holographic image of him over your body. If the guards ask any questions, answer them. Don't look in our direction, which may raise suspicion." SilverBlade orders as Perceptor scans the scientist and activates his cloak. A few seconds later a holographic image of the scientist appears. SilverBlade drags the dead scientist's body into a storage closet and cloaks as well.
"I was planning on planting a command which will give false updates to Megatron's throne room and the Predacon Command center." Perceptor responds back to SilverBlade.
"I like that idea, Perceptor," SilverBlade grins "Make it so."
On the frozen asteroid satellite Pluto, a small group of Maximals hover up a very large mountain if ice, with Optimus Primal leading the group.
Fuzor SilverBolt looks up to Primal as they ascend. "You never told us why we were sent to this frozen wasteland, no one would be crazy enough to build anything here."
Primal stops ascending and looks down to SilverBolt. "That's where you're wrong. Megatron built a small un-manned outpost here, which houses the last transwarp vessel which can travel through time." He then continues to ascend.
Fuzor SilverBolt follows his lead. "We have transwarp engines in our fleet, why couldn't we use those?"
"Because, SilverBolt, the engines that our fleet uses cannot travel through time, they only have the ability to travel from one point of the galaxy to another in faster then standard warp. When the Predacons attacked the Maximal colonies, the blueprints used to build them were destroyed, every copy. They even destroyed the cruisers that did have the time-travel ability on them. We then had to steal one of their ships to reverse-engineer transwarp technology. We never re-acquired the knowledge to time travel."
"So why did the Predacons even want the technology? They just destroyed it in the end." SilverBolt responds.
"They lied about that so that we wouldn't find out the truth. Megatron ordered this outpost to be built, so that in case he is ever in danger of being killed, he could send one of his generals back to the past to prevent his death." Primal responds.
"He sure chose a miserable place to build it, no human can survive here."
"Believe me, SilverBolt; Megatron chose to build here because many slaves did die from the extreme conditions found here, three-thousand to be exact." Primal says to SilverBolt as the group climbs.
Air Razor hovers alongside Primal, and turns to face him. "So we are here to steal the technology?"
"No, Air Razor, we are here to use it. We will go back in time and prevent Megatron's rebirth. We will use his 'emergency plan' against him. Our job is to go back, and prevent his spark from being unleashed from its prison, and then travel back here."
"But you said it yourself, Primal, time travel is too dangerous, the potential consequences are too costly, even if it is for the right reason. Something worse may happen to the galaxy." SilverBolt says with worry.
"Everyone who has ever been enslaved by the Predacons, everyone who has had family killed or raped by the Predacons and everyone who has died will all say it is worth the risk. We unknowingly released Megatron, so we have to take responsibility. To prevent ten-thousand years of pain and suffering, it is worth the risk." Primal responds.
"The other commanders have a fool proof plan. We should be helping them!" Air Razor exclaims
"They also wanted a back-up plan in case their invasion of Cybertron wasn't successful." Primal says as he reaches the top of the mountain and helps the others onto their feet. They all look into another snow and ice filled valley, and see a large structure. Laser turrets are on the roof, and some Predacon guards are patrolling the grounds.
"Not much security." SilverBolt says.
"Megatron didn't think anyone would be crazy enough to come here, so he didn't want to waste more resources than necessary." Primal responds as he views the landscape and begins to formulate a plan of attack. "Everyone activate your signature masks so we aren't detected."
The others tap commands on their wrists.
"But Primal, won't they still be able to see us?" Air Razor asks
"That is correct Air Razor, but our signatures won't be detected, so we have a few seconds before they realize what is happening…That may be all we need to get to the transwarp engine." Primal responds. "Ok, let's go."
The group descends down the mountain towards the Predacon compound. The whole crew nervous about being detected, even Optimus Primal. They arrive at the bottom of the mountain and proceed cautiously towards the compound. The alarms haven't been activated yet. The Predacon patrol units aren't altered to their presence.
"Looks like these masks appear to be working." SilverBolt says
"Quiet!" Primal commands, as he doesn't want anything to trip the alarms.
As the Maximal group approaches the compound, a scanning laser sweeps over the area. Optimus Primal doesn't seem too concerned, as he has confidence in the signature masks. As the scan finishes the alarm activates very loudly.
"Maximals detected, kill on sight." The computer blares over the communications links on the Predacon guards. They immediately turn and fire at the Maximal group without mercy. The Maximals begin to run towards the entrance, firing back.
"SilverBolt, take out those roof turrets!" Optimus commands as they run.
"Yes sir!" SilverBolt spreads his wings, and launches explosive missiles at the turrets on the roof as the others fire on the multitude of guards firing on them.
"Powerglide, Air Razor, punch a hole in the door!"
The two Maximals fire all they got at the door and it explodes. The Maximals run inside as the Predacon guards follow, continuing to fire. Meanwhile, Dinobot, sitting in the control room of the facility, taps a few commands on the console and an image of Megatron appears on the screen.
"Lord Megatron, four Maximals have infiltrated the Pluto compound and are attempting to make their way to the transwarp vessel. I have drones in pursuit."
"Cancel that order and tell the drones to stand down." Megatron responds.
"Are you insane? They'll ruin everyt-" Dinobot is interrupted as he feels he's being lifted off the ground, and being choked.
"Do not question my orders again, Dinobot. Remember your place. As soon as the Maximals use the vessel, gather the drones and teleport here, and destroy the building." Megatron says sternly as Dinobot suddenly hits the floor and gasps for breath.
"Yes, right away Lord Megatron." Dinobot salutes and Megatron's image vanishes from the screen. He then taps more commands and speaks to all of the comm links on the drones. "All drones stand down, do not pursue the Maximals."
The Maximals run onto an elevator as the Predacon fire mysteriously stops. The Maximals don't notice right away, as they want to get to their goal and it descends down to the lower levels as Primal taps on the elevator controls multiple times.
"The Predacon drones, they've stopped firing on us!" SilverBolt says in surprise.
"They must not want to damage the equipment. We've no time to discuss it, let's go!" Primal says in a commanding tone as they reach the floor. The group run over to a small space vessel and enters it. The crew takes their seats at the consoles with Primal at the command chair and they all begin to type at the consoles.
"Vessel is on." SilverBolt says.
"Course is set, Planet of Char when Megatron's spark was kept alive." Air Razor says.
"Powering engines." Powerglide says.
"Time to end this mess." Primal says to his troops.
"Transwarp engine is at full power." Powerglide says to Primal.
"Let's do it. Activate it now!"
The vessel begins to glow bright white. The light engulfs the entire vessel in a short time, and it vanishes from the room.