Chapter 20
New Quintessa sector
The ship had reached the border of the solar system.
From the distance, the last thing Gnaw could see was how the planet was breaking apart. He had thought that this alliance might end in a disaster.
But even he was surprised and shocked how literally it happened.
Thinking, that alone was something he should not even be capable of when it came to their former masters. He was designed and intended to be nothing more than a mindless drone. But a few of his kind had developed above that, without knowledge and against the will of their masters.
And that was ultimately the reason they were still alive right now. Otherwise they too would have been on the planet the Quintessons had decided to occupy after offering Unicron their world as a body.
The Sharkticons had rebelled twice by now. One time inspired by the Dinobots and the second under the influence of the hate plaque.
But the second time it had not been as much a rebellion than a senseless spree of destruction. One that left the Quintesson race military and economically broken. On the cosmic scale, the Quintesson empire was no longer a threat, vulnerable to their enemies from the outside.
And they had made many enemies. For millions of years they had abused their power and their technology to abuse and exploit others.
That was it what despite everything drove them to trust Unicron, sheer desperation, fear of possible invaders, fear of the cybertronians, fear of their own slaves. They were so afraid of all this, that they didn´t saw the threat right before their own eyes.
Unicron promised to give them their power and their position back, but in the end he betrayed them.
Gnaw understood that all, he understood all too much.
Behind him was standing the group of eleven Sharkticons and nine guard robots that he was leading. Now they were among the last of their species.
There might still be others on outposts somewhere in space. But the most of them had been in this system, like the most of the Quintessons.
Their masters were gone now, he realized. It was time for them to start anew by themselves.
On the screen he saw how Unicron´s giant form swallowed some of the last remains of the planet.
Their group had done everything they could. He could only hope that somebody would be able to stop the world devourer now.
Gnaw activate the hyper-drive.
xxx
"What are you doing?" Still standing inside the control center, the scientist Primacron asked.
"Silence", Unicron ordered him, "their usefulness came to an end. Yours on the other hand can still be very great to me."
"I didn´t order you to do this", the small organic yelled in desperation.
"No, you have not and as you should realize by now, you have never been the master."
"No, I have created you", Primacron claimed.
Before he had finished his words, a onslaught of pain hit through his body. He stumbling in agony.
"Silence", Unicron said to him. "What you have created was a body, a shell for me to inhabit, never more.
As you see you have never been in control. You, as so many before and afterwards, you belong to me. But I will allow you to continue your experiments. I am actually very impressed by your latest results. You will raise for me an army of creatures of destruction and as you have suggested we together will purge the universe, only that I will be in charge."
"Yes master", Primacron finally submitted.
"Very good", Unicron replied, right before he began to transform.
For the first time he took the shape of his new planet-mode, still having much in appearance of the former metal world New Quintessa, but it had also a great resemblance with his old "planet eater" form.
He was starting to move to the borders of the sector, on the way to his destination.
xxxxxxx
Cybertron
The Autobot-shuttle had arrived in the orbit of the planet. Despite everything it was carefully approaching the Decepticon controlled world.
They were holding course directly to the central space harbor of the sector Polihex.
On board were the Autobots Optimus Prime, who was standing in his large powermaster mode, the other powermasters Getaway, Joyride and Slapdash, the targetmasters and Prowl, a Autobot refugee from an alternate world.
Just like the three Decepticons Megatron, Thundercracker and Skywarp, who were also with them, as was the former Air Commander and now renegade Starscream.
Also on board were the human officer Marissa Fairborn and Hotrod´s and Kup´s nebulon partners Firebolt and Recoil.
"So we are landing right in the center of the Decepticon empire because Galvatron has invited us", Prowl resumed with a level of sarcasm.
"Just like in old times what?" Sunstreaker said.
"Hotrod had contacted me and confirmed that Galvatron is offering us an alliance", Optimus told them, "and that they have found Primus", he said a bit quieter.
"That still doesn´t guaranty that we aren´t walking into a trap", Prowl reminded him. "Hotrod could have been lied to or Galvatron could have changed his mind."
"I don´t know why you are so worried Autobot", Thundercracker remarked. "If anybody had anything to fear from him right now, it would be us not you."
"I trust Hotrod´s judgment", Optimus declared, as the shuttle began to land. The Decepticon´s defenses had let them pass
Megatron staid quiet. He didn´t comment his subordinate´s words.
They had made fools of themselves, he thought bitterly. The whole time they had been thinking they were saving the Decepticon race while they were in fact manipulated into pawns by the exactly same menace they wanted to protect them from.
They had played Sideways game and lost, he knew this. Even if Unicron was stopped for good in this world, there was no way that the Decepticons would ever trust him as leader again after this.
He was pretty sure by now that Galvatron was not under Unicron´s influence, despite his unicronian form. If he was, why should Sideways have used them to dethrone him?
No, that problem was only something that had Sideways planted into their heads from the beginning.
He thought in shame about how easily he had let this creature use his own prejudices to fool him. Never again, he thought.
Still, it wasn´t that bad, he realized. After all they still had the transwarp-technology that Sideways had provided them with and without him and his manipulations, he was sure this time they would succeed. They could restart again in another universe, like they did before.
Maybe Galvatron would even be glad to get rid of them like that, he thought.
Their ship had landed. It was time to face them.
The hatch opened and both groups of robots stepped outside. There awaited them the sight of Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge, standing next to Hotrod, again in the form of Rodimus Prime, Optimus recognized, Ultra Magnus and
Soundwave? Had the communication officer somehow escaped? It didn´t matter now. They had other things to worry about.
"Megatron and his group are with them", Scourge whispered to Cyclonus who was standing next to him.
"That changes nothing", the second in command replied.
"They are us", Scourge pointed out.
"That is still no reason to trust them", Cyclonus said.
"It is good to see you again partners", Recoil said right before he and Firebolt transformed into blasters and glided into the hands of Kup and Rodimus Prime.
"I see that the same way", Kup answered.
"Optimus", Galvatron greeted him as the visitors came closer, "as I see you have gotten my message. Megatron", he then addressed his alternate from another universe.
"Starscream", he finally said with a colder and more grim voice, reminding everybody of the deep feud between this two Decepticons.
"And as I see you were saying the truth when you said you wanted an alliance", Optimus replied.
"Yes Prime, for now we must set our differences aside and work together. Unicron has returned."
"We have already encountered him", Optimus told them. "The planet Nebulos is lying in ruins. Their cities are destroyed, tens of millions are dead."
The Autobots who had spend the last week in the underground, were shocked by this news.
"You have encountered Sideways", Rodimus replied finally, "but as terrible as this is, that form of him is by now the least of our worries.
The scouts we had sent out have returned and what they reported is more than serious. Unicron has been rebuild. As it looks he had allied himself with the Quintessons. He had taken the planet New Quintessa as his new body."
All the newcomers looked up at this news, some in barely hidden shock. This was worse than they had expected, far worse.
"The good news is that with Primus help we were able to recharge the Matrix", Ultra Magnus told them.
"At least one positive thing", Optimus said.
"The Matrix is working again", the targetmaster Crosshairs asked nervously, "so we can stop him right?"
"Stop him? Maybe, if we are lucky", Megatron pointed out. This was the first time he said something. "Stop him and his Sweep-army and this before they devastate our worlds? Honestly I don´t see a way here", he admitted grimly. "I have seen what this things can do." His voice showed a gloomy attitude that was completely untypical for the Decepticon leader, no matter which version of him. It was obviously for everybody who knew him, that he had just been defeated, not only physically but also mentally.
"What are these guys doing here anyway?" Scourge asked, gesturing at the extra-dimensional visitors.
"Hey, we are here to help", Skywarp replied.
"You mean when you are not infiltrating our universe, spreading lies and distrust, undermining the Decepticons leadership and are throwing the entire empire into chaos?" Cyclonus asked him.
"Well, we made a few mistakes", the black seeker answered.
"Enough", Megatron said. "We have been manipulated by Sideways. I am willing to admit that. But now we want to help repair the damage we have helped to cause and stop Unicron. In fact, we are eager for a chance to get revenge on that creature."
"I can imagine", Galvatron commented.
"We may have a way", Rodimus, a bit reluctantly, explained
"If Primus information is correct", Cyclonus pointed out. "He may be wrong in this regard."
"Primus thinks that Unicron will attack our people on Earth first, while the Sweep army is invading Cybertron."
"Why should he do that?" Getaway asked.
"Maybe he had gotten careful after he got trashed here the last time", Kup replied.
"Enough", Galvatron said, mirroring Megatron´s words from a few moments earlier. "I am in charge of Cybertron and I say we are making this decision, but only after we have checked the situation for ourselves.
It is true that Primus had proposed a possible way for us to get rid of at least one enemy. But that could also mean that we could loose Cybertron, we all."
"What do you mean?" Optimus asked him.
"You will see", he answered.
"And you three", he turned to Megatron, Skywarp and Thundercracker, "I am willing to accept your help for now. But when this is over I want you all out of our universe."
"If you say so", Megatron replied. "That won´t actually be a problem with me. I have already figured out that my chances to win in this world are very slim and I can always start again in another one."
Some of the Autobots present shrugged at this statement. Him starting again somewhere else was actually one of the last things they wanted.
"And as I see my place here is already taken", Megatron said.
"A good point", Galvatron answered. He lifted his particle cannon and aimed it directly at his counterpart. "But I warn you, don´t try anything behind my back. We may to a degree be the same person, but my patience with you is running thin."
"Of course Galvatron. You will see that I won´t disappoint you", Megatron told him, half sarcastically, half in earnest.
"This is working better than I was thinking", Prowl said to Optimus quietly.
"At least for now Prowl", the Autobot leader reminded him. "Let us see how this continues."
Optimus had to admit it was strange having this Autobot around. It was nearly as if his old comrade from the Ark was back. But the Prowl he had known was dead.
Galvatron looked to some of the other Transformers present, till his gaze left on Starscream.
Hesitating, the former Air Commander stepped for.
"Mighty Galvatron, I would be glad over a chance to rejoin the Decepticons and serve under you once again." A part of Starscream couldn´t quite believe that he had actually just said this words.
He could literally feel the eyes of everybody on him. To say it short, he felt ridiculous.
And it certainly didn´t help that Scourge actually broke out in laughter. Next to him, despite that he managed to keep his stoic posture, Cyclonus was in fact looking as if he could barely restrain himself from doing the same thing.
"Starscream", Scourge asked him, "how many times have we heard something like that from you in the past?"
"Scourge has a point", Galvatron said. "You have already sworn loyalty a thousand times and then betrayed everybody anytime."
The Decepticon leader pointed his cannon at him now. Starscream felt cold inside. He remembered how the same weapon had claimed his life and burned his body to ashes once.
"Even if I am willing to work with you", Galvatron gestured to Optimus and Megatron, "nobody in my army will ever trust this traitor again."
The renegade who had once been Air Commander looked from him to Cyclonus and Scourge, his wing-men in another life, old memories and broken trust between them.
"I may have respected you once, Starscream", Cyclonus told him, "before I became what I am now. We may have even been friends once. But that was a long time ago."
"No, I have helped them against Unicron, I have freed you from Sideways. Tell them", he asked in the direction where Optimus and the others were standing.
"And the last time you helped Unicron to try to take over Cybertron", Ultra Magnus reminded him.
"It wasn´t like that", Starscream called out. "I have only told him that I would connect his head to the planet then he would recreate my body and then I had it I stabbed him in the back, I betrayed him…"
He broke off his own speech as he realized what exactly he was saying.
"Yes Screamer", Skywarp commented, "that makes you sound very trustworthy."
Starscream looked from one group to the other and he realized that he was alone.
Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge would never trust him or willingly work with him again. This was not really a surprise, but he knew he at least had to try.
The most Autobots thought about him pretty much in the same way, at least since he had allied himself with Unicron and he knew somewhere in the back of his mind, because he had murdered millions of nebulons with the push on a button.
But it was Sideways, Unicron who had ordered this, he thought. It was foolish of the Autobots to care about the fate of a few insignificant organics anyway, especially if the entire universe was at stake.
At least with his help against Sideways he had probably made his stand with them a bit better, not that it mattered much. He was a Decepticon after all. It was their support that he needed and wanted. But slowly the realization hit him that he would never get it.
Megatron, Skywarp and Thundercracker were simply not the ones he had known. They were strangers with familiar faces and what truly was important, they had no longer real power in this world anyway. Then he originally joined them, even if it was under order from Sideways, he had hoped to use them to get his old rank back or at least something close to it. Now it was clear that this would not work out either.
What else could he do? Join the Autobots? Even if they would accept him, never.
They would not give him the position he deserved anyway. Despite everything he was still one of the best air warriors in the galaxy and he should be in a position of power.
He had nothing left. All what he once had was gone.
Skyfire had been the last bit of his past that had been left, he came to realize that. And now he was dead.
He was sure that was the reason he felt such sadness over the death of the Autobot.
Maybe it was time to start again for himself, Starscream thought. He could recruit a few robots for his own.
And maybe he had already a few possible candidates in his mind, a few he had seen under the troops who had been on Nebulos under Megatron.
He heard Galvatron saying something more to the two Primes and Megatron.
"As I have told you, we have a possible plan. But this plan can not be executed alone by Transformers and for that reason I have asked Optimus to bring you too commander Fairborn."
They were all surprised as he addressed Marissa, in fact they were somewhat surprised that the Decepticon leader even knew her name.
"Me?" She asked confused.
xxxxxxx
Planet Nebulos
The four remaining Decepticon headmasters, the unit who had repaired Megatron and Thundercracker after Sideways had dumped them in space and a couple of triple changers were just working on the damaged husk of Skorponok´s city mode.
Sideways followers had caused heavy damage to the super-robot when they had ambushed him. But because of the danger to be caught by retreating Decepticons, they had not bothered to completely disable him.
They had probably known that the machine was useless without Skorponok and Zarak to control it anyway and would have never thought that they would escape their master alive.
Now the nebulon leader Zarak was watching the repairs going on impatiently.
In the background behind him were the burning ruins of one of the cities of his home-planet.
"Mindwipe, how long will it take till my body is functional again?" He asked his adjutant.
"Less than five breems my lord", the headmaster answered, giving the cybertronian time-units that were around forty Earth minutes.
"Good", Zarak told him", by what I have heard, the situation is getting dangerous and I can not wait to meet this `Unicron´ and teach him a lesson."
xxxxxxx
In space somewhere between Nebulos and Cybertron
The armada of black Sweeps would soon be entering the sector of their intended target. Having just raided the planet Nebulos, they were now heading for Cybertron.
Like the Insecticons they had originally been created from, Sweeps were able to clone new exemplars of themselves. However in opposite to their predecessors this ones were being mindless automatons, so they could be created much easier and therefor replicate themselves several times faster.
Instead of a few days it cost them only a few hours to create a completely functional new version of themselves, one that was able to create others by itself.
Having consumed the raw materials of the cities on Nebulos for their replication process, their number had multiplied and was now going in the thousands.
Somewhere in the heart of the endless crowd flew a small shuttle. On board were two Transformers, two living ones indeed, the only two out of this army of countless of drones.
The seeker Flashlight was sitting at the controls and the Sweep named Carnage, the leader of the drone army, was leaning into the command seat.
"Time to Cybertron?" the Sweep leader asked.
"Four breems sir", the seeker answered.
So this was it, the time when everything was coming full circle.
He remembered the time when he was just a regular Sweep. At that point he had been loyal to both, Galvatron and the Decepticons, like all Sweeps were.
It was partly their free decision, that they had made for themselves, but it was also their programming by Unicron, mixed with their Insecticon heritage.
Insecticons were freelancers, only truly loyal to their own sub-group, to their hive. Despite all their treachery and self-serving actions, they were loyal, to each other.
And that was the main reason the Sweeps as a group were loyal to Galvatron, like the Insecticons were never to Megatron. He was created as one of them, he, Cyclonus and Scourge.
Of course this was also a decision that every single Sweep had to made for himself. But for the most of them this decision was not particular difficult.
He himself had not been created directly from an Insecticon clone, but he was one of the first to be replicated directly afterwards.
Things had been different then, he had been different. Before Galvatron had left him for dead.
It was only a lucky shot from one of the Autobots, destroying his guidance system.
It wouldn´t have been that bad had they not just been floating over the gas planet Jupiter.
Before anybody knew that was happening he had already been falling, to his sure death.
He remembered screaming to Galvatron for help, to sent someone to his rescue and he remembered Galvatron´s response.
"Please meet your end with dignity. I despise whiners."
His right hand was clamping into the arm of his chair in anger as he remembered.
This should have been his end. But then something happened that saved his life.
A explosion run through the gas of the atmosphere, obviously caused by the fighting above him, threw him off of his fall to his doom.
He landed on a small meteoroid that was circling the planet, a bit of pure luck.
And there he staid for some time, just laying on the ground and waiting for his end in some form, for over a week, until Doomsday and his group had found him. That was the point were he had lost all his faith, in the Decepticons, in Galvatron, in everything.
They saved his life, they repaired him and gave him a new identity and power. Not to help him, not out of compassion, they made this clear from the beginning, but so he could be useful to them.
He was not longer just a simper soldier, he was the leader of a vast army. But for that he had to once again swear loyalty to their creator and old master.
He was recreated and allowed himself to be reformed in Unicron´s image under his rule. By now he had given up every belief in anything in existence, except for two, power and destruction.
Ironically in that way be became a perfect and "faithful" member of the Brotherhood of Chaos, a instrument for Unicron just like their creator had envisioned.
Once he had been left behind by Galvatron and by the Decepticons and now he would be coming back to rain death and destruction down on them. The thought brought a smile on his metallic face.
He saw the future before his eyes. His new Sweep army would ravage Cybertron, as they had already done it with Nebulos.
Then, in the name of Unicron, they would continue to do it with other worlds. Piece by piece they would destroy the entire galaxy.
xxxxxxx
Transwarp ship in orbit over Cybertron
In the commander´s chambers of one of the Decepticon´s new transwarp-drive combat-ships, Galvatron and his second in command were standing alone in a private conversation and recapitulating the latest events.
"And Cyclonus, what do you think of our creator?" The Decepticon leader asked.
"He was, well, interesting", Cyclonus answered, "especially", he stated carefully, "the way he tried to subtly manipulate you."
"Yes, it seems our ancestor truly want us to change our ways and I have to admit, bringing up my past as Megatron was a good idea to that point.
And if it is true what he said about the Liege, then I am more glad than ever that I disposed of that double-crosser by the time.
The only real question is, do you trust Primus?"
"No", Cyclonus answered, "at least not completely. I want confirmation before I agree to anything and I am not willing to just believe this being just because he claims to have created our ancestors ages ago."
"As am I Cyclonus. Despite that, I think that our creator might actually have a point."
"He wants us to give up our war with the Autobots", his second reminded him.
"And tell me, how many times have even you secretly thought that this war had become senseless a long time ago?"
Cyclonus could barely believe that he was hearing his leader talking like that. Out of the mouth of everybody else this words would border to treason.
"Mighty Galvatron…", he said.
"Nine million Cyclonus, it has taken us nine million years to take control of Cybertron, after a long and out-draining war and then we had finally secured the planet for ourselves, then we had established outposts on other worlds and had the sector under our control", he paused for a moment in his speech,
"all that was snatched from us on a single day, by the interference of a single creature."
The second in command listened to his leader´s talking without saying anything for now.
"It has taken us seven years to come back where we had stood before Unicron´s attack, one year just to bring me back from the insanity that his and Rodimus actions had left me in."
Cyclonus showed no visible sign of emotion as Galvatron mentioned this. They both knew he would never talk to anybody about this time except him, with the possible exception of Soundwave.
"And now that we finally had everything back that was ours before."
"Actually a little bit more than we had before", Cyclonus remarked with a barely visible smile, referring to the planet Chaar that the Decepticons possessed and the outposts they were holding, a greater force than ever.
"Yes", Galvatron said, "our empire has never been as large as at this point and never been as powerful. Only for that it is all crashing down on us once again and that because of the very same being and now tell me you don´t think sometimes that it is all senseless?"
"We have not lost Cybertron yet", Cyclonus replied with false confidence he didn´t feel. He knew the facts as good as his leader.
"But we will", Galvatron told him, "you know as good as me what a fight against Unicron means. To that comes his new drone army. One force will attack Cybertron while the other strikes somewhere else, probably Earth and we don´t have the strength to deal with them both. We have no choice but to accept Primus plan, you know that."
Cyclonus thought for a moment before he answered.
"You are right my lord."
"I know, but I don´t like this anymore than you do."
"But we don´t know all the facts yet", Cyclonus made clear. "I believe that Primus indeed has positive intentions, but like I said, I won´t take just everything that he had told us at face value just because he believes it."
"Let us find out the facts", Galvatron said. "Soundwave", he activated his communicator to talk to the communication officer, "have you located the black Sweep army by now?"
A few moments later the Decepticon´s monotone voice answered.
"Sweep army located in the neighboring sector, having course to Cybertron."
"So they are coming here?"
"Positive."
"How many are they?" Galvatron asked.
"Approximately 3.200 units.
"And how many troops do we have on Cybertron?"
"712 Decepticons and around 92 Autobots", Soundwave informed him.
"And the rest of our troops are still scattered after the failed battle on Nebulos?" the Decepticon leader asked.
"Yes Galvatron."
"So that makes things clear", Cyclonus commented.
"Indeed", Galvatron replied, "and Unicron?" he wanted to know.
"Unknown", Soundwave told him. "Our scouts and the Autobots have reported that the planet New Quintessa and the neighboring one are gone."
"Both planets? so it sounds that Unicron´s new body already had his first feast."
"It seems", Cyclonus repeated. "That means we have no choice."
"Soundwave", Galvatron ordered, "made contact to Spinister. Tell him to begin with the evacuation of the planet." Then he ended the communication.
"To win this time we have to loose everything", his second in command recited. It were words originally from an old religious text of Cybertron, ironically the `Covenant of Primus´.
"Tell me Cyclonus, why did we ever wanted Cybertron in the first place?"
"It is our home-world", the Decepticon said surprised.
"Exactly, it is our home-world and that is the only reason.
It is military especially important?
No.
Does it has great resources we couldn´t find anywhere else?
No, Cybertron´s had actually been running out for millions of years now, before we even started our journey to Earth.
There are actually other planets out where that have more useful resources and are far better located. But we are here, fighting since millions of years ago over a single world, one that is military and economically useless."
"Still Cybertron is our home and many Decepticons are very attached to it, even if I am not necessary one of them", Cyclonus replied.
"Attached to it?" Galvatron asked sarcastically. "It was the war that we and the Autobots waged that had been running it into the ground in the first place and now some want to continue it and cause even more damage because they have some sentimental attachment to it you say?"
"Well, I never said it was a particular good reason."
"It is something that I have seen for a long time, even as I was still Megatron. We could already control hundreds of worlds if we had just given up on Cybertron a long time ago. But neither Megatron or Optimus Prime had actually the guts to leave it behind, mainly because they feared the other would revitalize it and use it for his purposes.
Primus want us to end the war. What he had offered us was not only a sacrifice but also a chance."
"We are Decepticons, we live for battle. It is the sense of our existence", Cyclonus pointed out, "but it don´t necessarily has to be this battle", he admitted.
"You have understand Cyclonus. We go now and leave Cybertron to our descendants, with the Autobots just as unable to claim it as us. The planet will prosper in our absence and we will have our empire."
"The Autobots will not just stand by and let us conquer other worlds", his second reminded him.
"We will deal with this problem when the time comes", Galvatron replied. "Anyway, when we settle in a large enough distance away from here, we could probably take over an entire sector before the Autobots even find out about it. Then they would not longer be able do anything to stop us."
"The Quintessons", Cyclonus realized, "and other threats like them. There has to be other menaces like them out there, xenophobic aliens, tyrants, space pirates, mass murderers. They would be a far greater threat to our empire than peaceful pacifist species anyway and the Autobots could hardly protest if we take out some galactic aggressors."
Galvatron thought about it for a moment.
"Yes, yes, an ingenious thought Cyclonus. The Autobots would act against their own moral code if they even tried to stop us and some of the weaker species would probably join us willingly. After all `freedom´ often only means to be an easy target for any attacker. We don´t need to conquer them, they will come to us willingly."
"But I still fear that some of our warriors will not get along with this", Cyclonus told him.
"We will take everybody who stays loyal to us. The most Decepticons will see reason and if a few fools want to throw themselves away in some senseless gesture, they can have their will.
But now my friend, let us deal with the problems we have at hand."
xxxxxxx
In another part of the ship the two Primes and a number of other Autobots were sitting in guest quarters.
Galvatron had offered them safe and in first line fast passage to Earth, since according to Primus information it was the next place where Unicron would attack.
"As I see you are Rodimus Prime again?" Optimus asked.
"Yes, Primus had brought me into this form once again. He said that I was ready. It seems being Rodimus is my fate or something."
"Really? I have thought that for a long time", the other Prime replied.
"We will loose our home planet", Rodimus said, "this time possibly once and for all."
"I know. But by what you have told me, at least Cybertron will have a chance to be at peace."
xxxxxxx
Earth system, ED space-station
A human officer was monitoring the system for possible intruders, next to him were some of his colleagues who had similar tasks.
Behind them was standing an Autobot who had been transferred to the station recently and was for now acting as a contact officer.
The most humans on board thought that they didn´t actually need him, the EDC was working nearly completely independent. He was mostly here to symbolize the alliance between humans and Autobots and so the single robot felt often quite useless.
"Sir", the soldier reported to the commander as he detected the incoming, "we have an object entering the system."
"Can you tell me more about it?" the officer asked
The man was starring at the display, in disbelieve about the data he was reading.
"Juergens", the commander was calling the name of the man.
"Sorry sir", the man said, still in shock, "but this says that the object has the size of…"
"A planet", the Autobot said, who was now watching over the man´s shoulder.
xxx
Unicron had arrived at his target.
He had learned from his last encounter with Primus creations and would not attack them directly. By his information he knew that this was probably the place where Rodimus Prime and the now emptied Matrix were. The black Sweeps would deal with Cybertron. Who knew if Primus had not left something else behind there to use against him.
His old opponent was someone else he had fatally underestimated in the past.
As he was closing up to Earth he began his transformation sequence.
On board of the space station the humans and one Autobot could only stare in awe and in fright at the display they were seeing before them.
Today he would destroy all of Primus children and one of the races they were allied with. This will be a pleasure, Unicron thought as he crashed the space-station beneath his hand.
xxxxxxx
Cybertron
A small group of humanoids was now walking through the tunnels of the metal world.
Marissa Fairborn, commander in the Earth Defense Command, Rodimus targetmaster partner Firebolt and the partners of Cyclonus and Kup, who were calling themselves Nightstick and Recoil.
"What are we looking for again?" Recoil asked the others.
"An ancient cybertronian device called the plasma-energy-chamber", Marissa told him.
"And why have we to be the ones looking for it again?"
"Because it´s effect is devastating for everybody who is not either organic or a prehistoric cybertronian", Nightstick answered him this time. "By what Primus had told us, we could use the device to wipe out Unicron´s drone army."
"And it would most likely made the planet inhabitable for both Autobots and Decepticons", Firebolt added.
"Yeah, that too."
xxxxxxx
The armada of black Sweeps had reached Cybertron.
They saw a large number of ships leaving the atmosphere, obviously retreating.
"Show me the planet", Carnage ordered.
"The most Transformers seem to be fleeing", Flashlight reported.
"As expected."
"But a small group is actually be heading for us", the seeker informed him.
"What? on the monitor."
The picture appeared before him
"Galvatron", Carnage whispered as he recognized the image.
A few explanations:
This chapter was mostly from the P.O.V. of different Decepticons. Writing them is often more fun than the Autobots, they are often driving the story. Of course not always. The Autobots can be very interesting too.
I am in many ways equally a fan of both factions. For the development of the story both sides are important.
xxx
Starscream is, at the point where he is thinking about Skyfire, in obvious denial. He is hurt by the death of his old friend but would never admit this to himself.
xxx
Here are also a few theories regarding the Sweeps, their connection to the Insecticons and why they are the way they are explained.
This was in the part of the text about "Carnage" and his heritage. As it was explained earlier, he had once been the Sweeps who had fallen to his death in Five Faces of Darkness. Here is now explained how he had survived and came ino Sideways service.
If anybody had realized it, I have implied it here that it was actually the shot that Galvatron had fired at Wheelie and Blurr, hat had set the atmosphere on fire, that had saved his life. Irony.
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If somebody had red my story "Evolution", he will probably already know in what situation this story line will end up. But not the way it came to that.