Power Structures Part 2: Equal Measures
It was uncommon to see Ultra Magnus without his armor on. He was mostly seen wearing it during the day, and almost never took it off. The only time he did, was when he was praying at the Primal Basilica. He usually did this at night, so no one would see him without his armor. When not wearing his armor, he went by his forge name, Minimus of the House of Ambus, or 'Minimus Ambus" for short. Minimus was a mini-con who was white and green and had a mustache that was composed of some wires. He transformed into a cybertronic pick up truck. He was kneeling down in the halls of the basilica with his hands together, praying. Sitting across from him was Emirate Xaaron.
Xaaron was the leader of the Autobot Resistance, and he was the Autobot Minister of Justice. Xaaron was a monoformer, meaning he had no alt mode. Xaaron didn't believe in the twelve Primes, he instead believed in the Guiding Hand and the Knights of Cybertron. As such, to reject one of the Primes, Amalgamous, he had his transformation cog surgically removed. Xaaron was yellow and silver, and was praying just like Minimus. The Primal Basilica were sacred grounds that millions of Transformers used to go to for prayer, and to mourn the dead. The Basilica had some of the finest architecture that Cybertron had ever seen. However, when the Autobots began to focus more on military strength, less and less people started coming here. Nowadays, bots only came here if they wanted space or alone time.
They both were knelt down next to a pool filled with innermost energon, the energon that is closest to the spark chamber. Innermost Energon was removed from the body, and placed inside of small beakers that were set down next coffins. It was tradition to do this for someone you love when they died. This pool symbolized the tears that Transformers had shed when the people they cared about died. Minimus and Xaaron finished their prayers and stood up to face each other.
"Welp, time to head back to Autobot City. Let's hope it hasn't been attacked while we were gone." Minimus said.
"Indeed" replied Xaaron.
Minmus pressed a button on his arm, opening a hatch on the Magnus armor's torso. He hopped inside, and several clamps secured him in place. The hatch closed, transforming him back into Ultra Magnus. He picked up a giant hammer that sat a few feet from the pool. This was the Magnus Hammer. It was a weapon that was gifted to Delta Magnus, a member of the Primal Vanguard, by the House of Ambus. It was passed down to Ultra Magnus when Delta Magnus died during the war. They were about to leave the basilica, but a small, blue and white robot ran up to them.
"Ultra Magnus, sir!" the little bot said, while saluting. Ultra Magnus towered over him, making the bot feel insignificant by comparison.
"At ease, Tailgate." Ultra Magnus replied. "What seems to be the problem?
"Grimlock, sir. He showed up at HQ, and he said he wants to talk to you. He's angrier than usual." Tailgate replied, shivering.
"Weren't Grimlock and the Dynobots gathering energon from Power Station Beta?" Xaaron asked while walking up to Ultra Magnus.
"That's what I thought too, but this wouldn't be the first time that Grimlock has deserted his post." Ultra Magnus snarled. "Let's head back to the city." mechanical whirs filled the halls as Ultra Magnus transformed into a cybertronic car carrier. Tailgate transformed into a small cybertronic car, while Xaaron grabbed onto Magnus' backside. They drove out of the basilica, and drove onto a large skyhighway.
The reason Tailgate hadn't called Magnus earlier was because using radio wave transmissions was too risky. The Decepticons had top notch communication specialists, and the Autobots couldn't risk having a Decepti-creep listening in on one of their conversations. The ride back to Autobot City was quiet. It was relatively peaceful at nighttime. The moon glowed like a light bulb in a dark room, and the stars lit up the infinite sea of darkness. Not a single creature was stirring. They passed by dilapidated buildings, Once mighty sky scrappers that had grew old and withered. The air was filled with the scent of burning metal and scorched earth.
After about a cycle, they arrived at the city. Iacon was a huge city state that was surrounded by a large orange dome. The dome was like a futuristic version of the Texas Stadium. The dome was constructed out of steel grids, and there was a large plexiglass dome on the top. They drove up to the gates. A scanner ejected from one of the walls, and scanned the incoming Autobots. It recognized them, and the gates to Iacon opened.
Iacon was once a proud city state. It was Cybertron's crown jewel. Despite the war between the Autobots and Decepticons, Iacon was in better condition than most other city states. It was one of the last Autobot controlled city states. In the heart of Iacon was the Autobot's headqaurters. It was a series of tall white buildings with a giant Autobot insignia plastered on the front of one of the buildings. Because Iacon was controlled by Autobots, it earned itself the name "Autobot City".
The three drove onto a long black bridge that lead to the city's hanger bay. They drove inside, and transformed. Inside the hanger, multiple Autobots were handling equipment, repairing damaged shuttles and hauling cargo. Some of them saluted Ultra Magnus. Magnus was the Autobot City Commander, and without Optimus Prime he was pretty much in charge. In fact, Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime are brothers. Brothers in armor to be precise. They were both trained by the warrior sage, Alpha Trion.
Magnus, Xaaron and Tailgate went to the elevator, and traveled to the highest floor, which was the command center. As the door slid open, Magnus saw the tall, red, gold and silver Dynobots standing in the command center, waiting to address him.
"Magnus, we need to talk. Me take it Tailgate give you message?" Grimlock asked with his arms crossed.
"He did." Magnus replied "What's the matter?"
"Power Station Beta was destroyed." Grimlock muttered.
Ultra Magnus was taken aback, and his jaw hung open. "What?!" He said in shock. He almost dropped his hammer, but he kept a tight grip on it.
"Me know. Me Grimlock say we catch them and put some hurt on em'." Grimlock growled.
For once, Ultra Magnus agreed with Grimlock. Power Station Beta was essential to the Autobot economy. Its destruction, meant that the Autobots may not have another shipment of energon for deca-cycles. However, Magnus remained calm.
"I understand your desire for revenge Grimlock, but I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Magnus ordered.
"WHAT?!" Grimlock shouted. Grimlock wore a facemask and a visor, but Ultra Magnus could tell that Grimlock was pissed. The snarling Dynobot barred his teeth, which were barely visible behind his facemask.
"Grimlock, let's approach the situation logically." Magnus said. "If we go after the attacker, he just might have a reason to alert the Decepticons to our presence. Right now, both sides have been relatively inactive, and I hope to keep it that way. If we strike, it's likely that the Decepticons will strike as well."
"So, you tell me to sit around like caged turbofox and do nothing about it?!" Grimlock roared. "Well me can't, me won't! Me men nearly died in that explosion! I bet if this was your men, you'd want to do the same!" Grimlock said pointing his finger at Magnus.
Magnus tightened his grip around his hammer, and stopped himself from just outright whacking Grimlock. "Grimlock, now's not the time to argue. We are not going after the attacker. We don't even know where the attacker is." Magnus said.
"We do." Grimlock replied. He gestured to Swoop who held up a tracking device. "Swoop put tracker on attacker ship. They almost off world by now. If we take space shuttle, we can make it." Grimlock said.
"We still can't do that, Grimlock. Those shuttles cost a lot of energon that we aren't willing to send!" Magnus explained.
"So are you suggesting that we give up?! Grimlock shouted, his eyes a fiery red, and steam puffing out of his face mask.
"I'm not suggesting anything." Magnus barked. "I'm giving you an order. Let it go, Grimlock. I'll contact Elita-One and her team to see if she can help us find more energon. In the meantime, I suggest you calm yourself." Magnus ordered. Grimlock growled and stormed out of the command center, walking past Xaaron, and a frightened Tailgate. The rest of the Dynobots stormed out as well. Magnus sighed and gently face palmed. "Primus, help us all!" He said under his breath.
"I see things are going well, with the Dynobots." said a feminine voice. Ultra Magnus turned his head and saw Elita-One standing in the door way. Elita-One was taller than Xaaron, but shorter than Magnus. She was pink and red, and she had the kibble of a cybertronic jet.
"Elita-One, I wasn't aware of your presence." Magnus said. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I saw five angry Dynobots march out of the commander center, so I came inside to make sure nothing was destroyed." She was quite soft spoken. "The other reason why I'm here is to let you know that my team have learned when the Decepticons receive their next shipment of energon. If we are quick we can get some of it."
"You have full authorization, Elita-One." Magnus said. Elita nodded and turned to the door. She was about to leave, but she stopped. "Oh, and Magnus..." She began "...make sure you keep an eye on the Dynobots. I fear they will do something reckless." She walked out of the command center, leaving Magnus, Tailgate, and Xaaron alone.
The Dynobots had went to Maccadam's Old Oil House to blow off some steam. Maccadam's Old Oil House was located in sub level six, just east of the High Council Pavilions. in Iacon. The bar welcomed anyone in. Autobots, neutralists, empties, mini-cons. There were only two rules. Rule number 1: No guns, no swords, no briefcases. Rule Number 2: If you can pay, you can stay.
The owner of the bar was Maccadam. Maccadam was old and groggy. He used to be a chemist, and because of that it is rumored that he was a follower of Alchemist Prime. He transformed into a pick up truck, and was colored an aged aquamarine. Like Minimus, he had a goatee composed of many wires.
The Dinbots sat in a booth by themselves, getting drunk and musing about their current predicament.
"Waitress, get us more drinks!" Slug bellowed as he let out a large belch. A small Autobot named Lickety-Split came over to the Dynobot's table with more drinks. She quickly skated off. She didn't want to have to spend anymore time around the Dynobots. Slash, Slug, Swoop and Sludge were drunk out of their brain modules. They were giggling and coming up with new swear words. Grimlock and Snarl had their fuel intake moderation chips on, so they would stay sober.
"Ultra Magnus wants to sit around and do nothing. Pfft. Typical Autobots." Snarl griped as he gulped down half of his drink. "So what are we gonna do now, Grimlock?" Snarl asked.
"Well we ain't gonna sit around, me can tell you that!" Grimlock said. Grimlock had removed his face plate, revealing his hideously disfigured face, and his monstrously large teeth. "Me got a plan, but it risky. Me doing it tonight. With or without your help." Grimlock said.
"Well you can count me in." Snarl replied. Snarl finished the last of his drink. Grimlock finished the last of his. Grimlock stood up, and gestured for the rest of the Dynobots to do the same.
"C'mon. We leave." Grimlock ordered. The Dynobots walked out and saw a few empties lying on the ground in front of the door. They walked back to their habitation suites.
Later that night, Grimlock was walking down the halls of Autobot City. No one was there. Everyone else was recharging. Grimlock walked down to the security officer, peaked in. He saw Trailbreaker, watching the cameras. Trailbreaker was colored black and red, and he had a mini turret attached to his backside. Grimlock snuck up behind Trailbreaker, trying to be as discreet as possible. He then struck one of Trailbreaker's pressure points on his neck with his index and middle finger, causing Trailbreaker to become unconscious and fall over. Grimlock pressed a button on the console that turned off the security cameras. He made a mad dash for the hanger bay. No one was in there. He saw a lone shuttle, and was about to steal it, but a voice called out to him.
"What do you think your doing?" The voice asked. Grimlock turned his head, and was relieved to see the rest of the Dynobots were standing in the doorway. "You aren't thinking about taking off without us, are you?" Swoop asked.
"As if! It you and me. Just like always!" Grimlock said, trying to keep quiet so he wouldn't alert anyone to his presence. The Dinobots snuck onboard the shuttle. They activated it, and flew out of the hanger, ready to chase down their mystery attacker.