(Hey everyone, Today's a good day for I was able to get was able to get the first half of this double feature all set up for you all to enjoy. That's right, it's not one, but two. TWO chapters involving the same subject and almost immediately after each other. as mentioned in the previous chapter the situation has been a bit strained since our boys Hot Rod, Ironhide, and Drift came back from Felucia and were able to be cleared of charges for taking the lives of Hondo's pirates to save the Felucian farmers. And now because here is what's happening during the battle on Malastare especially with the energy crisis for the Republic. Let's hope something unexpected happens when the Republic are forced to unleash their new weapon upon the Separatist/Decepticon forces. *crosses fingers in hope*

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Star Wars and/or Transformers of any continuity. They are the properties of their respective owners.

"Talking"
"{Translated from Cybertronian language}"
"{Translated from Organic language}"
"Communication"
'Thoughts'

Please Read, Review, and Enjoy)

It was a trying day for the planet of Malastare, especially as the fierce battles that raged on it upon it's soil. It's because of how the Separatist/Decepticons wanted to claim the planet and fuel for their own. The first to proceed to the Dug's defense after their own means of combatting the droids and con's united forces were proven unaffected against the technical and weapon advantage of the Droid/Con army. Especially as it seemed that there were more reported Droidi-cons than in any other battle since the introduction of the Cybertronians to the Clone Wars. Chancellor Palpatine felt that desperate times called for desperate measures, especially when it involved one of their vital fuel resources that helps them maintain the republic's army and keep the friction between the Republic and Autobots from debating over repurposing Energon for their energy needs as well as the Autobot's.

The clone army of the 501st Battalion and the 91st Recon Corps. stood ready to meet the army that would allow the republic pilot to drop the Rpeublic's newest weapon, a hybrid technological weapon called an "Electro-Neutron bomb". It was composed of both Autobot and Republic technology that would deal a blow to the combined force of the Droids and Decepticons.

At the battle ground's front, Captain Rex led a squad of his brothers over and saw the approaching army. Rex then looked through his electro-binoculars and seeing the forces moving on them he stated, "That's a lot of clankers."

He looked again and saw that many of the vehicles with them had Decepticon symbols on them, twenty or thirty in the center of each formation before exclaimed, "And that's a lot of cons."

Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, Dr. Boll, Doge Urus, and the holograms of Chancellor Palpatine and Perceptor, watched from the imperial palace of the Dug leader as the droid/Decepticon army marched. The Dug leader turned, "I will not allow my people to become separatist slaves."

"Rest assure you Doge Urus, the combined force of our army will not let that happen." Palpatine assured the Dug leader, respectfully. He then gestured to the female scientist, "Dr. Boll, and the Prof. Perceptor stated that only the droids and the Decepticons are affected by their electronic field."

Doge Urus glanced at the female Bivall scientist and asked, "And you are certain that those giant droids haven't done anything to tamper with it?"

Anakin glared at the leader of the Dug's for comparing the Autobots to simple droids, or even thinking that all Cybertronians, no matter the faction, were on the same side. Especially since it seems no one considered that the Cybertronian species truly are divided in their civil war.

"Yes, the clones and your people will be quite safe; we have foreseen every possible outcome." Dr. Boll assured the Dug leader. Even as he asked, "Then why is it that these so-called allies do not take part in the battle closer as their supposed enemies are?"

"The electro-magnetic field that the Electro-proton bomb emits will effect everything that is not organic, or to put it plainly, it will affect the technologically based species, or device in range." Perceptor explained, "And as such we have no clear understanding what it will do to our own forces so we have taken steps to ensure that when it does go off, we will not suffer the same effects as our enemies. But still… there are some improbable outcomes we have yet to discern. If only I was able to create an EMP-jamming device to protect our forces, but the sheer proximity to the field will cause more damage than allow."

Mace Windu studied the Autobot scientist, the one who seemed to be steadfast in logic and science. When it got to him how he seemed to dismiss the obvious evidence of The Force, he can sense that the Autobot scientist was as opposed to using the weapon as he was.

"I agree with you, professor. There has to be another way." Mace Windu voiced his opposition against using this bomb again.

"I'm afraid not, my friend." Palpatine stated as he looked to the battlefield, "This bomb is our only hope for victory now."

"We have also given as much of our EMP grenades to aid you and our rockets will help, but we cannot do more…" Perceptor reminded, making the Dug leader sneer at that.

"The droids are on the move." Anakin announced, all eyes turned to the battle as Perceptor's hologram deactivated.

The Autobots were standing from the far side of the Dugs' main complex. Hot Rod was pacing as he muttered, "This is a mistake. We should be in there fighting with them."

"Need I remind you that this battle's a diversion so that the enemy forces do not detect the EMP particles of the republic's device? If you want to go into stasis-lock, then please by all means." Perceptor asked. He used his microscope's lens to keep an eye on the battle and progress of the new EMP-like device.

"Yeah, do you really want us to hall your aft back to the Ark and explain to Kup why you're in stasis-lock after you got out of the medbay, especially since we were cleared of all charges." Ironhide asked, causing Hot Rod to huff as he watched.

"Still don't think we should be here…" Hot Rod commented.

Springer looked over at the younger Autobot and asked, "What's wrong, Hot Rod? You seem to be on edge worse than Red Alert."

Hot Rod remained silent before telling his superior officer, "It's the Dugs… Ever since we made it to this planet something about those hand-walkers rubs me the wrong way… almost like they're an organic version of Starscream. Esepcially with how they see us."

That made all the Autobots in listening range of his voice shudder in fear, One Starscream was bad enough, but an entire species? That would be the end of sanity in the universe as they knew it.

"I'm more concerned about the use of the electro-proton Bomb that was made than what these beings think of us… we could've made it less damaging to the planet's ecosystem if we were able to make it to be a deployment version of the EMP grenades." Perceptor stated, not liking the weapon that could cause many damage to the natural environment of the planet… even one where the inhabitants were forcing the energy from the core… Unlike Cybertron where the Energon came from its core, as it was designed to, as Perceptor believed.

Springer looked and pointed, "They're beginning the attack."

The bots watched, helpless.

The commanding Tactical Droidi-con observed the area and he ordered, "Go! Shoot them down!"

The Droids fired as commanded, beginning the latest battle on this planet. The Decepticons transformed into their bipedal forms and began firing as well on the organic allies of their enemies, the Autobots.

The Aerialbots flew over and began firing on the Decepticon ground forces.

Looking over to the Vulture droids, one of the Vehicons ordered, "Take to the air!"

The Vulture droids obeyed as they went into flight mode and began firing at the Aerial bots and the Republic forces.

The Dugs used their catapults to shoot their disc like mines and Autobot EMP grenades on the Vulture droids.

The pilot in charge of delivering the bomb flew; the formation tighter as he approached the drop zone, even as he got the reminder from General Skywalker about having only one shot at delivering the weapon.

Perceptor stopped moving his lens before he spoke to his squad, "Brace yourselves gents, here it comes."

Just as he spoke the Autobots assigned to the mission on the Dug homeworld of Malastare watched as the bomber with the electron bomb, dropped it in the center of the enemy line. The explosion began before becoming an electric field that spread throughout the entire complex and the immediate battlefield.

Perceptor zoomed in scanning the area as he reported, "It appears to have performed as predicted…"

He soon saw a sinkhole forming as he amended his report, "A little too well."

Springer turned and said, "The Jedi need our help. Autobots: ROLL OUT!"

All of them changed forms as they drove, flew, or crawled over to the Doge's palace as the sinkhole even as the commanding bot ordered, "Any aerialbots in vicinity to the sinkhole, get as many of the Republic forces out of there asap!"

"Roger!" The bots reported through the combs.

The two Jedi, Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu had to hold still as they sensed the pain of the many Decepticons going into stasis lock due to the pain they felt from the bomb's electron field phasing through them. While it deactivated the droids completely, all Cybertronians in the battlefield had toppled over after screaming at the pain they felt, being overloaded by an abundance of electrical energy.

The two barely heard as Palpatine tried to say, "I'm losing my Transmi-"

And his hologram disappeared.

Anakin, Mace Windu, and Dr. Boll stood with the Doge of Malastare as they saw the effect of the bomb on the enemy force. Anakin looked to his cybernetic arm and forced it to clench to keep it under control. At the battlefield the Dugs would obviously be cheering by the defeat of the enemy.

The younger Jedi stated, "Well, doc, looks like it worked."

Dr. Boll smiled at that, mentally agreeing with the jedi before they saw the sinkhole forming. Mace Windu, being the first to react, stated, "The ground is sinking."

And without any means of warning them due to the EMP effects, the troopers were on their own unless the Autobots were able to help them. The sinkhole grew in diameter and not only was it engulfing most of the Droids and Decepticons that were in its epicenter, but also the Dugs and Republic Clone forces that weren't able to get away in time. Aerialbots came to assist as best they could. Once it stopped, everyone stared in shock, or in the Dug's case, horror as the sinkhole steadied itself.

In the aftermath of the sinkhole the Dugs could seen picking through any surviving Droids as the Autobots were able to take any Decepticons in Stasis-Lock away for interrogation and incarceration when they came out of it.

The Republic forces went to check on their wounded and the Autobots helped where they could.

Inside the Doge's palace, Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, Dr. Boll, Doge Urus, and Perceptor updated the Galactic Republic's Chancellor on what happened after he lost transmission with Malastare when the bomb went off.

"The Droid/Decepticon Force was completely neutralized by the bomb, but the blast created a sinkhole which engulfed many of our troopers as well as the majority of the enemy forces." Master Windu reported, "We have search parties looking for them now while the Autobots are taking as many Decepticon prisoners as possible for interrogation and incarceration."

Palpatine remained silent as he heard this, "And the Dugs, have they signed the treaty?"

Doge Urus spoke up to answer, "No, Chancellor, the treaty must be passed by the council."

"We need that treaty signed so we can gain access to the fuel reserves here on Malastare. As well as possibility of any hidden Energon deposits." Palpatine pointed out to the Doge, "Without it, our armies shall remain vulnerable."

"I will do my best." Doge Urus said to the human, though that sneer he expressed gave the Autobot scientist less than hope that the Dug would try it without any means to worm more in his people's favors.

Palpatine's hologram disappeared while Rex and Perceptor both got a transmission on their comms.

"Sir, we have a report from the front. They've lost contact with the rescue team." Rex reported.

Perceptor turned to the Jedi and said, "So have we."

Mace Windu sighed hearing that, "One problem always seems to replace another…"

"Well, we might as well see what's going on." Anakin stated as he and the Jedi master went to see what was going on at the front.

Doge Urus spoke up, "I am coming with you. I must ensure that our means to extract the fuel, for when the treaty to be signed, are still working properly."

The Republic gunship flew them to the edge of the crater. Inside the Doge spoke, "I hope your bomb has not upset the delicate ecosystem of our planet."

Those onboard chose to remain quiet, especially since it was the Doge's behest that the Republic aided them in their time against the Separatist's assault. When they landed the Doge was the first to get off the gunship and approached several other Dugs. Mace Windu turned and told his younger associate, "You deal with the treaty and Doge Urus. I'll help the rescue team in the crater."

Shrugging subtly, Anakin got off while the gunship flew off to the crater where Springer and a few Aerialbots awaited them. After he and a small squad of clones got to the floor, "Split up in pairs of two, if you see anything, contact me or Springer."

They went to do as ordered while the Autobot officer and Jedi general walked in their direction. Springer looked down and asked, "What do you suppose happened to them, general?"

"I have no idea, commander, but we'll know if…" he paused seeing the stone face and ignited his lightsaber. The purple glow of his blade revealed that there were human handprints on the stone wall, "find anything…"

Springer studied it before turning to the ground and saw an abandoned Clone trooper helmet, "General Windu."

Mace turned and saw the helmet. Just as he was examining it, he heard Ponds call, "General Windu! Commander Springer, we found them!"

The two looked, as Springer transformed, allowing the Jedi to get in his cockpit and they flew off to where Ponds was. Once they were close to a downed AT-TE tank, Mace Windu jumped out when the cockpit opened and landed before them while Springer waited overhead looking around for any more survivors form his altitude.

Kneeling before the trooper he asked, "What happened down here, trooper?"

The trooper with Ponds answered, trying to make sense of what he saw as he spoke, "General, there's something down here with us… and it's not Seppeies or Cons."

"Calm yourself, soldier." Mace Windu said with a kind tone, sensing something was off with the Force, assuring the dazed man, "We'll check it out."

Standing straight he spoke to the clones he came with, "Trapper, Ponds, Hawkeye! Come with me."

Springer turned to face the Aerialbots with the Alternate modes that could hold a number of organics and ordered, "You two, get these men out of here now. Whatever hit them could still be here."

"Yes sir!" The two Aerialbots saluted transforming for the men to be loaded up as they flew to the surface. Springer then looked to the other two aerialbots and said, "You two, come with me."

Mace Windu opened his comms and spoke into it, "Skywalker, something strange is going on. I think you should come down here, without your ally."

"I'm on my way." They heard Anakin reply.

Once they were a good distance away, Springer changed back into his bipedal form and had his weapons at the ready. As they walked the Autobots took the rougher patches of land as Mace Windu and his squad took a smoother path.

"Sir, there's nothing down here, but rocks and debris." Ponds informed him.

Mace Windu remained silent before saying aloud, "I have a bad feeling about this."

One of the Aerialbot flyers stopped and asked, "Umm sir."

"What is it, soldier?" Mace Windu asked looking up at the bot.

The flyer pointed, "That path you're walking on. Doesn't it look too… smooth to be a debris path?"

Mace raised a brow as he and the clone troopers looked down at the ground they were walking on. The Jedi master examined it and just as he did, they felt a shaking, causing them all to crouch and look around for any dangers. They looked to see a ginormous creature, roughly about the same size as a Titan to the Autobots, turn it's yellowish-green eyes on the smaller creatures on it's back and screeched at them.

The clones and bots fired at the creature while Master Windu ignited his lightsaber, Sprigner drew his swords. But their blasts, even those composed of Energon, did nothing to impede the creature's movement. It seemed to arch it's back in a way that made the humans to fall off what revealed that they were on it's back and they landed on the ground. The seven of them looked to see the creature standing taller than all of them.

"Fall back!" Springer shouted as they saw the creature walking towards them. The bots with him took turns firing at the creature but, like before, their Energon blasts didn't even leave a mark on its body.

Mace Windu saw how ineffective the Energon blasts were and shouted into his commlink, "Skywalker!"

"I'm here." Came Anakin's response, "What's happe-"

"We NEED your help!" Mace Windu interrupted which made Anakin go silent as he assumed Anakin was flying faster to reach them.

Anakin sighed as he walked to the Doge of Malastare, vivid memories of the Dug Sibullba on Tatooine fresh on his mind as he spoke to Doge Urus. Thinking back to Master Windu's words about handling the doge for the treaty made him think, 'This oughta be interesting…'

He then saw that doge Urus was talking to three more Dugs wearing just as formal clothes as the doge. Keeping himself as civil as he could be with the doge, he reminded the Dug leader "We are on a very tight timeline here."

The Dugs turned to the human Jedi as Anakin asked, "How long do you think it will take for the treaty to be ratified?"

Ironhide, who was on clean-up duty and prisoner transport overhead, shook his head. Hot Rod, joining his friend, muttered under his breath, "A little rushy, don't ya think?"

"We are waiting for two more members of the council to arrive." Doge Urus told the Jedi as he affirmed, "They will sign the treaty."

"We appreciate your cooperation." Anakin said, feeling inwardly surprised by this change of tune, "Without your fuel our offensive will grind to a halt."

Doge Urus understood the Jedi's meaning, and proclaimed, "This is the beginning of a great alliance."

"Indeed, the Autobots and the Republic will benefit most from the alliance against the Separatist and their own allies." Anakin agreed with a nod, though the doge's expression darkened which made the Jedi Knight ask, "Is… there a problem?"

"Are you absolutely certain that these metal creatures can be trusted? You saw what those on the enemy forces can do to our people. What is to prevent them from turning on us as well?" The Doge asked and Anakin could sense fear in his words, most of the fear was for his people more than himself.

Anakin's eyes hardened and he forced himself to remain calm as he spoke, "If you could see how fiercely they have fought against members of their own kind you would not doubt the loyalty of the Autobots, especially after how they risked their lives to keep Coruscant from falling from the Decepticon attack and this war."

"I hope you are right, general. For all of our sakes." Doge Urus stated as he spoke to the council members before him. Ever since he had seen the Autobots he wasn't sure about the story that was broadcasted throughout the holo-net in the galaxy. Never in the history of the Galaxy had a species' civil war with each other had caused those members to actually remain divided as the Cybertornians had.

A commlink beeped and Anakin answered it. Master Windu spoke, "Skywalker, something strange is going on. I think you should come down here, without your ally."

Anakin and Hot Rod looked at each other confused while the Jedi General replied, "I'm on my way."

Immediately, he changed the comms to his faithful Astromech droid and ordered, "Artoo, start up my fighter."

Looking to the Dug's Doge he bid, "If you will excuse us."

Doge Urus nodded, "Of course."

Hot Rod transformed into his land speeder mode and drove Anakin to where R2-D2 was getting his starfighter ready.

Anakin got out just as Hot Rod changed back into his bipedal form and said, "Hey, be careful will ya? I'd hate to find a new partner who I can get along with."

Anakin smirked, "Don't get your gears in a twist. I'll be fine."

He and Artoo got up and flew out of the Doge's imperial palace and towards the sinkhole. In the minutes it took him to fly to the edge of the sinkhole he heard Master Windu shout, "Skywalker!"

"I'm here." Anakin said, before he thought he heard something in the background on Master Windu's end and asked, "What's happe-"

"We need your help!" Master Windu urged, surprising Anakin. Master Windu was one of the most reserved and steadfast Jedi he ever met and if he sounded this way, then it must be bad.

"I'm on my way." Anakin answered and flew into the sinkhole. As he flew, he heard Artoo beep concerned about what was going on, to which Anakin replied, "I wish I knew buddy…"

He peered through to try and find Mace Windu and his squad, "I can't see anything, Artoo put on your beacon!"

He saw a shadow with glowing yellowish-green eyes, and said, "Never mind."

He spum his craft out of the way of the creature's mouth.

Mace Windu saw the backup and told the men with him, "Now's our chance, let's go!"

Heading towards the gunship that came to get them the other Aerialbots changed forms and flew following as one commed, "Springer, sir, the survivors are out of range of the creature, get out of there."

"Forget me, make sure they get out of here, now!" Springer commed back, still providing a distraction with Skywalker.

Anakin observed the creature and remarked aloud, "I've never seen anything like this."

Springer then connected and said, "I have, after the first half of the War for Cybertron, our enemy's leader had brought a space station to life, and it turned into a creature the size of a Titan."

Anakin hearing this asked, "Are you serious?"

"You hav- Skywalker look out!" He heard Springer warn, but the Jedi barely avoided being hit by the giant creature's spiked tail, which nicked his starfighter.

Anakin saw that he was losing control of his starfighter and fast.

Springer, who flew after to help Anakin, changed forms when he saw the tail heading towards. He grabbed onto one of the spikes and used it to spin around it before changing back into his aerial form and dove after the Jedi's starfighter.

Anakin quickly got out and went to pull his old friend R2-D2 out of his slot and away from the doomed fighter. Artoo activated his onboard boosters and the two flew off before the creature could crush them with it under the giant foot.

Quickly igniting his lightsaber, Anakin was able to turn the attention of the creature to him before urging, "Artoo, get out of here!"

Artoo activated his boosters again and flew away as the giant creature moved a foot to step on him. Anakin, reaching out to The Force, jumped between its scale covered toes jumping high into the air and readying his lightsaber. Springer, catching on, changed back into his bipedal form and got his own sword read, charging the blade with Energon energy (A trick he learned from watching Drift using his great sword) went and attacked the creature's other foot. But as soon as the blades touched the scales, they were bounced off the scales, shocking the two swordsmen. Anakin was more audible in his shock, "What!?"

Looking up he saw what the creature was going to do to the both of them and they moved out of the way of this attack, Springer changing back into his aerial form and flew over to Anakin, "Skywalker!"

"Meet me at the head!" Anakin pointed up as he, with The Force, began running up the creature's body. Springer, surprise the human was doing this chose to fly upwards as he saw the astromech droid doing the same.

The three of them made their way up the giant creature's body, Springer and Artoo flying while Anakin ran. It wasn't until he reached the head of the giant creature that he was able to land on Artoo who landed on Springer's vehicle mode's body. Anakin went to Springer's cockpit as Artoo connected to Springer's astromech-slot.

Flew just in time to avoid being bitten by the creature.

After Mace Windu and his squad got to the surface, that what happened below had reached the notice of the people above.

Dr. Boll and Perceptor watched the creature through the Autobot Scientist's lens. The professor stated, "Remarkable…"

Ponds approached his general and asked, "What do we do now, General?"

"We're going to need some heavy artillery." Mace told him just as they heard the sound of engines, and everyone turned to see the green and yellow Jedi starfighter make it from the sinkhole and landed roughly behind the line of viewers.

Anakin got out and helped Artoo and said to the onlookers, "Don't worry about us. We're fine."

Springer changed back and held his arm, feeling pain in it as he felt the creature's teeth seemed to get him too.

Mace Windu, seeing Springer mostly unharmed asked the younger Jedi, "Where is your starfighter?"

"That thing ate it." Anakin answered, hastily, with great exaggeration to the real fate of his starfighter.

"That thing." The voice of Doge Urus cut through the air as he spoke, "It is a Zillo Beast."

"Zillo Beast?" Perceptor asked curious about this creature more.

"They once roamed Malastare, devouring our ancestors. When the Dugs first learned to harvest the fuel from our planet's core, they were killed off." Doge Urus explained before exclaiming, angrily, "They were supposed to be extinct!"

He looked down in fear as he stated, "Apparently… they're not."

"So this is the last survivor of it's kind…" Hot Rod asked, arriving to hear the story.

"Indeed, and we must kill it before it begins what the rest of it's kind does and become a threat to our people." Doge Urus said, as he and the Council members walked away to deal with it.

Night had fallen and many prisoners were taken to the Dropships to be transferred for interrogation and incarceration back on the Ark. The Dugs, however, seemed unwilling to let the Zillo Beast remain at the bottom of the hole and tried to bomb the Zillo Beast from above.

Perceptor and Mace Windu glared seeing how the Dugs were throwing their mines at the beast because of what happened before this era. Anakin and Springer, however remained neutral about the treatment of the Zillo Beast. Having had enough Mace Windu marched to where the Doge and the council of the Dugs were, ignoring the cheers of the Dugs as they bombed the beast.

He wasn't alone, he was followed by Perceptor, Springer, and Anakin.

Inside his private tent, Doge Urus and the council members looked over an ancient scroll that depicts the Zillo Beast, the bane of his people for most of their history.

He was pointing out one of the weaknesses when Duge Urus heard the tent open flap, he saw the Jedi coming, and quickly moved to hide his ancestral scroll as the Jedi approached.

"What are they doing out there?" Mace Windu asked, his voice holding an edge to it.

"It is an internal matter, none of your concern!" Doge Urus answered, hostility in his voice.

Perceptor's holo-form appeared as he said, "Your soldiers are attacking a unique life-form, possibility the last of it's kind."

"It is a dangerous, blood-thirsty, monster!" Doge Urus shouted at them, his patience with the Autobots showing on his face. Turning to the Jedi master he asked, "Did you forget it tried to kill you?"

"It was under attack, it had lived peacefully under the surface after all this years."

"Until you dropped your bomb which reawakened the beast!" Doge Urus accused.

Hot Rod's holo-form came in as he heard that and pointed out, "Uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you ask for our help with your droid and con problem? If it wasn't for that bomb we dropped at your request, then you'd either be enslaved by the Separatists or worse, target practice by the cons."

"To save our fuel for your masters to buy!" Urus shouted and glared at the Autobot, "Now be silent while the real people talk!"

"Why you little!" Hot Rot began, but was held back by Springer and Perceptor, the youngest of the three unable to deal with the Dug's feelings about the Autobots for any longer.

Anakin was growing angry at how the Dug's leader was disrespecting the Autobots because they were not organic, but are mechanical like the droids, that they are inferior, it made him exert as much patience as he could muster even as the Doge said to the Jedi, "If you want us to sign your treaty then you must help us destroy it!"

"What purpose does it serve to do that?" Perceptor asked, but Mace Windu placed his hand on the Autobot scientist's holo-form shoulder as he spoke, "If it is really the last of its kind…"

"IT IS OUR DUTY!" Doge Urus shouted slamming his fist on the table, "Our ancestors warned us that one would return and destroy our civilization-"

"You call this a civilization?" Hot Rod asked, "Something that's different should be destroyed?" You're no better than the cons!"

Before anymore arguments could take place, Mace Windu got between them and said, "I respect your traditions and your ancestors, but we cannot allow the destruction of an innocent life-form. It is not the Jedi way."

Doge Urus narrowed his eyes and said, "Then there will be no treaty."

He then left with the other Dugs with him out of his tent. Once they were gone, Anakin was the first to speak, "Master Windu, are you certain that this argument is worth it?"

Looking at the older jedi he said, "After all it is just one creature."

"One creature? It is the last of its kind." Perceptor replied as he looked at the Jedi, But Anakin responded, "Remember what the Chancellor said."

Mace held up a hand and told Anakin, "It isn't the creature, it's the principle. Allowing the Dugs to kill it violates everything we stand for as Jedi."

"But if we choose to defend the creature then we lose all hope of securing a treaty with the Dugs." Anakin stated to which Springer added, "And we don't want that with the fuel reserves so low for your ships, that'll give the Cons more of an advantage over us."

The bots knew how important it was for the Galactic Republic to have their treaty with the Dugs, it also prevented them from trying to barter with the Energon that they currently had to help mend their own people and keep their ship up and running. Energon was more than ammunition, or medicine, it was the life force of all Cybertronians, and without it, they'd cease to exist… And the Jedi know that as well.

The Republican officers reported their findings to Chancellor Palpatine, with a scaled hologram of the newly dubbed "Zillo Beast" by the Dugs as visual proof.

"How remarkable, I have never seen anything quite like this before." Palpatine said. He studied the scaled hologram of the creature before him.

"We have…" Ironhide said, shifting in his holo-form grimacing at the image and memories of one similar.

"Yeah, a real piece of work by the name of Trypticon. He was the Decepticon's weapon of Mass Destruction back after Optimus ordered the Exodus from Cybertron." Springer explained, his hologram flickering a bit, "I wasn't there for the main battle, but I saw how big he was, and that monster is as big as him."

"Actually, after going over the information I gained today I can, with full confidence say, that Trypticon, or any Titan are not the same size as the Zilo beast." Perceptor stated as he projected a hologram of the, what the inhabitants of the Galaxy would call a giant, metal reptile roughly the same height of the Zilo beast, "The Zilo beast is, by my calculations, an organic life-form the height of ninety-seven meters in your measurements."

He then expanded the hologram to make the metallic reptile grow bigger until he towered over the Zilo beast, shocking the Republic personnel, "Trypticon, by your measurements, and all other Titans towers over it in a height from one-hundred and eighty-two point twelve meters to two-hundred and thirteen point thirty-eight meters tall. The largest being a dear comrade who sacrificed himself so that we could escape Cybertron and live."

"Extraordinary… I can see how your people call these giants Titans, the sheer sight of them alone is enough to convince me of the possibilities." Palpatine stated looking at the menacing face of Trypticon with a shiver.

"I recommend that we transport the Zillo Beast off planet. We can find a place for it to be undisturbed in the Outer-Rim." Mace Windu said, wanting to save the creature's life, despite how it almost killed him down at the hole.

He then asked, once the hologram of the Decepticon Titan disappeared, "What do the Dugs have to say about on this matter?"

"They want us to destroy it." Mace said, showing his dislike of this idea in his voice.

Palpatine then said, on the dangerous side of sounding callous, when talking about the creature, "Then by all means help them. This creature is of no importance to us. We cannot be alienating the Dugs at this crucial time, especially as the Warp Gate is yet complete for the Autobot to gain reinforcements and help us."

"It is not the Jedi way to take an innocent life." Mace Windu reminded the chancellor. Before Ironhide added, "Nor is it the Autobot way, especially if it's the last of its kind. That'd be genocide."

"Did you see what that thing did?" Springer asked looking at the hologram of Ironhide, "It's not an innocent protoform that emerged from the Well of Allsparks that didn't know what it was doing. It's a Energon-hungry monster that killed our men and almost killed us. Or did you forget Trypticon?"

Ironhide glared, "Trypicon was different, he was made to be a killing machine by him. The Zilo Beast's just protecting its home."

Hot Rod added his own two sense of it, while he was against killing the creature, he wasn't so certain that it was as innocent as some of his group were suggesting, "But it took out our boys; doesn't that count for it not being on our side either?"

"It doesn't know better." Mace Windu defended.

"Chancellor with all due respect, I agree with General Windu about this creature." The holo-form of Perceptor stated, surprising everyone, especially those that thought Perceptor to be more logical and sensible than other Autobots.

"Whatever for, Prof. Perceptor?" Palpatine said surprised by the Autobot scientist's concern over something like this.

"This creature is quite the miracle of evolution. Even our own Energon based weaponry does not affect its scale and armor exterior. Imagine what knowledge you can learn from such a being as this." Perceptor implored, while he may not consider the same moral reasons, he is a scientist, and unlike his 'rival' back on Cybertron, he does not split off from the moral code of being a scientist and to let a creature, the last of its kind, just to be extinct because of its size would make them no better than the Decepticons."

Dr. Boll thinking, "Chancellor Palpatine, what if we were able to study the creature, as Prof. Perceptor suggested?"

This earned looks from Dr. Boll who cleared her throat. Turning back to the hologram of the Zilo Beast, she explained, "Its scales are virtually impenetrable. None of our weapons or the Autobot's Energon-based weapons could harm it."

"Even my light saber couldn't cut it." Anakin said, remembering that.

Dr. Boll, picking up on this suggested, "If we were able to duplicate it for our ships and soldiers then we'd have…"

"An impenetrable armor." Palpatine stated, catching on what the good doctor was leaning wards, a smile forming at what it could do for his people to help them win the war.

Hot Rod and Anakin paused before Anakin suggested, "What if… we let the Dugs think we killed the creature?"

"Yeah, that way we can get both the treaty and save it's life." Hot Rod continued.

Palpatine perked hearing this idea as he asked, curious by what the young Jedi had in mind, "Yes Anakin? Go on."

At his urging Anakin told them what he saw, "While I was running along it's body I saw a small gap between it's armor and it's scales."

"Maybe some sort of stun-weapon can help knock it out." Hot Rod added to which Anakin nodded, "Yeah, short out it's nervous system."

"It'd be like putting it in a sort of stasis-lock. Knocking it long enough for us to take it off planet and letting us relocate it on one of the Outer-Rim planets in your galaxy." Hot Rod finished.

Dr. Boll turned to say, "They're right, by all counts it would appear to be dead for all to see."

"And that will allow us, as our young colleague put it, to relocate it before it can reawaken." Perceptor agreed, liking this idea better than just killing a unique life-form.

Springer groaned, thinking the entire idea was pointless, "Oh come on… We don't have the Energon or the time to save this thing."

Mace Windu was surprised that his usual, level-headed, Autobot partner would disagree with him on this.

Palpatine took a moment before agreeing, "That may be the only way we can get this treaty signed and assure Master Windu's and our Autobot ally's consciouses."

Mace Windu raised a brow at Palpatine's words, but Perceptor was the only one who seemed truly suspicious of the elderly human's tone…

"Report to me as soon as it is done." Palpatine bid, his hologram disappearing.

"Okay… we really need to make it look good." Anakin stated as Ironhide pointed out, "A couple of Nullrays might be able to help disrupt it's nervous system without putting too much damage to it, ya know just in case yer big cannons miss a spot."

"I'll have my instruments set to keep an eye on it's vitals." Perceptor stated as his holo-form phased out. Springer sighed, "I might not like this idea, but I will back you guys up on this."

"Thank you." Mace Windu stated to his Autobot partner.

After getting everything the Jedi and the Clone Army got into their RX-200 Falchion-class assault tanks and drove out of the palace to the edge of the Sinkhole's crater. Two Autobots were on each tank while they were each equipped with a Nullray weapon modified to emit a stun frequency that wouldn't harm the beast permanently.

Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker got up from their hatches as they heard Doge Urus say, "I am glad you and your mechanical allies could see things our way, Jedi."

'That's what he thinks…' Hot Rod thought, wanting to reveal to the politician on what they planned to do."

"But, you are a fool to think that your weapons, no matter how advance the Autobot's weapons are, can scratch the Zillo Beast." Doge Urus stated.

Anakin smirked and responded, "These aren't no ordinary weapons."

"That's right. These are Nullrays, one of the most deadliest of all Cybertronian weapons despite their small packaging." Ironhide stated as his arm shifted to show them the weapon in question.

Doge Urus stared impressed, and stated, "Impressive, to be sure, but our way is already proven."

That did not make any of them feel better as Mace Windu asked, "Your way?"

"What do you mean?" Springer asked, raising his metallic brow.

Doge Urus turned and shouted, "OPEN THE VALVE!"

Within seconds the Bots all got a report on some of their solders that the Dugs had opened the fuel pipes and were pouring into the Sinkhole prison of the Zillo Beast. Remembering what Doge Urus said about how after the Dugs began to make fuel from the planet's core, and also how the toxicity sensor in his system was giving off signals he knew what it meant, "You mean to poison the Zillo Beast?!"

"Precisely. Our fuel is deadly to the beast. It is how our ancestors were able to kill the rest of this monstrous species in the past. And like the others, it will kill this one now." Doge Urus said smirking as they could hear the Zillo beast screeching.

"You're only going to make it worse!" Hot Rod shouted.

"If you drive it out of it's hole it'll make it more difficult to su-successfully to deal with." Perceptor caught himself from saying subdue. Mace Windu's expression hardened as he saw the Dug's method of dealing with the beast.

"We'll handle it, Jedi!"

The sounds of the explosions from the dug's bombs caught their attention as Mace Windu called, "Order them to stop!"

Doge Urus turned surprised, "What? What do you mean stop?"

"You know… stop? Don't go? Halt before you make it worse?" Hot Rod asked as though the Dugs didn't know what the word stop meant.

A roar from the crater made Mace Windu jump out of his tank and land before the Doge of Malastare. He quickly ignited his lightsaber and pointed it at Doge Urus. The Autobots froze as while the Doge's guards were on the defensive. With a dangerous glint in his eyes, Mace Windu reaffirmed his statement into a demand, "I said, order them to stop!"

Ignoring the electro-pikes in his face. Doge Urus wasn't afraid as he held up his feet-hands and asked, "Or what? We are innocent life-forms too. Are we not?"

Hearing the Doge laugh, Springer went and snapped, "Innocent life-forms don't plan a slow and painful Decepticon torture!"

He aimed his Nullray at the doge who was not scared, "Don't' you see what you're doing is a repeat of something the cons did to slaughter many of our people?"

"What? What are you talking about?" Doge Urus asked, confused by the Autobot's question.

But before Springer could answer they all heard another screech-like roar, even as Anakin jumped out to try and diffuse the situation. All eyes and optics turned to see the Zillo Beast pull itself out and roar at all those who wanted to hurt it. Doge Urus stared in horror, realizing that the Jedi were telling the truth about driving the beast out of its hole like prison. With a swipe of it's flexible but powerful arm, the Zillo beast sent a Dug debris loader and rail-gun away. Then it sent two more down into its former prison.

Deactivating his lightsaber, Mace Windu and Anakin Force Jumped back to their tank and prepared to fire them. The Autobots readied their Nullrays, ready to add support outside of the Zillo beast's limb range.

After marching its way towards them, and stepping on as many of the Dugs that were under it's feet in it's steps, the Ion tanks charged their rays and fired, shooting it's stun beams at the beast as the Autobots aimed the Nullrays at the beast at what chance they could.

The beast roared as the beams made contact, whether it did the trick or not, wasn't certain, but it was annoyed enough to one of the tanks and those with it flying away.

Anakin, seeing this from the tank ordered, "Back up! Back up!"

And the tanks began moving away from the creature. It mostly worked but the beast destroyed three more with swipe of its arm and tail, causing three of the tanks to explode, killing those inside. It then grabbed the two closest tanks slammed them against each other and tossed one at a fuel refinery before doing the same to another tank. But seeing the creature shake it's head, like it was showing signs of fatigue an auto-trooper shouted, "It's working, it's working!"

"Don't lighten up, keep firing until it drops!" Ironhide shouted as he took aim and fired, he wasn't much of a sniper as some bots, but it he did his best to help put the creature into an unconscious state. Even though the beast picked up another tank, it lost it's grip showing signs of it losing consciouslness, dropping it as it and the bots fell hard to the ground.

After what felt like an eternity of trying to make the Zillo beast unconscious, the beast then dropped to it's knees. And unable to keep its eyes opened any longer, began to fall forward. Hitting the ground hard, the beast stood there in a state that made it look like it was dying, even as the beams stopped and Ironhide shouted, "Hold fire! Hold fire!"

"We got it!" Another called.

Anakin and Mace came out of the hatches of the tank as the younger Jedi said, in honest surprise, "Hey, it worked!"

"Are you sure?" Mace Windu asked, cautious.

Anakin looked back and said, "Yes, I'm sure."

Before adding, "…You go first."

That got most of the bots to laugh at the Jedi Knight's joke as they approached the beast. Mace Windu placed his hand on the scaled head of the beast and said, "Now, to get him out of here…"

"Yeah before they find out." Ironhide stated pointing his thumb at the approaching Dugs, just as the eyes of the beast closed.

Dawn broke as the men brought all they could back to the ship with as many of their brothers as well as more vehicles and equipment to transport the creature off Malastare before the Dugs get suspicious, especially since the Autobots came up with the lie to convince them that they would dispose of the body off planet for the Dugs after all the losses they suffered.

Once inside the imperial palace, Anakin brought a datapad and held it for Doge Urus to sign with his pen. Once it was signed the two Jedi stood straight and Palpatine's Hologram said, "Welcome to the Republic, Doge Urus. I am sure that this business arrangement will be mutually beneficial."

The two Jedi walked away as Springer saw the Dug's leader sneering at them and leaving with the others to prepare arrangements for the fuel to be delivered to the Republic.

Once the Dugs were out of the room and out of earshot, Mace Windu spoke, "The beast has been loaded up to the transport."

"Indeed, I and Botanica cannot wait to study the creature once we find a suitable uninhabitable world for it roam." Perceptor stated, almost sounding giddy about studying a new life-form, as would his colleague Botanica, being their Xenobiologist/Organic Specialist.

"There has been a slight change of plans. The Scientific community has reviewed the data of this rather unique creature. They believe that it should be further studied in a more controlled environment before it is released into the wild." Palpatine explained, earning looks from most of those there.

Feeling suspicious, Perceptor asked, "And where is this more controlled environment?"

"Why, Professor, I thought it would be obvious. On Coruscant." Palpatine answered the suspicions of the Autobot scientist, which made Hot Rod, Springer, and Ironhide, visibly surprised.

Turning to the Jedi, "Master Windu, you, General Skywalker and the Autobots with you will safely bring the beast here."

Once the hologram disappeared, the two Jedi and their partners walked out to the balcony as Anakin said, "Well, we made the right choice. We get our fuel and you get your creature, and now he'll be safe."

"No offense Anakin, but the fact that he's gonna be transported to one of the most heavily populated planet, not to mention how it's all one big city, like Coruscant, doesn't scream "Safe" to anyone." Hot Rod said, turning his holo-form to look out at the beast.

"I agree with your ally, Skywalker." Mace Windu stated, "Let's hope that we can say the same about Coruscant."

"All I can say is that when Red Alert hears about this, he's going to blow a gasket… or twenty." Springer said. The four watched as the creature was slowly pulled and dragged into a ship to be transported to its new temporary home.

(And scene! There you have it. the Republic and Autobots were able to pull an old switcheroo on the Dugs to not only get the fuel their army needs but also to do the right thing to save the last of a species from extinction. As you saw doing the right thing can never be easy, but then ti wouldn't be as right as people think it is. Sure the Zillo beast is giant, but it was protecting itself from what it throught was an attack (Which most likely it was, in one manner). But unfortunately Palpatine decided that the beast would be of better benefit if it was on Coruscant, the planet that is actually one giant metropolis. and if anyone's seen any movies involving a giant critter like any of the Godzilla movies or King Kong they never end well, mostly... sometimes... well depending on the creature and situation, but I think you all get what I mean.

Will this end as Palpatine hoped? or will the fears of Mace Windu and the Autobots be proven when the Zillo Beast awakens on Coruscant? And what does this have to do with the Warp Gate that was brought up some chapters ago?

Find out in the next chapter of Star Wars: The Transformers.)