Hello, bots and cons, heroes and villains. Centurion Maximo here and welcome back to Young Justice: Frontiers. In the last chapter, we met a brand new Autobot named Thunderscorch who was transporting three Machination test subjects: Michael Morgan, Mary Michaels, and Stuart Lowe. Meanwhile, Venomsting, Dr. Desmond, and the Reach Scientist are beyond pissed that they lost three test subjects and that an Autobot found one of their forward bases. However, one of the female thugs named Giselle Skye is spared from a terrible fate thanks to a strange device she found. Meanwhile on Oa, Ganthet makes an unexpected visit to the other Guardians to tell them of the events on Earth.

Here is the OC/Story Contributor list so far:

Mobian

Vein Bloodborne

Mpatton12

Doc Fossil

Gregory

I hope this list expands in the future.

Now, back to the action!

*Chicago. Black Mask. 04:21 am*

Black Mask, Joshua Joyce, and Harold Attinger of Cemetery Wind had driven to an abandoned warehouse in Chicago where a supposed contact of Attinger's should be, though they did come with some heavy backup with Crankcase, Crowbar, and Blightshot. Ivo decided to send her along for heavy muscle. "This is it." Blightshot said as Black Mask, Joshua, and Harold hopped out and walked inside.

When deep enough, they were met with a 40-year old man with a bald head, brown eyes, a large scar on the left side of his neck wearing a pretty clean US army uniform. The man immediately recognized Attinger. "Harold? Is that you?" The man asked.

"It's me, Colonel Briggs. Where have you been all these years?" Harold asked.

"Unfortunately, stewing in my anger at how the militaries of the world are basically useless because of the Justice League." Colonel Briggs answered grimly.

"Well, we have a generous proposition for you." Joshua cut in, revealing the black briefcase. "That is, if you have what we want."

Colonel Briggs smirked and brought out a brown briefcase which he opened, containing an experimental laser gun for the military. "Is this what you want?"

"Yes, old friend." Harold smiled. "Though, Joshua, you never told us what KSI wants with this weapon."

Joshua chuckled darkly all of a sudden. "Acquiring this weapon is the step to a new model my company's been developing, but this one is much smaller in scale, about human-sized, and will be able to hunt down their targets even underground." He then frowned lightly. "Unfortunately, we've been able to pick out an alternate form for this model nor a name."

"I see. Is this drone at least fully built?" Black Mask asked, curious.

"Of course it is, Black Mask. What do you take me for?" Joshua rhetorically asked with a raised eyebrow. "All we need is a name and an alt mode and it'll be mass produced by the end of the day."

"You know, I've heard rumors that the Machination has a few new openings." Colonel Briggs brought up. "You three are no doubt a part of it. You guys are clearly here with a specific purpose."

"You guessed right, army man." Black Mask said with pride. "We're offering you to join our front organization: Blackwatch."

"Now, Blackwatch I have definitely heard of." Colonel Briggs smiled. "Maybe I can give those thugs some actual pointers. I'm in."

"Glad to be working together again, Briggs." Harold held out his hand which Briggs shook.

"Then welcome to the Machination, Colonel." Black Mask chuckled. "You're gonna love working with us."

*Happy Harbor. Mount Justice. The Team. 07:12 am*

The founding members of the Team had gathered eating breakfast in the kitchen, all happy to be together again for a bit before heading out on missions again. "It's certainly been a while since we've been together like this." Wally commented, smiling while holding Artemis's hand.

"Good to have some time like this." Conner added, smiling also while holding M'gann close to him.

"To think of everything that happened five years ago." Dick commented, beginning to think back.

-Flashback Start-

*Five Years Ago. Happy Harbor. Robin & Zatanna. 17:23 pm*

Dick and Zatanna were eating supper together a couple weeks after they, the League, and the Autobots took out the Andromedome. "I'm just happy I've got your dad's blessing to date you." He smiled.

"Same. We make quite the team." Zatanna smiled beautifully at her new boyfriend. However, she then frowned remembering events. "I was scared in that battle, Dick. I was scared that I… I would lose you…"

Dick saw his girlfriend's distress and quickly hugged her. "It's okay, Z. We're still alive. We've won for now."

After a couple minutes of silence and comfort, Zatanna spoke up again while leaning her head against his left shoulder.. "You know, we and the League should consider expanding." Belinda, her pet cobra slithered up to the two and tickled Zatanna with its tongue which made her giggle lightly.

"I do know the Justice League has been scouting out some new members as well as expanding their ranks locally." Dick added. "If we're going to continue fighting with the Autobots, we'll need all the help we can get."

"I honestly wouldn't mind more magic users on the Team." Zatanna expressed her desire to have more Team members that utilized magic like her. "Magic can be taxing at times."

"I don't know who I'd prefer to join the team." Dick admitted with a gentle shrug. "As long as we never end up apart."

Zatanna looked at Dick and pecked him on the lips, looking at him lovingly. "Never."

-Flashback End-

*Happy Harbor. Mount Justice. The Team. 07:18 am*

"Again, I will say I am very happy for you two!" M'gann beamed with a bright smile.

"Yeah. Major kudos, Dick." Wally smiled, but then frowned. "Though, I miss Emberspark." He sighed deeply. Losing Emberspark humbled him a bit. He's not as boisterous as he was five years ago, though he still boasts sometimes. His girlfriend, Artemis, helps keep him in check a lot of the time.

"He was a good friend and ally." Kaldur put a hand on Wally's shoulder, frowning himself. "My thoughts dwell on Atlantis and how it is continuing to be desecrated by the enemy."

-Flashback Start-

*Hall of Justice, Washington DC. Atlantean Wing. Aquaman. 21:34 pm*

Arthur Curry was in the Atlantean wing of the Hall of Justice in a somber mood. A month had passed since their victory over the Machination, but he felt no happiness from it as his kingdom was under the control of the enemy and not only that, but his people were most likely being treated like lab rats. He clenched his fist in slight rage, but managed to calm himself down.

"My king." Kaldur spoke up, revealing his presence to the older man.

"Kaldurahm, apologies for showing my anger there." Arthur apologized, sighing.

"Your rage is understandable as it is mine as well." Kaldur bowed his head. "Our home has been taken from us, our people enslaved and no doubt experimented on. Our heritage desecrated!" He raised his voice, shocking Arthur as Kaldur rarely raised his voice. After a moment, Kaldur calmed down. "However, I trust our friends, including the Autobots."

"I trust them as well. I am also thankful my wife Mera is with me right now." Arthur remembered. "Still, we have to free our people from the clutches of evil."

"Agreed, my king." Kaldur nodded.

-Flashback End-

*Happy Harbor. Mount Justice. The Team. 07:18 am*

"Kaldur, we will free Atlantis, but it's just that we have little to go on in terms of Machination forces or any Atlanteans that may have willingly allied with them." Artemis brought up. "The latter of which is possible."

"We also need more friends all over the place." Conner reasoned. "Even with the Xanthium on Earth, we need more members for the Team and League."

"On another note, we do have Neola and Wheeljack making a new type of technology called Mechtech that may give us another edge against the Machination. We need as many advantages as we can get." Dick continued. "Even though it's been five years since that battle, they've still been on the move."

"Well, we have Batgirl, Tim Drake, Blue Beetle, Lagoon Boy, and Wonder Girl now." M'gann listed off.

"It might not be enough." Dick grew a little worried. "They gathered many allies even before we destroyed the Andromedome."

"Alas, they haven't even slowed down." Shane voiced, walking into the vicinity. "We must remain ever vigilant."

Hello, everyone. I hope you all liked this chapter of Young Justice: Frontiers. The Machination has recruited Colonel Briggs into their ranks in Chicago. We also learn that KSI is on the verge of mass-producing a new type of human-sized drone.

Meanwhile, we also get a couple flashbacks with the Team. First, one with Robin and Zatanna with a cameo from her pet cobra, Belinda. The second one with Kaldur and Aquaman having a conversation all their own in the Hall of Justice.

As usual, if anyone has any ideas for this story, please let me know in the comments/reviews, or personally PM me.