Chapter 86:

Day Seventeen: Wednesday Morning Arizona Time 9:01 A.M.:

"What the slag kind of name is 'Project OREL' anyway?" Megatron wondered aloud.

All morning, the Decepticon Leader studied Soundwave's reports over and over: The Soviet Union military; The Russian Orthodox Church, Captain Uri Chirikov's Navel records, medals, and his failed Project OREL. Also, the transcript of the Autobots' meeting with President Casey Abbott and his Cabinet. Megatron authorized his Communications Officer to forward the reports to Shockwave, Thundercracker, and Dirge, and called for an Officers' meeting in Conference Room A. Skywarp was sent the reports as well but was currently on Medical Leave.

Now the Decepticons—with Shockwave joining in from Iacon via a live feed on a big screen monitor—compared their respective findings. The table was covered with datapads, photographs of Captain Chirikov and Bishop Dimitrios Volkov, as well as all sorts of terrestrial maps of Russia and Canada, and the stolen documents from Washington, D.C.

"Alright, here's what we know for sure," Megatron began, "Chirikov and Bishop Dimitrios are connected. That politician in a long robe thwarted all our efforts to get Starscream back. What we need to find out is WHO ELSE is involved here."

Soundwave stated, "There's definitely a Canadian connection since that's where the Submarine traveled back and forth from. But so far, their government has been silent on the matter."

Ravage gave his thoughts, "I feel strongly that these two are acting as rouges, operating without official government support or knowledge."

Laserbeak countered, "Despite the fact that there were military tanks sent to get us?"

"Their President is very ill," Megatron conceded, "Volkov could run the place like a puppeteer, and nobody would know."

Thundercracker read and re-read the report on Starscream's deactivation, "It doesn't say where he was killed."

"I know," Megatron shook his helm, "and we can't figure out on our own where because we can't find where the Submarine ended up."

"Well," Thundercracker sighed, "I still wanna find Star's remains."

"The Submarine is either in Russia or Canada," Soundwave interjected, "either still under Canadian waters or if it's been towed back to Russia, it would have to be completely dead electronically. Otherwise, I would have been able to detect it with the Sonar."

"Can you keep an optic on the area via satellites?" Megatron wondered.

The Tapedeck nodded, "Of course."

Megatron turned to the monitor, "You've got your report, Shockwave?"

"I do," the President responded, lifting his datapad, "Based on my analysis of the ballistics report, the ammunition used for the projectile contained approximately one-hundred, forty-eight CCs of Tox-En in the missile's ogive. Now, the levels of rust present indicate to me that the Bazooka was very old, possibly from the Nineteen-Forties. However, the shell casing itself was brand new."

Thundercracker, thinking of his suffering brother, tried to hide his emotions, asking coldly, "Can one-hundred, forty-eight CCs of Tox-En be manufactured by humans?"

"Not as far as I'm aware of," Shockwave noted, "it's actually immediately fatal to humans. This particular type of Tox-En is a meridional variant, which was commonly stockpiled by Sentinel Prime during the height of his reign."

"Ratbat!" Soundwave growled as he slammed his fist on the table, "It's gotta be him, Megs!"

Megatron nodded, "You said he knew about the Tox-En…"

Thundercracker listened carefully now.

"He was too close to Sentinel and his goons," the Tapedeck steamed, "it was rumored that Ratbat hid a massive amount of resources before the Prime Dynasty's government fell. If they had the containment units, he definitely could have transported them anywhere on Cybertron."

Shockwave asked, "Should I have the Vehicons bring him in for questioning?"

The Decepticon Leader deferred to his Communications Officer.

Soundwave: "Negative."

"WHY NOT?" Thundercracker demanded.

"He's too powerful to arrest without more evidence," Soundwave admitted, "we need to investigate more; something that would tie him in with the Captain or the Bishop."

"Well," Megatron noted darkly, "what we know for sure now is that the Soviet Union Army has Tox-En-infused weaponry, so we must thoroughly plan things out before any further attacks." He glanced up at Soundwave, then everyone, "I apologize for the mission that cost Starscream his life," he bit his lip components, "And…I apologize to you, Soundwave, for my behavior during the past two weeks. I am the Leader. This is no one else's fault but my own."

The Tapedeck nodded appreciatively. The others all nodded as well.

There was silence for a few minutes.

"Um…" Thundercracker cleared his throat, "About that Bishop guy," he rocked in his chair, not used to having the floor, "Sky-Byte came to the Wake, and he told me about this old guy called Rasputin. He was a fake monk or something; he once lived in Northern Vos for five years, and he knew all about Transformers."

"Oh really?" Megs was intrigued, "He LIVED on Cybertron?"

TC nodded.

"Which means," Megatron noted, his detective skills finally remerging after having been suppressed by the sleep aids and High-Grade Energon, "Rasputin would possibly have passed information on to the Russians when he returned to Earth."

Soundwave was also very interested, having heard parts of the story at the time that Sky-Byte was telling it, "Tell us more."

Thundercracker began, "Sky-Byte was saying how these monks and Bishops pass down all the stories for generations, and that if we go after Bishop Dimitrios, we'll find all the answers."

Megatron pondered this, "So…this man, Bishop Dimitrios, he knew everything about US and CYBERTRON before we went into Russia?!"

Soundwave looked at Megatron, "He also could understand the effects of Tox-En on a Cybertronian chassis."

"Oh Primus," Megatron held his helm, "who ARE these humans?! Who did we cross here?!"

"Some pretty bad people, Megs," Soundwave admitted, then looked up, "what do you think about…that he's involved in the death of past leaders?"

"Oh, he's killed them all," Megatron stated, almost flippantly, as if it were a proven fact, "He killed Starscream, didn't he?" It came out as a question more than a statement.

"But…WHY?" Thundercracker shook his helm, "Why Star? What did this Bishop guy get out of killing my brother?"

No one wanted to say it. So, Ravage said it, "Parts…"

Dirge shook his helm, "His parts were all melted down."

Ravage countered, "We don't know if ALL his parts were melted," he knew it was too painful for the top three mechs to vocalize, so the Cat took it upon himself, "materials, repurposed for the Cold War efforts."

"I'm still pondering that," Shockwave admitted, "it just doesn't make sense; that report you found in Washington says he was dismantled within six days…"

Megatron and the others listened.

Shockwave: "There is no way the humans could dismantle a Transformer in only a few days."

"Well, I don't know what else to say," Megatron sighed, wanting more than anything to get off the subject of Starscream's remains, "We know now that the Bishop knows about us and told the Captain. But we're still missing a motive here," he slammed his fist down, "Damn."

"About the smuggling," Shockwave asked, "besides the Plutonium, did any of you see anything that looked like Tox-En containment units on the Submarine?"

They all shook their helms.

Thundercracker admitted, "I barely remember anything about that day," the noxious gasses had done a number on the blue Seeker.

"I still don't know why you guys went in alone," Dirge scolded, "I mean, yous were knocking off a whole ship, not a 7-Eleven!"

"Oh God, it's like a blur now," Thundercracker groaned, "a bad recharge file," thinking of his two little brothers' suffering.

Soundwave thought back, "I remember boxes of Sudafed; just cold medicines or another. But nothing that was Cybertronian."

There was a pause; then Soundwave stated, "We all tested negative for Tox-En poisoning, by the way. Only Skywarp was exposed due to his contact with the missile."

"I wanna kill them all…AUGH!" the Decepticon Leader slammed his fists on the table again.

"Megatron," Shockwave stated pointedly, "we cannot risk sending our troops into Russia or Canada then," he looked at Soundwave for support, "not as long as they have this chemical biohazard in their possession."

"Well, because of THAT little threat, NONE of us can just go in, gun-blazing…" Megatron growled, before adding, "As much as I'd love to."

"What about drones?" Soundwave suggested, "We could program them to make coordinated attacks."

"But Father," Ravage questioned, "we still have yet to determine how many individuals were involved."

"Right…" Soundwave admitted, "We can't attack yet; we need to investigate all possible leads."

Megatron pitched the bridge between his optics, "Which could take months."

"Whoa," Dirge finally added something, "months?"

"Unless…" a pause, then Megatron grinned evilly, "We let the Autobots do the investigating for us. Why risk our own lives when we can risk theirs?"

"I like the sound of this," Soundwave agreed, glad to see his old friend back, "what's the plan, Megatron?"

Megatron leaned over the table to everyone, "Optimus Prime is working with his human cronies. We could feed him what we know, and what we want him to FIND OUT for us."

Shockwave shook his helm, "You know Optimus Prime will never willingly serve as our investigator, Megatron."

The former Gladiator made a face, he knew that to be true.

But then, Thundercracker spoke, "What if…We feed the Autobots our questions and make them investigate, WITHOUT them knowing it was from us?"

"Oh?" Megs asked, "You've got a way to get to Prime?"

"Not Prime," TC smirked, "Mirage."

Megatron smiled, "You can get Mirage to do our bidding?"

TC: "The Iceman can."

"They totally think Mirage is a traitor now!" Dirge popped up, "The way he acted at the Wake, you'd think they were gonna court-marshal 'em!"

"Which means…" Megatron filled in the blanks, "If he thought any intelligence information you tell him would clear his name, AND he would be helping Optimus Prime, he'd do it!"

Thundercracker was totally on board with this, "We'll tell him about Tox-En! And that Bishop guy! I'LL DO IT!"

"If I may speak," Laserbeak warned, "the Autobots currently have their phones wired, awaiting your next communication."

"Don't worry, we can help," Megatron nodded, looking at his 3ic.

"You can use our untraceable line," Soundwave stated, smiling beneath his facemask.

Megatron grinned, "If we can manipulate the Autobots to do our bidding, we may be able to get our hands on these humans within days!"

Day Seventeen: Wednesday Afternoon Arizona Time 12:30 P.M.:

Mirage ate his Energon-sandwich in his quarters, not wishing to join his Comrades in the mass hall.

:He is alone, Father,: Laserbeak reported to his Creator from the rafters of the Ark, :only the Autobot known as Hound has been his occasional companion.:

"Stupid, scrap Cliffjumper," the Racer mumbled, "how am I going to get out of this?"

Back at the Decepticon Underwater Base, in the Control Room, Thundercracker was tense. He was going to play 'The Iceman' again, this time with an audience on each faction. He sat at the Computer Consul, in a swivel chair between Megatron and Soundwave, waiting.

Laserbeak had been dispatched to the Ark, where he would give his literal Bird's optic view from the rafters, while the blue Seeker would talk to Formula-1 Racer, the Decepticon Leaders would be watching and helping feed him the questions. They knew that the Autobot Leadership would also be listening, albeit not knowing they were being set up.

Megatron had prepared a datapad list of subjects for the Jet to cover, including the Tox-En, Bishop Dimitrios, and Canada.

"I don't know if I can do this, guys," TC admitted, biting at his digits, "I'm a Seeker, not a spy."

"Just remember to stay calm, Thundercracker," Soundwave told him, "I've taught all four of my sons about espionage; the key is to remain calm at all times, and if you're caught, get out of the situation as soon as possible."

"What about Laserbeak?" TC asked, "What if they figure out what I'm doing and go after him?"

"The Autobots would not connect your phone call with him," Soundwave stated, trying to sound reassuring, "Remember, they don't know WE know you're communicating with Mirage."

"Don't worry about anything Thundercracker," Megatron stated as he handed him the datapad, "I've written down everything you need to remember. If he hangs up before you ask everything, don't worry about it."

TC looked back and forth between them, "What if he finds out who I am?"

"Nothing," the Tapedeck shrugged, "we'll try something else."

"N-No," the blue Jet stood, too nervous, and paced around, "I-I can't do this, I-I—" he was having the beginnings of an anxiety attack.

"Thundercracker, calm down," Megatron told him; he stood and placed his hands on the Seeker's forearms gently, "You can do this; nothing's going to happen. It's JUST the Autobots, not the Soviets." He shrugged, chuckling, "Look, the worst thing that could happen is that they recognize your vocals. We hang up, Laserbeak lays low, and I get a phone call from Optimus Prime pontificating on honesty." Then he added in a more serious tone, "And at best, they go after these humans for us, and we'll finally know who's behind this." He looked at the screen, then back at TC, "You said you're a Seeker. Well, now you're seeking justice. Justice for your Trine. Justice for what they did to Starscream AND Skywarp." He whispered now, "These people killed your brother and almost destroyed a second brother. Do this for them, Thundercracker. Do this for your brothers."

Yes, he would seek justice for his brothers. He would do anything for his two brothers.

"You're right," Thundercracker nodded, "You're absolutely right," he moved back towards the Computer Consul, a new resolve in his optics.

"Remember, these phones have a vocal filter," Soundwave explained, "so if Megatron or I speak to you, they won't hear us,"

TC sat down, "Got it."

Within moments, Laserbeak made his report that Mirage was alone.

Soundwave: "There's the signal," he pressed a button and switched one of the TV screens to Laserbeak's live feed: An overhead shot of Mirage's quarters.

The blue Seeker made a low growl and dialed the phone. Megatron watched with determination in his optics.

Mirage's phone rang, and the Racer's optics widened as he turned towards it dramatically. He answered it, already knowing who it was, "Hello?"

"Diinnnooo…" TC's vocals were low and sly, oozing with cunning.

Megatron was surprised by the personality the Seeker seemed to adopt with his secret identity.

Mirage literally dropped the phone, "J-JAZZ! HOUND! IT'S THE ICEMAN!" He ran out of his quarters, "THE ICEMAN'S ON THE PHONE!"

"Laserbeak: Follow him," Soundwave commanded.

:With pleasure, Father,: the wicked Condor replied, flying through the rafters, reaching the Ark's Rec. Room.

"Calm down, Mirage," Jazz told him, hands in a down position, "we're ready this time!" They went to the main Security Room, where Red Alert was working on his computer. The Porsche radioed for Ironhide and Hound to join them. Unfortunately, Cliffjumper also came. So did Laserbeak.

Mirage: "Where's Prime?"

"Still in Washington," Ironhide answered, "what's all the ruckus?"

"The Iceman's on the phone," Jazz answered, "Red Alert, patch Mirage's line into the recorder!"

The Decepticons, meanwhile, watched the scene unfold.

"Remember," Soundwave whispered, "you can't act as if you're seeing what's going on. They don't know Laserbeak is there. As far as you know, you're still calling Mirage in his quarters."

TC nodded, not speaking into the phone.

Simultaneously, Red Alert told Mirage, "Just pretend you're still in your quarters."

Jazz: "And don't tell him we're listening in…"

Mirage was shaking like a leaf, picking up the line, "I-Iceman?"

Thundercracker was coy, "Where did you go, Dino?"

Mirage: "S-Sorry, I just dropped the phone, that's all."

Thundercracker/The Iceman smirked, "Such a long time though…"

"I fainted!" Mirage lied, "W-What do you want, anyway?!"

"What do I want, Dino?" Thundercracker's Iceman personality helped him to be more at ease with the situation, as he tried to get into the conversation, "Well, I can't really have what I want, now can I?"

All the Autobots listened quietly. Cliffjumper had angry optics for Mirage.

Mirage kept trying, "Why are you calling me then?"

TC's vocals were low, whispering, "I just wanted to say, thank you, friend."

Cliffjumper: "What's he thanking you for, Traitor?!"

Hound and Ironhide hushed him, waving their hands.

Megatron mumbled, "This is gonna be easier than we thought."

Mirage: "For what?"

TC: "Why, for attending Starscream's Rite of Reception, of course. I understand you were there."

Mirage: "Y-Yeah, I was there. The Autobots all were!" he remembered talking to Dirge, "Were you there?"

TC: "I was."

Mirage: "WERE YOU THERE WHEN WE WERE THERE?" he was trying to trick him so they could narrow down the list of suspects.

TC: "I missed you, old friend," the Seeker knew how to throw it back in the other's faceplates.

Mirage: "ANSWER ME!"

"Mirage, be cool," Jazz interrupted, "he's gonna hang up!"

TC grinned, "Is someone there?"

"N-No!" Mirage waved everyone away, "Just me. L-Listen, Iceman, y-yeah, we were at the Wake. Is that all you called for? Just to thank me?"

"Well, not exactly, Dino," Thundercracker feigned humility, "I was wondering if you would still help me. Being that…we're old friends."

Cliffjumper was enraged, "YOU'RE OLD FRIENDS! I KNEW IT!"

Hound grabbed the red bot by his arms, holding him down.

Jazz whispered to Mirage, "Go along with it…"

The Racer nodded, trying to sound calm, "What can I do for you?"

TC/The Iceman: "I want justice for Starscream."

"Okay," Mirage gulped, "Optimus Prime is working with the Americans right now! In fact, he and Prowl are in Washington!"

Ironhide made a face, "Don't tell him that, slagger!"

TC was coy, "Oh?"

Megatron listened carefully.

"He, um," Mirage lost his nerve, "Yeah…They met with the American Ambassador to Russia, okay? Prowl's gonna help him question that Submarine Captain."

Ironhide slapped his own forehelm, "Telling him everything!"

TC: "The Captain is in custody?"

Mirage: "No. But they are gonna arrest him at some meeting."

Soundwave had his datapad and stylus ready.

TC: "And that's today?" He was good…

Mirage: "Optimus said in a couple weeks."

Now even Jazz was getting frustrated.

Soundwave kept notes; he whispered, "Ask him if this meeting is at the United Nations."

TC: "Well, that's very interesting, Dino…Tell me, this is at the United Nations?"

Mirage: "N-No, nothing like that. It's some meeting in Russia. Ambassador Horton is going to arrest him there or something, and Prowl's gonna question him."

Ironhide was now as upset as Cliffjumper.

Cliffjumper: "I told you guys!"

TC was still cool, "Now, can we trust Prowl?"

"Well," Mirage shot back, "I don't know about YOU, 'old friend', but I sure can; he's as loyal to the Autobots as your Soundwave is to Megatron!"

Soundwave made a low chuckle, "As if…"

"Mirage," Jazz scolded, "This 'Iceman' could BE Soundwave! I told you, stay cool!"

"Right," the Racer sighed before going back to the phone.

TC: "He needs to be careful, Dino."

Mirage: "Why?"

Reading the datapad, the blue Seeker used some of Megatron's terminology, "They have Tox-En-infused weaponry."

The Autobots were stunned! While Ratchet had vocalized his concerns to Prime and was working on a vaccine, they had kept their suspicious secret from the majority of the troops.

Mirage: "T-T-Tox-En-what?"

TC: "Tox-En-infused weaponry."

Mirage was panicking, "What the slag are you talking about, Iceman?!"

TC: "I've witnessed its effects."

Mirage: "H-How?! I-I mean, how did these Russian guys get Tox-En?!"

TC: "That's what we would like to know as well, Dino."

Mirage: "DID YOU CONS GIVE IT TO THEM?!"

TC: "No."

Mirage: "WELL?!"

TC didn't raise his vocals, "No."

Mirage tried to get tough, "How do I know you're not lying?! HUH?! And don't give me any of that 'old friend' slag!"

Soundwave quickly wrote a note on the datapad, saying "Ratchet knows."

TC didn't miss a beat, "Your medic is aware of this."

Mirage was stunned, "R-Ratchet knows about this?!"

TC: "Yes."

The Racer looked at the others; Jazz didn't know; neither did Ironhide. They were a bit suspicious but wanted to know more.

Ironhide asked, "How's this grease-helm know Ratchet?"

Mirage: "You know Ratchet?!"

TC: "I understand he knows of the Tox-En. And so does Prime."

"THAT'S A LIE!" Mirage roared, "Prime would've told us!"

TC: "Ask them yourself, Dino…I'm only telling you since, well…" he paused for dramatic effect, "I wouldn't want what happened to the Decepticons in Russia happening to Prowl…"

"Oh, that's good," Megatron chuckled, "you're good."

"Prime would never put Prowl into danger!" Ironhide insisted, "He ain't like that!"

Soundwave kept notes, even though they were recording everything; he wanted to make sure they remembered every new point of information.

"F-Fine," Mirage conceded, "thank you for that. Listen, as long as you know so much, 'Iceman,' what ELSE can you tell me?!"

Megatron pointed at the datapad.

TC read off some items, "You need to investigate someone called Bishop Dimitrios Volkov, he's an Official Advisor to the General Secretary."

The Racer remembered the name from the meeting with the U.S. Government officers, "Y-Yeah, I've heard about him. He's got the Tox-En?"

TC: "That's what we need to find out, Dino."

Mirage rolled his optics, "Will you quit acting like we're on the same side, Iceman?!" He was tired of his Comrades' accusations.

TC: "Dino, don't you think we are?"

Mirage: "HUH?"

"Well," Thundercracker began, "I think all Transformers are harmed by Tox-En, be it an Autobot or a Decepticon. Don't you agree?"

"Right…" Mirage admitted.

"And in humans, death is instant," TC added, "I don't think the Autobots would like to see thousands of innocent humans killed, now, would they?"

The thought gripped several mechs' fuel lines.

Suddenly, Jazz grabbed the phone.

The blue Seeker's optics widened. He looked at Megatron, then Soundwave for help. He didn't know if Jazz would recognize his vocals.

"Don't speak yet," Megatron whispered, "let's see what he does."

"Alright, Decepticrud," Jazz barked, "this is Lieutenant Jazz, tell us what you know about these Russian guys!"

Soundwave shook his helm. TC didn't move a circuit.

"HELLO?!" the Porsche demanded, "Scrap, he hung up!"

"No, no," Red Alert noted, "the line's still open. He's just not talking!"

"G-Gimme the phone back," Mirage mumbled nervously, "M-Maybe he only talks for me."

Jazz did so, now suspicious himself.

Mirage: "I-Iceman?"

Megatron gave the Seeker a nod of permission.

TC: "Dino, I thought we were alone." What a liar.

"I-I'm sorry…" Mirage lied back, "We are now." He gave Jazz a dirty glare.

TC: "I need to know I can trust you, Dino…"

The Racer didn't want to destroy their only source of information; he waved everyone back, "Iceman, please, I need to know what to do about these Russian guys! I swear you can trust me! Y-You were right! We have to work together!"

Ironhide and Jazz didn't like pandering to an enemy, but they stayed silent to see where Mirage was going with this.

"I'm gonna help you, friend," Mirage continued, "tell me everything!"

Thundercracker read from Megatron's notes, "Captain Chirikov needs to be stopped. He and Bishop Dimitrios are connected somehow. There're also persons unknown in the Northern regions of Canada. Be careful, the Soviet Union Army possesses Tox-En-infused weaponry."

Mirage: "O-Okay…"

Red Alert, like Soundwave, wrote everything down.

Thundercracker: "The Russian Orthodox Church has been aware of Transformers for over eighty Earth years. It started when the fake monk Rasputin lived on Cybertron for a time."

Mirage: "R-Really?" This was a twist.

"Yes," Thundercracker added, "and Optimus Prime needs to work with his human allies in the United States to find the true motive for our Second-in-Command's murder and this Act of War with our kind."

"Y-Yeah," the Racer admitted, "truth is, we really don't know why they killed Starscream."

The blue Seeker's composure nearly broke for the first time since the call started at the mention of his brother's name. Megatron quickly put his arm around TC's shoulders and whispered, "Stay strong, kid."

Thundercracker: "One more thing…"

Mirage: "What?"

Thundercracker: "When you arrest them, I want any remints of Starscream that still exist. He deserves to be put to rest properly."

"WHAT'S HE TELLING YOU?!" Cliffjumper couldn't take it anymore, "What Primus only knows secrets is going on here?!"

He broke away from Hound's hold and punched Mirage square in the jaw!

The phone went flying!

"You can hang up," Megatron instructed, "you gave him everything on the list."

Thundercracker did so, completely spent emotionally, collapsing forward, crossing his arms on the Consul, and resting his faceplates on top of them. Both Megatron and Soundwave congratulated him!

"You did very well, Thundercracker," Megatron stated proudly, hugging him, "we'll get those cockroaches now!"

The Autobots, meanwhile, began bawling in their Security Room: Mirage and Cliffjumper rolling on the ground, throwing punches at each other, Jazz and Ironhide each trying to pull them apart, Hound getting in the way, followed by Ironhide pushing him back, with Hound getting upset and shoving Ironhide, Red Alert getting knocked out of his chair, their phone line blaring the dial tone, and all the while, Laserbeak watching.

:Well, that escalated rather quickly,: the evil Bird commented, :Father, would you prefer I take my leave, or continue recording?:

"You can stay awhile," Soundwave laughed, "we always enjoy a good Autobot wrestling match."

Megatron gave the Tapedeck a high-five.