Author's Note: sorry for the confusion with chapters. I'm currently on a trip and things can get a little fuzzy after several hours on the road. Things should be in the correct order now.
Enjoy!
-Chapter 9: Cover Your Six-
Found at the south end of the state of Nevada, Hoover Dam was positioned at the end of Lake Mead and adjacent to Boulder City. Surrounded by deserts of brown rock and blanched sandy-particulate, the environment seemed almost alien in a sense. Hostile towards any human unprepared for the climate.
Perched on top of a mountainous ridge overlooking Lake Mead, Shockwave's singular optic scanned across Hoover Dam from a distance. The Allspark coordinates had led him here and now he needed to perform some additional research. Thundercracker was on high-altitude patrol, keeping a close watch on the humans should their activity differ from its current lulled state. The Military Operations Commander had much to ponder as his scan data fed back revelation after revelation.
Topography scans indicate the Allspark is shielded by approximately thirty-thousand feet of a composite time-bonded material. I would not have guessed that would be the perfect way to mask it's energy signature. I do not believe in luck but it is fortunate I was able to utilize the human's computation signal to backtrack my way to the Allspark. No wonder no Cybertronian has been able to locate it since it was moved here.
"Thundercracker, report." He intoned.
"Nothing to speak of, Shockwave. I've got distant Decepticon targets moving on your position but its unlikely they'll get to you before you can retrieve the Allspark." The 'Con flier stated.
"Stall them if you must. I must find the most direct route inside the human structure." Shockwave responded before he terminated the call. His gait increased as he strode forward with purpose, performing several internal calculations as he plotted his course. Human resistance mattered not to him. His speed and destructive power would be able to reduce their capabilities significantly.
Unfortunately he soon discovered there were more than just humans to worry about.
A dull roar filled the sky above him, announcing the presence of an airborne vehicle. Shockwave turned and glanced upwards, calibrating his optic to sweep the skies. High above the canyon of the Colorado, a pilotless F-22 swooped in low and dragon-like over the dam. The missiles it unleashed struck the ground near Shockwave's feet, the ensuing concussion blast catapulting the Decepticon off the ridge line and down towards the edge of the riverbed. Taking control of his fall, the massive Shockwave landed heavily on his feet, kicking up dirt and a cloud of dust. His logic centres were scrambling. He immediately ruled out human interference. There was another nagging aspect that concerned him.
I know that colour scheme.
The F-22 pulled around, diving straight for Shockwave. Panels began to pop and shift, the fighter jet changing shape in midair. Growing feet it slammed into the ground a few feet from Shockwave, rising up in a biped appearance framed by the wings of his alt mode. "Starscream." The purple Decepticon stated merely noting his designation. "If I never had to hear your vocoder again, I'd die a happy Decepticon."
"That can be arranged, Shockwave!" Starscream snarled, his faceplate contorted into a look of fury as he strode towards the rebel. "Did you really think your operation was all that clandestine? Did you really think I would not recognize a scheme and its schemer?" He questioned, null-ray rifles unfolding out of his arms. Shockwave responded by priming his AstroMag cannon.
"Yield, Starscream. At this juncture, your resistance to the inevitable is illogical. Under my leadership, the Decepticons will become a unified front that will displace the Autobots and complete our conquest of the universe." Shockwave retorted, refusing to reveal his secretive information.
"Why don't you go right ahead and play your hand, Shockwave? Then we'll see what is 'illogical'!" Starscream sneered. The two began circling one another, weapons aimed, targeting computers locked, and power thrumming.
"Pledge your loyalty to me, now, and I will not deactivate you for your treachery." Shockwave commanded.
"My treachery? You plotted from the outset to displace both me and Megatron!" Starscream bit back. "You'll be lucky if I choose to keep you as a pet after I bring you down. Kneel before me and perhaps I'll find some use for you."
"So be it. Your fate is sealed." Shockwave retorted. A blast from his AstroMag cannon caused the ground to erupt in a column of dirt and flame. Starscream had moved at the last second, hovering in the air as violet flame erupted from the thrusters in his pedes.
"I would beg to differ." He jeered, raining down null-ray rounds that riddled Shockwave's overshields. With a surprising burst of speed, the cycloptic 'Con darted out of his way, circling back around and forcing Starscream to spin around as they both tried to acquire another perfect target lock. "Admit it, Shockwave, you're just jealous I was able to gain control of the Decepticons before you did! That's all this is; petty jealousy." Starscream's screeching voice called out over the din of his afterburners.
"I do not know the meaning of the word." Shockwave shot back, a scorching ray of concentrated radiation erupting from his cannon and narrowly missing Starscream's left wing. "What I do know is that you are not a leader. You have no sense of strategy, no subtlety, you only crave leadership because of the glorified extravagance it brings you. You, Starscream, are a missile with a mouth."
"Oh shut up, you arrogant blowhard!" Starscream shrieked, automorphing his hand and raining down a hail of missile fire. Shockwave transformed, the added speed of his tank mode allowing him to just barely avoid getting struck. Starscream reloaded. "I'm going to enjoy blasting you into dust!" He dove in close, Shockwave responding by rotating his turret around and firing a blast of concentration. It barely missed Starscream, the close shave causing the paint on his wing to bubble.
More missiles erupted from his launcher, exploding on either side of Shockwave. A direct hit to the aft of his tank lurched him off the ground, Shockwave transforming and turning to face his foe. Starscream plowed into him, earning a swift punch from Shockwave's left arm as the much larger Decepticon used his height and weight to his advantage. Repeated blows slammed into Starscream's faceplate before he triggered his afterburners and rocketed off, soaring into the air with Shockwave clinging to him. The weight distribution proved off as Starscream struggled to maneuver. Shockwave transformed, the weight of his tank form overloading Starscream's thrusters and dropping them both like a rock. His tank treads ground against Starscream's chassis, chipping paint and splintering metal as Shockwave rode him into the ground.
They impacted with dirt and rock, kicking up clouds of dust. Afterburners flared as Starscream rocketed free only to slam into the nearby canyon wall. Shockwave transformed, blasting away with his AstroMag cannon as Starscream ran for his life. He retaliated with null-ray blasts, energy rounds rippling off of Shockwave's overshields as the Decepticons traded fire in a tightening circle.
Once he was close enough, Starscream transformed and charged, the shriek of his thrusters matched only by the grinding of metal as he plowed into Shockwave and then promptly drove him into the canyon wall. Converting to robot mode, Starscream landed a healthy punch that rattled Shosckwave's helm before he planted his pedes and used the wash from his jets to scorch Shockwave's armor and give him breathing room. He had his rival right where he wanted him and automorphed his missiles launcher. "To the Pit with you!" Starscream smirked, confident in his victory. He unleashed a barrage of six, each one striking home and engulfing Shockwave in flame and smoke. The reigning lord of the Decepticons landed on the ground opposite, watching the fireball as though basking in his victory…
But Shockwave soon emerged from the smoke, revealing chestplating torn open so savagely his spark chamber was exposed. Yet he remained upright and able to fight, much to Starscream's dismay.
Another blast from his cannon did more than just bubble paint, punching a hole clean through his leftmost wing. Recoiling from the hit, Starscream tried to reload his missile launcher only for Shockwave to pounce with surprising speed. A clawed hand gripped Starscream's helm, Shockwave using his leverage to slam the 'Con into the ground over and over again. Cracks began to form in the rock, shards of metal blistering off like needles from each impact, Starscream's servos grasping in a vain effort to wrench Shockwave off of him. But the cycloptic 'Con was far stronger than he let on, turning and hurling Starscream with force back into the wall of the canyon. Another cannon round blasted through shoulder-apparatuses and the intakes perched beside his head.
With one bum arm, Starscream slumped as Shockwave's cannon lay trained on his head, glowing threateningly. "Alright, alright! Wait!" He rasped, holding out his good arm in a passive gesture. "Please… don't kill me."
"That would be illogical. You have been nothing but a stumbling block." Shockwave droned.
"B-But I can be of use! There are Decepticons loyal to me. You need me to sway their opinions." Starscream explained, forcing himself to a slumped over standing position. "My time in leadership has afforded me many insights, Shockwave. Insights I will give you." He promised.
"Then you yield?" Shockwave responded. Starscream nodded hurriedly.
"Yes. Yes, I yield." His words seemed to please Shockwave and he lowered his cannon.
"Then you live. For now." He stated. "I have preparations to attend to. Go."
"Go where?" Starscream wondered as he redirected power from his overshields to his null-ray.
"Wherever you see fit. I will make contact when I have need of you." Shockwave responded. He turned to leave, taking a few steps before the whine of an energy charge drew his attention back. Priming his cannon, he turned with the intent to fire…
But Starscream's arm was already raised.
Firing a blast from his rifle, the null energy struck Shockwave's spark chamber and rendered the outward flow of energy inert. At once the violet Decepticon seized up, his optic dimming as he slumped over in a cacophonous heap, forced into stasis lock. Loosing a sigh from his intakes, Starscream lowered his arm. "Finally." He grunted. Examining the stasis-locked Shockwave for a moment longer, Starscream's gaze was drawn to the river beside them. A plan formed in his brain module and he stumbled over to Shockwave's inert chassis. "If you can hear me, Shockwave, know that I'm going to savour every Astro-second of this." He hissed next to Shockwave's inert helm. Straightening up, he opened a comms channel. "Thundercracker, come in."
Thundercracker's voice was filled with innocent inquirement. "Lord Starscream?"
"I need you to come to my position at once." Starscream said plainly, offering no other hints. He terminated the link before gripping Shockwave's mighty bulk with his good servo and subsequently dragged him over to the nearby riverbank. He could feel his repair systems working to undo the damage dealt to his arm but they would take time. A good influx of energon might help.
Shockwave's chassis left deep telltale ruts behind in the dirt as Starscream finally came to a pause. The roar of afterburners caused him to glance up as Thundercracker's MiG Fulcrum arrived, the Decepticon converting to land beside him. "Help me dump this pile of scrap." Starscream ordered, savouring the brief look of abject shock on Thundercracker's faceplate.
"Uh… O-Of course, Lord Starscream… But what in Primus' name is Shockwave doing here?!"
You're trying, Thundercracker. For that I give you credit. Starscream loosed a tired huff from his intakes. "I will find out soon enough." Testing his remaining shoulder actuator, Starscream gripped Shockwave's shoulders while Thundercracker took his legs and together they tossed him into the river leading to Hoover Damn. His violet chassis sank well out of sight and Starscream held confidently to the belief Shockwave was gone for good. "He attacked me. Finally attempted the coup I knew he would eventually stage." Starscream muttered.
"But… you won?" Said Thundercracker.
"Yes. I did. Thank you for your assistance, Thundercracker." Starscream replied. "I have but one more thing to ask of you." Thundercracker opened his mouth to speak, only to be silenced by a vicious backhand that threw him to the ground. Before he could rise, Starscream's pede had been slammed into his chassis and Thundercracker found himself staring down the barrel of a null-ray. "I should snuff your spark. I really should. I told you once I would tolerate no rebelliousness and I have always fulfilled that promise." Starscream growled. "Did you really think you and Shockwave were all that clever? Did you really think you fooled me, Thundercracker?!" He snapped. The rattle of his fellow 'Con's trembling chassis was almost musical to Starscream. For a brief second he pondered sating his wrath. And yet he knew Thundercracker was valuable, too much so to be offlined here and now. "But luckily for you, I still have need of your services."
"M-My services?" Thundercracker asked in a quavering voice. At that, Starscream reached down and grabbed his neck, hoisting Thundercracker up and off his pedes.
"Your co-conspirator came to Earth for a reason and I suspect it was not because of Megatron's presence." Starscream stated. "You will renew your vow of honor to me. You will swear your eternal loyalty to me. You will do my bidding and tell me everything he knew… and in return, I will spare your rebellious little spark."
Elsewhere…
Cruising along a desert highway, two oddly-pristine vehicles accelerated past clusters of traffic. A white Pontiac Solsitce and a red Scion xB cruised through the desert of Nevada, the Hoover Dam looming prominent between canyon walls. Within each vehicle, their radios crackled. "Jazz, Blaster, you must find a way into the Sector Seven facility. Try to remotely infiltrate their security systems. Proceed to the coordinates we've provided you. Skyburst indicates its a radio tower you could use as a back door into their computer systems." Optimus Prime commanded. "Use the highway and remain transformed. We can't afford to have anyone else get captured. You'll need to move past the human defences without causing a disturbance. Do not engage them."
"You can count on us, Prime." Jazz affirmed as he took the lead. The winding desert road took a downward turn, leading into a canyon of towering red rock that blotted out the sun at the right angles. Jazz and Blaster continued on inconspicuously, appearing no different from any other traffic on the road. But their sensors were constantly active, pinging their surroundings to create a map of the terrain.
And the deeper they drove, the more they discovered.
Humvees and SUVs marked the edges of the highway, and sporadically-placed tanks and APCs loomed ominously at ground level near bends in the road. They were secretive checkpoints keeping an eye out for Cybertronian activity as only Sector 7 could. "By Primus! Sector Seven's packin' heat!" Blaster gasped as the number of vehicles present continued to climb.
"After everything that went down in Tranquility, I ain't surprised in the least." Jazz replied. He slowed his speed and Blaster followed, the pair casually cruising down the highway. "Keep it low and slow, just like Optimus said to do."
"Easier said than done." Blaster remarked as helicopters droned overhead. Jazz quickly took note of an opening in the canyon wall, ringed with metal. His sensors picked up a lot of electrical activity within and he made a note for later.
Following the winding road through more canyon terrain, the Autobots discovered a small clearing where a rock bluff outcrop dominated the open area. It was a simple tourist spot, an easy geological formation for humans to take photos and appreciate the landscape. Jazz and Blaster took note of it for different reasons. Jutting up from the flat side of the bluff stood a transmission tower, metal gleaming in the unfiltered sunlight.
"Looks like the power box is at the top of that tower." Jazz noted. "You stay here, Blaster. I'll get the party started." Transforming, the Autobot bolted up the rocky slope as fast as he could to avoid getting spotted. Metallic hands crushed rock beneath them as Jazz pulled himself up to the top of the bluff. Upon reaching the base of the tower, Jazz began to climb, using the skeletal framework as perfect hand and footholds to scale quickly to the top where a small little box sat welded near the uppermost antenna. "Now to plant the virus…" He murmured, his metallic fingers tearing open the lid as a drive morphed out of his hand. Wires connected to ports within as Jazz uploaded the special coded virus into Sector 7's network. It was not malicious, acting more like a door jam to hold the way open for a more experienced technicist like Blaster. His job complete, Jazz dropped to the rocky ground below and opened a comms channel. "Optimus, the virus is up and the back door is open. All Blaster needs is a computer terminal for access. I'm betting we'll find one in that military hangar we passed on the way here."
"Keep me appraised of your progress. Prime out." Optimus affirmed.
Pining his sensors, Jazz began sifting through data to look for very telling information: hollow locales in the rock, high concentration of metallic material, regular-pulsed electrical signals… and he soon had a singular match for his results. "Blaster, I'm uploading the results of a topography scan. I need you to head to the coordinates I've indicated." He told his comrade.
"What am I lookin' for, ro-bro?" Blaster wondered.
"A back door. Literally." Jazz answered.
Meanwhile…
On the opposite end of the canyon at the far side of Hoover Dam, the arriving Decepticons gathered to await news. Barricade sent Blackout on ahead to investigate the area and search for a way into the dam proper. The time it took to for Blackout to complete his mission gave Tailwhip time to understand their new reinforcements.
Known as the 'Claw of Megatron' on Cybertron, Bombshock was quite a skilled tactician; dedicated to the art of war, a fast thinker who could plough into battle while others were still mapping out strategy, and, most importantly in Megatron's optics, a masterfully dirty fighter. However, Bombshock's skills left him consigned to a supervisory position and kept him off the battlefield, which, of course, he hated. Naturally, this only helped to increase his already epic levels of frustration and misery at his lot in life, until he became what he is today. Now that the war on Earth seemed to be unfolding again, Bombshock was more than ready to ply his trade against the Autobots once again.
Unusually brilliant, Overcast had always tended to avoid the other Decepticons, preferring instead to work in solitude on customized weapons systems he installed on his own body (most noticeable from the toxic green glow portions of his chassis seemed to radiate). He was a quiet, secretive Decepticon and a dangerous adversary who frankly gave Tailwhip the creeps.
Most of the Decepticons who came to Earth seeking Megatron stuck to the shadows, stealthily seeking out tips on their leader's whereabouts. However, stealth was not Incinerator's strong-suit and the hulking Decepticon had been forced to lay low by Barricade's orders. Now free to engage the enemy on the hunt for Megatron, the great grey Decepticon (who rivalled Blackout in terms of overall height) had every intention of doing just that.
Cold, distant, and quiet among Decepticons, the green-brown shaded Wreckage served as the indiscriminate, hot-blooded, stone-cold destroyer, a bringer of destruction, counterpart to the hot-wired Quake. Deliberate and methodical in his attacks, he enjoyed getting up close and personal to his targets and watching his foes squirm in agony as his twin swords cut deep below their armor. Circuits popping and vital processors sizzling to uselessness are the music he longs to make, and none of the Decepticons could argue with his taste for making Autobots suffer.
The assembled Decepticon force waited eagerly as the heavy chop-chop-chop of Blackout's rotors heralded his return. The panels of his Pave Low form shifted and split as he converted to robot mode and dropped down to join the assembly overlooking the watery basin formed by the dam. "I've been unable to find a way inside the compound. I did, however, locate a farm of communications satellites." He rumbled in report.
"Then we'll start with what we know." Barricade decided, looking around and giving orders. "Soundwave, activate Frenzy's virus to give the fleshies something distracting. Quake, Bombshock, disable the Sector Seven communications systems. Blackout, Incinerator, Overcast, stay in the air and keep an eye on things. Wreckage, Stockade, you'll come with me to check the perimeter and see what we can find out about this place." Lastly, he looked to Tailwhip with a firm glint in his optics. "Rookie, stay put, but be ready to move."
With that, the Decepticons collectively transformed and took off in separate directions, leaving Tailwhip standing alone in the desert landscape. He took a moment to analyze their situation and decided it was high time to contact his lord and master. "Lord Starscream, come in."
The response was almost instant. "Report."
"We're at the Sector Seven headquarters located at Hoover Dam. We're currently trying to find a way into the base. Barricade called up additional reinforcements." Tailwhip announced.
"Do any of the others suspect that our true goal is the Allspark?" Starscream queried.
"Not yet, but it will come out soon, assuming you are correct." Tailwhip surmised. The comms channel fell dead, much to the Decepticon's puzzlement and he tried to raise the lord commander a few more times to no avail. Suddenly, his audio receptors picked up the roar of a Earth-jet's afterburners filling the air, growing louder and louder as the vehicle drew closer.
Bursting out of the sunlight, a white-red F-22 Raptor rocketed towards Tailwhip before transforming and slamming into the ground not a few feet before him. Starscream lifted himself to full height, his chassis still mid-restoration after his battle with Shockwave. In awe of his master's sudden arrival, Tailwhip was quick to drop to one knee and kneel in reverance. But Starscream had no time for protocol.
"Listen to me very carefully. If Megatron is revived, he will surely challenge me to regain his power. With the Allspark so close within our grasp, we cannot afford a power struggle." He leaned closer, Starscream and Tailwhip optic to optic. The young Decepticon could see the very serious and grim look in his master's gaze… but he could never have anticipated Starscream's next words,
"You must ensure that Megatron can never be revived."
Tailwhip was shocked by the order. Something within him suddenly balked at the idea, as if everything Barricade had claimed about Starscream came true all at once. While he knew Starscream had his issues with Megatron, it seemed wrong to order the demise of someone so prominent as Megatron. Especially when he was at such a disadvantage. Decepticons ruler by strength, something proven in mech-on-mech brawls where one proved their worth. Stabbing another in the back… it borderline heretical. "You… You want me to kill the founder of the Decepticon army… in his sleep?" Tailwhip questioned in disbelief.
"I want you to ensure the future of the Decepticons!" Starscream retorted, as if there were a difference. His gaze narrowed, crimson optics boring into the processor of his protege. "Do not fail me." He stated in a low, cautionary voice.
With that, Starscream took flight and transformed back into alt mode, rocketing away across the canyons and leaving Tailwhip alone with his thoughts, his new mission… and a preemptive sense of guilt…
Following the highway right up to Hoover Dam, Blaster quickly broke from the road and started burning rubber across the sprawling desert terrain connecting the canyon wall to the watery basin formed by the dam. Hot after the signal Jazz had sent him, Blaster's scanners swept ahead for signs of something that didn't resemble rock, dirt, or water. "Well lookee there, ol' Jazz was dead on the shanix." Blaster whistled as he spied the looming access portal for a military bunker built into the canyon wall. "Bet they got all kinds of tech for me to work my magic with." Following the access ramp in, Blaster promptly transformed into robot mode and surveyed the seemingly-empty hangar area. A few parked helicopters and even a fighter jet reamined but everything else was devoid of life and quiet. Maybe too quiet…
Spying a control terminal, Blaster stepped over and deployed some of his access cabling when the sound of thundering robot blades and squealing rubber tired drew his attention back to the entrances. "Uh, boss bot? I might be a while." Blaster remarked into his comms as vehicles started pouring into the hangar. Helicopters, military-grade buggies, Humvees, even APCs were arriving on the scene, each one radiating the same unique energy signature the Autobots had uncovered before. "Looks like ol' Sector Seven broke out some more unmanned drones to defend their turf. Permission to kick some tailpipe?" Blaster asked.
"Permission granted. Just make sure you complete that download." Optimus replied.
"Oh I got something real flashy in mind for that." The communications officer remarked as his twin Minicon partners ejected from his chassis. "Rewind! Eject! You know what to do; use our remote access to get into Sector Seven's network and track down the Allspark. I'll keep these junk-hunks busy!" Blaster ordered, automorphing his hand into a gyro cannon as a rocket launcher formed out of his shoulder.
"We're on it!" Eject promised as he deployed his twin adhesion cannons as well as a pair of wrist-mounted shock blasters. Rewind broke out his data drivers and scampered over to the nearest console, plugging in as the thunder booms of Blasters weaponry (gyroscopic-distorting energy blasts and distortion rockets) pummeled Sector 7's machinery. "You start digging, ro-bro, I've got your back." Eject promised as he turned and kept his weapons trained on any vehicle that might be getting close to them.
"Much obliged, Eject." Rewind answered as he dutifully started downloading everything pertinent he could find. Various file programs flashed across his HUD as he combed through the human network. They dropped down in sequence, one after another,
PROJECT BUZZARD.
PROJECT THUNDERHAWK.
PROJECT FIREFORCE.
PROJECT WOLFBEAST.
PROJECT SKYBOLT.
PROJECT RAZORBACK…
Clambering up the side of a rocky slope, Quake in his tank form and Bombshock in his mine-clearer form produced clouds of dust as they rumbled towards a small battery of satellites, their massive dishes swinging from side to side as they formed a vital component in the lifeblood of Sector 7. Their comms crackled to life, "Remember, you two, the most important thing is to take out the communication satellites. Don't get sidetracked with taking on Sector Seven." Barricade commanded the pair.
"Gee. Blow up a bunch of stationary targets that won't fight back. How exciting." Quake grumped.
"I'm just glad I finally get to hurt something!" Bombshock roared. "Let's see if sizzling circuits are a suitable substitute for the screams of dying Autobots!"
"I doubt it." Quake huffed as he fired off a leading salvo, the sabot round piercing clean through the forward satellite dish as well as armature neck allowing it to pivot in place. The dish came crashing down in a tangled heap of metallic plating and crushed framework, noisily heralding the arrival of the Decepticons. "See? Where's the fun in that?"
"Look beyond yourself, Quake," Bombshock retorted, "the fun is not in the quarry, but in the ruination!" Breaking formation, he deployed his manipulator arm as a ten-foot claw attachement reached for another satellite. The reinforced metal prongs scythed through the dish and cut deep into the metal actuators controlling the directional input. Crushing the control arm, the dish collapsed in a shower of sparks and shrieking twisted metal. Converting to robot mode, Bombshock automorphed a double-barreled laser cannon out of his arm and repeating blasts shredded the metal of the dish in a matter of seconds.
Quake also transformed, utilizing his ripper claw to shred one satellite dish before his gatling cannon blasted the dish's base to scrap metal. He then turned and unloaded his shoulder-mounted rockets into another dish, blowing the entire machine to fragments as a column of flame erupted from the base. "It is crude but it satisfies my desire for destruction. Nothing can stand in our way!" Bombshock growled gleefully.
"Speak for yourself." Quake rumbled, sounding unenthused with his mission thus far. A blast from his gatling cannon ripped the final dish to pieces and, as smoke wafted from the barrels, the tank-'Con opened a comms channel. "Comms are down, Barricade… now what?"
"I had Incinerator drop off some bombs for you to plant along the dam." Barricade responded.
"What for?" Quake queried.
"Always good to have a 'plan b'." The interrogator responded cryptically, leaving Quake to shrug and return to his task.
"Come on, Bombshock. Another menial task to perform." He grunted.
"Look at the bright side, at least this will gauarantee some grand destruction once the bombs go off." His fellow 'Con proffered, third arm hanging over his head. Quake's expression brightened.
"Hey, yeah… boy, I sure hope Barricade wants them detonated right away!" He remarked gleefully.
The two Decepticons made their way to the edge of the dam road where a pile of Cybertronian-grade explosive detpaks sat waiting to be affixed. Quake took one in hand while Bombshock grabbed the other two, a third hanging from the prongs of his claw arm. Together they stalked across the road, terrified tourists clambering every which way to avoid the hulking mechanoids who didn't care who or what they trod underfoot as they began attaching detpaks to the structural hardpoints of Hoover Dam. The road was soon deserted with only abandoned cars left behind as the Decepticons completed their work.
"Bombs are ready, Barricade. Can we blow them now? I wanna see the pretty explosions!" Quake giddily asked.
"We've got more important matters at the moment. There's a military convoy heading your way, Soundwave indicates they're trying to send messages back and forth to different points in the base. I need you to immobilize one for Soundwave and Stockade to interact with. They might be able to give us a way inside so make sure the vehicle stays in one piece." Barricade responded.
"Aw, come on, let me at least shake them up a bit…" Quake begged in a whiny voice.
"Don't make me confiscate your weapons chip." Barricade growled in retort.
"You're no fun." Quake grumbled with a huff from his intakes.
"Download complete, Blaster!" Rewind announced as he pulled away from the computer terminal. "Let's get out of here!" The larger Autobot vaporized a couple of automated Humvees before he converted to vehicle mode to allow Rewind and Eject to clamber inside.
"Meet you back at the rendezvous point, Jazz!" He exclaimed, peeling rubber and bolting out of the army hangar. He crashed onto the canyon highway, startling several motorists as he left a cloud of rubber smoke in his wake. Multiple Sector 7 vehicles chased after him on the ground and in the air. Jazz squealed onto the scene, bringing up the rear. His photon guns blasted away at the Sector 7 convoy, forcing his way up to cover Blaster's flank.
"Prime! We're under attack!" Jazz exclaimed. "We're gonna need an assist on the double-time!" Racing back up the highway with Sector 7 still in hot pursuit, the pair of Autobots discovered a convoy of oddly pristine vehicles approaching from the mouth of the canyon. They broke formation, a Peterbilt big rig leading the others as they split between incoming and ongoing traffic lanes. They transformed as one, Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Ratchet, Trailbreaker, Longarm, Salvage, Blueshift, and each Autobot trained their weapons on the Sector 7 convoy. Once Jazz and Blaster were safely behind their ranks, they opened fire. A cacophonous wave of sound and light obliterating the Sector 7 vehicles en masse, reducing helicopters, buggies, and Humvees to smoking, shattered wreckage.
Once their position was secured, Jazz and Blaster transformed to report mission success. Rewind emerged and stood perched on Blaster's shoulder. "Rewind, what did you learn from Sector Seven's computer network?" Optimus Prime inquired.
"Well, let's see…" Rewind generated a hardlight screen before him and started sifting through the results of his network download. "Project Bulldog, Project Goliath, Project Manta… uh, well, I couldn't find out where they're keeping Megatron or the Allspark…" The Minicon admitted. Blueshift groaned.
"You gotta be kidding me. This bites!"
Ironhide performed a double-take. "Bites?! Are there sharkticons in there?" He questioned.
"Relax, old timer. It's just a human phrase I picked up while scanning their internet." Blueshift explained, sounding amused by his outburst. Ironhide narrowed his optics at the youth.
"Sounds like you've been hangin' 'round Blaster a bit too much." He muttered.
"Oh! Hang on, hang on!" Rewind exclaimed as he highlighted a singular file folder. "I was able to discover a way into the base and where they're keeping Fastlane." He revealed. Blueshift looked to him, hopes rising.
"They brought Fastlane here?!"
"Sure did."
Jazz seemed ponderous. "That might be a good thing, Prime. We'll need Fastlane's tracking abilities if we're going to find Megatron and the Allspark." He suggested. Optimus nodded slowly.
"Agreed." He stated. Looking to his friends and allies, he started issuing orders, "Ironhide, Longarm, Salvage, recon the area. Ratchet, Trailbreaker, I want you to work with Jazz and use his topography data to establish a safe-zone in case the Decepticons make a move." Prime's gaze landed on the youngest of them. "Blueshift, I want Alpha Squad to execute the rescue op and free Fastlane." His optics flashing with readiness, Blueshift nodded eagerly.
"Thank you, sir. I promise we'll get Fastlane out of there no matter what!" He vowed emphatically. Optimus nodded as the other Autobots prepared to depart. But Ironhide stepped closer to him,
"Boss… I, uh, I said some things before…" He murmured, having some difficulty getting the words out. Having known Ironhide for eons, Optimus understood where he was coming from and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"You and I have been through too much together to warrant any apologies old friend." He proffered, his own way of accepting the unspoken apology. Ironhide nodded and promptly converted to vehicle mode, the throaty growl of his engine highlighting his departure as Longarm and Salvage followed after him. The other Autobots took their leave, soon leaving just Optimus and Blaster standing by the side of the canyon road. Optimus appraised his communications officer for a moment. "Interesting that the only information you were able to obtain was a way in to rescue Fastlane. That's rather… fortunate." He mused. Blaster shrugged.
"Primus works in mysterious ways, sir. Maybe he felt like it was time to get the gang back together." Baster proffered in his usual upbeat tone. Optimus chuckled warmly.
"Indeed." He concurred. "Thank you. All of you."
Nearby…
A beat up Sector 7 APC sat idly by as Soundwave's data cables pulled information from its mainframe and then redistributed the data to Stockade. In his alt mode, the Decepticon broadcast a series of codes and numbers as he translated Sector 7's processing algorithm for Barricade to oversee. With him stood the other Decepticons of the group, save Tailwhip. He joined soon enough, having scanned a new alt mode to better work in this environment.
His vehicle of choice was a military AH-64 Apache attack helicopter whose new physical characteristics has remodeled his chassis. The sizeable cockpit glass encased his torso while the twin rocket and missile pods from either wing sat across his shoulders like a set of giant-size paldrons. The rotor assembly draped down his back in a V-shape and flared out behind him. Barricade took a moment to analyze his appearance upon arrival. "Hey, rookie, we've got information about a surface-level military base near the dam. I'm heading there now to see what info I can find out." He revealed. Tailwhip appeared bothered by something as evidence by his tone of voice when he called after him.
"Barricade. Before you go, there's… something I need to tell you." The weight upon him was tangible but Barricade was able to connect the dots long before Tailwhip worked up the courage to continue.
"You mean that Starscream wants you to kill Megatron before we can revive him?"
Tailwhip blinked in surprise. "Wha-?! How did you know?"
"Starscream always brushed off our analysis that the distress signal came from Megatron. Totally ignored Soundwave's findings. But the moment he sent you, his protege, here? I knew he would never to go so much trouble for just any 'missing Decepticon'. Megatron is the only one who could remove him from power." Barricade explained. His summary made sense to Tailwhip… but he doubted Barricade knew the full extent of the truth.
"Well… there's more." Tailwhip continued, taking a moment to brace himself before he dropped the bombshell. "Starscream says that the Allspark is here on Earth."
Every Decepticon present whirled to face him, rooted by the very mention of the divine relic. Even Soundwave and Stockade abandoned their work to pay attention. "What?!" Barricade exclaimed in pure shock. He stomped right up to Tailwhip, leveling a finger towards his faceplate. "You better start talking! And fast!"
"Starscream said that the only reason that Megatron would be here is because he was chasing the Allspark." The moment the words left Tailwhip's mouth they made total sense to Barricade and he felt like a fool. All this time he and his fellow loyalists had merely assumed Megatron had befallen some misfortune while searching for the Allspark. Never once did it occur to them that he had actually found it before he succumbed to his peril.
"Lugnuts!" Barricade cursed, kicking the ground in irritation. "I knew Starscream's been lying to us all this time, but I had no idea about the Allspark."
"Sounds to me like Starscream wanted to keep it for himself." Quake surmised.
"Are you at all surprised?" Wreckage grunted. "Starscream craves power. And the Allspark is absolute power. Why would he give up his chance to claim it for himself?"
"Actually, he told me he wanted to secure the Allspark before anyone else to prevent everyone from fighting over it." Tailwhip explained, revealing the whole truth as he knew it.
"Yeah, right!" Barricade scoffed. "So he can ensure that no one can challenge him… not even Megatron." A deadly silence fell over the Decepticons as they realized the grim truth that awaited them.
"I calculate a forty-point-two percent chance that Megatron could claim the Allspark before Starscream. Such an action would upend Starscream's plans once and for all." Soundwave proffered.
"All depends on who makes the first move." Overcast muttered. "Don't forget there's Autobots here too."
"What now?" Incinerator questioned. Barricade loosed a heavy sigh from his intakes.
"First I'm gonna take out that army bunker to keep us from getting flanked. Hopefully I'll find some info that will get us inside the main base." He decided. They needed to act, to do something. The gravity of the situation suddenly felt so much more intense and he knew the Decepticons needed rallying. Even if they faced insurmountable odds, Megatron's return would be the one thing to prove infalliable. "Soundwave, Stockade, keep working over the Sector Seven autonomous vehicle programming. They have to be receiving a signal from somewhere and that might also be our way in. The rest of you spread out. Incinerator, Overcast, you're on air patrol. Everyone else, look for a way into the base." He commanded. "We've got to revive Megatron… it's the only way we're going to stop that traitor Starscream." The gravity of the situation settled in and the Decepticons turned stone-faced and serious. They transformed and took off in pursuit of their respective duties. Tailwhip turned to leave, revelieved of the burden upon his spark only to find a new one forced upon his shoulder struts.
I've betrayed Starscream. My mentor. My master. Now what…?
"Tailwhip," he turned as Barricade called after him. They stood alone for a moment until Barricade spoke again. "You made the right choice… Decepticon." Tailwhip felt a sudden spark between them. A level of kinship that had not existed until this point. They'd always been at odds, but now they seemed to be equals for a change. He nodded, accepting his new reality before Barricade transformed and drove off.