Megatron and Starscream transformed and flew from the Nemesis as a storm rained down on them, and they arrived at a mine. "Another abandoned mine?" Starscream asked. "Come, Starscream." Megatron said darkly.
They both ventured into the mine. "My liege, who could have foreseen that my alternative super-soldier experiment would encounter technical difficulties?" Starscream asked when they were further into the mine. "Resulting in the loss of the Insecticon Hive and over half our remaining troops!" Megatron yelled in his face-plate, making Starscream kneel.
"Forgive me, Master! My intentions were true! Please, please reconsider my termination!" Starscream begged. Megatron rolled his optics and moved forward.
Starscream saw containers everywhere. "Oh, Shockwave's off-site laboratory. Most impressive." He realized.
"The Predacon clones have almost fully evolved and will be combat ready within 3 solar cycles." Shockwave said. "Well done, Shockwave. Knockout, I'm waiting." Megatron said. "On my way, Lord Megatron." Knockout said as he descended from the elevator on the Nemesis with Synthetic Energon canisters. The Predacon watched him.
Knockout descended into the mine. "Synthetic Energon. Troops will be delivering my remaining supply to you." He said and walked towards the mechs. "I will determine its value after Lord Megatron's Predacon army is ready for deployment." Shockwave said.
They heard growling and saw the Predacon enter the area and roar. "Unruly beast. You dare to roam freely without permission?" Starscream asked and hit the Predacon's helm with a rod, and it roared at him. Making him drop the rod and fall down as the Predacon came closer.
Starscream braced himself, then the Predacon transformed into a tall, dark mech with a white face-plate, yellow optics, and horns on his helm shaped like a crown. Megatron stared in shock. "Wha?" Starscream asked. "Strike me again, and I will bury that rod in your Spark." The mech threatened.
"I-I did not realize that the beast was capable of transformation." Starscream sputtered. "Nor did I." Megatron said. "I am no beast." The Predacon said and marched past Starscream. "The ability to transform is a fundamental part of Cybertronian biology. We simply possess no evidence that the Predacon species ever reached that evolutionary stage since they became extinct in the Great Cataclysm." Shockwave said.
"And now we know." Starscream said. "So, the rumors are true. I will no longer be alone." The Predacon said. "And I see you've been keeping secrets." Megatron said. "It was not my intention to deceive you, Lord Megatron. I only recently became aware of my abilities. All I remember of my beginning is hunting and battle and the wounding of my pride. Thus, I begun to burn with questions. Who am I? Where did I come from? The warship's databanks provided historical fact. But still, I possess no memory of my past. So I began to reconsider my place in the present and wondered, 'could I be like the others?' And now I know." The Predacon said.
"Yet you are unique. A miracle of science. Cloned by Shockwave from Cybernucleic acid recovered from the remains of your mighty ancestors." Megatron said.
"Doctor, what is the current status of your Synthetic Energon experiments?" Ultra Magnus asked. "Doing the best I can, commander, given the lack of functional equipment at my disposal and the Harbinger having no information on the Synthetic Energon." Ratchet said.
"You do realize that an alternative energy source may be essential to our survival and to grant more use of the Harbinger?" Ultra Magnus asked. "Believe me, Ultra Magnus, no one is more acutely aware of the stakes than I am." Ratchet said. "Of course." Ultra Magnus said and walked to the other side of the bridge where the other Autobots were stationed.
"Beast hunters, may I ask why you are not currently scouting grid 305 for Predacon bones?" Ultra Magnus asked. "Because we just returned from surveying grids 301 to 304." Jetfire said. "To log our field reports, per your protocol, Commander Magnus, sir." Bulkhead said.
Wheeljack walked into the bridge covered in green goo. "Soldier, I don't recall giving you permission to leave the ship." Ultra Magnus said. "Because you didn't, sir." Wheeljack said. "Why are your hands smeared with coolant?" Ultra Magnus asked. "I recalibrated your ship's engines. You can expect a 10% increase in vector thrust." Wheeljack said.
Suddenly, Optimus walked into the bridge. The Autobots exclaimed happily and walked to their leader while Ultra Magnus stayed behind. "Decepticon activity is at a lull. I fear that Megatron may have collected the specimens he requires to..." Optimus stopped when he looked at Ultra Magnus. "Clone his army." He finished.
"It is with deepest gratitude for my creation that I pledge undying obedience to you, my one, true master." The Predacon said as he and Megatron walked through the halls of the Nemesis. "But with more of my species soon to stride among us, I beg your permission to, in turn, lead them as Predaking." Predaking said.
"Your vision is boundless." Megatron said. Later, he, Starscream, Knockout, Soundwave, and Shockwave, were in an Energon storage. "The former beast may believe himself to be a loyal servant today, but trust me, the moment our royal highness realizes that his army possesses greater might than what currently remains of the Decepticons," Megatron started.
"Evolution will give way to revolution." Starscream finished. "I am left with no choice but to eradicate the Predacon clones before they are provided the opportunity to eradicate us." Megatron said.
"Lord Megatron, you're not saying you intend to pull the plug on Shockwave's beloved Project Predacon?" Knockout asked. "Your conclusion is most logical, my liege." Shockwave said. "But what happens if that fire-breathing brute discovers our treachery?" Knockout asked. Starscream cleared his metal throat. "Why assume that we will be the ones to perform the deed? After all, if the Predaking were to discover that, say, the Autobots were responsible for wiping out his comrades, our resident beast might, in turn, destroy our hated enemies for us or they him." He said.
Ultra Magnus watched human soldiers and military vehicles move around the base below the Harbinger. "Ultra Magnus, something has been troubling you." Optimus said. "I fear that my command style may be having a negative effect on unit morale." Ultra Magnus said.
"Your service is most welcome, old friend. But this is not the elite guard." Optimus said. "Things have changed since the war for Cybertron." Ultra Magnus said. "And we must adapt to that change. The members of Team Prime are not cogs in a machine. They have grown into something greater than an army. They have become -" Optimus said.
"Optimus, the Harbinger has detected exposed Energon." Ratchet said. "With our reserves at a critical low, and the Harbinger unable to use its weapons or leave the base without draining its own reserves, we cannot afford not to investigate." Optimus said.
Vehicons were moving Energon crystals out of the mine. "Decepticons, step away from the Energon and surrender." Optimus said from above the mine with Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and Ultra Magnus. The Vehicons started shooting, and the Wreckers came down. Wheeljack used his electric whip to bring a Vehicon forward, and Ultra Magnus smashed it with the Forge of Solus Prime.
Rockets hit the Vehicons from Cyclonus and Jetfire as Chromia, Arcee, Bee, and Smokescreen joined. Bee used his shield as Smokescreen activated the Phase Shifter and sent a Vehicon phased into a boulder and a shot killed it. Optimus shot the last Vehicon to death.
"Look at all that sweet fuel." Smokescreen said and grabbed a crystal. Stealth team, transport our cargo back to base. Wreckers, reconnoiter the mine." Optimus said. "I've always wanted to roll with the Wreckers." Smokescreen said. "Uh, sir." He corrected himself.
"No Energon signals." Bulkhead said. "And no additional security. Something doesn't smell right." Wheeljack said as he, Bulkhead, Smokescreen, and Ultra Magnus journeyed into the mine. They ran into a fork in the mine. "Pair off." Ultra Magnus said, and Bulkhead and Smokescreen took one way while he and Wheeljack took the other.
Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack soon found Shockwave's Predacon clones. "Well, this is one whole lot of ugly." Wheeljack said. "Megatron's cloning operation seems further along than we anticipated." Ultra Magnus said.
Shockwave spotted them and fired and hid. "Starscream, the Autobots have arrived. You did not inform me that your plan was already in motion." He said. "Only so the whole affair would appear less staged." Starscream said. "I have yet to purge my lab of sensitive materials." Shockwave said.
"Then do not let me keep you, Shockwave. Over and out." Starscream hung up. "You scrapped him on purpose, didn't you?" Knockout asked. Starscream smiled.
"Soundwave, I require an immediate Ground-Bridge." Shockwave said. He shot at Ultra Magnus, then pressed a button on his terminal. Ultra Magnus saw a portal open up, and Shockwave shot him before entering the portal, and it closed behind him. Smoke surrounded Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus as puddles formed around the pods.
Starscream ran out of the room and joined Megatron and Predaking. "Lord Megatron, it seems Project Predacon has fallen into Autobot hands!" Starscream said. "How is this possible?" Predaking asked. "Starscream, scramble your Seeker armada." Megatron said. "At once, my liege." Starscream said and ran off. "No. If my brethren are imperiled, I will confront the enemy." Predaking said.
The pods kept draining as the Predacons inside came to life. Wheeljack noticed dozens of Synthetic Energon containers. "Permission to employ a grenade in a confined space, sir?" He asked as he held a grenade. "If you and I are all that stand between these monsters and the natives of this planet, then by all means, blow these beasts back to the Rust Age." Ultra Magnus said.
Wheeljack threw his bomb at the Synthetic Energon canisters, and he and Magnus transformed and left the cave into the tunnel. The bomb exploded, and the Synthetic Energon blew up with it. A portal opened, and Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus transformed as Predaking came through.
The Predacons screeched in fear as green fire erupted everywhere. "Who's this guy?" Wheeljack asked. "The very same who has previously allowed you to live but will not today." Predaking said. Ultra Magnus saw the symbol on his chassis. "He's the Predacon!" He realized. Fire erupted down the tunnel.
The last of the Autobots moved the crystals into the Ground-Bridge as Optimus stood next to them when Bulkhead and Smokescreen came out. The mine shook with an explosion. "Whoa! What was that?" Smokescreen asked.
A black, gravely injured Predacon weakly crawled down the tunnel, and Predaking kneeled down and gently caressed its helm. The Predacon gently nugged Predaking's chassis before it died. "What have you done to my brethren?" Predaking asked Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" He screamed at the Wreckers.
He ran at them as they fired and jumped away, then Predaking bodied Magnus into the top of a stalactite near the ceiling. Predaking threw Wheeljack into a wall and ran at him. "Well then, let's dance." The white Wrecker said and equipped his battle mask.
Predaking ran at him, and Wheeljack climbed up the wall and punched Predaking into the ground. Wheeljack punched and kicked Predaking into the wall, then grabbed his swords and ran at Predaking. Predaking slammed him into the wall and started punching him repeatedly.
Ultra Magnus slammed Predaking away but got bodied again. Ultra Magnus picked up the Forge of Solus Prime and slammed Predaking away before he could tackle him. He slammed Predaking into the wall, and Predaking lept at him, but got slammed by the Forge again.
He slammed Predaking into a wall but got himself tackled into the wall and thrown through a stalactite and hit a rock. Predaking ran at him with the Forge and slammed him with it. Before Predaking could slam him again, Wheeljack appeared, used the electric whip, and snatched the Forge away and used it to smash Predaking away.
Wheeljack threw his swords, but Predaking blocked them. Wheeljack used the electric whip and grabbed the Forge as Ultra Magnus held it, and they tackled Predaking down. They ran back at him as Predaking yanked out Wheeljack's sword from his arm.
Wheeljack held Predaking's helm with the whip, but Predaking broke it. Magnus hit him with the Forge, and Wheeljack hit him until Predaking fell into a wall. Wheeljack fired, and Magnus hit him with the Forge again, and he and Wheeljack shot a stalactite, and it fell on top of Predaking.
Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack watched, and then the stalactite moved and swiped them both away. Wheeljack saw Predaking run at him with the stalactite and smash him into a wall with it.
Ultra Magnus crawled for the Forge until Predaking landed on his servo, making him yell in pain. Predaking raised his pede and smashed his servo off his wrist. Ultra Magnus turned around and watched Predaking grab the Forge.
"And here I was just beginning to tolerate you." Wheeljack weakly smiled. "It's been an honor serving beside you, soldier." Ultra Magnus said. Predaking held the Forge and broke it in half. "Prepare to perish." He snarled.
Before he could finish Magnus, Optimus collided with Predaking and sent him flying into rock columns. Optimus grabbed his minigun and fired away. The rocks fell onto Predaking, but he burst out of the rocks as Optimus grabbed Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack and flew away. "What?! NOOOO!" Predaking shouted.
Optimus fled the mine as Predaking came out, transformed, and chased them. A portal opened. Predaking threw fire at Optimus, but he entered the portal, and it closed before the fire could harm him. Predaking shrieked in fury.
Later, Magnus awoke as Ratchet welded his broken servo to prevent Energon loss. Magnus looked at the stump in despair. "Ratchet will take good care of you." Optimus assured. "Magnus fought like a Wrecker." Wheeljack said. "Optimus, when we spoke earlier, what could be greater than an army?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"A human concept, one I have learned since coming to Earth. Family." Optimus said. The Autobots surrounded Magnus.
"Do not despair, my Predaking. For I vow to you that the Autobots will pay dearly for the outrage against your kind." Megatron said. Starscream and Knockout smirked together. "Shockwave, report." Megatron said. "It is true, my liege. Project Predacon has been rendered null and void. At least I have been unable to recover any beast forms. However, there is something you must behold for yourself." Shockwave said.
Megatron and Starscream came through a portal. "What is this?" Starscream asked. There was a giant structure in front of them. "Pure Cybertronian Cyber-Matter. Not unlike that which once existed upon our primeval homeworld." Shockwave said.
"Or that which engendered my citadel here on Earth. The result of the explosion?" Megatron asked. "Indeed. Yet the Cybernucleic acid alone cannot account for these cyber-forms. All possible logic points to the presence of one unexpected variable. Synthetic Energon." Shockwave motioned to metal covered in the unstable Synth'N.