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Altered Paths: The forgotten

Lookout Mountain, Earth: Temporary outpost and Central staging for the BT efforts.
Interior Command HUB

Grimlock, as proud and boisterous as ever, made his entrance with his brothers in arms, ?The Dynobots have returned.? Upon this exclamation many of the war worn and listless seemed to perk up and show signs of hope. While just as many gave looks that could have killed.

Almost like a whisper on the wind Mirage queried ?and what of the Throttlebots? Or did you seal their fate when you did your deal with??

Without even a break in his stride Grimlock cut the conversation short with, ?You Know all about DEALS don?t you? How did Skywarp escape?Where You when, Dinobots Die?

Not wanting to lower himself to the brute?s level or expose his own misgivings Mirage faded from sight and made his exit.

?Listen Grimmy, we?re all glad your back but, what you did was?? Wheeljack couldn?t finish his statement before another finished it for him..

?INEXCUSABLE!? in a tone even some of the most seasoned veterans have never heard, bordering almost on rage, there stood Ultra Magnus, Outpost Commander.

?Because of you, your damnable pride, and your disregard for authority, Rollbar was the only one of the Throttlebots saved? Casting a look over his shoulder at the orange and silver messenger, ?Those bodies you STOLE where meant for them, and they are gone, because of YOU? In a rare display, it seemed as if Magnus was challenging Grimlock to defend his actions, even though everyone else in the room would have done the same for another of their own given the chance.

As if to only break the tension Wheeljack chimed in,? but, Magnus, if I can study what happened we could bring them all back, we could??

?Could what? Rob more of their peace, bring darkness and strife back into the lives of those that fell honorably in battle and force them to again rise and fight?? Snarl sneered to Wheeljack with a flash from his visor he again became quiet and sullen

Then entire room seemed to have the same thought at the same time? only Perceptor said it out loud ?Where did that come from? what really happened? How did he become more articulate, something, perhaps the bt process or perhaps the method completed some of the more primal subrou-?

?QUIET! Seems that there are all sorts of unsolved mysteries needing answering and that is exactly what you will do, Grimlock? Magnus again challenging for the control of the situation

Infuriated, Grimlock met eye to eye with Magnus and boomed ?Me no take orders from Optimus MINOR? turning his back to Magnus and looking to the Dynobots, ?Me, Grimlock, Lead whoever will follow. Me, Grimloc??

As if fate itself had stepped in. The compound shook with an earth-shattering explosion. In classic bad timing Red Alert came stumbling out of the smoke filled corridor ?WE?RE UNDER ATTACK!!? Almost tripping over himself as well as anyone else in his way to the command console.

The vidscreen flickered on and to everyone?s amazement?

?There are hundreds of them, b-b-but how?? Red alert stammered as every screen was filled with the recently BT Formatted Bombshell, Kickback, Shrapnel and Reflector lead by Ravage.

?They must have gotten one of the units with the clone generator?? Wheeljack began to theorize

?Clone or not they are still very much a threat, for now this is on hold, Grimlock, this is far from over?? Magnus ?we can?t handle an all out invasion, we need to buy some time until the evacuation transports can be readied to launch?

Turning towards the exit Grimlock barked his first order, ?Then WE BUY you time to run,? again his eyes flashed with disgust towards Magnus. ?DYNOBOTS! Prepare for battle! Ravage, the commander is mine! This ME Grimlock COMMAND!? Grimlock?s order echoes throughout the halls and was easily received by Ravage. ?Excellent?? purred the feral saboteur, he knew his plans where taking shape.



Exterior Siege Wall:

?SKRAT-While quite useful, the designs we stripped from the frame of their geologist Skids, they are very power consuming, and thus I am quite ravenous.? Bombshell remarked while setting another series of charges at the base of the blast doors keeping them out side the armored dome.

?Indeed, indeed, I agree, however if given the opportunity, I would savor every last electron from Arcee-Ahrcee.? With a sinister smile and a biting of his own lips Shrapnel?s salacious comment seemed to only further frustrate Bombshell?s hunger, and for that alone was enough to amuse the obsidian stalker.

With a frenzied fervor Kickback?s mind danced with the possibilities, ?CHCKT-Stripping her to her base components and making her watch as we feast upon her alive, and there is nothing she could do? Her terror, her fear makes the core only sweeter-Sweeter I say?

In unison a trio of Reflectors ?I don?t know which is worse, their insipid banter or the hideous munching noises they make when they eat??

Glaring back at their watchdogs, Bombshell smiled to his comrades and all three of them flew off, ?SKRAT- this should get their attention?

?Where? ?Are They? ?Going??

KA-THOOM

The blast sends splinters of steel and rock in every direct and throws all three Reflectors back several yards, but the blast door appears to still be standing. Astonished Kickback nears the door for further investigation, only to immediately launch himself out of the way of the doors as they blow outwards. One of the doors sails into the sky and knocks Shrapnel to the ground as the other one makes terminal force upon the center Reflector shattering his body and again sending his brethren to the ground.

?Ahem?? A smile stretched from ear to ear on Slag as he cleared his throat, quite pleased with the chaos he had already begun. As his hulking frame cleared the doorway, smoke poured out around him. The first thing to catch his eye was the staggered Reflectors trying to again get to their feet. Before either of them could draw their weapon and fire, Slag had already targeted The one on the left, cracked another smile, this time it was followed by him belching forth a cone of fire, and before the smoke was cleared one Reflector stood alone, beside a puddle of glass, silicone and metal that had been his equal. Slag Smiled again, even more pleased with these results in a coy rasped voice, ?Excuse Me??

A squadron of Insecticon drones then swarmed down around Slag as he let loose with a barrage of fire bolts and steady streams of flame from his mouth engulfing most in a cascade of carnage. ?West Gate, open and secure, go time!?

From the corridor behind Slag a flash of Silver and red sped off and up the mountain trail to the Comm Tower, Shrapnel recognizes the threat of reinforcements and takes off after Swoop, ?That one?s mine-mine? and transformed and sped off in pursuit with Kickback not too far behind.

Bombshell had turned his attention to the South Gate, which was already faltering as dozens of Autobots where struggling with the massive number of drones and where ready to storm the gate. It was at this time he saw what he passed off as his probability cortex gltching. Was there a ripple in a sea of soldiers? Then he saw it again, only stronger. It was a warning. Sludge has arrived.

With every gun at his disposal blazing and every step causing shockwaves literally throwing his opponents into chaos, an almost solemn and constant chant was muttered by the giant, ?I.. Will.. Protect.. Them..? at a slow and steady pace he cleared paths for those that had been isolated to get back to the cover of the gate to regroup. Tailgate, Swerve, Pipes, Outback and Hubcap all saved by the savage, yet gentle giant. Once they were clear of him, the true attack began. In an impossible feat, Sludge leapt up into the sky and spiraled to the ground in his wake, a earthquake that would leave even Rumble in awe of it?s magnitude. Again with his feet planted on the ground the Vulcan cannons on his shoulders taking aim and clearing the drone army masses. The average shot from his assailants was of little concern to him either from lack of effect against his heavy armor or out of the focus of his goal.

Bombshell began to worry, ?SKRAT-This was not part of the deal, nor the plan-plahn? his worry soon passed. It was the least of his problems. His midair loft was broken when a gold spike dug into his chest. He traced the line attached to it to the farthest wall near The East Gate. ?Impossible-ible?

?Get over here?? Snarl challenged as he recalled the cable spike, which was now barbed within Bombshell?s chest. Panicked, in his decent Bombshell began to fire cerebro shells at his wayward adversary. With each incoming shell and drone Snarl effortlessly dispatched or deflected them with even the slightest move of his blade. Which Bombshell was certain he would meet his end on if he didn?t think fast. Quickly he commanded all the drones to attack in mass as he emptied his entire supply of shells towards Snarl. Bombshell was successful, while his drone failed to overpower Snarl they did leave an opening for one shell to make contact and one drone managed to cut the towline, or to be exact, Snarl cut the line when he cleaved the drone. Bombshell was confident he now had the advantage, as weak willed and unintelligent as the Dinobots had been there was little chance he could fail. Upon activating the cerebro shell his mind linked with Snarl?s. This was what many would consider a big mistake. Bombshells mind filled with shattered images that overloaded his entire cortical processor, a black gate appeared before him and he saw the beginning the end and all possibilities. The view from the world was Bombshell convulsing and screaming unintelligible chants, in the process literally tearing himself apart. ?I see you saw, what I saw, be it said I am the merciful one.? Snarl?s requiem to Bombshell, with one foot upon the Insecticon?s chest so that there would be no flaw in striking his lasercore, the madness was silenced, and with it the drones of Bombshell fell into a rabid fit, attacking everything, friend and foe alike. Viewing the carnage and chaos he spawned Snarl looked to the skies, ? I see my darkness has spread.? Override, Dogfight and Backstreet joined his side to keep back the swarm.

As Swoop neared the Comm Tower Blaster had already began evacuation procedures after seeing the commotion down below. Cosmos had already been briefed of the situation and was en route should a mass evacuation be necessary. ?Hey there, Flash you got two bogies on your tail, Blurr and I will give you cover fire ?til ya can get in here.?
?Swoop, not Flash, Swoop just need altitude? Swoop snapped back
Confused Blurr and Blaster shared a look then took aim on the enemies closing in on Swoop ?Well, flyboy we gotcha covered come on in? Without a breaking his max speed Swoop accelerated up the loading entry ramp and took flight through the observation window. In a crossfire Kickback had a blow out and rolled off and collided with the closing blast door, Shrapnel however made it past and in the process clipped Blaster throwing him into the broadcast array amplifying the already sounding alert. Determined to not be outdone Shrapnel followed Swoop?s example then transformed to gain on him in robot form during his free fall, unfortunately for Shrapnel, this was the plan Swoop had from the beginning. In freefall Swoop activated his Electromagnetic generator, allowing him to maneuver thanks to Shrapnel?s own body and ultimately do a magnetic bond to Shrapnel causing his systems to short out and giving Swoop just the vehicle for his entrance, right through the middle of the mass leading to Ravage. With a bombardment of cluster bombs clearing the way and a spray of energy from his machinegun Swoop turned to the weapon he loved because it stuck at the very core of the his enemies fears, his scythe and spear made clearing the army all too easy and what of poor Shrapnel? He had become magnetized, while nothing fatal, it was a problem with all the live ammo flying about as well as the pardon the pun but shrapnel accommodated by the battlefield, he was made all but immobile. He did what he thought was the smart thing and played dead. Unfortunately he didn?t know about the feeding frenzied state the Bombshell drones where in. Swoop chuckled at the sound of one muttering that sounded like ?a little heavy on the electron-ehlectrons?

Blurr helped Blaster to his feet and surveyed the damage to the tower and began to receive a faint signal. ?Hello? Hello? Uh, Is there anybody out there?? the signal faded in and out. ?Cosmos! We hear ya! Rodger me wilco hello, hello? Can you hear me you lil? green sombrero?? Blaster pleaded with the shattered equipment ?We are evacuating the tower are retreatin? into the outpost, copy that lil guy?? After a few dead seconds Cosmos retorted with ?Understood, but, uh, recent changes have made your, uh, comments obsolete, OVER?? Once again Blaster and Blurr shared a look of confusion and mounted the skiff to get into the dome. ?openingproceduresandallequipmentsecurereadytodepart.? Prattled off Blurr, whom Blaster had been glad was distracted enough to not been talking constantly for the last twenty minutes opposed to the prior three days. The blast doors opened and they began to depart when just past the doors Blurr was tackled off the skiff by Kickback. Already underway at full speed there was little Blaster could do for his comrade, so he dispatched Rewind, Eject, Steeljaw and Ramhorn to aide Blurr. ?getoffgetoffgetoff? sputtered Blurr under the grip of his assailant. ?CHCKT- and you Autobots complain about the Insecticon speech?? Kickback spat to the blue Autobot as he parted his lips revealing thousands of mecha fangs ?I wonder if you are any sampling of your sister, Arcee?? With that comment, Blurr?s panicked fear faded to anger and disgust and as swiftly as he could he placed several blows to the insidious Insecticon?s arms and face loosening his death grip. Now on their feet Kickback swept in with a mach kick only to completely miss his mark, confused he turn to see a blue blur that he didn?t even have time to think of as Blurr?s fist collided with his faceplate shattering several rows of teeth. Blurr turned to see his reinforcements witness his personal victory. ?Nice, now, let?s blow this joint,? Eject nodded in the direction of the Dome. The five of them then sped off to catch up with the skiff and disappeared into the safety of the besieged outpost.


?Where is your mighty Leader? Where Grimlock?? Ravage taunted to the crimson scout now joined by a few Autobots that sped ahead to support the assault. Backstreet, Cloudraker and Fastlane where ready for anything. They where almost as surprised as the Reflectors around Ravage that shrieked ?He?s? ?Attacking us? ?From behind!!? Ravage didn?t even turn to see the steel warrior barrel through his defenses.

Ravage kneeled down on one knee as if to await the promised deathblow, ?I see you have come to fulfill your pledge to me.? Ravage still refused to face Grimlock who now towered over his shoulder. Grimlock remained silent. ?You promised me that the next time you saw me you?d kill me.? With each word Grimlock?s Rage boiled ever hotter, but he could not find the will to raise his sword ?You?re not afraid are you, perhaps the great and powerful GRIMLOCK is a coward!? Ravage smiled as he finally felt the energy crackling off of Grimlock?s thermal sword just behind his head. ?Come now, if you don?t kill me then you fail, and you failed because you are a failure. THEY DIED BECAUSE YOU FAILED THEM!!!? and like a power keg Grimlock?s rage exploded in the form of a sword slash that would part the heavens above.

The events that follow are pieced together as best reports can follow.
What many heralded the turn in the tide, may have marked others to their doom?

While the strike did hit Ravage it did no lasting damage to him. The energy that Grimlock exerted through his sword seem to have backwashed into himself, causing another transformation, which again arched into the now joined forces of the Dynobots, each one of them fell to the ground, writhing in pain as Ravage stood it was now Grimlock who was kneeling before him, no longer silver and black his body was adorned in red and gold. Ravage then turned to address the other Dynobots they too had recovered and where also knelling before him also adorned in red and gold. With a single gesture of his hand Ravage beckoned them forward, ?Rise, Noble Predakings, I release you upon to this world??

Ravage called out to the Autobot encampment, ?Hear me. Autobots! They are again lost to you!! Brave Grimlock, is now Lord Razorclaw! Bow before him and he may be merciful and kill you quickly. Sludge is no more he is Headstrong the brute of the south, and will leave no wall standing. Swoop once again is known as Divebomb, scourge of the skies. While there is no real change to his demeanor Slag has become Tantrum. Lastly, Snarl is now Rampage, where there was pity and self-hatred now pulses a core of pure bloodlust. Remember these names Autobots they will be your destroyers. ATTACK!? Acting almost of one mind the Predakings decimated the ground troops who only moments ago where their allies.

In the skies above, a small ship closed in on the dome, salvation, thy name is Cosmos. Just in the nick of time. Inside the complex everyone was scrambling, save for Kup, and Springer whom where in the act of convincing Ultra Magnus to not stay and confront the Predacons. Kup pleaded, ?Listen, Lad. I?ve been in enough tough scrapes to know which ones you gotta leave from, and right now this is one of them.? Springer added? Yeah, Kup?s got a point, throwing your life away isn?t going to change anything, right now we need a leader not a hero, got it?? Magnus retorted with ?I-I?m no leader? A small orange Autobot that had been clinging to Kup?s side piped in ?the base is shot, you?re the best we got.? Stopping Arcee, ?Lass, can you please, load this tyke somewhere safe?? Springer in a playful manner, ?Heh, Try inside the thrusters.? Earning a stern glare from the rose tinted Autobot.

?I hate to admit it but the kid has a point, your safety is now my priority not this outpost. Blaster, sound the launch? Magnus boarded the ship ?we lost so many today?Warpath, Hubcap, Pipes, Backstreet, Tailgate, Dogfight, Cloudraker, Fastlane and Override. Punch has gone missing as well as? Where?s Mirage??

?Sorry guy?s I had something I had to take care of? Mirage?s usual soft tone seemed labored. Cosmos reported in, ?I, uh, picked him up just outside the, uh, dome, turns out he might, uh, have something we can use?? on cue Mirage began his report? I got the cortical box off of the primary Bombshell, turns out he saw something inside Snarl?s head that messed him up, I think if Wheeljack and preceptor can get into it and find out what, we can figure out exactly what we?re up against??

Trying to comfort those still in shock of the events at hand Magnus finally speaks ?Alright, we?ll all meet up on Moon Base 2 with Optimus Prime and plan what to do from here?
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