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Thanatos - Hangar

Starscream transformed and landed, his escorting duty having been completed. He didn't talk to anyone and didn't bother going in the midst of the other Decepticons. He knew there would be heavy foot traffic once the others exited Astrotrain. None of them knew how close they came to getting wiped out.

Starscream looked around to see who was on staff on the monstrous space cruiser, if Razorclaw kept security tight or if he could come and go without being noticed. He knew there were surveillance systems, but those could be dealt with. Taking out guards was a different matter. And for what Starscream was planning to do, he wanted no witnesses.

He didn't notice any guards posted, nor anyone else noticing him, so he started to walk away from the hangar's main space, towards one of the many corridors leading into the other parts of the Thanatos.

Astrotrain

"Crueljaw, please bring Feedback and escort Landgrab, Mal and Shockwave to the Commanders private lab, rearm and then you can relax as necessary. You did good down there, more than earned your energon on that job. We've just got to get the commander safe and then we can all clock off for a while. If Battletrap is paying attention then he can follow, but outside of the team the lab remains sealed on Shockwaves orders."

Crueljaw finally realised that feedback was hanging from his back after his quick transformation he poked a finger up under thrust's nose assembly. His optics boring into Thrust's chassis like a fusion drill he spoke with venom.

"You threaten a member of my team again and we'll see how long your new found courage lasts"

The hulking bodyguard turned and moved towards the exit but not before reaching around and lifting the mangled wreck of Feedback around to his shoulder. The comm jockey sat snug on his shoulder like he had on earth prior to being fixed then put back into stasis.

"it seems to be a permanent resting place for this idiot boss"

He then noted Shockwave rising from Landgrab and stalking off into the depths of the warship after disembarking as Landgrab looked around at various all star upper echelon decepticons that where moving around.

"Yeah they are intimidating that's for sure. Come on we get R&R to enjoy shockwave has got himself mobile"

The bodyguard turned and stomped to the exit of Astrotrain he patted the back of his wrecked colleague.

"Come on Feedback lets blow this sardine can"

Thanatos--Hangar

>>Well buddy, looks like you made a good impression with our new Supreme Commander. I hope he will remember what little I did for you and the rest of us by topping off your tanks but doubt it. There are times I wonder if us fuelers get neglected until they come crawling on their hands and knees for a drop of energy when they are on fumes. Since you are now buds with Razorclaw, do remember to put in a good word for all of us Triple Changers. By the way, did you leave the pest on its home planet or did it catch a ride with us up here? If that contaminant is on this ship, it won't last long.<<

Astrotrain could hardly believe what he was hearing; compliments from Octane? Had the Fallen won? Were they in the Allspark now?

No, wait. Astrotrain quickly realized that there was something else at play. Octane had clearly picked up on what it meant, potentially, for all three of the triple-changers given the fact that he had made a good impression on their new leader.

Status going up.

Astrotrain supposed that if he was going to let any other Decepticons ride the coattails of his job well done, it would be Octane and Blitzwing.

"Yeah, don't worry. It's gonna be a new age of prosperity for all of us. Megatron had his favorites. Razorclaw will surely have his. And I'm in a good position to be one of them, now."

Except for the minor detail that Octane had added. Yes. Pfeh. His passenger. The thing was becoming even more of an encumbrance now than he had originally imagined it would be. And all because he had tagged along on one of Ramjet's little nonsense whims and got them all spotted.

"Yes. It appears to be...be...hmm...unconscious? Vital signs are stable. I believe the creature is in stasis. I'll figure out what to do with it..."

Thanatos – Hangar, inside Astrotrain

"Brawl, buddy..." he nudged the giant tank who currently towered in his usual menacing-without-trying way over his green Constructicon ward and muttered quietly "...you don't think that Onslaught'll try and make us Combaticons do the same as that Devastator thing do you?"

He lowered his voice further, not wanting his unit commander to overhear.

"...only, I've may have overcharged him for his missiles one or two hundred times, and he'd kill me if he found out..."

With Long Haul either too afraid to speak up or just still out of his senses, Brawl turned his attention to someone who actually was attempting catch his attention instead being subject to this awkward attempt of apologizing he had been trying to pull off.

Except. As Swindle would soon learn again – not quite as quietly as the munitions expert would have liked.

“Of course he will! Anything to make us stronger than the others!” Brawl rejoiced over the idea of a giant Combaticon smashing through their enemies appearing in his head, being inspired by Swindle's words. The whole concept was way over his head but Brawl had certainly been impressed by Devastator's immense size and might.

Really, it was a miracle how Swindle had forgot Brawl's inability to comprehend the idea of hushing, whispering or any other attempt of generally trying to keep quiet.

“You have overcharged Onslaught for his missiles?!”

Thanatos – Hangar, inside Astrotrain

Back on Thanatos. Finally something more... stable? Changeless? Normal? Bah, something less crazy than a slagging demigod straight out of ancient Cybertronian lore and his magically buffed heralds. The old war horse had served the Decepticon Empire in one form or another for well over 4 million years and it wasn't even in the middle of the worst disrepair it had seen during its long service career. It had been made to last, serviced with care and kept upgraded with state of the art equipment in every possible turn. And yet, the foundation was almost as old as the Great War itself and that brought a feeling of stability even to someone like Motormaster.

“Get your repairs boys,” the large Stunticon brute growled at his men as he stood up and headed for the exit, “I'll have a chat over your performance today later.”

There was someone else entirely in his mind right now. Someone who demanded his attention far more than the rest of the bunch. And that someone was Drag Strip.


Sometime later, in the med bay.

“Where he is?! Where the slag is Drag Strip?!”

Hangar

Scrapper watched his newly appointed supreme commander warily as he wished him to rest up and hoped him a safe recovery. Every part of him knew he was being fed false security so that the lion-former could lower his guard and possibly try and acquire secrets to the Devastator project. Still, had to maintain a positive appearance for the rest of the Decepticons. You lower your guard just the slightest, show you have or crave power, and they knock you down the ladder a few reins.

"Thank you, my lord. May your repairs be as swift as ours." Scrapper replied as Razorclaw turned and exited the Triplechanger. The Constructicon engineer looked to Long Haul who was somewhat staggering back to his feet. "Doing okay there Long Haul?"

"Yeah... Think so." The transporter responded rubbing the back of his processor. "Woke up then knocked down again. What's up with that?"

"Think we have some jealous friends now." Scrapper stated looking out the cargo bay doors of Astrotrain's shuttle mode. "Think you could give me a lift to the med bay?"

"Thousands of stellar cycles carrying around your building materials and now I'm stuck carting you around." Long Haul quipped as he lent a hand to the slouched and dysfunctional Constructicon commander. "'Ere, lean up on the wall best you can and I'll see if I can shift to my other mode. You can just lay in the bed."

The green Decepticon then slowly converted into his dump truck alternate mode, the metal and gears shifting clanging more loudly than usual before he finally set down in vehicle mode. Scrapper then nudged himself into Long Haul's trailer bed and let the transporter carry him out towards the medical facilities.

"Constructicons! Let's move out for repairs!"

-

"Hey Swindle," Vortex spoke up from the crowd of Decepticons wading through the hangar bay as he walked over to where the munitions expert and Brawl were standing, "Got any clever hiding spots for brainiac here?"

-

Cloudbreaker strode off the boarding ramp and stretched his arm servos out to the side. Felt good to get out of that cramped shuttle mode of Astrotrain's, only to return to the cramped confines of the warship again. Still, arm room was arm room.

"I'm fragging parched..." The thief muttered under his breath shortly after stepping off the ramp and wasting no time in locating both Darkfire and Crueljaw. Suppose he was part of a team or something now, having been assigned to their group prior to the mission. Probably wasn't a safe bet to just go off on his own accord at the moment, not when the tension in the air was so thick you could cut it a piece of rusted scrap metal.

-

Soundwave emerged from his smaller and more inconspicuous alternate mode and debarked from Astrotrain's cargo hold shortly following the rest of the Decepticons who left prior to him. The belittled chattering of every Decepticon filled his highly tuned audio sensors, though the chatter wasn't important enough to make note of. For now, he had business to attend to with Flamewar. Her previous communication did not go unnoticed by the blue and white Decepticon.

>>"The facilities and corridors on this ship will once again be filled and crowded. We can't afford anyone to stumble in on our conversation."<< the communications officer pondered a safe locale for their rendezvous as he quietly strode past the mass of Decepticons in the hangar as he walked towards the corridors. >>"The outer hull of the ship. I'll start making my way there."<<

As Soundwave walked into the corridor, Buzzsaw grabbed the severed seeker head by the wires protruding from where his neck formerly met his processor and rocketed high into the rafters of the Hangar Bay.

"Poor slagger is about to run dry..." The yellow and black condor whined as he tried to siphon off the remaining energon from the exposed tubing.

-

Blitzwing leaned up against a metallic and crossed his arms over his chest as he awaited for Astrotrain to walk over after he finished letting the rest of the Decepticons to offload from the ride home. The commando was still disgruntled his tank-dropping tactic back on Earth didn't play out like he had planned. Sure you could count that they won the battle, but at the same time Blitzwing's hit or miss record just added another tally to the miss ratio.

"Pfffft. Fleshies." Blitzwing added to the conversation his fellow Triplechangers were in. "I say you just build it a little cage. I know your space faring trips can get lonely, a pet who be nice to have wouldn't it?" Though he spoke towards Astrotrain in regard to his softer cargo, the commando did not bother to face his fellow Decepticon as he continued to stare towards the floor with folded arms and a lower lip that pushed out further than its usual resting spot.

Stupid frakkin' Fallen. Damn Autobots with their fraggin' whatsits and... Gaaaahhhh!!

Medical Bay

"Where is he?! Where the slag is Drag Strip?!"

Knock-Out froze in his repairs, his hands still buried deep in Vertigo's processor when the Motormaster barged into the medical facility. His optical sensors rapidity fluctuated as if he were blinking in astonishment at the sight.

"Uhh...Di-He uh..." The Crimson and gold doctor sputtered as he was at a lost for words. He pulled one of his hands from his repair work and gazed at his wrist as if he were looking at watch. "My you guys got back sooner than I expected..."

Thanatos- Medical Bay

Vertigo jumped a bit as Knockout pulled his hand from the surveillance specialist's processor, bumping a sensitive spot just enough to cause a surge of pain but no damage."Ouch..." He muttered softly.
However, the normal sling of insults for having caused him even the slightest bit of pain had not even entered the Seeker's processor as Motormaster's entrance in the med bay meant something infinitely more important to Vertigo than his comfort. Astrotrain had landed and Starscream was on board the Thanatos.
"Lock On, they're back!" He said in an excited whisper.

"I'll get the confetti." Lock On grumbled in a deadpan tone.

"I'll send a communique to the Commander right awa-" Vertigo began but was cut of by his brutish comrade.

"I'll do it." Lock On muttered. "After all, you have a head injury..." He gave his friend a sarcastic smile as he opened a comm to their Commander. "Commander Starscream... it's Lock On, I'm one of of your Seekers. You know, the trigger happy one, always following the overbearing one with the surveillance drones..." Lock On seemed to think he was not memorable, or at least far less memorable than Vertigo. "We got news Astrotrain has landed. So yeah, if you need something... Vertigo wants you to know we're free and stuff to help out."

"No no!" Vertigo said frantically. "See if he needs an escort to medical bay!"

Lock On looked at the anxious Seeker. "Settle down." He said softly. "Starscream's a big boy, he can take care of himself. If he needs medical attention, he'll come here, if not, he won't, if he needs us, he'll let us know, but he just got off that fragging stinking mud ball, let the Commander have some time. Besides... you are a mess. Do you really want to look like that when you report to him? Whatever will he think?"

Vertigo made a face. "True... I am an embarrassment, because of you...."

"Ayup." Lock On agreed, trying to keep his voice down to not disturb the very angry looking Stunticon leader. "When did I become the reasonable one?"

Hangar

"There ya go. You're pretty much back to your normal happy self 'Fire, when we rendezvous in Shockwaves lab I can complete your repairs then. I've got another job for you for now though, assuming you are interested..?"

“Haha, hilarious, Psychout,” Darkfire grumbled dryly as she rose up and hopped off of Landgrab. She stretched and tested her limbs, not immediately answering her commander’s question. After all, she didn’t want to take on a new assignment unless she was fairly sure that she could accomplish it. She waited until most of the mad rush of leaving Astrotrain had passed before disembarking herself, keeping fairly close to Psychout.

“So what’s the job, Psych?”


“Our infighting serves only the Autobots." Skullcruncher grumbled and pulled himself up as he felt Astrotrain landing into the Thanatos' hangar. “I have no interest in lingering here any longer. And no doubt Astrotrain would prefer us getting clear of him as fast as possible anyhow. I know that's what I'd want were I in his position."

“Agreed,” Weirdwolf concurred rather concisely for the verbose tracker. Following Skullcruncher’s suit, the lupine tracker departed right behind his friend, the weaker Decepticons giving his larger friend a wide berth. The pair rather easily departed from Astrotrain, Weirdwolf following where Skullcruncher led, composing poems in his head.

>>”Whatever he is up to, can't be good for the Autobots. That much I know. It wasn't like we were privy to his plans prior we were called to serve elsewhere. We are no Horrorcons after all. That being said. He'd march into this mess and seize command if he knew. I know no one stronger than Scorponok. He'd tear any of these imposters apart."<<

>>”Yes, if knew he did. The Predacon lord has our respect won, but should consider we calling Scorponok if others he cannot control?”<< Weirdwolf asked, more out of curiosity than anything else. He nodded as Skullcruncher made mention of wanting some more energon. “For the best that is. Feasting on our dwindling number unfortunate would be.” Rolling his shoulders around, he mildly thought that some time in a CR chamber would be nice, but that he didn’t immediately require it. He was still in decent shape.

Hanger- Unceremoniously Slung Across Crueljaw's Shoulder

Things were moving again... Feedback could feel it.. but this time it felt like walking. Something patted him on the back as Crueljaw's voice distantly, and muffled, was muttering something but Feedback distinctly picked out the words 'Feedback' and 'sardine can'.

Oh he didn't like the sound of that. His unconscious mind made all sorts of assumptions about what was going on, and the half information, pieced together through nearly unconscious audios made him guess only that Crueljaw was turning him into a sardine can. Slowly, his systems came online at his request, slowly.. so to piece together a picture of what was going on.

With effort Feedback brought online his optic. All he could see was someone's chestplate. Wait... this chest looked frighteningly like Crueljaw's. "Oh frag!" He moaned seeing the floor beneath him and realizing he was being carried by the bodyguard... not good... wait, floor. He was no longer on Earth... wait! Floor! He was inside something! Really not good!

Crueljaw was moving for the exit on Astrotrain, meaning, from his somewhat upside position, all Feedback could see was the inside of Astrotrain, he had no idea his 'escort' was carrying him outside of the shuttle, not that it would matter either way. All he could see was a small, cramped, tiny, little place with a very big and strong thug who really didn't like him at all. And he could hear lots of other voices. Frantically he began struggle, regardless of anything at all, he struggled. "No, no. NO!" He finally found his voice's strength and yelled as loudly as he could. "We're on ship! No... I can't do this! I can't be on a ship, no! No! No! PUT ME DOWN! I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!!!!" The sheer panic in Feedback's voice spoke volumes for his mental state, and the levels of the panic rose at each step Crueljaw took. His fuel pump was pumping wildly. He finally deduced that they were back at the Thanatos, but that didn't alleviate his panic at all. Even the Thanatos, despite it's size, still had small rooms, small corridors, smaller... close... tight... no space to move... "NO!!" In his writhing struggle he was attempting to get away from Crueljaw for many reasons, not the least of which was he was pretty sure Crueljaw had some nefarious plans including the close combat specialist's fist and the electronic warfare specialist's face.

"PLEASE let me go!" Feedback began pleading with Crueljaw, his struggling increasing as he looked around. How he thought he was going anywhere in that wrecked state, half undone with wires everywhere and not able to transform into his jet mode, was baffling.

His fears confirmed they were in the hanger in the Thanatos, where, ironically, he spent a lot of his time when he was on board the ship previously since it was the only place he knew he could get out of. But now it seemed tiny and filled with other mechs taking up all the space... all of it. Crueljaw was heading for the tiny little corridors... Feedback stepped up his frantic struggling. "STOP! PLEASE! STOP! WE HAVE TO LEAVE! PLEASE! GET ME THE FRAG OFF THIS SHIP!!!!!!!! IT'S TOO SMALL!!!!!!"

Desperately he squirmed and flailed around erratically, trying to get free from Crueljaw's hold. Wires catching on the bodyguard's armor, clawed actuators gripping at whatever crevice in the armor he could find, legs wildly kicking.

Hangar

"Constructicons! Let's move out for repairs!"

“You got it, boss!” Scavenger responded cheerfully, walking alongside Long Haul in his alternate mode. The excavator peered into the bed of his teammate’s dump truck alternate mode at Scrapper, looking more than a little uncertain. “So, uh…Boss? Where’s uh…where’s Hook goin’, huh?” he asked obliviously.

“I mean, heh, he’s not a Combaticon! He should be with us! Even if he is kinda a know-it-all…”


Wildrider watched the boss storm off toward the medical bay. Phew. Didn’t get the silent treatment for right now! So all that was really left to do was make a lotta noise before Motormaster eventually cornered him. Because he would. He always did. To all of them. Wildrider couldn’t say he envied Drag Strip at all, but hey! Better him than Wildrider.

So…what to do…what to do…Oh, hey, there was a ruckus. Some seeker being slung over some big guy’s shoulder was going nuts! “Hahaha! Hilarious! Dead End! Breakdown! Come see this guy!” Wildrider roared with laughter as he staggered off of Astrotrain. “Oh man, what a riot!”

Somewhere in the Thanatos

"Commander Starscream... it's Lock On, I'm one of of your Seekers. You know, the trigger happy one, always following the overbearing one with the surveillance drones...We got news Astrotrain has landed. So yeah, if you need something... Vertigo wants you to know we're free and stuff to help out."

The transmission came unexpectedly to Stascream. He had assumed Razorclaw put heavy surveillance and restrictions on all his Seekers. He knew the Predacon would fear that Starscream could get his own small army together and challenge him. His Seekers would surely be a large part of that. But this brought another thought to Starscream. Just how loyal are the others to me? Thrust? Ramjet? Skywarp? Thundercracker? Anyone else? I know not everyone is happy with Razorclaw's rule.

Starscream stopped and contemplated his reply. Surely he would be monitored by surveillance, he couldn't just say whatever he wanted. Besides, he wasn't sure who he could trust yet, though he had a good idea about these two.

"Lock On." he spoke quietly into his comm-link. "What is your location? Are you alone?"

Med Bay

"Lock On." he spoke quietly into his comm-link. "What is your location? Are you alone?"

"Oooo Go, the Commander responded." Lock On said nonchalantly so to annoy his team mate even further.

For once, Vertigo didn't get all excited... oddly, the Seeker remained composed and tried not to nod since Knockout still had one hand in his head. "Is he within acceptable operating parameters?"

Lock On looked at Vertigo suspiciously. "I dunno... why are you acting not giddy?" He asked.

"I'm trying to look cool and collected... just in case." Vertigo answered and then pointed to Knockout. "Plus, hand in head."

Lock On looked at Knockout and then Vertigo. The temptation to make his friend jump was overwhelming, but he resisted. >>"Uh, Commander... I'm in the med bay with Vertigo."<< He answered Starscream. >>"I shot him, by accident. He's okay, I mean, just a little head wound, Vertigo didn't even notice."<< He glanced at Vertigo who was scowling at him. An evil plan entered his mind that would, in the least, be a relief to Knockout as it would get Vertigo out of his med bay sooner. >>"Hard to be alone in here, sir. However, if you needed me, I can always leave. Vertigo is in very capable hands, I'm only here cause I had nothing better to do."<<

Somewhere in the Thanatos

Starscream thought about his options. He didn't want to make any sudden moves. He just got back. But it also wasn't good to waste time. He tried to formulate a quick plan in his head, at least figuring out what the next few steps were.

"Lock On." he spoke into his comm-link. "I have a small task for you. I need you to track down Sixshot for me. Also, just in case, and you will love this, be ready to provide cover fire for me. I have to go get Feedback."

Medical Bay

"Lock On. I have a small task for you. I need you to track down Sixshot for me."

As Starscream spoke, Lock On's optics drifted over to the CR Chamber the six changer was resting in. Easiest assignment he'd ever had. It was time for a little secrecy, even Lock On, who didn't do subtle, could see that. He switched to silent communications so no one else present would hear. >>"He's here in he medical bay, commander."<< He transmitted. >>"Taking a nap in the CR chamber."<<


"Also, just in case, and you will love this, be ready to provide cover fire for me. I have to go get Feedback."

Lock On grinned a bit at the thought of providing cover fire. >>"You got it, Commander."<< He replied. >>Let me know when and where and we're there."<<.

He looked over to Vertigo and Knockout. "Boss needs us... some stuff, but you know." He said crypticly, trying hard not to sound plotty. "You almost done with the pain in the afterburner ignitor, Doctor? I bet it's going to get crowded in here so we should be off regardless." He patted reaper. "Reaper can be fixed later, stick some duct tape on it or something...."

(ooc: ctrl said i could beat feedback)

Thantos Hangar leading to corridors

"oh frag"

With those two words moaned through a ruined faceplate alerted Crueljaw to his unwilling passengers revival. As he exited Astrotrain the incapacitated Feedback's voice started to get louder and protests where getting more and more insistent. A derisive look to his shoulder was all the attention he got at first.

Then he started to get scratchy the battered Feedback was clawing at his battered frame wires and clawed hands where starting to irritate him. Another withering look at the crumpled feedback was accompanied by a growl.

"Don't make me hurt you more than you already are"

To emphasise the point he crushed a partially standing Vehicon against the wall with his free arm leaving it embedded in the wall. When feedback didn't knock it off with the scratching and the kicking Crueljaw decided he 'd had enough. With speed that belied his side he ripped feedback from his shoulder and brought the seekers ruined face up to his faceplate level.

"SHUT UP"

Crueljaw then brutally head butted the seeker with the brutalised seeker placated he continued to Shockwaves lab and the smaller number of CR chambers that where nearby.

"Like I've not got better things to be doing than proto sitting your wrecked chassis"

Opening a nearby chamber with a delicate thump of his hand he grabbed feedback by the leg and threw him into the chamber upside down.

"Get in there you spawn of a glitch"

The hulking bodyguard then moved off towards Shockwave's lab as the door to Feedback's Cr chamber closed.

Thanatos – Medbay

“Uhh...Di-He uh..." The Crimson and gold doctor sputtered as he was at a lost for words. He pulled one of his hands from his repair work and gazed at his wrist as if he were looking at watch. "My you guys got back sooner than I expected..."

“Oh my. You think so?” Motormaster rumbled mockingly, his optics blazing in barely contained rage. Cocking his head from side to side and cracking his knuckles, the brutish Stunticon approached Knock-Out. Judging from his body language, tt was all too clear he wasn't too patient this time around.

A cruel smile etched on his chiseled facial features, Motormaster put his hands against the operating table between him and Knock-Out and leaned over it towards the smaller red Decepticon.

“I'll ask once more before I lose my cool,” the devilish leader of the Stunticons fumed. He had no dispute with the mechanic but this was not the time or the place to antagonize Motormaster further. He wanted to hurt someone. Preferably Drag Strip.

“Where is that wannabe racer who thought it was a good idea to stand up against me and betray the Decepticons by allying some madmech from prehistory?”

“I know he was brought back here.”

Thanatos – Entering the Lounge

“For the best that is. Feasting on our dwindling number unfortunate would be."

Skullcruncher's response to Weirdwolf's last comment were not words but the highly disturbing screech caused by him grinding his teeth together. It wasn't even nearly as bad as it was when he did it in beast form but fairly irritating nonetheless. And unlike in beast form, this time he did it on purpose.

“To be perfectly honest, I am pretty sure I could find a target or few who wouldn't be missed,” Skullcruncher chuckled and walked over to the unmanned counter of the Lounge and sat down on a bar stool.

“Haven't been given r&r time for a good while. Should there be like... you know, a bartender here somewhere?” he asked the smaller tracker, looking around curiously, “This place looks pretty abandoned to me. I knew this was here but I didn't think it was derelict.”

Corridors - En Route to Medical Bay

Having already left the main hangar bay, Razorclaw traversed through the corridors of the massive Decepticon warship with his Predacons close behind. There was a slight limp in his step that he attempted to conceal the best that he could. However, there was no denying that he was badly injured from his encounter with the Fallen. Both externally and internally there was damage that would need more than a CR cycle to repair. A surgeon or at the very least highly advanced medical drones would be required to get the Predacon lord into tip top shape again.

The big concern, of course, was could anyone be trusted to fix him? Would the med drones be enough to ensure proper functionality? Unlikely. His injuries would need a more careful hand than what a mere drone could provide and, as luck would have it, Psychout had just commed him, suggesting one such medical officer that was up to the task. He also suggested to meet with the new Supreme Leader to discuss Infiltration protocols, especially in the aftermath of their immense battle with the Fallen. Indeed, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to keep the humans in the dark about what had happened in Uluru. Perhaps it was now time to step up operations on the surface.

>>”Permission granted, Psychout. We will discuss Infiltration Protocols once I am healed. I look forward to hearing what you have in mind.”<<

Razorclaw then paused as he considered Psychout’s offer to have Mal Practice take a look at him. While it was risky to have only drones work on him, it would also be risky to have someone whose loyalties had not yet been firmly established. Mal seemed to be close with Shockwave, a mechanoid that Razorclaw had only recently taken the throne away from. Could this doctor be trusted or would he take the opportunity to eliminate the lion-former from the leadership equation? Razorclaw had few options as he needed to be back on his feet sooner rather than later.

>>”I accept your offer, Psychout. Have Mal Practice meet me in the medical bay in one breem. Razorclaw out.”<<

The Predacon lord was no fool, though. He would not allow Mal Practice unlimited access to him without a watchdog to keep an optic on things. One of his Predacons would suffice in that task as well as be a constant reminder to the good doctor not to try anything foolish.

Razorclaw approached the entrance to the medical facility, stopping to look back at his fellow Predacons. If there were any mechs on board that he could truly place his trust it was with his own team. No matter what he knew they could get the job done. In this situation there were more pressing concerns than just repairs to the lion-former. They also needed to maintain control of their ship. The likes of Thunderwing and Starscream could take advantage of Razorclaw’s repair time and attempt to seize the command chair for themselves. Who was currently on the bridge now? Was there anybody or just random vehicons? It was time to repopulate the bridge of the Predacon warship with actual Predacons.

“Rampage, Divebomb, Headstrong,” Razorclaw began in a deep, growling tone. “I want the three of you to head to the bridge immediately and secure it. Assume your respective stations and keep a close optic on things. Do not allow Thunderwing or Starscream access to the bridge or any of the ship’s primary systems. Divebomb, pilot the Thanatos out of Earth orbit and put us back around the far side of the moon. Tantrum, you will remain with me while I undergo repairs. Mal Practice will be joining us to work on me, so I’ll need you to keep a close optic on him while he does so.” The Predacon fueler nodded with an understanding grunt before the Decepticon Supreme Leader continued. “If the rest of you need to contact me during my time in the med bay you can do so via our secure comm line. Now move!”

Medical Bay - Secured Area

With his orders spoken, Razorclaw turned and entered the med bay with Tantrum by his side, swiftly making his way to a secured area at the rear of the facility. Here the Predacon lord hopped up onto a berth and slowly laid his battle weary body down. For the sake of security, the lion-former would not enter a CR chamber at any point and instead remain awake throughout his various repairs. He wanted to be fully aware of everything that was happening to him and around him, especially when the doctor arrived.

The fueler stood a short distance away where he remained silent as numerous medical drones began to swarm around his leader’s berth, hooking up a nanite-rich energon line to the lion-former’s arm while at the same time connecting his vitals to a monitoring machine. Tantrum kept a close optic on them, but they were not of any real concern. Mal Practice, on the other hand, would be the object of his concern. If the doctor did anything suspicious or made his commander’s vitals fluctuate in any negative way, well, then there would be issues. Maybe even a little bit of violence.

“Where is Mal, anyway? How long does it take to get here?!” Tantrum bellowed as the medical drones nearby froze in fear of the much larger mech before continuing on with their duties a moment later.

“Patience, Tantrum. The good doctor will be here shortly,” Razorclaw responded as the nanite-rich energon flowed into his systems. The healing process had begun.

Corridors En Route To Shockwave's Lab

"SHUT UP"

Crueljaw suddenly pulling him around to look face to face with the angered bodyguard quieted Feedback, coupled with the shout at him, Crueljaw briefly had his attention.

However brief it would be, though, will remain a mystery as Crueljaw headbutting him reinforced his silence for a bit longer.

Things got hazy for Feedback, not quite going out this time, but hardly what one would call alert at all. He still felt desperate and wanting off the ship but was considerably less vocal about it, at least until reaching Shockwave's lab.

Crueljaw's grumbling went unheard as Feedback watched helplessly as the bodyguard open the CR chamber. Talk about the worst possible thing! He renewed his struggle and protests, though they lacked the intensity they had not long before; his head was still reeling from Crueljaw's face meeting his. Then suddenly upside down again and dangling in front of the now open cr chamber he gave one last whole hearted protest.

"No, anything but that, please!" He protested as loud as he could, though it still lacked compared to earlier as he was slammed into the tiny, tiny, TINY little recovery unit. "Mal can repair me without that... thing..I know it!"

"Get in there you spawn of a glitch"

Recovering with an 'umf' from the throw and in his non upright position he watched helplessly as the door was closed on him. Though it was a futile attempt, Feedback still banged his fists against the cr chamber's door, near silent screams as he was enveloped by the chamber's liquid, sending him to into a very uncomfortable oblivion.

Med Bay

Knock-Out removed his other hand from the seeker's head module and swiped the final panel shut as an enraged Motormaster glared him down. He quickly nudged the seeker to go so that he had room to put the medical slab or even those two idiot 'Screamer lookalikes in between him and the Stunticon commander.

"Heh, look I didn't actually see- I mean I'm sure somebody carted him back aboard the ship..." The doctor frantically explained all while trying not to provoke the thuggish Cybertronian standing nearby.

"Oh wait! The security wing!" Knock-Out exclaimed, practically leaping as the thought entered his processor. "Yes! I recall someone mentioning a few of our warriors being dragged there. Probably your best bet!"

Primus, spare my paint job now...

Lounge

Warwolf spun his energon glass around and watched the liquid echo the circular motion as he sat leaning back in his chair at a table in far side of the room. The room was filled with a quiet ambiance that helped clear his processor, but the data pad to his left with Thunderwing's biography tab opened up only helped cloud it even more.

This guy was obviously insane, the best Decepticons typically were, and yet his credibility in the scientific fields were rather impressive to say the least. Something inside the lupine-former wanted to jump on Thunderwing's proposal... Maybe he really could clear demon inside his processor. His records showed he was more than capable of doing so, yet as great of an offer it was something didn't sit right. Was it Flamewar's training holding him back? Something about blind ambition and not easily trusting allies? Or was it something else entirely?

Bah! All this thinking was beginning to hurt. The interrogator lifted his drink and took another sip from the crooked straw. Just as he set the glass down on the table top and looked over the data pad once more, the sound of the door hissing open diverted his optics to the entering mechs.

Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf.

Their own private chatter wasn't too hard to listen in on, but Warwolf wasn't the nosey type unless he had to be. Nothing they mentioned attracted his full attention. He picked up the data pad with him new skeletal appendage and began to read over the information once again.

Continuously contemplating.

-

Needlenose dragged his feet into the lounge and stretched his servos out wide once he was clear of the door. Flying escort was not his forte and it certainly didn't help his image as some daring aerial warrior. Pushing his vanity to the side, the Decepticon approached the recently entered Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf and took notice at the lack of proper customer service.

"What gives? Long flight in and no one to welcome is back with a round of drinks?" The fashionista questioned as he rounded the corner of the bar, taking a look below the bartender's spot to see if a service drone or something had gone under for whatever reason.

"Well until an actual steward gets here, I can try my best to spruce something together..." Then gray and violet jetformer pondered looking over the various taps of synthetic energons before pivoting to face the two beast-formers taking a seat at the bar. "You two want anything?"

Med Bay

Vertigo frowned as Knockout ignored Lock On and then proceeded to violently close up his head. "Well I never...." He grumbled as Lock On ducked beneath the med berth. "The medical care around here is simply sub par. You didn't even bother fixing my wing..."

"That's mostly cosmetic..." Lock On said from under the berth. "So get out of the way."

Vertigo shook his head indignantly as Lock On grabbed him by the wing and pulled him under the berth. "Beat up the doctor anyway!!!" He shouted to Motormaster from Lock On's safe place.

"Don't taunt the large, angry mech." Lock On growled. Despite his faults, Lock On was smart enough to know; outside of the battle field; when he was outclassed, and Motormaster outclassed him and Vertigo a million times over. >>"Uh... Commander..."<< He then whispered into the comm to Starscream. >>"Things just got hot here in the med bay, Motormaster is loosing patience and looking for a fight... not the safest spot on the Thanatos at the moment. Course every one is distracted..."<<

Thanatos - en route to the Med Bay

>>"Things just got hot here in the med bay, Motormaster is loosing patience and looking for a fight... not the safest spot on the Thanatos at the moment. Course every one is distracted..."<<

The incoming transmission stopped Starscream in his tracks. He opened his comm-link.

"It's not a big problem." he said quietly. "A well-placed null ray shot to the optics will take care of that big pile of scrap. Just make sure no one removes Sixshot before I get there. I need to have a look inside his cerebral casing. You must have equipment to scan his central circuitry, correct? I need to know the last things he saw and heard, and how these codes I have give me access to his controls."

Starscream looked around as he waited for the reply. He contemplated retrieving Feedback first. It might give time for that rampaging idiot Motormaster to clear out of the med bay so Starscream wouldn't have to deal with him. But if he had to, he was ready. It would be certainly easier that dealing with Shockwave.

Thanatos: Turbolift

Thunderwing glanced down briefly at the smaller Decepticon with a small twinge of annoyance barely creeping into his features. He did not bother to hide it, instead decided to make it more of a show than what truly mattered. A carefully calculated show of schooled features, a necessity to convey upon one the idea, the delusion of superiority in supposedly discovering what was deliberately set before them. Trails of deliberately laid silicone wafer crumbs. Thus he was not at all surprised to be tailed and immediately confronted by the youthful female and ardent supporter of the currently Missing in Action Megatron.

Carefully he returned his gaze towards the brief flashes of lights that blinked through the car's forward door ports, evidence that the lift was descending towards the destination in which it had been instructed. Each set of flashing lights betrayed the deck level and how much time they had in the close confines of the car. Thunderwing had also taken this into account as he slowly stalled, allow her to believe that he was considering her very worth, whether he might silence her or simply bribe her for her cooperation. A daring strategy to play the odds in such a case, but it was the Decepticon way... a way that was entirely malleable to suit his own needs.

"You are quite observant and diligent in the duties in which you have adopted Flamewar." He finally spoke at length. Again each word was deliberate yet scripted from countless possibilities that could be employed. "To take notice of such a procurement is a decided testament to your abilities. I can see why Megatron thought so highly of you. Though I do doubt flattery has any sway upon you, unlike the likes certain... shall we say primitives."

Thunderwing remained quiet, allowing the pause to settle upon the duo as they rode towards their destination. But again he interrupted his own initiated tacit. "Though I do not have to press upon you the current status of things as they have developed in the absence of his mighty guidance." A simulated inhalation of atmosphere was sudden and almost unpredictable, had it not already been calculated as a necessity to express exacerbation at the current state of affairs on board the Thanatos. Still, he felt that thread of conversation had outlived its usefulness, other than to at least give a brief insight to a potential motive.

He once again looked down at the smaller mechanism this time his features were schooled into a more academia vestige. "As to what I intend to do with the small sample of which I collected..." He raised his hand carefully and allowed a small patch of the synthetic organic tissue to peel back. From beneath the freshly exposed metal a small compartment opened with a haunting hiss of cryogenic gas slowly swirling and evaporating into the atmosphere. A small ampule rose from the opened storage compartment, rolling gently into his fleshy palm.

Allowing only a glimpse to the contents of the ampule, Thunderwing curled his fingers around his prize. "It should be quite self evident my dear Flamewar. I intended to utilize it to begin following through with my genuine offer of good will. To liberate a fellow Decepticon from the undeserved bonds of servitude which constricts ever tighter around his neck as the noose of his oppressor grows bolder." He manipulated the ampule so it was now held in between his thumb and forefinger. "At present there is no nobler a quest than to achieve our own liberation. To remove the noose that has been placed around our own collective energon pumps, waiting for a simple nod to the gallows... sent into death and ordered to fight for our meager existence. A regrettably endless cycle, don't you think?"

He let the question hang only briefly before he allowed the ampule to slide a touch lower within his clutch. "Of course if you are content with stagnation... then I suppose Sixshot may have to resign himself with that never ending cycle as well. Waiting for the likes of Razorclaw or another petty challenger to Megatron's rightful throne to send him into another arena with the ever looming chain around his neck and their lackeys holding tight to the gallows lever."

"Pfffft. Fleshies." Blitzwing added to the conversation his fellow Triplechangers were in. "I say you just build it a little cage. I know your space faring trips can get lonely, a pet who be nice to have wouldn't it?"

Astrotrain chuckles. "And treat it as my pet? Only of you make the trips to Earth for us to feed it. I severely doubt these..." says in disgust, "humans will survive on our precious Energon." He adds in a joking tone, "Maybe our new commander will appreciate the gift. Walk up to him and say, 'Hey, look what I got you on the mudball.'"

He chuckles at this thought. He didn't think Razorclaw would actually much appreciate that. In fact, this "good impression" he had made could go down to the Pit in a sparkpulse if he did that. If he was lucky, he'd never have to go back to that Primus-forsaken "mudball" ever again. Just stay in good favor with the commander...

He realizes there are still 'Cons on him. What's taking so slaggin' long? he wonders angrily. It was hard enough to get off that planet with these fools filling his bays. The least they could do is debark ASAP. He announces through the internal coms, "Remaining Decepticons warriors. Unless you're in a high command position, get your fraggin' rust heaps out of my cargo bay."

Med Bay

"Heh, look I didn't actually see- I mean I'm sure somebody carted him back aboard the ship... Oh wait! The security wing! Yes! I recall someone mentioning a few of our warriors being dragged there. Probably your best bet!"

“Yeah. I guess that makes sense. Your hide is safe for now doc,” Motormaster smirked, backing off. Beating up one of their best mechanics was not exactly on his to-do list anyway. Such an action would only hurt their cause and draw the ire of both Razorclaw and Onslaught. Neither of the two other members of their little triumvirate would take senseless violence towards someone like Knock-Out all that well. Besides, he had just wanted to squeeze information out of narcissist little slagger and it had worked as intended.

"Beat up the doctor anyway!!!"

One of the runts hiding under a berth shouted at him. Little insignificant twerps, Motormaster couldn't even recall their names. Flyboys. Starscream's rabble. He had no interest dealing with either right now. Instead he just gave the two a murderous glare. That was ought to shut them up and make them wet their skid plates for now. If it wasn't, well – too bad for them for Motormaster was nothing but notorious in devicing diabolical ways to get back at even imaginary slights he felt being subjected at him. The more underhanded the way was, the better. He did not play fair, not even when he had all the advantages. Motormaster played to win, something that Drag Strip was painfully aware of for he owed plenty of his racing success to Motormaster's direct involvement.

Speaking of Drag Strip... he was still on the very top of Motormaster's priority list. And it was a well deserved position. He owned the Stunticons. All of them. And Drag Strip had dared to rebel? He'd put him back to his place. It was time to remind the yellow racer who was his real master. And no. It was not some ancient techno-wizard from fancy stories told to protoforms. It was Motormaster, the King of the Roads.

Which was something that soon came terrifyingly obvious to Drag Strip as his optics opened for the second time within a CR chamber where he had been floating in ever since being knocked out during the battle in Australia? For there he was. Drag Strip's worst nightmare. The black and gray devil in disguise whom the racer had made the mistake of selling his spark to so long ago. Sitting down on a berth, lazily sharpening his silvery sword while staring at him with those baleful optics. With that gleeful, wicked grin on its face.

Indeed. The second time. For Drag Strip still carried the mark of the first time. For the entire front section of his head was still caved-in from a massive impact from Motormaster's fist which had knocked him back in the CR chamber a cycle or two ago. And then there were the stab wounds down in his mid-section. Was it even the second time? Or even the third one? Or had he been in the CR chamber from the beginning in the first place? No. There was stab marks on the medical berth Motormaster was sitting on. And a caved-in spot in its other end.

The smile on Motormaster's face grew only more sinister.