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Kolkular - Emergency Powerplant A-1

Razorclaw waited patiently as Tantrum connected one of his extra fuel tanks to the power coupling and then siphoned energon into the old generators. The Predacon Commander was accustomed to waiting, as he often did when stalking his prey during battle. However, time here was of the essence and things needed to move along quickly, especially since Shockwave, himself, was overseeing how things progressed.

Razorclaw then received a transmission from Rampage, who was itching to rip something apart. >>"No, Rampage, we are fine down here. Hold your position. If anything appears that requires your destructive talents, I'll be sure to let you know."<<

The Predacon Commander then returned his attention to the situation at hand as Tantrum completed his task. "Excellent." Razorclaw then turned towards Shockwave, who was waiting by a small terminal along the far wall. "My subordinate's task is 100% complete, my lord. He had infused the systems with one fuel tank worth of energon. I will now attempt to activate the generators."

Razorclaw approached a large switch nearby and pushed it into the up position. With a loud hum the generators came to life as energon flowed through the necessary systems, bringing terminals back online as the dark room became illuminated with light. "The generators seem to be functioning well, Lord Shockwave. You should be able to access your terminal without a problem."

"Satisfactory," Shockwave replied with the same characteristic lack of emotion in his answer as had been in the question. Indeed, additional indicators were alerting him to the fact that the energy transfer had been accepted and he could begin rerouting at least some of the energy that had been recycled in to the system.

"Imperative: proceed with original directives. Engage blast doors using current command codes. Armaments will prove unnecessary unless certain variables change. Refuel as required. Energon purity standards are at less than 73.09873%. Adapt accordingly."

Shockwave backed away from the terminal and prepared to move onward.
___

Rampage's fist slammed in to a nearby pile of debris, but that was the extent of his frustration for now. He had hoped that Razorclaw and the others would run in to something which would require his own specialized brand of assistance. Oh well, the orn wasn't finished yet.

>>"I hear you,"<< Rampage grumbled back.

Transforming, he scrambled up to the crest of a nearby hill and perched himself on top so that he could get a better look at their surroundings.

Kolkular - Emergency Powerplant A-1

Razorclaw nodded as Shockwave spoke in an emotionless tone. “As you wish, my lord,” the Predacon Commander responded before opening a comm line to his team:

>>”Predacons, the generators are operational and we are preparing to move onward through the fortress city. If you require a recharge then enter the power plant immediately and engage your fuel cells to one of the generators. Bear in mind, however, the purity of the energon is less than 73%. Adjust your systems as needed. Once you are done, or if you do not need a recharge, meet myself and Shockwave at the blast doors. We will move out in one breem.”<<

Razorclaw then cut the comm line and hooked himself up to the nearest generator. After a quick flow of energon topped off his fuel cells, he re-calibrated his systems to accept the lower purity levels. The Predacon leader then approached the large set of blast doors that would lead further into Kolkular. He quickly accessed the control panel and entered the appropriate command codes. A loud squealing sound could be heard as the huge doors parted in the center and slowly inched their way open.

Once they were fully apart, Razorclaw drew out his sword and carefully passed through the exit way. Shockwave had mentioned that the need for weapons would not be necessary, but the Predacon Commander did not want to take any chances. There could be all sorts of mechanical vermin lurking around down in these long deserted corridors just waiting to strike. It was better to be overly cautious than willfully unprepared.

Razorclaw finished scanning the empty corridor ahead before returning his gaze back to Shockwave. “The way is clear, my lord. We can move out shortly once my team is recharged.”

***

Divebomb and Headstrong received their commander's transmission and wasted no time entering the power plant. The journey for them and the others had already been a long one and there was still much distance left to travel. Therefore, the two Predacons decided it would be wise to recharge now rather than risk running out of energy before they arrived at their destination. Once Divebomb and Headstrong had topped off their fuel cells, they made the necessary adjustments to their systems and then joined Razorclaw and Shockwave over by the blast doors.

Kolkular - Emergency Powerplant A-1

Rampage was ready as soon as he got the call from Razorclaw. His instincts told him that the surrounding area was calm. He wasn’t picking up anything that could be perceived as a threat. Not yet, anyway. The more exciting path lay below. Even as a warlord, Rampage had told his underlings to stay away from the deeper levels of Cybertron. Sentience existed there that was unlike anything that functioned on the surface.

>>”On my way,”<< Rampage quickly commed back, before leaping down from his metallic hill and padding along the debris-strewn path that would take him back to where the Predacon Commander and the others were.

This was far from the most idyllic period of Cybertron’s history. Such desolation and stasis were foreign to the existence of the energetic Predacon. He missed the days when destruction and conquering actually returned some kind of substantial gain, be it energy or territory—or both. On Cybertron, in its current state, that would only get you another vorn’s worth of functioning. He was ready though. The Decepticon Command always had bigger plans, just as Razorclaw himself usually did. They would make something out of this land of nothing. Eventually.

As he closed in, he saw some other members of his team topping off their fuel reserves. That they were even able to do that was a good sign. It wouldn't be good for the first thing that decided to cross them, though.

"We earned this," Rampage said, despite the fact that they were getting sub-grade quality energon. It was better than nothing.

Shockwave did not verbally acknowledge Razorclaw’s response. It was understood that a certain, minimal amount of time would be allotted for the purposes of recharging fuel reserves now that they had been able to satisfactorily bring these anterior generators back online. Shockwave had calculated that maintaining their output even at the current, paltry-grade energon that was being produced would not be able to be sustained for any significant length of time. That, however, was not a primary objective of their mission, either, so Shockwave had quickly turned his attention to back to the operation at hand.

Stepping away, there was a shrill, metallic cry and an unfamiliar crunch underneath the purple mech’s feet. The cycloptic Decepticon looked downward to notice that a cyber-rat had managed to find itself unfortunately, and fatally, underfoot, no doubt attracted to the increased energy signatures in the area, amongst other potential lures. Shockwave bent over slightly, examining the creature more closely. In another time, it would have been unheard of for a creature such as this to be found anywhere near the functional levels of a Decepticon power source. It showed no major signs of exterior wear, indicating that it had avoided the more corrosive aspects of Cybertron’s atmosphere for some time. If cyber-rats had managed to infest the area, there were likely other mechanisms that had managed to do so.

Continuing forward, it was not long before Shockwave approached the vicinity of Razorclaw and the other Predacons, all in various stages of refueling.

“Declarative: sufficient time has been allotted. We will proceed onward immediately. We are unlikely to be the only sentient mechanisms within the facility. Current threat level—insignificant.”

Kolkular - Emergency Powerplant A-1

Razorclaw nodded as Shockwave finished speaking in his typical logical manner. “Agreed, my lord.” The Predacon Commander then turned to address his team. “Let’s finish up, Predacons! We’re moving out now! I will take the lead at the front. Rampage, you and Tantrum will cover the rear. Make sure nothing sneaks up on us from behind. I want everyone to keep your optics open for any vermin that we will likely encounter. Some may be larger than others. Although, I’m sure there’s nothing down here that we all can’t handle. Power has for the most part been restored to the main pathway we will transverse in order to reach the command hub, but it will still be dark in many areas, so be alert.”

Keeping his sword at the ready, Razorclaw then turned and moved towards the opened blast doors, exiting into the sparsely lit hallway that led away from the power plant. The Predacon Commander wasted no more time and continued onward down the corridor, assuming that the rest would follow. It would take a few cycles to reach the command hub as it was a good distance from their current location. However, if they maintained a steady course through the pathways of the fortress city, they could arrive at their destination sooner than expected and thus expedite their mission to a more practical degree.

Kolkular - Emergency Powerplant A-1

"On it," Rampage said, as he nodded his understanding of Razorclaw's intent. Given where they were going, it was just as likely that they might run in to some sort of threat from the rear just as much as the front, and that suited Rampage just fine. It had been too long since he'd had any real chance to explore these--or any, really--areas of Cybertron.

Rumors were rampant among many in the Decepticon ranks about the sorts of sentient life that still existed on Cybertron. Life that had managed to survive the shutdown. Digging deep. Burying itself in to the deepest reaches of the planet. Kolkular had been situated in an area of Cybertron that had been chaotic long before the planet ever went dark. Rampage could only imagine what might await them now.

Kolkular - Approaching the Command Hub

The trip to the command hub had taken a bit longer than Razorclaw had anticipated. The pathway was long and winding with some areas either partially or completely blocked with debris and thus had to be cleared. It was nothing the Predacons couldn't handle, but it slowed things down considerably. At one point, the group reached a small bridge that was half destroyed. Fortunately, the side that still stood could support the weight of a single mech and thus each carefully crossed one at a time.

Now they were almost to their destination as the command hub was finally in sight at the far end of the corridor. Razorclaw remained out in front with his sword at the ready while Rampage and Tantrum watched their backs. Suddenly, the Predacon Commander stopped, raising his free hand in the air to signal the others to follow suit. Razorclaw sensed something. There was something moving close by.

As if fueled on pure instinct alone, Razorclaw reacted almost before the huge cyber-rat had leapt at him from the darkness of a nearby vent. The Predacon leader spun around to his right side and slashed at the metal creature with his sword, cleaving it right in two. It was a swift move that caught even his own Predacons off guard.

"Cyber-rat. A big one, too. Looks mutated," Razorclaw said, standing over the twitching remains. "It must've been drawn out by the energon we infused into the pathway. I'm surprised we haven't encountered any other vermin until now." The Predacon Commander peered around the corridor, searching for any more rats. Then the sounds of scurrying creatures within the walls began to grow steadily around them followed by the unmistakable squeals that cyber-rats tended to give off when agitated. "Stay sharp, Predacons! There appears to be more on the way. We should move quickly. Let's go!"

Razorclaw hurried down the corridor to the heavy blast doors that protected the command hub. He quickly accessed the control panel to the left side and entered the appropriate codes into the system. It took a moment for the doors to respond, but they finally parted down the center and slowly slid open. Razorclaw then turned to address Shockwave. "My lord, we have access to the command hub. I will go in first to ensure that nothing is already inside."

Razorclaw turned with his sword at the ready and cautiously entered the command hub. His presence tripped the motion sensors which in turn activated the overhead lights. It was still somewhat dark as the amount of infused energon had already been spread thin. The Predacon Commander scanned the immediate area and picked up nothing moving either mech or vermin. He then looked back over his shoulder. "Commander Shockwave, the room is clear. We can begin whenever you are ready."

Kolkular--Command Hub

Shockwave took note of the second, now larger, cyber-rat that he had encountered while traversing these corridors, having been left dysfunctional at the expert actuators of Razorclaw. The first one could have been attributed to a simple stray that had wandered too far in search of sustenance. Two, however, indicated—at best—a minor infestation somewhere on the premises. That also meant that there could be auxiliary energy sources upon which they had not yet capitalized. That remained a secondary concern for the time being. The current primary objective was the acquisition of mechaforming data that had long ago been locked away deep within Kolkular’s subsystems by Megatron. As he stepped past Razorclaw, he intended to acquire it in the most efficient manner possible.

“Satisfactory,” is all the purple mech said for the moment as he approached the primary control station. He took a moment to reroute the subgrid of energy that was currently maintaining the level of illumination in the room into the hard drive backup systems, so that his work would not be jeopardized by any sudden power surges. He then attached himself to the mainframe, so that it could draw from his own nuclear generator if power levels suddenly became critical for any reason.

“Declarative: it is a statistical likelihood that Cybertron’s native life forms may have instinctually located energy sources too small to have registered as anything of significance on a standard sensory sweep. Imperative: have your subordinates investigate this possibility to determine whether or not this is so, and eliminate whatever might stand in your team’s way, Razorclaw. You will remain in the command hub.”

Shockwave recognized the possibility that there may be more dangerous life on Cybertron than cyber-rats that still remained functional. He also understood that there would be no unit on Cybertron better equipped to deal with them than the Predacons.

Kolkular - Command Hub

"Pfft. Cyber-rats. *snort*" Headstrong grunted and stepped one that had had the gall to come too close to the Predacon.

"Why do we even bother with something so insignificant?" He asked, turning to look at Razorclaw.