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Kolkular - Command Hub

"As you command, Lord Shockwave," Razorclaw responded before giving the cycloptic mech a respectful salute. The Predacon Commander then turned around and headed back towards the doorway where his team stood at the ready. The mission Shockwave had given them was a simple one, but very important nevertheless. If there were small pockets of energy somewhere in the surrounding sectors, then it was possible that a variety of native cyber-life may have found such pockets and built nests around them in order to survive. If these creatures determined that the Decepticons' presence was a threat to them, they may attack the 'cons and jeopardize the overall mission in Kolkular. These cyber-beasts, whether they be mere rats or not, must be located and eliminated.

"Predacons, I have a new assignment for you," Razorclaw began as he stopped in front of his team. "Shockwave has determined that there is a high probability of small pockets of energon within Kolkular that our sensors were unable to pick up. The presence of cyber-rats seems to confirm this likelihood. However, there may be other lifeforms out there much larger and far more dangerous then simple vermin. You four are to investigate the surrounding sectors to determine if these small energy pockets exist and whether or not they have drawn out any cyber-beasts that may pose any kind of threat to our operation here in Kolkular. Take nothing to chance and terminate all creatures that you encounter regardless of the threat level. Be sure to destroy any nests that you find. Under Shockwave's orders, I will not be going with you and will instead remain here in the command hub for now. However, I will be monitoring your progress from here and help coordinate your efforts in the field if I feel it is necessary. Is that understood?"

Razorclaw finished speaking and locked optics with each of his Predacons. He felt no need to place one of them in charge while out on assignment as he was confident that they would all know how to work together as a cohesive unit, which they have done countless times in the past. Besides, none of them had the ability to effectively lead the unit in his absence with the exception of maybe Divebomb. However, the flier's recent failure on a simple scouting mission had given Razorclaw pause to not fully trust him to take charge on this particular operation. Perhaps if Divebomb performed well on this mission then the Predacon leader's opinion would change. Until then, Razorclaw's mind was made up.

"If there are no questions, then you are all to depart immediately," the Predacon Commander spoke to his team. "And remember, it is imperative that you are successful. Failure is not an option and it will not be tolerated by either myself or Lord Shockwave. Dismissed!"

Kolkular—Command Hub

Rampage couldn’t help but chuckle a little at Headstrong’s comment, but he stifled it quickly. Razorclaw wasn’t exactly known for his generous since of humor. The Preadon just found it amusing that the Decepticon’s premiere fighting team was being told to hunt…vermin. Not only that, but the order was coming from one of the stuffiest, logic-driven Decepticons in the whole empire. This sounded like the kind of busy-work that Starscream would give out to Seeker that had annoyed him or something. At the end of the cycle, the only reason Rampage didn’t challenge the order was because of the fact that it had come from such an otherwise rational mind. It had to make sense to him, right?

“Yeah, I pity the cyber-rat that comes too close to either of your beefy bodies,” Rampage snorted before transforming effortlessly in to his more bestial mode. “’Splat’. Heh.”

Turning up his olfactory sensors up another notch, Rampage padded off through one of the connecting corridors to the command hub. If there were any little energy pockets in the area, it only made sense that they would be close to where the major hubs of Cybertronian activity in this area were—or had once been.

"Come out, little rats," Rampage chuckled. "I won't hurt you."

Kolkular - Command Hub

*snort* "Oh aren't you a joker Rampage. I ain't gonna go rat hunting unless the lil' slaggers come to me." Headstrong grunted his response. While he respected Razorclaw, it did little to stop his stubborn behavior. He had decided not to bother with cyber rats and that was final.

"I'll help if you find something worth of fighting." He snarled and lied down. Casually observing what was happening around him, mostly by listening. There was little point in him trusting his optics, he could just see blurry shapes of the other Predacons. There had been something wrong with his optical sensors for almost as long as he could remember but he was too proud to request them being fixed.

"There's nothing here anyway."

Kolkular—Command Hub

On the massive series of screens and holodisplays that now surrounded the Decepticon Military Operations Commander, energy readings spiked and leveled out again, strings of numbers that would be almost completely unintelligible to most Cybertronians flowed vertically and horizontally and various live-feed images came up in the select few locations possessing optical technology that Shockwave had thus far managed to discover were both functional and having been able to successfully reroute a small amount of energy to ensure their functioning. It was a tedious and laborious process by the standards of most Decepticon warriors, and though Shockwave was with few equals or superiors in the battlefield, it was at these sorts of tasks that he excelled at optimal performance levels. All of the foundation work had been established for the linkup between Kolkular and his tower in Polyhex. Once the Decepticons stationed there had finished activating the long-range sensor arrays, he could complete his work, and proceed to the next phase—evaluating the efficacy of the cyberforming process, as he had been originally sent here to do.

As one would expect, Shockwave had intentionally not dispatched Razorclaw along with the other Predacons. Shockwave had calculated that now was the most efficient period in which to address an issue regarding the Predacon roster.

“Interrogative: what is the status of your former Predacon operative, designate Howlstrike?”

Interfactional treachery within the Decepticon ranks was so commonplace that it had become more or less standard operating procedure. It was how an individual typically lost or gained any rank or power of significance. When that treason was committed against the entire Decepticon army, however, it was arguably the highest crime one could commit within their ranks. The termination of another’s life functions was often treated with less severity. With the army spread as it was, Howlstrike’s defection had not received the attention that it would in other circumstances. It was a statistical likelihood, however, that the issue remained a pressing one within the mind of the Predacon Commander. Shockwave wanted to know what had been achieved on that front thus far, so that he could accurately determine how best to proceed.

Kolkular - Command Hub

Once the Predacons were gone, Razorclaw turned his attention back to Shockwave, who was now engulfed in a seemingly endless number of holoscreens. The Predacon Commander stood silently by as the cycloptic mech studied the numerous displays before his singular eye. Razorclaw had wondered why the Military Operations Commander had ordered him to remain behind instead of going out into the field with the rest of his team. It was not something the lead Predacon would ask aloud as he knew better than to question a superior officer. However, his mental query was soon answered as Shockwave asked him about the status of Howlstrike.

Razorclaw growled under his breath at the mere mention of Howlstrike's name. It was a sensitive subject to say the least, and one the Predacon Commander did not like to talk about. The reasons were many, but primarily it was because Howlstrike symbolized a failure of Razorclaw's ability to maintain order within his own team. After all, what kind of commander could not keep his own unit from fracturing as it ultimately did with Howl's insubordination and ultimate defection.

Razorclaw drew closer to Shockwave before answering. "My lord, Howlstrike is still currently a member of the Autobots and has been for many vorns now. He travels with the old rust bucket, Kup, who I understand is his only true friend as many of the other Autobots still do not fully trust him. While he still resembles a Predacon physically, the traitor has discarded his original color scheme and changed it to green and black. The last I heard, Howlstrike was reportedly on Earth, but my team did not encounter him at Area 51 where we found you. Therefore, I can only surmise he arrived shortly thereafter.

"Furthermore, since Howlstrike has sworn vengeance against myself and the other Predacons for his expulsion from our unit, it is very possible that he came here with the Autobots that followed us. What little intel we were able to acquire from Blackwind's scouting mission, it appears that Kup is in charge over in Iacon, which reinforces the notion that Howlstrike is on Cybertron. Wherever the old geezer is, Howlstrike is usually close by. I do hope to finally catch up to him here and end his treacherous existence like I should have done a long time ago."

Razorclaw fell silent, having said all there was to report regarding the traitor. If Howlstrike was, in fact, on Cybertron the Predacon Commander was surprised he hadn't encountered him already. As it were, only the Dinobots had given them any trouble along with one lone Aerialbot. Of course, it was entirely possible that Kup was intentionally keeping Howl away from Polyhex as a means to protect him and to also avoid the unpleasant clash that would surely follow once the Predacons and Howlstrike shared the same battlefield again.

It's only a matter of time before the inevitable happens, Razorclaw thought as he awaited Shockwave's response to his report.

Rampage had done what Razorclaw asked without any argument. In these circumstances, it wouldn’t make sense to argue anyway. The sooner they accomplished whatever Megatron had sent the cyclops here to do, the sooner they could either get Cybertron back to the way they remembered it, or the sooner they could chalk this world up as a complete loss and move on. Rampage wasn’t exactly thrilled with the latter option, but he’d take it over trying to subsist on scraps for the remainder of his functioning existence. He was a predator, after all. He needed prey. And Cybertron, at least in its current state, offered little of that.

Arriving at a junction of two anterior corridors, Rampage paused, looking down each. Neither one of them seemed to indicate the presence of significant life, be it cyber-rat or anything else. He had the sinking feeling that this was going to turn out to be some sort of wild fox chase. He…

…?

Rampage’s auditory sensors perked up as they detected some sort of noise. It had originated from the right corridor. Underneath his faceplate, the Predacon grinned as he drew his blade. Finally, he thought, as the decision as to what path he would take had now, thankfully, been made for him.

Kolkular--Command Hub

Though he did not visually acknowledge Razorclaw's words, Shockwave had heard and processed everything that the Predacon Commander had said. Howlstrike presented an unusual loose end. It would have to be tied up, one way or another, before their ultimate departure. Regardless, the report had given Shockwave the information that he had wanted.

"Satisfactory," he said, in typical form.

Having gained access to all but the most sensitive areas within Kolkular, areas that Megatron had restricted exclusively to his own personal use, Shockwave was now completely interfaced with the inner workings of Kolkular, as was evident by the miniaturized streams of information that scrolled across his own singular optic, just as they streamed across the various holoscreens in front of him.

Fortunately Megatron had informed him of where the cyberforming interface was kept, otherwise it, too, would have been off limits, even to Shockwave. Even now, previously sealed doors within the hub slid open, allowing several service drones to emerge. Within the metallic arms of the three service drones--now running on the most basic power routines--was the oddly-shaped device. It was, truly, the key to change worlds. With the research they had accomplished on Ore-13, its potential applications were exponential.

"Declarative: this device must return to Polyhex, undamaged. It, with my research, is one of the primary keys to Cybertron becoming inhabitable once again."

One by one, the holoscreens and datafeeds that had occupied much of Shockwave's attention steadily faded from existence. He had accomplished what he had come here to accomplish. As he had suspected, there was little that could be sustained on Cybertron in its present state. Traveling to Iacon was now the final phase of his mission. Once he had accomplished his necessary work there, he could submit a sufficient report to Megatron.

"Imperative: see that your subordinates are sufficiently fueled and return to Polyhex. You will assume command until either I or Thunderwing return. Secure the cyberforming interface aboard the Thanatos. I will eventually continue onward to Iacon. There is little for us in Kaon. Not at present."

Given the circumstances on Cybertron, the next logical step was for Shockwave to engage the Autobots, but not in the manner that they would typically expect.

Kolkular - Inside Command Hub

Razorclaw watched with great interest as Shockwave activated a trio of service drones that quickly appeared from behind the walls, carrying in their appendages a strange looking cyberforming device. The Predacon Commander then listened carefully as the cycloptic mech made it clear that the device needed to be returned to Polyhex intact and then secured aboard the Thanatos. The interface was of vital importance to the restoration of Cybertron and needed to be protected at all costs. Razorclaw understood little of how the device actually worked, but it did not matter. He had his orders and they would be carried out with precession and efficiency.

"It will be done, my lord," Razorclaw responded to Shockwave as he bowed his head. Wasting no more time, the Predacon Commander motioned for the service drones to follow him as he turned and walked out of the command hub.

Kolkular - Outside Command Hub

Once outside the doors, Razorclaw immediately noticed Headstrong lying on the ground a short distance away, clearly not following the orders that had been given to him. Razorclaw strolled up to him and gave the mechanical rhinoceros a swift kick to his side, not hard enough to do any real damage but just enough to get his undivided attention. "Get your lazy aft up, Headstrong! This isn't a vacation we're on! We have work to do!"

The Predacon Commander frowned as he then opened a comm line to the rest of his unit:

>>"Predacons, this is Razorclaw. Return to the entrance of the command hub at once. We will be leaving for the transport shuttle in one breem and then returning to Polyhex with precious cargo in our possession. It is of the utmost importance that we move out soon so get your afts in gear without delay!"<<

Razorclaw then glanced down and gave Headstrong another dirty look before turning and walking back to meet the trio of drones that were waiting just outside the hub's entrance way. The Predacon Commander examined the cyberforming device carefully to ensure that nothing had happened to it while he was off admonishing his subordinate. He hadn't been away from the interface for long, but it wouldn't take but an astrosecond for a cyber-rat to bite into a tasty-looking piece of technology such as this.

Soon, Divebomb and Tantrum appeared, joining their commander by the service drones. Now, only Rampage was left to arrive and once he did, the Predacons would refuel as necessary and then begin their journey back to the transport shuttle that was still docked on the fortress city's top level.

Kolkular

Without energy and without much in the way of ambient lumination, Kolkular was now designed for the needs of predator and not prey. Rampage had transformed and was now stalking the corridors of Kolkular, looking both for the energy nests that Razorclaw had wanted as well as investigating that odd noise he'd heard. He hadn't seen even one little cyber-rat since encountering that one back on the way to the Hub itself. If they were here, they were hiding. And hiding well. Wherever they were, Rampage was getting no viable energy readings, save for the generator that Shockwave had reactivated earlier. Kolkular, as much as he hated to admit it, was a loss. At least for right now.

Rampage paused in mid-step as Razorclaw's latest transmission came through. Good. Apparently the cyclops had finished whatever he had come here to do and wasn't going to garrison them all there out of some sort of obsequious act of sentimentality over what this place once meant to the Decepticon empire. This was Shockwave he was talking about, though, so he would've been surprised if he had.

>>"I'm on my..."<<

Without warning, a junkish mechanoid lurched out of from the shadowed, anterior corridor that Rampage was just about to explore before getting called back, slamming him against the wall. Rampage's combat instincts turned on immediately, and his compact, mechanized feline form launched back at the thing, slamming it in to the ground and digging four sets of claws as well as a set of teeth in to various vital areas, tearing away. It took him a moment to identify the thing, but once he did, he could barely keep down the crude oil churning inside him--a cannibalizer. Or at least that was just one of the half-dozen different names Rampage had heard these things called.

For most of Cybertronian history, such constructs had been little more than an urban legend. But since the Great Shutdown, all sorts of nightmares had become reality, what was one more?

It was a misshapen collection of various robotic parts, meshed together. To hear someone like Bugly or Mindwipe tell it, they were sparks that had been extinguished and reanimated again, but Rampage chalked that up to the sort of wacko spiritual nonsense that 'Cons like that loved to spout. They were empties, and Rampage's view. Plain and simple. And when the Predacon tore through the thing's torso and it finally stopped twitching, that confirmed it in his mind.

Rampage pulled himself away from the cannibalizer and headed off back to Razorclaw's position. Given their proximity within the fortress, it didn't take all that long for him to arrive.

"Ready when you are," he said, looking over at the others and then at Razorclaw.

Kolkular - Outside Command Hub

Razorclaw was pleased when he saw Rampage rejoin the group. Now the Predacons were all together again and could begin their journey back to the surface of the fortress city. "Excellent," the Predacon Commander responded before then turning to address the others, as well. "As I said in my previous communique, we are heading back to the transport shuttle and then onward to Polyhex. Shockwave was able to gain access to this cyberforming interface." Razorclaw motioned towards what the three service drones were holding in their arms. The device was strange looking, but that did not change its significance in the restoration of Cybertron.

"It is extremely important that we transport this device back to the Thanatos without damaging it. These drones will carry it on our trip back to the shuttle. I want the four of you to form a protective circle around the device while I take the lead. I don't want so much as a cyber-rat or any other vermin getting anywhere near it. Is that understood?" Razorclaw looked from one Predacon to the other before continuing. "If you require refueling now, see Tantrum. He still has one full tank left. It should be enough for everyone as long as you only take what you need. If further recharging is necessary, we can do so at Emergency Powerplant A-1."

Razorclaw then transformed to lion mode, taking point as Tantrum allowed some of his teammates to tap into his spare fuel tank. The Predacon Commander did not require a recharge at the present time as his fuel cells were still at above sixty percent capacity, which would be plenty for the trek back to the landing zone. He had not gone out earlier to search for energy pockets or cyber-rats and thus his energon levels were higher than the rest, with the exception of Headstrong who had decided to lounge around instead. "Let's get moving everyone! That means you, too, Headstrong! Up and at 'em! We have a long trip ahead of us."

Divebomb and Tantrum quickly fell into position on either side of the cyberforming device as Razorclaw turned his attention down the dimly lit corridor that led away from the Command Hub. Assuming that everyone was sufficiently refueled, the Predacon Commander moved onward through the bowels of Kolkular as the service drones and his team followed.