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Tenebrous - Command Center

Scorponok took in the view around him. From all initial reports, satisfactory progress had been made on subduing and stripping this peaceful world just as they had planned. He was pleased that he would now be able to divert most of his attention to addressing more immediate concerns. After all, while the destruction of a whole planet could be done in mere hours - the assimilation of population the size of Nebulos had into the Decepticon Empire would take decades at minimum. The Autobot threat though - it was not going anywhere. This enigma they had uncovered on LV-117 however, it could shift the balance of power decisively to favor of the Deceptiocons.

"Admirably... not perfectly."

"True Cipher. However, it took the enormous energies wielded by the most powerful of the Omega Sentinels to defeat the beast." The enormous Decepticon warlord spoke up as Cipher finished playing the video recording.

Scorponok's gaze moved from the now paused recording to evaluate how his lieutenants had reacted towards the revelation. "That blast from Omega Supreme would have turned any single member of the entity into a pool of molten metal. And yet, they are able to absorb the blast as one. Yes, it forces separation but they all survive the encounter. Together they are obviously far more than sum of their parts - in terms of power and size both."

"This entity resides within an Autobot prison? The Elba system would not be an unreasonable distance from our current location. It remains within the boundaries of the 2nd Fleet's jurisdiction. I am still at something of a loss for words, High Commander. A weapon of this magnitude laying dormant for so long? I trust we are to reclaim it."

Cyclonus was the first one of Scorponok's inner circle to speak up. The reply to his question was a short one though, for more questions were to come.

"Energy and mass manipulation of this scale has to be added into the arsenal of the Decepticon Empire - there is no other option."

"How do the Autobots not know who they're holding? You would think that they would be more knowledgeable about those under their watchful optics. Or are they? Might it not also be possible that the Autobots may be aware of who they hold within the Elba system, and using it as lure to draw us in and away from Nebulos?"

"If the Autobots knew of our operation here on Nebulos, they would have acted with force by now Scourge." Scorponok replied as the notorious hunter-killer voiced out his concerns. The enormous Decepticon commander had asked these same questions from himself already prior his return to Nebulos. Fortress Maximus could never be underestimated. The Autobot commander was truly a worthy foe. The practical stalemate in the war between Scorponok's Decepticons and Maximus' Autobots was all the evidence one required. Deception was not part of Fortress Maximus' nature. For him to go to such lengths to deceive Scorponok - it was unthinkable. In addition, Scorponok knew more than he had revealed so far.

"The other question is one I cannot answer with certainty. According to the intel acquired by Hardshell and Decepticon Secret Service, the Autobots are keeping these six separated from each other. This indicates that they possess at least some level of knowledge regarding these six and the danger they present. Logic indicates that because at least three members of the original group of special forces that captured Jhiaxus still serve the enemy - they would have not forgotten. However, we also know that these six walked free after their original capture alongside Jhiaxus. Before Megatron's revolution, before their branding and service under the Decepticon banner and before they were captured again." He explained, keeping a short pause before continuing.

"It is very likely that these six have been surgically manipulated to forget their part in Jhiaxus' machinations. And given the immorality of the whole ordeal in comparison to Optimus Prime's modus operandi, I believe this technology was buried into Autobots' vast archives of illegal technologies alongside the likes of the vamparc ribbon and Gideon's glue. They did not let this information slip out, we run to it during a routine scan of uncharted star system. The chance of foul play is marginal at best."

"I’ve but one question, my Lord - when do we depart for the Elba system?"

Black Shadow's question was certainly one of those questions Scorponok had been expecting to hear. And truth to be told, he had not been able to properly decide the exact time table to follow despite of having gone through initial planning stage of their most imminent future priorities with Turmoil already prior traveling to Tenebrous from the Semper Tyrannis.

"When indeed? The Autobots did send already one frigate to investigate why their outpost went silent. It is only matter of time they come in with more force." Scorponok spoke out, his gaze falling upon Black Shadow, "It leaves two options. Either we wait and prepare for their return or take the iniative to our hands."

"I prefer the latter option. And for that we need an advantage over the enemy. I have one. But we may have another."

Fortress Maximus had been a thorn is his side for such a long time now. It seemed as if the universe itself was now presenting him with an opportunity to finally put an end to that old rivalry, and gain a massive new weapon at the same time. Perhaps it was time to pay the holding cells of Tenebrous a personal visit rather agreeing with Deadlock's suggestion of sending Scourge and Cyclonus to assist with the interrogation.

"The Autobots you captured. Show the highest ranking ones to me."

Lake Nimbus

Nightbeat spewed dozens of shots out of his rifle in one hand, and shot precise shots out of his pistol in the other. If he could fire a weapon with his mouth, he would. Hundereds of Insecticons were on the ground around him, so much that he was beginning to be buried by the bodies of his foes.

A sharp, hot pain came from his side; A Kickbaclone had just stabbed him with one of it's appendages. Nightbeat pulled the wing off the clone and stabbed him in the face with it. Then, he began stepping on the arm of the clone to begin firing potshots with the weapon the clone was carrying.

The Detective clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth; another clone of Shrapnel's bit down hard upon his left arm. The crackle of electricity formed around the antennae and was about to give Nightbeat a jolt. He acted fast and bent the horns in upon the clone and it was fried by it's own electrical charge.

Nightbeat fired another shot off at point blank with one of Bombshell's clones, blowing the head to slag metal. A hot mess littered the floor where it once was. But this was just enough of a distraction for Nightbeat that he didn't notice the Bombshellclone behind him, readying his blaster. The following shot from the blaster hit him through and through. The Detective howled and grabbed the face of the Insecticon and ripped it from the clone's body.

He fell to one knee and the assault stopped with him.

"Surrender" Nightbeat heard from the crowd.

The voice was unmistakable. Bombshell.

Nightbeat watched the Energon leak from all of the scratches, stab wounds and blaster holes in his body. His system couldn't register the pain, so he felt numb.

"Surrender...?" Nightbeat replied, meeting a chorus of chatter from the clones, wanting to taste the energon that leaked ever so much from Nightbeat.

Nightbeat rested his weight on his one good knee and looked about the room. It was dark, but the lights of Insecticlone optics lit the room so much that one could read in the light. Dark shapes scuttled on the walls and on the ceiling.

"Fine... You-" Nightbeat stopped to cough and step forward, "You win."

The Detective tossed his weapons to the feet of the Insecticon Interrogator along with the Energon Rations. The shard of metal was absent, however. They didn't know he had that.

He stepped forward to shift weight. He held his leaking sides in a show of helplessness. Insecticlones waited and flooded in behind him.

But he had one last trick up his sleeve.

In a blink of an eye, Nightbeat whisked the weapon of a dead Insecticlone and fired it at the remaining three Energon Rations. The following explosion ignited the Rations that were given to Hosehead, creating a massive explosion from all sides. Nightbeat's entire vision was of blue fire and exploding fireballs of Insecticlones. He felt a sharp jolt, and he was thrust against the wall from the force of the explosion and then:

Darkness...

*****

Holding Cell

Nosecone's vision blurred and came back into focus every few seconds, leaving his optics to cross and part every once in a while.

"Why do I get the feeling that -" Nosecone paused to cough, "Decepticon POWs don't get the medical attention that Autobot POWs do...?"

The miner laughed hoarsely, then coughed. He felt his mouthpiece wet, so he wiped the Energon off it with his broken treads like a napkin.

Suddenly, looking at the Energon, he had an idea.

"Scattorshot," Nosecone whispered, "I think we can make a trap out of some of our Energon and some of the rocks stuck in my treads. We can use it against the guards so we can get past them."

He knew it was a dangerous task, but it would serve them good to get the other prisoners out and revolt.

Tenebrous--Holding Cell

Pointblank had barely looked up as another Autobot captive was thrown inside to join them. He wasn't surprised. How long would it be before they were all in this situation? He suspected it wouldn't be long, though it looked like the Monsterbots had somehow managed to elude their Decepticon captors. Good on them. Maybe they should have put them in charge.

Pointblank grinned a little at the thought as his peripheral vision identified the new captive as Brainstorm.

"I'll tell you, Brains, probably most of us, on some level. I've never seen a command structure break down so continually in my entire functioning life. Skyhammer came in strong and then got crushed. Spartan came in even stronger and I haven't heard anything from him or his team in Primus knows how long. Then I think Roadbuster was going to pick up the pieces and he went AWOL or got slagged--I don't know which. Pyro made a good run of it trying to knock out this buggy looking outpost we found but...well...here we are. Since then we've pretty much been divided and conquered like something out of an old academy holofile. It would be embarrassing if it weren't already so pathetic."

Pointblank held up his hand.

"I'll stake claim to my share of the foul up. The next Prime I am not. To be fair, this was a research planet. No one had any idea it was on the Decepticons' radar. I guess now we know--everything is on their radar."
___

Interrogation Chamber

Lightspeed had offered some requisite struggle, but the Seekers were significantly stronger than he. It was not going to do him or his team any good trying to escape. His best chance was to try and gauge what this interrogator wanted to know and how he could best couch anything he said in just enough truth so as to not compromise the Autobots' overall mission but also do what needed to be done to keep the Decepticons from following through on their threats to execute them if they offered no substantive information.

Once he was in the chair, Lightspeed took note of the interrogator. It was a femme, and a fairly striking one at that. That was...rare. Most of the attractive femmes that Lightspeed knew either worked for the Autobots or were non-aligned, way back in the days when that meant something. He couldn't help but wonder how this one had been conned, pun intended.

This interrogator, Soul Siren, quickly stepped past the usual pleasantries and made her point that this was not going to be a simple question-and-answer session by inducing a introductory amount of discomfort. Lightspeed's pain sensors all registered, but not overly so. Soul Siren wished to make her point. Point made. Moving on.

"My name is Lightspeed. Allegiance: Autobots. Sub-group: Technobots. Function: data-processor," Lightspeed said, spouting off the standard information any captive was authorized to provide in an interrogative situation.

Interrogation Chamber

Soul Siren saw it in Lightspeed's optics. She recognized that look. There was potential there if she changed her tactics somewhat.

"Such information was not what was requested."

She slammed down her palm on Lightspeed's right hand. Her strength was not great enough to do any real damage in of itself but it was enough to cause pain when aimed at pushing a sensitive wrist joint into the spikes. She accompanied that with a sad look, no joy showing. She allowed herself a moment to let Lightspeed notice and be confused by the contradiction.

She looked around her as if making sure that she was not being watched directly and leaned in close to Lightspeed and whispered directly into the audio input unit on the right side of his head.

"Is this what you were told to do by your Autobot leaders? Lightspeed... it does not work like that, it never does. Our leaders never look at what happens in the interrogation room realistically. They don't want to dirty themselves with the truth. They make both interrogator and interrogated do sacrifices they would never do themselves."

She said in a sympathetic voice.

"Unlike your leaders I will not force fantasy upon you. I will tell you exactly what will happen. I will slowly take you apart making sure you feel the greatest pain possible throughout the process. In the end you will talk... or one of your friends will when I put them through it, either way I will be further lost..."

She ends her words in a bitter tone, betraying a private disgust that she is forced to do this. She slowly backs away from Lightspeed demonstrating a sad expression on her face which she quickly wipes from her face making sure no one else saw that temporary moment of weakness.

"Now, I ask you once more. Who ordered you to come here?" She slowly takes up her micro saw and looked at Lightspeed with a sad look in her optics.

A pretty little female who was forced to do terrible things for the nasty Decepticons because she is too weak to refuse. Having to act in such a despicably weak manner was quite annoying but if Lightspeed would choose to cooperate because it would be heroic to save her friends and the poor little female then it would be worth it.

Tenebrous - Lonely Window

Snapdragon walked through the fortress is a bad mood. He had thought about taking a nice oil bath but he could not relax. He had to work this out of his system. Simply making fun out prisoners would not work. For that he might as well make fun of whatever small pests this world contained.

He made his way to a window in the middle of the Fortress and looked outside. He thought about the battles they have had and how hollow the victories felt. Not a real challenge to be found.

"I bet Megatron would have found better use of our time..." He grumbled to himself.

Tenebrous – Holding Cell

With a slight groan Brainstorm finally rolled to one side and very slowly propped himself up on his elbow. Once in said position and once the steady throbbing in his processor slowed down, he onlined his optics and took a good sweeping glance around the cell’s interior.

Of course Pointblank was present, after all he was the only who responded to the scientist’s question. The response from the enforcer was, as expected, straightforward and precise. Brainstorm wouldn’t have expected anything less from the mech.

With an audible sigh the blue and white mech lowered back down to the floor…arms spread out horizontally to his sides effectively taking up much more floor space than was absolutely necessary.

“Sooo, there’re some guys out there who we’re not even sure are still alive and we have our “came in strong” guys locked up in here with us?”

Brainstorm grew quiet but it didn’t last long. “I don’t know about you, but sprawling out here on the floor and waiting for the inevitable seems to be the right thing to do. Especially when we all know no one’s gonna swoop in and save our sorry afts.”

Another bout of silence permeated throughout the cell until the flier decided to break it once more.

“Do you think Perceptor would freeze up in a situation like this, because I think he would.”

Holding Cells

“I’d rather go down fighting these slaggers instead of waiting in this Primus-forsaken cell for them to come for me!” Afterburner sneered hotly at Scattershot.

The gunner held his glare for several tense moments before he turned around…arms crossed over his chestplate.

“You got that right. This place is tight…just like your aft. There’s no way to get any kind of messages to anyone else.” Afterburner looked at his commander from over his shoulder. A grunt was the only acknowledgement the gunner sent Scattershot to his order of checking up on Strafe and Nosecone.

Tenebrous – Command Center

Black Shadow waited for a moment as Scorponok attempted to respond to him query. However, it seemed that the High Commander was split between two opportunities…wait, or take matter into their own hands. Black Shadow was a very big fan of the latter, as was Scorponok. A broad smile washed over the black and crimson Decepticon’s face.

Oh the possibilities. His musing of bearing witness to the destruction of the remainder of the Autobots was interrupted by the hulking bot’s request to see the highest ranking Autobots that had been captured.

“But of course, my Lord.” Black Shadow offered Scorponok a gracious bow before gesturing toward one of the far doors. “If you please…this way.”

Cipher lowered his gaze from the larger mech as he patiently shed light on exactly what kind of power the Monstructor Six possessed. The scientist has been shortsighted…but then he was not privy to what occurred on the battlefield. He would be sure not to make that same oversight.

Cipher bowed slightly before he stepped back and retracted the interface spike that was still jacked into the terminal.

Tenebrous--Command Center

Scorponok's reply to Cyclonus' question was both straightforward and effective. He expected nothing less. It was important to assure that if a weapon like this existed somewhere in the universe that they would seek to claim it. He got that reassurance in spades, as no one in the room appeared to have any hesitation about acquiring a powerful ally as this gestaltic creation would surely prove to be.

Scorponok's answers to the others' questions were equally reassuring, leaving Cyclonus with no doubt as to what their next step would be. The only uncertainty lay in when they would take it.

Cyclonus cast an askew glance in Deadlock's direction at his request that he and Scourge accompany him to witness whatever additional interrogation techniques he had in mind. If Cyclonus already had little patience for Turmoil, he had even less for one of his little gruntmechs. Cyclonus had no interest in wasting his time in such a manner. He simply wanted results. He could honestly care less how those results were procured. Scorponok, for his part, appeared to be on a similar wavelength, requesting to see the highest ranking prisoners currently in their possession. Black Shadow was only too eager to accommodate the High Commander and begin leading their procession toward the holding cells.

"This should prove most interesting," Cyclonus remarked to Scourge as he followed the others out of the command center. "We will soon be rid of these downtrodden Autobots and these passive fleshlings and on to greater conquests."
___

Interrogation Chamber

Lightspeed did his best to do anything to process the pain that was coming in and think about it in ways that would help him to overcome what was happening. But he had not gone through rigorous interrogation training--ever. He had read the datacubes and holofiles pertaining to the subject and attended a field seminar or two on the subject, since it did happen, but he had never really expected to deal with it firsthand. The Technobots, as a unit, were hardly ever sent in to battlefield theaters. There was more important, non-combat related work for their group to accomplish more often than not.

Not this time.

Lightspeed had cried out in agony more than once already as his sensory receptors overloaded. But his interrogator appeared conflicted with what she was doing. Lightspeed did not consider himself to be an expert in body language, by any means, but it looked like there was some doubt or other reservations on her youthfully striking metallic features. Lightspeed thought about the question she had asked and debated a little in his mind about whether it really rose to the level of highly classified information. He wasn't authorized to give it out, by any means, but who cared who sent them? Who would care if he told? It certainly wasn't information that was worth the lives of him or his teammates.

"We were....sent here by...Fortress...Maximus," Lightspeed began, struggling through the words as his internal sensor array worked to recalibrate itself. "The research team here went too long without checking in. We...were told to find out why. That simple."

Interrogation Chamber

She smiled sweetly at Lightspeed.

"Thank you for sparing me." She whispered and pretended to look around to make sure no one had noticed what she said. She used that opportunity to peak over her shoulder at the other Technobot's reaction.

Fortress Maximus... it made a lot of sense and she did not believe Lightspeed was capable of lying to her at the moment. Scorponok would be very interested in this, wherever he was. He opened a private communication channel to Reflector.

"The Subject has identified Fortress Maximus as the Autobot who commanded them to come here. They came here to check on a research team. I feel like I need a long shower but at least we got some information."

She opened another communication channel to Cyclonus.

"Sir, the Technobot known as Lightspeed has identified Fortress Maximus as the Autobot who ordered them here in order to check on the status of a research time. I will begin seeking out answers to your other question."

She moved her hands in a almost loving manner to the sides of Lightspeed's head.

"Here... let me help you with the pain."

She said in a whisper and accessed the systems that connected Lightspeed's head to the rest of the body. She lowered the pain that Lightspeed was receiving from his body to give him relief. As she did, she also lowered the amount of energy going into his brain module to a level where it would be active but remain in his current confused and sluggish state. She also deactivated his audio systems. Now that he was talking the last thing he needed was to listen to the other Technobots. She hacked into his port and sent her words directly into him although she still talked to create the illusions that the conversation was still normal.

"I just have one more question for you Lightspeed. I need you to be a hero once again. Your fellow Autobots are still out there are being hunted by the likes of the Horrorcons." She had a sad expression on her face and shook her head at the thought of that. "Please, tell us who came with you to this world. If you do so then our Seekers can pick them up without having to hurt them. You can save lives."

Tenebrous – Autobot Prisoner Cell Block

Black Shadow, and more importantly Blue Bacchus, remained relatively silent during their trek through the corridors of the Decepticon’s fortress…the small band making considerable headway down toward the holding cells.

As the troupe moved Blue Bacchus whispered to his partner. “You don’t suppose that once Lord Scorponok is through with whoever he’s interested in he’ll toss ‘em back our way?”

Black Shadow let out a low chuckle before sending his friend his own whispered response. “I don’t see why he wouldn’t. But if you’re that hell bent on knowing, then by all means ask away.”

Blue sent the flier a nervous look before he took one quick glance over his shoulder at the massive Decepticon Commander. His nervous expression quickly morphed into a frightened stare before he turned his attention back to his colleague. “I believe it’d be prudent if I simply kept my vocalizer muted.”

“Now that is possibly your best idea yet, my dear Blue.” Black Shadow flashed the other mech a wicked smirk only to have Blue cast a searing glare in his direction.

A few breems passed before the doors to the prisoner cell blocks appeared in front of the small gathering of mechs. The doors quietly slid aside leaving the space beyond available for access. Black Shadow and his associate passed through the portal and made their way to the cell block entrance where each side was lined with individual…rather accommodating, incarceration rooms.

The Infiltration Unit Commander stopped just before the block’s entrance and turned to face Scorponok and the other attendees…a broad devious grin spread across his face.

“My Lord. There a number of Autobots held within these cells. You mentioned you were interested in meeting with the highest ranking individuals…however…” Black Shadow offered a slight bow before he turned on his heel and led the group further into the brig. He did not stop at any one particular cell, instead opting to guide the Commander to one of the interrogation chambers.

“…I thought, Lord Scorponok, that I’d introduce you to one of our resident high ranking Autobot team members.”

Within mere moments and with a grand flourish Black Shadow passed through the threshold of the chamber only stopping when he was several feet before Soul Siren and her prisoner.

“My Lord…May I present our dear, dear interrogator, Soul Siren and her very lucky “guest”…the Technobot, Lightspeed.” The black and crimson ‘Con tilted his head slightly, “Come now, Autobot…wave hello.” After an astrosecond Black Shadow sent the Technobot a deep frown. “Well…now that’s not very personable…tied down or not, the least you can do is say “good day”.”

Holding Cells

Pointblank let out a half-hearted chuckle at Brainstorm's initial response. There was no good way to lay out the situation their faction was in on this planet, but hearing it laid out like that pretty much solidified the sorry state of affairs they were in the midst of.

"...heh, yeah, I'd say that about sums it up," Pointblank began before reflecting on the rest of Brainstorm's thoughts. He thought about it for a second but, truthfully, he had already given the matter a fair deal of thought. Sure they could sit here and try to concoct some random escape attempt and be all noble Autobots and all that, and if the circumstances were different he probably would have jumped in and tried to contribute to such a plan if it were being hatched up. But this? No. Brainstorm had pretty much confirmed the conclusion that Pointblank had come to as well, even if he hadn't been willing to verbalize it up to this point. If they were going to make some kind of break for it, they would have to wait for a better opportunity. There were just too many obstacles stacked against them right now.

"No argument here, on either point," Pointblank said in response to Brainstorm's statements both in regards to their plan of action--or lack thereof right now--as well as Perceptor's perceived inability to act. Not that Pointblank doubted the scientist's ability to improve...but...he didn't really know the mech all that well. And what he did now of him didn't seem like it would handle being in this kind of situation.

"He's obviously a top-notch scientist, and I hear he's a pretty good shot, too. But neither of those skills would do him much good right now. He'd be just as screwed as the rest of us are."
___

The Horrorcon's taunting had done little to provoke Rad. He was in too much pain to be thinking about the moral dilemma that either the Autobots or the Decepticons were caught up in after having waged a war against each other for this long. His personality didn't lend itself to being provoked much anyway. He had been paying attention to the chattings of the other Autobots though, and he couldn't help but chime in, good-naturedly, even if the circumstances didn't lend themselves to such.

"Screwed, screwed, screwed," Rad chuckled, pushing himself up against the back of his cell as he looked over at Pyro.

"What do you think our next should be now, chief?" Rad asked, tinkering with an open panel on his right arm as the doors to the holding cell areas slid open. It wasn't just Seeker guards or Vehicon drones coming to pay them all a visit this time, it looked like they had garnered the attention of all the big-wig mechs currently stationed on this planet. Just their lucky slaggin' day.

"Here comes your friends and mine," Rad chuckled, quietly.

Holding Cell 2

Pyro shifted his weight on the slab he had been unceremoniously deposited. His optics were still dimmed due to power drain and damage he had sustained in the unorganized chaos that was that assault on the Insecticon Depot. Still in his direct smoldering gaze locked onto Apeface with a heated stare of energon daggers through the Horrorcon's spark case. "I believe in the ideals of Optimus Prime. Though admittedly that had not always been so. But because of the senseless slaughter that you and your brainwashed cultists are content to expouse and employ, I am forced to expand my own horizons. The only drone here is the one who is lead with blinders and of course kept down wind of the majority who have functional olfactory sensors. Of course I must ammend my initial claims about being totally programmed with the innate sense of being lead off a cliff, or brainwashed for such a simple term. For one has to have functional processors and data banks in order to have them to be reprogrammed."

With that Pyro bid the Horrorcon his dismisal before looking over at his compatriots. He ignored the presense of the hulking behemoth, knowing full well if it dared to assail them within the cell, even the Autobots in their current state could overwhelm and incompasitate the horrifically under washed primate. "If there is any blame to be had, my fellow Autobots, it should fall to me. There are no excuses, however legitimate they may be."

The Autobot Ranger finally swung his damaged body over the edge of the slab and looked on the cells containing Rad, Pointblank and Brainstorm. "I had hoped that such a strike could have been both beneficial in terms of fuel and a warning beacon to an organized Autobot resistance." He shook his head briefly before returning to optic lock. "I had no idea that there was no such organizational hierarchy."

"As of now, our only commanding officer is Scattershot. Unfortunately regardless of where he and his command staff landed, I am confident they were captured as well. Just by judging the over all response of the Decepticons."

He pushed himself to his feet and did his best to stabilize himself from wobbling over. "Our next move should be self evident."