Semper Tyrannis -- BridgeSo was the always tactful and valorous Fortress Maximus finally loosing it? Reacting this way to a seemingly minor offense? Of course, the Decepticons had antagonized the Autobots to respond like they had through not even making an attempt to reply back to the Autobot's transmissions. Any spacefaring species with any common sense would have at least tried to communicate when an approaching fleet of spaceships were clearly sending transmissions on a broad range of frequencies.
And yet, it wasn't the surprising aggressiveness of Fortress Maximus which bothered Scorponok - it was the fact that his Decepticons had failed to be the ones to strike first.
It took the gargantuan warlord a great deal of effort to keep sitting on his command throne as if nothing he hadn't planned for had happened instead of jumping up and accuse the captain of
Spirit of Wrath and its escorts from incompetence. No this was not to the time to give in to his darker impulses. Stay calm and collected. One corvette was an acceptable loss and likely not the only one they would suffer.
Nevertheless, it was time to remind captain of the Spirit of Wrath of the stakes. "Stand your ground Upjaw or I will destroy you myself! Return fire! Focus on that frigate! And this time make sure you begin your retreat before that enemy battlegroup reaches firing distance!"
And return fire the Spirit of Wrath and its remaining escort corvette did. The massive barrage of firepower the Decepticon frigate and its escort were able to focus on its Autobot counterpart which had been forced to divide its attention on three, now two ships - tore through the Autobot frigate's shields, turning the frigate's front section into a mere husk of its former glory. And behind the frigate, a battlegroup of Autobot ships steadily approached their position.
Yes, draw them in. Draw them in for the biggest surprise of your miserable lives..._____________________________
>>"
We have destroyed an enemy corvette. Fire-control is refocusing fire - <<" The transmission from the intercepting Autobot frigate the
Forerunner was obscured by resonance of explosions from deeper inside the ship and the unmistakable sound of alarm klaxons setting of before the ship's captain was able to resume his reporting to Fortress Maximus.
>>"
Commander! The enemy is returning fire! Several hull breaches thorough front section of the ship, decks 1, 2 and 3. We are getting hammered here, these are Decepticon ships, no question. The ship can't take this much longer. If we do not survive... It was an honor to serve."<< Forerunner's captain finished his transmission to Fortress Maximus, the comm-line however, was still left open. >>"
Everyone hold your stations! All power to frontal shields! We can and we will hold until Maximus' reinforcements drive these Decepticons scum off the system!"<<