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Autobot City Site

In a flash of white, Kup bounced back down to Autobot City. And to his surprise, it actually was looking more and more like a city. Like something right out of the metallic cityscapes of Cybertron, but also painstakingly meshed as much as possible with the natural surroundings of this planet thanks to the ingenuity of Grapple and the skills of the Autobot building crews.

As he headed for the meeting room where Ultra Magnus and the others were currently gathered, he could only wonder what other progress had been made in during his excursion to Kashmir.

Autobot City Site

Howlstrike had finished his sweep of the Northern border and each holo-emitter was functioning properly. “Looks like we’re good to go, boys,” the former Predacon said, glancing his wolf head back at both Mirage and Sideswipe. “I’ll let Grapple know our findings.”

Approaching the main Autobot City site, the teal and gray hunter transformed back into robot mode and opened a secured comm line:

>>”Grapple, this is Howlstrike. Mirage, Sideswipe and myself are done our check of the holo-emitters. Some needed fixing but the majority were working fine. All are now repaired and online. I’m also available for anything else you need help with.”<<

A sudden flash of white light then shot down from the sky and a very familiar mech appeared. “Kup!” Howlstrike yelled as he ran over to his best and only long time friend. “Haven’t seen you in a while, old timer! How’s it going?” Howl asked as he patted Kup on the shoulder plate. "You look like you're heading somewhere important. Mind if I tag along? My last assignment is done, and I wouldn't mind doing something a little more exciting, you know."

((OOC--Just to nudge forward.))

>>”Commanders, I’m afraid we’ve got something on our hands.”<<

Prime could tell from the urgency in Blaster's tone that he had received an unsettling transmission. Ultra Magnus looked to him. Even doing the stellar job he had commanding the Autobots during his period of incapacitation, there were some moments where he clearly felt the decision was still Optimus' to make. So be it.

"Proceed, Blaster," Optimus said quietly. He was confidant that Blaster could mask their location as well as anyone. As the transmission began to play, Optimus himself stiffened his posture.

Megatron.

>>”Autobots...I would have words with Optimus Prime. Have your lieutenant, Blaster, coordinate with Soundwave to establish whatever security measures you feel are necessary and transmit a clear visual and auditory signal back to my origin point. I will have Soundwave provide you the exact coordinates of this ship for relay purposes. I await your response, Prime. You’ll remember that I’ve never been one to be kept waiting.”<<

"I'm here, Megatron. What do you want?" Prime said. He had no interest in trading formalities with the Decepticon leader. They had done this dance too many times.

A holographic projection of the silver dictator appeared in the command room, facilitated by both Blaster and Soundwave's guarded participation in this process.

>>"Ah, there you are, Prime. I see that mincing words is of no interest to either of us. Good. I come to you now to discuss the terms of your surrender."<<

Ironhide watched the madness unfolding before his optics with conflicted feelings of both anger and disbelief. Had Megatron truly lost it? He had called Prime to discuss the terms of their surrender?! Madness. Or a show supreme confidence from someone who clearly felt he was holding all the right cards right now.

”Prahm...”
There wasn’t much the old warhorse felt he could say or do right now but he couldn’t just stand there doing nothing.

”Can someone track the position of that ship and identify it?”

Autobot City Site

Megatron was no stranger to bold statements. They were a part of his existence all the way back to their earliest dealings with one another on Cybertron. This one, just as some had in the past, caught him slightly off guard, though he was careful to reveal nothing in his posture.

Ironhide offered a momentary interjection, only to prompt Optimus' caution. They both knew who and what they were dealing with. He offered the briefest of nods to his old friend before continuing to address his old rival.

"Surrender, Megatron?" Optimus began, letting the words hang thoughtfully in the air before finishing the sentiment that he was sure everyone in this room shared. "I don't see why we would do that."
___

Before Kup had made much progress towards the room where the command-bots were meeting, he was interrupted by a familiar and welcome face.

“Kup! Haven’t seen you in a while, old timer! How’s it going? You look like you're heading somewhere important. Mind if I tag along? My last assignment is done, and I wouldn't mind doing something a little more exciting, you know."

"Howler mah boy, it's been too long! It's goin', eh, well,let's just say it's goin'. Looks like you n' me are in the same boat. Just finished up my assignment too. We found some more of that super high grade energon stuff the big wigs have been lookin' for so I'm headin' to tell 'em about it. Yer welcome to come with me. Maybe they'll give us both something a little more exciting, heh heh."

Once he and the former Predacon arrived at the room where Autobot Command was meeting, Kup entered his security codes....and then entered in another set....and another set. Kup sighed. This had Red Alert's signal markings all over it. Finally the door chimed and slid out of the way. The sight that greeted him was not exactly what he was expecting. Big command bots? Sure? A holographic projection of Megatron?

Not by a long shot.

"Looks like we both might get our wish, kid," Kup whispered.

Autobot City Site – Meeting Room

“Howler mah boy, it's been too long! It's goin', eh, well,let's just say it's goin'. Looks like you n' me are in the same boat. Just finished up my assignment too. We found some more of that super high grade energon stuff the big wigs have been lookin' for so I'm headin' to tell 'em about it. Yer welcome to come with me. Maybe they'll give us both something a little more exciting, heh heh.”

“That would be nice, Kup,” Howlstrike replied with a toothy grin. “I’d also love to have some of that new energon so I can be super-powered up the next time I run into those fraggin' Preds. To give ol’ Razorclaw a long overdue aft-whoopin’ would be a dream come true. Him and the rest of ‘em! Heh!”

The teal and gray hunter then followed Kup into the meeting room after waiting for the old timer to enter no less than three sets of security codes. Once inside, Howlstrike and Kup saw the last thing they were expecting to see: a holographic image of Megatron, himself!

“Looks like we both might get our wish, kid,” the old timer whispered.

“Yeah,” the former Predacon agreed, keeping his vocals low. "I guess it's a good thing you found more of that super duper energon. I have a gut feeling we’re all going to need it.”

Autobot City Site--Meeting Room

"Surrender, Megatron? I don't see why we would do that."

Megatron's holographic projection took on a satisfied grin.

"No? Perhaps this will illuminate things for you," Megatron said, making a gesture. Shortly thereafter, an image of Fortress Maximus in energy chains appeared.

"Your resistance on the second warfront is at an end. Your general, Maximus, wastes away in a cell on this very ship. As do those under him. They continue to function....for now."

With another gesture, the image of Fortress Maximus vanished.

"My forces now close in on this world. My infiltration is nearing its long foregone conclusion. I am in a perfect position to eliminate every last Autobot in this region. I can then mechaform this planet and use its impressive cache of resources to revitalize Cybertron. But that need not be my only path; I am willing to discuss...terms....of your surrender. Survival, for you and many of those loyal to you. Or......you can force my hand, and I will rain down destruction on all who now inhabit this little blue world. Do you see now, Optimus Prime?"

Autobot City Site==Meeting Room

Red Alert nodded at Ironhide.

"I've got all the 'Con ships transponder signals and locations. They're making no effort at hiding."
___

Optimus Prime stiffened as Megatron spoke, but that was the only outward sign the seasoned warrior gave that Megatron's words were having any effect on him. Internally, however, he had to admit that the situation looked more dire than he had expected. This was not Megatron's usual bluster and theatrics, nor was it any form of idle threat. Seeing Fortress Maximus imprisoned the way he was, the fact that Megatron was blatantly transmitting the locations of his ships: this was a transmission borne out of supreme confidence.

Granted, Megatron had been supremely confidant in times past and the Autobots had handed him and his arrogant lieutenants some blistering defeats. This could be another such opportunity, though deep down he had to admit that seemed unlikely. The evidence was there. The two sides had fought one another for eons. But their dwindling resources had finally made it a war of attrition as much as it was a war of ideals.

"We will...need some time to consider your words, Megatron," Prime said, knowing he had no right, not currently, to make such a monumental decision for all of them.

Through the transmission, Megatron's optics narrowed.

>>"I'll give you half a rotation of that little blue planet you seem to care about so much. At the end of that time, you will have something substantive for me to entertain, or you can uselessly try to stop my designs for this world. Megatron out."<<

With that, the holograph of Megatron vanished from the room, leaving the Autobots in temporary silence.

Ironhide took a look at the data provided by Red Alert and grimaced in frustration. ”Semper Tyrannis… a warworld and dozen more Decepticreep junk heaps. Megatron brought in Scorponok and his goon squad. That’s more than enough firepower to destroy all the planets of this solar system twice over.”

Shaking his head briefly, Ironhide watched defiantly as Megatron laid down his terms to Optimus, only speaking up sometime after Megatron had cut off the communications link. ”Ah see now. We may have Trion but that’s not even nearly enough. He really holds all the strings now, doesn’t he? Leakin’ lubricants, half a rotation my tailpipe… he is toying with us.”

Meeting Room

“It would seem that way, Ironhide,” Optimus said before turning to Ultra Magnus and Prowl.

“But it is not my judgment that is critical here. All of you in this room are more familiar with our current tactical situation than I am. It is not my place to answer Megatron’s demands, as much as he might think so. What say you all? I am not one to ever believe that all hope is lost….however….we may indeed find ourselves in an unwinnable battle.”

Meeting Room

The tension that had suddenly gripped the room was one that no one could have anticipated, but yet there was not a shred of doubt what the game plan here was. Megatron had come prepared, and that too with all his cards out on display. The information from Omega Supreme was an ill omen for what was to come, but Magnus had not anticipated the woes to arrive when they did.

With the Warden of Garrus-9 in chains, their options for putting up a fight had become paper thin, and even with the Trion, they had little hope of doing much in the way of taking on both Scorponok and Megatron's forces simultaneously.

"This is a decision I never thought I would have to make," Magnus said, optics focused where Megatron's hologram used to be. Fist clenched, he continued, "We have but half a day to decide for the fate of not just ourselves, but of the planet. If Maximus is incapacitated, then you are right, Prime. This is a fight that we may have to put down our guns for."

There was a moment of pause where the silence felt like a kiloton of force pressing down upon everyone, and Magnus put his hands together in thought. It... wasn't going to be easy, but he had heard every bit of what Megatron had said.

"If he wants us to discuss the terms of our surrender, we must negotiate them well. We may not win, but at the very least, we must tilt the scale in our favour as far as possible. Megatron wants to revitalise Cybertron. We have an absolute need to ensure that the imprisoned are safe, and also to prevent as much damage to this planet as possible."

A dull glow shone across the commander's optics. "Mechaforming is not the same as rebuilding a dead home. At most, they could extract the energon reserves on this planet and leave. Unless they are hellbent on turning this world into a colony, I would much rather prefer to stick to his own words. If Cybertron is what he wants, then this is not the world for him to ravage under the guise of mechaforming."

Meeting Room

Prime listened carefully as Ultra Magnus spoke. His response was measured and careful, much like the bot himself. It was what they needed at this juncture. To run off in haste against whatever the Decepticons now had in store would likely doom them all. They all saw it, in their own way.

“Agreed,” Prime said softly. “We will preserve this world and its inhabitants in whatever way we can. Right now, the best tool we seem to have is diplomacy.”

Prime turned to Blaster.

“Send a request to reestablish our com link.”

Meeting Room

Blaster seemed a little bit surprised by how quickly they had turned around for this. Still, he was not one to doubt the leaders of the Autobots, especially in a time like this. He simply nodded, and sent a request back out to the Decepticon fleet, prompting for another communication.

Ultra Magnus looked with cold, steely optics at Prime, and furrowed his browplate in anticipation. The morale of their troops would have to wait - a loss of dignity and pride was currently much more acceptable than a loss of lives.

Meeting Room

A few moments later, the same holographic image of Megatron appeared. His expression was neutral.

>>“I’m pleased to see that you did not wait right until the deadline I had given you. I’d like to think we’re beyond unnecessary brinksmanship. You’ve proven me correct in that regard. Now-“<<

Optimus held up a hand and Megatron paused mid-statement, a curious expression crossing his face.

“We are prepared to discuss the terms of our surrender, provided that those discussions also center around your intentions for this world,” Optimus said.

Optimus Prime and Megatron had been at this for a long time, both on the battlefield as well as in their long history of dialogue. Everything was moves and countermoves. He could not give Megatron too much, too early. They had to approach this as carefully as they would any hypothetical battle plan.

>>”At last, Prime. At long last. Sense! Very well….assemble an envoy to present your ‘terms’ and I will hear them. Have your communications officer arrange the logistics with Soundwave. Megatron out.”<<