The Energon Pub

Garrus-9 - Southern Wing

Overlord sneered as Monstructor smashed the floor, the move causing him to stumble in his charge. The beast was enraged, its attacks unfocused. To say it was unusual for Overlord not to be at the center of a battle was an understatement. Either he drew all of the fire the Autobots could muster or the Autobots, and the occasional Decepticon, would run in terror from him. Simply being ignored or lumped in with the rest of the common attackers was unheard of for him, but it was something he would rectify immediately.

The giant Decepticon recovered his footing and resumed his charge. Discarding his rifle as he closed in on the combiner he clenched his right hand into a fist. Throwing it back he delivered a powerful punch to Monstructor’s knee, the sound of metal crashing into metal echoing throughout the prison. That sound was quickly followed by a roar from the gestalt as it felt pain in the first time since it could recall. It reacted swiftly and violently. Overlord found himself on the receiving end of a kick from the massive Decepticon.

The Phase Sixer went flying backwards, an outstretched hand grasping at the ground, fingers digging into the metal plating to slow his flight before finally stopping him. Overlord paused for a moment, kneeling, before looking up, a trickle of energon running from his lips. Those same lips twisted into a smile. “Now I have your attention beast.” He charged back at the monster. He could feel an itch in his head though. He could feel that Monstructor had a weakness, something he just hadn’t found yet. The Decepticon would have torn through an ordinary opponent now, his special mind and abilities letting him find that weakness, whether it was physical or mental, and exploit it to his fullest. Of course this was no ordinary opponent.

Monstructor saw Overlord charge again. This was the one that had managed to hurt him, even if it was minor. He also seemed far more resilient to his abilities then nearly any other being he had encountered. For that he would die, swiftly and painfully. The combiner threw its right arm up, and brought his fist down on the charging Decepticon

Overlord saw the move coming, but just barely. Despite his size Monstructor was swift in his attacks. He threw his arms over his head to try and catch his attack. The massive fist met the unbreakable frame of Overlord. The two forces struggled against each other, with the floor beneath Overlord being the loser as his feet began to sink into it, creating massive dents and threatening to break through it all together.

The former gladiator grunted under the strain of trying to repel the fist, a smile twisting on his face again. How long had it been since he had any sort of strain in battle, had to make any sort of real effort. He felt more alive then he had in ages. Overlord looked up at Monstructor and he could feel the last link in his brain make a connection. The itch in his brain was relieved as he saw the beast’s weak point, a spot on his chest. He just needed to strike it.

The Decepticon dropped to his knees abruptly, giving him a split second of freedom from under Monstructor’s fist. He rolled out from under it and climbed back to his feet in a run away from his opponent. Monstructor’s fist struck empty ground and he let out a snarl as he prepared for his next attack. Overlord turned and charged back at Monstructor, leaping onto a hapless Decepticon in his path, his feet crushing the random warrior, but giving Overlord a launch pad. The Phase Sixer launched himself at Monstructor, his fist slamming into that one weak spot on his chest, smashing through and striking a connective filament hidden behind the armor plating. Monstructor let out a screech and began to spasm, limbs flailing and knocking Overlord away. After only a few seconds the combiner exploded back into its component Cybertronians. The all fell to the ground, unconscious.

Overlord surveyed the scene, a triumphant smirk on his face. He scooped up his rifle and walked calmly towards Cyclonus. “Inform your master that I have broken in his new pet.” As he walked past the Decepticon his smirk quickly faded. How long would it be before he had a fight even remotely that entertaining again?

Garrus 9- The Last Resort

"Come, the Med Bay is back up in the main part of the prison."

Treadshot nodded, following Banzai-Tron out of ranks, away from Scorponok and his new prisoner friend. He watched his commander lift the stasis-locked Gutcruncher, indulging in a quiet moment of pleasure as the slag-licker who dared to fire him was left helpless and inert.

"Ugh...I don't even know why I'm doing this... I should leave you, toss you back to Hungrrrr to finish what he started. You made a fool of me and the DSS in following."

"You needn't be so concerned," Treadshot replied, helping his commander carry Gutcruncher's chassis. "After all, I survived a hit from Fortress Maximus. You stood by Scorponok's side at his greatest triumph to date. Two out of three of us had a good day."

And really, as long as I have a good day, what does it matter? Treadshot added privately.

-

Gutcruncher's mental faculties were not impaired. All he could do was lie still while his system remained in stasis lock. Some internal repairs his body could make, others it couldn't do on its own. He could feel someone carrying him. That was a start: at least the Decepticons had decided to let him live.

He heard Banzai-Tron's sanctimony again. Hadn't one speech been enough to convey his displeasure?

Instead Gutcruncher focused on his self diagnostic. As he hadn't seen the way Hun-Grr had attacked him, he had to use his system's readings post injury to determine the cause and effect. He'd recognized the weapon; he knew its power and its value.

He also knew it wasn't his'... yet.

But all information had use. The frequency of the sonic burst had mingled with the discharge of energy to combine at point of impact. It had been devastating, and it had blow most of his torso off.

And now, he knew a bit more about reverse engineering it. He had intended to fit his new vehicle mode's primary weapon with a fusion cannon, in hopes of using the same level of firepower Megatron had once employed.

Now, instead, he was measuring the damage Hun-Grr had inflicted and saw something more valuable to him than raw power. If he could learn to recreate that frequency, and make a Sonic Stun Gun of his own.

He could focus on what he was good at... and retrieve fully intact Cybertronians to sell, and not just their scrap.

Once he'd learned every trick to it, of course... then he'd pin the blame of his missing comrades on the only Decepticon who used a Sonic Stun Gun. Gutcruncher couldn't match Hun-Grr for raw power, but he could easily outwit the beast.

He'd have to be careful under Banzai-Tron's watch... but sometimes being in a position of disdain and mistrust was an advantage. Sometimes, being perceived as opportunistic meant others would dismiss you as a suspect in a much larger, much longer scheme.

And that thought kept Gutcruncher's spark aflame. He had a plan. He had a starting point.

And he would have revenge.

Garrus 9 - Southern Wing

Snaptrap had followed Overlord's directive and fired upon the being known on Monstructor, keeping tabs on his team. Nautilator had been a little stranger than normal lately, and the Seacon commander wanted to be sure that the crustacean didn't do anything horrendously stupid like fire on Overlord. Fortunately, Tentakil took on the job of policing him. Good. Snaptrap had not cared for Overlord's rather dismissive comment about him, but the Seacon commander was in no position to voice his disapproval.

He watched as the phase sixer and the titan dueled, short though it was. Overlord's power was always something to behold, but nothing ultimately surprising. He was a phase sixer for a reason, after all. However, the Seacon commander was more interested in the power of Monstructor. His very presence drained the very energy from the mechanoids around him. He also was endowed with enough power to smack Overlord around at least a little bit before the phase sixer spotted a weak point on Monstructor and took full advantage of it.

That would have to be...remedied. As Overlord struck at Monstructor's weak point, the monstrous being split apart into its components, and just like that, it was over. Snaptrap lowered his weapon. He watched as Overlord arrogantly strutted over to Cyclonus with narrowed optics, listening to the phase sixer's words from afar. The Seacon commander supposed it was time to take stock of his own troops. He scanned the Decepticons around and found them all relatively unharmed. Satisfactory.

Snaptrap put away his weaponry and approached Cyclonus who had been dealing with a group of Autobot prisoners. The Technobots. The Seacon commander made no further move but awaited for his commander to be finished with them as he awaited further orders or questions that Cyclonus might have for him. The Seacons had failed in their mission to escort the Monstructor Six safely to a laboratory for testing, and Snaptrap was well-prepared to accept the consequences of failure.


Umbra was caught by surprise as first Airachnid ripped off her inhibitor claw and began shouting at her to now remove hers. Before she had any time at all to react, Bludgeon swooped and and batted Airachnid's actuators with the flat of his sword and then launch the ruined inhibitor claw into the air before it exploded. If that wasn't all another insect-themed Decepticon approached them. Primus, would this day of horrors never end?

As Umbra finally managed to wrap her processor around what was happening, she stepped in between the congregated Decepticons, looking at Bludgeon first. "Master Bludgeon, thank you," she said curtly in a strained tone before looking at the newest Insecticon, Flytop. "Hey you, shut up," was all Umbra said before turning to Airachnid.

"Airachnid. I'm not a bomb expert, but now that my claw is off..." One of Umbra's wrist blades slid out from its sheath on her upper arm. "I can return the favor. Just be ready to duck for cover."

Umbra moved over behind Airachnid to where the spider's claw was located and sized it up. If she was quick enough, she would be able to get it off without any issues and throw it aside before it exploded. The last thing she wanted was to be indebted to Airachnid. Plus....she supposed that they were on the same side now. As bizarre as that particular thought was. Steeling her nerves, Umbra brought down her blade on the claw while yanking it backwards with her other hand.

It came free swiftly, which was great - Umbra was thrilled not to be blown up yet, and with a great heave, Umbra chuckled it down the hallway where it exploded in mid-air. It was close enough for the shock wave to knock the scout backwards onto the floor and sear her with its heat. Perhaps...a little too close, but it was done.

Picking herself up off of the floor, Umbra glanced at Airachnid with an uncertain look. "We're...even..." The agent then moved over to Bludgeon's side and gave him a more than a little weary salute by slamming her fist to her chest. She felt as though all her energy were being sucked right out of her. After everything that she had been through today and this? She was exhausted both physically and mentally. Still. She was now resolute.

"I will...scout ahead..." she managed. Activating her cloaking device, Umbra became invisible....for about an astrosecond. After which, she began flickering into and out of various states of visibility. Umbra looked down at herself with a subdued expression of surprise. "That's not supposed to happen..." Either she was too drained to maintain the cloak or it was damaged. Or both. Either way, she turned it off and moved off around the corner. Well. She just had to use her skills instead of relying on that fancy tech. She could do that.

As Umbra rounded the corner, she slipped into some cover that concealed her from view, but allowed her a fair vantage point on the proceedings. At which point she noticed that the Decepticon Phase Sixer Overlord was here. Oh. Well that was scary. Fortunately, he seemed to be preoccupied with Monstructor. That was...Icepick was in there. Somewhere. She hoped that...he'd be ok...She watched as the battle proceeded and ended almost as swiftly as they had stumbled upon it. Well alright then.

Umbra spotted Icepick as Monstructor split apart. Unconscious. She also felt the aura sapping her energy away vanish, though it left her no less exhausted. Overlord made no further moves to attack after they had split apart and instead walked out of sight. Phew. Umbra glanced back to where Blugdeon was and sent over a transmission to him.

>>"It's over, Bludgeo- er. Commander. Master? Monstructor was taken out by Overlord. I didn't know he was here. Good thing we didn't bump into him earlier, huh? Hahaha..."<< Umbra chattered almost giddily. The energy loss was beginning to go to her brain. She needed some energon to feel remotely cybertronian again. She tried to stand but found that her legs were more than a little shaky beneath her feet. She instead leaned on the rubble and wondered dully what was going to happen to her next. She wasn't sure that she could survive more of this.

Garrus 9 - The Last Resort

Pounce had made himself relatively scarce after the initial thrall of battle and energon-lust had worn off, content to watch from afar as events unfolded before him. When all had finally settled down, he watched the proceedings inside of the Rig from its door frame, moving away when the two Terrorcons Rippersnapper and Sinnertwin approached. Soon Banzai-Tron and Treadshot - huh, hadn't really seen him get here - exited the Rig. As interesting as things in there were getting, it was not his place to remain.

Padding along quietly, Pounce followed the DSS trio without their noticing as was his wont. He eavesdropped on their conversation with some interest and sneered as Banzai-Tron expressed his anguish over Gutcruncher's actions.

"Purrrrhaps, if he continues to make a fool of us, you can leave him to the Terrorcons next time," Pounce said suddenly. It was sure to give them a start. Or, failing that, at least alert his fellows to his presence. Transforming back into his robot mode, Pounce glanced up the elevator shaft. "Hrrrm...Gutcruncher sure did not make things easy, did he? I'm of half a mind to mince him myself."

Pounce leaped into the elevator shaft and clung to the opposing wall with his clawed actuators, skittering up the side of the shaft with practiced ease. He paused and looked back down at Banzai-Tron and Treadshot. "Wait a moment," he said before scrambling to the top of the shaft as quickly as he could.

When Pounce reached the ground level once more, he glanced about for some cable...wiring...something...It took him a while to gather it from the surrounding debris, but eventually, the infiltrator gathered up a sizable coil, and looped it around a beam that had embedded itself into the floor. He held onto one end of the cable with one hand as he threw the other end down into the shaft. Rather low tech, but serviceable.

>>"Do you see the end of the cable? Tie Gutcruncher to it. I'll pull him up. Or you can just use the cable to ascend yourself. Just let me know, and I'll adjust accordingly,"<< Pounce transmitted to Banzai-Tron

Garrus 9 - Southern Wing

This was sooooooo bad. They were being shoved into the southern wing like livestock, rushed to their deaths. The Technobots freaking out around him - well, at least Strafe - didn't really serve to calm his nerves. Then he saw him. The big monster himself. Oh, that looked like so much fun.

"Hey Nightbeat... What do you know about this Monstructor-thing?" Brainstorm had asked. Nightbeat could only vaguely gesture at it. "About as much as you. I think the Technobots at least have dealt with it before. Looks like the Decepticons are having fun though."

That was really the only consolation to this. The Decepticons were taking something of a beating. Nightbeat turned to Brainstorm to say something else, but immediately ceased what he was doing and stared at the rather imposing Decepticon approaching their group. Cyclonus. He briefly locked optics with Scourge - interesting - while saying nothing - even more interesting really - and then the purple Decepticon's attention was squarely upon them. Joy.

"Tell me what you know of your division tactics for incapacitating this creature. Tell me now, and I might be persuaded to make your captivity more comfortable."

Nightbeat wondered how likely it was that any of the others would offer up anything useful to the Decepticon. Please Scattershot, don't say or do anything stupid... Surprisingly enough, it wasn't Scattershot that said something stupid. It was Lightspeed. Nightbeat turned his head to look at the Technobot with wide optics, finding that Lightspeed's optics were equally as wide. Uh-oh. A Rungian slip. No good.

Cyclonus immediately carved a swath through the group of Autobots and had his hand around Lightspeed's neck. A split second decision caused Nightbeat to step up hastily to help Lightspeed. Two options. Try to deflect what Lightspeed had said or provoke Cyclonus himself to become the new object of his ire. Given that the Decepticons had Overlord of all people here, the notorious phase sizer, continuing to goad Cyclonus might not be the best course when their leverage could slip away from them at any time.

"I'm sure he didn't mean to say that," Nightbeat said to Cyclonus. The detective didn't much care for team pride. Working along often meant doing whatever was necessary to get ahead. "Right, Lightspeed? As for Monstructor-" Nightbeat cut off abruptly when he heard something strange from behind him. Quiet. Nightbeat glanced back to see that Overlord had indeed defeated Monstructor - rather swiftly too, sheesh - and that any leverage that they had had was now gone. "-It appears that situation has resolved itself..."

Nightbeat fell silent as Overlord stalked their way and made a rather interesting comment to Cyclonus. It seemed Overlord had come here under his own authority since he didn't seem to be a part of Scorponok's team. The detective watched the phase sixer move past curiously and noted that his victorious smirk had faded swiftly upon leaving the battlefield. Very interesting...Nightbeat then turned his attention to another Decepticon who walked up and stared at Cyclonus but again said nothing. Hm.


Garrus 9 - Last Resort

Blot maintained his place at Hun-Grrr's side, never having left it once after separating himself from the feast in the other room. This room full of glowing orbs. A room of souls. A room of rather delicious looking souls. But Blot knew his place. Hun-Grrr had not feasted on a one of them yet, so nor would he. Unless otherwise ordered, the master was to feed first, and since he had not Blot took this as his cue to abstain.

So, when both Rippersnapper and Sinnertwin were chased away and he was allowed to remain at the master's side, Blot felt very pleased with himself. Blot merely hung back away from Scorponok and the one he addressed, and lingered about Hun-Grrr so as to not be in the way. Not that it really mattered if he were in anyone's way other than Hun-Grrr's.

Blot looked at the new mechanoid that Hun-Grr was interrogating with a dull curiosity. So far he had done nothing to merit an attack from his master, and that was enough for Blot to remain at ease. With nothing much else to do, Blot picked at a rather annoying piece of shrapnel that had wedged itself between his razor sharp and also rather filthy teeth.


>>"Your recommendation is a sound one. Keep monitoring his vitals."<<

If Firewire was honest with herself, she would admit to being very pleased that Scorponok approved of her recommendation. Luckily, she was not quite that honest with herself, though she did stand a little more proudly at the purple and gold warlord's side. She sent him back a nonverbal acknowledgement and kept monitoring Jhiaxus's vital signs. Considering how ancient he was, they looked fantastic!

Firewire did panic a little bit when Jhiaxus started to walk around with that dilapidated body of his. But...his vitals remained fairly stable, but still...if this guy got hit with one shot from a blaster, she wasn't sure that he would survive. She would also have to check for the signs of cybercrosis...Given how old his spark was, it was not unheard of to develop. Her preliminary scans done, she recalled most of the scanner drones, leaving all that was necessary to monitor his vitals.

Firewire sent a specialized drone out, so small that even she had to hold it with forceps. It landed on Jhiaxus and navigated its way into his internal mechanisms, landing on the spark casing before halting. From there, it interfaced with the spark casing and collected data which Firewire had displayed on a view screen from her arm.

This specialized drone - one of her own creation through her laborious research of sparks - was equipped with all the necessary detection arrays to feed her every possible bit of information about a spark. Overwhelming to most, fascinating to her. There was much that they did not know about the spark. Including how to make new ones. Such a thing...was the ultimate goal of her research. They badly needed to repopulate. Even if her research did not yield results for a million years more...even if the war ends before she accomplishes her goal, she still intended to find a way to repopulate their endangered species.

The drone had not registered any of the signs of cybercrosis. Firewire sighed internally with relief. Did not need that particular headache with one of their now most important guests. Still...Firewire would love the opportunity to study and perhaps find a way to cure it. That would be a significant first step in preserving their race.

The rest of what the drone reported was fascinating, but not exactly relevant. She switched it over to the basic task of observing vital signs, and filed away the other data for later. Recalling the larger drones, Firewire deactivated the view screen and set the vitals to display privately in her optics so that she could keep constant vigilance...while also being also to do things with her arms again.

Garrus-9--Southern Wing--Penitentiary

Cyclonus' patience was already frayed, but it had not come entirely undone. He was not unaccustomed to chaos. Even so, much of their work had gone according to plan, casualties and all. The convergence of the Monstructor Six was a reminder of what could happen when they became too comfortable. He knew the Technobots would be able to expedite this process and to assist them in getting the monster back under control, both for their benefit as well as the Decepticons' own. It was clear that Monstructor did not either recognize or acknowledge the concept of friend and foe. All were to be destroyed. In that regard, he had the potential to be a powerful weapon, but he would have to be deployed judiciously. In the meantime, the Autobots would surely see the value of overcoming the monster, even if it was they who would ultimately control it.

"I don't care what he meant," Cyclonus said icily as Nightbeat attempted to interject himself into the situation as save his comrade.

"Y-You....don't....ungh.....need us," Lightspeed struggled to get out, writhing in Cyclonus' grip and reinforcing Nightbeat's last point.

Cyclonus' optics narrowed as his sensors took in new information: namely how the onslaught of blaster fire had died down before quieting into nothingness. The massive tremors had stopped. The crashing had stopped. Cyclonus turned to see why and quickly found his answer: Monstructor shattered into his component pieces once more and the lurching form of Overlord as he approached. The Phase Sixer had clearly been worth the effort it had taken to involve him in this melee, but the real question was how had he done it? From what Cyclonus knew, it had taken the efforts of Omega Sentinels to bring the titan down before. Even now, he had easily withstood a heavy barrage from every available Decepticon in the area. What had Overlord known that the rest of them had not?

Cyclonus released his grip on the Technobot, lowering him back to the ground.

“Inform your master that I have broken in his new pet," Overlord said in passing, clearly uninterested in the cleanup process of this melee. No matter. He had carried out the function that he was designed to, even in this most unorthodox of circumstances. No response was needed, and thus no response was given. Instead, Cyclonus turned his attention to the Seacon Commander.

"Resecure the Monstercons and make ready to continue your transfer once I receive word from our commander. You will leave one behind with me. I will personally ensure that does not happen again," the warrior said, before establishing a new link with his commanding officer. >>"My lord Scorponok, the Monstercons have been restabilized, though I am not entirely sure how. The situation will require debriefing. The prison and the gestalt are now ours, though I have not received word from the Aequitas contingent. I will follow up with Cipher's progress shortly. I trust matters on your end have been equally fruitful?"<<

Garrus 9 - Last Resort

"Purrrrhaps, if he continues to make a fool of us, you can leave him to the Terrorcons next time... Hrrrm...Gutcruncher sure did not make things easy, did he? I'm of half a mind to mince him myself."

"The thought has already crossed my mind several times." Banzai-tron coldly replied to the feline agent as he made himself useful and ascend the elevator shaft with ease, "But he's still valuable to what little was have of a team. Next time though, you shall have the honors of treating him however you see fit."

>>"Do you see the end of the cable? Tie Gutcruncher to it. I'll pull him up. Or you can just use the cable to ascend yourself. Just let me know, and I'll adjust accordingly,"<<

Banzai-tron grabbed hold of the cable Pounce tossed down and began to tie it around Gutcruncher's dismembered chassis. Once secured he gave the cable a tug to indicate to Pounce that he was ready to be hauled up.

"Do you need to be carried up like him or are you able to climb yourself?" The crystalocution master asked turning to Treadshot. Banzai-tron was surprised Flatline and his medical team hadn't reached them before Pounce's clever thinking took control of thier escape. Didn't matter for now, gettin gout of this hole and to the medical ward was the main priority for the head of Decepticon Intelligence.

Garrus-9--The Rig

"As you command it, Lord Scorponok," Skullgrin said dutifully, his mind cursing as he did so.

The amount barely contained discontent in the voices of his warriors over some of their tasks was understandable but Scorponok's tolerance for it was quite limited. Luckily enough for Skullgrin, the siege warrior had kept his cool, resisting the urge of complain over task not fitted for a warrior of his stature - and thus avoiding invoking the wrath of the fearsome warlord. Same could not be said about certain members of the Decepticon Secret Services and his Insecticon horde which Scorponok had under tight surveillence through double-agents and the very fact that both special forces were set to answer directly to the Conclave. The Conclave being a council of Decepticons hand picked by Megatron himself to carry out his will. A group which Scorponok was naturally part of as Megatron's highest ranking general.

Both Bombshell and Banzai-Tron were treading dangerous waters with their growing greed, self-importance and arrogance. Building a new hive in energon mines discovered under the penitentiary without informing him? Leaving the Rig without given the permission to do so? The black market trade of Cybertronian technology to other species DSS agents were involved in? Hesitance over taking the job of assaulting the Last Resort in the first place? The task given to Skullgrin would have fitted almost any member of the Secret Services better than the siege warrior but the DSS had made themselves scarce from Scorponok's presence quite quickly despite the Rig and Last Resort holding more secrets than anything else within Garrus-9 save for Aequitas and the brain module of Fortress Maximus. This was in direct conflict with the DSS being a tool of the Conclave - for them to even give the slightest impression of thinking themselves above being commanded by the highest level of Decepticon decision making was as ridiculous as it was dangerous. It appeared Scorponok would have to keep even closer eye on his own intelligence gathering network. The Decepticon Secret Services being infiltrated by a network of spies with seemingly questionable loyalties just could not be allowed.

Neither DSS or Bombshell were of immediate concern though. Both were under surveillance and could be reacted against if the situation so required. For now, they had not crossed the line - yet. There were more immediate concerns, ones that could not be ignored or delayed. Learning about the combiner technology from Jhiaxus was one of them.

"You are wise to see their value," Jhiaxus said, walking softly past Scorponok and approaching one of the walls of glowing orbs, limping slightly as he did so. "The Prime did. He wanted what you want. Few....so precious few can handle the modifications. To transform not once but twice or three times or more. To have many become one. The end result is often madness and death."

"I expected it to be so. Even your own... creation despite of its brilliance can hardly be described to be a perfected example of your grand scheme." Scorponok replied to the ancient Cybertronian before him, "No one has come even close to point you reached before your experiments were put on hold. Had you been given the resources and time, I am certain a mind of a genius like yours would have perfected the process tens of thousands of vorns ago."

"And yet, even an unfinished project like Monstructor is a weapon to be coveted by any military leader." The giant Decepticon continued, "All it needs to be useful is control."

"I trust you have a population in mind. We may have to cull through many before we find those that are adaptive to the process," Jhiaxus said, the faint glow of the sparks casting ghastly shadows on his aged, metallic features. He turned slowly and faced Scorponok again. "A question, though, if you would indulge me: what is known of the Ark and its status? What is known of the Prime and his crew?"

"Oh, I have prison full of test subjects to screen through and once you have worked the kinks out of the system I doubt we will be short of volunteers," Scorponok answered the first part of Jhiaxus' query, meeting the gaze of the scientist, "As for Prime... last recorded communication between the crew of Ark I and Cybertron was logged only breems prior the ship entered the Benzuli Expanse anomaly. Over 6 million years ago. Once the sitting senate finally managed to send off a search party, they found nothing. The anomaly was gone. Many more search parties were funded privately since then but the universe is vast. Obviously enough though. You were found. And the government that stepped in place of the power vacuum left by Nova Prime's disappearance quite conveniently failed mention this to the public. Had it not been for the information my spies within the Autobot ranks found, it is unlikely we would have found your derelict laboratory in LV-117."

An incoming transmission from Cyclonus put a pause to the discussion between the Decepticon leader and the archaic scientist, "Excuse me for a moment."

[quote]>>"My lord Scorponok, the Monstercons have been re-stabilized, though I am not entirely sure how. The situation will require debriefing. The prison and the gestalt are now ours, though I have not received word from the Aequitas contingent. I will follow up with Cipher's progress shortly. I trust matters on your end have been equally fruitful?">"They have been fruitful indeed. The lead we had was true. Jhiaxus here and he is functional once again. I will require a full and painstaking investigation of the events that led to both Monstructor's rise and fall. As powerful as Overlord is, this happened far faster than it was to be expected. Despite of his skill in finding the weaknesses to be exploited. After all, it took Omega Supreme to bring down this creature before and not even the Warrior's Elite have been able to directly compete with the energies wielded by that Autobot so far. Send all available video and sensory recordings of the event to me as soon as possible. Scorponok out."<<

"I appears Jhiaxus," Scorponok began, turning his attention back to the scientist, "That my super soldier was able to pacify your monster after an accident that led to the combination of the Monstructor Six. I will have my men to investigate this."

"We however, " The massive warlord spoke and snapped his claw - a space bridge portal opening next to him in response, "Will continue this discussion on board my ship."

With that being said, Scorponok gestured both Jhiaxus and Firewire to follow him and started to enter into the rift in space and time before them.

Garrus-9--The Rig

Jhiaxus registered the invasion of Firewire's technology, infiltrating and scanning the more interior recesses of his armature while his attention was focused elsewhere. He paid no mind to it. Technology had undoubtedly made great strides in the time that he had been incapacitated. Moreover, this Scorponok and his legion could just have easily left him in his perpetual prison--aware, and yet not--forever. The fact that they had not garnered some measure of loyalty and trust from him now. After all, they would not have gone to such effort only to destroy him now.

"I expected it to be so. Even your own... creation despite of its brilliance can hardly be described to be a perfected example of your grand scheme. No one has come even close to point you reached before your experiments were put on hold. Had you been given the resources and time, I am certain a mind of a genius like yours would have perfected the process tens of thousands of vorns ago."

Jhiaxus grinned. This gladiator could verbalize his desires well. He would have made a fine addition to the political ranks that set themselves to work under the aegis of Nova Prime. Fate, however, had chosen a different destiny and a different time period for this mechanoid to make his mark.

"I share your assessment, and your certainty," Jhiaxus said, still choosing his words with some degree of restraint. So many dark clouds roiled over and over in his mind like a building storm, feeding on itself. It was a challenge to pull himself out of the reverie of his newfound consciousness and deal with the material concerns of the here and now.

"And yet, even an unfinished project like Monstructor is a weapon to be coveted by any military leader. All it needs to be useful is control."

"Yessss, such raw, haphazard potential it created. The convergence of their minds, it did something....created something...that I did not expect. But that does not mean it can not be bent to our will."

As Scorponok answered the first part of his question, Jhiaxus' sneer grew even more pronounced. So, not only had the prison been subjugated, but many of its denizens were being left functional. That would be too perfect.

The second part of the answer was more....disconcerting. To imagine that such a great figure like Nova Prime had simply been lost to the very universe that he sought to explore--to expand their influence--was a tragedy that could scarcely be done justice with mere words. The fact that nothing more had been heard of the legendary Prime in such a monumentally long, intervening period meant that the odds of his continued existence were so minimal as to be deemed irrelevant. Jhiaxus had been given an opportunity to carry forward his vision. Moreover, he would now be the guiding hand of their species and carry them to their penultimate destiny. He would have to be. Who else could?

Jhiaxus returned his attention to the orbs as the gladiator soon needed to deal with another matter of his conquest. The fact that his laboratory appeared derelict to outside eyes was a welcome surprise at least. The fact that it had not been used in so long would obviously give that impression. It was fortunate that there was far more to that world than met the eye. Jhiaxus had ensured that much. He had dug deep, beyond what any sentient mind might consider inhabitable. And there the seeds of change had been planted. If only his work had not been cut so abysmally short.

"I appears Jhiaxus, that my super soldier was able to pacify your monster after an accident that led to the combination of the Monstructor Six. I will have my men to investigate this."

Jhiaxus rounded on Scorponok, his jade optics wide at what he had heard.

"What?! Impossible!" Jhiaxus reeled, his mind struggling to make sense of what the gladiator had just said. It had taken the might not only of Omega Sentinels, but the legendary Omega Supreme to bring his gestalt to heel. He had no idea what super soldier Scorponok referenced, but no single soldier of any caliber could bring down Monstructor! Unless, perhaps, this soldier was possessed of that infinitely rare, .01% of sparks, the anomalous, resilient sparks that Jhiaxus and his chief protege, Shockwave, had taken a keen interest in within the halls of the academy. No...no, not even then. It had to be something more...

"We however, will continue this discussion on board my ship," Scorponok said finally as he turned to leave.

"No," Jhiaxus said, his mind still thinking of the fallen gestalt rather than outrightly refusing his new benefactor. His optics then focused on Scorponok specifically. "No. We must not leave now. There is much to be done if you would see your army realized. I would see not a single moment wasted. I would see the fallen six with my own eyes. I must know why."

Garrus-9--The Rig

Scorponok stopped, just prior stepping through the portal he had opened - turning to look at the ancient scientist who had refused to follow him. "Logic would indicate that neither of us are ready to enter a war zone. My wounds require attention and to endanger an asset such as you by taking you to area that has not yet been completely secured is foolish."

"No. There is no reason to be hasty. Let my men do their work and you will have all the material you need to work on deciphering this mystery. And a secured laboratory where to do it." The massive warlord added, somewhat irritated by Jhiaxus' not bowing to his will. He did not let his voice or stance to betray his emotions though, "In the meanwhile, I will brief you on just what kind of force your beast just faced."

"If it eases your mind, I have a very capable lieutenant of mine in charge of the investigation." Scorponok attempted to reassure the scientist as he turned towards the portal again, "I believe you two are acquainted. His name is Cyclonus."

Prison Complex: Southern Wing

Scattershot said nothing as Cyclonus approached Lightspeed. There was nothing he could say that would help his subordinate out right, at least nothing that wouldn't make things worse than they already were. No, he needed to keep his head while his subordinate and friend became the temporary focal point of attention among the cadre of Autobot Prisoners of War. His optics darted back from the slow plodding snarl of the Decepticon officer to the clash between Monstructor and the completely insane Overlord.

It concluded as abruptly as it had begun. Initially Scattershot had been rather surprised by how swift the engagement had concluded, a fist through a weakened portion of the giant's breastplate and it was over. However, as nanoseconds ticked passed, the Technobot commander recalled old archival footage of the last engagement that had brought the massive monstrosity to heel. Damage dealt to Monstructor by Omega Supreme had been magnificent and overwhelming, and the same could be said in reverse. But when the battle was over and the six were officially separated... Well tactically it made absolutely no sense for the commanding officials of the era to fully restore the Monstercons to full functional capabilities. It also meant that imperfections would have been left, it was the only logical explanation for how Overlord managed to achieve his victory. Though it was rather surprising and perhaps testament to the endurance of the junk the Phase Six Soldier had been fused with, with regards to the necromatic field the combined creature exuded. But for Scattershot, all it meant that in the short term and long term, their odds of beating an abomination such as that went from slim to out right infinitesimal... he'd have Lightspeed crunch the numbers later.

Speaking of his executive officer, Scattershot returned his attention back to the encounter between he and Cyclonus. The confrontation had already been resolved before it ever escalated to something that required his own direct interference, for whatever that would have been worth. It had only served to distract Cyclonus and the rest of the contingent from the specifics of the battle and rely on the over all results. Specifics that would, if analyzed properly by the Data Collector, and maybe their bio mechanical engineer. Scattershot decided to reserve that piece of observational data and transferred it to a specialized file for contact transmission at a later interval.

"So that is the plan... revive the Angel of Death with intent on controlling. Maybe even use it as a prototype for even more sovereigns of destruction?" Scattershot scoffed briefly, finally turning the scene back to the debate at hand... or at least optics in his general direction. It was only then that the realization of what was truly transpiring before him. From what he had observed, as limited as it had been, he had not seen anyone within the Decepticon present ranks capable of such reverse engineering. At least none capable of that level of detail necessary in turning that thing into another thing...

A shadow of dread fell over Scattershot's spark as a cold realization flooded his neural network, though his expression did nothing to betray him. The Prison, the Monstercons, they were pieces... pawns in the greater objective. Having the prototype was all well and good but it would take stellar cycles to reverse it enough to reproduce it. But the creator...

He shifted his weight, signalling to the Autobot column to fall in line. The seekers, most of whom had been scattered during the brief battle with the squadron leader crushed by the landing of Overlord after rushing haphazardly into battle when Cyclonus and Scourge had arrived to take command of the party, fell into their respective escorting positions. "Its a real shame though," Scattershot goaded. "So close yet so far away."

Garrus-9--The Rig

"Logic would indicate that neither of us are ready to enter a war zone. My wounds require attention and to endanger an asset such as you by taking you to area that has not yet been completely secured is foolish."

Fool. Your war will not touch me as it has you, Jhiaxus thought, his expression remaining completely impassive. When one worked under the likes of Nova Prime and Galvatron, one quickly learned to keep their disagreements masked, even when they were as pronounced as they were right now.

Jhiaxus seethed silently, invisibly, as the gladiator went on to explain his motivations. He wanted his accursed army of gestalts and Jhiaxus was actually of a mind to give it to him while he continued his own work, but so very little of that was likely to be accomplished on some battle-ravaged dirigible. It was maddening.

He knew that he could convince this pit fighter to alter his course. He had swayed Primes and senators and generals in his time. This would be no challenge. He just needed the right angle. He-

"If it eases your mind, I have a very capable lieutenant of mine in charge of the investigation. I believe you two are acquainted. His name is Cyclonus."

Jhiaxus' earlier neutral expression faded away, his pronounced orange jawline slacking open in obvious surprise. Cyclonus? But--?

So many answers in terms of whats, whens and whos. So frustratingly few in terms of whys and hows. And those, of course, were nearly always the two most important. But if he was going to have any chance at gaining more of those answers, some additional degree of compliance would be necessary. For now.

His surprise still etched on his aged face, Jhiaxus limped forward, saying nothing to the gladiator as he stepped into the portal and allowed it to forward him on to his next destination.
___

Garrus-9--Southern Wing

Lightspeed looked up, rubbing the area around his neck servos where Cyclonus' hand had been only moments before. The chaos of a short time ago was gone. In its place? Confusion. That was a fair trade. Lightspeed would take it.

The Monstructor Six appeared to be down for the count, though at least one of them was starting to stir. Perhaps others. He could not see clearly from his current vantage point and there were certainly more bodies than just theirs strewn around the prison floor even as the Decepticon forces in the area moved towards certain areas in particular. Then he could see Birdbrain being seized upon, reshackled and dragged away from the others.

The Decepticons' focus was everywhere except for on them. Even Cyclonus appeared to now be carefully watching the recontainment process of the Monstercons. Lightspeed grunted as he got back to his feet, limping slightly over to where Brainstorm stood. He would have no better moment than the one fate, Primus or whatever had just given them. Quickly and silently he pressed the small device he had snagged from the Decepticon shuttle in to the other mech's actuator: a stray fuel converter. He had seen it on a whim and picked it up on an even slimmer one, wondering what he might do with it until it dawned on him that he didn't need to do anything. They had Brainstorm. Any use he or another Technobot might find for that little nugget would pale in comparison to Brainstorm's ingenuity. If his short times with Prowl had taught him anything, it was to invest in where you were likely to get the biggest return.

"So that is the plan... revive the Angel of Death with intent on controlling. Maybe even use it as a prototype for even more sovereigns of destruction?" his unit commander had said. It was a question asked of the Decepticons, not the other Autobots, but it was a point of curiosity for Lightspeed as well.

"They'll change the face of the war if they can unlock what Jhi-" Lightspeed said before stopping suddenly, turning to look at Scattershot. The expression on his face told him all he needed to know about what his commander was thinking. Fortunately the words he chose to speak did not give away his thoughts. Well, not entirely.

"Its a real shame though. So close yet so far away."

Oh no, Lightspeed grumbled internally. Don't taunt this one.

Lightspeed quickly moved to pull Cyclonus' attention away from that last comment before Scattershot underwent the same treatment he had just a short time ago. Or worse.

"P-Perhaps we might render a little assistance, hm?" Lightspeed said, clearly thinking on his feet to the best of his ability. "Perhaps we can help you determine what broke the connection between the six of them? Things like this....it's what we do."

Garrus 9 - Southern Wing

Well the conflict with Monstructor had ended rather quickly. And just when the Decepticons were practically begging for Autobot assistance. Oh well, the moment was a bitter-sweet one. While the other Autobots worried about what the Decepticons were up to and getting into near-heated debates with them, Brainstorm continued to gaze about the corridors and take in any info he could. With Monstructor out of commission for the time being, Brainstorm could return to his usual thought processing without the beast's energy field draining away at his systems.

"If Roadbuster were to- No that wouldn't work. Let's see... If the inhibitor claws can be removed properly I'm sure Scattershot could- Nah, we don't have enough time."

Brainstorm's train of thought came to a grinding halt as Lightspeed leaned in and handed the biomechanical engineer a fuel converter he had smuggled off the shuttle during the prisoner transfer. Brainstorm's optics widened with glee, but was sure to not draw a lot of attention to the device as he cradled his new toy in his actuators.

"Now, what can I do with you..."

To most mechs, this was just a simple tool used to turn any amount of raw energon into a much more stable form that Cybretronians can properly "digest". But to Brainstorm, it was the key component to at least 7 different tools he could use to assist in the freedom of his fellow Autobots. (21 if it weren't for the inhibitor claws installed on each of them, and at least 30 if he had a proper lab to work in)

Brainstorm looked away from his devise and tried to find the next component he'd need for his latest project. Trouble is, if he was seen holding the next piece to his grand plan, there would be no doubt the Decepticons would open fire upon them all in a spark-beat.

"Hey, Nightbeat..." Brainstorm whispered to the detective as he cast his glance about to aware of any wandering Seeker optics, "Need you to do me a favor; Keep your optics peeled for a trigger we could snatch off a gun of somekind. Of course, once you find said trigger we'll have to come up with some way to retrieve it without being to obvious..."

Brainstorm leaned back forward and scanned the corridor, trying to make it seem like his little exchange with the blue and yellow detective hadn't just taken place. Luckily for the Biomechanical engineer, this batch of Seekers were as dumb and clueless as ever before and hadn't noticed the exchange over the sound of the weapons fire stir erupting through out the prison.

Garrus 9- The Last Resort

"Do you need to be carried up like him or are you able to climb yourself?"

"I do not need anything, Banzai-Tron," Treadshot sneered back, watching the stasis locked Gutcruncher ascending. He waited patiently, and after his colleague was taken up and the cable dropped back down, the marksman began to climb up.

The first few meters were simplicity itself, but as he progressed, Treadshot became increasingly aware of the big gash in his chest and felt a few splashes of energon leaking down his torso...

Treadshot quietly climbed, ignoring the small but persistent warning from his self diagnostic to transform and continue internal repairs. There was no way he was letting himself be trapped in his alternate mode. He didn't trust anyone on his current team to do the shooting, nor did he want to be manhandled.

He finished his climb and joined Gutcruncher with the medic. He waited, only briefly glancing down at the energon he'd spilled.

And of course, keeping any signs of weakness or vulnerability entirely to himself.

Garrus-9 - Southern Wing

Vroom shook from frustration. He was not a mechanoid to ever leave another behind if he had any choice but now, for the second time, he was being forced into doing so. He could hear Stormwrecker in there so he knew he was functional but the debris around Stormwrecker was way too unstable to work with. He needed heavy equipment to do so which he did not have. Going out for help was not an option either, no Decepticon would stop and listen.

"Sorry." He said. "I will do what I can to make sure someone finds you."

He went to the injured Autobot guard and took his communicator. It was a bit smashed up but working enough for what he wanted. He forced it open and jury rigged its internal systems to continuously send out a continuous signal. He gently placed it on the rubble where Stormwrecker was trapped.

"This should gets someone's attention. Good luck pal."

He turned and moved the unconcious Autobot closer to the debris. He moved his hand so that it pointed towards it. He needed medical attention quickly as well. Afterwards he continued on his way out. In the distance he could see a tear in the outer walls that he could fit out of. There was no triumph in his demeanor though. He felt very much defeated.

Garrus 9 – The Rig

"Of course, if you're still not sure about him Commander Hun-Grr, feel free to eat him at your discretion,"

WHAT?!

That little piece of…she’d do this to him? Like this? Just let this killer eat him and walk away?

Well, wait a minute. Why wouldn’t she. They had no ties. And she honestly owed him nothing. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t use her right about now.

"It still has no name. I can smell stench of shed enerrrgon on it."

Oh dear god the Terrorcon was speaking about him. Although the thief was petrified beyond all reason he remained composed outwardly. Showing fear in front of one such as Hun-Grrr was like hanging a sign around your neck that read Eat at Your Own Leisure. And that was not for him. Contrary to belief he liked life.

"It has killed."

Whoa! Wait. What were those last bits of the Terrorcon’s statement…smell of energon and something about killed?

Kronus took a quick glance down at his body. He was still covered in Brace’s various fluids. Not to mention some innards here and there.

Pausing a moment as he thought of how he should respond Kronus spared a quick glance around the hulking two headed dragon. He then caught Firewire’s eyes and sent her a pleading expression in her direction. He then quickly returned his gaze back up to Hun-Grrr.

“My apologies Commander Hun-Grrr. How rude of me not to introduce myself. My name is Kronus.” The thief gestured to his stained chassis. “My current state…well this over here, and here, oh and here….this was a former business associate of mine.” Kronus sent an evil smile up to both heads. “We had a falling out.” He chuckled as he remembered the look on Brace’s face when he realized he was never going to get out of the prison alive.

If Primus truly did care for his children he’d make sure Kronus would come out of this encounter alive.

Garrus 9 - Southern Wing

Bludgeon’s head snapped up at the retort from the newest insect to test his patients his grip tightening on his sword as his optics narrowed. Umbra took it upon herself to intercede before he could act upon his instincts to end both the creatures in front of him. Neither would be missed in the grand scheme of the war expendable assets just like Bludgeon himself.

While Umbra worked on Arachnid’s inhibitor with her wrist claws the electric warrior was impressed at the speed with which Umbra removed and disposed of the claw. She presented herself to the warrior and slammed a fist against her chest it was little more than a token gesture as her movements where languid. Bludgeon was inherently aware of the energon drain but the enigmatic warrior kept his demeanour calm as Umbra spoke

"I will...scout ahead..."

The scout cloaked briefly she then reappeared as the device failed bludgeon listened as his new pupil headed off making more noise than a Dinobot in a Sharkticon buffet. “Needs to work on her stealth” muttered Bludgeon as he moved to follow her masking his footfalls and leaving the insects behind hopefully to chew on each others chassis.

Bludgeon arrived at the scene after Overlord had finished his miracle shot to split the gargantuan Monstructor into his component parts.

>>"It's over, Bludgeo- er. Commander. Master? Monstructor was taken out by Overlord. I didn't know he was here. Good thing we didn't bump into him earlier, huh? Hahaha..."<<

“It’s a very good thing Umbra” Bludgeon replied looming up behind the smaller mech from the shadows “We will have to find sustenance to replenish the draining effect of Monstructor”

The Electric Warrior looked out over the fallen Monstercons then at a group of several autobots that looked like they were being herded towards Monstructor before his separation. The Technobots, Roadbuster, Brainstorm, Pointblank, Bludgeon gave a nod of acknowledgement to Pointblank a formidable warrior worthy of respect.

“Stay here and don’t get yourself into trouble”

Bludgeon moved forward into the scrum of decepticons and knelt beside Icepick lifting the mech up with reverence. With one arm looped around the chest of the Monstercon keeping him propped up despite his lack of lucidity as he spoke up.

“Snaptrap, Icepick shall travel with me I think it prudent that we keep the Monstercons apart for now until their gift is understood”

Bludgeon looked directly at the butcher off the bogs in the hope he’d approve the logic was sound, it would give Umbra something else to worry about rather than attempting to please him like some sycophant. He’d cultivate her skills in time but for now he needed her focused on survival.

Garrus 9 - Southern Wing

Spinister's optics turned on again, there was something wrong with them, he must have been hit earlier. His vision was blurred at the beginning, but now he can see everything. He was sill in the Southern Wing, but things were a bit different. Bludgeon was nearby, so were a lot of Autobot prisoners, and the Monstercons seemed to have been in a fight, some of them were on the floor. He looked around, there were a few other Decipticons he recognized, and few who he did not.

He still held his rifle in hand, and was standing near the Autobot prisoners. Counterpunch was nowhere to be seen, but was probably just around the corner. Spinister currently had no orders, so he decided to simply guard the prisoners and wait.

His optics went off again and he lost sight. He knocked his head, he can see again. Spinister needed some repairs, fast. He didn't want his optics malfunctioning like that in combat.

Garrus IX: Southern Wing

Afterburner was on the verge of rebellion, well more so than he typically was anyways. It had been a rather distressing yet entertaining turn of events when Nightbeat had blurted out the revival of the great doomsday weapon of an era long gone by. The noted Angel of Death, a construct so powerful that it took the entire might of Cybertron's greatest warrior to bring it to heel. To be frank he really didn't have the same lust as his so called Commanding Officer, Scattershot. In fact, he was quite content to sit back and allow the morons in purple to reap the devastation they had willingly sewn.

But Lightspeed, it just had to be Lightspeed. He would have expected something cowardly and self saving from the likes of that idiot commander, but Lightspeed? To volunteer their advanced technical skills and abilities to... what; help the Decepticons build an entire legion of those things? It was the dumbest idea he had ever heard, and judging by the reaction of several others in the column... they tended to agree. No, Afterburner was already stuck in a prison with those stinking rusty husks thanks to one leader's stupidity he would be damned if he was forced into helping them kill more of their comrades in arms on other worlds. "Wait a spark forsaken mom..."

From behind him a brownish red hand rested across the broad block like shoulders of the Technobot Gunner. The robotics expert turned his head ever so slightly to catch Nosecone's optical visor. "What? Don't tell me you agree with this lunkheaded bolt for brains? He's probably going to use this chance to..."

For Nosecone's effort the miner simply smiled. "I do not believe Lightspeed is capable of such treachery." He said in a low tone as a matter of fact. "But if he offers something, you know as well as I there is a reason behind it."

"Yeah, a method to the madness. Rebuild that freak and then turn it loose on the rest of the Autobots throughout the galaxy," Afterburner protested though his voice was now low enough as to not be heard by most of the Decepticon contingent that were now escorting them to the next phase of their war.

Scattershot's response to Lightspeed's offer did little to endear himself to the rebellious engineer. In fact it forced Afterburner to ball his hands into a tight fist as he attempted to conceal his rage, his entire team had gone insane.

"Loath I am to admit it, Lightspeed is correct..." Scattershot added to his Executive Officer's offer. "We can easily determine what happened to that thing. By the all spark we can even repair the big AI downstairs."

"Those idiots!!!" Afterburner blurted but quickly quieted himself as the hard steel butt of a null ray rifle was driven into his knee before swung hard across his jaw. An act designed to illicit a response from everyone else in the Autobot party. Bait to force an execution. None of the Technobots, nor the powerfully quiet Pyro rose to the challenge.

As Afterburner rubbed his jaw, ringing but not broken or seriously damaged, his optics narrowed onto both his commanding leaders.

"You want answers, so do we. Damn I hate this," Scattershot rubbed the back of his head. It was a curse of being among the most technologically advanced. Every technology they encountered was a new mystery, one that begged to be answered... at least that was the excuse he would use if he were asked to delve deeper into it. "Your call Cyclonus. Use new assets to solve a mystery and perhaps boost the standing in the optical sensors of the Arachnid..." He left the last end of the thought fall to silence. From Afterburner's perspective, Scattershot was only offering the Decepticon soldier one option, the option the traitor needed to survive.

Garrus-9--Southern Wing

Cyclonus was still somewhat mystified by everything that had transpired. one moment they were fighting for their collective lives and then, seemingly instantaneously, they were not. Had Cyclonus not already experienced what many Cybertronians would only dream of, the experience might well shut him down for a time. As it was, now that the problem had been rectified, it was time to begin an analysis of what exactly had happened and how they could better control it in the future. After all, the combining of the Monstructor Six was one of the desired outcomes of this mission. It just needed to happen in more controlled circumstances, and with a much more powerful leash over their titan.

Provided such a leash existed in the first place.

"P-Perhaps we might render a little assistance, hm? Perhaps we can help you determine what broke the connection between the six of them? Things like this....it's what we do."

Cyclonus' crimson optics shifted to the the smaller Technobot, the one that had spoken earlier and, perhaps unwittingly, raised the warrior's ire. Whatever his original intent, he spoke in a manner that did not gall him quite so much as his commander. That one was going to likely find his new existence to be quite untenable. But Cyclonus was willing to extend a small degree of mercy when he found usefulness and compliance. Perhaps he had found both.

As he considered the Technobot's words, he overheard Bludgeon's statement to Snaptrap. It was imperative that the Monstercons not have any opportunity to reform until they so desired. He nodded at the Seacon Commander. Icepick would be as secure in Bludgeon's oversight as anywhere else. Birdbrain was already gone with a second group.

"There's is a secured amphitheater adjacent to the medical facilities in Garrus' central wing, have the Monstercons taken there. I will see that Birdbrain is held in reserve until the new inhibitor technology is installed," he said to Snaptrap before returning his attention to the Technobot.

"As for you......" Cyclonus began letting his words linger in the air whilst some of the other Technobots argued amongst themselves regarding what the more timid one had just offered. Their prattle was irrelevant to him.

"You want answers, so do we. Damn I hate this. Your call Cyclonus. Use new assets to solve a mystery and perhaps boost the standing in the optical sensors of the Arachnid..." their commander, Scattershot, interjected. This one just could not help himself. Cyclonus approached him.

"You will find, Technobot, that much of your future existence will be my call," the purple Decepticon said calmly. "You would be wise to remember that, lest your treatment on Nebulos be only the beginning of what awaits you and your compatriots."

Cyclonus surveyed the scene surrounding him one last time, thinking, before coming to a final decision.

"Take them to the amphitheater as well. Use whatever support resources you require," he said to Snaptrap again, before his optics settled on one of the other Technobots. The one that had spoken only minally, compared to his more vocal associates. With the Monstercons, he held one in reserve to ensure the chaos from before would not occur again. With the Technobots, he would employ much the same strategy, only this time it would be to prevent chaos in the future.

"Except for that one," Cyclonus said, indicating Nosecone. "That one will remain with me."

Cyclonus expressed the faintest hint of a smirk and returned his attention to Scattershot. His optics met Scattershot's directly. He did not need to say anything further at this point. The implied threat should be more than enough, in case the Technobot Commander and his team decided to improvise on their captivity while they were rendering their assistance. He was finished here. It was time to get where they were originally going. He returned his focus to Snaptrap. "Proceed commander."
___

Semper Tyrannis--Bridge

Dutifully maintaining their stations, Reflector saw that Lord Scorponok was now employing the bounce technology in order to return to the flagship. He was not, however, bouncing directly to the bridge. That told the surveillance specialist that it would be wise to rendezvous with him at his chosen location.

One of the three components turned abruptly from his station and departed the bridge so that he could do precisely that.

Southern Wing - Outside Last Resort

Flatline approached the elevator shaft where Banzai-tron had last transmitted his location. He and the vehicon lackies that came to assist him soon spotted the DSS agents who had ascended from the Last Resort.

"You two, get him on a grav-stretcher, and hurry!" The Decepticon medic barked as he gestured to Gutcruncher's chassis. The onyx colored decepticon approached Treadshot to try and assist him in getting him to a grav-stretcher. "C'mon, you don't look like you're in any shape to be walking around on your own pal."

>>"Jumpstart, ready a CR chamber. I've got one here who's in critical condition."<< Flatline said, opening a comm line to the Autobot doctor still in the Med Bay. "C'mon," Flatline instructed, gesturing to the other DSS agents to follow him. "Med Bay's this way."


((OOC: More to come))

Garrus 9 - Last Resort

Firewire stayed relatively quiet as Scorponok and Jhiaxus discussed matters, listening attentively to their conversation. It was strange though...not once had she ever heard their honored guest call the High Commander by name or even a title. Something about that distinctly troubled her. Sent up red flags in her processor. Femme's intuition maybe. But there was something...that she did not like about this Jhiaxus. Even though he was a marvelous source of scientific secrets to be pilfer- learned.

Folding her arms over her chest, Firewire decided to test a little hypothesis that she had. The analyst glowered at Jhiaxus very obviously from Scorponok's side. As obviously as she possibly could without saying a word. She also continued to listen. Firewire grew slack jawed as Jhiaxus actually dared to defy an order from Scorponok. She was more shocked that Scorponok just took that kind of insubordination. Well, she supposed that Jhiaxus was too valuable an asset to just squish or really agitate...but..but...now she wanted to punch him or something to uphold her commander's honor or something! Something!

Jhiaxus eventually caved in to Scorponok's will by being caught off guard at the mention of Cyclonus. Hm. The pointy headed stiff. He'd been nothing but loyal to Scorponok and the Decepticons since joining. She wondered jut how close he and Jhiaxus had been.

As the ancient scientist wandered slack-jawed through the space bridge - ha! It was awesome to see something other than that look of superiority on his face - Firewire ceased her glaring at him to cast one last glance at the Rig to make sure that she wasn't forgetting anything. Her optics locked with Kronus's who was looking at her pleadingly from across the room.

Hee. Hehehehehehe....

A devilish smile curled onto Firewire's faceplate as she tented her fingers together, tapping the index fingers together lightly. Mmm...hehe...Ah, she suppoooooosed that she should help that Kronus out. But...by the Forge of Solus Prime was it good to see him squirm. Bwahahaha! Ah...ok, ok. Time to help the poor guy out. Even though he was a bit of a jerk.

Firewire looked up to the much larger Scorponok, and gestured toward Kronus. "My lord Scory-nok! May I have your permission to bring along Kronus? I need him. For. Things. Uh. Like helping me carry back the supplies I brought. Please?" Firewire asked hopefully. "I'll take responsibility for him. He'll behave. Promise."


Southern Wing - Penitentiary

Snaptrap had awaited his next directive dutifully as Cyclonus finished matters with the Technobots. He did not have long to wait.

"Resecure the Monstercons and make ready to continue your transfer once I receive word from our commander. You will leave one behind with me. I will personally ensure that does not happen again."

The Seacon Commander nodded curtly and scanned the gathering of Decepticons for Overbite. He gestured for the shark-based Seacon to assist with the securing of the Monstructor Six. As his subordinate moved off to do so, Bludgeon approached the Seacon commander with Icepick deftly tucked around one arm. The Seacon Commander merely stared and waited silently for Bludgeon to speak.

"Snaptrap, Icepick shall travel with me I think it prudent that we keep the Monstercons apart for now until their gift is understood.”

The Seacon Commander considered it. It wasn't exactly his call, but the logic was sound enough. Snaptrap turned his head to meet optics with Cyclonus. The purple horned Decepticon has evidently overheard the conversation and nodded to him.

"There's is a secured amphitheater adjacent to the medical facilities in Garrus' central wing, have the Monstercons taken there. I will see that Birdbrain is held in reserve until the new inhibitor technology is installed," Cyclonus said.

Snaptrap turned his optics back to Bludgeon and nodded. "Take him to the amphitheater in the central wing," the Seacon Commander said before switching over to a more secure line. >>"Be wary of where you bring your Autobot pet.">"Seacons. Grab a Monstercon and move out now. Those who do not carry one of the Monstercons, keep a watchful optic on the Autobot prisoners."<<

Slog groaned softly as he was jostled about and thrown roughly around. His optics slowly flickered back to life as he tried to take in his surroundings. He was staring at the ground. So. Someone was carrying him. But..what..had...Where were the others? The Monstercon artist tried to lift his head to look around for his long-time comrades, but found that he was too weak to even move. Rather than struggle, Slog just rested.

Garrus-9--The Rig

“My apologies Commander Hun-Grrr. How rude of me not to introduce myself. My name is Kronus." The thief gestured to his stained chassis. “My current state…well this over here, and here, oh and here….this was a former business associate of mine." Kronus sent an evil smile up to both heads. “We had a falling out." He chuckled as he remembered the look on Brace’s face when he realized he was never going to get out of the prison alive.

The two-headed monstrosity stared at Kronus with its blood-red optics, each of the four optical modules reflecting the burning of the Terrorcon leader's unquenchable hunger for both sustenance and destruction. There was a distinct flavor to the smell of the lithe Decepticon before him. Kronus quite simply did not smell right. Right in this instance being like the other Decepticons. No, he oozed of metal and polymer residue the same way the Terrorcons themselves alongside very few others did. But with one great difference. The residue marker was of Kronus' own body. Not of someone else's as it was with the Terrorcons.

"Business associate it says." Hun-Grrr scoffed, "No honorrr among thieves."

"It has secrets. Obscure little freak aren't you..." The other head chuckled in a sinister, mocking way, "It did not devourrr its associate. No. But I know yourrr secret now. The otherrrs - they may not notice but you cannot hide it from a snout of a Terrorrrcon."

The unhidden joy from having uncovered Kronus' little dirty secret was all too clear on Hun-Gurrr's dragonic heads. "I hungerrr..."

One of Hun-Gar's heads moved dangerously near to Kronus, as if the beast had great difficulty from keeping itself from sinking its teeth into the lithe former prisoner of Garrus-9's. "How tasty must it be for it to feed on... hnn."

A vicious, toothy grin appeared on the face of the head closer to Kronus. "Perhaps I will find out. So delicious it has to be for it to..." Hun-Grr's musings were interrupted by his interception of Firewire's voice pleading for Scorponok to allow her to take Kronus with her as an assistant. Which the mighty warlord had answered with a mere nod before disappearing through the portal.

"Laterr then... Laterrr." The dreaded former pit fighter growled with some level of disappointment in his voice, "Tell me then little freak. Where is it? Your associate... It reeks of high quality energon and noble metals... I would have it brought in..."

"For a feast."

Garrus-9--The Aequitas Chamber

The situation down here had taken on a tone that Mindwipe found to be distinctly impleasureable. They come down, they torture a few Autobots, they gain access to a storied judgment machine from Cybertron's gilded age and then Scorponok rewards them all handsomely. Simple!

But this was Garrus-9, Autobot prison stronghold; and of course nothing could go quite as easily for them as they might have hoped.

Mindwipe cursed.

Well, he cursed and he transformed.

Cursed, transformed and took to the air. Something like that. Anything to put some distance between himself and the small but growing legion of Legislators they had unwittingly activated.

Attaching himself to a nearby wall, he tapped into his distinct hypnotic weaponry and kicked it into gear.

"You will be blind as a bat in battle," Mindwipe intoned. "...blind as a bat..."

...

Nothing.

Still they marched forward, even as some of the other members of their party were already engaging them. Poxes.

As some of the Legislators started to take notice of his position and fired, Mindwipe quickly alighted and took to the air in the expansive chamber once more.
___

Garrus-9--Southern Wing

So...they were alive? Excellent. Seawing steepled his digits underneath his chin structure expectantly. They had been part of a team that brought down a gestalt and none of them had earned a death sentence from Overlord. That would certainly be worth a mention or two in the final mission logs that would be submitted to Decepticon High Command. Seawing's forward momentum was actually moving....well, forward. He had felt stalled for a while, but this would change things. Oh yes.

>>"Seacons. Grab a Monstercon and move out now. Those who do not carry one of the Monstercons, keep a watchful optic on the Autobot prisoners."<<

Seawing looked over as Snaptrap nonchalantly scooped up one of the Monstructor Six like a sack of debris. Birdbrain was gone. Icepick was being taken. That left....oh, what did it matter? Seawing went over to grab one as Snaptrap had and started to heft him up.

Only, not quite.

"Oof. Heavy."

Garrus 9 - Last Resort

Darkness was all he could see. Not a single source of light. Wingspan transformed into hawk mode providing him better vision. "Looks like we've blown a circuit again. Is this what I'm reduced to now, fixing other people problems? I swear, if it's another Sparkeater I quit." He made his way towards the closest security terminal, and transformed back into Robot mode. Wingspan took a small deceive out of his sunspace pocket, and felt along the wall underneath the terminal. Quickly, he located the power cord and yanked it out of its socket, plugging it into his own. The terminal lit up, illuminating the area around him.

He quickly opened the diagnostic app, searching for the problem. Due to the power being out in most of the area, it could take a long time. Wingspan stood there for what had seemed hours when the diagnosis was complete.
-Fatal error encountered
-Fusebox 3 has blown circuits 4
-Power low
-Shutting down
With that revelation, the power pack died. "Fusebox 3, that's just around the corner. How convenient." Wingspan slowly walk to his right, being careful not to trip over any loose debris. He ran his hand against the wall, guiding himself until he found the corner. Wingspan carefully maneuvered himself around it, also summoning a flashlight out of subspace.

He flicked it on, only to find the panel smashed closed. "Looks like a Sparkeater tried to drain some energon from this panel." Wingspan easily ripped the panel off, allowing him to access it's innards. He placed the small light in his mouth, and diligently replaced the busted circuits. The lights instantly roared to light, blinding Wingspan. He heard a loud growl in the distance, but was unable to locate its source due to his overloaded optics. Wingspan raise his rifle, aiming it in the direction from which he had heard the noise.