The Energon Pub

Garrus-9 Command Centre

...Direct Route, we find out any information and report ... When you are ready Snarler.

Snarler snorted his approval of Bludgeons choice and his snout peeled back slightly, exposing more tusk than usual. It was an ugly sight, but it was clear that he was trying to grin. Oil and drill lubricant began to drip from his lips as he turned his head to focus on the far wall, the same direction Bomb Burst had wandered towards, but where Snarler was headed there were no doorways, or access hatches.

Dis is gonna be fun!! he chuckled silently.

The gearing mechanism in his drill cone began to noisily energise and the room was treated to the unsettling image of a giant Warg snout beginning to rotate, splashing all in the vicinity with a mixture of lubricant and the guts of his last victim whilst he built up speed.
He scraped his front hoof along the ground, optics glued to his target, snorted a porcine cry of aggression and, without any kind of warning, charged headlong at the offending wall panel.



The Garrus penitentiary complex was designed by the finest minds to house the most dangerous criminal and warmonger machines existence had ever seen. It had walls of ancient mined minerals designed and tempered to withstand orbital bombardment, ballistic assault and military siege. Until recently it had been considered impenetrable.

What it wasn't designed for however, was to withstand the unstoppable force of a 5 ton armoured drill-pig.



The metal wall didn't stand a chance and was cracked open like tin foil being cut with a jackhammer. Snarler barely even noticed as dust and metal-rubble flew everywhere, and was half way across the next room before he could skid to a halt. He looked back over his shoulder and yelled behind him over the deafening whir of his drill apparatus.


"..come on Chief! We gots 3 more walls to go yet!"

Outside The Command Center

From the command center, an all too familiar sound erupted.

Bomb Burst picked up his pace without a word to Skullgrin. But he was not fast enough and the sounds of shredding wall material, sickly wailing under the massive power of Snarler’s drill was joined by crashing of epic proportion as the pig rammed his weight through said wall, tremors and a deafening rumble shook the area as Snarler exploded into the room next to the command center... which The Vampire's four targets were just outside of.

Spooked, the four would be attackers fled down the corridor that would run them along the room Snarler had burst into, but not in the pig's path, exactly what the Vampire wanted to avoid. The targets running.

Then came a very rare sound... "SNARLA!!!!" The Vampire's voice yelled out loudly, echoing through the corridors, rooms, and the team's comm. Back to his 'hometown' accent as all pretense and training dropped in frustrated rage, and thus raising his voice to that volume was extremely rare. "You spooked my targets!!"

He was running now, determined to catch his prey, he really did detest letting a target go once he had acquired it. Knowing he'd never catch them on foot, he leapt into the air, transforming as he did, to get some speed.

"Take the rear, Skullgrin, I'm faster with flight." He muttered to his team mate as he picked up his speed then silently sped over the four Autobots' heads.

Waiting just a few moments before stopping so he was well ahead of them, he slowed for a split second before transforming back again, using his thrusters in his feet to slow his forward momentum and to turn himself midair towards the Autobots. As he transformed, he pulled out his his battle axe. His visor slid down as the Autobots desperately tried to stop their advance and turn.

But the Predator was already running forward to the targets as soon as his feet touched the floor, and turning would do no good to the two closest to him. He swung his battle axe forward once close to the Autobots not stopping his run. He shifted his weight from the run into the swing to put more force and momentum in his swing. The massive, two bladed axe crashed against an Autobot guard's armor, the ring of metal against metal clanging down the corridor as as he connected. Though the axe did not penetrate the armor on that first swing, it made some nasty dents and deep scratches. But most importantly it sent it's target hurling towards his companion next to him, the two hitting the wall of the corridor hard.

This would need to go fast, these were guards he was dealing with, perhaps not trained for serious fighting, but they knew how to control a prisoner, so they were strong, well armored, and could at least hold their own in a scrap. He figured them likely to be armed as well.

The guard that had gotten his co worker flung into him, hit the wall hard enough to stun in him. The Predator noticed this of course, easily keeping focus on both targets since they were smashed into each other. He pulled his axe back for another swing, digging in to put as much force behind it as he could.

His strength came to his aid, for even if this wasn't the type of combat he was known for, he was no less skilled in it. The deceivingly strong Decepticon threw all his considerable strength and skill into the swing, connecting the blades of the battle axe with the well armored guard, ripping it through him from behind, the tips of the blade going clean through and out the front midsection of the guard's armor.
Then to the floor the guard went, The Predator's swing forcing him down so the axe could be removed.

Though firmly embedded in the guard, The Predator clamped his foot down on the victim and pulled free his battle axe in a swift, effortless motion. He then rounded on the other guard who was recovering from the blow to the head.

The guard started going for a weapon stowed at his side, yet out of sight. His companion was still functioning and groaning on the floor, and the half conscious moans caught the guard's attention.

'Far too easy...' The Predator thought as he pulled back for another swing of the battle axe, gliding the massive weapon through the guard's neck, cleanly and effortlessly removing his head. Energon gushing from the headless Autobot.

The Vampire laughed as energon showered down. Optics drifted to the still functioning guard on the floor, his fuel puddling up from steady flows through his wounds. But it was a satisfying scuffle, though only a scuffle. Despite just having fought in the massive battle over the prison, which one would think his desire to fight had been worked out, he couldn't help but think that such a fight as he had just had was his preference. Close, personal, and all the chaos caused by him, no one else.

That disturbing laugh of his didn't last long and tapered a bit to a chuckle as Snarler's loud, crashing exit sprang back to mind. How many times over the millennia had that very thing happen before? Snarler was not known for subtle. How many times had the pig unintentionally flushed out the target and forced the Vampire into melee? More times than he could remember, most likely, but despite it all, he always prevailed.

"One day, Snarler..." He muttered over the comm, still chuckling a bit and clearly not angry. "You and I are going to have a serious talk about your noisy exits. I'm not saying they aren't impressive, I desperately want to see the wreck you made of that command center... but really.."

He leaned over and shoved a dagger through the guard's fuel line to make sure there were no distractions from the barely functioning guard and removed a small vial from a compartment at his waist. He placed the vial in the guard's mouth, then turned his optics towards where Skullgrin was.

Garrus 9: The Mines

Strafe picked up the long tapered metal handle of the simple pickax and carefully allowed his fingers to slowly caress its smooth and age worn surface. He bounced the shaft in the palm of his hand before he closed the fingers of his left hand just below the angled blade of tempered steel that ended into biting daggers at either end. "It just isn't the same." He muttered to himself barely taking stalk in the movements and mechanization of Highbrow or his brethren Nosecone. Bringing the weathered tool above his head in both clutched hands, he brought the bladed end down into a fragment of stone that had already been torn from the tunnel face.

Sparks flew as the sharp edged metal struck the stone with incredible force of the mechanical aerial gunner causing small flecks of burnt metal scrapings to fly out across the rock and sand of the tunnel floor. Cautiously he knelt down to the stone strike and allowed his right hand to liberate itself from the ax, only long enough to trace the gouged out trough in the small boulder. "I rather have my blasters, I swear I'd make short work of these rocks... and the cons.... First the cons, then the rocks." He stammered briefly as he returned to standing and again established a death grip on his only source of defense.

He stepped over the broken rocks, still coated in small pebbles and dust, to join up with the temporary patrol leader, Highbrow. Their mission was to... well Strafe didn't know off hand. He had heard Scattershot mention exploring the mines for refuse or other items that may be useful as well as... well that part had escaped his attention. The commotion caused by the brief but growing tensions between the Insecticons and the Seacons. It had been loud enough to cause Strafe to actually attempt to spray the entire cavern with weapons fire, only his gun turned out to be the very pickax he was now clinging to with a titanium grip.

The Technobot fighter took in a breath to cool his heat syncs before exhaling quietly. Calm, it was the name of the game as Lightspeed would say. Calm and patience. Finally after long last the conclave of Autobot prisoners had been broken and they were now on their way towards whatever objective they had been assigned. Slowly Strafe finally settled his nerves, well to the point to where he could at least function. He fell in line behind Highbrow as Nosecone took up the rear.

It had only been approximately thirty paces from the center of the cavern down one of the off shoots when the ominous hiss permeated the refurbished and recycled environmental ozone... Strafe's expression froze in silent dread as he nearly plowed over the counter electronics warfare specialist. The gunner barely recovered in time and tightened his grip around the handle of his own pickax. "HunGrr." He spoke with a hint of dread seeping into his vocorder as a nervous tremble pulsed through his body. He had known the Terrorcons were planet side, they had all known. But he had hoped to have been further in the mines when they came for inspection... or at least have Scattershot nearby to give them a second thought.

No, they weren't here for inspection. In between nervous rattles of his damaged armored joints, Strafe clearly heard the Terrorcon leader demand Scattershot to make his presence known. This was retrieval. Immediately he placed a link between this invasion and that of Afterburner's recent abduction. "Sccccaaatterrshot," He transmitted over the subspace hyper link that connected all five Technobots together. "Iiiitsss, Its Hungrr!"

Strafe twitched nervously as his head swung rapidly from side to side, carefully absorbing as much of his surrounding as he could. HunGrr was not a mechanism he would dare confront at least openly. The same would have been said for most every member of the Technobots, outside of their nigh fearless leader Scattershot. Attacking someone of that caliber was almost suicide. Thus Strafe attempted to block out the goings on as much as possible and fell into line behind Highbrow. He did not loosen the grip of his ax and was only barely able to bring it down upon a thin vein of copper ore. The rebound of the tool striking the rock was enough to cause the gunner to shudder even more... then the response came from Scattershot that almost caused him to feint.

"Hey Nosecone," he whispered only loud enough for the Technobot Ground Tank to hear. "Did you catch that?... What's he... Nosecone?" Strafe turned his head ever so slightly to catch from the glint of the moving pick, his brother carrying out the orders that had been given.

The ping of rocks and debris falling upon the thick armor were muted in Strafe's audio receptors as the nervous vibrations threatened to overwhelm his logic circuits. He could hear the cries for revenge from the other Terrorcons, each of them demanding retribution for the clumsy attempt to damage their beloved mother... or was HunGrr some sort of queen to a monster brood? Strafe had heard a lot of descriptions of their age old enemies by his own unit commander... he doubted any were true and dared not utter them in their presence.

As the two headed monster asserted his authority over the others, a new horrific voice sent a chill through the aerial gunner's central strut. Almost on instinct rather than tactics, Strafe spun around and allowed his ax to slide to the very end of his grip before securing it again, thus increasing his reach by two. He then began to randomly swing the pick ax in all directions in an attempt to keep the dreaded aquarian Rippersnapper from doing to him what was happening to Nosecone. In his violent swings, Strafe narrowly missed impaling Highbrow. "RIPPERSNAPPER!!!.... KEEP BACK!!! I'll I'll shred you if you come closer!"
_____________

Scattershot's optics dimmed briefly as he digested the brief and panicked real time transmission that had been delivered via the closed circuit subspace hyper link. It had not come as a surprise to him that his old nemesis would have been dispatched down to the depths to unearth his team... Scorponok was nothing if not a subscriber of the poetic.

It had weighed on his processor for some time since their imprisonment within the Semper Tyrannis's brig. Before his scanner had been confiscated, and presumably wiped before such exchange had happened, Scattershot had remembered Brainstorm mentioning there was a certain defect built into himself and the other four members of his team. At the time he had paid it no mind, in fact rejected the very notion as fantasy and a defect that would be corrected as soon as they had made good on their escape. However, despite his protests, or perhaps in spite of them... the Decepticon General had released the mad scientist that had been locked away in the Rig itself for 'Crimes Against Cybertron.' A technological hero to most of the team members in his own right, many of Jhaixus's practices had bordered on the absolute insane. Lightspeed's own observations had added credence to the very notion that Scattershot attempted to explain away as mire coincidence. But it was Afterburner's abduction and the systematic scanners that proliferated the upper levels of the mine itself that had brought the Technobot commander to the inevitable realization that he could no longer deny.

Scorponok wanted doomsday weapons, it was plain and simple... and unless Optimus Prime managed to rally the entire navy or at least the Battle Fortress Liberty, there was precious little Scattershot or the rest of the Autobots on this miserable rock could do to prevent it. Irregardless of their present plight, however, Scattershot believed there were options to consider to be used to fight back and mitigate the damage done by those weapons. "Scrap," he finally muttered only loud enough for Lightspeed to hear who was just in sight of the approach way leading to the surface lifts. "Those damn tin plated freaks can't seem to take a hint..."

He pondered briefly, unawares of the movement in the main tunnels as the rest of the horde began to fall in behind their two headed leader. Looking over his shoulder for a millisecond, Scattershot caught sight of a rather surprised and nearly petrified Brainstorm. It was an understandable reaction for most transformers who had never tangled with the Terrorcons. Most of them were uncontrolled savages who would serve the galaxy better by being put down with a thermal blaster to the back of the neck servo. Even with his own dealings, Scattershot took a little extra caution as they were at times unpredictable. It amazed him that through the grand galactic scheme of things, the Technobots and Terrorcons had maintained a rather acrimonious balance of power. It was probably a cosmically cruel joke on both sides of the conflict.

Scattershot nodded his head only slightly before he turned his thought inwardly. "Listen up Strafe, Nosecone. I need some time. Buy it, we'll deal with repercussions later." He gave Lightspeed a reassuring nod, still unaware of how the two Technobots would interpret the new orders. If there had been time he would have asked his executive officer to devise some sort of elaborate strategy to buy the time he required. Unfortunately, that would have negated the need for the diversion in the first place.

Instantly he heard the echo of a loud bang as steel struck fractured stone. Another swing soon followed by a further cracking of rock. By this time the sound echoed and rebounded off the chamber walls to create a cacophony that would drown out smaller movements.

As rubble began to cascade down from the roof of the mines, Scattershot reached out and grabbed Brainstorm by the nap of his metallic neck and tore him further into the tunnel out of the sight of prying optics. In a flash he pushed the Bio Mechanical Engineer against the rock face of the tunnel and held him there with intense strength. "Listen carefully Brainstorm... I will explain this once and once time only." He released the engineer and raised his right arm. Swiftly a small slot opened along the wrist.

Scattershot turned his palm face up and allowed the dispenser to eject five confiscated Sabbac cards. He arranged them into an odd order and then splayed them out to effectively give the appearance of a particularly unremarkable hand. The first card was the value of four while the second was seven followed by six, three and the representation comparable to an Earthen King. "Down, Right, Left, Down and finally Left. Do not forget this combination Brainstorm. Follow it as if your function and spark depends on it... because if your damn crazy theory proves correct, it may very well depend on what is discovered there." Scattershot immediately shuffled the cards in his hand and returned them to the slot... just in time for a nauseating echo of rent metal reverberated through the caverns. Muted screams of pain and panic stricken stammering soon flooded the link forcing Scattershot to turn away from Brainstorm and cringe. "You had better succeed in this Brainstorm, because if Nosecone's stunt goes for not, I am going to be very VERY irritated."

With that he pulled himself back and allowed the engineer some further breathing room. He stepped only a two set of paces backward to the opposite side of the tunnel, still out of the optical view of the distracted Terrorcons but enough to afford him a partial view. Almost immediately Scattershot's attention was now transfixed on the scene that had played out only moments earlier. "No..." he whispered to himself, barely capable of containing the rage welling within him.

Before he knew it Scattershot had dashed out of the tunnel, leaving Brainstorm alone and hopefully already concealing himself in one of the thick shadows that lined the corridor. The Technobot commander pushed a pair of bystanders aside as he came to a stop just out side of practical reach of HunGrr's gnashing jaws. Quietly he scowled as he looked down at the wounded member of his team, his brother in arms, before he looked back at the monstrosity that snarled and huffed before him. His fists clinched tightly as he struggled to contain his own nigh unbridled desire for revenge. First Lightspeed, then Afterburner and now Nosecone... how many more did these idiots have to torment before they had their fill? Unfortunately, given their established history, Scattershot already knew the answer. Perhaps it was time to tip that unholy balance of power in their favor once again. Even if they suffered indignities, humiliation, pain and torment... in the end, Scattershot was slowly convincing himself that he and his brothers would come up the superior.

Almost instantly he schooled his expression and cocked a confident smirk towards the Terrorcon Commander. "Well hello there Hun-Grr, I'd love to exchange our typical pleasantries, but some scraplet decided it'd be a good idea to send your coffin out for polishing." He held his arms up to show he held no weapon or tool to impede his removal from the mines and allowed his mocking tone to revert to a more serious delivery. His optics narrowed behind his protective visor as he began to read the Terrorcon from top to bottom. "Lets skip with the short talk. You want us, we'll come... Peacefully." The words themselves sounded almost unreal even as he spoke them. They left a bitter taste in his vocorder let alone his memory processor core. But like Nosecone's valiant sacrifice, Scattershot now had to use every advantage to buy as much time as he could for Brainstorm and the others. Add to it, if Brainstorm's hypothesis was further vindicated, it meant that the Technobots were more valuable than even that big mouthed over grown iguana knew. It was still a hunch, and definitely one hell of a risk that he was playing. But Scattershot knew better than most that risks were a part of the very act of survival.

He offered a brief look over towards Strafe and gave a reassuring and calming nod that settled the gunner down to a low roil. If this worked, Brainstorm would have added something to their meager resources pile... and if it didn't... At least in the end, he'd get a really good kick into HunGrr's faces before he went off line... of that he was certain.

Garrus – 9 – Central Wing – Medical Bay

Okay. So maybe, mind you, just maybe, he laid it on a bit too thick. In reality he wasn’t all that angry. What did he care if the little gearstick bought it.

Eh, who was he kidding. Shortround was in good with Scorponok and therefore was his ticket to staying functional. He refused to let some Autobot hack of a medic take that away from him. Keeping Firewire alive and kicking was a priority and if he had to get physical then so be it.

So, here he was pinning said medic to the wall and growling….threateningly. And it sorta-kinda wasn’t working.

"First of all, you dumb 'Con, I can't shut down anything while I am currently being slammed against a wall!" Jumpstart yelled back. "Second of all this is not something I can just shut down anyway! I think there is some spark synchronization going on and, if there is, it might kill both! I say I think because I CAN'T LOOK AT MY INSTRUMENTS WHILE I AM SLAMMED AGAINST A WALL!"

The scowl on the thief’s face slowly melted away but he kept his hold against Jumpstart firm. At least for the moment.

"Now, if you really are worried about them how about letting me go and actually helping me!?"

Finally, and with an annoyed grunt Kronus loosened his grip and shoved the medic away from the wall.

“I never said I was worried about them.” Kronus turned his nose up and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Help you? You’re the doc; you make sure they come out in one piece.” He nodded towards Firewire’s prostrate form. “Especially that one. Lord Scorponok would be none too happy to lose her.”

Garrus – 9 – Approaching the Command Center

The cryptologist moved along behind Cyclonus in silence letting his thoughts drift from their confrontation within the Aeqiutas chamber to what they needed to do now. Of course what needed to be now was certainly not what Cipher wished he could do.

He grumbled a low curse as he brought up the memory of Omega Supreme rocketing away with Rung and Aequitas on board. How he wished to get his hands on that computer. All the secrets it help, all the hell that could unfold once its contents were revealed.

"Determine if any of the communication relays or other monitoring systems were spared during the conflict. However unlikely, this was the epicenter of much of the fighting. If not here...then....the medical bay may hold our answers. It would be the only other area in the prison we did not intentionally strike that the Autobots would desire to keep continuously powered."

Cyclonus’ low tone echoing through the corridor caught Cipher’s attention. Followed closely by something else.

"You look well,"

The unexpected observation thrown in his direction had Cipher stiffening and slowing his pace. But once he registered the voice he visibly relaxed. Mindwipe. Where had the sneaky creature of the night been hiding.

*Harumpf* “Yes, well, I’m none the worse for wear. Considering, of course.”

Cipher stepped up his pace slightly as he tried to keep in step with the other Decepticons in the group.

“And you look…” The cryptologist turned to look Mindwipe up and down before retuning his attention ahead. “….intact.” He flashed the other a quick grin.

Garrus – 9 – Command Center

Only several steps behind the others, was Cipher, when he entered the Command Center. He took a sweeping glance around and stopped when he spotted the terminal he’d been looking for. “I believe I’ll plant myself over there. It seems there’d been a bit of activity in that location before that little debacle.” He gave Mindwipe a side glance. “Give me a hand why don’t you.”

Garrus-9--Mines

Umbra's expression said more than words could do justice. He'd seen that same expression on a thousand Autobot faces before hers, his own among them. Welcome to the right side of the war.

“I guess…delirious wasn’t quite the right word…You see, I was…marooned on this rock really early on in the war, I guess. Feels like just a couple of cycles ago to me. Got left there. Not enough energon to last me. Didn’t know when or if I’d ever be found…so I went into stasis to, you know, stay alive."

Pointblank just looked at Umbra for a moment or so before looking away. Not even a nod. It was a strange story, but he had heard stranger. But given everything he had seen, if he was to gradually find himself starved into stasis lock and left derelict for millions of years, he would feel pretty bad for the first mech who brought him back to life, too.

“So, think of the worst thing that’s ever happened to you. Got it? Now imagine…reliving it on repeat for…I dunno…they told me it’s been…what three million years? That long. Then you get woken up. It’s kind of…a shock."

Silence for a few moments again.

"That's...unfortunate," Pointblank said at last. He felt bad for her situation, but not more or less so than for any of the other vast assortment of horrors and atrocities that had been committed at the hands of the Decepticons. Plenty of Autobots had their unique tales of woe. You could only hear so many before your spark started to grow numb, if only to ease the pain. And in his case, serve as a catalyst to keep him focused on the ones who really needed to be defeated. No, not just defeated. Wiped out. Megatron and his ilk could not be taken prisoner. Many of them needed to have the very same fates handed down to them that they assigned to so many before them. Primus hurry the day.

"Just give him time. He doesn't know you. Those guys tend to only really trust each other. Every time the Wreckers get sent out on a mission, they usually don't come back with the same number of teammates they left with. It's a rough life. But what's new?"
___

Lightspeed was still just bewildered by Nosecone's course of action. But even more than that, he was terrified. The Terrorcons lived up to their namesake in that respect. Megatron certainly cooked up a crop of mechs that would normally only exist in Unicron-spawned nightmares. The fate he suffered was one that Lightspeed figured all of them were about to share. First Snaptrap blasting off his leg...now he was about to be consumed. What a forsaken mission this was.

In short order, it appeared that Strafe had also gone right out of his mind. Lightsped was just...gob-smacked. Attempting to collapse mines! Swinging axes at Terrorcons in close-quarters?! Had they become the Insanobots?!? Why not just go tell Overlord his face looked stupid or tell the DJD they were abysmally codependant or tell Megatron he must have a crippling inferiority complex in order to carry around a gun that big...

"Listen up Strafe, Nosecone. I need some time. Buy it, we'll deal with repercussions later," Scattershot transmitted on their intercom.

What the-?! No, no, no-! Lightspeed fumed internally, ready for his commander to do something that would inevitably get them all slagged right then and there. They were roller-coasting towards a date with the Allspark anyway, one dreaded loopdeloop after the other. But, if they wanted to have a chance of coming out of this whole thing alive, they needed to stay on the ride. Getting off meant, well, splat. Proverbially.

After some weird business with Brainstorm, Scattershot effectively marched himself out into the open and prepared for a full surrender.

Huh?

"Well hello there Hun-Grr, I'd love to exchange our typical pleasantries, but some scraplet decided it'd be a good idea to send your coffin out for polishing. Lets skip with the short talk. You want us, we'll come... Peacefully."

Primus! Sense! Wondrous sense! Lightspeed would have rolled around in it if he could.

Back on the ride...

"Yes! I'm here! I surrender too. Peacefully and...all that," Lightspeed said, trying to make his presence as conspicuous and non-threatening as possible. Though given the presence of Terrorcons, a wayward expulsion of gas could be perceived as dangerously as a fusion cannon.
___

((OOC-Going to steer Bombshell along again for now due to MSB's release.))

The mines were a bustle of activity again. So much life!

The core Insecticons had been content to interact amongst one another for a time, even as their swarm dug deeper and deeper caverns. Venom had, of course, skittered off--as he was wont to do. Bombshell paid him no heed. He could never truly be their leader if he was not present to lead. And so the mantle would fall to another. Perhaps to him. He did not so much care right now. The mine was slowly becoming the hive. And a spectacular one at that.

But the presence of others had sent the Swarm atitter. Not more Seacons or Seekers or Sweeps. Terror! Terror on legs. He and Kickback had quickly traded chitters with the others before scurrying off to find a suitable vantage point where they could watch what was taking place within their precious hive. The others would likely not be far behind. The sight that awaited them did not disappoint. Terrorcons. Terrorcons playing with Technobots! Mmmmm.

"A feeding! They're going to feed," Kickback hissed.

"High mineral content, I would wager, ehhh?" Bombshell hissed back. The Technobots would surely be composed of quality alloys. Scrumptious alloys.

"The highest," Kickback chuckled.

"Let us seeeeee."

Garrus -9 Mines

Roadbuster listened to Umbra explain more of her situation to Pointblank the more Roadbuster listened the more he was inclined to think she was not going to survive. His audio receptors started to filter out the conversation between his companions as something got his attention from up ahead. His normal fight instincts kicked in he crouched slightly his head swinging around looking for something he could use as a weapon.

A quick scan of his immediate area revealed a discarded shovel, several large ore deposits, thou above him where several loose support struts. The wrecker assessed which ones would hold the ceiling and which ones where extra support. He could hear something moving up ahead something equally as large as a transformer the mines where supposedly decepticon territory but all kinds lived in the dark. As gently as he could he removed the metallic support from the roof and held it like a batter ready for the pitch.

As he got back into Pointblank and umbra's conversation about the wreckers he swung around and hissed at his comrades.

"I'll tell you what's new we got company"

He tested the bar for swing then awaited for whatever was coming around the corner.

Garrus-9 -- Mines

Rippersnapper’s attention was briefly drawn away from Strafe as Blot decided to attack Nosecone for his insolence, eliciting a comment from Snaptrap in the process. Of course, neither of those things went over well with Hun-Grrr. First he told the Seacon Commander to stand down before the two-headed razorbeast then used his tail to knock the smelly Blot out of the way, allowing Hun-Grrr to grab Nosecone’s arms in both sets of his powerful jaws. The shark monster salivated some more as the Technobot digger’s left arm was ripped from his shoulder joint and then consumed by one of Hun-Grrr’s heads. The order was then given to seize their quarry and the former actor was more than happy to oblige his monstrous leader.

“As you command, my liege,” Rippersnapper growled in response to Hun-Grrr before setting his sights back on the nervous mech he intended on tormenting. Amusingly, Strafe had now completely lost his mind as he wildly swung a pick axe in the air, almost hitting one of his own comrades. The aerial gunner was clearly out of control, but it was still funny to see him freak out in such a manner. The terrorist hadn’t even done much yet and already Strafe was terrified of him. The appearance of Scattershot had done a little to calm him down, but Ripper wasn’t about to let that stop him from having some fun at the nervous bot’s expense.

“If you think you’re scared of me now, Strafe, well, you haven’t seen nothing yet!” Rippersnapper roared as he leapt towards the crazy Technobot. Landing right in front of him, the shark beast wasted no time in seizing the swinging pick axe in mid-air within his aquatic jaws. The terrorist’s serrated teeth easily dug into the metal as he yanked the axe out of Strafe’s hands. Ripper then quickly devoured the tool, chewing it up until there were only bits and pieces left, mixed with fluid, inside the shark monster’s mouth. The former actor swallowed his snack in one gulp before advancing forward into the aerial gunner’s personal space, forcing him back against a nearby wall.

“You didn’t really think a mere pick axe was going to stop me did you, Strafe?” Rippersnapper asked in a low guttural growl, his shark-like visage only an inch away from the Autobot's faceplate. “It’ll take much more than that my little Techno-dolt.” The land shark then grabbed ahold of Strafe’s left arm with his clawed hand and pulled him away from the mine wall. “Now, move it before I take a bite out of you next!” Ripper pushed the nervous gunner back towards the other Terrorcons before noticing his brown-nosing comrade regaining his composure close by.

“Hey, Blot! Nosecone’s all yours. Try not to get in the master’s way again. Okay? Heh.” Rippersnapper chuckled as he returned his attention to Strafe, giving him another hard shove to keep him moving forward through the mines. “Don’t slow down now, little Techno. You’ve got a date with Lord Scorponok!”

Garrus-9 Central--Command Center

Bludgeon had responded dutifully at set off to undertake his work. Cyclonus had expected nothing less form the formidable sub-commander. The others did so as well, leaving Cyclonus to his own work and his own thoughts. The situation itself was so galling: to have communications impeded at such a critical juncture was a failure of significant proportions in light of all their great technological strides. The primary unknown factor they had unwittingly introduced into the whole scenario was Omega Supreme. The mighty Guardian possessed skills and experience that were fully understood by none who walked in this day and age. In his own time he was a legend. Now? It was as if they had faced off against one of the great mythological figures of Cybertronian lore, little different than if they had encountered Mortilus or Adaptus. Cyclonus knew that was an exaggeration, but not by much. Surely the great Sentinel had been at the root of the disruption, but he could not afford to discount any other possibilities, however remote.

Though the command center was effectively a charred ruin, Cyclonus would use anything he could salvage from these. Detaching a datapad and activating its secondary functions, one holoscreen after another opened and Cyclonus' optics pored through the data contained within as he sought out some functional piece of equipment from which he could extract more data from this facility. Something. Anything.
___

*Harumpf* “Yes, well, I’m none the worse for wear. Considering, of course."

Mindwipe smirked at Cipher's initial indignance. It was charming in its own way. He and the cryptologist had forged quite the distinctive little coexistence since their duties had brought them to LV-117, and now here. Who knew where else it might lead?

“And you look……intact," Cipher added.

"Of course. And yes. My surprise in that regard is undoubtedly equal to yours. That was, well, an encounter of the most epic proportions. It became quickly apparent that I would need to flee for my life. I suppose, since I am still in possession of it, that it was a wise decision. I am amazed any of us managed to walk away from it. Though...I heard gossip en route that Overlord did, in fact, not. How....intriguing."

"I believe I’ll plant myself over there. It seems there’d been a bit of activity in that location before that little debacle. Give me a hand why don’t you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Mindwipe said agreeably, following after the other Decepticon.

Being a hypnotist, the only one within the empire with that particular functional designation--to his knowledge--and a moderately adept practitioner of the arcane, Mindwipe liked to think himself reasonably perceptive as to his peers' various states of mind. Cipher was certainly giving off a vibe that his mind was not fully focused on his present duties. What, then?

"You might forgive an intrusive observation my friend, but this does not seem to be, well, where you want to be. What is gnawing at the finer edges of your mind?"
___

Elban Space--Decepticon destroyer Burning Justice

Scourge and a small cadre of Sweeps boarded the bridge of the destroyer with all the necessary clearances that one possessing the Tracker's command credentials would need. The Decepticon officer currently occupying the captain's chair stood at attention as Scourge crossed the small walkway.

"I was told you would be arriving within the-"

"Speak no more," Scourge said darkly, a flick of his gaze instructing his Sweeps to assume the various command stations around the bridge. It then quickly, though uninterestedly, returned its focus to the commanding officer of the ship. "Ensure the engines of this vessel are optimized and keep them that way. Take what men you need. Throw them in the power core if I command it. We have mighty prey to hunt down."

The Decepticon officer looked at Scourge with momentary confusion but seemed to quickly process his new orders, nodding and motioning for his typical command crew to follow him off the bridge.

"Macabre...isolate the Omega Guardian's ion trail and bring this vessel around. The hunt is on."

Macabre and the other Sweeps grinned wickedly as they got comfortable in their new positions. The destroyer's engines fired up to full power and within no more than a breem since the Tracker and his huntsmen had boarded the vessel, it was gone, weaving expertly through the other ships in the Second Expansion Fleet before vanishing into the inky blackness of space altogether.

Garrus 9 – Mines

“Grrrr... stand down Snaptrap! Commanderrr Scorrrponok wants them brrrought to him alive... and that is the only reason that separates them frrrom my last meal!"

Another commander might have stood his ground against the order bellowed by Terrorcon. But Snaptrap almost immediately calmed down after he heard that Hun-Grr was here on orders from Scorponok as opposed to being here for a snack. He stood calmly and watched as Hun-Grr batted Blot away from the Technobot prisoner. Hun-Grr took Nosecone in his jaws and ripped an arm off. Well, the Technobots would go to Scorponok alive, certainly, but perhaps not intact.

The Seacon Commander holstered his gun and observed in his menacing, quiet way. Rippersnapper took a berserk Strafe down. Scattershot…where was he? Snaptrap had seen him only a moment ago….ah. There. He came out from around the bend and…surrendered? Interesting. He shifted his attention from the Technobots to the other prisoners nearby. The only one that he spotted very near to the Terrorcons was one that had been nearly impaled by his comrade. Snaptrap kept an optic on him while glancing at Hun-Grr once more.

The Terrorcon leader was incredibly durable and powerful as well as deceptively intelligent. Staggeringly so. Snaptrap knew from when he and Hun-Grr had once clashed in the gladiatorial pits of Cybertron. Out of curiosity, Snaptrap turned his head to address Hun-Grr. “Do you know why the Commander wants the Technobots, Hun-Grr?” Earlier, one of them had been taken along with one of his own men. Perhaps…


Highbrow was decidedly unhappy. Though words simply failed to describe the depth of his displeasure. Nosecone had gone mad. Surely. That was the only explanation. For he had actually dared to assault and insult the Terrorcons. He was mad. Crazy. Insane. Off of his rocker! Oh, oh dear. Highbrow did his best to keep both his agitation and horror internalized. The Terrorcons preyed on fear. Highbrow’s optics went wide as one of them drew near.

Rippersnapper. He taunted Strafe. And Strafe, the poor dear, well, he was already a frayed wire to begin with. An exposed nerve. He also went insane, swinging his pick axe wildly. It suddenly whooshed by Highbrow’s side, causing the scientist to jump back in fear for his life. He could only watch in horror as Strafe was taken down by Rippersnapper, backing away from the whole horrid scene. He glanced about wildly, searching for Brainstorm. Not seeing him only incensed his distress further. He did happen to see a little tunnel off to the side…

Highbrow tucked into it, backing in, hoping that the Terrorcons would not pursue him for an after-Technobot snack. “Oh dear Primus…what horrid Pit have we fallen into…?”


Blot hadn’t immediately registered what had happened to him. His vision had gone red, and that…that Technobot…Then a blow to his midsection and here he was. Thrown against the wall. His processor ticked along, trying to recall what he’d heard in the meantime. The master….he had…said…

Back off Blot! This scrraplet belongs to me!"

Blot blinked his optics and looked at Hun-Grr who was now busy dealing with the insolent Technobot. He instantly felt shame. He had…overstepped. Acted without orders from the master. It wounded him more than the physical blow that Hun-Grr had used to get him off of Nosecone. He slumped slightly against the wall. Nosecone hit it beside him with a thud.

Hun-Grr…the master issued orders, instantly making Blot perk up.

“Seize him! Find the rrrest!" Blot glanced around and spotted Nosecone against the wall nearby. The Terrorcon scrambled to his feet, taking note that Rippersnapper had already subdued one of the other Technobots.

“Hey, Blot! Nosecone’s all yours. Try not to get in the master’s way again. Okay? Heh."

“Don’t need you to tell me,” Blot snarled at Rippersnapper before walking over to Nosecone and seizing the Technobot by his single still attached shoulder. “Up!” Blot ordered as he loomed threatening over the Technobot, his leaking fluids dripping down onto Nosecone.

Garrus 9 – Within Converging Sparks

Firewire floated along, observing the scene with trepidation. What other kinds of things would she see? How many more things did she really want to see at this point? The answer was zero but it kinda looked like she didn’t have much of a choice. As four figures materialized, Firewire frowned, flinching in surprise as Soul Siren was struck with a shock spire. Firewire clutched her own chest as she felt Siren’s pain through the memory.

The leader…he wasn’t clear. Things were beginning to break apart. The grunts asked if they should finish Siren. They didn’t. Clearly. Otherwise this slag wouldn’t be happening to Firewire. And the leader confirmed that. Death was too easy a punishment? Great. What did Soul Siren even do?

"Memory wipe away the important bits of knowledge and my presence her then send her as a toy for that uncouth barbarian in the mountains. She will know torment for what she did."

“Ain’t he a lovely guy…” Firewire muttered. Losing one’s memory was a pretty nasty punishment. Firewire glanced at the shuddering form of Soul Siren. “Thanks for that,” Firewire mumbled angrily. Wait. Barbarian in the mountains? Would that have been…? But then who’s this guy! A senator perhaps? Clearly a bolt head. Firewire glared at the leader with her arms folded over her chest. What a jerk!

Garrus 9 – Mines

"Just give him time. He doesn't know you. Those guys tend to only really trust each other. Every time the Wreckers get sent out on a mission, they usually don't come back with the same number of teammates they left with. It's a rough life. But what's new?"

“Thanks, Pointblank,” she muttered. “It some kind of life, isn’t it?”

"I'll tell you what's new we got company"

“…?” Umbra was alert almost instantly. Something was definitely up ahead. She shifted her feet into one of her diffusion fighting stances and narrowed her optics, servos tense as she waited for Roadbuster to strike whatever it was, ready to back him up at a moment’s notice.

Somewhere Between The Command Center And The Power Plant

Bomb Burst's moment of unconvential happiness passed just as quickly as it had set on as he realized Skullgrin had not yet caught up with him, but there were still two more Autobots left to dispose of.
The good news, he could see Skullgrin coming up the corridor, the not so good news... there was yet another Autobot that had pulled into view directly behind Skullgrin... well not so good news for the Autobot. >>"Skullgrin... there's a Bot on your tailpipe."<< He muttered over the comm. >>And two more staring me down."<<

The Autobots, deciding that now that their numbers had gone up by one, started for the Vampire. Quickly, though, the Vampire had gotten a hold of the closest one and swung him into the wall bordering the room Snarler had smashed into. The wall, weakened by Snarler’s assault on the other end of it, started crumbling under the force of the Autobot.
Not paying close attention to structural integrity, The Vampire sent the other remaining Autobot into the wall as well, stunning both as the debris that now used to be a wall came down on the guards.

Looking back towards Skullgrin and then into the room where a very excited giant pig stood ready to knock through more walls, The Vampire couldn’t help but wonder if any more Autobot’s were hiding nearby.

Skullgrin acknowledged Bomb-burst's transmission. He then stopped, and waited for his attacker's next move. Instinctively, he reached for his blaster, but then stopped. He decided to have a little fun and handle this with only his fists. It might also serve as a reminder to his somewhat egotistical Pretender brother just who exactly Skullgrin was. As the Autobot drew closer, Skullgrin clenched his fists and readied himself.

Corridor Nearby The Command Center

The brave hulking Autobot decided that if Skullgrin was foolish enough to want a fist fight, he'd to take advantage of the offer. Blasters away, he gave a 'come on' gesture to the Pretender.

Bomb Burst just watched passively from his distance behind. One line Autobot was nothing at all, Skullgrin could easily manage him. He was slightly amused at the two putting away thein weapons for a proper fist fight.

"Just kill it already." He muttered. "You play with your food, not your targets."

Garrus – 9 Central - Command Center

"Of course. And yes. My surprise in that regard is undoubtedly equal to yours. That was, well, an encounter of the most epic proportions. It became quickly apparent that I would need to flee for my life. I suppose, since I am still in possession of it, that it was a wise decision. I am amazed any of us managed to walk away from it. Though...I heard gossip en route that Overlord did, in fact, not. How....intriguing."

Cipher hadn’t acknowledged the hypnotist’s explanation. He did keep his audio open if only to appear as if he was interested. He nodded absently as he settled down at the terminal he has noticed when they first arrived. Yes. This was where a flurry of activity took place just before that debacle involving Omega Supreme. The stimuli surrounding him were intense. Taking in all the sights and sporadic sounds was making it difficult to focus.

The cryptologist sneered at the blank screen. Calm. He must be calm if he was to do his job.
Cipher shut down his optics and drew in a deep breath. Slowly he extended his hands over the keyboard and ran his fingers on each key gently.

"You might forgive an intrusive observation my friend, but this does not seem to be, well, where you want to be. What is gnawing at the finer edges of your mind?"

His optics onlined and with a start he drew his hands back. He’d forgotten that he was not alone.
*Ahem* “Not at all.” Cipher glanced over at the hypnotist and forced a smirk. It faded just as he turned back to the terminal, this time he actually started using the keys.

“Aequitas,” Cipher said wistfully. “I had hoped to plunder its contents. To reveal just what the Autobots have to hide.” He sighed heavily and slumped in his chair.

While he typed he pressed on, adding to his confession. “I know what happened in that chamber.” He laughed mirthlessly. “I’ve already seen it.” The scientist glanced back. “The physical evidence that’s stored on Aequitas would serve as proof to what I’ve claimed. Now…” His hands clenched tightly just over the keys. “…I’ve been denied…again.”

“The Autobots are not infallible, my dear Mindwipe. Even their most loyal soldiers are capable of horrific atrocities.” A smile pulled wide as he turned fully to face the other Decepticon. “They don’t know it yet but there are monsters among them.”

Semper Tyrannis – Scorponok's lab

"Dunno it's not like there is anymore fighting to be done on the planet is there?"

“You kidding me?” Apeface snorted in response to Snapdragon's question, spitting a glob of dirty lubricant on the corridor outside of Scorponok's lab. “We are bad man! They know we are bad! We beat them. It is over.”

“Whatever stragglers there are left are soon gone if not already. Split them between the bugs, Terrorcons and the Sweeps – you think they can hide for long? I don't.” The simian Horrorcon smirked before continuing.

“C'mon bud. Unless you prefer to wade in a grease bath for the next couple cycles, I have one task Commander left us. Horrorcon specialty.” Apeface chuckled, rubbing his hands together and flashing Snapdragon a toothy grin, “Sabotage. I don't think boss is going to hang around here for much longer.”


Semper Tyrannis – Bridge

"The extractor is taking damage. Even Garrus' substructures are reinforced,"

“Taking damage? Can't you even use a drill right you slagging landlubber?!” Finback retorted to Reflector's statement with all the fury and bluster of an old sailor. “Then switch to the laser cutters instead of breaking up our equipment your thrice damned fool! Our wage is nowhere big enough of to pay that damage bill you are going to get us if you break those fraggin' drills!”

Corridor

Skullgrin faced the big Autobot and without waiting for it to attack, he leaped forward and shoulder tackled it into the wall. Skullgrin felt the anger rise within him, which is exactly what he needed for an effective demonstration. Control it. he thought to himself. Control it and it will be your greatest weapon. The Autobot tried to push him off, grabbing his shoulders. But by doing that it left itself wide open, and Skullgrin took advantage. He began hammering the Autobot in the face and chest, his rage rising with each punch. Soon, the Autobot couldn't even defend itself anymore, it just slumped against the wall as Skullgrin kept smashing his fists into the Autobot's face, a low growl rising up from him with each hit, and by the time the Autobot was on the ground, it was an unrecognizable mess of broken panels, tangled wires, and leaking and splattered fluids, accompanied by a primal scream from Skullgrin. Finally, the Pretender stopped, and raised his hands in front of his face, seemingly in a trance by them, covered in fluids and scratches and dents from the impacts. He then suddenly dropped them by his side, and turned to Bomb-burst.

"You see." he said calmly. "I may keep to myself most of the time, and seem like I don't prefer confrontation. And you revel in terrorizing and playing with the minds of your victims. But when it comes to actually fighting, and being in a fight to the death where no head games will help, nothing is more effective than pure rage. Nothing."

He gestured to the mess on the ground that used to be an Autobot, then pointed at Bomb-burst.

"You do what you think you need to in a battle, but remember, always remember. Playing mind games will get you only so far. Sometimes, it's time to just put up or shut up."

He then looked past Bomb-burst at the other Autobots.

"So let's see what you can do to back up that loud mouth."

In The Corridor Outside The Command Center

Bomb Burst watched the carnage rained down by Skullgrin with an absent half smile on his faceplate. He truly loved to see that much unbridled savagery.

"That... was worth every taunt and jab I shamelessly directed to you." He said in something that sounded almost like a wicked purr. "You are an artist... I disagree that terror and mind games aren't effective, but I will never disagree with the effectiveness of pure rage."


"So let's see what you can do to back up that loud mouth."

The Vampire casually waved his hand to the decapitated and punctured set of Autobots to his left, opposite side of the corridor of the wall with the hole. He held up two clawed actuators at Skullgrin. "I took out two before you even got your tailpipe here." He said a bit softly and a bit mockingly. His gaze did drift from Skullgrin to the two remaining Autobots, still stunned from when the Vampire had thrown them through the wall. "And it's the mouth..." He said snapping the fangs in the air in Skullgrin's direction then turning his gaze back to the Autobots. "That is what I back my loud mouth with." He studied the two Autobots a moment. "Wakey wakey...." He taunted them. "I really do hate it when my victims are not completely conscious, I like to hear you... scream."

Garrus -9 Command Centre

The noise was immense as Snarler set about his job with gusto the wall erupted as the warg smashed through the reinforced structure. As soon as he was clear Bludgeon followed stepping through into a corridor by that point the pig had already moved on to the next wall.

Shrugging himself clear of various detritus that was hanging from the remaining wall reinforcements Bludgeon stepped into another room. He found Bomb burst and Skullgrin cajoling each other the Electric warrior watched Bomb Burst about to start some delicate negotiations. He decided to make himself known to Bomb Burst and give him some instructions.

"I would ask these fools if they know of any jamming equipment fitted to the facility or personnel stationed here. It would greatly speed up our mission so we can leave"

Bludgeon paused long enough to look at Skullgrin

"I would not worry about Bomb Burst's skills Skullgrin, concentrate on moving up to support Snarler he might be tough but I do not need him unduly damaged by any more surprises"

The formidable warrior moved on following the devastation left by Snarler as he moved into the last of the rooms before the power station he called back to Bomb Burst.

"If those fellows do not know anything finish them off quietly without screams"

Bludgeon moved off into the gloom his frame was soon obscured by the swirling dust from the debris that was still settling.

Skullgrin looked at Bludgeon as he walked away after barking his orders.

"Great." he thought. "I get to be a babysitter. To a near-imbecile, nonetheless."

He turned without a word, and started towards Snarler.

Bomb Burst had slipped quietly over to the two Autobots and moved into position. He liked getting up close and personal with his victims, especially when waking them up. The guards' optics began to flicker on.

His advance was halted by the sound of Bludgeon's voice:
"I would ask these fools if they know of any jamming equipment fitted to the facility or personnel stationed here. It would greatly speed up our mission so we can leave"

"Master..." He said with a slight nod acknowledging Bludgeon's presence respectfully from his awkward position on top of one guard.
The other guard started to move to escape, The Vampire clamped a hand down on his neck and firmly held the struggling guard down. "I will do my best to get you information, Sir."

A wicked grin slipped onto The Vampire's faceplate. Information extraction... one of his favorite pastimes. All that terrorizing and playing with their minds that Skullgrin had spoken of... even he couldn't disagree that was exactly what the situation demanded. His evil laughter lowly rumbled as his master began his exit; he sorted out all the twisted things he would do.

"Have fun, Skullgrin..." The Vampire taunted, sneering to show a bit of fang as Skullgrin headed for Snarler. "Watch the tusks.."

His attention drifted down to his little toys beneath him.

"If those fellows do not know anything finish them off quietly without screams"

Finish them off... oh how he hoped they wouldn't know anything... wait. Without screams?

He looked up at Bludgeon with disappointment as the Warrior was enveloped in the gloom, the dust and debris, disappearing in a delightfully eerie exit. He frowned, but this time did not assume his master did not notice. "They taste so much better when they scream..." He said with a sigh.

Garrus 9 corridor network

Bludgeon's words were mostly lost in the noise as, barely breaking stride, Snarler shook himself off. He charged past Bomb-Burst and Skullgrin, more to get a look at the newcomer than anything else, but he soon realised why the scent was familiar. The clan was almost complete again, and that meant fun was ahead.

"Keep up Bitey!" He yelled, "I smell food behind dis one..." and without another word he hit the second wall with a deafening crunch of drill apparatus and obliterated metallic panelling. Inside, the chamber was vast and dark, some kind of mess facility that had been sealed from the inside - probably for the power plant drones, now forgotten. Or at least, they had hoped so.

The giant pig planted his four hooves and sniffed the air aggressively. Then, suddenly, he threw himself at a metal cabinet, goring a huge tear in the front, wrenching the door off with one tusk and the entrails of the cowering Autobot guard inside with the other. The screams were silenced quickly, but subtlety was never one of Snarlers main concerns. He sniffed the air again, Cybertronian lifeblood once more dripping from his razor sharp tusks.

"I know dere are four of you and just me here. If youse want dis to be fair fight, you best go get some friends.."

Garrus 9 Corridor Network

"Keep up Bitey!" He yelled, "I smell food behind dis one..."

Snarler's nickname for Bomb Burst caused a slight shoulders droop and an even slighter frown from the Vampire. It was fortunate that it didn't bother him much, as there was no use trying to get the Warg to stop calling him that. Snarler's particular way of thinking prompted him to use descriptions as names it seemed. In fact, he couldn't remember Snarler ever calling him by his actual name, which really was probably best since the Vampire really didn't like his name... just the reputation attached to it.

But the mention of food perked his attention. "Your kind of food or mine?" He asked Snarler, both through the team's comm and out loud as the massive beast had already started ramming through another wall, drowning any other sound through the crunch and wail of metal against metal drill. Yes, it was best for him to not assume either way, after all, he was the only one who's fuel and intake methods differed from all other types of Cybertronians. Some forgot that.

While Snarler was ripping through the wall, though, he didn't let it distract him from his task of obtaining information. Absently, he ran the tips of his actuators gently down the faceplate of the Autobot guard that he was on top of as he thought. The claws not scratching the surface but it was certainly unsettling. His optics looked distant while he thought.

Suddenly he focused and looked straight on into the guard's optics. "Now, I might be inclined spare the lives of you and your little friend.." He began after Snarler had punched through the wall and the noise subsided. "But in order to do that, I need to know where there's any equipment that could have caused our communication problem. Even better who did it. But I'll settle for where. You see, in a place like this, high security, it is not hard to assume there's jamming equipment.. if I were in charge, I'd have put it in... so where...?" He smiled a wicked smile at his victim, the fangs glinting despite the obscured light of the room. "Tell me where... you see, the plan right now is to crack open your little cranial unit and dig around for something tasty, there's a fuel line in there. I haven't gone that route in a long while."

He looked over to the other guard who was back to struggling under his grasp. "Oh stop it or I'll go through you first." The Vampire growled. He pulled out a dagger and shoved it into the joint in the guard's hip, severing the wiring between the leg and the torso to immobilize it and shoved it out of reach of it's friend. "Now, if you want to save it..."He gestured to the guard that was under him. "You could volunteer the information..." The response he got was negative and full of swear words. He shrugged and looked back to his closer victim. "You will die painfully if I don't hear a response I like."

The screaming of an Autobot from the next room caught the Vampire's attention. He looked up to see through the hole Snarler had created. "Huh.... I guess my answer is 'both'." He muttered softly as he was able to make out some objects that appeared to be a mess hall. He looked back down at the guard. He was tempted to call to Snarler to leave one or two for him, but he wasn't sure how long these guards would hold out in giving him information.

"I'll give you a moment to think..." He growled as he opened the comm for the assassin team. >>"How close are you to actually getting Octopunch and Stranglehold into motion and to me?"<< This was delivered with a very low, threatening growl.

Garrus-9 – Mines

What did Scattershot expect to gain from this cartoonish show he had clearly put on? Nosecone causing a minor cave-in that could never stop a Terrorcon instead of proper one that would force the other Decepticons to dig them out? Even in perfect working condition the Technobots had never been able to match the raw power of the Terrorcons. Yet, here – drained to a mere fourth of their energy reserves and having their weapons and equipment confiscated – they still tried to antagonize them? It was obviously a play to buy time for something but it still made no sense to Hun-Gurrr. What else could Scattershot hope to gain other than planting a seed of doubt in his mind? Or provoke the Terrorcons to kill him so whatever Scorponok was planning would not succeed? Neither option wouldt be out of the play, not when it came to Scattershot. The Technobot commander was beyond delusional when it came to his intellectual prowess after all. He was brash, hot headed, stubborn, even abusive - a fine Decepticon candidate really.

"Well hello there Hun-Grr, I'd love to exchange our typical pleasantries, but some scraplet decided it'd be a good idea to send your coffin out for polishing." He held his arms up to show he held no weapon or tool to impede his removal from the mines and allowed his mocking tone to revert to a more serious delivery. His optics narrowed behind his protective visor as he began to read the Terrorcon from top to bottom. "Lets skip with the short talk. You want us, we'll come... Peacefully."

He had to do it. Staying in beast form this close to Scattershot – it was so very difficult to resist the urge to sink his teeth into the Technobot. So he had to transform, thus regaining slightly more control over his urge to tear the Autobot into shreds.

Scattershot was a large mech, as tall and broad as Optimus Prime himself. And yet, next to Hun-Gar and the Grimlock-like proportions of his robot mode, Scattershot was being towered upon like a middleweight boxer next to a heavyweight.

“Peacefully?!” Hun-Grrr couldn't hold his laughter back, “The mighty Scattershot doesn't even put on a show?”

Hun-Gurr leaned in towards Scattershot – practically offering his smirking face for the Autobot to throw a punch at. “Are you finally accepting the finality of the matter? You cannot beat me runt. You never have. You never will.”

There was truth to the Terrorcon commander's words. One on one, none of the Technobots had ever bested the monstrous Decepticon standing before them, only slowed him down enough to escape or get reinforcements. Together, working as a team? Now, that was another matter and hardly as satisfying when it came to rubbing it in Scattershot's face for even Hun-Gar had to admit that the Technobots worked better as a team than his Terrorcons did. Every single one of his men were easy enough to provoke making a mistake they'd pay for. Only their savagery and toughness had kept them functional to this day.

“Of course you will come. As if you or your ilk had any other choice.”

“Weakling.”

“Do you know why the Commander wants the Technobots, Hun-Grr?"

Snaptrap. It was bold to question the leader of the Terrorcons even from other Decepticons but if someone had earned the right to do so, Snaptrap was certainly one of them. The Seacon leader would have made a better Terrorcon than any of his own men but it would have been waste of Snaptrap's talents. He served the Scorponok better by leading a unit of his own. Despite of the distraction, Hun-Gurrr never broke the optical contact with Scattershot.

“I have a suspicion. But why should I ruin the surprise?” He chuckled, flashing Scattershot a devious grin full of sharp teeth. “Does it concern you Snaptrap?”

Semper Tyrannis – Scorponok's lab

“You kidding me?" “We are bad man! They know we are bad! We beat them. It is over."

Snapdragon's optics swung to face Apeface as he spat oil into the corridor the look on his face incredulous.

"Do I look like Skywarp? We beat them bad yeah but there are always autobots somewhere to stomp"

Apeface continued explaining that between the various teams about the Autobots would be battered into submission and soon subjugated to Decepticon rule. He smirked the simian had a something ready up his sleeve.

“C'mon bud. Unless you prefer to wade in a grease bath for the next couple cycles, I have one task Commander left us. Horrorcon specialty." Apeface chuckled, rubbing his hands together and flashing Snapdragon a toothy grin, “Sabotage. I don't think boss is going to hang around here for much longer."

Snapdragon followed his comrade to the door and passed him heading into the corridor flexing his arm joints.

"Sabotage huh could be fun, but I would prefer to wallow in that grease bath for the next couple of cycles"