The Energon Pub

Kolkular - The Cradle

Scorponok nodded at the smaller form of Roadblock. He would allow him to prepare the troops for now. He was curious to see what else Lord Megatron had planned, particularly for Shockwave and Cyclonus. He was also considering testing some new technologies on the battlefield that the Tagan Heights would become, technologies that would greatly enhance the soldiers fighting there. It was an idea he had been working on for some time and with the acquisition of more energon sources in the Heights it might become more feasible.

Cyclonus walked into the Cradle and stood before Megatron on his throne. He brought his right fist up to his chest in salute. “I report as ordered Lord Megatron.”

Megatron nodded at the air warrior. “Your initial report of the Tagan Heights raid indicates a high degree of damage done to the Autobots there considering the small forces that were sent there. I am in need of a new Air Commandant and you are the leading candidate, especially with the leadership of our new soldiers, the Sweeps. As your first test as Air Commandant, I want you to remove the former Air Commandant from my sight.” Megatron smiled. Starscream had been cowering off to the side, listening to the various plans and orders being given. His demotion meant he had lost the privilege of being privy to such knowledge, and now it was time to officially revoke those privileges.

Cyclonus understood the honor that was being granted to him. It was a sign of great respect to be moved up the ranks so quickly. He would not fail him in his first task given to him with his new rank. He clamped a hand on the Seeker’s should and began dragging him out of the room, forcibly if necessary, until he was outside of the cradle and the door was sealed shut.

Kolkular - The Cradle

Telegraph arrived at the imposing entryway to The Cradle, he quickly glanced at the sentries and then entered.

He took to his knee silently an waited to be announced or noticed by Lord Megatron

The Forge

Arriving in one of the Forge's immense outdoor assembly yards, Roadblock transformed back into robot mode. In the center of the yard was a large factory module, many hundreds of meters across and nearly as tall, which had been until recently very busy cranking out Megatron's new soldiers. Standing near the maw of the factory module were dozens and dozens of gray and blue Transformers, arrayed in neat lines. Roadblock knew without counting them all that there were at least six squadrons of the new drones here.

"Ugly sons of kremzeek, ain't ya?" the ground forces commander commented out loud as he walked up to the orderly squadrons. Spitting a streak of transmission fluid off to one side, he approached one of the new warriors. Stopping with his faceplate just centimeters from the bearded, scowling visage of the drone soldier, Roadblock spoke to it. "Identify yerself."

The drone's optics flared to life, cold red in the dim light of the assembly yard. "IDENTITY: SWEEP UNIT BETA-NINE. FUNCTION: HUNTER-KILLER."

Its voice was frigid, even, yet somehow pulsating with hatred and rage. Were a lesser Decepticon than Roadblock standing before the drone, that lesser Decepticon might have vented his fuel supply. Of course, Roadblock vented his fuel for no one - Not even Unicron himself, if the big piece o' Predacon excrement had the lugnuts to stand toe-to-toe with me. A smile slowly spreading across his own mightily scowling visage, Roadblock gave the drone an approving swat across the chin.

"Good, good! I like it, 'Sweep.'" Roadblock chuckled, spitting another gob of fouled fluid onto the ground. He, like any soldier, knew that 'sweep' was slang for 'kill.' To sweep someone was to kill them. The name was absolutely fitting for these Decepticons, Roadblock thought.

"Well boy, I like to hunt, and I like to kill, so I'm bettin' me and you and yer three hundred brothers standin' here are gonna get along just fine," he said. "Squadrons Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, step forward for inspection and briefin'!" Roadblock bellowed. In flawless lock-step, one hundred and fifty gray and blue killing machines stepped forward, eager in their sparkless glee to be unleashed on the enemies of the Decepticon Empire.

The Tagan Heights won't know what hit 'em til Primus is givin' 'em their final reward...

Kolkular - The Cradle

Shockwave arrived at the cradle doors as Cyclonus was 'escorting' Starscream out. Silently, the giant purple computer analysed the situation; concluding Starscream had been correctly punished punished for his disobedience in combat and had been removed from command. No air unit had the agility that Starscream possessed, but there were plenty that were just as suited to lead. Betraying no emotion or thought, shockwave recorded the proceeding and turned to enter the cradle.

>

He signalled the sentries for admittance and they snapped back to allow him entry. Striding purposefully into the central chanber, he walked around the edge of the circular room. He could see one of the common soldiery prostrate infront of his master, A good way to get on Megatrons good side, but not even he would be able to force Shockwave to kneel.

Unphased by this exhibition of obedience his master was revelling in, and keeping his single optic on Telegraph as he approached his leader, Shockwave saluted with all the respect due of his rank, and announced himself.

"Shockwave reporting as ordered, mighty Megatron. What is your command?"

Kolkular - The Cradle

"Stop pushing!" Starscream complained, he turned his head toward Megatron as he was led out. "You're making a mistake! The failure wasn't mine alone! Victory will continue to elude you if you keep blaming me for other's mistakes..." He stared at Shockwave before he and Cyclonus had reached the door. It was just his expected rant but at least he didn't make too much of a fuss besides that.

"Cyclonus..." He said in a lower tone, "We have to talk... later okay... I can see you're quite busy." Starscream walked out himself. "No hard feelings or anything like that okay?"

Kolkular - The Cradle

Soundwave watched with minimal evident interest as Starscream was ejected from the Cradle by the recently-activated Cyclonus. The expected shake up of the air forces hierarchy had transpired more or less as expected. Reduced, but still sufficiently relevant to create difficulties if he were not kept under close scrutiny, the driven Seeker might prove an even greater threat now that his position in the hierarchy had been placed in jeopardy. And Cyclonus was, as yet, an unknown quantity. Nevertheless, despite the vast differences between him and his predecessor, the communications officer was confident this young Decepticon was by no means beyond manipulation.

It would simply require a more circumspect approach.

Maintaining his air of silent deference, Soundwave noted Roadblock's departure and the arrival of Shockwave and Telegraph, even as he executed his usual duties. This close to the seat of ultimate Decepticon authority, one never knew when even the most incidental bit of data might prove useful.

Kolkular - The Forge

"Slag my aft and ship me to the smelter," a rough voice boomed through the assembly yard. "You're an ugly bunch of oil-stains, ain'tcha? But if you're half as hard in a fight as you are on the optics, you'll trash a fair number of Autobot chassis, I reckon."

From somewhere behind the factory module, a smaller, noticeably battered Decepticon strutted--insofar as a mech could strut while hampered by a slight limp. Ruckus always looked as though he'd just come out on the losing end of a confrontation between himself and Devastator's pedal actuator, but the Triggercon never let that slow him down. Cracked, dented, and grinning from audio module to audio module with something between camaraderie and gleeful anticpation of imminent belligerence, he conducted his own impromptu survey of the so-called Sweeps.

Wasn't as though there was anything better for him to do around here, with Megatron and all the other high-ups locked up in the Cradle plotting. Ruckus had every confidence they'd send off to bust some cranial units sooner of later, but the waiting always set his circuits on edge.

His optics brightened when he noticed Roadblock. Or, more accurately, his right optic brightened--the left sputtered a bit like a candle in a strong wind before going out entirely. But a quick smack to the side of his helmet quickly set that little problem to rights. For the moment.

"Sir," Ruckus said, straightening and snapping off as professional a salute as one in his dilapidated condition could manage. Roadblock was a mean piece of work, and no mistake, but Ruckus admired his all-in, charge-forward-all-guns-blazing style of command. He was a Decepticon who knew how to conduct a fight. "You gonna put a few dings in these rookies, sir? Long as the 'Bots don't lay down some rubber in the opposite direction at the sight of 'em, anyhow."

The Forge

"That's the hope," Roadblock answered Ruckus. "'Course, these new ones are supposed to be so fast it won't matter if the 'Bots turn tailplate and run or not." The ground forces commander laughed harshly. He returned the Triggercon warrior's salute without ceremony, not to disrespect the lower-ranking Decepticon but rather because Roadblock felt some kinship with the combat assault specialist. Few and far between were the Decepticons Roadblock could call fearless, and Ruckus was without question one of them. The endless catalog of damage and near-fatal injuries that was Ruckus' service record was a testament to his utter lack of reluctance to charge headfirst into the worst of odds on the bloodiest of battlefields.

"Why don't ya restock yer energon supply and saddle up fer this one," he told Ruckus. "Could use an old hand or two around to make sure these fancy new drones get the job done."

Kolkular - The Forge

The expression on Ruckus' worn faceplate brightened noticeably. An invitation to join in on the Sweeps' first combat assignment had been exactly what he'd been angling for, and he'd been confident that he could count on Roadblock to deliver. If there was one thing that the unkempt former courier robot couldn't stand, then it was idleness. Other Decepticons might be happy to spend their time polishing their skidplates and sampling rare fuel mixtures, but that wasn't his style. Ruckus just didn't feel like he was doing his job properly unless he was on the frontline beating Autobots into scrap metal for the greater glory of the Empire.

"I was hoping you'd say that, sir," he answered the Ground Forces Commander enthusiastically. "I've been itchin' to give those substandard rattletraps a little of their own back ever since I heard what happened in Polyhex. Little glitches won't even know what hit them."

Turning, Ruckus waved back at the larger mechanoid as he rushed back toward the fortress proper with a gait that was only very slightly hobbling. Good thing he was used to all the little aches and pains that went along with fulfilling his function like a true Decepticon warrior. "Be back in an astrosecond. Don't let 'em start the massacre without me!"

Kolkular - Research Center

Polyhex did end up as a site of defeat afterall. The thought coursed through the cranial unit of the mechanoid standing in front of the flickering dispaly screen, his frame bearing grey, white and purple colors.

Though as quickly the thought had sparked inside his cranial chamber, as swiftly it faded away. Polyhex was, even if not entirely, but lost, its potential disabled, putting the Decepticons at a disadvantage. Still, that moment had already descended to the past. And one could not afford themselves the luxury of clinging to such moments, which they could not alter any more. Even if the circumstances changed, they needed to move forwards, adapting their chain of actions to the new setbacks and possibilities.

Only if made real and carried out by the opponent, does a disadvantage become definite. Thunderwing's fingers raced along the keyboard panel attached to the console, scrolling down lines and images on the display screen. His optics observing the data and his cerebral unit processing it, with determination he worked on nullifying the disadvantage the Decepticons had suffered at this point.

The merit for the subject of his work was not his own, however. The idea the research data presented belonged to Scorponok, a mighty Decepticon, who had been a rare example of a mechanoid possessing the combined traits of a warrior and a scientist, exceling in both fields.

At first, it seemed like heresy, a flash of a misguided mind. But upon studying it, the concept opened doors to opportunities Thunderwing would not even have noticed before. Encasing the mechanoid's frame in a symbiotic carapace, designed and built from organic tissue, and estabilishing a link between the neural center of the host and a receiving unit of the carapace, enabling a sort of telepathic control over the shell... it was like splitting one warrior into two, almost equally efficient counterparts. Not mentioning the additional defensive measures such a shell could provide against physical, chemical and environmental dangers, and the obvious benefits of an integrated self-repair system. Thunderwing's facial structure slowly formed a satisfied smile.

He spared a brief glance at the project designation displayed in the headline of the data transfer window.

Pretender technology. How fitting.

Kolkular- Medical Center

Scourge emerged from the CR chamber renewed and eager. The Sweep saw that Sixshot was back online as well. "Come," he told the sixchanger. "Lord Megatron awaits." Without waiting for a reply, Scourge took off for the Cradle.

He arrived in time to see a most amusing sight- Starscream's sniveling departure. The Sweep sneered at the Seeker as he slunk away, not even acknowledging him when he passed. Giving the barest nod to Cyclonus, Scourge made his way into the Cradle. It was only then that he noticed Sixshot had arrived only a moment before him.

He is a sneaky one, he thought. And a skilled warrior as well. A shame we are on the same side. What glorious prey he would make...

Wings held high and back, the Sweep bowed low to the Emperor of Destruction.

"What is your command, My Lord?" he reverently asked.

Kolkular - The Cradle

Cyclonus gave a curt nod to Starscream in reply to his comment. He would listen to what the seeker had to say later, but that didn’t mean he would follow up on whatever he suggested. He turned back and walked to stand before Megatron once more.

Megatron beckoned for Telegraph to enter the cradle and stand before him. As the Decepticon entered Megatron sealed the door with a control on the throne.

“Telegraph, I have a mission for you. You are to scout out the Tagan Heights, particularly the southern borders and coast. I want to know the state of their defenses since Cyclonus led his raid on the Autobot strong hold. As always, secrecy is the key. Stay undetected at all costs. The Autobots must not know of our intentions there.”

The Decepticon Supreme Commander turned his gaze to Shockwave. The Decepticon second in command had, for all intents and purposes, lost his city-state to the Autobots. Megatron had observed a good portion of the battle though and he had seen what had occurred, had even participated himself. He had already made his decisions about the battle, and he had chosen not to blame his second for the loss there.

“Shockwave, I will be meeting with Optimus Prime on Moonbase One shortly. I have already arranged for an ambush to take place that should remove Prime from the situation for some time to come. I will require you to formulate a plan to help take down this Omega Supreme that the Autobots are using to guard Polyhex.”

Megatron flipped his gaze up to the newly arrived Sixshot and Scourge. Now all of the soldiers he required for the upcoming mission were here. He turned back to Shockwave. “Sixshot will assist you in taking down the Guardian. I am sure he would relish the challenge,” he returned his gaze to the sixchanger.

Sixshot matched Megatron’s gaze. He hadn’t heard much about this new Autobot, but his name obviously implied great power. Perhaps this would be the Autobot who would provide him with a challenge. “Yes.”

Megatron turned back to Shockwave. “Feel free to contact Polyhex before your return for more information. It would be best to have a working plan before you return so we have the full element of surprise. Surprise will be key to this entire operation. I want Omega Supreme taken down or driven off at the same time, while Prime is dealt with on the Moonbase. In one stroke will we take back the initiative and momentum of this war and send the Autobots scrambling.” Megatron smiled. He was going to enjoy seeing the look on Prime’s face when he told him of his plans, right before he extinguished his spark.

He turned to look at Scourge, the prototype for his new army. Scrapper had told him that the design for Cyclonus used materials too difficult to create on such a scale as to generate an army of similar Decepticons. The Sixshot design was far too complicated to be used on the scale needed for his new army, along with the difficulty of finding a spark compatible with using so many different modes. It had fallen to this design to be the one mass produced due to its balance between power and simplicity. His visage would become one the Autobots would soon come to fear. “Scourge, prepare a squadron of our new army, the Sweeps. You will lead them in our ambush of Optimus Prime.”

-------------------

Kolkular – Medbay

Scrapper was just finishing cleaning up after Sixshot and Scourge had left when he received the signal from Long Haul.

>>”The process should be able to go on full automation at some point so you can leave it to the drones now Long Haul. You can have some free time now since it looks like we will be getting a bit of a break as a reward for completing this operation. Your time is your own for now.”<<

Kolkular- The Cradle

"Yes, my Lord. I shall ready the Sweeps immediately. I shall contact Soundwave when I am ready for coordinates and further instructions."

Scourge's excitement was apparent in his voice. It was not a pleasant sound. Nor were his sharkticon's grin and flat, sparkless eyes things of beauty. The Sweep Leader bowed to his Emperor and quickly exited.

Making his way to the launch bays Scourge activated a control on his wrist, contacting a single squadron of the hunters he had been built to lead. He had picked them at random from among the completed units. It did not matter to him which Sweeps he took on his hunt. After all, it was he who was the hunter. They were merely the hounds. And such magnificent hounds they shall be, the arrogant tracker thought. But being built in MY image they cannot be otherwise. Silently he brought the drones online and instructed them to report to him in the launch bay.

As he waited for his minions to arrive, Scourge let his thoughts dwell on the coming hunt. Oh, that I shall have the glory of hunting the Autobot Prime himself. Yes! I shall tear the mask from his faceplate before I present his head to the Emperor, along with the vile Autobot Matrix! The Decepticon Empire shall rise again in terror and glory! And I shall take my rightful place as Lord Megatron's instrument of death.

Seeing his troops file in, Scourge shook away such pleasant thoughts. His cold and wicked mind returned to the present. When the entire squadron was present he opened a channel to Soundwave.

Kolkular - The Cradle

Soundwave turned his attention from the continuing activities within the ultimate nerve center of the Decepticon Empire to acknowledge the incoming communication from Scourge. The fearsome mechanoid had shown great promise in the relatively brief time he had been activated, and, more importantly, appeared to be too single-mindedly fuelthirsty to be a credible threat to the communications officer's position as Megatron's first lieutenant.

>>Soundwave responding,>The Sweeps will proceed ahead of Megatron. They will take up position outside sensor range near the rendezvous point and await the signal to attack. Coordinates will be forwarded to Sweep squadron as soon as they are made known to me.<<

Kolkular- Launch Bay

Scourge's reply to the communications officer was brief.


Although anxious to begin what promised to be the most glorious hunt the young Decepticon could imagine; Scourge had learned to wait. He spent his time double checking his Sweep's diagnostics, running simulations and absorbing all the data on Optimus Prime his security clearance would allow. It payed to be prepared.

And besides, there is something to be said for the waiting, he thought. The anticipation is often the best part of the kill.

Kaon - The Dead End

The Dead End of Kaon, a refugee to empties, petty criminals and substance abusers. Zone the Decepticons didn't really pay much attention to aside sending in few patrols once in a while to remind that the Dead End - despite its insignificance it was still part of the Decepticon capital. However it wasn't unheard of for some of the habitants of the Dead End to claim that the real reason for the Decepticons tolerating them instead of sending them off to smelting pools - was to function as a pool of guinea pigs. And that wasn't far from the truth.

This particular breem the accusation was very sound for the two Decepticons that on their free time were sadistic enough to go to beat up the empties just for kicks, actually had a reason to be there.

"Uh... boss?" The smaller one asked while nervously watching their surroundings, continuing before the larger had a chance to answer. "Haven't we beaten up enough of them already? I mean... you can't carry them all back to base and... aaah, all those empties staring at us is creeping me out."

"We are ready when I say so Breakdown! Not a nanoclik earlier!" The hulking Decepticon roared back at the smaller Decepticon just before smashing his fist through the cranium of one of his victims. "Bah. Scrap metal. Not even worth having a shot at testing the structural integrity of my knuckles."

Like the last 5 of them you leveled out just for the spite of it dimwit. Breakdown though, still keeping an keen optic on the few empties that were either unable to escape or just too demented to do so.

"Look... Motormaster, not that I wouldn't mind finishing off couple more of th-." Breakdown's sentence was interrupted by a swift kick to stomach by his sadistic comrade.

"Excellent! Then we crush couple of more of them!" The phychotic self proclaimed king of road bellowed and continued to finish of the remaing empties on the alley with a series of well aimed shots from his rifle.

"You do realize I took you here to load these motherless scraplets to my transport module, not to to question me. Get it?" Motormaster spat out and transformed into his vehicle mode. "Now start loading, that pompous aristocrat is running low on test subjects."

"Yes boss..." Breakdown coughed, rubbing his mid section while dragging himself towards the pile of empties Motormaster had piled up against the end wall of the alley. "Right away boss..."

Kolkular-Firing Range
Interference stood alone on the firing range, readjusting the sights on his carbine, and silently fuming. He had spent far to long merely practicing, and now as it appeared that other Decepticons were mobilizing, it appeared as if a mission were about to be launched. And yet, he had received no summons or command to prepare for mobilization. Why? He judged from the power-outage earlier that the new drones were ready. Hrmph, probably take those mindless hunks of slag, like they'll be good for anything. Interference did not care much for drones, as their lack of on-the-fly reasoning left them horribly ill-suited for combat without direct oversight. About the only thing good he could say about them was that they wouldn't refuse a command, even if it were suicidal. So I "forgot" to tell that one loser that I hadn't disabled the security system yet, I needed the distraction. he thought, And now their all too scared to go around a corner before me if I tell them to. Interference half hoped the mission would go bad, at least then he could state that he was right about the inferiority of drones. He just hoped drones were all they lost; the Decepticons couldn't do to lose too many more soldiers, not after Polyhex.

Kolkular – Medbay

The massive cybertronian tank rolled into the Medbay for repairs. Steam was rising from the hull of the tank and producing a great amount of heat in the Medbay. "I did it again. I can't transform!" Quake exclaimed, being stuck in tank mode. The repair bot rounded the table and started to examine Quake. The repair bot had a high pitched voice vocabulator and was said to be annoying. "Quake Quake." The small machine sighed a moment. "I just put you back together. It's not the size of the cannon that counts if your broke down before you get to the frontline." The repair bot exclaimed. "Hah ! My cannon is big and thick." Quake grumbled from his tank mode. "Tell that to the Autobots!" Quake then yelled out.

A thin red laser started to run over the tank's hull, forming small sparks as repairs commenced. "I didn't feel any change in the plantery alignment Quake, you must be losing it. No big boom today?" The repair bot said. " Remember that class 5 defense installation I crushed back in the day? " Quake said. "How could I forget you never stop talking about it." The repair bot mentioned. "Anyway, how long is this going to take? I want to use my plasma cannon like right now. " Quake said. The repair bot continued to work, making numerous annoying sounds. "There, try to transform you idiot." The repair bot said. Quake transformed his titaniuam-alloy shined like new in his robot form, standing 31 feet tall in his robot form.

"That's more like it. Now if I can just pound some Autobot's into scrap metal." Quake exclaimed inbetween a long pause. The repair bot simply left the hulking robot to himself.

Kolkular - The Forge

"'Atta boy," Roadblock chuckled as Ruckus dashed - or rather clanked and crashed - off in his usual enthusiastic fashion. "In the Briefin' Chamber in a few." He knew he needn't threaten or admonish Ruckus into being prompt. The Triggercon's lust for battle would ensure that he would hurry to the briefing.

Running down a mental list of personnel available at Kolkular, Roadblock wished to select one or two more Decepticons to accompany the mass of drone Sweep warriors in the attack on the Tagan Heights. After eliminating a couple he knew were in line for other missions or down for repairs, he selected just one warrior, one he knew would do an excellent job of mauling and stomping on everything in his path.

>>"Quake, get down to the Briefin' Chamber in half a breem."<< Severing the comm channel, he headed in that direction himself.

Kolkular - Medbay

Quake had just finished being repaired in medbay. He had just finished, shining his purple decepticon symbol. Quake reached his massive hand and picked up his plasma cannon, holding it in the grasp of his hand. "You sure do talk alot for a piece of scrap metal." Quake said to the repair bot. The repair bot made a number of high pitched, beeping noises. "Yeah well scrap you to." Quake raised his plasma cannon point blank, pointing it directly at the small robot's head. Just then a communication signal came in.

>>"Yeah yeah, hold on to your power convertor Roadblock. I am on my way."<<

Quake responded lowering his plasma cannon. "Saved by the bell you pile of garbage." Quake said to the repair bot before he turned and let the medical bay. Quake headed down to the briefing room to meet Roadblock. Quake stepped into the briefing room. Purple, white, and mixtures of gray stained the steel that made up his form. "What's shaking Roadblock?" Quake said.

Kolkular - Refueling Station

The prospect of battle was more than enough to speed Ruckus along, despite the nagging aches in most of his lower primary joints. But he'd been knocked around plenty over the course of the war, and he knew that such minor wear and tear wouldn't be enough to impede his performance. And it sure as slag wasn't significant enough for him to bother about stopping into a repair bay--every astrosecond he spent berthed or stuck in a CR chamber was an astrosecond he could have spent bending a few Autobot fenders. His own well-being always came second to his sense of duty--that duty being to smash, crush, and mangle any and all enemies of the Decepticon Empire that came within reach.

Storming into the refueling station nearest to the Forge, Ruckus swatted a beeping drone aside impatiently and stumped over to one of the wall-mounted energy-transfer cables. "One side, scraplets," he boomed jovially. "This is urgent military business. No time for the usual pleasantries." The Triggercon jammed the cable into his power converter with a characteristic lack of delicacy, humming happily to himself at the rush of fresh energon into his drained systems.

Once fully charged, he disengaged the cable and made his exit, patting the drone he'd recently manhandled roughly but companionably on his way out. Not so long ago--by Cybertronian standards, anyhow--Ruckus himself had been little more than a downtrodden courier drone. Even though he'd made good, advancing to the status of full Decepticon warrior, he still tried to remember his humble origins. Helped keep him motivated.

With a gruff laugh, Ruckus made his way to the briefing room for the word on the latest operation.

Kolkular - Briefing Chamber

"War, that's what's shakin', boy!" Roadblock answered Quake, spitting a streak of foul-smelling transmission fluid across the room to hit a servant droid in the head. As Ruckus arrived as well, the ground forces commander dropped his considerable form into a chair at the head of the Chamber's long table.

"We're attackin' the Tagan Heights in the next couple of cycles," he began, getting right to the point. "You two, and me are the only Decepticons goin'. Well, the only sentient Decepticons."

Roadblock hit a few buttons on the table, bringing up a holoprojection of the Sweep drone squadrons awaiting orders in the Forge. The long lines of blue-and-gray murder machines stood at perfect attention, ready to carry out their masters' commands with swift and deadly precision.

"We're takin' along three squadrons of the new Sweep drones. They're hunter-killer units, designed to be better than the ol' Seeker drones. This battle's gonna show whether or not they are better."

Kolkular - Briefing Chamber

"Your tranny acting up again?" Quake exclaimed. "I usually swallow my excess fluid." Quake's robot face would have turned into a brilliant bright grin if only it could. "Great! I guess they decided to send the elite on this mission!" Quake said, holding his plasma cannon in his left hand.

Quake thought a moment, the three in the room, not the fastest but some of the toughest Decepticons around. "With me, you, and Ruckus I don't see how they could fail. I am looking forward to trying out my cannon on the Heights." Quake grunted.

Kolkular - Research Center

Through couple of accidental road kills in form of service droids - Motormaster and Breakdown finally reached the massive main doors of the local DeceptiTech laboratories.

Supressing the primal urge to drive through the doors, Motormaster hit the brakes, barely stopping before colliding. Grudgingly the large Decepticon proceeded to activate his communicator, opening a channel to his current employer, lord Thunderwing of Valckasta royal family.

>>"Majestor Thunderwing, I have yer stock of fresh empties right here at the gates. Might ye want to give an order to open the doors? Me and my boy Breakdown were, heh... stripped of our access codes here some vorns ago if ye recall."<<

Kolkular - The Cradle

While waiting for a response from his subordinates Megatron quickly scanned the current fortress roster for other Decepticons he could use on these missions. He wasn’t going to leave things to chance with just Telegraph spying on the Autobots. While sending another spy did increase the chances of their discovery, the potential benefit outweighed that risk, especially since this one was more adept at spying behind enemy lines.

>>”Interference, report to the Cradle for mission assignment.”<<

----------------------

Scorponok had seen enough of Megatron’s orders to the other Decepticons to grasp what other plans he had in mind. He took his leave of the Supreme Commander and made his way out of the Cradle. His thoughts were already turning to the battle to come and a technology he had been working on that could further assist in evening the odds between the two factions.

The technology itself was virtually complete and he felt confident that it would work. The problem was finding suitable test subjects for it. While he could simply use it on some prisoner or common soldier, he feared it would be a wasted effort. If the experiment succeeded, then he had handed over a large amount of power to someone virtually worthless. There was also a good chance that using it on a lesser subject would only further increase the chances of its failure. The connection between the new technology and the mind of the test subject was still a bit of an unknown factor. It would have a better chance working on someone with a strong mind and will, at least initially. The splitting of control over two bodies could become a bit of a strain. After studying some initial test subjects and seeing how they reacted to it, he was sure he could make improvements, if necessary, so that the technology could be more easily adapted to more standard soldiers.

Scorponok had been researching and studying the Decepticon ranks for a suitable test subject. He had first considered himself, naturally. He knew enough about the process that he was sure he could handle any possible mental strain, but he quickly dismissed the idea. If something went wrong with it and he was incapacitated, there would be no one with enough knowledge to try and reverse the process. On top of that, he suspected the modifications he had made to his own body over the eons would make the process exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. The arrays of weaponry that covered his body, the stinger tail on his back and the claws he had installed in place of hands would make it very difficult for the organic structure to cover him and create a suitable shell. No, it would require someone of a somewhat simpler and more streamlined shape.

His research had indicated that Roadblock would be a fitting candidate. He had the mental capacity and will power to work past any early obstacles in the process, and his relatively simple body design would prove perfect for the process. He also knew that the ground forces commander would not turn down the opportunity to increase his own power. On top of that Scorponok had ideas on how to make up for what could be perceived as the other Decepticon’s one weakness, a lack of speed.

Scorponok approached the Research Center only to spot Motormaster and Breakdown waiting outside of it with some sort of cargo. He had made no request from these two Decepticons for any material and they weren’t exactly the scientific sorts. Apparently someone else was doing some experiments. He nodded at Motormaster and keyed the door open, stepping into the doorway in front of the other Decepticon.

Scorponok’s visor flashed as he saw who was inside. Thunderwing was at a console, studying Scorponok’s designs for the ‘Pretender’ technology. A scowl formed on the massive Decepticon’s face as he quickly realized what was going on. Motormaster wasn’t typically fit for moving materials around, but he would be ideal for acquiring test subjects Apparently Thunderwing was taking it upon himself to begin testing his research.

A part of Scorponok welcomed Thunderwing and whatever contribution he could make to his research. The aristocrat possessed a keen mind and considerable technical skill. He could make a valuable contribution to the project. The other part of Scorponok, the part that he typically showed to his fellow Decepticons, was angry to see another attempting to hijack his research. Decepticons were territorial almost by nature, and here Thunderwing had crossed into his territory. Lesser Decepticons would probably end up torn limb from limb for a similar transgression, but thinks worked differently in the upper ranks. Scorponok would let the other Decepticon speak before he decided whether to rip his head off.

“What do you think of my research Thunderwing? You seem eager to test it, so eager that you were ready to proceed with out me it appears.”

Recieving the transmission, Interference's bleak outlook brightened significantly, though unnoticably. Any chance to destroy a few 'Bots was welcome with an open spark.
>>At once, Lord Megatron.<<
Reattatching his carbine to its locking junction, Interference proceeded to head directly for the Cradle. He was already deciding which disguide would work best for this mission.