by Smokescreen85 » Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:09 am
- Motto: ""A look can be deceiving; a touch can be lethal.""
- Weapon: Twin Shoulder-Mounted Rocket Launchers
Outside the Science Labs
Razorclaw watched with a stoic look on his faceplate as the rest of his supporters swarmed over Tantrum’s extra fuel tanks in order to gorge themselves on the ultra energon. It was almost like looking at an Insecticon swarm overcoming and devouring their prey. Animals, the lion-former thought, ironically only referring to those who were not his own Predacons. Even Motormaster was no different except for the fact that he was more belligerent in his consumption and seemed to glow much more brightly than everyone else.
Their behavior didn’t matter, though, just as long as the new energon put them all on an even playing field with Shockwave and his men. Of course, the one-eyed mech had more supporters, along with countless vehicons, than Razorclaw currently had on board the Thanatos. It was unfortunate that the Predacon lord could not bring more of his own backers with him without raising unwanted suspicion. Even with the ultra energon flowing through his team’s circuits, they were still at somewhat of a disadvantage. If only Onslaught and his Combaticons could be signaled somehow and brought into the fray. Their addition would certainly make victory for the lion-former an almost guarantee.
But how? Razorclaw contemplated the idea for a moment as the others continued to fill their fuel cells. Any transmission, even an encrypted one, would be detected by Soundwave. That monotone mech had been a thorn in the Predacon Commander’s side ever since returning to the Thanatos. Having to tip toe around his own ship and plot in secret left a bad taste in the lion-former’s mouth. It was one he looked forward to washing away very soon.
Still, the problem remained, how to get word out to the Combaticons without inadvertently alerting Soundwave in the process. Perhaps there is a way, Razorclaw realized, rubbing his chin guard with one clawed hand. It’s an old school method, but it just might work.
Turning his attention back to the gathered mechs in the corridor, Razorclaw lowered his hand to his side. “Okay, let’s finish up. Anyone who hasn’t powered up yet, do so now. Then head down to the hangar immediately. The hearing is likely already under way, and I don’t want to delay things any longer. I will meet you all there in short order. There is one last thing I must do to help ensure our victory. It won’t take long.”
Without further explanation, Razorclaw moved past his supporters and headed down the corridor until he had disappeared from sight.
_________
Skywarp watched as the others all climbed over each other for a taste of the ultra energon. The Predacons were just as animalistic as he had always taken them for, but the rest turned out to be no better. Were these the mechs who would overthrow Shockwave and eventually lead the Empire into the future? The teleporter shuddered to think of the ramifications if that actually came to pass. The seekers’ only hope was for Starscream to finally overcome his current predicament and eventually take his rightful place as the one true leader of the Decepticons. Otherwise, dark times were almost certainly ahead for them all.
Nightraven’s apprehension regarding the new fuel was not lost on Skywarp’s audio receptors, even as Razorclaw spoke up again to give further orders. Once the Predacon Commander was done spouting off at the mouthpiece, he disappeared down the corridor on some last minute task that he needed to do in order to win the forthcoming battle. Whatever, you disgusting animal, the prankster thought as he turned to regard Nightraven with weak smile. “I know, Nighty, but the ultra energon should at the very least make you stronger and maybe faster. That has to better than nothing at all,” the teleporter said in a whisper. “Besides, we have our orders, and I’m sure Razorbutt’s remark was in reference to us since we’re the only ones who haven’t powered up yet.”
Skywarp then turned his attention to where Tantrum was still situated. Stepping forward cautiously, the teleporter moved across the corridor until he was standing right next to the Predacon fueler. ‘Warp then opened his access port and connected himself to one of Tantrum’s extra fuel tanks. The ultra energon easily flowed into the prankster’s systems almost immediately. At first his circuits felt as though they were on fire but that feeling was quickly replaced with one of euphoria. It was a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced before. The seeker’s optics glowed a brilliant purple hue as every inch of his frame felt the raw power consume it from within.
“And to think I hesitated,” Skywarp muttered as he cast his gaze back over at a still reluctant Nightraven. “It’s okay! There’s nothing to fear. Heh. This stuff is great! Come over and try some! You’ll love it!”
Starboard Observation Chamber
Razorclaw had a plan to bring the Combaticons into the battle against Shockwave. Whether it would work or not was another matter. It all depended greatly on who had been left behind to man the Obliteration while Onslaught and his team were busy down on the surface. If it was just a simple vehicon then the plan might not work. However, if ‘Claw knew his fellow commander as well as he thought, it would be Blast-Off at the controls instead of some mindless drone. The space warrior was always left alone in the dark void, whether he was raining terror down on unsuspecting Autobots from a low orbit or just keeping watch over an empty frigate. This was where Blast-Off excelled and he seemed more than content with his isolated role.
Of course, the Combaticon in question would also have to be paying attention and not taking a stasis nap. There was a way around this possibility, but it would take absolute precision on Razorclaw’s part as well as some luck. Regardless, it was the only option the lion-former had if he wanted to ensure a victory here not to mention a future for the fledgling Predacon regime. It was small now, but Razorclaw’s authority would grow and eventually spread across the Empire. Primus willing, it would spread far and wide with little resistance. Sure there would be some challengers at first, but they would soon come to realize that the Predacon way was the best way to further advance Megatron’s legacy he had left behind.
Having made a quick stop in one of the warship’s storage facilities in order to get the device that he needed, Razorclaw quickly made his way into the starboard observation chamber, where the far wall was adorned with large windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. The vastness of space was exposed for anyone present to see as was the familiar sight of the Obliteration, still hovering a short distance from the Thanatos.
The lion-former crossed the vast, empty room until he was standing only a few feet away from the center window. The device he carried was box-shaped, about the size of an energon cube. It had handles on either side, allowing Razorclaw to firmly grasp it in both clawed hands. It was a laser beacon, capable of sending a harmless beam of concentrated light across a considerable distance in order to communicate with comrades on the other side of a battlefield utilizing a series of long and short flashes. It was old school and very low tech compared to some of the communication methods of the current vorn. However, when standard channels were jammed by the enemy or radio silence had been ordered, a laser beacon was sometimes the only way to coordinate with other 'Cons.
With the touch of a button on the back, the device hummed to life as a tripod extended down from the bottom until it touched the floor. Now securely standing on its own, Razorclaw was able to let go of the beacon and began the process of programming it to suit his needs. The message he needed to send had to be short and simple but still informative. Once that was accomplished, the Predacon lord peered through the device’s top mounted scope and aimed it directly at the Obliteration’s primary sensor array. Surely, the frigate’s computer would detect the light beam and alert whomever had been left behind, even if they weren’t paying close attention.
I hope, Razorclaw thought as he then activated the beacon. Within astroseconds, a harmless beam of concentrated light emanated from the front of the device and reached out into the blackness of space. It didn’t take long before the beam hit the Combaticon vessel’s sensor array dead center and began a series of long and short flashes that would convey the message the lion-former wanted to send. He let the beacon recycle the message for at least a breem before shutting the device down and stowing it away in a storage compartment. As much as he would like to let the signal play endlessly to safeguard that someone on the Obliteration saw it, Razorclaw could not leave the beacon unattended just in case a member of Shockwave’s crew found it. Then the jig would be up for sure.
A breem will have to be enough, Razorclaw thought as he headed out of the observation chamber. Blast-Off or whomever better have seen it. I can’t delay any longer. With the prospect of reinforcements arriving in the near cycles, the Predacon lord finally headed down to the hangar where Starscream’s hearing was already underway.