The Energon Pub

Armory

Needlenose pulled out his twin electrostatic overloader rifle from a weapon storage locker and checked the ammo levels. Could stand to use a few fresh clips, he'd just need to locate his light burst discharger rifle and then he'd be set to go.

As he closed the now empty locker and loaded the rifle onto his back, the newly appointed Supreme Commander Razorclaw made his entrance into the armory. The Predacon commander made a bee-line for his own weapon storage, not seeming to take much note of the other Decepticons piled into the weapon room and arming themselves for the mission he had ordered they all prepare for.

"I see his reign is starting out nicely." Needlenose muttered to himself sarcastically as he clicked the action-bolt of his second rifle into place. It seemed pointless to bother the lion-former about trying to get caught up on details. Needlenose felt he would here all about them as their mission progressed on.

The aerial warrior then loaded his second weapon across his back and stood back to admire his appearance, a habit he and a few other mecha where known to do before heading out to battle. To him it was like taking a "before and after" picture, and hopefully he wouldn't have to take an "after" image, Needlenose doesn't believe battle damage fit his style all that much.

"Weapons strapped on the back, energon tanks fully loaded... Damn all I'd need is a nice Cy-gar and I'd say I'd look pretty *Badass*! Or however that human expression is said..."


((OOC: I'll add Warwolf later on))

Laboratory

That was one quick visit to the laboratory. No sooner had Flywheels arrived than Shockwave had issued instructions for the Duocons to participate in the assault against the Fallen. This suited him just fine, even though the most arduous battle of his career thus far awaited his involvement somewhere on this mud ball for a planet.

Flywheels gave Shockwave a crisp salute. “As you command, sir.”

With nothing more to say, he turned on his heel and followed Battletrap to the bounce chamber. Unless his fellow Duocon needed to make a trip to the armoury first, of course – then they would head to the bounce chamber. But considering the word armoury hadn't been mentioned, it was a safe bet that Battletrap wasn't stopping by there.

“Indeed, Battletrap! Indeed!” Flywheels laughed as they marched to the bounce chamber. “To the fight, we shall go. And we will make Shockwave proud. We haven't failed him yet– ”

Except for that one time on Talos V, but hadn't everybody?

“–and we're not gonna start now. We'll even show the boss how much better we are than the Triple Changers. Not that I think they're oil stains or anything – but I never did like Octane... The guy needs an aft kicking to bring him back to reality.”

Battle, yes? Battle now?

“That's right, Scarab,” Flywheels said. “Battle.”

Excellent. I grow weary of being stuck to you, and desire freedom.

Flywheels winced. Then scowled. The solidity of his good humour, reinforced by Shockwave's orders, began to crumble, the irritation causing its downfall intent on replacing it.

“Can you not act like a nickel-plated for once? For once, you freak? Seriously, is it that hard for you to be normal?”

The galaxy's biggest loser and fool is my brother. You wouldn't – and can't – understand the shame you heap upon me with your offensive existence.

“I hope the Fallen annihilates you. I will celebrate if that happens. Fragging honest-to-Primus celebrate.”

You're going to have a host of difficulties celebrating anything when you will clearly die before me. I've observed you out on the field of battle, brother. Dumb luck is the sole reason for your continued functioning, not skill. And certainly not any degree of ingenuity.

“Blah, blah, blah. Same old slag from you. When you're finished being predictable, let me know.”

The insults. The arguments. The hostility. They were attached to Flywheels as much as Scarab was to his robotic form. A tragedy beyond belief, that was, but little could be done about it.

Duocon technology: it was a mixed success. Dismissing their fractured relationship, Flywheels and Scarab were actually a formidable force in combat, the contrast of their alternate modes complementing each other's abilities and granting them several advantages their opponents failed to match.

Oh, let's give Flywheels a round of applause for that remarkable reply! Truly, brother, even Sludge of the Dinobots, an idiot of legendary proportions, could have provided a sharper retort.

“Go die in a corner!”

But away from combat, this was as harmonious as it got.

And so, Flywheels and Scarab continued to verbally spar until they reached the bounce chamber.

Nothing new there.

Bounce Chamber

"Scarab being usual self I assume. You know you need each other. I need you as well. Too bad we can't combine into one big robot. Then I could help with your other half. We need to prove to triple changers we are the better experiment. More should be like us. Two modes at once is better. We don't have to switch. I also long to split and slaughter."

After Battletrap enters the very crowded bounce chamber, he sees the pad almost overflowing and the triple changers in their little corner. He signals to Flywheel to find another corner.

"We go last and wait on Commander Shockwave or Shadowing unless ordered otherwise."

Bounce Chamber

“Yeah, he's just being his usual self,” Flywheels said to Battletrap. “Which is to say he's being a little greasy stain. But you're right, B.T..” He sighed. “I do need that little greasy stain.”

Technically, this was true. If Scarab were to, say, perish in combat, Flywheels would no longer be able to enjoy his robotic form. He'd have to get used to living out his remaining rotations as his alternate mode, a fighter aircraft. Not a good thought at all.

Even if Shockwave applied his unsurpassed knowledge and experience of the Duocon process to recreating Flywheels, as it were, there would be no guarantee it would end well for the Duocon. Flywheels and Battletrap were still currently the only two Decepticons to have survived the process, so...

Scarab's silence came as a welcome relief. It was about time he fell quiet, considering the amount of drivel that oozed out of his vocaliser – but he always suddenly did at some random moment whenever they bickered or spoke. Flywheels didn't care, though, because it couldn't have happened at a better time, as he had arrived at the bounce chamber.

Walking in, he whistled, impressed by the numbers already present. “Quite the gathering here.”

Battletrap gestured to an empty corner of the bounce chamber. Flywheels went after him, where they waited for the rest of their comrades to arrive so they could bounce to the Fallen's location and attempt to destroy a demi-god.

* * *

“Glad to hear it,” Tantrum said. “Very glad.”

He still stood threateningly close to Rampage, as if prepared to strike him at any moment, but curiously, a measure of his anger dissipated at the promise of a tussle scheduled later on after the business of the Fallen had been taken care of. This news didn't make him happy, by any stretch of the imagination, but he did feel... less angry.

Like he'd only, if provoked, tear somebody's arm off instead of tearing somebody's arm off to clobber them to death with it while he screamed obscenities at them and jumped up and down on their mutilated corpse.

Quivering fists ceased motion. That fierce snarling lowered in volume. And the intense shade of crimson faded, revealing a lighter red that lay underneath it.

Tantrum stepped back from Rampage. He aimed his glare at the slightly shorter Predacon, but otherwise offered no further indication that he wanted to bury his electro-sword hilt-deep in one of Rampage's optics.

He didn't hate his comrade – or any of his fellow Predacons for that matter. But when they ticked him off, when they unbalanced his fragile humour, they might as well have been Howlstrike telling him to cram a missile up his aft and burn in the Pit.

Sweeping the bounce chamber with his gaze, to see who was here and who wasn't, Tantrum realised that Razorclaw, Divebomb and Headstrong hadn't made their respective appearances yet. How strange. And annoying.

“Rampage.” Tantrum growled, a menacing sound that saw a few Decepticons standing closer to him to slink away. “Where the frag are our team-mates? What's taking them so long?”

Med-Bay

Breakdown had been in the process of exiting the med-bay as quietly as he could, hoping to avoid Motormaster's ire. He knew instantly that dead End's pessimism and bad forture had rubbed off on him just by being too close. He should have left him sooner. Would've if it wasn't for that oddly intoxicating medi-femme.

Breakdown shrank back like a wilting flower at Mortomaster's approach and his vomitous rage. For an instant, the briefest of instances, Breakdown thought about arguing with his commander and pointing out some of the damage that he had sustained, to say nothing of what Dead End had endured during the battle. Where was Wildrider? Where was Drag Strip? Off being "possessed"? Ooh, so scary. At least he and dead End had been right here in the thick of it. But of course Breakdown said nothing even close to what had run through his mind.

He couldn't move now. He dared not. To do so would be to trigger Motormaster's focus directly on him, which he was sure it already was.

And then there was pain. Sharp, pressured pain as both he and Dead End suddenly had their heads in Motormaster's vicelike grip. Both of them moaned and grunted painfully while still straining to show that they were paying attention to every word that came out of their commander's mouth.

"O-Of c-course, boss. This Fallen fragface is going down hard. No doubts!"

"And do remember to thank the good doctor. We've wasted enough of her time already."

Released from the dull, crushing pain of Motormaster's grip, the two Stunticons looked over in Orbitoclast's direction, giving the femme a crisp salute.

"Thank you!" the two said in unison before Motormaster's final, bellowed command got them moving faster out of the med bay than if they had found themselves standing on a surge pad.

Bounce Chamber

Battletrap looks around the crowded room as he sees Flywheels meet him in the corner. It then struck him several of the key combatants weren't there yet.

"No supreme leader yet. Did he get lost or waiting? Commander Shockwave will get here in his time. Cons might start hitting each other again if we don't leave soon. I look forward to fight. Been many cycles since split. Flywheels and Scarab should work with me still. We make great team. We crush whoever we fight. They will be like pebbles being batted around."

Battletrap decides to send a private message to Shadowing.

>>Commander Shadowing, Flywheels and I in bounce chamber. No sign of supreme leader yet. It is crowded. We wait for more orders.<<

..............

"Krunix, huh? So what insanity was Ramjet into this time when you left? I don't know who is crazier, Ramjet or Starscream. Old Screamer would be a threat if any of his aft port plans didn't backfire on him most of the time. Yeah, we get to slag someone claiming to be The Fallen of legend. If you are lucky, you might get in one shot before this Fallen is a pile of molten metal with all of us Cons going down there. I'll probably melt him into a pile of goo if I get close enough."

Octane then noticed the Duocons walk in and find their own corner.

"Well Astrotrain and Blitzwing, looks like our predecessor experiments the Duocons are joining the party. I wonder why Shockwave didn't slag them when he was done with us since we are what he originally intended with those two losers."

Laboratory

Flamewar had thought the great Decepticon scientist's silence odd upon her arrival. After all, he was one of the few that knew something of the nature of her true purpose. When Shockwave's bombardment of queries were directed at her, Flamewar relaxed internally. Shockwave was still the same mech that she had been acquainted with before. Mechs indeed changed with the war, but Shockwave had remained a constant. Of course, anyone could still change and Flamewar would be aware of it when it occurred in Shockwave.

Flamewar considered his queries thoughtfully. In this time, Shockwave took the opportunity to dismiss the two duocons who had bombarded the cycloptic mech with queries of their own. She gave them a cursory glance as they exited the laboratory, and then looked back to Shockwave, giving him her full attention once more.

"You are correct, Shockwave. Lord Megatron did not summon me here, but upon completion of my latest assignment," Flamewar continued carefully choosing her words, "I did not receive new orders from Lord Megatron. When it became apparent that none would be forthcoming, I took the liberty to investigate his silence, hence my arrival here."

There was a good deal more to it than what she had stated, but that was the short of it. Protocols had been set into place. Unthinkable eventualities thought of and accounted for. All for the glory of the Decepticon empire, and to keep its cause safe. Hoping that her explanation was satisfactory for the cold, logical Shockwave, Flamewar waited for Shockwave to discuss what she had been summoned here for.

Bounce Chamber

"I have business to attend to. Proceed without me and make yourself useful to your superiors down on the surface."

With Flamewar's final words muttered to Warwolf and taking her exit, the Decepticon interrogator gave the black and crimson femme an understanding nod and sheathed the knife he had been toying with and approached the control panel of the Bounce Chamber. The room seemed to be getting crowded and not many mechs were actually exiting for the ship itself. Well, at least Warwolf was given the green-light to leave already, the lupine mech was growing tired of being cooped up in this room.

After locating the latest set of coordinates entered to leave the Warship, Warwolf reactivated the Bounce Chamber and disappeared in a flash of bright-white light as he bounced down to the Australian outback.



"Astrotrain, are you showing compassion for the fleshling?" Blitzwing asked as he began to grow annoyed by Astrotrain's refusal to hand the Earth creature over. "This isn't some Autobot debate, hand it o-" Blitzwing demanded before being silenced by the Decepticon transporter as Krunix interjected himself into the conversation.

The commando crossed his arms over his chest plating as Astrotrain diverged the conversation away from the original subject. Octane seemed to do the same, taking notice of the Duocons who came in and helped add to the growing crowd inside the Bounce Chamber.

"Well Astrotrain and Blitzwing, looks like our predecessor experiments the Duocons are joining the party. I wonder why Shockwave didn't slag them when he was done with us since we are what he originally intended with those two losers."

"Pssh, I wonder the same thing Octane. I'm at least twice the mech those two are, COMBINED. I could give two scraps about what happens to them once we get down to Earth."

Leaning in to finish his private conversation with Astrotrain, Blitzwing lowered his vocalizer down to nearly a s whisper like he and the other triple changers had before.

"We'll talk about the fleshling later, but for know we have bigger things to worry about. I'd suggest you guys get ready and don't let anyone else, and I mean ANYONE, know about this little situation."

((OOC: Warwolf is moving to the Australia thread))

Bounce Chamber

Razorclaw entered the crowded bounce chamber where the majority of able-bodied Decepticons had been awaiting for his arrival. At first glance it was apparent that not all functioning ‘Cons were here yet as some that he knew were fully capable of fighting were conspicuously missing, including two of his own Predacons. Starscream was another missing in action as was Soundwave, who was likely taking his sweet time. Of course, the former was undoubtedly plotting his next attempt at taking the throne with the recently arrived Sixshot playing some part. It mattered little at this juncture. They knew what was expected of them and where they needed to be. The Fallen and his heralds took precedent over everything else. Even the cowardly Seeker Commander knew that. He would likely make another play for leadership once the fiery demigod was dealt with. Starscream may be a coward, but he was far from stupid.

From behind the Predacon lord, several squads of newly activated vehicons appeared. They were the reason for Razorclaw’s delay as he felt it necessary to reinforce his troops before their encounter with the Fallen. Besides, it never hurt to have a large number of vehicons around to serve as cannon fodder for a supernatural entity and his minions. It was better to lose a bunch of drones than the more useful mechs under his command.

Without uttering a word, the lion-former made his way to the control panel as he ushered for the vehicons to take their positions on the primary and largest bounce pad within the chamber. There were two other slightly smaller pads on either side that would easily hold the rest of the ‘Cons that were present. The others on board who had not yet arrived would eventually catch up or they would face the Predacon lord’s wrath for insubordination. An indignant Razorclaw opened another ship-wide comm line to address those who had not yet answered the call to arms:

>>"Decepticons! This is Supreme Commander Razorclaw! I, along with those who have already arrived in the bounce chamber, will be departing momentarily for the Earth's surface. I suggest that the rest of you on board who are able to pick up a weapon and use it make your way to the bounce chamber immediately. This is not a request! The coordinates will be pre-entered on the control panel. I expect to see everyone down planet side in due haste, and that includes the rest of my own Predacons, as well! I hope I have made myself perfectly clear."<<

Cutting the comm line, Razorclaw double checked the coordinates and set the controls for an automatic bounce before moving over to the central pad. “Everyone get on one of the pads now. We’re moving out in approximately ten astroseconds,” the Supreme Leader of the Decepticons commanded in a firm tone, motioning to both Tantrum and Rampage to take a stance next to him. Once the trio of pads were full of battle-ready 'Cons and the countdown had finished, the room was engulfed in a bright light as the bounce beam activated.

((OOC: I will be moving Razorclaw to the Australian thread after this post. Everyone else can move their characters along as they see fit. I just wanted to get things going on my end.))

Med-Bay

Shockwave's cold, singular optic remained focused on Flamewar while she spoke, his complex processing intelligence taking in every word and analyzing it against the context of the assembled phrase.

"Logical," he stated simply, after allowing a moment to pass to reconcile his calculations with what he knew of her function and most recent operations under Megatron. The next logical query, given what they both knew of Megatron's status, would be regarding what subsequent steps she would take now that her initial reasoning for returning had been satisfied; even if the answer she had been investigating turned out to be an unsatisfactory one. But it would quickly prove to be a secondary matter and one that he could investigate later.

Shockwave's optic flickered slightly as a new transmission came through from their new Supreme Commander. His gaze shifted from Flamewar to Shadowing and then, ultimately back to his own repairs.

"Declarative: it would be inadvisable to delay your presence any longer. The ground forces operative I have just activated will increase our collective odds of success in this type of mission. I must have any and all data that can be acquired from this engagement. Imperative: depart immediately."

Laboratory

As he prepared his weapons he heard first Battletrap's message and then Razorclaw's message to everyone. He replied to Battletrap.

"Wait for me before bouncing. I shall be there in a moment."

It made sense to Shadowing to go down to the planet with at least some Decepticons that seemed to still respond to him. One did not know what one would find. He heard the conversation between Flamewar and Shockwave and as it finished he could see one of the experimental repair chambers begin to hiss as the reaction process was well underway. He grabbed for a container and opened it. Inside were a collection of recording and measuring equipment that he had set aside for moments like this. This was hardly the first time he had been sent out to collect data for Shockwave.

He took what was needed and placed them in his storage compartments. He turned and moved back beside Flamewar and turned towards Shockwave.

"As you command, sir." He said then turned towards Flamewar.

"Let us go." He said normally then finished in a whisper. "We do not want to be here when HE awakens anyway."

Bridge

Soundwave nodded in reply to Razorclaw before turning back to his station. There wasn’t much left for him to do aside from wait for a reply from the Autobots and continue to monitor events and communications in and around the ship. He watched the internal sensors as the various Decepticons began making their way to the bounce chamber, a few damaged Decepticons remaining in the repair bay. Starscream and Sixshot also maintained their positions in the corridors, a disturbing occurrence to be certain. The seeker must have some sort of control or sway over the phase sixer to remain active this long with him in such closer quarters.

In nearly any other circumstances this would have been his primary concern and would be fully investigated, but greater and direr circumstances demanded his attention. Soundwave did not like leaving Starscream and Sixshot alone to freely converse unmonitored but Razorclaw was calling for all Decepticons, and Soundwave’s current position in the hierarchy was too delicate at this time to try ignoring those orders. He would leave the sensors to record the movements and activities of the seeker and living weapon. At least they would be able to trace their movements later on.

The communication specialist punched in a few additional commands to the computer. He made sure that he had a direct and encoded frequency to the ship and an emergency channel for an emergency recall transport back to the ship via orbital bounce. If things went too badly he wanted to be able to get himself and whatever leadership might be left back to the ship without delay.

As he activated other various automated systems on the ship he considered Razorclaw’s parting words. He had always known that few Decepticons understood his abilities and Razorclaw was obviously one of them. If he truly had the ability to steal thoughts from others minds then the war would likely have been over long ago. What he could do was taste the color of others’ thoughts, and explanation that truly only made sense to him. He would do his best to comply with the Predacon’s orders but he wasn’t certain he would be able to achieve the results he sought. He the Fallen and his followers would have tight control over their thoughts, limiting his abilities or possibly even blocking them entirely. It would, at least, be an interesting test for him.

With the systems prepared and locked down to his satisfaction Soundwave stood up. It was time to meet the Fallen and his minions and see if the mythical being could live up to the legends and stories told about him. The Decepticon walked off the bridge, bound for the bounce chamber.

*

Corridors

Swindle swiftly changed directions as he received the confirmation from Onslaught. Going down and fighting some sort of demigod wasn’t exactly his specialty anyway, and it wasn’t an assignment he was looking forward to. He was an arms dealer, a salesman and, above all else, a survivor, and survival looked a lot more likely being far away from the Fallen and his goons.

The Combaticon swiftly made his way to the specially prepared escape pod, decked out with all the spare equipment and munitions he could scrape up without being noticed. It was enough to allow him to live comfortably on an ordinary planet. On a backwards world like the one below though, he could probably live like a king on the profit the most useless item he had could bring him.

Swindle rubbed his hands together after he sealed the hatch. He punched the eject button and the pod cut loose from the ship. With everyone busy leaving and systems damaged he knew his departure would go undetected. Now it was finally time for him to get back to work. He couldn’t wait to bilk the humans for every bit of fuel and precious resource they had.

Bounce Chamber

Tantrum waited for Rampage to answer him regarding his question – or, perhaps, more accurately, his demand – about the absence of their fellow Predacons. He waited for as long as he could, until the limited lifespan of his patience expired. And waited. And waited. And waited.

He clenched his fists repeatedly, opening and closing them as though it helped him to mollify the surge of anger flowing through him. He wanted to hit something, to smash something, to obliterate something. Surrounded by Decepticons, there were many targets to choose from that he could go berserk on, but even Tantrum knew that idea was none too bright, fantastic as it would be to punch out somebody he hated.

His frustration, his anger – it would be unleashed upon the Fallen and his heralds soon enough, so all he had to do was keep cool and keep his rage in check for a little while longer. Just keep cool and contain his fury. Just keep cool and not explode. Just keep cool and–

But Rampage. That dumb frag hadn't replied to his question yet. Honestly, how hard was it to answer a fragging question? Tantrum was standing right in front of the deaf bucket of bolts. Right in front of him! FRAG!

Language. Temper. Tone it down. Dial it down. Be at peace.

Happy thoughts, now. Fighting soon. Annihilating things soon. Good times ahead.

His team-mates were constantly telling him to “calm down” or to “take it easy”. When Tantrum wasn't being consumed by a ferocity so potent he felt like ripping their facial-plates off for merely speaking to him, he attempted to heed their suggestions. Now was one of those rare occasions, but it wasn't working. The fragging worthless advice they gave him was fragging useless.

It was at this precise moment that Razorclaw and several squads of vehicons entered the bounce chamber. Tantrum, literally trembling with effort not to transform to his cyber-bull mode and start tearing the place up, watched his leader waste not an astrosecond with formalities or idiotic motivational speeches and stride to the control panel, send a ship-wide transmission to those not here to get here, activate the bouncing sequence, tell everybody present to select a pad and prepare for teleportation, and gesture to Tantrum and Rampage to accompany him on the central pad. All business, as usual.

Tantrum appreciated that. When he wasn't too busy being angry. Which was basically always.

Shoving aside a Seeker and backhanding a vehicon – both of whom were obstructing a clear path to the pad Razorclaw was standing on – Tantrum manoeuvred himself into a position next to the new supreme commander. Then, in an instant, as a brilliant light enveloped him, he disappeared, in the bounce chamber no more but somewhere on Earth, his rage yearning to bring the pain to the Fallen and his lackeys.

Bounce Chamber

"Well, well, well, looks like our new supreme commander the beastformer decided to show up. I be surprised if those Vehicons last five astroseconds against the Fallen and his lackeys. It seems it is time to have our fun, Astrotrain and Blitzwing. If we are lucky, Shockwave will outshine the beastial ways of the Predacons and prove he should be leading."

Octane walks over to one of the smaller pads and shoves some of the other Cons out of the way in order to have a space on each side for Astrotrain and Blitzwing. The new arrival from the Ultrax can find his own spot.

Bounce Chamber

Rampage never really had an answer for Tantrum's next question, after the raging brute had agreed that now was not the right time to go make the bounce chamber look like the hangar. The other Predacons were Razorclaw's problem. There was a new order being established and Rampage was going to make sure that he was right there at the new Supreme Commander's side. Tantrum appeared to be doing the same. If Headstrong and Divebomb wanted to slip, on their heads be it. Rampage wouldn't waste any time looking back.

Having moved onto the central bounce pad alongside his commander and fellow Predacon, Rampage smirked as he looked out over the remaining Decepticons in the bounce chamber and the Seeker that had been unceremoniously shoved out of Tantrum's path. He was lucky that was all he got. Starscream's little glitchspawn were in for some rude awakenings now that they would no longer be Megatron's favorite little pets.

A new order. Now that the Decepticons' house had been set right, Rampage was eager to do the same with the Fallen. From there, the universe was the limit.

And in a flash of white, he was gone with the others.

Bounce Chamber

Astrotrain scoffed a little at Octane's current assessment of the Seeker ranks. In Astrotrain's view, both Ramjet and Starscream had engaged in some sketchy acts over the vorns. Both of them arguably saw themselves as the savior of the Decepticons and the rightful heir to Megatron's throne. But you really only had to look at where they each were in the pecking order to determine which one was crazier. Starscream had least come within a stone's throw of getting what he wanted. Ramjet was just delusional on a scale that Astrotrain couldn't quite understand. And he didn't need to, now that he was away from the nutjob.

"Eh, you know Shockwave never wastes nuthin'," Astrotrain said, casting a furtive glance in the direction of the Duocons before looking back at his fellow Triple-Changers, Blitzwing in particular, as he hadn't moved off of this fleshling business like Astrotrain had hoped. The new guy, Krunix, thankfully moved it away from him. He didn't know what exactly he was going to do with the little flesh creature just yet. But he had dragged it along for some reason, hadn't he? It wasn't compassion. It was....was....there had to be some kind of better word for it. Shockwave would probably know one.

"We'll talk about the fleshling later, but for know we have bigger things to worry about. I'd suggest you guys get ready and don't let anyone else, and I mean ANYONE, know about this little situation," Blitzwing said, his optics on Astrotrain again.

"Yeah, yeah, I wasn't gonna. I might have to kill it. I just, gah, I couldn't decide right then and-"

But before Astrotrain could get any further in his explanations, their newly-fought Supreme Commander arrived and ordered those that were already in the chamber to begin assembling on the pads and bouncing down. Astrotrain physically stiffened and moved towards one of the pads where Octane had gone as numerous other mechs were starting to do the same. Next stop: the Fallen.

Great.
___

Thundercracker watched as yet another Seeker was basically shoved out of the way by one of their new Predacon overlords. Yep. The tone was definitely being set for how the Seekers were going to be treated in this new regime.

The blue and black Seeker quietly allowed the Predacons and other contingents of Decepticons to begin assembling on the bounce pads and depart before joining a secondary group. He would absorb their second-class status for now. He was just glad to have an opponent that wasn't wearing a Deceptibrand.

Just as with the previous groups, Thundercracker and co. were soon absorbed in a flash of white.
___

Engine Room

Well, someone figured out how to drain the floors. About time.

Bonecrusher slammed another panel shut, his torch going dark for a few astroseconds while he decided where to put his skills to use next. He wasn't as cerebral as the likes of Scrapper or Hook and his duties were often in the smash and clear department, but you didn't hang around a group of mechs like this for countless vorns and not pick up a few things.

Walking over to the next work area that he'd picked out for himself, he couldn't help but overhear Mixmaster getting his gears in a twist over something.

Mixmaster, of all mechs.

“...maybe this time you can manage not to blow us all to the pit and back.”

"Funny. I remember Hook sayin' the exact same thing to you the last time you got a little mix-happy with a bunch of lithium/strontium compound junk back in Polyhex."

Bonecrusher approached the next of the damaged generators and began looking to see what he could fix and what would need to be left for the real engineers.

Medical Bay/Corridors

“Come now!" Orbitoclast waved a hand toward Divebomb, careful to keep out of the cyberhawk’s reach. “If you want your comrade to join you on your hunt then you’ll need to refrain from damaging him further."

The cyberhawk returned the doctor's glare with one of his own, full of mild irritation. Headstrong had roused. Although it certainly seemed that he was in no mood or condition to be going anywhere for a while. What a bother. Fine. If Headstrong wanted to stay behind and rust, so be it. There was a battle for Divebomb to be getting to.

Lifting off from his perch with a powerful downward thrust of his wings, Divebomb took to the open air, diving down through the doorway out of the medical bay and into the corridors. Once in the rather confined space of the corridors, however, the aerial predacon transformed back into robot mode and jogged toward the armory to reload and pick up a few more...explosive armaments.

Once Divebomb entered the armory, he paid no mind to anyone within but simply did what he came here for and left as swiftly as he had entered, now headed for the bounce chamber. There was a hunt waiting for him. Perhaps the greatest hunt of his life. Divebomb certainly did not wish to be late to it.

Divebomb arrived in the bounce chamber to see the departure of the triple changers and some of the seekers. It seemed that all were submitting to Razorclaw's rule fairly neatly. Seemed. Appearances could be deceiving as any Decepticon knew. Stepping up onto the bounce pad, Divebomb crossed his arms over his chest as he too disappeared in a flash of white light along with the others.


Corridors

Stepping out into the open corridor as Skullcruncher reverted back to his robot mode, Weirdwolf let out a sigh at his long-time comrade's comment about his vocalizer. Sometimes Weirdwolf grew frustrated with Skullcruncher's lack of appreciation for the rhetoric arts. It came so easily to Weirdwolf. As natural as transforming. But...Weirdwolf supposed he might could try to tone it down a little. At least until he forgot.

"We better get ready. As much I like my softening up gun - I have a feeling it alone won't cut it against whatever we are going against."

"Agreed we are, 'Cruncher," Weirdwolf said with the addition of the rarely used abbreviated version of his comrade's name. It always sounded...very wrong to Weirdwolf's audio receptors. The truncation of a name seemed a hideous crime. And so he pronounced it very painstakingly, which made it sound like a mix between a snarl and a gagging sound.

However, Weirdwolf did not mind the abbreviation of names from others. Nicknames had their place in the world of...social interactions. He just preferred not to use them. Walking along the corridors toward the armory, Weirdwolf's thoughts shifted to the armory and unwittingly to the corporeal world as he began to think aloud as he often did.

"By fang and claw alone, this battle ahead cannot be won," Weirdwolf muttered, agreeing with Skullcruncher's earlier sentiment. "As much as rending foes with my bare hands pleases me, raid the armory for arms we should." As the lupine tracker reached the threshold of the armory, he transformed back into his standard robot mode and moved amid the supply of arms to see what it had to offer.

Laboratory

"Declarative: it would be inadvisable to delay your presence any longer. The ground forces operative I have just activated will increase our collective odds of success in this type of mission. I must have any and all data that can be acquired from this engagement. Imperative: depart immediately."

"Agreed," Flamewar stated simply with a curt nod. She was certain that Shockwave had further queries for her, but for the moment at least, it seemed that she was spared from answering them. Flamewar inclined her head toward Shadowing as he spoke to her.

"Let us go." He said normally then finished in a whisper. "We do not want to be here when HE awakens anyway."

Flamewar's crimson optics flicked over to the repair chamber that was hissing open. She said nothing but nodded and proceeded out of Shockwave's laboratory, presumably accompanied by Shadowing. She had not know that he was stored aboard this ship. How curious. She wondered how he would take the news of Lord Megatron's passing with Shockwave's cold, precise delivery. As she walked briskly through the corridors toward the bounce chamber, Flamewar turned her head to consider her companion.

"I presume that you have all of the necessary equipment. I do not wish to tarry," she said in her usual cold tone.

Bounce Chamber

As the black and crimson femme crossed the threshold into the bounce chamber, she found it mostly empty apart from the two Duocons who had been in the laboratory prior. Warwolf, as she had expected, had already deployed down to the terran planet. It remained a question as to why these two lingered about. Judging that they seemed rather loyal to Shockwave, they probably awaited him to deploy. Foolish lot. Had Shockwave not expressly ordered them to deploy with the other parties of Decepticons?

"You two," she began directly addressing Battletrap and Flywheels, "Prepare for orbital bounce. You're with us."

Bounce Chamber

"Commander Shadowing said wait for him. We will go to bounce pad now since you are here. Most other Cons down now. Pads been bright for several cycles. Possible cool down time was needed. Come Flywheels, for glory of the Decepticon Empire and Shockwave."

Battletrap walks up to the main pad and gets in the back leaving room for Shadowing, Flywheels, and Flamewar. Before they bounce, he makes a quick diagnostic check of his transformation cogs and separation process. Everything checked out which pleased Battletrap. It been many orns since he had separated he wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any malfunctions.

Bounce Chamber

Despite a direct order from Razorclaw to bounce down to the Fallen's location on the planet tediously named Earth, Flywheels, quite absurdly, did not comply with the Predacon's command. Well, not yet, as he and Battletrap were anticipating the arrival of – the False Commander – Shadowing. Then they would all teleport down to the rock below and do battle against an immortal foe.

The challenge was still inviting, even though the mere suggestion of victory seemed laughable. But considering the content of the assault force, Flywheels had faith in his comrades and himself. Mechanoids like Razorclaw, Onslaught and Motormaster weren't lethal combinations of power and intelligence for no reason; they had rightfully earned their positions by possessing these qualities and employing them in the correct ways.

Flywheels watched the last group of Decepticons disappear in a blinding flash of light, leaving him and Battletrap as the only occupants in the bounce chamber.

For a whole five astroseconds until somebody else entered the chamber.

“You two. Prepare for orbital bounce. You're with us.”

Features scrunched in irritation, Flywheels turned in the direction of the voice. “Who the Pit does this oil s–”

The remaining words died in his vocaliser before they could be spoken. Shock had Flywheels staring at the Decepticon for a moment – a moment that kept growing and growing. And growing. Up to a point where it probably became creepy.

Then he remembered himself and looked away.

It was her. The femme with the superb aft. Flamewar.

Don't even try.

Flywheels wanted to ignore Scarab but he couldn't. “Frag off, Scarab, and don't utter another word. You're not gonna spoil this for me.”

As per usual, and born out of habit, Flywheels's conversation with Scarab was a quiet one, the Duocon whispering to his wayward brother as to not attract too much attention to himself.

I don't need to spoil this for you. But since you are too stupid to realise the truth, it is my duty to inform you that Flamewar thinks nothing of you. In fact, my dear brother, you could go so far as to say that you're even less desirable than a severe case of rust rash.

Flywheels growled. “Be a good freak and make yourself scarce.”

If only I could. But you must heed my advice: save yourself from the inevitable embarrassment.

“You can go now, Scarab.”

You. Will. Fail.

“Thank you!” Flywheels said. “Now frag off.”

I look forward to witnessing your pathetic results.

Dismissing Scarab, Flywheels nodded, acknowledging Flamewar's instruction and joined Battletrap on the central bounce pad. Once – the False Commander – Shadowing arrived, they would go down to the mud ball otherwise known as Earth.

In the interim, however, and while they waited for Shadowing, Flywheels snuck glances at Flamewar, his visored gaze returning to her like a cyber-moth drawn to an illumination strip.

Dear Primus, she was a fine example of beauty crafted to perfection.

Bounce Chamber

"In my experience in missions like this is it always unwise to presume that." Shadowing said in a calm manner as he walked with Flamewar. "There are always unexpected occurrences and one never is quiet prepared enough to deal with them all. I am as prepared as I can be at the moment, however."

As Shadowing walked into the Bounce Chamber with Flamewar he nodded to the others as he walked to the chamber itself.

"Well then, let us see what waits us."

Laboratory

The increased the speed in which they completed their work a;most as if they recognized what they held within them and wanted it out as quickly as possible. The robot inside had been asked to once again hold the line against impossible odds which he had done but at the cost of acquiring a rather nasty rust infection which could only be treated by intensive treatment.

Roadblock slowly steps from the chamber. His internal systems told him he had been in there for some time, a little longer even that what had originally estimated. His sensors did not need to tell him that something was amiss, his instincts along told him that.

He began to stretch his arm servos as he looked towards Shockwave.

"So, what am I needed for now?"

Blunt and to the point had ever been Roadblock's style. Politeness and protocol quickly lose meaning for someone who is asked to challenge the odds and death itself as frequently as himself. His instincts, honed over countless battles, told him that something was afoot.

Laboratory

Just as Shockwave expected, both Shadowing and Flamewar understood the general idea of what they were being tasked to do and the level of threat they were facing. It was why Razorclaw was clearly throwing every resource he had at his disposal in ensuring this threat was dealt with accordingly. It was also why Shockwave had no reservations about aiding him in that endeavor, even if doing so directly would put all of his work to preserve their empire--and their species--in unnecessary jeopardy if he were to engage in direct combat in his currently less-than-optimum state. Conquering this threat would mean avoiding one threat to their extinction. It was not the only one, but it was unquestionably the most time-sensitive.

After they had departed, Shockwave turned his attention to the newly-activated operative, Roadblock. This Decepticon would be a more than adequate physical presence in his stead while he continued his work up here and made preparations not only for the mechaforming technology but also to deal with whatever the fallout of this engagement with the Fallen proved to be.

"So, what am I needed for now?" Roadblock queried. A logical one.

"Declarative: the Decepticons face an existential threat capable of invading and disabling battlecruisers at will. Decepticon field reports suggest that the threat is the Fallen, member of the original thirteen Cybertronians. Regardless of the being's actual identity, the threat is very much real and has necessitated an evolving, temporary alliance with Autobot forces. Your mission will be to support the offensive efforts currently being assembled by Decepticon Supreme Commander Razorclaw, whose forces are currently mobilizing in the bounce chamber."

Shockwave's singular optic regarded the powerful ground forces operative for a moment, allowing a brief period of silence to pass between them in order to digest the enormity of information present in that debriefing.

"Questions?"

Laboratory

Roadblock continued to stretch as Shockwave spoke. As he did his systems updated him on the satus of his joints. He always liked to be in peak condition before going on a mission as the kind of tasks he was usually given required every bit of his considerable might. He stopped and gazed towards Shockwave as he spoke.

"Supreme Commander Razorclaw? Alliances with the Autobots? I am not certain which sounds more ridiculous. Had any other mechanoid beside you told me such a thing I would have suspected a bad attempt at comedy." Roadblock replied. Shockwave was beyond comedy. It must be a serious statement yet that made the whole thing seem stranger.

"What exactly has happened during my deactivation?"

Laboratory

Shockwave analyzed Roadblock's query and decided it was one that was of minimal strategic importance in relation to the impending mission. Not so minimal that Shockwave would withhold the fact altogether, but decidedly minimal enough that Shockwave saw no reason to delay Roadblock's participation in the coming offensive in order to review the myriad of circumstances that lead to where the Decepticons currently found themselves.

"Declarative: I will transmit a file within 2.385 breems containing a summation of events as they have transpired up to this point. Imperative: depart for the bounce chamber and assimilate yourself into Razorclaw's offensive."

All in all, it was one of the more efficient reactivations in Shockwave's memory. It was also unsurprising, given Roadblock's degree of competence displayed on the field under Megatron's command. Armed with whatever information Shockwave saw fit to provide, combined with the mech's own natural capabilities, the strategist was confidant that Roadblock would prove to be an effective weapon in the Decepticons' war with the Autobots, as well as the war they were fighting with the very real possibility of their extinction--whether it be from an entity like the Fallen or their own possible starvation due to lack of energy.

In the meantime, Shockwave would do whatever he could to stave off said extinction.

With his orders clear, Shockwave returned his gaze to his injuries and continued his previous work.

Bounce Chamber

“Who the Pit does this oil s–"

Flamewar glanced out of the corner of her optic at Flywheels at he aborted his sentence as quickly as it had arisen. And then there was an odd stare. Flamewar paid it little mind as Battletrap in his own butchered method of speech warranted a curt nod from the black operative. She again became increasingly aware of the Duocon Flywheels stealing glances at her. It was a behavior she was familiar with. A behavior which required certain methods of manipulation to optimize the results of.

She debated the merits of pursuing the course. She had just arrived and only had Warwolf of those whom she could indubitably count on. It never hurt to expand her following. After all, she didn't know when she would leave the Thanatos to achieve her former goals. No. The situation here needed to be stabilized first. Very well.

When Flywheel's optics inevitably flicked back to Flamewar, she tilted her head toward the Duocon and smiled alluringly at Flywheels before turning her gaze forward toward the bounce pad as she stepped up onto it beside the rest of their little group. She cast a glance toward Shadowing and nodded to him.

"Indeed. We shall make our stand," she replied simply as the white light of the bounce brightened and consumed her.

((OOC: Moving Flamewar to Australia. The rest of the group can simply use this as their bounce post if they like.))