War Room
This meeting with Megatron after so many cycles had brought several surprises to Scorponok’s attention. Confirmation on Shockwave’s return. The loss of contact with Skyquake and Trypticon rebelling was another and potentially catatrophic event. Scorponok had recognized the voice as well. After all, he had taken part in the effort of rising Trypticon to counter the titan Metroplex whom had allied himself with the Autobots. It would take fleet action to counter a threat posed by a titan went rogue. At least they could take comfort in the fact that once Trypticon made his presence known again in Decepticon controlled space, all the tracers hidden in the vast monster would flare up to make the treacherous titan easy to find. Until then though? Good luck finding a speck of dust in the vastness of the universe. Nevertheless, disappointing news.
And now, Grimlock and his Dynobots were back too? Though given how Shockwave had survived, the idea of Dynobots - whom had disappeared roughly at the same time as Shockwave himself - being alive as well had already occurred to him. They were dangerous. Never to be taken lightly. Hundreds if not thousands of Decepticons had lost their lives because of them.
"Even so, we will proceed as if he is not. I can leave nothing to chance on this front. Or hubris. Even my own."
”Agreed.” Scorponok spoke up but he needed not to add what he was thinking. A strategist as gifted as Megatron was likely thinking the same as he was. This was Grimlock. The operation was very likely unsanctioned. Autobots were certain to send reinforcements when they’d learn what the Dynobots were against at the mining site. The Autobots would reveal their cards but without the knowledge of Scorponok’s Decepticons already in the solar system they’d fail utterly. Megatron only had to be patient enough. The element of surprise was theirs as was numerical superiority. This day belonged to the Decepticons.
Megatron had gone back to review details from the Elba campaign. Clearly searching for something he had taken a glimpse of earlier. And soon, there it was – the Terrorcon combiner. The most powerful of the combiners Scorponok had witnessed so far and that included Monstructor as well as footage he had seen of Devastator. Too bad the Terrorcon monstrosity had appeared being barely more intelligent than an predatory animal.
"How was this achieved?"
”Shockwave’s disappearance left his work unfinished. I obtained his research and experimented on them but the enigma of combination’s mental side continued to elude me.” Scorponok began, ”That is until I found Shockwave’s mentor was alive.”
”I struck Garrus-9 not only to take Fortress Maximus out of the picture but to gain access to Jhiaxus’ mind.” He continued, ”And while he and I certainly didn’t see optic to optic as you have witnessed, I managed to use him to learn the secret of the combination matrix he used to create Monstructor.”
”The balance of combination matrix handling the neural network is a tricky one. With five of more minds united certain level of neural erosion occurs resulting mentally in a whole lesser than the sum of its parts.” Scorponok explained, ”Details aside, I can make more of them. And with access to Shockwave’s processor - better than our first experiment with Technobots as Logicor. Better than my Abominus. I know the Seacons are compatible enough to create another combiner. And I know your Predacons are prime candinates for the process to result in an uniquely successful combiner. Both teams are more mentally more balanced and therefore more compatible than the Constructicons or the Terrorcons.”
”And while he may not be as cooperative I’d like.” Scorponok added with a smug grin, ”I have Jhiaxus.”
