Australia – Astrotrain“Know I what I do,"
“Suit yourself.” Motormaster grunted in response to Weirdwolf passing by. The tracker was a capable warrior. In all likelyhood insane but that made him no less efficient. Motormaster has no reason to question that. Now, how Weirdwolf was going to deal with crazed Skullcruncher in enclosed area full of potential prey was another issue altogether. Skullcruncher was massively powerful, even stronger than Motormaster himself, something which he'd never admit in loud. If the tracker's plan backfired they'd all have a major problem in their hands.
“If Skullcruncher eats anyone, I’m holding you personally responsible, Weirdwolf! Do I make myself clear?"
Didn't seem like Razorclaw was any less concerned about the cybergator. The Predacon leader wasn't exactly known for idle threats. Gah. If he just stopped repeating am I clear after every command he'd sound so much more convincing. The phrase just made Razorclaw sound bit too uncertain. A chip in his armor. Well, at least in the Stunticon commander's head anyway.
>>”A wedge is exactly what I had in mind, Motormaster. My friends, all we need is to keep one Constructicon in stasis and separate from the others until Scrapper and I have had a long discussion about Devastator and where his loyalties lie. Perhaps some measure of control can be installed within the gestalt, a fail safe like in Sixshot, to ensure he does not turn on us. Plus, once we learn the process they used to successfully combine themselves, we can then apply that process to our own specialty teams. Of course, our respective units don’t have six members each like the Constructicons and therefore the process will need to be refined. Regardless, it is a goal we should ultimately strive for to not only give us an advantage against the Autobots but against adversaries within our own ranks, as well."<<
>>”Sure, we can keep them separated but who the slag is going to do that job for us? I mean, you are not going to get the Constructicons build that fraggin' fail safe. And would you trust Shockwave, Soundwave, Starscream or Thunderwing to make it either? Let alone letting either of them to tamper with us? If something, we're going to end up with mindcontrol chips being planted in our heads because of what we did.”<< Motormaster voiced his concern in return to Razorclaw's transmission. He wasn't afraid of the technology itself. Slag, it was practically a promise to get hold of far more power than he had access to now. And that alone made it worth of taking risks. The problem was that he could not think of anyone who'd agree to create more Devastators. Not with as shake power balance as the Decepticons currently had. The Predacons lacked a brilliant enough mind to do so. His Stunticons even more so. The Combaticons? Well, most of them were really smart, he had to give them that. But as far as Motormaster knew, none of them were exactly specialized in engineering.
“Don’t forget to jettison your toy once we are in the air, Motormaster. We have more than enough weight on board as it is. The height at which you do so is entirely up to you."
Before Razorclaw replied to Motormaster's response to his earlier transmission, he saw fit to mention the one and only Autobot military strategist the Stunticon brute had taken as a hostage.
“Oh, I know,” Motormaster chuckled and flashed a devious grin while pulling himself into Astrotrain whom had already began to move. The Autobots had to have a massive temptation to shoot down Astrotrain boarded up with so many Decepticons. He knew he'd have. But the Autobots wouldn't do it. The threat of Thanatos striking from the orbit in retaliation took care of that.
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"Brawl, Vortex-take Hook into protective custody immediately."
Brawl had barely had enough time to put still uncharacteristically silent Swindle down when he found Onslaught barking yet another order at him. Well, Vortex too but it wasn't like that counted in Brawl's mind. Was he ever going to get a fragging break?
No matter. An order was an order and Brawl would deliver even if he didn't understand why Onslaught had given such command. Giving Vortex a brief nod, Brawl charged at unassuming Long Haul – shoulder tackling into the largest of the Constructicons in order to blow a path for Vortex to Hook's position just as Motormaster entered Astrotrain with Prowl in his grasp.
“Assist the Combaticons you idiots!” Brawl heard the Stunticon leader roaring at his troops. At least he'd have some help. Even if was from the Stunticons. One could never expect too much out of Motormaster's cronies. They were that crazy after all.
“Go go go! I'll hold them off!” Brawl barked at Vortex as he floored Long Haul and prepared himself for the all too likely counterattack from one of the other greenies still standing.
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Skullcruncher on the other hand had no idea of what was happening around him as he chomped down on the lifeless Vehicon that Weirdwolf had left into the back of Astrotrain's cargo bay as a bait. Other Decepticons were giving the cybergator a wide berth. It was unlikely that anyone wanted to risk losing a limb to a known cybervore whose cerebral functions had been overtaken by the primal need to feed to replenish himself after being badly damaged by the Fallen.
“And someone take precautions in case that Vehicon isn't enough for him!” Motormaster barked at the other Decepticons present from the hatch. Skullcruncher didn't register it. His mind was far too gone still.
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"Hold on to something," Astrotrain's metallic voice echoed through the cargo bay. "If I can't make escape velocity, some of you have got to go."
“Shut up and fly! If you can't take off while being juiced on ultra energon I swear I'll take you down with me!” Motormaster found himself shouting at Astrotrain with no good reason really. He was agitated. Whole battle had been a disaster and the position of the three special unit commanders at the helm of the Decepticon cause was as shaky as ever. And here they were, on the run from. Fighting each other again and fending off a hungry monster that was supposed to be one of them.
“Just perfect.”
“At least you won't be around to enjoy the sight much longer,” Motormaster smirked at Prowl, taking hold of the Autobot's throat with one hand and lifting him high off the floor and through the still open cargo hatch of Astrotrain's.
“Too bad I just know you will survive the fall somehow,” The large Stunticon chuckled as he held the barely conscious Autobot strategist under the storm of ever growing winds that beat down on them as Astrotrain's speed kept increasing.
He'd have gladly savored the situation longer but the hatch had to be closed if Astrotrain was to reach the escape velocity.
“Goodbye Prowl.”
And with that Motormaster released his grasp on Prowl's throat and stood there for a moment - watching as the Autobot pummeled down towards this death unless the other Autobots made a move to save him. Which he knew they would do. It was inevitable.
Pulling the hatch shut, Motormaster ensured the integrity of Astrotrain's aerodynamics. It was now up to the triplechanger to hold his end of the ordeal.