The Energon Pub

Koraja – On top of the Capital Dome

>>”Affirmative Banzai-tron. I’m on my way now.”<<

Treadshot let out a quiet sigh. It was going to take a bit of time to reach those coordinates. If there was one weakness in his vast capabilities, it was mobility on a planet. The distances were too short to validate the use of a spacecraft or bounce. Perhaps if he had some sort of mobile alternate mode it would be bearable, but he had yet to find one that was truly suitable for his skills and abilities.

“Well come one Catgut, looks like we are off to hunt some Autobots. Hopefully we’ll actually find some. I hate wasting energy hunting around on this little dirtball with nothing to show.”

Catgut looked at him, tilting his head in thought before eventually nodding in agreement. He leapt up at Treadshot, transforming to his gun mode to make it easier to be carried. The Decepticon easily grabbed his partner out of the air. He then jumped off of the roof and began flying to Banzai-tron’s provided coordinates.

*

Mount Melanos - Autobot Beta Site – Workshop

One of the wall panels slowly began to push out of the wall until it clattered to the ground. A grime and dirt covered Repugnus climbed out of the tunnel he had dug leading to his private little entrance to the base. It had taken a considerable amount of work and time digging tunnels, rigging sensors and traps, but it was worthwhile now that things on this planet had gone south. A normal Autobot would probably have spilled fluids all over the place at the thought of being stranded on an occupied world. To Repugnus though, it was just open season.

The Monsterbot hopped out of the entrance, landing on the floor with a thunk. He quickly dragged Heatwave out of the hole, letting him drop to the floor. What was left of the Decepticon had gone into stasis lock, which was fine for now. That gave him some time to get ready.

Repugnus walked over to the nearest computer console and punched up the base’s current status. As he feared, another Autobot had arrived and activated all systems. He had covered his tracks in the base pretty well, but his current entrance would attract some attention. It wouldn’t set off any alarms, but anyone monitoring security would see him. He supposed it was just a matter of time before the remaining Autobots came running to their emergency base after the Cons had slapped them down.

The Autobot looked up at the security camera and waved at it before he flipped his arm at it, sending a clump of muddy dirt at it, effectively blinding it. He did his best work without an audience. He then grabbed a set of tools and a portable power generator and brought them over to the work table. The Monsterbot then lugged what was left of Heatwave up on to the table. It didn’t take much work to seal off the various fluid leaks he had, especially since he didn’t care about how they looked or worrying about doing anything with them again. This was purely a temporary fix, he just wanted some answers from him and that just required him to be able to talk and think. Well, and feel pain.

He hooked the Decepticon up to the power generator, slowly feeding energy back into him until he came out of stasis lock. “What? Where?”

Repugnus gave him a predatory grin. “Welcome to my base! I hope you enjoy your stay, however brief it might be.” He let out a chuckle “Now we’re going to have a nice little chat where you will tell me everything you know about the Con mission on this planet. Hopefully this conversation will go smoothly and quickly, but I imagine it won’t. I suspect it will be punctuated by the occasional scream of pain and begging for mercy.” He gave out a cackle.

The hallways of the base were quiet until the screams of a captive Decepticon echoed through them.

The Folassian Forest

While he was certainly no Seeker, Banzai-tron was able to make fairly decent time in his trek to the forested hinterlands outside Koraja. Even so, he had half-expected the site of the Autobot base to have been reduced to a smoldering crater long before he arrived in the area. The Decepticon military was one of the most effective fighting forces in the known universe, but once the latter phases of planetary incursion had been implemented all traces of subtlety tended to go right out the airlock. Restraint was not a concept with which many of the rank-and-file were acquainted. Or the officers, for that matter.

The delay was puzzling, but not unwelcome. It would provide extra time for Wingspan and Treadshot to arrive on-site. Meanwhile, he and Lockdown would simply observe the progress of Cyclonus and his team. Perhaps they would even find something worth their time and trouble.

Banzai-tron doubted it, though. And now there were reports flitting about regarding missing and dismembered sentries and an underground tunnel network. That would certainly be worth investigating, once he had finished here. Always better to put down a guerilla-style resistance fast and hard, before it could gain real momentum. Unless, of course, it was more useful to the service’s long-term goals to allow an insurrection to play out. The situation would have to be evaluated very carefully before any course of action was pursued.

Landing in a small clearing, the martial artist folded his arms across his chest-plate and awaited his mercenary ally’s arrival.

Koraja--Outskirts

Treb grinned and accepted Gort's assessment of the situation. He then looked over at the fallen drone, even as the extraction team arrived to take the subject back to where the World Watchers could get a closer look at it. He jabbed it lightly with his shockpike, sending a jolt of energy coursing through it. Nothing.

"Yeah, I think this one's down. But there are so many more. I don't really know what good it will do."

Hopefully there were others in the World Watchers who did. He would hate to think that he and his team had just been sent out here to see how many of them would survive.

"Let's head back, men."
___

The Folassian Forest--Autobot Command Bunker

>>"Understood,"<< was Cyclonus' simple and efficient reply to Turmoil's latest assessment of the situation. If it was Repugnus, then Cyclonus had been justified in assuming that the captured Decepticons were likely no longer functioning. The manner of their dismantlement fit the standard operating procedure of Autobots, and Cyclonus used the term loosely, such as Repugnus. Mechs like they stood for Autobot ideals no more than psychopaths like Overlord represented true Decepticon achievement, in his estimation.

>>"Cyclonus to Bombshell. There is an Autobot in the Korajan vicinity that has been responsible for the disappearance and probable deaths of at least two of our Decepticon brothers. Dispatch a detachment to infest the tunnels. I'm sending you the coordinates now. If your swarm finds the Autobot, capture it. Turmoil has others plans for it apart from becoming a meal for your drones. Cyclonus out."<<

When Scourge and his Sweep touched down, Cyclonus prepared to continue on. The other Decepticons that he had ordered to follow could add to their efforts once they arrived at these coordinates as well.

"What do you see, old friend?" Cyclonus asked quietly, knowing that Scourge was a far superior tracker than he. The Autobots had resources in this area. There could be no doubting Bombshell's interrogative skill in that department. It was simply a matter of where. Scourge silently motioned for his Sweep to proceed forward while he knelt down, raking his crimson claws through the soil while the grains were filtered through several hundred analytical sensors.

"The soil extends but a meter downwards. Perhaps less. The terrain is rife with various elements, native to Cybertron far more so than Nebulos. The base lies beneath us. There is an unnatural cluster...there," Scourge said at last, pointing at a small grove of weeds and other shrubbery that looked just as inconspicuous as the rest of the surroundings.

Cyclonus' optics flickered with deadly intent just as Scourge's did the same. The two had served together for so long that little needed to be spoken between them. Once they had ripped through the ground and torn away the simple metallic coverings, the two Decepticons knew that this could not be the only way in to the Autobot outpost. But it would do. The other Sweep had clearly become interested in what his superiors had found and moved to join them. Cyclonus and Scourge both looked to one another and then to the Sweep, the former being careful to remember Turmoil's warning.

"Go," they commanded, pointing at the entrance.

The Sweep hesitated only for a moment before jumping down in to the darkened hole.

The Folassian Forest - Shoreline of the Korajan River

Snaptrap had enjoyed his swim upstream as he left the capital city and made his way into the Folassian Forest beyond. It was slow going, even in a watery environment. The Seacon Commander wasn't known for his speed, after all, but for his leadership abilities and brutal methods when dealing with the Autobots. He didn't have the luxury of flight like Cyclonus or the Insecticons. Therefore, traveling long distances was a bit of a challenge for Snaptrap, but one that he could overcome easily with a little patience.

With the capital city far behind him and the surrounding forest growing thicker by the astrosecond, Snaptrap checked the coordinates he had received earlier and realized that he was getting close to the approximate location of the Autobot base. Assuming, of course, that Skyhammer wasn't lying, the base should be a few miles to the north of his current position.

The shell-armored beast changed course in mid-stream and headed directly for the shore line. Up here in the higher altitude, the Korajan River wasn't as wide as back in the city and thus it didn't take long to reach the river's edge. Snaptrap plodded his way onto the shore and then transformed back into robot mode. Water dripped off his large frame as he looked back to see if his compatriots were far behind.

Just down the river's edge he could see Horri-Bull and Skullgrin following as best they could. Since they didn't swim to his knowledge, Snaptrap hadn't expected them to follow directly behind him as doing so would have most likely water-logged the duo. Still they had done an admirable job at keeping pace with the Seacon leader.

"We're almost there," Snaptrap called back to both Horri-Bull and Skullgrin. "Only a few more miles through the forest in this direction. Follow me."

Snaptrap headed off into the woods, assuming that the other two Decepticons would be right behind him. Using his incendiary sword, the Seacon Commander slashed through the thickness of the surrounding foliage, making a sizable path that would lead them towards their destination.

The Folassian Forest - Autobot Command Bunker

The trek seemed longer than it actually had been, especially considering the sheer density of the forest, but Snaptrap finally emerged from the brush to see Cyclonus and Scourge standing by a dark hole in the ground that was surely a back door into the Autobot base. The Seacon leader approached the two aerial warriors and gave a respectful salute.

"Snaptrap reporting," he said simply to the Aerospace Commandant and the Sweep leader. "My apologies for taking so long to arrive. I'm not accustomed to traveling such long distances. Going by way of the river shorten my trip considerably." Snaptrap then gazed down into the hole where the sweep had just entered and awaited to see what would happen next.

The Folassian Forest--Autobot Command Bunker

Roadbuster had finally finished his sweep of the base and he was satisfied that nothing vital had been left behind, he had even taken steps to ensure that everything on the computer system had been taken care of that wouldn't interfere when he hit the switch for the self destruct count down. The large Autobot warrior had finished a final check on his own weapons to ensure they were fully functionally and reloaded in case he ran into trouble as he moved to link up with them at the new base. His rifle leaned against the control panel as the large Autobot entered in the final codes to activate the self destruct. His finger was barely an inch from hitting the activation button when he heard something echo through the halls of the base, making him pause and carefully peer over his shoulder. There was barely anything left that could fall over on its own, and what equipment remained could not easily topple over without some sort of assistance. No, someone was here.

Although Roadbuster was aware that Repugnus was on planet, the normally anti-social and isolated Autobot would have likely have sent word ahead that he was coming if he wanted to make contact with the others. nearly a breem passed before more nosies echoed through the base, a loud thud of something heavy dropping into a corridor, then the careful echoes of foot falls as someone cautiously moved around the base, being careful not to trip something. Only one conclusion came to Roadbuster; the 'Cons had finally found this place and were scouting it out. Given how small the facility their scout wasn't far, which suited the old solider fine he didn't want to go far from the computer anyway.

Grabbing his rifle he quietly moved over to the entrance to the command room, resting his back against the wall next to the opening. He ducked his head around the corner to take a quick look, he didn't see anyone there, and turned to sneak another glance down the hall. There wasn't much lighting left inside the base, just yellow-orange emergency lights, enough to see and just enough to cast a shadow. A Sweep had entered the base, and where the was one there was always more, there wasn't any time now to figure out if any more were inside, he was out of time. All that was left for Roadbuster to do was to take care of any 'Cons he came across and try to blow this place back to the Pit.

Swinging out from behind his cover Roadbuster raised his rifle to his shoulder, catching the unlucky Sweep off guard. He squeezed the trigger of his rifle and opened up a full barrage of his weapons armour piercing rounds.

Koraja Captol Dome

Bombshells optics narrowed as Apeface finished with Skyhammer. Now he'd have time to make his fixes. Then he needed to find a way to ensure their captive would be rescued.

"Once I finish, Shrapnel, this Autobot will be our servant inside their camp." he explained.

The plant was well-thought of. He just needed a convinsing emans of ensuring the Autobots did not think they were being given back this Autobot. Indeed, he did expect the Autobots to find the Cerebroshell he planted on Skyhammer... just not the one he was about to install inside.

Bombshell began configuring a cerebroshell. this particular one would allow Skyhammer to behave and function as he normally would. The only difference was that Skyhammer would report any Autobot activities to him. While using Skyhammer to locate any new Autobot bases seemed like an idea, Bombshell felt they could do more damage to the Autobots, in the long run by slowing their operations down.

Bombshell knelt over and opened Skyhammer's chest cavity. While there was some damage, the interior components were mostly intact. Bombshell just needed to determine a suitable place to install the small device where it would not be noticed for quite awhile.

As Bombshell began sorting through the various circuits and parts, his train of thought was interrupted by the arrival and complaining of Chop-Shop. He ahd lost another of his drones, to fleshlings this time. This could present a problem if not dealt wth immediately. They did not need the natives of this world becoming another obstacle by revese engineering their technology for their use.

Bombshell, however, had his own matter to tend to. Chop-Shop had lost it, thus it was only fitting he either go retrieve it, or destroy it along with the fleshlings.

But before Bombshell could offer his input, he recieved a message from Cyclonus. It seemed that the Autobot, Repugnus, was on the move and elimanated a couple of their bretheren already.

>>"Understood Cyclonus. We shall apprehend this Autobot, even if it takes 1000 clones to do so.<<"

Bombshell turned his attention to Shrapnel and Chop-Shop. It seemed Bombshell was going to have to put his own plan on hold. They had two situations to tend to.

"It seems there's a troublesome Autobot on the prowl. Two Decepticons have already fallen. Cyclonus has ordered us to deal with that as well." he told the two. There was only one way to kill two brids with one stone as Insecticons, attack in numbers, in two places.

He then opened a comm to Kickback, as he would be requiring his assistance in this matter. With two Decepticons dead agaisnt one autobot, they needed to be at their best. He, Shrapnel, and Kickback could not funciton to their fullest in battle when one was absent.

>>Kickback! Come to this location! There are matters that require our attention.<<

He turned to Chop Shop and told him what he intended the Insecticon to do.

"We shall provide you with clones. You are charged with finding your missing drone. If you fail to reclaim it, destroy it along with those fleshlings. If you fail at both... trust me, it will not be Venom, or Cyclonus, you will be explaining this to." he warned, knowing Scorponok would be most displeased with this turn of events. "Do not fear though, be thankful that I'm kind enough to give you an opportunity to correct your mistake before our superiors find out."

Bombshell saw opportuntiy here. If Chop Shop succeeded, not only would the secrets of this Decepticon tehcnology be preserved, but it would allow him to keep Chop Shop in his rear compartment if he ever required a favor.

Then there was the matter of Skyhammer. Bombshell couldn't just leave their prisoner unattended. If the Autobots found him in the shape he wa sin, and alive, they would be suspicious. He did not want to send him to their ship, and having Venom looking over his shoulder at every second. He naeded ot stash Skyhammer somewhere where he could come back and finish his work before resuming his operation.

He then opened a channel to Cyclonus.

>>"Commander Cyclonus. We still have the Autobot Skyhammer in our custody. I intend to put him to use very soon. However, I was wondering if perhaps you could allow him to be the "honored guest" of our Great General for a short while. I will gladly disclose my plans for Skyhammer, to Scorponok himself, once we've brought Repugnus. Skyhammer is in stasis lock, so he will be no trouble."<<

The Folassian Forest - Shoreline of the Korajan River

Horri-Bull was lost in his thoughts when he heard SnapTrap call out to them. He was growing in patient with this, he was rarely one to bicker about company but the Seacon leader was too plodding and Skullgrin was alright but a ticking time bomb at the same time.

He resigned himself to remain silent, only giving an 'Alright.' to confirm that he heard. th only noise was the dripping of various filth off of him and heavy footfalls.


Koraja--Outskirts

"Wait, you think it's smart to leave this thing inert here?" Gort asks Treb. "I mean if we can rig up some means of hauling off this carcass and take it to Arcana, maybe he can come up with a way of fighting these things on their own terms." Gort says, his voice not hiding his displeasure on the subject. "As much as I am not liking machines right now we need an edge. Even if it were to find a weakness in their systems we can exploit we gotta at least try something, otherwise...we're worm food."

Mount Melanos

As if it had come upon them all of the sudden, the grandeur of Mount Melanos, the Autobots’ beta research site on Nebulos, filled the majority of Rad’s forward field of vision. The natural wonder of the area itself was truly something to behold. Rad had not really had occasion or need to come to this site before now, as they had been able to accomplish the majority of their work within the comfortable confines of the bunker within the Folassian Forest. All that had changed now. Rad would just have to hope that this site would be able to meet their needs as adequately as the former. Granted, their needs were much different now.

Ensuring that Highbrow was safely brought within the boundaries of the first, subtle entrance within the beta site, Rad transformed and started to look around. There were others among their number whose priority would be ensuring the security of the group as well as preventing them from being tracked here. As he took in the various Autobots that had made the journey along with them, there was one—so far—that was already conspicuous by his absence.

“Is Roadbuster bringing up the rear back there? Did he not evacuate with us?”

Rad hadn’t thought it would have been necessary to do a head count or any other such seemingly juvenile task, but they had been assaulted. It was going to be wise from here on out to make sure that none among them were getting picked off individually by Decepticon patrols. It was then that Rad heard screaming from somewhere. Somewhere inside the mountain site, almost echoing. Instinctively, he drew his weapon.

“What the slag was that?”
___

Koraja Outskirts

“That’s what they’re for,” Treb said, smiling, as he pointed back at the group of Nebulans who were now in the process of gathering up the fallen drone and transferring it to a vehicle that would then take the creature back to a World Watchers facility so that it could be examined in greater detail. That’s what Treb figured they would do with it, anyway. With some of those individuals, you just never knew.

“We need to get back to base, too. Your assistance was appreciated, Gort. Nebulos will benefit if there are many more like you out there.”
___

Outside Koraja

"Perhaps, Gort. Zarak might be sympathetic to our current circumstances and less willing to interfere, but I find it doubtful. Others may be more easily convinced. Time will tell. "

Soriza said nothing more to Kreb for the time being. He had to understand the dangerous boundary that each of them were now walking. If he did not, she was certain that he would eventually make a wrong move, one which these “Decepticons” would surely not tolerate, and his presence would no longer be a concern.

Her focus now had to remain on her own survival and, by extension, the survival of their society and their species as a whole. The camp that the insectoid creature had proposed seemed as reasonable a request as any, given their current circumstances.

“Rootwater, my Peer?” one of the capital aides asked, approaching with several small goblets of steaming, sweet-smelling liquid. She took one and smiled faintly before the expression vanished from her face. Even this small delicacy did little to soothe the growing tension in her mind and body.
___

The Folassian Forest—Autobot Command Bunker

The Air Commandant had nodded his understanding of Snaptrap's update. He had not expected the Seacon warrior to arrive in as timely a fashion as those with access to faster means of travel. He was appreciative of his arrival just the same. His talents would be useful--eventually.

Cyclonus and Scourge waited, for the moment, both clearly curious as to whether or not the Sweep would stumble upon the Autobots, completely unaware and initiate a massacre, or if the Sweep himself would fall victim to some sort of well-played Autobot trap. Cyclonus’ wait was temporarily interrupted by an update from Bombshell. That Insecticon in particular had proven to be quite useful, thus far.

>>”I’m afraid our High Commander has other business to tend to elsewhere. If the Autobot is to be kept alive and contained for the time being, he should be taken to Turmoil directly. He is in the process of constructing what will eventually be our primary base of operations on this planet. See that he is…”<<

Cyclonus stopped as both he and Scourge heard the distinctive sounds of weapons fire from somewhere within this outpost.

>>”….I’m taking fire!....too much…..I see the Autobot!......too well-armed.....can’t….”<<

The already garbled transmission went to complete static before Scourge cut off the transmission from his subordinate completely. The Autobot? One? Cyclonus waved Scourge back, as the Sweep leader was already preparing to follow his brother down in to the hole.

“Their trap is sprung. I will deal with this Autobot stray. Butcher any others that might try to use this as an opportunity to escape,” he said, casting a knowing glance in Snaptrap’s direction before he, too, disappeared in to the small entrance that he and Scourge had torn open.

Outside Koraja

The male Nebulan—the more abrasive of the two natives bold enough to engage Kickback in conversation—raised an interesting point regarding the chances of a local resistance rising to oppose their attempts to reconcile the populace to their new lot. It had probably been purely by accident, of course, and the Insecticon had no doubt at all that the little green slug’s “suggestions” were no more than transparent, self-aggrandizing twaddle. Still, he took note of the names the creature mentioned. Galen. Gort. Arcana. It was good to know one’s enemies. Perhaps it would be best to identify and neutralize them right away, before they had an opportunity to cause any trouble …

But no. That would be like looking for one particular diaclone in hive of millions, an inefficient use of his time. Once his new friends were in so deep they would have little choice other than to be their own jailers, then Kickback would consider branching out a little further. It probably wouldn’t take long; collaboration was typically viewed with violent outrage by the more obstinate elements of an indigenous population.

“Zarak, you say?” Kickback inquired sweetly. “How very interesting. I would certainly not object to expanding our company, should that meet with Peer Soriza’s approval. I would suggest you discuss this matter among yourselves. It would be presumptuous of me in the extreme, given my lack of familiarity with your politics and culture, to attempt to dictate such things to you.”

Antennae twitching, he half-turned back toward the hole he had bored into the side of the manor house in order to gain access. “Meanwhile, I will summon a few assistants to make repairs to this structure, and begin preparing the grounds for conversion into a suitable camp facility. I think—“ Bombshell’s urgent communiqué interrupted him. “Pardon me a moment, won’t you?” Kickback said apologetically. “It appears that one of my comrades is pining for my companionship.”

His voice remained syrupy, even over the communications channel, but there was a note in it that his hive-brother could not possibly miss. It wasn’t outright dangerous, and certainly not angry; if anything, it might have been mildly warning. >>“’Matters,’ Bombshell? What sort of ‘matters’? I hope you’re not implying I’ve been idle since we parted ways in Koraja. Quite the contrary, I’ve kept myself rather productively occupied, if I do say so myself. I’ll have to trouble you to elaborate upon your needs and what I might do to fulfill them before I simply drop everything and rush back.”<<

Koraja Underground - The Vault

It was rather remarkable. They had actually captured one of the invaders. An insect-like creature no larger than a sky sled - a common Nebulan personal transport. However something was not right with the operation. He had seen these monsters in action through numerous security holo-feeds he could follow as a detective in Koraja's police force. It had been almost too easy. There had been two casualties, and as horrible it was - there should have been more. And this bothered detective Dor Muzzle's keen instincts.

So, while Galen dealt with a report from the unit that had captured the creature, Dor Muzzle kept watching the recording of the capture, over and over again. And finally it made him realize what had been wrong with it.

"Peer Galen. There's something you have to see." He said as he approached the leader of the World Watchers.

"Look at this recording." Muzzle said, bringing a small orb before Galen's eyes. "See that? The beast that killed Qar and Onis. It had two separate opportunities to kill Duran. The first instance, it almost proceeds to slay him but suddenly backs out. Second time, it ignores him and goes after Gort despite it would have been logical to slay Duran there. This cannot be a coincidence."
_____________________________________

Plains of Thok - The Consortium Research Center

Everything had happened faster than any of them had anticipated. Despite all the reassurances and attempts to steer Scorponok's attention elsewhere - Banzai-Tron's Intelligence Service had failed. The military branch of the Decepticon Empire had decided to step over them and bring the war to Nebulos despite all of the juicy research projects the Intelligence Service had conducted so far on this very world. Sparkstalker knew he was safe. His operation was still an official Decepticon Intelligence operation and Banzai-Tron was going to keep the battle away from his doorsteps.

It did not remove the uneasy feeling that had been growing ever since he had heard Turmoil being set to lead this damned conquest of Nebulos. As one of the official enforcers of Tyrest accord, Turmoil was the last Decepticon commanding officer Sparkstalker wanted to deal with. His research on the planet was exactly what the Tyrest accord had been created against. If Turmoil learned out what they were researching here - no, Sparkstalker did not want to go there. He very much wanted to live.

Banzai-Tron had better keep the overzealous former High Judge away from him. At least the fact that he operated through a carefully placed facsimile of the CEO of the Consortium - Mo Zarak, gave Sparkstalker all the time he needed to pack his bags and escape if Turmoil found out. For now he was content on keeping the real Mo Zarak alive within a life support pod that kept the old Nebulan's body from deteriorating and his brilliant mind still functioning and serving their research.

Outside Koraja

"Of course Peer Soriza, of course. I'm going to go make the necessary preparations for the broadcast and such. You have the means to call me, could you share it with our friend in case he needs to talk set up and such please. Sorry but I gotta find out how much of my crew survived Koraja and what I got to work with. After all we want this broadcast to go off without a hitch don't we?" He waved goodbye as he began to walk off.

They were underestimating him as simply a power broking weasel, good. Their underestimation of him would prove useful. After all Kreb was at his best when people were assuming the worst of him.

Koraja Outskirts

"Alright, I'll go with you. Gonna wanna ask Galen what his next step is anyways. Someone has to keep him out of trouble." Gort grins, knowing it was the opposite. He looks back at the large insect, seeing the men haul it onto the vehicle. He knew it wouldn't be that easy for much longer.

Mount Melanos

"He said he was remaining behind long enough to set the base to self destruct." Highbrow says, worried. "Perhaps the Decepticons arrived and had begun to lay siege? Try contacting him and see if he'll respond."

The Folassian Forest - Autobot Command Bunker

Having followed Snaptrap all the way upriver, Skullgrin was hardly going to complain when they took a detour into the forest itself. A certain part of him wanted to be the one that tore down all the trees in the way, but he hushed that part by suggesting that part would have complained of boredom if it had been allowed to.

They approached the entrance to the Autobot bunker, and Skullgrin began to inspect the hatchway. Fairly standard design, suggested an average underground base, with a predictable layout. The Siege warrior ignores the shouts of the dying Sweep, as he formulates the correct response to this situation.

As Cyclonus entered the base, Skullgrin turned to Snaptrap. "Sir, Autobot bases are built with their land-based alt modes in mind, so the exits will be hidden in areas level with the ground to allow for their wheels. Cliff faces and shallow slopes are preferred." He begins indicating suspicious areas. "If we set up our ground assets in these areas, and keep some aerial assets overlooking the area," He offhandedly indicates Scourge, "Then we stand the highest chance of catching any escaping Autobot and annhilating it."

[Annhhilation....MuhuhuhHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!]

You're distrurbing easy to please at times, you know.

The Folassian Forest

The Decepticon Military was so disobligingly plodding these orns. There had been a time, back at the outset of the war, when swift, decisive, and above all aggressive action had been the defining characteristic of Megatron’s forces. Under those guiding principles, they had virtually brought all of Cybertron to its knees within a matter of mega-cycles. Now, the rapid, all-out attack was the exception rather than the rule. Vorns of total war had drained both sides of the conflict practically rust-dry. Decepticons skulked about alien worlds in subversive cells instead of marching openly in great armies of conquest. Procedure and protocol, dictated in part by their enemies, now governed the destiny of the Empire.

All of which was perfectly fine with Banzai-tron. The Intelligence Service had thrived enormously since the war had gone underground. Secrets—both keeping and uncovering them—were their stock-in-trade. Of course, neither he nor any other notable agent of that organization felt particularly obliged to play by the rules; even for Decepticons, their capacity for duplicity would have been difficult to overestimate. Let the military cleave to the Tyrest Accord, even if only for the sake of appearances. Banzai-tron was not prepared to cede any advantage, no matter how small, to the Autobots. He was in the war to win, and would employ any and all means at his disposal to do so without compunction.

Unfortunately, that ruthlessness made it necessary to conceal certain aspects of the Service’s operations from many of their military counterparts. It was simply a matter of efficiency. Let the grunts and cannon fodder creep from planet to planet and fight their minor skirmishes on gentlemech’s terms; it kept them busy and out from underfoot while Banzai-tron and his ilk went about securing the means to ensure a final, Decepticon victory, treaty or no treaty.

If only Scorponok had stayed true to form. If only that idiot Black Shadow hadn’t let his private feud with Skyhammer get so far out of hand. Banzai-tron was confident he could keep the Service’s covert research on Nebulos from becoming a matter of general knowledge, but it was just so damned irritating to be obliged to do so at all. Especially while being forced to maintain the pretext that he cared an energon chit for hunting Autobots or enslaving Nebulans. As far as he was concerned, they were incidental pieces in a much bigger game, albeit not without potential uses to the Service.

And why hadn’t Cyclonus simply vaporized the Autobot base already? It appeared some Decepticon soldiers remained true to form.

A rustle of metallic wings above drew Banzai-tron’s attention to the sky. Wingspan had arrived, and circled above the clearing twice before spiraling down for a landing.

“Finally,” said Banzai-tron. There was little he disdained more than spending his time idle—there was no profit in it. “Get back in the air. Use your chemical scanners to look for energon-laced emissions near ground level. See if you can determine which way the Autobots went.”

“If the Autobots have been using this site for as long as we believe, this whole area is likely to be positive for Cybertronian fuel emissions,” replied Wingspan uncertainly. “It will be like trying to identify one particular pebble in a whole mountain range.”

“That’s what that high-powered processor of yours is for. Or are you just incapable of doing the job of a common Sweep?”

Wingspan bristled, but wisely declined to voice any further doubts he may have harbored. “And Treadshot?”

“He’ll catch up. I’ll forward him our heading and speed, and he can meet us in transit. Go, Wingspan. I want to finish here so we can check on Sparkstalker.”

With a nod, the clone transformed and took wing once again, flying in large, lazy circles over the forest as his battery of advanced sensors began the laborious task of analyzing the region for any trace indicators of the Autobots’ path of retreat.

Korajan Underground--The Vault

Galen had truly never seen anything like this, but the young head of the World Watchers had become more steel-skinned in his resolve to see that this tragedy now befalling his home world resolved itself as quickly as possible in their benefit. Several meters behind him, roughly a dozen screens were filled with the faces of various Nebulan elders, guides and other leaders from areas across the planet who were currently being "managed" by one of his subordinates. There was little he could tell them, at this stage, apart from doing what little they could to assuage their fears.

Galen's attention was elsewhere. They had finally managed to capture one of the things. The extraction team was on its way back with the clone now. There straits were clearly dire, when such a small victory had elicited such a boisterous cheer from those in the room, as it had when the news had first arrived.

The reveling in their small victory was short-lived. Even now, Galen's attention was drawn to supplementary matters, such as the orb Muzzle now carried. Galen took hold of the device himself, playing the capture scenario over again, paying closer attention to what Muzzle had described.

"Why would they...," Galen began, before his voice trailed off back in to his thoughts. Something was clearly out of sorts, but he could not identify exactly what. What had spared Duran? Surely it was not the creature's own natural proclivities.

"No," Galen said, handing the orb back to Muzzle, "it can not. We must debrief them all upon return, but most importantly Duran. If we see what happened through his eyes, perhaps it will reveal a weakness in these creatures that we have not seen."

The Folassian Forest

It hadn’t been very difficult at all to keep up with Banzai-tron, and once he was within range the bounty hunter transformed and took a long look at the surrounding area. Instead of meeting up with the Intelligence Operative, Lockdown decided to begin the task for which he was hired; track and hunt the Autobots.

Over the vorns Lockdown had taken it upon himself to perform his own upgrades; weapons, tracking devices, scanners and sensors.

Lockdown ran a full battery of scans over the immediate area and found a very distinct emission reading. His processor was laden with files containing samples of nearly every kind of Transformer readings from Energon emissions to energy signatures. Based on what he already knew the area was dripping with emission readings.

Lockdown pinpointed a trail leading away from the Autobot base. After a moment of quiet contemplation Lockdown straightened up and rubbed his chin in thought.

Cutting through the tree line to where Banzai-tron was standing, Lockdown finally addressed his employer.

“He really is incapable of doing the job of a common Sweep.”

Lockdown gestured skyward at Wingspan.

“They headed off in that direction,” he motioned toward the mountains. “They tried to cover their visible tracks, but since they left in such haste they were sloppy.”

The Folassian Forest

Wingspan had made several sweeps of the area when Lockdown arrived. His less-than-subtle entrance earned him a look from Banzai-tron, but one that didn’t express much more than bare acknowledgement. The time for subtlety, after all, was long past; the army of conspicuously large robots setting up the even more conspicuously large fortress near Koraja had ensured that. And it wasn’t as though he expected the Autobots to be anywhere in the immediate vicinity. After all that bouncing they’d done getting in and out of the capital, sticking around would have been stupid to the point of suicidal.

“He really is incapable of doing the job of a common Sweep.”

Banzai-tron shrugged. “Tracking isn’t his function. But learning a little versatility won’t send him offline. Don’t want him spending so much time collating data that he forgets how to fight, do we?” Besides, fear of being sent into the field might improve Wingspan’s performance in his area of expertise. So it was more like a motivational exercise than a critical intelligence-gathering operation. Anyway, Banzai-tron had decided there was still a chance he might need the extra body later.

“They headed off in that direction,” [Lockdown] motioned toward the mountains. “They tried to cover their visible tracks, but since they left in such haste they were sloppy.”

Now the martial artist regarded his mercenary associate with something like actual interest. “You might just earn that ridiculously bloated fee of yours after all,” he said. Looking up, he said, “Wingspan! We’ve got a heading. Concentrate your search in that direction and coordinate with Lockdown as needed. I’ll feed our updated rendezvous coordinates to Treadshot.”

The clone didn’t reply, but he altered course as ordered. Banzai-tron set out along the ground, fully expecting Lockdown to join him. Traveling in robot mode would give him time to think, and there was a great deal to consider at that moment. Foremost among these was just what they would do when the Autobots’ new base was located.

There was a strong possibility, after all, that their enemies might be just the persistent distraction they needed to keep their friends from stumbling upon things they might ultimately prefer not to know …

The Folassian Forest - Autobot Command Bunker

"Let's not ignore that they got some flyers. They have to have something for them built in here for their use. Maybe ask Seawing to make a scan while one or two of us acts as standby cover fire?" Horri-Bull suggests, not wanting to be cut down by some idiot Autobot wanna be flyer who slipped by them.

The Folassian Forest - Autobot Command Bunker

Snaptrap nodded in response to Cyclonus as the Air Commandant leapt down into the hole to take care of the single Autobot that had apparently gotten the jump on the Sweep. The fact that Cyclonus had used the word 'butcher' was a testament to his knowledge of the Seacon leader's reputation. Butchering Autobots was, indeed, Snaptrap's specialty, and he did so with great pleasure even though he didn't necessarily show it outwardly.

Snaptrap then regarded the arrivals of Skullgrin and Horri-Bull, the latter of which he had smelled coming long before seeing him emerge from the trees. The two mechs took turns making suggestions on how to best handle the situation, but only one of them had a worthwhile tactical approach.

"Seawing is not with us," Snaptrap first replied to Horri-Bull. "He is on assignment along the coastline with the other Seacons. Their mission is of the utmost importance and he cannot be recalled at this time." Snaptrap then shifted his attention to the siege warrior. "Good assessment, Skullgrin. Take Horri-Bull with you and investigate the areas you are suspicious of. Do not stray far, however. The base is most likely rigged to blow at any moment. Be on alert. As for aerial support, we seem to already have that in our favor." The Seacon leader motioned skyward where Wingspan could be seen flying overhead. "Scourge and I will remain here to cover this exit as per our orders. If you two find anything, report back to me at once. Understood?"

Snaptrap then returned his focus to the hole in the ground, his sword drawn out waiting for any stray Autobot to appear so that he could slaughter him in cold oil.

The Folassian Forest - Autobot Command Bunker

"Funny, I thought we were told we'd be going with all of you Seacons." Horri-Bull reverts to robot mode and pulls out his gun. "Ehh no matter, just means more kills for me." He says as begins to examine the rock face. "I guess you got a point about the flyers and all but tell them not to drop their guard. Bot flyers are sneaky ones." He says as he turns to Skullgrin. "Go first, my smell'd only give me away."

The Folassian Forest

Treadshot was growing frustrated as he continued to get updated coordinates from Banzai-tron. Perhaps he really should consider some new alternate mode to get around faster? He shook his head. That would be too akin to admitting some sort of weakness or defeat. He was the best gunslinger among their race, if not in the galaxy. Change would only mar his perfection, and he wasn’t about to do that.

Finally the Decepticon caught up with the security director and his rather interesting companions. He landed next to Banzai-tron, releasing Catgut to transform back to his regular mode. “Next time we end up on extended planetside duty you are going to have to provide me some sort of transportation. Traveling far distances on my own power is far too slow and inefficient.”

The gunslinger glanced over at Lockdown before looking back at Banzai-tron. While his face was permanently expressionless a bit of surprise crept into his voice. “Just throwing around the energon on this planet are you. The bounty hunter never comes cheap. We’ll definitely have to renegotiate my contract on our next mission. I must be selling my skills for far less then I can get out of you.”

Treadshot looked ahead as the continued walking, Catgut staying at his side. “I assume we are on the trail of the Autobots? Our bounty hunter friend earning his pay already?”

Koraja-Capital Dome

Cyclonus' response in regards to Skyhammer was not entirely surprising to Bombshell. Indeed, their great general was a busy Decepicon. While indeed, Skyhammer was not exactly easy prey for most Decepticons, he was hardly worth a look at in the eyes of Scorponok.

It wa sonly moments later that kickback responded. Though the Insecticon seemed busy, Bombshell knew he could not complete this task without Kickback. He needed the trio of himself, Shrapnel, and Kickback to overtake the Autobot Repugnus. Still, most likely, Kickback was closer to them than the location fo their new headquarters. The thought of whatever Kickabck was doing more than drove his curiosity.

"Perhaps we could kill a few birds with one stone." Bombshell muttered just before reopening the comm.

>>"Kickback. What is your location? We'll come to you. Perhaps we can strike a comprimise."<<

The Folassian Forest--Autobot Command Bunker

Cyclonus quietly progressed through the halls of the darkened bunker hallways and corridors. The shooting and the panicked transmission from the Sweep were now gone and in its place remained only silence. That meant that one side or the other had won their latest encounter, and Cyclonus had to assume that the Sweep had not been the victor. Scourge's subordinates were capable, in their own right, but the Aerospace Commandant did not favor their chances within enclosed, unfamiliar territory.

Cyclonus had hoped that the encounter would last long enough that it would reveal the Autobots' position, allowing him to capitalize accordingly. No such luck.

"Surrender now, Autobots, and perhaps you will be spared the executions you will have rightly earned for wasting our resources in this way," Cyclonus said, intentionally giving away his own position.

As he took his next step forward, he felt a hand reach out and take hold of his foot. He immediately pointed his oxidating laser downward, ready to exterminate whatever it was--only to find that it was the Sweep that he and Scourge had sent down here only moments before. It was apparent that he had sustained multiple weapons-fire injuries with various levels of severity. Cyclonus lowered his own weapon and knelt down for a moment.

"How many are there?" Cyclonus asked. The Sweep sputtered and coughed.

"O-One....c-commandant," the Sweep finally spat. Cyclonus optics narrowed visibly. One? But...

Ah.

Multiples injuries. Multiple types of weapons used. High-caliber. Cyclonus had engaged such an Autobot in Koraja. He immediately backed away from the Sweep and found his own position of cover so as not to be caught unawares.

"What brings your brethren to this planet, Autobot?" Cyclonus called out, knowing that Roadbuster had to be within audio range, wherever he was. He brought his laser parallel with his cranial unit as he listened for either a verbal response or a physical one.
___

Koraja--Capital Dome

Shrapnel twittered and adjusted his position again lightly on the rocky formation of rubble that he now occupied. Bombshell's transmission intrigued him. Kickback had clearly gone out on his own and found an interest worth pursuing while on this greenish-blue mass of moss and other vegetation. Shrapnel intended to do the same at some point. Bombshell was clearly on the receiving end of transmissions that he was not.

Had the Autobots made another move? He could only hope so. If they captured enough of them, eventually their commanders wouldn't mind if one or two were sacrificed as a simple meal rather than used as some symbol of their victory.

Korajan Underground - The Vault

"I wish I knew why peer Galen." Muzzle said rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But I fear the worst. What I propose may sound like a conspiracy theory but..."

Dor Muzzle's eyes narrowed as he stood before the leader of the World Watchers and continued. "What if these beings have been here watching us for years, perhaps decades before this assault? They might have infiltrated all branches of our government, the World Watchers, every aspect of our society. Perhaps the machine did not attack Duran because he is one of them?"
___________________________________________________

Outskirts of Koraja - Decepticon Headquarters

Turmoil was pleased. The construction of the command stronghold had been finished. Already, concentration camps and re-educational facilities for Nebulan captives were forming around the foreboding fortress that had risen to dominate the landscape of Koraja within 1/3 of a megacycle. From there, they could easily keep expanding the base into a citadel or even fully functional planetary command hub if they so chose.

The primary goal after setting up the stronghold however was to set up the refineries they needed to refine the ore torn from the crust of the planet into the various supplies the Decepticon war machine demanded continuously. It was time to see if Black Shadow was up to his tasks.

>>"Black Shadow, how long until you are able to sent out the first Nebulan work units to assist our own construction units?"<<

The Folassian Forest--Autobot Command Bunker
(Sorry for the far to long delay in this post, life has been kicking my ass this week.)

Roadbuster had seen the Sweep go down after he had fired on him, but he wasn't sure if he had been hit fatally or merely wounded. Regardless, the Decepticon scout had gotten off a transmission before he had gone down, the Aubobot veteran had hoped that the Sweep was just a scout that got lucky but he knew that was far from the case. Several moments later after silence had settled into the base once more the sound of another Decepticon could be heard dropping into the empty corridors. Just by the sound of his movements alone Roadbuster knew this one was being more careful, taking measured, careful steps so as not to blunder into his line of fire. Quiet voices followed soon after as someone spoke, it seems that Sweep wasn't dead and was informing the new arrival on the situation. The sound of a body going into cover could be heard and there was silence once more, only broken by the obvious voice of Cyclonus.

For a moment Roadbuster considered not responding and either open fire to pin the frager down then activate the auto destruct and take them both out, but he quickly disregarded that idea. He knew better, although the death of Cyclonus would be a hard loss for Scorponok to take, the 'Con army would recover, however with their limited numbers Roadbuster knew his own death would be the harder loss. Rather he checked his weapons and made sure they were fully loaded and ready.

"Ah you know us Autobots Cyclonus. We just decided to swing by and take in the sites, chat with the locals and set up a beach resort or two. Killing you 'Cons is tiring work and a mech deserves a nice long vacation after he's fragged a few hundred of you sludge bags."

He had barely finished speaking when he rolled out of cover, figuring he knew roughly where Cyclonus and unleashed a hellish barrage from his rifle and fired off his shrapnel rockets and explosive canisters down the corridor. The cannisters detonated first and the rockets corkscrewed through the air right after them as he hosed the entire area down with the heavy ordnance of his rifle. After his display of fire power he once more rolled back into cover and began to rapidly reload his weapons.

"Hell after we have kicked you 'Cons off world I was even thinking of finding a nice fembot and settling down here, build a nice beach side home out of what's left of ol' Scorponok, I mean his aft is big enough don't you think? Hey, maybe you should think about that to Cyclonus? I mean your so uptight all the time from what I understand you can use some nice relaxation time."

The Folassian Forest--Autobot Command Bunker

The brash Autobot must have temporarily confused him with one of the brash members of the Seeker Squadrons if he thought that simple taunts would be sufficient to get a rise out of the measured and accomplished Cyclonus.

What did garner the aerial warrior’s attention however was the almost sudden onslaught that accompanied Roadbuster’s words. Sparks flew. Shells ground against metal, some exploding on impact while others clattered to the floor, all the while entire sections of wall and the surrounding, thinly-protected subterrain of Nebulos were demolished. Obviously this structure had not been designed to endure a conflict of this nature, or any conflict at all really, given how easily some of the materials crumbled.

Cyclonus himself, almost unavoidably, weathered some of the damage himself, wincing even as he sought better cover as one stray shell or another impacted with his person. Cyclonus used the blasts to identify Roadbuster’s position as he fired off a few untargeted shots of his own, just to add to the general chaos while he sought out his next position.

The underground barracks went momentarily silent again as the Autobot had obviously needed to reload. Cyclonus stalked his way through the rubble, his fiery orange optics the primary thing visible as he walked through the smoke-hazed debris piles. As he approached an intersecting corridor he readied his weapon. Lining himself up against the edge, he hesitated only for a moment before quickly whipping around the other side only to find…

…nothing.

His upper and lower jaw mechanisms ground together in frustration.

“Relaxation will be a luxury that I can indulge in once the insignificant Autobot presence on this planet has been wiped clean.”