If he had a mouth, Datamatrix would have been wearing a wide grin on his face. He could see that the Autobots were badly outnumbered and had taken to hiding amongst the ruins of the city. He glanced over to the shattered form of A-10, lying in a pool of his own mech fluid and watched as the lights in the optics of the Autobot flickered and went out. Then he noticed the Autobot Gemini standing just across the way. Soundwave had told him to watch for this one; apparently, this Autobot would have some valuable information. With his cassetticons clearing the path with machine gun fire, Datamatrix walked up to Gemini and faced the Autobot, dodging plasma bursts and shell fragments in the process. Gemini looked up, a slight look of surprise on his expression.
Ducking at the sound of another shell explosion, Datamatrix growled, “We need to talk. Somewhere a little more private, at least.” Gemini nodded slight and followed the Decepticon around the corner of a bombed out building.
“I don’t have much,” Gemini stated. “Optimus only knows that there’s an energy store under the surface; he doesn’t even know what kind or even if it’s viable.”
“That doesn’t really concern me. How did you get here so fast?”
Gemini shrugged. “Rumble and Frenzy were spotted sniffing around. I was sent in.”
Datamatrix scowled at the Autobot a moment, didn’t like the thought of allowing him to return to his post. He powered up the cannon on his shoulder.
Gemini heard the whine of the weapon, but kept calm despite his concern. “I have given you what I know, what I’ve been told. Is there something more you wish of me?”
”I wish to remove your spark from your functioning chassis,” Datamatrix growled. “But my dear brother still has a use for you.” He fired his cannon, letting loose a powerful laser blast that grazed by Gemini’s head and leveled the wall behind him. “Consider yourself lucky this all you get, filthy Autobot. Now leave, before I change my mind.”
Gemini knew better than to push his luck and took off before Datamatrix carried out his threat. The Decepticon turned to his legion of Cassetticons. “Rom, locate Soundwave and rely him this information. Include a report that says the Autobots are pulling back and that we should be able to take it from here.” Rom nodded and went on his way, Ram following close behind. Datamatrix watched them go, shaking his head. He would have to speak with Soundwave about those little punks being foolish enough to get spotted… again.
“At least the others are a little more discrete,” he grumbled.
* * *
Blackmoon kept to the shadows, listening intently, the thoughts of his old Decepticon ways made his core temperature rise. His first instinct told him to find and dispatch the traitor immediately, but the circumstances wouldn’t permit that. It wouldn’t help his cause to improve his standing in the Autobots’ optics, either. The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he waited until the Decepticons left before revealing himself. He scanned the battlefield; despite the smoke and fires that permeated the area, he could see it wasn’t looking good. He saw Riccochet pinned down behind a pile of slag and moved towards him, shooting down a small Decepticon through its optics.
”Riccochet!” Blackmoon shouted, ducking a proton charge. “Take a look around at what’s going on! We need to send for reinforcements or it’s going to be a lost cause!”
Though irritated, Riccochet was well aware of what Blackmoon was talking about. “Alright, let’s go. Cover me until we get out of range.”
Blackmoon nodded in agreement, and then both transformed and rolled off at top speed.
* * *
Optimus Prime listened to the reports silently, his expression grim. He then stood and proclaimed, “He must not allow them to control that sector. Contact every Autobot within communications range. We’ll need every unit, whether they’re fully repaired or not. It’s now or never; Autobots roll out!”
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Thanks again to Thunderscream for the editing, and to the players that allowed me the use of their names.
Score update from me should come early tomorrow although if Ransom is greacious enough to grace us again I won't argue.
have more of them than you 
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[ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]
