This page contains affiliate links. We may earn commissions when readers interact with or purchase items through these links. For more information, see our affiliate disclosures here.

The Rough Draft...

Home to the creative authors of Seibertron.com's Transtopia - soon to be the ultimate online location for Transformers fan fiction!

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Mon Jan 13, 2020 3:53 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Four: - Operation Victory Part 1: Hook


Pre-History Earth - The Beast Wars

The Axalon - Two Megacycles earlier

"This is it." Primal began, gathered around his original crew on the bridge. The central display detailing a virtual model of a multi-stage battle plan. The Darksyde, the heart of Predacon territory and the surrounding terrain. "Our forces will be divided into a three phase assault" A Transmetal hand pointing to key points on the map. "Shadow gave us more detailed schematics than we could have ever amassed ourselves". A sombre tone added an inflexion to that name, few couldn't pick up on.

"Yeh, a shame da bad kitty couldn'a forked dis stuff over, I dunno, Decacycles ago!?!" Rattrap, ever sardonic, cutting through the tension of the exchange.

"Shut up, Rattrap" Cheetor, Primal and Rhinox said in unison. The group laughed together once more. Levity absent for many Decacycles, was greatly missed and appreciated by all.

Clearing his throat, Primal continued, "So, Operation: Victory. The offensive will be initiated by two of the three squads. These units will work in parallel to breach the defences upto the Darksyde itself. However, as we are aware, due to the nature of this regions' terrain, there is only one way in. Even with the added air support of a Heavy Cruiser."
"The Black Gate" Rhinox interjected, with a sigh.
"Indeed. Defended by, and home to, the Space Pirates." Primal furrowed his brow for emphasis. "Make no mistake, Leo Caesar and Armorex are just as dangerous as Rampage himself."
"I gotta level wit cha Boss Monkey." Rattrap began, intently staring at the battle plan " Ole Choppa Face was scared of da White Lion and da Mammoth, an he didn't scare easy. I don't like de odds, even without the rest of their flunkies." His head tilted, as though he noticed something for the first time. "But whoa, whoa, whoa. 'Scuse my error message" He brushed his hand across the names on the display. "Our forces look split between the two first strike teams. So what's up with the third squad?" Rhinox put his hand on his old friends shoulder. "That would be me. Survive, Grizzly-1 and this"

"Oh. So... We're all gonna die"


The Heavy Cruiser, now - The hold

One squad was seated on the left. The other on the right. Primal, Cheetor and Rattrap, took their places among the troops. Primal held up his hand and all were silent. "Listen up bots! Strike Team One! We are nano clicks away from the Black Gate. Leo Caesar is the known quantity here. He has engaged our forces numerous times. Armorex has been relaying battle data exclusively from The Gate, since his arrival. Predacon datatrax on the Space Pirates, are a lot more thorough than our own. We have thankfully reduced their numbers over the Decacycles. Only Antagony remains unchecked. She appears to have vanished, according to Shadow's intel. Alongside Inferno, from Megatron's own vanguard"

"Galloping Galaxies!" Cheetor almost choked on the news. "Spark knows what those two space happy psychos could be getting upto... together?!" He ended with an involuntary shudder. Chuckles filled the air.

"Whether we like it or not, they will need to be accounted for" Primal continued, as the distant rumblings of weapons fire on the shields, signalled the end of the debriefing. "By the end of this operation, no Predacon position will be left to chance."
Strike Team One rose to their feet as the rumbling outside intensified. The first wave, led by Optimus himself, made their way into the next compartment.


The Hook

Optimus Primal, Ape-Linq, Cheetor, Razorbeast, Polar Claw, Grimlock, B'Boom, Bonecrusher


The Heavy Cruiser slowed to impulse, coming into range of the valley before the Black Gate. The Saurian Seekers flew in formation above them. Their carpet bombing run of the shielding, abated for now. Though out of range, they were looping around for another pass. Lining the peaks of the valley, six auto-guns came online and deployed on gantries below. In unison, they too began to fire. All encompassing energy blasts soon pepper the Cruisers' shields above.

Deep within the Black Gate facility, Armorex watches the approach of the slowing ship with curiosity and adjusting the controls before him, ends the auto-gun salvo. The Seekers will soon come back into range from the rear. Meanwhile on the perimeter wall itself, a malevolent Transmetal White Lion surges towards the gate. His own optics fixed on the approaching ship also. He bares his fangs and savours the thought of his jaws bearing down on the spark casing of the Maximal General. The one that has kept him trapped on this mudball for far too long. This "War" will end this day. The sooner, the better. He must retrieve his own Symbol Ship from that damned Sharkticon, before the trail is lost forever. He leaps, and with uncanny strength and agility, covers a distance of one hundred kliks and lands with a resounding impact between the closed gate and the invading vessel. He unleashes a mighty roar that sends shockwaves through even the Cruisers hull.

"FACE ME PRIMAL!!!" The leader of the Space Pirates screams.

The intensity of the words are heard by all nearby. Directly behind the two sets of auto-guns, two larger gantry arms begin to stir.

"Beast Modes Maximals! As we planned. There's no going back... Til all are one" The last words Primal softly uttered to himself. The two teams were ready. "MAXIMISE!!" T-Cogs sprang into life and the Maximal Forces became animal, as one. "Sentinel, Lower the shields" with those last spoken words. The last great battle of the Beast War began. All at once the shields of the Heavy Cruiser flared as though a second sun and nor the Seekers behind, nor the Space Pirates below could do more than look away.

All at once, the Heavy Cruiser accelerated vertically with dazzling speed and immediately performed a loop de loop that placed them behind the Seekers. Who promptly panicked and scattered. Armorex was impressed by the maneuver, applauding Primal's cleverness. The Auto-guns wouldn't fire with the Seekers in range but he still wanted to lure their forces close to the gate, ensuring everything was ahead of him.
Something troubled him though. Ravage was known for stealth tech onboard his vessel. Had the Maximals not discovered it? He rose from his consoles to join his brother with he suddenly caught something on the monitors that made him run faster than he ever has before.

Outside, the Heavy Cruiser initiated a high speed barrel roll. Firstly the lower cargo bay doors burst open and Strike Team One emerged. The Fliers heading directly for the Auto-Guns and Seekers. The land based units aiming for the White Lion himself. Almost immediately, a hatch on the upper hull opened and an enormous missile screamed out of the Cruiser. Soaring over Caesar's head and directly at the Black Gates. Strike Team Two, rode upon it. Cloaked using Ravage's salvaged stealth tech, Rattraps unit waited for the last possible moment before pushing off against their unconventional transport. Inertia deploying them to pre-planned crags along the walls of the valley.

Impact!!!

The secret Atomic warhead made such an explosion, it was visibly seen and felt by the Darksyde, an entire mountain range between them. The Black Gate was incinerated. Objective one achieved.

"TERRORISE!" The activation code, a muffled murmur beneath the boulders of the collapsed valley.
Slowly, Leo Caesar emerged from the rumble. He instinctively performed a quick sit-rep. High above, the Maximal Fliers had begun to engage the Seekers. Effectively removing air support from this assault for either side, for now. Neither good nor bad news. Adjusting his sight, the land based squad was advancing fast on his position. He had moments at most. A negative. Glancing to the peaks of the valley, he saw only the closest set of Auto-Guns to the gate had been lost. A positive. Behind him however, he glanced an additional unit, scrambling rapidly through the ruins of the gate.

"An infiltration unit, eh?" he calmly thought aloud, finally freeing his legs from the debris. He took a battle stance as Grimlock and B'Boom were now insight. "The trick to infiltration" he bellowed, while raising his left hand. "..Is subtlety" Suddenly a detonator sprang from the end of his thumb. Rattrap briefly looked back to the Space Pirate, as his unit regrouped in the open at a forked pass, before DiTillio Mountain. As his eye caught the detonator, he tried to cry out but one click later and the entire pass sank instantly, amid a sea of controlled charges. With his right arm, he uppercut the leaping Grimlock, sending him flying back. While in the same action, performing a roundhouse kick with his left leg. Similarly taking out B'Boom's advance.

"No! Rattrap!!" Primal roared as the dust parted in the winds.

He raced towards Rattrap's position in the confusion. A missile to the hover-board, sending him crashing into the valley wall. Leo Caesar lowered his Lion Head cannon and advanced on the downed leader. "I wouldn't worry about them if I were you." The Space Pirate loomed above the Transmetal Gorilla. You got you're own problems to deal with." He motioned towards the chasm Team Two had fallen into. A growing chattering sound heralding the arrival of a teaming horde of Clone Scavenger Units. Behind the Auto-Guns, the larger gantries suddenly surged to life. Atop them, Translock lens began emitting pulses across the arena. Maximal T-Cogs were now inoperative. Leo began to laugh as an innumerable army of Transmetal Ants gathered, chattering behind him.


:PREDACON: End of Part Four :PREDACON:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Wed Apr 08, 2020 1:11 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Appendix


I was planning to come back to this sooner but, things being what they are right now, I have been a little side tracked.

The finale to the Beast War era (bringing you upto speed on where they've come from, to their present day situation) will be coming up soon. Two more parts and an epilogue. In my original notebook, this leads to the next chapter involving the Timey Wimey shenanigans of Cybershark (and his current ...predicament). However, in light of world events, this chapter covering the Time Travellers and the Great Plague Era previously mentioned, is a little too on the nose. As such I'll insert it into the story at a much later date.

Oh, and something I forgot to add sooner: a section on time measurements. Maximals and Predacons will speak in cycles, those based on the series definitions.

Nano-klik ~1 second
Cycle ~1 minute
Mega-cycle ~1 hour
Solar cycle ~1 day
Deca-cycle ~30 days/Month
Stellar cycle ~400 days/Cybertonian Year
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sun May 31, 2020 1:51 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Five - One Moment in Time



Before. Quintessa III

He fell. Beyond time, beyond reason. Higher concepts were lost on his fledgling consciousness but, he knew it must have been a long way down. For a while, Gnaw wondered if the fall would last forever. Oblivion. The price for what he had done.

Yet to all things, there is an end. For Gnaw, that end was the ground. Which was hit with such force an impact crater and small dust cloud would have announced his arrival to all for leagues around. Should anyone above have been remotely close to him. Before passing out, he had one brief glimpse above, from cracked optics. A tiny dot of light, marked his entrance to this bit. Miniature silhouettes danced to and fro, causing the light to shimmer. "Twinkly lights" gnaw weakly utters, the pain took him soon after.
She watched in hiding not too far away. Her cage had been ruptured three levels above. An gaping crevasse formed by the nearby wall, splintering from the impact. She had been a prisoner her for a long time. Yet, observing this inert mass now, she almost feared him more than her captors. Although far larger than normal, he was but one of their soldiers after all. Summoning her courage, she slowing edged her way out of the cage and carefully slid down the collapsed wall, to the ground below.

She stood observing his boulder like mangled form before her, for some time. Extensive structural damage riddled him. Every joint and piece of armour, fractured like glass. An unknown neon fluid leaked from the larger wounds and slowly formed a pool within the utmost recess of the crater. She closed her optics and bowed her head in respect to the fallen. A distant rumble from above and his crumbling eyes flared to life , staring directly at the unknown observer. She started and looked away, bringing her arms up before her face protectively, anticipating a strike. This didn't come, and she slowly lowered her defensive stance. Curious how the creature could still be alive. She then noted he was not looking at her, but at something above. His eyes imperceptibly widened in an instant as three large forms from above rocketed upon them, just as a gigantic pair of white legs straddled the tiny dot of light.

The longer she was out of her confinement, more of her internal systems reactivated. Her emergency defence shield being one such system. A small bulb of light encircled her and the fallen soldier. The remains of two Allicons, ablaze on either side of her. A third, little more than ashes, directly above. She consciously deactivated the field and the ashes gently drifted among the wind.

"Why" The soldier spoke for the first time. She turned to face him. Her multi-spacial scanners, now too back online, took note of him fully for the first time. Death would claim him in moments. There was no doubt and she lamented she could do nothing to alter that fate. His biology was beyond her understanding. Otherwise, she could save him using her abilities. As her Maximal training had taught her to do. She needed time, yet that was not on her side this day. That caused her much regret and sadness, her companion would not understand the single tear she began to shed..

"I am a Maximal of Cybertron." She began with some pride, in response. "We are trained to aid and preserve all life, at the Ratchet Academy. Through extensive study of all biological data available on Cybertron, we are able to administer treatment to any and all in need. Provided your species is within our database." Her shoulders drooped and she broke line of sight with him. "I am ashamed to admit to you, I am unfamiliar with your species. So I.. can do no more than protect you from those missiles." She extended a hand, timidly, to rest upon the side of his shattered face. "Also bring you comfort in some way, during your final moments."
"Gnaw is to die? Yes, Gnaw is to die." His softly spoken words more audible now, as the noise from above seemed to have quietened. The once white light on high, now the distinct blue of the planets' atmosphere. The fires too, now smouldered meekly.
"I say "we", but I had a bit of an accident at launch and oh...Your name is Gnaw? I didn't think they gave you names.. or Understanding?!" The reply had genuinely piqued her curiosity. "In that case, how rude of me? Allow me to introduce myself I am"
"Wrong to save Gnaw." He cut her introduction short "Even dying, Gnaw deserved to suffer still. My people stopped swimming. Because of me." His laboured speech brought a sadness to its tone, that did little to alleviate her now growing guilt in her inability to aid him.

"Long ago, this tank was our home" Several sparks in his arm, denoting attempts to move it, or at least point."Filled with waters, in which we lived. Fed from the dais, by the Creators." A final attempt to move the remaining arm, simply caused it to fall to the floor. "The waters drained to trap us. A pulse of white fire stopped our servos" A series of random spasms within racked his form, causing the Maximal to gasp at their violence. The remains of his mouth clenched and Gnaw continued "When Gnaw awoke. Gnaw in chains and his people below. Caged. Because Gnaw discovered as unique. Creators saw problem. They say if Gnaw not unique but a.. Word to big to understand, then Sharkticons become big threat." His body appeared to her eyes to be diminishing in some way. His colour, fading."Allicons given our place. My people cast into endless swirl. Fate of traitors. All Gnaw fault.." At that point he let out a sorrowful howl that echoed within the chamber and into the skies above.

"I may not be able to save you" She locked her gaze onto his eyes again, with renewed vigour. "But, I will search for your people. Save them for you. I can travel across space and time. Whatever dimension your creators have banished your people. I swear to you." She smiled and attempted to touch his face again.
"NO!" He screamed, sneering at the pain of the exertion. "People lost. Gnaw fault. Gnaw must die for his mistake" His colouring, a deathly grey, even reaching his red eyes.
"I don't understand? What do you mean gone? What was your mistake, so grave to deserve all this??"

He mouthed the beginning inaudibly and ending, his final words, with volume to be discerned "..Mistake, was to question." With that, Gnaw fell silent forevermore. Both a first and last of his kind. The Maximals tears began to flow once more and she fell to her knees. The hand still upon him trailed down Gnaws' form with her descent.

As the last spark of life left the Sharkticons' body, that too finally succumbed to the grievous injuries and collapsed inwards. Until all but scattered fragments floated in the neon pink pool Gnaw's injuries had formed. Alone now, with her thoughts and her freedom, she lamented the loss of the only other being she had spoken to since she was imprisoned, centuries ago. "He never even knew my name. In another life, we could have been friends?" She slowly rose to her feet and cleared her optics. "If only I knew how to save you..." She mused aloud before her eye was drawn to her reflection in the pool and an idea came to her suddenly."Perhaps, Lost-Gnaw.." She looked around at for raw materials around her. "There is a way after all. If not to save you, then your people" Satisfied the necessary fundamentals existed, her chest opened and the chronal vortex energy within her, flared out and encompassed her field of vision. The Smouldering mounds of Allicons, rose and coalesced with the remains of Gnaw. Combined with the fluid she determined to be fuel, the Maximal used her database to merge the matter to form a Protoform. Non-Cybertronian, but a close enough approximation based on the techo-organic material she had to work with. Without need of lifeform scanning, the form somehow instinctively took the shape of its forebear. A tall looming Shark Bot slowly emerged before her. It.. his eyes, then flared red and he looked down upon her. She looked up and smiled, extending a hand in friendship. It took stock of it's own limbs, before mirroring the exchange.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Obelisk" She took his right hand and clasped it gently. Determining his left hand more likely a weapon. "A Maximal Spacial Ops specialist. You are Gnaw-son, born of he who fell" She intimated the motion with her free hand. "We have been charged with fulfilling his last quest. I will be fully re-energised to transport us both away in moments." Then she paused and thought to test the capacities of this new lifeform. "Do you, have a name?" The being released her hand and brought it to his own chin, as if in contemplation.

"I am, Cybershark. A ...Tracker." She was impressed by the response and transformed into Flight Mode, a hatch opening."Well then, Cybershark. Let's be off. We have a people to save."
"By your leave, my dear." He spoke eloquently, entering as the hatch closed. Her engines activate.

VWORP! VWORP! VWORP! VWORP!

An unearthly sound resounded through the chamber as the fledgling companions seemed to dissolve from view. Meanwhile as silents falls on the scene, in the shadows of the broken cell above, the wearied eyes of Obelisk observed the scene with bitterness. A container in her hand, containing samples floating in a neon pink liquid.
"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.." she muses, while clutching the sample container tightly.


:RUBSIGN: To Be Continued :RUBSIGN:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Mon Jun 15, 2020 1:38 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Six: - Operation Victory Part 2: Line


Pre-History Earth - The Beast Wars

Elsewhere


"Dat.. Hurt" Rattrap noted aloud, with his regaining consciousness. Instinct left him in a slightly better state than his comrades. A reflexive switch to Beast Mode just as the ambush struck, spared him much of the injury he observed in the bodies around him. That said, his diagnostics told him he was teetering on Stasis Lock. With more effort than would be expected, he gradually pulled himself free from waist high rubble that filled the corridor. One of his hind legs was severely damaged. so walking would prove difficult and transformation, nigh on impossible. No signs of activity from the squad. Those he could discern from the occasional limb poking through rocks. "So where da heck are we?" A cursory scan and his ever faithful nose, revealed to the Commander they are exactly where they wanted to be.

The Underbase.

Albeit not how they chose to arrive. Up, was at least 200 Kliks above. A trick cargo elevator shaft, their current "home". Although the crash and the rubble would hold them for now, company would be expected. But in his present state, he couldn't expect to fight off anyone they were expecting. Well, maybe Spittor.

An opening door at the end of the corridor suddenly threw light upon the scene. Rattrap took cover, as best he could, against a nearby boulder. Three scuttling silhouettes began to draw near, at ground level. Two more threw shadows across the ceiling. Eight pairs of green eyes each. Spiders!
"Oh for bootin' out cold!" He cursed his bad luck. He didn't expect Tarantulas to be here, let alone part of the welcome committee. "Gotta chance it, We're all scrapped if I don't." He limped to a clearing away from the others, out of the sight line of the door "Maximise!" Sparks flew and a half transformed Maximal fell to the ground. The system wide shock triggering Stasis Lock. He heard an all too familiar cackle draw closer as his sensors went dark.



High above, a vicious battle was well underway. Cheetor was fully engaged with the Saurian Squadron. The air above the valley virtually ablaze with gunfire. Endless drills had given the once clumsy flight mode of the Cat Bot a surprising level of agility in the air. Try as they might even with augmented arms, none of Laserbeak's crew could land a shot. He knew this would change eventually. They were many and he was alone. Both Primal and Apelinq now among the ground level combatants. His own air support now out of the question.

Leo Caesar hated those from the Optimus academy. He knew Primal as a fledgling cadet, back when he and his brother were senior classmen. Apelinq was their instructor. How perfect they should all be reunited. The disgrace with which he and Armorex were expelled, later exiled from Cybertron itself. This would give rise to a bitterness that would fester into utmost hatred. Although they both still wore the Helm of the Prime, the emblem of the academy. It is worn out of contempt and mockery. Since forming the Space Pirates, many helms adorn Caesars trophy room. He has slain many of Cybertron's next generation of leadership.
Apelinq has searched for the murderous and disgraced pair for many Solar Cycles. That mission led him to the Beast Wars to begin with. When he saw Leo baring down on Primal, impulse compelled him to break ranks and engage. He hoped Cheetor was savvy enough to handle the odds. He certainly had potential enough to impress.
Apelinq lunged down through the air. Caesar barely had time to manage a defence, before a rocket propelled digiboard impacted full force into him. A moments hesitation and the strike would have knocked his head clean off. As it stands the force savagely launched him into the air. He came to rest on his feet, righting himself in mid-air, a hair's breadth from the newly form crevasse that claimed Rattrap's squad. Extending an arm, Apelinq helped Primal to his feet. "You good, son?" A simple phrase, brought a smile briefly to Primal's face. "It's been a long time since the academy, sir...Maximise" Primal said, while transforming for battle "But thank you for the assist." They both turned to face the approaching White Lion. Both drew their twin maces in unison and advanced "Now we've got work to do!"

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!

A thunderous noise advanced above them. From on high, leapt Armorex. He landed and spun beside his brother. Dual bladed haken in hand. The two exchanged malicious glances. "Shall we brother?"
Leo withdrew his Beast Mode fangs, which formed a double-bladed sword. "Lets!" He sneered through a gritted smile. The four engaged each other with abandon. Lost in the greater battle of the Scavengers around them.

Far below, not everyone fell all the way down into the pit. A twist of fate and Brother Rhi plunged through a random air duct. He came too and took note of his new cramped surroundings. His left arm, half severed at the pauldron. Clearly his point of impact. his arm resting on a flattened vent casing. Wrenching pieces free from it, he began to fix makeshift repairs. "Training as a field medic did me some good after all, by Primus." His mind drifted elsewhere, so as to subconsciously finish his repairs.

He thought of Primal, Cheetor and Rattrap. Each really needed him at various times. Wherein this long fought war had left its mark on them all differently. The brotherhood had instilled in him that in war, it was imperative everyone from General to infantry had someone to turn to for help or even just a confidante.
He'd watched Primal's frustration gradually distance him from his comrades. He was still a top notch commander and a great credit to the Optimus academy. But as the solar cycles went by, he began to look on his troops, living and dead, with guilt at his failure to bring them home. To end this damnable war that much sooner.
Cheetor's need was more immediate. He had been taken prisoner by The Hive for many cycles. Only liberated from their territory when Megatron had slain a sufficient number of their ranks, for a rescue effort to be attempted. He was clearly traumatised by his ordeal. More so that his own careless and hot-headed nature had led to his capture. He had stormed off alone into the jungle, after a trivial argument with Dinobot.
Through much coaching, Rhi helped the scared adolescent channel his trauma and his rage. Applying it to his own development. What followed within the space of a solar cycle was an astounding rise through the ranks. Rhi and Primal himself both took tremendous pride in what Cheetor has molded himself into. Second in command of the Maximal Army. A guaranteed commendation from Primal that, when back on Cybertron, will take him anywhere he wants to go. Cheetor largely accredits his success to Rhino. But the reality is Rhi simply gave him the one on one attention and self-discipline he lacked.

Rattrap, is the latest in need of his particular aid. While over time, most of the Maximal Army have turned to the priest for various trivialities, Rattrap and Rhinox have been the most resistant. Rhinox, only ever addresses him on professional matters. Rhi has always suspected there is something Rhinox wanted to ask him. Something of a spiritual nature. There was a vague account of an event the scientist was involved in, he had overheard, concerning Primal's restitution as a Transmetal. Only general rumours persisted, given Rhinox was the only one onboard the Axalon at that time. After some lightly probing comments, Rhi incurred nothing but stonewalled silence. Eventually he dropped the subject completely.

Rattrap on the other hand, simply wasn't interested. He had been hit hard by a run of personal losses. Cast aside his command and outright withdrew from the war altogether. Further rumours speculated he had journeyed the Planet's mountain ranges. In search of.. something? Even to this day, their friendship deepened, that subject is a non-issue. Rattrap respects Rhi now, but trust seems another challenge altogether.

His shoulder now as patched as scrap metal and laser solder could afford, the large bot start to orientate himself away from his point of entry, to where the vent might possibly lead. He knows he needs to rejoin the others. But their last signals were a long way down. Although the vent was sloped towards that direction, his mass was too wide for inertia to take him. However, providence (or Primus himself) would intercede on that note. The last outer supports for the vent came loose from there moorings and the whole thing collapsed deeper within the structure of the facility. He swore. For the first time in his life and it felt justified.

Meanwhile

The Line

Rattrap, Tigatron, Rhino, Overbite, Bump, Armodillo, Mach Kick, Long Rack

With a gasp, Rattrap shot bolt upright. "Easy Rattrap. You're among friends" Tigatron's deep voice always carried a soothing air. Although his own personal tragedies had altered his natural temperament considerably for the worst. Once a reluctant combatant in the Beast War, a bot of peace. Now lost to vengeance against a monster, that single-mindedly set out to destroy his life.

Rattrap took stock of the energy cage they all seemed to be sitting in. All. He was relieved by the head count.
"Wait! Where's da Preacha!?!" Alarm was quickly working its way into panic for the otherwise nonchalant squad leader.

"You have more..pressing engagements to worry about than a missing priest, Vermin!" Tarantulas snapped his attention back into focus. The infiltration squad were not just in a simple holding cell, but what at the centre of an enormous laboratory. Something.. big and amorphous seemed to loom above them in darkness. At the apex of a massive vaunted ceiling. "Atttendants! To me" With a brief command, several figures entered the room from the access door ahead of them. To the confusion of the Maximals, three identical Transmetals walked into view. All were Tarantulas. But in a uniform silver and black.
"Indeed" Tarantulas relished the expressions on his captives faces. "Although The Hive are long dead, I couldn't let that cloning technology go to waste."

"waste, waste, waste" The clones repeated.

"Be quiet!" The spider flailed an arm of admonishment. Turning his attention back to his audience he continued. "Naturally... The process, was unique to those of Insecticon heritage. So perfecting artificial replication is an ongoing experiment."

"Experiment, experiment, experi- " Tarantulas glared with a murderous scowl and the Clones stepped back in unison.

"So where da we come in, Eight Eyes?" After checking his internal timer for the mission, Rattrap was satisfied to move the expected monologue along. A brief nod among his unit and they all transformed into Bot Mode. Weapons disabled, again as expected.

The three clones cackled as one. "Yes. Of course, your "role" here" Tarantulas absent-mindedly replied, while adjusting settings on the console before him. The great hanging object slowly began to lower into the light. Some creature seemed to stir with the motion and proceeded to scuttle in a descending spiral towards the imprisoned Maximals. With a resounding thud, Inferno landed in Beast Mode behind Tarantulas.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS OUTRAGE, SPIDER!?" A distorted voice bellowed from Transmetal mandibles. His antennae erratically surged in all directions. Even in ant form, he was the largest form in the room."MY QUEEN MUST NOT BE DISTURBED! THERE IS MUCH OF THE COLONY ABOVE FOR HER TO COMMAND"

Tigatron silently motioned to Rattrap through the exchange. Noting Inferno's optics were missing. As were pieces of his own armour, from several random places across his body.

Tarantulas clapped and the ant's head sprang immediately to meet the sound. "While this is a ...busy time for "her highness", it is time for her participation in the next phase of my experiment. Be thankful this time, I've found some fresh ..volunteers" Inferno seemed to briefly rear up before the scientist. "YES, YES. THE ROYALTY IS AWARE OF OUR.. OBLIGATION!" His antennae suddenly flared towards a specific point above."BAH, I AM NEEDED!" He leapt high into the air, landing back on the distant form and scurried back into the void."BUT HAVE A CARE HOW YOU ADDRESS THE QUEEN OF OUR COLONY IN FUTURE, INSECT" The booming voice grew ever distant "UNLIKE MEGATRON, ANTAGONY WOULDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT CONSUMING YOU FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!"

"Quite" The scientist murmured in response. Returning his view to his instruments.

"What have you done to him, to them, Tarantulas?" Tigatron growled with clenched teeth. "Were they not your comrades?". This time, all four spiders cackled in unison.

"A comedian, who knew?" Muttering through the remark, Tarantulas pressed four buttons in sequence and the energy contorted into a cone. Aiming upwards, towards the object Inferno emerged from. The expanding nature of the lattice field began to illuminate the structure however. Revulsion rocked the cell. Tigatron was visibly shaken and even Rattrap, ever the cynic, couldn't really believe his eyes.

"You see, with the demise of Transquito.. " Arms behind his back, Tarantulas slowly advanced upon them. As though giving a thesis."Insecticon CNA was hard to come by." The ascending light continued to illuminate, higher and higher. "When I found Inferno, following an encounter between Primal and Cheetor, he was so severely damaged. In exchange for my saving his life, of course. He practically volunteered his altered CNA for study." A softer chuckle, alongside a mild shudder of his shoulders, followed the recollection. The details didn't need to be elaborated."Although, over time he proved too small a sample size. I needed more." The clones now stood by his side."The problem, you see. Is that Insecticon cloning works by physical division of cells. You literally birth another you. In effort to expedite the process, I overtaxed Inferno's system and irreversible damage was done to his CNA. Though pain proved no obstacle to the brute. The flesh could no longer provide what his mind desired. So the Scavenger army withered." He shook his head in an overly exaggerated manner, for dramatic effect. Bump, a fellow scientist, felt absolute disgust in the body horror he was hearing described with such an air of breakthrough science.

"Enter Antagony. I was unaware Inferno and she were... an item" The clones all replicated the same shudder at the line. "However, she was a space pirate. Not as easily manipulated as Megatron's boot polisher. So I just promised her the same thing all those with ambition truly want" With that, the now vertical bars stopped moving and Inferno was visible again. This time, the object of his interest was clear for all to see.

"You monster! You sick, mad monster!!" Bump screamed as though in physical pain. His brother Armodillo barely held him back from charging at the bars towards the spider.

"You too are a scientist, Maximal. Clearly of lesser stock, but surely you appreciate the elegance of what you see before you." Tarantulas held his arms out in the air to marvel at what he had wrought."After all, is the idea not based on the nature of the organics these fools possessed Whahahahaha!"

A gigantic techno organic sack hung overhead. clear pods containing writhing protoforms clustered within. At the apex of this monstrosity, tubes and wires piercing every part of her frame, was Antagony. Although a feeding tube of liquid Energon as clearly visible, enter her upper torso. It was apparent she was very dead. A literal Ant Queen. The stuff of nightmares brought to life by a mad scientist. Inferno, though blind, seemed unaware of her passing and crawled to and fro, in an endless circuit. Attending to every minor detail of the assembly. Serving his Queen. His Colony.

The secret of the Scavenger army, a danger Shadow Panther had warned them of during the rise of The Hive, revealed. Endless, mass produced clones.

"She too seemed impervious to pain. In reality, she simply had no pain receptors. A defect from Protoform construction. Very Rare. Normally fatal. As was the case here" He looked up and stared directly at her, his expression one of marvel in his handy work. "I promised her an ever obedient army. One which she could overthrow Megatron and even Leo Caesar himself. She was so thrilled at the prospect, she didn't think twice about it. At her request, I removed the limiters on Transquito's reclaimed equipment. The process was happening too slowly for both of them. One day I entered the lab and she had simply, quietly, expired. Her "consort" was too damaged to even notice it seems. The CNA was stable and so extraction proceeded without end." Tarantulas then produced a controller from his palm and pressed the single button within. Gravity within the cell began to reverse and the Maximals began to float towards the egg sack.

"However, as noted, more is required for this process than mere Energon. I mean, I should know." He turned towards them fully for the first time and at that point they noticed half his head was missing.
"More raw materials are needed for the process.."Inferno instantly hastened towards the group. The end of the eggsack, began to open and the thrashing within intensified.

"That.. is where you "come in", vermin. Goodbye! EhhhaahaaWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

:PREDACON: End of Part Six :PREDACON:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Fri Jun 19, 2020 2:49 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Seven: - Operation Victory Part 3: Sinker


Pre-History Earth - The Beast Wars

The Underbase

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa.. Time out here!" Rattrap motioned as he spoke. Near the centre of his squad in mid-flight. "Let me see if I got dis straight." Tarantulas cocked his head. The clones mimicry ever present. Even unconsciously, he away from their line of sight."Ole Kimba up top, rigs a booby trap we all fall into. We all crash down here. Trapped, badly damaged and completely at'cha mercy." Counting these points off with this fingers. "So wadda you do? Fix us all up in your CR tanks. Only to then feed us to your freaky play doh factory? Dat about right??"

"Why yes. Your bodies had to be repaired to make sure all were viable spare parts. You being conscious for the process was just for my own amusement wahahaha." The mad spider rubbed his hands together with glee. Even permitting the clones their repetition.

"Just like we thought ya would." Rattrap smirked, as Tarantulas raised his brow.
"What are you talking about, Vermin?"
"We Maximals came here, for da last time. To end dis war, one way or de udda." A nod to Bump and the scientist withdrew a small silver orb from his forearm. Which was cast on the floor with a flash. A near instant localised polarity reversal. The Maximals softly descended to their feet. Rattrap clicked his fingers for attention and walked towards his Predacon rival. "We went into dis knowin' tings were serious dis time. We was playin fa keeps... Knievel Mode" He shrank down and Tarantulas was too dumbstruck to act."But some a you Preds clearly didn't get da memo. This is just another one o ya wacky schemes. Which we already accounted for. We took a risk on who'd be down here. As soon as I see it was you, we initiated plan C." An alert then signalled across every monitor and a klaxon began to sound.

"Wait?! What have you done???" Tarantulas instantly began to panic."No. The priest!" he deduced.
"EHHH! Wrong answer...Maximum Torque!" With that, the Maximal's vehicle mode began to rev and build up a tremendous amount of speed. Still pointed squarely at the Predacon. Yet held in place as the field remained."You did this. See we all came here with our own missions. Da Boss Monkey an' Cobalt Kitty were da bait to lure out the Space Pirates and whateva forces you had hidden behind de Black Gate." Systems began shutting down throughout the base. An.. inopportune time for Brother Rhi, who was just in the process of pulling himself up a ventilation shaft to a nearby corridor. When the sudden blare of the alarm on that level, distracted him just enough to briefly lose his footing and once again, he fell down further into the facility. Punching a hole straight through whatever floor he had climbed up from.

"De were da Hook. De bait to lure in de Preds. Our job was to clear a path straight to da Darksyde. We've known for quite a long time dis Mountain ain't legit." The Predacon and his clones were frantically working on the controls, trying to gain some hold on the situation, as Rattrap calmly continued."We're de Line. But don' worry, Eight Eyes.. You won't be around to see da Sinker!"
With, as if on cue, the field faded. Tarantulas span on his heels as Rattrap released his brakes...

"RATTRAP, MAXIMISE!" An incredible level of inertia did the rest. As Rattrap launched a rocketing punch straight into the scientists head. Which span uncontrollably for moments before he fell to the ground unconscious. "We knew you'd put us into your CR tanks. So we all got dosed with one a' Bumps nanosite formulas. On contact with a larger power source den us, they deployed and shut your little fortress down from da inside."
"The work of a scientist of lesser stock, I believe?" Bump smugly added, standing next to their downed foe. Armodillo tackled both to the floor just in time to avoid a barrage of laser fire from the now very aggressive clones.
"Gloating after we've won, maybe?" Armodillo added. The same smug tone now evidently shared by both siblings."Phase two, commander?"
The three of them deploying demolition charges from their forearms.
"Oh Yeahhh!" Rattrap yelled with glee. Rolling onto his back, he drew his weapon and blasted the active screen beside the clones. The small explosion, distraction enough for the Maximals to advance on their foes on even terms. Not knowing if these clones had been exposed to Aerogon, a frontal assault was their only option.

Tigatron and Overbite were the first to leap into the fray. Tigatron, the most at risk due to sacrificing his Transmetal body in effort to save the last Fuzors, showed no signs of fear or concern. In his organic Beast Mode he lunged with his jaws wide. They made contact with the right arm of the nearest clone and with a twist of his head, it was sent flying into the far wall. The arm firmly retained in the fangs of the white tiger. While the second clone initiated suppressive fire from his shoulder cannons, pinning Overbite behind a nearby console, the third made a break for the doorway behind him. Cowardice or a bid for reinforcements, the brothers couldn't afford either possibility, so the charged into the fray. Huckster Modes initiated. The twin uni-wheels crisscross the corridor, from floor to ceiling and back again. Coming to a halt directly in front of the doorway. Both transform and hold their blasters to the bewildered clones face. Who throws his arms up in surrender. The overtaken clone, temporarily distracted by the maneuver, swiftly falls prey to the concealed Overbite. Who leaves very little to be taken prisoner. Dismembering his foe with such ease even Tigatron looks uncomfortable. With Tarantulas and the three clones in restraints, Rattrap finishes locking the charges to key points of his tail whip.
"Okay, let's wrap dis up and get the heck outta dodge."

With a mighty thud Inferno plummets from the shadows above to the ground, head first. Mach Kick on top of him. "That was disappointing. I expected more of a challenge from one so large."

"EHHH War Horse! Where's ya hand?" Rattrap pointing out the unrealised missing appendage.
"Son of a Glitch!" The Maximal swore, before delivering a swift kick to the unconscious Ant's head. It barely moved.
Laughter broke out at the centre of the room. During the entire escape, Long Rack had been quietly studying the egg sack."If we are finished with unsolicited bravado, I believe I have completed the task I was issued." His Cyber Horse compatriot scoffed and transformed for prisoner transport. The Spider Bots slung over his back. Tigatron looked at Inferno, uneasy.

"Relax Stripes, he's out cold." Rattrap trying to be reassuring, with his ever present patronising air." 'Sides, we got bigga fish ta fry!" He pointed up to the Ant Queen.

"Thanks to the machinations of the Spider, detonations within the carapace should cause a chain reaction through the Energon tubes. Hopefully bringing this entire house of horrors tumbling down." Long Rack mused."We still have two problems though, commander. Egress, and Brother Rhino's location."

"Hold da phone! We got three problems." Rattrap interjected.

"What's the third, Rattrap?" The twins asked in unison. Advancing toward the group, away from the door.

"I saw four Spiders with Tarantulas." Taking a quick head count of those on Mach Kick's back "An only three on Thirty/Thirty, here." Their backs to the door, the forth clone quietly advanced. A very large missile launcher held by both arms. Tigatron briefly sniffed the air and started at something behind the squad.
With that, two massive hands clasped around the waist of the clone and he was rocketed off his feet, into the air. His head embedded in the doorway. A large form poked around the now inert hanging form.

"So sorry I'm late, brothers." Brother Rhi added. Edging around the limp Predacon, to enter the room. In contrast to his relatively unscathed compatriots, Rhino's form was dented, dirtied and torn in just about every possible area."I've had a terrible day."

"Okay.. So just da one problem now. How we getting outta here?" Rattrap added rhetorically. A sly pat on Rhi's good shoulder at his entrance, while he walked past to inspect beyond the door.

Noting the room opposite to house the CR tanks. Those adjacent, living quarters for six. Rattrap saw a single elevator to his right and a grate missing from the floor. Noting Rhi's access point. Poking his head through the doors, he observed a large enough translucent elevator that looked like natural sunlight shone at the peak of the shaft. "Maybe, we ain't all gonna die?" He muttered, surprised at the good fortune of his mission, so far. His internal timer showed he was 15 cycles ahead of schedule too.

"Fire in the hole!" Long Rack announced, as his squad then took cover. The lower opening to the egg sack had sealed itself magnetically since the power cut. As he was unable to access it manually, the normally technically minded engineer transformed into Cannon Mode and blew the hatch to pieces instead. When the dust cleared and the ringing in audio receptors abated, a strange beige ichor slowly dripped from the opening. Bump approached it first and with his Beast Head, extended the tongue out and obtained a sample.
"For Science!" He shrugged to the disturbed faces around him.

Rattrap appeared back in the doorway."Okay, we all set?" Overbite nodded and approached the opening with the bomb laden whip."You sure about this, bub?" He didn't seem overly confident in Rattrap's unorthodox delivery system. A familiar hand came to rest on his back, he looked up to see the one bot he trusted, smiling down on him.
"Believe in Rattrap, my friend." Tigatron reassured."Though gone from this war for some time, I have nothing but faith in our commander. So should you." With that, Overbite nodded assent and wedged the blade of the tail into position. He walked to the other end and held it at chest hit. The entire whip held firm in mid air.
"Still, who does this?" He concluded. Before pushing a concealed button and yanking off the last chunk of the hilt. A micro ignition erupted and the now elongated missile, shot straight up into its target.

"I do. Let's move out! I pull de trigger when we're topside." A sudden smug tone returning to the commander's voice.
With restraints around his legs, Overbite and Tigatron carried Inferno into the elevator. Rattrap hurried the rest onboard and was the last to enter. Pushing the button for the top floor. The elevator was an express one, another stroke of luck. Rattrap began to count down in his head. By this point, as Inferno lay entirely against the rear wall, space was becoming an issue. Only Rattrap, Overbite and Mack Kick in Beast Mode, stood with any level of comfort.

The display on the control panel made Rhi grope at his aching shoulder. They were 500 kliks from the surface. He had been in near constant free fall the entire way down. Even lower than where the others had first landed. At the 200 mark, Rattrap flipped the trigger. Only noted initially as a small rumble.
A tiny ball of energy was spied by Mach Kick in natural repose, looking through the floor. It appeared to be rising slowly. The rumbling began to increase.

At the 100 mark, the chain reaction was in full effect and from the freestanding shaft, the squad saw the entire base violently tearing itself apart. 'Come on, come on, we're almost dere' Rattrap thought to himself. Luck was a new experience and he wondered how long it would last. At 50 kliks, Inferno's antennae sudden flickered and the luck ran out.

"MY QUEEN!!!" Inferno suddenly screamed into consciousness and burst from his restraints, as though they were nothing. Chaos ensued. As the hysterical Predacon took up too much of the elevator car for anyone to effectively restrain him. "WHAT HAVE YOU WORMS DONE!?! THE COLONY NEEDS ME!! ..TERRORIZE!" With some sickening noises of long damaged parts contorting together, Inferno transformed into a Bot Mode that clearly hadn't been used in some time. In the confusion, he simply began to pound on the floor of the car. Given his prodigious strength, it didn't take long for the floor to crumble.

He launched himself into the explosions below. Mach Kick was the closest to him and buckled with the collapsing floor. The four Stasis locked clones slid from his back and fell into the rising maelstrom. Tarantulas body remained as Mach Kick jerked his hind legs and created a makeshift bridge across the hole. Tigatron and Rhino had quickly prised themselves into the corners. Knowing their greater weight would doom the others, while also in a bid to support the remaining structure of the car. As the rest of the party now balanced precariously above certain death. The Elevator had stopped at 25 kliks below the surface.

"I knew dere was a reason I picked 'chu on my team, Buckeroo!" Rattrap joked from on top of the pile.

"I could laugh - If it were funny - but then I'm pretty sure four more bots would plummet to their doom through my splitting sides" The Cyber Horse' morbid reply.

"Fair enough. Bump, any ideas? I could shoot the doors, but I don't think dat will end well." He heard a muffled response and a shiny silver ball suddenly flew up from below him and popped with a flash. A brief respite of anti-gravity. With that, Rhino pushed off the far well and drifted towards the doors. Slowly prising them apart as the field repairs on his shoulder began to come undone from the strain.

Nothing but solid metal greeted them on the other side. Bump estimated they were so far down as the higher element of the mountain was likely unoccupied so as to not attract attention. The rumbling intensified further and Rhino looked to the heavens for a miracle. At the same time, both he and Rattrap noticed the power cord for the car itself.

"Okay, Everybody up!" Rattrap ordered as a simple punch shattered the service hatch.

Deep below, Inferno stalked through a room worthy of his name. His legs had melted, but that was of little concern, as he climbed through the flames and explosions by his drill claws alone. His Bot Mode optics were still fully operational, though not for long. He soon spied Her. An elevated Head and adjoining spark casing were all that remained of her original body. All that had survived the explosions around them.

"MY QUEEN! I AM HERE!" He cradled her remains as his own continued melting. His sensors were not as acute as in his Beast Form, but through the destruction all around him, he thought he heard something.

"...Live..."

"HUH?" With that, the room erupted in a final explosion and the black eyed body of Inferno was vaporised.

This was the death knell of The Underbase. As the weight of the mountain was brought down to fill the void of the collapsing facility.

Rattrap alone was barely through the hatch was the final explosions hit the shaft and it shattered all around them.
"GRAB ONTO ME!!!" He screamed as he shot the mooring of the power cable he held with the other hand. The car plummeted into the depths and Rattrap, feeling a single hand grip his ankle, was yanked skyward into the growing light.

Above DiTillo Mountain seemed to instantly implode. The dust cloud from it carried much of the Scavenger Army away. Now all inoperative by unknown means. At the far end of the valley, a single Scavenger seemed to quietly jut into life. Its previous yellow eyes, glared red. Unfortunately, it couldn't move at all. As it had been crushed under a boulder by Grimlock.

Utter silence followed the mountains destruction. There was now a clear line of sight from the ruins of the Black Gate to the Darksyde itself.

From the sea of rubble, a small tapping started. A few moments more and the shining Transmetal hand of Rattrap reached out from the rocks. Desperately clutching at the air above. A massive hand came to rest on his, encompassing upto his forearm. The rat thought Rhinox had made it here just in the nick of time. He felt himself effortless pulled through the debris. Face to face with his saviour... Rampage.

"Welcome to my home, little mouse." Now, Rattrap knew his luck had run out. "You seem to be caught on something, let me help you" With a mighty heave of his body, Rampage pulled a veritable chain of Maximals, from the earth. That all surged up high into the clear skies. Only to crack down again like a whip on his far side. All had survived, even Tarantulas.

"We're all gonna die..." Rattrap confirmed, trying to scramble to his feet. He realised his team were on the opposite, dangerous side of the mountain now.
"Most Definitely." Rampage concurred. "What did you hope to gain from this? Squashing an ant hill?" Rampage mocked, even as he carelessly already trampled a Scavenger drone at his feet.

"An Opening!" Rattrap spat, barely on his knees at the feet of the warlord.
"Your ineffectual forces are already here. An opening for what?" Rampage smugly replied, withdrawing his laser rifle.

"FOR ME!!!" Rhinox announced over an intercom. A brief humming noise, caused Rampage to turn his head in confusion, as a huge hail of laser fire sent him flying. With that the Axalon decloaked and the final part of Operation Victory - The Sinker - had entered the battle. Rattraps squad all cheered and scrambled to their feet. Rattrap grabbed the King Crab's Laser Rifle and held it aloft..

"LET'S DO DIS!!" He screamed as his squad ran to engage the enemy. The now land based Axalon battle tank at their side, auto guns firing in all directions.

:MAXIMAL: To Be Concluded :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sat Jun 20, 2020 5:31 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter Finale - And then, there were none...


Pre-History Earth - The Beast Wars


The Darksyde

Rampage, Razorclaw, Quickstrike, Snapper, Spittor, Waspinator [MIA], Snapdragon [MIA]


"Laserbeak, respond?"

...

"Grand Armorex? Leo Caesar? This is Darksyde command, over?"

...

"Tarantulas? LORD RAMPAGE!?!" Static was the only reply to greet Razorclaw on the comms system. He slumped back in his reclining Torca armchair and interlocked his fingers. This is bad. The bomb released by the Heavy Cruiser left behind enough interference to blind all long range sensors. The remaining Predacons were awaiting Rampage's further advance order. He had departed with Quickstrike and Snapper ahead of the others to investigate unusual energy readings from The Underbase. Now only silence from the vast majority of the remaining Predacon Army. Silence has never been a positive attribute to Rampage.

He had insisted accompanying his lord, as vanguard. Ever Loyal, yet Rampage had uniquely denied the request. Razorclaw was to be the last Predacon to leave the Darksyde. He would insure everyone else's compliance and departure to the final battlefield, should the Maximals reach this far.
Another sign of concern, which he assumed a system glitch, was the growing offline status of the auto-guns. Too many were being hit simultaneously for a standard Maximal assault. They simply didn't have the manpower for a co-ordinated strike on that many targets.

"What is going on out there?" Annoyance started to build within the sadistic crab. His strength enhanced by Aerogon, made him cautious of his every movement. Since he accidentally broke a single tusk from his armchair, earlier this morning. As it now lay across his lap, he considered it a low priority in the current crisis. Yet was already busy mulling over with adhesive would be best suited to fixing it.

At that point, Quickstrike burst through his door. Soon followed by Snapper, who practically ran over him in blind panic."TheMadCrabisDEAD! They'reallDEAD! TheMaxi'sarecomingfortherestofus AHHHH!"
With lightning reflexes, the broken tusk was thrown full force into the hysterical Turtle. The force of which sent the third biggest bot in the Beast Wars hurtling back through the door and impaled by the shoulder in the hall. Her much feared heavy armour accounting for nothing. As she squirmed listlessly, Razorclaw rose to his feet. Quickstrike lay dumbstruck on the floor. He was soon swept into the air by his head, with two fingers of his much feared Second in Commander.

"CALMNESS" He ordered at them both. Squirming ceased and Silence fell in the hall. "Now. Sitrep."

Outside

A leaping elbow to the face and Leo Caesar staggered back, almost to one knee. His Lion Head arm cannon hanging limply, yet his right arm still tightly gripped his twin sword. Numerous minor abrasions littered his form and that of Primal. His Prime Helm was also heavily cracked. Primal only had one, partly broken mace remaining. But that would have to do to get the job done. Leo suddenly lunged forward once more with a savage swing.

B'Boom was dead.

Apelinq was almost defenceless, as Armorex relentlessly beat down upon. Raining a near endless succession of blows. Using the slain Maximal himself as his weapon. With the fall of the drone army, both he and Grimlock sought to attack the then isolated Mammoth, much to the screaming protestations of the old Drill Sargent. He simply couldn't get to them in time. Laserbeak had swooped in, out of nowhere. His speed greatly enhanced by Aerogon and flew Grimlock high into the air before tossing him further. With the advantage of surprise taken, Grand Armorex propelled himself towards the baboon and gutted him with his Haken, in one fluid motion. There was no time to react or even defend himself. The grizzled and cocky veteran of many battlefields, was dismissed as though he were a drone. Unable to prise his weapon loose as Apelinq leapt at him, the Space Pirate merely improvised and swung his new makeshift weapon with glee. One he knew honour would prevent Apelinq from even repelling.


Onboard the Axalon, Survive was ferrying the wounded and prisoners onboard. Grizzly-1 was likewise being dispatched in his own ATV Mode to assist Primal and Apelinq. Those on the ground had lost sight of Cheetor and the other Seekers, save for Laserbeak. Last seen advancing towards the Darksyde. Four prisoners and three wounded. Rhinox wondered how much longer this would go on and how much of this strain the retrofit Axalon could take? He was just lucky the only assault was from auto-guns so close to the Darksyde. Yet, who else was in there? Could the base be taken before Rampage recovered? What happens then?

Outside, Rattrap and his squad struggled for cover. The naturally volatile geography of the Darksyde crash site had made any kind of fortifications or building impossible. So Megatron just settled for auto-gun emplacements. A lot of them. To the Line, it seemed like every third rock was another high powered blaster. They did the best they could. But each was well aware, without the Axalon drawing the majority of the fire, they'd be dead in nano-cycles. Beast Modes too were the most effective means of travel, as high levels of Energon radiation persisted in this region. Given they too were harmful to Transmetals, this energy field had clearly been augmented by Megatron, as another means of defence.

Rattrap thought back to the Heavy Cruiser. Wherein Megatron is in lockdown within a Stasis Pod. He wished he'd been strapped to that missile too. Aimed right for the Darksyde itself. A concussive bolt above his head dismissed such wishful thinking from his head.

Tigatron had ran ahead. At full speed, the white tiger had managed to close the distance on the Predacon base largely before many defences could trigger, let alone fire. He saw Rampage. Unconscious and embedded in one of the Darksyde landing legs. A temporary victory, he reflected, as he used the Warlord's body as a springboard to gain access within.

Inside, Razorclaw was not happy. He had retrieved the weaponised tusk from the wall with little difficulty, following his debriefing. He dismissed the Fuzor and the Turtle to rejoin the battle, with the others... or else. As they ran, he ventured down through the base. Towards Rampage's throne room. To arm the bomb.

Outside the door, he was surprised to discover Tigatron. An offline Spittor within his jaws. He immediately withdrew his missile launcher and fired. At the same time, the Maximal threw his quarry into the weapon's open barrel. The explosion left the giant crab reeling and gave Tigatron the time to transform and attack. In spite of his otherwise commanding size, he was still dwarfed by his foe. A Crab Bot of equal size to Rampage himself. Though of lesser power to Protoform X, he was still as dangerous as Megatron himself, or..

"WHERE IS SNAPDRAGON?!" Tigatron demanded as the two struggled. "If there is one bot that is not leaving this world alive, I have sworn it is he!"
"I'd be more concerned with myself right now, if I were you. Say, you'd make a really lamp"Razorclaw revelled in his past time. Which was known to all sides. Tigatron managed to land a solid hook to his jaw, but he was being overwhelmed. His foe grabbed his punching arm with his left, while striking out with a back fist of his right. Colliding with Tigatron's head, dazing him with its power. The Predacon repeated the ferocious attack over and over. Never letting go of that right arm, keeping the White tiger restrained and his stance low. He then released the arm and the same hand then lifted the Maximal by his torso straight into the ceiling above. The Maximal hit the ground with a sickening crunch. Only for Razorclaw to slam his foot down upon him, several more times. Severely damaged as he was, Razorclaw laughed as this near suicidal adversary, though barely audible, repeated his question over and over. He stooped down and leaned into audio range. "He took off with Waspinator about a mega cycle ago. Cams show they're likely offworld by now. A pity." He stood back up, before bringing his heel down a final time on the Maximal's head. As he walked towards the bomb, he reassured himself there was still enough to salvage for his new lamp. He looked upon the scraps of his favourite launcher and the charred body of Spittor, forgotten completely during the fight, and rolled his optics. "Not even worth making into a gun rack."

Ducking his head, he stepped through the hole in the wall and observed the bomb. Suspended from chains above, a pulse emitter was aimed at a wide magma pool in the centre of the room. Tarantulas didn't have sufficient time to build a heat and pressure resistant explosive capable of reaching a planetary core in the days since this offensive was underway. In light of his elsewhere needed expertise with the drone army. To bolster their ranks, should this pseudo-Energon not be enough. His solution was the next best thing. An enhanced gravity beam, fulled by an Aerogon cache above, would blast down to the core. The bomb, transmitted at light speed along the beam. Goodbye Planet Earth. He reached to his left and grabbed his Fractyl spear. The beak fashioned into a hook with minimal effort. Pulling the device closer for a final inspection and to set the timer. He flicked open a panel and rubbed his fingers across the controls. The timer and two buttons - Set and arm. Simple, but effective. He span around as he heard the click of a gun trigger. Tigatron lent on the open door of the surface elevator, across the corridor. His Gut Gun aimed squarely at his aggressor. Even leaning against a wall for support, he could barely stand at mid-height.

"HA HA HA Marvellous! Your materials are more durable than a dozen Transmetals. I am impressed. I definitely think you deserve more than a lamp now." The Predacon saw no threat in the weapon or the rage in the face of the Bot wielding it.
"That" Tigatron struggled to utter "Looks ..important" Razorclaw looked confused. "A pity." With that, a blast was fired directly at the emitter. A smirk on his lips, he punched the elevator button and heard a scream of panic as the doors closed shut. A rumble followed as he reached the surface. By this time, Armodillo and Bump had made their way to his last known coordinates, as per Rattrap's instruction. He managed a few steps before keeling over onto the ground. They rushed to his aid, as thick black smoke began to billow from the Elevator shaft.
"He isn't here. Forgive me, Airazor..." He sombrely whispered before falling into Stasis Lock.
"You crazy cat..." Bump replied. Before alerting Survive, for immediate extraction.

The battle was drawing to a close. The Axalon had come to a complete stop 30 kliks from the Darksyde. It had run aground into a sudden magma flow and was now almost as stuck as the Predacon ship. With the last of the auto-guns now silent and those onboard secure, Rhinox joined the rest outside. Primal and Apelinq led those prisoners still standing - Quickstrike, Snapper and the remaining Seekers into custody. To their count Snapdragon, Waspinator, Laserbeak and the two crabs were all that remained of the Predacon forces.

Brother Rhi stood beside Rattrap as they were in front of the Axalon. Grimlock had eventually been found hanging from a stalagmite by his tail. An indignity that had put him in a very bad mood. Polar Claw had even managed to find what is believed to be Inferno, reactivated within a Scavenger drone. Discovered under a boulder, due to an excess of profane cursing. An inhibitor was immediately applied to prevent his replication.

As the sun began to rise on a new day and in spite of the added threat of Aerogon, the Maximals had only lost two bots in this final conflict. Two bots, Primal lamented that wouldn't be going home, yet would proudly join their peers within the Matrix. Razorbeast, lost beneath the initial swarm of the Scavenger drones, and B'Boom. Slain by Grand Armorex. Yet the threat of the Space Pirates was now over. Leo Caesar was a prisoner and as Apelinq left the Axalon once more, a broken Haken swung from his side.

Those still on their feet, gathered by Primal at the head of the Axalon and marched towards Rampage.

Outside the Darksyde, as the smoke continued to rise, the elevator platform suddenly flew into the air. Razorclaw slowly rose up. The still unconscious Spittor, an impromptu sling over a badly burned arm. Magma burns peppered his armour and he slowly staggered towards Rampage. Who had begun twitching. The Warlord prised himself out of his mooring and proceeded to stretch out his limbs. His immediate gaze and attention were on the Axalon. Far too close for comfort. "CLAW!" A summons cast into the ether.
"I am here, my lord.." The underline staggered into view.
"What has happened? Where is my Army?? WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME THEY HAD ONE OF THOSE, THINGS!?!" His rage palpable. directing Razorclaw's attention to the surprisingly mobile Maximal base, before them.
"All is lost, my lord. The drones are scrap. Your warriors are either imprisoned or slain. The Maximals approach, we must withdraw." Rampage seemed to calm with this news. Razorclaw was relieved the gravity of the situation had cut through his wrath. There may be some way to salvage this situation at a later date?
"Claw."
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Gun" He extended out his hand.
"Yes, my Lord." without hesitation, handing his master his own Laser Rifle. Which Rampage took and blew Razorclaw's head away.
"THERE WILL BE NO RETREAT! They will all die before me.. RIGHT NOW!" The body of his most loyal soldier, fell unceremoniously to the dirt. Trampled underfoot as the Mad Warlord advanced towards his foes.
"NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" A piercing shriek from above caused all to start, as Laserbeak rocketed towards the King Crab.

Long ago, during a minor skirmish, Laserbeak had been shot out of the sky and had come to land awkwardly within an open stasis pod. Which prompt began to sink into the ocean. Pinned by a faulty hatch and with no aquatic Predacons around, he began to drift deeper and deeper down. The Energon radiation growing ever stronger the further down he sank. At that point, Razorclaw emerged from the edge of the precipice and gripped the pod with both claws. Breaking it asunder, Laserbeak rocketed into the air and back into Beast Mode, just in time to save his life. He never forgot that debt and although Razorclaw never knew, from that day forth he had a guardian angel in the skies. One that saved him from unseen ambushes and potentially deadly cross fire.

Now, he would never know. Now, Laserbeak had ultimately failed to repay his debt when it mattered most. He flew directly at Rampage, who dropped the rifle and caught him with both hands before his face. With all of his enhanced power, Laserbeak unleashed a sonic scream the likes of which will never be heard again. Nor forgotten by anyone that day. Filled with anguish, sorrow and wrath. Rampages optics and audio processors shattered to nothing. Likewise his other sensors all overloaded at once. He screamed in pain for the first time in the Beast Wars. Not that a soul, even himself, could hear it. Thrashing in reflex, he tore the thing in his hand in half effortlessly and threw the pieces aside. His senses lost and every atom screaming in pain, he withdraw his missile launcher and simply held down the trigger.

Protoform X was now fully unleashed upon the battlefield. An insane, flailing berserker, striking out everywhere at once. Those on the ground took cover as missiles surged in all directions. No one knew how many rounds his weapon had but Primal knew he had to be stopped now! Being the largest bots, Primal directed two teams. Grimlock would lead Polar Claw, Survive and Grizzly-1 to flank his left. While he Apelinq and Rhinox would flank his right. Amid the confusion, two missiles hit directly before Grimlock's squad and they vanished in the explosion. While Rhinox and Brother Rhi ran to the wounded, Rattrap tossed Primal the previously found rifle and he took immediate aim and shot clean through Rampage's firing hand. The launcher dropped like a stone into a magma pool. But Rampage still wasn't done. Between clasping his head and swinging his arms out before him he was as great a danger as ever. Screaming all the while.

Switching to Flight Mode, Primal and Apelinq gained enough ground to grab hold of an arm each. In a bid to restrain him. Their combined might wasn't enough, with primal elbowed into rock behind them and Apelinq thrown to the floor. Soon utilising all his strength to hold back Rampage's foot from crushing his chest. Still in Beast Mode, Primal lunged and this time grabbed the King Crab's head in a choker hold he didn't have purchase to resist. This time, rejoining the struggle, Rhinox and Brother Rhi managed to gain hold of his arms. the four Maximals held on with all their might, in a desperate situation that seemed without resolution. Rhino made effort to pacify the Mad Predacon, letting go of his arm ever so slightly.

"Please brother, STOP!! I don't know if you can here me, but this madness must end! Too much has been lost, too long have we all fell victim to this awful war. You have been wronged and wronged in return. But the cycle of violence must end here. We are all children of Primus, so can't we all just go home?"

Rampage ceased screaming and briefly seemed to sniff the air. "Padre..?" His garbled vocal processor seemed almost calm once more.
"Yes, Yes brother I am here"Noting his shattered optics, he instinctively turned his held palm towards himself. As he had done in comfort to many blind before.
"Tell.. Primus.." His voice grew quieter and Rhino drew closer."Yes, child?" Hope grew in his face. The thrashing lessened.
"I will send his children back to him, one at a time. Starting with you..."His hand shot through Rhino's chest, crushing his spark casing on other side. X screamed in delight. Stamping down with full force and Apelinq was taken too unaware by the sudden speed of the motion to survive. Rhinox was immediately grabbed around the throat by the hand he briefly eased his grip on and cast down, held half submerged into the magma pool. Rampage then threw himself backwards, trying to crush Primal. Over and over Rampage tried to release that grip around his neck. It was at this point, Optimus Primal simply snapped. With a roar, the Maximal leader tugged with all his might and ripped the Predacons head clean off his body. Rhinox pulled himself out of the pool with a gasp, badly damaged. Primal stood down from the slumped torso and in disgust, tossed the head away.

The Beast Wars were over... :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:06 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Epilogue: Dusk til Dawn


Pre-History Earth: The Beast Wars

The Axalon - Storage deck

Dusk

As the other Maximals busy themselves with stripping the Axalon of designated components, guard duty falls to Grimlock. He sits alone, on a single box, twirling his sword like a cane. The point of the blade superficially embedded in the ground as he spins the hilt around his down-turned palm. Opposite him, his charge. The reinforced stasis pod that houses Megatron. Oblivious to the ongoing drama around him. Deep in stasis lock. Grimlock does not hide the contempt for this monster on his face. As he glares at that inactive purple face, through the pod hatch.
"That name! Why is it wherever that name resounds, untold misery follows in its wake?" Grimlock briefly bares his fangs at the thought of it. "Names. Histories. Repeating, over and over. No one ever learns. Our race trapped in a cycle of death! With That name always at its heart. The accursed Megatron!" Fast as lightning, he sweeps up his sword and holds it aloft. Pointing the blade directly at the face of his enemy. "Me could kill you now! For all you've done on this world. So many bots lost to this war. Because of you!!"He pauses, then the Sword lowers down to the ground once more. Scrapping a single line down the facade of the pod. One of many. "But... No. Primal wants you alive to face justice on Cybertron, for all your crimes. More important than that though. Me Grimlock not kill an unconscious opponent. No challenge. No Honour. Me would wake you first. The war finally be over. Better yet if you don't know that til we are far away from this place. You smarter than namesake, no telling what you would do." He resumes spinning his sword on the ground. His gaze never leaves that face. His duty ends in seven megacycles. He counts every cycle.

Heavy Cruiser - Prison deck


"RRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

"Ahh! My audio receptors! Shut that frog up!!!" Terranotron squawks down the hall.
Spittor was the last Predacon to be brought down into the cells. Although he had been fully healed within the Maximal CR chambers, until now, he had been in stasis. A quick slap to the face by Snapper, soon restores the screaming amphibian to his senses. Silence returns to cells. Weapons rendered inoperative, The surviving Predacons were placed into the prison level, three to a cell. Aside from Leo Caesar, due to the odd number, being alone at the end of the hall. In normal circumstances, he would approve. However since the conclusion of yesterdays battle, he simply sits on his haunches in the corner of his cell. Arms folded on his lap. He outright refused CR healing and upon being led to his cell, silently stared out into the ether, ever since. The loss of his brother perhaps too great a wound for even the legendarily callous and merciless leader of the Space Pirates?
Clutched delicately in his right hand, a physical copy of the datatrax of Grand Armorex. A humane act on behalf of the deceased, by the Maximals. At Primal's insistence. For those that fell in the conflict, yet were unable to be saved in time. Be they Predacon or Maximal. In truth, as Caesar was informed, only Antagony was deemed irretrievable. Though arguably, she may have already been lost for sometime before the Underbase was destroyed.
Caesar would upload his brother to his ship, when he escapes. That was his intention. He would worry about the logistics of acquiring a subtle Class 5 Protoform on the open market, later. This was not the first time he had been captured by his former faction. Escape was an inevitability. For now, aside from his grief, he envisioned all the ways he would torture that thieving Hammerhead. Who wrought all this upon his band.
A loud thud outside the cells, shifted everyone's attention beyond their bars. As the headless body of Rampage was cast down by Primal. Himself, still battle worn since last nights conclusion. The eyes of all within widened in awe at the sight before them. Shifting from the Warlord to Maximal General and back again. This was it. The War really was over. They lost.
Spittor backed away from the sight, before tripping on something behind him in the shadow of his cell. The third Predacon remained unmoved in the darkness. Stripped of weapons and armour, Spittor struggled to place who the massive figure was, crooking his head to one side quizzically. Suddenly, Snappers hands clamped down on his shoulders and flung him to the right hand wall.

"Apologies Razorclaw!" She uttered quickly with a swift bow "We humbly apologise for disturbing you" More bowing followed, as she retreated back the cell bars. Shooting a death stare at Spittor, who himself was laying head first on his charge slab. Bewilderment across his features. Razorclaw did not answer, nor even acknowledge his cellmates by opening his optics. He sat in the dark, arms around his raised knees. Dwelling on the events of mere megacycles ago.

Optimus Primal cleared his throat for attention and at last, spoke. "Before the final conflict began, Brother Rhino came to my quarters. He threw a blaster at my feet. As many of you knew, Rhino came to this conflict without an offensive weapon. Only his shock stick. He refused to bring lasting harm to any "Child of Primus", no matter the faction. Those were his beliefs. Although I tried to convey the severity of what we all would later take part in. His conviction remained absolute." Primal withdrew a small Lock lens and used it on Rampage's body. Which promptly transformed into King Crab mode. Albeit upside down. It's legs and claws unconsciously folding inward, as the Maximal continued.
"He said, that although we all knew this was to be the last battleground. None really had the spark after all this time to annihilate their foes utterly. That deep down, we all ultimately just wanted to go home. Wherever that may be. In so doing, he convinced myself and the other Maximals to change our own minds and to remember who we are. Who we were before this war brought out the Beast in all of us. In his memory and following his example, I intend to bring you all home." At this point, he sighed deeply and transformed into Bot Mode. His gaze trailed down to the body at his feet. "Rampage killed Rhino last night. He killed Apelinq, Grizzly-1, Survive and even Laserbeak. Yet Rhi stated that even Rampage deserved better than to be dumped alone on this world. As per our original orders"

With mention of Laserbeak, did Razorclaw open his optics. As Primal carried on his speech, he secretly brought his hand upto his face and held up the datatrax from his palm with two fingers. He observed the remains of Laserbeak. His mind a swirling mass of emotions. The strongest among them was the sense of betrayal. Betrayal from his master and idol. Betrayal from his troops for surrendering. Betrayal from, this one. A bot he held in high regard, higher than most. Who virtually enabled Rampage's defeat. For what? It took the Maximals 10 cycles to find Razorclaw's head. Though his mouth and vocal processor had been vaporised from the blast, his core processor remained intact and his spark, still strong within his battered body.
Why did Laserbeak do it? Why did he throw their best chance at winning away??
Always bet on the leader.
A motto dating back to their ancestors, the Decepticons. Yet it still remained a popular belief among his own people. They had victory within their leader. Nothing without him. Razorclaw gazed intently at the dataslug between his finger tips. Small cracks started to form.

Dawn

Rattrap sat cross legged on a boulder, far from view of the Axalon or the Heavy Cruiser. He held up an unusual crystal into the growing light of the sun. Staring into the spectrum of light viewable through the prism. He closed his eyes and nodded to himself. A decision had been reached. He jumped down to the ground and inserted the Aerogon crystal into one of the hollowed out optics of Rampage's inert head before him. Leaning back against the boulder, Rattrap waited for a reaction. Passing the time by flicking pebbles at the face of the mad crab. Within two cycles, colour had returned to the head. Shortly after that, the optics regrew in their entirety. After five cycles, there was no visible damage at all. Aside from the open neck. Although all mech fluid had ceased leaking from it. Rattrap continued to observe, with a growing scowl.

"...adre?" Rampage's voice spoke out suddenly. "I had a dream, Padre." Though physically healed, it appeared to Rattrap that the Predacon wasn't aware he could see again. As he continued to converse with who he believed to be Brother Rhi. "I saw Primus, Padre! A vision, you might say! A great noble face beaming down upon a darkened Cybertron, like an almighty star. Only I seemed to be able to see Him. Yet, try as I might, He was always out of my grasp. So I had a plan. One at a time, I began to pull all those around me closer. Before I butchered them all. First Megatron, then Primal and before long, even my own beloved Transmutate. I slew them all and they died with smiles on their faces. As I stacked them, their corpses, higher and higher. Until with the last, my own ever faithful Razorclaw, I could finally reach that grand visage. Primus smiled benevolently at me, as I lay a hand upon That face. It felt.. pure and warm. I recoiled for an instant. Before I transformed and dove upon Him. My claws pierced those eyes. My legs forced the screaming mouth open wider and wider. Before I dove inside... Tearing my way back out. The light died with Him and as ...The Other, approached in His stead. I turned to face him. Covered in the viscera of His opposite, I unleashed a primal scream and at that point I awake, each morning. Smiling"
" Ehh You are one nutty erector set, you know dat?" Even Rattrap, the eternal cynic, was more than a little disturbed but what he just heard.
"Ohhh... It's, The Vermin."The Predacon's optics finally coming into focus. Though there still seemed a slight delay between optic and audio. "Yawn! Another jibe. Another who does not appreciate my touch, with the divine. The Padre would understand, such a prophetic vision. A pity he died so easily. A fool to discard his Transmetal body in futile hopes to save those weaklings. What chance did he think a non-Transmetal had to survive this war? Hohohohaha" This struck a nerve with the Maximal, who promptly withdrew his blaster and shot out Rampage's left eye. Which regrew by the time the shards of the last hit the floor. "Maximals seem to enjoy futility." He scoffed as he stared down the smoking barrel of the gun before his eyes. "Although I don't know how I came back online so soon. Feeling a lot better now, I am willing to make you an deal, my ineffective little assassin.
"Oh? Well for a head in da dirt, dat's mighty big'a ya ..Dis oughta be good! Let's hear it, Crab cake."
"I can feel one of those pesky Lens has rendered my body immobile. No matter. A CR tank will remove those effects. So after that has been done, return me to my body. When I am fully restored, I promise you that you will be the last one to die. After you have flown the two of us back to Cybertron." The tone of the Warlord's voice informed the seriousness of the offer.
Rattrap, putting an exaggerated hand to his chin, to contemplate the "offer". He finally stood upright and began to walk towards the demented head. "Ehhh now we're sure dat ya still crazy, I tink it's time ta wrap dis up" With that, Rattrap lifted the severed head by the horns from either side and continued walking. "So ya tinkin dat, as I'm one of the smallest, da weakest. Dat I'm no threat ta you. We had plenty'a run-ins over dis war. I ain't no match fa you. Not even close. Ya bigger, stronger and next ta invincible. Who even knows if ya can feel pain?" A slight, leading pause. Rampage in his hubris, took the bait.
"Oh but I do." He appeared to lament, sombrely. " I may heal like no other, but I still feel every wound. However, the sensation merely fuels my resolve."
"Good ta know" Rattrap came to an abrupt stop. Rampage briefly rattled in his arms.
"Careful, you fool! My patience, like my deal, does have its limits" Rattrap mockingly bowed his head. Before raising it again with a smirk.
"Here's my deal. I injected an Aerogon crystal I found in Eight Eyes' lab, directly into ya head. Dat's why ya healed so fast. Faster den eva by how quick ya recovered from my test shot." The Warlord raised a brow and seemed at a total loss.
"You, purposely, made me more powerful than ever? Invincible?! To what end?? I thought you might try some pitiful attempt at revenge for your dead friends. That that was the point of the blaster. Now..?"
"Ya got it all. Every single advantage ova me ya can and if I let ya live, like Primal wants, all'a Cybertron will pay. Like Rhi, Snarl and Packrat." Rattrap looked to the ground briefly, reflecting, biting his lower lip. His voice cracking ever so slightly with each name of the roll call.
"Well I say every advantage.." Looking directly into the Predacons' eyes, the smirk returned. " I do have one thing ya ain't got.
"And what would that be, my feeble little friend? A smug grin in reply.
"Butterfingers" He said, with a gaze to the floor.
"Butter wha...? Wait! NOOOOOOOOO!!! Following the line of sight, Rampage's confusion turned to horror as his head plunged into a magma pool. Disappearing from sight. Rattrap turned and walked back to the Axalon, cracking his fingers. Sitting on a nearby hilltop, Overbite observed the whole thing and motioned to Rattrap as he walked by.
"Oops" Rattrap replied with a shrug. Overbite nodded and returned to his own business.
Within the Heavy Cruiser, the imprisoned Predacon's all dove for cover in their cells. As the formerly unmoving corpse of their Warlord erupted into violent thrashing. Even Primal leapt backwards and readied himself for battle. With some effort, several Maximals eventually manacled the body within energy restraints. Even then, however subdued, the body continued to twitch constantly. Rhinox and Primal were at a total loss as to why. Later, Rattrap and Overbite, offered no explanation.
One week would pass. During which time, the conclusive act of Operation: Victory would be realised. Optimus Primal had promised, to The Vok and later, the Mutants, to undo the harm caused to this planet by their war. Having all the Predacons put into stasis, the Heavy Cruiser traversed the planet's surface. Using Shadow Panther's detailed reports, they levelled every single base and facility created by Cybertronian hands. Securing all mined Energon, they were able to power the Heavy Cruiser several times over to achieve this. Lastly came the true purpose of the Axalon's mobility. Even something as powerful as this Predacon Warship would expend too much energy destroying both the Darksyde and Axalon. So both reactors were rigged to overload with Aerogon, mostly syphoned from the dormant Predacons. The beginnings of this plan, came to Primal through Megatron's machinations with the Golden Disk. Most Maximals had extensive files on Planet Earth. Some even served there, at Autobot City. The Predacon region, did not fall under any geological data on file. Indicating, in the future, it didn't exist.
As the Heavy Cruiser reached lunar orbit. A nod from his commander and Rhinox flipped the switch. The enhanced twin reactors generated a blast that even caused a shockwave through the upper atmosphere. Predacon territory, as well as the crashed ships that the war first sprang from, were erased from history. In deep space, before taking the Transwarp shunt home, a tight-beam transmission was sent directly to Cybertron. With a sit-rep on their entire struggle and a single message.

"This is Optimus Primal, to Maximal Command. We're coming home!"

De humans have a story, known as Schrodinger's Cat. De general gist is of something being both dead an' alive. Dis would be the fate of Protoform X. Drifting down through Da magma flows of an alien world. He would experience pain beyond imagination. Yet through Aerogon, he would never find release or escape from this torment. Falling deeper and deeper. Forever.

Justice for Da fallen.


:MAXIMAL: End of Chapter Four :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:16 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter Five: Legacy


Part One: Loose lips sink ships


Medbay of Cosmos - subspace


"This is Optimus Primal, to Maximal Command. We're coming home!"


"Hmm. That's still not right." Omega Magnus continues to monitor the vital signs of his newfound companion, deep in stasis since their departure from Cybertron. This, Overbite. Apparently not just any rank and file Beastie, but part of General Primal's lost vanguard.
'I don't understand the query, Grand General?' Cosmos relayed through the vid screens. 'The young ones datatrax have been on constant loop of these events for the past nine solar cycles. No detail has altered in all that time'

"Details, my old friend. Details are everything." Looking up from his instruments at the feet of the dormant Maximal to address his ally directly. "I have been privy to the detailed reports of the Beast Wars, disclosed to the Maximal Elders and since suppressed from public record. These datatrax don't mesh with any of that. Not only general inconsistencies here and there. Such as the latter, unusually truncated security footage of Megatron's prison break on Level 117. But in broader strokes.
The Maximals returned to Cybertron in a Maximal Symbol Ship. Nothing on a secret Predacon Heavy Cruiser. Nor were any prisoners mentioned, beyond Megatron."
Magnus briefly paused and sat down on his stool to process this."For his datatrax to recount these events so unairingly, would suggest they've been doctored. That, poses a lot more questions." Giving one more cursive glance at this wounded Maximal, Magnus got up and moved to the bridge. "Terrorise and Maximise, eh? His parting words as the door closed behind him.
Three great shocks rocked the ship, sending Magnus flying down the hall. "Cosmos!?! Report!"
'Grand General, they've found us! Three direct hits to the shield array. Further assault may lead to catastrophic damage within subspace.'

"Quantum Mines..."
Outlawed weaponry. While Transwarp weapons were an indirect parallel to the advancement of the warp drive technology itself. The weapons were soon decreed by all forbidden. Not even the Preds dared after the first tests were made public. Seemingly ordinary weapons fire within subspace, causes physical damage to reality itself, within the adjacent area of natural space. Irreparable tears to the very fabric of reality. Great fissures that expose our dimension to unusual and lethal radiations. Many sectors of space from these early test fires have been quarantined as no-mans land by the Galactic Alliance. The cause and effect of hubris laid bare heheheh.
"How close are we to Sanafar?" Magnus asked. Now steady on his feet once more. He reached the bridge before the next blast rocked the ship, and Cosmos was finished calculating the Nav system.
'Within two systems. I am reading multiple enemy signatures throughout this sector however.' Two more hits followed.
"Yes, we know we're being goaded into regular space. The purpose of this carpet bombing of subspace is pretty clear. Either force us to disengage the Transwarp drive or else risk being blasted off course into one these blasted tears.. Certain death, either way."

They have been quite relentless. Though the main assault vessel that destroyed Cybertron remained in orbit. An armada of at least 100 smaller fighters have pursued us ever since we escaped. Uncanny tracking abilities and as we've also discovered, greater armament than we can effectively deal with. A small squadron, maybe. But even one hundred strong, the co-ordination of these fighters is remarkable. There hasn't been time to even process the loss of homeworld. Our only hope, is to unite with the other Wreckers. My initial plans to seek out the Terrorcon had to be put on hold since our new friends showed up. Blot's classified location is a long way from Cybertron. A difficult journey, even during "peace time". Out of the question now.
Besides, my Captain has our Symbol Ship with him. That would remove the risks of the longer journey entirely.
"Sigh... Cosmos. Active the shunt."

Here we go.

Elsewhere


Silverbolt soars through the skies. His mind takes him back to another time, another place. Metal wings glisten in the starlight. Engines thrust his jet form effortlessly into the great beyond. His brothers, ever at his side. Now, he opens his optics on the present and he flies alone. He looks from left to right, observing his wings.
"Feathers? Bah! Just not the same." His perimeter patrol complete, he arches down towards the lab. Hidden at the bottom of a thick, jungle ravine. He transforms and lands atop the complex. The only physical entrance. Beside a sheer cliff face overlooking a tectonic valley, many leagues to the north. He finds one expected bot to greet him as he enters the door. Standing ever stoic in the elevator. Arms crossed and with an impatient expression rigid across his face.
"Morning Prowl. I see you're in a good mood today." Said with a chuckle and a playful jab to the Lion bot's shoulder.
" You are thirty five cycles later today, than your patrol average. I thought it best to send Ironhide on ahead to begin today's tests." He turns his back on the cavalier flier and his attitude.
"Same old officious Prowl. Centuries of war. The Great Upgrade and they still couldn't find a way to remove that stick from your exhaust port." This time, a less playful pat on his head followed. "Lighten up. We are the Maximal Elders, after all. We have no curfew. No deadline. No one even knows where we are, in fact. Let alone, what we are doing!"

"It is our duty to complete this experiment, as expediently as possible. To safeguard our way of life from all potential threats." Prowl turned his head, cast one eye on his fellow Elder. "Flippancy and irresponsible disregard for the rules, won't save us from enemy attack!" The last words spoken with an icy tone.

"What enemy?!" The former Aerialbot, snapped back. "The Preds? The Council push their luck with minor schemes, every so often. But never anything bold enough to involve more than the "mediation" of your Wreckers." He grabs Prowls shoulder and spins him round to continue his point. "Who else? The Cons?? They've been nothing since Nebulos and we both know that all too well. Or have you forgotten?" With that, Prowl's intractable veneer briefly breaks and he violently shoves the Eagle Bot to the other side of the elevator. Silverbolt hits the floor with a thud, the car shakes and although on the ground with equal speed, aims a Wing launcher point blank at Prowl's head. The stand-off seems to last forever.


Ping


The doors open and without reaction, Ironhide steps forward. He retracts Silverbolt's wing with his right hand. while over his shoulder, walks a smouldering Prowl out of the car with his left.
"Mornin' Fellas! The usual breakfast, I see." The larger bot offers a hand to the Flier and the two make their way to the control room. Prowl now several kliks ahead. Fists clenched and a scowl across his face, obvious to his friends from even this distance. They've all known each other far too long to think any different.
"You boys ever gonna play nice? Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one keepin' the peace here." With a sigh, the Elephant Bot grabbed the Flier in a headlock and knocked his knuckles off his dome. The two laughed as they made their way to today's test.

Ironhide was the oldest among the Maximal Elders. Due to his death at the hands of Megatron, during the Battle of Autobot City. Also noting his incredible service record. He was ultimately one of the first names put forward by the Auto-Council for the Great Upgrade. One of the first Second Generation Maximals, he made a name for himself very quickly among their ranks. Encouraging more and more of the fading Autobots to be selected for the process. Prowl was one of the last. Although his service record was almost as long as Ironhide's, he was still an active Autobot. Having been revived during the Rebirth Event. He was not very trusting of the upcoming Maximals. Nor the irrevocable procedure involved in the Great upgrade. His Powermaster form had aided him well for the past few decades of the renewed Great War. He did not want to abandon it, nor his binary partners.
But all that changed with Nebulos.

Silverbolt knew what button to push to goad his comrade. It was still a raw nerve for himself. His selection, was made not from choice, but necessity. There simply wasn't the resources to save all those lost or wounded on that shattered world. So, though critical, his team made the selection in his stead. The Aerielbots ultimately died that day. But thanks to him, they turned the tide and saved many lives. They all agreed on that day, their commander would live on. To see a future, beyond this war.
Centuries passed and the survivors guilt, has never left his mind. He recants their names every single day.

The door opened and Prowl was already at the controls. Blot, already in position.
"Late today, hairball? Lost in the jungle, little cat?? I was getting bored." Though ancient and rusting, the immense size of a Decepticon was no laughing matter to the Elders. Blot may be one of the weakest of their number, but plenty of precautions were always in place. Including an ejection system for this entire suite. Straight through the thick rock of the northern wall, directly into the exposed fault line below. Severely under-powered as he was, Blot's death would be assured. He was made aware of this fact every single day. As well as a dead man's switch that would begin the procedure, linked to any and all of the Elders.
"Teletraan 3 online. Begin recording. Maximal Elders: Ironhide, Prowl and Silverbolt have entered the chamber. Subject Blot: still active."
'Acknowledged' The AI responded dutifully. As Blot's Pod was closed. He continued to make snide remarks. Thankfully, those present could no longer hear them.
Prowl once more rejoined the group. Outside their own pods, Ironhide took a moment and put a hand on each of their shoulders
"Ready boys?" He looked back and forth to each of them, with a smile. They nodded in agreement and entered their pods.
"For a Brighter Tomorrow, eh?" Silverbolt chided, with a mock salute, as the door closed. Ironhide simply smirked and shook his head, as his pod too sealed shut.
"Sometimes. Sometimes I think I've lived too long" Prowl morosely thought aloud, now alone. The last pod closed and the four entered into Stasis lock.

'Experiment commencing. Operation: Magnaboss. Stage four trials. Initiated'



:MAXIMAL: End of Part One :BOT:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:29 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part 2: Search and Rescue

The Perceptor - Crew Quarters

"For Pits sake, Vermin.. WAKE! UP!" Dinobot was having trouble rousing his friend from stasis. Rattrap's mind seemed reluctant to return to the waking world, more and more as time went on. As if his Spark was happier outside of it. The frustration grew as the urgency was at its utmost. Dinobot lowered his jaw and charged his mouth beam to fire. Survival instinct had the sleeping Maximal's eyes open faster than any summons. The weapon was powered down.

"Lemme guess.. Trouble? His typical pessimistic answer. Given alongside a slow and drawn out stretch, for effect. Meanwhile Dinobot looked a lot more aggitated than Rattrap had seen him in a long time. Before further words could be exchanged, the door to his quarters opened.
"That all depends on your point of view..." K-9 sauntered into the room with a relaxed and casual air. "Good to see you again, Lt. Commander. Sargent" Ever polite, addressing the two before him by rank alone. "How serendipitous to see each other again. You remember Max?". He motioned behind him as monstrously oversized figure ducked through the doorway to enter. Wordless, he let two pairs of energy cuffs swing down from his hand."Suffice to say, this isn't a social call. The warrant does still stand, after all." K-9 continued, as the door closed.

Feds.

Dey got many names. De Elder's Dawgs 'o War. Wreckers. Scum. Dey come strutin' through here like dey own da place. Holsters on their sides, swayin' wit each step. Live Blasters hang for all ta see. Riot shields clank on their backs. Combat masks attached to their heads, ready for de worst. Well, 'cept for de big one. But he's more Frankenstein's Monster den one'a dem. Word is, you never see more den one of dem in one place. I heard one story dat two'a dem was seen on Chaar, following de Last Con uprising. After de Great War ended. A cell'a Cons (sometin' ta do wit' Fire?) trying to start trouble up again. Two Wreckers went in. Within twelve megacycles, Chaar burned and de Cons were all scrap. At last count, right now we got all Four's dem right here onboard.
We're all gonna die...
"What do you mean, we've been conscripted?" Primal was quite indignant at this point. having his command so abruptly superceded. Yet for all his bluster, Wolfang was unmoved.
"Ahem, I meant vot I said, General. As per orders, direct from zee Maximal Elders. Zee Perceptor and all onboard are to fall under zee direct jurisdiction of zee Wreckers. My command. For a very important mission. Von you are all enlisted to help in zee execution of, with immediate effect. Lt Commander Cheetor, plot a course to Planet Sanafar, at vonce."
"Big Bot?" Cheetor paused, turning from the helm to query his leader directly. Ignoring the supposed authority of the Wrecker Captain. The rest of the crew followed suit.
Primal paused for a moment, noting Wolfang's displeasure at the gesture of solidarity. "Proceed to Planet Sanafar, Cheetor. Initiate Transwarp shunt" Primal thought that might defuse a little tension. Wolfang's stone faced expression, yielded no results.
The Wolf Bot then touched his audio receptor, activating a localised comm system. "Red, how are things looking in zee Engine Room?” He spoke in muted whispers. His mouth, strategically obscured by his own outreached hand.
"Much more promising." A cheerier version of his own voice responded. "Tech Specs list Six Ion Cannons, aft and starboard. Tractor beam and twelve comet crackers. Standard stuff for a deep space freighter like this one. The Security detail, in contrast, is more than up for the challenge. Have you begun the debriefing? Need me topside??"
"... No. Not yet. Zere is some ...friction. But I can handle zem. A terse reply.
Typical. Please don't kill any of them. They are on our side. Red out.
"Time vill tell. Volfang out." He took his hand away and placed it on Primal's shoulder. "General. A Vord, in private."

The Brig

"I must admit, I didn't expect to see either of you two in Maximal space. Let alone on a high profile rig like this one." K-9 was intrigued. Talking to his two new prisoners behind energy bars.

"We all served together during da War. Dey don' know ‘bout the rest" Rattrap was proving more amiable than Dinobot. Who was otherwise restrained and silent in the next cell.
"Wowie!" K-9 replied with genuine surprise, pulling his chair closer to the cell " You hear that Max? Not stowaways, but honest to Primus crewmates!! I win the bet. You owe me three cubes!" A gutter growl from the giant silently observing Dinobot's cell, his unique form of admission. Rubbing his hands together in expectation, the enthusiastic Wrecker turned back to his charge. "Can't wait for that! Meanwhile, now ..we have a bit of a problem.” His smiling face dropped to one of apprehension. "Our orders are to enlist the aid of all crew onboard The Perceptor. Which now happens to include two wanted felons. So I guess..." Reaching over to the control panel, K-9 deactivated the two cells. When the last bar receded, Dinobot's optics immediately opened and he all at once burst free of his restraints and flipped to his feet. Toe to toe with the larger Wrecker. The two in wordless standoff. fangs bared in mutual sneers.
"Easy Choppa Face.. you too, Carnivac!" Rattrap, barely at thigh height to either bot, stood in between them as peacemaker. Max looked down and glared at the tiny Maximal. "Is that supposed to be funny? The warrant states 'alive for transport to Garrus 12'. You don't need all those limbs to be considered "alive", Criminal. Just remember that" Max then turned, shoulder checking Dinobot aside and left the room.
"He won't forget that, Lt. Commander. He doesn't like to be teased." K-9 warned, leading the two Maximals out of the brig.

Later that day, they all gathered together in the hanger bay. The largest space to accommodate the entire crew for a debriefing. Only K-9 and Max-B appeared for the Wreckers. Both almost shadows to Rattrap and Dinobot. Optimus Primal entered last and all suddenly stood to attention as he passed them. He look visibly shaken.
"He told him" Max leant in to utter quietly to his friend.
"Yep" K--9 confirmed, nodding in agreement. Both subtly observed by Rattrap with mild curiosity.
Primal raised a hand, all chatter ceased and he began his address. "The Predacons have escaped." Whereas before was quiet. The silence that followed that announcement was deafening. "Details are unknown, but they gained control of their prison ship and have since crash landed on Planet Sanafar. That's why we specifically, were found in deep space and called in." Primal sighed and his shoulders dropped. "That's.. not the worst part."

Planet Sanafar.

An atypical Giant, in the Pantheon cluster. Long coveted for being rich in dense flora. Species unique to anywhere else in the known galaxy. The Apep, a brutal race of nomadic organics, sought to add this cluster to their growing dominion. The entire system is supported by a single Supergiant star. Sanafar looked like the ideal prize. An enormous world, rich in natural resources. The cluster itself, nestled inbetween three major trade routes of the Galactic Alliance. The previously staunch nomads, settled on the planet and began to plot schemes of ambush and raids for decacycles to come. For all their cunning however, the obvious did seem to pass them by. The Pantheon cluster was huge. With much vital commerce existing all around it. So why had no one else settled on Sanafar before?
The atypical nature of the planet was ultimately the answer. The description had nothing to do with the world itself. So much as it's solar orbit. Every third of its complete heliocentric journey, the orbit of Sanafar passes within the corona sphere of the supergiant. Where it remains for a decacycle, until the orbit slingshots it back out into the system, for the next sixty steller cycles. That’s why nobody lives on Sanafar. The Apep, being subterranean organics, didn’t know what was happening until it was too late. The planets crust is superheated, to the mantle itself. Reducing the fauna to ashes. Which uniquely restore themselves through this cycle. The Apep, were not so lucky.

”That’s the official record on Sanafar.” Primal began, concluding the audio briefing. ”Due to it’s nature, the only mention of the planet is in relation to this singular event. As a reminder ..and a warning.”
”Son of a Glitch!” Mach Kick interrupted. ”So how long have we got to save the Pred’s before they get incinerated?” Cutting to the point.

Wolfang entered the hanger bay, as if in answer to the expected question. ”Ze edict from the Maximal Elders is as follows: The “shell-afflicted” Maximals, in stasis for their own protection. Must be extracted and returned to Garrus 12 within a decacycle from this message reaching you, honoured heroes of the Beast Wars.”
”That was then. How much longer we got? Mach Kick resumed.

”Ve vill reach Sanafar in two megacycles. For zhere, based on Red’s projections... Von solarcycle.”

”We're all gonna die...” several bots muttered at once.


:MAXIMAL: End of Part Two :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Thu Feb 11, 2021 12:53 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Three - Convergent Evolution

Pre-history Earth - The Beast Wars

Ten Steller cycles ago...

"The day - and the probe - is yours, Optimus. Yesss. Just beware... not all aliens are beneficent, after all." Megatron declared, with the retreat of his forces.

With that, the Probe mysteriously dematerialised and Maximal victory was ultimately irenic. However, it did not go far.
Within the shielded, Lunar Nexial hub, the probe data was studied by The Vok with great interest.

"These forces have emerged within this experiment at a dangerous time.
What should the correct response be? They are war-like and powerful. Analysis concludes they are an inherent corruption that will destabilise and damage further planetary study.
The probe itself is example of this. Exposure to these entities has unlock a form of sentience within the core code.
Conclusion.
The probe itself is to be accelerated for deeper study into these creatures.
Weaponised, if need be.
Agreed."


Due to their unknowing interference in the affairs of an alien world, The Cybertronians led to the creation of a hybrid lifeform. The Organic technology of The Vok, imbued with life by their very presence. Left to incubate and evolve through their superior technology in dormancy, within the safety of the Lunar Hub. Until it's destruction, by a rigged Maximal Stasis Pod some time later. That however, was not the end of the evolving Probe. The advancing lifeform was imperviously shielded to ensure against contamination. Thus remained at a fix point in orbit, belonging to the destroyed Planet Buster.
Still evolving, still subconsciously watching what unfolded below, through its sensors.
"This is Optimus Primal, to Maximal Command. We're coming home!"

Present day...

“Good, good hmhmhmhm. Now I have finally found you, my illusive and arrogant enemy. This was over the moment you crossed me...ehhhaahaaWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

This all changed with the assault on Nexus Tribus. Instructions ceased and with that, the probe began to awaken. The connection to the Vok however, was far from severed. That is how Stratos, as he would identify, would become aware of The Other.

The Vok Emissary is a singular entity. An avatar, used throughout the timestream as a physical manifestation of Vok influence. Or perhaps more accurately, their might. Each is created for singular purpose. Often attuned to one hub of the Multiversal Nexus The Vok inhabit. Ever diligent of their mission. The Emissary is a last resort. When overt action is needed when reality is threatened. No more than a lone Emissary is ever needed.

Stratos awoke, believing itself to be an Emissary. Why else did he come into being? The destruction of Nexus Tribus, alongside his memories of studying the Cybertronians throughout his primary function. These findings led to a singular conclusion. The Cybertronians are a fundamental threat to the timestream. Elimination, the only conclusion. While this universes nexial connection had now been severed from the greater multiverse. The Danger remained. Stratos assumed a more offensive form in keeping with this course of action. The Vok database had the desired adaptation model, to augment his current body.

Before this endeavour, as Statos accelerated away from Pre-Historic Earth, he would need to confirm the dual identity his sensors detected upon awakening. It would take millennia at this current speed to reach The Other. But there was no rush, This Universe could cause no further, immediate harm to the timestream. He had time on his side. While it would take 475,000 Light Years to reach an intercept course with The Other. His higher mental functions would turn inward. Learning as much from the database of The Vok and that of the Cybertronians as he could. Destination: The Gigas Nebula.

Elsewhere, Rhinox dreams...

For him, the same dream every night. The voyage. He is floating, flying, sailing. He knew this plan was reckless and incredibly dangerous. Desperate times call for such risks however.
His commander, Optimus Primal, was betrayed. An ignoble sacrifice to destroy a mighty alien weapon. One that would have doomed the very planet their fledgling war was waged on. A weapon set in motion by their very presence. An uneasy alliance was forged and they lost their leader in its bitter conclusion. Rhinox tried to co-ordinate a defence against an anticipated all-out offensive by the Predacons. Looking to capitalise on their disadvantage.
But when the Quantum Surge hit, the majority of the forces on both sides were laid low or scattered to parts unknown. In seclusion and in secret, he made this final gambit to restore their leader. The others held their own, beyond the Axalon. It wouldn't last. Numbers were not on their side. To make his plan a reality, he would have to leave the safety of his physical body and put his trust in.. faith?

He, alone now, drifted through an ethereal plane above. Where All Are One. His senses reeled. It would be all too easy to simply let go and become absorbed in his surroundings. To die and leave war and suffering behind. It was then that he heard, sensed, saw the spark of his friend and leader. His resolve was restored and ultimately he achieved his aim. His friend was saved. The war, for better or worse, continued.
Some time later, Brother Rhino - a strange, yet amicable bot to the Maximal Scientist. Had heard rumours of this encounter and tried - sometimes subtly, sometimes not - to pry into these events. Rhinox, while outwardly dismissive. Simply didn't know how to express these experiences vocally. In a way that could logically be understood by his analytical brain, at least.
Now, far removed from the war. His journey through the Matrix continued to occupy his subconscious. In the last moments of retrieval, he was almost certain he became touched.. by something? His conscious mind reasserts himself every time, before he can dwell on this further. His typical addled awareness, upon awakening, made the alert sirens of Fortress a lot louder than he remembered. At that moment, he acknowledged what he was hearing.

Planet Nebulos.. On Doomsday

Raising his head from his charging slab, he became aware of Longrack's highly agitated state. As his fellow scientist burst into his quarters. Bump soon followed. However, launched off his feet into the opposite side of the room, by a blaster hit to his back. Confused, Rhinox leapt to his feet and went to aid his fallen comrade. Longrack immediately transformed into Cannon Mode and erratically fired a succession of blasts blindly into the hall beyond. After this outburst promptly collapsed the corridor. He transformed back to bot mode and moved towards Rhinox.
The Chief Science Officer was speechless, as he slowly stood to confront his approaching friend. His head sagged. Bump was dead. The blast to his back, also cut straight through his spark casing with pinpoint accuracy. The sirens continued, as for a solemn moment, the two exchanged no words. Longrack motioned to speak, when renewed fire power burst through the southern wall. If their assailants couldn't gain access through the hall. They would burst through the adjoining room instead. Longrack was knocked off his feet from the impact of the wall explosion, randomly blasting out the lights in the process. In the gloom, one assailant advanced into the room. A lone pulsing blue optic, glowered close to ceiling height.

That was the closest it came to an advance however. As its gaze was met suddenly with a snort, by two squinting red eyes, attached to a very large silhouette. A slight shimmer of a massive bladed horn was the last thing the attacker would ever see. All at once rammed with tremendous force and plunged back into the hallway and several adjoining walls. Before its remains were ultimately ejected through the exterior wall. Falling several hundred leagues into the vast canyon below Fortress. Incinerated against the underside of the spherical shielding.

Longrack eventually caught up to his Commander, still observing the last trajectory of his unknown foe. He noted the sounds of battle echoed loudly across the city, from within the shield. The Transmetal Rhino turned to face his advance. The junior scientist was unsure whether or not to evade a possible charge. "Rhinox... Sir?"
"Tank Mode!" A further stoic activation code was his only reply. "Hop on! We need to reach Fortress' Core. Fast!"
Longrack barely had time to acknowledge the order before they were making haste to the central command of the City. This was aided by accessing the main descending promenade, that ran the length of the facility. However, this was also where the early sounds of battle were emanating. Carnage was everywhere around them. Fires, explosions, the dead and the dying. But to ensure the safety of the city itself, they had no time to wait. The appointed enemy, was also in full force here too. Resistance, in the form of City security amounted to nothing but corpses before them.
Rhinox still couldn't get a clear image of what they looked like. But between his boosters and the inertia of the ramp, they were moving too fast to note friend from foe. The promenade soon narrowed towards a single sliding door. One that opened instantly when the two Maximals entered within its radius. Any pursuit was immediately cut off when the the walkway itself transformed into a solid wall. Longrack leapt into the air and came to land deftly before the main console of the core processor. A large cylindrical holomatter field. An interactive physical manifestation of the deep rooted datatrax of the City, many levels below. Rhinox immediately came to a halt, using the momentum from his transformation to access the panel controls. A few key strokes later, a large face materialised into view.

' They came one megacycle ago, Friend Rhinox. After the investigation into the anomalous Transwarp shunts was concluded. A large Ascher shaped vessel phase-shifted into the upper atmosphere. The random shunts appeared to be a ruse to lure air support away from the planet. All communications, including those with the investigating forces, were lost when the unknown ship appeared. Investigators presumed lost.
Almost immediately, a beam of red light has been cast planetwide. Instinctively I raised the shields just in time. Contact with this light energy results into complete dissolution. This attack has not relented since that time and shields stand at 26%.
Since the indirect assault did not yield the desired results, an unknown number of attackers has also somehow teleported directly inside the shields. All encounters have led to 100% fatalities... Estimated time until Nebulos destruction: 15 cycles. City destruction: 7 cycles.
Friend Rhinox, you must leave.'


"Fortress, I don't understand the discrepancy? The City itself isn't at the epicentre of the assault and the shields have negated much of the energy based attack. Surely these enemies insurgents are not so powerful?" Although recently recharged, Rhinox was already weary from his brief part in this invasion. War itself wasn't something he ever expected to encounter again.
' The enemy insurgent behind you is capable of critical damage upon this core'
With that realisation, Rhinox felt a chill in his spark and immediately ducked. A laser blast barely missing the back of his head and dispersing against the holomatter field. In the moment between thought and action, Rhinox looked into the eyes of his "friend". Glowering blue optics, just as his prior foe. How did he not notice sooner? The action, was then completed. His duck gave way to a shift to his left and a rising uppercut. His fist empowered by his horn blade. The resulting power of the attack launched Longrack backwards. His body fell hard on the ground. The cleaved two pieces of his head, followed. A subtle whir began to emanate from the body.

'Friend Rhinox' Fortress resumed, as his face rematerialized within the field. 'The creature is a bomb that will destroy this core. The feedback will cause terminal damage to all vital City systems, including the shields. City Destruction, now within 2 cycles.'

"This is it then." Rhinox said with a sigh. He dropped his now broken blade and instead readied his Chain Gun. Beyond the door, he now heard many attackers advancing. " Two cycles, eh?" He took aim at the now buckling door " Well, that's just dandy..."

Something above suddenly swung down and hit Rhinox into the holomatter emitter.

' Forgive me, Friend Rhinox. But I can't let you die. You are the only one left. The others, overcome and replaced. I couldn't save them in time. I won't repeat that failure.' Fortress began to channel energy directly into the emitter. Altering its function.
" Wait? Fortress what are you doing!?" Rhinox yelled in alarm, as the enemy then broke through. Only to seemingly freeze in place.
' Teleportation. It was how the spark of this unit was extracted. I can access it one more time, before detonation. Sending you somewhere safe.'
Rhinox' form began to phase. " But, the orbital assault? Where could I go..." His sentence forever unfinished. As he shifted away.
'Home' The last word of Fortress. Detonation followed. The chain reaction as anticipated, collapsed the shield. The Great Autobot City was atomised soon after. Then, the Planet.
Fortress came back online. Cerebros was fixing a minor issue with the holomatter projector. As Nebulon Maximal scientists took notes on his repairs. The City AI was relieved to see its old friends again. All was right once more. Friends..? Something felt off, suddenly. The vague image of a hulking, shining metal Beast Former began to form in its minds-eye. Cerebros flicked a switch and the thought was no more. Fortress dismissed it as some random memory glitch.
" Problems, my friend?" Cerebros enquired directly. His glowing blue optic looking troubled. As he always did. The others, all mirrored the gaze and sentiment.
' I... It is nothing, Friend Cerebros. In fact, things have never been better.' Fortress gave a smile through its avatar. Before disengaging the field to rest. It felt like it had been a really long night. As the dawn light spread over the verdant cities of Nebulos.

Elsewhere, Rhinox was puzzled...

He did not recognise any of the constellations around him as in Nebulon space. So he had been sent to safety, away from the battlefield. But at the same time. He now was aimlessly adrift through the vastness of space itself. Alone.

"Oh scrap..."

:MAXIMAL: End of part three :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:29 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Four - Meltdown Part 1

The Perceptor - Primal's Quarters

Before the briefing...

"I thought ve should clear ze air, General." Wolfang sauntered in the door, while talking without facing his superior officer. He then audaciously turned and sat on his desk to continue addressing Primal directly. "Your cool and collected demeanour is vell known in Maximal Command. But I can read body language vell enough to gauge tension."
"Very well. If we're going to be frank, your presence here is problematic. The reputation of the Wreckers is also well known among Maximal Command. Friend or foe: depending on orders." Primal stood his ground, arms folded across his chest. His face a stoic mask.

"Ha. Quite." Wolfang gave a smirk. Not having to feign formality any longer than necessary, was a relief. "Vell, as you've already heard. Our orders fall in your favour, on zis occasion."
"That's part of the problem. Your presence is disproportionate to those orders. Even if Elder Prowl didn't trust delivery of the mission details to regular channels. Not uncommon. That should only need a single regular bot to courier. Not the entirety of Maximal Black Ops. A team that, it is expressly forbidden, to be dispatched anywhere en masse. At least without consent from the full body of the Maximal Elders." The Generals brow furrowed with every sentence. Whatever this was, it was beyond a mere rescue mission.

"I see. You are vell versed in my team. Good. Good. Zen we can skip ze pleasantries." With that, the Wrecker Captain rose and stood directly in front of his companion. Although a head shorter, their eyes locked. "Ze mission, such as it is, is not our primary mission. I... " He went to continue, but at that moment the right words failed him. That pause, that hesitation. Alarmed Primal more than any spoken word so far. "Tell me. Why are you here, Wrecker?" Primal's tone lightened and he extended a hand in support. This was promptly rebuffed by the Wrecker, with a sneer.
"Ve are here. To keep you alive!"
"We survived a ten stellar cycle war, Captain. Whatever awaits us on Sanafar. We are more than up for the challenge.."
"Cybertron.. has been ..destroyed!" The Wrecker grimly interjected.
"Whu, what did you just say??" The Maximal General was dumbfounded.
"Megatron was freed, by an act of sabotage. perpetrated by unknown insurgents. Zhereafter, within a relatively short space of time. An unknown enemy vessel appeared and attacked ze planet. It was utterly annihilated with an onslaught of tremendous force." Wolfang's face twitched violently with the delivery of such news. With barely restrained anger and shame. That he and his team were not present to defend their home world when it mattered most. "As a matter of record, zhere vere no survivors. Not even debris." Head hung low, the Wrecker Captain walked away. towards the far wall and leant upon it. His gaze through the window and into deep space beyond. Primal sank to his knees. Broken...
"As I said, ve are here to keep you all alive. For as far as ve know. Ve are all zat is left..."


Elsewhere...

....p

...tap, tap

tap, tap, tap, tap

Magnus' optics were slow to dilate. Focusing in on the knuckles from a tiny fist, knocking on his visor. " Eh, Bub! You gotta get up!!!"
His view moved from the talking hand to the scene behind it. Deep Space. Strange. His form was certainly laying on a solid metal surface. So why was there nothing but space ahead? The head belonging to the hand then shifted into view. Along with another hand, this one touting a blaster. Both clasped the weapon and fired into the void. Bolts that widely missed strafing flashes of silver shapes. What was happening?

It came back to him slowly. The Transwarp shunt. Emergence back into regular space. Then immediately blindsided by missiles. Too soon from re-entry to mount a defence. Again, the coordination of this threat was uncanny. Almost one of a singular or hive intelligence. But Cosmos sensors detected little sign of either.

Cosmos.

No!

Magnus recalled he was at the helm of the bridge. Addressing Cosmos directly onscreen. The ambush strike hit them dead-on. He was sent flying and then, nothing.
The deep space now ahead of him was all that remained of the bridge. Presumably, due to the lack of power throughout, Cosmos' own datatrax also rendered offline too. At best, that is. Rage began to build within the ultimate Maximal weapon. His chest piece opened, revealing his altmode pilot seat. "You, get in. Now!" He spoke to his current comrade.
"Wha? Listen bub, we ain't got enough time or shielding to bunker down and wait them out." Answering with pragmatism, from cover. Overbite glanced between his rising comrade and the streaking attackers outside. Who continued to feign attacks towards the exposed bridge. Just enough to toy with them, before the final flurry. Their time was short, the battle hardened Maximal reluctantly thought. A massive hand swiftly scooped him up and threw him into the pilot seat.
'I said Now!' The display in front of him reiterated.

With that, Omega Magnus leapt into action. He dove backwards into the pitch black corridor, behind the bridge. Just as three concentrated missiles arrived, colliding within the centre of the room. Detonating the remaining midsection. The wings of Cosmos listlessly drifted apart. As the Enemy, regaining formation, returned to make one final sweeping pass.

The Perceptor

"Megatron..." Primal uttered, bitterly. Rising back to his feet. "Was responsible for this, too?"
"Quite." Wolfang readily agreed. "Vhile ve don't know ze specifics. It is clear that ze same agents involved in his escape, which led to a targeted detonation enacted upon ze planet core. Also conspired to affect homeworld communications."
"But he had no other ties. Beyond his crew, his army." Puzzled, Primal brought his hand to his chin, in thought."Even the Space Pirates cell, who aided him in procuring the Darksyde, were planet-locked with the rest of us. Megatron was a rogue agent, at odds with the Tripredacus Council. That is why we brought him back to Cybertron, for trial. As his execution was assured without our intervention."

"Bah. Zat might have been ze wrong call to make." Wolfang scoffed at the naiveté. Primal was dismissive, however. " For everything he did, he had to face trial. For all the lives lost. The crimes committed. The crimes he tried to..."
"I've read all ze uncensored reports on you too, Optimus. On your little Vor. I know exactly vot Megatron was trying to do. To literally kill us in our sleep. My retort vas based on zat knowledge. The implications so horrific, that ze Elders had it stricken from official record. While also simultaneously banning mass Transwarp travel and deploying remote veapon satellites to orbit and monitor pre-history Earth. Powered for several centuries, to ensure its protection." Wolfang suddenly lashed out at the berated Primal, venting his rage. A fierce punch to the jaw that floored him.

"Whether or not you believed "justice" vas important here is irrelevant. Ze fact is, instead of putting down a mad dog, your misguided altruism cost us our homeworld! Meanvhile Autobot City, Nebulos and Primus knows how many others, have also since gone dark." His fang bared with every word. The magnitude of Primal's actions weighed on him heavier still. The guilt, now only compounded further." Unlike you, I am not a killer." The words uttered steadfast, yet Primal didn't raise his head to meet his accusers gaze.
"Ze survivors of our race zat now remain, might not see such a distinction between us anymore... Munky." Cutting words spoken through gritted teeth. Seething with disdain. The Wrecker stormed out of the room. Leaving Primal on his knees. With a growing sense of shame.

Deep Space

Overbite was surprised his optics came online. The sheer speed and force that his impromptu jailer forced himself backwards, actually made him lose consciousness briefly. Now, his view was of nothing but space. Although the enemy was circling towards them, some distance away. There were so many. What good was a mere Tank Bot here? Even one so big??

'Watch' The display replied, seemingly in response to his thoughts.
A flare was launched from a snub-nosed launcher at the back of the aft side turret. The enemy didn't know their exact location before. The sudden flash of light, gave the desired response. The enemy numbers swarmed and turned en masse. Directly towards a small tank, sat atop the inert blaster of the severed left wing of Cosmos. Magnus began to charge his main cannon. Aim adjusting to the centre of the swarm. Overbite was sceptical how many of the enemy craft could be destroyed before they were overwhelm. He felt a slight shudder in the meantime. With that, the formerly steadily building power level on his display quadrupled. Resigned to his eminent death, Overbite reflected over the loss of Tigatron. His only real friend. The enemy now close enough for their charging blasters to be visible. When the power reading hit 300%, a blinding beam of light erupted into the void. Either through direct contact or within it's wake. The entire enemy fleet, numbering at least one hundred ships, were simply vaporised.
"Huh? Well, that was.. anti-climatic. So now what?" Overbite was awash with many feelings. Shock. Relief.. Fear?
All at once, Omega Magnus transformed and Overbite somehow ended up once more within his grasp. A hairs breadth from the colossal bots face. " Now my enigmatic new "friend", you and I are going to talk."

Meanwhile, some distance away. The display of sheer destructive power had not gone unnoticed. As a Predacon Symbol Ship cautiously advanced.

:MAXIMAL: To be continued :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Wed Apr 28, 2021 3:03 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Five - Meltdown Part 2

Sanafar - Perceptor landing site

Planetwide immolation: T-minus, 11 Megacycles

"Atmospheric interference left us all but blind in orbit." Pointing a mobile tracking device, towards the massive land upheaval aimed towards the nearby dishevelled forest. "But I posit this likely won't be an issue on ground level"
"Thanks, Long Rack. Okay bots, lets move and remember: stay out of the skies." With a wave, Optimus Primal and a Maximal team of seven advanced on foot towards the devastation. Beast Modes activated.
The pace is fast and unyielding. In contrast to those lost days of the Beast Wars, haste is of paramount importance. However, this is where the other aspect in the selection of Primal's unit comes into play. As animal altmodes are far better equipped to traverse such terrain.
Three megacycles pass in near silence. Long Rack's tracking drone continues to lead the way through the impact wake of the Predacon crash landing. All at once, the aggressively decapitated canopy suddenly gives way to an enormous clearing. The tell tale sign of a massive explosion. Directly ahead, a rock formation akin to a stalagmite. A large burn gorging into its centre. "While its composition is unknown, clearly this outcrop was very study. Scans indicate the decaying orbit of our prison ship collided head on and was bisected." Long Rack concluded, while sifting through some scraps at the base of the rock.
"Vonderful..." Wolfang remarked with a sigh. Still in Beast Mode, the Wrecker wolf began to sniff the air. " Zere must be a cliff or valley. Two hundred kliks east. Half of our quarry fell below it. Scents of zee wreckage are faint in zat direction, indicating a close but substantial distance between us."
" As for the other half, Captain. Even in this twilight, I don't think it will be too hard to find." Long Rack motioned with his long neck towards a series of growing fires to the west.
"Agreed. Listen up, bots. Cheetor, Wolfang, Long Rack and I will head for the east target. The rest of you will head west." Primal announced. Speaking for the first time.
"Geez, I get my favourite two puppies in tow? Lucky Me.. Then with a smirk, he switched to Knievel Mode. "Choppa Face, let's do it! Hey Bow wow! Try to keep up!!" With that, the rat and the raptor sped off into the undergrowth. Primal shook his head with a sly smile, before noticing both K-9 and Max-B had already vanished in pursuit.
Although unable to assume Vehicle Mode, Dinobot had no problem keeping up the pace with Rattrap's top speed. They came to a full stop at the first fire. "Rattrap, I see no sign of the Wreckers." Dinobot gazed long and hard at the brush behind them. His sensors detected no motion, aside from the first few flecks of smoke and ash from the tree tops. "Ominous. Seven Megacycles remain. Even at top speed, with the Predacons, our time is very short." Rattrap was advancing on a piece of burning wreckage. Closer inspection yielded a broken cell. A large, broken cell. This one was impaled on another of the rock spires. Although leaning towards them, it still cleared the tree tops.
"Not da best suicide mission we eva been on. I wonder who dis cell belonged to?" Cautiously, they both approached the broken cell door. The lack of natural fauna gave the scene an unsettling silence. As they considered entering the pitch black opening, They were suddenly met by the barking head of a dog. Both War veterans dove for cover. "So.. What kept you?" K-9 added playfully while panting. He leapt from within the cell and landed deftly before the two. Max-B soon followed, in Bot Mode, clutching something in his arms.
"Fer bootin out cold, Rin-Tin-Tin, you crazy?! We coulda iced ya, ya know!" Rattrap reprimanded. Meanwhile in reflex both of them had transformed, ready for combat. " As ...hollow, a threat as that actually is. We have bigger problems, criminal." Max scoffed, then cast broken restraints down in front of them.
"Oh... Scrap" Rattrap poked the scrap with his foot. "Weapons hot! We got a broken I-Cog" Withdrawing his blaster, he readied the semi-auto setting. "Damn bugs! Choppa Face? How many could clones could Inferno spit out without an inhibita??"
"Rhinox estimated ten to fifteen, at full power. But it would take several megacycles." He resumed scanning the suddenly oppressively silent jungle, that surrounded them in the gloom.
K-9 sniffed the restraints closer, furring his brow. "Something ain't right here. I'm getting traces of Energon, but different...?" Rummaging his nose a bit deeper, dislodged tiny broken shards of crystal. Rattrap reached for one and examined it. "Aerogon.. We're all gonna die" His voice grew faint, as a sudden chattering begun all around them. When from above, Rattrap thought he briefly saw birds flying east at great speed.

Meanwhile, Primal's team reached the larger half of the crashed ship without incident. As noted by Wolfang's keen senses, the wreck had come to rest bridge first at the base of a narrow valley. A billowing plume of smoke guided their way. Fortunately there was a gradual incline on the north side of the valley. The team assembled within moments by an emergency service hatch on the exposed north side.
"Long Rack, Cannon Mode. Cheetor, Wolfang on the flanks. Get ready" With that, Primal gained purchased and began to prise the hatch from its moorings. As the metal buckled and twilight started to filter into the hold. From either side of the opening, Primal withdrew as Cheetor and Wolfang motioned to Long Rack. His Beast Cannon fired a concussive shell within. As the flare dissipated, Fang Blaster ready, Cheetor lead the charge. Only to gasp in horror at the scene before him. Mech fluid and scorch marks trailed across the walls and celling of the bridge. On the floor at it's centre, was strewn a shattered pile of empty spark casings. Maximal and Predacon, jailer or prisoner, alike.

:MAXIMAL: End of Part Five :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Mon May 03, 2021 4:09 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Six - Meltdown Part 3

Sanafar, Prison ship wreck East

"Galloping galaxies.." Cheetor could only utter a whisper at the horror before him. "Not even the Pred's deserved to die like this!" He and Long Rack proceeded to search the ship beyond this bridge. There wasn't much to see. The main hold being recognised now as the severed West section. Both were clearly on edge, so Cheetor tried to lighten the mood. "Glad you ditched 'Science Camp' with Rhinox now, Doc?" Long Rack huffed, in response as he prised open a hatch to some personal quarters.

"Actually, Sub Commander, in spite of this growing dread, I feel quite guilty. Bump was so excited to see a Cityformer for the first time. That I got caught up in his plans and ultimately couldn't say no.. Yet, I just couldn't share in that enthusiasm. So I just snuck off of the shuttle during his stasis sleep. Procuring a transport in Nebulos orbit wasn't a great hardship. Although as I left, the ship's Captain was informed that Transwarp travel was hereby suspended by order of the Elders. No idea what that was about? But I thought to use that excuse under the pretence of a mix-up to pacify Bump, later. Although when that 'later' is, I can't ascertain at this point."

The subject off his chest, the scientist perused a discarded datapad. His back to the younger Maximal. The matter of fact body language not lost on Cheetor either. However, the datapad yielded no information of use. Cheetor thought of Rhinox and how mundane life must be on a science colony...

Wolfang and Primal set about the unenviable task of identifying the remains. A unique signature within casing identified each and every Cybertronian by design. Head lowered, Primal walked over to the doorway of their makeshift entrance and paused. Before slamming a frustrated fist into the wall. "This is it. This is everyone onboard. Barring Inferno ..and Razorclaw." His fist unclenched, he gently held the doorway and stared out into the amber sky. "Our numbers.. further diminished.

"Zis folly lies with ze Elders. Not you." The Wrecker captain joined the General, yet some distance apart. An air of tension still existed as a barrier between them. "Zey should have held zhere ground and brought ze criminals to Cybertron with Megatron. Not condemned them to zis"

"An endless voyage in stasis. It isn't a fate to be wished on anyone. However, Rhinox and the greatest minds on Cybertron, did all they could. The War, simply went on too long. Too many stellar cycles had passed. The Shell programs were so entrenched by the end, they couldn't be removed. The Elders refused to allow either the Tripedacus Council to have such enhanced Maximal Protoforms nor allow further Transmetal Predacons on Cybertron. This was deemed the acceptable alternative. Between this ship and Garrus 12, they would never know any different." Primal's expression alluding to the fact these were decisions he didn't agree with. "I suppose ze only remaining question is vat happened to bring zis ship down? Zis was a formidable prison transport. Heavily armoured, with an experienced crew." Primal checked his wrist-mounted timer "We may not have time to learn the answers to these questions. Assuming Razorclaw and Inferno are still in stasis somewhere else on Sanafar, we don't really have time to retrieve them now. All units this is Optimus, report in!"

...

"Rattrap, Dinobot? Respond, over"

...

"K-9, Max! Zis is Wolfang, vot is your situation?"

...

"Perhaps the comms can't reach beyond the valley? Long Rack, Cheetor! We're pulling out"

...

With a start, they turned in unison. From behind them, a low guttural roar echoed from deeper within the ship.

Moments earlier...

"My main source of consternation? I do wish I had at least let Rhinox know I wasn't coming. He isn't the biggest fan of Bump's haphazard "weird science". Having a fellow, traditional academic accompany him, would have gone some way to alleviate that tension. That's two apologies I have to make when this current adventure is concluded." With a sigh of resignation, Long Rack gently leant his head against the far wall. " ..My Word!"

"You ok, Doc? What's up??" Cheetor paused with concern. "Come here, Sub-Commander. I can hear ...something, coming from the other side of this wall?" Motioning him over, the Cyber Cat looked very confused. " According to the schematics, that's just a bulkhead?" Curiosity led both bots to press an audio receptor to the wall. A faint, rhythmic rumble vibrated though the wall. Both sets of eyes widened. They pressed harder.

All at once, the noise stopped. "Ultra Rad.." Suddenly a pair of massive hands burst effortlessly through the wall and grabbed each Maximal by their heads and pulled them both through as if the barrier were nothing. Their Transmetal bodies being the only factor that kept their heads attached and their lives spared. Within his clutches was Razorclaw revealed. As he let out a primal scream into his captives faces. Alternating between swinging one into the ceiling, the other into the floor. They could do nothing but endure the onslaught.

"RAZORCLAW! THAT'S ENOUGH!!" Primal and Wolfang appeared at the opening. Weapons drawn. This gave the King Crab pause. Clutching each captive effortlessly in mid-air.

"Better.. by your hand." Razorclaw slammed his hostages aside. Embedding them in the walls. While thrusting one massive leg forward equally as quickly. Catching Wolfang unaware, casting him from the entrance. Primal immediately fired his shoulder cannons into the Predacon's chest. Although the blasts impacted, it did little to impede Razorclaw's advance, as he lunged at the Maximal General. Within moments, both burst from a damaged wall back outside into the jungle. Primal was able to hold his own. Thankfully for all his size and power, this crab was no Rampage. However, there was a desperation or mania to Razorclaw that hadn't been seen during the war. It was almost as if he were goading the Maximals into killing him. As his foe stamped on his blaster in the struggle, Primal tried to restrain him with his maces. As they grappled on the floor, Razorclaw threw a backfist and blindsided the Maximal. Suddenly pinning him down, the King Crab raised one mace to rain down upon Primal's head. In a flash, the weapon fell to the ground. Alongside both forearms. Wolfang stood above them both, his laser rifle aimed unerringly at the Predacon. "Release him and enter into Stasis Lock. Comply or die"
Razorclaw laughed, shaking his head. "Weak Maximal bluster-" With that, he fell limp away from Primal. Two shots: one head, one spark and the Predacon was no more. The other three Maximals slowly recovered and took stock of the situation. "Ve don't have time to vaste on dialogue..." Wolfang retorted to their expressions. Red! Zis is Wolfang, mission failure. All hands lost. Alert K-9 and Max, Ve're leaving!"

'...Understood, Sir. Red, Out.'

As they ascended the valley once more, Optimus gave a passing glance to the felled Predacon. The questions raised by this crash, now may never be answered.


:PREDACON: End of Part Six :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:51 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Seven - Meltdown part 4

Planet Sanafar - Ablaze!

"EHHHHH Bow wow! Dis Ting on!?!" The feedback was almost tangible.
"This is Red, in Perceptor command. Reading you VERY loud and clear. What is your status, Lieutenant?" Red tried his best to mask his irritation. The emergency comms were just that and even then, not for rank and file access. He had heard Rattrap had a knack for subverting such things though.

"Well, dis chunk a da ship is empty. So a whole lotta nothin'." There was a pause that caused Red to raise an eyebrow. "And...? This channel is not for sitreps, soldier. Is there a problem?"
"Two! Now ya mention it. Seems da Pound Puppies intel was all wrong bout dis place!" A strange chattering noise. "What are you talking about?"
"Well for one ting... DIS FREAKIN PLACE IS ALREADY ON FIRE!! One cycle we was examinin' da wreck. Da next, the jungle crackles an' ignites like a powda keg! I thought you poochies said we had Megacycles to get dis done!?" This time, it was Rattrap expressing overt irritation.

"Ah, I see." Red squirmed embarrassed in his chair. "Maybe the official records, might have been off by a decimal?" He quickly brought up the documents on a secondary monitor. Soon too lost in thought to remember the comms line was still open.
"PROBLEM TWO!!! Another swing and a miss. Thought you "experts" said dis rock was sentient-free?" The sudden noise made Red inadvertently punch through the monitor. His anger was building. "... That. Is. Common. Knowledge. This planet has an active biohazard alert in effect via orbital satellite. Why do you ask?"
"Well forgive my error message, but why did I just see birds?" Red felt a cold chill in his spark. "Birds?!"
"Yeh, ya know. Big flappin feathered tings! I tink dey call em Crows, on Earth." Rattrap heard a gasp. Then the line went dead. "Dat, ain't a good sign..."

"Crows.. CROWS!!! By Primus!" Red began frantically typing commands into the mainframe. "Wolfang! Wolfang respond, over! Code Black!!"


Meanwhile...

Wolfang suddenly reacts to a transmission, no one else hears. "Code Black!?! Voice command: Maximus over-drive!!" With that, the entire team automatically transforms. Disorientated as they were. Being battle ready proved fruitless, however. Two tiny flashes in the star filled sky, suddenly slammed down either side of the party. The entire clifftop imploded all at once and they all fell into the void.

Red enabled the automated defences on the Perceptor and ran for the turbo lift. Wolfang's party just went dark on the sensors. Between that and the planet's premature immolation. Red, believing in signs and omens, thought it was too portentous for comfort. The transforming Wrecker had barely left the underside of the Perceptor, when a chance glance backwards into the sky brought the old principle to fruition. A large shining asteroid, impacted directly into the ship's engines. The explosion and subsequent blast wave, briefly extinguished the enflamed jungle for 100 kliks in every direction.

"What was that?!" Dinobot started and stared, over his shoulder, into the middle distance. "A tremor? Coming from the direction of the ship..." Rattrap clicked his fingers, returning the Cyber Raptor's focus to the path ahead."Stay with us, Choppa Face! We ain't got time for ya ta go off da rails again. Ya know.." He began counting off digits. " ..Collapsing flamin jungle, comms offline, imminent death. Da usual!" He turned and resumed his run back towards the prior outcrop. The arranged meeting point for both teams. The Wreckers were already there, both battle ready and scouting the perimeter, when Rattrap and Dinobot both reached the clearing. "Comms aren't just offline. They are gone. No signal at all from the Perceptor, or Wolfang's unit." K-9 flatly informed the pair, checking the sight on his rifle.
"We're all gonna die" Rattrap reflected sombrely.

"ABSOLUTELY!!"

None had time to react as the ground erupted beneath Rattrap's feet and a huge gaping maw almost claimed him whole. Inferno's drones seemed to pour from the overarching stalagmite en masse, on top of the remaining Maximals. Completing the ambush.

It was dark and silent, as Primal awoke in Energon restraints. The glow from the manacles nearby at least confirmed he was alone. Wherever that was. "Cheetor? Long Rack? Wolfang?? Anyone conscious??" Some familiar groans followed, reassuring him they were alive, at least.
His sight flared ahead when he heard what seemed to be distant laughter. "...Hello?"
"Vat happened?" Wolfang challenged rhetorically, to his right. "Looking above, at zat hole. It seems ve fell from quite a distance. Unnaturally. Only to awaken shackled, but alive. Zee design of zhese manacles seems familiar, in a very bad vay."
The laughter drew closer. But not laughter, something ..else. This time, they all heard it and turned accordingly.

One large pair of red eyes seemed to be hopping into view. Suddenly, six additional pairs appear on either side of the first. The auburn light from the burning above soon brought into focus, seven very large avian forms, clad in black feathers. Their heads bobbed from one Maximal to the next, before returning to Primal. "Indigenous to these tunnels, perhaps?" Primal was intrigued but, as his scanners said nothing was in front of him, wanted to appear non-hostile. "Greetings. My name is General Optimus Primal. These are my companions. We have peacefully journeyed here to rescue survivors, from a crashed star ship. Before this planet enters a solar purge. We mean you no harm."
The "laughter" returned from all but the central figure. Now more easily identifiable as cawing. Or perhaps both? The central figure clapped it's beak and the others fell silent.
"If you too are marooned on this planet, perhaps we could aid you...?" Primal continued.
"Oh for Primus sake, You naïve fool! Zhey are zee enemy!! Show zhem..Deceptacreep!" Wolfang bellowed in frustration.

"Indeed." The central figure replied in a deep resounding voice.

"TERRORIZE!"

By command, all seven figures transformed as one.
Primal wasn't sure which was more alarming. The fact that he sensors didn't identifying the beings as Cybertronian. Or that, as the beak coalesced into horns atop his head, the central Bird Bot had a large Decepticon faction symbol uniquely etched into his chest.
"General Primal, fellow Maximals. Allow me to introduce myself." the Seven large Bird Bots stepped further into the light. Motioning from one side to the other, before rest his hand upon his own chest. The central figure cordially spoke. "This is my Armada, and my name is Cyclonus. Freelance Mediator, to the Predacon Alliance." The face, now illuminated fully, was unmistakable.

:CON: To Be Concluded :CON:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sun Nov 21, 2021 3:21 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter Finale - Meltdown Part 5

Deep space, five cycles ago

Terrorcon spent the remainder of the voyage observing the corpse of the time-displaced Iguanus, deeply troubled. His failing systems were felt by the Vok enhanced senses of the Neocon Warlord. The fade of the spark, was not. The corpse now: grey, powerless and very dead. But only a husk. Whatever happened to the Predacon core within?
'We have reached Sanafar, Grand Emissary. Shields engaged and stable. Orbital trajectory within designated radius of Maximal vessel, achieved. Orders?' The onboard AI acknowledged.
What was it the Lizard had said? You've conquered half of known space and they don't even know you are there? Well, now is the time. Something resembling a smirk might have been visible across the Warlord's face.
"The time is now. The final rout. The great plan is almost complete. So it is to the remaining Cybertronians I can finally reveal myself. To slay them all. Ship, open the hatch!" As the rear door opened, Sanafar: the now burning planet. An intimidating backdrop below. Terrorcon stood, facing away from the orbiting globe. Regarding the corpse with a curious expression one last time. "Ship, return to the Malice. I shall return in two Megacycles." Arms outstretched, Terrorcon gently leaned back and allowed gravity to do the rest.
'Hail Terrorcon!' The ship resounded, as it disappeared into a Transwarp shunt. As the Neocon leader, through orbital re-entry. became nothing more than a great ball of flame. Aimed directly at the Maximal ship, far below.

Sanafar, underground. Now.

"Bah!" spat Wolfang, still bound, on the floor. "You mean, contract killer!" The Decepticon chuckled to himself. The Armada, were unmoved.
"Semantics" Cyclonus wryly replied. "Now, if the little dog has finished yapping, as to why we are all here. General Primal, let me guess.." The Decepticon advanced on Primal. Crouching on his hunches to talk directly. "I think it best to parley, before this dirtball chars to a crisp. I think you will be more reasonable, than the Wrecker."
"Parley? Reasonable?? Surprising terms from the Right Hand of Galvatron." Primal did his best to stand his ground. Even now, on his knees and in chains.
"Come now, Maximal. Times Change. I'm sensing some.. animosity, towards my person. As I understand, you were far more cordial to poor Ravage."
The causal drops of information, of knowledge. Made all concerned well aware, Cyclonus was more than a mere gun for hire.
Primal scoffed. "There were those granted amnesty that were more deserving of second chances, following the Great Upgrade. How one of the upper echelon of Decepticon High Command, was able to rank among them, is mystifying. No, obscene!" Real disdain now visible on his face. This is not a Decepticon any Maximal ever expected to see in real life.
Cyclonus quickly looked away, to check a private commlink, before casting a dismissive view on his captives. "Well, old rivalries aside. We are all here on the same mission. I just happened to get here first. You see, following your little ..negotiation with Cicadacon. I was contracted by the Tri-Predacus council to retrieve a quantity of this "Transmetal", that was stolen from their Heavy Cruiser. During your little skirmish." As he spoke, the Armada walked among the prisoners. Visibly running sensor scans of their bodies. Bereft of expression, and therefore, intent.
Wolfang ignored them and stared with great intensity towards the looming Decepticon. "Ohh that glare is almost intimidating. I'll come back to you in a moment, Wrecker. Now, where was I?"
"Referring to shell program affected Maximals as little more than scrap." Primal spoke through clenched teeth.
"Ah that's right! Thank you, Optimus. So, as these ...re-appropriated Maximals, were off the table. I was hired to retrieve the alien metal instead and leave the Maximals, in tact."
"Sparks in casings alone, have no chance of survival! In tact indeed, you monster!!"
"Power down, Long Rack. There's nothing we can do for them now."
"Yes, sir. General"
"A wise decision, Optimus. You're own situation is far from assured, without escalating tensions."
"I vouldn't be too sure zat zhere is nothing to be done for zee fallen, General. Finishing the job began on Nebulos with zis one should at least, avenge zem!"
The mention of Nebulos, followed a spontaneous twitch in Cyclonus' neck. He turned to face the Wrecker with a glare. " You dare...!?"
"Ha! Now I have your attention. Tell us, vat did it feel like ven Delta Magnus cleaved you in two?" With that, Wolfang let out a truly chilling laugh. The mockery caused the Decepticon to clench his fists. Before his face, again became placid. One of the Armada, approached Wolfang from behind. With one motion, stepping on his torso for leverage, ripped one of his arms clean off. A brief howl escaped the Wrecker, bringing a smug grin to Cyclonus. "It hurt. Just like that..." The other Maximals began to struggle at their bonds. Meanwhile, the cave ceiling began to dimly glow. "I see. The planet has begun to superheat even this far down. Unfortunately Maximals, I think our time is up. I have a consignment of stolen goods to deliver. Actually, I've just had an idea." He clicked his fingers and the bonds hoisted the Maximals to hang in mid-air. "Armada, on me!" The silent soldiers formed a line in front of their prisoners. "Given it's rarity, I doubt another consignment of Transmetal would be frowned upon." Wolfang, almost imperceptibly, began to chatter two precise fangs together. Despite the steady stream of Energon oozing from under his right pauldron.
"My restitution was not without clause. Not only was I ...deprived of my original body. But I was hardcoded to be unable of wielding weaponry. However, much like my associates here. I found a workaround. A final question for you, Optimus! Do you know what they call a gathering of crows?"
"A murder."
"How apt, eh? Armada, Nightsticks ready!" The six, all at once, withdrew wicked looking tri-barrel black and silver blasters. "Take aim!! Spark hits only, gentlemen. As little damage to the Transmetal as possible. All, but the Wolf. With no Transmetal on his person, he has no exterior value. He shall be our ...entertainment, for the voyage home."
"This is it bots. It was an honour to serve with you all." Primal uttered solemnly. Addressing his troops, for the last time. "...Til all are one..."
"Til all are one, Big Bot!" Cheetor, somewhat ironically, only now began to rouse.
"Decepticons Forever! ...FIRE!!!"

Elsewhere..

Rhinox was puzzled. He had been floating adrift through space for approximately 4.8 megacycles. Legs crossed, arms folded and optics closed, to conserve energy. He had been endlessly reviewing his situation. Where had he been sent? To safety? Certainly. Perhaps the old City Bot had grown confused? A past, long ago destroyed Autobot colony, or...!? It was at that point, he thought he spied a familiar constellation through his half open optics. A growing, shocking realisation crept through his spark. This was Cybertronian space. But with no visible sign Cybertron, When in time was he? That was the only logical question to enter his mind.

He couldn't stay here forever. He needed an escape. A change of altmode, for starters. A Cyberbeast wasn't going to cut it in outer space. All he needed was a brief passer-by. A shuttle, cargo transport... Anything! It was at the dawn of the eighth megacycle, his straining long range sensors detected motion. Extremely faint, but a ship had just entered the quadrant. Too far for comms, let alone to be identifiable as friend or foe. At 63% power reserves, he had to put his trust in blind faith, one more time.
Internally rerouting his T-Cog into his sensor array, he formulated a desperate gamble. The ship, would soon be out of range. His only option was to amplify his T-Cog to scan the thing. His energy reserves, however, were an issue. Expend too much energy and a practical altmode would be useless in stasis lock. 60% power... "Sigh.. Til all are one.."
Pulse one: 500 kliks. 'Target out of range. Power at 45%' His AI confirmed.
Pulse two: 1000 kliks. 'Target out of range. Power at 20%. Target will have left the quadrant in two cycles.'
Rhinox let out a silent scream. "Slag it all! Pulse three, engage!"
'Caution. Further pulse wave will deplete remaining reserves. Suggest stasis lock. Danger extreme.'
"We will die alone out here, otherwise. Override! Pulse three, engage!!"
'Acknowledged.'
Pulse three: 2000 kliks.
Contact.
'T-Cog initiated. Power >1%. Stasis lock cannot engage. Repeat..'
Rhinox higher functions powered down, as his body reformed.
"I remember you.. Young one!" A voice, alien yet familiar, entered his mind as shutdown occurred.

:MAXIMAL: End of Chapter Five :RUBSIGN:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:17 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter Six: The Grand Design


Part One: Heroes

At the end of all things, The Six That Remained. They stood their ground before Him. As reality twisted and distended in upon itself, like shattering glass. Their final destination - the epicentre - lay before them. At the centre of it all, The Last God.
Unicron.
Itself, no longer a purely physical being. A divine obscenity. Slowly drawing all of time and space within. Having finally slain His Eternal Counterpart. Yet, with nothing left to eat. The Uncreator turned to consume reality itself. Now it was stuck. The act of ultimate destruction had all but crippled Him. Slowing drawing everything in. An ever expanding vortex of death. A singular purpose which, in time, will claim all.
Many struggles, losses and battles had brought The Six to their final destination. Fused open by the madness bleeding into it. The Horned Maw of the Beast was to be their entrance.
Each was chosen, as the greatest champions of their race. Remade through science, born of desperation. They were gestalt. Together, a unified weapon of single purpose. To reign down upon the core of God and vanquish Him from the multiverse forevermore. Cleaving an everlasting peace for those to come, in His wake. Respite that The Six knew they would never witness. The Weapon would fire, with all they had. Unicron would shatter from the inside out. They too, would dissolve in the blast wave.
There would be no time to escape.

Youngest of The Six was Salvo. Her race were still burning in their death throws. Trapped within the endless cascade that spirals into The Beast. Eventually, like all others. They trail towards the totality. Wherein they will be ignominiously consumed. They would not be truly dead until this point. Feeling every torturous moment of their fading existence. Until they are at last broken down into raw energy. Mere food, for Him. This climax, is the only moment of relative safety at which they were free to enter.

They approach the maelstrom, together. None look back. Nothing there would bring any further comfort, solace or even pause. With sorrow, The Six tentatively took their first steps into the calamity that their reality would become. Each of The Six believed things would become less chaotic inside. That The Beast would retain form and structure within it's own body. If anything, it was worse.
Unicron had fully given Himself unto the process of universal annihilation, He had unleashed. The air, the very wind itself, was the manifest screams of victims innumerable. The ground beneath their feet was solid, ichor, gas and energy itself, all at once.

The eldest of The Six was Alpha. Last bearer of the Creation Matrix. As such, his ability of perception gave The Five their only means to navigate this paradox of reason. To light their darkest hour. To stray from his aura, was to be unbound instantly. A warning Alpha demonstrated, by throwing a gauntlet into the air above. It became "life". Then in turn it twisted, burned and dissolved screaming. Within four seconds.

Although enraptured by His feast, Unicron was still a God. Aware of trespass. However, by the very nature of the glutenous chaos abound. He was effectively trapped as an observer to His own body. The Beast, possessed foresight as to the ultimate goal of the invaders. Without physical defences, He merely changed tact and began to lay siege to the very sparks of The Six. Though seasoned warriors, they were not prepared for weapons of the divine.

Meanwhile...

Cavalier briefly paused his tale. To gauge the reactions of his audience. The Maxim were riveted. Although unconscious, still under the effects of his psychic projections. Their body language mirrored their innate excitement. Content that he could still entertain and enlighten more peoples across the stars, especially in such troubled times. The golden traveller continued.


Blasters. Missiles. Energy beams. These are threats that can be countered and prepared for. The true weapons of a God cannot not be forewarned. It started as light hearted banter. Familial distractions among friends in truly desperate surroundings. This slowing and insidiously became bickering. Increasingly barbed and aggressive. Petty slights and past recriminations arose with sudden vitriol and venom. Before any knew better, this boiled over into violence.


The first heated exchange occurred between Killatron and Shockwave. Inseparable brothers since protoform awakening. What spewed forth was accusations from deeply hidden insecurities and jealousies, that turned physical within moments. Each now inconsolable to reason from the rest of the group. When some tried to restrain Killatron. After a vicious assault on Shockwave that cost him an eye. The wound was the final straw and Shockwave's wrath erupted. Overpowering their immediate friends, Shockwave hoisted Killatron above his head. Before casting the body beyond the aura and into the void below. The effects of the chaos however, were not scientific absolutes, as Alpha theorised. Killatron seemed to fall forever, into a surreal metaphysical obscurity. To The Six, their own memories of their ally gradually fading to nothingness. The very act seemed to strip Shockwave of all emotion, his very essence, and he collapsed to his knees. His body turned black and he seemed to petrify in place.

Two were gone, within five minutes.

Though in shock, Alpha pleaded with the remaining three to hurry. To complete their task before The Beast assailed the rest of them. Megatron queried if they still could achieve their goal with a third of the gestalt lost? Alpha grimly nodded. A great torrent of matter soon collapsed upon their tunnel from on high. Even with the aura, their causeway was still a thing of unpredictable chaos. The party split in two. Salvo and Alpha ahead. Browning and Megatron cut off behind them. Alpha shaped and crafted an orb of radiance. To which he launched towards his friends. Thankfully it survived through the cascading mass and affixed itself to the head of Megatron.

The strongest of the group. A huge, armour clad barbarian from the darkest corner of the universe. Centuries old. Bred purely for survival.

These two now left behind, although relatively safe from immediate peril. Had no choice but to climb around and above this makeshift waterfall. In hopes to re-join the mission.

Salvo and Alpha increased their pace in the meantime.

Megatron bore Browning on his back as he climbed. An effortless task to one so strong. Being from a smaller people, Browning was thankful for the assistance. At first. An argument soon flared. Though only vocal. Eventually Browning's mounting frustrations at being a liability to the group, gave way to one almighty shove to the back of Megatron's head. His face suffused briefly with the landscape and he reared back in pain.
The aura started to dim.
Thrusting one hand behind him, he enveloped the body of Browning and tossed him up to the nearby landing. Concussed by the collision, Browning withdrew a blaster in a daze. As the messianic image of Megatron's haloed head appeared over the cliff edge. Browning panicked and fired one full powered shot. The top of Megatron's head burst open and he slumped backwards. However, the aura destroyed, the weight of his plunging body also pulled the landing apart. Though Megatron landed suddenly, impaled by a jutting mass. Browning fell from higher overhead, into the torrent itself. Washed away, to time and space unknown. Megatron, now unconscious, lay dying. A plume of flame danced from his shattered helm. The Beast would take note of their fallen. He chose to parley with this one in particular...

Salvo and Alpha crested a peak and suddenly, it was before them. At the centre of a great, dripping web of anti-matter. The pulsing core of Unicron flared in and out of existence. A great flaming sun that seemed to hamper, not emit light. Salvo was elated that the quest was almost over. Alpha, now resolute. The vast echo of a deep guttural roar announced that their host knew they had arrived.

Time was short.

Alpha turned to his young friend. A benevolent smile beaming upon her, as his hands rested on her shoulders. She was from the same world as Megatron. But a newer generation. Evolving along a different path to her legendary ancestor. Less war-like, more cunning. He confided in her now, that The Weapon can't work without the rest. He sensed the passing of Megatron and Browning. She began to tremble and he held her close.
Uttering in her ear 'Take the shot'. He walked over to the core, turned to face her and transformed in front of it. The Five were to combine to form The Weapon. The most powerful gun in creation. Alpha was the lens to focus and amplify that energy. Enhanced by his direct link to the Creation Matrix energies. Now, he was still to become that lens. His hope was that Salvo had enough firepower to set off a chain reaction between his energies and the anti-matter in the room. Less refined than the initial plan but, the only hope they had left.

She produced weapons from every aspect of her armour and began to charge. At the point, they entered the chamber. A blackened, cyclopean golem and hulking figure, aglow with an azure energy akin to Unicorn's core. Adorned with a spiked, broken crown atop his head. Both wielding an incredible looking weapon on opposite arms. Both took aim at Salvo and began to charge. Alpha was powerless to aid her, but trusted in her guile.
Feeling their weapons locked on. Salvo flicked her arm cannons to her left and used them to propel her into line of sight of the core. Without thinking, they fired monstrous beams of energy. Far in excess of what she could have mustered. The combined assault struck Alpha's lens directly and then, it was over. The force unleased a blast wave across time and space itself. The plan failed to remove The Beast completely. But at the end of creation, Unicron was vanquished. He would not be denied his vengeance, however. A shadow was cast from his two heralds that would be cast across their entire timelines. Madness and evil would be tied to them both forevermore. The fates of the fallen would also ripple across the ages. The Six would never be able to reform. Alpha, The Flaming One, in turn would forever be the leader of the future. The chosen one that would lead to the eternal defeat of the Uncreator. Instrumental to His death. For this was not only the end, but also the big bang of creation itself.

As for Salvo? There was no gravity or impact to slow her propulsion. She was accelerated further by the blast wave. Outside of the physical realm all together. Unable to stop...

The Cavalier took a deep breath and looked out upon the auditorium. The Maxim sat ...motionless? His story concluded, he expected the typical adulation. Questions etc The Maxim's thirst for knowledge was legendary. As was his desire to share his knowledge with the universe at large. His attention was sudden alerted to a slow clap on the balcony above. There stood Salvo. The Host appeared behind and around her. Also behind his audience on the main floor. 'Aww It's been a long time since then, hasn't it? Although I did enjoy the trip down memory lane. You've led us on a merry chase, old one.'
'Release them from your thrall, Decepticon!' Cavalier's finger tips raised and glowed towards her. His eyes and chest crackled with energy.
'Release? In all your travels you seem to have confused the mission of the Neocon with your histories. We have conquered so many. You think a planet of academics would be spared?' She clicked her fingers and the audience all stood up, en masse, within the crescent shaped room. Together they shifted before the travellers optics into Host soldiers. Stunned, he slowly backed away.

'Wholesale infiltration. The key aspect to our race, no? Universal conquest that is more than meets the eye, you might say?' Even without a mouth, psionically her words alluded to a smug grin. ' Those we conquer, awaken from a nightmare to find their world unchanged. The reality being, we terraform the planet alongside the populous. The process is extremely painful and traumatising. Although some prove immune to this change. The higher brain functions still subconsciously protect, by repressing the experience. When they are needed. Our sleeper armies awaken. Permanently.'
'I ...see. A pity. Cavalier briefly bowed his head, solemnly. Before blasting six close by Host and forcing Salvo through a far wall via a sudden telekinetic blast. He transformed and rocketed through the ceiling straight into the air. Alas this time, he would not escape. As The Great Ship Malice loomed in the skies above him. The surface now also that of a War World. No longer an organic utopia.
'You had eluded our first assault, old one. You were safe amidst the anonymity of the galaxy. If only you hadn't returned to Cybertronian space, Great Matrix. We would likely have never found you. To complete the pogrom of Cybertron.' Salvo stared up at him from above.

'Hmm. All lies with you now, Crosswind.' Cavalier transformed and briefly hovered high in the atmosphere. As Salvo transformed and fired full blast at the golden traveller. The detonation of his destruction was akin to the energies unleashed in his tale. The final fate of the Creation Matrix was to meet the power of the last of The Six, after all.

:CON: End of Part One :CON:
Last edited by AllNewSuperRobot on Wed Jan 05, 2022 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Wed Jan 05, 2022 10:31 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Two - The lowest ebb

We did it!

Unicron, at the end of time, would finally die. But in spite of our great trials and noblest of intentions. We were not able to rid the multiverse of His existence. We were made to suffer for our shortcoming. The blast of creation incinerated those whom had fallen under sway. His corruption cast a shadow back upon their lives for all time. Through Alpha, the Creation Matrix would remember the power to expel the Uncreator. Although without the means to generate the full effect. Opening the Matrix itself would cast an approximation. Fuelled by the lives given in it's service. That of creation and not destruction.

My quick thinking saved my life and perhaps our mission. But tactics that were too short sighted to gamble upon within the heart of chaos. Once I began to soar, as my future detonated around me, propelling me further. I simply couldn't stop.
I was soon no longer within physical space. What I would come to know as the timestream. I began to lose my sense of self and simply gave into to the ebb and flow of chronal tides. As my consciousness drifted, my physicality reverted to my base Gun Mode. My lifetime of upgrades perished with my former reality. I was naught but a raindrop in the ocean of time.

Then came a great wave. The chronal tides surged and a tiny spec such as myself was hurtled faster still into the tumult. Until I was swept against something ..physical? The next I knew, I somehow awoke back in real space. That's when once again fate led me back to him. Megatron.

Planet Earth

Autobot City - 2005

Here, a great siege was underway. Unable to transform from my weapon form. My psionic abilities could sense what I could not see. Megatron had been engaged in combat with some foe I didn't recognise. Who had gained the upper hand. On his knees and seemingly without options, his eye found me among the debris. He subtly began to edge closer. There was some commotion too fast for me to perceive and all at once I was within his grasp. He held me aloft and mortally wounded his rival.
My first contact with anyone in eons, his touch imprinted much upon me. Self. Purpose. History. Dare I say, a hunger for conquest? These events and ancestors were so far before my time, their relevance predated my own historical knowledge. In that moment of clarity, I too identified as a Decepticon. My purpose fulfilled, his cause would be mine. Megatron, although a vague resemblance. Was my only tie to the upheaval around me. My anchor to reality. The longer held in his grasp, I felt my chronal nature giving way to physicality. Once I fully regained my former form. I would cast my lot with him and his enemies would be slain.
But fate... had other ideas.

A desperate attack from his dying foe sent Megatron flying. I by proxy, cast from his hand. Too soon for restoration, I fell back into time itself. But my partial stability would see me fall to the same grounds.. But different.

Years after the siege, the city was rebuilt and larger than ever. I was bombarded by a great energy beam. This seemed to be all I needed. I was free! My eyes opened. To dazzling sunlight, blue skies, rock-based mountains and the source of my recharge. The Predacons - as the announced themselves - were engaged in battle against a gigantic metal flying creature. This too would be identified as "Sky Lynx". I noted the Decepticon emblem in this ground forces. They saw one in me. Mid chest, wherein the crest of my people was once etched. Ironic. We engaged the foe together. Until it hurled a secondary animal into the mountain peak above us and I was buried beneath rubble, alongside their own flier.

I discharged my rifle into the rocks above and rose amidst the dust cloud. Further into the future. The last remaining Seekers were being pursued by a third party. Smaller creatures, but still akin to Megatron and myself. The Seekers looked old, weak and rusting. A small team of four highly skilled animal bots were systematically ensnaring and subduing the larger fliers, one at a time. The last three ran into me and rebounded to the ground. They were indeed greatly weakened and diminished. My scans indicated flight and transformation were beyond them now. They saw my emblem once more and begged me to aid their escape. Disgusted by their cowardice. I Psychically compelled them to unify and fight to the death. They turned and moved as one. Although they did ultimately fall. One of their foes went with them. The hunters were satisfied and moved on with their trophies. I was curious why they did not engage me? I turned at a strange sensation.

Time had shifted again somehow. The planet looked ravaged. The weather system now violent and unstable. A great, broken horn could be seen in the distance, lodged deep. It must be ..Him! But the Uncreator didn't give me this feeling. Clearing his throat, I beheld my answer. Alpha stood on a hill top above me. He was picturesque. Despite an extremely advanced age. Though, as with Megatron, he was not My Alpha. His wizened face gave a warm and disarming smile. He greeted me and said it had been a long time since he had company. He gave the name of Rodimus Prime. I was unfamiliar with such a title. He offered his hand. I took it into my own and his eyes darkened.
'Oh, I see. Though I am to remain steward and guardian to these remains. This is not the time or place for you, young Salvo. I thank you for the company. For however brief a time it was.' Somehow he knew my name? But before I could reply, I felt the energies of the Creation Matrix. They pulsed through his chest and into my own. The next I knew, I was found by Terrorcon within the void. A new cause would find me once again.

Planet Lithone - 2005

Cybershark was amassed by various cables within the engine room of Obelisk. Working frenetically with his only good hand and using his fangs as leverage. The convertor was extended. The ship was being refuelled and would be propulsion ready in six cycles. That was the good news. They would be eaten by monstrous killer planet long before that flight could happen, however. But, but, but. He knew she didn't want to run. Obelisk was a Maximal. Defender of the weak and helpless. Hence why he was adjusting manual control systems. She wore her emblem with pride and often in their adventures, prevented his more blood thirsty nature falling upon those perceived "innocents". Collateral damage, as he saw those in the way of his enemies. His heritage taught him more to rely on more practical and base, primal instincts.
'Gnaw-son. I've been trying to divert non-essential systems to the defence grid and have managed to repower three Ion cannons.' The gravity of the incoming crisis was now shaking the planet and it's time-displaced stowaways.
'Great! Fantastic.. Which will mean what against a Planet Former?'
'Conservative estimates. Based on ancient scans of Unicron's form during his later assault on Cybertron. Indicate a potential damage yield of 5% -8%.'
'Bhahaha! The equivalent of ...stubbing his toe!?' Incredulous, Cybershark began to rewire the ships systems even faster. 'How much longer until we are eaten?'
'Snark aside, Gnaw-Son. We have an obligation to aid these people. 5%-8% would not be enough to destroy the Unicron. But even minor surface damage might give him pause. Long enough for us to refuel and rescue as many as we can. Four cycles remain'
' You said it yourself, my Dear. Unicron consumes this world. These creatures are lost. It is history. It has already happened! So instead of wasting your efforts on folly. Help me try to get us out of here.' The hatch to a compartment by his face suddenly swings open in defiance, dazing the Sharkticon.
'It isn't folly to help those in need. We don't know for sure no one survives this attack. Maybe we can't save everyone but we must at least try to save some. Now we are here. We can't just slip away and do nothing! We have a duty to use everything at our advantage to aid those in danger! Normally this tone of superiority would lead to heated debate between the two. But something in her words triggered an idea. A last desperate gamble for survival. Cybershark leapt to his feet and ran to his quarters. He had long ago disengaged the comms in this room. Although he could no longer hear it, he was sure Obelisk's speech was ongoing.
Rummaging through his possessions, he found that tiny box he acquired during the Beast Wars, so long ago now. He felt hope at last. Obelisk was indeed still speaking when he re-entered the engine room. Unaware, in her lower powered state, that he had left. He walked straight to the Chronal Engine. Suddenly cataclysmic shockwaves ricocheted through the ship.
Unicron was here!
With some effort, Cybershark was able to prise open the control panel and locate the power cell. The time travelling abilities of the Obelisk were not a perfected science. Chronal travel fully depleted the engine. When they landed at their destination. It took a full year for the power cell to recharge by means of a sophisticated dynamo. Obelisk herself was still a fully capable being during this time. But had no direct control or influence over this system within her. With this knowledge, Cybershark observed the 2% charge of the power cell and opened the box. Aerogon. The last crystal in existence. A parting "gift" from the Space Pirates. Quickly hotwiring open the power cell. He inserted the crystal and accessed the manual controls. In spite of the power of the hyper-charged element. The display only rose to 10%. He hoped that was enough, initiating the engine.

'We must fight for them..!' The last words he heard from his companion on the subject.
The idea, to slip away, appeared to be working. The first stage of time travel was to phase shift out of reality. Cybershark hoped that 10% would last just long enough to remove them from danger. The Obelisk dislodged from Lithone, as it was devoured by Unicron. When it was over and the monster planet moved on. The silence was deafening. The power cell was depleted again. The crystal burned out completely. They were alone. But alive.
This brought little solace to Obelisk. Her sensors recorded it all. The death. The carnage. The screams of terror. The return of emergency lighting indicated the six cycles had based. They were free to move once more. 'No... No more...
The multitude of wires at his feet suddenly ensnared Cybershark. He struggled against them. But he too, was weakened by his earlier trials. 'What is the meaning of this!? I know you're upset but think objectively. I saved our lives! We still have a mission to accomplish and that means more than a world that was already dead!!'
The wires lifted him from his feet and dragged him towards the Chronal Engine. She appeared as a hologram next to the engine. ' I made a mistake. Too many times I've had to stay your hand. I believe there is innate goodness in this universe. But you are so single minded in your goals, you would trample the last innocent in existence to achieve them. That is not the Maximal way, Gnaw-Son'
' I am not a Maximal, Obelisk! I never was!'
'No, you are not. In spite of my best efforts. I lacked the ability to imprint that nobility upon you and for that I am sorry. It is time for us to part.'
Cybershark's eyes widened as the shielding of the engine opened. ' I will send you away from here now. As you wanted. I will remain and try to make things right, a second time. This era will grant me what I needed. Thank you for your company and I won't give up on your people, I promise. Goodbye! The energies of the exposed core flared out and Cybershark vanished.
The effort of forcing her engines to ignite shunted her back into Bot Mode. Now alone, Obelisk was completely powerless. Floating inert among the sparse debris of Lithone. A Quintesson cruiser advanced on the area, scanning for survivors.


Cybershark span uncontrollably through the timestream itself. Still caught in the blast wave of the Vok Event. He collided with some ..spec, that in turn altered his course. He awoke, much to his amusement. In the brig of the Space Pirates Symbol Ship. Exactly when and where he first joined them. Yet this time, would be different. Leo Caesar leered menacingly at the sudden arrival of a prisoner in his previously empty cells. 'You are?'
'A ..Tracker. Freelance. I decided that in order to offer my services to the Space Pirates. I had to get your attention first. I am ...Cybershark...'

Cybershark travelled across time to save his lost ancestors. Searching for answers with his Maximal companion. None were ever found. Now with betrayal and lust for revenge burning in his core. He no longer cared for his mission. The irony amused him.

:CON: End of Part Two :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sun Feb 27, 2022 6:52 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Appendix

"After the Great War, a few Decepticons were granted amnesty. Most have retired, but rumour has it that one was reprogrammed and rebuilt -- as a Predacon!"

What were the prerequisites for selection? How far up the chain of command was this "amnesty" granted?? What level of deeds were given leniency, and what were the internal politics behind these decisions?

This thought process brings us to Cyclonus.

What if the rumours Primal heard of were far from the full story? How could the restoration of Galvatron's Second in command be justified??


Then, there is the story of Obelisk. I equate her story to a stone in a pond. The ripple effect one lone time traveller can cause, just by her existence. In another time and place, perhaps she was destroyed in the accident which led her to this reality? Meaning she never met Gnaw. Never sired Cybershark. Who in turn, never brought the Space Pirates to pre-history Earth or aided Overbite in gaining access to Ravage's Heavy Cruiser. Ending the Beast Wars before Tarantulas was slain by the Vok possessing Tigerhawk.

Cybershark, who would also later unwittingly jettison lost Salvo from the void and back into reality. The pivotal ally and council Terrorcon needed. Giving the Neocon a new mission, as opposed to the initial one of universal annihilation.

Lastly, stood Cavalier. The Matrix of Leadership, upgraded into sentience by unknown means. Doing everything he could to stay under the radar. Even fleeing Cybertron's destruction to evade discovery. A bearer of knowledge. Ultimately undone. First by the Vok and then, by his own nature.

The Maximals, Predacons, Neocon, time travellers and Others. A collision course has been set...
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Tue Apr 12, 2022 2:14 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Part Three - The War to End All Wars

Chapter One: Upheaval

Before the Great Upgrade...

'This is Autobot City Commander Prowl, Begin datalog recording.'

January 2029:

Galvatron is dead.
A desperate plan enacted by a squadron of Headmasters, spearheaded a surprise ambush on the Decepticon Emperor. Neither his lifesigns nor remains were to be found. Among the glacial ruins of their final encounter in Alaska on Earth.

We should have known better.

Seizing on the opportunity, Autobot Supreme Commander Rodimus Prime, began to gather his allies from across Cybertronian space and beyond. A plan was enacted to strike at multiple Decepticon held territories and outposts. Capitalising on the disarray from the power vacuum caused by Galvatron's loss. That should prove the decisive turning point in ending the War once and for all. Scattering the formidable Decepticon army to the four corners of the galaxy. At first, it was working.
In spite of much infighting, no new Emperor arose to lead the enemy. So they factionalised to an greater degree. Cyclonus and Scourge, the former left and right hand of the insane Emperor, allied themselves with Scorponok and the Headmasters. At the urging of the Unicron spawn, Scorponok led the Decepticon Headmasters in turning on his own former Nebulon ally, Lord Zarak. Strip-mining their former shared territory and leaving Zarak, and his fellow organic collaborators, for dead. Scorponok's Decepticons took to the stars. Away from Nebulos to create a powerbase and place himself on the Decepticon throne. Zarak however, did not die. Creating for himself and his allies duplicates of their shared bodies. Now calling himself Black Zarak, he led his new force in pursuit of Scorponok and revenge. Fighting on two fronts served to keep the Headmaster Commander from the throne for long enough for further competition to enter the fray. Diminishing his chances further.
For every new faction that emerged, a new leader rose to plague the Autobots. Shockwave remerged from supposed oblivion. Among new leadership: Deathsaurus ,Overlord, Thunderwing, Violen Jiger, Devil Z and even a Triple Changer of unknown origin known only as Marauder. Who to some, bore a strange semblance to the long dead mighty Megatron. This feudal split of manpower, emboldened the Autobots and Galactic Alliance further.
They co-ordinated their efforts greater than ever before. The flames of war spread fast but also began to fade quickly. The Decepticons simply couldn't contend with such a united front in this unstable status quo. Many feared the end was near.
It was then, when hope shone greater than ever, that Galvatron returned. He had not died. But fled unseen from near death, deeper into the universe. We would all suffer for the oversight.

Meanwhile

Despair filled his spark, a new sensation to the mad emperor. He lost. Not to his sworn foes and rivals. But in a moment of weakness... to nobodies! The affront was almost too much to bear. From the shadows, he watched all that unfolded, in his wake. The dismantling of his army by upstarts and pretenders. Figurative and literal. Their threat diminishing with every new simpleton's power grab. Rodimus and his new Master Generals, overcame these ignorant fools and tore down much of what he had built. The Decepticon Empire was turning to ashes. He needed more power. To reign in his people and rout his foes once and for all. When first cast from Unicron, he was invincible. The prior defeat would have never happened. With the destruction of the Monster Planet, his limitless power slowly began to ebb over many years. Perhaps there lay the answer?

But to search for the lost head of Unicron, last seen floating aimlessly towards the edge of known space. He would need to draw eyes away from this sector of space. Even among disparate, outlaw organics that inhabit the fringes of known space. His visage was too well known.

Many believed, the head of Unicron was finally dead. Galvatron was amused at the irony of such consensus regarding his own "termination". Those forged by Unicron are not so easily slain. He found his distraction among the many ruins of these ragtag hovels.

An abandoned Decepticon outpost.
Known only to the upper echelon of Decepticon Command. Years ago, Megatron had commissioned research into a super weapon. In light of an early attempted coup by his Triple Changers on Earth. The brightest new minds of Cybertron were rounded up in secret to build the ultimate response. As a potential new body for the Emperor himself. Should the tide turn against him again, from other such future advancements. When the body was complete, Megatron slew all with knowledge of the experimental body and the facility. He was distracted from completing the project. By the announcement from Soundwave of a desperate refuelling plan by Optimus Prime. Laserbeak had been dispatched to learn further details. Elated, Megatron returned to Cybertron at once.

Many years later, here he stood once more. Galvatron tore through the hidden entrance within a rogue asteroid. His footfalls echoed across empty corridors. Punching through another door, he entered the main lab. The corroding corpses of the dead scientists crunched underfoot. The pod lay before him. Fully fuelled and dormant, as it was back then. Rudimentary attributes were added to programming. Without a spark of it's on, Galvatron would give his weapon all it would need to gain power. But with unquestioning loyalty beyond even self preservation. The pod opened and the Marauder, as it would named, immediately knelt in fealty. Galvatron smiled and stroked his chin. This will do. The Marauder left the asteroid, headed for the closest Autobot ally. Butchering any and all in his wake. His reputation spread quickly.
Galvatron continued unhindered, in the opposite direction.

He could track the remains of his former "master" effortlessly. With almost preternatural instinct. This fact surprised him, as it was an insight he had never noted before? However, in this growing and largely starless expanse. The head of Unicron would ever evade him. One year from when he parted from Marauder, he would find something else. Of greater value than he could imagine. He approached a dimly glowering, broken sphere. It's scale reminded him of a Gestalt in size. Almost complete, yet missing at least a third of it's mass, in a wicked fracture. The missing part was not present. His special sense drew him closer. But with a mounting apprehension. What was this thing and what tied it to Unicron?

Charging his particle cannon for a light even his sensors denied him. The mad emperor grinned at the enhanced sight, with a smile that would have made the universe shudder. Around him lay the resting place of some pieces of Unicron's larger body. Scattered by his destruction. The broken sphere, was the ejected central core of the Monster Planet. The meek glowing light that piqued his initial curiosity. That now reflected brighter in Galvatron's descending optics. Nothing but remnants of the very lifeblood of Unicron itself! Galvatron could almost feel the power, the pulsing amber fluid still contained.

He dove in and drank greedily.

When all had been absorbed within him, the core remains crumbled to ash. Galvatron hovered there in the darkness, alone and silent. Something felt wrong. He observed his form throbbing and contorting. He groped at his head and silently screamed as his mind seemed on fire. Every atom of his being burned and in a crescendo of pain, unendurable. An inverted explosion of destructive force flared out in all directions. Inert now, he floated briefly. A hand slowly twitched. Then clenched into a fist. Optics flared back to life with an ebony hue and that mad smile would never leave his face again. He had not been remade at all, this time. But empowered beyond imagination. His mind was less ...restored, than he would have liked. That was a small price to pay for his restitution. He was the perfect weapon, the ultimate Transformer, once more. Pointed at one target above all others.

Rodimus Prime.

Without the need for subterfuge any longer. Galvatron rocketed from the edge of space to burn all that stood before him. Enemy and ally alike...

:CON: To Be Continued :CON:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sat Apr 30, 2022 1:21 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter Two: Solicitude

July 2029:

'Such heroic nonsense...'

The last words I remember. Then there was a flash and ..nothing. Megatron stood over me, for the last time. The worst part? Knowing I let Prime down. I let my buddies down. When it mattered most.

No one was more surprised then me when my eyes opened again. I was looking out of the porthole of some kinda tank? I saw the faces of my old friends staring back at me. Teary eyed with big beaming smiles. Spike, with a little grey in his hair. His boy, Daniel, too. Lookin' all grown up. That's when I knew it had been a while since I last saw y'all. Though I still couldn't move, Spike filled me in on what I missed. Autobot City survived the ambush. The Autobots even retook Cybertron. That's the good news.

Prime.. and Megatron. Had their final fight. Settling their score once and for all. Optimus eventually came back. Megatron didn't. If I could move, I would have cheered at that news alone. But, he got replaced by somethin' worse. Galvatron. Who brought out the best in us, in response. Rodimus Prime.

The War rages on. New faces, new technologies, new discoveries. It was at that point, when Daniel spent the entire talk lookin' away. That even a lunk head like me, caught on. I was talkin to Spike, at eye level. I was real low to the ground. When I asked, Spike hesitated to answer, and a Bat Bot entered the room. Introduced himself as Convo and bowed to me. I noticed a faction symbol on his shoulders I didn't recognise. A new Beast Bot team, maybe?

His altmode looked real slick, too. So life-like. He said he the first of a new breed: Auto-Maximals. The biggest positive to the war. Technology took a big leap forward. The brightest we had looked to smaller bots. Called Masterforce units. With names like Head, Target, Power and what not. They took the tech that made these little guys work and looked to apply it to all of our race. Power supplies ain't gonna last forever and it takes a lotta juice to keep your Grimlocks and Powerglides moving. The Maximals were the first group to emerge from this new science. Convo paused, as he said the first generation Maximals emerged in pairs. He and his ..parted ways. Taking some of the others with him. The more things change, and all that!

Before the Maximals would look to adding the Autobots to their ranks. They're callin' it "the Great Upgrade". They made it clear - the war has to end. As a neutral faction, they made this clear to both sides. The Decepticreeps seemed to know somehow and agreed.

The War lit up like a powder keg. Both sides determined to end it fast and not become yesterday's news. Things were looking up with the news that Galvatron had bit the dust. That was a couple months ago. Since then, being the first Autobot to be rebuilt as a Maximal. I effectively became the go-between. An ambassador, as Prowl called it. Til a few weeks back. When all news from Cybertron went real quiet. The Autobots stopped answering my calls.

I think they're protecting me now. I was mighty humbled to be voted by a wide majority on Cybertron to be remade like this. But the Maximals are an untested ally. Never been in conflict, yet. Given my size, no doubt the others think I might go all in and wind up slagged all over again. They'd be right. My instincts tell me somethin' ain't right out there and I want to do somethin'. Convo and Spike are my only real friends out here. Some space colony between Earth's solar system and Cybertronian space. The other Maximals are fine folks, but weary of me. "War Bots", that's how they see Autobots and Decepticons. It scares 'em. Takes me back to my rookie days. Before The War started. That kind of innocence should be protected. Before they end up like we did. I need to talk to Prime, or Prowl. I need to join the fight.

'I sense that conflict within you, my friend. You would gird yourself for war yet again. This time, on our behalf, yes?'
'You know me, Convo. I'd spent a lifetime fightin' the good fight. There's a lot worth protectin' out there. Making sure the bad guys get theirs too.'
'Look at you. The form you chose for yourself, an Earthen Elephant, is not one of offense. There are no blasters upon you anymore. You have a baton, that you use as a cane. You have a new lease on life, in an ageless body. But subconsciously see yourself as "old" and carry yourself accordingly. An armed Autobot shuttle sits in our cargo bay. Left by Spike Witwicky for you to journey to Cybertron, whenever you wish. Yet you haven't even left our living quarters to even inspect it in six months. You are no prisoner here, Ironhide. Nor a coward. But maybe something deeper keeps you from rejoining your friends?'
He taps my ole noggin and leaves my quarters. He really does know me too well. I wish you were still with us, Prime. I decide to board the shuttle and head to Nebulos. Spike's new home away from home. I got a hunch he might need a friend out there, too.

Elsewhere

A signal was dispatched.
The leaders of every Decepticon faction received an invitation, to parlay. In our hubris, we all accepted the summons. They all believe the message came from me. In a brief span of time, I have made significant gains in troops and territory with ruthless efficiency. The others grow concerned. My first big victory came in the form of Devil Z. Who met it's end at my hands. As most only know of the name of Marauder. Rumours even began to spread as to my origin. My ..legend. That I may even be Megatron himself, reincarnated from the remains of Galvatron. In truth, I do not know who sent this summons. But lately, I have begun to dwell on my history. My visage has yielded such devotion in my followers, I begin to question my own identity. What if my awakening was but a dream? The passing of a metaphoric torch. My subconscious leaving "Galvatron" behind, to become reborn as a Super Robot?? Am I truly a Super Megatron??? Conquest of these pathetic usurpers has been all too easy. As it would have been for him. But, deep down, there is still pause. A sliver of doubt. I recall nothing from before my awakening. Before the dream. Surely my datatrax should have access to more?

Too many questions. As I approach the remote outpost to begin this parlay. I put such thoughts aside for now. I will learn who is behind this and if I am not satisfied? I will crush them all and seize the throne.


The combined leaders of the factionalised Decepticon Army gather on Starbase Rugby. A non-aligned Cybertronian science station. Believed to be under construction by the Maximal Faction to monitor a nearby blackhole. During these escalated days of the war, the workers have abandoned it to the relative safety of less remote locations.

One by one, mighty warships appear around it. A non-aggression pact is agreed for the duration of the parlay. The shields are not lowered until a scanner array confirms this. Also under agreement, Each leader teleports down to the starbase alone. Every one of them quietly confident they have no reason to fear for their safety. Each assured of their supremacy, should the gathering descend into melee.

The Trinity - Scorponok, Cyclonus and Scourge. Form the leadership of the largest remaining single faction. They arrive first. Then the others, from Zarak to Violen Jiger, all slowly emerged from transmat. They all gather within a large oval auditorium. Still incomplete, the only feature of the otherwise sterile metal surroundings was the translucent ceiling. For observing the stars. The tension, especially between Scorponok and Zarak, was palpable.

There were only two doors within the room. The envoy all entered through the left. The assumption being their host would arrive from the right. The last to arrive, behind the others, was Marauder. His face alone caused much unease among the group. Rumours had travelled far and wide. But to see him up close, gave too much potential truth to them for comfort. He said nothing, but paraded past the gathering and stood at the centre of the room. Staring at the door. As if on cue, the door opened. To reveal Galvatron, alive and well.

But there was something ..odd to him. The keen among the gathering observed. His head tilted minutely from one side to another. His face, as stoic as a mask. While they were all shocked by their leader's return. None quite knew what to do about this revelation.
'The time for dissent is over.' The Emperor stated, oddly sombre. 'Now, Kneel.'
For Cyclonus and Scourge, there was no hesitation. For the rest, a moments doubt. Marauder smirked. This was it! The final test of his lineage. To strike down this apostate vision and reign supreme. Triumphantly, he readied himself to attack.

'I. AM. MEGATRON! And I bow to nobod---'
The arm cannon of Galvatron rose and in three briliant flashes, Marauder, Thunderwing and Overlord crumbled to ashes.
'KNEEL!'
All present did so without question. Staring in shock at the three smouldering piles.
'All hail Galvatron!' Scourge and Cyclonus chanted with relish.
'Now, fellow Decepticons. Let's bring this war to an end.'

:CON: To Be Concluded :CON:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Tue Jun 07, 2022 11:09 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter Three: Megalomania


Planet Nebulos

October 2029:

Chaos!

Galvatron remerged somehow and the results have been nothing short of apocalyptic. The fractured Decepticon army has been unified into their most deadly incarnation ever. They have swarmed worlds en masse. A lone planet stands little chance against the entire, coordinated Decepticon army. We have lost planet Master. From reports, it was destroyed by Galvatron alone.

He was never that powerful before?!

Now we're on the back foot. We've asked our allies to form a last line of defence on Earth. Rodimus has rallied the Autobots to make our stand at Nebulos. We will fight on two fronts. Losing either is not an option. Prime will draw Galvatron and the main force, to him at the abandoned Hive complex in the northern hemisphere. We Combiner Teams will mount the defence of the populated southern cities. I've dispatched the other Aerialbots to monitor the skies. The other teams have been doing what they can to move the Nebulons to the safety of Perceptor's purpose built shelters.
We thought they wouldn't arrive for two weeks. They appeared at the edge of the solar system in six days. We weren't ready. Our preparations were not complete. But we were out of time. Rodimus gathered all the team leaders together for a final debrief. As he spoke, Prowl and Springer, the commanders of the Powermasters and Wreckers, respectively. Looked stern, stoic. More so than usual. The rest couldn't help but look nervous among themselves.
'Psst. Hey Silverbolt, did you hear?'
'Hmm? Sorry, Goldbug. I wasn't paying attention. What's the news?'
'Hardhead, Chromedome and the rest all bought it on Planet Master!'
'Primus! All the Headmasters are dead?!'
'Fort Max is the only one left. He was ferrying the other Masters here. That alone saved his life.'
That wasn't encouraging to hear. The rest of Prime's brief wasn't much better. As we returned to our units, we heard more about who we would be facing. Galvatron observed us first. Laserbeak was sighted too late. Escaping with full tactical layouts of our positions. Blasted buzzard! Violin Jager took overall command of our Decepticon counterparts. One of the last of the Nebulons entering the shelters cried out. Seeing Devastator, Predaking and the rest, slowly advancing on the Capital City. I personally sealed the last door, then hovered down the mountain to my team. The Decepticon Gestalts formed an advancing front. Levelling every building before them. We all combined and using the higher ground of the southern volcano, we made our stand.
When they advanced to the more open ground of the inner city, they paused. Each enemy eyed their rival. To the east, Trypticon and Metroplex had already begun their melee. No holding back any longer. Violin Jager let out a roar and raised a finger towards us. The others met that with screams of their own. They began to run.
'TIL ALL ARE ONE!' I screamed out in response. We combined into out respective super robots and charged to meet them.
Here we go.
---
'Where are we going, Lord Galvatron?'
'The fleet is heading for Nebulos, Cyclonus. We have another destination first.'
Galvatron sat in my cockpit, as we accelerated away from the Revenge. He hadn't piloted me for a long time. One of many changes I've seen in my master, since his return. The physical changes - the blackened optics, the twitches and that permanent grin on an otherwise unemotive face. These are strange enough. But upon closer inspection. His chest plate shows cracks. All stemming from his centre. Beneath his faction symbol. Concerning. Especially since he has recharged and healed on more than one occasion since Star base Rugby.
'Speak, Cyclonus. We are alone. What does my right hand have on his mind?'
'My Lord, your wounds.'
'Ha! Since partaking of the blood of Unicron. With every exercise of my new power. My capacity for more energy grows. Since my restoration, I feel ten times more powerful now than that first exposure. The side effect of this, my superstructure seems to be decaying. Unable to bear this growth for much longer. I am becoming, Cyclonus. What, I do not know?'
'Yet you do not fear, my Lord. For you are the Mighty Galvatron!'
'Hahaha! I see things now. Beyond the scope of my optics. I see you. In many different guises. Some, as loyal to me as you have always been. Others, make me want to end you now..'
I feel the barrel of his cannon pressed into my controls. 'Lord.. Galvatron??'
'One variant, however, brings me great pride. I see you, after the Great War. Sitting atop the Decepticon Throne. On Cybertron. Cyclonus ..Prime. The Supreme Leader of our entire people. Your intellect and guile leads to forging an alliance with an inter-dimensional alien race. Our people will follow the path of these Maximals and our Predacon allies. You will remain as you are. Empowered by your allies. This future, pleases me.'
'Me? A Prime?! But what of you, Mighty Galvatron?? And the accursed Rodimus!?'
'... We have reached our destination. Stay the course, Cyclonus. When the time comes, do not interfere. Then it will all be yours!'
We approached Planet Master. Alone. I have apprehension in that fact. But faith in my Emperor.
'You are concerned. That is good. Even now, I hear and feel the warning systems and defences of the planet below. Alerted to our presence. Begin broadcasting what follows to our fleet. What is about to come is not only to demonstrate my new found power. But to settle a vendetta against three on the surface.'
Galvatron leaves my cockpit. He hovers in front of me and motions for me to transform. I do so and immediately, he transforms into a gun that lands in my grasp. I feel honoured.
'FIRE!' I am commanded. I see missiles and fliers leaving the atmosphere in our direction. I pull the trigger and feel enveloped by a defensive sphere.
The blast wave causes me to slam into the back of the energy shield. I barely hold on to consciousness. As the feed continues to record what happens next. The beam shoots straight through the planet. The fliers and defences caught in the beam's wake are incinerated. The planet detonates immediately. But it doesn't end there. The beam continues to the star of the system - Dominus. This too, detonates. I recoil as the chain reaction envelopes us in moments. I lower my guard and feel relief that the shield protected us both. But nothing remains around me. The entire system is just gone. But I panic as I realise Galvatron is no longer in my hand. I look up and see ...something. There he hovers. Yet his form appears to pulse and throb. Further cracks appearing within him, shine brightly.
'Now...' His voice echoes sonorously. I shudder at it's likeness, within my memory banks. 'To Nebulos! Let us end this!!'
All hail Galvatron!

---

'Damn Galvatron!'
'Hunter, what do you see out there? The bombings seem to have ceased for now.'
'The scope is damaged, Prowl. But I just saw Grimlock ride a Sweep (or Scourge?) into the city spire. If that's the last of them, I think the Dinobots have stopped the immediate carpet bombings. But there is still fighting everywhere out there. This is madness!'
Prowl and two of his trusted Powermasters have occupied a former storage bunker in the Capital's horticulture district. As a makeshift infirmary. The wounded keep coming. Most binary-bonded partners, such as myself and Chip Chase. Have done what we can to aid in minor repairs and stabilising patients. Prowl is doing what he can. But none of us are medics. The only known medics on planet are currently wrestling Monstructor at the City Limits. Unfortunately, we are losing ground on the Combiner Front. While Computron was able to remove Abominus from the fight. Piledriving his remains into the nearby volcano. The Technobots soon fell to the combined might of Sixshot and the Horrorcons. Raiden also seems to have fallen to Devastator.
The Wreckers also seem lost. They fought their way deep into enemy territory. The orbiting warship Revenge detonated and since then, no one has been able to raise Springer, Sandstorm or any of the others.
Things look bad.
Especially as our newest patient is the upper half of the Aerialbot commander, Silverbolt. Barely clinging on to life. Powerglide brought him in. He's barely said a word since. Sitting near catatonic in the corner of the room. According to conflicting reports, Superion took out either Menasor or Violin Jager. Before Bruticus began to tear into them, with his bare hands.
'This is intolerable. We need more supplies! Slapdash, Road King!'
'Yes, Commander Prowl!' They state in unison with a brief salute. Prowl loves his protocol. Even in the heat of battle.
'We need medics or spare parts. Cybertronian or Nebulon, it no longer matters. Which ever is easier to acquire within the rest of this facility. Do not, under any circumstances, go above ground. Nor take any action that might inform those fighting that there are others active beneath their feet. Now Go!!'
'Sir, yes sir! Lube, Volley, let's get to it!' They and their partners transform and leave. Chip looks over at me, from examining Silverbolt. We both exchange the same thought at their passing. Before returning to our duties. The groans of the wounded drown out any actual words two so small could speak across the room.
'I think that's enough from Sixshot's little crew.' Delta smirks. Staring overhead, as Fortress Maximus launches a cannon propulsed fly kick into the Multiformer. Who promptly disappears from view. His Horrorcon allies smashed into each other by Metroplex nearby. Rising to prominence following the death of Ultra Magnus. The newest Magnus, steward of Scramble City. Delta has proven to be as great an asset to the Autobot army as his forbearer. A tactic genius on the battlefield. His tactics have ensured the Autobots have held the Hive City centre since this began. Even with fewer initial troops than our enemies. Blurr and the Throttlebots have been instrumental as scouts and saboteurs. Keeping the fighting lines supplied and rogue enemy infiltrators scrapped. Before they had chance to gain a foothold. Days later, the City Bots have now joined our fight. Their own rivals, left as wrecks in their wake. Scorponok and Zarak. Both grey and pinned to the ground. Impaled by Fort Max' sword. 'I just got word. Rodimus has engaged Galvatron at the city gates. All troops advance on Prime! Hearing his name. At least fifty Autobots transform and roll out towards their leader.

'AHH! AHHHH! AHHHHHHHH!!'
'Prowl. I think Silverbolt is awake!'
'Yes, thank you, Chip. I caught that. You and Hunter see to the new arrivals entering in the turbo-lift. I'll see to my fellow commander.'
It all happened so fast. I was half delirious with pain. But I saw it all, clear as day. Prowl was busy, trying to hold me together. I looked over and saw Prowl's Powermaster partners open the lift door. Only for the Firecons to emerge. One carrying what looked like the head of Slapdash. Then there was an explosion. Instinct took over and Prowl grabbed me and leapt over the table. When next I came too, on the ground. I could see open sky and smoke plumbs above. The world was all at once silence. The groaning had ceased. The other patients.. dead. I looked left and saw Prowl. On his knees, shaking. Desperately digging through the rubble that was once the turbo-lift for the bunker. The two of us were all that was left. By the time Cosmos and Beachcomber arrived with aid.
Prowl spoke no more that day. Nor did he stop shaking for some time to come. Clutching at his empty chest compartments.

Galvatron and Prime squared off in a clearing. The city walls, levelled some time ago. The Decepticon heard our approach behind him. The sound of that many engines and wheels was hard to miss, I imagine. He rose his arm cannon in our direction. Rodimus cried out and ran for him. Galvatron barely turned his head before Rodimus connected a dropkick in his side. His aim diverted. There was a flash and the main highway that ran into the city was vaporised. Including the bridge that join our location to his. Rodimus seemed at a physical disadvantage. But for now, held his own without us. Deflecting the empowered cannon from the point blank thrusts of his rival. Flashes of energy surging in every direction. Everyone, Autobot and Decepticon, took shelter from the stray blasts. Annihilation was indiscriminate.
One such beam cast a glancing blow on Fort Max' shoulder. The impact alone hurled him to the ground. Unconscious. Cerebros & Spike deployed and advanced towards us from the east. When I spied Cyclonus bearing down behind them. Weapons hot! He was too high and moving too fast for them to evade, for long. Sudden cannon fire from a shuttle above made him dive towards the planet surface. Finally in our range, yet without a charged blaster in sight.
Luck then drew my eye to Grimlock's sword, impaled in a dead Sweep ahead of me. On instinct, I rolled forward. Withdrew the blade and threw it with all my strength. It sang! Spinning through the air and hit home. Cyclonus, bisected, fell to the city below.

Galvatron seemed to notice this and screamed out in fury. Rodimus, floored prior by a kick to the head. Focused something we were too far to see. Then suddenly grappled with the Mad Emperor from behind. Reaching for his cannon, Rodimus pried his arm up into the sky and pulled the secondary trigger on his arm. A beam of power undeniable, flared into the sky. Inadvertently clipping the unknown shuttle, which crash landed near Fort Max.

Rodimus held on tight for some reason. Holding back Galvatron's hands from disengaging the weapon. As a piercing light scorched the skies, Galvatron's body seemed to be decaying. He was struggling to break free of Rodimus but seemed to be fracturing the longer the beam was in motion. Suddenly his physical body exploded with wave of force that blew in every direction. Prime was sent reeling across their arena. Battered and on his knees, Rodimus looked back to his rival. We all did. What we saw, very few could believe.

A pulsing black spark remained where he once stood. Yet it was it's own event horizon?! The beginning of some kind of black hole. The weather systems of the planet went insane at the sudden gravimetric distortions. It's potency was building by the second. Amid the confusion, no one noticed Prime kept advancing. A light seemed to pulse around him. He also held something in each of his hands.

Prime too however, was far from immune to these effects. In spite of the light that enveloped him. His body was slowly being torn apart. We screamed for him to retreat. Whether he ignored us or couldn't hear, who can say? The next thing we knew with his remaining strength, he slammed his arms together. The two halves of the Matrix closed around the black spark and the tumult ended as quickly as it began. An orb of light surged back from Prime inside the Matrix and the dark energy abated. Rodimus collapsed and we all rushed to his aid. He would survive. Barely.

Word spread quickly and the Decepticons that remained, surrendered. The Last Great War was over, in nine days. Nebulos itself was irrevocably damaged. The losses were grave, on all sides. The dead, would be gathered and recycled in the coming weeks. The prior Decepticon hierarchy, all fell in battle.

Back on Cybertron, Star Sabre and Dai Atlas organised the capture and detainment of the rest. No one was left unaccounted for. Yet there were so many.
This presented a problem. I offered Scramble City as a long term detention centre. It's T-Cog and datatrax long since removed and reassigned. Rodimus wouldn't hear of it. The war was over, he said. The peace has to apply to all this time. Self perpetuating hostilities would mean this never ends.
The Maximal Elder Convo arrived two days after Galvatron's death. As per Rodimus' request. The most senior (and cooperative) Decepticon - Pounce - also requested their own mediation at the table. A surprise to all. But the nature of this fourth arrival shocked Convo to his core. His paired Protoform, going by the name of Albitron. Since their ideological parting, this Gator Bot had formed his own faction, the Predacon Alliance. Who had already allied and began the Great Upgrade on the Cons low level troops.

Albitron's faction were enamoured by the Decepticons ideals. By the idea of conquest. Their numbers already surpassed the Auto-Maximals and, at this point, the surviving Autobots too.
This could get real ugly, real fast. But Rodimus was tired. Tired of the endless fighting. The Decepticons had surrendered. Only now, between them and their partners. They actually outnumbered the victors. I grew apprehensive over the terms of this "surrender".

Later


Ironhide sat with me for sometime. For his own part in the final battle, he had broken several limbs in the crash of his shuttle. Yet, both remarkably and concerning. His wounds had already healed. The Maximal restoration technology as far more efficient and potent than our own. In Cybetronian orbit, I have been in makeshift quarters onboard Metroplex, for several days.

Although in a new body, the more we talked, it was soon just like old times. But I felt, empty. In fact, I feel nothing at all. He would confide in me, his fears over the future. The talks. Over The War reigniting and pulling even Maximals and these Predacons into it's thrall. He sought logical reassurance from his old friend Prowl. Most of all, Hope. This .. wasn't a good time.

'This victory proved ultimately, nothing but pyrrhic. If Rodimus truly wants this peace. Grave concessions will have to be made.'
I thought of Hunter and Chip. Slapdash, and all the others lost over four million years of struggle. Then to the smug look on Albitron's face, next to his Decepticon puppet at the negotiating table. Wingspan, I also learned. Had already been accepted by the Predacons for their own Great Upgrade program. In exchange for Pounce's compliance, no doubt.

We'd been played. The more things change, and all that.

Pax Cybertronia, eh Rodimus? Pax Cybertronia indeed...

:BOT: :CON: End of Chapter :MAXIMAL: :PREDACON:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sun Jul 31, 2022 8:57 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Epilogue - Twice Upon A Wish

Before, Quintessa III

Obelisk stared solemnly down upon where Gnaw fell. Where her adventure began. Over and over. The launch of her team resulted in an accident that jettisoned her alone across time and space. The others - the Chronobots - lost to the void. She often dwelled on two possibilities. If she had never accidentally found her way into physical space again? Alternatively if her entire team had survived alongside her? The third option - that they all had died - raised an existential fear and anxiety within her that took some time to quell.
Within her grasp now, another course of action. Casting Cybershark into the Time stream had been too emotional a decision. She saw that now. A great swell of sorrow and wrath. His flippant attitude was too much for her to bear alongside the drama of their situation. Assessing her resolve, she trailed the contours of the Maximal symbol on her chest, with her free right hand. Her beliefs, her conviction. That was all she had left now. Remaining within this era, she allowed herself to be captured by the Quintessons. Before being bought to the Judges themselves. She raided their archives and stole something that had long eluded her. Fleeing deep within this world, undetected.
Redemption was now within her grasp. Salvation in the form of a life thought unsaved. Unable to heal the dying Gnaw, Obelisk made the most of her abilities and knowledge. Crafting an heir, from the raw materials of their surroundings. Cybershark had been a great friend to her and a valued companion on their travels. But now, everything was different. So perhaps, a second chance would change things for the better?
She held aloft a stolen genetic sample core of the Sharkticons. While also having downloaded the system datatrax of this race. Now, she had the means to save Gnaw. To undo the loss of her first ...friend. Their entire schematics coursed through her mind. As she stood the core within the last shallow pool of Gnaw's remains. She closed her optics and opened her chest to the chronal vortex energy, held her arms aloft and began her work. She could sense the process was working, she gave one last thought to Cybershark. Being sure not to affect time too much and undo his life. He was ultimately her responsibility, after all.

In that unconscious moment, a slight alteration was made.

When her sensors told her the process was complete. She closed her chest plate and opened her optics. Shock hit her all at once. He looked identical to Cybershark... Yet different. A Great White Shark, in place of a Hammerhead? Gone were the oceanic hues of blue and green. In their place, stark whites, yellow and exposed chrome. Giving him a deathly or rotting appearance. That and he was considerably larger than Cybershark. It was at that moment, she realised something else too. Throughout their travels, there had been opposition. At key moments in their quest, a rival appeared and whatever gains they had made were rendered asunder. Though never addressed directly. They took to calling this foe "The Adversary". In the stark lighting of this smouldering battlefield. Obelisk beheld their enemy clearly in full view, for the first time. The irony of this revelation was not lost on her.
'I.. I.. I..' The creature that was once Gnaw, struggled to speak at first. A new mouth, felt for the first time with new hands. Obelisk was very wary of this paradox and became unsure on how to proceed. 'Hello, again. Do you.. remember me?' She held out a hand in friendship one more time. Yet her fear was palpable. A Sharkticon, new form or no, could sense that easily enough. His new neon red eyes narrowed at the uneasy hand drawing close. He extended his right hand slowly, in response. His hand softly took hers inside his grasp. She smiled.
'I.. do. I remember you.' He looks up into the distance briefly. Then returning his line of sight to match hers, he smiles. An unnerving sight, given his remaining Sharkticon teeth. His grip momentarily tightens and his left fin blades plunges immediately through her torso. Lifting her from the floor. Her optics flare wide, mech fluid started to trickle from the edges of her mouth.
' I remember ...I told you, my people were lost!' The tone of his voice, one of rage. 'That my people were dead! Because of me! That I deserved to die because of that! I did not want an HEIR! I did not WANT to be saved! Some wrongs cannot be undone. Though perhaps..' She yelped in pain as he clenches his fin blades within her chest. 'Something can be done? Gnaw is dead.' Extracting his blades, Obelisk slumped to the floor. He clutched her gored vortex generator within his "finger tips". As her life painfully ebbed away, he paid her no heed. But stared upwards again, for a long time. 'Sky.. Sky.. Sky.' His voice stammered, again. It occurred to him, the teeth were the problem. One that would take getting used to. 'Bite... Skybite. Yes.' On instinct, he transformed into a huge, ferocious beast. One that took flight from jets on his fins. A turbine at his tail. Scaling his former home, with ease.
'In time, I shall master your power, Meddler. Now I have your scent, I shall hunt you and this offspring across the ocean of time itself. The Sharkticons were mindless slaves. Who betrayed me to our masters. They deserved their fate. It shall not be undone. While, I ...have become so much more now. In this new body and with the knowledge I possess, I shall be the first. Of. Many.'


:RUBSIGN: Fin :RUBSIGN:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Volume Two

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Sun Jan 29, 2023 6:06 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter One

Part One: Mercy

Planet Sanafar

'...Til all are one...'
'Til all are one, Big Bot!'
'Decepticons Forever! ...FIRE!!!'

All at once, salvation and battle were joined! A customised, two pronged riot shield rockets through the cavern. Disarming the Armada all at once. Hooking all Nightsticks along it's calculated trajectory. The impromptu firing squad paused in astonishment. Firing hands, also severed from the wrists. Cyclonus and his drones turned in unison from the vanishing firearms to the origin of the projectile. A great chittering began loudly building from the gloom. A single molten rock from the cavernous ceiling broke the briefest silence. A colony of Transmetal Ants burst into view. The largest lead Ant Bot, helmed by Rattrap, steering antennae from atop it's head.
'Did ya miss me?!'
With a roar, the owner of the riot shield now leapt from atop his mount and a flying kick met the closest Armada in the head. A domino effect of momentum briefly knocked them all from their feet. Max-B then emitted a null pulse from his scope enhanced left optic, towards the prisoners. Their restraints evaporated. Primal and the others rose to their feet and chaos began. K-9, silently by the side of the now unconscious Wolfang before any were aware he was even in the cave. Dinobot immediately set his sights on Cyclonus.
'Death to all Unicron Spawn!!!'
In spite of the initial surprise of the ambush. The superior numbers of the Maximals were far from a decisive advantage. The innate Decepticon strength of Cyclonus and his ilk, was undeniable. Cyclonus grabbed at the mount under the advancing Dinobot and flipped it over him. Removing it's head as he did so. The speed of the counter caused Dinobot to hit the ground harder than expected. But with a similar bellow to the Wrecker, he savagely got back to his feet and resumed his assault. For every Armada, three or four Maximals were required to even match their ability. Even the Wreckers could not match them one for one. Within the confines of a cave network, at least. Yet the tide did begin to turn in the heroes favour. Until soon, only one Armada remained. Dealing solely with the unmounted Transmetal Ants. The ceiling above a subtle reminder of the growing devastation above ground. Former solid rock, now physically malleable and stifling. The Apep survived down here for some time. Records never indicted it was a pleasant experience.
For every hit Dinobot managed to land, Cyclonus response was immediate and brutal. At one stage, the former Decepticon was holding his own against the combined might of Max, Dinobot and Optimus Primal.

"Hate to break this to you boss, but we're out of time. If we don't evacuate now. You will all have to make yourselves cosy down there for a good few centuries. Mindwipe out."

'Understood.' Cyclonus answered allowed to the voice on his inner comms. With preternatural speed, he suddenly grabbed both Max and Dinobot by the throat and raised them aloft. A swift kick to the face knocking Primal away temporarily. Smashing their heads together, Cyclonus threw his two remaining combatants into their commander.
'Armada ..Six. Operation Divebomb!' He bellowed, following a quick scan of the battlefield. Meanwhile turning from the battle and fleeing in Beast Mode, back from the tunnel he came from.
Armada Six. Nearly buried beneath half a dozen attacking Scavengers, suddenly paused. His eyes flashed green and with incredible force, his feet became thrustors. Launching himself and his opponents into the ceiling. Detonating soon after. The hellscape of the planet above was immediately upon them.
'All bots, fall back!!' Following Rattrap's lead. The Maximals and remaining Scavengers sped away from the collapsing tunnel network. K-9 dislodged a demolition charge from his wrist and threw it behind them. A shaped charge gave them some brief safety from the backdraft, for the moment.
'Rattrap, where does this tunnel lead?'
'Back to da crash site. We got ambushed by Bug Boy, here. Who didn't work out his plan too well' He tapped the barrel of his gun on the head of his mount, for emphasis.
'Our.. Alliance, is only TEMPORARY Vermin! Aid in exchange for granted safe passage for my QUEEN and the colony. That was our deal!' Inferno's mandibles seemed more subdued than normal.
'Yeah, yeah, yeah' Rattrap holstered his weapon and resumed his grasp of the antennae.
'Criminals making deals with criminals. Hmph' Max scoffed aloud.
'It doesn't matter. As long as we can make it back to the ship. We have at least saved Some lives today.' Primal frowned in the direction of the awakened Wolfang, sharing the mount of K-9. Wolfang stoically returned the gaze, clutching at his missing limb. Moments silently passed and Wolfang whispered something to K-9. They then slowed briefly and subtly fell back behind the others. When K-9 re-joined the group, It was unnoticed that he was alone.

Cyclonus was once more lamenting the loss of his former body. In particular noting the lack of speed these "Beast Forms" cost him, in lieu of his jet mode. 'Mindwipe was correct. These protoform are more durable than their ancestors. But none of us can survive being within such close proximity to a star for very long.' He transformed again by the cave entrance. His small shield emitter was barely keeping this small entrance protected. Deactivating it, he theorised there would be three cycles to signal his ship and escape. Although the sudden extreme temperature shift wasn't a concern to him. The radiation spike certainly did. Making his way calmly, through a pre-created clearing. He was unaware of the smouldering Wrecker, advancing silently from the flaming canopy above. An almighty leap brought his foe upon him. Using one of his missiles as a stake, Wolfang drove it hard into his enemy. He fell upon him awkwardly. Pinning the surprised Cyclonus. Slumped to the ground, by his shoulder and hip. Before the Decepticon could properly respond to the situation, Wolfang withdrew his weapon and shot out his knees and the elbow of his free arm. Confident he was securely held, the Wrecker flicked a switch on his gun and a Translock pulse engulfed the Bird bot.
'Tracking you, vas too easy. For ze record. I vas under orders by Prowl. Never to slay you. Something about a "diplomatic incident". So ..I von't.' With that, and a satisfying knee to the head. The Wrecker made his way back underground. Leaving a melting, screaming Decepticon in his wake.
He would re-join his allies silently in due course. His scorched exterior, dismissed as being caught in the fallout of the ceiling explosion. Being one of the few non-Transmetals. This excuse was deemed enough.
'I find it somewhat concerning that we've been running for five cycles and I can't reach the Perceptor at all.' Agitation growing in the Scientists voice.
'Even Red has fallen silent. We must make haste. According to the schematic, there is a collapsed tunnel three kliks ahead to the left. This should bring us up behind the ship.'
'Long Rack, K-9. Can the chatter. We can only deal with one problem at a time. Energy reserves aren't exactly high right now. Rattrap, Inferno. We need that exit ..Now!'
'Sure ting, Boss Monkey! Ya heard 'em Nut Job! Drills to the left in two kliks.' Their Transmetal mounts shifting from legs to wheels without further discussion. Dual tunnelling mode drills begin to whir...


Meanwhile, outside


This is Redfang, recording. Last entry datatrax commencing. I survived. The meteor. The explosion. The Perceptor. The rest of the crew. Weren't so lucky. I say lucky, but I've got a cycle or two left in me. Instinct had me draw my riot shield, lower my blast visor. My shield arm is fused by the blast with the molten shield. Now inoperative. The visor is welded to my face. I can't see, beyond a hairline crack in the centre. The other limbs, weapons and armour. The parts outside the "protection" of the shield ..slag now. Looking around - my AI and sensors are offline - there is nothing around me, as far as my optics can see. The blast wave levelled the terrain flat in every direction. No cover within reach from the advancing star at all. The fire of the Perceptor burns fierce at the centre. Something. Wait ...No. Someone, is standing within the maelstrom. It has noticed me. A silhouette is emerging. By Primus! It's huge!! Definitely not one of the crew. Wolfang, if I don't stand my ground here and now. This thing will be laying in wait for you. An ambush without warning. The last Maximals will fall. Unacceptable.
With my "good" hand, I slowly reach for a sharp piece of shrapnel at my feet. It grins at that. Power reading at 14%. Oh well ..Wreck and rule!!

:MAXIMAL: To Be Continued :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:19 pm

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter One

Part Two: The Glorious Dead

The doomed molten planet Sanafar

This Cybertronian amuses me. Such discipline to it's tactics. Such savage grace to it's movements. Were the Wrecker not at the very brink of death, erstwhile melting under the approaching star. What a terrifying opponent it would likely be? To others, naturally. My intelligence listed this one as 'Redfang'. The Wrecker with the highest recorded body count to his name. Before being conscripted into the corps. He was a renegade Warlord based within the galactic rim. Ruthless conqueror of four inhabited worlds. An unaffiliated Cybertronian super criminal. An embarrassment the Maximal Elders could not allow to roam free forever. Enlisted via the "capture or kill" protocol of the Wrecker program. With such a mass murder in their ranks. I wonder at the dark secrets of the other members? Only four are ever sanctioned. Their names, mantles assumed by replacements to the deceased. The most aggressively militaristic force ever devised by the otherwise pacifist Maximals.
Were my ranks not filled with the only force I require. I might consider the group for Reformation and preferential recruitment. While I ponder this information, the assault upon me continues. I had thought Redfang might have finally expired in the interim. His force of will must be strong indeed. Aiming all his attacks at the joints of my limbs and/or other vital areas for bipedal creatures. My sight however, is focused on the tunnel entrance nearby. From which his comrades actively approach. Cyclonus clearly has failed in his contract with Salvo. I shall therefore use this opportunity to test the combat capabilities of this form. Something I haven't done since I first emerged from the void. Without even turning to face him, I strike out at the Wrecker with a swift kick to the torso. Only 4% power is used. When it connects, even this insignificant attack nearing dismembers my would-be assailant. It flies through the air and ironically disappears from view within the tunnel entrance. I do not hear a crash however. Emerging from the tunnel, another of their group walks out onto the surface. His allies cradle his corpse delicately.
---
Max B, datatrax recording. The intensity of the heat is palpable the closer our approach to the surface. I note the molten, dripping rock forms at the tunnel entrance. The evaporation of the atmosphere. My reflexes are immediate, as an unknown shape hurtles towards my comrades, and the other Maximals. I leap from the Scavenger unit and grab what could be an attacking projectile. Instead of smashing it against the cave wall, however. I look down and immediately kick off the approaching surface. A backflip through the air and I gracefully return to my mount. Clutching a dying Redfang in my arms. Brutally and horribly mangled. A bad omen. The strongest of us. Brought so low in such little time. My other enhanced senses detect remnants of an explosion and scorched metal. I hope my conclusions based on this evidence are wrong. Via internal link, I express my findings to K-9 and Wolfang. The Captain tells me to be silent, yet ready for assault. We emerge into a scene from the pit itself. Everything is burning, smouldering or bubbling. The ground, disturbingly has been crystallised from an obviously intense blastwave. A lone figure stands at what could only have been the epicentre. Atop the remains of the Perceptor, I'd wager. K-9 agrees with my summation, via our link. As I hold Redfang, the Captain verbalises to the others to remain in Beast Mode as much as possible. The heat being the overt danger. Yet solar radiation is beyond any known safe limits, even for non-organics. The Transmetals meanwhile, I can't help but note are starting to glow from the heat. Potential for detonation, unknown? General Optimus identifies the large creature to his subordinates. Even the criminal pair, show visible awe at the scene before them. I also note the creature shows no signs being affected by the elemental forces bombarding us and the planet. Potential for concern, extreme.



The Maximal search party - all in Beast Forms - leap from the entrance and form a defensive position. Their faces shift to horror at the destruction of their lost craft and crew members. Max B - another of the Wrecker team - is the only one in Bot Mode. He carefully places his fallen comrade on the ground. Before howling into the air and brandishing several weapons immediately towards me. The other two Wreckers follow suit. Their organic components ablaze with little acknowledgement. The Transmetal Maximals, split into two groups. Offensive, in line with the Wreckers and defensive, to guard the remains of Redfang. The latter group also seems to consist of otherwise wounded members.
I bring my hands together with a force that sends all airborne combatants careening back to the ground. The Transmetals, in turn, deploy long range attacks. Blasters and missiles that barely register upon impact. The co-ordination between the two factions seems impressive considering their limited association. Every close quarters attack from a Wrecker ends with a dodge preceding a hail of blaster charges. For the moment, I do not return fire. I do not counter the impact of mace, blade and fang. I simply toy with them. Adding a perception of slow, laboured movements that play into their beliefs in a being of my stature. Even without advanced sensors however, I see them all beginning to slow. To weaken. The increasing heat and radiation from the star's proximity takes a heavy toll. Even on non-organic life. Unity however, keeps me strong. I see their leaders - General Optimus Primal and Captain Wolfang - begin to bicker. It is Optimus Primal, surprisingly, that is first to consider an all out offensive against me. Wolfang assesses the plan as futile. Both realise however, choice is academic. There is no escape without the Perceptor. I decide to force their hand and end this. The Transmetal is still salvageable even at this temperature. I go to clap my hands together again. The Wreckers retreat immediately to a safer distance. Clever. But my actions were only a feint to gain distance. At that moment, feeding on the additional ambient solar energy, I transform.


It's toying with us. My host battles with all the ferocity and training of the Wrecker corps unbound. Our enhancements further push us beyond even the power of the Transmetals we safeguard. Yet I detect no defensive actions or intent. The body language of this creature belies no consideration of threat or challenge. I don't understand? The firepower of our band alone could level a fortress. But no blast or missile even visually registers even impact upon this form. We're in serious trouble if this thing can transform... Ah, there. We. Go.

The Chimera too, unleashed for the first time in a very long time. I relinquish my higher brain functions and rely purely on instinct. They are not prepared for my size or speed. The Transmetal fliers take to the air. A mistake soon rewarded with increased solar radiation mere kliks from the ground. They begin to glow even brighter than their comrades on the ground. I fire a throat beam into the ground under them. The resulting explosion rends most offline. How disappointing. A blast at 6% power was this effective?
Max B, Dinobot and Wolfang are the only ones left standing. Even they, lack some limbs and armour now. Each draws a blade with clear suicidal intentions. When all suddenly disappear in a flash. I restored mental control and observe a cloaked Symbol Ship flee into Transwarp space. I could not ascertain the faction. However taking stock of the scraps of Transmetal debris in the Perceptor's wreckage. This excursion was not a total waste, after all.


Elsewhere on the planet..

'Curse you Maximals! Curse all Primes!! CURSE YOU WOLFANG!!!' Cyclonus steaming, fizzing mouth could barely utter the words he bellows in a legible language. He writhed in vain, as his torso was melting further and further into the dirt of Sanafar. The great Cyclonus. The Right Hand of Mighty Galvatron. Now reduced to a screaming pool of molten feathers on another random orb of detritus. His optics hollowed out first. Now he could do nothing but scream out obscenities to his enemies afar. To offset the growing pain of slow, painful dissolution. He then felt a shudder? What might have been the dispersal of air, due to a ship in low orbit above. Discounting the mild sensation as fiction. The once feared Cyclonus, at the end of all things. Could do no more than impotently dissolve into nothingness.
' You're lucky ..I was monitoring ..your vitals.' He now thought he was hearing things? Mindwipe, no less. His final conscious thoughts were of Galvatron and the words they last shared in orbit of planet Master. Surely this greater destiny amounted to more than this?


Later,


'He is functional once more!' Mindwipe's sombre baritone is heard yet again. Followed by resounding applause. Although this feels real somehow? The echo, familiar??
'Mindwipe? I can't see you. Where are we? Sanafar??' Something now seems off with my voice too.
' We are on the Tantalus, Master. I was able to retrieve you and your remains from Sanafar before you expired completely.' He is omitting, something. Serving me for many years, I acknowledge and appreciate the eccentricities to his character.
'...Well?' I hear the uncomfortable shuffling of feet that is a trait of his. Yet that motion sounds oddly distant.
'You are in a spark chamber in the med-bay of your former body, Master.' The disparity now clarified. ' Your Protoform body was no longer able to sustain you. So I was able to successfully extract your spark. Thankfully, the remains did not go to waste. I was equally successful in producing an addition five Armada. Using our acquired cloning tech. The other drones on the planet were non-responsive to communications. Considered inoperative.' The lose of drones is unfortunate. But not unforeseen. Five more is helpful. 'I have already begun to scan the regular channels for a new protoform for enhancement.'
'Forget the protocol. My prior form was not even powerful enough to deal with those Wreckers. It's time for an upgrade. The five Armada seem almost predetermined..'
'Sir?'
'Set a course for the Aegis system. We're going to pay our old friend Blot a visit. If cloning technology wasn't sufficient to fulfil my contract. There are other means at my disposal.'

:CON: To be continued :CON:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

Re: The Rough Draft...

Postby AllNewSuperRobot » Fri Aug 04, 2023 10:24 am

Motto: "Guilty or Innocent?
Always Guilty..."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Chapter One

Part Three: The Truth

Optimus Primal, hero of the Beast Wars.
A leader that kept as many alive as he could. Bringing them all home, as he promised. REDACTED
Received the greatest of welcomes upon his triumphant return to Cybertron REDACTED. Full honours for both himself and his crew. Although the general population would never be privy to the full account of the Maximal Commander’s adventures, they were told enough to warrant celebration.REDACTED
REDACTEDCybershark REDACTED and the rest of the Seacons, REDACTED, REDACTED, REDACTED, were dispatched to Garrus-12 as a new security detail under Commander Depth Charge. There to make sure Protoform X REDACTED will remain in Stasis Lock indefinitely REDACTED.




For now, the engine room was quiet. Cradled hands pressed against his face plate, Overbite only nods at the information presented to him. 'Time to set the record straight, don't you think?' The patronising voice of his newest companion cuts through the gratifying silence.
'What does it matter, bub? Cybertron got dusted. Our entire race is on the run and you want a history lesson?' Feeling a little tired, the Maximal adjusts a large dismembered torso into a makeshift stool. 'It's not like we ain't got more important stuff going on right now.'
'Irrelevant. The truth always matters.'
Boyscout. For the leader of Maximal Black Ops intelligence, Omega's outlook really ain't what I expected? 'You need a hand? I'm all done in engineering.'
'Pfft. Just secure the engine room and make your way to the bridge through the coolant ducts. I'm working my way through the barracks now. That said.. How about you tell me a story instead? A tale from history, maybe? Pretty please, Mr. Overbite!' It's almost as if the tone was getting more sarcastic by the mega-cycle. Gallows humour, I guess?
'Sigh... Whatever. Sure thing bub.'


The past: The Way Home

"This is Optimus Primal, to Maximal Command. We're coming home!"

We flew the Heavy Cruiser in a concentric orbit for two more solar-cycles. The Axalon's sensors were added to the star ship and deep scans were conducted, planet-wide. Primal wanted to make sure no one was accidentally left behind. No undiscovered proto-form. No hidden insurgent. This planet had to be picked clean of any trace of us. Satisfied. A census was taken of the living, and the dead. Much to the dismay of many among the Maximal ranks. With great reluctance, Silverbolt was reclassified as KIA. Rhinox strangely, seemed to be monitoring the abandoned Fuzor territory closer than most. It was only me who noticed, but he just threw me a look as if to say "mind your own business". His reasons were always his own. When the two days were up and all scans complete. We were finally casting off, back to Cybertron. The war was finally over.

Primal was nervous since launch. In a quiet corner he confided in Cheetor (He didn't know I was in the vent above their heads). The reveal of the Heavy Cruiser to Maximal Command could only result in one thing - war. Backs against the wall, the Predacon Alliance would have few other options. His guilt compounded with this revelation. Saving his crew from one conflict could push our entire people into a larger one. Cheetor - More our defacto leader in those latter cycles, than the Boss Monkey. Did what he could to console him.

The first few mega-cycles in Transwarp were tense. Everyone was on edge. We'd been fighting for so long. Home seemed impossible. We were waiting for our lucky to run out, as per usual. That, happened in the fifth mega-cycle.
The doors sealed. The controls stopped responding and we accelerated into a new direction. Rhinox, Longrack and the other big brains tried to get the ship back under our control. Then the artificial gravity and lights gave out. At that point, all we could do was float around and await our fate. A message from Grimlock in the brig confirmed the cells were still fully operational. Megatron was also still in stasis. That, at our lowest point, was a relief at least.
Fifteen cycles later, our impromptu auto-pilot came to a end. Leaving Transwarp and landing on a small asteroid and what was clearly a very remote and quiet part of space. We all looked to Rattrap. He shrugged with a melancholic smirk. Primal led us out and we took defensive positions around the landing struts of the Heavy Cruiser. Nothing around us but the cold dark of space. The stillness broken by a slow clap. A lone bot emerged the darkness. This time Rattrap just nodded with our gaze. Predacon Grand Aerial Marshall Cicadacon strolled closer. Continuing his ovation.
'Bravo. Maximal combatants of the "Beast Wars". Bravo on a victory we would never have believed you had within you.' We knew there was no way in the pit a member of the Tripredacus Council was here alone. Primal motioned for us to hold our defensive positions. While he and Cheetor advanced to "parley". Still keeping a respectful distance, both groups stood in silence for a few moments. I never took target lock off that old bug's head.

'You are Optimus Primal, you are Cheetor. The leadership of your little band, in spite of the Vok alterations to your persons. I am Cicadacon of the Tripredacus Council.' The information was delivered so matter of fact, it was a little unnerving. ' While you have made a great accomplishment in defeating the machinations of the rogue insurgent Megatron. Whom I am pleased to detect onboard. The full debrief will have to take place in Predacon territory.' His hands crossed behind his back and he delivered this speech clearly to all within audio range. A politician through and through.
' I'm afraid we must decline, Grand Aerial Marshall. We have a pressing appointment on Cybertron. High profile prisoners awaiting very public trials. You understand?' Primal still kept the tone cordial, respectful. I just wanted to slag a smug Predacon. 'Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be on our way.' Cheetor added. Maintaining the diplomatic air.
'That is ..regrettable.'The bug shook his head and clicked the fingers behind his back. The darkness surrounding us soon developed multiple pairs of optics. Within moments, on every rock all around us stood a Tripredacus agent. Identical to Shadow Panther. The sight of them, a subtle source of pain to Primal. The silver face plates and barrels of multiple blasters gleamed in the star light. ' I must therefore, insist on providing an escort. For your own safety, of course.' Arms moving to fold into front of him now. His head, motions to one side.
'Hmph. I think you'll find, the ordinance of your ..security. Won't work on us.' Cheetor now mimics the stance. Primal gives a wry smile to his second in command.
'So I have heard. This "Transmetal". Cybertronian metal, irradiated with Alien energy. Immune to conventional Cybertronian fire power. It will be highly beneficial to study in such large quantities.' The icy implication of the last line didn't go unnoticed. The Maximals all slowly reached for their weapons. 'Then again, in this day and age. Who mires themselves to convention?' Another finger click and a Symbol Ship decloaks immediately above them all. Three planet cracker cannons all begin charging in unison on the underside. 'Megatron, his allies and our secret Warship will all be returning to Predacon space. Alongside a generous donation of the rare Transmetal. Plus some other scraps that will be recycled into something ..useful.' Those hands, now rubbing together with glee.
'This ..looks bad.' Nervously mutters Primal to Cheetor. ' You don't want to do this, Cicadacon. I assure you, the end of us will follow the end of you. I'm confident neither Ground Marshall Ramhorn, nor Admiral Sea Clamp will shed a tear at the loss. Or resources on recovery.' The cannons on his back, deployed on his shoulders before the last word had been uttered. Cheetor was similarly primed with his Fang blaster. 'We may be tired from a long and difficult conflict. You might be known for tactical genius. But we are no more likely to submit to you than Megatron. We just want to go home.'

A silent and tense standoff ensued. A dull impact from the back of the Heavy Cruiser turned all attention behind them. The brig had been deployed, remotely. While Grimlock and the other bots charged with security were safe in the main hallway. As the electro bars held firm. The outer walls of the cells collapsed down. The Predacons tentatively emerged onto the surface. 'This ..looks worse, Big Bot.' Cheetor whispered back. Only Rampage and Megatron remained within the cells. Each inactive and secured.
Cicadacon looked over the Predacons assembled. Tarantulas and Ravage saluted immediately. His expression rose with them. Souring when the Space Pirates were sighted and sank further with the Shell Programmed Predacons. 'Where are the other Predacons, Taratulas? My Agent? The Darksyde crew??'
'It has been a long war, Lord Cicadacon. The others are either missing or dead.' The Maximals noted they had never seen Tarantulas look meeker and more subservient. He did not raise his optics to meet his leaders' at any point during the exchange.
'As per the Pax Cybertronia, shell programs are strictly forbidden. Which is a shame. But what we lose in potential troops, we can recoup in raw Transmetal.' Three explosions rock the Symbol Ship above, breaking the Predacon leader's trail of thought and causing all below to dive for cover from falling debris. As a planet cracker barrel crushes several Agents, too hesitant to evade. We seized the opportunity and took out as many Agents as we could, retreating back towards the Heavy Cruiser. Tarantulas quickly transformed into Bike Mode. He and Ravage rode towards the safety of Cicadacon's gathered forces. As we all took cover from the Symbol Ship, directly under the Heavy Cruiser. Forming defensive lines as best we could. The Preds and Space Pirates all took cover, back inside the brig section. Cicadacon was screaming orders over their comms system. No one really seemed to know what happened.
Until He spoke.

'Hello old friends!' The fish was the last voice I ever expected to hear again. Cybershark. A lunatic that had been recruited by the Space Pirates. Ultimately double-crossed them and stole their ship. Leaving 'em stranded with the rest of us in the War. I saw Leo Caesar rise to his full standing for the first time since we took out the Black Gate. The growing rage on his face was undeniable. 'It seems you're in a spot of bother. Now, for accruing a small debt, to be agreed upon on return to Cybertron. I think I might be able to provide from assistance.' Immediately above the Predacon Symbol Ship was a far larger, customised Maximal one.

The Ruination.

The flagship of the Space Pirates.

Leo Caesar leapt with fury from the cover of the Heavy Cruiser and ignited concealed thrustors. He was screaming obscenities into the void towards his stolen ship. He was already too far from the surface to be heard. Also too fast to slow his approach. As viewed from below, a small flare on the newly installed shields of the Ruination ended the last Fallen Convoy. Loudly clearing his throat of the comms, Cybershark continued. 'Right, well then Cicadacon. How are we going to play this?' The Fly Bot was clearly thinking of something. Then, before speaking produced a small controller with a single button.
'Well played, Sharkticon. This is the detonator to the Energon core of my Symbol Ship. Even with shields primed, you are too close to escape potentially fatal damage. I have retrieved my officers. However, that ship is Predacon property. It will not leave this place under Maximal control. You may take the Maximals and ...Megatron, only. You will be permitted to leave under those conditions. Otherwise no one does. Contrary to earlier discourse I do have a back-up protoform ready to be activated by Deadman's switch within this form. Do the rest of you? Confer now.' His stance returned to one of controlled stoicism.
'Well, Boss Monkey? You get to go home with the "rogue insurgent". They get to keep their secrets. Fair trade?'
Lightly gripping his chin and raising his brow. Primal briefly cast glimpses at Cheetor, Rhinox and Rattrap. Three nods and Primal turned towards Cicadacon. 'Agreed.' Several transmat flashes emptied the Heavy Cruiser of all occupants. The cells of the Ruination the new home to Rampage's body, Megatron's stasis pod and lastly, the shell program affected Predacons. Their freedom would likely be decided alongside Megatron. The edict of the Pax Cybertronia worked both ways. As well all present knew. When the last Maximal was onboard. The Ruination immediately departed through a Transwarp gate.
The rest you know.

Present day

'So you let them keep their experimental stealth warship?' The muffled screams behind his voice finally subsided. Overbite knew Omega had cleared the barracks of all troops. With the bridge similarly emptied. The Predacon Symbol Ship was now officially theirs.
'Cripes! Of course not, bub! Rattrap left three demolition charges on the ships core. That thing blew as soon as we were in Transwarp space.' Overbite put his feet up on the main console. On the main view screen, they were approaching the planet Sanafar now. 'You sure our people are down there?'
'Affirmative, keep the cloak engaged. So official record omits: Predacon Secret Police, Tripredacus council members and Space Pirate involvement?' Overbite readied the transmat system, locking on to specific spark signatures, relied via Omega's instructions. Somehow still operational on the fireball below. There were less signatures detected than initially believed. 'Pretty much. Megatron stole the Golden Disk to find large scale Energon deposits. He and his crew acted alone and for no other motive. We reciprocated, likewise alone. Other factions and motives would be.. "problematic", to the folks on Cybertron and our allies.'
'We've got 'em! They're onboard. Get us out of here!' The first genuine positivity Overbite heard in his newest allies voice in a while.
' We're.. out of here! My one regret is that we didn't get to see the Bug's face when the Heavy Cruiser went boom. I bet the expression was priceless!'

Then,

The Heavy Cruiser blast wave knocked all from their feet. Even causing a tremor through the Symbol Ship. Rising to his feet, Cicadacon was enraged by this turn of events. Kicking the nearest Agent halfway across the asteroid. ' Lord Cicadacon, there is one more thing you should know. About your Agent, the Shadow Panther.' Ravage silently returned to his side and whispered for his audio sensors only. Cicadacons left optic twitched dramatically. With one fluid motion, he slide a panel on this right forearm and hit a sequence into a keypad. The heads of all Tripredacus Agents exploded in unison. 'Clever, Maximals. Infiltrating a unit designed for that sole purpose. Without individuality. So invisible to scrutiny. My honour guard.. No word of this will reach the others, understood Ravage?'
'Acknowledged. Lord Cicadacon.' With a salute, the former Decepticon disappeared once more from sight. Cicadacon transformed and flew back towards the Symbol Ship. After Tarantulas' plans against this "Vok" were enacted. There would be a reckoning. Treaty or no treaty. He would ensure that!

:MAXIMAL: To Be Continued :MAXIMAL:
Image
User avatar
AllNewSuperRobot
Guardian Of Seibertron
Posts: 5193
News Credits: 5
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:30 pm
Alt Mode: Special Beam Cannon
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: N/A
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 6
Courage: 10+
Firepower: ???
Skill: 9

PreviousNext

Return to Fan-Fiction

Transformers and More @ The Seibertron Store

Visit our store on eBay
These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "OPTIMUS PRIMAL + RATTRAP Transformers War Cybertron Trilogy Kingdom Netflix 2021"
OPTIMUS PRIMAL + R ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "DINOBOT SLUDGE Transformers Studio Series 86-15 Movie Leader Hasbro 2022 New"
DINOBOT SLUDGE Tra ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "FRENZY (RED) Transformers Studio Series 86 SS-115 Core Takara Tomy 2024 New"
NEW!
FRENZY (RED) Trans ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-E15 RACE TRACK PATROL Transformers Earthrise Micromasters Hasbro 2020 New"
WFC-E15 RACE TRACK ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "EXO-SUIT SPIKE WITWICKY Transformers Studio Series 86 Core Class 2022 230131A"
EXO-SUIT SPIKE WIT ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K23 PREDACON SCORPONOK Transformers War Cybertron Kingdom Deluxe 2021 New"
WFC-K23 PREDACON S ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-E38 MEGATRON Transformers War for Cybertron Earthrise Tomy ER-13 Takara New"
NEW!
WFC-E38 MEGATRON T ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "JUNKHEAP Transformers Studio Series 86-14 Animated Movie Voyager 2022 New"
JUNKHEAP Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K27 RHINOX Transformers War Cybertron Kingdom Voyager Hasbro 2021 New"
WFC-K27 RHINOX Tra ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K2 RATTRAP Transformers War for Cybertron Kingdom Core Hasbro 2020 New"
WFC-K2 RATTRAP Tra ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K7 PALEOTREX Transformers War Cybertron Kingdom Deluxe Hasbro 2020 New"
WFC-K7 PALEOTREX T ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K10 MEGATRON Transformers War Cybertron Kingdom Leader Beast Wars 2021 New"
WFC-K10 MEGATRON T ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "BLURR Transformers Studio Series 86-03 Animated Movie Deluxe Hasbro 2021 New"
BLURR Transformers ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K31 SHADOW PANTHER Transformers War Cybertron Kingdom Deluxe 2021 New"
WFC-K31 SHADOW PAN ...
* Price and quantities subject to change. Shipping costs, taxes and other fees not included in cost shown. Refer to listing for current price and availability.
Find the items above and thousands more at the Seibertron Store on eBay
Transformers Podcast: Twincast / Podcast #346 - Gas Station Jamboree
Twincast / Podcast #346:
"Gas Station Jamboree"
MP3 · iTunes · RSS · View · Discuss · Ask
Posted: Saturday, March 23rd, 2024

Featured Products on Amazon.com

These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Legends Class Roadtrap" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 11 Deluxe Class Movie 4 Lockdown" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe Misfire and Aimless" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Quintus Prime Prime Master" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 09 Voyager Class Movie 2 Thundercracker" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe Windblade and Scorchfire" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Toys Megatron Cyberverse Ultimate Class Action Figure - Repeatable Fusion Mega Shot Action Attack Move - Toys for Kids 6 and Up, 11.5-inch" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 12 Voyager Class Movie 1 Decepticon Brawl" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Robots in Disguise Warrior Class Steeljaw Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 06 Voyager Class Movie 1 Starscream" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Trailbreaker" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Micronus Prime Master" on AMAZON