Obvious exits:
<U> Up leads to Spacebridge Transmat Chamber.
<NE> Northeast leads to Administration Deck.

Megatron enters the Command Center.

Soundwave is at his usual communications station, as though he'd never left - though in fact he's paid a very interesting visit to Valckasta of late. He turns as he hears Megatron's footsteps behind him.

Megatron smirks as he sees Soundwave. "I don't believe it. When was it the last time we met without a bunch of people around?"

Soundwave says, "It has been some time, Commander. And there is much I must inform you of."

Soundwave says, "There are matters that I did not wish to see spread among the warriors, lest they cause undue panic. Thus I wished to communicate in person. I have not had the opportunity to inform you of what truly caused Bombshell's erratic actions, for instance."

Megatron says, "Bad news again?"

Soundwave says, "Potentially. I might say, intrigueing news. It seems our most recently acquired moon is striving toward consciousness again. Not a full consciousness as of yet, merely a subconscious reflex - to reach out toward the minds nearby, to probe for weakness, to seek assistance. Bombshell proved susceptible to the temptation."

Megatron walks over to the computer. "Well, I hoped we would one day have time to talk in private again, my friend. But it seems the empire won't let us."

Soundwave nods in agreement about the lack of private time. "There is always another matter to deal with, it would seem."

Megatron grumbles, "Does not surprise me..." Obviously he meant that Bombshell was an easy target for Unicron. "How is it possible that Unicron has reactivated again? I thought him to be destroyed."

Soundwave says, "The memory banks and cerebral vault are not entirely destroyed. It would seem wise that we correct this oversight. However..." here he almost hesitates, as he's already seen how the rest of the idea has gone over with others, "the issue has been raised that Unicron's memory banks may contain a vast amount of information which is still accessible to us. Information on the worlds he destroyed, or passed by. Technological breakthroughs, to add to the Empire's glory for millennia to come. It would seem, perhaps, worth the risk to access this information before its source is utterly destroyed."

Megatron rubs his chin. "Indeed, it would be of interest..." He studies Soundwave for a moment. "Who do you think would be the best personell to join an expedition? I need Decepticons with a will strong enough to withstand the mental influence of Unicron."

Soundwave says, "The Lord of Valckasta is most interested. In fact, it was he who raised the issue with me some time ago. I considered it of lesser immediate importance in the face of other events - but now that we have evidence the mind is reawakening, reassembling itself - we cannot stand by idly. We must destroy it before it gains power. And yet, it may be of value to salvage what we can first. We shall need warriors as well as scientists in the event of danger, but you may agree, Commander, this mission should be kept private until it has been successfully completed. Only those chosen and trusted, should be informed of such."

Megatron says, "Are the planetary defense cannons ready to be activated?"

Soundwave says, "Affirmative - but we may be more effective by planting explosives within the cranial chamber. I have evidence that Unicron's mind can - and has, in the past - regenerated itself from even the smallest fragment, given enough time. We should not allow for the possibility."

Megatron says, "Soundwave, that is true. But in case Unicron manages to take over control of the mission members' minds - we have to deal with him from here. The team must be aware this could be a suicide mission."

Soundwave says, "I have explosives and supplies put aside for the task. Thunderwing has already volunteered, over the considerable objection of his Security Director. I will leave to you the selection of the remainder of the team."

Megatron gives Soundwave a list of people he wants to have in the mission. "Meet them at the Airfield. The planetary defence system shall be activated and in position. If anything goes wrong..." He doesn't finish the sentence.

Soundwave says, "I will insure that as many as possible escape with their lives and sanity intact, Commander. I am aware of the potential dangers."

Soundwave transmits to Thunderwing: "Lord Thunderwing - I have informed Megatron about the matter of which we spoke yesterday. He is in agreement that we should attempt to salvage what we can from Unicron's memory banks before we destroy them utterly. I have supplies awaiting us at the Polyhex airfield. Our team will assemble there."

Thunderwing transmits to Soundwave: "Very well. I will meet you there."

Soundwave transmits to Flamethrower, Ferret, Tempest, Ground Pounder, and Jetstream: "Meet me at the Polyhex airfield for a mission briefing. I will explain when you arrive."

Soundwave seems relieved that he apparently doesn't have to talk Megatron out of coming along. As much good as that would do, anyway. He nods to his leader, and makes for the exit.

Polyhex Airfield

Ferret [Robot]
Flamethrower [Robot]
Avenger StarCraft
Ark Aspirant <Ark>

Obvious exits:
<U> Up leads to Sky above Polyhex.
<W> West leads to Hangar Bay <Polyhex>.

Thunderwing has arrived.

Soundwave steps over to the Avenger Starcraft and waits for his selected team to finish arrival.

From the west comes a strange wedge-shaped craft, unlike any other ever seen on Cybertron.

A radio transmission is received by Thunderwing.
Soundwave intercepts a message from Ravenwing: "Why thank you, my lord. I agree, of course, so rather than deprive those so-deserving individuals of receiving their proper spite, do try to return in one piece."

Thunderwing walks out from Polyhex proper, bauble in tow as always, and crosses the airfield to join the other Decepticons. He nods a greeting to Soundwave and turns a scrutinising gaze upon the others, looking for...fear? Apprehension?

Piled near the ship is a pile of explosives, along with a stack of datapads.

Thunderwing says into his radio: "Of course."

Ground Pounder arrives from Hangar Bay <Polyhex>.

Ground Pounder walks into the airfield and over to the group already gathered.

Flamethrower casually walks over to the area where others have assembled and stands near them, without showing any signs of opinions about the mysterious radio summons.

The Kilairian Starcruiser transforms before it lands, flipping over in mid air to reveal Tempest who lands neatly on her feet. "What's up, Soundwave?" She peers curiously at the others. She didn't realize she was going to be having company.

Ferret sneaks out onto the airfield, looking shifty, and wondering if he's about to be sent on a suicide mission for all that trouble he and Bombshell caused a couple of weeks ago...

Jetstream has arrived.

Soundwave looks over the arrivals. As he has said nothing as of yet to the others about why he called them together and chose them, specifically, they're not likely to be worried or concerned yet. But as Thunderwing and Tempest arrive to complete the team, he addresses the group.

Tempest says, sardonically, "Is this party by invitation only?"

Soundwave says, "My apologies for the mysterious summons. It was important that word of this mission did not spread to the troops at large and generate a panic. Each of you has been selected for your abilities in combat and your unique experiences, as well as a reflection of the faith the High Command holds in you. We have a highly unusual, perhaps dangerous mission before us, and each of you is free to decline if you should choose. Lord Thunderwing alone is aware of the possible implications, so far. He has agreed to assist us in the matter."

Soundwave nods to Tempest, confirming that it is indeed "by invitaiton only."

Ground Pounder nods and listens to the briefing.

Tempest tilts her head. Soundwave's words are intriguing and she begins to feel almost flattered by what he is saying.

Thunderwing smirks a little at 'assist'. The only way to keep him out of this would be to weld him to the ground somewhere. He arches a brow as he spies Ferret in the group, but shrugs and continues to flit his gaze from person to person, watching their reactions. Clearly, the mech is waiting for something.

Soundwave says, "The matter at hand is ... Unicron." His gaze centers on Ferret. "You were aware to some degree of what motivated your companion, during your and Bombshell's recent adventure?"

Jetstream stands straight and tall, as if invigorated by the suggestion of facing the unknown.

Ground Pounder's optics slightly lose their glow at hearing the name. He's not had personal experience in the matter, but he has looked over the data-tracks.

Tempest says, her voice like steel, "I'm not afraid of Unicron." Of course she has no memory of the Unicron Wars. But her wings quiver ... she came very close to death inside Unicron's maw.

Ferret glances at Thunderwing momentarily, and looks up upon being addressed by Soundwave, suddenly beginning to wonder if he's now before a belated Kangaroo court... "Uh... He said his 'associate' was going to write some new battle protocols or something, to increase his combat abilities. But I couldn't ever get a proper explanation out of him, and half the time it seemed like he didn't know what he was doing."

Flamethrower casually crosses her arms in a loose formation and nods, apparently open to considering what Soundwave has to say.

Starscream arrives from Hangar Bay <Polyhex>.

Jetstream's optics flash scarlet once, impossible for an observer to tell out of interest, fear or otherwise. He simply notes aloud, "I've read reports on this Unicron...."

Flamethrower looks in Jetstream's direction and nods, "To say the least Unicron... reduced the number of Jhiaxus' troops.

Soundwave nods to Ferret. "That is an apt description, Ferret. In fact, Unicron's mind is in the process of reawakening, and is reaching out instinctively to lure assistants into its presence. For some individuals, the planted seed of a promise, a temptation of power or that which is most desired, can affect the rational mind. It is our task to destroy that which remains - but first, to salvage what knowledge we can from Unicron's memory banks. If possible. Again, this may be a most dangerous mission, and there is no repercussion if you wish to remain behind. But no word of this must pass to your comrades until we return." Speaking of 'no word getting out' - Soundwave looks up at the sound of approaching steps which he was not expecting, to see Starscream.

Tempest looks strangely at Ferret. Unicron's dead, right? His head is a vast corpse floating in space, right? From how Ferret talks one would think Unicron were still alive.

Tempest says, slowly, to Soundwave, "You're telling us Unicron is still alive somehow, and his thoughts are capable of affecting us?"

Ground Pounder furls his optic ridge as he remembers a few errant energy readings he detected in a recent mission near the head.

Soundwave says, "Affirmative, Tempest. Part of his mind survives. And it can regenerate itself, given time and assistance. It is currently seeking out vulnerabe individuals to influence. We must act to destroy it completely, before it regains its strength."

Thunderwing sees what he was expecting in the faces of the others, and nods to himself - not with self-congratulatory spite for once, but with quiet satisfaction. As though turned to thoughts of the morbid by Soundwave's briefing, he looks up into the sky, optics searching for Cybertron's newest 'moon'.

Jetstream's hand by force of habit touches his chin in thought. "This mission will require our full physical and mental concentration, then. An excellent opportunity to test one's skills to the utmost."

Starscream wanders up ... err well flies up lazily and TFs, landing nearby, "Ok, where's the party?"

Jetstream looks over to see Starscream landing.

Starscream walks up, "Greetings ... so? What's up, Jetstream?"

Soundwave nods to Starscream. Though he didn't call the flyer in as a member of the team, an additional air warrior would not be amiss. And he's heard too much already as it is. "Starscream. We are on our way into orbit to deal with the remains of Unicron. Your skills would be a valuable asset to the team." He looks over the others. "Final opportunity to remain behind," he intones.

Flamethrower's optics follow Starscream's landing for a moment, but she quickly turns her attention back to Soundwave and silently nods, as if to say that she understands the challenge required.

Ground Pounder silently listens to the continued briefing. He notices Starscream approach, and wonders to himself if he has been invited as well.

Tempest says, "So we blow the head up ... I'm good for some destruction."

Starscream looks skyward. "Snooping around in a dead head ... yea that will be fun..."

Jetstream turns almost with a start, as if he were already gearing up to focus on the impending mission. He nods to Starscream, "Greetings, Starscream. Would you do me the honor of flying with me today?"

Ground Pounder looks to Soundwave and asks, "Will there be any possible resources to salvage from the head before or after its destruction?"

Starscream smiles slightly, "Yes I will Jetstream."

Starscream suggests, "How about we tear it apart and melt it down and do some restoration around here?"

Thunderwing arches a brow as he hears Starscream's unmistakable voice. The look he turns to Soundwave is long-suffering, yet filled with quiet amusement. "Interesting times?" he mutters, apparently expecting the other mech to understand the reference.

Jetstream takes his beam saber hilt in hand, turning it over.

Soundwave says, "We shall make the attempt, Ground Pounder. Thunderwing and I shall try to access the memory banks for their information. Keep your sensors on alert." He indicates the pile of explosives waiting near the entrance of the ship. "Those who are joining us, arm yourselves." He himself takes up several of the bombs and slips them into his chest compartment, as well as a few of the datapads."

Soundwave glances to Thunderwing and says, "They are not on your territory this time, at least." A brief brightening of the optics, and then Soundwave steps aboard the Avenger Starcraft.

Tempest loads herself up with missiles....feeling a bit of a chill as she remembers the last time she did this. The last time, she blew herself up inside Unicron's head. But this is a mission she has every intention of surviving.

You climb up into the Avenger into the Cockpit area.

Avenger Cockpit:

Contents:
Exits: <OUT>, Cargo Hold<CH>

Tempest has arrived.

Ground Pounder grabs an armful of explosives and heads into the ship to join the others.

Ground Pounder has arrived.

Ferret has arrived.

Thunderwing considers, then shrugs and laughs softly. Touche. He enters the ship.

Thunderwing has arrived.

Flamethrower takes her weapon from subspace, but she doesn't yet set it for an ammunition setting. A mission like this requires forethought as to ammunition.

Starscream has arrived.

Flamethrower has arrived.

Jetstream enters as he stashes armaments into various subspace pockets.

Jetstream has arrived.

Starscream lights a cig and looks to Jetstream, "You're a walking stash, aren't you?"

Jetstream smiles wryly at Starscream. "Just trying to make myself useful."

Ferret straps a few slabs of explosives to himself like a suicide bomber. Hopefully (or not, depending on your perspective) he'll remember to take them off before detonating them...

Thunderwing finds a seat and sinks into his thoughts; a silver figure wreathed in blue light. He does not seem overly bothered with weaponry, but then again, he does have the Matrix more or less literally at his fingertips. Possibly, he'll have the opportunity to give Unicron a wee, tiny bit of a headache once again. Or maybe not.

Soundwave takes his place at the pilot's station. Tempest too is fully capable of flying the vessel, but not everyone might appreciate the technique. He activates the engines and guides the ship smoothly up off the launch platform.

Flamethrower looks from Jetstream to Starscream and nods to both of them, "It's almost like old times to see both of you together on a mission again."

Ferret decides not to think about Tempest flying a ship this full of explosives...

Flamethrower then decides to grab a seat and strap herself in, before who-knows-when Tempest will start the engines.

Jetstream's smile just gets more wide and wry. "It has been a while."

Ground Pounder straps himself into one of the large passenger seats.

Starscream works on his cig and sees who's piloting ... and works on his cig harder ... he nods to Flamethower, "Let's hope we don't crash."

Tempest makes her way to the cockpit to see if Soundwave will let her fly....

Jetstream takes hold of a hand railing as the ship lifts off.

Tempest slouches into the co-pilot's seat. She needs to be here if anything happens to Soundwave, yes, that's right ... she fidgets, remembering her suicide-dive into Unicron's mouth, and starts to carve her name into the dash with a longblade in order to take her mind off that.

Soundwave gives Tempest a look. "I would appreciate it if you would refrain, Tempest."

Jetstream stares into space, at no fixed point in particular, as he thinks aloud. "Good thing I took a little time to brush up on general research. No telling what might come in handy today."

Tempest sighs, leaving "TEMPE" carved into the dash, and starts turning the blade over and over and over and over and over ... edgy much? Going back to the site of one's attempted death is a strange thing for her.

Cybertron Low Orbit

Obvious exits:
<U> Up leads to Cybertron High Orbit.
<D> Down leads to Sky above Polyhex.

Soundwave brings the ship up into orbit, to the edge of the stars, and guides it further outward.

Flamethrower looks to her weapon sitting on her lap and decides to set the weapon to its fire setting.

Starscream looks at Jetstream, "So you got some good CDs in your stash?"

Jetstream looks over at Tempest, unable to approach closer as the ship is moving. "Hmm. A brush and ink might suit your penmanship better." --He turns to Starscream. "CD's? I might have a few..."

Cybertron High Orbit

Unicron's Head

Obvious exits:
<V> Void leads to Cybertron System.
<D> Down leads to Cybertron Low Orbit.

Starscream says, "Cool ... Earth music's not bad actually."

Ferret sits, with his laser carbine across his kness, and his optics closed, ignoring any stimuli other than whatever might be going on in his own head.

Over the curve of the planet's horizon, the horned head looms monstrously, its empty eyes staring balefully toward the approaching vessel.

Jetstream says, "Indeed. I've actually discovered through the course of study that Earth yields quite a wealth of art. Hmm. Any requests?"

Tempest pulls something out of subspace and tosses it at Jetstream. It's a miniature of Megatron. In fact, it looks almost exactly like him, if he were a foot tall and carved out of a metal block. The likeness is incredible...This, evidently, is Tempest's response to Jetstream's evaluation of her carving skills.

Ground Pounder stares out the window at the sight ahead. He seems to react to something as he raises his optic ridge, looks over to Soundwave, and asks, "Is this normal... I'm detecting some energy fluctuations from up ahead as we approach."

Flamethrower turns her optics back to Jetstream's direction and shakes her head, "Actually, it would all be new to me."

Jetstream deftly turns and catches the projectile. He turns it over carefully. "This is ... this is exquisitely done. You have a knack for this, apparently."

Thunderwing snaps out of his thoughts with a frown and glances at the bauble, then into nothingness. He arches a brow at Ground Pounder, then nods as the mech's words confirms what's on his mind. He shakes his head and smirks, muttering something which might be 'hello to you too...'

Soundwave does not immediately reply. He seems to be listening intently to something, or concentrating on something, for his own part, as he guides the ship up against the ruined, cavernous head. Finally he looks up in response to Ground Pounder's words. "'Normal' is a debatable term in this instance. Expected, perhaps."

Tempest says to Jetstream, "I /do/ occasionally do other things with my time than eat people alive." It's said with her usual belligerence, but evidently she wants the others to know she's not just some kind of psychotic hunter.

Jetstream reaches over and hands the statuette back to Tempest. "You gave me an idea, Tempest..."

Tempest wisecracks, 'What, "lightly roasted Unicron sauteed in oil?"

Soundwave locks the ship into Cyber-synchronous orbit alongside the ominous head, and rises from his place to go first into the unknown. He glances back at Thunderwing, then over the team briefly, though his expression betrays nothing as he steps off the ship.

You depart the Avanger.

Unicron's Head:

Tempest slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Tempest has arrived.

Ground Pounder slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Ground Pounder has arrived.

Jetstream slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Jetstream has arrived.

Thunderwing slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Thunderwing has arrived.

Unicron's Head Interior:

Tempest has arrived.

Ground Pounder has arrived.

Thunderwing has arrived.

Ferret has arrived.

Tempest stalks off the ship and into Unicron's head, her blades in her hands for some unexplained reason. She is jumpy, very jumpy, and sniffs at the air.... She says to Ferret in a low voice, "You're not going to suddenly go evil again, are you?"

Jetstream has arrived.

Flamethrower has arrived.

Starscream has arrived.

Ground Pounder stares at the surroundings as he follows Soundwave into the head. He increases the settings of his internal scanners to maximum as he examines the surroundings with his scanners as well as his optics.

Jetstream looks around, taking in the immense and maudlin surroundings.

A great echoing silence greets the team - a silence so deep it seems almost too loud. And then a faint sound whispers through the cavernous chambers of Unicron's ruined cranial vault ... like the distant moan of the wind.

Ferret shrugs, "Again? All I did was help trash a ship. I think it was more dumb than evil."

Jetstream ventures so far as to light his beam saber. It thrums softly, casting green light around him.

Flamethrower keeps her optics in motion around the surroundings as she keeps a firm grip on her weapon. She doesn't show any physical evidence of acknowledging the silence, but somewhere in her circuitry she must notice it.

Tempest's wings twitch and she growls, "There's no wind in space."

Jetstream 's lips move silently, as if a thought is running just under the surface.

Thunderwing walks a few steps into what is for all intents and purposes the body of a dead god, then falls perfectly still. Surreal surroundings be damned - he likes this. His optics reflect the blue light of the Matrix as his expression and posture shifts subtly into something more feral, although in his case, it's more 'hunter of knowledge' than 'mighty predator'. "He is here. Or at least something is..." His voice is a soft whisper, and one almost has to wonder if the mech actually waits for the moment when his pronouncements can have great dramatic impact. And still, he turns a sidelong glance to Ground Pounder, perhaps looking for confirmation.

Ferret frowns, and lights the dozen or so flashlights attached to his person, illuminating himself like a hundred megawatt Christmas tree.

Ground Pounder shudders at the sound and wonders if there is something more ominous about it. As his scanners pick up readings, he looks about in various directions to confirm some of them. He says, "I'm picking up some residual power readings from the computer banks." He motions to the computer and info banks. He stops and appears to be thinking about something. He looks over to Thunderwing with a questioning look on his face.

Tempest wants to snap that if there's anything left alive of Unicron, it won't be alive much longer, but for once she does not give her thoughts voice. Perhaps unwise to tempt the beast that already "killed" her once.

Jetstream keeps in step alongside Starscream, casting periodic glances over his other comrades but otherwise looking rather in a state of concentration.

Flamethrower fixes her gaze to Thunderwing for a moment, "If you don't mind me asking, how can you tell that he's here?"

Soundwave leads the way steadily but cautiously toward the central mind chamber, among the tangle of charred wiring and terminals that line the walls.

Thunderwing is so caught up in unraveling the delightful enigma around him that his supercilious bastard-ness slips just a little. Thus, when he turns to Flamethrower, his features reflects something that is less a smirk and more a faint smile. "There is a ... presence, of sorts. Too faint to tell for sure, but I would not care to speculate on what other entity would choose to take up residence here."

Tempest eyes the wiring ... neuro pathways? It's like climbing in a giant brain - it IS climbing in a giant brain. She tries to see what relays would be fatal if cut.

Ferret cautiously and carefully follows Soundwave, glaring along the length of his carbine, which sweeps this way and that, searching for threats among the shadows. Occasionally, he turns round and walks backwards for a bit, as though expecting something to creep up on him from behind, and occasionally he jumps, as a shadow looms ominously. Typical 'Fodder-space-marine-about-to-get-eaten-by-zerg' behaviour...

Tempest starts to hiss ... she really doesn't like it in here. Her senses are telling her to transform and leave. Now. Only her duty to the Empire keeps her here. The fear makes her angry - how dare this shattered hulk frighten her!

Soundwave agrees, his optic band brightening a little as he casts about with his own sensors. "There is indeed a mind, a fragment thereof. It is aware of us, but it is not focused." He points out the surrounding terminals and access ports, some looking entirely accessible if one were only familiar with the technology. He takes out the datapads he's brought along, and distributes them to Flamethrower, Ferret, and Starscream. "Here is the information we seek, if it remains in accessible form. If we can draw it into storage on these datapads, we can interpret it in due time - but someone must keep the rudimentary intelligence distracted."

Ground Pounder walks along with the group continuing to eye and scan the surroundings. He keeps close to Thunderwing.

Jetstream takes the datapad and studies it a moment.

Tempest says, "Figure a few bombs would distract him?" rather sarcasticaly

Starscream looks over at what Jetstream's looking at on the datapad.

Soundwave looks to Thunderwing. "Distraction would seem to be our task. Ground Pounder, keep your sensors tuned for anything unusual on normal channels. Tempest, Jetstream, begin placing the explosives - but keep them inactive for now."

Ground Pounder nods to Soundwave and takes up a position near Tempest to continue scanning, almost as though he was keeping point for her.

Flamethrower accepts the datapad that Soundwave handed out and looks at it, "How are we supposed to draw out the information?"

Jetstream looks up, nods to Soundwave. "Sir." He turns to Starscream and Tempest. "Let's focus on our task, shall we? That seems the best way to keep from losing our own minds in this place."

Tempest mutters but does as asked, though she's still edgy. She's grateful the explosive-laying gives her something else to concentrate on rather than pace around and get paranoid.

Tempest says to Jetstream, "I can't wait to blow this rotten head sky high. I already died here once."

Ferret studies the datapad given to him, or at least, tries to study it while also examining every corner for danger.

Thunderwing was about to make an inquiry to Ground Pounder, but his sudden relegation to 'distraction duty' forestalls this. Now, how does one 'distract' a dormant god? A sudden crystalline vibration in the air causes him to throw a warning glance in the direction of the hovering Matrix. The artefact emits a faint, glassy hum, as though taking Tempest's side and voicing its opinion of being here.

Starscream isn't at all nervous about being in the giant head ... he was dead when it was active. He looks to Jetstream, "Then let's go place the explosives."

(Those present may begin to notice, to a greater or lesser degree, that they're starting to get really distractable - that thoughts start going through their minds of the one thing they wish for the most - or that which they very much would want to have or do or achieve. There's the concept that maybe they can have/be that, if only they listen more closely to what's nearby ... the faint whisper of the wind through the cranial chamber....)

Jetstream works diligently, but his optics flash scarlet with interest at Tempest's words. "You've met death before, too? I am in truly amazing company."

Starscream pauses as he was about to lay a pile of explosives, "Why are we blowing this thing up anyway? What one could utilize with the vast knowledge banks in this head could be enormous...."

Jetstream continues. "To face death ... the ultimate unknown... To know the final word in what it means to exist..."

Soundwave points out the access ports in the terminals linking the interior of Unicron's cranial chamber. "I cannot guarantee the technology will be compatible, but we must try. I will attempt to physically remove a section of memory bank if I can reach it, though my concentration will be elsewhere." He draws out his med kit and selects a computer bank to start dismantling - but his movements slow to something rather less than his usual manual dexterity as something from beyond the normal senses draws his attention again.

Starscream looks back at Jetstream, "I was dead once....."

Tempest says, "It's overrated, Jetstream, or maybe it's because my cursed little core survived somehow. Semi intact, anyway."

Ground Pounder tries to keep his focus on scanning the area, but can't seem to get a few persistant thoughts out of his head. He can't seem to stop from dwelling on his undesirable fighting abilities or below average agility... He listens intently as though something in the wind caught his attention.

Tempest growls, "I don't ever want to be that weak again." And suddenly hesitates in mid-motion, a bomblet still in her hands, lost in thought....

Jetstream quickens his pace as he gets to the last couple of explosives, setting them in place. He straightens, suddenly alert. As if listening for the wind.

Ferret lowers the datapad, and appears to be suddenly preoccupied with his own thoughts. Although he snaps out of it, when he overhears Jetstream, "Heh... I don't think we've just /met/ death, I think he's on the team."

Starscream sets the bomb down and looks around at some of the surfaces around him. Perhaps there's a data terminal close by. What would it hurt to look around first.

Jetstream stands still. His optics dull in color to dark red, suggesting deep thought on ... something.

Flamethrower's lower mouth forms a faint smile, "It would be so easy to stay again ... to not
venture out into the greater pool of Cybertron ... to stay with what you know in familar surroundings... It's so much harder to risk temptations and risk what you have for the betterment of the whole."

Ground Pounder shakes his head as though trying to clear it, but then stops and stares into the distance as though trying to listen to something.

Soundwave cuts into the computer bank casing in slow motion, finally coming to a pause altogether. If one could see into his mind, one would see the suddenly flaring-up image of his creations in full living color - to the extent that Soundwave reaches out a hand partway as though to touch something that isn't there ... there's a promise of safety for those who mean the most to him, a faint diabolical whisper somewhere in his mind that there exists a great power who could insure such a thing for all time. And then the optic band flashes brilliant, almost white, as Soundwave's long telepathic training recognizes the outside influence and engages it directly, encouraging it to communicate. His hands move again almost of their own accord, opening the side of the armor casing.

Thunderwing halts in mid-motion as his plan of action becomes diffused and warped by something that is nipping and worrying at his thoughts. So much talk of death in a place where there may be found the secret of life unending... As the hum emitted from the Matrix takes on a more strident note, the Valckastan tilts his head and stares into the middle distance.

Tempest suddenly gets a nasty grin and says, "Oh boy, nobody's going to mess with me any more."

Ferret absent-mindedly drifts back to that pleasant train of thought he was pursuing earlier, although another part of his brain is apparently locked on the idea of death, "...Yeah, good ol' death. If you take point, he'll watch your back..." although he seems to drift off again, idly dreaming of some grand scheme involving the power of Unicron, and a cerebro-shell...

Jetstream whispers. "Tell me ... what does it mean?" A long pause, then louder. "What does it mean?!"

Jetstream seems waiting, searching for a moment. Then he lights his saber, striking a defiant pose. He calls out angrily to apparently nothing. "Tell me, damn you! WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!"

Flamethrower looks in Jetstream's direction, tilts her head to the left, but then her mind drifts again.

Starscream starts searching through one of the many data banks, stunned at what he's finding ... all he has to do is find one thing.... He pauses and looks back at Jetstream, "I just started looking through this... I don't know what it means yet."

Ground Pounder glances at Jetstream, but quickly goes back to staring into the distance, this time with less sensor scanning, and with more listening.

Ferret starts looking around distractedly for Somthing To Do, Somewhere To Go... It's right here for him to reach out and take, surely, or he wouldn't be thinking about it so much...

Jetstream turns to Starscream, as if he heard him but didn't hear him. He points. "You! You should know! You've faced death! Tell me, what does it mean?!"

Soundwave draws away from the tendrils of the vast, sleeping intelligence that's trying to draw him into its dreamland, and "listens" around for the thoughts of the others. He can hear the chaotic influence, disconnected phrases and pictures - the Matrix and Thunderwing's mind, nearly as one unit, burning more brightly nearby. "Lord Thunderwing," he says, and his voice echoes strangely in the hollow cranial chamber, "we must draw the mind's awareness to us, so the others may complete their tasks."

Starscream blinks, "Death means? It sucks, ok ... but here ... here you can beat it." He looks back at the monitor and then back to Jetstream, "Right in these banks there is a way to beat it...."

Ferret shakes his head, as though dismissing some errant thought, and reviews his datapad. Somewhat determinedly, he sets off to complete his assigned task, trying to put this strange, corrupting influence out of his mind.

Starscream continues to scan the banks and tries desperately to remember where she was buried ... if he finds her - no wait - he can build her a new form ... and the knowledge here ... can restore her....

Ground Pounder stops his scanning and tries to concentrate on listening to the noise of the wind, he can't seem to help himself.

Jetstream steps forward. Now his optics are bright scarlet and wild-looking. He gets dangerously close to Starscream, saber hand drawn back.

Starscream looks back at Jetstream and doesn't notice the saber and says quietly, "The information here can't be destroyed ... it can't ... this information here has your answers ... and my hope at acceptance and peace. We can't blow this thing up."

Thunderwing stares blankly at the other Decepticons, then at Soundwave. These are irrelevant people, aren't they? And still... With a soft and infuriated growl, he tears his wandering thoughts away from the paths they had started to wander down and nods to Soundwave, "Agreed. Suggestions?" As Jetstream's growing agitation lends new urgency to the task, he wordlessly summons the Matrix into his hands, offering a most unsubtle option of getting the strange presence's attention.

Ferret slows his pace. It really is hard to stop thinking about... it's like trying to stop dreaming when you're asleep... He wonders to himself if there's any way he can just... y'know... maybe find the key to ultimate power in here somewhere...

Soundwave sees the others moving about as though from a great distance. Again he plunges into that morass of mental influence and tries to draw it to himself and away from the others. Somewhere on the screen of his thoughts, the images of his creations flash up again, and he lets them stay there. At the same time he listens for the "voice" of the Matrix, as though to encourage it to draw Unicron's attention.

Jetstream starts to chuckle, but it doesn't sound mirthful at all. It sounds downright mad. "I don't want to beat death..." He takes the saber in both hands, steps forward again...

Starscream sees the saber and pauses, " Don't think you are going to send me back to death just for one of your little curiosities ... especially when I'm this close to finding a way to being her back..."

Flamethrowers lower mouth forms a smile once again, "Better yet, if I could still be where I belong and have my so-called current 'superior' at my feet... What could be better than to see him give a report to me..."

Jetstream continues to laugh. "Curiousity? Hahaha! I said, I don't want to beat death..." He turns in a flash and launches himself at Thunderwing, vaulting himself across the room and screaming. "I want to FACE it!!!"

Starscream's optics widen and he lunges at Jetstream trying to stop him, "YOU FOOL!!"

Soundwave catches the sudden upsurge of violence in the swirling thoughts around him, and moves to intercept - but too slow, as he's trying at the same time to keep from being drawn down into that abyss.

Ferret looks round in alarm, and is about to step forwards to intervene, when another thought occurs to him... that he can be seeking what he wants out of this place, while the others are busy fighting...

Ground Pounder hears a commotion from the others, but it seems so far away as he continues to listen to the wind. Possibly for an answer to the questions he seeks...

Jetstream lunges in his mightiest swing with his beam saber... something happens to totally blow it for him.

Starscream relaizes he missed and straightens up, preparing to make another grab at him, "Jetstream back off NOW!"

Thunderwing is too busy trying to keep his mind clear of the prying influence to be truly aware of Jetstream ... until the mech attacks. The Matrix, however, suffers no such distractions, having been unusually active here in the very heart of the one entity which ever provoked it into an outburst of actual hate. With a discordant scream of glass and steel, it unleashes a burst of blue fire that swells outward and sears anything it touches, while at the same time forming a protective shield around Thunderwing.

Ferret examines some terminals, slightly further from the group, "The secret must be in here somewhere..." then he shakes his head, as if trying to dislodge something, but after a few moments, the dream of ultimate power has him in its thrall again, and he continues searching frantically for answers.

Jetstream is hit by a wall of blue light and energy. As his saber contacts the energy field it gives off a vicious crackle of lightning. Jetstream hangs in mid-air for a split second, then gets sent flying backward. He impacts the ground with a boom, a short bounce, and a lot of smoke coming off his frame. His saber shuts off automatically. After a long moment, he shakes his head.

Jetstream says, "What ... what happened...?"

Starscream watches what just happened and doesn't know what to make of it. Turning back, he decides to resume his search through the data banks.

Jetstream blinks.

As the blue light fills the chamber, there's a sudden withdrawal of interfering presence in the minds of the Decepticons within - because their host has just noticed a more lucrative target. The distant moan of the "wind" increases to a deep thundering sound as the surroundings start to shake and tremble, the halfway-intact computer banks suddenly humming to life with a burst of blinking lights.

Starscream glances to him, "You had an episode ... his glow ball fought you back, Jetstream. Outside of that, perhaps you should tell us what happened?"

Thunderwing clenches and unclenches his fists, forcibly keeping himself from doing violent yet satisfying things to Jetstream, "You made a severe miscalculation..." As the surroundings begin coming to life, he adds, "...pray that it is not your last, Jetstream..."

Flamethrower turns her head for a moment when she thinks she hears commotion. She's far enough away from Thunderwing to avoid the light, but since no one was destroyed, she figures it wouldn't hurt to dream some more. "My current commander's words are admirable, but who can tell his motivation. He speaks in such twists and turns. Who can know where his real loyalties lie? If I were under the commander I belong to and the other was under my command, we could tame him for the betterment of the empire and make sure he uses his words as a tool to spread the Decepticons across the galaxy." Upon feeling the shaking, she falls to one knee, "What was that?"

Jetstream looks around. "Episode? Whose ball?"

Ground Pounder shakes his head as though his thoughts just cleared and looks around quickly as everything seems to come to life. He suddenly activates his sensors again, scanning at maximum to make up for the data missed earlier when his sensors were off.

Jetstream looks over at Thunderwing? "What? But...I didn't..."

Soundwave is thrown back by the burst of blue light, which leaves a charred film on the outer layers of his armor. He barely has time to notice and respond, though, as the intensity of the awakening mind rips through his thoughts like a tidal wave. "Are the exposives in place?" he calls out, peering through the blinking storm of illumination.

Jetstream lifts his saber hilt, regarding it and then Thunderwing. He looks at the saber again ... then shakes his head. "No..."

Ground Pounder quickly turns to join the others. He approaches Soundwave and asks, "Are we leaving soon? My sensors are showing unbelievable power readings."

Ferret's optics light up as the computer banks come to life, "I'm in! hmmm... what was I doing again?"

Starscream ignores the rest suddenly and starts downloading all the data he's finding.

Jetstream struggles back to his feet, putting a hand to his cranial housing as he stands up.

Flamethrower tilts her head to the left, "Explosives?" She looks down to her left hand with the datapad still in grip and her weapon in her right hand. "Right, you wanted us to do something with these datapads. I'd forgotten for a moment there."

Jetstream says, "Datapad? ...Oh, frak."

Jetstream looks around, finds his datapad where he dropped it a few feet away and snatches it up.

Thunderwing takes a metaphorical deep breath and looks around until he finds Ground Pounder, nodding at the other's words. "Most ominous..." How's that for an understatement? As people set to work on the task they came here for, he actually grins - a most incongrous sight considering the circumstances. Still, the situation might still be salvaged, so why not?

Soundwave says, "We are leaving momentarily. But ... just one more attempt...."

Starscream starts working faster, trying to get as much data imaged into his own systems as he can. He won't let his best chance get away from him no matter what.

Jetstream grips his datapad. "That thing, that presence...in my head..."

Soundwave transforms into his Tape Recorder mode.

Soundwave transforms and snakes out a cable into the computer bank that he laid open, jacking himself in, searching for anything he can get. As the power readings continue to climb and the chamber shudders, Soundwave's tape reels spin frantically behind the translucent little window of his tape compartment.

Ferret gets to work to start downloading information to the datapad as per his instructions, but still can't help wondering if there's something cunning he could be doing with /this/ information, and /this/ cerebro-shell... despite the fact that he doesn't know how the thing works...

Flamethrower stands up from her position on one knee and heads straight for a section of circuitry and plugs in the datapad.

Jetstream plugs in his datapad as well, talking to himself as he does so. "Got to concentrate, block it out..."

Starscream continues what he's doing. His answer has to lie in what he's seeing and he won't let it go.

Jetstream doesn't look up as he obeys his original order. "Starscream....? Ever heard of a mantra?"

The flashing lights intensify to actual energy beams that lance out from all sections of the wall and ceiling. The faint rumbling rises to a roar - the roar of an angry god waking from an unwelcome sleep.

Starscream doesn't answer Jetstream as he continues to gather the knowledge in the databanks.

Ferret has an idea, although whether it's backed by wisdom is a different thing entirely. When he's sure nobody is looking, he takes the cerebro-shell Bombshell slipped him, and starts hunting round for a good place in the circuitry to shove it...

Jetstream continues, his voice sounding strained. "On Earth ... region they call 'Asia' ... mantras are words you repeat, over and over ... kind of meditation."

Starscream hears something from a distance and glances over for a second, "What?" he keeps the download going.

Soundwave's voice sounds from the tape deck, over the din of sound and light. "Activate explosives. Prepare to withdraw." He himself is still very much locked into the computer bank, though. A surge of power crackles through the walls, the charred circuits, the terminals and machinery, as though building up for a massive assault.

Flamethrower shakes her head while she's downloading the data, as if trying to force herself to focus on what she's doing. She decides to return her weapon from her right hand to subspace to grab onto her datapad with a firm two-handed grip.

Starscream says, "No, Soundwave, not yet!!"

Ground Pounder reduces the power of his scanners in order to keep the incredibly strong power readings from blowing out his internals.

Ferret looks up and around, as the situation becomes more unstable, and Soundwave orders the withdrawal - this is something that has to be done before they blow the crap out of this place. He jams the cerebro-shell in the neural circuitry ... more to see what happens than anything else.

Jetstream unhooks his datapad. "Think, Starscream! Think words, over and over... Block out the voice!"

Thunderwing makes good use of speed not commonly found in a mech of his size to throw himself out of the way of a suddenly appearing shaft of energy, and abandons all thoughts of adding his own datapad to the cause of gathering information. There simply isn't time to prepare for it now, as it seems their host is waking up. As he tries to calm the increasingly agitated Matrix, he quickly assesses the situation and makes his way over to Soundwave and nods, "We cannot ask for more than we have now and..." He winces as a particularly strong buildup and release rakes across his senses, and mutters in resigned tones, "Ravenwing will never let me live this down..."

Starscream snarls, "I can't, Jetstream, I won't ... I need this ... and I won't stop now that I see my way for it!"

Ground Pounder looks to Ferret and yells, "Come on Ferret, we're leaving!"

Jetstream puts a hand on Starscream's shoulder. "Come on! You ... you should have enough now!" A lie maybe, but as long as it works.

Ferret yells back, "In a moment! I'm almost finished! I'm quicker than you, I'll catch you up!"

Starscream seems panicked suddenly, "No, I can't leave this ... all this knowledge ... I won't!! GO ... I have to stay."

Jetstream says, "No, Starscream! You tried to save me, I'm returning the favor."

Jetstream gets insistent and pulls Starscream's arm, hard.

Starscream says, "I'm fine ... go onwiththerest ... I'm the fastest seeker ... NO!" he growls and yanks his arm free, "I have togettherestofthis."

Flamethrower disconnects her datapad from the circuitry. "I hope we were able to gather the information we were after, whatever that happened to be. Maybe if we're sucessful enough ... maybe someday dreams can be reality." She hears Starscream shouting, "Starscream? Soundwave said that we need to leave. Come on."

By design or coincidence, just as Ferret jams the cerebro shell into the exposed neural circuitry, the building energy wave breaks loose, crackling through all that are in physical contact with the computer banks. Soundwave's small tape mode is actually flung across the chamber and lies on its side, smoking, while bolts of power lance through Starscream and Ferret.

Starscream is flung back suddenly and crashes to the floor stunned.

Jetstream can be heard, just barely beneath the din, repeating words that seem to make no sense over and over, trying to focus and block out the chaos. The energy wave rocks him and Starscream, and he stumbles.

Ferret yelps, as the raw power surges through him, and is knocked to the ground, where he lies twitching, optics wide, bright yellow, and definitely stunned-looking.

Starscream fights to get his bearings and stumbles to his knees, "I can't leave ... there's so much more in those datebanks...." he heads back for the terminal.

Jetstream falls against Starscream, still mumbling...

Starscream falls back as Jetstream falls into him, "Hey....."

Ground Pounder shields his optics at the flash of light. He scans around after the burst, searching for comrades. He quickly moves over to Ferret and lifts him up with one hand, "You ok?"

A faint echoing voice sounds from the tape player, the harmonics somehow distorted: "Activate explosives ... retreat ... Thunderwing ... take command..." the words die into a garbled sound that drowns in the roar of power in the chamber.

Jetstream says, "Om mani padme hum, namu dai bosa... Come on, Starscream! Time to go!"

Starscream struggles against Jetstream, "NO!"

Ferret is still twitching, but manages to find is feet, "Woah... I think so... Ouch..." he waits until people have stopped looking at him, and looks down fuzzily, to see what has become of the cerebro-shell.

Jetstream says, "Namu amida butsu... Don't make me hurt you, Starscream, it's for your own good... Om mani padme hum..."

Flamethrower turns around just in time to see Starscream and Jetstream, "Starscream! Starscream, you can't be serious! Soundwave has ordered us out of here twice." She moves closer to Jetstream and considers helping him.

The cerebro shell, tiny object that it is, is hidden behind a storm of crackling power.

Jetstream says, "Nyo ze sho, nyo ze so, nyo ze tai, nyo ze riki--this is your last warning...!"

Starscream replies quickly, "I want the rest of that databank ... I'm so close to getting the rest ... let me get the rest ... ImfastIcanget out before it explodes."

Ground Pounder nods and says, "We gotta go, come on!" He quickly moves over to Soundwave and picks up the tape player. He carries it with him as he rushes over to follow Thunderwing.

Ferret glares at the crackling maelstrom of energy, and considers shoving his hand in it in attempt to retrieve the cerebro-shell. After all, if it doesn't work, he can always get a new arm...

Any attempt to access the databanks would result in fried hands, at the very least, if not fried circuitry, from the looks of things.

Thunderwing reacts to the assault to his senses in the way most people do when suffering sensory overload and a headache at the same time; he snaps, "Everyone get out NOW! Those who can help move their comrades, do so." With a few quick steps, he crosses to the exit, apparently meaning to leave. Then, he freezes in place and shakes his head with a growl of absolute fury, "No. You..." He doesn't seem to be addressing anyone in particular.

Any attempt to touch the cerebral circuitry or the charred wiring, for that matter, would likely result in a fried arm.

Jetstream clenches his teeth (figuratively). "Forgive me, Starscream..." He draws back a fist.

Flamethrower looks to Jetstream, nods, and then returns to address Starscream, "How do you know we don't have the whole thing?"

Jetstream attacks Starscream with punch, but misses him!

Starscream continues to fight toward the databank oblivious that someone just took a swing at him.

Ferret waves a hand at the crackling patch of neural circuitry, as if he can clear the power storm as if it were only so much steam.

Jetstream swings hard, catching Starscream full across the chin. "We're leaving, NOW!"

Flamethrower looks at Jetstorm and whispers, "We carried Ground Pounder, didn't we? Do you think we could carry him against his will, fighting us all the way?"

Starscream's optics flicker and he falls offline ... whoudathunk the air commander had a glass jaw. He topples over.

Jetstream watches as Starscream slumps over and nods to Flamethrower. "...nyo ze tai, nyo ze in... This should be no problem."

Flamethrower shakes her head, "Never mind."

Ground Pounder looks at Jetstream and Flamethrower and asks, "Need help with that?"

Starscream is like a bag of wet sand ... absolutley limp.

Jetstream wastes no time in grabbing Starscream by an arm and heaving him halfway over his shoulder. "Get the other side and let's get out of here."

Soundwave would urge the others to get out into space as fast as they can, and to blow the explosives on the way out ... though he has gone rather silent suddenly.

Ferret has no idea how cerebro-shells work, but is pretty sure he needs to get it back if he can do anything with it. He summons his courage to try and shove a hand in and sieze it. After all, it's gotta be worth a try...

A bolt of power jabs through Ferret as he tries to reach for the cerebral circuitry again.

Ground Pounder rushes over to Thunderwing. He stands next to him to wait for the others.

Flamethrower makes her way toward the place where we came in.

Jetstream looks around past the shoulder not covered by Starscream. "Is everyone leaving?"

Ferret is knocked flat by another blast of power, and grumbles unhappily. It doesn't look like he has time to find a suitable tool to get the damn thing out.

Flamethrower looks toward Jetstream, "I hope Starscream will still talk to us after this mission is over."

Thunderwing drags himself back to what passes for sanity and nods approval at Ground Pounder before making a quick headcount. Not that there were many Decepticons going in, but this wonderful race has a strange resemblance to Earth sheep sometimes. He waits by the exit, impatiently snapping orders at people to leave...yesterday, if possible.

Jetstream says, "I suspect once Unicron is out of his head, Starscream will come to his senses."

Jetstream has left.

Starscream has left.

Flamethrower has left.

Ground Pounder has left.

Cybertron High Orbit

Ground Pounder [Robot]
Flamethrower [Robot]
Starscream [Robot]
Jetstream [Robot]
Avenger StarCraft
Unicron's Head.

Ferret has arrived.

Thunderwing has arrived.

Jetstream shifts his grip on his comrade.

Ferret reluctantly leaves the cerebro-shell, as it is proving impossible to extract.

The space around Unicron's head is literally shimmering with violent energies, the image of Cybertron below and the stars all around, looking distorted and in constant motion. The ship remains locked in orbit, but it too is being buffeted by waves of unknown power.

Jetstream says, "That ... thing, Unicron ... knows he's dying. Now that I know what it is, I could feel it in my mind."

Jetstream shakes his head. "I've never felt someone else in my own mind. I don't like it."

As the Decepticons make their escape out the cavernous maw, the reflexive patterns of Unicron's mind seize upon their old enemy and draw it back into battle. Forgotten are the other insects who swarm about ... Unicron wants to crush the Matrix with his power in one final surge!

Ferret is almost willing Unicron /not/ to blow up, so he can have another go at retrieving the cerebro-shell. He shakes his head, wondering, at what point, exactly, he went insane.

Soundwave is dimly aware of the escape from the center of Unicron's mind as his senses begin to reassert themselves. He struggles toward full consciousness, finally transforming in Ground Pounder's grip to find himself hovering in space near the ship.

Soundwave transforms into his Robot mode.

Ground Pounder lets go of Soundwave upon the transformation.

Jetstream continues mumbling strains of archaic Asian languages to keep from the dark well of consciousness in the head they just left behind.

Thunderwing makes his way toward the Avenger and grates out for the benefit of anyone within earshot; "Get to the ship, move out of the blast range, and detonate the explosives. We do not want Unicron to reach out for the Harbingers. That would be..." Before he can finish, he is yanked to a halt, as though coming abruptly to the end of a leash. The Matrix explodes to life again, surrounding the warlord in a strange foxfire glow as it appears a replay of the first battle against Unicron is on the horizon.

Flamethrower looks around at her fellow Decepticons and hopes the number leaving is the same number that came in. Her attention shifts to Thunderwing as that odd light returns. Her attention shifts back and forth from Thunderwing to the ship, as if torn between whether to find a way to help Thunderwing or return to the ship.

Jetstream feels the inert Starscream shift as Flamethrower turns under his other shoulder.

Soundwave motions the others past him and into the ship in no uncertain terms. He looks back, noticing Thunderwing still lagging behind, very obviously transfixed with something, and is about to call him - when the shimmering darkness that emmanates from Unicron, and the blinding blue light streaming from the Matrix, clash in an explosion of brilliance that rends the very fabric of space open, revealing a swirling rift beyond. It was here that the space bridge tore open the fabric of the universe to allow Jhiaxus' fleet to come through, and here the fabric remains weakened - and it tears open like cheap cloth along the same rift. The monstrous horned head recedes into the gap, going into a rotational movement that draws the Matrix energy - and coincidentally, its bearer - in after it.

Jetstream says, "Flamethrower, I think we better leave while we can..."

Ground Pounder heads towards the ship, but looks back to watch the carnage unfold.

Soundwave makes it to the ship and manages to get inside, leaving the hatch open for the others. Hurriedly he activates the engines, with the perhaps insane thought of sweeping in to pick up Thunderwing before he's completely drawn in.

You climb up into the Avenger into the Cockpit area.

Jetstream floats toward the ship, doing his best to pull Starscream and Flamethrower along. "Don't look!"

Jetstream has arrived.

Starscream has arrived.

Flamethrower's lower mouth drops in a pure understated answer to Jetstream's suggestion, "That's what we saw..."

Flamethrower has arrived.

Ground Pounder has arrived.

Ferret flaps his arms, trying to guide himself to the ship, eventually managing to get through the airlock.

Flamethrower fights the temptation to stay outside and follows Jetstream's lead.

Ground Pounder follows Soundwave and the others into the ship. He instinctively moves over to a seat and straps in.

Ferret has arrived.

Jetstream says, "Unicron wanted us to follow, to look."

Soundwave barely waits for the others to arrive before sending the ship into a lurching forward motion - you might think Tempest were flying, for a moment. The rippling energies outside batter the vessel like a fierce wind as Soundwave tries to follow the rapidly receding Thunderwing.

Jetstream stumbles under the weight and shuddering of the ship, falling over with the deadweight that is Starscream on top of him. "Ow... Serves me right."

Thunderwing gets caught in the tidal forces surrounding the rift, and there is another explosion of light as he brings to bear all the ways of controlling the Matrix that he has learned since it came into his possession - and perhaps possession is what ends up being the case. In the attempt to break free, the final barriers that separate the two entities are broken down, and there is a moment of perfect symbiosis, however fleeting it may be. Still, it seems too little, too late as the two-as-one follow the Devourer into the rift.

Flamethrower starts to say, "That's what we saw when Jhiaxus...", but her speech is cut off by the sudden vibrations of the ship as she barely misses tumbling into Starscream.

Ferret simply holds onto his seat, and watches events unfold through the nearest viewport.

Soundwave realizes that if he continues on course, he'll plunge the rest of the ship and its inhabitants right through the rift as well, and pulls up at the last moment, sending the ship lurching sideways. As the vessel spins all the way around its axis to come back to a forward-facing position, one can see on the viewscreen, the great rift closing up and swallowing seamlessly the horned monstrosity, the blue light of the Matrix, and the Lord of Valckasta.

Jetstream crawls halfway out from under Starscream. "I have no intention of watching... Don't want that thing to get into my thoughts again. No way."

Ground Pounder hmmms to himself as he watches the energy rift seem to seal up. He looks over to the others in the ship and states, "I'm still detecting some fluctuating energies... perhaps we should keep an eye on this area in the future."

Those fluctuating energies manifest themselves suddenly in a rather unexpected way. Against the velvet blackness of space, where the stars shimmer peacefully now, a phantom image shifts into view - Unicron's ruined head, much as he was last seen, frozen in a glow of blue light, the horrible empty eye sockets staring with the promise of malice toward the curve of Cybertron's surface. Seen right through the apparition, one can still detect the stars at a distance.

Flamethrower does her best to stand up off the floor of the shuttle and turn around. "We'd better try to secure Starscream before we take our own seats. Jetstream, I wouldn't ... wish Thunderwing to be at the other end of that rift. Someone like him shouldn't be alone in space."

Jetstream manages to get up and off the floor and starts pulling Starscream somewhere secure. He happens to see the apparition as he does so, shudders slightly and looks to Flamethrower.
Jetstream says, "Strength to him. And good riddance to that awful thing."

Flamethrower takes a seat and stares out the window, "In some ways I hope it's really gone."

Soundwave holds position for a few moments longer as Unicron's phantom image continues to fade in and out of visible range, as though frozen in time just beyond normal space. "There is nothing further we can do at this time," he realizes. "But if there is some manner in which we can retrieve Lord Thunderwing, we will surely find it."

Jetstream takes a seat next to Starscream, still out cold evidently. "I still don't understand what happened in there. It made no sense. No rational or scientific sense at all."

Soundwave turns the ship back toward their homeworld, the optic band darkening a bit. "It did, Jetstream," he says quiety, the harmonics echoing a bit. "Merely on a different scale than our own."

Cybertron Low Orbit

Starscream's optics flicker suddenly. After a few moments they light up stronger and he slowly reaches a hand to his jaw, "I ... thought Optimus Prime was dead...."

Jetstream looks at Starscream, then at his hand. He clenches his fist in awe. "I- I'll take that as a compliment."

Flamethrower shakes her head, "Jetstream, it's probably best if we don't know what happened outside." She turns to Starscream and looks at him without a word.

Starscream sits up. "You hit me? Whatever for?"

Jetstream says, "My sincere apologies, Starscream-sama. I had to do it. You wouldn't leave."

Flamethrower nods to Jetstream's explanation, "You were obsessed."

Soundwave says nothing further on the way back, finally setting the ship down gently on the Polyhex airfield. The boarding hatch opens.

Polyhex Airfield

Ark Aspirant <Ark>
Obvious exits:
<U> Up leads to Sky above Polyhex.
<W> West leads to Hangar Bay <Polyhex>.

Ground Pounder shakes his head and wonders what just happened in the skies above Cybertron. He ponders hitting the datatracks again for more information on Unicron.

Starscream suddenly rememvbers, "The data!!" he pauses for a moment, then, "I have it ... all the data I downloaded. I have it...." He gets to his feet and looks to Jetstream, "You ... saved me man...." he looks to Flamethrower, "You guys saved me?"

Flamethrower tilts her head to the left in response to Starscream's surprise, "Of course. Why wouldn't we?"

Jetstream gets up and nods quietly to Starscream. "Even if I hadn't owed you, which I did. You tried to stop me from doing something foolish."

Soundwave says, "Those who have managed to retrieve data, we will compile it in Polyhex's main computer. From what I saw in my own download, it will take some time to translate into known patterns."

Starscream says, "I don't know what to say...."

Starscream looks to Soundwave suddenly. He has to share what he downloaded? "Is that mandantory?"

Soundwave says, "Affirmative. This was a mission for the empire's benefit. We will, it is hoped, all benefit from the results." Though the optic band darkens again as he thinks of the one who didn't make it back.

Starscream realizes there's nothing that says he can't make a copy for himself. "Ok...."

Soundwave says, "Bring your recovered data to Shockwave in the command center. I will add my portion after I have informed Valckasta of recent events."

Starscream replies smoothly, maybe a little too smoothly, "As you command, Soundwave."

Flamethrower looks to Soundwave and nods, as if he had just answered the main question she had been wondering.

Soundwave steps out of the ship, intending to fly to Valckasta under his own power. Yes, he's a little scorched and charred, but otherwise none the worse for wear after recovering from those power surges.

You depart the Avanger.

From Avenger StarCraft, Jetstream puts a hand on Starscream's shoulder briefly, then lets it slip away as he head for the exit. "Let's get back to more comfortable surroundings."

From Avenger StarCraft, Starscream nods and glances to Flamethrower.

Jetstream slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Jetstream has arrived.

Starscream slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Starscream has arrived.

From Avenger StarCraft, Flamethrower unstraps herself and rushes to try to keep up with those two.

Ferret slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Ferret has arrived.

Starscream has left.

Ground Pounder slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Ground Pounder has arrived.

Flamethrower slips out of the Avenger useing the open access hatch.
Flamethrower has arrived.

Soundwave transmits to Ravenwing: "Security Director Ravenwing, there is a matter we must discuss."

Ravenwing transmits to Soundwave: "*distantly* I imagine so."

Valckasta Command Center

Ravenwing [robot]
Obvious exits:
<E> East leads to Western Dome Complex.
<D> Down leads to Officers' Quarters.

Ravenwing has already had word that Soundwave has appeared, but not the Lord High Commander, and a quick radio call to her sire gets nothing but static. She is sitting quietly at her console, but with the seat swiveled to face towards the door. Sitting and waiting, her silver optics as reflective as mirrors, her lithe body as still as a statue, and her thoughts almost as frozen. She herself has had the unhappy responsibility of informing the next of kin of those who died in the line of duty, but even though she expected that this might happen to her one day, it should never have been this soon. As Soundwave arrives, she simply looks at him out of distant optics and waits for what will come.

Soundwave comes in without a hint as to what might be going through his mind, as so often. His outer armor is blackened with a sheen of carbonation, but otherwise he seems undamaged.

Soundwave says, "You are already aware, Security Director, that there has been an ... incident. You were aware, as were we all, that this might be a dangerous mission."

Ravenwing remains seated. While she believes she can hear this without disgracing herself with weakness, why take the chance of betraying any weakness? She inclines her head to Soundwave in answer to his statement. She knows what he's going to say, feels the temptation to say it for him instead of drawing it out, but remains silent. Show no weakness.

Soundwave does not, as Ravenwing may be expecting, begin with "Lord Thunderwing has perished." It wouldn't be accurate, or at least it may not be. Instead he begins, "We do not know precisely what occurred. We entered the remains of Unicron's head. I assigned various members of the team to plant explosives and to access data from the memory banks. Lord Thunderwing and myself were largely occupied with drawing the attention of the semi-conscious mind which was well aware of us. I could sense the influence it had upon the others. We attempted to keep it engaged."

Ravenwing warned them of exactly this, didn't she? She doesn't berate the commander with this, at least not yet. There's a certain growing resentment, though, at how he's drawing this out. When delivering such news herself, she makes it mercifully quick, then the details afterwards. "I see. Did the others succeed in their mission?"

Soundwave isn't in fact trying to draw the matter out, but to explain in detail what has occurred. "In part," he says. "We managed to recover a portion of data - a tiny fraction of what existed in the memory banks, to be certain, but we do have a fraction. It will have to be interpreted and translated, which may take some time, so I cannot yet say what precisely we will find there. As it was, Unicron's effects drove a member of our team to inadvisedly attack your Lord, whereupon his ... companion ... responded. This activated Unicron's ire, and we were barely able to escape. We had escaped, when the combined energies of Unicron's mind and the Matrix's response, tore a rift into the fabric of space through which Unicron's head was drawn. And also Lord Thunderwing." Such a tale might have come from an imaginative kidlet, were it not Soundwave in his reverberating harmonics, relaying the story.

Ravenwing finally moves, almost blindingly fast, but it's merely a few centimeters: she sits up and leans forward, her silver optics blazing in some indefinable emotion. Her voice, too, takes on life again. "So ... some idiot triggered a protective reaction from the Matrix which in turn awoke the Great Devourer. This rift... is it traceable?"

Soundwave says, "That is the unusual matter." His tape compartment door suddenly shades to an opaque finish, as he displays a seldom-seen ability - the ability to show an image on its surface. The curve of Cybertron's surface becomes visible against a field of stars, where Unicron once circled - and then the horned monstrosity of the head fades into view, lingering ghostlike, translucent ... then shimmers out again. "We are observing this effect. It would appear that Unicron's remains - and your Lord - are trapped beyond a sealed rift at a point where the fabric of space is weakened. It is my hope that we may be able to break through."

Ravenwing stares intently at the ghostly image, then corrects coldly, "Unicron, not his remains. It is quite clear that he lives. Where, where are they? If we cannot reach him by unconventional means, then we can attempt the mundane task of simply traveling there. And this image... can my sire be seen? Can events there be detected? I would back the bauble against a badly diminished Unicron, but we still have little idea of its capabilities."

Soundwave says, "Unicron lives to some degree. We have been unable to see Lord Thunderwing when the image phases partially into our space, but I do not believe it is a matter of distance. They are trapped, for the moment, and the situation appears stable at this time. I cannot, of course, guarantee that Thunderwing lives, or is recoverable. But I cannot write him off as lost either."

Ravenwing's steel-clawed fingers tighten on the arms of her seat, and her optic flare briefly once again before resuming their unreadable mirrorlike sheen. "No proof that he lives, then, only a hope, since Unicron is there to be seen." Worse than knowing that a family member is dead is not knowing... "What must be done to break through the rift and reach them?"

Soundwave says, "There is no proof either way. Yet the energy fluctuations continue, and they may give us a method of breaking the barrier."

Ravenwing says, "How long will it take?"

Soundwave says, "Unknown."

Ravenwing murmurs softly, "Unknown fate, unknown phenomenom, unknown length of time. You don't have many solid facts to offer, do you? Nor any real hope. Then again, hope has no relationship to logic. Please let me know if there is any way in which Valckasta can assist in resolving any of these gaps in our knowledge."

Soundwave confirms, "There are few solid facts at this time. We are dealing with too many unfamiliar factors, not least of which is Unicron himself, and the Matrix. It is my hope that it will continue to protect its bearer until we can reach him."

Soundwave says, "I will of course keep you informed of my progress, and will provide duplicates of any information I assemble." He looks around, perhaps curious to ask who will assume leadership here now, but such a question would be in poor taste, and he refrains from voicing it.

Ravenwing notes coolly, "I should like to have personnel stationed there at all times to observe. That, or an observation satellite, considering the ill effect Unicron has had on our warriors."

Soundwave says, "A satellite would be advisible. One with a sensor array to track the fluctuating energy readings. Do you have access to such an item?"

Ravenwing smirks. "I've noted the lack of such things in our orbit, and Valckasta's scientists have been working on remedying that lack. The project didn't have priority, but that can be changed."

Soundwave nods. "You will advise me if you require assistance or resources? I will see that you have what you need."

Ravenwing rises gracefully to her feet and has a look around the Command Center. No one is neglecting his or her duties, but those not immediately involved in a task are listening for all they're worth. "Not a word of this until I give leave," she tells them quietly. There's Spinister yet to inform, and he should hear it from her, not from local gossip. To Soundwave, she inclines her head. "Thank you, Commander." Not said aloud, but thought out very clearly, deliberately so, is the understanding that the Royal House of Valckasta tends to fare ill in Soundwave's service.

Soundwave is entirely adept at reading body language, even without applying his telepathic skills, and can only imagine what's going through Ravenwing's mind. He's equally good at keeping his thoughts and reactions to himself, however, so he merely inclines his head, and takes his leave. He's surely the last person Ravenwing wants to see at this point in time.