Megatron [Robot]
Obvious exits:
<N> North leads to Command Center.
<E> East leads to Energon Storage.
<W> West leads to Repair Bay.
<S> South leads to Armory.

<Earth> Earthbase sensors indicate the storm that has been raging above the water's surface is growing more intense.

Megatron says, "Soundwave, we're getting close to the last phase of my plan..."

Soundwave nods. "I understand the human slaves have been most efficient in gathering energon."

Megatron rubs his forehead. "Cybertron's orbit is getting critical now, the explosion has to take place within the next few Earth hours or... " he pauses.

Megatron says, "Take care that Cybertron will send us the transport cruiser I need for my plan. I'll give you the coordinates of the island where it will be loaded."

Soundwave says, "Understood, Commander. You wish me to travel to Cybertron and make arrangements?"

Soundwave looks a little doubtful as he adds, "Are you certain you would not rather allow someone less vital to the cause, to pilot this craft?" But the question is rhetorical, for he already knows the answer.

Megatron shakes his head. "This is a secret mission. We can't risk involving someone else or we risk the Autobots learning of it. If they interfere, they will destroy our homeworld."

Soundwave's optic band flickers faintly. "That would, of course, be the ultimate result of their actions in any case. Ironic that they have never realized it."

Megatron looks at his old friend, his optics are very serious. "Take care that NO-ONE will follow me into the shuttle. I can survive it... anyone else would be doomed."

<Earth> The undersea base shudders faintly from the water pressure of the waves above.

Soundwave nods. "I will endeavor to return from Cybertron shortly."

Tempest arrives from Command Center.

Soundwave starts to turn away, then pauses. "But do recall, Commander, that you are the Decepticon cause personified. You are the guidance into the future." In his way he means "be careful." He turns away to head off toward the tower.

Tempest sticks her head out of the control room, looking very nervous and glancing upward a lot.

Soundwave nods briefly to Tempest in passing.

You enter Armory.

You enter Training Complex.

You enter Engine Room.

<LongRange> Shockwave says, "Shockwave calling Megatron. Are you there Megatron?"

You enter Conning Tower.

<LongRange> Megatron says, "This is Megatron. What is it, Shockwave?"

<LongRange> Shockwave says, "Our sensors have recorded much of the turmoil on the organic planet. As Cybertron comes closer in its orbit, the tidal forces will increase."

You enter Atlantic Ocean <Central>.

Tempest arrives from Conning Tower.

Tempest transforms into her CF-18 Hornet Jet mode.

Tempest tags after Soundwave ... looking rather happy to be out of the base, and then she transforms.

<LongRange> Megatron says, "I've noticed that. We will use the tidal waves to gain the energy we need for the last phase of the plan, Shockwave. Soundwave will soon arrive on Cybertron with the details."

<Earth> Dr. Archeville taps into the channel and demands, "Megatron, what's this I'm hearing about using my slaves to ride along to Cybertron?"

The dark sky with its driving rain and high winds almost but not quite masks the metallic orb of Cybertron hanging almost close enough to touch. Certainly close enough to fly to.

<LongRange> Shockwave says, "Acknowleged Megatron."

<Earth> Megatron says, "With a human present, the Autobots will not take aggressive action against Cybertron."

<Earth> Dr. Archeville says, "But I can only control the slaves from my computer here in the base!"

<Earth> Megatron says, "We have duplicated your computer on Cybertron. It is no longer just YOUR computer."

Tempest mutters to Soundwave, "Weird cargo I've got," and tilts, so Sparkplug's head is visible through her canopy.

Soundwave glances over toward Tempest and notices the movement of the human against the backdrop of glowing-pink energon cubes. He nods to her, agreeing with Megatron's logic, and then puts on a burst of power from his flight engines to keep steady in the wind.

<Earth> Dr. Archeville sounds distinctly displeased as he grumbles, "Remember our agreement, Megatron! The Earth is to be mine when you are through with it."

Tempest's engines scream as she angles her wing, crabbing into wind ... pointing sideways in the air but moving in a straight line on the ground, due to the strong wind.

<Earth> Megatron says, "It will be..."

Training Complex

Ruse [Robot]
Megatron [Robot]
Obvious exits:
<N> North leads to Armory.
<W> West leads to Science Section.
<D> Down leads to Living Quarters.
<S> South leads to Engine Room.

Dr. Archeville wanders in, still looking disgruntled about the use of his slaves and the duplication of his computer. How dependent are these robots on him now, if they can so easily make use of his work? Still, he looks over to Megatron and Ruse and asks, "Well? What's next?"

Megatron, as the scientist arrives, remarks with ironic voice. "Ah, the good Dr. Archeville himself. Well, you will accompany us to our newest project, the sea funnel. We will leave in a few astro seconds. I suppose you like the idea of overseeing the work of our slaves personally."

Ruse is standing there and seems to have just finished having a mild discussion with Megatron. She remains silent but a look of disapproval graces her features and the way she holds herself at the moment.

Dr. Archeville pulls his rumpled white labcoat straight and says, "Indeed. I do still control the Earth slaves, after all."

<Earth> Megatron says, "All Decepticons to the engine room. We will leave the base in 600 astroseconds."

Chasm arrives from Armory.

Megatron enters Engine Room <<S> South>.
Megatron has left.

Chasm enters Engine Room <<S> South>.
Chasm has left.

Ruse enters Engine Room <<S> South>.
Ruse has left.

You enter Engine Room.

Chasm flaps in and perches in quietly at the back.

Ruse walks in and smirks, spotting Chasm, "Looks like you won't have forklift duty for a while."

Dr. Archeville follows along, eyeing Chasm a little warily, and wondering if he's to fly with Starscream again.

Chasm snorts, "I'll do what I think is appropriate for me to do."

Chasm gives Ruse a rather haughty look and coils his tail up, settling down into a relaxed posture that seems to indicate he doesn't plan to move for any length of time.

Ruse says, "You will do as commanded when commanded... just like everyone else Chasm."

Chasm sneers, "Commanded, perhaps, but only when convienient for me and not by the likes of you."

Megatron says, "Chasm, take our dear Doctor. But be... careful."

Megatron enters Conning Tower <<T> Tower>.
Megatron has left.

Chasm flaps over to Doctor Archeville, settling behind the human and flexing his claws, letting the light glint on them for long enough so that his point is made clear.

Dr. Archeville shrinks back a little, but makes a determined effort to stand his ground. "Remember, I control the Earth slaves!" he reminds everyone, especially Chasm, again.

Ruse nods to the doctor, "So we have heard again and again."

Chasm dips his head. "Of course, my dear Doctor. And remember that I am solely responsible for your welfare at the moment."

Dr. Archeville says nothing and simply waits to be picked up, looking none too pleased about it.

Chasm flaps over and scoops up Doctor Archeville in his hind claws.

Main Access Plaza <Polyhex>

Tempest [CF-18 Hornet Jet]
Obvious exits:
<N> North leads to Watch Central <Polyhex>.
<S> South leads to Avenue of Conquerors <Polyhex>.
<E> East leads to Hangar Bay <Polyhex>.
<W> West leads to War Academy/Training Grounds <Polyhex>.

Tempest lands, taxiing over to Soundwave.

Tempest murmurs, "Damn, I'm glad to be off Earth."

Soundwave lands as well, looking around at the unusual scene - Polyhex lit by a nearby sun. "I have not seen Polyhex by daylight in ... " he pauses to recall, and finally concludes, "too long."

Tempest transforms into her Robot mode.

Soundwave adds in a more businesslike tone, "We will deliver the energon to Shockwave."

Tempest catches Sparkplug in her hands, cupping him as a kid might cup a bug.

Sparkplug remains quite still, almost as though content, in Tempest's grip.

Tempest looks at Soundwave curiously, intrigued by his comments, but nods sharply.

You enter Watch Central <Polyhex>.

You step onto the access hatch and are dropped downwards into the gravshaft.

<Earth> Earth news reports are currently full of panicked announcements regarding volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The undersea quakes are generating tidal waves that threaten to flood the coastal regions of much of the world.

You enter Administration Deck.

<Cybertron> Polyhex sensors would be aware that Soundwave and Tempest have arrived.

You enter Command Center.

Command Center

Ramjet [robot]
Shockwave [Robot]
Obvious exits:
<U> Up leads to Spacebridge Transmat Chamber.
<NE> Northeast leads to Administration Deck.

Tempest arrives from Administration Deck.

Tempest carries Sparkplug in her cupped hands like a human child might carry a bug she's caught.

Ramjet steps aside from the doorway and snaps to attention as the officer arives.

Soundwave comes in with Tempest, and nods a greeting to Shockwave and Ramjet. "Shockwave. We have a further shipment of energon for Polyhex, and Megatron requires a star cruiser for the rest, which will be generated by our last Earth offensive."

Ramjet:

Tempest sets down Sparkplug nearby, carefully, and begins unloading energon from her cargo bay.

Ramjet relaxes and returns to his 'at ease' pose, listenning to the plan. As Tempest sets down the human he levels his arm laser at it and scowls, "One of the natives from that plannet?"

Tempest nods to Ramjet. "Careful, they break easy."

<Earth> Megatron says, "All Decepticons to the engine room. We will leave the base in 600 astroseconds."

Ramjet isn't about to shoot, just covering it incase it tries to escape or something. "Ugly little thing. What's it doing here?"

Tempest says, "The Autobots won't attack if this critter's here. Neat, eh?" You can see her scorn for the Bots restraint, but also her glee at having one-upped them this way.

Sparkplug just remains calm and quiet, with a blank look on his face.

Ramjet huhs? "They'd call off their whole rebellion just because this one organic is here? What is he? Some sort of king on the dirt planet?"

Tempest says, "Not the whole rebellion ... but they'll make sure not to injure him in the crossfire. He's nothing special politically, but he's their ally."

Shockwave says, "Affirmative Soundwave. We have a cargo transport ready. It lacks an interstellar drive, but should suffice for this task."

Sparkplug in his construction-worker's uniform certainly doesn't look that impressive even for a human.

Tempest says, "And he's under our control. We have, in essence, our own Autobot puppet."

Ramjet frowns, relaxing his aim on the human, "No wonder they're loosing. They place too much importance on something so useless. So he's under our control? What good is that?"

Soundwave nods. "That should be workable for what Megatron has in mind." He notably doesn't elaborate further, and instead turns to Tempest. "You are capable of piloting the ship back to Earth to the location of the sea funnel?"

Shockwave glances over toward the alien, seeming interested in an academic manner. "This is one of the intellegent species on the organic world?"

Talon arrives from Administration Deck.

Tempest salutes Soundwave. "You better believe it ... ah ... yes, I am."

Ramjet says, "Inteligent? Maybe we can train it to do tricks?"

Talon enters the room and looks around quickly.

Tempest nods to Shockwave. "Yeah. That's as smart as Earth species get. And Ramjet, with it under our control, we can use it as a shield between us and the Bots."

Ramjet steps aside again as his door guarding duties are once more tested by Talon's entrance.

Shockwave turns to one of the sentries near to Sparkplug and says, "Be cautious not to step on it."

Soundwave's optic band shades a little brighter in a brief smile at Tempest's declaration, and says, "Leave the human here for the moment. Megatron will have more of them present on Earth."

Soundwave notices the new arrival, Talon, but is currently more interested in getting the ship back to Earth.

Ramjet looks unconvinced, "Why do we need a shield anyway? Let them attack, I'd prefer a straight fight to all this patrolling."

Tempest says, "All yours. Enjoy." She rubs her hands, seeming eager to get ahold of the controls of a ship.

Shockwave says, "Safe journey Tempest."

Tempest actually gives Shockwave a roguish grin. "Thanks."

Diktat steps into the command centre at pace, looking moderately concerned. He occasionally casts a glance at the ceiling.

Ramjet steps away from the door he's guarding and snaps to attention as Diktat enters.

The main sensor screen suddenly flickers to life with a flashing warning light: Skyfire is shown to come to a landing just outside of Polyhex. Spike, Brawn, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, and Trailbreaker emerge.

Shockwave directs one of the sentries to take three energon cubes to the hanger to help fuel the cargo ship and then turns back to Soundwave. "So you are staying here for the time being then Soundwave? Do you have a specific mission I should be aware of?"

Tempest glances up sharply at the Autobots, then to Soundwave, questioningly.

Diktat raises an optic at Sparkplug, and moves into attention, bowing to all concerned. His glance moves towards a viewer...

Soundwave notes a new arrival and nods to Diktat, an almost indetectable flicker of recognition in his gaze - before his attention is drawn to the screen. "They are undoubtedly here for their ally," he notes of the Autobots. "They are unlikely to intercept you, Tempest."

Ramjet glares at the screen, "Intruders ... here in Polyhex?"

Talon draws his plasma rifle from subspace storages and charges it. He looks ready for action.

Shockwave's single optic glitters as the automatic missile defense fails to intercept the Autobot jet.

Tempest nods. "I'll leave them to your pleasure ... good hunting."

Ramjet must have bolted the automatic missiles down a bit to securely.

Soundwave looks to Shockave. "Recommendation? We could release the sentries, or allow them to come to us."

Talon says, "Let's pound them!"

Diktat half smiles at the scene, but moves to a data panel, examining the incoming data. Otherwise, he awaits the command of Shockwave. Soundwave may note that Diktat is no longer in the Purple and Gold of the corp, instead being painted black and silver.

Ramjet glances at Talon, giving him a 'shut up' look ... it's not their place to tell the commanders how to do thier job.

Shockwave considers for a moment. "The automatic defenses should be adequete to delay them until we can prepare a proper reception. There is no need to risk the sentries in open firefight we may avoid."

The screen shows Spike tripping on a light beam which triggers a trapdoor. He falls downward into an access shaft leading to the Polyhex underground. Bumblebee jumps in after him, as does Brawn.

Ramjet silenty echos his sentiments however, hostility circuits powering up at the view of the terrorists on the screen.

Sparkplug stirs slightly, and moves as though to wander off in search of repairs, never losing his blank-eyed expression.

Ramjet says, "I don't mind the risk commander, let me deal with them, those 2 are only little."

Soundwave notes as he watches Sparkplug move toward the exit in the absence of counter-orders, "This creature might be suitable bait."

Tempest salutes and is off to take the ship.
Tempest has left.

Shockwave nods and replies, "Particularly since they brought another of the flesh creatures with them. Perhaps they can locate one another."

Talon says, "They don't look that intelligent Commander."

Shockwave says, "Intellegence is not a criteria for this operation. Sentry, take the flesh creature down to the lower levels."

Sparkplug wanders out into the hall. Soundwave gives him a few paces of head-start, then glances around the room, implicitly inviting the others to follow as he heads after the human.

Diktat rolls his optics slightly before turning away from the console, "Most carbon based creatures of my experience have a certain pack loyalty. Maybe they can locate each other through pheremones... I've seen that before." A sigh, "Of course, we really need some medical data before I can start talking about them with complete certainty. Vivisection's the only real decent way to be sure, of course."

Talon says, "Sounds like a good idea to me, Diktat."

Another sentry enters the room and makes a verbal report. "Intruders spotted in the lower levels Commander, still in the tunnel trap."

Shockwave says, "Very well. Soundwave, Talon, Diktat, Ramjet, we shall go to await them."

Shockwave sends the sentry leading Sparkplug on ahead, and takes a moment to lock down the space bridge controls, then heads out himself.

Talon says, "Excllent."

Diktat nods, "As you wish, sire."

Ramjet salutes Shockwave and turns to follow Soundwave out.

Wave Funnel

Tempest [Robot]
Ruse [Robot]
Megatron [Robot]
Chasm [Dragon]
Obvious exits:
<E> East leads to Central America.
<W> West leads to Pacific Ocean <Western Hemisphere>.

The sight of a Cybertronian transport shuttle appears in the sky ... and flying a most unusual pattern ... a jinking motion of dodges and spurts, as if pursued by some invisible hunters. It screams down to the site of the wave funnel, travelling far too quickly towards the beach ... then, at the last moment, its thrusters reverse and it jerks into a rough hover, settling in to land.

Chasm drops the Doctor down on the cliff and takes a stance behind him.

Ruse hovers a moment then lands near Megatron. She then gahs, "Who in blazes is flying that shuttle?"

Dr. Archeville just barely manages to catch his balance after being dropped none too gently. With an indignant glare at Chasm, he turns to look around.

Countless humans scramble over the turbines, making the final installations.

The shuttle purrs there for a moment as if ready for a speedy takeoff ... then, as if satisfied it's secure, its engines power down. A moment later the outline of yellow pointed wings appears in the ship's opening doorway.

Dr. Archeville turns to Megatron rather smugly. "As you see, my slaves are functioning perfectly. The sea funnel is almost complete."

Chasm mutters, "And he's right, too."

Megatron watches the shuttle land. He doesn't seem to be surprised by it's arrival.

Ruse shakes her head, "I should have guessed... only one seeker flys that randomly."

Megatron nods at Archevilles comment, content. "When the tidal wave hits the sea funnel, the fury of the sea will turn the generators and fill thousands of energon cubes."

Tempest steps out, grinning, looking to be in a very good mood ... and walks over towards them, glancing every once in a while at the funnel.

Chasm's optics flicker. Will this day finally mean that the Transformers will be able to refuel Cybertron and return there?

Megatron suddenly realizes something very disturbing. "But where is the other generator? It should be in position now?"

Out in the open ocean, seafloor displacement has generated a series of immense waves which roll inexorably toward shore. Out in the ocean one would barely notice them, their long wavelength and low crest serving to only gently raise any boats and lower them again in a long smooth slide ... but once those waves head in to shore, their lower layers of water begin to drag, building up the column to incredible heights. One such monster is on an approach just now, out in the distance, which would be noticable to anyone scanning.

Tempest glances up at the tsunami wave and murmurs to Ruse, "Is it supposed to get that big?"

Catching up to the others, a silver-and-scarlet jet glints briefly in the storm-swept sky as he soars in to join the others, and transforms into the unmistakable form of Starscream. He looks around the structure and sneers, "Your plan is worthless, Megatron. This will never work. A big waste of time!"

Dr. Archeville peers out toward the ocean and the ominously building water, and concurs, "The funnel structure does not seem strong enough. The tidal waves will snap it like so many matchsticks. My slaves will drown!"

Chasm digs his claws into the dirt, getting worried. Those waves are looking quite dangerous and he has no desire to be floating at the bottom of the ocean...

Megatron fixes Starscream with burning optics. "Starscream, I ordered you to install the generator!

Starscream makes no move toward the piece of equipment, merely glaring at his leader defiantly.

Ruse shrugs to Tempest, unsure.

Megatron picks up the generator and tosses it at his second in command. "I said install it! Now!"

Tempest watches the interchange between Megatron and Starscream, staying well clear. She glances at Chasm.

Starscream catches the generator more by reflex than intent and stumbles a little under the unexpected assault, but then straightens in a dignified manner and stalks off, grumbling.

Chasm gives Tempest a hurried glance, indicating his tension with the entire situation. "We could all be doomed if this device doesn't function properly..." He wrings his paws together. "Doomed, I tell you..."

Dr. Archeville re-iterates, "My slaves will be caught in the tidal wave, Megatron!"

Tempest says softly, "It might be safer on the ship..." and then glances at Megatron. "The boss doesn't seem worried."

Ruse glances to Chasm and trys to calmly and lightly bap him with the blunt of her rifle, "Hush.. Megtatron's plan WILL work."

Chasm snarls and claws away Ruse's weapon. "You don't understand how unstable the entire procedure really is!"

Megatron turns to the Doctor. "I thought humans like to play in the ocean?" He glances at Starscream again, making sure the other Decepticon does his work. "You heard my orders, Starscream."

Dr. Archeville slinks off as well, but casts a surreptitious glance in Starscream's direction. He mumbles something to himself which can't quite be made out, but it has the phrase "...ally I've been looking for..." in it.

Megatron looks down at Archeville. Refering to Starscream, he orders, "You are to avoid contact wit him. Do not disobey me, doctor."

Ruse scoffs, "You know nothing about me, you flying acountantdrone, now shut up, behave, and watch, coward."

Dr. Archeville folds his arms across his white lab coat and replies, "Of course, Megatron."

Chasm snaps, "Drone? Me? You're nothing but a fawning prototype..."

Megatron flies over to a cliff from where he can watch the sea much better.

Tempest looks down at the squabbling cassettes. "And you're both bite-size snacks..."

Starscream finishes installing the last generator just as the rising crest of the wave starts building ... the water piling up upon itself to rise higher and higher, the crest balanced as though frozen for an instant in time-

The wavecrest plunges downwards in a roar and a rush of white foam, sweeping in through the funnel and pouring itself through the generators, which spin frantically. As predicted, the wave sweeps away numerous humans working on the structure, but the spinning generators produce rivers of energon which flow into pipes leading back away from the shoreline and to storage.

Tempest folds her arms and shoots Starscream a smug grin, if he can see her....

Ruse looks up to Tempest, sighs in aggravation then storms off to the other side of the cliff away from the water. Oh someone struck a nerve.

Megatron laughs. "Magnificent! Stupendous! Energy by the astroliter!"

Chasm mutters, "He thinks of nothing but these huge grandiose plans, with an incredibly high error margin! If only we had scaled back the project we would have certainly curtailed the risk!"

Tempest glances at Ruse ... suddenly realizes what she'd said. But it's too late to take it back.

Tidal waves come in series, and the next one is right behind the first, the long shallow curve of the surface gliding in almost gently before the lower water layers start to drag on the slope of the coastline.

Tempest looks at Chasm. "A gamble to be sure. But this is not a universe that rewards playing safe."

Chasm snorts, "Well, when there's my life involved, I prefer a different set of odds."

Ruse watches the humans trapped in that swirling water... then wanders back around to look at the sea but still away from the others as she cools off. She notices something.. far off though and squints her optics, "I..."

Tempest looks at Chasm oddly. "Is it ever not?"

Megatron watches the space ship being filled with energon cubes.

Some of the humans manage to scramble to higher ground, seemingly unaware of the next impending impact.

Chasm smirks and coils his tail around his hind legs again, his tapping claws betraying his inner unease.

Ruse looks back and yells to the other Decepticons, "Autobots!"

Tempest's head snaps upward. "Where?" she calls to Ruse.

Dr. Archeville has managed to avoid the first influx of water, and scrambles downslope to see how many of the slaves have survived.

Megatron says, "Autobots? Where?"

Ruse flys over to Tempest and points out over the waves, "Riding in! It's Prime and a whole cluster of them!"

Megatron says, "Oh, they are riding the wave... Well, they are riding their doom."

Visible now to anyone looking in the right direction, Optimus Prime is "surfing" on the wavecrest and leading a group of his followers, as the water carries him right toward his intended target.

Chasm flicks his wings back and forth. "Shouldn't we do something?"

Megatron says, "Tempest, Ruse, Chasm, get into the shuttle. We take off."

Tempest stares at Megatron. "What ... but the funnel!"

Tempest can't make any sense of this order....

Chasm eagerly shoots forward and glides into the shuttle. "I'm out of here..."

Megatron says, "I'll leave Starscream behind to prepare it for the next tidal wave."

Ruse nods and starts towards the shuttle, and tries to grab and lead Tempest by the hand. "Come on! First order of any mission is getting the energon to safety."

The wave races closer and closer, building to a towering height. Just under the foaming crest, Prime and the other Autobots maintain their balance, bringing up their weapons for a clear shot at the Decepticons on shore. Once again the wavecrest seems to freeze for an instant....

Tempest tugs her hand free of Ruse, but grabs some cubes and darts for the ship, racing over to the control panel, firing up the engines....

Megatron enters the shuttle, taking the pilot's seat.

Ruse stops and grabs a few as well... then flies into the shuttle.

Chasm settles on the back of a seat, digging his claws in for balance.

Tempest lets Megatron take control, though she remains as co-pilot.

The Autobots fire down at the retreating Decepticons as the wave crashes downward and foams into the generator structures, spinning the turbines and flooding the whole coastline. Humans thrash about and scramble in the water.

The Autobots quickly switch tactics, realizing the Decepticons are practically out of reach while all around them humans are in danger of drowning. Optimus Prime directs his followers to save as many as he can.

Chasm looks down slightly, all remember watching all of those little humans be sucked up into the wave maelstrom. He shrugs, such being life.

Dr. Archeville is among those left behind, having been swept up by the water. He manages to catch hold of a part of a low wall, and shouts after the ship, "Help! Megatron, come back!"

Megatron takes off, heading for their next destination.

Starscream ducks behind the nearest turbine to avoid attention from the Autobots, and snatches up the drenched human doctor. "Megatron is through with you," he says. "But I am not!"

Central America

Obvious exits:
<F> Funnel leads to Wave Funnel.
<N> North leads to Southwestern Desert <North America>.
<S> South leads to Neotropics <South America>.
<E> East leads to Caribbean Sea.
<W> West leads to Pacific Ocean <Western Hemisphere>.

Megatron steers the shuttle to a place in the deep jungle where other slaves are busily collecting energy.

Starscream has transformed and followed at a distance, carrying the human scientist. There's not much to be salvaged from the sea funnel anyway. He stays out of sensor range of the ship and comes to a landing in a jungle clearing nearby.

Tempest allows Megatron to fly, watching as he moves the controls, noting a different style of flying than the one she's used to.

Chasm sighs, trying to put down dim memories of flying through space, the dim crackle of solar radiation in the background. If only the world made sense once more...

Tempest seems to have the same thought in mind as she gets up, walks back to the engine drive, takes a look, and curses. "Local transport only," she mutters. "No star drive, no means to build one..."

The blank-eyed human slaves line up, ready to file into the ship and deposit cubes.

Chasm snickers, "No 'forklift duty' duty with these drones around..."

Tempest glances back at Chasm. "Heh. You're right. We can get to the more important business of defence."

Indeed the flying style was not that of a seeker, Megatron uses the shuttle as a tool to transport the valuable cargo - straight and effective.

Megatron says, "Everyone leave the shuttle! Let the slaves load it."

Starscream transforms and drops Dr. Archeville in this hidden clearing not far from the landing site of the ship. He motions to the human to keep hidden and silent.

Chasm flaps outside and darts into the jungle undergrowth.

Ruse yawns, and stands wandering out and watching Chasm take off, "Where's he off to?"

Tempest steps outside as ordered, looking around.

Something else lurks nearby ... there's a sense of motion, or was it just your imagination ... but suddenly the obedient line of slaves which had been loading energon cubes into the ship, turns and walks back down the ramp with the full cubes.

Tempest seems bothered by something ... and when the slaves start malfunctioning, her optics dart to the jungle and she draws down her swords...

Megatron takes his position beside the loading bay of the shuttle. "We must be ready for launch when Cybertron passes over us. I want the slaves to work faster!"

Tempest says tensely, "Megatron, there's something wrong ... we should get out of here ... leave the energon and get out..."

Starscream mutters to Dr. Archeville, "I'll need a source of energy to take over command of the Decepticons. Perhaps I can drain the faint electric impulses from your feeble brain, and then I'll see about that partnership you proposed."

Chasm explodes out the bushes, leaves swirling everywhere, a wild look in his optics.

Megatron doesn't hear Tempest's warning as he has realized something in the jungle nearby. He quietly walks closer, finding Starscream.

Chasm transmits a message via radio.
A radio transmission is received by Megatron.

Ruse blinks, and tries to stop one of the slaves, "Hey hey hey! You're doing it all wrong! Get back there and fill that ship up!"

Starscream looks up, startled, as Megatron's shadow falls across him.

Tempest's swords are at the ready and then she realizes just in time that it's Chasm. "What?"

Chasm flaps up, "Autobots!" he hisses quietly.

Chasm says, "They're sneaking in..."

At the same moment, the last of the slaves wanders away from the ship as though confused, and Mirage materializes at the top of the ramp, having snuck in invisibly and turned the slaves away to get them out of the firing line.

Tempest gazes at the jungle, seeing nothign but foilage. "Slag..." she whispers. "Instinct was right..." She starts backing up clear of the treeline. "Megatron....?"

Megatron says, "That's mutiny, Starscream!"

Mirage calls out from the entrance of the ship, "You're running out of trusty slaves, Megatron!"

Tempest wheels, firing her lasers at Mirage!

Megatron transmits a message via radio.
A radio transmission is received by Chasm.

Chasm snaps, "He's obviously "busy" with staffing concerns. And to think, you wanted to concetrate on defence, Tempest..."
Chasm fires a weak laser burst at Mirage, rolling back into the undergrowth for cover.

Tempest takes time from her shooting to yell, "My "defence" is to get the slaggin' slot out of here. We can't see 'em, we can't fight 'em!"

Mirage dodges and dives for the nearest undergrowth, just as Prime steps out of the bushes with his gun drawn and says, "Now that the humans are safely out of the way, Decepticons, we can deal with you!"

Ruse turns around and fires as she draws her rifle remebering the voice, "It's that shipwrecker again!"

Megatron says, "And the penalty for mutiny is termination!"

Tempest stands in the doorway of the shuttle, blades drawn, and hisses at the Autobots ... every once in a while her optics dart...

Tempest transmits a message via radio.
A radio transmission is received by Megatron.

Megatron is all ready to fire at Starscream as he notices the trouble going on by the shuttle, running back at once.

Starscream takes advantage of the distraction to snatch up Dr. Archeville, tosses him into his cockpit, and transforms to streak off into the sky.

Tempest is firing at Prime, her swords parallel to the ground so her lasers can aim, and looks relieved to see Megatron.

Megatron says, "Autobots, here?"

Chasm snaps, "They must have tracked us somehow..."

Up above, the looming orb of the planet Cybertron moves into view - is it imagination, or is it much closer now? - and a stormwind kicks up in response to the increased gravitational pull.

Tempest is too busy trying not to get shot while still defending the shuttle door to answer!

Ruse edges back towards the shuttle while cracking wise, "Oh so you want to make a deal? Sorry despite Chasm's protests we only offer destruction to our enemys!"

Prime shouts, "Take them, Autobots!" and swings his weapon toward Megatron.

Megatron says, "Decepticons, attack! Keep them away from the shuttle!"

Chasm eeps as the Autobots fire at him. "I never signed on for this sort of activity..." he bellows, as a laser shot narrowly misses his head. He slips under his holographic cloaking shield and edges around the outsides of the battle.

Tempest says back through gritted teeth, "There's too many of 'em...."

Megatron shoots at the incoming Autobots, to keep them away from the shuttle.

Chasm lets off a few laser bursts at different angles, his own position hard to track because of his manouverability and his cloaking shield.

Tempest says - her instinct overriding her control - "Megatron, we've got to get out of this!"

Ruse acks and begins dodging laserbolts and firing back as best she's able, but she's clipped three times by laserbolts and ends up scrambling for cover. She hisses under her breath, "Maybe I should work on dodging rather then comebacks." She eventually takes to the air and begins firing downward to hopefuly avoid getting shot up.

Megatron says, "Keep fighting!"

Tempest continues to fight like a fury, now going hand to hand with any Autobot that charges the ramp ... knocking them over the sides, or pushing them back, but they keep coming.

Through the stormy sky, a white shape comes into veiw in the shadow of Cybertron. Bright flashes of plasma fire sear from the futuristic plane's weapons and rain down toward the Decepticons, as the form becomes obvious as the unmistakable red and white shape of Skyfire.

Chasm groans, "Skyfire! Now I'm really going to be toast. I knew I should have just slept in today and taken an oil bath instead!"

Tempest raises her head skyward, curses ... and then is creased along the left cheek by a bolt of Autobot fire. She winces, returns her full attention to the fight...

Ruse looks up, and only has time to gasp before she's shot out of the sky and plumets - vanishing in the jungle as she goes down in a plume of smoke.

Skyfire soars overhead and opens an access panel in his side, allowing Wheeljack, Trailbreaker, Bumblebee, and Brawn to drop down to the ground. Wheeljack holds up a small square of metal and circuitry, while the others open fire. "We've brought you a little present, Megatron!" Wheeljack calls as his audials flash. He unleashes a high-pitched signal from the device.

Megatron sets his jaw plates. His plan has to work, no matter the cost. He has only one trial - one chance...

Tempest is tackled off the side of the ramp by Cliffjumper. She manages to drag the other Autobots down with her, leaving the ramp clear, but she's raking out left and right with her swords, unable to concentrate on any one target lest the others overwhelm her.

The humans who still are wandering aimlessly about the area, suddenly snap out of it and into a sudden panic, running off screaming into the forest in all directions.

Prime re-centers his aim on Megatron and strides towards the Decepticon leader. "It's time for you and me to settle things," he proclaims.

Chasm dives off into the undergrowth, searching for Ruse. "Ruse?" he radios. "I normally can't stand to be in the same room you're in, but Soundwave would have it out of my hide if you didn't come back..."

Cybertron edges across the sky, darkening the already faint light further.

Ruse groans into the radio in pain, "Bushes... tree.. humans running." She winces as the radio suddenly cuts off and she goes into stasis as everything fades red then black. After getting hit with plasma she's pretty damaged.

Megatron faces Prime. "You have a bigger problem to deal with, Prime, the Earth and everything on it is about to be destroyed." For some reason, he takes care to be between all others and the shuttle door, as if he tried to keep his own Decepticons away from it as well....

Tempest transforms into her CF-18 Hornet Jet mode.

Tempest, on the verge of being overpowered by the Autobots, transforms and fires her engines, screaming into the sky.

Prime counters, "It's your problem too, Megatron. You're here on this planet just as I am."

Chasm flaps down into a tree and sees Ruse's sprawled body. He picks up her legs in his hindclaws and carefully starts to drag her towards the shuttle.

Megatron answers, "I won't be here. I'm off to Cybertron with enough energon to rule forever!"

Prime takes a tighter grip on his gun and aims for the Decepticon leader as though to prove him wrong.

Tempest tilts in the sky, strafing the Autobot troops ... hoping Megatron can handle Prime if she can only keep the Autobots back....

Saying this, Megatron enters the shuttle and takes off, leaving his troops behind. Why is he deserting his Decepticons?

Tempest abruptly breaks off fire as the shuttle departs. "Chasm ... Ruse? We're out of here!" she calls out, hoping they can hear her.

Chasm takes advantage of the Prime/Megatron showdown and flaps towards the shuttle, about to drag Ruse behind him when Megatron suddenly boards and takes off. "This is getting ugly," he thinks to himself.

Tempest transmits a message via radio.
A radio transmission is received by Chasm.

Even Prime seems somewhat taken aback by the sudden retreat, but he gathers himself quickly and orders his troops, "Fire on the space cruiser! We cannot allow Megatron to escape with that much energon. It will power the Decepticons on Cybertron for years!"

Chasm transmits a message via radio.
A radio transmission is received by Tempest.

Chasm crouches under his hologram, not moving.

Chasm transmits a message via radio.
A radio transmission is received by Tempest.

Tempest looks around. "Okay, I have visual. Will pick you up and ... gah!" She hears Prime's order and returns, trying to distract the Autobots ... but in vain....

Cybertron's gravity shakes the ground and practically drags the oceans inland, as the wind increases to near-hurricane strength.

Ruse is carried, leaking a small amout of fuel... not that it seems to matter at this point as the world will end with them still on it.

Tempest transmits a message via radio.
A radio transmission is received by Chasm.

Tempest struggles to keep flying straight. Her laser shots fizzle out in the gale-force winds.

Megatron clenches his jaw plates. He has to get the shuttle to the place in time...

The combined firepower of the Autobots converges on the spacecraft full of highly volatile energon cubes.

Megatron swallows. Darn Autobots! Not yet.... "No... NO!" He has to make it just a few astroseconds longer

Chasm hmms, "If I can dig a small hole or something..." He fiddles with a few twigs, only to have them sucked away by the wind. He grimaces. "This wasn't how I planned to spend the last day on Earth. In a jungle, without any home comforts, and with her..." He stares at Ruse fitfully. "Maybe I can get her to transform?"

Prime's strategy seems to work, as the focused firepower breaches the ship's hull and ignites the cubes, setting off a chain reaction. For a moment the cruiser is illuminated by a weird pink crackling light - another one of those instants of disaster frozen in time - and then a blinding burst of light explodes outward from the ship like a sun going nova.

Chasm's flash dampers cut in as the huge explosion sears his vision. "No..." he says, his voice trailing off. "What's going to happen now?"

Tempest hangs in the sky, silent, as the starship explodes. There is no cry from the yellow Seeker, no curse, no scream ... just a void of silence....

Tempest takes seconds to snap her mind clear ... and returns to get Ruse and Chasm, landing, opening her canopy for them without a word.

Chasm flaps up and into Tempest, dragging Ruse by his hind claws.

The heat actually sears the tops of the nearby trees to charred crisps, and the shockwave flattens everyone to the ground. As the blinding light fades, only ashes and debris rain from the sky, and Cybertron, incredibly, is moving away.

Tempest is landed when the wave hits. Her ailerons and elevators twist to keep her level as the shockwave buffets her. She is battered by debris, but flyable.

Ruse is dragged...

Chasm drops Ruse on the floor of Tempest's cabit and settles on the seat, peering out. He flicks a glance towards Ruse again, the energon pooling around her head, and then peers out, watching the debris sail past. "Where are we going?"

Tempest fires her engines when the blast is past, "Clear of the area before the Bots wake up and notice us." A pause. "Back to the base ... I guess."

Dr. Archeville and Starscream, meanwhile, are already far away and off somewhere else. Who knows what they're up to?

Tempest's voice is noticeably dull, though her words are coldly logical, lacking any surprise, fear, or anger.

Chasm sighs, and looks down at the scrapes and dints in his armour. "You know, we should get to Cybertron. The gravity well is destroying the surface of this planet, making it hostile for us."

Cybertron is steadily retreating from sight, as the wind dies down to almost stillness.

Tempest says, "Cybertron is gone, Chasm. Not destroyed I don't think ... but blown clear. And I..." Now the emotion comes through... "I don't have damn space flight capability here, the gravity's too strong, I can't get out...."

Chasm nods, "Well, perhaps we could try the space bridge?"

Tempest adds, "Ruse needs repairs. We have to get her back for repairs. Then... My current concern is to drop you two off. You can play with the space bridge if you like, but Primus only knows where Cybertorn is now ... IF it's intact ... IF the bridge doesn't atomize you."

Chasm sighs, "Alright, your initial idea seems the best. Back to the base and then hopefully we can come up with some other plan."

Science and Engineering Deck

Ramjet [robot]
Diktat [robot]
Talon [robot]
Shockwave [Robot]
Obvious exits:
<NW> Gold Shaft leads to Linking Shafts.
<S> South leads to Repair Bay.
<E> East leads to Research Labs.

Ramjet follows along in file, checking his armlasers are ready.

Diktat follows Shockwave, positioning himself nearby to Soundwave. A grim battle smile is fixed on his face.

Shockwave says, "The human and the small Autobots were on their way near here. This is the only way they can gain access to the rest of the base."

Talon looks eager for some action.
Talon says, "This is gonna be too easy."

Ramjet says, "How about the others? Are they still outside?"

Shockwave says, "Affirmative, doubtless still waiting on their friends to return. We can intercept and detain them later."

An alarm sounds in one of the rooms, and Shockwave immediately turns toward it. "Soundwave, take the others and approach from the opposite corridor."

Soundwave draws his weapon now, and looks at Ramjet, Diktat, and Talon, then steps into an adjoining hallway to circle around. It seems he still remembers his way around here fairly well.

Ramjet moves quickly after Soundwave, weapons ready, covering the comunications officer as they advance.

Talon follows Soundwave, his rifle held ready. "Finally some action," he mutters softly.

Techno arrives from Linking Shafts.

Diktat deploys his weapons from his forearm pods, but refrains from charging up the electricity shield. He retracts his cloak into subspace though. That's not something he wishes to have around in a firefight.

From the doorways, Brawn, Bumblebee and Spike can be seen facing Sparkplug, his hand still resting near the alarm button. Spike says sorrowfully, "I'll be back Dad. I'll save you." Bumblebee begins to move, saying, "We've gotta get out of.." then runs straight into Shockwave's knee, falling down hard.

Shockwave steps forward with his cannon arm raised, but mindful not to blast huge holes in his own base. "Destruction to all trespassers!"

Brawn turns away from Shockwave, only to see Soundwave and the others waiting in the opposite direction. He says, "I don't suppose I could interest any of you in a magazine subscription?"

Soundwave steps into position and blocks the other exit, motioning slightly with his weapon to those behind him. "Take them," he says in his echoing monotone.

Ramjet growls, "Subscribe this!" and opens fire the instant he sees the intruders. He's less careful than Shockwave however and is bound to cause some collateral damage.

Talon hears the sound of laser fire and immediately starts blasting away with his own rifle, sending several vollies of plasma bolts towards the Autobots.

Diktat charges up his forearms, casting his face into strong relief of shadow. He steps with Ramjet, acting in support.

Brawn and the others duck under Ramjet's volly, a few of which catch Shockwave. "Watch your crossfire!" he yells.

Brawn draws his weapon and yells to Soundwave, "I don't take so easy." He fires a full power shot right at the much larger Decepticon, catching him in the chest.

Bumblebee and Spike have managed to get behind a pillar in the room, safe from fire in at least one direction.

Soundwave is flung backwards against the wall by the blast, which leaves an ugly scorchmark on the trapdoor in his chest.

Ramjet winces as the friendly fires his commander, his shots strafing up the corridor behind the short Autobots. He ceases fire, and glances back to where Soundwave lands as he's blasted. His optics glow with an angry brightness and he looks back at the perpetrator, "You little punk. Let's see how you take this!"

Diktat veers to the side, breaking Brawn's LOS with Soundwave, firing his electro-pulses, "Sir - you're an unwanted guest. I'm going to have to ask you to leave. In pieces."

Ramjet, heedless of the plasma bolts being fired down the corridor by Talon, charges at Brawn, fists clenched and swinging as he lauches himself, intent on picking on the smaller mechanisms.

Brawn meets Ramjet's charge and somehow manages to flip over his back. He catches a plasma bolt from Talon in the shoulder, but it doesn't appear to do much damage to the thick armor of the Autobot.

Ramjet "Yaaa!"s as he swings at the battle midget and misses as he's vaulted, instead burying his fist into the pillar Bumblebee and Spike hide behind. *Clang*

Shockwave notices Spike attempting to flee and absently tells the other flesh creature, "Stop the human."

Sparkplug jumps in front of the exit and spreads out his hands to block Spike. "No escape," he says in a flat tone.

Suddenly, one wall explodes, sending fragments flying everywhere. From the hole steps Skyfire, his very large rifle laying down cover-fire as Wheeljack and Trailbreaker enter.

Ramjet is a bit close to the exploding wall and goes down amongst the shower of debris.

Diktat is equally badly positioned, and is sent sprawling as a piece of masonry collides with the left side of his helmet.

Soundwave pushes himself past the stun produced by the unfortunate shot from Brawn, and brings up his weapon again, swinging it toward the larger arrivals.

Talon says, "Let me at them!" and lunges at Trailbreaker.

Shockwave fires at the new Bots, not having to worry about anyone on the other side. "You will not interfere!"

Ramjet groans from underneath the section of collapsed-in wall he's partly buried under, Wheeljack standing right on top of it as the Autobots climb in.

Wheeljack transforms, and Spike gets in. Trailbreaker and Wheeljack drive off as Skyfire continues to lay down a barrage of cover fire. Brawn and Bumblebee follow them, leaving only Skyfire. Shockwave transforms into cannon mode and fires a full power blast toward the traitor and says, "You cannot get out!"

At the last moment Skyfire dodges to the side and quickly heads out of the room. "I can now."

Soundwave seeks what cover he can and continues firing after the Autobots, but without much effect.

Diktat shakes his head to try and get his senses back. To recover, he rolls away, spraying lasers in a thin spray towards the breach. In a couple of seconds he's in a position behind fallen masonry, and gaining his sense.

Talon unleashes another barrage of plasma fire.

Ramjet manages to shove the bit of wall off himself as the lancia drives off. He shakes his head to clear the static in it and looks up to see the huge air guardian heading his way. He starts to raise an arm to blast it but a swift kick from the treacherous Skyfire connects under his chin and sends him sprawling.

As he departs, Skyfire launches a missile at the ceiling, which brings down the whole corridor they fled into, effectively making pursuit impossible.

Diktat covers his hands with his head as the explosion echos, smoke and dust wreathing him for a few seconds. He then springs up, spinning to face the now-sealed breach. He swears internally several times, before turning to the commanders, "To the Command Centre?"

Shockwave says, "Blast! Sentinel group, track them. I want troops surrounding the base ready to intercept them at whatever point they emerge."

Soundwave picks himself up again, the motion shaking a stream of dust and powdered metal from his dark armor plate.

Talon says, "That did not go according to plan."

Shockwave nods to Diktat. "We shall observe from there and ensure they do not attempt further infiltration. Soundwave, are you badly damaged?"

Ramjet lays sprawled up against a far wall, a good distance from where he was kicked. He starts to move with a groan from his gears and starts to get up again, slower then before.

Soundwave shakes his head in response to Shockwave's question. "Negative."

Soundwave looks around at the others. "But perhaps others require some repairs. You have perimeter guards that will deal with the invaders, I presume, Shockwave."

Diktat bows and heads towards the exit at pace, not wanting to miss an Autobot trick. This has gone badly enough already.

Shockwave nods, perhaps glad to hear it. "See to Ramjet then."

Diktat enters Linking Shafts <<NW> Gold Shaft>.
Diktat has left.

Soundwave steps over to Ramjet and regards him. "Do you require repairs?"

Ramjet leans against the wall with one hand, his other rubbing his dented and dislocated chin. He tries to reply but no sound comes out. He gives his chin a brutal jerk, popping his jaw module back in with an audible *crunch* ... "Uhg. Negative, he only kicked me in the head so didn't hit anything vital sir."

<Cybertron> Sentinel unit RE-403 reporting, Shockwave. Autobots have eluded us after brief firefight. Location unknown.

Soundwave looks over Ramjet critically for a moment, then nods.

<Cybertron> Shockwave does not sound happy as he replies, "Acknowleged, Sentinel. Continue the search, and make sure you spot them when they leave orbit. Perhaps we can eliminate them at that point.

Ramjet flexes his aching jaw and listens to the radio trafic. "Maybe I should go help them look, commander?"

Shockwave says, "I confess Soundwave, I had almost forgotten the experience of facing competant well-equiped Autobots."

Soundwave nods to Shockwave. "They have obtained supplies and resources quite freely on Earth."

Ramjet says, "Competent my afterburner. They just got lucky. If that big mech hadn't bust in on us we would have had them trapped."

Shockwave says, "No doubt thanks in part to their fleshling pets. Negative Ramjet. It is unlikely we shall locate them, and I do not wish to leave the base itself unprepared."

Talon says, "So we just let them run?"

Ramjet nods at Shockwave, looking somewhat disapointed.

Soundwave looks over toward Ramjet speculatively. "You are eager for combat, air warrior?" he questions.

Shockwave says, "For the moment Talon. For now, we shall head back to the Command Center."

Shockwave enters Linking Shafts <<NW> Gold Shaft>.
Shockwave has left.

Soundwave stays behind for a moment, regarding Ramjet thoughtfully.

Ramjet uhohs and stands up straighter as he's adressed directly. "Of course... All good warriors should be, right?" He looks somewhat nervous incase this is a kind of test, after all he did foul up and let them escape.

Talon snickers softly.

Soundwave seems merely curious. "What is your name, air warrior?"

Ramjet salutes, "Ramjet, sir. Jetwarrior advanced Prototype class."

Soundwave nods, and looks him over in silence. It's impossible to tell whether his expression is approving or disapproving or anything else.

Ramjet says, "If that's all I'd better join the perimeter guards. Unless you want this debris cleared?"

Techno hmms, looking around. "You people sure like to make a mess. I keep saying we shouldn't have house guests..."

Soundwave merely nods to Ramjet. "See that this area is properly repaired." Whatever mental notes he's made, he keeps to himself.

Soundwave turns away to seek out Shockwave in the command center.

Ramjet salutes again and gets to work, "Right." Oh well, heavy lifting is better than smelter cleaning duties.

Talon says, "Can you handle it or should I stay to assist, Ramjet?"

<Cybertron> Alarm sensors all over Cybertron pick up a massive wave of energy from what seems to be an explosion between Earth and Cybertron.

You enter Linking Shafts.

You enter Administration Deck.

You enter Command Center.

Shockwave [Robot]
Diktat [robot]

Shockwave says, "It is doubtful we shall locate them. The Autobots have had a great deal of experience in..."

Shockwave trails off as the alarms sound.

Diktat looks up hopefully, then turns his optics back to the monitors.

Soundwave arrives in the command center just as the planet under him seems to lurch forward. He catches himself against the doorframe.

A bare moment after the alarm sounds, Shockwave is thrown backwards.

Diktat's head bumps against the monitor as he's leaning so close. It hasn't been a good day for Diktat-head-collisions.

<Cybertron> All over the planet Cybertron, a massive shockwave is felt from the explosion. Those on the Polyhex side of the planet will be thrown roughly sideways as the planet moves.

Soundwave hangs on tightly and struggles against the g-forces as the whole planet is put into motion. He tries to make it toward the computer.

Diktat slides along the desk, twisting in tight circles. He reaches out his arms, trying to grab hold of something.

<Cybertron> As the planet continues to acellerate, the inhabitants have to fight the G-forces pulling at them.

Shockwave is pinned against a wall with no way to regain his footing. "Soundwave, can you reach the computer and report on our orbit?"

Diktat hits the wall, spreading his arms wide to secure himself on it. He speaks, voice sharp and strong despite the situation, "What's... happening?"

Soundwave likewise is pinned against the wall, but at the first opportunity ejects a cassette from his tape compartment which is projected forward and strikes the computer console. Transforming almost instantly, it clutches onto the console with a single articulated claw, a non-sentient probe.

<Cybertron> Finally, the energon explosion exhausts itself, and the high-velocity plasma stops impacting Cybertron. As it stops, the planet stops accelerating. It is still moving, but at a constant speed.

Diktat manages to peel himself off the wall as the G-force slows.

The auto-probe hits a control on the keyboard and brings up a view of Earth in the distance, steadily decreasing in size on the screen.

Soundwave steps over quickly to send the probe back into his tape compartment in response to a single mental command. He studies the screen intently.

<Cybertron> Shockwave says, "Decepticons, conduct damage assessment. I want reports from the side of the planet facing the explosion."

Soundwave's fingers dart across one of the consoles as he scans for a particular energy reading. "Too much interference," he decides finally, the tone of his voice neutral.

Talon arrives from Administration Deck.

Diktat frowns, walking over to a terminal, pressing a quick series of keys.

Shockwave hurries to a computer station and runs a series of fast orbitable calculations. He nods, relieved. "Our current trajectory will not lead us to impact any of the large bodies of this system."

Diktat nods at Shockwave's results. He's spent enough times plotting space-trajectories to be good at this sort of thing, "And now back into deep-space..."

Shockwave glances at Diktat. "It will still take millions of years at this speed to reach the half-way point between this star and the next nearest."

Soundwave turns to Shockwave. "It would be best if I find some way of returning to Earth," he says, with only the faintest trace of an undertone of insistency to his voice. "I can only imagine what will become of the others without Megatron."

Diktat turns away from the screen, to Shockwave "Obviously, sir. But we're back to being alone." A frown, "As the Earth brothers will be without our Leige."

Soundwave glances from Diktat to Shockwave. It seems he knows more about this matter than he's telling.

Shockwave turns to Soundwave, his optic dimming. "He was aboard the ship then?"

Soundwave nods, his expression remaining unreadable even to one who knows him. "That was his plan. Cybertron's orbit was decaying, it would have collided with Earth on its next pass, destroying not only Earth but Cybertron as well. He knew he would have to unleash an explosion of sufficient force to shake it loose at the critical moment."

Diktat listens carefully.

Talon says, "We gotta find him!" in a fierce tone. "We gotta!"

Soundwave says, "And he was of course convinced that he was the only one capable of withstanding such a blast in order to pilot the ship to the right distance."

Shockwave can't quite keep the emotion out of his voice as he replies, "Could he not have detonated it by remote and gotten clear?"

Soundwave shakes his head. "It was necessary to make last-minute adjustments to the ship's trajectory."

Soundwave says, "Cybertron's exact path, as an artificial orbit, was too unpredictable to know in advance."

Diktat has a little cold shape in his core at these words. The sheer intenseness of his gaze probably gives a little away of what he's feeling.

Shockwave's optic fades and then glitters, expressing some feeling. He keeps just what to himself however as he says to Soundwave, his voice not quite under control, "Then I shall see to your transport back to Earth."
Shockwave gestures to the door, and then says to the troops in the room as he departs, "I want the area of the explosion searched until every atom of that ship is accounted for."

Soundwave regards the starfield on the sceen for another long moment as though hoping to see something there beyond the dwindling view of Earth. Then he looks up and nods to Shockwave. "It must be remembered," he adds almost as an afterthought, "that Megatron may have been entirely correct. He was the only one capable of withstanding the blast. It would be a mistake to make premature assumptions." The tone of his words, however, remains neutral as though not daring to come right out and give encouragement.

Diktat pauses, "Sirs - what do you wish to inform the troops in the Grinder upon this occasion? Do you wish the full gravitas of the situation to be imparted? Or do you wish a simple "Megatron is missing" announcement until the Great Leige's fate is discovered..."

The sentries in the room scramble to obey, and begin issuing search orders over the radio.

Shockwave turns to Soundwave, waiting to hear what he thinks.

Soundwave pauses on his way out the door. "'Missing' should be entirely sufficient, I would think. The danger will be in the interpretation that others draw from that statement."

Diktat bows, "Your will is my action, Sirs."

Shockwave nods in agreement and also heads toward the door.

You enter Administration Deck.

Shockwave arrives from Command Center.

Shockwave speaks to Soundwave as they hurry toward a transport to carry him back to Earth. He's careful to speak low enough not to be overheard, and the sentries and troops are too busy to notice at any rate. "Soundwave, I have never considered myself a compelling command figure. Still, if Starscream has not changed since last I knew him, perhaps it would be best if I traveled to Earth as well and assumed command."

Soundwave glances aside at Shockwave as they walk. "Starscream has not changed," he acknowledges. "However, I believe your presence will be more vital here on Cybertron. Once the news of Megatron's disappearance becomes known, you could easily have problems from some of the warlords."

Shockwave thinks this over for a moment. "It hardly seems logical for any Decepticon to cause disruption at this point. But you are quite likely correct."

Soundwave says, "Perhaps they would not view it as a disruption, but as an opportunity, or even an obligation."

Shockwave's optic flashes a bit and he replies, "The speed at which some are willing to climb over the still-warm body of another to possess his position is perhaps the one part of our heritage I am uncomfortable with." He falls silent after saying this, and a telepath might perhaps notice a sense that he feels he's said too much.

Soundwave tilts his head slighty to give Shockwave another sideways glance as they continue. "There have been problems on Cybertron?" he asks?

Around the swiftly walking pair, sentry guards and troops are busy cleaning up the damage and cataloging the collection of miscellanous parts and pieces that litter the main walkways.

Shockwave says, "From time to time. Perhaps it's my own error, but I maintain there is a time and place for earning advancement and a time to unite for the common good."

Soundwave nods and says, "I would tend to agree, Shockwave."

Shockwave stops as Soundwave and he reach their destination. He extends a hand to the blue Decepticon and says, "Good fortune to you Soundwave. If he is out there to be found, we shall find him."

Soundwave accepts the hand and nods to Shockwave. "I have known Megatron to survive impossible odds many times," he says - the closest he will get to offering outright encouragement, so as not to encourage false hope. His own more personal doubts, he keeps carefully to himself.

Shockwave nods once, perhaps catching that meaning.

Soundwave climbs into the small ship and begins powering up the engine.

Shockwave salutes Soundwave as he departs, then turns toward the various sentries also preparing to depart and search the surrounding area of space.