Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

All Autobot forces were now out of human space. President Shale frowned and wished that some deal could have been made, a deal which would have benefitted him. Instead, two weeks later, people were still celebrating the Confederation's independence, but Shale and others in the government knew that soon uneasiness would set in. "Sir, Ms. Hoover is here to see you," his secretary informed Shale over the intercom.

"Send her in," Shale replied, sighing. Just what he needed, a liberal whacko who probably imagined herself taking over the universe someday. Hoover entered quickly and Shale couldn't help but notice that the short skirt of her blue business suit emphasized her shapely legs. Shale got up and greeted her, taking his eyes from her legs. "Welcome, Ms. Hoover. What can I do for you?"

Shale sat down and lit up a cigar, hoping that it would help keep those legs out of his mind. "Mr. President, I know that the evacuation of the Autobot forces has left a rather big gap in our defenses, but I applaud your standing up to their tyranny and putting Earth first."

"Thank‑you. I'm sure there was some other reason that you came here to meet with me in person." Shale blew a cloud of smoke from the cigar, and noticed Hoover flinch. Good, he thought. He was just as good at intimidation as she was.

"Of course, Mr. President. I have recently backed a project by Koromi Motors to create a weapons system to give us the power to defend ourselves on the ground." Hoover stood and Shale blew another cloud of smoke to obscure those legs that were trying to draw his attention from the matter at hand. Hoover pulled a portable holoprojector from her pocket and put it on the floor. It activated and displayed an image of the Barracuda and Executioner. "These are called Advanced Tactical Weapon Vehicles or ATWVs for short. Are you aware of the work of Dr. Simon James?"

"He worked with the Autobots to develop the hyperpulse laser if I'm not mistaken," Shale replied. Shale had been part of the Confederation committee that had sponsored James's work during the war.

"Yes. Dr. James designed these for Koromi Motors and I provided the funding to get the project off the ground. In simulations these ATWVs have done extremely well, but we haven't had any chance to test them on live targets quite yet." Hoover laughed to make sure that Shale believed her lie. "These weapons are the future of the Confederated Army and will provide us with the firepower to stand up to a Decepticon or rogue Autobot attack."

"I don't control military spending, Ms. Hoover," Shale pointed out.

"I am aware of that. However, you are the commander‑in‑chief and I know that someone like you has a lot of power in the legislature."

Shale ignored her flattery, but he knew that she was right. There were a lot of people in the legislature who owed him a favor or two. "Your point?" He asked, blowing a cloud of smoke her way.

"The Confederated Army budget will include an order for two divisions of these ATWVs. I want to make sure that the budget passes. Will you help me?"

Shale looked at her and considered his options. These machines could hold the key for salvation when the euphoria died down and people started getting scared about not having robotic Big Brother around. Still, they were untested, and no matter how brilliant James was there were bound to be flaws. "I'll need a demonstration of the capabilities of these things."

"Good, I'll set something up with your secretary." Hooever deactivated the holoprojector and put it back in her pocket. "Thank‑you, Mr. President."

"And you, Ms. Hoover." Hoover left without anything else and Shale was left to wonder what kind of demonstration she had in mind.

***

In a crater on the dark side of the moon, lights came on in the side of the crater. Built into the side of the crate was the factory Koromi's architects had designed. Koromi, James, and Marshall sat in Koromi's office which provided a spectacular view of space. "Nice office," James commented and scooped up some raisins from the ever‑present bowl on Koromi's desk.

"Yes, for two weeks of construction, the engineers did a terrific job," Koromi replied.

"Is the assembly line ready?" Marshall asked.

"In two days we will be ready to begin. The first of these new things should be ready in a month. What did you call them again, Simon?"

"Omnicraft."

"Yes, we'll have a squadron of Omnicraft in a little over a month."

"Let me know when the first one is ready, I want to fly it," James said.

"I didn't know you were a pilot."

"I flew missions in F‑27s during the war, before I started into science. Remember the Yamato?"

"The carrier destroyed near Valhalla that covered the Third Fleet's retreat?" Marshall responded.

"I was on it for that mission. The rest of my squadron was destroyed. That's why I got into science, because there I could help make it so other pilots wouldn't lose their lives. I want to take the first Omnicraft up. We'll have to give them a better, more military handle, after a bird or something."

Marshall had never known that about James's past and was herself going to suggest a more suitable name for the fighters. "We'll have to think about that some time. I got word from Command that their budget will call for two divisions of Barracudas and Executioners. Looks like you were right about the lid getting blown off."

"Two divisions?" Koromi asked in disbelief. Before anyone could respond, Marshall's pocket computer beeped. She opened it and saw that someone on Earth had sent her a message. Her eyes went wide as she read it.

"Turn on CBN. Hoover's giving a demonstration of the machines live on the network."

James sighed and finished his raisins. "I knew it." Koromi activated the holoprojector in the room and tuned it to the proper station.

The cameras showed a large, tropical forest near a bunch of South American pyramids. Standing beside the pyramids were a Barracuda and an Executioner. "We're coming to you live from the rainforest for the first ever demonstration of the Advanced Tactical Weapon Vehicles..."

"Stupid name," James snorted and the other two waved him to be silent.

"A drone programmed to act like Decepticons during the occupation has been unleashed into the forest. The two ATWVs will hunt down and destroy the drone, maybe. What you are seeing is the first real combat these machines have ever seen."

A flare went up and the demonstration began. The Barracuda loped off into the forest and the view switched to a first‑person view from the cockpit of the machine. Using its infrared sensors, the Barracuda soon detected the drone, which was creeping through the woods. The drone was tall with thin limbs and painted an olive drab, and nearly impossible to see in the rainforest. The Barracuda sent a signal to the Executioner, which maneuvered to catch the drone.

The Barracuda swept in behind the drone and caught it on the edge of the forest. A rack of missiles unfolded from its side and the Barracuda fired. The missiles scorched the drone, but didn't destroy it. Instead, the drone fired the laser in its right arm, scorching the armor of the Barracuda. The Barracuda dropped back just as missiles, plasma cannon rounds, and ultrapulse laser bursts tore into the back of the drone and sent it crashing to the ground. The drone struggled to get up, but the Executioner stood over it and blasted its head with a plasma cannon. The drone's head exploded and it died, ending the test.

Koromi turned the holoprojector off and Marshall sighed, "Cat's out of the bag. Let's hope the public likes those things or we'll all be in trouble."

"One Omnicraft would have taken out all three of them," James said confidently, taking another handful of raisins. "I'm sure the public will be impressed with that display. Hoover knows what she's doing. That drone was not as much of an adversary as it could have been. Hoover knew that it would have taken out the Barracuda otherwise."

"So she rigged this whole thing?" Koromi asked.

"Of course. Decepticons don't usually creep through the brush. A real Decepticon would have taken out both units while they were standing by the pyramids. The Decepticons were never good at subtlety."

Ambush watched the test that was taking place near his base and laughed hoarsely. That was not a fair test, he thought. He had half a mind to activate his stealth armor and go out there and blow both machines away. At least now he had an idea what those walking tanks were for.

He remembered the details from the raids on Hreda Prime, the science station, and Wayward and knew now who the mysterious attackers were. The humans had killed four Autobots in cold blood to test their new toys. The manner in which the drone had been killed, the descriptions of the attackers on Wayward, and the firepower the machines possessed all told him that. The question was what to do about it.

He could easily blow the factory to pieces, but that would be foolish. The humans would need those machines to defend off an attack. He couldn't get word to Kup or anyone else on Cybertron to report his findings. In short, there was little he could do. At least the odds were better that Earth would survive an attack from Decepticons or rogue Autobots.

***

"Check out that girl," Sideswipe commented to his brother, Sunstreaker. While not biologically brothers, the twins had been created at the same time.

"I'd like to see the babe inside the shell," Sunstreaker added. The brothers were guards at the Cyberhex Penal Facility, a dull, tedious assignment. Decepticon prisoners didn't get visitors, so no one except the occasional maintenance team came. Who were the two female Pretenders that were coming?

The one that Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were gawking at was young and gorgeous, a humanoid female with a purple and turquoise spacesuit that highlighted her curves. Next to her was another female in gray and black who seemed older and much sterner, not the kind the fun‑loving Autobots were interested in. The two females came up to the gate and Sideswipe shoved his brother aside to greet them.

"Hello ladies, what brings you to the Cyberhex Penal Facility?"

"Computer upgrade," Omitron replied evenly, playing her part out to the letter.

"You got some ID?"

Omitron produced a computer pad while Nighthawk remained a step back and stared at the two Autobots, trying to appear interested in them. Sunstreaker looked like he was ready to burst and Sideswipe barely glanced at the forged ID.

"Sorry, Scarlet and Stormshadow, but I got to run a scan before I let you in." Sunstreaker stepped forward with the equipment and ran scans on both females. Omitron had equipped both shells with special transmitters that would fool the Autobot scanners without them knowing it. Thus both Autobots checked out. The brothers waved them through, but stopped Nighthawk for a moment.

"So, why do they call you Scarlet?" Sunstreaker asked.

"I guess you'll have to look under my shell some time," Nighthawk replied coyly. She tossed them a wink and then followed Omitron inside. Once she was gone she shuddered. "Was that necessary?" She asked Omitron.

"Of course. Those two have nothing but interfacing on their mind. It will keep them distracted." Once through the main gate it was easy to get through subsequent checkpoints with their fake IDs and rigged scans. Nighthawk had to admit that security was pretty lax at the Penal Facility. They were allowed into the control room and Omitron accessed the computers. She downloaded a virus and then emerged from her shell, fusion cannon ready. At full size she could accomodate the cannon and didn't dare leave it with Bugly and the others. There were two technicians on duty and she destroyed both of them in one shot.

The virus was time delayed and as Omitron and Nighthawk left the control room, it activated. Instantly all systems shut down, including back‑up systems. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker noticed their terminals go down and knew trouble was brewing. "Go get help," Sunstreaker told Sideswipe. Sideswipe nodded and once outside he activated his jetpack to fly and get some help. Sunstreaker grabbed his rifle and headed into the complex to find out what was going on.

Guards took up positions around the two rooms containing the sparks. A corridor separated the two and the dozen guards posted to the Penal Facility were waiting in the corridor, shoulder‑to‑shoulder, for the enemy to arrive. Omitron didn't disappoint them, striding into the corridor with her weapon at ready. Nighthawk was still in her shell and stood just off to the side. The guards saw the look of innocence on the young Pretender's face and wondered how she had gotten mixed up in all of this.

"You there, surrender immediately!" Firebolt, the leader of the guards shouted. Firebolt was a large red and orange Autobot who could become a Cybertronian tank. The cannon was in a pod along his right arm and ready for trouble.

Omitron responded by firing a blast from her fusion cannon that hit the Autobot to the left of Firebolt in the chest. Firebolt noticed that his comrade was instantly killed, a large portion of his chest vaporized. "Return fire!" Firebolt shouted.

Omitron laughed as the Autobots opened fire, her bioarmor soaking up the shots. She took the Autobots one at a time, holing them with her fusion cannon. Firebolt was hit in the chest, but his armor barely protected him. He dropped to the deck, but was able to train his rifle on Omitron's head. He fired and watched in horror as she leapt into the air and flipped over his body to land behind him. She grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off of the ground.

She set him on his feet and he shakily regained his balance. She easily knocked the rifle from his hand and before he could throw a punch she jumped up a few inches and sent her left foot crashing into his face. The force of the blow sent his head careening down the corridor, where she vaporized it with her fusion cannon. With a light touch she sent Firebolt's corpse crashing down to the deck. "Enough play," Omitron said. "Time to get to work." Nighthawk nodded and they set about their task.

The sparks were held in large drawers inside of two circular rooms. Omitron took one and Nighthawk the other. The stasis fields had deactivated around all of the sparks and so all the Decepticons had to do was scoop them up and place them inside of their shells, which had been rigged with stasis field generators. Both shells had turned into cargo containers and it was an easy fit for all twenty sparks. In less than ten minutes all of the sparks were loaded and ready to be carried out.

Nighthawk stepped out of the room and a shot whizzed past her. "Hold it right there, Scarlet," Sunstreaker hissed, his rifle trained on her. He stepped forward noticed the pieces of five guards lying all over the corridor. Omitron had taken all of them out as though they were nothing at all. Sunstreaker was about to grab Nighthawk's weapon when Omitron's fusion cannon erupted and the Autobot was hit in the right arm. He went down and Nighthawk stood over him, weapon trained on his head.

"I'm sorry, Romeo, but we can't let you live," she said sadly. She pulled the trigger and Sunstreaker's head exploded. Nighthawk could see the look of surprise and horror on his face as she had fired, but ignored it for now.

The Decepticons hurried outside and transformed. Sideswipe and reinforcements were on the way from a nearby garrison. The two fighters, laden with the cargo of sparks, took off into the dark sky. It was easy to slip around the orbital defenses, which were searching for two female Pretenders and not noticing the bogus codes Omitron transmitted. They casually made their getaway, silent as they cruised through space. Nighthawk had killed her first Autobot and Omitron knew better than to speak to her about it.

Sideswipe pulled the body of his brother close and cried. They had been stupid to be taken in by little play the female Pretenders had staged in their honor. Never had the war hit so close to home for Sideswipe. He vowed that whoever had killed his brother would pay and pay dearly. Then he headed for Iacon to report to Command and request a change of assignments.

***

The Discovery returned to find all of Cybertron on alert. No one even recognized that Optimus Prime had returned until he had landed. Optimus transformed and headed for the government center. He arrived to find Jazz, Prowl, and a host of officers scurrying about. "How could this happen?" Prowl snapped at no one in particular. He turned and saw Optimus in the doorway. "Optimus!"

All activity in the room stopped and Prowl shook Optimus's hand. "I thought you had retired and left Cybertron?" Jazz asked in astonishment.

"I had," Optimus replied. "I was intercepted by Decepticons, my security escort bought my freedom with her life."

"I'm sorry," Jazz said slowly. "We've got a situation here. Decepticons broke into the Cyberhex Penal Facility and made off with all of the sparks."

"By Primus," Optimus whispered. "Thunderwing, Skullgrin, all of the worst Decepticon criminals that survived could be reactivated."

"It gets worse. The colony on Tehendra was looted by Decepticons. They got all the sparks there too. Sunstreaker and the rest of the guards were killed in the Cyberhex raid and Hosehead and Guzzle on Tehendra. We got a positive ID on the Tehendra raiders as Misfire, Dreadwind, Dirge, and a Sweep. We're looking for them now, but there's no sign of them."

"Have the humans helped with the search?"

"The humans and I aren't exactly as cozy as we used to be. They refuse to leave their side of the border," Jazz replied sadly.

Optimus shook his head. "It's obvious that we're dealing with a renewed Decepticon army. They must have a new leader, otherwise they could never have coordinated those raids. Where's Jetfire?"

Prowl sighed. "Jetfire's resigned. Silverbolt is in temporary command of the Raptors."

"You should have them lead the ship. The Striking Eagle's sensors are superior to all of the other ships."

"I've already ordered that."

"I'm sorry, Prowl. I don't mean to intrude on you and Jazz."

"It's all right, Optimus. I welcome your opinions, it makes me feel better just having you around."

An officer ran in, looking grave. "We've tested the bodies of the Cyberhex raid. Definite evidence of fusion burns. No signs of an explosion, though."

"By the Matrix, a fusion cannon." Optimus surmised.

"Megatron's dead, no one else had a fusion cannon or could build one."

"Someone has. This is getting worse all the time." Optimus felt guilt run through him. Things had fallen apart while he had been selfishly amusing himself. What a fool he had been to think that the war was over. "Those Decepticons are going to have to build new bodies for those sparks. All factories and mines should increase their defenses."

"Optimus, I want you to take command," Jazz said quietly.

"Jazz, I couldn't."

"Optimus, we're dealing with a major Decepticon threat, you're the only one with the experience to handle this."

Optimus looked at Jazz and then nodded. "All right, but only temporarily. Prowl, assemble all senior staff immediately for a briefing. We need to restore some order to this situation."

Ten minutes later everyone was assembled in the conference room. Prowl updated Optimus on the current layout of the Autobot Army and then Kup told him about the security forces deployed in Cybertronian territory. Optimus rubbed his faceplate in thought. He stopped and said, "Have an auditing team head for the Decepticon colonies and determine if they have been hiding ores. It's possible the Decepticons may already have the materials to build bodies for those sparks."

"They still won't have the machinery for that," Kup replied.

"Triple security on any factory they could use. Have Silverbolt head along the vector my ship took and scan for those Decepticons, their base is probably nearby."

"Anything else?"

"Blaster, make sure every outpost and colony knows about this and to keep an eye out for those raiders. I want them stopped at all costs."

The meeting broke up and Optimus wondered if he was doing the right thing. He noticed that Jazz and Prowl had remained. "Optimus, the candidates for the elections will be announced tonight in the Great Hall. We...we want to nominate you," Jazz said.

Optimus shook his head. "No, Jazz. I am still convinced of what I said before. The war may not be completely over, but it's time for a new leader to finish things."

"There is no one that could replace you, Optimus," Prowl replied.

Optimus sighed and replied, "No, there is someone."

***

The Great Hall of Iacon was a large ballroom‑looking affair with pillars and large chandeliers. Despite the chaos going on, Optimus had decreed that the election process should continue as scheduled. Jazz and Prowl stood in the front of the small crowd. Kup came over to them and growled, "He's not here and nobody's seen him."

"Optimus said he'd be here and Optimus doesn't break his word," Jazz replied softly.

"What do you think he's doing?" Prowl asked.

"Thinking about the future."

An ancient Autobot named Dextrum stepped up onto the small platform in the center of the room. He pounded his fist onto the podium and shouted, "Let the nominations begin!"

Kup nominated Jazz and Jazz nominated Prowl. For a moment no one else was nominated, and then a Decepticon entered the room. He was black and silver with orange eyes. Flanking him were two other Decepticons. One of them called out, "I nominate Darkstar for president!" There was a quavering in his voice that showed that the Decepticon had been drinking.

Kup whispered to Jazz and Prowl, "Darkstar is the leader of a Decepticon street gang in Thorous. We've tried to arrest them, but they're too slick, they don't leave us with enough evidence. A typical punk, he doesn't have a chance against you guys. His friends probably put him up to it."

"Great, we've got nothing to fear," Prowl murmured sarcastically. He had had more than his fill of leadership for one lifetime.

"Are there any other nominations?" Dextrum demanded in his scratchy voice.

"Yes," a voice boomed. Optimus Prime strode into the room and Prowl and Jazz felt their circuits race. "I nominate Hot Rod for leader."

There were shocked whisperings all around the room and Hot Rod entered the room. Dextrum seemed about ready to die then and there from shock and asked shakily, "Optimus, are you certain?"

"Hot Rod was wrong to lead the rogues during the civil war, but he was under the influence of a virus, which has left him. His past actions to not tarnish the fact that he is a leader and was an Autobot hero. He will be the one to lead the Autobots into the future."

Dextrum nodded. "Very well, then. Are there any other nominations?" No one else spoke and Dextrum slapped the podium. "Then let it be known that Jazz, Prowl, Darkstar, and Hot Rod are the nominees for president of the United Cybertronian Government. Nominations are now closed."

The assembled Transformers began milling about, conversing, snacking, and drinking. Optimus left without a word, wondering if he had made the right choice. It was not his choice, but that of the Matrix. He had travelled to where he had hidden it deep inside Cybertron and consulted with it. Hot Rod is the future leader of the Autobots, he will lead them to victory. Optimus just hoped that he and the Matrix were right.

***

Jetfire was sitting in his apartment, waiting for the crisis to die down so he could talk to Kup. The door chime sounded and he was shocked when Optimus Prime stood at the door. Jetfire let Optimus in and right away he could see the grave look in Optimus's eyes. Optimus sat down and there was silence as Jetfire sat down across from him.

Optimus finally spoke. "Kup assigned Nighthawk to me as an escort. We were jumped by Decepticons. Four fighters were trying to box us in and delay us so a frigate could attack. Nighthawk made me take get the ship out of there while she intercepted the fighters and kept them away. I hate to say it, but...your daughter is most likely dead."

Optimus could see how surprised Jetfire looked and added, "Yes, I know she is your daughter. You did not tell me that when you told me about your...project, but I have seen her fight. She has your skill in the air, and your courage as well. She fought bravely, like the warrior she was."

Jetfire got to his feet, anger rushing through him. "No! She can't be dead. I was going to find her and tell her. We were going to be together at last." Sadness brought Jetfire to his knees and tears came to his eye. Optimus knelt down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"She will learn the truth at last, when her spark has rejoined with the Matrix. Let her memory live inside of you and you will be together forever."

"Where did she die?" Jetfire asked, trying to keep the rage and sadness from his voice.

"In an unexplored part of space. I will provide the coordinates for you."

"Thank‑you."

Optimus was about to say more, but his comlink activated with Kup's voice saying, "Optimus, we've got trouble in Cyberhex."

"Have the Decepticons returned?"

"Worse. Hot Rod's inciting a riot."

"I'll be right there." Optimus deactivated the comlink and stood up. "Jetfire, would it be possible for you to fly me to Cyberhex? I need to get there as soon as possible."

Jetfire nodded wearily. "Of course, Optimus." Soon they were streaking towards Cyberhex and Optimus wondered about his choice once again.

Hot Rod stood at the gates of the devastated prison, a throng of Autobots around him. He scanned the crowd and could see the anger and fear on their faces from the raid. "See this devastation? See this destruction? This is the work of the Decepticons, who have renewed their war against us! What have our leaders done? Nothing! They sit in their offices in Iacon and do nothing for us while Decepticons kill innocent Autobots once more."

"These same leaders pulled Autobot forces out of human territory, leaving Earth ripe for Decepticon conquest. Our leaders have failed us, as Optimus Prime has said, it is time for new leadership. Elect me as your president and I will hunt down the Decepticons and renew peaceful relations with Earth."

Someone snorted, "That's all well and good, but what about the rogue Autobots that you incited in the first place? They nearly killed the human president and raided Wayward."

"I was the leader of the rogues long ago, but it was because of a Decepticon virus, a virus that is gone and has only left me stronger. I am more determined than ever to rid this universe of every Decepticon. I will find the rogues as well and if they will not see reason they will be executed for their crimes. The time has come for us to enter a new age of peace, and to that we must rid the universe of our enemies! The war will not end until all vestiges of tyranny are smashed and all evil erased. Our work did not end at Centauri, it began at Centauri!"

The gathered Autobots, and even a few neutrals and Decepticons, cheered. The cheering was drowned out moments later as a white and red jet streaked by. Something dropped out of it and Optimus Prime landed on his feet, fire in his eyes. The crowd was silenced and Hot Rod wondered what he should do. He couldn't ridicule or attack Optimus, because the veteran warrior was too respected. Nor could he apologize without looking weak. "Hot Rod, this has gone far enough. This is not the time for campaigning, it is the time for mourning for our comrades lost. We will find those at fault and punish them, but until then return to your homes. Provide the security forces with whatever help you can. Together we can find the perpetrators and bring them to justice."

Before Hot Rod could speak, the crowd dispersed. Jetfire landed and without a word, Hot Rod turned and left, tires squealing and engine roaring. Kup, Jazz, and Prowl arrived in a shuttle, looking satisfied that everything was in order. "Thank‑you, Optimus," Prowl said.

"Sometimes I think Cybertron would fall apart without me," Optimus growled.

"We were discussing a few things on the way here," Jazz began. "We want you to lead a fleet to find the Decepticons. I've already assigned the Raptors to the mission and a handful of cruisers. As soon as possible, we'd like you to take the fleet to where you were intercepted to look for clues."

Optimus knew that the three Autobots had monitored Hot Rod's speech and were trying to sabotage Hot Rod's platform by getting the Decepticons first. Still, he had to do whatever he could to help. "All right."

Kup looked over at Jetfire and asked, "Jetfire, would it be possible for you to retake command of the Raptors? We could use your help on this one."

Jetfire wasn't listening, he was inside the guard station, playing back the record of the visitors who had entered before the attack. He didn't recognize either one, but something about the purple and teal‑clad one caught his eye. She turned towards Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, facing the camera. Jetfire stopped the tape and looked into the girl's eyes. Her humanoid face was young and beautiful, but there was something in her eyes, a soulfulness that betrayed the youth of her face. Kup tapped him on the shoulder, trying to get his attention. Jetfire turned off the tape and whirled around.

Without a word he shoved Kup aside and ran. Once he was a few feet away he transformed, his rocket boosters scorching the ground. He was into the air in a flash and disappeared from sight seconds later. "Kup, to Orbital Control..."

"Let him go," Optimus whispered. "There are many things troubling Jetfire, things that only he can sort out."

Kup deactivated his comlink with a nod. "What's he doing?"

Optimus stared up at the sky and replied, "Trying to find a piece of himself that he lost."

***

"Autobot ship is appearing on our sensors!" Scrapper called out.

"Where?" Bugly demanded.

"In orbit. It appeared from nowhere."

"Invaders!" Onslaught shouted. "We must get to the frigate and stop them!"

"No, they are on our side. These are rogue Autobots. Send them the coordinates of the hangar," Bugly replied. Omitron had told him to expect the rogues with a cloaked ship. Once again she had been right.

Twenty minutes later Ultra Magnus, Repugnus, and two other rogues landed in a shuttle. Bugly, Scapper, and Onslaught met them, weapons ready for trouble. "Greetings, I am Bugly, acting commander while our leader, Omitron, is away on business."

"Raiding Cybertron for sparks, yes, we heard about it already," Ultra Magnus replied. "Banzai‑Tron sent us here with a load of ore that he said would be of use. We have come to join you."

"I see. Autobot ships will undoubtedly be looking for us, so we will have to hide both of our ships. On the second moon there is an area of volcanic activity. Land your ship in a crater nearby, where there's a large, empty cavern carved by the lava. Your ship will be safe in there, as will ours."

Repugnus relayed the message to the ship and Bugly activated the autopilot, which he had programmed already. "Let me show you inside and we will let you repair yourselves in our restoration tank."

Magnus looked skeptically at the tank in the tree fortess and Repugnus volunteered to check it out. Bugly explained the basics of it to the two Autobots and Repugnus deactivated himself as he climbed in. The ooze covered him and minutes later Repugnus emerged, his armor gleaming like it was new. His eyes lit up and he climbed from the tank.

"It feels great," he said. The corrosion wearing at my joints is gone, I feel like a new 'bot." Bugly was grateful that the restoration tank did not repair the virus implanted within the sparks of the rogue Autobots. Ultra Magnus decided to take a dip and soon he was as good as new, his dented, dirty frame looking brand new.

"Amazing," he commented. "Can I have the rest of my unit use this? We are all damaged to some extent from our long journey."

"Of course," Bugly replied. He knew that now he had the rogue Autobots right where he wanted them. "First, I will need your engineers to give us the specs for that cloaking device."

Ultra Magnus rubbed his chin in thought. The cloaking device for use of the restoration tank? "Deal," he said. The ship soon sent the specifications to the computers inside the base and Bugly ordered Scrapper to begin working on installing such a device inside the frigate. If Omitron's revised plan was to succeed, both ships would have to be equipped with cloaking devices.

Bugly showed Ultra Magnus as much of the base as Omitron had instructed him to and then left the rogue Autobot to supervise his team as they began to use the restoration tank. He went up to the planning room and sat down. Everything was going smoothly and as soon as Omitron returned the time to strike would be at hand. With the help of the rogue Autobots there would be no stopping the Decepticons from restoring their comrades in stasis and destroying the Autobots and their human friends. This time there would be no occupation, just simple, straightforward destruction. It would be a scorched earth policy on a galactic scale, and ultimately the Decepticons would triumph and take their rightful place as masters of the universe. Nothing would stand in their way.