By Tony"Thunder"Klepack
 

    Megatron marched onto the bridge of the mobile fortress Dark Glory. Behind him, Skyquake did his best to keep pace with his leader.
    The bridge was a large complex of interconnecting platforms and levels with each section running different parts of the giant vessel. It was the largest command center he'd ever seen. Then again, this was certainly the largest vessel ever built by a Transformer.
    Skyquake wondered how Megatron had ever managed to build it and his small empire in so little time as nineteen years. Galvatron had kept his Decepticons on Syrra IV most of that time, until the battle plan for retaking Cybertron had formed. He had to admit, Megatron had a vision that Galvatron simply did not. While they wasted time fortifying their hidden planetary base, the Decepticons' original leader was out here constructing a new Decepticon dynasty--and the Autobots hadn't even noticed!
    Of course, Megatron must have kept tabs on them with his spies and made sure they didn't wander out in the right direction in space. Not that many of them did much space exploration during their peaceful interval, which he supposed was fortunate for Megatron.
    There were many things he didn't yet know about this reborn Megatron. He knew that he often acted like the genuine article, and that Soundwave was convinced of his authenticity--and if Soundwave didn't know Megatron from an imposter, then who did? Soundwave had recruited him and the Predators, and later Lightning, to Megatron's side a few years ago for spy work on Galvatron's Decepticon forces. But still, other than a few officer names and this vessel as proof of his new empire, what did Skyquake really know about this Transformer? Was he indeed the great leader of Decepticon legend? And if so, why had he been so reluctant to engage the Autobots up to this point? The Megatron of legend was afraid of no one and even he was never described as having been this stealthy.
    Skyquake pushed these concerns out of his mind for now and focused on what was going on around him. The bridge alarms and sirens were bellowing as the unknown fleet of warships was quickly approaching their vessel. He and Megatron had finally arrived up here and it seemed something had gone wrong and the fleet had somehow been able detect the Dark Glory. The two of them ran onto the command platform and Skyquake braced himself for being in the presence of Midnight--a Decepticon he despised.
    Dreadwing looked up to see his leader arriving and he appeared to be relieved--though it was hard to tell with his mask and optic band design. Skyquake looked over to see a blue, white and purple armored Decepticon female in the command chair instead of the dark dragon form of Midnight.
    "Where is Midnight, Frostwing?" Megatron demanded. "Why has he seen fit to abandon his post?"
    "It's a long story, sir," she replied in her deep voice. "And frankly, we do not have the time to spare right now."
    She moved out of the command chair and he replaced her. "Status?" he asked.
    Frostwing inhaled and said: "Due to a malfunction in our cloaking device, the fleet briefly detected our presence here and has moved in for attack. I assume they must know we are cloaked here." She added: "Midnight is...pursuing the source of the malfunction off ship along with several others."
    "I see," Megatron replied. His tone seemed to say that her vague explanation was satisfactory for now. But only for now.
    Just then, the fleet's warships opened fire on them and bolts of crimson energy hurdled their way.
    Megatron nodded at his security chief. "Your assessment would seem to be correct," he told her. To Skyjack--whom had resumed his station at the helm--he said: "move us to coordinates 57-23-98-Y. Full sub-light."
    "Yes, Commander," Skyjack responded.
    "Now, I want to hear everything that we know about this fleet," Megatron told Frostwing.
    She nodded. "The fleet showed up at 0376 hours exactly. A few moments after that, they sent a general audio hail out to the area saying all ships, weapons and equipment would be rendered inoperative and that those who resisted would be harmed. They also mentioned that it was the will of Primus they do so. Almost immediately thereafter, they began assaulting Cybertron and the moons."
    "They are vaguely Cybertronian in design," Dreadwing interjected, "but they bare no external markings of any sort and they do not match any known Autobot or Decepticon vessel configuration."
    "We number them at three hundred vessels--all of the same design. Dreadwing believes they are battleships," Frostwing finished.
    Megatron nodded and looked at one of the displays in front of his chair, studying the attackers' vessel design. "I believe this is some sort of new force we were, until now, unaware of. The questions are, where do they come from and what do they want?"
    "And how does Primus relate to this, if at all?" Frostwing added. "According to Cyberton's history tapes, he was destroyed in the Unicron war when his lifeforce was used to defeat Unicron."
    The Dark Glory rocked once more as the fleet's vessels found their target again, forcing the Decepticons to put their questions on the backburner.
    "They don't give up very easily, do they?" Skyquake said.
    "No," Megatron agreed. He turned to look at Dreadwing. "Drop cloaking shields," he ordered. "They've already seen us. Afterward, I want shields raised and all weapons stations armed and ready."
    "Yes sir!" Dreadwing and the gunner who replaced Nightracer at her station simultaneously replied.
    The Dark Glory rocked again as more of the fleet's vessels moved into position and their weapons found the cloaked vessel.
    Outside, the massive silver and purple vessel materialized out of the nothingness of space--a dreadnought that dwarfed it's enemies in sheer size.
    "Sir...?" the gunner asked.
    "All weapons, fire at will!" Megatron commanded. "Let's show them what this vessel can do."
    Skyquake watched along with the others as dozens of crimson particle blasts erupted somewhere off the Dark Glory's form and pummeled against their adversaries' shields. After mere moments under the Dark Glory's hail of energy, several of the enemy cruisers lost their shields and then exploded from the continuing weapons fire.
    It was clear to him that their ship was more than a match for the attackers' vessels. However, as one cruiser exploded, another two would simply take it's place. It was amazing--Skyquake had never seen such coordination and quick response time before.
    Despite their victories, it was clear their ship was outgunned by the fleet and that it was only a matter of time before their own shields would collapse and the ship would be exposed. Surely, Megatron must have seen that.
    He did.
    "Helm, set course for the quickest escape route out of here," he ordered as the assault continued. "Once we're clear of these ships, I want an evasive course set for Earth."
    "We're leaving?" Frostwing asked. "What about all of Galvatron's forces below? Shouldn't we try and evacuate them too? They could be most helpful additions to our forces."
    Megatron shook his head. "It's illogical of us to waste so many of our warriors and resources on soldiers whom may or may not join our ranks."
    Skyquake found himself nodding. It seemed the most logical course of action to him as well. And if Megatron commanded such a large empire, then the loss of those warriors wouldn't affect his plans one way or the other.
    "We're now clearing the fleet and moving into Hyperspace jump range," Skyjack announced.
    "What about Cybertron, though?" Skyquake suddenly asked. "I'd always heard you had wanted it for your own."
    "True," Megatron conceded. "However, it is only one planet and we can appropriate it at a more...convenient time."
    "Eighteen seconds to Hyperspace jump," Skyjack announced.
    "Are we going for the Decepticons on Earth?" Frostwing asked.
    "Yes," Megatron replied. "Earth is already Decepticon property, and we're not challenged there--until the Autobots regroup, anyway. While the Decepticons here are probably doomed, we can still make use of the other part of Galvatron's army there. Either they will join us or die...I will not allow two factions of Decepticons to exist anymore! We must become one again!"
    The Dark Glory leapt into Hyperspace, leaving it's mysterious opponents behind.
                                                        *                                                 *                                                     *
    "Three...two...one," Hound counted down. The mid-range vessel Xaaron jumped into normal space above what appeared to be a large moon.
    "Well, we're finally here," Nightbeat announced. "Oberon."
    "I've never heard of it before," Overrun replied from his station. "And since when do Autobots have secret outposts?"
    "Optimus Prime felt we should have a fallback if the Decepticons ever reappeared, so he had this base constructed in secret and only certain top officers knew of it's existence in order to prevent any lapses in security."
    Overrun nodded absently as they all gazed at the barren planetoid before them. Nightbeat wondered what exactly had happened in their absence from Cybertron. Their ship had made an unusual discovery on the edge of the G'brin nebula--they had stumbled upon a planet resembling Cybertron and had been attacked by it's inhabitants. Attempts to hail Cybertron had proven fruitless and when they'd arrived there, they understood why.
    Cybertron had been brutally assaulted by the Decepticons, probably in an attempt to retake it from the Autobot inhabitants. Knowing the others would be at Oberon--assuming anyone survived--Nightbeat's crew had set course and departed. Unknowingly, a few moments before the Dark Glory had arrived and Megatron had begun his attack on Galvatron and Shockwave.
    "In addition to a regrouping point, Oberon is also a staging ground for new, advanced Autobots and a research facility for weapons technology." Nightbeat noted that the others were all staring intently at the screen and he wondered if they'd even heard that last part.
    Logically, the Decepticons would've also planned an attack on the widely reknown Autobot City outpost on Earth, Nightbeat knew. That was what worried him--the inhabitants of neither Cybertron nor Autobot City had expected this and he knew the casualties must've been staggering to say the least. How many friends had died, and whom? He wished he knew.
    Nightbeat pushed these thoughts out of his mind and tapped in a comm code directed at the planetoid below them. There would be time for grieving later, he knew. That was always how it worked.
    "Now what?" Broadside asked from the tactical station.
    "Now, we wait," Nightbeat replied.
    As it turned out, the wait was not long at all. Within minutes, Tracks announced they were being hailed.
    "Let's hear it," Nightbeat ordered.
    Tracks turned and tapped a button on his console. "Autobot vessel Xaaron, this is Oberon station," the bridge's speakers announced. "Stand by to recieve docking coordinates....welcome Nightbeat."
    "What are we, chopped energon?" Broadside quipped.
    Nightbeat ignored the sarcasm and went over to the comm station. He looked over Tracks' shoulder and read the screen. After a moment, he said: "Okay. Hound, set course 39-91-6Y, one quarter sub-light."
    The Xaaron slowed and began it's descent toward a large crater on the surface. The ship entered a large chasm in the near-center of the crater and continued onward for another ten time units. Eventually, it encountered a large metallic portal and soared through it into a vast steel tunnel which curved at ninety degree angle.
    After five more minutes of travel, the ship entered a large docking bay where several dozen Cybertronian shuttles were already parked. Many of them bore scarring from weapons'.
    "We have lot 87," Nightbeat told Hound.
    "There it is," Hotspot pointed at a part of the bay where there were little other vessels. A large blue `eighty seven' was painted on the floor. As far as Nightbeat could tell, the lot numbers extended up to about one hundred and twenty five. Near the lot, a group of Autobots stood waiting for them. At this distance and in the little time he'd seen the group before the ship turned, he couldn't tell who was waiting.
    The vessel flew to the lot and hovered over it a moment. Slowly, it lowered itself down until it's landing struts made contact with the hard stone-like floor. After a few moments of coolant release, the hatch in the Xaaron's underside opened and Nightbeat's group slowly exited down the ramp.
    Nearby, a group of unknown Autobots along with Bumblebee and Rad approached them.
    "Greetings," one of the unknown ones said. "My name is Grid Iron and I'm commander of this installation." He gestured at the others in the group. "This is Overdrive, my chief battle strategist. This is Thunderclash, my security chief; Auto-Forse, my chief historian and archivist; and Scoot, my chief of espionage."
    Nightbeat nodded at them. "As you probably know, we've been on a deep space exploration mission for two and a half months, so we're not up to speed on current events. Where's Prime? And...how bad is it?"
    Grid Iron shrugged. "We don't know what happened to Prime's group. He lead a team to Earth to aid Autobot City which was under attack at the time. Shortly after, Cybertron was attacked too and the Autobot survivors came here. His group hasn't checked in yet and we fear the worst--for them and Autobot City."
    "Optimus Prime's team took one of the old Trans-time-dimensional portals to Earth," Rad added, as if in afterthought. "We know Prime's team made it to Earth okay. I sent Sunfire out after them and attached a tracking device to her arm. She made it to Earth all right, but the device stopped transmitting shortly afterward, so either she's dead or the device was damaged."
    Grid Iron thought about Rad's wording. The older TTDP's were unperdictable and sometimes dangerous. Fortunately, his research scientists had since perfected personal versions of the portals for usage. It was amazing how fast his teams had secretly advanced the Autobots technology here on Oberon...if only it wasn't all for the necessity of waging war.
    "I'm going to be sending a spy team of mine, the Gobots, to Earth shortly to update us on things," Scoot added. "But...we're not hopeful."
    "What about Ultra Magnus? Has he organized any counter-offensive yet?" Nightbeat asked. He added: "I assume we're not going to just let the Decepticons win!"
    "Ultra Magnus, he...didn't make it," Rad replied. "It appears Lightning murdered him." He watched the looks of shock cross the exploration team's faces.
    "So you're saying we may have lost both Magnus and Prime?" Broadside snapped. "That's just great! Now what?!"
    "No! Prime's still alive on Earth!" Bumblebee retorted. "We served together too long. He's too good a leader to have let the Decepticons kill him--he knows we still need him and he's probably trying to find a way for the Autobot City survivors to return home right now."
    "It's entirely possible," Grid Iron conceded. "We don't have confirmation of the Earth Autobots' fate one way or the other right now. But for now, we've got to proceed as if Prime's dead--we can't rely on him arriving suddenly and saving us from this perdicament. This time, we're on our own."
    "Be that as it may, I still--"
    BWEEP, BWEEP
    Grid Iron activated his com-link. "What is it?"
    "Commander, this is Flash. We've got a situation up here."
    Grid Iron cast a glance at the others. "Care to elaborate?" he asked.
    "A fleet of warships just appeared in Cybertron orbit, sir. They are somewhat Cybertronian in design but they don't seem to conform to either faction's designs. And sir--they're attacking the planet!"
                                                *                                                                 *                                                         *
    Megatron sat in his office on the Dark Glory. The room was dark, save for a solitary light illuminating him and the holo-image of another Decepticon standing before him. Nearby, he had opagued the viewport to mask the chaotic lights of Hyperspace. He'd never found it too conducive to conducting holo-conversations somehow--the interdimensional light was far too distracting.
    "Anything else, Mercer?"
    "Actually, yes," his second-in-command replied. "An Autobot ship was detected earlier over Dnema. It...it escaped before our craft could successfully shoot it down."
    Megatron regarded him introspectively. Mercer seemed unbothered by the scrutiny, but then, he was not a coward like so many of the others. He was not afraid to speak his mind to Megatron and that quality served him well in his position.
    "That is most unfortunate. I had not planned for them to detect our presence so early. Still, it can be dealt with later. After all, I know exactly where the Autobots are hiding and their forces are not exactly in shape to deal with our power should we decide to direct our attention to them. For now, I plan to go to Earth and enlist the Decepticons there into my own forces."
    "What about Galvatron's forces on Cybertron?" Mercer asked. Did you get them too or--"
    "No, they were...unattainable." Megatron tapped in a few commands on the keypad in front of him. "I have just given you some preliminary data concerning a fleet of warships that arrived in Cybertron orbit a few hours ago."
    Mercer looked off to his side at something. "Hmm, Cybertronian in design. I wonder what this means." He looked suddenly at Megatron. "Could it be our benefactors' doing? This is not beyond them."
    "I had considered that possibility." Megatron eased back in his chair and steepled his fingers. "However, this doesn't fit their style. They would want me, not Cybertron. And, more to the point, their vessel appeared more advanced in design then these ships. I...do not sense their hand in this. At any rate, I believe this fleet could pose a serious threat to our empire's security."
    "I expect this problem will delay your return," Mercer replied.
    "I concur. Unfortunately, it cannot be helped." Megatron let out a sigh. "For now, continue as planned and keep me updated." He pressed a button on the console before him and the Hyperspace communications link ended with Mercer's hologram faded into nothingness.
    Megatron sat alone in the darkness, lost in his thoughts. He too wondered whom this fleet of warships belonged to and what their ultimate purpose was. Clearly, they were related to Cybertron in some way much as his mysterious benefactors were. But how did it all relate? What aspect of his own people's history was the answer to this riddle? Somewhere, it all made sense, but how exactly escaped him.
    His deliberations were interrupted by the chime of his door.
    "Enter." He turned and watched as the Dark Glory's security chief, Frostwing, entered. She was a tall, impressive-looking female. Cold and malicious in battle, she was well deserving of her name and one of the best female warriors he'd ever had under his command.
    "I've come to brief you on the full details of what happened earlier with Midnight," she said in her deep tone.
    "Yes, I've been quite anxious to get the full details. Please, have a seat." He gestured to one of the two chairs in front of his desk.
    Frostwing accepted his invitation. "So, please go ahead."
    "At 0375 hours, an older style Autobot shuttle appeared in Cybertron orbit. Not long after, the fleet appeared too. I arrived after both events had occured when Midnight called me up to the bridge. It seems he and the bridge crew were, ahem, wagering on who could destroy the Autobot shuttle. Nightracer tried, but it accelerated at the last minute and she only grazed it."
    "And it caused the cloaking device failure?"
    "Yes. Midnight moved us away from the fleet previously. However, the shuttle missed us only by a few meters. The blast Nightracer fired at it damaged one of it's sub-systems and the leaked radiation nullified our cloaking shields for a few moments--just enough time for us to be detected by that fleet."
    "So Midnight took some of the bridge officers and went off to pursue that shuttle and destroy it, all the while doing the heroic thing and leaving you to deal with the fleet?"
    "Yes," Frostwing replied, "how did you--?"
    "Deduction, based off what I knew and the fact certain other Decepticons were missing as well. I assume Midnight was motivated by the fact I'd be unimpressed by his negligence if he'd remained onboard?"
    "Something like that. Besides, the Autobots would've known a flaw in our vessel had he not pursued them. Not a pleasant aspect." Frostwing sighed. "The shuttle wasn't in the best condition from our scans--Midnight should have little problem accomplishing his task."
    Megatron nodded. He tapped the comm-unit on his desk. "Snipe, I want you to contact Midnight's group and inform them of our going to Earth. Under no circumstances are they to return to Cybertron. Understood?"
    "Right away, Commander. Snipe out."
    Megatron looked at his chronometer. "We're one hour away from Earth," he said. "Very well. Security chief Frostwing, you are dismissed. You may return to your duties, unless there's anything further...?"
    "No sir," she replied. She began walking toward the door, but stopped slowly and turned around. "There is one other thing..." she said softly. "Congratulations on your victory over Galvatron. From one warrior to another, I had every bit of faith in your abilities."
    Megatron's lips parted in a sly smile. "Thank you," he simply responded.
    Frostwing nodded and departed the office. He was surprised she had said that--praise from Frostwing was almost non-existent. She was well known for her efficiency and lack of friendship towards her fellow Decepticons. In fact, Megatron wasn't sure if she had any friends--her duties always seemed to come first. He liked that aspect about her, but wondered about Decepticons with no sociality--surely, they couldn't be happy like that! Even he had Soundwave to talk to. Well, he had other things to worry about right now.
    Megatron turned and looked at the holo-starmap behind his desk, which took up a large portion of the wall. He grinned at the thought of adding Earth to his ever-expanding empire. That little mudball had caused him more than enough trouble in the past and he'd be grateful to put it's acquisition out of the way.
                                                    *                                                             *                                                         *
    Lightning walked the large busy corridors of the Dark Glory. He observed the Decepticons Megatron had created as they went about their usual business. They were impressively designed, with technology Galvatron's Decepticons hadn't even thought of yet. But mentally...they were all naive sheep who seemed to follow Megatron with little independent thought of their own.
    They weren't liberated the way he was. He was unburdened by the morality and honor of his fellows...his mind unchained by the steel of sanity.
    He pitied them all. For they couldn't truly revel in the pain they inflicted--breathe it in as air, devour it as sustenance. Their minds were cluttered by their foolish petty thoughts of conquest--they didn't exist to inflict pain and enjoy it's simple pleasures...
    --And for this he was truly sorry. All of them, even Megatron, didn't understand why they were placed here. Pain was a fact of life, and from it spread chaos and from there--even more pain. That was why he existed at all--because the Autobot scientist Lightningbolt didn't understand that truth...
    But he did. For he was the embodiment of pain and suffering in the universe itself. And he knew what he had to do--what fate had brought him to the Decepticons for, why it had birthed his chaos from the order of Lightningbolt's mind...
    ...He was the first of his kind, the father whom would birth his children of chaos and spread pain about the universe...
    --and the Decepticons were to be the first of his children!
                                                    *                                                             *                                                         *
    Iowa. In a field where plows had once worked, until the Decepticons had come and had brought their downpour of death, they gathered. None of them knew why they had all been called off their assimilation of Earth's resources and peoples. All they knew was that Skyquake and Soundwave had ordered them here.
    But none of them would have ever guessed why....
    On the stage set up before Galvatron's vast Earth invasionary army, the two officers whom had called them all here waited and watched as the Decepticons assembled talked amongst themselves. It was clear they were all getting bored and rowdy waiting.
    "Hey, Skyquake! Why're we all here?" Mindwipe called up at the stage.
    "Yeah, I'd rather be out killing the fleshlings now then cooped up here!" Squeezeplay added.
    "Ah, they're no fun," Onslaught replied. "None of `em fight back. Give me an Autobot any day! At least they're good for something!"
    "Yeah, begging for mercy!" Swindle grinned. The other Combaticons immediately started laughing at that, along with a few various Decepticons in the audience.
    "Get on with it!" one of the Decepticons nearby them yelled. He had not bothered laughing along with his fellows, and was obviously quite irritated at this whole distraction. "I haven't got all century!"
    Skyquake and Soundwave exchanged a few words with someone off-stage. No one was close enough to hear what. The two Decepticons backed up as the figure offstage came out from behind the curtain obscuring him. Silence fell over everyone assembled as they realized it was someone who should be long dead...
    "My fellow Decepticons," Megatron grinned at their expressions of shock, "I am back from the great beyond. I have rid you all of the cancer that was Galvatron!"
    Most of the Decepticons were too stunned at this spectacle to speak. However, Fangry was not one of them. "I don't believe this is Megatron!" he yelled at the stage. He turned and addressed his fellow brethren. "I saw what little of his body was left at the Ark and there's no way he could've survived!"
    This began whispers and sporadic conversation among the Decepticon assembly as they debated whether this Transformer was or was not their long dead leader.
    "Everyone, silence!" Megatron called at them. The Decepticons, however, ignored his command and continued conversing. He aimed his shoulder cannon and unleashed a blast of proto-fusion into the air. The brillant explosion captured all their attention and silenced them.
    "I am indeed your long dead leader," Megatron continued. "The exact details of my resurrection are unimportant. Know only this; that I live again, and I have come to claim that which is rightfully mine!"
    The crowd of Decepticons understood Megatron's sentiment--either from his words themselves or the proto-fusion beam and remained silent.
    "The problem with all of you is that you have no spirit anymore. The mighty Decepticon faction has devolved into a rag-tag group of Transformers bent on getting petty revenge on the Autobots. Galvatron failed to see the big picture--he forgot that we were once a force bent on expanding our wonderous people into the universe and conquering it. He saw only one thing: revenge! That is only a means to an end, not our goal," Megatron continued. "We are mechanical beings. We alone are superior to the flesh creatures infesting our galaxy. The universe should not resist our power--it must be made to bow to it!"
    He raised his hand in a fist. "Who among you shares my vision of the future? Who desires the glory our people deserve? Raise your hands those of you whom are my brothers and sisters!"
    Almost all of the assembled Decepticons raised their fists and yelled: "I do!"
    "If you all accept me as your leader once more, I will lead us to heights previously unachieved! The galaxy first, and then, the universe itself will fall to our power! If you choose not to accept me--"
    Megatron mentally aimed his shoulder cannon and fired in seconds. The proto-fusion energy tore through Fangry, wrenching him apart.
    "--then you can die! It's your choice."
    "All hail Megatron! Leader of the Decepticons! I function for you and you alone!" One of the Decepticons yelled sincerely from the audience. He was followed shortly by another one and then another and another. The traditional oaths gave way to chants of Megatron's name. All around them, the trio onstage could hear--
    MEGATRON! MEGATRON! MEGATRON!
    Each chant rose with fervor and intensity.
    A grin crossed Megatron's face as he watched. He had their leadership once again and now, little stood in his way. The Decepticons were once more a united front and virtually nothing could stop his new regime.
                                            *                                                         *                                                                     *
    On the command ship of the mysterious fleet, a computer screen relayed battle statistics as the damage was assessed...

    ENEMY CASUALTY RATE: 86.5%

    DAMAGE TO FLEET: 18 BATTLECRUISERS DESTROYED

    FLEET CASUALTY RATE: 5.72%

    "I am impressed," a voice said. "This plan proceeds even better than I thought."
    "Indeed," another voice said beside him. "But then, I expected no less."
    "Rates acknowledged. Begin planetary deployment," the computer's voice spoke behind them, seemingly ignoring the two. "Begin fleet deployments. Target destination 1: Syrra IV. Confirmed location of Decepticon planetary base. Target destination 2: Earth. Confirmed location of remaining Decepticon forces." It paused a moment and then added:
    "For the will of Primus, all must be one!"
 
 

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