“Prepare to terminate!” The Transmetal hyena snarled as the Maximals, all in beast mode, rallied backward against the bridge’s main control panel.
“What is that thing?” Night Glider narrowed his eyes as the beast foamed at the mouth.
“A Predacon and it has Panther.” Optimus Primal spread his wings walking forward. “What do you want, son?”
“I want you all… off-line!” The hyena, Jawbreaker, snarled snapping at the Maximal commander then down to the unconscious cub Maximal. “I’ll take you all on! You hear me! I’ll slag yo—...” He choked as a mace slammed into the side of his head taking him down.
“Oh get scrapped!” Armordillo, in robot mode, walked over towards the beast taking back his weapon.
“Excellent job, Armordillo.” Optimus nodded.
“I love what I do.” The robot grabbed the beast by the hind legs and began to drag him down the corridor. “I’ll lock this goon here down with the rest of his Pred friends.”
“I’ll accompany you to open the cell block.” Optimus spoke his activation code and transformed. “Night Glider, get Panther to the Restoration Chamber. Polar Claw, work on getting some surveillance and weaponry systems up. I don’t want this type of incident repeated.”
“Right Optimus.” Both nodded.
Across the vast terrain of this mysterious planet there was a wasteland. It is a volcanic region ravaged by multiple erupts, half dead, and crushed on the side of one of its mountains was the Predacon attack ship, Vengeance.
“Bumbling, incompetent, fools!” Megatron swung his tail-gun, knocking a monitor off a control panel. “We are not pleased, no.” He was in full rage over the downfalls he has experienced this day. The Maximal ship evading them, his ship crashing, a member of his crew gone a.w.o.l , and a lost battle against the Maximals.
“Megatron, your wrath is understandable, however” Vice Grip, in robot mode, bowed. “the battle may be lost. We still have the Experimental protoform given to us my the Council.”
Megatron’s rage calmed and become a look of intrigued. “Yes, the wild one. But no…”
“How come!” Spittor rose up from a control panel, covered in wires. “With the wild one we could seize their ship and release the Preds they have captured!”
“Poor misguided Spittor.” Megatron sat in his hover chair. “We would prefer to play the game first, before we lay the cards down.”
“But…”
Megatron slammed his tail weapon down on his armrest, his rage returning. “Don’t question my authority! Now get back to your duties!”
Spittor lowered down into the panel again. “bite me…” he mumbled under his breath.
“Only if I were hungry.” Megatron growled.
“Maybe the kid’s got a point…” Iguanus looked up from inventorying the ammunition. “With the wild one, we could easily break through the Maximal defenses and free our Predacon brethren.”
“We do not know the number of Maximals on the Albion, even with stasis pods launched.” Megatron floated in his hover chair toward the view screen. “But we will soon learn of that and more. Oh much more, yeeess.” He pressed on a button on his arm-side keypad. “Manta Ray, report.”
The view screen fizzled and blinks to life revealing the robot mode of the Predacon Manta Ray against the backdrop of the area the Maximal base is located in.
“Megatron, you were correct…” Manta Ray looked over his shoulder. “The Maximals have yet to notice my presence, meaning they must have no surveillance systems.”
“Of course I was correct. Now transform and in engage your mission.”
“Acknowledged.” Manta Ray ended the communication link. “Beast mode!” He yelled becoming an oddly, large sized manta ray. Floating on passing air currents, he glided toward the lake the Maximal base rested and dove into in one elegant dive.
Armordillo activated the electric bars around the unconscious Jawbreaker. “Ha, Pred scum.” He moved around in the large empty cell area to face Jawbreaker. “Wakey, wakey.” He laughed as suddenly the Predacon snarled to life biting at him. “OoO a fighter.”
“I'll show you a fight!” The hyena said in a odd mixture of a laugh and snarl.
“Your breath’s worse than your bite.” Armordillo laughed walking out of the cell area slammed the large metal door behind him.
“Must you provoke the prisoner?” Optimus asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Aw geez, Primal. Just a little fun, only live prisoner I’ve seen in months!” Armordillo said as he shifted into his beast mode of an armadillo and walked side by side with Optimus. “But I gotta admit,” He observed the rows of stasis pods like objects lined up against the wall. “It’s easier dealing with these convicts while they’re like this.”
“Easy as it is, it’s a drain on our generator, or what remains thereof.” Optimus looked as the vast number container pods. “The crew did a job. When I said ‘contain’ …they took care of it.”
“How much you wanna bet it was the bounty hunter’s idea.” Armordillo looked up to Optimus.
Optimus let a chuckle escape. “Looks to be his handy work.”
“Hey Maximals!” A voice called out behind them.
“What now?” Armordillo looked back to one of the few cells on the deck.
“What happened?” A pair of eyes blinked from the view square behind a confined door. “I heard we were going to crash and I heard explosions and snarls, what’s going on?”
“Looks like they missed one. Nothing that conc…” Armordillo began but choked as Optimus stomped down on his shell.
“Everything’s fine prisoner. Just had to make an emergency stop.” Optimus scowled looking in the direction of the eyes.
“Why do you have alternative modes? What’s going on? Let me out!” The prisoner began pounding on the doors.
“High levels of Energon outside of these walls.” Optimus put his fists to his hip joints. “Don’t worry you’ll be protected in here.”
The Predacon convict nodded and bowed back down into cell.
“Well, there’s one less strain on the generator…” Armordillo coughed as Optimus moved his foot.
”Come on, lets get back to the bridge. Hopefully Polar Claw has come up with something to protect the base.” Optimus walked slowly towards the elevator followed by Armordillo.
“With little-to-no resources? Geez Optimus, I sure hope a sling-shot can do a rapid fire attack.” Armordillo rolled his eyes. “The man’s an inventor, not Primus.” The two got on he elevator and vanished to the upper decks of the base.
“You’ll need more than a few weapons system to stop me.” Manta Ray laughed as he floated from a lower air duct. “Manta Ray, Terrorize!” The Predacon shifted into robot mode and looked around. “Just the prefect place to look.” He walked down the corridor looking for a computer control pad.
“You’re not a Maximal.” The same prisoner said to Manta Ray.
“Observant.” Manta Ray said without stopping his search. “Here we go.” He stood at a control panel and began typing quickly until a complete map of the Albion and its decks popped up. “That was a little easy.” Manta Ray blinked as the ship’s blueprints downloaded on a data disc. As he stuffed the disc into a compartment Manta walked over to cell were Jawbreaker was contained. “Megatron will reward me extremely well for this mission.”
“Will he reward you more for a troop freed in the process?” The prisoner laughed.
Manta Ray’s eyes flared as he turned around. “And what do you have to offer to me.”
“Well, I’m an Infiltration expert and I will pledge my allegiance to you.” The prisoner replied.
Manta Ray walked over to the cell. “Infiltration you say?” He placed his hands on the lock, overriding them with electric currents. The lock beeped and went into an apparent spasm until it blew off the wall opening the cell door. “You will be of use to me, but not now. You will remain here and give me reports on the Maximals until the jail break.”
“Yes sir!” The Predacon nodded softly.
Meanwhile, on the bridge, a group of Maximals have gathered around an observation table with Polar Claw typing at its panel. “I’ve managed to bring the Plasma Cannons back online and activate a motion detect system to recognize Maximal signatures. Right now, I’ve launch skysat probes into the atmosphere to get a better knowledge of the terrain. Plus, I’ve sent Night Glider out to set up sensors around the base’s area.”
“What were you saying Armordillo?” Optimus looked over to him.
“Okay, okay, so he’s a miracle worker.” Armordillo shook Optimus off as he kept track of the probes track.
“These planet maps may help us figure out what planet and what system we’re in.” Polar Claw said to Optimus. “Hopefully the computer systems will recognize the topography.”
“What if this planet is uncharted?” Optimus scowled.
“Then we have problems.” Polar Claw sighed.
“Just like that crew that vanished chasing Predacon criminals?” Armordillo broke his glance away from the downloading landscape maps.
A silence fell around the bridge. They all knew of the Predacon criminals who stole a mythical golden disc and escaped into space later to be intercepted by a group of Maximal explorers. They both entered transwarp. No one has heard from them since.
“Different circumstances.” Polar Claw noted. “We weren’t in a transwarp tunnel nor were we using transwarp technology.”
Optimus ponder for a moment, trying to remember the attack on the ship; it was all still hazy to him. “What if the Predacons used it after they caught up with us?”
Polar Claw’s lighthearted expression turned serious. “That is possible…and they did catch up us unbelievable fast rate.”
“Prime.” Optimus frowned as best he could with a mouth plate.
Manta Ray chuckled to himself as he pulled Jawbreaker’s objects from the water behind him. Not only has he been successful in getting the Maximal base plans, he has captured the former Predacon pilot Jawbreaker! He laughed to himself; today had been a good day for him. Manta Ray’s optics switched lenses and he performed a long-range scan. “Tin tyrant…he best arrive on time.”
“Sorry, I’m late!” A voice came from above and green burst of energy sent Manta Ray flying backwards and crashing into the ground.
Manta Ray groaned and looked upward. “The squirrel.”
“That’s flying squirrel to you. And I believe that prisoner is under Maximal guard!” Night Glider, in robot mode, hovered in the air above the aquatic Transformer. Using an extended arm, he tapped the side of his head. “Team, we have an emergency outside the base!” Before Night Glider could hear a response, a beam shot him out of the air and sent him crashing into a sidewall of the Maximal base.
“An emergency indeed!” Megatron snarled lowering his tail-gun. “Predacons transform and attack!”
With the order from their commander, Vice Grip, Spittor, Iguanus, and Buzz Saw yelled out the activation code “TERRORIZE!” and began a barrage on the Maximal base.
“Guys!” Armordillo punched up the view screen. “It’s the Preds!”
Polar Claw rolled his chair over to the pilot’s station, the now converted weapon system deck. “I got it…” Then the power flickered. “Or not.”
Optimus Primal moved away from Panther’s R Chamber and into the bridge’s armory. Returning to the main bridge, he choked twin buster cannons by bending his elbows. “Polar Claw, bring the Plasma Cannons online! Armordillo, you’re with me!” He ordered.
“Yessir.” Armordillo stood and gave his commander a salute.
Megatron fired another green shot from his tail-gun, this time, directed at the Albion’s side. “Oh, the simple joys of carnage and mayhem.”
Buzz Saw hovered toward the bridge window, aiming a rocket launcher toward the center frame. “Buzz Saw move in for kill, Buzz Saw terminate Maximals!” As he aimed, a jagged sword stabbed him in the chest and sent him crashing into the ground below.
“Not this day!” Night Glider, in robot mode, stood atop the Maximal base dodging fire and trying to aim his chest laser. “Great, where are the others. I know they can HEAR THIS going on!”
The Albion’s lower doors opened slowly and Optimus Primal and Armordillo came running from the hanger firing at the attacking Predacons.
“Vice Grip, give Manta Ray a hand in securing our prizes. The rest of you give them cover fire.” Megatron began firing wildly in Optimus’ direction. “I want those plans!”
“About time you guys joined the party!” Night Glider jumped off the top of the Albion to join his comrades.
“Sorry, couldn’t find anything to wear.” Optimus, utilizing both cannons effectively in keep the Predacons at bay, looked to Manta Ray. “How did he get the prisoner?”
“I’ll give you three guesses, boss-bat-man.” Armordillo shot Iguanus in the knee. “And one lifeline.”
“We have to recapture him!” Optimus tossed a cannon to Night Glider and with the free hand tapped the side of his chest. “Polar Claw, we need those Plasma Cannons.”
“I’m working on it!” The polar bear reported over static. “Keep those Predacons from hitting the base, they’re disrupting power!”
“Ask it and shall be delivered!” Armordillo, being a marksman, shot Spittor’s handheld gun from his side.
Vice Grip and Manta Ray grabbed a hold of the fallen Jawbreaker began to drag them toward the Predacon’s firing line.
“Megatron will reward you for this successful mission.” Vice Grip noted.
“You don’t think I know tha—ACK!” Manta Ray as a blast from a cannon sent him flying into the air.
“What in the Inferno?” Vice Grip dropped his pod and took aim with his electric gun.
Optimus hovered above Vice Grip aiming his cannon. “Step away from him!” As Vice Grip raised an arm, Optimus fired sending the Predacon a good distance from the prisoner. Optimus lowered down toward the pod, only to be shot in the chest and crash.
“Time to close file Primal, and delete.” Megatron stood over Optimus. However, before he could pull a trigger, a large figure leapt before him foaming at the mouth.
“You!” Megatron aimed his tail-gun, only to have it, along with an arm, scratched off and cast aside.
Jawbreaker spoke in a mixture of howl and laugh. “And so we meet again Megatron. Jawbreaker, MAXIMIZE!” The former pilot of the Vengeance spoke his activation code and shifted into a tall, sword-wielding robot.
“What did he just say?” Night Glider stopped firing for only a spare moment to check his cannon’s energy levels.
“Sounded like our activation code.” Armordillo hurled his mace at Buzz Saw.
Megatron glared at his handless arm, then to Jawbreaker. “Oh you will pay for this.”
“Bring it.” The hyena grunted.
Megatron rushed Jawbreaker who countered by sending a sharp kick to the Predacon leader’s forehead and a series of fast punches. Stumbling backward, Megatron attempted to fire a blaster, only to have the barrel sliced off. Jawbreaker, wielding his sword, charged at the Predacon commander. As the blade neared Megatron’s head, Jawbreaker is sent crashing into the ground as Vice Grip exploded from the sands under the hyena.
“Megatron,” Vice Grip shot the downed Maximal for good measure. “We must retreat!”
Fighting his rage, Megatron agreed. “We have what we came for. Fall back!”
Under the orders of their leader, the Predacons all transformed to retreat, leaving the Maximal base in a fiery mess and the Maximals licking their wounds.
Later,
“Let me get this straight. You’re a Maximal that was sent to act as double agent within the Predacons ranks?” Armordillo shook his head. “I don’t buy this one bit. You’re stinkin’ Pred!” He walked over hitting the robot on the chest with his finger.
Jawbreaker grabbed his finger “Do that again and I will have baked armadillo for breakfast in the morning.”
Although the smallest of the Maximals, Armordillo was not one to back down and be afraid of idle threats. “Oh yeah, you and what army fang-face?!”
“Easy!” Optimus pushed in between the two soldiers. “Granted, the story is a little hard to believe…but you did save me from Megatron.”
Jawbreaker nodded. “I am sorry for the attack early. My logic systems were damaged in the crash and the hyena’s bestial instincts were not an aid in the repairing of them.” Jawbreaker twitched hard. “I still struggle with them…”
Optimus nodded. “Well, welcome to the Maximals. We’ll do everything within our power to help you.”
Jawbreaker smiled, accepting Primal’s hand.
