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Bridge

Megatron wrote:"Soundwave--establish a secure commlink."

”Affirmative.” With all the big players in the room, Soundwave sent out a request, no, a signal for communion. Moments of anticipation would pass. The comms officer tracked every frequency available to him.

And then he found one that was foreign to his audios.

Unknown Long Range Communication wrote:>>”......∂∂∂∂..............∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆………..”<<

There were few possibilities for such a communication. This was not the work of a Decepticon, and it was unlikely that there were neutrals in the area. That left two options - fleshbag and Autobot. The encryption was done rather well, admittedly, and from the gathered intelligence it did not seem that the natives of Sol-3 had technology advanced enough for such an operation. No, this was likely the work of someone who knew Soundwave would catch onto them.

And so Soundwave opened a comm back on the same wavelength. “The line is yours, lord Megatron.” He awaited the Decepticon leader’s message. Whether they chose to respond or not would be up to them.

Bridge

Megatron smirked. Soundwave would need to use his unique skills to sift through the various roadblocks and encryptions the Autobots put in place in order to maintain their security. But sift he did, and soon the connection was established. It wasn’t a direct communication with Optimus Prime, but it was a start.

“The line is yours, lord Megatron.”

Megatron simply nodded, saving his words for his adversaries.

>>”Autobots...I would have words with Optimus Prime. Have your lieutenant, Blaster, coordinate with Soundwave to establish whatever security measures you feel are necessary and transmit a clear visual and auditory signal back to my origin point. I will have Soundwave provide you the exact coordinates of this ship for relay purposes. I await your response, Prime. You’ll remember that I’ve never been one to be kept waiting.”<<

Mess Hall

“I think you forget how intimidating you can be,” Flamewar commented.

“Oh no, my dear, I remember quite well,” Sixshot replied with a smile. “I just like to see them squirm on occasion. Heh.”

“Great Primus! Do you drink this blend of energon often?”

“Only when I’m bored,” the STAG declared as he turned his attention back to the bartender. “Another one! NOW!” Sixshot shouted, sliding the glass down the bar top. The vehicon quickly poured another round and cautiously placed the glass back before the sixchanger. “Why thank you!” Sixshot said cheerily before his tone lowered again. “Now, get lost.” The shaken bartender did as instructed as Sixshot gulped down half the glass, leaving the rest for later.

“Suppose the war does end soon? What awaits the great warrior Sixshot if Megatron's peace finally comes to pass?”

Flamewar’s question caught the STAG a bit off guard. Sixshot’s entire existence had been in service to Megatron and the Decepticon war effort. His whole point of being was to eradicate worlds on the verge of collapse. He enjoyed his work and was damn good at it.

“I…” Sixshot paused for a moment, not sure what to say. “…don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it. I suppose I’ve always just assumed that the war would continue indefinitely even if deep down I knew that there would have to be an end eventually. It’s just that it has lasted so very long I just can’t imagine it ending especially any time soon.”

Sixshot thought about it some more and then looked over at Flamewar. “My whole point of existing is to destroy utterly, whatever that may be. When I’m not doing that I’m basically in a waiting pattern, waiting for the go-ahead from Megatron to annihilate the next planet that has entered Phase 6. If there’s no war to fight I’m not sure what my place would be or if there would even be a place for a mech like myself. I’m an instrument of war, not of peace.”

The sixchanger fell silent and picked his half-full glass of high-grade energon back up. “I suppose I might have to head out there into the cosmos and perhaps find another war somewhere. Or maybe I’ll just go around and destroy planets for fun. Who knows,” Sixshot surmised before downing the rest of his drink.

"And what of you, my dear?" the STAG then asked. "What will you do if the war ends? Do you think that there will still be a need for a black operative if our race is once again united and there's no enemy to be concerned with?"

Mess Hall

“Oh no, my dear, I remember quite well. I just like to see them squirm on occasion. Heh.”

"Fair enough," Flamewar said, grinning as she took another swig from her cylinder. Decepticons reminding one another of who was more powerful was an ongoing exercise within their ranks. She found it amusing but even she wasn't immune to it. Sometimes a mech had to be put in check.

Sixshot's display with his chosen drink finally broke Flamewar's typically operational formality and elicited a rupture of laughter.

"You'll be taking on the entire Autobot command structure if you keep drinking like that," she added with a chuckle.

Her last question had surprised the formidable STAG, she could tell. She kept her optics focused on him however. It had not been a throwaway question. Sixshot, very likely, did not have many opportunities to talk about "the cause" on a more philosophical level. She wanted to give him the opportunity to do that very thing.

“I……don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it. I suppose I’ve always just assumed that the war would continue indefinitely even if deep down I knew that there would have to be an end eventually. It’s just that it has lasted so very long I just can’t imagine it ending especially any time soon.”

Flamewar nodded. It was hard to imagine. Their kind had been at war far longer than many civilizations in the universe existed: from climbing out of the beginnings of their evolutionary pit to whatever calamity saw fit to end it.

“My whole point of existing is to destroy utterly, whatever that may be. When I’m not doing that I’m basically in a waiting pattern, waiting for the go-ahead from Megatron to annihilate the next planet that has entered Phase 6. If there’s no war to fight I’m not sure what my place would be or if there would even be a place for a mech like myself. I’m an instrument of war, not of peace.”

"You are. But that's not all you are," Flamewar said, taking another measured sip from her container of energon. She could feel the buzz humming through her circuitry. "This war will end. I believe Megatron will win. But that will not be the end of all fighting. All conflict. Once he's won, he will need mechs to keep the peace. He envisions a 'peaceful tyranny'. He's powerful, but he can't do that alone. He will need enforcers. Overseers. That path would certainly be yours for the taking. I suspect Megatron will give you and the other Warriors Elite your choice of new roles. I trust he'll remember all who served him faithfully."

"And what of you, my dear? What will you do if the war ends? Do you think that there will still be a need for a black operative if our race is once again united and there's no enemy to be concerned with?"

"I think my role, just as yours, will evolve. Once he was won decisively, I think many Autobots will see reason. But it will only be a matter of time before resisters begin to stir unrest. Grimlock and his warriors? Will they truly accept peace? Cutthroat? Fangry? If they don't face summary execution at the beginning, then I suspect my work will continue."

Mess Hall

“You are. But that's not all you are. This war will end. I believe Megatron will win. But that will not be the end of all fighting. All conflict. Once he's won, he will need mechs to keep the peace. He envisions a 'peaceful tyranny'. He's powerful, but he can't do that alone. He will need enforcers. Overseers. That path would certainly be yours for the taking. I suspect Megatron will give you and the other Warriors Elite your choice of new roles. I trust he'll remember all who served him faithfully.”

Flamewar’s words made sense to Sixshot. It was naive to think that all fighting would stop just because the war would be over. Surely, there would be those among the Autobot ranks that would not accept defeat. Grimlock and the Dinobots came to mind but there would surely be others.

“A peacekeeper? Me?” Sixshot said aloud with a slight chuckle. “That would be an interesting role for someone like myself that’s used to destroying worlds utterly. But, I suppose I could see myself as an enforcer of Megatron’s will. Anyone who gets out of line would suffer my wrath. Still, I doubt they would provide much of a challenge. Perhaps someone like Grimlock would be worth the effort, but most would easily fall by my hand. I see myself getting bored quickly, I’m afraid.”

“I think my role, just as yours, will evolve. Once he was won decisively, I think many Autobots will see reason. But it will only be a matter of time before resisters begin to stir unrest. Grimlock and his warriors? Will they truly accept peace? Cutthroat? Fangry? If they don't face summary execution at the beginning, then I suspect my work will continue.”

“Perhaps our new roles could work hand in hand?” Sixshot suggested. “You root out the renegades and I crush them! I think I could live with that arrangement.”

Mess Hall

Underneath a table, in a corner of the mess hall, squatted a reptilian-shaped bot who had already scarfed down his energon ration, and was on the prowl to see if anyone dropped theirs. He wasn't above licking spilled energon off the floor. He had long ago learned not to try stealing rations... well, not to steal it from anyone that was bigger than him, at least, but that included just about every other Decepticon.

So he squatted.

And he waited.

Listening.

Most of the talk was about what would happen if the Decepticons ever won, as if this war hadn't been going on for millions of years and wasn't likely to go on for millions more. Qwerk didn't really care, so long as it gave him something to do and somewhere to belong.

Nebulos conquered. Garrus-9 annihilated. Jhiaxus dominated. And the Monsterbots – completely trashed and humiliated. All good for a deca-cycle’s work. Clearly enough to afford another round of spiked energon drinks at the mess hall for certain. It wasn’t like they had anything else to do anyway. Though obviously the Horrorcons had missed something of a momentous occasion while dealing with the Monsterbots. The arrival of Megatron and his entourage.

”I spy Flamewar and Sixshot. Drinking. On the duty.” Apeface quipped to Snapdragon almost immediately as the doors of the mess hall opened before them. Despite of how he carried himself, Apeface was quick to take note of his surroundings. And well, it wasn’t like he or Snapdragon hadn’t received a notification about Megatron entering the ship. They simply had been in no position to join the welcoming committee.

”A phase sixer as an escort. Curious, no?”

Mess Hall

They had finally arrived at what was arguably Snapdragon's second favorite location--anywhere that served energon and other fuels. The first, of course, being his favored oil baths. They had more than earned this.

The Monsterbot fiasco had kept them from enjoying Megatron's arrival like they normally would have, but now they had Monsterbot prisoners to add to Lord Scorponok's growing collection of POWs.

And now? A drink, or ten.


”I spy Flamewar and Sixshot. Drinking. On the duty. A phase sixer as an escort. Curious, no?”

"Mmhm," Snapdragon nodded, as he too surveyed the room. That was a curious pair. A world-destroyer--one of the few mechs in the Decepticon food chain that even Snapdragon would allow a wide berth--and Flamewar, one of those secrety command types. Not battle command, mind you. But always close by. Snapdragon knew that she held some tangible level of favor with Megatron, and that alone offered her all the protection she needed, just as it did with Soundwave, a mech who was essentially untouchable. "Is he escorting her, or is it the other way around?"

Snapdragon chuckled and approached the main bar. The nervous Seeker on the other side only looked more nervous as the Horrorcons approached.

"We'll have what they're havin'," Snapdragon said, knowing it was likely something strong and tasty. He offered a nod of respect to Sixshot, one powerful mech to another. As his faceplate retreated, it revealed a smirk on the mech's face as he continued to survey the room. It was pretty scant, but the occasional mech was beginning to trickle back in as the official welcome for Megatron had ended a while back. Snapdragon noted one mech in particular who appeared to be hiding under one of the corner tables. Not exactly the best way to stay out of sight in a place like this.

"You recognize that one, Apes?" Snadragon said, nudging his Horrorcon partner as he indicated the small 'Con under the table. He then looked at the 'Con directly. "Come outta there! We just pillaged the armies of Fortress Maximus! That's cause to drink if ever there were any!"

”Eh, meant he was here likely to escort Megatron. Since when do phase sixers do escort duty to anyone? Even for the big boss?” Apeface wondered as he followed Snapdragon to the bar. "Flamewar I get but him? Yeah, curious."

The simian Horrorcon followed his friend’s example of offering a nod of respect to Sixshot before relaxing and leaning against the counter. Yeah sure. He could recognize the runt Snapdragon had pointed out. Qwerk. He just didn’t have a reason to acknowledge him. Part of the image and what not. And thus he just shrugged his shoulders, merely taking a glance at the kobold like Decepticon before issuing Snapdragon a counter question.

”Don’t you?”

Mess Hall

Qwerk emerged from the shadows and strutted out towards the Horrocons. When it came to dealing with bigger cons, confidence was key. You had to be full of bluster and not betray how terrified you were. That being said, Qwerk just hoped they didn't notice the nervous rattle of his tail.

"Yeah. That sure was good battle," Qwerk said, ignoring the fact that he wasn't sure if he had actually managed to shoot any Autobots. But then, Qwerk wasn't sure if he had ever actually managed a single unaided kill this whole war.

Bridge

Megatron gave a simple nod to Soundwave and the transmission with the Autobots was severed.

"We will have Shockwave ready the mechaforming technology he and the Predacons retrieved from his tower on Cybertron," Megatron said, now addressing Scorponok. "Have a suitable force prepared for its deployment and defense."

Reflector turned to face the Decepticon Leader.

"You're not giving Optimus Prime the half-rotation, my lord?"

Megatron grinned slightly.

"Oh, I'll give him and his commanders the time I allotted. It's a fleeting flicker of a moment compared to the eternity of the Decepticon Empire. He will either use it to foolishly conjure up some form of last-astrosecond resistance or those with some small measure of sense within his inner circle will convince him of the futility of such action and he will provide me with a means of allowing his misguided followers to survive. Either way, there is no reason to halt our efforts. We proceed."
___

Mess Hall

”Eh, meant he was here likely to escort Megatron. Since when do phase sixers do escort duty to anyone? Even for the big boss? Flamewar I get but him? Yeah, curious." Apeface said.

"Hmm, yeh. 'Curious'. S'pose it could be," Snapdragon said as the mech overseeing the bar slid them each a large cylinder of multi-colored, brightly glowing fuel. Snapdragon took a big guzzle before responding to Apey's follow-up of "don't you?" He looked over the smaller mech again.

"Should I? Is he another one of Megatron's pets I've lost track of? It's hard to keep a good count," Snapdragon snorted.

"Yeah. That sure was good battle," the smaller mech said. He carried himself with the swagger of someone who had fought a time or two, Snapdragon just couldn't remember where.

"It was pretty good, yeah. Max never saw us comin'. Neither did those Monsterbots in the storage bay, har har," Snapdragon guffawed.

Mess Hall

“A peacekeeper? Me? That would be an interesting role for someone like myself that’s used to destroying worlds utterly. But, I suppose I could see myself as an enforcer of Megatron’s will. Anyone who gets out of line would suffer my wrath. Still, I doubt they would provide much of a challenge. Perhaps someone like Grimlock would be worth the effort, but most would easily fall by my hand. I see myself getting bored quickly, I’m afraid.”

Flamewar chuckled.

"Well, we'll just have to continue finding ways to keep you entertained. We can't have Megatron's finest warrior finding himself with nothing interesting to pursue," Flamewar said, taking another small drink.

“Perhaps our new roles could work hand in hand? You root out the renegades and I crush them! I think I could live with that arrangement.”

"I would be up for that," Flamewar nodded. "But I won't go letting you have all the fun."

Apeface merely shrugged as a reply to to Snapdragon’s should I. Didn’t really matter to him whether the other Horrorcon recognized each ’con they worked with though sometimes he did wonder how another cybertronian could forget a name or face of another.

”You got that right.” Apeface smirked, guzzling down half of the contents of his cylinder. ”And Prime’s soon to follow.”

"Have a suitable force prepared for its deployment and defense."

”Of course lord Megatron.” Scorponok replied. ”I assume I may utilize Sixshot for this as well? I feel it will not be an overkill for the protection of a critical asset like the cyberformer. Losing it - while not critical - will take us back for months.”

Mess Hall

Qwerk heard the snipe about him being a pet but paid it no attention. He had been called much, much worse over the vorns. And honestly, being a pet wouldn't be so bad. It would mean guaranteed protection from the bigger bullies. A long time ago, Qwerk had jockied for the position of one of Soundwave's cassettes. Those guys had it made. Sure, they spent half their time just sleeping inside someone's chest, but most of the time Qwerk didn't know what to do with himself anyway. He was sure Soundwave would have taken him in, too, if it hadn't been for... the Incident.

"You really think we can kill Prime? Isn't he unkillable?" Qwerk asked.

"Have a suitable force prepared for its deployment and defense."

”Of course lord Megatron.” Scorponok replied. ”I assume I may utilize Sixshot for this as well? I feel it will not be an overkill for the protection of a critical asset like the cyberformer. Losing it - while not critical - will take us back for months.”[/quote]

Megatron nodded.

“Utilize him as you see fit. All of our resources will be called upon for this final push. Then…at long last….we will give our homeworld the new beginning it has been denied.”

JazZeke wrote:Mess Hall

Qwerk heard the snipe about him being a pet but paid it no attention. He had been called much, much worse over the vorns. And honestly, being a pet wouldn't be so bad. It would mean guaranteed protection from the bigger bullies. A long time ago, Qwerk had jockied for the position of one of Soundwave's cassettes. Those guys had it made. Sure, they spent half their time just sleeping inside someone's chest, but most of the time Qwerk didn't know what to do with himself anyway. He was sure Soundwave would have taken him in, too, if it hadn't been for... the Incident.

"You really think we can kill Prime? Isn't he unkillable?" Qwerk asked.

“So they say, heh heh,” Snapdragon chuckled. “But I don’t believe it. He was a fraggin’ librarian before the war. He has a spark just like everyone else. And that spark can be snuffed out just like everyone else.”

“So they say, heh heh,” Snapdragon chuckled. “But I don’t believe it. He was a fraggin’ librarian before the war. He has a spark just like everyone else. And that spark can be snuffed out just like everyone else.”

”Bah. It isn’t like Prime can’t be killed.” Apeface snorted. ”I think Megatron doesn’t want to kill him. It is all about winning the argument. He wants Prime to submit to him. One way or another.”

”As you wish lord Megatron.” Scorponok stated, giving a slight nod as a sign of acknowledging the Decepticon leader’s words.

Turning on his heels, the enormous Decepticon general strode towards the massive blast doors of the bridge. ”Cyclonus, with me.”

Bridge

Cyclonus nodded and fell in step alongside the much larger Decepticon general as they left to execute their latest part of Megatron’s war strategy.

As they walked through the corridors, any Decepticons performing their duties stopped and stood at attention, saluting both commanders but keeping their gaze firmly fixed on Scorponok until they had passed by.

“I can not help but feel a certain unease at the prospect of victory. Naturally, I fight to see the Decepticon vision come to fruition, but I can’t help but wonder what my role will be in this new reality.”

“I can not help but feel a certain unease at the prospect of victory. Naturally, I fight to see the Decepticon vision come to fruition, but I can’t help but wonder what my role will be in this new reality.”

”An understandable dilemma. One that I am unable to answer for you old friend.” Scorponok replied to Cyclonus as they closed in towards their destination. ”What I can tell is this. This is nowhere from over. The war. The colonies. If we are to bring Pax Cybertronia across the galaxy – this is but the beginning.”

”Even so, our options are endless. We are not limited by the frail bodies and short lifespans of the organic species. What we cannot achieve if we are free to pursue our passions?” He mused, activating a comm-link to Reflector.

>>”Reflector, I need to have a word with Shockwave.”<<

Corridors

Cyclonus nodded thoughtfully as Scorponok spoke.

“Very true, my lord. I suppose I will simply address that challenge when I am faced with it, as I have done all others. As we both have. For now, I will focus on bringing this Pax Cybertronia to fruition.”
___

>>”As you command, mighty Scorponok. I am establishing the link now,”<< Reflector transmitted dutifully.

Corridors

Shockwave’s face appeared on the next communication panel that the two Decepticons were approaching.

“Interrogative: contact requested?” the purple strategist queried, curious as to what prompted this particular communique.

“Interrogative: contact requested?”

”Ah, Shockwave. You look far more… alive than we were led to believe.” Scorponok addressed the long gone scientist with a wide grin, knowing full well that the news of Shockwave’s passing had proven to be false rumors. Still the old cyclops had been missing for hundreds of vorns.

”I am pleased to see the news of your demise were greatly exaggerated.”

Corridors

Shockwave’s image on the wall remained unchanged.

>>“Declarative: this planet has presented more challenges than I originally anticipated; however, those challenges have steadily been addressed. With this latest arrival of Decepticon forces, I anticipate any remaining complications will soon be remedied.”<<

Shockwave paused momentarily.

>>“Interrogative-how may I assist your efforts?”<<

“Interrogative-how may I assist your efforts? ”

It certainly wasn’t surprising that Shockwave more or less had brushed off all the small talk. Scorponok really hadn’t expected anything else despite of being curious over the details of Shockwave’s long disappearance. He’d learn eventually. One way or another.

>>”Straight to the point. You haven't changed any."<< Scorponok chuckled, continuing, >>"Megatron has tasked me to deploy your mechaforming technology.”<<

>>”I will provide you defense and whatever resources required. You will prepare your mechaformer and select the most suitable location to deploy it.”<< Scorponok transmitted back to his sometimes rival.