"OC Episode #1"

[New Moon]

Frilla hid among some thickly growing bushes watching the Maixmal group and to find out what this spear really was. It seemed very odd for such a thing to be on an organic inhabitated planet and she quietly got clsoer to have a better look.

[Phoenix]

"You're not blasted out of the sky. We must have traveled past all of the defenses."

Moonshine tilted her head and crossed her arms after the gentle giant had put her on the ground.

"Well," she corrected Orcariner. "I only changed out of beast mode just now. We may be in a safe spot at the moment, but beast form might be advisable if we are to progress."

She then gestured for him to come closer and sit or lay down so she could begin repairs.

As she worked she called out for Icebreaker and Xzuk. "Be careful!" Her medical supplies were limited at the moment after all.

[NaitoKage]

(Joint post!)

The beating and pounding on the stasis pod lid grew more and more fierce. The entire pod shook and reverberated with each blow. Suddenly, the beating stopped and the transformer inside snorted with rage.

All of the sudden, gunshots ripped through the lid, sending large chunks of metal flying through the air. Tantrum kicked the lid with his legs, sending it flipping through the air. The enraged Predacon got out -- still in a rage -- and picked up the pod and hurled it out into the field. Piece of Slag! He yelled at the stasis pod, firing off one of his wrist mounted rockets at it for good measure.

Glowstick closed in on the area raising an optic ridge at the spectacle, he floated down behind Tantrum and folded his legs floating just above the ground silently, his transparent body glowing as the sun started to raise over the plains. He whistled Thats some firepower, and a rage that could be well harnessed..

Still worked up over the pod, and somewhat surprised, Tantrum wheeled around and pointed his wrist launcher at Glow Stick. Who are you? And do you wanna make something of it?

Glowstick lowered his legs landing softly Predacon Communications Officer Glowstick. Not exactly worthy of the waste of firepower, wouldn't you agree? Specially since there are maximal forces on this planet. I've been rounding up Predacons, your free to join up or wander aimless without answers to why we're even on this forsaken rock.

Tantrum looked over the Predacon in hesitation and snorted. He seemed to relax, atleast momentarily.

Bah, Maximals, he sneered with disdain. The pit awaits them and their incompetent race. He looked around, taking in the scenery. And where the slag am I?

Glowstick held up a tentacle THAT is the million Shanix question. A strange planet with two moons and so much energon that-- a sudden surge ran over Glowstick's body, he then transformed to his squid mode .. That forces us to use these pathetic organic forms to even survive on this wasteland.

Tantrum looked at his arms as waves of energon washed over them. 'Warning, energon overload.' his internal computer chimed. Beast Mode.Tantrum gave his beast mode a once over. Ah yes, I chose well. This is clearly the most powerful land animal... Acid bladder with multiple nozzles... And seven stomaches. These beasts must have quite the appetite for war. He glowed approvingly.

Glowstick raised an transparent eyelid, then looked at the other cows grazing on grass in the distance Er.. Why yes you have. A beast of true physical prowess. Glowstick's feeder tentacles then fired out as he pulled himself up onto Tantrum's back Alas, my form is not designed for land. Who'd figure a planet that's 70% water and we'd spend the most time on the parts sticking out of it?

Just tell me where we go.

We head to the north, only parts that haven't been explored as of yet, the maximals may already be there in fact.. Glowstick then pointed in a direction with one of his tentacles.

[New Moon]

"Hmmm..."Using all four of ehr claws and legs Frilla climbed the tree she hid by and came to a brnach just above the Maximals and taking a clsoer look at the scene below. She was also very careful Ocanier did not spot her seeming he was the largest of the group. Luckily her green scales would eb good camoflauge unless she saw more Predacons come but for now she was keeping it on the down low.

[Phoenix]

Luna had watched the spectacle with great interest, particularly the part where the large beast with the sagging stomach had showed his little demonstration of power..

Oh these predacons intruiged her. Like herself they were different than the other animals in this world. Although they appeared to be freaks of nature, in a sense.. One was a clear water creature with with few uses overground. But at least he appeared to have more of a brain than his newfound large-breasted friend..

Deciding to make her presence known, Luna leaped down to join the others. She landed next to Tantrum with a growl.

"Big words for a grass-feeder," she smirked, before glancing across to the others. "You may call me Luna.."

[Xzuk]

Xzuk looked over at Icebreaker and smiled.

"Don't mess with what you don't understand. Let us investigate before we attempt to move it or destroy it..."

"Xzuk, Maximize!"

His head split into his shoulders again as he quickly doubled in size.

He powered on his jump jets and jumped off the edge of the canyon.

About three feet from the ground he fired up the jets to ease his landing.

The tech on this piece of machinery was incredible... and upon a closer look, they weren't just metal pillars holding it in place...

"They're shaped like claws.... I've got a bad feeling about this thing..."

He turned to look over at Icebreaker.

"What do you make of it?"

[Alak]

Orcariner flipped through the different scanners on his interface. He felt a jolt of discomfort as Moonshine continued to repair his left side.

"Here's something new," he said, "I've been picking up more and more signatures appearing with the Preds. Some are pretty faded like the one I found before, but I think those might actually be transformers in beast mode."

The smaller Maximal showed her acknowledgment as she continued to fuse a split cable together.

"I'm counting about seven units in their party," he continued, trying to ignore the shocks, "Knowing our luck, they're probably all Predacons. Let's hope this truce still holds up."

[Xzuk]

Xzuk heard Orcariners report...

That is some pretty bad news...

"I've seen worse odds. And I'm still here."

He smiled and looked up at the top of the canyon.

"It's all about knowing your battlefield. Use it to your advantage..."

He then returned his attention to the power source and reached out to touch it, but as he did, he got a jolt from the machine and was reverted to beast mode.

"What just happened?"

[NaitoKage]

Icebreaker watched as Xzuk interacted with the machine, speaking up to the others I wouldn't be worried about an army of preds like that.. Gurrilla tactics and firepower can reduce those odds big guy. What the..

Icebreaker leaned over shouting into the canyon Hey, you okay down there?! What happened?

[Alak]

Moonshine finished the quick repairs and closed the armor plate on Orcariner's left side. He could still feel the burn of the turret's beam, but at least he was fully functional now.

Hey, you okay down there?! What happened?

"You hear that?" he asked Moonshine, taking out his carbine rifle, "Something's going down up ahead. Let's catch up."

[Xzuk]

Xzuk was a bit confused, but he was fine other than that.

"I don't think it would be wise to move this thing... If it has the power to revert us to our Beast Modes, I cant imagine what else it can do..."

He looked back up towards his fellow maximals

"Maximize."

He reverted to his robot form and used his jump jets to get to the lip of the canyon.

"Orcariner, can you mark this location on your sensors? I have a feeling this device may come in handy. If we should have to worry about predacons."

Xzuk smiled.

"They'd do anything to get their hands on a powerful weapon... and if they believed this to be a powerful weapon, they wouldn't quit until they had it under control.... But it would also revert them to beast mode... giving us the advantage."

Xzuk knew the truce wouldn't last, at least now they had a small tactical advantage.

[Alak]

Orcariner and Moonshine finally caught up to Xzuk and Icebreaker. Shortly after receiving the leader's transmission, the large Maximal caught sight of the technological canyon.

"By Primus' forehead!" he exclaimed, "Um...sure I'll try to get a signature lock. This may take a few cycles, though."

Orcariner knelt down at the edge of the canyon, and focused on the center console that Xzuk had inspected earlier. A transparent beam fired from his eyes and stretched over the vast gap until is reach the center.

"Let's hope this thing doesn't detect Maximal radar scans. I really don't feel like taking another hit."

A white diamond icon appeared on his topographic grid, indicating the location of the canyon's center console. Right then, Orcariner had an idea.

"Just give me a few more cycles, I think I can extract something that'll help us even more," he said with a grin.

Lines upon lines of alien letter characters scrolled through his optics. The Maximal could not understand any of it, but he didn't care at the moment. Soon, the writing was gone and regional maps appeared.

"Gotcha," Orcariner chucked, turning off the scanning beam, "I downloaded what I could off the alien computer. I'd need an actual jack to hack deeper into their system, but I guess you'd advise against touching it. Anyhow, I'm going to perform a file share with the three of you so prepare for an upload."

Staring into Xzuk's eyes, Orcariner linked a data beam that proceed to send copies of the alien data he had downloaded earlier. He proceeded to do the same with the others.

"If you all scroll to the bottom you'll see that we now have maps to the entire planet. Whoever built this canyon apparently wanted to keep tabs on everything else they created. Zoom in on our current location, and you'll notice white blips not too far south from here. I believe those are the positions of the hidden gun turrets. See where I'm getting at?"

[NaitoKage]

Icebreaker raised an optic ridge looking at the map Looks like we're not so alone after all man. I haven't seen anything like this down south with the penguins. So there could be more of these things.. even more turrets further north we go..

He then pulled the grappling anchor from his gun putting it away in his shield, then spun his gun putting it at his side So now what?

[Xzuk]

"I hate to say it, but we can't just leave the predacons behind."

He smiled and looked around at the others. Their expressions were priceless.

"Haha... Uhm... Or we could keep going to try and find a base of operations."

[Phoenix]

Moonshine stayed back a little bit, just in case another one of the alien machines would attack them. Although she came closer after Orcariner declared he'd seen the alien code for himself.

"The predacons are in the same situation we are, so they have as much of a reason to maintain the truce as we do, right?," she asked, to nobody in particular. Truth be told this alien technology had her much more worried than a few extra preds.

"Are you sure we should be messing with this technology?," she added, as an afterthought.