"Chain of Command"

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

Megatron, with some of his Predacons in tow, slowed down and calmly approached the standing stones in beast mode. Stopping just near the center, where the gold alien probe with its alien enscriptions quietly floated, the t-rex grumbled thoughtfully before speaking.

"The Maximals will be coming shortly," Megatron said in his deep voice. "But we can still obtain the element of surprise, yesss." He glanced among his troops. He wanted this mysterious pod, and if they could ambush their enemy, then they would have the upper hand. "We will hide and remain in beast mode until those insignificant Maximals arrive. No doubt they will assume our destination for the probe, so when they find us nowhere in sight, we will transform and engage them, catching them unawares. Yesss." He smiled, baring his large sharp teeth and wriggling his tiny fingers on his short arms.

Then he opened a communication link to all of his Predacons not present, and the Darksyde, in hopes to gain reinforcements if his signal could reach to any of them. "Attention, Predacons: This is Megatron. Converge on my coordinates at the standing stones immediately. We must secure the alien probe!"

-----

Meanwhile, Rattrap and his little team continued toward the standing stones on foot in their beast modes. All he really kept thinking about was Valkyrie and her team, hoping they'd be able to assist them incase Megatron had any tricks up his sleeves. And, of course, to get the boss monkey out of there before the probe either flew off back to space or was destroyed. If everything failed, then they were definitely all going to die.

[starshadow]

Starshadow heard Megatron's voice and ran out of her quarters. She opened her comlinks to the remaining predacons who were not with Megatron "Glowstick, Snow Trix, Steelclaw, Sonar, Megatron has orders."

She looked at the computer screen and quickly tell them the co ordinates. "Now move your afts!!." she ran out of the Darksyde, heading to the standing stones.

[NaitoKage]

Tarantulus nodded his body in agreement, then crawled towards the standing stones climbing the surface of one.

_________________________________________________________

Icebreaker waddled along onto the lift of the Axalon, his flipper moved hitting the button to have the lift raise up, then steps out hitting the recall button to send the lift down for Cheetor.

He walked towards the CR chamber, then turned walking backwards and leaned down lowering Valkyrie's body into the CR chamber, he then closed the lid of the CR chamber and transformed to robot mode heading towards his room, he then came out with a canteen drinking it while carrying a few new magazines of micro missiles. He then waved to Skyfire Yo.

_________________________________________________________

Glowstick raised an optic ridge watching Starshadow, still working on his broken weapons .. Not much point in going, my weapons are broken, Steelclaw is banged up.. guess that leaves Snowtrix? he then turned his head pondering.

[Wintersong]

Snwo Trix had bean sitting ona rock formation just busying herself in makings shapes int he charred dirt with a stick until she heard the com-ink, "About time." Transfomring, knowing it would be a minute or two when the energon surge would hit she took off as fast as she could move after Starshadow and towards where Megatorn had sent the coordinates.


One way or another she was ready to show these maximals a thing or two.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wintersong paused briefly sniffing the air, ears going forward a bit as she caught the scents of their companions, she just hoped Ocarnier was able to keep up since it was hard to tell from moving on land. Well wouldn't hurt to check on him at least.

"Orcanier, how are you holding up?" she asked through the com-link as she continue dot run hoping to catch up with the Maximals heading towards the Standing Stones.

[Alak]

Orcariner surged through the river towards the standing stones. The water was becoming shallow and it was difficult for the large whale to maintain his speed. Very soon, he would have to transform and continue his journey on foot. The Maximal was hoping that they would not encounter anymore energy waves that overrode their robot forms. His memories of being trapped in the middle of the grass plains in beast mode still shook him. Trying to forget about the scary subject, Orcariner thought about the mission at hand. Optimus Primal was apparently missing, therefore, someone else had to be left in charge. Valkyrie was second in command but she was with them in their scouting mission and is currently out of commission. He randomly selected someone to contact.

"Orcariner to Rhinox," he radioed, "Wintersong and I are on route to your destination. How far are you from the standing stones?"

[Blazemane]

Cheetor stepped onto the lift as soon as it came to him, and then it made its way up to the bridge.

"Hey Sky-fi, what's skakin'?"

* * *

Glowstick, Snow Trix, Steelclaw, Sonar, Megatron has orders.

Steelclaw pondered this for a moment.

"Given the injuries I've under-taken, I'm certain Megatron would see my participation on the field as more of a liability than an asset." he responded to Starshadow on his com-link.

Then he moved his own head backwards in surprise. Slag, if that hadn't sounded overly formal.

As he looked around his room though, and considered how the Beast Wars had been going thus far, another plan came to his mind. Perhaps this was finally the time to answer the questions which had been annoying him since day one. Perhaps it was time to make his own personal visit to the Axalon.

But there was so much risk involved. It seemed likely that the Maximals he had been skirmishing would stay behind to repair their own damage. And they couldn't all be repairing that damage in CR chambers.

Still, if there was any time to find the information he'd been searching for, that time was now. So, he grabbed a significant amount of ammo, walked out of his quarters, and after looking around to confirm nobody was witness to his departure, he locked the doors behind him.

"Beast mode." he commanded himself. Then he took off down the hallway and went out of one of the holes in the Darksyde's hull that had been punched in by the Axalon's weapons earlier.

Then he paused. Somebody had to know where he was going. So he opened a private com-link channel to Glowstick.

"Hey, I'm going to the Axalon. Want me to pick anything up for you?"

[SkyxDB]

Yo.

"Hey" Skyfire waved back to Icebreaker.

"Hey Sky-fi, what's skakin'?"

"Well a lot actually" Skyfire replied. "Optimus is trapped in an alien probe over at the standing stones. Rattrap and others went to go free him."

[NaitoKage]

Rhinox turned his head looking towards Rattrap and the others as he heard the radio, then shrugged activating his microphone This is Rhinox speaking, we are currently half way to the standing stones.

Rhinox then looked towards Rattrap So what do we do? Proceed on course or meet up with them?

_________________________________________________________

Icebreaker raised an optic ridge hearing Skyfire Wow.., seems more exciting then finding a new Predacon. Are you the only one left on guard? he then quickly tried to finish off his container of energon to recharge his fuel cells.

_________________________________________________________

Glowstick lifted his head from his weapon repairs. He activated his communication system Besides some pinup calendars and soundtracks? I can think of something.. Remember earlier when we were talking to Sonar? He mentioned "General" Saber fang. I think they may have some information on him.. Glowstick then got up flexing and curling his feeder tentacle into a ball looking at the installed laser Of course.. knowing you, your planning to talk to them?

His tentacles started work on repairing his other chemical laser That's fine if I can get that info..

[Blazemane]

Cheetor's eyes widened.

"Big Bot's in a probe?" he asked incredulously as he transformed and hooked himself up to an energon feeder.

"Icebreaker, how soon can we hit the road?"

* * *

Besides some pinup calendars and soundtracks? I can think of something.. Remember earlier when we were talking to Sonar? He mentioned "General" Saber fang. I think they may have some information on him..

"I was hoping the same." Steelclaw admitted as he began running.

Of course.. knowing you, your planning to talk to them?

"That would be incredibly fun, but I don't think they'd see it the same way, so I'm really hoping I can slip in completely unnoticed. Their computer systems probably know a lot more than they do anyways. We'll see.."

[NaitoKage]

Icebreaker looked towards Cheetor Er.. Anytime now. I'm restocked and ready kiddo. he then holstered his launcher at his hip, he slid away his missile magazines and attached a few spare grappling missiles away in his shield. He looks over Cheetor, then Skyfire who seemed to also show signs of injury You sure you can handle it though?

_______________________________________________

Glowstick's face flexed, almost as if it was trying to smirk. He got up reaching into a box next to his desk pulling out what looked like one of Tarantulus's spider drones, repainted in dark blue and grey camo. Looks like this toy may come in handy.. he then floated out of his seat floating out of the Predacon base and high into the air, his tentacles finishing fiddling with parts on his other arm though he hoped he wouldn't need to use the lasers in this situation.

[Blazemane]

Er.. Anytime now. I'm restocked and ready kiddo.

Cheetor took the energon feeder away from himself as soon as he heard that.

You sure you can handle it though?

"I'm ready." he claimed, which was definitely true in a sense of will, but not perfectly accurate in a sense of his injury or power levels. It wasn't that he would fall right down at the standing stones, but if he were a few stellar cycles wiser, he probably would've given himself just a little more time at the base.

"I can't just leave him there." he re-affirmed.

[SkyxDB]

Wow.., seems more exciting then finding a new Predacon. Are you the only one left on guard?

"Yeah, I was the only one here on guard before you guys showed up." Skyfire said.

You sure you can handle it though


"I'm ready." he claimed, which was definitely true in a sense of will, but not perfectly accurate in a sense of his injury or power levels. It wasn't that he would fall right down at the standing stones, but if he were a few stellar cycles wiser, he probably would've given himself just a little more time at the base.

"I can't just leave him there." he re-affirmed.

"Alright, guys you be careful." Skyfired said to Cheetor and Icebreaker. "But before you guys go, are you sure you're in okay enough shape to go Cheetor. I know you want to help Optimus, but you won't do him any good if you get slagged." Skyfire said feeling concerned for Cheetor considering that she could tell that he was injured.

[Wintersong]

Wintersong slowed a bit to a trot, conserving her energy for now until the Maximals would be a bit more in sight, at least she hoped they would be. The tigeress began to wonder what exactly this probe was, who had made it, and what it possibly could want with Optimus Primal, seemed a bit odd it was even here. Then again the planet itself was strange in a sense. With the short time of activation on this planet, exploring where she could Wintersong still was astonished of how much there was still to discover. It would most likely take steller cycles to figure out most half the thigns this planet was concealing, maybe several centuries to understand it fully.

Shaking her head a bit Wintersong tried to push that to the back of her processor for the time being, focus on the task at hand first. Taking a deep breathe Wintersong started again at a run, going as fast as her beast form would allow her, eager to take part in a battle with the Predacons, especially Starshadow. The tigeress still wanted to get back at the winged panther for beating her the last major fight when the ships had first crashed.

[Blazemane]

But before you guys go, are you sure you're in okay enough shape to go Cheetor? I know you want to help Optimus, but you won't do him any good if you get slagged.

Cheetor froze for a nano-cycle, and then dropped his weapon-bearing arm, which he was surprised to find was starting to hurt again. Maybe the effects of the null ray were wearing off.

"No, you're right," he resigned, "I'd probably just get in the way." He transformed to beast mode to allow internal repairs to continue. "I guess you're on your own, Icebreaker."

[NaitoKage]

Icebreaker waved his hand Don't worry about it, we need more then just Sky here to protect the base spots. Take it easy and be on alert. he then walked into the lift, the door closing and the lift lowering outside. He threw his shield down as it unfolded into it's transport mode, then stepped on it, the tread spinning wildly as the board lifts slightly while traveling.

Woohoo! Icebreaker then shouts as he's seen from the Axalon's monitors disappearing quickly into the distance.