The Intergalactic Highway

Wintersong listened and looked out again but could only make out Tigatron for a moment only seeing a brief glimpse of his pursuer. "Starshadow..." Wintersong growled knowing the panther all too well, still remembering the last encounters she had had with the crazed femme and still wanted pay back yet she held herself back from asking Optimus to go out and aid Tigatron. Besides unlike Feralnight she could not fly and leaping off a moving vehicle was enough to dislocate a joint or two.

Starshadow slowed down and circled around Tigatron with her fur bristling. The feline was baring her fangs as she fixed her gaze on him, observing his position and waiting for the perfect time to attack.

Starshadow snarled and ran around and the boulder that Tigatron was standing on, trying to confuse him.

"Bridge," asked Orcariner, "How close are we to the field?"

If they were within walking distance, it would be possible to send Cheetor and Icebreaker into the area. They were more than quick enough to pull of hit and run tactics regardless of the energon radiation. That would push off Tigatron's attackers and give the Nomad some breathing room as it made its approach.

Sonar narrowed his optics as he looked at the monitor.

"Glowstick, I believe the Maximals have their own ship and it's heading toward Starshadow's and Terrasaur's direction."

Screw mining the energon, I'm a fighter not a miner! He thought as his ears went back.

Tigatron watched the panther closely. Like her, he bared his fangs and growled, his ears turned back a bit and his tail waving behind him. Make your move, Predacon, he thought, watching her begin to circle him.

Suddenly, seemingly out of no where, a shot was fired from the air, aimed to deliberately hit the boulder right between Tigatron and Starshadow at the precise moment she passed around him.

The white tiger saw it at the last moment, which was too late to react. "RRAAARGH!" cried Tigatron as the blast blew him off of his paws, backwards, landing unconscious on the ground between other surrounding boulders. Everything was black. Everything was silent. A huge chunk of the large rock was gone, turned to dust.

"Starshadow..."

Optimus looked from the monitor with all of the signatures floating around on it to the window when Wintersong growled.

"Bridge," "How close are we to the field?"

"We're about-" began Primal but his voice stopped. Witnessing the explosion through the window immediately turned his attention to the radar on the screen. "What the slag was that?" It was right near or on Tigatron. Did Starshadow fire? Had she even transformed? There were no other signatures near them save for Feralnight, who was firing in Terrorsaur's direction and no where near the white tiger or the black panther. "Tigatron, do you read me?" he called through the Nomad's communications with a concerned tone. There was no answer. "Tigatron, this is Optimus. Do you read?" Silence.

"Feralnight, what happened?" Optimus asked. "Do you see Tigatron?" The leader was on the verge of leaping out of the Nomad and defending his Maximals out there, but he had to remain calm and think it through. He needed a report from their only other pair of eyes in the area.

If your worried about putting a limb on, I can do it. Since search and rescue is my thing, I've started carrying a med kit again. I can put an arm on or stabilize a spark, but I can't promise you'll be able to use all your fingers if I have to attach it fast.

"You know, 'Breaker, that's all fine an' dandy," Rattrap commented. "Unless you're injured. Then what?" He shook his head.

Slag.. Hey guys, remember that transport we were telling you about?.. I think the Predacons brought it, and it's registering as maybe twice or three times it's size.. I can't get a visual on it yet though.

"Oh? Fantastic. Now we're all gonna die," said the negative rodent.

It certainly wasn't what Optimus wanted to hear either but he wasn't surprised. His first concern right now were his Maximals out there in the elements against two enemies.

Hearing the commotion up on the bridge from the boss monkey, Rattrap wondered what the heck was going on out there. If Stripes was already injured, they had better get their little make-shift medical bay together now. Quickly, he got to work on organizing important materials in easy-to-reach places for quick convenience; moving things here and setting up things there.

Steelclaw remained watching the monitor as he waited for the opportune moment to strike the Nomad.

But then he noticed a boulder near Starshadow and the opposing Maximal explode practically out of nowhere. He was immediately perplexed.

"Wasn't me," he said, taking his hands off of the gun controls for a moment. "Did anyone see what just happened out there?"

Wintersong blinked, seeing the explosion. What had just happened? "Optimus I don't even think that was the Predacons." She said glancing at the monitors, they didn't even seem in range of such a shot.

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Snow Trix glanced at Steelclaw, Saw an explosion but even the Maximals wouldn't fire on their own teammates or even risk it so close to an energon deposit." She said then looked back trying to observe anything they may have missed.

Icebreaker looked towards Wintersong mentioning Starshadow, he smirked as his face armor slid up from the side's of his helmet. Got a score to settle too hm? Thanks to that Pred the females around the base gawked for a week about that little kiss she left on me. But you'll have to settle that later.. you got the helm. He then placed his hand on her side as he stood up, sliding her suddenly into his seat. He could tell the situation was rather dire, unusual explosions and allies under predacon fire.

Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"You know, 'Breaker, that's all fine an' dandy," Rattrap commented. "Unless you're injured. Then what?" He shook his head.

He then drew his frost launcher from his hip, pulling out a grappling hook from his back and loading it into the gun, then spoke up I guess you'll have to deal with that problem when it happens Trap', last time I still managed to get Orcariner home with the coyotes eating my guts.. But if I get put down, Orcariner should be able to do it.


Icebreaker then walked towards the side door on the ride part of the Nomad I'm heading out, I'll make sure Stripes is okay. He then hit the bridge hatch release with the end of his gun causing the door to slide open, then jumped out through the door, firing his grappling hook up towards the crane arm on the Nomad. The hook slid along the edge of the crane with sparks of metal friction flying from it while the wire extended, Icebreaker released the shield on his shoulder swinging it under his feet as it transformed, then cut the wire to his grappling hook landing on the ground now a short distance from it.

From inside of the bridge Icebreaker was suddenly seen rushing ahead of the vehicle at great speed leaning rather low in stance, a trail of dust and grass blades stirred up in his wake.

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Glowstick blinked, wondering if Sonar was paying attention to some of the conversation, then shrugged it off. Yes, that is why I'd like you to raise the ship's altitude so we can fire on the enemy transport. As for going through the bridge.. I'm not entirely sure, normally yes. But I don't know if they have windows, use cameras, or plasma windows for viewing. So all I can guess is the normal weak points on a ship. The thrusters, buoyancy, bridge, and steering mechanisms like those.. weird wings on the side of that thing... it's like a box with wings isn't it?..

Glowstick watched the video as the maximal transport got closer, looking baffled at their design choice. Simple sure, but also a bit ridiculous..

Glowstick then blinked noticing the explosion on screen. No, I saw it too. Something is going on.. Glowstick then activated his radio Star, report. What is your status?

"That has to suck." Wintersong managed before finding herself suddenly being slid into where Icebreaker had just been, "Wait what the...Icebreaker are you nuts?!" She protested but he was already gone and her ears went back. Taking the controls now she kept the Nomad at the speed it was going shaking her head and silently prayed to Primus that they wouldn't die.

Starshadow roared as she got knocked back by the explosion, skidding on the ground. "Ugh...Oww.."

Star, report. What is your status?

"G-Glowstick. Did you...open fire?" she growled in her comlinks. Her vision was blurry, head was pounding. "DID YOU?!" she repeated her question with a snarl.

Something unexpected had happened, and if it was not in the plan then Scorponok was in a foul mood.

"What's going on?!" he asked the crew as soon as he heard the explosion.

He could hear Steelclaw's voice from above saying something about how it was not his doing. Regardless, someone had to have caused that explosion and Scorponok wanted answered now.


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Terrorsaur heard a boom but was too caught up in the heat of things to care. Tigatron and Starshadow were on their own, because up here it was a duel between the fliers. He continued his descent, knowing that Feralnight was on his tail. Grinning, he screamed out loud as he became dangerously close to the deposits.

"Terrorize!"

As soon as he transformed, the Predacon could feel his dampers choking from the intensity of energon radiation. It did not matter because he only needed a few precious nanoclicks in robot form in order to pull this stunt off. Spinning around to face the pursuing Feralnight, Terrorsaur stuck his tongue out as well as his shoulder cannons and proceeded to unleashed a storm of quasar pulses at her. His jet pack simultaneously roared with life and he was even a bit worried that the afterburners would aggravate the energon below him. Even still, such worries were pushed back by the thoughts of relishing victory.

Feralnight growled and kept firing but was getting hit by the quasar pulses. But soon her systems warned of the radiation about to affect her systems, forcing her to have to fly towards the side and avoid any more damage. "Beast mode!" Transforming Feralnight looked back at the Predacon, being a bit nervous so close to the deposit and worried for her teammate. "Sorry beaky but I have a teammate to worry about." With that she dove towards where Tigatron was unconscious and hearing Starshadow complaining. Yet what had caused the explosion?

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Frilla looked at the monitor, almost calm before finally speaking. "Is their a likely chance we are not alone here? For if the Maximals didn't fire and we didn't then there is either others here and we are not as alone as we think." She pointed out.

the Predacon bridge was still on StarShadow's com as she responded.

starshadow wrote:"G-Glowstick. Did you...open fire?" she growled in her comlinks. Her vision was blurry, head was pounding. "DID YOU?!" she repeated her question with a snarl.

Glowstick shaked his head, he assumed it was the adrenalin pumping after being blown up that she would even say something that crazy. No, the Leviathan hasn't fired a shot.. Nor have the maximals from what we can tell. Can you walk or do I need to recover you?

Glowstick then looked towards Scorponok, his head tilting as he heard frilla. We're not sure sir, there seems to be a undetectable enemy out there with alot of firepower from what I can tell.
Glowstick then looked towards Frilla Not alone hm? Like the standing stones and that junked alien turret I gave you? But usually this nonsense happens around a ruins.. It would make sense firepower wise though.. when I was hit by one of those things it nearly tore me in half when I transformed.

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Icebreaker activated his comlink as he saw Feralnight Nice idea, but don't leave your back open to a enemy in a fight, Predacons always aim for you're backside! I'll cover your' tail, get Tigatron to the Nomad stat! he then shifted on his board moving in a fast arc as he came in range of Terrorsaur, his visor sliding down over his optics as he pointed his frost launcher up at Terrorsaur. Hey freak,lets see how well you fly on ice! he then shouted firing off a wide cryogenic beam at the flier.

(Oh, and Alak, Terrorsaur has three main weapons. Optic lasers, Shoulder quasar guns/missile launchers, and that big assault rifle like gun.)

NaitoKage wrote:Icebreaker activated his comlink as he saw Feralnight Nice idea, but don't leave your back open to a enemy in a fight, Predacons always aim for you're backside! I'll cover your' tail, get Tigatron to the Nomad stat! he then shifted on his board moving in a fast arc as he came in range of Terrorsaur, his visor sliding down over his optics as he pointed his frost launcher up at Terrorsaur. Hey freak,lets see how well you fly on ice! he then shouted firing off a wide cryogenic beam at the flier.

(Oh, and Alak, Terrorsaur has three main weapons. Optic lasers, Shoulder quasar guns/missile launchers, and that big assault rifle like gun.)

((OOC: Oh, whoops. I dunno why I thought he has wrist blasters but I went ahead and edited my previous post. Thanks for the heads up!))

Laughing, Terrorsaur began to climb once again and thankfully this jet pack did not detonate the energon below him. However, before he react, an intense stream of icy wind struck him. Having never actually encountering Icebreaker before, he was unfamiliar with this weapon. His joints slowly became frigid and a layer of ice crept about his outer shell. The jet pack burned vigorously still, but without the ability to move or steer, Terrorsaur quickly found himself flying straight into the side of a hill.


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Scorponok replied, "Start descending towards the energon field. It's a big field, so keep the ship low enough to avoid both Maximal and unknown fire. The closer we get to the energon, the less likely they will be willing to shoot at us with energy or explosive weaponry. Once there, we will proceed with the plan. Snowtrix and I will retrieve the panther. She can wait until then."

He turned heel and walked towards the hanger. The time for battle was nearing and it would be best for him to stock up on supplies.

"Scorponok, wait a second," Steelclaw said, getting up out of his chair as Scorponok started leaving. "I agree with you when you say the Maximals aren't going to attack our ship if we're next to an energon field. But something just did attack a Maximal and a Predacon at the same time. I'm with Frilla and Glowstick on this one, at least in part- something abnormal is going on and putting us next to a cache of energon without knowing the cause of that explosion seems too risky."

Then he remembered who he was talking to.

"I don't presume to order you, I'm just adding another perspective which you can laugh at if you want to. But if you're going to laugh, at least give me the humiliation of explaining to me why I'm wrong."

* * *

Cheetor took notice of Rattrap's response to the noise up above, so he started helping arrange things. But he was curious...

"'Bots, what's going on?" he shouted to those on the first level.