The Intergalactic Highway

Wintersong by now had left the battle, a bit far fromt eh Standing Stones and finally stopped sitting back on he rhaunches to look at her paw. It was sliced from the spike Starshadow had thrown earlier, luckily not very deep though still sore. Letting her animal instincts take over a bit she began to clean the cut lik any tiger would when they had an injury that wasn't too bad.

Though the tigress had helped in the battle she still felt it was best to come when needed, and it most likely wouldn't be for a while that she'd see either of the Maximals a lot. Unless running into them at random counted. Shurgging her shoulders she finsihed her task with ehr paw then set it down glancing around the terrian, feeling very vulnerable being out here. Her snow white fur and black stripes made her stand out like a sore thumb.

"Better get out of here before some other attack happens." She pushed herself to her paws and began to walk on hoping to at least find the forest and take cover there.

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Snow Trix troted towards the Darksyde, flicking her taila bit as she went down the crater the crashed ship had made, avoiding the lava pools she passed. Sure Megatron would likely be mad for not having more reinforcements but the battle was likely to have been lost anyway, so what would be the use in even participating.

Approaching the Darksyde Snow Trix entered and shook the dust from her fur before she transformed to robot form, coming further into the base and looking around. It certainly was still standing that was for sure, even in a crash like this some things were still functional.

"Guess it's not a complete junk pile." She muttered.

Starshadow just snarled as Tarantulas threw Terrorsaur's broken body on top of her. She narrowed her scarlet red eyes as the spider made a web.

"Thanks but I don't want to look that pathetic." and with that, she broke out of the web and started limping back to the Darksyde.

"Sky, if you're there, say right in the hallway where you are. 'Cause if you're you, and you're safe there, you can take any necessary precautions to avoid anyone coming for you. Just... try not to shoot me, 'cause I'm coming."

"Alright" Skyfire replied to Cheetor. "I'll stay in the hall until you get here" She replied.

'This can't be good She thought. She then pulled off her gun and stayed on alert and listened for any sounds of footsteps. She prepared herself to shoot in case an enemy did come down the hall. She only hoped that Cheetor would show up and not a Predacon.

Rounding the last necessary corner in a hurry, Cheetor finally found Skyfire. He was glad she was alone, and let his gun hang to his side after awkwardly realizing he was pointing it in her general direction.

"Sky! You're o.k.!" he said with relief.

* * *

Steelclaw finished welding the piece back on, and looked around. Fortunately, there still seemed to be no one coming after him.

"Beast mode!" he commanded. Then he got off the ship, and without much else to do, started running back to where he had placed his sniper rifle earlier.

"Thanks for everything, Glowstick" he said in his com-link.

((OOC: Were you hoping for a fight, NaitoKage? If you were, I apologize, because that would mean I have cut you off.))

(Naw, they'd probably accidentally take over the base, which would be weird.)

Glowstick would of smirked if he had the capability for facial expressions in either mode,his body drifting along in the water he responds on com-link Don't worry about it, it's rare some of my skills outside of building communication tools are used.

The drone spider crawled under Glowstick as he then sunk bellow the water's surface, starting to swim away before any of the maximals returned, particularly the aquatic ones.


(Okay, all that leaves is the Pod disappearing, Maximal talks, and either Rhinox or Rattrap explaining to Orcariner about the project to make him mobile over land in whale mode)

"Good times," "and plenty of cycles left before my energon dampers overload."

Orcariner's voice brought her out of her weird fear state thing, she just hopped that no one saw her reaction when she saw Sonar ((A/N: hint hint))

"So now that we're all back together, can somebody tell us what happened? Optimus disappearing, Rattrap leading, and something about some space pod? I'm confused...and tired."

She ignored Orcariner's comment and went back into her beast mode and walked out side the group and sat down waiting, her ears back.

It's been a long day for us all, I'll explain it on the way back. We've got alot of things to discuss infact.

Tell me about it. Things just got worse for me. Saber thought sadly.
She was glad that Optimus was back, but that didn't quell the feeling of dread in her spark.

((OOC: So what is the next episode and when are we switching over?))

(If I remember right, Fallen Comrades probably is next as they wanted to focus on important and active episodes. That has all the characters used and brings in Tigatron. Though that just leaves how to injure/detour all the maximal fliers..which actively is only OP,Valkyrie, and Skyfire as Moonshine quit, Angel hasn't joined and so on..)

((OOC: That kinda' sounds like a job for Sonar. He can fly, which means he could conceivably keep up with Terrorsaur and Waspinator- which would give Megatron good reason to send him with those two. He's a schemer who seems like the type who'd be more than eager to get his claws on Tigatron's pod, so I'm sure he'd agree to Megatron's command. And he has a sniper rifle, which would give him a pretty tactically strong way of taking out any Maximal fliers who do decide to go on the mission.

It's possible, too, that Valkyrie and Skyfire could just get into a fight with the Predacon fliers and lose. Maybe they could even take out one or two of the Preds with 'em and change the story a little bit.

At any rate, I think we're switching over, Alak, when the pod disappears, the Maximals discuss that phenomenon, and Steelclaw and Glowstick get back at the Darksyde. Then I'd personally enjoy just a little more time to deal with the aftermath of their mission, which would also give Rhinox time with the Ocariner project.

I don't know. We'll see...))

* * *

Steelclaw arrived where he had placed his sniper rifle, and after pulling it away from the rocks, he turned back the dial on its side, and the green lights went off. Then he folded the gun back into a more compact shape and placed it on his back before transforming back to beast mode.

"So," he said, activating his com-link yet again, "Do we want this information to be public knowledge at the Darksyde? Megatron's going to be rather perturbed by our absence on the battlefield, so do you want to let him shout at us for a while, and then have me discuss what we did when I can find him alone, or are we going to admit what's going on in front of everyone?"

Then he gave it all a second though, and another idea occurred to him.

"Or is there any reason that even Megatron shouldn't know what happened today?"

((OOC: Well, there should be plenty of Predacon fliers to send Primal, Valkyrie, and Skyfire in the CR Chamber. Terrorsaur, Waspinator, Sonar, and Glowstick. I believe it was also an ambush in the original episode, so taking 3 Maximals out of the picture isn't too far-fetched with that team.))

After being shot by the maximal commander, right before she could start another round against the more experienced Maximal cat, she decided that it might be a good solution to withdraw with the rest of the Predacons.
So Venatrix transformed to her beastmode, and escaped quickly.
There was always next time, she thought.
This was a good lesson for her development. Learning to be patient was going to be difficult. Most challenges where.

((Hmm... sounds like fun... getting Valkyries cute butt kicked again ^^))

((OOC: Well, that certainly isn't written in stone, Venatrix. Perhaps Primal could decide that he needs a leader to watch the base. Maybe she helps Dinobot beat Scorponoks and co. away from the Axalon when Megatron tries to go for it (especially considering we might have to add any combination of Snow Trix, Glowstick, Venatrix, Starshadow and Steelclaw to that assaulting party.

No guarantees she'd have to lose any fight at all.))

Glowstick listened to the message pondering. Probably give him the information in private later, if we do it in front of the entire group they'll just think we're kiss butts, which may have consequences. Whatever those may be..

In anycase it isn't exactly "unknown" for Predacons to do whatever they want..Unless they're soldier types authority just rubs us wrong.. Probably why so many are bad at simple tasks like teamwork..Cooperation without deceit only can be brought with good rewards..Probably have to remember that if your in charge of the others. he then stated, thinking about the battle earlier, the situation could of easily been much different with out certain interferences.

Having made some distance, Glowstick sprung up from the water transforming to robot mode, then floated off towards the Predacon base.

(( OOC: I love that you guys are planning for the next episode, and I'll go look for someone who will want to play Tigatron, but would you mind moving your discussion to a separate topic out side of the game thread? Thank you! ))

"The day... and the probe is yours, Optimus. Yesss." "Just remember; not all aliens are munificent after all."

Optimus took his enemy's advice into great consideration. He was right, after all. This time he was freed from the alien's grasp unharmed, but they might not be so generous next time. If there was a next time.

Watching all of the Predacons leave the area, Primal sheathed his sword and calmly landed on his feet next to the probe, disengaging his prime jets. "Rattrap," he said, looking at his blackened face, "you commanded well in my absence."

Looking around for Wintersong before Optimus grabbed his attention, the rat walked up to the Maximal leader and scratched his head, wiping off some of the soot. "Eeeeh, command's a pain in the tail. Heh, especially with this pack of hinnies," smirked Rattrap. "You can keep it." It really was a tough job. A lot more work and weight than the lazy rodent had anticipated. Still, it was a generous compliment from the boss monkey.

"I'm more concerned with this probe right now," said Optimus as he lifted a hand to his lower jaw and thoughtfully tapped his chin with his index finger while studying the silent alien pod. Then, as if on cue, the gold probe began to fade and then disappeared completely.

"What the heck was that all about?" Rattrap asked, watching it vanish into thin air.

"I don't know. I suppose they found out everything they needed to know about us," Primal answered. Of course, that may not have been such a good thing. And why he was chosen to be "abducted" was another haunting mystery for himself. The faint voices in a foreign language that he had heard inside the pod weren't too comforting either, but Optimus would keep them to himself, for now.

(( OOC: I'm going to go on with Saber's fear of Sonar, Wintersong's disappearance and Val's team after Rhinox and/or Dinobot get their words in. I haven't forgotten! ))

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"You must be joking!! I worked my aft so hard to try to win the battle and they're leaving me behind?!" "Fine...They could go without me!! I'll just sit here and wait for my repairs to be completed. BEAST MODE!!"

"Stop your sniveling," Megatron called to Starshadow. Either Tarantulas or Venatrix could have helped her. She certainly had issues, although she seemed loyal to Megatron, he was always anxious to see how much control she could lose in the next battle and just mutulate a Maximal or two. On the other hand, she had quite the temper that could not be so easily tamed. If she doesn't learn to control it, it could interfer with things.

Megatron had reverted to his beast mode after he had walked a good distance away from the standing stones. Optimus Primal may be back, but to the Predacon rogue, it only made the Maximal Commander a target for the aliens again, which could work in his favor when they showed up next time. Yesss. And there would no doubt be a next time.

Terrorsaur, still out cold, was dragged off by Tarantulas, his limp body bouncing over the rougher terrain and his paint and scales scratching along the gravel and rcoks.

Rhinox looked towards Optimus after hearing him speak, then spoke up Yeah.. they know we have destructive capability.. and reason power.

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Icebreaker looked towards Optimus and Rhinox after noticing the probe disappearing. Not exactly the first thing from space today to disappear.. came to mind.