"Chain of Command"

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

"Yeah, we're reading you Optimus" "Big Bot!" "How'd you get out of the probe? How close are you to the base?"

Optimus gave a light chuckle to Cheetor's shout. It was good to hear his voice as well. "I'm not quite sure how to explain that just yet, Cheetor, but we're not far from the base now." The joy in his voice faded to a more serious tone when he added, "Icebreaker claims there were two Predacons missing at the standing stones who had attacked Valkyrie's team earlier. I just wanted to make sure everything was all right at the base."

"What is it that you need, Optimus?"

The gorilla's brown eyes briefly shifted to Saber when she spoke before looking forward again. Muting his comm. link to Cheetor, he also lowered his voice to the female feline as a privacy precaution from the others around them and stated, "I saw your fear when Sonar made his appearance. You two have a history together." Optimus paused, seeing if Saber-Fang would take the opportunity to explain.

"That sounds great! It would definitely make my solarcycle a lot more cheerful it I didn't have to worry about rivers and lakes all the time."

Good then, we should be able to install after I'm done patching everyone up.

For once, Rattrap didn't complain about the extra "work" ahead of him. After all, it was to help a good comrade. Someone of his size who they definitely needed on their side. He simply returned the grin back to Orcariner.

-----

"I came from Cybertron, of course.

Megatron narrowed his eyes in annoyance at the bat's smart remark. He knew what he meant. The last thing he wanted was a smarth-mouthed recruit, however, he had the courage Megatron seeked in his minions to attack Maximals, especially Optimus Primal, the way Sonar did.

As to did i get here, i followed your ships signal. I was going to join you but you left before i could join you.

The t-rex growled lightly in his throat. The bat's answer was a bit... short and gappy. It seemed as if he was leaving out details. What secrets this "loyal" Predacon harbor? "So, you must have had a ship," said Megatron, prying for the information that Sonar had keenly left out. It was more of a statement than a question. "And it was conveniently destroyed?"

[NaitoKage]

Glowstick watched as Starshadow ran off, he heard Snowtrix and turned with a shrug I guess anyone would have a bad day if they were beaten a few times and gut like a fish.

He floated from the bridge into the hall, heading towards his own quarters. Setting his feet onto the ground he then walked towards his wall, drawing his sword and setting it on a wall rack. He picked up the Drone Spider on his back looking it over before putting it away in a box of random items next to the desk.

He walked to the end of the room which appeared to have a tank of water, then climbed inside leaning back, his shoulders open exposing speakers starting to play his internal sound system on the song "State of mind". He leans his head back as he drifts into thought, the events of earlier playing through his mind.

[Night-Hunter]

"I saw your fear when Sonar made his appearance. You two have a history together."

Saber's demeanor changed and her ears drooped.
"You could say that. I had the unfortunate pleasure of running into him several times during my time as General of Cybertron. Slagger tried to kill me more then once." Saber said looking at the ground as she walked along side Optimus.
That last part had been a lie, she just hoped that he fell for it.
* * *

"So, you must have had a ship," "And it was conveniently destroyed?"

"Yes my lord. I destroyed it to keep the Maximals from getting thier grubby paws on it." Sonar replied calmly.

[Wintersong]

Snow Trix remembered watching the battle, it hadn't gone so well for the Predacons in the least. HSe guessed Starshadow hadn't exactly been happy from the loss. Shrugging she headed back to her quarters for a moment, retrieveing her energon rope and etting it at her side before leaving, closing the door behind her. SNow Trix came from the Darksyde checking she could have abit before another energon surge hit her systems. Satisfied she had a short while she moved away from the ship, going to her beast mode and hurrying up the slight incline.

Continuing on her way she paused glancing around until she found slanted boulder being supported by one sticking up fromt he ground, luckily a good distance from the lava pools. Transforming back to robot form she walked long the jagged rock to sit on a more flat surface. If anything it was better to think here then having to hear the complaints of the others for losing the battle.

[Venatrix]

Venatrix came to the Darkside before the rest of the Predacons, and moved through the corridors of the ship in beastmode when she heard Starshadow.

"Nothing!!"

She decided to investigate her teammates sudden outburst and transformed to move to the door, but didn't enter.
When the door opened and Starshadow moved out, she could see she was acting a bit weird. Even for her.
She leaned her back against the door post and crossed her arms infront of her chest.
"What have you been up to? Sneaking around like you just did, is very out of character. Even for you."

She turned her head to see who was in the room at the other side of the door, seeing Glowstick.
"Ah.... I see... The jealous boyfriend? Hehehehe."

It was more of an aimless taunt, but the failed ambush earlier took her opportunity to have a good rematch with the Maximal cat.
But now she felt like looking out to have a match with another type of warrior, to enhance her own skills, so one day she could stand against Dinobot with a lot more one on one battle experience.

[starshadow]

((LOL OOP!! I'll try.))

Starshadow gaze turned to Venatrix.
"Oh slag off, Vena...I don't have a boyfriend and never will...so quit blabbering and go chase a mouse." she growled and continue walking.
No boyfriends for this cat. How depressing... she thought.

[SkyxDB]

"Come on, we should get to the bridge"

"Okay, right behind you" Skyfire replied and followed Cheetor to the bridge.

"Yeah, we're reading you Optimus" "Big Bot!" "How'd you get out of the probe? How close are you to the base?"


Optimus gave a light chuckle to Cheetor's shout. It was good to hear his voice as well. "I'm not quite sure how to explain that just yet, Cheetor, but we're not far from the base now." The joy in his voice faded to a more serious tone when he added, "Icebreaker claims there were two Predacons missing at the standing stones who had attacked Valkyrie's team earlier. I just wanted to make sure everything was all right at the base."

Skyfire was relieved to hear that Optimus was now safe and sound but as for if things were alright as the base, "Well Cheetor and I are okay" Skyfire replied, "But there seemed to be something funny going on around here."

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

"Well Cheetor and I are okay" "But there seemed to be something funny going on around here."

"Keep the scanners on full alert, Skyfire," replied Optimus. "And check the surveilance for anything suspicious. If there was something going on, I'm sure there's a trail that was left behind. We'll be back shortly." With that, Primal ended the transmission and looked over at the saber tooth walking beside him.

"You could say that. I had the unfortunate pleasure of running into him several times during my time as General of Cybertron. Slagger tried to kill me more then once."

Something about Saber-Fang's tone wasn't the same, and the gorilla briefly narrowed an inquiring brown eye at her. Her answer didn't quite add up to the terror she showed when she saw the bat. "Several of us have been 'hunted' during our past missions and excursions, Saber-Fang," Optimus commented softly as he continued walking on his knuckles. "But I haven't seen such horror in one's eyes who has experienced circumstances with which you label as merely shrugging them off. Whatever is between you and Sonar goes much deeper than what you're letting on." The Maximal leader wasn't trying to pressure Saber or force her to say something she didn't want to share, but whatever the history was with her and Sonar, it could interfer during an important time, much like it did during that battle at the standing stones. If there was something Optimus could her help with, even if it was just listening, then he would do so. Saber-Fang was much the opposite of Primal in many ways when it came to leadership, so for someone like that bat to scare the fur off her tail just by showing up showed Optimus that either Sonar was a very devious little Predacon or a powerful one. It would help the Maximal team to know who they were dealing with.

[Night-Hunter]

"Several of us have been 'hunted' during our past missions and excursions, Saber-Fang,"

Saber sighed knowing it was true but she let him continue.

"But I haven't seen such horror in one's eyes who has experienced circumstances with which you label as merely shrugging them off. Whatever is between you and Sonar goes much deeper than what you're letting on."

Saber looked away she didn't know what to tell Optimus, she thought of him as an older brother figure, but she didn't know if she could trust him enough to tell him why Sonar scared the spark out of her. Getting shot by a sniper was one thing but telling some one who you see as an older brother was to much. Or maybe she didn't want to ruin her relationship him by telling him what she had done.
"You're right. But.... i don't know what to tell you, Optimus..." Witrh that she picked up the pace and walked ahead of him her ears drooping sadly, if she had a tail it would be dragging on the ground.

((OOC: I know Saber sounds emo right now but it was the only thing i could think of for how bad she feels about the deal she made with Sonar))

[Blazemane]

Cheetor hoped Primal would get back to base soon. After hearing his comment about "a trail" being left behind, he turned away from the console and began looking around the bridge suspiciously. But he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

* * *

Steelclaw checked the progress of his copying work, and noticed, with slight impatience (since he knew Megatron could arrive at any moment) that only the first copy was almost finished. But he couldn't make the work go any faster, so he set about disassembling his sniper rifle- preparing it for a full cleaning.

[NaitoKage]

Icebreaker over heard the com communication Optimus had with the base, one of his large yellow eyebrows twitched at hearing the word funny, he then watched the conversation with Saber as she walked ahead. It seemed to him more and more twists and mysteries were popping up. He walked towards Optimus Funny things happening at the base? That sounds like Glowstick alright.. Back when I met Orcariner he jammed our Radio systems and radar. I think he mentioned that he was a Communications officer, but to what was rather vague. Earlier in the battle he jammed our radios again..

Rhinox looked towards Icebreaker Do you think he's been listening to our communications? he then stated with concern.

Icebreaker shrugged I couldn't say for sure, though his main method of jamming is playing music.. like he's a DJ or something. Not bad tunes either really.

Rhinox shaked his head Things just get bad to worse. he then started to trudge on ahead to reach the maximal base, his concerns with the wounded and possible security breaches on his mind.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Glowstick leaned his head up hearing some of the noise from the others outside, noticing Venatrix he dimmed his optics Now who would want a immature berserker when they can have a mature ninja like yourself,sweetheart? he then wiggled the equivalent of his eyebrows on his face and chuckled darkly. His right arm swung out extending sliding the door shut to his quarters. He could see as to why Tarantulus set up shop outside of base, or why some of the other Predacons didn't stick around. His arm rested at the side of the water tank again, pondering. For now such things would be too much effort.. unless he could manufacture a means to find and take care of such things for him.

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

"You're right. But.... i don't know what to tell you, Optimus..."

The gorilla's mouth opened, but before he could say anything, Saber-Fang moved up ahead of him and Icebreaker stole his attention. His eyes lingered on the somewhat distressed cat while the penguin began to speak until he turned his head to look at him in mid-sentence. He would continue his discussion with her once he tended to their new situation.

Funny things happening at the base? That sounds like Glowstick alright.. Back when I met Orcariner he jammed our Radio systems and radar. I think he mentioned that he was a Communications officer, but to what was rather vague. Earlier in the battle he jammed our radios again..

Do you think he's been listening to our communications?

Optimus remained silent in thought while he listened to Ice and Rhinox, the Axalon coming into view.

I couldn't say for sure, though his main method of jamming is playing music.. like he's a DJ or something. Not bad tunes either really.

Things just get bad to worse.

"If he wasn't messing with our communications, but something odd was going on at the base, then perhaps he was infiltrating our computer system," Primal commented. "And I doubt he was working alone, which means one could have created a diversion while the other hacked our data." The ape's eyes narrowed a little with frustration.

"Rattrap, check our system logs as soon as you get inside. Dig deep if you have to," ordered Optimus with a firm voice. "I want to know what they might have been searching for. If they were gathering information, who was it, and what did they obtain?" If that was the Predacons' intentions and if they actually retrieved anything, then Optimus would be quite upset, especially if they shared it with Megatron. Their enemy would have a huge advantage over them.

[Night-Hunter]

"If he wasn't messing with our communications, but something odd was going on at the base, then perhaps he was infiltrating our computer system," Primal commented. "And I doubt he was working alone, which means one could have created a diversion while the other hacked our data."

Saber's turned her head slightly wanting to listen, Sonar was notoriously well known for hacking data, but how could Sonar know the location of the Maximal base. She knew for a fact that he couldn't fly that fast.

"Rattrap, check our system logs as soon as you get inside. Dig deep if you have to," "I want to know what they might have been searching for. If they were gathering information, who was it, and what did they obtain?"

Saber felt her spark sink, if even though there was no data on the creature inside her, there was info on her strenghts and weaknesses and other things such as her out of the blue retirement.

[NaitoKage]

Rhinox moved towards the base, then spoke up Rhinox, Maxamize!, transforming to his robot mode he walked towards the lift stepping on and entering the Axalon. In the bridge he looked towards Cheetor and Skyfire, then looked towards the computer seeing a status readout on Valkyrie in the CR chamber. He looked back towards them Alright you two, I'll get you fixed up. Follow me. He then made a motion with his arm for them to follow as he walked into the hall and opened a door to a fairly empty room with a bed on it getting some tools and parts ready.

His mood was rather poor from the frustrations of battle, but he was glad to have Optimus back and his crew mates still alive. However it seemed like every time he came back to the base, he always had to fix something, a endless cycle of repairs..

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Icebreaker walked towards the Axalon looking over the area, then sniffed the air. I'm going to investigate the area.. Something smells familiar..Icebreaker Maxamize! He said to Optimus, then transformed.

Walking towards the ship he carefully examined the ground, then looked over at points of the ship. Walking to the other side of the ship he noticed some unfamiliar wet tracks across the ground. It seemed unusual enough for a desert environment, specially as few of the maximals or animals in the area liked water that much. He then leaned down sticking two fingers into the dirt lifting it up and rubbing it between his fingers as he smelled the air. Traces of sulfur and volcanic ash..and a hint of the battlefield earlier...It was fairly obvious it was Predacon tracks, the volcanic area around their base made them reak of the stuff.

He then looked over at the ship which seemed fairly patchwork at this point, No signs of forced entry.. wait.. squinting his optics, his visor sliding down displaying a thermal graphic image to him of the ship, the welds and melt points glowing like candles on the display as they had yet to be quenched. Depending on the size and mass of the heated metal, it could take hours to days for it to cool down. Huh.. he must of had long enough to cover his tail. he said to himself in a low tone.

He placed his hand on the side of his head as his visor slid up, his comlink chirping active Icebreaker to Rattrap, check video on the lower decks of the ship. I think a bear snuck in and stole our picnic basket. he smirked to himself a bit at the comment, but knew all too well the situation was bad. Security breaks like this could cripple the group's privacy, let alone give advantages to the Predacons on personnel information or from leaving bugs behind to listen in on non-radio activity.

He walked down following the wet tracks to the water, then knelled by the water as he continued his investigation.He placed his hands into the water splashing some of it onto his face and over the feathers on his head, the cool sensation felt great compared to the usual dry heat around the base. He'd sometime wished they landed somewhere with snow or at least anywhere not as close to the equator of the planet. As he leaned up, he sniffed the air noticing the slight hint of squid. It was a smell familiar to him, as many of the creatures of the ocean were from the period of time he was alone on the planet.

___________________________________________________

Coming into range of the Predacon ship, Tarantulus started to pick up his pace. The sound of Terrorsaur's body dragging across the earth carving into the soil around the Darksyde. Tarantulus sighed in frustration of having to carry the cowardly egomaniac back towards the ship, to him it would of been preference to simply leave the Predacon to die by the standing stones, as then at least they wouldn't have to hear his squawking and quest for power.
Walking the depth of the halls of the ship, he finally made it to the CR tank. Tarantulus, Terrorize! he then said to himself transforming, he leaned over with a groan as he lifted up the unconscious Predacon and dropped him into the tank.

He transformed to his spider mode once more, then started to retreat towards his lab. The long day had many questions, but few answers. He'd brood over the situation in private, or at least get some rest before the purple saurian started to bark orders again.

[Lady_Jet2]

Rattrap sighed and nodded. "Yeah yeah...i'm on it." he said quickly transforming and moving to the computer console and began to pull up some of the video files needed, as well as backtracking the hacker who had gotten into the system. "I'm pullin' double duty here so don't expect anything too fast Icebreaker..." he said to the comm of Icebreaker. "Sheesh..." he grumbled, but was glad that the Boss was back. "Rhinox had betta get that shield and defense system up soon. m'gettin tired of this slag..." he grumbled and quickly began to work through the system's files first, knowing that that was more important than any physical theft.

(ooc: i'll get to Megatron in a bit...i think i had him accepted right? i forget...)