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"We should be in range any moment," Bluestreak murmured over a secure comm link with the femme. "They can't not be aware of our proximity." "Maybe they'll be smart enough to keep cover if this stage of their operation is as vital as it should seem to be." "Nah, that would made me more concerned. At this stage they should be making sure nothing disturbs them. A human squadron with a full payload should set them off. No way this thing is going to go unnoticed." He patted the side wall. "Broadcast is still jamming everything he possibly can. Until they have us on visual, we're invisible." Bluestreak tossed a frank look her way. "I'd like to think so. We shouldn't assume anything. I like this Falxernian tech idea and all, it's good to have an advantage, and I trust Broadcast's skills. But I also think it's possible for Skywarp to accidentally pop in right on top of us." Arcee lifted her arm an inch. "Well, that's what we're for, isn't it?" She gave a small grin. Bluestreak grinned back. The aircraft dipped. "Approaching target," the pilot warned. Both bots tensed and adjusted their perches. They would be jumping in robot mode after the others had been deployed to transform in mid air. Timing was everything now. Tidal Wave couldn't transform with his charges on board, but he would have plenty more artillery than the standard aircraft carrier. As the Hercules dipped lower, Bluestreak spotted the Decepticon in the water. No jets were on deck. He zoomed in and put a target lock on all visible cannons. None were hot to his sensors but he raised his rifle and sighted down each in turn. He drew more air through his intakes, his processor calculating the angles, turning radius, and potential speed of each battery. He remained focused on that task as they reached drop range. He didn't bat an optic as Optimus slid past. Seconds later, Prime landed in a crouch on the aircraft carrier's deck without denting it as he would have expected to on a human-made vessel. Tidal Wave would be impossible to take down from the outside. The trick was getting inside before the massive Decepticon sealed the doors. Ratchet thudded down a few feet away, solid on his feet, and rushed the area on the tower that Simmons had identified as the Cybertronian-sized entrance to the lower levels. He slammed his shoulder into it full force, and with it being more cosmetic than the deck, it did dent inward. That was one way to destroy the locking mechanism. He went to work with the laser cutter built into his arm to get the rest of the door out of the way. A protesting growl came from across the entire ship. Firestar and Arcee came next, each dashing parallel to the other as they covered the flight deck, sighting on anything that might pop up and attack. When no immediate threat showed itself, they headed for the tower, crossing paths and stepping heavily. Even though he had no apparent destination, Optimus kept moving. The idea was to create an extra amount of weight and vibrations to cover Thundercracker's arrival. A few seconds later Bluestreak landed, also aiming to make it seem he had more weight -- this time to appear so, because Thundercracker was to have touched down at the same time, in invisible robot mode. Bluestreak sent a nod Prime's way, then he made for the door Ratchet now had open, Arcee and Firestar beside him. Thundercracker would be slipping in ahead of them. It was all assumption, for both the Neutral and Broadcast were to maintain radio silence until the particulars of their mission were complete. The catch with the granted technology was that the Autobots couldn't track Thundercracker, either. Optimus peered across the deck, wary. Other than his troops thudding down the stairs there was no noise. He suspected that a good portion of Tidal Wave's energy reserves were being used in the experiment, or else they would have been dealing with a defense attack by now. He scanned the sky and caught a glimpse of something rocketing through the clouds from the opposite direction of where the Hercules had gone. He readied his cannon, tracking the pale shape. ~*~ Hook glanced up as Tidal Wave's growl echoed into the repair bay. "They are here." "Keep working," Soundwave called from the catwalk to the left of the support ring that held Megatron's new body upright. "They are dead." He narrowed his optics as he triggered a remote scan of the path the Autobots were taking. He didn't pick up on the cracked Falxernian signature he had expected Thundercracker to give off. Perhaps the traitor had merely been playing the Autobots long enough to get repairs, and an upgrade on the side, and then abandoned them. He looked down over the series of consoles and monitoring stations that surrounded Megatron. Each of the Constructicons had resumed overseeing their assigned stage in the procedures. Hook was securing their leader's spark chamber connections. Off to one side a smaller support structure, devoid of monitors and stabilizing equipment, held the damaged form of Dirge. He would have a perfect view of Megatron's impending resurrection. The Autobots were running right into their own destruction at the Decepticon leader's hands. ~*~ Ratchet halted, tensed to the point of sparking from his weapon arm. Arcee nearly bumped into him. She leaned around him to give him a questioning look. He tapped his wrist. Meanwhile, a few steps higher, Bluestreak and Firestar carried out a different silent conversation with gestures. It was all to buy a few more seconds for Thundercracker to enter the repair bay ahead of them. At the same time, Ratchet began to wonder why Optimus had yet to follow them down or signal that he was distracted above. Of course, it depended on the distraction. ~*~ Thundercracker was pleased that the stealth technology augmented by Broadcast's abilities was working as planned. He had expected Soundwave to discover him -- knowing full well how thoroughly the communications specialist could cast a sensor scan. But he had made it to the bay unnoticed and now he edged inside, glancing to where Soundwave stood on a catwalk, then noting the Constructicons and the sorry state of Dirge. Lastly he gazed up at Megatron's new body. In some ways it resembled the last fearsome shell he had seen his former leader boast. In others it looked much more deadly. The optics were dark but an area of the chest was suffused with a blue glow. There was a possibility that they were already too late to stop it. He picked his way around the room, stepping carefully over cables and avoiding Constructicons until he reached the structure holding Dirge. He studied the minimal patches that kept the wrecked mech together, then moved to his side, leaning close. From Dirge's exposed throat came sound -- he sang his own death song. Thundercracker wondered for a second if the mech's audio receptors would be working. Trusting in Broadcast's jamming field to encompass them both, he whispered, "Dirge, do you want to live?" The low singing stopped. The dim light in the wounded mech's optics shifted toward the voice, but he didn't give an indication of recognizing him. "I sacrifice my spark so Lord Megatron may live." "Idiot. They are sacrificing you to Megatron. He will live before your spark would be transferred to him. Can you not tell from this equipment?" The dim cameras looked downward, following the path of one cable, then another, of the numerous ones snaking along the floor. None connected to anything near him. He began to pull at one of his stripped arms but he was securely bound. Thundercracker put an invisible hand on his shoulder, again whispering, "Do not resist yet. There will be a chance. The others betrayed you and insulted you. They will know their fallacy. I ask only that you cooperate for now. I will free you when the opportunity comes." Dirge lowered his gaze again and resumed his mournful droning. There was a slight change to it. Thundercracker took that as a sign and quickly looked toward Soundwave. The communications officer still appeared oblivious, focused on what Hook was currently doing. Broadcast tapped his shoulder and Thundercracker added his own low rumble to Dirge's song. Now the trapped warrior accepted the sign and changed the frequency of his droning, a subtle turn to affect only the other Decepticons. Soundwave was not the only one who knew how to slip below the audio radar. Thundercracker then moved away to a position lining up better with the main console. Broadcast could use it for an emergency spark transfer. It wasn't as safe as a spark chamber transplant, but it was a chance they could use. Hook gave a signal to Scrapper. As the machine powered up Thundercracker felt Broadcast brace his hands on his upper right chest plate, the cable connecting him to the Neutral and his access to the stealth field about to slip free. Thundercracker wondered if he should do the small mech a favor and toss him toward the console. A new low rumbling filled the air as the monitor showed Megatron's systems beginning to go green one by one. A few seconds more and the Decepticon leader's optics lit up. Struck with awe, Thundercracker drew air sharply through his intakes. Then he felt Broadcast leave his shoulder, kicking him in the face on the way -- either from his haste to scramble off or on purpose to remind him of his new place. The second he left his perch he was visible. Thundercracker turned the invisibility field off altogether and opened fire with almost all of his available weapons, raining laser shots and small dart missiles everywhere except at the main console and the small mech sprinting toward it. As predicted his sudden appearance and assault gained all attention and inspired startled, almost frightened cries from the Decepticons on the floor -- with thanks to Dirge's singing upsetting their reasoning circuits. Broadcast was home free for those precious seconds. "Alert! Alert!" Squawktalk shrieked, swooping down to shoot at Thundercracker. "We noticed!" Scrapper snarled. His back plating rearranged into a missile launcher and immediately let loose a barrage. Thundercracker then noticed he had chosen the exact worse spot in the room to stand. Without vital equipment behind him no one was going to hold back. He dodged the retaliatory shots and ran toward a more suitable position, taking hits from Hook, Long Haul, and Scavenger on the way. A beep sounded over his internal comm link, signalling that Ratchet was in position. He kept moving to get further away from Dirge to minimize fallout on the wounded mech. New weapons fire joined but not aimed at him -- the other Autobots had gotten inside the bay and were, thankfully, distracting some of the Decepticons from him. The air quickly filled with flashing lasers, smoke, and the smell of scorched metal. Meanwhile, Broadcast reached the main console, Rhythm and Blues leaping from his back as he leapt up, all three landing on the control pad. In a split second they were inputting the modification commands that Ratchet transmitted from his safer field of observation. Then Broadcast used his own cables to connect into the system directly. The intrusion set off Hook's internal alarm, drawing his attention from Arcee, who had been running along the second catwalk while she fired down on him and Scavenger. He wanted to yell at Soundwave, but the communications officer was busy grappling with another of the Autobots. Hook had noticed that none of them were targetting the equipment, which would have been the quickest way to stop the operation. They wanted something first, and the little scraplet's efforts gave him a clue. As he shot at the small Autobot he wondered at the chance that they knew about the composite spark. Ratchet saw where Hook had aimed and did not doubt that the laser bolt would hit true. He took control of Blues, making the minimech jump to block the debilitating hit. Broadcast felt a wave of electronic feedback from the violent termination of his link to the smaller bot, but he ignored it, keeping his focus on the input sequence. That was all the medic could do, for he was swiftly cornered by Mixmaster and had to dodge a chemical stream blasted from a shoulder cannon. The spatter hissed on his armor. He hoped it wasn't the type that kept on dissolving through Autobot-grade circuitry. It did nothing to the floor and walls, but Tidal Wave was probably protected against any accidents on Mixmaster's part. Ratchet signalled Arcee to send some backup shots his way. Firestar was not a powerhouse like Chromia, but she did well in hand-to-hand combat. Using her folded rotor blades as tonfas along both her arms, she battled Soundwave on the catwalk, determined to keep him distracted with preserving his shell and stop him from unleashing any audible or subliminal attacks on her comrades. She was supposed to be avoiding as much damage as possible due to her role in the evacuation, but with Ratchet busy below, Bluestreak better suited as artillery, and Optimus still absent, someone had to deal with Soundwave. She was glad for the one advantage they did have over the Decepticons: none of them would be setting off anything big enough to take down all of the Autobots at once with all of this important equipment around and Megatron not yet revived. As long as the Stunticons didn't suddenly burst in they might have a chance. Then Megatron uttered a roar that shook the rafters. ~*~ Optimus identified the object as an MQ-1 Predator. It didn't seem like a useful form for a Decepticon, but he remained wary as it continued to approach. He was unsure why the humans would send it so soon -- it hadn't been in the plan he had discussed with Banachek, and the base where they had boarded the Hercules had not been preparing any observation craft. He scanned it as it flew over. It appeared to be perfectly normal. He gazed after it, thinking. There was still a possibility that it was one of Soundwave's minions. All doubt about the true nature of the Predator was removed when a missile swirled out of the clouds and detonated the craft. It was not a Decepticon. But the rust-colored figure plummeting toward him was. "Foolish, Prime! Foolish!" Thrust declared as he launched a missile toward the Autobot leader. Optimus shot it out of the air and aimed to do the same to Thrust. The flier transformed into an F-16 and blasted skyward again. Prime tracked him and hoped he came into range before Thrust obtained another target lock on him. He didn't notice the second F-16 coming in behind him until the tell-tale transformation reached his audio receptors. He turned just in time to catch Ramjet in the chest, the Decepticon laughing as the momentum carried them both across the deck and almost over the edge. Ramjet used a directional booster to get himself clear, but Optimus had to grab for a handhold. He caught himself in time and rolled away from the edge and brought up his gun. Ramjet had flown back up but now Thrust dove in for a new assault. ~*~ An answering noise thundered through the repair bay, shaking the floor and vibrating off the consoles nearest to Thundercracker. He drew himself up to his full height and let his deep drone do its psychological work on the Constructicons. He knew his range covered the floor, but he held no delusion that it would work on Megatron. Hook was trying to fight off the effects, irritated that he had underestimated both Dirge and Thundercracker. "Squawktalk!" he bellowed, pointing toward Broadcast. As the bird-mech circled to swoop in, Megatron himself snarled and reached toward the main console. Broadcast grabbed Rhythm, pulling one of the connection cables from his own head and plugging it into the back of the minimech's cranium then pushing Rhythm down flat on the console top. Then he turned with optics blazing as Megatron's hand snatched at him. He leapt upward over the closing digits, then emitted a burst of static as Squawktalk veered toward him. The bird screeched and jerked out of control, smashing into Megatron's hand. The Decepticon leader snarled again and flicked his wrist, sending Squawktalk into a painful collision with the nearest wall. In that moment of distraction Broadcast turned and jammed another of his cables into the data upload ports, inputting the final reversal code. He then played a disruptive signal sequence, hoping it would register before Megatron could grab him. A roar of pain told him it had. Broadcast turned again, keeping Rhythm behind him. He took quick note of where everyone was, seeking out Ratchet. He was by Dirge, working to get the damaged mech mobile while Thundercracker defended them both from Long Haul and Scavenger. The other Constructicons had been forced to take cover from the constant rain of fire from Bluestreak and Arcee, who also lent a shot or two toward Soundwave to assist Firestar. That was all he had time to take in. He felt a surge coming through the cables and braced himself. Megatron thrashed within the support ring, his optics ablaze and his hands grasping at his chest -- over his spark case. His gaze fell on the small Autobot and he roared, reaching for him again. Broadcast flared his LED screen to a searing white as the Decepticon leaned close -- then it abruptly went even brighter as the surge hit him. His limbs jerked out straight. He caught a glimpse of Megatron leering -- he had augmented the surge. Broadcast wanted to curse but he couldn't make a sound. He concentrated on the fact that Rhythm was behind him and so far was safe. He brightened his optics of his own volition, then narrowed them and forced his limbs to work as he took a defiant stance. Megatron was not about to intimidate him. He reached for the spark energy signature he knew was there and called to it. The response was almost immediate. He felt another surge, this one not random but familiar and grateful. Broadcast shuttered his optics and fed out data that would guide it along the lines to where it should go. "NO!!" Megatron howled. A second sentient surge raced after the first. With that unexpected threat, Broadcast feared there wouldn't be time to finish the relay as planned. He opened his optics and reached out with his spark energy to meet and absorb the first surge. After drawing it back into him through the cable a fiercely pulsing glow ignited beneath his chest plate. His body spasmed, unable to hold so much spark energy at once. He grabbed for the connecting cables, only able to yank one of them free before the servos in his right arm blew out. The second surge was closing in, and although there was no direct connection to him anymore, there was still a path through the console that he needed to sever. He grabbed for another of his head cables to plug into Rhythm. His LED screen went critical and exploded, but he forced his left arm to respond and get the new cable connected to the minimech. As his circuits sizzled he could only hope the energy flow would work. He was out of time. In a shower of sparks Broadcast dropped, twitching, on top of the console. He was unaware of the missile that impacted at the base of the console, sending him and Rhythm flying and detonating the console itself. Megatron's shell collapsed against the support ring, inducing a groan-like creak from the structure. Thundercracker stood with a smoking arm cannon, still braced for the recoil, his upper body heaving from the rapid air intake. Several seconds passed where everything seemed to stop. Soundwave froze in the middle of an upper cut to Firestar's jaw. Bluestreak's target on Mixmaster blipped. Scavenger halted just as he was about to pivot and drive a blade into Ratchet's cranium, the medic about to duck and drag Dirge with him out of the way. Tidal Wave voiced his displeasure and shifted in the water, throwing everyone off their feet. Arcee let herself slid from the catwalk, aiming to land on a monitor and then jump to the floor, mindful of a damaged left arm. She ran toward Broadcast and Rhythm, scooping them up in her good arm then making a dash for a way out. She trusted in Firestar to follow. Whatever waited outside that had engaged Prime, they had a mission to finish. Ratchet hauled Dirge up and kept an arm around him, more than just half-carrying him toward the exit with all haste. The medic fully expected someone to stop them and was tensed for an impact. A rain of bullets followed on his heels, but it was a defensive wall provided by Bluestreak. The gunner signalled to Firestar to break away from Soundwave, a missile launcher forming up from his shoulder simultaneously. She dove aside, righted herself, then pounded across the catwalk to the doorway leading out. While still covering Ratchet's retreat, Bluestreak used a secondary system to lock on to Soundwave and fire. The Decepticon countered the missile with a blast of concussive sound, disrupting its course and sending it off to explode in mid-air. It wasn't powerful enough to reach Bluestreak, so he shot at the Autobot instead, hitting the missile launcher and destroying it before Bluestreak could cycle another missile into place. The gunner dropped to a crouch, gripping his shoulder in pain. He shifted to aim his rifle at Soundwave. A buzz on his internal comm distracted him. "Go!" Thundercracker called over the line. "I can cover the retreat." Bluestreak glanced past the railing to where the recovered Constructicons were ganging up on the Neutral. "No. I won't leave you here alone." "You'll get caught in the boom! Go, now!" A deep rumble was gathering from Thundercracker's side of the bay, more ominous than the one before. Bluestreak was torn, but he did know what that mech could do when he cut loose with his specialized weapon. The Autobot got off one round of bullets in Soundwave's direction before fleeing for the exit. The rumble kept building and he hadn't yet reached the doorway when he had to clutch at his head. He pushed onward, knowing the headache would be worse for the Decepticons. He worried, however, when a new protest came from Tidal Wave along with another shift in the water. ~*~ Arcee ran out onto the deck and found it slick with water. The aircraft carrier's unnatural motion was stirring up the sea. The two jets that were buzzing a down and wounded Optimus probably weren't helping, either. "Prime!" She was afraid when he didn't rise, yet she did see his head turn in her direction. She hoped that he saw Broadcast and Rhythm in her arms. She couldn't form a weapon to help him without putting them down. Fortunately, the sight seemed to rouse some strength, for he stood and... opened himself to attack. He was keeping their focus on him. She withdrew to the cover of the tower to await Firestar. She had to keep the two small mechs safe. She scanned them, wondering if both of them would still be online by the time they reached the Ark. Both had active spark energy -- the pulsating glow continued beneath Broadcast's chest plate -- but the readings were horribly irregular. Broadcast smelled of burnt wiring more than anything else and she couldn't tell from the scan what was going on internally with Rhythm. She hoped it wasn't actually Megatron inhabiting the minimech. Firestar emerged from the tower with Ratchet close behind, Dirge in tow. The medic took a glance toward Prime, frowned, then set the wounded jet down and began field repairs on his legs. Dirge's optics were dim and he seemed unresponsive both physically and emotionally. Arcee wondered what they were going to do with him. His reputation wasn't any better than Thundercracker's. "Let's go!" Firestar called to the other femme, transforming. She opened her cargo door and Arcee placed Broadcast and Rhythm inside then carefully climbed in after, folding herself up as tightly as possible. There would be room to maneuver after the door was closed. Trusting that Prime could keep Thrust and Ramjet occupied, Firestar lifted off and flew with all haste toward Edwards Air Force Base. Her flyby would be the signal for the Hercules to return and pick up the other Autobots, if at all possible. Tidal Wave was still a factor in that plan. Arcee rested her head on the floor, cycling air in a tense sigh. There was no guarantee the rescue had worked, but at least it seemed they had stopped the resurrection of Megatron. Now they just needed to stop the rest of the Decepticons before they could enact retribution for it. She felt something tap her arm. She glanced over and saw Rhythm gazing back at her, a small smile visible below the glowing visor. She smiled back. Firestar hailed her on a secure link before she could try to speak with the minimech. "Arcee, we're over Edwards, but something isn't right... Can you confirm if I give you an opening?" Arcee shifted around to free one arm fully so she could hold Broadcast and Rhythm to the side, ensuring they didn't accidentally fall out. "Go ahead," she answered, rapping on the section of floor closest to her head. Panels shifted away and she was given a square-shaped hole to view the ground below. They were flying at the maximum altitude for a rescue chopper, although it didn't take much zooming in to spot what was bothering Firestar. Instead of the Hercules, there were a pair of Lancers on the runway. "That wasn't in the plan, but it would be sufficient force to deal a blow to Tidal Wave," Arcee said over the line. "I'm going to radio the base, but maybe Keller sent word for the military to help. The Hercules could have been routed to another air strip to give them room." "Yes, call them. It would also signal them to send out the Hercules if they have not noticed us yet." Firestar closed the 'window' and flew lower. Arcee leaned on her elbow as she opened a channel to the base. "This is Autobot Arcee, calling Edwards. Our operation is complete. You may proceed with extraction." She waited several seconds for an affirmative reply. When none came, she repeated the message. "Firestar," she called in a wary tone. "They are not responding." "It is worse than that," the other femme replied as she rose sharply. "There is a missile silo opening down there. Unless there is another critical event somewhere we missed, I can make only one guess at its target. I'm warning Prime now...perhaps he can get through to them." Arcee clenched her fists. Such a thing was so extreme, and not something to be taken lightly by other countries who kept an eye on the United States' militaristic ventures. But even if the humans had decided to deal with the Decepticons themselves, they couldn't have been intending to launch it right away since the rest of Optimus' team would have nowhere to go to escape the blast radius.
Chapter Eight
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