note: e-mail address now shalott@netspace.org From s-cwis.unomaha.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news2.near.net!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!cis-ts3-slip11.cis.brown.edu!user Wed May 10 10:18:13 1995 Path: s-cwis.unomaha.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news2.near.net!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!cis-ts3-slip11.cis.brown.edu!user From: shalott@brown.edu (the lady of shalott) Newsgroups: alt.toys.transformers Subject: [FANFIC] Final Peace (Part 4 of 9) Date: Tue, 09 May 1995 17:22:15 -0400 Organization: Brown University Lines: 215 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: cis-ts3-slip11.cis.brown.edu X-Newsreader: Value-Added NewsWatcher 2.0b19.1+ Here we go with Chapter 2, and the first big surprise at the end 8). At least, I hope it's a surprise. :> No one picked up on the sci-fi reference/tie-in/crossover or whatever you call it in the previous parts (at least, they didn't tell me if they had), so I'll give you all a BIG hint. Notice that _Butler_ is leading the anti-machine _jihad_. :> Someone had better get this now ;) Thanks to everyone who sent comments or told me them at 2K5! :) Send more :9~~ --------- Chapter 2 "Please, my friends, listen to me," Magnus's voice was growing a bit desperate. "This isn't some sort of bad joke--we are _really_ under attack by the Terrans." "Oh, c'mon Magnus!" Hot Rod jumped up on the makeshift platform from which Ultra Magnus was addressing the crowd. "OK, so the humans aren't really our allies anymore, but WAR? Why would they start a war with us they can't hope to win?" Ultra Magnus had to raise his voice to be heard over the murmur of agreement that ran through the group of Autobots. "They CAN hope to win! In fact, they WILL win if we don't mobilize now!" There was silence for a long moment. /Maybe I've finally gotten through to them!/ Magnus hoped. Then the silence was broken... by a giggle. As Magnus looked around desperately, a ripple of laughter ran through the crowd. Hot Rod clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You're starting to sound worse than Red!" he exclaimed, laughing. "Relax, Magnus, you're letting leadership get to you. I'm sure this whole thing with the Terrans will all blow over. Why done we go have a drink and you can tell us how Red got you so worked up." The Autobot leader tried to protest, tried to win back the crowd, but it was already dispersing. Turning away, he put a hand over his chestplate, beneath which the matrix lay cold and dark, the wisdom of the ages securely locked up and unreachable. /Optimus, never have I missed you more/ he thought bitterly. /You would have known what to say, how to win them.../ --- "You must be joking, Starscream," Dirge intoned coldly. "You don't seriously expect to waltz in here with a crackpot story of a war with the fleshling Terrans and convince us all to jump up and follow you again?" The bulky jet lay aside the broadsword he was polishing to glare at Starscream. "We went through all this a few vorn ago--we're not interested in another war, not under your command." Looking around at the other Decepticons gathered in Dirge's dojo, Starscream couldn't find a single expression of disagreement. Livid with fury, he nearly screamed, "You idiots! This isn't a question of whether WE feel like war! The war's coming whether we like it or not, and the Terrans REALLY are a danger!" Blitzwing shook his head. "You used to be a much better liar, Starscream." As the Seeker sputtered in helpless rage, the Decepticons all went their separate ways. --- The first reports arrived shortly thereafter. From Arcolon, the mining colony near the Terran border, 300 dead, 1400 wounded. From Mederia, an artists' retreat further in, all 500 dead. Estimated Terran casualties were greater by a 4-to-1 ratio, but as Kup pointed out, that didn't mean very much considering that the Terran military forces outnumbered their population by 12-to-1. "Well, maybe THIS will finally convince people that the danger is real!" Red Alert hadn't stopped pacing the chamber since the reports began. "The mobilization just isn't going well, and we haven't a hope if it doesn't! Time is running out." "Just what are they doing to mobilize?" Hook asked absently, his tone sounding abstracted. "Magnus and Starscream? They're both running around talking themselves hoarse tryin' to convince everyone that we're really at war and we should do something about it." Kup shook his head. "I gotta say, this just doesn't look too good." "It doesn't does it?" Hook said dryly, standing in sudden decision. "Soundwave, a word with you..." The two Decepticons left the chamber, Hook speaking swiftly and in low tones... --- Hook activated the lift and headed down to the inner levels of the catacombs, where the work of digging out the tunnels of Cybertron proceeded. Transforming into his vehicular mode, he rolled down the passageway, sensors scanning ahead for lifeforms... "TUNNEL CONDITION: PRECARIOUS. CHANCE OF SUCCESSFUL EXCAVATION: MINIMAL." Omega Supreme's voice boomed out, echoing in the emptiness of the metal underworld. The sound led Hook right to the site where the other Constructicons labored, along with Grapple and Hoist and the Guardian. The group was surveying a large tunnel mouth, clearly of more ancient construction than many of those around, which was clogged with debris and wreckage. "It looks as though it might be one of the central passages that lead down to the very core of Cybertron!" Grapple's voice sounded decidedly wistful. "Who knows what ancient relics we might find down there!" Scrapper muttered, sounding equally eager. The party turned as Hook rolled up and transformed. "There is more important work to be done now," Hook informed them. Briefly, the constructicon outlined the situation and the mobilization failures. "Fine then, what do we need to do? I've got some new weapons designs worked out..." As always, Scrapper turned immediately to his craft for answers. "No weapons will do us any good without an army to wield them... and a leader to command them." Hook proceeded to outline his proposal... --- Astrotrain landed neatly, depositing his load of energon cubes into a pyramidal pile as he transformed out of shuttle mode. Two of his assistants started loading the cubes onto gurneys while he refueled from one and headed leisurely back into his headquarters building. He'd done rather well out of peace for himself, he thought with just a touch of smugness, as he usually did after a successful deal. Not quite the same as ruling Cybertron, but directing his shipping empire easily beat sitting on that dull council like Starscream. Coming into his office, he set down the already-disintegrating husk of the emptied cube and began to glance over the reports before he even noticed Soundwave standing in a corner. "Aaah! Soundwave, how did you get in here?!" Collecting himself, Astrotrain dropped into a seat. "Never mind that -- WHAT are you doing here?" The Triple Changer's eyes were wary. Soundwave hadn't said two words to him since Starscream's coronation more than 4 vorn ago... what did he want now? "Our situation is grave," Soundwave replied tonelessly. "Your assistance is required." Astrotrain frowned. "Are you talking about this war thing Starscream's been going on and on about? Like I told him, I'm not interested in getting involved in any ridiculous war with humans--" "You are already involved," Soundwave interrupted. "You owned Arcolon." "Huh? Yeah, I've got a mining colony there--did you say _owned_?" "Arcolon was destroyed by a Terran attack yesterday, and all inhabitants not dead were forced to evacuate." Astrotrain's shock was plain. Soundwave remained quiet as the other assimilated the information, noting when the shock faded to grim acceptance. "Fine. You've convinced me -- if they took out Arcolon in a day, I'm worried. I had plenty of guards there." Astrotrain sighed somewhat reluctantly and shifted, as if to rise. "I'll join the army and--" "I am not here to recruit you." Staring, Astrotrain demanded, "Well then what ARE you here for?" "We require transportation--and only you know the coordinates of our destination." "Uh, we?" "The Constructicons will be accompanying us." "Right... and what would this place be, exactly?" Astrotrain sounded suspicious. Soundwave looked directly at him. "I think you should know." After blinking in puzzled thought for a few moments, his eyes widened as sudden realization dawned. "NO WAY!" Astrotrain leapd to his feet. "You're crazy--you can't expect me to help you!" Soundwave spoke chillingly, "There are other ways of achieving our objective. Would rather have assisted us or not if we succeed?" The threat in the words was plain to the larger warrior, who clenched his fists in frustration. After a few moments, Astrotrain dropped back into his chair and looked up at Soundwave. "Why now? We've been at peace so long..." "The situation requires it." Silently, Soundwave once more regretted his monotone voice, which could not convey the sincerity he needed to. "Starscream and Ultra Magnus are... ineffective." Astrotrain snorted, "Big surprise there." Silence reigned for a few moments... then he sighed with resignation. "Fine, I'll help you -- not that I have much choice. When do we leave?" A shadow fell across the room from the doorway, where Hook stood. "We leave immediately," he announced. --- "Well." The word had an air of finality to it. "Five colonies lost in as many days. And our army stand at...?" Red Alert answered Ultra Magnus, "Approximately 5000... mostly green recruits." "This isn't going to work!" Starscream, who'd been looking increasingly frustrated throughout the course of the meeting and the reports, leaped to his feet. "I told you from the beginning--the Decepticons aren't going to take this seriously and they won't join... unless a Decepticon is commanding the army!" "Why? Because they'll figure they'll have the perfect shot to take over everything after they've routed these 'insignificant' humans?" Kup asked sarcastically. "Who CARES why they join the army--as long as they do!" snapped Starscream. "And if the Decepticons start mobilizing, so will the Autobots." Magnus stood. "Frankly, Starscream, I doubt the Decepticons would follow you anyway. They know you as well as we do--and knowing you, I wouldn't trust you as far as I can throw Cybertron. Everyone knows you care about your own life and your own power first." Red Alert turned, hands twisting anxiously, and interrupted Starscream's retort before it began. "He does have a point, however, Magnus. If the Decepticons began to mobilize, the Autobots would too--even if only to forestall a Decepticon takeover." "Fine, great," Kup said. "So all we need now is a commander who can mobilize the 'Cons that the Bots will respect enough to follow. Anybody got any suggestions?" "Indeed I do." All eyes turned to the open doorway, where Hook stood wearing a look that was half-smug, half-repressed excitement. "And where have you been the past three days?" Starscream demanded. "Getting you a leader," Hook answered as he stepped into the room and aside from the doorway. The figure behind him moved forward into the room, his massive presence dominating the suddenly-small room, even though he was scarcely larger than Ultra Magnus. "It--it CAN'T be!" Starscream leapt to his feet in sudden panic. "You're dead!!" He looked over at his former second with a sardonic expression on his chiseled face.. "Wanna bet?" asked Megatron. END OF CHAPTER 2 *****TRANSFORMERS 2005 MUSH IS UP AND IC!***** rowan.liii.com 5555 our nifty home page: http://www.netspace.org/~shalott/TF2005.html * Out flew the web and floated wide * * The mirror crack'd from side to side * the lady of shalott Naomi_Novik@brown.edu * shalott@iglou.com * shalott@netspace.org Cyclonus @ TF 2005