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Traveling Northwest

Again. Again the miniature Cybertronian began rambling like a delusional syk junkie. Hun-Grrr had lived longer than most species existed. And during that considerable span of time he had encountered organic lifeforms that did not run from fire only few times. The two-headed Algean Razorbeast had been such creature. The beast had been able to breath fire due to some quirk in its evolution and was extraordinary resistant to heat for an organic being. However over 99,7% of the fauna Hun-Grrr had ever encountered had been wary of fire. It didn't matter whether the beasts had been predators or pray. Small or large. They all shared fear for the might of this natural element. There quite simply were fires that were too much for even Cybertronians and the Terrorcon leader had yet to encounter and organic that could survive extreme heat greater than the most well protected Cybertronians could.

No. Hun-Grrr was not going to just accept the possibility that there were creatures here that would not flee fire. If they would not - they were quite frankly going to be burned alive or they were going to asphyxiate due to the noxious gasses and lack of breathable elements. And if some of the more hostile beasts on this planet decided to attack them once the fires had died out - well, Hun-Grrr was going to welcome them to the slaughter. He had not wasted his energy to come down on this backwater planet to not cause destruction and mayhem. Something would suffer his wrath. Sooner or later.

It ended up happening definately sooner.

Behind the Decepticons where the fire was not raging freely, some kind of local ambush predators appeared. While the creatures were larger than Wheelie, they were still considerably smaller than the Terrorcons and Mindwipe. While being smaller than most of the Decepticons, there were more of them. The Decepticons however had an edge these creatures were not accustomed to. They relied on their chameleon like ability to blend to the surroundings. For the first time they were about to face an opponent that could see through their disguise. Wheelie might have forgotten, or perhaps he had never learned to use all his abilities.

That was not the case with battle hardened warriors like the Terrorcons. Their vision was not limited on light visible to human eye. No, multilayered optical sensor grid of a Transformer went far beyond that - thermal vision or ability to see in the dark as well as in day light were just part of it. There were even some Cybertronians that could see through walls that were not designed to stop this ability. To Hun-Grrr and the other Terrorcons, these chameleons Wheelie so feared were ridiculously visible as they sat in the bushes, believing to be unnoticed. And thus, when one of Hun-Grrr dragonic heads lashed at one of the creatures without any warning and bit it in half - everything changed for these particular animals.

The chameleons themselves had become the prey.

Traveling Northwest

Wheelie had avoided his question, but Mindwipe allowed for a little distraction, given that roaring flames had erupted all around them thanks to the efforts of Hungrr and his violent minions. He would make a point to ask again later. He was very curious to know the answer, as it would likely offer some assistance in ensuring his own survival.

Though surviving the wilds of this planet and proving yourself worthy enough to not be made a meal by your own "teammates" were two very different things.

The fire had managed to stir all manner of native wildlife. Much of it fled the devastating flames while a select few seemed to seek them out as the root cause of the destruction of their habitat. Like a wasp when someone had poked its nest, they would defend their territory in the only manner they understood. Fortunately, the Terrorcons were living up to their name on all fronts.

"I think hiding will be unnecessary for the moment. Lead with haste, young Cybertronian. My associate Cipher and I wish to see that which is not native to this world. Our Terrorcon friends will take care of that which is.

"You must understand, Wheelie. We seek peace. Our leader espouses it. But that peace will be achieved through unorthodox but necessary tactics."

That is to say, tyranny.

Still, it would come.

Someday....

Traveling Northwest

A series of high pitched cackles rose over the canopy of the burning forest. Rippersnapper was enjoying the carnage and destruction immensely, the fire was spreading steadily and the trees were burning to cinders much faster than expected. Not even the escaping fauna went unnoticed. When he saw something skitter close to him Rippersnapper would simply raise his foot and bring it down hard squashing the disgusting organic.

As the flames ate their share of organic flora, the terrorist moved deep into the wood. He stopped suddenly when some kind of large organic moved in on the group. The sneer on Rippersnapper’s face turned to a mirthful smile as he watched Hun-Grrr dispatch the creature with one snap of his powerful jaws.

His smile faded as he looked around the immediate area and noticed the hidden lizards. The white and blue mech lowered his optics and shook his head. These creatures still believed they were the alphas on this planet. They were sorely mistaken.

Rippersnapper relinquished his flamethrower for his cyclone gun. The terrorist took aim at a group of chameleons camouflaged in the nearby thicket and fired. The raging wind moved faster than any of the creatures hitting them with sickening results.

Once he stopped firing the small group of three was left as nothing more than a heaping mass of bones, skin and blood. The terrorist then turned his attention to the next set of targets. This was actually fun.

As the group moved steadily toward their intended goal Cipher was sure to keep behind their personal body guard in Blot. Of course standing down-wind of the Terrorcon foot soldier was just as dangerous as if he were to take point, but with the lumbering oaf in front of him he’d be sure to arrive in one piece.

The sound of the chameleons was a tad frightening, but the ease with which Hun-Grrr dispatched the first was somewhat calming. While Blot continued to work at clearing a path for them, Rippersnapper went to work eliminating any small organic that happened by him and upon the arrival of the lizards, he too began to exterminate them using his hand held weapon.

Cipher had to admit, for a bunch of brutish thugs, the Terrorcons were very efficient. He would have to be sure to commend then in his reports once they return. After several minutes of watching the carnage, Cipher looked over to Wheelie.

“How much farther, little one? This trek is taking much longer than anticipated.”

Forest - Heading Northwest

Wheelie looked with fear as the Chameleon leaped at Wheelie, jaws open and razor sharp teeth ready to devour him. He was pushed to the ground by the shrieking beast, it's thirst for blood and revenge seen only in it's eyes. Wheelie grabbed it's throat, pushing it's jaws away from his faceplate, snapping only centimeters from his nose. It's claws dug into his torso and scratched at his metal, Wheelie responded by whipping out his Knife and swishing it on the side of it's scaly face.

It cried out in pain as it's eye was pierced and it's face was mangled. It leaped off Wheelie, avoiding the shots by the group of "Decepticons" and backed away from Wheelie, holding it's eye. Two others joined it and looked at Wheelie. The look in their eyes was not that of a beast, but it was as if something was actually there. It was like they could understand them...

The three darted away, no doubt to regroup and watch them from afar.

Wheelie stood up and panted. He looked over to Mindwipe who was explaining that they didn't want to hurt the creatures, but that they had to. Wheelie could relate. But he didn't quite believe that the others did not want to kill them, judging from their eagerness.

Such an odd name, "Terrorcon". It was a mix between "Terror" or "Terrifying" and "Decepticon". That meant that the group Wheelie found himself in was to be feared. How lucky of him.

He would have to chew on it later. Much as he hoped a Chaosterous wouldn't on his limbs.

He turned to Cipher, who was asking him how much further they would have to go. Wheelie looked toward the sky, it was darkening with each passing moment. It would be dark soon.

Wheelie beckoned Cipher and anyone that wanted to follow over to a ledge, over this ledge was a tall cliff. They had trekked across one of the two mountains.

Wheelie pointed at a metal structure across a river and at the center of thick jungle. It was partly overgrown with vines so thick you could see it from the mountain.

"We need to go that way, we will be there at the end of the day!" Wheelie said, but there was more.

"A terrible creature lives right down there, so dangerous that every step needs special care," Wheelie warned, even though he knew they would not listen, "If you heed my warning then we will try, if you do not, then we will die."

Wheelie looked back at the group and began to lead the way down a steep slope along the cliff. He only hoped that the Chaosterous would let them pass.

Traveling Northwest

Mindwipe appreciated his fellow intellectual's eagerness. Cipher had asked a question that Mindwipe himself had been thinking of asking. In terms of curiosity, it was right up there with Mindwipe's wanting to know how the proto had managed to stay functional on a planet of this kind for any significant span of time.

Perhaps the answer was being given to him without words. From what he had seen of the young mech so far, he certainly appeared to be exceedingly resourceful. Nevertheless, Mindwipe enjoyed a good story to go along with most situations. Bludgeon and Bugly had always excelled in that regard. He certainly wouldn't have minded having either, or both, of them along for this little expedition.

They were losing daylight at an ever-increasing rate. That was hardly encouraging. Mindwipe suspected that some of more dangerous life on this planet was also likely to be nocturnal. At the end of the day, however, they were Decepticons. They were now the most dangerous life on this planet.

At least that's what he kept trying to tell himself.

Standing on the cliff's edge, Mindwipe actually gained a somewhat better appreciation for the planet with this elevated view. He could hear the remnants of the Terrorcons finishing off the chameleon species that had tried to assault them as he focused in on the river that Wheelie had indicated. Beyond that, a forest. And deep within...a structure that was most definitely not native to this world, even if Mindwipe's optics had to zoom in and amplify the image m over to get a clear sense of what he was looking at, given the distance.

Wheelie's final admonition caught the Decepticon hypnotist a little off guard. That said, he enjoyed it. The young one had a flair for the dramatic, given both his warnings and his curious speech patterns. Bludgeon and Bugly would have a riotous time interacting with him, once this was all said and done. If he kept proving himself as useful as he had, he might even be granted the honor of receiving his Decepticon insignia from Scorponok himself. Or...he would become a snack for Cutthroat. Or Rippersnapper. Or Sinnertwin.

Just like all of them might.

"By day's end, then," Mindwipe said, following after Wheelie as he lead them down the long, steep path toward the river. "Caution, yes. But use haste, also. I would rather be within that structure when night falls than out here."

Traveling Northwest

Now that the path was more easily accessible and the Terrorcons were finishing up with the group of chameleon type creatures, Cipher moved on until he came to a stop at the cliff’s edge where Mindwipe and Wheelie were now standing. The scientist took in both mechs before he too cast his gaze across the vast expanse of this world. Unfortunately, Cipher had no real love for organic planets that is unless it was home to some kind of Cybertronian life from the past. And this was one of those planets.

Cipher was curious about the forest that lies behind the rushing waters of a river. The slight mech adjusted his optics in order to see through the tree line and nearly gasped in surprise at what he was able to see. The structure was large, large enough easily be Cybertronian in nature. This preliminary look verified to him that this piece of architecture was exactly what they were sent here to find.

“Oh, Primus! That is absolutely incredible! It…it’s beautiful! I have to see it up close. Let’s go…NOW!”

Cipher moved in step behind Mindwipe and Wheelie excitement plastered on his face and radiating through his form.

Traveling Northwest

The forest strip where the chameleons had tried to ambush the Decepticons had turned into a slaughter field very quickly. Hun-Grrr had opened the game by biting one of the creatures in two - or three really, given most of the creature had fit his mouth. To say he had been disappointed by the creature's taste was severe underestimation. Only his curiosity had made the large Terrorcon to forget his bias towards organic creatures. The disgusting taste of the chameleon had been a good reminder of why he preferred devouring metals or pretty much anything that was not of organic origin. After spitting the remains of the chamelon out of his mouth Hun-Grrr made sure that instead of attacking the rest of the creatures in similar fashion to his first victim - he set them on fire. Well, at least those that had not been taken apart by Rippersnapper and Blot with various ways. In less than one klik, dozens of incinerated, torn apart and mangled corpses were littered around the field, accompanied by the sickening smell of burning flesh.

The battle had died out as soon as it had began. Those few chameleons that had actually survived the carnage brought to them by the Terrorcons had run for their lives. These ambush predators clearly were intelligent enough to understand they were horribly outclassed by these new type of monsters they had never met before. Quick optical sensor sweep revealed that these particular beasties had learned their lesson. They were not going to challenge the Decepticons again.

For Hun-Grrr however, the challenge had been underwhelming. In addition, this journey to the lab was taking far too long as well. Wheelie certainly was not helping with ramblings about beasts - each more dangerous than the other. And how well had those beasts fared against them this far? Exactly.

"Why does the rrrhyming little fool still trrry to convince us of therrre being anything we couldn't handle?" Hun-Grrr growled as he arrived to the cliff edge and saw the structure first time with his own optical sensors. The effect of the view? For the first time in the presence of Wheelie, Hun-Grrr transformed into his towering robot form. But the reason for him to do so would likely to shock the survivalist.

"Estimated distance to target: 120 miles. We are far enough from the impact zone." Hun-Grrr addressed the other Decepticons and opened a panel in his forearm, revealing a communications laser beacon which shot a powerful data transmission through the atmosphere of the planet and with it, coded information to the Semper Tyrannis on the high orbit of the planet.

"One klik to impact event." Hun-Grrr simply stated and reverted back to his two-headed dragon form and rose to stand on his hind legs. This allowed his dragonic heads to rise high above the level where his head would have been in robot form. "Now you will see why we do not fearrr this worrrld."

Precisely one klik later a series of pillars of purple hued light struck the jungle between the position of the Terrorcons and the bunker and number of explosions beyond anything Wheelie had likely seen on his stay on this planet took place. As the explosions died out it revealed an enormous collection of craters with glassed surface and total diameter of the blast zone being 100 miles. All signs of life in the area prior the explosion were gone. Obliterated. By calling an orbital strike of a single destructo beam battery from the mighty battleship on the orbit, Hun-Grrr had just cut the time they'd need to reach the bunker into a mere fraction of what it would have been had they been forced to walk through the jungle. No beast could surprise them in an opening of such scale and perhaps even Cutthroat who had for reason or another fallen behind was now able to find the rest of the exploration team.

"Beautiful."

Traveling Northwest

Wheelie began to walk forward into the Chaosterous' territory. This was a place even these "Terrorcons" should fear. The Chameleons were easy prey, but they were less than a peanut against a Chaosterous. So far so good, the Antlions that inhabit the cliff walls were not taking much notice of them.

Wheelie heard a transforming sound behind him, Wheelie turned to see the massive form of Hun-Grr mumbling something about an "impact zone". Were they sending other Decepticons from orbit? Some sort of orbital drop from high above?

Wheelie squinted and saw a streak of light come from above. His eyes widened, this was no carrier, this was weapons fire.

Wheelie's jaw dropped as it struck the ground, then a wave of air pushed away from the explosion struck him and pushed him against the wall. The fire from the explosion rippled up like an eruption, it spewed molten stone and flaming chunks of earth into the air like meteors, only to shower upon the ground and crush local fauna and trees. He fell to his knees, breath hard and slow. Wheelie heard nothing, he saw nothing but the fire that engulfed his home. He felt the fire and rumble in his chest, he could feel the pain that the planet was feeling. No matter how hard Wheelie wished for the fire to stop, it wouldn't. The fire engulfed everything in it's path and incinerated the wildlife and earth alike. Earth rippled and cracked in the fire's wake as it crawled across the ground like water. Before Wheelie's heart could take no more, the fire subsided and smoke rose from the blackened crater where a home once was.

"You wondered how I survived this long," Wheelie said as he turned to Mindwipe, ignoring his playful speech pattern, "It is because didn't do things like that."

He turned away and walked forward. Every part of him yearned for Hun-Grr's destruction, but he was better than that. This planet will have it's revenge, it was not his to take. But one of their biggest mistakes of all was that they thought that the Chaosterous was dead. Wheelie doubted that. One thing about Chaosterous is that not only are they hard to find, but they are also extremely hard to kill.

He stormed forward, ignoring those behind him. He began to doubt himself, why he was helping these moronic "Decepticons". Perhaps he would take the shuttle while the others were not looking... No, no one should endure the time he has had in this jungle prison. No one.

Wheelie felt a rumbling beneath him. He knew what it was: It was an Antlion. He held up his hand in a gesture to stop, then he picked up a rock in front of him. He gave it a gentle toss in front of him until it came to a rolling stop on some softer stone.

The instant the rock touched the softer stone, massive jaws with long barbed mandibles came from below and completely enveloped the rock and a good majority of the path. A small beaded eye darted from left to right, then sank back into it's tunnel.

Wheelie marched forward and leaped over the soft stone and looked back with a stark frown. His patience was wearing thin with these "Decepticons".

Traveling Northwest

Finally finished with the extermination of the group of chameleons that had showed up and attempted to eat them…Rippersnapper let out a snort. How could any organic creature believe that they were superior enough to face the Terrorcons? It mattered not. There was no beast that existed who could ever destroy a them.

There was a great sense of pride in all of what he thought. But his reverie was broken when he noticed the others had already begun to move on. Rippersnapper let out a low growl as he holstered his cyclone gun and trudged along the scorched earth to where he knew his commander would likely be.

The terrorist emerged from the thicket…or what was left of it…and made his way to Hun-Grrr who was now in robot mode and announcing their position in relation to the “impact zone”. With a wide grin Rippersnapper took a step closer in an attempt to witness the impending eradication. Moments later the awaited pillar of purple light laid waste to the central point of the forest between the group and the bunker.

Once the beam had dissipated the white and blue mech looked over his shoulder at Hun-Grrr who had just voiced the feeling Rippersnapper had wash over him. Cipher had been bringing up the rear with Blot not far behind. The scientist was so eager to get to their intended location that he began to move ahead before the others. Cipher let out a low yelp when he felt someone grip his forearm.

“Calm yourself scribe. You move too quickly you’re liable to lose a body part.”

Cipher looked to the white and blue mech with wide bright optics. He had forgotten that they were on an alien planet filled with all kinds of strange and dangerous fauna…those chameleon creatures were proof of that.

The scientist took in a deep breath and gave Rippersnapper a quick nod in understanding. If he wished to remain functional he would have to rely on the rest of the group, and most importantly Blot, who was assigned to guard him. Cipher looked from Rippersnapper and over to the Terrorcon foot soldier.

Upon the outskirts of what remained of the forest the two Terrorcons and the scientist stopped behind Wheelie. Cipher then looked down to the ground beneath his feet and then back up at their guide. He watched as the small mech picked up a rock and tossed it along the ground. The chunk of earth came to a stop next to a softer stone, what occurred next caused the scribe to back away and right into Blot who had kept his position behind Cipher.

From the ground directly under both stones rose the gaping maw of a large creature. Large by the scientist and Wheelie’s standard, but a mere appetizer to any of the Terrorcons. After composing himself, Cipher cleared his vocalizer and dusted himself off. He gestured with a quick jerk of his head for his bodyguard to take the lead…Blot readily complied trekking along the same path their diminutive guide was taking. With any luck they would not have another encounter with anything inhabiting this Primus forsaken mud ball.

Traveling Northwest

The explosion that ripped its way in to the planet from above caught Sinnertwin's full attention. Both of heads lurched upwards, one of them keenly taking in the destruction and its aftermath while the other appeared to be tracking new scents that had wafted in to the air.

With flames from the dying forest surrounding him, Sinnertwin lunged forward into a near-dash in order to catch back up with his pack leader and the other Decepticons.

"Apply heat...everything burns. Evvverything," the cerberic beast growled as it ran.

Traveling Northwest

Mindwipe had watched in rapt amazement as Hungrr basically called down untold power from the heavens via the Semper Tyrannis and effectively obliterated anything that might have served as an obstacle within the forested region between their current position and the enigmatic structure that lay beyond.

He had silently agreed with the Terrorcon's expression of the impact event as "beautiful". It was a beautiful declaration of the Decepticons' power. Were the life on this planet sentient enough to understand it, they would bow down now and make the remainder of their journey supremely simple. As it was, it would surely scare the native fauna away for a time, but instinct and curiosity would overwhelm their simple minds and they would come for them again. Mindwipe was certain.

When Wheelie spoke again, it was noticeably without any of his typically curious speech pattern--something that intrigued Mindwipe all the more. Was his manner of speaking a sort of psychological defense mechanism that had developed over some unknown number of vorns? Very curious indeed.

"Well, young one, you've had to adapt to your circumstances. Making yourself scarce was probably your wisest option. Those of us within the Decepticon ranks have survived countless vorns of near-endless war precisely because of things...like this," Mindwipe said, holding out a hand to indicate the devastation in front of them as they continued their trek.

Such weapons, impressive though they were, remained simple tools for gaining power on this terrestrial plane. Once the Decepticons had achieved full dominance of the universe, Mindwipe was confidant that greater focus would be given to controlling the power that lay beyond this physical world. Megatron surely understood that this could not be all there was in the universe, regardless of how vast it might seem.

Wheelie was proving to be quite the effective guide, identifying another native creature--this one some form of subterranean species--that Mindwipe certainly had no desire to encounter directly. Fortunately for them, it was a species that relied completely on the element of surprise, and it had lost that now. Mindwipe continued on.

"Blot, at least, seems to follow Hungrr's orders to the letter," the Decepticon hypnotist said quietly, catching up with Cipher once more as they followed after Wheelie and had sidestepped the antlion.

The sun continued to descend. The sky and clouds overhead were now being cast in an array of oranges and pinks even as the smoke from the impact zone obscured some of it from view. The terrain actually felt kind of familiar now. After all, how much of Cybertron looked very much like this patch of earth did right now? Scorched. Scarred. Glassed over. Bearing no resemblance to what it had once been. In Cybertron's case, the process had taken vorns. Many of them. How long would it take for this world?

Considerably less, Mindwipe guessed.

"Yes, this is much faster. You have my appreciation for this aid, mighty Hungrr," Mindwipe said, calling back to the Terrorcon Commander and his minions.

Still alive. I'm still alive....

Traveling Northwest

Blot had been curious enough to travel forwards to see what the antlions whose presence Wheelie had revealed - could do. But apparently the heavy thuds of his footsteps kept the beasts at bay. Despite being simple beings, the antlion-like creatures seemed to understand when a potential prey was just too large to attack. This lack of action on the part of the antlions wasn't good enough for Blot though. As the beasts didn't come to him, he went for the beast. Punching one of his oversized clawed arms into an antlion burrow the brutish Terrorcon finally had the response he was looking. The creature had clamped its claws around his forearm. The antlion's bite however, was nowhere near the amount of pressure that would allow its mandibles to dug into Blot's metal skin.

Letting out a heavy sight due to the lack of challenge, Blot violently pulled the creature off his arms and threw it against the ground - only to reduce it into an antlion paste by smashing the creature between the ground and his foot.

At the same time, Hun-Grrr was ignoring the presence of Wheelie yet again. Nothing the small survivalist had told about the creatures dwelling this area had so far compared to what these creatures were supposed to be according to their guide. The huge crater the Terrorcon leader had arranged between their position and the bunker allowed several advantages over finding their way through the jungle. With an open area this wide, nothing outside an orbital attack by Autobots could take them by surprise. It also gave them room to fly across the crater, thus making their progress far greater it had been before. Without the trees, there was nothing left for local fauna to hide in and ambush the Decepticons as they flew overhead. Not that Hun-Grrr even believed in there actually being anything that dangerous in the jungles of LV-117. As long as they'd fly low enough to make sure their synthetized organic coverings would protect them from the electromagnetic radiation - all would be ridiculous easy.

"We fly across the craterrr. Stay sharrrp, fly low." Hun-Grrr commanded and took off, heading straight for the bunker.

Always ready to follow the example of his leader, Blot grabbed hold of Cipher and took off after Hun-Grrr. It would take less than two breems for them to reach the other side of the crater and by the looks of it - the distance from the crater edge to the bunker would require no more than a breem and half worth of walking.

Traveling Northwest

The scribe had taken his time to move around the area Wheelie had revealed to be the underground home of one of the antlions. After he had seen the one which had been coaxed out, Cipher was sure to not disturb it or any other one in his trek.

Now safely away from the hidden hole the scientist turned around to see just what was holding Blot up. Cipher’s brow furrowed as he watched the Terrorcon curiously as he plowed one of his massive clawed arms through the dirt and rooted around. Cipher stiffened his mouth agape as he watched Blot, with the creature’s gaping maw wrapped around the Terrorcon’s arm. He was sure the monster that was pulled up and out of the earth would perform some new fantastic attack, but Blot simply ended the assault by tossing the creature on the ground and smashing it under his foot.

The scribe’s upper lip curled in disgust as he watched the ground dweller smashed into a gooey paste under the hulking mech’s foot. The sight was disgusting, but Cipher was glad that he did not have to worry about being drug below the surface and chewed up alive. That thought sent a shiver down his spinal structure.

His attention was pulled from Blot and fell upon the even larger Hun-Grrr. The order to take flight was most welcome, after all Cipher was a Decepticon flier. Perhaps not as bit of fast, but he still had wings propped high on his back.

With a nod of understanding the scientist made ready to transform but found that he couldn’t. To his surprise Blot had grabbed him and took off right after his Commander. Cipher struggled a bit, but stopped when he realized he wasn’t going anywhere. He let out a sigh as he turned his gaze up to his transport.

“You do know that I can fly, don’t you?”

Rippersnapper had watched and listened intently to Hun-Grrr before took off after the two headed Terrorcon followed closely by Blot when had taken hold of the scribe. The terrorist let a small smile form on his visage as he shook his head.

“He was given an order to guard you. He’ll do so until told otherwise. Enjoy it while you can, scribe.”

“I don’t mind, except I wish he’d bathe more often.”

OoC: Hopefully there are no problems...

Traveling Northwest - Cliffside

Wheelie shuddered when he heard the order to fly. The destruction of his friend was still fresh in his mind. Even though there was probably no life for miles around, Wheelie was still not as apt to fly as he could be.

Not probably, but hopefully.

Even if some of the creatures were not as dangerous as they seemed, that did not detract from the fact that no one was taking him seriously. It was like he was still alone on the planet. Wheelie began to wonder why he was even helping them. It was almost involuntary...

Impossible.

But creatures are not the only thing to fear on LV-117. Sporadic weather patterns are another thing to fear on LV-117. Not that anyone would listen to him, but it looked like there was a storm brewing.

"There's a storm coming soon," Wheelie said, even though he knew no one would listen, "It won't be long 'til the monsoon."

"Though while in the air I will not be merry," Wheelie turned to the Decepticons, "Would one of you please carry?"

Traveling Northwest--Impact Zone

Cleared for flight. What an excellent idea. Mindwipe was more than happy to accommodate the Terrorcon commander. It would expedite their journey that much more.

Mindwipe leapt in to the air, transformed and began to flap away before catching Wheelie's latest comment. Fortunately he was large enough, and Wheelie small enough, that the request was not an unreasonable one.

Circling back and swooping downwards, Mindwipe snatched the protoform up with the claws on his feet--surprisingly mindful of not doing any damage to the mech--and arced back upwards. Pain was a motivator for many, but this Wheelie seemed to be doing just fine without its application. Mindwipe had more subtle tools in his toolbox, after all. And even those had been scarcely necessary.

Climbing higher in the sky, Mindwipe could clear make out the developing storms in the distance. Hopefully it would be nothing too serious. Hungrr and his pack could handle the native wildlife here just fine. A massive storm, however, would not be swayed by their powerful jaws.

The trek across the glassy impact zone of the Semper Tyrannis' awesome weapons system was as uneventful as Mindwipe hoped it'd be. It seemed like they had encountered an obstacle at every turn. They were due for a break.

"I am beginning to think you will make a fine Decepticon, Wheelie," Mindwipe said. "As you well see, many within our ranks are powerful warriors, but Megatron will accept any that he finds to be useful. Receiving your insignia will not be the most pleasant process, but...it will make you one of us. Forever. No more wandering this planet alone."

Mindwipe's optics sensors began to receive some of the data that he and Scorponok had originally homed in on aboard the Semper Tyrannis. This was it.

Mindwipe began his descent even as he could feel the beginnings of raindrops against his new, fleshy hide. It felt even more disgusting now than it ever had before. Once he was within close range of the ground, he released Wheelie and transformed, sliding about a meter or so before coming to a full stop. His landings were not always the best. A Seeker he was not.

Looking around, he could see terrain that had clearly been almost obliterated by battles of some kind or another. Whatever this non-native structure was, its contents had clearly been fought over, long ago. Even now, life on this planet was only making slight progress in reclaiming territory that had originally belonged to it.

"The scans from the Tyrannis indicate that the entrance would have been here....somewhere," Mindwipe said, approaching one of the two broken, metallic pillars that were jutting upwards from the ground. He ran his hand along the edges and instantly felt a connection. A purely psychological one, but a connection nevertheless. Looking a little further ahead, he could see what appeared to be a cave-like outcropping from the ground, practically sealed off by stone and metal debris.

He then realized that it was not a cave at all.

"There!" he cried out, excitement taking over. "The entrance!"

Mysterious Research Bunker

Hun-Grrr's landing was almost as brutal as the mech himself. Dozens of trees and other life natural to the planet were torn down or crushed as the mighty dragon made his way back to the ground near edge of the oddly desolate area where the structure stood. It wasn't like he couldn't have done it far more gracefully, he just did not care. And well, it had given him a chance to cause destruction. Now, when it came to the reason they were here for...

The Terrorcon commander was no scientist nor researcher of history but he had been fighting longer than some civilizations had existed. Even he could recognize the signs of battle being fought here ages ago. Craters and crystallization caused by powerful weapons and extreme heat. Remains of metals and polymers native to Cybertron. The visible signs of battle told of destruction even the Terrorcons would have been hard pressed to cause. And the reason for that? The answer for that was provided by geology.

The sensors in Hun-Grrr's feet that were used to analyze density of surfaces he set his feet on to avoid stepping on anything that couldn't support his weight were reporting extreme compactation of the soil and in shape of what could only have been foot prints of something immense in both scale and mass. From the Terrorcon commander's experience, these signs could only indicate one type of war machine being used here - an Omega. Had it been defending the installation or attacking it? That he did not know. Though given how there was no sign of a destroyed Omega here one could make an educated guess of it being the victor.

"An Omega." Hun-Grrr spoke out and assumed his robot form again, pulling out his sonic stun gun.

"Whoever was here... well, let's say they deemed necessary to bring an Omega to smash into that bunker." Hun-Grrr smirked and aimed his gun at the blockade where the entrance to the bunker had once been, "Too bad there's no defences to take out anymore. I'd loved to see what kind of defenses required a platoon of soldiers and an Omega Destructor."

That being said, Hun-Grrr pulled the trigger of his weapon and let loose a volley of destructive sonic waves that pulverized the blockade of massive stone boulders, leaving only the mangled and collapsed cybertonum support beams and remains of the doors of the bunker left. That unfortunately meant that they still had lot of work to do in order to clear the entrance enough to be able to enter the bunker.

"Start digging Terrorcons! I want that entrance cleared before that storm reaches us and turns this field into mud!"

Approaching Research Bunker

Even in his Cybertronian robot mode, Sinnertwin could force his characteristic flames to churn through his nostril units, pouring smoke in to the air around him as he flew. It was as effective an exhaust port as any. The destruction all around the area caused by the Semper Tyrannis was something to behold. It motivated him that much more to catch up with Hungrr and the other Terrorcons and see what more could be done.

When he did finally come within range, he descended sharply, transformed and padded his way over to where the others were. The brains were yakking about something or other. It was of no interest to him. It was Hungrr's orders that excited him the most. More destruction. And perhaps the promise of more--more, like this Wheelie--hiding inside of whatever they had found. Perhaps Scorponok would not find them so useful.

Perhaps the Terrorcons would be allowed to play.

Sinnertwin charged forward in to the clearing that Hungrr's weapon had caused, each of his heads and paws ripping away at more and more of the blockage. In the distance, an eruption of lightning flashed so violently that the ensuing thunderclap shook the ground a little.

Chaos.

Sinnertwin loved it.

Mysterious Research Bunker

Following close behind his Commander, Blot landed on the ground close to the others and set Cipher back down carefully. The scribe took a quick look around before setting his optics on Mindwipe as the hypnotist moved to a set of two broken metallic pillars. The find brought a wide grin to Cipher’s face and initiated an embedded want that caused the scientist to almost mindlessly trek out toward the structure.

Cipher’s optics were transfixed on the spectacle before and paid little attention to anything else, including Blot who quickly stepped away from the remainder of the group in order to catch up with his ward.

The shout that came from Mindwipe only caused Cipher’s pace to hasten. And when he arrived he was dazzled by the sight before them. Of course to the untrained optic it looked like nothing more than a dilapidated rocky structure, but to Cipher it was a door way to knowledge and to a possible advantage to win this war.

Hun-Grrr soon showed and took a careful look at the location and noted that the entire area had been subject to the power of an Omega. The revelation caught Cipher’s attention causing the scientist to whip around and stare at the Terrorcon Commander. Oh Primus, please let that thing be offline.

His mind continued to churn the possible ways to die by an Omega attack when he was jolted out of his reverie when he heard the order for the remainder of the Terrorcons to dig out the rubble to the entrance. Cipher’s head turned up as Blot moved past him followed quickly by Rippersnapper.

The order from Hun-Grrr was just what Rippersnapper wanted to hear. He was so wound up after destroying that small group of chameleons he needed something else to alleviate the pent up frustration. This task would do…for now.

The terrorist moved right into position in front of the now exposed support beams and part of the doors and began lifting the heavy debris and transplanting it to a separate location out of the way. With his first burden off loaded, Rippersnapper went back for another.

“Anytime, boys!”

Mountainside

Wheelie felt Mindwipe's bat-claws grasp him and begin to carry him across the burnt terrain. Wheelie didn't like it, even with Mindwipe's oddly comforting touch. He couldn't tell why, but there was something disturbingly calming about Mindwipe... Wheelie didn't like it. Not one bit.

Wheelie listened intently to Mindwipe's statement about his insignia. It wasn't going to be pleasant. Wheelie could care less; he had dealt with so much on this planet that he was certain that a simple branding wasn't going to hurt all that badly.

Maybe things would change with the Decepticons. He shouldn't make a judgement on the Decepticons just on Hun-Grr. That would be foolish. Wheelie once assumed that the planet was safe when he first came to LV-117, but he was wrong about the planet. He hoped that he was wrong about the Decepticons he was going to join.

One thing that he hoped was true is that he would have a family. Someone that would care for him is something that he had wished that he had on a regular basis. Companionship. That hope was the thing that made Wheelie keep going.

He looked down at the glassed dirt and cinders of wildlife. He hoped that nothing else would suffer the same fate. Nothing deserved to get burned like that, not even a Chaosterous.

Wheelie felt the claws release and he fell to a tumbling halt in front of the doors to the lab.

Mysterious Base (Of doom)

Wheelie walked forward to the hole in the doors and felt the rigid steel. It was sharper than he remembered. Maybe it was the vines obscuring the burns on the steel.

Wheelie heard a name that he did not know of. "Omega".

"The burns are new without the green, but an Omega, what is it that you mean?" Wheelie asked, he was wondering about this Omega and if it was friendly or not.

Bunker Entrance

To say that Mindwipe was taken aback by the knowledge that an Omega Destructor had ever been deployed here for any reason would be a significant understatement. It only further confirmed the reasoning behind mighty Scorponok's interest in this locale. Mindwipe, too, was now consumed with uncovering its mysteries. It was surely having the same effect on Cipher.

"Weapons of Cybertron...from long ago," Mindwipe said in response to Wheelie's question regarding the Omega Destructor. "They did their job well. Perhaps too well. I can scarcely recall them ever being deployed, at least not to any area I was ever in. Enforcers of Zeta Prime and some of his similarly authoritative predecessors, if I remember correctly. If one was sent here, it had to have been for a good reason."

A very good reason.... came the natural afterthought.

Mindwipe watched as the Terrorcons systematically proceeded to rip and tear a way through the aged and fortified bunker entrance. It alone was no small feat, particularly if had fended off the assault of an Omega Destructor once upon a time. But that was an exceedingly long time ago. Without reinforcement and repairs, erosion and corrosion would have done some of the work for them.

A seared, melting chunk of metal landed only a few centimeters or so from Mindwipe's feet, courtesy of Sinnertwin.

"Through," the Terrorcon had snarled. Mindwipe shot a brief glance in Cipher's direction before nodding at the Terrorcon and began to weave his way through the haphazard entrance that had been torn in to the bunker's exterior. He could feel the winds picking up. The intensity of the planet's precipitation was beginning to steadily increase as well. In this one aspect of the mission, it seemed as if they had been afforded a measure of good fortune--arriving here when they had. Mindwipe was of no mind to waste it.

Inside, he was greeted by darkness and metal, both of which Mindwipe found to be oddly comforting.

"The schematics I observed with Commander Scorponok suggest that the meat of this facility was housed in its center," Mindwipe said as his supplemental optic lights kicked in, increasing the available illumination. Along the old walls were many glyphs, well beyond his specialty to recognize or understand.

"Hopefully our trek there will not be fraught with as many obstacles as our path to arrive here in the first place."

Mysterious Research Bunker

For a reason or another, Hun-Grrr had assumed his dragon form once again as he watched his men clearing the entrance. To the Terrorcon leader it came almost instictively. Perhaps he just subconciously preferred his two-headed alt. form. There was no denying that the two sharp toothed maws allowed him to feed faster. Destruction-wise though, his both modes were equally able.

As his Terrorcons had managed to rip and tear large enough opening to the entrance for Mindwipe to push through, Hun-Grrr was quick to follow the hypnotist. If there was anything worth of looting, he wanted the first digs. The entrance however, was still too small for his Algean razorbeast mode. Thus, only one of Hun-Grrr's heads pushed into the darkness of bunker entrance and began pretty much eating the opening to be wide enough to allow him to pass through while the other head turned to address his troops.

"Blot! Ripperrrsnapperrr! Sinnerrrtwin! You will stay here and keep watch! Protect the bunkerrr! If Cutthroat shows up, show him what I think of deserrrting!"

Before the head could continue, it had to practically throw up a large pile of scrap metal and soil that had been processed through Hun-Grrr's internal machinery. The scrap being leftovers of a process that turned the most useful metals the large Terrorcon had eaten into projectiles to shot through the mass effect accelerators in both of his mouths.

"Ripperrrsnapperrr, you're in charrrge! Inforrrm me if trouble rrrises. Rrrememberrr, we have no rrreinforrrcements to call upon, so yourrr threat analysis betterrr be accurate." Hun-Grrr finally managed to add before the second head attacked the entrance as well and in matter of nanokliks, the Terrorcon leader pushed his massive form through the opening.

Unlike many other Transformers, Hun-Grrr was far more adapted to use all of his sensors to read his surroundings rather than relying on sight alone. The enormity of the tunnel behind the entrance was the first surprise Hun-Grrr felt as his sensors adapted to the lack of light. The tunnel was large enough to allow several Omega Destructor to stand there in line - although the size of the doorway in the end of the corridor suggested this area was the only place large enough in the bunker for something as large as an Omega. Perhaps whoever had lived here had had an Omega Sentinel to guard the bunker. This corridor could easily have been used as a shelter and maintainance location for such an immense guardian. Hun-Grrr however, did not marvel the size of the tunnel for long as Mindwipe had posed a valid observation. The walls indeed held strange glyphs that Hun-Grrr's universal translator unit could not decipher either. If it was Cybertronian, it had to be tens of millions of years old dialect that for reason or another had been erased from the databanks of Cybertronian society. Perhaps it even wasn't Cybertronian. However, they did have a specialist with them that was expected to make sense of this writing.

"If so, we betterrr not waste more time." One of Hun-Grrr's heads told Mindwipe as the beast turned and the other head poked out of the tunnel to face the Decepticons outside the entrance. "Cipherrr! Get in here! There's some odd writing on the walls we need you to decipherrr!"

Mysterious Research Bunker

Now that the boulders and debris had been removed from the entrance to the structure, Rippersnapper moved in closer to have a better look, but it seemed that the Terrorcon commander had the same idea effectively blocking the hole. The terrorist let out a low growl as he attempted to look around the hulking mass that made up the Algean razorbeast.

The white and blue mech backed off suddenly when one of Hun-Grrr’s alt mode heads turned to look at the rest of the team and growled out their orders. Figures. We can’t even head in there to tear whatever resides in there to shreds.

Nodding to his commanding officer, Rippersnapper moved back and took up a position just outside the bunker entrance. He drew his weapon and set it to its highest setting. He looked back to Hun-Grrr when the larger mech mentioned the inevitable return of Cutthroat. With any luck he would return and the rest of the team could teach him a very intimate lesson in desertion.

With a broad smile etched on his face Rippersnapper turned back to face any oncoming threats to the bunker…Cutthroat included, but at the growling tone of Hun-Grrr the terrorist looked over his shoulder. The last bit of the commander’s orders brought a renewal of his previous smile.

“As you command. And not to worry, my threat analysis is never wrong, commander.”

Cipher grew slightly nervous when he overheard Hun-Grrr’s order for the entirety of his team to stand guard outside the bunker…which meant his body guard would be staying while he advanced alone. Well, not entirely alone he did have Mindwipe, but there was still Hun-Grrr himself. Cipher was sure the Terrorcon commander had it in for him.

The scientist let out a quick yip of surprise when Hun-Grrr bellowed out his name from one of his heads. Cipher twitched his servos slightly before he carefully moved to tunnel’s entrance. With his smaller stature, Cipher was able to squeeze past Hung-Grrr and the wall without any trouble.

“Well now. Let’s see. Mmm. MMhm. Yes…”

The scientist had moved directly to the highly stylized glyphs that adorned part of one wall. He hadn’t seen this particular writing in some time, but that did not mean he couldn’t decipher them. With his hand gently rubbing his chin, Cipher got a much closer and longer look at the wall.

At the beginning of the message the scientist stopped and placed his hand a top the carved glyphs. Feeling them seemed to put them into perspective. After a bit of quiet contemplation, Cipher turned around to face Hun-Grrr and Mindwipe.

“This was an ancient Cybertronian language that fell out of fashin with the elitists. Since they were the majority leaders on the planet initiating a new more streamlined language was a very simple task.”

He turned back around to look at the wall once more as he went on.

“There are actually two different messages here. One is a warning along with a description. The other is a list of directions.”

He motioned to the first set of glyphs as he read through them aloud.

“Housed within this atrium the great Omega Destructor. Guardian to those within…destroyer to those without. And here…”

From the first grouping of stylized lettering Cipher moved to the other.

“This one mentions directions through the bunker, but they seem to be incomplete. Part of the directions is missing. Let’s see, wind away through the forum, drop below land, take heed in gait…”

Cipher shook his head gently as he stared at the last line of the message. There just wasn’t enough information. However, the rest was easy to understand. He turned around completely to look directly at Mindwipe and Hun-Grrr.

“Based on this we’ll need to move out of this area and find a set of stairs or something that we could use to go below ground. Whatever was housed here is set below the surface. Once we get down there we’ll need to watch where we walk. Unfortunately, with the missing information I cannot determine whether there are traps down there or if there is a certain count to each of our steps. If it’s the latter we could miss what we’re looking for. The former, however, I’m sure we could make it through…especially with you, commander.”

Research Bunker

After he and the other Terrorcons had haphazardly torn themselves an entrance in to the building, Sinnertwin took the opportunity to plow his path the rest of the way inside as quickly as he could. The external threats had been dealt with, much to his voracious satisfaction, and he was looking forward to dealing the same sort of vicious mauling on anything that might try to do the same in here.

Padding forward down one of the darkened hallways, he could hear the others speaking of glyphs and languages, none of which was any concern to him. Sinnertwin wanted to find something that meant to do them harm--and harm it first.

Between his optics and the glow of the flames churning in each of his sets of nostrils, the Terrorcon was able to trek forward without incident.

"Peace and quiet. Won't last. Can't last. Something will try....and that something will fail," he grumbled, one of his heads occasionally dropping to absorb any olfactory data that he could while the other remained focused strictly on the optical.

Bunker Entrance

Wheelie looked at Mindwipe with curiosity at the Decepticon's explanation. A weapon? Here? All of this time, he had a means to protect himself from the nasty monsters of the night?

Better late then never.

"What does it do? Do you have a clue?" Wheelie asked while keeping stride with the Bat.

He paused when he heard the shredding of metal and the collision between steel and stone. They had broken through. It was sad, though, he had been there before on a salvage mission and he had explored the stable areas. He had blocked the door so no creature could come in. It was old, but it could hold up a Chaosterous standing on the ground above it. In most places, that is.

Wheelie stepped forward and picked up a stone, then walked into the open room. While Cipher was deciphering text on the walls, which Wheelie never attempted to look at, Wheelie walked past Cipher and tossed the stone. It flew forward and struck the ground, then slid for a few inches. Suddenly, a pair of metal jaws burst from their long sleep to close around the rock, where they laid to rest. The clash of metal rang throughout the room. This was the sign of a barbaric bear trap.

He leaned back to Hun-Grr, "Watch for a trap, wouldn't want someone turned to scrap."

"Since you don't know any more, Wheelie should tell you that he was here before!" Wheelie said before saying some more, "I will share what I know, but I need to know where you wish to go!"

Mysterious Research Bunker

"Seriously? Who the slag writes inscriptions that fragging melodramatic?" Hun-Grrr growled in response to Cipher's translation of the glyphs written on the walls. "Orrr adds permanent instructions to the walls of his hidden lairrr? All codes are eventually cracked. Unless. Diverrrsion?"

Just as the Terrorcon commander ended his sentence, Wheelie decided to spring one of the ancient traps that seemed to be still functioning despite all the odds. And it had caught Hun-Grrr's attention, "The rrrunt has been here?! Does the rrrunt know what powerrrs the traps then?!" One of Hun-Grrr's heads roared and moved to face the small Transformer. "Mindwipe claimed this facility is overrr 100 000 vorrrns old! If it is still powered - I want that powerrrsource!"

At the very same time the right head of the two-headed beast was demanding Wheelie to provide him answers, the left one was still surveying their surroundings. "Marrrks and signs of a battle everywhere. A commando unit went in once. And apparently got out as well. Not without casualties." It spoke up, "You are standing on someone's nearrrly incenerated corrrpse Mindwipe."

Giving some time for his words to sink in, Hun-Grrr continued, "Most of the traps must be eitherrr disarrrmed orrr destrrroyed. Unless the whoeverrr that constructed this place was a genius that could arrrm traps that could last epochs until triggered. Traps that could rearms themselves..."

The left of the massive Terrorcon had hardly finished though, "Forrr whateverrr it is worrrth, the Omega Destructorrrs neverrr went deeperrrr."

Suddenly Hun-Grrr's gaze stopped wandering from wall to wall and began to stare at something in the far end of the hall. "There... do you see it?" He asked from no one in particular and activated a powerful spotlight that illuminated even the far end of the hall. And with it, a massive surprise.

Against the far end wall of the hall sat what was left of the giant guardian of the facility. The enormous Transformer that made even Hun-Grrr look like a mouse in comparison had been torn open and practically soldered into the wall. The damage had been so throughout that the Omega had practically become one with the facility. Were it not have been for the Terrorcon's acute sensors and knowledge of the being in question, Hun-Grrr would likely have missed the giant's remains himself. It really was no wonder that Wheelie had not taken notice of something so much larger than he was in his salvage trip to the facility.

"As for that Omega Destructorrr, there's your answerrr." Hun-Grrr's left head spoke up while the right one grinned viciously in front of Wheelie and more or less continued from where the left one had stopped. "Most interesting you neverrr noticed this rrrunt."

"Then again... these two would have likely overrrlooked it as well." Hun-Grrr added, his gaze passing by both Cipher and Mindwipe, "They wanted it bad. The ones that assaulted this place. They had 2 or 3 Omega Destructorrrs rrreading frrrom the damage that one has suffered." Indeed, the massive amount of force and heat that could cause something like that could only have been generated by the claw arms and plasma cannons of other Omegas. There also appeared to be an elevator shaft next to the dead giant but it had collapsed from the force of the Omega being smashed against the wall.

"Typical, the quickest way has been sealed." The Terrorcon leader grunted and turned both of his heads to face Cipher and Mindwipe. "Stop loitering and tell the rrrunt where you want to go!"