Spotlight: Tarantulas

[Verno]

A small armada breaks lightspeed into what seems to be empty Space, but the crewof each ship know better. Behind an almost perfect veil of cloak, lies the Hub, and an advanced enemy numbering in the estimated hundreds of thousands. Their true number is unknown but the crew of the armada could care less; they've come to destroy the Hub, and if so, themselves in the process.

They are whats left of the race known as the Primacrons. A technologically advanced species whose homeworld was assimilated into the vast expanse of the Hub - a mass of interwoven planetoids, cyberformed into one great mesh, and home to the Cybertronian Empire, and at its helm, the Liege Maximo.

All but one ship is destroyed in the failed assult in which they attempted to release a virus, reverse engineered from thecyberforming technology employed by the Empire. It was hoped it wuold break up the enormous mass, but it had no affect to the horror of the Primacrons.

The lead scientist of the project watches from his small ship as his weapon fails, and then as his last remaining brothers and sisters die in the process, seeing it as entirely his own fault.

He swears to return again, but next time with a greater weapon.

[King Atlas]

Nice. I wish Tarantulas got more love. Seems Blackarachnia is more popular. His one of my favourite characters for being so sneaky and evil, and always plotting.Then again I love all the Beast Wars characters.

[Verno]

Me too. There were too many Why's and How's left about Tarantulas after his death near the end of the Beast Wars. I felt obliged to fill in a few holes about he and the Tripredacus Council.

I'm writing in notes at this stage. I'll add more to this burgeoning saga over time. It's just been spewing out of me of late so I thought I'd share the start.

[Verno]

Wow, 2008. I can't even remember writing that! But lets get some new blood into this thread.

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Taranachus: Would it not be simpler to end this war from the other side?

Cicadacon: Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Ram Horn: The Maximal and Autobot leadership is still somewhat strong, with many pillars of support to fall on.

Cicadacon: The Predacons, however, have only a few true leaders that could hold the faction together.

Taranachus: It seems to be part of Predacon programming to usurp and distrust.

Sea Clamp: Indeed. And we shall use this to our advantage.

Ram Horn: When the stack of cards fall, and fall they will, they shall fall in our favour.

Cicadacon: If the Maximals were to surrender, they would be wiped from existance, and if we join their ranks, us along with them.

Sea Clamp: But if the Predacons were to surrender, the Maximals, who fight for Peace, not victory, would let them remain. Controlled, overseen, but remain none the less.

Taranachus: But that will include us!

Ram Horn: You doubt our ability to skirt their sensors?

Cicadacon: Yes it includes us. But there are ways around it.

Taranachus: And so we lead the losing faction into servitude? We'll face great objection and oppositioin from within our own ranks when it becomes evident we have no intention of an eventual revolt.

Sea Clamp: It's not a reflection on us, these creatures were built to fight, not to think. They would rebel against any authority after a period of time.

Ram Horn: Our ancestors left this world long ago, in what seems now to be only the infancy of this war. We return as the only survivors.

Cicadacon: We didn't return to fight, but it seems reverence, from these insects, is earnt through strength, so for the interim, fight we must.

Sea Clamp: This war is futile. The longer it stretches, the more our plans will be delayed.

Ram Horn: Brothers, we have much work to do. Let us rejoin the war our ancestors left behind.

Cicadacon: And end it!

[LordCyrusOmega]

Nice work Verno.

[Verno]

Thanks Man.

I assume people get the reference I'm making? That the Trip Council and Taranachus (Tarantulas) are survivors of the Cybertronian Empire, who were just defeated by the Autobot/Decepticon forces and the Hub destroyed as the Liege Maximo's ascention failed... Well that's what I'm getting at any way. I know Im using non-canon material, but it's Furman, how much closer to canon can you get?!

The images over the 4 pages are somewhat of a montage of scenes from G1 through to the detonation of the Hub, just to help fill in story as to when the conversation is happening. Something like the montage at the start of The Gathering.

[Verno]

10...

Light are green across the board. Cells are holding steady...

9...

The scope is clear of enemy targets. The sky is ours...

8...

Showing small power fluctuations but they're within expected perametres...

7...

Final checklist complete. Lights are still green - We're ready to go...

6...

Sequences locked in. TransWarp Test-Flight of the Thunderbird is underway...

5...

Captain. Sensors are detecting an anomoly off the starboard bow...
Type?...
Unkown...
Is it us?...
I don't know, Sir...

4...

Registering a massive explosing eminating from the anomoly...
Power levels in the cells are becoming erratic. Surges are hitting our major systems...

3...

Sensors detect a mass of debris and an energy wave of unknown signature...
TransWarp Drive is still drawing power but registering offline...
Abort, Captain? Captain?!...

2...

By Primus...

1...

My Darling...

Boom

[Verno]

The doors of Csirac's chamber open. 4 'bots enter; one in the lead, 2 at the back supporting another.

Taranachus: I'm sure you recognise your compatriot. No? Well allow me to introduce Command Silverbolt. He's volunteered to assist us with a few enquiries.

Silverbolt's body is thrown to the floor of the chamber.

Taranachus: Fix him up.

-------------

Silverbolt: Who are you?

Csirac: I am Csirac.

Silverbolt: If you are, then you're dead, and this really isn't what I expected of the AllSpark.

Csirac: What do you remember?

Silverbolt: Preds. A few ex 'cons thrown in there. Tactical nightmare. What is this place?

Csirac: Predacon Bunker. Some distance underground.

Silverbolt: Working for the Preds now, huh?

Csirac: Not by choice.

Silverbolt: Choice? If the choice is between doing the enemies work for them or death, then find me something sharp and open my chestplate. There's always a choice.

Csirac: There's more to it.

Silverbolt: I'd want to hope so, for your sake. So what inroads have you made? Tactical info, strength of numbers?

Csirac: I've made some new discoveries in my research?

Silverbolt: Your research?! When people mentioned your name I always pictured Perceptor. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Csirac: Because I'm not holding a blaster?

Silverbolt: Because you're not willing to pick one up.

The doors open.

Taranachus: Ahhh, excellent, our guest is awake.

Silverbolt: Finally, some company I know how to hate.

Taranachus: Oh yes, you'll be getting very used to my company, tehehehehe...