33
[From TransWarp: Csirac]

Optimus stood, unsteadily, but stood all the same. The gathered procession of Autobots and Maximals in the vast open amphitheatre cheered, thunderously. Optimus held up a hand to bring the crowd to silence.

“Peace”, he announced, and the crowd erupted once again. The Commanders behind Optimus smiled. This day had been a long time coming.

Meanwhile, in a massive underground vault, Generals Cinder, Rampant and Seethe stood before a throbbing mass of directionless hatred. Cinder stepped forward to address to crowd.

“Predacons – we are in pain.” His words were met be screams and threats from the crowd. “We are defeated. We are depleted. But we are one thing above all – we are alive!” His words weren’t winning the crowd over. Rampant stepped up beside his fellow General.

“The decision to surrender was not a simple one to make. We are now faced with an enemy that wields a weapon of unimaginable power”, growled Rampant. “Its use would see all trace of the Predacons wiped from history. A continued existence, in contrast, is a favourable outcome.” The crowd continued their anger towards the new Predacon leadership.

Seethe stepped forward. ”The Autobots may have control of our past, but not our future! They have unknowingly delivered us the very same weapon with which they threaten us – Time. Time to rebuild. Time to rearm. Time to weaken them from within.” The crowd’s attitude began to turn in favour of the Generals.

Cinder tried to capture the mood. “The Autobots will rebuild Cybertron; make it the gleaming jewel of the Universe it once was. And when they have – we’ll snatch it from their dying grasp!” His words were greeted by cheering. “We Predacons will rise again!”

----------

34
[From TransWarp: Csirac]

A contingent of Maximal security forces accompany a group of allied analysts into the Predacon bunker, followed by the forms of Ironhide, Silverbolt, Prowl and, to his own surprise, Rhinox.

“You won’t find me in a cockpit again anytime soon”, said Rhinox as he entered the ruins of the chamber. “I wasn’t built for flying.”

“I know the feeling”, said Ironhide, as he left to help some other Maximals remove debris.

Rhinox looked around the dilapidated room. “Is he still here?”

“No”, said Silverbolt. “I had his body moved to the temporary Mausoleum.”

“He is most deserving of a statue”, said Prowl, also removing debris, “but the full details of what he did, and how, must remain secret.”

“We’re told you worked closely with him on the TransWarp technology. Therefore you have the best chance of understanding his work here”, said Silverbolt, who nodded to an Autobot who brought forth the amplifier. Rhinox began to study it.

“I promised Csirac I’d destroy it – a task I now pass to you”, said Silverbolt. “Pull it apart, melt down its components. But in doing so, I want you to figure out how it works.”

Rhinox looked up from the device to Silverbolt. “No offence, but I don’t think that’s exactly what he meant”, said Rhinox.

A Maximal analyst was scanning the room and came to a large pile of rubble. His equipment started to beep. “Sir, I’m detecting a large Predacon energy sig-“

An immense form erupted from the pile of rubble, sending the small Maximal flying. Magmatron had somehow survived the Spark Transfer process, and announced his return with an enormous scream.

“RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!”

Hic circuitry burning and unsure where he was, his optics fell to those in the room, all of which his sensors detected as Maximal.

“Predacon, stand down!” ordered Prowl. Ironhide, with weapons drawn, stepped in front to protect his fellow Maximals.

Magmatron was outnumbered, which left only one option: fight!

“The Predacon Generals have signed an official notice of surrender!” shouted Silverbolt.

Magmatron smashed Ironhide aside with one swipe.

Everyone watched Ironhide crash into the wall. Prowl gave him one last warning. “Any further actions will be in direct violation of the ceasefire! Stand down!”

Magmatron’s processors were still whirring, his Spark still in incredible pain. He didn’t know who these ‘bots were but they wouldn’t stand in his way. He drew out an enormous sword and made to engage the remaining Maximals. He took one step forward, but suddenly began to take heavy fire. His optics couldn’t focus on the attacker, and the sound of the weapons-fire was echoing around the room, disorientating his sensors. Unable to protect himself, he lashed out wildly, but the damaged began to toll on his body and he fell back to the ground in a smoking heap.

Maximal security troops surrounded him with weapons drawn, but it had not been them that had fired. All optics looked for the source of the torrential gunfire.

There, with a large, smoking Chain gun in each hand, was Rhinox, who had a look of surprise on his face, which gave way to a cheeky smile. “Not too shabby.”

----------

35
[From TransWarp: Ravage]

“A job well done.”

Ravage sat opposite three old foes, miraculously returned from the dead.

“From the reports we’ve received, Razorclaw was very heavily guarded, but you somehow found a way to cut him down”, said Silverbolt. “You’ve done us a great service.”

Ravage sat in silence. He didn’t know who had slain Razorclaw, but if they believed him to be the assassin, then he wouldn’t tell them otherwise.

“You held up your end of the bargain - helping bring an end to the War”, said Ironhide, with coldness in his voice. “You were promised your freedom, and as much as I’d like to renege on the deal…” he continued, glancing to the two beside him for confirmation. He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“All participation in the War is pardoned”, finished Prowl.

Silence returned to the chamber.

Ravage slowly stood up, received no sign of protest from the three behind the desk, turned and walked from the chamber.

A cold voiced called after him.

“Enjoy the peace, Predacon.”

----------

36
[From TransWarp: Ravage]

“Magmatron isn’t dead”, began Rampant, and Ravage’s optics widened. “He was carried from the battlefield, heavily wounded, so we can understand your, assumption, that your blaster fire had been lethal. But the fact remains that he survived, and has now acquired an improved form in the process”, Rampant stated, unsuccessfully hiding his frustration.

“However”, Seethe cut in, for which Ravage was relieved, “his temporary incapacitation served its purpose - we, the Tripredacus Council, are now the recognised leaders of the Predacon faction, and it is due in no small part to your actions.” Ravage remained silent.

“You have valuable skills, Ravage. We may be in use of them again in the future, so we have a proposal”, said Cinder, speaking for the first time. “We have signed a temporary armistice with the Autobots and Maximals. A full Peace accord is being drawn up as we speak - the contents of which will be unpleasant for we Predacons”, he continued. “We will have to forfeit many rights and forgo a number of privileges, but given the alternative now that they are capable of traversing Time, a continued existence is a favoured outcome”.

“But we refuse to capitulate in entirety. Our day to rise up once again will come, and when it does, it will be clean and swift”, said Rampant.

“But until then, we have much to achieve: quietly, and without raising suspicion - a talent you’ve proven to possess”, said Cinder.

“We can offer you pursuits that would satisfy a warrior such as yourself, and in return for your service, we will grant you much, starting with a technologically improved form, one much more fitting to your new role as our Agent”, said Seethe, studying the great black form before them in the Chamber.

“Victory will be ours, in time”, said Cinder. “So what do you say?”

----------

37
[From TransWarp: Ravage]

Ravage opened his eyes and stepped from the machine, on two legs - a very different experience.

“Welcome, Agent Ravage”, said a purple Predacon. “Welcome indeed, tehehehehe…”

Ravage studied his new form as the purple Predacon, still cackling, left the chamber. The form was stronger, yet still as agile as his old one, well-armed, too. But its greatest feature, cloaking technology, required immediate testing Ravage felt.

The body carried Predacon badges, and was made from stolen Maximal technology (with a few tweaks), but he was neither. As he disappeared into nothingness, a smile crossed his panther-like face - “Decepticons Forever…”

The End...