For a moment, there was silence. Then, of course, everyone started
talking at once.

"What do we..."
"...but...he's on *our* side..."
"They planned this all along, stinking..."
"Insufficient data for full analysis..."
"Wonder if we can deal with them?"

There was a hideously loud squeal, penetrating all channels of
communication. Then, the monitors and comm screens in the base
flickered back to life. 

Prime and Starscream stood there, side by side. Each waited as the
noise, audio and cybernetic, faded and died. 

"We have two hours, or less, to prepare. Autobots, I expect you to
redouble your efforts."

"As for my loyal Decepticons...." there was a slight murmur, but
nothing came of it, "..do not be deluded into thinking
that....abomination...is our beloved Megatron! They've simply usurped
his image to control and divide us! *I* am your leader now...and we
will stand and fight!"

Blitzwing shouted at the image of Starscream, "Fine words! But what's
the *plan*? What're we actually gonna DO?"

"You'll be informed of *that* when I, your leader, see fit to tell
you!" With an angry gesture, Starscream deactivated the comm
circuits...before the demand for non-existent details began to spread.

Optimus turned to him. Though his face could show no emotion,
Starscream was *certain* there was a mocking grin under that
impenetrable mask. "I don't suppose you'd care to share your brilliant
plan with me, Starscream?"

Starscream smiled himself, then shrugged. "When I've devised one,
Optimus, you'll be the first to know."

A secure comm panel blinked insistently. Optimus activated it, and
Perceptor's image appeared. Behind him were several others, Autobot and
Decepticon alike.

"Optimus, Starscream...I believe I..I mean, WE... have found a possible
solution."

He began to speak, with the other scientists filling in the details,
and, as he did, both Optimus and Starscream began to feel, for the
first time, that this might be survivable. Might be.

***
Later...

Skywarp stood in the entranceway, which had been designed for the rapid
launch of Terran-style jet craft, then modified still further for the
needs of the Decepticons. He fondly remembered many raids from this
place...the screams of shock and surprise when he'd materialize out of
nowhere, the fleshlings scurrying to avoid him, the look on the face of
a squishy pilot as he realized he was seconds away from a midair
collision...ah, those were the days.

And now they expected him to *carry* the little squealing things?
Disgusting. Hm. There they were, along with Rumble and Frenzy. Or was
it Frenzy and Rumble? For some reason, Skywarp couldn't recall which
one was red-hued and which one was blue. He suspected they changed
their outer coloration regularly as part of some complex game.

Skywarp looked down on them. "I can't carry you two in my plane mode!
You won't fit."

Rumble (maybe) looked up at the taller warrior disdainfully. "Blow it
out your central exhaust port." He then folded down to cassette mode,
making an obscene gesture as he transformed. He landed at the feet of
one of the squishies.

Spike bent down to pick up the tiny blue cassette. In this mode, I
could snap him in two, Spike thought...and then, no more Rumble. Very
tempting, considering all the trouble this little monster has caused
me. He sighed, and placed the transformed Decepticon carefully in his
shirt pocket.

Carly glanced at Frenzy. "Your turn."

"You sure there'll be things to kill up there?"

"Quite positive. You'll have more targets than you know what to do
with."

Frenzy sneered, then transformed as well. Carly snatched the cassette
out of the air, then called to Skywarp. "Alright, you too. Our pal
here" -- she tapped the cassette -- "has the best schematics we've been
able to make of the inside of that ship. We're going to need to tie
those into your teleportation systems."

Skywarp transformed. He opened his canopy, and his voice spoke from
deep inside his nose cone. "Alright, get in and plug in the data. Don't
think I enjoy this."

Spike climbed in the front seat. "Just don't teleport away while we're
inside you in midair!" He paused for a second. "Er...that was a joke."

"I'm laughing on the inside. And if I were you, squishy, I wouldn't go
making suggestions."

Carly followed suit, getting into the other seat. Spike turned to her. 

"You know, they only need *one* human on this mission."

"You're right. You can stay here if you want -- I won't mind."

"That's *not* what I meant."

"Do you realize that we're about to see something no one has ever seen
before, or will again? You think I'm going to miss that?"

"But...the risk..."

"If we fail, we're doomed anyway -- here or there. So, I'm going.
Here." She handed him Frenzy. "Plug him in and let's get moving. T
minus 100 and counting."

"Do you think our forces can hold out for an hour?"

"They'd better."

Skywarp interrupted. "Whenever you're done, let me know. I'm really
enjoying hearing how humans squabble."

"Move on out, then."

With an acceleration designed to be as uncomfortable for the occupants
as possible, Skywarp hurled himself into the sky.

****

"Now, if our understanding is correct, they're going to seek to capture
as many of us intact as they can. That's the key to this plan."

Kup looked over the massive holomap as Onslaught pointed and lectured.
"You know, I faced a problem very similair to this on Jacon. Of course,
we also had to deal with rains of liquid nitrogen. I don't think I ever
got my left motivator fully thawed. So, there we were..."

Onslaught glared at him. "Spare me your remininsces, you antique. I've
fought in as many battles as you, and I've learned one thing...NO
battle is like any other. It's a small wonder so many of your stories
end with 'And I was the only survivor'." Onslaught turned back to the
map. "*MY* troops come back functional."

Outrage twisted Kup's features. His hand clenched, and his mind locked
onto his laser-musket. Ironhide noticed this and moved to act. "Hold
it!" He slammed Kup's hand out of the way. "You oughta know better than
to let this overrated tin can bother you." Ironhide then glanced at
Onslaught, who had been watching the exchange with amusement. "And as
for you...you maght do well to listen to someone who *wasn't* locked in
a box for fahv million years!"

Onslaught drew himself up to his full height. He could easily destroy
both of them, even with the wounds of his last battle still healing.
But...that would be pointless. He did need them both for his plans.
Pride and purpose warred within his circuitry, and purpose won.

"I...apologize. I should not dismiss any advice so readily." A lie, of
course, but a face-saving one. For all concerned.

"OK, then," Kup relaxed, a little. " Now, as I was saying, on Jacon..."

****

"There it is."

Skywarp's voice was surprisingly flat. For ten minutes, it had been
bluster, threat, and brag, delighting in the near-helplessness of the
hated fleshlings within him. Then, there had been a sudden fifteen
seconds of silence, and then that emotionless pronouncement.

"It's...big." said Carly, then winced at the inanity of that statement.
But no words seemed adequate.

"Yeah." Spike finally answered. Finally, he forced a laugh and turned
back to Carly. "Great last words, huh?"

"Yeah." she said, still entranced by the wall of metal looming before
them. Then, she suddenly seemed to realize what she had said, and
doubled over in fear-inspired laughter.

"Hey, don't go crazy on me!" Skywarp shouted. "I ain't gonna die in
there alone!"

"We're...we're OK, Skywarp." Spike said, around barely restrained
gasps. "Let's do it." Adrenaline was surging. Carly was right -- there
was no way he could ever give this life up -- not that there seemed
much choice.

The ship was a latticework filling the sky before them.

Then - the world inverted. 

And there was a one second glimpse of a world of metal and lights and
vast, sprawling spaces, and then the all too familiar sound of tearing
metal -- followed by the sound of living metal screaming in agony.

Then all was still. And very, very, quiet.

"Skywarp?" Spike whispered, though he didn't know why.

"I...still function. But we seem to have...missed...the target spot."

"Can you get us back out?"

"My...teleport functions are on-line. But it will be random."

"We'll make do. Open up."

Metal strained, and Skywarp gave an almost human like grunt of pain --
but the canopy opened. Spike clambered out, and Carly followed. There
was a faint pop, and Frenzy ejected from within Skywarp, rapidly
expanding to his full ten foot height. A second later, Carly tossed
Rumble into the air, and he too transformed.

The two Decepticons were considered puny, even runts, by their fellows
-- but they towered over the two humans. Spike had argued for the use
of Rewind or even Steeljaw, but Starscream had insisted that
Decepticons be used in the mission to find their leader, and Optimus,
struggling to hold the fragile alliance together, relented.

Carly was examining a small scanner. "We've got a definite fix on him,
but he's a long way from here. And we have only ninety minutes. Let's
go."

Silently, the foursome ventured out of the bay into the vastness of the
alien ship.

*****

Ironhide shook his head as he watched Skywarp depart. "Ah don't know
'bout this, Prime. Sending two humans and three Decepticons...."

"I understand your concern, old friend. But the creatures who built
that craft are humanoid, and the humans will be most able to move
around freely in there. As for Rumble and Frenzy...well, you know the
plan."

"Ah know, ah know. Ah still don't lahk it, and Ah don't trust them
Decepticreeps one little bit."

"We have no choice." Internally, Prime received an alert beep. "Prime
here. Go on."

"We're ready to begin the experiment, Prime -- but for some reason,
your loyal followers don't want me to be alone with them!" Starscream's
voice, half mocking and half whining, made Prime's circuits cringe, but
he controlled himself. "I'll be right there, Starscream."

The Constructicons had done their work well. A fifty foot stand of
trees had been cleared, a hyper-concrete base added, and the amplifier
towers were rapidly being assembled. In the center of the clearing, a
small, bickering group of Autobots and Decepticons prepared for their
final stand.

Prime spoke. "Starscream, what is the ETA?"

"As I told you, Autobot, sixty Terran minutes from now. We'll need to
keep this site secure for a half an hour --and I might remind you, all
of our PREVIOUS encounters with the enemy lasted mere minutes at best."
He smiled. "Of course, that was before *I* was involved. With my...I
mean, of course, OUR, leadership, there should be no problem."

Optimus said nothing. Why, he wondered, couldn't Starscream just be
honest? It was obvious the Decepticon was terrified -- no sane being
wouldn't be. But he had to hide it all under bluster and innuendo.
Well, two can play that way.

"Undoubtedly, you'll be leading the assault wave, then?"

"Why...I wish I could! But my scientific skills will be needed HERE." 

"Of course." Prime turned away, and walked over to the three
communications specialists, who were engaging, it appeared, in vigorous
if undetectable debate.

Blaster was the first to speak. "Hey, Prime! We're about ready to begin
-- we'll need to time this just right, so..."

"Don't worry. You won't be interrupted."

"Uh...yeah. It's a pity we can't fully extend the shield, but..."

"Everyone out there understands. The enemy is going to try to close in
on you, but they'll have to do it by force. And we stand ready to stop
them."

"Oh, enough of this chit-chat, Prime!" Starscream called from his
position leaning against a nearby tree. "You'd better get going.
Wouldn't want to miss the action!" He laughed, then, knowing he could
stand there and send the being he hated second-most in the galaxy off
to perish -- or, in the worst case scenario, maimed.

Prime swiveled his head to glower directly at the lounging Decepticon.
"Don't get your hopes up, Starscream. I'll be back." With that, he
transformed into his truck mode and roared off, making sure Starscream
was within millimeters of being clipped by his trailer.

As he rolled off, he summoned a holographic map of the battlefield.
Everyone was in position. With the enemy able to teleport at will,
there needed to be even coverage of all angles. Another thought erased
the map and focused on the approaching cube. It was closer than he
would have thought. Hm...energy reading surging and...

The forest-turned-battleground exploded in a thousand flashes of green
light. Suddenly, they were everywhere. Prime was face to face with a
trio of Borg -- he had not time to slow or swerve, but simply plowed
right through them. The feel of their flesh being crushed, their metal
shrieking, would be with him forever. But no time to think of that now
-- more of them -- and WHAT were they DOING?

Five Borg lined in front of him, apparently ready to be destroyed like
the first few -- but they suddenly leapt together and in a grotesque
parody of a gestalt unit, formed into something like a giant laser
cannon. Prime had an instant to be horrified -- those were *organic*
beings squeezed and contorted into wholly unnatural forms -- they had
to be in agony as their cybernetic parts linked and fused into the
living weapon. Then it fired, and the blast sent Prime careening off
his wheels and spilling into the trees. With a thought, he activated
his transformation circuits and dispatched his bulky trailer unit to
subspace, retrieving his blaster cannon and returning fire. 

Then they swarmed over him.

******

It's an irony, Onslaught thought, that I should die under such a
classic example of my name -- for this is truly an onslaught. They are
*everywhere*. Already, I've lost contact with sectors 12 and 15...even
Devestator is starting to go down. But we must hold on...

"Kup! Report!"

From behind him, Kup's aging voice spoke. "I'm still here, Commander."
Kup spoke the title with respect, not disdain or irony. "But not for
long. This is worse than the Swarming Biobeasts of...oh, never mind.
It's just bad. I...watch it!"

Kup's optics caught a new flare of green, as the second wave of attack
began. The horde was moving right for Onslaught, but Kup leapt into it,
laser-musket firing wildly. He held them long enough for Onslaught to
shift to missile-truck and fire a continuous volley. Bits of flesh and
metal scattered, and Kup's body collapsed, shattered, in the middle of
the wreckage.

He knew I would do that, Onslaught thought, and he acted anyway. 

Onslaught gave a brief salute to the smashed body. Kup was a good
soldier. And who knows? He might be tough enough to survive the wounds.

He then scanned the surrounding area. Enemy everywhere. Accelerating
into the thick of the foe, he issued orders: "Fall back to secondary
positions! Protect the shielded zone at all costs!"

Twenty Terran minutes....and counting.

Then his sensors were overwhelmed with a flood of chatter --
astonishment, fear, rage...he diverted his optic scanners upwards, and
saw it.

The cube, floating a kilometer or so overhead, so massive as to possess
it's own microgravity, was starting to change.

The deep canyons in its' surface, which had not been there when he
encountered it in space, began to expand, and energy crackled and
roared in the gaps. The upper third of the cube lifted and more gashes
appeared. It began to spread. Subspace distortions rippled the air as
mass was shifted back and forth.

The lower two thirds, then, twisted, forming a vertical slab of
latticework metal. Then it, too, began to expand downwards as more
rifts developed, shifting one impossibly large component after another
into a new position.

Feet the size of Terran aircraft carriers, or so it seemed, crashed
into the forest.

Hands that seemed capable of crushing Devestator like a tiny doll
blotted out the sun.

And, far, far above, half as high as the tallest mountain on this
world, Onslaught could see the shape of a head, and eyes glowing with
the fire of a sun glaring forth.

And then it spoke. It was Megatron's voice, and it wasn't, and it was.

RESISTANCE
IS
FUTILE

And Onslaught knew it was right.

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