Book IV
     "Dark Times, Part I"

     Chapter XIV
     "A Plan Comes Together"


     "Hello.  I am Uatu.  Mortal men
know me as The Watcher.  For eons
without measure, I have lived on
Earth's moon, observing your planet. 
But occasionally I will look in on an
alternate universe.  In this
Universe, The history of the people
of Earth, and of Cybertron are about
to come to a pivotal event.  One
which will change the face of the
universe as they know it, and one
that will ultimately push Optimus
Prime into the most difficult
decision of his life.


     Optimus sat back against the
side of Sky Lynx's cargo bay.  They
would be arriving at Earth within the
hour.  Optimus had prepared a
statement for the United Nations to
warn them of the possible Decepticon
threat.  Optimus hoped that if the
Decepticons attacked that they would
attack Cybertron.  Cybertron could
withstand the attack.  Earth was well
defended, not only by Earth Defense
Forces, but by the large Autobot
presence.  Still, against a full
scale Decepticon attack, Optimus was
not confident that they could repel
the Decepticons.
     "Optimus, you had better get to
the cockpit", said Sky Lynx.


     When Optimus Prime reached the
Cockpit, Ultra Magnus's face told him
something was wrong.  "What is it",
asked Optimus.
     "We just received this message
from Spike at Autobot City", said
Ultra Magnus.  He pressed a button on
the console, and the view screen lit
up.  It crackled with static, and the
image was fading in and out, but it
was Spike.
     "To anyone who can hear this
message, we are under attack. 
Megatron, Nightbird, and five unknown
Decepticons began their attack thirty
minutes ago.  We are sustaining heavy
damage.  Earth defense forces have
arrived, but they are having no
effect."  Then an alarm sounded, and
Spike looked down suddenly at the
console.  "Decepticons have breached
the base.  If you receive this
message, contact Optimus Prime on
Cybertron", said Spike.  At that
moment, the door to the control room
exploded, and Megatron came through
the doorway, and started shooting. 
The screen went dark.
     Optimus could not believe what
he had seen.  "How long ago was that
sent", asked Optimus, trying to hide
the panic in his voice.
     "Approximately an hour ago",
said Ultra Magnus.  "It seems their
main communications array was
damaged, the signal was very weak."
     "Sky Lynx, full speed to Autobot
City", ordered Optimus.
     "Understood", responded Sky
Lynx.  For once, he didn't sound very
self centered.
     "What's our ETA", asked Optimus.
     "Thirty minutes", said
Percepter.
     "Ultra Magnus, contact our other
bases around the world, and have them
send help", said Optimus.
     "Understood", said Ultra Magnus. 
Ultra Magnus changed some setting on
the console.  "This is Ultra Magnus
calling Autobot City England, do you
read me."  There was nothing but
silence.  Ultra Magnus tried to
contact each base, but each time was
met by silence.
     "Megatron couldn't have attacked
them all", said Ultra Magnus.
     "Let's get to Autobot City.  We
can't be in seven places at once",
sad Optimus Prime.  The other cities
would have to wait.


     Megatron sat back in his chair
in the command center of his base. 
He had nearly demolished all seven
Autobot cities on Earth, crippled
Earth's Defense Forces, and sabotaged
the Earth's communications network.
     But what was his next move?  His
five Xformers were more than powerful
enough to attack an enemy base, and
leave it a flaming mess, but if they
were attacked by a large well armed
and prepared force, he could not hope
to win with so few troops, even with
ones as powerful as the Xformers.  As
Megatron contemplated his situation,
the computer chimed.  It was an
incoming transmission on a Decepticon
frequency.
     "On screen", said Megatron.
     On the screen appeared two
Decepticons that he had never seen
before.
     "Megatron, you live", exclaimed
the first.
     The voice was unmistakable, but
it did not look like Soundwave.  "Who
are you", demanded Megatron.
     "It is Soundwave", Soundwave
said quizzically.  Then he realized
why.  "I am sorry, I forgot, you have
never seen me in this form.  This is
Starscream", said Soundwave,
motioning to the figure standing
beside him.
     "I am no longer Starscream, I am
Skyquake."
     "Soundwave, I thought you and
that fool were dead", said Megatron.
     "We almost were, but we
survived.  We are on Charr, and we
have the full Decepticon army here",
said Soundwave.
     Megatron sat forward in his
chair.  "What is your status", asked
Megatron.
     "We await your orders.  We stand
ready to attack Cybertron at your
command", said Soundwave.
     "Excellent.  I have a plan.  I
have some details to finalize.  I
will contact you in two hours, and
give you your assignment then."
     "Understood, mighty Megatron",
said Soundwave.  "Decepticons
forever!"
     The screen went dark.
     Everything was falling into
place.  The timing was perfect, and
Megatron was almost ready to put his
plan into action.