Book IV
     "Dark Times, Part I"

     Chapter XV
     "Unexpected Developments"


     The Autobots aboard Sky Lynx
were silent through the rest of the
journey.  Optimus Prime could not
help but expect the worst.  He
couldn't fathom that Megatron could
have attacked all of their bases on
Earth.
     "Still no answer", asked
Optimus.
     "None", said Ultra Magnus. 
Their communications must be
completely out of commission.
     "What about Earth Defense
Headquarters", asked Optimus.
     "Nothing.  It looks like Earth's
entire global satellite
communications network is down",
responded Ultra Magnus.


     Rodimus Prime sat in his
quarters.  He was not happy that
Optimus had left him behind.  Rodimus
had spent so much time on Earth, that
he now found Cybertron to be boring. 
Rodimus got up, and headed for the
command center.  The team observing
Charr should have reported in by now.
     When Rodimus walked into the
command center, Kup and Blurr were
their.
     "Have they reported in", asked
Rodimus.
     "No", said Kup.  "It's not like
them to be late."
     "It's probably nothing", said
Rodimus.
     "Still, we'd better try and
contact them", said Kup.
     "If you say so", said Rodimus. 
He couldn't hide his boredom, or lack
of experience, from Kup.
     "This is Cybertron calling Alpha
team, respond please", said Kup.
     The screen crackled, but no one
answered.
     "Can you tell if they are
receiving", asked Blurr.
     "It appears they are", said Kup. 
"If that's true then there must not
be anybody to respond", said Kup.
     Rodimus was normally not one to
get alarmed, but if there was a
Decepticon armada leaving Charr, he
had to know about it.  "Kup, you and
Blurr take a shuttle.  Keep sensors
on maximum, and get back here as soon
as you detect any Decepticon
activity", said Rodimus.
     "Rodimus pushed a button on the
console in front of him.  Computer,
initiate a planet wide yellow alert."
     "Understood", responded the
computer.


     "Autobot City, dead ahead", said
Sky Lynx.
     "Nice way of putting it", said
Springer.
     "Sorry", said Sky Lynx.
     "Sky Lynx, fly in low, and we'll
jump.  Then circle around, and give
us some cover", said Optimus.
     "Will do", responded Sky Lynx.
     Sky Lynx swooped in low, and the
Autobots jumped from his cargo bay. 
They landed in a group, just outside
the city, what was left of it.  The
battle appeared to be over.  There
were humans all over the place,
helping human and Autobot wounded.
     "What in Primus name happened",
asked Springer.
     "I don't know, but I'm going to
find out", said Optimus.
     "Ultra Magnus, check our
defensive situation.  If the
Decepticons attack, I want some
protection for the wounded, and I
want a personnel status report. 
Percepter, some of the Autobot
injuries may be more than the humans
can handle.  Springer, I want you to
check our communications status.  If
we don't have global communications,
do whatever you need to to get
communications up and running, and
get me a status report from Earth
Defense, as well as our other bases. 
Tell Sky Lynx to help evacuate the
injured humans to the nearest
hospital."  They all nodded, and left
to assume their assigned tasks. 
Optimus had a task of his own.  He
had to find Spike, and get some
answers.
     Optimus headed for the control
room.  As he headed down the hall, he
realized the base had been completely
penetrated.  Signs of laser fire
being exchanged ran down every
hallway.  When he reached the control
room, he found it in ruins, a
smoldering mess, and human rescue
teams were digging through the
rubble.  He didn't see Spike
anywhere, but did see Commander
Smith, Spike's second in command of
human operations at the base.
     "Commander Smith, where is
Spike", said Optimus.  "We received
his distress call."
     "Optimus Prime, I'm glad to see
you.  We can't find Spike.  He was in
here when Megatron came in and took
out the last of our communications
equipment.  It was a miracle that
Spike got that message out to you."
     "How bad are the human
casualties", asked Optimus.
     "Not as bad as you might have
expected considering the damage this
place sustained.  Mostly minor
injuries, but there are a few major
injuries, and nine dead", responded
Commander Smith gravely.  "That
number may rise a bit, we still have
several people unaccounted for."
     Nine dead, thought Optimus. 
Nine more to add to his conscience.
     "You should also know, Optimus,
that Daniel and Carly were both here
when the attack occurred.
     Optimus felt like he was just
kicked in the stomach.  "How are
they", he asked.
     "Carly sustained only minor
injuries.  Unfortunately, Daniel's
injuries are much more serious.  You
just missed him, we dug him out a few
minutes ago.  He has been taken to
the hospital."  Commander Smith
paused.  "It's bad, very bad.  The
medics who took him to the hospital
thought he might not make it.  When
we found him, we thought he was dead
at first.  His legs and arms were
crushed, and the medics thought he
would loose them.  I told them to
call Doctor Jonas Hollas in France. 
He's the best robotic limb designer
in the world.  He designed my arm",
said Commander Smith, as he flexed
his right hand.  It looked completely
real, but he had lost it in an
accident five years earlier.
     Optimus fought the urge to go
help look for Spike.  The situation
was under control, and he had other
things he had to do.  Though it
pained him greatly, he had to put it
out of his mind.  "Commander Smith,
are the surveillance systems still
operational."
     "I believe so, but it is not a
critical area, and has not been
checked out."
     "Thank you Commander.  Contact
me immediately when you find Spike."


     Optimus left the room, and
headed for his quarters.  He could
not stop thinking about Spike, Carly,
and Daniel.  They were his friends,
and they had given up so much to help
the Autobots get Cybertron back. 
They had sacrificed so much.  Where
would the sacrifices end he wondered?
     It still pained Optimus to think
of Spike's father Sparkplug.  He had
died in a Decepticons attack only two
weeks after Daniel was born.
     Then there was Chip Chase.  Chip
was killed in an accident while
trying to develop a new rocket
engine.  His main hope was to make
travel between Earth and Cybertron
faster.  He was another casualty of
this war.
     There were many more.  Not only
did many soldiers die trying to stop
the Decepticons, but civilians as
well paid the price for this war. 
Optimus carried the weight of each
and every one of them.


     Skyquake flew through space. 
Soundwave might still want to be
Megatron's loyal subject, but
Skyquake wanted no part of him. 
Skyquake decided he needed allies if
he was to take control of the
Decepticons away from Megatron.
     Skyquake slowly maneuvered among
the army that flew toward the Earth,
until he found the one he was looking
for.
     "Hello Swindle", said Skyquake.
     "Starscream, err...Skyquake,
what can I do for you", said Swindle
nervously.
     "I was just wondering, what do
you think of all this", said
Skyquake.
     "Think of what", asked Swindle.
     "Megatron is killed by Optimus
Prime, is somehow reactivated, and
now just takes back leadership.  He
failed, and was defeated, he has no
rights as leader", said Skyquake.
     "Oh, that.  Well, I'd have to
agree with you, except that I don't
want to be on Megatron's enemy list,
like you are.  I'm frankly amazed he
didn't have you melted into scrap
years ago", said Swindle.
     "Well, if nothing else, Megatron
is a good judge of skill", said
Skyquake.
     "Skyquake, I'm no fool.  You
want something, so let's cut the
chit-chat, and tell me what you
want", said Swindle brazenly.
     "Very well", said Skyquake.  "I
am tired of Megatron, and his plans
that always lead to failure.  I wish
to overthrow him, but to do that, I
need support."
     "I see", said Swindle.  "You
think I might be able to find out who
would be willing to follow you."
     "Very perceptive of you
Swindle", said Skyquake.
     "Flattery will get you no
where", said Swindle with a chuckle. 
"What's in it for me."
     "If I were in charge, there
could be certain perks.  I will need
a second in command", said Skyquake.
     "Second in command, huh", said
Swindle.  "I suppose that would
persuade me.  I'll need a few hours."
     "You have it.  I just need to
know who will support me by the time
we reach Earth", said Skyquake.
     "No problem", said Swindle.
     Skyquake slowly made his way
back to the outskirts of the group. 
He didn't want to arouse suspicion. 
He knew his time would come, but he
had to be cautious and wait for his
opening.


     "As you can see", began Uatu,
"There is now a new element to this
situation.  What will the effects of
this be?  Only time will tell."