Book VI
     "Dark Times, Part III"

     Chapter XXIV
     "Plans"


     "Hello.  I am Uatu.  Humans call
me the Watcher, and for untold eons I
have observed your planet, Earth. 
Today, I will once again look in on
another Earth.  On this Earth,
humankind has been forced to abandon
it's home.  The evil Decepticons led
by Megatron have taken over the
Earth.  Optimus Prime and a small
band of Autobots remain on Earth. 
They are now allied with Skyquake and
his rogue Decepticons.  Meanwhile, on
Cybertron, Rodimus Prime has begun
the task of preparing the Autobots
forces for an all out assault on the
planet Earth.  Also on Cybertron,
Spike's son Daniel is still
recovering from his injuries.  We
will pick up our story in the South
American jungle cave where the
remaining Autobots on Earth are now
discussing Optimus Prime's
announcement that they were now
allied with Skyquake."


     "So let me get this straight
Optimus", said Bumblebee to Optimus
Prime in a somewhat sarcastic tone. 
"Skyquake doesn't want Megatron to
have control of Earth so that he can
take over the Decepticons.  So he and
his allies are going to help us get
rid of Megatron."
     "That's right", said Optimus.
     "This is all in spite of the
fact that if he could kill Megatron,
and take over Earth, he'd turn on us
and melt us down", said Blades.
     "More than likely", said
Optimus.
     "Me Grimlock not too bright, and
even me know this is bad idea."
     "Not to mention that they almost
outnumber us 2 to 1", said Springer.
     "If I may, Optimus", began
Percepter, "perhaps we would all feel
better if you explained why you
decided to accept Skyquake's offer."
     "I'd be happy to.  Just the
twelve of us may not be enough to
accomplish our mission.  We need to
give Cybertron an opportunity.  I'm
sure that Ultra Magnus and Rodimus
Prime are deep into planning an
attack, but they will be attacking
blind.  We must gather intelligence,
and give them an opening.  A head on
assault on the Decepticons with no
intelligence on their plans and
positions would be suicide.  Skyquake
and his bunch will be a very valuable
asset to us."
     "Unless they turn around and
attack us at the first opportunity",
said Hound.
     "I don't think they will", said
Optimus.  As much as Skyquake hates
all of us, it is Megatron that he
wants to destroy now.  I don't think
he will try anything until he has
done that.  Don't worry.  I'll keep a
eye on him."
     The Thing had been watching the
goings on, and had not said anything. 
"Hope you don't mind my throwing in
my two cents", began the Thing, "but
I agree with Optimus Prime.  Besides,
if we don't agree, then we have
another enemy force out there.  If
you ask me, one enemy is enough."
     "Point taken", said Bumblebee.
     Optimus watched as they all
nodded their acceptance of his
decision.  Some of them were
obviously not happy about it, but
they would abide by his decisions. 
He only hoped that he was doing the
right thing.
     "This is a bad idea Optimus.  A
very bad idea", said Bumblebee.
     Of all the Autobots, Optimus
considered Bumblebee to be among his
closest friends.  It pained him that
he was so opposed to his plan.  But
he couldn't do anything about it, so
he put it out of his mind, and went
on with what had to be done.
     Outside the cave, the
Decepticons were waiting for the
Autobots meeting to end.
     "What is taking so long", asked
Skyquake.
     "Perhaps it is going to take
some convincing for them to join us",
said Blitzwing.  "I doubt that any of
them trust any of us."  Although
Blitzwing had been in favor of
joining the Autobots for his own
reasons, he was not sure that it was
going to work.  It wasn't the
Autobots he was worried about as much
as Skyquake.  Although this course of
action was Skyquake's idea, Blitzwing
wasn't sure that Skyquake would be
able to stick with his own plan.
     A moment later, the Autobots
emerged from the cave.
     "Skyquake", began Optimus Prime,
"per our agreement, I will now take
command of our combined force." 
Optimus was not expecting this to go
well.  Skyquake had never been good
at taking orders.
     Skyquake, obviously trying to
hide his revulsion, nodded.  "As we
agreed."
     Our base here is makeshift, at
best.  The Constructicons, along with
Grimlock, and the Thing will be in
charge of fortifying this position. 
I want an escape tunnels and
automatic weapon system.  We need it
as fast as possible."
     "What do we need that dimwitted
Dinofool for", asked Longhaul.
     Skyquake fired a missile at his
feet, sending him flying to the
ground.
     "You need that Dino...you need
Grimlock because Optimus Prime says
you do.  The next Decepticon who
challenges one of Optimus Prime's
orders will be melted down", said
Skyquake.
     "Just a minute Skyquake.  Among
the Autobots, everyone is entitled to
speak their mind.  Although in the
future, you might wish to phrase it
better Longhaul.  Grimlock will work
with you on this assignment, because
I have decided that all tasks and
operations will be jointly done by
teams of Decepticons and Autobots."
     "Understood", said Longhaul.
     "Percepter, First Aid, Frenzy,
Rumble, Octane, and Swindle will be
in charge of getting any supplies we
need, and putting together a repair
bay.  We will need any weapons we can
get our hands on.  There are several
secret military installations in this
jungle.  You should be able to find
everything we need.  Hound, I need
you to adapt your holo emitter to
shield this base.  Skyquake will
assist you."
     "Understood", said Skyquake.
     "Skyfire, you are in charge of
intelligence.  Blades, Astrotrain,
Blastoff, Vortex, Ravage, Ratbat,
Buzzsaw, Laserbeak, and Bumblebee
will be our intelligence gathering
group.  Springer, Onslaught, and
Blitzwing will help me plan our
strategy.  Hotspot, Groove,
Streetwise, and Brawl will stand
lookout, and patrol the area.  Does
everyone understand their
assignment", asked Optimus.
     They all nodded, and all of them
except Springer, Onslaught, and
Blitzwing left to assume their
specified tasks.  Things were going
smoother than he had anticipated. 
Optimus hoped that was a good sign.


     Rodimus Prime stared blankly at
the data pads on the table before
him.  He and Ultra Magnus had been
working on a plan of attack for
nearly six hours now, and had no more
than when they started.
     "What if we land a force on the
moon", said Ultra Magnus.  If they
arrive undetected, the main attack
can be..."
     "We tried planning that two
hours ago.  Every time, it didn't
work", said Rodimus.
     "Oh, I forgot."
     "Let's face it Ultra Magnus",
began Rodimus, "the Decepticons have
complete control of Earth.  Just
before our scans stopped penetrating
to the planet, readings indicated
that they had weapon systems active
all over the world.  Any assault on
Earth will fail unless the weapon
systems are taken off line."
     "We had better hope that Optimus
Prime can get those weapon systems
down", said Ultra Magnus.
     "Agreed.  Until then, have our
forces move into position behind the
moons of Jupiter.  We should be able
to remain undetected their.  We can
wait until we get a signal from
Optimus."
     "Understood", said Ultra Magnus. 
"How much of our force should we
leave behind to defend Cybertron?"
     "None", said Rodimus.
     "None", said Ultra Magnus.  "We
can't leave Cybertron undefended."
     "I am going to put Spike in
charge of Cybertron until our return. 
Since all of the Decepticons are on
Earth, Cybertron should have nothing
to worry about."
     Ultra Magnus left the room.
     Rodimus sat for a few minutes. 
He was not sure he was doing the
right thing, but he knew he didn't
have a choice.