— Wheeljack calling Optimus Prime. Wheeljack calling Optimus Prime. Sir? - however there still had been no response - he's still out of reach. And we're approaching Kaon. Sir?
— Yes. I hear you, soldier - Ultra Magnus rooted himself at the rear view display. The one that was chasing them - and there was no doubt about this being a chase now, - looked disturbingly like Megatron, except slightly bigger and with added spikes. He gained ground on them and the Jackhammer couldn't rev up any further.
— Wanna me hit him with a missile, sir?
— Negative, soldier. He does look like Megatron, but made no hostile move yet.

Just as he had spoken, the figure chasing them erupted in a flash of purple light. The Jackhammer shook as she was hit, but the shields held for now.
— Can we hit him now, sir?
—Yes, Wheeljack, now we… - he didn't finish looking past Wheeljack on the screen behind him. Three winged figures hovered in the air, clearly waiting for them to approach. Smokescreen cursed and Ultra Magnus didn't chide him.
Wheeljack fired a missile, a single "yes" was all he needed - their stalker dodged it. - Try to lose him on the streets - Ultra Magnus said, just as Jackhammer shook with another hit.
The predacons hovered against the sun observing the chase. Would they let an autobot vessel fly into their domain in hope that a mysterious chaser was a decepticon? How naive would it be? Predaking dove down, bearing fire onto Jackhammer and Wheeljack swerved right just in time for the fiery death to miss the left engine. Their stalker erupted in violet again and this time a volley was shot, hitting both the Jackhammer and the Predaking. Now it made no difference if the mysterious intruder was decepticon or not. Predaking shook his head and charged the new target.
Wheeljack let Jackhammer fall as low as he dared into the maze of lower Kaon. Behind them, the sky was ablaze with death and fury.

As Soundwave stepped through the bridge vortex to Nemesis, he was greeted by the usual warship sounds and - surprisingly! – cheered by eradicons and Knockout present on the main bridge. He was, though, striving to hear another greeting, and he heard it – a muffled exclamation half across the ship when he let his presence be known on their usual frequency.
Nanoclicks later, the Cassette transmitted his status and his short, concise field report. Soundwave felt a tide of relief wash over him. Ravage was well, indeed.

Starscream was speaking. Starscream might have been speaking for a while now. Starscream barely shut up even in Megatron's presence, now there had been nothing to stop him speak.

Soundwave walked over to his console. He would be up to speed with current events much faster working than listening to Starscream.
As he set to repair the communications array and recalibrate the scanner to detect dark energon signatures, a fraction of what Starscream said slipped into his attention:
- …. stopping us for setting course to Torkhulon…
Soundwave spared him a glance and disabled the Starscream-filter.
The seeker was planning to flee, that is why he needed Soundwave to fix the ship's navigation!
Soundwave erupted in a small static burst, getting everyone's - first of all, Starscream's attention.
- Status report, - the spy deliberately used Megatron's voice for that.
He then proceeded by uploading his netherworld footage to the main screen.

A communication console lit up in an underground lab halfway through to Kaon. Shockwave put aside an elaborate instrument he was working with and stepped closer.
It was a transmission from Nemesis – a clear sign that Starscream succeeded on his reckless mission. One point for the Seeker and note to self: no more underestimating Starscream.
The con that appeared on screen, though, was not Starscream.
Two points for the Seeker then. Captured the ship AND brought back Soundwave. And tall of that before noon!

However, Soundwave barely nodded before patching through his footage.
- Soundwave. I require a ground bridge – Shockwave said halfway through the video. A bridge was provided almost immediately.
Ironically, Starscream's two points just turned back into one.

A dozen sets of optics watched their Leader's desecrated carcass walk off his death bed and same amount of audios heard the ominous task the Unmaker set for it. Normally, Soundwave should have – would have! – delivered this report in private, but if Starscream planned to leave Cybertron to its fate, chances that he would not disclose this info to the crew were overweighting the opposite. He had to take measures.
Starscream gritted his dentae. Insubordination didn't go unnoticed. Neither did a bridge vortex that delivered Shockwave.
- I didn't order you to do that! – hissed the Aerial Commander, towering over Soundwave despite the latter being slightly taller than him.

- Megatron: in need of being stopped, - Soundwave responded in his own speech for a change.

- I will not tolerate you dictating me what to do! – Starscream screeched, swinging to look at Shockwave, who walked to join them and the rest of eradicons – his eradicons! – that were now vividly discussing the situation in low but agitated voices.
Desecrating the remnants of their Leader was an insult to all decepticons, and it turned the bridge into a buzzling hive of murmur and comms. Soundwave let all comms through. The more cons know, the better.
Eradicons adored their Aerial Commander, but their primal loyalty had always been to Megatron. Was Megatron's honor worth confronting Starscream?

Soundwave had set a foot down. Last time he did it, down went Airachnid and them abandoning Megatron. By the looks of it, the crew remembered all too well. But Starscream wasn't Airachnid.
Soundwave's situation assessment still predicted 60% of the crew to support their Aerial Commander whatever course of actions he might choose.
Murmur turned more agitated by a second. The tension was growing rapidly in anticipation of Starscream's answer.

- Protecting Cybertron would be your duty… as Supreme Commander, - Shockwave offered, stepping closer to extend this an olive branch of peace. Come on, Starscream, take it!
- Fine! – finally growled the Seeker, earning a cheer from the troops present, - we will TRY to stop this… abomination… before flying away.
- But don't you two get ideas now, - he added under breath, - you don't control me.

Apparently, they sort of did. But it would be rude to point that out, wouldn't it?

- Soundwave, bring everyone on board and find this … thing that stole Our One True Master's body. Shockwave – find me a way to kill it.

Soundwave nodded and turned to his console. Shockwave slightly bowed: "Yes, Starscream".
So, they were going to obey him as long as he did what they wanted him to do. Starscream huffed. He needed Soundwave. Shockwave? Not so much, but in a fight to come the scientist and his predacons could tip the scales.

- You did the right thing, my Liege, - Knockout softly spoke beside him.

Starscream grinned at him.
- And you, my good doctor, should take this time to run inventory check on the medibay and make sure we're prepared for what's to come.
Knockout slightly bowed and made his exit. Starscream flopped himself on Megatron's chair.

A Supreme Commander. He could get used to that.