Cybertron, Polyhex City-state, Sector Gamma-107
Cybertronian Date: vorn 999867.92 - Orn 8329 - Breem 3210 (Solar pre-zenith)
Earth Date: 27 August 2070, 0520 HOURS
The F-22 Raptor fighter-jet looked out of place in the skies of Cybertron, its Terran form as alien to the metallic world as any of Cybertron's aerial forms would be to the planet Earth. The domes and towers of Polyhex sped by beneath, only the odd towering spire of Cybertronian architecture reaching up to meet the seemingly alien visitor that flew kilometres above the surface. From horizon to horizon the planet seemed one vast sprawling metropolis as the continent-sized city-state filled every view with towers, domes and other architectural wonders. On the southern horizon, the dense architecture of Central Polyhex towered into the rarefied upper atmosphere as though the city had been crowned by its builders. And as the current foothold of the Decepticon Empire on Cybertron, it was an apt symbol. Though the city-state had been torn apart in places, deep craters and gashes ripped deep into the under-city, by the Decepticon invasion three years earlier, at this height and distance the overall structure of the city still looked fittingly grand and intimidating for a Decepticon capital. Decepticon conquerors and the enslaved neutral populus of Polyhex scurried like ants along the flyways, highways and walkways of the city, working to prepare for the total conquest of Cybertron that was inevitably to come.
The jet was unusually fast and quiet for a fighter of its class. It was primarily light-grey, the nose-cone and dorsal tail fins a deep royal blue, the air intakes and ventral weapons bays red, and the wings and tail fins flashed with red and silver on the leading edges. On each wing and on the nose ahead of the gold cockpit canopy were emblazoned the horned purple insignia of the Decepticon military. The jet banked between two of the sky-shearing spires before heading for a third even taller construct in the distance, its form constructed of a tripod of spires topped by a nest of curved towers kilometres above the ground. The three outer towers were shaped into monolithic Decepticon insignia, from between which emerged a golden crown of smaller towers bristling with air-to-air defences. As the jet approached the tower, the automated defences swivelled on target and a flurry of sensor activity scanned the newcomer. Moments later, the airwaves were split by a commanding masculine voice addressing the jet. "This is Rookery security. Please submit identification codes. Over."
"Identify myself?" came a second voice from the jet, its tone slightly high and screeching. "I don't need to identify anything, you moron! It's Starscream!"
"I'm sorry, sir," came the reply, the authority leaving the voice slightly, and an edge of nerves entering it. "But I must request your identification codes before allowing you to land. Those are your standing orders, sir. Over."
"If you don't open those hangar doors, I'll tear off your cranial unit and shove it up your tailpipe, you ignorant son-of-a-groundling!"
"Sir, you may be an Autobot spy, sir! Over."
"An Autobot spy?" Starscream's tone dripped sarcasm. "Did you have a cerebro-circuitry bypass before starting your duty shift? If I was an Autobot spy, do you think I would be passing myself off as Decepticon aerospace commander?"
"Erm, n-no sir," came the reply, all pretence at confidence replaced by nervous stuttering. "I, erm, I suppose n-not, s-sir."
"Then clear me for landing!" ordered Starscream.
"Y-yes, sir! I-I'm opening h-hangar t-two for you now, sir! Over and out."
Starscream closed his communications channel in disgust. When he found out who was on duty, they'd be clearing the scrap feeders from the foundations for the rest of their current service cycle! Ahead of him the outer tower was unfolding, the central horned wedge of the Decepticon insignia sliding upward to reveal the hangar behind. For a few decakliks, the wedge continued to rise, the rim surrounded by guidance beacons that flashed in visible and ultraviolet frequencies, and three rows of landing lights extending back from the opening into the tower marking out the landing zone. Even before the wedge had finished opening, Starscream's sleek low-profiled form streaked through into the hangar, his advanced Cybertronic engine systems - enhanced since his reactivation with nanotechnology stolen from the Autobots of the Bersalis Cluster - slowing him down to landing speeds in a few cubits. Once his speed was sufficiently diminished, he engaged his transformation systems with a thought and landed gracefully in robot mode.
Crossing the virtually empty hangar - only a few cargo ships and tankers dotted around the huge space with a few technicians working to unload them - he pressed his palm against the security lock that activated the armoured entrance into the Rookery. As his internal circuitry interfaced with the security systems, the lock bleeped several times and the heavy reinforced doors slid slowly open with a hiss of air and whirr of machinery. Entering the Rookery, he was met by a fellow Seeker, the body plans of the two Decepticons virtually identical, the colouring being the only real difference. The blue, silver and black Seeker saluted his superior officer before speaking. "Commander Starscream, welcome back."
"It's good to be back, Thundercracker," Starscream replied. "One more breem at Darkmount with that walking computer Shockwave droning on about his plans for leading us to victory and I would have self-terminated out of desperation!" Thundercracker sniggered cruelly. "I should be the one sitting in that throne room at Darkmount!" Starscream continued angrily. "That purple fool doesn't have what it takes to be Decepticon leader! It should be me! If I was our leader, we would have dealt with that fool Scorponok and his renegades centivorns ago and would have driven the Autobots from half of Cybertron by now!"
"Sure thing," said Thundercracker, trying not to smirk. "You're a tactical genius all right!"
"I am not in the mood for sarcasm, Thundercracker!" Starscream growled warningly. "I can still revoke your promotion to deputy aerospace commander! Concussion did want the job…"
"Yes, sir." Thundercracker saluted. He liked being Starscream's deputy. After kilovorns of existence, he had finally found a real direction in life in his new responsibilities. Though he had been quite fond of the previous deputy, Night-shrieker, and her death in the initial Decepticon invasion of Polyhex had been quite a hit for many Seekers, taking her place had been one of the best things to happen to him in the last fifty-thousand vorns. Plus, he had become quite attached to the power. And the thought of having to take orders from an arrogant, smug son-of-a-Neutralist like Concussion was almost more than his central processors could contemplate! "So, anything interesting happening down at Darkmount?" he asked his commander, who was walking away down the corridor.
"Nothing that concerns us," replied Starscream. "Let them have their petty power-struggles over whether Shockwave should succeed Megatron, or whether it should be Colossus or Onslaught, or whatever other nonentities think they should lead us! When they've all exhausted themselves with the effort, it'll be all the more easy for us to swoop in and elevate the Seekers to their rightful position of superiority under my Decepticon leadership."
"So ol' one-eye isn't having an easy time of taking over, is he?" chuckled Thundercracker. "Well, if he couldn't take out Megatron one-on-one, what does he expect?"
"Though I have to hand it to him for originality," smirked Starscream. "Manoeuvring both Megatron and Galvatron into trial by combat for the leadership, and then blowing them both to the Pit by booby-trapping the combat arena was a singular achievement in Decepticon political history." His smirk broadened. "I'm almost sorry that his ascension didn't quite go to plan. Almost!" The two Seekers stepped into a repulsor-shaft at the end of the corridor, and were immediately whisked off to the upper levels of the Rookery.
The two stepped out of the shaft after passing up through several levels and across into the central core of the base. As they stepped out, Starscream turned to his deputy. "Have the technicians reported progress on my pet project?"
"They're still having trouble restoring the short-term memory files from the buffers," replied Thundercracker. "They figure on a full memory recovery to take several orns."
"I trust you can be relied on to speed the process up a little?" smiled Starscream.
"Oh, don't worry," chuckled Thundercracker, darkly. "Those back-room pilots have been acquainted with my friend Mr Incendiary Cannon. They'll speed up all right!"
"If I don't receive a preliminary report from them within the hectobreem, the team leader will be acquainting herself with my cluster bombs," replied Starscream. "Soundwave was destroyed for something he found out about Megatron's mysterious benefactor. This Oblivion is not to be trusted. He was created by Quintessons, killed his own builder, and I'll bet my right tail rudder that he's just as trustworthy as they are! The answers lie in those buffers, and I want them!"
"I'll pass on your message," smiled Thundercracker, absently grinding a fist into the palm of his other hand expectantly.
"Oblivion has power," continued Starscream, oblivious to Thundercracker's eager aggression. "I can feel it. And I will have it!" Starscream smiled inwardly. Oh yes, he would have whatever power Oblivion possessed. And with it he would finally achieve his rightful place in the universe: as its ruler! He had been foiled before. Had had indignity after indignity heaped on his wing-struts. But his success would come. It was inevitable. He was only sorry that Megatron wouldn't be there to suffer. For foiling his dreams, for attempting to brainwash him into a mindless slave when he had become a Pretender, and for leaving him at the mercy of Necromancer after his last deactivation! Starscream still activated mid-recharge with the vivid memories of being forced back into his decapitated and rusting cranial unit by the Decepticon interrogator. When he became Decepticon leader, he would ensure that Necromancer came to regret treating his disembodied spark with such irreverence!
The two came to the large ornate doors of the command centre: doors that made the throne room portals of Darkmount and the War Star unimpressive by comparison. As they approached, the doors swished aside to reveal the huge domed chamber within, its surface dancing with a vast wraparound holographic display of the skies of Polyhex as viewed from the Rookery. Every airborne target was marked for duty-monitor investigation by the base's automated security systems. Smaller holograms overlaying the main wraparound displayed other important security and logistical concerns. From this chamber, Starscream's Seekers could monitor and protect the integrity of Polyhex's aerial borders with the neighbouring city-states and the atmospheric interface with the vacuum of space. An Autobot incursion by air or space was therefore an impossible suicide mission for the poor sparks involved.
Starscream crossed to the raised central command chair and sat down, data connections in his palms linking with circuits in the arms of the chair as he linked with the command centre's systems. Within a few seconds, he had downloaded the reports filed in his absence to his neural net, and autonomous processing subroutines began to digest their data for any details that required the aerospace commander's conscious attention. Thundercracker stopped in front of him. "Should I go pass your regards to the techs?" he asked.
"Yes, Thundercracker," he replied in a dismissive tone. "You're my deputy. Use a little command initiative!" Thundercracker turned to leave, but was stopped by the sudden communications channel that had opened inside his head. He turned to Starscream, only to recognise that he too was receiving the broadcast. After a matter of kliks, a voice spoke. "This is commander Shockwave in Darkmount broadcasting an emergency scramble order to all Decepticons in Polyhex! We are under attack! Repeat, we are under attack!"
"What?" asked Starscream in shock, his optics surveying the vast holographic display and detecting nothing. "Where?" For a few moments, the Seeker duty monitors were silent as they scanned their assigned sectors, before relaying their results to the main security monitor. A white Seeker turned to Starscream, his upper body polished gold around the white nose module folded down the front of his torso. His hands were a similar polished gold, and his wings were marked with gold and silver flashes, as were other parts of his form. The black face between his grilled audio modules could barely contain its arrogance as it addressed the aerospace commander. "Commander, the only disturbance we can detect is at Darkmount itself. If this is an enemy incursion, they did not come by air. I would have detected them immediately had they done so!"
"Very well, Concussion," replied Starscream, disconnecting from his command chair and crossing back to the doors, followed closely by Thundercracker. "Assemble a strike force ready in hangar three! You have command until Thundercracker and I return!"
"Aye, sir," replied Concussion, smiling smugly at the thought of receiving command of the Rookery. "It will be my pleasure. I'll have alpha, delta and epsilon squadrons standing by when you arrive."
"Very well," replied Starscream curtly, before he and Thundercracker left the command centre. As the doors closed behind them, Concussion stood up and crossed to the command chair. With a superior smile, he gracefully lowered himself ceremoniously into the seat and rested his palms on the armrests. As the Rookery's command systems opened up to him, he smiled smugly and opened a communications channel. "Alpha, delta and epsilon squadrons, report immediately to hangar three for scramble to Darkmount with commander Starscream." As he closed the channel, he shifted in the chair, sprawling catlike in its seat. "As you were!" he told the other duty monitors, waving a dismissive hand at them before returning it to the armrest.
Within the breem, a fleet of aircraft rose out of one of the Rookery's hangars and turned south towards the heart of the city-state. At the head of the formation was a squadron of F-22 fighters led by Starscream, followed by two squadrons of Cybertronian triwing aerospace fighters. As the bizarre assortment of aircraft headed south, their communications systems scanned the airwaves for updates from the Decepticon fortress just beyond the towers of Central Polyhex, though not one transmission reached their transceiver assemblies.
Cybertron, Polyhex City-state, Sector Alpha-010
Cybertronian Date: 999867.92 - 8329 - 3221 (Solar pre-zenith)
Earth Date: 27 August 2070, 0652 HOURS
As Starscream and the three Seeker squadrons came into visual range of Darkmount the reconnaissance specialists soared ahead to survey the area, their more advanced sensor arrays scanning the scene and their transceivers feeding the processed sensor data back to the squadrons. The vast complex was dominated by an interconnected network of domes and towers, dominated by the black mountain-sized multi-tower of the central fortress, and surrounded by defensive gun-towers and Polyhex's infamous smelting pools. When Starscream had left only a few decabreems earlier, the fortress had been a hive of Decepticon activity, and now it was eerily quiet. The gun-towers were mangled and geysers of molten metal were spraying from the damaged pumps around the smelting pools, the walls of which had collapsed where high explosive armaments had hit them. The perimeter buildings were mostly intact, but the central multi-tower was missing a part of one flank, where the internal corridors and compartments were torn open.
As Starscream received this information, his internal systems immediately switched from battle-ready status to attack-mode. As strategic processors came to full power and targeting systems engaged, his vision bloomed with targeting data and his consciousness was expanded with the knowledge of kilovorns of military engagements. As he switched from treacherous lieutenant to competent military strategist, his attentions switched firmly to the task at hand. "Delta squadron, epsilon squadron, cover our flanks. Alpha squadron, form up on me. We're going in!"
The squadrons obeyed without question, delta and epsilon squadrons falling slightly back and fanning out into trines to cover the forward squadron from all quadrants of the complex, and alpha squadron tightening their arrowhead formation behind Starscream and heading for the main fortress. Thundercracker and Skywarp formed up on Starscream, the remainder of the squadron forming up behind in their trine groups. As his squadron headed in, tactical sensors straining for the first detection of the enemy, Starscream began to feel a sense of unease as the kliks passed without response. "Flights 2 and 3, fan out and search for the enemy," he ordered as the unease grew. "Flight one, follow me in!" Followed by Thundercracker, Skywarp, and a second trine of Seekers, he headed into the rift in the fortress wall, transforming to robot mode. As he landed, the others joined him, their arm cannons sweeping the area for potential targets. "Thundercracker, Skywarp, you're with me," Starscream whispered, his internal communications blocked by an outside signal. "Blizzard, Eye-soar and Firestorm, bring up the rear." The others nodded receipt of their orders before Thundercracker and Skywarp followed Starscream into the fortress, the others following a few kliks behind. The corridors within the rift were littered with debris from whatever battle had taken place in the breems that Starscream and his armada were on route from the Rookery. At certain strategic points in the interior corridor network the debris of makeshift barricades mingled with deactivated Decepticons and the assorted body-parts of those who had suffered injury before escaping the front-line.
"Hello again, Starscream." At the words, Starscream reacted on instinct, immediately ducking behind the cover of a protruding bulkhead at the nearest junction and raising his null ray rifles to bear in a standard sweeping pattern. Thundercracker and Skywarp took up positions behind the opposite bulkhead, also raising their weapons. Blizzard, Eye-soar and Firestorm dived behind junction bulkheads further back up the corridor. Starscream scanned further up the corridor with targeting scopes that deployed from his cannons, the sensor data transmitted through his weapon mounts direct to his cranial processors. Detecting nothing in the visual spectrum, he cycled into infrared and two heat sources bloomed into vision on either side of the next junction down the corridor. "Oh, come on now, Starscream," said the same voice with a dark chuckle. "If we'd wanted you dead, you'd already be a pile of scrap metal on the deck plate. Your reaction times were pitifully slow!"
"Identify yourselves!" ordered Starscream. For a few seconds, there was a tense silence, before the two heat sources moved, stepping out into the corridor. As Starscream's optics cycled back to the visible spectrum, the two figures were revealed to be Cyclonus and Scourge. Both were unarmed. Scourge had his arms folded arrogantly over his broad blue chest, a hand absently stroking his bifurcated chin. There was a look of utter contempt in his deep red optics, a look mirrored in the red optics of Cyclonus. Cyclonus lifted his hands in a show that he was unarmed, a show that was equally as mocking of the Seekers before him. Starscream straightened, and stepped out into the corridor, signalling to his men to keep their weapons targeted on the two Unicronians. The two had been Galvatron's lieutenants, pulled from their own universe by their commander as Galvatron had been pulled from it by Unicron. Both had gone rogue after Galvatron's demise, refusing to accept the leadership of an inferior Cybertronian like Shockwave. Their presence worried Starscream, but he refused to show it. "Where is everyone?" he asked them, his optics narrowing. "What happened to Shockwave?"
"I'm afraid that there's been a regime change within Darkmount," chuckled Scourge. "Shockwave is no longer in command."
"And who is?" asked Starscream. "The two of you?"
"The Supreme Overlord has taken his rightful place as Decepticon high commander," replied Cyclonus. "We are his to command. He has asked that we offer you the same choice he offers all Decepticons: to serve him loyally, or to die as a traitor."
"If this Supreme Overlord wishes my loyalty, he should request it in person," replied Starscream. "I don't swear loyalty to minions." Starscream's face twisted into a mocking smile.
"Minions?" snapped Scourge, unfolding his arms, his composure lost. "Who do you think-"
"Enough!" growled Cyclonus, grabbing Scourge's arm to restrain him, buckling his comrade's exo-plating. As Scourge relaxed in his grip, he turned back to Starscream. "Very well, you may petition the Supreme Overlord for his patronage. Follow us! Your Seekers will remain here."
"Starscream?" asked Skywarp, unwilling to be left behind.
"Return to the squadrons," replied Starscream. "Thundercracker, assume command and maintain holding manoeuvres. Standard protocols." Thundercracker was about to respond, when Cyclonus cut in. "I don't think that will be necessary, Thundercracker," he intoned menacingly. "If you do attack, we will retaliate without mercy and wipe you out of the sky!" The Seekers eyed Cyclonus warily. Since Starscream had become Decepticon aerospace commander and leader of the Seekers, they had followed standard protocols kept secret from the rest of the Decepticon army. Cyclonus' knowledge of Seeker protocols was both a shock and a concern. He was more dangerous than it seemed. Starscream looked at him. "How did you learn our protocols?" he asked.
"We've been around," replied Scourge with a sly grin. "Now come!" Starscream cast a look back to Thundercracker and Skywarp, using tiny facial ticks and wing movements to indicate that they should return to the Rookery if he was not back within half a groon and prepare to defend themselves from this new threat. Thundercracker nodded, and he and Skywarp fell back, the rest of Starscream's flight joining them to return to the squadrons. Starscream turned back to Cyclonus and Scourge with a new sense of alertness. These two were not what they seemed to be. Had they been Seekers before Unicron had rebuilt them? The thought that two Seekers would dare to stand against him was the ultimate insult. One day he would teach them both the error of turning against their own kind!
Cyclonus eyed him suspiciously, practically seeing the thought processes in his cerebral processors. "Come!" he ordered. "The Supreme Overlord does not like being kept waiting!"
"As you wish," replied Starscream, following the two taller mechanisms as they strode off down the corridor. A part of Starscream was tempted to just blast them both between the shoulders with his null rays, but his tactical sense told him better. He needed to meet this 'Supreme Overlord' that they served and assess the threat to his own eventual leadership.
Darkmount Throne Room
Cybertronian Date: 999867.92 - 8329 - 3222 (Solar zenith)
Earth Date: 27 August 2070, 07:00 HOURS
Starscream was led into the vast deserted throne room of Darkmount by the two Unicronian Decepticons. The chamber was enormous, designed for the Decepticon high commander to hold court in suitably grand surroundings. Golden statues of past high commanders lined the polished side walls, enclosing the central floor between the tall entrance doors at one end and the stepped dais at the other on which stood the high commander's throne of office. The obsidian throne was an impressive construction said to have been moulded from the recycled body shell of Sentinel Prime after he was killed in battle by high commander Megatron, the high back etched with the horned purple Decepticon insignia. "Ahh, Starscream, I must admit that I'm surprised you didn't leave your fellow Decepticons to whatever attack Shockwave was facing in the hopes of capitalising on the disarray to secure leadership for yourself." The voice was dark and gruff, a mixture of gravely and velvety tones filled with menace and demanding of respect. The harmonics of the chamber made locating the speaker a task impossible for even Starscream's impressive audio sensors, and his radar activated almost unconsciously to locate the hidden occupant.
"Where are you?" he asked. "Does the Supreme Overlord need to hide among the shadows for his protection?"
"You never change, do you Starscream?" said the same voice. "Always trying to further your personal ambitions at the expense of your fellow Decepticons. An admirable trait, but not always a welcome one."
"And who are you that knows so much about me?"
"I've known you in two universes, Starscream. And in both you've been as trustworthy as a Quintesson!"
"Who are you?" Starscream's tone was filled with indignant anger. "Why do you hide yourself from me?"
Starscream's radar finally detected another presence, previously masked by some form of spatial distortion. A towering figure stepped out from behind the throne, his immense form obviously teeming with power. Translucent red panels in the centre of his abdomen writhed with internal fire below a polished silver chest plate on his black torso. A Decepticon insignia was emblazoned on either side of his chest plate, flanking a translucent black dome that was regressed at the centre and seemed to extend to infinity in its inky depths. His upper arms were deep-purple above silver forearms and clawed black hands. Black gravitic booster modules were mounted on the outsides of his hips. His thighs were deep-purple above silver lower legs and feet that split into twin curving claws. His kneepads and shin-plates were black with silver kneecaps and black razor-sharp blades over the knees, silver armour extending up the front of his thighs. Black bat-like wing modules rose from his shoulders, missile launchers mounted at the midpoints and translucent purple sheeting between the finger-joints. A black aircraft nose module rose up between the back of his shoulders, a bifurcated red cockpit canopy at the tip flanked by stabiliser fins, and black struts rose from each shoulder above his arms. His cranial helmet was jet black, with a purple neck-guard around the base at the sides and back merging into the cheek struts and forehead shield. Purple horns extended back and up from the temples and forehead. Silver spikes extended from the cheek struts to the sides of his mouth, two per side. His stern impassive face was dark-grey with red optics that seemed to writhe with internal fires. Starscream looked into the burning optics and recognised the spark within immediately. "Megatron? Is that you?"
The words brought a flash of memory to the towering Supreme Overlord. Memories of Starscream standing in the Hall of Heroes crowned Decepticon high commander only moments earlier. Of himself swooping low inside Cyclonus' cockpit, leaping out as they came into land. Starscream's words: "Who disrupts my coronation?"
His reply followed, vivid in his mind: "Coronation, Starscream? This is bad comedy!"
And then had come those final, fatal words: "Megatron? Is that you?"
And he had replied even as he activated his transformation systems: "Here's a hint!" His artillery mode had landed on the floor, the particle accelerator cannon at its head lifting to target his traitorous lieutenant. He remembered triggering the weapon, and the rush of unbelievable power that had flooded through him as he had finally reduced Starscream to atomic debris.
A faint smile crossed his lips. How he wished to simply do that again. But it had been a different universe and a different time. He had been a Child of Unicron, the mightiest being in the universe. He had laid waste to all who had opposed him, annihilating the Autobots and even their mightiest warrior Rodimus Prime. And in this time and place he was not that being. Another had become one with him, fused together as one being by another traitorous lieutenant. A lieutenant that had escaped him and even now would be plotting his next logical course of action. Here and now, Starscream was not his greatest threat. Shockwave had assumed that position, and he would be the one reduced to ash when he found him. The overlord felt the two sides of his memory vying for control, and with a supreme force of will he silenced them. He was not them. They were gone, and he would not repeat the mistakes of either of them!
Returning his attention to the throne room, his optics looked at Starscream. The primitive being before him was no threat to him. A primitive Seeker, upgraded over the vorns but still ancient in its basic design. Starscream was obsolete, not worthy of his attention any longer. The future was his. Let Starscream and his Seekers cling to the past that had spawned them!
Eventually, he deigned to speak to the primitive mechanism before him. "Megatron and Galvatron no longer exist! They died at the hands of a traitor too weak to fight them himself! I am the instrument of their revenge. The spawn of their combined power and genius. I am the Avenger. The Hand that will wipe all opposition from this universe. The Destroyer of Worlds. I am Mega Galvatron, the Ultimate Warrior, and I will lead the Decepticon Empire to rule this universe!" Mega Galvatron had lifted his clawed hands above his head as he spoke, his clenched fists crackling with energon that overflowed from his internal stores through the waveguides in his palms, his immense wings spread wide behind him, the panels in his abdomen glowing with contained energy and his optics burning in a face twisted by a thirst for domination. Starscream took this in, recognising that this new being was more powerful and more insane than Megatron had ever been, and that to cross him at this juncture would be a fatal mistake. Swallowing his pride, Starscream dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "I swear loyalty to you, my liege. Undying and unyielding. May your empire last until this universe grows cold." Every word burned in Starscream's cerebral processors, forging his own ambitions for power into a desire to destroy this being whatever it took. For several long kliks he waited for this madmech's reply, and when it didn't come he felt a growing sense of foreboding under the baleful gaze of Mega Galvatron. Nervously, he looked up to meet the Supreme Overlord's gaze. "My liege?" he asked, anxiously.
"I accept your oath, Starscream of Vos, and I will hold you to it!" Mega Galvatron smiled viciously, a look of perverse satisfaction on his face. His grin broadened as though in full knowledge of something that the aerospace commander was missing. After a further painful stretch of time, he spoke again, his tone almost gloating. "However, we now have a slight problem. My armies have two aerospace commanders. You and Cyclonus." Starscream's face betrayed his sudden rage. "What?" he asked indignantly.
"That isn't disloyalty I hear in your voice, is it, Starscream?"
"Of course not, my liege."
"Then what shall we do to resolve our mutual problem?" asked Mega Galvatron. "There is only room for one aerospace commander in the Decepticon army."
"Then it stands to reason that it should be me who retains the authority," replied Starscream, rising to his feet and turning to face a Cyclonus whose face was split by a broad gloating smile. "I have kilovorns of experience in the Decepticon forces. What qualifications does he have?" He pointed an accusing finger at the purple saboteur.
"One word, Starscream," said Cyclonus. "Loyalty."
"Loyalty?" spat Starscream incensed. "No one has given more to the Decepticon cause than I! I served as aerospace commander during our rise to victory in the Great War! I have earned the title and the authority!"
"Pah!" spat Scourge. "Megatron led the Decepticons to near victory in spite of you, Starscream, not because of you!"
Starscream rounded on the blue tracker. "You dare question my-"
"Silence!" The explosion threw all three off their feet and across the room. Starscream immediately rose into a defensive posture, his optics darting around the room before centring on Mega Galvatron. The Supreme Overlord was standing on his dais, both his forearms now sporting a black particle-accelerator cannon, the translucent red barrel of the right-hand cannon smoking. Starscream turned his attention to the site of the explosion. The cannon's destructive blast of energy had torn a hole in the floor that plunged through several levels of the fortress before dissipating. Across the crater, Cyclonus and Scourge were climbing to their feet, their attention turning to their leader. Starscream also straightened, turning to the overlord, whose optics were burning a bright scarlet. "The three of you are all unworthy of being in my presence!" he roared. "No wonder my forebears failed to destroy the Autobots when surrounded by such inadequacy! The next outburst from any of you will be terminal!" He strode from the throne, descending to the throne room floor and crossing between them. He turned to face them, blocking their exit from the room. "Now, you will listen to me and you will obey!" he said, his voice rumbling deeply. "Cyclonus will be aerospace commander of my armies. Scourge will lead a new breed of Sweep drones at the head of my forces." He turned to Starscream, unable to keep the gloating smile of superiority off his face. "And you, Starscream, will lead the Seekers as a rearguard to the Sweeps."
"What?" Starscream could remain silent no longer. The indignity was more than he could bare. If this insane amalgamation of Megatron and Galvatron killed him as a result, it would be preferable to the shame. "Rearguard? I would rather die than be reduced to such a menial level!"
"Really?" chuckled Mega Galvatron, lifting one of his cannons to Starscream, the barrel mere centicubits from the Seeker's face. "That can be arranged right now, Starscream!"
"I demand my right to respect as a Decepticon warrior!" snapped Starscream, enraged. "This dishonour is worse than death!" His optics were burning white with his anger as he looked directly into the overlord's ruby gaze. "I demand my right to defend my honour! To retain my position. And to destroy that arrogant moron!" He pointed his finger past Mega Galvatron to the smirking form of Cyclonus.
"You demand from me?" asked Mega Galvatron, grinning viciously. "Why, Starscream, I didn't think you had it in you." His laugh reverberated around the chamber, deep and menacing, and totally mad. "Very well, Starscream, you shall have your right to defend your honour." He lowered his cannon, both units returning to subspace as he did so, and turned to Cyclonus. "I believe, Cyclonus, that you have been challenged," he said. "Do you accept?"
"With pleasure," replied the purple saboteur, smiling.
"Very well," said the overlord, turning back to Starscream. "Your challenge has been accepted, Starscream of Vos. As challenger, you have the choice of weapon and location."
"Good," smiled Starscream, his optics burning with righteous anger as he looked into Cyclonus' smugly grinning face. "We will fight in single-combat with whatever weapons and capabilities we each possess. The location will be the Imperial Amphitheatre at sunrise tomorrow in front of the assembled forces of the Decepticon armies. The winner will take the title of Decepticon aerospace commander-"
"-and the loser will take a one-way trip to the Pit!" Cyclonus finished for him.
"Of course," replied Starscream. "May the best Decepticon emerge victorious."
"Oh, I will," chuckled Cyclonus.
"Your overconfidence will be your downfall, Unicronian!" spat Starscream.
"And so will yours, Seeker!" growled Cyclonus.
"Excellent," chuckled Mega Galvatron. "Then it is agreed." He turned from them and returned back to his throne, sitting down. He turned to Starscream. "You are dismissed, Starscream." The Seeker bowed, then saluted, and backed out of the throne room, his mind already working out his tactics for the coming fight.