Chapter Text
Galactic Coordinates 74.149.50.76.134.233
Time-space Coordinates 34608.51237.451.323.300
The warship Nemesis hung over a now-deserted world in the far reaches of the galaxy. Three Seeker squads had had departed to investigate what had once been a Cybertronian colony; two of them had already returned, and Starscream did his best to try to maintain his composure at the reports.
It… it almost seems impossible.
The images that the returning scouts relayed back to their Commander were astonishing, to say the least. The Rileth colony had originally been neutral, at the beginning of the war, but as stories spread, the colony's sympathies began leaning toward the Decepticons.
And once word spread… not a single spark remains intact.
Apparently, based on the reports of the injuries suffered, he had come. Personally. Starscream's servos shuddered involuntarily, causing Soundwave, the only other Cybertronian on the bridge, to turn a blank face towards the Air Commander. She sent Starscream a quick inquisitive ping - no actual words, but her meaning could not have been clearer.
Starscream noticed that his entire frame was slumped over his station, and righted himself as he turned to face Soundwave. "Yes, it appears to be exactly what we had feared…. one only hopes that our esteemed general can keep a brave face for the Eradicons. Thank Primus that I insisted that we send out scouts first…."
Soundwave's response was equal parts sympathy and agreement. She was about to follow up when an anomaly on the ship's long range scanners caught her attention. Surely, this reading was erroneous. A quick diagnostic battery, however, indicated otherwise. But, for this to be true…
Starscream had ordered his final squad of Seekers back to the Nemesis when he received the ping from Soundwave, who had followed it up with data transfer request. Starscream routed the information to the console in front of him, and looked at it, puzzled.
"I don't quite think I see exactly…" his voice cut off as he spotted the energy surge.
"Oh. Oh Primus. You don't think-" he turned his head to Soundwave, who only gave a nod in response.
Starscream's optics widened as he opened the comm to his superior.
"General Megatron, your presence is requested on the bridge. Urgently."
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"And, of course, General Megatron, we still have no spark-chamber metal. I had hoped that, at least, this time, we'd be able to scavenge something, but from Starscream's reports? The 'bots cleaned this place down to the protoform before leaving," Knockout's expression dropped from its usual sardonic state. "I have two Eradicons in there. Dying. All because I don't have the supplies to save them!" The doctor slammed the wall, turning his head away from Megatron, and no words came to mind.
Megatron placed a single clawed hand on Knockout. "I know. I feel their pain. But, rest assured, I will do everything in my power to save both Quickgale and Breezeway. You have it on my spark, as the leader of the Decepticon forces."
Just then, Starscream's comm came through. Megatron made for the door, pausing at the threshold for a moment, just long enough to notice that Breakdown was already wrapping Knockout in his arms.
The warship was running almost on empty in every regard. It had been gigacycles since they had last encountered any Autobot hostilities, but even then, even the energon supplies were starting to run low, and it seemed like the Autobots knew it. Then again, the Decepticons had lost contact with this colony over a hundred gigacycles ago. It could be entirely possible that the last transmission from the colony occurred just before the Autobots set upon it. Of course, the colony had no Decepticon military presence - any shows of support were no more than that - and the world had almost no strategic resources. In fact, the colony had to import most of the energon that its inhabitants consumed.
Starscream and Soundwave both turned to face their leader as Megatron entered the bridge.
"Starscream - report." Megatron continued forward to the front of the bridge without so much as looking at either of the two.
"Yes, General Megatron - as you know, the search for survivors or any useful supplies at Outpost E-RW012 proved ultimately fruitless. However, we did find something… that, well, it would be best if Soundwave showed you herself." Soundwave silently pressed a button on the console behind her - and the results of her scan displayed on the main screen.
Megatron's optics widened. "Are we certain that the scan is accurate?"
A ping from Soundwave of absolute certainty.
"We make sure to verify the finding before we sent for you. It wouldn't do to have you troubled over a false reading, now would it?"
"Very well then. Starscream, set a course."