A Brief History of the TFL Roleplay

[Blackjack]

I've been thinking that since we've had some newcomers join the RP and the evolving story has undergone so many changes it would be right to chronicle this ongoing story we've created. Since our roleplay storyline deviates a great deal from the events of G1-Transformers and includes elements from many of the later Tranasformer series, it may be confusing to a newcomer to understand what is going on or events that are referenced by players who've been around a while. Thus, this is going to become my new project, the chronicle everything that has happened in this RP in a single place. This space may also be used for questions or clarifications of past roleplay events. Personally I like to think of our story as Transformers G-1, Season 5+. Too bad we can't get toys of our respective characters made though, we're not Hasbro endorsed.

PART I: The Beginning

In the beginning there was the Kolkular Energon Bar, the reason this part of TFL is so named. It was built through partnership between Megatron and a mysterious transformer named Time Traveler (or TT for short) who bore no aliegence to either faction although considered an Autobot by many. The Energon Bar was a neutral zone, a place all Transformers could go to relax and interact. A strict 'no weapons' policy was enforced at the door by TT. All who entered, including Megatron, were to leave their weapons at the door. Despite this policy, there were still tensions between the Autobots and Decepticons who frequented the bar. To deal with this, separate seating areas were created for both factions although the two often interacted. There was also a human-sized section of the bar where characters like Spike or Marisa Fairborn could go to chat or meet up with the Autobots. The bar had all the modern Cybertronian conveniences, including Restrooms for both genders of transformer. It was in these restrooms that many of the bar's signficant events too place. Later it was discovered that Megatron had a secret laboratory built into The Engine Room located beneath the bar. Eventually, due to the 'no weapons' policy, events began to occur in areas Outside of the Energon Bar and even in The Streets of Cybertron.

The original regulars at the Energon Bar included:

Time Traveller
Megatron
Rodimus Prime (Hot Rod at this point)
Galvatron
Optimus Prime
Delita-1 (a Decepticon version of Elita-1)
Arcee
Marisa Fairborn
Inferno (Beast Wars continuity)
Skywarp

Once the members had suffciently settled into the Energon Bar and into their character's personalities, various Decepticon schemes began to occur. They primarily centered around Megatron or Galvatron trying to attain the Matrix of Leadership from Optimus Prime. The first of these occured while Megatron was on temporary leave and had left Galvatron in charge. The Decepticons plotted to get the Autobots drunk by buying them round after round of drinks and then loot the unconcious Autobots. This plot was foiled by inactivity, Galvatron did however cut a leg off Optimus Prime's barstool making him fall.

Shortly after this, character backstories began to develop. It was revealed that Delita-1 was indeed the Elita-1 who had had a relationship with Optimus Prime. She had been captured and reprogrammed by Shockwave and Galvatron (considering him her creator). It was also shown that Rodimus Prime and Arcee in this continuity had a relationship. Optimus Prime began making advances towards Delita-1 which culminated in the two exiting the bar separately. They were spotted together in an alley outside of the bar by Galvatron.

Delita-1, under suspicion from Inferno and Galvatron, attempted to prove her loyalty to the Decepticons by stealing the Matrix of Leadership from Optimus. Little did the Decepticons know that the Autobots had replaced it with a false Matrix. Megatron departed with Galvatron and TT to his Engine Room beneath the bar in order to fullfill his latest scheme. He planned to use the Matrix to power a great engine within Cybertron which would allow him to move the planet iteslf and use it as a great warship to conquer the Universe. Discovering that the Matrix he had been given was fake, Megatron flew into a rage. He and Galvatron found Delita-1 and attacked her mercilessly, leaving her broken form for the Autobots to find.

A short time later, Optimus Prime discovered what Megatron had done to his once-love and flew into a rage. Completely forgetting himself, he challenged Megatron to a duel to the death in the streets outside of the Energon Bar. Optimus Prime, fueled by hatred for Megatron, quickly took the upper hand. Megatron reminded him that no matter how powerful his hate had made him, Galvatron would quickly come to Megatron's aid should he require it and that Prime 'couldn't beat them both'. It was at that moment that Rodimus Prime appeared, claiming that he had accepted the real Matrix and once again become his more powerful alter ego. He stated that he could take care of Galvatron should the other choose to enter the battle. Arriving with Rodimus were Arcee and a newly rebuilt Elita-1. Seeing his love restored to her Autobot self, Optimus Prime realized what he was doing and called off the fight. Giving Megatron a stern warning, which he received in turn from Megatron, he left with Elita-1.

Meanwhile Time Traveller had discovered some very disturbing events.

PART I comes from the following roleplay threads if you'd like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 1-6
Decepticon Table: pages 1-4
Outside The Bar: page(s) 1
There also had existed Autobot Table, Human Booth, Ladies Room, and Engine Room but they have been deleted.

[Blackjack]

PART II: Mysterious Threat

After the battle, the Autobot and Decepticon leaders go their separate ways for repairs. A short time later, Megatron establishes a Leader's Table in the Energon Bar and invites Galvatron, Optimus Prime, and Rodimus Prime to join him so that they may discuss things in a more civil manner. This meeting is interrupted by Time Traveller who informs them of a Quintesson ship heading in their direction. Megatron dispatches Ratbat to investigate and then leaves for the Decepticon Headquarters at Kaon to inform the other Decepticons. It is during this time that Shockwave also arrives at the bar seeking to reunite with the Decepticons after an absense used to invent new methods of killing the Autobots.

Meanwhile, Galvatron is denied an opportunity to play his favorite game Chutes and Ladders by Megatron. He flies into a rage and exits the bar. Strange radiation from space begins to affect his brainwaves and he realizes that it must be energy coming from his long dead master Unicron.

At Kaon, Megatron informs his warriors that they must unite with the Autobots to deal with the incoming threat from the Quintessons. Inferno is particularly on edge about this plan, but trusts the leadership of Megatron to see them through. Time Traveller, the first 'Autobot' to enter Kaon, barges in at this point to inform Megatron that Ratbat is dead. He goes on to explain that although the Qunitessons accidentally shot down Ratbat, they are not the threat that he had anticipated. It appeared that something had happened on Quintessa and the ship near Cybertron contained refugees. Instead there was strange radiation eminating from space near Cybertron which was similar to the energy of Unicron. Megatron heeded this warning, infroming his warriors that they must now fight Unicron and then returned to the bar to meet with the Primes.

Rodimus and Arcee had been sharing one last tender moment together when Optimus called Rodimus back into the bar for a meeting. Arcee mentioned that she had a mission of her own and left Rodimus to return to the Leader's Table. Once inside, he returned the Matrix to Optimus who then explained how he had been sitting back and recording the whole mad dash being made by Megatron in trying to understand the situation. He pulled Delita-1 over to himself and stated that the Autobots would help if the need arose. He then sent Rodimus Prime to Earth to pick up the pizza he'd ordered.

Time Traveller arrived and began to explain that the radiation eminating from space was not Unicron himself, but merely some kind of energy residual from him. He suggested they may be able to harness it for the benefit of all Cybertron. Galvatron meanwhile had been driven towards the energy source by the unknown radiation. Feeling helpless, he sent out a distress signal to Megatron and whoever else could reach him (including Wheelie).

At the bar, TT explained that additional reports had proved that Unicron's head was somehow drawing in energy from other parts of space, including Quintessa. They would need to develop a strategy to deal with it, but a frontal assault would be foolish. Although Megatron wanted to send out warriors to rescue Galvatron, TT told him to wait and offered to go himself to rescue the Decepticon second in command. He instructed Megatron to head to the Engine Room and get the planetary engines working in case they needed them. Megatron gathered his warriors and set about this task while Optimus Prime and the Autobots headed to Earth to consult Telatran-1.

As Galvatron drifts closer to Unicron's floating head, Time Traveller arrives and offers to help but Galvatron insists there is nothing he can do and he must save himself. Then he begins to fire on TT, under control from Unicron. As he drifts even closer, Galvatron sees Quintessons inside of the head plotting to use it to destroy all Transformers.

Delita-1, sitting outside the bar after not getting to enjoy pizza with the 'bots, begins to think of Galvatron her creator. Suddenly he is speaking with her telepathically and informs her that he had installed a secret microchip in her head for just this sort of emergency. He encourages her to use her secret power of "scream" to aid him, but TT warns that it will come at a high cost. She calls on Optimus Prime for guidance, but he also encourages her not to use her power as it will cost her life. Megatron appears and threatens to destroy Delita if she does not save Galvatron. A breif scuffle between Optimus and Megatron is interrupted by TT who informs them that he will save Galvatron if they work together to get things ready on the ground.

Once Galvatron is on the ground, he complains loudly about being rescued just when he was about to destroy Unicron for good using Delita's power. However he is restrained and placed inside Optimus Prime's trailer for containment. Optimus suggests to Roller that they should draw a moustache on his face while he is unconcious. The Autobot and Decepticon armies assemble and assault the head of Unicron, ending the threat.

((The last sentence is possibly a continuity error since either I deleted something that contained the resolution to this plot arc or it never existed to begin with. If anyone knows what really happened please let me know.))

Part II comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 6-7
Decepticon Table: page 4
Leader's Table: page 1
Outside The Bar: pages 1-2
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): page 1

[Blackjack]

PART III: Strange Visitors

In the confusion from the battle against Unicron, Megatron and Decepticons had captured Delita-1 and Blurr. Megatron now offered Delita a choice, she could use him to kill Blurr and prove she was Decepticon or he would kill them both. Thinking quickly, Delita instead used Megatron to blast a hole in the walls of Kaon so she and Blurr could escape.

Although Unicron's head had been destroyed, energy released from the destruction began to cause spatial instabilities across Cybertron. Arcee had been trying to reach Daniel to check up on him when some type of gravitational rift appeared between her and the boy's location. Feeling helpless as she was pulled toward the rift, she sent an emergency comm to Hot Rod. Although he arrived in time to help, Hot Rod could do little against the intense gravity. The two Autobots managed to get Daniel to safety, but it wasn't long before all three were sucked towards the gravitational rift.

As Megatron and Galvatron regroup at the bar plotting their next scheme against the Autobots, Time Traveller arrived and began to inform them of the current situation. He explained that it was no time for their petty civil war and that all of Cybertron was in peril. A large black hole like rift had appeared and was drawing Cybertron toward it. Additionally smaller rifts had begun appearing all over the planet. He had ordered Inferno, who he had repaired personally after the battle with Unicron, to investigate the rifts. Inferno meanwhile had discovered the rift near Arcee and Rodimus and attempted to get a message to Megatron.

Becoming impatient, Galvatron leaves the bar to find Inferno. Moments later he returns, afraid of how dark Cybertron has become with the anomaly shading the planet. He listens as TT explains a plan to search the planet for all surviving Autobots and Decepticons and then concentrating on stabilizing rifts. Suddenly two blips appear on a radar monitor within the bar. He identifies one as the Decepticon ship the Nemesis but does not recognize the other. The doors to the bar open and a badly damaged Inferno reports to Megatron. He mentions the name Axalon before collapsing.

Optimus Prime then enters the bar looking frightened as well. Teletran-1 had not been able to determine anything. Time Traveller and Megatron fill him in on what they know and the three agree to have their top scientists investigate while they send their warriors to do whatever they can to stop the rifts and Cybertron's destruction. Prime notices a dark shadow outside of the bar and goes to investigate, followed by Megatron. Meanwhile Inferno revives in time to tell TT that he recognizes the two blips on the radar as starships from his time. TT instructs him to look for Rodimus and Arcee and to not tell the others about the ships just yet.

Outside the Bar, Optimus Prime encounters a strange shadow which creates a rift in front of him. Stepping through the rift, he sees strange faces, one like his own. The other Prime reaches toward him, as if touching the Matrix and he loses conciousness. When he comes to, Megatron and TT are standing over him. He tells them to let him go on alone, but then seems possesed by some odd force and again becomes unconcious. Galvatron comes out and helps the other two move Prime. He thinks for a second that he may be able to take the Matrix, but is thrwarted by Time Traveller.

A short time later, Wheeljack and Scrapper working together manage to develop a tear-closing device. Time Traveller gathers all the remaining Autobots and Decepticons and distributes the devices to various leaders, informing them that they must work together to close the rifts. However the only way to save Cybertron will be to move it altogether using Megatron's Engine Room. Groups of Autobots and Decepticons lead by TT, Megatron, Galvatron, and Inferno disperse across Cybertron in search of tears to close.

Megatron encountered the first tear, but was drawn toward it and found himself in a similar vision to the one Prime had encountered. He saw another version of himself standing over him and felt a pain in his chest where his spark was contained. Snapping out of it, Megatron went on to close the tear using the device. Galvatron and his group also met with sucess but encountered a strange two-headed dragon enroute to the tear. TT contacted them and explained his sucesses as well. All groups arranged to meet up at Thunderhead pass to close additonal tears and to get the engines of Cybertron activated.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime came to and began seeing a vision of strange 4th dimensional grid. Beyond it he could hear Hot Rod, Arcee, and Daniel. Somehow he was able to manipulate the grid and create a tear for the three to exit. As Prime is explaining his weakened state to them, he sees the shadow again about to attack Hot Rod. He pushes his friend out of the way but is struck by the shadow. Seemingly possessed Optimus then declares "machine. come here. so I can kill you."

Megatron and Galvatron reuite at Thunderhead pass and close a tear there. They then declare that it is time to end the alliance and both sides draw weapons on each other. Time Traveller arrives and states that Cybertron is still in danger and that if they are going to stop working together now then they might as well perish. Megatron agrees and begins to head for the Engine Room when they witness objects falling out of the sky. TT transforms to his Countach mode and informs the two leaders to get in. They must investigate whatever it is.

Sensing his target, the being possessing Optimus opens a space tear and moves to where the others are gathered. Grabbing Galvatron, it states that its purpose is to eliminate him the "sorrow bringer" who will destroy its universe. It removes the Matrix from Prime's chest and states that it will now kill all Transformers. Hot Rod appears and grabs the Matrix from Optimus, becoming Rodimus Prime once more. Arcee begins to clean the rust from him. Sensing the danger, Megatron leaves TT and flies back to help the others. Galvatron and Rodimus Prime agree that they must work together to stop the strange being posessing Optimus.

On the other side of Cybertron, Time Traveller discovers the crash site of the objects falling from space. He also notices Inferno is nearby and asks for his help in investigating. The two transformers along wtih the Dinobots and Predacons scour the wreckage of the ships. It is then that Inferno finds himself face to face with his former commander as micromaster-sized transformers begin emerging from the wreckage. TT explains to Inferno how he had come to be among them on Cybertron and Inferno begins to remember the events that had led to his first death. TT sends out a distress call to gather help in rounding up survivors of the crash.

In a desparate attempt to close the tears that are now ripping Cybertron apart, Rodimus Prime opens the Matrix of Leadership and leaps into the void. His final words to Arcee are that everything must not be in vain. Rodimus's sacrifice has a profound effect, all around Cybertron the tears begins to close. The shadow possessing Optimus Prime departs and the once-great Autobot sits up. Megatron begins to wonder if Prime will ever be the same and if he cannot somehow turn these events around for his own benefit.

Galvatron arrives at the crash site and suggests that the small transformers be exterminated before they cause more of a problem. He is met by resistance from Inferno, who wishes to understand more of his past, and Time Traveller. At that instant a wandering spark finds its way to TT and merges with his own, causing him to fall to the ground. Realizing what is occuring within his spark, TT transforms to his Countach mode and heads for his laboratory but is unable to go anywhere.

Realizing that he needs TT to find Rodimus and the Matrix, Galvatron agrees to help. He and Inferno then find other transformers to help ferry TT to his lab. Once there, a barely concious TT opens a protoform chamber and tells the spark to exit his own then collapses. The protoform becomes Dinobot, a Maximal warrior from Inferno's time. Seeing Inferno and then Galvatron, Dinobot questions why he is there. Inferno tries to explain, but Dinobot learns how to transform to a vehicle mode and leaves. A stunned Galvatron looks on, trying to comprehend what he has seen.

Part III comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 7-8
Outside The Bar: pages 2-6
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): page 1
Cybertron's Streets: page 1

[Blackjack]

PART IV: Echos From The Future

Megatron arrives at Time Traveller's lab and demands to know what has occured. Galvatron fills him in but his interpretation is lacking. Inferno explains what he knows of Dinobot from his past. He then muses to Megatron that if they could find additional protoforms, they could bring back each of the Predacons to aid them in detroying the Autobots. Megatron agrees and orders Inferno and some other Decepticons to search the lab. Galvatron has his own idea of where to find 'empty' transformer bodies and heads out to the Streets of Cybertron.

As Megatron exits the lab, he is ambushed by Dinobot. Taken by surprise, Megatron is unable to fight back before Dinobot speeds away. He vows to find and destroy the otherworldly Autobot. Inferno meanwhile finds himself digging into an unused chamber far below TT's lab. It contains door covered in faction symbols from the various transformer groups, some lost to time. Entering into this secret portion of the lab, Inferno finds himself face to face with many lifeless duplicates of Time Traveller. Wanting to know more about the strange being, he ventures further into the lab.

In the Streets of Cybertron, Galvatron finds one 'protoform' suitable for use in Inferno's plan. It turns out to be none other than Delita-1, who is shopping of for foot plates. Using his telepathic link with her, Galvatron reminds her of how Optimus has abandonded her again and tells her the Decepticons never would. He also promises her puprle footplates. Considering the weight of this offer, Delita tells him she needs time to think.

Galvatron signals Megatron, but the Decepticon commander has found Dinobot and has engaged him in combat. Although he is a superior warrior, Dinobot finds the Decepticon to be a formidable opponent and he barely escapes with his life. Megatron rejoins Galvatron and two head to the bar to discuss future plans.

Deep inside TT's lab, Inferno comes face to face with his own original body. He is terrified and wonders how TT would come to have such things in this place. Remembering his original mission, Inferno gathers workable protoforms and searches for a way out of the burial chamber like area. A collapsing portion of the lab's roof provides him with the opportunity he needs to tunnel out.

At the bar, the two Decepticon commanders begin to brainstorm how to get Rodimus Prime and thus the Matrix back so they can steal it. Inferno tunnels to the surface outside of the Energon Bar where he encounters Dinobot. A moment later, the Maximal warrior crashes through the wall of the bar, scorched from battling Inferno. Megatron, Galvatron, and Inferno attempt to fight Dinobot, but are easily outsmarted by the cunning warrior. As they are trying to regroup, Galvatron receives a message from Delita that she will rejoin them if they help her destroy Optimus and Arcee. Galvatron leaves to find them and Dinobot follows, thinking that it will be more interesting than the current fight.

Megatron realizes that the only way to deal with Dinobot is to find Time Traveller and ensure he is repaired. He leaves for the lab as Inferno requests that he be allowed to finish Dinobot. Finding TT's CR chamber with flashing alarms and warnings, Megatron summons the Constructicons to see what they can do to repair his friend. In TT's mind, another voice begins taunting him about how the peace he has worked to build is already begining to break down. The Constructicons finish the repair process and Time Traveller emerges. With only the words "so be it", he departs with weapon in hand.

Optimus Prime and Arcee follow a transmission from Delita-1 to the area of Cybertron near the crashed ships. They spot the fembot but realize quickly that she had set a trap when Galvatron appears and begins blasting. They are forced to take cover until Dinobot arrives and knocks both Galvatron and Delita over with his new motorcycle form. Galvatron regroups and corners Arcee, happy to be rid of at least one Autobot important to his enemy Rodimus Prime. Suddenly the lost Rodimus emerges from the ruined ship and tells Galvatron that this time he has gone too far.

Optimus Prime watches the ensuing battle and reminisces on how he and then Elita-1 had been laser tag champions. Rodimus and Galvatron exchange blows and Dinobot turns the tide in Autobot favor. Arcee battles Delita and repremands her for joining the Decepticons. Seeing that he and Delita are losing, Galvatron takes Arcee hostage. Rodimus explains that he has seen Dinobot's time and that all those who don't belong in that time must be removed for there to restore stability. During this speech, Arcee frees herself and Dinobot knocks Galvatron down.

Inferno appeas in the sky and begins to attack the Autobots. Dinobot destabilizes Inferno who spirals out of control, wreathing the battlefield in flame. Thinking they might use the ship's weapons for themselves, Galvatron and Delita head towards the crashed vessel. Using voice recognition, Dinobot activates the security system Sentinel which is still active. Seeing that they are truly outgunned and outnumber, Galvatron calls all Decepticons to retreat to Kaon.

Dinobot stalks Megatron back to his headquarters and challenges him to a final showdown. Megatron arms himself with an anti-matter weapon of terrible proportions and begins destroying his own headquarters to get at Dinobot. Seeing that he is outmatched, Dinobot threatens the Megatron from his time saying that if he is killed Megatron will lose in another time and place. Inferno arrives and pushes his Megatron out of the way so that the current Megatron can blast Dinobot with the anti-matter. Before dying, Dinobot destroys a small device on BW Megatron's wrist which allowed them to remain in this time. Dinobot and Inferno die as the visitors from their own time disappear for good.

Time Traveller arrives at Kaon demanding an explanation. Megatron tells him what happened and then notices Inferno. He asks TT if it is possible to repair him and TT says that he will try. They both agree that it is time to repair the bar for a grand reopening so that this latest battle can be lost in history like many others. Galvatron meanwhile is ordered to keep an optic on Delita-1, a task he is quite thrilled about.

Part IV comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 8-9
Outside The Bar: pages 6-8
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 2-3
Cybertrons Streets: page 1

[Blackjack]

PART V: The Era of Peace

After some time for repairs, Time Traveller reopens the Energon Bar and invites all transformers to come and enjoy a grand reopening party. Megatron arrives with the Decepticons, followed shortly by Optimus Prime. Prime invites Megatron to sit with him and explains that he would like for there to be peace between them after having seen how well they work together. Oddly, Megatron agrees and shakes Prime's hand much to the excitement of all in the bar, especially TT.

Shortly afterwards Galvatron arrives at the bar after rigorous training at his new training course. He has in tow Delita-1 and a fembot version of Dirge. He is also wearing a hat in the style of an Earth pimp and smoking a cigar. He is concerned about the peace accord and asks Megatron if the peace is some clever plan to destroy the Autobots. Megatron assures him that he has a plan and tells him to get rid of the hat.

The door opens and another transformer enters, one familiar to no one in the bar. He sits next to Megatron and introduces himself as Dealer. Stating that his purpose there was to find a challenging opponent, he asks Megatron for a duel Outside the Bar. Once outside, Dealer reveals that he only wanted to speak with Megatron in private about working with him. He asks for a price of 50,000 shanix.

Galvatron meanwhile is suspicious of Megatron's actions. Delita-1 mentions that she too thinks the commander has gone soft and that Galvatron should be in charge. Galvatron heads outside to speak with his former self but walks into the middle of the deal. He tells Megatron to meet him at Kaon for an important meeting, leaving Dirge and Delita to go shopping. Dealer tells Megatron he will cut him a deal of 20,000 and Megatron agrees then leaves to meet with Galvatron. Dealer heads back inside to find Optimus Prime.

At this point the following characters are involved in the roleplay:

Time Traveller
Megatron
Galvatron
Optimus Prime
Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod
Arcee
Delita-1
Dirge (fembot, by mention only)
Double Dealer
Shockwave
Inferno (under repairs)

At Kaon, Galvatron shoos Soundwave from the meeting room and waits for Meagtron. When the commander arrives he explains that the Decepticons think he is going soft. Megatron furiously declares that he is trying to fool Optimus Prime into thinking they want peace so he can destroy the Autobots. He orders Galvatron to take the Predacons and kill Prime while he meets with Dealer.

Optimus Prime enters the bar and speaks with Dealer who this time introduces himself as Double, an infiltration specialist. Prime says he has been watching and knows that Double is in league with Megatron. Double says he was merely trying to trick Megatron into accepting him into his ranks so he could spy on them for the Autobots. As he waits for Prime's response, the Predacons enter and attack Optimus. A moment later, Galvatron enters and demands to know why the truce has been broken. The Predacons tell him that Prime attacked them and he takes the opportunity to take aim at Prime but is thwarted by Doubledealer.

A furious Time Traveller emerges from the back room and demands that they all leave the bar. Galvatron and the Predacons head out and prepare to fight Optimus while Doubledealer leaves for his meeting with Megatron. TT checks the tapes on his security camera to learn that Prime is telling the truth. He offers to help fight Galvatron and the Predacons. Optimus is about to give Rodimus an order, but notices he is sitting at the booth with Arcee under the table. They leave and Rodimus stands up, asking Arcee if she'd found her optic lens.

Outside the battle begins with TT creating a ring of fire around himself and the Predecons. Optimus Prime takes fire from Galvatron but manages to wound the Decepticon enough to force a temporary retreat. The Predecons combine, but TT quickly deals with the "Trucebreaker", demonstrating his own power. Galvatron gets the upper hand against Optimus but is surrounded by TT, Arcee, and Rodimus and forced to surrender.

Time Traveller interrupts Megatron's meeting to tell him of the broken truce. Doubledealer wonders why Megatron listens to TT at all, but it told to be silent. Megatron then asks him to steal the power chip from Teletraan-1 as well as freeing Lord Zarak who has been taken prisoner. Doubledealer agrees when Megatron offers him double his asking price. Megatron then leaves for the bar.

Megatron arrives at the battlefield and orders the Predacons back to Kaon. He apologizes to TT for the damage to the bar and orders the Constructicons to clean it up. It is revealed that TT had done something to earn Megatron's respect in the distant past. Megatron repremands Galvatron for attacking Prime at such an exposed location. The two head inside the bar for a drink as Galavtron warns Megatron not to trust Doubledealer. He then receives a call that his headMaster card is over drawn and must leave to stop the shopoing fembots. Thus ends the ten earth minute long era of peace between Autobot and Decepticon.

Part V comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 9-11
Outside The Bar: pages 8-10
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 3-4
The Leaders Table: pages 1-2

[Blackjack]

PART VI: Betrayal

Optimus Prime, Rodimus Prime, and Arcee awaken in a strange holding cell. They are soon greeted by Bludgeon who begins to interrogate them for information on something called Ore-13" which will allow him to resurrect Thunderwing who will destroy Megatron and Galvatron and take command of the Decepticons. Bludgeon begins to torture Arcee, but Rodimus says he will tell where the Ore-13 is and leaves with Bludgeon. Arcee sends a distress call to Time Traveller.

After some time, TT finds the source of the distress call: a remote swampy area of Russia on Earth. Galvatron has also discovered the source of this signal and begins following TT. TT begins to infiltrate Bludgeon's base and meets up with Wheeljack who offers to help free captured Autobots while TT finds the Primes and Arcee. Delving deeper into the base, he finds a captive Ultra Magnus who is unhurt and offers to join him. Magnus expresses concern that the Decepticons not be allowed to get their hands on the Ore-13.

Galvatron arrives on Earth and soon detects the presense of Bludgeon. He sends a message to Bludgeon asking what is going on and this message is intercepted by TT. Understanding what they now face, TT and Magnus delve deeper into the fortress. As they reach the captured Autobot leaders, Bludgeon's guards detect them and he sets a trap. Galvatron finds Bludgeon and demands to know his plan. He is told of the Ore-13, but reveals that he already knows of it. He goes on to explain that in the future, he and Shockwave created the Ore-13 which made him the invincible ruler of the galaxy. But it was causing him damage and so he attempted to get rid of it, but was blasted by an Autobot and sent through a wormhole to this time.

Megatron arrives at the holding cells and asks Time Traveller to fill him in. He is furious when he learns that Bludgeon has acted without his orders and leaves to deal with him. Time Traveller and Ultra Magnus free the captured Autobots. Optimus Prime is very damaged and TT states he needs to take him to his lab for repairs. They begin to leave the fortress, leaving Megatron to deal with Bludgeon. Megatron quickly sentences Bludgeon to death for disobeying his orders, but realizes too late that Thunderwing has already been resurrected. He tells Galvatron it is time to go and unite with the Autobots to destroy Thunderwing, but is met with resistance. Galvatron says that he no longer wishes to work with the Autobots and that he will become the new leader of the Decepticons. He attacks Megatron and leaves for Charr with Thunderwing.

Onboard Jetfire, Optimus Prime wakes and takes command of the situation. He plans to return to Earth and help Megatron defeat Galvatron and Thunderwing. He asks Rodimus to go to Autobot City with Arcee and Ultra Magnus and prepare the Autobot army. He then asks Time Traveller to return to Cybertron and speak with the Decepticon army and to give Delita-1 a message from him. As each team divides to handle their missions, Rodimus swears that when this is over he will find his old friend Kup who has been lost among the stars. Meanwhile, Galvatron returns to Kaon and convinces roughly half of the Decepticon army to follow him to Earth.

Optimus finds Megatron badly damaged in the swamps and gets Wheeljack to repair him. Megatron informs Prime that Thunderwing's power from Ore-13 can be depleted if he is continually attacked. At Autobot City, Rodimus rallies his forces just as the reinforcements gathered by TT arrives. TT heads to the swamps to help Optimus and Megatron. Cyclonus also appears and states his loyalty lies with Megatron. The four depart on Megatron's ship for Autobot City just as Galvatron's forces arrive and begin to attack.

Rodimus leads the Autobots and Decepticons in an all out attack against Galvatron's forces as Megatron and Optimus take on Thunderwing. Working together the two are easily able to overpower the amped up Thunderwing. Seeing that his ally is danger, Galvatron rushes to his aid but is intercepted by Time Traveller who knocks him to the ground with a broken turret barrell. Rising to face TT, Galvatron fights back. He eventually triumphs and races to the side of Thunderwing to find that his fallen ally is about to explode from the unstable Ore-13 powering his body. Having sustained massive damage, Galvatron falls at the feet of Megatron stating that he is the true Decepticon leader. Time Traveller takes the fallen traitor back to Cybertron, saying that it is a tragedy the two leaders choose to be enemies instead of allies.

Part VI comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Kaon (Decepticon HQ): page 4
Earth: pages 1-4

[Blackjack]

PART VII: A Better Rebirth

Sometime later Megatron visits Time Traveller in his lab. He begins to have the Constructicons take the body of Galvatron for repairs, but TT tells him not to. He explains that he was intercepted by the an Autobot from the future named Grand Maximus who wishes to take Galvatron body back to his original time which will repair the timelines. He also explains that he will retain Galvatrons spark and his memory, but due to the unstable nature of the Ore-13 he will have no memory of the time in which he possessed it. TT assures Megatron that he will construct Galvatron a new body.

On Earth, Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus survey the battle damage, agreeing that they need to move their base of operations for the time being. Optimus tells Magnus that he is concerned that their interrogations by Bludgeon were so strange and short of real information gathering. He wonders if there is not a larger Decepticon scheme at work.

A short time later, Time Traveller arrives at Kaon to present Megatron with a newly-rebuilt Galvatron. He shows the upgrades he has made to Galvatron, in particular a new weapon: an axe that will double as a guitar (axe). When asked how he feels, Galvatron says it is like he has had a 'rebirth'. TT then invites the Decepticons to come to the bar for a celebration of their victory.

Sitting down to a drink he didn't get to enjoy because of recent battle, TT is interrupted again by the entrance of Megatron and new Galvatron. Feeling generous, Galvatron buys everyone a round of drinks. He says that he feels different somehow, more polite and he doesn't like it. Megatron considers reprogramming him to learn the location of the Ore-13 but TT tells him that the formula has been removed from the universe. Megatron suddenly gets another idea and leaves, with Galvatron remaining at the bar.

The next morning, a groggy Galvatron is ordered back to Kaon by Megatron. Upon his arrival, he is taken by Shockwave and Soundwave to be reprogrammed using Megatron's Psycho Probe. Galvatron resists at first but is calmer once he learns that the probe is a helmet. Time Traveller stops by while feeding his Energon Goodie habit and watches the reprogramming. He explains to Megatron that he hadn't had time to repair Galvatron's aggression circuits before Megatron ordered him returned. Seeing that the Psycho Probe fails to get results, he offers to fix Galvatron although it will take some time. He leaves his Energon Goodies with the Decepticons and takes Galvatron back to his lab.

Megatron returns to the bar which now stands quiet and empty as all the regular have gone home for the night. He is watching the monitors when Cyclonus approaches the building. He greets Cyclonus and pours him a drink, but is distracted by the sound of movement. Using this distraction, Cyclonus attemps to destroy Megatron but is easily overpowered by his commander. Megatron orders other Decepticons to take Cyclonus away to be rebuilt.

Sensing that there is no longer a need for his services, Double Dealer decides that he should leave Cybertron. He is met by Time Traveller but ignores the Autobot's words. TT watches the ship leave Cybertron and returns to his storage facility. Inside he examines the new body his building for Inferno, calling it a "transmetal" body. He places Inferno's spark core into the body, still nothing. Crating up the body and moving it to his lab, he decides that this attempt at rebuilding Inferno was a failure. When he returns to the storage warehouse, Galvatron has written a message in oil on the walls saying to disconnect him from the 9-volt battery that powers him. Seeing no other solution, TT obliges Galvatrons last request and the Decepticon powers down.

At Autobot City, the repairs are nearly complete and Rodimus Prime is ready to make good on his promise to find Kup. Ultra Magnus approaches Rodimus and informs him that he will go along, just to make sure Rodimus is safe. Meanwhile, Arcee who is fed up with being the 'fembot in distress' sets off on her own to find Kup. She follows the trail to the planet Dramedan with Rodimus and Magnus following. From there she finds a trail leading to Quintessa. The other two Autobots are ambused and captured by the Quintessons.

Reaching Quintessa, Arcee looks around for Kup and finds him standing trial before the Qunitessons. At that moment, Rodimus and Magnus are also brought before the court. They are declared 'innocent' and it is revealed that the Quintessons are using a machine to extract the sparks from Transformers, making them into subservient drones. They have already done this to Kup, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots who then attack Rodimus and Magnus. Thinking quickly Arcee tries to blast the spark containment chamber, but she is attacked by Mirage. Knocking him out and using his cloaking field to hide her, Arcee suceeds at freeing the Autobot sparks. Angered by their prisoner's release, the Quintessons order all Sharkticons to attack the Autobots.

Inside TT's lab, Inferno stirs. He breaks free of his crate, his mind seeking vengeance on the Autobot Arcee for some reason he cannot understand. Something in his circuits guides him to Quintessa. Inferno leaves the bar and blasts off, but is spotted by TT. He says to Megatron that it would be best to go after Inferno or they may have bigger problems than one disloyal Decepticon. Megatron ignores the warning and remains on Cybertron. TT receives a distress call from Blaster and leaves in search of the captive Autobots. While in transit to Quintessa, Time Traveller encounters a strange temporal anomaly. Wide eyed with terror at what he has discovered, TT makes haste back to Cybertron.

Part VII comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 11-12
Outside The Bar: page 10
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 4-5
Earth: page 4
Autobot City: page 1
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: page 1

[Blackjack]

PART VIII: The Rise of Vulcan

A dark figure approaches the Energon Bar. Leaving an evil looking scythe at the door it sits in a dark corner and watches. A short time later Megatron enters the bar and sits with a few Decepticons at his table. The stranger approaches Megatron and introduces himself as Lord Vulcan, a Decepticon leader from 400 million years into the future. He explains how he was brought there through a temporal rift and how the transformation cog for his 'transdector' body was damaged. Megatron offers to have his technicians look at the cog and Vulcan returns to his transdector to check for damages. As he is leaving Cybertron, he almost runs over Time Traveller who then gives chase.

Meanwhile Inferno arrives at Quintessa, but seeing that the Autobots have their hands full, he chooses to wait for the right opportunity to strike. Kup regains his spark and his memories in time to join in the fight against the Sharkticons. Ultra Magnus comes up with the idea of running them down in vehicle mode and soon the Autobots triumph. Rodimus disposes of the Quintesson judge by dumping him in his own Sharkticon tank, feeling momentarily guilty for committing the sinister act. As the Autobots make their way toward Arcee's ship they are ambushed by a grinning Inferno.

Time Traveller follows Vulcan to his base/transdector and meets the future Decepticon Lord. Vulcan introduces his followers Valnir and Galrauch and explains his situation to TT. TT retorts that their very presence in this dimension may lead to its destruction, that Unicron is dead here and thus they have no reason to remain. Vulcan tells him that Unicron can never truly be destroyed and that he thinks they are meant to be in that time in order to allow the events of their own creation. Frustrated by his failed attempts at negotiation, TT leaves for Cybertron. Shortly after, Lord Vulcan flies to Kaon to check the status of the repair to his transformation cog.

At the bar, Megatron ponders the use of his newest creation The Hydrothermocline: a device that can turn water into energy. He orders Shockwave to help him repair the Space Bridge so that they can pump water from Earth to Cybertron and use his device to turn it into energy. Meanwhile, Lord Vulcan returns to his ship and locates the remains of Unicron. He asks his master how he is to return to his own time. Being informed that he must go to planet Charr and recreate the battle that brought him there, he departs waiting for the right opportunity to resurface.

Part VIII comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: page 12
The Decepticon Table: pages 4-5
Autobot City: page 2
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: page 1
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): page 5

[Blackjack]

PART IX: Escape From Quintessa

Another newcomer, named Stalker appears at the Energon Bar to begin taking Megatron's orders. He first assembles all of the gestalt team leaders and then is order to find Optimus Prime and the Autobots who are strangely absent from Cybertron. He requests the use of Astrotrain for this endeavor. Shockwave meanwhile completes his repairs to the Space Bridge. Stalker first finds Squwaktalk who he uses to translate a Qunitesson message and learn the Autobot's location. He then goes to Kaon to round up Astrotrain who will take him to Quintessa. The Decepticon Quake also tags along.

After fighting with Astrotrain in order to gain obedience, Stalker arrives on Quintessa to find Inferno taking on the assembled Autobots. He lands and orders Inferno to stop just as a group of Sharkticons close in on the transformers. Both Decepticons and Autobots fight against the Sharkticons in order to get back to their ships. Taking advantage of the chaos, Inferno ambushes Arcee, but is run into by Ultra Magnus. Fighting their way out, both teams get back to their respective ships, leaving Inferno alone on Qunitessa with the Sharkticons.

As the Autobot ship takes off they are contacted by Mirage who informs them that he had snuck aboard Astrotrain and changed his guidance systems so that Astrotrain will head towards the nearest star. All the Autobots feel celebartory and Kup begins to tell one of his famous stories. Then Optimus Prime reveals that his not the real Optimus but a clone created by the Quintessons to destroy them. Thinking quickly, Arcee opens the airlock and jettisons the fake Optimus into space.

Seeing that Astrotrain is headed directly for a star, Stalker demands to know why there has been a change in course. Astrotrain's voice module had also been damaged by Mirage so he could not respond. Taking manual control of Astrotrain, Stalker lands on a small moon. He contacts Megatron who had been anxiously awaiting the return of Optimus Prime. Megatron is unable to come to their aid as his only remaining space shuttle Decepticon, Delita-1, is out shopping. Stalker deactivates Quake and uses his parts to repair Astrotrain.

On Cybertron, Time Traveller builds himself a fifth alt-mode, this one a powerful backhoe. He then leaves to search for the Autobots. Time Traveller arrives near Quintessa but finds only the Decepticons on the small moon. He lands and incites Stalker to attack him. During the battle he demands to know what happened to the Autobots. Stalker says they were all on Quintessa but left, abandoning Optimus Prime who can now be seen falling onto the moon's surface. The Prime drone attacks the Decepticons and TT, but Stalker's allies the Predators come to their aid.

The Autobot ship also lands on the moon and Ultra Magnus finds himself facing the Optimus Prime clone. Once the imposter Prime has been dealth with, the Autobots turn their attention to Stalker who has now gained the aide of the Predators and Skyquake. A massive battle ensues in which Stalker, Skyquake, and the Predators fight TT, Ultra Magnus, Rodimus Prime, Acree, and Kup. Time Traveller is badly damaged when he intercepts a missile fired by Stalker with his bare hands and turns it around on its owner. The battle ends when Skyquake gets a transmission from Megatron ordering him to return to headquarters.

On the surface of Quintessa, Inferno boldy faces the Sharkticons. Aware that Arcee has evaded him and enraged at Stalker's interruption, he plots a new course of action. Transforming into a drill tank alt-mode and escaping through the Quintessan ground, Inferno vows revenge on this new favorite of Megatron: Stalker.

Current Roster of Roleplay Characters:
Time Traveller
Rodimus Prime
Ultra Magnus
Arcee
Kup
Megatron
Galvatron (temporarily deceased)
Inferno
Stalker, Skyquake
Delita-1 (infrequently)
Shockwave (infrequently)
Optimus Prime (MIA)

Part IX comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: page: 13
The Decepticon Table: pages: 5-6
Autobot City: pages 2-3
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: pages 1-3
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 5-6
Cybertron's Streets: page 1
Outside the Bar: page 10

[Blackjack]

PART X: Radio Silence

Time Traveller awakens sometime later inside of Arcee's ship enroute to Autobot City. He is glad to see that all of the other Autobots survived the intense battle. Rodimus goes to a separate portion of the ship to be alone, but is teased by Arcee that he is not allowed to sulk onboard her vessel. Upon reaching the City, TT mentions to Kup that Rodimus seems down and that maybe he should talk to him. Kup encourages Rodimus, but the younger bot still feels that he has no reason to be leading such a heroic band of Autobots.

Skyquake, Stalker, and Astrotrain arrive at Kaon and Stalker reports to Megatron. His commander demands to know why they got into a fight with the Autobots instead of continuing to search for Optimus Prime. Stalker explains the entire situation including Time Traveller attacking him and encountering the fake Optimus Prime. Megatron is interested in this fake Optimus but is interrupted by a transmission from Skyquake explaining that he had found a planet with some deactivated Autobots and Decepticons. He orders Stalker to join Skyquake in bringing the deactivated Decepticons back to Kaon.

Time Traveller awakens after receiving repairs and asks Kup how Rodimus is doing. He replies that the lad is doubting himself but will turn out alright. Satisfied, TT heads to Countdown to find a ride back to Cybertron. He finds out that Galaxy Shuttle is going there and departs. The Energon Bar is deserted when TT arrives, so he sits down to a much deserved rest at the Leader's Table.

Before leaving to join Skyquake, Stalker activates his latest invention a device that can scramble all Autobot signals on Cybertron. He departs with the Constructicons onboard Astrotrain and arrives at the small planet. Scrapper informs him that Megatron had sent out an expedition to investigate Autobot activities and that this must be that expedition. Stalker and the Constructicons load the Decepticons onto Astrotrain as Skyquake departs to seek revenge on the cowardly Predators.

Time Traveller is prevented from nodding off to his favorite radio station when it is interrupted by static. Seeking to investigate this interference, he leaves for Kaon. Megatron has no idea about the sudden static and complains that his comms are acting up as well. Walking past Squwaktalk, TT overhears the bird mumbling to itself and gets a clue to the source of the disruption. He locates the jamming device, destroys it, and then hears the transmission from Skyquake about the deactivated Transformers. He sends a tightbeam to Blaster on Earth to bring a transport craft and meet him at the coordinates from the message. He heads to the small planet and finds the deactivated Autobots just in time to set off a trap set by Stalker, the entire area is covered with live explosives on a remote detonator.

At Autobot City, Rodimus Prime is considering his failures as a leader. He pulls out the Matrix and begins asking it for answers, but finds himself sucked inside. Arcee arrives and helps him to get out of the Matrix, although he hadn't found the answers he was seeking. Just then Blaster informs Rodimus of TT's signal. He starts to rally the Autobots to assist TT when another signal from TT informs them that he is enroute with a large number of deactivated Autobots. He also asks to speak with Ultra Magnus, who is now also missing.

Upon returning with the deactivated Decepticons, Stalker is summoned by Megatron who tells him of a distress signal received from Optimus Prime on Earth. He orders Stalker to take any Decepticons he needs and find Optimus. Stalker gathers a large group of Decepticons, ordering some to disperse and attack different areas around the Earth in order to distract the Autobots. He sets up another jamming device to block the Optimus distress call and seeks out the source of the signal himself.

Meanwhile Ultra Magnus and a group of Autobots receive a message from Sandstorm of the Combaticons attacking an oil field in Texas. He dispatches Autobots around the globe to deal with the Decepticon attacks. Time Traveller, returns to Earth with the deactivated Autobots and learns of the current attacks. He heads to Texas with Galaxy Shuttle to deal with the Combaticons, remarking that only two things come from Texas. He arrives outside the cave system where Magnus is preparing his assault. Kup and a team of scouts have already inflitrated the caves and are waiting for Magnus's signal before attacking the Decepticons.

TT goes in first but finds a trap set by Stalker to cause a cave in. He is injured by the explosion and trapped inside the caves, but continues. Finding no trace of Optimus Prime but a metal box emitting a distress signal, Stalker calls for Skyquake to back him up by bombing the cavern and crushing all of the Autobots in a cave in. Kup and his group surprise Stalker as he blasts a hole in the top of the cave and tries to flee in Astrotrain. Kup causes the cave to collapse on the two Decepticons and TT and Ironhide help to subdue them. Skyquake arrives but finds the battle is already over. He retreives the metal box and leaves Astrotrain, Stalker, and the Combaticons to fend for themselves.

Part X comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: page 13
The Leader's Table: page 2
Autobot City: pages 3-4
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: pages 3-4
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 6-7
Cybertron's Streets: pages 1-2
Outside the Bar: page 10
Earth: pages 4-5

[Blackjack]

PART XI: Return To Power

Inferno arrives on Cybertron and finds the Energon Bar mostly empty. Megatron arrives a short moment later with the Gestalt commanders but dismisses them when he sees Inferno. Inferno explains how he had been reborn and had gone to Quintessa to destroy Arcee. Megatron tells him that Stalker has failed to find Optimus Prime for him. Inferno offers to go in Stalker's place to prove that he is worthy of serving as Megatron's lieutenant. His master agrees to this chance.

Arriving at Kaon, TT arrives in time to see Inferno departing for Earth. He delivers Stalker to Megatron just as Skyquake arrives and delivers the distress signal box. Locking, Stalker up in the dungeons to be guarded by Devastator and Bruticus, TT then tells Megatron he will return to Earth to assist the Autobots with cleanup. Megatron begins to examine the box. In his cell, Stalker has a dream of becoming powerful enough to escape through the use of 'eyebeams of hate'. But it turns out to be only a dream.

As Time Traveller makes his way back to Earth, he encounters Inferno who is having some trouble with the shuttle. He offers Inferno a ride and the ant accepts, but first burns the defective shuttle to a crisp. After being dropped off on Earth, Inferno makes his way to the Russian swamps. Finding some of Bludgeons minions still guarding the area, he sneaks in and discovers the unconcious body of Optimus Prime. Easily lifting Prime, he takes him back to the new shuttlecraft given to him by TT.

Megatron sees Inferno land with the body of Optimus Prime. Immediately the gears grind in his brain and a new plan is formed. He orders Snapdragon to fetch the Psycho Probe. Using the Probe on Prime's mind, he molds him into his own weapon: Nemesis Prime. When Nemesis awakens, Megatron tells him that the Autobots had abandoned him and that Delita-1 was dead at their hands. Inferno makes a mental note to ensure that Delita-1 is dead. Meanwhile, Stalker begins to hatch another devious scheme as Megatron's guards snatch him to bring him before their leader.

After dropping off Inferno, TT heads to Autobot City to meet with Ultra Magnus. He waits for a short time, but has pressing matters on Cybertron. Leaving a message for Magnus with the bartender he departs for his lab. Entering his lab, he finds that Galvatron's spark core is red hot and ready to be placed in his fully rebuilt body. Even as the lifeless form begins to twitch for the first time, Time Traveller brings the statis pod containing Galvatron to Kaon as a present to Megatron. He arrives in the middle of the creation and comes face to face with Nemesis Prime for a moment.

In another part of Autobot City, Rodimus Prime suddenly feels voices from the Matrix telling him that one of their kind has fallen. He realizes that something must have happened to Optimus and sounds an alarm to summon all Autobots back to the city. Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus returns from helping repair damage from the recent attacks towing one Optimus's old trailers. He goes to Ratchet and Wheeljack and explains that he wishes to be refit in order to combine with Optimus's Powermaster components. The two bots disagree with Magnus, but in the end he orders them to complete the modifications.

After having removed some components from Stalker for use in repairing his Psycho Probe, Megatron merely allowed Stalker to leave. Plotting revenge against the Autobots using a virus designed to target Teletran-1, Stalker departed for Earth using a Spacebridge. He contacts Megatron, asking him to bring his warriors to Earth for a strike against the Autobots. Megatron receives the message and is about to leave when Inferno requests that he be allowed to come along out of his distrust for Stalker.

From inside the stasis pod, Galvatron bursts forth as Megatron, Nemesis Prime, Inferno, and TT look on. Quite pleased by the rebirth of his second in command, Megatron appoints Galvatron temporary commander and leaves with Inferno to meet with Stalker. Still somewhat confused over where he is and who the black Optimus Prime is, Galvatron confronts Nemesis and almost gets blasted for his trouble. TT laughs and then bids the 'cons good day to return to the bar. Galvatron hatches a plan of his own and orders the remaining Decepticons to meet him at the bar.

Seeing that very few Decepticons remain at the bar, Galvatron summons Nemesis Prime to him. Nemesis directly tells Galvatron that he will not take orders from him, but if he wishes to attack Rodimus Prime and get the Matrix back they may work together. Galvatron explains that this is his desire also and the two partners depart Cybertron for Autobot City.

Arriving at Autobot city, Galvatron orders Predaking to begin demolishing the Autobot defenses. Arcee, Rodimus, and Ultra Magnus send a distress signal to Cybertron before heading out to meet the threat. Upon arriving at the battlefield they are all shocked to see Nemesis Prime, all except Magnus who believes it to be just another clone of Optimus and rushes forward. Galvatron spots Skyquake watching the battle from afar and orders him to help the Decepticons while he goes to help Nemesis.

Kup arrives at the battlefield and engages Predaking by using a tow line to trip the monstrous gestalt. Acree yells to Rodimus who is too stunned at seeing Optimus is working with the Decepticons to do anything. He comes to his senses and realizes that he is the one who must bring light back to the darkness. Meanwhile, Galvatron swoops down to attack Ultra Magnus and ensure that nothing stops Nemesis from getting the Matrix from Rodimus. Rodimus struggles against the dark Optimus, trying to talk reason into him instead of killing him. Nemesis tells him that the Autobots are guilty for abandoning him and killing Delita and he will make them pay. Stalker arrives with a new triple barrelled laser rifle and heads into the city to get orders from Galvatron.

Having completed his other objectives, Megatron arrives at Autobot City to see that Galvatron and Nemesis are wreaking havoc on the Autobots. He is about to join in when he is engaged by Kup. The two engage in hand to hand combat, just like in the old days. Meanwhile, Galvatron continues to fight Ultra Magnus while showing off moves he learned watching WWE. Stalker pins down several Autobots who are on their way to assist with the wounded when Arcee appears with Galvatron's arm cannon that had fallen off during the fighting. She blasts Stalker at full power, killing him. An embarassed Galvatron asks for his cannon back and gets hit upside the head with it for his trouble. He then goes back into battle with Magnus.

Inferno is engaged in heated battle with the Autobots when Time Traveller arrives behind him and demands to know what is going on. Leaving Inferno too dizzy to fight, he advances towards the battle using stun rounds to quell some of the fighting. He eventually reaches Magnus and Galvatron, who upon seeing TT spares Magnus's life and tells TT that they are even. Hound creates a hologram of Delita and manages to break through to Optimus, but as he is hit by a crossfire, Optimus momentarily looses control and again goes beserk, almost killing Rodimus Prime. Optimus sees what he has become and what he has done and realizes that his death is the only thing that will stop it. He grabs Arcee and, while whispering to her it is the only way, tells Rodimus that he will kill her. Rodimus tears into Optimus, blasting him to the ground and tearing his chest wide open. Watching with amusement, Megatron orders the Decepticons retreat. Their mission is done.

An enraged TT throws Galvatron at Rodimus to stop him. He then blasts Megatron out of the sky and demands to know what is going on. Megatron tells him that Optimus is dying and that the war will never end. He and Galvatron turn to leave and Galvatron blasts Optimus Prime once more, ending him. Looking furiously at the retreating Decepticons and the greiving Autobots, Time Traveller slowly leaves the battlefield. Optimus gathers the Autobots close and says his farewells, telling Rodimus he is proud of him for defending the Matrix at all costs. His spark then fades for the last time.

Part XI comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: page 13
The Decepticon Table: page 6
The Leader's Table: page 2
Autobot City: pages 4-9
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: pages 4-5
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 7-8
Cybertron's Streets: page 2
Outside the Bar: page 10
Earth: page 5

[Blackjack]

PART XII: New Decepticon In Town

Megatron and the Decepticons arrive home to Kaon to find an unknown Decepticon on the throne. He introduces himself as Dezaras and explains that he would like to deal with Megatron and that he has brought a shipful of Energon for the Decepticons to recharge themselves. An enraged Megatron threatens that he is the only Decepticon leader to which Dezaras tells him they will talk more when Megatron is at full power. Galvatron suggests that he and Megatron go to the bar to discuss this newcomer's motives.

As Dezaras explains to his lieutenant Liozack that he is pulling the wool over Megatron's eyes until he can gather more of his warriors, the other Decepticon leaders head to the bar. Galvatron finds Time Traveller sitting alone at the Leader's Table and joins him. TT accuses Galvatron of causing the entire incident by leading Nemesis Prime to Autobot City. Galvatron shouts that his plan was for himself to control the Matrix and that TT will not prevent him from that goal. Megatron arrives and silences the conversation with questions of who Dezaras is. Then he is informed that Dezaras has taken some of his warriors and leaves for Kaon.

Seeing Megatron's departure, Dezaras returns to Kaon and forces the Combaticons and Insecticons to accompany him and his troops on a mission to free the remaining Breastforce members: Guyhawk and Deathcobra. Megatron and Galvatron return to find their warriors are gone and a supply of Energon has been left behind. Suspecting it is a trap, Megatron orders Scrapper and Mixmaster to test the Energon and finding it alright he orders his troops to reenergize. Declaring Dezsaras a traitor to the Decepticons, Megatron gathers Galvatron and Inferno to him and prepares to leave to deal with this new threat.

On Bakka IV, the Decepticons under Dezaras's command begin attacking nearby villages to make a distraction for Liozack to free the other Breastforce members. Once they have been freed, Dezaras orders his forces to strip the world of energy before they depart. On Kaon, as Megatron is about to depart, he is contacted by Shockwave asking for orders. Megatron puts Shockwave in charge while he negotiates and asks Shockwave to contact Sixshot one of his powerful warriors who has been away on another mission. Sixshot is contacted and asked to come to Bakka IV for the confrontation. He is anxious to meet a new enemy, hoping for a challenge to test his warrior skills.

Inferno turns down Megatrons invitation to battle, asking instead permission to pursue a personal matter. Megatron allows him this for his loyalty and he heads to the Energon Bar to speak with Time Traveller. He talks with Time Traveller about what has been troubling him following the recent battle at Autobot City. TT explains about how the war is not only unending but how leadership on both sides is crumbling and because of this Cybertron itself is dying. Inferno listens and then resolves himself to helping to save their home, saying that this current Megatron is not a good leader. He and TT head of into the Cybertronian night to find a true leader for their cause, one who will bring together the warring factions once and for all.

The Decepticons land on Bakka IV with the intention dealing with Dezaras. Megatron begins to open negotiations, but is warned by Galvatron not to trust Dezaras. The two leaders discuss terms and Dezaras gives Megatron back his warriors and the energy they had gathered from the planet as a peace offering. Feeling satisfied with the offer as well as Dezaras's subserviency to him, Megatron leaves for Kaon. Leozack asks why they did not simply destroy Dezaras and his commander tells him that Megatron may have use to them alive. Sixshot, watching the confrontation from afar regrets that Megatron did not choose to engage battle. He thinks that Dezaras would have made an excellent opponent given that he is masking his true strength and hiding something.

Part XII comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: page 13
The Leader's Table: pages 2-3
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: page 5
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 8-10
Cybertron's Streets: page 2

[Blackjack]

PART XIII: Decepticon Civil War

Wanting to celebrate their victory, the Decepticons head to the Energon Bar. Seeing that there are no Autobots present and mentioning that since the demise of Optimus they have not heard from Magnus or Rodimus, Megatron declares Decepticon rule of Cybertron. He and Galvatron begin to make plans to conquer Earth for its energy resources. Meanwhile, Dezaras and his minions find an empty Kaon and take time to study the layout of the fortress.

Hearing Megatron's call, many Decepticons from around the galaxy gather on Cybertron including: Abominus, Rumble, Sixshot, and Dezaras. Megatron orders Dezaras and his troops to remain on Cyberton as the Decepticon presense there. The other begin loading shuttles and preparing to invade the Earth. Sixshot sees Dezaras sneak off during the preparations and asks to be allowed to remain on Cybertron to keep an eye on their new ally, Megatron agrees. Galvatron meanwhile is distracted with memories of Delita-1, wondering whatever became of the one he considers a daughter.

Dezaras returns to his ship, the Thunder Arrow, and instructs Leozack to carry out his commands until he returns from a mission. He then leaves for the Decepticon Training Course where he locates a trapdoor that leads to the secret Tunnels Under Cybertron. He makes his way to an Autobot chamber where several deactivated Decepticons await in stasis. He activates them but is interrupted by Sunstorm who arrives and tells him they shouldn't activate the Decepticons without Megatron's orders. Dezaras ignores the warning and activates the Decepticons then leaves. Little does he know that he has actiavated the statis pod of one of Megatron's greatest enemies as well: Dinobot.

As Dezaras leaves the underground chamber, he is ambushed by Sixshot who has been tracking him. Sixshot demands to know his plans for these new warriors, suspicious that it may be a plan to overthrow Megatron. Dezaras explains he is merely reactivating old Decepticons that he himself placed in statis many years ago when he was active on Cybertron. He then asks Sixshot why he follows a leader who uses fear and pain to control his followers and not honor or respect. Using his smooth way of talking, Dezaras convinces Sixshot that he should be a part of his plans. He then receives a message from Deathcobra that they found what he was looking for. He orders his troops to begin searching Cybertron's underground for more deactivated warriors and he a Sixshot leave for Kaon.

Dinobot enters the bar and looks around bewildered. He begins asking for answers as to where he is and what is going on. The autotender at the bar explains that TT and Megatron own the bar and offers to grant him the archived knowledge of the previous Dinobot that had existed in that time. Dezaras arrives at his ship and receives the locator device that his warriors had discovered. He uses it to show the locations of all of the deactivated Decepticons beneath Cybertron. He orders his warriors to split up and visit the eight locations, bringing back any Decepticons they find and kiling any Autobots. He himself goes to the chamber containing a powerful warrior named Dark Omega.

At Autobot City, things are grim. Following the battle, Rodimus Prime, Arcee, and Ultra Magnus have disappeared leaving Kup in charge of the city. Kup looks on as Ratchet finishes repairs to Optimus Prime's lifeless body then begins a memorial ceremony for the fallen leader. Amidst the farewells being said, Bumblebee awakens in the medical wing now rebuilt as Goldbug and the mighty warrior Computron arrives at the city after years of searching in space for other Autobots. On a hill above the city, Slag and the other dinobots begin moving toward the city, wanting to ask Kup to help them look for their missing leader Grimlock.

As Dark Omega awakens, Dezaras informs him of the current situation and how he is pretending to follow Megatron. He then receives a message from Skyquake telling him that he needs help finishing the repairs on Stalker and that Megatron had ordered them to gather new energy reserves from the Earth. Dezaras and Dark Omega depart for Earth with Skyquake and Stalker. They find the target Megatron identified and easily obtain the Energon, a small amount. Dezaras then orders his forces to attack a human nuclear power plant to the north of their location.

Slag arrives in Kup's office and explains that he and the dinobots found a battered Autobot insignia on Nebulos which they believe came from Grimlock. He asks for a team to go with them to search. Kup sends out a call for any Autobots willing, and the Trainbots offer their services. Meanwhile, Goldbug and Blaster begin scanning for Decepticons activity and notice that Dezaras has some operations set up on the Earth. At the nuclear plant, Megatron arrives and wants to know why Dezaras is refueling Dark Omega instead of loading his shuttle with Energon cubes. Dark Omega states that he would be a superior cargo vehicle and Megatron orders both to be filled so that he may have enough Energon to power the engines of Cybertron and rule the Universe.

Once the Decepticons arrive on Cybertron, Galvatron asks to be given a shuttle and permission to look for the missing Delita-1. He is given Dark Omega and Skyquake as Dezaras has slipped off somewhere. Encircling the planet Galvatron's mission is wrought with many difficulties. First he cannot contact Delita via telepathy, next Skyquake is too busy playing solitare to scan for her lifesigns, finally Dark Omega transforms and Skyquake flies off leaving Galvatron, Cyclonus, and Scourge stranded. He orders the two warriors to leave and tell Megatron of this treachery.

Sixshot finally reaches the chamber he was seeking, the resting place of Overlord. He activates the computer console and begins repowering the former Decepticon leader. Dezaras and the Brestforce arrive to check on his progress. Noting that Dark Omega has left Galvatron, he sends Liokaiser to investigate what Galvatron has done to upset the powerful robot. Liokaiser locates Galvatron and asks what happened to Dark Omega. Galvatron tells him to search for Dark Omega and he will continue his search with the Sweeps.

On Earth, Slag, the dinobots, and the train bots depart to search Nebulos for Grimlock. Kup and Computron head out to investigate the Earth base that was earlier attacked by Dezaras's forces. Goldbug, left in charge of Autobot city sends out the Throttlebots to search for any surviving Autobots. They locate Defensor, Superion, and Omega Supreme. Computron tells Kup he wonders what has become of Rodimus Prime and the Matrix. With so few Autobots and so many Decepticons around this may well be their darkest hour.

Cyclonus and Scourge arrive at Kaon and inform Megatron that Dark Omega has abandoned them. Megatron meanwhile has been trying to reach Sixshot. Growing suspicious, he order Scourge to track Sixshot's location, guessing that he will also find Dezaras and deal with the traitors in his midst. Galvatron sets down in a deserted Cybertronian town where the Sweeps locate the remains of Delita-1. Flying into a rage, Galvatron realizes that no Autobot would have so brutally slaughtered her and it must be the work of a Decepticon traitor.

Megatron, Cyclonus, Scourge, and Shockwave arrive at the chamber where Overlord is housed. They engage and destroy the dinosaur force. Seeing that Megatron has made the first move, Dezaras orders all Decepticons loyal to him to turn on Megatron's forces. Due to the programming input earlier by Galvatron, Dark Omega cannot comply to the order and self-destructs. Meanwhile Megatron, Galvatron, and Shockwave fight their way into the chamber where Overlord is awakening. Dezaras tells Megatron that he only ordered the attack because Megatron attacked first. He says that Megatron could work with him or be destroyed. Megatron tells him that he alone will command the Decepticons. After reforming the fragile alliance, Megatron order all of his forces to head to Autobot City to destroy the remaining Autobots once and for all.

Part XIII comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: page 13-15
The Leader's Table: page 3
Autobot City: pages 9-11
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: page 5
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): page 10
Cybertron's Streets: pages 2-3
Outside the Bar: pages 10-11
Earth: pages 5-6
Tunnels Under Cybertron: pages 1-2

[Blackjack]

PART XIV: Coming of The Horsemen

At this point the current roleplay roster includes:
Megatron
Galvatron
Dezaras
Sixshot
Shockwave (occcasionally)
Rumble (occasionally)
Abominus (occasionally)
Sunstorm (occasionally)
Kup
Goldbug
Computron
Slag
Dinobot
Rodimus Prime (missing)
Arcee (missing)
Ultra Magnus (missing)
Time Traveller
Inferno

As the Decepticon fleet arrives at Autobot City, Goldbug quickly realizes that the current group of Autobots would be no match for the entire Decepticon army. He sends out distress calls to Autobots anywhere in the galaxy. Slag and the dinobots meanwhile have encountered the Autobot Headmasters on Nebulos and have recovered Grimlock's spark. They receive the message and head for Earth. The Decepticons attack with Megatron leading them, Dezaras holds back and watches for the moment wanting to see how these Decepticons do battle.

A massive fight rages. Dezaras orders Overlord to begin taking apart the Autobot defenses and the powerful Decepticon finds himself up against first Sueperion and then Omega Supreme. More and more Autobots begin to arrive from the far corners of the galaxy, to step the Decepticon threat. Dezaras spots his rival Star Saber and engages him in a final combat, to which Dezaras is victorious. Galvatron uses the chaos as a distraction to enter Autobot City and have Buzzsaw find the last known whereabouts of Rodimus Prime. He doesn't have time to search however as a small white ship appears above the city and two familiar Autobots jump out just before the ship crashes into the Thunder Arrow disabling it.

Goldbug sees Rodimus Prime and Arcee appear on the battlefield and tells them of the current situation. Meanwhile, Kup and Computron receive the distress call and rush back to engage the monstrous Scorponok who Dezaras has unleashed. Shockwave, who had snuck inside the city along with Galvatron is making his way towards the control room when he is pinned down by fire from Goldbug, Blaster, and several other Autobots. Rodimus Prime departs from Arcee with the intent to seek out Megatron and avenge all Autobots the tyrant had destroyed. He finds Megatron and the two engage in battle. While Kup is still attempting to battle the huge Scorponok, Galvatron ambushes him from behind and begins to bash his face in. Kup blasts Galvatron off of him and exclaims that he still has some fight left in him.

Dezaras watches the battle safely from a nearby hilltop. His ship destroyed, he orders Liokaiser to engage the Autobots. Suddenly the sky is ripped open and a war-torn Time Traveller emerges, landing behind Dezaras. This TT begins to assault Dezaras, but the cunning Decepticon has Liokaiser attack him from behind. After departing from Rodimus, Arcee heads inside the city and joins the skirmish with Shockwave, helping Goldbug and the others to gain an advantage. Shockwave radios Megatron for backup but instead of a message from his occupied commander, a transformer familiar to Shockwave appears. Sixshot stands between the Autobots and his creator, allowing him to proceed. In the sky, a mighty roar is heard as Fortress Maximus descends. The dinobots, trainbots, and headmasters join into the fray. At this point many battles are being fought: Megatron vs Rodimus, Galvatron vs Kup, Dezaras vs Time Traveller, Shockwave vs Goldbug, Sixshot vs Arcee, and several other classic Decepticon vs Autobot rivalries.

The battle between TT and Dezaras becomes a brutal melee. As they trade blow for blow, Liokaiser gets in the way and takes an attack meant for his master. TT then says that he also 'brought a friend' and releases a black canister that begins to pour forth smoke and maniacal laughter. A changed Inferno emerges from a tear created by the canister, this being merely a skeletal frame of its past self. It makes its way towards Megatron and Rodimus and prepares to fire two great flame cannons at the warring leaders. Megatron fires on Inferno, causing him to retreat, then blasts Rodimus. Seeing the Matrix and exclaiming they had done what they'd come to do, Megatron orders a retreat and Decepticons begin disengaging their opponents.

Time Traveller sees Dezaras and his lackeys head for Scorponok in order to retreat and begins to follow. He tells Dezaras as he retreats "you are a warrior...I AM WAR". Inferno meanwhile releases another of the strange canisters and a green tear produces another transformer. This one looks much like one of the Empties from the Dead End on Cybertron. The creature spots the Decepticon shuttles and runs to them. It fires an energy draining beaming at the two, preventing them from taking off. In a desparate attempt to get rid of Time Traveller, Dezaras and all of his forces open up on the approaching Autobot. This creates a giant fireball which engulfs TT, but he emerges looking half-destroyed but still functioning. He lands on Scorponok and calls a challenge to Megatron. Inferno advances on the injured Rodimus Prime, eyeing the Matrix.

Seeing that he needs to assist Megatron, Galvatron finishes his duel with Kup by burying the old timer in an avalance. Kup calls for the dinobots to dig him out. Slag and the other free him and then recieve a message from Goldbug who needs help defending the command center. Kup arrives in time to fend of the remaining cons. The Throttlebots also arrive and begin to help the wounded warriors to a more safe location. Megatron accepts TT's challenge, just as his once friend opens another tear and steps through, exiting completely repaired. TT grins and knocks Megatron into a nearby forest with his rifle. Dezaras watches this battle and realizes that they need to evacuate now. He orders the remaining Decepticons to gather all of the fallen: Decepticons and Autobots and load them on board Scorponok.

Galvatron runs towards the battle in time to see Inferno fire some kind of black smoke towards the Matrix. Not wanting his prize damaged, Galvatron fires at Rodimus, knocking him out of the way and challenges Inferno. The skeletal Inferno turns and tells Galvatron that he should be dead already, that he is not what he was meant to be. Knowing what he must do, Galvatron exclaims that Inferno is right, he is not what he is meant to be, he is better. He removes the remains of Delita's spark from his core and throws it at Inferno, buying both himself and Rodimus the time to escape. Rodimus retreats to a hiding place and tries to reach other Autobots while still marvelling at the sacrifice made by Galvatron.

Finding that in his injured state he is match for TT, Megatron orders Blitzwing to pick him up. Before he can go, TT grabs Megatron's fusion cannon and blasts him with it, leaving him barely able to stand. Goldbug and Arcee arrive on the battlefield and, spotting Inferno searching for Rodimus, they charge and smash into him simultaneous, causing him to retreat. As he escapes, Megatron spots Rodimus Prime attempting to weld himself together. He has Blitzwing land and with his remaining strength, Megatron approaches the fallen Autobot leader. He unleashes two powerful fusion blasts and ends Rodimus's life. Arcee and Goldbug rush to their friend's side as Galvatron gives them several farewell blasts and the Decepticons retreat.

Part XIV comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Autobot City: pages 11-16
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: page 5

[Blackjack]

PART XV: The Fourth Horseman

Alone on the battlefield, Kup, Goldbug, and Arcee stand over their fallen leader. Seeing the Matrix, Kup suggests that Goldbug become its new bearer. The small transformer protests but sees the wisdom in the older bots words as he takes the Matrix. As they clean up the city and repair themselves, the Autobots mourn their fallen leader. It has only been a short time since Optimus's passing. Kup and Goldbug arrange for a funeral barge much the same to Optimus's and oversee the fallen leader's passage into the Matrix. Arcee finds Kup and demands to know why they had not let her say goodbye, but Kup tells her that it is better this way.

As they share this confrontation, Time Traveller, Inferno, and the Empty known as Reaver arrive in the city courtyard. Inferno threatens the new leader whom he calls BumblePrime and recieves a blast for his trouble. TT explains that war and death will always be the transformer way, leading to famine and pestilence. He says that he will end them honorably and quickly. He instructs Reaver to demonstrate on Blurr and then begins to leave. Hearing the voice of Rodimus in his head, Goldbug stops Reaver and confronts TT exclaiming that they do not choose to fight and that TT used to be an Autobot.

A battered and nearly destroyed Megatron limps into Trypticon where Dezaras and his minions have prepared the Space Bridge for their return to Cybertron. Once they arrive, the Decepticon forces begin a long process of repairs. Dezaras returns to see that the dinosaur force is being rebuilt and his Omega Fortress is proceding on schedule. While both sit in the repair bay, Galvatron tells Megatron of Delita's death knowing not who caused it. From nearby, a Decepticon named Sunstorm, who had been close with Delita, hears the words and vows revenge on the perpetrators. He returns to Kaon to vow Megatron his allegiance. Not wanting to be left on Cybertron for the next battle, Menasor and Rumble also come and offer their services to Megatron. As their repairs complete, Megatron orders his warriors once more to Earth to capture the Matrix from Goldbug.

In the midst of Goldbug's confrontation with TT, the Decpticons arrive and the small Autobot leader finds he has more important things to worry about. As Rumble, Menasor, and the few other repaired Decepticons begin wreaking havoc on the beleagured Autobots, Megatron and Galvatron corner Goldbug and demand the Matrix. The two leaders underestimate the power that the Matrix has given to the small Autobot and he begins to take them apart. Seeing that Galvatron is being badly beaten, Megatron blasts a hole in Goldbug's back and takes the Matrix then orders a retreat. A large number of Autobots arrive to reinforce and seeing that they are fighting a losing retreat, Galvatron orders Sunstorm to attack. The powerful seeker explodes in radiation, damaging many transformers and coating the area in a fine yellow dust. On Cybertron, Dezaras and his forces attempt to locate Black Zarak. A spike in radiation levels on Earth causes Dezaras to note that they had unleashed Sunstorm.

Through the dust familiar laughter is heard. Time Travller, Inferno, and Reaver emerge, TT demanding that the two sides finish each other off. Having gotten what they'd come for the Decepticons retreat into the night sky. Inferno watches them run and Time Travller explains his purpose to the Autobots. He says that they exist to accelerate the war, to hasten the destruction that the transformer race is bringing upon itself. Hearing these words and tired of seeing those she loves die, Arcee approaches TT. Goldbug yells to her not to listen, but she does. Finally TT produces another portal and offers it to her. Stepping through, Arcee emerges changed. Seeing that there will be no further battle, the four leave through another of TT's portals. Kup pleads Arcee to stay, but she says "I have no more time for you fools."

In space, Dezaras watches the battle and notes that the surge in radiation reactivated Black Zarak. He orders his minions to track the powerful Decepticon. Then he stands atop his Omega Fortress and watches as it activates, blasting into the black of space. On Cybertron, the Decepticons begin to celebrate their victory and conquest of the Matrix. Galvatron asks to use the Matrix to find out who had killed Delita-1. Sunstorm meanwhile feels that his commanders had abandoned him at Autobot City after they got what they'd come for. Having located Black Zarak, Dezaras returns to Kaon amidst the celebration and asks what Megatron plans to do now. Recieving no answer, he and his forces leave and Dezaras intercepts parts of the conversation happening on Earth. He smiles, now knowing TT's plan.

At Autobot City, Goldbug and Kup reflect on the loss of Arcee and plan to look ahead towards the storm that is coming. In an underground chamber below the city, Slag looks on as the headmasters finishing rebuilding the dinobot leader Grimlock. And on Quintessa, a small barge is jettisoned towards a barren planet. Once the dust from its crash clears, a single hulking figure emerges and utters the word "Matrix".

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:
War: Time Traveller
Death: Inferno
Pestilence: Arcee
Famine: Reaver (NPC)

Part XV comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Autobot City: pages 16-19
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: pages 5-6
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 10-13
Tunnels Under Cybertron: page 2
Trypticon (Decepticon City): page 1

[Blackjack]

PART XVI: The Return of Lord Vulcan

As Megatron and Galvatron leave to discover the secrets of the Matrix, the Decepticon victory celebration winds to a close. Rumble finds Sunstorm asleep in a corner and dips his finger in a glass of warm Energon as a practical joke. When Sunstorm awakens and finds the result he furiously begins to search for the one who did it.

In deep space, Dezaras attends a gathering of Decepticon leaders from the far corners of the galaxy, a sort of high council. They discuss the issue of Megatron's possession of the Matrix and decide that it would be best that the Matrix be returned to the Autobots. To this end, they activate an army of Quickswitch clones and send them to Cybertron to retrieve and return the Matrix. They also send Stalker on a mission to Earth, to infiltrate the Autobot City and remove data from the computer memory banks.

At Time Traveller's lab deep under Cybertron, the Horsemen plan how best to make their next move. TT notes that neither Autobot nor Decepticon has done anything about their current situation in some time. Most likely the Autobots are too busy making repairs and the Decepticons are too busy celebrating. Inferno suggests that they be patient and wait for the two sides to engage in another battle, one which will be their last. Still struggling with thoughts of her former life, Arcee agrees with Inferno and reveals the twisted hand she keeps under a metal gauntlet. Inferno watches Arcee, trying to put aside his hatred for her for the sake of their mission.

With Omega Supreme still under repairs, the remaining Autobots find themselves without a shuttle to take them to Cybertron and the Matrix. During a drive taken to clear his head, Goldbug visits the remains of the Ark and finds an old Autobot shuttle that is still functional. He informs Kup and two gather a small group of repaired Autobots including the Junkion Wreck-Gar and head into space. While the shuttle takes off with most of the Autobots guarding the city, Stalker sneaks in and completes his mission, transmitting it back to the council.

Rumble is awoken to the sound of something crashing into the Decepticon HQ. A dazed Rodimus Prime emerges from the wreckage of his crashed shuttle and begins searching Kaon for the Matrix. As Rumble heads to investigate, the sixchanger drones appear and begin to attack the Decepticons. But it is no long before the sixchangers have been all but defeated by the Decepticon forces and the council instructs the remaining few to seek leadership from the Autobots now approaching Cybertron. As the Autobot shuttle lands at Kaon, Goldbug, Kup, and the other spread out. They are as confused by the appearance of the sixchangers as the Decepticons. Amidst the fighting, Goldbug finds a lifeless Rodimus Prime and takes him back to the shuttle, calling for a retreat.

On board the Autobot shuttle, Rodimus comes to and it becomes apparent that he somehow reclaimed the Matrix from the Decepticon leaders. He begins asking what has happened to himself and Arcee as he cannot remember anything since heading to the aid of Autobot City. Kup tells him to rest until they get back to Earth. At Kaon, Megatron surveys the damage done by the sixchangers. He gives congratulations and new orders to his troops after having sucessfully defended their base. He then declares the Matrix to have been useless and he and Galvatron leave to celebrate what they believe to be the death of Rodimus Prime. Dezaras and Black Zarak find the only remaining sixchanger and ensure that its memory is altered so that the attack cannot be traced back to their council.

Somewhere near Cybertron, the huge form of Lord Vulcan's ship decloaks and the powerful Decepticon begins searching for an artifact he requires. At the bar, Megatron and Galvatron are celebrating their victory where a dark cloud of smoke fills the bar as Vulcan enters and heads for the back entrance to TT's lab. Dezaras enters behind him, not knowing what the smoke is, and joins them in celebrating. After a short time, they all decide to return to Kaon to develop a new plot against the Autobots.

Lord Vulcan enters TT's lab and demand to know the location of a dark matter cube. Time Traveller remarks that he had not yet killed Lord Vulcan in his own time and tells him where to go and find what he seeks. Vulcan laughs and says that they cannot kill him as they are powered by the same darkness as he. As he turns to leave, Arcee throws a grenade at him which is designed to return him to his own time. However due to his power, Lord Vulcan is only removed to different part of the galaxy. Scoffing at Vulcan's arrogance, TT expalins that he and Inferno will kill Vulcan in the future before they have even come upon their current powers. He then turns his attention back to current matters, to which Inferno suggests they hasten the coming battle between the two factions by luring them to a battleground. Inferno says he will give a message to Megatron and Arcee must contact the Autobots. Having noted that Rodimus Prime still lives, Inferno wishes to test Arcee's resolve by having her finish him off once and for all.

Part XVI comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 15-16
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: page 6
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 13-14
Outside the Bar: pages 11-12

[Blackjack]

PART XVII: Apocalypse

As Rodimus Prime awakens in the repair bay of Autobot City questions still run through his head. Fortunately Kup comes by to explain the whole story. As tells the younger bot about Arcee's betrayal, Rodimus cannot believe what he is hearing. He transforms and leaves the city to do some thinking. Kup follows and consoles the young leader, convincing him that the defense of the city is more important at the current time. Rodimus finally agrees and returns to the city. As soon as they arrive they recieve a garbled distress call from Arcee, telling them to come quickly. Rodimus traces the source of the message to planet Sandra and insists that all available Autobots come with. He gathers Kup, Springer, Blurr, Goldbug, the Throttlebots, and others. Kup encourages him not to listen and that it's an obvious trap, but Rodimus insists that he must rescue Arcee, at all costs.

At Kaon, Megatron gathers his warriors inside the war room to discuss their next move. With Cybertron conquered and the Autobots all but destroyed he hopes to begins a new era of Decepticon rule. Dezaras suggests seeking out Energon rich worlds and conquering them first. Just then, a transmission is recieved from a badly damaged Inferno explaining that he was on a secret mission to investigate TT's plan and that the Autobot is protecting an extremely Energon rich world. Noticing that the Autobots are also on the move, Megatron orders every available Decepticon to board shuttles and head to Inferno's aid. Dezaras instructs Deathcobra to stay behind and finish the repairs to his Omega Fortress.

On the surface of planet Sandra, Inferno and Arcee prepare to play their parts for their respective factions with Time Travller and Reaver set up the bigger trap. The Decepticon and Autobot forces land on the planet and one by one begin to realize that something is seriously wrong. The Autobots first spot Arcee and Springer goes ahead to bring her back to her friends. She comes to life as he is picking her up and unleashed the power of pestilence carried beneath her gauntlet. TT steps out from his cover, pleased at her committment. He introduces her to another of his companions: Quicksilver and suggests that she replace Reaver as the new famine.

A short distance away, the Decepticons discover Inferno. He points a bunker and reveals it as the location of the Energon. He beckons Megatron closer and tells him to beware of TT's new powers. As Megatron looks around for TT, Inferno puts knife of pure Energon in his back whispering "long live Megatron." Scourge (RID) is the first Decepticon to see Megatron's attacker and he orders all Decepticons to target Inferno. Inferno laughs and fires his jets, leading the Decepticons closer to the the Autobot's position. Dezaras fires his living metal destroying cannon at the retreating Inferno. However the shot has no effect and Inferno explains that since he no longer living metal it cannot harm him. Megatron gathers Scourge to him and tells him to use all of their forces to destroy Inferno.

Near his bunker position, Time Traveller produces another strange grenade and transforms Quicksilver into the new Famine. He sees that Inferno has led the Decepticons right to the Autobots and leaves to engage both factions in battle. Rodimus watches the battle and tells Goldbug that it may be time to use the secret weapon they brought along. Kup explains that they need a backup plan now and begins to call for reinforcements. Disappointed that his cannon had no effect, Dezaras orders his flying forces to attack Inferno who has taken to the sky. He recieves a message from Stalker that he and Trypticon are on the way. Galvatron rushes to Megatron's side to repair the damage done by Inferno.

Inferno is surrounded by Decepticon jets as TT arrives to assist him. The two of them quickly turn the tide on the Decepticons and Inferno notices that the Autobots haven't engaged in battle yet. He flies over the Autobot commanders and unleashes his hellfire. An enraged Rodimus Prime charges this new foe. Arcee and Quicksilver meanwhile ambush Dezaras who is now watching the battle from safety. Arcee uses her pestilence ability to blind the Decepticon lieutenant and he begins to thrash wildly with his flail. Noticing that Inferno is now attacking the Autobots, Galvatron sees for the first time that Rodimus Prime is alive. He tells Megatron who realizes that they must ally with the Autobots against this powerful threat. He then tells Galvatron they must destroy whoever survives between Rodimus and Inferno.

With the Autobots and Decepticons now working together, Time Traveller rushes to engage Megatron and plants a blast into the wound Inferno created. The Decepticon commander yells for Galvatron to kill TT before becoming unconcious. Rodimus Prime hits Inferno in the optics and rushes to back up Megatron. When his vision clears, Inferno sees Trypticon approaching the battlefield and heads to engage him. Arcee rushes to help TT against Galvatron and fires her bow. However when she realizes she's hit Rodimus Prime she stops in her tracks, having thought him dead. Seeing that Arcee has faltered, Galvatron approaches and asks if she would like to join the Decepticons now that she seems more evil. She replied with a blast from her guns and Galvatron returns fire, bringing her to her knees. An enraged Rodimus gives Galvatron everything he has.

Meanwhile, Inferno encounters Trypticon and after a brief battle the collossal dinosaur squishes Inferno underfoot. Emerging in a firey version of his drill tank alt-mode, Inferno destroys Trypticon with his scythe. Having dealt suffcient damage to Megatron and Galvatron, Time Traveller begins to follow a coolant trail left by Dezaras as he retreated to the now fully functional Omega Fortress. Seeing Dezaras's powerful new weapon, a barely concious Megatron orders a full retreat of the Decepticons. Confident that his lieutenant can defeat TT and Inferno on his own, Megatron boards Astrotrain and blasts off.

Sensing that Rodimus is distracted, Arcee attempts to attack him with her pestilence ability. She is spotted by Chase who is helping Goldbug off the battlefield and he yells a warning to Rodimus. Seeing Arcee about to hit him, Rodimus activates Goldbug's secret weapon, a blue portal opens up and he drags Arcee into it. Seeing that Rodimus is gone, potentially never to return, Goldbug begins to organize a retreat of the Autobots. Dezaras commands his mighty fortress to begin blasting their enemies, but the fortress is unable to do so. Seeing that he has no firepower, Dezaras orders his forces to follow the Decepticon shuttles in retreat. He threatens Deathcobra to fix the weapons, but Omega Fortress itself tells him that the energy required would be far greater than their current stock. Dezaras curses himself and plots to gather more energy.

As the Decepticons arrive back at Kaon, they find Lord Vulcan waiting for them. He presents Megatron with a new warrior: Sixstrike and a holo disk which he instructs Megatron to play. He then disappears and watches for a moment to see what Megatron's next move is. Megatron and Galvatron head to the war room to play the disk, but find only a screen asking them to input a question. Starscream enters the war room to inform Megatron that he has returned to resume his role as second in command of the Decepticons. He is informed by Megatron that since he has been away so long, Galvatron is the new second in command. A furious Starscream begins to plot how to regain his position, but chooses to start by showing Megatron his respect.

Dezaras bring the Omega Fortress to the location of his own, planetary fortress hidden within a null zone. He disembarks and heads for a restoration chamber to repair his battle damage. A short time later he emerges and gets a report that the fortess is eighty-five percent operational. He sends Deathcobra on a mission and continues to bide his time. On Earth and Cybertron simultaneously mysterious aircraft appear and bomb important cities and key locations, causing widespread destruction. Over Paris a familiar Panavia Tornado is seen harassing a squadron of jets.

Observing the destruction on Earth via one of their spy satellites, Rumble contacts Megatron. Wanting to learn what Time Traveller is up to now, Megatron orders Rumble, Menasor, and Starscream to go to Earth via the Space Bridge. Several of the Predacons burst into the war room and inform Megatron of an attack on Polyhex. He orders all Decepticons to go with him and investigate what has happened including those called to Earth. As Rumble and the others investigate the destroyed Earth city the arrive in, they recieve Megatron's orders and return. Arriving at Darkmount, Megatron spots Time Traveller retreating through the sky. Feeling that his plan to unite the two factions by facing them with destruction had failed, Time Traveller returns to his lab and returns Inferno and Quicksilver back to their original times. He then returns himself to normal and resumes his duties as owner of the Energon bar and sinking into obscurity.

Part XVII comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Autobot City: pages 19-21
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 15-17
Deep Space/Miscellaneous Planets: pages 6-12
Cybertron's Streets: page 3
Earth: page 6

[Blackjack]

PART XVIII: Return To Cybertron

Several Earth months later, a stillness again settles over Cybertron. A strange transformer pulls up to the Energon bar, large and with the battle scars of a long time warrior. He enters and asks around for Optimus Prime. Seeing the newcomer, Rodimus stands up and introduces himself as Rodimus Prime, successor to the title of leader. The newcomer introduces himself as Cambreaker, a former warrior under Optimus's command who had been investigating rumors of a powerful Decepticon leader. Arcee arrives, still wearing her new look, and joins the two. Having heard her name in legends, Cambreaker is excited to meet the "leader of the Polyhex resistance". Goldbug enters and decides to try out the bar's new pool table. He is joined by Kup who describes himself as a rusty veteran of the pasttime.

Megatron arrives at the bar along with Rumble and heads for his Decepticon Table. He spies Cambreaker and wonders who the new Autobot in town is. Having been in the 'recycling' room at the time of Cambreaker's arrival, Galvatron emerges to notice the familiar 'bot. He remembers a Cambreaker from his own time and is none too pleased to see the Autobot in the present. He vows to destroy Cambreaker one day soon before his future plans can be ruined by the Autobot. Starscream arrives, followed by the Stunticons who tell Megatron to put their drinks on Starscream's tab. Inferno walks in, having returned to his original transmetal form. He sits down at the Decepticon table, waiting a chance to speak to Megatron and regain his favor.

Wanting to know more about the new Autobot, Megatron walks over to where Cambreaker is telling his story to Rodimus and Acree. He introduces himself and Rodimus also makes note of the Decepticon commander. Cambreaker, however, largely ignores Megatron and suggests that they head somewhere more private to talk, like the Autobot Booth. Deszaras, who has been there for some time merely sits at the Decepticon Table and watches the events unfold. As the Autobots retreat to privacy, Inferno approaches Megatron for an audience. Before he sits down at the Leader's Table with Inferno, Megatron motions for Rumble to get close to the Autobot Booth and listen in to their conversation. Galvatron also informs Rumble that he recognizes Cambreaker from his future.

As Menasor crosses the bar to sit at the Decepticon table he almost steps on Rumble who is on his way to spy on the Autobots. After a few moments, Rumble decides the Autobots are boring and leaves casette Ravage stuck to his table with gum so that he can rejoin the other Decepticons. At their table, Menasor asks if anyone knows what had happened to Earth. Galvatron states that since the Earthlings still function the damage could not have been caused by Decepticons. He also informs Inferno who had been asking what their new orders were that he has a plan to destroy the Autobots. Megatron looks at Rumble's newspaper and notices that his stocks are up in value. He orders Swindle to order him the 'vehicle' he had been eyeing for some time. He then asks Inferno to the Leader's Table so that he may ask him a few questions about his alliegences. After being assured that his drone is loyal once more, Megatron orders Inferno to fetch him two Energon beers and promises to show him his new acqisition. Galvatron tells the Commander that he wishes to make their plans elsewhere as the presense of the new Autobot makes him uneasy. Megatron orders his troops back to Kaon and as each leaves they change the jukebox song to one of their favorites. As Inferno is the last to leave, Burning Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash plays through the machine.

Rumble is the first Decepticon back to Kaon and he quickly looks around for a comfy chair in the war room, but Menasor who is close behind takes them all and suggests that Rumble sit on the Cybertronian yellow pages to boost his height. Soon after Megatron, Deszaras, Sideways, Galvatron, and Inferno enter as well. Megatron asks for suggestions on what the next attack plan against Autobot City should be. Menasor suggests getting himself and Ravage into the city so he can wreak havoc while Ravage disables the Autobot security systems. Inferno argues with Menasor about the best way to go about this plan and suggests that Megatron appoint a command hirearchy which he secretly hopes to be a part of. Galvatron merely wishes to be allowed to go in search of Cambreaker and deal with the Autobots on Cybertron. Megatron finally ends the arguing among his Decepticons and orders Deszaras, Inferno, Menasor, Rumble, and several other Decepticons to go to Earth and put their plan into motion. He orders Galvatron and Sideways to search for Cambreaker. He then sits down to get a football update when Sixshot calls and wishes an audience with him.

The Autobots follow Cambreaker to the ancient fortress of Iacon where he and his team had originally landed on Cybertron in order to seek out the Autobot presense. After finding it abandoned they had begun working to get it operational as he went to search for the Autobot commander. Rodimus is impressed that the fortress is still in such good condition, but feels a little unworthy as he walks its hallowed halls. Cambreaker gives him little time to think as he begins to propose ideas and strategies with the intention of pulling back forces from Earth in order to strengthen positions on Cybertron and take back their homeworld. A restored Quicksilver arrives and begins following the planning session along with Rodimus and Goldbug. Rodimus heeds Cambreaker's advice and sets up a beacon for all Autobots among the stars to return to Iacon. Almost instantly, Arcee, Kup, and Sunstreaker arrive and begin getting filled in on the current situation. Cambreaker suggests that they raid the ruined Decepticon fortress at Darkmount for supplies and try to keep a low profile so the 'cons will not realize they have established a position at Iacon. Rodimus agrees and additionally orders Ultra Magnus to move Autobot City to a different, more secure location fearing a Decepticon attack while they are away.

The space bridge materializes outside of an encampment set up by Deszaras where Trypticon is being rebuilt. The small group of Decepticons disperses and begins carrying out their orders. At Darkmount, Galvatron and Sideways spot Cambreaker and company approaching and begin initiating a plan Galvatron calls Preparation A. He plans to have both he and Sideways toss explosives at Cambreaker as he passes. However neither Decepticon compensates for the speed at which the Autobots are travelling and end up hitting each other with the explosives. Angry that his plan backfired, Galvatron flies to the Autobot's destination and seals himself and Sideways inside one of the supply crates he thinks the Autobots are seeking. The Autobots arrive and load the crates, but due to careless driving by Wideload, the crate containing the two Decepticons is dropped into a large ravine. As they head home from a sucessful mission, the Autobots race one another, enjoying themselves for the first time in ages.

Part XVIII comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 16-18
The Leader's Table: page 3
The Decepticon Table: pages 6-8
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 17-19
Cybertron's Streets: pages 3-4
Earth: page 6
Iacon: pages 1-2

[Blackjack]

PART XIX: The Autobots Rise

At this point the current roleplay roster includes:
Megatron
Galvatron
Deszaras
Rumble
Menasor
Inferno
Rodimus Prime
Cambreaker
Arcee
Kup
Goldbug
Quicksilver
Sideways
Sunstreaker
Sixshot
Sunstorm (occasionally)
Shockwave (missing)
Ultra Magnus (missing)
Slag (missing)
Computron (missing)
Dinobot (missing)

As he and Drillhorn tunnel into Autobot City's previous location, Inferno finds the city missing and sends a message to his commanders. Megatron responds and tells them that obviously they moved Metroplex and orders them to search for it. While Rumble and other Decepticons begins attacking human cities, Dezsaras comes up with a plan to frame the Autobots for their destruction. He instructs Rumble to interrogate humans as to where the Autobots have gone and has the other Decepticons disguise themselves as Autobots. Inferno returns from his mission to find the ship empty and gets and idea to search for Metroplex himself in order to claim all the reward. As he is attempting to use the controls, he instead finds Rodimus Prime's beacon informing all Autobots to return to Iacon. Getting another idea of glory for the Decepticons in his head, Inferno heads out in a one-bot ship to search among the stars.

Having finally freed himself from the crate, Galvatron returns to Kaon to address Megatron about his failures. He is just in time to find Megatron showing Sixshot the weapon he'd ordered from Swindle which had just arrived: the Neutro Fusion Tank. Sixshot marvels and notes that it could cause much destruction. Galvatron explains that Preparations A and B had failed and that he would like assistance in preparing Preparation C. Megatron tells him to find Sideways who has disappeared stating he had business to take care of. Disgruntled that he now has to replan his Preparation C to only require one Decepticon, Galvatron leaves to finish planning and find Cambreaker. Megatron and Sixshot begins making plans for an attack on Earth.

The Autobots come racing back to Iacon with Cambreaker towing Kup in the lead. As the approach the city, Cambreaker deactivates the tow line and allows Kup to slingshot over him and cross the imaginary finish line first. Feeling snubbed that he was forced to have guard duty while they raced, Sunstreaker complains that he could have won easily over the older bots. Kup offers to take the guard duty next time and let him show off his skills. The Autobots celebrate with a round of drinks at a newly built energon bar within Iacon. Rodimus arrives and tells them to have one drink only before getting to work repair the city's various systems. Cambreaker asks Rodimus to come with him while he works on repairing the defense systems and he tells the young commander that he is glad to be serving again.

As the two Autobots walk they happen on a deserted repair bay in which sit two deactivated Autobots. Cambreaker asks if they have a medic, but Rodimus replies that no Autobot medics had replied to his call yet. He asks Arcee to come to repair bay to see the two newcomers. Hearing Rodimus's message about new Autobots, Goldbug comes to the repair bay and recognizes one of the bots as Cliffjumper, a former friend of his and the other as Rewind one of Blaster's cassettebots. Almost on cue, Cliffjumper comes to and begins asking what had happened since he was put into stasis. While they are acquainting themselves to the new bots, Sunstreaker notices another Autobot approaching Iacon from the outside. Fearing that it is some Decepticon trick, Rodimus sends Sunstreaker and Cambreaker to meet the newcomer personally. As they open the gate, Cambreker recognizes the bot standing outside as Blackjack, one of his former companions and an expert at stealth ops. Feeling relieved that the newcomer is on their side, the Autobots relax and head back inside to continue planning and repairs.

On Earth, Rumble captures a human worker who explains that the Autobots had left them at the Decepticon's mercy. He reports this to Dezsaras who instructs them to begin harvesting Earth's energy while the Stunticons impersonate Autobots and destroy human cities. He reports to Megatron that the Autobots have left Earth and only a powered down Fortress Maximus remains.

Feeling more confident about his leadership now that more Autobots are returning, Rodimus Prime begins to organize the Autobots to strike. Cambreaker suggests they raid three separate locations at once, forming three teams to take as many supplies as possible. Rodimus says he wants Cambreaker, Blackjack, and Goldbug on one team, Kup, Sunstreaker, and Cliffjumper on another and he, Arcee, and Blurr will be a third. As the Autobots prepare to depart, Rodimus gives them the command issued many a time by Optimus Prime "Autobots, transform and roll out!" While Cliffjumper zooms ahead of Kup and Sunstreaker looking for Decepticons to fight, Rodimus's team makes its way towards a mining facility near Pyresis. They being setting up turrets and cameras so that the facility will remain in Autobot hands.

Cambreaker's team reach Tagon Heights with Blackjack racing ahead to scout the area. Having newly arrived on Cybertron after some time away, Blackjack reminisces about the days when he served here during the Great War. He is interrupted by Goldbug who catches up and then passes him. Arriving at their destination, the group begins to load up the supplies they'd come for. As they begin to depart, Sideways, who has abandoned the Decepticon cause, begins to transmit a distress signal hoping that the Autobots will find him. Blackjack and the others pick up the faint signal but don't want to trust it, thinking that it may be a Decepticon trick. They decide to head back to Iacon and analyze it there. Meanwhile Galvatron picks up Cambreaker's trail and begins following him back toward Iacon.

An unmarked shuttle touches down on Cybertron as the teams race back towards Iacon. Seeing that he is undected, Ultra Magnus rolls out. As they arrive back at their base, Cambreaker calls for radio silence in case there is a Decepticon presense in the area. Blackjack offers to go and investigate while they stay and continue to scan. Finding no sign of the Decepticons in their sector, Kup's team heads back towards Iacon. Also having finished their work, Rodimus's team departs. Detecting the shuttle touchdown, Sideways decides to head in that direction hoping that the Autobots will also be heading to investigate it. Also detecting the shuttle from Iacon, Cambreaker takes it upon himself to investigate, leaving Goldbug alone in the massive fortress.

Finishing the work on his Preparation C, a brick wall designed to tar and feather an approaching Cambreaker, Galvatron sits back and begins to wait. Blackjack passes but dismisses the wall as new age Cybertronian art. Ultra Magnus also spots Galvatron and heads over. After some time away he has merged with Optimus Prime's powermaster armor to become a one-bot gestalt team. What Galvatron sees coming towards him looks like a giant ghost of Optimus Prime. Shaking in fear, Galvatron attempts to hide behind Preparation C, but the enraged Magnus sets off the trap covering them both in tar and feathers. He then proceeds to attack Galvatron claiming that Galvatron took Optimus away from him. Quickly finding himself with damaged legs and fighting a losing battle, Galvatron searches for a way out. Blackjack notices the giant Optimus Prime fighting a Decepticon from a distance, but decides to let Optimus finish the fight before he interferes.

On Earth the Stunticons continue to destroy human cities disguised as Autobots and Rumble and other Decepticons continue to harvest as much energy as they can. Deszaras instructs Leozack and the Predators to disguise themselves as the Aerialbots and attack a nuclear power plant. He then informs Megatron that everything is going as planned on Earth with no Autobot interruptions. At Kaon Megatron calls on Shrapnel to charge his new fusion tank in preparation for an attack on the Autobots. He recieves a distress call from Galvatron and instructs all of his warriors to return to Cybertron and help him rescue his second in command.

Having found the shuttle with no occupants but in perfect working order, Cambreaker returns to Iacon. There he meets up with Rodimus, Goldbug, and Arcee and explains what he has found. Blackjack transmits that he's seen Optimus doing battle with Galvatron. Unable to believe that it is really Optimus, Cambreaker advises him to stay away from the battle. Then they recieve another transmission, this one from Sideways, saying that he wishes to meet up. Since it is near Blackjack's location, Cambreaker asks him to investigate and to tell the signal sender to go to the Energon Bar for a chat. Cliffjumper and his team find the landed Autobot shuttle also with no occupants and contact Iacon. They are told to return and to maintain radio silence except in an emergency.

Magnus is about to completely demolish Galvatron when he is reminded by Hi-Q (Optimus Prime's powermaster partner) that Galvatron may be useful. Begrudgingly, Magnus binds Galvatron and puts him inside of his cargo trailer, heading for Iacon. From within, Galvatron transmits his distress signal to the Decepticons. As he approaches Iacon, the Autobots scan Magnus and detect a Decepticon frequency, but he sends a message letting them know that he has returned and with a prisoner. Rodimus suggests taking Galvatron to the medbay for repairs since he is no good to them barely alive. Magnus heads to the medbay with his prisoner and meets up with Arcee. He explains to her everything that had happened since he left them and how he met up with Hi-Q. He does not tell her that his presense here is part of a plan to exact revenge against both Galvatron and Rodimus Prime for what happened to Optimus.

Part XIX comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Kaon (Decepticon HQ): pages 19-21
Cybertron's Streets: pages 4-7
Earth: pages 6-8
Iacon: pages 2-8
Trypticon (Decepticon City): page 1

[Blackjack]

PART XX: Ultra Magnus's Plot

The last team of Autobots arrives at Iacon after having met up with another new Autobot: Elita-1 (not to be confused with Delita-1). Cliffjumper introduces his new friend to Cambreaker. Magnus announces that repairs are done on Galvatron and asks for all of the commanders to proceed to the medbay for interrogation of the prisoner. Goldbug states that he would rather keep an eye on the monitors in case Blackjack needs any support. He is in fact watching cartoons. Blackjack meanwhile decides to speak to the mysterious bot himself and approaches the signal senders location. Although Sideways first wants to speak in private at an abandoned base, Blackjack suggests the Energon Bar.

The Autobots crowd into the detention area of Iacon to interrogate Galvatron. Cliffjumper suggests just blasting him, but Kup and Elita-1 tell him that they would like to get information about Decepticon future plans from him first. Rodimus tries to impersonate Megatron, hoping that with Galvatron's damaged optics he won't be able to tell the difference, but this does not work. Galvatron speaks to tell them that he would like to bargain with them with a list of his own demands in exchange for Decepticon secrets. Cambreaker meanwhile questions Magnus about who rebuilt Galvatron in the first place and about his partner Hi-Q. Magnus explains to him about Time Traveller and how he came to be his current self. All Autobots look to Rodimus Prime for a decision about what to do with the prisoner. He hesitates and then says that it would not have been Optimus's decision to kill him so they won't, just repair him and try to get what information they can.

Most of the Autobots are outraged by this decision. Cliffjumper, Goldbug, and Elita-1 leave to go for a joyride, they eventually plan to head to the Energon Bar. Cambreaker storms off to work on unpacking the supplies gathered from Tagon. It is obvious he is upset about the orders and Rodimus confronts him, asking him if he could do better. Cambreaker replies that he doesn't dislike the orders, but he feels more could be done. They had restablished themselves on Cybertron, had restored Iacon to a powerful defensive fortress, and had begun to stockpile supplies. They were an army ready to go on the offensive and Rodimus was hesitating. Arcee steps in before the disagreement turns more violent, reminding Rodimus that Cambreaker is only acting in the best interest of the Autobots and telling him that he should try to have more self-confidence. Cambreaker explains that he is willing to follow any orders as long as they are actually given. He then leaves to continue his work.

Hearing Megatron's request that all Decepticons return to Cybertron, Dezsaras orders Rumble and Menasor to cease their raids and return to Trypticon. Menasor arrives first so he and Dezsaras take the space bridge and leave instructions with Stalker to tell Rumble to come along when he arrives. A short time later Rumble and the other cassettes arrive and get the message. All Decepticons arrive at Tyrest where Megatron is pondering how best to go about locating Galvatron and the Autobots. On Earth, human news networks begin broadcasting stories of the Autobot attacks on major cities and show a video of Rodimus explaining that nothing will get in the way of Autobot domination.

At the Energon bar, Blackjack introduces himself to Sideways and the two bots chat for a short time. Sideways asks Blackjack why the two factions are at war, but he tells him to ask someone who still remembers what the fighting is about. Cliffjumper, Goldbug, and Elita-1 arrive and decide to play a round of pool. They spot Blackjack and the newcomer and ask them if they would like to join. Blackjack explains to Goldbug that the new bot is named Sideways and that he would like to defect from the Decepticons. Goldbug suggests that Blackjack go back to Iacon and tell Rodimus and Cambreaker about the newcomer while they keep and eye on him at the bar. Blackjack speeds off towards Iacon, not paying any attention to Decepticon signals in the area.

Arcee stops by Galvatron's cell with Quicksilver just before Ultra Magnus and Hi-Q are about to begin the procedure to extract information from Galvatron. She insults the Decepticon second in command and slaps him but only manages to further gain his interest. Disgusted, the fembots leave Galvatron alone with Magnus. Finally alone, Magnus and Hi-Q set to work extracting information from an unconcious Galvatron. However they have an ulterior motive. Having convinced Hi-Q that Rodimus is crazy and they must reclaim the Matrix from him, Magnus gets the Nebulon scientist to install a device on Galvatron which will render him unable to attack Magnus and more likely to attack Rodimus, Megatron, or Dezsaras. He also installs a listening device so that the Decepticons will detect it and suspect that nothing else was done to Galvatron. Meanwhile, Rodimus begins making preparations for a strike against the Decepticons.

While Megatron waits for his Decepticons to assemble at Tyrest, Starscream watches from nearby. He plots to regain his title of second in command, but realizes he has the likes of Megatron's new lieutenants, particularly Galvatron, to contend with. He is deciding to bide his time when he recieves a message from Megatron to reunite with the other Decepticons. As Rumble, the last to arrive, gets to Tyrest Soundwave picks up Blackjack's signature and traces his movement back towards Iacon. Megatron is delighted to know where the Autobots have been hiding and orders all of his troops to march on Iacon.

As Blackjack arrives at Iacon he is greeted by Rodimus asking him to proceed to the war room for planning. There he meets Rodimus and Cambreaker who are getting to work on a battle strategy. Shortly after Blackjack, Kup also arrives for the planning session. Elsewhere, Arcee discovers that Goldbug and the others are at the Energon Bar and she orders them back, feeling that now is not the time for them to be having fun with such a high profile Decepticon prisoner in the base. The bots at the Energon Bar decide that since they must now return, they might as well bring Sideways so that they can keep an eye on him. Finishing their work on Galvatron, Ultra Magnus and Hi-Q overenergize the Decepticon and leave Iacon, not telling Rodimus their plan to leave him outside the Energon Bar for Megatron to find. Arriving at the bar, Magnus gets an idea. He asks Hi-Q to transform Galvatron and then uses the overenergized Decepticon to destroy the Energon Bar. Leaving a reactivated Galvatron behind, Magnus speeds off in the opposite direction of Iacon.

As soon as he comes to, Galvatron sends out a distress signal to Megatron. Recieving this distress call, Megatron turns all Decepticons away from Iacon and towards the bar. When they arrive, Galvatron has no knowledge of what had happened and how he'd gotten there. Demanding answers, Megatron calls off the attack and orders all Decepticons to return to Kaon so that he may contact Rodimus Prime and inquire about Autobot involvement in the destruction of his bar.

Part XX comes from the following roleplay threads if you would like to read for yourself:

Best Energon This Side of Polyhex: pages 18-19
Kaon (Decepticon HQ): page 21
Outside the Bar: page 12
Cybertron's Streets: pages 7-8
Earth: page 8
Iacon: pages 8-12
Trypticon (Decepticon City): pages 1-2