\u201cThe Metarex Five?!\u201d yelped Ratchet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScarship?!\u201d wailed Ironhide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes on both counts,\u201d sighed Cosmo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot good,\u201d gulped Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s an understatement, if my history is correct,\u201d replied Optimus between handfuls of Energon Munchies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would take an entire fleet of ships to scratch Scarship!\u201d sighed Ironhide. \u201cWe don\u2019t have that kind of strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Metarex clearly place Mobius very high on their list of priorities,\u201d mused Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, we\u2019re just going to have to find out what those priorities are,\u201d replied Optimus as he finished another handful of Munchies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow, pray tell, are we going to do that?!\u201d asked Ironhide. \u201cPrime, this is Scarship we\u2019re talking about!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s taken more than a few Planet Eggs in his day!\u201d supplied Ratchet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we play our cards right,\u201d remarked Optimus as he fished for a new package of Munchies, \u201che won\u2019t take this one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir, how you can lean back in your chair,\u201d Prowl snapped, \u201ccalmly eating Energon Munchies when we\u2019re in this mess, I just can\u2019t fathom! You seem to be perfectly Sparkless!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t eat Munchies in a worried manner!\u201d protested Optimus. \u201cThe liquid Energon inside them would go everywhere and get into my joints! Then it would crystalize again and I\u2019d have joint problems at an early age.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI say it\u2019s perfectly Sparkless for you to be eating Munchies at all,\u201d hissed Prowl, \u201cgiven the circumstances!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I need to think,\u201d remarked Optimus, \u201cMunchies and exercising the extra calories off are what help me. Indeed, when there\u2019s a HUGE problem that demands my attention, as anybody who knows me intimately will tell you, I refuse everything except some form of kinetic thinking. At the present moment, I\u2019m eating Munchies because I have an inkling of an idea. Also, I\u2019m particularly fond of Energon Munchies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAn idea, sir?\u201d repeated Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou three,\u201d recalled Optimus, \u201cmet Ms. Cosmo through your then-fianc\u00e9s, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight,\u201d replied Ironhide. \u201cThat was after they\u2026foiled\u2026the Metarex\u2026\u2026twice in a row\u2026you\u2019re getting reinforcements relating to this problem!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting reinforcements relating to this problem,\u201d confirmed Optimus as he offered bags of Munchies to his bots. Cosmo, while she was a member of one of few species that could safely consume Energon, politely declined. The rest of the bots in the room accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Prowl were not a mech who kept a lid on his emotional reactions, he\u2019d be bouncing off the walls that day. All Autobots patiently waited for the Ground Bridge to switch to Space Bridge functions. After 10 minutes, a Space Bridge portal opened and two figures appeared. As they got nearer, the details became clearer. Soon, Strongarm and Chromia were standing in the Command Center, wearing new armor that matched their now Mobian vehicle modes. \u201cSomebody call for a Metarex Pest Control team?\u201d Chromia joked. Strongarm saluted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c2nd<\/sup> Lieutenant Strongarm and Master Sergeant Chromia, reporting as ordered,\u201d she called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWill you relax, Regs?\u201d sighed Chromia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, you two,\u201d interjected Optimus. Strongarm put her hand down. \u201cI assume you\u2019ve been briefed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe DID get updates on your battles here, Sir,\u201d replied Strongarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou bots have had a hard time of it,\u201d remarked Chromia. \u201cAnd now, Scarship\u2019s in orbit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhich doesn\u2019t make sense, Sir,\u201d mused Strongarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow so?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDuring the\u2026\u2018Great War\u2019,\u201d Strongarm shuddered at hearing a war she fought in called great, \u201cthis planet was considered contested ground between the two factions. So far, there\u2019s been no resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMight I ask how you know such things?\u201d quizzed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRegs and I,\u201d replied Chromia, \u201cstill have ties to the Stellar Council.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026\u2018Regs\u2019?\u201d repeated Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShort for \u2018Regulations\u2019, Sir,\u201d explained Strongarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see,\u201d remarked Optimus. \u201cRegretfully, we don\u2019t have time for a full tour. What can you two tell us about Scarship?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven without his formidable shields,\u201d reported Strongarm, \u201cScarship\u2019s hull armor is made of tri-folded rezardium. It took the Nemesis<\/em> to scratch him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRezardium\u2019s not something that can be scratched easily,\u201d recalled Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are two areas that aren\u2019t so tough in terms of materials,\u201d interjected Chromia. \u201cHe uses a pair of\u2026what\u2019s the Star Trek<\/em> term\u2026warp nacelles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe uses nacelles?\u201d inquired Optimus. \u201cOur starships use warp sliders, much more efficient and safer. So, a shot to the nacelles will stop him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you get past his Quad-rotating shields,\u201d replied Strongarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course he has those,\u201d grumbled Ironhide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd, against all logic,\u201d continued Chromia, \u201chis warp nacelles have weapons on them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWeapons on warp nacelles?!\u201d yelped Optimus. \u201cHow\u2019s that possible?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd is Scarship compensating for something?\u201d asked Ironhide with a slight smirk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell me,\u201d called Cosmo, \u201chave you heard of Airlandia? Taros IV? Mirtonia? No? Thank Scarship for that. After their Planet Eggs were extracted, all manner of life died, plant, animal, bacterial, all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, how do we get past the shields?\u201d quizzed Optimus. \u201cMaybe a raiding party could clear Scarship out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIll advised,\u201d countered Chromia. \u201cScarship\u2019s gonna be crawling with Metarex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBesides,\u201d supplied Strongarm, \u201cQuad-rotating shields would take too long for our firepower to drain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, in other words,\u201d sighed Prowl, \u201cwe have an uphill battle ahead of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dark Oak entered the bridge and sat on his throne, between the rest of his commanders. The commander in the green cloak turned to him. \u201cI have noticed you are going through with this mission in your full image,\u201d the figure grunted. \u201cMay I share that honor?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll of you may,\u201d replied Dark Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you!\u201d cheered the green cloaked figure. All of Dark Oak\u2019s commanders undid their cloaks so they would become capes. The one with the turquoise cape had a mix between humanoid and insectoid. It had three eyes, triangular shoulders, a pair of horns, and was thin in appearance with a pale-greenish tint to his body. The light-blue cape owner had an insect head with a single large purple eye, large shoulder armor, and a thin, black body. The green cape owner was short for the Metarex, bulky, yellow, had a pair of broad horns, a green visor for his eyes, and a matching green jewel on both his forehead and his chest. The red cape owner had a stocky build, about the same height as the yellow one, wore crimson armor with many horns on his head, an orange eye, and similar orbs on his chest and forehead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUrgh!\u201d grunted the crimson one. \u201cMy back was killing me, being hunched over like that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA true warrior never complains about pain!\u201d bellowed the yellow one. \u201cAnd the only one who is a true warrior is me, Yellow Zelkova, the Eternally Strong!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMore like Eternally Dim!\u201d snapped the black one. \u201cHow you managed to get to where you are today, I can\u2019t make out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you\u2019re the Eternally Vain, Black Narcissus!\u201d roared Yellow Zelkova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy title is the Eternally Observing, you dolt!\u201d shouted Black Narcissus as he got ready to fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u201d called the pale-green one. \u201cIt seems I must take over Red Pine\u2019s role and play the Eternally Mediating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPale Bayleaf, please,\u201d interjected the crimson one. \u201cI\u2019m the Eternally Mediating. You stick to being the Eternally Scheming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnough, all of you!\u201d bellowed Dark Oak. All hostility stopped. \u201cOur ally is coming to report on the test\u2019s progress and I would like to give, at least, the illusion that the Metarex Five is not a group of children.\u201d The teleport pod then flashed and Tower appeared in his Silas persona. \u201cGreetings, Silas,\u201d bid Dark Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood day to you,\u201d returned Silas. \u201cI see that your companions aren\u2019t hunched over. I\u2019ll have to get their names soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you will have them when we get your report,\u201d replied Dark Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou won\u2019t be disappointed,\u201d assured Silas. \u201cThe spores you gave us grow well in our atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcellent!\u201d cheered Dark Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThough, you DID say the spores were toxic to animal life,\u201d muttered Silas. \u201cWhy test them at an abandoned town?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe cannot afford to attract attention to ourselves,\u201d answered Pale Bayleaf. \u201cIf we start killing populated areas now, defenses will be raised and, with the Autobots involved, I hesitate to imagine the damage they could do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBesides,\u201d continued Red Pine, \u201cthere\u2019s plenty of time for us to savor their fear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe test site will be found,\u201d supplied Black Narcissus, \u201cand the Autobots will be notified. Their confusion will baffle them until we launch the assault. MECH will then take the survivors and whatever non-Mobian animals necessary for survival. They\u2019ll hang in orbit for a few days until the air is safe again and humanity will dominate the world again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd your name is\u2026?\u201d asked Silas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBlack Narcissus,\u201d introduced the black Metarex commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you try and stroke MY ego?\u201d chuckled Silas. \u201cWhat about your own?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStroking yours strokes mine,\u201d explained Black Narcissus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSilas, you held up your end of the deal spectacularly,\u201d praised Dark Oak. \u201cNow, we will hold up our end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery well,\u201d chuckled Silas. \u201cSee you in the Winner\u2019s Circle.\u201d He stepped into the pod and returned to Mobius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Why did he mention my stroking his ego?\u201d asked Black Narcissus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s making a reference to one of his planet\u2019s old deities called Narcissus,\u201d explained Red Pine. \u201cA vain, self-centered creature, centered only on himself. He was a vain creature, falling in love with his own reflection and committing suicide when his love could not materialize. I\u2019d say it describes you perfectly!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt least I care about my image!\u201d snapped Black Narcissus. \u201cUnlike you! You\u2019re the only one of us I know that actually converses with the troops!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt least the troops under my command,\u201d countered Red Pine, \u201cgive me the same respect I give them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnough! Both of you!\u201d shouted Dark Oak. \u201cYou both raise meritorious points, but your delivery of those points leave a lot to be desired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can\u2019t wait to see the look on his face,\u201d laughed Pale Bayleaf, \u201cwhen the plan comes to fruition!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI eagerly await such an event myself,\u201d boomed a voice. \u201cAlthough the inaction bores me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour patience will be rewarded, Scarship,\u201d assured Dark Oak. Scarship\u2019s engines hummed in delight and anticipation. \u201cWith this victory, we\u2019ll show the entire galaxy that only through being unchanging will life flourish! Eternal! Unyielding! Unchanging!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEternal! Unyielding! Unchanging! Eternal! Unyielding! Unchanging! Eternal! Unyielding! Unchanging!\u201d The Metarex continued chanting, pumping themselves up for battle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cThe Metarex Five?!\u201d yelped Ratchet. \u201cScarship?!\u201d wailed Ironhide. \u201cYes on both counts,\u201d sighed Cosmo. \u201cNot good,\u201d gulped Prowl. \u201cThat\u2019s an understatement, if my history is correct,\u201d replied Optimus between handfuls of Energon Munchies. \u201cIt would take an entire fleet of ships to scratch Scarship!\u201d sighed Ironhide. \u201cWe don\u2019t have that kind of strategy.\u201d \u201cThe Metarex […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,232],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-1534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-8-growing-problems","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1534"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1535,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1534\/revisions\/1535"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n