{"id":4383,"date":"2021-08-20T09:28:46","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T13:28:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/?p=4383"},"modified":"2021-08-20T09:28:46","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T13:28:46","slug":"tmc-18-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/tmc-18-8\/","title":{"rendered":"TMC 18-8"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The day of lift-off finally came. Fortress Maximus rose past the atmosphere once everyone was aboard. When he joined the Autobot fleet, the ships entered a large hangar and were secured once inside. A docking tube then extended for the <em>Ark<\/em>, <em>Blue Typhoon<\/em>, and <em>Fang<\/em>, letting everyone out and making their way to Fortress Maximus\u2019 bridge. The bridge itself was large and spacious, designed to accommodate life-forms from Mobians to Omnibots in full robot mode. Sonic whistled in appreciation. \u201cYou don\u2019t skip out, do you?\u201d he remarked. Fortress Maximus then appeared on the main screen. His avatar was of him in full robot mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, I was designed to be a city for bots of all sizes,\u201d he remarked, \u201cbut I can be adapted for organic species.\u201d Teletraan then appeared next to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHey, you mind if I keep my servers on the <em>Ark<\/em>?\u201d he asked. \u201cI kinda want some familiarity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDon\u2019t mind at all,\u201d assured Fortress. Everyone then got settled in. Fortress then got a reading and looked a little frightened. \u201cUh oh!\u201d he gulped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUh oh?\u201d repeated Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m detecting a transwarp trail!\u201d explained the Metrotitan. \u201cThe Decepticons must have used Scorponok\u2019s transwarp drive!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe had transwarp capabilities?!\u201d yelped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat\u2019s transwarp?\u201d asked Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou know how warp speeds warp space?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c\u2026Not really.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, it does. Transwarp speeds warp both space AND time! They may have gotten there literally last week!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, thankfully, they\u2019ll get there only an hour before us unless we leave now!\u201d urged Fortress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll hands, strap in!\u201d ordered Optimus. \u201cPrepare for transwarp drive!\u201d As everyone fastened their safety straps, Fortress Maximus extended more clamps around the ships in his hangar. His engines then whirled to life, and he vanished from Nebulos in a flash of ultra-violet light!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inside Scorponok\u2019s body, because they were already in transwarp, the Decepticons were walking around normally. Right now, Shockwave and Knock-out were at a pod with the symbol of an insect\u2019s face on it. They opened the pod to reveal a blank protoform inside. Knock-out brought out the container carrying Scorponok\u2019s Spark, opened it, and guided the Spark into the protoform. Shockwave monitored the terminal attached to the pod\u2019s left. So far, vitals remained stable. A readout then revealed that the protoform was ready and that it would come out in alt-mode. The new bot then came out in a scorpion alt-mode, roughly the size of a normal Transformer. Its main carapace was blue-gray with purple-gray claws and a stinger, and red legs and eyes. It shook itself as if it were shaking a head. \u201cOogh!\u201d it groaned in Scorponok\u2019s voice. \u201cWhat happened? I was on Nebulos, then Fortress\u2026Fortress! He cleaved Black Scar in half while he was my head! Is he\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s dead, as is Zarak,\u201d answered Shockwave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd your Spark, right now,\u201d continued Knock-out, \u201cis in a normal-sized body. Now, given the slightly\u2026organic look,\u201d Knock-out shuddered at that, \u201cit\u2019s clear that it was a Predacon protoform we used and-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI ORDERED ZARAK TO PUT ME BACK IN MY BODY WHEN IT WAS FIXED AND I GOT A NEW EMMISARY!\u201d roared the now-Predacon Scorponok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<em>I<\/em> give the orders on this vessel!\u201d roared Megatron\u2019s voice as he stormed into the room. \u201cI gave you orders to maintain standard orbit! Thanks to YOU, I had to waste time and Energon trying to call back the Novacons AND having to clean up YOUR wasted effort! I needed Nebulos to join us willingly, NOT by force!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know what Nebulans need to comply better than you do! I won\u2019t be commanded by an Autobot, even a former one like YOU! SCORPONOK, TERRORIZE!\u201d His transformation in his new body was similar to his old one, but the head simply popped out from between the shoulders as the beast mode head, chelicerae and all, became shoulder pads. His stinger tail shot forward towards Megatron, but the Decepticon Lord grabbed it from behind the stinger and slammed him into the floor multiple times. He stopped, then let the tail go so Scorponok could tumble to the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour Novacons didn\u2019t need physical correction to know who the master was,\u201d scoffed Megatron. \u201cEven Apeface was smarter than you. You have to admit, that\u2019s rather sad. Now, I give you a choice; you can either continue this fruitless endeavor and thus end your now short reincarnation, or you can serve me and prolong your life for as long as necessary. A difficult decision?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c\u2026All hail Megatron,\u201d groaned Scorponok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI thought so. Oh, given your current condition, I saw fit to make Weirdwolf the new commander of the Novacons, since you\u2019re no longer a Headmaster. When we get to Animatros, you will be working under the Predacon that contacted me and apprised me of the situation. Is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes, my Lord,\u201d grunted Scorponok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood, very good. Knock-out, fix him up.\u201d Knock-out was about to protest when Megatron held a warning hand up. \u201cI do NOT need to hear about how working on bots that even LOOK organic is beneath you. Is that understood?\u201d Knock-out visibly deflated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d he moaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood.\u201d Once Megatron finished, the alarms started blaring. Megatron rolled his optics. \u201cMobius calls it Murphey\u2019s Law,\u201d he muttered. \u201cI\u2019ll find out who Murphey is later.\u201d He activated the internal comms. \u201cReport!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLord Megatron, Fortress Maximus is in pursuit!\u201d came Thundercracker\u2019s voice. \u201cHe\u2019s right on our aft! I\u2019ve already called for battle stations!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI should have made you Second in Command on Mobius instead of Starscream,\u201d praised Megatron. \u201cShockwave and I will join you on the bridge. Scorponok will join us later once Knock-out\u2019s fixed him up!\u201d Shockwave followed Megatron to the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a metal city within a jungle, three metal arthropods stepped forward around a table. They were all reddish orange and had red optics. One was a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle, one was a lobster, and one was a cicada. \u201cRAM HORN, TERRORIZE!\u201d The beetle\u2019s transformation was a simple one, the robot simply unfolded from beneath the bug as the beast head folded back and revealed a new head with bat-like ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSEA CLAMP, TERRORIZE!\u201d called the lobster. His transformation was similar to Scorponok\u2019s, but his head was like a man\u2019s with sunken cheekbones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCICADACON, TERRORIZE!\u201d shouted the cicada. The beast mode\u2019s head and thorax folded down to become a chest unit as the abdomen split and unfolded into legs while the wings tucked themselves to the robot\u2019s back as the head, one evoking a demonic looking judge, complete with a pair of devil horns, popped up. The three bots then placed their servos on a sphere at their respective places at the table. The spheres glowed red, bathing the room in an eerie red light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTripredacus Council now in session,\u201d declared Ram Horn. Everyone turned to Cicadacon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe transwarp trail from Nebulos has been identified,\u201d he began. \u201cSignature matches that of Scorponok\u2019s. Further investigation reveals that, while Megatron ordered his presence, his actions were spurred on\u2026by Saurion!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSaurion?!\u201d asked Ram Horn. \u201cI thought we\u2019d heard the last of that renegade!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHis crew and a company of Maximals,\u201d recalled Sea Clamp, \u201cvanished into the jungle last mega-cycle. The Maximal rescue teams never found them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes, but remember,\u201d growled Cicadacon, \u201cWE paid the price in diplomatic repercussions!\u201d The Council joined in Cicadacon\u2019s growling for a few seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGenerals,\u201d Ram Horn called to calm them, \u201cever since the Autobots defeated our Decepticon allies two thousand years ago, we Predacons have worked secretly, under Hydran\u2019s olfactory sensors, towards the day where we might rise up and take what is rightfully ours!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSaurion is brilliant, but a rogue,\u201d remarked Sea Clamp. \u201cHe causes too much trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd if he\u2019s taking orders from someone like Megatron,\u201d grunted Cicadacon, \u201ca former Autobot no less, Saurion\u2019s clearly up to his old tricks again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf he is,\u201d declared Ram Horn, \u201cwe have to handle the situation first before the Maximals find out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have already sent a signal to one of our inner solar system satellites,\u201d reported Cicadacon. \u201cIt will \u2018accidentally\u2019 explode, blocking Scorponok\u2019s coming transwarp wavefront to keep Maximal sensors from detecting it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd I have been in contact with our covert operative,\u201d said Sea Clamp. \u201cYou know the one.\u201d His fellows chuckled darkly as they knew exactly who he was talking about. \u201cHe is currently aboard Scorponok. His skills will allow him to find Saurion\u2019s group in the jungle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf Saurion is discovered still operating his own agenda,\u201d asked Ram Horn, \u201cwhat are the agent\u2019s instructions?\u201d He and Sea Clamp turned to Cicadacon for ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTerminate! With EXTREME prejudice!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The day of lift-off finally came. Fortress Maximus rose past the atmosphere once everyone was aboard. When he joined the Autobot fleet, the ships entered a large hangar and were secured once inside. A docking tube then extended for the Ark, Blue Typhoon, and Fang, letting everyone out and making their way to Fortress Maximus\u2019 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1152,"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":[98,668],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-4383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-18-masters-of-nebulos","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4383","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=4383"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4384,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4383\/revisions\/4384"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}