SEEKING FOR GLORY
--Cycle 9114 (Year 300 of the Great War)--
If someone were to mention the Seekers, even when among the highest ranks of the Decepticon army, the first and perhaps only names to cross the mind would be Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Ramjet, Dirge, and Thrust. Every once in a while, a name like Slipstream, Sunstorm, or even Acid Storm may crop up.
But to bring up the names Nacelle, Bitstream, or Hotlink would only get blank stares.
Pretty much any Seeker who was not one of the "Big Six" (or nine, in some cases) were considered mere cannon fodder at best. No one cared about who they were, where they came from, or what would happen to them. They were right at the bottom of the food chain, along with nameless Vehicon and Genricon troopers.
And yet, the strange thing about it was, none of said Seekers cared about it. They didn't mind if they weren't going to make it into the history records or were not going to receive a statue in the Hall of Heroes. None of them desired such fame.
None of them, that is, save for Contrail.
To think that a mere three centuries ago, he was a member of Cybertron's High Council, sitting among the likes of Halogen, Dai Atlas, and even Sentinel Prime, only to be reduced to a no-name Seeker. He craved for more than just that. No, he deserved more. To have been a confidant to the Prime himself, he deserved to be in the position of Air Commander instead of that fool Starscream. He deserved to be scheming with the likes of Megatron and Shockwave.
He deserved to be more than just a Seeker.
* * *
"Did you hear the news?"
Hotlink bit back a fiery retort. Without looking up from the weapon he was in the middle of working on, he calmly said, "What news, Bitstream?"
The light blue Seeker glanced around them before speaking in a low, conspiratorial whisper. "That Contrail is planing a coup."
Hotlink scoffed. "Didn't he try that five years ago before getting cold servos?"
"This time he's serious," Bitstream said. "I think, anyway. Least he sounded serious."
"Wait." Hotlink looked up from his work. "He told you?"
Bitstream smiled weakly. "Not directly. I was doing my standard routine- you know, hack into the Autobots' computer systems- and ended up finding an encrypted message sent to Autoclave from Contrail."
"Ah. Who's the coup against then? Megatron?"
Bitstream shook his head. "Starscream. Apparently Contrail wants the role of Air Command for himself."
Hotlink snorted. "Seriously? Does he really think Megatron's gonna accept and trust him as Air Commander after just shooting Screamer in the face?"
"See, that's the thing: he's pulling out everything to make sure Megatron doesn't know."
* * *
The plan was something even Shockwave would be proud of.
Starscream was due to arrive at Seeker Orbital Base Iota in less than a megacycle. Upon arrival, he would no doubt wish to speak with Contrail and, perhaps, be offered a glass of energon. If that was the case, Autoclave would provide him energon that had been modified to clog Startscream's intake systems and thus kill him.
However, if the Air Commander declined the energon, then the meeting would go on as usual. Once it had ended, and if it did so on good terms, then Contrail would pat Starscream on the back and attach a bomb, which would detonate once Starscream had left the office. If the meeting ended badly, then the Air Commander would likely storm out of the office and be shot point-blank by Nacelle.
Regardless of what happened, the result would be the same and the Seekers would provide an alibi to Megatron and no doubt ensure Contrail's ascension to Air Commander.
It was, all in all, a fool-proof plan.
* * *
"Would you like a glass of energon?"
"No," Starscream said bitterly.
Contrail frowned as he set aside the poisoned energon. So much for Plan A. Taking a seat across from the Air Commander, the gold and black Seeker then said, "What brings you here to my station?"
"There have been rumors of a coup against me."
Contrail stiffened slightly. "By whom?" he asked innocently.
"The accounts vary," Starscream hissed. "Some say Thunderwing, others say Onslaught, and even a few say some of my own Seekers."
"That's preposterous," Contrail said. "We are all loyal to you and you only, Air Commander."
There was a twinkle in Starscream's optic. "Can you truly speak for all of your Seekers, Contrail?"
The gold Seeker stared at him in silence, feigning uncertainty. When he did not speak, Starscream continued.
"Anyway, in case any of these rumors are true, I need you to be on the lookout. Anyone on this station could be against me. Take the one called Bitstream for instance. For all we know, he could be devising schemes via his cyber-interface."
Contrail scratched his chin. "It's a possibility."
"Or what about Autoclave and Hotlink? They're always tinkering away with their little inventions... one which could be used against me. Or perhaps Nacelle and-"
"With all due respect, Air Commander, you're being a bit paranoid. No one would have the circuitry to assassinate someone like you."
Starscream smirked, the same twinkle in his eye. "Not even you, the former High Councilor who survived Simanzi and braved the Corroder?"
Contrail masked his apprehension with a smile. "Perhaps, but I am far too humble to even consider assassinating you for personal gain."
Seemingly satisfied with this answer, Starscream rose out of his seat, Contrail doing the same. "In that case, I'll be taking my leave," the Air Commander said. "Thank you for sparing the time, and please do be on the lookout."
"It was my pleasure," Contrail said as he moved to pat Starscream on the back. The Air Commander moved in a blur, seizing Contrail's arm and twisting it behind his back. As the gold Seeker cried out, Starscream pushed him face-first onto his desk and aimed a null-ray at his head.
"The pleasure is mine," Starscream hissed into his ear before pulling the trigger.
* * *
"I always knew Contrail would come to a bad end," Autoclave muttered as he, Hotlink, Bitstream, and Nacelle stood over their late commander's lifeless body. "I only stuck with his plan to humor him."
"How did Starscream know about the plot anyway?" Hotlink mused aloud.
"I told him," Bitstream said, receiving surprised looks from the others. "The moment I came across Contrail's message to Autoclave, I forwarded it to Starscream. I timed it good with his planned meeting."
Nacelle smirked. "So you admit that you're loyal to Starscream?"
"No, I just think Contrail would make an even worse Air Commander than him."
The harsh laughter of the four Seekers echoed throughout the base.
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