EDITED 5/17/2015 Took out mention of Gravitas.
CHAPTER FIVE
--Gorlam Prime--
"Show me your identification."
The large gray mech had a strong grip on Skids' arm, to the point of creating small dents in it. The Autobot did not so much as flinch, instead raising his gaze to meet the brute's.
"You don't need to see my identification."
The mech tightened his grip. "What do ya' mean I don't? Do you not have security regulations where you're from?"
"Oh, no, we have those." Skids grinned mischievously. "I just never had a need for them."
Then, with the brute still holding onto him, Skids jumped and flipped himself over the mech's head. He then brought out a gun and fired a dart from it. This caused the brute's optics to go dim before releasing his hold on Skids and dropping to the ground, deactivated.
After looking around to make sure no one had witnessed the spectacle, Skids made his way towards Watchguard Tower.
* * *
"What?!" Elita was aghast as she stared at Sentinel Prime. "Y-you mean you wanted the Decepticons to start the war again?"
Sentinel smiled, though it lacked any track of mirth. "It's what needed to be done. It was was only viable option to bring Cybertron to a weakened enough state. The first war between our factions wasn't enough; the Tyrest Accord bought the Decepticons enough time to gather their full strength."
"This is the biggest load of scrap I've ever heard," Windblade snapped. "Why would you deliberately turn Cybertron into a weakened planet?"
"In time you will see." Rising from his seat, Sentinel turned to the councilors. "And I do believe that time has come, hasn't it, my friends?"
The other councilors merely nodded their heads.
Elita gave Sentinel a suspicious look. "Time for what?"
"For the veil to be lifted."
--The Nemesis--
Optimus Prime was at Death's door.
Or at least, he had been. As the barrel of Megatron's fusion cannon glowed, he thought that death was an absolute certainty. He closed his eyes as he braced himself for the end. He did not welcome his demise, but he was prepared for it.
A gunshot went off. He felt nothing.
When he opened his eyes, he was expecting to be in a featureless plane, one of the most common depictions of the afterlife. Instead, he saw that he was still on the Nemesis' bridge. The fusion cannon had ceased glowing, but it was not smoking from the barrel as if it had gone off. He was still alive.
Shock was plastered on Megatron's face, but it slowly contorted into anger. He then spun around to confront the one who had fired the shot, which had gone straight into his back without inflicting any injury.
Standing there, away from his station, gun in hand, red visor gleaming, was Soundwave.
A tumult of emotions raged through Megatron; anger, confusion... betrayal.
"Soundwave," he growled through gritted teeth. "What... is the meaning of this?"
Unmoving, Soundwave stared at him straight in the optic. "You shall not kill Optimus Prime."
Megatron's mouth fell agape. "And why shouldn't I? Who are you to give me orders?"
"We need him alive. As well as you."
"'We?' Who is this 'we?'" Megatron launched himself towards Soundwave, seizing the comm. officer by the throat and pinning him against his own monitor. "What secrets have you been hiding from me?! Your leader?! Tell me!"
He thrashed Soundwave as he said this. His former follower remained stoic as ever.
"You are not my leader," he said coldly.
Megatron's optics widened. "What--?"
Before he knew it, the tables had been turned. Faster than even the naked optic could follow, Megatron was suddenly the one being pinned down, lying face down on the floor. Standing over him triumphantly was Soundwave, whose relaxed body language suggested that he had performed fare more difficult fears than this in the past.
Everyone on the bridge stood by and watched on in shock. Even the eternally loyal Lugnut did not dare trifle with the one who had felled his glorious leader.
Once he was sure that no one would challenge him, Soundwave put himself through to all Decepticon channels.
"All forces: commence the invasion."
--Cybertron--
"Decepticon ships inbound." Wing Saber gave the other Autobots a grim look as he brought out a pair of swords. "This is it, everyone."
Ultra Magnus grimaced as he readied his weapons. All around him, others were doing the same; Springer and his Wreckers were loading up their guns, the Aerialbots were already preparing to fly out... it was just like the Decepticons' previous invasion, which had led to the false peace that was now ending.
He knew full well that no peace would come as a result of this.
As the other Autobots looked to him expectantly, Magnus gave out his last command. "Roll out."
* * *
So this is what victory feels like.
Standing on the bridge of his flagship-- a replacement of the one he had lost over a century ago-- Shockwave studied the world of Cybertron as the fleet of Decepticon ships descended upon it. This was hardly the outcome he had been expecting; after everything they had been through, were the Autobots that willing to throw away their lives so recklessly?
Of course, he wasn't one to complain.
"The fleet is awaiting your orders."
Shockwave turned his single-eyed gaze to Slipstream. Although the Seeker's expression was neutral as always, he could see the lust for battle burning in her optics.
Decepticon savagery at its finest.
Then, with a nod, he gave the order.
--Gorlam Prime--
Windblade had her sword out, holding it in a defensive position. Elita and Nightbeat were also reaching for their weapons. Sentinel Prime merely looked on in mild amusement.
"What are you planning?" Elita demanded. "What's this all about?"
Sentinel laughed harshly. "This is about what is necessary. This is about what needs to be done, for the sake of the Cybertronian race."
"What do you even call yourselves?" Nightbeat asked. "You're not Autobots, you're not Decepticons. What are you?"
Sentinel did not reply. One by one the councilors rose to their feet... and shifted before their eyes, assuming completely different appearances. Then, Sentinel Prime did the same: crimson armor become violet; his cape-like back panels became wings. Helmet antenna became horns, and blue optics became scarlet.
No longer did Sentinel Prime stand before them. Instead, an ancient warrior long thought dead loomed over them.
"We are the Heralds of Unicron," he said coldly. "And our day of reckoning has come."
All three Autobots backed away, startled by the mention of the Chaos Bringer's forbidden name.
The mech who once called himself Sentinel Prime smiled ruthlessly at them. "And you may call me Galvatron. After all, it will be the name you shall be worshiping from here on out."
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