Transformers Fan Fiction / Alien - Series Fan Fiction / G. I. Joe Fan Fiction ❯ War of the Worlds (version 2) ❯ Wars Dawn, part 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Transformers Vs. GI Joe: Wars Dawn Part 1   By Sidewinder (aim9snake@hotmail.com), 2006, revised 2011.  Original story by John Ney Rieber.  Characters created and owned by Hasbro and Takara. <>    TEXT: Approximately 10,000,000 BC.  The Colossus.  Polyhex, Cybertron.        Midnight.  The Colossus is an amphitheater, where gladiators fight to entertain the public.  Force field projectors encircle the stage so the gladiators can't injure the audience, without obscuring their view.      Tonight, the gladiators are the audience.  Megatron (alt mode is a tank) stands before a hologram projector in the middle of the coliseum.  An unmasked Soundwave (alt mode is an 8-wheel armored car) stands behind them.  Neither robot bears insignia.   TEXT: Megatron, undefeated champion of 666 consecutive Gladiatorial Games.   MEGATRON: We Cybertrons are the most powerful beings in this galaxy.  We are destined to conquer the galaxy, and bring all sentient beings under our rule!  But administrator class-- the so-called "Autobots" who promised us autonomy, yet enslave us with a petty bureaucracy as cruel as any tyrant-- is too weak to grasp that destiny.  Therefore, let us form a new master class to replace them!        Behind him, Soundwave activates the projector to display the Decepticon insignia, which they'll brand upon their chests.   MEGATRON: Let us be Decepticons, and expose the Autobots' deception for what it is!        The gladiators raise their fists, claws, and weapons in salute.   GLADIATORS: Hail the Mighty Megatron, hail!  Let us be Decepticons!  Down with true deceivers-- down with the Autobots!        Scourge (robot Allosaurus, alt mode is a bomber) stands in the crowd, raising his claws and cheering with the other gladiators.   SCOURGE: His charisma is as great as you calculated.  His pride is greater-- he is as easy to manipulate as you calculated.   ALPHA Q-PESTILENCE (RADIO): The Master will be pleased.  Continue your observations, and report any new developments to me.   SCOURGE: Yes, Milord. <>    TEXT: Approximately 9,000,000 BC.  Energon Depot 01.  Iacon, Cybertron.        Sunrise.  A Cybertron lies on the floor, his burning frame illuminating a vault.  Five Decepticons-- Megatron, Shockwave, Soundwave, Rumble and Frenzy-- stand before the vault, their weapons targeting three Cybertrons between them and their goal-- Orion (alt mode is a tractor), Ariel (alt mode is a sports car), and Dion (alt mode is a flatbed truck).   SHOCKWAVE: Logic dictates you step aside and save yourself.        Orion, thinking the Cyclops is the Decepticon leader, aims a laser pistol at Shockwave's head.   TEXT: Orion Pax, Energy Storage Systems Engineer First Class.   ORION: You shall not pass!        Megatron shoots first, severing Orion's right arm.   ORION: Argh!   MEGATRON: Nothing will stand before my destiny.        He targets Orion's head.   ARIEL: Leave him alone!   DION: Ariel, no!        Ariel launches herself skyward, towards Megatron.  The Decepticon leader doesn't bother to turn his head; he just raises his right arm, fires the fusion cannon, and blasts a hole in Ariel's breastplate.   ARIEL: Ahhhh!   ORION: Monster!        Orion's left hand reaches for the pistol on the floor.  Soundwave, Rumble and Frenzy blast Orion into the wall; Orion's face is hit, disfiguring the Autobot.   ORION: Ahhhh!   DION: Brother!        Dion runs to Orion's side.  Shockwave's forearm-mounted graser cannon rises to target Dion, but holds fire as the Autobot examines Orion's shattered face; Dion is no longer a threat.      Megatron ignores the defeated Autobots as he blasts open the vault door.   MEGATRON: Seize the energon!        Dion remains in Shockwave's crosshairs as the Cyclops backs into the vault.   DION: Brother, respond!  Respond!        His arms reach for Orion and Ariel, putting the damaged Autobots on his back as he transforms; then Dion drives out of the building.      Dion enters a repair center full of damaged robots.  "Nurse" robots hover to-and-fro repair chambers, monitoring the conditions of the robots inside.  Of all the occupants, Alpha Trion alone bears an Autobot insignia; the elder robot walks among the damaged robots, performing repairs.      Dion drives around the damaged robots lying on the floor, towards Trion.   DION: Help!   TEXT: Alpha Trion, former member of the Autobot Council of Elders.   TRION: I'm sorry, but all available repair chambers are in use.  If those robots need critical repairs, please take them to the next functional repair center.   DION: It's 75 kilometers away-- their Sparks will extinguish before I reach my destination!  I beg you, at least perform a diagnostic.        Trion examines Orion.   TRION: Hmmm...  His Spark burns with extraordinary luminance.  Very well, I'll sustain his Spark, but this will require a complete overhaul of his frame.  In the meantime, please provide assistance with the repairs.   DION: Yes, Sir.        Trion opens the armored door to his laboratory.  Four nurses place Orion and Ariel on two hovering "hospital beds," and move them into the lab.  Dion transforms to watch the door close; a nurse puts a hand on his shoulder, drawing Dion's attention.      Dion transports tools and repair parts from the storage rooms, to the nurses and their charges, until sunset.  Then the lab door opens.  Dion turns to see Trion exit.   TRION: The overhauls have been completed.  Now they are the first of our new defenders.  Ariel...        Elita, now bearing the Autobot insignia, exits the lab.   ELITA: Call me "Elita One."        She turns to face an unmasked Optimus-- his face scarred by battlefield damage repairs, his shoulders bearing the Autobot insignia-- who marches through the doorway.   DION: Orion?   OPTIMUS: I am now "Optimus," and I swear by the Matrix, I won't rest until the Decepticons are brought to justice, and Megatron's reign of terror ends. <>    TEXT: Approximately 6,000,000 BC.  The Second Battle of Iacon.        The city is now a battlefield; the streets are cratered from artillery barrages, reducing many buildings to rubble.  The only light sources are the soldiers' optics, laser sights, and flashes from gunfire and explosions.      A Decepticon soldier approaches a barricade in front of a road.  Sentinel Prime (alt mode is a 10-wheel armored car) rises from behind the barricade, fires a laser rifle, and blasts a hole in the Decepticon's chest.   DECEPTICON: Argh!        Sentinel jumps onto the barricade.   TEXT: Sentinel Prime, Autobot Supreme Commander.   SENTINEL: Autobots, roll out!        He jumps off, transforms, and races down the road.  A masked Optimus and Grimlock (robot Tyrannosaurus, alt mode is a tank) lead Autobot soldiers in his wake.  Missiles and plasma beams suddenly rain on them.   AUTOBOT SOLDIER: Argh!        He collapses onto the road, in stasis lock.   SENTINEL: Take cover!        The Autobots take cover in craters, in alleys, and behind rubble piles as Kilotron drones (clones of Megatron, alt modes are field guns) dive to attack them.  Two Autobots are blasted to pieces.      Optimus shoots at a Kilotron's chest, but the laser beams fail to penetrate its armor.  The drone dives, firing two missiles at Optimus.  Optimus' laser rifle fires three times; two shots intercept the missiles, which detonate in midair; the third hits the Kilotron's neck joint, beheading the drone.      The headless Kilotron flies over Optimus' head, crashes behind the Autobot, and explodes.   OPTIMUS: I need heavier weapons.   GRIMLOCK: Roar!        Booster rockets launch Grimlock skyward, where he bites off a drone's head.      The dead drone crashes beside Optimus, who turns to a landing Grimlock.   OPTIMUS: Trace the drones' transmissions to their controller, and destroy him!        Grimlock's head turns to an alley between the ruins of two buildings.   GRIMLOCK: Controller run!  Controller no hide from Grimlock!        He transforms and races down the alley.      A mobile command center (armored hovercraft) drives behind the frontline.  Soundwave sits inside, manning a drone control console.  The drones' locations are highlighted on a map of the battlefield; eight monitors flank the map, six of which receive images from the drones.      Grimlock appears in front of the hovercraft.  His turret-mounted plasma cannon fires; the shot destroys the cockpit, kills the pilot, and stops the hovercraft.      The momentum throws Soundwave forward; his head almost hits the map.   SOUNDWAVE: Ah!        Shockwave (in fighter mode) fires four missiles to destroy four Autobots.  He feels Soundwave's fear through their telepathic link.   SHOCKWAVE: Brother!        He turns away from the frontline; his afterburners flare.      In the hovercraft, Soundwave draws a laser pistol and aims it at the rear door.  Grimlock rockets through the hovercraft roof to pin Soundwave against the floor.   SOUNDWAVE: Argh!   GRIMLOCK: Decepticon coward, no courage to fight true warrior!  Grimlock punish coward!        Grimlock's jaws lock around Soundwave's face.  Soundwave shoots, scorching the Tyrannosaurus' armor.   GRIMLOCK: Grrrr!        He tears off Soundwave's face, exposing the metal skull.   SOUNDWAVE: Ahhhh!        Shockwave transforms above the hovercraft, fires his cannon, and scorches Grimlock's turret roof.   GRIMLOCK: Roar!        He turns to Shockwave, ready to attack.      Soundwave's chest compartment opens to reveal four missile launch tubes.  He shoots at point-blank range; the missiles hit Grimlock's chest, blasting the Tyrannosaurus out of the hovercraft.  Shockwave shoots again, scorching Grimlock's forehead.   GRIMLOCK: Grrrr!  Grimlock crush you later!        Booster rockets launch him skyward, away from the brothers.      Shockwave races to Soundwave's side.   SHOCKWAVE: Do not be alarmed, Brother.  I will repair--        Soundwave raises a hand, silencing him.   SOUNDWAVE: Do not repair my face.  The Autobot called me a coward; the scars will be evidence of my courage.        At the frontline, Sentinel's company launches a frontal attack against Decepticon positions; Optimus' company flanks the enemy.      Booster rockets launch Omega Sentinel, a giant with a forearm-mounted plasma cannon, from a Decepticon position.  The giant lands behind Sentinel, crushing a four Autobots under his feet.   AUTOBOT 1: Argh!   AUTOBOT 2: Ahhhh!   AUTOBOT 3: We're all going to die!        The Autobots flee.  Sentinel turns to target Omega.   SENTINEL: An Omega class sentinel?!        Omega blasts Sentinel in half.   SENTINEL: Ahhhh!   AUTOBOT 4: Commander!        He leads seven Autobots to Sentinel's defense.  Omega shoots twice, killing all approaching Autobots.      Megatron leads Scourge and his company towards Sentinel, who raises his rifle to shoot.  Megatron grabs the rifle and pulls it out of Sentinel's right hand, breaking the fingers.   SENTINEL: Argh!        Megatron grips the captured rifle; butt strokes Sentinel; and breaks open the chest compartment (Matrix casing).  His cannon targets Sentinel's head as he throws Sentinel's rifle behind him; Scourge catches the rifle, examines it, and stows it as a trophy.  Then Megatron and pulls the Matrix out of its casing.   SENTINEL: No...   MEGATRON: Your armor is surprisingly weak for a warrior.  I almost wish you Autobots don't die so easily; an easy victory would never satisfy the Gladiatorial Games' audiences.   SCOURGE: Destroy the Matrix-- this symbol of an Autobot Commander's authority.  Soon the Autobots will join it in the void, and your victory will be complete.   MEGATRON: Victory is incomplete without slaves to kneel before me.  Now the Matrix is mine-- symbol of a Decepticon Commander's supremacy-- the Autobots will submit to me.        He smiles, opens his chest compartment, and puts the Matrix inside.   SCOURGE: No, you can't--        Megatron backhands Scourge, slamming him against the road.   SCOURGE: Shriek!   MEGATRON: Silence!  You have no power over me!        Omega turns to see Optimus (in tank mode) use a rubble pile as a ramp, which launches him in the air, towards the giant's head.  Omega turns to shoot the transforming Optimus, but is too slow.  Optimus' left hand grips the giant's gorget; his right sets a rifle to "OVERLOAD", fires a burst at point-blank range, and beheads Omega.      The dead giant falls, crushing a dozen Decepticons under his body.   DECEPTICON 1: Argh!   DECEPTICON 2: Ahhhh!        Optimus lands on his feet, and throws the red-hot rifle at Megatron's head.  He draws a pistol and shoots the rifle, which explodes in Megatron's face.   MEGATRON: Argh!        He staggers.   MEGATRON: Decepticons, retreat!        The Decepticons flee.      Optimus races to Sentinel's side.   SENTINEL: Optimus...?   OPTIMUS: Stop transmitting and conserve your energy, Sir.  I'll perform battlefield damage repairs and--        Sentinel's hand rises to silence him.   SENTINEL: No.  Soon, I shall be one with the Matrix, the Allspark; I shall be free, for Megatron cannot control the Sparks within it.  But the Matrix must be recovered and passed on to an Autobot Commander, as it was passed on to me-- for one day, a savior shall rise from Cybertron and, with the Matrix's powers, light our darkest hour.        He opens a hatch on the back of his neck, revealing an interface plug.  Sentinel extends the interface cable towards Optimus.   SENTINEL: Download the command codes.  Command the Autobots to recover the Matrix-- with it, bring light to Cybertron.   OPTIMUS: Yes, Commander.        A hatch on the back of his neck opens.  Optimus inserts the plug.      A vision of 10,000 stars uniting to form one (the Allspark) overwhelms him.   OPTIMUS: Gasp!   SENTINEL: Until that day... when all are one...        He releases the plug, now dead.   OPTIMUS: I won't rest until freedom is restored to all sentient beings. <>    TEXT: Approximately 4,000,000 BC.  Autobot Defense Force Headquarters, the "Decagon."  Iacon.        Optimus now has a collarbone-mounted missile launcher; the launch tubes cover his head, like an umbrella.  He, Prowl, and Ironhide stand in a circle, around a hologram projector displaying the Ark (spaceship with golden radiation shielding).  Optimus turns as Jazz enters the room and transforms.   OPTIMUS: Find anything, Jazz?   JAZZ: Negative; Sector 001 is darker than the Skywarp's armor.   IRONHIDE: That's no surprise.  6,000,000 years of war...        His head shakes; after so much combat, even he is fatigued.   OPTIMUS: Let's focus on the present.  As the war rages on, depleting Cybertron's energy and material resources, we find ourselves depleted of another resource-- time.  We must launch an expedition to find new sources of energy and materials, or the void will be the sole victor of this war.   PROWL: Launching such an expedition will require 45 to 60% of our remaining energon supplies.  If it fails--   IRONHIDE: We'll die anyways.  When do we launch? <>    SETTING: An underground spaceport, linked to the Decagon through a secret passageway.        The Autobots are preparing the Ark for launch; Elita, Slag, and Silverbolt enter stasis pods (emergency escape pods) to conserve the Ark's limited energon supplies during the expedition.  No one sees Laserbeak (robot vulture, alt mode is a missile) hiding in the spaceport roof beams. <>    TEXT: Megatron's castle, the "Crown of Stars."  Polyhex.        In the command center, Megatron, Shockwave, and a masked Soundwave study images transmitted by Laserbeak.   MEGATRON: If new resources are to be found, the Decepticons must find them first.   SOUNDWAVE: The Autobot expeditionary vessel is set to launch, Megatron.   MEGATRON: As are we.        He turns face to Shockwave.   MEGATRON: Shockwave!   SHOCKWAVE: What is your command, Megatron?   MEGATRON: I entrust the continued mission on Cybertron to you, Shockwave.   SHOCKWAVE: Understood, Megatron.  I will not rest until the entire planet is under Decepticon control. <>    SETTING: A hangar at Megatron's castle.   TEXT: Skywarp, apprentice of the Terror Soaring Saber-- a mercenary in Decepticon service.        Starscream and Skywarp are dueling with swords.  Skywarp fires his forearm-mounted machine guns and mini-missiles, trying to force his master to drop his guard.      The apprentice's attacks are useless; Starscream's sabers spin like propellers, parrying all incoming shells and missiles.  Sparks shoot from Skywarp's armor as the master's saber penetrates his defenses, forcing the apprentice against a wall.   TEXT: Starscream, Master of the Terror Soaring Saber-- acting Decepticon Air Commander.        Skywarp teleports, reappears behind Starscream, and slashes to project kenki ("sword's breath," psychokinetic energy waves).  Starscream slashes behind his back to parry the attack, turns as he glides backwards, and thrusts; his saber touches Skywarp's gorget.   SKYWARP: Gasp!   STARSCREAM: Don't depend upon a single skill, or it will become useless when your enemies develop countermeasures to that skill.   SKYWARP: Yes... Master.        Chromia enters the hangar and bows to Starscream.   TEXT: Chromia, Decepticon Deputy Air Commander.   CHROMIA: Commander, Megatron demands we prepare for battle and participate in an upcoming mission.        Skywarp demonstrates his swordsmanship-- spinning the blade in his hands, throwing it over his head or under his shoulders, before catching the sword-- as he speaks.   SKYWARP: Megatron can demand that Cybertron be renamed in his honor, but he lacks the strength to enforce his demands.  A faction under the Terror Soaring Sabers' command would've been victorious; the war would've ended eons before energy supplies became a critical.        Starscream psychically pulls the sword out of Skywarp's hand, into his own.   STARSCREAM: Yes, we of the Terror Soaring Saber will become powerful enough to take over a faction.  But patience; timing is critical to such plans.        He throws the sword over Skywarp's head; Skywarp smiles as he catches it. <>    TEXT: Ark 010-- Autobot assault ship, former flagship of the Cybertron Colonial Defense Fleet.  Current location, the Solar System.   SETTING: Main bridge (the Ark's top floor).        As the ship flies past the asteroid belt, Prowl's monitor projects, "WARNING: BOGIE DETECTED" over an image of a Decepticon dreadnought.   PROWL: Unidentified capital ship detected, 12 o'clock!        Optimus' monitor zooms in on the insignia the dreadnought bears.   OPTIMUS: Decepticons!   TEXT: Nemesis-- Decepticon dreadnought, future flagship of the Decepticon Expeditionary Fleet.        In the bridge, Starscream's monitor reads, "WARNING: LASER LOCK".   STARSCREAM: The Ark's weapons are targeting us.  I advise shooting first.   MEGATRON: No, I must have the data they've gathered.  Tractor beam, ready!  Target, the Ark!  Fire!        The Nemesis' tractor beam projector "lassos" the Ark; then the dreadnought's boarding chute extends, attaching to the main bridge.   PROWL: The Nemesis is docked to the Ark!   OPTIMUS: To arms!  Repel the boarders!        Grimlock remains at the fire control console; at his command, gun turrets traverse and then shoot the relatively motionless Nemesis.   BLUDGEON (RADIO): Lord Megatron, the Autobots are...!        A shot destroys the Nemesis' radio antennas.  Bludgeon remains aboard the dreadnought, but he can no longer communicate with the others.      In the boarding chute, Starscream's saber cuts a circle in the Ark's hull before psychically pushing the cutout into the Ark's bridge; the armor plate slams Prowl against a console, crushing it.   PROWL: Argh!        The monitor reads, "WARNING: *** SYSTEM INOP", and then shutoffs before it can identify the inoperable system.      The Autobots turn to rain missiles, shells, plasma and laser beams on Starscream, but the swordsman parries the attacks as he enters the bridge.   STARSCREAM: Fight harder, Autobots!  Let this battle make our energon surge!        He steps aside to let other Decepticons pass.  Megatron leads the other Decepticons into the bridge.   MEGATRON: Decepticons, attack!        Optimus somersaults backwards out of his chair to kick Megatron, pinning Megatron to the floor.   MEGATRON: Prime!        He shoots Optimus' chest, throwing Optimus against the ceiling.   OPTIMUS: Megatron!        He lands on his feet.  Megatron rises and targets his chest.  Optimus dives under the line-of-fire, lunges, and slams his shoulder against Megatron's abdomen.  Megatron, knowing he'll be caught in the blast radius if he shoots Optimus at point-blank range, hammers Optimus' head with an elbow, breaking an antenna.  Optimus uppercuts Megatron; they're now locked in hand-to-hand combat.      Skywarp rockets into the bridge.  Prowl shoots at him; Skywarp parries the incoming laser beams, covering Chromia as she enters.      Starscream kicks Prowl's head, throwing him against the ceiling.   SKYWARP: Ask Starscream to teach you the Terror Soaring Saber.        Chromia's forearm-mounted cannons fire, scorching Ironhide's armor.   CHROMIA: I prefer long-range attacks.        Ironhide's rifle (mortar, direct fire mode) shoots.  Chromia shoots down the incoming shell; her optics widen when a second shell flies through the resulting fireball, towards her.      Skywarp glides in front of Chromia, cuts down the mortar shell, and saves the female Decepticon.   SKYWARP: You can't always keep your enemies at a distance.        He teleports behind Ironhide, slashes, and cracks Ironhide's backplate.   IRONHIDE: Argh!        He falls onto the floor, apparently in stasis lock.      Chromia notices Grimlock remains behind his console; then flying debris draws her attention to a window.   CHROMIA: The Nemesis as a stationary target!  Stop Grimlock before he destroys our ship!        She shoots; cannon shells scorch Grimlock's armor, but the Tyrannosaurus ignores Chromia.  Starscream and Skywarp glide towards Grimlock; then giant hands (Skyfire's) reach through the floor to grab the swordsmen's legs.   SKYWARP: Ah!   STARSCREAM: Skyfire!        He stabs Skyfire's finger joints, trying to make Skyfire release them.  Skyfire's torso rises from the level beneath the bridge, enlarging the hole in the bridge floor.  He squeezes Starscream and Skywarp, cracking the swordsmen's leg armor.   STARSCREAM, SKYWARP: Argh!        They freeze; then Skyfire throws them into the boarding chute.   CHROMIA: Commander!        Her cannons pepper Skyfire.      Grimlock rams Chromia, pins her against a wall, locks his jaws around her right forearm, and crushes the limb.   CHROMIA: Ahhhh!        Her left cannon fires at point-blank range.  Grimlock's optic shutters to protect it; the shells scorch the side of his head.   GRIMLOCK: Roarrrr!        He throws Chromia into a stasis pod.  He shoots the pod, piercing its hatch-- a monitor reads, "LAUNCH FAILURE"-- and Chromia's breastplate.   CHROMIA: Ah!        She enters stasis lock.      Optimus grabs Megatron's right forearm, pushing the fusion cannon towards the ceiling so the Decepticon can't shoot back.      A left calf compartment opens to reveal the Decepticon's power dagger; Megatron raises the blade to stab Optimus.  The Matrix suddenly reacts against Megatron's corrupted Spark.   MEGATRON: Ahhhh!        He drops the dagger as the Matrix's light burns a fist-sized hole in his chest armor.  Optimus lifts Megatron off his feet; body slams him against the floor; and breaks the Decepticon's neck.      Sparks shoot from Megatron's neck as Optimus stands up, holding the Decepticon by his feet.   OPTIMUS: Had enough?        Bumblebee hears mechanical sounds coming from the boarding chute, turns, and fires his laser pistol; the approaching Soundwave raises an arm to block the incoming beams.      Soundwave ignores the shots peppering his arm; he fires two missiles at Bumblebee's chest, throwing the Autobot backwards.   BUMBLEBEE: Ahhhh!        He crashes into the "windshield" (monitor, displaying images from prow-mounted cameras).  Soundwave targets Optimus.   SOUNDWAVE: Release Megatron!   OPTIMUS: You asked for it.        He throws Megatron at Soundwave, slamming both Decepticons back into the boarding chute.   SOUNDWAVE: Argh!        Optimus fires missiles into the chute, blasting holes in Megatron's armor.   MEGATRON: Prime!        The detonating missiles loosen the boarding chute's attachment points; the ships shake as they separate.   SKYFIRE: Whoa!        He falls back down the hole, to the floor below.  The shaking becomes violent, breaking armor plates off the Ark.   OPTIMUS: What's happening?        Ironhide's monitor displays Earth's image.   IRONHIDE: What in...?        Prowl runs to Ironhide's side.   PROWL: The star system's third planet-- we're in its gravity well!   OPTIMUS: Crash positions!        The Autobots brace themselves as the Ark enters Earth's atmosphere, followed by the Nemesis. <>    SETTING: Crown of Stars.        In the command center, Scourge faces Alpha Quintus-- a four-faced cyborg with a golden skullcap, two muscular arms, and six mechanical tentacles under his body.   ALPHA Q-FAMINE: Where is Shockwave?   SCOURGE: He's leading the attack on the Autobot Capitol.   ALPHA Q-FAMINE: Can he be controlled?   SCOURGE: No.  Unlike Megatron, Shockwave is too calculating to be swayed by appeals to his pride; the Decepticon Deputy Commander serves because logic dictates the Cybertrons should rule all sentient beings, for they are the most powerful beings born of this galaxy.  What are the Master's orders?        Alpha Quintus' head rotates to the Face of Pestilence.   ALPHA Q-PESTILENCE: We have the schematics for Megatron's shuttle, with which we can build an exact copy.        His head rotates to the Face of War.   ALPHA Q-WAR: By using Kilotrons-- his imperfect clones to swell his ranks, Megatron gave us a means to replace him.        Unicron's face is projected onto his skullcap.   UNICRON: I will grant a clone the Spark of Life; in serving the perfect clone, the Decepticons serve me.        Scourge bows to Unicron's face.   SCOURGE: Yes, Master.  Your power is infinite; your will be done in this galaxy, as it is in the void. <>    TO BE CONTINUED