Varuna - Two Years Ago
Starscream seethed with rage as he slipped past the bounds of Earth's atmosphere, hurtling outwards through the silent dark. This wasn't happening! This couldn't have happened! Megatron, fallen- all right, he hadn't exactly been saddened when that happened, but to see it done at a human's hands? And at such a cost- the Allspark, gone forever; the Decepticons, dead or scattered; the Autobots entrenching on Earth- no, never! He would no sooner put up with that than willingly submit to a lifetime of servitude. Earth's people would pay for this, oh, yes... and as for Optimus Prime...
... well, that would be a little harder. Despite all the sheer fury crackling along his circuits, even Starscream had to quail a little at the thought of bringing him down. That would take planning- and help. He'd lost too many followers already today. Best to get well clear of the range of any Autobot scanners on Earth, then work out how to marshal his forces. He had no doubt there would be scanners pointed to that miserable planet's skies; even a mech gone as soft in the processor towards the natives as Prime and his lot would still be wary.
Starscream thought for a while, riding the solar winds outward. As the crackling hiss of Earth's magnetosphere dropped away from his circuits, he recalled his original journey into this wretched system. There were a handful of minor planets out beyond the orbit of the last gas giant- rockballs, the lot of them, but large enough to cause the odd gravitational disturbance. A quick poll of his long-range sensors turned up one within relatively easy reach. It would do for a base while he ran through his options. He allowed himself an inward smile as he set course for the planetoid the humans called Varuna.
At lightspeed, the trip would've been a matter of hours. Starscream had no particular need to hurry. There were no Autobots in pursuit- no pursuit at all- so he contented himself with speculation about who would be the first to fall once he and his followers returned. He'd replayed his favorite Earth invasion scenario for the fifth time when something impinged on his awareness: a transponder signal. A familiar signal. A Decepticon signal. Coming from- he shifted through his analyzers quickly, altered his position, triangulated- coming from the approximate location of Varuna.
Well. This was going to be interesting.
- Hail received and position noted, - he sent back, matching the other Decepticon's frequency. - I'm approaching your position as we speak. Remain calm. -
There was a momentary pause, a fractional hesitation of signal transit time- Varuna was still a long way off- when the answering signal came in. - I always do, - it said, its tone tranquil and almost amused. - Identify yourself. -
- Aerospace Commander Starscream, - he answered slowly. There was something about the other mech's signals that tripped too many alarm circuits for his liking. - And who am I speaking to? -
- Shockwave. -
- Acknowledged, - Starscream somehow managed, forcing his tone to remain even. - ETA in twenty kliks. Aerospace Commander Starscream out.
He cut all signal contact with the other mech and poured on all the engine power he could muster. The sharp, sudden flare behind him, the hamfisted slam of inertia, were all the release the soundless vacuum of space could offer for his rage. Of all the 'Cons to find, after everything that had happened, the first one had to be him? Megatron's other adjutant, the only competition Starscream had ever had for his position as second in command? There was no way this could end well. He suddenly wished he'd been able to grab a human on his way out of Earth's atmosphere; he could use something to eject into space and fire a few missiles at. . .
It would have to wait. Varuna was growing closer with every passing instant. Starscream would need all his wits about him if he was going to come out ahead.
... well, that would be a little harder. Despite all the sheer fury crackling along his circuits, even Starscream had to quail a little at the thought of bringing him down. That would take planning- and help. He'd lost too many followers already today. Best to get well clear of the range of any Autobot scanners on Earth, then work out how to marshal his forces. He had no doubt there would be scanners pointed to that miserable planet's skies; even a mech gone as soft in the processor towards the natives as Prime and his lot would still be wary.
Starscream thought for a while, riding the solar winds outward. As the crackling hiss of Earth's magnetosphere dropped away from his circuits, he recalled his original journey into this wretched system. There were a handful of minor planets out beyond the orbit of the last gas giant- rockballs, the lot of them, but large enough to cause the odd gravitational disturbance. A quick poll of his long-range sensors turned up one within relatively easy reach. It would do for a base while he ran through his options. He allowed himself an inward smile as he set course for the planetoid the humans called Varuna.
At lightspeed, the trip would've been a matter of hours. Starscream had no particular need to hurry. There were no Autobots in pursuit- no pursuit at all- so he contented himself with speculation about who would be the first to fall once he and his followers returned. He'd replayed his favorite Earth invasion scenario for the fifth time when something impinged on his awareness: a transponder signal. A familiar signal. A Decepticon signal. Coming from- he shifted through his analyzers quickly, altered his position, triangulated- coming from the approximate location of Varuna.
Well. This was going to be interesting.
- Hail received and position noted, - he sent back, matching the other Decepticon's frequency. - I'm approaching your position as we speak. Remain calm. -
There was a momentary pause, a fractional hesitation of signal transit time- Varuna was still a long way off- when the answering signal came in. - I always do, - it said, its tone tranquil and almost amused. - Identify yourself. -
- Aerospace Commander Starscream, - he answered slowly. There was something about the other mech's signals that tripped too many alarm circuits for his liking. - And who am I speaking to? -
- Shockwave. -
- Acknowledged, - Starscream somehow managed, forcing his tone to remain even. - ETA in twenty kliks. Aerospace Commander Starscream out.
He cut all signal contact with the other mech and poured on all the engine power he could muster. The sharp, sudden flare behind him, the hamfisted slam of inertia, were all the release the soundless vacuum of space could offer for his rage. Of all the 'Cons to find, after everything that had happened, the first one had to be him? Megatron's other adjutant, the only competition Starscream had ever had for his position as second in command? There was no way this could end well. He suddenly wished he'd been able to grab a human on his way out of Earth's atmosphere; he could use something to eject into space and fire a few missiles at. . .
It would have to wait. Varuna was growing closer with every passing instant. Starscream would need all his wits about him if he was going to come out ahead.