Episode 1 - Uncaged

[Onix Solo]

Hot Shot got up and dusted himself off before Tapout yanked him behind cover.

Tapout: "I thought I said to NOT engage, or was I imagining that?"

Hot Shot: "We didn't exactly 'engage' them."

Tapout gave Hot Shot a look of disbelief.

______________________________________

Stinger fire and blaster fire hit Megatron until Lugnut put himself between their attackers. Megatron was grateful for Lugnuts blind loyalty. Oilslick and Spittor rounded the corner and headed in the direction opposite their attacked as Lugnut shielded the way. The other decepticons followed Blitzwing then fired his Cryo-cannons down the hall towards the enemies but not at them. It hist the floor and ceiling and formed a thick sheet of ice from top to bottom between the Decepticons and the Autobots.

Megatron: "Come Lugnut, we will get our revenge soon enough."

Megatron turned and followed Oilslick and the other Decepticons.

[Primus]

Lugnut listened to Megatron attentively while rubbing his back, it hury very much.

"Yes Sir!"

Lugnut followed behind Megatron while contemplating, "What's next?"

The blaster shots on his back were really bothering him, he would have to see a medical drone on board. Meanwhile, he could see the others boarding the transport ship. Lugnut looked behind him towards the direction of the trapped Autobots......

"They won't get out too soon", Lugnut was always very cautious and nervous about those kind of things.

[Bomblast]

Punch ceased firing when Blitzwing created a wall of ice between the Autobots and the Decepticons. He lowered his weapons, they wouldn't do much good against the ice.

"So what do we do now? If we're lucky, we'll be able to catch up with them somewhere before they can escape."

[Onix Solo]

Hot Shot chuckled.

Hot Shot: "What, you are going to let ice stop you."

Hot Shot held up his arms and his flamethrowers spun around to point out he then pointed them at the ice and they ignited. The ice began to melt steadily.

[Hoist]

"Too bad! I was just getting used to my reflection in the ice", cheered Tracks before turning to Tapout. "The fault is mine sir, I engaged them, well not really.. I just fired my black light gun to keep them distracted and from going anywhere. It was Lugnut who came over and engaged us..."

[Bomblast]

Punch waited as Hot Shot melted the ice. It always amused Punch the Hot Shot's name reflected his personality. Hot Shot by name, Hot Shot by nature.

"What I'd like to know is how did those Decepticons manage to get in and free the prisoners."

[Primus]

Lugnut strayed over to the transport ship while rubbing his back carefully. He wondered if the Autobots would get free, then he looked over at the wall full of ice,

"Megatron! They're melting the ice! I don't make orders around here, but I suggest we get to cover!"

Lugnut then rubbed his back more anxiously, he didn't want to use himself as a shield again if the Autobots got out, no way was he going to do that plan again.

[Onix Solo]

Tapout grunted.

Tapout: "It both of your fault. You're a unit. Your mistake is his and his mistakes are your's. Both of you could have been slag. Hot Shot should know when it's best to follow orders and not, he's seen action. It was up to him to use that knowledge to keep you from making dumb mistakes."

Tapout sounded a bit harsh, and he realized it. He paused for a second and exhaled a big sigh. When he started again he was much more calm.

Tapout: "I know you meant well, but for the future, never take commands lightly."

Hot Shot finished melting the ice enough for them to pass through. His flame throwers spun around to their normal position and he turned to the others.

Hot Shot: "Now that I solved that problem can we get back to tailing these Decepticons?

Tapout: "We follow them, but only so that the Elite Guard can find them. They probably haven't gotten the warning yet. Most of them are busy at the memorial for Prowl. Lets move!"

The Autobots took off down the hall the Decepticons had went down. They were behind, but not to far behind to keep up.

[Hoist]

"Just follow them", gasped Tracks as he ran, "And what if they start firing? Do will still just ]follow?!" In truth, Tracks was still a little bit scorched from Tapout's extreme reaction, he maybe just a grunt, but Tapout had a massive gear leaver up his tailpipe.

"Besides, if the others are busy, isn't it up to us to stop these rust buckets? Or did we become pacifists all of a sudden?", asked the Autobot.

[Onix Solo]

Tapout had Hot Shot take point as they rushed to catch the decepticons.

Tapout: "There are only four of us and over ten of them. The Decepticons have always been stronger. Ten of them would be a task for twenty Autobots. So, it's just up to us to make sure they don't slip away into the night without a trace. If they engage us, we get out of the way and then follow again when it is safe. Now isn't the time for heroism."

The Autobots had gained much ground on the Decepticons.

_________________________________________________

The Decepticons were almost to the exit which would give them the quickest route to the hangar. It was relatively close, and this area had a low number of civilians to witness them and with the Gaurd out dealing with the memorial, the Decepticons could slip away unnoticed.

Oilslick: "We are almost there Megatron. I will alert Strika to be prepared."

Oilslick got onto his com with the Decepticon general

Oilslick **"Strika, this is Oilslick. I am leading our leader out of the facility now. We will arive there shortly."**

Strika: **"Good, we will have the ship ready."**

[Bomblast]

Punch felt strange. He should have felt nervous, being outnumbered almost 2-to-1 by the Decepticons. However, he felt strangely calm. Punch was beginning to slip into his alter-ego's personality, just in case he was called upon to infiltrate the Deception ranks.

"Shouldn't the rest of the Elite Guard been alerted to this by now?"

[Primus]

Lugnut was trailing behind on the end of the Decepticon bunch, he hated running, he was good at short, "long" bursts but nothing like this in bot mode.

"Strika will be ready with the ship soon and we'll be off, good, I've had enough of this, too much damage in one place!"

He could see the Autobots just around the bend of the corner, they were catching up, hopefully not before the Decepticons escaped

[Onix Solo]

The Decepticons arrived as the exit. Oilslick turned to the rest.

Oilcslick: "We will make better time in vehicle mode. There emergency signal is jammed but only for a short time."

Oilslick transformed into his hover bike form and sped off. Megatron, along with the other Decepticons, transformed and followed.

______________________________________________

Tapout turned his head quickly to Punch

Tapout: "I would assume that if they had this all planned out to hit when security is the least, they probably handled the out going emergency signal to give them time to get clear."

The Autobots turned to the hall where the Decepticons made their exit in time to see them transform and speed off.

Hot Shot: "They are getting away!"

Tapout: "Hot Shot, tail them and see where they go. we will be right behind you."

Hot Shot transformed and sped off down the hall and out of the hole in the wall, keeping his distance but not losing sight of them. Tapout and the others exited the building.

Tapout: "Tracks, lock onto Hot Shot's signal and lead the way."

[Hoist]

Tracks transformed and activated his scanners, after a few short clicks he excitedly announced he'd got the signal. "This way guys!", enthused the Autobot, now in his sleek blue Cybertronian mode, "And might I suggest sir that if they do try and give us the slip, my vehicle mode has a unique flight mode* I can always track them if they take to the air!", reminded Tracks.

Hitting the rubber as much as possible as he followed a good distance behind Hot Shot behind and leading down the dark streets of Cybertron on metal highways light by bright lights both from buildings and neon signs.

[Onix Solo]

Tapout transformed and followed. His alternate mode was built for convenience in rougher areas that were once associated with the war. An alt mode that was particularly useless now that the roads were smooth and Cybertron had no remnants of the war. Nevertheless, he was a bot of familiarity and habit so he stuck with his sluggish (when compared to that of the younger bots) alternate mode.

Tapout: "I'll keep your particular skills in mind Tracks. Though I'm afraid that they aren't planning on giving us the slip and remaining underground here on Cybertron. Anyone else realize the direction we are headed? right to the space ports. I think they plan on leaving."