Episode 1 - Uncaged

[Onix Solo]

Sunstorm's optics went fuzy and he covered his face and fell to his knees

Sustorm: "Well played my formidable and mighty foe."

Megatron's cannon began to glow and erupted into a large purple laser that flew fast towards Tapout and Punch. Ramjet was on the ground and did his best to snuff out the fire.

Megatron: "Get to the ship! We have no time for these Autobots."

_______________________________________________________

Hot Shot fell back behind cover a split second before plasma fire flew past him.

Hot Shot: "These guys mean business."

Tapout sprinted towards Punch, grabbed him then leaped pulling both of them to the ground. The cover they were both behind a few seconds ago exploded from Megatron's blast.

Tapout: "We are seriously out gunned. Let hope someone here the comotion and get's us help."

[Bomblast]

Punch looked at the smouldering rubble where he had just been stood.

"Thanks, sir. I've had a couple of close calls before, but never that close. I hope the Elite Guard hear this, otherwise we're slagged."

With this Punch began to return fire once more, this time with alot more caution.

[Hoist]

Terrorsaur motioned for the door of the ship, hanging half in and half out as he shot a last few blasts towards Hot Shot as best as he could with the cover the Autobot had taken. "Can't we at least kill some of them?!", squarked Terrorsaur.

Tracks had taken refuge behind some cylindrical metal barrels, "But they'll get away before anyone gets here! This is our opportunity!", cried the Autobot, now getting extremely anxious and trying to control the anger that was building that they were just going to fly away freely. What was Tapout thinking? DId he have any sort of idea of command? Was he willingly going to let them slip through their fingers whilst back up arrived??

The Autobot bit down, they were being played like a good deck of Hexium cards. If Tapout wasn't going to do something, he might have to do something rash. "What are your orders sir?!"

[Onix Solo]

(Moving us along, wee need to get to Earth!)

Sunstorm's vision was still fuzzy as he walked up to Ramjet and began to Drag him to the ship. Megatron strode up the ramp to the ship and shot towards the Autobots but put no effort into aiming. He wasn't concerned about eliminating them, just suppressing them.

Megatron:"We have played our hand here long enough. I do not want to risk the Elite Gaurd catching up with us and following. These Autobots will have to wait for their destruction until after my plan is complete."

Sunstorm dragged Ramjet into the ship and Lugnut along with Terrorsaur disappeared into the ship. Megatron stood in the opening and looked around at the Autobots then his a button next to the door and turned his back and walked into the ship, the door closing slowly behind him.

The Decepticons made their way to the Bridge And each took a station while Megatron sat in the captains chair. The ship hummed to life as the roof of the hangar opened. The ship lifted off the ground and up into the sky before the rear thrusters kicked in propelling them forward. The ship's nose pointed up and the Axalon ascended into the atmosphere as amazing speed.

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Tapout: "We are just four Autobot's Tracks. We don't have the ability to take them all on our own. At best we attempt to stall them and keep on their tail so the Gaurd can eventually lend us a hand."

The Autobots kept their fire strong on the Decepticons as they entered the ship but with Megatron providing suppressing fire they were kept pinned down. When the Axalon finally took off from the hangar Tapout came out from behind cover and approached Tracks and Hot Shot. He looked around the hangar. Tapout had no intention of letting the Decepticons go without making sure they were right behind them. He knew the Axalon was the best ship aside for Magnus's ship itself. He also knew it was fast. Tapout saw a star skimmer, a small ship built for speed, that wasn't the best kept in the hangar but he wasn't about to take a ship that was valuable to the fleet.

Tapout: "There, that star skimmer. Everyone get in. We can keep up with the Axalon in that."

Hot Shot: "Are we alowed to take a ship? I thought...."

Tapout cut him short

Tapout: "I'm a Prime and as a Prime I have the ability to captain a ship. Now, get into that ship on the double."

[Bomblast]

Punch listened to the orders Tapout gave.

"Aye, sir."

Punch lead the way to the Star Skimmer that Tapout had pointed out.

[Primus]

Lugnut had paniced when the Autobots had fired, he had known something was up, but he still got suprised when they ambushed us while we were heading to the ship.

Lugnut had ran up onto the ship and proceeded to the bridge where Megatron was heading......Lugnut didn't care, Megatron wasn't going anywhere were he didn't have a loyal bodyguard.

"So Megatron?, Report to our stations I presume?"

[Hoist]

"I still say we could've tried", Tracks had grumbled as the Decepticons left. As they approached the skimmer, Tracks put his weapon away, but as he saw the ship he began to think things were going from worse to.. worse.

"What a piece of junk!" gasped the Autobot, "Will she even make it past .5?"

[Bomblast]

"Probably. I've flown worse looking ships." Punch replied.

It certainly wasn't the best ship he'd ever laid his optics on, but it wasn't the worst either. He just hoped that it would be able to handle reaching the speeds needed and entering an atmosphere.

[Onix Solo]

Tapout moved quickly to the star skimmer. All of the Autobots entered in and headed to the bridge.

Tapout: "She'll have to do. Punch, since you have more experience take the controls and get us caught up to the Axalon. Tracks take navigation and Hot Shot get on the communications and try to contact the Elite Guard. Take us up as soon as you can Punch."

Tapout sat at the captains chair. A holographic screen came up and scanned his face.

Ship: "Tapout Prime. Access granted to all non-combat stations.You're access to combat systems has been revoked. To override contact Elite Guard command."

Tapout: "It figures. They stick you away in some little corner of Cybertron to let you live out your days and take away things you once had right to. Guess it will have to do. The ship is unlocked Punch, take us out."

(OOC: Take the ship out however you feel and follow the Axalon.)

[Bomblast]

Punch took hold of the controls. As the star skimmer began to raise of the ground, Punch made a small announcement to the rest of the crew.

"Hello and welcome to Cybertron Air Flight 286. My name is Punch and I'll be your pilot today. Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for take off. The emergency exit is located at the rear, though we may install a new one somewhere mid-flight. Today's in-flight movie is 'Mechanix Part II: Pistons from The Pit'. We hope you enjoy your flight."

With that, Punch gunned the controls and took off after The Axalon at full speed.

[Onix Solo]

Hot Shot chuckled

Hot Shot: "That movie sucked."

Tapout smiled. He appreciated Punch lightening the mood. It was good for morale and he was uncertain how things were going to play out.

Tapout: "Hot Shot, try and establish contact with Cybertron Central Hub. They can get through to Magnus. Tracks, locate the Axalon. It hasn't gotten far and with this ship we should be able to trail it. Once you locate it, lock onto its signature so Punch can keep it in range."

Hot Shot: "Yes sir."

Hot Shot stuck the ear piece onto his head. He worked the console to establish connection with the ground. Else where in the ship's engineering section, a young Autobot was taking a short stasis nap with his feet kicked up. A holo-screen was set up on a make shift work station next to him, the same station his feet were up on. He had slept through the ship leaving orbit and it wasn't until the holoscreen that was covering the unveiling of the memorial to Prowl went fuzzy that he woke up. he looked around then looked at the holo-screen. He reached over and turned it off.

Beachcomber: "Whoa, what's going on dude? I didn't think this ship was supposed to fly. I better find out whats going on,man."

Beachcomber got up and headed towards the bridge.

[Hoist]

"Got it!", Tracks puched up various buttons on his station's console, if he could find some sort of energy signature from their engines he might be able to track them. Data flicked by on the console's screen...

+++ processing +++...
+++ processing +++...
+++ processing +++..
+++ processing +++...
+++ processing +++...
+++ processing +++...

Tracks sighed as he waited for the information, resting an arm on the console and cradling the side of his head. Moments later on the screen the ship found what he was looking for as a whole new bunch of data began flickering over the screen at a great rate. So suprised was Tracks, his arm nearly fell of the console, and him with it.

"Paydirt! I got em!", informed the bot enthusiatically and began tapping more controls, "Plotting an intercept course for you Punch!"

[Bomblast]

Punch grinned as Tracks' intercept course come through on his console. Tapping in a couple of command, the star skimmer took off at full speed, following the Axalon.

"Course laid in, we're in pursuit."

[Onix Solo]

Tapout: "Good, let's make sure we don't lose them."

It wasn't long before the star skimmer caught up to the Axalon enough to keep it in forward veiw. Both ships left the upper atmospher of Cybertron and now headed into space.

Tapout: "Hot Shot, have you gotten in contact with anyone?"

Hot Shot: "No sir. I tried Elite Guard Command, Iacon Central and even Cybertron Central Hub. It's like the whole global communications network is down, but that's not possible, is it?"

Tapout stared down at the ground and mumbled to himself.

Tapout: "Blackout"

He wasn't going to let everyone else know the actual possibility of the matter. He returned his focus to their current situation.

Tapout: "Keep trying to make contact. Punch keep us on their tail but stay out of range of weaponry. If Megatron got the cannons working I don't want to be close enough to find out."

Beachcomber walked onto the bridge. No one had noticed him until out of no where he spoke

Beachcomber: "Hey dude's, what's up?"

[Hoist]

Tracks was too busy to respond to Beachcomber, he was too concerned about the ship they were following.

"So what we going to do when we catch up with them?", asked Tracks, "Board them? Just follow them and wait I suppose. You do have a plan I take it - right?"