Chương 51: LOG-046.

To say that the atmosphere aboard the Nemesis was tense would be an understatement. Elements from both the Autobots and the Decepticons were rather unhappy about my effective takeover of things. Even if their opinions mattered very little in the end, considering the Predacons and Zakus I'd stationed to effectively keep an optic on all of them. Fortunately, as the ship finally breached the sad little remnants of Cybertron's tattered atmosphere, I found I frankly couldn't care less what everyone else thought.

Very convenient, that. More displeasing was the fact that the Autobots serving beneath Prime cooperated perfectly after their leader gave the order to do so. Unlike my own allies. Oh sure, they didn't actually get to do anything, but Dreadwing's futile attempts to get to the Insecticon hive in order to try and get his servos on some warriors that weren't entirely loyal to me hadn't at all been subtle. Of course in the end, I couldn't truly blame them. They were Decepticons, after all.

It was par for the course at this point. Regardless, deploying Indomina to deliver a warning had put a firm stop to his antics. Perhaps it wouldn't have worked on a less intelligent mech, but Dreadwing was no simple minded brute. He very much understood that having a pissed off dragon femme gunning for you wasn't the best thing for one's continued health. Hm. Just another reason to appreciate my creation, I supposed. She made an excellent messenger.

"Commander, we're passing through extreme orbit now. Orders?" Turning my helm to face one of the Vehicons currently assisting in the complicated task of navigating the ship, I gestured to the image of our homeworld, projected onto one of the holographic screens.

"Lock on to the signatures of the garrison unit we left behind and bring us into a stationary position. Prepare the groundbridge for extensive use as well, I want the majority of the Nemesis' crew deployed planetside." I ignored the economy model's enthusiastic "At once, Commander!", instead electing to face one of the few bots onboard that hadn't seemed entirely too torn up about my sudden dictatorship. Something that was both mildly comforting and incredibly irritating.

Or rather, it would have been if I'd allowed it to be. Nonetheless, just because I wasn't actually going to do something nonsensical, didn't mean Optimus shouldn't have been prepared for such an outcome. Really, he should know better. I'd have to do my best to drill some extra paranoia into him, once I found the time. The mech in question was still in the position I'd left him, standing just to the side, carefully inspecting some of the readouts of the situation down on the surface.

Unlike everyone else, who I'd summarily banished from the chamber. Save for the original bridge crew and Ser-Ket, that is. The Prime's blue optics flicked up to meet my own singular crimson unit as I took a step forward. Said optics widened slightly as I allowed a small bit of whimsy to slip past the Shadowplay, extending my arm and clapping a servo against the Autobot's shoulder.

"It's time. Are you ready?" Glancing at my servo for a moment, Optimus slowly nodded. A brief smile flashed across his faceplate, right before it was replaced with the usual mask of steely determination.

"I have been ready since we began, Shockwave." Nodding back, I let my arm fall and turned back around, stepping over to the primary command console. Patching into it with my own systems came as naturally as shifting into my alt mode, and the first thing I did was activate the communication suite that would relay my words throughout the entirety of the ship. My own voice echoed back to me as I spoke, allowing just a hint of satisfaction to infect my tone.

"Attention, all units. We are enroute to the Omega Lock's coordinates. Prepare for surface deployment, regardless of current position. Absolutely vital crew are exempt from this. Vehicon Grounder teams three and four are to assist local garrison units in securing the site perimeter from potential threats and hazards. All other units may stand by for further direction. That is all." The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Mentally flicking the 'switch' connecting me to the console's system cut the ship wide comm off instantly. I resisted the urge to exhale as Optimus gave me another vaguely proud smile.

"Stop doing that. It's incredibly patronising."

"I am aware, Shockwave." Ugh.

I'd give Cybertronians one thing. When they truly set their minds to a task, it was completed rather quickly. Case in point, what had once been a small outpost manned by a few dozen Vehicons and a servofull of Zakus was now once more absolutely jampacked with bots. Hundreds of sparks, all eagerly awaiting the Omega Lock's activation and Cybertron's revival.

Considering Megatron had already done most of the prepwork in ordering a stage-platform erected for his victory speech, it was simple enough to have everyone take their previous positions, albeit with a fair few new characters mixed in. Opinions among the Predacons scattered throughout the crowd tended to fall under two categories. That being either awe and interest in their technical homeworld, or boredom. Some of them just really didn't care, which... I wasn't too sure how to feel about. It was Cybertron but...

that didn't actually mean much to them. I settled on simply not feeling anything at all regarding the matter, and moved on to inspecting those who had joined me on the stage. Not as if most of them had a choice. The Autobots would never disobey Optimus' orders, and the Decepticons had effectively been brought forward at gunpoint. Except Soundwave, who had stubbornly stayed aboard the Nemesis, very bluntly citing his desire to prevent potential assassination attempts on his Lord. Which was... well.

Not entirely uncalled for. I did have a pre-written message saved in my processor that I could effectively send to Indomina at any time, with its core contents essentially just being " offline that limbless madmech and be thorough about it." So yes, not entirely uncalled for. Didn't mean that I wasn't willing to have three squads of heavily armed Zakus stationed just a corridor away, all while ordering the silent spymaster's direct disconnection from the groundbridge's control systems.

To say I wasn't taking any chances would also be an understatement. The sound of an approaching mech drew my attention. Raising my helm away from inspecting a particularly pleased looking Ser-Ket, I turned to face one of my Zakus, just as the soldier in question ground to a stop.

"Commander, we've followed your orders and I'm happy to report that all readings are coming back nominal. The required energon stores have been drained into the Lock and the appropriate cybermatter inputs have been installed. All we need is the go ahead." Nodding to the trooper, I gestured to the massive relic just a little ways away from us.

"Stand by to begin activation at my command." I turned and made my way towards the front of the stage as the Zaku responded to my order with an alternative, hustling towards the Lock. Good mech. My own approach drew optics and shushed most of the conversations that had sprung up throughout the crowd. What few remained were promptly silenced the second I raised my servo. Turning slightly, I glanced at a glaring Dreadwing, tilting my helm to the side.

"Do you know why I've brought you here?" The Seeker scoffed.

"To gloat?" I shook my helm, staring at the mech.

"I'm going to make you watch our world come back to life. And then I'm going to ensure you understand just how idiotically irresponsible continuing our conflict is." That threw the mech for a loop, even as I turned back to the silently waiting audience. The formation we'd taken aboard the platform was fairly simple. Myself in the center, where Megatron had previously stood. Optimus, Indomina and Ser-Ket to my sides. The Autobots and Decepticon officers to their sides.

Oh and Backbite next to Indomina and Ser-Ket, to the two femmes' confusion. Awkward as it was, I had told the reforged mech that I would give him a position of command. That meant he got stage rights. A small compromise to keep him happy and compliant. All in all, it presented a far more unified front compared to the reality of things. Which... eh. It was good enough. No more stalling. Slowly lowering my servo, I panned my helm to take in the entire audience from left to right, before finally breaking the silence.

"You are expecting a speech. Unfortunately, I am not interested in doing so. My apologies." Turning to a horrified looking Dreadwing, I pointed a digit at the mech.

"Deliver the victory speech or I'll have Optimus do it. I'm going to activate the Omega Lock before some hidden complication presents itself." Then I promptly strode off the stage, even as the crowd erupted with confusion and the rest of the platform's occupants stared at me, utterly gobsmacked. Ha. They continued to stare at me as I silently strode past the Zaku who had been prepared to revive the fucking planet in my stead, and promptly settled my servo against the command console.

"Key bearers, activate the relics." The four Zakus I'd entrusted the Omega Keys to didn't hesitate, slamming the ancient activation nodes into the Lock's awaiting key slots. I allowed a veritable flood of sadistic amusement to surge through my processor as I paid the bare minimum of attention to Dreadwing's panicked voice, the Seeker clearly putting together a statement on the spot.

The amusement only grew as Prime's halting attempt to give the Decepticon pointers was interrupted by the Omega Lock beginning to activate. I turned my helm to watch, my servo still resting on the console. Most of the Autobots were either doing their best to not lose their collective shit, or still staring in utter disbelief. The Decepticons were little better.

Backbite looked entirely too happy to not be the one trying to salvage the horrific mess I'd made, instead slowly stepping behind Indomina and Ser-Ket and just doing his best to look regal. Good for him. Just as Dreadwing finally began to smooth things over, clearly trying to praise the Decepticon cause exclusively, I pressed a singular button, only barely resisting the sudden urge to cackle.

As the Lock loudly charged up and finally erupted, sending an almost blindingly white beam into the sky, slowly beginning to curve back down towards the surface, I saved the Seeker's defeated sigh into my permanent memory storage. There. That's what you get for trying to make things difficult, you fragger. Now, to enjoy the view of my world finally beginning its long overdue healing process. The rest could wait until afterwards.