Only the Strong Survive

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Times are uncertain but one thing remains the same: the Decepticons are agents of change. Brought together to fight government corruption under an once idealistic miner named Megatron, the Decepticons have become more brutal in their methods as they sought to topple the Primes and their hierarchy and bring power to those who were once oppressed. The Decepticon cause has brought together many different people ranging from those who truly desire a brighter future for all and those who see the Decepticons as an outlet for cruel or twisted desires- and everyone in between. However, change is not only something brought by the Decepticons but also to them. After a bitter defeat in Iacon at the hands of Optimus Prime, Megatron found himself weakened and vulnerable- a situation that Scorponok took immediate advantage of. But did he kill Megatron when he had the chance? Well, there are rumors the Decepticon leader is still alive. Others say he is dead. Decepticons want to know- which is why there's a crowd gathered in front of the Kolkular Decepticon Command Center right now. An agitated crowd demanding answers... and in the middle is the immense form of Scorponok. Off to the side are some familiar Decepticons, such as Soundwave, who for now are simply watching the scene quietly. "What happened?! We demand to know where Megatron is!!", cries one Decepticon, followed by a chorus of others. Blast Off is here in the crowd. The Combaticon shuttleformer isn't among those yelling or demanding answers, but the gathering crowd caught his optic and he, too, would like to know what the slag is going on. Things have been chaotic since Megatron disappeared. Are the Decepticons falling apart? He has no truly binding loyalty to the faction, but he also has nowhere else really to go- so what happens to them affects him.
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Rumble is here as well, and he's definitely amongst the mechs who are skeptical about the future. He's ALWAYS been a staunch Megatron supporter. If the Decepticon movement was going to continue successfully, it would need to be with Megatron. The noticable absence of Megatron did not bode well.

"How ya like this ," Rumble grouses to nearby mechs as he lights up a cygar. "Things are gonna need to get settled in the fraggin' fight pits at this rate."

Swindle stands alongside Blast Off, since they are Combaticon mechbros. Personally he doesn't care who leads, just so long as the leader at least mostly turned a blind eye to his side dealings, if not outright endorsed them. Even while waiting to hear what's going on, images of the almighty shanix float through Swindle's processor. If ever Swindle had a true master, it was what humans would call Mammon. He listens, after all, because any information could prove useful and valuable.

Having heard rumors of a gathering near the command center, Guardstar figured he would check it out for himself. Hovering above the ground, the large siege tank turns the corner and moves slowly towards the crowd. As he comes up to the rear of the crowd, Guardstar transforms into his robot mode. He places his hands on his waist as he looks around at the group that has gathered. He remains silent as he waits to see what happens - personally, he doesn't care what happened to Megatron.

Someone advised Shockwave there was a crowd gathering, that there were demands for answers to where Megatron was, how they would deal with the monstrous new Autobot, why the recepticon to Blasters show was out. Thankfully the one who voiced that last question wasn't present, Shockwave felt that particular Decepticon could benefit from his latest batch of synthetic Energon. Nobody was going to ask about that annoying Autobots show for a while.

However the question of where Megatron was, and why he hadn't been brought to Shockwave given his obviously severely damaged status after the fight with Optimus Prime had attracted Shockwave to this gathering.

However given how volatile some higher ranked individuals could be when questioned by the rabble, Shockwave had taken the prudent course of action to stand off to the side, pretty much opposite where Soundwave is standing.

No surprise Razorclaw was here. But the Predacon Commander was hardly one to be amongst the aggitated crowd. The mechanical beast was skulking off to the side, but red optics were fixated on the gathering around Scorponok even as he's apparently unmoving from his position. Just in case things go out of hand... At least by Decepticon standards. Which would get rather frantic and violent easily.

Razorclaw had little love for Scorponok, but was willing to let the upsurper either prove himself... or produce enough cable to hang himself from. Or show some other weakness that can be capitalized on, because even with his entire team at hand taking on Scorponok at the current juncture of time would be a foolish prospect.

Thundercracker walks up to the side of Rumble suddenly, "Watch the language half-pint." he says and makes a slight face at the cybercigar. Then he glances at Scorponok, "I'm not sure I like the feel of this." his comment was not at anyone in particular but he said it loud enough for Rumble to hear if he chose.

Scorponok turns to the crowd. "You want to know what happened to Megatron?" A cruel smile inches along his face, much like the Grinch in that famous cartoon from another time and place. The immense Decepticon steps forward with a heavy thud. "You really want to know what happened to Megatron? I'll tell you. Once. As a warning." Massive claws reach up. "Not many could take on Megatron and live. At least not in his prime. But he was a fool. He let himself get distracted from what really matters, and it cost him. He was /weak/. Weak in the head. So he fell at Iacon, and *I* took matters into my own hands. Or claws, if you will. I could've just killed him. Nice clean and simple, right?" He looks around the crowd. "But nah. That was too good for that fool. I wanted to send a message. To you- all of ya- and to the world. Only the strong survive. The weak are fodder. As Megatron's gonna find out- on *Junkion* All his idealistic scrap ain't gonna help him there. Yeah, I took him out to that hellhole called Junkion. Yeah, it exists. And yeah, he's gonna be fodder to the Junkions soon enough." He pauses to look around and guage reaction, that nasty smile still on his lips. Rumble gets a particularly wicked sneer. Blast Off lifts an optic ridge at the news. Hmm. He turns to Swindle. "I suppose instablity like that is going to be bad for business... or is it good?"

Swindle looks at Blast Off and shrugs. "Could be good, could be bad. But there's always an opportunity somewhere. Who knows, maybe this means we all need new blaster rifles." He grins winningly at Blast Off. It's the look on his face he gets when he's imagining an individual in front of him being constructed of shanix, much like how some old-timey cartoon characters stranded on a deserted island would look at their companions and see them as a ham or a cooked turkey.

Rumble scowls angrily as Scorponok addresses the crowd and lets each of them know of Megatron's fate. Of course, he isn't crazy enough to challenge Scorp, so he flies up and takes a seat on Thundercracker's shoulder. "Mech, this ain't good. I dunno if he's tellin' the truth but if he is...then we got some choices to make. I know Megatron, an' he ain't no fool."

The glow of Shockwaves 'optic' flickers ever so slightly, the only external indication of anything going on within the scientists mind. He glances around to view others, keeping his own stance much the same. To be fair it's relatively easy for Shockwave to be unreadable, he simply remains silent. A very thoughtful silence, were anybody somehow able to get a reading on him.

Junkion, hmm? Apparently Scorponok was going for 'fate worse than death'? But trying to make a statement rather than strike Megatron down fully? Razorclaw isn't quite sure if he should feel thankful it means that there is still an oppritunity for Megatron to survive, or listen to the predator within being disgusted that Scorponok couldn't do the final task himself.

The rest of the trash talk of the previous leader's 'failures' was pretty par for the course in such a situation, and other than a minor note for potential later it wasn't really all that interesting.

And here Guardstar expected a slightly more glorious way in which the former Decepticon leader would have extinguished his spark, but it'll do. He looks at his fellow Decepticons, watching their reaction. He is unchanged in how he felt before Scorponok made the revelation, not much would change that. "I do not understand everyones concern." He says to himself, as he shakes his head.

Thundercracker listens to Scorponok's comments and remains still as Rumble flies up onto his shoulder. "Well I can imagine where Skywarp is right about now..." he noticed the look the large mech gave Rumble and frowns slightly. "Megatron is not a fool but anyone that swears allegence to this mech probably is... just sayin."

"Choice? //Choice//?" Scorponok turns that sneer back to Rumble. "I'll tell ya what your //choice// is, pipsqueak!! Your choice is to follow me- or die. 'Cause I don't have the time to deal with weaklings. Guess what? I'm the new Decepticon leader, because *I* know what it takes. Because I AM the strongest, and I'm going to lead this faction the way it was MEANT to be led. We're going to tear this world down and remake it on OUR terms. And what are OUR terms? Survival of the fittest." He casts a gaze over at Guardstar. "YOU sound like maybe you get it." Then he turns to Thundercracker with a scowl. "YOU sound like maybe you don't." The immense Decepticon pounds the ground with another step towards the Seeker and the Cassette, clasping his claws together, using sheer size and bulk to cause the crowd to part to let him pass. Another Decepticon, a blue helicopter of some sort, turns and steps near Thundercracker, nodding. "I'm with the Seeker. Why should we follow you?" Blast Off tilts his head a bit as he listens to Swindle, attitude as aloof as ever. "True. Everything is probably an opportunity when you know what angles to work." He glances back over to Scorponok- and the gathering Decepticons- with a slight frown under his faceplate. "We'll have to see where this leads." He's not sure he likes Scorponok. Sighing, he adds- quietly, "This Scorponok though. He seems so... crude. Megatron had at least a hint of... of *something*. Something beyond *smash good*, you know?"

Swindle can't help but wonder if he could quickly grab and sell Rumble on the black market. But such thoughts are quickly brushed aside. "Junkion, eh?" he asides to Blast Off, "Hmm, maybe I could just shuttle over there and buy our leader back?"

Guardstar nods to Scorponok, bowing his head. "I serve the Decepticons, in all things." He shouts, listening to the others around him. He doesn't understand the hesitation of his comrades. "We have bigger things to worry about then petty bickering among ourselves." He clenches his fits, getting frustrated with the non-believers.

Survival of the fittest, sure. Strong ruling over the weak, definately ... but while he can agree with that Razorclaw wasn't all that keen on the way Scorponok almost immeadiately goes to making angry threats at the first signs of dissonance with the ideals he's proposing. Such outbursts were... wasteful of time and outside of fear factor not really all that productive. Sigh.

The Predacon does eventually move, even if it's just to slink closer to Guardstar before standing up into his robot mode instead. The fellow former gladiator is given a brief incline of the head in way of acknowledgement. "The Empire cannot stand if the foundation is so easy to crack beneath unexpected strains."

For his part, Rumble doesn't even flinch as Scorponok gets menacing with him. He may be a little pipqueak, but he has huge amounts of courage. "Look, I KNOW what the Decepticons are all about, cause me an' my brother have been in this since day one! So don't you tell me we ain't dedicated! If you're the strongest -- then you're the one in charge, that's the way it is. But maybe you oughta get that the Decepticons who been in this since the first day, we wanna know how this movement's gonna keep goin'! It's gonna take more than throwin' your weight around to keep the spirit of this movement! You're gonna need...US."

Theres a time to sit back and let things play out, and then there's a logical moment when making a move can be all the more useful. And logic will always dictate someones actions.

There's a rather low hum, the builds in volume and intensity very quickly, and as it reaches it's loudest, in one fluid moment, Shockwaves left arm extends, aimed directly at random blue helicopter gumby that just questioned Scorponok.

KRAA-KA-BOOOM

A rather bright blue beam flashes out of the cannon at the end of Shockwaves left arm. Without waiting to witness the (almost certainly inevitable) outcome of the blast hitting the blue guy, Shockwaves intones, "Because logically the weak do not question the strong. A point I trust is proven wise now."

Thundercracker holds his ground as the huge mech steps toward him but he's not too happy to do so. Rumble bows up verbally and for a moment he wonders how hard Scorponok's going to swat the munchkin mech off his shoulder. Then he glances at the blue chopper mech that stands nearby. "Seems I'm not the only one, Scorponok -- are you really just going to smash us up or shoot us or whatever to silence us instead of convincing us you are the leader of the future?"

Swindle ooohs as a mech gets blasted. Typical example making, nothing out of the ordinary. "Wow, this guy's serious, he's got Shockwave making examples of mechs," he says quietly to Blast Off.

While he would not admit it out loud, he knows Razorclaw has a point. That said, Guardstar has little patience for disobidence. Returning the nod to Razor, Guardstar grins. "Then perhaps we rid ourselves of those who would cause the crack. Do you not agree?" He says just before the explosion, his head jerking quickly to view it. "I see some of us are on the same page already."

Scorponok inclines his head once, briefly, to Guardstar. "Now THERE's a mech who gets it. He wants to get to business. I can respect that. And believe me," he turns to Rumble, "We're gonna have plenty of business to get to." Razorclaw is noted, as well. Scorponok grins. "The thing causing the cracks are the weak-willed pansyafts who can't stomach a real fight, or get sidetracked by softness like compassion. You're a Predacon, right? You should know exactly what I'm talking about. You're in the business of weeding out the weak. Just like a turbo-fox weeds out the slow and stupid petro-rabbits and keeps the survivors on their toes- and at their best. Just like we did in the Gladiator pits- we weeded out the weak and now only the strong stand among us. For the most part." And suddenly KABOOOM. Scorponok turns to stare at what's left of the blue helicopter mech. At first there's a surprised look on his face- then that Grinch-like smile returns. "Shockwave. I wasn't sure about you. HA! To be honest I STILL ain't sure about you. But I like that. See?" He turns and scans the crowd. "Now THERE's another who gets it." "You want to know what we need to do? I'll tell ya. Resources are getting more limited, and the way things are going there's only enough for a few to survive. I aim to be that person. I'll lead you bunch of rustbuckets into being those people. IF ya got what it takes. IF you're strong, too. I don't have time for a bunch of bottom-barrel weaklings. The world OWES us. It's taken from us long enough, I figure it's time we took back. Time we bent it to OUR will. Time we made that "Optimus Prime" poser and his bunch of pansy-aft Autobots kneel before us before we grind them to dust under our heels. The time of the Primes is done. And make no mistake- this is war, and we need to take the resources- and the planet- for ourselves before the Autobots do. They are our enemies and deserve no mercy." Then he turns to scowl once more at Thundercracker. "I got no problems with smashing or shooting up anyone who questions the leader of the Decepticons. Which- happens to be me now." Another fist smack.

Blast Off lifts an optic ridfge to Swindle again. "You haven't been in that star system, have you? I've been near it. You do NOT go there. Not if you want to come back. I spoke to Astrotrain not long ago... he mentioned something about having to go there recently. It's a place we shuttles avoid if at all possible. That planet is barbaric, primitive. No one comes back from it alive. If Megatron was sent there... then odds are he's no longer functional." The shuttleformer shrugs indifferently. As the mech gets blasted to smithereens by Shockwave, the shuttle blinks. "....Yes, I see." he replies.

After Shockwave makes an immediate example of the mech standing near Thundercracker, Rumble stares at the crumpled corpse and quiets down for a while. The smoldering husk of the dissenter has managed to shut him up, at least for the time being.

With the sound of gunfire reflexively Razorclaw's hand goes to the hilt of his sword. But it isn't a riot starting yet, just Shockwave proving the point. "Punctual and logical as ever." Shockwave is willing to support Scorponok.. but what of his own machinations does have in doing so? A ponderance for later, prehaps.

The death in itself doesn't phase him. "And when the petro-rabbits try to hide in their burrow, you collapse it on top of them," he finishes Scorponok's previous analogy. "Or coax them into believe it is safe."

The sword is drawn in a surprisingly swift motion compared to the Predacon's previous lethargic observing, though only to stab the point into what remains of the copter-con's arm.

"So they come out right into the trap placed upon their hiding spot."

Who can ever be sure of Shockwave at the best of times. And quite wether he gets it or not is anyone's guess. But he looks towards Scotponok, his yellow optic glowing gently. He listens to the reactions from the others present, mentally noting them all for later review. Some he already decides need to be followed up on.

He gazes over at Soundwave, who has remained quiet and out of the way (so about normal), but is willing to bet the later is all the more annoyed now at not being able to read Shockwave.

Returning his gaze to Scorponok, Shockwave intones, "You can be sure Scorponok, I will act as logic dictates." So, no way to be sure of what he will do.

The Blue Seeker suddenly gets sprayed with ash and a few bits of metal from the con he just glanced at. He looks at Shockwave then the Predacon and to Scorponok. With a slight lift of his wings Thundercracker says nothing, the look on his face unreadable.

Guardstar chuckles at the turn of events. "This should bring the others around. Those who don't come around.. can be dealt with later." He takes one last look at those gathered before backing off slowly, at least as slowly as a massive slow moving robot can. He turns and walks back towards where he came, chuckling as he goes.

Swindle grins at Blast Off. "Oh Ye of Little Faith," he says, "I'M still standing here, aren't I?" He winks at his combatibro, a flicker of off-on in one side of his optic band. "Megatron survived the fighting pits of Kaon. Junkion will be a cakewalk for him, trust me."

Scorponok sneers at Rumble again, but straightens a bit, no longer looking like he's thinking of smashing the small Con into a pulp. Thundercracker gets a soft *heh*- but he makes no further moves against the Seeker either. "That's better. I don't tolerate rebellion. But work with me, prove yourself strong and willing to do what it takes, and you can join me in victory." Guardstar also gets a nod. "Spread the word, friend." Shockwave gets a smirk. "Yeah... I figured. Just be sure what's "logical" doesn't interfere with ME." He then pauses to listen to Razorclaw as he brings his claws together to tap against the tips lightly. "Yes. Exactly. I've seen you Predacons in action. You've got what it takes and you know how to deal with the weak and the soft. I want you to start preparing. Sniff around, look for those weaknesses and report back to me. Get ready to rip out those soft underbellies, start spreading fear. Shockwave, I want you to gather intelligence and start formulating ways we can acquire and use resources- and deny it to our enemies. Start with the Toraxxis mega-refinery."

Blast Off frowns just a bit under his faceplate. "Perhaps. Time will tell- but if Megatron somehow survives all that... he's an even better warrior than I gave him credit for. Junkion is something far worse than even the most brutal day at the Pits."

Quite where Shockwave plans to start, he isn't saying. The refinery is logical for Scorponoks plans certainly. So it may or may not fit into Shockwaves, time will tell. Looking briefly over at Blast Off, Shockwave then turns and walks away towards his own lab without another word to anyone.

Razorclaw pulls his sword back out of the severed limb, flipping it back over in one smooth motion and mag-locking it to his back once more. He gives Scorponok an impassive gaze for a long moment, then bows his head forward briefly. "As you command, Scorponok." No more and no less needing to be said, the Predacon turns and walks off to get started on just that.

And his own planning, as well. Contingencies to be made. Just in case.

Thundercracker remains silent but is watching everyones reactions. He doesn't particularly like this but there's not much he can do for right now. Silently the Seeker turns and walks off.

Scorponok smacks giant claws together and turns, ready to begin heading out now that the crowd seems far more quiet- funny what reducing someone to slag can do. But one mech calls out, "Wait! But Megatron! He'll return, I just know it! What you're saying is against the very things he fought for. He was fighting for justice- to help the oppressed, not to slaughter everything and everyone that stands in his way. He spoke of helping those who were struggling- not grinding them all underfoot. This is NOT what I joined the Decepticons for!!!" Scorponok spins around and without any warning -snaps a claw- and snips the mech's head right off! The body falls to the ground, crackling and bleeding fuel. Scorponok looks out at the crowd. "Oh. And by the way. NEVER mention Megatron's name to me EVER again. He's dead and forgotten- just as this weakling now is. It's time for the strong to survive. Scavenge the dead, use their parts. But not this one." He kicks the body with a massive foot. "Or that one." He gestures with his head to what's left of the helicopter mech. "They don't even deserve *that*." And with that- he walks away.

Swindle gulps and fidgets a bit. Never mention Megatron's name again? What a tall order.