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Lithone: PrologueTwo hundred cycles to the Selezen system, Captain.

Acknowledged, Bika, Perceptor cheerily replied. He swiveled in hiscaptain's chair to face the science station. Thesys, begin nal checkout ofsensors, please.

Yes, sir, Thesys responded. He glanced up just in time to see a glint inPerceptor's eye, the one that he had grown to dislike quite a bit, but only

because he himself knew all too well why it was there. He and Perceptorshared the same feelings about these planetary surveys. No matter how

boring they were to him, he couldn't help but feel a little utter in his sparkon nal approach to a new system. There could be something there ...something exciting.

But, after scores of disappointments, Thesys stopped consciously hoping foranything more than some new kind of emission from a star or some other

random scientic anomaly. Hardly thrilling, really. The fate of a scientist likeThesys was the relative obscurity of having your name attached to dozens ofsurvey reports, led away somewhere deep in the Cybertronian archives. Hepressed on with his nal checkout as the crew's guest walked up to hisstation.

You've got this job nailed down like a roto-hammer, kid, Kup said, perusingthe science displays. Thesys winced a little, although the gravelly,curmudgeonly tone of Kup's voice made it hard to get annoyed at him. Eventhough he had just pigeon-holed him into his lackluster career in onecompliment. Won't be long before you move up to the main ofce, I'll bet.

One can only hope, sir, Thesys replied atly as he continued the checkoutprocedures. He was having a hard time imagining the transition fromexplorer to librarian as advancement.

Starstreak, prepare to launch, Perceptor said into the comm.

Acknowledged, came the burly reply.

Perceptor turned to face Kup. Whenever we are about to enter a new systemthis close to Decepticon territory, I dispatch Starstreak on patrol. This shouldgive us a tactical edge if we encounter any difculties. The captain managedto sound bubbly, even when discussing the potential for combat.

Always a good idea, Kup reassured him. I don't think we've ever known

so little about what those thugs are up to. Reminds me of that time when weweren't so vigilant on Fierias II ...

Excuse me, sir, Bika interrupted, but we are now entering the Selezensystem. Thesys quickly followed with, All sensors check out, sir, ready forprimary scans.

Excellent, Perceptor twittered. Starstreak, launch! Thesys, begin scans ofthe system. He interlaced his ngers and gazed at the viewscreen. Theorange Selezen sun appeared in the center of the viewscreen and began towax above the rest of the surrounding stars.

A hatch opened underneath the Alafex, and Starstreak fell out into the

vacuum. He transformed into a heavy starghter and rocketed ahead of theship, taking up point. Meanwhile, back on the bridge, Thesys's ngers danced

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across his controls as he orchestrated the standard primary scan sequences.

Perceptor continued his banter. I'm glad you decided to pay us a visit, Kup.It's nice to see that the Council takes such interest in our efforts. He wasenjoying the feeling of importance that Kup's presence brought.

Oh, yeah, Kup replied. Teams like this are the rst point of contact foranything new out here. Everything that happens back on Cybertroneventually traces back to these exploratory missions, after all. And besides,this is a great vacation for me. Dealing with bureaucrats all megacycle makesmy gears grind. A little boredom is good lubrication for the spark.

Ah, yes, well, Perceptor mumbled, a little let down by the boredomcomment.

Thesys smirked as he continued his scans. Soon the orbital data popped up onhis monitor, and he began reporting the ndings. Sensors indicate sixprimary planetary masses orbiting the star. Five are in orbits that correspondto natural processes, but one is following an eccentric orbit ... the fourthplanet. It's unusually small, too. Focusing scanners. He redirected the sensorarrays toward the fourth planet just before Perceptor commanded, Redirectthe sensor arrays toward the fourth planet, Thesys.

The bridge was quiet as Thesys continued his report. The planet is oddlyshaped, Captain. Not spherical - oblong. And it seems to be almost entirelymetallic. ... Cybertronium! Now this was something. A potential gold mine,as it were, of the valuable metal.

Perceptor literally bounced in his chair. Bika, set a course for the fourthplanet! Starstreak, y escort! Now this is something! Yes, indeed! The captainwas practically shedding energon from his face plate, he was so giddy.

As the Selezen sun wheeled out of view, a small white form clonked its wayonto the bridge. Natalie Witwicky still had not quite gotten the hang of herexo-suit contraption, but at least she could walk without falling over. Mostly.At this point though, she was too annoyed to notice even her own clumsiness.Captain, have we arrived at Selezen? Was there a reason I was notinformed?

Perceptor glanced over his shoulder at the Earth government sciencerepresentative, then turned excitedly to face her. I apologize profusely, MissWitwicky, it was an oversight on my part. But please, have a look at thesereadings! We have quite the nd here, I believe!

Natalie's interest was piqued by Perceptor's enthusiasm. She half-forgot herannoyance as she made her way to Thesys's station. She could just peer overthe edge of the Autobot-sized console to make out the readings. Ninety-eightpercent cybertronium! But it's too large to be a ship. Maybe a planetoid? Butthat's an awful lot of metal.

We're coming into visual range of the planet, Captain, Bika reported. Sheleaned back as she eased up on the controls. A small dot in the center of theviewscreen started to grow. It took on an orange hue, and its shape began toelongate. Smooth surfaces of orange and gray metal became visible, gleamingwith reected light from the Selezen sun.

Soon the object grew even more dened. It bulged somewhat in the center,and at one end had four pointed features that stuck out at angles. It was

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becoming evident that this was not a natural object.

Thesys studied the shape and tried to extrapolate what it could be from hisdatabanks. Morphological analysis indicated a high correlation to the shapesof heavy transport ships and tankers. It also looked like a sort of colossalweapon ... his spark itted for a moment ... but the bulge in the center did not

t. In the end, the object's sheer size deed his analysis.Then he noticed the looks on the faces of Kup and Perceptor. He had neverreally seen Perceptor appear grave before, but there it was. The glow of hisoptics was muted and his mouth was drawn down and agape. Kup wasleaning forward on the captain's chair, ngers practically dug into it, with thesame look of doom. I don't believe it, he rasped. That can't be what it lookslike it is.

Bika, Thesys, and Natalie all turned to the stunned pair of veterans. Whatdoes it look like, sir? Bika innocently asked.

Kup replied grimly. One of Unicron's legs.

A wave of dread washed over Bika and Thesys upon hearing that name.Despite this, Thesys noted how much differently he beheld the just-recently-planetoid as it began to dominate the viewscreen. Had it been an ordinaryhunk of rock oating in space, anyone would have considered it quite small.But seeing the smooth orange paneled skin spanning the leg, and the whitefoot-talons tearing into empty space, it was mind-boggling in its enormity. Hisfascination with the discovery, though, did little to quell his fear.

Natalie looked at the gawking Autobots around her and asked plaintively,Unicron? Who's Unicron?

Kup didn't answer her, but slowly said, This may be a good time for us tohead back the way we came, and report this to Fleet Command. ... Captain.Captain.

Perceptor could only stammer out his orders. Starstreak, re-return to theship ... at once! Bika, p-p-plot a course away from here at best speed.

Before either crewmember could execute their orders, warning klaxons beganblaring. Unidentied ships approaching. Unidentied ships approaching,the ship's computer stated as the bridge plunged into redness. The noise andlights shocked the Autobots out of their stupor. Perceptor now managed tosound even less sure of himself as he gave new orders.

Starstreak, never mind what I said! Stay out there. Get ready for whatever iscoming. ... Thesys, what is coming?

Thesys shook off the distractions of the last few seconds and spun back to facehis console. He congured a close-range target sweep, and saw three blipsheading in. Three ships, sir, he said as he continued hammering on thecontrols. They are closing quickly. He focused scans on one of the ships forfurther details.

At that point a concussion rocked the ship. Natalie fell straight over as the restof the crew braced themselves. A voice began speaking through the comm

system.Unidentied vessel. You are within a restricted area. Surrender or you will

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be destroyed.

Perceptor clicked on the hailing frequency of his comm controls. This isCaptain Perceptor of the Autobot exploratory ship Alafex. We come in peaceand mean no harm.

The voice of Starstreak now sounded. Captain, just give the word and I'llstart slammin' and jammin'! Any dread Starstreak may have felt was swiftlyreplaced by the excitement of a prospective battle. As Perceptor orderedStarstreak to instead move closer to the Alafex, Thesys observed the scanreports as they scrolled on his display. Soon a schematic of the unknown shipsappeared, and he recognized their design with a start.

Sir, the ships are Prometheus-class Decepticon battle cruisers. The same classof ship that Unicron created for Galvatron's army. This was not good news;Prometheus cruisers long were the foremost battleships in local space, and asmall science vessel like the Alafex wouldn't stand a chance against just one ofthem, never mind three.

Decepticons, Kup grumbled with distaste, to no one in particular.

The distended purple shapes of the three cruisers were now clearly visible onscreen, and their weapon ports burned bright violet. Alafex, you willsurrender and prepare to be boarded. Comply or be destroyed!

All eyes turned to Perceptor, who seemed much too bewildered for a captain'sown good, or the good of his ship. Kup paused for a moment, then clockedhim in the head. Captain, do something or we're all space dust! he growled.

Perceptor fumbled for his controls, then pressed them rmly.Acknowledged! We surrender! he exclaimed. We surrender! He ickedoff the controls and, after a beat, slumped back in his seat.

The crew all slowly stood up as the ships approached the Alafex, whileStarstreak still tried to convince Perceptor that they had a chance. Captain,c'mon! We can't surrender! Captain?

Lithone: Prologue 2005, 2011 Bill Havanki

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