"Still, I don't like it." said Ratchet, "I'm still picking up that strange signal, but I can't seem to pinpoint it."
"Relax, Ratchet." said Bumblebee, "We've already checked all the planets within 40 Parsecs of Cybertron. Twice."
"I't couldn't be Megatron, we all saw him die, thanks to yours truly." he said rather proudly, "But still, you have a point. If it isn't Megatron causing the signal, who could it be?"
"I don't know, Bumblebee, I just don't know. For now, we should wait. Perhaps more will be revealed to us later." said Ratchet with a sigh, "Besides, there is work to be done..."
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Princess Luna had recently acquired an interest in quantum physics, specifically, wormholes. Luna knew about space and stars and that stuff, but she also knew that space travel was far beyond their current technological level. Sometimes, during her night watch, she would use her telescope to stargaze. She knew how to use spells to locate and identify wormholes, but she hadn't expected to find one open up so close to Equestria. The wormhole looked like a firework that never ended, with green shooting out everywhere, and a blue tunnel shape inside. Before Luna could document any more about the strange phenomenon, something came through the wormhole.
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Deep in the everfree forest, a smoldering capsule lay among the trees, still hot from re-entry. After a few minutes, a door in the side started opening, but got stuck when it was half way open. "GAH! Stupid pod!" yelled a frustrated voice from inside.
"Calm down, Starscream, I will attempt to repair the door's circuits." replied another, more monotone voice.
"Don't bother, Shockwave, I will handle this myself." with that, Starscream blasted the doors open. "There," he said, emerging from the capsule, "That went easier than expected," he said, dusting himself off, "now all we have to do is find a place to set up shop." Starcream added sarcastically, "If only there were a place nearby that was sheltered, and discouraged any natives from entering." he said pretending to look utterly clueless.
"I sense sarcasm in your voice, Starscream. Elaborate." demanded Shockwave, in his usual, semi-monotone voice.
"Ugh. Never mind that, we have work to do. Locate the nearest energon deposit; it should be nearby. According to the archives, this is one of the main planets the decepticons hid their energon stashes during the war, but it seems sentient life has taken root here in our absence." Sarscream informed, with a hint of anger in his voice.
"If i recall correctly, Starscream, you said the natives here were too primitive to be of any serious threat." questioned Shockwave.
"I know what I said! that doesn't change the fact that they will probably get in the way later on. If, and when they do, I say we exterminate the closest village to scare them off. Besides, I could use some action."
"Very well, Starscream. The nearest energon deposit should be 580 meters in that direction." said Shockwave, pointing his finger southeast.
"Excellent. You go collect as many energon crystals as you can carry. I will scout around for a suitable base location. Chop chop."
"Starscream, I know more about constructing bases than you, and you are better equipped to carry energon crystals than me. The logical choice would be to send you to retrieve the energon crystals, while I find a site for the base." said Shockwave bluntly.
"You DARE question my leadership!?" Starscream yelled, taking an aggressive stance.
"Starscream, fighting will only weaken us further, and severely decrease the chance of our plan's success." said Shockwave with irritation.
Starscream growled, then finally nodded. "very well, Shockwave. I will fetch the crystals. But we need to hurry, dawn is approaching, and it will be easier for someone to spot us in daylight."
And with that, they set off.
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Luna watched, horror stricken, as the strange object entered the upper atmosphere and, at a surprising rate, burst into flames due to the air-friction. The object appeared to be roughly she shape of a cylinder, a really big cylinder, and some sort of device on the back with a series of tubes and a nozzle at the end of it. The capsule roared past, missing the castle by only a few hundred feet, then crash-landed in the middle of the everfree forest. I must tell my sister, she thought, This could be dangerous.
-THE NEXT DAY-
"And then it crash-landed in the middle of the everfree forest." Luna finished with a worried tone.
"I see..." Said Celestia in a thoughtful tone, wearing a perfect poker face, "Well, sister, you were the one to spot it on your nightly watch. So as the princess of the night, what do you think we should do?" Luna seemed taken aback by this question.
After a few moments, that felt like hours, Luna finally broke the silence "I-I think we should send a team to investigate." said Luna, quickly regaining her posture
"By day or by night?" asked Celestia
"By night, To avoid frightening anypony" Luna answered decisively
"An excellent proposal, sister." said Celestia, with a smile.
-THAT NIGHT-
"You are to go and investigate. recon only if you see anything dangerous, you are to report it to me right away," Luna said, drilling her recon team, which consisted of 4 stallions, all pegasi, in jet-black uniforms, with cammo painted over. "Is that understood?"
"Mam, Yes Mam!" they all said, in more or less perfect union. But as they set out that night, none of them was expecting the horrors that awaited them.