LOG-004.

  The spare building we'd reinforced with some scrap we'd found was quickly becoming filled with salvaged equipment. I might end up moving Shrapnel's berth out of here and dedicating this entire area to being a computer hub in all honesty.

  I read through a few notes I'd ended up downloading to my short term drive while attaching one of the larger sub-modules to the impromptu computer station, even as I directed a Zaku and an insecticon with my cannon arm.

  "Ensure the main source cable is stabilized correctly. Shrapnel, place the holo-emitter parallel to the connective-matrix. Zero, keep hold of those wires, I'll get to them after I activate the main drive."

  The green mech grunted, servos full of carefully picked out wires that we'd managed to scavenge from the Polyhex facility.

  "Affirmative. Creator, what is the purpose of this station?"

  I pointed at the main console with a digit just as it lit up.

  "A temporary control net for one of the satellites we managed to commandeer back at Polyhex. By rerouting it's administrative nodes to this sector, we can direct it remotely, rather than having to utilize the control dome each time."

  I shrugged.

  "I plan to encrypt an SOS signal and have the satellite broadcast it in a repeating pattern for as long as possible. With luck, the activation of Shrapnel's stasis pod will have garnered Decepticon attention. All we need to do is await our rescue."

  The aforementioned bug bot nodded from his corner, dropping the disc shaped holo-emitter with a thump.

  "It will be good to leave this place and rejoin Lord Megatron once more. I tire greatly of hiding from scraplets."

  Sighing, I took the wires from Zero's servos, beginning to untangle them.

  "Indeed. So do I."

  ---

  Shrapnel stood at as much attention as his slightly hunched posture would allow as I gestured to the projected map detailing Tarn's borders. Next to it lay a schematic. One that bore a startling similarity to Zero's frame.

  "While I anticipate the arrival of our fellow Decepticons, I can not predict when they will arrive. As such, we must operate under the assumption that we are on our own. I plan to alleviate this problem by increasing our numbers."

  I turned my optic to stare into the insecticon's visor.

  Stolen story; please report.

  "I have dispatched the predacon to search for suitable offline frames that we might repurpose towards this endeavor. Zero has proven the potential of project Zaku, as a result he is currently undergoing a short operation in order to record his CNA."

  Cloning. Sort of. It wasn't quite what I had done with Predaking, that had been proper cloning. This was merely the alteration of existing material. Namely, dead cybertronian protoforms. Corpses, in other words.

  Stepping forward, I gave my fellow Decepticon a pat on the shoulder plate.

  "This is where you come in. I have already chipped my spark twice. A large fragment was required to jump-start the predacon's conception. A second, smaller shard went into Zero's own production."

  I leaned back, nodding.

  "Understand that this is no small task. I am asking you to sacrifice a portion of your spark in order to assist in the construction of a new form of Decepticon soldier. Zero has proven an excellent base model, and I believe his frame, mixed with the materials provided by the fallen and the ferocity of an insection spark shall make for a powerful combination."

  Shrapnel considered my words for a moment, before bowing his helm.

  "It would be an honor to assist in the creation of new warriors for our cause, Commander Shockwave."

  I clapped my servo and cannon together, producing a dull clank that drew the insecticon's attention back to me.

  "Excellent. Let us begin immediately."

  ---

  "Plasma-saw."

  Making the decision not to offline Shrapnel while he was under had been a difficult choice.

  "Energon drip feed."

  He was a powerful, and mostly reliable warrior to be sure, but if I had harvested his entire spark I could have produced at least fifty to sixty new Zakus. Assuming I split the shard into smaller fragments, then split those fragments into even smaller pieces.

  But growing and training all those mechs would have taken forever. And while I did have time, I still didn't want to waste too much of it when I didn't have to.

  There was also the fact that keeping three high quality mechs topped up on energon was much easier than fueling a small army. For obvious reasons.

  "Cognition levels are dropping below acceptable parameters. Inject the surplus midgrade into his left arterial energon vein."

  Instead, I chose only to slice off a mere fraction of the insecticon's core. He would be debilitated for a long time unless he received a steady supply of high quality energon, but he would live. And even then, he'd just have to avoid extremely strenuous activity if anything. Not too much of a loss if one thought about it from a long term perspective.

  "Combi-welder."

  More importantly, I could leave him behind to train my new soldiers in combat, making them that much more effective than the average vehicon.

  Quality over quantity and all that.

  Shutting Shrapnel's torso back up, I handed the shard containment chamber to a patiently waiting Zero (having an assistant made operations like this so much easier) and moved to wash off the energon staining my servos.

  "The predacon has returned?" I still hadn't actually said Predaking aloud yet, at least not in the presence of others. I wasn't sure if I wanted to give him an alternate identifier or let him choose his own name like he had in canon.

  Maybe Megatron wouldn't go full dumbass if I named him Predaclaw or something. Food for thought.

  My first Zaku nodded, reverently placing the large capsule on the table next to a trio of growth tanks I'd managed to set up.

  "Affirmative. I witnessed it drop a pair of frames similar in size to my own just outside the courtyard area before departing. Likely to look for more."

  Flicking away the excess liquid from my servos, I responded.

  "Excellent. The shard should be large enough to split into three separate pieces without too much issue. They'll even require a shorter gestation period compared to yours, thanks to their larger size."

  His singular optic turned to face my own with a barely audible whirring noise.

  "What shall we do in the meantime?"

  Patting Shrapnel's helm, I shrugged.

  "Continue to scavenge for supplies. Take care of Shrapnel until he awakens. Continue experimenting and recording the predacon's progress. All while waiting for the arrival of allied forces of course."

  I pulled a cube of midgrade energon out from my subspace as I strode past the green mech.

  "We're just biding our time until something of interest comes up, really."