Chain of Command

Dreadwing's POV

It feels good to finally go back into the field. Though it's been an adjustment being an autobot. As things are run differently here. They all really look out for each other. Unlike the decepticons. It doesn't help that some still do not trust me. But I don't care about that. I'll prove myself to them. Besides as long I can be there for Misty-blue and give her a better life. That's good enough for me.

Besides, Optimus trusts me. Along with Ratchet and my daughter. With them on my side. That's all I need. I've been sparing with Bulkhead and Wheeljack. I think they just like the excuse to hit me after what I did while I was a decepticon. I don't blame them for it and I have apologized for what I've done. Which seems to have eased some of the tension.

Anyway, I am currently on a mission with Bulkhead, Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus. While Misty-blue is safely at base studying predacons. She seems to find them fascinating. She even asked me if she could have one to play with. Ratchet said no, but I am kind of considering it. If a predaking imprinted on her, it'd protect her with it's life. Which would mean more protection for her. I'd discuss the possibility with Optimus when we return to base.

"All right, Beast Hunters. According to our intel, the Decepticons should be excavating for Predacon bones directly beneath us" Ultra Magnus states. As we disembark the ship.

"On it chief" Wheeljack says and runs off. To scout the area. I roll my optics.

"Does Wheeljack not comprehend the chain of command?" Ultra Magnus asks Bulkhead. "I didn't authorize him to advance without proper cover" he states.

"I'm sure Jackie's just trying to prove himself now that you and he are serving together again, sir" Bulkhead assures him.

"Ready when you are" I tell them.

"Yee hah!" Wheeljack yells and jumps over the edge of the cliff.  We follow him. We look over to see him climbing down. Bulkhead starts to follow him. As a guard appears below. Magnus and I arm ourselves as he sighs in exasperation. "Wrecker fact number 15" he says.

"Guards never look up" Bulkhead states. But then loses his footing a little, causing some rocks to fall. Alerting the guard to our presence. Wheeljack dealt with him silently though. But then three more guards appear. Wheeljack engages and we join him. Surprising the cons. It was difficult fighting my former team mates. But I did and made it quick & painless.

"Area secure" I state once all the guards were down.

"That's why we wait for cover" Magnus tells Wheeljack. Suddenly something knocks from inside Wheeljack's chassis.

"Oh bolts" he says and opens it. Revealing Miko inside. He takes her out and places her down as she takes deep breaths. "Uh Forgot you were in there, kid" he says sheepishly.

"At least I didn't heave on any floormats this time" Miko states.

"And what could have possibly compelled you to bring the native?" Ultra Magnus demands. At least Wheeljack didn't bring Misty-blue. Otherwise he'd have me, Ultra Magnus and Ratchet lecturing him. "Are your circuits impaired, soldier?" he demands.

"Prime told you to lead Dreadwing and the Wreckers on this one. I assumed he meant all of 'em" Wheeljack tells him with a shrug.

"Are you mocking your commanding officer?" Magnus demands.

"Wouldn't think of it, sir. The kid's a full-blown Wrecker. Isn't that right, Bulkhead?" Wheeljack asks.

"Well" Bulkhead says. Looking uncomfortable.

"Well Look. She may be small, but she saved my tailpipe. Snuffed an Insecticon all on her own" Wheeljack states.

"Really?" I ask looking at Miko. She nods her head. "That's impressive for one so small, I'd like to hear the story sometime" I tell her.

"Sure" she says. "The point is, I can handle myself, sir" she tells Ultra Magnus.

"Miko has been through worse, and we've drawn out the enemy and cleared passage" Bulkhead adds. Ultra Magnus allows her to join us. And we head inside. I am walking with Ultra Magnus. While Wheeljack and Bulkhead bring up the rear with Miko.

"You ok soldier?" Magnus asks me.

"I'm fine commander" I assure him.

"How do you feel about being a new recruit? Do you feel you get enough support?" he asks me.

"It's a learning curve, things run differently here. I also went from being second in command to essentially a rookie again. Ratchet, Optimus and Bumblebee all trust me. So does my daughter. As long as I have her, I don't really care what the rest of the team thinks of me" I tell him. "I was a con and I admit I did kill a few autobots. The last autobot I killed was a wrecker by the name Seaspray. Which is why Wheeljack and Bulkhead aren't my biggest fans" I state.

Before Ultra Magnus could say anything the ground quakes. Bulkhead caught Miko when she fell off a boulder. "What was that?" he asks us. We hear a loud screech behind us. We look down the tunnel.

"Whatever it is, it's big" Wheeljack states. "And it's coming fast" he adds. As we all stand together. Just then the predacon appears around the corner charging us.

"The predacon, lets roll" Magnus states. We all transform and I jet off fast then them. It shots fire at us and we dodge it. I spot a side tunnel up ahead and stop in front of it.

"This way" I tell the others as they round the corner. I then take off again. They follow and we reach a tunnel the predacon can't fit in. But that won't stop it for long. We enter a large stone chamber. We all transform and I land beside Magnus.

"Good thinking soldier, but that rock won't hold it forever" he states. "We need to contact base and request reinforcements" he tells us.

"Wreckers don't call for backup" Wheeljack tells him.

"What Jackie means is, we can't get a comm-link signal this far underground" Bulkhead says. Covering for Wheeljack. "Miko, I have to get you out of here. Gonna need you to climb" he tells her. She looks up at the crack in the ceiling.

"No way. I wanna help" she tells him.

"And you will. Your mission: Reach my ship so you can contact Optimus Prime" Magnus orders her.

"Yes sir" she says saluting him.

"I can give her a lift to the ceiling" I offer.

"We'll need you down here if that predacon breaks through" Magnus tells me. "Besides, she seems to be handling the climb just fine" he adds. We hear the predacon and hear rocks fall.

"Not sure I like the sound of that" Wheeljack states.

"We make our stand here and now" Magnus tells us. I grab my gun and prepare it. As the others prepare for battle. We all fan out. Magnus will be the first thing the predacon sees. I took the high ground. The predacon appears and charges. Magnus hits it with the forge. "Open fire" he orders and we do so. Wheeljack and Bulkhead attack from the sides. As I fire from above. It swings it's tail.

"Duck Bulkhead!" I warn. He does so. The predacon's tail scraps over his back plates. It then shots fire at Wheeljack. Who dodges it. I shot it in the head. It growls and shots fire at me. I transform and dodge it. Magnus sent the predacon flying with a swing of the forge. I transform and land beside him.

The predacon swings it's tail at us. Just then Bulkhead appears and grabs it. "No you don't" Bulkhead tells it. It raises him high and then throws him at Magnus and I. I push Magnus out of the way. But Bulkhead lands on top of me. The predacon advances on us and Wheeljack shots it.

"Hey, hot-head!" he shouts. The Predacon turns it's attention onto him. He throws a grenade at it and it whacks it away. It lands next to Bulkhead and I. "Scrap" Wheeljack says. I roll Bulkhead and I away from the grenade. As it goes off, causing the ceiling to fall on us.

When we dig ourselves out, we don't see the predacon. Luckily none of us are seriously hurt. But we are sore from having large rocks fall on us. "Well, that didn't go exacty as planned" Wheeljack states.

"That's because any first-cycle Cadet knows better than to detonate a grenade in a confined space" Magnus snaps.

"Even my daughter knows that" I state.

"Even if I intended the "confined space" to be the belly of the beast?" Wheeljack asks.

"Uh sir" Bulkhead says.

"Your actions continue to be just one step removed from getting us all scrapped" Magnus tells Wheeljack.

"With all due respect, sir, the Predacon's loose and Miko's out there alone" Bulkhead states. He leaves.

"Permission to provide cover, sir?" Wheeljack asks. I transform and take off after Bulkhead. Wheeljack and Magnus following us. I pass Bulkhead and exit the mine. I see Miko in the apex armor and Starscream standing over her. No sign of thepredacon.

I fire and it sent Starscream flying. I land besides Miko in my bi-pedal mode, gun ready. "You?! You're supposed to be dead!" Starscream shouts.

"You want to native, you go through me" I sneer.

"You forget traitor, I am not alone" Starscream states as the other two point their weapons at me.

"Neither am I" I tell him. As Miko grabs him and tosses him into one of the two. I shot the other. Starscream fires one of his rockets at me. But Miko protects me from it. While we were hidden from view. I gave her a boost sending her flying. She double kicks Starscream. Sending him flying. We then go hand to hand with the other two. Watching each others backs. "Not bad kid" I say.

"You're not so bad yourself" she says. She round house kicks one of the cons. "Whose wrecking who now?" she asks them. As I punch the other.

"You do know that I vanquished Cliffjumper, don't you?" Starsceam asks.

"Big whoop. I snuffed Hardshell" she tells him. Just then I hear the others approach. About time they showed up. Starscream and the others retreat. "They got away with the bone" she tells the others.

"Hey, you brought your A-game, kid, like a true Wrecker" Wheeljack praises.

"With some training, you will be a force to be wreck-en with in this armor" I add. She smiles up at us. Wheeljack then leaves. While the rest of us returned to Magnus' ship and take off.

"You fought well today soldier, you have my trust" Magnus tells me.

"And mine, thanks for having Miko's back" Bulkhead adds.

"You're welcome" I say. Then get a call. "Excuse me" I say and go to the back of the ship. I answer it. "I am fine" I assure Misty-blue.

"Are you coming home?" she asks me.

"We're on our way back" I state. "Are you being good for Ratchet?" I ask her. She nods her head. "Gotta go, I'll see you when we return" I tell her. Then end the call. I return to my seat.

"Misty-blue?" Bulkhead asks.

"Yeah, she was worried" I state. "But we're all ok, sure we failed at stopping the cons getting the bone. But we did get the Apex Armor back and are all alive" I list.

"Sounds like a win to me" he states. The rest of the flight is quiet. As I do a field report on a tablet. Knowing Ultra Magnus will want us all to do one when we return. If I do it now, after my medical check from Ratchet. I can spend time with my daughter.