Weather maps and radar maps were checked and double checked before Starscream permitted either the blackops or Seeker Squadrons to take flight. With the intense battles, burning cities, the manufacture of ammunitions and other means for war, the clouds had become quite acidic and dangerous. Flying through them was often considered suicidal. Starscream wanted to make sure he did not put his units in any risk. The less he aggravated Megatron, the better it was for him.
The Seekers flew as a large squadron, their members stayed with their standard groups of three, alone, not with any particular group, Starscream flew ahead.
"This is Delta leader, we are in position. Orders?" inquired the black ops commander.
"Hold your position Delta leader," Starscream replied. 'I will be going in first, the squadron has mopup orders. Do nothing until I tell you to."
"Understood." and then the radio went silent.
Starscream looked over his wing and admired the forty eight Seekers in battle formation . It was not the typical size of one hundred to two hundred Seekers, but he felt it was enough to do the required job. If plan A, talks, failed, he would use plan B, intimidation-if that didn't work, there was always plan C. Their engines rumbled in unison, sounding like the rolling thunder as they flew toward the eastern fringe villages.
Still angry thoughts continued to cross Starscream's over active mind. His anger continued to rise in magnitude at what he took as high insult. How could they? he fumed privately. Declaring neutral status means they will likely fall out of Decepticon territory and more susceptible to becoming Autobots...Megatron would kill me for that alone...How could they do this after all we had done for them? How do they even plan on making a living?
As they neared the village, the Seeker Squadrons checked in with Starscream and then split off into their designated groups. Starscream was the only one who went straight in.
The village was small with many low buildings and plenty of open spaces. The population of two thousand was mostly of Seekers with a few triple changers and land bound individuals. The structures were quite solid if black from soot and etched from acid rain erosion. Starscream circled the village once checking out the layout. He flew toward the village Square, an area with a large digital clock in the centre that displayed the time and weather condition as well as the chilly ambient temperature.
Starscream landed near a comfortably large building. He observed that the roof was high with ornate toppers. The metal doors were extra wide and would permit even the largest Seeker to pass through without getting his wings hooked on the door or having to side step through. A problem,he faced most often at Darkmount.
Starscream inhaled deeply and pushed his fury into the recesses of his mind. He wanted to negotiate first. If that failed, then he could permit himself to feel his fury once more. He was surprised that no one greeted him as he walked toward the building, but he realised that by now, he was probably considered an unwelcome guest. But that did not phase him as let himself into the building. It was there we was met by Iconoclast followed by a younger femcon Seeker.
"What's the meaning of this intrusion, Starscream?" the Decepticon asked standing with his wings flattened against his shoulders as he attempted to intimidate Starscream with his size.
"We have business matters to discuss." Starscream replied ignoring the posturing. "We will discuss it."
"I have no business with you anymore, Starscream. Our contract is finished and it's my decision that our town will no longer be part of this pointless war."
"Your decision?" Starscream's voice trembled as his anger started to leak. "Since when have you gained the power to make decisions that will effect the lives of millions of Decepticons? Since when do you outrank me?" the Seeker's wings trembled and his optics flickered dangerously.
Iconoclast inhaled sharply and gave the femcon a worried nod and the female hurried out of the hallway. "It is the choice of this town," he said.
Starscream straightened and clasped his hands behind his back. He gained his composure and appeared calm, perhaps too calm. "Well, I see," Starscream said very slowly. "The choice of the town is it? Maybe you are right, perhaps this war is pointless and is a waste of life. Well then, give me the plans for the ammo. We need them." Starscream held his hand out.
"I am not giving you the plans for weapons to wage war, now leave this place," Iconoclast gestured sharply to the door.
"I said hand them over, Iconoclast" Starscream snapped, "and I mean now!"
"I will not, I would rather die than aid in the further destruction of innocents."
"Iconoclast..." the femcon's voice warned from a room.
"That can be arranged," Starscream said with a dangerous smirk. Starscream opened the communicator on his arm. "Delta leader, skip plan B and go directly to C. You have a-go." Abruptly there was gun fire in the streets.
"You wouldn't dare..." Iconoclast looked up at Starscream in shock.
"Yes I would, now give me the plans and/or re-sign the contract with me, and I will leave you in peace, this is my last offer."
Iconoclast shook his head. "You won't do this, not to your own kind."
Starscream nodded. He was correct. Iconoclast was playing the dare card. He did not think Starscream would carry out what he threatened to do. "Wanna bet?" he said slowly, "I understand neutrals do not fight back, so this should be very interesting to watch." Starscream opened up his comms once again. Delta Leader, Arrest Iconoclast and his clan.
As Starscream finished his order, the Delta Leader and company burst through the door. The gathered up the Seeker family and his offspark and dragged them into the village Square. They were bound hand and foot then gagged and forced to watch as the village was attacked from all directions.
Starscream stood firing at Decepticons and Seekers as they attempted to flee through the village. He laughed shrilly. Being that you have betrayed me, I will make you watch every last member of your village die in what horrible manners that my troops can think of. It will be known from here on in that I will not be questioned, I will get what I want or the punishment is death. Once everyone here has done their job and died, then I will personally kill each one of you."
Starscream nodded to a couple of Seekers. "Guard these Seekers until I return, I am planning on having a little fun." The Seekers nodded and stood by the bound group.
Starscream watched as his warriors dove down and attacked without mercy that he himself did not show. Starscream passed an alleyway with his weapons on full lethal power. He heard whimpering of someone frightened in the darkness. Quietly, stealthily he turned into the ally. He lifted a lid of a dumpster and looked at two very young faces, one male and one female. They stared back at him and were very frightened.
Starscream smiled to them gently, "Please," he said, "come out, I will take you somewhere where it is safe."
"Our creators told us to remain here, we're under attack." the youthful male said. The female clung to him whimpering and shaking.
"You are safe with me, come on," he said.
The two offspark exchanged nervous glances and slowly climbed out. Starscream waited. As soon as they cleared the bin, he opened fired. He hit each one between the optics and killed them instantly.
"Let this be a lesson to you, offspark, never talk or listen to strangers," he said as he turned back on them and continued with his hunt.
Another alley he observed one of his warriors tormenting a femcon before slicing her throat open with a knife. He nodded to the trooper giving him his approval as he caught sight of a quick movement.
Starscream identified the movement as a femcon as well. Are they all femcons? He wondered? Oh wait, the males are probably defending the village-funny I thought they didn't want to fight? Starscream. Cocked his head as he listened. It was difficult from the cries and screams of the frightened and the shouts and gunfire of his warriors. There it was again, the movement. Starscream burst into a full run.
Starscream ran down a young femcon and grabbed her from behind. As he did she screamed for help and he rapidly hooked his arm around her throat and she gasped and fought against him. "And here I thought you were a neutral," he whispered into her audio.
"Please don't, Starscream...please, let me go," she said between terrified sobs. "I don't want to die."
Starscream crushed his arm tighter around her throat. "You see, my dear? That choice wasn't made for you." he said in a harsh whisper. "You may thank, Iconoclast, for that" Starscream spun her around and locked optics with her. He glanced her up and down for a moment and watched her tremble. "You are pretty, but..." He smiled a sinister smile, "you're lucky you were caught by me, " he said as he snapped her head quickly to the right. She barely let out a shriek as she dropped lifeless at his feet.
The femcon quickly faded to grey and Starscream pulled her into a building. He looked around and did not see anyone inside. He opened up a box of magnesium and sprinkled it on the floor. He fired his weapon and it ignited. It burned with a blinding white light so bright that Starscream had to turn his face away from fire. As it burned it ignited other flammable plastics and metal. Soon the structure was consumed in flame and the dead femcon burned with it.
"Yes, Iconoclast. Watch your village go up in smoke!" He stepped away from the burning building and watched as the flames shot high through the roof, causing the thin metal shingles to melt and slough off. Other structural metals glowed red, then yellow as the bright orange tongues of flame leapt up. Plastics vaporised in an acrid cloud of smoke that billowed darkly across the village.
The Seeker backed away a few more steps and looked as lava like rivers of molten materials flowed from the buildings. Several structures had caught fire from the one he had started. Starscream could hear the screams of people trapped inside the buildings as they were burned to death. He clenched his jaw as he bumped into a fleeing figure. He turned on his heel and grabbed a triple changer in by his arm. The triple changer attempted to punch Starscream but the Seeker ducked and tripped him. The Decepticon fell face first into the river of molten metals. Starscream watched as the triple changer thrashed and screamed for mercy as he was slowly consumed by the river.
"I am so sorry," Starscream apologised, "I don't do requests." The Seeker stepped away from the glowing orange river. Interesting, Starscream mused, the ground must be made of something inferior and holds heat well. This place is turning into a regular slag pit.
"HA HA!" he laughed shrilly, "This is more like it, a smelting pit of such magnitude and beauty. We must not waste this golden opportunity!" His voice barely carried over the sound of the blazing buildings and hiss of melting metal.
Starscream opened his comm link again. "Starscream to all units, conserve your ammo if you can, toss anyone you capture into the molten slag and burning buildings." Starscream ordered. "ensure there are no survivors.
Starscream had to back away from the inferno. The heat from the fires were so intense that he could feel his own armour prickle uncomfortably from it. He slowly walked away, not wishing to remove his optics from what he considered pure beauty. The other Seekers also pulled away from the inferno. The heat from thermals would make flying most precarious when they had to leave the area. Starscream had not anticipated that but a short walk west would get them out of harms range.
Starscream returned to the Square looking around. Heaps of bodies laid strewn across the ground. The once quaint town lay in total ruins. Iconoclast watched Starscream with terror as the Seeker came near.
"Beautiful isn't it? The fire," Starscream admired. "Oh and look the the thermometer is rising," he mused looking at the clock. "So it does work.
Iconoclast's voice was muffled under the gag.
"I beg your pardon? Oh, how very rude of me," Starscream untied the gag. "I am most impressed with your people's resolve to hide," Starscream said as he sat on the ground near his prisoners. "Unfortunate that they died so easily. What do you say to that?"
Iconoclast shook. "You'll burn in the pit for this, Starscream."
Starscream chortled."I think not. It's you who'll burn in the pit. You didn't want your village to be part of this war, well-consider your wish granted." Starscream stood up. "I am sure you have seen enough destruction for one lifetime, however...I must make sure you get the full scope of my punishment for turning your back on me." Starscream checked his ammunitions supply and used his foot to knock one of Iconoclast's terrified offspark out in the open.
"Starscream, not them, please... spare them," Iconoclast pleaded. "It's not their fault..."
"I realise this, but...you chose this fate for them." Starscream leaned down to look the offspark in the face. "Such a pretty young girl you have, Iconoclast, pity she won't grow up." Starscream fired and the girl dropped dead. Iconoclast inhaled sharply and his bondmate burst into frantic sobbing.
"How could you?" Iconoclast demanded with a broken voice.
"Easy," Starscream replied coldly, "like this." pulled one of Iconoclast's older sons out and shot him between the optics. "One thing, you must learn, Iconoclast, is not to dare me. As you just witnessed, It will turn out very bad." Starscream aimed his weapon at another offspark. He fired this time without looking away from Iconoclast. The youngster screamed for him and Iconoclast thrashed with grief.
"Now, Iconoclast, if you cannot get your femcon under control, I will. I hate screaming females, even gagged ones. One would think it was the end of the world just by the way she is flipping out."
Iconoclast opened his mouth but words failed him. His face was etched with pain as Starscream fired. His bondmate fell against his body and he shuddered between sobs of grief. "You will burn..."
"It is a terrible pity it had to end this way, you know? We could have had a great business venture together. I was willing to pay, but...all good things must come to an end." said Starscream as he locked optics with his final victim. He had enjoyed tormenting Iconoclast. He tormented him like a cat torments a mouse. Slowly, ever so slowly Starscream squeezed the trigger. A bolt of lavender coloured energy struck iconoclast in the chest. It was not a instantly killing wound. No, Iconoclast collapsed dirt and ash and spasmed in agony. His optics went dimmed and his colour drained from his body. Death had set in and the village was almost destroyed.
Starscream stood alone in the square. All the Seekers had fallen back to the area west of the village and. Starscream fired a few shots at the clock tower and it fell down smashed. The ground shuddered from its impact. Starscream took a deep breath and listened to the crackle of the inferno. He strained to listen but he detected no survivors.
Starscream glanced at the heap of bodies and nodded. "ah, there it is," he said as he leaned down and took a data chip out of Iconoclast's lifeless hands. "handing this over to me in the first place could have saved you all manner of grief."
Starscream felt it was time to leave. He was done, well, almost done. "I've got the plans, fall back to the checkpoint and I will finish the job here."
The Seeker jumped into the air and braved the turbulent thermals, choking gases and blinding smoke. He circled the village and dropped a cascade of cluster bombs over what remained of the village. As he finished his pass the first of the bombs had hit the ground. They exploded with orange blossoms of light and a thundering sound. Starscream flew to meet his fellow warriors and left the village behind him. If there was any chance the someone in the village survived, he was certain now that they would have perished.
The End
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