The Predacons lock down their base and set up their Transmetal II Device, determined to test it first on the most expendable member. Quickclaw is volunteered, and tossed into the chamber. He emerges half-completed and somewhat battered, and Upgrade insists that further recalibration needs to be done. Krakken escorts Quickclaw into a room in the back of the base, where he watches to see if the Predacon will survive the process.
Rawhide's unit returns to the military base. Chill is forcibly recruited, as Rawhide believes it will teach him some discipline, and sent to the R-chamber. The main team is allowed a day of R & R to get used to their new teammates and surroundings. Miriam moves her things into Pantora's old base quarters. However, she and Tusk immediately get into an argument that ends violently. Guardianwing, in a sudden flashback to an earlier war, attempts to halt the conflict, but only gets in the line of fire. Rawhide returns to two downed soldiers, and Miriam holding the blade. Chill is, naturally, daunted by the scene. Armageddon has taken no action, meanwhile, as he is more engrossed in a television program. Rawhide confines Miriam to her quarters, and drags the damaged Maximals to the repair bay.
Optimus Primal and Starfire visit with Rhinox and Rattrap. Rhinox is bedded down from the effects of a biotoxin he encountered in his work, but is recovering, and, though weary, has no choice but to take the information Optimus offers him in stride. Optimus tells the other veterans what he knows about Tripredicus, and Blackarachnia's and Cheetor's involvement and arrest. Starfire then chimes in with an explanation of the dream that he had the other night, something that he was sure was a side effect of gaining Transmetal II powers and insight. He feels certain that, among other things, the dream means that Tarantulas is back on-line. Optimus says he will attempt to get more information on that regard before action is taken. Starfire mentions that the first figure before the dark god in his dream is certainly Tarantulas, but he's uncertain as to the identity of the second, whom he calls a "figure in white." Rhinox and Optimus put their heads together on the situation, but come up empty; Rattrap, who has had enough mumbo-jumbo, leaves the room. He nearly bumps into Thundercat, whom he fails to recognize as Thundershot. He gives the Maximal an odd look before he tells him that Optimus is in the back. Thundershot tells Optimus about the Revolutionaries' activities in Beetalion's sector, and Optimus promises that he will help to handle the situation, since Beetalion has become an ally.
In a rough neighborhood in a mixed sector, Snitch rushes into a mercenary bar complaining about the Revolutionary takeover. He piques the interest of a few of the mercenaries, particularly a snake female called Medusa. As Snitch considers spreading secrets a noble pastime, he's willing to tell the femme about the overtake, and his role in the battle, between drinks. As the mercenary trade is getting poorer in Inergo Sector, Medusa seriously considers joining up with the Revolutionaries, though Snitch warns her that organics like herself aren't welcome. Meanwhile, back at the Predacon base, Stalker seeks out Epitaph, wanting to see if the mystic has any information about Starscream. Epitaph knows that Starscream is immortal, and also cursed to circumvent time for his eternal existence. He knows that Unicron is responsible for the curse, but knows nothing about Starscream's final offense, or his whereabouts in the current timeline. He also can tell Stalker he's heard legends of the plan to summon Unicron through seven sacrifices in a specific order, but offers her little else. He promises he'll research the matter if it interests her. As she leaves his makeshift office, she encounters Stahldrache, who demands to be informed as to whether Tarantulas is back on-line. Stalker contacts Tarantulas through her mindlink, and he confirms Stahldrache's suspicions on his own. While Stalker takes the moment to continue conversing with Tarantulas, the komodo rushes off. He attempts to contact Blackarachnia, certain she'll be interested in the information, but has a difficult time getting to the Maximal as she is still technically in council custody. While he is on hold from a cross-connection, Medusa's small ship lands on the base's front lawn. Stahldrache speaks with the mercenary, and she offers to join up with the group at no cost save Transmetallization. She offers her good looks as her first potential prize, but Stahldrache is not at all interested. However, when she explains next about her combat skills and potent venom, he allows her inside. He introduces her to Upgrade, who is recalibrating the Transmetal II Device and insists that the Revolutionaries are not hiring. Sellsword, however, not one to pass up an attractive femme, offers to take Medusa off of Stahldrache's hands and under his own "observation."
Late that afternoon, Darkwave emerges from his very rushed command training. He is informed that one of the Maximal commanders insisted on being reassigned, and he will be in charge of his unit. That commander turns out to be Rawhide, who is displeased with the incompetence of his new recruits. He attempts to relieve Armageddon from the unit, as well, but his request is denied. Darkwave encounters Pantora first, as she is moving her old items out of her quarters in order to bunk in with Cheetor during his enforced retirement. She is surprised to see Darkwave on command duty so quickly, but not as surprised as Daybreak, whom Darkwave contacts with his news.
Darkwave then meets with his Maximal troops, finding them even less cooperative than he had hoped. He decides that several of his teammates need to settle their differences immediately, and tells Chill and Miriam that they are going to have to combat one another. However, the terms of combat are that the fight must be conducted in beast mode. A pathetic squabble ensues as a penguin fights a furball; the combat ends with Chill victorious with a pin. After the combat, Optimus arrives, along with Thundercat and Beetalion, looking for Darkwave. Among all the Maximals he is the most shocked to discover that Darkwave has already been given his rank and unit, and even more put out when Darkwave mentions that what he now knows about the Maximal government is too secretive for Optimus to be a part of.
Stahldrache finally manages to contact, not Blackarachnia, but Silverbolt. He tells the Maximal he knows Tarantulas is alive, but he is not trusted. However, when Optimus calls later with the same suspicion, Blackarachnia becomes worried. She insists that Silverbolt allow her to leave Prime Sector and find out the truth for herself.
Later that evening, Darkwave and Daybreak go on a flight around town. Darkwave is still saddened that the Maximal has taken no interest in him, and she promises she will consider him again when she discovers where her command will be assigned. The pair then encounters Starfire, drawn to Darkwave by his programmed loyalty. When Darkwave returns to base, he assigns Starfire to his unit. He then assigns the fully repaired Maximals their new stations and ranks. Sellsword is the next Predacon to emerge from the Transmetal II Device, and he does so with extreme success. Upgrade insists on being allowed access to the device while he is certain it is functioning, and he emerges with even greater power than before. However, he is weary from the procedure, and Swiftsting himself pulls the lever on Stahldrache, next in line. Stahldrache finds the procedure painful but successful. One by one, the remainder of the Predacon force is T2ed, and the base lockdown ends. Eager to show his new powers to his friends in Instruments of Destruction, Stahldrache uses his pyrokinetic powers and sets their drum set on fire. Not a group interested in learning "spooky magic," IoD collects up their remaining equipment to find a new practice space. After the Predacons are rested and ready to begin their next encounter, Stahldrache approaches Swiftsting: he would like to challenge Epitaph for the rank of Predacon Subcommander.
Thundercat returns to the greenhouse, hoping to contact Rhinox a second time. He asks Rhinox if he can offer anything to help him figure out the Vok aliens: a mystery he contacted which still haunts him. Rhinox has no new information, but turns to the Covenant for aid. He and Thundercat locate a passage referencing "Seven Seals." Thundercat believes that the seals in question are sites belonging to the Vok, and asks if Rhinox knows of any mystical places on Cybertron. Rhinox can't give coordinates, but believes the information may be within the files on Teletran II.