Thundercat is contacted by Beetalion: the ship he requested as part of his deal with the now-Maximal commander is completed. Thundercat picks up his prize after having a word with Elita One about the Key to Vector Sigma. Elita says she can produce the key, but only after the threat of it ruining Magnaboss's current business has passed. She advises Thundercat to contact her again in two weeks. She also asks both Thundercat and Optimus Primal if they would do her a personal favor by presiding over a prisoner transfer, which is to take place later that evening in the Maximal orbital colony. As the prisoners in question are high-ranking Revolutionaries, she feels that the presence of the two 'bots is appropriate.
Stormcrow again asks Medusa about her future plans, and is frank with her about his previous expectations: he allowed her to safeguard the duplicate driver because he had assumed she was going to abscond with it in the night. Medusa explains that, even she had stolen the driver, she doesn't have the wherewithal to complete the Transmetallization apparatus to surround it. Stormcrow knows she is lying, and comes to the realization that even if she was interested in becoming a Transmetal II, her affection for him is genuine. He tells her he is interested in knowing more about her, and in teaching her about the Matrix.
Darkwave leaves Shockwave's satellite on a ship piloted by Daybreak. He explains to her that he is about to undergo a mission that will take him away from her, and that he will probably not be seeing her again. She says she understands that work-related issues can cause that: the main reason she did not want to become romantically involved. However, she tells him that life is forever, and she's certain she will see him again, someday. As he leaves the ship he gives her a complement that initially shocks her: "You would have made a good Decepticon."
The group meeting at Firetail's church in Cybertropolis turns out to be larger than anyone had expected. Certain Maximals-Starfire, Tusk, Destine, and Medusa-have been brought by others who find it the best way to teach them more. Others-Lightbreeze, Stormcrow, Otternaut, GuardianClaw, and Thundercat-have information and connections to share. Small-talk swiftly dies, as the present company dodges or has no knowledge of the important issue. Finally, Destine—her previous penitence becoming a right-out bad attitude—tells Stormcrow to explain what he knows and stop leaving the clergy in the dark. Stormcrow, showing the Maximals the Matrix symbol he represents, tells all present that he wants to enlist religious help in going after and destroying the remaining Spawn: on Cybertron, and in space. He expresses a fanatic need to track the demons to where they are born, promising he will fight even Unicron's head to end the god's influence on Cybertron. He knows he can't fight alone, and explains that he needs the clergy's information, the military unit's muscle, and Thundercat's resources and Vok connections, to aid him. Most of the Maximals are fascinated by the mission (though Tusk merely because it would allow him to kill in good conscience); however, GuardianClaw reminds the enlisted that they cannot volunteer the unit without approval from their commander.
As it happens, Commander Darkwave has a different mission in mind. His troops report to a briefing that afternoon, and are told of a mission that will put them in peril, but make them heroes should they succeed. As an afterthought, Darkwave dismisses Tusk from the room, not letting him in on the details of the mission. He then tells the rest of his troops that they are going to be pretending to defect the Maximal race. As Predacons, they will infiltrate Megatron's organization, then put him to power so as to supplant Tripredicus. Otternaut immediately expresses regrets—she is not a violent person, and pretending to be a Predacon would go against her nature. Darkwave allows her to leave, telling her that Maximal Agent Scanner will put her on another assignment. Starfire then pipes up that, not only does he not want to be part of the mission, he considers it a foolhardy idea and an unacceptable risk for the entire unit. When Otternaut suggests that perhaps it is lack of courage, rather than strong conscience, which motivates the lieutenant, Starfire's temper kicks in and he shuts down. Scanner's agents escort him away, feeling that based on his sentiment, he would be a danger to the mission.
The two Maximals who do not accept very calmly have the contents of the briefing erased from their minds. Otternaut is a simple task, but Starfire poses a problem as his circuits have been altered one too many times. The Maximal technicians scan his brain, double-check, and then enlist Otternaut's medical expertise. They extract the processor, and repair it, hoping that the corrupt modifications are finally gone. They remove the feedback loop that causes Starfire to have nightmares, the faulty circuit that causes him to overload, and the programmed loyalty clause added by Darkwave. However, they also remove the intelligence modification that Upgrade had added.
Otternaut is overjoyed when told she is going to be temporarily assigned to Optimus Primal. Primal, along with Thundercat, is waiting in the docking bay, about to take a shuttle to the orbital prison. Darkwave and his troops are also going to be "assisting."
Medusa and Stormcrow set up a meeting with Beetalion, who still has Medusa's ship. He says he would be glad to return it, provided the serpent can prove it is hers; when she does, getting the ship back is no hassle. However, the Transmetal II Driver he took custody of is a different matter. He gave the device to his subcommander, who typically houses in a slum sector to the immediate west. Discouraged, Medusa and Stormcrow head off to find 'Hacker and his gang. Following the coordinates Beetalion provide, they are surprised to see that the upperclass commander keeps such lowerclass assistants. The bar where 'Hacker and the Instruments of Destruction keep home is no place for a lady, or a Maximal, but Medusa being neither, she is allowed admittance. She attempts to negotiate with Hacker, but finds him unwilling to give her the "cool" device without at least a little collateral. When he offers to accept an exchange of "services," Medusa refuses. She leaves the bar and tells Stormcrow (who has despensed justice on a few vandals while she was away) the situation. He is pleased at her honesty, and says that he doesn't mind if 'Hacker keeps the driver.
Two shuttles arrive at the orbital colony, and head for the prison area where the Revolutionaries are stowed. The Predacons are released, shackled, and given Transmetal II Inhibitor. They are then taken onto a larger, prison shuttle, manned by two Maximal pilots.
As the shuttle decends toward the planet, Stahldrache rowdily expresses his frustration with being shackled to the floor. Darkwave takes the oppurtunity to scold him—and slip him the key. He then takes Optimus Primal aside to speak with him personally, and tells GuardianClaw that he is to relieve the pilots on board.
Darkwave asks Optimus if he feels the large bots' friendships have become "strained" since their return to Cybertron. Optimus says that it has. He understands Darkwave's need for secrecy, but says he suspects he already knows the reason: Magnaboss is, or is working for, a Decepticon. Darkwave asks Optimus pointedly if he still considers him a friend. Optimus agrees that, yes, he still does. As the giants shake hands on the issue, Darkwave reveals that he wears a Decepticon symbol under his Maximal one. He then punches Optimus in the jaw and shoves him and the non-flying pilots out of the plane.
The imbalance in weight causes GuardianClaw to lose control of the shuttle momentarily, and the vehicle rocks in midair. Though the other passengers manage to stay on board, they know that a combat is imminent. Stahldrache frees himself, and works on his allies; Tusk (of his own free will) changes his activation code, and fires on the nearest Maximal: Starfire. Starfire slams the door shut and takes on Tusk on his own, but soon realizes that, with the Predacon prisoners loose and Darkwave's units turned, he, Thundercat, and Otternaut will not be enough firepower to seize control of the ship. He re-opens the doors for a quick escape, and Tusk blows him out of the sky with a missile. Thundercat grabs Otternaut and flies her to safety, as Optimus catches Starfire out of the air. The shuttle escaped for now, Optimus takes the remaining "real Maximals" back to their base for repairs.
The turncoats and escapees, now all Predacon in activation, fly to Predacon Polyhex, the capital of the Predacon states. Sellsword is bold about announcing the Revolutionaries' presence, and Stahldrache is surprised when they are allowed to land at the capital regardless. Upgrade has an area prepared in Polyhex for them already, as the cause has grown tremendously since Megatron was added to the roster. Upgrade regards the ex-Maximal recruits with great suspicion, but tells Darkwave he will take him in to see Megatron.
In the twisting corridors of the Polyhex complex, Megatron has fashioned himself a new throne. As Upgrade and Swiftsting lead Darkwave into his auidence chamber, the Decepticon half of Megatron's spark awakens. Seeing Darkwave awakens the Decepticon half of his spark, and he declares the new recruit his subcommander. "It seems my new subcommander has arrived." Darkwave genuflects deeply in homage as the dragon rumbles with laughter at the fortunate occurance.