The three Predacons walk calmly up the ramp-road where cargo is taken into the Predacon part of the tower. When the large guards ask for identification, Stahldrache uses his Transmetal II powers to blow one of them completely away. As the other calls for backup, Krakken attempts the same to him. As the pyrokenetics turn the Ultra-class standers into piles of slag, Armageddon concentrates on picking off the flying backup that arrives to their aide. Stahldrache intercepts a large guard trying to enter hand-to-hand with the ex-Maximal; he punches the guard, and liquifies him. When the last of the guards finally makes it through to Armageddon, both of the Predacons try maneuvering: Armageddon shifting into a ball to roll beneath his feet and trip him, and Stahldrache the standard "kick to the gears." The result: Armageddon kicked back down the ramp like a soccer ball, and one wincing guard.
Meanwhile, Megatron, Darkwave, GuardianClaw, and Tusk arrive at the top of the tower, at its highest entrance. Megatron bypasses the door with ease, as his connection to the original Megatron allows him to recall the combination. Inside, the security drones stand like statues, but, detecting no Autobot presence, do not activate.
Optimus and the Maximals return to the greenhouse from their adventure, as some members are in need of rest and repair. There, Optimus is greeted by a teasing Waspinator, who claims to have figured out on his own time the secret to the Magnaboss mystery. When Optimus asks what he knows, Waspinator strings him along, telling him that he figured it out from writings that "She-spider" had left behind. As Stormcrow is in the R-chamber, he can't help Optimus out, but Medusa, who read Blackarachnia's book about the history of Cybertronian women, remembers the details of Elita One's supposed death. She realizes that Shockwave was the Decepticon present at her historical demise, and, thus, is probably still alive, and with her. When Optimus's frustration flares, he bats Waspinator away, and Otternaut rushes to repair the fallapart 'bot. Medusa asks Optimus if she can take him "for a walk" in the jungle, and explain to him what she knows.
In a room to the side, Medusa starts to tell Optimus her theory about Shockwave and Elita, but decides she wants something in return. Optimus refuses to bribe her for the information, and she accuses him of being jealous that Elita One has found a new mate. Starfire pops in to check on the discussion, and he and Medusa both notice someone in the trees watching Optimus... The Decepticon Laserbeak. Though Starfire rushes to catch him, Laserbeak escapes. Medusa tells Optimus she believes that Elita One is working with Shockwave, and Optimus makes two startling realizations: He cannot allow Shockwave to rule the planet, but he's now marked for death for knowing the Magnaboss's secret. Optimus leaves the greenhouse, saying he needs some extra time to think.
As the flying Predacons climb to the top of the old communication tower, they find a Decepticon weapon's cache, and some of the 'bots equip themselves. Down the hall, Megatron reaches a door whose combination has been altered. He asks Tusk to use one of the large guns he grabbed to blow the hatch off the door. When the gun proves ineffecient firepower, Megatron freezes the door with his ice blaster, and pushes it down. Inside the room is a cache of energon, possibly stored here for centuries. Beyond the energon cache is a ramp leading to the top story of the complex.
Stahldrache, Armaggeddon, and Krakken finally finish off their opponents, and enter the Decepticon building. They begin the winding journey to the top level of the complex. The Predacons open the final door into Shockwave's old communication center. In this giant complex rests the remnants of the Decepticon space bridge and of Shockwave's computer. There is also a laser-based security system designed to keep out unwanted intruders. When GuardianClaw pushes Tusk into the security beams, an alarm goes off and a forcefield forms around the intruder. Tusk unthinkingly draws his giant blaster, trying to blow a hole in the floor. He merely weakens it, and Megatron berates him, telling him not to shoot again for fear of damaging the energon in the story below. Knowing a smaller 'bot could get around the systems, Megatron tells Darkwave to "deploy Ravage" to shut down the lasers. Scratch, Ravage's drone replacement, complies. However, the force field still remains. Megatron asks Darkwave to shut it down, then grabs Tusk by the wings and smashes him through the floor and into the storage area, telling him never to fire until an order is given. At that moment, Stahldrache and Armageddon enter the room. Tusk fires up through the hole in the floor, as if to challenge Megatron himself, and GuardianClaw, forgetting that his loyalty is feigned, snaps into war mode. He dives through the hole and pierces Tusk's armor with his handblades. Stahldrache breaks from an energon snack to frighten Tusk into submission, but Tusk takes the somewhat suicidal action of firing wildly, hitting the precious energon and causing a massive explosion. Hard shells protect Krakken and Armageddon, GuardianClaw shields himself with his wings, and Stahldrache is saved by his Transmetal II healing. However, whatever remains of Tusk is torn apart by GuardianClaw before he leaves his trance. Megatron declares that he is indeed very pleased with GuardianClaw as a new recruit.
The Predacons find that the space bridge is no longer operational, having no exit point on planet Earth, but the computer has vauable if outdated information. Darkwave compares the Decepticon starcharts to those he saw on Teletran II, and finds some minor differences. Megatron seeks the databases for information about Tripredicus, and finds nothing, but does get the estimated coordinates for their possible "respawning" places in the floating remains of Unicron. He decides that the only place to get the current information is the tower rumored to hold Tripredicus themselves.