Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter/Source

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This is a copy of the *Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter* Facebook page at the latest update. All spelling, grammatical, and formatting errors are left as is.

## About

Welcome to the home of Axiom Nexus News channel's number one rated evening news anchor. Bringing you all of the news that worth knowing in Axiom Nexus!

## April 2015

### April 29, 2015

Hello and welcome to another pleasant day here in Axion Nexus! For those practicing and aspiring astronomers out there, it looks like smog levels will be down to thirty-four percent this evening, allowing you a glimpse at the Restonian Cluster in your upper third quadrant near the Zed Nebula. I'm not sure I know exactly where that is, but I hear that it's going to be a beautiful sight!

Speaking of the lower smog levels, we here at ANN are being told that it's due the advancement level Beta Cores nearing the end of their scheduled production. So if you've been waiting to get your servos on one of those, it looks like you might want to start lining up at your local Quartex store since the release parties will be happening soon!

### April 30, 2015

Thank you, Rook.

Garara, you have had stellar-cycles of experience with both Cybertronian and Extra-Cybertronian fuel sources. How is it that there is a fuel right beneath our servos that we never knew about?

"Well, Andromeda, it actually seems that our Offworlder friends may have something to do with this. While the majority of the compound is made from materials found on our Cybertron, there are elements foreign to it."

So what exactly does that mean?

"My theory is that ages ago, a group of Offworlders were transported here - with or without our ancestors' help - and found these caves that Sym-Phur has stumbled upon. They lived there for a while, but as time does to us all, they eventually went offline. The remains of their civilization, their wastes, eventually broke down over time, becoming this thick dark blue substance that we can refine into fuel. I'd like to share notes with one of our biologists - Leatherhide or Terraspin - and see if we can't recreate what these Offworlders looked like. It would be fascinating."
Fascinating indeed. Who knew we ever had such a large group of ancient Offworlders living here so long ago?

"We certainly didn't."

Best of luck with your studies, Garara. And thank you for your time.

"My pleasure."

**Axiom Nexus News Editor** For Rook's part of this story, head over here:
https://www.facebook.com/AxiomNewsRook/posts/907102492666705
**Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist**
Good morning, Axiom Nexus. Oil production in the south is currently experiencing an all-time high. Sources within Sym-Phur are crediting the record production to a new drilling machine designed by Shockwave from the Science Division. With automated precision, this drill can detect and locate even small quantities of oil and, with dauntless hydraulics, burrow through even the densest enduro-steel slabs.
When production numbers were first posted, there were questions are to whether conservation needed to be addressed. Rapticon, a representative for Sym-Phur, assuaged these concerns.
"With our new machines, we've found that there are no shortage of hidden caverns and mazes of tunnels that were previously never explored."
He further elaborated what that meant for Sym-Phur.
"We've entered 3 of these caverns already, and each has been filled with a new, thickened crude that we've never seen before on Cybertron. It's miraculous stuff. If the rest of the caverns have the same bounty, 'conservation' is a word soon to be forgotten."
For further coverage, Andromeda has invited a top mechano-fuel expert from the Science Division to speak about this new fuel source.

## May 2015

### May 1, 2015

Even if you're not a fan of the fast-paced arena sport, it seems as though you can't go anywhere these solar-cycles without running into someone talking about the mecha-soccer draft. Out of the field of dozens of skilled players, two have started making a name for themselves - Kickstart and Heavyfoot. Although these two were the top players in their minor leagues, pro teams' interest in them goes beyond just their athletic performance on the field.

Rook has with him mecha-soccer mogul Krok to tell us all about this year's astounding draft. Rook?

**Axiom Nexus News Editor** To read Rook's interview with Krok, head here: https://www.facebook.com/AxiomNewsRook/posts/907568445953443
**Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist**
Thanks, Romy.
Krok, I know that you're a busy bot right now, so we'll try to make this brief.
Krok: "Thank you, Rook. And thanks for having me. It's more than an honor talking with the Transtech media. It's not something us Offworlders get a chance to do very often."
Rook: We were just talking about Kickstart and Heavyfoot. What is it about these two young stars that has the pro league clamoring?
K: "For starters, they're a couple of the highest-scoring players that we've seen in a long while. Goals just come naturally to both of them, but Kickstart in particular has set so many records this early in his career that we'll be hearing his name for stellar-cycles to come.
Of course it's not just that though. Heavyfoot is a genius at the game. He can set up his teammates beautifully, positioning them around the other team in so many clever ways. And both of them are leaders in the locker room and on the field. They're masters at inspiration speeches. Kickstart told me once that his idol as a protoform was Optimus Prime himself. While Kickstart has gone into mecha-soccer instead of Matrix-bearing, he certainly does take after Optimus' oration skills."
R: Interesting to hear. There will be many, many fans interested in seeing where their futures take them.
K: "That's for sure."
R: What about your team, the Granaught Gatoraiders? What surprises do they have in store for us next season?
K: "They wouldn't be secrets if I told you, would they? Heh. But to be serious, if the draft goes the way we're hoping, You're going to see the Gatoraiders in the playoffs. No doubts about it."
R: And there you have. Some very bold predictions to be sure!
Speaking of predictions, up next Sonar will give us her prediction for this deca-cycle's weather...

### May 4, 2015

We've had a fantastic deca-cycle of sports, ending with three colossal events! The first two were dubbed "Fights of the Centuri-cycle" and had plenty to offer bots of all social circles.

The Offworlders were treated to a bout featuring knock-out artist Counterpunch versus his bitter rival Punch. The fight started swift and heavy with blow after deliberate blow being delt between the two opponents. After twelve rounds, though, Counterpunch was declared the victor and Punch graciously conceded. The two bots then left the ring and took turns answering questions from the media, having only a brief pause between each question as the one robot mode would convert into the other so that each could give their rebuttal.

Meanwhile, the Transtech gathered by the thousands to watch Star-Upper and Ironclad stand toe-to-toe. With Ironclad a defensive fighter and Star-Upper a bot with an aggressive offense, it seemed it would be a fairly even match. It started as expected with Ironclad evading or blocking each of Star-Upper's jabs. As Star-Upper began to tire, Ironclad sought to take advantage. Which is too bad for him! Star-Upper dodged the slow swing of Ironclad's massive fist and delivered his own blow to the side of Ironclad's faceplate. The oversized robot waivered, staggered, and fell with a terrible thud. The unforeseen quick end to the match had many experts quipping that despite a body built from iron, Ironclad must have a glass jaw!
As for the third event, let's turn to Rook with an update on the latest in the world of Equinicon racing. And the black mark the sport has received. Rook?

### May 6, 2015

Thanks for joining us today.

All deca-cycle long we - or rather Rook- will be bringing you a special event series that goes in depth investigating just what makes our city of Axiom Nexus so great. He'll be visiting local establishments, interviewing Nexusians that make our community the best it can be, and he'll also be stopping by the annual Nuts & Bolts Confectionery Fair. Be sure you stay tuned in!

https://www.facebook.com/AxiomNewsRook?fref=ts

### May 9, 2015

And now the business news for today, Dillesol, the 19th of Boltaneon. The D. Manus Industrial average rallied, largely on strength in the tech sector, ending the day up 253.9 points to close at 12,599.3.

One highlight was Cybertron Galactic Systems (CyGS), which closed up 29.3 points to 307.9 on a better than expected earnings report. CEO Speed Dial: "it's clear now that our strategy, to update all of our transdimensional radiowave scramblers with voltronic galaxers, has enabled us to tap new markets and achieve unprecedented growth. Our memo-streams can now be understood by virtually every sentient species in this galaxy or any other." Critics worry that the company will be tempted to violate the Non Admiscearis Principium in an attempt to boost profits, now that the techological infrastructure is in place. (Full Disclosure--ANN is a subsidiary of Cybertronian Galactic Services.)

Galactic Express (GalX) experienced a sharp drop, shedding almost 20% of their value to end at 92.7 (down from 115.3) after attempts to equip their fleet with trans-spatial cylinders ended in tragedy. Company spokesbot Guardian Speed: "my spark goes out to the poor bots of Uniend 610.23 Zeta. We are taking every possible precaution to ensure that such an occurrence never happens again." When pressed, she admitted that, as a native of Aurex 503.21 Gamma, the disaster struck particularly close to home.

The Supreme Multi-Circuit Court struck down the Vraz-Halogen Act, sending shares of the embattled Hydradread/Highbrow Hybrid Technologies (HHHT) soaring. It ended the day up 63.0 points, at 82.4, creating over 6 billion shanix of shareholder wealth. Critics were livid. Noted activist Beachcomber: "dude, allowing 3H unfettered access to the sparsely-mapped Iocus Cluster is a disaster waiting to happen. They might build a being with the body of a Megatron and the arm of an Ultra Magnus and the head of a Strafe and the legs of a Heatwave. No one wants to see that!"

Thanks for tuning in!

### May 10, 2015

Today is Gerbesol, the 20th of Boltaneon, which means one thing: Motherboard Day! Yes, I think we're all thankful to be able to connect our CPUs to our memory, because what's one chipset without the other? But have you ever wondered where the term originated? It turns out, some organic beings reproduce by creating a smaller, protoform version of themselves internally. Beings that have successfully incubated such an offspring are called "mothers."

Most Cybertronians don't reproduce that way, but occasionally some of the organic versions do! We managed to interview one such robot, Kitte Shūshū, a native of Primax 798.0 Gamma. (Don't worry, Non Admiscearis Principium was never violated. As far as she knows, I'm from her home dimension.)

A: Hello, Kitty.

KS: Actually, it's pronounced key tay, with a slight stutter on the t.

A: Sorry. I understand you're a "mother."

KS: That's right, Andromeda.

A: Please, call me Romy.

KS: All right, Romy.

A: How did that come about?

KS: Well, as you can see, we're Maximals. We have fully integrated organic parts. That's where our Stampy came from.

A: Our?

KS: Oh, his father, Z Grill, is a pika.

A: Chu?

KS: Primus bless you!

A: Thank you. Tell me about Stampy?

KS: He's the perfect son. He writes frequently, even though he's off on an important mission, gathering up special energy capsules to keep them safe.

A: How did you come up with the name?

KS: Well, his father and I are both big stamp collectors--that's how we met. So, it seemed natural.

A: Thank you for sharing your story with us.

### May 12, 2015

The big news in science today was that Leadfoot, leader of the Transwarp Dominion Initiative, gave a talk to the Ministry of Higher Dimensional Sciences concerning rechargeable electro-cells. Here is the transcript in full:

"Thank you for your attention. This is one of the first times that I've had the opportunity to present on this important topic. Some background, the unmanned sentry outpost orbiting Skriixos V was established 2.37 million stellar cycles ago for the purpose of monitoring this aggressive and inquisitive race, lest they breach the dimensional barrier and spill forth into the multiverse. The electro-cells required to maintain power levels for the outpost were sized to 23x23x23 individual cells, based on converting available solar energy from the system's Class K star. Unfortunately, one of the two primary cell banks is no longer functional after a Recyclon incursion in Skriixx space resulted in a brief but spectacular conflict which breached the protective Filtrek-K cloaking shield. Maintaining the operation of the outpost is key to protecting Axiom Nexus' hegemony over the trans-dimensional passageways, so we must monitor the functionality of the remaining electro-cell bank very closely.

The team here in Axiom has been monitoring the remaining electro-cell bank through data returned from the local synch-pulse transmitter. We are monitoring the discharge capacity of the cube over time and are seeing diminished performance when the station comes out of deep sleep during solar eclipses. The data received does match well to analytical models to within 95%. The projections developed through comparing the actual telemetry to the analytical models shows an expected lifetime of an additional 300-400,000 stellar cycles.

We will continue to monitor the performance of the electro-cell bank and advise the High Senate on the lifetime of the outpost. The remaining battery capacity is presently 78% of the initial capacity so the danger of failure is still long off but definitely worth continued monitoring."

Interesting stuff! Thanks for tuning in this beautiful Maleksol evening.

### May 14, 2015

As most of you probably know, Cybertron’s Got Talent has its season finale tonight. Folks will be tuning into Cybernet Space Cubes all over the planet to see how all of the drama will unfold.

Our celebrity judges, Tarn, Rosanna, Escargon, and Greasepit, certainly have their work cut out for them. Though Tarn’s spot on the judge’s panel came through the tragedy of Ego’s unexpected demise, he certainly has a zeal when it comes to calling out sub-par transformations. Rosanna’s unabashed pep and Greasepit’s Spychanger showmanship are always entertaining to watch. And Escargon’s tendency to temporarily flip the genders of some contestants has proven an audience-favorite technique.

Though some have criticized the program for exploiting our Offworlder population, most feel that it’s an excellent creative outlet for a population that is often underserved. The contestants heading into the final round have been narrowed down from 32 all the way to 4. Let's meet the finalists.

Stakeout and his Protectobots certainly have no shortage of tricks up their sleeves. Fans speculate that he is one of the first Uniend contestants, though we cannot confirm that at this time. They’ve dazzled the audience with their seemingly endless arrays of combinations. Power Core Combination is certainly a joy to behold.

Sideways, a well-traveled being from the Aurex cluster with a Combi-Micromaster double Headmaster, has some unique options to him, and he hasn’t hesitated to use these in the past. It’ll be interesting to see what creative transformations he has in store for us tonight.

Quickswitch, with his five alternate modes, has proved an excellent contestant. His father, Sixshot, won the contest back in season 17, so we’ll see if history won’t repeat itself. Since a plurality of our off-world population self-identifies as Primax Cluster natives, he’s got a built-in fanbase.

Finally, Backfire, of the Tyran Cluster, has made it all the way to the end. His cluster’s ability to frequently rescan and find new configurations gives him a leg up, and his simple MechTech charm has won over audiences. One alt mode at a time isn’t such a huge limitation when we’re never sure what he’ll scan next!

It’s been a wild ride this season. Looks like, after tonight, I’ll need to find a new show to watch on Glutsol nights. It just won't be the same without my regular fix of interpretive transformation.

### May 19, 2015

Yesterday, Wisesol the 28th of Boltaneon, we closed out our weekend with a video interview with Offworld fashionista Needlenose, who has been making waves in the Offworld Zone with his Chic Chits, Apex Accessories, Electronic Paint Pre-sets, and more. Sadly, that interview cut short by another one of those annoying blackouts, but we're pleased to present it today. What a great way to start off your week!

ANN: So, Needlenose, you've adapted to life in Axiom Nexus' Offworld Zone rather well.

N: Thanks, Romy. And may I say that you're looking absolutely smashing in that pink and grey pallet. Is that timberwolf?

ANN: Why, yes it is. Thanks for noticing.

N: It's what I \*DO\*, darling. Though if you ever want a makeover, I think you'd look très chic in something bold like... a royal yellow with blue tiger stripes. We'd keep the pink as an accent.

ANN: (Giggle.) I'm not sure I could pull something like that off.

N: Of \*COURSE\* you could pull it off. I'll have Sunbeam book an appointment for you when we're finished with this \*DELIGHTFUL\* conversation.

ANN: Sunbeam is one of your two assistants, correct? Did he accompany you to this dimension of did you meet him here?

N: Here, darling. He's a Mini-Con after my own Spark, tired of all the senseless violence of his own tedious universe, somewhere in the Argus Clutter--

ANN: Aurex Cluster.

N: \*WHEREVER\* Cluster. I enjoy making the world a little more beautiful, he wants to experience the world through its rust seas.

ANN: And you have one other Mini-Con assistant, correct?

N: Two Mini-Cons? Don't be crass. Zigzag is a Cyberdroid from Planet Master--what a name, am I right? He maintains all of the equipment I use to make anyone who walks through those doors \*FABULOUS\*.

ANN: So, how do you do it? How can you make everyone look so good.

N: First of all, it doesn't work on just \*ANYONE\*. You need some level of potential. It's sad, but I have to turn away twice as many clients as I see.

ANN: So, assuming a bot makes the cut...

N: They have to be willing to trust me \*COMPLETELY\*. Put their image in my hands. Sometimes all they need is a new coat of electronic paint. A Mirage came in the other day in a \*RIDICULOUS\* blue and white scheme. By the time he left, he was wearing lavender and green, with the most \*DELIGHTFUL\* alligator pattern on his side.

ANN: And if they need more?

N: I got to consult with a Decepticon warlord named Ghoulon who being banished from Axiom Nexus for some reason or another. Since his home reality had been terminated by The Swarm, he volunteered for an expedition to the X-Dimension. Would you believe he was going to bring the Chaos Saber there? Can you imagine a more gauche accessory?

ANN: The Chaos Saber?

N: Combined form of the, what was it? Ah, yes, the "Sky Terror Team." Ridiculous weapon, green tip, white and purple base... not what you'd bring to an unknown universe of flame and radiation.

ANN: So, what did you replace it with.

N: It took some doing, but I located a more fashionable group of Mini-Cons to accompany him. Jetter, Mach, and Shuttler, the Zephyr Blade Mini-Con Team, form a gorgeous white and red Pyro Saber.

ANN: Whatever happened to them?

N: Who knows? No one ever returns from the X-Dimension. Eternal torment?

ANN: ...moving on, would you say your Chic Chits are your most popular item?

N: It's Chic \*CHIPS\*, darling. Chips. Luxury microchips for bots who deserve only the best in life.

ANN: Would it surprise you to learn that these chips are the must-have accessory even outside of the Offworld Zone?

N: Darling, everyone who's \*ANYONE\* has been in here. I can't say who, because they're breaking a few rules, but even a certain Senator who's always in the news has managed to visit my humble shop. I know, it's scandalous.

ANN: Quite the violation, but I won't tell if you won't. Thanks for giving our viewers a taste of what the fashionista are thinking.

N: Anytime, darling, anytime.

### May 21, 2015

Hello Axiom Nexus! I hope this bright and beautiful... If a little cool.. stellar cycle is greeting your sensory receptors happily this morning!

Today I have a follow-up report that I hope you find interesting! I know I do! After Rook's mention of The Convoy in his report over a deca-cycle ago, we went to the Offworlder Zone Security Zone Administrator, none other than Cheetor himself. Let me tell all his admirers out there that the Central Link images of him don't don't do him enough justice...

Anyway, Cheetor was so very kind enough to provide the following list of members of The Convoy, as well as an image of their security-admission badge. He wanted to reiterate that if any of us TransTech see an Offworlder with one of these badges, and its RFID redirects to the OZSA or Intelligence Directorate, that there's no reason to be alarmed.

Current Members of The Convoy:

1) Black Convoy - Aurex 000.0X405.0 Epsilon - AKA: "Nemesis Prime"

2) \*\*Classified\*\*

3) Lio Convoy - Primax 498.1 Alpha - AKA: "Leo Prime"

4) \*\*Classified\*\*

5) Optimus Prime - Viron 903.0 Beta - AKA: "Ignition Prime"

6) Optimus Prime - Primax 094.0 Beta - AKA: "Hero Prime"

7) Optimus Prime - Aurex 1006.0 Beta - AKA: "Beast Prime"

8) \*\*Classified\*\*

9) Primal Prime - Primax 509.28 Epsilon

10) Sentinel Maximus - Primax 797.18 Epsilon

11) \*\*Classified\*\*

12) \*\*Classified\*\*

Wow! That's more than I thought. Oh and let me say that if we ever need to speak with Security Administrator Cheetor again, I'll be the first to volunteer!

 File:The Convoy logo.jpg

**Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist** Not a chance, Romy...
**Q: And I thought that "Hero Prime" was from Primax 895.0 Gamma?**
**Axiom Nexus News Editor** Louis Sun I thank you for pointing that out. We here at Axiom Nexus News are not so conceited as to not admit when we have our facts incorrect. After checking again with Cheetor, I wish to let you know that you are right about Hero Prime originating from Primax 895.0 Gamma. It's an obscure universe and our reporter was a little star struck, so to speak. She recorded and reported the wrong stream ID.
Our thanks, once again.

### May 28, 2015

The Sub-Metro Amateur League Lobbing Championship was held last night, and Cybertron now has its newest SMALL winners! It was an arduous fight between the Off-Road Patrol and the Mighty Mechanics, but as the humans say, the fix is in! Or the Fixits, I should say. The Mighty Mechanics managed to pull an upset over the Off-Road Patrol, routing even the filthiest Mudslinger in a score of 2039 to 1458.

When asked for a comment, the captain of the team had this to say: "It's been a goner...er...sponsor...HONOR playing with this team this year. There were some...eh...personality disputes at first, but we overcome them and really learned how to work together. So well that maybe next year we can get some upgrades and compete in the Combiner Leagues. Heh-heh."

To which their first-string Lobber added: "I once knew a guy who turned into a leg. Just a leg. It's not really a prospect that I'd look forward to following myself."

Whichever league they end up playing in next year, I'm sure they will be just as entertaining as they were this year!

## June 2015

### June 1, 2015

As many of you have heard the Axiom Nexus news station headquarters has started their intern program for this season and I have been granted two Minicon interns that will be joining me for the time being. I am very happy to introduce to you Deduce and Groundbreak. Deduce is a logic based Minicon who is aspiring to climb echelons of Cybertron Academia maybe even join the High Senate at some point. By contrast Groundbreak finds himself somewhat of a pint size juggernaut in the gladiatorial pits and professes a fondness for becoming a broadcaster for other sporting events around the Nexus. Both will be helping with broadcasts and behind the scenes exercises.

Tonight we bring you news from the star cluster Theta-Six where a black hole has been devouring…. Yes, Deduce, what is it…we are live right now. I understand that the correct terminology for a black hole is a Quantum Singularity… no I am not dumbing down the news cast, it is just easier to say black hole. Thank you for your input though. Now where was I? Ah yes, the black hole has been devouring multiple planets creating quite the mess with scanners in that sector of the galaxy. Yes, Deduce I understand that ‘mess with scanners’ is a short hand term for Visual and Auditory lapses in both the light spectrum arrays and subspace vibrations… Again, in a live news cast it is easier to… No I will not let you on the air. If you interrupt my broadcast again you will be on copier duty for the rest of you… Yes I UNDERSTAND PHOTOGRAPIC RECREATIONS IS THE APPORPIATE TERM.

On to other news for the evening, many bots in the Nexus are wondering if the constant streams of new Cybertronians in the Low-Tech zones are starting to become a threat to the stability of Axiom Nexus… What is that, Groundbreak? Yes, I will forward your request off to Cheetor, informing him that your ‘smack down’ skills are for hire. No, I do not want to arm wrestle you for the next news segment. Really both of you do really understand the purpose of being an intern here at the Axiom News Network. Why are you not transforming into your Drill alt mode? No, I am not impressed, nor do I want to ‘feel your guns’. THAT IS IT, NOT ANOTHER WORD FROM EITHER OF YOU UNTIL THE NEWS CAST IS COMPLETE.

There have obviously been some kinks in this year's intern program. We hope to have them worked out by tomorrows reporting cycle, for the time being let me send our viewers to Rook who has a riveting Punch/Counterpunch interview with Beachcomber and Gutcruncher.

Over to you Rook….

DEDUCE, GROUNDBREAK, A WORD NOW!

### June 10, 2015

Good evening, Nexusians. Have you ever heard of Pretenders? No, not musicians. You know, those weird Cybertronians that live inside of quasi-organic shells that somehow share their consciousness? What am I saying, of course yo do! The Bumblebee on last stellar cycle's Starlogged was a Pretender.

Well anyway, the files that Administrator Cheetor sent over for the Cybertron's Most Wanted features one of them. Most Wanted number six. Oilmaster. His shell is all hairy and muscled. Oh, and he oozes? Gross!

Apparently this Oilmaster was formerly a bounty hunter in his universe of origin, but since coming to Axiom Nexus, he's dropped even further down the scummy ladder. Although you could still technicallly call him a bounty hunter, all of his bounties are paid by notorious crime boss Cryotek. So really he's more like Cryotek's enforcer.

Oh! Oh, Astral Nubus! You don't need to be so graphic in your descriptions, Cheetor! How can I clean this up for our viewers? Okay. So Oilmaster took this poor bot's leg, uh, removed it, forcefully converted it to his alternate mode's thruster housing, and, uh, reintroduced it back into the bot. How is he only number six?

The good news is that the OZSA have a lead on Oilmaster's next bounty and have a sting organized to get the big gorilla off of the streets.

Oh. I probably shouldn't have read that last part. Let's hope Oilmaster doesn't hack the TransTech channels!

After this post, the events of the BotCon 2015 comic "Cybertron's Most Wanted" take place, with all of the following posts taking place after that story’s events.

### June 27, 2015

Breaking news! We interrupt your normal scheduled program to bring word that Vector Prime, one of our most respected, if a bit eccentric, elders, has been kidnapped! A witness recognized the assailant as Sideways! We'll go to live to Flash Runner now.

FR: I wuz just commin' out of me mate's flat, right, and I see this run-down looking chap, right, getting hustled into some kind of starship by this big silver bloke with wheels for hands, totally fit, and then I'm all like, hey, I know this fellow, 'e was the runner up on that show, whatsit, with the fancy transforming. So I'm all, "oi, you, lemmie get your autograph why not," and I'm trying to go through my subspace compartment which you know I haven't reindexed in forever, lookin' for something I can get him to sign, and the next thing I know he's shoving past me and I'm all "wot the 'ell" and the old git flashes optics at me and at first I think, "ew, gross" but the 'e tightbeams me and says that all of time and space and whatsits are in danger and that I should go straight to Rhinox.

A: And did you? Go straight to Rhinox?

FR: Wut? Oh, no, I went back to me mate Hurricane Hunter's digs, and she said I should call ANN 'cuz then I'd get on the news and I'd be famous.

HH: Hi, Megatron! We love you!

FR: Oi! This is my interview!

A: Not anymore. Crosswise, cut the feed. Crosswise? Has anyone seen Crosswise? I thought he was supposed to be working today. Is anyone working the control booth? Deduce! Cut the feed.

So, Vector Prime, possibly the guardian of time and space and a member of the legendary Thirteen original Primes, more likely a harmless crackpot and member of the ANN news team, abducted and taken to parts unknown. First the Waruder invasion, and now this? It's been quite a deca-cycle! We'll have more on this story as it develops.

## July 2015

### July 30, 2015

After all of that seriousness, how about a story from the lighter side of town? A good Sandokan noticed what he thought was an Action Master companion wandering around Axiom Nexus' financial district, clearly lost. Let's hear from him what happened next.

O: Just speak into the camera?

R: That's right. What's your name?

O: They call me Overcast. I work in Axiom Nexus' Astrometrics Division.

R: And what exactly happened?

O: Well, I saw this little guy wobbling around near the Thunderhead Tower. At first I was just going to keep on heading to get an oil change--I'm overdue--but then I asked myself, what would my brother do?

R: Your brother?

O: Yeah, my brother. Jetfire. He's--

R: Jetfire? THE Jetfire?

O: The one and only! Anyway, I figured he'd help the little guy out, so I asked him where he was trying to get to.

R: And what did he say?

O: He said "beep boop boop beep" or something to that effect. I don't speak binary, so I was stumped for a moment. Then I noticed that his fingers had some kind of primitive dataport adapters built in, so I did a quick scan and made a compatible socket. Turns out the little guy IS a drone... but not a Cybertronian one. He was with one of those humans who helped save the planet last decacycle.

R: Any idea how he got past our security?

O: Well, I'm no expert, but since he doesn't have a spark...

R: He wouldn't show up as a life form.

O: Exactly. Probably hitched a ride with one of our own security guys, then got confused.

R: So, did you help him find his pets?

O: His... oh, the humans? Well, funny story. Turns out, he's more like one of their pets, built by them for scanning and imaging.

R: A robot, acting as a pet to an organic!

O: I know, crazy, right?

R: I was gonna to say 'kinky.'

O: Well, I suppose it takes all kinds. Anyway, I made sure that he got sent to the appropriate bureau and he should be on his way back to his home reality any time now.

R: A happy ending to a slightly saucy story. And now, back to Sonar for today's forecast.

## August 2015

### August 16, 2015

Good evening to all of our wonderful viewers! Over the last couple deca-cycles, we here at ANN have received some strange rumors from our viewers in the Offworlder Zone. Several of them have overheard what they describe as a “blue rodent with shaggy fur and a loud mouth” frequenting some of the seedier dives and boasting to whoever will listen about a half-built inter-dimensional gate that could take them to whatever destination in whatever universe that they choose. It's even been rumored that this gate was at one time operational and that it played a part in ending the Waruder infestation that plagued Axiom Nexus a little while back... And still plagues those of us in the broadcasting industry with power outages and damaged receivers.

We attempted to contact that handsome director of OZSA, Cheetor, but he refused to acknowledge any of the rumors and implied that those Cybertronians capable of adopting a muroid alternate form must have a duplicitous side. We at ANN do not ascribe to the Form Identity concept that Cheetor apparently does, but we must admit that the locations in which this “blue rodent” has supposed been sighted do raise a bit of dubiety. Next I contacted Directorate Starscream, who also strongly denied the rumors, and Senator Ratbat, who simply glared at me. But for our loyal viewers out there, none of that stopped me from searching out others who could comment on this subject! So I came at it from a different angle and thought of inviting one of our favorite guests, Science Minister Rhinox!

RHINOX: Minister of Higher Dimensional Sciences. To be exact.

ANDROMEDA: Of course! And thank you for being here. My first question is about the nature of inter-dimensional travel... More or less. We have a number of Offworlders who claim that we're not letting them go home. That can't be true can it? If it is, there must be some reason for it, right?

RHINOX: There was probably a question about the science of inter-dimensional travel in there, rather than the politics surrounding it...

Here, let me start with an explanation to our Offworlder friends about how the multiverse works. Many think that when a universe springs into being, that it has secured its existence ad infinitum. I regret to inform them that they are wrong. The multiverse is far more nebulous of a concept than that. Even those such as myself who have dedicated a life span to its study still occasionally take a moment to wonder at the complexity of the thing. It is never a static form; where one universe can be pointed to and it is forever there unchanged. If it were, I'd have a much easier job. Hrmm. If only.

But no... Universes come into being. Universes die. Universes bend and merge with the flow of larger streams. There are some universes that last for eons, and others that make only the tiniest blip before their light fades. These universes have only one shot at life. They tell their story, so to speak, and then cease to be. They have existed. They still matter. But they do not have the chance – or even second chance – at continuing.

And that's the point that I want to make. Even though the ID bolt that they wear may tell us what universe they came from originally, that doesn't mean that finding that universe again is easy. Or even possible if it was one that has already experienced its conclusion. So if our Offworlder neighbors blame the Transtech for dragging our servos or our bureaucracy for slowing down the process... I have to correct them and have my Ministry take the blunt of the blame. Our science is incredible, but even it has limits.

A: Okay... That was certainly a... thorough answer. I'd like to next offer a hypothetical. If a working inter-dimensional gate was online in the Offworlder Zone, would you be able to track its energy signature?

R: I would like to think so. Of course if it were active during one of our power outages or when we Transtech were offline, that wouldn't be possible.

A: Right, uhm... Another hypothetical... If pinpointing universes is as difficult as you say, would this – again “hypothetical” – gate even take its passengers where they want to go?

R: There are many clever Offworlders who could manage it. Given time and mimicked Transtech technology. I wouldn't be a volunteer to try it myself though. When working the controls for the targeting web to rescue those trapped between universes, I have seen what the inter-dimensional energies can do. And how vicious the creatures that live between existences can be.

A: Cr-Creatures?

R: Yes. Just because there isn't any existence doesn't mean there isn't any life. The Hytherion, House, the Teeth With No Eyes, the Langoliers, the Beforites and the After Alls, the Antevishnum – cousins to the Beforites, the Abaddontus Hunger, the Ravagers of Time... They all feed on the leftovers when a universe and its timeline dies. The Hytherion of course having the largest of appetites by far.

They each have a very important role to play in removing remnants of weak and dead universes for the health of the multiverse... but they are still deadly predators. A missed decimal in an inter-dimensional calculation could put you in a space-between-spaces face-to-face with a pack of After Alls, and to them you'd be just dessert.

A: I... think I should like to stay here. Forever.

R: Of course that's if a miscalculation puts you between universes. Get stuck halfway at the edge of a universe and you'd be torn apart as your consciousness is spread across the surface of reality, screaming.

A: Okay... Okay! Enough! Er... Thank you, Rhinox. Another cheerful discussion...

\* Sigh \* By all that is One, let the next story be about cute bumble-puppies or something...

## September 2015

### September 28, 2015

Rook: Breaking news! ANN has just learned that the Senate is conducting an emergency session called by High Commander Megatron. So far, nothing has been announced as to the reason for this session, but a reliable source has told us that another cluster has just gone dark. We go live to Andromeda, just outside the Senate building.

Andromeda: Thanks, Rook. As you can see behind me, 'bots are streaming in and out of the building. Whatever they're discussing is clearly of paramount importance.

Rook: What's the mood like in the capital district?

Andromeda: Tense, Rook. Speculations are flying fast and furious, but facts are still scarce. Not that that's ever stopped you before.

Rook: ...

Andromeda: I mean, stopped you from digging. Until you get the facts. Not that you'd go live with nothing.

Rook: ...

Andromeda: Anyway, we're... something is happening. It's Lord Starscream and the High Commander. I'll try to get a statement. Lord Starscream! Commander Megatron!

Starscream: I am sorry to announce that, at 0783 this evening, all communication with our outposts and probes in the Tyran cluster has been lost.

Andromeda: Do you know what caused this?

Megatron: We do not. Which is why it's imperative to--

Starscream: We have our best people working on it and are confident that whatever cosmic perturbation is causing this... phenomena will soon be understood. This is no time for rash action.

Megatron: Declaring a state of war is hardly a rash action, Starscream, under the circumstances.

Starscream: It is if we don't know who's attacking us!

Andromeda: So, Lord Starscream, you admit it's an attack.

Starscream: I admit no such thing. He asked for emergency powers to repel this theoretical "attack" and was denied.

Megatron: I had good men in our base orbiting Tyran 509.28 Kappa!

Starscream: And for all Director Rhinox knows they're still there and we've just lost contact.

Megatron: For all Director Rhinox knows, the CLUSTER isn't even there! He's more useless than you. We need to take immediate action.

Starscream: And what action might that be, hmm? When your only tool is a blaster, every problem looks like a target.

Megatron: Your inaction will be the death of us all.

Andromeda: Lord Starscream! High Commander Megatron! Just one more question before you leave!

Starscream: Not now. We have urgent work to do.

Andromeda: Well, that was certainly a heated exchange. Another cluster, incommunicado or worse. Back to you, Rook.

Rook: And the cracks in our leadership become more apparent. Stay tuned to ANN for up-to-the-breem news on this breaking story.

On September 30, Vector Prime departed Axiom Nexus to partake in the events of the *TCC* magazine *Another Light* comic story "Out of the One, Many".

## October 2015

### October 18, 2015

Traffic update for bots in Lower Tesarus. We've just learned that the unprecedented two megacycle delays motorists are reporting are due to what appears to be a terrorist bombing at Director Shockwave's research and development facility, located downtown. Security officials have cordoned off the area in a twenty-block radius and are conducting searches of everybot coming into or going out of the area. We recommend a detour through Outer Helex if you don't want to spend the next few megacycles in a massive gridlock and possibly answering some uncomfortable questions. We'll bring you more as it develops.

Vector Prime made his return from the events of "Out of the One, Many" in an Axiom Nexus News video posted on October 29.

## March 2016

### March 6, 2016

Andromeda: Welcome back, viewers. That certainly was a nasty pile-up over on Historic Highway 8.12403840463596. Thank goodness there were no serious injuries, though for those commuting from Praxus to Villages E19 - F37, you might consider working through VR if your boss is the understanding type. Now, we continue our celebration of Primax 496.22 Alpha and the Beast Wars. Today's spotlight falls on Tigatron! Quite the hero, wouldn't you say, Rook?

Rook: That he is, Andromeda. Tigatron has the distinction of being the very first protoform to awaken on primitive Earth.

Andromeda: More primitive than normal, anyway.

Rook: Haha, good one. In any event, he came online in a remote part of the globe. With his identity circuits damaged by the crash, the individual deciding to call himself 'Tigatron' had no information and thus no personal connection to his planet of origin. This in turn causing him to think of himself more of a child of Earth than a Cybertronian. Nevertheless he was swiftly able to divine where his affinities lay, declaring for Optimus Primal. This allegiance was strengthened when his dear companion--

Andromeda: Not to mention DNA scan source!

Rook: Can't forget that. Ahem. Strengthened when the Terran tiger named 'Snowstalker' met her demise at the hands of the Predacons. Despite losing this connection to the Earth and its inhabitants, he chose to still remain apart from the other Maximals as a lone sentinel prowling through the wild, helping his brethren with the occasional report and participating in a few isolated missions.

 File:AndromedaTigatron.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** Andromeda: That began to change when he helped welcome the second new Maximal into Optimus Primal's crew, Airazor. The pair of them teamed up several times, and would eventually leave the other Maximals behind to search for stasis pods knocked out of orbit by the Vok's aborted attempt to sterilize the planet.
Rook: Together they explored the changes wrought upon their world, growing close in the process. Sadly, their burgeoning relationship was interrupted by another Vok device, the Metal Hunter. It captured them and sent them to Nexus Zero before becoming slaved to Megatron's will and, thankfully, destroyed by the Maximals.
Andromeda: But the Beast Wars hadn't seen the last of Tigatron!
Rook: No they had not. His body and Airazor's were fused together to create Tigerhawk, an emissary infused with the vast and nigh-incomprehensible powers of the Vok, sent to Earth to put an end to Megatron's machinations once and for all.
Andromeda: And how did that work out for the Vok?
Rook: Not so great, Andromeda. Though Megatron's base was destroyed, Tigerhawk was captured by Tarantulas, the Predacons' resident mad scientist.
Andromeda: I'd love to hear more about HIM!
Rook: I'm sure the Directorate General will have us get around to him sooner or later. It's not like the Chief has the bearings to stand up to that--
Andromeda: Agreed, Rook, Tarantulas is a bot for another time. For right now, the salient point is that Tarantulas was able to extract the Vok essence from Tigatron, but seemingly perished in the process.
Rook: Seemingly. This left the sparks of Tigatron and Airazor free to inhabit the Tigerhawk body and lend their considerable power to Optimus Primal's crew.
Andromeda: Optimal Optimus' crew.
Rook: ...of course. Whatever would I do without you?
Andromeda: Surely be enjoying the Directorate-General's hospitality. Tigatron helped the Maximals defeat the final threat of the Beast Wars, the Nemesis! Isn't that right, Rook?
Rook: ...
 File:AndromedaTigatronAndAirazor.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** Andromeda: Ah, the Nemesis was the warship of the original Megatron, a mighty vessel that might have destroyed the Ark and all inside it, causing untold damage to history, were it not for Tigerhawk's brave last stand! Great stuff, huh?
Rook: ...
Andromeda: ...uh, right. Imagine, if you will, a lone warrior, standing against the might of an entire capital ship, managing to hold it off for a few precious moments and sapping its power, at the cost of his own life. It's hard to imagine a more romantic death. And so--
Rook: AND SO did Tigerhawk, and with him the sparks and bodies of Tigatron and Airazor, perish. Giving time for the Maximals to rally and defeat Megatron, ending the Beast Wars once and for all. We could all learn a valuable lesson from his considerable moral courage.
Andromeda: That's all for tonight. Stay tuned for the wacky hustles of Matchstick Bot with your host, Six Shot.
 File:AndromedaTigerhawk.jpg

**Q: So does this mean Tigatron's alternate mode is that of a female tiger?**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** Oh! Oh dear! I'd prefer not to be the sort of journalist who is concerned with those details. It wouldn't matter to his self-identity anyway, which in the universe in question is male. I think we should respect that.
**Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist** Besides, I think we're all a little unclear about just how organics decide who gets to be female and who gets to be male. It's not as simple or unambiguous as with mechanical/energy hybrid lifeforms like ours.
**Q: Mind elaborating on how that works for you, Rook?**
**Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist** How my lack of understanding organic beings works for me? So far perfectly fine.

### March 10, 2016

ANDROMEDA: Welcome back, viewers! Those Hydrophenian Bumble-puppies certainly were adorable. Let's hope Demus has more luck finding homes for them now that that delightful segment has aired.

We'll close out this evening with another piece in our retrospective series on the Beast Wars of Primax 496.22 Alpha. Tonight's subject is a dastardly villain, Terrorsaur. Enough to make anyone quake in their bootstruts, right Sonar?

SONAR: What are you implying? That I'm not capable of filling in for Rook?

ANDROMEDA: Ah, no, just that... Terrorsaur is scary. As one of five Predacons who helped Megatron steal the Golden Disk, he was a key player in the early days of the Beast Wars.

 File:Andromedaterrorsaur.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** SONAR: Of all of Megatron's underlings, Terrorsaur was the most openly ambitious.
ANDROMEDA: Except for perhaps Dinobot, who immediately challenged Megatron for leadership and then defected to the Maximals.
SONAR: I wasn't including him, what with said defection and all.
ANDROMEDA: Oh, of course. Go on, you're doing great.
SONAR: He, um, Terrorsaur first attempted to co-opt Megatron's authority when he discovered a flying mountain, capable of supercharging Cybertronian life. Thus bolstered, he fought Megatron and blasted the purple tyrant to pieces.
ANDROMEDA: Tyrant? I mean...
SONAR: WHAT?!?
ANDROMEDA: No, tyrant is probably fine, especially considering what Megatron accomplished upon returning to Cybertron. But you were saying something about Megatron in pieces?
SONAR: Right. Right. His ascendency didn't last long, because the other Predacons paid him little heed. Once the Maximals destroyed his power source, he returned to the Predacon base only to face a quite irate Megatron.
 File:Andromedaterrorsaurpoweredup.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** ANDROMEDA: Quite irate indeed! Terrorsaur stayed mostly in line after that, until Rattrap was able to convince him to try for leadership again. Pretty batty, huh?
SONAR: Do you have something against bats now? You must hate bat-inspired vehicles then. Remind me never to show you my jetwing mode then.
ANDROMEDA: Oh, no, sorry, I didn't realize you were so sensitive about your alt mode.
SONAR: I'M NOT... sigh. By pretending to defect to the Predacons, Rattrap tricked Terrorsaur into granting him access to the Predacon base. He found and removed a Maximal computer chip that had allowed Megatron to listen in on Maximal communication. Quite the blunder, wouldn't you say, Andromeda?
ANDROMEDA: That it was. Megatron played this latest bit of disloyalty in a more low-key way, deigning to follow Terrorsaur's orders when the Maximals attack. When Terrorsaur bungled it, Megatron easily returned to command, having quashed Terrorsaur's ambitions once and for all.
SONAR: Terrorsaur continued to act as a now more reliable member of Megatron's crew. He was last seen during the quantum surge that resulted from the destruction of the Vok planet buster, when the blast caused him to collide with Scorponok and sent both of them sinking to the bottom of a pool of lava. One wonders what his Transmetal form might have looked like.
ANDROMEDA: Absolutely! If Tyran-Cluster Strafe is any indication, an inside out robotic pterosaur would look like some kind of... dark knight. How gauche!
SONAR: That's it, I quit. Find someone else to co-host while Rook is getting re-programmed by the Directorate-General.
ANDROMEDA: Don't go away mad, just... nevermind. Thanks for tuning in, and stay tuned for Electronic Makover, hosted by Roadstorm and sponsored by BioDyne Electronic Paint. When you absolutely, positively have to look like two or more people, BioDyne Electronic Paint!
 File:Andromedaterrorsaurdeath.jpg

### March 20, 2016

ANDROMEDA: And that's why you should be very careful making assumptions about Offworlders' alternate modes.

ROOK: I wish someone had told ME that before I was first introduced to my Conjunx Endura's spark brother! I've never been to an energon farm, how was I supposed to know a 'combine' didn't involve multiple robots?

ANDROMEDA: Ha! And speaking of both true love and unusual alt modes, tonight's look at the Primax 96.22 Alpha Beast Wars covers none other than Silverbolt.

ROOK: Silverbolt was a Fuzor, possessing a beast mode that combined DNA from two species, wolf and eagle. He came online shortly after the quantum surge, and was initially recruited into Megatron's band of Predacons.

ANDROMEDA: That didn't last long, though. His innate sense of right and wrong quickly put him at odds with the mad Predacon. When the Maximals showed him mercy, he quickly realized his true calling and pledged for the Maximal cause.

 File:AndromedaSilverboltandPredsCOTF.jpeg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** ROOK: No doubt the most significant relationship he would forge during the conflict was with the Predacon Blackarachnia. His code of chivalry prohibited him from striking her, a fact which she didn't hesitate to take advantage of.
ANDROMEDA: Nonetheless, she found him intriguing, and when fate put them together a second time, when Protoform X came online, they were forced to temporarily aid each other to avoid this new threat.
ROOK: They kept open the lines of communication, a backdoor channel tolerated by his fellow Maximals. He continued to try to woo her to the Maximal cause, observing that her protoform shell was originally Maximal.
ANDROMEDA: This fact became relevant when Megatron attempted to rewrite history. Blackarachnia found herself a reluctant ally of the Maximals, lest she be erased from existence.
 File:Andromedasilverboltbeastmode.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** ROOK: The blossoming romance between her and Silverbolt didn't hurt, I'm sure. He helped her break free from her shell programming, and helped defend the Ark from Megatron's final attack. He traveled with his companions back to Cybertron, but as one of the two Maximals in the shuttle without a Transmetal form, was incapacitated by Megatron's transformation virus upon arrival and his spark harvested.
ANDROMEDA: Megatron was never one to let a resource go to waste, and when he decided he needed generals with free will, Silverbolt's spark was used to power the Vehicon General Jetstorm.
 File:Andromedajetstorm.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** ROOK: The flamboyant general attacked the Maximals with abandon, reveling in the destruction. When the Maximals discovered Jetstorm's true identity, Blackarachnia vowed to stop at nothing to rescue her lover.
ANDROMEDA: An ironic role reversal!
ROOK: That it was. She eventually succeeded, and Silverbolt was reborn as a technorganic condor. His experience changed him. No longer was he the idealistic paladin of the Maximals, he had become brooding, obsessed with exacting revenge upon Megatron, and laden with guilt for his actions as a Vehicon.
 File:Andromedasilverboltbmbeastmode.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** ANDROMDA: His relationship with his former companions, especially Cheetor and Blackarachnia, was strained, but neither of them gave up on their friend. In the early moments following the defeat of Megatron, glimmers of Silverbolt's original personality began to reemerge.
ROOK: I know how he feels. It's been nice to have a few solar cycles without the Directorate General trying to interfere with my reporting.
ANDROMEDA: Dig up anything interesting?
ROOK: \*Ahem\* Perhaps. But rather risk further retaliation from Starscream before I get to fully share it with the viewers, I'll just keep it all in reserve. So for now good citizens of Axiom Nexus, you're in for a treat of a more uninvolved nature. The season finale of The Good Knife. Wuji has stuck by Jackie through thick and thin, but will their partnership survive the Wrecker's latest betrayal? I guess you'll just have to stick around to find out.
 File:Andromedasilverboltbmrobotmode.jpg

### March 24, 2016

ROMY: The amendment ended with 29 in support and opposition mustering only 4 votes. Non-Cybertronian, organic hardlight changelings will be granted the same access to Offworlder Zone facilities as their robotic counterparts. This victory was due in large part to human Jerrica Benton’s grass roots efforts and her holoform’s free concerts.

MISS-Q: I’d say that the Prysmosian rallies did their fair share to help as well.

ROMY: That’s certainly true. Although you wouldn’t be biased by Galadria’s sleek aquatic totem mode, would you?

MISS-Q: Ermh-mm….

ROMY: While she’s blushing, I think it’s time we move on to our next story. Continuing our series on the Bio Combatants of the Beast Wars in Primax 496.22 Alpha, we come to a Maximal named Razorbeast. This character is exceedingly mysterious, an enigma wrapped inside multiple layers of secrecy compounded by the swirling tides of temporal displacement.

MISS-Q: I did try to reach out to Heinrad to see if he had any insights into straightening out the timeline in question, but both he and his shadowy partner, Thrustinator, seem to have disappeared as of late.

ROMY: Thank you, Miss-Q. Anyway… Oh right! Razorbeast was a Maximal spy who had his very atomic structure reformed to give off a Predacon ID signature. After undergoing this, what I can only imagine as excruciating procedure, Razorbeast entered into Magmatron’s ranks to uncover the triple-threat tyrant’s true plans. Which… ended up being a little strange. Rather than recruit from the contemporary inhabitants of Cybertron, Magmatron and his small gang of ne’er-do-wells exhausted the energy to travel back in time and recover the Maximal protoforms that Optimus Primal and the crew of the Axalon believed lost after the Vok deployed their Planet Buster weapon. To perpetuate this belief, Magmatron’s Predacons engaged a temporal, out-of-synch cloak that hid themselves, and the protoforms, from both Optimus’ Maximals and Megatron’s Predacons alike.

However, that’s when Razorbeast decided to reveal his true loyalties. As the first protoforms began to have Predacon shell programming uploaded into their data circuits, Razorbeast interrupted the link and caused the remaining protoforms to awaken as their original Maximal selves. The conflict between the two out of phase armies came to a head, and Magmatron was defeated after stepping onto a partially active transwarp pad he had planned to use to transport Megatron back to Cybertron.…

MISS- Q: Yikes! Of course this left Razorbeast and the others stranded on ancient Earth.

ROMY: For a time, yes! But then Lio Convoy and The Pack arrived as rescuers! They seemed ready to end all skirmishes between the Predacons and Maximals on the prehistoric planet… When something called a Rartorata appeared and attacked Razorbeast and… that’s when we lose track of Razorbeast. That whole point in history seems to go dark…

MISS-Q: Oh no!

 File:Andromedarazorbeastaltmode.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** ROMY: But to fill the rest of this segment, I came up with a swell idea! Miss-Q, have you managed to get in touch with him?
MISS-Q: Of course, Andromeda. There’s not a being in Axiom Nexus that I can’t hunt down for you!
ROMY: Except Heinrad.
MISS-Q: Except… Yes. Anyway, I’m connecting you to your special guest.
ROMY: Fabulous! Razorbeast, are you there?
RAZORBEAST: I am, and I’m excited to be here. I heard that you wanted to talk about alternate Beast Wars and I’m the bot to talk to! I’m usually far more of a fighter than a listener, but being here… I’ve learned that the only way to relive the thrill of a good fight is by listening to others' war stories.
So anyway, it seems like most Beast Wars universes are funneled through a joint stream for a large portion of the-
ROMY: Okay, great…
Can you say, “Count yourself lucky”?
RAZORBEAST: “Count yourself lucky”?? What do you-
ROMY: Perfect! Now “He kept his masterstroke to himself, until the last possible moment…”
RAZORBEAST: That’s…awfully melodramatic. Why do you-
ROMY: Say it, please? C’mon, the viewers are listening!
RAZORBEAST: “He kept the…”
ROMY: “His”
RAZORBEAST: “He kept his masterstroke to himself, until the last possible moment…”
ROMY: Hehe! Yes! Okay… “Out there, somewhere, the Beast Wars are running their course.”
RAZORBEAST: Look, I would really like to talk about what I’ve learned about the Beast Wars. You see there are actually multiple timestreams that pour into-
ROMY: No Razorbeast, you “look.” We don’t have any recordings on Razorbeast from Primax 496.22 Alpha. Having you on air and saying some of his logged quotes is the closest that the viewers, historians will ever be to hearing the real thing.
RAZORBEAST: That’s sort of my point. Razorbeast from Primax 496.22 Alpha is actually more like Primax 206.15 Gamma although during the period on ancient Earth, the overlapping flow of the multiple streams make it into one consistent current until they get to the other side.
There are a few exceptions, like my home universe of Primax 296.0 Beta where the timelines remain independent and away from any time traveling mojo. These are-
ROMY: Say “Sorry, Magmatron… You’re OUT of time!”
RAZORBEAST: You don’t even want to hear how Primax 209.0 Gamma is a splinter possibility of Primax 496.22 do you?
ROMY: Come on, say it! Please!
RAZORBEAST: Andromeda, delete this number. And don’t think of having your assistant try to sweet talk me again. This conversation is over, FINISHED!
ROMY: Well! That was rude!
I mean, me? Take Miss-Q as an assistant?
MISS-Q: HEY!!
ROMY: Oh… No, no, darling. I didn’t mean it like THAT! I just mean that I’d look for someone that I’d respect professionally and not because…
\*\*SLAMM\*\*
ROMY: Well. Uhm. Keep watching ANN for the famous romance counsellor up next in Mend A Fractured Spark. I think I could use some of her tough advice right now…
 File:Andromedarazorbeastrobotmode.jpg

### March 31, 2016

ANDROMEDA: ...hard to believe that such an important figure could turn out to be a facsimile avatar!

ROOK: Perhaps that's why he was always wearing that deerstalker? To hide his transmitter?

ANDROMEDA: A rather elementary ruse, if that was the case. Speaking of ruses, tonight's segment on the Beast Wars focuses on that most mysterious group, the Tripredacus Council.

ROOK: The council was an important group within Predacon society, pulling many strings, and were none too happy to learn of Megatron's attempt to disrupt history. When they chanced to discover evidence of his tampering, in the form of the quantum wave, they quickly acted to prevent the Maximals from learning of Megatron's spatio-temporal location and dispatched an agent to hunt down the rogue Predacons.

ANDROMEDA: As well as deal with any Maximal interlopers.

ROOK: Can't forget that, can we?

 File:AndromedaTripredacusCouncil.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** ANDROMEDA: The council consists of three members, in some ways representing the past, present, and future of the Cybertronian race.
ROOK: General Cicadacon is the oldest member, with a personal history dating back to before the very concept of Autobots and Decepticons.
ANDROMEDA: By all accounts he was brilliant, both in terms of his scientific expertise as well as his knowledge of military history and tactics.
ROOK: He took many names over the years, but our viewers may best know him as <AXIOM NEXUS AUTO-CENSORS ENGAGED>.
ANDROMEDA: He also initiated the council's experimentation with Transmatter, which may account for some of the "reality bleed" Primax 496.22 Alpha tended to experience.
http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/8/81/GeneralCicadacon.jpg
 File:AndromedaCicadacon.jpg

**Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist** ROOK: The next member of the council, General Sea Clamp, a taciturn and imposing mechanoid.
ANDROMEDA: I believe he was the one who selected the Agent the Tripredacus Council dispatched, was he not?
ROOK: That seems to be the case. General Sea Clamp works best in the shadows, perpetually keeping an audio receptor to the ground . That and his incredible memory and computational abilities made him quite the force to be reckoned with.
http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/e/e3/GeneralSeaclamp.jpg
 File:AndromedaSeaClamp.jpg

**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** ANDROMEDA: And let's not forget General Ram Horn, one of the most arrogant and stubborn mechs we've ever observed.
ROOK: Balancing out the caution of his compatriots, he prefers direct action whenever possible. Legend has it that he fought his way out of the Pit itself!
ANDROMEDA: How dramatic!
ROOK: I'll say. He wields his own impatience like a club, rubbing it in the faces of allies and adversaries alike.
ANDROMEDA: Does one rub clubs in faces?
ROOK: Ram Horn would!
ANDROMEDA: Though their Agent was thwarted on prehistoric Earth, the Council remained a force to be reckoned with. Why, there are even rumors that <AXIOM NEXUS AUTO-CENSORS ENGAGED>!
ROOK: That sounds like quite an adventure. But for now, that's your intrepid ANN crew, signing off.
ANDROMEDA: Be sure to stick around for Better Call Saur. Tonight, Noise gets into trouble when he thinks Graphy is cheating on him with Dile. Are his concerns groundless, or might there be a Legible combiner walking around? I guess, if he wants to find out, he'd Better Call Saur!
http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/a/a4/Generalramhorn.jpg
 File:AndromedaRamHorn.jpg

## May 2016

### May 1, 2016

ANDROMEDA: Welcome back. Our last segment for this evening is an interview with the human member of the Convoy, General Hawk! General Hawk, thank you for coming.

HAWK: Always happy to help foster a better understanding about the human race. Do you know that I was approached the other day asking if I could Powerlinx to someone to augment their abilities?

ROOK: Hahah. Oh, my, that's rich. Because, of course, the answer to that question is…

HAWK: No. The answer is no.

ANDROMEDA: Can't humans link up to Cybertronians as heads or engines or guns?

HAWK: Only if they've been extensively modified.

ROOK: Fascinating stuff. But Hawk, what of rumors that you yourself are a Pretender, housing an Autobot inside?

HAWK: Different guy. He's Metalhawk.

ANDROMEDA: And you're… Skin Hawk? Flesh Hawk?

HAWK: Just Hawk. It's a codename. My given name is Clayton Abernathy.

ROOK: <snicker> Sorry, it's just… humans have ridiculous names. Can you imagine saying that name with a straight face? I was just chatting about that with the Cyberdroid who repairs the cameras after Aston makes me have one of my tantrums, what's his name?

ANDROMEDA: Lube?

HAWK: <snort>

ANDROMEDA: Rook, be nice. Remember your last mandatory multispecisism upgrade. Now, General, however did you come to be here with us in Axiom Nexus.

HAWK: Well, after the Joe team managed to defeat Unicron--

ROOK: Humans defeated Unicron?

HAWK: We had some help from Cosmos.

ROOK: …

HAWK: After that, I stopped fighting against the visions that the Matrix was giving me, and instead tried to embrace them.

ROOK: You were getting Matrix visions? A human?

HAWK: …yes. I let them lead me to a hidden bunker, left over from World War II.

ANDROMEDA: That sounds exciting. A world war. How long did it last?

HAWK: My country fought for nearly four years.

ROOK: Just four years? Couldn't have been much of a conflict.

HAWK: …

ROOK: What? I'm just saying, how much trouble could anyone get up to in four measly years.

HAWK: The bunker belonged to the Axis, the, um, bad guys. I found a soldier inside left over from the conflict, Sergeant Robert Steven Savage. A hero. He had been frozen for decades, and yet, miraculously, we were able to revive him.

ANDROMEDA: Oh, so decades are a long time for humans?

HAWK: We typically live for around 70-100 years, barring illness or accident.

ROOK: 100 years? I've had oil changes that have lasted 100 years.

ANDROMEDA: You have not.

ROOK: It's called hyperbole.

ANDROMEDA: That would be a good Cybertronian name. Hyperbole. Ooh! Or maybe it could be parsed out differently. Hyper Bole. Is Bole a word?

ROOK: No.

HAWK: Yes. It's a kind of clay used in pigments.

ANDROMEDA: Pigments! Do humans have art?

HAWK: Of course humans have art!

ANDROMEDA: How special. See, Rook, humans have art.

HAWK: Did you want to learn about how I got here or not?

ROOK: Oh, yes, by all means, wow us with your tale literally DECADES in the making.

HAWK: Oh, blow a tire. I don't have time for this.

ANDROMEDA: Wait, please, General, our viewers really are quite interested.

HAWK: I'll try to make this short. Savage had been experimented upon by the I.R.O.N. Army, under the command of General Blitz. This was the elite force of the Axis nation of Kalistan. Allied--good guy--intelligence during the war had strong suspicions that Kalistan had ties to super-science of extraterrestrial origin. I surmised it to be Cybertronian.

ANDROMEDA: See, Rook? This is getting good.

HAWK: The Matrix was telling me that Savage was important. I pulled strings, got him assigned a group of G.I. Joes, the Screaming Eagles, to investigate modern-day Kalistan. They discovered ties between its head of state, Count von Rani, and the terrorist organization S.K.A.R.

ROOK: You're losing me again. Any chance S.K.A.R. had Decepticon ties?

HAWK: As a matter of fact, yes. The Screaming Eagles discovered that many senior members of S.K.A.R. were binary bonded to Decepticon warriors, using old I.R.O.N. Army technology. In order to counter this threat, the technology within Sergeant Savage's body was reverse-engineered. The Screaming Eagles were binary bonded to a team of Autobots, and a globe-shattering confrontation followed.

ANDROMEDA: Fascinating! I apologize for my colleague's lack of patience.

ROOK: I'm just trying to keep the viewers engaged. Axis this, I.R.O.N. Army that, who can keep up? But at least we're up to the good stuff. Autobots versus Decepticons is something that all our viewers can relate to. How did that shake out?

HAWK: It nearly destroyed my planet. A clash between the cityformers Trypticon and Fortress Maximus caused calamitous damage to the Earth's magnetosphere, threatening the human race with extinction. Only by releasing the pent-up Matrix energy inside me were we able to repair the damage. It was a truly desperate gambit, one that left me adrift on the interdimensional winds, but it worked. After he plucked me from the cosmic tumult, Rhinox was able to show me the aftermath. Earth ushered in a new Golden Age.

ANDROMEDA: And now that you're here, and a member of the Convoy, what do you hope to accomplish?

HAWK: Andromeda, I hope to remind my Cybertronian cousins that not all species are as robust, or long lived, as they are, but that doesn't mean we don't have heart, courage, intelligence, and integrity. Your organic little brothers and sisters have much to offer, if only you'll listen.

ROOK: <finishes loudly slurping his oil> Sorry, what was that, I wasn't listening.

ANDROMEDA: And that's all the time we have. Thank you for sharing, General Hawk, it's been informative.

ROOK: Yes, I'm sure we haven't quite managed to put all our viewers into stasis lock. Aston, could you get me our booking agent? I'd like to have a word.

**Q: Also, who was a headmaster on both the Screaming Eagles and S.K.A.R. groups?**
'**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** See, Rook, there is interest in this material!
Caller, I'll see if we can get General Hawk back to answer a few questions, though I'm afraid he didn't seem very happy with his ANN experience.
**Q: Thank you! (And if you guys want, I have a spare magno clamp over here from my old cyber-police days. Just in case you want to shut Rook up....)**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** <Hawk> Now, now, peace officer, I may find Rook to be an obnoxious blow-hard, but that doesn't mean we should use violence to shut him up. Dealing with those you disagree with is a part of life. I believe it was Evelyn Beatrice Hall who said "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". Words to live by.
Now, if I'm understanding your question, you wish to know who the various binary-bonded partners were?
On the side of the Screaming Eagles, Sgt. Savage was binary bonded to the Autobot squad commander, Brave, who could in turn become the head of Fortress Maximus. His demolitions expert, Dynamite, was partnered with Brainstorm. Grill, the mechanical engineer of the team, was bonded to Highbrow. The artillery expert, D-Day, was partnered with Sunstreaker. Mouse, the computer specialist, was paired with Chromedome. Head Banger, the communications specialist, was assigned to Playback. And Tank, the vehicle specialist, was teamed with Hardhead.
On the side of S.K.A.R. was Iron Klaw, teamed with the Decepticon leader Double Dealer. He was particularly tricky, as he had an Autobot mode that Iron Klaw could activate in his guise as Count von Rani, but in his winged Iron Klaw form, Double Dealer revealed his true Decepticon nature. His right hand was Steel Raven. She was partnered with Cyclonus. There was also Inferno, a pyromaniac, teamed with Misfire. Wreckage, an early experiment with creating a super soldier, was teamed with Slugslinger. Rampage, an arms dealer, became the weapon of Triggerhappy. Silencer, a mercenary, was teamed with Needlenose. And Red Scream, an anti-globalist terrorist, was partnered with Scourge.
One more player of note was in the game. Quick Stryke was a S.K.A.R. operative who defected to the Joe team with the Cybertronian Sideways. I was never quite sure whose side they were really on. Now, I suppose, I'll never know.
**Q: Thank you, sir! Also, what do S.K.A.R and I.R.O.N. Army stand for?**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** <Hawk> S.K.A.R. is the Soldiers of Khaos, Anarchy, and Ruin. If I remember my history correctly, the I.R.O.N. Army was the Invasion, Reconnaissance, Occupation, and Neutralization Army. Garrison Kreiger certainly had a flair for the dramatic when he named his organization.
**Q: Thank you for telling us this! Another question, if I may-was Optimus still around at this point? What about Cosmos and the other Autobots who you were working with, along with Mainframe?**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** <Hawk>I'm sure they were around, but they were not major participants in this particular conflict.
**Q: Ah. BTW, how was things with Carolee after Unicron was defeated?**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** <Hawk>Ma'am, I believe that one's personal life is best left personal. I will say, Carolee, if you're somehow hearing this, I miss you and will never stop trying to find a way home.
**Q: An apparent ex-Decepticon named Sideways? Was his alt-mode a yellow and purple Harley-Davidson Electra Glide touring motorcycle?**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** <Hawk> Actually, he converted into the experimental Road Bullet assault cycle that Tank and Grill had been working on.
**Q: No disrespect, General Hawk, sir, but how exactly do you keep up with the others in the Convoy? Speaking as a human, we're not much good against or alongside giant alien robots unless we've got super powers or advanced tech.**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** We passed the question along to "Hawktimus Prime". He gave us an answer, but unfortunately he says this will have to be the last question that he takes since he's quite busy. A shame!!
HAWK: I keep fit, run four miles every morning. Then run another cool down session at night...
But to be honest, I usually catch a ride from one of my Convoy colleagues. General Optimus' seats were actually manufactured at the same location as the VAMPs in his home universe, so they give a little familiarity in this spectacular world.

### May 4, 2016

ANDROMEDA: Star Wars is a popular movie franchise that the humans here in Axiom Nexus know so very well. And today is some kind of Star Wars Pun Day if you follow the human calendar. "May the Fourth"... Is that right? It is? Good!

Anyway in celebration, we have Nightbeat with us. No, no, not that lovable detective Nightbeat that you might be familiar with from your home stream, this is a Mini-Con who seems would turn into a motorcycle? Cute little guy. And he apparently does a spot-on Artoo impression. I've been told. I'm not quite sure what an Artoo is myself.

So Nightbeat, let's hear it!

NIGHTBEAT: Beep boop whizz whurrrrr

ANDROMEDA: Oh! Isn't that darling?

NIGHTBEAT: Dep bop beep whur dupp whimmm!

ANDROMEDA: Amazing! Aston, do you know what he's saying?

ANDROMEDA: ...Aston?

ASTON: Ugh. This is why I suggested Bumblebee from Uniend 610.23 Zeta. Mini-Cons from Aurex 906.29 Alpha can get so blue with their humor. Miss-Q, can you cut his mic...

NIGHTBEAT: WHAAAAAAHHW--!!!!

**Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist** Actually, Andromeda, I think we have a file photo. While it's true that I find human culture rather pedestrian compared to the soaring heights of Axiom Nexus, there's something charming about these movies. In fact, I'm planning to attend the screening of Episode II tonight, which is easily the best of the lot. And, for those of you in timelines running ahead of the mean, NO SPOILERS. I'm looking at you, Malgus Cluster natives. I heard the shocking ending to Episode LXXIV from an iterant of Dr. Pyraniac a few decades ago and it still shorts my circuits to think about it!
http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/2/24/R2d2\_c3po.jpg
 File:R2d2 c3po.jpg

**Q: Andromeda, if you were to dress up as a Star Wars character or vehicle for May Fourth, who or what would you give this honor?**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** Since I spend most of my time as a giant, floating holographic head, I guess I would check to see if there are any similar characters in the films...
**Q: Any residents of Axiom Nexus with Star Wars alt modes? An X-Wing or a TIE Fighter, perhaps?**
**Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter** Tie Fighter? I believe Road Police wears a tie. Also, as a police officer, he's a crime fighter. I'd say that counts.
And I know Wing... And X-Brawn. I don't know if I've ever come across an X-Wing though.
**Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist** Romy... I...
Nevermind.

## December 2016

### December 31, 2016

Andromeda: Our first segment for Rompin' New Years Eve -

Rook: "Rompin'"?

Andromeda: ROM-pin'.

Rook: The Space Knight?

Andromeda: Be quiet, Rook!

Andromeda: Our first segment is an interview with Sparky. I sat down with the pyrotechnics specialist and her assistant, the aptly-named Firecracker, to see just what kind of spectacle they have in store for us tonight. Roll the tape... It's the one that converts into Playback...

Andromeda: First of all, thanks you so much for taking the time to sit down with us, Sparky. Firecracker.

Sparky: Of course.

Firecracker: Wouldn't have missed it.

Andromeda: So Sparky... Hmm, "Sparky"... Is that Gobot?

Sparky: I get that a lot. But no. It's Cybertronian, although a little more like a nickname - my full name is Pyra Ignatia Spark. Although with the other Pyras and Sparks running around, well, I went for something more "me".

Andromeda: You could have gone with Ignatia?

Sparky: No. I hate my middle name. Only my batch initiator uses it. Or my endura when he's mad at me.

Firecracker: I hear Vez call you that at least twice a decacycle...

Sparky: What can I say? Humans have all that skin to get under.

Andromeda: Heh, right. So anyway, what's the event going to be like tonight?

Firecracker: There's going to be some booms, some pops and some lights in the sky...

Firecracker: \*Ahem\* But in seriousness, we like to keep it a surprise. It will be rightfully huge though.

Sparky: Yeah, I think... Sure, we can say that we've been working with a quartet of Mixmasters and a Fisitron or two to truly let the old year go out with a bang!

Firecracker: And "ring" in the new with a reverberation in the audio sensors.

Andromeda: Speaking of damaging audio receptors... I hear that we'll get a preview of your work at Rosanna's pre-party concert. Is that true?

Sparky: Well...There may be a sparkler or two that will go off while she's on stage...

Andromeda: Sounds like it will be fun. We can't wait to see what you've got planned! Thanks!

Sparky & Firecracker: Of course!

Andromeda: Excuse me! Excuse me, Ms.! Can we talk to you?

Andromeda: Okay good! I'm out here on the streets talking to Axiom Nexus inhabitants preparing for tonight. What's your name?

Andromeda: I'm not sure I've ever heard a name like that. Can you say it again?

Andromeda: "M'Gillda? What planet is that from?

Andromeda: No...You're not any kind of Earth species I know. I suppose there are plenty of Earths out there though.

Andromeda: "Sub-Atlantican"? Oh, I hadn't heard of your people before. You meet new faces every day!

Andromeda: Okay M'Gillda, what are you doing to get ready for tonight?

Andromeda: Uh-huh.

Andromeda: Uh-huh.

Andromeda: Really? Hahaha! Rook would totally do the same thing!

Rook: Do what, Romy? Her mic isn't working.

Andromeda: It seems to be working just fin--

Andromeda: What's that, M'Gillda? Oh... Your race speaks telepathically because they live underwater and haven't developed vocal chords that work in the air.

Andromeda: Well, I can still hear you. Even if our viewers at home can't. Or Rook in the studio.

Andromeda: Wah-?? Hahaha! M'Gillda, you're SO very right about him. Can you even?

Andromeda: Hahaha. Stop it! Stop it! Hahaha! You're killing me with these jokes!

Rook: What's she saying? Is it about me? Romy? ROMY??

Andromeda: Hehe heh. Back. Heh. back to you, Rook.

There's a Spacewarp! Let's get an on-the-street interview with her. Spacewarps are always viewer favorites.

Spacewarp! Spacewar--

I-- Uhm.

Can you repeat that, Sweeps? Did you really just say-?

Rook, are you hearing this?

Rook, what's the word? What's the source?

I'm on my way.

Andromeda: Loyal viewers. As you probably already know, High Commander Megatron has been able to punch a hole in the Shroud just large enough to send out scans... Is that where this information is coming from?

Sweeps: I can't confirm that yet, Ms. Andromeda. All I know so far is that the story is hitting the infosphere. HARD. It's up to 4,507,890 views already!

Andromeda: If that's where this is coming from then... I... I-I can't... Rook?

To update my earlier report, not only has Aurex 503.21 Gamma fallen, Gargent 1084.29 Alpha, Iocus 214.24 Kappa, and Primax 1003.30 Kappa have as well.

If you've ever lived in one of those universes... I'm...I'm sorry.

More coming in...

Primax 509.28 Epsilon... Can you believe it? Fornax 813.0 Gamma, Malgus 1008.19 Gamma, Primax 1298.19 Alpha, Primax 109.0 Beta, Primax 504.0 Gamma...

And...and... Primax 406.3 Eta. Well, that's not a big loss.

Andromeda: As the list of universes continues to roll in, we've managed to contact Brainstorm from Primax 716.21 Beta to come talk to us about possible theories and explanation for what's going on.

Andromeda: We're now at a few dozen universal streams gone, as well as an entire cluster. You've experimented with CREATING alternate timelines and realities before, do you have any insight into what could be causing them to DISAPPEAR?

Brainstorm: From what I've gathered from the Nemesis Prime of the former Aurex 304.0 Epsilon...a trusted member of the Convoy... He and the Alternity battled a giant space creature called the Hytherion. This creature would gobble up weakened and damaged universes, leaving nothing in its wake. Much like we're seeing now.

Brainstorm: So one possibility you'd be tempted to hypothesize, is that with the Shroud in place, the Hytherion has been able to start picking off these now-isolated universes and start digesting them.

Andromeda: That's a pretty large stomach to have eaten this many universes.

Brainstorm: I didn't say it was a good hypothesis.

Andromeda: Oh.

Brainstorm: My personal theory is that some omni-universal being that oversees the entirety of the multiverse has something to do with this. Perhaps the multiverse has gotten so sprawling and complex that it needed some PRUNING, as it is. Paring down to only those universes it sees as quote-unquote important.

Andromeda: That's... disconcerting.

Brainstorm: That's life. One disconcerting moment after the next... And then a big multiversal worm eats your whole dimension.

Andromeda: ...

Andromeda: Rook? You're speaking to a survivor of one of the universes destroyed today?

Viewers, this is a disaster. As far as we can tell, the destruction has reached its peak. No streams have been destroyed for the past eight or so breems.

The Multiverse appears to be stable, but vastly, vastly reduced. The sum total of our existence would seem to be Primax 616.02 Kappa, Primax 113.12 Gamma, Primax 785.06 Alpha and associated splinter streams, Primax 1005.19 Gamma, Tyran 707.04 Delta, Primax 514.3 Gamma, Primax 706.05 Gamma, Uniend 911.05 Alpha, Rovio 914.25 Kappa of all places, Primax 1114.26 Gamma, Primax 206.15 Gamma, Iocus 514.31 Gamma, Primax -408.24 Epsilon and the Quadwall cluster.

If a greater tragedy were possible, I’m not sure what it might be.

Voice: Brrrrrmmmm, is this Axxxiom Nexxus Newss?

Andromeda: It is, you said that you had insider information about what is going on with the multiverse.

Voice: Wassspinator long time watcher. Firsst time caller.

Andromeda: Okay Waspinator. But what do you know?

Waspinator: Waspinator is Transtech worker working at Rhino-bot's lab. Waspinator watch it all happen, then Waspinator report on infosphere. Hbbmmmm.

Andromeda: Okay, so what happened?

Waspinator: Waspinator see all the monitors go black! One by one, no more screens. Waspinator thinks to Waspinator's self "Waspinator!! Those universes are dying!! Waspinator must tell others!!!"

Waspinator: Waspinator was wrong.

Waspinator: Rhino-bot just shutting down computers now that the Shroud cut multiverse into pieces. Rhino-bot not needed. Rhino-Bot's All-Knowledge computer can be shut down.

Andromeda: Are you saying that the universes are all still there? That all this was just Rhinox and his team shutting down their monitor screens?

Waspinator: Brmmmm. There a reason Waspinator is lowly janitor-bot!

Andromeda: Uhm... So...

Andromeda: I guess we just sowed a lot of undue panic?

Waspinator: Uhm-hmm. Happens everywhere Waspinator goes...

With... everything behind us, it's time to look towards the future, like all the songs tell us to do this time of year.

So while we're looking at one thing coming to an end, the horizon in front of us is endless. A wide open frontier fresh for new paths, as of yet unmuddied and untread. Let's take this chance to not dwell on what has already past, but what hope lies out there ahead of our journeys, waiting to be discovered.

This is one goodbye, but out there could be thousands - millions - of hellos.

\*Ahem\*

Well that was mushy, Serif. But thanks for writing it.

Now let's turn back to ACubedN as Countdown reveals a new gold plating for the Sigma Oracle and helps the golden Eggbot into his harness in time for the ball drop...