Disclaimer: I do not own GoBots nor its characters. Just this strange plot.

All of GoBotron mourned their fallen hero. Though he'd fly on as a legend, many felt as though the very soul of the Guardians was ripped from the confines of their unfinished planet. Leader-1 was more than just a great Guardian Commander. He also represented hope, light, and a future to many a GoBot. He was the ideal role model and aspiration for future Guardians and the poster-bot for the Guardian cause.

Guardian Headquarters was draped in long, flowing black tapestries and Command Center One stood solemnly upon the grounds of Graduation at the Guardian Academy and had been temporarily painted in a flat solid black to represent its own loss (though the paint was also of the same special coating as the prototype Star Ray...but nobody knew this except for a select few). Businesses and education centers were closed. Only a few alien trade ships flowed to and from GoBotic space ports. For the most part, silence gripped the entire planet.

Within Guardian Headquarters, the Council was called in emergency session and most GoBot Ambassadors as well as many alien representatives from far off planets arrived to also pay their respects. The entire mood of the planet helped put the entire plan into full effect. Even Turbo, Scooter, Matt, and the others who knew Leader-1 still lived, couldn't help but feel the effects of the sorrow and despair. It helped them play their roles much more realistically. Aurora had not been seen since they had arrived in GoBotalis. She was with the Guardian Council, meeting and discussing what was next in the Guardian's next chapter of existence.

Back near Earth's Sun...

The Guardian Star Ray was quietly in stationary orbit and all aboard were busy in their respective roles.

"Tigeress, does this ship have a shuttle?"

"Of course, though it's quite small compared to the standard one found on Command Centers. "

Handing Tigress some decals, Leader-1 described phase two of his plan. "Tigress, put these on in accordance with the Swiss databanks and assume role as a standard Earth F-5 fighter jet. Under no circumstances are you to convert out of jet mode unless directed by me. I too, will join the regular human military. Since my new form is still in testing...I'm prototype no.2 at Lockheed in the US...a step down, but ah, I'll adjust I guess. The Last Engineer has contacted the necessary human informants that allow for our new roles to occur. Use the lambda omega gamma frequencies of contact to this ship or myself. No standard GoBotic communication allowed unless a severe emergency. Understood?"

"Completely."

"I don't know how long it'll take before Cy-Kill makes his move. But I know it'll be within the next few days. He's impatient and will take full advantage of the lack of Guardian presence here." Leader-1 replied before addressing the other two Guardains. "Spinner! Jazzmin! Key into my personal frequency. Use the coded whalespeak to inform me of the status of the Renegades and if attack is immenient."

"Roger Leader-1! Oh, and Leader-1?"

"Yes?"

"Rogue Star is in Jupiter's orbit. It is possible for us to move Star Ray undetected upon the volcanic moon, Io. The volcanism there will further hide us and give us an ideal staging ground for the destruction of Rogue Star." Jazzmin added.

"Make it so, but move in slowly and utilize all planetary and moon orbits to your fullest advantage. Just avoid Earth's due to its extreme survelliance by the Renegades. This is the last time Cy-Kill and the Renegades will EVER see Earth or their precious Rogue Star! I PROMISE you that." Leader-1 finished as his final words became sharp and clear as if convincing himself that this was it--all or nothing. The three ladybots felt the sting of those words and realized the vital importance each would play in what was going to be an event to immortalize them and go down in Earth and GoBotron history.

Rogue Star...

"Cy-Kill, nearly all of Earth is calm. No increased military activity in any country!" Fitor informed his leader.

"The calm before the storm. Fitor, are all Thrusters prepared for flight?"

"Yes, Cy-Kill."

"The Zods?"

"Awaiting your orders."

"Excellent. Assemble the Renegades who will participate in the Earth Assault in the Hangar Bay. We will commence attack within the next several hours. Initial attack will be Zods and Recon Thrusters. I want to know EXACTLY what is remaining on Earth. The full force will then attack within half day's time from there."

"As good as done!"

Cy-Kill merely nodded to his suck-up second in command before turning about and departing the command bridge. He would return to his personal command room to review his plan and to contemplate. Here he was, on the eve of the conquest that would bring him power, fame, and glory, yet he felt dragged down. Was it possible, he actually felt sorrow for his fallen once-friend turned despised enemy? Now that Leader-1 was gone, there seemed to be a void of some sort within him...gnawing at his very circuits. He had tried to shove it aside and focus on the here and now, but it wouldn't allow him. It kept seething into his brain...tormenting his thoughts and tearing at the depths of his soul. If he believed in ghosts...he'd swear the ghost of Leader-1 had already come to haunt him and fight him the rest of the days of his own existence. But before he could ponder it more, Crasher approached.

"Cy-Kill, we have a problem with one of the Zods!"

"Do tell."

"He won't keep charge. Keeps losing power."

"Fine, we'll leave it behind. Two will be plenty anyway. We only have humans and their petty military toys to deal with. Launch the two remaining Zods to Earth immediately and have them begin destroying Earth's vital defense systems. Send four Thrusters down with them for recon."

"Yes Cy-Kill!" Crasher responded, but with a lack of her usual enthusiasm for destruction and for an instant, Cy-Kill thought his own feelings were mirrored in her own expression. Was it possible even Crasher was feeling some sort of loss too? He was aware of Crasher's past crush on Leader-1. Was it possible it still existed?! He wanted to ask, but managed to shove it aside. This was no place to contemplate what every Renegade was feeling in regards to the fallen Guardian that had thwarted all their plans until now.

"Crasher?"

"Yes, Cy-Kill?"

"I want you and Cop-tur to my command room in five."

"Yes, Cy-Kill!" Crasher replied and darted off to go find the mentally slow chopper.

Cy-Kill watched her depart, then continued on his way. All, including himself would simply have to keep busy or else their own emotions would play against them and they would lose focus. But now his mind was tempting to ponder his female Renegade comrades. He'd heard Snoop's comments, or rather compliments of the Guardian Commander before too. What was it with females and his most dangerous, now-dead enemy?! It made his circuits fizzle in anger. His fist smacked a wall as he continued on towards his office.

A couple of days later...

Leader-1 was simply basking in the warming sunlight of a new dawn while residing on the tarmac. For once he wasn't cooped up in an enclosed hangar, where most of the prototypes were held and where guard dogs liked to relieve themselves upon his landing gear. He'd been in jet mode for two whole days now and he yearned to return to his GoBot form and stretch out his cramped circuits. Flying around on manual with human test pilots was also unnerving. He didn't like being out of control of his own body and systems and some of the antics that were supposedly 'tests' didn't make sense at all. The only human he trusted to fly him on manual was Matt and he was beginning to miss him tremendously. But, for the sake of a successful mission, these were things he'd simply have to endure. He hoped Tigress was faring better in Switzerland.

Suddenly, alarms blared. Leader-1 nearly converted back to GoBot mode instinctively, but caught himself just before he did so. He listened to the orders being blasted over the humans' outdoor comm system. It was what he was waiting for--a Renegade attack! But why hadn't the Star Ray informed him of this?! Was it possible Cy-Kill was using an unusual means of attack?

Immediately, he used his own devised coded system to hail both Tigress and the Star Ray. Their plans were now in motion! Before a mechanic could move him to the safety of the hanger, Leader-1 took off vertically and blasted away. The stunned mechanic could only look on in a stupified stare. Finally in flight and in control of himself, Leader-1 kicked his engines into high gear, hit twice the speed of sound, and shot towards the Renegade presence his systems detected.

In Switzerland, Tigress nearly reacted the same way as Leader-1 when the strange whalesong entered her systems. Igniting her engines, she started taxiing down the row of other parked jets. Once clear, she shot into the air with a thunderous roar and proceeded in a high speed, low altitude trajectory for the same area Leader-1 was heading.

Leader-1 detected Tigress' launch and deviated his course slightly to rendevous with her. He had a slight change of plans for themselves. He caught up to her and turned their course just before as a Renegade Thruster disengaged its Stealth Device.

"Wha'!"

"Easy Tigress. It's just me."

"Sorry Leader-1, keep forgetting you LOOK different in jet mode."

"I feel different too, but that's beside the point. New plan. We aren't going to make a dent in engaging the entire Renegade assault force one by one and Cy-Kill isn't using his usual tactics. We need to take out the brains of it."

"Cy-Kill."

"Exactly."

"Sure it isn't going to turn into some personal grudge match of revenge for you?"

"I make no guarantees, but that's why I want you with me."

"Female persuasion?"

"Renegades have females too."

"Okay, here's a suggestion Leader-1. I take out Cy-Kill, you be the distraction with the Renegade ladybots."

"I've had my fill of that. No thanks."

"Aww, c'mon, you mean a big, handsome, strong Guardian Commander like yourself, can't handle a couple of measley Renegade ladybots?" Tigress teased with a purr.

"What is it with you and the rest of the Shadow Brigade?! You all are obsessed with involving me in some wing and a prayer relationship."

"Because you're a waste of good GoBot just running around playing the hero all the time and getting yourself blasted."

Leader-1 was about to respond, but thought better of it. Ladybots had a way of manipulating words and situations. He'd fallen into it too many times in his past. Now an older and wiser GoBot, he was slowly, but surely, learning to know better. He peeled off in a descending arc and Tigress followed at his wing silently. There was no longer a need for words. They had work to do!

With a waggle of his wings and pattern flash of his wing lights, Leader-1 silently signalled Tigress into the formation he wished for an attack on a Renegade presence he detected on the ground. Tigress responded with a quick blink of her wing lights and split off from him. They were going to flank the enemy and hit it from both sides, then scissor past each other and repeat the offensive maneuver to finish it off.

In a long high speed arc, Leader-1 suddenly realized, it wasn't what he thought it was. "Tigress, break off!" he sounded as he sharply arced away from his own attack vector. It wasn't Scales, but rather a Zod! The water's reflection gave Leader-1 an inaccurate reading of the size of the target! Tigress responded within an instant and veered off just as she had re-entered visual range of her Guardian Commander...and of Zod.

But it was too late. Zod had detected them and responded. As Tigress peeled away, Zod fired a salvo of high energy blasts. They slammed into the retreating ladybot's rear section, tearing away half her vertical stabilizer and shredding her engines. She went down hard, trailing a huge amout of smoke and fire. Leader-1 tried to return to her aid, but Zod was now making him the target. He pulled up in frustration and flew just out of Zod's firing range. Zod was defending his "kill!" He tried twice more, but was turned back each time. The last attempt leaving a large burn streak across his right wing. A sudden blast from another direction forced the Guardian Commander to reluctantly withdraw. The Renegade Thruster had detected his presence...though its blasts were firing upon him as if he were a mere human occupied jet. They didn't recognize him as a GoBot yet! With the utterance of several GoBotic curse words, Leader-1 shot out of the vicinity at Mach 3. Tigress was lost. There was nothing more he could do for her now...and it was his fault. No...it was the Renegades fault. This was becoming more and more personal for the heroic Guardian as what he could blame himself for blurred into what his enemies' caused. And now, he'd have to break the news to Aurora that he lost one of her team members. It was a task he hated most of all. No matter how many times he'd experience the death of comrades, he never allowed himself to get used to it. It tore at his soul for every Guardian and Civilian loss...no matter the species.

Back in space...

Warning alarms were blaring, sirens and lights deafening all words, and smoke reducing visual range to nearly nothing. ROGUE STAR was under attack! Their shields were gone. Their stealth device so severely damaged that it no longer worked.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE this is happening!" Cy-Kill yelled to himself as he charged back towards the bridge. Many other Renegades were stumbling and slamming into each other in the confusion and lack of visual perception. As he entered the smoky bridge, he saw Crasher and Cop-tur frantically trying to deal with the situation...to no avail of course. "Damage reports NOW!" he ordered.

Crasher looked at him with a stupified stare. "Why?! Everything's damaged! It's all we can do to keep the ship from listing and being pulled down by Jupiter's gravity!"

"Then at least tell me what is doing this?!"

"We don't know. Last scans before we lost sensors indicated nothing out there."

"SOMETHING'S OUT THERE! FIND IT!" Cy-Kill yelled as he busied himself with the various scanners. He pulled up a schematic of his ship to see damage reports coming in from all sectors. He also used one of the few options left to him to find this unknown assailant. He launched two sound probes and then sent off several audible pings. If something was out there and visual sensors couldn't pick it up, then the sound sensors might.

"Spinner, we're being pinged! Move us behind a moon NOW!"

"Too late!" Spinner yelled as the large ping sound vibrated through the entire ship.

"AH HA!" Cy-Kill yelled with a maniacal laugh. If there was one thing the Renegade Commander knew about, was how to deal with cloaked ships. His did it often enough afterall. " I want available Renegades and Thrusters to depart for sector 7, zone 3 IMMEDIATELY! Take out that hidden ship and bring me the heads of its occupants!"

"Spinner, we're going to have company! Get us out of here!" Jazzmin yelled as the scanners detected the rush of enemy activity heading towards them at breakneck speed.

"But--"

"TO EARTH!"

Spinner didn't say another word. She spun the ship, ignited all engines, and shot out of range of the raiding Renegades.

On Earth...

Leader-1 had sought refuge within the Himalayan mountain range. As he flew within the turbulent air near the jagged peaks, he pondered what had just occurred and what was to come. Then an emergency transmission jolted him out of his thoughts, nearly sending him into the infamous K2 mountainside.

"Go ahead Jazzmin. I read you."

"We were detected, but not before doing severe damage to Rogue Star."

"Detected? How?"

"Cy-Kill used sound."

"Very clever. I take it you are headed my way?"

"Affirmative."

"Rendevous with me at these coordinates." Leader-1 said as he sent the location of Mount Everest's southside base camp through the Star Ray's navigation computer. Leader-1 had remembered what Matt had said about expeditions to this region only being for a few weeks a year in spring. It was late fall. The area would be abandoned until next year's expedition season. Yet, all clearings,etc. would still be there and the high mountains and severe weather conditions would mask their presence from both Renegades and humans.

"Roger and out!" Jazzmin replied.

Leader-1 then adjusted his course to approach the tallest mountain on Earth. It was tricky flying near its looming form...the turbulent, chilling air threw everything it had at him...as if the mountain was saying it wanted peace from visitors who dared challenge it. Leader-1 could detect many long dead, frozen humans all along the mountain's massive bulk. Why humans liked to risk death to climb some rock baffled the GoBot, but then again, perhaps it was a way of reminding some just how fragile life can be and how powerful and alive this planet was. Using the constantly varying up and down drafts, Leader-1 navigated his way through the tempestuous weather until he sighted the abandoned camp on the "backside" of the mighty mountain. He touched down in jet mode, then converted back to GoBot form and looked around. The camp was littered with the trash and used equipment from expeditions past. Typical of humans to litter even the most pristine of natural places. Using some of the old, yet still bright colored tent material and metal canisters, Leader-1 laid out a pattern in the snow in the form of a makeshift landing pad then sought refuge in a small ridgeline and waited for his comrades to arrive. The showdown with Cy-Kill was about to begin!

Just a short while later, the Star Ray silently approached South Base Camp and landed with only an extra whoosh of loose snow. Leader-1 emerged from his refuge and entered the ship. He had to break the news about Tigress to her teammates first.

"Is everything okay Leader-1?" Jazzmin asked, then read his expression and looked about. "Where's Tigress?"

Leader-1 couldn't look at the other two GoBots and say it without getting emotional himself. Turning away from them, he stared out the cockpit window then spoke. "Tigress is lost. We were engaged with a Zod and Recon Thruster. Zod hit her as we were retreating. I tried to save her...but I couldn't...I'm sorry." Leader-1 solemnly spoke as for the first time, he looked down at his leg and the burn streaks upon his wing. The external skin of the wing was peeled away in a nasty gash, exposing some of the circuitry. He didn't even notice it nor feel its pain...until now.

Jazzmin and Spinner were saddened by their loss, but this was not the time to mourn. The Renegades were attacking and it was time for action!

"You're hurt. Allow me to mend that wing. We need you at full strength if we're going to succeed." Jazzmin replied softly as she walked up to the Guardian Commander.

He returned her soft, compassionate grin and followed her to the med bay. Once out of sight, Spinner smacked the wall hard with a fist. The first Renegade in her blaster range would pay the price of the loss of her teammate and friend.

On Rogue Star...

"CY-KILL, ALL SYSTEMS ARE FAILING! WE'RE LOSING THE SHIP!" Fitor exclaimed as he tried desperately to keep the ship functioning and from falling into Jupiter itself.

The sound and feel of secondary explosions within various areas of the ship made Cy-Kill's decision an easy, though reluctant one. "ABANDON SHIP! All Renegades to the Thrusters!"

Fitor sounded the evacuation alarm then he, Cy-Kill, Crasher, and Cop-tur made for the hangar bay. Before entering it, Cy-Kill looked down the smoky hall they had just left one last time. He knew his ship was lost this time...and whomever was responsible would pay...severely.

Once all Renegade Thrusters had departed, Cy-Kill gave new orders. The attack on Earth would commence as planned. Rogue Star did not play any significant part in it other than a staging ground anyway. Dividing up his forces, he sent teams of Thrusters to every key part of the Earth. If there was any resistence from that mysterious ship, it couldn't be everywhere at once.

On Earth...

Jazzmin and Leader-1 dashed back onto the Star Ray's bridge at the sound of the alarms. The ship detected vast amounts of Renegades all over the planet. The full scale invasion had commenced!

to be continued...