User:Bumblevivisector/Sandbox/Multipath

Dinobots Strike Back

(PAGE_1) The five Dinobots are on lookout duty in Hidden Valley, all in robot mode. Bored with sitting by the river, Slag and Sludge start a fight. None of them notice the Insecticons Kickback and Bombshell sneaking up on them until Bombshell fires a mortar shell. (PAGE_2) The blast knocks down all of them but Swoop, who sees the shell coming in time to transform and dodge. Although one of his wings in injured by the explosion, he makes it to a nearby tree. Swoop watches in horror as Bombshell transforms into his tiny insect mode and uses his stinger to inject the other four Dinobots' heads with cerebro-shells. As Kickback reports back to Megatron, Bombshell orders the Dinobots to attack the Autobots and their pathetic Earth friends. The four of them transform. (PAGE_5) Bombshell thinks that the Dinobots will cause enough trouble to allow the Decepticons to get on with the next step of their plan without interference. He doesn't care that his cerebro-shells allow them to hear all of his thoughts, because they're under his control now. Swoop worries that with his bad wing, by the time he flies back to Autobot headquarters to warn Optimus Prime, the other Dinobots will have caused a lot of damage. Should he:

Fly back to Optimus Prime at Autobot Headquarters? (>>PAGE_10>>)

Stay and fight Bombshell? (>>PAGE_12>>)

(<<From_PAGE_5<<) Swoop takes off for the Ark (PAGE_10) Swoop flies north and arrives at Autobot headquarters. There he finds Optimus Prime in the war room discussing Hound's report of Dinobots tearing up farmland near Hidden Valley. Upon hearing Swoop's report, Optimus announces that the Dinobots must be stopped. (PAGE_19) Optimus turns to Prowl for advice on stopping the Dinobots without destroying them. Prowl notes that a quick and direct attack may be necessary to stop the Dinobots before they reach populated areas, but taking time to consult the memory banks of the Ark's computer might produce a better plan. Should Optimus Prime:

Consult the Ark's computer? (>>PAGE_26>>)

Destroy the Dinobots immediately with a massive attack? (>>PAGE_30>>)

(<<From_PAGE_19<<) Optimus consults the Ark's computer (PAGE_26) After a few minutes, the computer suggests having Windcharger remove the cerebro-shells with his magnetic field. However, it cannot calculate the exact power of the magnetic force necessary to remove the shells without ripping the Dinobots apart. Prowl warns that the Dinobots are approaching Bandit's Bluff, 15 minutes away from the nearest city. (PAGE_27) This gives Mirage an idea for an alternate plan: using his electro-disruptor to cast an illusion of Optimus Prime on the edge of Bandit's Bluff, tricking the Dinobots into charging it and falling into the ocean. The fall should knock them out, allowing the Autobots to take them back to base where the shells can be safely removed. Should Optimus:

Go with Mirage's plan? (>>PAGE_45>>)

Go with the computer's plan using Windcharger? (>>PAGE_66>>)

(<<From_PAGE_27<<) Optimus chooses Mirage's plan (>>PAGE_45>>) The Autobots arrive at Bandit's Bluff, and Mirage casts the illusion. The Dinobots take the bait and charge... (PAGE_71) ...over the cliff and into the ocean, where Seaspray is waiting. Ratchet, Sunstreaker, Huffer, Sideswipe, and Bumblebee haul the unconscious Dinobots aboard the destroyer and head back to the Ark, where Windcharger will be able to safely remove the shells in a controlled environment. Ratchet observes that this Decepticon plan, "was all wet!"

THE END

(<<From_PAGE_27<<) Optimus Prime chooses the computer's plan, with Windcharger (>>PAGE_66>>) Optimus has Windcharger lead a small convoy of Autobots to Bandit's Bluff, staying behind to confer with Skids about some urgent business. Upon arriving, Windcharger knows he'll definitely be able to pull the cerebro-shells out from 40 feet away, but worries that might harm the Dinobots. Should Windcharger cast his magnetic field from:

40 feet away? (>>PAGE_54>>)

Further back? (>>PAGE_50>>)

(<<From_PAGE_66<<) Windcharger stands 40 feet away (>>PAGE_54>>) As Windcharger releases his magnetic field, the Dinobots stop dead in their tracks. They then begin to convulse like crazed wind-up toys going through the same repetitive motions. Prowl realizes that the field was too strong, but there's nothing Windcharger can do to stop it as Dinobot parts begin flying through the air. (PAGE_32) The Autobot shield themselves from a tremendous thud, then look up to see the four Dinobots reduced to pieces. Prowl somberly collects the cerebro-shells for study. Except for Swoop, the Dinobots are now just as extinct as the real dinosaurs.

THE END

(<<From_PAGE_66<<) Windcharger stands about 100 feet away (>>PAGE_50>>) He transmits a magnetic field which pops the four cerebro-shells off one at a time. The Dinobots stop short and look confused, but quickly remember that the Autobots are their friends. That night, there's a big celebration at Autobot headquarters to welcome the Dinobots back. After struggling to remember something important that Bombshell said, Grimlock runs and tells Optimus Prime... (PAGE_59) ...that controlling the Dinobots was just part of a bigger Decepticon plan. Optimus wonders if the plan is related to the strange electromagnetic activity that Skids detected around Dolphin's Bay, where Decepticons were spotted just a week ago. Optimus tells Skids to scout around the bay, and take Bumblebee since he can explore underwater. Wheeljack has been working on a new mini-submarine, and offers to program it by remote control to meet the two Autobots at the bay. (PAGE_13) Bumblebee likes the plan. Then Sludge volunteers to help, since he considers himself the best water figter. Optimus knows Skids and Bumblebee would rather not have him along. Should Optimus send Skids and Bumblebee on the mission:

With Sludge? (>>PAGE_24>>)

Without Sludge? (>>PAGE_3>>)

(<<From_PAGE_13<<) Optimus sends Sludge, Bumblebee, and Skids to Dolphin's Bay (>>PAGE_24>>) Bumblebee and Skids can drive faster than Sludge can walk, so the two go ahead after telling the Dinobot they'll probably just be tracking electromagnetic waves until he catches up. As he follows them, Sludge takes a wrong turn that's actually a shortcut, arriving at Dolphin's Bay first. Just offshore, he decides to take a nap, curling his head and tail out of sight so that he looks like a big gray rock in the water. (PAGE_17) Skids and Bumblebee arrive and start exploring the cove in Wheeljack's mini-sub, mistaking Sludge for a small island not noted on their map. This mystery is quickly forgotten as the sub's instruments detect the same signal Skids found earlier. Skids traces the signal to an underwater tunnel on the coast which connects to a series of chambers inside Mt. Lomas. Skids moves the sub in as close as he can, then Bumblebee steps out to investigate. (PAGE_28) Bumblebee swims into the tunnel, which slants upwards until he's merely waist-deep in water, facing a doorway. He hears Megatron on the other side making a speech about finishing an energy plant to process black coral into a superfuel which will make the Decepticons invincible. As other Decepticons cheer, Bumblebee moves to radio Skids before returning to the sub, only to be stopped by a deep voice booming behind him. (PAGE_4) Bumblebee sees Soundwave and Frenzy behind him, realizing the former intercepted his transmission to Skids. He dives into the water, only to be frozen by Frenzy's circuit-scrambling sonic attack. Frenzy proposes leaving the Autobot there in the water as a rusty warning to any future spies. When Bumblebee fails to return, Skids knows something awful must have happened, and won't risk radioing the Ark for fear of the Decpticons picking up the transmission. Should he:

Return to the Ark for help? (>>PAGE_57>>)

Attempt to rescue Bumblebee himself? (>>PAGE_68>>)

(<<From_PAGE_4<<) Skids drives back to the Ark (>>PAGE_57>>) He tells the Autobots of Bumblebee's disappearance and Operation Black Coral. Windcharger opts for an all-out land and sea attack, but Prowl thinks a mountain fortress is impossible to storm via brute force. (PAGE_8) Prowl claims the Dectpticons believe the Dinobots to still be under their control. He suggests contacting Sludge and having him claim the four of them have succeeded in killing many Autobots, convincing Megatron to allow them into their base. Behind enemy lines, the Dinobots can turn against their hosts when the Autobots attack. Windcharger complains that Prowl's plan will take too long, especially considering Bumblebee might not survive until then. Should Optimus take:

Prowl's advice? (>>PAGE_11>>)

Windcharger's advice? (>>PAGE_22>>)

(<<From_PAGE_8<<) Optimus takes Prowl's advice (>>PAGE_11>>) He explains the plan to the Dinobots, and sends Swoop to relay it to Sludge. Swoop fails to see his sleeping teammate, but lands on what looks like a rock, awakening Sludge. Swoop explains everything, and tells Sludge to attack the 'Cons when he sees the Pteranodon fly a loop in the sky. Swoop flies off, then rendezvous with Topspin and Seaspray in the channel. As the sun sets, Seaspray relays Prime's order to start the attack. (PAGE_40) Swoop flies low towards shore, spotting the Decepticons and Dinobots having a victory party around a bonfire atop Mount Lomas. Swoop flies a loop-the-loop, and Grimlock sees the signal, ording the Dinobots to attack. (PAGE_64) The Dinobots transform and strike before the Decepticons can attack. Sludge stomps Soundwave, and Grimlock breaks Frenzy in two. Starscream fires a laser at Slag which bounces off the Triceratops' armor and back to the gun, melting it. Thrust transforms into jet mode and takes off, only to take a missile from Swoop. As Megatron tries to fire his nuclear fusion cannon at Swoop, Snarl tail-strikes him, redirecting his aim down to blast a hole in the side of Mount Lomas. A platoon of Autobots arrives and enters the hole, descending into the underground lab. In minutes, Bumblebee is freed and the fuel generators destroyed. That night, the Dinobots are unusually merry at the Autobots' victory party.

THE END

(<<From_PAGE_8<<) Optimus takes Windcharger's advice (>>PAGE_22>>) Optimus realizes that if Ravage or another spy has reported the Dinobots' recovery, Megatron will see through Prowl's plan.