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“Megatron must accept peace agreement.”
Soundwave had been quiet, too quiet, since the offer had come from the Prime. Megatron hadn’t even noticed it because of Starscream’s shrieking about the mech’s audacity, but now that the Seeker had paused, Soundwave was speaking up.
“What did you say?!” Starscream whirled around to stare at the deployer in shock, but Soundwave wasn’t looking anywhere but at Megatron.
“Megatron must accept peace agreement,” Soundwave said again, voice firm and tone even. Megatron knew that tone–Soundwave would hear no arguments this day.
“And why is that?” The Decepticon leader asked. He wasn’t in the mood to argue anyway, especially not after Starscream’s shrieking, but he did want Soundwave’s analysis.
“Shockwave, deactivated. Cybertronian resources, scarce.” Soundwave cycled his vents, gathering his thoughts. “Humans, capable of injuring or destroying Decepticon soldiers after technological advancements. Humans will retaliate if Decepticons continue to raid.”
Megatron nodded. He agreed with Soundwave’s assessment of the human’s new weapons, and it was likely that the Prime did too, given the timing of his latest peace offer. And, well, Shockwave’s assassination had demoralized a swath of the army and ruined their chances of taking Cybertron back from Elita-1 and Ultra Magnus.
“You have to be joking!” Starscream turned to look back at Megatron. “He’s joking, right?!”
“No, Starscream. Soundwave never jokes, and you know it.” Megatron leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “Run the calculations, Starscream. With their new advancements, the humans are finally a threat to us and without Shockwave’s expertise to create countermeasures, we will be lost within an Earth decade.”
”What?!?” Starscream stared, mouth ajar.
“Draft a response, Soundwave. Tell the Prime we accept his terms with one condition.”
“Affirmative. Our condition?” Soundwave tipped his head to the side, curious.
Megatron was surprised that he didn’t already know. “A joint government, Soundwave. Neither Decepticon nor Autobot can rule over the other unchecked.”
“You can’t be serious!” Starscream screeched.
“If you canot be useful, Starscream, leave.” Megatron looked back to the Seeker. “Soundwave and I are planning for the future, yours and ours, but your objections are not helping anything.”
Starscream snapped his mouth closed. Megatron turned his attention back to Soundwave. “If Prime opposes–”
“Negative.” Soundwave shook his head. “Optimus Prime has already agreed. Wishes to set date for formal peace proceedings.”
“Well. that was fast.” He supposed he shouldn’t have expected anything else, given how quickly a pair of deployers could communicate across the planet. “Tell him we are available tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Lord Megatron.”