The group gathers outside the base with their new flying device. It will lead them straight to Ratchet. Or so they hope. Shelby remembers it being Optimus and Dreadwing who had flown behind it and almost reached Ratchet until it had been destroyed. This time they would be prepared. Optimus can't fly this time, but she will go with Dreadwing to help keep Starscream from destroying the device. Shelby stands with Dreadwing, her suit on and ready to go. 

"And you're positive about not needing a GPS tracker?" Agent Fowler asks once again after asking a few other times. 

"Yes, Dreadwing and I will be hot on its tail." She says positively. 

"But how will you keep the transporter safe?" Miko asks nervously. 

Shelby walks up to her and puts a gloved hand on the young child's shoulder. "We got a plan. If it doesn't work, we still have the chance that Ratchet will get through to us. Don't worry. We will call as soon as we find out the location." She takes her hand down and slaps Dreadwing's grenade that is attached to her hip.

Miko smiles up at her. Shelby smiles back before releasing the helmet, and it slides over her face. Dreadwing picks her up and transforms around her. Once finished, she is sitting inside his cockpit, buckled and ready to go. She gives the team a thumbs up and Raf releases the transporter. Dreadwing doesn't hesitate and lifts off the ground, following the device. Meanwhile, the rest of the Autobots and Knockout, start getting their weapons ready. It's going to take some time for the Nemisis to be found, but they will be prepared for when it is. 

The little birdy flies through the air, whipping through the clouds. Dreadwing hangs back, keeping an eye locked on it. They have been flying for what feels like hours. Shelby thought about taking a nap, but the adreniline pumping through her vains keeps her awake and the thought of being attacked at any moment. Her blaster is out and ready to take aim. She doesn't know when Starscream will show up, but she feels it could be any moment. Her plan is to take him out. If not killing him, seriously wounding him. 

"Hold on tight, we are entering a lightening storm." Dreadwings voice encases the cockpit. 

"Good to go." She replies. 

Lightening strikes around them. The light bounces off the darkened clouds, brightening up the sky. That's when they hear the whistling of an incoming jet. 

"Starscream 9 o'clock." Shelby shouts as she spots the con in the distance. 

"Got him in my sights. You ready?" He answers. 

"I'm ready." She cocks her blaster back. 

Dreadwing slides the cover of the cockpit back and she stands up in his seat. As this happens, Starscream and his possi start shooting. Dreadwing shoots out the vehicons and Shelby takes aim to Starscream. 

"Not today, drag queen." She growls under her breath. 

She sends shot after shot towards the second in command. Starscream squeals at the incoming shots, attempting to manuever away. 

"Get closer to him. I can't get a good shot." She yells over the firefight. 

"I need to keep an eye on the transporter." Dreadwing yells back. 

"He's inbetween us and the transporter. We need to shoot him down to keep following." She argues. 

Dreadwing growls, but doesn't answer and flies forward. Starscream turns to run, flying towards their target. 

"Oh no you don't." Shelby growls again. 

Dreadwing is quick to get on Starscreams heels. Starscream internally freaking out. As they get closer, Shelby climbs up out of the cockpit. Dreadwing whispers 'be careful' as she stands on his nose. They are right under Starscream and she grabs the grenade. Reaching up under Starscreams belly, she attaches the grenade and sets the timer. 

"Go Dreadwing!" She shouts, jumping back into the cockpit. 

"What did you do?" Starscream starts to freakout, spinning around as the beeping only gets louder. 

"Later screamer." Shelby smiles under her helmet and Dreadwing races forward towards the transporter. 

An explosion erupts behind them, but they don't stop to see if it actually did the job. The transporter is still flying fast towards it's target. 

"Base to Dreadwing and Shelby, any sightings?" Optimus's voice comes through the comm. 

"None of the warship, but we might have blown Starscream to bits." Shelby answers proudly. 

"The transporter?" 

"Still intact. We are good so far. Either we find the warship soon or Ratchet will give word soon." She relays. 

"We await your que." 

The comm link goes silent. They fly through the storm and the clouds slowly begin to clear around them. Then in the distance, coming into view, the very ship they were trying to find. A wide smile slowly grows on Shelby's face. 

"We found..." Her smile drops as the very leader they are trying to stop comes flying towards them. 

"I won't let you make it this time." Megatron scorns.

"Shelby...Dreadwing...Did you find the Nemisis?" Optimus asks, trying not to sound worried. 

They have no time to answer as Megatron starts shooting at them. Vehicons following the lead. Dreadwing does it best to try and shake them off. Spinning circles around them, trying not to get shot out of the sky. 

"Dreadwing!" Shelby screams, holding on for dear life. 

"Hold on!" He cries out as his tail gets clipped by a blast from the tyrannt. 

They start falling, the ground growing closer by each second. 

------------

"Shelby! Dreadwing!" Optimus raises his voice as he calls through the comm link. All he gets back is feedback of a disconnected line. 

"Anything?" Miko asks quietly. 

"I'm afraid not." he sighs. "Dreadwing's signal is still there, so they must be alive. But we can not get through to them."

"What do we do now?" Bulkhead asks. 

"We wait to hear from Ratchet." Optimus comments. 

"Shouldn't we go out and find them?" Hot Rod speaks up and steps forward. 

"We have a mission to complete." Optimus looks down at the young bot. 

"We can't just leave them out there!" Hot Rod starts to argue. "We know their location. Lets bring them back. We don't even when Ratchet is going to call us."

"Enough! We will get them as soon as this is over. This mission is our prioity." Optimus looms over everyone as he speaks. His baritone voice cutting through them all. 

"Optimus, we need Dreadwing and Shelby." Arcee keeps her voice calm, trying to get through to him. 

"We can't risk trying to save them. We don't know what..."Optimus starts, but is inturrupted. 

"Autobot base, do you read? This is Ratchet can anyone hear me?" All eyes turn to the computer screen. Smile erupting all around. 

"Loud and clear, old friend." Optimus quickly answers, a smile even forming on his face. 

"Listen to me, Megatron hs managed to rebuild the Omega lock onboard his warship. I've deactived the Decepticon sheilding system. You should be able to get a fix on my coordinates. Optimus you must hurry. Megtron is preparing to cyberform Earth as we speak." Ratchet explained, then as quick as he came, he was gone. 

"Ratchet?" Optimus tries to reach him again, "Autobots prepare to storm the warship."

The room fills with cheers and Optimus locking onto Ratchet's coordinates. Weapons at the ready, the Autobots wait for the ground bridge to open. The children stand back watching the them go through the swirling vortex that will lead them to their finest hour. 

"What about Shelby and Dreadwing?" Miko asks quietly, looking up to Jack and Agent Fowler.

"Lets go get them." Agent Fowler announces, bringing a smile to Miko's face. 

----------------

"Dreadwing?" Shelby coughs out. Smoke filling the air around her in the cockpit. 

"Dreadwing!" She shouts a little louder after getting no answer. 

"Wake up, please." The silence looming around her. 

She struggles to release the harness encasing her. Dreadwing is still in his jet mode, dirt flung around him in the hold that was made as they landed. She feels for the button to release the cockpit. As soon as she finds it, the wind takes the smoke away, giving her a better view. Her suit still on, she struggles to stand up. But when she does, she takes in the damage. Then a groan fills the air. 

"Dreadwing." She says with hope filling her voice. 

"Yeah, I'm alive." He groans out. 

"Oh thank god. What hurts? Can you transform?" She asks as she jumps out of the cockpit, barely sticking the landing on the uneven ground. 

"Maybe. Back up, let me try." He says, his whole body shaking. 

She stands back, flipping her helmet down. Dreadwing takes a minute. The first few tries not getting anywhere. After the forth try, he transforms and lands on his servos and knees. Shelby runs over to him, checking for more damage. He has a knarly gash on his right side, leaking a bit of energon. His right wing clipped, but otherwise he is still intact. 

"We need to get you back to base." Shelby says quietly, running her gloved hand over his wound. 

"Ratchet isn't there not to fix me and everyone else should be onboard the Nemisis by now." He answers, trying not to flinch at her touch. 

"Raf should still be there at least. I'm not sure how long we were..." Shelby doesn't finish her sentence as a ground bridge opens up. 

The two look over, unsure who could be coming out. Shelby flips her helmet up and brings out her blaster, ready to shoot if it's a con. But instead, welcoming face walks out. Agent Fowler comes into view with Miko and the apex armor behind him. 

"Miko, you're not on the ship?" Shelby questions but is happy to see her. 

"Not yet the Autobots just got left. We came to get you two first. We weren't sure what kind of damage you all would be in. So Miko is here to help." Fowler replies. 

"We sure could use it. Help Dreadwing up and let's get him back to base." Shelby orders. 

Miko is quick to get to Dreadwing's side and help him up. Shelby starts walking towards the ground bridge, but her legs give out under her. Fowler is quick to catch her. 

"Whoa there soldier. I got you. You should get checked out too." Fowler says as he helps limp her through the ground bridge. 

"Marine and I'm fine. Just a little dizzy from the fall." She complains, trying to pick her feet up. 

"Well, Marine, you did good. Let me help you." He doesn't give her a chance to answer and pulls her along through the bridge.