Chapter 8 - TARN INTERLUDE

Peaceful Tyranny Tarn Pov:

The Great Exodus had left the Decepticon Empire broken, scattered across the galaxy like debris after a cataclysm.

Once a force that had ground entire civilizations into dust, the Decepticon war machine now resembled the fractured remains of its prey. Their fleets were in disarray, their armies decimated, and their unity shattered by Megatron's disappearance after the attack on the Ark. That singular event had marked the tipping point—the crushing defeat of their war effort, a death knell for their grand revolution.

When Megatron vanished, so too did the resolve of many who had served under his banner. Some fled their posts, seeing an opportunity to carve out fiefdoms in the chaos. Others turned their backs on the cause entirely, selling their services as mercenaries or pirates, or even becoming laborers—laborers—under the heel of the Autobots and their allies.

But Tarn had not fled.

From the ashes of the Decepticon Empire, Tarn and the Decepticon Justice Division (DJD) stood unwavering. While others abandoned the ideals Megatron had instilled, Tarn's faith only deepened. To him, the Decepticon creed was not merely a political cause—it was a truth, immutable and eternal. Megatron was not just a leader; he was a prophet, and his vision was sacred.

Even in Megatron's absence, Tarn knew his leader's spark burned with the fire of revolution. That fire could not be extinguished.

And now, whispers began to spread across the galaxy. Lord Megatron has returned to Cybertron. Tarn had heard his leader's voice—a glorious, commanding voice that rekindled the hope in his spark. There was no doubt in his mind that the time had come.

Tarn saw his purpose clearly. He would scour the galaxy for the scattered remnants of the Decepticon Empire. He would bring them to heel, bind them together, and return them to their rightful lord and master.

---

The First Converts

Tarn's campaign began in the outer reaches of Decepticon space, where the isolation and despair were at the lightest compared to the others. His first destination was an isolated colony on the fringes of the Hydrax Plateau.

Here, a ragged band of Decepticons had eked out a grim existence, reduced to raiding passing ships for fuel and supplies. Their leader, a former Seeker named Flamewar, had long since abandoned any faith in the cause. Years of failure had eroded her loyalty, leaving her bitter and cynical.

The Peaceful Tyranny descended like an omen of death. The DJD disembarked with mechanical precision, their forms stark against the bleak horizon. Their mere presence struck fear into the colony's inhabitants, whose rusted weapons shook in trembling hands.

Tarn stepped forward, his imposing figure framed by his followers. The colony fell silent as his voice rang out, deep and resonant, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Decepticons!" he called, his tone a mixture of command and reverence. "I am Tarn of the Decepticon Justice Division. I come not as your enemy, but as your salvation. The age of aimlessness is over. Lord Megatron has returned, and he calls us home!"

From the crowd, Flamewar stepped forward. Her posture was defiant, but her optics betrayed uncertainty. "Megatron abandoned us," she said flatly. "Why should we believe you?"

Tarn regarded her with a mixture of pity and disdain. "Megatron never abandoned you," he replied. "You abandoned him. You allowed doubt to poison your spark, and in doing so, you betrayed his vision. But the time for doubt is over."

He raised a hand, his gestures precise and deliberate. "Kneel now, Flamewar, and swear fealty anew—or suffer the consequences of your treachery."

Behind Tarn, the DJD shifted, their forms brimming with restrained violence. Helex's furnace roared faintly, its heat an unspoken warning. Flamewar glanced at her troops. She saw no hope in defiance, no chance of victory against the force before her.

Slowly, she dropped to one knee, her optics fixed on the ground. "We follow you," she said quietly. "For Lord Megatron."

Tarn's optics softened slightly, and he inclined his head. "Rise, then, and take your place among the faithful. Together, we will rebuild what has been lost."

---

Word of Tarn's mission spread like wildfire, and his army began to grow. Across desolate moons, hidden outposts, and derelict stations, the DJD sought out Decepticon survivors. Their message was clear: Join, or be destroyed.

Many had little choice. For some, the sight of Tarn and his enforcers was salvation—a chance to rekindle their purpose. For others, it was a death sentence.

On a forgotten station orbiting a dead star, Tarn encountered a fleet of scavengers led by Gutcruncher. The warlord had enriched himself by selling Decepticon weapons to neutral parties, profiting from the remnants of their once-great empire.

When Tarn arrived, Gutcruncher sneered. "You think I fear the DJD? I deal in fear, Tarn. Fear pays better than loyalty."

Tarn's response was swift and merciless. He executed Gutcruncher personally, his voice resonating with a haunting joy as his fusion cannon reduced the traitor to molten slag.

Turning to the assembled fleet, Tarn spoke with conviction. "No longer will you disgrace our cause by selling its remnants to the unworthy. You are Decepticons. Stand together, and we will forge a path back to glory under Lord Megatron."

The fleet knelt before him, their spirits lifted by his words. Tarn's horde swelled with every passing cycle, the DJD marching ever closer to their ultimate goal.

---

Not all encounters ended in unity.

On a shattered planet deep in the Ghennix Abyss, Tarn confronted Clench, a Decepticon warlord who had declared himself ruler of his own petty empire. Clench's forces were numerous and heavily armed, their banners declaring their loyalty not to Megatron, but to their self-proclaimed king.

When Tarn demanded his allegiance, Clench scoffed. "Megatron is a relic," he sneered. "I lead now. You serve me—or die."

Tarn's optics flared with righteous fury. "No one leads but Lord Megatron," he said coldly. "Your arrogance insults his memory. Your defiance will be punished."

The purge was swift and brutal. The DJD descended upon Clench's forces like a force of nature. Helex's furnace roared as it consumed dozens of loyalists. Tesarus's grinders tore through Clench's strongest warriors, reducing them to scrap. Kaon's electric tendrils danced with lethal energy, and Vos's sniper rifle picked off targets with chilling precision.

When the dust settled, Clench's banners lay in tatters. His empire was no more.

---

The battlefield was a wasteland of scorched metal and shattered bodies. At the center of it all, Tarn stood over the broken form of Clench, who slumped against a jagged pillar, his frame leaking energon. Despite his defeat, Clench's optics burned with defiance.

"You think this makes you powerful?" Clench rasped. "You're nothing but a zealot clinging to a dead dream. Megatron is gone, and his vision died with him."

Tarn stepped closer, his voice low and steady. "You speak of Lord Megatron as if his ideals can die. Megatron is eternal. His vision lives on in those worthy to carry it forward. And you, Clench… you are not worthy."

Clench laughed bitterly, though it quickly devolved into a wheezing cough. "Worthy? Megatron would've crushed you for your arrogance."

Tarn tilted his head, his optics glowing brighter. "You misunderstand me," he said softly. "This is not about power. This is about justice. You mocked Lord Megatron. You defied his legacy. For that, there is no forgiveness."

The sound began, low and resonant, curling through the air like a living force. Clench froze, his optics widening as his systems faltered. The sound burrowed into his circuits, calibrated perfectly to his spark signature.

Clench convulsed, his servos locking up as the sound overwhelmed him. "You… can't… break me!" he spat, but his voice cracked under the strain.

"Break you?" Tarn's voice deepened, his tone chilling. "I am not here to break you, Clench. I am here to erase you."

The sound reached a crescendo, and Clench's spark shattered. His body collapsed, lifeless, reduced to a ruined husk.

Tarn straightened, his optics blazing as he surveyed the carnage. Around him, the DJD stood silent, their presence a grim testament to the price of defiance.

Kaon stepped forward. "What of his followers?"

Tarn's gaze hardened. "They will serve, or they will meet the same fate. That is not negotiable."

---

The Peaceful Tyranny emerged from hyperspace, flanked by a fleet of warships bearing the Decepticon insignia. Tarn's crusade had turned stragglers and survivors into a united force, their faith renewed under his banner. These ships—once scattered, battered remnants of a broken empire—now flew with purpose.

Ahead of them loomed the war world, a massive construct that swallowed the void around it. Jagged and brutal, its surface bristled with weaponry, its silhouette an unmistakable testament to Overlord's arrogance. Tarn stood on the bridge of the Peaceful Tyranny, his optics fixed on the monstrosity.

Kaon's voice crackled over the comms. "The war world's fleet is mobilizing. We've counted at least twenty ships on approach. Weapon systems are fully operational."

Tarn tilted his head. "Overlord won't flee," he said. "He wants us to come to him, to play his game. So we'll oblige him—but on our terms."

Vos, perched silently at a terminal, adjusted the fleet's trajectory. "The war world's cannons could destroy half our forces before we breach the surface."

Tarn's fingers tightened around the control panel. "Overlord relies on intimidation. He's forgotten what it means to face true conviction. Relay my orders: the fleet will divide. The Peaceful Tyranny and its escorts will breach the war world's defenses. The rest will dismantle his fleet."

Kaon nodded, sending the commands. The bridge pulsed with controlled energy as Decepticon forces readied themselves for the coming storm.

Tarn's voice lowered to a calm, unshakable timbre. "Remember: Overlord is not a foe. He is a message. His capture will mark the return of Lord Megatron's justice to the galaxy." As they prepare Tarn looks to his custom statues of Lord Megatron and hopes they succeed.

The Battle for the War World began the void erupted into chaos.

Tarn's fleet surged forward, splitting into two wings as they engaged Overlord's forces. Energy beams cut through the darkness, starships collided in fiery bursts, and the relentless advance of the Peaceful Tyranny carved a path toward the war world.

The Peaceful Tyranny led the charge, its forward batteries ripping through enemy frigates. Tarn's fleet operated like a scalpel, striking with precision. Overlord's forces, while numerous, lacked the discipline Tarn's followers had forged under his command.

From the bridge, Tarn observed the battle with cold calculation. Kaon relayed updates, his tendrils crackling. "Outer defenses are weakening, but the war world's main cannons remain active."

"They'll fire soon," Vos added, his tone clipped.

Tarn turned sharply. "Not if we're already inside."

A few moment's later

The Peaceful Tyranny reached the war world's outer hull, its breaching pods launching in coordinated strikes. Explosions rippled across the fortress's surface as Tarn's forces drilled into its interior.

The DJD led the assault, their presence a symbol of inevitability. Tarn stepped from his pod, his fusion cannon glowing, his squad of elite Decepticon soldiers following close behind. Helex and Tesarus charged ahead, tearing through the defenders with terrifying brutality. Kaon's electric tendrils lashed out, disabling turrets and enemies alike, while Vos provided surgical precision from above.

The war world's corridors echoed with the sounds of battle—metal shearing, weapons firing, and the dying screams of Overlord's defenders. Tarn advanced steadily, his optics burning with purpose.

Overlord's forces, though formidable, faltered under the assault. Tarn's soldiers fought with renewed zeal, their belief in Megatron driving them to overwhelm their enemies.

As Tarn pressed deeper into the war world, he noticed the resistance thinning. It wasn't retreat—it was strategy. Overlord was guiding them. Tarn's optics narrowed. "He's waiting for us."

The massive doors slid open with a hiss, revealing the war world's core. The chamber was immense, its walls adorned with grotesque trophies: shattered Autobot insignias, the heads of neutrals mounted like hunting kills, and even remnants of Decepticon warriors who had failed Overlord's ambitions.

At the center of the chamber, Overlord sat on a throne forged from molten metal. He rose as Tarn entered, his colossal frame dwarfing even Helex and Tesarus. Behind him, a squad of elite guards stood ready, their weapons gleaming.

"Tarn," Overlord said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You've brought your little fan club. I'm flattered."

Tarn stepped forward, unshaken. His voice was calm but cold. "Overlord, you are charged with treason against the Decepticon Empire. Surrender now, and I will see that your punishment is delivered by Lord Megatron himself."

Overlord laughed, a deep, guttural sound that reverberated through the chamber. "Megatron?" he said, spreading his arms. "You still cling to that fossil? He's gone, Tarn. He's nothing but a memory. I've surpassed him. I am the Decepticon Empire now."

Tarn's optics flared. "You've surpassed nothing. You've traded loyalty for vanity, purpose for indulgence. You're a hollow shell pretending to be a king."

Overlord's smirk faded. His optics burned with anger. "Careful, Tarn," he growled. "You're standing on my world."

Overlord moved first, his fist slamming into the ground where Tarn had been moments before. The impact sent tremors through the chamber, but Tarn was already retaliating. His fusion cannon fired, the blast striking Overlord's chest and staggering him.

The DJD charged into the fray, clashing with Overlord's elite guards. Helex's furnace roared, consuming two guards at once, while Tesarus's grinders tore through reinforced plating. Vos perched on a ledge, picking off enemies with precision, and Kaon's tendrils disabled their weapons systems. Tarn's soldiers pressed the attack, overwhelming the defenders with sheer force.

Overlord fought like a juggernaut. He crushed one of Tarn's soldiers beneath his foot, swung another into a wall, and shrugged off most of the attacks aimed at him. His laughter echoed through the chamber.

"Is this all you've got, Tarn?" Overlord sneered. "I expected more from Megatron's favorite zealot!"

Tarn dodged another blow, his optics narrowing. "Strength without purpose is nothing. Let me show you true power."

Tarn adjusted the dials on his fusion cannon, but it was not the weapon he intended to use. The chamber filled with a low, resonating hum as Tarn activated his voice—a weapon far deadlier than any physical attack.

The sound rippled through the air, calibrated perfectly to Overlord's spark signature. Overlord froze, his massive frame faltering as the sound tore into his systems.

"What… is this?" Overlord growled, his voice strained.

"The voice of justice," Tarn replied.

The sound intensified, bypassing Overlord's armor and disrupting his circuits. Sparks flew from his joints as his movements became erratic.

"You think… this will stop me?" Overlord spat, his voice breaking. "I've endured worse!"

Tarn's optics burned brighter. "This isn't about stopping you. It's about delivering you."

The sound reached a crescendo, and Overlord collapsed to his knees, his defiance stripped away.

Overlord's massive body lay motionless, his systems locked in stasis. Tarn stood over him, his fusion cannon still humming faintly. Around him, the DJD and their soldiers secured the war world, dismantling its remaining defenses.

Helex approached, his furnace glowing. "Do we finish him off?"

Tarn shook his head. "No. Overlord is no longer a threat—he's a message to any desserts and traitors."

He turned to Kaon. "Prepare the stasis pod. Overlord will be delivered to Lord Megatron."

Kaon nodded, his tendrils crackling as he began the preparations. Tarn addressed his fleet through the comms, his voice resonating with authority.

"Decepticons our first test of our reunited Empire has been carried out the war world is ours. Overlord has been subdued, and his betrayal punishment will be handled by Lord Megatron himself. Today, we reclaim not only a fortress but our purpose. The Decepticon Empire rises once more!"

As Tarn turned back to Overlord's motionless body, his optics gleamed with cold triumph. The message was clear: Megatron's justice was absolute, and Tarn would deliver it—one traitor at a time.

---

For the past few Orbital-Cycles Tarn has been diligent building and reuniting the remnants of the Decepticon Empire, so did his influence. He began broadcasting a message across the galaxy, his deep voice echoing through Decepticon frequencies.

"To all Decepticons, wherever you hide: the time of exile is over. Lord Megatron lives, and he calls us home. No more will we cower in the shadows. No more will we bow to lesser beings. Stand with us, or be forgotten in the ashes of history. The Decepticon Empire will rise again!"

---

A few Cycles Later The Peaceful Tyranny Tarn Pov:

Tarn leans back on his chair after his first talk with his Master in eons and he is as brilliant as ever actually he's even better his frame his voice it's just if not better than when he first heard it luckily the crusade bore fruit.

Thousands of Decepticons rallied to his banner, their shattered warships reforged into a mighty fleet. The journey back to Cybertron began, with the Peaceful Tyranny at its head.