Due to the fact that Chapter 16 is a long one and as I still need time to improve it, it will be posted on Friday instead. Sorry for anyone who was interested but I really want this chapter to be good.

 

Like I said, this one sure is a long one but it is probably the most action packed chapter I've written. A lot goes on here so buckle up.

Chapter 16: Chaos Unfolds

Back at the final tower Decepticons have already begun to surround the tower.

Ironhide leads the Decepticon soldiers against the remaining Autobots who stand between them and victory.

Acid Storm has laid pools of acid that have completely surrounded the land around the tower and to make matters worse Sunstorm has lit them on fire making an escape on land near impossible. As there is no way the Wreckers are going to retreat.

Ironhide immediately charges forward with a full battalion of soldiers backing him up.

Roadbuster Top Spin, and Bumblebee have positioned themselves on the ground near the tower behind some metal barriers for protection.

Ironhide begins to fire sharp piercing rounds from his right arm cannon that emit a light blue flash when fired.

Two of the slugs hit Roadbuster in the shoulder and arm.

Roadbuster: Gah!

He takes cover back behind the barrier as shots fly over him.

Top Spin: You all right?

Roadbuster: Let's see we're surrounded by Decepticons they've blocked one of the only ways out, and they have Ironhide leading. So no! Of course I'm not all right!

Top Spin: I was just asking.

Roadbuster: I know...I know. I'm just not in a good mood today.

Top Spin: Quite understandable considering...

Top Spin is quickly hit on of his back launchers that causes the whole launcher to fall off of him.

Top Spin: Agh!

He takes cover behind his barrier.

Top Spin: Scrap. This con sure can shoot.

Roadbuster: Ironhide. One of the Decepticon's best. I can't think of any Autobot who has lived to say that saw him.

Bumblebee: We need to contact Optimus it's urgent.

Roadbuster: Can't you contact him?

While he says this, Roadbuster stands over the barrier and fires his shoulder launchers.

The missiles spread around Ironhide and some of his troops. Ironhide quickly rolls to the side away from the explosions but several of the soldiers are taken out by the blast.

Bumblebee: My transmitter was damaged.

Roadbuster gets down behind the barrier again.

Roadbuster: Right, right. I'll contact him now.

Ironhide has caught what Roadbuster was saying and activates a small device that makes an unusual electronic sound.

The Autobots are looking around, trying to figure out what it was.

Roadbuster: Optimus...Optimus...do you hear me?

Roadbuster: Scrap! We've been jammed.

Bumblebee: We need to get to Optimus immediately!

Roadbuster is getting annoyed by this and looks Bumblebee straight in the optics.

Roadbuster: What would you have me do? Open the door and run in and let the cons follow us and take out the transport?

Bumblebee: But they're going for the energon lines!

Roadbuster and Top Spin look at each other.

Roadbuster: How the scrap did they find out about that?

Bumblebee: I got intercepted by a Decepticon who downloaded the Iacon schematics from my processor.

Hound and Brawn are inside the tower providing fire from there while Leadfoot is on top of the tower taking aim at the quickly passing aircraft.

Hound has been hearing all that Roadbuster and Top Spin have been saying but has been too focused on shooting Decepticons to respond to them. This however, warrants his response.

Hound while firing: So this is your fault is it?

Bumblebee: He caught me completely off guard!

Hound: Who?

Bumblebee: Barricade.

The Wreckers are familiar with this name. Barricade is historically known for holding off an entire Decepticon command post all on his own from an entire battalion of Autobot soldiers. He was like a barricade between them and the post he was guarding and that is such how his name was given.

Roadbuster: Well I don't think there's much we can do about him now.

Hound: Obviously!

Brawn: We need to take these Decepticons out now!

Roadbuster: What do you think we've been trying to do, Brawn!?

Leadfoot: Look out!

Sunstorm makes a flaming run over the tower as Leadfoot leaps to another side of the tower.

While his beams are still active, Sunstorm makes another run over the acid increasing the height of the flames.

Meanwhile behind the cover of the smoke and fire, five vehicles, two truck-like vehicles, one tank, and a helicopter and a rocket-like vehicle, make their way to an area located above Iacon's energon line.

?: Hey. Check out that battle. I bet there's some nice tech over there.

?:We don't have time for that, Swindle. We need to get to those Energon lines and shut them down.

Swindle: Come on, Onslaught, just a few cycles?

Onslaught: No, Swindle! We have a task to complete and we WILL complete it!

Swindle: Fine.

Onslaught: This is it.

All the vehicles transform.

Onslaught's arms form from the sides of his vehicle form as his legs form from the top of his vehicle form and he stands himself up.

Swindle transforms much like Onslaught does except his legs form from the side of his vehicle.

One of the aerial vehicles, which resembles a lean Cybertronian helicopter, slows down its rotors, which fold onto his back as his arms come out the sides of his vehicle form and his legs drop down from the bottom. He lands flat on his feet awaiting Onslaught's command. His robot full form is lean with the front of the copter as his chest, long legs that both have two toes on the side and one on in the middle.

The other aerial vehicle, which is a lean rocket-like vehicle with many engines behind it, transforms in midair so fast it is hard to catch a detail of what part goes where. He lands down on the ground with some minor energy waves from boosters underneath his feet. He has large shoulders, which are both two of his largest engines and he is mostly black with bit of purple as well.

The final vehicle, which is the same tank from the beginning early on, transforms as arms come out the sides and legs form from underneath the tank, which both stand as the Decepticon's head peers out of the middle of his tank form. Two missile launchers form on his shoulders, his single turret cannon forms on his back, and on both his arms deploys another set of weapons, one has a small gun with a sharp blade, and the other is a rifle with a red scope.

Onslaught: Vortex, clear a path!

Vortex takes a silver circular object off his back, which emits a red, whirling laser grinder. He holds it over the ground and drops it down; it begins to cut through the ground with complete ease. It shreds through the ground leaving burn marks in its wake.

As they wait for the the grinder to completely clear the path, Swindle can not help but look back at the war zone thinking of all the various weapons and spoils of war he can find and sell.

A beeping sound echos from the tunnel and Vortex then stretches his hand over the hole and the laser grinder comes right back to his hand and he sticks it on his back.

Onslaught: Vortex, descend!

Vortex jumps in first to continue clearing the path ahead. His rotors on his back tighten on so that they do not get caught on the tunnel's edges.

The Combaticons wait for Vortex to signal that the path is clear for the rest of them to enter.

Swindle is still looking at the battle site where the flames that Sunstorm ignited block out anything that could be seen on the other side.

Onslaught glares at Swindle with his bold red visor.

Swindle's head slowly turns and sees Onslaught glaring at him as he jumps slightly.
Vortex: All right, it's clear, jump in!

Blast Off ignites the thrusters on his feet and launches down into the tunnel.

Brawl then jumps and deploys his blade weapon against the sides of the tunnel to slow him done as he goes.

Onslaught not trusting Swindle to go last orders him next.

Onslaught: Get down there, Swindle.

Swindle: Can't I just have a few cycles?

Onslaught pushes Swindle down the tunnel not have any more patience with him.

Swindle is falling facing the top of the tunnel with both his arms and legs dragging against the sides of the tunnel.

Swindle changes the form of his entire body to face the direction opposite to the one he was previously facing and lands successfully to find a new tunnel dead ahead of him where Vortex is cutting through to get to the energon lines in the distance.

Brawl is crouched in a small siding to the left of the main path as he is to tall to fully stand up in the tunnel.

Swindle takes a few steps forward only to hear a loud thud behind him.

Swindle quickly turns and sees that it is Onslaught glaring at him again,

Neither of them say a word Swindle just proceeds deeper into the tunnel as Onslaught follows behind him.

Brawl remains at the siding until the path to the lines is clear. This is also to ensure Swindle doesn't try and get out early to visit the battle zone.

Vortex is still grinding through the ground with the laser grinder.

Blast Off is behind him with his arms crossed in front of him.

Swindle and Onslaught arrive behind them.

Vortex: Based on schematics, we should be coming to the energon lines in a few cycles.

Onslaught: We need to quicken the pace. Swindle do you have anything that could cut through this faster?

These are the kind of words Swindle loves to hear.

Swindle: I thought you'd never ask.

Swindle brings up his right arm

His hand vanishes from sight as a large bright green glowing weapon forms in its place.

Swindle: I got this beauty when I made a deal with a bounty hunter two stellar cycles ago.

Swindle: He said it was originally mining equipment but found it to work quite exceptional for your everyday enemy destroying needs.

Swindle begins to walk back towards the tunnel entrance.

Swindle's speech begins to fade each step he walks.

Swindle: It gains momentum over long distances. The greater the distance, the better the destructive result.

Swindle: So you all might want to get clear.

The Combaticons all comply and make their way back toward the entrance.

They have to move around each other in the tight confinement of the tunnel. Blast Off simply decides to hover above them but low just enough to see the result of the new weapon.

Swindle grabs a square device from his side and slams it on the ground.

The device unfolds and rises up into a cannon mount.

Swindle places his gun arm on the mount and aims straight for the center of the tunnel to where Vortex had previously been clearing the path.

The gun begins to power up into a bright green ball of light.

In a sharp whistling sound the weapon fires.

The result is an extremely slow moving ball of green and yellow lightning.

It moves at a slug-like pace down the tunnel.

All of the Combaticons stare at Swindle.

Swindle: What? I said it gains momentum over long distances. Just wait till it gets further down. Trust me.

Onslaught unfortunately has no choice as there is no time to dig another tunnel.

Back at the Tower:

The Decepticons are gaining ground on the Wreckers and Autobots and our mere steps from the barriers the Roadbuster and Bumblebee are taking cover behind.

A Decepticon soldier fiercely grabs hold of an Autobot Soldier behind a barrier, stabs his gun into his face and blasts it into pieces, causing the body to slump backwards.

A Decepticon soldier leaps over Roadbuster's barrier but Roadbuster kicks his head right off.

Roadbuster pulls his left arm back and activates his saw weapon.

The weapon hums as the blades become a sharp silver blur.

His orange battle visor comes down over his optics and he leaps over the barrier.

He pulls his saw back again and rams it straight through three Decepticon soldiers at once and pulls the saw upwards slicing them vertically in half from the spark chamber up.

He then fires a barrage of rockets from his shoulder launchers.

Several Decepticon soldiers are killed in the explosion.

Top Spin is firing a large cannon at the Decepticon marauders when three soldiers grab hold of him and pull him off the cannon.

One of the soldiers gets in the cannon and turns it toward the tower and begins firing upon it.

The other soldiers have a tight grip on Top Spin. One has hold of his neck and the other has one of his arms.

Top Spin struggles to get free from their grip.

Bumblebee is starting to be over powered by soldiers but continues to fire off as many shots as he is able.

The tower shakes with each blast from the cannon.

Leadfoot peers down from a top the tower and aims his arm guns at the soldier in the cannon.

But a group of five Decepticon jet soldiers land on top of the tower and surround him.

Brawn and Hound are forced to take cover from the cannon and marauder blasts.

Roadbuster is still busy in the center of the battle when soldiers start surround him and dog-pile him.

Top Spin looks around and sees each of his fellow Autobots getting over powered.

His anger gives him enough strength to break the grip of the soldier who was holding his arm.

He elbows the soldier in the torso causing him to fully lose his grip. He then brings his claw toward the soldier who is holding his neck and the claw gets a tight grip on his neck forcing him to release his grip as well.

Top Spin fully spins around and picks the soldier up with his claw. The soldier squirms in attempt to get free.

The other soldier rushes toward Top Spin but he quickly activates one of the welders on his other claw arm and stabs it straight into the soldier's processor. He ignites it and welds his processor causing it to burn and cause the soldier to go wild as he is no longer able to function correctly.

Top Spin finally brings his other claw toward the soldier he has trapped and rips him in half, tosses his parts aside and runs toward the Decepticon in the cannon.

The soldier is continuing to fire the cannon at the tower; cracks have begun to form in the walls.

Top Spin gets right behind the soldier in the cannon, retracts his right claw back into his arm and rams his fist straight through the soldier's unsuspecting head.

A burst of parts follow Top Spin's fist leaving the soldier dead.

He kicks the soldier's shell out of the cannon and turns it toward the soldiers near Bumblebee.

The soldiers have Bumblebee up against a wall with no where to go.

Top Spin fires the cannon and takes out each one.

Hound and Brawn notice that the cannon has stopped firing and open fire upon the Decepticons who dog-piled Roadbuster.

Their shots hit several soldiers that react by getting off of Roadbuster and aim towards the tower.

Roadbuster slides both his hands towards two Decepticon soldier's head and smashes them together, which disorientates them just enough for him to finish the job with his saw.

Leadfoot spins around on top of the tower shooting all five of the jet soldiers and causing them to slide lifeless off the top of the tower and to the ground below.

Roadbuster sees the soldiers fall and double times it back to the tower.

Ironhide has been waiting for his cannons to fully charge.

He aims both of his guns that are glowing intensely and let's out rapid series of blasts all aimed at the series of cracks on the tower.

The blasts pound the tower over and over causing the tower to lean over a ways.

Hound takes notice of this and jumps over to the side of the tower that is higher up and some how stops the tower from leaning any further.

That series of blasts has left Ironhide's weapons severely drained and he needs them to recharge.

Megatron over comm: Sunstorm, what is your report?

Sunstorm: Our forces are facing heavy resistance. The tower has taken damage but its still standing.

Just at that moment a shot from the cannon Top Spin is in destroys a marauder and the resulting explosion takes out the other two as well as any soldiers near by.

Sunstorm: We just lost our heavy artillery.

Acid Storm who is hovering in midair tunes in on Sunstorm and Megatron's signal.

Ironhide suspecting something is up, tunes in as well.

Megatron: Our the ground forces still prevented from retreating?

Sunstorm: Affirmative.

Megatron: Good. Return to the Nemesis immediately.

Acid Storm: What about Ironhide?

Megatron: Leave him. Perhaps he can manage a victory where the rest have failed.

Acid Storm: And if not?

Megatron: Then he has served his purpose.

Megatron cuts the signal.

Acid Storm flips backwards and transforms and sets his course to the Nemesis and flies off with Sunstorm.

Acid Storm: Umm...do you think Ironhide heard us?

Sunstorm: What makes you think that?

Acid Storm: He doesn't look too good and he's just standing there.

Sunstorm: If even he did, I'll doubt we'll see him again.

The two fly away to the Nemesis.

Ironhide has heard something he never imagined possible and is still shocked from what he has just heard.

Ironhide has stopped in his tracks broken from the fact that the very leader that he entrusted his spark and service to for all this time has just betrayed him in such a brief moment.

The fact that he heard it come from Megatron's very own vocal processor only makes the damage worse.

Ironhide can see the Decepticon warships in the distance on route to meet the Autobot ships.

Ironhide cannot help but feel broken. Since the beginning of the war he has been on the con's side. Megatron has been a noble leader in his optics, leading the Decepticons against an unjust cause but now...Ironhide has been broken in a way no repair tool can fix.

Something in Ironhide snaps as he angrily gazes at the remaining Decepticon forces.

He walks behind a unsuspecting soldier and fires a shotgun round pulverizing the entire upper body of the soldier. He then walks forward and fires direct slugs into heads of three other soldiers from behind.

Decepticons turn around shocked by what is going on. They don't know if they are to open fire or just take the hits

The Wreckers and Bumblebee hold their fire and watch Ironhide's vile killing spree.

He yells in rage as he smashes one of his cannons on the ground creating a blue shock wave that cuts out the legs of some of the remaining soldiers.

The soldiers really start to panic now and open fire on Ironhide.

Many of the shots hit Ironhide but there seems to bring no damage to him.

Ironhide continues to walk forward toward the now cowardly soldiers, stepping on the heads of some of the soldiers who lost their legs from the shock wave.

The soldiers want to retreat but there is no where to run to.

They continue to fire at Ironhide but nothing works. They are in a state of complete horror and see only one outcome.

Death is inevitable it is just a matter of how.

Some soldiers are so terrified that they attempt to run through the flame wall Sunstorm ignited in attempt to somehow escape but Acid Storm's acid pools combined with the flames instantly begin to corrode them as they scream in intense agony from the corrosion.

Ironhide makes one final loud yell and falls on his knees and just sits there.

Roadbuster and Top Spin look at each other and they walk carefully closer towards Ironhide.

There is silence for a few moments.

But then suddenly the Autobots turn to see a gigantic EMP wave heading straight for an Autobot ship.

Autobot Ship

Autobot Officer: Sir! Incoming EMP wave!

Autobot Captain: How long until impact?

Autobot Officer: Five nano-kliks, sir!

Autobot Captain: Increase all power to the engines!

Autobot officers carry out the command and all possible power goes to the engines.

Unfortunately it is too late as the EMP directly passes through the transport and all the systems go out.

There is confusion for a few brief moments as the darkness of the ship combined with the anti-grav generators going out temporary overcast the Autobot crew.

The Autobots are hovering in mid air as only a few faint red lights provide just enough light for them to see their surroundings.

Autobot Captain: Damage report?

Autobot Officer: All systems are down. Sir...we're falling back to Cybertron.

Autobot Captain: Is there anything we can do?

Autobot Officer: We would need something to jump start the power core.

Autobot Captain: Like what?

Autobot Officer: Some sort of electrical magnetic burst in the opposite frequency might be enough to reboot the systems but we didn't have any such equipment with us.

One of the Autobots who was watching from the bridge magnetizes himself to the ship and runs as fast he can toward the power core.

Command Center

The Autobots watch in horror as the ship begins to plummet back towards Cybertron.

Optimus is especially horrified by what he sees.

Sentinel however doesn't seem bothered at all.

Back at the ship

The lone Autobot is still running through the ship's halls as all the other Autobots are clinging on to the sides of the ship and regain their balance.

The lone Autobot makes it to the power core, which is in large room with various walkways that go across the room. The walkway that leads to the power core came loose, making it a bit difficult to reach the core.

The Autobot however gives out a surge that demagnetizes him and leaps from the hallway towards the power core. When he is right above the walkway around the core, he let's out the surge again and lands right on the walkway.

He looks around attempting to find the reboot points to where he can restore power.

Back at the bridge

Autobot Officer: About two cycles till impact.

At the tower

Top Spin: By the look of the trajectory it looks like they are going to come right back down on top of Iacon.

Roadbuster's visor comes up and he just stares at what could be the transport's hopeless decent.

The others just stand there and watch.

Back at the ship

The Autobot is still searching and finds one of the points he needs. He breaks open the covering and now looks for the other one.

Back at the bridge

Autobot Officer: Two cycles till impact, sir.

The Autobot Captain has gotten back into his seat and just sits there waiting for their impending doom.

He can think of nothing that would bring comfort to the

Back in the engine room

The Autobot is still having trouble finding the last reboot point as his spark pulses more and more rapid.

He looks right above him and sees the second reboot point, however he is having trouble reaching it.

Back at the bridge

Autobot Officer: One cycle till impact.

All the Autobots just remain motionless. Some of them just shut their optics waiting for the end...whatever the experience is going to be like they don't know and their afraid to find out.

Back in the engine room

The Autobot then just shoots out an electric whip from his hand that reaches the other reboot port's covering and yanks it off.

He then gets his aim lined up and shoots out two whips one hits the lower port the other whip misses.

Back at the Bridge

Autobot Officer: Thirty nano-kliks till impact...

None of the Autobots say a word.

The captain hovers in midair wishing he knew what to say to his fellow Autobots.

Back in the engine room

The Autobot lines up his shot again but misses.

He retracts his whip and tries again.

Back at the Bridge

The Officer has stopped talking as he and everyone else on that bridge knows how long they have left even though they wish they didn't.

Back in the engine room

The Autobot lines up his shot once again and hits the other point he then emits an electric surge through his entire body then powers the core with an electrical magnetic surge which flows from his whips into the reboot points re-initializes the ship's systems.

Back at the Bridge

The power comes back on.


The Autobots come back down to the floor of the ship.

Autobot Captain: Engage light speed!

The officer gets back up on his feet follows the command of his captain and just in the nick of time, the light speed burst is just enough to over power their decent and the Autobot transport engages its light speed drive and vanishes from Cybertron.

Back at the command center the Autobots stand and cheer loudly.

Optimus is incredibly relieved. But realizes that whatever fired that pulse needs to be disabled...and fast.

He turns to an Autobot officer near by.

Optimus Prime: Where did that electromagnetic pulse originate?

The officer uses his control booth to determine the origin.

The location appears on the main screen.

The joyful cheers are soon silenced by what appears on the screen and all the Autobots are stunned...

Optimus Prime: Shockwave...

Bios:

Brawl:
Brawl is a walking tank who has many weapons at his disposal. He absolutely enjoys combat and enjoys making Autobots suffer. He is also incredibly intelligent, having an extremely good sense of his environment and his enemies weakness. He and Onslaught cooperate very well and their two minds make the Combaticons a highly prepared group.

Strength-10
Speed-4
Rank-8
Firepower-9
Intelligence-9
Endurance-9
Courage-9
Skill-10

Voice: Barricade24

Blast Off:
Blast Off serves as the Combaticons primary air support and distraction unit. His speed is matched by only one and that Con hasn't been seen in years. Blast Off keeps silent most of the time except maybe to question an order or to complain about something. His aim combined with his speed makes him a very dangerous foe.

Strength-7
Speed-10
Rank-5
Firepower-7
Intelligence-5
Endurance-6
Courage-8
Skill-9


Swindle:
Swindle is probably the most unorthodox of the Combaticons. He is always seeking any spare weapons, parts, or ammo that he can come across and sell or trade them for a profit. Swindle is a very humorous con and pretty much everyone around him find him annoying but they cannot deny that he has got great gear that can be used for simple upgrades or full on new deadly weaponry. Swindle has also been known to make deals with many creatures off of Cybertron, even some Cybertronian mercenaries have gotten some of their tech from him.

Strength-6
Speed-6
Rank-2
Firepower-10
Intelligence-7
Endurance-6
Courage-6

Voice: Steve Blum from Fall of Cybertron.

Vortex:
Little information on Vortex is currently available but he serves under command of Onslaught and is commonly known for his interrogation techniques. Essentially if there is any way to get an Autobot to crack, Vortex will figure it out.

Strength-6
Speed-7
Rank-3
Firepower-6
Intelligence-
Endurance-7
Courage-9
Skill-8

Voice: David Boat from Fall of Cybertron

 

Terribly sorry, looks like I forgot to upload yesterday's chapter. Not to worry here it is:

Chapter 17

Back at the tower.

The Wreckers are extremely relieved to see that the transport has escaped what they were all sure would be destruction.

Hound and Top Spin have their weapons on Ironhide who still just sitting their with his head down and optics shut.

Bumblebee: Are you able to reach Optimus now?

Roadbuster attempts to contact Optimus but to no avail.

Hound nudges Ironhide with one of his shotguns.

Hound: All right, junker, where's the jammer?

Ironhide drops the device out of his hand and punches it himself.

The sheer force of his hand smashes the devices into pieces, leaving a dent in the ground in the shape of his fist.

The signal comes back online.

Roadbuster: Optimus this is Roadbuster do you read?

At the Command Center

Optimus Prime: This is Optimus Prime. I read you, Roadbuster.

Roadbuster over comm: We have reason to believe that the Energon lines are at risk.

Optimus immediately sees that this is indeed a possibility and is about to prepare to go down there himself.

Back at the Tower:

Optimus over comm: Understood, Wreckers. I will see to the matter personally.

Roadbuster: With all due respect Optimus, you need to get to the last transport. You and everyone else whose leaving. We'll handle this.

Optimus Prime over comm: The tower is safe?

Roadbuster: Took a lot of energon but we all managed to pull it off. None of the soldiers survived though.

Optimus over comm: Their sacrifice and the many lives they saved will not be forgotten.

Roadbuster: Right. We're on our way to the lines now. Roadbuster, out.

Top Spin:Who's going to guard the tower in case the cons trying something again?

Before Roadbuster can answer a surprising voice speaks up.

Voice: I would be willing to assist.

Everyone turns and sees it is Ironhide who has volunteered.

Roadbuster and Brawn look at each other.

Roadbuster: Why would we ever trust a con with such a sensitive matter? You just tried to destroy it. Why should we believe you?

Ironhide: Think. My own leader, my own cause, which I trusted and gave my very spark to serving has sacrificed me and their own forces as if we are mere drones. This is not the cause I choose to serve.

Top Spin: Are you really that surprised by this? I would have thought you'd known Megatron enough to know he is more than capable of something like this.

Ironhide: He wasn't like this originally. But he has lost his way and the Decepticons are no longer the just cause they once were.

Roadbuster considers that Ironhide is an extremely capable warrior and the fact that he has already shown signs of changing sides by destroying the remaining Decepticon forces is a good sign. However it would be insane to let Ironhide remain here unguarded. They'll need someone who has a close equal to Ironhide to stay and watch him and only one bot here comes to mind.

Roadbuster: All right, Ironhide I'll give you one chance. You frag it, you'll be in stasis so long that when you get out you won't know how many stellar cycles it's been.

Roadbuster turns toward Hound.

Roadbuster: Hound, stay here with him and hold off anyone who may try to take the tower. The rest of us are going to the Energon line.

Hound: Roger that.

Leadfoot who is on top of the tower tries to go back through the entry point on the top of the tower but his build makes it difficult for him he slips and losses his balance several times when trying to get inside.

The Wreckers stare up at him as he goes through this.

Leadfoot slips toward the edge of the tower barely hanging on to the edge.

Roadbuster: Today, Leadfoot.

Leadfoot: I'm a tryin!

He eventually pulls himself up and gets inside the tower and opens the main doors.

Roadbuster begins to walk through the doors but stops and turns to Hound.

Roadbuster: If he tries anything funny...scrap him.

Hound raises his shotgun: With pleasure.

Ironhide isn't bothered by this comment even remotely as he doesn't blame the Autobots slightly for their treatment of him and this faction change will take time to grow into--for both of them.

The Wreckers transform and speed off quickly to the Energon lines.

Hound and Ironhide look at each other.

Back at the Command Center

Optimus Prime is preparing to head to Shockwave's base to disable the source of the EMP.

Bumblebee quickly finds Optimus.

Bumblebee: Optimus where are you going?

Optimus Prime: I must disable Shockwave's weapon before any more Autobots can be harmed.

Bumblebee: With all due respect Optimus we need you to lead us.

Optimus Prime: This has been made quite clear to me Bumblebee...but the weapon must be destroyed and I can not have sacrifice anymore Autobots sacrificed for this cause then there already have been.

Bumblebee: Optimus...there are sacrifices in war...no one can deny that. But you don't need to sacrifice your life in this way...others are much more willing to do this.

Optimus Prime: I can not ask this upon anyone.

Voice: Then let me save you the trouble.

Optimus and Bumblebee turn to look and see who has been so bold to make such a suggestion.

It is none other than Fireflight.

Optimus Prime: I cannot ask this of you Fireflight...

Fireflight walks closer to Optimus: You don't have to. I've failed my team enough already and if I can salvage the scrap I caused them to go through, then I will.

Optimus Prime wants to talk Fireflight out of it but he knows his spark is already made up.

Fireflight: If I can't destroy the EMP device then I can at least stall Shockwave.

Optimus Prime: Very well. Make us proud, Autobot.

Fireflight offers no response and not having the time to launch through the hangar, he smashes out of the Command Center window and flies off toward Shockwave's base.

Bumblebee and Optimus watch him as he fades out of sight.

Fireflight spoke with Landmine before coming to see Optimus and disabled a portion of the shield for a few brief seconds and then reactivated it.

Optimus didn't desire any Autobot to face Shockwave because he knew that whoever was going there was not going to come back.

Back on the Autobot ship that barely escaped crashing down on Iacon:

The Autobot Captain wishes to know the name of the bold Autobot who saved the ship from destruction.

Two Autobot soldiers escort the heroic Autobot back to the bridge.

The Autobot Captain turns from his chair to see that the Autobot is here.

Autobot Captain: You...you have done a great service for your fellow Autobots today. What is your name?

The Autobot is slightly nervous to reply but he eventually does.

Autobot: Jolt, sir.

Autobot Captain: Well Jolt...I as well as all the Autobots on this ship, thank you for what you have done today.

The Autobot crew salutes Jolt.

Jolt says nothing but is quite flattered to be treated in such a way that he never has before.

Bios:

Jolt:
The heroic Autobot who saved the falling transport from certain doom, Jolt is a rather shady character, he is an expert on power sources, mainly those that use any form of electricity. Jolt does not however have an official combat training and he's never directly seen any action. However the fact that he has many powerful electrical based tools give him true potential to be come a great warrior...with the proper training of course.

Strength-5
Speed-6
Rank-1
Firepower-9
Intelligence-6
Endurance-8
Courage-8
Skill-3

Voice: Dermont Mulroney from The Batman (Green Lantern)

 

Next chapter coming in.

Chapter 18:

Meanwhile back underground at the Energon lines...

Skids and Mudflap have been going at it this whole time.

The are still rolling across the floor when suddenly an Autobot picks the two of them up in each hand.

Autobot: All right, scrap drones...what is going on down here?

Skids: Ahh...not Fallback...

Fallback: Speak with respect, scrap drone.

He tosses them both on the ground with a metallic clang following their impact.

He then walks over to the communicator and contacts Landmine.

Landmine appears on the screen.

Fallback: Landmine this is Fallback--situation resolved.

Landmine on screen: That's great, Fallback but the Energon flow is still blocked off. Can you see what the problem is?

Fallback: Not to worry, Autobot, the problem shall be resolved shortly.

Fallback starts to walk toward the Energon line but he isn't even sure which one he is looking for.

Of course being Fallback, he's too proud to admit that.

For a few cycles he is looking to find the correct line.

Landmine has a annoyed glare on his face.

Landmine on screen: Fallback, the one in the middle.

Fallback: Thank you, Autobot. Just making a routine inspection.

Landmine places his palm on his face.

Suddenly there is an explosion!

A large ball of green and yellow lightning smashes out rushes out like a supernova.
It is heading straight for a pile of energon cubes.

Before it comes into contact the ball deactivates...almost as if it were deactivated.

Brawl enters the area as the other Combaticons follow in behind him.

Skids and Mudflap: Decepticons!

Fallback: Decepticons? Stand back, scrap drones...I'll handle thi...

He sees Onslaught, Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off...

Fallback's optics widen in terror.

He then turns tail and runs away screaming to the elevator.

He pushes the elevator door button as many times as he can before it opens and rushes inside and pushes another button the closes the door and begins to rise up to the surface.

Skids and Mudflap quickly find cover as the Combaticons begin to open fire.

Onslaught: Combaticons, acquire any spare Energon then blow the lines!

Blast Off and Vortex begin going through the Energon stores while Brawl provides cover fire.

Landmine sees this on the screen.

Blast Off is firing and walking past the Twins' control station when he sees Landmine on the screen.

Landmine: Why you Decepticon...sc...

Blast Off shots the screen severing the transmission.

Skids and Mudflap start to retreat.

But Mudflap turns back.

Mudflap: Skids, what about the clog in the Energon line?

Skids: Forget about it! We got to get out of here!

Mudflap: But the transport needs the Energon!

Skids: Let someone else figure it out! It's not our problem.
Mudflap turns back toward the Energon lines: Yes. It is.

He runs back firing.

While his aim is terrible Mudflap makes a bold move and jumps on the Energon line that has been blocked off.

He opens the valve entrance on top of the line while dodging blasts from Brawl. He quickly jumps in to the line and attempts to find the source of the clog.

Skids sighs and rushes back to assist Mudflap by providing cover fire.

Brawl continues to move closer and closer to the Twins' location. Skids' weak arm blaster doesn't even hurt the heavy Combaticon.

Brawl deploys his arm blade.

Onslaught observes with his hands behind his back as Blast Off and Vortex are moving Energon cubes out for extraction.

Brawl and Onslaught exchange glances and Onslaught nods.

Brawl shoots out the lights above with his arm rifle and the entire Energon line chamber goes dark.

The Combaticons have night vision upgrades built into their optics and can see easily. Skids however can not.

Skids: Uhh...Mudflap you might want to hurry it up.

Mudflap is too far down the line to hear Skids.

He has reached where the lines separate into sub-lines when a looks down and sees a dead Autobot face staring at him with its mouth wide open.

Mudflap jumps back from sight and looks at it closely for a moment.

He can't seem to recognize this Autobot, though to be fair, he doesn't get many visitors.

The dead Autobot's body must have been pushed down the line and was crushed around the valve thus sealing the entrance to the sub-valve.

Curious as this is, Mudflap swims along side the body and pulls the body back with every cell of strength his servos can muster,which is just enough to move the body out of the way and restore the flow to the final transport.

At the Launch Station:

Landmine's screen changes as he sees that the Energon has finally started to flow once again.

Landmine: Finally!

Landmine: This is Landmine the Energon flow is back up and running. To everyone who is leaving, get on the last transport now!

Landmine gets up from his station and runs with his brothers to board the last ship.

Back at the Energon Line

Skids is nervously looking around for Mudflap underneath one of the Energon lines.

Skids: Mudflap...

Skids: Mudflap...

There is a quiet bang.

Skids: Mudflap?

Suddenly Skids is grabbed by Brawl who quickly crushes his arm mounted weapon with his hand.

Skids doesn't have the strength to escape Brawl's grasp and is stuck.

Brawl: Insignificant Autobot...your attempts are futile.

Little does Brawl know that Mudflap is right behind him on top of the Energon line about ready to jump on top of him.

Brawl: I will enjoy scrapping you and crushing your pitiful spark in my hand.

Mudflap: Not on my watch!

Mudflap jumps toward Brawl.

But Brawl though seemingly unaware grabs him in his other hand as well.

Brawl: Now two Autobots...what a fortunate outcome.

Suddenly the elevator door opens and some bright lights shine through the darkness and the Wreckers arrive immediately opening fire on Brawl.

Brawl gets hit on both hands and drops the Twins who quickly run for the Wreckers.

Brawl is taking too many hits and is forced to fall back.

Onslaught: Combaticons, withdraw!

Onslaught can see that they have gotten all the energon the could and nods and Blast Off giving him the signal to finish what they started.

Blast Off runs close to the energon line and throws a grenade in the open valve above the Energon line, in which Mudflap came from.

Top Spin moves quickly and catches it with one of his large claws and tosses it back.

Blast Off quickly runs back to the cave where they Combaticons originally came from.

The explosion brings down debris and blocks the Combaticon's entrance to the Energon lines.

Vortex: Onslaught, they blocked us out.

Onslaught: We have the Energon and we know the line's position. Another attack will be simple enough.

Vortex: But what about Megatron, won't he be unhappy we didn't complete the plan?

Onslaught: This was the plan.

Vortex: What?!

Onslaught: With the majority of the Autobots off world already it would have been a waste of Energon to destroy this line and with such a smaller defense of Autobots at Iacon, there should be little difficulty in taking the entire city of Iacon for ourselves.

Vortex: And you didn't tell us this why?

Onslaught: In the unlikely event one of us were captured, the Autobots would not beware of our real plan.

Onslaught: Brawl, is the device transmitting?

Brawl: It is.

Onslaught: Good. Then we are done here. Combaticons, to the surface!

The Combaticons begin walking away from the blocked entrance. Just what kind of device Brawl placed is unknown.

The Wreckers see no point in staying down in the Energon lines any longer and prepare to at last, leave Cybertron. The Wreckers, along with the Twins, return to the lift and head back up to the launch area.

Roadbuster: So you two technicians managed to hold your ground against the Combaticons?

Skids: I wouldn't really say we “held our ground”.

Top Spin: I'm surprised you two didn't turn and run.

Mudflap: Well Skids was going to but I had to fix that Energon clog.

Top Spin: Oh. The one for the last transport?

Mudflap: Yep.

Top Spin: What was the cause?

Mudflap: It was a...dead...Autobot.

The Wreckers are shocked by this.

Brawn: Do you know who it was?

Mudflap: Nope. But the body is still down there.

Roadbuster: Hmm...I'll have one of the remaining Autobots have a look at it. We need to get out of here while we have the time. Nice work you two.

Skids: A shame Fallback didn't help.

All the Wreckers groan.

Top Spin: Ohh...not Fallback.

Top Spin: The guy thinks that just because he looks like Brawn and has all these impressive weapons and armor it makes him great. But really the bot runs the second Decepticons are in sight.

Top Spin: Real disgrace.

Roadbuster: To think he tried out to be a Wrecker.

Brawn just shakes his head as he knows Fallback all to well. He was in fact his trainer but failed him due to his self-obsessed focus on himself during training and the neglect of his team mates.

Top Spin: Almost at the launch area.

Roadbuster: Good.

Outside of Iacon

The Combaticons begin to climb out of the hole with all the Energon they scavenged.

Onslaught: Is all the Energon accounted for?

Vortex: Affirmative.

Onslaught: Good. Swindle, activate the homing beacon so the transport knows we are ready to be picked up.

Onslaught: Swindle?

Onslaught looks at the final tower where a section of the acid and fire has been extinguished.

Onslaught: Swindle...

Bios:

Fallback:
Fallback is all talk and no spark. He often tries to make him self stand out as being this “legendary warrior” and there maybe some who hear his stories that actually believe him. Sure Fallback can take on common grunt soldiers but the first sign of a much stronger foe and he's the first one to flee. This personality hasn't made him a favorite with the Wreckers, which he once tried to join. He was however rejected by Brawn for his entire focus on himself and not his fellow Autobots, which is interesting as the two look a lot a like.

Strength-5
Speed-5
Rank-1
Firepower-5
Intelligence-4
Endurance-3
Courage-3
Skill-4

Voice: Fred Tatasciore from Transformers: the Game (Ratchet)

 

Read 16 and 17, what happened with Ironhide reminds me of the movie comics.

 

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been busy with things but here is the next Chapter. This one's quite the history lesson.

Chapter 19:

Ironhide and Hound are outside the tower on guard in the event the Decepticons attempt a desperate attack.

The two have said nothing to each other this entire time but Hound, not being one for keeping his mouth shut, decides to ask Ironhide the burning question that an Autobot would ask...

Hound: So...why'd you join the cons?

Ironhide: What?

Hound: Why'd you join the cons?

Ironhide: I'd rather not dwell into that right now.

Hound: Aw come on...I want to see just how fragged your reasoning is.

Ironhide sighs and begins to tell Hound what lead to his decision.

Ironhide: It all started during the fall of Cybertron's Golden Age before the factions were formed...

Ironhide: Cybertron was in a desperate state with no one to guide it, for that reason, our race was willing to look to anyone who would lead us.

Ironhide: This is when Zeta Prime came to power as one of Cybertron's most powerful leaders.

Ironhide: Zeta assured us that if we gave him full authority over everything he would ensure our race had everything it needed.

Ironhide: He took inspiration from the Great Primes before us and sought to form a council of thirteen “Primes” to govern Cybertron.

Ironhide: Whether our race was desperate or truly that foolish is another matter.

Ironhide: At first Zeta's deeds were noble and he served our race quite well.

Ironhide: It wasn't long until the power began to corrupt him and he begin to influence the council and abuse its power.

Ironhide: Anything they wanted, they took. Anyone they didn't like they tortured them just for the fun of it and they would mask their darkest deeds away from the optics of those they oppressed.
Ironhide: Anyone who chose to stand against them was subjected to their wrath.

Ironhide: It makes you think that they stood true to what the Fallen stood for.

Ironhide: For deca-cycles our race was held captive by the will of Zeta and his council...without anyone to rise against these so called Primes. The slavery, the brutality, the death, all by the hands of these...Primes left our race even more worse off then when they sought leadership.

Ironhide: After all this suffering and oppression, there was a spark amongst all this tyranny.

Ironhide: A gladiator named Megatron, who had been a sturdy fondation during the reign of the council, boldly stood against the Primes and refused to be subjected to their reign any longer. His strength and intellect were traits that inspired others of our race and they saw there was someone they could rally behind.

Ironhide: Megatron discovered the secrets of the Primes and announced them publicly in front of them. He was not arrived of being seen or heard he spoke the truth and our race began to see their chance at freedom.

Ironhide: The Primes called Megatron a deceiver and that his actions would not be tolerated.

Ironhide: Megatron stood behind the idea that if speaking the truth was deception then they would gladly take it as an honor. It is here the Decepticon name was born. Their insignia was inspired by the Fallen as he was against the Primes as the Decepticons were, they made it their symbol.

Ironhide: The council created a faction of their own to which they called the Autobots. They claimed that Megatron was a threat to their order and needed to be stopped. They twisted the truth quite well to fit that ideal and many joined on to fight against Megatron.

Ironhide: I saw the boldness and nobility of Megatron's actions and knew, which side I would join.

Ironhide: Originally Megatron never wanted to terminate any Autobots. His only concern was removing the council's hold on Cybertron.

Ironhide: I fought by him as this was done and saw the oppression I despised turn to ash.

Ironhide: But it would seem that along the way the Decepticon ideals have become blurred and now we...they are much like what the Primes used to be.

Ironhide: Megatron wants the Autobots destroyed as since they are leaded by a Prime, they most also be corrupt as the council was.
Hound: You've never met Optimus have you?

Ironhide: Not personally. But I would assume he is the same.

Hound: Ha! Far from it!

Hound: If anything the bot is the exact opposite.

Hound: We usually have to make him realize that he needs to keep himself alive in order to lead us. I don't think we've ever had a leader that was so dedicated to his own race.

Ironhide: I'll believe it when I see it.

All the while the two are talking, Swindle has been crawling on the ground amongst the ruins scavenging up pieces of weaponry, ammo, anything that he can make a profit off of.

Unfortunately he hasn't found that much.

Swindle (quietly): Aw come on! There must be something better here I can salvage.

Swindle (quietly): Not even a single power cell to be found!

Swindle gets up from crawling: Why is there nothing good I can salvage here!!

Ironhide and Hound stare at Swindle.

Swindle: Oh, hey, Ironhide. What are you doing with that Autobot?

Hound points a large assault gun at Swindle as Ironhide activates his arm cannons.

Swindle puts his arms up and drops all that he was carrying.

They both walk slowly towards Swindle.

Swindle: Oh...is this one of those surprise attack tactics where you gain the trust of the Autobots by doing something that could be considered highly treacherous and yet in reality it isn't? It's one of those things right?

Ironhide: No...

Swindle: Okay, now it must be one of those tactics. Because the only reason you're pointing your weapons at me is to make the Autobots think your really on their side...but...you wouldn't do that. Would you?

Ironhide: Put your hands behind your head, Swindle.

Swindle: You really have turned haven't you? Or are you just trying to make it look really convincing?

Ironhide doesn't reply.

Swindle is more than capable of holding off these two Autobots as he is armed to the teeth—perhaps even more so than Hound himself.

He is not about to be stopped here.

Swindle: Ah scrap it. I don't care if your faking or not...

Dozens of weapons deploy all over Swindle's body.

Swindle: You're not taking me!

Swindle leaps backwards as two jet bursts blast from underneath his feet and let's the two have a full taste of his arsenal.

Missiles, laser blasts, flames, projectiles, plasma bursts, all sorts of things go flying out at them.

Ironhide rolls out of the way as Hound leaps to the side.

Swindle clocks it for the acidic area he cleared out and sort of purposely falls onto the ground forming his vehicle mode, which resembles a Cybertronian buggy vehicle and he makes a break for the exit.

Swindle drops a bomb from below his vehicle mode and the resulting explosion reignites the acid and sets it on fire.

Ironhide and Hound attempt to fall him but the flames block them from pursuing

Once Swindle gets clear of the flames, he transforms back to his robot form running.

He looks back and laughs at the two Autobots and smacks straight into Brawl and falls backwards to the ground.

Swindle: Ohh...

Brawl isn't even dazed by the impact.

Swindle sees all the Combaticons starting down at him.

Swindle: Hey guys, what's up?

Onslaught walks up to Swindle and grabs him by the throat.

Onslaught: You were to remain with the time and assist with the energon removal.

Swindle: You seemed to have everything under control. Don't know what I could have done.

Onslaught: I will not tolerate incompetence, Swindle. Follow orders or I'll have your recycled into something that will.

Onslaught: I am I clear?

Swindle: Yes...sir.

Onslaught lets Swindle go.

Swindle has a slight dent in his neck from where Onslaught had hold of him.

Onslaught: Now contact the transport and tell them we're ready to be picked up.

Swindle: Right.

Swindle grabs a communication device stored on him.

Swindle: Yeah, we're ready to be picked up now.

Swindle: Okay, see you there.

Swindle: They're on their way.

Onslaught: How long?

Swindle: A couple of cycles.

Onslaught: Good. Get as much Energon as you can carry. I want to be on that ship the instant it lands.

The Combaticons, including Swindle, follow Onslaught's orders.

Back at the tower

Ironhide: He got away.

Hound: He didn't get anything of importance.

The main doors begin to open behind them.
Roadbuster and the other Wreckers walk towards the two.

Roadbuster: Did our supposed turncoat behave himself?

Hound: Yep.

Roadbuster: Hmm...any problems?

Hound: Just Swindle looking for parts and weapons he could salvage.

Roadbuster: Swindle was here?

Hound: Yeah, why?

Top Spin: We caught his companions at the Energon lines.

Hound: So they did get through.

Roadbuster: Yeah. I'll give a report to Ultra Magnus. Prime's giving him command over Cybertron.

Hound: So then...it's time?

Roadbuster: Yes...it's time.

 

It's been awhile since there's been a chapter but I finally got around to finishing one up, made it quite a bit longer and added some content to it, makes it much better.

Chapter 20

Optimus and the last remaining Autobots are at last, preparing to board the last transport.

Optimus Prime is talking with Ultra Magnus and preparing him for the task of watching over Cybertron.

Optimus Prime: I entrust this task to you, Ultra Magnus. You are a loyal companion and a trusted friend.

Optimus Prime: The days ahead will be difficult for Cybertron's systems will cease to function and you will have to rely on our backup energon storage to power Cybertron.

Optimus Prime: Some Decepticons will also remain and the threat of an attack still remains. You must giver considerable effort to ensuring the safety of Iacon and the resurrection of Cybertron.

Optimus: Above all, take care of our Autobots. See to it they are cared for.

Ultra Magnus: I will serve Cybertron to the best of my abilities, Optimus.

Optimus Prime put his hand on Magnus' shoulder.

Optimus Prime: I know you will.

Optimus then walks to say farewell to some of his closest companions.

Prowl continues to record the Autobots who board the transport.

The Wreckers arrive to the launch area with Ironhide behind them.

An Autobot with a datapad sees that Roadbuster has arrived and instantly runs toward him.

Autobot: Sir!

Roadbuster: What is it?

Autobot: We did a check on the deactivated Autobot found in the Energon line...

Autobot: It's Kup.

Roadbuster: What?!

Kup was one of the first bots to join with Optimus and was a great teacher and warrior. He worked closely with Brawn in training new recruits but his age caught up with him so he served Cybertron as chief of security and protected his race by ensuring a strong defense. Kup's security tactics could possibly even match Onslaught's strategies. The two could be considered equal with regards to their intelligence and tatics.

Brawn is perhaps the most hurt by this news, in fact, he received his training from Kup around when the war started. Besides being a great teacher, he was a great friend. The loss of someone so dear to him is more painful than any shot or injury he has even sustained.

Roadbuster: What happened to him?

Autobot: He took a direct shot through the back of the head. His processor was destroyed instantly.

Autobot: Our scans indicate he has been dead for at least four solar cycles.

Roadbuster: But the cons didn't even know about the Energon line at the time so that means...

Autobot: It was an Autobot.

The Wreckers are all startled by this revelation.

Roadbuster leans in towards the Autobot's audio receptor.

Roadbuster (whispering): Report this to Ultra Magnus and him only. I will notify Prowl. If I were this bot I would be looking for my quickest way off this planet after a move like that. Chances are whoever did this is on one of the transports.

Autobot: Understood, sir.

The Autobot walks toward Ultra Magnus to convey the report.

Roadbuster walks over to Prowl and whispers something to him as well.

Prowl widens his optics and nods.

Doors that lead into the launch area slide up as one last Autobot comes to leave Cybertron.

It is Sideswipe.

He has been desperately searching for any signs of his brother amongst the battlefield but has again found nothing.

As he wheels towards the transport's boarding ramp he catches sight of something or to be more accurate someone who he did not suspect to see in the Autobot base and it's someone he has a personal grudge against.

Sideswipe quickly pulls his two guns off his back and aims them toward Ironhide and begins firing.

Ironhide immediately rolls to the side as the Wreckers turn around to the madness that has begun to unfold.

Sideswipe: Where is he!?

Roadbuster ducks to the ground to avoid the shots and rushes towards Sideswipe.

Sideswipe: Answer me you scarpheep!

Brawn comes up from behind Sideswipe and grabs hold of him.

Brawn: Hold your fire, solider!

Sideswipe: Are you fragged? He's the one who's responsible!

Roadbuster snatches Sideswipe's guns from him.

Sideswipe struggles with every servo of strength he can muster.

Roadbuster: He's on our side now, Sideswipe. He's one of us.

Sideswipe: Not him...no...he wouldn't betray his MASTER!

Roadbuster: His master betrayed him.

Sideswipe: I don't care if Megatron shot him! He's responsible!

Sideswipe: He recruited my brother to join the Decepticons! He's the reason he's gone!

Ironhide who has been silent this whole time turns to Sideswipe and walks slowly towards him.

Brawn keeps a tighter grip around Sideswipe and Roadbuster moves aside to make room for Ironhide.

Sideswipe: Where is my brother you slag heep?

Ironhide: Based on your form I would conclude you mean Sunstreaker.

Sideswipe: Yes! Yes! Where is he?

Ironhide stands silent for a brief moment...

Ironhide: I do not know.

Sideswipe's rage boils inside and ignites his left arm blade and slams it straight towards Ironhide's spark.

But there is only the sound of a metallic clang.

Roadbuster, Brawn, and Sideswipe all look down and see that the blade was unable to be penetrate Ironhide's armor.

Ironhide's name suits him well for if his armor can withstand a direct hit from a Cybertanium, Ironhide's armor may be virtually indestructible.

Ironhide: Deactivating me will not help you.

Sideswipe: It would sure help me.

Ultra Magnus steps up to intervene.

Ultra Magnus: Sideswipe, I suggest you stand down or I will have you escorted to the transport.

Sideswipe: You would take a con's side over mine?

Ultra Magnus: There are no Decepticons here despite what you may believe.

Sideswipe: Are you just going to ignore all the crime he's committed? All the sparks he's extinguished?

Ultra Magnus: This one's wrong doings can not be denied, nor can his recent actions be denied.

Ultra Magnus: He has made a choice and as Autobots we would do well to allow him the opportunity of a second chance.

Ultra Magnus: Prowl, escort Sideswipe on board the transport.

Sideswipe: I can find my own way.

Sideswipe is released by Brawn and slowly wheels his way on board the transport, glaring at Ironhide dead in the optics as he leaves.

With everyone still left feeling awkward from the events that transpired, the

Leadfoot: Well, I am a not standing round here. I'm getting outta here.

Leadfoot waddles gradually onto the transport.

Top Spin sighs and follows Leadfoot on board the transport not wanting to stay a moment longer.

Brawn is still having difficulty accepting Kup's death but he knows that time is not something they have and that the transport needs to take off now.

With that in mind, he salutes Ultra Magnus as Magnus returns the salute and Brawn puts his arm down and heads for the transport.

Hound takes a few moments to look around Cybertron one last time.

Hound: You really think you can save it?

Ultra Magnus: It will take time but we shall devote as much effort into saving Cybertron as possible.

Roadbuster: Please, please next time have the tower inside the shield next time so we don't have to go through this nightmare again.

Ultra Magnus: I will bring the recommendation to the engineers.

Roadbuster salutes Ultra Magnus and begins to make his way toward the transport.

Hound falls in behind him.

Roadbuster makes his way up the ramp but looks back to Bumblebee who has been in the launch area with the others and checks on him.

Roadbuster: Bee, you coming?

Bumblebee: I think the Autobots are going to need as much help on Cybertron as they can get. I will stay here and assist them.

Roadbuster: You know what you're in for, right?

Bumblebee: I do.

Roadbuster: Then I won't say anymore than that.

Roadbuster: Take care of yourself, Bee.

Bumblebee: You, too.

Roadbuster nods and proceeds to board the transport and soon vanishes from sight.

Ironhide is the last to board the transport he doesn't look back, he just moves forward, uncertain of what difficulties will lie ahead.

The boarding ramp rises up wards from the ground and seals shut against the ship.

Bumblebee, Magnus, Sentinel and all the other Autobots who were in the launch area depart so that the last transport can launch.

Another Autobot has taken over the shield controls since Landmine has already boarded the transport.

The transport's engines ignite in a bright blaze as the shield goes down and the ship lifts into space leaving their home and many of their friends behind.

The transports now must break through the Decepticon warships and avoid Shockwave's EMP weapon.

Bios:

Ultra Magnus:
Magnus is probably the only true Autobot Optimus would trust with watching over Cybertron. Magnus possess many of the characteristics that Optimus does, which makes him the next best choice for a leader. He cares for the Autobot cause and always tries to make the best decision for them. He is well respected by pretty much every Autobot...accept for Sentinel who has a bit of jealousy towards him having the authority over Cybertron.

Appearance: WIP But it will resemble his Prime form in some ways.

Strength-8
Speed-4
Rank-9
Firepower-7
Intelligence-9
Endurance-10
Courage-10
Skill-8

Voice: Micheal Ironside from Transformers Prime.

 

Looks like Fallback will be the first bit of humor.

 

Finally caught up. And now we have a mystery. Who killed Kup?

 

The story can progress once again, we are now on to Chapter 21. Only five chapters left.

Chapter 21

Desolated City Outside Shockwave's Base

Fireflight is flying low to the ground towards Shockwave's base through a desolated Cybertronian city that was devastated by the large asteroid that crashed in the middle of it, where Shockwave has since taken up residence.

The entire city is dead and abandoned, it has no power or any functional light source aside from sparks from the damaged power lines.

Fireflight hears nothing but the hum of his engines pulsing behind him.

Rusted Autobot corpses riddle the desolate streets. A rescue party was never sent and as such the remains of the fallen have been left behind without a proper funeral. If there were survivors, it is possible Shockwave got to them first.

Fireflight's path through the jagged streets is blocked by a hulking pile of debris. With only seconds to react, he quickly rolls to the right through a gapping hole that has burst through several buildings that was most likely caused by a large explosion from the asteroid's collision.

Fireflight notices even more Autobot corpses inside the structure. It seems there was no safe haven anywhere in this city.

Fireflight would not have seen them had it no been for the bright orange glow of his engines reflecting of their rusted metal shells. The interior of the buildings are pitch black aside for a few insignificant holes in the walls that let in tiny beams of light.

Fireflight exits through the large hole in the buildings, and clears the edge of the city. He decreases his speed, transforms and lands quietly on the ground with his wings shifting downward into position on his back.

The monstrous size of the asteroid intrigues him. It stands taller than even some Iacon buildings. A radius surrounding the asteroid has been cleared of any debris and it is probably the only clean area outside the asteroid in this sector.

The asteroid itself has several jagged view ports carved out of the rocky surface to allow for better lighting. From what Fireflight can see through them, there are energy cables inside the asteroid, which are most likely flowing Shockwave's power supply throughout his base.

Fireflight examines around the lower quadrant of the asteroid and sees nothing that appears to be a threat and as such quietly proceeds toward the stairs that lead into Shockwave's base.

Shockwave is currently working in his lab as usual and begins to hear a moderately repetitive beeping sound that Shockwave recognizes as his detection array going off. His head raises up in response to the alert as his singular red optic widens.

Fortunately for Fireflight, Shockwave has not had time to build advance defenses to protect his base so reaching it is fairly easy. Getting out is the trick.

Meanwhile high above the planet...

Autobot transports and Decepticon warships are engaged in desperate struggle. The Autobots are attempting to flee the planet while the Decepticons attempt to bring down their ships by any means necessary.

The Nemesis

Megatron stands on the bridge of his great warship, the Nemesis, a ship that is significantly larger from the traditional Decepticon warship and carries a far more intimidating presence due to its large wingspan and reputation for being nearly indestructible.

Soundwave watches as an Autobot transport engages its light speed drive and escapes the Decepticon blockade in a bright flash of light.

Megatron: Soundwave, order several of our ships to separate and examine the inhabitable planets that Shockwave provided. If our forces reach these locations before the Autobots do, we will have an advantage over them.

Megatron: The rest are to ensure the destruction of the Autobot transports.

Soundwave: As you command, Lord Megatron.

Soundwave walks off to inform the other warships of Megatron's orders.

Megatron notices a new transport that quickly passes the Nemesis.

Megatron knows in his spark that Prime is on his transport. He knows Optimus possible more than most Autobots.

Megatron: Prime...

Megatron: Lock all cannons on that ship. I want it destroyed!

The Decepticon officers obey Megatron's command and immediately begin to open fire on the transport ship.

Down in the Hangar level

Decepticon Jet soldiers prepare to launch out of the hangar and engage Optimus' ship.

The soldiers stand in squads of three on a long walkway that hangs above a series of doors below.

A red light goes off and the hangar doors separate diagonally and the suction of space begins to surge inside the hangar.

The soldiers leap off of the walkway and out the hangar doors and transform into their jets and various ways, then they all boost their engines and pursue Optimus' ship.

On the Autobot Bridge

Optimus Prime stands on the bridge of the transport with several Autobot Officers working at their respective stations.

Autobot Officer: Sir, we have Decepticon aircraft in bound.

Optimus presses a switch that activates a comm channel between him and the Aerial Bots.

Optimus Prime: Silverbolt, we have Decepticons in bound. Slow them down.

Silverbolt on comm: Understood, Optimus.

In the Hangar

Silverbolt: All right, Aerial Bots, let's get out there and kick some tailpipe.

Air Raid: This should be fun.

A hatch opens on the floor and steam disperses when the door rises, separates into halves and closes against the sides of the hangar floor. The suction from space begins to pull the Aerial bots slightly towards the opening.

Silverbolt hops right down the hatch, flips forward and forms his vehicle mode.

Jetfire leaps down the hatch as his parts form into his jet form.

Air Raid does a back flip and transforms in a fanciful manner that results in his vehicle form facing straight forward.

They all boost off to take on the Decepticon forces.

The Aerial bots and Decepticon jet soldiers are within firing range and begin to assault one another.

Each Aerial bot is able to take out at least two soldiers on their first fly by.

The Decepticon jets begin firing on the transport's primary engines and other key systems.

Silverbolt: Aerial bots, delta maneuver!

The Aerial bots who are all flying aside one another begin to separate slightly.

Silverbolt is flying in the middle with the other two slightly breaking off.

Silverbolt flips over backwards as Jetfire and Air Raid are breaking hard to their respective sides.

The three all over come two squadrons and blast each one in mere seconds.

Back at Shockwave's tower.

Fireflight has now entered Shockwave's tower.

He spots many unusual things. Many of which he hasn't the slightest clue as to what they are.

Some things appear to be organic in nature. One of them is an alien species that sought to salvage the Transformers for scrap at one point before the factions were formed.

He sees a giant fluid tube with some sort of large dead Cybertronian creature inside. It looks as if its front claws are missing.

He also sees schematics of some sort of drone that looks much like Shockwave aside from some slight differences.

He spots some sort of report based on a a mineral found in the asteroid but doesn't take the time to read it.

There are hundreds of other mysterious things all over the base as well but there isn't time to go through all of them.

Fireflight then turns to his right and sees a giant power core that runs through the center of the tower. He is surprised that he missed it when he first entered the tower.

Fireflight gets back on track and looks around for the EMP controls.

He spots a panel on the upper level and hovers up quietly to the controls.

He reaches the control panel and looks around he plans to fire the cannon at one of the Decepticon ships so is fellow Autobots might have a better chance.

He brings to access the command system but suddenly hears a loud thud behind him.

Shockwave has found him.

 

Oh boy, Fireflight will need a miracle to get out alive.

 

Chapter 22:

Back at Shockwave's base, Fireflight and Shockwave glare silently at one another. Since the two aren't much for conversation though, there won't really be any banter between them.

Fireflight initiates the fight by faking to his right and dashes to the left, igniting his leg thrusters to burst past Shockwave, which lands him behind giving him more room to maneuver.

Shockwave quickly turns toward the Autobot and keeps his single red optic fixed on him.

Fireflight then ignites his thrusters again and attempts to hit Shockwave in the head.

Shockwave however just steps slightly backwards, causing Fireflight to miss.

Fireflight stabilizes himself from his miss and decides to activate his arm mounted gun and open fire at Shockwave.

The projectiles hit Shockwave's armor but he doesn't even flinch from the impact.

Fireflight lowers his weapon and stares at him surprised at the fact Shockwave still hast not made any attempt to attack him.

Fireflight is puzzled by this but little does he know that Shockwave always observes his target before attacking. Once he determines the tactics of his enemy, he determines a logical attack pattern to dispose of his enemy and the thing about Shockwave is...

He never misses.

Fireflight decides to change tactics and quickly ignites his thrusters once again and hovers over Shockwave to the control panel.

He quickly begins to bring up the targeting system when suddenly he feels a sharp severing sensation followed by a lose of feeling in his left arm.

Fireflight looks down to his arm and sees it fall to the ground below.

He looks to see where his arm once was with only servos still moving where it was severed.

He turns only to see Shockwave's fist pummel him in the face, causing him to fall to the floor below.

Shockwave resumes his focus on the EMP.

Shockwave has determined that Megatron would logically seek to disable Prime's ship first and since he is aware that Prime's ship was just launched, he targets the closest transport to the Nemesis.

Fireflight still clinging on to his arm hovers up to the control panel and grab's Shockwave's back.

Shockwave focuses his attention on the Autobot once again and grabs for the only arm that he has left and as he is about to slam him to the floor, Fireflight lets go at that instant and activates his thrusters that blaze against Shockwave's face forcing Shockwave to shield himself from the blaze and let Fireflight go.

Fireflight kicks Shockwave back only slightly but it is enough that it shoves him slightly off balance.

Fireflight quickly switches the target to the Nemesis and hits the launch switch.

A large ball of light blue energy begins to build in the center of the power core.

The charge increases and the color of the energy changes to a dark purple color that glows so bright that Fireflight is forced to look away.

In a sharp, bright flash, the EMP is launched rapidly toward it's target.

Fireflight has made himself extremely vulnerable during this maneuver and Shockwave stabs straight through his chest with his arm blade. Barely avoiding his spark, Shockwave then tosses him off his blade right into a wall.

Fireflight hits the wall hard and lands on the floor, dazed from the attack.

Shockwave looks at the control panel and sees that the Autobot has successfully launched an EMP, which according to the trajectory will hit both the Nemesis and another Decepticon warship.

Back in space

The Aerial Bots are chasing and shooting down Decepticon jets between the Nemesis and the Autobot transport.

Air Raid transforms to his robot mode and shoots a Decepticon jet, which causes it to spiral out of control and explode in the midst of space.

Air Raid turns toward Cybertron and is shocked to see the EMP incoming and warns the others Aerial bots.

Air Raid: Silverbolt! Jetfire! Look out!

Air Raid dashes out of the way as the pulse passes through the Nemesis.

Its systems flicker briefly but do not go out.

Optimus watches this as the EMP goes through the Nemesis and hits another Decepticon warship that is now dead in its tracks.

The transport that the warship was attacking can now divert full power to the light speed drive and vanishes from view.

On the Nemesis, the Decepticons are slightly confused.

Decepticon Officer: Wait...that was the EMP right?

Decepticon Officer 2: Yeah.

Decepticon Officer: Why didn't it disable the ship?

Decepticon Officer 3: What do you mean?

Decepticon Officer: Shockwave said that our warships and the Autobot transports had the same frequency. So why didn't we lose power?

Megatron continues to stare out into space but has an unusual expression on his face one of confidence and secrecy.

Back in space

Air Raid: There is no way Shockwave could miscalculate by that much. Something's going on.

Silverbolt: Maybe it's Fireflight. Optimus said he was going to Shockwave's tower.

Air Raid: What? No one told me that.

Silverbolt: Well maybe next time you should pay attention.

Air Raid: Wait you mean Fireflight went to Shockwave alone?

Jetfire: I'm afraid so.

Air Raid: That means...

Silverbolt: He may have a chance. Let's not count him out yet.

Back on the planet

Fireflight is still dazed from the impact.

All of his primary chest armor is gone, his spark is visible and it is giving off small light blue sparks. This type of injury would eventually result in the spark dying, if left untreated.

Shockwave has once again focused his attention on Fireflight and ending this illogical fight.

A hose begins to disperse out of Shockwave's back and a large gun begins to form out of his right arm.

The hose attaches itself to the back of the gun and Shockwave arms the gun preparing to fire.

Fireflight brings up his arm gun in what would be pointless as his weapon has done no damage to Shockwave whatsoever. Before he can even use it though, Shockwave has already shot it. Rendering it useless.

Fireflight just rips the broken gun of his arm. Sparks flow from the wound.

Fireflight knows that if he is destroyed Shockwave will continue to fire the EMP at the transports.

So there is only one thing he can do.

Fireflight rushes to the center of the core and jumps inside it while Shockwave's gun is aimed right at him.

The electrical power inside the core causes immense pain to Fireflight but he doesn't make a sound.

Shockwave is locked on target but he knows that if he fires, that a reaction will occur within the core.

So Shockwave lower his weapon and instead extends his arm blade and walks toward the core to pry this annoyance out of the core and end this.

Fireflight sees only one way to bring the EMP to an end, the core can not handle and other energy source aside from what it runs on. Any other type of energy burst will cause the core to overload and it would cause a severe explosion.

Having no other options left, Fireflight does the only thing he can and ignites his thrusters causing the core to overload sending an explosive pulse out from the core.

The explosion sends rock, equipment, experiments, everything all across the asteroid.

Shockwave is blown back by the explosion in to some power lines that instantly explode as Shockwave hits them.

Fireflight is blown out through a window and smashes to the ground below.

Fireflight crashes hard on the rocky floor, barely functional. His legs are gone, his torso is basically gone with his spark completely visible pulsing rapidly and fluctuating between barely operational to completely out.

Another explosion occurs inside Shockwave's tower.

Fireflight activates his comm signal, which surprisingly is still active.

Fireflight: Optimus...you're clear.

In Space

The Aerial Bots recognize Fireflight's voice and stop in their tracks as to how broken it sounds and while they can hear Fireflight's voice they cannot communicate with him due to their transmitters being so far out of range. What they are hearing is a relay transmission from the transport ship.

Fireflight:...I scrapped up.

Silverbolt quickly forms back to into his jet modes and puts his engines into overdrive and bursts back to the planet as fast as his engines will take him.

Air Raid and Jetfire just watch as they know Silverbolt will never make it in time.

Fireflight: Guess I was a loose cannon after all..

Fireflight: But this cannon has had one last shot.

Optimus is deeply saddened by what he hears.

Out of the tower's main entrance exits Shockwave who despite being thrown into a explosion isn't the slightest bit damaged, which should be impossible and yet he walks toward Fireflight to finish him once and for all.

Fireflight: Breakaway...I....I'm sorry I was slag.

Fireflight: You led us well...I was just to scrapped to listen.

Breakaway lies in the recovery room on board a transport also saddened but what he hears.

Fireflight: You we're right though, my...my team would need me one day...

Shockwave moves closer to Fireflight's near lifeless shell as he arms his cannon once again and points it straight between Fireflight's spark and his head.

Fireflight: That day...was here...

Energy bursts begin to glow from fusion cells on Shockwave's back and the core of the gun begins to brighten with energy.

Fireflight: And I hope...I didn't let my team down...

With these last words Shockwave releases his powered blast upon Fireflight sending his few remaining parts flying all over the place, with his spark extinguishing from the blast

The comm becomes static...

Shockwave lowers his cannon down and turns back toward his damaged tower and walks back to it, not giving the dead Autobot a second thought.

Shockwave will have a lot of repairs to make.

Silverbolt still far from Cybertron, quickly cuts his engines and forms back into his robot form.

All the Autobots listening in know exactly what has happened.

Silverbolt hovers in space looking silently at Cybertron.

He closes his optics and slowly lowers his head for a moment of respect for his now fallen comrade.

The other two remaining Aerial bots hover sadly as well.

But this somber moment is soon interrupted when an oncoming boarding claw from the Nemesis is shot over to the Autobot transport.

Jetfire barely avoids being directly hit from the claw.

Jetfire: Silverbolt, we have boarding claws!

Silverbolt remains hovering silently, wishing he could have done more. But really what could he have done?

But he knows Fireflight gave up his spark so that many other Autobots may live.

Several more claws fire and begin pulling the Autobot transport towards the Nemesis.

A direct confrontation with the Decepticons is now inevitable.

Jetfire over comm: Silverbolt!

Silverbolt opens his optics and raises his head: I'm on my way.

He flips to the side, transforms and boosts back to the battle.

Optimus has seen the claws from the bridge and makes his way to hold off the invading force.

The Decepticons will have no chance against a Prime.

 

  Fireflight

 

Only three more after this one, we're nearing the end.

Time to continue the fight.

Chapter 23

Back outside the ship, the Aerial Bots attempt to destroy the boarding claws but their weapons are to weak to penetrate the claw's armor.

Air Raid: Silverbolt, these claws are too tough for our weapons!

Silverbolt: I know. Optimus, our weapons are getting through the claw's. We're going to need something else to blow them away.

Optimus over comm: Understood, Silverbolt, I will notify the Wreckers. Optimus, out.

Autobot soldiers are gearing up at one the main blast doors. The Decepticons will be blowing through it any second and will attempt to board the transport.

Landmine and his brothers rush into position behind some barriers that were placed for cover and at the same time their battle masks slide over their faces and a second pair of optics forms above their main optics.

These new optics reveal tactical information such as heat, power fluctuations, and more.

The Autobot soldiers stand ready in front of the blast doors awaiting for the imminent attack.

Without warning the blast doors blow open and Decepticon forces begin to board the Autobot ship.

Both factions open fire upon one another.

The soldiers in the front are the primary targets for both factions and they are quickly dispatched.

However, unlike Autobots, the Decepticons are more like to use their comrades as shields, which they do.

The blasts hit against the dead shell of a soldier while the Decepticon forces continue to advance.

Autobot forces are forced to back up.

The three brothers leap over the barrier and advance toward the advancing cons.

Armorhide does an impressive whirlwind kick that knocks a soldier on his back.

He quickly finishes him by stabbing a claw blade through his processes.

He proceed to jump kick another Con's head off, which rolls off to the side.

He activates a secondary claw weapons on his right hand and slices a con's lower torso in half.

He continues to stab another Con through the spark and tosses him in to three more Decepticons.

Landmine stands farther back and walks calmly toward the advancing Cons. A gun rises from his back and rapidly fires at the oncoming battalion. Several soldiers take direct hits to the head and proceed to go offline.

A Decepticon soldier fires at Landmine but he leans to the left and dodges it.

Landmine finishes him by simply walking up to him and twisting his head off his neck.

Commettor grabs his gun off his back and converts it into a grenade launcher that he quickly fires at a group of Con soldiers blowing them up instantly.

Commettor continues to fire grenade after grenade at the still advancing Cons but when he goes to fire again, his gun clicks but nothing happens.

Commettor: Landmine, I'm out of grenades!

Landmine: Just shot my last one! Armorhide?

Armorhide: What?!

Landmine: You have any grenades left?!

Armorhide: You know I don't like guns!

Landmine: Well, I think under the circumstances you should probably use one.

Armorhide: Commettor!

Commettor turns his gaze toward his brother.

Armorhide: Catch!

He tosses his supply of grenades to his brother but before they can reach them they explode in midair.

The brothers are thrown back from the explosion but not heavily damaged.

Landmine looks up from the ground and sees it was Thundercracker who fired the shot.
His weapon still smoking from the shot.

He just gazes at the Autobots and walks his way to the Decepticon bridge not giving a second thought to them.

Another wave of Decepticon forces quickly approaches the Autobot ship.

The grenades have destroyed the barriers that the Autobots were using for cover.

Landmine: We have to stop them from getting any further!

Voice: Leave that to me.

The brothers turn to see Optimus standing there.

Optimus activates his left arm sword as his battle mask clangs shut and runs onto to the Decepticon ship.

The Autobots hold their fire as their about to see a wondrous sight...

Optimus Prime in battle.

Armorhide: Oh...this is going to be a sight I'll never forget...

Optimus combat skills are legendary and his arsenal is very vast.

Optimus rolls forward and in the blink of an optic stabs a soldier through the head, he cuts another down by slicing him vertically in half he rolls forward again and activates his other sword while doings so, he slices two cons at once when he finishes the roll he then jumps with his feet crush a con's head flat on the ground. He then retracts his swords, begins to spin and two guns form from his back that he grabs and ends his spin firing rapidly at the entire advancing battalion.

The soldiers are taken down so fast that is hard for any Autobot to keep track of how many Prime has killed.

Decepticon Commander: He's too powerful! Retreat!

Megatron is observing the battle from a visual feed on the bridge he sees the Decepticons retreating with Prime turning towards the route to the top of the ship so that he can destroy the claws at their source.

Megatron turns away from the screen and proceeds after Prime, to stop him from interfering anymore.

On top of the Autobot Ship

Decepticon soldiers are attempting to breach the bridge through its view ports.

Hound, Crosshairs, and several other Autobots are blocking their path.

Crosshairs and Hound are behind some barricades while Crosshairs is just sitting there letting Hound do all the work—standing strong, blasting Cons with out a care in the world.

Hound while firing: Yeeeeeaaaahhhh....intake THIS!!

Hound notices that Crosshairs is just sitting behind the barricades with his arms behind his head and his legs crossed.

Hound while firing: The scrap you waiting for?

Crosshairs: What? You got this, right? You just do what you do. I'll just sit here and relax.

Hound while firing: You not bot enough to get out and there and slag some cons?

Crosshairs: Why should I bother? You got this.

Hound: That's it.

Hound puts his gun down and picks up Crosshairs from his leisure and tosses him over the barricades into the heat of the battle.

Crosshairs looks up and sees a bunch of Decepticon soldiers taking aim at him.

Crosshairs quickly runs back toward the barricades and when he is close, he jumps turns over while in mid air and shots two soldiers straight through the processor, causing them both to crumble. He lands perfectly on the other side of the barricades and proceeds to help with the battle.

Crosshairs: Was that really necessary?

Hound: Scrap, yeah it was.

Crosshairs: Well next time, just don't.

Hound: Can't promise that.

Crosshairs peers over the barricade and terminates three cons with one shot.

Hound: Not bad. But let a Wrecker show you how it's done.
Hound then puts down his large tri-barrel gun, hops over the barricades and takes out his knife and begins to run straight for the cons.

The Decepticons are caught off guard and quickly pay for their error.

The soldier in the front gets sliced on the side of the neck causing Energon to burst out. He falls to the ground and does his best to hold the wound shut.

Hound slices another one vertically in half, causing it's parts to crumble as large amounts of Energon leak out from the cut.

Another soldier has Hound's knife impaled in his head, and his lifted up as Hound rips his arms off and throws him into a group of soldiers that are all temporary down.

Hound continues to rush through the soldiers and eventually comes to one of the boarding claws and throws one of his grenades toward the center of the claw.

The explosion blows the connecters in half and the claw, now unable to function, detaches from the transport and flows toward Cybertron.

Soundwave observes this from the Nemesis' bridge and decides to deal with the matter personally

Meanwhile Hound has become surrounded by Decepticon soldiers.

Hound: Hey.

A large series of blasts occurs behind the soldiers and they all fall within seconds.

Ironhide: Do you require assistance?

Hound: Well now that you mention it...

The two are quickly surrounded by more Decepticon forces.

Hound grabs two guns from his legs and charges them both.

Ironhide twirls his arm cannons and the two let the soldiers have it.

Soldier after soldier falls in a bright barrage of gun fire.

A Decepticon jet attempts to make a strike at the two but Hound takes a direct shot toward the Decepticon's processor and the jet rolls uncontrollably pass them and blows up in the midst of space.

Hound: We need to take out those boardin' claws!

Ironhide: On it.

The two continue rush to the next claw, taking down cons as they go when suddenly a form drops down from above and lands with a large thud.

It is none other than Soundwave.

 

This should be fun.

 

Only two chapters left, the finally is close at hand.

Chapter 24:

Back on top of the transport, Soundwave, Hound, and Ironhide stand idle in a stand off, waiting for the first move to be made.

Hound and Ironhide stand side by side waiting to see who moves first.

Hound: Oh...this one's trouble.

Soundwave takes the initiative on the fight by chargin the sonic devices all around his body. The charge's energy intensifies and bursts out in ear shattering ultrasonics, which resemble a shockwave but are completely sonic. The blast thunders the two Autobots. Ironhide crouches to the floor as the blast passes over him. Hound, however is not so fortunate.

The blast from the ultrasonics was dented some of Hound's armor and has caused him to lose his balance and float into space.

Hound while flying off helplessly: This isn't good!

The ship is moving rather slowly but it is still substantial enough for Hound to be getting further and further from Soundwave and Ironhide.

Hound thinks fast and remembers that the boarding the needs to be destroyed and he has just the toy for the job.

Hound: Hey, Hide!

Ironhide turns to Hound while rolling away from Soundwave's attempted punch.

Hound tosses Ironhide one of his grenades, which Ironhide catches perfectly in the palm of his hand.

Hound: Use it well!

With these words, Hound begins to float off toward the engine section.

Ironhide turns back towards Soundwave only to see him deliver a strong uppercut that knocks Ironhide on his back.

Ironhide gets himself up from the strike and stares at Soundwave as a battle mask slides sideways from both sides of his face and covers his mouth.

Soundwave's visor's dark red glow intensifies in response to Ironhide's defense.

Soundwave immediately continues the fight by turning his right hand in as his sonic arm cannon forms out of his arm, and fires rapid fire sonic rounds at Ironhide.

Ironhide rolls to the side and dodges most of the shots by sustains several hits on his back.

Ironhide turns to return fire, he notices that his response seems to be a bit slower than normal.

Soundwave's sonic rounds carry a slowing effect that becomes greater the more hits his target sustains.

Ironhide fires several quick shots at Soundwave, two of them miss, but the others hit Soundwave in various spots.

Soundwave who does not seem damaged by the shots, changes his cannon gun, it now has two sharp edges in the center of the cannon, which focus the sonic energy into a single beam. The cannon begins to glow brightly as Soundwave fires a single beam at Ironhide.

Ironhide quickly fires a few blasts at Soundwave's shoulder, the resulting impact knocks his aim off into space and causing his charged shot to miss.

Soundwave manages to overcome the shot rather quickly and fires another charged beam that hits Ironhide's shoulder armor pad, causing it to fly off into space.

Someone on top of the Nemesis stops in his tracks and takes notice of the battle between Ironhide and Soundwave and then continues running.

Ironhide knows that he can't afford to waste time. So instead of trying to fight Soundwave off he runs toward the other boarding claw. Soundwave hovers slightly upwards toward space and flips forward in midair resulting in the form of his Cybertronian jet. He ignites his engines and boosts after Ironhide.

Soundwave his already almost caught up with Ironhide and begins to transform back to robot form lunging at him as he transforms.

Ironhide ducks to the ship as Soundwave overshoots but quickly turns over and drags his hand into the ship to slow himself done. His fingers screech against the ship from the friction. Once Soundwave has completely halted from the momentum, he looks up at Ironhide.

Ironhide gets back on task and presses a button on the grenade and throws it towards the claw.

Soundwave spots the grenade and turns his fist inwards again and aims his sonic cannon at the grenade and makes a successful shot that destroys the grenade before it reached the critical part of the boarding claw.

Ironhide is blown back slightly from the blast.

Soundwave gets up and walks toward Ironhide.

A large sonic charge begins to build near Soundwave's fist as he gets closer to Ironhide.

Soundwave is about to deliver a punch to Ironhide's face when suddenly Soundwave takes a direct hit to the torso causing him to fall over backwards.

Ironhide begins to come through and sees Optimus standing above him with his gun smoking after having just been fired.

Optimus offers Ironhide his hand to help him up.

Ironhide while skeptical takes Prime's hand and at this moment the beginning of a great friendship is born.

Ironhide: Thanks.

Prime's battle mask lowers.

Optimus Prime: You are Ironhide are you not?

Ironhide: I am.

Optimus Prime: I am greatful that you have come over to our side.

Ironhide: The Decepticons really didn't give me much of a choice.

Optimus Prime: I hope that whatever damage has been done between you and the Autobot cause can yet be mended.

Ironhide: That remains to be seen.

Soundwave gets up and sees the two Autobots standing in front of him and begins to charge his ultrasonics again.

Megatron over comm: Soundwave, return to the Nemesis immediately! Launch the Energon drives and set course for the fourth designated planetary system!

Megatron sounds as if he has just been through a fight and in fact he has, had it not been for Ironhide, Optimus and Megatron would likely still be fighting.

The charges on Soundwave's sonic emitters deactivates.

Soundwave: As you command Lord, Megatron.

Soundwave flips forward back into his vehicle form and flies back to the Nemesis.

Optimus and Ironhide both witness this.

Optimus Prime: Ironhide, inform the Autobots to retreat back into the ship. If Megatron is attempting what I believe he is, the pull of lightspeed will rip both the Autobots and Decepticons off the ship resulting in the loss of countless lives.

Ironhide while unsure if he should trust the Prime's noble intentions or not does what Optimus says.

Back toward the engines...

Some of the Wreckers are being attacked by Decepticon forces.

The Bridge section has been secured so Crosshairs is now near at the engine section of the ship.

Acid Storm and Sunstorm are attacking from above.

Top Spin is trying to get a clean shot off at the Seekers but is unable too.

Top Spin: Why is it that everywhere we go these guys seem to follow?

Roadbuster: You noticed that too, hnn?

Acid Storm lands down on the ship in front of Top Spin

Acid Storm's acid cannons form on his arms.

Acid Storm: Are you ready to melt into a puddle of slag?

Top Spin: No, no I'm not.

Acid Storm: Oh. Okay.

Acid Storm just transforms and leaves.

Top Spin: Wow.

Sunstorm is the next to show up and he too lands right in front of Top Spin.

Top Spin stares up at him.

Top Spin: Hi.

Sunstorm pulls his left arm back and swats his arm towards Top Spin.

Top Spin ducks and avoids Sunstorm's swipe only to be kneed by him instead.

Top Spin falls down as Sunstorm slams his leg down on top of him pinning him down.

Top Spin fires from his a barrage of fire from his back launchers but the blast doesn't seem to do anything to Sunstorm.

Sunstorm's right flame thrower forms out of his arm and he aims it toward Top Spin who is doing his best to get free from his grip.

Sunstorm soon gets thundered by the blasts of all the Autobots in the vicinity.

Roadbuster: I've had a bad enough solar cycle already! I don't need Top Spin's deactivation to add to it!

Sunstorm begins to receive a transmission and just leaps away from the fight, transforms, and zooms back to the Nemesis.

Top Spin stands himself up, a little scratched up but other wise fine.

Top Spin: So you do care?

Roadbuster: Yeah, but only moderately.

Ironhide has just arrived to relay Optimus' orders.

Ironhide: Prime orders you inside.

Top Spin: With all due respect Decepticreep, I'll wait till I hear it from Optimus.

Top Spin still hasn't fully come to trust Ironhide, despite the actions he has taken so far, a reputation that Ironhide has doesn't just disappear like that.

Hound flying above: I would trust this bot if I were you.

Hound flying above: I saw him talking with Prime. He's telling you the truth.

Roadbuster: All right, Wreckers...fall back inside.

Top Spin just glares at Ironhide as he walks past him.

Hound while flying: Hey, Spin, would you mind bringing me down?

Top Spin turns back towards Hound and activates one of his magnets on his claw and starts pulls Hound down.

Top Spin: Aggh...you're heavy.

Hound: Blame it on the ammo!

Top Spin: I...agh..don't think all that weight is on the ammo.

Hound: What are you trying to say?

Top Spin: You're...agh...heavy!

Hound: No, you're just weak.

Top Spin: I can leave you in space!

Hound: No you won't.

Top Spin: You're right, then who would take all the shots for me?

Hound: Leadfoot would probably work.

Top Spin: Hmm...good idea.

Hound is brought safely back down to the ship.

Crosshairs: Yes, this is all very lovely, but can we get inside now?

The Autobots all rush toward an entrance hatch on top of the ship.

Leadfoot enters first with Brawn right behind him.

Crosshairs dives in next followed by Roadbuster.

Top Spin climbs down leaving only Ironhide and Hound left.

Hound: Give em time, Hide.

Hound lowers himself down the hatch with Ironhide following behind and closing the hatch behind him.

Over at the Nemesis...

Megatron flies back to the bridge in his tank jet form and transforms by flipping over forward.

Megatron: Soundwave, activate lightspeed.

Those who did not return in time will be left behind to rot in space provided they aren't destroyed by the force of the ship entering lightspeed.

Back at the Autobot Transport...

Autobot Officer: Engage lightspeed.

The Nemesis gains power and launches into light speed.

The Autobot transport follows shortly after wards.

However the Autobot ship was a few seconds short in entering lightspeed and as such there was a breach in the connection ports between the two ships.

A large space vacuum pulls at the Autobots near the breached wall and a few unfortunate Autobot soldiers are sucked out into space and crushed by the sheer force of lightspeed.

Several Decepticon soldiers are sucked out as well.

Most of the Autobots are secure but Comettor is loosing his grip and isn't able to hold on.

Optimus has just arrived and sees what is happening.

Comettor loses his grip and without a second thought Optimus jumps towards the breach and blocks the suction into the depths of space. He blocks most of the vacuum, stopping Comettor from being sucked out.

Optimus activates two hooks from his arms and slams them in the walls of the ship and holds on tight.

Ironhide witnesses something he has never seen in a Prime till this very day.

Ironhide has always known the Primes to appear to be selfless and kind and yet they were truly selfish, greedy and cruel bots, always seeking the needs of themselves having others lives risked for them but never sacrificing their own life for another.

It appears what Hound said about Optimus may yet be true after all.

Landmine is able to reach a nearby panel and whacks a switch that brings up a containment field that shields the exit into space.

Comettor is shaking traumatically terrified by what almost happened to him.

Optimus puts him down gently as his two brothers come to his side.

Commetor while still shaking: Th...th...ank....yyy...ooou,...Optimus.

Optimus nods and helps him over to his brothers who guide him away from the shield.

Hound: That...was something.

Ironhide: Indeed.

Optimus quickly gets up from the floor and heads towards the bridge to discover their destination.

 

Talk about a good save.

 

This is a bit of a long one but as there is only one more chapter left that shouldn't be a surprise. Sorry that it has been awhile but things come up and such.

But anyway, on to Chapter 25!

Chapter 25:

Autobot Transport Bridge:

Autobot officers are working at their respective stations to control the transport and keep it close with the Nemesis.

Optimus soon arrives on the bridge to discover where exactly they are heading.

Optimus Prime: What is our current destination?

Autobot Officer: It seems that our course is set towards a planet in a galaxy several lightyears from Cybertron.

Optimus Prime: What do our scans indicate about this planet?

Autobot Officer: From what we can tell, a significant portion of the planet is composed of water with multiple landmasses.

Optimus Prime: Can you detect any life signs from the planet?

The officer attempts to scan the planet for any signs of life.

The officer shakes his head and turns to Prime...

Autobot Officer: I can't get a clear reading. Our scanners may have been damaged.

Autobot Officer #2: Optimus, what do we do about the Nemesis? If we break out of lightspeed the ship may tear itself apart.

Optimus Prime: Approximately how long till we reach the planet?

The first Autobot Officer looks at his display.

Autobot Officer: Approximately ten cycles, sir.

Optimus pauses and thinks for a moment.

Optimus Prime: Have every Autobot prepare to abandon the ship in either an escape pod or prepare for planetary entry.

Autobot Officer: Understood, Optimus.

Back at the Corridor where the ships were connected...

Autobot Officer over comm: All Autobots, prepare to abandon ship. We will be launching out onto a nearby planet in which we will regroup.

Autobot Officer: We will be launching out as soon as we have cleared from light speed. Stand by for the signal.

Crosshairs: Oh great..this ought to be fun!

Hound: Well, I'm probably to heavy to survive going through planetary entry, guess I'd better get an escape pod.

Crosshairs: Yeah, you do that.

Hound: I think it might be best for all of us if I just toss you out the ship right now.

Crosshairs: You're too big to be able catch me.

Hound: Who said I wouldn't just shoot ya and then throw you out?

Brawn: Enough!

Brawn: Those of us who are able will deploy for planetary entry. I suspect a high chance of separation once we land so let's try and keep our communications systems intact.

Hound: Right, meet you on the planet.

Top Spin: Take care of yourself, Hound.

Hound nods back at him.

The remaining Wreckers in the corridor make their way to the launch area.

Hound starts booking his way towards the escape pod.

Crosshairs looks between the two routes but ends up following Hound.

The Nemesis

Megatron stands on the bridge of the Nemesis with many other of the key Decepticons on board his ship.

Megatron: The Autobots are no doubt preparing to evacuate the ship, they can not be allowed to thrive on another planet.

Megatron turns toward Starscream.
Megatron: Starscream, go out with your armada and destroy any Autobot you come across. I will deal with the ship and the Prime, personally.

Starscream: Understood, my liege.

Starscream leaves the bridge with his armada following behind him.

Megatron: Decepticons, prepare to depart from the Nemesis.

Megatron: The officers are to remain here and land the ship as needed.

Decepticon Officer: But sir, that's suicide!

His head is immediately shot off, causing sparks to burst from the blast point and his body falls to the ground.

Megatron: Any further objections?

All the officers turn back to their stations.

Megatron then walks toward Soundwave.

Megatron: Soundwave, in the event I am incapacitated during my attempt to halt the Autobot ship, you are to lead the Decepticons until I am found.

Soundwave: As you command. Lord Megatron.

Megatron: You have my full authority to terminate anyone who poses a threat.

Starscream was secretly tuning in to the conversation and narrows his eyes in anger, seeing that if he is to lead the Decepticons, Soundwave like Megatron must be elminated.

He walks away from the wall he leaned next to and proceeds to join his armada.

Megatron then makes his way off the bridge and off toward the Autobot ship.

All the Decepticons on the bridge stand around looking at one another waiting for what to do next.

Soundwave: Decepticons, commence evacuation.

All at once, the Decepticons start pushing each other out of the way to get off the ship first.

The Decepticon officers then start to slow the engines down. This adjustment in speed has caused the ships' boarding area to become fully connected again.

The Autobot ship quickly lowers its speed as well.

A planet engulfed in large portions of blue and green awaits them as the ships come out of light speed.

Autobot Ship

All the Autobots are either rushing toward the escape pods or awaiting to launch out directly from the ship.

Top Spin's torso does a complete twist that begins to form together with his legs and into his entry form.

Roadbuster smashes his arms down to the ground and parts surround him as his entry mode is formed.

Optimus is still at the bridge with several officers who are helping him control the ship as there is no way Optimus could pilot the ship on his own.

Optimus Prime: Inform the Autobots to deploy as soon as our flight pattern is clear.

Autobot Officer: Understood, Prime.

Megatron is now on board the Autobot ship and is making his way to the bridge.

Autobot Officer over comm: All Autobots, prepare for immediate departure.

Landmine is preparing to release the lever that will open a hatch that leads into space.

The first group of Autobots are on the hatch waiting to be ejected into space.

An Autobot officer pulls the control lever with as much strength as he can muster and the ship begins to pull up hard and the connection between the two ships is again broken and the vacuum of space begins to pull any loose parts off the ships.

Megatron is slightly pulled back by the force but quickly dives down and forms his tank jet form and boosts off to the bridge.

Optimus Prime: Autobots, evacuate now!

At that instant Landmine pulls down the lever and the hatch quickly falls open and three entry forms are launched out and their engines ignite as they head off to the planet.

The Aerial bots follow shortly after to provide cover fire.

Optimus is still on the bridge when he hears the sound of engines behind.

Megatron's fusion cannon quickly forms out of his tank cannon and he reaches his hand towards Optimus' throat and knocks him off his feet.

Optimus falls backwards near the front of the bridge.

Megatron uses his treads on his feet to slow himself down and quickly turns around and starts shooting the Autobot Officers one by one.

They are too slow to even react as most of them are shot in the spark and their pieces go flying.

Two officers are still alive as Optimus tackles Megatron.

Optimus Prime: Your fight is with me, Megatron.

Megatron: No, Prime...

Megatron whacks prime in the head with the side of his fusion blade and kicks him back.

Megatron: My fight is with you all.

He then shoots another officer straight through his torso blowing his entire upper body into pieces, causing it to crumble to the ground.

The surviving officer is horrified but does his best to keep the ship under control.

Optimus quickly gets up and grabs Megatron's fusion cannon and headbutts him causing Megatron to lose focus for a few seconds.

He then leaps up slightly and clocks Megatron in the face.

Megatron grunts slightly but grabs Optimus' arm and tosses him aside.

He attempts to shot the last surviving officer but Optimus leaps at him knocking Megatron down and causing him to miss.

Optimus Prime: Get out of here!

The officer immediately gets up from his station and attempts to run off the bridge.

He is almost clear but Megatron manages to shoot him through the neck and the officer falls to the ground lifeless.

Optimus is saddened by what Megatron has done.

Optimus Prime then ignites his blade and stabs it straight through Megatron and he yells in pain.

Optimus then kicks him off and slowly gets up.

Megatron wipes some Energon off his face.

Megatron: Your compassion will be the death of you, “brother”.

Optimus gets up as well.

Optimus Prime: After all this time Megatron, you still think that what you are doing is right?

Optimus Prime: We need not continue this, there has been enough suffering on both sides. Please, let us end this now.

Megatron: Your words are a waste, Prime.

Megatron: I will have this conflict last until your very extermination.

Optimus Prime: Then you will have to go through me.

Megatron: I intend to.

Megatron activates his fusion blade again and lunges toward Optimus.

Meanwhile back at the launch area:

Most of the Autobots have already left the ship but a few still remain.

Landmine: That looks like that's about everyone.

He sees Ironhide still standing near the door that leads to the hallway.

Landmine: Hey, you coming?

Ironhide: Where's Optimus?

Landmine: I think he's on the bridge assisting with the ship.

Ironhide: You go, I'll hold hear.

Landmine: To be honest, I don't totally trust you.

Ironhide: I don't blame you. But you can trust that am angered enough at the Decepticons to not fight against you.

Landmine: Hm..fair point.

Landmine turns towards his brothers who are awaiting there with him: All right, let's go.

Landmine regroups with his brothers and they all jump out of the hatch.

Landmine's parts begin to form a protective shell around him and his engines ignite leading him straight toward the planet.

Comettor zooms quickly past his two brothers as he is especially fast while he is in this form.

Ironhide stands next to the lever to the launch hatch and pulls it up closing the hatch shut and leaves the area and heads toward the bridge.

Many Autobots are rushing to escape pods and Crosshairs keeps trying to find one in which he can get into but all but one has already launched.

Hound: Hey, Cross, get in here!

Crosshairs: Oh you've go to be kidding!

Hound: It's either me or die!

Crosshairs: Are you sure there's not a third choice?

Hound: I'm not waiting around!

Crosshairs can't stand Hound but he doesn't want to leap out of the ship and into space.

Hound: Enjoy yourself!

Crosshairs: Wait!

Crosshairs heads to the pod and squeezes tight into the pod.

Crosshairs is getting partly crushed against the walls of the pod due to Hound's size and force against him.

Crosshairs partially mumbled: Just...get us of here.

Hound hits a switch and the pod releases.

The pod zooms towards the planet passing by many Autobots.

Starscream and his forces have arrived and have begun to open fire upon the escaping Autobots.

They already manged to shoot down several of them.

The Aerial bots make the Seekers their primary target and engage them so they will focus on them rather than the escaping Autobots.

Silverbolt: Aerial bots, we need to get the Seekers to focus on us. Pick a target then get their attention.

Silverbolt: I'll try and get Sunstorm and Hotlink.

Jetfire: Right. I'll focus on Thundercracker and Sunstorm.

Air Raid: Does this mean I get to have fun with Starscream? I know I can get to him easily.

Silverbolt: By all means.

Jetfire and Silverbolt break off and go after their respective targets.

Air Raid locks on to Starscream and pursues him.

Air Raid: Hey, nice to you, Starscream. Haven't seen you much lately.

Starscream: Spare me your banter, Autobot!

Air Raid: What? No hello? I'm insulted.

Starscream: You are a fool to even attempt to attack me!

Air Raid: Yeah, well so what else is new?

Air Raid fires a rocket that successfully hits Starscream.

Starscream: Gah! You dare!

Air Raid: Oh, I dare!

Starscream: So be it.

Starscream banks hard upwards and comes down firing everything he's got toward Air Raid.

Air Raid cuts his engines and falls downwards and begins to spiral causing all of Starscream's shots to miss.

Starscream growls angrily at this.

Air Raid: Learn to shoot, Scream!

Air Raid boosts his engines once again and heads away from the battle causing Starscream to pursue.

Jetfire has found Thundercracker and fires a few shots to get his attention.

Thundercracker: Sunstorm, I am I need of support.

Sunstorm: (sigh) Acknowledged.

Sunstorm turns toward Thundercracker's location and proceeds to intercept Jetfire.

He gets in range of the Autobot and is about to fire when he his hit with several shots from Silverbolt.

Silverbolt: You've got me to deal with now, Decepticon!

Sunstorm: You won't get away!

Sunstorm changes his course and boosts after Silverbolt.

Jetfire: All right, Thundercracker, how do you want do this?

Thundercracker: By finishing you.

Thundercracker turns hard and matches Jetfire head on and zooms toward him and firing his primary weapons.

Jetfire turns on his side to avoid the oncoming blasts, which pass by him without harm.

Thundercracker turns at an angle and fires his cannons at Jetfire.

Jetfire takes a few hits that burn into his armor.

Jetfire: Well, I have your attention.

Jetfire turns downwards hard forcing Thundercracker to pursue him.

Air Raid flies over Jetfire and Thundercracker with Starscream still behind him firing but still has made one successful hit.

Starscream: Gah! Why isn't this working?

Air Raid: You're just too slow, Scream...and stupid.

Starscream growls in rage and transforms to robot form and flies after Air Raid.

Air Raid: Uh oh.

Air Raid: Uhh...Silverbolt, I think I made Starscream mad.

Silverbolt: How mad?

Air Raid: Very.

Silverbolt: Well, keeping doing it.

Air Raid: I don't think you get it.

Silverbolt: No?

Starscream is suddenly barraged by three rockets in his back.

Starscream is taking too much fire and transforms back to his vehicle form and flies away from the battle towards the moon where the Decepticons have set as their primary rendezvous point.

Silverbolt: Just needed a good distraction.

Air Raid: Hopefully the others will follow along with him.

Jetfire joins the other two.

Jetfire: I took care of Acid Storm.

Air Raid: Let me guess, you just told him to leave?

Jetfire: Was it really that obvious?

Air Raid: Uhh...Yeah.

Silverbolt: Aerial bots, set course back towards the transport and provide cover fire for the remaining Autobots.

The group flies off towards the transport to protect their allies.

Back at the Bridge

Optimus and Megatron are still fighting each other and Megatron seems to be gaining the upper hand.

Megatron starts firing at Optimus who rolls and evades all of the shots.

Optimus ducks behind one of the rows of control panels and prepares to use one of his guns on Megatron when Megatron picks him up from above and tosses him toward the middle of the front of the bridge.

Optimus ignites his sword again but Megatron steps on it with his foot.

Optimus grunts in pain.

Megatron then aims his fusion cannon towards Prime's head.

Megatron: This is where you die, Optimus.

Megatron: Your rebellion is over.

Megatron lifts up his blade to strike but suddenly Megatron is hit with a pulverizing blast in his back. He looses his footing and Optimus knocks him off.

Ironhide moves closer with his weapons fixed on Megatron.

Ironhide: Is that all I am to you? A worthless junk pile who's own spark is worth nothing?

Megatron: So I see you HAVE betrayed us, Ironhide...

Ironhide: I trusted you!

Megatron: If that were true you would have seen the necessity of your sacrifice.

Ironhide: What?

Megatron: Had you been successful you the Autobots would be dead and the war would be over.

Megatron: But it would seem you have now been blinded by their deception.

Ironhide: You are the one who is deceived.

Ironhide's cannons begin to glow in the core and prepare to terminate Megatron.

A large surge of energy begins to power in Megatron's fusion cannon.

Optimus sees and this and knocks Ironhide out of the way.

Ironhide misses his shot and hits the view port of the ship causing it to breach and pull the three out towards space.

Optimus and Ironhide are pulled toward the side of the ship where the pull is not as strong.

Megatron is pulled out from the ship but grabs onto a piece of railing in front of the view ports.

Megatron stares Ironhide in the optics.

Megatron: I promise you, you will pay.

A flying piece of debris hits Megatron causing him to release the railing he was holding as he is then immediately pulled out by the current.

Optimus feels for the switch to activate the shield, he finds it, presses it and the bridge soon stabilizes.

Ironhide: No!

Ironhide: Quick, Optimus, we must fire upon him!

Optimus Prime: Terminating Megatron will not bring you peace, Ironhide.

Ironhide: How would you know?

Optimus pauses for a moment as what he is about to say carries a great amount of pain and regret.

Optimus Prime: I have fought in countless battles and have terminated many Decepticons...

Optimus Prime: I saw the Decepticons as nothing more than instruments of destruction that had to be completely destroyed.

Optimus Prime: The sparks they had taken, the peace they disrupted, I wanted them to pay for what they had done.

Optimus Prime: I...took pleasure in their destruction and...enjoyed seeing the spark fade from their optics.
Optimus Prime: My rage toward the Decepticons was almost stronger than my desire to protect my fellow Autobots...

Optimus Prime: And yet...I have come to see how mistaken I was.

Optimus Prime: I no longer take any satisfaction in the deactivation of any Decepticon. Not even Megatron.

This surprises Ironhide as he would expect the leader of the Autobots above everyone would desire Megatron dead. But he cannot help but wonder, what happened to change him in such a way?

Ironhide: And what brought about this drastic change?

Optimus smiles.

Optimus Prime: A story for another time, my friend.

Optimus Prime: For now we must see to it that this ship and the Nemesis do not cause drastic damage to the planet.

Optimus stands up a presses a switch.

Optimus Prime: Silverbolt.

Silverbolt over comm: I read you, Optimus. What can we do?

Optimus Prime: Fire upon the Nemesis' bridge view screens.

Silverbolt: Understood, Optimus. Engaging now.

Inside the Nemesis:

The Decepticon officers are doing their best to maintain control of the ship, unfortunately, there isn't much they can do at this point.

Decepticon Officer #1: Get this ship stabilized!

Decepticon Officer #2: We can't! The engines are out and primary motor controls are not responding!

Decepticon Officer #1: Can you at least slow us down?!

Decepticon Officer #2: I'll try!

Decepticon Officer #3: Autobots in bound!
The lead officer turns to see the three Aerial Bots heading right for the bridge.

Decepticon Officer #1: Please, like they're a threat.


The Aerial bots let the Nemesis have everything they've got.

The constant pound of firepower against the views creens causes them to explode and the Decepticon officers inside the ship start flying out into space. One even smashes through an entire different section of the view screen as he is pulled out.

Only one officer manages to form into his entry mode successfully. The rest have either been destroyed on impact or were to panicked to form their entry form in time and were burned up.

Optimus sees that the Nemesis has now started to fall into a deeper descent.

Optimus Prime: Great work Aerial bots! Get clear of the ship, I'll try to land the transport as best as I can.

Silverbolt over comm: Understood Optimus, good luck.

The Aerial bots continue their course down and begin to enter the atmosphere of the planet.

Silverbolt over comm: Aggh! My engines....all my systems...I can't....

The comm line goes out.

Optimus Prime: Silverbolt. Silverbolt, come in!

He hears nothing but static.

Optimus fears to assume the worse but he can't stop the ship from entering the atmosphere now so the only option is to try and limit the impact himself.

Optimus Prime: Ironhide you still have a chance to evacuate before the ship crashes. At this point the Nemesis should be clear of any major land masses but I fear that our ship will not be so fortunate.

Ironhide: I'm staying with you, Optimus...Prime.

Optimus smiles as Ironhide takes a seat aside from him and begins to aid Optimus on preparing the ship for impact.

The ship enters the atmosphere. The heat engulfs the ship and explosions occur throughout the interior of the ship.

Ironhide: The engines are overheating.

Optimus quickly deactivates the engines.

The ship then begins going through thick dark clouds and a extremely large body of water near a heavily wooded land mass begins to come into view.

Optimus Prime: We will have to level the ship with the land mass.

The Nemesis crashes into the water resulting in a massive splash of water that sends water flying high into the air.

Ironhide: We need to pull up!

Optimus Prime: Together then!

The two pull both of their controlling levers up and the ship begins to level with the land mass but it isn't enough to safely land on top of it. The ship dragging into the ground below, pummeling its way through trees, rocks, hills, anything that is in it path.

Ironhide and Optimus are frequently shaken by the constant impacts.

A large mountain soon comes into view Optimus and Ironhide can do nothing to stop it.

Impact is imminent.

The ship smashes through the exterior of the moment and the ship continues to pummel it's way inside the mountain taking down rocks, dirt, everything.

The ship begins to slow more and more.

The primary light systems on board the ship have gone out, only faint red emergency lights provide the only illumination.

A thick stone wall is witnessed dead ahead of the ship!

The ship collides straight into the wall and comes to a complete halt.

Rocks begin to settle as the mountain becomes completely silent.

Outside the mountain, rocks have covered the entrance into the mountain the ship made leaving the entrance invisible.

The area is completely quiet.

 

And so the origin draws to a close.

 

This is it, the last chapter. I hope everyone who has been reading has enjoyed the story thus far and I hope you'll stick around for future stories. So without further delay, Chapter 26...

Chapter 26

The Moon Above Earth

A group of Decepticons have landed on the moon to regroup.

Soundwave is there taking count of who is present.

Based on Soundwave's count, everyone, aside from a great number of soldiers, everyone is accounted for.

Except for one.

Starscream also takes notices of this and is quick to point it out.

Starscream: It would seem that Lord Megatron is not present.

Soundwave: Soundwave to Lord Megatron.

Soundwave waits for a few moments but gets no response.

Soundwave: I am unable to detect Lord Megatron's signal.

Starscream: Perhaps our “poor master” was caught in the Autobot ship and was destroyed along with it.

Soundwave: There is no confirmation that the Autobot ship was destroyed.

Starscream: Nonetheless I, I fear he may no longer be functional.

Soundwave despite seeming to display no emotion what so ever, is slightly afraid that what Starscream say may indeed be true. Soundwave's life without Megatron is one that he never imagined he would have to experience. However it is irrational to assume that Megatron has been terminated at this time.

Soundwave: I must determine a course of action to take.

Soundwave walks off away from Starscream to develop a plan to deal with their current scenario.

Starscream smiles wickedly as Soundwave leaves.

Starscream: One down...one to go...

Unknown Planet-Beach

Do on the planet where both ships crashed, there is beach that has been disturbed by several craters caused by a crash landing.

On the beach near the shore, there is a smoking crater that has pounded deep into the sand, smoke rises from the crater.

High pitched mechanical sounds echo from the crater.

Air Raid slowly gets up from the crater.

He is still slightly dazed from the crash.

He moves slowly out of the crater but loses his balance and falls down against the ground.

He stands himself up and after a few minutes he begins to stabilize.

Air Raid quickly takes notice of his new surroundings.

Air Raid: Whoa...where are we?

Air Raid sees a massive body of water dead ahead of him that seems to go on as far as his optics can see.

To his right he only see more of the beach that doesn't seem to lead anywhere.

To his left he sees the edge of the beach against the body of water.

Air Raid quickly remembers his team mates.

Air Raid: Silverbolt? Jetfire? You guys still alive?

He looks up and down the shore from his position of the beach but he signs of any other craters.

Suddenly Air Raid begins to hear a lower tone mechanical sound coming from behind him.

He turns around and sees Silverbolt walking up a small elevation of sand.

Silverbolt is not fully recovered and as such loses his balance on the hill and falls down.

Air Raid rushes to his side.

Air Raid: You all right, Silverbolt?

Air Raid lifts his leader's arm to rest on his shoulder as he helps walk him away from the hill.

Silverbolt: I am still a little dazed.

Air Raid: Here. Let's set you do so you can recuperate.

He puts Silverbolt down on the sand to rest.

Silverbolt: Any...any sign of Jetfire?

Air Raid: Not yet. But we both just kind started coming back online so he'll probably be along shortly. Provided he wasn't destroyed or something.

Voice: Don't worry, I wasn't.

The two turn around and see Jetfire walking up the same small dune that Silverbolt came from.

Jetfire is clutching his torso and walking slowly towards the others.

Air Raid rushes to him and helps him stay up just before he starts to fall over.

Air Raid: Easy there...

Air Raid carefully guides Jetfire to Silverbolt and sets him down beside him.

Silverbolt: You all right, Jetfire?

Jetfire: Just got gazed a bit on entry, I think. Nothing that won't heal.

Air Raid: Speaking of which, what happened? I've never experienced anything like that during entry before.

Silverbolt: I'm not sure. Try and see if there are any other Autobots in range.

Air Raid: On it.

Air Raid: This is Air Raid, is anyone else out there?

The comm is just static.

Air Raid: Hello?

Air Raid: Brawn? Leadfoot? Optimus?

The comm is still static.

Air Raid: Nothing.

Silverbolt: They might still be in stasis as well.

Air Raid: I'll take to the skies and see what I can find.

Air Raid is about to form his vehicle mode when...nothing happens.

Air Raid tries again.

Air Raid then tries three more times.

Air Raid: Uhh...Silverbolt...I can't transform.

Silverbolt: What?

Jetfire and Silverbolt both try but nothing happens.

Air Raid: What's going on here? I don't like it.

Silverbolt: See if you can launch a missile or something into the air.

Air Raid aims his arm toward the sky but nothing happens.

Air Raid: Aww you're kidding. Our weapons don't work, too?

Jetfire: There must have been something in the atmosphere that affected our systems.

Air Raid: How do we fix em?

Silverbolt: I don't know. Our first objective at this point should be to find other Autobots.

Air Raid: You do remember that some cons launched here as well, right?

Silverbolt: I haven't forgotten.

Silverbolt looks around and notices an extremely large sand dune past a large patch of trees in the direction towards where he crashed.

Silverbolt: Our best bet is going to be to survey the area from that area there.

Air Raid: Ugh..that's a long way.

Silverbolt: It's our only option.

Air Raid: Yeah...I guess.

The three begin making the long journey towards the large sand dune in the distance in hopes of finding someone or something that can guide them toward answers and their allies.

The Bottom of the Ocean

Deep at the bottom of the ocean the Nemesis is crashed tight into a deep sea cavern.

Despite all the ship has endured, it still is in decent condition. But its power systems are flooded and getting it out what be almost impossible.

On another section of the ocean close to the cavern but much higher up, flat on the ocean floor lies Megatron who must have crashed here when he entered the planet. The water seems to be keeping him in in stasis.

He lies there motionless.

His optics blink slightly but do not get enough power to fully activate.

TO BE CONTINUED