No Need to (Star)Scream
Chapter 1
The island of Okinawa, Japan was used to the constant thundering roars of aircraft. They had to be, since for many years, the island had been the home of stationed United States military bases- which included air bases. Throughout the day, and the night, the locals around Okinawa island would hear jet engines tearing through the night sky like a sword made of lightning cutting through the stars, as one old man had once said.
So, on one fateful day, when a trio of jets made their first appearance along the shore of Okinawa island, the natives didn't bat an eyelid, for they figured it was just another group of F-15 jets that belonged to the United States Air Force. The jets tore through the sky, with their thrusters burning precious fuel, much of which had been burned up on their journey, which had been a particularly long trip; a trip that would have mystified and disturbed the people of Okinawa, had they known where the three planes came from. The jets were too high in the sky for the locals to see clearly as they sped past the small towns and villages of the island, but upon closer inspection, the locals would have noticed that the three jets were coloured in traditional military colours. In fact, their colours were very flamboyant, especially for military aircraft. A red and white F-15 jet led a mainly blue jet with red livery trimming, which was flying next to a black jet that had purple livery scattered among its black canvas, all of which bore no resemblance to any aircraft that were currently in service by any country that had an air force.
However, these jets were no ordinary jets, for these three planes had no pilots. Completely empty of any pilots or co-pilots in the cockpits of the three jets, they still carried on along their intended destination despite that fact, with their controls and dials working as if human hands manipulated them. These three jets were far from mere aircraft, but they were instead three members of the alien race known as Decepticons; a group of evil robots from the planet Cybertron, who had made Earth their temporary home out of sheer necessity rather than by choice. The three Decepticons, known as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker, had traveled a great distance from the American state of Oregon, crossing the Pacific Ocean to finally arrive in Japanese airspace were now on their last leg of their journey.
"Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" The black jet, Skywarp asked via his radio. "Are we there yet?"
"Skywarp, will you shut up?" The red and white jet known as Starscream shrieked. "I tire of your inane whining!"
"Heh, just asking." Skywarp called back to the lead plane.
"Why don't you check your radar? Or are you too stupid for that?" Starscream spat venomously.
"Both of you cease your childish bickering!" A low voice that sounded like it was made from gravel then announced on the Decepticon airwaves. "You are Decepticons, not prattling Earth children!"
The command had come from the third jet, the blue Thundercracker. However, it was not Thundercracker who had made the remark that did actually cause the other two jets to stop their argument. The voice belonged to a passenger inside the cockpit of the blue jet that, upon inspection by a human, would've been a disturbing sight to behold. Sitting in the large pilot's chair in Thundercracker's cockpit was a large silver gun, but much like the jets, was no mere Earthen construct, but instead the Decepticon leader- the tyrannical Megatron.
"Forgive me, Megatron." Starscream announced sarcastically. "I had forgotten you were there. After all, a leader usually leads his troops on a mission, as opposed to taking the easy way of simply riding along to battle."
"Due to our low energy reserves, I am being economical." Megatron explained. "A true leader is wise enough to know when to pick his times for any given scenario. With fuel so low, I have chosen this time to save my fuel reserves."
"Then why must we rocket half way around the world while you sit comfortably?" Starscream asked.
"The reason is simple, Starscream," began Megatron. "You are dispensable."
The robots chatter was suddenly brought to a conclusion when the three jets' radios began to crackle, then a few moments later, the voice of an American male ran through the speakers of their radios in a communication to the three jets.
"This is Kadena Air Force base to unidentified aircraft. You are in restricted airspace, I repeat, you are in restricted airspace. Please give us your I.D. and flight mission, then leave the area. Over."
"Seems like we're scaring the locals." Thundercracker announced to his comrades in a low voice.
"Heh, it'll soon be time for the fun to begin, Thundercracker." Skywarp chuckled excitedly.
The radio message from Kadena Air Force base was repeated by the man again, almost as if he was reading a script, but once again, the Decepticons ignored the attempted communicaton as per Megatron's orders. Thanks to their advanced radio technology, the Decepticons listened on further to a radio message made on the air force base, with orders for a pair of aircraft to launch and make visual contact with the three mysterious jets. But as the order was going out, and the troops on the ground were preparing to mobilize, the Decepticons made visual contact with the airbase themselves, as after the final few meters of blurred green of the trees they were passing, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp finally saw the large expanse of concrete and buildings that made up the Kadena Air Force base.
"We've arrived." Starscream announced to the other three Decepticons.
"Right," Megatron replied. "Then you know what to do. Decepticons, attack!"
On Megatron's command, the three jets immediately tilted forwards, with the fronts of their nose cones pointing down towards the air force base as they quickly dropped towards the air force base with a screech of their jet engines. On the ground, members of the American air force had gathered around on the tarmac, armed with machine guns and other artillery, in case of an attack by the incoming UFOs. But, what was approaching them was beyond even their wildest dreams, for the three jets continued to dive towards the ground before a hail of cluster bombs and laser fire began to rain down towards them. The Decepticons' electronic ears were filled with the cries of panic, following the ear splitting crunch of explosions from their artillery as they watched the armed personnel who had been waiting for them had instead turned and began to run for cover from the safety of the Decepticons' initial assault. Realizing that they had sent their prey into a panic, the Decepticons now pressed on their advantage as they accelerated even further towards the ground, where with only mere feet before it looked as if they would crash towards the ground, Starscream and Skywarp transformed into the towering deadly robots that they were. Skidding across the tarmac before they finally stopped, the pair stood, towering over everything in the center of the air base before the piercing drone of an alarm rang out. The pair looked on to see that more air force personnel had rushed from the many buildings that comprised the air base, who to the pair of Decepticons resembled small ants scurrying out of their nest. Holding more artillery, the armed men aimed their weapons at the two Decepticons before they began to fire upon the pair, who merely laughed as the earthen bullets simply bounced off their chassis, doing nothing more than chipping at the finish of their paintwork.
"You little worms want to see firepower?" Skywarp asked wickedly. "I'll show you firepower!"
Skywarp raised both of his arms towards a group of men that stood before him. Mounted on Skywarp's arms were two large menacingly looking guns, the length of which went from just above his wrists, all the way up to his shoulders. With his arms raised towards the guards, Skywarp had ultimately aimed his weapons towards the men, who fearfully looked on before Skywarp let out a cackle, which was followed by a frightening shower of purple balls of energy that now began to fire from his arm mounted machine guns. The artillery from Skywarp's weapons sent the military personnel retreating, but not before many of them were mowed down in multiple sprays of blood. Standing beside Skywarp quietly smirking at the panic that Skywarp had sent the humans into, Starscream finally acted as he raised his left arm which housed his own arm mounted laser cannon, which he fired at a small group of men who ran past him in a bid to retreat from Skywarp. With a flash of purple energy, a laser bolt thundered from Starscream's own cannon, catching the four men dead on, who screamed with their final breaths as they were turned to nothing more but ash as they were coldly vapourised. The pair continued to watch the many droves of military men and women race around in a panic as they attempted to rally back against the invaders, who simply stood in the spots they had arrived on, not feeling the need to move, or do much, aside from pick off the ranks of the air force base one wave at a time. However, the pounding footsteps of their leader, Megatron soon changed that.
"Have you both forgotten why we have come here?" Megatron growled as he approached them, with Thundercracker close behind him. "We are here for Kendena's aviation fuel and the special reinforced metal alloy they were given to test by the Japanese scientists. Starscream, cease this nonsense and get to work! You can start by shutting off that annoying alarm!"
"Hmph, as you command, leader." Starscream said with spite. "Watch, I shall do your job for you- again."
This time raising his right arm into the air, Starscream raised his other laser weapon towards the control tower of the air base. Letting off the trigger, the Decepticons watched as Starscream fired a bolt of purple energy from his arm mounted laser weapon, where it plunged into the control tower, but rather than exploding, the Decepticons saw that all the lights inside the tower simply went off, as if turned off by the flick of a switch. At the same time that this happened, the alarms and flashing lights that were going off around the air base had been shut off as they, much like the control tower, had become the victim of Starscream's deadly null-ray; a weapon that disrupted the flow of electricity, effectively rendering it useless.
"You should be cautious of your words, Starscream." Megatron announced. "That sword of a tongue may someday seal your fate. Now, get to work!"
Without another word, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp rushed away from Megatron to begin their search of the air base for the items that Megatron desired, while the Decepticon leader stood in the center of the air base, watching them. Suddenly, he felt a pelting on his back, as if a rain storm began to unleash itself on his large back; he turned around before he let out a grin to see another group of guards standing before him, still firing their machine guns on him. Looking past the men, Megatron noticed a heavy tank now rumbling towards them, with the motors that urged its treads forwards emitting an ominous chugging noise. While this would have intimidated most invaders, the mighty Megatron stood poised before his opposition, with his fists resting on his black hip plates.
Without another word, Megatron looked towards the group of men before he lashed out at them as his right leg swung forwards, allowing his giant foot to swing at them, sending them to the ground in fear without actually needing to kick them as they fell from the fright of the giant robot's act. He looked towards the tank, which had now slowly brought itself to a halt, then with the droning whir of hydraulics, the tank's cannon positioned itself for Megatron's chest. A thunderous boom followed next, filling the air with an echo as a flash emitted from the tank's cannon, followed by a large shell that flew through the air, colliding with Megatron's chest, which to its credit caused Megatron to stumble back, following a loud clang as the shell collided with the reinforced armour of Megatron's chest plate, forcing the silver giant to let out a snarl of annoyance at his foes. But now, it was Megatron's turn to attack again, a fact that was obvious when Megatron raised the arm that always carried his large, powerful fusion cannon. The men who were still lying on the ground from Megatron's kick now looked up from the ground in alarm as they heard a sound that resembled the noise of charging energy, which also caused one of the men from inside of the tank to pop up from out a hatch above the tank's cannon. They all looked on fearfully to see that purple energy began to build inside the black cannon, illuminating the interior of it with a purple glow; then, just as the men began to jump to their feet in an attempt to retreat, Megatron unleashed his fury in the form of a powerful blast of fusion energy which erupted from his cannon. The blast hit the ground where his opponent's were, tearing the concrete from the ground. The armed who began to scurry away like disturbed vermin were tossed up into the air by the powerful blast, as their skin as invaded by the burning warmth of the fusion energy, which had encased all of them in a purple glow. Seconds later, the purple fusion energy faded away, and Megatron cackled evilly as charred remains of the tank and the men inside rained down towards the broken ground before him- the men who were running from Megatron had suffered perhaps a more painful fate as the heat, long with the fusion energy of Megatron's attack caused them to burn until they were vaporized.
Now, for the first time since his arrival, Megatron noticed that all among the airbase was silent. Starscream's null ray had silenced the alarms, as well as all radio contact around the base. There were also no humans running around the Decepticons any longer, nor was there the sound of any machine gun fire, or rumbling of tanks or other armed forces. Within a matter of minutes, Megatron thought, the airbase had been brought to its knees, without more than a few rounds of fire expended from his and his warrior's weapons. He felt satisfied with the results, and with that feeling now etched in his computer brain, Megatron turned back around, leaving the smoldering remains of his destruction to instead find his jet warriors, whom he expected to be hard at work gathering up the materials he required. Following a short walk, Megatron found the trio in a large aircraft hanger, with Skywarp transformed into his jet form, with a cargo compartment open while Starscream and Thundercracker loaded large metal girders into the cargo hold.
"Ah, you've found the alloy." Megatron announced with a clenched fist. "Well done. With this new reinforced steel, perhaps we will be able to build a new space craft so that we can leave this miserable planet. Once you're done loading the steel, purge this base of its energy sources, then we shall take our leave."
Starscream looked over his shoulder to Megatron, ready to make a retort to his leader's orders, but as he opened his mouth to speak, he paused for a moment. Megatron had noticed this, and his eyes narrowed, before something else had caught his attention- the sound of an approaching jet. The Decepticon leader turned around before he took a step out into the open air, where he let out a cry of desperation to see a large, alien jet fast approaching. Hearing Megatron's cry, Starscream and Thundercracker left Skywarp in the air, before they rushed out to join their leader as they saw the jet swoop just above the ground, where it dropped their enemy, the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime feet first to the ground. Alongside him was the mostly white Autobot scientist, Wheeljack. Finally, the jet itself transformed into a heavily armoured Autobot, who landed gracefully behind Optimus Prime and Wheeljack. Known as Jetfire, the Autobot Air Guardian towered above the other Transformers before him as each side now stood before once another in a stand off.
"Autobots!" Megatron roared.
"Your shopping trip's been canceled, Megatron." Optimus Prime boldly announced. "It's time to put what you're stealing back on the shelf."
"And who will make me, Prime?" Megatron replied. "You? I think not! Decepticons, attack!"
With those words, a new battle began as Megatron leaped into the air, where his body twisted and contorted as Megatron turned himself into his laser cannon form- only triple the size he was when he lay inside Thundercracker's cockpit. Landed in Starscream's hands, Starscream aimed the large silver laser cannon at the Autobot trio before squeezing the trigger, where a powerful bolt of fusion energy flew from Megatron, towards their enemies. Immediately, the Autobots scattered in three different directions- Wheeljack to the right, while Jetfire leaped up into the air to avoid the blast. Optimus Prime meanwhile leaped to his left, before then rushing towards Starscream who looked at the charging Autobot in shock. Seeing Optimus Prime fast approaching, Megatron once again rose to the occasion as he leaped out of Starscream's hands and transformed back to his robot mode, standing before Optimus Prime who stopped in mid stride to face his nemesis face to face.
"I'm flattered, Prime." Megatron began. "I come as far as Japan, and you still insist on following me."
"I've followed you from one side of the galaxy and back to ensure you can be stopped, Megatron." Optimus Prime spat in response.
"Then you'll follow me to your grave, Prime. Defend yourself!"
With that, Megatron lashed out at his most hated enemy with a closed fist aimed for Optimus Prime's chest. Seeing Megatron's attempt, Optimus Prime defended himself with rapid reflexes and a strong grip as he caught Megatron's black fist, just before it made contact with his chest. Gripping Megatron's fist tightly, Optimus Prime began to squeeze it as he then exerted the strength in his arm, pushing Megatron's fist back, forcing Megatron to stumble back as Optimus Prime released his hold of the Decepticon leader. Megatron shook his head, clearing his mind to focus. He looked towards Optimus Prime who was lurched slightly forwards with open hands, as he was ready for whatever Megatron may dish out next. Megatron let a small grin tug at the right side of his lips before he raised his left hand into the air, where it retracted into his arm before a large, electric mace slid out from his arm, where it crackled threateningly with purple energy. He began to swing it above his head, then Megatron rushed for Optimus Prime, who this time was too slow for Megatron as the Decepticon leader lashed out with his mace, allowing the spiked energy ball that was attached to an electric chain to collide with Optimus Prime's face with such force that metal chips flew off his face as he was sent crashing to a knee on the ground while Megatron now laughed triumphantly.
Optimus Prime looked from Megatron, who seemed more interested in gloating for the moment, to view the rest of the battle. Starscream and Wheeljack were some distance away, wrestling to overpower each other, while Thundercracker could be heard high in the sky, along with Jetfire as the two were engaged in a high altitude struggle of their own. That left he and Megatron to battle it out one on one.
"What's wrong, Prime?" Megatron chuckled. "Giving up already? You're getting too old for this."
"I'll show you who's outdated, Megatron." Optimus Prime replied sharply.
Quickly, Optimus Prime sprang up from his knees, landing back onto his feet, where he grabbed his large black laser cannon that had up until this point been strapped onto his back by a magnet. Before Megatron could react, Optimus Prime aimed his laser cannon at Megatron where he allowed a blast of his own to collide with Megatron's waist, forcing Megatron to let out a wince of pain as he doubled over slightly. Now with an advantage of his own, Optimus wasted no time, for he charged at Megatron, slamming the side of his laser cannon into the side of Megatron's head, before striking at Megatron's face with a well placed knee, which forced Megatron to stumble back in a painful daze.
"Nrg, hypocrite." Megatron growled. "You talk of justice, but fight as dirty as a Decepticon."
Now with his mace put away, Megatron attempted a punch of his own for Optimus Prime, but once again, the Autobot leader was too quick for his opponent as he instead avoided the punch, only to fire another round from his laser cannon that forced Megatron to crash down onto the ground back first.
"You know what they say," Optimus Prime replied. "Never bring a mace to a gun fight, Megatron. You're done, Megatron. Surrender."
Slowly, Megatron propped himself up onto his elbow joints. He glared towards Optimus Prime, as well as the laser cannon that was pointed straight for his face, with every intention to be fired at a moments notice. But just then, his eyes focused on something else on Optimus Prime's left, before his gaze turned back towards Optimus Prime who continued to stand over the Decepticon leader to ensure he didn't attempt to resist.
"Perhaps you're right, Prime..." Megatron slowly began. "Perhaps it is time for me to throw in the towel after all these years. But then, you know what they say, don't you?"
Optimus Prime looked towards Megatron, narrowing his eyes at his enemy half in disdain, but also half in confusion. What exactly was Megatron getting at with such a remark. Unfortunately for Optimus Prime though, it took only a second longer to find out, for the sound of rapid machine gun fire echoed throughout the compound before Optimus Prime felt a hail of blistering hot rounds slam violently into his back. Crying out from the pain, Optimus Prime immediately fell to the ground, losing the grip on his laser cannon which now rolled towards Megatron. Groaning, Optimus Prime looked around to see Skywarp behind him, both barrels of his machine guns emitting steady streams of smoke from freshly fired rounds, before a shadow then appeared over Optimus Prime's frame. Looking up, Optimus Prime saw that Megatron once again stood over him, now aiming Optimus Prime's own laser cannon towards him.
"They say you should always have eyes in the back of your head, Prime." Megatron then announced. "Hm, but sadly for you, you'll never even open your eyes again after I'm done with you."
Optimus Prime attempted to lift himself to his feet, but even rising to his knees proved to be too much of a struggle, due to the damage Skywarp's artillery had taken on him. Instead, Optimus Prime dropped back down to the ground in a painful heap, too weak to now even move more than his head. The scene was noticed by Wheeljack, who let out a cry towards his leader in fear for his life. Slamming Starscream to the ground, Wheeljack attempted to rush to Optimus Prime's aid, but Starscream leaped from his hands and knees for Wheeljack, where he tackled the Autobot's mad scientist to the ground. With a violent crack, Starscream headbutted the back of Wheeljack's head, who then lay dazed on the ground, before Starscream then rushed over towards the group around Optimus Prime.
"No, wait!" Starscream called. "It should be I who has the pleasure of destroying Optimus Prime!"
"You?" Megatron spat with disdain. "Never."
"I find it interesting the only time you ever do anything is when he lies before your feet, ready to die, Megatron!" Starscream cried angrily. "You should let a real warrior have the honour of finishing him!"
"A real warrior?" Megatron roared, now taking his attention from Optimus Prime. "Perhaps I should personally school you in the warrior's arts- painfully."
Megatron and Starscream glared towards each other angrily as Skywarp looked on, somewhat dumbfounded to see another power struggle between his leader and his air commander. The pair continued to argue, causing Skywarp to turn his attention down towards Optimus Prime, who was still trying to muster the strength to rise back to his knees. Seeing this, Skywarp emitted a small grin as he aimed his machine guns towards Optimus Prime's head- an action that didn't go unseen to the two arguing Decepticons.
"Don't!" Megatron and Starscream snapped together. "That pleasure is reserved for me!"
Upon hearing each other state the same bold claim, Starscream and Megatron glared at each other once again. The pair seemed ready to actually between themselves as Skywarp noticed both Decepticons preparing to charge their weapons. But, before either of the two Decepticons could even hope to fire at the other, the scream of jets caught their attention. Together, the pair, along with Skywarp looked up to the sky in alarm to see Jetfire, in his jet mode once again, diving towards the trio. Immediately, the large jet unleashed a barrage of laser fire at the group, forcing Skywarp to teleport out of the way of the danger; but Megatron and Starscream were not as lucky. Caught by a well placed shot from Jetfire, Starscream felt his arm jerk in response as his null ray shot off a blast of paralyzing energy- catching Megatron dead on in the chest.
"Starscreeeam!" Was the last furious word to leave Megatron's vocal processor, before the large Decepticon felt to the ground, now paralyzed from the effects of Starscream's null ray.
Starscream looked to Megatron, seeing that the Decepticon leader now lay immobile on the ground. A closer look at Megatron's eyes showed that the red energy that usually burned brightly in them was now weakly flickering, due to the effects of Starscream's null ray before, with a groan, Megatron fully collapsed. Starscream grinned with triumph.
"Megatron has fallen!" The Decepticon jet shrieked excitedly. "Decepticons, hear me- I am your leader now!"
"You wanna tell us what to do then, Starscream?" A flustered Skywarp asked as he teleported beside Starscream. "Look!"
Starscream followed Skywarp's finger out a short distance away, where his eyes widened in surprise. During his own moment of glory, Starscream had failed to notice that Thundercracker had been shot down out of the sky by Jetfire, and was now painfully dragging himself from the ground. Worse still, Wheeljack had recovered, and along with Jetfire, who now stood on the ground, the pair began to regroup as they now charged for Starscream, Skywarp and the fallen Megatron. Immediately, the pair began to fire their weapons at the Decepticons.
"What do we do?" Skywarp cried.
"Silence!" Starscream cried. "Do not fear. We still have Prime beaten!"
Starscream raised his null ray towards the approaching Autobots, ready to fire on them. But before he could, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Don't, Skywarp!" Starscream snapped. "I've got a clean shot."
"Don't what?" Skywarp asked. "I-...Erm..."
"What?" Starscream snapped again. "What is your problem?"
Starscream looked to his left, expecting to see Skywarp still standing beside him, but as he looked, he saw the flickering image of the Decepticon jet, who seemed to teleport away. Starscream stood confused, before a movement behind him caught his attention, forcing Starscream to look over. He then let out a cry of fear as Optimus Prime's fist collided with his face with such force that Starscream immediately fell to the ground.
"If you're the new Decepticon leader," Optimus Prime began as he lowered down to grip Starscream by the throat. "Then I shall hold you accountable for the Decepticons' crimes against the galaxy."
Starscream looked into Optimus Prime's angered eyes with fear in his own while he felt Optimus Prime's vice like grip on his throat intensify before he was lifted off the ground. Now hanging limp in Optimus Prime's hand, Starscream desperately thought of a way out of his predicament.
"Don't...please..." Starscream whimpered. "I-I don't want to die!"
"He don't have to die." Wheeljack piped now, as both he and Jetfire surrounded Starscream. "I could always make a bomb casing out of him, or something."
"Never!" Starscream screeched.
Starscream couldn't take the pressure anymore. Completely surrounded, and at the mercy of the Autobots, Starscream quickly raised his arm mounted laser cannon, then he shot a blast from it so close to Optimus Prime's face, that the bright purple laser caused Optimus Prime to cry out in alarm as his electric eyes shut down momentarily from the glare of the bright energy. In a jerk reaction, Optimus Prime released his grip on Starscream, who dropped to his feet. Quickly, Starscream turned and fired the null ray on Jetfire, who fell limply to the ground, paralyzed, before Starscream finally turned his attention to Wheeljack, whom he shoved to the ground, then trampled over him as he began to run away.
"Decepticons, retreat!" Starscream cried in a panic, before he took off into the sky, transforming as he did.
The order didn't go unheard by Thundercracker, who had finally pulled himself back together and painfully rose to his feet. Looking on, Thundercracker frowned with confusion, for he saw the Autobots were momentarily leveled, but Starscream called for a retreat. He then noticed Skywarp teleport beside Megatron, who he lifted up into his arms as he prepared to leave.
"What's going on?" Thundercracker called to Skywarp. "Why'd Starscream call a retreat?"
"He couldn't take the heat, I guess." Skywarp replied.
Thundercracker scratched his chin in thought for a moment. Things had seemed to be going in their direction, but no the tables had turned completely and it seemed the Autobots had the advantage, despite looking to be on the ropes. But, with Megatron out of action, their fuel all but depleted, and the fact Thundercracker himself was battered from his dog fight with Jetfire, there didn't seem to be any other reasonable direction. They had to leave.
"Huh. Some leader he turned out to be!" Thundercracker called to Skywarp before he transformed.
Quickly, Thundercracker rolled along the battlefield, before he took off into the sky, making a retreat. Skywarp, with Megatron still in his arms, teleported from the battlefield, just as Optimus Prime and Wheeljack began to rise to their feet, where Wheeljack noticed Starscream flying making a quick swoop of the airbase as he prepared to leave.
"The creeps are retreating!" Wheeljack announced.
"Then let them go." Optimus Prime replied. "I don't think they have what they wanted. Besides, Jetfire needs assistance."
"Then just let me give Starscream a going away present." Wheeljack said in response.
Optimus Prime watched on to see Wheeljack aim his shoulder mounted cannon up into the air towards Starscream. Pressing a button on the cannon, Wheeljack fired the cannon, which launched a small circular disc high up into the sky, stopping only when it attached itself to the under carriage of Starscream's jet form, who hadn't seemed to have noticed. Together, both Optimus Prime and Wheeljack looked on as Starscream rocketed away from the airbase, before the Autobot scientist then turned to his leader.
"That little baby is something I cooked up." Wheeljack explained. "Don't look like much, but in about twenty Earth minutes, that thing will pump out enough umph to shoot Starscream straight out of the sky!"
"Well, a calling card is always nice, I suppose." Optimus Prime replied. "Now, let's tend to Jetfire."
A short time later, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp flew together once again. Starscream and Thundercracker flew slowly in their jet forms, while Skywarp quietly flew behind them, carrying the still damaged Megatron in his arms. The trio flew quietly, with the sound of their jet thrusters being the only sound from them, until that is, Thundercracker decided to speak up.
"Well, some leader you turned out to be." Thundercracker quipped sarcastically. "You shouldn't have, and seriously- you really shouldn't have."
"Shut up!" Starscream hissed painfully.
"Hahaha! Good one, Thundercracker." Skywarp chuckled. He continued to chuckle with amusement at the blue jet's remark until Megatron finally gathered enough strength to raise his head and speak for the first time since he was shot down.
"Listen to me closely, Starscream..." Megatron began.
"Megatron," Starscream announced hesitantly. "You're still alive..."
"Yes, Starscream." Megatron replied. "Which is more than what you'll be once I recover. I promise you, once I get my hands on you, you are going to wish Optimus Prime had left you to the mercy of that crackpot, Wheeljack!"
Starscream said nothing, instead he just groaned softly to himself. He had hoped that the shot he delivered to Megatron was enough to have terminated him, but alas, the old warhorse would live to see another day- and possibly Starscream's last. The red Decepticon jet felt the urge for some time away from the others; he prepared to raise the power in his engines, to speed off from the other Decepticons, but just as he was about to Starscream felt an unbelievable tear through him as an explosion erupted under him! The time had finally come for Wheeljack's explosive, and the small device had erupted in a brilliant explosion that tore through Starscream, who let out a piercing cry before he transformed and began to drop out of the sky in a smoking heap.
"Starscream!" Thundercracker cried in alarm.
"Damn!" Skywarp yelled in surprise. "What do we do?"
"Leave him." Megatron then announced, surprised the other two jets. "Forget about Starscream and return to headquarters. That fool has done enough damage. He can help himself."
With that, both Skywarp and Thundercracker continued on their flight path, while Starscream plummeted quickly towards the ground. Within seconds of the initial explosion, Starscream had lost consciousness, among the whooshing of air that filled his robotic ears as he dropped, along with his internal alarms that warned him of his critical damage and the fact he was plummeting from the sky. Then, all went dark for Starscream, with the last thing he heard to be a drawn out whine of a flat signal. His body continued to drop through the sky of Japan, with smoke trailing from the gaping hole that had been torn through his body, from his metallic stomach, up to just below his chest. Had he been alive, Starscream may have thought the fall lasted an eternity, before his body finally hit something- the trees that stood proudly on a large mountain range. Under Starscream's weight, along with the force of the drop, the Decepticon's body broke through the trees, which snapped like twigs, causing Starscream to drop some more, until he finally reached the ground with a thunderous thud. The sound of Starscream collided with the grassy ground of the mountain range echoed through the valley, while birds scattered from the trees, their cries echoing through the wilderness of Japan also.
Finally, all was silent and serene once again- including Starscream himself, who was now dead to the world.