="Autobots, I am a business partner with an associate of yours. I heard rumors that you require automotive parts due to lack of supply, thus I would like to propose a solution in person. I am based in-"=
The recorded message clicks off of the speakers as the red-and-blue flat-nosed Peterbuilt rumbles down the road, followed by a line of five vehicles of various makes and models. Optimus Prime's initial reaction to the message was severely negative, a sediment shared by the rest of his command. After Red Alert nearly blew a fuse interrogating the 'associate' quoted in the message, it came to light from Jazz and Ironhide both that proved the validity of the interest. The associate had a business partner that had become interested in assisting the Autobots directly, thus the offer was made.
Despite everything checking out, the Prime's initial reaction has not changed.
To ensure that this is not a trap, he had Blaster contact the possible-ally-to-be and meet in one of the warehouses within the Port of Portland. Knowing the chance of Decepticon interference is within the realm of possibility, the Prime also assembled three teams for on-site guard duty. The Aerialbots are fanned out over many square miles on aerial surveillance with SkySpy in sub-orbit above them; Ironhide, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Bluestreak are to guard each wall of the warehouse, and Hound is to accompany him into the warehouse itself.
Ironhide had requested to trade places with Hound, but the Prime declined the request. Hound's abilities as a scout would be far more useful inside the warehouse where they will be blind, compared to outside where multiple optics will be watching everything.
The drive itself has proven to be uneventful and devoid of chatter, only occasional status updates being exchanged between ground and aerial forces-and with Teletraan One by way of SkySpy. Optimus knows his own unease with the situation is felt by his soldiers, but feels a sense of pride that they are channeling the emotion into battle-readiness should the worst-case scenario occur.
The ground-based convoy turns into the Port of Portland and make their way towards the specific warehouse where the meeting will take place. The Aerialbots make their final pass overhead, checking for any sign of suspicious activity, and report the all-clear before assuming passive surveillance. The five Autobot cars increase their speed and drive around their leader to take their positions around the building, idling in vehicular form until or unless something happens. Only when they indicate all-clear themselves does the Prime make his approach.
He pulls around to the loading area of the warehouse and slowly backs himself into a space close to the dock as if preparing to drop off a shipment. He unhitches the trailer some feet away from the dock and pulls away as it initiates transformation into battle-station mode. Roller slips out during this process and begins a secondary sweep of the area, acting as the Prime's proverbial optics outside of the building.
Hound flickers his headlights in greeting as the Peterbuilt rolls into range. ="No hostiles detected."= The Jeep's transmission over tightband doesn't quite hide his own apprehension. ="Should we transform?"=
="Negative, Hound, stay as you are. Ground team, initiate Plan Alpha."= The ground-based guards transform and pin their backs against a wall at a corner, each peering down the wall to a comrade's back with weapons drawn. ="Ironhide, if you could get the door?"=
Ironhide cants his gaze to the side briefly, noting Roller keeping an eye on his line-of-sight to Sunstreaker's back, and smirks a bit. Shouldering his weapon, he turns around and pulls the sliding doors open just wide enough for the two vehicles to pass through without damaging something by accident. ="A gentlemen must always git th' door fer th' ladies, ain't tha' raight?"=
There are no snickers or other audible signs of amusement, but Prime catches sight of Bluestreak, currently covering the door Ironhide opened, failing to hold back a grin as his shoulder-struts relax incrementally. Good, at least the tension has cracked and eased any overly-tensed trigger-fingers. ="I'll get you for that later, Ironhide."= Ironhide just grins and retakes his position, both leader and security chief knowing the threat is anything but serious.
Hound rolls through first to sweep for any possible surprises, the Prime lingering just inside the doorway. ="All clear, sir. No energy or biological signatures detected inside."= At Hound's report, Optimus also rolls completely inside while the entrance remains open-just in case.
They appear to have entered into part of the loading area with a large set of doors off to the side presumably leading to a separate section. Since the viewable area within is far smaller than the warehouse, the Prime is left to guess that there are rooms beyond this one. So far, it appears the building has been left abandoned so the meeting could take place without interruption, but that does nothing to calm suspicions. Unless they got here first, their possible-ally-to-be should already be here.
Both Hound and Optimus Prime transform upon reaching the center of the room, unarmed but tensely uneasy. There is a palpable heavy feeling in the air, the same kind of feeling one would get right before lightning strikes. "I don't like this." The Prime's rumble is laced with dread, a bad feeling growing in his core as he evaluates their surroundings with a piercing gaze. He activates the radio display on his right forearm. "All units, re-"
A sharp pain lances through Prime's head the exact time a faint explosion reaches his audios from the outside. Milliseconds later, more pain layers on top of itself and his fuel-system hitches as a second, smaller explosion echoes from the same location. Optimus Prime staggers from the unexpected gutshot, left hand rising to his forehead vent, and Hound shifts his attention to his leader instead of their surroundings.
The radios erupt in static, Sidesipe shouting something about Roller and the battle-station trailer over the sound of gunfire and unexplained random radio droppages. Silverbolt could also be heard issuing orders to his brothers, apparently under attack themselves from the sky. Prowl, the officer-in-charge back at Teletraan One in the Ark, barks for status reports, trying to find order in the sudden chaos.
"We're under attack!" Ironhide bellows from outside, his voice carrying into the warehouse over the impacts of energy bolts against the warehouse walls. "Abort! Abort!"
Autobot radios squeal as one and Prowl's voice goes dead mid-sentence, leaving only spotty communication at best between comrades within the Port of Portland. This above everything pulls Prime out of a processing loop trying to ascertain the status of his other two components. "Hound, get outside! Now!"
The scout moves on instinct to the order, rifle appearing in his hands as he prepares to cover the door from the inside for their exit. Optimus Prime turns to follow, further orders on the edge of his vocalizer, but he catches a glint of silver mid-turn. He comprehends immediately, instincts screaming in imminent danger, but his reflexes cannot match-and a very familiar *crak-THOOM* echoes throughout the warehouse.
The blast punches through the Prime's right side, disintegrating everything from lower chest to hip instantly. Important systems and lines are sealed instantly from the heat, but alarms and dire warning messages block his vision. Optimus Prime chokes, shock setting in before pain could, as the force of impact staggers him backwards. His right leg buckles out from under him, sending him flat onto his back with a sharply bitten-back groan.
"PRIME!" Optimus Prime turns his head to look up and behind himself at Hound's shout of alarm. Hound stands framed in the open doorway with rifle pointing back towards the unseen enemy, heedless of any danger behind him.
The Prime's spark freezes upon hearing faint whirring sound of something mechanical moving in the darkness deeper in the warehouse. "No! RUN!" Optimus' roar of warning is drowned out by waves of mini-missiles launching, flying over him on trajectory to the scout. Explosions almost drown out the screech of green Cybertronian armor tearing from the impact forces, and Hound's smoking form is thrown out of the door.
Optimus Prime pulls his rifle out of subspace into his left hand and aims towards the origin of the mini-missiles, but a second *crak-THOOM* echoes before he can fire. The second shot pierces the Prime's left shoulder-strut through the joint itself, rendering the whole arm useless, and his rifle clatters to the ground. Beyond the point of feeling pain, he fights off unconsciousness and hazily attempts to sit up, bracing his right arm behind himself to lever his upper body up to a very low angle.
"-Movement is ill-advised.-" The melotone echoes from beyond the darkness as red glass glints, reflecting the flying firepower outside. In fact, the flashes of light reveal the Decepticon Spymaster advancing out of the darkness, one arm holding his rifle towards the only exit out of the building with the other pointing a Transformer-sized silver human weapon at the Prime. "-Your presence is required.-"
Optimus recognizes the weapon for who it is, comprehension dawning through the shock. "Wh-?" He coughs, overtaxed air circulators trying to filter out smoke leaking into places it shouldn't as one of many fluids in a Transformer body try to come up his throat. Ah, there is the pain, advancing from his right side and left shoulder to meet in his core, and he hisses a breath despite himself. "Why...? For what...?"
"-Explanation is unnecessary.-" The unique sound of null-rays pierce the air, punctuating Soundwave's statement as the firepower sears past the Spymaster and strikes the Prime full in the chestplate. Though the blasts themselves do little more than haze the glass, Optimus Prime's body involuntarily jerks and spasms from the paralyzing energies. It does not knock him out, perhaps from sheer force of will, but it does render him completely helpless.
Starscream partially steps out from the shadows himself, null-rays smoking faintly. His trademark smirk is missing, instead looking quite concerned with his gaze somewhat distant and canted more towards the ceiling than what is in front of him. "My Seekers report imminent loss of air supremacy. If we don't leave now, the plan will fall apart!"
The Spymaster gives the Seeker Commander a single crisp nod. "-Acknowledged.-" He subspaces his personal rifle, hands Starscream the silver handgun, then kneels down next to the paralyzed and by-now barely-conscious Autobot leader. Soundwave carefully scoops up the Prime in both arms and moves behind Starscream, heading towards the doors leading further into the warehouse. The Seeker aims the handgun and one null-ray towards the entrance, backing up quickly while laying down suppressive fire to keep the Autobots outside at bay.
Soundwave lays the Prime back on the floor, giving the Autobot leader a decent-enough view of the entrance while the two Decepticons move to close the sliding doors, ceasing suppressive fire. A furious roar echoes from the entrance as Ironhide and Bluestreak enter, weapons raised and ready to fire. Horror dawns on their faces as their gazes meet Prime's and they charge to close the distance between them, only for Starscream and Soundwave to close the sliding doors before they could even reach Optimus' rifle.
"-Authorization code Beta-Nova-Six-Nine-One.-"
A nondescript box at the center of the enclosed room, perhaps no bigger than a standard-sized Transformer hand, opens and a transmission dish unfolds from within.
Soundwave's melotone takes a distinctly sinister drop in octave as a solid impact from the outside dents-but does not breach-the doors. "-Activate.-"
White light blinds the Prime, barely-functioning systems incapable of handling the immense power surge that accompanies the light. Everything promptly goes black.