Hello, and thank you for reading The Azure War, a few brief notes before we begin… this is the replacement story for "The First Stable Wormhole" and "Second Contact's" prequel. If you are not already aware, every story posted on the Memory Theta Fanfiction and AO3 accounts are a part of the same continuity, so it is HEAVILY AU. There are elements from the Halo universe and the story will briefly crossover with Star Trek: The Next Generation later on, but the story will mostly take place in my heavily modified version of the Transformers Aligned Continuity (referred to as "Universe Alpha" in Memory Theta canon.) This story (and the first chapter in particular) will also be far more action-packed than previous my Fanfictions. With that said though, I hope you enjoy the first chapter.
Chapter 1 – Additional Assistance
Autobot Outpost Omega One – Main Silo
It was a relatively peaceful day at Autobot HQ, no reports of Decepticon activity for over five days and no calls from Agent Fowler.
That was until Ratchet actually thought he was going to get a break.
"PRIME!" a booming voice sounded over the base's speaker system. Agent Fowler filled part of one of the main computer screens in his jet.
The earth rumbled rhythmically as Optimus walked over to the computer console that Agent Fowler's image. "Agent Fowler, to what do we owe-"
"What else? Cons!" Fowler angrily said, "I chased them off with some hard ordinance, but they blew me out of the sky!"
The children snickered in the background as Fowler continued to rant, "they tried a smash-and-grab for the D.N.G.S."
Arcee, who had also just recently arrived back at base asked, "the… what?"
Fowler cringed for a brief moment before clarifying, "Dynamic Nuclear Generation System, AKA D.N.G.S."
The federal agent then changed the screen view from his lovely face to that of the D.N.G.S. itself. The device was cubical in form and to the untrained eye, looked like a simple metal box, aside from the fact that it had radiation warning stickers all over it.
From elsewhere, another human joined the party on the platform overlooking the computer screens (where the other human children were.) He was a few inches taller than Jack and had chocolate brown eyes and hair with slightly tanned skin. He looked almost eighteen years old and wore simple plain clothes. He looked at the screen showing the D.N.G.S. and frowned slightly for a split second.
"Hey Jack," he greeted as Fowler continued to yell about how the D.N.G.S. could cause doom and gloom for all if it got melted down.
"Hey Daniel," Jack replied as he watched the screen.
"…if there were to be an accident during its transmission" Optimus warned, "the radiation of which you speak could propagate through the groundbridge vortex and harm all fifty states… and beyond."
That statement peeked Daniel's intrigue as he began to listen very carefully to what they were saying next.
"You have any better ideas?" Fowler countered.
They aren't going to do what I think they are going to do… Daniel thought.
Optimus paused for a brief moment before making his decision, "Ratchet, open a groundbridge to Agent Fowler's location. I will be right back." The Prime then disappeared into the bowls of the base for a brief moment before returning with a large cargo trailer meant for semi-trucks in his arms.
Daniel mentally facepalmed, this will be fun.
Ratchet walked over to the groundbridge controls and tapped a few buttons on the cybertronian-sized console before pulling the lever that opens the bridge. The bluish-green vortex appeared as expected and Optimus put the trailer on the ground. He then transformed and backed up to hitch the trailer to his semi-truck form.
"Can I come with?" Miko pleaded to Bulkhead.
The bulky green wrecker turned around and firmly said, "stay here Miko. I mean it!"
Miko's face scrunched up into a frown as she looked away. "Fine!" She pouted, "wreck those 'cons for me, will ya?"
Bulkhead nodded and looked towards the spiraling vortex of energon.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus commanded.
Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Arcee transformed into their vehicle forms and followed Optimus into the groundbridge vortex.
United Nations Earth Defense Force base ANT-1A – EDF High Command Center - Antarctica
The EDF High Command was, to put it lightly, not meant to win any interior decorating awards. The floor, walls and ceiling were made of a dark grey metal with bright white lights lighting the room. ANT-1A was built into the side of a mountain for protection, with only the Command Center overlooking Antarctica's barren landscape. Some days of the year were completely shrouded in darkness, while others granted 24 / 7 sunlight. But according to most, the best time to be in the command center was at sunset, when orangey yellow light is projected on the white snow, creating a slight most consider to be "priceless."
The room was primarily dominated by computer screens that were attended by mostly robots. These robots varied in appearance depending on their role; but the majority of the robots in the command center were combat droids designed for war.
Alex Prime, as a Z-08EC combat droid (though not like regular footsoldier units) stood at almost seven feet tall and like all other humanoid combat droids was covered in "Ultra-Kevlar" from helm to pes. The armor itself had a black and purple camouflage in the dark and out of combat, but it would change based on the environment. A technology known as "smart camouflage." Finally, instead of having eyes, all Z series combat droids have visors that contain various sensors. Most units have jet black visors, but special units, such as a unit carrying the rank of Prime will have a different color. Alex's visor was purple.
"Sir, EDF Intelligence has intercepted increased chatter on MECH frequencies, they appear to be after something in the U.S. We have coordinates in Nevada of a shot down U.S. military jet." A combat droid reported over the PrimusNET (the EDF's communication network.)
Alex clasped his servos behind his back, "Do we have any units in that general area?"
"Yes, sir. Sapphire squad has completed a reconnaissance mission in Utah and is about to return to ANT-1A for debriefing. They are in the air now, but I can issue them new orders to investigate this new threat."
May be a bit overkill, Alex thought, but given that MECH is going to such lengths to acquire something is definitely not a good sign. Better safe than sorry.
"Make it so, commander. Alert the director."
Autobot Outpost Omega One – Main Silo
Daniel was still standing on the platform overlooking the base's main computer system with Miko and Jack. Rafael was sitting at one of desks on the main platform with his laptop. Daniel had a bad feeling about this mission, something about how Fowler's jet crashed, and the scorch marks on the fighter's fuselage gave him déjà vu.
"We have your coordinates Optimus, barring any complications you should reach the drop-off point by sundown" Ratchet spoke.
Suddenly, Daniel's phone vibrated in his pocket. He reached for it and unlocked the display.
Sapphire squad redeployed in Nevada to investigate possible MECH activity. View mission details?
Just what I need. Great. Bloody SkyWEB always ruining everything.
Daniel locked his phone and went over to see Raf, who like the others had his eyes glued to the screen of Optimus' location.
Before he could say anything to Raf though, Fowler growled, "that's the one! The 'con that shot me down! Who is he? Wingnut? Dingbat? Skyguy?"
"What? I'm not picking up anything," Ratchet said, "they must be utilizing a cloaking technology."
Daniel did not like the sound of this, "Agent Fowler, can you describe what you are seeing?"
"Yeah, there's a bunch of 'cons trailing us!"
"What color are they?" Daniel pressed.
"Uhh, they're all a darkish green color" Fowler described.
Alarm bells immediately rung at full volume in Daniel's mind. Every scrap of circumstance so far has pointed to one conclusion. MECH. He immediately pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened the PrimusNET app. He typed: PRIORITY ONE: MECH ASSAULT OF POTENTIAL DIRTY BOMB UNDERWAY AT FOLLOWING COORDINATES.
Daniel inputted the coordinates of Optimus Prime that were on the Autobot computer's screen and pressed send. The message would automatically find itself to Sapphire squad, the only question that was in Daniel's mind was is it too late?
Unknown Highway – Nevada, United States of America
Agent Fowler was getting anxious, even if he didn't show it on the outside. These "'cons" were gaining on him and the D.N.G.S. and were boxing them in on the highway. Suddenly, a green car pulled up beside Optimus on the driver side. The car's sunroof opened and a man clad in dark green combat armor stood up with a rifle pointed at the U.S. federal agent.
Fowler's face paled as he recognized who was really chasing the Autobots down this windy road. "MECH…" he mumbled, "shit."
"Pull over!" The MECH soldier ordered.
Fowler immediately recomposed himself and retorted, "well I'll be dipped!"
Immediately after, Optimus announced, "Our assailants are not Decepticons… they are humans."
In the helicopter hovering above the convoy, the MECH commander in charge of the mission, Silas, ordered: "Gentlemen, stop their engines."
As the MECH soldier beside Fowler prepared to fire, Optimus bared left and bumped the car so that the agent lost his balance and missed.
Agent Fowler cursed mentally.
"Autobots, maintain your cover," Optimus commanded, "and apply minimal force. Disarmament only."
The MECH cars tried getting ahead of Optimus, but Bumblebee mercilessly blocked them and drove them off the road.
"Those are not civilian drivers!" Silas remarked.
The convoy entered a particularly windy section of the highway, causing Agent Fowler to become nauseous. "A little air please?"
Optimus opened the driver's window for Agent Fowler, who took a breath of the fresh air before noticing a MECH soldier jumping between the gap between Optimus and his trailer. Obviously, in an attempt to cut the trailer loose.
"Prime! Bear right!" Agent Fowler yelled.
Optimus did exactly that and caused the MECH soldier to lose balance (but not fall off,) and caused another MECH car to run off the road. Nonetheless, the MECH soldier regained his balance and resumed cutting at the linkage between the trailer and Optimus.
All of a sudden, another shape appeared in Optimus Prime's mirror. It drew closer at a rapid pace and rapidly fired three missiles at the MECH helicopter! The Helicopter immediately banked, deployed flares, and retreated. Which, caused the missiles to fly in random directions (none of which posed a danger to the convoy.) A loud boom rocked the environment as the craft flew overhead.
The craft was jet black and extremely angular in design, like the F-117 stealth fighter, except it was the size of a chinook helicopter. Its wings had large propellers embedded, and it had four large thrusters on its rear for forward propulsion.
"What is that!" Bulkhead yelled.
It hovered over Optimus, matched his course and speed and turned midair towards the MECH cars. Still hovering over Optimus, the craft fired what appeared to be a minigun at the MECH cars. The bullets pummeled the cars, causing some to lose their drivers and veer off the road, while other cars simply caught fire and exploded. The craft got slightly closer to Optimus and one of the craft's side doors opened. Two figures in black armor jumped from the craft and landed on Optimus' trailer. Their armor immediately started to change from the default black color to a greyish-silver pattern that blended in more with the surrounding pavement. One of these figures was well over 7 feet tall and sported a grey visor. The other was significantly shorter and had a neon green visor. They both had futuristic looking assault rifles (similarly to the MECH soldiers.)
"It appears we have additional assistance" Optimus commented.
The taller one of these figures ran over to where the MECH soldier was trying to cut the trailer loose. With lightning reflexes, the figure aimed and fired at the MECH soldier with his rifle, killing him instantly. The body flopped off Optimus when the road made another twist, causing Optimus to wince. The figure then enabled his radio, "Agent Fowler, this is Lieutenant Johnson of the Earth Defense Force. It is imperative that we lose MECH before they can send reinforcements."
The craft that hovered over Optimus broke off after the MECH helicopter came back into view and fired missiles at it. It just narrowly missed the missiles and was doing evasive maneuvers to keep the Helicopter from getting a lock.
However, the MECH helicopter was not interested in the futuristic looking craft. Instead, it flew towards Optimus and the convoy. Lieutenant Johnson and the Z Series commando droid beside him kneeled with their rifles and aimed and fired at the Helicopter. The bullets did some damage, creating dents in its armor and cracks in its windows.
"Do you have any ideas?" Fowler asked impatiently.
As the green visored Z-08E continued to fire at the helicopter, Lieutenant Johnson pulled up a map of the region on HUD. There were no EDF reinforcements in the area, the closest being an EDF land support outpost thirty minutes away. Regardless, he immediately requested assistance from it and was instantly acknowledged, UNDERSTOOD: AN ARMORED UNIT IS ENROUTE TO YOUR LOCATION
He also got a message from the Director of the EDF, The Autobots planned to transfer the device to a U.S. Military freight train that is in the area, I recommend you stick to their plan before SkyWEB orders the trailer to be fired on. SkyWEB must NOT be allowed to have knowledge of the Cybertronian presence on Earth.
Lieutenant Johnson acknowledged the message and radioed Fowler, "continue with your original plan, Agent Fowler."
"Will do, Fowler out."
Back up in the Helicopter, Silas angrily yelled, "how did the EDF get wind of our plans!
Suddenly, Silas' radio turned on automatically and a robotic voice came through, "Silas, you are failing."
Silas' face went pale, "Sir… we need reinforcements!"
"I will not grant you reinforcements, you are authorized to fire at the transport in order to salvage this mission. It may not have the radioactive propagation that I hoped, but it will have to do. If you succeed, I may be merciful."
The transmission immediately went dead. Silas' mouth was left agape before yelling at the soldier beside him, "lock onto that trailer and fire!"
The soldier pressed a few buttons to lock on the trailer, but before they could get a lock, a horrible beeping sound filled the cockpit. "Sir, the enemy is getting a lock on us!"
"Evasive maneuvers!" Silas ordered.
The helicopter veered right as the EDF craft fired its minigun. Two bullets whizzed through the passenger area, but no one was harmed. The helicopter turned around to get a lock on the EDF craft, but it initiated evasive maneuvers as well. Silas watched as the convoy transporting the D.N.G.S. entered a train tunnel. He then ordered the pilot to disengage and fly to the other side of the tunnel.
"Sir, we are going to have to jump!" the Z-08C droid said on Optimus' trailer just after they entered the tunnel.
Almost as if this was a choreographed act, the EDF craft flew right behind the trailer just close enough for the EDF Spec Ops to jump onto. Once they jumped and got their balance, they made their way inside the craft, while the Autobots transformed and placed the D.N.G.S. in the military freight train. After they were done transferring the cargo, the Autobots transformed into their vehicular modes and drove out of the tunnel. The EDF craft followed.
As they exited the tunnel, the EDF craft shot up 90 degrees, engines screeching and flew far above the battlefield. Silas in his helicopter tried to get another lock on the trailer before a different beeping sound filled the cockpit. The MECH commander looked to the side, and to his surprise, purple aircraft surrounded his chopper. Before he could react, the aircraft took off in different directions and two of them fired missiles at Optimus Prime.
"Military firing on one of their own!" Silas gawked.
The missiles tracked Optimus' vehicular mode and would have hit him directly, had he not bared right, causing the missiles to harmlessly destroy his trailer.
"Sir, I am not detecting any radiation, the D.N.G.S. didn't meltdown!" The MECH pilot spoke.
"No, it did not."
Silas watched as the EDF craft flew towards them and opened fire. The craft fired two missiles, but the MECH helicopter deployed flares once again and dodged, causing the missiles to fly haphazardly into the ground.
"Enough of this!" Silas growled, "charge the particle cannon!"
"Sir… that weapon hasn't been tested!"
"I don't care! Fire!" Silas snapped.
A few moments later, a yellow beam shot from the helicopter at lightspeed. The EDF craft attempted to dodge, but its right engine was struck and caught on fire. The craft lost power and spiraled to the ground.
The Autobots on the ground remained in vehicular mode as the purple aircrafts flew downwards towards them and transformed into vehicon foot soldiers. "Agent Fowler, it has become absolutely necessary to drop our cover."
The convoy then transformed into their humanoid forms and faced the vehicons. But before the Autobots could engage, a flurry of blood-red plasma bolts whizzed past them and made fiery holes that went right through the vehicons' chassis. Optimus swiftly turned to see two tanks behind him, however, these were no ordinary tanks. They had no treads, wheels or anything that made contact with the ground for that matter. They hovered half-a-meter above ground and could go over virtually any kind of terrain, even water. They had two main plasma weapons, with many lighter weapons including a minigun turret on top. Finally, the tanks had the EDF emblem on their left side.
The vehicons that were hit immediately collapsed, while the others took cover. Suddenly, the EDF craft that originally fought of the MECH assault crashed into a group of vehicons behind cover, but it did not explode. One of the wrecked craft's doors was kicked open and Sapphire squad jumped out onto the battlefield. Sapphire squad was made of five members, one "human" and the rest were Z-08 Elite droids (often shortened to Z-08E.)
A vehicon who survived getting bowled over by the human craft aimed its energon cannon, but was blasted by Bumblebee a few meters away. The Lieutenant Johnson quickly saluted Bumblebee as a symbol of gratitude before running over to one of the EDF tanks that was firing on the mob of Decepticons. The tank commander, a previous generation Z-07 droid popped his helm through the top hatch. Before the commander could say anything, Lieutenant Johnson said, "there is a dirty bomb that is about to get in MECH hands in a few moments if we don't catch up with that train!"
The tank commander nodded and gestured for him to climb in the tank. This particular class of tank, the Fighter-class hovertank was extremely cramped inside with a regular crew compliment. In fact, this model of tank only required one person to operate, though it was recommended that another crew member be present to select targets and fire the weaponry manually if necessary. There was one extra seat for a passenger, but it was extremely cramped and in the corner, somewhere you didn't want to be for an extended period.
The tank commander / driver pressed a few buttons and the tank started to turn around rapidly towards the railroad that was down a cliff. The commander pressed a few more buttons before confirming the tank's course.
Autobot Outpost Omega One – Main Silo
"Optimus is down!" Miko yelled.
"And MECH is gonna grab the D.N.G.S.," Jack added.
Daniel started to pace, "and what about these other people who are helping us?"
"We can't rely on them," Jack stated, "we need to think of something, quick!"
"You mean like a stage III?" Raf questioned.
Daniel quickly pulled out his phone and looked at the current EDF troop placement on the battlefield. He saw one tank breaking formation and going down the cliff to intercept the train. "I'm sure everything is going to be fine."
"Fine?" Miko yelled, "does nuclear meltdown sound fine to you?"
"No, I mean-"
"Okay. Come on, think…" Jack mumbled, "all right, if MECH wants the D.N.G.S., they have to get on that train."
Daniel watched in awe at how Jack broke the situation in his head. Ever since he first met him, Daniel always thought Jack would make a good military officer. Level-headed, intelligent and a drive to do good, a winning combination in Daniel's opinion. And while Daniel often felt isolated due to his intellect being off-the-charts, he always had odd feeling of joyfulness seeing others grow around him. Perhaps not to his level, although if there was someone to grow to his level of intellect he would be overjoyed.
"What if we get onboard first?" Miko suggested as she mock punched the air. "You know, run some human-on-human interference?"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Daniel and Ratchet objected in unison.
"You want me bridge you into not only a confined space, but one traveling at 90 miles-per-hour?" Ratchet harshly yelled.
Ratchet went on and on about how such a situation could go wrong. Daniel pulled his phone out and checked the positions of EDF units on the battlefield. The tank that broke formation earlier was almost caught up with the train, and was decelerating from its max speed of 320 kph to match the train's velocity.
"I think you also need to consider the fact that these MECH people are going to be armed," Daniel warned.
"If we do nothing, millions could die!" Miko countered.
Ratchet interrupted, "regardless, it is nearly impossible to fix groundbridge coordinates on something moving at that speed!"
"Would it help if we had access to the train's coordinates?" Raf inquired as he hacked into the train's navigation.
"Well…"
"THIS IS LUDACRIS!" Daniel roared, but then bit his tongue out of fear he would slip up.
"Jack, you coming with?" Miko asked, completely ignoring Daniel's outburst.
Jack nodded and said, "Ratchet, open the groundbridge."
I'd be a priority target if I stepped foot onto that battlefield, and I'd be forced to defend myself, Daniel thought as he subconsciously looked to where he hid his sidearm in the base (in case of an emergency.) Ironically, it would be safer for them going alone than with me…
The old medic rolled his eyes and punched in the coordinates into the groundbridge computer, before pulling the lever to allow the groundbridge vortex to form. The two children, Miko and Jack, quickly made their way off the platform and onto the ground, before running through the groundbridge.
Daniel pulled his phone out once again and typed, THERE ARE TWO CHILDREN ABOARD THE TRAIN, ENSURE MECH DOES NOT CAPTURE THEM.
His message was near instantly acknowledged.
Unknown train track – Nevada, United States
As Lieutenant Johnson read the update from the Director, he climbed out of the tank (that was still travelling at just under 145kph.) Shit, he thought, what the hell are those kids thinking!
MECH didn't seem to be aware of his presence as he jumped on the locomotive's hood. He peered inside the window to see the conductor and the other locomotive technicians to be all unconscious. Typical MECH strategy he thought. He climbed to the top of the locomotive to see the MECH helicopter trying to land on the train! His armor turning the same shade of red as the locomotive, he aimed his rifle at the helicopter. All of a sudden, the train changed track and the helicopter was flung from the train. As it tried to regain stability, Lieutenant Johnson stood up and started to fire at the MECH helicopter.
"Do you hear that sound?" Miko asked with a hint of fear.
"Sounds like gunfire," Jack said matter-of-factly.
One of the bullets that Johnson fired must have hit a vital area of the Helicopter, as its exhaust started to billow white smoke. "Sir, our weapons are offline!" The MECH pilot told Silas.
Before Silas could say anything, his radio turned back on and the same robotic voice that scolded him earlier spoke, "The D.N.G.S. is no longer a priority target. Proceed to the following coordinates."
Silas punched in the coordinates into the Helicopter's navigation system and the pilot pushed the engines to their limit. Lieutenant Johnson watched from below as the Helicopter soared above him and out of sight. He opened his comm, "MECH seems to be retreating."
"In which direction?" a robotic voice queried.
"North."
Back on the main battlefield, the EDF tanks played a supporting role of picking off individual vehicons as the Autobots engaged them in hand-to-hand combat. In the background, the MECH helicopter was hovering overhead, observing the battle. "Living technology," Silas remarked, "I must've not noticed it when fighting the EDF."
He then pressed a few buttons and performed a few scans on the Autobots.
"As much as this mission was a failure and we did not get the D.N.G.S., we seem to have gained something of far greater value. Direction. Return to facility alpha, Commander."
This statement bewildered Silas, but he nonetheless complied with the order.
As the Helicopter flew off, the last of the vehicons were killed by Bumblebee's fist. Another EDF tank broke formation and glided towards Agent Fowler, who was sitting atop a giant boulder. The commander of the tank, a Z-08 droid opened the top hatch beside the main turret and said, "Agent William Fowler, the Director of the EDF has ordered me to voice his dissatisfaction with your handling of this mission. Not only did you not immediately contact the EDF when MECH shot you down escorting a potential dirty bomb, you involved the Autobots!"
"I didn't realize that it was MECH-"
By this point, the Autobots had gotten their barring and slowly started to surround Fowler and the EDF tank. Noticing this, the tank commander told Fowler, "you'll be hearing from us soon."
He then descended back into the tank and pressed a few buttons. The tank started to turn in the direction of a gap between the Autobots' chassis. A sudden low humming sound was heard from the EDF tanks just as they shot off into the distance, creating a giant cloud of dirt and dust.
"Who were those guys?" Bulkhead asked.
"I'll tell you back at base."