Don't you hate it when you have to kill the one you like...that's just life I guess
Thank you to Vasdarkangel for the name xx
Disclaimer: This is for the entire story - I do not own Transformers in any way.
#1 War
The battlefield was a terrible and vicious place. The open plains they fought on were barren and smoking. But war was war and there was no place you could hide from the pain it caused.
The first and second waves had been shock troops, made up of mindless droids and drones, designed and programmed to destroy anything in their path. The damage done to the field was unnecessary; the waves of drones had already demolished the once fertile energy-producing field, turning it into a ravaged shell of what it had once been.
But then the war does that. It had already sucked most of the life out of the planet and turned the once beautiful cities into dull ruins. The people had also been robbed of their lives.
Firefly sneered at the scraps of metal that littered the battleground on the screen infront of her. She was glad all of her troops were completely autonomous. Not brainless fools.
The clicking of her radio alerted Firefly to an incoming communication. *Commander Firefly. Come in Commander.*
*Received.*
*What are the results from the first and second contingents?*
*Negligible. Neither us nor the enemy has the advantage. Are there new orders?* Firefly knew her report was unwelcome but she no longer cared. She was dead inside.
After a moment of obvious deliberation a reply crackled through. *Hold for reinforcements. Platoons Twelve and Fifteen will join your command by morning. Received?*
*Received and understood.*
*Kaon out.*
Firefly scowled, it was Central Command's favorite maneuver; send more warriors in hopes of gaining an advantage. Fortunately they were currently 'winning' the war, proving that it usually worked.
Looking through a window at her troops, Firefly felt a twinge of regret that almost half would be joining the Primus in Oblivion earlier than they expected. Squashing the interfering emotion, she returned to her temporary housing.
Firefly's quarters were situated in a heavily defended section of the compound along with the other high-level officers. The cramped lodgings held only a recharge berth and a desk. Firefly eyed the stack of reports her assistant had left on the desk and felt what was left of her morale die. She slowly removed her heavy battle-armor.
"If there's anything I hate more than this war, its paperwork." She muttered sitting on the berth. "And Autobots." She slipped into recharge.
"That can't be right! I'm supposed to be in charge." The nasal voice whined.
"Shut up Starscream! Your voice does nothing but cause headaches." Firefly said angrily.
"I shall contact Megatron about this."
"This is Lord Megatron's order you fool." Rubbing the metal ridge between her optics Firefly turned her back on the furious Air-Commander. "You can take your jets and select others from my command while I lead the ground forces." There, that way he'd still have some control. Idiot Seeker.
The ambitious Decepticon weighed his choices and bowed reluctantly. "As you wish Commander Firefly."
Firefly stared down her nose at Starscream. The gesture's impact was slightly lessened since Starscream was taller than her. Starscream was nothing more than a glorified attention seeker; with that last thought she dismissed him from her mind.
Firefly returned her attention to the battle plan she had been studying before Starscream had burst into the Command Center. The electronic map infront of Firefly showed the placement of Decepticon troops and the last known location of Autobot forces. According to their Intel, the Autobots were staying in a tight formation.
"What is the plan of attack Commander?" Her third-in-command, Stormcloud, asked.
"Attack head on with all our power!" Starscream declared clutching the edges of the table.
The irritated femme focused on the pain building in her head before slamming her fist into Starscream's face, causing him to hit the wall behind him with a crash. Her latest promotion allowed her to beat her underlings, something Firefly hadn't taken advantage of until now.
"Do you make a career out of being stupid?" Firefly sneered before facing her third-in-command. "Ignore him. Break the troops into three sections. Barricade will take Team A to cover the western plains, you will take Team B to the eastern cliffs, and I'll bring the third team up from the south. Starscream and the jets will supply air cover while we converge on the Autobot forces." She moved the colored counters indicated on the map. The little scribe-bot next to her copied out her orders.
Firefly waited until the orders had been handed out to the relevant officers. Stormcloud looked pleased that he had been given a command, Starscream still looked angry. Retrieving the last set she left the headquarters in search of Barricade.
The tough officer was lounging around the shooting-range watching as the recruits practiced at blowing apart Autobot dummies. Firefly noticed the favorite targets were the Autobot leader; Optimus Prime, the dangerous Weapons Specialist; Ironhide and Primes' first lieutenant; Jazz, even the irritating twin Autobots were a target. Firefly looked away as a particularly eager young soldier riddled the 'Jazz' dummy full of holes.
"Barricade. New orders." Firefly held out the datapad. Barricade jumped to his feet with a salute. "Don't go regulation on me now 'Cade. We've known each other too long." Barricade was the first and only Decepticon she had trusted. A worthwhile investment.
The large black Decepticon laughed. "I didn't expect to see you down here Commander. Don't you have drones to do deliveries for you?" He reclined again.
Firefly sat next to him "You're lucky I don't take you down for insubordination. And yes I do have drones." Firefly scowled as Barricade chuckled. "But Starscream is making my circuits fry, too much longer and I would have had to kill him."
Barricade groaned. "There's a mech that tempts ya to join the Autobots just so ya can shoot him." He looked at the datapad. "So when's the call?"
"We leave at dawn." Firefly replied grimly. "I want every soldier who can hit a target from one-thousand meters supplied and ready to fight."
"And the rest?"
"We need more cannon fodder." With that Firefly turned and walked away. Stopping for a moment at a free range she pulled out her gun and sent several bullets thudding into the target. The young recruits gathered around the dummy as Firefly holstered her gun.
Barricade watched as his old friend left the range and headed back to the Command Center. He knew part of what had happened but he still wondered who had turned her from an ambitious and determined femme into a cold and merciless officer. Approaching the target Barricade scattered the curious soldiers back to their training. Examining the target he saw that she had put a series of neat holes directly between the dummy's optics.
"I feel sorry for whoever pisses her off. Even if it is the Autobots." Barricade deftly removed the 'Sideswipe' target off the stand.
Optimus Prime paced around his Command Center. His officers and technicians were tapping on keyboards and running through the base. His lieutenant stood tensely to one side, his weapons specialist sat at a bench polishing his cannons.
A clerical droid approached him with a datapad. Scanning the screen he cursed. "Jazz. Ironhide" The officers appeared next to him. "Gather the troops. The Decepticons are moving."
"Where?"
"Sky Spy observed them moving in three groups." Prime handed the datapad to Jazz. "One east, one west. The third is coming from their base with a battalion of jets."
"They're going to surround us." Jazz guessed correctly. Prime nodded.
Ironhide's engine rumbled. "What are the odds?"
"According to both Bumblebee's and Sky Spy's information. Three to two, at our disadvantage. "
"What's the plan?"
"Establish a defensive blockade. Get Trailbreaker to create a force-field over the Commander Center and the Infirmary. Ironhide, make sure the company is armed and prepared."
"It's times like these that I wish Prowl were here." Jazz said gravely.
Optimus grimaced behind his mask. "Unfortunately Prowl was needed at Simfur."
"Have we received any reports on their situation?"
"No. The last one I received was from Springer. They were still engaged and, as much as I'd like to think that having the Wreckers around in a fight increases our odds, I think having them at Simfur only just makes it even."
"How did it happen Optimus?" Ironhide asked. "How did this war get so out of hand?"
"I don't know, Ironhide, but right now we have to focus on surviving the Decepticon's attack."
Jazz and Ironhide nodded before leaving.
Prime shut down his optics and thought back to a time when there was no war. Over four million years ago. Shaking his head he re-established his focus in the activity around him. The Autobots would look to him to lead them through this war alive. He prayed to Primus that he could.
The sectioned army had been marching since before dawn. Starscream had complained loudly when he was forced to join the other high-level officers in the pre-dawn light. Firefly, already tired and stressed, had snapped.
"Starscream, so help me. If you don't start showing some backbone I will remove your neural transistors and rewire you into a cleaning droid!"
Silence had followed her outburst and she had been extremely pleased that her station was that little bit higher than Starscream's.
It was now hours later and her section of the army was poised to attack the Autobot base at the base of the hill. Firefly had stopped her minimized army just out of firing range. Much to Starscream's displeasure.
Firefly now stood near the rear-guard of her troops. Surrounding her were her officers, elite warriors and sharp shooters. Closer to the front were the less accurate but determined soldiers, at the very front were the thick armored mechs that were only good for close-combat. She considered many of them to be completely incompetent fools who could do nothing but swing their fists.
Firefly privately thought that Starscream should be in charge of that group instead of the effective aerial squadron.
Every soldier knew their duty. The shock troops were to break down the initial defenses and take out as many of the enemy as possible. The second wave would follow them at a safe distance and use the Autobot soldiers as target practice. The elite soldiers would pick off any Autobot officers they could catch in their cross-hairs.
The assault was at a standstill. The shock troops had done their job and were mostly lying in piles of scrap metal. The Decepticon forces were being valiantly kept back. The force-shield around the Command Center had managed to withstand several volleys of highly explosive energon-enhanced missiles. The Autobots were taking a beating but so were the Decepticons.
Firefly watched from her position at the top of the hill. She had noticed that the amount of Autobot forces in the field was surprisingly low. A thought flickered through her mind. They're preparing for a rush.
It made sense since the battle wouldn't…no, couldn't be won until Optimus Prime had stepped onto the field. With him would come the best the Autobots had to offer; Ironhide, Jazz, Prowl, Hound, Bluestreak, Mirage, Blaster and the troublesome twins Sunstreaker and Sideswipe.
Only when they were on the field would Firefly herself join the fray.
Communicating to her leading officers, Firefly surreptitiously pulled back the best of her forces. Starscream and the jets were still cruising overhead picking on the small contingents of Autobots.
A tense quiet spread over the combat zone. Firefly could practically smell the anticipation coming off the surviving Autobots. They knew Prime was going to try and push back the Decepticons.
Not on her day. The crackle of her radio distracted Firefly from the battle. The interruption was not welcome so close to a major turn in events.
*What do you want, you incompetent fools?* Firefly demanded harshly.
*Does that mean the battle is going well Firefly?*
Firefly almost fell over with shock. *L-lord Megatron! Please forgive me my lord I was not expecting you.*
*Only if you tell me good news.*
*The attack is proceeding well but Optimus Prime has not yet emerged. I suspect the Autobots will be attempting to repel our forces en masse soon.* Firefly worried during the silence that followed her report, if Megatron was angry it would seriously damage her plans regarding the illustrious leader.
*That Prime hasn't made an appearance is concerning. He will fight soon. I will make sure of it.*
*My lord?*
*Alert the Decepticons, Commander Firefly. I will be joining you soon.* The radio switched off.
Firefly heaved a sigh of relief. Megatron wouldn't kill her, hopefully.
As bidden, Firefly warned the Decepticons of Megatron's imminent arrival. The responses she received ranged from joyous to absolute terror.
Focusing back on the task at hand Firefly noticed that the last of the Autobots had fled into their base. The lower soldiers were celebrating. With a terse communiqué Firefly ordered the superior officers to take control of their units.
The last of the unruly warriors were being shepherded into regulation units when the battle cry came from the Autobot base. Immediately centering her attention on the roar, Firefly saw Optimus Prime leading his soldiers into battle. With a similar cry, Firefly sent forth her soldiers; the elite ones that had been waiting for Prime and his best to join the fight. Transforming quickly, Firefly took to the sky. Searching.
Traveling above the smoke and laser-fire, Firefly took a moment to enjoy the almost dance-like destruction under her. It was harsh and brutal while at the same time being graceful and efficient.
Firefly's mind wandered as she glided above the carnage. It had been a long time since she had been dancing. In Tyger Pax, before it had been reduced to ruins. Two weeks to herself, without allegiances. She had walked through the glittering city and reveled in the sense of the freedom, lost herself in the arms of a friend and made unforgettable mistakes.
Shaking off her daydream Firefly hunted for her prey.
*Firefly! I could use some help here.* Barricade buzzed through her communicator.
Homing in on his signal Firefly found herself over the western edge of the battle-field. She located Barricade, outnumbered and outgunned.
Dropping in next to him she took the heads off two Autobots with her pulse cannon.
"Happy to see me?" She asked lightly, blocking an attack from her enemy.
Barricade growled in response. "I'll be happier when Megatron gets here." The effect his words had on the Autobots around them was instantaneous. They moved away from the two Decepticons as fast as possible.
"They're running away as if you said that you were Megatron in disguise." Firefly said as she watched them run.
Barricade grinned. "Stupid, fearful Autobots. They tremble in fear at the mere mention of his name. I'm looking forward to what happens when Megatron actually arrives."
"They'll drop their exhausts." Firefly laughed. "What we need is something tougher than these greens."
"Just not the Wreckers." Barricade uttered as he sent plasma blasts at the retreating Autobots.
"I hate those guys." Firefly agreed. "But I still want a challenge."
A new voice interrupted. "It's over here." Firefly stalled and turned, she knew that voice. Facing her was one of Prime's best warriors, Sideswipe.
Barricade powered up his weapon next to her. "No 'Cade. I'll take him." The Decepticon shrugged and leapt into a group of Autobots.
Firefly approached the warrior slowly. "It's been a long time, Sides. You think you can handle me?"
"I could back then. No different now."
"As I recall you went home fairly banged up."
Sideswipe smiled slowly. "Less banged up than you."
Firefly's jaw tensed against the retort on her tongue. He wouldn't get the better of her. "Let's do this." She loaded her gun and rushed him.
It would have been smarter for her to find some cover and shoot the slag out of him while he was in the open, but Firefly like a challenge and going up against Sideswipe had always been a challenge.
The impact of their bodies echoed around the smoking battleground. Sideswipe caught Firefly's wrist before she could shove the gun's muzzle in his face. Firefly felt Sideswipe's gun trapped between them. Inching apart, she caught hold of the warrior's gun; her fingers were inches from the trigger. Dropping her gun she wrenched her wrist from Sideswipe's grip and placed it at his throat, using the strength in her hand she pierced the metal on his neck as she tried to rip out his main energon pipe. Sideswipe's free hand was at her wrist once again, keeping it from reaching its destination.
"Don't fight me Sideswipe. One of us will fall today, and it won't be me. Bow to the inevitable."
They were locked, straining against each other. Neither could move. Firefly looked up at the Autobot, he was several feet taller than her and managed to be frightfully intimidating on the best of days. Today was not a good day. With lightning speed he loosened the hand at his throat and pulled it behind her back. They were now flush against each other, each still trying to gain the advantage.
"This reminds me of something." Sideswipe said suddenly. "Do you remember that time in Tyger Pax? Before you destroyed it."
"Who says it was me?".
"I knew. When I heard what had been hit first. That club. Our club." He seemed almost sad.
Firefly's optics flared. "There was no 'our'."
"Of course there was. You remember that club." His voice was tight, raw. "Where I held you like this. Well, almost like this. You weren't fighting me then. I remember that night too, we were dancing. I never knew you could move like that."
"Shut up." Firefly had heard that Sideswipe was brutal during battles but this was the first time she had felt his cruelty. How dare he bring up their dead and buried past.
"I liked it. You would sway and move. All sleek lines and smooth curves. It heated my engine."
Firefly's chest heaved with untapped emotion. "I said shut up."
Sideswipe ignored her. "Look at you now. I could barely tell it was you through all that armor. I wonder if your weak spot is still in the same place." His hand behind her back inched up, taking her hand with it. They were between her shoulder blades before he released a finger and ran it over her armor. Firefly trembled remembering the last time he had done that.
In Tyger Pax.
Her air-take had become labored as Sideswipe continued to probe at the armor near her neck. The arm trapped behind her back was beginning to ache.
"Looks like you're wearing heavier stuff these days." He commented when he didn't get the reaction he had been searching for.
You have no idea. "It moved. Only I know where it is now."
"I reckon I could find it."
"I don't think so."
Sideswipe grinned again. "I don't know. After a couple of high-grade energon drinks and some dancing you were eager enough to show me last time."
"This time's different. I hate you." She narrowed her optics.
"I don't believe that."
"Then you're a fool."
"I know." Sideswipe's head dipped towards her. Pulling back her neck as far as possible Firefly still couldn't avoid the soft caress of his lips against her cheek. His whisper caressed her neck. "I miss you."
"Stop it Sides. We're at war." She reminded him unsteadily.
"I know." His optics were sad.
"One of us will fall today." Firefly said, reminding herself as well as Sideswipe. She stared into the red mech's blue optics and wondered why they were fighting at all.
A sudden loud thud brought the struggling pair back to their surroundings. Firefly threw a look over her shoulder and saw Megatron engaged with Optimus Prime.
"Megatron." Sideswipe growled next to her auditory receptors. He looked down at Firefly, she felt his hand tighten on hers. "Stay with me."
Firefly's optics widened. "What?"
"Leave them. Stay with me."
"No." She couldn't believe he was saying this again. Firefly reminded herself of her hatred for the Autobots. For this Autobot. "The Decepticon cause is my life. I have gotten further in their army than I ever could with the Autobots."
An unreadable look past over Sideswipe's face." I heard that you were fairly important these days."
"Fairly important? Hah!" Firefly scoffed. "This is my attack. I arranged it. I led it. The glory of its victory will be mine." Her pleasure at seeing the shock on Sideswipe's face was less than she had expected. "I am second only to Soundwave."
"I'm impressed."
"So is Lord Megatron. I have made myself very noticeable."
Firefly almost crowed when she freed her hand. Bringing it around she slammed it into Sideswipe's temple. Firefly had mistaken how much of her weight was leaning on Sideswipe and found herself toppling with him.
She landed on Sideswipe's middle, legs splayed on either side. They fought for the gun in his left hand; Firefly's hand was still wrapped around it. Her free hand delivered several blows to his head while he tried to fend her off.
Then the trigger was pulled. Both warriors flinched at the explosive sound.
"I told you one of us would fall." She said quietly before tipping sideways and collapsing on the ground. Energon leaked out of the hole in her chest. Sideswipe held her as she went off-line.
What did you think? Worth another chapter? Please review and let me know.
TammyCat