This is my very first Transformers story. I hope you all enjoy! Please note that I have watched every episode of Transformers Prime and yes the title of this story shares the same name as season 3 episode 6's Chain of Command. I found Ultra Magnus in particular to be my favorite character in the show next to Wheeljack and Arcee and I thought about writing a backstory about him. Let me know if I should continue.
Ultra Magnus' P.O.V
Rubble. That's the only word I can use to describe Cybertron right now. The war for Cybertron is taking a horrendous toll on the planet itself. I spoke to a few troops regarding who we should blame for our planet's current state. A great majority blamed the Decepticons for they were the ones who started the whole conflict and plunged the planet to a civil war. Some troops however surprised me and said both sides did equal damage. I can't say I blame them. Sure the Decepticons started the war, but both sides fought viciously. I recall one incident where I considered our actions violent even for Autobots.
Four Weeks Earlier
Crystal City, Cybertron
Not much was left of the majestic city after Megatron laid his destructive hands on it. Autobot high command has issued a new order. Retake Crystal City no matter the cost. Ultra Magnus is in command of the foray. He set up his base camp just outside the once proud city.
"Autobots, listen up! I'm sure you're all wondering why we're outside of this city which holds no strategic importance whatsoever. Well I'll tell you. High command feels the urge to liberate this city just because they want to win the people's trust back in Autobot territory." Commander Magnus said to his troops. "I for one think it is a waste of time, resources, and most importantly, troops! But if we want to win this war, we need to gain the people's trust! Our orders are clear. Take Crystal City back by any means necessary!"
"To what extent, sir?" One officer asked.
"When they said any means, they meant it. Prime did have one exception though. Watch what you're shooting at because bots do live there." Magnus answered, glancing at the officer with a stern look.
"Understood sir. Alright squad, move out!" The officer yelled out.
Ultra Magnus and his men charged into the city with one thing in mind. Take back Crystal City no matter what! The Decepticons, not expecting the attack, were caught off guard. In one incident, a platoon of Vehicon troopers were resting in a pile of rubble when the attack began. An Autobot grenadier threw a grenade into the pile of rubble and the Vehicons didn't know what hit them. They were obliterated almost instantly, their body parts launching into the air. There were no restrictions in using heavy weapons. Autobots armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine guns were able to freely shoot at whatever they wanted. Within hours of the assault, multiple buildings were already reduced to rubble.
"Remember, watch what you're shooting at!" Magnus yelled out. His voice wasn't loud enough to hear as multiple sounds of gunshots and artillery shells impacting the ground interfered with the projection of his voice.
Civilians caught in the crossfire were a big issue. Autobot troops evacuated as many civilians as possible as they advanced into the city. Some were unfortunate enough to get caught in the crossfire and were exposed to both Autobot and Decepticon bullets. Civilian casualties were inevitable.
Clearing buildings was also a big problem for the Autobots. They didn't know who or what occupied them. Some troops found innocent civilians and some found Decepticons waiting for Autobot troops to ambush.
One Autobot captain found one building in particular to be too hard to take. It had a dome on top of it and casualties began to mount. The captain ordered a halt in taking the building and decided to send in the big guns.
"Alright bots! This structure is way too difficult to take! I need rocket launchers down here now!" The captain ordered. In saying this, three bots armed with rocket launchers emerged from a position just two meters away.
"Ironhide, where do you want these rounds at?" A trooper asked, marching to his captain's position.
"Fire at that building with the dome! And if any Cons come out, mow them down!" The captain known as Ironhide said to his men.
Then, as soon as he gave this order, the three soldiers fired round after round of high explosive rockets at the building. The building started to go down and as expected, enemy troops emerged from the structure. There were also civilians coming out and the Autobots armed with machine guns carefully aimed at the Decepticons only. There were also wounded Decepticons crawling out of the once beautiful building. Ironhide converted his right arm into a blaster and started shooting at the wounded. A corporal tried stopping him.
"IRONHIDE, STOP! CEASE FIRE!" The low ranking corporal ordered. Ironhide stopped firing and continued to listen to the corporal. "This is against Autobot protocol. We can't just shoot down enemy wounded. We aren't Decepticons!"
"Frag these stupid rules and regulations. We are at war with these savages. The Decepticons won't show mercy if it were you crawling out of a building wounded!" Ironhide said to the corporal, attempting to back up his actions.
"I'm sure they wouldn't. But again, we are Autobots. Every being deserves a chance of living." The corporal stated, his fellow soldiers glancing at all the commotion.
"This is why we're losing the war. Bots like Optimus are great leaders, but they're soft!"
"Ironhide, bots like Optimus are soft yes, but they serve the Autobot cause with honor and integrity. What you just did to those wounded Cons wasn't honorable at all!"
The two finally stopped arguing when a sergeant broke them up.
Present Day
Ultra Magnus' P.O.V
I will never forget about Crystal City. The one city that was reduced to rubble by it's very liberators. Captain Ironhide's actions there was just the tip of the iceberg. More destruction has been done to Crystal City than any other city I can think of. Our mission was to take the city by any means necessary. The sole purpose of this assault was to win the people's trust and minds. If anything, all that trust we worked for was thrown out the window. That was four weeks ago. The past. Be that as it may, we did what we had to do. In the end, Autobots and Decepticons are both destroying Cybertron equally. I can only hope that future battles won't be under the same circumstances as Crystal City.
"Commander Magnus, sir!" A trooper yelled out, snapping Magnus out of his thoughts.
"Trooper. What seems to be the problem?" Magnus replied.
"Sir, we have new orders from Optimus Prime. We are to advance deeper into Decepticon territory and he wants you to make a plan of attack."
"We're outnumbered and outgunned, trooper. We need reinforcements and extra ammunition."
"I understand sir. But Prime picked you specifically for this operation. He knows you're a military genius."
"Optimus does have a tendency for stating the obvious. Tell him I'll advance with two platoons in a flanking maneuver."
"Yes sir."
The objective was quite simple and routine. Advance into enemy territory and capture ground. The war has only just begun and Ultra Magnus is probably the only Autobot commander who knows how to go toe-to-toe with the Decepticons. He assembled his troops and prepared to advance. As he said, two platoons in a flanking maneuver. He was going to lead one platoon while Ironhide lead the other one.
As they advanced into Decepticon territory, Magnus' platoon came under fire. They soon realized that they were pinned down by an entire Decepticon division. Casualties began to mount as both sides shot at each other. One Autobot got his head blown off by a Decepticon sniper. His lifeless body fell on Ultra Magnus while he was shooting at nearby Vehicons. Magnus saw the headless bot and set him aside. He continued firing as if it were his only function.
"Get down!", "Watch your left!", "Incoming missile!", "Get me the frag out of here!", "Oh scrap! Out of ammo!" Multiple voices yelled out.
The situation turned chaotic almost immediately. Ultra Magnus had to take control or else his troops could get themselves killed in their chaotic state.
"Autobots listen up! Find cover and save your ammo. Only fire if you know you can hit the target!" Magnus yelled out. He tuned into his comm link and made contact with Ironhide. "Ironhide, we are pinned down at crossroads two clicks from your position, over!"
"Roger that commander, do you need any help, over?" Ironhide said, responding to Ultra Magnus on his comm link.
"Yes. We'll need you to outflank the Decepticons who are atop a hill, over."
"Roger that, we'll be there in ten mikes, Ironhide out!"
Ironhide began to mobilize his troops. Going to aid Ultra Magnus and his platoon just became their top priority. Ironhide gathered his troops and gave them their orders.
"Bots, the other platoon is pinned down by Decepticons at the crossroads. We're gonna swing down there and outflank the Decepticons." Ironhide said to the Autobots under his command. "Make it happen, femme bots!"
"You got it boss!" A sergeant yelled out.
Ironhide and his platoon started to make their way to Ultra Magnus' position. They faced no enemy resistance which was surprising. Cons never leave a location they conquered. As they approached the hill where the Vehicons were, the bots prepared for attack. Magnus received word that Ironhide's platoon was behind the hill ready to strike. So he orders his troops to hold their fire. Now, Ironhide and a few of his men charged and engaged the Vehicons atop the hill. There were at least twenty of them and Ironhide made sure that none of them survived.
However, two raised their hands in an attempt to surrender. Ironhide, being the ruthless bot he is, aimed at the two with his blaster and tried to shot them down. He was stopped yet again by a familiar face.
"You again?" Ironhide asked, surprised to see a familiar face.
"Yes sir. Why are you doing this?" The corporal known as Hot Shot asked.
"They are Decepticons. They deserve to die!"
"They surrendered sir!"
"I don't give a frag if they offer me a truck full of energon cubes! They deserve to die, corporal!"
Seeing this, Magnus and his men made their way to the hill. At the same time, two of Ironhide's men apprehended the Cons that surrendered, handcuffing them.
"This is not the Autobot way!" Hot Shot continued.
"Shut up kid! You don't understand! You don't understand the pain and torment the Decepticons caused me. They took everything from me!" Ironhide explained. "My home at Tyger Pax, my friends, and my femme bot who meant everything to me! That symbol and all who weild it must be destroyed!"
Ultra Magnus arrived on the scene and broke up the two. "Enough already! Both of you!" Ultra Magnus said to the two bots. He just about had enough of Ironhide's ruthless outbursts. "Ironhide, disobey protocol again and I will have no choice but to court martial you."
Ironhide, still enraged, walked off. He walked down the hill toward some rubble. He sat down on the rubble with his hands covering his face. Hot Shot walked up to Magnus to have a word with him.
"Sir. I had no idea he..." The corporal was cut off by his commander.
"A lot of us have our reasons for hating the Decepticons. In Ironhide's case, he lost everything he held dear." Ultra Magnus said to the young mech. "I get why he's angry, but I think he disobeyed the rules for the last time. Revenge won't bring back anything he lost."
"I know where he's coming from sir. I feel the same way. The Cons took away my home too. But I know that replicating their actions would make us no different then them."
"Ironhide doesn't see it that way trooper. Give him time."
"Yes sir."
Then, Ultra Magnus walked off to inspect the casualties. There were seven of them lying on the ground. He even saw the headless body of the bot who fell on him just moments ago. The medics gathered them up and put them in a pile. One sergeant, four privates, and two corporals died in the skirmish. Fearing that staring at these lifeless bodies would make him soft, Magnus walked off to inspect the battlefield. Rubble is the word he would use to describe the state of Cybertron at the moment. Many of his men would have to agree with that. And the worst part is, this war has only just begun.