"Sari Sumdac, Cyber-Ninja" takes her to the beginnings of adulthood, where she acquires her final, full set of mods, and develops into one of Cybertron's most powerful Cyber-Ninjas. She works for her two native planets as defender and ambassador.
We pick up this book after Sari's return to earth from her six-month stay on Cybertron (see "Sari Sumdac, Technorganic Recruit"). While there, she had helped Jazz rebuild Master Yoketron's Dojo, and had the opportunity to meet new Autobot friends, learn Cybertronian history and absorb its culture. Now back as a member of Optimus Prime's crew, she is on her first real assignment, working with Bumblebee and Bulkhead on earth's moon.
The three are building "Farside Beacon One", a joint Human/Cybertronian initiative which will be a long range scanning and listening station on the moon's far side. Its purpose is to be an early warning system against unwelcome visitors, whether celestial or alien.
The team has been doing weekly video status reports with Optimus and Professor Sumdac since the start of their assignment. However this week, something is wrong.
"Farside Beacon One, come in, Farside Beacon One, this is Sumdac Tower," said Optimus. He and Professor Sumdac were sitting in his conference room for their weekly status report with the lunar team. It had been two months since Sari returned from Cybertron, and since her return to earth, she had been working on Farside Beacon One with Bulkhead and Bumblebee.
They stared at the blank video screen. White noise came from the speakers. "Oh, Optimus, what's going on?" Isaac asked nervously. Once again, he looked at the controls, making sure the encryption configurations were correct and the connection settings were on the proper frequency. He fumbled with his hands, not knowing what else to do.
"I don't know, Professor, but we will continue trying. Farside Beacon One, come in, Farside Beacon One." Optimus continued. It had been 10 minutes since the scheduled start of their meeting.
Optimus got up. "I'm going to send Ratchet and Arcee up on the space bridge to investigate," he said, when suddenly, some clicking sounds replaced the white noise on the speakers. Isaac and Optimus exchanged glances. Finally, a scratchy voice broke through. "Sumdac Tower, this is Farside Beacon One. Bumblebee here, come in."
"Bumblebee? This is Optimus. What's going on?" He sat back down. Isaac sat forward in his chair.
"Sorry for the delay, Optimus. Our long range tower was damaged. It happened about a megacycle before the beginning of our conference. A small asteroid struck the lunar surface about two hics from here, and a chunk broke off from the impact, flew this way and struck the tower right in the middle. Sari went out to check on it but she said the tower's electronics are totally slagged."
"Two hics?" asked Isaac.
"About two kilometers," said Optimus.
"Bulkhead joined Sari, and he just now managed to jerry-rig a transmission unit, but all we have is audio. We couldn't get video to work."
"Why didn't the long-range sensors pick up the asteroid?" asked Optimus.
"Well, as you know, we only have a single long-range sensor unit right now, and we took it offline earlier. We were in the middle of running a complete diagnostic when this occurred."
"Bumblebee, I thought the protocol was not to take a unit offline to run a complete diagnostic unless you had a spare unit on hand!" said Isaac.
"Yes, that's true," said Bumblebee. "However, during testing a serious flaw was found in that unit's operation, and we came to the realization that a complete diagnostic was needed. We discussed the risks and decided it had to be done. The asteroid turned out to be really bad timing. Sari will explain what she found as soon as she gets here. She said this flaw needs to be corrected before Sumdac Systems builds any more of those units."
"But now because of this, your station is blind, and vulnerable to more asteroid strikes or Decepticon attacks! This is bad, oh this is bad." Isaac started rubbing his temples.
Just then, Bulkhead and Sari entered the station and sat at the conference table. "We're here," said Sari.
"OK, Sari, I want you to begin. Give us a complete status report on Farside Beacon One's systems," said Optimus.
"Well, except for what just happened to the long range tower, we are still on schedule," said Sari. Electrical is complete and the power generators are running. All basic computer systems are online and the station is lit. Initial communication systems are complete; initial life support systems are still on schedule to be up and running for the arrival of the human crew. We estimate six weeks for completion of that phase."
"Sari, tell me about the long-range scanning system," said Isaac.
"Dad, I found a serious flaw. Do not build any additional units until it's corrected."
"What causes the error?" asked Isaac.
"We were getting too many false positives in our tests," Sari explained. The sensor was telling us there were dangerous asteroids within striking distance of the moon, when there were none. This went on for two solar cyc…er, days."
"Bulkhead, Bumblebee and I decided that I should go in to the sensor unit and investigate. I went in while it was operational, but when it was running, I found nothing wrong. So we decided that I had to do a full diagnostic, which meant taking it offline. Only then was I able to see where the error was occurring. I'm afraid your scientists built the scanners using sensors calibrated for the magnitude of a celestial body as seen by an observer through earth's atmosphere, as opposed to the magnitude as seen by an observer on the moon."
"Oh no," Isaac slapped his forehead.
"We thought the risks of being temporarily blind were worth it. We were wrong. While I was inside the sensor and just as I discovered this, an asteroid hit about two hics – sorry, about two kilometers from the station. The impact broke off a chunk of rock from the surface; it flew over here and took out our tower. It destroyed our listening as well as our communication capability."
"The time for our status report was coming up fast, so Bulkhead had an idea: he grabbed some spare parts and put together a quick radio communication setup between the space bridge and our station. I helped him with the wiring. We tried to get video, but it didn't work."
"And the long range detection equipment on the tower; I assume that cannot be jerry-rigged?" asked Optimus.
"Unfortunately, no, Optimus," said Bulkhead. That part works with the one here at the control station. It was destroyed."
"It was the first thing I investigated when I climbed the tower," said Sari. "I'm afraid it took a direct hit. It was smashed into dozens of useless pieces."
"All right," said Optimus, "right now, my main concern is for your safety. Professor, how long would it take to manufacture a new sensor system re-calibrated for the moon?"
"A week at best," said Isaac. "Those units use rare earth elements, which have to be acquired and calibrated properly. Once calibrated they cannot be changed; otherwise I could re-calibrate a unit that's already built," he sighed.
"Not good enough," said Optimus. "The crew needs to be safe, and we can't abandon the station. There isn't anything useful we can send up on the space bridge. Optimus touched the comm on the side of his helmet 'Ratchet, Arcee, meet me here in the Sumdac Tower conference room. We have a situation that needs your immediate attention.'"
"I will send Ratchet and Arcee up on the Ark-32, and the AE-35 can serve as their long range scanner. It will also give Farside Beacon One communication capabilities - notwithstanding your excellent jerry-rigging skills, Bulkhead."
"Did what I could, Boss-bot!" said Bulkhead.
"Now, as for the damaged tower. Can we send you replacement parts on the space bridge?" asked Optimus.
"That would work fine," said Bulkhead. Sari and I can have the repairs up, and have communication back online in, whaddya think, Sari, a couple megacycles after we get the parts?"
"Easily," she said.
"Have there been any additional asteroids landing since that one?" Optimus asked.
"No, I scanned space visually immediately after it occurred," said Bumblebee. "It appears to have been a rogue, and there have been no other impacts within a 250-hic radius of Farside Beacon One."
"Well, until the Ark-32 arrives, you're going to have to keep scanning visually – you've got no choice, all of you," said Optimus.
"I was afraid you'd say that," groaned Bumblebee.
A few minutes later, Ratchet and Arcee came in to the conference room. "What's going on?" asked Ratchet. Optimus briefed them on the status, and explained the situation. "Take the Ark-32 up there to assist them."
"We'll head up there immediately!" Said Ratchet.
Arcee nodded. "On our way!" They left and headed over to the airstrip to ready the ship.
"Alright, I think that's the best we can do to take care of your current situation," said Optimus. "Let's get back to the remainder of this meeting agenda. Bulkhead, what's your status on the exterior structures?"
"Everything's up and assembled, Boss Bot," said Bulkhead. And the landing site's all cleared and ready."
"Good. The Ark-32 can use that when it arrives. Bumblebee, how are the interior structures?"
"I've got them sealed up tight, Optimus. We should be able to begin pressurization testing…next…"
"Next what?" said Optimus. "What's going on?"
"Uh, Optimus? Those triangular thingies on top of Sari's helmet just started glowing blue."
"Guys, I'm picking up a transmission," said Sari.
"Picking up a…what are you talking about?" said Bumblebee.
"Never mind, Bumblebee," said Optimus. "Sari, what's the transmission?" Only Optimus and Isaac knew about Sari's mod.
"It's an encrypted Decepticon message," said Sari. They've entered the solar system and are headed this way!"
"Oh, no," said Isaac.
Optimus touched the comm on the side of his helmet, "Ratchet! Don't take off yet! I'm joining you on the Ark-32!"
"Professor, we will contact you later," he said as got up from the table. "Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Sari, prepare for our arrival." Heading out the door, he made another comm connection. "Jazz! Meet me at the Ark-32, stat!"
Isaac slumped back in his chair. "Oh my, oh my." Recovering, he sat up and got on the intercom. "Get me the head scientist whose team developed the long range sensor module for Farside Beacon One!" He hit the intercom button with his fist and angrily paced around the conference room.
Thus begins "Sari Sumdac, Cyber-Ninja". Optimus' team are on their way to Farside Beacon One, and Sari and her friends will prepare for their arrival, as they get ready for the Decepticons. Hopefully there won't be any more celestial bodies threatening the station! Thanks for reading.