Chapter 1: Earth

The Nalva Star System:

An Autobot ship, inhabited by Optimus Prime's crew, sped through space. An enemy ship pursued them, opening fire on the ship. The Autobots returned fire. Blasts landed, damaging both ships as the battle raged on.

"One of our engines is damaged, Optimus. We're slowing down," shouted Bumblebee over the rumble of battle.

"We won't last much longer," Hotshot added. "The Deceptiscum have us on the ropes!"

"Prepare to Quantum jump, Autobots," Optimus announced from the captain's chair.

"We're just running away," Arcee asked, turning from the control panel. "But we can fight! We can't let those dirty cons scare us off."

"Don't question orders, Arcee," Hotshot shouted. "Plot out a course outta here asap!"

"Right."

The Decepticon ship, the Nemesis:

"Lord Megatron, the Autobots are attempting to flee," Soundwave stated, looking back at Megatron from his control panel. "What is your command?"

"Figure out where they're jumping to and follow them, Soundwave. We won't let them flee," Megatron spoke above the booming of the ship's cannons. "Airachnid, keep blasting."

"With pleasure, Lord Megatron," replied Airachnid from the weapon controls.

The Autobot ship, the Ark:

"Incoming," shouted Hotshot. "Brace yourselves!"

A large blast hit the Ark's damaged engine, causing an explosion that rattled the whole ship. The quake caused the Autobots to lurch forward, sending Arcee into the the navigation panel. The Quantum Jump engines were activated prematurely, causing a jump just after a retaliation blast struck the Nemesis.

Both ships jumped prematurely, both thrown off course. Alarms blazed and red lights flashed, alerting both crews to damages sustained during battle. Then, when the jump was complete, both the Ark and the Nemesis were found entering the atmosphere of an unknown planet.

"We've lost control," shouted Hotshot.

"Brace for impact," Ultra Magnus, the second in command, called above the alarms and rumble of reentry.

The ship fell from the sky towards a barren patch of land, smoke and fire was left in its wake. It crashed, grinding along the ground before coming to smoldering halt. A plume of smoke arose from the wreckage.

"...Is everyone okay," said a damaged Arcee from the floor of the ship.

"Banged up, but still kickin," Hotshot replied, sitting up with a grimace. "Where's Ratchet when you need him?"

"Excuse me for not rushing right in here after being thrown around during a crash," grumbled the medic from the door of the control center.

"The ship is on fire. I suggest we put aside the bickering and get out of here," Ultra Magnus said with a pained groan as he tried to get to his feet.

"Magnus is right. Everyone, evacuate the Ark immediately," Optimus announced, going to Magnus' aide.

Together, the crew escaped the blazing ship. Those who were injured were helped by those who were able. A head count was then taken.

"Everyone is accounted for, Optimus," Ultra Magnus stated, sitting on a large boulder with Ratchet fussing over his injured leg. "Me, you, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Arcee, Hotshot, Sideswipe, and Blurr."

"No one is seriously injured, just a few dents and sprained joints," Ratchet added as he finished his examination of Magnus' leg.

"Good," Optimus stated, looking around at the ragtag team of Autobots who surrounded him. "I'm glad everyone is okay."

"Any idea where we are," Arcee asked.

"No, but if the ship weren't on fire, I could check," Bumblebee replied with a huff, gesturing towards the smoldering wreckage.

"The ship's fire alarm should activate the sprinkler system to stop the fire," Hotshot stated, looking up at the ship as well. "When it's out, we could try and see if any of the systems still work. Hopefully we'll be able to contact someone and get some help."

"The Decepti-creeps crashed here too," Blurr spoke up, his arms crossed over his chassis. "If they all didn't die, which would be great if they did, we might have some trouble on our hands."

"I can't see 'em anywhere around here, so the probably crashed a few miles away," Sideswipe added as he looked around with a hand shading his optics.

"We'll focus on finding out where we are and what we have to work with before we worry about the Decepticons," Optimus said with a firm tone. "For now, we wait."

Several miles north:

"That was just spectacular, Megatron," shrieked Starscream as he crawled out from under some loose rubble that had fallen from the ceiling, his tone biting with sarcasm. "The best landing I have ever experienced. Following the Autobots was pure genius, oh wise and glorious leader."

"Cease your senseless whining, Starscream," Megatron hissed. The leader of the infamous Decepticons stood from his captain's seat and looked around at the wrecked control center. "Soundwave, status report."

"The ship is in critical condition. The engines were damaged during the impact and communications are down," Soundwave reported.

"So we're stuck on some strange planet with the merry band of Autobots somewhere nearby," grumbled Airachnid. "We don't even know where we are."

"We are on a planet called Earth," Soundwave said, having already checkered. "It is a primitive planet, relatively untouched by other, more advanced civilizations. It is inhabited by simple organic lifeforms."

"Gross," cringed one of Starscream's seekers known as Skywarp. "Fleshies make my armor crawl."

"Will we be able to repair the Nemesis, Soundwave," Megatron asked as he approached his most loyal Decepticon.

"In time," Soundwave replied. "We may need to resort to taking resources from the natives of this planet."

"Get Shockwave on it then," Megatron growled. "The sooner we can get off this rock and destroy those pathetic Autobots, the better."

"As you command, Lord Megatron," Soundwave said as he bolted up from the control panel and hurried out of the control center to find Shockwave. "Starscream, take your team of seekers and survey the area."

"Yes, Lord Megatron," Starscream and his wingmates said in unison.

"Follow me, boys," Starscream announced as he lead the other two seekers out of the control center.