The Awakening
Chapter 4

Jack lent back in his pilots seat. Teal'c was in the co-pilots chair, glancing up at the helicopter blades every so often. Behind them Danny and Carter were talking about the Autobots. 'Speak up back there.'

'Jack what is your problem with the Autobots?'

'Daniel; they are giant robots with a spaceship bigger than anything Teal'c has seen before. Apparently this huge space ship was shot down. I don't like the idea that anyone has that much firepower. And oh yes the slight fact that they have an army on American soil

'So your argument is that we don't know them so they're a threat, guilty until proven innocent right.'

'That's the plan.'

After a beat Teal'c spoke up. 'O'Neill; what is the average ground speed of a Volkswagon beetle?'

'Why?'

'We are being followed by one'

Jack flicked the auto-pilot and leaned over; 'I don't know but it shouldn't be this fast.' the small yellow car was following them at almost two hundred MPH

Bumblebee watched the aircraft pull away. He accelerated after them, catching up to the primitive aircraft easily. Even after they changed course it wasn't hard but by then he was certain they had spotted him. It couldn't have been that difficult to, he had left the road several miles behind and only his Cybertronian suspension had kept him from shaking his bearings off.

The humans flew over a dense patch of dark brown mineral pipes. Whatever these strange structures were used for they could interfere with his mission. With a big grin he knew that he had only one choice. The young Autobot spy hit top speed and headed between the pipes.

Like the stunt racers from the bygone Golden Age he wove between the obstacles. Using his small size and pinpoint steering to maximum effect. At what was the far edge of the cluster Bumblebee transformed, drew his small pistol and stepped back under the cover of the green canopy. The aircraft passed overhead, right on course. He fired and the tracking beacon magnetically sealed to it's tail.

As the humans flew off Bumblebee turned and saw something. A very small grey creature was staring at him with even smaller black optics. In its hands it held a soft stone that it quickly gripped in it's mouth and then climbed into a hole in the pipe.

His communicator flipped up from his wrist at command; 'Hound, this world is amazing!'

'I hear you on that one. Everywhere I turn my data banks almost overload. I've had to uplink my results to Telatran 1 twice already. But shouldn't you be a mission little guy?'

Bumblebee's responsibility circuits surged; this world was astounding but that wasn't his job; 'Your right, the tracker hasn't the range. I'll get back to it.' Transforming again he sped off after the humans.

Teal'c exited the helicopter after it had landed on the platform at mountain complex. O'Neill, Captain Carter and Daniel Jackson were still debating the effects of the Autobots as they disembarked. On the other side of the perimeter a familiar small yellow vehicle pulled up. He was distracted for a moment by the airman who came to greet them and when he looked back the vehicle had left.

Dismissing it as an aspect of paranoia he followed the rest of SG-1 down the mountain. If he had waited a moment longer he might have noticed the small disk detach from the helicopter and spin into the car's hand as it switched forms and back again.

After the standard checks to re-enter the mountain the team met General Hammond in the briefing room. 'I have heard Jack's opinion when he reported back. But I want the rest of you to give me yours.'

Daniel Jackson did not sit down with the others; 'A... The... We... Sam help me out here.'

Optimus leaned back into his chair and tapped the interface off. He had been left with a choice, one that not even the wisdom of the matrix could help make.

No that was wrong. There was no choice, the difficulty was accepting the responsibility to make it. That responsibility was one that nothing and no one could shoulder. 'Telatran 1 encode and seal all references to this recording and data input three megacycles before this time log. Access restricted to my energy signature only.'

'Scan comparison complete. Access to Optimus Prime only.' The Autobot leader stood and left his office, for the first time glad that Hoist had insisted on building him one on the massive space born island that was the Ark.

Heading back to the control room he passed two of his Autobots patching up one of the power conduits. Nodding to them he moved onto the next room where Wheeljack was experimenting. 'Wheeljack; what do you know about something called Transwarp drive?'

'Hum?' the scientist looked up from the organic piping Hound had returned with. 'Transwarp Drive? No.' He looked back down for a milli-cycle. 'Well sort off. Before the war I was in a research team looking into deep space exploration. Old Starscan came up with an idea for a time-space fold she called "Transwarping space"

but we couldn't get it to work. Even if we had the power, navigation would be impossible. Why you ask?'

'I must have heard it somewhere, it was in my memory buffers since the reboot,'

'Same things been happening to my systems Prime. We just need some time to de-fragment our drives.'

Optimus wasn't surprised his friend's files were jumbled, Wheeljack was well know for starting four projects before finishing one. That's if he could ever be said to have finished a project. 'Hope so. What are you working on?'

'Jazz's research says its a self replenishing fuel source. The humans have over used it's propitiates and many sectors that produce it are being stripped bare.'

'They are young. Many of their people are greedy and selfish, too many.'

Wheeljack got that old glint in his eye 'I know, but I can help. We should send as many Autobots as we can to gather examples of the non-sentient organic life. We can store and cultivate them. Rebuild the planetary stock.'

'Slow down Wheeljack. That would be a massive use of energon on a planet that our very presence must remained hidden.'

He began walking around the table. 'I know Prime but you don't understand...'

'If they do not learn from the mistake what's to stop them from making it all over again.' Prime shook his head before saying; 'Sometimes you have to fail before you can learn to succeed.'

'So you both are convinced that they don't pose a threat?' George asked the Captain and Dr Jackson.

They glanced at each other and nodded. 'Positive sir.' Captain Carter answered.

He turned to Jack; 'and you're saying if they did attack we would be powerless against them, Colonel.'

'Not powerless, I don't know how hard that ship thing is but a couple of nukes should flatten it.'

'Jack!' Dr Jackson shouted in outrage, the Captain did the same;

'Sir!'

George was just a shocked 'Are you suggesting a nuclear strike in mainland America Jack?'

'No sir, just saying that's one of the few options we have if we do have a problem.'

'It wouldn't be an idea anyway sirs.' Captain Carter announced. 'The ship made it into our atmosphere and crashed into the side of a volcano more or less in one piece. and it now stems the magma flow, with the whole mountain on top of it. That is simply improbably resilient.

'Even if our warheads did destroy their ship it would take most of the volcano with it. The only thing keeping that volcano dormant is the ship sirs. It has blocked every volcanic eruption at the site for four million years. Remove that plug and it could blow.' She was a little wild around the eyes, she had been since she sat down and now George knew why.

'I have been ordered to meet with their leader and discuss the situation. From your report I seem to have no other choice, but you think he will be reasonable?'

Cliffjumper and Gears watched the two human's over see others off loaded the equipment from their crude vehicles before letting them drive away. 'Funny statues.' one of them waved a hand at the two small Autobots.

'When you think these guys are going to show up? I ain't gonna try to move this lot on my own.' Another of the small organic's asked gesturing at the jumble of primitive parts

Gears, as grumpy as ever, simply grunted and reached for the aerial's components.

'We were here before you actually.' Cliffjumper said; only to have the humans jump back.

'Wh... Wh..' they stammered as Cliffjumper's gruff friend hauled the bulk of the Earth metals up the mountain face.

'Their vocal circuits must be damaged.' he grunted as he made his way around the rocks. The Ark was on the other side of the mountain and Prime had told them not to transform.

'What are you?' the first human finally gasped.

'We're Autobots. We're going to install that radio transmitter on the mountain for you. Well it's for us really.' he knelt down and picked up what he guessed was the receiver, it was far too big for anyone the size of a human to use. 'This the smallest radio set you humans have?'

'No, that's only the long range system.'

'Ahh a planetary coverage broadcast range?'

'Just a few hundred miles. We got a relay at the base we're supposed to tune this one to.'

'Lets get to work then, we don't want to keep Prime waiting.'

Optimus Prime listened to Bumblebee's report as the two of them made their way to Telatran 1. 'So they too are based in a under ground complex.' The taller Autobot asked.

'They sure are Prime. Whatever they've got under there needs a lot of energon.'

'That's something to look into.' They found the super-computer still had a familiar blue and white Autobot working at it. 'Jazz? Shouldn't you have recharged by now?'

'Should I Prime? Sorry sir It's just so much information in so little time...'

'Their lives are finite Jazz. We can last millions of cycles, more with replacement parts. Humans only have a hundred at best in physical form.'

'But their sparks...' Bumblebee gasped. Their spark was a Cybertonians very life, it made them who they were. Without a spark they would be nothing more than empty shells, surely the humans had their own sparks?

'What happens to ours? Who knows Bumblebee, perhaps they join their own matrix. Or wander the stars for eternity. They only take that journey earlier than we do and it appears to drive them faster than us. Now, Jazz, let us get you some energon before that journey happens to you.'

'Any more advice Doctor?'

Daniel flinched at the tone in the general's voice. 'Sorry, I guess I'm just too used to Jack's diplomatic flair.'

'Hey!' the pilot called back as Sam and Teal'c smiled.

'That's quite alright Dr Jackson but this isn't my first venture into diplomacy.' The helicopter, this one a Chinook, took off and headed to Oregon.

With the dedicated radio system active; and Gears content to grumble about the fact the grey tower didn't match the gold of the Ark, Cliffjumper decided to make a quick exit. Windcharger and Huffer, who had helped with the construction, had agreed to stay with the humans until their commander came back for them. Deep in the Ark he found Ironhide and Bluestreak guarding the cargo room were they had imprisoned the deactivated Decepticons. Someone's sense of humour MUST have been warped from the millennia of status lock to team those two up.

'Leaking lubricant!' the older Autobot growled; 'Can't you shut up for just one breem Bluestreak?'

'Aren't you curious?' The blue Autobot asked 'We've got a whole volcano to boil these decepti-creaps down to slag and Prime orders them sealed in there with their weapons in the armoury?'

'No I'm not. I've worked with the boss for too long to question him. So have you.'

'So you're not curious?' he asked his scarlet coloured companion

'No.'

'Not even...'

'Just shut up! For Primus's sake be quiet, please.' Ironhide begged and Cliffjumper laughed.

Inside the command room Optimus Prime was reading screen after screen of Earth text and graphics. 'We've got the communication tower set up outside.'

'Good. Telatran 1 has completely decoded all of Earth's languages and gained complete access to their planetary computer network but now we have an official link to their local government.' Prime looked up and over to the screen. 'I want the active Autobots divided into three equal groups. The first group is to focus on the repairs with the second recharging. The third is to meet me outside; fully armed for firing practice.'

'Weapons practice?' Cliffjumper asked. 'But the Decepticons are destroyed. Surely repairing the Ark and getting back to Cybertron is the most important thing for us to do.'

'What few Decepticons that followed us is by no means their full army. Decepticons will still be on Cybertron. With our best warriors here, on the Ark, our people are still under Decepticon rule and they'll need the energon even more and I have other concerns.'

Jack brought the helicopter in low past one of the mountain ranges and saw half a dozen of the Autobots walking out of their ship. Bringing the helicopter in low Carter got on the radio:- 'Optimus Prime, come in. This is SG-1 onboard the approaching helicopter. Over.'

There was a moment before he responded, bringing his wrist up. 'Captain Carter. I wasn't expecting your team in person so soon. Please land.' Jack came in hovered for a moment and gently landed. The giant robot walked up to them and watched, his army gathered around him.

'Hello again, Optimus Prime.' Daniel said, hopping out of the door. 'We're here with our commander. General Hammond.'

Optimus took a step back and knelt down. 'It's a honour to meet you, General. I am Optimus Prime.'

'The same here Mr Prime. I am here to negotiate with you on behalf of my government.'

There was a pause before he extended his hand. 'I think that would be a good idea. We need to have no secrets between our two peoples and to start we Autobots will demonstrate our power. Do not be afraid.'

End chapter 4