Chapter 3
Land Raider watched the planet rotating slowly below the ship, amazed at the similarities between it and Cybertron, before the war had destroyed it. He sighed, catching the attention of Salder, sat at the diagnostics station, still tinkering with the small piece of metal.
"What's the problem Raider?" the medic asked.
Land Raider turned to look at Salder, "I don't know old friend," he smiled wryly, "Just looking at this planet makes me feel peaceful, I wish we could just bring all the Autobots here and leave the Decepticons behind."
"And abandon Cybertron." Salder was shocked, "You know Prime would never agree to that."
"I know Salder," he paused, "and he'd be right as well. Even if we left, the Decepticons would just follow us anyway."
The conversation was interrupted by the crackle of the comm. "Land Raider, this is Beebop come in please."
Land Raider activated the comm. "Go ahead Beebop, what have you got?"
"I've just picked up Celestian on the scope, ETA 10 minutes," Beebop went silent over the comm.
Salder gave Land Raider a look which he recognised instantly, "What else Beebop?"
Hesitantly the reply came over the comm. "I picked up another energy spike, but it was there and gone so fast I couldn't get an exact fix on a location, I did manage to narrow it down though."
Land Raider looked at Salder, "Okay Beebop, we're on our way down to you now. Land Raider out."
"Well looks like we might have found something after all." Salder said, getting to his feet.
Land Raider did not reply, something in Beebops voice had him worried. The two Autobots exited the bridge and made their way to the scanner room.
Celestian landed in the loading bay and transformed. He looked around at the empty chamber, the massive warehouse void of the activity of just a few hours previous. The others on the planet would be starting to scan for the energy source Flakk had detected, the big bot wondered why Land Raider had called him back but shrugged, Raider was his leader and he would follow him no matter what he ordered. Celestian shook his head, then made his way out of the door, activating his comm. link as he entered the lift.
"Raider, this is Celestian, I'm back as ordered." he waited patiently for a response. None came.
"Land Raider, come in please." He repeated his transmission. Once again waiting for a response.
"Received Celestian, Head down to scanner control, we have a situation."
Celestian, immediately recognising the urgency in Land Raiders voice, changed the destination on the lift controls from the bridge to scanner control.
Land Raider stared at the screen, there was the energy spike, and if Beebop's readings were correct, it had appeared just a few kilometres from the base his team had set up.
"Beebop, how long ago was this?" he asked the smaller blue bot.
"About five minutes before I called you down here boss." he replied, "So fifteen minutes ago."
The door behind them hissed open and Celestian came in, "What's going on Raider?" he asked as he entered. Concern registering in his voice.
"We've picked up another energy reading," Land Raider replied, "Somewhere in this region, although we're not sure where exactly."
Celestian looked at the screen, "How sure are you the spike came from here?" he turned and stared at Beebop.
"It's just a general estimate," Beebop answered uncomfortable under Celestians glare, "but definitely somewhere in that region."
"What's wrong Celestian?" Land Raider put his hand on the white Autobots shoulder and turned him round
"That's where Flightback and Slipstreak were scouting before I left." Celestian turned to activate the comm when it hissed to life on it's own.
"Come in Land Raider, this is Flakk, please respond."
"Flakk!" Land Raider responded, "This is Land Raider, we've just picked up another energy spike in your vicinity, what is the situation?"
"Flightback reported back about five minutes ago and said one of the pillars swallowed Streak. Valkyrion and the others have gone to investigate."
"Alright Flakk." Land Raider cut him off, " Celestian and Salder are coming back down to you, get in touch with the others, tell them not to do anything until they arrive. Land Raider out."
The comm went dead as Land Raider turned to Celestian and Salder, "Get down there and assess the situation,find Slipstreak and make sure he's okay, then I want you back up here Celestian, you're going to be very busy for a while I'm afraid."
"So what's new Raider, I'm always busy." Celestian laughed.
As the two turned to leave, an alarm sounded on the scanner console, "What now Beebop?" the three turned back to the blue bot.
"Another energy reading Raider," he paused as he checked the signal, "but it's not coming from the planet."
"Then were is it coming from?" Salder asked him.
"Behind us... Brace for impact!" Beebop screamed as he grabbed the edge of the console.
A second later the ship vibrated violently as it was struck by something. Alarms sounded throughout the ship as a second and third impact rocked the Autobots in the ship.
"Get to the bridge, double time." Land Raider ordered. And the four Autobots ran as best they could, as more concussions rocked the ship.
On the bridge, all was smoke and sparking instruments, damaged consoles and blown out monitors leaking more and more smoke into the enclosed atmosphere. The four Autobots sat at the first functioning system they found and began searching for their assailants.
"Got it!" Celestian called, "Bringing it up on all monitors now."
On each of their screens a sleek, black craft appeared, green beams of energy lancing from its prow to punch into the hull of the Autobot shuttle. As each blast struck the ship, the tremors worsened, more alarms began to sound.
"Raider!" Salder called above the noise, "Engines are going critical, we need to get out of here now!"
Land Raider glared at his monitor as the ship turned broadside to them, showing more gun emplacements and a large purple symbol, the Decepticons had followed them.
"Right then Autobots, abandon ship, let' get out of here." Land Raider stood and watched as the others left the bridge ahead of him, once the others were off the bridge he turned and followed them toward the launch bay.
As they reached the launch bay Salder called out, "Less than a minute until engines critical. We're running out of time."
"Celestian, transform." Land Raider ordered.
Celestian transformed and Salder and Beebop sprinted into his passenger compartment, Land Raider turned to the bay doors and, aiming his shoulder cannon, fired, blowing the door away and venting the smoky atmosphere into space, before he could even turn, he was caught in the explosive decompression and sucked out into the void.
"Raider," Celestian screamed as his leader disappeared out of the new hole in the hull. He blasted off after him, angling in the direction Land Raider had gone as he exited the ship.
It took only seconds for Celestian to locate Land Raider, but in those few seconds, then engines of the ship went critical, causing a massive explosion, the shockwave sending Celestian and his passengers uncontrolled down towards the planet, it also meant Celestian lost sight of Land Raider. It took Celestian a minute to regain control of his flight and get himself back onto a stable re-entry path. Still scanning for Land Raider. After a few more minutes he located him, free falling into the atmosphere of the planet. He changed his trajectory to intercept his falling leader, it would be risky, the angle of re-entry was dangerously steep, but if he did nothing Land Raider was dead.
The heat was excruciating as Celestian burned into the upper atmosphere, closing in on his target all the time. Eventually, after what seemed an eternity, screaming in pain, Celestian caught up to Land Raider and managed to get below him, opening his hatch, Salder leaned out and managed to hook Land Raider into the compartment and Celestian shut the hatch again with relief.
"We're coming in too hot guys." Celestian shouted, the pain coursing through his circuits, "Strap in and hold on, impact in two minutes.
Salder and Beebop secured the unconscious Land Raider into one of the cargo harnesses then strapped themselves down. When he impacted on the ground two minutes later, Celestian cut a long crater, then bounced and collided with one of the massive towers, ploughing straight through it, he came to a sudden, violent stop against the next one, sliding down it's metallic surface with a screeching of metal on metal. Leaving only a steaming metal wreck at the bottom.