Chapter 9
Jarod found himself suspended in zero-gravity. Looking "up," he saw what was left of the bridge. He activated his maneuvering thrusters and soared in through the gaping hole. He entered right as a plasma charge knifed through the space outside, melting part of the outer bulkhead in its wake.
Arcee watched as the massive ship approached, launching smaller craft to land troops. The emotions that ran through her systems were that of anticipation… and dread. As the ships got closer, Arcee deployed her Energon blasters. The battle was about to begin.
She looked down at Jack, catching sight of his determined expression, one he forged in their absence to not show fear, and his tensed muscular stance. 'Oh Jack! I pray to Primus that we'll be together for as long as we can; and that you can join me in the Allspark,' she thought. She looked back just as the ships entered the atmosphere.
Jarod reached the command console, and to his relief, it was still operational. Activating the sensory/targeting system, he mapped out the battle in a three-dimensional overview hologram. Then inputted commands to the navigation and maneuvering systems. Jarod jetted toward the gaping hole, reaching the edge as a turbolaser blast streamed too close for normal comfort. He crawled himself over to the outer airlock door two decks down, practically hugging the exterior. His plan was to use the airlock like a kind of cannon to blast himself toward Terran; thing was, the airlock was fused to the ship, and at the moment It wasn't even rightly oriented perpendicular to the planet. Jarod would have to wait for the maneuvering systems to kick in. He didn't wait long.
As soon as the Mourning Star was oriented right, Jarod opened the airlock doors. All the pressurized air still inside rushed out, propelling Jarod, along with anything not secured inside, faster than his own thrusters could carry him.
When the Cyrostian ships entered airspace, the Terrans attacked, and almost half fell to a smashing, burning death. The few that landed were soon shot down after discharging their troops. Of the troops they had, the majority were simple grunts, cannon fodder, and those were taken down by bullets like turkeys. The problem was the heavies, the giant, cockroachian monsters that stood a good eight feet tall; and the few xeno-mechs, colossal, mantis-like four-legged titans powerful enough to tear through solid Cybertronian steel. Those were the ones that stormed after Jack and Arcee, slaying any others that got in their way.
Arcee was blasting away at the swarm, along with the military force and volunteer militia. Jack was shooting with his newly acquired plasma rifle as well; but, to Jack and Arcee's horror, the alien horde slaughtered the paramilitary forces nearby, leaving the two alive, captured, but alive. A few moments later, they were forced into bondage.
Arcee fought against it, resulting in her electrocution by a specially designed xeno-mech. crying out in pain, she fell to her servos-and-knees, making Jack wrench free and run to his lover. "Arcee!" he yelled out of worry. The Cyrostians caught and subdued him before he could reach her. "Arcee wake up!" Jack yelled one last time before he was knocked unconscious; however, he thought he heard her moan, "Jack?" before he blacked out.
The insectoid Cyrostians then carried the unconscious body of Jack, and the semi-conscious form of Arcee, to a transport ship, and then off to the Hiveship. The prisoners had a meeting with their Queen.