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Cyber Ninja Dojo. 3 Days before Launch
Prowl watched the screen earnestly. Scoop had managed to set up a camera to record the Decepticon's activities as they worked, and he didn't like what he saw. Vehicon Miner Drones, hundreds of them, were marching their way into the Nemesis, followed by drills and several other large machines used for mining. This confirmed Prowl's suspicions about the Decepticon's plans for the ship. His fingers went to the keypad and he opened up a data link to Optimus Prime and sent him a feed of the video that was playing. He knew that it would be a while before he heard back from him, but he knew that he would soon.
Angel walked over to him and placed a servo on his shoulder. "Master, the other students are waiting to start training." She said. It was becoming a regularity to have to remind Prowl of his students. The Tactician sighed as he stood up.
"I suppose that you're right Angel. Come, we shall go teach the students." He said and began to lead her away but Angel found her optics wandering back toward the screen, showing that the Decepticons were gearing the Nemesis up for a war.
She looked back at her Sensei and noticed the slight glaze in his optics. Prowl was concerned about this whole thing, concerned for his students, the Autobot cause, and concerned for the future of Cybertron
Autobot City: Optimus Primes quarters
Since the outbreak of the war, Optimus Prime had done many things and made many a choice that few had agreed with and many had opposed. As he sat and watched the video feed, he knew that he was about to make another one, another choice that would have opposition.
Optimus reached over and switched off the feed, showing the Decepticons still loading the Nemesis with supplies and then brought up a screen. He typed some words in Cybertronian and then tapped the screen.
At that moment the face of an Autobot with a large midsection, colored red with white details, a visor and a faceplate appeared.
"Well I'll be slagged if it isn't Optimus Prime calling down little old me." The mech said in a gravelly voice. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" he withdrew the faceplate and spat a little. Optimus let out a sigh. Leadfoot was one of the chief engineers on Space Craft but he had a very bad temper, not helped by the fact that his brother, Crosshairs, had recently been declared a criminal by Optimus.
"Leadfoot, I require a ship: a fairly decently sized one that can transport large amounts of energon."
Leadfoot let out a hearty laugh. "We got hundreds of these ships here, Optimus. All of them have been sitting around rusting for years now. Why the sudden need for one?" Leadfoot asked and then glared at Optimus. "The "Chosen Prime" isn't thinking of abandoning us now is he?"
Behind his faceplate Optimus scowled. In the early days of possessing the Matrix, he had tried to flee the duty of bring Prime more than once, but he had been stopped by Alpha Trion every time. He hated being reminded of those times, even now he had entertained the thought.
He shook the thoughts from his head and gave Leadfoot a pointed look and spoke in a harsh tone. "I need a ship to hunt down the Decepticons that are going to the planet that was seeded."
:Leadfoot looked at Optimus and shook his head. "All ya had to do was ask, Optimus, and you shall receive."
Optimus rolled his optics. "I need one ready as soon as possible, Leadfoot. How soon can you have one ready?"
Leadfoot chuckled. "We've got the ships prime, we just need the energon."
Optimus sighed once again. "We're going to have to do some major cutting to certain areas then." He muttered. "I need that ship ready and fueled up in less than two days."
"We can do it in even less, Optimus; just provide us with the energon and we'll get ya a ship all fired up." Leadfoot replied. Optimus gave a nod.
"I'll get you the energon, be ready for it, Optimus out." He said and then shut off the link to the shipyards. He sighed as he leaned back in his seat once more. He was growing concerned; they barely had enough energon to run the city at this rate. The way the Energon wells were replenishing was slower than ever. But the Decepticons could not be allowed to succeed in their plans. Optimus pressed a few buttons on his com channel and opened it up to Ultra Magnus.
"Magnus, this is Prime." Optimus began as Magnus snapped to attention. "I need you to tell me the outposts and bases that haven't seen a Decepticon in over three stellar cycles."
"Any reason for this, Optimus?" Magnus asked arcing an optic.
"I'm going to be pulling back all unnecessary outposts and withdrawing those forces to other outposts or Autobot City to conserve energon. The Decepticons are making a play to head to their target planet."
"Say no more Optimus. I was planning to have the Peace keeper armor bring it up at the next meeting." Magnus began and started to read off of a small list. "We have fifteen outposts around the rust sea, the ruins of Burthov, the remains of Durex, and Nuon City. I think that they just wrapped up dealing with an Chompizoid infestation as well as Rodion.." Magnus said. Optimus raised a hand. "Would that conserve enough energon to power a ship to the target planet that was seeded?"
Ultra Magnus gave a sigh and a shrug. "You're going to have to make that call, Optimus-but do you want those outposts pulled out?"
The Prime gave a sigh. "Please do Ultra Magnus," he said before terminating the call. He sat for a moment before grabbing the intercom and then turning it on. It was now or never.
"Attention, all Autobots…"
Throughout Autobot City, everything was normal. Things were running smoothly with bots running to and from their duties. However, everyone stopped when Optimus Prime's voice came over the loudspeaker.
"Attention all Autobots: the Decepticons are making a move to mine the energon that they seeded."
Inside his room Ironhide looked up and opened up the doorway to hear well as Primes voice echoed.
"I do not need to tell you what will happen if the Decepticons get all of that energon and restock their supply before we do. In response I am going to personally lead a mission to the seeded world."
Inside the communications hub, Sari stood next to a dark bluish-green Autobot who had a tiny sparkling on her lab. All three of them had stopped their work to listen.
"The Decepticons have already tainted the planet, and I cannot, I will not, allow them to destroy another planet as they have Cybertron."
Hound and Jazz looked up from where they were chatting with a small young white and blue Autobot, in the rec room while Bumblebee kept his head down. A grin crept onto Jazz's face.
"Spoken like a true leader, Orion." He whispered.
"Under normal circumstances I would not ask you to leave Cybertron like this, but today I ask you now, will you join me in stopping the Decepticon war machine, or will you stand by as the Decepticons run this city, your allies, your friends into the ground? Will you help in making a play that may, no, WILL help us end the war with the Decepticons?" Optimus called out. Throughout the base there were murmurs. However, some Autobots began cheering, some clapping. Optimus could hear the noise and turned off the speaker as he heard his personal com ping.
"Now, there's a rousing speech, Prime!" Jazz said with a laugh. Optimus chuckled but it faded quickly. He had probably won the troops, but now he had to win the battle.
2 days before the launch.
It had come as no surprise to everyone when a data pad was slid into their rooms with their name asking if they were joining the mission to the target planet. The Data pad would highlight their name once chosen and they would either leave it alone or cross it off.
Much to Prowl's dismay they were many names that were crossed off as he walked down the hallways of the base. He stared at the list of who confirmed that they were coming:Warpath, Skids, some kid named Tailgate, Chromia. Perceptor wanted to study the geology of the planet. However, his thoughts were interrupted as a door opened and Hound walked out.
"Ah, Hound." Prowl said, causing him to jump.
"Hey, Prowl…this is a bad time...he's in one of his moods." Hound began. Prowl rolled his optics.
"When isn't Ironhide in a mood?" Prowl asked sarcastically. Hound shot him a look and Prowl raised his arms up. "I'm just kidding, Hound! Geez, you try and develop a sense of humor and everyone goes for your head."
"Sometimes the joke's not funny, Prowl." Hound said as Prowl handed him the data pad. As he scanned through it, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Hound and Prowl looked up at the bulky image of Ironhide looking at them, a very stoic look on his face.
"What ya got there, Hound?" He asked simply and then shot a glare at Prowl.
"Signup sheet for the mission to the planet your friends targeted." Prowl answered simply. Both Ironhide and Hound shot him a look, Ironhide letting forth an animalistic growl as well. Ironhide stopped, knowing full well that arguing with Prowl on the matter that he was no longer a Decepticon was futile. He looked over Hound's shoulder and noticed that his own name was on there but crossed out.
"Why's ma name in there?" He asked and Hound looked at it and then back at Prowl who gave a meek shrug.
"Optimus said that all residents of Iacon had to be on the list, and I took the liberty of assuming that you wouldn't want to go on the mission."
"Screw ya and your liberties!" Ironhide suddenly shouted and grabbed the data pad. He uncrossed his name and shoving back into Prowl's hands before turning on his heel and storming back into his room. Prowl looked at the list and shuddered; Ironhide's name was not only crossed off, but somehow he had figured out how to make it so he was "accepted." Prowl looked at Hound, who was crossing his arms.
"Listen Hound, I didn't mean any harm-" But Hound raised his hand.
"I know that you didn't for once, Prowl, but still let him make the choice. You'd better put me as on the mission as well, someone's got to run damage control with Hide."
Prowl gave a nod and tapped Hound's name with a check mark.
"Thank you… both for your time. You have two days to pack." He said before walking off. Hound sighed before turning and walking to the room where Ironhide sat staring at him.
"What the heck did you do that for?" Hound asked a little sharply. "I thought you said that you didn't want to be a part of any mission."
"I don't," Ironhide with a grunt. "But I want to get off of Cybertron."
"What?" Hound said in shock and looked at Ironhide. "Why-why the Frag would you want to leave Cybertron!?"
Ironhide looked to the side and then back to Hound. "It's not because of you, Hound. You've been a good friend me ta me…but I feel like thar's nothing left for me here." He said, leaning back.
"What do you mean by that?" Hound asked. Ironhide looked back at him.
"Hardly anyone trusts me, kiddo. I've tried to reach out and contact other bots to give what little info I can, but guess what, I apparently killed a friend of a friend of theirs and they don't want me." He scoffed. Hound looked down a little.
"So what do you think you're going to get out of this mission, Hide?" Hound asked while crossing his arms.
"I don't know yet." Ironhide said looking away from Hound's disapproving frown and look. "All I know is I want ta get offa Cybertron." He said and then turned his whole body away from Hound.
"Do you even have any idea of where you'll go?" Hound asked skeptically. Ironhide glanced back toward him.
"No idea." He put it simply and then went silent once more. and Hound crossed his arms. "Well, don't think that you're getting rid of me so easily, Hide. I'm going on the mission as well."
"Don't do just because of what I'm doing." Ironhide shot back.
"I-it's not." Hound said looking away for a second. "I've always wanted to explore another planet besides Cybertron, so this is the perfect chance." All he got back from Ironhide was a sneer. Hound found himself sighing before turning and leaving.
"I'm getting stuff around for the trip, Ironhide... I guess I'll see you at the launch…" He said simply before lowering his head, turning and then walking away. Ironhide turned and watched him go for a moment, before laying his body down and falling into recharge
Prowl made his way to the communications hub. He was hoping that he could persuade some of them to come with those on the mission, seeing as how they would need communications, but most of the bots turned down the offer in favor of the war effort on Cybertron.
As he made his way near the back, he saw a greenish-blue fem with a small femling sitting on her leg and playing with a small toy.
"Evening Flashback; little Flare Up." Prowl said. Flashback turned to face him.
The sparkling now identified as Flare Up gave a small wave to him and a big grin. "Hi!" Flare Up said.
Flashback looked at Prowl. "Sup, Prowler." She said.
Prowl sighed; it seemed like everyone he knew also knew Jazz. "I'm looking for recruits for the mission to the Decepticons target planet."
"Sounds dangerous. Can I go?" Flare Up asked looking at her caretaker and receiving a frank look in return.
"Heck no, little miss; you are way too young to be trying to fight the Cons." Flashback responded and Flare up began pouting.
"So, I'll assume that you don't want to go?" Prowl asked a bit angrily. He was hoping that he could convince Flashback as she was one of the most loyal Autobots he knew.
"Sorry Prowl, but I've got my own work to do, as well as raising little Miss Flare here." She said and scratched Flare Up's head a little. "It's not that I don't want too; I just can't."
"I understand. Good luck with it." Prowl said and turned away, sighing as he crossed her name off. As he turned to leave, however, he heard a little voice pipe up.
"Are Minicons allowed on this trip?" Prowl turned to see Sari jump down from some of the overhead wires. Sari had recovered from almost draining herself back in Kaon and had been helping doing odd jobs suited for her size around the city since then.
"I don't know if we're going to have use of your skills on this mission Sari." Prowl put simply.
Sari frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"It's an organic world, Sari; your hacking powers, even if they have improved, will not be useful there." Prowl said.
Sari raised a hand to stop him. "How do you know that? Besides, what if you need a scout, or someone tiny enough that they can get into certain areas without harming the life there?" Sari asked. Prowl gave her a look. She had a point but he shook his head.
"I'm sorry. However if you could ask Bumblebee-"
"Yeah no." Sari said. "Bee won't do ANYHTING for you Prowl after you threw him under the bus with the whole Straxus affair." Sari said and gave Prowl a glare.
"I didn't mean to leave him there, I just couldn't get back up in the time that he needed!" Prowl defended but Sari shook her head.
"No dice Prowl, Bumblebee's not going to buy any slag that you throw at him." She said. Prowl sighed.
"Then what the frag am I supposed to do?" Prowl said with a growl. "Bumblebee is one of the best scouts we have and we need to him on this mission!" Prowl shouted. Sari stepped back a little.
"Whoa, Prowl, take it easy, will ya?" She asked. Prowl looked at her and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Well...I could talk to Bumblebee if-and only if-I'm allowed on this mission." Sari said and placed her hands on her hips.
Prowl looked up at her and then frowned. He racked his processor trying to figure out another solution. He didn't have time to try and convince Bumblebee, and he wasn't about to make a big scene by forcing Bumblebee to come on the mission.
"If you get him to go along with the mission you can come. If you cannot, don't bother showing up on launch day." Prowl said and walked away while Sari pumped her fist into the air.
Prowl sighed as he looked at the names so far on the list. There were less than fifteen names of those going to go on the mission and even more Autobots to go. He headed for the med bay with a sigh. At the rate things were going the mission wasn't just going to be a failure; it was going to be a disaster.
Kaon.
Megatron stood in his personnel room, now once again overlooking Kaon, except this time it was in the very middle of the city and had been personally built just for him.
He crossed his arms and watched as down below Decepticons scurried around, building the city and readying it for war.
He was going to be a part of the mission to the target planet. He didn't trust anyone else except himself with such an important task, and even more so, he didn't trust Shockwave at all. There was a time when he might have been more lenient, but as of late Shockwave had begun to act and speak out against him.
This would not stand for Megatron. Even more troubling was the reports that Shockwave had entered the Nemesis and then later left. Megatron had no doubts that Shockwave had tampered with the warship. His warship.
Whatever Shockwave had planned, Megatron knew that he wouldn't enact it unless he knew that it couldn't harm him. He turned to face a fixture, dark blue in color as it began to shift and melt into the form of Soundwave.
"Soundwave, I would like you to send a message to Shockwave." He said, his optics flashing crimson. "Tell him that he is to join us on our little 'mission' to his target planet." Megatron said.
Soundwave cocked an eyebrow. Megatron noticed a lack of response from Soundwave and he turned to face his communications officer.
"Do you have something to say Soundwave?" Megatron asked as he stared him down. Soundwave looked to the side a little.
"Negative, Lord Megatron." Soundwave said. Megatron turned away, a little unconvinced.
"Send the message Soundwave." He ordered simply and turned away from him. Soundwave stood for a few seconds before he began to open a channel to Shockwave's laboratory.
"What should I tell Shockwave?" Soundwave asked and Megatron turned to him. "Is there an excuse I should provide him with? not giving one gives him the opportunity to figure it out and run."
"I don't care." Megatron growled. "No matter what we say, Shockwave in the end will no doubt know, therefore if he runs then we know he's guilty." Megatron said with a sneer.
Soundwave nodded though still unsure as he opened up the com channel to Shockwaves' laboratory.
"Shockwave, Lord Megatron requests your presence on our mission to the target planet-"
"-this is not a request but rather an order, Lord Megatron will not tolerate it if you are late."
Soundwave's voice echoed throughout the laboratory. Shockwave sat at his desk. Though his face remained expressionless as normal, his mind was racing a million miles per second.
He flipped off the con channel as Soundwave finished.
"This is… problematic. Megatron must know about my sabotage." He mused. He began to calculate the options of what Megatron wished. Either he was hoping that Shockwave wouldn't activate the bombs if he was on board the Nemesis, or he was going to execute him the day of the launch. The third option, Megatron was going to leave him stranded on the target planet, or just kill him and leave him there.
To Shockwave, none of those options sounded promising. He had to find a way out of the mission. But how? He looked at his computer and pulled up some schematics and blue prints.
"I suppose that this could be a good excuse to get started on these." He mused as he walked over to his work. What he was about to do flew in the face of all logic, and everything that Shockwave stood for. But as far as Shockwave was concerned, it was going to be a very large bump on the road to a greater path.
"Are you sure this is wise, Lord Megatron?" Soundwave asked as Megatron chuckled.
"It may not be wise, but I am not willing to let Shockwave out of my sight; I grow suspicious of him and his machinations." He said, walking over and looking at Shockwave's tower.
"I've multiplied the guards around every exit and entrance to this city. The only way for Shockwave to get out of this is to be killed, or captured-" He began when the top of Shockwave's tower blew up in a large ball of fire!
Kaon shook and rumbled as the tower's top half began to fall into the city. Megatron stood agape with his jaw slack as Soundwave walked over to him.
"It seems that your wish has been granted, Lord Megatron." Soundwave said.
Megatron didn't respond but instead he walked out of the room and out onto his balcony where he transformed into his alt mode. With a burst from his engines, Megatron soared off to the smoldering tower. He transformed and landed, looking around. The entire lab was in ruins; what was left standing was now mostly useless as well as on fire.
Megatron stormed across the ruined floor, keeping mind to avoid several large holes until he spotted Shockwave, laying on the ground with several blast wounds across his body.
As he got closer, Megatron noticed that his arm cannon was gone. In fact the entire arm was missing and his lone optic had been cracked.
"Lord Megatron…" Shockwave whispered as Megatron walked over.
"I knew that you would want to cover your tracks and get out of the mission; but I am impressed how far you took it." Megatron sneered as he walked over and grabbed Shockwave's chest.
"it...was not my...doing...Lord Megatron.." Shockwave said. Megatron sneered.
"Really? And I suppose that you have "proof?" He asked. Shockwave gave a nod but Megatron just laughed.
"Your computer's gone, Shockwave, up in smoke like the rest of your lab." He drew his face closer to Shockwave's. "So whatever 'proof' you may possess, I would love to see it, otherwise I will finish what you intended to do." He said. Shockwave raised up his one good arm left. and pulled up a hologram of security footage.
"I...had… the cameras wired to my circuitry for intruder alerts…" Shockwave muttered as he looked at Megatron.
Megatron watched the footage with a stern growl. He saw Shockwave working and then Soundwave's transmission was sent. After that Shockwave walked over to his table, right as the elevator doors opened and three Constructicons stepped into the room.
Before Megatron's optics, the Constructicons revealed themselves to be Autobots and set to work fighting Shockwave, ending in the lab exploding.
Megatron's optics went wide in terror.
"The Autobots know of our plans?" he gasped as he dropped Shockwave. Shockwave stumbled to his feet.
"That appears to be the case...Lord Megatron." He said. Shockwave knew that he had Megatron; disguising those three Constructicons as the Autobots, Scoop, Quickmix and Landfill had worked. Megatron's ego was crushed with the thought that Autobots had been masquerading as his work force.
Megatron growled as he stormed out of the tower before he looked at Shockwave. Shockwave was barely able to stand. He was leaking energon everywhere, and was down to the one arm; his left leg was stripped of armor up to the knee, and his chest was fractured.
He raised his arm to his com channel.
"Oil Slick, Knock Out, Flatline- Shockwave is in need of critical care. Please come and retrieve him." he said. Shockwave looked up.
"Put him into a stasis pod, I would like him to heal in time for my return from my voyage." he said, looking at Shockwave, before he transformed into jet mode and flew into the sky. Some might look at his decision as illogical, keeping Shockwave alive but in stasis. Maybe it was his generosity peeking out for once and offering Shockwave a second chance; or,most likely, he wanted to come back from the mission successful and let Shockwave stew in his anger.
But first another matter needed to be dealt with.
"Soundwave, we have Autobot infiltrates among the Constructicons, and the Autobots know of our plans. Relay a message to Hailstorm and his team; if the Autobots launch tomorrow, shoot them out of the sky!"
Launch Day. Autobot City.
Standing on the ramp leading from to the ship Leadfoot had readied, Optimus looked down at the Autobots. Many of them were well-wishers to those setting off on the mission. Normally a sight like this would have filled a leader with pride. However, for Optimus, he was looking at the crew sheet and the number of Autobots actually coming on the than thirty names were on the list. He shook his head a little. Minerva walked out of the ship and looked at the crowd. Ratchet had signed her up to give her some field training and had stocked the ship with as many medical supplies as possible.
"Minerva, how are you feeling?" Optimus asked as he looked the fem over. She was shaking a little but she put on a brave smile.
"I-I'm fine commander… just a bit nervous. This is my first time on the field… but Ratchet's been training me pretty well." She said and looked to the side. Optimus nodded a little as he noticed Hound coming toward the ship. The crowds went a little silent when they saw that Ironhide was walking right behind him as well.
Hound walked over to the ship and gave a salute. "We're ready to board, Prime." He said. Ironhide gave a grunt as he looked at Optimus.
"Are you, um, sure it is wise to come along, Ironhide?" Optimus asked. Ironhide sneered.
"What, are ya'll worried that I'm gonna be a little sabotage mini con?" Ironhide asked as he stepped forward, looming over Optimus. "Ya think that I'm gonna stab ya'll in the back at the first chance of trouble, or betray ya'll to Megatron!?" Ironhide roared. Hound tried to push him away from Prime.
"Ironhide, take it easy.." Hound whispered. Optimus raised his hands.
"I just mean that you might get targeted by the Decepticons-" Optimus began, but a growl from Ironhide cut him off.
"I'll be fine!" The mech snapped before storming on board the ship. Hound, Optimus and Minerva watched him retreat.
"Sorry Optimus, but he insisted on coming along." Hound said. Optimus patted his shoulder.
"I'm alright with it, Hound… the only person who may have a problem is Prowl." He said as Prowl walked out of the ship with Jazz.
"Yeah, and odds are it's something with Prowler that's caused it!" Jazz smirked. Prowl shot him a look. Jazz looked out at the crowd with a smirk.
"Lot of people coming out here to take our last known holo rez." he said with a chuckle. Prowl glared at him.
"Oh, it's just a joke." Jazz said with a small chuckle as he looked out over the throng of Autobots. "The Cons-"
-don't even know what we're about to do!"
On top of a building overlooking the now-opened hanger bay stood a small cluster of Decepticons, all of them large, bulky and armed to the teeth. A large, squat Decepticon named Hailstorm stood on the edge of the building, a targeting system over his left optic His com had tapped into several Autobot coms.
Behind him were four other Decepticons: Gunbarrel, Crankstart, Dropshot and Bombshock. He turned to face them.
"Lord Megatron was right; the Autobots are planning to head off-world after the energon." He said as he walked over. "Get yourselves into firing positions and let me know when you have the Autobots targeted!"
The four Decepticons began to scatter. Hailstorm raised the com channel.
"Lord Megatron, we have the Autobots in sight. They're getting ready to launch." He said, making his way over to the side of the building. "Do we have permission to fire?"
"The Autobots cannot be allowed to get off-world. Fire at them now!" Megatron's voice boomed over the channel.
"Yes, Lord Megatron." Hailstorm said as he closed the channel. He turned to his companions. "We're good to fire; get into positions and let loose pit on the Autobots!"
The Decepticons let out cheers and wicked cackles as they got into position. Hailstorm himself transformed into his mobile artillery mode and aimed his missiles at the hanger.
"Get ready to eat slag, Autobots." He hissed, a grin spreading across his face.
"Bumblebee, glad to see that ya actually came out for this!" Jazz said happily. Prowl snapped his head up. Bumblebee walked up to the ramp, keeping his head low and his optics away from Prowl. Sari sat on his shoulder with a triumphant grin.
"Told you I could get him on board." She said smugly. Prowl rolled his optics.
"Fine, you can come along… a deal's a deal…" Prowl trailed off as Sari pumped her fist and then tapped Bee's head.
"Let's get ourselves a good room, big guy." She said with a grin. Beneath the show, of his helmet a smile played along Bee's lips as he got inside the ship. As he entered, however, several crowd members began to look past the ship.
A yellow and white mech looked at the bot next to him who was several different shades of blue.
"Kraft… are those shooting stars?" He asked. The femme used her optics to peer closer.
"Nope, those would be missiles..." She trailed off, optics widening. She grabbed the mech and pulled him to the ground as several rockets flew overhead and slammed into two ships behind them. The hanger bay rocked as more rockets peppered the side of the base and the floor.
"What the frag!?" Optimus shouted as he ran out of the ship. "Prowl, Jazz what's going on?!"
"The Cons found us out, we're being shot at!" Jazz shouted as several rockets exploded in the crowd of Autobots. Several of the observers were blown to bits upon impact. More rockets slammed into the side of the ship, shoving it back.
*You should use another verb beside "slam;" it's getting repetitive. Use an online thesaurus if you want to find other suitable words.
"How did ol' Buckethead find out?" Hound asked as he stumbled onto the gangway.
"I don't know, but we need to get everyone out of here!" Optimus ordered. Just then, a rocket from Dropshot flew under the ship and struck the gangway, knocking it upward. The four Autobots were knocked back into the ship as the hatch closed, the sounds of screaming and rockets firing becoming muffled. Optimus looked around.
"What just happened?" He asked as Jazz rushed over to the door.
"We got knocked in here when the gangway blew up!" He cried. He kept trying to hit the button that should have opened the door.
"The fragging door's jammed!" Jazz cried out as the others came rushing from their rooms. Another couple of rockets hit the side of the ship and pushed it back further as Optimus's com went off.
"Prime, it's Magnus; the cities taking a pounding and we've got word that there are legions of fliers heading our way!" Magnus said with worry as he and Elita began trying to lead the civilians and other Autobots out.
"They're trying to keep us from flying!" Prowl growled. Optimus looked away.
"Any suggested course of action?" he asked, knowing he would dread the answer.
"We're going to raise the city's defenses. That will hold them off, but if you want your mission to go, you have to go now!" Magnus said aloud. Optimus's optics scanned the bots around the ship. Less than ten Autobots were onboard , and he knew that Wheeljack would be waiting on the target planet's moon.
But would it be enough?
Optimus gave a sigh as he turned off the channel and looked at the Autobots.
"Jazz...start up the ship." He said wearily. Everyone looked at him.
"Prime… not to question ya, dog, but the Cons are pounding at us and we barely have a crew!" Jazz said.
Optimus snapped around at him. "We've only got one chance for this mission to even marginally be a success, and that is right now!" He shouted as another rocket hit the ship. "If we don't and the Decepticons get ahead, all the energon we sacrificed will be in vain!"
Jazz and Prowl looked at Prime and then each other before they began running for the bridge.
"Bumblebee, Hound, get to the defense cannons! We're going to leave the Decepticons a present for coming to our going-away party!" Optimus said. He paused and looked at Ironhide.
"No offense..." He added weakly. Ironhide sneered.
"Ah never liked Hailstorm anyway." He said.
Up on the roof, Hailstorm watched as the ship fired up its engines.
"The Autobots are trying to get away!" he growled. He spun to look at his team.
"As soon as they get out of that hanger, blow them to bits!" He ordered. The Decepticons all turned their weaponry on the ship.
On the bridge, Prowl and Jazz sat nervously as they began to fly forward. Near the rear of the ship, a panel opened up, and a pair of mounted turrets moved out of the side. Sitting on the mounted turrets were Hound and Bumblebee.
"Okay… so how do we take out the cons without blowing them to atoms?" Hound mumbled. Bumblebee looked through his viewfinder. He moved the turret up and down on the cons before he lowered it and opened fire.
"How long till we fire?" Longshot asked as they watched the ship draw nearer.
"Wait a bit..." Hailstorm said as he narrowed his own sights. He raised his arm and motioned with his fingers. The other Decepticons kept their sights on the ship and Hailstorm's fingers. Right as Hailstorm threw his hand down, the building rocked with a mighty blast. The Decepticons were sent stumbling.
Hound turned to look at Bumblebee.
"There's an idea. Why didn't you say something?" He asked as he began firing. Bumblebee shot Hound a look as he pounded the building with weapons-fire.
The Decepticons tried to regain their bearings as the barrage slammed into the building. It began to tilt to one side. Hailstorm screamed at the ship and fired off a few rockets as the building toppled over, crashing into the remains of Iacon and dumping the Decepticons all over the ground.
"WOO!" Sari cheered from her perch on Bee's shoulder as the guns retracted in.
"Great job, you two!" Optimus said over the intercom as Jazz typed a few commands into the computer.
"Jazz to Autobot city, Jazz to Autobot city!" Jazz said. He heard a voice come through the com.
"HI!" Little Flare Up's voice filtered through the speakers, causing Optimus, Prowl, and Jazz to jump. Jazz chuckled as he reached for the com button.
"Hey little Flare, what's up?" Jazz asked with a laugh. Flare Up squeaked as another voice came over the com.
"Flare Up, what did I say about messing with my equipment?" Flashback said as Flare Up eeped and peeped.
"Flashback is that you?" Jazz asked. He heard a yelp of surprise from the other side.
"It's me, sir. I wasn't able to make the farewell party-"
"Let's just say it became a blast. What's going on in the city?" Jazz asked as Optimus dug his fingers into Jazz's chair.
"We're being attacked by the Cons from the air. Commander Magnus is fortifying the city-do you want me to patch you through to him?"
"Negative, Flashback." Optimus said as he stepped up to the mic. "We're on the mission, but keep this channel open-we may need to be in contact with Autobot City."
"Alright Sir. Good luck!" Flashback said as Prime ended the transmission. The bridge went silent as Prowl looked at Optimus.
"We should go back." Prowl muttered. Optimus looked at him.
"We can't go back, Prowl. The Decepticons have no doubt already launched, and we need to get to the target planet before them. If we don't, then that planet will be destroyed-and then they'll bring that energon back and wipe us out!"
Prowl and Jazz both looked down and then back at Optimus.
"So...we're on our own?" Jazz asked simply. All Optimus could do was nod.
"We're on our own."
Well that took a while to complete XD
We finally got the Autobots and Decepticons off Cybertron! Let's see where it all goes from here.
Till next time and if you have any questions, comments or concerns drop me a PM or a review!