Had some time yesterday to figure this whole story out :) Don't worry still more to come but at least I know how it ends, I usually find that the most difficult part to come up with but for now the story continues...

I don't own Transformers or the franchise it stands on

Part Thirteen

William Lennox

NEST was oddly busy that day, both in the fact that autobots and human soldiers alike were deep in the throws of their set tasks. Now days it was often unclear whether they worked in union or kept secrets, the trust was that of a fine silk thread and neither side knew how to bridge this uncomfortable gap.

As for Lennox, he had to say his ties with the autobots had improved somewhat since the whole thing with handing Sam over. Clearly he had proven himself once again in their eyes for aiding in his escape and providing vial information but still, he could tell they held back where once they wouldn't have. For one thing they had yet to mention anything regarding the conversation he had overheard which worried him greatly. If they did intend to defect, they would be stealthy about it, like right now, so he asked a few officers whom he trusted to keep a discreet eye open and prayed they wouldn't get caught.

At that particular time of the day the autobots, who were currently all pulled from active duties by Galloway, were being quite scarce. He was aware Que, who had set up a particularity complex monitoring system in the hopes of catching Decepticons, had started acting in an alarming manner. He cooled himself down fairly quickly though, stating it was nothing but a glitch in the system but Lennox had a sinking suspicion it wasn't. If they found anything they were ordered to report it immediately, in other words Galloway wanted to know everything everyone was currently doing. Lennox scoffed to himself, the man wasn't as all powerful as he thought, and there was much he didn't know like how loyal the majority of NEST soldiers were to their autobot allies, and what information Lennox was currently holding about Galloway's affairs.

He had yet to put a plan in place about Galloway's blatant disregard of human rights, what Lennox really wanted to know was if Reece had been in on it too. Was Reece a major string player or just another puppet who'd been played. So far all the dirt he'd been able to scrounge up had been useless, Reece by all standards was considered a high professional in his field, another thing Lennox questioned. His only option was to confront him, and hope that he would either reveal something in his denial or instigate an investigation of his own.

With that thought in his mind he was able to swiftly track the man down as he left the mess tent. Seeing the area as a bit too crowded for his liking for such a conversation he tailed Reece a short distance to the officers section as he headed to his room. Before Reece entered the building however he stopped before the door and waited.

"I did take basic field training; I know when I'm being followed." He called out. So the man wasn't a complete moron, Lennox didn't like that. Surely he knew what Galloway had been up to then.

"You got me." Lennox halfheartedly put his hands in the air and stepped into view.

"Major Lennox, and how may I help you? Here to voice your concerns on how young Sam was treated? You needn't bother, I've had more then a few words said to me over the last week and not just from your charming autobot friends." Reece actually looked rather defeated at saying this. Lennox had no idea the man had been harassed but it shouldn't have shocked him so. He actually felt slightly better upon hearing this and was glad the guy felt bad, he should, but that annoying conscience in the back of his mind was scolding him. He shouldn't take pleasure in others suffering even if they justly deserved it.

"I needed to ask you something and it's not exactly something you can ask over the dinner table."

"You'll have to be quick then, I have a meeting very shortly." Reece huffed clearly not in the mood tonight.

"Have you been able to locate Ron and Judy Witwicky yet?" He expected Reece's defenses to go up, the show of a lie, but Reece remained passive.

"I can assure you, it would have been much easier if they'd been here before all of this…" He waved his hand about to indicate the present fiasco and pinched the bridge of his nose as if to fight off a headache.

"I suppose that would have made quite a difference, no doubt they would have sided with the autobots to make all the decisions as they trust them just as much as Sam. Kinda odd though that they haven't been able to be found. They're not quiet people and we have good soldiers with specialties that could find you anything and anyone."

An unusual look passed over Reece's eyes and he was sharp enough to grasp Lennox's hidden meaning. "You believe they've already been located?"

"Oh, I know."

The disbelief in Reece's posture was astute and Lennox could only come to the conclusion that he was either a really talented actor or truly did have no idea. "When? Do you have proof of this?" Reece asked.

"Some time ago I believe. They think Sam's in training here to be considered to join the task force and I just called them yesterday, but I'd recommend holding out telling anything until we can find Sam, trust me you don't want those two down here right now."

A fury passed behind Reece's calm stance so sudden and startling Lennox took a step back. "I was used." He muttered to himself as if confirming his thoughts.

Lennox nodded a slight smile forming on his lips. "We're all being used and something needs to be done before more regretful decisions are made."

"What do you mean by that?" Reece questioned but Lennox wasn't sure if he could trust him, he had told only a handful of his own people whom he could trust, not just with his life but with anything, about the autobots silent whisperings. Would it be wise to trust this man? But Reece had friends in high places, which Lennox had been able to discover in his profiling, he could surly use that kind of assistance.

"Let's just say there was talk amongst the autobots to leave."

Reece was silent for a moment letting this sink in, his eyes clouding over. If Reece wasn't being sincere and intended to run straight to Galloway with this, then he doubted it was something Galloway didn't already know or at least wasn't already suspicious of.

Lennox could just see the cogs shifting behind his eyes, the irritation at being deceived by a man who was clearly unfit to lead, who was clearly part psychopathic to use the people around him in the manner he had. Finally he nodded. "I know just who to call."

"Thanks….. I'll tell the guys to stop pestering you, can't do anything about the autobots though." Lennox gave a grimace, the chances for this entire situation starting to look positive for the first time.

Reece smiled softly at him grateful for the effort. "That would be much approached Major."

Optimus Prime

It was in that early morning that a comm. was sent out by Que alerting Optimus to Decepticon activity. An F-22 Raptor had been spotted without authorisation soaring across the Florida state. Not a common sight with the air restrictions as they were Optimus knew it could only mean one thing. There was a certain Deception by the name of Starscream who was still at large and it made sense he would be in the middle of Decepticon activity with Megatron as frail as he was.

Along with a few other familiar vehicles observed on the roads by the countless cameras the humans used to watch traffic with it seemed clear to Optimus at that moment that the Decepticons were moving in on something and he feared he also knew what that was. Sam and his autobot protectors had been found, he had no choice, they had to move now or this could spell disaster for everyone.

Their first obstruction was getting off the base but that was easier said then done, I mean, they were awfully recognizable. A disguise would be rather useless considering they were limited in their approach, it would have to ridiculously big, like a carrier craft of some kind and that in itself was a give away. He had also noticed several bands of soldiers now keeping watch on them, though discreetly, it irritated him. Humans seemed to have a sixth sense about them which he recalled Ratchet becoming rather interested in. Now however was not the time for the curiosity of humans, it was the time to make his move and if that meant barging out by force then he would command it.

He gathered the autobots in the main hanger, they had all already been alerted to the circumstances and thought it pleased none of them to so quickly and effectively cut off their alliance they knew they did so for sound reasons. They would follow their leader in whatever decisions he made for he made them in all their best interests.

The few humans who were around shuffled nervously, obviously sensing something major was up, while several of them disappeared rather quickly. Most likely not wanting to be in the middle of what ever was about to go down. The autobots filed outside, ready to take down the Decepticons before they could cause more destruction with Optimus leading the way.

From his right he spied a man running, as if being chased by some unseen vicious beast, straight towards them and Optimus stopped realizing it was Major Lennox. To be honest Optimus had hoped not to come across Lennox while they undertook this mission and then abandoned their post. Lennox was the best kind of human, loyal, honest and true and Optimus would miss his alliance and friendship greatly. He at least deserved a warning.

"OPTIMUS! Wait, I need to speak with you before you go." He called out, in voice out of breath.

"Major, I will listen to what you have to say only because you have helped us in the past, but you should know that our return is most unlikely." To Optimus's utter surprise Lennox barely blinked to this news.

"I know you plan on cutting your ties with us, lets just say I've had a few people keeping look out until you made your move but I need you to hear our side. Galloway's manipulated us for long enough and we intend to relieve him of his position; the plan is in the works as we speak we just need a little more time."

Optimus mulled this over, if Lennox could indeed accomplish what he was proposing, it could change everything. A different human leader, one void of the corruption and power lust the current one was under would ease tensions significantly and they could continue to work side by side once again. "You have my word that we will return once we take care of these Decepitcons but mark my words, should we return with Sam none but he shall make decisions for his future."

"That's fine by me big man." Lennox said now all the more determined to make this scheme work. It just had to or this job wasn't worth all the fighting and trouble.

Theodore Galloway

Being a man of knowledge and power, of prestige and stature, Galloway had come to see the cracks in the line. He was not a stupid man nor someone who could let things slip by him easily so it was safe to say he knew when he smelt trouble in the air. Having a few personal recruits in with the NEST crowd also helped keep him in the loop on certain things he was aware Lennox was keeping from him. The autobots were up to something. Most likely to do with the Witwicky boy and Galloway needed to know, he needed a contingency on the off chance Lennox would go against him. He had seen the increasing looks the Major tossed his way when he thought Galloway was oblivious, his spies had told him of Lennox's growing contempt and he felt he would have to make an example.

Rising from his desk he left the confines of his office whereupon the voices outside escalated in pitch and urgency. A commotion to be sure caused by the autobots, when was it not? He rushed to investigate the situation and came across Captain Boshna, a good friend of his for several years who, with Galloway's help, had edged his way swiftly up the ladder of command.

"What's going on?" Galloway demanded as the Captain turned to face him with an apprehensive expression.

"It's the autobots Sir; they've taken off without authorization. Charged right through the perimeter fences and sabotaged the tracking grid."

"What?! How could you have let this happen? You were supposed to be keeping an eye on them!" Galloway screeched at the man who shrunk back. This was a disaster, what was he supposed to say to the President? He did have the feeling though that he knew who would've been well aware of the situation before it came this far. Lennox would be out of here so fast he'd have whiplash for the next month or two, Galloway would see to it personally.