"Energon Stores?" asked Kira over the communication line.
"Yep, Wheeljack remembered seeing it on a recon mission he was on. Apparently it's where Megatron stored loads of Energon Cubes when the Autobots and Decepticons originally were on Earth" explained Athrun, he was on the bridge of the Archangel as it flew over the outskirts of Sweden. He was joined by Murrue, Mu, Waltfeld and Cagali as well as a hand picked crew of volunteer bridge staff and pilots.
"So how come it was never claimed by the Autobots?" asked Kira.
"Well they were planning on using it to increase weapon power and strike hard at the Autobots and the military in one big push. So Wheeljack set up explosives and buried the entrance. There was that much dust by the time the Decepticons could rally back together they couldn't find the entrance and Megatron knew he they just blasted their way in the Energon would have a chain reaction" Athrun told him.
"And you know all this how?" asked Kira.
"He's been talking with the Autobots at ORB a lot, he's as bad as you are when it comes to want to know more about giant living robots" said Cagali.
Kira laughed a little as Athrun did the same.
"Well have fun out there you guys, when you get back to ORB I'll make sure to return myself, sorry I've been away for so long. I'll tell you all about my meeting with the Wreckers when Lacus and I visit" said Kira.
"Don't be a stranger amongst giants" said Waltfeld as communication was cut off.
After two more hours in flight the Archangel landed near a small mountain where a Junk Guild Excavation crew were moving ground and rocks in one area. Whilst the bridge crew and Murrue stayed on the ship Athrun, Cagali, Mu and Waltfeld boarded their Gundams and were joined by 8 Murasames as they went to the site.
"Lady Cagali, Captain Zala, glad you could make it. I'm Simon Blackrock, I'm in charge of this band of Junk Techs. We also as you can tell do digs as a hobby, archaeology and such" said the pilot of a GuAIZ that came to greet them.
"Glad to have you here Blackrock, have you been brought up to speed on what this is about?" asked Athrun as he made Justice look over the dig site.
"We received word from Lowe Gear's team what this was about and that you were coming, we've been digging since yesterday afternoon, only stopping for brief breaks. Luckily we have rotas meaning no one sleeps on the job. We're pretty sure we're getting close though, we detected metal embedded in the face of the mountain but all this collected rock made it difficult to get to it" explained Blackrock.
"It was pretty much buried underneath it and abandoned since no one believed anyone would find it" said Waltfeld.
"Until now it seems" said Blackrock.
As they talked one of the workers stopped as his Ginn pulled several clumps of Earth away to reveal metal which glinted in the sun.
"Sir, I think we've found it" he called to Blackrock as the other workers began to help dig in the same area.
"Waltfeld, think you can help speed up the process?" asked Athrun.
"This will be over in a flash" said Waltfeld as Gaia transformed into its hound mode and aided in the digging.
"Alright, Blackrock will accompany us inside, our mission is to investigate this supposed enemy supply store, deal with any obstructions and potentially claim the findings for ourselves. Remember this was Decepticon property so it maybe booby trapped" explained Cagali.
"Understood" said Mu.
"Yes my lady" the Murasame pilots said in unison.
"Cagali, are you sure you'll be okay? The IWSP Pack and Rouge have been outfitted like the rest of our Gundams but…" Athrun began.
"I'm fine Athrun, lets get moving" said Cagali as Rouge went on ahead followed by the Murasames.
"She's still feeling guilty for what happened with Shockwave?" asked Mu.
"She believes its her fault those men died, I think she's now got a personal vendetta against anything with a Decepticon logo" said Athrun as they followed her.
After ten minutes of digging a large door was revealed. Though it still had some shine it had dirt markings on it as well a few explosion marks and was opened just a little bit.
"Alright lets get this open" said Athrun as Justice and Akatsuki pulled on either side of the door to open it fully to the sound of creaking. When they looked inside however they saw that the lights were still as they led down a metal corridor.
"Alright, Athrun, Blackrock, Waltfeld are with me, as are you two" said Cagali as Rouge pointed to two Murasames.
"Rest of us will guard the entrance and provide back up if need be" ordered Mu.
"Have our Mobile Suits help too, I think we still have a few weapons in one of the trucks" ordered Blackrock as his GuAIZ armed itself with a Beam Rifle before the team headed in.
The Glow of the Mobile Suits' Lights kept it from being pitch black but the corridor wasn't exactly welcoming. It travelled deep into the mountain.
"No signs of any movement, but Energon readings are tweaking, seems to get stronger the more we travel in" said Athrun as Rouge was leading them in.
"You'd think they would have security systems set up to stop intruders" said one Murasame Pilot.
"Maybe they didn't anticipate anyone getting in that easily" said Waltfeld.
"No he's right, something like this would most likely be heavily guarded if it was storing something important" said Blackrock.
"We'll know more once we get further inside, till then keep a look out" said Cagali.
"Are you okay Cagali? You sound a little jumpy" asked Athrun as Justice walked alongside Rouge.
"For the last time I'm fine" said Cagali, slightly annoyed.
"I was just asking, I know you've been a little on edge since…" Athrun began to speak.
"Athrun its simple, if it's Decepticon I'll kill it" said Cagali as she picked up her pace.
Before long they stood at another closed door.
"Energon readings are beyond this, but it looks like the access panel still has power" said Waltfeld noticing a panel on the door.
"Let me try, Wheeljack gave me some old Decepticon access codes he downloaded before he buried the entrance, maybe they still work" said Athrun. Justice typed in the codes and a green light emitted which made the door slide open and then lights to switch on in the next room.
The room looked like a form of command centre with computers all around it. In the centre was their target, a towering amount of Energon cubes.
"There's enough here to power the Tokyo Tower for maybe a few centuries" said Blackrock.
"The computers might hold some data as well, see if any of them still work" said Cagali.
Everyone began searching but the computers seem to be inactive whenever they tried. Blackrock headed back to the surface to inform Mu and the Guild to prepare to transport the Energon out of the base.
One of the Murasame pilots was walking around the Energon Cubes when he stopped a saw something on the ground.
"A Cybertronian?" he said to himself as he moved the Murasame closer to examine. It had a green, and white colour scheme with odd shades of purple and black.
"My Lady, you might want to…."
Before Cagali could respond the Murasame was seem being thrown across the room and into the wall, before it could get up a pair of blasters shots pierced its chest, laving a hole where the cockpit was.
Cagali froze in fear as Athrun and Waltfeld drew their Rifles as the Cybertronian appeared behind the Energon, giving them a menacing glare.
"You shouldn't walk on other people's property Autobots. Especially with a guard dog named Sixshot" he said as he turned and aimed at them.
Cagali was already on the attack as she fired the IWSP Minigun on the shield with a barrage of bullets which just seemed to bounce off Sixshot. The other Murasame pilot opened fire too as Sixshot just looked at them.
"FALL BACK!" shouted Athrun.
"Open fire, That's a order!" shouted Cagali.
Sixshot just chuckled then laughed as he suddenly lunged forward and transformed into some form of robotic wolf and pounced on the Murasame and slashed its chest off, knocking the Rouge over in the process. He looked down inside the Murasame at the pilot who had been partially sliced to pieces by the claws.
"A human piloted machine? I've been on down time for too long" he said, however this gave Gaia the chance to transform into its Hound mode and pounce on Sixshot. The two wrestled with the other before leaping away from each other. Sixshot snarled as Gaia transformed and aimed its rifle.
"Bad Dog" said Waltfeld.
"I'm just getting started" said Sixshot as he transformed again, now into a giant fighter jet and aimed at the Gaia.
Justice was already on the attack as its beam shield tackled Sixshot into one of the computers.
"Get Cagali out of here, I'll hold him whilst you get everyone outside ready to attack, go!" Athrun shouted.
"Right, let's go" Waltfeld said to Cagali.
"Dammit" snarled Cagali as the Rouge followed Gaia away from the room as Sixshot transformed back to its robot mode, guns drawn and aimed at Justice who was also aiming at Sixshot.
"Ahh the classic Mexican Standoff, I love these" Sixshot chuckled.
"That why your names Sixshot?" asked Athrun.
"That and I am six things in one, you've only seen three so far" said Sixshot, "and to be honest, you're probably not worth the other half…Athrun Zala"
"What?" asked Athrun, slightly taken by surprise.
"You humans may have upgraded your security but my data frequencies are top of the line so I was able to pick up frequencies and gain access to old data files in a micro seconds. I must say, you have quite the past" chuckled Sixshot, "former ZAFT ace, defected during the First Bloody Valentine War, even tried to attack your own madman of a father. Returned to ZAFT two years later, last known record reports you were KIA whilst trying to betray the military again"
Athrun wasted no time in firing at Sixshot who leapt out the way and fired two shots, one hit the Justice's shoulder the other the side of the left leg, both causing a small bit of damage. The leg shot caused Justice to stumble as Sixshot to charge in. Athrun however moved fast and activated the small beam blade in the Gundam's feet and launch a counter kick. Sixshot raised his arm to block, the beam so close to his face. Athrun quickly activated the thrusters and Justice took off through the corridor.
"Oh I LOVE A GOOD HUNT!" laughed Sixshot as transformed to jet mode and followed.
Back outside the Archangel was now hovering over the site as a lot of the Junk techs were ordered to pull back whilst a few stayed behind and were armed with weapons.
"Be ready to fire on my signal" ordered Cagali, the sounds of engines in flight could be heard.
"We should hold fire, what if it's Athrun?" asked Mu, but Cagali did not respond, however before anything had even come out the tunnel she fried from her beam rifle to hit whatever came out.
"CAGALI NO!" shouted Waltfeld, but it was too late. Justice flew out and was hit in the right side of the face, its plating being ripped off to reveal part its body from the inside. Cagali stared in horror at what she had done as Athrun no choice but to crash land. Before anyone could help the Justice turned to see a blaster to its head and another aimed at the others.
"No one even dare move, not unless you me to slowly start shooting down to the cockpit" sniggered Sixshot.
The Rouge did not move as Cagali was elf tin shock at what she did whilst everyone else took aim.
"You have 10 Armed Junk Guild members, my GuAIZ, a Battleship and three Gundams armed and ready buddy" said Blackrock.
"Please, I'm a Phrase Six Decepticon Warrior, I can take anything" laughed Sixshot when he felt a hand grab his arm.
"Lucky for Cagali, so can I!" shouted Athrun as Justice was back up and punched Sixshot and then moved to gain some space between them before drawing its twin blade sabre. Sixshot growled as he transformed into a Tank armed with carious weapons and fired. Justice flew up to dodge and everyone else leapt to side to get away from the shots.
"OPEN FIRE!" yelled Athrun as everyone did so except Rouge began to fire on Sixshot.
"Archangel, use gun turrets only, we cant risk an explosion that could cause the Energon to go off" ordered Murrue as the ships turrets fired. Sixshot laughed as he transformed into what looked like a car and sped into the battle, opening fire on random suits whilst knocking over others.
"This guy is getting on my nerves!" shouted Waltfeld as Gaia charged in with its wolf mode and pounced on the car before transforming again and drawing its sabre to stab at Sixshot.
"Time to impound you Six…" before Waltfeld could finish, a pain shot through his body as he grabbed his chest. Gaia toppled off Sixshot and onto the ground.
"Waltfeld!" shouted Mu as Akatsuki flew in and fired at Sixshot. Sixshot turned and transformed into Wolf mode and lunged at it, one of his claws tearing Akatsuki's Shield arm off before kicking it in the back after transforming to robot mode.
"This is a joke" Sixshot chuckled but then heard a sound as Justice's flight pack flew straight at him, its beam blade armed as it pierced the side of his chest. Justice then fired its rifle and the pack exploded.
"Out of juice, and low on power" said Athrun as he threw the rifle away. But from the smoke a angry cry was heard as Sixshot charged and threw a punch, Justice managed to grasp it but the force caused it to fall on its weak leg.
"That actually hurt" snarled Sixshot as he had a mark in chest where the blade had stabbed him.
"Good, proves you're not as powerful as you think!" shouted Athrun, as Justice rose up and head butted Sixshot before launching a series of punched before drawing its beam sabre again and swiped at Sixshot.
"Nice try" said Sixshot as he suddenly grabbed the very beam blade itself, smoke coming from his hand, "but I can take it and dish it out!"
Letting the beam go Sixshot brought his elbow down and shattered the Justice's blade arm before kicking it in the chest. The Screens is inside the cockpit flickered from the damage as Athrun groaned, his right arm was fractured from the impact of the fall as he slowly made Justice stand back up, he looked over to see Rouge had not moved at all. Inside of it Cagali was almost frozen and shaken.
"CAGALI MOVE!" shouted Athrun, Sixshot looked at the Rouge.
"Shown you 5 modes wanna see my sixth?" he laughed as he transformed into a giant gun and hovered whilst aiming at the Rouge.
"OPEN FIRE!" shouted Murrue, knowing what was gonna happen, but as Archangel fired Sixshot launched a giant beam blast which flew at Rouge. At that point Cagali snapped out of her trance and turned to see the shot. But before Rouge was hit Justice leapt in the way as its beam shield took the force of the hit. However the shield exploded, taking its other arm and head in the process. Phase shift armour deactivated as Justice crashed to the ground.
Sixshot transformed back into robot mode, firing a few shots to take out the Archangel's turrets without even looking before walking slowly towards Justice.
"NO! Don't you dare touch him!" Cagali snarled as Rouge drew its blades and stood in Sixshot's way.
"Face it little lady, your no warrior, you couldn't even defeat Shockwave" laughed Sixshot as he took aim.
Suddenly the sound of a horn was heard, Sixshot turned and fired as he saw a White Truck wit ha car carrier for a trailer charge in.
"An ally?" asked Mu as Akatsuki got back up along with Blackrock and the surviving guild suits.
The truck charged in and rammed into Sixshot, knocking him to the ground before it transformed and aimed at him.
"Sixshot, as a Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Cybertronian Defence Force I hereby place you under arrest and sentenced to immediate Spark Extraction on Garrus-9" the robot ordered.
"Ultra Magnus, knew you'd come sniffing around sooner or later" growled Sixshot.
"You escape justice once, I should have figured you'd play guard dog for Megatron. Drop your weapons, and no transforming, I won't just injury you like the Justice did" Magnus threatened as everyone stayed still. Sixshot however burst out laughing.
"I must thank you Magnus, your intervention gave me enough time to find Decepticons" he gloated as he transformed into his Jet mode and took off with Magnus opening fire until he was out of sight.
"Archangel, we have casualties, we need medical aid now" said Blackrock.
"This is Ultra Magnus to any Autobot frequencies, I require medical teams ASAP" said Magnus as he contacted for support.
6 hours later, ORB Mainland.
"I've dispatched the Wreckers to secure the Energon, if we can get the base operational we can use it as part of Operation Ground Bridge" said Optimus as he and Magnus talked outside the hospital.
"I'm sorry I never contacted you, but after the Mirror Manifold went silent I made for Earth at once when I heard the Wreckers were chasing it down" said Magnus.
"I'm glad you're here Old Friend but who have you left in charge of Cybertron's safety?" asked Optimus.
"Fortress and the Headmasters have stepped in, Elita sends her regards too. She told me to tell you to visit at least" Magnus chuckled, Optimus did the same.
"Metroplex could use its base commander again" he added.
"It'll be an honour to return" said Magnus and the two shook hands.
Inside the hospital Lacus was already comforting Cagali as they watched Athrun resting in his hospital bed when Kira walked in.
"The doctor says that since the helmet took most of the hit he just survived getting brain damage, but he's gonna need to rest up and let his arm heal" he said and then looked at Lacus who nodded and left him and Cagali alone with Athrun.
Kira at once walked over to the end of Athrun's bed and stared at his best friend. Cagali stood up, looking at the floor.
"I should leave you with him and…" she began to say.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Kira snapped as he turned and looked at her with anger, Cagali looked up in shock and backed away a step as Kira walked over to her.
"Are you that stubborn and head strong that you would shoot an ally? You let your feelings and anger towards what happened with Shockwave cloud your judgment, you could have got everyone killed? If you had sent an emergency call instead of just ordering an attack we could have helped. Then you froze up and let Sixshot take a shot at you. You could have been killed" he stated. Cagali had tears forming as she was left speechless and waited for Kira to just tell her to get out. Instead however he grabbed her and hugged her tightly, almost crying himself.
"Don't you ever do that to me again, you're my sister damn it, your family. I cant imagine losing you" he said, Cagali finally broke down and cried into his arms as she hugged him back. After a bit they broke free of the hug but held hands.
"From now we do this together, all of us, promise?" he asked. With a teary smile Cagali nodded.
"I'm so sorry, to both of you" she said.
"Apology accepted, I think Justice got it worse" Athrun groaned as he stirred. Kira and Cagali went to his side.
"Justice has already been taken to the Ark for repairs by Wheeljack, you gonna be okay buddy?" asked Kira.
"I'll live, few days of bed rest maybe nice right now" Athrun joked.
"Get some rest, you earned it" said Kira as he turned to leave and motioned to Cagali she should too. Cagali nodded but then turned and kissed Athrun.
"Actually, can she stay?" asked Athrun. Kira smiled and nodded leaving the two to talk.
"How did it go?" asked Lacus as Kira placed his arm round her.
"I think they maybe reconciling" he said as they walked down the hallway but were stopped by Blackrock.
"Mr Yamato?" he asked.
"Your Blackrock, you were at dig site" said Kira.
"Yes, I can't stay I am afraid but I planned to give this after the mission was over. Word was that the Autobots had been attacked by an unmanned Windam Mobile Suit?" asked Blackrock.
"When they reactivated Metroplex" said Kira.
"Well, during a search around a old Alliance base of spare parts we found this on a still activate computer" said Blackrock and handed Kira a disc, "I think it maybe a lead to where that suit came from"
Before anyone asked Blackrock left them as Kira looked at the disc with confusion.
UNKNOWN LOCATION: UNDERGROUND
"You may have failed to secure the Energon, but at least you still function to serve me Sixshot" said Megatron as he led Sixshot through a large cave.
"I am glad to be able to return to duty my Lord" said Sixshot.
"Indeed, with the Prisoners from the Mirror Manifold and you back in our ranks our forces grow stronger and stronger" Megatron said with a cruel grin.
"My Lord Where are we going? This cave seems to travel downward" asked Sixshot as he looked around as slowly the sounds of machinery was heard until they reached the end of the cave and entered into a giant area underground. Sixshot at once stopped and froze in surprise at what the Constructacons and a number of Foot Soldiers had unearthed. Before them was a giant head of a Cybertronian.
"Is that?" asked Sixshot.
"It is indeed, though believed legend I always knew at least one of them existed, the one who was cast out" chuckled Megatron, "and soon Sixshot, once we reactive him, the Metrotitan will serve us"
NEXT CHAPTER: STARSCREAM STRIKES