Sometimes it paid to have good senses. As soon as Special Agent Fowler called, Redsword was tapping into them. The silent order Ratchet gave was unnecessary. "Well that confirms my fears. Optimus is currently trying to run me off the road!" At that statement, Ratchet stared hard at Redsword who had quickly pinned down the agent's location. He shook his head. "I'm getting something that could be a transformer but nothing like Prime." He said. "Who's that?" Fowler asked. "Name's Redsword friend. I'm the newbie on the team." "Well how bout you spin up that bridge of yours and come get me." "Doing it now Agent Fowler." Ratchet said in that long-suffering tone of his. It seemed he was used to this by now.
Redsword, Bulkhead, Arcee and Bumblebee all went through and once on the other side they did indeed see a vehicle that looked suspiciously like Optimus driving way. "Sure looks like Optimus." Bulkhead summarized their thoughts. "Prime's don't run." Arcee countered as she transformed and gave chase. "It's definitely not Optimus. The feel is all wrong." Redsword said. "It feels more like..." Like me, he said silently but quickly changed tacts. "More native." He finished. His word was not enough to passify him it seemed for when Optimus did return to base, Redsword watched as the Autobots pulled their weapons on him. "Don't blame them Prime." Fowler said as Optimus cast a confused look on all of them. "A rig nearly ran me off the road earlier. One that bore a striking resemblance to you." "Do we know anything else about this incident?" Optimus asked Fowler, some concern leaking into his voice. "Only that it definitely wasn't you." Redsword said, moving forward from his customary spot against the wall. Fowler's phone rang and he had to step back for a moment. Redsword gave him his space as he continued. "Cybertronians have a very distinctive scent to them and yours in particular Optimus is very obvious. The doppelganger is nothing like you." Fowler hung up the phone and returned to the Autobots looking very grim. "The Holland Military Base is under attack, by Optimus Prime." "The truck?" Jack asked, hoping the next answer wouldn't be what he was fearing. "The bot."
Everyone was stunned to silence by that. Redsword looked hard at Optimus and realized the Prime was thinking the same thing. Bridging to the base, Redsword knew would be a bad idea but they did it anyway. He could feel his children's anger and did his best to calm them, deflecting the worst of the "friendly fire". Fowler's announcement of the shoot on sight order did not surprise anyone. The kids however did not take it well. "What? That's ridiculous!" Jack shouted. "They're innocent!" Raf cried. "Optimus was framed!" Miko insisted. Redsword looked at Optimus, searching for a reaction. But the Prime was silent. Even his EM field was tightly controlled. "Though unfortunate, the military order changes nothing. Our imposter clearly poses a grave threat to humanity." "A 30 foot tall transforming imposter." Fowler added. "They actually did it." Redsword turned to the stunned Ratchet. "Those butchers managed to crack the code!" Optimus narrowed his eyes, grounding out a single word. "MECH." Redsword felt a brief flare of anger from his EM field before the Prime regained control. It was brief but it was enough to tell him everything he needed to know. He narrowed his eyes and glared hard at Optimus. Optimus met his gaze and the Prime knew that he knew what he was planning. "No." Redsword growled. "Redsword, I have little option..." "I said no." Redsword advanced so he was standing toe to toe with Optimus, forcing him to tilt his head back to look into his optics. Those green orbs had flashes of purple in them now. "I cannot allow MECH to continue to present this threat." Optimus said, a hard edge in his voice and Redsword had spent enough time with his brother to recognize what that edge meant. Optimus was far too much like Primus. "And risk exposing yourselves to the military? I cannot condone friendly fire Prime." Redsword growled. "He's right Prime." Fowler said. "I don't think it wise to have a bunch of Autobots running around with the military out there gunning for you." "We will maintain vehicular cover unless absolutely necessary." Optimus said this to Fowler but he was looking at Redsword. The other bot sighed, ground his denta together and nodded. "If you get caught, its on you." He said, twitching as he felt a hint of gratitude flash his way.
Redsword circled overhead, scanning the ground below for anything might resemble a base. Being up high gave him the advantages of both seeing far more than the ground based Autobots and he was able to avoid detection. His position permitted him to watch the battle now unfolding below as Optimus fought his doppelganger. In the building beneath them Fowler fought Silas. "Ooh." Redsword couldn't help but wince as he watched the ceiling cave in. Despite the doppelganger falling directly on him, Redsword did not sense Silas' death. Before he could understand that confusing aspect, his radar informed him of a more pressing issue. "Optimus, incoming!" He called. The Prime quickly finished his conversation with Fowler and leaped from the roof, catching a ride on Redsword who effortlessly maneuvered underneath. Ratchet's groundbridge opened in front of them. "Redsword," The Prime said as they re-materialized back at base. As soon as he'd stepped off, Redsword transformed and looked at him questioningly. "Thank you." Redsword extended his EM field, laced with acceptance in reply.