The fall of Kalis
The skies above grew dark as looming clouds formed overhead. A storm was coming, 'a mighty one as well.' Ultra Magnus thought grimly, making his way up the outer walls of Kalis. A message had called him out from the cities central command post, a message that required his attention.
As he climbed the final flight of stairs, Springer ran to his side, the yellow and green Wrecker moved urgently, a sense of dread rested within his optics. "Sir, I fear we may be facing the largest force we have to date." His words were layed with concern, worry for the outcome of the battle.
If it was going to be like the others, Kalis would remain standing, its walls remaining scarred and torched by the Decepticon forces. Emerging topside, Ultra Magnus felt his optics go wide, massed outside, was a considerable force. "Definitely the largest assault they've marched towards the city."
His optics focused on the warriors massed among them, there was a considerable amount of Vehicons, but even they were outnumbered by the brutish Insecticons warriors. Standing toward the front of the mass, stood three Cons. The first that struck him was the Megatron lookalike, the very purple clad being emitted a strange field of power, a field so powerful that it reached the top of the walls.
Ultra Magnus didn't dwell on this strange Con long, for he recognised the next Con well. Cyclonus stood, his piercing red optics locked on the cities walls. He'd wondered where Cyclonus had gone following his desertion of the Elita Guard shortly before the war went into full swing.
The third figure was one he knew of by name, and only from a report detailing her methods. Airachnid, she'd be a considerably dangerous foe to deal with. Ultra Magnus frowned, glancing towards Springer. "Prepare our forces for battle." He ordered, turning his attention back towards the Megatron lookalike.
The purple Megatron rose a fist into the air, the orange cannon upon his right forearm charging as pink particles began to gather around its tip. His voice echoed over the field, strong and full of authority.
"Legions of Tesarus, transform and heed my call!"
Chants echoed from the mass, cries of the mysterious Decepticon's name reached their optics, a single name, one that had been mentioned once before in history. Galvatronus, a name that Ultra Magnus recognised, it seemed that this new Con had taken a page from Megatron's book and named himself after one of the ancients, no less one that served The Fallen.
The wall shook violently, Ultra Magnus reached out, grasping the nearby ledge for support. His gaze locked upon Galvatronus, his cannon was no longer charged, it appeared to be cooling down, recharging its power levels.
A wave of energy washed over them, knocking a few Autobots to the ground. A shockwave most likely resulting from the weapon Galvatronus utilised. "Damage report?" He demanded, Galvatronus was an unknown factor in this fight, and he needed an idea on just who they were dealing with.
"We got reports of major power fluctuations at the main gate, they appear to be barley hanging onto their supports."
The Autobot commander frowned, another blast and the gates were as good as gone. The cannon Galvatronus has mounted on his forearm was no fusion cannon, it was packed a devastating punch. Ultra Magnus suspected that any small Autobots would be gone, reduced to little more then a pile of scrap metal, if there was anything left of them following a direct hit from that weapon. "Autobots, to the defence."
It might be a fool's errand, by Kalis was vital to the Autobot war effort, if it fell, then he feared Iacon would be next. Moving quickly, he glanced back at the Decepticon forces, many of them were taking flight, Cyclonus leading them. It was going to be a long fight.
"Wait a minute, Airachnid served under Galvatronus?" Jack questioned, watching Ultra Magnus closely, he'd believed Airachnid had served under Megatron during the war.
Ultra Magnus shifted, eyeing the newest addition to the audience. Raf sat silently, though he too seemed intrigued by the question. "Airachnid served under Galvatronus as his third in command. She assumed command of the Insecticon hives following the battle of Tesarus and the supposed death of Galvatronus."
Sierra glanced at Jack, she didn't know this Airachnid, but judging from Jack's expression, and the way he spoke her name, he'd met her in person several times in the past. "How long was it until they breached the walls?"
Ultra Magnus sighed. "Not long, shortly after the first shot was fired, Galvatronus ordered a warrior under his command to finish the job."
Ultra Magnus fired at the skies, watching as several Seekers fell to the ground, deactivating before contact. He turned his attention, watching as the ground based Decepticons stood their ground, they were waiting for something.
He eyed a group of six Decepticons step forward, all of whom he'd recognised. In his time leading the Wreckers, he'd come to recognise the Constructicons, all of whom had an appetite for demolition rather than construction. They'd been a major foe the Wrecker's faced off against time and time again, no thanks their leaders hatred of anything related to Bulkhead.
As he trained his blasters on the group, he watched in horror as they began to shift their bodies, leaping onto one another until another form stood in their place. Standing tall, heavily plated and armed, stood Devastator.
"Prepare for devastation!"
Ultra Magnus watched as the towering Decepticon warrior marched forward, the ground shaking as he took each step. Slowly, the Constructicons ultimate form rolled his servos tightly, throwing his fists forward, he began to pound the already damaged gates.
"Woah, you guys can merge your bodies together!" Miko's awe struck expression knocked Ultra Magnus from his story, it seemed that his audience was growing larger, he noticed Fowler and June in the background, no doubt by the end, he'd have the entire military base listening in.
As for Miko's comment, Ultra Magnus wasn't sure how to respond, while she was correct in the way that some of them could combine, only a select few were capable of achieving such feats. And sadly, such feats had become possible only through science rather then natural means. No thanks to the absence of the Enigma.
"So, if you guys were capable of merging your bodies, why haven't you done so already?" Raf questioned, despite his education in Cybertronian knowledge, Ratchet had touched little on the subject of their bodies.
Ultra Magnus sighed, his gaze resting upon the youngest of his audience. "The ability to combine is one possessed by few, in the ancient days, a relic known as the Enigma of Combination granted such a power, though in recent times, such a power has become possible through science."
Shifting his body slightly, the Autobot commander narrowed his optics. "However, Devastator proved to be a significant threat to the Autobots, one that Galvatronus utilised well in his battles. Devastator would go on to become a common sight in situation where Galvatronus needed a little extra muscle."
Jack and Sierra exchanged a glance with one another, the former of the two bitting their lower lip. "So, when was it that you first fought against Galvatronus?" The latter questioned, her gaze locked upon the Autobot commander.
"It was sometime after the wall had fallen, and we'd engaged in close quarters combat that Galvatronus and I engaged each other for the first time in the war."
Rain pounded upon the ground hard as the battle raged on, the wall had long fallen, letting the Decepticon ground forces access into the city. Devastator had disengaged, separated back into the Constructicons. Ultra Magnus leapt over several Vehicons, blasting them apart before slicing one clean through the middle with his blade.
His optics locked on the mass of purple ahead of him, Vehicon warriors moved, engaging with his men in close quarter combat. Moving forward, the Autobot commander continued his advance, cutting a path through the Legion of Tesarus. Insecticon warriors fell from the sky, crushing any who stood in their path.
As he neared a courtyard, Ultra Magnus caught sight of Galvatronus, the Decepticon commander held an Autobot in one servo, another at his pedes. With a swift crunch, the Autobot held tightly fell limp, his body released from the Megatron lookalike. The other was crushed under pede, Energon flowed from their corpses, staining the ground further.
Ultra Magnus leapt forward, slamming into the ground as he eyed Galvatronus. Standing ready, he watched as several Vehicons and Insecticon warriors moved to engage him, only for a voice to halt them in their path.
"This one is mine."
Galvatronus moved, his heavy pedes crushing the corpses below him. His crimson optics locked upon Ultra Magnus. "I know more about you than you may realise, Ultra Magnus." The Decepticon taunted, extending a blade from his forearm. "And it will be enjoyable when I watch you flee this battle in defeat while I crush any who dare remain."
Ultra Magnus hardened his gaze, deploying a blade of his own. "And I do everything I can to stop your path of destruction and death." He replied, reading himself for battle.
Galvatronus smirked, his optics never once leaving his opponent. With a sudden cry, Galvatronus charged, swinging his blade with a ruthless swing. Ultra Magnus moved, bringing his blade up to parry the oncoming weapon.
With a clash, the two backed off, only to charge once more as they began to dance around each other. Ultra Magnus quickly drew his second blade, moving to make a jab at his opponent. Galvatronus widened his optics briefly, only to narrow them as he leapt back.
With a growl, the Decepticon warrior charged forward, his left servo clenched tightly as his ground fangs showed behind his twisted grin. "Fighting with two weapons, so very effective, but like my brother, you only need one!"
Ultra Magnus went flying, slamming into a nearby building. Shaking his helm, the Autobot commander noticed Galvatronus advance, shifting one of his servos, he began to fire, his shots bouncing of the Cons armour.
Getting to his feet, he shifted his other servo, firing twice as many blasts as before. Galvatronus shrugged off the attack, advancing without any signs of stopping. "Continue to fire your weapon, my armour is quite durable. Durable enough to withstand quite a nasty blow." He spoke coldly, a very faint hint of victory in his tone.
Ultra Magnus backed up slightly, watching as Airachnid landed alongside Cyclonus, explosions rocked as voices began to ring out, Ultra Magnus underestimated Galvatronus, a mistake that would prove fatal, if it weren't for the fact that he didn't have the intention of killing him.
"Go, warn Sentinel 'Zeta' Prime, Megatron's twin has entered the war, and the Legions of Tesarus will bring about a Decepticon victory."
Ultra Magnus, moved, shifting forms as he began his retreat, destruction rained down all around him. "Autobots, pull back to Iacon, the battle is lost." He ordered, his processors working overtime as he tried to figure out why Galvatronus hadn't simply killed him when he had the chance.
"Any idea why Galvatronus let you just walk away?" Raf questioned, watching the Autobot commander, Galvatronus was starting to become an enigma, judging from his strong introduction into the war, it felt as if Galvatronus had been building his forces up for some time.
Ultra Magnus had long wondered the same thing, why had Galvatronus let him go, but all rights, Galvatronus had him dead, backed into a corner, yet the Legions of Tesarus let him go with little trouble, he assumed it was to deliver the warning. Now though, he was starting to question just what Galvatronus was planning.
Within the medical facility of the Nemesis, Airachnid struggled to break free, her violet optics narrowed in hatred as Shockwave conversed with an unknown Decepticon. "She will be kept in the best condition for your arrival commander." The cycloptic Decepticon spoke, ending the call, his gaze falling upon Airachnid.
Airachnid got the feeling that she was in for a long orbital cycle of pain...
The first sighting of Airachnid in the story following her mention last chapter, it's also the first appearance of Cyclonus, who will appear further down the line.
The Legions of Tesarus is a major military unit among the Decepticons that answered to Galvatronus alone, they consisted mostly of Insecticons but also included the Constructicons and several Vehicon units.
I've got a basic timeline worked out that managed to include the events that occurred within the War for Cybertron game, thus the mentioning of Sentinel 'Zeta' Prime. Only a few events in Fall of Cybertron occur.
A long await reunion between Airachnid and Galvatronus happens next chapter, along with the introduction of a new player, Airachnid's replacement.