Chapter 7: Operation: Arzenal Invasion
[Transformers Victory OST- Destrons Giant Fort]
The Autobot team led by Jazz was closing in on the energy source they picked up earlier. Jazz himself went on ahead to scout alongside Cliffjumper. The two Autobots were burning rubber as they were approaching their destination.
"Whatever we're after, it's dead ahead," Jazz said.
"Let's hope it's something that's friendly for a change," Cliffjumper replied.
As they drove, they saw that a large crater was up ahead. They figured that this was probably the location of the energy source. Skidding to a stop, both Autobots transformed and armed themselves. Walking up to the edge of the crater, they were stunned at what they saw.
"Well…" Cliffjumper starts to say. "Think whoever's in there is friendly?"
"Let's hope so," Jazz replied.
"Jazz, Cliffjumper," Jetfire radioed in. "What is it? What did you find?"
"Something I don't think any of us were expecting to see. "
[Transformers Devastation OST - Decepticons]
The invasion of Arzenal had started. Decepticons were closing in on the island in large numbers. As they were already with their Para-mails and Ragna-mail, the first squadron was ready to defend the island.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered. "We'll act as the first wave of defense!"
"First Squadron, hold position until the commander and everyone else get inside!" Ange ordered.
"It's a good thing we were already out here," Amuro said.
One of the dropships arrived at the island and immediately opened fire, hovering high in the air and shooting over the walls Wheeljack set up last night. The Norma stayed where they were, using their machines to defend the command center while the Autobots and Nu Gundam took cover and fired on the dropship. Decepticons started jumping from the dropship while others landed on the island from the air.
"Get them!" one of the grunts shouted. "Use their barriers against them, take cover, and fire!"
"For Lord Starscream!" another soldier yelled.
"So much for these walls…" Wheeljack sighed.
"Do not be discouraged, Wheeljack," Optimus said. "We will not be defeated here."
"We need to get that dropship away from the command center," Amuro stated. "If they decide to fire on it, Ange and the others won't be able to tank that kind of attack."
"It's target is not the command center. It's us… no, specifically…"
The Decepticon dropship continued focusing its fire on the Autobots and Nu Gundam. Inside the dropship was Starscream himself, watching the battle begin.
"Lord Starscream," the dropship pilot said. "Those three machines seem to be focused on defending that building. Shouldn't we take care of them by using the dropship's guns?"
"The enemy base is Blitzwing's target, not ours," Starscream answered as he stood up. "Focus all fire on Optimus Prime and his lackeys. That is our priority! If we let up, then he'll destroy our main guns."
"The Autobots are fleeing into the open, sir!" another soldier reported.
"Turn this ship to them! Follow Optimus and destroy him!"
The Autobots transformed and rolled into the open, Wheeljack and Bumblebee heading diagonally away from Optimus. The dropship followed the Autobot leader specifically and continued firing.
"It's just like Optimus said," Bumblebee said, transforming and shooting several Decepticons. "That ship was targeting him."
"Using an entire dropship just to deal with Optimus?" Wheeljack questioned. "That's crazy!"
The Decepticon ground forces were pouring in as the other two dropships landed. Quake stepped off and transformed into his alt mode immediately.
"Heavy weapons forces, open fire!" He ordered. "Aim at anything that isn't a Decepticon, destroy it, and then destroy it some more!"
Decepticons opened fire on the Para-mails, Villkiss, and Nu Gundam. The four held their ground and returned fire, shooting down many of the approaching Decepticons but not enough. Salia was putting her new sniper rifle to the test, taking out the heads of several Decepticons with one shot.
"It hits just as harder as the old one, if not harder," she said.
"What is with them and showing up with oversized forces?!" Hilda exclaimed. "I hate to put us down, but there's only seven of us! Why are they going through so much trouble to deal with us?!"
"Complain once we make it out this," Ange said. "Commander! Is everyone else alright?"
"We're fine," Jill replied. "Everyone's gathered in what's left of the command center. We're hoping they overlook this place thanks to it looking like trash. Move out! Don't worry about us, just focus on the task at hand!"
"Salia, Hilda, move!" Villkiss starts to hover upward. "Alert Amuro and the Autobots to get out of the way too. I'm taking care of this right now."
"Shit, someone's looking to end this early!" Hilda exclaimed.
Both Salia and Hilda flew out of the way while firing at the Decepticons to cover Ange. The Villkiss was about to transform and activate its cannons once again. However, Ange was halted as blaster fire came directly at her, almost forcing her back to the ground.
"What the hell?!" she grunted. "How'd they know to-"
"Ange…" Salia starts to say, her Arquebus gesturing in front of her. "That's not a Decepticon."
"What…?"
"What the hell?!" Hilda exclaimed. "That's the…!"
Ange went wide eyed as she saw what was approaching. Flying towards Villkiss was Theodra, Chris piloting it as she opened fire on Villkiss. Ange avoided the blasts as Theodra transformed into Assault Mode. Both Ragna-mails reached for their swords as they clashed in melee range.
"Chris, is that you?!" Ange asked. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"…"
Chris kept silent. Theodra broke the clash and opened up Villkiss' guard. She kicked the white Ragna-mail in the chest, knocking it down and causing Ange to wince as she was thrown around in the cockpit. Glaive and Arquebus turned around and were about to fire at Chris' Ragna-mail. They were shot at from behind the moment they turned, forcing them to focus on the Decepticons in front of them.
"Crap, there's too many of them!" Hilda exclaimed. "We can't help out Ange like this!"
One of the grunts drove up to the two in car form and transformed, jumping up and about to come down with a steel sword. Nu Gundam fired one shot through the soldier's spark, saving the two Norma as the mobile suit opened fire on several Decepticons. Many soldiers fell easily before the power of the Gundam.
"Who is this guy?" one of the grunts asked. "He's a one man army!"
"Don't just stand there!" Amuro shouted to the Para-mail pilots. "Help Ange so she can take care of these guys!"
"That's our friend inside of that Ragna-mail you know!" Hilda yelled back.
"What?" Amuro grunted as a blast nearly hit Nu Gundam.
"Chris, the pilot of that Ragna-mail," Salia explained. "That's one of ours. We can't just blindly shoot her down until we know what's going on!"
"The pilot is a friend of yours…?" Amuro looked up. "What about them? Are they friends too?"
"Huh?!"
Salia and Hilda looked up to see two more Ragna-mail, the Raziya and Eirene, flying towards them. Salia and Hilda were shocked to see that Ersha was piloting Raziya.
"Ersha, you too?!" Hilda exclaimed.
"Irma?!" Salia exclaimed.
Both Ragna-mails transformed and drew their swords. Hilda's Glaive pulled out her energon axe and swung. She clashed with Raziya's sword. Salia attempted to draw her Arquebus' melee weapon, but was too slow. Irma slammed into her with Eirene. The Arquebus grabbed hold of the Ragna-mail's hands to keep Irma from doing anything to Salia. Raziya slammed the Arquebus into the backdoor of the command center.
"Salia, you traitor!" Irma shouted.
"How the hell are you here?!" Salia questioned.
The dropships continued firing on the Autobots as the three were taking down any Decepticon that attacked them.
"Stand still, Autobot!"
Quake was hovering in circles in his tank form, firing blast after blast at Bumblebee. The scout was driving circles around him and opening fire with a roof mounted submachine gun. Bumblebee suddenly drifts and gets in close before transforming. He jumped over another blast and landed on top of Quake, prompting the Decepticon to transform. Before he could finish, Bumblebee sliced off Quake's cannon.
"Gah, my cannon!" Quake shouted. "You piece of slag!"
Bumblebee tried to jump off but was caught and thrown across the island by Quake. The brute transformed his arm into a gatling gun and opened fire. Bumblebee landed on his feet and quickly ran for cover, making Quake mow down several grunts as he turned to shoot Bumblebee.
"Get out of the way, idiots!" the Decepticon brute exclaimed.
Optimus Prime and Wheeljack were standing back to back as they were surrounded by Decepticons with melee weapons. Optimus had out his energon axe and shield while Wheeljack was wielding two wrenches.
"Hey, Optimus?" the scientist starts to ask. "You think we should try that whole stealing a ship plan again?"
"Hmm… This would be another opportunity to secure a way off the island…" Optimus thought aloud.
The Decepticons rushed the two Autobots. Optimus and Wheeljack went to work at striking them down one after the other. The leader blocked with his shield while slicing apart Decepticons with his axe. The scientist put very serious dents into the bodies of every Decepticon that came to him with his wrenches.
"However, reaching one of the dropships would prove to be a challenge," Optimus said. "Just as it was last time."
Optimus picked up one of the soldiers with his shield and slammed them into the ground behind him, hard enough that their insides exploded and forced their arms, legs, and head to detach.
"I did have one idea, actually," Wheeljack replied. "Though I'm not sure if it would work." The scientist sweep kicks a soldier before bashing his head in. "How much do you reckon those Para-mails could lift? Think they'd be strong enough to carry us?"
Wheeljack threw one of his wrenches into a Decepticon, lodging it in his chest. He turned around and caught the head of another soldier in between the weapon's jaws. The scientist spins and rips the head off of the Decepticon before throwing it into another. That soldier was knocked off balance and then smacked hard by Optimus' shield, being defeated.
"Their machines, while strong, do not appear to be designed specifically for lifting heavy objects. Their arms are much too slim in order to carry the weight of an Autobot like you and I. At best, it may be possible that they could lift Bumblebee if needed."
"That might actually be enough…"
BANG
A loud boom rang through the island as a tank fired its shell up. Falling down, it crashed in between the Autobots and Decepticons, obliterating a few grunts who didn't get out of the way and knocking back Optimus and Wheeljack.
"What in the world?!" Wheeljack exclaimed.
[Transformers Devastation OST - Blitzwing]
The purple and brown tank rolled through the crowd of Decepticon soldiers. It started transforming slowly into the robot mode of Blitzwing.
"I'm gonna feed you your own sparks, Autobots!" the triple changer threatened.
"It's Blitzwing!" Wheeljack said. "Optimus, you alright?"
The Autobot leader groaned as he got up to his knees. Wheeljack could see that he had been injured by the triple changer's attack.
"Don't worry. I can handle this!"
"Wait, Wheeljack!"
Wheeljack did not hear Optimus as he charged at the Decepticons. The scientist swung his wrenches left and right, taking out soldiers as he charged at the triple changer. He fired his shoulder missile and wiped out dozens of Decepticons around Blitzwing, who dusted himself off before charging at Wheeljack. The Autobot swung his wrenches and the Decepticon caught them, leaving the two in a deadlock. Wheeljack slowly started to push back against Blitzwing, but was suddenly headbutted and thrown off guard by the attack. Blitzwing wrapped his arms around Wheeljack wrestling style, then turned around and threw him across the island. The Autobot scientist rolled along the ground near the edge of Arzenal, nearly falling into the ocean if he hadn't grabbed the ledge.
"Wheeljack!" Optimus called out.
The Autobot leader managed to recover and get up just in time as Blitzwing charged at him. The triple changer threw a left hook but missed and was hit by an uppercut. While stunned, Optimus hit Blitzwing with a left and right hook of his own. He followed up with a knee to the chest that knocked Blitzwing back. The Autobot pulls out his blaster and opens fire. Blitzwing tanked the shots as he pulled out his rifle, opening fire as Optimus blocked using his shield. Other soldiers started shooting at the Autobot leader too, forcing him to run for cover.
"Commander Blitzwing," one of the soldiers spoke up. "Wasn't our objective to destroy this island's base?"
"We'll deal with that once we've dealt with Optimus Prime!" Blitzwing replied. "We can't count on Starscream to handle this job while he sits comfortably in his command ship. Keep firing!"
The Decepticons followed Blitzwing's orders and fired in Optimus' direction. They were soon shot down by Nu Gundam flying in from behind. The soldiers didn't have time to turn around as Amuro gunned them down one after the other. As he flew in front of them, the Newtype was able to easily avoid the shots from the Decepticons and return fire before landing on the ground. As he got out of their range, his mobile suit detected something else heading towards him. However, this enemy was different.
"This is…" Amuro started to say. "A mobile suit?!"
Amuro's next opponent came into range as Gyunei's Jagd Doga flew in, pulling out its beam saber. Nu Gundam drops its beam rifle as Amuro knew he wouldn't have time to fire and pulled out its beam saber as well. Both blades collided as the Nu Gundam and the Jagd Doga were face to face.
"Nu Gundam!" Gyunei exclaimed. "That you, Amuro?!"
"Gyunei Guss?" Amuro questioned. "But didn't you…"
Jagd Doga kicked Nu Gundam away, breaking the beam clash as they landed on their feet.
"Commander, it is Nu Gundam!" Gyunei contacted Char via comms. "Stay back! Quess and I will take care of this."
"Commander? You mean Char? So he did survive!"
[Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 OST - Soldier In Metal]
Nu Gundam fired up its verniers and flew towards the Jagd Doga. The Gundam swung its beam saber and was parried by the mobile suit's shield. Gyunei went in to try and impale his opponent, but Nu Gundam jumped back in time. Amuro fired his machine's vulcans, forcing the Jagd Doga to hold up his shield while Nu Gundam ran towards it and picked up its beam rifle. The Jagd Doga tried to go for another slash but was struck with a kick from Nu Gundam, making Gynei grunt as he was knocked back. Amuro opened fire on the mobile suit, making it block with its shield as it back dashed with Nu Gundam pursuing it. Amuro's senses flared up as Gyunei flew to the edge of the rocks they were behind. He flew to the right and revealed Quess standing behind him, in her Jagd Doga and wielding its gatling gun.
"Another one?" Amuro thought.
"Got you!" Quess shouted.
"Quess?"
Quess' Jagd Doga opened fire with its gatling gun. Nu Gundam flew up to get out of the way, but quickly turned around to see Gyunei's Jagd Doga aiming its beam assault rifle at it. Amuro pulled the trigger first, firing Nu Gundam's rifle just as Gyunei fired his. Both shots hit as the Jagd Doga was shot in the leg while Nu Gundam was shot in the left shoulder and fell to the ground. Their limbs were still intact as they recovered. Quess jumped over the rocks and fired at Amuro again, Nu Gundam dashing out of the way as it returned fire. Amuro rushed into melee range against Quess, prompting the girl to pull out her Jagd Doga's beam saber. Just as she ignited it and swung, Nu Gundam sliced off her Jagd Doga's lower left arm, disarming it of its melee weapon. Activating its thrusters again, Nu Gundam rammed the mobile suit into the ground, making Quess scream.
Gyunei's Jagd Doga rushed in and shoved Nu Gundam off of Quess. Amuro fired his beam saber as he recovered, Gyunei blocking with his shield. Suddenly, the four mega particle cannons on Gyunei's shield charged up and fired. Nu Gundam avoided the blast at the last second, taking some damage as the ground and rocks near it were destroyed. Gyunei flew in close with his Jagd Doga, clashing against Amuro's beam saber once again. The two entered into a sword duel as they swung their beam sabers repeatedly, Nu Gundam forcing the Jagd Doga to walk backwards while fighting. Gyunei did a spin slash and forced Amuro to jump away. Nu Gundam fired its rifle again, only to be blocked and have Gyunei fire his mega particle cannons once more. This time, Amuro avoided the blast much quicker. Nu Gundam landed in front of the mobile suit and sliced off its shield. Amuro then threw a kick that knocked the Jagd Doga across the island and onto its back, Gyunei grunting as he went down. Amuro looked up and noticed that the two were getting closer to Arzenal's command center.
"Not good," he said. "I need to take this fight away from-nngh!"
Quess suddenly rams into Nu Gundam from behind, slamming it against the ground. She heated up the knife attached to her beam rifle, which she pried from her lost arm.
"You're the one who's preventing the commander from being here to see me fight," Quess stated, raising up her mobile suit's remaining arm. "So you've gotta go, Amuro!"
Nu Gundam grabbed hold of Quess' Jagd Doga's arm, trying to stop the heat knife from coming down on its cockpit. Gyunei attempted to get up and use this opportunity to shoot at Amuro. Just as he aimed, Quess activated her thrusters and pushed Nu Gundam again, unintentionally moving in front of Gyunei's line of fire.
"Dammit, Quess!" He shouted. "Move!"
Quess wasn't listening, trying to give herself an extra boost to thrust the knife into Nu Gundam's cockpit. Amuro activated his thrusters too, both mobile suits being thrown into the air for a moment before crashing next to the command center. Quess flew off of Amuro and then slid off the side of the island, falling onto the landing platform. The girl groaned as she was in much pain after that.
The girls in Arzenal could only sit back and watch this unfold in front of them, slightly afraid. With the shape the base was already in, they could be easily crushed if Amuro or Quess had fallen the wrong way.
"I don't wanna die…!" Oliver exclaimed, clinging to Pamela and Hikaru for safety.
"That guy is being way too careless around us!" Pamela stated. "What the hell?! Is he trying to get us killed?"
"I don't think he meant to bring them here," Momoka said.
"Mei," Jill said, walking back into the command center. "What did you say was the status on Hilda's Arquebus?"
"Huh?" Mei questioned, turning around. "Commander?!"
The girls saw that Jill had gone off and changed into a pilot suit.
"Ange and the others are all busy," Jill said. "We're already fighting at a disadvantage, so we need every hand out there that we can get. Can her Arquebus fly?"
"Yes ma'am," Mei replied. "It's suitable for combat."
"Then come with me and get it ready. I'm heading out. Pamela, keep the rest of the girls safe."
"U-Understood!" Pamela exclaimed with a salute.
[Cross Ange OST - Eikou no Hoshi no Moto de]
Elsewhere, Salia had been engaging Irma in a fierce battle in midair. Both mails had their swords drawn as they flew by and clashed with each other numerous times. The two ended in a deadlock as they spun around in circles.
"Is this how you intend to repay Master Embryo's kindness to you?!" Irma exclaimed. "Are you really going to betray us?!"
"If you were smart, you'll do the same and start helping us!" Salia yelled back. "Irma, he's just using you like he used me!"
"I've devoted my entire being to serving him. He can use me as he sees fit."
Salia and Irma broke their deadlock and were now floating in front of each other.
"That's what the damn problem is!" Salia shouted. "That's what he WANTS! Someone who will throw their life away while he doesn't give a shit!"
"After everything he's done for you can you really say all that?"
Irma thinks back to the time she's spent with Embryo, and his willingness to be a volunteer model for her paintings. Salia also thought back to the collection of magical girl clothing she received thanks to him, and how she felt like she was worth something again at his side.
"Did all of his love and affection mean nothing to you?" Irma questioned.
"He'll only give you that for as long as he thinks that you're beneficial to him. That attitude of yours is the only reason that Embryo keeps you around. The moment you start losing, and losing…"
Salia thought back to how she was eventually punished and belittled by Embryo, the moment he had his sights set on Ange.
"You'll get tossed away like yesterday's trash!"
Salia rushed at Irma in her Arquebus, its arm poised and ready to swing its blade. The moment it did, Eirene flew out of the way quickly and maneuvered behind the Arquebus with blinding speed. Arquebus turned around and narrowly avoided fire from Eirene's beam rifle. She flew in close and swung her sword again, only for the Ragna-mail to block with its blade. Eirene parried Arquebus' attacks and then slashed across the Para-mail. Salia shrieked as she started spiraling towards the ground, but her Arquebus recovered and dodged out of the way of Eirene's beam fire. The two flew up to each other and engaged in another deadlock, which Eirene won. The Ragna-mail kicked the Para-mail to the side and started firing consecutive shots. Salia transformed her Arquebus to Flight Mode in order to escape. Irma did the same and pursued Salia.
"If you surrender now, then I'm sure Master Embryo would be glad to have you back!" Irma stated.
"Not a chance in hell!" Salia shouted.
The Arquebus avoids the beam shots from the pursuing Eirene as the violet haired Norma tries to escape the Ragna-mail. Irma wouldn't let up on her at all. She fired blast after blast, all which Salia avoided.
On the ground, Ange and Hilda were standing back to back in the Villkiss and Glaive respectively. In front of Ange was Chris, piloting Theodra. For Hilda, she faced Ersha, piloting Raziya. Both sides were waiting to see what the other would do.
"Hey," Ange said to Hilda. "You wanna take a shot at Chris?"
"What?" Hilda questioned. "Why me?"
"You know her better than I do. You can probably talk some sense into her."
"That's something you'd need Rosalie for! Pretty sure we're still not on the best of terms…"
"You have a better chance than me in talking her out of this. Do something!"
Villkiss pulled her Glaive in Chris' direction as the white Ragna-mail activated its thrusters, turning around and rushing towards Raziya. Ersha responded, both Ragna-mails clashing with their blades. By the time Hilda turned around in her Glaive, Chris was already on top of her with Theodra's sword. The Glaive held up its axe and blocked the incoming sword. Chris flew a few feet away from Hilda as the latter forced her off. Her Glaive tossed away its ranged weapon and reached for the Energon Axe that she had chosen earlier.
"It's been a while," Hilda said. "Hasn't it?!"
Hilda rushed in with both axes. Chris tossed Theodra's beam rifle and activated its beam shield. She charged at Hilda in response, the two engaging in a violent fight in melee range.
Meanwhile, Ange and Ersha were exchanging beam fire and swinging their swords, clashing all around as they flew across Arzenal. They dove through several hordes of Decepticons, unintentionally destroying a fe as they fired at each other. Flying in the sky, the two floated in front of each other before exchanging fire again.
"Ersha, I know you can hear me," Ange said to the pinkette. "What the hell's gotten into?! Why'd you go back to working for Embryo?!"
Ersha remained silent, just like Chris, and continued firing.
"What the hell is this, the silent treatment?" Ange thought aloud. "What did I do?"
Villkiss strafes out of the way as Raziya fires numerous rounds from its beam rifle, flying closer to the white Ragna-mail. Ange charges in again, flying low and high to avoid the beams as she gets into melee distance. Villkiss clashed with Raziya's sword and managed to come out on top in their deadlock. Ange went to slice off Raziya's left arm, but Ersha backdashed just in time and opened fire on Ange again.
"Didn't you already choose to defect from Embryo once?" Ange asked. "What happened? Why did you choose to go back to him now? Or did you not choose? Is there something else I'm missing?" Ange growled as Ersha continued to not speak. "Dammit, give a sign!"
Raziya rushed forward and slammed into Villkiss, sending Ange spiraling towards the ground.
"That's not a sign!"
Villkiss recovered just as it hit the ground and ended up skidding across the island before stopping as it finally hit something. Ange sighed for a moment, but then turned around to see what stopped her. Her Villkiss was currently leaning on the back of Quess' Jagd Doga.
"Huh?"
"Get off!"
The mobile suit lunged forward to get the Ragna-mail off it. Both turned around, and Ange found Quess' gatling gun directly in her cockpit. The blonde was wide eyed as the Jagd Doga was about to fire. All of a sudden, Hilda's Arquebus came in, kicking Quess' mobile suit to the ground just as it fired. Ange's Villkiss suffered minor damage but the rest of the attacks struck Ersha's Raziya, sending it to the ground.
"You alright, Ange?" Jill asked.
"What the-Jill?!" Ange exclaimed, surprised to see the commander out here. "What are you doing?"
"Saving your life, that's what I'm doing."
Both the Arquebus and Villkiss were suddenly fired on as Geara Dogas and Zakus landed next to Quess, helping the Jagd Doga off the ground. Both Normas returned fire, destroying two of the Zakus as the Geara Dogas got the Jagd Doga back on its feet. Quess opened fire, forcing Ange and Jill to retreat for cover. Ange and Jill kept firing from behind one of the walls Wheeljack set up. Suddenly, a beam shot hit the ground behind them, prompting the two to turn and see Ersha behind them. Raziya fired its beam rifle as Ange and Jill flew away, both of them turning back to back. Ange focused her attention on fighting Ersha while Jill dealt with Quess and the Neo Zeon soldiers.
"I don't need a Ragna-mail to deal with these guys," Jill boasted.
Rushing in on Hilda's Arquebus, Jill fired the Para-mail's submachine gun, taking out one of the Geara Doga's main cameras and then shooting up the rest of the body. The pilot didn't have time to escape as their mobile suit exploded. The other Geara Doga tried to shoot the incoming Para-mail, but was unsuccessful. Jill got in close and placed Arquebus' left hand on the mobile suit. She pushed against the mobile suit and flew up.
"Huh?" The Geara Doga pilot said, confused. "What the hell?"
"You're done," Jill said.
The commander fired the freeze bullet from the Arquebus. The pilot of the Geara Doga couldn't even register what was happening as he and his entire mobile suit was encased in ice. Hovering over the ocean, Jill let the frozen mobile suit fall. As it fell into the water, Quess got to watch a good portion of the ocean's surface be frozen, followed by the Geara Doga exploding. Three more Geara Dogas and one extra Zaku arrived, firing on Jill as the Norma hovered back to the ground. Quess grunted, seeing that Jill might be too much for her to handle. She looked around and spotted Gyunei, who had been pushed against one of the walls in his Jagd Doga. he tried firing a beam to hit Amuro but missed. The mobile suit got out of the way as Nu Gundam swung its beam saber, cutting the wall. Amuro fired consecutive shots from his beam rifle as Gyunei retreated, going behind another wall. As he got close to it, the Jagd Doga jumped off the top of the wall and tried to tackle Nu Gundam to the ground. Amuro held his ground, butting heads with Gyunei in their mobile suits as they pushed each other.
Meanwhile, Hilda and Chris were still engaged in their duel. The redhead swung her axes around wildly with her Glaive while Chris remained silent, but fighting violently in Theodra. The Ragna-mail blocked all of Hilda's attacks with its beam shield before swinging its sword. The Glaive could barely match its movements, Hilda struggling to keep up with Chris while she was also talking to the girl at the same time.
"Come on, snap out of it!" Hilda yelled to Chris. "I know you can hear me! Whatever's going on, you need to stop this!"
Chris entered a deadlock with Hilda's axes, and quickly won. She kicked Glaive back, making HIlda grunt. The redhead swung her axe high, prompting Chris to block. While she was open, she went low and swung her Energon axe. The Ragna-mail backdashed and avoided the sweep, the red Glaive pursuing it and entering another deadlock.
"I don't know what's going through your head right now, or if you still have any hatred towards me for what I said. But you know how Embryo is! Are you gonna let him control you again, just so you can be abandoned by him, again!?"
Hilda lost the deadlock again, but she activated Glaive's thrusters. The Para-mail pushed the Ragna-mail back to prevent it from attacking. Theodra balled its fists and slammed them down on Hilda's back, breaking free and getting ready to charge in again.
"Fight it woman, fight it! If you can't do it for yourself…"
Hilda defended herself against Chris' assault, swinging her axes in a defensive manner to counter Theodra's sword. It wasn't enough as during one of her swings, Chris knocked Hilda's main axe out of her axe. Chris poised her blade again as Hilda stepped back, and rushed once more.
"Do it for Rosalie, dammit!"
"…Ro…salie?"
Hilda looked surprised as not only did Theodra stop attacking… but Chris spoke. After all this time, she spoke.
"Rosalie's my…" Chris continued to say quietly, but enough that Hilda heard her. "What's…?" Chris looked around, starting to look confused as to why she's in Theodra again. "What the hell…? What happened? Why am I…"
"Chris! Chris!" Hilda called out. "Just calm down."
"Hilda…"
Hilda walked towards Chris in her Glaive, opening the cockpit as the Para-mail was directly in front of the Ragna-mail.
"Open your cockpit, you'll be fine. Just get out of there."
Theodra's cockpit opened, Chris slowly showing herself before Hilda, who just smiled.
In the sky above, Irma could see Chris and Hilda's machines both stationary with their cockpits open. As she succeeded in grounding Salia moments ago, she had time to try and figure out what was going on. Descending slightly, she saw Chris and Hilda face to face with each other. The Norma clenched her fist.
"I can't allow this," Irma said. "I won't allow anyone else to get away with betraying Master Embryo's trust!"
Eirene aimed its beam rifle towards Theodra, locking onto it and preparing to fire.
"Chris, you shall die in battle," Irma said. "That is the best fate I can give to you rather than returned to tell Master Embryo that you betrayed him!"
"That won't be necessary, Irma," Embryo suddenly spoke up via comms.
"Master Embryo?! I-I-"
"It's alright. However, there won't be any need to do something such as executing your own teammate."
"But… she's ceased hostility against an enemy and has let her guard down completely! The only thing she could be doing is getting ready to abandon us and take sides with the rest of our enemies, including the traitor Salia!"
"I already made sure to take precautions should this happen. You needn't worry your pretty little head about her."
"If you're so sure about this then…" Eirene lowers its beam rifle. "Very well, Master Embryo. I'll trust your judgement and leave matters in your capable hands."
"Good girl. Now, back to work."
Embryo disconnected, leaving Irma to only wonder what her master's plans are.
VROOM
[Transformers Devastation OST - Autobots]
"What the hell?!"
She didn't have much time to worry as a car engine roared loudly. Looking down, she saw that one of the walls was starting to collapse slowly, and Wheeljack was in vehicle form. The Autobot drove along the wall as it fell and went airborne, transforming and grabbing hold of Eirene. Due to his weight however, he ended up dragging himself and Irma's Ragna-mail down to the ground. Irma tried firing her thrusters but even they weren't much help.
"What are you doing!?" Irma asked, panicking. "Stop this!"
"Sorry!" Wheeljack exclaimed. "I just needed to test out a theory." Wheeljack activated his comms. "Looks like you were right. A Ragna-mail isn't strong enough either."
"Don't worry," Salia replied to Wheeljack. "I think I can figure something out."
Wheeljack let go of Eirene as they neared the ground, rolling and transforming back to vehicle mode as he drove off. Eirene finally started to push upward but at the wrong time. The Ragna-mail crashed into the ground, and proceeded to do so repeatedly as the thrusters got messed up by that surprise attack.
Meanwhile, Hilda and Chris were still silent as they faced each other. Eventually, the redhead decided to be the one to make the first move and walked towards Chris.
"Hilda, I…" Chris said, holding her head. "I'm… so confused… What's going on…?"
"She must have been under some sort of mind control," Hilda thought before speaking out loud. "It's alright Chris. We'll get things sorted out."
On another island, the reserve forces were waiting for any signal to attack. With Embryo, he sat comfortably on top of Hysterica, listening in to the conversation between Hilda and Chris at Arzenal. The man reached into his coat and pulled out a small device that had a dial, a blue and red gauge, and a chibi version of Chris' head on it. The dial was pointing at the far left end of the gauge where the word "OFF" was written.
"A shame, really," Embryo said to himself. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to actually use this device. But I can't just let her leave me after all."
Embryo gently pushed the dial upwards, activating the device.
[Transformers Animated OST - Soundwave's Song]
Chris' eyes shot wide open as she suddenly grabbed her head, putting both hands over her ears. Hilda tried to comfort the girl, but she had no clue what the problem was. The device Embryo used was linked to something else. That something was playing a certain song in Chris' head the moment he activated it.
"Chris? Chris!?" Hilda exclaimed, shaking the Norma. "What's wrong? What the hell happened?!"
"Not this again, not that song again…!" Chris murmured, slowly getting louder. "Stop it…! I don't want to do this anymore! Make it stop! It hurts! My head!"
"So unfortunate that it had to come to this," Embryo's voices could be heard from Theodra's comms.
"You…!" Hilda said, gritting her teeth.
"Ah yes, you're another one of Ange's friends, and you were with her in the center of spacetime too. Hilda, if I remember correctly. You made a good pilot and you even unlocked Theodra's full power. However…"
Embryo pushed the dial some more, to the point where its arrow was still in the blue but just outside the red gauge area.
"I don't have use for a woman like you."
Chris clenched her head as she started screaming in pain, her body shaking as she nearly fell to her knees had Hilda not caught her.
"Please, make it stop!" Chris yelled. "My head hurts! It hurts! I don't wanna be controlled again! Don't make me do it! Don't make me!"
"Stop it, you fucking psychopath!" Hilda yelled at Embryo. "The hell are you doing to her?!"
"I'm only making sure that she stays obedient," Embryo said. "Don't get me wrong, such pain is unnecessary. But I can't have Chris joining you. So I have no choice but to use this pain to make her submit."
"My mind feels like it's being split apart!" Chris screamed. "I don't want to keep fighting everyone, but I have to in order to stop it! I have to kill them to stop the pain! But I don't want to do it! Please, somebody! Anyone! Rosalie, please, don't abandon me again!"
"Chris, it's alright!" Hilda exclaimed. "I'm here for you! Fight it! We'll get through this together!"
"Can you?" Embryo questioned. "Can you really help her?"
"Shut up, goddammit!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't interrupt you since you seem to think you can help. But if you can prove me wrong, then stop her pain."
"Huh?"
Hilda jumped as Chris suddenly grabbed onto her frantically.
"I-is it true?!" Chris asked. "You can help me, right Hilda? Please…!"
"I…"
"What's the matter?" Embryo taunted. "You can't, can you? Of course not. See, Chris? His woman before you… she's no help to you at all. She can't stop your pain. She can't control it. But… I can."
The music playing in her head suddenly changed tones. It went from a techno-like beat to a suddenly violent orchestra, increasing in volume and frequency. Chris broke out into an ear piercing shriek as she stepped away from Hilda, falling to her knees. Unable to do anything that could help, the redhead could only stand there and watch horrified as Chris suffered.
"Now that you've seen how useless they are to you, I'm sure you understand what you need to do," Embryo continued. "The only place for you to remain safe is with me. And all those that try and take you away… you must get rid of them. Not for me, but for you."
Chris' screaming got louder and louder until she suddenly just stopped. Her hands fell from her head to her sides as she slowly stood up. Hilda approached her friend slowly and cautiously.
"Chris…?" she asked. "Chris? Say something!"
"Oh, and before you kill her… Be sure to grab that ring off of her finger."
Chris lifted her head and looked at Hilda, her eyes once again emotionless and soulless. Before she could do anything, Chris punched Hilda in the gut, making her cough and wheeze from pain. She grabbed the redhead's hand and pulled off the ring that she was wearing. Chris pushed Hilda down, the redhead rolling across Glaive until she stopped on the edge of the cockpit. The blunette turned around and walked to Theodra's cockpit, stepping back from Hilda as she activated her Ragna-mail. The redhead tried to get back up, but made herself fall into Glaive's cockpit instead. Breathing heavily, Hilda started to pull herself together. However, she had no time to react as she saw Theodra raising its fist. The Para-mail could not move out of the way as the Ragna-mail punched it in the head and then rammed it to the ground. Hilda was shaken around as she tried to sit right in her seat. Her Glaive slowly started to get back up, only to be stepped on by Theodra. The Ragna-mail raises its foot just above the Para-mail's cockpit, Hilda going wide eyed.
"Chris don't do it!" Hilda exclaimed. "Don't listen to-
SLAM
Theodra slams it foot down on Glaive's cockpit. Hilda could feel everything being crushed around as she was shaken to and fro. She fell back in her seat at an angle to where she was unable to move. The Ragna-mail raised its foot so it stomped once again.
"Stop it! Chris, please!"
SLAM
Hilda coughed up blood from the second strike.
"No, Chris!'
SLAM
"Please…! Listen to me!"
SLAM
Nothing Hilda said could get through to the blunette anymore. Chris was shaking as she gripped the Theodra's controls. The music she heard in her head was dying down slowly as she crushed Hilda's cockpit. Instead of raising its foot again, Theodra just increased the pressure and started crushing the cockpit. Glaive grabbed onto its foot with its hands, trying and failing at pushing the Ragna-mail off. A bloodied face Hilda watched as her controls were starting to malfunction as her cockpit was crushed by Chris.
Nearby, Nu Gundam was engaged in another deadlock with Gyunei's Jagd Doga. Amuro and Gyunei were making their mobile suits give it their all to push back the other. Amuro suddenly shifted his eyes to the right of his monitor and saw what was happening to Hilda, even getting a glance at the cockpit caving in. He wanted to save her, so he knew he had to get Gyunei off of him.
"Get back!" Amuro shouted.
"What?!" Gyunei responded, confused.
Nu Gundam suddenly broke the deadlock when Gyunei least expected it. The Gudam grabbed the mobile suit by the head and threw the Jagd Doga a good distance away from it, rattling Gyunei as he was thrown. Amuro aimed his beam rifle at Theodra and immediately opened fire. The surprise attack forced Chris off of Hilda's Para-mail, and also gave her no time to react. The blunette could only scream as Nu Gundam shot away her sword, Theodra's head, and then its right arm and left leg. The Ragna-mail was being torn to shreds by Nu Gundam's beam rifle when all of a sudden, Hilda used her Glaive to throw her Energon axe at Amuro instead. He defended himself by letting it pierce the rifle. He threw it in the direction that he threw Gyunei.
The Jagd Doga also got up at that time and was about to fire at Amuro. The explosion caused by the thrown beam rifle sent it away again, Gyunei catching himself by firing up his mobile suit's thrusters. The moment the Jagd Doga touched ground, that ground caved in and fell into the ocean below, taking Gyunei with it.
"What was that for?!" Amuro yelled to Hilda as Nu Gundam ran over. "She was about to kill you!"
"You did enough already!" Hilda screamed at the top of her lungs due to her messed up comms, coughing more blood. "If I didn't stop you, you would've killed Chris!"
Nu Gundam kneeled down next to the busted up Para-mail. Amuro sighed as he opened his cockpit so he could hear Hilda better.
"Never mind that," he said. "Can you get out?"
Hilda tried to open her cockpit, but it was too caved in for it to actually move. The redhead was trapped inside, and touching anything else was just making things worse.
"No…" Hilda replied. "It won't open. Even if it could, I can't move in the state I'm in…" While Amuro couldn't see her, Hilda turned her head in the direction of the disabled Theodra. "Chris…" she murmured.
[Transformers G1 OST - Fire & Water]
Elsewhere on Arzenal, Optimus Prime had been single handedly tearing through many Decepticon soldiers and was now fighting one-on-one with Blitzwing. The Autobot leader just finished throwing the triple changer across the field. Blitzwing recovered midair and managed to land on his feet. All of his forces had been taken out by Optimus and Optimus alone, and he had already received a large amount of damage. Regardless, the Decepticon stood back up with no intentions of turning around and running.
"I'm not about to stand here and lose to you!" He exclaimed.
Blitzwing transformed into tank mode and started firing at the running Optimus. The Autobot leader pulls out his axe as he dodges a tank blast and throws it at Blitzwing. As he transformed back to robot mode, the axe hit the triple changer in the shoulder and made him stumble back. Optimus ran up to him and ducked a hook before retrieving his axe. Reattaching it to his arm slot, he slashed across Blitzwing's back before spinning the Decepticon around. Grabbing him, Optimus ran forward and tossed Blitzwing again, the triple changer not recovering this time as he hit the ground. Blitzwing groaned while struggling to get up, before collapsing. Optimus stood and looked up at the dropship hovering above him. The door on the ship opened up, and he could see Starscream standing there with his back turned.
"Starscream…" Optimus said.
[Transformers Devastation OST - Starscream]
Starscream leans back and falls out of the dropship, spinning around midair and landing on his feet with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
"It looks like I will have to deal with you myself, Optimus Prime," the Decepticon leader said confidently.
"Starscream, what is the purpose of this?" Optimus asked. "What does Megatron hope to accomplish by sending to destroy me and this island?"
"Megatron isn't the one calling the shots here! I am!"
"What?"
"It's more than likely that our fool of an ex-leader didn't even make it through the black hole that sucked us all here! It just proves that the only one fit to be leader of the Decepticons is me!"
Starscream's wings detached from his body and flew upward. Both wings transformed into a set of swords that the seeker grabbed hold of as they fell beside him.
"And once I've taken your head," he continued. "There will be no one who can question my authority!"
Starscream and Optimus ran at each other and clashed in melee range. Using his twin swords, the seeker was quite skilled as he managed to put the Autobot leader on the defensive. This didn't last long as Optimus parried one of his hands away with his shield, and scored a slash across Starscream's chest. The Decepticon stumbled back and fired his Null Ray at the approaching Optimus. While the attack was blocked, he fired another blast at the ground, momentarily blinding Optimus with smoke and dust. When he could see again, Starscream had transformed and flew straight towards Optimus, catching his hand on his wing while spinning. The seeker flew straight ahead and close to the ground, slamming Optimus against the ground as he spun. Starscream transforms back and leaves Optimus skidding across the ground while he laughs.
The Autobot leader got back up and blocked several blasts from Starscream's null ray. Switching to his Ion Blaster, he returned fire. Starscream was hit several times and forced to run for cover. He dove behind a wall as Optimus kept firing. Suddenly he hovers above it in jet form, and fires missiles at his opponent. Optimus tried to block the missiles, but the ones that collided with the ground were enough to knock him back. As he got up again, Starscream transformed with his swords out and tried to come down on the Autobot. Optimus blocked using his shield and put away his weapons when Starscream touched the ground.
The seeker swung his swords horizontally and Optimus ducked under them. Spinning around, he caught Starscream with an elbow to the face and then kicked him in the chest. The Autobot grabbed Starscream and pulled him forward, following up with a right and left hook to the head. As he threw another punch, Starscream caught it and hit Optimus with a gut shot. Starscream threw a straight cross that missed. Prime took advantage of this by grabbing Starscream's arm and flipping across his back to get to the other side of the seeker. As Starscream turned around, he ax kicked him. The seeker fell down to his knees, only to be kicked in the face by his opponent afterwards. Starscream flew across the island and crashed.
Before Optimus could pursue him, the seeker transformed into jet mode and flew straight up. Righting in the air, he starts firing several missiles at the Autobot leader. Optimus transformed and drove off to avoid the missiles. As he drove away, Starscream got behind him and continued firing both his missiles and null rays. He fires missiles ahead of Optimus to block his path and blind him, forcing the Autobot to transform and skid to a stop. Several missiles struck all around, surrounding Optimus with dust. Looking around, he did not see Starscream coming from any direction. He looked up and spotted Starscream coming down from above. The seeker transformed and tried to strike Optimus with his swords. Prime backstepped to avoid Starscream's swords, but was then caught in Starscream's ploy. A missile from above came down at the same time and hit Optimus head on, blowing him through the dust due to the impact and explosion. Starscream chuckled as his swords transformed into wings again. Walking forward with his null rays pointed out, he waited till he could lay eyes on Optimus again before opening fire.
HONK HONK
All he was met with however, was the front end of a truck slamming into him and knocking him across the island. As Starscream hit the ground, Optimus transformed and opened fire with his Ion Blaster again. The seeker was shot many times before getting up and firing his Null Rays. Starscream rockets towards Optimus and tackles the Autobot through one of Wheeljack's walls. As they rolled, Optimus threw the seeker off of him, getting up to his feet before Starscream could. He picked up the Decepticon and started punching him while walking forward, backing Starscream up to the edge of Arzenal. The seeker comes to and pushes Optimus off him, then turns around and dove into the ocean. Optimus ran over and tried to shoot at Starscream, but could not as he had already dived down. The Autobot leader stepped back slowly, holding his blaster upward.
Suddenly, Optimus' attention was taken away as a transmission was coming through his comms.
"Come on, is this working?" Salia's voice was on the other side of the message. "Dammit, I gotta learn how to work their technology better. I can't tell if this is broadcasting over everyone's communications."
"I read you loud and clear," Optimus responded.
"Optimus Prime? Oh thank God, this is working. Everyone, listen up!"
[Cross Ange OST - Tenkou]
Salia, with Wheeljack's assistance, had altered her communications so that she could easily contact all of their allies on Arzenal at once, as if it was on the same frequency that Nu Gundam and the Autobots used along with Arzenal squadron's.
"I've finished analyzing the current situation, I've decided that it would be best for me to assume command of our forces for the remainder of this battle," Salia continued. "From this point on, we're switching to an offensive battle rather than defensive."
Nu Gundam was carrying Hilda's Glaive back to the command center when Amuro heard this transmission. Hilda could hear it due to Nu Gundam's cockpit being open.
"What in the world is she doing?" Amuro questioned.
Jill was listening to this as well. Hilda's Arquebus was pinned down behind a wall while battling with the remaining Geara Dogas and Zaku.
"Offensive?" Jill questioned. "In this state? What are you up to Salia?"
Bumblebee was fighting it out with a badly injured Quake when he received the message. He hits the Decepticon with a vertical spin kick before transforming and rolling off. A stunned Quake stumbled around while trying to shoot at Bumblebee.
"Get back here, you coward…!" Quake shouted before collapsing.
Ange was in a similar situation to Jill. Instead of fighting Neo Zeon soldiers, she was fighting against a few Decepticons and Ersha in Raziya.
"I know what all of you are thinking," Salia continued to speak. "We're badly outnumbered in this situation. But I can assure you that with what few forces we have, I'll make sure we walk out of this battle in one piece. Not only that…"
From where Salia and Wheeljack were located, the former had her eyes fixated on the trio of Decepticon dropships floating around the island, near where Optimus was standing.
"But we'll be securing those enemy ships this time for sure!"