ALONG WITH HUMAN ALLIES SPIKE, CARLY, KIRIKO AS WELL AS THE FAIRIES THE SHOBIJIN THE AUTOBOTS HOT ROD, DRIFT, PROWL, BUMBLEBEE, CHROMIA AND THE DINOBOTS HAVE VENTURED TO SKULL ISLAND IN HOPES OF FINDING THE LEGENDARY MOTHRA. HOWEVER THEY ARE UNAWARE THEY ARE BEING FOLLOWED BY THE RENEGADE KNOCK-OUT WITH ALLY STARSCREAM AND THE MONSTROUS BATTRA. THE FLIGHT INTO THE STORM SURROUNDING SKULL ISLAND WAS MET WITH AN ATTACK BY RODAN AND THE PRESENCE OF THE DECEPTICON DEADLOCK WHO ALONG WITH HOT ROD HAVE CRASHED SOMEWHERE ON THE ISLAND. NOW THE AUTOBOTS HAVE RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION FROM A MONARCH BASE ON THE ISLAND AND HAVE LANDED ON THE NEARBY BEACHES.
No sooner had the small group landed on the beach then the sound of engines coming from the nearby forests caught their attention. A pair of military jeeps and a Transport Truck rolled across a man made path large enough for them, the vehicles each had the Monarch Symbol and had an automated turret on top of each. A pair of soldiers emerged from the truck wearing something similar to Police Riot Gear with matching colors to the vehicles, they stood to attention as they were followed a few seconds later by a man wearing a similar uniform to what Silas wore.
"Good to meet you Lieutenant" the man said as he saluted Kiriko and she did the same, he stood a few inches taller then her with a medium muscle, he was dark skinned and bald with a sharp stare that even Spike knew meant he was someone of importance.
"Commander Packard I presume?" asked Kiriko, "I read your file, Silas holds you in high regard and you're considered part of his inner circle"
"Good to hear he hasn't lost his charm" Packard joked as the two shook hands before he shook Spike and Carly's hands.
"And these must be members of the Autobots?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm Spike Witwicky, my girlfriend Carly" Spike said politely, "and these are..."
"Prowl, Bumblebee and the Dinobots, don't worry Mr Witwicky we are wise to current events" Packard interrupted as he then looked at Chromia and Drift, "you two I don't know"
"Chromia, you could say I'm a transfer from Cybertron" Chromia said.
"Drift...I like swords" said Drift, keeping it very short.
As this went on Bumblebee helped the Shobijin out of their transport box to get some fresh air as they stood on his hand.
"So the legends are true" said Packard as he walked over to the fairies, Bee positioning his hand so they could make eye contact.
"We have come here to seek Mothra, can you help us?" they asked.
"I'll do what I can" said Packard, "till then time for my introduction, I'm Commander Preston Packard, I'm in charge of the Monarch Base code named 'Skull' right here on this island. I'm happy to answer questions once we reach a safer area"
From the truck another soldier appeared as he ran over to Packard, he was about Spike's Age and had brown hair with it gelled back, he wore uniform like the two soldiers only without the helmet.
"Sir, the base just picked up on Rodan, he's heading for the Higher Peaks" the soldiers reported.
"Understood Daniels, while our guests are here I want you to play host, give them any help you can" Packard Ordered, Daniels saluted as the humans and Shobijin boarded the Truck. Prowl, Bumblebee, Drift and Chromia transformed and followed behind while the Dinobots walked behind at the back. The convoy moved out into the long trees on their way to the base.
"Sir I didn't know about this Base Skull" said Kiriko after a few minutes.
"Similar to Bermuda Base, but Silas wanted this one off record due to the high level of Kaiju in this location" explained Packard.
"Bermuda? As in the Triangle?" asked Carly.
"Our largest Base" explained Kiriko, "heavily armored and where a majority of our weapons Research takes place. Other Monarch bases around the globe are more like outposts that keep watch on known Kaiju hot zones, unfortunately thanks to The Renegades many have been destroyed during the capture of Kaiju"
"So how did you end up leading this operation Commander?" Spike then asked Packard.
"Shortly after the Vietnam War ended my platoon and I were hired by Monarch to lead the expedition here to Skull Island" explained Packard, "back then Monarch was in danger of losing funding unless the President was given evidence of Kaiju still being alive. Bill Randa, the one the Lieutenant by now will have mentioned was heading the expedition"
"Randa was head of Monarch, the distress signal I mentioned was from him" explained Kiriko.
"Silas was part of my squad back then too" Packard continued, "the mission was simple, gather data and evidence of Kaiju on the island, and boy did we find it, namely this Island's guardian"
"Kong" said the Shobijin.
"Yep, he hit us hard, didn't like us visiting his territory. Our Choppers were taken down and we spent 3 days making for the rendezvous point for our pick up. Randa got separated during all this, we never found his body and Silas and I were the only survivors" Packard explained, "After we got home with the evidence we were offered a place in Monarch and Silas rose up the ranks pretty fast, Monarch knew Skull Island was a major point for Kaiju so over the years we set up Skull Base. Now it seems we're needed more than ever"
The opposite end of Skull Island was like a stone opening with jagged rocks and large cliffs overlooking it. With their submarine now finally able to rise as they found a location to disembark Starscream and Knock-Out watched as the Auto-Troopers began to unload metal crates containing various weapons. The twenty troops were armed with different weapons, five with blasters, five with Heavy Weapons like Gatling Guns, 5 with Projectiles and 5 with drills and hammers on their back.
"With any luck the Kaiju Capture program Bug Bite installed in them should be enough to give them an edge when we track one down" said Knock-Out.
"This island better be able to allow Battra easy access. I currently have him circling the waters around it for now" Starscream explained.
"You'll soon find out, this entire first ares is swamp and marsh land" Knock-Out said with a shudder, "this won't do my shine any good"
"To think I must be grounded for the time being" Starscream snarled, "what is the plan once we discover a Kaiju"
"Each Auto-Trooper is fitted with Jet Propulsion systems, whilst our weapons units distract a target with aid from Battra our drill units will 'surgically' place one of Bugbite's Cerebral Shells into the target allowing us full control. The more we take control the better our chances, plus Gigatron has permitted me in an emergency to use a back up plan" Knock-Out explained.
"Soon Knock-Out, we will have full control of these creatures and then Megatron will bow to me" chuckled Starscream.
"Not planning to betray Gigatron are we?" asked Knock-Out.
"I would ask the same, everyone knows you're not a big fan of any of this anyway" said Starscream as he headed into the unknown lands ahead of them. Knock-Out grumbled to himself before motioning the Auto-Troopers to follow.
On a cliff nearby three individuals watched Starscream's Team leaving.
"It seems stalking that Jet Chump was worth it, worth it" said Shrapnel.
"Should we report to Megatron?" asked Kickback.
"Not yet, this Island is an untapped potential source of food for us" Bombshell advised, "besides I'm wanting to learn about this Bugbite's own Cerebral Shells, how dare he think they are superior to mine"
"We should begin our own investigation, investigation" Shrapnel ordered, "but first we will need additional forces, forces"
"A selection of clones should do it" said Bombshell as he looked directly at the Submarine and empty boxes, "and with some explosions I may get enough materials"
It was nearly night time as the Monarch convoy reached their destination, a large opened field with what appeared to large tower shaped rock in the middle.
"That's their base?" asked Chromia.
"Looks are deceiving" said Prowl, "my scanners are picking up that's made of metal"
As the Convoy drew closer a section of the Rock opened up to allow entry inside.
"When Monarch constructed Skull Base we discovered underneath the Island was what appeared to be a giant area hollowed out Cave the size of New York" explained Packard, "so we constructed the Base below the Island, much safer than going topside"
The convoy drove into the Rock as the door closed behind them, they were on a large elevator surrounded by metal. As they began to descend down The Autobots transformed.
"Okay so while we have a moment, I have to ask, who was that Decepticon Hot Rod was fighting?" asked Bumblebee.
"Deadlock yes?" asked Drift as everyone looked at Chromia as she let out a sigh.
"When Hot Rod first became an Autobot he joined alongside Deadlock. The pair as well as myself served in a unit under Kup's command. The three of us were the best of friends so we made a pact and became Sworn Siblings. Deadlock was a master shot, he'd run long range while Hot Rod and I would get up close with fists and blasters" she explained.
"So that's why you stayed at his side since coming to Earth" said Carly, "he's your brother"
"What happened?" asked Prowl.
"We were ordered by Elita to scout rumors of a possible Energon Shipment Shockwave was moving. This was about two centuries after The Ark first launched and Kup was away aiding Magnus on another part of the planet" Chromia continued, "after we located it Hot Rod suggested we steal it for the Autobots, we'd been victorious in so many missions we got over confidant. Deadlock agreed first and I followed suit, believed we'd be heroes. What we hadn't counted on was the newest Ace fliers, Thrust, Dirge and Ramjet. They completely outclassed us, Hot Rod was determined to keep going but Deadlock and I had to force him to retreat. In the resulting chase we crossed an old bridge which gave way as Deadlock was crossing it. Hot Rod tried to go back to save him but Ramjet's missiles knocked him offline. Deadlock fell to his believed Death. After Hot Rod was patched up he spent years trying to find Deadlock and took his anger out on any Decepticon in his way. Eventually Kup contacted him and order Rod to join him and Magnus in a campaign in Polyhex, I stayed in Iacon alongside Elita. Hot Rod eventually contacted me, Deadlock was alive but working for the Decepticons. Turns out Shockwave had recovered him and learned Deadlock blamed Hot Rod for what happened. Hot Rod in turn branded Deadlock a traitor"
"That's so sad" said Kiriko.
"Poor Hot Rod" said Swoop.
"Sooner its daybreak, the sooner we can began searching" said Prowl as he put a hand on Chromia's shoulder, "Packard, can Skull Base help us?"
"See for yourself" said Packard as the elevator came to a halt and the doors opened up as everyone stepped out into a huge hangar bay filled with military vehicles and personal. The walls around them revealing various rooms.
"Whoa" said Bumblebee.
"Now" said Packard, "lets start searching for Autobots and Mothra"
As the clear night sky presented itself Hot Rod slowly came back online, he tried to look around but discovered he was entangled in vines which were keeping him in place while he hung in the air near some trees. Quickly he converted his hand to a buzz-saw and cut away at several. Only for the remaining ones to no longer hold his weight as he plummeted to the ground below.
"Ow" he said as his face lifted out the dirt, as he got up he looked behind him to see bits of wreckage on the ground leading to the still burning remains of Deadlock's ship. Most of it was in tact with the exception of the bank end. Cautiously Hot Rod entered in and began scanning the ship for any clues. All was silent and from the looks of things it had been cleared of any supplies onboard. As he went to contact the others he noticed something, namely a single Energon Cube.
"He's got a Thermal Scope" Hot Rod said out loud, a shot rang out as the cube was hit, causing a huge explosion.
From behind some nearby trees Deadlock smiled as he lowered his Sniper Rifle.
"So you still on this frequency?" Hot Rod asked over the communicator, a focused beam cut through the Sniper Rifle to the North of Deadlock. The Decepticon rolled from his position as he drew a blaster from his side and took aim from where the shot had fired.
"You finally got that Visor installed?" asked Deadlock as Hot Rod tired to sneak around him to attack from behind, only to be caught by a hidden flash bang that blinded him for a second. Deadlock smiled as he spun round to fire but Hot Rod transformed and flashed his headlights at full brightness, Deadlock was caught off guard as he tried to shield his optics and fired wildly. Hot Rod transformed again but by that time Deadlock regained focus as the two began firing on each other, taking cover behind trees that were torn apart by the shots fired. Before long they had a small clearing as they aimed at each other. Deadlock then placed his blaster away as Hot Rod rose up. Their fists clenched as they screamed at the top of their vocal processors and charged at each other. Hot Rod landed the first punch but Deadlock lunged back at him, their hands clasped into others in an intense grapple, both eager to overpower the other.
Suddenly from behind Hot Rod a foot came down with an all mighty thud which made the two stop fighting and look up. Towering over them was a creature standing on two legs, hair covering its body. Hot Rod and Deadlock started as they could only say two words
"Oh Scrap"
The beast let out a mighty roar as its fist came down with full force.
NEXT CHAPTER: TRAPPED IN THE EVER EXPANDING MYSTERY THAT IS SKULL ISLAND HOT ROD AND DEADLOCK FACE OFF AGAINST SOME OF THE ISLANDS OCCUPANTS.
STARSCREAM AND KNOCK-OUT CONTINUE THEIR PUSH TO CAPTURE MORE KAIJU
AND THE AUTOBOTS WITH THEIR NEW MONARCH ALLIES ARE SET UPON BY THE INSECTICONS, BUT WILL THE ARRIVAL OF A POTENTIAL NEW ALLY HELP TURN THE TIDE?
STAY TUNED