Robotech vs Transformers: Revenge Road

Chapter Nineteen

Decepticons did not take to rationing well, Darkshadow noted as the female design Decepticon stalked through the old mine. The troops grumbled at the limited energon available, and bickered among themselves over who got the larger share. Shockblast finally tried to take a bit from Runamuck, and of course a brawl broke out, the two drawing in friends to support them.

'Fools,' Darkshadow thought as she calmly drew her pistol and blasted it into the earth between them.

"Hey!" Runabout yelped.

"Cease this foolishness," Darkshadow growled. "We are saving energon for when we attack the Autobots. We will need full reserves then!"

"But he had more than me!" Scrapper bitched.

"I do not care," she ground out. Darkshadow met his eyes, "Continue, and I will rip your spark out of your body and torture it for a cycle."

Several Decepticons looked worried as the group quieted down. No one knew if she could actually DO that, but no one was taking chances.

"Good," Darkshadow nodded as she left the chamber and moved on.

Megatron was studying the map in the command center, but he was well aware of her as he said, "Good work in there."

"They are growing restless, Lord Megatron. We need to strike soon," she urged him.

"Not until I determine when and where," Megatron shook his head. "Have you really LOOKED at the tactical situation here, Darkshadow?"

Darkshadow bristled, but contained her reaction. "I studied summaries before I arrived," she conceded. "Is there something I missed?"

Megatron grunted softly then conceded, "Even I didn't realize, until Reflector managed to get a full download of their military production."

Darkshadow studied the images an the screens, the data and files spread out to be easily cross referenced. It took a moment, because of the massive amount of data involved. "The military hasn't fully optimized building their transforming fighters?" she realized.

"Correct," Megatron said with a smile, "we have only been facing the... initial output as they developed the technology. If these reports are accurate, they will go into full production soon."

"We've been fighting the initial run," Darkshadow digested that. "Do they estimate a production run?" she asked quietly.

"They are still complex to build, so it would not be a standard assembly line," Megatron said, "but... they estimate twenty a week, of both the Veritechs and other types."

Darkshadow paused, her eyes widening slightly. "We're going to be outnumbered very soon," she realized.

"Overwhelmingly so," Megatron agreed.

"Why do you seem... happy about this?" Darkshadow demanded.

Megatron's grin was oddly savage. "You weren't activated, when we Decepticons first rose up on Cybertron," he said after a moment.

"No, I wasn't," Darkshadow agreed impatiently.

"We were outnumbered then," Megatron said, "when the Autobots and their Senate ruled Cybertron. I took a rabble of gladiators, and together we took a city."

"You think the humans are the equal to the Autobots back then?" Darkshadow wondered. "The situation is not the same."

"No, it isn't," Megatron conceded willingly, "but... it has been a long time since I faced a challenge. I think I've missed it."

Darkshadow was glad to see the life in his eyes and hear energy in his voice. She had been worried, just a bit, that he had lost his nerve. "So, what will be our first move?" she asked.

"We will remind these humans what it means to face Decepticons, and make them experience our TRUE power," Megatron smiled coldly, "we will destroy one of their Fortresses."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The sea was calm and the breeze steady as the Russian Fortress carrier patrolled the Black Sea. Captain Justy Tylor of Fortress Fourteen was a odd duck, being put in charge of the Russian ship. He was there as a compromise between various factions of the UN military, appeasing Japanese and American interests while dealing with Russian objections by giving him a local second in command.

Commander Yuriko Zvezda was a attractive, brown haired woman born in a section of Russia not far from Japan, hence her name and mixed race. Partially because of her background she had pushed hard in advancing in the military, and had achieved a respectable rank in her early twenties.

Of course Justy was even younger, which frankly pissed Yuriko off. "Captain, could you at least try to look dignified?" she asked as the man lounged in his seat, hands crossed over his chest and cap pulled down over his eyes.

"I am completely aware of what's going on," Justy shrugged, "and I'm comfy."

Commander Taira, the poor soul in charge of fighter command, bit back a sigh. He could have pushed for a slot on the older Fortresses, but no... he HAD to be on the latest one. Sadly, it appeared to be run by a idiot. Or a genius, if you believed high command's assessment of him.

"Did you want the current tactical update, sir?" Yuriko asked frostily.

"No, but you're probably going to give it to me anyway?" Justy noted cheerfully.

Yuriko just ignored that. "The high command has sent out a update," she started.

"Meaning Admiral Gloval," Justy noted from beneath his cap, "as the rest of command is lucky to find their asses with both hands."

That nearly made Yuriko slap him, but honestly he was pretty much right. Besides, she felt a small glow of pride as having a countryman of hers at such a high rank. Clearing her throat she continued, "Increased Decepticon activity is expected in North America, with primary targets being Autobot City, Metroplex, and factories for Veritechs and Destroids. All related military units are to be on higher alert."

Taira smiled faintly as he noted, "Well, we're well out of that line of fire."

"I would rather fight beside our fellow soldiers," Yuriko said frostily.

"You may get your wish," Justy said as he sat up. "I want us on yellow alert," he ordered, "and get the fighter patrols out."

"Sir?" Taira looked surprised, "Why would we come under attack?"

"Radar contact!" the sensors officer yelped, as something just appeared on the edge of their sensor range.

Everyone looked at Justy in shock as he leaned forward intently. Calmly he explained, "Megatron HAS to know we'd expect him to hit the primary targets, so he might decide to hit a softer target, relatively speaking."

"A softer target like us," Yuriko realized. Then she hurried to her station, "Gun crews to your posts! Destroids to the elevators!"

"Fighters, get to the slingshot," Taira echoed her from the fighter command station, "Super Veritechs take priority!"

"Sensors, what have we got?" Justy asked grimly.

"They are too tightly packed to get a solid return," the young man answered seriously, "but by the size of the mass I'd guess at least ten Decepticons. Maybe more."

Communications reported, "We've sent a flash message to command. Should I request reinforcements?"

"Not yet," Justy said "Let's see what they've got."

Fighters were roaring down the deck even as the Destroids rose up on their lifts. Box munitions were moved into place as the guns swivelled out to take aim. Before they could fire the Decepticons opened up, blasting energy bolts into the armor and showing that THEIR range was still a lot longer than the human forces.

"Crap," Taira breathed out as he realized what, exactly, the Decepticons were doing. Clearly they understood how dangerous the Veritechs were, and were doing their best to keep them from getting into the air with long range fire. Some were still launching, thankfully, but they were already suffering losses.

"We're going to have to get fighters on patrol constantly, after this," Justy grunted as the ship was rocked by a powerful blast. "Oh great," he noted, "Megatron is leading the charge."

The ship's guns finally began firing, and the main mass of Decepticons split into two smaller units. Each one swung out then pincered in on the Fortress, firing steadily as the ship jerked and lurched under concentrated fire.

Super Veritechs tried to engage the attacking forces, but each group just peeled off a few fighters to hold them off then continued their relentless pounding of the fortress. The worst were Megatron's blasts, but all the Decepticons were giving the carrier a pounding.

"Ooof," Yuriko grunted, holding on to her control panel as the Captain muttered something. "What, sir?" she asked with a lot more respect. Clearly, he DID know what he was doing.

"Where are the combiners?" Justy repeated. "This appears to be a serious assault, so where are their really big guns?"

"I..." the sensors man started.

"Sonar," Justy said, his eyes narrowing, "what's under us?"

The sensors officer let his hands fly across the control, muttering. "Our sonar rig isn't great, sir..." After a moment he said flatly, "Large sensor return, not far under us."

Justy made a snap decision, "All non-essential crew to life boats! All other crew in life-jackets! Get ready to evac at a moment's notice."

"You think they're going to...?" Taira asked.

"Devestator or whichever combiner is down there is probably going to be their killing blow," Justy nodded. "We've got depth charges... drop them on him. I doubt they'll stop him, but by god they'll hurt the bastards."

"Yes sir!" Yoriko agreed eagerly. Whatever happened today... she was honoured to be fighting beside a captain like this!

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Megatron smiled as the gutted wreck sank beneath the waves, life rafts pouring out to cover the water. The Fortress had been a hard kill, the humans packed them with as much armor and weapons as possible. It was almost Decepticon-like of them, really.

"Should we kill the survivors?" Stormbringer asked eagerly, the fighter hovering nearby.

"No," Megatron decided, "I want them to live." He smiled, "They will spread the word to the other humans that the Decepticons are back..."

To be continued...