4. Convoy
Story Start: Autobot Outpost Omega One
The Autobots and Kids' calm day was rather rudely interrupted when a voice shouted from Ratchet's station "Prime! Prime!"
"Special agent Fowler? To what do we owe -" Optimus started only to be cut off as Fowler said "What else? 'Cons! I chased them off with some hard ordnance, but not before they blew me out of the sky."
Miko laughed and asked "Again?"
"They tried a smash-and-grab for the DNGS." Agent Fowler said with a clenched fist.
"The What's-it?" Arcee asked in confusion
"Dynamic nuclear generation system, AKA, DNGS." Agent Fowler said before pushing a button to show a picture of the device and continued "It's a prototype energy source I'm transporting to the coast for testing."
"That's absurd. Why would Starscream bother with such primitive technology?" Ratchet asked disbelievingly.
"I'm guessing to make a big fat primitive weapon of mass destruction. If this baby were to melt down, it would irradiate this state and the four next door." Agent Fowler said while clasping his left hand over his right fist in front of his chin.
"Uh…Did agent Fowler say what state he was currently in?" Raf asked nervously.
"I'm a sitting duck here, prime. I need you to spin up your bridge and send the DNGS to its destination before the 'cons come back for it." Fowler said, making another fist with his right hand.
Optimus shook his head and said solemnly "I'm afraid that sending such a volatile device through a ground bridge is out of the question. If there were to be an accident during its transmission, the radiation of which you speak could propagate through the ground bridge vortex and harm all 50 states…And beyond."
"You got any better ideas?" Agent Fowler asked.
Ten minutes later, Optimus was on site with the DNGS in his trailer and his engine revving. In his cab, Agent Fowler clasped his hands in eagerness before setting them on Optimus' steering wheel only for the bot to say "Ah! No need, agent Fowler. I will handle the driving."
Crossing his arms with a frown, Fowler said "It's gonna be a long trip."
Next to Optimus, Bulkhead and Bumblebee turned on their lights and revved their engines.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus called out and the trio put action to words, leaving Agent Fowler's crashed Beach Hawk behind for someone else to recover.
When they reached the nearest highway Ratchet said over the radio "We are locked on to your coordinates, Optimus. Barring any complications, you should reach the drop off point by sundown."
A couple of minutes later, they came across and old beat up pickup truck and Agent Fowler began honking the horn as he yelled out "Move it, Gramps!"
Even as the truck pulled over Optimus asked "Agent Fowler, is that really necessary?"
"Ah, don't tell me you're one of them textbook drivers." Agent Fowler said, crossing his arms as he did so.
As the convoy reached a hilly area a helicopter began following them, one of its passengers saying "They're transporting in an unarmed civilian truck. Send in the ground units."
"You know, you're saving my bacon here, Prime." Agent Fowler mused.
"I am proud to be of service." Optimus said.
Agent Fowler then smirked down at Optimus' radio and said "'Course, not like I'd need your help if you and the 'cons had stuck to tearing up your own corner of the galaxy."
"Are you suggesting that no evil existed on your world before we arrived?" Optimus questioned.
"Oh Well, it was a Different evil." Agent Fowler said hesitatingly before he rallied and said "How about some radio? You seem like a Nashville-sound kind of guy."
Before he could touch the radio, he noticed the helicopter following them and he said "That's the one! The 'con who shot me down! Who is he? Wingnut? Dingbat? Skyguy?"
"Watch your rear views." Bulkhead called over the radio. As a line of five cars came up boxing the Wrecker in on either side with the other three behind he continued "Feeling a little constricted without the use of my fists here, boss."
"Remain in vehicular mode unless absolutely necessary." Optimus ordered.
As the car on Bulkhead's right side moved to block him from the front, the first rear car seamlessly taking its place, Agent Fowler mused "A whole team of 'cons."
"What? I'm not picking up anything." Ratchet said, looking at his monitor in confusion before musing "They must be utilizing a cloaking technology."
One of the cars suddenly pulled up to where Bumblebee was and began making the Scout play follow the leader. Another car sped up to drive next to Optimus' cab and the sunroof opened, a completely suited human standing up and pointing a gun at Agent Fowler and demanded "Pull over!"
"Well, I'll be dipped!" Agent Fowler said surprised.
"Our assailants are not Decepticons - They are human." Optimus said over the radio.
"Human?!" Ratchet and the two boys asked surprised before Miko stepped up and said "Oh, please. Taking on our bots? They're roadkill!"
Meanwhile the man up in the helicopter said "Gentlemen stop their engines."
The man holding Fowler at gun point shifted, about to fire only for Optimus to swerve left hitting the other vehicle causing the man to stagger and his round to hit the road in front of Optimus, the big rig easily going through the resulting explosion.
"Who are these guys?" Agent Fowler asked himself, surprised at the power held in the rounds the man's gun fired.
"Autobots, maintain your cover and apply minimal force. Disarmament only." Optimus ordered
Another car began pulling up on Optimus' left only to get bashed by Bumblebee. A few hits later, the enemy car swerved, hit an out cropping and flipped over. Seeing this, the man in the helicopter said "Those are not civilian drivers."
Meanwhile Optimus was taking the turns rather fast, skidding along the curves like only professional stunt drivers could match. As Fowler was flung from side to side in his seat, he put a hand over his mouth to keep from vomiting and said "Could use some air."
Optimus opened the window and Fowler leaned out only to notice one of the enemies hopping out of his car and onto the trailer hitch. Seeing this, Fowler ordered "Prime! Bear right!" The enemy managed to barely stay on board but Prime's left swerve knocked the car he had originally been riding off the cliff. As he began trying to cut through the hitch again, Fowler got out of the cab and grabbed him by the back and held him out over the road as he declared "You're gonna tell me everything I want to kno-"
Fowler suddenly lost his captive due to an unfortunately placed tree branch and he grit his teeth and swung his fist in frustration. Getting back into the cab and putting on his seatbelt, he was surprised when a voice said over his hand held radio "I do hope you take better care of the DNGS than you do your captives."
Picking up the radio, Fowler glanced at the helicopter in the side mirror and said "Special Agent William Fowler here. Identify yourself!"
"I am Silas. But of greater consequence to you, we are MECH. Fair warning - We will be helping ourselves to your device, even if it means inflicting casualties." The man said.
"Is that so? Tell me, SI, what's the market price for a DNGS these days?" Fowler asked.
"What makes you think we intend to sell it, Agent Fowler?" Silas asked causing Fowler to frown heavily before Silas continued "There's a war brewing between the new world order and the newest. The victor will be the side armed with the most innovative technology." As Silas spoke, one of the cars still in the back of the group lined up with Optimus' trailer and the passenger climbed out of the sunroof and onto the hood of the car. He shot three electrical devices onto the bars keeping the trailer's door shut before pushing a button on his gun. The devices energized then exploded knocking the bars apart down the middle and causing the door to roll open.
Seeing this, instead of being worried, Agent Fowler smirked and said "So, Si You think MECH has all the most radical tech?" An instant later, there was the roar of a motorcycle as Arcee shot out of the trailer doing a wheelie, Sadie, her holographic driver in place. Arcee slammed onto the hood of the car, knocking the passenger back through the sun roof and causing the car to spin out and flip while Arcee drove off after the others, the last car behind them crashing into the flipped car and flipping away with a minor explosion as she did so.
"Definitely not civilian drivers." The helicopter pilot said with a shake of his head.
"Later, Si." Agent Fowler said smugly.
As he was putting the radio back on the passenger seat though Optimus said "Agent Fowler, do not take your "Silas" lightly. Megatron preached the very same ideology before plunging Cybertron into the great war that destroyed our world." Agent Fowler frowned in contemplation at the Prime's words.
A moment later, Ratchet said over the coms "Optimus, prepare to initiate phase 2. Five miles ahead, to the South, you will reach the rendezvous point."
Scene Change: The Nemesis.
"Five miles ahead, to the South, you will reach the rendezvous point."
Starscream grinned as he heard Soundwave repeat the transmission and said "So, the Autobots are outside the confines of their base and sound otherwise engaged. Which means they will never see us coming." Turning to a group of five Flyer Vehicon Drones, he said "Find them and scrap them!"
"Yes, Lord Starscream." They said with hand over spark salutes.
Scene Change: With The Convoy
"There's our destination point." Agent Fowler said with a point at a pair of tunnels, one for the road they were on and the other for the train that was rapidly approaching. His words were immediately followed by Optimus' order of "Autobots, keep a tight formation."
Arcee led the way, wheeling over the guard rail and going down the hill side to the tracks, the rest following at the end of the rail where the hill was slightly more forgiving for their larger frames. As they came upon the tunnel the train caught up with them and then passed, the group beginning to quickly regain speed and catch up. As another group of MECH cars that had been tailing them came up to the tunnel entrance Bulkhead quickly transformed, shot the roof of the tunnel entrance blocking them with the resulting debris then transformed to catch up with the others.
Up in the air, Silas smirked and said "Tactical error - Only one way out."
But as the Autobots came out of the tunnel the flight of drones Starscream had sent came up next to Silas' helicopter, the man and his pilot looking at them in confusion.
On the ground, Agent Fowler saw the fliers and asked "Air support? Ours or theirs?"
"Optimus, you have company!" Ratchet warned over the radio right before the drones fired their missiles.
"Military fired on one of their own?" Silas asked in shock.
"Sir, the DNGS!" His pilot said in alarm. Indeed, even as Optimus took evasive action the trailer broke away from the semi, the missiles slamming into the trailer. After a tense moment, the pilot hesitatingly said "Sir, I'm not reading any radiation. The DNGS didn't melt down."
"No, it did not." Silas said contemplatively.
The Autobots came to a quick stop as they reached the edge of a cliff. As they turned around the drones all transformed and landed in front of them. Seeing this, Optimus said "Agent Fowler, I'm afraid that if you and we are to survive, it has become absolutely necessary to drop our cover." Transforming, Optimus held Agent Fowler in his right hand while the special agent did his best not to throw up.
Looking down from the air at the two sides facing each other, Silas smirked and said "So, the rumors are true. Living technology stands before us - Though perhaps not for very long."
Back on the ground, Optimus placed Fowler on a convenient ledge and said "Remain here."
"Will do." Agent Fowler said easily.
Bulkhead stepped forward hitting his fists together as he said "After a long road trip, it feels good to get out of the car, stretch my legs And kick some tailpipe!" That was the cue for both sides to rush towards each other and the fight was on.
After about half a minute of watching from above, the pilot said "Sir, if the DNGS wasn't in the truck-"
"Yes, that." Silas said before he pushed the button to connect back to Fowler's radio and said "Special agent Fowler, you lead a charmed life, walking among titans."
"Come on down. I'll introduce you." Fowler said mildly.
"In good time. But at the moment, I'm too busy wondering how the DNGS might have vanished into thin air without a trace." Silas said leadingly.
Flashback: In The Tunnel
The Autobots quickly pulled up to the train, Bumblebee transforming and climbing up to the top before tapping on the door of the car he was on. A man in army fatigues and holding a rifle slid the door open and Bumblebee waved. Meanwhile, Optimus' trailer folded down and Arcee picked up the DNGS, handing it to Bumblebee who carefully placed it inside the car. A few moments later the Autobots came out of the tunnel, the trailer sides back in place.
End Flashback
"Now if you'll excuse me I have a train to catch." Silas said looking down at his monitor which saw a dot traveling down train tracks.
As the helicopter pulled away, Agent Fowler barked into his radio "Prime! Silas got wise to phase 2!"
"I understand." Optimus said. But his inattention cost him and one of the Cons slammed a fallen tree trunk into his head, sending him falling off the cliff. He tried to get back up only to collapse.
"Prime, do you read me? Prime?!" Fowler barked into the radio, but didn't get any response.
Scene Change: Omega One
"Optimus is down!" Miko said in concern.
"Mech's gonna grab the DNGS." Raf continued.
"Not if I can help it." Jack said, and in a flash he was in full Green Lantern gear, mask included. The next instant, his ring created a doorway out of some alienistic looking parts on the floor, a green portal rapidly appearing in it before he turned, crossed his arms over his chest and fell backwards into it, the portal closing and the doorway vanishing immediately after.
Raf and Miko blinked at what had just happened before Raf glanced at Miko and asked "Diiiid you know he could do that?"
"No, but he's got the right idea." Miko said, smirking as her own alien device unfolded a portal doorway on the floor that she immediately dived into with an excited "Woohoo!"
Rolling his optics with a sigh, Ratchet said "Ugggh, teenagers."
Scene Change: In The Air, Five Miles Above The Train
A now pink and purple toned Iron Maiden armored Miko quickly caught up to Jack and said "Dude, I can't believe you were just going to leave me back at base like that!"
"You got here with your own gear didn't you?" Jack asked mildly as the pair rapidly dove for the deck, sights locked on the helicopter below them that was in turn heading straight for the train in front of it.
"So not the point!" Miko said with a huff even as a compartment popped open on her shoulder and a six inch missile shot out and curved around the helicopter's top rotors before hitting the side. Immediately after, the helicopter began rapidly sparking before its power plant died and the vehicle began immediately loosing speed and altitude, the helicopter's auto rotating propeller function keeping it from crashing into the ground, even if it was a rougher than normal landing.
Before anyone could move for the helicopter's doors a green dome of energy covered the helicopter and the pair landed, Miko raising her arms as a multitude of other weapons popped up on her armor. Behind them, the train continued on its way, MECH having not had a chance to even deal with the people on board of said train before the pair had stopped them.
Inside the helicopter, Silas' stunned features soon smoothed out to a narrow eyed look as he got out of the helicopter and said "So, a customizable Iron Man suit and a Green Lantern. I hadn't realized that we lived in a world of comic books."
"You'd be rather surprised what's out there." Jack said, trusting in the ring's secrecy functions to prevent his voice being identified later on the slim chance of the helicopter having an external microphone to record said voice.
"Indeed. Tell me, how much is the Government paying you to work for them? MECH could use people with your abilities, and we pay quite well, I assure you." Silas said, rather calmly for a man trapped inside a giant dome. Behind him, his men had gotten out, and were all standing with weapons in their hands, pointed at the ground but ready for use if given half the chance.
Felicity Jones' voice came from the external speakers on Miko's suit as she scoffed and said "Dude, you know the source material for what we're using and you still think we'd work for a guy like you? I think once you're in prison you should have your head examined."
Silas' eyes narrowed and he said "Pity."
"I'm sure it is." Jack said before his ring formed arms with clamps on their ends from inside the dome, his prisoners unable to react fast enough when they shot inwards viper fast and held them in place as his ring formed a wraith stunner in his off hand. Quick on the draw, Miko formed her own stun weapon immediately after and the pair shot all five prisoners, knocking them out cold. Jack dropped the dome and the pair began securing them with handcuffs Miko made.
Soon after, the Autobots pulled up with Agent Fowler and he hopped out of Optimus' cab as he said "Good work you two. Not only did you keep the DNGS out of MECH's hands, you bagged their ring leader."
"Happy to help sir!" Miko said with a cheeky salute, a small metallic clang ringing out as her armor's hand hit her helmet.
"Well let's see if Ratchet can't help us get them back to Unit E headquarters before they wake up. I want to have a talk with Si, should be rather interesting." Fowler said with a shark like grin.
END
Author's Notes: Well, that happened. So Convoy pretty much happened exactly like in the show except for at the end. Course, we all know that Silas won't stayed locked up for long given the extremes his minions go to in order to keep him alive in the show, but that's for down the road. Hunting Decepticons is up next then I think I'm going to do my other two RWBY stories followed by my One Piece stories. So until then, Tac out.
