chapter two
Thirty minutes after being briefed by SecDef Keller, the team was geared up and ready to go. Standard military fatigues had been donned, weapons were now slung over shoulders, and the general atmosphere was considerably more cheerful now that the group had ammo and an enemy to wipe out. The known was always easier to deal with than the unknown. Each soldier carried a Ka-Bar and a 9mm Beretta sidearm. Stringer, Jones, and O'Connell carried M249 light machine guns. Epps and Sing favored M16A4 assault rifles. Anna preferred her trusty M40A3 sniper rifle when long range was needed, and if she had to, she also used the M16A4.
Sing was currently playing with his Ka-Bar as he spoke. "So, tell us about these Decepticons we're supposed to be fighting."
Jones gave him a look. "You're going to cut yourself you know." he muttered. Sing just flashed him a grin and ignored him. Jones groaned.
Anna leaned against the side of the transport and sighed. Once again, traffic had been cleared for them as they made their way to the airport just outside of DC. "This is going to be hard to explain, because I don't know all the details myself." she said slowly. "So bear with me."
"We're bearing." Stringer said with a grin. "Just spit it out."
"Remember Mission City?" Her team nodded. "The Decepticons were the alien species that took out Mission City."
Silence descended on the group. Jones was the one to break it. "Aliens?"
"Yes. Big ones." Anna looked at them. To their credit, there were no looks of disbelief. They were simply waiting for an explanation. "From what Dad told me, the Decepticons and the Autobots are two factions of a race of robots that can transform into Earth vehicles. Decepticons hate us and want us to die, the Autobots are more interested in keeping us alive. So now you understand why I'm not too keen on going to fight these guys without some serious backup."
"So these Autobots," O'Connell began slowly, "they are going to help us fight the Decepticons?"
"Yes." Anna met his eyes evenly. "I know how it sounds. And I haven't actually met any of them. But I trust my dad, and if he says they exist and the Autobots are the good guys, then I believe him."
"Hear hear." Epps said, and he flashed Anna a lopsided grin. Anna smiled appreciatively. "I say we get to South Africa, hook up with our new friends, and kick some alien butt."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Sing said with an easy smile. "I personally have wanted to fight aliens since reading about them in comics."
Anna couldn't help but laugh. They may not have believed her yet, but they trusted her enough to give her the benefit of the doubt. It was more than she could ask for.
/----/
Given present circumstances, Optimus Prime wasn't surprised to get a request from Will Lennox to meet him on the Lennox ranch. Ironhide and Ratchet were already there, as was the newly-resurrected Jazz. Bumblebee was currently staying with Sam and Mikaela and their thirteen year old son. Optimus transmitted a greeting to his comrades, all of whom were in their alt modes. They must have made for an interesting sight – a diesel semi, a black GMC Topkick, a rescue Hummer, and a silver Pontiac Solstice, all surrounding an older man who was more comfortable with talking vehicles than he was with most of his own kind.
Ever since Sarah Lennox had died of leukemia ten years ago, Will had turned to the Autobots for distractions from his grief. Watching his daughter go through basic training had also been a welcome change for the older man. She was following in his footsteps, and he could not have been more proud of her.
"I assume this is not a social call." Optimus said gently, prompting Will to speak.
"It's not." Will admitted. "I have an odd request – from one paranoid soldier to another."
"Name it." Ironhide said immediately. Ironhide, of all the Autobots present, knew paranoia the best. He had been a soldier long before there had been a war to fight in. A deep-seated respect for Will only increased his desire to aid the soldier in any way possible.
Will flashed him a grateful smile. "It's Anna and her team. I know there will be Autobots waiting for them when they get overseas, but I'm afraid the Decepticons here will try and stop them from getting that far."
"You want us to run interference for them until they make it safely over water." Ratchet deduced.
"Right." Will nodded. "Keller isn't even considering that this might be a trap. I don't want them caught with no backup."
"Understandable." Optimus hesitated, running the necessary calculations in his mind. "They are a little over one-third of the way to the airport now. If the Decepticons are going to attack, it will most likely be before they exit the city, where there will be civilians to hamper their movements. We will be waiting on the outskirts to hopefully draw the battle towards us."
Will nodded, relief plain on his face. "Do you want me to scrape up a few soldiers to help clear the area?" he asked.
"That would be helpful if you can clear our route." Jazz said thoughtfully. "With Anna's team already there, we shouldn't need the extra soldiers to help us fight."
Will couldn't help but laugh at that. "Not likely, with the way her team acts." He snapped a smart salute. "Thank you."
/----/
From high in the sky, and well beyond anyone's concern, Starscream flew above the convoy. It seemed their diversion worked. Now their enemies were starting to emerge from hiding. And where the humans were, their Autobot friends were sure to arrive.
The Autobots were the ones Starscream was after. The humans were only bait, after all. If they died, all the better. Humans were notoriously tricky creatures – what they lacked in power they made up for in persistence and creativity. Once they learned the truth of this attack, assuming they learned the truth, Starscream would have to take great care to eliminate them all.
He couldn't have them coming after him to exact revenge. After all, it had only taken one human with a creative idea to destroy Megatron.
He wouldn't allow the same fate to fall on him.
"Is everyone in position?" he transmitted to the others.
"Affirmative." Barricade sent back. "I have confirmed locations of Blackout, Scorponok, and Soundwave. Three others are on their way. When the Autobots get here, they won't stand a chance."
"That is the plan." Starscream said smugly. "On my mark, we attack."
/---/
An: Thank you guys for the wonderful response! Next chapter, the real action begins – and as a heads-up, my battle scenes aren't too great, so suggestions would be welcome.