(A couple things. I hated Wheeljack's design in the movie and the fact that he was called Que and Mirage was called Dino. That's not happening here. Wheeljack will look like his old G1 appearance.)
A few hours later, the abandoned city of Prypiat was now hardly abandoned. Dozens of human soldiers and technicians searched the area building by building, looking for anything the Decepticons might have left behind. Wheeljack was concentrating on the sensor tower in the middle of the city. For something clearly important, it was strange that 'Cons wouldn't attempt to destroy it when they were discovered.
Optimus, Sideswipe, and Mirage converged on the tower. They just finished sweeping the area for anymore Decepticons and found nothing. "Anything?" Prime asked.
"Well, it is a high powered sensor. But it's not designed to detect energon or moving targets in the air. It's tuned to gravitational anomalies in the atmosphere," said Wheeljack, puzzled.
"Why would Megatron care about some anomalies?" asked Mirage.
"Maybe he's an idiot," chuckled Sideswipe.
"More likely it's something we're not seeing. Megatron wouldn't have this here unless it was important," said Prime.
"Wait a minute. The gravitational sensors just spiked. Something's happening," said Wheeljack.
"Optimus, STRATCOM detected an unidentified craft in the upper atmosphere. They said it just appeared without any warning and it's coming down in the North Pole," said Lennox.
The four Autobots looked at it each other and knew what this meant. There was only one ship that they knew of that had a space bridge. "The Ark," whispered Wheeljack.
"Send us its projected crash landing. We must get to it before the Decepticons do," said Prime.
"Is it enemy reinforcements?" asked Lennox.
"Negative, it's friendlies," replied Prime.
Megatron sat in his makeshift throne admiring the lack of organics among the Sahara Desert. The name Sahara means Desert, how appropriate the humans used the word twice for this area. He had just finished receiving a report from Soundwave that the Ark had arrived on Earth. Pacing back and forth in the sand was Starscream and his two followers Skywarp and Thundercracker. The three flyers were a deadly team and took out enough Autobots and humans to prove it.
"Why are we waiting? We must launch an attack on that ship and make sure the Autobots do not increase their numbers," said Starscream.
"Yeah, we're cocked, locked, and ready to rock Megatron," said Skywarp.
"Yeah, I need to fill my Autobot termination quota," chuckled Thundercracker.
"Silence!" yelled Megatron. The three flyers shut their mouths instantly. "This changes everything. Have all of our forces withdraw from any current engagements. And they will avoid any further combat unless I say so." ordered Megatron.
"But Lord Megatron, why?" asked Skywarp.
Megatron glared at him, the flyer instantly took a few steps back. "If you wish to live long enough to find out, don't question my orders again," said the Decepticon leader.
Ultra Magnus moaned as he regained consciousness. The last thing he remembered was the ship entering the wormhole then emerging in the atmosphere of a planet. He got to his feet and checked for survivors. Thankfully, everyone on the bridge seemed alive with minimal damage.
He checked on Sentinel Prime who was coming back online. After a quick scan to make sure he had no serious damage, he moved onto Prowl, Cliffjumper, Air Raid, Silverbolt, Breakaway, and Warpath. Only one casualty, a support beam had impaled Hot Shot in the chest and destroyed his spark. It was horrible but the fact that so many survived the crash was a miracle.
"Report," said Sentinel, getting to his feet.
"Hot Shot's gone, the rest have minor damage," said Magnus.
"Check the rest of the ship for survivors. I will check the cargo," said Sentinel.
"Does the cargo have something to do with our mission?" asked Magnus.
Sentinel turned to the door. "Yes and Primus help us if it is lost," he said as he left the bridge.
Cliffjumper was the next one on his feet. "Tend to any injuries here, I will check the rest of the ship," said Magnus. Cliffjumper saluted and got to work.
Magnus exited the bridge and gasped when he stepped outside. The bridge was intact but the rest of the ship was in pieces scattered all across the frozen tundra they crashed on. "By the Matrix." said Magnus, they were luckier then he originally thought. He searched the wreckage for any further survivors but he found none. After finishing his sweep of the former engine room, Magnus decided to check on Sentinel. He found what was left of the cargo bay and discovered the secure vault in tact. The sound of movement confirmed that Sentinel was inside.
Magnus stepped inside to find the Autobot leader checking on a series of energon-powered pillars. It took him a moment to realize they were space gates. It was stunning to say the least, most space gates Magnus ever saw were the size of a building and the Ark's space gate was also quite large. These were almost handheld. "Any more survivors?" asked Sentinel, not taking his optics off his work.
"No sir. It appears only the bridge crew survived," said Magnus.
Sentinel paused for a moment then punched the nearby wall. "So many. They deserved better," he said.
"And all willing to go to the Inferno and back with you," pointed out Magnus. He also noticed a cube-shaped device that somewhat reminded Magnus of the AllSpark.
"Always the soldier." commented Sentinel as he got back to work.
"I should check on the others," said Magnus, heading back to the bridge. He stopped mid-way when his optics caught a fast moving object heading towards them.
"This is Ultra Magnus to all Autobots. Assume tactical positions immediately, we're about to have company," he said into his com. All the surviving Autobots dashed out of the bridge, drawing their weapons and taking cover among the wreckage. Magnus drew his magnetic hammer, his fusion cannon, and his multi-missile shoulder launchers.
"What could it be?" asked Prowl.
"Who cares? Let's slag it already," said Cliffjumper.
"Fire only on my mark," Magnus said, looking at Cliffjumper when he said that. The smaller Autobot grumbled something.
The object passed overhead without descending, perhaps they were just surveying the crash site. But there was no need for the Autobots to draw its attention. Then Magnus noticed several objects coming out of it, dropping towards the ground. "Take cover," said Magnus. Everyone quickly ducked down among the wreckage, hiding from plain sight.
A few seconds later, three Cybertronians slammed into the snow. A yellow one, a large black one, and a red one. "Drop your weapons!" yelled Magnus as he emerged along with the others, training their weapons on the strangers.
"Whoa hold your fire. We're Autobots," said the black one. That was impossible, there was no way an Autobot was this far away from Cybertron.
"Ironhide, is that you?" asked Warpath.
"WARPATH!" yelled Ironhide, overcome with joy. Warpath laughed and stepped forward, the two slammed fists together.
"It's been too long old friend," said Ironhide. The rest of the Autobots all lowered their weapons.
"What are you doing here? And why are you so far from Cybertron?" demanded Magnus.
"Ultra Magnus," whispered the red one, almost in awe.
The three strangers all saluted. "Autobots Ironhide, Mirage, and Bumblebee sir," said Ironhide.
Just then another Cybertronian came flying down from the sky and Magnus gasped at the sight. It was Optimus Prime. He had a jet pack and several new parts but it was him alright. He landed in-between the two groups. "Optimus!" yelled out Air Raid. The rest of the Autobots all cheered, except Magnus.
"I can't believe you're all here," said Optimus, almost overcome with joy.
"Prime, is that you?" asked Sentinel, emerging from the cargo bay.
Immediately Optimus, Ironhide, Mirage, and Bumblebee saluted. "Sentinel, it is good to you again," said Optimus.
Sentinel stepped forward, knowing something was wrong. "Optimus, what are you doing here? What has happened to Cybertron?" he asked.
Prime lowered his head, almost in shame. "Lost. It has become a barren wasteland no longer capable of sustaining life." he said.
That hit the Autobots deeper then any weapon could. "No," said Air Raid, collapsing against the ground. Breakaway and Cliffjumper dropped to their knees. Prowl, Warpath, and Silverbolt were stunned, speechless. Sentinel leaned against the wreckage, just as devastated as all of them were.
Magnus was at a loss for words. His home was destroyed. How could this have happened? He asked himself. He glared at Optimus. "How could you let this happen?" Magnus yelled. He leaped forward and tackled Optimus to the ground. He punched away like a rapid animal, screaming in fury before Warpath and Ironhide managed to pull him off. Magnus shoved them aside.
"Magnus enough!" yelled Sentinel, jumping in front of him before he could reach Optimus again.
"Cybertron was your responsibility! Your command! This is your fault!" screamed Magnus. Sentinel shoved him away. "That's enough! Walk it off!" yelled Sentinel.
Sentinel watched Ultra Magnus walk off. He was in pain but his focus of that pain was just misplaced. Optimus got to his feet, his pride more hurt then his body. Sentinel could see it in his optics, Magnus's words stung him deeply. Optimus blamed himself.
"Prime, a word in private please," suggested Sentinel, leading Optimus off to the side and away from the others. "How long has Cybertron been abandoned?" asked Sentinel.
"A long time," said Optimus.
"The space bridge we used to travel here was unstable. It must have sent us forward in time," said Sentinel, piecing it all together. That was an unfortunate risk with space bridge technology. Transporting matter from one point in the universe to another was easy but through time was dangerous and has never been attempted. Controlling when you emerged was impossible to control if anyone tried.
"We've taken refuge here, living among the humans who inhabit this world," said Optimus.
"Prime, our mission was to find the AllSpark. A source inside the Decepticons said that Megatron found it on this planet. That is why it was top secret. I couldn't take the chance that the Decepticons might find out about our mission and stop us. Do you have any clue as to where it might be?" asked Sentinel.
"I'm sorry old friend. The AllSpark was destroyed so that Megatron could not have it," said Optimus.
Sentinel sighed and turned away. "Then all of this was for nothing," he said.
"We should leave soon, there's no telling how long before the Decepticons come," said Optimus.
Sentinel nodded and Optimus turned to the others. "Autobots transform and prepare to roll out," he ordered. The Autobots transformed into their vehicle forms. "We have transportation waiting for us. There is much you need to know," said Optimus.
(Not action packed but things are moving along. Please review.)