We now return to The Transformers...
The 18-bot team was onboard the Ark, everyone in their assigned stations on the bridge. Optimus Prime was in the command chair, making last-minute checks on all of the system diagnostics.
"Everything appears to be in working order", he spoke over his communicator to Ultra Magnus.
"Roger that, Prime. Good luck, and Primus be with you."
"Same to you, brother."
The communication cut off and Prime looked around the bridge. "All systems operational. Prepare for launch."
The rest of the bots strapped in as the Ark rotated 90 degrees, pointing upwards out of the hangar. When the rotation stopped, Ironhide turned around to face his leader. "We're in position, Prime", he said in his typical gruff tone."
"Launch!!!", Optimus commanded.
Ironhide reached up onto his console and rubbed his fingertips on the crystal portrait of his Conjunx Endura, Chromia, as he pressed the ignition button. The Ark's engines erupted with a deafening boom and the craft lifted off, the hangar doors disappearing off to the sides as the dark void of space fully consumed the bridge's viewport.
Meanwhile, in the city of Kaon on the other side of the planet, the Decepticons were in a similar situation onboard their ship, the Nemesis.
"Autobots have taken off, Megatron", Soundwave droned from his station. The leader dramatically pointed forward and shouted "Blast off!!!"
The Decepticon command ship rocketed away from Cybertron, following the Ark at the minimum distance required to maintain visual contact while avoiding detection.
"This is a waste of time", Starscream grumbled as he kicked his feet up on the console, "There's no guarantee they'll even find a new source of energy for us to steal. What if this mission turns up nothing?"
"Then we annihilate Prime and return to Cybertron victorious!!", Megatron snarled at his disloyal second-in-command, "You have the critical thinking skills of a malnourished protoform." Starscream huffed and continued monitoring the Ark on his scanner.
The trip was going smoothly so far. All systems were still green, and there was a planet only a few solar systems over that would be a good potential destination. Suddenly, the alarm siren blared and a red warning light began flashing.
"Asteroid!!!", Cliffjumper shouted from Optimus' right.
"And another!!!", Smokescreen yelled from the left.
Optimus looked up to see two massive space rocks hurtling toward each other and gasped. "They're going to collide!!!"
The space rocks slammed into each other and exploded in a shower of smaller objects, the debris creating a brand new hazard in the Ark's path. The ship rocked as it was pelted by the meteors. Optimus fell out of the command chair and groaned.
"Slag!! Ironhide, man the laser gun!!!"
The second-in-command picked himself up and grabbed the gun's control stick. The nose of the Ark lit up as it fired a superheated beam of energy straight ahead, carving a path through the asteroid field.
The Nemesis was caught in the meteor shower. Starscream yelped as he was knocked on his chassis. "We'll be pummeled into scrap!!" Megatron watched as the Ark began clearing a path. "There!! Get behind the Autobots!!!"
Soundwave steered the ship in behind the Ark. "Meteor shower avoided, Lord Megatron. Nemesis now in Autobot detection range."
Jazz's console lit up and the alarm blared again. "Prime!! We're being followed!!!"
"Decepticons", Optimus growled as he grabbed the controls and steered the Ark sharply to the left as they came out of the asteroid field. He groaned when the ship stopped responding to his manipulations.
"They've caught us in their tractor beam!!", Prowl shouted. Optimus stood up and drew his ion blaster. "Autobots, prepare for boarding!!!"
The crew stormed down the corridor, the loud metallic clanging of the Nemesis' boarding tube providing an ominous buildup to the coming fracas. They reached the boarding hatch just as it began sparking and smoking. The hatch exploded and the Decepticons stormed aboard the Ark.
"Crush the Autobots!!", Megatron shouted as he fired his fusion cannon at Optimus. Prime dodged the blast and returned fire. The corridor erupted in laser fire, Starscream taking a hit in the side from Ironhide while Soundwave managed to land a hit on Bumblebee's lower servo. Megatron managed to get close to Optimus and the two began scuffling hand to hand.
"I'll rip your servos off!!", the former gladiator hissed. Optimus was quick to strike, backhanding the Deception leader to the floor. "Those who try to rule with force inevitably meet their end by force, Megatron!!!"
Suddenly, the ship lurched and everyone collapsed to the floor. The Ark had been struck by another giant asteroid, separating it from the Nemesis.
"We're going down!!!", Starscream exclaimed as the lack of gravity sent him flying into the ceiling.
Ironhide unfortunately ended up right next to the disloyal Decepticon. "Must be caught in some planet's gravitational pull!!!"
The Ark careened into the atmosphere, effortlessly surviving re-entry. "Prepare for impact!!", Optimus exclaimed. The ship began gliding, crashing into the base of a dormant volcano. For the Cybertronians, everything went dark.
The Transformers will return soon... but first, a brief detour...