Chapter 3

Ray Epps yawned widely, despite his years in service early morning briefings were just not something he was ever going to enjoy. He sipped his steaming coffee slowly and took his seat as Admiral Morshower began proceedings.

"Good morning Gentleman, Optimus." Murmurs of greeting sounded around the small briefing room. Optimus sat in the hanger his sensors tuned into the link up from the pentagon. The Admiral continued swiftly, ignoring formalities. "Our satellites have picked up new radioactive signatures, early this morning." The Admiral paused briefly as an aide handed him more information. "The situation is this, I was contacted last week by NASA of all places, their telescopes have detected some anomalous readings in the data sent from the ISS, they have no idea what the images could be and last night they started having problems at their central space centres here on Earth. As of 04h30 this morning they lost all contact with two of their bases and subsequently they have lost contact with the ISS itself. Radioactive signatures were detected at Johnson space centre in Houston and also across the world at the German Aerospace centre in Oberpfaffenhofen. We are currently trying to get hold of Russian and Japanese autorities in an attempt to reestablish contact with the ISS. At this moment in time they are on their own up there. We have no way of knowing if and what kind of trouble they're in or what's happened to the respective mission control centres. The radioactive signatures detected at the locations are confirmed to match ones we picked up a few months ago."

"Decepticons." Optimus growled softly.

"I'm afraid so. It does not look good people. The mission is this; two teams one to Germany the other Houston. Your first priority is to re-establish contact at all costs. Then find the intruders and find out what they're up to. I don't have to remind you that this operation must be kept as quiet as possible, NASA are under a need to know basis, I would like to keep it that way for as long as possible. You are authorised to use deadly force should the Decepticons be encountered. Major Lennox will lead team one, Sergeant Epps I am giving you the command of team two."

"Yes Sir." Both men responded in unison.

"Optimus Prime, can you see the links to the images received from the ISS?"

"I can Admiral."

"If you can help us identify what they are, we would appreciate your help."

Optimus scanned the images, making a permanent record of them. He scrutinised them closely, dark shapes, blurry images, blocking star fields. Human technology was frustratingly primitive at times, refusing to relinquish any significant details. "Admiral, these images are too distorted to analyse effectively, do you have any other images, detailing infra red or x-ray readouts?"

The Admiral nodded, "As a matter of fact we do, stand by." Within seconds two images were sent via the up link. Two versions of the same image, one infra red the other x-ray. Optimus was silent as he analysed them closely. "Admiral I am afraid we have a more serious problem than we first thought."

"I don't like the sound of that." Epps groaned wearily.

Optimus continued grimly, "These images are of a Decepticon, relatively close to your space station; however there is another image in the back ground, which is undoubtedly not." With some effort he focused in on the dark shadow in the top left corner of the image. Switching it to normal vision he transmitted it back. The image displayed on the conference room screen.

"Is that what I think it is?" Epps demanded, as he stood and gained a closer look. "Is that a damn asteroid?!"

Optimus answered softly, "I am afraid so, I can not specify distance, but I do know from our own journey here that it should not be there." Back at the pentagon, in a flurry of activity the Admiral started shouting orders. Lennox broke the tension, "If that's heading for us, it doesn't matter what we do, we have no way to stop an asteroid."

"I believe we can help you. We arrived here by ship which is still hidden from detection far above your planet. If we can access our ship we may be able to use the weapons systems to divert any asteroids that could be headed for your planet. We can also ascertain the status of your space station."

Lennox's eyes widened, "Can you do that, go back into space?" Optimus nodded, "We will have to adopt our protoforms in order to survive the journey through the atmosphere. Admiral I will take a small team of Autobots to our ship and find out what is going on in your solar system, I have a bad feeling that the Decepticons are behind this."

Lennox frowned, "How do they have the power to do something like this?!" He demanded angrily.

"I do not know, but I intend to find out." Optimus replied with quiet determination. Admiral Morshower nodded in response. "Thank you Optimus, teams' good luck, god speed. Dismissed."

****

Lennox confronted the small team of five Autobots that Optimus had chosen to travel into space. They had all adopted their protoforms and were readying themselves for final transformations to allow them to travel beyond Earth's atmosphere. Their gleaming metallic bodies glinted in the morning sun. To Lennox they almost seemed bigger than they had before, if that were possible.

"Optimus, who's going with you?"

"Ratchett, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, and Arcee. I have ordered Ironhide, Prowl and Skids to travel with Sergeant Epps to Germany, and Trail blazer, Sunstreaker and Mudflap are to go with you to Houston. Jolt, Chromia and Flareup are to remain here on base. I predict that the Decepticons are attempting to use the fall in communication as a diversion tactic in order to distract from their true plans in space."

"I hope you're right, with you guys gone, we wont hold out long if we're faced with an all out attack." Lennox was grim faced, his thoughts flashing briefly to that of his baby girl, so young, so beautiful and growing up so fast. "We can't fail Optimus. If those asteroids hit Earth…" His voice trailed off, his eyes met Optimus's own, no words needed be said, Optimus held Lennox's gaze for a few seconds before turning to his fellow companions.

"Autobots transform and roll out!" His rumbling command shook Lennox to the core as powerful engines vibrated through the ground. The Autobots launched with more grace and power than any standard shuttle craft built by man. Lennox watched in awe as one by one they shot into the air, before disappearing into the white clouds above.