Chapter 24

Alarms sounded within the central module of the ISS, Nadya scrambled to the console as fast as she could in the gravity free environment. Stokes was not far behind almost colliding with Frederick. They grunted and forced their way into the module.

"What is it Nadya?" The large German demanded.

She turned to look at him her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "Our sensors, they've picked up an Asteroid, its heading straight for us.

Silence befell the module.

"How long?" Porter asked softly from behind Stokes.

"It'll hit Earth within the next 45 minutes." The astronauts were at a loss with what to do with themselves. Nadya tensed and clenched her jaw. "Better inform the Commander and our new friends out there. No doubt they'll want to get out of the way." She mumbled as she glided to the communications console.

"Nadya to Trent, can you read me?"

"Trent here, little busy with repairs what is it Nadya?"

"Our telescopic sensors have picked up an Asteroid; it's headed right for us. Impact in approximately 45 minutes." The comm. fell silent. "Sir?"

"I heard you." Trent replied sombrely. "Send a communiqué to base. They're going to need to know… hell they probably already do."

"Yes Sir."

****

Trent turned to Bumblebee who had stopped his work to gaze at him worriedly. "You heard?" The 'bot nodded. Bumblebee turned to Sideswipe and Trent watched as the two 'bots conversed silently. Sideswipe sprung into action.

"Chromia, Flare-up you stay with the station. Try to prevent anything hitting it. Move it out of orbit if you have to." The two femmes nodded. Bumblebee motioned to the inside of the station to Trent who shook his head and pointed. "What the hell is that?"

All the 'bot's turned to look, amidst the clawing blackness of space something shimmered as the sun caught it, something was moving fast. As it got closer, it became more distinguished. Sunstreaker raised his weapons eagerly.

"Drones, we've got incoming drones!" The Autobots all armed their weapons and braced themselves for the fight that was coming, fast. Bumblebee forgot about his command and lifted Trent up to place him onto the platform edge near the airlock of the space station, waiting for him to take hold he nodded in assurance and glided ready next to his friends.

****

Lennox and Epps ran to the conference room at the back of the hanger. Bursting into the room Morshower was already on the screen.

"Sir… you have news?" Morshower's face was grim, tired.

"NASA has been in contact." The soldiers glanced toward the door as Ironhide crouched down to listen in. "They detected an Asteroid heading for Earth about 10 minutes ago. The Astronauts in the ISS confirm the same thing." Their faces fell. "How long Sir?"

The older man brushed his face with his palm. "We've got about 30 minutes. President and joint chiefs have already been evacuated with key personnel. We're going to be moved underground. Other world leaders have been informed. There's just not enough time to launch full scale evacuations. People are being told to go underground. Cellars, basements, old bomb shelters. I know that NEST base has one. I am ordering you to get down there. Our guests as well."

"Um… aren't they too big Sir?" Epps spoke up. Morshower actually smiled. "Government is full of surprises. Major you're aware of its location?"

"Yes Sir was fully briefed."

"Good the locking code for the door is; Alpha, Tango, Bravo, Delta 39" Lennox looked up after writing it on his hand. "Sir Do we know where?" Morshower shook his head sadly. "Our Astrophysicists predict anywhere along the Eastern sea board. Could be land or ocean. If it's more than a mile wide we're looking at complete devastation." Lennox's thoughts immediately went to his family. Epps asked for him. "Our families Sir?"

"Get word to them, tell them to get underground, there's nothing more we can do." He sighed. "Good luck gentlemen. Set your watches. Maybe our Autobot friends in the sky can come up with something to pull our asses out of the fire this time."

"Amen to that Sir. Good luck."

The screen went blank, the soldiers walked slowly outside. Lennox took a deep breath calming his screaming impulses to get in a plane and fly to his wife and daughter; he had no doubts that Epps was feeling the same thing. Ben Marshall came jogging over to him.

"Do we have news Sir, did Optimus do it?" The soldiers glanced at each other. Lennox shook his head.

"Ben, get everyone down on the bottom level now. Including the Autobots, we're going underground."

"Sir?"

"We got an asteroid coming, not much time. Go now."

Marshall nodded his face a picture of composure; he saluted sharply and dashed off into the building. His clipped voice could be heard shouting out orders. Lennox patted Epps's shoulder as he went to help.

Looking up to Ironhide who was stood silently to one side Lennox nudged his leg. The large weapons specialist looked down. His blue optics actually looked sad.

Lennox shrugged for lack of something better to add to his words. "I'm sorry Ironhide. I'm sure Optimus and Prowl are going to make it." Ironhide briefly closed his optics before straightening. He grunted loudly. "I better get the others. They're not going to like being underground."

Lennox nodded and watched him leave the hanger without a word his internal comm. doing all the work for him. He paused at the door and Lennox saw him glance up to the sky before placing his hands on his hips and dropping his head with a shake. Lennox smiled slightly noticing he'd adopted a very Optimus posture as the other Autobots gathered round him. Lennox headed for the lower levels gathering as much supplies as he could. Preparing the bunker for its sudden influx of guests. His heart was pounding in his chest. Refusing to be crippled by the fear and panic that rose within him, he concentrated on commanding the panicking human work force to the lower levels.

****

Above them a battle was raging. Chromia shot three drones, before three more were swarming over her armour. Her sister was faring a little better as she kicked one of the metallic creature into oblivion as it tried to claw her. Turning she spied Sideswipe and Sunstreaker fighting together like only the twins could. They were obliterating the drones surrounding them. Bumblebee was busy fending the assaulting, relentless army, off the space station. One managed to rip a hole in the newly repaired outer shell. Bumblebee raised his weapon and shot it to hell. His optics widened as the white cloud of oxygen burst from the station, rushing forward to help, he squealed as he was overtaken by another swarm of metallic drones. Flare-up rushed to his aid firing wildly.

Inside the ISS the astronauts were frantically trying to pin down the multiple leaks.

"Oxygen counter is dropping!" Porter yelled. The Japanese astronaut shot past him silently, extinguisher in hand as a fire erupted behind them.

"We've got an external leak!" Frederick shouted over the din of alarms.

"Right everyone back into the central module. Don't come out until I give the order."

"What are you doing?!" Nadya frowned at Trent as he forcibly shoved them into the module.

"I'm closing that leak, or you're all dead."

"No you can't! Those things out there will kill you!" Nadya grabbed at him. He held her gaze.

"Someone's got to do it Nadya it's my call."

"The hell it is." Stokes spoke up behind him. "We don't have time for this Stokes."

"You're damn right. Get your suit on." Trent stared at him as he locked the others in the central hub, ensuring the oxygen was still flowing through that section. Stokes shot him a wry grin.

"Figured you're about to do something stupid. Permission to tag along." Trent shook his head before smirking at his unlikeliest of allies. "Let's go, we've got a station to fix."

"Yes Sir."

Stokes gulped as air gushed open to the coldness of space. His space suit offered little comfort to him as he took stock of the scene around him. The Autobots were gaining the upper hand but there were still so many of them. He flinched as one got blown apart directly in front of him, followed by one of the cycle bots zooming past his vision. He exhaled fully, before following his commander out of the airlock. He gripped onto the hand rail and pulled himself up slowly. Trent glanced at him. "Thought you'd changed your mind for a minute there."

"What and miss all the fun."

"Need to weld this panel down. You take that side." Stokes set to work. They were completely oblivious to the small mechs creeping up the side of the space station. Stokes glanced up as he heard Sideswipe utter a cry of victory as he and Bumblebee ploughed through a swarm of drones. He turned his gaze ahead of him and his blood ran cold. He could see it now hurtling towards them. Its surface burning as it approached the sun. He gulped, Trent pulled him down. "Nothing we can do about that. We can save our friends though." He glared at him in earnest, Stokes nodded and continued working.

The other Astronauts could just about see their colleagues through the port window. Shimizu was the first to spot the drone crawling towards the unsuspecting men. He launched himself to the comm.

"Commander to your left!" He yelled.

Trent looked upon hearing the message but was too late to stop the mech from pouncing at him ripping into him. Stokes took his acetylene torch and lunged at the creature. Another crept up and launched at Stokes sending him careening off the shuttle.

Sunstreaker saw the commotion and using his small internal thrusters accelerated towards the station, the other Autobots glanced in his direction as he sped through them his weapon raised, unable to get a clear shot on the small assailants. Stokes couldn't get back; his suit had no booster system. He stared in horror as Trent caught his gaze. Three more drones had clamoured onto his form, tearing at him. Trent's screams could be heard through the comm. system.

"NOOOOOO...!!!" Stokes cried out as he watched his commander get torn apart.

Sunstreaker froze at the sight, his optics wide. He'd never seen a human die before… never seen so much blood… His insides lurched. He reached out for the human in front of him and pulled him to him, turning him away from the horrific scene. Closing his optics tightly, he composed himself.

"Wait here." He growled to the shocked reeling Stokes. He turned and with extreme ferocity launched himself onto the fray of drones, tearing each one apart with his bare hands. His brother heard the commotion finishing off the last group of drones, letting the others flee. He raced back to the distant station. The Autobots halted, as Sunstreaker moved slowly toward them carrying the bloodied remains of Rick Trent gently in his palm. His optics looked to his brother, pain etched across his face. He did not know what to do. Sideswipe moved to his brother's side and placed a hand over the body, lifting it from his trembling hand. He gathered Stokes and took them back to the station. Leaving him at the airlock, the other Astronauts initiated the door commands. Stokes looked up at the mech staring sadly at him. Sideswipe hung his head. "I am so sorry we couldn't protect you."

The airlock opened and Stokes unable to speak, stumbled inside with Trent's body. His space suit now the only thing holding him together. The pressure equalised he gripped the door frame. Someone released his helmet; Nadya was in front of him her eyes wet. Frederick lifted Trent tenderly with Porter's help and strapped it to his cabin bed. Covering it respectfully with a sheet.

Stokes wanted nothing more than to collapse on the floor, he felt hollow, his insides hurt, like he'd been kicked. Shock washed over him, his body started shaking. He leant over and emptied his guts, retching until he had nothing left. Nadya held him tightly, as silent tears slipped off her cheeks.

****

The Autobots gathered round the station, their usual chatter silent. All optics were trained on the approaching asteroid. There was nothing they could do to stop it.