Author's Notes: I am horrible at writing battle scenes, as you will soon find out if you read on after this confession. Nevertheless, here goes. *crosses fingers*

Oh, one more thing. School has started, so I warn you in advance that updates will most likely be slow. Please bear with me.

I do not own Transformers.


Connections

Chapter 1

The next time they met, it was on the battlefield. The only difference was that Bluestreak didn't recognise her.

Intelligence gathered by the Femme Division of the Autobot army had revealed that a Decepticon super-weapon was under construction in the ruins of a city, and after collaboration with the main forces under Optimus Prime, a strike force was assembled to halt its progress.

Permanently.

"Jack, Blurr, set th' charges!"

The data had indicated that the super-weapon was a massive targeting system, its structure resembling that of a cross between a gigantic cannon pointing upwards and a pyramid, mounted on a tall platform where the controls, screens and other equipment were installed.

Capable of decimating any open and exposed location (simply by firing a large energy beam into the sky before it angled back to the ground towards the programmed target), whole bases and armies could be wiped out in one shot.

"Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, keep their path clear o' 'Cons!"

It came as a welcomed (yet suspicious) surprise that Megatron did not appear to grace the battle. Optimus Prime was still recovering in the medbay due to severe injuries from the Decepticons' previous attack and had been confined (trapped) there as per Ratchet's orders ("If you try to get up one more fragging time, I will weld your aft to the berth! Now lie still and rest!").

It did not help Optimus's case that his bondmate Elita-One was to be leading the fight, supported by Chromia and Jazz, but after a painful welding procedure and some heavy sedation, he did not argue against the blurring and darkening image of a smirking Ratchet.

"Mirage, Blue, lay down some cover fire!"

There were many soldiers and workers at the site, but none of Megatron's officers were present. Not even the Constructicons were there. Jazz was beginning to get a bad feeling about it. Having the weapon built in the ruins of a city was a good cover to hide its construction, but why bother when there were no effective defences (such as Devastator) in case it was discovered?

Questioning through his bond, Jammer, back in headquarters in the Command Centre stationed at the communications console due to his position as Head of the Communications Department as well as 5th in command, confirmed that there were no ongoing transmissions on the other side, no requests for backup troops or even distress calls.

Something wasn't right.


Swift watched the battle from her position at the medical site, where Avalanche was currently treating a wounded Trailbreaker. While watching out for attackers, she kept her optics on Bluestreak and Jazz. Smiling fondly, she watched as Jazz issued orders and directed their troops. Bluestreak was doing fine as well, picking off any Decepticon that tried to hinder Wheeljack's and Blurr's mission.

Her smile abruptly twisted into a scowl and she lifted her rifle, took aim and fired at a Decepticon gunner behind Bluestreak, who had pointed a gun at his back and nearly pulled the trigger. Energon poured out from the multiple holes in his chassis as he slumped over and lay unmoving on the ground.

No one hurts my youngling and gets away with it!

Bluestreak was apparently aware of his attacker and turned quickly to intercept, but the sight of the mech collapsing in a widening pool of energon made him turn towards her. He smiled shortly and nodded his head once in gratitude before returning his attention to the battlefield. Careful not to leak any feelings of pride and relief into their bond (and risk distracting him), Swift did the same.

Glancing around, she spotted Wheeljack and Blurr racing away from the machine as they shouted for nearby Autobots to get out of the way. Not long after their mad dash back to their side, the half-completed machine was engulfed in a blinding white light and several large and nicely lit (not to mention impressive looking) explosions, sending it crashing down on its foundations and collapsing into itself with a deafening roar.

Mission accomplished, the Autobots cheered wildly at the success of their operation. Swift noticed that Ratchet was yelling at the twins (again), Ironhide was smirking at the remaining Decepticons (who looked utterly devastated at the destruction of their efforts and increasingly panicked at the odds that were clearly not in their favour), Bluestreak was grinning, Jazz was –

Jazz was speaking urgently over his comm., his body language giving away how frantic he was. His comrades around him turned to give him quizzical looks, only to be shoved out of the way as he pushed through the crowd towards Elita and Chromia. Swift then took note of how everyone, Autobot and Decepticon alike, seemed to be so physically close together, all clustered in one area away from the destroyed machine…

Her optics widened in realisation at the same time Jazz reached and informed Elita, who immediately shouted for everybody to gather closer together.

Wouldn't concentrating our forces in a single area make it easier for them to wipe us out in one blast?

She didn't have time to ponder. Avalanche yanked her down by the wrist and told her to help carry an offline Trailbreaker towards the others. Jazz's calls for Wheeljack could be heard from the distance.

: … intercepted transmission… remote controlled… :

As they approached, Wheeljack knocked into Avalanche on his way to the center of the crowd. He paused only briefly to apologise before wading towards Jazz, a strange, small, black device in his hands.

: … another one… :

Swift was still trying to piece together the snippets of information from Jazz's and Jammer's side of the bond when a beam of purple energy descended from the sky towards them.


Author's Notes 2: Just in case: Swift is Prowl's temporary alternate designation, Jammer is Jazz's new bondmate aka the traitor, and Avalanche is an OC of mine. Oh, about the machine, think: Sun Harvester from ROTF. Hope that helps.

Reviews and/or criticisms (preferably constructive ones) are welcome. Thank you.

Refracted Imagination, logging off.