Hey there, back with a new chapter. This time, we get caught up on how events are going back on Cybertron. As always, feedback is appreciated.
Cybertron: One week after the Decepticon Exodus
Far away from the burned and scarred landscapes of where the past four million years of warfare had taken place, the Cybertronian capital of Iacon remains the most intact city on the planet. Many attempted sieges and surprise attacks by the Decepticons have been thwarted due to the large defensive walls and fortresses that surround the city. Along with the Autobot constructed defenses, a large area has been taken up by the once again dormant Metroplex, lying in wait for the day he is called upon once more. And across the whole of these outer defences, countless guard stood watch, in the event of a possible Decepticon assault.
In the streets of the inner city however, there was celebration taking place. All across the city, the hordes of unruly Autobots were getting themselves absolutely hammered on whatever drink they could find in celebration of what was the deemed to be their victory over the Decepticons. Many bars and social houses had been open all through the nights in order to accommodate the countless numbers of Autobot soldiers who had returned to their capital.
In the centre of the city, in a large open park complex that was bordered by both the Grand Imperium, where the corrupt old senate once ruled, and the Iacon Hall of Records, there was an assembled crowd of 'bots that were the most violent of all. In order to keep morale high, the Autobot general Ironhide, a large black and dark green warrior, had ordered for some of the Decepticon prisoners of war be dragged into the square, as to 'make an example' out of them.
Ironhide laughed loudly, as he threw the poor 'con that had just received his beating back to the guards, dragging them away.
"Alright then, who's got it comin' to them next?" he cried out over the loud cheering of his soldiers, his red eyes aflame with elation. It took a while, but soon enough a pair of Elite Guards had dragged the next Decepticon up onto the large platform that Ironhide had set up, so that the crowds my see clearer.
As they were brought up on the platform, the crowds now gazed upon the green and orange seeker that stood before them all. One of the Elite Guards, a junior officer as shown by his markings, hit the 'con with the but of his rifle, knocking them to the ground.
"If I didn't know any better Smoky, I'd say you were havin' just as much fun as I am." Ironhide said, laughing at the seeker who barely held themselves up on their hands and knees.
"Well, what can I say?" Smokescreen said with a chuckle, "I learned from some of the best 'bots around."
Without warning, Ironhide reached down, and lifted the seeker by his shoulders, and presented him to the crowds of gathered Autobots.
"Allow me ta' introduce our next piece of entertainment, Acid Storm!" he yelled out. A collection of applause and booing came from the crowd, who were clearly glad this particular 'con was getting their serving of 'justice'.
"He here is the last of the Decepti-creep's 'rainmakers', and has melted countless thousands of 'bots, and probably even some of you!" Ironhide continued jokingly, earning him some laughter.
"And we have a special game for him to play. What do ya' say to that, 'con?"
Acid Storm slowly turned his head up to look at Ironhide. "Get scrapped." he said, spitting some drops of energon into Ironhide's face.
"Yeah, I thought so," Ironhide said, looking back to the crowd. "The rules are simple. We've strapped a tracking device to Acid's frame. He has to evade us, flying I might add, for one hour, if he wants to live that is. In a dingy cell, yeah, but still, you'll live. Get shot down and can still walk away? We try again tomorrow. Try and fly out of the city? You're dead for sure." Ironhide paused for a second, surveying the crowd. "And any 'bot that does shoot him down, gets double rations for the next month!" This got the crowd fired up again, energon-lust visible in their optics.
Ironhide grabbed Acid Storm's wrists, and unlocked his stasis-cuffs. He stood back, waiting for their captured seeker to take flight. "Well, go on then. Fly!" He shouted angrily at Acid Storm. The gathered masses of semi-drunken troops had already gotten their weapons readied, and were waiting for the right time to fire.
"I said FLY, scrap for brains!" Ironhide yelled, firing a round into Acid Storm's foot.
The green seeker jumped at the pain, screaming his vocals out. Looking down, he could see right through his foot. "Get fragged, Autobot!" He said spitefully, as he transformed, and quickly jetted off into the city.
If the tracker they had planted on him didn't give him away enough, it flashed a bright red light every couple of seconds, giving him away to anyone who saw. By now, hundreds of Autobots had caught word of Ironhide's sadistic attempt at bloodsport, and had taken to the skies and streets of Iacon to chase down their prey.
Bobbing and weaving between the large opulent towers of the Cybertronian capital, Acid Storm flew faster than he had ever thought he could have gone. Diving down, he flew low over the main city streets. Autobots all around him opened fire, blasting either streetlights, other 'bots, or just missing entirely and hitting the surrounding buildings. He pulled up, retaking his place high in the skyline of the sprawling metropolis. However, he had company soon enough. Out of nowhere, the Aerialbots had formed up behind him, and they were getting in close.
"Go on, get after that 'Con!" Silverbolt yelled at his squadron. "The last thing we need is to lose a chance at free high-grade."
"Copy that, chief." Air Raid said, as himself and Skydive got in close on both sides of Acid Storm, who had once again descended lower in the skyline, taking cover amongst the many buildings. Once the two pursuing Aerialbots got close enough, Acid Storm opened up the chemical compartments in his wings, spraying Air Raid and Skydive with acid, forcing them down to land.
"Fine then, I'll teach this Decepticon a lesson myself." Silverbolt said, as he broke formation, and jetted off after his prey. However, the two seekers would not be keep up this dance of predator and prey for much longer. As Acid Storm made a sharp turn, heading back out over the central plaza where he had first taken off from, Silverbolt let loose his missiles, no longer worrying about damaging any buildings. Acid Storm dived out of the way of the first missile, as it flew off aimlessly before detonating over the square. The second missile was what did him in. Before he knew it, it had struck his thrusters with a loud rumbling explosion. Acid Storm lost control, as he slammed against the side of the Grand Imperium, scraping away at it's exterior walls, before he brought himself down.
"Ah scrap," Ironhide said, as he ran to the crash site. "The boss bot aint gonna be too happy about this."
After the execution of the old senate, the Grand Imperium had been converted into what some refer to as the Palace of the Prime. Within the central chamber, where senators and functionist councilmembers once plotted against the Cybertronian peoples, lies the throne room of Optimus Prime. In the place where the head senator once sat, a large, golden throne had been built, and draping down behind it, a large white banner with the dark purple Autobot symbol. On the floor, an ornate fresco of the Matrix of Leadership had been painted, and hanging all over the walls are ornate tapestries, showing fierce battles and mighty warriors.
From his throne, Optimus Prime had been enjoying some light reading, on what he considered to be a nice day. That was true, however, until he heard a loud explosion, and then a crash, somewhere outside of his palace. The large purple and blue warlord arose from his seat to find what had happened. After some time of wandering the many hallways, he had found his way up into a watchtower, where two guards where surveying the central plaza. The two guards didn't notice at first, but when the Autobot Commander's loud footsteps were right behind them, they could not mistake them for any other bot.
"L-lord Optimus," One of the guards stammered. "What, may I ask, brings you here?"
"Perhaps you wish for the exquisite view your palace offers, my lord?" said the second guard, in a much less nervous tone.
"Such is the downside of my throne room, no windows to gaze upon my empire. However, I am here to inquire as to what that explosion was?" Optimus' words were filled with concern, but maintained the frightening direness that made you worry that you had committed a capital crime.
The first guard, her hand shaking as she pointed to the amassed crowds in the middle of the plaza. "It's General Ironhide, sir. He's letting the troops have a little b-bit of 'fun' with the Decepticon prisoners."
Optimus focused on the crowd, seeing his war-hardened general parrading some damaged seeker around. The metal railing bent and buckled in his hands, out of anger that he knew stopping Ironhide would only show weakness within himself.
"Always the brutal one," Optimus said with a sigh. "But this time, at least it's the prisoners he's beating down." And with that, he turned and left, the implication of his words hanging heavy with the two guards.
As Optimus was walking back to his throne room, his right arm began to act up, seizing in place. His replacement arm that Ratched had built for him was identical to his old one, however it had yet to be painted to match his color scheme. Filled with rage at this minor annoyance, he clenched his left hand into a fist, and threw it towards one if the walls. He stopped, mere inches away from impact. He took in some deep vents for a few moments, and continued his walk back to his throne.
When he arrived, there was a bot standing in the middle of the chamber, typing away on a datapad. The orange and black mech stood unwavering, medical symbols clear upon his shoulders.
"Ah, there you are Optimus." Ratchet said, glancing up from his datapad to greet him. "I had come to see how that arm of yours is, but I can see clearly that it's malfunctioned again." He said as he pointed towards the oddly positioned replacement arm.
The ever-imposing mech merely smiled to the seasoned doctor. "So it would seem, old friend. However, I am sure you can fix such a minor problem." Optimus said as he sat back down again.
Ratchet walked over, and opened up some paneling on the arm, and hooked up some wires with a handheld medical scanner, looking over the diagnostics and readings. Leaving the medic to his work, Optimus picked up the old book he had been reading with his good hand, and continued on. He had been reading an ancient journal, from the early days of Cybertronian civilization. The pages held stories of the heroic first Thirteen Primes, and the world they built after Unicron had been banished from Cybertron.
About half an hour had passed by, when one of the palace guards approached Optimus.
"Lord Optimus, your mid-day appointments are waiting outside. Shall I send in the first of the bunch?" the guard said.
"Yes, I suppose so." Optimus said with a heavy sigh, knowing full well who had been first on the list of the day's visitors to him.
A few moments passed by, and soon enough, the sound of loud footsteps could be heard coming from the main hallway leading into the throne room. A large, robust mech with towering shoulders strided into the chamber. Their beige and black paint was scarred from millenia of battle, yet seemingly remained well kept. Ultra Magnus stood in the centre of the room, and gave a slight bow, and a fist-over-spark salute.
"My liege, it truly is an honor for you to allow me within-"
"Yes, yes, save the grovelling for later, Magnus. What is it that you wish to speak with me of?"
Ultra Magnus snapped back to his usual ridgid stance, his stern expression unwavering. "Sir, I have come to speak with you about the escaped members of the Decepticon high command. Surely we should have sent out ships to hunt them down by now?"
Optimus glared at Ultra Magnus, having now reminded him of that fateful day not too long ago, when the Decepticons destroyed the only functional space bridge the Autobots had.
"And how, pray tell, do you plan on getting to them? Perceptor says it will take months before he can repair the space bridge, and the city speaker I have sent for to repair Metroplex has yet to arrive from Caminus. We may have their destination coordinations, Magnus, but we lack the means of getting to them." Optimus finished, in a annoyed tone.
The Autobot commander stood up from his throne, and looked to one of the hallways leading off from the room. With a small chuckle, he called out, "I know you are there, you two. No need to hide."
Slowly creeping out from behind the corner, came two young adult bots. One of them, the taller and clearly older, if not by much of the two, had a dark purple that matched Optimus', and black highlights splashed across his body. The second, slightly smaller one was pitch-black all over, with a few marks of a bright yellow. What stood out the most with this one though, was his bright blue optics.
"Sorry for snooping, sire. Bumblebee and I just wanted a closer look at what your job is like…" the purple one said, embarrassingly. Optimus only laughed, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "You need not apologize, Rodimus. It is only natural for you to be interested, as one day you shall find yourself in my place."
*But sire, we do have some good news for you!* Bumblebee buzzed cheerfully.
"Oh, yeah, that's right!" Rodimus said, taking a moment to remember. "That's kinda why we came here in the first place."
"Well, what news might that be, young ones?" Optimus said, as he sat back down.
"My warship, the Lost Light, thanks again for giving it to me Magnus, has recently gotten a few upgrades that could really help us chase down Megatron and the rest of his Decepticon goons." Rodimus said, unable to contain his excitement. "We managed to get Brainstorm, one of Perceptor's assistants, to hook up some sort of quantum-drive-doohickey to our main engines, and as long as we have a set direction to go, we can warp ourselves without a spacebridge!"
Optimus considered this for a moment, knowing full well to never pass up such an opportunity, especially one to capture his long-time rival.
"Very well then Rodimus, you have my blessing to conduct this mission of yours. Take whomever you wish, so long as you manage to bring me those Decepticons, alive or dead. After all, we must avenge all who have fallen, including your dearest carrier." Optimus mused, as he gestured to his right, where on the far wall was a brilliantly painted tapestry of the black and magenta warrior Elita One, surrounded by intricate patterns.
"Thank you sire. We won't let you down." Rodimus said, in a more serious voice, as he and Bumblebee left to prepare.
At the spaceport of Iacon, Rodimus had been going over the mission plans with his crew, whilst Bumblebee was assisting in recruitment and obtaining supplies. Much to the annoyance of the two brothers, Ultra Magnus had insisted on joining them. Seemingly unable to dissuade him from the notion, they begrudgingly agreed to allow him on the mission.
The bot in question was busy shouting commands to the many lower-ranked soldiers and Autotroopers in the cargo hold, trying to maintain control as always.
"You know, you'd be a lot more popular with the troops f you weren't such a hard-aft on everyone," a voice said from behind him.
"Ah, Prowl, how am I not surprised that the master tactician would find a way on to this vessel." Ultra Magnus said, looking back over his shoulder at the Autobot's chief of security.
"Prime's orders. I am here to report directly back to him. And to make sure nobody goes rogue during this 'Decepticon hunt' as he called it."
"Always the favorite of Optimus', aren't you? Surprised he didn't take you in like he did that disabled scout." Ultra Magnus said, fully facing him now.
"Because he knows I dont scheme my way up the chain of command, unlike you," Prowl said. He turned to walk out of the cargo hold, he turned back for just a second, saying, "Just remember, Rodimus is in charge here. Don't make me have to tell Optimus a certain somebot thought otherwise." With that, he finally left, leaving the disgruntled Ultra Magnus to stew.
"This is going to be a long trip…" he said to nobody in particular. Looking up, he noticed that some Autotroopers had stopped and watched.
"Uh, Get back to work!" he yelled, as he stalked off elsewhere.