A/N:
Spending a little more time here on Cybertron than in the past, let's see how our favorite guilt-ridden Autobot is doing…
The road back to Iacon was long and desolate, but one Optimus Prime knew so very well. He had spent his whole life living in and around the Cybertronian capital, and the criss-crossing highways and outskirt back roads were ingrained into his processor at this point. He had lost count of how long it had taken to cross back into the city's territory from Uraya, the only reason he could guess how long was that now was because the twin moons of Cybertron had begun to sink low. Mentally, he was kicking himself for not just getting a ship to fly back on, he might even be back at the palace by now, resting comfortably.
But then he remembered what had happened last night, and knew that after being faced with all his guilt, he would have gotten no sleep anyways.
Once he reached the outskirts of Iacon, still a few miles from the main city, the guards at the checkpoint didn't even signal him to slow down, as the barriers stuck over the road out of the way, and stood back to salute as their emperor approached. To their surprise, Optimus slowed down some, and caught them off guard by thanking them.
The outskirts were no better off than most of the planet, and if one didn't know, would not be able to tell that it was part of the great gilded capital of Cybertron. Craters dotted where workshops and factories once stood, medium sized apartment blocks stood half collapsed in the distance. Somewhere in the mess was a small hideaway where he and then-senator Shockwave would collaborate in secret. He wondered where that old dreamer had run off to. He knew he couldn't be with Megatron, he fled Cybertron in a different direction entirely during the Decepticon's escape, and none of his covert agents anywhere had seen him, but he still managed to be prevalent. Whispers on the wind of the cycloptic scientist led him to believe that he was coordinating multiple large forces, but nothing to indicate preparations for any large-scale assaults. Many of his agents had begun giving him the moniker of 'The Ghost' in any reports they brought him.
"He was always good at that. The shadows suit him well." Optimus mused to himself.
. . . . .
Entering the main gates had been no problem, although they were much slower to open. The gigantic walls around the main city were comparable to that of a Titan, as if one were to hollow them out, you could fit a whole other city inside of the structure. Once Optimus passed through the colossal doorway, he saw faint traces of smoke in the distance between the massive skyscrapers. A squad of guards ran out of the watch post, waving him down. Pulling off to the side of the roadway, Optimus transformed and was greeted by the officer in charge, huffing as they ran up to him.
"Your majesty-" they paused, gasping and coughing as they caught their breath. "Your majesty, there is a situation at the central plaza district. General Warpath has besieged both your palace and the Primal Basilica with a sizable force. We've been trying to call beyond the city for reinforcements all night long, but they have jammed all communications. Nothing in or out, sir" they finished.
"In or out? What was the last transmission received to the city's data network?"
"It was of you, sir, and your fight against Ironhide. The news was broadcasting it over all the public big-screens, as well. It was after you had called for peace, that the attack began here."
"Hmm, no doubt he and Ironhide planned this together. Only problem being, they were expecting me to die last night and not intervene. I should have anticipated the possibility of more conspirators in our ranks." Optimus pondered aloud, his gaze focused on the smoke rising from the heart of the city. It was now that he became away that his personal communication lines were nothing more than dead air.
"Have they given themselves a name? I doubt they would still call themselves Autobots after such a treason."
"A few propaganda messages have been set up on public big-screens, but they haven't taken a name. All they seem focused on is deposing you and destabilizing everything so they can take over."
The Prime kneeled down, touching his open palm to the asphalt, and taking from the power of the Matrix, began to search the city for something. After a minute, a signal bounced back.
"I believe I can acquire appropriate support. Are any of the major roadways to the central district still open?"
"A lot of the ground and sub-level roads have been blocked off heading that direction. A handful of the sky bridges are still intact, but with the firepower they have, it's a risky bet traveling that high up."
"It seems the risk is all we have. Have your fastest troops act as runners for relaying messages to other posts, make sure every able-bodied Autobot in the city is engaging the enemy, and to evacuate any civilians that are caught in the cross-fire." Optimus said, as he transformed back into his truck mode, and sped off down the roadway.
Finding the correct intersection to merge onto the sky-bridge highways was the easy part, now came the problem of trying to navigate them without any solid idea about where had been hit with the most damage. Rising in elevation, he got a clearer view looking back towards the interior of the towering spires of the neon metropolis, and could see fire and smoke rising in the distance. Eventually, he reached the main stretch of road, a straight shot into the beating heart of Iacon, and opened up the throttle.
From behind, he heard the faint rumble of engines in the sky, and became worried about having to deal with fliers bombing him from above. Soon enough, the Aerialbots jetted overhead, and for the first time his communicator crackled to life.
/Prime, about damn time you showed up to the party. Everything's gone to the Pit and back without you here./ Silverbolt transmitted with a rough cackle, clearly worse for wear. In fact, all of the Aerialbots looked like they were on the verge of falling to pieces at this point.
/It is good to hear that all of you are alright. How are you able to transmit with the jammers in place?/
/Ah, old doc Ratchet fixed these up for us. Figured we would be best to act as runners since nobody can communicate. It's been a slog of a night, but it's close to sunrise now, and it sure feels good to still be alive./
/I'll take your full report after this uprising is dealt with. I am en route to the central plaza and the Primal Palace to deal with Warpath, and I have reinforcements on the way./
/Woa-o-ho there Prime, as much as I admire the gutsy plan, knocking off one bot wont stop this. Even if we could call out for help, everyone else is too spread out over the planet, and half our forces are out in space holding down other worlds./
/Do not worry, Silverbolt. My backup is very capable in dealing with large enemy forces./ Optimus said, as he sped along at max speed, knowing to just follow the road and he'll be there in no time.
/Heyo, watch out! Fliers incoming on our tails, and they aint looking friendly!/ Air Raid shouted over comms, as a dozen or so seekers, bombers, and other flight-frames raced past them, firing energy bolts at the Aerialbots as they passed, and also dropping high-explosive ordinance onto the roadway. Optimus slammed his brakes, and swerved into another lane to avoid falling through the crater and plummeting to the ground, and began to move and shift his position regularly to avoid any damage to the roads. The fate of his home was at stake, there were people who depended on him. He could not afford to falter.
The rogue fliers circled back around, and were bearing down on the assembled Autobots. One of them descended to flying right above the road, and was heading straight at Optimus, null-rays in full blast. Optimus calculated for a moment, and held steady on his path, and pushed himself to go even faster now. The gap closing fast, Optimus transformed and hit the deck running, and leaped into the air and slammed down on top of the traitor. Struggling to hold on, he grappled onto their wings and began to forcefully shift its flight path.
"Hey, buzz off!" They demanded, as they pulled up and began to climb in altitude, the ground disappearing as the two were now above the city in the clouds of smoke. Just barely holding on, Optimus kept kicking his impromptu airlift to get them to descend.
"Big reward on your head, Prime. That cash is mine!"
This would end up being all the words they could speak, as Optimus finally kicked hard enough to do some serious damage, as he slammed his foot right into the thrusters, and their flightpath became more and more erratic. Back below the thick layers of smoke, Optimus saw that the Aerialbots were still engaged in dogfighting with the enemy. Thinking fast, he angled the defunct seeker like a glider, and aimed him right at the fray. He pushed himself off, and watched as they crashed into a pair of fliers, and they either slammed into the road or plummeted all the way down to the surface.
Now falling himself, Optimus began to regret having Ratchet remove his customized wings and thruster pack. Wind rushing past him, he braced himself for impact.
/Prime, on your six!/
Silverbolt shouted out over the comm lines, as he matched the speed at which he was falling. Thankfully, he was large enough for Optimus to grab onto the back of without having to worry too much about falling off, and once he was certain he was secure, the flier commander pulled up, and rejoined the rest of the Aerialbots as they flew onwards towards the battle raging on, the skyscrapers of Iacon burning like torches in the night.
. . . . .
Once Optimus was dropped off just a dozen blocks or so from the palace, he ordered the Aerialbots to maintain a suppressive stance overhead, to ensure that only Autobot fliers were getting into the airspace around the battle. Running down dark alleyways and side streets to avoid detection, he eventually maneuvered his way to one of the large main avenues of the city, and came across a group of soldiers holding position behind hastily set up portable barriers and rubble.
Drawing his ion blaster, Optimus approached the group with caution, uncertain of their allegiances. Getting closer, he saw that the mech in charge, one of the Elite Guards, was all too familiar to the Prime.
"So tell me Smokescreen, are you friend or foe?" Optimus said as he stepped out into the street, as he kept his aim on him.
The young elite guard officer turned on the spot, energon rifle in hand. He dropped it when he saw who he was faced with.
"OH, thank the maker, you're still alive!" Smokescreen exclaimed "Sir, I know what you're thinking, but we aren't with those traitors, honest."
"Forgive my skepticism, as last I checked you were Ironhide's apprentice." Optimus said, keeping himself at the ready.
"I get that, but we really aren't," Smokescreen said, not daring to make a move, "When the news broadcast started to play your fight with Ironhide, these insurgents cut the video feed, and started their takeover. We fought back to try and hold key sites in this section of the city, but we were too overwhelmed, and had to fall back here to fortify and hope for reinforcements. From what we can tell, most Autobots fell back to hold the line like we have, or fortified themselves within Metroplex."
Optimus considered what he had heard, and mulling it over in his mind, let his blaster hang slack from the strap around his shoulder. Instead, he reached out a hand to Smokescreen, and the young Elite Guard officer shook it, albeit awkwardly. It was clear to Optimus that he was not expecting that.
"Tell me, Smokescreen, are your troops ready for a fight?" the Prime said, pointing at the dozen or so Elite Guard members strewn about the makeshift encampment. Smokescreen looked back over his shoulder, the Prime's question seemed to have roused what troops were not already paying attention, many getting up on their feet and brandishing their weaponry.
Smokescreen simply nodded, "Just say the word, Prime. What's the plan?"
"As it stands, we have but one option. We have to make a push on the heart of the city," Optimum said, gesturing down the long avenue that led to the capital district of Iacon. "I have already summoned support forces to aid us, and the Aerialbots are keeping the skies above clear of enemy fire. Our first priority will be to find out where they have placed the frequency jammers and destroy them, so that we may coordinate with all Autobots once more."
Stepping out from behind the rubble and hasty fortifications, Optimus Prime stood in the center of the roadway, staring into the distance.
"Autobots," he shouted as they all amassed behind him, "Roll out!" As he transformed, tyres burning marks into the road before he sped away, followed by suit by Smokescreen and the Elite Guard.
These would-be usurpers had tried their best to prevent anyone from breaching the capital district. Warpath had been as clear as he could be with his plans, that if they were to seize victory over Iacon, they had to hold onto what they already had. Throughout the large plaza, what was once a lush and vibrant series of parks nestled between the many large government buildings was now a fortified warzone. Large artillery and anti-air weapons dotted the plaza, and every road that connected was blocked off with checkpoints and guard posts. Dozens of Autobots had been rounded up and were being held in the same place that was once used for the public torment of Decepticon prisoners.
Standing atop the steps of the Palace of the Prime, the tank-former marveled at the hundreds of troops that had amassed for their cause, rallied to the belief that Optimus Prime had failed Cybertron, and that a truly strong ruler was needed to revitalize their people's once expansive empire.
"A thing of true beauty, is it not?" he said coldly, arms clasped behind his back. "Long have we waited for Cybertron to be returned unto us, and here we stand on the precipice." He watched on as troops tear down Autobot banners from the sides of buildings, and in their place raised their own sigil, large white banners with a black shield in the middle outlined with yellow, flanked by sets of yellow lines resembling wings.
"Beauty matters not," a voice said from behind. Walking out from the large doors was a mech, roughly the same height as Warpath, who had a large dark cloak draped over him, his helm obscured by its hood. "What matters is securing a victory for our master."
Warpath scoffed indignantly, and turned to face the hooded mech. "Victory will come, you need only wait a little while longer," he said in his commanding voice, his upper-caste accent slipping through. "I had hoped Ironhide would be more than capable of disarming him of the Matrix, and delivering him to us in a weakened state. However, one advantage is that this delay has allowed us time to establish this foothold."
"Yes, and it forces the Prime to come straight to us," the hooded one spoke, stroking his chin. "My master communed with me, tells me that Optimus is bringing the Elite Guard with him, along with heavy support of some kind…"
"'Heavy support'? What exactly does that entail?" Warpath asked, an optic ridge raised in intrigue.
"He was unable to discern these details. Such communication was uttered through the Matrix, and since his expulsion, he could not tell what exactly Optimus had spoken with."
"We shall be ready and waiting. I would imagine they are closing in on us now."
The hooded mech turned to the doors to the palace, and gestured inwards with hand outstretched. "Come, Warpath. Any further details must be addressed in private, away from the prying optics and audials of our warriors," as he walked inside.
Walking inside, Warpath turned and looked down at the foot of the palace steps, where the Autobot banners that had been gathered were set alight by torch-fire, black and purple fabric burning bright before turning to ash and embers.
A/N:
A remorseful Optimus, Iacon under siege, a plot to overthrow the Autobots, and a mystery force working from the shadows? My-oh-my, ain't it just a treat.
Since I've tried to break this story into "seasons" like the shows, I'm thinking of this as the half-way point for Season 2. I've know since the start where I wanted this story to go, but now I finally have it figured out how to get to the end itself.
On a side note, trailer dropped for Rise of the Beasts (finally.) I think it looks pretty cool, check it out if you haven't already.
As always, any feedback/ criticism is welcomed.