"The death toll in New York continues to climb-"
"Fighting in Russia continues, as Ultranationalist forces close in on the last Loyalist stronghold of Vladivostok-"
"Looting has become the norm in Gotham, as police helpless to anything about it-"
"The Chilean government has yet to comment on the appearance of a mysterious city in the Andes Mountains-"
"Turn that off Corporal. Nothing but bad news all around."
Dunn obliged his sergeant's request, turning off the radio. They were riding in some old Toyota that wouldn't look too out of place in a Middle Eastern or African battlefield. Not exactly the high end military transport they were used to. But given the situation they were in, it was the best they could hope for.
It had been a little under a month since what scholars and scientists had dubbed "The Great Merge." Apparently the multiverse was real. At least until it started to collapse in on itself or something. Dunn wasn't sure about the science behind it. The results though? They spoke for themselves.
Cities were in ruins. Entire landmasses appeared and disappeared. Planes crashed and ships sank. Disgusting monsters and opportunistic bandits roamed the countryside. People across the world were displaced instantly. The worst of the chaos was dying down now, but things back stateside were pretty bad. As such, the US Government ordered a major draw down of US Forces overseas to be brought back home to stop the bleeding. The Rangers were among those slated to be sent back stateside. Right now they helicopter they were in was flying towards the SOCCENT Base in Qatar. And from there, they'd be catching the first available transport home.
"Well, this is it. One more day in this sandbox and we'll be heading home." Ramirez said. "Couldn't come sooner. Albuquerque wasn't the most hard hit, but I still need to get back to my family ASAP."
"Can't say I blame you." Dunn responded. "My old man called few days back. Said that him and the rest of my folks are hunkering down in his cabin til things die down."
"Oh come on. One day from homecoming, and talking about your families." And that would be Allen scoffing. "You two might as well hang a dinner bell from your neck and a sign on your back that says 'kill me'."
"For fucks sake 'Al, this ain't one of your shitty, cookie cutter, blockbuster action flicks or sappy war movies. This is real fucking life." Ramirez pointed out.
"Hate to break it to you all, but chances are good once we get stateside, we're probably going to get tasked with damage control." Sergeant Foley informed them, earning a sigh from Ramirez.
"Had to put a damper on things eh sarge?"
"Anyhow, I heard Captain Lennox and his team are headin' home too." Dunn said, changing the subject
"Yep." Ramirez confirmed. "Lucky damn Green Berets."
The conversation was cut short as the helicopter landed, and the soldiers disembarked, stepping foot in the base for what was to be the last time.
Once the SOCCENT FOB in Qatar was a bustling hub of activity, where thousands of soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen lived and worked. Now though, the base was a ghost town. Only a skeleton crew of about 300 remained. The Qatari Army was set to take over the running of the base once the last Americans had left.
Dunn sighed as he went towards the Ranger's tent.
One more day
Blackout didn't care for the desert.
He didn't hate it. Unlike the Decepticons with ground alt modes who just loved to gripe and complain about getting sand stuck in every nook of their frame, Blackout could just fly over and avoid that problem.
Mostly at least. He'd been caught in a sandstorm when he first arrived on this mudball. He had sand chafing in his joints for weeks.
Whatever his feelings though, it didn't matter. This 'Merge' changed nothing. He had a mission to complete. The Allspark awaited.
Megatron awaited.
"Unidentified aircraft, you are entering restricted U.S military airspace. Squawk ident and proceed east out of the area."
Ah, the organics. Looks like they caught on to his presence.
Didn't matter. They weren't going to stop him.
General Sharp had enough on his plate, having to coordinate a massive military withdrawal from the region. Now he had a bogie approaching his base, and it wasn't stopping. Nor was it responding.
The Raptors scrambled to intercept and escort the contact radioed back, and ID'd it as a USAF Pave Low, tail number 4500X.
The airman he ordered to run the tail number reported 4500X was lost in Afghanistan a few months back.
It was possible the pilots misread the tail number.
Still, something wasn't right here.
"Where the fuck is my stash!" And that would Allen lashing out, having found his stash of…contraband magazines were missing from their hiding spot.
Ramirez sat on his cot, shit eating grin plastered on his face. "Oh those. Think the MPs might've seized them.."
"You bastard. You fucking snitched on me." Allen accused
"Hell yeah I did." Ramirez confessed, still smiling. "That's what you get for getting on my way while I'm playing basketball."
"Come on man, I didn't mean-."
"I don't give a shit! I was about ready to dunk on Epps like I was Michael fucking Jordan. I was gonna show that air force son of bitch that the Rangers lead the way on the battlefield and the basketball court-and you ruined it! So yes, I told them about your stash. SCREW YOU AND YOUR SMUT ALLEN! "
"WELL I DIDN'T MEAN TO! BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GLAD I DID!"
Dunn had been busy trying to reach his father on his cell phone. No service.
Odd. It was working just a minute ago.
"MH-53 pilot, power down now and exit your helicopter or we will kill you."
Amusing, Blackout thought as the human soldiers surrounded clearly knew nothing of what they were up against. Knew nothing of how thoroughly outmatched they were. Fools.
He almost pitied them. Almost.
Ah well. Enough musing to himself. It was time to get to work.
He transformed. As he did so, the humans opened fire. It did nothing.
Once he was upright, Blackout fired his plasma cannons. For good measure he activated his EMP.
Foley burst into the tent as soon as the explosions started.
"KIT UP RANGERS! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
The men raced to get geared up, as the explosions got closer and closer. As a precaution, Foley ordered them to bring some heavy weapons-Ramirez picked up an M32 grenade launcher, Allen an AT4 anti-tank weapon
This wasn't something any of them expected to be sure. Qatar was one of the safest and most stable nations in the region, even with the Merge. Not used to terror attacks. Not on this scale at least. Still, the Rangers here were trained to deal with this sort of thing.
Yet, as the sounds of explosions and gunfire got closer and closer, given what else the Merge had brought, one couldn't help but feel that what was happening here wasn't something any of them had encountered before.
That much would become crystal clear when they exited the tent, geared up for battle…
…and saw a giant towering robot blow 3 Abrams tanks to hell like they were nothing.
That's when they knew they were in trouble.
It would be inaccurate to say the General didn't feel fear as the behemoth tore through the roof of the control tower. No amount of training or combat experience could have prepared anyone here for this sort of thing.
But, he had a duty. And when it became apparent the attacker was attempting to breach the military's mainframe, General Sharp acted. He grabbed an ax, and began to cut at the server hardline. The connection was severed and the hacking stopped.
Even as the attacker aimed its cannon into the control tower, in those final moments Sharp could take solace in the fact he had done his duty to the very end.
As the Rangers saw the robot blow the control tower apart, Foley made his mind.
"We can't stay here." He said to his squad. "We need to get the hell out of here."
Allen protested. "What, you want us to run like fucking cowards?"
"Allen you fucking idiot! Staying is suicide! It's a giant robot rampaging through the base. Does that combination of words mean anything to you?" Ramirez shouted. A nearby explosion reminded everyone what was at stake.
"Cut the chatter! We need to go! Head for the fence by the tank yard. There's a hole there. Hopefully they haven't fixed it yet.!"
The soldiers then began a dead sprint toward the tanks, as explosions went off dangerously close to them. When they finally reached the tank yard, they found Captain Lennonx and his squad trying to make their way out, along with the local kid they had been pretty much babysitting. The captain signaled them to follow.
It was at this point that the attacker made itself known. One of Lennox's squad-Epps-was sent falling, and came face to face with the damn thing. Acting in a panic, he took a picture of it with the imager he held in his hand. At the same time, Ramirez and another one of Lennox's men, Fig, fired a shot each at it from the grenade launcher. Giving Epps the opportunity to get up, and join the rest of the soldiers in fleeing through the gap in the fence and fleeing the base.
"BLASTED SLAGGING INSECTS!" Blackout swore. Whatever they shot at him, it burned. Seemed like these organics had weapons that could hurt them after all. This could become…problematic. When he regained his bearings, Blackout got back to work.
"Scorponok! Deploy!" And from his back, the insectoid symbiote ejected from his, and immediately burrowed beneath the Earth, giving chase to the escapees.
Blackout turned and got back to work, disposing of the remaining organics who scampered about, desperately trying to escape their fate.
Whether he succeeded or failed, Soundwave's orders were clear.
No witnesses.