Transformers War for Cybertron: An Old War.

Chapter 16: Dark Energon.

(Author's notes: This is it, folks. The Dark Energon chapter, starting from thereon, will be in third person. Enjoy, everyone, and stay tuned for more chapters after this!)

Civil war has ravaged Cybertron, the primary home planet of the Cybertronian race, also known as the race of Transformers, for millions of years. 190 years before the end of the War for Cybertron, Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons, has recently discovered an ancient and potentially dangerous source of power which he believes can give him the edge he needs to win over the hated Autobots. This power source is called Dark Energon, and it remains locked away in an orbital station under the protection of a second Sky Commander named Ironspan. Especially since the first one, Starscream, has joined the Autobots after being shown the benefits of being an Autobot and how Megatron treats those under his command, as well as anyone he treats in general. All thanks to the fact that Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, had reached out to Starscream's sense of justice and freedom first.

(High orbit over Cybertron, third person POV...)

Several Aerialbots fly all the way to an undisclosed location on Cybertron.

Suddenly, several shots from Decepticon warships explode in open air, some taking out Aerialbots and others missing.

An Aerialbot tries to shoot down a Decepticon Seeker, but he misses.

He turns around to shoot at a Decepticon warship, but he gets blasted as he takes the shot.

The Decepticon warship fires two more blasts before rocketing forward to Trypticon Orbital Station while avoiding the station's automated defenses as they open fire.

The warship fires another two blasts as it blasts forward.

In the bridge of the warship, Megatron calls out, "Maintain your course! Ironspan wouldn't fight us with such ferocity and desperation if the legends of the Dark Energon weren't true!"

Megatron's police enforcer Barricade questions, "Lord Megatron, you're certain it's here?"

Megatron replies back despite hating it when his soldiers question him, "I am certain, Barricade. And when I find it, the balance of this war with the Autobots will finally tip in my favor and ensure us a permanent decisive Decepticon victory that will allow us to restore Cybertron's former glory and allow us to rule Cybertron with my throne room established."

Suddenly, a rocket-mine shoots at the warship, damaging it and sending a Decepticon soldier to the ground.

Just then, an Exterminator Class Soldier by the name of Irondancer exclaims, "Lord Megatron, the ship stabilizers are failing!"

Irondancer was one of Megatron's closest friends aside from Soundwave, Onslaught, Cyclonus, Motormaster, and a few others. As an Exterminator Class Soldier, Irondancer transforms into a heavily-armored and heavily-armed hover tank with optional regular treads, dense armor the equivalent of Megatron's armor, 4 extra cannon turrets on his tank mode, a side machine gun, a side heavy chain gun, 60 rocket launchers with 30 barrels to launch rockets, and a set of Earth-style plow blades for extra protection against any landmines or the Cybertronian equivalent of IED explosives.

Megatron replies, "Maintain your heading, Irondancer! Do not falter!"

Barricade states, "Lord Megatron, the sublight engines are offline. The shields are at 15%!"

Megatron orders, "Reroute all remaining power to forward guns and thrusters! Full speed ahead!"

But a Decepticon Enforcer points out, "But sir, that's suicide!"

Megatron blasts his Enforcer offline with a blast from his Fusion Cannon and asks rhetorically before ordering, "Any further objections? Ram this warship straight into the heart of that station!"

The Decepticon warship fires two more blasts to make an entrance and it blasts towards the station at maximum speed as the station's automated defenses continue firing.

Megatron's optics narrowed as the warship flies faster and faster, closer and closer, until eventually, the ship crashes into the station and an explosion occurs.

Inside the warship, the front of the ship has been blown off and several Decepticons are getting up.

Barricade grumbles, "We were fortunate enough to survive that with little damage, Lord Megatron."

Megatron replies, "The strong survive and the weak perish, Barricade."

Several Decepticons get up while clutching their heads and while managing to find enough balance to stand up straight.

Megatron then calls out, "Decepticons, damage report! Is anyone in need of repairs?"

One Decepticon Soldier raises his servo and Megatron equips an Energon Repair Ray.

Megatron then asks, "What is your name, soldier?"

The soldier answers, "Terrorride, sir!"

Megatron sprays an Energon repairing beam on Terrorride, repairing his frame.

Terrorride states, "Thank you, Lord Megatron."

Megatron nods before another Soldier calls out, "Lord Megatron, the ship's reactor core is failing! Explosion imminent!"

Megatron calls out, "You heard him! Move, Decepticons, double time!"

The Decepticons evacuate the ship and start jumping up ledges to get further to safety.

The same Soldier notices how further unstable the ship is and calls out again, "The core's about to detonate!"

Megatron calls out, "Go! Go! GO! Anyone who fails to catch up will be left behind!"

As the Decepticons get to safety, 3 Soldiers call out, "It's falling apart!" "Watch out!" "Lord Megatron, this way! Over here!"

The Decepticons evacuate to another room just as the ship explodes and blocks the exit, even though everyone already made it.

Just then, an assortment of energy rods start moving around and they converge horizontally on the floor of the room's center, sparking with energy.

The Decepticons bring out their weapons, Megatron remaining firm and unflinching.

A hologram of a Seeker looking like Starscream, Silverbolt, Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust, Air Raid, Jetfire, Fireflight, Skydive, Slingshot, Slipstream, Blast Off, Skyfall, Skytop, Storm Jet, Skyquake, Darkwing, Dreadwind, X-Gunner, Wind Sheer, Windsweeper, Dogfight, Balewing, Doomwings, Fallen Angel, Hurricane Hunter, Metal Thunder, Nebula Ripper, Shadow Assassin, Space Scar, Thundercloud Knight, Variable Star, and War Blade states, "I am Ironspan, and I have protected Starscream's station for over 3,000 years!"

Megatron steps forward and says, "I am Megatron, leader of the Decepticons! This space station is Decepticon property as of now! Surrender immediately!"

Ironspan replies back, "Whoever you are, you have traveled a long way just to meet your doom!"

Several automated turrets pop out of the walls, shooting at the Decepticon forces.

One of Megatron's scientists/medics by the name of Victoryscare equips his medical equipment as the Decepticons fire back at the turrets.

Irondancer remarks, "Ironspan sure seems to be arrogant and he doesn't realize it."

Megatron replies in a dangerously calm tone, "His arrogance will be his destruction if he refuses to surrender the Dark Energon."

After about a cycle, all of the turrets were destroyed.

Suddenly, everyone hears a pounding on the door combined with metal creaking and a Decepticon soldier grunting.

They turned their attention to the door on their left, which dents forward twice more before an explosion blows up the door, revealing Decepticon troops consisting of Soldiers, Rocket Soldiers, Shotgunners, Protectors, and Snipers.

A Decepticon Soldier remarks, "All hail Lord Megatron!"

Megatron replies, "Do not speak unless spoken to."

The Decepticon troops go through the corridor as another Soldier remarks, "It's Lord Megatron!"

Megatron replies to the second Soldier, "The honor is all yours."

The Decepticons turn a right corner and they see 4 Soldiers shooting at some ceiling turrets overhead, only to fail to get a target.

The Decepticons start shooting as a pair of Soldiers calls out, "Take out those sentry guns; they're tearing us apart!" "I hate those sentry guns!"

The Decepticons' combined firepower destroys all 8 sentry guns while Victoryscare waits for the right time to do his duty as a medic.

The Decepticons then multiply the generic troops and Megatron says, "All of you, secure this perimeter!"

The lead Soldier replies, "Yes, Lord Megatron!"

Brawl presses the unlock button on the console for the exit door, and the door opens.

The Decepticons enter Storage Area Beta and they catch a view of Ironspan's Neutral Soldiers running down the corridors that lead to the storage area.

Ironspan calls out over the commlink, "There they are! Move ahead and cut them off in Storage Area Beta! Move! Move!"

The Decepticons move forward to a double ramp and Brawl remarks as Neutral Soldiers start pouring in, "Oh, lookie lookie at what we have here, the welcome wagon."

The Soldiers jump off of the bottom ramp, transform to robot mode, and they unleash their Neutron Assault Rifles on the Decepticons.

But of course, with Victoryscare on their side, Megatron and his subordinates manage to trample their opponents.

Megatron says, "Those dummies believe that they can ambush us at the next door."

Barricade remarks as he gestures to the crane arm in the room, "Fat chance of that happening. I bet we can use that crane to reach the crash tunnel and flank them."

Victoryscare replies, "Excellent idea, Barricade."

Brawl remarks, "Ambush their ambush. I like it!"

Megatron then says, "Decepticons, find the controls to that service arm!"

The Decepticons scatter all throughout the room, but then, Irondancer calls out as he reaches the control panel, "Oh, Lord Megatron, I think this is it!"

Just as Megatron was going to reply, Irondancer activates the crane arm and it adds an extra cube like object to the stack in the center of the room, making an extra step stool for the Decepticons to double jump using their jump jet boosters built into their feet that are specifically designed for double jumping, except for Megatron's, which allow him to hover in the air despite the fact that Megatron is only capable of transforming into a tank.

As the Decepticons regroup, a slew of Neutral Soldiers emerge from the top of the crash tunnel, unleashing volleys of bullets against the intruders.

But the Decepticons once again kill their opponents.

Megatron scoffs, "Bunch of amateurs who should've joined us when they had the chance."

After they climb into the crash tunnel, they avoid the fire tunnels as Soundwave contacts Megatron and advises, "Megatron, Soundwave here. Me and a few others are establishing a forward base."

Megatron replies, "Excellent. Transmit your coordinates, Soundwave, and I want everything finished upon my arrival."

The Decepticons come upon a ledge with a lever for an explosive container and in front of them at the short bottom was the ambush that Megatron mentioned.

A Soldier states to an Ironspan hologram, "Ironspan, the ambush is set and ready! They won't make it out alive!"

Ironspan replies, "I shall hold you to that, soldier."

The Soldier replies back, "Yes sir!" and the hologram deactivates.

Barricade remarks, "Heh. This almost looks too easy."

Megatron pulls the lever, and the explosive combined with a shot from his Fusion Cannon obliterates the ambush.

Megatron and his subordinates jump down, but Soundwave advises over the commlink, "Alert! Hostiles inbound!"

Brawl exclaims as he sees incoming Neutrals, "There they are!"

Megatron snarls, "Crush them!"

Brawl charges towards an assortment of Soldiers and unleashes his Melee Whirlwind ability on them, destroying them with ease.

Barricade runs up to another assortment of Soldiers and activates his Shockwave ability, blowing the Soldiers to pieces.

Irondancer unleashes his Disruption ability, locking another assortment of Soldiers in vehicle mode and providing him and his subordinates the opportunity to blow them up.

And Megatron uses his Energon Drain ability on the last Soldiers, draining them of their Energon reserves and taking them offline due to their frames being emptied of Energon similarly to an Energon Harvester.

Soundwave then says over the commlink, "Megatron, we await for your arrival."

After entering the next room, another hologram of Ironspan emerges and remarks, "Megatron! I thought you'd be scrap metal by now. Your survival... intrigues me."

Megatron replies, "I shall not be denied, Ironspan. Surrender your Dark Energon program to me, immediately!"

Ironspan replies back incredulously, "Dark Energon?! Are you insane?! Dark Energon only brings death, destruction, and chaos!"

Megatron replies back uncaringly, "I am counting on it."

The hologram disappears.

Brawl asks, "Lord Megatron, when this is all over with, can I rip off Ironspan's head and kick it into space? Please?"

Megatron replies, "Patience, Brawl. Ironspan knows this station from the inside to the outside. He may yet be of use to us."

The Decepticons move on to the next room and they get ambushed by more Soldiers.

But unfortunately, the Decepticons win again.

After jumping several ledges to get to the top, they come across a dead end with a sentry gun.

As the Decepticons work to blow up the sentry gun, Soundwave states over the commlink, "Megatron, your command post is 83.4% completed."

Megatron replies, "I expect it to be 100% completed when I arrive, Soundwave."

Suddenly, the wall on the left blows open, and the Soldier who tries to ambush the Decepticons is dealt with swiftly.

After entering the next room, the Decepticons see that the room below is a long enough drop for them to not be damaged.

Barricade remarks, "Wow... that's a pretty long drop."

Megatron snaps as he and the others jump down, "Jump, you fool! There's nowhere to go but down!"

Barricade follows suit, and a Soldier falls as the ledge he's holding onto explodes and breaks off the main platform on the other side of the big drop without explanation as to whether or not there was any explosives planted there.

After the Decepticons recuperate from the fall, Barricade questions, "But, Lord Megatron, how do we get out of here to proceed to the forward base?"

Before Megatron can reply, an alarm sounds and a Soldier calls out over the commlink, "The intruders are here! Call in reinforcements!"

Victoryscare takes out the Soldier with an Energon Battle Pistol sniper bullet to the metallic cerebellum.

Megatron spots 9 Heavy Ion Displacer Turrets and says, "Decepticons, mount those turrets! We'll cut them down with their own weaponry!"

Barricade, Brawl, Irondancer, Terrorride, Victoryscare, and 4 others mount the turrets.

In just a short of 3 to 5 astro-minutes, the Soldiers who filled the room, even the ones who emerged from the exit door, were cut down like metallic trees.

Megatron then says as his Decepticons dismount from the turrets, "The idiots gave us our exit! Onward! Through that door!"

The Decepticons progress into the next room, where they contend with a small army of Rocket Soldiers.

But of course, like always, the superior numbers ensured that the Neutrals wouldn't be able to win.

After jumping to the exit, they find themselves in the overlooking hallway where the room with the turrets is visible.

A Soldier running backwards from the next room with his rifle blasting away exclaims, "Fall back! Fall back!"

But he gets taken out by a blast to the head.

As the Decepticons walk into the room, a Decepticon Soldier says over the commlink, "The area is secured, Lord Megatron."

Megatron replies, "Excellent."

Another Decepticon Soldier calls out, "All hail Lord Megatron!"

As several Neutrals are taken prisoner, a Decepticon Brute smashes his Neutral target into the wall before saying as he slams the Neutral to the floor before raising his hammer for the kill, "You want more?! Die!"

The Brute smashes the Neutral Soldier offline with his hammer in one hit.

Irondancer flinches while nobody notices.

The Brute then asks rhetorically, "Who's next?"

As the Decepticons progress further, another Decepticon Soldier remarks, "It's an honor to serve you, Lord Megatron!"

As the elevator to the top of the forward base descends, Soundwave says, "Megatron, I have unlocked the lift controls. Your command center awaits at the top floor."

The Decepticons gather onto the lift, thankful that it was large enough to transport hundreds of battle groups to the top and to the bottom all at once with no difficulty.

As the elevator ascends, outside the viewing windows, three Fliers in Aerialbot colors fly up to the window and transform to robot mode, using their thrusters in their feet to follow the elevator by hovering.

The Aerialbot in the middle states, "My name is Rapidbreak. I am not here to fight."

Megatron snidely comments before saying, "That makes one of us. Speak your piece, quickly."

Rapidbreak states, "I've seen the horrors of what Dark Energon could do, Megatron. It is not to be trifled with; it's power is too unstable, and to use it would mean disaster!"

Megatron replies, "You cannot frighten me so easily, Rapidbreak. I will use Dark Energon as I please."

Rapidbreak snarls, "Then you are a short-sighted fool! You'll kill us all!"

Rapidbreak and his two allies transform to jet mode and retreat as Megatron comments, "You say that as if it was a bad thing."

Barricade remarks, "I hope that this Dark Energon stuff is worth it, Lord Megatron."

The lift reaches the top floor, and the Decepticons disembark and gather around as Megatron orders, "Soundwave, report."

Soundwave explains, "We have taken control of this portion of the orbital station and established your base of operations. Scans indicate that Ironspan has locked down all logical routes to the Dark Energon Reactor."

Victoryscare grumbles, "And we're fresh out of Star Cruisers to tunnel our way forcefully."

Megatron replies, "Quiet. There must be another access point... we have to reach the station's next pod!"

Soundwave points out, "Lord Megatron, I have located a Data Matrix Center to reveal any alternate means of entry into the next pod. Advance teams have already been deployed to clear your path."

Megatron states, "Then we have no further time to waste."

The Decepticons rush to the second elevator as a Decepticon Soldier crawls his way out of the elevator chamber.

The Decepticon Soldier states, "Ugh... I think I'm going offline."

Barricade remarks, "These Soldiers look pretty damaged."

Megatron scoffs, "Unacceptable! They should be victorious or dead!"

A Decepticon Soldier points out over the commlink, "They're putting up a good fight, Lord Megatron!"

Megatron replies, "Then put up a better fight!"

As the Soldier goes offline in the background, the Decepticons gather onto the elevator and they get take up to the top floor while Soundwave advises over the commlink, "Megatron, be aware that you face extremely overwhelming odds against Ironspan's army of Neutrals. It is statistically unlikely that your advance teams can defeat all of them. I shall await for your word of confirmation that you have reached the Data Matrix Center."

The Decepticons disembark from the elevator and they get to work on slaughtering all the Neutral Soldiers and Neutral Protectors that were sent to intercept them while also destroying more automated turrets.

After dealing with the threat, they proceeded to the next room.

As they get a look-see at the room filled with packaged and unpackaged Energon cubes, Megatron narrowly avoids a rocket.

A Neutral Rocket Soldier hides himself behind a protective force field.

Megatron and his subordinates kill the Rocket Soldiers in the room.

After activating an energy bridge that leads to the exit, the Decepticons deal with a couple of Protectors and Rocket Soldiers.

After seeing some outdated Energon cubes, Barricade points out, "These Energon cubes seem to be horribly outdated."

Megatron explains, "That is because this space station was constructed 10,000 years ago. Much of its technology is antiquated and inefficient. I look forward to updating it."

After entering the next room, the Decepticons find the Data Matrix Center.

After killing the Soldiers and Protectors in the room, Terrorride activates the holo-map, and the holo-map is on display.

Megatron contacts Soundwave and says, "Soundwave, we have located the holo-map. I'm sending the data to you now."

Suddenly, another hologram of Ironspan shows up and says, "Megatron! You may have gotten this far, but you'll never get your hands on the Dark Energon!"

Megatron replies, "Ironspan, this hostility is unnecessary. I know who you once were, Sky Commander, and that you were betrayed. With Dark Energon at my disposal, I shall return Cybertron to its former glory, and you to yours, if you agree to serve me."

Ironspan scoffs, "You're a fool! I would never willingly betray Cybertron, and no one can control the Dark Energon!"

Ironspan's hologram disappears, and the room floods with Neutral Soldiers, Protectors, and Rocket Soldiers.

However, the Decepticons manage to put their weapons and Energon abilities to good use.

After the last Neutral goes offline, Soundwave contacts Megatron and advises, "Megatron, there is a route to the manufacturing plant nearby that Ironspan has not yet blocked. Transmitting coordinates now."

Megatron replies before saying to another group of Decepticons, "Excellent. Decepticons! Lock this room down and await our return!"

Suddenly, a Neutral Brute bursts into the room through the exit door.

Brawl snarls, "A Brute?! I'll show you who's a brute!"

Brawl and the Brute go one on one, and Brawl destroys the power pack on the Brute's back, making him explode.

The Decepticons progress into the next room and they see a Soldier who unfortunately somehow got himself constantly electrocuted non-stop.

After destroying the electrical nodes and the Soldier, Barricade asks, "So, what did they manufacture here, Lord Megatron?"

Megatron answers, "Transportation devices for Dark Energon. The Ancients constructed special pods that they could launch to any part of Cybertron."

After progressing into the next room, the Decepticons enter a room overlooking an Energon river and exhaust vents with an energy bridge that they activated to deal with another Rocket Soldier.

Soundwave then contacts Megatron again and says, "Megatron, according to my scans, the manufacturing plant is directly below your floor."

Brawl calls out while pointing at a faulty vent, "There's no exhaust coming from that vent! We can blast through to make an entrance!"

Barricade questions, "Aren't you at all concerned about driving into the belly of a furnace?"

Megatron retorts, "Aren't you concerned that I might get tired of your pointless chatter?"

Barricade blasts open the vent, and the Decepticons jump down into the manufacturing plant's furnace.

After avoiding some of the flame lasers, Megatron calls out, "Those fans will split us in two! I can't use any of you if you're dead!"

Irondancer blasts the two main fans and they progress to a wide balance beam with another fan directly underneath it.

Victoryscare blasts the fan and Barricade remarks while jumping down to the next beam, "See you at the bottom!"

After blasting the next fan, Megatron is contacted by Soundwave yet again as he cautions, "Megatron, Ironspan has been alerted to your presence in the production facility. Expect severe resistance."

Megatron replies, "Understood."

After jumping down to a third beam and after blasting the last fan, the Decepticons drop down into the production facility while destroying the ceiling grate.

The Decepticons drive into the further parts of the facility as Barricade remarks, "This place is pretty active to be thousands of years old, Lord Megatron."

Megatron explains, "Soundwave reactivated it upon my orders, Barricade. I have very special plans for this particular facility."

Suddenly, the lights go out.

Megatron exclaims, "What?!"

Suddenly, several Neutral Snipers appear and they start sniping the Decepticons, taking out two Decepticon Soldiers.

Irondancer exclaims, "Snipers on the bridge, Lord Megatron!"

Megatron replies, "Crush them!"

Irondancer, Victoryscare, and Barricade manage to kill all of the Snipers, and the lights turn back on.

After entering the next room and after dealing with another Brute, the Decepticons progress further to another room while avoiding the Dark Energon bursts from the Decepticon War Machines.

After activating another bridge that leads to a third elevator, Megatron remarks, "Once I have enough Dark Energon online, I'll use these canisters to transport it to Cybertron. The Autobots' surprise will be total and deadly."

After crossing the bridge and entering the elevator which activates courtesy of Victoryscare, Megatron sneers, "I grow tired of these futile attempts to stop me. Whether these Neutrals like it or not, Dark Energon will be mine."

Barricade inquires, "What makes you think that you can control the Dark Energon when no one else has ever been able to do so in the past?"

Megatron answers simply before saying, "Only the strong are worthy of such a weapon, Barricade. I am the strongest. And do not question me again!"

The elevator reaches the top floor and the Decepticons pile into the room.

Megatron spies Cybertron in the distance as the room was taken out by an explosion, leaving outer space exposed to see.

Megatron remarks mournfully, "Cybertron..."

Suddenly, a Neutral Flier comes in hot in jet mode.

Terrorride exclaims, "Heads up! Fliers inbound!"

Megatron fires a blast from his Fusion Cannon and the Flier crashes into some crates before transforming to robot mode and hovering in robot mode.

The Decepticons take out the incoming Fliers by exploiting their weak armor and by shooting their foot thrusters to send them crashing into the nearest walls before exploding.

Irondancer asks, "Where do we go now, Lord Megatron?"

Brawl observes the damage and remarks, "The damage looks... old. It's been this way for a good while. But no weapon I know of could've done this much damage."

Megatron snarls, "I don't care what did it; find a way across!"

As Barricade finds the controls for the crane arm, Soundwave points out over the commlink, "The holo-map indicates no damage to this area."

Megatron remarks before saying as Barricade activates the crane arm, "Yes... this is... unexpected. The entire area lies in ruins for some reason. Soundwave, pull up any recorded science logs that could provide an answer."

Soundwave replies, "Yes, Lord Megatron."

The crane arm malfunctions and the Decepticons use it as a means of getting out of the pod and progressing through the stable pieces of large debris to the next ones while contending with more Fliers.

After coming across a checkpoint, the Decepticons destroy the automated turrets and the Decepticons kill the Brute, Soldiers, and Snipers posted at the checkpoint.

Soundwave then says over the commlink as the Decepticons navigate their way out of the checkpoint using an exit the Neutrals used, "Megatron, I have downloaded the station's log. Transmitting history."

Megatron remarks, "Fascinating. According to this, a quantity of Dark Energon became unstable, and the resulting explosion destroyed this part of the station."

Irondancer asks incredulously, "Dark Energon did all of this, my lord?!"

Megatron remarks, "Those fools had no idea how to control it, but I won't make the same mistake."

After contending with more Fliers, the Decepticons navigate their way to another command outpost.

They jump down to a lower level, deal with a few more Fliers, and they come across a broken floor leading to the inside of their final destination.

As the Decepticons trek through the cracked floor, the floor breaks under their weight, complete with steam rising and the floor pieces breaking apart.

Victoryscare calls out, "The floor is splitting apart!"

Megatron calls back, "Quickly, jump to the other side!"

The Decepticons jump to the other side in time and they carefully navigate their way to the Dark Energon Reactor.

After getting inside the first room, they come across the reactor room.

Ironspan comes in flying in jet mode before transforming to robot mode and exclaiming as he hovers, "Impossible! No one has ever managed to survive long enough to reach this room!"

Megatron retorts, "You shall soon learn, Ironspan, I decide what is possible and what isn't."

Ironspan calls out to his remaining Neutral forces, "Guards! Hold them off while I destroy the last of the Dark Energon remnants!"

The remaining generic Neutrals charge out of the reactor room with war cries.

The Decepticons jump down one level and they slaughter the first eighth of the remaining Neutrals as well as destroying some automated turrets.

After progressing into the next room which has the second drop down level to the main reactor chamber's accessibility, the Decepticons destroy the second eighth of the Neutrals.

Ironspan calls out, "Stop him! I need more time to initiate the sequence!"

Megatron calls out, "Decepticons, we cannot allow Ironspan to succeed! Do you hear me?! I won't allow it!"

After destroying the third eighth of the remaining Neutrals and the remaining automated turrets, the fourth eighth of the remaining Neutrals consisting of Heavy Soldiers emerge, attempting to spray the Decepticon intruders with bullets.

But the Decepticons manage to fell at least 2 Heavy Soldiers before the alarm blares.

Ironspan remarks, "You're too late! I have initiated the self destruction sequence!"

Megatron and Irondancer pick up the Ion Displacer turret guns and they spray the remaining Neutrals so far with bullets.

Megatron then calls out, "Quick, blast the door to the containment field!"

Brawl fires a blast from his cannons and the Dark Energon starts pulsating and gathering energy.

Megatron looks at the Dark Energon in awe as Ironspan lands to watch.

Megatron steps forward and gets exposed to the energy of the Dark Energon.

Ironspan exclaims, "You arrogant fool! No one has ever managed to survive direct contact!"

But Megatron ignores the Sky Commander and jumps into the middle of the energy field, much to the shock of pretty much everyone.

Further surprising everyone is when Megatron opens parts of his frame like he would when transforming to tank mode before closing them again, surrounded by Dark Energon electricity.

Ironspan exclaims again, "What?! This isn't possible! No! No one can control Dark Energon! It dominates and destroys everything it touches!"

Megatron cackles as he proclaims while Ironspan retreats and while Dark Energon crystals spread around the containment field, "Hahahahahahahahahaha! I... am the dominator! I... am the destroyer! I. Am. MEGATRON! Decepticons, receive your birthright!"

Megatron blasts orbs of Dark Energon into his Decepticons, infusing them with the horrible substance that increases their physical attributes due to being on the side of evil.

Irondancer remarks, "Whoa, that feels wonderful!"

Brawl adds, "I concur, Irondancer; I can feel the power! It's amazing!"

Megatron remarks while quickly leading his troops to a force field, "Now, I shall deal with Ironspan!"

Megatron spreads his hands in front of him and Dark Energon pours out, disabling the force field, spreading Dark Energon crystals everywhere and killing the remaining Neutrals.

Megatron progresses to a force field-protected door and spreads Dark Energon onto it, also disabling the force field, but also blasting the door open.

Megatron remarks, "Dark Energon is mine to command! Through my will alone shall Cybertron be restored!"

Rapidbreak protests, "It's too unstable, Megatron! Using that power, you're only endangering our entire home planet!"

Ironspan then says, "Teach me, Megatron! Teach me to wield Dark Energon the way you do! And I will serve you."

Megatron asks skeptically, "And what could you possibly offer me that I cannot simply take?"

Ironspan answers, "It's quite simple; the supply of Dark Energon aboard this orbital station is nearly exhausted. But I know how to manufacture more. There was once a Geosynchronous Energon Bridge that fed this station directly. I know how to reactivate it."

Rapidbreak exclaims aghast and angered, "TRAITOR! Zeta Prime and Optimus Prime will hear about this!"

Rapidbreak quickly transforms to his jet mode and blasts off to Cybertron as Ironspan's twin lookalikes open fire, but they continuously missed.

Ironspan then questions, "Shall I send Bumbleclaw and Skytwin to retrieve him... Lord Megatron?"

Megatron replies before ordering as Ironspan, Bumbleclaw, and Skytwin transform to their jet modes, "No. I want the Autobot's leaders to know that their doom is approaching. Once we have this station online, nothing can stop me. Not even an army of Autobot combiners or Autobot clones. Now go. Find this Geosynchronous Energon Bridge, and reactivate it... for your new master."

Ironspan's Decepticon symbols on his wings flash briefly in the light as he follows his lookalikes and blasts off to Cybertron.

The End.

(Author's notes: In the next chapter, Ironspan, Bumbleclaw, and Skytwin will encounter heavy Autobot resistance, but because they're heavily experienced in warfare and faring against impossible odds, it's all too easy to guess whether or not the Autobots sent to stop them will survive.

See you all in chapter 17: Fuel Of War.)