Transformers War for Cybertron: An Old War

by bigvic150

In this prequel to A New Adventure, we explore how Starscream, Silverbolt, and a big majority of the canon Aerialbots and Seekers came to be Autobots along with exploring the story of the War, with lots of additional Autobots and Decepticons, including combiners and briefly Mercenaries before their final fate. That's all I have to say. (ON TEMPORARY HIATUS)

17. Fuel Of War

Transformers War for Cybertron: An Old War.

Chapter 17: Fuel Of War.

Anxious to prove themselves worthy of the Decepticon name, Ironspan and his minions fly at high speeds to Cybertron. There, they must reactivate the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge that will allow Megatron to manufacture more Dark Energon, thereby also allowing him to defeat the Autobots and conquer Cybertron once and for all.

As Ironspan, Bumbleclaw, and Skytwin fly through Cybertron's interior tunnels and blast through a cooling fan, Megatron says over the commlink, "Your orders are clear, Ironspan: infiltrate the Cybertron Underground, and reactivate the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge! I want that power online!"

Ironspan then says as he and his minions enter hovering jet mode, "Lord Megatron, Bumbleclaw has detected several thousand to several billion brigades of Autobots up ahead! Rapidbreak must've warned Zeta Prime and Optimus Prime, and then moved to intercept us already!"

Megatron replies, "Enough of your whining! If the Autobots try to stop you, then crush them! Report back to me when you have found the Energon Bridge. Megatron out!"

Ironspan snarls as Megatron hangs up, "That imbecile thinks I'm expendable?! Me?! He'll soon learn never to underestimate Ironspan!"

The three Decepticon Seekers fly to the security checkpoint.

Skytwin asks, "What is that?"

Bumbleclaw answers before suggesting, "An Autobot security probe. We should avoid it to prevent detection."

Ironspan scoffs, "Like that puny probe could stop me! Blast them and get on with it!"

The three Decepticon fliers take out up to 4 Autobot security probes, only to discover along the way that the probes have Energon Repair Rays on their weapon settings that were used to diminish their life force in the reverse order of the Energon Repair Ray repairing Cybertronian allies.

After getting through the next exit door and after flying to an Autobot security checkpoint, Bumbleclaw remarks, "I have never traveled this deeply into Cybertron's interior before."

Skytwin groans, "Ugh... You're as boring as ever, Bumbleclaw."

Ironspan opens the door and quickly guns down the Autobot Soldier on the opposite side of the room.

Ironspan then scoffs, "What is this? Some kind of Autobot trap?"

Bumbleclaw replies, "It's an Enemy Detection Barrier."

Skytwin remarks, "So it is a trap."

Ironspan shoots the power conduit, deactivating the barrier.

Ironspan remarks, "Stupid Autobots! To think that their measly, predictable tricks could ever catch me off-guard!"

After coming across another checkpoint with no guards, Bumbleclaw states, "The power conduit has to be somewhere in this room."

Skytwin spies an exit leading to another corner of the room, and after flying there in robot mode, he spies the power conduit and shoots it.

Ironspan states, "Pathetic machinery. Excellent work, Skytwin. Now, let's get moving."

After making it down one half a level, the Seekers witness Sentinel Zeta Prime's hologram activating in front of hundreds of Autobots.

Sentinel says, "Autobots, this is Sentinel Zeta Prime. Be on high alert! The Decepticons are planning to reactivate the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge! This would give them access to an unstable source of Dark Energon powerful enough to jeopardize the entire planet! Any Decepticon activity must be reported immediately, and all Decepticons are to be shot on sight! Sentinel Zeta Prime out!"

Ironspan drops a grenade into the crowd, and the grenade detonates, with the explosive canisters nearby taking out all other Autobots.

Skytwin remarks, "That was easy!"

Bumbleclaw replies, "Yes, but the other Autobots are likely to be tougher. I strongly suggest we proceed with caution."

Bumbleclaw transforms to jet mode, flies up to the top of the room, shoots two locks on a maintenance access door, shoots down the door, enters the room, and shoots the power conduit for the third Enemy Detection Barrier.

Bumbleclaw then transforms back to robot mode and he regroups with the others.

After progressing through the room, they come across an Autobot ambush checkpoint.

Suddenly, an Autobot Rocket Soldier says, "Rockets away!"

Skytwin exclaims, "Rockets!"

Ironspan replies, "Quickly, get to cover!"

As the three Decepticon Seekers shoot back, Bumbleclaw states, "My scans indicate that that door over there should lead us to the next canyon."

After jumping the gap, the Seekers kill the remaining Autobots in the checkpoint even though there was dozens of more Autobots than usual.

After Skytwin activates the exit door, a squadron of Autobot Shotgunners yell as they charge into the room and they activate their Overshields.

As the Seekers kill the Shotgunners, another Autobot exclaims, "Decepticons! Seal the door!"

The door leading to their destination closes and locks.

Skytwin snarls, "Those punks locked us out!"

Ironspan retorts, "Stop whining and find another way in!"

Bumbleclaw then says, "My scans show an Energon deposit beneath us."

Ironspan replies, "Perfect! There should be a cave below!"

The three Fliers jump down to the cave and reach the edge of the platform overlooking an Energon ocean.

Skytwin asks, "Where are we?"

Ironspan retorts, "We're not where we need to be, Skytwin, so keep moving!"

The three Seekers transform to their jet modes and they fly through the caverns while avoiding the steam pipes and while avoiding the Energon.

Bumbleclaw advises, "Crude Energon is highly volatile, and flying really close to it is very dangerous. We should proceed with caution."

Skytwin replies, "Tighten your logic circuits, would you, Bumbleclaw? It can't be that bad."

Ironspan accidentally dips his left wing into the Energon and he shrieks, "Argh! That burns!"

Skytwin states, "Oh."

The three Seekers fly through the canyon until they come across an Autobot security checkpoint.

The three Decepticon Fliers become bombarded with Autobot Rocket Troopers and Automated Rocket Turrets, but the Decepticons manage to triumph again.

After blasting the exit cooling fan, the Decepticon Seekers fly through to a large canyon and Ironspan calls out, "We're getting close, Decepticons! The next entrance to the Underground is just on the far side of this canyon!"

Suddenly, several entrance-blocking servo arms move out of the way as an Autobot Dropship descends and the front of the dropship creates an energy force field over the entrance to the next passageway to the Underground.

One of the mortars of the dropship fires several missiles at the three Decepticon Fliers, but they manage to move out of the way in time.

Bumbleclaw states as he and his comrades prepare for an aerial battle, "That Autobot ship is generating an energy shield over the entrance!"

Ironspan replies, "I can see that for myself, Bumbleclaw! Enough babbling! Destroy it!"

Bumbleclaw replies back, "Target the mortars first!"

Ironspan and Skytwin fire at the first three mortars, managing to destroy them with a few dozen rounds from their jet mode machine guns.

Skytwin states, "This thing's crazier than I am!"

Ironspan replies, "Just blast it! It breaks, like everything else!"

After destroying the last 4 mortars, Ironspan orders as several dozen Aerialbots come flying out of the flight decks, "Excellent! Now, target the Aerialbots!"

Skytwin replies, "I'll show them some real flying!"

After disposing of the first wave of Aerialbots, Bumbleclaw calls out, "Heads up; here comes another wave!"

After disposing of the second and third waves of Aerialbots, Bumbleclaw questions as more and more and more and more and more Aerialbots are deployed, "A lot more reinforcements?"

After disposing of the last waves of Aerialbots, Ironspan calls out, "The blast doors are open! Quickly! Get inside!"

Skytwin calls back, "Watch out for those rocket snipers!"

Ironspan replies, "Enough of this nonsense! We'll bring this annoyance down from the inside! Fly in and target the ship's power core!"

The three Decepticons fly into the ship, they transform to robot mode, and they take out both Autobot Soldiers and Autobot Rocket Soldiers.

After venturing further and while contending with Autobot Shotgunners, an Autobot says over the ship's P.A., "Close the blast doors and seal the ship! We'll trap them inside!"

As the blast doors close and lock, Skytwin asks, "Trap us?"

Bumbleclaw asks as well, "Orders, Ironspan?"

Ironspan cackles as he takes out the last Autobot Shotgunner and while pausing to reload his weapons, "Hahahahahahahaha! What those idiots fail to realize is that they actually locked us in here with their ship's power core! Plant a Dark Energon Detpack on it!"

Skytwin does so, and the ship starts coming apart from the inside out due to the Dark Energon.

A voice over the P.A. says, "Warning! Warning! Warning!"

Ironspan remarks as he and his fellow Fliers transform to jet mode, "Unbelievable! These Autobots are dumber than Skytwin!"

Bumbleclaw questions, "Perhaps, Ironspan, but have you considered an escape route for us?"

Ironspan replies, "Try the upper deck! Hurry!"

They fly to the upper deck, but Skytwin says, "They've sealed it off!"

Suddenly, the upper deck's doors rip open as the front half of the dropship rips apart from the rest of the dropship.

Ironspan calls out, "Now's our chance! Quickly, fly through the hole!"

As the Decepticon Seekers retreat to the next underground entrance, Skytwin snarls, "Dumber than Skytwin?! I'll show you dumb, Ironspan!"

Ironspan deadpans, "You always do."

As the Decepticon Fliers reach the ledge to the entrance, they transform back to robot mode and they land on the ledge before going inside.

After crossing a hallway, they spot up ahead an Autobot Cloaker.

The Autobot Cloaker spots them, turns invisible, and jumps down the gap to the next room where an Autobot Cloaker ambush is waiting for Ironspan and his minions.

As the Fliers give chase, Skytwin asks, "Did you see that?"

Bumbleclaw questions in reply, "You mean that creepy-looking thing that just jumped over the side?"

Skytwin answers, "Yeah."

Bumbleclaw answers back, "Nope, didn't see anything."

Ironspan mutters aloud as he and his minions jump down to the next room's entrance, "I should've left you two on the station."

After entering the next room, some of the lights power down and some Cloakers make noises as they remain invisible while leaving their Plasma Cannons powered down for now.

Skytwin then says, "Guys, I think I saw something."

Bumbleclaw asks in reply, "You think you saw something? What was it?"

Ironspan snaps, "Silence! It could be an Autobot Cloaker! Keep your optics sharp."

A Cloaker's Plasma Cannon lights up and Ironspan and his troops notice as evidenced by Ironspan shouting, "There! Destroy it!"

Skytwin guns down the Autobot Cloaker before he could take a hot.

After about a half of an astro-minute, all the Autobot Cloakers in the room are all dead.

Ironspan cackles, "Hahahahahahahaha! Feel the power of my wrath! Now, get the power back online so we can advance!"

Bumbleclaw activates the exit door connected to the power in the room.

As the door opens, Ironspan says as he and his subordinates rush forward, "Get moving, Decepticons. We should be getting closer."

At the next checkpoint, Bumbleclaw states as he and his fellow Seekers take flight, "There it is – the entrance to the Underground."

As Ironspan notices a battalion of Autobots and another force field generator, he snarls, "Another force field generator? These Autobots are getting on my nerves! Break down those shields!"

Ironspan and his troops notice that the battalion of Autobots is much bigger than the other ones they killed. But sadly, because of Bumbleclaw being able to spawn sentries and because of Bumbleclaw being a medic, it was all too easy to take down the Autobot battalion, deactivate the shields to the entrance, destroy the rocket turrets, and blast the armor protection door.

As the main entrance opens, Ironspan says, "Move, Decepticons! Into the tunnels! We have an Energon Bridge to activate!"

In the main tunnel, Skytwin states, "This place gives me the creeps."

Ironspan explains, "These tunnels were decommissioned long ago. We'll need to activate the power terminals to get the Energon Bridge and our orbital station back online."

After flying to a specific part of the tunnel, an alien life form passes by up ahead into the next tunnel and Skytwin exclaims before saying, "Incoming! Take cover! Wait! That's not Autobot weaponry!"

Bumbleclaw replies, "Interesting. I've never seen these life forms before."

Ironspan snarls, "Who cares?! If they get in my way, blast them!"

The Seekers fly through the rest of the tunnel while shooting up the alien life forms before they could have a chance to get anywhere close to the Fliers.

At the end of the tunnel, Ironspan remarks as he and his subordinates fly to one of the entrances, "There, just as I told you! The Energon Bridge Terminal. Find a way inside and activate it!"

Suddenly, automated rocket turrets and Autobot Security Probes pop up and Skytwin asks in confusion, "I thought this place was deserted?"

Ironspan replies as he feels the Autobot Security Probes firing on him, "Argh! We must've tripped the terminal's automated defenses! Open fire!"

The Decepticons manage to eliminate the opposition and head inside in robot mode.

But as they got closer to the terminal needed to activate the Energon Bridge Terminal, Skytwin calls out before saying, "Heads up! More Cloakers! These guys give me the creeps."

Bumbleclaw remarks teasingly, "What's the matter, Skytwin? Afraid?"

Skytwin retorts, "At least I'm not ugly!"

Bumbleclaw replies back, "Ugly? You and I look the same!"

The three Decepticon Seekers manage to kill the Autobot Cloakers.

Ironspan activates the Energon Bridge Terminal, only for a slightly humongous squadron of Autobot Soldiers, Rocket Troopers, Shotgunners, and Aerialbots to emerge from the opening exit door en masse.

Bumbleclaw then says, "I'm detecting hundreds of Autobot energy signatures!"

Ironspan scoffs, "Even a big army of these fools won't be able to defeat us so easily! Destroy them!"

The three Seekers rush to the ambush point, going all out with their vehicle mode weapons, their Energon abilities, and their robot mode weapons.

As the last Aerialbot crashes into the wall before exploding into pieces, Megatron contacts Ironspan and orders, "Ironspan, report!"

Ironspan replies, "Lord Megatron! We're encountering significantly ginormous Autobot resistance, but it's nothing we can't handle!"

Megatron replies back, "Good! Do not fail me! I'm expecting a full report in 2 and a half groons."

As Megatron hangs up, Skytwin remarks jokingly, "You really told him, Ironspan."

Ironspan replies, "Silence! Soon, the Decepticons will be mine to control, and Megatron will serve me!"

Skytwin retorts, "Whatever you say, Ironspan!"

Ironspan opens the exit door by deactivating the force field.

Ironspan, Skytwin, and Bumbleclaw transform to flight mode and they fly through another series of tunnels.

Bumbleclaw observes the power readings and says, "The station is only showing power levels at 50%. There must be another terminal deeper underground."

Ironspan and his Seekers take out 2 more of the alien life forms.

Bumbleclaw states, "I'm reading thousands of Autobot energy signatures up ahead."

After getting past two power pipes, the Seekers stop to observe the battle patterns of the Autobot formation: Snipers and Wall Crawlers for long-range sniping, Aerialbots and other generic flying Autobots for air support, Rocket Soldiers for shooting down the three Decepticon Fliers, Soldiers and Shotgunners for shooting up close and personal, Brutes for heavy close-range melee attacks and for shooting down Fliers, Heavy Soldiers for last line of defense, Titans for additional firepower, and so forth.

After seeing the Snipers, Skytwin remarks, "I do enjoy sniping!"

Ironspan remarks teasingly, "Afraid to take them head-on, Skytwin?"

Bumbleclaw asks, "Wait! What are those other Autobot types?!"

Ironspan explains, "Wall Crawlers as a new type of flying Autobot Sniper, and Titans as the ultimate type of generic soldier! Be careful; Titans have abnormally strong armor and when damaged, they deploy series' of repair drones!"

The three Decepticons manage to destroy all of their opposition at the checkpoint.

They fly to the next entrance door and Skytwin activates the door to open it.

Skytwin quickly kills an Autobot Protector and an Autobot Soldier calls out, "Alert! Alert!"

The numerous Autobots try to cut down Ironspan and his lieutenants, including some Autobots using Heavy Ion Turrets, but as always, Ironspan and his troops prevailed.

After entering a room with a Shotgunner ambush that is quickly destroyed, Ironspan observes the exit door is locked and he snarls, "Nothing will stop me! Blast those locks!"

Bumbleclaw blasts the exit locks, opening the door.

After getting through a second exit door, the Decepticons jump down the short distance into the second Energon Bridge Terminal.

Ironspan remarks, "All right, Decepticons... this station appears to be as if it funnels power directly to the Energon Bridge."

A control panel appears and Ironspan asks, "What is that?"

Bumbleclaw answers, "That's the Energon Bridge's main power control panel."

Ironspan activates the power to the station.

Skytwin remarks, "Wow, Ironspan, that was impressive!"

Ironspan retorts before saying, "Silence, you idiot! We need to supply these side terminals with their Energon power cells."

Skytwin activates the conveyor belt, but the Energon power cells are locked in place.

Bumbleclaw theorizes, "It looks like the Autobots locked these power cells down to prevent us from completing our mission."

Ironspan snarls, "Quickly, destroy the locks!"

Skytwin and Bumbleclaw blast the locks successfully.

Ironspan tries this time, and the conveyor belt activates, only for Energon barriers to activate, destroying the Energon power cells.

Bumbleclaw questions, "What happened now?"

Ironspan answers, "The Autobots have booby-trapped this room! Fools!"

Skytwin asks in confusion, "Wait, are you calling us fools or the Autobots fools? Because I'm getting the feeling that you don't respect me."

Ironspan snarls, "Silence! Fool!"

Skytwin replies, "That's exactly what I'm talking about!"

Bumbleclaw follows a power conduit and shoots the power core for the first Energon laser barrier.

Ironspan states, "This is almost too easy. Quickly, find the other power terminals."

Skytwin follows the second power conduit and shoots the second power terminal.

Ironspan states again, "Excellent. Now, keep looking; there should be just one more."

Bumbleclaw finds the last power core and shoots it.

Bumbleclaw then says, "Energy barriers are now 100% offline."

Ironspan replies, "Perfect! Now, get those power cells into position!"

Bumbleclaw activates the mechanism, and this time, the Energon fuel cells reach the side terminals and bring the station online.

Bumbleclaw then states, "The side terminals are showing power levels at maximum power."

Ironspan cackles, "Hahahahahahahahaha! We are but one click away from activating the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge's full power!"

Ironspan activates a switch and the power flows strongly while opening a doorway leading to the main power switch for the Energon Bridge.

Ironspan remarks, "We did it! Look at all that power flowing! Onward, Decepticons!"

The Decepticons transform to their jet modes and they fly through the tunnel while being careful of anything that can crush them or explode on them upon impact.

Bumbleclaw then says, "Ironspan, Skytwin, I am reading an unknown energy signature nearby, and the power's off the scale!"

Ironspan replies, "Then we are close; the Energon Bridge must be nearby."

After entering the Energon Bridge room, Ironspan says as he and his subordinates transform back to robot mode, "The device must be inside of that machine! Plant a Dark Energon Detpack on its power cable to activate it!"

Bumbleclaw starts to reply, "My scans indicate that – "

But Ironspan snaps, "I've had enough of your readings! Use Dark Energon and corrupt the machine!"

Bumbleclaw does so, and when the Dark Energon Detpack detonates, the Energon Bridge Guardian activates and slowly deploys its guns.

Skytwin asks, "Whoa! What's happening?!"

Bumbleclaw replies, "Just like I was trying to tell you both – Cybertron is trying to purge itself of contamination!"

As the Energon Bridge Guardian opens fire, Skytwin asks again, "What contamination?"

Ironspan answers before saying as he and the others transform back to flight mode, "He means us, you idiot! Quit blabbing and destroy this annoyance!"

The Seekers blast the Guardian's guns, making them explode.

The Energon Bridge Guardian then deploys quad-directional Energon laser beam fences.

Bumbleclaw then calls out, "Evade those laser beams!"

Skytwin calls out as he and the others flee from the laser beams, "Move, move, move!"

The Energon Bridge Guardian then deactivates the laser beam and opens its power core to cool down.

Ironspan calls out, "The machine is vulnerable now! Focus your firepower on the core!"

After about a few hundred rounds of bullets and a few missiles, the core closes up and the Guardian deploys its guns again.

Skytwin asks, "Are we even hurting this thing?"

Ironspan retorts, "Not with your pathetic aim! Focus fire on those guns!"

Ironspan, Skytwin, and Bumbleclaw open fire on the guns, managing to destroy all six of them.

The Energon Bridge Guardian then deploys its laser beams again.

Just then, Megatron contacts Ironspan again and demands, "Ironspan! What is taking so long?!"

Ironspan answers, "The Energon Bridge Guardian is making things aggravating, my lord!"

Megatron replies, "I'm beginning to question your ability to deliver, Ironspan. Do not disappoint me!"

The Guardian opens its core for another cooldown and the Seekers blast it again.

The core closes up again before the Seekers could finish the job.

Just then, the room starts shaking, and the liquid Energon underneath the floor starts rising.

Skytwin demands, "What is it doing now?!"

Ironspan replies, "Who cares?! Just be ready for it!"

The floor starts blowing up and the Energon deploys Energon fireballs at the Seekers, but they manage to fly out of the way.

After about an astro-minute of dodging Energon fireballs, the Energon Bridge Guardian deploys its laser beams, this time, in two directions to try to destroy the Decepticon Fliers.

But Ironspan and his lieutenants manage to avoid the laser beams, even after the laser beams return to their quad-directional movement.

The Guardian opens up its core for a final cooldown and a few more bullets and rockets from the Decepticons' jet modes blows up both the core and the Energon Bridge Guardian.

As the Energon Bridge starts activating and the liquid Energon transmutates into Dark Energon, Skytwin calls out, "Wait! Something's happening!"

Ironspan declares before ordering, "Yes! It's crumbling before the might of Ironspan! Quickly, to the surface, Decepticons!"

Ironspan, Bumbleclaw, and Skytwin fly out of the hole in the ceiling and they avoid the mechanisms that are activating the main Energon Bridge at the top on the surface.

Skytwin observes the mechanisms moving fast and says, "The machine is out of control!"

Ironspan replies, "It must be a side effect of the Dark Energon!"

As they reach the surface, Skytwin remarks, "We've done it! The Energon Bridge is activating!"

Bumbleclaw remarks as well, "Incredible. The Energon Bridge is active once more."

Ironspan states, "Quiet! You're ruining my moment of glory! Soon, my orbital station will be at full power!"

Megatron replies over the commlink as Ironspan, Skytwin, and Bumbleclaw fly back to the orbital station, "Your orbital station, Ironspan? Surely, you mean mine. I see that you finally have succeeded in the simple task I gave you. Perhaps you're not as worthless as I thought. Report back t base at once!"

The transportation pods shoot the Dark Energon beams back to the orbital station.

Soundwave remarks, "All systems online. Dark Energon is manufacturing at optimal efficiency."

Megatron replies, "Now I can introduce Dark Energon into Cybertron's core, and as it spreads throughout Cybertron, my power shall travel with it!"

Soundwave points out, "The entrance to the planet's core is heavily shielded behind the Omega Gate."

Megatron replies, "Then I will acquire the key to the gate. We launch a full-scale assault on Iacon immediately. And we wipe Sentinel Zeta Prime, Optimus Prime, and their armies of pathetic Autobots off the face of the planet."

Megatron crushes a holographic globe of Cybertron in his right hand for added emphasis.

The End.

(Author's notes: See you all in chapter 18: Iacon Destroyed.)