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)

18. Iacon Destroyed

Transformers War for Cybertron: An Old War.

Chapter 18: Iacon Destroyed.

Hungry for more and more power at his disposal after his second big success, Megatron plans to corrupt the very core of Cybertron itself with Dark Energon in order to control the planet's Energon supply. But in order to do so, he must first find the Omega Key, the only thing on Cybertron which will unlock the gateway to the core. So, Megatron launches a full-scale assault on Iacon, the capitol city of the Autobots, where the key is protected by Sentinel Zeta Prime, the de facto leader of the Autobots who received his ranking at the High Council chambers by Optimus Prime himself after being freed from his kidnappers and repaired to full capacity.

As a Decepticon dropship drops off Decepticon troops, Megatron, Soundwave, Barricade, Breakdown, Drag Strip, Dead End, Wildrider, Demolishor, Quake, Onslaught, Motormaster, Swindle, Bludgeon, Fearstorm, Flamewar, Astraea, Breakneck, Conduit, Contagion, Deadheat, Derail, Drive-By, Duststorm, Firebreaker, Flatline, Flood, Hotwire, Mismatch, Pandemic, Rampart, Riot, Rollcage, Shellshock, Snow Cat, Tomb, Aurora Speeder, Baleful Spirit, Coldstar, Crimson Phantom, Cyclone Dancer, Doomsday Marshal, Flash Runner, General Browbeat, Helter-Skelter, Hoverbolt, Hypergear, Iron Fang, Night Dancer, Pressure Front, Schism, Siegegun, Smash-Gyre, Spiral Zealot, Stellar Maelstrom, Supernova Flame, Ursa Major, Void Pulse, Runabout, Runamuck, Blight, Black Convoy, Suppressor, Wheeltread, Traintread, Blitzgut, Moonpit, Metroburner, Sanddragon, Count Saber, Landshell, Jackpush, Bashthing, Fistcruncher, Punchpot, Radflash, Framekick, Pipestalker, Apewatch, Grimasor, Mainmill, Aimpipe, Blowless, Roughcase, Calistrike, Heatseeker, Brainfeather, Cutshock, Fangcrosser, Doubleax, Offroad, Over-Run, Shadowstrip, Slashmark, Wildbreak, Omegaatron, Brainwolf, Enertron, Hairbolt, Bonecrusher, Buckethead, Crumblepounder, Heartstroke, Hook, Long Haul, Mixmaster, Scavenger, Scrapper, Graindropper, Snarepin, Forageloader, Gauntclasher, Sharp Haul, Meshmaster, Steammover, Bullhoe, Powerdozer, Backgrader, Earthshovel, Paydigger, Heavycrawler, Trackloader, Loadexcavator, Machinegrade, Steamvehicle, Digmover, Crawlloader, Frontpayer, Graderback, Commixmaster, Interflowmaster, Comminglemaster, Premixmaster, Admixmaster, Shufflemaster, Crossmaster, Blungemaster, Intermixmaster, Alloymaster, Compoundmaster, Jumblemaster, Unitemaster, Minglemaster, Firm Haul, Solid Haul, Rigid Haul, Stiff Haul, Compact Haul, Vigor Haul, Smart Haul, Strong Haul, Mighty Haul, Hefty Haul, Gruel Haul, Stren Haul, Tax Haul, Mystify Haul, Bonesquasher, Bonesqueezer, Bonepresser, Bonecompressor, Bonepulper, Bonemangler, Osseinpounder, Bonesmusher, Bonesplatter, Boneflattener, Bonemasher, Bonestamper, Bonegrinder, Cartilagebreaker, Freeforager, Magpieloader, Scroungecollector, Hyenahunter, Tramper, Roamer, Skulker, Slinker, Huntscrounger, Scroungehunter, Rathunter, Vultureforager, Collectormagpie, Hyenaloader, Holdpegger, Fastcatcher, Claspclipper, Pinbuckler, Barbtrap, Snarebarb, Scythesickle, Punchblow, Hitcuff, Boxthump, Smackcrack, Knockthwack, Beltbop, Biffsock, Scruplescantler, Tadsmidger, Smidgenstimmer, Modicumtittler, Mitespotter, Scintillawhisper, Tracetoucher, Hintdropper, Grainmorsel, Crumbatomer, Jotwhitter, Particleouncer, Iotaspecker, Remnantshredder, Gearstorm, Flarebust, Sunlord, Solargaze, Sureracer, Deathwielder, Lawshot, Seaeater, Thundersmith, Starwind, Heatscream, Victorycrusher, Brightbeat, Ironcoder, Motorscare, Frostcoder, Suncoder, Solarsmasher, Neutrodown, Crush Lift, Bull Digger, Gran Treader, Mixing Arm, Bull, Grim Load, Highwedge, Landtower, Heavyfill, Skipper, Scrapjack, Dirtmaster, Mix Boss, Scavengecrusher, Bone Bit, Drillhammer, Steamloader, Plowroller, Hookload, Paymetal, Overback, Kicktower, Longtread, Trample Haul, Rampload, Mixpage, Scrapraze, Demospecker, Bucketmix, Quickvenger, Headcrusher, Dustcrusher, Steamload, Widecutter, Bonehammer, Stonegrit, Hammercruncher, Dig Out, Lay Out, Gravescooper, Hauldigger, Roadmaker, Graveheat, Landlift, Guardscreen, Grenadeshell, Landstomper, Slidehead, Towtread, Boltline, Longplex, Menamine, Metromix, Quickbit, Stripasor, Heatburn, Lionstick, Nightizer, Pinadon, Pteraxpointer, Slitherdron, Smashfang, Sounddown, Sheelbarrier, Terrorfoot, Trench-Daxtyl, Gicas, Fraza, Deathhorn, Jallbison, Killguar, Artboomer, Clenchfire, Crossgut, Drill Bit, Drivetrain, Frontloader, Cat Beast, Gatorbug, Flintfight, Glitchbreak, Hayshaker, Hivepunch, Hole Rod, Misfill, Needlefire, Offnose, Overmaker, Steamhammer, Pointbutton, Mixslinger, Sledge, Razorguard, Dark Cougar, Drillhorn, Horntread, Jaguarwheel, Jallguar, Killbison, Tigerfang, Boom, Buster, Flowspade, Great Cannon, Astrorail, Cowcatcher, Dangartread, Dolrailer, Greebar, Loco, Mega-Octane, Rolljeeber, Barout, Scattortread, Kicklens, Megaempress, Screechstorm, Trickdiamond, Leyland, Bashwing, Metroglug, Mindgorge, Nightrupture, Roadtrap, Sandskulk, Trailthrash, Bullwark, Farside, Freefall, Hemocron, Liftoff, Lugmutt, Power Surge, Stronghorn, Spectro, Spyglass, Viewfinder, Weirdwolf, Skullcruncher, Gatoraider, Razor-Sharp, Banzai-Tron, Scorpulator, Flywheels, Skytread, Cement-Head, Terror-Tread, Kicker, Swing, Abdominus, Arm-Or, Grabuge, Ruckus, and several thousand Grounder Decepticons jump down.

Megatron orders, "Ironspan, continue forward and meet Zeta Prime's armies on the front line."

Ironspan shows up, transforms to robot mode, hovers in the air, and says, "Have no fear, Lord Megatron; under our respective leaderships, Decepticon victory is assured!"

Megatron replies, "That it is, indeed. Don't fail me!"

Ironspan nods, transforms back to jet mode, and blasts off after his fellow Fliers.

Breakdown asks, "Why aren't we joining the main battle, Lord Megatron?"

Megatron answers, "Because, Breakdown, while Ironspan and his Seekers attack Zeta Prime's armies head-on, we shall move behind enemy lines and obtain the Omega Key."

Breakdown asks again, "The Omega what?"

Soundwave answers this time, "The Omega Key grants access to the core of Cybertron."

Megatron then explains, "Once I have access to the core, I will infuse it with Dark Energon, and subject the entire planet's energy supplies to my will!"

Suddenly, several million self-multiplying Autobots emerge and they multiply into millions upon millions of duplicates multiple times.

One Autobot calls out, "Decepticon intruders! They're inside the city!"

Breakdown exclaims as he asks while his fellow Decepticons shoot back, "Autobots attacking! Hey, wasn't Ironspan supposed to keep these guys occupied?!"

Megatron answers before ordering, "Even these self-replicating Autobots aren't foolish enough to leave the Stellar Galleries undefended. Destroy them!"

Despite the fact that the Decepticons deployed at the Stellar Galleries were outnumbered by millions and millions and millions of the strongest and somewhat strongest of Autobot troops, Devastator, Menasor and Sixconstructor along with the other Decepticon combiners evened out the odds thanks to the fact that the Autobots didn't think to deploy their combiners right now.

But then, the Autobots continued multiplying and multiplying like petro-rabbits every time one of them got hit no matter how hard.

Thinking quickly, Megatron activated his Level 10 Energon Drain ability, draining all of the multiplying enemy forces' Energon reserves.

After proceeding through the exit door along with Devastator, Menasor and Sixconstructor decombining back into the Constructicons, the Stunticons and the Erectioncons, the Grounder Decepticons along with lots of their troops proceed through a statue park and Soundwave says, "Megatron, sensor scans indicate Autobot energy signatures nearby."

Breakdown asks in confusion as he looks around, "Where? I don't see anything."

Motormaster replies, "That is because the Autobots are here, no doubt skulking in the shadows instead of fighting like actual mechs."

Megatron replies, "Agreed, Motormaster. Everyone, stay alert."

Suddenly, several Decepticon Soldiers and statues immediately get blown to smithereens by Plasma Cannon blasts used by Autobot Cloakers.

As the Decepticons ready themselves, Breakdown exclaims, "They're all around us!"

Megatron calls out, "Return fire! Destroy anything that moves!"

The Autobot Cloakers were much of a bigger cannon fodder, but nevertheless, they fell before the Decepticons' combined might.

Upon coming across a checkpoint, the Decepticons bore witness to an Autobot dropship crashing into one of the buildings, taking out the top of it and the top floors.

Ironspan contacts Megatron over the commlink and remarks, "Lord Megatron, the Dark Energon is proving every bit as formidable as you predicted! The Autobot armies crumble before it!"

Megatron replies, "Excellent, Ironspan. Continue engaging them so that I can acquire the Omega Key."

As the Decepticons stealthily approach the next checkpoint with the doors to the Stellar Galleries, Breakdown states, "There's something off about Ironspan, my liege. I don't trust him."

Megatron replies, "Oh, I trust Ironspan about as far as I can blast him, but he shows a rare cunning that I find... intriguing."

After a slew of astro-seconds, the Decepticons managed to tear through the brigades of Autobot Soldiers, Rocket Troopers, and Snipers.

After approaching the doors, Soundwave states, "Megatron, the gateway to the Stellar Galleries is locked."

Megatron replies, "I anticipated this. No matter; a powerful infusion of Dark Energon will bend the doors to my will!"

Megatron spreads Dark Energon over the doors, forcing them open and badly infecting the Autobots inside.

After entering the next room, a security system activates a series of laser beam sentries and an electrifying pool of Energon below the platforms as a voice says over the P.A., "Initiating defense grid."

Soundwave then says, "Megatron, those batteries feed the security grid."

Megatron states, "Quickly, infuse the batteries with Dark Energon!"

Breakdown, Barricade, and Soundwave manage to do so in unison, and the combined power of the Dark Energon Detpacks destroys the security system.

The same voice calls out weakly over the P.A., "Security measures deactivated."

Megatron then orders, "Soundwave, give me a damage report."

Soundwave replies, "Scans show minor damage."

Megatron replies back, "I was hoping for more damage, but, oh well."

After getting down to the lower level, the Decepticons go to the next exit.

After seeing an equally big assortment of Autobot Soldiers, Shotgunners, Protectors, and other kinds of moderate Autobot troops which weren't Cloakers, Brutes, Brawlers, or Aerialbots, Megatron snarls, "Now, time for more strategic slaughter!"

After slaughtering the Autobots and destroying the defense turrets, Soundwave states, "Megatron, our data indicates that the Omega Key is located just beyond that door."

Megatron remarks, "Excellent! This venture is proving far less taxing than I had anticipated."

Breakdown replies, "Are you serious? I'm feeling pretty taxed myself."

Megatron ignores Breakdown and uses his Dark Energon powers to break down the doors.

After entering the Stellar Galleries, Soundwave explains briefly, "The Autobots utilize these rooms for tranquil contemplation."

Barricade and Breakdown ask one after the other, "What?" "Tranquil contemplation? What does that even mean?"

Megatron answers before ordering, "It means the Autobots laze about and whine over their own inadequacies. Ugh, what a waste of time and resources. Decepticons! Find the Omega Key!"

The Decepticons rush in either robot mode or vehicle mode to the top platform via the stair walkways.

Megatron remarks as he activates the console for the Omega Key's container, "Behold, Decepticons, the Omega Key!"

The container opens up to reveal an empty slot for the Omega Key to fit inside of.

Breakdown remarks, "Wow... that is one empty container..."

Suddenly, a hologram of Sentinel Zeta Prime turns on from the inside of the container and he says, "Megatron, I'm warning you right now, you are attempting to toy with forces beyond your logical comprehension or control!"

Megatron remarks, "Ah, Sentinel Zeta Prime. I see you're still afraid to face me in person."

Zeta scoffs before remarking, "Ha! Predictable as ever, even down to the empty words. The Omega Key is under my protection now, Megatron."

Megatron replies, "Heh heh heh. That is hardly a problem. I will enjoy taking the Omega Key out of your lifeless hands!"

Zeta then calls out, "Autobots, attack!" and the hologram turns off.

An enormous Autobot ambush team shows up and they start letting loose volleys of bullets and Energon blasts on the 260 Decepticons, accompanied by a moderately big deployment of Heavy Soldiers and Brutes, but Megatron and his forces managed to overcome impossible outnumbered odds.

Megatron then orders, "Soundwave, trace Zeta Prime's broadcast signal."

Soundwave replies before saying while gesturing to a maintenance access door, "Commencing scan... complete. It's location origin is 12.7 cycles ahead. Scans reveal poor structural integrity surrounding this maintenance access door."

Motormaster replies, "I'll take care of this one."

Motormaster brings out his sword and slices the door down.

The Decepticons enter the next room and Soundwave says, "Megatron, the city subsystems provide a direct path to the broadcast's origin."

Megatron replies again, "I see... let's get going."

After getting past a double-locked maintenance access door, Megatron advises, "Descend here, Decepticons, and maintain caution – one wrong step and you're scrap metal."

Breakdown asks, "Not that I want to argue, but why aren't we heading back to the dropship for a ride?"

Megatron answers, "This is the shortest distance to travel, Breakdown."

After the Decepticons get past the room through caution and after getting past a third maintenance access door, the Decepticons manage to enter an Autobot subway station.

Spotting 20 Autobot Soldiers at the controls of several trains, the Decepticons stealthily kill their enemies.

Megatron then says, "Transform and roll out into the tunnels, Decepticons, and try not to get crushed by the trains."

Breakdown asks, "You're joking, right?"

Megatron deadpans before shouting, "Yes, Breakdown, I am famous for my sparkling sense of humor. Now GET MOVING, before I dismantle you myself!"

The Decepticons transform to their vehicle modes and they start driving down the tunnels, avoiding enemy detection barriers and ball-shaped mines.

After reaching a three-way intersection tunnel, the Decepticons enter a maintenance tunnel and they switch back to robot mode.

Dead End notices the exit maintenance door is locked, so he goes around the other side and shoots the locks before shooting the door itself to detach it from its hinges.

After the Decepticons jump down into the next room, Megatron then says, "Move to that exit! NOW!"

Suddenly, several dozen Autobot Cloakers start chirping while invisible.

Barricade states, "Helms up; we got Cloakers in here!"

Soundwave then says, "The Cloakers possess a unique threat. Eliminate them!"

Megatron spots two Energon battery consoles used to spawn more and more endless Autobot Cloakers and he says, "Quickly, infuse those batteries with Dark Energon!"

The Decepticons manage to infect the batteries with Dark Energon and they manage to kill the Autobot Cloakers without being overwhelmed by sheer numbers alone.

Megatron states, "Excellent work, everyone. Soundwave, unlock the exit door."

Soundwave unlocks the exit door and the Decepticons come across another series of Iacon subway tunnels.

Megatron orders, "MOVE, Decepticons, double time!"

The Decepticons transform to vehicle mode again and Breakdown questions, "Hey, Soundwave, you wanna race?"

Soundwave replies, "Negative."

The Decepticons once again race through the subway tunnels, avoiding the Enemy Detection Barriers and the mines, but this time, there's at least 2 ramps to jump over at high speed in vehicle mode to avoid the first oncoming trains in the intersection tunnels.

After coming across a demolished subway tunnel, Megatron states, "There – that station! From there, we can infiltrate the lower levels of Iacon."

Breakdown asks, "What? That's it? I was kinda having fun... in a high speed, suicidal kind of way."

Motormaster replies, "Not to worry, Breakdown; killing Autobots is just as much fun as engaging in high speed suicidal pursuits and races."

The Decepticons emerge on the right side of the demolished station entrance, they transform to robot mode, and they proceed through the exit door to the logistics station.

Soundwave states, "Megatron, Omega Key detected. We should proceed through the logistics station."

Megatron replies, "Excellent! The Omega Key awaits!"

Suddenly, two subway trains deploy dozens of Autobot Soldiers, Aerialbots, Rocket Troopers, Shotgunners, and Protectors, and Soundwave advises, "Megatron, scans indicate approaching Autobot energy signatures."

Megatron then states, "Decepticons! Ready your weaponry for battle!"

The Decepticons engage the Autobots, but when one Autobot goes down, a subway train drops by to deposit 90 dozen more.

Eventually, the Decepticons emerge victorious, if only because this Decepticon group had the Stunticons and their combiner mode of Menasor to even the odds.

The Decepticons head for the exit, and a Dark Energon bomb detonates on another one of the exit doors.

When this happens, Breakdown exclaims, "Take cover!"

But Megatron rebukes him and explains, "Steady yourself, coward; I marked this area for Dark Energon bombers."

Breakdown exclaims before reiterating when he sees everyone glaring at him, "Are you insane?! I-I mean, yes, brilliant, Lord Megatron!"

Megatron rolls his optics and the Decepticons continue to an Autobot checkpoint.

As the Autobots begin to open fire, they get taken out by the Dark Energon bombers.

Megatron remarks as the Autobot Soldiers die, "Perfect! Pretty soon, Iacon will be nothing more and nothing less than a thick layer of rubble!"

Barricade points out, "The wreckage is in our way, Lord Megatron."

Soundwave states, "Lord Megatron, scans indicate that the debris is stable enough to support our combined weight."

The Decepticons jump onto the rubble and they emerge in a partial subway tunnel that leads to a surface train yard.

Suddenly, a subway train arrives and deposits hundreds of Autobots due to how many cars are on the train in question.

Breakdown exclaims, "Hey, there's Autobots unloading off the train!"

Megatron orders, "Leave no Autobot alive!"

The battle commences, and soon, a battalion of Aerialbots arrives to even the odds.

Megatron calls out, "Blast those Aerialbots out of the sky!"

The Aerialbots try to use their superior numbers to their advantage, but alas, the Decepticons still won again.

As the last Autobot deactivates, the train moves on and Soundwave states, "Megatron, I have detected the Omega Key again. It lies beyond the train tunnel."

Megatron calls out, "Move out at once, Decepticons!"

After entering the tunnel, the Decepticons manage to get to a safe part of the tunnel away from the train tracks as another train passes through while Megatron says, "Stay on the tracks, if you want to get smashed to pieces!"

After carefully navigating through the train tunnel, they descend into the next room via a destroyed maintenance access door.

Just then, the Decepticons hear Brawl shouting over the commlink, "Ironspan! This is Brawl! We're pinned down outside Zeta Prime's Vaults! We need air support!"

Megatron remarks, "Excellent! Brawl is already near the Omega Key!"

Onslaught adds, "And by the sound of his voice, he needs backup."

Megatron replies, "Then let's go."

Motormaster unlocks the exit door, and the Decepticons move upstairs one floor, only to see part of the ceiling blow up and collapse, but thankfully on an Autobot ambusher.

After making it to the windows where Autobot Snipers were cutting down Decepticon forces in the street to Zeta Prime's Vaults outside and below the buildings, Megatron blasts down an Autobot Sniper, and Soundwave covers him by gunning down another 2 Autobot Sniper on another 2 sniping posts through the window.

Breakdown exclaims, "Look! They've got Brawl outnumbered down there!"

In the street, several Autobot soldiers are pounding on Brawl while another unleashes a Thermo Homing Mine at the Decepticon bruiser.

Suddenly, Brawl roars as he erupts by throwing all of the Autobots off him with as much strength as he can muster, before shooting another Autobot Soldier and before fatally stabbing yet another Autobot Soldier.

Then, Brawl roars again as he unleashes a Shockwave, killing the Autobot Soldiers that were about to surround him.

The Decepticons progress through another room, taking on at least 50 Autobot Brutes and a slew of Autobot Protectors.

After killing those Autobots, the Decepticons progress to another room, only for a hole to be blown in one of the walls by an assortment of Autobot Shotgunners, an assortment of Autobot Rocket Troopers, and an assortment of Autobot Protectors.

The Decepticons emerge victorious again.

As they progress to the main sniping post of the building, the Decepticons see Autobot Snipers in the building across the street.

Barricade calls out, "Snipers across the street, Lord Megatron!"

Megatron replies, "Destroy them!"

The Decepticons kill the Autobot Snipers while also helping their comrades below with the remaining Autobot Soldiers.

Soundwave advises, "Lord Megatron, the area is now clear."

Megatron replies, "Let us speak with Brawl, then. I want to hear how my war is going."

Megatron approaches Brawl at the steps leading to the doors of Sentinel Zeta Prime's Vaults.

Brawl sees his master and exclaims, "Lord Megatron!"

Megatron states, "Report, Brawl."

Brawl replies, "The Autobots are dug in, and our precious Air Commander won't provide support!"

Megatron rebukes Brawl before asking, "Enough excuses! Where is Zeta Prime?"

Brawl answers, "He's just beyond those armored doors, Lord Megatron."

Megatron pours Dark Energon over the doors out of his hands as he remarks, "Witness the power of Dark Energon!"

Suddenly, the Dark Energon crystals shatter to pieces, much to every Decepticon's astonishment.

Megatron exclaims in an aghast tone, "Impossible!"

Suddenly, a hologram of Zeta Prime appears in front of the doors, temporarily stunning and electrocuting the surrounding Decepticons on the stairs in a similar manner to an EMP Grenade.

Zeta boasts through the hologram, "It will take more than just a speck of Dark Energon to break through the armor of our Vaults. Surrender now, Megatron, and I will consider sparing your life."

Megatron snarls, "You dare threaten me?! ME?!"

Zeta replies, "So be it, Megatron. I leave you to your own... futility."

Zeta's hologram deactivates.

Barricade bemoans, "Oh, great, here we go..."

Megatron orders, "Brawl! Call in the Dark Energon bombers!"

Brawl protests, "But Megatron, there's too much firepower – "

But Megatron screams at the top of his intakes, "DO AS I HAVE ORDERED YOU, BRAWL!"

Brawl replies before saying into his commlink and before saying to everyone in the street, "Yes, Lord Megatron! Bombers, target these coordinates! Everyone else, CLEAR THE STREET!"

As they go into a cover building, a Decepticon Soldier calls out, "Look! It's Lord Megatron!"

Another Decepticon Soldier mutters bitterly, "About time. Why'd he show up so late?"

The other Decepticon Soldier states, "Shut UP. Are you trying to get us both killed?"

As the Decepticons get to the roof where the Autobot Snipers used to be, Brawl spots the Dark Energon bomber ships and calls out, "Dark Energon Bombers inbound!"

Suddenly, 2 of the planetary anti-aircraft guns shoot down the bomber ships, making them crash into nearby buildings near the Vaults and killing the Decepticons on board.

Motormaster bemoans, "Well, that didn't work."

Megatron snarls, "Silence! Obviously, our bombers are incompetent!"

Brawl points out, "Lord Megatron, if I may make a suggestion? Disabling the anti-aircraft guns will open the way for our air support."

Megatron replies, "An excellent idea, Brawl. Carry it out."

Brawl calls out as the Decepticons charge, "Decepticons! Take those guns!"

Just then, more Autobot Snipers show up, and Brawl calls out again while shooting at one of the Snipers, "Heads up! More Snipers!"

As the last Autobot Sniper goes offline, several Autobots manning some Ion Displacer Turrets and some Nucleon Shock Cannon Turrets start opening fire.

Breakdown exclaims, "Turrets! They're gonna slice us to pieces!"

Megatron growls, "No one turns back! Destroy those guns by any means necessary!"

Brawl adds, "You heard Lord Megatron! Decepticons! Lay down cover fire while we take that building!"

Several of the turret Autobots get taken offline, only for more to take their places.

Megatron goes to blast open the door leading to the stairs that lead to the turrets, but an Autobot Brute blows the doors open from the other side for an ambush.

The Brute exclaims, "The Decepticons stop here! For Zeta Prime and Optimus Prime!"

Megatron kills the Brute easily and leads the Decepticons to the turrets, killing another of the Autobot Soldiers using one of the turrets.

One of the Autobot Soldiers exclaims, "We gotta protect the anti-aircraft guns!"

Brawl calls out, "NOW! Hit the Autobots while they're distracted!"

Motormaster and Breakdown kill the remaining Autobot Soldiers before going upstairs to the gun control panel.

Motormaster remarks, "There! The gun controls!"

Breakdown places a Dark Energon Detpack on the control system, and the Detpack detonates, corrupting it.

Then, the first anti-aircraft gun shoots and blows up the other gun with one shot.

Breakdown remarks, "NICE! It takes one gun to blow up the other one!"

Suddenly, Soundwave advises, "Megatron! The controls are overloading!"

Megatron calls out, "MOVE, Decepticons!"

Motormaster and Breakdown evacuate and the first gun blows up along with the control system.

Breakdown states, "That was close! That almost punched our tickets to oblivion! I thought Dark Energon was on our side?"

Megatron then says, "Brawl, call in the bombers."

Brawl replies, "Transmitting the coordinates."

Suddenly, Ironspan calls out over the commlink, "Brawl! This is Ironspan! Your request is denied! I won't have you wasting more of my ships!"

Megatron replies, "I see. When did they become your ships, Ironspan?"

Ironspan replies before saying, "Oh! Lord Megatron. I didn't realize you were there! Air support request approved, but it'll be up to 7 cycles before the bombers can reach you. I'm afraid you'll just have to be patient."

Brawl states, "We've got Autobot reinforcements heading our way!"

Megatron grumbles before ordering, "I shall make you pay for this, Ironspan. Decepticons, hold your positions until the bombers arrive!"

A slew of Autobot Soldiers arrive and start shooting at the Decepticons, but the Decepticons using both the turrets and their natural weapons allowed them to cleave through the interlopers with ease.

Suddenly, more Autobot Soldiers arrive, along with Autobot Snipers being deployed on the train bridge.

Megatron sneers as he remarks, "The Autobots believe that they have an advantage over us by sniping us from the bridge. Show them their error!"

Bludgeon shoots down the Snipers, and the rest of the Autobot Soldiers go down.

Breakdown questions, "Is that it? Did we beat them?"

Brawl answers, "No, no, no... there's no way the Autobots will give up that easily."

Megatron replies, "Agreed, Brawl. Everyone, hold fast and stay alert!"

Breakdown calls out as he points to the adjoining rooftop, "On the roof over there – more Autobots!"

Soundwave takes them down with help from Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Ratbat, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Enemy, Beastbox, Slugfest, Wingthing, Garboil, Uriaz, Uriad, and his other cassette minions.

Brawl calls out, "They're firing from the windows!"

Motormaster uses his sword and rocket launchers to deal with the Autobots in the windows. Including an Autobot Heavy Soldier.

After the Heavy Soldier goes offline, Breakdown complains, "The Autobots just keep coming!"

Suddenly, several hundred Aerialbots show up and Brawl states, "Jets attacking from above!"

The Decepticons fire on the Aerialbots, shooting them out of the sky.

As more Aerialbots show up and some Autobot Heavy Soldiers are deployed on the train bridge, Breakdown then exclaims, "Blast those Autobot junk heaps on the bridge!"

The Decepticons take down the Autobot Aerialbots and the Heavy Soldiers as well.

As more Autobot Soldiers show up, Breakdown exclaims, "We're gonna get slaughtered!"

Megatron growls, "Stop your whining, Breakdown, or I'll stop it for you!"

Brawl then calls out as more and more Autobots show up, "They're attacking from all directions!"

As the Decepticons start shooting, Breakdown demands, "Lord Megatron, they're everywhere! What do we do?!"

Megatron replies, "WE HOLD THEM OFF! The bombers will clear the street thoroughly when they arrive! Rely on that!"

After nearly thirty seconds of shooting down one Autobot after another, the ENTIRE generic Autobot army comes charging en masse.

Breakdown starts to exclaim, "That's – that's the WHOLE AUTOBOT ARMY! We'll never be – "

But Brawl interrupts as the Dark Energon bombers come into view, "Bombing run will commence in five... four... three... two... one!"

The Dark Energon bombers gun down the Autobot army, destroy the train bridge, and blow open the doors to Zeta Prime's Vaults.

Breakdown remarks, "WHOO-HOO! Boom! Eat THAT, Autobots!"

Brawl remarks, "The street looks to be clear, Lord Megatron. That Dark Energon bombing should've blown the Vault doors clear off!"

Megatron replies, "Good. Brawl, remain here, hold this position, and be on the lookout for any more Autobots. The rest of us will move forward and acquire the Omega Key!"

The Decepticons except for Brawl jumps down to ground level and they shoot up and finish off any remaining weakened Autobots.

Just as the Decepticons are gonna make it to the destroyed doors of Zeta Prime's Vaults, an Autobot Destroyer pops up out of the upper walls.

The Destroyer struts up while a Decepticon Soldier shoots at his chestplate and he says, "Engaging Decepticons at the Iacon Vaults."

The Decepticon Soldier tries to run and he exclaims before screaming as he gets stepped on, "Fall back! Fall back! Aaah!"

The Autobot Destroyer transforms into his tank mode and he unleashes a shockwave.

Breakdown exclaims, "What the?! That guy is as humongous as Devastator!"

Megatron replies, "Split up and flank him! Use the debris for cover!"

The Decepticons take cover and start flanking the Destroyer, but their shots are ineffective.

Megatron then gets an idea and he states, "Decepticons, target the fuel cell on the back of the tank!"

Drag Strip sneaks around behind the Destroyer and shoots at the fuel cell until it breaks apart.

The destroyed fuel cell forces the Destroyer to transform back to his robot mode.

The Decepticons shoot at the Destroyer until parts of his chestplate start falling off.

Megatron calls out, "We've breached its armor! Now, DESTROY IT!"

The Decepticons continue shooting, and the Destroyer eventually goes offline before exploding to pieces.

Soundwave states, "Megatron, the tank has been rendered non-functional."

Breakdown remarks, "You see that? I did that. All. Me."

Megatron then says, "Onward, Decepticons! Into the Vaults!"

Wildrider plants a Dark Energon Detpack on the destroyed doors, and the doors are blown open further.

The Decepticons march into the Vaults, and Zeta Prime appears in a third hologram to say, "Megatron. My, you are a persistent one! But breaking into my Vaults?! You've definitely overstepped yourself."

Megatron replies, "I won't waste words with you, Zeta Prime. Give me the Omega Key, and I may spare what's left of your city."

Zeta's hologram disappears.

Dead End spots a piece of debris hanging over a ruined floor.

He shoots the debris, and it crashes through the floor to one level down.

The Decepticons jump down the hole and as they sort themselves out, Zeta's fourth hologram appears to say, "The Omega Key will never be yours, Megatron!"

Megatron replies again, "I look forward to debating that with you, in person."

Suddenly, an exit door to an observation deck opens and a Decepticon Soldier exclaims, "Lord Megatron! Help!"

Barricade states, "Zeta's got one of our troops trapped!"

Suddenly, a piece of the floor next to the Decepticon Soldier glows and Demolishor questions, "Look at that floor! What's Sentinel Zeta up to?"

The Decepticon Soldier looks up and jumps out of the way as a ceiling masher drops down to squash him.

The Decepticon Soldier gets up and remarks without noticing the second ceiling masher, "Hey! I'm still functional! I'M STILL F—"

But the ceiling masher crushes him.

Megatron grumbles before saying as the next exit doors open, "Idiot. Decepticons! Onward!"

As the Decepticons observe the next room, Sentinel says over the P.A., "You cannot hope to overcome my defenses, Megatron!"

Megatron replies, "Not even your pathetic machinery will be able to stop me, Zeta Prime!"

After Soundwave times the first one right, the ceiling masher sign glows and Megatron calls out, "Soundwave, move quickly or Zeta's machinery will crush you!"

The Decepticons time their movements right, three at a time.

After coming across the final entrance to Zeta's Vault, a fifth and final hologram appears and Sentinel says, "Come no further, Megatron! The sacred Vaults aren't any place to house your tainted spark!"

Megatron replies before saying as he pours Dark Energon out of his hands to open the door, "Nothing is sacred to me, Sentinel Zeta Prime. You should've realized this by this point in time. Decepticons! Advance!"

After finally entering the Vaults, the door closes and Megatron spies the Omega Key in front of him in its container.

Megatron remarks before asking in shock as the Omega Key floats away, "Finally! The Omega Key is within my – What?!"

Sentinel Zeta Prime appears in the center of his machine and he holds the Omega Key in his right hand as he remarks, "Did you really think it'd be this easy?"

Megatron snarls, "Come down here, Sentinel Prime, and I will give you the answer!"

Zeta replies as his machine activates and the ceiling mashers retract into the ceilings, "I shall remain where I am; this vantage point will provide an excellent view of your destruction. (Booming voice) My will controls this entire chamber, Megatron. I only need to close my hand to crush the life out of you!"

Breakdown calls out as the Decepticons retreat around the room to avoid the ceiling mashers, "The floor is glowing! It's everywhere! He's gonna smash us!"

After avoiding the ceiling mashers 5 times in a row, Zeta boasts, "Do you see now, Megatron? This is my domain!"

Megatron scoffs, "Your theatrics don't frighten me, Sentinel."

Zeta then creates Holo-Brutes based on Energon clones of himself as he remarks, "In here, I have the power to control and create."

As Zeta creates his first Energon clones, Breakdown remarks, "Wow. And I thought one of this guy was annoying!"

As the Decepticons fight the Energon clones, Soundwave remarks, "The Energon composition of these clones is remarkable."

Breakdown remarks as well, "You can be such a nerd, Soundwave!"

As more Holo-Brutes appear, Zeta snarls, "Do you see how hopeless your struggle for world domination is, Megatron?!"

After destroying the Holo-Brutes, Megatron scoffs, "Is that all you got, Sentinel? A pathetic army of holographic Energon clones? Is that really the best you can do?"

Zeta replies, "Hahahahahaha! You have no idea what I'm capable of! In here, I have limitless power!"

Soundwave then points out to Zeta's machine core cooling down, "Megatron, we may be able to damage Sentinel Zeta Prime's machine during the core's recharge cycle."

The Decepticons shoot at the core, and Breakdown's remark of "Blasting his shield won't work!" prompted the other Decepticons to shoot at the core, but after a few bullets and Energon blasts, it closes back up and the room starts to shake a bit before stabilizing itself.

Zeta remarks, "A valid method, Decepticons, but Autobot machinery is just as resilient as Decepticon machinery."

As Zeta makes the first ceiling mashers glow in a clockwise circle, Breakdown exclaims, "The ceiling's coming down! Get away from the mashers!"

The Decepticons avoid the first and second circular arrays of ceiling mashers as Zeta boasts, "In this chamber, my will reigns supreme, Megatron!"

Zeta creates more Holo-Brutes and Megatron snarls, "More Zeta clones. Destroy them!"

As the Decepticons fight the Holo-Brutes, Soundwave states, "Lord Megatron, we need to continue shooting at the machine core to destroy the control center."

Motormaster replies, "Agreed, Soundwave; if we destroy the control center, he's yours, Lord Megatron."

After the Energon clones were obliterated, Zeta's machine opens its core and Megatron calls out, "He's recharging! Fire at the core!"

After damaging it a bit more, the core closes up again and the room shakes slightly more than usual before stabilizing itself again.

Megatron remarks, "Your machine is failing, Zeta. Where are your boasts now?"

Sentinel snarls, "The battle is far from over, Decepticon! Prepare for destruction!"

Soundwave exclaims, "Alert! ALERT! Zeta Prime is modifying the room!"

The Decepticons avoid the ceiling mashers trying to smash them in a counter-clockwise maneuver.

Zeta creates one more wave of Holo-Brutes and remarks, "I can easily create more Energon clones! You will be destroyed!"

As the Decepticons fight the Energon clones while avoiding the ceiling mashers, Megatron snarls, "Endless duplicates of Sentinel Zeta Prime – how nauseating!"

As the core opens up for cooldown one more time, Megatron calls out, "He's recharging again! Fire at the core!"

The Decepticons open fire on the core one more time even as Zeta scoffs, "Ha! Your weapons are useless against me!" and this time, the room shakes a lot more violently as ceiling mashers deploy one floor section of the time.

But the Decepticons manage to avoid the ceiling mashers as Zeta exclaims, "No! Systems failing – this cannot be!"

Pieces of Zeta's control center fall off and around him before the main parts of the control dome fall onto him and pin his right leg.

Megatron approaches Zeta, grabs him and pierces his chestplate to his spark casing.

Zeta snarls, "Finish it!"

Megatron instead applies pressure to Sentinel's spark casing, making him groan in pain as he releases the Omega Key into Megatron's hand.

Megatron remarks, "The Omega Key is mine! The Core of Cybertron is mine!"

Suddenly, the Omega Key starts blinking a red color and emitting a signal with an alarm sound coming from it.

The Decepticons look at each other, thinking the same thing: what is the Omega Key doing?

Megatron looks at Zeta in anger and realization as the de facto Autobot leader remarks, "Hahahaha, haha. Your spies were misinformed, Megatron. That device only activates the true key to Cybertron's core. But don't worry; the Omega Key will come to you."

In a nondescript laboratory/giant launching pad somewhere in Iacon, the true Omega Key's optics glow orange and then blue and he remarks as his parts click into place during his transformation to his assault ship mode, "Omega: Activated. Power: Optimal. Mission: Destroy Megatron."

Omega Supreme flies off into the skies of Cybertron in pursuit of his quarry thanks to the signal readings provided by the fake Omega Key.

The End.

(Author's notes: In the next chapter, not only will we see Omega Supreme fighting the Decepticons, but we will also see Omega Danger mourning about his tragic past before the war, his half relief and half grief at his tragic past coming to an end, and his determination to make a new life for himself during the war and after the war ends, all before he has the encounter that has him taken prisoner.

See you all in chapter 19: Death Of Hope.)