Transformers Prime: A New Adventure.

Chapter 67: New Triple Changers.

In Earth's atmosphere, what appears to be a large stone is burning from the friction of entry and contact with the Earth's atmosphere.

This stone crashes into the Silkeborgskovene Forest in Central Jutland, Denmark.

A quad squad of Vehicon Troopers approaches the interstellar escape pod, scanning the area with their blasters back and forth.

One of the Vehicons asks, "What could it be, soldier?"

One of the other drones was about to reply but they immediately get struck with harpoons that magically transform them into Autobot Vehicons.

Fortressimus Prime says to the new Autobot Vehicons as he forces them to multiply 2,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times as males, females, transgenders, non-binaries, etc., "Secure the area and deal with any Decepticons that turn up."

The Vehibots scatter in groups of 500 to secure the area.

Arcee, Bumblebee, and Cliffjumper turn up.

Cliffjumper states, "Optimus, we've found the pod. There's plenty of Decepticons that are being dealt with as we speak, but we don't know how much longer we have until a Decepticon calls for reinforcements."

Optimus replies, "Understood. Cliffjumper, is the pod of Cybertronian origin as Fortressimus and Ratchet had surmised?"

Cliffjumper replies back, "Oh yeah, it is. We're gonna need help with transportation and with dealing with any more Vehicons that get sent to intercept us."

Optimus replies back again, "Understood, Cliffjumper, we're on our way."

After the pod was secured and transported to the Autobot base, the Autobots got a good look at the Transformer.

Ratchet scanned the Transformer, and after a minute, the computer pinged a low beep.

Ratchet then says, "Optimus, I don't understand. The computer is pinging an error."

Optimus looks before saying, "A Helix T-Cog."

Fortressimus remarks, "So, the Triple Changer projects during the Golden Age were going to continue into the war after all."

Miko says in confusion, "I don't get it, dude."

Fortressimus answers, "During Sentinel Zeta Prime's reign over Cybertron, the project to create Cybertronian Triple Changers for military service and for war time was authorized, and at that time, only 16 Triple Changers were invented. But historical records indicated that before he was captured by Megatron, Zeta had plans to accelerate the Autobot army's war efforts even further by authorizing more Triple Changers to be built and sparked through the usage of Counterbat – his name at the time being Tailpunch – as the host of the Allspark to give life to the extra Triple Changers."

Miko remarks, "Whoa. That's deep. And still, I can't stop geeking out at the fact that the ability to potentially turn into a car and a jet actually exists!"

Blow Saber replies, "Well, get ready for this, Miko: at the time of the final days of the war, 5 more Triple Changers were built, but only two of them joined the Decepticons: Astrotrain and Blitzwing."

The kids blinked and Darksor answered the coming question, "As parts of their names imply, Blitzwing transforms into a fighter jet and a tank, while Astrotrain transforms into a spaceship and a train."

Miko exclaims, "That's – "

But Ratchet interrupts sharply, "Do NOT say that it's awesome; Blitzwing and Astrotrain murdered both Autobots and innocent civilians who wanted nothing to do with the war without becoming Neutrals!"

Miko slumps, but her mother slaps Miko's back slightly hard.

Miko glares at her mother who says, "You should know better than to praise anything not in the employ of those like the Autobots."

Fortressimus adds sharply, "And you should know better than to physically hit a child as a form of discipline; that's how kids develop childhood traumas that could lead them to do bad things later in life."

Everyone glares at Miko's mother, including her husband and her relatives and in-laws.

Optimus then asks to change the subject, "Ratchet, is this Triple Changer an Autobot or a Decepticon?"

Ratchet answers, "It's an Autobot, back during the war, during Zeta Prime's time leading the Autobot forces. The pod might be able to identify who it is, but there's one problem."

Elita One summarizes, "They're out of energy from being deployed halfway across the universe?"

Ratchet answers with a nod before saying to Optimus and Fortressimus, "Yes, Elita. The pod was sealed off to keep the passenger alive, but in order to keep the passenger alive, they had to be put in stasis lock. And I have a feeling that this isn't the only Triple Changer to be found by Autobots or by Decepticons."

Fortressimus replies, "I believe you may be right, Ratchet. But don't worry; I already dispatched the Aerialbots, the Wreckers, the Protectobots, the Trainbots, the Constructobots, the Construction Patrol, the Build Team, and Team Bullet Train to find any more of those Triple Changer pods."

Meanwhile, on the Nemesis, Speedgazer says to Soundwave and the Vehicons that returned with the second pod that the Autobots didn't find, "I'm glad you did what you could."

Soundwave plays back a clip of an audience cheering and whistling.

Speedgazer then says, "Yes. Now, open the pod, tell me what you found, and scan for more. For all we know, Optimus Prime might've dispatched squadrons of his army to find any more of the pods."

The computer beeps and Speedgazer grins a bloodthirsty grin at what he sees.

In the Autobot base, Agent Fowler asks, "So, there are Transformers aside from our troops that can transform into two different forms?"

Optimus replies, "Yes. Megatron once attempted to capture the files on the technology necessary to build more Triple Changers during the war, but he failed when the High Council not only stopped his progress with no casualties, but they also corrupted the files so that if Megatron or any other Decepticon tries to access them along with any other files, they'd be infected with various high-caliber computer viruses that can cause them to go offline. And sadly, I was the only one who advised against it, as I was hoping that I would be able to convince a Decepticon to change their mind if not Megatron. But I will admit that at the time, I was still naïve in thinking that Megatron could be convinced to change."

Jack then asks, "Okay, so, does this guy have a name?"

Ratchet answers in a daze, "Optimus, the Triple Changer is Shortout."

Optimus' optics widened in shock.

Agent Fowler questions, "Am I correct in guessing that you knew him, Prime?"

Optimus answers, "Yes. Shortout and I were once friends that fought side-by-side during the time before and after Sentinel Zeta Prime was defeated and captured, as well as before Omega Supreme was captured, corrupted by Dark Energon, and put in stasis lock for more extensive repairs while our forces were still building the Ark."

After the rest of the explanations of Triple Changers, the Autobot Triple Changer known as Shortout was brought online.

Shortout groans as he onlines his optics and says before asking as soon as he sees Optimus, "Ough, that's the last time I go into combat without backup. Optimus?"

Optimus replies, "Yes, Shortout, it is me."

Shortout is given the 90% detailed explanation about everything that happened after he was sent off of Cybertron, as well as everything that happened recently, over the past 21 years, and so forth that the Autobots came to learn.

Shortout then asks, "Um, Agent Fowler? Can you please provide me with a land vehicle and a flying vehicle to scan?"

Arcee remarks, "Never knew you to be so polite, Shortout."

Agent Fowler replies, "Sure thing, big guy. Come."

After emerging at Unit E Headquarters, Shortout is given an MBT-70 main battle tank and a Sukhoi Su-27 air superiority interceptor jet for his vehicle modes.

Shortout then asks, "So, is the F/A-18 Hornet any different from the Su-27?"

Agent Fowler answers, "It's much slower. Specific modern planes aren't exactly built for speed like futuristic ones from centuries in the future."

Shortout replies, "Noted."

After returning to the base and being given introductions, Arcee then says, "So, he scanned a tank and a fighter jet, and yet he's an Autobot. Is that right, Optimus?"

Optimus answers, "Yes. He was recruited by Zeta Prime when rumors of the war started spreading. Although his desire to fight Decepticons until there are no more of them worries me."

Elita One then asks, "And why a Sukhoi Su-27? What kind of plane is it?"

Agent Fowler answers, "It's a Russian supermaneuverable fighter jet from the Soviet Union at the time of the Cold War. It combines elements of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighter jet and the Grumman F-14 Tomcat by having a range of one thousand, nine hundred and ten miles, heavy aircraft ordnance, complicated avionics, and a higher rate of maneuverability in the air. And the tank is cutting edge of the highest caliber by human standards."

Shortout then comes up.

Optimus asks, "Shortout, is something the matter?"

Shortout answers, "Sir, I'm sorry; I'm still getting used to this planet. If you want, I can run recon and find the Nemesis."

Optimus replies, "No. Locating the Nemesis will notify Megatron of where we are."

After another 15 minutes to a whole hour and fifty-nine minutes, Shortout was given the rundown of the Autobot resistance that are on Earth, the Autobot forces that were scattered across the universe trying to regather their forces for a final approach to Earth with occasional scout missions to Earth, the tactics Optimus and the other Autobots use while on Earth, etc., much to Shortout's shock, horror, anger, excitement, disappointment, satisfaction, and other emotions in the book.

It took some time, but Shortout managed to get along well with the Autobot forces, if only because Fortressimus used his newest superpower, Personality Alteration, to help Shortout with the problems associated with Triple Changers bred for war and who went through centuries of war, suffering, and loss.

And even though the Autobots had a rough encounter with the Decepticon Triple Changer Torpedofly, the Autobots managed to push back to the end and gather even more Energon for their supplies in the base.

Fortressimus knew that the events of Deus Ex Machina were coming in a week, which is why he wanted to be prepared.

The End.

(Author's notes: See you all in chapter 68: Deus Ex Machina.)