Yokohama, Japan
Just outside the city limit in the dead of night, Thundercracker sood with his arms over his chest looking up at the sky as a familiar sight descended from the darkened clouds. A Cybertronian Lander Class dropship. The one known to belong to Bumblebee.
Aboard the dropship Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Drift, Pyro and Rodimus readied their weapons.
"You stay on the ship just in case things get hot," Bumblebee said to the others, "Searchlight I want you to keep the engines humming, this thing really can't outrun a Seeker but we will damn try if we have to."
The humans watched as the Autobots got off the ship and approached the Decepticon Sub-Air Commander.
Pyro and Cliff kept back, both crouching down, Cliff with a missile launcher over his shoulder and Pyro with his bazooka over his. Drift circled around to the Seeker's rear and in a rare instance drew a small blaster aimed at the back of his head.
If Drift pulls a gun, you know the threat is too extreme to take lightly.
Bee and Rodimus stayed at the Seeker's front, both with their weapons drawn on him.
"Null Rays off your shoulders and hands where I can see em," Rodimus spat.
Thundercracker silently obliged to the Autobot's request. Drift then slapped a pair of stasis cuffs on his wrists and a wing clamp on Thundercracker's wings.
He was grounded.
"Is the clamp necessary?" Thundercracker asked.
"You're Starscream's right hand man," Bumblebee said, "I'd remove your T-Cog if I had a scalpel."
"Why are we here Thundercracker?" Drift asked.
"Lieutenant Bumblebee, if you are on Earth then it stands to reason that Commander Ultra Magnus is nearby." Thundercracker asked, "Am I correct in that assumption?"
"What's it to you Cracker?" Cliffjumper shouted.
"I wish to speak with Commander Magnus," Thundercracker said.
"About what," Pyro laughed, "You really think we'd give you an audience without knowing what the slag it's about!"
Thundercracker sighed and disregarded Pyro, looking back at Bee and Rodimus.
"Optimus Prime and the rest of the Earth team are alive, I know where, and I know what Megatron intends to do with this planet and how he's manipulated Wheeljack and Sunstreaker into helping him."
The Autobot's all exchanged glances.
"Arcee, you get the humans in the cockpit and keep them there," Rodimus said into his commlink, "We're bringing a Decepticon aboard."
Darkmount, Earth's moon
"What!" Megatron shouted, backhanding Starscream into a wall, before the Seeker could collect himself Meagtron grabbed him by the throat and held him there, Starscream grabbed Megatron's forearm with both hands and squirmed.
Even though he didn't need to breathe he gasped for air in fear.
"All three of the remaining Autobot's escaped capture," Starscream uttered, "All aided by the Autobot known as Bumblebee."
"Bumblebee, he was on the Voyager was he not," Megatron said, his glare turning to Shockwave.
"Lord Megatron, I only pulled my fleet back to ensure you had sufficient resources to build the Cyberforge," Shockwave said.
"And in doing so gave Ultra Magnus the chance to rescue Rodimus," Starscream chuckled, "Optimus Prime's protege."
"They will not be enough, and during our fight in the Kuiper belt, my ship damaged the Voyager's interstellar transponder." Shockwave said.
"I made sure of it my liege," Blitzwing said, "They cannot call Star Saber for help."
"You had better be right," Megatron said, dropping Starscream to the ground, "I only allowed Shockwave and Knockout to bring you back from the brink of death out of the kindness in my spark."
He approached Blitzwing and grabbed the triple changing Seeker's wing, crunching the metal in his hand.
"You don't want that kindness to run out, because the mods done to your chassis can also be undone."
"I understand, master," Blitzwing said as Megatron turned away. Blitzwing grabbed his wing and rubbed it in pain.
"Lord Megatron, Thundercracker's signal has disappeared," Soundwave said from the computer terminal.
Megatron strolled over and looked at the screen showing static next to the Seeker's hologram.
"He wasn't with the Decepticon's I dispatched to Earth," Starscream said, "He's supposed to be on this station."
"If he's abandoned his post and disabled his transponder," Soundwave said, "that could only means he intends to betray us."
"If he hasn't already," Megatron growled, "Find him, before he can alert Ultra Magnus about my plans!"
The Voyager, Autobot cruiser
Mars, Milky Way galaxy
Windblade rushed to the hangar, a blaster in one hand, her sword in the other. She ran to where her fellow Arielbots stood, planted herself next to Skydive and watched the sky as a dropship approached.
In the middle of the hangar Ultra Magnus stood, with his Ion Blaster over his chest, Blaster on his right and Hound on his right. The three Autobots watched as Bumblebee and Hot Shot exited the dropship first. Behind them was Cliffjumper, Arcee and three human youths.
Searchlight and Lifeline came next with Rodimus behind them, Rodimus stood next to Ultra Magnnus as they watched Pyro and Drift escort a shackled Thundercracker off of the ship. Drift held a blade to the side of Thundercracker's head while Pyro walked behind them with his rifle to the Seeker's back.
Just for kicks the yellow and red Autobot rammed the barrel off his gun into Thundercracker and chuckled.
"Take him to the brig, Bumblebee, Rodimus to my quarters I'll join you after I make sure the other's injuries are properly tended to," Ultra Magnus said, he glared at the navy blue jet in front of him, "You're going to give me every single bit of intel in your mind, and because of you I will save this planet from Shockwave's machinations."
"Understood," Thundercracker muttered.
"Thundercracker claims Optimus Prime is alive, held prisoner in Megatron's fortress on Earth's moon." Rodimus explained, "He also claims the same about the rest of my unit and the two bots taken prisoner on the Harbinger."
"Wait, he's saying Bumper and Smokescreen are still online?" Windblade asked, "Shockwave never leaves Autobots online if he can help it."
"Apparently Megatron gave Shockwave strict orders to supply Autobot slaves for their construction project on Earth." Hot Shot answered.
"So why didn't they also take Road Rage and Rollbar prisoner, they just executed them," Silverbolt muttered.
"Couldn't tell ya," Hot Shot said, "I'd assume the orders from Megatron came after Blitzwing found the infiltration team and reported it to Megatron or Starscream directly."
"Going over Shockwave's head on his ship, that must've pissed him off," Danny chuckled, him and the humans had up till this point been ignored by the Autobots trying to plan.
"I'd imagine so," Ultra Magnus said to the boy, "I'd also imagine the cons, with their numbers, are facing some power struggles with Starscream, Shockwave and Megatron all in the same place."
"I thought Megatron was the big boss," Emily said.
"He is, but like Starscream, Shockwave has been known to usurp his authority," Arcee said, "The mad scientist believes that Megatron is an ineffectual means to his own ends."
"Can't we use that somehow, cause a rift in their forces," Danny asked.
"If we had the time, that would be my plan," Ultra Magnus said, "I'd get Starscream to succumb to his worst nature and sabotage Shockwave somehow."
"But we don't have the time to orchestrate a coup in their faction," Hot Shot said, "We barely have time for this, as we speak, the Constructicons are building a device to cyberform Earth."
"He got dangerously close with Nebulous, partially cyber forming the planet," Perceptor said, "There is a 98.9983 percent chance that Earth will be his breakthrough, your oceans will become energon, your largest creatures will become cyber-lifeforms strong and large enough to take any one of us."
"You'd lose the war for sure," Emily said, "And Earth would die."
"Yes," Bumblebee said, "Your species will go extinct, and we will have failed to stop Shockwave from tampering with creation once again."
"So, is that all our esteemed guest has for us?" Jaime asked, everyone turning their attention to the cam footage of the brig, watching as Blaster and Pyro interrogated the prisoner.
"It seems that way, but I think that's enough," Hot Rod said, "At least for now if our first move is breaking Prime and the others out of Darkmount."
"We have no true confirmation that they are there," Windblade spat, "Nor do we know to what extent it's fortified at the moment."
"I'd say a few legions of Seekers, some ground patrol, that'd be about it," Arcee said, "If the scale of their building project on Earth is as extensive as Thundercracker says."
"And at the very least we know that the Constructicons are on Earth, so we won;t have to worry about Devastator for a while." Hot Rod said.
"That's a small relief, I would hate to be left alone in the sky against all those Seekers while the other Arielbots go to take him on." Windblade said
"What?" Danny asked,
Veronica looked over at him, stuck up six fingers, and clapped her hands and left her pointer finger up, Danny still didn't get the message.
"Wait, Commanders, you might wanna see this," Hound said from the other side of the room.
Ultra Magnus, Silverbolt and Hot Rod walked over. Hot Rod raised an eyebrow in confusion, Silverbolt smirked. And Ultra Magnus nodded.
"Looks like another trip to Earth is needed, Hound assemble a team to help you scout this out,"
Tokyo, Japan
The air was cool, and crisp. A light breeze blew around the city scape. The bright neon lights of billboards and streets illuminated the night.
Shockwave stood on the roof of a high rise with Scrapper on his side.
"The excavation process is complete, the Autobot prisoners are being sent back up to Darkmount, I no longer need them." Scrapper informed the mad scientist.
"Good," Shockwave said, he turned to Bitstream and his lackey Sunstreaker "The citie's power grid has primed to terminate?"
"Indeed, this city will fall to us by nightfall," Bitstream answered.
Soundwave approached the four other mechs, "Megatron is ready."
Shockwave nodded, he turned to Bitstream who raised his arm and pressed two buttons on his com-panel.
Suddenly the lights cut, in a flash of sparking electricity and short circuiting, screams of terror and confusion filled the air left vacant by the now absent light.
The Decepticons looked up to the sky and watched as the Harbinger approached. Now it could begin.
"Lord Megatron, I've connected to the electronic devices of these humans, it's time for our broadcast." Soundwave said, his yellow visor now glowing red as he established a connection with every cellphone in Japan.
*Nihon no minasan, watashi wa diseputikon no rīdā, Megatron. Anata ga Tōkyō to yobu kono toshi wa imaya watashi no teikoku no monodeari, sono kokumin wa watashi no shinmindesu. Kyōdai-tachi o kaihō shiyou to shite wa narimasen. Karera wa anata ni totte ushinawa reta nodesu. Teikō wa, kono idaina kuni to omowa reru kuni o kanzen ni shōmetsu sa seru koto ni yotte mukaeuta rerudarou. Watashi wa anatagata no ta no daitoshi ni gunkan o chūryū sa semashita. Watashi no hattari o iwanaide kudasai. Tōkyō no ningen ni kanshite wa, watashi no diseputikon ga anata o atarashī ie made goei shimasunode, watashitachi wa anata ni jama sa rezu ni shigoto ga dekimasu.* Megatron announced to the city via their cell phones.
South Andes Mountians
Danny was the first to step off the drop ship, excited to get back onto the dirt and soil of Earth. Going into space was fun and all, being on Mars was cool. Even though he and the other kids had to stay on the ship.
But there was something about being back on land, even not familiar land, that was irresistible to him. He looked around at the lush green valley below them, and up at the rocky terrain above. Lined with snow.
He looked up at Hot Shot who stepped off with Emily on his shoulder. He flipped down his visor and a red icon glowed over his right eye.
Hound walked past him and scanned the area. He turned his head and then climbed down the hillside, he grabbed the ledge and slid down. Landing on a ridge below.
"See anything down there yet, Sniffer?" Hot Shot asked, looking up at the mountains.
"No, but the reading is getting stronger." Hound answered, he hopped off the ledge and onto more solid ground.
He transformed into his new Jeep Hurricane alt mode and a radar dish erected from the bed. He rolled forwards slowly.
Hot Shot and Hoist exchanged glances, Hoist picked up Danny and they as well as another Autobot, Scoop followed the scout.
Hound kept driving till he approached another ridge and transformed back into robot mode. He crouched down and surveyed the area beneath him.
A tar pit.
Hoist and the others rolled up, the humans evacuated the vehicles and the Autobots transformed.
Hot Shot walked up to Hound, he looked down at the black pit below.
"His transponder's signal is strongest here," Hot Shot questioned, "How?"
"How did they even end up here?" Hoist asked, "Shouldn't they have been with you lot on the Ark?"
"When we destroyed the space bridge in Earth's orbit, Grimlock and his crew stayed aboard to guide it down so it wouldn't harm a populated area." Danny recounted the last time they saw the Dinobots.
"We thought they died," Emily said.
"Well, either they didn't, or Grimlock's transponder never shut off," Hound said, "Scoop, start digging, Hoist prepare sick bay."
He then looked down and saw the exposed arm of Swoop, sticking out of the hardened tar, completely imobile.
Scoop then stepped forwards and transformed into a front loader with a backhoe attachment on the rear. He turned around and used his back scoop to start digging.
Hours later, as the sun started to set in between the mountains, a small ray of light cutting through illuminating everything orange, Hot Shot and Hound dragged Snarl back up out of the tar pit, the final Dinobot they could find.
Out of the six, only five were found. Grimlock, Snarl, Swoop, Slag and Scorn. The only thing of Sludge they managed to find was his forearm, the top end of which was crudely cut from his body.
Hoist and Red Alert then went to work aboard the dropship getting the survivors back online. Scorn was first.
He screamed animalistically from the pain once his red eyes shot open. Hot Shot and Bluestreak had to shove him back down on the slab for Red Alert to numb the pain.
Arcee took their human friends out of the room. One aspect of war she couldn't bear them to see, was the strongest among them weak, battered and traumatized.
Swoop was hard to keep online, she kept trying to flatline. Red wouldn't let her. She kept burning through her energon reserve too quickly, likely in response to her injuries trying to heal faster.
One of Shockwave's 'upgrades' given to the Dinobots. When they were his prisoners.
They ended up having to hook her up to the energon powerline in the medbay on the Voyager until her consumption evened out.
After the others, Grimlock was the easiest. When he came online he screamed a bit like the others, then realized where he was when he saw Ultra Magnus… and went silent.
The Voyager
*Roughly 10 million Toykyo natives have now manage to find himself outside the the city to US and Japanese military aid bases in the neighboring cities of Yokohama and Chiba,* The news report played *Many more are actively making their way out as superhuman groups try to save as many as they can*
"Those numbers may be skewed so as to not cause panic among the masses," Ultra Magnus said, turning to his lieutenants.
Bumblebee, Rodimus, Grimlock, Silverbolt and Smokescreen stood in the war room with Perceptor, Red Alert and Acree sitting around the holo table as Blaster played the transmission in his alt form.
"Guess we know where the Allspark is now," Smokescreen muttered, "And the Cyberforge."
*Air Raid to Magnus, we're approaching* Air Raid's voice called on the ship's loudspeaker, the Autobot commander walked out of the war room onto the bridge proper.
And out of the cockpit he saw Darkmount.
"What's the plan sir?" Searchlight asked from the pilot's chair.
"It's time to see if Thundercracker's intel is correct," He said, "It's time we rescue Optimus Prime."