The next morning, Major Braedey joins up with Director Mearing and sees Colonel Lennox and several other military leaders including the joint chiefs of staff onscreen from the Pentagon. They were on high alert from last night's invasion.
"Combatant Commands are now at DEFCON 1." Colonel Sharp stated.
"Approximately 200 Decepticons are now in hiding." Lennox informed next to them. "Energon detectors have been triggered as far away as South Africa and China."
"We have an encrypted audio file from Sentinel Prime." Sharp now added in as the audio file began to play, and everyone could hear Sentinel Prime's voice.
"Defenders of Earth, we have come for your natural resources to rebuild our damaged planet. When we have transported all we need, we will leave your world in peace. For such peace to exist, you must immediately exile the Autobot rebels you have harbored. Nonnegotiable. Renounce the rebels. We await your reply."
Later on, Braedey was walking down the hangar and approached Mearing, who was packing her things. He was surprised none of the Autobots were here. He was confused. Maybe they were on a mission. The Deceptions practically destroyed the Capital. Perhaps they were across the globe, rounding them up. But right now, he'd be concerned about what Mearing might do to him.
Braedey approached the Director as she packed her things. "We'll debrief you in transit."
"I don't see how I'll be able to help considering-" Braedey began.
Mearing puts her hand on Braedey's shoulder to stop him. "I should've heeded your warning of what you said, Major. You told us they were using humans and you knew Sentinel was the key."
"But still, maybe you were right about me being a little obsessive about this." Braedey said with a shrug.
Mearing and Braedey then walked over to see the news. "It's been a remarkable series of events today at the Capitol. Just moments ago, legislation was passed to exile the Autobots from American shores. The US military alliance with them is officially over."
Mearing then got a call and walks off as Braedey just stared at the TV in shock. "You gotta be kidding me. They can't do this. Please, Director, tell me that this is a joke." Braedey said at Mearing.
Mearing turns off her phone. "Okay, it's official. It's a go, people!"
"Director, the Autobots are our allies. Our friends! We can't just send them away like this!" Braedey demanded.
"And where are we now?" Mearing said back to him. "Facing an enemy invasion with an enemy that has the means to deploy countless more." That left Braedey at a crossroads.
Later on a flight to Cape Canaveral, Florida onboard a Gulfstream G-450 jet flying over the Atlantic Ocean, Braedey and Mearing had been discussing information over the Autobots and Decepticons, while Ken and Jennifer looked out the window and stared at the clouds.
"If there is any more you know, anything at all about the enemy's intentions, now is the time to tell." Mearing claimed, hoping for some information.
"The Deceptions will never leave Earth alone." Braedey spoke out boldly. "It won't matter if we exile the Autobots or not - they want the humans to be slaves to them."
"How can you be so sure?" Mearing asked carefully, staring at Braedey
"The Decepticons are nothing but liars. They'll say and do whatever they have to win." Braedey stated. "And once they have what they want, they'll kill us without a second thought."
"I'm afraid I can't do anything to stop this, Braedey." Mearing said gravely.
It was only a few moments later, then the captain announced their landing. The plane made touchdown in the runway, right next to the Kennedy Space Center. Braedey, Ken, and Jennifer walked down the steps of the plane and they saw the Autobots' ship the Xantium connected to a Space Shuttle on the launchpad.
"Its name is the Xanthium." Mearing said to the brunette. "It brought the second wave of Autobots. And it's been under NASA's care and study ever since. We've linked it with a decommissioned shuttle, to maintain military control until they're gone."
"I know what it is." Braedey grunted bluntly.
"Gonna be 10,000 pounds of torque on that itsy-bitsy bolt, not 19!" Leadfoot stated as he and the Wreckers walked along the space shuttle crawler.
"You're gonna risk the lives of all me mates!" Roadbuster added. "I'll ball you! You gotta pull that, ya nancy wanker!"
Braedey then spotted a familiar among the humans helping the Wreckers. "Hey, Epps!"
Epps saw Braedey and smiled as they bro hug. "Hey. What's up, man?"
"Hey. What are you doing here at NASA?" Braedey asked.
Epps shrugged. "Retired from the Air Force. Now I just consult to run interference for them. No more combat and aliens shooting at my ass. I got a dream job. You?"
Braedey rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "I guess I kind of got your job. I'm a Major now and I've been working with Lennox as his second-in-command."
Epps just chuckled. "Hot damn." Epps then sighed and becomes serious. "Kicking the Autobots out. Can you believe this is happening?"
"Trust me, I hate it just as much as you do." Braedey breathed out in exasperation. "Where do you think there gonna go?"
"Any planet but here." Epps exhaled.
'Hopefully to one of the worlds that they've talked about like Caminus, Velocitron, or Eukaris.' Braedey thought to himself.
"Oi, are you Braedey Witwicky Martin?" Roadbuster asked. He jumped down and circled the humans with the other Wreckers, to get a good look at Braedey they heard so much about.
"Yeah, that's me." Braedey answered nervously.
"We heard what ya did to Megatron a couple of years back, nice job." Leadfoot commented. "By the way the name's Leadfoot." He introduced himself. "And these two are Roadbuster and Topspin." He gestured to the green Wrecker, then to the blue Wrecker. The other two gave a more or less welcome when Roadbuster spotted something.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing, ya bunch of idiots?" Roadbuster shouted at some humans who were escorting some supplies over to the ship. "Are you trying to blow us up with all that crap?"
Braedey just smiled as the three Wreckers walked over to the humans. Epps laughed a little at their antics.
"I better get over there before they accidentally kill someone." Epps told Braedey. "You better get going too if you want to say goodbye to the others before the world does the stupidest thing ever." And with that, he jogged off.
Braedey then entered the systems room that was held in a small hangar just by the runway and he spotted Simmons come up in a wheelchair, sporting cuts and bruises as he wheeled over to them, while was luckier and managed to only get away from the accident with a broken collar bone.
"I wanna talk to whoever's in charge here." Simmons demanded, then he looked over and he saw Mearing. "Well, well, well. Charlotte Mearing."
Mearing looked down at him. "Agent Simmons. Former, Agent Simmons. So I see you survived Washington." She mused.
"Washington, Egypt, heartbreak." Simmons listed off the things he's withstood. "I survive. I will survive. They're bringing everybody in, kid. Putting all the intel on the table. And if you think deporting all of the Autobots is gonna solve a damn thing-"
"It's out of my hands." Mearing stated back.
"Braedey, listen to me." Wheelie called as he and Brains were in a cage alongside Ravage. "Don't let them exile us."
"Don't let them take us, Braedey." Brains pleaded.
"It's a Decepticon trap." Wheelie stated.
The time has come. All of the Autobots are in their vehicle mode heading for the Xantium in a single file line with Optimus in the rear. Three Bell UH-IH Iroquois helicopters were in air as four Hummer HX's were escorting them - two in the front, and two in the rear. As they approached the gates, two troopers opened them, allowing the Autobots to drive through and towards the ship.
Braedey climbed out of the Tahoe and walked over to Optimus, who was talking to Wheeljack. Braedey could see Mirage, Cliffjumper, Sideswipe, and Arcee walking over to the ship. It seemed like most of the Autobots are already aboard the ship.
Braedey meanwhile walks towards Optimus as he was looking up at the sky. "Optimus..." Braedey began.
"What your leader say is true. This was all my fault." Optimus sighed as he looked at Braedey. "I told them whom to trust. I was so wrong."
"Optimus, this was never your fault. None of us knew of what Sentinel was capable of. Deception is in all living things, whether it's be in us humans, Decepticons, or even Autobots for that matter." Braedey said back to him. He then sighed. "I just didn't wish you all had to leave like this at all."
Optimus knelt down to Braedey. "Remember this: you may lose your faith in us, but never in yourselves." He said softly.
"Everyone else might, but I'll never lose faith in you, Optimus. Or Bumblebee, or Elita, or Ratchet, or Ironhide, none of you. Never." Braedey then sighed as he had to do what Dylan told him. "I need to know how you're going to strike back. I know you have a plan, I know you're coming back with backup. Just, what's the plan? Tell me, no other person will know." He looked to Optimus. "You do have a plan, don't you?"
"There is no plan." Optimus replied sadly. "You are my friend, Braedey. After seeing all the decisions you've made on your own without my guidance. I am proud to see the man you have become. As a father, I couldn't picture you any differently than the person you are. But your leaders have spoken. From here, the fight will be your own." Braedey now felt tears forming in his eyes as he hugged Optimus' hand. The Autobot leader kept Braedey close, not wanting to ever let go. Braedey reluctantly parts from the hug and sniffed before Optimus says,
"Farewell...my son."
Braedey looked at Optimus in shock before he finally breaks down. Optimus closed his optics before turning and leaving.
Optimus walks past Bumblebee, Ironhide, Elita, and Ratchet. "Make it short. We're loading up." He said quietly to them. The three nodded their helms to their leader and walked towards Braedey. Bee and Elita knelt down as Ironhide and Ratchet stay standing.
Ironhide goes first. "You are a strong person, Braedey. The strongest human I have ever met. You've got guts. Despite everything that has been in your way, you've never let it stop you from accomplishing your goals." He said softly.
"You may have made mistakes along the way, but from those mistakes, they have turned you into a person of great mental clarity and soundness of mind." Ratchet added.
"The battles we have fought together shall remain in our Sparks. And I have every hope your kind will emerge from this disaster without us." Ironhide added.
Ironhide and Ratchet both then departed, leaving Elita and Bumblebee still kneeling at Braedey.
"We're gonna do whatever we can. Make it like it was. You will always be my brother, Braedey." Bumblebee said through his radio. Braedey cried more as he hugged Bumblebee. Bee hugged him tight as he then added, "I gotta be going on."
Braedey lets go and watched Bee leave. Elita now hugs Braedey close to her form, the two with tears and Energon streaming down their faces as they hugged each other, Braedey wrapping his arms around Elita's neck. They both held one another for a little more, then Braedey reluctantly released his hug on Elita, and she sadly walked away, Braedey falling to his knees and crying against the railing.
Simmons rolled up and sighs, putting his hand on Braedey's shoulder. "Years from now, they're gonna ask us: 'Where were you when they took over the planet?' We're gonna say, 'We just stood by and watched'." He sighed.
Down at Dylan's workplace, Soundwave and another Decepticon were loading up the pillars that have been stolen by Sentinel Prime, Jasmine sitting in the lobby of the building with a security guard to make sure she can't escape.
'Things have gone from bad to worse.' Jasmine thought to herself as she sat silently and waited.
"You should really look at this as a partnership." Dylan said to Jasmine as he now dragged her out of the building to the awaiting helicopter that's outside. "You have to stand on the side of progress if you want to be a part of history."
They soon get onboard the helicopter and they took to the skies, all the while with Soundwave and the other Decepticons heading forth towards Chicago.
At dawn, Braedey climbed up to the top of a watch tower and watched as the Xantium starts its launch sequence. After the countdown, a loud explosion reverberated throughout the air, the Autobot shuttle took to the sky. Thick smoke surrounded the launch site as the Xantium flew through the air. Braedey watches the launch with a heavy heart and hurt feelings.
Braedey now felt his phone buzz and he see it's Gould trying to call him. He answered it. "Okay. You wanted an answer, and you got it, Gould. Now where is my wife?" He demanded.
"I always get what I want, Braedey. We just needed to be sure." Gould answered back over the phone.
"Sure? Sure of what?" Braedey asked in confusion.
"That they would go without a fight." Gould replied casually.
Just up on the edge of space, Starscream was tracking the Xanthium as it left Cape Canaveral and heading towards orbit. With a malicious grin on his facial plate, Starscream shifted into his F-22 Raptor jet mode and flew down at the Autobot spacecraft. Once he gets in range, he opens fire upon the Xanthium, unleashing several missiles. Before anyone could do anything, the missiles struck the Xanthium, resulting in a massive explosion, and the remaining pieces of the Autobot spaceship descend down over the ocean.
Braedey could only look on, dropping his phone in horror in and stares at the cloud in the sky from the Xanthium's explosion. "No..." He now leaned up against the railing and hits it in anger. "Optimus. Bee. All of them. Gone." Braedey grabs the phone and glared at its screen. "When I find you, Dylan, I'm gonna make wish you died by Megatron's hands." He declared.
"You don't want to do that." Dylan threatens, the sound of a gun clicking being heard over the line. "I'd hate to shoot it and your wife." With that, the line cuts out.
Braedey looks at his phone and snarls out. He immediately climbs down the watch tower and onto the ground floor and towards the entrance where he finally managed to find Simmons and Dutch just before they left.
"Simmons! Dutch! I need your help to track a phone call." Braedey panted out to them. "There is a man on this phone. My phone. Jasmine kidnapped. Track him."
"Slow down, Martin." Simmons ordered, waving his hands placatingly. "What are you talking about?"
"I'll tell you inside." Was all Braedey answered, and they entered a temporary NEST Headquarters.
"Okay, kid. Who's the man who kidnapped your wife?" Simmons now questioned.
"His name is Dylan Gould, he just called me and he has Jasmine hostage." Braedey explained quickly. "He's the head of their human operations. He's been working with the Decepticons the entire time, pulling the strings behind the curtains."
"Dylan Gould?" Simmons questioned. "That rich bastard that you told me about and your wife works for? He's working for them?!"
"Yes." Braedey nodded. "The moon program, the assassinations, all of it. Not to mention he ordered them to destroy the Xantium. And now, he has Jasmine and I need to find her. Do you think you can you track him?" He asked desperately.
"Dutch is genius at this sort of thing." Simmons stated, taking the cellphone from Braedey, while his Dutch opened up his mobile laptop. "We'll find that traitor."
Dutch took off his sunglasses and grabbed the phone from Braedey's hand. Peering down at it, Dutch slowly nodded to himself and ordered the others to follow him deep into the base. There, they were scanned and had to be searched before they could enter the technology centre of the base.
"The call was placed en-route." Dutch observed to Braedey as he typed away furiously at a computer that Braedey's phone was plugged into. "I'm hacking into the phone's camera now." A soft beeping noise emitted from the computer, signaling that the hacking was successful. "There, that's it." Braedey looks over his shoulder to see the footage from Gould's phone appear on the screen. "That's a live stream from the camera. Some place" He pointed to the screen. "Hold on, I can triangulate this." He swiftly moved his fingers across the keyboard as he looked from one monitor to another. Lines of code scrolled across the screen, finalising his work. A moment later, images flashed across the screen. "Okay, it's Chicago cell sites." He announced, typing the last few commands of code before one final image appeared on the screen. "There, l've got it. Trump Tower, Chicago. Lower penthouse." He informed to Braedey, unplugging the phone from the monitor and hands it over to Braedey. A visual of the tower popping up on its screen.
"I'm going after him." Braedey claimed as he observed Gould's location and stood back up.
"You sure?" Simmons asked, concerned.
"Jasmine is the only thing I have left, Simmons." Braedey stated, picking up a shotgun before he then reforms it into a Cybertronian firearm. "I've lost my Autobot family. I'm not losing my wife too. I can be in Chicago in 15 hours."
"You're not going alone."
Braedey turned to his right and sees Epps leaning against a desk, with Ken and Jennifer standing a few feet away - clearly they had heard the conversation.
"Don't even try it, kid." Epps interrupted before Braedey could object. "We're going with. You're not the only one who wants revenge."
"Do you really think we let you go alone? After all that has happened?" Jennifer asked, her eyes dull and full of pain.
"You've not the only one going through this." Ken added.
Braedey hesitated for a moment; he didn't want to drag Epps and his teammates into this. But, after making a decision, he nodded his head curtly.
At was already sundown when they walk outside of the facility and towards Epps' Chevrolet Chevelle, and the four quickly made their plan for their departure to Chicago.
"I still got my NEST friends out there." Epps said to the three.
"They off the grid?" Jennifer asked. She glanced around their surroundings, watching as the other agents ran by.
"Yeah. Haven't seen them for a while." Epps replied to Jennifer. "But I'm gonna round them up, and we're gonna find your wife, and bring this guy in." He stated to Braedey as he grabbed the diver door's handle.
"Epps... Ken... Jennifer. I can't thank you all enough." Braedey thanked them appreciatively. "But... why are you helping me?" He asked, opening the passenger door.
"Cause that asshole killed my friends too." Epps replied, patting Braedey by the shoulder. "The Autobots were my family just as much as they were to you."
"As they were to us." Jennifer added, Ken nodding.
"Alright. Now let's go get that son of a bitch." Braedey declared.
Over in Chicago, Jasmine was being dragged about by Dylan towards the Jewelers Building on North Wabash Avenue, the wonderfully elaborate 40-story tower in its splendour. When they arrive inside, they go into one of the elevators, as well as with one of the pillars.
Jasmine now began to think about what's going on and started to realise something. "They said they were here for our resources. To rebuild their planet." She said softly. "But they don't mean us, do they?" She asked.
"Yes. They really need one resource in particular. One unique to our planet." Dylan mused as he eyed the redhead.
"Our planet itself." Jasmine muttered in realisation.
Dylan grabbed her arm and dragged Jasmine over to the balcony before them on the top floor. "You're very smart, for a redhead bimbo. You see, you can't rebuild without a clean slate to start with. How many rocks out there in the universe offer up the perfect balance of heat and cold?" He asked, gesturing to the setting sky above.
"What are you talking about? We can't just transport an entire planet." Jasmine scoffed.
"They're not shipping their planet." Dylan shook his head. "They're making their planet right here." He now turns Jasmine around to see Sentinel Prime on the top floor with them, now getting the pillars ready.
"Oh, my God. What's Sentinel Prime doing here?" Jasmine gasped.
"Watch this. They're spreading hundreds of those pillars around the globe right now." Dylan explained to Jasmine. "In just a few hours, they're going to launch them into orbit, and they'll begin the cyberforming of Earth. The red one there controls the rest. He triggers that, it starts the whole thing. Soon, Earth will be long gone, and a new Cybertron will take its place."
"Be gone, insect operative. Your work is done." Megatron waved off to Dylan.
"Your Excellency." Dylan bowed back, then he began to drag Jasmine away to his personal apartment at Trump Tower. "He's such a dick." He hushed.
"You want this to happen?" Jasmine argued.
"I want to survive, I want 40 more years." Dylan scoffed as police helicopters flew around the building, the sounds of sirens down below. "You think I asked for this? I inherited a client."
"Yeah, sure. And when Earth is turned into Cybertron, you really think you'll stay alive?" Jasmine scoffed.
"Get this straight, you want to survive, you listen to me." Dylan ordered as they enter the elevator.
As they made their way out of the tower to go forth to get to Gould's apartment, police officers and vehicles drove up to the tower to deal with the Deceptions that have appeared as all the civilians were running. However, it will all be in vain.
"It is time for the slaves of Earth to recognise their masters." Sentinel declared, looking to the setting sun and the city around before turned to Megatron.
"Yes." Megatron growled lowly. "What would you have my army do?" He inquired, turning to Sentinel.
"Seal off the city." Sentinel ordered.
Megatron grinned maliciously. "With pleasure..."
In just a matter of hours, Deceptions and ships arrive in Chicago and begin their attack on it. They spend all night terrorising the city, shooting at buildings and also killing humans, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians in the attacks on the city. The city suffered extensive damage and left most of its population dead. Those who survived the attack were either terrorised by the Deceptions or abandoned the city.
Down on the streets, the Decepticons, led by Starscream, shooting at everything and everyone. They used their disintegrator ray guns to obliterated the humans from left to right, leaving behind little more than a handful of bones and some empty clothing. Starscream, however, was enjoying every bit of it, unleashing his machine gun and missile launcher to causing major damage to a city block, laughing at the destruction he is causing, killing humans and destroying buildings nearby.
"Run, insects! RUN! Nothing can save you!" Starscream laughed maniacally. "Decepticons, lay waste to the city!" He commanded.
Jasmine looked over at the destruction around her as she stayed in the apartment that she'd held hostage in. She felt her voice hitch in her throat as she saw the chaos and death all around her. She has seen what the Decepticons are capable of, but she was more afraid than anything, though not just for her.
'I hope you're alright, Braedey.' Jasmine thought, her hand inadvertently against her stomach. 'Please hurry.'