Battle of Jasper Part V: Aftermath II

Date: December 27, 2012, Time: 1:45 P.M., Location: City of Los Angeles, MECH* HQ, 6502 Main Street, Underground Command Center

The underground command center of MECH was bathed in the dim glow of monitors displaying real-time feeds from Jasper—each screen capturing the brutal defeat at the hands of the Autobots and the U.S. military. Smoke billowed from toppled MECH transports, MECHcon troopers lay in ruins, and their once-formidable battle formations had been reduced to chaos. The remnants of their forces were either retreating or captured.

A tense silence loomed over the command center, punctuated only by the rapid typing of operators scrambling to assess the extent of the damage. Then, a sharp metallic thud echoed through the chamber as Nemesis took a step forward, his imposing 29-foot frame casting a long shadow across the war table. His black, green, and grey chassis gleamed under the fluorescent lighting, and his faceplate twisted into an expression of cold calculation.

1:47 P.M.
"Explain," his voice rumbled, modulated with a mechanical undertone, carrying the weight of barely restrained fury.

A MECH strategist hesitated before speaking, his voice shaking. "Sir, we—we underestimated the Autobots' response time. The arrival of U.S. military forces shifted the battle beyond our favor. Our forces were unable to hold their positions. We've suffered a severe loss of manpower and resources... our casualties are in the hundreds."

A low growl reverberated from Nemesis's chassis as his optics flared dangerously. "This was supposed to be a decisive victory, not a slaughter of our own forces." He turned his piercing gaze toward Airachnid, who leaned casually against the command table, her spindly fingers tapping its metallic surface.

Unlike the anxious humans around her, Airachnid appeared unimpressed by their defeat. Her violet optics gleamed with amusement as she crossed her arms. "Oh, come now, Nemesis. Did you really think brute force alone would crush the Autobots? They're not simple prey."

1:50 P.M.
Nemesis's optics narrowed. "You trained the MECHcon troopers. You assured me they were ready. Yet they fell. Are you suggesting your methods were flawed?"

Airachnid chuckled darkly, pushing off the table to circle Nemesis. "Not at all. They were ready. But readiness doesn't matter when you underestimate your enemy. The Autobots are seasoned warriors, and I warned you that Optimus Prime would not let Jasper fall without a fight."

A technician hesitantly interjected, "We also lost control of multiple MECHcon units. Some were captured; others… self-terminated upon failure."

Nemesis clenched his fists, servos whirring as his anger flared. "Unacceptable." He turned back to Airachnid. "And you? Did you merely watch as our forces were torn apart? I thought you were more... proactive."

Airachnid's optics flickered with irritation, but her voice remained silkily composed. "I pick my battles, Nemesis. I don't throw myself into unwinnable fights." She leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "I suggest you learn to do the same."

The tension between them thickened, but Nemesis merely exhaled, the sound more like the hiss of hydraulics than an actual sigh. "The Autobots have bought themselves time, but nothing more."

Time: 1:55 P.M.

MECH strategists and technicians worked frantically to recover what they could from the catastrophe in Jasper. Lines of code scrolled across screens as data was compiled, assessing losses in manpower, equipment, and—most troubling—classified technology that had fallen into enemy hands.

Nemesis stood motionless at the head of the war table, his black, green, and gray chassis reflecting the pale light. His optics remained fixed on the tactical display—a real-time representation of Jasper, now a graveyard of MECH forces. His servos clenched into fists as his optics narrowed in cold calculation.

He exhaled, a hydraulic hiss escaping his vents. "I want a full analysis of our losses within the next hour. We need to regroup, rearm, and retaliate. The next time we strike, we will not be caught off guard."

Behind him, Airachnid crossed her arms, a smirk curling at the edge of her lips. She leaned casually against a terminal, watching Nemesis with mild amusement. The fall of Jasper hadn't particularly fazed her—if anything, she had expected this outcome. MECH had raw numbers, but numbers alone didn't win wars.

Her voice dripped with amusement. "Seems like someone underestimated the Autobots… again."

Nemesis's optics flared. "Spare me your commentary, Airachnid. If you have something of value to contribute, then speak."

Airachnid shrugged, pushing off the console. "Oh, I do. Your little army? It was blind. Deaf. You never stood a chance the moment the Autobots infiltrated your communications."

A tense silence followed. Nemesis turned to his strategists. "Explain."

A technician hesitated before responding, his fingers shaking as they hovered over the keyboard. "Sir, the Autobots managed to hack into our encrypted comm systems. They intercepted MECHcon transmissions in real time, cutting off field units from command. Worse… they gained limited access to the Damocles satellite network."

The war room fell into a stunned hush.

Nemesis's optics burned with anger. "That is impossible. Damocles operates on an independent military-grade encryption. No human should have been capable of breaching it."

"No human did." The strategist swallowed hard. "It was Hardwire."

The name sent a ripple of unease through the room.

Airachnid's smirk widened. "Oh, now that is interesting."

Nemesis's expression darkened. Hardwire—the Autobot designation for Rafael Esquivel. Once a human ally of the Autobots, now something far more dangerous.

Time: 2:02 P.M.

Nemesis turned away from the monitors, his servos flexing as he processed the revelation.

"We took those children for a reason, they were meant to serve MECH—to become the vanguard of our Cybertronian revolution." he growled.

Airachnid chuckled darkly. "And yet, here they are, turning your own weapons against you. Delicious irony."

Nemesis ignored her, his mind racing through the implications. MECH had already acknowledged that Hardwire, formerly Rafael, was intelligent. But if he had truly honed his skills under Ratchet's tutelage, then MECH was now facing a cyber-warfare threat unlike anything they had prepared for.

"His infiltration of our network was not just a breach—it was a strategic maneuver," the strategist continued. "Hardwire wasn't just intercepting messages; he was actively jamming MECHcon commands. Our officers couldn't input targeting coordinates into their wristband computers, which meant our ground forces couldn't call for orbital strikes. He effectively neutralized Damocles before we even realized what was happening."

Nemesis's fists slammed onto the war table, causing several technicians to flinch. "Then our priority is clear. We must reinforce our cybersecurity protocols immediately. Hardwire's access ends today."

Time: 2:08 P.M.

A new set of orders were issued. MECH's top cyber engineers were pulled into an emergency security overhaul. Encryption keys were to be rotated every five minutes. Backup firewalls were to be deployed. Any system with a direct link to the Damocles satellites was to be isolated from external access.

But Nemesis knew this was only a temporary solution. Hardwire had evolved into a legitimate threat. He needed to be dealt with.

"We underestimated Rafael Esquivel, we will not make that mistake again." Nemesis admitted coldly.

Airachnid tilted her head, optics glinting. "What's the plan? A direct strike against the Autobots? Risky. Besides, you'll never get close to him while he's hiding behind Optimus and the others."

Nemesis's expression remained unreadable. "No. Hardwire's greatest strength is also his greatest weakness. He thinks like an Autobot—predictable, noble, tied to emotion. If we cannot break into his systems…" (His optics gleamed with cruel intent.)then we break him.(The war room remained silent as Nemesis's voice echoed in the cold chamber.) Let the Autobots celebrate their victory. Soon, they will understand what it means to truly lose."

Airachnid's smirk lingered as she watched Nemesis plan his next move. She had no real allegiance to MECH, but she would stick around—if only to see how this played out.

Time: 2:15 P.M.

Inside the cold, dimly lit depths of MECH's hidden command facility, a team of analysts, engineers, and tacticians pored over salvaged battle footage. Every flicker of movement, every tactical decision, and every display of raw combat power was scrutinized.

High above them, Nemesis loomed at the war table, his optics scanning the data feeds. The once-familiar humans—now Cybertronians—moved with a fluidity and confidence that hadn't existed months prior. What had once been mere test subjects had evolved into formidable warriors.

A technician at one of the consoles hesitated before speaking. "Sir, the footage confirms extensive combat growth. The former Team Prime humans have not only adapted to their new forms, but they are actively refining their techniques under Autobot tutelage."

Nemesis's optics narrowed as he leaned in, studying the footage of Nova-Strike Prime* leading his team through a coordinated assault. His command presence was undeniable. Where Jack Darby had once been a resourceful but fragile human, Nova-Strike Prime now stood as a battle-hardened leader. His movements were decisive, his tactics calculated.

Another analyst spoke, bringing up a holographic breakdown of the Autobots engaged in the battle. "The unit composition has shifted. Nova-Strike Prime's main team appears to have merged temporarily with Lighting-Striker's unit. Given their limited experience, this was a strategic necessity."

Nemesis exhaled sharply. "Show me the specifics."

Time: 2:20 P.M.

The screen flickered, showcasing close-up engagements of key combatants. Each frame revealed the progression of MECH's former captives:

Ultra-Aid*: Once a human nurse, now a fully integrated Autobot medic. Her movements in the field were swift, precise—Ratchet had trained her well. Her ability to stabilize wounded Autobots mid-battle was an asset the Autobots had long been lacking.

Ryu Senshi*: The once-reckless thrill-seeker had now become a disciplined Wrecker in training. Her melee combat skills, forged under Bulkhead's mentorship, were aggressive and unrelenting. MECH forces had suffered heavy casualties whenever she engaged up close.

Hardwire: The cyber warfare specialist. His ability to hack into MECH's systems mid-battle had single-handedly turned the tide against them. The footage showed him coordinating orbital disruptions, overriding enemy targeting systems, and feeding critical intelligence to his teammates in real time.

Serenity* & Shadow-Hunter*: Both aerial specialists. Their dogfighting capabilities had improved exponentially. Serenity's F-35 alt-mode granted her versatility, while Shadow-Hunter's F-22 form allowed for unmatched speed and precision strikes.

Lighting-Striker's* Unit: Comprised of former human captives still in training, they were not as refined, but the potential was undeniable. Scatter-Shot*, Ninja-Knight*, Quick-Dodge*, Quick-Step*, Long-Rifle*, and Nitro-Smoke*—each had undergone Cybertronian conversion through MECH's own experimentation. And now, they were being honed into warriors capable of dismantling MECH's best efforts.

Time: 2:30 P.M.

Nemesis clenched his servos, optics flaring. "They were meant to be ours," he growled. "We forged them, and now they wield their power against us."

Airachnid, who had been silently observing, finally spoke, her tone laced with amusement. "You're looking at this the wrong way. MECH's failure wasn't in their transformation—it was in assuming they would remain loyal."

Nemesis turned sharply. "And what do you suggest?"

A slow smile crept across her face. "We don't fight them as they are now. We remind them of who they were—who they can still be. There's always a way to make them… see reason."

The war room fell into a brief silence before Nemesis turned to his strategists. "Begin preparations. We are no longer facing mindless Autobots—we are facing soldiers with personal stakes in this war. It's time we make those stakes work in our favor."

The battle for Jasper had been a loss. But the war? The war was far from over.

*MECH: Mechanical Engineering Cybernetic Humans.

*Nemesis is MECH's former Human leader now a Human made Transformer; His Human consciousness was transferred into a Human-made Cybertronian/Transformer body. He is the hidden leader of MECH and works between the scenes to further his terrorist organization goal. Standing at an imposing 29 feet and 4 inches, he boasted a color scheme of Black, Green, and Grey, resembling a bulletproof vest design. His face plate, reminiscent of Megatron's, retained his original human features. Silas's body, a hybrid of Human steel and Living Cybertronian Metal, had protective armor comparable to Megatron's and Optimus Prime's.

Silas possessed a heavy, muscular, athletic Cybertronian build with powerful punching force, on par with Optimus Prime and Megatron. His body integrated weapons systems, featuring 18-inch blast cannons in his lower arms, akin to Megatron's, and a versatile close-quarter melee weapon – 1.3583 meters long close-quarter swords for intense combat.

*Nova-Strike Prime is a former the human Jack Darby, now the leader of Nova-Strike Prime Team.

*Ultra-Aid is formerly Team Prime's Human nurse and medical specialist: June Darby and the mother of Jackson 'Jack' Darby. She is now the Medic of the Nova-Strike Prime Team.

*Ryu Senshi is formerly Team Prime's Human communication's expert: Miko Nakatia. She is as well a Wrecker in training.

*Serenity is formerly Jack Darby's High school crush: Sierra Michelson and is an Autobot Ariel flyer. Her Ariel vehicle mode is that of an F-35 Lighting fighter.

*Shadow-Hunter is formerly Jack Darby's childhood friend and High school rival High school: Vince Jones and now is an Autobot Ariel flyer and team Nova-Strike Prime 2nd in command. His Ariel vehicle mode is that of a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

*Lighting-Striker is formerly a Human named Amber Martin that MECH captured and transformed into a Cybertronian/Transformer. She is as well the Leader of her own Autobot team: The Lighting-Strike Team.

*Scatter-Shot is formerly a Human named Nicholas Anderson that MECH captured and transformed into a Cybertronian/Transformer.

*Ninja-Knight is formerly a Human named Elizabeth Williams that MECH captured and transformed into a Cybertronian/Transformer.

*Quick-Dodge is formerly a Human named Samuel Davis; He is as well the older twin Brother of Daniel Davis that MECH captured and transformed into a Cybertronian/Transformer.

*Quick-Step is formerly a Human named Daniel Davis; He is as well the younger twin Brother of Samuel Davis that MECH captured and transformed into a Cybertronian/Transformer.

*Long-Rifle is formerly a Human named James Miller that MECH captured and transformed into a Cybertronian/Transformer.

*Nitro-Smoke is formerly a Human named Alexandra Smith that MECH captured and transformed into a Cybertronian/Transformer.