Chapter 18 - The First Step Forward

The hardest and the most important.

Afternoon fell on New Mexico; first responders had been at recovery efforts for several hours now and from the Sandia Mountains, Saberus Prime had watched every moment.

He wanted to help them. From the moment he took the Phase Sixer's spark offline, he wanted to set the Star Saber down and help the humans in peril. He was larger now, stronger too. He could clear rubble, recover the lost. It only felt right, he and the Autobots were every bit as responsible for Albuquerque's destruction as the Decepticon was. Despite his wants however, Tail Light had convinced him to do otherwise. She'd said that he'd done enough and, though he ultimately listened to her, he wasn't convinced. He knew he could be doing more.

"Alright people." The Prime heard Wheeljack's voice. He turned to find the Engineer and Jazz strolling back into camp. "We've locked a Destination solution."

"We're going Home?" Tail Light asked, a particular gleam in her eyes. Jazz and Wheeljack had left the makeshift camp the moment Sky Lynx had touched down. With the threat of the Phase Sixer gone, the duo had continued their earlier work and got their destination solution in peace.

"Jacky's got the coords." Jazz said with crossed arms. "It'd be a matter of hoppin' aboard and powerin' down for the flight."

"Oh thank Primus." Tail Light signed. "The sooner we get back to Cybertron, the better."

Jazz nodded at Tail Light's resolution. Part of him agreed with her sentiment but another part of him, the part that Optimus Prime often sought counsel from, was of a different opinion.

The Autobot turned to Saberus, who himself had silently turned back towards Albuquerque. "What about you, big bot?" Jazz asked. "How you feelin'?"

Saberus Prime did not turn to acknowledge the higher ranking Autobot at first. A moment passed between them before he would finally allow his Gaze to leave the damaged town and meet Jazz's own. Evidently the look Prime had given him must've been a serious one, as he could note the concern on Jazz's face.

Once upon a time - 4 Million Solar Cycles ago to be exact - Saberus' parents had discussed the morality of boarding the Ark and leaving Iacon behind to die a slow death. Back then, the adopted son of the Prime did not understand the logic behind his parents' plan.

At the time he figured that they knew something he didn't - it was kind of their job description as high ranking Autobot Commanders to know everything they could, and their job as his parents to shield him from things he shouldn't. Even so, the thought of gambling their future on the 'Savior they were never promised', it weighed so heavily on his spark. Now that Saberus had the Matrix - now that he was Prime - he could not fathom the possibility of making such a hard decision.

Fighting Decepticons? He could do that all day. But choosing who got to live or die? That was a battle that he just wasn't sure he could ever win. In truth, Saberus Prime would much rather put his own Spark on the line than let others take the fall in his stead. And, therein lay the reason for his long silence. He knew, not as a Prime but as an Autobot, just what was in store for the Earth now that they'd made their stand against Decepticonism on its this new, vast, fragile frontier. And, given their enemy's track record, it was nothing good.

"We have the Matrix, the Star Saber and you found me." Saberus Prime finally said. "For all intents and purposes? That's mission accomplished. It would then be logical for us to return home as soon as we are able…"

"...But?" Jazz asked.

"...But..." Saberus continued. "We can't."

Tail Light blinked incredulously. "What? Why the hell not?" She asked, more than a tinge of anger in her tone.

"Seriously, I have the destination solution locked in." Wheeljack asked. "There ain't no can't there. We can go whenever we want."

"No, I used the appropriate verbiage." Said Prime. "We just took out a Phase Sixer and, in doing so, we have declared war on Decepticonism. When Megatron's world killer doesn't come back from his mission, they'll come looking for him. And when they find this world? When they find out why he never returned, they'll throw everything they've got at this planet and these people? They aren't ready for that."

Tail Light felt a knot beneath her chest plate."So…you think we should stay…?"

"I don't think we have a choice." Saberus said. "Whether we are here or not, the Decepticons will come to this planet and after what we did to the town…and, what I did to their research station, the Humans would be hard pressed to just allow them to arrive unopposed."

The Prime turned, his entire body faced the rest of the Autobots now. "The Decepticons will crush Humanity." He said. "It's not a debate. It's not up for discussion. They will make Humankind extinct in less than a month and use their planet as fuel for their war machine. The people of this planet don't stand a chance without us."

Tail Light heard what Saberus Prime was saying loud and clear; she knew he was right, but that didn't mean she was thrilled about it. "And I suppose, since you have the Matrix, we're gonna be taking orders from you now?"

"Actually…" Saberus began as he turned to Jazz. "I may be a Matrix Bearer, but I don't know the first thing about leadership. Perhaps someday I'll be worthy of the Matrix's full title but, until that day comes? I think it best to take orders from those more suited to giving them."

Even though his eyes were obscured by his visor, the other Autobots could tell the Primes' words had caught the Autobot first lieutenant off guard. The Matrix of Leadership, genuine or inauthentic, tended to automatically put its bearers at the top of the chain of command. That Saberus had the maturity to know he wasn't ready for a role like that shocked the Autobot leader.

"I can only speak my piece." Saberus said. "In the end, it's up to you, Jazz. After all, you're mission leader."

Jazz took a minute to ponder Saberus' words while the other Autobots watched and waited for his order. It took a moment, but the Autobot would speak again.

"Saberus is right." He finally said. "The Con's ain't gonna just take what we've done today lying down…problem is: neither will the Humans.

For all my time here indulgin' in their culture, I have also watched humans do things to each other that would make some of y'all shiver. They fight each other for, sometimes, really petty reasons. Sometimes they fight over their differences. Other times, over territories or resources. Humanity is divided and I don't know necessarily that it's our place to unify 'em. But, if the Cons came here, whether it be right now or 200 years into the future, it'd make no difference. There ain't a Human run country on this planet that can step to 'em. Thing is, they wouldn't have to if we ain't invite challenge to begin with. But, what's done is done, ain't goin' back now. Best thing we can do is deal with it."

"'Deal with it?'" Wheeljack asked. "You mean we're staying?" The Engineer's words brought a silent fury to Tail Light.

"We don't got a choice." Jazz shrugged.

"No, Scrap it, there's always a choice!" Tail Light exclaimed. "We can leave right now and-"

"And the Decepticons Phase Six another planet." Jazz said, cutting her off. "And, even if we did leave, you and I both know it's a high chance they intercept us mid-voyage. And, strong as Sky Lynx and Prime are, I don't think they can take down a fleet of Seekers. Even if they could? I'm not willin' to risk it the Autobots' best - no - our only chance at winning the war."

"So we're just supposed to huddle up here?" Tail Light asked. "Hunker down and, what? Fight a secret war to protect these people?"

"Tail Light?" Tail Light turned at the sound of Wheeljack's voice. "I think they might be right."

"Oh not you too..."

"Look…" Wheeljack began. "...without a warp drive, it's a long trip back to Cybertron. 4 Million ain't a long time for Cybertronians, but that's an eternity in a war. We could be coming back to a world without Autobots. Or worse, an Extinct Cybertron. But, if I could build a new Warp drive and upgrade our Dino Bird there with it? That would cut the travel time down considerably. We're talkin' a difference of Millions of years. I ain't done the math yet, but you get me. Staying and defending the Earth might turn out to be the better option. We might even be able to cue up some Autobot help while we're here; I mean you can't be the only one who survived the crash. That's a statistical impossibility."

Tail Light shook her head in disbelief, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Blue Autobot turned to Sky Lynx. "And you?" She asked.

Sky Lynx Rolled his shoulders. "Stay, go, it doesn't rightly matter to me." He said. "Decepticons are everywhere. They will be here, they'll be there, I'll fight them all the same."

Tail Light buried her head in her hands. "Unbelievable!" She exclaimed. " This is insane…you're all insane. Do you not have lives to go back to or something? People you want to see again, people you're counting on?"

Saberus felt his Spark sink in his chest. "Tail Light…" He watched as Jazz tried to reach out to the Autobot, but she held out a hand and stopped him.

"No, don't-." The Autobot's voice was cracking, she sounded like she was going to fall apart at any moment. "Just…whatever. Fine. We'll do what we have to. No choice, right? Not like I'm used to having those…" Defeated, the Blue Autobot turned from the others, transformed into her Bike form and rode off down the Mountain trail.

Jazz reached after her. "Tail Light!" He called only to feel a hand on his shoulder. The First Lieutenant turned to find Saberus Prime at his side.

"I'll go talk to her." He declared before walking past him, transforming and driving after their distraught ally.

In Alt-mode, Saberus Prime followed Tail Light's IFF tag a little ways down the mountain dirt trail. As a Truck, he wasn't having the best time driving along the uneven surface. But for her, he'd manage.

Tail Light's IFF tag led him a little ways down the road. There he found her sitting on a boulder, her head buried in her hands.

Prime transformed, then he slowly approached until Tail Light's voice gave him pause. "You know, you're something else. Like, you really wasted no time flexing your title." She said, her words coming from a place of frustration and anger.

"Tail Light…" Saberus tried to get through to her, but she wouldn't let him.

"I was abducted from my family on Cybertron because of you, I was stranded on this planet because of you and now I'm stuck here for Primus knows how long, because your existence defies Decepticonism." She huffed. "And now, I must fall into subservience, Because 'so says the Prime', right?"

Saberus said nothing. How could he? She hadn't said a single thing that was wrong. She wouldn't even be here if not for him. Now, for all intents and purposes, she was stranded here to protect a race that, for the most part, didn't even know she existed. If he was in her shoes, he'd be just as upset. So, he was quiet and said nothing but the one thing he knew he'd want to be told if he felt like he was wronged.

"I'm sorry."

"'Sorry' isn't going to find my family." Said Tail Light.

Saberus looked out towards the Earth's Horizon. "No. It won't. But we will." He said. "Not today. Or tomorrow. But soon."

Tail Light tore her head from her hands. "How?" She asked, looking up at him.

Saberus approached the Autobot. As he did, she turned away from him. Prime took a seat on a rock close to her. At first he was unsure if he should continue. Only when he finally found the courage, he spoke.

"When my Father found me, he had a vision that I would, someday, take up the Matrix and lead our people back to Cybertron. That I'd play a part in taking it back from the Decepticons and liberating our race. Even if I hadn't pulled the Sword from the stone, I would have done everything in my power to seek that conclusion out.

I was adrift for 4 Million Stellar Cycles before I landed here. I had a long time to think about what it was I truly wanted; how I'd achieve it. I didn't know Iacon, not truly. But I knew the Autobots.

I knew the Autotroopers assigned to protect me. I knew the high ranking Autobots ordered to treat me as if I were one of their peers. I mean…don't get me wrong, I know my entire upbringing was artificial and yet…I would still give my Spark to bring it back. Because not a single Autobot, or neutral, or even Decepticon deserves to live out the hell this War has become.

The war must end. And to bring it to a conclusion, we must return to Cybertron. But not at the cost of other worlds. We can't just let Earth suffer the same fate Cybertron did. If we do, we are no better than the Decepticons and if we're no better than them, then what's the point in defeating them?"

The Prime's words held much weight. But even so, Tail Light was having trouble seeing past her desire to get home to her family.

"Let me ask you this." She began. "What are we supposed to do exactly? Are we supposed to fight them off forever? Just the 5 of us against the hordes and hordes of Eradicons, Centurions and Deceptitroopers that you and I both know are coming?"

Saberus was silent. That silence was all the answer Tail Light needed. "Yeah, I don't know either." She said.

The task being presented before them now seemed herculean; the Cybertronian War was one of resources. Conquest. Attrition. Give and take, push and pull. If they left now, Saberus was right, they'd be leaving the Earth virtually defenseless and that wasn't fair to the world's inhabitants.

Tail Light buried her head into her hands. "This is unfair." She cried. "We don't have the numbers. We don't have the structure. We're hunted, scattered. I mean, the Autobots lost, Saber... we are in no position to retaliate and yet, because we did, we're going to have to fight even harder? It's not even like we had a choice!" She exclaimed. "If we did nothing, Sixshot would have just blown the damn planet up anyway. We stopped him, sure. But now we have to worry about thi threat for the rest of our lives? Just the 5 of us fighting forever, until we too are cold and lifeless…" Tail Light gave an exhausted sigh. "...I just don't know, Saber."

Saberus could see the fatigue on Tail Light's face. She wanted to go home and see her family. But, perhaps more than anything else, she was just tired. She was tired of fighting. Tired of running. Tired of the War. Her exhaustion was yet another thing he couldn't blame her for.

"You know, once upon a time, I told my father that Cybertron was the heart of my world." Prime began. "I told him it was the heart of my Universe and I could not fathom why it wasn't the heart of his. He later explained to me that it in fact was. Cybertron was all he thought about. He would do anything in his power to serve the people - including laying down his life. His worldview changed, however, when he took his son into account. I became his world - his 'Cybertron'. I didn't understand the true depth of what that meant at first but now, having met you, I finally understand him: Cybertron is not a place, it is a people.

I know you want to go back home to your Sisters. Fender and Turn Signal, they are your world, your 'Cybertron'. And right now with the Autobots on the backfoot, it may seem like an impossibility. But hear me when I say that all is not lost. Cybertron is not lost.

It is in us and all those left behind. In our minds. In our Sparks. We are Cybertron. Each and every one of us. It is on us to preserve the story and the hope of our world so that when the time comes to return - and I promise you, that time will come - we may not just liberate our home but renew it."

"But how?" Tail Light asked again. "How can you be so sure that there is even a 'Cybertron' left to return to?" Her lips had asked him one thing, but Saberus knew that her real question was something she couldn't bring herself to say.

"I don't know." Saberus answered truthfully. "Today was not promised, neither is tomorrow. It's been a long journey from our home and it will be a long journey back again. But the first step is the hardest and that we've already taken. 'Cybertron' is resilient."

With hope and optimism in his Spark, Saberus gave Tail Light a smile. "'Cybertron' isn't lost. The Autobots haven't lost. We aren't lost. We know where we're going, we just have to get there one step at a time."

Tail Light looked into Saberus'eyes and, strangely, felt the grief diminish from her chassis. Prime's infectious optimism had brought calm to her spark. She still didn't believe they could stave off the invasion they knew would be coming but, having listened to Saberus' words, she felt like they could find a way forward. In that at least, she'd found a bit of solace.

After a short while, Tail Light finally spoke again. "You know, that was a good speech." She said. "When did you get so good at giving those?"

"Comes with the Matrix, I guess." Saberus grinned. "Well…that and dying."

The joke actually released a laugh from Tail Light before she relinquished a sigh. "Well, seeing as we have no other choice…if we're gonna stay we should relocate."

"Relocate?"

"Mhm." the Blue Autobot nodded before standing up. "We know how the cons fight, they're going to come in and try to overwhelm us. We'll need guerrilla tactics: Hit and Run. And launching such a thing from the peak of a mountain isn't quite gonna cut it. Inside a mountain though? That might prove to be more lucrative."

"Well then!" They heard Wheeljack say. "We'll have to see what we can do about that!"

Saberus and Tail Light turned to find Wheeljack, Jazz and Sky Lynx standing a little ways behind them. The three had come and evidently they'd been eavesdropping.

"How long have you been there?" Saberus asked.

"The whole time." Jazz answered as he approached. "She's right by the way, hell of a speech."

"There's plenty of old decommissioned silos and bunkers around these Parts." Wheeljack continued. "Any one of them would make for a solid base of operations. Who knows, with some time we could turn one into a lil home away from home while we figure ourselves out."

"As long as they're large enough for me to stretch my wings." Sky Lynx requested. "I am not spending another decade in alt-mode waiting for you lot."

"I'll see what I can do." Wheeljack answered. "But if we're gonna go, we should do it soon. Maybe pull down the holo-field too, since you kids forgot to take it up."

"Sorry about that." Saberus apologized as he stood up. .

"Ah, don't worry about it." Wheeljack answered. "You had a good reason, it was the end of the world." Wheeljack motioned back to their temp camp. "C'mon. Let's head back and figure this scrap out."

Wheeljack and Sky Lynx turned from the group and began to head back to camp. As they did, Saberus turned to Tail Light. "Are you ok?" He asked. The Autobot tried not to show it, but she was touched that he cared enough to ask.

"Mm. No." She answered sincerely. "But, that's ok. The situation's fragged. It's ok not to be ok. It's what we do next that matters, right?" She asked, flashing a smile.

"Right." Saberus nodded, flashing a smile back.

As Tail Light and Saberus spoke, Jazz watched from afar and couldn't help but feel some nostalgia. He had known Optimus Prime from before his ascension and the entire time he did, he'd known him to be a beacon of hope. He, and indeed the others, followed Optimus not because he was strong - though he was - but because he had a way of making them feel strong too. Jazz could tell that, despite being a bearer of the Matrix, Saberus Prime was still naive. Even with newfound wisdom he was still going to make mistakes. But, whether it was fighting a Phase Sixer, or consoling his allies, Saberus' presence empowered his fellow Autobots too. In that at least, Saberus truly was his father's son.

With the sunset at their backs, Jazz, Saberus and Tail Light followed Wheeljack and Sky Lynx's footsteps and together they walked back up the trail to camp. But, halfway along the path, Saberus stopped at the crest of the hill to look out into the distance.

Tail Light and Jazz took notice and turned to face him. "Saberus?" Jazz asked. "You good?"

"I am." The Prime flashed a reassuring smile. "Go ahead, I'm right behind you."

Jazz and Tail Light shared a quick glance. For the latter, the Prime's word was enough. The Lieutenant turned and continued back along the trail; he gave Tail Light a pat on her shoulder as he passed - a non-verbal indication to give the Prime some space. Tail Light received Jazz's message loud and clear, but she lingered anyway. She cast a concerned gaze from soft eyes upon Saberus' visage for a moment before ultimately turning around and obeying Jazz's non-verbal command and ultimately leaving the Prime to his own devices.

Alone finally, Saberus stood on the Sandia Mountain and took in the sights. From atop it's peaks, he could see the Wrecked Albuquerque. He could see the still burning Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array in the distance. And, beyond them both, he could even see the crater he made when he first touched down. The son of Optimus Prime had come a long way since the Fall of Iacon but his journey was far from over, because Saber was a Prime now and he'd come to know that the title held more weight than he'd realized.

The First Primes were the pillars of Cybertronian society. They were Warrior Rulers, Demi-gods. Their feats and even their eventual demise were legend. The Primes that followed? They were lesser, but no less influential. Some were greedy, but all influenced Cybertron in great, sweeping ways. When a Prime gave an order, things changed. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse.

Now, Saber held the title. He held the Matrix of Leadership. He held the Star Saber itself. He was a living marriage of the old order and the modern one. With title and Sword, he could influence the verse on a whim, things would change with a simple command. He, of course, wanted to change things for the better but, as History had proven, that was easier said than done.

Optimus had tried to save his people. And when he could not, he sought to preserve them by seeding their numbers elsewhere, going so far as to preserve the Line of Primes in his son, ensuring that their people would have a future leader to follow.

Sentinel tried to protect Cybertron and its way of life. First by liberating the planet from its enslavers and then by using its citizens as fuel for a war machine-run economy.

Zeta and Nominus, they pushed functionism. They crushed their people into subgroups so that society might be orderly processed.

And Nova Prime? He had lost himself in the name of 'Pax Cybertronia'.

Whether their actions were justified, righteous or otherwise, Saberus Prime's predecessors had tried to serve Cybertron in the ways they were taught. But those ways were flawed. No matter who gave the order, be they Primes of the past or of the present, people were expected to foot the bill for Cybertron's advancement. If Cybertron and its people were going to survive, then this could not be the case going forward.

Prime's name was not Vector, he did not know what the future held in store. He only knew that he did not want the title of 'Prime' to be synonymous with ruler during his tenure. He only wanted to be a protector; a savior. That's what Cybertron needed right now, it's what they were promised…but, the Decepticons? They had destroyed far more than just Cybertron.

The very concept of 'Phase Sixing' and the level of destruction just one of them had caused in such a short time was truly eye opening. Had he not ascended to the Rank of Prime, Sixshot really would have destroyed this entire planet without a second thought - and it would have bored him, apparently being something he'd done many times before. It made Saberus wonder: How many times had the Decepticons done this to other worlds? How many more children had they orphaned? How many species had they wiped out? There was a numerical value, he was sure. But the blanket answer to those questions was too many.

The Decepticons were out there ruining worlds and they would come back to ruin this one as well. As much as Cybertron needed saving, the Galaxy - both known and unknown - needed protecting…and, before that? Those already lost needed Avenging. So, he decided that that's the kind of Prime he'd be. Not a savior, or even a defender, but an avenger of all the lives the Decepticons had taken. For Cybertron, and indeed all of the worlds lost to Decepticon Avarice, he would serve this role until the role was no longer needed. And thus, on unspoken words, Saberus vowed to be The Last Prime.

Saberus Prime turned his attention back to the Very Large Array. Despite the fires, some of the Array's dishes were still intact. When Saber died and was reborn, his entire body was reformatted, including his Transmitting and Receiving Antenna. Like his speed, strength and agility, the equipment had also received an upgrade. Grateful as Prime was for Wheeljack's assistance, for what he wanted to do next, the technical upgrade was very much needed.

From so many miles away, Saberus Prime could still feel his connection to the Array; this time he wouldn't need to be on location to use the technology. With a thought, Saberus engaged the remaining Radar Dishes. And, with a Spark full of convictions, the Prime began to speak.

"All Sparks across the cosmos, hear my voice." He began.

"With the Matrix of Leadership recovered, hope once again shines upon the children of Primus and with it, we Cybertronians enter a new chapter of this terrible War. My Predecessor would have said that 'the road we drive is wide enough for us all to go together.' 'Till All Are One' he'd say...Unfortunately, I am not him.

I am of the belief that most of us may share the same land someday. That Cybertronian Society might once again flourish under unified banners...but...there are some of you that, through your actions, have revoked your access to this potential future. Those who are good and decent will get to make their own fate. The rest of you? You get me.

I am Saberus Prime, Prima's Saberknight; Son of Optimus Prime and I send this message directly to the Leader of the Decepticons. Every force created in the universe has an equal and an opposite and your lust for power has given rise to your own undoing.

Indulge in your stolen Energon. Warm the space atop your Throne of Conquest. Count out your days and take in the last moments of your reign, Tyrant, because I am coming to end it.

The Autobots will return to Cybertron. We will retake Iacon and then, Megatron? I will do what the Primes before me could not. I will kill you.

If you have something to say about that…well…you know where to find me…"

Saberus Prime's message beams into space on every known Cybertronian frequency. From the Desert wastes of Velocitron, to the Techno-Organic oasis of Eukaris, to the Church-state of Caminus, the entire Galaxy heard the call of the new Prime - including the Decepticon controlled Cybertron.

Atop his Throne in Kolkular, Cybertron's new capital, Megatron was surrounded by his Decepticon Elite. Shockwave, Starscream, Soundwave and their Lord had just heard the intercepted transmission directed at the leader of the Decpticons. It came from the same location Megatron had deployed the Phase Sixer.

"Sixshot's signal reads offline." Soundwave revealed. He and the rest of the Decepticon elite turned back to their lord. That Sixshot's signal was gone and this message had come directed to Megatron from someone who claimed the title of Prime had told the Decepticon elite all they needed to know.

"What are your Orders, Lord Megatron?" Starscream asked.

The Tyrannical Leader of the Decepticons made no sudden expression. His face chiseled into an unsettled frown, Megatron raised himself up from his Throne. Below their Lord, Starscream, Soundwave and Shockwave awaited Megatron's word.

"For the first time in the Decepticon Movement's history, Phase Six has failed." The Lord of the Decepticons declared. "Prepare the troops, we will use the old ways."

Megatron's order did not fall on the lackadaisical. Without a moment's hesitation, Soundwave, Shockwave and Starscream moved to carry out the will of their Lord; the Decepticons would prepare for war.

Saberus Prime's message sent ripples across the cosmos, including the void between stars where his words were intercepted by another party, though one decidedly more friendly.

A Large, Red, White and Blue Spacecraft soared through the void between stars, the keynotes of Saberus Prime's speech playing on comms.

I am Saberus Prime…The Autobots will return to Cybertron, we will retake Iacon and then, Megatron?...I will kill you."

"A new name in the Primacy, huh? Well, he's nothing if not bold." A voice said on the comms line.

The ship halted its flight and transformed. Separating first into a Smaller Jet and large attachment - named the V-Star - before reforming into a large, powerful, Red, White and Blue Autobot and landing on a chunk of Rock drifting in space just on the periphery of one of the Sol system's many centaurs, 7066 Nessus.

"Bold can be good, Drift." The Autobot said. "Maybe bold is just what we need right now."

"You're getting closer to the signal, Star Saber." A female voice said on comms. "Victory Station has your destination solution, we'll make the jump to the Target World's orbit when you've confirmed the location.

Star Saber, member of the Cybertronian House known as the Primal Vanguard and Head of the Nomadic, Autobot Base of Operations named The Victory Station, gazed unto the Sol system from Nessus' orbit.

"That's fine, Minerva." Star Saber said. "Keep the station's trajectory slow and distant. If there's any hint of Decepticon activity, I want you to make a blind jump, just like we discussed."

"I'm still not in love with the idea."

"I know." Star Saber said. "But we can't risk Decepticon intervention, this is just too damn important. If it comes down to it, Victory Leo will take command until I can rendezvous with you later."

"Don't worry sir." Drift agreed on his contemporary's behalf. "We'll do what's necessary.

"I expect nothing less, Drift." Star Saber said before flexing his wings and rolling his Ailerons. "Right then. Time to find the future!" Star Saber said before transforming back into his alt-mode and following after the distant signal sent by the new Prime. "Lets Seigo!"

End of Transformers: The Last Prime