Vendetta
First Post
“You have to leave, Optimus.” the soft voice of Elita One rings in the Autobot leader’s auditory receptors, “We’ve been betrayed, you have to go now. Megatron is coming.”
Optimus Prime watches Elita One for a long moment. She turns away from him, head down. “Come with us.” Optimus Prime says to her, reaching out and touching her shoulder.
“I can’t.” Elita One says, turning back to him and embracing him. “You know I can’t.”
“But Cybertron is over run by the Decepticons.” Prime cuts her off.
“I know; that’s why I have to stay. I have to help everyone evacuate, get them at least to one of the moons.” Elita One replies.
“I should stay…” Optimus starts before Elita One cuts him off.
“NO! You have to go. If Megatron kills you… if he gets the Matrix… there’ll be no hope for us… for anyone.” She says, her vocal synthesizers rising in controlled panic.
“I know. But… It feels cowardly… I feel…” Prime begins again when a sudden explosion from far off hits and echoes down the corridor toward Prime and Elita. The two stand there for a moment, looks of shock on their mechanical faces.
“Oh no… He’s here!” Elita one says in fear. She turns to Optimus Prime, “RUN! GET TO THE ARK!”
Optimus Prime turns and rushes down the hall as more explosions hit, getting closer and closer. Soon, each blast is followed by screams and cries for help. A cold, gravelly laugh echoes in Optimus Prime’s audio receptors, a sound he can never forget. Megatron!
Prime burst through an archway into a very large conference hall that was once used as the Autobot Senate chambers. In the center of the room is the nose of massive space ship that fills over half of the chamber. Temporary flooring is placed around the nose of the great space ship to allow workers to do their jobs while covering the mile deep silo where the Ark was built. Optimus Prime himself dubbed the great spaceship “The Ark”, stating that through it the old age of Autobot oppression would be ended, bringing new life to all who wish to make Cybertron their home. With the Ark, Optimus Prime and his selected Autobot warriors would not only find a haven from the Evil Megatron, but also search the galaxy to find a new source of energon to revive the dying planet. Prime didn’t have time to admire the sleek lines of the ship.
“OPTIMUS!!!” Yells Ironhide from the ramp of the starship. “GET OVER HERE, PRIME! WE’VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!”
Prime runs to the ship as a dozen Autobots run around trying to prep the ship for takeoff. Yet another massive explosion hits, but this time in the senate chamber itself. Sparks and smoke fill the room and chunks of steel crash to the ground. A menacing, devilish voice fills the room.
“End of the line, Prime. Surrender to me now or I’ll kill every Autobot on Cybertron!” Through the smoky haze, the glowing eyes of Megatron shine like beacons as Energon power flows through his body. “All this hiding is really very unbecoming of a leader.”
“DON’T LISTEN TO HIM, PRIME!” Ironhide shouts, getting up from the ground after the explosion.
For his answer, Optimus Prime levels his blaster rifle at Megatron and sends a burst into the smoke. “Everyone onto the Ark!” Optimus Prime orders.
Out of the billowing smoke flies Crowbar, an Autobot engineer. Crowbar hits the ground and slides to the base of the ramp, no light of life showing from his optic receptors. As Prime runs to the ramp, a massive blast strikes him in the side, knocking him back and across the room, into the far wall. Out of the smoke strides Megatron flanked by the dangerous Soundwave and Shockwave. Megatron’s arm cannon is still smoking from the blast that terminated Crowbar. All 3 Decepticons begin firing at Prime who quickly takes cover behind one of the large columns that ring the senate chamber.
“Enough of this.” Megatron growls and begins to transform into a nasty looking anti-matter blaster, flying up into the air as he transforms to Soundwave’s waiting hand. But just as Soundwave levels the Megatron gun at Optimus Prime’s hiding place, a hail of laser fire comes from the ramp of the Ark knocking Soundwave off of his feet. Shockwave turns and fires his arm cannon at the Ark, ripping a small hole just above the open access way where Ironhide, Hound, Jazz, Prowl and Jackknife lay down cover fire.
“Come on, Prime! We’ll hold ‘em down!” Shouts Ironhide.
Optimus Prime fires several more shots from his cover at Shockwave. The large cannon turns and fires back at Prime as an Autobot named Plow dives into Shockwave’s back, staggering the huge Decepticon.
“Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble; Attack!” Soundwave’s monotone rumble rings out as the communications robot’s central compartment opens to release the three tiny but effective Decepticons. Ravage immediately transforms and attacks Plow, pulling the Autobot off of Shockwave. Laserbeak swoops toward the Ark, laying down a barrage of laser fire, making the Autobots step back for cover before swooping over the top of the great ship and out of sight.
Megatron transforms back to primary form while Soundwave gets to his feet. Soundwave and Megatron start firing at Optimus Prime, who again ducks behind his cover. But their barrage of fire comes to a halt when Phoenix, from under cover, fires his Advanced Automatic Blaster Carbine into the duo’s backs. Both turn and fire but have no chance of hitting the sniper who is too well hidden for the large Decepticons to see. Ravage leaves Plow and races toward Phoenix’s hiding place as Laserbeak swoops back around, relaying a video uplink to Ravage and Soundwave so they both can see the hidden Autobot.
Jackknife uses his powerful pinpoint transmission system to send a message to Bumblebee on the Ark’s bridge to fire up the engines. He then sends a message to Phoenix and Prime, “The Aerialbots are overrun by the Decepticon Jets. We have to leave now or they’ll be able to shoot us down before we get to save Hyperspace Jump range. Get to the Ark now!”
Plow quickly transforms into his track based debris sweeper form and upends all three Decepticons. Optimus seizes the moment and runs for the Ark. Phoenix sees this chance as well and with Laserbeak bearing down on him, he leaps from his hiding place and dashes toward the Ark.
“Cover fire, now!” Orders Jackknife and Jazz, Ironhide, Hound, and Prowl happily obey. Plow transforms back and leaps onto Megatron. Elita One, Kup, Springer and Blur appear at a side entrance and begin firing from the hall at the three Decepticons as Ravage leaps onto Phoenix’s back, taking the red hover-speedster down as he was about to transform. Blur, in a flurry of motion, races out and kicks Ravage off before Phoenix even hits the ground.
“Go go go!” the insanely fast vocal module of Blur says. By the time he is done with the sentence, Blur is already side by side with Plow, punching Megatron.
The hover-speedster transforms and speeds toward the Ark’s ramp.
“Look out!” Elita One cries as Shockwave sits up and blasts Plow in the head with his wave cannon. Blur was gone before Elita One could finish the sentence.
Megatron and Soundwave get to their feet and fire at Optimus Prime as he dives for the door of the Ark. Ironhide drops his blaster pistol to pull Prime inside. A second later, Phoenix roars up the ramp and transforms as the Autobots blast away at Laserbeak who was trailing him. Laserbeak quickly veers off and again disappears to the other side of the Ark.
Powerful Energon Converters are roaring with life deep within the heart of The Ark as the ramp door begins to swing shut. “What about Springer and Kup, they were supposed to come with us?”
“There’s no time.” Optimus Prime says sadly.
Megatron quickly transforms and flies into Soundwave’s hand again. The communications specialist aims at the quickly closing door when Elita One dives at them.
“NO!” She cries. Soundwave turns and fires Megatron at pointblank range into the body of Elita One. She flies back to hit the wall as the ramp on the Ark closes and locks into place. All of the Autobots cry out but there is nothing they can do as the Arc slowly begins to lift out of its nesting place.
Soundwave turns and begins firing Megatron into the hull of the great Autobot ship as it slowly rises out of the senate hall and into the Cybertron sky. A minute later, Megatron is again standing beside Soundwave and Shockwave. The Autobot resistance has retreated.
“Curse you, Optimus Prime!” Megatron roars into the Cybertronian sky as the Ark streaks off into space.
“You let him get away, dear leader.” Comes the high, mechanical voice of Starscream as he swoops down into the old Autobot Senate.
“Shut up, Starscream!” Megatron retorts. Turning to his aids, he says, “Soundwave, send Laserbeak to deliver a message to Omegacon. Tell him to prepare to chase after the Autobots in Hyperspace. Then you and Starscream gather as many of our forces as you can. Shockwave, you are in charge until I return… NOW GO!”
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The Ark streaks through the sky with a dozen Decepticon Fighters chasing after it.
“Man the cannons!” Optimus Prime orders and Autobots rush to obey. Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet move up along side of the great ship. As a laser cannon bears down on Skywarp, he suddenly teleports to the other side of the ship where he makes a strafing run. Thrust whips around to the top of the ship, shooting at the laser cannon defenses while Ramjet just crashes into the side of the Ark. The fighter penetrates the hull to find Jackknife waiting with his big flamethrowers. Ramjet tumbles out of the sky, smoking.
Dirge comes up strong from the aft, firing into the large engines. Phoenix and Sunstreaker, manning the aft cannons, fire relentlessly at the fighter.
“Bumblebee to aft cannons… hey guys… the engines can’t take much more of this.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Sunstreaker replies. He and Phoenix nod to each other and take close aim. Both of their next shots hit, sending Dirge into a tailspin.
“Bumblebee to all Autobots. We’ve cleared to safe Jump range. Prepare for Hyperspace.”
Jazz, firing at Thrust scores a nasty shot not even half a second before the Ark streaks into Hyperspace.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Inside the Ark bridge, Optimus Prime sits with Bumblebee, Hound, Trailbreaker, Bushido and Jazz.
“We sure gave those Deceptibums the slip.” Jazz’s mechanical “blues singer” voice rings out, happily.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that… LOOK!” Bumblebee replies, pointing at the Ark’s radar display.
“I’d bet my transistors that that is Omegacon bringing those Decepticreeps right to us.” Trailbreaker says.
Bushido stands. “Then they shall find us ready!”
“Optimus,” Starts Bumblebee, “if Omegacon catches us and transforms, we’re sitting ducks!”
“Not at trans-light speeds, Bumblebee.” Prime replies, standing up as well. “He can’t travel at these speeds in his primary form.”
“Should we organize a ‘welcoming committee’ for them?” Jazz asks, sarcastically.
“Sound the alarms.” Orders Optimus Prime and everyone but Bumblebee leave the bridge.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Klaxons sound out throughout The Ark. Autobots rush about, preparing for battle. Suddenly, there is an explosion and smoke fills the ship. Through a rip in the hull of the Ark, dozens of Decepticons pour into the ship, firing at will. Autobots and Decepticons take up positions and exchange a hail of laser fire.
Megatron enters.
The blasts from the mighty cannon soon put the Autobots on the defensive and they begin to retreat, putting Trailbreaker, Windcharger and Prowl down. But suddenly, Optimus Prime bursts through a door into the cargo bay leaping at Megatron. The Decepticon leader, shocked, fires a wide shot that misses the Autobot leader. Prime brings his arm to bear wielding Bushido, the Autobot Energon Blade. With a massive strike, Megatron falls over, electrical wires exposed and arcing power over his body as he cries out in pain.
“You traitor, Bushido!” Cries Starscream as he fires several blasts that score their target, knocking the blade from Prime’s hand. Quickly, Bushido transforms as Prime brings his blaster rifle to bear on the Decepticon star fighter. But Starscream unleashes another volley of blaster fire that knocks Prime off of his feet. Bushido leaps at Starscream but the much larger Decepticon grabs him. “This is how we deal with traitors!” He roars.
“If I were to follow you, I’d be a traitor to everything I hold true!” Bushido roars back, kicking Starscream in the torso. Starscream throws Bushido into the nearest wall and raises his blasters. But before he can fire, Stickshift dives from across the room into Starscream, his hands glowing and cackling with Energon.
An explosion erupts when the Autobot Hovertruck touches the spacefighter and Starscream howls in pain from the overload energy of Stickshift. Optimus Prime gets to his feat as two more Decepticons jump onto him. Brawn grabs Thundercracker off of Prime and flings him across the room, throwing him through the wall and into the next compartment.
Bushido leaps into the air, transforms, and is caught by Stickshift. In one, swift motion, Stickshift swings Bushido at Starscream who barely moves. But the blade catches his wing, cleaving off a large chunk. At the same moment, Optimus Prime slams Impact to the ground and drives his fist into the Decepticon’s face. As he straightens up, he takes a monstrous blast from what could only be Megatron, knocking him across the bay and into the wall. Megatron, holding himself up from the ground, fires again and a third time at Optimus. “I’ll rip the matrix out of your charred chassis, Prime!”
Prime falls to the ground as the tiny Cliffjumper leaps onto Megatron’s back. The small red sports craft grabs Megatron’s head and begins slamming it into the floor plates of the ship. Soundwave strides purposefully up to Megatron and punts Cliffjumper off, sending him soaring across the room. Laserbeak is released and follows up on Cliffjumper with a half score of blaster fire.
“Look at what I found!” Rumbles the deep gravelly voice of Thundercracker from the other room. “The Autobot Positronic Personality Core Back-up storage unit!” The large blue fighter’s eyes flash evilly as he opens the door, revealing several dozen uniquely shaped, light-blue glowing personality cores. He raises his guns, laughing loudly when suddenly he is tackled from behind by Jackknife and Sideswipe.
“No way I’m letting you destroy these” Sideswipe cries as he fires his shoulder mounted missiles at Thundercracker after Jackknife throws him against the opposite wall.
“Omegacon to Megatron. Emergency.” Comes the audio message from the massive Decepticon Starcruiser, Omegacon. “We are fast approaching a small planet and a collision is immanent. Soundwave reports that the Ark’s engines are disabled and cannot avoid the crash. But we must evacuate now while I can still pull out.”
“Decepticons,” Megatron growls, wheezing from the deep cut from Bushido, “retreat.” Decepticons from all over begin flying toward exits to board Omegacon.
“A little something to remember us by… or rather, the other way around.” Megatron laughs as he takes aim and fires at the Positronic Personality Core Back-up storage unit. Jackknife, Ironhide, Sideswipe, Bushido, Stickshift, Hound, Prowl, and Brawn all try to dive in front of Megatron’s blast but are not quick enough. Another massive explosion comes from the storage unit as the Decepticons continue to evacuate.
“Bumblebee to Optimus Prime, come in Prime.” The voice of the small messenger hovercar comes over the ships intercom. “We are going to crash into this planet, there’s nothing I can do!”
Jackknife and the rest of the Autobots run over to Optimus Prime.
“Prime’s down, but he should be O.K.” Ratchet says.
“What do we do?” Comes Bumblebee’s voice again, much more worried now than before.
“Lock tractor beams onto Omegacon.” Jackknife orders.
“Tractors… what will that do?” Come Bumblebee again.
“Kill the Decepticons too.” Jackknife says, an ominous overtone in his voice as he turns and runs for the bridge.
A moment later, several Autobots are looking over Bumblebee’s shoulder at the image of their doom, growing more massive on the viewscreen by the second.
“The tractor beam is holding but will break when we hit the atmosphere.” Wheeljax explains.
“It will be too late by then.” Jackknife replies.
A system display screen springs to life, everyone looks at it.
“That is just Teletran 1 scanning this planet’s life-forms and cataloguing them for possible alternate forms.” Wheeljax explains. “It is an automated response when it detects various life-forms.”
“Damn…” Jackknife growls. “Why did this planet have to be inhabited.”
Each of the Autobots whispers an apology to the indigenous life of the planet as they enter its atmosphere, knowing that the impact of their ship will likely destroy every living thing.
Optimus Prime watches Elita One for a long moment. She turns away from him, head down. “Come with us.” Optimus Prime says to her, reaching out and touching her shoulder.
“I can’t.” Elita One says, turning back to him and embracing him. “You know I can’t.”
“But Cybertron is over run by the Decepticons.” Prime cuts her off.
“I know; that’s why I have to stay. I have to help everyone evacuate, get them at least to one of the moons.” Elita One replies.
“I should stay…” Optimus starts before Elita One cuts him off.
“NO! You have to go. If Megatron kills you… if he gets the Matrix… there’ll be no hope for us… for anyone.” She says, her vocal synthesizers rising in controlled panic.
“I know. But… It feels cowardly… I feel…” Prime begins again when a sudden explosion from far off hits and echoes down the corridor toward Prime and Elita. The two stand there for a moment, looks of shock on their mechanical faces.
“Oh no… He’s here!” Elita one says in fear. She turns to Optimus Prime, “RUN! GET TO THE ARK!”
Optimus Prime turns and rushes down the hall as more explosions hit, getting closer and closer. Soon, each blast is followed by screams and cries for help. A cold, gravelly laugh echoes in Optimus Prime’s audio receptors, a sound he can never forget. Megatron!
Prime burst through an archway into a very large conference hall that was once used as the Autobot Senate chambers. In the center of the room is the nose of massive space ship that fills over half of the chamber. Temporary flooring is placed around the nose of the great space ship to allow workers to do their jobs while covering the mile deep silo where the Ark was built. Optimus Prime himself dubbed the great spaceship “The Ark”, stating that through it the old age of Autobot oppression would be ended, bringing new life to all who wish to make Cybertron their home. With the Ark, Optimus Prime and his selected Autobot warriors would not only find a haven from the Evil Megatron, but also search the galaxy to find a new source of energon to revive the dying planet. Prime didn’t have time to admire the sleek lines of the ship.
“OPTIMUS!!!” Yells Ironhide from the ramp of the starship. “GET OVER HERE, PRIME! WE’VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!”
Prime runs to the ship as a dozen Autobots run around trying to prep the ship for takeoff. Yet another massive explosion hits, but this time in the senate chamber itself. Sparks and smoke fill the room and chunks of steel crash to the ground. A menacing, devilish voice fills the room.
“End of the line, Prime. Surrender to me now or I’ll kill every Autobot on Cybertron!” Through the smoky haze, the glowing eyes of Megatron shine like beacons as Energon power flows through his body. “All this hiding is really very unbecoming of a leader.”
“DON’T LISTEN TO HIM, PRIME!” Ironhide shouts, getting up from the ground after the explosion.
For his answer, Optimus Prime levels his blaster rifle at Megatron and sends a burst into the smoke. “Everyone onto the Ark!” Optimus Prime orders.
Out of the billowing smoke flies Crowbar, an Autobot engineer. Crowbar hits the ground and slides to the base of the ramp, no light of life showing from his optic receptors. As Prime runs to the ramp, a massive blast strikes him in the side, knocking him back and across the room, into the far wall. Out of the smoke strides Megatron flanked by the dangerous Soundwave and Shockwave. Megatron’s arm cannon is still smoking from the blast that terminated Crowbar. All 3 Decepticons begin firing at Prime who quickly takes cover behind one of the large columns that ring the senate chamber.
“Enough of this.” Megatron growls and begins to transform into a nasty looking anti-matter blaster, flying up into the air as he transforms to Soundwave’s waiting hand. But just as Soundwave levels the Megatron gun at Optimus Prime’s hiding place, a hail of laser fire comes from the ramp of the Ark knocking Soundwave off of his feet. Shockwave turns and fires his arm cannon at the Ark, ripping a small hole just above the open access way where Ironhide, Hound, Jazz, Prowl and Jackknife lay down cover fire.
“Come on, Prime! We’ll hold ‘em down!” Shouts Ironhide.
Optimus Prime fires several more shots from his cover at Shockwave. The large cannon turns and fires back at Prime as an Autobot named Plow dives into Shockwave’s back, staggering the huge Decepticon.
“Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble; Attack!” Soundwave’s monotone rumble rings out as the communications robot’s central compartment opens to release the three tiny but effective Decepticons. Ravage immediately transforms and attacks Plow, pulling the Autobot off of Shockwave. Laserbeak swoops toward the Ark, laying down a barrage of laser fire, making the Autobots step back for cover before swooping over the top of the great ship and out of sight.
Megatron transforms back to primary form while Soundwave gets to his feet. Soundwave and Megatron start firing at Optimus Prime, who again ducks behind his cover. But their barrage of fire comes to a halt when Phoenix, from under cover, fires his Advanced Automatic Blaster Carbine into the duo’s backs. Both turn and fire but have no chance of hitting the sniper who is too well hidden for the large Decepticons to see. Ravage leaves Plow and races toward Phoenix’s hiding place as Laserbeak swoops back around, relaying a video uplink to Ravage and Soundwave so they both can see the hidden Autobot.
Jackknife uses his powerful pinpoint transmission system to send a message to Bumblebee on the Ark’s bridge to fire up the engines. He then sends a message to Phoenix and Prime, “The Aerialbots are overrun by the Decepticon Jets. We have to leave now or they’ll be able to shoot us down before we get to save Hyperspace Jump range. Get to the Ark now!”
Plow quickly transforms into his track based debris sweeper form and upends all three Decepticons. Optimus seizes the moment and runs for the Ark. Phoenix sees this chance as well and with Laserbeak bearing down on him, he leaps from his hiding place and dashes toward the Ark.
“Cover fire, now!” Orders Jackknife and Jazz, Ironhide, Hound, and Prowl happily obey. Plow transforms back and leaps onto Megatron. Elita One, Kup, Springer and Blur appear at a side entrance and begin firing from the hall at the three Decepticons as Ravage leaps onto Phoenix’s back, taking the red hover-speedster down as he was about to transform. Blur, in a flurry of motion, races out and kicks Ravage off before Phoenix even hits the ground.
“Go go go!” the insanely fast vocal module of Blur says. By the time he is done with the sentence, Blur is already side by side with Plow, punching Megatron.
The hover-speedster transforms and speeds toward the Ark’s ramp.
“Look out!” Elita One cries as Shockwave sits up and blasts Plow in the head with his wave cannon. Blur was gone before Elita One could finish the sentence.
Megatron and Soundwave get to their feet and fire at Optimus Prime as he dives for the door of the Ark. Ironhide drops his blaster pistol to pull Prime inside. A second later, Phoenix roars up the ramp and transforms as the Autobots blast away at Laserbeak who was trailing him. Laserbeak quickly veers off and again disappears to the other side of the Ark.
Powerful Energon Converters are roaring with life deep within the heart of The Ark as the ramp door begins to swing shut. “What about Springer and Kup, they were supposed to come with us?”
“There’s no time.” Optimus Prime says sadly.
Megatron quickly transforms and flies into Soundwave’s hand again. The communications specialist aims at the quickly closing door when Elita One dives at them.
“NO!” She cries. Soundwave turns and fires Megatron at pointblank range into the body of Elita One. She flies back to hit the wall as the ramp on the Ark closes and locks into place. All of the Autobots cry out but there is nothing they can do as the Arc slowly begins to lift out of its nesting place.
Soundwave turns and begins firing Megatron into the hull of the great Autobot ship as it slowly rises out of the senate hall and into the Cybertron sky. A minute later, Megatron is again standing beside Soundwave and Shockwave. The Autobot resistance has retreated.
“Curse you, Optimus Prime!” Megatron roars into the Cybertronian sky as the Ark streaks off into space.
“You let him get away, dear leader.” Comes the high, mechanical voice of Starscream as he swoops down into the old Autobot Senate.
“Shut up, Starscream!” Megatron retorts. Turning to his aids, he says, “Soundwave, send Laserbeak to deliver a message to Omegacon. Tell him to prepare to chase after the Autobots in Hyperspace. Then you and Starscream gather as many of our forces as you can. Shockwave, you are in charge until I return… NOW GO!”
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The Ark streaks through the sky with a dozen Decepticon Fighters chasing after it.
“Man the cannons!” Optimus Prime orders and Autobots rush to obey. Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet move up along side of the great ship. As a laser cannon bears down on Skywarp, he suddenly teleports to the other side of the ship where he makes a strafing run. Thrust whips around to the top of the ship, shooting at the laser cannon defenses while Ramjet just crashes into the side of the Ark. The fighter penetrates the hull to find Jackknife waiting with his big flamethrowers. Ramjet tumbles out of the sky, smoking.
Dirge comes up strong from the aft, firing into the large engines. Phoenix and Sunstreaker, manning the aft cannons, fire relentlessly at the fighter.
“Bumblebee to aft cannons… hey guys… the engines can’t take much more of this.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Sunstreaker replies. He and Phoenix nod to each other and take close aim. Both of their next shots hit, sending Dirge into a tailspin.
“Bumblebee to all Autobots. We’ve cleared to safe Jump range. Prepare for Hyperspace.”
Jazz, firing at Thrust scores a nasty shot not even half a second before the Ark streaks into Hyperspace.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Inside the Ark bridge, Optimus Prime sits with Bumblebee, Hound, Trailbreaker, Bushido and Jazz.
“We sure gave those Deceptibums the slip.” Jazz’s mechanical “blues singer” voice rings out, happily.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that… LOOK!” Bumblebee replies, pointing at the Ark’s radar display.
“I’d bet my transistors that that is Omegacon bringing those Decepticreeps right to us.” Trailbreaker says.
Bushido stands. “Then they shall find us ready!”
“Optimus,” Starts Bumblebee, “if Omegacon catches us and transforms, we’re sitting ducks!”
“Not at trans-light speeds, Bumblebee.” Prime replies, standing up as well. “He can’t travel at these speeds in his primary form.”
“Should we organize a ‘welcoming committee’ for them?” Jazz asks, sarcastically.
“Sound the alarms.” Orders Optimus Prime and everyone but Bumblebee leave the bridge.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Klaxons sound out throughout The Ark. Autobots rush about, preparing for battle. Suddenly, there is an explosion and smoke fills the ship. Through a rip in the hull of the Ark, dozens of Decepticons pour into the ship, firing at will. Autobots and Decepticons take up positions and exchange a hail of laser fire.
Megatron enters.
The blasts from the mighty cannon soon put the Autobots on the defensive and they begin to retreat, putting Trailbreaker, Windcharger and Prowl down. But suddenly, Optimus Prime bursts through a door into the cargo bay leaping at Megatron. The Decepticon leader, shocked, fires a wide shot that misses the Autobot leader. Prime brings his arm to bear wielding Bushido, the Autobot Energon Blade. With a massive strike, Megatron falls over, electrical wires exposed and arcing power over his body as he cries out in pain.
“You traitor, Bushido!” Cries Starscream as he fires several blasts that score their target, knocking the blade from Prime’s hand. Quickly, Bushido transforms as Prime brings his blaster rifle to bear on the Decepticon star fighter. But Starscream unleashes another volley of blaster fire that knocks Prime off of his feet. Bushido leaps at Starscream but the much larger Decepticon grabs him. “This is how we deal with traitors!” He roars.
“If I were to follow you, I’d be a traitor to everything I hold true!” Bushido roars back, kicking Starscream in the torso. Starscream throws Bushido into the nearest wall and raises his blasters. But before he can fire, Stickshift dives from across the room into Starscream, his hands glowing and cackling with Energon.
An explosion erupts when the Autobot Hovertruck touches the spacefighter and Starscream howls in pain from the overload energy of Stickshift. Optimus Prime gets to his feat as two more Decepticons jump onto him. Brawn grabs Thundercracker off of Prime and flings him across the room, throwing him through the wall and into the next compartment.
Bushido leaps into the air, transforms, and is caught by Stickshift. In one, swift motion, Stickshift swings Bushido at Starscream who barely moves. But the blade catches his wing, cleaving off a large chunk. At the same moment, Optimus Prime slams Impact to the ground and drives his fist into the Decepticon’s face. As he straightens up, he takes a monstrous blast from what could only be Megatron, knocking him across the bay and into the wall. Megatron, holding himself up from the ground, fires again and a third time at Optimus. “I’ll rip the matrix out of your charred chassis, Prime!”
Prime falls to the ground as the tiny Cliffjumper leaps onto Megatron’s back. The small red sports craft grabs Megatron’s head and begins slamming it into the floor plates of the ship. Soundwave strides purposefully up to Megatron and punts Cliffjumper off, sending him soaring across the room. Laserbeak is released and follows up on Cliffjumper with a half score of blaster fire.
“Look at what I found!” Rumbles the deep gravelly voice of Thundercracker from the other room. “The Autobot Positronic Personality Core Back-up storage unit!” The large blue fighter’s eyes flash evilly as he opens the door, revealing several dozen uniquely shaped, light-blue glowing personality cores. He raises his guns, laughing loudly when suddenly he is tackled from behind by Jackknife and Sideswipe.
“No way I’m letting you destroy these” Sideswipe cries as he fires his shoulder mounted missiles at Thundercracker after Jackknife throws him against the opposite wall.
“Omegacon to Megatron. Emergency.” Comes the audio message from the massive Decepticon Starcruiser, Omegacon. “We are fast approaching a small planet and a collision is immanent. Soundwave reports that the Ark’s engines are disabled and cannot avoid the crash. But we must evacuate now while I can still pull out.”
“Decepticons,” Megatron growls, wheezing from the deep cut from Bushido, “retreat.” Decepticons from all over begin flying toward exits to board Omegacon.
“A little something to remember us by… or rather, the other way around.” Megatron laughs as he takes aim and fires at the Positronic Personality Core Back-up storage unit. Jackknife, Ironhide, Sideswipe, Bushido, Stickshift, Hound, Prowl, and Brawn all try to dive in front of Megatron’s blast but are not quick enough. Another massive explosion comes from the storage unit as the Decepticons continue to evacuate.
“Bumblebee to Optimus Prime, come in Prime.” The voice of the small messenger hovercar comes over the ships intercom. “We are going to crash into this planet, there’s nothing I can do!”
Jackknife and the rest of the Autobots run over to Optimus Prime.
“Prime’s down, but he should be O.K.” Ratchet says.
“What do we do?” Comes Bumblebee’s voice again, much more worried now than before.
“Lock tractor beams onto Omegacon.” Jackknife orders.
“Tractors… what will that do?” Come Bumblebee again.
“Kill the Decepticons too.” Jackknife says, an ominous overtone in his voice as he turns and runs for the bridge.
A moment later, several Autobots are looking over Bumblebee’s shoulder at the image of their doom, growing more massive on the viewscreen by the second.
“The tractor beam is holding but will break when we hit the atmosphere.” Wheeljax explains.
“It will be too late by then.” Jackknife replies.
A system display screen springs to life, everyone looks at it.
“That is just Teletran 1 scanning this planet’s life-forms and cataloguing them for possible alternate forms.” Wheeljax explains. “It is an automated response when it detects various life-forms.”
“Damn…” Jackknife growls. “Why did this planet have to be inhabited.”
Each of the Autobots whispers an apology to the indigenous life of the planet as they enter its atmosphere, knowing that the impact of their ship will likely destroy every living thing.
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