Planet Cybertron
The Autobots' Final Stand
The sky over Cybertron was filled with smoke and flames, the Autobot capital city of Iacon falling apart as the Cybertronian resistance group fought desperately to save themselves from their demise. A small group of Autobots struggled forward, firing their blasters as a trio of jets landed near a fallen building, transforming into robots that proceeded to fire down on them. After what seemed like an eternity, all three were shot down as a red-and-blue coloured Autobot jumped through burning wreckage, firing his blaster at every enemy in sight. He turned around to face his fellow Autobots before waving his arm forward, signalling them to advance.
"Autobots, we must press forward. Roll out!" The other Autobots followed their leader as he charged into the crowd, firing at the jets circling above them and bombing the battlegrounds. As one robot began approaching him from behind, a yellow and black vehicle rolled forward and transformed into his robot form, firing from machine guns emerging from his wrists. "B-127, I am glad you are still functioning, old friend."
The yellow bot nodded in acknowledgement. "Yep. Sorry for being late, Optimus. I hit a little traffic at Iacon's western border." B-127 looked around until gazing at the cliff edge just ahead of them. He tapped his fellow Autobot's shoulder and pointed upward. "Uh...Optimus?"
From the edge of a cliff, a large blue robot jumped down from a ship hanging in the air, a small bird-like machine circling before perching onto his shoulder. "Decepticons..." The robot spoke in a heavily modulated voice as several more figures, one a purple, one-eyed robot bearing an arm cannon, and another three with similar body shapes. "...attack!" At the robot's command, the Decepticons fired several shots at the surviving Autobots, as Optimus and B-127 stared up in horror.
"That's Soundwave...isn't he Megatron's second-in-command?" B-127 asked as Optimus continued staring up. He saw his leader nodding slowly as he began to take steps backwards.
"Indeed, but in Megatron's absence, he has taken command of the Decepticons..." Optimus turned toward the few Autobots that had survived. "Autobots, fall back!" Optimus yelled as he fired his blaster toward the Decepticons, with he and his fellow Autobots began to retreat.
Soundwave looked at the machine perched onto his shoulder. "Laserbeak, prepare for flight. Operation: Pursuit." The bird nodded as it detached itself from Soundwave and began flying toward the Autobots, circling over Optimus and B-127 before diving down to attack. As Optimus dodged and B-127 began firing at the bird, Soundwave looked down to see a red Autobot struggling to remove steel piping obscuring his legs, before his chest began to open. "Ravage, eject. Operation: Capture." A casette tape flew out of Soundwave's chest before turning into a feline-like creature, pouncing onto the Autobot and attempting to maul him.
Optimus eventually managed to grab Laserbeak and pull him down into the ground, tossing him into a nearby building before continuing his retreat. The Decepticons remained perched, observing their enemies falling back. The one-eyed robot stepped forward. "They're heading for the Iacon Tower." He turned toward the three identical robots to his left. "Starscream, take your Seeker Squadron and destroy the tower. Let no Autobot escape!" He commanded.
"As you wish, Shockwave..." One of the robots spoke in a begrudging tone before walking toward the edge. "Thundercracker, Skywarp! Transform and take flight!" He called out as he and his twins leapt from the edge and transformed into a trio of Cybertronian jets and soared over the Autobots, heading for their control tower.
Optimus and B-127 stopped running as the former opened up his comms link. "Wheeljack, the Decepticons are headed for the control tower! Is the Ark prepared?" He asked as his fellow Autobot tuned into the comms channel.
"The Ark is ready for launch, Optimus! Just waiting on you, B-127 and Cliffjumper!" Wheeljack spoke as Optimus turned behind him to see the red Autobot kick the feline machine off him, his legs now freed, as he began to run toward the others.
Optimus waved his hand toward himself and B-127. "Hurry, soldier! The Ark is launching!" Cliffjumper caught up to the other two and began running toward the tower, just as Starscream and the other Seekers began hovering over the launch pad. The Autobots reached the Ark, which laid on top of the launch pad of the control tower. Optimus and B-127 boarded, while Cliffjumper looked out to where the Decepticons were located. "Cliffjumper, we must board the Ark now!" Optimus called out as a pink and blue female Autobot stood out from behind him.
A pair of Decepticons, one red and the other blue, climbed onto the launch pad, looking up at the Seeker trio. The blue one stepped forward, his right arm morphing into a large cannon. "You Autobot scum better surrender, or we'll blow your entire resistance to smithereens!" He aimed his cannon as he heard his comms link activating.
"Dropkick! I did not order you or your sister to pursue the Autobots! Return to me at once!" Soundwave's voice echoed in his head as he pointed his gun directly at Optimus.
"Not now, Soundwave. Besides, since when does a chance to pound down on Orion Pax come along so easily?" Cliffjumper stepped forward and turned to face Optimus and the female Autobot.
"You guys need to get out of here. I'll take Dropkick and try to distract ol' Screamer long enough for the Ark to get out of firing range." He looked at the female Autobot, who stared at Cliffjumper almost tearfully. "Just do me a favour, Prime, and look after Arcee. She may act tough, but she's fragile, so take care of her, or I'll have to come after you." He flashed Arcee a smile as she returned the act, before retreating into the Ark. Cliffjumper sighed and gave Optimus a pat on the shoulder. "It's been an honour serving alongside you, Optimus Prime." He smiled as he closed the Ark's door and turned around to face Dropkick.
The Ark began to take off as Cliffjumper jumped toward Dropkick, pinning him down and aiming his weapon toward rhe sky, firing a shot at the Seekers above. He then fired his own weapons upward at the Seekers, knocking their aim off and missing the Ark as its engines began to enter their maximum thrust, quickly exiting Cybertron's atmosphere as the Seekers landed, surrounding Cliffjumper. He tried to run toward a nearby escape pod, but Dropkick destroyed it with his blaster as the Seekers cornered him. "You Autobot filth!" Starscream lunged forward and grabbed Cliffjumper's arm, pulling a sword from one of his wings and slicing it clean off. Cliffjumper cried in anguish as Laserbeak hovered over the group.
Soundwave's voice echoed through the bird-bot. "Bring the Autobot to me. We shall depart on the Nemesis, and pursue the Autobots to their destination: Earth."