//------------------------------//
// The Best Offense 
// Story: Cybertron Girls 
// by SonicSpeedster97 
//------------------------------//

With Megatron now in possession of the Skyboom Shield, Optimus found it wholly necessary to order the mayor to evacuate the entire city to whatever emergency shelters they had available as the Autobots prepared for a siege. “How are the weapons systems looking, Wheeljack?” asked Ironhide.
“All systems go, chief.” the engineer nodded as he pressed a button on the console, prompting a large array of turrets to rise around the city’s perimeter. “Even with the Skyboom Shield, Megatron’s gonna have a hard time getting past that.”
“And even if he does, we’ll have somethin’ for him.” Springer smiled as he walked in, showing the Autobots a massive assortment of high-powered weapons. “Wrecker arsenal ready for work. Pick your poison.”
“Ooh, Rainbow likes.” Rainbow smiled as she grabbed a large, high-caliber machine gun. “Alright, let’s get ready for war.”
“We may not have to wait long.” Jetfire called over the coms. “I’m detecting Megatron on approach, fast. And he’s got a lot of reinforcements.”
Optimus narrowed his optics as he readied two large truck trailers for himself and Elita. “Then we cannot afford to wait any longer. We must go out and stop him from entering the city. Autobots, Transform and Roll Out!” Quickly he and Elita were the first to transform and hooked up to their trailers before they roared out of the Ark with every Autobot they had available before the ship was locked down.
“Why’d you do that?” Twilight asked Red Alert – who had transformed into a Lamborghini Countach LP500S fire chief’s car.

“On the off chance we fall out here, I wanted to make sure the Ark and its capabilities didn’t fall into the Decepticons’ hands.” Red Alert answered.
Unfortunately, none of them were aware that just before the ship had locked down, Nightbird had slunk silently in through the side of the hangar door and was sneaking her way through the ship to a small vault, where she found the components of the Omega Lock. “Finally.”




On the outskirts of town, Megatron – who had been roaring toward the city in his massive tank-form – stopped just out of range of the defense grid and transformed back to bot-mode, watching the large turrets tracking him and the other Decepticons as the Autobots approached. Sunset was the first to transform as she, Optimus, and Elita stood forward. “Give up, Megatron. You’re outgunned,” she warned.
“Is that so?” Megatron sneered as he raised the Skyboom Shield. “I suggest you check again, Pretender. Because I think you’ll find that you are the ones outgunned here.”
“Incoming!” Twilight yelled as Megatron pulled something on the shield, sending out a massive shockwave of energy. Everyone quickly tried to dive for cover, but Brawn and several other Autobots were caught in the blast, knocking them back as the wave shattered the turrets to scrap metal.
“Decepticons, destroy them!” Megatron’s order was swiftly followed by a massive wave of weapons fire from the Decepticons, blasting the Autobots from every possible angle.
“Trailbreaker, give us some cover!” Prowl ordered, prompting Trailbreaker to set up a large shield between their lines and the Decepticons, tanking most of the fire. Rarity quickly assisted him with a wall of gem shields, but they both knew it wouldn’t last forever. “Return fire!” The Autobots all quickly raised their blasters and started firing at the Decepticons, but Megatron tanked most of the fire with the Skyboom Shield, allowing it to power up more and more.
“Man, and I thought most of that talk about the shield was just you blowing smoke,” Rainbow remarked to Optimus.
“We cannot allow Megatron to possess the Skyboom Shield any longer,” Optimus ordered.
“Then we take it off his hands. Question is how?” asked Applejack.
“I got an idea. But I’ll need some cover.” Rainbow remarked. “And your guns, Kup.”
Kup was confused but shrugged as he handed Rainbow his large SMGs. “Hope you know what you’re doing, youngster.”
“Me too.” Rainbow shrugged, turning to Pinkie. “Once I have his attention, you know what to do.” Pinkie nodded with a smile before Rainbow vaulted over her cover and started firing at Megatron. “Hey ugly, over here!”
Megatron scowled as he raised the shield, staying behind it as Rainbow raced circles around him, blasting him from every possible angle. The warlord could barely keep track of Rainbow as he tried to return fire both with his own cannon and the gun in the shield, finally succeeding in knocking Rainbow to the ground purely by luck when she accidentally clotheslined herself on his cannon, which he then aimed straight at her. “You will be one organic gnat I will greatly enjoy swatting, human.”
Rainbow just smiled as she looked down the barrel of Megatron’s cannon, glancing off his side. “Lose something?” Megatron glanced in the same direction as her and was stunned; he had no idea how he’d missed it, but somehow the Skyboom Shield had disappeared from his arm, and in its place was a large sugar crystal which promptly exploded in his face, making him cringe in pain.
“Surprise!” Pinkie cheered from the Autobots’ lines. Megatron sneered in that direction as he tried to recalibrate his optics… and saw the Skyboom Shield on Optimus’ arm.
Rainbow smirked as she kicked Megatron right in the midsection before she raced back to the Autobots as Optimus stepped forward. “Megatron…” he scowled, raising the shield. “Begone.” With a single move, another wave of raw energy shot from the shield and blasted all the Decepticons back, knocking the already wounded Megatron back on his heels in the arms of his soldiers.
“Open fire!” Prowl ordered, prompting all the Autobots to fire on the Decepticons at once.
Megatron held an arm in front of his face as the gunfire grew more intense. “Decepticons, retreat! Return to base!” the warlord ordered as a GroundBridge opened behind them. The Decepticons quickly fled through the vortex amid Autobot blaster fire. “This is far from over, Optimus Prime!” Megatron warned before he disappeared through the portal.
The Autobots cheered at this victory as they pulled back toward the city. “Wheeljack, repair all defense systems and ensure the city will be defended,” Optimus ordered.
“Gladly, sir.” Wheeljack saluted as he immediately set to work. The others were still congratulating each other for a well-deserved victory all the way back to the Ark… where they saw the door was open.
“What the heck?” asked Rainbow as she walked cautiously inside. “Teletraan, what happened?”
“There’s been a security breach.” the computer reported. “The Omega Vault has been opened.”
“Omega Vault?” asked Twilight.
“It’s where I secured the portions of the Omega Lock.” Red Alert scowled. “Who accessed it?” That question was answered when the security feed came up… and showed Nightbird running off with the portions of the Omega Lock.
“Jumpin’ Gyros, you’ve gotta be kiddin’ me!” Cheetor snarled.
“Back to Square 1.” Rhinox scowled.
“Worse than that; if the Decepticons get Rattrap and Botanica, then they’ll have all they need to find the keys.” Twilight scowled.
“Then we’ll make sure they don’t get them,” Elita assured. “I’m calling for full mobilization to locate them both.”
“Agreed.” Optimus nodded. “Jetfire, until such time as the remaining two Maximals are here and the Omega Lock is within our possession, no Autobot who leaves this base returns.”
“Understood.” Jetfire nodded, turning to the others. “You heard him; let’s roll out.” Quickly all the Autobots transformed and raced out of the base, ready to do anything to locate the means to restore their home.



Speaking of which, the thief had already returned to the Nemesis carrying the components of the Omega Lock she had just stolen, laying them at the feet of her master as Flatline was tending to his arm. “The Omega Lock, my lord. As promised.”
“Excellent work, Nightbird.” Megatron smiled.
“I would hardly say that, Lord Megatron.” Starscream countered. “It’s nothing more than a pile of junk right now. And need I remind you that we still lack the AllSpark.”
“Only for now, Starscream.” Megatron sneered. “And you will remember your place.”
“In the Decepticon hierarchy or in the battle I should have taken part in?” Starscream scowled. “Because if I had been a part of the latter, then perhaps the loss of the Skyboom Shield would have been averted.”
Megatron scowled at Starscream in anger. “Leave us. No interruptions.” The rest of the crew was clearly who he was addressing, and all left the warlord alone as he rose to his feet.
Starscream recognized this easily as Megatron walked over to him. “M- Master-” Megatron cut him off by grabbing the air commander by the throat.
“Let me make this explicitly clear, Starscream. I will not be questioned.” the warlord scowled. “And certainly not by you, who stood and watched the Decepticons grow from the ranks of the opposition. Were any of your other Seekers up to the task of your rank, I would have ripped you limb from limb millennia ago. Do I make myself clear?”
“Y- Yes, master…” Starscream choked against Megatron’s grip.
It was just then that Blast Off entered the bridge. “Lord Megatron.”
Megatron scowled and tossed Starscream to the deck as he looked at the Combaticon. “Tell me Blast Off; when I said ‘no interruptions’, what did you hear?”
“Forgive me My Lord, but Shockwave has just arrived from Cybertron. With his iteration of the Skyboom Shield for your approval.” Blast Off reported.
Megatron’s optics popped open and he smiled. “Excellent.” He strode after Blast Off to the SpaceBridge deck, with Starscream following close behind… though not so close as to invoke Megatron’s wrath again.
It only took them a moment to reach the SpaceBridge where they found Shockwave waiting with a large triangular shield. “As promised, Lord Megatron,” Shockwave said simply, handing the shield to the warlord.

Megatron smiled and locked the shield onto his arm, finding it to fit perfectly. “Most impressive, Shockwave. And exactly how many more times can you replicate it?”
“Regretfully, Lord Megatron, I was only able to produce enough of the alloy for this single shield,” Shockwave said simply, not actually sounding all that regretful.
“I should think it hardly matters, Lord Megatron,” Starscream said, attempting to make up for his earlier blunder. “After all, if every Decepticon soldier possessed weapons of this caliber, then the war would be over much too quickly. But if you and Prime are the only ones…”
Megatron almost scowled at his air commander, but then smiled at his logic. “Then that would only make my final victory over the Prime all the greater. A wise point for once, Starscream; you impress me sometimes. Not often, mind you.” Starscream sneered at that. “And what of the remaining component of the Omega Lock?”
“My Seekers are out searching for it as we speak, my lord,” Starscream answered.
“Good. Then if that is all, Shockwave, I wish to go prepare my shield for battle with Prime.” Megatron smiled as he walked off the SpaceBridge deck.
Starscream indicated to Blast Off with his head, prompting the Combaticon to leave. Once he was gone, Starscream turned back to Shockwave. “And what of your other project?”
“With no further distractions, it should be finished within the next few solar cycles,” Shockwave reported.
“Then please, do not allow me to keep you.” Starscream smiled, patting the scientist on the shoulder. “Return to your work.”
Shockwave nodded and walked back through the SpaceBridge. Starscream smiled as he deactivated the vortex. “It’s only a matter of time, Megatron.” he sneered to himself, ready to declare his conquest.