CHAPTER SEVEN
--Cybertron--
"Autobot down! Repeat: Autobot down! We need a medic over here!"
Even as he said these words, Springer knew it would be no use. Leadfoot was leaking energon badly; by the time a medic reached him, he would be too far gone.
Nearby, Roadbuster was unloading all of his ammo at approaching Eradicons. In the air, Whirl and Sandstorm were in a dogfight with Seekers. Topspin, Twin Twist, and Fastfix had already fallen; Springer doubted they would be rising again.
As he pulled Leadfoot away behind cover, Springer called into his communicator. "Scoop, Scattorshot! What is your status?"
"Decepticons got us pinned!" Scattorshot replied, static accompanying his voice. "--Fighters inbound. Not sure-- we can hold them--"
The connection went dead. In Springer's arms, Leadfoot did the same. And to think, the battle had only just begun....
* * *
Ultra Magnus dove for cover as a ray of plasma came his way. Charging up his gun, he turned around and fired it pointblank into his Decepticon opponent's face, blowing their head clean off. Before he could even think of reveling in his victory, another Decepticon-- much larger than the first-- pushed their way forward with a huge gatling gun.
"There's always a bigger gun," Magnus muttered to himself as he dodged the incoming bullets.
"I would like one right about now," Kup muttered, joining him as he discarded his empty blaster rifle. "I'm all out of juice. Got any spares on ya'?"
"I've got a blaster pistol, but it's only got one bullet left."
"I can make it worth five."
Magnus handed him the gun and the Autobot veteran instantly turned around and fired its last remaining bullet. It lodged into the Decepticon's single optic, effectively rendering him blind. Startled by his sudden loss of vision, the 'Con spun around while still firing his gatling gun, and mowed down four of his comrades. A fifth one shot him in the chest before he could do any more damage.
Magnus gave Kup an appraising look. "You need to teach me that trick some day."
Kup grunted as he tossed the now-useless gun aside. "You think we're even gonna live to see the next sunrise, kid? You're more optimistic than I give you credit for."
* * *
"We have Ultra Magnus and the old guy pinned, general. Shall I execute them myself?"
Lumbering across the battlefield, dragging the remains of a barely-functioning Autobot behind her, Strika answered her communicator. "No, Dreadwing," she growled. "As I told you, Ultra Magnus is to be executed by either Shockwave, myself, or another general. Just keep him there until one of us arrives."
There was a hint of doubt in Dreadwing's voice when he responded. "Er, with all due respect, general... are you serious? I mean... he's right here. We've got him cornered. I could easily blast his head to bits."
"Consider this, Dreadwing: how do you think it will go down in the history records? 'Ultra Magnus, High Commander of the Elite Guard, a legend among Autobots, slain by a lowly Decepticon soldier.' It doesn't exactly have much flare to it, wouldn't you agree?"
"Well, yes, general, but--"
"Enough," Strika said sharply. "Just keep him there until I or someone of higher ranking than you arrives." She then cut off the connection, not wanting to hear the soldier's groveling response.
Releasing the battered Autobot in her clutches, Strika casually aimed a plasma cannon at him and finished him off. She then turned to her lieutenant, the Combaticon leader Onslaught.
"Take command of the ground assault from here. I need to go make history."
--The Nemesis--
Cybertron was on fire.
Soundwave had the ship's angle altered so that Optimus could get a better look, not hat he desired one. Any repairs made to Cybertron in the past century were being undone, torn asunder by the Decepticon's assault. Building were consumed by flames, leaving behind no hint they had been there to begin with.
Anger and despair battled for dominance within him. In the end, all he could muster was a glare in Megatron's direction.
"This is what you wanted. Are you proud of yourself?"
Megatron did not answer him. For the first time in a thousand years, Optimus saw his brother look downcast. His optics were glued to the metal floor, deep in contemplation. Was he actually beginning to regret his actions? Or was he simply devising schemes to retake his operation from Soundwave?
Before he could ponder any further on the matter, Soundwave's monotonic voice brought Optimus back to reality.
"I am afraid we no longer have time to witness this historical moment. You two are needed elsewhere."
Megatron lifted his gaze to him and sneered. "What possible use are we now that everything we've fought for is crumbling?"
Soundwave said nothing. Instead, he made a strange gesture with his hand, causing a portal to open beneath the two leaders. They fell through, screaming as they went....
--Cybertron--
"They've stopped firing." It had taken a moment for Ultra Magnus to realize this, prepared for death as he was.
"Good, 'cause I'm all out of things to throw at 'em." Kup dared to peek over their cover. The Decepticons were still standing there, weapons at the ready but not firing them.
"No idea what they're waitin' for," he muttered as he sat back down. "They've got us cornered, with no ammo and a measly piece of metal coverin' us. Are they waitin' for somethin' or--"
His answer came in the form of a violet Cybertronian ship roaring across the sky. Accompanying it was a spindly, dark teal fighter with dual propellers. Down below, a purple and gold assault tank was joining the Decepticon forces already present.
"Oh, you have got to be slagging me," Magnus muttered.
The vehicles transformed, assuming the forms of Shockwave, Obsidian, and Strika; three of Megatron's most fearsome generals. One of the Decepticons gathered, a burly flier in blue, saluted them.
"We have Ultra Magnus right where you want him, generals. Ripe for the slaughtering."
"Good work, Dreadwing," said Obsidian, hovering over the ground instead of utilizing any legs. "Now then, who shall do the honors?"
"This is no time to draw light prods, Obsidian," Shockwave said coldly. "Let us simply get this over with."
Magnus heard the Decepticons beginning to approach. Heaving out a sigh, he said to Kup, "Get out of here."
"I ain't leavin' ya', kid."
"You are. That's an order."
The veteran looked as if he was about to argue but seemed to decided against it, knowing it would be no use. With a solemn look, he transformed into his alt mode and drove off.
Ultra Magnus then rose to his feet and turned in time to see Shockwave standing before him, arm cannon aimed.
"So this is what it comes down to. This is how the immortal Ultra Magnus meets his end."
"It would seem so," Magnus said as he clenched his fist and the world exploded.
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