Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Defenses
2034 CE
Decepticon Forward Operations Base, Taros III
Starscream looked out into the darkness of space from his quarters. From his position, he could see explosions flaring in the dark over the various planets in the Taros System, especially at Taros IV. Though about a half a lightyear away, the planets in the system were relatively close enough to get a good perspective on the Battle. Taros I, II, and III had all been captured by the Decepticons. IV, V, and VI were putting up a fight. Both the Autobots and the Tarosians (who recently, Starscream notice, had achieved the ability to wage war in space, though poorly.) were holding out.
Starscream took a moment to reflect on how his life had turned out this way. He was banished into another dimension during the Singularity Crisis, but here he was.
Why? Starscream thought. I had conquered an entire dimension for my own enjoyment! Why did I come back to this Primus-forsaken reality? He crossed his arms across his chest. He was momentarily thrown off by the fact that his body had restored itself to its standard size since Starscream used all that remained of Primus's power to return home. Can I even go back to my conquered real ever again? Starscream asked himself.
No… No, I came here because there was something I needed to do. Something I needed to fix… He thought. As he looked out at the wanton destruction, he realized: This is not it…
Before Starscream could consider what more he wanted, there was a knock on his door.
"Enter." Starscream called. The doors slid apart and Sunstorm walked in, holding a datapad in his left arm, and saluting with his right.
"Your majesty." Sunstorm said, making his presence clear.
"Sunstorm. Hn. What is it?" Starscream had some issues with Sunstorm being his aide-de-camp on his campaign to establish the New Decepticon Empire. First was Sunstorm's personality. Sunstorm was very religious, which was something Starscream was uncomfortable with. After all, Starscream did engage Sunstorm's idol of worship in melee combat after absorbing his power. Needless to say, Sunstorm himself held a certain level of resentment towards Starscream because of this though he didn't make this sentiment public. The second issue was that Sunstorm shared a body type with Thrust, a Decepticon who Starscream didn't have the best of relationships with when he was alive. This was a leadership structure that was on the brink of explosion.
"My lord, Snaptrap's 18th Division is on the verge of routing near Taros IV. I know they're ordered to hold out until death, but Oil Slick's refreshed 7th Division has informed me that he will willingly replace the 18th should they be allowed a retreat." Sunstorm stated. Starscream let out a sigh. He turned and began to walk to the doorway where Sunstorm was standing. "...My lord?" Sunstorm said in confusion. Starscream put his hand on Sunstorm's shoulder and pushed him to the side.
"Out of my way." Starscream muttered. He left his quarters and walked down the hall. His slow pace gradually developed into a run, and soon he was outside of the building. Developing momentum as he ran, Starscream flew up with a jump and transformed into his Cybertronian jet alternate mode. As he flew, he passed through one of the available warp gates above Taros III, and came out over Taros IV. Appearing in the middle of the battlefield near a chain of asteroids where the Decepticons were taking cover, Starscream transformed to his primary mode. Taking a moment to look over the battlefield, Starscream could see the 18th Division taking cover, dead mechs floating aimlessly around like scattered toys. He could see Snaptrap, attending to a fallen soldier, looking up at Starscream with a hint of anger. Starscream smirked at his weakness, before calling out "CYBER KEY POWER!"
Starscream's subspace pocket opened up and down came his Cyber Key, revealing and powering up a Null Ray Cannon that came from his arm, while a sword came from the other. The two turrets near Starscream's hips rotated forward, and a barrage of laser fire came from the Decepticon leader at the Autobots and Tarosians. The lasers, filled with the energy of Primus, shot apart Autobot and Tarosian ships alike. Smiling, Starscream flew closer to the enemy, being relentless in his slaughter. The Decepticons looked up from their cover in awe at their leader.
"Sir, that's Starscream!" Skyfall called out on the bridge of the Vector Prime, one of the Autobot warships at the front. Riptide looked at the destruction that occurred as Starscream bisected other Autobot warships of the same class as the Vector Prime with his null ray.
"You got to be kidding me!" Riptide said in disbelief. "That's the power of a Cyber Key!?" He glared at the main monitor which had focused on Starscream.
"Sir, we're going to die!" Swerve called out nervously. "Please, order a fall back!"
"This is the capital of the Taros Empire! An Autobot retreat would leave our friends to their dooms!" Riptide said hesitantly.
"I don't know, living to fight another day may help us save other allies in the future." Endo called out. Riptide grimaced at his choice. As each second went by, he saw more and more Autobots and Tarosians die. He even saw the Blizzard Planet and the Lincoln begin a retreat, only to be sliced apart by Starscream's continuous laser beams. Finally, Riptide spoke.
"Argh! Fine! Fall back, put the planet between us and them!" Riptide called.
"Aye, Captain!" Swerve replied, entering data into his console. The ship began its retreat. Suddenly, a screen opened up on the monitor with the visage of a certain crimson Autobot.
"Attention, 3rd Field Fleet! This is Commander Rodimus. You are to maintain your position! Do not retreat! Major reinforcements are coming soon!" Rodimus ordered.
"Yeah, sure, Roddy. What can stop that?!" Riptide sighed at the screen even though Rodimus couldn't hear him. Indeed, Rodimus would not be fond of the nickname 'Roddy' at all. Naturally, most of his forces called him that behind his back.
"Sir, we have incoming, closing in fast!" Skyfall suddenly said, looking at the fast blip on the radar.
"What could be-" Endo started. Just then, the ship shook as a large and long battleship shot by them at hyperspeed.
"That was… Did you catch those colors?" Endo called out, but the bridge was already busy looking behind them through the monitor.
"Transform!" The battleship cried, size-shifting and mode changing into a still relatively large robot. Its momentum from hyperspeed continued, and he carried the energy over into a punch from his red claw, sending Starscream flying. The Autobot stood there in a stance of dominance and victory, and the Autobots began to cheer. Snaptrap ordered a retreat. Riptide let a sigh of relief slip by his lips.
Omega Supreme stood ready to defend Taros IV.
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