บท 5: The Ark Ascends
Soon, the tanker returned to the Autobot base, passing safely through the hidden barrier. Once it landed, Perceptor ran out with a team to help unload the Energon.
"Remember," he said, "all of it is going to the Ark."
As Perceptor's team worked, Optimus Prime, flanked by Bumblebee and Wheeljack, came out to meet the other bots as they disembarked.
"Well done." Prime said, "It's good to see you all back."
"And in one piece too." Bumblebee said.
"We're just glad to have made it out alive." Corvax said, "Those Insecticons are no joke."
"Megatron must be more desperate to get you than we thought." Prime said, "We need to get the Ark up and running as fast as possible. We don't know if you were seen by any others as you left."
"I'll check the outside security cams on the ship," Wheeljack spoke up, "If anyone was watching us, those cams will have seen it."
Prime nodded: "Do what you need to, Wheeljack." He said, and Wheeljack ran onto the ship to access the cam recordings.
"Soooooo, what now?" Beatbox asked.
"Now, we need to make preparations for takeoff," Prime said.
Bumblebee spoke up: "With all that Energon you brought from your ship, Perceptor thinks we'll be able to make it through the portal and to Earth safely."
Now it was Physicon that spoke up: "I think you have forgotten that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Decepticons surrounding that portal."
"Our defenses might hold out," Prime said, "But if you have a better idea, I'm willing to listen."
Physicon thought for a moment, but was interrupted by Wheeljack as he ran out of the ship.
"Guys!" he said "We might have a problem."
Leading the others in, he showed them one of the recordings. It was paused, but then Wheeljack zoomed the frame in to show a helicopter watching from behind one of the towers, out of sight from the Aerialbots.
Airbourne looked closely at the image, then growled in frustration.
"It's Vortex." He said.
"Isn't he a Combaticon?" Beatbox asked.
"Yes," Physicon said, "And he was watching us."
"Which means he's probably sent word back to Megatron as well." Demotak concluded.
Prime narrowed his eyes: "Than there isn't a moment to lose. We need to get the Ark off the ground and through that portal NOW. Physicon, you said you could get us past the security?"
"I can." Physicon replied, "I'll disguise us as a Decepticon ship. The guards are only alerted to disturbances in the sensors from outsiders, but they allow all Decepticon ships through. No questions asked."
"Do that." Prime said. Then, hailing Perceptor over the coms: "Perceptor! How much longer until the Energon is fully transferred into the Ark?"
"We're about halfway done here," Perceptor replied, "Maybe about 15 more minutes until it's done."
"I need you to initiate full takeoff protocols."
"Already? Are you sure about that?"
"Something else has come up. We may already be in danger by just sitting here, and we cannot waste any more time. Get everyone to the Ark, now!"
A few moments later, alarms began blaring Perceptor's voice came over the intercom: "Attention all Autobots! Full Ark takeoff protocol has begun. All Autobots, get to the Ark immediately. I repeat, all Autobots get to the Ark immediately!"
The Commandobots were at the lead, being one of the first to get inside the Ark and, as directed by Prime, headed for the control room. Where Physicon went to one of the control consoles. Optimus Prime followed soon after alongside multiple other Autobots, who each took their own spots at the control consoles.
"How much longer until everyone is on board?" Prime asked.
"We should be fully boarded in the next twenty minutes." Wheeljack said.
"Energon transfer at 90%" Perceptor said over the coms.
"Bringing systems online now," Arcee said as the lights on the ship began to flare to life.
"Wreckers! I need you at the defensive cannons." Prime said over the coms.
"This is Bulkhead," said a voice on the other end, "We're on it!"
After a few minutes, Perceptor's team finished transferring the rest of the Energon into the Ark, and then they ran to join the remaining Autobots that were filing up the ramp and into the ship. A few minutes after that, the Autobots had finished boarding the ship.
"Everyone's in, sir!" Perceptor said.
"Energon transfer is complete and we are ready to roll outta here." Beatbox said.
"Good" Prime said, "Prepare takeoff sequence."
Slowly, the ship started to shudder as the engines began to roar to life. Prime turned on the intercom and his voice resounded throughout the whole ship.
"Autobots, this is Optimus Prime. I know this all is very sudden for you, but something new has come up. We finally have a chance to leave this dying planet and find a new home. However, we must first liberate that planet from Decepticon control. I know that sounds similar to Cybertron, but as much as it pains me to say it, Cybertron is too far gone. This new planet, Earth, still has hope to it; hope we need to restore. We cannot allow another world to suffer the same fate Cybertron did. So, I have taken this opportunity to leave Cybertron now that we have it. It may be a bit different than what even I was expecting, but we will still finally make it off this planet and save Earth. We must do this, for the survival of our people. Till all are one."
The other Autobots repeated: "Till all are one." When Prime finished. The Commandobots also repeated the phrase; it felt weird saying it at first for them, but they realized it was a lot better than anything Megatron could come up with.
"Now," Prime said, "To your stations. Prepare for take-off. Jetfire, Perceptor, fire engines."
"Ignition started," Jetfire said.
"Take-off on my mark," Perceptor said; the ship was really beginning to vibrate now, and Perceptor began counting down. As he did, the other Autobots throughout the ship looked at each other, nervous of what was to come.
"Ten…nine…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…two…one…PUNCH IT, JETFIRE!!"
Jetfire pushed the throttle forward, and the Ark slowly began to lift off the ground, shuddering violently as it did. Beatbox gripped the armrests of his chair tightly.
"Aaaahhhhh, I don't like this paaart!! He screamed.
"Pull it together, Beatbox!" Demotak shouted, though he too was gripping his chair. Despite the shuddering, the Ark finally lifted off the ground and shot into the sky.
"Confirmed liftoff!" Perceptor shouted for joy, and cheering from the other Autobots resounded through the ship. Prime sat back in the commander's chair in relief.
"Alright, Commandobots," he said, "Take us to the portal."
Corvax nodded, then began to instruct Jetfire on where to steer the ship.
"Physicon, get ready to work you magic." Corvax said, looking over to his teammate.
"How much farther until we reach the space bridge?" Prime asked.
"Well," Physicon said, "Based on our current speed, we should be there within the next few minutes. I'll begin prepping the cloak."
Prime nodded: "Very well. Corvax, you're sure this will work."
"I'm honestly not sure of anything right now." Corvax replied, "But I trust Physicon. He knows what he's doing."
"That's good enough for me."
"I see it. Dead ahead!" Bumblebee said from one of the controls. The others looked in the direction Bumblebee was pointing and saw a massive mechanical ring of some kind just above the atmosphere. A massive blue energy was glowing from the inside of the loop.
"There it is," Corvax said.
"You were right," Perceptor said in amazement, "I never thought the Decepticons could actually hide something like this."
"You'd be surprised. All right, Physicon, let's vanish."
"Very well," Physicon replied, and began furiously typing on his console.
"No going back now." Perceptor said.
"I hope this works." Corvax said.
"We must have faith," Prime said, "We'll make it."
Corvax turned and looked at the space bridge as they approached it and softly said: "I sure hope so."
…
Meanwhile, in another area of Cybertron was the Decepticon fortress, and Inside the throne room sat Megatron himself. He faced the kneeling holographic form of Shockwave.
"You have a great deal to explain." Megatron growled.
"I can assure you, Lord Megatron, I had not anticipated that they would reject their own programming."
"And now, thanks to your oversight, not only has our operation on Earth possibly been jeopardized, but now the Autobots have made off with a very large and valuable supply of Energon!!"
"It matters not." Shockwave replied, his voice unnaturally calm, "Project: Titanic Rebirth proceeds on schedule."
"None of that will matter if Prime finds out about it."
Shockwave stood up: "Relax. Let them have their fun. Even if Prime was told about our experiment, he has no way of getting to Earth, and even with the Energon he now attained, their ship would still be unable to make it, and I made sure to keep the space bridge a secret."
"Well, at least you did THAT right." Megatron said, "Make sure this failure doesn't happen again in your next experiments!"
"Of course," Shockwave replied, "And one more thing."
"What?"
"My scouts have recently found where that interesting techno-organism that I mentioned to you a long while earlier is hiding. The one the humans created."
"Now that is some good news. Can you retrieve it? With that kind of tech at our disposal, that puny human resistance on Earth will fall quickly."
"I can, but I will need some assistance in doing so."
Megatron thought for a bit, "I think I know just the one to help." he said with a devious grin. Then, hitting a button on his throne said: "Come up here."
A few moments later, the doors opened and a blue and white Decepticon with a minigun on his shoulder.
"Yes, Lord Megatron?" he said in a techno monotone voice.
"Soundwave," Megatron said, "I am sending you to Earth to join Shockwave's operation. He has special need of you."
Soundwave bowed: "I will leave at once, my lord."
"Good." Megatron said, "Go."
Soundwave turned and left the room. Shockwave looked back to Megatron and said: "He will help nicely."
"Of course he will." Megatron said, "Soundwave has not failed me yet, and I don't expect he will now."
"I don't think so either. So, once we get the techno-organism, I will finish my other military experiments and dispose of the human resistance, then Project: Titanic Rebirth will be complete soon after that."
"And then," Megatron said, "We will end the Autobots once and for all."
"Indeed."
"Well, I shouldn't keep you here any longer. Continue overseeing things."
Shockwave bowed, and the hologram dissipated. Megatron sat back in his throne, an evil grin on his face. Everything was proceeding as planned.
At one of the Decepticon launchpads, Soundwave approached the transport ready to take him to Earth as Starscream walked up behind him.
"So, Soundwave," he said, "I hear the boss is sending you to Earth."
"Affirmative, Starscream," Soundwave replied, "It is classified. I am the only one to go there."
"Aw, c'mon," Starscream said deceptively, "Surely you…"
He was cut off when Soundwave backhanded him, sending him sprawling across the ground.
"Negative. Superior Soundwave goes. Inferior Starscream stays." Soundwave said before getting on the ship. As it took off, Starscream slowly got up, growling in frustration as it left. He was fed up with being at the short end of the stick, and without a chance to prove himself. Of course, he was going to initiate a full takeover once he got high enough in the ranks, but it seemed Megatron was preventing him from doing just that. Then he got an idea.
"I'll just go myself," he said to himself, "Then, once I beat Soundwave to his objective, I'll be the one to get respect, not him."
Laughing at his plan, he transformed into his jet mode and took off in the direction of the space bridge, making sure to cloak himself so Soundwave wouldn't see him.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง