Where Wise Mechs Fear to Tread Chapter 5
Title: Where Wise Mechs Fear to Tread
Chapter: 5
Word Count: 1096
Summary: They had all been banished. By Sentinel Prime or their commanders, it didn't matter. They had been left alone on that tiny, out-of-the-way moon base, left to die or live. Nobody cared which. Then Sentinel died, along with most of his command element, and Optimus Prime is left with the task of choosing new mechs to help him lead. Who better than those who survived alone for so long?
Rating: T
In Which Rest is Interrupted and Chaos Ensues
Optimus jolted roughly from his peaceful recharge at Ironhide's poke to his side, arm transforming instantly into a cannon and whirring to life before his optics even clicked on.
With a loud vent, the Prime deactivated the cannon. What war did to a mech...
“Ya might wanna leave that on, Prime. An alert's been sounded. 'Cons've been detected a quarter joor out. Everyone's bein' called t' a briefing. Prowl told me that we weren't needed, but...”
“Lead the way, Ironhide,” the Prime rumbled, keeping the cannon on standby. Ironhide, grinning, led the way from the room.
.oOo.oOo.oOo.oOo.oOo.
A breem later, they were surrounded by a familiar chaos. The organized chaos of an army preparing for battle.
The Prime stood with his guards inside the doorway to the Command Center, watching as Prowl expertly handed out assignments, mechs manned the scanners and communications consoles, and mechs rushed about performing their assigned tasks. Mechs chattered and smiled as they worked, looking at home and content, if busy.
It was familiar, but alien at the same time. Battles back on Cybertron, in Iacon, or any other base, or even on the moons or any more tactically important off-planet base, everything would be serious, and the mood would be dour. Here, everyone seemed to have perked up, and the excitement was tangible in both the air and the EM fields of the mechs present.
Eventually, though, Prowl noticed the observers. “Prime. I told Ironhide we had this covered.”
“Perhaps, Prowl,” the Prime said, optics sparkling, “but I believed this to be a better time for inspection than regular old drills.”
Prowl took a klik to think about that before nodding and commanding the Prime and his entourage to keep back. Then he turned to his mechs, now rather still, and the large screen behind them, which displayed the Decepticon's and the base's location. The purple dot marking the enemy forces was very close now.
The base commander straightened, doorwings stiffening. “Mechs. Let us show the Decepticons why, exactly, the name 'the Pit' has stuck to this Primus-forsaken base. Autobots, roll out!” the tactician commanded in a calm, even tone. A few snarls and cheers met his order, and there was a rush for the door.
Less than a breem later, Optimus, Ironhide, and the other guards were alone. Venting heavily, the Prime followed the horde running for the main exit. “I have a feeling,” the Matrix-bearer said to his closest friend as they walked, “that we are in for a rude awakening.”
“Now what gives ya that idea?” the ancient black mech grumbled, activating his cannons.
.oOo.oOo.oOo.oOo.oOo.
Optimus's prediction was, as it turned out, very correct. At first, the battle seemed to be as chaotic and disorganized as any, what with Soundwave blocking transmissions. Mechs ran across the battlefield, shooting at anything that had the opposite sides' symbol. Loud shouts, some of pain, some of glee (and those were easy to assign to the Twins), massive clouds of dust and debris and fire, and brilliant flashes of laser fire.
Then there was a shout across the Autobot battle comm channel. ::I got him out! The lines are open!:: Blaster cried, and the Prime could see Prowl's barely there, yet still vicious grin from where he and his guards stood well back from the fighting.
::Brilliant. Good job, Blaster. Now. Twins. Take out the Seekers. Minibots, go north. Hound, Trailbreaker, go up the center, get them distracted. Bluestreak, cover fire down the middle. ::
The commands continued on, steady, ever changing, never leaving a mech to fend for himself. The Twins launched themselves into the air, latching onto the Seekers wheeling above, who immediately left off on raining fire down on the Autobots in favor of attempting to dislodge the red and yellow ground-pounders. Trailbreaker and Hound did as directed, placing holograms and forcefields at random, stopping, distracting, and frightening the already disorganized and chaotic forces. Optimus watched, stunned, as the tide of the battle turned in mere moments.
Then another surprise. ::Got th' charges placed, Prowler,:: a cheery voice lilted over the comms. Jazz's sleek alt form could be seen racing around the edge of the battlefield, dust rising in his wake.
With that, Prowl flicked his doorwings and called out across the comm. ::Autobots, fall back in order!::
Immediately, the colorful Autobot forces pulled back in a rippling wave of mechs. The Decepticons, both drones and mechs, paused, confused, as their enemies disappeared. Then, all pit broke loose.
Explosions, in, around, in front of, and behind the purple-marked forces blasted through the mechs' thick battle armor. Decepticon lines fell, the soldiers obliterated under the onslaught of fire and shrapnel. The Autobot forces watched calmly as Soundwave called the retreat.
Optimus scanned the retreating forces. Less than a tenth of the original attacking force was leaving now, and all of them injured.
The Prime and his guards watched, silent, as the Autobots, with only one serious injury (a badly strained knee joint on Sideswipe, courtesy of an angry Seeker and the hard ground), the rest of the troops with only superficial damage, returned, bantering, to their base. Optimus led his guards back as well, following on the tail end of the group of bots.
::Prime... What...::
::That was the fastest rout I’ve ever seen,:: the Prime said over the comm, glad once again of his mask. It was unPrimely to gape.
::These mechs,:: Ironhide said, optics wide, ::despite being insane, might just be the right ones.::
::They are. I told you, the Matrix is... happy with them. And after that, I have no doubt in their combat abilities, or how well they listen to a commander... I believe that I will make my announcement tonight.::
::Good. The sooner you do that, the sooner we can get back home.::
“And win the war” went unsaid between the two, but they were both thinking it. Nodding slowly, the Prime opened a comm line to the base commander.
::Prowl. Prime here.::
::Prime. What can I do for you?::
::You can call a meeting for tonight. I have an announcement I wish to make to the entire base.::
::That will not be a problem. The mechs often throw a party after a particularly successful battle. Is making your announcement during the party acceptable?::
::Yes, that will do, Prowl. Thank you.::
::Sir.::
The comm line closed, and the Prime turned back to smile at his old friend. Ironhide nodded gruffly back, a grin twitching at his lips.