CYBERTRON

The city of Iacon is covered in smoke and fire. Bodies lie strewn across the ground. One bot crawls to the bodies of his deceased allies. Before he can reach the closest body to him, a sword pierces his shoulder. He lets out a growl of pain and turns to face his attacker.

Purity Prime: You disgust me, Carolus. You're not worthy of being a Prime.

The bot known as Carolus Prime struggles with the sword still piercing his shoulder. Purity twists the blade causing energon to spill from the wound and a loud groan from the injured Knight.

Purity Prime: Your brothers were too blind to see it, but not you. You tried to save them, didn't you? Pathetic.

He removes his sword from the Knight's shoulder before booting him in the face.

Meanwhile, Above Iacon

Aboard the Nemesis, Megatronus Imperium looks down at the burning city. Anger fills his spark. Who could've done this? How many have died? Are they dead? Is he dead? His eyes widen as he realizes the possibility. Whipping around, he begins to bark orders at his crew.

Megatronus: Get us closer to that city! I want all available Decepticons mounting a counterattack now! Skyhawk, cut off any air support!

Skyhawk: Yes, Lord Megatron!

He turns and leaves the room, several other winged Decepticons following him. Megatronus continues to march towards the exit of the bridge, barking orders as he does.

Megatronus: Blastwave, Pulsewave, Nightshade! Follow me! This assault stops now!

Blastwave/Pulsewave/Nightshade: Yes, Lord Megatron!

They follow Megatronus off the bridge and down to the hangar. Once there, they watch as Skyhawk transforms and leads a squadron of Seekers into battle. Megatronus runs as fast as he can, his companions following along, before leaping out of the hangar opening. They fall rapidly towards the ground, then land on a nearby highway bridge. Pointing forward with his fusion cannon-clad arm, Megatronus orders his troops forward.

Megatronus: FORWARD, DECEPTICONS!! IF THEY AREN'T AUTOBOT OR DECEPTICON, BLAST THEM!! IACON WILL NOT FALL TODAY!!!

The band of Decepticons wreck through swarms of the invading troops. While fighting, they see several different markings covering the individual bodies of their enemies.

Megatronus: Deserters...and Terrorcons...

Nightshade: What the hell are those things!?

Megatronus: Predacons...DECEPTICONS! SLAUGHTER THE PREDACONS WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE!! NOTHING WILL STOP US FROM REACHING IACON!!!

Blastwave: Lord Megatron, we are outnumbered thirty-six to one!

Pulsewave: Reaching the city center is nearly impossible.

Megatronus: Kill as many as you can! We will not stop until this city is free!

Blastwave/Pulsewave: Yes, Lord Megatron!

The large two-headed Decepticon fires his two large arm cannons, energy-coated missiles flying out of one and rapid laser blasts streaming from the other.

In the City

Behind several roadblocks, a group of Autobots remain entrenched. Energy blasts of blue, green, and yellow fill the air around them. Fire erupts all over as the fight rages on.

Male Autobot: AHHHH!

Female Autobot: Lockheed's down!!

Male Autobot: There's too many of them! Optimus, what do we do!?!

Optimus Praetorian: Autobots, fall back! I will cover you!

A crimson tank races towards him, then spins and transforms. Standing where the tank once sat is none other than the Autobot muscle and munitions expert Fury, who draws out a heavy rifle and starts opening fire.

Fury: Not without backup, you're not!

Optimus Praetorian: Thank you, Fury. The rest of you, go now! Tend to the injured! We will join you shortly! Raptor!

Raptor: Yeah, boss?

Optimus Praetorian: Take to the skies! Try to reach the Decepticons and have them follow you to our position!

Raptor: On it!

Fury: Optimus, there's a lot of these...whatever-they-are's coming at us.

Optimus Praetorian: I have only seen that symbol once before. They are Predacons.

A large explosion shakes the battlefield, gaining the attention of the two Autobots who stayed behind.

Fury: Yeah? What's that?

Optimus Praetorian: Oh no...Fury, fall back! That is an order!

Fury: What the Necroworld is that!?

Optimus Praetorian: A Terrorcon named Scourge!

Fury: Terrorcon!? As in Unicron's bastards!?

Optimus Praetorian: For lack of better words, yes. Fall back!

Fury: Yeah, but first, let's leave them with a parting gift!

He moves his arms down by his sides, then flexes his arms. His legs spread and brace, clamps from the sides of his feet slam down onto the road and dig in. Fury's autographed chest cannon charges, then blasts backwards. A large energy missile flies out of his chest cannon and slams down on a large gathering of Predacons. The explosion is so large, it causes Scourge to raise an arm and twist away defensively.

Optimus and Fury fall back, joining their Autobot allies at the fort nearby. As soon as they get to their friends, Fury marches around and barks orders at his Autobot Demolition Division.

Fury: MAN ALL BATTERY CANNONS! LINE ROCKETS AND GATLINGS ALONG THE WALLS! NOTHING GETS IN HERE, NO ONE FALLS BACK!!

Meanwhile, a feminine Autobot runs over to Optimus and hugs him.

He wraps his arms around her, his optics closing briefly before they part. His hands move to her shoulders as he looks deep into her optics.

Athena-1: Optimus! You're alive!

Optimus Praetorian: I am, Athena.

Athena-1: Thank Primus. What's happening? Where's Megatronus?

Optimus Praetorian: I do not know.

Athena-1: Reports say the first bomb went off at the Knights' Temple. Optimus, who is behind all this!?

Optimus Praetorian: If it is who I think it is, Cybertron and all those who live upon it are doomed. Are there any distress beacons coming from the Knights?

Athena-1: Just one.

Optimus Praetorian: Autobots! Hold this position!

Athena-1: What about you? Where are you going?

Optimus Praetorian: If there is a chance to save any of the Knights, we must take it. They are the only ones who can stop what's coming.

The large Autobot turns around and heads for the exit. Before he can get a few steps in, Athena-1 steps in front of him and jabs a finger at his chest.

Athena-1: I don't think so! You are not going into the heart of all this, it's suicide! Optimus, there's nothing we can do.

Optimus Praetorian: I'm sorry, Athena, but I cannot live with myself if I don't try to save them. Raptor, this is Optimus! Do you read me!?

Raptor: I read you, Optimus!

Optimus Praetorian: Meet me at the Temple of the Knights!

Raptor: Copy that.

Optimus Praetorian: Fury! You and Athena will stay behind! Do not let anyone but me, Raptor, or the Decepticons through!

Fury: You got it, boss! YOU HEARD HIM BOYS!! ALL OF YOU, STAND GUARD!! NOTHING GETS IN UNLESS THEY'RE WITH THE BIG MAN OR THEY GOT AN ANGRY-ASS GLADIATOR IN FRONT OF 'EM!!!

Iacon Outskirts

Megatronus tears through his adversaries viciously and without care. Behind him, the brutish science officer lays down the hate, firing all kinds of munitions towards the Predacons. Nightshade sprints past the two and holds his arms outstretched, his twin double-barreled arm blasters sending streams of blasterfire into the chest cavities of the surprised invaders.

In the skies, Skyhawk leads his Seekers and fellow Coneheads into battle. His squadron is comprised of his second-in-command Slipstream, Painmaker, Powerrage, and Sparkburn.

Slipstream: Skyhawk, aerial incoming!

Skyhawk: Copy! Incoming spotted!

The Seeker squadron dart towards the new incoming fighter in their airspace. The incoming aircraft spins and weaves, dodging all cannon fire coming from below.

Skyhawk: Seekers, pull back! Lord Megatron, an Autobot is approaching!!

Megatronus: Optimus has sent a courier...protect him at all costs! He can lead us to Optimus!!

Skyhawk: Yes, Lord Megatron! You heard him, Seekers! Protect that Autobot with your lives!

Sparkburn: Roger!

Powerrage: Copy that, Commander!

The Seekers flank around Raptor and do numerous strafe runs, killing and dismantling anything firing up at them or blocking Megatronus and the other Decepticons' path.

Raptor: Thank you! Optimus is going to the Knights' Temple!

Megatronus: Then that is where I'm headed! Are there any other survivors!?

Raptor: Yes! They're dug in at Fort Centennial!

Megatronus: Understood! DECEPTICONS, TO FORT CENTENNIAL!! SEEKERS, NIGHTSHADE, YOU WILL ACCOMPANY ME TO THE KNIGHTS' TEMPLE!! PULSEWAVE AND BLASTWAVE WILL LEAD THE ARMY FROM HERE!!!

Blastwave/Pulsewave: As you command, Lord Megatron!!

Nightshade runs alongside Megatronus as they break away from the rest of the army. The invading armies are confused by Megatronus' sudden change of course. They go to focus fire on him, but the conjoined twins' heavy suppressive fire prevents them from blockading the Decepticon leader.

Temple of the Knights

The Autobot Special Forces commander runs through what's left of the halls of the Knights' Temple, rifle drawn as he looks around at the chaos surrounding him.

Raptor: Optimus! Megatronus, the Seekers, and the Decepticon Infantry commander are on their way!

Optimus Praetorian: Understood. Thank you, Raptor. Return to Fort Centennial. They need all the help they can get.

Raptor: Understood!

Optimus carries on running through the halls, carefully navigating the fractured corridors, trying to reach the distress beacon. Praetorian reaches the end of a corridor when he hears voices. He hides against the wall and peaks in, listening closely to the voices.

Purity Prime: And so, the last of the Knights dies clinging to the corpse of his brother...you're not even strong enough to fight back!!

He shouts before plunging another kick into Carolus' side, sending the large Knight tumbling in pain.

Carolus: Purity...you are going to die for this...I am going to tear you limb from limb...

Purity Prime: Big talk from a weakling on the ground! I've seen protoforms with more skill than you.

Carolus: I will bathe in the energon from your spark after I tear it from your chest and crush it in my hands...

Purity smirks behind his mask then raises his sword over his head. His eyes glow wickedly as he prepares to strike. Before he can swing down, Optimus runs out from behind cover. He leaps forward and tackles Purity, letting out a grunting roar as he topples the wicked Prime. Purity rolls through the hit, only to be met with a heavy right hand from Optimus.

Purity Prime: You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, boy! Leave now while you still walk!

The Autobot steps between the traitor and the injured Knight. Putting his hands up in a fighting stance, Optimus makes his intentions clear.

Optimus Praetorian: Purity Prime, as Autobot Commander, I find you guilty of treason against your own planet. How do plead?

Purity Prime: Guilty as charged!

He shouts, smiling wickedly behind his mask. Optimus' optics narrow. Purity makes the first move, leaping towards Praetorian. Optimus leans back, aims his gun, but is unable to fire as a fusion cannon blast knocks Purity aside.

Megatronus: Get the Knight out of here, brother! DECEPTICONS, KILL THE TRAITOR!!

Nightshade flanks around the side, his blasts pinging off of the traitorous Prime's shield. Megatronus fires fusion blasts at him, each shot hitting the round shield and pushing him back. The Seekers follow Skyhawk's lead and arm missiles. Streams of bullet-like blasts flow from their cannons until they're close enough. Once in range, they let their missiles and bombs fly, careful not to hit Optimus, Megatronus, Nightshade, or the injured Knight.

Carolus: Please...this is my fight....

Optimus Praetorian: And you will finish it another day, Carolus.

Carolus: Please...don't call me that.....I'm not worthy of the title Prime, Optimus...the Knights are dead.....Call me Adolphus......

Optimus Praetorian: As you wish, old friend.

He says somberly as he leads the last Knight out of the room through the corridor he came through, the latter's arm draped across the Autobot's shoulders.

Adolphus: Optimus...hear me and listen well. I am going to kill that traitor. I vow it.

Optimus doesn't respond. Instead, he carries the giant limping Knight along to the Autobot bunker: Fort Centennial.