Chapter 16: Please, Take My Spark
"Commander Optimus Prime! They're here. Looks like this is our final battle. Old friend… I hope you can make it out alive!"
The one who spoke was Ironhide, a seasoned Autobot warrior. Aside from Optimus Prime himself, he was one of the few commanders everyone trusted completely. A veteran of countless campaigns, Ironhide had fought on the front lines for many years and it was he who brought the latest grim report. The massive Decepticon army ahead could now be seen even without radar.
This time, Megatron wasn't taking any chances. In addition to Starscream's elite air force, he had assembled an overwhelming number of heavy tanks and armored vehicles for ground combat. There were even rumors of orbital laser cannons positioned in space, ensuring not even a single Autobot could escape.
It seemed that this time, completing the System's mission would be nearly impossible for Starscream.
"Megatron may overestimate himself but even so, we must fight for the Autobots! Commanders, stand tall!
Today, we fight for the honor of Cybertron!"
At Optimus Prime's thunderous command, dozens of Autobots of all shapes and sizes leapt forward. Behind them, the escape pods began activating. Sparks of blue energy crackled through cables extending from Megatron's massive frame as his central power unit charged a nearby colossal Ark.
"Optimus Prime… when I fall, please… take my Spark with you.
If possible, let me be reborn on another world. I'll keep fighting for the Autobots… forever."
Those were likely the final words of Megatron the Autobot hero of old, once a symbol of their ancient glory. That mighty warrior now faced his end. All Optimus Prime could do was escape, carrying the Spark of his fallen comrade.
But could he truly flee under the relentless pursuit of the Decepticons?
The answer rested in the hands of two Optimus Prime and Starscream.
One, the official leader of the Autobots.
The other, a Decepticon in disguise.
Which one would prevail depended largely on Starscream's next move.
Starscream, in fact, made a decision that seemed utterly reckless but incredibly bold.
During the final commanders' meeting before the grand offensive, Megatron's seemingly loyal lieutenant let out a strange sigh. It wasn't loud, but every Decepticon heard it.
"Ah… I actually miss the days when we were evenly matched with the Autobots. Back then, I still felt useful to the Decepticons.
But after tonight, the Autobots will be erased from the universe… and I'll be out of a job.
I wonder what new mission Megatron will assign me."
At first glance, it sounded like idle grumbling. But in truth, it spoke to the unease that every commander secretly shared.
Many of the Decepticon leaders great and small had earned their ranks through victories against the Autobots. But once their enemies were completely wiped out, what purpose would they serve?
Besides, Megatron was known to burn bridges once he no longer needed them as he had done with his own "elder brother," Optimus Prime.
"I suddenly realized… my troops aren't ready for tonight's operation. Our weapons aren't fully charged.
This doesn't reflect the true might of the Great Dinosaur Legion!"
The first to voice dissent was Sarath the Great Dinosaur, a powerful regional Decepticon leader who could speak out even in Megatron's presence.
The other Decepticon commanders stayed silent, but their internal CPUs ran countless simulations. Every calculation led to the same conclusion:
Once the Autobots were wiped out, Megatron would eliminate them next one by one.
Thus, before the campaign even began, cracks had already formed within the Decepticon ranks.
No one truly wanted the Autobots to be annihilated. After all, if the Autobots vanished completely, what use would Megatron have for any of them?
As for the cunning Starscream by the time the doubts had begun spreading, he had already vanished.
Even if these mechanical minds couldn't fully grasp the human idiom "kill the dog after the rabbit dies," they all understood the meaning perfectly.
Even if most Autobots couldn't make it through the night, a few elite warriors had to survive. Ideally, Optimus Prime himself would live or at the very least, Ironhide must escape. Otherwise, what future would they have under Megatron's rule?
"Thunderbolt, you and Solarwind hold sector G90.
Skywarp and DC, cover the other flank.
Everyone else, follow me out. Understood?"
It was the most tactical move Starscream could make.
He positioned the most aggressive Decepticon air units on the outer perimeter effectively creating an opening for Optimus Prime and the Ark to slip through. That way, they wouldn't be destroyed before even leaving the ground.
Naturally, this provoked immediate outrage.
"General Starscream! Why are you giving them the main attack order? We're the elite Decepticon air force!"
"Yeah! You're just letting the ground forces take all the glory!"
Starscream had anticipated their protests and had a perfect answer ready.
"You both know that the ground forces are leading the charge this time.
Switch your wide-angle transmitters to the frontline tank formations and maximize your sensor output.
Now tell me who's at the command seat over there?"
He pointed toward the seat occupied by none other than Megatron himself.
Megatron had originally promised to "await Starscream's good news" from the rear a lie he'd fed to every other commander. In truth, he was leading the massive armored assault personally.
He wasn't waiting for victory reports.
He was out there commanding the charge himself.
That, precisely, was the brilliance of Starscream's plan a carefully constructed opportunity for Optimus Prime and the Autobots to escape. It was the only possible way to complete the System's nearly impossible mission.
Because no matter how powerful Megatron was now, he had never once defeated Optimus Prime in history.
So if everyone simply "let" them fight… and Optimus Prime managed to slip away under Megatron's own nose…
Then it would all be over.
(End of Chapter)