Nathan understood that the T-Cog—the transformation organ—wasn't limited to vehicle scans. In the ancient eras, Cybertronians took many forms; the modern obsession with vehicles was purely a matter of tactical mobility. Four wheels or a jet engine simply outpaced two legs in a theater of war.
However, a T-Cog was a specialized piece of hardware. Most Cybertronians only possessed one, and it typically stored only one primary configuration. Scanning a new form, especially switching from a ground vehicle to an aircraft, was a dangerous gamble. The internal geometry required for flight was fundamentally different from that of a car. Such a radical shift often caused a hardware conflict with the unit's weapon modules, leading to catastrophic system failure.
This is why Optimus stays a truck and Starscream stays a jet, Nathan analyzed. Consistency isn't just a choice; it's a hardware requirement.
Even the fabled Triple-Changers—a specialized project spearheaded by Shockwave—weren't just "lucky." They were heavily modified Decepticons with specialized T-Cogs that allowed for rapid, multi-form shifts. Their true power wasn't just having three forms; it was their Transformation Velocity, which was twice as fast as a standard soldier.
"Doctor Scalpel, what are the specifications of these three modules?"
Nathan looked down at the pallet. Without a data-link, they were just nondescript lumps of metal.
"Specifications? Ze-ze-ze~ I don't have the patience for a lecture. I'll just dump the raw data into your comm-bus."
Scalpel seemed almost twitchy, as if three days of Nathan's constant questioning had triggered a chronic stress-response in his processors. The moment Nathan's HUD pinged with the incoming file, the medic scurried back to his primary console, desperate to avoid further conversation.
Nathan opened the file, scanning the tactical readouts:
[ARM-MOUNTED KINETIC RIFLE]: Fires high-velocity armor-piercing rounds. High lethality against reinforced plating.Drawback: Low rate of fire; zero area-of-effect damage.[INTEGRATED HEAVY CANNON]: Fires high-explosive demolition shells. Ideal for structural destruction and area denial.Drawback: Significant recoil; poor accuracy at range.[SHOULDER-MOUNTED MULTI-LAUNCHER]: Fires smart-tracking micro-missiles. Capable of simultaneous multi-target locks. High range.Drawback: Moderate explosive yield; low individual projectile impact.
Choices, choices, Nathan mused.
He currently had a rudimentary forearm blaster and a grenade launcher. The launcher's accuracy was laughable—it was more of a "point and pray" weapon. If he was going to survive an encounter with the Autobots, he needed something reliable.
He immediately discarded the Heavy Cannon. In a duel between giants, missing a shot was a death sentence. He then considered the Kinetic Rifle—it was perfect for fighting Autobots—but then he looked at the timeline. The Autobots hadn't arrived in force yet. His primary obstacles for now were human military assets and high-speed recon.
The Multi-Launcher it is.
Nathan picked up the small module. Through the miracle of Space-Compression, this palm-sized device would expand into a massive weapon rack once integrated.
He also decided to reconfigure his existing loadout. He didn't want to discard his 12.6mm heavy machine gun; it was low-cost and reliable for anti-infantry work.
Engineers vs. Soldiers, Nathan thought. He remembered that Autobots were originally civilian-grade hardware—laborers and scientists. Their weapons were often hand-held because their chassis weren't built with integrated hardpoints. Decepticons, however, were military-grade from birth. Their weapons were part of their anatomy.
A Decepticon's ammunition wasn't just a physical shell; it was a manifestation of energy. Their internal systems converted raw power from the core into projectiles. As long as Nathan had fuel, he effectively had infinite ammunition.
The surgery was a clinical affair. Nathan disabled his sensory array, plunging his consciousness into a silent void while Scalpel worked. There was no need for anesthesia when you could simply toggle your "Pain" settings to Off.
Thirty minutes later, the connection was established.
Nathan opened his optics and ran a fresh diagnostic.
[ DESIGNATION: T-22 ]
[ CHASSIS: TITANIUM-COMPOSITE REINFORCEMENT ]
[ LOADOUT: 12.6MM HEAVY REPEATER (RIGHT ARM), MULTI-LAUNCHER (LEFT SHOULDER) ]
[ CORE STATUS: 86% ]
[ CLASSIFICATION: ELITE MID-TIER ]
Perfect. He felt the weight of the new hardware. He was now at the absolute ceiling of the Mid-tier power bracket. While his Synthetic Core prevented him from evolving into a High-tier veteran, his hardware was now superior to any other T-series drone in the base.
"Good luck, T-22," Scalpel rasped, not looking up from his screens. "The Commander returns in one hour. If you're going to test those systems, do it in the sub-range. Don't scuff my floors."
Nathan stood up, the new hydraulics in his legs hissing with power. He felt faster, heavier, and far more dangerous.
One hour until Starscream returns, Nathan thought, his red optics glowing. One hour until the mission truly begins.