Lennox had already intended to divide the forces, and with Optimus Prime's backing, the decision was finalized.
"Optimus, you and I will take the transport to Japan. Ironhide and Epps can handle the Eastern Seaboard—"
"No, William," Optimus interrupted, shaking his head. "I will go with you to the Eastern Seaboard. Send Ironhide, Bumblebee, and Sideswipe to Japan."
"They are all Elite-Class warriors. Combined with Jolt's medical support, they are more than a match for any stragglers left on this planet. The Decepticons have historically focused their aggression within your borders; the hive reported in the U.S. is likely the primary threat—possibly a hidden factory. I must deal with it personally."
"Understood, Optimus. We'll take the ship to the coast."
While crates of ammunition were loaded onto the C-17 transport planes bound for Japan, Skygnaw received a high-priority transmission in his Alaskan lab.
[COMM: Mr. Skygnaw, the Autobots have mobilized. Optimus Prime is heading for the Eastern Seaboard aboard the transport ship. The strike team for Japan is led by Sergeant Epps.]
[REPLY: My thanks, Madam Secretary.]
Skygnaw grabbed several newly forged devices from his workbench and stepped out into the biting Alaskan wind. He opened a channel to Onslaught.
[COMM: Onslaught. Execute Plan B.]
Japan. Mount Fuji.
As the largest active volcano in Japan and a world-renowned landmark, Mount Fuji usually saw its daily cap of five thousand tourists reached by noon. Today, however, the trails were closed. A perimeter spanning dozens of kilometers was enforced by the sudden arrival of JSDF troops.
"What is this? I flew halfway across the world to see the Cherry Blossoms!" a tourist shouted at a guide. The guide simply bowed lower, repeating apologies while masking her own confusion.
Inside a cavern at the foot of the mountain, Carnage and the other three Horsemen sat in the darkness. A shadow much taller than theirs stepped into the cave.
"Master, you've arrived," Carnage said, standing at attention.
"The Autobots and human special forces are inbound," Skygnaw rumbled, his optics glowing a menacing red. "The team consists of Bumblebee, Ironhide, Sideswipe, and Jolt. Three Elites. You cannot win a head-on engagement against them. Stick to the protocol."
"By your command!"
High above the clouds, a massive transport plane roared. The cargo doors hissed open, and Sideswipe—strapped into a specialized drop-harness—twirled his blades.
"Whoo! Maximum velocity!" he cheered, diving into the void.
Epps, falling nearby, adjusted his HUD. "Sideswipe! Stick to the LZ! You're drifting!" Epps was nervous—this was his first solo command—but he kept his voice steady, mimicking Lennox's authority. "All units, deploy chutes!"
Dozens of "mushrooms" bloomed in the sky. Below, hidden within a building's shadow, Skygnaw watched the descent. He engaged his stealth module and vanished.
Eastern Seaboard, USA. An abandoned town.
The massive Decepticon transport ship—now under Autobot control—descended over the ruins. Optimus Prime leaped from the hold before it even touched the ground. He immediately spotted a familiar face among the twenty-odd Decepticons waiting below.
"Onslaught. It is you."
Optimus loomed over the small hive, the sheer size of the ship behind him adding to his god-like presence. Facing the Prime, Onslaught felt his internal servos twitch with fear. But remembering Skygnaw's warning, he bared his teeth.
"Decepticons! Attack!"
Sunstorm and Acid Storm hesitated, but the fear of Skygnaw outweighed their fear of Prime. They roared, leading the Seeker clones in a desperate charge.
"Arrogant," Optimus huffed, meeting the charge with his bare fists.
Back in Japan.
The battle erupted. The four Horsemen opened fire on Epps' unit and immediately began a fighting retreat toward a nearby village. They stayed on the ground, deliberately avoiding their flight modes to keep the Autobots in a chase.
"Ironhide! Don't let them reach the town!" Epps shouted into his comms.
"Don't worry, Robert. They're already scrapped!" Ironhide barked. He loaded a specialized liquid nitrogen shell into his cannon and fired.
THUD!
The round hit Famine squarely in the back. The extreme cold seized his servos, sending him crashing to the dirt. The other three Horsemen glanced back but, per orders, didn't stop.
"Target immobilized!" Ironhide cheered, sliding to a halt in front of Famine. He leveled his heavy cannons. "Dirty 'Con. Say goodbye to this world!"
BOOM!
A massive shockwave slammed into Ironhide's side, throwing the veteran Autobot several meters back. His lead shot went wide, screaming into the empty sky. Famine scrambled up, limping toward his teammates.
"Agh! Who fired that?!" Ironhide roared, pushing himself up.
Inside a village building, Skygnaw's form shimmered into view. He's durable, he noted. Ironhide had taken a direct hit from a high-output cannon and was already back on his feet.
"If one shot isn't enough, let's try the Fusion Core," Skygnaw muttered.
The Fusion Cannon in his chest whirred. A beam of blinding energy erupted, the recoil making even Skygnaw's massive 13.3-meter frame tilt back. Ironhide only had time to cross his arms and flare his energy shield.
KABOOM!
The shield shattered like glass. Ironhide was blasted through two walls, sliding into a pile of rubble.
"Ironhide! Report!" Bumblebee and Sideswipe skated to his side, weapons hot.
"I'm... I'm functional," Ironhide rasped, his chest plates cracked and smoking. "Watch it... there's a heavy-hitter in that town."
Epps arrived, panting, his face pale. "Another Decepticon? Who?"
The silence of the deserted village was broken by a cold, metallic chuckle that resonated through the streets. A massive silver giant stepped out of the shadows, towering over the Autobots.
"Ironhide. Bumblebee," Skygnaw rumbled, his optics burning like dying stars. "Long time no see."
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