TRANSFORMERS Alternative #12

Issue (Episode) ^#12

ALIEN FORCES
Story by James Jackson

[Vince DiCola instrumental sounding like "Escape" is playing in the background.] Ultra Magnus has recently recieved Optimus Prime's "State of the Mission" address and now places steps into action that were requested by Optimus himself. In his speech, Optimus points out that his Autobot forces on Earth, mostly engineers and other workers, do not have the fighting strength they need to remove the Decepticon's threat from Earth. As such, Optimus requested from Magnus about 20 of the finest Autobot fighters from his area. He was lucky enough to have a few Autobots visit from Autobase, the Autobots secret underground headquarters near Iacon of Cybertron, but heavy Decepticon attacks have damaged and closed off all outside communication. Even fiberoptic lines have been scrambled or broken.

"Autobots," calls Ultra Magnus. "as you know, I must send a spacecraft to Earth in order to aid Optimus Prime's forces. On board this ship will be various Autobots from here at Iacon and some of those who are pinned in at the moment. Here are my choices. From Autobase, I am sending the Soccertobots, General Autobahn Lee, Nightbeat, all 6 Omnibots, and Broadcast. From Iacon, Urbaneise will be sent with Getaway, Kickoff, Red Alert, Inferno, Siren, Eject, Steeljaw, Rewind, and Ramhorn. Also travelling with you is the time-displaced prisoners Blackarachnia and Transquito. It is my plan that Kickoff & Red will escort her to Earth where the Omnibot Chronicle will return her to her own time. You all know how important these missions are. Perform both tasks as quickly as possible. To show how important this journey is, you have been commisioned to use a trans-warp shuttle to fly you to Earth."

[Writer's Note: Like Laserbeak at the beginning of Episode 1, Ramhorn & Steeljaw do not yet look like their toy forms.]

"Trans-warp?!?" asked Eastside. "Finally a little first-class travel in my life. But whose financing all of this?"

"The Iacon urban government," answers Ultra Magnus. "Again, yet another point as to how important this mission is. Hardhead, Guzzle, Springer, Blaster, Hot Rod, Blurr, Twin Twist, Scoop, Chromedome, and Highbrow, you will help me draw fire away from the launch site."

"Yes, sir!" the Autobots reply.

With that, the Autobots prepare themselves and make it to their respective posts. After those assigned to get in the shuttle, Ultra Magnus and 40 other Autobots create a diversion by assaulting the Decepticons at their front door. They fought so hard that some of the Decepticons had to draw back. The fighting went on for about 30 minutes when all of a sudden, the spacecraft bay opened and revealed the Autobot trans-warp shuttle about to launch. Inside the base, Perceptor was counting down the seconds.

"10...," Perceptor started. "9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...BLAST OFF!"

The shuttle lifted off with violent fury as it took off into the cosmos, bound for Earth. The remaining Decepticons retreated to report to Shockwave what had just occured under their nasal sensors.
[End playing instrumental by Vince DiCola.]

When Shockwave heard of what happened, he was none too pleased.

"Fools!" shouted Shockwave. "How could you let them escape?"

"I-I-Ida know," replied Runamuck, one of his shock troopers. "Do ya think we can go after them?"

"That is a less than 55% possibility since the energy crisis of 11 Earth years ago depleted our energy reserves," answered Shockwave. "I may be able to send you after them, but I cannot guarantee the quality of your spacecraft."

"I am willing to take the necessary consequences in order to achieve victory," boasted Thunderwing, a Decepticon warrior.

"Very well, Thunderwing," said Shockwave. "When I have set this plan of action into motion, you may command a crew of 16 Decepticons on this mission."

"Brown-noseconer," grumbled another Decepticon.

2 days later, a starcruiser was built for Thunderwing's troops to intercept the Autobot reinforcements. Thunderwing with his crew of Runamuck, Runabout, Bomb-Burst, Submarauder, Skullgrin, Iguanus, Finback, Bugly, Stranglehold, Bludgeon, Octopunch, Spinister, Needlenose, Quake, Flywheels, and Battletrap took off with great haste. Their ship was one of the fastest and fiercest Decepticon warships. It didn't have trans-warp engines, but the propulsion system it did have could make up in speed for its other deficiencies.

Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus was contacting Optimus Prime to inform him of the launch.

"Calling the Ark," shouted Magnus over the comm-link. Communications were repaired after the Decepticons left Iacon. "Teletran-1, Crew of the Ark, come in."

Back on Earth, the call had been received. "What on Cybertron," exclaimed Wheeljack. "OPTIMUS! We're getting a transmission from Iacon!"

Optimus Prime, along with Ironhide, Prowl, Jazz, Bumblebee, Spike, Windcharger, and Skyfire rushed into the main room of the landlocked spaceship. Optimus answered the call.

"This is Optimus Prime of the Ark," answered Optimus. "state your business."

"This is Ultra Magnus," replied Magnus. "Long time, no see, eh, Prime? But don't feel bad. I bet we've looked the same for over 4 million years!"

"Magnus," shouted Prime. In the background, Windcharger is explaining that Magnus was a modified clone of Optimus with a slightly individual mind.

"I've called you because I sent a shuttle full of reinforcements your way about 2 of your planet's lunar cycles ago."

"We're getting more fighters?" asked Prowl. "and they left 2 Earth days ago."

"Yes, Prowl." answered Ultra Magnus. "They should arrive in 2 more days if they don't encounter any trouble."

"Trouble?" queried the strategist.

"Decepticons were strafing us the day they left. That's why I couldn't reach you until now. Shockwave may have sent a starcruiser after them by now. [A small beep is heard on Magnus's comm-link.] Wait right here."

Magnus gets another call from Siren infroming him of what he expected.

"A group of Decepticons is 10,000 miles behind us," said Siren in a loud, booming voice. "Hopefully they shouldn't catch up with us, but we'll try to shake 'em."

[Magnus closes his conversation with Siren.] "That was their damage control specialist. As I expected, there's a ship full of 'Cons buzzing their tailfins."

"Unfortunately," said Optimus. "all that we can do is wait."

Meanwhile, the Decepticon Starcruiser was rapidly catching up to the Autobot ship.

"Pretty soon we'll be able to majorly damage those Autos," boasted Flywheels.

"They won't last a minute in the ring with us," added Battletrap.

"I hear you on that one," agrees Stranglehold. He and Battletrap clank their gun barrels together as if they were giving a toast.

On the Autobot ship, emotions were more tense.

To Be Continued...

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