Racing down through the dirt roads of the mountainous countryside, Bumblebee and Spike continued to drive down towards the main highway well beyond the quarantined area.  The struggling motor and sounds of the yellow car's tires spinning in the dirt soon evened out as he came on the black asphalt highway.

"Aaaawwww yeah, much better...that was killing my shock absorbers!"

Spike looked worried as he realized where they were, " Uh, Bumblebee.... I don't think we should go down this highway...I mean.... remember what Prime and my dad said..."

"Oh come on Spike!  Live a little...besides my tires need to feel something smooth for a change.  Optimus Prime won't know.... and neither will your dad.... we just won't tell them is all.  Just a few minutes on this paved road...pleeeaaase?"

Spike shook his head and smiled, "Oh alright you rascal.  Who am I to argue anyway...I'm not even driving!"

It really did strike the young man as hilarity, his hands weren't on the wheel and yet the car was steering in all the right directions.  What some people wouldn't have give to be in his shoes right now, alien robots, cars that drive themselves, it was like a wonderful fantasy come to life.  The yellow beetle drove down the smooth black road, the heat steaming off of it as the sun baked away on it's surface, it was a very warm day out in the valley to be sure.  Spike folded his arms behind his head and leaned back in his drivers seat.  Bumblebee turned on his air conditioner and began fiddling with the radio.

"Hey what are all these signals coming in?  Sounds like you're airwaves are cluttered with them all."

Spike laughed, "That's our music stations...humans use the radio to listen to all sorts of things, but music is what we usually tend to put on when were driving."

"Oh.... Cool!", Bumblebee says.

Flipping through the various stations, he stops on each one as Spike listens, some where classical, some were nothing but talk or bible chat, but the one he came on was more of the current music being played.  Spike finally heard a song he loved and shouted out to the robot to keep it there.  The tune blasted away inside as they speeded along the road, Spike bobbed his head to the melody and closed his eyes as he listened.  As he began opening them again, he could see someone walking along the hot roadside.  He perked up in his seat and alerted his new robotic friend.

"Slow down Bumblebee...there's someone out here!"

"Huh...Oh right.... let me turn down this music..."

Spike looked closer through the windshield, "It... It looks like.... a.... a woman?"

His eyes did not lie; it was in fact a woman, an average sized woman walking down the road.  She was wearing a white baseball cap turned backward, a cream colored shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of shorts that matched.  The shirt underneath was a light blue and a gold-chained necklace hung around her neck as it slightly glared from the sun hitting it.  Her legs, face and arms all seemed wet with perspiration, the hot sun and walking along the hot ground caused her to pant deeply.  She looked more like an out of place explorer to Spike, but as they got closer and closer, he could definitely make out her lovely figure.  She looked back at them as they came up the road; it was hard not to spot them, as they were the only car around for miles.  The long outstretch of road looked like it went on forever, not a place of shade for thousands of miles, Spike was always a Good Samaritan and decided to give this poor woman a lift.

"Bumblebee we have to give her a ride...this sun will kill her out here."

"I dunno Spike...we might get into trouble if we linger to long from the ship."

Spike tapped the dash of the car, "Who told me to live a little, huh?  Just don't say a word and everything will be alright...oh and I'll have to look like I'm driving so give me control."

Bumblebee sighed, "Oh...alright.  Just don't crash me or anything.  I just know she's going to soil my new interior...trust me to get the wet ones."

Spike helms control of the wheel as they slow down and pull up beside the woman.  Spike lowers the passenger side window and smiles to the woman bending down to look inside.

"Hey there...” he says to her, "You need a ride somewhere?"

The woman bending down leans on the car, Spike now sees she’s a young woman almost about his age and giving him a big white teeth grin.  Her eyes where hidden from the fashionable sunglasses she was wearing, and a small streak of sun blocking cream was on her nose cheeks.

"Oh thank you!  I didn't think I would make it out of this area alive if you hadn't stopped!"

Spike nodded, "No prob.  Get in before you burn to a crisp."

She opened the door and sat inside, once closing the door, she took off her sunglasses and removed her baseball hat.  As she looked over smiling, Spike could see she had the most amazing hazel eyes; she had shoulder length golden blond hair and the face of a beauty queen.  Needless to say she mesmerized him, he sat there speechless as she told him where she wanted to go.

"If it's not too much trouble...could you drop me off at the next town?  I'll be able to phone for a ride or catch a bus.... or something."

Spikes eyebrows raised as he tried to speak, " Uh...oh...yeah, sure.... right.... no...No problem."

Bumblebee was helpless to this all taking place; he revved his engine at Spike so he would wake out of his daze from looking at her.  Spike snapped out of it and began to drive off down the road again; he quickly regained his cool nature and questioned her.

"So...how did you end up out here?  I mean I don't think there's a bus route or anything..."

She giggled a bit, taking out a water bottle from her shorts pocket and taking a quick sip from it, " My car broke down a few miles back, talk about the worst places for it to happen.... thank goodness I had my water with me.  And then I realized I forgot my cell phone back in California...so..."

"Oh a Cali-girl huh? "

She smiled a bit, "Yeah...but I'm a bit of an outcast.  My folks live on the beach, but I'm not much of a surfer girl. Oh how rude of me, we didn't even introduce ourselves!  My mom always harps on me for not showing my manners..."

"Oh yeah that’s right...ha-ha...my dad would say the same thing.  Anyways, I'm Spike Witwitcky...."

"Hello...", shaking his hand as he presents it to her, "...I'm Carly Jenkins"

Spike smiles back at her and returns his hands to the wheel to drive, "Are you a student out here for the summer or something?"

"Oh no...no...I've a...actually graduated along time ago.  I've done the whole PhD. and whatnot...."

"What's your PhD. in?", he asks her curiously.

She takes another sip of her water, "Mathematics and Science, I'm a brainy girl you might say...that’s why I never became the beach bum, I was too busy hitting the books.   What about you?"

"Oh ah.... actually.... I never really.... finished.", he says to her in an embarrassed tone.

She squints at him, "Oh...are you taking time from University to study up for yours?"

Rather then give a straight answer and making himself to look like a complete idiot, he simply agrees with her, "Uhh...yeah...something like that.  Actually I'm helping out my dad for the time being...earning some extra money...stuff like that"

He wasn't sure if she'd buy that, a smart girl like her, now he really did feel nervous.  She simply gave a satisfied nod in understanding and took another sip from her water bottle.  Looking much more cooler and relaxed, she eased back into the seat as she enjoyed the ride.

"Oh I see.... That’s nice of you to help out your dad.  Well I hope you don't stay out too long.... cause it can be hell trying to get back into the swing of things.  Do you mind if I rest for a bit?  I'm tired from the long walk I did."

Spike tenses up a bit, he's not sure if that was a snub to stop talking to him or if she's being sincere.  But he soon realizes that it was rather hot out, and it was a long walk she did.  But still, what’s a girl like her doing out here in the middle of nowhere?  Something that even Bumblebee was wondering as he had to stay silent and listen to all this.  On the electronic speedometer, Bumblebee communicated with Spike.  It read:

ASK HER WHAT SHE'S REALLY DOING OUT HERE AGAIN, THIS FEMALE SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S NOT JUST OUT HERE FOR A CASUAL STROLL.

Spike looks down and reads the message, he nods carefully and looks over at Carly laying her head back, "This is a long way for someone to be out here, what are you really doing this far out?"

Carly's eyes pop open at his question, "Uhm...Just doing some research...."

Young Witwicky gives a curious look as if he doesn't believe it, "But I thought you said you were done University?"

Carly gulps nervously, but looking at this young man that practically rescued her from the desert sun she confesses her real reason,  "Ok...I Lied.  I know your going to laugh at me or freak out about what I'm about to say next.... but...."

Spike takes his eyes off of his focused driving as he looks over and straight into her eyes as they meet, She puckers her lips and continues her confession, ".... I’m.... I’m a...oh damnit...I'm a men in black chaser. "

Spike looked even more confused by her answer, "Your a what?!!"

"Sorry...that’s the term many seem to give me.  I track down all the positions of the mysterious men in black...you know...government secret agents.  The guys that hide all the information, UFOs, cover up all the conspiracies.... places like Area 51 and all that sort.", Carly says laying it all out for him to hear.

Spike would have been rather freaked out about picking up some nut ball like this, yammering on and on about aliens and conspiracies, but having gone through it all and her being so beautiful, it didn't trouble him in the least.  Still, Bumblebee put large question marks on his electronic speedometer as he too heard her blurt it out.  Spike simply tapped the dash as if to tell Bumblebee to cut it out.  She looked drained, either from having to confess it or being out in the sun all day.  Spike took pity on her situation and wanted to know more.

"Doesn't sound so weird to me.  But I can't see this being your real job, I mean come on...tracking down secret government agents??  Why do you do this?"

The blond haired woman sighs, "No this isn't my full time job.  My parents don't even know I do this...I lost my job a few months ago because of this obsession I have.  I dunno...when I was a little girl, I read all the hype and mystery about this shadow government...hiding alien artifacts and building secret weapons.  I told myself that one day I'd go out and track these guys down and discover the truth.  After I finished University, I got a cushy job in some marketing firm, but I found it dull and a waste of my talents.  So I thought, what the hell.  I'll go out and being my dream of studying these guys down and being the first to expose them for all the world to see.  Two years later and I'm still looking, I calculated every place they've been.... looked for any weird reports or even odd military placements.  I could have sworn I was close...."

As she pauses, she finally notices the interior of the car, the dashboard is very futuristic looking, and in fact to her it looks very odd.  Studying the inside of the car and looking over at Spike, she sees his outfit is dirty and not at all like someone who could afford a car like this.  It seems strange to her she didn't notice it right away, but with trying to get cool again and being grateful someone was around to give her a lift, the moment sort of made her over look it at the time.  Her mother use to always tell her not to hitchhike, cause she was afraid her daughter would be 'ravaged' by some maniac, Carly was never one to listen, she had her own mind and could fairly sum up a person rather quickly.  Spike looked innocent to her, a workingman obviously, but his eyes gave away a young wisdom she could almost relate too.  Still, this was too expensive a car for the likes of him to be driving and some of the electronics in the car looked way too advanced for any human to make.

"This is a strange car to be driving?  How the hell can you afford a fine vehicle like this?"

Spike nervously gulped and giggled a bit, "Oh ah...My father owns a construction company and well...I'm an only child.  I guess I'm rather spoiled."

The woman wasn't buying it, "Uh huh...so all this fancy equipment is something you picked out and put in the car huh?"

"Uhm...yeah...sure.  Hey, I like a cool updated look to my cars...uh.... it drives the chicks mad.", Spike says trying to throw her off.

"Chicks?", She said with an angry tone, "I'm no chick buster!  And I can tell you right now; if this is how you go about trying to impress women then you’re a sad little man.  You know what you look like to me?  Someone that's hiding something and too chicken shit to cough it up!"

Spike gulped again, but didn't like where this conversation was going, now she was becoming angry at his comment and beginning to realize there was more to him then meets the eye.  She stared right at him with those hazel eyes of hers and gave him her general theory.

"I had calculated the last known sighting of the secret operation, it was somewhere out here in the valley, possibly near a large mountain.  Seeing how there are too many to count, I drove around for hours to see any sign of tire prints leading off into the dirt roads.  I looked and I looked and I looked...but damned if I could find one coming off the main highway.  Now you show up with your spiffy car, covered in filth that looks like the red rock off of one of these mountains and your avoiding my questions with some stupid macho male garbage.  Tell me Spike...You wouldn't happen to know of a military operation going on around here now would you?"

As Spike sits there totally now ticked off about this woman's arrogant manner towards him, he thinks about curbing her butt back on the side of the road and driving away again.  He would like to do that very, very much.  Unfortunately if he did then that would confirm every suspicion that Carly had about him, without hesitation he came up with a lie that would quiet her for the time being.

"For your information lady, my dad's construction company is doing a job out here, we're clearing a path for a new highway that will tunnel through one of the mountains.  So yeah, I've got red rock dust on my pants and yeah, I've got a cool car that you seem very jealous about.... But I don't have a clue on what your talking about some military...whatever.  I go out of my way to pick you up and drop you off into town...and this is the thanks I get??  Listen, I'm going to finish taking you to town...but after that...I think it's best we don't ever come into contact with one another ever again.  I think all that heat is making you bonkers!"

Carly's mouth remained open at this young man's rudeness to her, putting her sunglasses on again, she turns away angry and folder her arms over, "Fine!  Be that way...the sooner we get there the better.  And don't worry yourself about me ever talking to you...once you drop me off I hope we do never meet again.  I pity the poor woman that ever marries a jerk like you...all I asked if you seen anything and you give me this big attitude.  Well for the rest of the trip, I'll just sit here quietly in your 'babe magnet' mobile...and you can save me from anymore of your intellectual chatter.  Bastard!"

Carly leaned back in her chair and turned to her window.  Spike was mad at this woman, he could have been a bit more relaxed in his lie, and he could have even been a bit more polite.  But being patient is never Spike's strength, his whole life is rushing in where angels fear to tread.  Gripping the steering wheel hard, he thought about the whole argument they just had, she was right in some respects, but he was under obligation not to divulge anything further about what he had seen or heard.  He and his dad were in enough trouble already, why drag others down into their hopelessness.  Bumblebee once again had to listen to their entire human drama.  And once again, he voiced his concern on the speedometer.

SPIKE...NEXT TIME, JUST AS A REMINDER...LETS NOT PICK UP ANYMORE FEMALES WALKING DOWN THE SIDE OF A ROAD, HM?  AND EASE OFF ON MY STEERING WHEEL WILL YA?  GEEZ!

Spike let his grip loosen on the steering wheel and relaxed a bit more, he'd soon have this woman out of the car and be back to face the punishment from the agents.  Even now he thought about what they would really do to him and his father, it seemed as the yellow car drove on down the road, his fate would be sealed no matter which way they went.


All around the mountainside where the Autobot ship sits exposed, the human soldiers march back down the hillside and salute the General as goes he walking up towards the vessel again.  The two agents, Drakemore and Connors, walk beside him and listen in to the conversation he is having with one of his men explaining what has happened since they left.  At the top of the mountainous hill, Optimus Prime has all of his Autobot soldiers lined up in a row and is briefing them on the situation at hand.  The General, Drakemore, Connors and the lower ranking officer talking to them, all stop to hear what this massive robot is saying to his troops.  Optimus Prime paces in front of them all and calls over to Jazz who stands there ready for his orders.

"Jazz, give me the list of who is accounted for."

Jazz salutes his leader, "Yes Sir, Prime!"

Looking over to the men all in formation, he walks along with Optimus Prime as they see each one standing there, "These are who we've managed to repair so far Prime.  Hound, Cliffjumper, Mirage, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack, Ratchet, Huffer, Prowl, Ironhide, Smokescreen, Bluestreak, Windcharger, Gears, Brawn, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.  Then of course there is you and I Optimus, that’s how many we've got so far."

Optimus stops and thinks, "Hmm...Hopefully it will be enough to take on Megatron.  Are there any others?"

Jazz looks over at him, "The odd few left are in sick bay awaiting repairs, Telatran One's reconfiguration laser is slowly losing power so we needed to conserve the energy it was using.  The rest are on the lower levels of the ship and it’s blocked off by solid rock.  It's going to take all of our guys to unbury it just to get in."

"I see...” the Autobot leader says, "Perhaps our new allies can give us a hand in the digging.  But for now...lets just handle this one step at a time."

Facing all of the awaiting robot soldiers, Optimus Prime spoke out in a clear commanding voice as he gave them a full explanation of what's happened, " Men!  The years have passed since we crash landed on this world, nearly One hundred million years to be exact and the fate of Cybertron is unknown to us at this time."

The shock of his revelation sends the robotic soldiers into a flurry of whispers and gasps, but as Prime speaks again they all stop to listen, "We were accidentally awoken by the inhabitants of this world, a planet they call, Earth.  These...Humans...also managed to wake up the wrong crop of Transformers, it appears that Megatron and his Decepticons have escaped once again.  As distressing as that may sound, we must endeavor to push on together and fight Megatron once more.  I want you all to prepare yourselves for combat, the Decepticons could strike at any time or any place, I want you to recharge your weapons and make ready for whatever comes our way.  Understood?"

The Autobots all straighten up and salute him, "YES SIR!!"

"Uh...Prime?” a slightly tired and rusty sounding voice echoes out of the line up.

Optimus looks over and sees one of the soldiers raising his hand at him.  Gears is his name, a very old Cybertronian warrior that looks as though he doesn't even belong with the group.  His red, blue and grey color schemes is faded and warn, no real turnable head to speak of, as it is built into his design.  To look around a corner he'd have to shift his whole body, his big wide blue eyes always look as if he's tired, a sign that he's not the young Autobot that stepped off the line like so long ago.  Gears lowers his hand as Optimus sees him and continues to speak.

"How the Primus are we supposed to fight Megatron again? He nearly slaughtered us on the ship and he even managed to destroy all of our friends on Cybertron.  My joints are aching in this overly rich oxygen atmosphere and I don't care much for these humans for waking me up from a good rest."

Sideswipe standing near by laughs at the old robot's complaints, "Ah quit your complaining Gears we all know your just trying to get out of your duties.  Tell ya what old timer...why don't you sit down, have a nice relaxing vacation and let the REAL heroes go out and do the battling for ya.  How's that sound? Hm? Well tell Megatron that we're sorry you couldn't come because you had to stay behind and rust!"

The other Autobots all laugh out loud, Sideswipes comments made everyone howl with humor, all but Gears that is.  He's been the butt of so many jokes before, he's passed promotions and commendations, watching the younger robots climb the ranks and turning around to give him the orders.  Gears quickly turns to Sideswipe and shakes his fist at the joker.

"Alright you ungrateful punk!  You got your laugh...now why don't you stick that smug attitude of yours and put it to some real use!  I think your lover Sunstreaker over there needs a polishing from you again!"

The Autobots all laugh again, Gears made a good comeback and took Sideswipe by surprise. The red sleek robot stood there in amazement as Gears insulted him, he looked over to his buddy Sunstreaker and saw that he wasn't laughing either.  Sunstreaker wanted to punch that old transformer's lights out, but the others held him back as he tried to go over there.

"I'll show you polishing you crazy old coot!!  Come here!!"

Optimus Prime raised his voice forcing all of them to quickly snap back to attention and stop the fooling around, "AUTOBOTS!! AS YOU WERE!!"

The leader had enough of the foolishness, this was not the time to be silly, "This is no game and certainly not a holiday.... for any of us!  Megatron is on the loose and your worried about the stupidest things?  Gears, as one of the older soldiers I expected more from you.  Have you forgotten all the friends he slaughtered back home?  Sideswipe...Sunstreaker...no more joking around, I need all of you to be focused and ready to do your duty.  Until the Decepticons are stopped, I want all of you to act like the soldiers you were trained to be; we're fighting for the very preservation of life itself.... both for us and for the creatures on this world.  Now then...."

Prime walks over towards Hound and Cliffjumper, standing directly in front of them, he gives them a new assignment, "Hound, Cliffjumper...I need you to track down and locate the Decepticons.  Don't try to be heroes and take them on yourself...just let us know the position and stay out of sight until we arrive.  And this time Cliffjumper...I mean it.... Do not engage the enemy until backup arrives."

The small red mini-Autobot scrunches his face in disappointment, "Oh...alright Optimus, I'll try to control myself.  But you better show up fast when we see them...I wanna show Megatron my new weapon I built just for him!"

The leader just quietly snickers and gives them a command, "Hound, Cliffjumper...Transform and carry out your mission!"

Hound transforms into the green Hummer form he was given by Telatran One, with some U.S. markings on the sides and top of him, he looks almost like one of the General's vehicles.  The back isn't even covered with a roof, jus roll bars on the sides and a large sliver gun turret sticking up and out of the back of it.  This was a military car if anyone saw it, besides the obvious Autobot symbols on the side right door and the hood, this just looked like the average army hummer.  Cliffjumper transformed into the sporty red Mini Cooper, a fast, punchy looking vehicle that suits Cliffjumper's personality to a "T".  The two spun their wheels and bolted off down the mountain hillside, the General watched the whole thing and followed the two un-manned cars with his head as they drove out of sight.  He couldn't believe what he just witnessed, these things...these robots...they have the ability to "Transform" and disguise themselves.  Looking back at the rest of the robots standing there, he wondered what other forms these creatures could take to hide themselves as.  Optimus Prime continued to give out his commands to the rest of the Autobots standing there.

"Wheeljack and Ratchet...your top priority is now fixing Telatran One, we need it back online to locate the Decepticons should they move again.  Don't bother with the full repairs...just get it back to working condition as soon as you can."

Ratchet and Wheeljack nod at his order.  Ratchet, a white and red version of Ironhide, has a Red Cross symbol just below his chest, which in turn looks like a windshield embedded into him.   Though same in design to Ironhide, he has a different model head then him; two large wing-like pieces of sliver metal stick out on either side of the center-forward bulge of the robot's helmet.  Looking more like a roman helmet, the only thing it's missing is the feathery brush on top of it.  Rachet taps the shoulder of Wheeljack and sighs.

"Well...I guess we'd better start right away then.  Come on Wheeljack old buddy...lets go see what the damage is like."

The two repair duo head off into the ship, Prime still stands in front of the remaining Autobots and instructs them in their tasks as well.

"The rest of you get those weapons ready and fully charged.  I expect all of you to be ready at a moments notice...lock and load Autobots.... dismissed!"

The Autobot soldiers saluted the leader and all began to casually walk back inside the ship as they prepared for war, some chatted amongst themselves about what they should take and of how the battle will go, but as they all filed back inside, the General and the two agents took the time to talk to Optimus Prime.  The leader could see the men walking up to him and bent his head down to look at the small humans below him.  The human military commander strained his neck looking up at the massive robot, but introduced himself to the Autobot leader like one soldier to another.  He raised his hand up in salute, as did Optimus Prime, both lowering it when it was established.

"Optimus Prime, I'm General Matt Arthur, these two beside me are this country's government agents Jack Connors and Mike Drakemore.  You'll have to forgive my lack of understanding of what's going on here.... we didn't expect to see more of your kind waking up."

"I understand General.", Prime says slightly squinting his eyes, "This must all be quite a shock to your kind.  Just know that we too find this all quite new...your species is very unknown to us.  This was an accident, waking us up from our ship and letting Megatron out.  No need to worry yourselves.... we’ll get him back before he does anything to harm your planet."

Connors laughs, "Pardon me Optimus Prime...but that’s a rather unwarranted statement.  We've already come into contact with your friends...their minds are controlling our military jets."

"Their minds?", Optimus says in a confused tone, "Oh I see...I think you have it all wrong, the jets weren't being controlled by their minds.... the Decepticons were the jets attacking you."

Drakemore realized what the large robot was saying, "You mean...just like you...they can...transform their appearance?!  My god...they could be anything then."

The General nods, "That makes much more sense...the planes were doing things I'd never seen in my whole military life.  Well if that's the case then...We're going to have to mount quite the sizeable force to deal with these guys."

The Autobot leader reacted to his comment, "I don't think that would be a wise decision General.  Better let us deal with them and keep your men safe here.  This is our war...not yours."

Connors shouted at the leader, "NO!  That's where you’re wrong Robot!  This is our planet, this is our territory...who are you to come here and give us orders?  Just seeing what you things are capable of doing makes you a danger to the entire world.  This is our problem not yours, we're not as weak and helpless as you think we are, so don't give me that whole ' our war not yours' bull.  The General will mobilize his armies and launch the attack..."

Prime hated the way Connors called him " Robot" just a second ago, it almost sounded like a racial slur to him, a very rude word to scream at transformer indeed.  Prime arched his back and his blue neon eyes flashed with a spark of anger, "This maybe your world...but your in no position yourself to deal with this kind of threat!  You lack the technology and weapons to take Megatron on yourselves.... he’ll just regard you with little value as he does with all life, you aren't even a threat to him."

Connors and Drakemore laughed as if they weren't even scared.  Drakemore turned back down the hill and Connors began walking backwards slowly, "How little you know us Optimus Prime, I can guarantee you we're ready for him...and he'll soon know we're a threat.  Don't interfere in our affairs...or we'll have to turn all of our 'resources' on to you as well.  Back off Robot.... just back off and let us handle it.  Go back into your ship and tell your men to stand down...cause if you get in our way...you're going to regret it."

Connors turned around and continued to walk down with Drakemore back to the helipad, one of the helicopters could be heard starting and looked ready to receive the two agents as they approached it.  Optimus Prime once again flashed his eyes at the men in the distance, such stupidity was a frustrating thing to deal with for him; humans were a hard species to figure out.  They can be friendly and courteous one moment, and then be totally self-righteous and stupid the next.  The General didn't need someone to interpret what Prime was feeling, he's known that kind of emotion since this all started.  Looking up to the giant transformer, he gave his apologies about the agent's behavior.

"I’m sorry Prime...men like that...well...they have their own agendas and secrets.  These guys aren't ones for being tactful, but he is right though...we are going to deal with your friends our way."

Optimus Prime simply lowered his head and looked down at the small minded human again, "Then you're all going to die needlessly, because I can tell you right now.... Megatron is not our friend; he's a cruel transformer with very little regard for living beings other then his own kind.  Trust me when I say this, he will not spare one life...not even yours.  Congratulations General...you've just signed this planet's death warrant."

The General walks back down the hill, not even caring what the leader just warned him about.  Humans, so arrogant and proud, so stupid and unprepared for what comes their way, but there's no denying the bravery and courage of them all.  It was the only two special redeeming qualities the Autobot leader could understand about them.  The General was going back down to assemble his troops for battle, something that Optimus Prime also must do as the time nears for major confrontation with the Decepticons again.  As the large red and blue robot turns around to go inside the ship, Sparkplug comes running out of it and sees the leader looking distressed.

"Problem?", he asks the giant.

Prime sighs, "In more ways you can think of.  Humans...I don't think you guys truly understand what you get into sometimes."

Sparkplug laughs, "Don't feel too bad Optimus.... our history is full with stupid mistakes we keep getting ourselves into.  One more is like a notch in the belt for us, granted.... this is much more deadlier then before...but if we can't have faith in our own military then who else can we trust to defend our planet?"

Optimus looks back at the helipad, the chopper the agents are in rises to the sky and takes off into the horizon, "That's a question your kind will have to ask again when this is all over.  Trust me Sparkplug, these men don't know what they're about to start."

Sparkplug thinks about it for a second and then after looking at his watch, he stares out in the mountainous valley, "Where the hell is Spike and Bumblebee?   I told them to come right back..."

Optimus Prime hears the concern in his voice and begins to wonder as well, "Yes, they have been gone a long time haven't they.  Bumblebee should have radioed in about now...I hope something hasn't happened to them.  Let me see if I can raise him."

The large robot tapped the top of his right forearm; it gave a small clicking noise and a panel swung back from his arm.  The inside had flashing buttons and the back of the panel looked like a flat viewing screen.  The sound of garbled noises and static could be heard coming from it, like some one on a radio trying to find the right frequency.  Prime tinkered with the buttons and stared at the monitor as he called out for the small yellow Autobot.

"Optimus to Bumblebee.... Optimus to Bumblebee...Come in Bumblebee.  If your there respond.... come in Bumblebee.  Nothing...no signal."

"It might be the mountains...", explained Sparkplug, "This is a pretty surround place, your signals might be disrupted by them, the military had to use a direct satellite link up to communicate with anyone."

Prime rubs his chin with deep concern, "Our communications are pretty powerful, and usually we can pick up our signals with no problem, even with large land structures in the way.  Hmm...No, something tells me there's trouble.  I'd better mount up the others and head out looking for them."

"The military won't like you doing that Optimus....", Sparkplug warns him.

"Who cares...I don't answer to them and besides they'll be too busy trying to stop Megatron.... which will end up a slaughter anyway.  Come on Sparkplug...you can come with us and have a look as well, I'm sure your just as concerned for Spike as I am for Bumblebee."

The construction worker shrugs his shoulders, "What the hell...not like I've got anything to do anyway.  I'd hate to see my boy in any sort of danger...let me go back inside and tell my men what's going on."

Optimus Prime starts to walk inside the ship with Sparkplug, "As will I.  I need to get my weapon charged and my men ready to move out."

The General at the bottom of the mountainside looks up at the robot leader and Sparkplug walking back inside, getting into a jeep that pulls up along side of him, he sits in and motions to move forward with his hand.  As they pull away, the other vehicles carrying the troops can be seen close behind.  Helicopters rise from the helipad and fly above the caravan of soldiers, the dust being stirred up by all the activity fills the air, a sign of the sheer number of trucks, cars and other military vehicles moving out towards the main roads.  The General inside the jeep grabs the satellite link up phone and begins to bark his orders to the various commanders awaiting his signal.

"This is General Arthur...All companies move out and prepare for combat.  This is not a drill, I repeat this is not a drill...Operation Full Strike is a go!"

Suddenly he hears another voice on the phone, he flinches to hear who it is, but as soon as the person identifies himself the General looks serious, "What?!  Who is this...oh...yes sir.  Sorry Mr. President, I wasn't sure about...yes.... yes that’s right...no sir I don't see any other option.  We're dealing with aliens that could devastate this whole planet.  I'm sorry I didn't inform you earlier...yes...yes I know.  Area 51 is on the move as well sir.... The Project N leader is overseeing it there and will instruct Connors on what to do when he arrives.  Uh huh...yes that’s right.  Thank you sir.... we’ll do our best, I thank you for your trust in me...yes.... yes I hope god does mercy us all.  Goodbye Mr. President."

Hanging up the phone, the General looks ahead out the windshield, the deadpan look of a man thinking about his family and loved ones.  Still they drive on out of the valley and head out to open road to track down the monster machines, totally unaware of what they may face and the kind of firepower they'll be dealing with.