Book VII
     "The Battle For Earth"

     Chapter XXXX
     "Operation Freedom, Part II"


   At exactly noon, the Autobot and
First Circle air forces, lead by
Onslaught attacked Ice Station Omega. 
Meanwhile, on the North end of the
complex, Optimus and Rodimus were just
reaching the summit of the mountain that
stood between them and Ice Station
Omega.
   Optimus looked down toward the base. 
They just needed to repel down the
mountain, onto the roof of the
installation.  Optimus could see flashes
in the fog off in the distance.  It was
just after noon.  The battle had begun.
   "I guess they have started the
attack", said Rodimus.
   "Yes.  It's just a matter of time
before Megatron decides to make his
escape."
   "Optimus, I know this seems a little
late to ask, but wouldn't the satellite
defenses stop Megatron's escape?"
   "Possibly, but Megatron and Soundwave
are too smart not to have built
themselves a way through.  I've had our
technicians looking through the control
systems of the satellite's, and the
can't find anything, but I know it's
there.  The satellites won't stop
Megatron."
   "There goes my last argument for
turning back", said Rodimus.  Rodimus
anchored his claw to the mountain, and
began to lower himself down.
   Optimus did the same, and in only a
few minutes, they were standing on top
of Ice Station Omega.
   Optimus looked around.  This part of
the base's roof was completely flat.  It
was covered about a foot deep in snow. 
In the distance Optimus could see the
dome covering the launch pad.  That is
where Megatron would make his escape
from.  "The plans for the station show
an air vent in this area.  We should be
able to get in that way."
   "If I remember correctly, from the
schematics, it should be right about
here", said Rodimus, as he stomped his
foot on the snow.  The vent cover
beneath it gave way, and left a hole in
the snow covered roof.
   "After you", said Rodimus.
   Optimus jumped down into the hole. 
At the bottom, he found a large open
area with air vents leading in all
directions.  They were not very big, but
Optimus knew they could crawl through
them.
   Rodimus came down right behind
Optimus.  "Well, should we cut our way
out of here", asked Rodimus.
   "No, we'll take this vent, it should
lead right to the armory.
   "We can't fit through there", said
Rodimus.
   "Sure we can, it might just be a
little tight."
   Optimus got on his hands and knees,
and started down the vent.  Rodimus
followed.
   "Optimus, why are we going to the
armory anyway?"
   "I have a plan, but I will need
something to make it work."
   If Optimus was right, before Megatron
made his escape, he would move any
troops he had in the hanger away, so
they wouldn't see him making his escape. 
He wanted a chance to face Megatron one
on one, but he knew Megatron would have
at least Soundwave and Nightbird with
him.  They would need to separate them
if he was to face Megatron alone.


   On the South end of the complex,
phase one was nearing completion.  In
five minutes, the ground forces would
attack.  Kup and the Thing were going
over their attack plan.
   "I'll lead the charge at the main
East entrance.  You, take a small force
and attack the less heavily guarded
entrance half a mile to the North.  They
will have their defenses concentrated at
the main gate, and hopefully you can get
in, and we'll have them on two fronts",
finished Kup.
   The Thing looked at the map Kup was
holding.  "Sounds good to me.  You keep
these guys busy here, and I'll get in
behind them, and they won't know what
hit them.
   "Take a team of six with you", said
Kup.
   "No, I'll go myself.  I can do more
damage that way."
   "If that's what you want", said Kup.
   The Thing left Kup, and headed to the
other entrance.  Kup activated his
communicator.
   "Kup to Arcee, respond please."
   "Arcee here.  Are you all set for the
party", she asked.
   "I was about to ask you the same
thing", said Kup.  "We're all set.  Good
luck Arcee."
   "To you too."


   Inside Megatron's command room,
Megatron grabbed onto the operations
table as the base shook around him.
   "They've been attacking from the air
for almost an hour, what are they
waiting for", said Nightbird, "why don't
the ground forces attack."
   "They are softening us up.  They know
they have us.  I guess we shouldn't wait
around any longer", said Megatron.
   Megatron activated his communicator. 
"Soundwave, respond."
   "Megatron, I have finished preparing
the shuttle.  I suggest we move our
troops away from the Hanger."
   "Very well, get the Xformers and meet
me in the command room.  I will clear
the hanger, and surrounding areas."
   Megatron watched the reports come
through from the battle.  The aerial
barrage was taking a heavy toll, and
word was just coming in that the ground
forces were attacking the East and West
entrances.  Fortunately, due to the
massive size of Ice Station Omega, they
were over two miles away.
   Megatron activated the base's
emergency radio frequency.  "Megatron to
all Decepticons in sections 17 to 128,
go to the East and West entrances and
reinforce our troops.  Megatron to
Runamuck, alert all our troops in the
hanger to reinforce the front lines."
   "Understood", responded Runamuck.
   Several minutes later, Soundwave and
the Xformers arrived at the command
room.
   "Our troops will stay behind to cover
our escape", said Megatron, "They just
don't know it yet."  The Xformers
chuckled a bit.  "Everything we need is
already aboard.  Nightbird, Soundwave,
Xformers, go to the hanger.  I will be
there shortly."
   "Is something wrong Megatron", asked
Nightbird?
   "No, I will meet you shortly", said
Megatron.
   Soundwave and Nightbird left, with
the Xformers close behind them. 
Megatron went into the elevator. 
"Observation deck."
   The elevator closed, and began to
rise.  The Command room was built right
below tower one, one of the many towers
on top of the base.  Megatron emerged
from the elevator onto the observation
deck.  It was open to the air, no
windows, but had an overhang that kept
most of the snow out.  Megatron looked
out toward the South.  There was a lot
of fog, but he could hear explosions in
the distance.  From this base he could
have ruled the universe.  Optimus Prime
had once again destroyed his plans.  But
he knew that this would not be the end. 
With Nightbird and Soundwave, he would
keep his vision of total domination of
the Universe alive, and some day he
would attain it.


   Optimus and Rodimus moved carefully
down the corridor.  They had found
exactly what Optimus wanted in the
armory, some Decepticon energeon nets.
   Optimus raised his hand, signaling
Rodimus to stop as they approached the
hanger.  Optimus carefully looked around
the corner at the hanger door.  It was
open, but he could only see in a little
bit from this angle.  He could see only
three Decepticons inside.
   Optimus moved back out of sight.  "I
see three of them, but I don't have a
very good view.  There could be more of
them.
   "It's your call Optimus", said
Rodimus.  "I'm with you."
   Every time Optimus had to make a
decision that put someone else in
jeopardy, it got harder and harder.
   Just as Optimus was about to go
around the corner, and rush the hanger,
he saw Runamuck coming down the hall
from the opposite direction and enter
the hanger.  "Megatron wants everyone to
split up and reinforce the West and East
entrances."
   Suddenly, Runamuck came out of the
hanger, followed by about twenty
Decepticons.
   "Let's go", said Optimus when they
were a safe distance away.
   Optimus and Rodimus entered the
hanger.  It was fairly large, but it was
only occupied by a single shuttle.
   Optimus went to the hangers command
station.  It included a closed circuit
monitor to monitor the hanger entrance
from outside.
   "Rodimus, up above the entrance is an
observation deck.  Get up there with the
nets.  Put them on maximum.  I want
anyone who comes through that door
incapacitated, except Megatron.  He's
mine", said Optimus.
   "Are you sure Optimus?  We could just
get them all with the nets."
   "No Rodimus.  This is something I
have to do.  Get up there, I'll monitor
the entrance, and let you know who's
coming."
   Optimus knew that Rodimus was right. 
They could probably incapacitate
Megatron and take him prisoner, but what
would that accomplish?  As long as
Megatron lived, peace was threatened. 
Optimus was not going to run from his
destiny anymore.


   Megatron walked down the corridor
toward the hanger.  The Autobots had
breached the base, and it was only a
matter of time before they got to the
shuttle.
   Megatron entered the Hanger.  He
didn't see Nightbird, Soundwave or the
Xformers.  Something was not right, he
thought, but before he had a chance to
act, the door closed behind him.
   "We meet again Megatron", said
Optimus as he stepped out from behind
some storage crates.  Megatron took a
few steps toward him.  He could now see
Soundwave and the others, covered in
energeon netting.
   "Let's make this the last time
Optimus."  Megatron dropped his fusion
cannon.  He did not want to risk hitting
the shuttle.
   Optimus dropped his laser rifle. 
This was too personal for laser weapons. 
Optimus and Megatron walked slowly
toward each other.  They were like two
lions, each looking for the perfect
moment to strike.
   Rodimus watched from above the hanger
door.  Optimus had made him promise he
would not interfere, under any
circumstances  The last thing that
Optimus had said still echoed in his
mind.  "If anything should happen to me,
you get out of here.  Don't try and help
me, save yourself."  Those words just
wouldn't go away.
   Megatron struck first.  He tackled
Optimus, and they both went crashing to
the floor.
   As they rolled around the floor, they
pummeled each other with their fists. 
Then Optimus managed to get his legs
underneath Megatron, and he threw him
off.  He landed against the wall, but
got up quickly, as did Optimus Prime.
   "It's not too late for you to
surrender Megatron", said Optimus.
   "Have you lost your mind
completely?", asked Megatron, as he
picked up a large metal pipe from the
floor.
   Optimus picked up a similar pipe. 
"No Megatron, but I just felt you should
have the option", said Optimus.  He
swung the pipe at Megatron, but Megatron
dodged it, and swung at Optimus.  The
two battled for what seemed like an
eternity to Rodimus.  Each one landing
many blows on the other.
   Then, Megatron swung his pipe, and
missed Optimus.  Optimus dropped his
pipe, and charged at Megatron, driving
his shoulder into Megatron's chest, and
knocking him against the wall.  They
fought for a moment, then Optimus
hoisted Megatron above his head, and
threw him into a stack of fuel
containers.  Optimus retrieved his laser
rifle from where he had dropped it, and
shot at one of the containers.  It burst
into flame, and quickly spread to the
other containers.  Optimus heard
Megatron scream once, and then silence,
only the crackle of the flame was to be
heard.  Megatron was motionless within
the inferno.  He was totally engulfed in
flame.
   "Megatron tried to move, but the
flames had burned through too much of
his internal circuitry.  His power
conduits were fusing, and it was only a
matter of minutes until his computer
core would overheat.  He tried to scream
again, but he had lost control of all
functions.  This was truly the end he
thought.
   Only a few feet away, Optimus stood,
looking into the flames.  "Goodbye
Megatron", said Optimus.  He watched the
flames.  It was over.  Megatron was
dead.  Finally, he could have some
peace.
   "Optimus, lookout", called Rodimus. 
Optimus turned around, and was hit in
the chest with a missile from
Soundwave's shoulder cannon.  He fell to
the ground unconscious.
   Rodimus had been so intent on the
battle, he did not notice that Soundwave
and Nightbird had cut through the
energeon nets.  Before Rodimus could
move to help Optimus, the Xformers were
on him.
   Soundwave and Nightbird grabbed fire
extinguishers, and put out the flames. 
Soundwave picked up Megatron's charred
body.  The once shiny green steel, was
now blackened.  Energeon leaked from
everywhere.  The heat from Megatron
burned Soundwave's chest plate, but he
did not even flinch.  He carried his
leader's body toward the shuttle,
Nightbird was right with him.
   "Is he alive", asked Nightbird, her
voice betraying her concern.
   "I don't know", said Soundwave. 
"Xformers, leave him, we must take off
immediately."
   The Xformers left Rodimus, they had
given him a good beating, but did not
have time to do any real damage.
   The Xformers boarded the shuttle, and
the shuttle began to lift off.  The
massive dome opened, and snow began to
fall in the hanger.
   Rodimus fired at the shuttle.  He
tried to aim for the engine, but he was
firing wildly trying to stop them.  He
managed to hit an energy conduit. 
Inside the shuttle, the explosion ripped
through several interior compartments,
but the shuttle kept going, and flew out
of the dome.
   As Rodimus raced to Optimus's side,
he activated his radio.  "Rodimus Prime
to any Autobot or First Circle troops, a
shuttle has just lifted of from Ice
Station Omega, it must be stopped." 
Rodimus repeated his order, and then
went to Optimus.  The wound was not that
severe, but Optimus was unconscious. 
Was it over, wondered Rodimus.  He
didn't know if Megatron was dead or not. 
If he wasn't, he didn't know what
Optimus would do.


   Aboard the shuttle, Soundwave and
Nightbird took Megatron to the repair
bay while the Xformers piloted the ship.
   Soundwave started connecting Megatron
to the life support system.
   "Nightbird, you must show the
Xformers how to get through the shields. 
They do not know the correct shield
frequencies that will allow us to pass."
   "I want to stay with Megatron", she
said.  Her normally calm, cool demeanor
was gone, as she hovered over her love. 
"Megatron, I will not leave you", she
said.
   "If you don't, we all die.  I can't
leave him, now get to the bridge, that's
an order", commanded Soundwave.
   Nightbird nodded hesitantly.  She
looked back for a moment when she
reached the door.  Soundwave could see
the pain in her eyes.
   Soundwave worked furiously.  Megatron
was alive but barely, he finished
connecting life support, and stabilized
his life signs.  He was hanging on by a
thread.  Soundwave had a plan, but
before he could act on it, his
communicator sounded.
   "Wolverine to Soundwave, how are we
supposed to get through that shield?"
   "Nightbird was supposed to come up
there and show you", answered Soundwave.
   "She's not here.  We took some damage
from Rodimus Prime as we lifted off,
we're barely holding together,
explosions and radiation on decks B
through D, and we lost our secondary
energy conduit."
   Soundwave went to the computer
terminal, and entered the proper shield
frequencies.  "I'm sending the shield
frequencies to the bridge, set them, and
get us out of here.  I'll find
Nightbird."
   "Understood."
   Soundwave knew their was not much
time to save Megatron, but he had to
find out what happened to Nightbird.  He
headed toward the bridge.  He hadn't
gone far when he found her.  An energy
conduit must have exploded on the
exterior of the ship causing a chain
reaction inside the ship.  Nightbird
must have been right next to it when it
exploded.  Soundwave picked her up and
carried her to the repair bay.  She was
barely conscious.
   "Soundwave, how bad is it", she
asked.
   "It's very bad.  Soundwave looked
over the readouts from the examination
tables scanners."
   "Nightbird", began Soundwave slowly. 
"I can repair you, but to do that, I
must put you on life support."
   "Well then do it", she said.
   "The shuttle only has one life
support unit, and if I use it on you,
Megatron will die.  But I'm not sure I
can save him at all."  Soundwave paused
for a moment.  "If I save you, Megatron
will die.  If I do not save you,
Megatron may die anyway."  Soundwave was
at a loss for words.
   "Then you know what you have to do",
she said.  "You must try to save
Megatron.  Soundwave, hand me my short
sword."
   Soundwave removed her sword from it's
place on her back, and placed it in her
hand.
   "Soundwave, you must never tell
Megatron of this.  Tell him I was killed
by the explosion."
   "Nightbird, I do not know if I can do
that, but I'll try", said Soundwave.
   "Thank you", she said.  She held the
sword in her hands, the hilt above her
head, the tip to her chest.  She said
something in Japanese that Soundwave did
not understand.  He turned away, he
could not watch.  He heard the sound of
steal cut through steal, and as he
looked back, he saw her arms fall down
at her sides, the sword sticking out of
her chest, with the blade embedded in
her computer core.  Her eyes flickered
for a moment, and then she was gone.
   "Your sacrifice will not be in vain. 
I swear it", said Soundwave.
   Soundwave turned his attention to
Megatron, and went to retrieve the steel
box he had brought on board.  How ironic
it was that he had told Megatron his
other project was unimportant.  It was
now more important than ever.