Chapter 381: The Alliance on the Brink of Collapse (Part 1) (Patreon)

Transformers Begin : Table of Content/Chapter List

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As soon as Ratchet spoke, the tension in the garage instantly eased up.

Ironhide let out a sigh of relief, just as he pulled out a cigar from his body, he felt a sharp gaze land on him.

He turned his head and immediately felt a chill in his heart. He decided to put away the cigar and walked up to Optimus Prime, lowering his head slightly. "I have disappointed you, my Leader."

Indeed, Ironhide had disappointed Optimus Prime. Seeing the desolation on the face of his deputy, Optimus Prime's heart softened. He scanned the situation in the garage and asked in a deep voice, "Captain Robert only briefly mentioned the mission failure when he returned earlier. Now, Ironhide, I want you to tell us the specific details."

After speaking, he also glanced at Skids and Sideswipe, who were also covered in wounds.

Sideswipe was not a concern; he only had minor injuries like Ironhide.

However, Skids was not as fortunate. During the retreat, he was hit in the back by a rocket fired by the Russian Army, causing his left side to be blown apart.

Fortunately, his Spark was unharmed, but even so, this operation was an undeniable failure for the Autobots.

"I understand, Leader!"

Ironhide's chest twitched rapidly, and it was evident that this hot-tempered tough guy was feeling frustrated and angry.

It was understandable. If they had been defeated by the Decepticons in the previous Russian operation, let alone having teammates injured, even if someone fell in action, the Autobots, although saddened, could still grit their teeth and accept the failure of the mission.

There was no other reason except for the fact that the Autobots had been driven out of their home planet, Cybertron, by their archenemies, the Decepticons, in two consecutive civil wars. They were now forced to use Cybertron's satellite as their base and engage in guerrilla warfare against the Decepticons.

Therefore, being defeated by the Decepticons, whose power had already surpassed their own, even though the Autobots were unwilling, they understood the gap between the two.

But ironically, in this operation, Ironhide and the others not only failed to confront the Decepticons as they had anticipated, but they were also taught a harsh lesson by the humans.

Chromia's mechanical body was heavily damaged, and even her Spark was affected. Skids fared slightly better than her, although his left side was blown apart. At least his Spark was unharmed, making the repairs less troublesome.

Looking at the entire Autobot forces, even Ironhide himself, who could be considered one of the strongest, and Sideswipe were injured, all courtesy of the humans they looked down upon. Just the thought of it made Ironhide's chest burst into flames of anger.

Indeed, among all the Autobots who arrived on Earth, proud individuals like Ironhide have always been the ones most opposed to cooperating with the greedy and far less advanced human forces compared to Cybertron.

It took more than ten minutes to recount the entire experience in Russia.

This narrative was not limited to verbal expression alone because holographic projection was not a skill exclusive to the Decepticons; the Autobots also possessed it.

Ironhide lowered his arm gently, his head slightly drooping.

Clearly, he knew what the failure of this mission meant.

"... So, you hadn't even entered North Dovinsk City, and it's not even confirmed if there were Decepticons there, but you were repelled by humans..."

Optimus Prime's face was unusually serious. Although he had a good temperament, he was the Autobot Leader who personally commanded the Second Cybertronian Civil War. Despite being young, he possessed an aura that made even veterans like Ironhide, who had experienced two civil wars, couldn't help but feel nervous.

"Yes, Leader!"

He answered in a deep voice, his voice tinged with caution.

Sideswipe's mouth moved, about to say something, when a calm and gentle female voice came from the entrance of the garage.

"... Is Chromia okay? Ratchet..."

Instinctively, Ironhide looked toward the direction of the voice and immediately saw two figures that looked somewhat similar to Chromia.

One had a purple mechanical body, taller and more slender, while the other had a pink mechanical body, even more feminine in curves than Chromia and the other one beside her, coming gracefully.

The one speaking was the tall, purple female Autobot, and upon seeing her, his heart eased slightly.

The person who arrived was none other than Alita, one of the triplets and a female Autobot Leader like Chromia. The one speaking was her elder sister, Alita. She had another identity, that of the personal guard and girlfriend of Autobot Leader Optimus Prime.

Ratchet was helping Skids examine his injuries and answered without turning his head, "She needs surgery, but it's not a big problem!"

"Have the weapons of the humans on Earth become capable of harming us?"

The pink female Autobot, Arcee, with an exceptionally charming voice, asked in surprise.

Sideswipe, who was being stared at by Ironhide, couldn't maintain his usual aloofness on his face. Although he knew that the individual in front of him was known for her irresistible charm among the Autobots, rumored to have both the renowned triple changer Springer and Bumblebee's brother Hot Rod as her pursuers, even the cold Sideswipe found it somewhat difficult to handle being looked at by such a charismatic female Autobot. After hesitating for a moment, he gave a sensible answer.

"... Most human weapons are incapable of threatening us, but there are some that can harm us. And in our target area for this mission, there is a powerful electromagnetic interference wave. If we can't destroy the source of the interference in a timely manner, it will create many unfavorable factors for our operation."

Optimus Prime remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "Sideswipe, can you confirm if the electromagnetic interference device in North Dovinsk is from the Decepticons?"

Obviously, with Alita and Arcee's explanation, he was ready to downplay the negative impact of Ironhide and their mission failure.

Sideswipe nodded solemnly, "There's no mistaking it. The intensity of the electromagnetic interference is similar to the powerful electromagnetic jammers the Decepticons used in the war, as far as I remember..."

Before he could finish speaking, a blue Autobot who was squatting next to Ratchet, helping him examine Skids' circuit system, interrupted him.

"Hey, Master. I've said it before. The system inside you is in terrible shape. Why not take this opportunity to let me replace it with a brand-new one... It'll guarantee resistance against electromagnetic interference..."

Ironhide's face immediately darkened at the words.

He turned his head and glared at the blue Autobot, not in a good mood. "Shut up, Shake. Mind your own business..."

This Autobot, Shake, who recently arrived on Earth, was once saved by Ironhide during the war. Perhaps due to spending too much time with the famous Autobot master of vulgar language, Gearbox, this young Autobot named Shake hadn't achieved any significant military accomplishments yet, but his chatty nature had already spread throughout the Autobot ranks.

Even today, Ironhide still wondered why he impulsively took in this young man who claimed to admire him so much as his apprentice. He had been annoyed by him to the point of having no choice.

However, with this chatterbox's interruption, the atmosphere in the garage suddenly became livelier, and even Optimus Prime's face couldn't help but lose some of its seriousness.

He calmly glanced at Shake, then turned his gaze back to Sideswipe, nodding slightly to indicate for him to continue speaking.

"... Although our mission failed, we can basically confirm that the Decepticons have indeed occupied North Dovinsk... I suspect they may have made contact with humans and reached some agreements... They might even be planning another conspiracy..."

As soon as the words were spoken, the garage instantly became lively.

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Next Chapter >>Chapter 382: The Alliance on the Brink of Collapse (Part 2)