Chapter 597: Decepticon Onslaught (Patreon)

Transformers Begin : Table of Content/Chapter List

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Sinai Peninsula, on a desert road.

A convoy comprising over thirty vehicles was swiftly advancing.

Many travelers on the road couldn't help but cast curious glances at the convoy. It was undeniably peculiar, featuring an assortment of heavy trucks, jeeps, off-road vehicles, supercars, regular sedans, and even some specialized vehicles like Ratchet and construction trucks.

At the forefront of the convoy were three motorcycles, matching in model but varying in color, racing ahead with unmatched enthusiasm.

This strange procession, composed of dozens of diverse vehicle models, naturally drew the attention of many humans along the way. Consequently, it caught the eye of some observant individuals.

"Autobots spotted... current location: Egypt, Northwest Sinai Province, Nahal Road 17..."

In outer space, Soundwave remained transformed and attached to a U.S. military satellite.

Leveraging the convenience of the United States' satellite surveillance and communication systems, he effortlessly gathered and intercepted information from various regions on Earth.

The movement of the Autobot convoy was first discovered by locals in Egypt who took pictures and uploaded them to the internet. These images eventually made their way to an internet data processing center within the United States, where Soundwave, amidst vast volumes of information, meticulously extracted the relevant data.

Subsequently, he traced the information back to the convoy's whereabouts.

Once he had confirmed their location, Soundwave transmitted this crucial intelligence to Starscream.

Lord Fallen's patience with Starscream had been dwindling since learning about the information regarding the Leadership Module's hidden location.

Of the two tasks assigned to Starscream, one had yielded only unverified, suspected answers, while the other had seen no progress at all. Especially regarding the latter task, Lord Fallen's focus on Optimus Prime, the Autobots' leader, had not gone unnoticed by Starscream and Soundwave, the Intelligence Director of the Skytiger Legion.

However, those were not the immediate concerns.

Upon discovering the Autobots' whereabouts, Soundwave wasted no time deploying his subordinate, Ravage, to deliver this information to Starscream.

He was curious about Starscream's next move.

Soundwave didn't have to wait long to find out.

The Autobot convoy continued its journey into Jordan.

News of the U.S. Fifth Fleet's encounter with the Decepticon attack had already been detected by military satellites from various countries around the world.

This was not surprising. As the sole remaining superpower on Earth since the end of the Cold War, the United States had initiated multiple conflicts and wars worldwide in recent years, including the 2001 Afghanistan War and the 2003 Gulf War aimed at the Middle East's oil-producing region.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet was permanently stationed in the Middle East region, and its sudden deployment from Bahrain to the Red Sea had raised concerns. Russia was worried about whether the U.S. was preparing to interfere in their recent conflict with Georgia. A certain audacious North African nation, known for its penchant for mischief, feared U.S. military action against them. As for the traditional colonial powers, England and France, they were apprehensive that the United States might be using this move to expand its presence in their traditional colonies in Africa.

Given the high level of scrutiny, the U.S. Fifth Fleet had attracted the attention of spy satellites from various countries almost immediately after leaving Bahrain.

Therefore, the fact that the fleet had encountered a Decepticon attack was far from a secret. The United Kingdom, often dubbed "the troublemaker of Europe," and its media giant, the BBC, promptly disseminated news they had obtained through certain channels, causing a rapid and sensational response.

"...Based on Satellite footage... the U.S. Fifth Fleet's USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier has suffered severe damage, USS Badan amphibious assault ship is beginning to sink, and USS Boxer has also sustained heavy damage... As for why the extraterrestrials have attacked the U.S. military again, we believe it is likely related to the United States Government's refusal to surrender the United States boy, Sam..."

Sam and Michaela sat in the Chevrolet car that Bumblebee had transformed into, their expressions grim as they listened to the news being relayed by the BBC broadcast. The veins on Sam's arms were visibly bulging.

"Sam... you don't need to blame yourself for this. We all know that this has nothing to do with you..." Michaela whispered comfortingly, her heart aching as she looked at her boyfriend, who had visibly lost weight during this period.

Sam remained silent. The experiences of the past few weeks had taught this eighteen-year-old United States high school student many things.

Initially, his departure had been rushed, and his family was currently in the United States, reportedly "taken in" and "protected" by the United States Government. However, due to their association with the Autobots, the United States Government didn't dare to openly threaten Sam.

Yet, they still called him and sent text messages almost every day, under Government's influence, urging Sam to return home as soon as possible.

However, upon learning that his parents were doing well, Sam had no immediate plans to return home. Optimus Prime had assured him that the Autobots would soon deal with the Decepticons and help him return to his previous, peaceful life.

They were currently busy with this mission. After receiving information from Sound Nest Commander Colonel Williams, which suggested that the Leadership Module might be in the Petra Mountains of Jordan, Optimus Prime had immediately organized an elite team of Autobot warriors to head there.

The convoy was currently en route to Jordan. At their current speed, they would enter Jordan in six or seven hours at most.

"Michaela... do you think the Decepticons attacked the Fifth Fleet again as retaliation for the Government not handing me over?" Sam finally spoke after a long silence, his voice slow and contemplative.

He did feel a sense of guilt over the Fifth Fleet's attack. It had caused him significant emotional turmoil.

Michaela, on the other hand, was livid. "Sam, Sam... you mustn't think that way. That's exactly what the politicians want you to think, so they can conveniently sell you to the Decepticons..."

In the recent past, Sam's parents, who were under the control of the United States Government, had called him repeatedly.

The content of the calls was almost identical each time, and as an outsider, Michaela could clearly tell that Sam's parents were reciting dialogue provided by the Government.

Repeating the same lines over and over again, they would talk about the continuous disruptions caused by the Decepticons within the United States, the extent of the damage, and the detrimental effects on the United States Government and its people, implying that they were unable to cope.

Although Sam's parents were somewhat neurotic, they undoubtedly loved their child. It was evident that they had been subjected to some form of coercion or threat, which was why they urged him to return home during their phone calls.

However, Michaela knew very well that Sam's safety depended on staying with the Autobots. Returning home would be equivalent to signing his death warrant and being sold to the Decepticons by the Government.

She was about to console her emotionally distraught boyfriend further when suddenly, a piercing shout rang out in their ears.

"Enemy attack..."

Following that, six missiles and hundreds of aerial bombs rained down from the sky, immediately engulfing the entire area.

The deafening explosions and blazing flames shrouded almost the entire Autobot convoy.

Decepticons were attacking!

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Next Chapter >>Chapter 598: The Hunt