Chapter 2- From Science to War

Cybertron, two minuets after loss of contact with Ultra Magnus.

"Sideswipe, do you know where Prowl is?", Optimus Primes asks his cherry red friend.

"Sorry Prime I don't. But last I heard was that he is monitoring the crowds for the big welcome home party for Jetfire." Sideswipe replies in a cheerful tone.

"Thank you my friend.", Prime says as he pat him on the shoulder.

Sideswipe leaves to go about his business as Optimus moves on to the location where Jetfire will land and give his speech.

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"Inferno, I want you to be ready for any fire, Red Alert be prepared to administer first aid if necessary. We don't know what Jetfire has gone through, or if he is damaged, any complications could jeopardize the safety of the crowd.", Prowl states, never removing his optics from his hand held data pad.

Both Autobots salute and move to their stations and teams.

"Bumblebee and Spike reporting as ordered Prowl!" an all too cheerful voice says from behind the black and white police officer.

"Ah, just the two I needed.", Prowl says as he turns to greet the yellow Autobot and his human friend, "I need the two of you to take over the monitors for any shenanigans, we can't have any attacks during this event. I hope that I don't need to remind you both how important this is, it is the first exploration project since the war, so lets try not to ruin it for everyone." Prowl says, sounding flustered.

"You worry too much Prowl, the Decepticons are gone, war is over." Bumblebee states before patting his friend on the shoulder and getting to work at the monitor.

"I hope you are right little buddy.", Prowl says softly to himself as he leaves to attend crowd control duties.

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"Ah Cybertron, now that is a sight for my optics!", Jetfire says to himself as his home world come into view. Observing the moons and watching for debris he winds his way through the wrecks of ancient warships and satellites.

"And to home he goes!" a familiar cheery voice yells as Jetfire zooms past a red Autobot working alongside the arialbots. They all turn and cheer for the great explorer of deep space as he makes his final burn for home.

"Its good to see you again too Powerglide!" Jetfire yells as he clears the debris and rights himself before his planetary approach.

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"Sister, sister!", Luna screams at the locked door in which she had been pounding at for a couple minuets that seemed like a lifetime.

"What is it Lulu?" a tired and uninterested voice answers her from behind the door.

"You will not believe what just happened!", Luna says as Celestia emerges from behind the door.

"And what would that be dearest sister?" Celestia asks her little sister with a yawn.

"Something just fell from space and crashed in the Badlands!" Luna said with urgency in her voice as she dragged her sister to the telescope.

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At the crash sight.

"My lord we are being overwhelmed!", Shockwave reports to Megatron as the Dinobots advance closer to them.

"Constructicons, merge for the kill!" Megatron commands as the six Constructicons merge into a large green and purple colossal transformer.

"PREPARE FOR EXTERMINATION", Devastator booms as he slams his fists into Sludge and knocks Swoop out of the sky.

While Devastator pounds the daylights out of the Dinobots, Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker are battling the other Autobots, along side Thrust, Dirg, and Ramjet.

"Pathetic fools, there is no escape!" Starscream yells as he performs a strafing run on the Autobot known as Hound, who takes one of the seekers missiles into his chest and explodes. "HAHAH, this is almost too easy Thundercracker!"

"Stay on focus Starscream!", Thundercracker states as he performs an aileron roll and ignites Cosmos engines, sending him spiraling out of control towards a forest.

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"Autobots fall back to the ship, we can't hold out any longer!" Ultra Magnus yells.

"Understood, you Autobots fall back, we Dinobots will hold here until you are all clear!" Grimlock yells as he bites down on the Insecticon Kickback and stomps on Sharpshot. "Stupid Bugs!".

"Thanks Grimlock!" Magnus yells as the Autobots retreat, Magnus bringing up the rear.

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"Megatron, the Autobots are retreating back to the ship.", Soundwave reports to his leader.

"When the Dinobots retreat do not pursue!", Megatron says calmly.

"As you command Megatron.", Soundwave replies as he walks away to the front line where Snarl is impaling Hardshell, killing him.

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In the city of Iacon on Cybertron.

"Autobots, our great explorer has returned from his journey into the unknown!" Sunstreaker says over a loud speaker positioned in the front of the large croud of Transformers in front of a stage.

"Now, now, everyone please keep a little distance from the stage." Prowl says to the crowd of excited Autobots wanting to meet Jetfire and here all about what he has discovered, "We will all here what old Jetfire has to tell us!".

Optimus walks onto the stage and waits for everyone to calm down. "My fellow Autobots, I too wish to hear what Jetfire has to say, but I fear that this celebration is over. Please disperse in an orderly fashion.", Optimus says solemnly as his Autobots leave the stage.

"Prime?" Prowl says confused.

"Prowl, I need you and Jetfire for an important mission as soon as he lands, repairs, and drops off his research." Optimus says as he turns away, "I would like to see you both as soon as he has done so."

"Yes sir.", Prowl replies in a flat tone of voice as Jetfire lands next to his fellow Autobot.

"Hello Prowl, I thought that there would have been a larger turnout for my return." Jetfire says plainly.

"There was, until Prime came by." Prowl says as he turns to his large friend.

"What is wrong?" Jetfire asks with a rather confused expression as he takes off his helmet.

"We need to go talk to Prime as soon as you have delivered your research and get whatever repairs you need." Prowl states as he walks away.

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An hour or so later.

"Jetfire, Prowl, I need the two of you to locate and if possible, assist Ultra Magnus. We lost contact with them as they were moving through the transwarp wormhole." Prime says as he looks out of the window in the command center.

"We will prime, the ship has a rather specific energy signature, it should be easy to track." Jetfire says as he examines one of the many pictures of Earth on the monitors throughout the Command Center.

"Any ideas on what happened?" Prowl asks his leader.

"No, we have no intelligence on what happened, but it is safe to assume that Megatron and the Decepticons are to blame." Prime answers as he turns to face his lieutenant.

"We will leave immediately Prime!" Jetfire replies as he walks out of the room, followed closely by Prowl.

"I wish you luck my friends." Prime says as the door slides shut behind the two distinguished Autobots.

Author's Note

So Jetfire and Prowl are now being sent on a rescue/intelligence mission to help Ultra Magnus, or at least find out what happened.

Meanwhile on the world of the Equines Ultra Magnus and the other Autobots are fighting the Decepticons in the Badlands as the Decepticons head towards a forest, if I looked at the MLP map correctly, the only forest near the Badlands is a straight shot to Ponyville and Canterlot.

While Luna is in freakout mode... Yeah, promise that the ponies will be more involved next chapter.