Transformers: Survival of Defective Products

Chapter 136 Preparation

The geological structure survey area of ​​the lower layer of Crystal City was turned upside down, and the Decepticon technical team stayed there for seventeen months.

According to the records, all their actions were in accordance with the agreement.

The Crystal City representative stood in front of the control panel, looking at the investigation report and monitoring data submitted by the Decepticons.

The Decepticons initially said they were just investigating, using cautious wording.

So Crystal City gave them a limited opportunity to cooperate.

Shockwave then submitted a second-stage scanning proposal. It required improving the energy readback accuracy of the old calibration facility by simulating the energy erosion contamination path through reverse calculation.

After reviewing the information, the Crystal City representative expressionlessly closed the control panel and stated bluntly, "Cooperation terminated."

The shockwave watched her from a remote projection on the other end.

"You've crossed the line."

Shockwave reverted the plan and reread the record of Crystal City's refusal to grant authorization.

"We did not request the manufacture of contaminated samples."

"You have requested a simulated contamination path," the Crystal City representative said. "For Crystal City, it makes no difference."

The channel was silent for half a second, then Shockwave said, "The termination of cooperation with Crystal City will reduce the accuracy of subsequent pollution risk assessments."

The Crystal City representative looked at him, not wanting to argue further: "This cooperation is terminated."

Shockwave stopped correcting the words: "Received."

The remote video feed was cut off, and the Decepticon technical team began their withdrawal. All scan results were simultaneously archived by Crystal City. Crystal City's system checked each item and found no attack programs or contaminated samples brought in.

The Crystal City representative watched as the last group of Decepticons left the lower passage before clicking his tongue and saying:

"They got what they wanted."

-

In the Kalon Deep Experiment Zone, shockwaves superimpose data from the former site of the geosynchronous energy bridge, energy data stored on the Ironclad Dragon space station, the spectral layer of the energy-eroding body, and ancient pollution records.

Sound waves stood aside, pulling out more data.

Ancient legends, taboo records, incomplete star maps, and so on.

Megatron's gaze remained fixed on the screen.

They have actually simulated the reproduction path, but those things lack a certain activity, cannot last long, and are not powerful enough.

He had thought that these legends were probably just rubbish, but after the war had gone on for so long, he had seen too many myths reveal their true nature.

The source of fire has been sent away, the prophecy of the universal covenant remains unfulfilled, and the leadership module is still missing.

If he can master it, he will possess power far exceeding that of conventional systems.

If he can't, he should at least know where it is.

Megatron marked the information related to the Dark Super-Energy Being as one of his highest priorities: "Continue tracking."

-

At the same time, in the underground engineering hall of the Iron Fortress, the main keel of the first level of the Ark was completed.

As part of a massive skeleton, it lies across the underground dock, supported by countless support frames, and its surface is covered with large areas of unsealed aerospace metal.

The engineering machine moves along both sides of the keel, the welding shines brightly, and the manufacturing never stops.

The police station stood in front of the control panel to check on the progress of the project.

"The main keel is complete. The basic framework of the long-range energy module has entered the first phase. The deep space navigation array has not yet been calibrated. The 'Spark Source Tracking' module requires more star map data."

The ambulance driver, inspecting the medical pod layout on the left, looked grim: "The medical pod is still a bit small."

The police car didn't stop: "It's expanded compared to the previous version."

"The previous version was about murder."

"We can't increase it any further; our budget is limited."

The ambulance driver looked at him coldly: "Are you the medical officer or am I?"

The police car paused for a moment.

The jazz priest said softly, "No, we still need him."

Hengpao whispered from the side, "Are the medical pods really that important?"

The ambulance whirled around, and Hengpao immediately changed his tune: "Very important!"

Optimus Prime stood on the high platform, looking at the main keel of the Ark, with Master Turbo beside him.

During this period, Master Tai's movements became slower and his voice became softer than before.

"It's starting to take shape," the titanium craftsman said.

Optimus Prime stared at the engineering vehicles moving back and forth below the dock: "The cost was high."

Every path has a price.

"The front lines will be even tougher."

"Yes."

Optimus Prime looked down, and the optical mirror reflected the ship's metal frame and the flickering flames of forging.

Every resource that is transferred away leaves a gap elsewhere, and every gap will be filled by an organ, which must sign off on it.

Master Titanium looked at him, as if he wanted to say something, and finally gently patted his shoulder: "You've done enough."

Optimus Prime didn't answer. It wasn't nearly enough, he thought.

-

In the Iron Fortress Situation Room, the search history for the leadership module was brought up again.

The old parliamentary archives, the deep vaults of the Iron Castle Museum, archives related to the Principality's covenant, a sealed catalogue from before the relocation of the judicial center, and even the ruins of several ancient temples.

No, the leadership module doesn't appear anywhere.

The Autobots can't be found, and neither can the Decepticons.

If the leadership module truly exists, and Cybertron has yet to find it, then only a few possibilities remain.

It has never been publicly collected, it does not belong to any existing institution, and it is located in a place deeper than Iron Castle.

Or perhaps it has always been underground on Cybertron.

Megatron looked at the search summary transmitted by the sound waves.

The Iron Fortress underground structure map includes the upper urban area, the underground energy network, the old council's protective layer, the remains of ancient passages, the exhibition hall from the time of the Pusaic faith, and the core support well of the Iron Fortress.

Further down, there was a large area that was not fully marked, and even the old council did not record it completely.

Megatron stared at the blank area.

Leadership module, Dark Super-Energy Entity.

One is in the deepest part of Cybertron, the other perhaps beyond the sea of ​​stars.

They were all hidden away by the old era, waiting for someone supposedly qualified to find them.

Megatron doesn't need that qualification.

He crawled out of the mine, and no holy relic chose him.

He earned every step of his life through his own efforts.

Since the leadership module refuses to appear, he will storm the fortress and dig it out.

The sound waves projected the map of the Iron Fortress defenses.

Ultra Magnus rebuilt the outer defenses, the police cars adjusted the ground confirmation protocol, Alita and Arcee were in charge of several key evacuation routes, Ironhide and Bumblebee guarded the heavy machinery passage on the east side, Jazz and Sideswipe formed a mobile support line, and the ambulances turned the medical area into a cursing fortress.

This is the core of the Autobots.

Taking it will inevitably come at a huge cost.

Megatron knew he didn't care.

"Status of the Ironclad Dragon Space Station?" he asked.

The sound wave responded: [Control is stable. Deep consciousness detected. Increased responsiveness. Further arousal possible.]

Shockwave added: "The Ironclad Dragon's giant deformable structure can be used for orbital suppression and surface intrusion."

Red Spider raised an eyebrow: "Are we going to wake up a space station now and have it attack Iron Fortress?"

Shockwave replied, "Yes."

Starscream looked at Megatron: "That's certainly grand enough."

Megatron continued to confirm the deployment: "Hercules?"

"The reconstructed state is stable," Shockwave replied. "We can now proceed with a positive push."

"A tank unit?"

Soundwave: [Standby.]

"The tracker?"

Red Spider raised his chin and spread his wings: "The Air Force can tear through the skies above Iron Fortress at any time."

Megatron stood up, and all the machines in the command room fell silent.

"Assemble all available heavy troops."

"Iron Dragon Space Station enters wake-up procedure."

"Hercules is deployed to the front lines."

"The trackers have sealed off the skies above Iron Fortress."

"Sound waves, cut off communications outside the Iron Fortress."

"Shockwave, prepare core area search model."

Orders were relayed down, and deep within Caron, the Decepticon forces began to mobilize.

Beyond orbit, the long-dormant consciousness of the Ironclad Dragon space station has been awakened.

The fortified command post in Divine Grace City has initiated a wartime transition.

Tagan Heights, the Eastern Front, the Orbital Fleet, the Tracker Air Force—all the forces in Megatron's hands began to converge in the same direction.

Iron Fortress.

If the leadership module exists, then it's there.

He will find it.

"Target: Iron Fortress," he said.

The war has finally reached the oldest heart of Cybertron.