Transformers Dark of the Moon

Storming Chicago

Outside, Lennox stood in front of four soldiers, one being Epps. "Our mission is to do what the drone could not. Despite the decepticons reinforcing the south entrance after our attack, it is still open from one highway that we see used by hundreds of survivors from the inside. We will go in as close as possible with a vehicle, and continue the rest on foot. And, to make we all aren't taken out together, we need to split up upon entering." He quickly briefed them, not wanting to waste any more time. Lennox, Epps, and the other three soldiers entered a military Jeep and drove off from the base and towards Chicago.

The drive took about two hours. The closer they got, the worse their surroundings looked. Bullet holes, shredded pieces of clothes, and soon bodies were all over the streets. They followed the highway towards Chicago, where they drove past dozens of people still running from the chaos. The group stopped the vehicle just before the highway ended and exited it while grabbing their things. Continuing their journey on foot, they ran into more and more survivors, some of which said to turn back. None of them listed however and still walked towards the burning skyscrapers. One soldier had some doubts the more he looked around and spoke up, "Sir, I know this is for the good of everyone, but this feels more like a suicide mission now." Another soldier silently agreed with him while the third seemed unsure on who to side with. "We've made it this far, we're not about to just turn back now." Epps stated. "Do you not see what they've done to this place?!" The soldier replied, slightly raising his voice as he pointed to a nearby train that had been derailed and tossed over the road like an archway, "They destroy a whole city in one day and while they do it they easily make a train look like a piece of architecture, symbolizing that they don't care!" He remarked. Epps still looked at him with determination, "Then we'll make them care." As the group began rethinking, the third soldier suddenly started screaming as he pointed to the sky at an incoming ship. "Take cover!" Lennox yelled. The ship opened fire, completely eviscerating the third soldier. The remaining four returned fire, but barely dented the cockpit. The ship demonstrated how much more powerful it currently was by casually flying under the train arch while the soldiers hopelessly tried gunning it down. The decepticon pilot seemed to just be toying with his victims until he abruptly changed. He faced towards the highway, about to shoot, until his own engine was shot. The ship began to lose control as he flew in circles. His ship went under the ached train again before colliding with the ground. With the ship disabled, the Protoform inside had to bust his way out the cockpit which took time. Lennox, Epps, and the two remaining soldiers felt the ground shake in the form of footsteps. Lennox turned behind him to the large blue and red Autobot leader standing right behind them with a blaster in his hands. Epps did the same once a large, golden bullet shell bounced on the pavement ahead of him. They both couldn't believe their eyes. "O-Optimus... you're alive!" Lennox shouted with glee. Prime looked down at him with a soft smile, "We didn't want them to cause such destruction. There was no way for us to stop them in time." Optimus said with sorrow. "Us?" Lennox said, immediately hearing all different kinds of car engines approaching from behind Optimus. He stepped over to see a silver corvette leading the pack of other vehicles that raced up and transformed behind Prime. Lennox's excitement was through the roof at the site of all the Autobots back from what looked like certain defeat. Lennox then looked back to the decepticon ship as the pilot finally freed himself from the cockpit and tumbled down the front from exhaustion. He looked up to see every Autobot alive, and just ahead of him. But before he could do anything about it, three weaponized NASCARs drove up from behind his ship. "Wreckers, kill him!" Leadfoot shouted to Roadbuster and Topspin as they transformed. Roadbuster and Leadfoot slowly approached the 'con that was about to back himself against a building. Topspin was reluctant in joining his fellow Wreckers in dismantling the decepticon as he was defenseless. He proved to be right as Optimus ordered the other two to stop before they were able to lay a hand on him, "We are not like Decepticons, we will not kill those who cannot defend themselves." Prime stated, "This goes to all Autobot and NEST soldiers, we do not kill those who surrender, or have no more means of attack." Optimus clarified. "So then what do we do with him? He'll give away our element of surprise." Roadbuster said as he and Leadfoot stepped away from him. "Disable his coms. Lennox, have an escort to take him back to base and order the Aerialbots here." Prime commanded. Roadbuster stepped back up to the Protoform, reaching for the small communications device next to his audio receptors and crushed it. "I just have one question," Lennox said, "how did you all survive? I saw the Xanthium blow up." He questioned. "The ship? We were never in the ship, we designed the dang thing, didn't we?" Roadbuster vaguely replied. "We were hidden in the first booster rocket to separate. Splashed back down to the Atlantic just as planned." Leadfoot then clarified before Lennox reached for his radio.