I . . . Failed

.:1:.

I activated the groundbridge, and watched as Team Prime drove through the bridge. I have always worried, that one day. Not everyone would come back in one piece.

But little did I know, that today was the start of a nightmare.

<--5 Hours Earlier-->

"Ratchet! Why would you let a rookie on a recon mission alone?!" Arcee scolds. 

"Arcee, with all of you on separate missions, recon is required! And I'll have you know, that you are in no place to question what I do and why!" I yell back.

"Oh really? Then why was I always leader whenever Optimus wasn't?" She says.

"At first, I thought you were a good choice for a leader. But you anger quickly, Arcee. Which is why even Miko could outshine you in leadership!" I retort.

"I'm responsible. Something a lot of us aren't." Arcee snaps back. "Who knows, maybe one day. I'll actually be the leader, Ratchet."

I roll my optics, and went back to what I was working on. Before I was rudely interrupted.

"Hey, Ratchet?"  I heard a mech ask.

I turn around and see Smokescreen. His optics bore confusion, what did he do now?

"Yes?" I reply, quite annoyed.

"Why does Arcee always lash out at the Autobots? I mean, we haven't done anything wrong to her. Why choose to release anger on us?" He asks.

I thought for a moment, and caught a glance of her glaring at Wheeljack for the disrespect for Ultra Magnus.

"That, is how she chooses to remove some of the feelings she has bottled up. But they can often lead to . . . road bumps." I finish.

"Right, also do you know where 'Bee is? I haven't been able to find him." Smokescreen asks.

"He is on a scouting mission. A quite risky one, so I wouldn't recommend trying to communicate with him." I answer.

He nods, and walked off. Most likely to find Bulkhead. I went back to the screen, and I monitored Bumblebee's life signal and stats. If he were injured I could send in backup, all I hope is that we don't lose him. While most would say our scout is valuable because of the key information he has of the autobots. We would say it's because he is family, and we just couldn't bear losing more. Not after Cliffjumper.

.:Ratchet, Ratchet do you read?:. Bumblebee's whirrs and beeps crackled to life through the com-link.

"Loud, and clear Bumblebee." I reply.

.:I need a bridge, I found everything I needed to:. 

"Understood, Bumblebee. Sending groundbridge now." I say, pulling the lever and a portal of green, and blue bursts out of slumber. And came through a black and yellow Urbana 500.

His tires squealed against the cool metal floor, and he transformed to reveal a black and yellow mech with bright blue optics.

"Bumblebee, status report." Optimus's deep voice rumbled as heavy pedsteps followed.

/Nothing much, but 'Cons are definitely planning something. I saw 'em collecting entire mines of energon. And, this./ Bumblebee replies, using an optic visor he displayed a collection of data he gathered from the Decepticon warship.

"Woah, what do you think the 'Cons are planning to do with all this?" Arcee questions, walking over to us. Then every autobot walked over to see this information received from the Decepticons, in hopes of understanding it.

"If given enough time, I may be able to decipher it.  Because by the looks of it, it seems like the ancient languages. I don't know why, but this might be to hide whatever they're planning no doubt." I reply.

"Bee, you find anything else?" Wheeljack asks.

/No, all I found was this. And it probably requires a whole bunch of energon. 'Cons were mining so much in the caves, there was practically no energon left in them by the time they were done./ Bumblebee replies with a lot of whirrs and clicks.

"So let me get this straight. We're doomed if Megatron finishes whatever project he's working on?" Smokescreen suggests.

"Precisely, which is why I need the time, and no interruptions." I say, glaring at a certain two-wheeler at the last part of my sentence.

I turn, and begin to decrypt the data. I heard pedsteps recede, I figured that they all would have left. But one remained, Optimus.

"Old friend, I feel as if something is troubling you. Do you wish to share?" Optimus asks.

"It's all fine, Optimus. I just question some of the Autobots. But . . . seeing some of them, reminds me of how their childhood was much different from ours." I reply.

"As such, Ratchet. I do wish, the war had not affected younglings. But the sooner we stop the Decepticons, the sooner we all can experience peace." My old friend responds.

I nod, and resume decrypting the message. Little did I know, how long it would take.

. . . 4 hours and 50 minutes later . . . 

The decryption of the data code, was more difficult than I expected. But during the time, the kids arrived at the base, and Rafael chose to watch me at work. Not that I minded, he is calmer than Miko that's for sure. 

Then a majority of Decepticon signals pinged on my screen. I alert Optimus of this, and he gets the others to prepare.

"Autobots, once we reach the area, stealth is key. Bumblebee, you will scout ahead, and we will see what to do afterwards." Optimus commands, his deep voice rumbled throughout the base.

/Understood, Prime./ Bumblebee replies.

"And what if it could be a trap?" Arcee questions.

"Then, we blow the joint." Wheeljack replies casually, having a servo to his grenades.

"Soldier, this recklessness will not be tolerated on the field!" Ultra Magnus scolds.

"Alright, alright. Sir." Wheeljack says, while groaning internally.

"Autobots, Transform and Roll Out!" My old friend commanded.

I activated the groundbridge, and watched as Team Prime drove through the bridge. I have always worried, that one day. Not everyone would come back in one piece.

~~~~Mines~~~~

The Autobots drove through the bridge, into the mines, and transformed the moment they arrived. 

The mine was mounted with energon as it glimmered a familiar shade of blue. If they defeated the Decepticons, they would have enough energon to last for months.

Bumblebee began to scout the area, and the team waited for an answer, but the scout had not traveled far yet, and then before they could react, multiple tickings of grenades were heard. 

Ultra Magnus spotted one of them, not very far from him. But the timers on all the bombs ticked.

.

.

.

3 

.

.

.

2

.

.

.

1

.

.

.