"It's another beautiful day in Iacon Jazz."

"Is that your way of telling me you have better things to do than patrol duty Mirage?"

"We kicked the Decepticon's afts back to Polyhex cycles ago, my money says they're in no rush to go another round." Mirage responded.

"That may be so, but Magnus wants us to patrol, so if the big buy says it, we do it." Jazz stated.

"Where does he get off giving us orders anyway; he's not the Prime."

"That may be so, but I am," the voice emanating from the red transport that joined them said, " and I say what Ultra-Magnus says goes. Is that understood officer?" Prime said with a chuckle.

"You sure know how to make an entrance Optimus." Mirage replied. "I suppose you want a status report."

"You bet, what do you have for me?" Prime asked.

"No Decepticon shenanigans here Prime." Jazz stated. "The perimeter of Iacon is secure as it's even been."

"I was hoping to hear that," Prime said, "Good work fellaz, let's go home."

"I'm so glad you're the Prime, Optimus, those other bots can be so uptight." Mirage stated as he raced the others back to the base.

"What other bots are you talking about you piece of tailpipe exhaust!" A voice stated as Prime's trailer opened to let Prowl and Ironhide out.

"Did you have to bring this tail pipe with you Optimus?" An annoyed Mirage replied.

"Enough you two. I'm getting tired of the both of you acting like a pair of spoiled femmes. You're gonna have to learn to get along, our very existence could depend on you two at some point. Our war with Megatron is too serious for you two to continue your own personal war. So whatever issues you have with one another I suggest you settle them before I do." Prime said firmly.

Under the leadership of Optimus Prime and the guidance of Alpha-Trion the Autobot's numbers swelled. On countless occasions the leadership and skill of Optimus Prime defeated Decepticon aggression. He inspired courage and trust in his troops because he was both brave and capable, as well as an approachable friend who the Autobots were proud to call Prime. Though Optimus was the Prime he did not run Iacon as if it were a dictatorship. Authority was delegated throughout the ranks. Alpha-Trion was chief council, Ultra Magnus was the military commander, Prowl was chief of security, Jazz and a friend of his called Blaster worked in tandem as communication specialists, and Mirage was the intelligence officer. Aside from the occasional run in between Prowl and Mirage the Autobots in Iacon got along ideally, until an old warrior woke up.

"Prime you sure seem to be in a rush to get back to the city, what's going on"? Jazz inquired.

"Alpha-Trion has a surprise for all of us. He and Elita have been working on a something called Project Beta for a while now and it's finally complete." Optimus said.

"That guy really creeps me out Prime. He's either way smaller than any of us imagine or a few retro-rabbits short of a bundle." Prowl stated.

"Say what you will about him, he always finds a way to give us a pleasant surprise, just look at Prime here." Jazz said.

"Both of your points are well taken. He is quite the character." Prime replied as the convoy transformed and walked into the assembly hall catching Ultra-Magnus in mid-speech.

" Citizens of Iacon, it gives me great pleasure to present to you all, the hero of the Cybertronian Revolution, Alpha-Trion."

Laughter and cheers erupted at the conclusion of Magnus' monologue as Alpha-Trion approached the podium.
"My friends, for breems now we have lived life on the edge. The reality of war and the threat of invasion have given us little time to reflect on the good things Cybertron has blessed us with. I say we must remain vigilant, but at the same time we must not let war deprive us of the joys of being alive. Though war may have cost us the lives of friends and loved ones, we must and will persevere. It is with the spirit of perseverance in mind that Elita and I have brought back some to Cybertron that has been missing for far to long. So it is with great pleasure that we present to you, Project Beta!" Alpha-Trion said as Elita and Ultra Magnus unveiled the project.
Stunned silence was followed by shouts of joy as the crowded filled with mechs fixed their optics on a podium full of about 50 beautiful femmes.

"I think I like that Alpha-Trion Prahme." Ironhide said as cheers rang out.

"I don't think we'll have a problem getting any volunteers to take these girls to Vector Sigma tomorrow Prime." Elita said as he approached him and gave him a kiss on his faceplate.

An unwanted guest was perched high above the assembly hall taking in the glee of the exuberant Autobots. Lazorbeak was nearly undetectable because of his size so he proved to be a very valuable asset to Megatron's army. His specialty was spying and he knew that the bits of information he gathered this day would be very pleasing to Megatron as he left for Polyhex.

"Lazorbeak returns Megatron." Soundwave stated.

"Play back his findings for me Soundwave." Megatron commanded.
"So the Autobot fools think they can stop and enjoy the energon! They feel they are same enough from my wrath that they can play around with femmes! I will not allow it!" Megatron ranted angrily as he crushed the model red semi he held in his hand. "Shockwave I have a job for you. Take the triple changers to Vector Sigma for a rendezvous with those foolish Autobots. Destroy everything that moves! Soundwave, see if you can track Starscream, inform him that he has two cycles remaining to complete his task, or else."

****

As the new day dawned anticipation filled the Cybertronian air, the Autobots greatly anticipating the quickening of the femmes and the Decepticons anticipating the opportunity to bring destruction to their opposition. Ultra-Magnus, Elita-One, Brawn, and, Downshift led the convoy of femmes toward the Cybertronian super computer in hopes of getting the ladies animated quickly so the celebration in Iacon could begin as soon as possible. Prowl had his eye in the sky, Powerglide monitoring the convoy's path from above and all was clear as they entered the tunnel that led down to the chamber. Three new recruits had the assignment of guarding the tunnel entrance, and they were just raring to go. Two of them were identical except for coloration, one was red, and the other was a bright yellow. Others knew them as "the twins', but they much preferred to be recognized as individuals, especially the cocky yellow one named Sunstreaker. His "twin', Sideswipe and the other red mech, Warpath, a combustible mech with a bad temper flanked Sunstreaker at the entrance.
" I don't know why I let you talk me into joining this rag-tag bunch Sideswipe. I just know that one day your propensity for violent activity will cause me to endanger my paint job."

"Nobody care about your stinking paint job pretty-bot. All we care about is some "blam-Boom' action!" Warpath interjected.

"He's right Streaker, I got a bone to pick with one of those fly-bots, and until I melt his rusty chassis we're soldiers big bro." Sideswipe said.

"And what makes you think you can continue to get away with dragging me into all of your problems? My patience grows thin Sideswipe, so I suggest you find a way to get your hands on that antagonist of yours and stop antagonizing me before I shove your tail pipe down your throat."
Though most of the time Sideswipe appeared to be the enforcer of the two, he knew better than to push his brother too far, so after hearing Sunstreaker's threat he figured it best to hold his piece and concentrate on the task at hand.
"I promise I'll make it up to you Streaker," Sideswipe replied, "Besides you should be thanking me for getting you this assignment, We're gonna be the first mechs to get a crack at these femmes and I for one am looking forward to the opportunity."

"Wham, Blaw, you've got a point. I can't wait to show those girls what my turret is capable of." Warpath stated before sounds from the tunnel caught the trio's attention.

"Welcome to your demise fools!" The voice of Shockwave stated as he entered the chamber of Vector Sigma flanked by Astrotrain, Octane, and Blitzwing, the newly animated triple changers.

"Oh no Decepticons, take cover!" Brawn exclaimed.

"Protect the super computer, don't let the Decepticons damage it while it's activating the femmes." Elita ordered as Magnus and Brawn carefully took shots at Shockwave who had strategically placed himself close to Vector Sigma to avoid a full scale Autobot barrage.

" Triple changers, eradicate the Autobots and destoy the femmes." Shockwave commanded as Blitzwing transformed into a Cybertronian tank and unleashed a fiery hell on the newly animated femmes that destroyed nearly a third of their number. Astrotrain and Octane picked off femmes as they tried in vain to flee to safety. Shockwave himself however brought on the majority of the damage. The war machine transformed into his cannon mode and made fodder out all almost everyone not sporting a purple insignia. When the smoke cleared only four femmes were left functional and the Autobot known as Downshift had fallen. Ultra Magnus had managed to shield three of the newly animated femmes from the assault but suffered heavy damage to his chassis in the process leaving Elita-One, Brawn, and the newly active Chroma, Firestar, and Moonracer to combat the four large Decepticons.

"Leave no survivers." Shockwave commanded as he directed the assault on the remaining Autobots making the Vector Sigma chamber look like at lasor lights show.

"Here comes the calvary!" Sideswipe yelled as he and Sunstreaker zoomed into the room in their sleek Cybertronian racer alt modes.

"Time to blam, blaw party." Warpath stated as he entered the fray with his turret blasting.

"Sunstreaker, Brawn, get Magnus and the survivors out of here!" Elita commanded. "Warpath be careful where you aim that thing you may damage the computer."

"Let's get out quickly Brawn before these war bots scorch my chassis." Sunstreaker stated.

"I'm on it pretty boy. See if you can load the injured on the back of Ultra-Magnus' trailer so I can pull it out of here and try no to break a nail while you're at it." Was Brawn's surly response as they exited the chamber.
The fighting was more intense than the Decepticons had bargained for. The four femmes along with Warpath and Sideswipe proved to be almost a match for the four Decepticons. The Decepticons decided that hand-to-hand combat would spell doom for the smaller Autobots so they pressed forward despite the volley of laser fire the feisty Autobots were peppering them with. Before they could lock hands and finish the battle, a blast to Octane's back cracked his fuel drum causing highly flammable energon to drip to the floor. Another blast from Warpath ignited the fluid causing the chamber to erupt into on big fireball.
"Decepticon's scramble." Shockwave commanded as his troops began a retreat from the intense heat of the chamber.

"Good riddance Autobots," Astrotrain stated, "too bad you can't fly." He said as the two Decepticon triple-changers grabbed their wounded associated and departed behind Shockwave headed for Polyhex.
Screams of agony and terror emanated from the chamber as the Autobots tried desperately to find a way out before they were melted to scrap metal. All of a sudden, the flames began to die out and an eerie calm took possession of the chamber.
"The fire's gone Elita." Chroma stated.

"I see that one's got a flair for the obvious." Sideswipe uttered brushing himself off. "Is it me or did this place just get a whole lot creepier?"

"SILENCE!" a booming voice cried out as a plasma energy surge knocked all of the occupants into a state of stasis. "ELITA AWAKEN." The voice said.

"Who said that?" Elita asked as she got to her feet.

"THAT IS OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE FOREBEARER."

"Forebearer? Sentinel is that you?"

"NO MY CHILD IT IS NOT, BUT THE ISSUE TODAY IS NOT WHO I AM, BUT OF WHO YOU ARE. YOU WERE CHOSEN BEFORE HAND TO BRING FORTH CYBERTRON'S SALVATION. FROM YOU, THE PRIME OF CYBERTRON SHALL BE BROUGHT FORTH."

"I am aware of my calling, and I have already helped lead Orion to his destiny. The Prime lives and leads us now."

"YOU HAVE DONE WELL ARIEL, BUT YOUR WORK HAS ONLY BEGUN. THE CURRENT PRIME IS DESTINED TO LEAD CYBERTRON INTO ETERNITY, BUT THE PRIME OF WHICH I SPEAK WILL BE THE SAVIOR OF NOT ONLY CYBERTRON BUT ALSO OF THE UNIVERSE. IT IS UP TO YOU TO SEE THAT HE IS BROUGHT FORTH."

"But I don"t understand"

"NOR DO YOU HAVE TO, JUST REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER."

"What power is it that you speak of?"

"TIME STOPS FOR NO ONE ARIEL, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND FOUND WORTHY. AS A REWARD YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE ABILITY TO CONQUER TIME ITSELF, BUT BE WARNED, THIS GIFT COMES WITH A PRICE, SO DO NOT USE IT UNTIL THE TIME IS RIGHT."

"Wait, I do not understand---"

"TIME WILL TELL YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW MY CHILD, NOW DEPART FROM THIS CHAMBER WITH THESE KEYS." The voice said as a single key appeared in the palm of Elita's hand.
"THE KEY YOU HOLD IN YOUR PALM IS NOW THE KEY TO VECTOR SIGMA. ONLY THE OWNER OF THE ALLSPARK AND THE HOLDER OF THIS KEY CAN CREATE NEW LIFE, WITHOUT IT THE SIGMA COMPUTER WILL REMAIN DORMENT UNLESS A SPARK IS SACRIFED. THE OTHER KEY LIES WITHIN YOU ELITA, YOU POSSESS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE, THROUGH YOU PRIMUS WILL LIVE AGAIN, AND ONE DAY IN THE MIDST OF THE SWARM ALL WILL BE MADE WHOLE AGAIN, BUT UNTIL THAT DAY YOU WILL HERE FROM ME NO MORE. GOODBYE MY CHILD, TIL ALL ARE ONE."

Sunstreaker and Brawn were the bearers of the bad news concerning the Decepticon attack. This news sent shockwaves through the Autobot ranks as well as through the ranks of the Iacon civilians as well. Alpha-Trion was especially troubled and blamed himself for the devastation. In his mind everything was his fault from the Creation of the Decepticons, the election of Prima as senate leader, and the destruction that resulted from Cybertron's latest conflict. He decided to make himself scarce, and from that point on the only bots who were able to contact him were Elita One and Optimus Prime. The tragedy weighed heavily on the two of them as well. Elita had to live with a secret she did not understand and Optimus seemed to age and become a bit more distant that he had ever been. Tensions were high in Iacon during this time. Many mechs had had enough of their warring lifestyle and decided to leave Cybertron for good, while others' hate drove them to rally in request of an all out attack on Polyhex. In time Prime got the mechs to calm down and that calm was a short lived one because of what the reclusive Alpha-Trion had succeeded with. After cycles of invisibility, Alpha-Trion reemerged with an old friend who was just itching to stir the already volatile pot. This friend was newly adorned with a red Autobot insignia across his broad yellow chest and a frame that was every bit as intimidating as Megatron's. The two of them marched through Iacon without saying a word until the large mech addressed Alpha-Trion on the steps of assembly hall building.
"You have been good friend A3, but me no want to hear anymore about this prophecy of yours. You have no right to give Matrix away after me Grimlock trusted you with it. Me Grimlock take it back now! Where this Prime fellow?" the mighty warrior known as Grimlock asked Alpha-Trion in front of an awe-struck audience outside of Assembly Hall.