Chapter 670: Revenge

Transformers Begin : Table of Content/Chapter List

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As the missiles rained down from the sky, turning Terindad Island into a sea of flames, Sun Cheng immediately looked up at the sky and muttered under his breath.

"Astrotrain! Damn Starscream!"

Sun Cheng had always been cautious about Starscream, who had suddenly come knocking on his door, offering a substantial reward to entice him into cooperation. This guy could smile and flatter Megatron on one hand while secretly plotting against him on the other. Anyone foolish enough to believe his words had long been deceived beyond recovery.

Swindle was a prime example. He had believed Starscream's lies during the Civil War and, with Starscream's support, became one of the main voices opposing Megatron and his faction within the Skytiger Legion. Swindle even attempted to plan assassinations against Megatron. His fate was a gruesome one. After the capture of Swindle and the other Decepticons who opposed Megatron, their mechanical bodies were dismantled, and they were tortured for many years in the political prisoner prison of Skullburg Fortress.

Later, when Starscream rebelled again and "rescued" Swindle and others, they joined his anti-Megatron camp. However, the rebellion was quickly suppressed by a joint effort of Soundwave and Shockwave. Surprisingly, Starscream faced minimal punishment afterward, while the traitors who dared to oppose Megatron for the second time, like Swindle, were sent to Shockwave's laboratory.

After undergoing memory manipulation, Swindle and the others were programmed to be completely loyal warriors to Megatron. They then became a major force within the Skytiger Legion, participating in numerous battles. It wasn't until Shockwave shifted his research focus to Triple Changers and Combiners, leaving most of the Vehicon manufacturing technology to Starscream, that Swindle and his kind were mostly forgotten.

But had Starscream truly awakened Swindle at that time? No, not until he was assigned to surveil Sun Cheng did this miserable individual, now dubbed "Excavator," meet his fate countless times.

After a string of curses, Sun Cheng knew that Starscream had sinister intentions. Seeing Astrotrain on the battlefield now, he had no doubt that he had fallen into Starscream's trap, even if he had to use his gut feeling.

That devious, cunning individual had likely considered him and Soundwave as prey from the beginning. Perhaps Starscream was now lurking somewhere with Barricade and the Vehicons he had cultivated in large numbers, waiting for Sun Cheng, Soundwave, and Astrotrain to weaken each other before swooping in to clean up the mess.

"You treacherous scoundrel..."

A shot was fired at Soundwave, who was immobilized nearby. The energy blast struck his chest, instantly shattering the protective armor guarding Soundwave's Spark.

Sun Cheng had no intention of damaging his brain or memory chips. As the Chief of Intelligence for the Skytiger Legion, Soundwave held too many secrets about the Skytiger Legion and even Cybertron Planet. And those secrets were precisely what Sun Cheng desired.

Just moments ago, two or three Electromagnetic Pulse Bombs had exploded nearby, causing significant damage to Soundwave's internal electronic components due to the violent electromagnetic waves. Smoke billowed from his body. However, it seemed that his mechanical body had undergone electromagnetic resistance upgrades, preventing it from being disabled by a single pulse grenade as Overload had been before.

"If you think you can take my life, neither you nor Starscream will have the chance!"

Soundwave struggled to stand up, glanced at the shattered armor on his chest, and the exposed brilliant blue Spark beneath it. A radiant smile appeared on his face.

As the Chief of Intelligence for the Skytiger Legion and one of Megatron's most trusted confidants, he had twice joined forces with Shockwave to suppress Starscream. There was no way he wouldn't be on guard against him. When one of the Decepticon informants placed by the Cassette Legion within Starscream's inner circle had been suddenly killed by Starscream not long ago, Soundwave had sensed something was amiss.

Despite having very limited information, Soundwave, who had suffered a major setback in the hands of Starscream and his traitor Frenzy just over a year ago, immediately suspected himself when he learned that Starscream and his underlings might be involved in some nefarious conspiracy. What followed only reinforced his suspicions.

Shockwave dispatched his trusted subordinate, Astrotrain, under the pretext of "collecting resources to manufacture a new mechanical body for Megatron." Alongside Astrotrain was Leadfoot, the last surviving member of the Wreckers. There was no doubt that Starscream was eliminating obstacles in his path.

Realizing they were about to strike against him, Soundwave wasted no time. He used interstellar communication to contact Astrotrain, who also felt that something was amiss, and urged him to return immediately.

Clearly, Soundwave's move was the right one.

Though Starscream had yet to make an appearance, with Astrotrain by his side, even if Starscream and Frenzy joined forces, Soundwave could safely retreat unless they were willing to risk severe injury or death.

Watching Astrotrain descending rapidly from an altitude of ten thousand meters like a doomsday meteor toward Terindad Island, Soundwave smiled.

Then he saw Sun Cheng smiling too.

"Is it just Astrotrain..." Sun Cheng began.

No, Leadfoot, the remaining Wrecker, quickly appeared on the battlefield as well.

This cunning individual had somehow infiltrated the vicinity of the island without Sun Cheng noticing. He didn't choose to ambush Sun Cheng, who seemed formidable, but instead aimed his weapons at Swindle, the seemingly easier target on the island.

In fact, Leadfoot's judgment was spot on.

When Leadfoot's high-energy particle cannon struck Swindle in the back, Swindle screamed in pain. Taking advantage of the situation, Crankcase grabbed a Nail Hammer and swung it mercilessly at Swindle's head.

With a deafening explosion-like sound, Astrotrain crashed onto the island.

And not far behind him, Swindle, like a backdrop, had his head flattened by Crankcase's Nail Hammer and was sent screaming flying several meters away.

Staring at Astrotrain, who had fixed his gaze on him and exuded a heavy sense of menace, Sun Cheng lightly pressed his fingers to his temple. In front of the two Decepticons, he transmitted a message to Optimus Prime and his team, who were lurking several tens of kilometers away at sea near the island.

"Soundwave is in, and Astrotrain has arrived... Prepare for revenge, Your Excellency, with your warriors!"

Not long ago, in the Sinai Peninsula, it was Starscream, along with Astrotrain and others, who had paid with the lives of hundreds of Decepticons to successfully assassinate Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, and a group of Autobot warriors.

Sun Cheng didn't believe that the Autobots would let this grievance slide. So today, regardless of who they were, it was time for revenge.

With a defiant expression, Sun Cheng openly threatened Astrotrain and initiated the pre-arranged combat units on the island.

As he willed it, in various underground bases and caves on the island, far from the explosion points of the Electromagnetic Pulse Bombs, pairs of cold eyes and Cores simultaneously lit up.

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Next Chapter >>Chapter 671: Tactical Formation