[centre][img]https://i.imgur.com/sFQ7p2z.png[/img][/centre] [hr] The gold colored starship known as the Ark slid through the narrow space in between the asteroid belt that populated this solar system. Yet again it seemed like this system was a bust. The Ark had already passed by a few gas giant planets. Ahead of them closer to this system’s red star, were a few smaller planets. However, Science Officer Hound had already confirmed that these planets were too close to the star. The heat of it would melt the Autobot’s metallic bodies. “Bumblebee, lead us out of the system,” ordered the ship’s commander, Optimus Prime. “Can do Optimus,” replied the yellow colored Helmsman known as Bumblebee. Moving the controls with a controlled grip, the smaller Cybertronian led the Ark just over a frozen moon, one Hound said had frozen acid oceans. Turning the Ark around, Bumblebee did begin to leave the unnamed star system. “Trailbreaker, can you pull up the star chart,” ordered Optimus Prime, “I want to go over the nearby systems.” “Right,” replied Trailbreaker as he brought the relevant file onto the main viewing screen of the Ark’s command deck. Optimus’ optics poured over the various hobbled together maps. He wasn’t sure what he would find this time compared to the countless cycles he had spent staring at it, trying to find a secret planet a new home. The problem was that most of this part of space was not investigated thoroughly. The few maps that were stored aboard the Ark were incomplete, some taken from the files of an empire that no longer existed. It would have been much easier if the Autobots would be accepted on any planet near Cybertron. But no species wanted to get involved in the Cybertronians’ civil war. Now they had spent kilo-cycles traveling away from civilization. It had been two kilo-cycles since they had come into contact with any other surviving Autobots. Optimus hoped to Primus that at least some of their kind now had a home. Optimus Prime once again found nothing on the star charts. The leader of the Autobots let out a metallic sigh. “Teletraan I, please patch me in to Engineering,” order Optimus. A vaguely feminine voice replied, “Patching you through now.” The maps disappeared off the view screen, replaced with the face of Chief Engineer Wheeljack. “Prime, what can I do for you?” asked Wheeljack. “I need an assessment on our Energon reserves?” replied Prime. “Well, we’re alright for now. But having a little stockpiled isn’t so bad.” “Alright, then could Hound and you prepare a survey team to assess this system. There could be potential for creating Energon here.” “Right, I’ll get on that Optimus.” The Autobot commander leaned back into his command chair. It felt a little bit better on his back. Like many Cybertronians, Optimus had wondered why their creator gave them sensations and emotions. Surely it would of been easier to make simple machines. But the devout would say it was all part of Primus’ plan. Optimus Prime continued to think about his creator as he stared out at the darkness now engulfing the view screen. His optics could see faint pinpricks of light, stars, off in the distance. But the primary light in the dark was the red glow of the dying star at the centre of this solar system. They had been traveling for so long, and yet there was so much more for the crew of the Ark to see. It was a prevailing theory back on Cybertron that the universe would expand forever, an endless frontier to explore. That thought made Optimus hopeful as it meant there were infinite opportunities to find a new home for the Autobots. Optimus Prime’s musings were cut short by him being addressed by Bluestreak, the Communications Officer. “Prime, we’ve got an SOS. Some guys called the Pletonites. Say they’re being attacked by Cybertronians,” Bluestreak rapidly explained. “Cybertronians?” questioned Optimus. But he knew the answer already. Whenever anyone mentioned Cybertronians anymore, it was always Megatron and his horde of Decepticons. And there weren’t enough Autobots left to change this perspective that the other alien species had of the sons of Cybertron. “Confirming that a dreadnought has entered Pletonite space. They have no planetary defense systems. All ships in orbit are being destroyed by dreadnought,” stated Bluestreak. Optimus Prime knew that the Decepticons had been scouring the galaxy, looking for the Autobots, and destroying anything in their way. “Trailbreaker, please bring up all relevant data the Pletonites,” ordered Optimus. A second later, countless files littered the view screen. “Confirming that we have Pletonite coordinates saved. We could take a space bridge there,” stated Trailbreaker. Optimus paused briefly, weighing what he would do next. Even using the space bridge once would significantly drain the ever lowing reserves of Energon aboard the Ark, much less using it twice. There was also mention of a dreadnought, a fierce Decepticon ship that outclasses the Ark in many ways. Plus there were many non-combatants aboard, Cybertronians who just wanted to escape Megatron without fully joining the Autobots. “Optimus, we need a decision,” said Chief Tactical Officer Prowl. Optimus paused once more, only for Bluestreak to confirm, “Getting confirmation that the Decepticons have begun bombarding the surface of the planet. Major cities are going dark. All communications have ended.” Optimus slumped backward into his chair. Had his second of indecision cost the lives of a whole planet? Perhaps if they went they would also be dead, but at least they would have done the right thing. “Optimus,” someone said, the voice not registering, “Optimus. We couldn’t have stopped it.” The Autobot leader finally realized that Bumblebee was talking. Optimus could sense that all optics on the command deck were locked on him. Expecting him to say something. “Hound, please continue to form a resource survey team with Wheeljack,” ordered Optimus. Optimus knew that he had a duty to his crew, but as an Autobot he had sworn a duty to all the peoples of the universe. Optimus thought back to his speech from when he was sworn in as the new Prime: Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. It was his duty to fight monsters like Megatron, to defend those in need. It was the Autobot way, and sometimes he forgot that. But the Ark was a ship of the Autobot Alliance, an alliance that swore to combat evil.