[FFML] [Fanfic][Transformers] One Year Later

Autobot City on Earth - One Year Later

It has been one year to the day since the devastating attack on Autobot City on Earth by Decepticon
forces that took the lives of nearly two hundred of the US Military forces and almost thirty
Autobots, most prominent among them the Autobot commander, Optimus Prime, a figure known world wide
for his commitment to the highest principles of freedom and justice. Scars of the attack can still
be seen both in the city and through the countryside, all the way to Mt. Saint Hillary, where the
original home of the Autobots, their grounded spacecraft, the Ark, is located. It was the first
Decepticon offensive on this world since they were driven from their undersea base off the coast of
Baja, California and the planet itself in June of 1994 by the combined efforts of the Autobots and
the GI Joe Special Forces in what has been dubbed, "The Scramble City Incident."

A monument for the fallen, both human and Autobot, has been erected and unveiled on this day, in a
somber ceremony presided over by current Autobot commander Rodimus Prime (formerly Hot Rod), Lt.
Commander Jazz, and City Commander Ultra Magnus. It is a simple thirty foot tall cylindrical mural,
inscribed at the top with the Autobot symbol and United States flag, under which are the names of
the fallen, beginning with the three military commanders who were first killed on the Autobot
resupply shuttle which was ambushed in the asteroid field between Jupiter and Mars and used to
bypass the Luna base checkpoints: Chief Medical Officer Ratchet, Chief Security Officer Ironhide,
and Chief Strategist and Lt. Commander Prowl, second in command of the Autobot forces under Optimus
Prime. The specifics of why most of their command staff was on a shuttle together on the eve before
a major offensive are classified, though it has been publicly stated that Ratchet was there to
personally supervise the loading of medical supplies and that Prowl and Ironhide had been assigned
to the retrieval of something considered to be absolutely vital to the impending commencement of
hostilities with the Decepticons on Cybertron. The fourth member of that shuttle team, Brawn, was
severely wounded during the boarding raid. However, he managed survived both the attack and the
subsequent crash of the supply shuttle as the Decepticons abandoned it to lay siege to the city and
surrounding territories. His comment concerning that day was only, "I failed them."

It is known at this time the Decepticons had smuggled into the solar system a "Space Bridge" portal
and placed it on Phobos, one of the moons of Mars. It is thought they planned to use Mars as an
eventual base of operations to launch further attacks against Earth, but instead took this
opportunity to attempt to destroy the Autobot supply lines and end the war. Since then, subspace
sensor nets have been deployed by the Autobots to extend beyond the Solar System to protect against
such incursions despite the route of the Decepticons from their home world of Cybertron during the
immediate counter offensive launched by the Autobots, though details still remain sketchy as to
exactly what happened.

To bolster the depleted Autobot forces within the city, GI Joe has commissioned the S.T.A.R.S.
(Special Tactical Autobot Reinforcement Squadron) under command of Colonel Vincent "Falcon" Falcone
and GMCM Hector "Shipwreck" Delgado. Colonel Falcon gave this statement before the ceremony, "The
Autobots helped us as much as they could defeating Cobra and fighting against other terrorist
organizations such as Al Qaeda. They were there during 9/11 helping with the rescue operations...it
could have been a lot worse without them. They've helped us with natural disasters and security
operations all over the world, though the later only when they thought the cause was just. Through
it all they've fought with more passion than I've ever seen for a lot longer than the human race has
been against an enemy that sees us as little more than a resource to be exploited, and them as
obstacles to be annihilated. We let them down here. Next time we'll be right here with them...this
will not happen again."

Shortly after, Rodimus Prime took the Transformer sized podium in front of the various guests, and
began to speak.

"Optimus Prime once asked me," began Rodimus Prime after the unveiling, his voice thick with
emotion, "what the difference was between a soldier and a leader was. I answered then that I really
couldn't tell any difference. He smiled then...you could tell when he smiled, even behind his mask,
and assigned me to security, under Kup and Ironhide; two Autobots who had more wisdom in them than
all databanks on Cybertron. I didn't know then, but I do now...that it was the right answer. At
the end of the day, there is no difference. You either fight or you don't. You're either a soldier
or you're not. These men and women, dearest friends and mentors, were soldiers. At the end of the
day, they fought and died for what they believed in."

He paused here, visibly gathering himself.

"We should always remember and honor those who sacrificed themselves, both Transfomer and Human.
They, who gave their lives so that we...so that we could continue on, and learn from their
courageous example. It's been a long war for the Transformers, and I fear that though we've driven
them into the far reaches of space, we've not seen the last of our enemies, the Decepticons. We
should never forget to stay vigilant so that their sacrifices will not be in vain."

Here he paused again, and looked every member of those in attendance in the eye.

"But most of all, in all the millions of years, for all the billions of lives that have been
lost...we should never, ever, forget them, and what they meant to each and every one of us. Never
forget."

"Never forget," the Autobots in attendance intoned with their leader.

Amen.

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Just a little something to commemorate the date, heh. Comments, corrections, and criticisms
encourged.

GI Joe and the Transformers are properties of Hasbro, and I use them without permission, though
hopefully with all respect due.

K'thardin
"One shall stand, one shall fall."
-Optimus Prime