Howard's Point of View
Location: Nellis Air Force Base
The desert heat washed over me, but I barely felt it through my combat uniform and gear. My hands moved automatically, checking the M4A1 Carbine one last time as the magazine slid into place with a satisfying click. I could feel the energy coursing through me, my eyes glowing faintly as my teleportation tattoo started to hum, an ethereal light pulsing across my skin. This was it—time to go. Arcee and Mikaela stood close, their faces betraying the understanding of the situation. They knew the stakes.
Arcee stepped closer, her optics reflecting concern. "You're ready for this, right?"
Mikaela's holo form flickered, her face resolute but with that underlying tension. "We're counting on you, Sweetspark," she said softly, her voice laced with both affection and urgency. The name struck me as always, grounding me in the moment. It wasn't just about the fight. It was about protecting everyone. I leaned down, kissing Mikaela's soft lips, then turned to Arcee and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be back before you know it. Stay safe, both of you," I whispered.
Their expressions hardened, determination etched into their features as I raised my hand, feeling the warmth of the teleportation rune grow hotter. In a flash of light, I vanished.
William's Team Point of View
We had made it to Mahfouz Village, but the situation was already spiraling out of control. Gunfire echoed around us as we scrambled into cover, sand kicking up under our boots. My ears rang from the sharp report of gunfire, and I swore under my breath as we ducked behind a low wall. It wasn't just any fire coming our way—Scorponok was on us. I could see the fear in my team's eyes as the massive Decepticon closed in. We were just soldiers, but this thing was a force of nature.
"Colt, get on the phone! Now!" I barked at Mahfouz's father, who handed me the beat-up cell phone. My heart pounded in my chest as the line crackled, and I heard the voice on the other end—a direct line to the Pentagon.
"We're survivors from the Qatar base," I said, the words coming out harsher than I intended, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. "We need support now. Decepticon in the area, targeting us. We can't hold out for long."
There was a pause, then the sharp, calm voice of the Secretary of Defense. "Help is en route. MQ-9A Predator will be overhead in less than a minute. E-3 Sentry providing air support. Hold on. Thunderbolts are inbound."
We have to hold on, I thought grimly. But even as the A-10s were mentioned, my fingers gripped my carbine tighter. I glanced at my team. Fig was already crouched, M4A1 in hand, sweat running down his face. Patrick and Brian had their M249s locked and loaded. Kristen and Kate readied their M16s and LAW rockets. Epps was beside me, looking like he was ready for anything. But even with all this firepower, would it be enough?
Howard's Point of View
The world shifted around me in a blur of light and sound, the familiar feeling of teleportation leaving me standing on top of a cold, metallic surface. I looked around, my instincts immediately kicking in. I was on the turret of a T-72M, but this wasn't just any tank. I felt it. Her spark.
"Welcome, Father." The voice was quiet, filled with warmth and a touch of something... ancient. Captain Sophia, one of the many I had brought back to life as Cybertronian, was with me in her alt form—a tank.
I lowered myself into the commander's hatch, gripping the controls. "Glad to see you again, Sophia. Let's get to work."
As I looked out across the horizon, I saw it—an M60A3 Patton rolling into view, its barrel gleaming in the sunlight. The name "Path of War" was emblazoned across the barrel, and I felt a surge of recognition. Warpath. An Autobot.
"Warpath?" I muttered, almost in disbelief. But there was no time to linger on it. William's team was under fire, and Scorponok was closing in fast.
Sophia's voice hummed through the internal comms, calm and precise. "Father, I've linked with Warpath's signal. He's responding. We'll move to intercept the Decepticon together."
A new determination surged within me. With both Sophia and Warpath at my side, the odds were shifting. I could feel the intensity of the moment as I settled into the commander's seat, my fingers tightening on the controls. The battle was just beginning, and I had every intention of winning.
I keyed into Sophia's comms and opened the link to Warpath. "Warpath, this is Howard. We've got a Decepticon threat. Can you assist?"
There was a static buzz before his gruff voice responded. "Heck yeah, Howard! I've been waiting for a scrap like this. Let's pound some Decepticons into the ground!"
I smiled, the feeling of camaraderie cutting through the tension. "Let's make sure we come out on top."
As I looked ahead, the dust rising from the battlefield, I knew one thing for sure: this was going to be one hell of a fight.
Into the Fire
Howard's Point of View
The desert stretched out in front of us like a sea of burning gold, but all I could focus on were the five T-72B Obr. 1979 tanks barreling down toward Mahfouz Village. The Decepticon logos on their turrets gleamed in the midday sun, an ominous sight that sent a wave of adrenaline rushing through me. I tightened my grip on the DSK heavy machine gun mounted in front of me, feeling the weight of the situation press down.
Sophia's voice broke through the tension, calm yet with an edge of concern. "Father, there are five of them, fully armed and moving fast. We need a plan."
Warpath's gruff tone chimed in next. "Heh, I say we blast 'em to scrap before they get too close! Ain't no way those cons are takin' that village while I'm around."
I took a deep breath, my mind racing. I had to make the right call—not just for us, but for William's team down there. My hand hovered over the radio as the crackle of the AN/PRC-152 came to life.
"Thunderbolts on station, Sentry overhead. We've got eyes on your location. Friendlies confirmed in the area," came the calm, collected voice from the E-3 Sentry crew.
Almost immediately, William's voice cut through. "We've got T-72B Obr. 1979 tanks with Decepticon markings closing in on our position. We're pinned down—need assistance!"
I swallowed the knot of tension forming in my chest. I could hear the stress in William's voice. He didn't know what was coming, but I did. I keyed the radio. "Sophia, Warpath, light 'em up. Let's give them something to think about."
The roar of engines and the low hum of Sophia's systems filled the air as she responded, her voice calm and controlled. "On your mark, Father."
Warpath chuckled, his tank turret already turning toward the advancing Decepticons. "You heard the man! Time to show these cons what real firepower looks like."
"Fire!" I commanded, feeling the thrum of energy as both Sophia and Warpath unleashed their tank guns in unison. The desert was suddenly alive with the concussive blasts of heavy cannon fire, and I watched as two of the T-72Bs exploded in a shower of metal and fire. The remaining three swerved, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected assault.
William's Point of View
We were holding our ground, barely, but every second felt like an eternity. The Decepticon tanks were getting closer, and our firepower wasn't going to be enough to stop them. I looked at my team, sweat pouring down their faces, hands clenched around their weapons, but there was an unspoken fear in their eyes.
I couldn't let that fear win.
"Who the hell is he talking to?" I muttered under my breath after hearing that last transmission. It made no sense, and then suddenly, the ground shook with the unmistakable sound of cannon fire—heavy, thunderous blasts.
"What the…?" I turned, my heart racing, and my jaw dropped. Cresting the sand dune behind us was not just any tank—it was the same damn rusty T-72M we had passed earlier, but now its turret was smoking from just having fired. Beside it was something else, something that blew my mind even more. An M60A3 Patton tank with 'Path of War' etched onto the barrel. The tanks… they were moving on their own.
My eyes went wide as I realized who it was. "Howard?" I barely managed to say, my voice cracking with disbelief.
Howard's Point of View
William's stunned voice crackled through the radio, and I couldn't help but smile grimly. He had no idea what we had on our side.
"Yeah, William, it's me," I said, keeping my voice steady as I scanned the battlefield. The two tanks we had destroyed were nothing but burning husks now, but three more were still bearing down. "We've got some backup this time."
The look on William's face must have been priceless. I could hear the disbelief in his voice, even from this distance. "What the hell are you riding?"
Before I could answer, Sophia's voice came through, calm and unshaken. "Father, we need to engage the remaining tanks before they reach the village."
Warpath's laugh echoed through the comms. "I'm itchin' to get in close and personal with these cons. Let's finish 'em off!"
I gave a curt nod, gripping the handles of the DSK HMG. "You know what to do. Move out."
As the tanks roared forward, the village in sight, I steadied my aim, ready to rain down hellfire on those who threatened everything we stood for. There was no room for doubt, no space for fear. This was war, and I wasn't going to let them take another step.
The Heat of Battle
Howard's Point of View
The battlefield roared around me, the desert once again alive with the thunderous clash of war. The three remaining T-72B Decepticon tanks loomed in the distance, their turrets swiveling towards us with deadly precision. But I wasn't fazed. I had Sophia and Warpath by my side, and we were going to make sure they never reached Mahfouz Village.
"Colonel Patton, what's the plan?" William's voice cracked over the radio, filled with tension but still solid. I could hear the firefight happening on his end—Scorponok. They were holding their ground, but it was clear the con wasn't going down easy.
"I'm handling these tanks," I replied firmly, eyes locked on the approaching enemies. "You focus on Scorponok. Your air support should be enough to make him rethink his life choices." I smirked as I gave the order. "Sophia, Warpath—APFSDS rounds. These cons are packing Cold War gear, they won't stand a chance."
Sophia's voice came through, cool and composed. "Loaded and ready, Father. On your command."
Warpath, of course, couldn't resist his usual bravado. "Heh, I got one loaded too. Time to blow these scrap heaps sky high!"
As we surged forward, the sound of cannon fire filled the air. Sophia's 125mm gun fired first, a thunderous roar that sent a streak of light across the battlefield. It struck the first T-72B, cutting through its armor like butter. The tank shuddered before exploding, flames leaping into the sky. Warpath fired next, his 105mm gun punching through the second tank with surgical precision, the turret flying off in a massive explosion.
Crew of Spooky 3-2 Point of View
"Gunner this is Ploit, we've got visual on Colonel Patton's tanks," the radio crackled in the gunship's cockpit. The pilot glanced at his targeting screen, watching the last Decepticon T-72B making its move, bearing down on the two allied tanks.
"Roger that. Target acquired," the fire control officer said, his voice calm amidst the chaos. "We're gonna need to load an APFSDS round for this one. We've got a tank coming in hot."
The loader nodded and quickly hefted the 105mm Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot round into the breech of the M102 Howitzer. "105mm is clear. Gunner, you're good to go."
The gunner's finger hovered over the trigger. "Let's send it." With a sharp pull, the massive gun boomed, sending the 105mm round hurtling through the air. The gunship shuddered as the round left the barrel, and all eyes watched the screen.
Howard's Point of View
I glanced up at the sky just in time to see the streak of the APFSDS round descending from Spooky 3-2. It hit the last T-72B dead center, the shell piercing its armor with pinpoint accuracy and igniting its ammo reserves. The tank detonated in a brilliant explosion, scattering debris across the desert floor.
The radio crackled to life as the 105mm gunners from Spooky 3-2 chimed in. "Colonel, we got your back. You call it, we rain it."
I grinned. "Much appreciated, Spooky 3-2."
The dust hadn't even settled, but I knew my part here was done. The distant echoes of the battlefield still buzzed in my ears as I looked over at Sophia and Warpath. They were formidable, standing guard over Mahfouz Village like sentinels, their alt forms resting but ready for anything. I knew I could trust them to hold the line while I handled what I needed to.
"Keep overwatch," I said quietly into the comms. "Make sure nothing else comes this way."
"Roger that, Father," Sophia responded. Warpath gave a low chuckle. "Ain't nothing getting past me. You go do your thing, Colonel."
With a deep breath, I started down the dune toward the village. The weight of the conversation I was about to have with William settled on me, heavier than the combat gear strapped to my back. As I approached, the scene was a mixture of relief and exhaustion. Soldiers were regrouping, some leaning against walls or sitting on the ground, catching their breath after the hell they'd just been through. William stood near the center, his face grim but relieved when he saw me coming.
"Colonel," he greeted, his voice thick with the weight of the day.
I nodded. "William. Glad to see you made it through." We shook hands, the kind of handshake shared between two people who'd just faced down death. "But I'm not staying."
William raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "What do you mean?"
"I came here to make sure you and your team got out alive," I explained, watching his expression shift as he processed what I was saying. "That was my mission. But there's a bigger fight coming, and I need to get back stateside to prepare."
"You're just gonna leave? After all this?" His voice was a mix of disbelief and understanding. He knew how these things worked.
I gave a small smile. "Yeah. But don't think this is the last time we'll cross paths. I've got a feeling we'll be seeing each other again real soon."
As if on cue, the familiar sound of rotors cut through the air. I looked up to see a Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk descending just outside the village, the dust and sand kicking up in a whirlwind. Two more Black Hawks followed, loaded with soldiers ready to secure the area.
"That's your ride, Colonel?" William asked, glancing at the helicopters.
"Not mine," I said, shaking my head. "I've got my own way out."
William didn't push further, but I could see the questions in his eyes. I gave him one last nod before turning back toward Sophia and Warpath. My job here was done.
Returning to Sophia and Warpath
As I approached, the two tanks stood silent, the desert wind blowing gently around them. I placed a hand on each of their alt forms, the familiar hum of teleportation energy surging through me. "Time to head back."
Sophia's voice came through, soft and obedient. "Understood, Father."
Warpath's response was, as always, filled with his usual enthusiasm. "Back to base, huh? Let's roll!"
In a flash of light, the desert was gone, replaced by the stark tarmac of Nellis Air Force Base. The transition was instant, the base bustling with activity as soldiers and personnel moved about. But what drew my attention immediately was the group waiting for us.
Members of N.E.S.T. were gathered, some leaning against vehicles or watching the horizon as if waiting for something. When they spotted us, their expressions shifted to ones of relief. But standing out among them were the ones I cared most about. Arcee, her holo-form still active, was leaning against her alt mode, and Mikaela sat atop her, the wind tousling her hair. The moment they saw me, their faces lit up with warm smiles, just like they said they would when I left.
I felt a rush of something deep in my chest—a sense of home, of belonging. Mikaela waved, and Arcee's optics flashed in that way that always made me feel grounded. I made my way toward them, knowing that while this part of the fight was over, there was still much more to come. But for now, I had returned to where I was meant to be.
And it felt right.