Autobots' Ultimate Evacuation Mission

"Ding dong, Host! A new mission has been issued. Please wait to view the mission instructions! Once this mission is completed, the Ever-Changing Steel System will be further unlocked, and you will receive generous rewards!"

Just after Megatron assigned this mission to Starscream, a new directive suddenly surfaced from deep within someone's chip. Well, well, it looked like the Ever-Changing Steel System really favored the Autobots. I knew it wouldn't give up on saving Optimus Prime. However, in order to keep Megatron from noticing anything suspicious, Starscream forcibly buried the directive in the deepest part of his intelligent chip instead of decoding it immediately.

"My great System, could you perhaps wait until no one's around before issuing me instructions next time? Soundwave is an expert at detecting all kinds of electromagnetic signals. If he spots anything suspicious, that won't be a joke!"

Whether Starscream was feeling guilty or Soundwave just happened to glance in his direction, when the two Decepticons' chief lieutenants met each other's eyes, a faintly tense atmosphere arose in the air.

"If Commander Starscream requires intelligence support, I will immediately have Laserbeak contact you. Please rest assured."

All right, perhaps Starscream had been overthinking it. Compared to him, Soundwave was even more trusted by Megatron. Perhaps both master and servant were worried that Starscream would flatly refuse their order!

After all, everyone present had witnessed Fortress Maximus's laser cannon that night. Being hit by that thing would not simply mean having one's body scrapped—the cannon's power could instantly reduce even one's Spark to ashes!

Therefore, even if Starscream refused Megatron's request, none of the other Decepticon warriors would step forward to volunteer. Even if Trypticon came, he might not necessarily be a match for Fortress Maximus. After all, the Decepticons' super warrior seemed to have a zero percent chance of defeating Fortress Maximus!

Since Starscream needed to find a way to help Optimus Prime and the others retreat, this was perhaps a very good opportunity. At the very least, it would allow him to get close to those Autobot warriors.

"All right! Although I can't guarantee that I'll take down Fortress Maximus, I'll do my best to stop those detestable Autobots from escaping. I hope this will be the final battle between us Decepticons and the Autobots. I don't want to keep seeing Optimus Prime's face all over Cybertron's news anymore!"

In Megatron's eyes, Starscream was not only a cowardly Transformer, but also someone who was not particularly bright. So while Megatron appeared to trust Starscream greatly, he was actually treating him as nothing more than a pawn. Just like this time—when no one else dared accept the mission, Megatron thought of Starscream.

He had originally assumed that this guy would make all sorts of excuses. Megatron had already come up with at least three ways to force Starscream to agree, but he never expected this fool to take the job upon himself voluntarily!

"Hahaha! I knew it, Starscream—you are my right-hand man. I can promise you that once we wipe out all these Autobots, you will definitely receive a large territory. You can go wherever you please then!"

Compared to ambitious rising Decepticon stars like the great dinosaur Saras, Megatron still preferred idiots like Starscream. If every Decepticon warrior were as easy to fool as this guy, then after getting rid of Optimus Prime, Megatron could truly rest easy, couldn't he?

"Commander-in-Chief Megatron, as your Air Force Commander, this is my duty! If there is nothing else, I will return to mobilize my forces and make preparations. I hope that in twenty-four hours, we will welcome our final victory!"

Although Starscream spoke with absolute confidence, he was frantic inside. With the Decepticons imposing a total information blockade, it was absolutely impossible to get the intelligence to Optimus Prime within these short twenty-four hours. Moreover, Starscream no longer had a messenger. He could only adapt to circumstances when the time came.

"Very good. Hurry back and prepare! If you lack weapons, ammunition, or energy, tell Soundwave. We will give you our full support!"

"All right! Then I'll be going ahead. See you all on the battlefield, comrades!"

After greeting Megatron and the others, Starscream left the Decepticons' war room first. He then walked to the edge of the rooftop, transformed directly into a fighter jet with red tail fins, and vanished into the sky once more.

"Ever-Changing Steel System, please scan the surrounding area for Decepticon spy satellites. I'm about to decode that mission signal you sent me. I don't want Megatron and the others discovering my true identity at such a critical moment!"

Only after flying more than a hundred kilometers did Starscream dare retrieve the mission information he had hidden away. But wasn't he being a little overly paranoid?

"Host, I have already checked this airspace and the area below. This location is completely safe. You may open the mission information at any time. Furthermore, every mission issued by our system comes with a self-destruct-after-reading function, so you need not worry about any consequences!"

It seemed that, in some respects, the current Starscream was far more intelligent and cautious than the foolish Decepticon robot himself. Perhaps this was the effect of the Earthling soul within his Spark!

"Mission directive unsealed: Your mission this time is to ensure that the elite Autobot warriors led by Optimus Prime evacuate Cybertron to the greatest extent possible. As for the other warriors, every additional one you save will improve your evaluation. Once this mission is successfully completed, the Ever-Changing Steel System will be further unsealed. At that time, the abilities and benefits you receive will be greatly enhanced as well. Please do your best!"

All right, the System did not really need to spell it out. Mr. Starscream should have been able to guess what was going on, right? At a time like this, aside from helping Optimus Prime and the others escape for their lives, what other tricks could the Ever-Changing Steel System have?

But Starscream was merely one part of the future interception plan, and even among the air forces under his own command, there were likely quite a few of Megatron's informants. Not to mention the ground and space interception forces. If Optimus Prime and the more than one thousand Autobots under his command could get even ten percent out, that would already be an incredible stroke of luck. And a giant like Fortress Maximus escaping from here was simply unrealistic!