Activating the Decepticon Outpost

"Starscream, I have no comment on your question. Don't think you can win my trust just by using some magic trick to create the Autobots' insignia. If you're truly only staying temporarily on this planet, I won't interfere with you. But if you came here with some other motive, I will definitely stop you. I advise you to stay away from those Xiongnu. Their intentions are far from simple. Decide for yourself!"

Perhaps because he had yet to truly trust Starscream, Swoop transformed back into his mechanical pterosaur form after saying that and spread his wings, soaring away once more.

"Host, I think this mechanical dinosaur warrior seems to have some unspeakable secret. Perhaps he is still unsure of our identities, which is why he didn't tell us the truth. Also, after conducting a wide-range scan just now, I found no traces of any other Autobots on this planet's surface. Please pay close attention to this matter!"

It seemed that the creator of the Ever-Changing Steel System might truly have been an Autobot. It paid close attention to any information related to the Autobots. Even Swoop, someone who had vanished from Cybertron a thousand years ago, had caught the system's attention.

However, Starscream had his own thoughts. Having suffered such a huge loss earlier, he was now the type who would not act until he saw the benefits.

"Does this count as a mission? Will there be a reward after it's completed?"

"Host, this Autobot warrior does not belong to Cybertron's roster, and this dinosaur warrior is not a core member. No mission related to him has been triggered for the time being."

"Then we'll talk about it later. You saw that guy too—he's highly guarded against me. We can discuss it when we run into him again. Since he attacked those Xiongnu earlier, he'll definitely continue doing so. We'll just wait and see."

Ordinarily, regular Transformer warriors would not involve themselves in the conflicts of other planets, especially not those of such lowly lifeforms. Yet the strange actions displayed by that mechanical dinosaur had left Starscream deeply puzzled.

But his most urgent task now was to replenish his energy. The information Swoop had given Starscream earlier included a substance called petroleum. It was highly combustible and could release tremendous energy. With the Transformers' current technology, it could absolutely be refined.

By the time Starscream returned to the excavation site, the scattered wreckage covering the ground had already been completely cleared away by the Xiongnu soldiers. When that priest saw Starscream fly back, he was overjoyed and hurriedly led a group of men in kneeling and worshipping him.

"Congratulations to the divine envoy for defeating the Divine Dragon Clan! The day our great Xiongnu army takes control of the Central Plains is close at hand!"

What was going on? Did these people know Swoop? Otherwise, why would they call him a member of the Divine Dragon Clan? But dinosaurs were dragons too, weren't they? To these ignorant humans, such a massive creature must have been irresistible.

In any case, based on the information he had just gathered, the humans on this planet were divided into many races, each with its own unique totem. And the Xiongnu before him worshipped Decepticon warriors.

"I'm going down to activate the altar now. Guard the passage outside properly. If anyone dares to sabotage it, seize them all. Understand?"

Since these people worshipped the Decepticons so fervently, Starscream accepted their reverence without hesitation. Though these ordinary humans were at a very low level of civilization, they were still the masters of this planet. Cooperating with them could not hurt.

"By your command, great divine envoy! We have already informed the Chanyu of your arrival. His army will soon come in person to pay you homage!"

All right! It seemed these Xiongnu had truly taken Starscream for their god. The feeling was not bad at all.

After giving the Xiongnu their instructions, Starscream entered the pit once more. In truth, if his old Autobot acquaintance had not interrupted him earlier, he would have already activated the Decepticon outpost. Now, he only needed to spend some time repeating all the preliminary preparations.

Although this outpost might have been built a thousand years ago, Cybertronian Transformer technology was continuous. Thus, the commands and operational habits Starscream used were compatible with this old system. Soon, the lights inside the Decepticon outpost, which had slumbered underground for over a thousand years, lit up once again, illuminating even the area outside the cave entrance.

As a result, those easily astonished Xiongnu collectively began worshipping again. It seemed much of these nomadic people's culture was devoted to rituals like this.

"Welcome, honored visitor. According to the system connection records, you are a Decepticon warrior from the planet Cybertron. You may use all functions of this outpost without concern!"

All right! After a series of complicated operations, Starscream became the master of this nameless Decepticon outpost.

"Good. I need to know whether you have underground drilling and extraction equipment here. I need to find a substance called petroleum on this planet and convert it into energy I can use. Can you carry out these operations?"

Starscream had no interest in the past or origins of this Decepticon outpost. What he wanted to know now was whether it could provide him with an energy supply.

"Yes, Mr. Starscream. According to this base's memory archive, we previously extracted that black liquid energy. We also have a direct charging converter here. You only need to adjust it to the port you require before using it!"

All right! It seemed the previous Decepticon owner of this base had also discovered the black liquid energy on this planet. Still, compared to the standard energy blocks on Cybertron, it felt rather primitive.

It was like being used to high-end Western restaurants and suddenly having to eat roadside barbecue. Though it tasted quite good, it still felt unfamiliar.

But Starscream had come to this planet to seek refuge, not to travel. How could he afford to make so many demands? Having something to consume was already good enough.

"Very good. Find the nearest petroleum deposit for me. I need to replenish my energy immediately, or I may not even last through this week!"

"Mr. Starscream, please rest assured. There is a massive oil field directly beneath this outpost. According to the system, its reserves will be enough for you to use for ten thousand years!"