e-booksonline Chapter 143 The First Tower
Chapter 143 The First Tower
The Ark and the Nemesis have both left Cybertron, but the war on the surface continues.
Ironforge is repairing the breached areas, Charon is maintaining wartime order, and Crystal City's judicial center still stands, handling the daily affairs of its citizens. In the scorched wasteland and misty industrial zone, localized clashes between Decepticons and Autobots continue to occur daily.
Shockwave remained as Megatron had planned, continuing to advance the Space Bridge project, the tracking of energy contamination samples, the mechanical dinosaur project, and the Insectoid King Kong's underlying control chain.
There are many tasks, and the permissions are high.
Megatron took most of the main force with him: Soundwave, Starscream, Barricade, Knockout, Skyquake, Diablo, and a large number of elites all boarded the Retribution.
What Shockwave left behind was a heavily damaged planet, two unstable space towers, several unruly experimental subjects, and a bunch of projects that could explode at any moment.
But that's alright, he just happened to lack a huge testing ground. Now, Cybertron is it.
In the main control room of the third tower, Shockwave deleted the note "insufficient manpower" and changed it to "available resources are below optimal configuration".
He adjusted the input record.
[Construction progress of the Third Space Tower: 47% complete.]
[Polarization System: Incomplete.]
[Space Calibration Core: Awaiting Stabilization.]
[Second Space Tower: Remote testing in progress.]
[Mechanical Dinosaur Experiment Subject: Silence.]
After writing this, he switched to monitoring the experimental area of the second tower.
-
The second space tower was built deep within the industrial zone.
The area was once a former shipbuilding site, with massive support structures, energy wells, and cooling pipelines underground, making it suitable for concealing large-scale space facilities.
The tower body has not yet fully risen above the ground, and most of the ring-shaped main body is buried underground.
Shockwave was originally intended to perform some of the remote calibration tasks before the third tower was completed.
At the same time, it is also in charge of another project, the mechanical dinosaur experimental body.
After being captured, the Steel Cable Squad was transferred to the underground experimental level of the second tower.
Shockwave discovered a blue planet in its distant star exploration data. This planet had not yet entered Cybertron's official orbital path and lacked the ability to communicate with any civilization, yet it had left behind a wealth of fascinating fossil records.
A giant reptile with a massive skeleton, a powerful bite, and a body structure adapted for high-impact combat.
Primal and violent, it is very effective as a combat style.
Shockwave believes he simply adopted shape parameters that were more suitable for the Steel Cable Squad's fighting style.
Of course, the cable machine obviously wouldn't understand it that way.
Deep within the experimental layer, steel cables were secured to a massive restraint frame.
His outer armor was reconstructed to be thicker, with dark spine-like structures on the back armor, extended leg supports, heavier arm armor, and a strange and fierce head profile.
The transforming gears were rewritten, and the original vehicle form no longer existed, replaced by a mechanical beast form derived from a distant fossil model.
The shock wave is given a number.
[Mechanical Dinosaur Mode: Tyrannosaurus Rex.]
When Steel Cable woke up, anger surged up before the pain.
It's as if someone took his whole machine apart, measured it with a ruler, cut off the parts that didn't fit, and then reassembled it with a bunch of parts that he never agreed to.
The projection of the shockwave appeared above the laboratory: "Steel Cable, your body reconstruction is complete."
The steel cable raised its head, its voice low and hoarse: "What did you do to me?"
"optimization."
Steel Cable stared at him: "What kind of slag optimization is this?"
"Your original fighting style relies too much on brute force. The new form can improve ramming efficiency, bite suppression ability, and close-range deterrence range."
The steel cable was silent for a second, then burst into a sinister laugh.
"You turned me into a monster, and then gave me a bunch of reasons?"
Shockwave remained unoffended: "Monster is not a precise definition."
The steel cable began to struggle. The first locking mechanism tightened, the second restraining arm snapped in place, and the automatic turret turned towards him.
Shockwave remotely observes the data changes: "Your shapeshifting lock is still effective."
The steel cable lifted the optical lens: "Then you will witness its breakdown."
The next second, a piercing metallic cracking sound rang out from the experimental level.
The deforming gears of the steel cable emitted an overload roar, and the suppression program frantically alarmed in the system. The new form appeared for the first time, and the entire restraint frame was squeezed and deformed.
The massive mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex broke free from its restraints, its tail slamming into the ground and its steel claws tearing through the anchoring arms. The automated turrets fired continuously, energy beams striking the thick armor and leaving only burn marks.
The steel cable opened its sharp metal teeth and bit through the nearest restraint.
The laboratory alarm went off instantly.
[Experimental subject G-1 went out of control.]
[Mechanical dinosaur form activated.]
Control failed.
Shockwave looked at the screen: "That's unreasonable."
The screen was then shattered by the steel cable.
-
Steel Cable didn't run away immediately; he wanted to find his teammates.
He smashed through the underground experimental level of the second tower, leaving it in ruins. He tore open the isolation door, crushed the toxic energy vents, and found iron slag in the fourth laboratory.
The slag was fixed to a heavy-duty support, and the machine body formed a heavy mechanical triangle, with the three sharp horns on its forehead not yet completely released from their protective locks.
He had just regained consciousness and was stunned when he saw the steel cable: "Boss?"
The steel cable snapped through the restraints binding him: "Get up."
Iron Slag looked down at its new form, then at the laboratory around it that had been crushed by the steel cables.
"Did you do this?"
"A part."
"What about the rest?"
"Get ready to do it."
Iron Slag was silent for two seconds, then smiled: "Okay."
The experimental chamber in the silt was the largest. He was transformed into a larger mechanical thunder dragon. When he first came out, he was a little slow, and then he stomped on half of the floor.
Howl awoke on the other side of the experimental layer, his new form featuring rows of armored blades on his back. The first thing he did was throw all the mechanical arms that were binding him into the wall.
The dart was kept in a suspended chamber at a high altitude.
Before the steel cable could even strike, the dart woke up on its own. It deployed its mechanical wings and burst out of the pod, smashing several monitoring devices above it into sparks.
"I can fly!" Fei Biao shouted in the channel.
Iron Slag looked up: "What are you so happy about!"
The dart flew over his head, ignoring him, and he swung his hand to destroy two cannons.
The steel cable team reunited, though they were no longer the same as before.
Deep within the experimental layer, the system left behind by the shockwave continues to issue suppression commands.
[Back to the experimental area.]
[Submit to control.]
Upon hearing these commands, Steel Cable's rage only intensified: "Where is the shockwave?"
Feibiao brought up the remaining map from a high vantage point: "He's not here. Remote control, he's on the third tower."
The steel cable paused for a moment.
Iron Slag asked, "Then where do we demolish?"
Steel Cable looked at the core of the space tower in the center of the map, which was not yet fully operational: "Dismantle this first."
-
There is another experimental area on the bottom floor of the second tower—the insect kingfisher nest chamber.
Shockwave didn't include them in the official battle report.
Insectoids are numerous, highly adaptable, and capable of consuming low-quality metals and energy residues. They are valuable as battlefield cleanup units and underground combat groups.
The problem is, they're not quiet enough.
The swarm only obeys a sufficiently stable chain of control.
Shockwaves are suppressed using audio commands, energy thresholds, and underlying constraint procedures, which is theoretically safe enough.
As the steel cable team rushed toward the core of the space tower, the silt collapsed underground energy pipelines, rendering the first layer of sealing ineffective.
When the dart evaded the pursuing artillery fire, it struck and broke the insect hive's audio suppressor, rendering the second layer of blockade ineffective.
Iron Slag was blocked by three heavy artillery emplacements at the corner. Enraged, it charged forward with its head down, crashing through the side wall.
Behind the wall is the main entrance to the insect kingfisher's nest chamber.
Iron Slag stopped, staring at the dense array of illuminated optical mirrors behind the wall, and fell silent for once: "...Boss."
The steel cable turns.
Deep within the insect nest, swarms of insects awaken with a fierce roar. Metallic segments extend from the darkness, the rustling of their wings sounding like countless saws starting up simultaneously.
"This isn't what we're supposed to save," Flying Dart whispered.
Howling Calmly commented: "It doesn't look like it."
Silt stepped back: "There are many of them."
Steel Cable looked at the swarming insectoid giants and said in a low voice, "Don't block the way."
The swarm of insects ignored them, and a chaotic battle broke out between the mechanical dinosaurs and the insectoid giants at the bottom of the second tower.
Iron Slag charged into the swarm of insects, its sharp horns knocking away three Insectoid King Kongs. A stomp on the mud caused a section of the passage to collapse. Howling Backblades swept across, slicing deep gashes into the wall. Darts darted overhead, knocking down insects that lunged at the steel cables.
The steel cable extends directly forward.
He grabbed the forelimb of an Insectoid, flung it out, smashing over a swarm of insects, then crashed through the insectoid mass and charged toward the Space Tower's main control core.
The swarm of insects soon stopped chasing them and spread along the energy pipes inside the tower.
-
In the main control room of the third tower, Shockwave simultaneously received sixty-seven alarms.
[The second experimental tower has gone out of control.]
The mechanical dinosaur prototype has broken free of its restraints.
[The nest chamber sealing of the insect *Gymnocypris chinensis* has failed.]
[An underlying energy pipeline has ruptured.]
The Space Bridge calibration core has been attacked.
Control privileges have been physically compromised.
Shockwave switching monitoring.
In the scene, Steel Cable is using its mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex form to bite open the outer shell of the main control core.
Shockwave remotely connected, his tone still as calm as possible: "Steel cable, stop."
The steel cable looked up at the monitor.
He was covered in battle marks, with a piece of wreckage from an automatic turret stuck between his mechanical teeth.
"You finally spoke."
"You are destroying a vital strategic facility."
"right."
"This action is not in your best interest."
The steel cable approached the monitor and emitted a sound similar to snickering.
"My interest is to make you unhappy."
The surveillance footage shook violently, and a steel cable lashed out and shattered the lens.
After a moment of silence, Shockwave raised his hand in an attempt to remotely restart the control loop of the second tower space bridge, but failed.
The swarm of insects was gnawing at the control line; he tried to activate the backup sealing gate, but failed.
The silt flattened the backup sealing door, and he tried to detonate the experimental layer to seal the mechanical dinosaurs and the swarm of insects underground.
System prompt:
[The blasting link is damaged.]
[Cause: Physical damage.]
Shockwave stared at those four words and remained silent for a long time.
-
In front of the main control core of the second tower, the steel cable team tore open the last layer of protection.
Inside is the still-unstable Space Bridge calibration ring. Due to violent destruction, surging energy flickers within the ring, attempting to form a passage to the depths of space.
The space was stretched, and nearby metal fragments were sometimes collapsed inward and sometimes thrown out.
The dart landed on the support above: "This thing is about to start!"
Howling watched the constantly distorting space: "We can't let it take shape."
Iron Slag lowered his head: "How do we stop?"
The steel cable answered swiftly: "Break it."
Feibiao opened his mouth: "Isn't this plan too simplistic?"
Iron Slag said, "I like it."
Silt nodded: "I like it too."
He let out a howling sigh: "Then smash it."
They rushed towards the main ring together.
The second tower's alarm blared so sharply it pierced the audio receiver.
Insectoids surged out from the side passage, the tracking turrets locked onto them again, the remaining Decepticon guards tried to stop them, but the Dinobots didn't stop.
The steel cable was the first to crash into the outer layer of the main control ring, followed by the slag crashing into the other side support column. The silt used its massive body to hold up the collapsing metal above, howling as it cut off the energy diversion line. The dart swooped down from above, dropping the last few bombs into the main control slot.
The light and suction suddenly surged, the space bridge was forcibly torn apart in its semi-formed state, and spatial tremors spread outward from the center of the tower, tearing the entire second tower apart with this force.
Just before the explosion, Steel Cable yelled, "Go!"
The mechanical dinosaur team rushed out of the collapsed area.
Behind them, the second space tower exploded with a deafening roar. The explosion ripped apart the ground, causing deep structural collapses. The tower, not yet fully raised, tilted and broke apart, plunging deep into the abandoned industrial zone.
The insect swarm, known as the King Kong Insect, emerged from the ruins on the other side and spread into the more distant underground fissures.
The steel cable stood high up, watching the tower collapse.
Iron Slag, panting heavily, asked, "What's next?"
The dart circled in the air once: "Where are we going?"
Howling looked at their unfamiliar new form, then at Cybertron, which was still burning in the distance.
"Can we go back?" the mud whispered.
The steel cable remained silent for a moment.
They are no longer the same people they used to be. But they are still alive, and they are still together.
Steel Cable turned around: "Let's get out of here first."
"Then?"
The distant firelight was reflected in the optical lens of the steel cable: "Go find the shockwave."
-
In the main control room of the third tower, the signal from the second tower was completely extinguished.
All that remained on the screen was a string of cold data.
[Second Space Tower: Damaged.]
[Space Bridge Main Ring: Failed.]
[Mechanical Dinosaur Experiment Subject: Escapes Out of Control.]
[Insect swarm: Leakage.]
Phase Two Plan: Interrupted.
Shockwave stood in front of the control panel, making no move.
The red, one-eyed creature reveals no emotion; it's just that the ventilation duct is operating at overload.
The third tower is still under construction, the support ring has not yet been closed, construction machinery is constantly moving around, and welding lights flash in the distance.
Now, the second tower is gone, the one in the Rusty Sea has been destroyed, and only the third one, which is still under construction, remains.
A technician asked in a low voice, "Sir Shockwave, do we need to reassess the Space Tower project?"
Shockwave turned to look at him, and the red optics seemed to be a little brighter, making the already disproportionately large one-eyed eye even more eerie.
The technician shut up, grabbed the data disk, and immediately pretended to walk out of the control room normally.
The shockwave has receded, and the loss report has been retrieved.
He first deleted "Phase Two: Disruption".
Revised to: [Insufficient data collection in Phase 2.]
The video titled "Mechanical Dinosaur Experiment: Escape from Uncontrolled State" was also deleted.
Revised to: [Mechanical Dinosaur Experimental Subject: Detached from control chain, retains tracking value.]
Finally, he paused for a moment looking at the line "Insect King Kong Swarm: Leakage".
Revised to: [Insect King Kong Swarm: Entering Open Environment Testing.]
The technicians in the control room had already run away.
Shockwave shut down the recording, and the image of the final explosion of the second tower was reflected in the monocular optical lens.
The moment the steel cable ripped through the surveillance camera was repeatedly flashed back in the remaining recordings.
The shockwave deleted the video, then restored it, then deleted it again.
Finally, he turned off the entire playback.
"Continue construction."
Deep within the third tower, the engineering lights shone once more.
Shockwave stood in front of the control panel, his appearance calm and cold.
However, next to the main control panel, there was a charred dent caused by heavy artillery fire.