Transformers: Retribution Read Online Free

subjects, curse you. We enjoyed the prosperity of your Golden Age. But you turned inward; your bridges collapsed, and you left us in the cold. My people died by the millions. This fleet is all that’s left.”
    Megatron couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Your grievance against Cybertron is that our
empire collapsed
? This is ancient history.”
    “For us it is a vendetta that has lived to this day. Which is why you must die.”
    “I’ve got a better idea,” Megatron said. “Join me.”
    “Do not jest with me, you puny bot.”
    “I’m not jesting. The Cybertronian empire is back, and it’s under new management: mine. And rest assured, I don’t intend to let the place go to seed the way my predecessors did. There’s no reason you can’t play a role in my Pax Megatronica. Pledge your fleet to me, and together we will restore Cybertron and all its works to their former glory.”
    “I’ve got a counteroffer,” Thundertron replied.
    “I’m all ears.”
    “If you surrender now, I shall grant you a quick and painless death.”
    No one talked like that to Megatron. But even now he appeared more amused than anything else. “Mostgenerous of you,” he said. “Let me consider it for a moment.”
    “No. You’ll answer right now,” said Thundertron—just as Soundwave signaled to Megatron that his scan was complete. All the data on the Blaster appeared on a nearby screen, out of the pirates’ view. It took Megatron less than a femto-second to absorb its meaning.
    “I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline,” he said.
    Thundertron nodded as though that was the reply he’d been hoping for, then signaled to Cannonball. “Prepare to fire the Requiem Blaster,” he said.
    “At once,” said Cannonball. Thundertron turned back to the viewscreen.
    “Any last words, Megatron, before I end your pathetic existence?”
    “I think not,” Megatron replied. “Do your worst.” As he said this, the
Nemesis
fired its engines, jetting off to the side and placing one of the larger asteroids between it and the
Tidal Wave
. But Thundertron just laughed.
    “That won’t save you,” he said. “Weapons free!” he yelled.
    The Requiem Blaster fired.
    A massive surge of energy ripped out and smashed into the asteroid, which disintegrated in a sheet of white light. As the dust cleared, there was nothing left—and nothing now standing between the
Tidal Wave
and the
Nemesis
. The Requiem Blaster took aim once more.
    “Lord Megatron, should we take evasive action—”
    But Megatron cut Soundwave off with a wave of his hand. “Hold the current course and stand by to return fire.”
    “But Lord—”
    “I said hold our current course and prepare to return fire!” Soundwave watched in horror as the legendary weapon charged up. Megatron stood beside him, hisarms crossed and a look on his face that verged on boredom.
    “Good-bye and good riddance,” Thundertron intoned.
“Fire!”
    The Requiem Blaster was one of the most powerful weapons ever developed by the Primes, perhaps the ultimate weapon of mass destruction ever to see use. But in their zeal, the Star Seekers had overlooked its fatal flaw—it required almost a mythic amount of power to fire and even more energy to keep it from overheating. As soon as Megatron had reviewed the schematics, he knew that they’d get only one shot at full strength. After that—
    A thin stream of plasma poured out of the Blaster, but it was a pale shadow of its predecessor. Energy peppered the hull of the
Nemesis
with a force that was little more than intense sunlight. And as it dissipated …
    “My turn,” Megatron said.
    The
Nemesis
opened fire. As its long-range shots smashed into the
Tidal Wave
, Thundertron whirled to face Cannonball, who shrugged helplessly.
    “The Blaster has overloaded most of our systems, Captain!”
    “I’m going to overload yours if you don’t fire it again!”
    “Captain, we’re lucky the ship’s still running!”
    Thundertron smashed his