Chapter VIII: Grendizer Vs the Decepticons

All over the world, the Decepticons struck any and all sources of energy, power plants, oil fields; the Decepticons attacked the Getter base to harvest the Getter Rays into energon cubes.

"Space cruiser nearly completed" Soundwave reported as he and Megatron rode down a gantry elevator. Megatron arrived to oversee the final construction of the Victory.

"And the energon cubes?"

"3000 astroliters more required."

"One more strike is needed, Soundwave," Megatron surmised. Even with the Photonic Generator pumping out Energon cubes it still wasn't enough to take back to Cybertron. Walking off the platform with Soundwave to see Starscream draining several Energon cubes hooked to a gun platform firing at a hilltop in the distance.

"Starscream, what are you doing!" Megatron demanded his red optics flaring in anger.

"Testing the Energon cubes. They work!"

"Of course they work, you idiot!"

"You didn't know, you didn't test them. I proved it!"

"What you proved was your own stupidity!"

Megatron, rocket fuel is a highly concentrated form of energy." Soundwave stepped in. He never trusted Starscream and was tempted to give him a face full of blaster but he still served a purpose to the Decepticons, self serving that may be

"Excellent Soundwave, you never cease not to disappoint me." Megatron said before drawing his ire back to Starscream. "Unlike someone else!"

"Don't push me Megatron, my desire for power is as great as yours!"

"Power flows to the one who knows how to wield it. Desire alone is not enough."

"Time makes all things possible, I can wait!"

"Assemble a strike force!" Megatron ordered

"Within 15 minutes, Soundwave assembled a strike force consisting of the Seekers, the Combaticons, Buster, Hydra, Astrotrain and Blitzwing. "Strike force assembled."

"Scramble! To the rocket base!" Megatron ordered.

Professor Umon sat down to his desk going over the day's work. He had to admit he was worried about his about his adopted son, Daisuke (Duke Fleed), he spoke to his sister Maria who expressed the same concern since he was gone for more than a week. Also he had to get an earful from Danbi Makiba on the subject. Suddenly the building and ground started to violently trembled. An earthquake? He thought until several jets blew right by shattering the windows in their jet wash. Suddenly, the jets transformed into robots. Incredible, Professor Yumi's claims were true. Transforming robots!

"Soundwave, dispatch Ravage!" Megatron ordered

"Ravage, eject. Operation: search for rocket fuel." Soundwave instructed as he ejected Ravage.

Once released Ravage ran inside the Space Research Center.

Maria Grace Fleed heard to commotion going on outside, walked out into the corridor to see a robotic jaguar running through the halls. "What is that?" She asked ran back into her room to grab a handgun. Ravage growled threateningly as Maria drew bead on Ravage. Pulling the trigger, the bullets started flying. The shots ricocheted off the Decepticon's body without inflicting any damage, on shot nearly got Ravage in the optic.

With a roar, Ravage pounced on Maria bearing his fangs to her. "Ravage! Forget the human. Search for the rocket fuel." Soundwave's monotone voice rang through Ravage's head. Giving a snarl, Ravage leapt off Maria and continued his mission.

Getting to her feet, Maria ran for the hanger to get the Double Spazer into the air. She prayed that her brother was on his way.

Firing up the engines of the Double Spazer, Maria took off out of the hanger.

"Megatron," Vortex cried out as he hovered above Megatron, "A human military force is approaching, the JSDF."

"Vortex what is their composition?" Onslaught stepped in.

"Infantry with armor and air support."

"Very well; Brawl, Swindle and Blitzwing on me to deal with the ground units. Vortex, Blast Off, Seekers, Buster, Hydra take to the air and provide cover!" Onslaught ordered then he turned to Megatron. We'll deal with them, Megatron."

"I know you will Onslaught." Megatron smiled. The Combaticons have been effective fighting unit dating back to the Fall of Cybertron even when Starscream took over after Megatron was nearly killed by that behemoth Metroplex.

A hailstorm of missiles rained down onto Megatron. "What? Autobots?" He asked himself as the aircraft flew over him. "No, another accursed human!" Targeting the craft Megatron fired off his fusion cannon.

Maria sweated as she jinked the Double Spazer dodging the oncoming blast. She reminded herself these Decepticons were no different that fighting King Vega's Saucer Beasts, but she would be more assured if her brother would show up with Grendizer. "Cyclone Beam!" She fired the twin energy cannons at Megatron, keeping her fired concentrated on him.

"Starscream! Thundercracker! Skywarp! Ramjet! Dirge! Thrust! I want that human's head!" Megatron demanded as the Double Spazer made another pass over him.

Reducing to sublight speed, Grendizer approached Earth. Suddenly a red light flashed on his comm. system. Flipping a switch Fleed activated his comm. system. "Big brother can you hear me?"

"Maria? His voice filled with concern as the sounds of battle can be heard on the other side of the line.

"The Space Center is under attack by robots calling themselves…"

"Decepticons."

"You knew?"

"After a fashion. But that can wait, I'm on my way."

"Please hurry." Maria pleaded. Three of the Decepticon planes were still on her. Then two her left and right the other three were trying to box her in. "Seekers go for the kill!" Cackled Starscream locking missiles on the Double Spazer.

"Spin Saucer!"

For those who are able to, please cue up either of the following songs at this point:

とべ!グレンダイザー (Fly! Grendizer)

宇宙の王者グレンダイザー (Hero of Space Grendizer)

戦えグレンダイザー (Fight! Invincible Grendizer)

Two red discs launched from the wings of Grendizer's Spazer, sprouting blades and sliced through the wings of Ramjet and Dirge. Spinning out of control Ramjet plowed nose first into the ground while Dirge managed to transform.

"What!" Megatron demanded as another earth robot joined into the fray. He could not believe that such primitive race could build such sophisticated robots. It was inconceivable to him. "COMBATICONS! Deal with this pest!"

"Combaticons transform and merge into Bruticus!" Onslaught ordered

On command, the Combaticons transformed and combined into Bruticus. Megatron was pleased to have the Combaticons under his command where Menasor was psychotic and Devestator was a first generation combiner. Bruticus had just the right mix of intelligence and brute strength to be effective and Bruticus carried out orders without question.

Bruticus growled at the robot flying over him. Lifting Onslaught's sonic rifle, he targeted Grendizer. Unlike the Constructicons and the Predacons, the Combaticons were a modular combiner and can swap with the Terrorcons, Seacons and Stunticons; but in this case Brawl became an arm while Blast Off became a leg, giving Bruticus access to Brawl's weapons for additional firepower.

"SHOOT IN!" Fleed commanded pulling back on a lever on the Spazer's console. His chair travelled down the narrow passage into Grendizer's head. "DIZER GO!" As the docking clamps within the Spazer were released, Grendizer was launched into battle.

"Bruticus crush puny robot!" Bruticus grumbled as he charged at Grendizer.

"DIZER BEAMS!" Twin yellow beams shot from Grendizer's eyes hitting Bruticus in the face.

Duke Fleed watched in horror as Bruticus shook off the Dizer Beams even though his face showed signs of damage but Bruticus howled in rage slamming his fist into Grendizer's midsection. Even with the Grend super alloy, Grendizer was not completely invulnerable to Bruticus' repeated attacks.

"Bruticus delay that robot until Astrotrain escapes!" Megatron ordered

"Mission accepted," grumbled Bruticus.

The giant combiner once again charged at Grendizer with Vortex's blades in front of him in the form of a melee weapon in lieu of a sword used by Menasor, Predaking and King Poseidon. "SCREW CRUSHER!" Grendizer launched its fist as the red fins folded forward over the fist into blades smashing through Vortex's blade. The Screw Crusher continued boring through Vortex and into Onslaught.

Within Bruticus' collective mind he could hear Vortex screaming in pain which could be felt through the other Combaticons; while Onslaught fought to withstand pain he was feeling from his injuries.

"Astrotrain to Megatron, Energon cubes loaded and heading out!"

"Acknowledged, take off Astrotrain!"

The Combaticons separated into their individual forms with Blast-Off carrying Vortex with the others providing cover fire against Grendizer even though Onslaught could barely stand let alone lift his sonic rifle. "Astrotrain, we need an immediate CASEVAC for Vortex rendezvous at our position."

"Roger." Astrotrain replied

"Combaticons hold this position!"

Astrotrain glided towards the Combaticons' position while fending off Grendizer. Brawl and Onslaught continued to lay down cover fire as Swindle and Blast-Off carried the wounded Vortex into Astrotrain. "Astrotrain, we're onboard, get us out of here!" Onslaught groaned in pain as he collapsed clutching his left side.

Firing his boosters, Astrotrain sped down a runway quickly picking up speed. Lifting off the Triplechanger headed west.

"Megatron, Astrotrain has successfully left the area of operation." Soundwave reported.

"Excellent. Decepticons return to base!" Megatron triumphantly ordered

The Decepticons left leaving a defeated Grendizer, Duke Fleed lifted his visor; his face saddened as now Earth had to face the threat of the Decepticons much like Fleed centuries ago. The Earth's only hope lied that there were more Autobots on Earth or at least Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger and Getter Robo along with Grendizer join forces against the Decepticons.