Shane Freak
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Chapter 773: The Return of the Forerunner
🕑 Added 2023-10-26 11:14:27 +0000 UTCTransformers Begin : Table of Content/Chapter List
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Though he seemed to be dead, Swindle, lying on the metallic bed within the medical room, was merely in a state of hibernation.
Sun Cheng was aware of this fellow's wariness. Despite having resolved to eliminate this unstable element during the Vehicons' invasion, he chose not to act immediately.
Should his preparations fall short and allow Swindle to escape, all knowledge regarding the advanced weaponry from the era of the Council of Primes and the Cybertron civilization would be thoroughly squandered.
To put Swindle at ease, Sun Cheng had even arranged for his doctors to meticulously treat the wounds on his mechanical body after the battle.
He behaved as he had in the past, as if still employing his usual carrot-and-stick tactics, patiently waiting for Swindle's allegiance.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Swindle had recently let down his guard.
This relaxation had provided the Decepticon doctors on the island with an opportunity to surreptitiously administer a special concoction designed for Cybertronians, plunging him into hibernation.
"Record the data of his mechanical body, then proceed to detach his head from his body. Be careful not to kill him!" Sun Cheng commanded indifferently, glancing at the hibernating Swindle on the metallic bed, addressing the several Decepticon doctors in the medical room.
This guy had never sworn allegiance and was still engaged in shenanigans behind his back.
Although it was a pity to lose a weapons expert like Ironhide from his team, Sun Cheng, indeed, valued loyalty over capability.
The Decepticon doctors trembled, evidently recognizing Swindle.
While unclear on why Sun Cheng would act against one of his own warriors, the strict hierarchy within the Decepticons prevented them from even contemplating defying Sun Cheng.
"Yes, Master!" responded the lead Decepticon doctor, immediately beginning preparations to separate Swindle's head from his mechanical body and ensuring he wouldn't die instantly.
The operation concluded an hour later. Observing Swindle's head, now successfully detached and housed in a life-sustaining pod, Sun Cheng slightly inspected it to confirm the basic vital signs were maintained. He nodded in satisfaction.
Then, turning to Swindle's mechanical body on the metallic bed, he instructed the base's Central Main Control AI, "Artificial Intelligence, notify Decepticon warrior--Bone Splitter to come to Medical Room One."
"Understood, Commander," it replied.
Bone Splitter, the sole surviving Decepticon warrior from the island after the previous Vehicons' onslaught.
As for his accomplishments during the Vehicons' invasion, they weren't particularly remarkable.
The forty-odd stationed Decepticon warriors on the island had managed to eliminate around thirty to forty Vehicons, inclusive of those finished off as they were faltering.
However, Sun Cheng didn't care about these details; what he needed was a stance.
His Decepticon subordinates were Engineers promoted to combat roles, second-tier in hierarchy, and inherently less capable in combat compared to Vehicons.
Sun Cheng hadn't expected them to achieve significant combat feats against the Vehicons!
Bone Splitter, compared to Swindle, had shown much greater merit in the past battle.
Swindle's mechanical body was his reward for Bone Splitter, and a standard raised before his increasingly robust Decepticon warriors.
"As long as you fight valiantly, you all have the opportunity to be promoted to senior warriors or even Elite Warriors!"
The central Artificial Intelligence of the base promptly relayed Sun Cheng's request for a meeting to Bone Splitter.
The sole Decepticon warrior who had survived the Vehicons invasion by sheer luck was thrilled when he heard that the supreme commander wanted to see him.
His intuition told him that the commander, known for his past generosity, would surely have some reward for him.
After all, following the end of the Black Market defense battle, Thunder had immediately returned to Base Two, reportedly for a new mechanical body replacement.
The other heroes of the war, he heard, included Swindle, who had been constantly receiving medical treatment and modifications in the medical room, and other Decepticon Engineers who had essentially all been promoted. It made no sense for him to be the only one left behind.
Seeing Bone Splitter, unable to contain his excitement upon his arrival, Sun Cheng's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
He still hadn't figured out the Cybertronians' naming habits. In Base Two, apart from the first batch of Engineers whom he named himself, the subsequent Decepticon Engineers were all named by Sun Cheng's own engineers.
Consequently, all sorts of names had emerged.
Ironclaw, Steelshovel, Crosscut, most of his Decepticons bore names that were the same as or similar to some tools on Earth.
Although unaccustomed, he had no intention of stopping it.
It was just a name. Moreover, many of the big shots in the Skytiger Legion and the Autobot faction had similar names.
Suppressing the random thoughts in his head, Sun Cheng watched Bone Splitter, who was visibly nervous due to his excitement, and nodded slightly at him.
"No need to be so tense; you're here to receive a reward this time!"
Pointing to Swindle's mechanical body not far away, Sun Cheng spoke calmly, "Swindle no longer needs this body. You displayed tremendous bravery in the recent battle, so consider it your reward! Later, when the transport team arrives, you will take this body and return with the team. I will inform Base Two. After you return to the base, we will upgrade your Core and modify this body to better suit you."
Before Swindle awakened his past-life memories, he was just a regular Vehicon cultivated by Starscream.
His body was initially only slightly stronger than Bone Splitter and the others. The reason he reached the level of an advanced warrior was due to the numerous benefits he received from Sun Cheng, gradually strengthening himself according to his wishes.
As a result, this mechanical body had long been deeply imprinted with Swindle's unique mark.
Without some modifications and adjustments, it might take Bone Splitter a long time to adeptly utilize this body.
Hearing this, Bone Splitter hastily nodded continuously.
Evolution is an instinct deeply ingrained in the Cybertronians. The Decepticons, with their strict hierarchical system, possess an even stronger desire for power compared to the Autobots.
Bone Splitter himself was merely an ordinary soldier. Without the invasion of the Vehicons, he might have needed a prolonged period of trials and experience before he could have the opportunity to be promoted to an advanced warrior.
Therefore, he had no qualms about taking Swindle's body.
"I will follow your arrangements, Master!"
"Good, you may withdraw now."
Sun Cheng waved his hand, signaling the Doctor to take away Swindle's body and all related equipment.
He was just about to delve into Swindle's memory data to understand whom he had secretly contacted behind his back.
At that moment, the voice of the Central Main Control AI came through.
"Commander, Lord Forerunner has arrived at the sub-base. Do you wish to see him immediately?"
Sun Cheng's eyes lit up, "Have him come to see me right away!"
"Yes!"
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Next Chapter >>Chapter 774: A Warning Forerunner has returned!
