Chapter 640: Complete Rupture (Part II)

"All members of Tombwind Squad, listen up: no firing without my permission!"

Feeling a sense of crisis in his heart, Major William suppressed his unease and issued the order to the entire Tombwind Squad through the command communicator he was wearing.

"Yes, sir!"

There were many voices answering him, all coming from the old members of the former NEST force.

They had all cooperated with the Autobots before, so they naturally knew that their squad of only a hundred or so soldiers would have trouble dealing with even a few Decepticon Cannon Fodder, let alone an Autobot squad.

However, it was not just Tombwind Squad participating in the operation to steal the Autobot remains this time; the transport helicopters and attack helicopters were temporarily requisitioned from the Navy, and they were not under Major William's command.

Because of this, when they noticed that one of their own attack helicopters had been attacked, the atmosphere of the support troops from the Navy changed instantly.

"Manta 04 calling Swordfish, the Tombwind commander has ordered no firing..."

"Ignore them. I am requesting from the command ship: our SC (abbreviation for attack helicopter) Dragonfish 23 has encountered an active attack by alien organisms; is a counterattack approved..."

"Repeating request: our SC Dragonfish 23 has encountered an active attack by alien organisms; is a counterattack approved..."

Watching as several attack helicopters above suddenly began to adjust their altitude and fly toward the Autobots at the same time.

Major William felt a sense of dread. He hurriedly checked the communicator on his ear and shouted urgently to the Navy's support attack helicopters: "I am the commander of Tombwind; Autobots are different from Decepticons and are not cruel or bellicose. Stop your provocative behavior immediately!"

Unfortunately, the attack helicopters provided by the Navy did not give any reply; it was clear they were still waiting for orders from the command ship.

Major William glanced to the side at one of the Autobot remains, which had already been tied with ropes and hung beneath a CH-53 transport helicopter, about to be hauled away.

He realized what was likely to happen next. His capable assistant and friend Robert was not here, and he didn't even have anyone around to consult with.

In his anxiety, Major William's mind became increasingly clear.

"I will go see the Autobots myself..."

He had to avoid conflict with the Autobots as much as possible; this was not only to preserve the fragile relationship between the United States and the Autobots, but also to prevent his entire squad from being wiped out.

Before the NEST force was disbanded, Major William had personally led the team to participate in dozens of encirclement and suppression missions against the Decepticons alongside the Autobots.

Although the few Autobots he was familiar with had almost all died in the two previous battles in Jordan and Egypt, the remaining Autobots were not something his squad, with only a small amount of individual weapons, could withstand.

Moreover, those attack helicopters in the sky did not take orders from him.

He immediately summoned his adjutant and had them contact the Navy command ship in his stead, while he called for an armed Humvee, took a few soldiers, and drove toward an exit in the color-steel fence.

Soon after exiting the color-steel fence, Major William saw several familiar figures from afar.

"Optimus Prime..."

His eyes widened; the energy fluctuations he had detected earlier were indeed correct—it really was Optimus Prime.

Major William clearly remembered that he had only received intelligence from the higher-ups a few days ago stating that Optimus Prime had died in battle during a fight between Decepticons and Autobots within Egypt.

It was precisely because the U. S. government learned that this Autobot Leader had died in battle, along with a large number of Autobot Advanced Warriors,

that they made the decision to disregard the life and death of the Autobots, drop Fuel-Air Explosives on the Jordan Petra Mountains, and haul away all the Autobot remains after the war to prepare for analysis, dissection, and research.

But now, having personally confirmed that Optimus Prime was still alive and that the Autobots still possessed sufficient combat power,

Major William felt as if he were in an ice cellar in this late August weather that should have been sweltering, feeling a bone-chilling cold from head to toe.

"I'm afraid things won't end well today!"

Before he came, he had been given a strict order: even if it meant a battle with the Egyptian military, he had to transport the Autobot remains back.

But Optimus Prime was still alive; trying to steal the remains of his companions and kin right in front of the Autobot Leader—if this wasn't a provocation, what was?

The armed Humvee stopped just dozens of meters away from Optimus Prime and the others. As soon as Major William stepped out of the vehicle, all the Autobots looked at him.

"Major, you have disappointed me!"

Optimus Prime looked at him, his tone flat yet filled with disappointment.

Watching Ironhide, who was gripping that Cobra Attack Helicopter with both hands, Major William's forehead began to break out in cold sweat: "Optimus Prime, can you let Ironhide release that helicopter first?"

Ironhide let out a cold snort. Not only did he have no intention of letting go of the helicopter, but he actually increased his strength, leaving two deep handprints on the tightly gripped tail of the aircraft.

"So, does the NEST force now consider us Autobots as targets to be struck as well?"

Seeing the atmosphere turn somewhat rigid, the female Autobot Arcee took the initiative to speak, looking at Major William and asking.

Major William fell silent. He could not answer Arcee's question because the mission of the Tombwind force after its establishment was precisely to target all aliens who descended to Earth.

Clearly, in the eyes of the U. S. government, both Autobots and Decepticons were invaders.

After a long silence, he shook his head and said: "NEST no longer exists, Arcee..."

Major William looked at Optimus Prime, his eyes carrying a faint sadness. "NEST was downsized, and the new organization established on the basis of the original NEST force is called—Tombwind. A new commander will take office soon. I have already applied for resignation; this is the last mission I am leading before I retire."

He implicitly informed Optimus Prime and the others about the news regarding the Tombwind force.

Unfortunately, this goodwill was not met with a response from the Autobots; instead, it was replaced by an even angrier voice.

"Is the last mission to arrange for our friends to come and dig up the remains of our Autobot kin?"

It was Ironhide. This Autobot Commander's eyes were like spitting fire; his anger caused his palms, which were gripping the Cobra Attack Helicopter, to constantly emit crackling sounds of metal folding.

That was the sound of immense force damaging the tail of the Cobra.

Major William felt guilty in his heart; he could not and dared not look at Ironhide, and even the gazes of the other Autobots looking at him made this former friend of the Autobots feel a bone-piercing chill.

"I... I am very sorry, Optimus Prime, I am just a Normal soldier!"

After a long while, he bowed slightly to express his apologies to Optimus Prime.

Optimus Prime, who had been silent for a long time, still held some expectations for the Americans until this moment.

"Ironhide, let go of that helicopter..." he said calmly. "Major, have your people leave the remains of our companions behind, and then leave this place!"

This was the greatest concession he could make for a former friend. Major William's heart sank, and after hesitating for a moment, he nodded. "I will arrange for the withdrawal immediately!"

He felt Optimus Prime's goodwill, so Major William also decided to defy orders one last time for these former Autobot friends.

It was just a pity that before Major William could even use his communicator to issue the order to withdraw, the roar of the two CH-53 transport helicopters' engines running at full power rang out.

Major William's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly turned to look behind him, immediately seeing those two Navy transport helicopters, which had each already secured an Autobot corpse, preparing to fly away while hauling the remains.

This action immediately caused the situation, which had originally eased, to become filled with the smell of gunpowder.