him with a mix of exasperation and pride. "Just make sure you don't get yourself killed, alright? And if you do anything stupid, don't expect me to bail you out," she said, her tone lighter, though still laced with concern. "But don't think for a second I don't have your back."

Carl, finally resigned to the reality of the situation, let out a deep sigh. "Alright, but I'm holding you all responsible,"

Gwen's voice broke the silence. "Mom, Dad, I know you don't want me to go, but I need to help them." Her gaze was fixed on her parents, both of whom had been quietly processing everything that had been said.

Her mother exchanged a look with her father before speaking up. "Gwen, you don't understand how dangerous this is," her mother said softly, her voice laced with concern. "We can't just let you go into something like this. You're still—"

"I know the risks," Gwen interrupted, her voice unwavering. "But I'm not just standing by while everyone else fights. I can help. I've trained, and I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm not going to just sit here and let people I care about face all of this alone."

Her father, looked at her with a mixture of worry and pride. "Gwen, you're my daughter. I don't want you to get hurt. It's just... this is bigger than anything we've ever dealt with." He glanced at Max and the Autobots. "We don't know what we're up against."

"I know, Dad," she said, her eyes softening. "But that's why I need to be there. I want to help, and I can. I've always had a place in this fight, and I'm not backing down. Please, trust me."

Her parents stood in silence for a moment, weighing her words, the weight of the decision evident in their eyes. Finally, her mother sighed, her shoulders slumping in resignation. "You've always been so headstrong, Gwen," she said, with a slight smile, though her worry still lingered. "Just... please be careful. We love you."

Her father gave a resigned nod. "You've made your decision, haven't you?" he asked, his voice soft but filled with a resigned acceptance.

Gwen nodded firmly. "I have. And I'll be okay, I promise. I won't do anything reckless."

"We Autobots pledge our lives to protect them," Optimus Prime said, his words carrying a weight of commitment that seemed to resonate with everyone in the room. His towering presence, combined with the sincerity in his voice, left little room for doubt.

As if on cue, the TV flickered to life, and Eggman's grinning face filled the screen. "HAHAHAH!" he cackled, his trademark grin spreading across his face. "This is an Eggman update, and I'm here to bring you an explosive surprise!" His voice boomed across the world, echoing through homes, streets, and airwaves alike.

Max furrowed his brow. "What's he up to now?"

Micheal's grandmother, ever the sarcastic observer, stared at the screen and muttered, "Er sieht tatsächlich aus wie ein Ei." (He actually looks like an egg.)

Behind Eggman stood his usual entourage Neo Metal Shadow, Megatron, Soundwave, and the troublesome duo, Bocoe and Docoe, who were holding the powered-down Lucky.

Eggman, seemingly reveling in the dramatic moment, raised a finger to the sky. "Now, look in the sky!" he announced, his voice echoing with theatrical flair.

The group quickly rushed outside, eyes scanning the night sky. "I'm coming to you, planet-bound bumkins, live from outer space!" Eggman laughed maniacally, his movements exaggerated as he struck another grand pose. "BHA BH AH HBHA!"

Max and the others exchanged worried glances, sensing something far worse was about to unfold.

Eggman continued, "Let me show you the true power of the Eggman-Megatron Empire!" With a final, dramatic flourish, he slammed his fist down on a button.

In space, something catastrophic happened.

The screen showed an explosion as a space station erupted in a fiery burst. Micheal's heart sank as he recognized the station. "It's the Ark!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.

The Ark, once a symbol of hope and research, now turned ominous. As the debris from the explosion drifted away, the station began to shift. Massive panels unfolded, and in the center, a massive cannon emerged, its power pulsing with deadly energy.

The cannon charged with a menacing hum. The air around it seemed to distort as it focused all its energy. Without warning, it fired.

A brilliant blue laser shot out from the Ark, cutting through space with an intensity that was almost impossible to fathom. The beam struck the moon—an enormous surge of light filling the sky as the moon itself was cleaved in two.

The destruction was instant.

Debris, large and small, rained down from the sky, showering the Earth in fragments of lunar rock. The blast sent shockwaves across the planet, lighting up the night as if it were day.

Max's eyes widened in horror. "It takes huge amounts of energy to do that much damage."

Optimus Prime stepped forward, his face grim. "The Chaos Emeralds," he said, realization dawning. "If they have enough of them, they can use their power to make a superweapon."

More lunar debris continued to fall from the sky, each piece a reminder of Eggman's terrifying power and the true threat they now faced.

The screen flickered, and Eggman's face reappeared, his grin wider than ever. "That came from my Eclipse Cannon," he announced with smug satisfaction. "And if you don't surrender to the Eggman-Megatron empire within 24 hours, I'll blow your planet up!" he threatened, his voice dripping with malice.

The broadcast cut off abruptly, leaving nothing but the eerie silence of impending doom hanging in the air.

Max clenched his fists. "We don't have 24 hours to waste. We need to stop them before they use that cannon again."

Optimus Prime's voice was steady but resolute. "The Eclipse Cannon is a powerful weapon, but it's clear they have more at their disposal. We'll need a coordinated strike to prevent any further devastation."

Gwen's voice broke through the tension. "We have no way to get to space," she said, frustration evident in her tone. The group was at a standstill, their options limited.

"Don't you guys have ships?" Venom asked, coming out Jen and looked toward Bumblebee and Optimus. "We did, but it was destroyed by them," Optimus said, his eyes dropped as he thought about the loss of their previous means of transport.

Meanwhile, Michael's grandmother, who had been quietly observing the situation, finally spoke in a low voice to him. "Zumindest hättest du sie normal halten können." (At least you could have kept her normal.) She whispered with a sly grin, clearly referring to the symbiote Venom emerging from Jen.

Michael froze, his face turning crimson. "Es war nicht meine Schuld, Oma Seiko," (It wasn't my fault, Grandma Seiko) he stammered, embarrassed by the comment.

"Where's the closest space center?" Optimus asked, as Max rubbed his chin thoughtfully before responding, "Our best option is the Kennedy Space Center."

Optimus nodded gravely. "We have no time to spare. We must move."

The group immediately sprang into action. The Autobots shifted into their alternate forms, ready for the journey ahead. Max, Jen, Gwen, Ferox and Micheal hurried into the Rust Bucket, which was already powered up and ready to go.

As the door to the Rust Bucket closed behind them, Micheal's grandmother, called out one last time. "Oi Bart! Du kommst besser lebend zurück! Ich möchte den anderen Hexen erzählen, dass mein Enkel ein Held ist!" (Oi bart! You better come back alive! I wanna tell the other hags that my grandson's a hero) she yelled, her voice carrying a mix of affection and the usual sharpness that Micheal had come to expect.

Micheal paused, giving her a small smile as he glanced back over his shoulder. "Will do, Oma!" he called back, a reassuring grin on his face.

With a loud roar, the Rust Bucket's engines powered up, activating turbo mode. The vehicle sped out of the driveway, leaving the house behind in a blur as they raced toward the Kennedy Space Center.

20 hours remained.

As they crossed state lines into Florida, the Kennedy Space Center loomed on the horizon. However, what awaited them was far from the ordinary.

Swarms of Gundams hovered and patrolled the facility, their metallic forms gleaming under the sun, weapons ready and aimed at any potential threat. The group slowed, finding cover behind a small hill to assess the situation. The Autobots, in unison, shifted back into their towering humanoid forms, while the humans stepped cautiously out of the Rust Bucket.

"That's a lot of firepower," Max muttered, peering over the ridge with binoculars.

"No kidding," Gwen added, her voice uneasy. "How did they even get that many Gundams operational?"

"It's Megatron's influence," Optimus said gravely, his optics scanning the area. "He must have repurposed these machines for his own agenda. Breaking through that defense won't be easy."

"What are the chances of us breaking in? Those normal Gundams aren't that strong," Jen said, glancing at the patrol units with a mix of confidence and concern.

Max, ever the pragmatist, countered, "True, but their numbers will overwhelm us quickly, and there's always the chance of reinforcements. This isn't a fight we can just power through."

Micheal, silent for a moment, suddenly lit up with an idea. "Wait... Jen, can you turn into Upgrade?"

Jen caught on quickly, a smirk forming on her face. "Oh, darling, now you're thinking." Without hesitation, her body began to shift and ripple with the sleek, metallic transformation of Upgrade.

"Let's see what I can do with this," she said confidently as she leapt toward Optimus Prime. Merging seamlessly with his towering frame, her Upgrade form began to spread across his body like a living circuit, enhancing and augmenting him with sleek green and black enhancements.

Max raised an eyebrow as he watched Jen merge with Optimus. "Well, that's one way to tip the scales," he muttered.

Optimus's upgraded form gleamed with sleek, alien-like enhancements. His joints moved with even greater fluidity, his weapons hummed with a faint glow, and his optics glowed brighter, scanning the area with newfound precision. "This power... remarkable," Optimus said, flexing his fingers as energy pulsed through him.

Jen's voice echoed through Optimus's systems. "Exactly. I'll amplify your strength, speed, and processing power. Let's see those Gundams try to outmatch you now."

"We still can't beat all the Gundams, Optimus can you make a big enough hole in their formation for us to break through?" Max asked as Optimus's weapons began to whirl. "I can but, it can't guarantee for how long."

Optimus then stood up straight as he said, "With this upgrade, I will engage the main force and create an opening. Bumblebee and Gwen, you will flank the defenses. Micheal, Max, and the others, infiltrate through the west side while the enemy is distracted."

"Got it," Micheal said, steeling himself. Venom added with a low growl, "We'll keep our part of the plan."

Optimus stepped forward, his enhanced frame radiating confidence. "Autobots, roll out!" he commanded, his voice carrying a deeper resonance thanks to Upgrade's influence.

As they moved toward the facility, Micheal glanced at Jen, still merged with Optimus. "Don't overdo it, okay?"

Optimus, glowing with Upgrade's enhancements, charged headfirst into the fray. His upgraded cannons fired devastating energy blasts, each shot shredding through Gundams like paper. The hulking machines retaliated, unleashing torrents of missiles and plasma fire, but Optimus moved with newfound agility. He sidestepped a barrage, spinning into a strike that cleaved two Gundams in half with his Energon axe.

"Jen, boost shields," Optimus commanded.

"Already on it!" Jen's voice responded, and a shimmering energy barrier formed around him. Optimus dashed forward, plowing through another wave of enemies, his fists smashing into metal frames with a force that sent shockwaves across the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Micheal, in his Ultimate Humungousaur form, roared and charged, his colossal frame making him an unstoppable force. His reinforced scales absorbed enemy fire as he swung his massive tail like a wrecking ball, smashing through a squadron of Gundams. The ground trembled beneath his feet as he launched a barrage of missiles from his arm cannons, obliterating several mechs in a fiery explosion.

Ferox, leaping into action, displayed unmatched agility. The wolf-like creature darted through the chaos, evading incoming fire with nimble jumps and flips. Each leap ended with his claws raking through Gundam armor, tearing their circuits apart. Max, securely perched on Ferox's back, fired his blaster with pinpoint accuracy, temporarily disabling enemies. "Keep moving, Ferox! Don't give them a chance to regroup!"

A squad of Gundams closed in on Bumblebee and Gwen. Bumblebee beeped rapidly, signaling a diversion, and transformed mid-run. In his sleek car form, he sped through the enemy lines, dodging blasts and confusing their targeting systems. Gwen followed, firing her magic blast as she laid down covering fire.

"Bee, circle back! I've got a plan!" Gwen growled. Bumblebee did a sharp 180-degree drift, leading a cluster of enemies directly into Gwen's trap. She finished her chant as a barrage of missiles came, creating a chain reaction that engulfed the Gundams in a series of fiery explosions.

Micheal, noticing reinforcements arriving from the west, slammed his fists into the ground, causing a seismic shockwave that toppled an entire wave of Gundams. "Optimus, they're bringing in backup!"

Optimus turned, scanning the horizon. More Gundams emerged from the shadows, their weaponry glowing ominously. "Hold the line!" Optimus shouted. He leaped into the air, his upgraded thrusters propelling him higher than ever before, and unleashed a concentrated beam from his chest cannon that decimated the reinforcements' front line.

Venom, emerging from Jen's side, created tendrils that lashed out at nearby Gundams, binding and crushing them. "We must end this quickly," he growled, pulling an enemy apart like it was paper.

Gwen, using a blaster Max had handed her, provided covering fire for Bumblebee and Ferox. Despite her smaller size compared to the giants, her aim was sharp, and she hit power cores and joints with surprising precision.

The air was thick with smoke, fire, and the sound of metal clashing against metal. The Gundam forces were relentless, but the group's teamwork and sheer willpower kept them pushing forward.

"Jen, let's push Optimus to full capacity!" Micheal shouted.

"On it, darling!" Jen's voice came through, and Optimus's armor shimmered with a burst of additional energy. With a roar, Optimus charged at a massive Gundam, his axe splitting the towering machine in two with a single swing.

"Keep pushing! We're breaking through!" Max shouted as the group began to see the outer defenses thinning. Victory was within reach, but the fight was far from over.

Gwen and Bumblebee worked seamlessly as they plunged deeper into enemy territory. Bee transformed back into his robot form, sliding to a stop as his side-mounted cannons unleashed bursts of plasma fire. The Gundams in his path were blown apart in quick succession, their smoking remains scattered across the battlefield.

Gwen raised her hands, chanting incantations with rapid precision. Glyphs of light appeared around her, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with energy. "Barriers of light, encase and collapse!" she shouted. Forcefields materialized around clusters of Gundams, trapping them in shimmering orbs. With a swift gesture, the orbs imploded, taking the trapped Gundams with them in a burst of energy.

"Nice work, Gwen!" Bee beeped in approval, his mechanical voice buzzing with enthusiasm as he blasted apart another wave of approaching enemies.

Behind them, Micheal and Optimus advanced like an unstoppable freight train. Micheal, slammed his fists into the ground, sending shockwaves that destabilized the terrain and toppled nearby Gundams. As they fell, Optimus surged forward, cleaving through their collapsing frames with his glowing Energon axe.

"We're clearing a path!" Micheal roared, his voice booming. "Max, Ferox, follow us!"

Ferox darting through the chaos with Max holding steady on his back. Max's blaster fired charged shots, expertly hitting weak points in the Gundams' armor. "Keep moving, Ferox! Don't stop!" Max shouted, his eyes scanning for any signs of reinforcements.

Ferox lunged at a nearby Gundam, using his claws to rip through its chest. He then jumped to the next, moving with the grace of a predator in its element.

Optimus raised his arm, releasing a barrage of missiles from concealed launchers, creating a path of destruction in front of them. "Micheal, keep them off Gwen and Bee. They're close to breaching the central defenses."

Micheal nodded, raising his arm cannons. He fired a stream of rocktes, cutting down the Gundams attempting to flank Gwen. "You're not getting past me!" he growled, his massive frame shielding the others as debris rained down around him.

Gwen and Bee pressed forward, now only steps away from the central gate of the space center. "We've got to take out that control tower!" Gwen shouted, pointing at a fortified structure where more Gundams were assembling.

"Leave it to us," Micheal said as he and Optimus charged ahead, drawing the fire of the remaining enemy forces.

Micheal unleashed a devastating salvo of rockets from his cannons, their fiery trails lighting up the battlefield as they tore through the base of the control tower. Beside him, Optimus Prime's upgraded cannon, powered by Jen, roared to life.

A single, massive blast erupted from the barrel, striking the tower with pinpoint accuracy. The structure groaned under the assault before collapsing in a deafening crash, sending plumes of smoke and debris into the sky.

The remaining Gundams, undeterred by the loss of their stronghold, swarmed down en masse, their weapons blazing as they attempted to overwhelm the team. Micheal raised his arms, intercepting a barrage of energy blasts with his armored forearms. "They're not letting up!" he growled, swinging his massive tail to swat a group of Gundams into a nearby wall.

Optimus stepped forward, his voice commanding. "Hold your ground!" He fired another blast from his upgraded cannon, scattering the advancing enemies. The relentless waves of Gundams seemed endless, their numbers pressing the team into a tighter formation.

Suddenly, the battlefield was interrupted by fiery streaks cutting through the night sky. Meteors, glowing red-hot from their descent, crashed to the ground with explosive force. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the area, toppling Gundams and leaving deep craters in the earth.

From the wreckage of the meteors emerged more Autobots, their metallic forms gleaming under the moonlight. The leader among them, a towering