Operation: Firestorm
Operation: Firestorm was the battle the Decepticons waged against the Autobots, NEST, and the United States Military for possession of the Matrix of Leadership in 2009. The Decepticon objective was to seize the Matrix and activate the solar harvester that the Dynasty of Primes had built eons ago, while the Autobots and NEST sought to use the Matrix to resurrect Optimus Prime, the last of the Primes and the only one who could defeat The Fallen.
Prelude
Thousands of years ago, the Dynasty of Primes came to Earth and tried to build a machine which would harvest Energon, a process which would destroy the star Earth orbited. When the Primes discovered that the the planet was inhabited by the humans, the majority of the Primes decided to uphold their law regarding the sanctity of life and not proceed. One of the Primes, however, despised the humans and sought to activate the machine. A great battle took place, but the Dynasty prevailed and stole the Matrix from their brother, giving their lives to seal in a tomb made of their bodies. The rogue Prime was forever known as The Fallen, and his followers became known as the Decepticons.
In the present, Optimus Prime, the last descendant of the original Primes, gave his life to protect Sam Witwicky, who subconsciously knew where to find the Matrix from the AllSpark, from the clutches of Megatron, the Decepticon commander and disciple of The Fallen. Unable to find the boy on their own, the Decepticons made overt attacks in order to compel the humans to turn Sam over to them. In response, the United States government shut down NEST and ordered the Autobots with them detained. When Sam learned what he was carrying from Jetfire, a former Decepticon who had been sent to find the Matrix by The Fallen, he theorized that the Matrix might be able to resurrect Optimus. Setting out with his girlfriend Mikaela Banes, roommate Leo Spitz, former Sector Seven agent Seymour Simmons, and the Autobots Bumblebee, Skids and Mudflap, Sam managed to contact Major William Lennox of NEST and arrange for Optimus Prime's body to be brought to the Gulf of Aqaba, which held a clue to where the Matrix was hidden. Sam eventually managed to find the Tomb of the Primes in Petra, but the Matrix seemingly crumbled to dust. Sam continued his belief that the Matrix could still work and gathered up the dust, then headed out with his companions while NEST airdropped into the Gulf.
Battle
Unfortunately, Starscream was in Egypt following an earlier lead on Sam. Finding the convey, Starscream began strafing Bumblebee's group. Heading into a nearby quarry, Sam and Mikaela split off from the rest of the group, while Simmons and Leo took the Twins as a diversion. Before NEST could make contact the Pentagon, Starscream released an electromagnetic pulse that disabled their communication, also noting Prime's body. Soundwave, watching events from orbit, quickly disabled all the other satellites above the region, convincing General Morshower to launch a UAV over the region, while also contacting the governments of Egypt and Jordan to request an assist in confirming visuals.
As the Twins took Simmons and Leo to a quarry in Giza, it quickly became apparent that Starscream was no longer following them. As Simmons considered how to proceed, Megatron arrived and landed on the Great Pyramid of Giza. Starscream informed Megatron of the presence of Prime's body, and Megatron surmised the boy's intentions. As Starscream flew off, Megatron ordered the Decepticons to begin their assault. At his command, thirteen Decepticons landed in transition forms between the NEST landing site and the Pyramids, beginning a search for Sam. Major Lennox explained the situation to his colleagues, then ordered a group of volunteers to accompany Ironhide and Arcee up through a set of pillars to find Sam and get him to Optimus. At the quarry, the Constructicons arrived to form Devastator, who would actually not be joining the main group.
Making their way to NEST's position, Sam and Mikaela were forced to duck into an abandoned house as Starscream made a fly over. The two humans intended to wait until it was clear, but Starscream had detected their presence and lead a group of Constructicons and Protoforms in search of Sam. it didn't go very well, to the point Starscream began shooting the ground in frustration. As Sam and Mikaela tried to wait out the Decepticons, an Insecticon entered the hut the two teens were hiding in. Sam destroyed the small Decepticon before he realized what it was, and not before it sent out a transmission. Starscream tore off the roof of the hut and tried to grab Sam, but his efforts brought down part of the wall, allowing the teens to escape. Scrapper nearly crushed the two teens with his flail, and Starscream tried the less subtle method of firing missiles at the humans, but they managed to evade the Decepticons. Before Starscream's group could proceed, Sideswipe and NEST soldiers opened fire on the Decepticons, preventing them from pursuing Sam. Ironhide's team then rolled out with Arcee providing escort.
Back the quarry, the presence of the Twins compelled Devastator to activate his Vortex Grinder and begin swallowing up everything in sight. Simmons was nearly swallowed, but was saved by Leo. Mudflap was less fortunate, and was swallowed whole, which seemed to stop Devastator. Simmons realized that the only safe place was underneath Devastator, and the group made their way to him. At that point, Mudflap, who had survived, burst out of Devastator's head. Mudflap then began a furious assault on Devastator, who was unable to return fire due to his target being on his head. Skids climbed up Devastator and fired a grapple to his brother, allowing Mudflap to reach him. Unfortunately, Mudflap then accidentally shot Skids in the face, sending the two Autobots to the ground below.
As Sam and Mikaela continued to make their way to Optimus Prime's body, Starscream saw them on an flyby. Deciding to use a less forceful method, Starscream ordered Rampage and Ravage to use their back up plan. Rampage forcibly ejected Ron and Judy Witwicky, who had been captured following the Decepticon attack on Paris. Rampage held the two humans at cannon point and made it clear he wanted Sam to turn over the Matrix to him. However, Bumblebee had made his way back to Sam's position, and Sam distracted Rampage long enough for Bumblebee to drop kick the Decepticon away from the Witwickys. Reacting quickly, Rampage began laying into the smaller Autobot, but Bumblebee was faster and managed to pin Rampage, trying to break his arm. Ravage then attempted jump Bumblebee from behind, but Bumblebee managed to grab Ravage by the tail and tear out his spine! Focusing his attention back on Rampage, Bumblebee tore off Rampage's arms and overextended his neck, killing the Decepticon. Bumblebee then tried to escort the humans to NEST's position, but the heavy amount of fire forced Sam to order Bumblebee to take his parents away from the battlefield, as he continued with Mikaela.
