The blasts of lasers, cluster bombs, and sonic booms continue to shake the cavern. Rising dust makes it hard to see what is happening.

Still, the Autobots fight on.

"Taste the fury of my machine guns!" cries Dirge. He aims at Ironhide and fires.

"What's that?" says Ironhide. "You want to tickle me? Well, chew on this for a while, you two-bit bucket of bolts!" He aims his power nozzle and prepares to shoot superheated lead at the evil Decepticon.

But his energy is almost exhausted. A high ping-ping-ping announces that the Sun-Pak is out of power. Instead of molten lead, all that comes out of the nozzle is harmless steam.

"Optimus Prime!" cries Ratchet. "Ironhide is in trouble!"

"I'm afraid we all are," says Optimus Prime sadly. "You are all brave. But even the bravest Autobots can run out of power. We have fought well. But we must retreat."

Continue.