PROJECT EXCALIBUR: FORGED IN THE STONE

By Matt "Talon" Klrkby


    "Try and hurry things up! We're starting to fall behind schedule...and this is one deadline we cannot afford to miss."
    "We're working as quickly as we can, Director." The master technician shrugged nervously and adjusted his glasses. "The process of binary bonding Human and mechanoid is difficult to master...we cannot afford to make any mistakes during the bio-engineering procedure, or else the volunteers could suffer fatal neurological damage." He shrugged again and brushed his hands across the front of his lab coat. "This process is meant to be done slowly, over time. Haste is not a good thing for research of this nature."
    The director of Project: Excalibur frowned at the excuses. "If we don't get those volunteers bonded and into action soon, then there won't be anything left for them to bond with!"
    At the shout, the technician turned and practically ran to the wall-mounted intercom connecting the director's office with the medical laboratory deeper within the Camelot complex.
    Matthew Kirkby frowned as he took several calming breaths, regaining his temper. Where did these scientists come from? he wondered. The Decepticons were closing in on their part of the country, and the Blackrock Enterprises research facility was certain to be a major target when they arrived-even if they did not know it was the heart of the defenses being built against them, they would probably flatten it on general principles.
    Frowning, he returned to his desk and activated his computer monitor to access a full Project update. Despite his complaints, the Project was proceeding well-within its planned schedules. Blackrock Enterprises hired only the best for its staffs...and their allied companies were sparing no expense in making certain Excalibur had everything it needed...especially considering just what depended on its outcome.
    His lips twitched slightly as schematics for the mechanoid bodies scrolled across the monitor. Repairs to the bodyshells taken from around Autobot City were proceeding quickly...and the scheduled mindwipes were already completed.
    Kirkby typed a second command. Another reason the Project was proceeding so quickly was the almost one hundred Transformer bodyshells already in storage...they had been saved from the time when Decepticons had taken over Blackrock Aerospace Assembly Plant Number One, in Portland, way back in the mid-1980's. They had been built by Human slaves, but then abandoned when Shockwave eventually fled the plant...now those lifeless shells would be given life-as Human-controlled HeadMasters fighting for the freedom of Earth.
    The irony of that amused him.
    A new series of schematics appeared in response to a third typed command. "Another of Blackrock's specials..." Kirkby noted with amusement. Researchers had designed a series of TransFormer-sized humanoid bodies, to be piloted by Humans via low-level binary bonding, and provide them with protection for mining and construction in dangerous environments--underwater, outer space- but were now being modified for combat. Military designers had provided the Project with schematics for converting the Mechs into military machines within hours of the Project's official announcement. "I wonder when Blackrock planned to make this little project of his public?" he asked aloud.
    The vid-phone chimed, interrupting Kirkby's musings. If someone had contacted him directly-without being passed through or cleared by his secretary, then he had to be very important. He tapped the switch to see his caller. "Yes?" he snapped. "Ah, Major Fairbourne," he added more politely as he recognized the grim face on the small screen. "The battle goes well?"
    "No," Melissia Fairbourne all but snarled, "the damn thing's going just as badly as every other battle we've fought in this bloody war." The major added a few other choice adjectives. "I know you eggheads are doing some fancy experiments in there-"
    "They will save the world," Kirkby replied blandly.
    "Yeah, well if you don't get some results in the next few hours, then there won't be any results."
    Kirkby paled. "The Decepticons are that close?" The last reports he had heard indicated that most of the Decepticons had pulled back a few hundred kilometers for reasons known only to their commanders. 'Why do alien visitors like flattening Iowa cornfields?' he wondered.
    "If they wanted to put some serious effort into crushing us, then they'd already be at your doorstep." Fairbourne paused long enough to shout some orders to an aide. "Luckily," she observed more calmly, "they seem to find some amusement in taking their time at stomping us."
    "I'm working as quickly as my techs can!" Kirkby told her, allowing concern to tinge his voice. "Keep on amusing them, Major...I'll have results soon!" He cut the signal, "Why did I ever get into this business?" he asked aloud. Simply smuggling stolen technology wasn't so bad...it paid well enough, so why had he agreed to work for the ever-mysterious Mister Stone? Getting access to TransFormer tech wasn't worth his life....
    The master technician returned from the intercom on the far side of the office. "Sir!" he exclaimed with a relieved grin, "the first volunteers are now ready to undergo the first stages of the bio-engineering process."
    "About time." Kirkby rose to his feet and stepped around his desk. "Let's get started then." Though he suspected that Doctor Morgan had already begun overseeing the first bondings, given his recent demands for more speed and faster results. "First we'll get them bonded, and then we can start showing the Decepticons just what Humans can really do!"
            *            *            *
    The ranks of the recently bonded TransFormers stood on the factory floor in three distinct groups; beside each headless body stood a Human in gleaming body-armor. Standing on a catwalk, Kirkby stared down at them with satisfied pride. He took note of the varying paint patterns of each group of HeadMasters...the blue/green of the Steel Shields, the red/black of the Iron Guard, and the white/gold of the Avengers.
    "Decepticon forces closing," a voice announced over the factory's intercom. "Primary group's ETA is twenty minutes...all security teams to battle stations. Military protocols are now in effect. Director Kirkby, report to control."
    A slight stir rippled through the assembled Humans, several technicians scurrying deeper into the facility and armed guards hurrying towards the external doors. The ranks of TransFormer bodies stood as immobile as only machines could be.
    "You heard that announcement, ladies and gentlemen," Kirkby said calmly into his microphone...and he allowed himself to smile as his words boomed out from the hidden speakers like the epic pronouncements of a god. "It is time for you all to go forth, brave warriors, and defend our homeworld in the name of Freedom!" He smirked at them...no way would he risk his life for such a profitless goal as mere 'freedom'. "You, who are assembled here now, and those who will soon follow in your pioneering footsteps, are the few, the proud!" He felt no qualms about lifting quotes from other people either. "You are the fragile shield that will protect the innocent from harm, the sword that will deliver vengeance upon the those who would enslave us. You are the voice that shouts in protest at the slaughter and the destruction the Decepticons are causing to our world." Oh, however much he did enjoy the attention he was being given-and he did quite enjoy it!-enough with the mindless talk, for every word allowed the Decepticons that much more time to get closer to Camelot's walls. "Now go out there and show those machines exactly what Humans can do!" he finished.
    Cheers greeted his words.
    Leaving the catwalk, Kirkby began walking towards the nearest corridor and the path to the main control center where he could oversee the defense of Camelot. Or plan his escape should a defense prove impossible. "Doctor Morgan, obtain a secure corn-channel and inform the Council that Excalibur has been drawn," he said. "Then arrange for a direct military feed to be sent into the research departments for continuous study; this is the first field test for our Project after all. Gwen," and he paused until his secretary nodded, "I want a briefing readied for the press... something newsy without revealing too much info. We want the people of Earth to know they're now safe, but not something to warn the Decepticons what's going to hit them."
    "No press," a voice growled.
    Kirkby froze in his tracks. Then he turned to face the new speaker. "Ah, General Edwards, welcome to Camelot." He forced a polite smile onto his face, "What brings you here to our humble facility?"
    The General motioned to his own heavily-armed guards-grim-faced men and women in cleaning body armor. "Secure the area," As his troopers scattered deeper into the building, Edwards said: "The Decepticons are closing in on this location."
    Well there was a news flash. "Such an event was anticipated. Your forces were supposed-"
    "It's the big push, Director, and we can't hold them. This fancy project of yours better be ready…otherwise-"
    "You're just in time, General, to see the first of our army jump into action." Kirkby smiled at the tired-looking officer. "Will you accompany me to me to my office?"
    Edwards nodded. He whispered something to one of his aides.
    Kirkby turned back to his secretary. "Find Doctor Arkeville and tell him to prepare for Phase: Mordred."
    Gwen frowned. "What's Mordred?"
    Kirkby smiled apologetically. "It's classified, my dear," he told her. "But the good Doctor will know exactly what I mean. Run along now."
    Edwards watched the secretary hurry away down the corridor. His face seemed to soften for a moment-even now, in this dire emergency, she still moved with her trademark wiggle and her dress enhanced it impressively-then he frowned. "I_ don't even know what this Mordred Phase is." He shook his head. "I never cared much for reading legends."
    Kirkby shrugged. "You know the military and their affinity for secrets." He and Edwards both chuckled...but Kirkby smiled more, "My office has a direct video tie-in to the local security nets so we can watch the action as it unfolds around us..." He gestured to an elevator. "I'm certain that you will find it most interesting."
    "I'm sure that I will," Edwards agreed as the elevator door hissed closed.