The Invasion of Kwarch: Part 4



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===================== Autobot =================================== Message: 3/54                     Posted        Author Operations Orders - Kwarcha       Mon Mar 12    Fortress Maximus --

< Fortress Maximus' battle worn face appears on the screen, and behind him is a darken plain that occasionally gets illuminated by the flashes of distant explosions. >

"The reports of the Decepticons' invasion on Kwarcha has finally trickled to the frontlines. My team is experiencing unexpected tenacious resistance from the Decepticons forces here on Heligos IV, we're not going to be able to dispatch any additional forces in time to join in on the first wave of Autobot forces moving out for Kwarcha. That means Crosshairs is tied down with me, and Jetfire's unlikely to return from the outer fringes in time either."

< There's no hint of distress visible on the Headmaster commander's visored face though as he enters in several commands into a console off-screen. >

"That doesn't mean Operations won't be without experienced leadership though. Wheeljack, due to the current circumstances I have made the decision to assign you as Operations' CO and with it comes the authority and responsibilities expected of the position. Just as Optimus Prime himself had the complete confidence of selecting you for the immense responsibility of being an original Ark crewmember spearheading Cybertron's future, I too have the absolute confidence in you to being able to coordinate Operations' effectively in our tremendous task of liberating Kwarcha."

"Good luck everyone, I'll see you all soon. Until then, strength and honour, mechs. Be safe out there."

< Static soon fills the screen again shortly before the transmission ends completely >

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===================== Reports =================================== Message: 9/26                     Posted        Author San Fran Scheduled Blackout       Sat Mar 10    Rodimus Prime --

A message from the mayor's office is broadcast on the news and written in articles in the paper, advising that on Monday evening, March 12th at 6 pm, a scheduled power outage will take place and last for approximately four hours across the entire city. There will be some interruptions in city services and forms of electronic communication will experience interference as well but the outage is expected to last no more than four hours. Emergency services and communication lines will be kept online, however. The Mayor of San Francisco was quoted as saying, "I can assure residents that this necessary outage will be no longer than the scheduled four hours. I recommend that during this time it might be a good opportunity to catch up on a good book, or to get out for some fresh air. In fact, I intend to attend a gathering down at the waterfront with my family that is being put together by some opportunistic groups looking to take advantage of the good weather. I believe there's even going to be a bonfire and music, so it sounds like a good time to be had by all. I hope to see you there!" No comments have been forthcoming from city power authorities as to whether this outage is required for some form of emergency maintenance or otherwise.

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 At 6 pm sharp in San Francisco, just as the news reported the lights suddenly go out and darkness settles across the entire city. As predicted, emergency and official lines remain open, though curiously San Fracisco radio stations have ceased broadcasting.

Kwarch - Industrial Planet

From its brilliant orange hazy skies to its dark green sludge rivers, Kwarch is the heavily polluted home to dozens of metropolises. The air, ground, and water are all toxic to most organic forms of life--the natives love it, though. The friendly, outgoing Kwarchans are a green slug-like race, with two arms and a slimey tail. Humans are fine with breather masks, as are fully suited Master Nebulons.

Capital City is demonstrative of most cities, having a grungy, factory-like feel with bronze-coloured gangplanks and catwalks stretching all over the place. Huge smokestacks churn toxic air into the skies at all times. The palace of the President is at one end of the city, and the military HQ at the other. The vibrant colours are beautiful in a strange way.

Contents: Clutch Battlecruiser  Hawkeye Autobot Flagship  Grapple Scorn Cyclonus Twin-Gunned Starfighter  Decepticon Starship 

A few hours ago, back on Earth, the city of San Francisco was suddenly plunged into complete darkness as the power went out. At 6 pm sharp, the Orion Pax was suddenly closed up tight as all Autobots and any EDC support personnel that were coming along were secured aboard. No one else was allowed to leave, or arrive on board the ship. Rodimus was strangely strict about the time of readiness. What makes it even more strange is that the Pax didn't break orbit for another thirty minutes after that. Not the best of ways to conduct a 'secret' movee, is it? Indeed, the Pax's departure did not go unnoticed. Shockwave had the presence of mind to put a pair of Sweeps on watchdog duty. Getting too close to Earth orbit to observe would have given their position away, but it's a simple matter for them to wait on the opposite side of the moon, their sensors easily picking up the kilometer-long Autobot Flagship as it sped to the outer reaches of the solar system, then winked into hyperspace in short order. "Watchdog Flight to Shockwave." One of the sweeps broadcasted, equipped with a long-range booster on his communications modules. "Confirmed. The prey approaches..."

From his previous form, Sixshot transforms into his robot mode.

The bright yellow crane shifts and changes form in to a big.. Yellow and blue Autobot! Yay, yellow!

Afterburner descends towards Kwarch.

Nosecone descends towards Kwarch.

Cyclonus has finally arrived on Kwarch to survey the progress of Shockwave's campaign. At the moment, he is stomping heavily through the cracked streets of Capital City, holding a wineglass of energon delicately in one hand, lending him a sophisticated look that contrasts sharply with his retinue of seemingly demonic sweeps following in his footsteps. "Excellent, excellent," he says aloud, mostly to himself. "The disgusting inhabitants have been cowed easily and extraction proceeds apace. Shockwave has done well... for the time being." He sneers in contempt as he spies a dead Kwarchian on the street. "Ungh. Loathsome thing. Someone dispose of that." He is, as of yet, unaware of any impending Autobot attack. The skies over Kwarch have taken on a darker shade of red of late, as the Decepticons tear into it, knocking over buildings, swiping anything of immediate value, and moving onto the next. It's a messy campaign, designed to get the important stuff now and lay waste to anything else. Gunshots and explosions still ring out occasionally across the Capital, though the resistance has been quiet of late. Perhaps their back has finally been broken? The planet's major power plants have been completely reformatted, and now generates only energon cubes from the world's new masters. Shockwave, standing in the makeshift Decepticon command center that was once the main capital city energy production centre, watches a large wall full of computer screens. Each screen is projecting a different section of the city, from the spaceport to the Presidential Palace to the old military HQ and more. Enemy attacks have gone down of late, he muses, yet he has calculated the resistance still has more units with which to defend. Have they given up? Unlikely. It is much more likely, he decides, that they are preparing something big. Clearly they have been in contact with the Autobots. No matter. Even with the focus on ravaging this world rather than defence, they cannot hope to overwhelm the Decepticon army. The energon gained in these last days will outweigh the inevitable... sacrifices. Now, all we need is the antogonist of this operation. Ah, and speak of the devil. <> Shockwave transmits back. The mech steps out on a catwalk overlooking the city. <> Shockwave looks up at the Absolution. Poor, predictable Rodimus Prime. Thinking his flagship alone can match the Decepticons'.

Carnivac has connected.

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Sixshot is standing inside the Absolution shuttle bay. Everything is quiet around him with most of the Decepticons ravaging the planet. With most resistance crushed, the sixchanger lost interest in what was happening below and came back here. He's only staring at the star, feeling every seconds as if they were hours when Shockwave's transmission finally comes. <> The large warrior heads towards the bay before jumping into the air and transforming into his starfighter mode. Flames burst from his engines as he leaves the ship and dives towards what's left of the capital city.

From his previous form, Sixshot transforms into his Starfighter mode.

Scattershot unfolds into his hulk of a robot mode, lovingly props his pump action acid lined slug artillery rifle against his shoulder, and lights an energon cigar he stole from Kup.


 * Chomp* The offending alien corpse at Cyclonus' is gone in the snapping of purple jaws, a bit of residue slime dribbling from Carnivac's muzzle before he licks it off and smacks loudly, then giggles. "I like the ones with the squishy cream filling. Slimy yet satisfying." Seeing as he's already off his rocker, if the things are still hallucigentic post mortem we'd never be able to tell.

Carnivac drops to all fours, turning into a mechanical wolf.

Scorn has been thoroughly enjoying herself since arriving on the planet with the rest of the Decepticons, the femme having been looting banks, houses, and companies nearly non-stop. Her fellow Insecticons have also been looting, each gathering whatever they prefered, though Scorn seemed much more interested in money and anything shiny. Currently she's perched atop a large building in the housing district, inspecting a few nuggets of precious metals rather closely, like a jeweler. "Ah.. just perfect." She grins toothily before tossing the chunk of metal back into subspace, though the signal from Shockwave has her look up over the city expanse, hissing softly in annoyance. "Damn those Autobots. Always showing up just when things get good." And so she radios the others of her kind directly, "Insecticons! Prepare to attack and destroy the incoming Autobots!

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The first hint in the Kwarchan home system comes with a distant flareup, a star that seems to flash brigher than others for a split second, before taking physical form in a flash of golden-hulled magnificence as the Autobot flagship drops out of hyperspace at the edge of the system. With FTL engines powering down as sublight drives take over, the Orion Pax burns a path straight into the system at best speed, sensors already picking up the telltale signature of the besieged planet. On the bridge of the Pax, Rodimus sits in the command chair, surrounded by frantic activity as Autobot crew move between stations all around him, like a hive of bees at work. "Sensors are picking up the Absolution...and three, repeat THREE other Decepticon warships." Rodimus frowns, leaning forward and steepling his hands together, "Guess I should have figured Shockwave would switch things up a bit. Looking like one ship against four...not good odds." A moment passes, and then Rodimus straightens up, touching a button on the keypad built into the right armrest of the chair. "THis is Rodimus to all Autobots. We've just jumped into the Kwarchan system and are approaching the planet. It looks like the Decepticons are ready and waiting for us, so this could be a bumpy ride. Our priority right now is to get all available Autobots groundside. The Pax will deal with the Decepticons in orbit. Using shuttles could be a bit dicey, so those of you who can't fly through space are going to have to use the armored drop pods." Indeed the hangar bay is a bustle of activity now, as alarm klaxons sound and Autobot technicians run to and fro. Entire specialized racks have been rolled out with torpedo-shaped objects that are hollow on the inside, and armored on the outside. Just enough room for an Autobot inside, an armored fuel compartment and a powerful engine to push the atmospherically shielded drop pod into a planet's atmosphere. "Your landing sites are at the main cities currently occupied by the Decepticons. Intel has told us they haven't solidified their positions with defensive emplacements, so you're to get down there and wreck them -and- their infrastructure as much as possible. As soon as Shockwave realizes this planet isn't worth holding onto any more, he'll probably come to the logical conclusion of what to do next." Rodimus then switches off the intercom on the Pax's interior, letting out a faint sigh. "Assuming we don't get blown out of space in the meantime. All hands to battle stations! Let's see how Shockwave intends to welcome us."

 Shockwave says, "Shuttle Triumph has reported the arrival of the Orion Pax. Our warships are engaging. Decepticons, be ready to engage any survivors that make it through."

Clutch works off resltess energy in the training room of the Orion Pax, 'driving' on a special chassis dynamometer that lets Auto-cars rev and spin their engines. The device consists of a giant mechanical crane-like arm and 4 drive wheels that can be repositioned, tilted back and forth and rotate to point in different directions, all suspended from the arm to let Autobots simulate fast and evasive driving. Anything to keep themselves alert and ready for when they reach their destination.

When the call comes he suddenly surges off of the dynamometer and races down the corridors towards the landing bay, barely remembering to transform to robot mode in his eagerness to take his place in one of the landing 'craft'.

Scattershot stands in the Technobot circle, cleaning the last of the extra rifles he's brought along for the trip. Puffing away at the usual cigar, Scattershot checks the sights and slings the gun over his shoulder. As the alarms start ringing, the Technobot laughs. "Ah do love a good welcoming party. Technobots, how we doing?"

 Carnivac says, "Aaaw, the widdle bitty sluggies went waa waa waaing to the autopunks for help. Losers."

Afterburner slaps a fresh heatsink into his sonic blaster for what must be the twentieth time so far this trip- it's like he can't remember if he changed it out already, a gun-related nervous tic. "All munitions are good to go, Boss, we are locked, cocked, and ready to rock!"

 Cyclonus says, "Predictable Rodimus. Instead of exploiting an opportunity he rushes forth to save the day."  Sixshot says, "I would not underestimate him. He must have something in mind."

Sky Lynx is amongst the Autobots gathered here, currently offering an alternative to those not looking to take any drop pods along the way. Having rendezvoused with the Orion Pax in deep space, the giant red white and blue dinobird sits ready on the external 'carrier deck' of the massive Autobot flagship, currently taking aboard a small horde of Autobot soldiers. Other space-capable Autobots, though rare in numbers compared to the Decepticons, also take off in their respective flight modes as they take up an escorting pattern around the ship. Even Defcon is out here at the head of a formation of Autobot flyers. Rodimus has really called in the reserves.

 Shockwave says, "You are correct, of course. Sixshot, you may join in the fight against the Orion Pax at your discretion."

Should anyone ask Grapple later what his reaction had been to Rodimus's announcement and the blaring klaxons, he would, with a completely straight face, likely say that he handled it calmly and rode out with the troops. In reality, however, the architect is a bit of a mess; the fact that he even remembers to arm himself is probably a miracle in itself. Still, he gets out there, looking a bit more worried and pensive then someone probably should before going out to a fight. The drop pods are eyed not too happily.

"Doing fine," Nosecone says to Scattershot, "I'm all ready to help liberate the oppressed." Preferably by drilling through the oppressors and leaving them in twisted chunks of smoking metal. "Shall we form Computron and make their primary logic chips fry?"


 * SNAP*


 * KA-CHUCK*


 * SNAP*


 * KA-CHUCK*

The skilled sharpshooter has already drawn out his trusty 75mm rifle and like a good soldier, he's already in the process of making sure his armor-piercing shells are properly loaded and activated. As Prime's incoming message surges across his internal radio, Hawkeye grins lightly giving a few nearby Autobots a thumbs up. "Looks like it's time to get this operation on a roll! Help me get into this drop pod would you pals?!"

With a crackle of light scatering across his visor, Hawkeye readies his tactical systems as he hops into one of the many assembled pods. Just as the technicians finish strapping in the sharpshooter, Hawkeye cocks his weapon one final time, aiming it forward and at the ready should he need to use it immediately upon landing.

It had been quite a while since Hawkeye had been assigned to a military operation like this, and it had definitely been too long. "Just wait till those Decepticons get a load of my skills! They'll never know what hit them! Alright close the hatch guys!" The technicians shut the armored pod with a heavy magnetic lock, engaging. The process is fully complete when an -Occupied- sign lights up on the front.

Ah Wheeljack had thought of everything!

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Shockwave recalls his early calculations. He knows the time the Absolution left. He knows the speed of the Absolution. He knows the time the Absolution will arrive. Thus, it was child's play to ensure that the Absolution arrives at the exact time that all four Decepticon starships: Absolution, Triumph, Conquest II, and Despoiler, were ready to greet them. Was Rodimus was looking for a fair fight? He won't get one. All four Decepticon warships open fire on the Orion Pax, flanking it in a well executed maneuver to ensure that the Autobots are surrounded on all sides. Shockwave looks up from the Kwarchan catwalk. He can barely make out the twinkling lights that make up the fierce space battle. Coloured lasers fly back and forth, intermixed with missile barrages. Occasionally laser blasts are sent towards Sky Lynx and the other Autobot transports, trying to shoot them down before they can reach the planet. Perhaps an evacuation will not be necessary after all, Shockwave considers. But no, Sixshot is right. The Decepticons must not get overconfident.

After receiving Shockwave's communication, the starfighter changes his course to meet with the incoming Autobot ship. Sixshot quickly spots a worthy opponent...Sky Lynx. The sixchanger rockets pass the Autobot shuttle before coming back at full speed, all gun blazing as he aims for the autobot engines. The decepticon remains quiet and efficient as ever as he tries to disable the biggest threat (beside the Orion Pax).

"Lasers lasers burning bright, lighting up the starry night; gun them left and gun them right, to see a flaming crash tonight!", Carnivac prattles seemingly at random. Seemingly. But even the lupine lunatic has his sights on the skies over head, and somewhere behind that manic ramble the gears are churning away ready.

Once her valuables are safely in subspace Scorn orders her aerial troops to the skies, ready to get the first hit on any descending towards the planet, the ground forces remaining below to dispatch on those who've landed. The air nearly vibrates and the ground is overcome by the shadows as Insecticons pour from the buildings, their numbers and varieties impressive, such as tank-like beetles, venomous spiders, swift and agile dragonflies, snaking centipedes, and even more than could be imagined. <> She radios her troops, venomous yellow optics fixed above, just waiting for the pods to drop and fliers to decend, the others chittering and clacking in frenzied anticipation. Oh what a feast this will be. ___   ___    _____   ___   _   _  | _ )  / _ \  |_   _| / __| | | | | | _ \ | (_) |   | |   \__ \ |_| |_| |___/  \___/    |_|   |___/ (_) (_)

Cyclonus shakes his head disdainfully at Carnivac for a moment. "How can you... nevermind, as long as it's gone, I don't care." He scowls as the report comes in of an Autobot attack. "Mmmmh. So they're here. As expected. Carnivac, make ready to receive our guests. I shall lay out the welcoming mat for them. SWEEPS! To me!" And just like that, Cyclonus leaps up, transforms, and rockets off into space to meet the Autobots. His incredible velocity allows him to close the distance within two minutes, and Cyclonus begins firing lasers at the incoming shuttles, scoring their hulls deeply as he tries to add to his tally of destroyed Autobot space craft yet again.

Cyclonus flips forward ninety degrees, limbs folding up and a nosecone snaps down across his head. Wings emerge from his sides and Cyclonus is now in his powerful space fighter mode!

Rodimus watches the viewscreen, and the movements of the Decepticon ships in silence for a few moments as they begin to fan out. "Alright folks, here we go..." Even as the first flashing blasts from the warship's weapons lance through space towards the Orion Pax, the Autobot ship keeps right on coming. Even as the shields flare up with the first impact of energy against energy, automated autocannons spinning in place to spit out hails of gunfire at incoming missiles. Inevitably, some start to get through, however and the ship begins to shudder with distant explosions across its hull. It's only then that the interior bays of the Orion Pax start to open up, revealing row upon row of the specialized racks...which begin to disgorge their precious cargoes en masse in a swarm of exhaust flares that look like a thousand missiles let loose all at once. As one big swarm, the pods unleash and begin to burn their way directly towards the planet, ignoring the Decepticon warships as they rely on their tiny size, high speed and sheer numbers to blow past and make landfall. "Drop pods away!" "More incoming fire from the starboard side! Rodimus, recommend we transform to battle mode!" "Not yet...get closer to them. Much closer." The Autobot leader states firmly, getting more than a few odd glances from the bridge crew. Has he lost his mind? Sky Lynx blasts off from the flight deck in short order as well, with his precious cargo of Autobot troopers aboard. "Four Decepticon warships against one Autobot ship? Pfah, with -me- here that will almost make it an equal fight! I'll deal with -you- momentarily, Decepticons!" And with that, the Dinobird banks and begins to drop into Kwarcha's atmosphere like a meteor, so he can touch down alongside the falling drop pods and offload his cargo. The Orion Pax keeps coming, rocking under another combined salvo from the Decepticon ships as it keeps barreling straight towards them...closing the distance.

On the main bridge tower, on the outside of the Orion Pax, a lone figure stands. So tiny by comparison that he's little more than a red and yellow dot in contrast to the Autobot flagship. ANd yet he has a very important role to play. "Now -this- is what I call broadcasting to a captive audience!" Blaster fistpumps eagerly, explosions happening all around him as he looks at his wrist, one of the bridge crew patching through his communicator. "Alright Blaster, Rodimus has given the go-ahead. Operation Shutdown is a go!" "Showtime!" And with that, the Autobot communications expert leaps backwards and transforms in mid-air, slamming down and locking into place in a special exterior port that was put into the Orion Pax's powerful FTL deflector dish ahead of time...just for this sort of situation.

Grapple likely did not make the best decision in passing by the drop pod and, instead, sticking with Sky Lynx. It wasn't that he was claustrophobic, he simply.. Didn't want to be trapped in a falling coffin of death. Now, however, Sky Lynx is is moving in all sorts of unhealthy directions and speeds; Grapple isn't the only one clinging to his seat for his life and all too eager to get out of there at landing.

 Blaster suddenly cuts onto the airwaves, "Okay Decepticons...LIGHTS OUT!" *A DEAFENING amount of static suddenly cuts onto the radio channel, then fades into an odd background hum. While local radio communication is possible, ALL transmissions to and from the Kwarchan system are suddenly stopped cold*

Scattershot spits out his cigar as the airlock opens. As one of the few space ready Autobots, Scattershot will be playing escort to drop pods- particularly Technobot filled ones. "Alright you sorry built sons a Seekers! Ya'll wanna live forever?! Till all..." He drops out of the Pax twisting into his battlecruiser mode. "...are one!" The Technobot commander leads the drop pod charge, guns blazing!

Scattershot leaps impossibly, due to his massive size, into the air and transforms into battlecruiser mode, hovering like a boss and being all ready for business.

<Decepticon> Shockwave transmits static.

Clutch eyes the tiny viewports dotting the drop pod, now questioning the wisdom in descending to the surface this way. Occasionally a near miss rocks his pod and makes it tumble, but the pod's rudimentary propulsion systems - and the fact that somebody made sure it was weighted on the bottom - manage to right it. At a few thousand feet from the surface a trailing air-brake extends and snaps open, resulting in a servo-shuddering jolt as the pod begins to slow. At a few hundred feet, the air-brake detaches and then a more traditional parachute unfurls now that the velocity is somewhat under control. Finally the pod slams to the ground with a collasal KLANG!!! Followed shortly as explosive charges pop out the hatch and Clutch emerges, still slightly woozy. "Now THAT was some ride..." He quickly transforms into his car mode and tears off down the closest street.

Clutch transforms into sportscar mode!

Nosecone steps into a pod, peering at the inside gingerly. "Oh. I don't have a good feeling about this craft," he murmurs, but seals himself inside anyway.

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "What is this?! Restore communications at ONCE!"

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Curious. I do not understand. Why cut us off from the rest of the Empire? Given the number of Autobots here, surely this could not be a feint." <Decepticon> Sixshot says, "I warned you... they must have a plan. Let's thwart it."

The armored drop pods weren't exactly designed with comfort in mind, but they were designed to take a pounding. Hawkeye's pod rockets towards the planet, and it's quite obvious there's a large battle brewing outside. As the sharpshooter taps at the lighted destination screen panel in front of him, he gets jolted forward by a powerful explosion nearby.

"Woah! That was a little too close! Alright, just like Prime said, this place here should be the perfect insertion point!" Compensating for another blast that shakes the pod, the sharpshooter slams his fingers down on the screen.

In a manner of seconds, the pod descends through the planet's atmosphere, exploding up just a few yards from above the ground. That gives Hawkeye just enough time to leap out and land on his feed with a soft thud.

Firing up his short-range radio, the Autobot heads for a nearby tower that should offer some tactical advantage. <<Hawkeye to any Autobots in the area. I'm taking this tower and setting up for strategic fire!>>

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Agreed, Sixshot. But what is their plan?"

Afterburner does his best to enjoy the rocky ride even though he can't see out of the drop pod thanks to the lack of windows. He passes the time thinking about all the Decepticons he's going to be shooting, but when the pod actually hits and the doors blow open with the crack of explosive bolts, the first thing he notices is that he seems to have landed away from everyone else. "Where are all the Decepticons?" he asks, fighting his way out of the warehouse his pod crashed down in. It seems to be full of crates of slug jewelry. "Oh, there's Scattershot." Scattershot blasting across the sky is hard to miss. He draws his blaster and kicks the door down, jumping out into the alley full of hope for an awesome showdown. "Get ready, Decepticons! The Technobots are here to liberate your asses!"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Hnnngh. I will divert one of the Sweeps to break formation and set a course for Earth, then return with any developments. We won't know right away what, if anything, the Autobots have planned, but it's better than nothing." <Decepticon> Sixshot says, "You're the brain... I'm the firepower." <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Sound reasoning, Cyclonus."

"Did the humans just not show up?" demands Afterburner over the radio. "Scattershot, I'm down here!"

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Scorn keeps her hand raised, signalling the Insecticons to be still and hold their positions while keeping her optics on the Orion Pax. Almost.... There! A devilish grin spreads across her face when the sky lights up with pods entering the atmosphere. Immediatly she signals forward, the Insecticon army shrilling and clacking in excitement as they rush forward past Scorn. While aerial forces latch onto pods here and there, chewing through the hull and either tearing apart the Bot inside, or being shot themselves, the ground troops wait below to do the same. Scorn herself flutters above the carnage, keeping an eye on her brethren and surveying the battle, waiting for the right moment, and the right Autobot, to strike. All the while her antennas twitch, sending out small signals to various leaders of various troops, giving certain orders to keep things in check.

Twin-Gunned Starfighter <Sixshot> follows Sky Lynx as the dinobird lands on the planet, dropping hordes autobots into the fight. <<Time to show them not to mess with Sixshot.>> The starfighter glides above the fight as he suddenly reconfigures itself into a ramming tank that crashes hard into the ground. A cloud of dust is raised behind him as he speeds forwards. Sixshot knocks a couples of gumbies off his way before focusing his fire on the first autobot worth mentionning, Clutch.

From his previous form, Sixshot transforms into his Ramming Tank mode.

Shockwave looks up as the Orion Pax blazes downwards. The Decepticon shuttles don't let it push by, threatening to get in its way. The Absolution cuts loose with a broadside on the passing Autobot ship as the Triumph tries to head it off, planning to force the Pax to change course or risk a collision. "Rodimus Prime is confident," Shockwave comments to a Seeker next to him. "By bringing his flagship in close, he is making it that much more difficult for him to retreat should the battle not go his way." Shockwave shakes his head. "Such illogical nonsense." Then the Autobot jamming hits, and Shockwave pauses. What? He does not understand. The Autobots are still horribly outnumbered, yet logic dictates this could not be a feint. With the Autobots committed here, the likelihood of this being a two-pronged assault is low. Shockwave's leg thrusters ignite, and he soars away from the catwalk as Autobot drop ships (and the occasional solo Autobot) begin raining down from the sky. The Seeker on his left joins up with him, shifting into Tetrajet mode. The pair blast past the tower Hawkeye is using as cover--either they don't see him or they don't consider him a threat. Another pair of Seekers and Insecticons form up on Shockwave's wing as they plan to meet the Autobots head-on. As firepower pours down upon them, Shockwave looks up, spotting the incoming Technobot battlecruiser. Although Shockwave is lucky enough to evade the blasts, the Seeker to his right isn't--and detonates in a bright yellow fireball. Shockwave takes aim with his arm cannon and retaliates.

"You're better off not knowing," is the only answer Cyclonus gets before the second-in-command blasts off. Followed by a growling chuckle as the mecha-wolf gets up from his perch and bounds off into the remains of the city. Having been given pretty much free reign as long as it lead to destroying the Autobot advance, he couldn't be happier.

Not that the Autobots are getting an easy time landing. Decepticons were spread all over the city, and at the call for warfare start coming out of the woodwork. It doesn't take long for the streets to be filled with lasers being volleyed off at anything bearing that stupid red face icon as gumbie shocktroopers hurry into formations to contend with the usually ground-locked Autobots. But where's Carnivac? The predator seems to have slipped off into the urban jungle being turned into a battlezone hell.

Combat: Armored Ram Tank <Sixshot> sets his defense level to Aggressive. Combat: Armored Ram Tank <Sixshot> misses Blue Sportscar <Clutch> with his Disruptor attack! Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> sets his defense level to Guarded. Combat: Shockwave misses Battlecruiser <Scattershot> with his Visible Laser (Laser) attack! Combat: Drained 2 energon.

Starfighter <Cyclonus> ceases fire on a crippled shuttle for a moment, but not out of mercy--far from it. Something has his attention. Then, just as the squadron of sweeps catches up to him, one of them promptly breaks formation and begins to rapidly accelerate out of the system, paying the invading Autobots no mind. The rest, however, fall upon the Autobots like a pack of hungry jackals, going right for the drop pods and occasionally flinging Autobots out into the upper atmosphere. "Cull the weak, Sweeps," Cyclonus says, approving of their progress so far. "I shall seek their champions and *break* them."

Making good on his word, Cyclonus charges at Scattershot as he flies escort for the drop pods. "Scattershot! Do you feel up to challenging Galvatron's second-in-command? Or would you prefer one of the sweeps as an easier opponent?" he challenges, lasers streaming from his wing cannons.

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Battlecruiser <Scattershot> with his Disruptor attack! ___   ___    _____   ___   _   _  | _ )  / _ \  |_   _| / __| | | | | | _ \ | (_) |   | |   \__ \ |_| |_| |___/  \___/    |_|   |___/ (_) (_)

Sky Lynx makes planetside landing in record time, even for him. And he's quick to remind everyone of it too. "ANother magnificent showing on my part! But no time for pleasantries. Get ready chaps, this landing will be a little...hot!" Disgorging his lower 'cargo pod' as he flies over the main capital city, the Dinobird's shuttle half flies free, flying evasive patterns as Decepticon seekers try to shoot him down. The pod itself lands with a heavy crash in the main street below, opening up to allow Grapple and the other troopers aboard to get off as quickly as they can, before the pod transforms into his Lynx half and tears off after them as well. Drop Pods are now coming down all over the city. Some were flared up and destroyed outright on re-entry, others torn apart by Insecticons while falling, though in some cases the Autobots just simply took the gutsy approach and did a quick 'freefall' of their own. Sky Lynx's shuttle mode suddenly goes ballistic as it rockets straight up into the sky, transforming to its bird-frame as a radio transmission comes through. "Sky Lynx, one sweep is breaking away to exit the system. You know what to do!" "Oh I -do- indeed." The Dinobird growls almost eagerly as he locks in a pursuit course and rockets straight after the unfortunate Sweep. For some reason, the Autobots seem very interested in letting nothing get out of the system...

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Cyclonus, observe Sky Lynx." <Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Eh? Sk--I see. The Autobots clearly do not want of what's going on outside this system to reach us. But why? Regardless, I'll intercept *him* first."

Blue Sportscar <Clutch> swerves to one side and then the other. Buildings behind and next to him get blasted to bits by the disruptor, but Clutch's blue paint scheme lives on for another exchange of fire. "It's Sixshot!" he shouts, unnecessarily, to the gumbies around him. "Stay back you guys, I'll keep him busy!" As he approaches the Decepticon Ninja, bars extend from under Clutch's front bumper, then fold up and lock into his hood to form a crash-cage type attachment. Pouring on the speed, Clutch barrels straight at Sixshot...but at the last moment he swerves to avoid the huge ram prows and take a minor shot at the tank's flank instead.

Combat: Blue Sportscar <Clutch> strikes Armored Ram Tank <Sixshot> with his Offensive Driving attack! [Pulled -2]

Grapple isn't the only one left shaken from Sky Lynx's little aerial dance to avoid getting hit; by the time the troops on board actually get out, a few gumbies are physically ill. Which isn't really a good thing considering they have to start running and shooting. Thankfully, Everyone's Favorite Architect isn't one of them, though he does stare for a moment as a pod in the distance is torn apart by Insecticons. Honestly, he's regretting coming along. Still, he's there, so he starts.. Shooting. Pretty randomly, at mostly Insecticons.

Autobot Flagship <Orion Pax> keeps on coming. Even as the Triumph moves to block the Flagship's path, even as the Absolution sends a withering barrage crashing against the Pax's shields, the ship doesn't deviate. It keeps filling the viewscreen of the Triumph more, and more. "Shields at 60 percent and falling!" "Rodimus!" "Just a bit closer." Rodimus states, hands on the arm rests as he leans forward, half holding himself in place as the Pax shudders from another hit. "A bit closer..." The Triumph is so close now, the screen is filled with its form. "Now! Adjust angle down by ten degrees, initiate battle mode transformation!" The main flight deck of the Pax starts to split open, and rotate around to form the 'prongs' of the main weapon system, even as the mammoth ship angles down and just BARELY avoids contact with the Triumph's frame. As weapon systems and heavier armor slides into place, the Pax finally starts firing back in all directions, raising a withering barrage of return fire. "Weapon systems coming fully online. Battle shields are online, though diminished due to the earlier hits." A crewman reports, then suddenly gapes, "...what the...there's something coming out of -our- underside?" Rodimus just nods, as on the viewscreen, the entire -bottom- of the Orion Pax opens up and two enormous black hands start to emerge outwards, even as a gargantuan humanoid-shaped body starts to follow. "This is why I didn't want ANYONE seeing what was going on outside after the blackout. It's your show now, big guy."

Metroplex has connected.

Battlecruiser <Scattershot> blasts his way into the atmosphere, screaming...or laughing. They're sort of the same when Scattershot gets this way. Sweeps and Seekers crumble as more and more Autobot pods drop safely, unloading waves of Gumbibots...The rapid fire nature of such a blitz demonstrates itself as Scattershot hardly notices that he's blasted through several of Shockwave's posse, or even been fired at by the one eyed purple laser slinger. A series of strikes off his broadside are a little more noticeable, though: Scattershot lands on two feet planetside and faces his agressor: Cyclonus. "You or a sweep? Hell, ya'll all look the same t'me." It's cigar time. Scattershot unslings two of his extra laser rifles and glances at an Autobot infantry man. "Was that racist? Ah feel like that was kinda racist." Boosts of morale! The infantrybots charge forward, engaging the Sweeps. "Technobots, converge on mah signal. We've got some Unispawns t'murder."

Scattershot unfolds into his hulk of a robot mode, lovingly props his pump action acid lined slug artillery rifle against his shoulder, and lights an energon cigar he stole from Kup.

The ascension through the tower isn't the most easiest of maneuvers. As Hawkeye approaches the entrance a few Insecticons appear from within, leaping at him with their pincers ready to strike. Luckily the sharpshooter spots has enough warning to knock one away with his armored elbow and blast the other with a point-blank shot from his rifle. "Excuse me Decepticons, the exterminator's here to clean up this tower!" Once inside the battered structure, Hawkeye makes his way up the winding staircase, finding a suitable firing port at the very top. Setting his targeting visor on the melee below, the sharpshooter picks up someone who appears to be leading the Insecticons in the area. It didn't take a military genius to understand that knocking an opposing officer out of the fight was a plus. From his partially concealed position, Hawkeye whispers as he takes aims and fires, "Nothing like target practice to get the energon flowing."

Afterburner transforms and guns it out of the alley, going up on the side of the building across the street (thanks to his sticky tires) as he makes a hard turn and closes in on Scattershot's location. A few Insecticons loom in his headlight and, being Afterburner, he lets fly with the plasma cannon and does his level best to drive right through them. "On my way, Boss!" Combat: Afterburner sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Afterburner hits the ground as a sort of armored battle-motorcycle.

Metroplex drops, quite literally, off the bottom of the Orion Pax. The enormous cityformer enters freefall for just a brief moment, getting his orientation in the orbit of Kwarcha, before his gaze settles on the Triumph nearby. Literally within arm's reach...funny how that worked out with the near-collision, didn't it? Lingering his gaze on the hated Decepticon symbol for only a moment, the ultimate Autobot Guardian bunches his right hand into a gigantic fist, before lunging it forward straight at the nose of the Decepticon warship with enough force to crack open a glacier. With so much time spend on guard duty and countering of Trypticon, it's rare that he ever gets to do that one thing that he's a terrifyingly good expert at. Complete. And utter, destruction.

Combat: Rocket Bike <Afterburner> strikes Scorn with his Plasma Pulse Cannon attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Scattershot sets his defense level to Aggressive. Combat: Hawkeye strikes Scorn with his Supressing Fire From Above (Pistol) attack!

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Now it makes sense. It's not that they wanted us to avoid hearing of what was happening elsewhere. No, they meant to thwart us from telling our Earth forces that Autobot City was vulnerable without Metroplex to protect it! Clever boy..." <Decepticon> Sixshot says, "Now if that sweep can leave the zone and call Trypticon..."

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Scattershot shoots from the hip, firing wild at Cyclonus and the Sweeps. "Let Primus sort 'em out, boys!" (continued from earlier)

Combat: Scattershot strikes Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Laser attack!

Armored Ram Tank <Sixshot> doesn't slow down after missing his target, he accelerates with the obvious intend to ram into the less armored car. Unfortunately the autbot his agile enough to avoid him and it is him who ram into the tank's flank, denting the armor and forcing him to change his course, which saved a couples of gumbies' lifes. Sixshot now spots the technobots grouping in front of him. Leaving Clutch behind, he reconfigures himself into his armored carrier mode. A momemt later, his twin laser battery starts to rain death on the technobots.

From his previous form, Sixshot transforms into his Armored Carrier mode.

Combat: Armored Laser Artillery Vehicle <Sixshot> sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Armored Laser Artillery Vehicle <Sixshot> strikes Rocket Bike <Afterburner> with his Twin Laser Batteries Area attack! [Pulled -2] Combat: Armored Laser Artillery Vehicle <Sixshot> strikes Scattershot with his Twin Laser Batteries Area attack! [Pulled -2] Combat: Armored Laser Artillery Vehicle <Sixshot> strikes Nosecone with his Twin Laser Batteries Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Shockwave's arm jerks back from the recoil of his own blast. Unfortunately, the Technobot Commander is a wily one, and only Cyclonus is able to score a hit on him. No matter, the Decepticons are rising up from across the city, converging on where the Autobot drop ships are making their touchdown. The advantage is still the Decepticons', and Shockwave knows it. The cyclops twists around, firing a shot at one of the drop ships. Its engine is blown off, and the entire craft erupts into flames. Autobots spill out of the side, falling the distance to the ground below. Whatever Rodimus has planned, he decides, it cannot possibly be-- "Commander Shockwave! Look!" Shockwave turns, craning his neck to look up at where the Insecticon beside him is pointing. The Orion Pax's underside is opening up. If there was ever a time for surprise to register on Shockwave, this would be it. The Orion Pax, still fending off from *four* Decepticon warships, deploys the greatest weapon the Autobots have. Shockwave stares. "...impossible," he declares. "This... is impossible." A hologram? No, a hologram of that size wouldn't have the atmospheric disturbance of this one. Instinctively he moves to radio for reinforcements off world, but... It all comes crashing down on Shockwave. The blackout in San Francisco. The Absolution arriving alone and making an apparent suicide charge to the planet's surface. It all makes sense now, and Shockwave never even had an inkling. "Shockwave?" The Insecticon presses. "Shockwave, what's the plan here?!" THOOM! Metroplex touches down, and the Seeker shrieks. "Come on, Shockwave, what are your o-" The Insecticon disintegrates as Grapple blows him away. This at least snaps the Decepticon Military Operations Commander out of his shock. He turns, seeing where the blast came from and retaliates with a bright pink bolt of plasma.

Combat: Shockwave strikes Grapple with his Arm Cannon Blast attack! [Pulled -2] Combat: Drained 11 energon.

All around the city the unmistakable stench of war has swept through the streets, squads on both sides of the conflict tearing into each other, or setting the opposing sides on fire with lasers and explosives. Decepticons still had conquest fresh on their minds and were willing to trash anyone that got in the way of their success; Autobots had the epitomes of freedom and justice to drive them forward in their opposition. The damage and death tolls would surely be high on both sides tonight. A maddened cackle reverbs from amongst the buildings and rubble, the echoing made it hard to pinpoint it's orgins amonst the shadow stewn debris...       A scream comes up from the masses, but by the time anyone looks he's already gone, the cries stifled. Another spark snuffed out. Or at least put into unconciousness, too quick to tell who it was or what side it was from. ... Until that dead gumbie's body abruptly comes flying out of nowhere, threatening to bounce off Clutch's hood and smear it's oil bloodied face against his windshield. Followed moments later by the perpetrator as Carnivac drops in like the pouncing horror from some alien monster flick, cackling maniacly around the severed limb of his victim still dangling out of his jaws like a giant morbid cigar.

Starfighter <Cyclonus> appears to be about drop down on Scattershot's head--then he abruptly pulls up away, even though his exposes his broad underside to Scattershot's return fire, which puts multiple holes in his armor. "As much as I'd like to suffer your 'wit,' Scattershot, I have more pressing matters to concern myself with--" And once again he rockets up into space, making a bee line for Sky Lynx. Unfortunately for him, Sky Lynx has quite a lead on him and is quite fast himself, so Cyclonus has quite a task ahead of him. "Damn!" Cyclonus shouts aloud, and tries firing his lasers at the massive Autobot, but at the extreme range from which he's firing direct hits will be quite difficult. <<Decepticons!>> Cyclonus barks. <<Hold the Autobots! Whatever it takes!>>

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> sets his defense level to Aggressive.

With her mind on the fight Scorn has yet to notice anyone training their guns on her. A sad mistake on her part as she takes hits from both Hawkeye and Afterburner. In a screech of pain she quickly lands, one or two Insecticons coming to her side to shield her. "Erg... You'll pay for that, Autobots!" She hisses, face shifting a bit as lower jaw splits to expand her mouth, the mantis giving a feral skree of anger. Antennas twitch again as she draws her pistols, taking to the sky again and aiming and tailing Afterburner as he climbs the building, firing several acidic plasma shots at him. Meanwhile the femme sends out some signals at the same time, two or three dragonfly troops soaring up to spot out Hawkeye. Once found they transform, their tails detatching and splitting sideways into electro-pulse railguns. Like blurrs they flit from one place to the other around the building he's perched on, firing large balls of electricity at him.

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> misses Blue Sportscar <Clutch> with his Scare Tactics attack! [Pulled -2] Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Combat: Scorn misses Rocket Bike <Afterburner> with her Plasma Burst Pistols attack! Combat: Temporarily restricting the BLIND effect from all of your attacks.

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Metroplex's enormous fist glances off of the Triumph's front end, buckling the bow of the Decepticon warship and sending it careening wildly off course, its path switched so drastically that its weapons crews haven't even got time to fire return volleys as the ship struggles not to get pulled into the atmosphere of the planet and sent into a death dive by the merciless gravity below. That same gravity keeps drawing Metroplex down further and further, dropping like a meteor until he sets down in the Capital City. With a deafening *THWOOOM* an earthquake registering easily 6 on the richter scale reverbrates through the city, causing its own share of damage. Collatoral damage is unavoidable of course. As much as Metroplex would love to be able to do his thing and not cause unnecessary carnage, the mere act of walking causes the ground to heave under his footsteps. But Rodimus knew this, and told him it had to be this way. They were counting on the fact that the civilian population was mostly hiding and away from the capital city and other urban centers. The towering Titan turns slowly in place, weapon emplacements on his body opening fire and raining out death in all directions at anything Decepticon-related. An entire skyscraper is holed through as a Decepticon supply shuttle frantically tries to take off, but is lanced by a twin pair of Maser beams that swat it from the sky. An entire wing of seekers strafe over his form, and suddenly scatter as an enormous clenched fist crushes down on two of their number, reducing them to so much tinfoil in the process. If the Kwarchan capital city is to be the field of war...        ...then Metroplex is the War God taken physical form to walk it.

Rocket Bike <Afterburner>'s warning systems are going off like crazy as lasers rip up the bricks under his tires and score molten tracks across his armor, while from another direction acid spit is spat after him in thick globs. Still riding sideways along the storefronts, Afterburner pulls left, which is to say up, and soars into the air, corkscrewing across the road to come down hard but upright on a rooftop across the street. His missile launcher spins around to launch a camera-guided missile up at Sixshot as he streaks towards Scattershot. "Interlocks released! Phase one conversion ready, boss!"

Combat: Rocket Bike <Afterburner> sets his defense level to Guarded. Combat: Rocket Bike <Afterburner> strikes Armored Laser Artillery Vehicle <Sixshot> with his Incendiary Missiles attack!

Blue Sportscar <Clutch> races past Sixshot, plows through a few generic Decepticons who didn't have the sense to take the air again, and is looping around for another pass at the infamous sixchanger when the cackling starts. Then the scream. "Redline! Hold on, I'm coming..." Clutch's trunk flips over, revealing a strange turreted device with what looks like a miniature satellite dish on the end. "Redline! What's your posit--" That's when poor Redline's head bounces off of his windshield. "Redliiiine!" Clutch transforms and throws himself to the side just in time to avoid Carnivac's pounce. "You'll pay for that!" Clutch promises, already raising his ornate, antiquated looking energy sword.

Clutch transforms into robot mode!

"Autobots, down!" A number of 'Bots drop when Sixshot opens fire. They don't move again. Scattershot shields his face with his rifles, the blasts sizzling into his gauntlets. "Ok. We're done playing. Technobots, merge to form...Computron!"

Combat: Clutch misses Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> with his Steampunk Sabre attack!

Rocket Bike <Afterburner> ramps off the rooftop, engine revving, and undergoes a partial transformation in midair, becoming an enormous leg as he sails towards Scattershot. "Phase two! Complete!"

Nate Briar descends towards Kwarch.

Computron strides in while making a series of computations.

Scattershot has left. Nosecone has left. Afterburner has left.

At first, Grapple doesn't even notice Metroplex fall in from the underside of the Pax. For a moment, he's too focused on shooting and not getting hit in return. For a while, he actually succeeds at it! But even the crane's luck runs out, and he ends up getting hit from, of all Decepticons, Shockwave. It actually sends him flying a short distance. And once he's able to think again, he realizes what happened. Shockwave shot him. Really? Shockwave? .. And he's still alive? Oh, and there's Metroplex. Grapple all out stares for a moment. Then, a blast goes over his slightly scorched head, so he turns and goes back to fighting, and.. Moving slowly away from Shockwaves' current position, because that had HURT.

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Shockwave. You have contingency plans for this sort of thing, don't you?..."

<<Hawkeye to Autobots, I've engaged one of the Insecticon officers! I'll keep her busy while our squads move around the warehouse!>> Loading another shell into his 75mm Sniper Rifle, Hawkeye grins feeling the excitement of combat rush through him. It's then that he notices the dragonfly mechs buzzing around the tower. "Ah, sent to do your leader's bidding huh?! I bet those things on your tails could give my armor a nice electro-massage!" Hawkeye's comment only brings about a quicker reply from the flying Insecticons, with their tails lighting up the interior of the tower with a cacophony of electric beams. Although the Autobot manages to avoid a few of the blasts, the Insecticons find their mark eventually, leaving behind a toasted Hawkeye. Grimacing at the smoldering pock marks littering his chest, Hawkeye gets rocked forward from the earthquake Metroplex with his stomp. Parts of the tower collapse around him, but the structure holds...for now. Ripping his rifle back out, Hawkeye quickly returns to his vantage point, locking in on Scorn with a watchful optic. "Payback's a 75mm shell! Let me know how it feels!"

Autobot Flagship <Orion Pax> puts all power to engines now as it continues a running barrage-battle with the other Decepticon ships. Shockwave was right that a four on one, even against the Orion Pax, wouldn't do well for the Autobot vessel. The Absolution alone is in many ways her equal, and even with the Triumph damaged and struggling to avoid crashing into the planet below, there are still 3 ships to the Autobot's one ship. But that's if Rodimus were to give the Decepticons a standup fight. The Pax keeps right on going though, past the other Decepticon ships as it burns its way down into the atmosphere of the planet, soon roaring overhead of the Capital City. Rodimus stands up from his seat, staring at the viewscreen which shows an aerial view of the Captial City below, and the unmistakable form of Metroplex thundering amongst the buildings. "Well Shockwave..." he speaks aloud, hands folded behind his back. "Guess this little operation wasn't going to be as clean and straightforward as you thought, was it? Now what do you do?" A few panels spark out around him, but he ignores them as he gives a quick order. "Keep the Pax moving. Don't sit still and don't let those Decepticon ships concentrate on his anymore. -We- can afford to drag this out now. They can't."

Combat: Hawkeye strikes Scorn with his 75mm Sniper Rifle attack!

Scattershot transforms and rises into the air, as Nosecone, Lightspeed, Afterburner and Groove- I mean, Strafe, lock into place. A huge head rises from Scattershot's shoulders, and giant hands extend, stretch, and clench into fists. "PHASE THREE: SCRAMBLE COMBINATION COMPLETE," declares Computron, slamming back down onto the ground in a crouch and rising to his feet to survey the battlefield from his high vantage.

"PROBLEM: METROPLEX IS AN UNSTOPPABLE SIEGE ENGINE, BUT IMPRECISE. DATUM: DECEPTICONS INCLUDE HIGH SPEED ASSAULT UNITS." He watches, thinking. "COGITATING," he says, ponderously striding forward. "COGITATING," he adds, observing Sixshot cruising the battlefield, on fire. "SOLUTION FOUND," Computron decides, striding forward intent on stomping Sixshot into the pavement with a precisely measured crushing blow.

<Decepticon> Shockwave freely admits, "No, I did not. In the event of an Autobot army we could not defeat, we are to withdraw from the system. That will be... more complicated with the presence of Metroplex, but nevertheless we must hold them off as long as possible. I'm ordering all transports to begin taking our troops off the planet now."

Sky Lynx twists his head around...because that long neck of his lets him do that sort of thing, to note Cyclonus coming up behind him. The stray blasts are indeed at extreme range, but even then one manages to score against his backside, "Do you think you can catch me in time, Cyclonus, before I turn this Sweep into little more than crunched up bits! You're fast, but you're no match for me!" More like evenly matched, really. "If you want to spend -this- much time chasing me, well feel free. WE'll make a bit of sport of it! In the meantime, I'm certain Rodimus will have a most -delightful- time destroying the rest of your forces while you're out here!" That oddly awkward sounding bird-cackle erupts from his vocalizer as he turns and puts more power to his engines. Sloooowly creeping on the Sweep with deadly meaning. Oh yeah, he has a head start and means to use it. And if that wasn't bad enough, Defcon goes flying by at high speed, a scattering of laserfire sent in Cyclonus' direction. It's not very well aimed, but it seems like it's more to make a point. "Go ahead Cyclonus, keep chasing him and make yourself an easy target. Do me the favor. There's a lot of planets that would pay handsomely if I nailed you here and now."

Combat: Computron strikes Armored Laser Artillery Vehicle <Sixshot> with his Problem Solving attack! [Pulled -8] Combat: Removed restrictions on CORRUPT for your attacks.

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As the saber swings out Carnivac leaps out of the way, leaving it to slice through a lamppost and send it crashing to the ground. Flipping with the momentum of his jump the hunter somersaults backwards to land in a three-point crouch in robot mode. Holds out is other hand to catch the severed arm he had been chewing on, then pushes himself up to stand while cackling, eyeing Clutch over for a moment, manic expression not leaving his expression at all.

"Welcome to the nightmare, Autobot..."

And then lunges at the speedster, swinging the severed limb at Clutch's head like a club. "WELCOME TO DIE! NYAHHAHAHA!"

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> strikes Clutch with his Armed and Dangerous (Kick) attack!

Armored Laser Artillery Vehicle <Sixshot> is engulfed in fire as Afterburner's missile strikes him. Armor is melted, electrical circuit are fried. Who knew that this technobot could be so deadly? However there is little time for Sixshot to update his internal database with that information. Computron merged, Metroplex landed... and Computron stomped...burying the sixchanger into the concrete and severely damaging his armor, however, all systems remain functionnal. A classical transforming sound can be heard from that hole in the ground and suddenly, a tech gun flies out of it, positioning himself into Computron's face. Time for decisive actions.

Combat: Armored Laser Artillery Vehicle <Sixshot> sets his defense level to Neutral.

From his previous form, Sixshot transforms into his High Tech Pistol mode.

Combat: High Tech Pistol <Sixshot> strikes Computron with his Hypersonic Cannon attack!

With Metroplex deployed, Shockwave finally comes to a decision as he comes to terms with the unexpected tactics shown by Rodimus. The three smaller Decepticon warships break off from their battle with the Orion Pax, moving now to engage Metroplex himself. It's an odd affair, watching spaceships shoot at a building-tall Transformer. The Triumph, unable to account for the sudden shift in targets, is too close to Metroplex and gets a fist across the bow. The shuttle crumples before corkscrewing down to the ground. Decepticons burst out of its escape hatches, fleeing the doomed ship. Shockwave watches as Grapple sulks away after taking the arm cannon blast head-on. But this is small consolation for him. <<Shockwave, this is Onslaught reporting. City Two is under attack by the Protectobots! Merging to form Bruticus now.>> <<Wreckers inbound at City Three, Shockwave. *BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!* holding them off for as long as we can!>> <<Several Autobot fliers coming in at one twenty-eight mark zero-zero-five. Heavily armed.>> <<An Earth Defence Command squadron? Here?! I *static*>> <<Drop ships are reported in Sector Five. Moving to intercept.>> One after the other, the reports come pouring in across Kwarch of Decepticons coming under fierce attack by allied forces. One of them sticks out louder than the rest, from Cyclonus: Shockwave. You have contingency plans for this sort of thing, don't you?...        Shockwave pauses. Finally, he freely admits: <<No, I did not. In the event of an Autobot army we could not defeat, we are to withdraw from the system. That will be... more complicated with the presence of Metroplex, but nevertheless we must hold them off as long as possible. I'm ordering all transports to begin taking our troops off the planet now.>> To that end, Shockwave remains hovering where he is as the Technobots merge into Computron. Time to lead by example. "Decepticons!" he shouts. "Hold off the Autobots while our transports make their escape. Whatever it takes. Show them no mercy!" The military operations Commander reconfigures into space gun mode, soaring straight towards the (second) biggest enemy here, aiming for the monster's face. KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM!

Shockwave's legs combine as his back unfolds. A wide, silver barrel appears out of subspace and connects to his arms, completing his transformation into ray gun mode.

Combat: Shoxcannon <Shockwave> sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Shoxcannon <Shockwave> strikes Computron with his Full Power Nuclear Shockwave attack! Combat: Drained 41 energon. Combat: Temporarily restricting the CORRUPT effect from all of your attacks.

Starfighter <Cyclonus>, realizing Sky Lynx has a point, growls, "Damn you, Sky Lynx! Curse you..." He's needed too badly on the ground to chase after Sky Lynx, and with Defcon headhunting he has little choice but to break away. "This isn't over! And as for you, Defcon, that's one bounty you'll never claim!" He speeds back to the planet, where already he hears reports that Computron has merged. He has little hope of destroying Metroplex, but Computron is a different story. "Well played, Autobots, well played! But you are not guaranteed to survive this day, not yet!"

He begins to rain incendiary bombs down on the combiner. The things are inaccurate, but surely he won't miss such a massive target?

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Computron with his Incendiary Bombs attack!

Computron staggers back with his hands to his face, his left eye and antenna a smoking ruin. Warning klaxons can be heard blaring from his superstructure as smoke comes out of his joints, fire and lambent microwave-induced lightning raging over his hull thanks to the incredible one-two punch of the Decepticon High Command!

Scorn hisses furiously as Afterburner dodges her pistol shots and banks off a building, transforming to join the others in forming Computron. She silently curses to herself as she witnesses the gestalt rising up, order a Rhinocerous beetle and a pillbug to attack the legs. Both heavily armoured troops barrel down the street to meet Computron, the beetle charging like a raging bull and the large pillbug rolled up into a hefty ball, both crushing random mechs in their path as they close in to smash the gestalt. As this happens Scorn gets lanced with another shot from Hawkeye, blasting through one of her wings as well as her shoulder. "Agh!" She cries in pain, other wing fluttering fruitlessly as she falls back to the ground in a heap, clutching her shoulder. But with the dragonfly mechs signalling Hawkeye's position to her Scorn manages to drag herself slow to her feet, gaze settling directly on the mech and clicking her jaws at him in a screech. With another order comes about Insecticon, this one a massive centipede, ever few segments holding swiveling mounted guns. Scorn quickly climbs atop him, riding her fellow Con as he ascends straight up the building, firing off several laser blasts to provide cover. Once at the top Scorn leaps off, facing down Hawkeye before shifting into her altmode and racing straight for him. "Remember this face! It'll be the last you ever see!"

Scorn crouches before shifting into her scythe-armed mantis mode.

Combat: Space Mantis <Scorn> sets her defense level to Guarded. Combat: Space Mantis <Scorn> strikes Hawkeye with her Plasma Sheathed Blades attack!

Starfighter <Cyclonus> transmits, as Shockwave replies, <<I'm disappointed in you, Shockwave. Normally your plans are flawless, but clearly Rodimus's... *nature* is beyond you to anticipate correctly.>>

<Decepticon> Carnivac says, "Gestalts, cityformers AND a sniper? What a bunch of twinks!"

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<Decepticon> Carnivac seems to think the sniper is the worse offense for some reason

Combat: Clutch quickly patches up some of Computron's minor injuries.

Clutch gets clocked by Carnivac's disgusting attack. Is this what it feels like to go up against Repugnus?? He tries to stumble away from the blow, and get some distance from the savage Carnivag. He's only partially successful, but the motion does bring him into line of sight Computron - or at least, Computron's head and upper torso, as the rest of Clutch's view is blocked by the skyline of the city blocks between them. He sees enough to witness all the Decepticons swarming around him. Transforming again, Clutch races around a corner building, through the wreckage of a crashed drop pod (empty), and finally pulls up in a courtyard at the Technobot combiner's feet. Deploying that satellite-turred attachment once more, he fires a stream of energy that washes over the Combiner's face and optics.

Clutch transforms into sportscar mode!

Metroplex takes several shaking steps through the city streets, several buildings crumbling as he brushes up against them. Explosions erupt over his form as the Deception warships start to engage the colossal Autobot, and even the giant cityformer is driven back a step as some of the Absolution's heavy weaponry comes into play, blasting against the front of his torso in a devastating explosion. But the Pax hasn't abandoned. Flying low over the capital city, the Autobot Flagship had swung back again and rejoined the fray. Of course, the Orion Pax has singled out the Absolution as its own target, and finally the Autobot ship opens fire with its own main batteries, blasting head on at the Deception warship with everything it has. Metroplex himself continues to return fire, MASER cannons and even his massive energy rifle coming up into hand as he divides his attention between the other two Decepticon warships. An incredible and dazzling lightning display of pure and utter firepower lances up and down between ground and sky, with battleships dueling even further above. It's chaos, pure and utter chaos.

Nate Briar says, "Please keep the reporters at bay. This is a matter of life and death, but I deal with things like this every day. Please keep the reporters at bay. You never do what I tell you to. You never do what I say." mutters a human as the EDC drop ship drops him. It just happens to be Colonel Nathan Briar and he is geared up in Glaive. As he begins to commit the Glaive to the cause. "Mechanical Ghost Squadron, let's show the Decepticons that we are not the only ones who bleed. Let's show them that today is the fall of their empire. Let's remind them that the fight is not over." The troops salute the Colonel as they begin to open fire on anything that looks like a threat that they can handle. Combat medics quickly emerge as well as they happen to see who they can patch up; locals, Autobots, and injured EDC troops. As the Glaive begins to power up the weapon systems, Colonel Briar's voice projects over a speaker; "Good evening, Rodimus Prime. Glad to be here tonight. I would not have wanted to miss this for world." The human then switches the AI on and begins to hover and scan for what targets to pick off force. The Glaive then detects Shockwave. The pilot smirks, "Briars have a tendency to show up where they are not supposed to and fight big stupid purple robots. Looks like tonight is my night!"

The ebb and flow of combat could quickly change a tactical advantage into a disadvantage. Thus was the risk for Hawkeye in using a beat-up tower that had certainly seen its better years. Combine that with a spotty foundation and Decepticons trying to blow it up and you had a sharpshooter living on the edge. Making his way from firing port to firing port, Hawkeye tries to establish where Scorn is, but can't locate her.

Could she have been blasted to smitherines by someone else? Did Computron stomp her when he wasn't looking? Or was she making her way up the tower and towards his location?

Hawkeye swings his head towards one of the firing ports, receiving the answer as the massive centipede delivers his opponent. Reeling backwards in the confined space, the Autobot doesn't have much room to work with and it's not become quite evident that his tactical advantage has turned into a disadvantage.

"If that's the last face I'm going to remember, I hope Wheeljack gives me a mind-wipe after I'm off-line!"

Not having many options, Hawkeye raises his forearms up in defense as Scorn surgically assaults his face with her plasma blades. "Aaahh! Take a hike! Or how about a flight?!"

Charging forward towards the tower wall with Scorn affixed to his upper body, Hawkeye crashes through the wall and down towards the ground below. With any luck, she'd break his fall or if nothing else, let go of his face. Combat: Hawkeye sets his defense level to Aggressive. Combat: Hawkeye strikes Space Mantis <Scorn> with his They Both Come Tumbling Down (Smash) attack!

Rodimus nods slowly at the tactical readouts, and the image of the Absolution in front of his own ship at this point. "Keep hitting them, everything we got. If they're going to focus on Metroplex, remind them why it's a bad idea to ignore -us-." He's soon striding across the bridge, briefly having to pause and steady himself as the ship shudders from another torpedo volley. "Sir, reports are coming in that the Decepticons are starting to pull out with their dropships!" Rodimus nods, and quickly keys in the communication console, leaning over an Autobot at the station.

Grapple is still somewhat reeling from that one massive blast to the point that the regular return fire from various Decepticons barely seems to phase him. After a while, pain just sort of.. Blends together. At least he's still standing; not bad for a simple architect, right? ... Right? .. Ah well. Still, with all the moving about, Grapple isn't really paying attention to where he's ending up, only watching for who's shooting what and where. So, he isn't entirely surprised to find himself near Computron. The most he could do at this point is offer cover fire, but at least he could do that much!

Computron catches himself against a skyscraper with one hand, pausing for a moment to restart his gyro-balancers while masonry rains down from the damage caused by his outstretched hand. White smoke pours from his vents, the result of his fire control system going into action to put out the internal fires. When he regains his balance and takes his hand down from his face, one eye is dark and the side of his face blasted away to reveal a pitiless carbonized skull beneath the shattered armor. Blackened teeth clack behind the broken faceplate as he declaims: "DAMAGE CONTROL UNDERWAY. REROUTING POWER. REORGANIZING PRIORITIES. PRIORITY ONE: SELF DEFENSE. PRIORITY TWO: DEFENSE OF AUTOBOT COMBATANTS. PRIORITY THREE: DEFENSE OF ALIEN CIVILIANS. RADAR ONLINE. INFRASONICS ONLINE. NON-VISUAL SPECTRUM SCANNERS ONLINE. BATTLE MODE: FULLY ACTIVE." Computron swings into action with surprising speed, charging blind but not unseeing towards the enemy ranks. Ports open in a dozen places on Computron's body, laser turrets and beam weapons protruding to send anti-personnel fire lashing outwards in every direction. He treads Insecticons underfoot and sweeps seekers away with a wave of his hand as he closes in on Cyclonus, lunging towards him to try to seize him like a dart and, in a single twisting motion, hurl him towards the ground! Shockwave is next, a huge armored hand outstretched to try to seize and crush the enemy. Sixshot is not spared- lashing plasma bolts hiss down from Computron's shoulder-mounted independently-targeting beam phalanxes. The passionless walking computer is a living massacre.

Combat: Computron strikes Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Total War Area attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Computron misses Shoxcannon <Shockwave> with his Total War Area attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Computron (Computron) used "Consensus Opinion": A Level 6 AREA-MELEE attack. Combat: Computron misses High Tech Pistol <Sixshot> with his Total War Area attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Computron misses Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> with his Total War Area attack! [Pulled -3]

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Combat: Metroplex sets his defense level to Fearless.

Hovering in gun mode in front of an angry gestalt isn't a comfortable spot so Sixshot quickly transforms into his starfighter mode and accelerates to get out of reach of Computron. Fortunately for him, the Technobots went for the high command and even though a couple of plasma bolt passed near him, he manages to escape unharmed. The decepticon warrior circles around its target, waiting for an opening. Suddenly he changes his course to head towards the Autobot giant. Barely one second before passing him, he fires two laser torperdos towards the gestalt.

From his previous form, Sixshot transforms into his Starfighter mode.

Combat: Twin-Gunned Starfighter <Sixshot> strikes Computron with his Laser Guided Torpedos (Disruptor) attack!

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Keep Computron occupied. I shall deal with Metroplex."

Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> draws back from the strike and assumes a fencing stance holding out the arm like a sword. "Com'n, give me your best sho--arroo?" Optics blink as Clutch transforms and drives off instead of attacking him again. Followed by a growl as he tosses the arm away, getting a yowl as he bonks some soldier on the head, but not paying it much mind as the Pretender sprints off after the speeding foe.

And right into a trap of sorts, as several Autobots file in as soon as Clutch is past and take up defensive fire on the encroaching Autobots while someone is keeping their engine of destruction running. Lasers and bullets fly through the air, sending Decepticons scattering for cover or blasted to bits. Computron's massive sweeps send entire walls crashing down around them, sending up plumes of dusty smoke and ash, fires burning in the wake of intense energy transmissions. A few bits of rubble clatter down and into the street, followed by a brief erie silence.

Which is pierced by a thunderous, howling laugh. The shadow of a terrible monster shifts across a still standing wall from the fire-cast light. Then Carnivac himself appears, the toothy smile of a morbid stalker plasted across the twisted maw of his horrid Pretender shell. His biomechanical fur is smoldering in a few places as he paces slowly forward, the cackling unending as his back turret swivels one way, then the other, and then sweeps back in a wide arc as it unloads copious blasts of anti-thermal rays across the packs of gumbies and whatever other Autobots may be around the gestalt warrior, unhinged laughter continuing the entire time.

Carnivac is sealed within his Pretender shell, becoming a giant biomechanical wolf.

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Very well." <Decepticon> Sixshot says, "Consider it done."

Unfortunately when push comes to shove Scorn isn't too strong, the femme easily pushed by Hawkeye's momentum through the wall, both of them now falling through open air and descending fast. But she doesn't give up the fight just yet, large, mantis mandibles clicking as they drool acidic spit, angular head striking fast like a viper several times at his face and arms, trying to rip and tear any armor she can grab. But whether she succeeds or not is none of her concern, instead living being top priority. After a few strikes of her jaws and hisses and lets go, pulling her blade arms from him before leaping away, using the blades to dig into the side of the building to help slow her fall in a shower of sparks from metal on metal.

Combat: Space Mantis <Scorn> strikes Hawkeye with her Kiss of Death (Punch) attack! Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> misses Computron with his Open Warfare (Full-Auto) Area attack! Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> strikes Blue Sportscar <Clutch> with his Open Warfare (Full-Auto) Area attack! Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> strikes Grapple with his Open Warfare (Full-Auto) Area attack! Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> strikes Metroplex with his Open Warfare (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Starfighter <Cyclonus> came in too fast in his haste, making it impossible for him to dodge out of the way of Computron's massive hand, and is flung straight into the ground. The combined force of the impact is enough to send him crashing into the sewers beneath the streets, and as Cyclonus transforms, he finds himself sitting in disgusting murky water. "Nnngh... this entire planet should be destroyed!" he growls, rising up.

He considers how well the battle is going. Badly so far, of course. But even the retreat is going badly. Maybe there's a way to change that? And so, Cyclonus hovers back up out of the hole he made in the streets, and, hoping Computron has already walked past him and forgotten him, Cyclonus discretely levitates towards the gestalt's back, producing a silvery disc from a panel in his arm. "You will win, Autobots, but I shall see to it that your victory turns to ash in your mouths... as Scattershot dies!" And he attempts to place the disc right on the back of Computron's head. Will that decapitate the Technobot commander, or will he survive somehow?

Amongst the chaos, there is some measure of order as Shockwave fires off orders as quickly as he fires off cannon blasts. The cyclops is ordering Decepticon transports to take off, taking with them as many soldiers and stolen goods as they can. There are pockets of well formed resistance in the Decepticon lines, but for the most part Metroplex's arrival has thrown them into disarray, scattering them with his powerful maser blasts. The remaining warships are careful not to get in the way of the fists, but Metroplex's guns hurt almost as much so the advantage is minimal. Shockwave, meanwhile, carefully evades the hand that comes swooping in his direction, jerking himself backwards just in time. Sixshot is similarly lucky, and so the two are free to continue their assault on the Technobot Supreme. But Shockwave has other things in mind. Metroplex is tearing through the Decepticon lines... even being careful not to squish the native Kwarchans, he's making mincemeat of Shockwave's forces. The space cannon breaks away from the fight against Computron, soaring over towards Metroplex. "Autobot!" he calls out. "You may find you have other concerns than the Decepticon army..." He demonstrates what he means with a powerful blast, streaking towards... and past Metroplex. The bright purple burst slams into a huge Kwarchan skyscraper near the mid-section. The bronze coloured metal rends, and the skyscraper teeters. There's an excruciatingly loud SCREECH as the material tears, and the building threatens to fall entirely. How many natives are there?

The space fighter's nosecone snaps back as its body flips upright. Arms and legs unfold from the wings and fuselage respectively, and a dour face emerges from the body, forming the robot mode of Cyclonus!

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Shoxcannon <Shockwave> has 'skipped' his action for this round.

Combat: Cyclonus has created a bomb: "Computron Go Boom"!

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Combat: Cyclonus strikes Computron with Computron Go Boom's Huge Explosion #7965 attack! Combat: Cyclonus's Computron Go Boom is destroyed!

Blue Sportscar <Clutch> transforms back into robot mode, hefting a huge rectangular missile launcher with 4 seperate tubes. He begins scanning the skies, trying to track the various Decepticon heavy hitters and line them up for anti-air missiles...only to be blasted off of his feet by Carnivac's anti-thermal rays. As he struggles to his feet, Clutch tilts his head to the side. Entire squads of Autobot gumby's are shouting for medics and repairs over the Autobot tactical frequencies. And not just from CarnivaC's most recent attack...this battle has been intense and it has been vicious. "Frak!" he shouts, knowing the Protectobots are in a different city. Transforming into his sportscar mode once again, he tears off to a different part of the city to provide some medical aid to a squad of beleaguered gumby bots trying to regroup there.

There's not a real strategy to diving out of a tower. It's pretty simple: Jump. Hurdle to the ground. Hit the ground. However, Scorn had managed to throw a wrench into Hawkeye's plan by freeing herself for an escape. With the ground quickly approaching, the sharpshooter engages his transformation sequence at the last possible second, going from robot to flying attack helicopter with a whirl of parts Approaching the tower in what might look to some like a scene out of an old King Kong movie, the chopper lets loose with a stream of machine-gun fire at the mech attached to the side of it. Although a few of Hawkeye's key tactical systems have been damaged, the Autobot tries to compensate by peppering his target's area with a wave of bullets. For all the G.I. Joe fans, it goes a little like this: *RaaaTTTaaaAAAATTTrrrAAATTAAATT*

Hawkeye leaps into the air, transforming into an AH-64 Apache Helicopter.

Combat: AH-64 Apache Helicopter <Hawkeye> sets his defense level to Neutral. Combat: AH-64 Apache Helicopter <Hawkeye> misses Space Mantis <Scorn> with his M230 Chain Gun attack! [Pulled -1]

"Alpha Team, get the building supported. Whiplash Team, evacuate it now!" orders Briar as he watches what Shockwave is up to. "What a fragging bastich he is. I hope someone has a bullet with his name on it." The Colonel's Glaive begins to hover higher in the air as he tries to provide air support for the ground troopers at work. Red Cross teams struggle to provide whatever emergency efforts they can. Nate watches as the Autobots get onslaught after onslaught with volleys from the Decepticons and dish it back. The Glaive hums with anticipation as the pilot's trigger fingers look for where his sniper's scope needs to be aimed next. "Raven Team, let's own the sky tonight and not let the Cons leave so easily. Let's let them bring back scrap metal to Charr!"

Thanks to Computron shifting to non-visual sensor modes, he's aware of what's behind him as well as what's in front, and he snatches the bomb off the back of his already-damaged head. It goes off with a muffled BOOM and blasts his left hand apart, heavy shrapnel pattering to the ground. Computron feels no pain, and he still has his right hand. He turns to face Cyclonus with it outstretched for vengeance. "CYCLONUS," Computron declares, his one eye gleaming with cold intellect as he advances, "COGITATE ON THIS: YOUR CONTINUED AGGRESSION IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE IMMINENCE OF THE TERMINATION OF YOUR VITAL FUNCTIONS."

Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar> descends towards Kwarch.

Nate Briar drops Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar>.

Combat: Computron sets his defense level to Fearless.

Nate Briar has left. Nate Briar enters the Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar>.

Grapple never even saw Carnivac's attack coming. In fact, when he's actually hit, he just goes down; he doesn't even know what happened for a moment. Still, staggering for a brief moment actually manages to help him avoid a few shots that just fly over where his head would have been. Then, he's looking around, shooting in the general direction he THINKS the attack came from, but isn't entirely sure.

Combat: Computron takes extra time to aim his next attack. Combat: Grapple strikes Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> with his Shooting Randomly! (Laser) attack!

Metroplex turns slowly in place, artillery cannons firing steadily as he puts up a withering barrage at one of the warships trying to get clear of his firing arc. Explosions dot along the hull of the ship as it finally breaks line of sight, using a series of pockmarked skyscrapers as makeshift cover by flying -really- low. And then the huge blast from Shockwave tears into the skyscraper, and starts to send it toppling over like a tree in a forest falling to the lumberjack's axe. How many natives -are- there indeed? The intelligence reports had said the locals had more or less taken cover, or fled the cities entirely as the Decepticons pillaged. But can he take that chance? Living on a sheer scale as he does, where even taking a step can cause untold damage, Metroplex is often forced to adhere to the policy that the 'needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few'. But he's an Autobot, pure and simple. Turning in place, the enormous right hand had already reached out and braced onto the side of the toppling building, holding fast and stopping its breakneck descent towards the ground. The other hand carefully guides it down, cautiously finding an open plaza that he can set the wreckage carefully down so any survivors within can hopefully get clear. Just the -act- of catching the skyscraper may have caused damage to anyone within...but it's the best he can do. And though he hasn't said a single word, Metroplex's expression starts to darken, his mouth curling downwards as he b egins to slooowly turn back to the city at large. The two warships that were dueling with him have gotten a respite, but now the goliath is turning his attention on the city itself, smoke curling up from several crater blast-marks on his shoulders and upper torso. Uh oh...

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<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "...how close are we to full evacuation?..." <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "I calculate the majority of our forces will be off Kwarch within six hundred and seventy two astroseconds."

Autobot Flagship <Orion Pax> continues soaring in aerial passes with the Absolution, exchanging broadsides, then breaking off again to gain some distance before circling back for another pass. The two interstellar battleships could be at this for an hour if they were allowed to...        Rodimus hangs onto his seat as another explosion rocks the Pax, but nods slowly. "Get some distance. If they haven't gotten the message yet, we'll come around again till they -do- realize it."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus hisses sharply, "We might not have that much time, *Shockwave.*" <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "You might be right. If all our forces do not escape in time, it may be an acceptable loss." <Decepticon> Scorn says, "Insecticon forces have suffered heavy damages. Permission to issue a retreat?" <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Granted." <Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Acceptable? We've been routed like a pitiful band of humans!" <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Humbling, but irrelevant. Holding this planet has meant less and less each day we held it." <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "It all comes down to the numbers."

Twin-Gunned Starfighter <Sixshot> keeps circling around the gestalt. Apparently, the autobot giant is impervious to damage. Destroying him would required too much time and time is a currency running low for the Decepticons at the moment. Fortunately, the sixchanger is full of ressources. Changing his course once again, he flies towards Computron as fast as his star engines allows him. At he last second, the starfighter reconfigures into a giant cyberwolf and heavy crash onto the gestalt's back in an attempt to knock him down. From his previous form, Sixshot transforms into his Cyber Wolf mode.

Combat: Armored Cyber Wolf <Sixshot> sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Armored Cyber Wolf <Sixshot> strikes Computron with his Savage Wolf attack!

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "War is about more than that. Often, winning is a matter of being perceived as the winner, numbers be damned." <Decepticon> Carnivac says, "Well, we -did- loot and blunder the place dry before hand, and leave it in a nearly uninhabitable mess. Sir." Space Mantis <Scorn> clings to the side of the crumbling building like a fly on a wall, venting heavily as energon leaks freely from her wounds, hugging the building even closer when Hawkeye peppers the side, thankfully missing her. But by now the towe is on its way to collapse, Scorn quickly summoning the centipede mech back down to pick her up and fire a volley off at the chopper while making their retreat. And with her falling back, all the other Insecticons start to follow suit, leaving the fallen behind in order to save themselves. <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "It is only the numbers that matter, Cyclonus, and in that we have succeeded."

Excellent, Shockwave decides. Metroplex has been waylaid holding up the skyscraper. The Autobot could no doubt turn around and swat him from the sky, but not without letting go. Now, just have to be mindful of those masers. Shockwave calculates there's a 72% chance that Metroplex won't be able to retaliate until the battle ends. Those aren't great odds, but at this point in time risks have to be taken. The Decepticon shifts back into robot mode, still hovering up high to get a good look at the city. Computron is rampaging through the Decepticons, the Orion Pax is battling the Absolution, Grapple is tangling with Carnivac, Briar is watching (but thankfully not engaging) the battle, and Scorn is dealing with some Autobot sniper. At least Clutch has been forced to pull back. Desperate to buy the Decepticon retreat as much time as possible, Shockwave returns to battling Computron. With his comrades buzzing around him like gnats, Shockwave takes aim and fires off a full powered arm cannon blast, aiming for the connector point between Nose and Scattershot. Combiners are often weak there, and so maybe it'll slow the behemoth down some.

Shockwave's handle separates into legs as his barrel does into arms. Straightening out, he completes his transformation into robot mode. Combat: Shockwave misses Computron with his Arm Cannon Blast attack! Combat: Drained 17 energon.

Cyclonus hovers in front of Computron, teeth clenched furiously. "You think I fear you, Computron? Any single one of you Technobots is no match for me! And you think you are a match for me that you've joined together?" Reaching behind his back, he grasps the hilt of his sword, pulls it free, and points it at Computron. "No! In fact, you are *less* of a foe, Computron, for where you are slow and clumsy I am quick and nimble! Have at you!!!" He darts forward, slashing at the Combiner's chest with his blade. It's not clear if he really expects to damage the combiner or if he just wants to make a point! Combat: Cyclonus strikes Computron with his Diamond-Boron Carbide Sword attack!

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Hmmm, sound reasoning from an unsound mind, Carnivac. Very well, Shockwave. Perhaps you've done enough to avoid Galvatron's wrath. But do not expect *my* report to him to be overly flattering." <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "The results speak for themselves, Cyclonus. Let Rodimus Prime have his victory. Let him think it has meaning--it does not."

Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> laughs with glee as Autobots scatter or go down under his barrage. To him it's irrelevant what the actual outcome of the battle is, as long as enemies are diving for cover in terror. Eventually the repeat fire dies down, steam hissing from the barrel of his cannon and the vents in its power pack to cool down. In the few moments of silence in the eye of the raging storm around him, something catchs his attention. Like a laser sheering across his shoulders, burning scorchs in his armor and fur alike. Head turns in the direction it came, but the sight of the shooter sprawling on the ground firing in defensive terror instead of a headstrong warrior only makes his snarling grin widen. "Well well, what do we have here?" Even as gunfire and screams resume in the chaos he starts stalking towards Grapple's semi-prone form, eyes glimering with malice. "Aaaw, did one of the wee widdle medics get lost? Aren't you out of place.. out of your element..." Red flashes in those malenevolent eyes as the hulking Pretender beast looms over. "... AND OUT OF TIME!" In a single decisive motion Carnivac strikes forward, bringing massive fanged jaws tearing down on the poor seemingly helpless Grapple like the insane monster Carnivac is. Surely -some- Autobot out there is brave enough to come to the architect's aid in an hour of need...

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> sets his defense level to Fearless.

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Sixshot's torpedos crack Computron's flank, and his gnashing teeth tear one of his point-defense guns off and hurl it to the ground, but his vast strength is not deterred as he builds up speed, charging heedlessly like a slowly accelerating freight train after Cyclonus. "IT IS TOO LATE FOR PRUDENT WITHDRAWAL, CYCLONUS. THE AUTOBOTS HAVE COMMITTED OUR FULL FORCE TO THIS BATTLE. YOUR OPTIONS HAVE NARROWED TO TWO. ONE: ROUT. TWO: DESTRUCTION." He meets Cyclonus' blade with his fist, panels opening on his forearm and wrist from which rocket exhaust blasts, bringing the hammer hand sweeping down with titanic force at the head of a plume of smoke like a meteor descending- the sudden booster-assisted lunge takes him out of line of Shockwave's searing blast as the force of the swing actually carries Computron bodily forwards several meters.

Combat: Computron strikes Cyclonus with his Living Massacre attack! Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> strikes Grapple with his Cheerfully Vicious attack!

Metroplex lumbers over several more street lengths, taking advantage any 'targets of opportunity' that present themselves. Three Decepticons holding out in a barricaded position vanish as twin MASER beams annihilate their position, reducing them and the barricade to a smouldering crater. A dropship lifts off, under fire, before a huge hand descends in a chopping motion, shearing it in half and sending the wreckage crashing into the streets below in a huge fireball. A particularly large and armored Decepticon tank is outright stepped on and crushed flat, so caught up in his firefight that he never saw the giant approaching from behind. Grapple can no doubt see Carnivac stalking towards him, can feel the attack as Carnivac takes a bite out of him before some distance is gained again. And Grapple can see the two enormous hands rising to grip at the buildings behind Carnivac, as Metroplex's face rises up like the sun behind him, glaring down into the open plaza where the Pretender is trying to finish off the architect. The deep scowl stays in place, the entire form ramrod still for a split second, then right arm starts to move. And a gargantuan shadow casts over Carnivac's form, growing larger and larger...as a huge black and open hand simply descends towards him.

Combat: Metroplex strikes Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> with his Squashed like a bug. attack!

With Scorn taking flight away from the battle with her mechanized minions, Hawkeye lands and transforms back into his robot form. <<Hawkeye to Autobots! Looks like the Insecticons are tucking their afts and running! I'll move to assist with some supporting fire!>> Wiping a stream of energon from his slashed face, Hawkeye hopes his tactical visor can still function enough to serve a purpose. That being said, even a partially blind Autobot could see Computron and Metroplex. How could you NOT notice the behemoths batting away Decepticons by the dozen? Looking to lend one of his largest teammates a hand, the sharpshooter swings his rifle up. "You guys might be used to hitting a guy when his back is turned, but I'm not!" Placing his targeting reticle on Sixshot's face, Hawkeye pulls the trigger.

With a flurry of sounds, the AH-64 Apache Helicopter transforms into Hawkeye, Autobot Sharpshooter!

Combat: Hawkeye sets his defense level to Aggressive.

From Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar>, Nate Briar begins to use his sniper scope to target the injured and fallen Decepticons try to make for an escape. The intergalactic Red Cross teams try to help with the natives. "Rodimus, where would you like me to aim these guns?" The Glaive's sniping equipment is fully charged. "I can get more relief here as well. We should be able to take Shockwave home. Or at least what is left of him!"

Combat: Hawkeye strikes Armored Cyber Wolf <Sixshot> with his Right Between The Optics attack! [Pulled -1]

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "The last transport is lifting off now. All remaining Decepticons in Capital City must get on it or be left behind."

Grapple does, in fact, see Metroplex's shadow loom above him. Granted, it's a little difficult to really take in the sight with Carnivac trying to eat him alive -- and all the flailing and shooting in the world doesn't seem to help one bit --, but then.. Metroplex is there. And that hand comes down. ..And Grapple is pretty sure he's going to die. At least, his optics widen at the fact that METROPLEX's entire HAND is about to possibly squish him, too. So, the architect sort of curls up and tries very hard to not get squished along with the Decepticon trying to eat him.


 * THWOOM* When the hand comes down, Grapple is just PERFECTLY positioned in the gap between two of Metroplex's spread fingers.

<Decepticon> Sixshot says, "I'm directly going back to the Absolution." <Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Acceptable."

Autobot Flagship <Orion Pax> finally starts to take up a holding position in the skies over the capital city, coming slowly to a hover. Tendrils of smoke rise from various points about the Autobot Flagship's hull, where there are several breaches. Fire crews are already at work putting out any flames as quickly as they can and getting them under control. The bridge is a bit of a mess of activity...and some wrecked panels where some explosions had blown them clear. There's even a bit of a cloud of smoke hanging there, but thankfully that doesn't mean anything to Cybertronians. Rodimus stands just in front of the viewscreen now, watching as the Decepticons rise up from the planet en masse...or are abandoned and left behind, prompting him to nod slowly, "That's right. Take whatever spoils you can snatch and get out of here. This world is free again."

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Armored Cyber Wolf <Sixshot> is struck right in the face. The shot penetrated his armor and damages his optic's internal circuits, leaving him blind from his right optic. The wolf snarls and turns his attention on Hawkeye...however the Decepticons are retreating so the Autobot sharpshooter will live...for now. Sixshot leaps into the air, transforming into his starfighter mode once again but this times, he takes off towards space to meet the Absolution even though all his instinct command him to stay and fight.

From his previous form, Sixshot transforms into his Starfighter mode.

Combat: Twin-Gunned Starfighter <Sixshot> begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Cyclonus expected to be able to avoid that, but instead the fist comes down on his head faster than he expected and Cyclonus briefly blacks out from the impact. The impact through the street--again--is not much better, and he finds himself laying on his chest in the middle of the sewers' foul contents. "PFfftgahh," Cyclonus spits out. "Disgusting! Nfft..." But he realizes now is the time to run. Aiming upwards, he fires a laser through the streets to make a new hole, and widens it further by flinging himself bodily through it.

Once he's out, Cyclonus transforms into fighter mode and briefly parks himself next to Shockwave. "Get in, Shockwave! I'm not pleased with your results but you're too valuable to leave behind. I'll get you back to the Absolution, and then what's left of us will leave this damn planet forever!"

Cyclonus flips forward ninety degrees, limbs folding up and a nosecone snaps down across his head. Wings emerge from his sides and Cyclonus is now in his powerful space fighter mode!

Starfighter <Cyclonus>'s cockpit helpfully pops open, of course.

The last Decepticon transport lifts off from the Capital City spaceport, narrowly evading a maser blast from Metroplex. Across the globe, the Decepticons flee from the Autobot and Earth Defence Command attack. The remaining warships break off, and Shockwave follows suit. Cyclonus shifts into starfighter mode and blasts towards him. Shockwave takes one last look at Kwarch. Ah, poor Kwarch. We took everything you had before the Autobots freed you. Good riddance. "The results are in the numbers," he repeats to Cyclonus as he hops inside the starfighter. The Decepticon forces are in full retreat, escaping as best they can even as Kwarchan resistance units join in with the fight, blasting away at them even as they make good on their escape. Even Shockwave, knowing how the numbers are going to shake out in terms of resources gained and lost, is still a bit off balance by the gambit Rodimus Prime and the Autobots just pulled off against him.

And with that, Cyclonus's engines flare up and he's soaring off back into space.

Carnivac has every intent of finishing the job. It wouldn't be the first time he's tore a hapless Autobot apart in cold-blood for no reason other than his own malicious amusement. Unfortunately for him, Metroplex has something to say on the matter, and like most big strong silent types, prefers to do that speaking with actions instead of words. *KAAAKRUNCH* Followed by a faint *sploosh* of something hitting what's probably more slime and trash than water in the sewers below. When Metroplex finally lifts his hand back up, it leaves a massive hole in its wake, straight down into said sewers, arcidic fumes waifing into the air in the wake of his movement. Slowly, a large paw grabs onto the edge of the hand-shaped hole. Then another. And then Carnivac sloooowly hauls himself back to the pavement, dripping in sludge as much as he is completely mangled. Armor bent, or snapped entirely, showing off bits of artifical bio-flesh and mechanical inwards of a Pretender shell beneath. Though that the manic wolf has -survived- that attack says something about Thunderwing's mad science, as crazed as he of been. Teetering a bit due to his legs not being entirely straight anymore, the cybertronic lupine manages a pained cackle as he takes off at a wobbling gallop after the other retreating forces. Even someone as insane as Carnivac knows he's licked when you've got the aggro of an walking fortress on your tail.

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Decepticon Starship <Absolution>, Space Mantis <Scorn>, Blue Sportscar <Clutch>, Twin-Gunned Starfighter <Sixshot>, Starfighter <Cyclonus>, Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar>, Shockwave, and Autobot Flagship <Orion Pax> Combat: Space Mantis <Scorn> begins retreating, leaving herself vulnerable to parting shots from Decepticon Starship <Absolution>, Blue Sportscar <Clutch>, Twin-Gunned Starfighter <Sixshot>, Starfighter <Cyclonus>, Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar>, and Autobot Flagship <Orion Pax> Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Computron watches the Decepticons as they retreat. "Datum. Decepticons retreating. Datum. Fellow Autobots need help. Course of action: ASSISTANCE." The big Combiner goes to where Grapple is. "Status--Functional?"

Metroplex turns in place as Carnivac blasts off, his other hand closing with a heavy *BOOM* a few seconds behind him as the pretender takes to the air. There's meaning in the gesture, even if it didn't succeed. While a hero, in the sense, in the role he must fill and what he represents to the Autobots, Metroplex is undoubtably one of the 'good guys'. But when it comes to Decepticons, he is utterly merciless. He would have finished off Carnivac without a second thought...or any other Decepticon unlucky enough to get caught in his considerable area of reach. As the Decepticons blast off from the planet en masse, the titanic warrior is left standing amongst the ruins of the battlefield, his gaze looking skyward for a few moments in time. Finally though, his head tilts to one side, listening to a radio transmission, before he starts to transform in short order. THe task is laborious, and measured, taking almost a full minute before he has shifted into his mobile battlestation mode, but when it's all said and done, the Autobot titan begins to lift off in a roar of anti-gravity thrusters, gaining height with each passing moment as he starts to rise into orbit under his own power. There's still lots of post-battle work to be done, but Metroplex's job is over. With the ruse long since over, and the Decepticons exiting the jamming field soon, it's time he made his way back to Earth to resume his seemingly eternal vigil.

Sixshot has left. Sixshot boards Decepticon Starship <Absolution>.

Grapple lies curled up for a good few seconds more. It takes that long to realize that, no, he isn't dead yet. So, slowly, he looks up again and takes a quick look around. ..Those do appear to be giant fingers at either side, but they quickly vanish as Metroplex gets up and moves. And, oh, hey, Computron is asking how he is. "Uh.." He has to think how to answer that. "..Yes?" He WAS pretty banged up, though.

Autobot Flagship <Orion Pax> now floats over the capital city like an ever present guardian. Smoke rises here and there amidst the buildings. Bit by little bit, the Kwarchans are starting to crawl out from hiding as the shooting stops, the last of any Decepticons left behind being either captured or eliminated entirely.

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===================== Reports =================================== Message: 9/27                     Posted        Author Autobots Liberate Kwarch! Mon Mar 12   Shockwave --

*** Major news galaxy-wide ***

Across the Milky Way, the Autobots are being hailed as saviors for their successful liberation of the planet Kwarch, occupied one week ago by the Decepticon Empire. Led by their Commander Rodimus Prime and supported by their Flagship Orion Pax, Cityformer Metroplex, and Super Warrior Computron, they launched the largest landing operation seen in the past decade. Two other task forces struck at separate Decepticon held cities on the planet, fighting them head on.

*** There's videos of Sixshot, Shockwave and Cyclonus battling with the Technobot Combiner, with the three Decepticon powerhouses throwing all of their firepower against Computron ***

Across the planet, the Decepticon forces were routed, evacuating to their transports once the tide turned against them. In low orbit, the Autobot flagship battled against four times its number, successfully defending itself against all of them.

*** There's videos of the Orion Pax and Metroplex fighting against the Absolution, Triumph, Conquest II, and Despoiler. The orange sky is filled with lasers, missiles, and explosions ***

As well as the Autobots, members of Earth Defence Command and the Kwarchan Resistance Movement participated in the battle as allies. The Resistance appeared coordinated with the Autobot attack, suggesting earlier collaboration.

*** There's videos of Nate Briar's Glaive II watching the battle while Scorn and Hawkeye fight, Carnivac torments Grapple, and Clutch-as-sportscar blasts Sixshot-as-tank ***

The devastation left behind by the Decepticons is immense, and the returning Kwarchan government says it may be decades until they are able to rebuild their cities. The Kwarchan President made an announcement in front of his shattered Palace, saying that, "We owe a great deal to the Autobots and their allies for all they've done for our people. We would still be under the Decepticon tyranny were it not for their bravery and self-sacrifice. They are, without a doubt, heroes."

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===================== Reports =================================== Message: 9/28                     Posted        Author Surge of texting... Mon Mar 12   Rodimus Prime -- OMG MTRPLX IS MVING!!!1 ORLY??! YARLY!!! PIX OR DIDNT HAPEN! **Similarly, a flood of Text messages and blogs lit up upon Metroplex's return a few hours later.** "Did you see Metro after he came back? Looks like he was in a warzone!" "Tink it was dat aleen planet dat da conz was holdin." "Are you literate or is your keyboard broken?" Either way, the blogosphere and other electronic communications will be buzzing for a few days!
 * When the jamming field of San Francisco was lifted, servers were flooded with a tidal wave of text messages, tweetsand bloggers reporting from San Francisco, trying to get the word out on what they had witnessed.*

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