Turning Everything On

Catacomb Room

Unlike the other chambers in this area, this one is entirely plated in metal, smooth-walled and laid out in a precise octagonal shape. Dark monitors are set in each wall, curved screens like sightless eyes peering into the room. Banks of tiny switches and colored lights arrayed beneath the screens are equally dark, although in apparently perfect repair. In the center of the room stands a raised platform, circular in shape, with enough room for three good-sized Transformers to stand upon it. A slender pedestal reaches upwards from the middle of the platform, a narrow slot in the top. At the far end of the room, a single fixed stool is set before a data station.

Hidden deep within the Catacombs of Cybertron is perhaps the single most important room on the entire planet. For this is, in fact, the control center for Cybertron's engines. Here, someone with the right equipment can activate the planetary engines of this world, and send it hurtling through space to whatever destination is programmed into its navigational systems. That is precisely why the Decepticons are here, in fact.

"Decepticons," Galvatron says as he enters the room, followed by an entourage of followers. Carried in his left hand is a case which has been handcuffed to his wrist. "It is time to finally realize our destiny and strike the deathblow to the Autobots and their human allies FOREVER!" Opening the case, Galvatron produces two objects, one extroardinary, and the other decidedly mundane, but both being unspeakably valuable--the Cybertronian Seal and a Data Card, both of which are needed to steer Cybertron. "Let us not waste any time. I want one of you to place the data card in the data station, and someone else to put the seal in that platform up there." He nods his head towards the Raised Platform.

Among the entourage is one of the loyal cassettes. Slugfest toddles after Galvatron. "Oh oh me do one me do one!" he says, raising up on his hind legs.

Galvatron makes a face as he tries to decide how best to tell Slugfest, in the most courteous way he possibly can, that he's probably not suited for this job. "You're small and clumsy, Slugfest. I fear that you would not be ideal for this job." Yeah, that was pretty courteous, right?

Runamuck gracefully glides into the room on his wheeled feet, the blocky Decepticon saying, "Yeah, I can take the data card." He'll take the lower value target, thanks.

Catechism is filling out the background of the scene, as is proper for a Decepticon jet. She serves to make the whole Decepticon forces look much more important and menacing than they actually are. However, she cannot resist breaking away from the background role to go grab the Seal and put it where Galvatron wants it. That Seal belonged to Straxus, and she's a bit of a fan of the long-dead Decepticon leader.

Hidden deep within the Catacombs of Cybertron is perhaps the single most important room on the entire planet. For this is, in fact, the control center for Cybertron's engines. Here, someone with the right equipment can activate the planetary engines of this world, and send it hurtling through space to whatever destination is programmed into its navigational systems. That is precisely why the Decepticons are here, in fact.

"Decepticons," Galvatron says as he enters the room, followed by an entourage of followers. Carried in his left hand is a case which has been handcuffed to his wrist. "It is time to finally realize our destiny and strike the deathblow to the Autobots and their human allies FOREVER!" Opening the case, Galvatron produces two objects, one extroardinary, and the other decidedly mundane, but both being unspeakably valuable--the Cybertronian Seal and a Data Card, both of which are needed to steer Cybertron. "Let us not waste any time. I want one of you to place the data card in the data station, and someone else to put the seal in that platform up there." He nods his head towards the Raised Platform.'

Carjack has been in the background the entire time. Likely because he's been one of the technicians who have spent more time down here than sanely recommending working on repairing the other systems. Explains why there hasn't been much seen of him lately, doesn't it now?!.. but that was then, this is now. So like a good flunky he's still crowd filler at the moment, unless his technical skills are needed more. "Rest assured Lord Galvatron, the wait for this day shall not be in vain!" He has a name and gets an actual line, that's how you know he's not just some random gumbie for the episode.

The little Stegosaur is only a little bit disappointed that he doesn't get to place one of the objects, after all he has no opposable thumbs and he would have trouble reaching to put it in the right spot. "What happen when those go in?" he asks.

Rodimus Prime creeps along one of the tunnels leading to the engine control room. He's not exactly the sneakiest of Autobots, but then, that's why he's got Mirage up ahead to radio back information. The others that he's brought with him aren't known for their sneakiness, either - Scattershot, and that new medic, Loadout. Rodimus pauses, still out of sight of the engine room proper, and turns on his radio.

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "Mirage, status report. Anything interesting up there?"

Can a hulking, ponderous aircraft like a Battlecruiser really fly through the catacombs and caverns and tunnels under Cybertron's surface? Well he can if he's an old hand at underground operations. He can if he long ago (allegedly) transformed into some sort of heavy tanklike ground vehicle and was used to traversing such terrain. He can if he's never been bothered by minor damage to himself and not-so-minor damage to the surroundings as he gets to where he wants to be. In short, yes he can if he is Scattershot.

The Technobot leader keeps pace with the groundbound Rodimus, using liberal doses of retro-jets, maneuvering thrusters and vectored thrust to inch his way through the guts of Cybertron at much slower speed than he normall travels. "Underground combat, huh? It's been a while -- guess I was due for a refresher."

Who would've thought that underneath Cybertron there'd be such elaborate catacombs? Certainly not Mirage, that is until he had saw the decrypted data that Jetfire and co was able to reveal a few days ago. Now the Autobot counter-intelligence specialist finds himself at the forefront of the team of Autobots hastily assembled to stop Galvatron EVIL plans. It's hard for Mirage to keep track just how long they've been wandering around the vast decrepit catacombs, it almost feels like they've been wandering around in circles, the stubborn doors that refuses to open along the way had made things more difficult than necessary.

For a moment there, one could've suspected that Mirage had led everyone lost! Thankfully they eventually come by a catacomb with a plague containing a red Decepticon symbol in the black background. From there on, barely audible sounds of chatter in the distance. Now Mirage finds himself ahead of the group once more, having trekked forward ahead, his bravado tempered by his ability to remain hidden from plain sight. He enters the octagonal shaped catacomb room, his optics narrows as he finally sees something familiar. Galvatron and his Decepticon subordinates. The invisible Autobot ducks behind a pillar, placing his back against it as he kneels down and taps the right side of his head and speaks into his commlink as silently as possible.

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "Bingo, Rodimus. I haven't gotten a clear look at everyone in here yet, but we definitely found Galvatron.  I recommend making a cautious entry, there's a broken down pillar to the immediate right of the room when you enter.  Might want to use it if the rest of you are coming in."

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "Oh, we'll /have/ to enter. Those files on Earth's moon don't sound good in light of their studies of these engines."

Loadout would possibly take offense to being referred to as non-sneaky, if it weren't true. In fact the only thing worse than his sneakiness abilities may in fact me his marksmanship, the likes of which he tested out not so long ago at the targeting range the effects were, to put it lightly, embarassing. Luckily, no one else was present at the time, so they didn't see him nearly shooting his own damn fool head off.

Following the Autobot leader, he moves with his back to the wall, cautiously peering over his shoulder now and then towards Scattershot while he does his best to blend in like a good little imitation soldier. Still, he can't help but make a face after stepping in some puddle of some mechanical fluid long since lost from its original purpose. "Ugh..."

Galvatron rears back his head and laughs when the Decepticons openly wonder what will happen once the assorted doodads are in their proper places. "HAHAHAHA, I can't tell you that! It's a--oh, fine, I guess I can tell you. It's too late for the Autobots to stop us anyway. This is the control center for Cybertron's planetary engines. Once those objects are in place, I can take our world wherever I please. And once I can do THAT, hmhahaha, the Earth is DOOMED!" He raises his fists into the air. "HMHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BEGIN THE NEW CHAPTER, DECEPTICONS! The chapter that shall see the beginning of our infinite reign over the ENTIRE UNIVERSE!"

Runamuck grabs the data card, and rolls in the direction of the data station. "You got it, boss man. C'mon, Sluggy." He rolls over to the data station, and fiddles with the datacard, trying to find the bottom.

"Ooooh where us go?" Slugfest asks, "Someplace with lots energy?" The little stego-tape looks really excited. He starts revving his chainsaw blades. "And go hack Autobots to spare parts!"

< Autobot > Jetfire says, "Let's... just say -none- of the simulations I've run based on those calculations and the bits of data about the engines themselves have turned out pleasant, impress how important it is that they do not succeed in causing any of said scenerios, and leave it at that so you can focus on doing so."

Catechism takes the solemn steps up to the platform and marches to the slender pedestal, settling the Seal into the slot. She murmurs, "Moving Cybertron, huh?" Like they've never done that before. And what is with this fetish for dooming Earth, anyway? Couldn't they doom Nebulos instead, for variety?

Hidden deep within the Catacombs of Cybertron is perhaps the single most important room on the entire planet. For this is, in fact, the control center for Cybertron's engines. Here, someone with the right equipment can activate the planetary engines of this world, and send it hurtling through space to whatever destination is programmed into its navigational systems. That is precisely why the Decepticons are here, in fact.

"Decepticons," Galvatron says as he enters the room, followed by an entourage of followers. Carried in his left hand is a case which has been handcuffed to his wrist. "It is time to finally realize our destiny and strike the deathblow to the Autobots and their human allies FOREVER!" Opening the case, Galvatron produces two objects, one extroardinary, and the other decidedly mundane, but both being unspeakably valuable--the Cybertronian Seal and a Data Card, both of which are needed to steer Cybertron. "Let us not waste any time. I want one of you to place the data card in the data station, and someone else to put the seal in that platform up there." He nods his head towards the Raised Platform.'

"Ancient gears grinding, forgotten thrusters burn; conquest of all worlds our master does yurn." Carjack sniggers a little to himself after his impromtu rhyme, then flicks some sweating lubricant from his brow. "Makes me feel much better about slaving away at fixing stuff down here for the last week and so!"

< Autobot > Jetfire says, "That there is possibly a lense involved only compounds the manner."

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "Right. Got it. Mirage, prepare yourself: we're going in."

Catechism looks over at Carjack, a funny expression on her face, and asks, "Have you been doing fire rocks?"

< Autobot > Jetfire sighs softly. "Regardless, I'll have the Protectobots and Operations standing by in pre-disaster preperations... just in case."

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "Oh boy, just the distraction that I've always been wishing for. Try to make your shot count, alright guys?  Just because I'm invisible doesn't mean I'm immune to stray friendly fires."

"All right, guys, we've let them alone for... too long, really. You heard Mirage's report. Head for the column if you need cover. Autobots, attack!" With those words, Rodimus sprints around the corner and charges straight for the engine control room. He fires a shot at the first Decepticon he sees, then leaps and rolls for a broken column next to the door. "After all the trouble we went through to put Cybertron here, you want to move it so soon? I thought we were just getting comfy!" he says cheerfully to Galvatron.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Slugfest with his Photon Eliminator Low Setting attack! [Pulled -9]

Battlecruiser < Scattershot > 's main engines heat up as he prepares to pour on the power. Weapons come online, turrets unlock and swing back and forth, and a faint light begins to shine through his nose module as he powers up the pulse cannon inside. Emerging soon after Rodimus, he unleashes a stream of electrons pulses so long it looks more like lightning.

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > strikes Catechism with his Megavolt Pulse Cannon attack! [Pulled -2]

Loadout gulps audibly, watching as the others are all getting ready to go charging on in. He's still behind Rodimus Prime, still up against the wall...until the Autobot leader goes charging on in, weapons blazing!

Optic visor pulsing rapidly, Loadout turns and dashes full tilt after the flaming paintjob, refraining from opening fire as well because...well he's not all that confident he would hit something he intended to hit at the moment. But of course, following Rodimus Prime might not be the wisest choice, because he has a habit of getting RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE of things!

Trying his best to tuck and roll in following, he comes right up behind the same cover, and crashes right into Rodimus' back with a metallic *CLANK* of metal on metal. "Unfh!"

Yes, two Autobots taking cover behind -one- column. -That-'s going to work well, isn't it? "Uh, well..." he starts, trying to think of something to say, but no witty comments come to mind. Some people have this gift for the 'mouth during combat thing', not him. So why bother? "Oh the heck with it!" And with that, he leaps up and -over- Rodimus' head, coming down as he transforms and starts to form up and restructure himself around the Autobot Leader's right-arm and forearm, swallowing them up inside his reinforced mounting area. Galvatron has a cannon on his arm. At the moment? Rodimus has an arm that -is- a cannon.

Combat: Loadout sets his defense level to Aggressive.

< Autobot > Scattershot laughs. "'Friendly' fire? I like it."

Loadout's arms lift above his head, parts lock together and his torso spins about as he transforms into an imposing looking heavy cannon.

Combat: Loadout takes extra time to assist Rodimus Prime's next attack.

While the other Autobots had leapt out and begun firing, Mirage himself is still sneaking ahead, for all intent and purposes unseen. Surprisingly enough, the room isn't filled with stray weapons fire yet and the Autobot counter-intelligence specialist takes advantage of this fact by jogging over to the center of the octagonal room to get a better situational awareness of the current situation.

He narrows his optics, trying to see just exactly where the artifacts that Galvatron was talking so loudly about earlier is, where they are now, and if it's still being carried by any Decepticons so far.

Galvatron explains, since the tape doesn't seem to follow what he's getting at, "We are going to Earth, Slugfest, and not necessarily for energy. In fact, the trip there shall consume all the energon Cybertron has built up over the course of the OLYMPICS." Dun dun dun! "Yes, THAT is why I was so insistent on maintaining the truce with the Autobots during the Olympics. I needed time for that energon to build up, and now that we have it, we shall make use of it." The tyrant smiles evilly. "I can't wait to see the looks on the Autobots' faces in the AFTERMATH of what I'm going to do to Earth--and then, the looks on their faces when I KILL THEM!"

But then the Autobots charge in, guns blazing! "Autobots!? How did you know we'd be here!? WHO BETRAYED ME!?" Galvatron screams. "No matter--I'll find out later. Well, don't worry, Rodimus Prime, I'll put Cybertron back--AFTER I'M DONE USING IT AS A WEAPON BY WHICH I SHALL DESTROY YOU!" Raising a fist into the air, Galvatron cries, "Decepticons, do not falter! Our moment is finally at hand! Fail, and the Autobots will continue to survive like retroroaches! Fail, and you SHALL EARN MY WRATH! AAAAATTTTAAAACK!"

His speech is somewhat spoiled at the end when Loadout transforms into a nifty new attachment for Rodimus. Galvatron just *stares.* "What."

Catechism is a big, obvious target standing up on a raised platform, next to a pedestal. Lightning dances over her frames as megavolts fry her primary circuitry, forcing her to rely on secondary and tertiary systems. She exclaims, stating the obvious, "Lord Galvatron, the Autobots have ambushed us! And I know I'm the only one with wings here, but I'm not the traitor! Really!" She starts to draw her electric whip to give Scattershot a taste of his own medicine and then... Rodimus Prime discovers Mini-Cons? What? Catechism stares.

"Oh yes!" Slugfest cheers. But his cheering is cut short as he's hit by a blast from Rodimus Prime. He tips over! "Nonono!" he yells, trying to right himself. He charges up his solar cannons, while attempting to at least get pointed in the right direction.

Suddenly, Rodimus attacks. "Oh, frack!" He slides the data card into place as Sluggy is clipped by Rodimus himself. He turns around to offer Slugfest some cover fire. "Get down, Sluggy!" he calls out over the hum of energy fire.

Combat: Slugfest misses Rodimus Prime with his Solar-Powered Vibro-Cannon attack!

Slugfest says, "Me down already!"

Combat: Runamuck misses Rodimus Prime with his Friction Rifle attack!

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "Well. Want the good news first or the bad news?"

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "Just spill it."

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "The artifacts that Galvatron was gah ha haing over with earlier have both been inserted into their respective slot."

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "Then get them out!"

Carjack is about to make some sort of snappy comeback to Catechism about the remark on fire rocks ... but it's cut off by the sound of autobot gunfire. On fine tuned field medic reflexes... Carjack dives for cover as photons and electricity fly overhead. Not because he's a coward, but rather because he knows he's going to become a very interesting target once someone realizes he's a technician.

At least Galvatron's screaming and threats are a good motivator to not hide. Instead he ducks down a bit, takes a moment to check his internal tanks, and fire off a few generic shots.

.. And then stops to kinda stare himself at Loadout turning Rodimus' arm into a cannon. "Ah slag, Rodimus has become a Targetmaster! Look out for firebolts!"

Combat: Carjack deploys his reserve energon tank.

< Autobot > Patchwork says, "That can't be a good thing..."

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "Yeah... I was getting to that. Aye, sir."

Combat: Carjack misses Rodimus Prime with his Shooting and gawking at weird transformations (Disruptor) attack!

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Catechism has 'skipped' his action for this round.

Carjack's last pose: Carjack is about to make some sort of snappy comeback to Catechism about the remark on fire rocks ... but it's cut off by the sound of autobot gunfire. On fine tuned field medic reflexes... Carjack dives for cover as photons and electricity fly overhead. Not because he's a coward, but rather because he knows he's going to become a very interesting target once someone realizes he's a technician.

At least Galvatron's screaming and threats are a good motivator to not hide. Instead he ducks down a bit, takes a moment to check his internal tanks, and fire off a few generic shots.

.. And then stops to kinda stare himself at Loadout turning Rodimus' arm into a cannon. "Ah slag, Rodimus has become a Targetmaster! Look out for firebolts!"

Slugfest's last pose: Slugfest says, "Me down already!"

Rodimus Prime looks as startled as everyone else when Loadout turns his arm into a cannon. "... Wha-huh?" Then he shakes his head and focuses on battle, muttering, "I gotta admit, I sometimes wondered what this felt like." He straightens up. "Galvatron, I'm giving you one warning. Step out of the way of the engines so we can shut it do- you know what? To hell with warnings, you never listen to them anyway." And he fires at the Decepticon leader with his brand new cannon arm!

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > 's Ionic Blast attack!

Combat: You took 18 damage.

< Decepticon > Carjack says, "Who the hell let Rodimus Prime become a Targetmaster?! Someone on the other side needs to be painfully murdered for that... and possibly the tech taken for ourselves too... Can't be any worse than the -exsisting- targetmasters..."

< Decepticon > Geo says, "... Wait, he's a Targetmaster?"

< Decepticon > Catechism says, "I dunno, have you seen Misfire? What if we all end up like that?"

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Grnnngh. Well, take it from me, I greatly prefer being able to fire MYSELF."

< Decepticon > Geo says, "Alright, who wants to get refitted to be a FUSION CANNON ATTACHMENT FOR LORD GALVATRON?!"

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "...eh?"

< Decepticon > Runamuck says, "What Galvatron needs is wheels on his feet. It's so leisurely to move around."

< Decepticon > Catechism says, "You want to... put a cannon on his cannon?"

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "*Two* fusion cannons? Hmm..."

< Decepticon > Geo says, "Or an anti-matter booster that draws power from a neutron star..."

< Decepticon > Geo devolves into technobabble of the highest order before being forcibly desynced.

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Bright, that one. But I think she had too many fuel additives."

So. Two choices. A flimsy looking data card, or a fancy looking symbol? Mirage looks back and forth between the two slots with the artifacts inserted in them, both in opposite directions and only enough time to pull one out before everyone becomes the wiser as to what's going on. The Autobot counter-intelligence specialist quickly analyzes the pros and cons of his actions before making a run for the direction of the data card! Once Mirage's within reach, he pulls the data card clear out of the slot again... just in time for his invisibility field to wear off, "...well blast." The blue Autobot wisely dives out of the pedastal that he was on before making a run for the slot where the Symbol is inserted. During the meantime while he's running Mirage also lifts up his left hand, a laser dot emits from the tip of his index finger, painting Galvatron before he calls out, "Brace yourself for targetting data, Scattershot!"

Combat: Suddenly, Mirage appears out of thin air!

Combat: Mirage takes extra time to assist Battlecruiser < Scattershot > 's next attack.

Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > kicks back a bit as he unleashes a heavy blast from his barrel, but Rodimus is no doubt easily strong enough to take the recoil. A brief white flash of light followed by a thick beam of energy streaks out towards the Decepticon leader. At the same time, he's doing more than his fair share of fretting at all the firepower currently dancing around them as the other Decepticons also open up on Rodimus Prime. Oh yeah, talk about picking -the- most popular target on the field. Must be that flaming paintjob.

Steam hisses out as his cooling vents deploy to regulate his temperature. "Gnnhgh." He finds himself being able to recover a bit better, getting used to the heavy power drain now as his energon readout on the display panel on his side flashes from green and just ticks over to the yellow range. Still quite acceptable.

"I can see you're quite the popular fellow, Rodimus." Loadout quips, his targeting sensors lighting up Galvatron again, superimposing a holographic reticle in front of Rodimus' vision showing things like range, and a small red dot with Galvatron's predicted position whenever he moves.

Combat: Loadout takes extra time to assist Rodimus Prime's next attack.

Battlecruiser < Scattershot > loops around the raised platform and then opens fire, swinging around so that his main cannon folows Mirage's targetting laser towards Galvatron. "But...but there's SO many Decepticons to shoot at. And all stuck in robot mode for once! C'mon...aw slaggit, I'll just shoot 'em all!" Multiple weapons begin spewing out streams of gunfire in every which direction. Well, sometimes his turrets swivel quickly to point in another direction before unloading another barrage, but hey it's not cheating! His aircraft mode can't swing around fast enough to target everyone he wants to otherwise. A few shells are sent his own team's way as he shifts aim and bearing, but he figures he can always apologize later.

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > strikes Galvatron with his TF Armada-Style Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: You took 4 damage.

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > strikes Catechism with his TF Armada-Style Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > strikes Carjack with his TF Armada-Style Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > strikes Slugfest with his TF Armada-Style Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > misses Rodimus Prime with his TF Armada-Style Area attack! [Pulled -3]

< Decepticon > Runamuck says, "Damn, he got the card!"

< Decepticon > Carjack says, "So get it back -- wah, more incoming!"

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "What?! Who has it? Kill him and get it back no matter the cost!"

< Decepticon > Runamuck says, "It's that rat fink Mirage!"

< Decepticon > Runamuck says, "The bastard was invisible!"

Runamuck as he suddenly sees Mirage appear mid steal. "Hey, you! Stop!" He swings around and aims the rifle mounted on his left arm at Mirage, trying to catch him in the legs to slow him down. "Gimme that card!"

Slugfest starts flailing wildy after Scattershot's blast hits him. He's trying to get himself right side up, and also trying to attack. He almost starts to look like he's in a Tasmanian Devil style whirlwind. The stubby tail lashes and his chainsaw blades whirr!

Galvatron is nearly blasted off his feet by Rodimus Prime's new... cannon? "AAAAGGHHH!" Galvatron cries as he stumbles back into a console, cracking an ancient screen. Little does he know, however, that he accidentally sat on a power button! "So, Rodimus Prime, I see what you did--you were ENVIOUS of my powerful cannon, and you wanted one of your own! A pity that yours STILL COMES UP SHORT!" And he attempts this demonstrate his point by firing a massive fusion blast back at the Autobot leader.

As Galvatron receives some bad news about Mirage, the tyrant looks about for him, and yells, "What!? Well, what are you waiting for, fools? Destroy Mirage and get the data card back!"

Across the room, computers begin performing Power-On Self Tests, complete with streaming data, which is incomprehensible to most of the combatants in here, and a few charming "beeps." However, eventually each and every monitor displays the message, "PLEASE INSERT DATACARD" in an ancient Cybertronian dialect.

Combat: Runamuck strikes Mirage with his Friction Rifle attack!

Combat: Slugfest strikes Battlecruiser < Scattershot > with his Festival of Slugging Area attack!

Combat: Slugfest misses Rodimus Prime with his Festival of Slugging Area attack!

Combat: Slugfest misses Mirage with his Festival of Slugging Area attack!

Combat: Removed restrictions on SHATTER for your attacks.

Carjack maybe should of stared less and shot more, and he wouldn't of missed. And then Scattershot living up to his name plants several shots at his feet, knocking the creepy medic over as he's pelted with debris. "Okay you big jerk, you asked for it!" Getting up and kicking in his anti-gravs Carjack makes a somewhat of a boosted jump towards the Technobot to try and grab on with one hand.

And then stab him with his chemical injector gun with the other hand. Hope ol' Scattershot isn't afraid of needles... he'd better be afraid of what might be inside of that vial instead!

Combat: Galvatron sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Galvatron misses Rodimus Prime with his Fusion Cannon attack! [Pulled -5]

Combat: Carjack sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Carjack misses Battlecruiser < Scattershot > with his Syringe Gun attack!

Galvatron has his aim disrupted by Scattershot's blast, sadly. :(

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "Gah, guys I've got the data card on me, now someone get it OUT OF MY HANDS so I don't get plastered? Hmm?   *** Tsk tsk, Mirage, always thinking only about your own well being ***"


 * tnk* Carjack draws back as the needle is just -bent- by hitting battlecruiser armor. "... Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.."

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "I seem to be down a hand right now. Try getting it to Scattershot. Worse comes to worse, he can fly it out."

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "You hear that, Scattershot! You're going to be the next Mr. Popular!  Come on and get it!"

< Autobot > Loadout says, "At least your hand is clean..."

< Decepticon > Carjack, musing, "Note to self, need to forge more durable syringes."

< Decepticon > Runamuck says, "Got 'im!"

Catechism is attacked by Scattershot's own weapon from another continuity while she gawks at Rodimus's arm bling. This is confusing! Oh right, she was getting her whip out, right? Right. Catechism finishes that and casts the line out at Scattershot, glaring.

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage speaks while the sound of chainsaws can be heard in the background, "Oh ow! That was cutting it a bit close."

Combat: Catechism strikes Battlecruiser < Scattershot > with her Whiplash Whirlwind attack! [Pulled -2]

Rodimus Prime leaps over Slugfest's chainsaw, and then as soon as his feet touch ground, he's twisting out of the way of Galvatron's blast. "With you it always comes down to a game of whose is bigger, doesn't it, Galvatron? Don't you know it's not the size but what you do with it?" He continues to close the distance, blasting once more, but says, more quietly, to Loadout, "Hey, Loadout, it's been fun, but I've always been a hands on kind of guy, if you know what I mean... if I want to keep Galvatron's attention /away/ from the other Autobots, I'll need to get down and dirty, and we all know how much you hate that sort of thing."

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > 's Ionic Blast attack! [Pulled -4]

Combat: You took 9 damage.

So one has to wonder why Mirage doesn't just up and vanish away? Through the almighty power of the PLOT DEVICE something is jamming Mirage's invisibility field so he doesn't just waltz around trivializing things by stealing the artifacts without anyone being the wiser! Unfortunately for the sneaky blue bastard Autobot, Runamuck's effort in him down succeeds as Mirage is clipped in the lower left leg and he is sent reeling into the ground, teeth clenched and hands balled up tightly, in pain. "Ugh. Fantastic. This data card isn't doing my health any good."

Slowly Mirage pulls himself up onto his feet before snapping his upper torso towards the direction of Runamuck, the electro-disruptor mounted on his right shoulder swirvels to bear down on the Battlecharger before funky waves is fired at the Decepticon from the turreted weapon.

Combat: Sneak Attack!!

Combat: Mirage misses Runamuck with his Electro-Disruptor attack! [Pulled -3]

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "Hey, this wouldn't be the 'wrong' datacard that was mention in the report, would it?"

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "Beats me, I was out in the field when that report got submited. You guys dragged me in here just as I got back!  Ugh, what did Runamuck shoot me with?"

< Autobot > Jetfire says, ".. Runamuck, or Runabout?.. Those two are difficult to tell apart."

Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > recoils with another lesser blast at Rodimus' behest, another thick blast of ionic power and more steam issuing out as he cools down, and listens to the Autobot leader instructing him. "Nngnh, as loathe as I am to get in such proximety, I wouldn't abandon you based on that, Rodimus. However given your intentions, it seems you may need both hands free shortly. So on that note.."

Just as Rodimus is about to meet Galvatron head-on, Loadout transforms, detaching from Rodimus' forearm with a heavy *CH-CLAK-CLAK-CLAK* as he's propelled up and -over- Galvatron's head, to land behind the Decepticon leader, dropping into a semi tripod crouch on one hand as he emits a thick jet of steam from his shoulder joints.

"...Nngh, I may be getting better at this..." he mutters to himself, struggling to recover some of the power he's already used.

< Autobot > Sit-Com says, "Boggis, and Bunce, and Bean. One fat, one short, one lean.  Those horrible crooks, so different in looks, were nonetheless equally mean."

The cannon splits at the muzzle and the stock, spinning in the center and unfolding into the Autobot Loadout.

Combat: Loadout takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Battlecruiser < Scattershot > takes hits from robotic dino-chainsaws and a nasty energy whip, armor burning off his form. "What?!" he barks out loud. "You gotta be kidding me!" Grumbling and cursing, he drops down to almost ground level, then feeds power to his main engines, quickly eating up the distance towards Mirage. "This'd better be worth it, Shifty! These 'Cons are lined up like turbo-geese in a barrel right now!" He slows to a stop directly above the Autobot's top spy, opening a small bay door on his underside. "Now give it here!"

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Galvatron sneers as Rodimus blasts him again, putting another hole in his armor. And as Loadout seperates from Rodimus, Galvatron says, "Oh, I agree, Rodimus! Let me show you what I can do with YOUR weapon!" He reaches for Loadout's leg as he touches down, then swings him at Rodimus Prime, then around again to toss him straight at Scattershot! "And anyway, if you SO ENJOY MERGING WITH YOUR COMRADES then let GALVATRON help you in that endeavor--YOUR FINAL ENDEAVOR!!!" He also snarks, "SORRY, Scattershot, but I have a DIFFERENT package in mind!"

Combat: Removed restrictions on BLIND for your attacks.

Combat: Temporarily restricting the BLIND effect from all of your attacks.

Combat: Galvatron strikes Loadout with his Not The Weapon Loadout Normally Is Area attack!

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with his Not The Weapon Loadout Normally Is Area attack!

Combat: Galvatron strikes Battlecruiser < Scattershot > with his Not The Weapon Loadout Normally Is Area attack!

Once he's done spinning and flailing, Slugfest somehow manages to land right-side-up. He looks around to find a target, and runs towards Rodimus Prime. His chainsaw blades rev ominously. It almost sounds like ~Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrun, roddyroddyroddyroddy, rrrrrrrrrrrrrun, roddyroddyroddyroddy~

Combat: Slugfest misses Rodimus Prime with his Chainsaw Plates attack!

Carjack shrugs, tosses the bent needle, and debates just gutting the Technobot... but he's distracted by spotting who the Technobot is moving towards Ooooh. A thought comes to mind, and it's enough to make him giggle in a rather creepy, mad scientist sort of fashion as he clunks back to the ground as he passes by Mirage.

"Hey, spy-bot!" Machinery clanks and clicks into place to lock his hydrolic cutter-weapon onto his arm. "Let's do something about those pretty looks of yours... Like -ruin- them!" Pressure hisses and the cutting claw snaps ominously as he thrusts it at Mirage's body.

It's hard to tell if he's trying to stop Mirage from passing off the card... or just rip a piece out of him for his own amusement. It's anyone's guess.

Combat: Carjack misses Mirage with his Deconstructive Surgery attack! [Pulled -1]

Runamuck growls as he sees Scattershot hover over Mirage, to apparently hand the card off. "Not if I can help it!" Within half a second, he's in his white Pontiac form, tires squealing and smoking as he jets at Mirage, attempting to crash into him.

Runamuck folds together, becoming a car.

Combat: White Pontiac < Runamuck > 's Reckless Driving attack aimed for Mirage backfires!

Combat: White Pontiac < Runamuck > strikes himself with his Reckless Driving attack!

Catechism watches as Scattershot moves off to try to help Mirage instead. She backs up against the pedestal, deciding to try to stay put and guard the Seal instead of taking more aggressive actions.

Loadout barely has time to recover some more of his energy before he feels a hand seizing around his leg. "Wha..." he starts, then is abruptly whipped about and careens off of Rodimus' torso in short order! "Waaaaaaugh!" A moment later he's sent hurtling through the air towards Scattershot as well, crashing into the Battlecruiser and falling limp over the back of his hull surface after the impact. "...ooorgh..." He finally exclaims, raising a hand to his head and trying to force the cobwebs out of his mind.

It takes him a few seconds to realize where he is, looking down at the Technobot leader, then back towards the rest of the fighting. Well, best to make do with what he's got, yes?

And again Loadout transforms, shifting and reconfiguring downwards as he starts to lock into place on Scattershot's hull, just over that cannon port on the front of his frame. As if he didn't have -enough- guns already. But then again, this one can transform with him, no matter what mode he's in. And it uses its own energon supply!

Loadout's arms lift above his head, parts lock together and his torso spins about as he transforms into an imposing looking heavy cannon.

Combat: Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Rodimus Prime is slammed into by Loadout before the other Autobot is sent flying towards Scattershot. He stumbles back, then turns the stumble into an awkward backwards jump in time to avoid Slugfest, landing behind the smaller Decepticon. "You know, Galvs, you aren't the only one who can toss around the little guys," he remarks as he swings his leg back, then forward, attempting to kick Slugfest /into/ Galvatron like a football!

Combat: Rodimus Prime sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron with his GOAL! Area attack! [Pulled -4]

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Slugfest with his GOAL! Area attack! [Pulled -4]

Salvation in the form of the Technobot leader rocketing towards Mirage to initiate the pick up looms within sight! In response to that, Mirage extends out his right hand in anticipation of the pending hand off, but that opportunity is quickly dashed by Galvatron who slugs Scattershot a good one and ruins things. The sneaky blue Autobot's expression contorts to one of irritation and frustration, looks like he's got to hold onto this dangerous package for a bit longer while running for the next the pedestal containing the Seal, possibly compounding the risk he'll be subjected to in the process!

Of course, ONE defiant figure stands between the wily Mirage and the Seal! Catechism! Mirage locks his optics at Catechism, knowing the threat ahead but the situation forces his hand and the Autobot counter-intelligence specialist drops down into his race car form and accelerates towards the seeker, "Oh just get out of the way! So what if this plan fails, it's not like there won't be another hundred more hairwired plans by Galvatron to make Cybertron move!"

Mirage transforms into his Blue Ligier JS-11 < Mirage > mode.

Combat: Blue Ligier JS-11 < Mirage > sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Blue Ligier JS-11 < Mirage > strikes Catechism with his Ram attack!

Battlecruiser < Scattershot > gets slammed to the ground Loudout. Courtesy of Galvatron. Only that was no courtesy. "Nnnh!" he grunts, "The newbot hits hard." And now he's grafted onto his nose module. "But I guess you Decepticons haven't gotten the hang of this whole 'shooting' thing like we do" Scattershot drawls. He transforms into robot mode, hefts the new cannon on his arm to get adjusted to the weight, and then looks around for a target. With tapecons flying around, Battlechargers nearly slamming themselves into a wall, and Galvatron and Rodimus engaged in their duel, Scattershot decides to stick to the little guys. His gaze (and aim) focuses on Carjack. "Bingo."

Battlecruiser < Scattershot > transforms into his Scattershot mode.

Combat: Scattershot sets his defense level to Neutral.

Combat: Scattershot strikes Carjack with Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > 's Ionic Blast attack! [Pulled -4]

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Catechism, get that card back. I'll keep Rodimus off of you!"

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "He probably wants to save they day HIMSELF..."

Catechism is slammed into by Mirage! She still has her whip out from flailing it at Scattershot earlier, and she thinks about using it to beat up Mirage, but then... there are orders from Galvatron. Well. Okay. She snaps the whip out at the datacard, trying to filch it back from Scattershot.

Combat: Catechism misses Scattershot with her Whip Trick attack!

Slugfest gets PUNTED! He spins through the air like a chunky spiky chakram. Fortunately he doesn't slam into Galvatron on the way down. He does land on his side again, though, and this presents the usual difficulties. "NO KICK ME! SLUGFEST NO IS FOOTBALL!" he shouts, as he tries to blast at Rodimus with a low-powered laser.

Combat: Slugfest misses Rodimus Prime with his Laser attack!


 * FWOOM* Scattershot gives a prime example of his new aquisition of DAKKA, the ion blast slamming into his chest and sending him skidding across the floor. By the time he stops he's smoking as much from scraping on his back as he is from the hit to the chest. Takes a few moments to get his bearings back (and possibly realize he's not dead).

"Fine, then. It's time to fight firepower with fire!" Wait, that doesn't make any sense! Or does it, as Carjack transforms instead of getting up, as if to mock the insinuation earlier that no Decepticons could transform here. Then the top of the truck opens up to lock a turret into place. "Taste the tangy burning wrath of our FURY! This chamber shall be a smoking effigy to your idiotic insistance on interfering with Lord Galvatron's insidious intentions!"

Unfortunately, he's paying more attention to his zealous ranting than he is where he's actually pointing his weapon, so those blasting plumes of flame are only vagely in Scattershot's direction. "FOR THE GLORY OF THE EMPIRE, BURRRRN!"

Carjack hits the ground and folds into a rescue truck.

Combat: Crash Response Truck < Carjack > misses Scattershot with his Friendly Fire attack!

Galvatron ducks under Slugfest, letting the dino-tape fly over his head. "It seems that exploiting the WEAK is something *I'm* better at, Rodimus Prime!" Galvatron sneers. He turns to pluck Slugfest out of whatever he fell on/into and holds him up like... well, it's like a toy company decided to make a toy chainsaw, but then they made it so the chainsaw was a DINOSAUR, and then kids all over the world get their hands cut off because they think saws are cool and... DINOSAURS! Uh, anyway. "And I'll think we'll find out who is better at using his OWN troops as weapons!" He charges at Rodimus with the dino-saw buzzing away for his nemesis's face!

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with Slugfest's Chainsaw Plates attack!

< Decepticon > Carjack has gone into crazy flame spewing mode by the way he's cackling. Now if he was only hitting anything!

Runamuck crashes into the platform as Mirage climbs up, and spins his wheels. "Ugh, dammit!" He transforms in another half second, before firing his friction rifle at Scattershot. "Die die die!"

Runamuck unfolds, becoming a robot!

Combat: Runamuck misses Scattershot with his Friction Rifle attack!

Rodimus Prime ducks Slugfest's shot, but then is struck in the chest by the tape chainsaw, leaving a small gap into his armor just large enough that his empty Matrix can be glimpsed through it. "You know, I can't say I'm bothered by the idea of you being better at exploiting people but... come on, /now/ who's jealouse of the other's weapon?" he smirks, withdrawing his right hand to replace it with his buzzsaw. "And here! Let me show you how it's done /properly/!"

Combat: Rodimus Prime sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his Buzzsaw attack!

Combat: You took 14 damage.

Combat: Rodimus Prime's attack damages your armor.

Scattershot jerks back his free hand as the fingers are singed by Catechism's whip. Boy, if he'd been holding say a /datacard/ in that hand, it might have gotten snatched right away. But instead, all that happens is that his fingertips get burned. "Oh well, long as the trigger finger still works," he shrugs. Carjack is kind enough to announce his intentions, so the Technobot leaps up above the sheets of flame and then transforms into his flight mode to stay above, venting huge amounts of thrust straight down through ports and panels opened along his underside to remain airborne. He chuckles as Loadout's weapon mode stays with him. A near miss from Runamuck's friction rifle turns the chuckling into an evil sound. "Oh you want some too, huh? Fine by us!!" Then he adds a bit of spin, so that he can sweep his (er, Loadout's) fire across both Decepticons.

Scattershot transforms into his Battlecruiser < Scattershot > mode.

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > strikes Crash Response Truck < Carjack > with Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > 's Ion Rapidfire Area attack!

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > misses Runamuck with Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > 's Ion Rapidfire Area attack!

< Autobot > Scattershot says, "Hahaha! Hey Newbot. Lemme know if YOU wanna shoot something, we can switch places!"

< Autobot > Scattershot says, "Sorta."

"Incoming! Look out! More incoming!" Loadout shouts, and calls out, and frets. Why is it that even after he SWITCHED HOSTS, he's still on a very popular target! Luckily for him, he's also picked a host that seems to be on the ball for dodginess at the moment as they manage to come out unscathed from the latest bouts of firepower hurled in their direction. As Scattershot transforms again, Loadout's form also shifts and half transforms until he's one again mounted over the cannon nose of the Technobot leader. The tip of his barrel begins to spin rapidly then as it's warmed up, and hurls forward a storm of energy bolts flashing out at Runamuck and Carjack. A moment later his panel readout starts to show the yellow zone trickling down closer to the red for his energon levels, and Loadout immediately switches over to his secondary generator, a dull *THRUMMM* filling the air as he puts more power into recovering energy.

Combat: Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

< Autobot > Loadout says, "Ahh, I appreciate the offer... *BzRT* ...but I fear I am not entirely skilled in a sense with my marksmanship as to make it worthwhile."

Who'd thought Decepticon seekers would make for such great ramps? The blue Ligier race car is launched into the air towards the pedestal behind Catechism and promptly bursts back into robotic form once he's reached the apex of his climb before dropping onto the flight of stairs below, "I can see why Jazz likes to do fancy acrobatics all the time, whew." Mirage looks up ahead where the Symbol lays and begins running up the final sets of stairs before reaching the top. The Autobot counter-intelligence specialist wastes no time to pull the Symbol out of its slot. Mirage just might've dramatically lowered his life expectancy wow with an artifact in each hands! He looks around, his normally frigid expression now contorted with signs of nervousness, "Hey. Did we ever plan about WHAT we're going to do AFTER we got our hands on the artifacts? Cause I'd sure love to destroy them before the Decepticons destroy me, if it's all the same to you all."

< Autobot > Loadout may or may not be admitting he has trouble hitting the broad side of a barn.

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "Hey. Did we ever plan about WHAT we're going to do AFTER we got our hands on the artifacts? Cause I'd sure love to destroy them before the Decepticons destroy me, if it's all the same to you all."

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "As nice as a chance to study it would be, better that than letting the 'Cons have it. Just avoid destroying any more lenses. I'm still suspicious about that star after the last one..."

Combat: Blue Ligier JS-11 < Mirage > takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Blue Ligier JS-11 < Mirage > transforms into his Robot mode.

< Decepticon > Carjack hisses.... "Ow... time for desperate measures!"

Galvatron guffaws over the chainsaw's roar as he carves into Rodimus, "Hahaha, this is FUN! I should use you more often, Slugfest!" But of course, Rodimus ruins it like he always does, jamming his own saw into Galvatron's chest and tearing a chunk out of his armor. "GAAHHH!" he screams, dropping the tape and backing away from Prime. He looks back to see how Catechism is doing--er, she whipped the wrong guy! "No, blast it, MIRAGE still has the data card!" Galvatron barks. "Must I do everything in this faction!?" Galvatron then backflips into the air, and transforms into his dreaded cannon mode! While still in mid-air, he fires an intense blast at the Autobot, but not quite at Starscream-incinerating levels--that might destroy the artifacts, too! Of course, transforming into this mode leaves him somewhat vulnerable...

Galvatron falls forward, collapsing into himself as he converts into his dreaded artillery mode! S**t just got real!

Combat: Galvcannon < Galvatron > misses Mirage with his Galvcannon attack! [Pulled -6]

Catechism gets confused as to who has what. She pauses a moment to consider if Galvatron should do everything. Well, he might end up doing a better job of it... whoops, no. Since Mirage did such a good job of ramping off her earlier, she transforms and attempts to mow him down.

Catechism transforms to her jet mode, which is quite astoundingly simple for the coneheaded model that she is.

Combat: F-35B "Lightning II" < Catechism > sets her defense level to Fearless.

Combat: F-35B "Lightning II" < Catechism > strikes Mirage with her Ram attack!

Crash Response Truck < Carjack > is starting to very much not like MORE DAKKA when it's coming from the Technobot. He gets pummeled with several of the rapid-fire shots, shattering his windows and blowing off one of his siren lights in addition to being shot up in general.

Normally, this was past the point of which he would be fleeing to be able to repair others later. But the, ah, wonderful encouraging (and screaming and threatening) inspiration from Galvatron earlier has the medic ready to go all out for the cause. And at least get ine one last desperate attack. With a snarl of pain he transforms, yelling something incoherently as he charges at Scattershot... but then its with a swing of his weapon he aims at Loadout instead in an attempt to forcably remove him from the bigger threat!

The emergency response truck opens up into a robot.

Combat: Carjack sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Carjack strikes Ion Assault Cannon < Loadout > with his Jaws of Death attack!

Slugfest is happily wielded by his commander. Oh, the feeling of the chainsaw plates biting into Rodimus Prime's armor! It gives Slugfest a somewhat warm and fuzzy feeling. Once Galvatron's done using him, he jumps down and blasts at Rodimus again. "Mine saws better than your saws!" he says. While not using his saws. Huh.

Combat: Slugfest misses Rodimus Prime with his Disruptor attack!

Runamuck frowns at his energon readout. Blast, he's almost out of juice! As Galvatron swings and misses at Mirage, Runamuck opens fire with a fingertip cannon that shoots a laser beam at Mirage. "Die, you frackin' idiot! Give us the artifacts!"

Combat: Runamuck misses Mirage with his Laser attack!

Battlecruiser < Scattershot > transforms back into robot mode as Loadout is forcibly detached. "Hrah! Hey! That's mine!...uh, well y'know what I mean." He reaches out and then pulls Loadout away from Carjack (none too gently). Scattershot quickly shoves the smaller Autobot behind him. "Time for me to return the favor, Newbot. Don't worry, I'll walk you through it." He transforms into his own weapon mode, control ports opening for an Autobot's use. Simultaneously, his pulse cannon's casing unfolds into long radar panels which begin scanning the Decepticons present, and registering targetting information on a tiny screen above the control ports.

Battlecruiser < Scattershot > transforms into his Battlestation < Scattershot > mode.

The cannon splits at the muzzle and the stock, spinning in the center and unfolding into the Autobot Loadout.

Combat: Battlestation < Scattershot > sets his defense level to Fearless.

"Mirage!" Rodimus shouts, optics wide, as Galvatron turns his attention away from the Autobot leader. He leaps over another of Slugfest's attacks, growling, "No you don't, Galvatron," as he tries to charge the Decepticon leader, who's now in a less mobile mode, into the nearest wall. "Your aim's a little off. Let's keep it that way!"

Combat: Scattershot takes extra time to assist Loadout's next attack.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvcannon < Galvatron > with his Slam Into Wall attack! [Pulled -6]

Combat: You took 12 damage.

Combat: Rodimus Prime's attack has damaged your Firepower!

Combat: Rodimus Prime's attack has slightly decreased your Courage.

Loadout is struck by Carjack's desperate measures, knocked free with a sickeneing *SHRUUUNK*, only to be involved in a brief tug of war between the two! "Ow...ouch...OWWW!" Bits of cables trail from where he was merged up with the Technobot, only to retract into his body again as he transforms groggily, hanging in mid-air for a second, then drops into the seat of Scattershot's battlestation mode. Dimly, he looks at the controls, before grabbing onto them and starting to swing about the pulse cannon's barrel. "Well I can't...I've never, I haven't..."

But oh yeah, he looks at Carjack centered square in the sights of Scattershot's targeting system, and there'sno way he can resist that. Not after the way he just got hit! "I promise I won't enjoy this...MUCH!" He growls, squeezing the trigger as the Megavolt cannon suddenly comes to life, then fires forward in a brilliant display of firepower!

Combat: Loadout misses Carjack with Battlestation < Scattershot > 's Megavolt Pulse Cannon attack!

Mirage's eyes widens as he finds himself staring at the terrifying sight of Galvatron in his Galvcannon mode pointing directly at him. Some where in the back of his mind, he wonders how he managed to always get himself in this sort of mess all the time. Oh right. Stupid PLOT DEVICE. Curses. Just before the orange cannon can direct his fire, Mirage clips the two Decepticon artifacts into his waist before dropping down the side of the pedestal, just barely hanging on to the ledge. The pedestal explodes into oblivion nevertheless though as Galvatron's cannon shatters it into millions of pieces, sending the Autobot counter-intelligence specialist flying through the air along with the fragments! Just before Mirage smashes into the ground, he is rammed towards another direction by Catechism.

Eventually Mirage crashes a few dozen meters away from where he started, albit heavily wounded at this point. "Ugh... if you can't get away with the package. Nuke it!" Mirage grimaces as he pulls himself onto his knees, drops the two artifacts onto the ground, reaches behind to pull out his explosive dart rifle and unloads upon the artifacts!

Combat: Mirage takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Finally, some satisfaction! As the 'Jaws of Death' tear the gun-bot off Scattershot and gives him a good mangling to boot.

It's a short-lived victory however as Scattershot transforms from having a lot of guns into one -big- gun, and the smaller guy takes the controls, optics widening. ".. Oh, slag.." The sight must snap him back to his wits though, as he lunges to the side and -just barely- manages to dive out of the way of the massive blast. Maybe Loadout still aimed a wee bit too high? Tumbling to a stop, Carjack flattens to the ground, trying to make as little of a target of himself as he can as he pulls out his syringe gun and loads it.

Then swings around to fire it at Galvatron instead! One dose of high octane energon, special delivery! "Keep fighting Lord Galvatron! Teach these Autobots to not respect the grandeur of your aspirations!"

Combat: Carjack sets his defense level to Protected.

Runamuck blinks as Mirage tries to destroy the artifacts! "No!" He runs at Mirage, attempting to knock him over before he can pull the trigger.

Combat: Carjack refuels Galvcannon < Galvatron > 's energon reserves.

Combat: Runamuck misses Mirage with his Punch attack!

Galvcannon < Galvatron > curses loudly as his blast hits the pedestal instead of hitting Mirage. He has bigger things to worry about--literally--when Rodimus charges at him, though! Galvatron could almost swear he heard cheesy 80's rock blaring right up until he gets punted into a wall, leaving an impression in it "AARRGH DAMN YOU PRIME!" Galvatron shrieks, his voice taking on an edge of panic as things start going wrong. His mood doesn't improve as Mirage destroys the data card and fires on the Seal, next. The Seal takes a major dent in its surface, surviving due to its sturdier construction, but it may nevertheless have been ruined.

And oh boy does that make Galvatron mad.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Galvatron transforms, and in his rage-induced madness, he appears as little more than a blur of fists and screams and rending metal! He barely even notices the refueling syringe sticking into his shoulder!

The artillery cannon's back section snaps apart into two legs, its treads convert to arms, and the main body slides down as GALVATRON rises up before you!

Combat: Galvatron strikes Mirage with his Bare Hands attack!

Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired Mirage's Agility. (Crippled)

Combat: Mirage falls to the ground, unconscious.

< Autobot > Jetfire says, ".. Do they have the lense there?! What are you destroying?!"

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "No lense. Datacard."

< Autobot > Rodimus Prime says, "MIRAGE!"

F-35B "Lightning II" < Catechism > rises back up into robot mode to get the heck out of the way when Galvatron rains down to smite Mirage like an angry god. Her optics even bug out a bit at that ferociously savage beating, and then she tries to check on the dented Seal, muttering, "That belonged to Straxus!"

XF-35B Astral Lightning transforms into robot form. Catechism's feet unfold, her arms unfold out of her body, her nosecone rotates through her body and ends up on her shoulders to expose her face, and her wings rotate into position.

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Catechism has 'skipped' her action for this round.

< Autobot > Specialist Mirage says, "What I'm destroying? I'm destroying all my worries in one shot.  Hah!  That outta put me out of harm's wa--- *CLUNK*"

< Autobot > Jetfire whews. "That's a relief... How bad is it up there? Do I need to make an emergency flight up to Cybertron to repair you guys?"

< Autobot > Jetfire says, "..... I'm going to take that as a yes."

Slugfest is currently really hurting for fuel. While everybody else is trading blows, the little dinotape lets his fuel generation cycle take effect. He ooohs as he watches Galvatron pummel Mirage into nighty-night land. "Him invisibul no help him there!"

Combat: Slugfest takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

< Decepticon > Carjack says, "That'll *cough* teach him!"

< Decepticon > Runamuck says, "I'm pretty low on energon, I recommend we pull a tactical retreat."

Loadout grunts with dissatisfaction as he didn't hit Carjack, and feels both disappointed at that fact, and the fact that he actually felt a barbaric need and -want- to hit the Decepticon. Ew, he feels dirty somehow.

"It's probably just as well..." he muses, as Carjack moves off to tend to Galvatron, Loadout is having much the same thoughts right about now, though he watches in no small amount of horror as Mirage is hammered down by Galvatron in nothing short of a brutal display. "Dear Primus...!" he exclaims, but then focuses on the task at hand, his right hand retracting into his forearm once more, then deploying a modular repair unit with welders, torches, little pliers for delicate work. All that good stuff. Sparks fly and bits of metal shift as he starts to effect some quick stopgap repairs to Scattershot's frame in the heat of combat!

Combat: Loadout quickly patches up some of Battlestation < Scattershot > 's minor injuries.

Combat: Loadout runs a diagnostic check on Battlestation < Scattershot >

Yellow sparks of electricity flares out from the remains of the data card that Mirage had shot, a satisfied smile curls across his face as his rifle expels the emptied dart cartridge and shunts another cartridge in. Mirage then takes aim at the second Decepticon artifact, the Seal of... something. This time there's no electrical sparks but the signs of damage left on the Seal is enough to persuade the Autobot counter-intelligence specialist that he's done what he had wanted to do.

Mirage looks up, having been alerted to Runamuck's intentions by the Battlecharger's cry and quickly backs out of the way while fading into nothingness while taunting the Decepticon, "Hey, here's a thought. Don't let your target know you're coming after him by opening your yap, hmm?" Yeah, Mirage thought he got the Decepticons good. Heck, he thinks he's on top of the world. He probably was. Until he backs into Galvatron. Sure he might be invisible, but that doesn't save him from the savage beating that's follows shortly after bumping into Galvatron! When it's over and done, Mirage materializes into sight again, dropping to the ground unconscious, having had his clocks thoroughly cleaned. Someone call 9-1-1!

"MIRAGE!" Rodimus shouts as the spy is blasted. He chases after Galvatron and makes a grab for the Decepticon leader, snarling, "THAT!" if he grabs, he lifts Galvatron over his head, "is ENOUGH!" and then he turns and tries to throw his foe /through/ the nearest wall, "from YOU!" He turns towards the other Decepticons, hands clenched, optics narrowed. "The next one to fire on one of my Autobots... the NEXT Decepticon to /touch/ another Autobot, is going to have his head torn from his shoulders!"

Sadly, this pose will make no sense if Rodimus misses.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his The Touch attack!

Combat: You took 22 damage.

Combat: Rodimus Prime's attack has damaged your Firepower!

Combat: Rodimus Prime's attack has slightly decreased your Courage.

Battlestation < Scattershot > shouts, "Mirage!" Who knew Scattershot cared. He jerks slightly as Loadout's repairs take affect. "Thanks," he mutters over his shoulder, then glances back to see Galvatron, who just cleaned Mirage's clock. Then his gaze traces over to Carjack, who just refeuled the Decepticon leader. Wait a second, Carjack? Scattershot looks over his shoulder again, this time sternly. "When all this is done, we're hitting the training room." He promises grimly. "If the REST of us're still in one piece." Scattershot then proceeds to run over to the knot of violence around Galvatron. He reaches a hand over his shoulder and behind his back. He straightens to his full height and then leans back even further before jerking forward again, arm whipping forward. And as if by magic (the magic of subspace that is), he's now holding the long handle of a sledgehammer-like weapon, which he tries to bring down squarely on Carjack's head. "Stay down this time!"

Battlestation < Scattershot > transforms into his Scattershot mode.

Combat: Scattershot sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Scattershot strikes Carjack with his Smackdown attack!

Galvatron just keeps punching and punching until Mirage is all but unrecognizable! And he'd probably keep punching until Mirage was completely flat if not for the intervention of Rodimus Prime! Yes, Galvatron ends the brutality the moment he starts hearing that rock music again, turning with an almost fearful look! Is that--yes it is! "NOOOO!!!" he screams as he is hefted up into the air and hurled with tremendous force right through the wall, which happens to be roughly as thick as the armor plating on the Absolution. Not only does Galvatron go through this thick wall, but a substantial section of it is just punched out and the whole thing just falls over into the other side (which is just more catacombs, really).

"Uhh. Unnnnh." A badly scratched purple hand, covered in mech fluid--some of it his own--rises up from the hole, then drags the rest of the hand's owner back inside on his belly. "I... am not... beaten!" Galvatron wheezes, his face cracked and bleeding fuel. Weakly, he raises his cracked fusion cannon up at the Autobots, and fires--but he can't control his aim, thus endangering everyone in the room!

Combat: Temporarily restricting the SHATTER effect from all of your attacks.

Combat: Galvatron strikes Loadout with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8]

Combat: Galvatron misses Carjack with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8]

Combat: Galvatron strikes Slugfest with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8]

Combat: Galvatron misses Runamuck with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8]

Combat: Galvatron strikes Scattershot with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8]

Combat: Galvatron strikes Catechism with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8]

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8]

Runamuck sees plasma flying everywhere from Galvatron's cannon, and ducks behind a console. He stays there, completely drained of energon and just a bit afraid of the Autobots gathered here. They've been dishing out a lot of damage, and he's been lucky so far.

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Runamuck has 'skipped' his action for this round.

Slugfest is hit by Galvatron's blast and goes FLYING! "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" he shouts. He lands a distance away and twitches. That hurt.

Combat: Slugfest takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Catechism is fusion cannoned! She does what anyone would do: screams and runs around like a chicken with her head cut off. This is not very practical. but it's just what you do.

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Catechism has 'skipped' her action for this round.

Remember children, always wear your saftey helmets!

Scattershot makes an example of why out of Carjack, who while lying on the floor may make him a lower targe to shoot at, is an optimal position to get CRUNCHED with a giant sledgehammer of doom... Fortunately Galvatron is there to blast the Technobot while he's trying to make a nail out of him!

Well, okay, we know darn well that Galvatron wasn't intentionally saving him, but beggers can't be choosers. Carjack is just glad he was pounded into the ground with a giant hammer and thus spared a much much worse fate when the plasma beams are flying! "Gyaaah! The Battlecharger has the right idea!"

With a groaned hiss he crawls away a bit as the Bots are hopefully distracted, then transforms. It looks rather slow and painful due to the mangled parts instead of the usual smooth and fluid motion. "I'm *cough* sorry milord.. but that's all I can do... I'm of *cough hack* more use being able to repair you all afterwards now!"

There's a THWMM as his engine backfires once before finally revving, spewing sickly looking smoke out his exhausts as he makes haste for the passage to the surface. The sense of the medic needing to be alive to repair the warriors later has managed to wrest control from the bloodlust Galvatron's original speech instilled in him.

Carjack hits the ground and folds into a rescue truck.

Combat: Crash Response Truck < Carjack > begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Loadout, Motormaster, Rodimus Prime, Scattershot, Galvatron, Slugfest, and Catechism

Rodimus Prime is blasted in the chest and sent sprawling to the floor by Galvatron's shot. He's back on his feet immediately with a nimble jump, before he turns to narrow his optics at Galvatron, furious less on the attack against him and more on the blasts that hit Scattershot and Loadout. "I warned you," he growls before darting towards the Decepticons leader. He makes a grab for one of the prongs on Galvatron's crown, trying to lay his other hand on Galvatron's shoulder so that he can try to pull the Decepticon's head off!

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his Headmaster Galvatron? attack! [Pulled -7]

Combat: You took 14 damage.

Combat: You are very aware that your life is in danger!

Combat: Rodimus Prime's attack has damaged your Firepower!

Loadout is laid out flat as part of the blast radius hits him, sending the Autobot crashing onto his backside, then skidding along onto his back in the process. Small tendrils of smoke rise slowly into the air from his side, where part of his armor has been holed through, bringing a wince of pain to his face as he closes a hand over the injury. "Nnngh."

He looks up at the battlefield again, the devastation, the injuries all around, Mirage's critical condition, and his optic visor pulses a deep red in color as he gets to his feet once more, "If you think...this is going to stop me from FIXING all of this....you're SORELY MISTAKEN!"

Okay it's a strange way to shout out his defiance, but it's a good way for a medic to do so! He turns the modular repair device on himself, trying to patch up the holes as best he can in the meantime.

Combat: Loadout quickly patches up some of his minor injuries.

Galvatron doesn't quite become a Headmaster thanks to Rodimus, but all that yanking does seem to cause something to come loose. There's a loud CRACK, and Galvatron's optics dim! Maybe Rodimus broke his neck or something? At any rate, Galvatron goes limp.

Combat: Galvatron takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Catechism gets her slag back together after that running around senselessly. Oh right, she's in the middle of a rather savage battle for the fate of Cybertron! And Rodimus Prime is trying to pull off Galvatron's face. Wincing, Catechism decides to try to bail out her dear old boss, who will probably tear off HER face for so much as implying that he needed help. The breaks usually involve real breakage, when you're a Decepticon. She snaps out her whip, trying to grab the Prime's ankle and trip him.

Combat: Catechism strikes Rodimus Prime with her Whiplash Whirlwind attack!

Runamuck transforms into his white Pontiac mode in the chaos, peeling out as he flees.

Runamuck folds together, becoming a car.

Combat: White Pontiac < Runamuck > begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Runamuck has left.

Crash Response Truck < Carjack > has a headstart!... though it's not much of one, considering the shape he's in. Runamuck will probably easily pass him. Doesn't matter, at least he got out of there before he never left at all!... Someone's got to get the medbay ready for when Galvatron is brought in, after all.

Slugfest scurries over to the limp Galvatron. "Wake up! Why no wake up? Please wake up!" he pleads, "No want Autobots scrap while you no awake!"

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Slugfest has 'skipped' his action for this round.

< Decepticon > Carjack hiss in pain as he goes over a few bumps. "My injuries are of no consequences *wheeze*, the medbay shall be ready for our boss first of all."

Rodimus Prime glowers down at Galvatron suspiciously. Then he straightens, still trying to hold onto the helm, and turns towards one of the terminals, saying loudly, "Well, if you're unconscious, there's nothing to stop me from blasting this contr- woah!" The 'woah' happens as the whip grabs his foot and pulls it out from beneath him, sending the young Prime sprawling gracelessly to his rear, forcing him to let go of the Decepticon.

Combat: Rodimus Prime takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Loadout looks over his own repairs with some satisfaction. It doesn't -look- good, but it will do until he can get a chance to look himself over properly back in a medical bay. With that much done, he takes stock of the situation.

Decepticons in retreat, and it looks like Galvatron is down for the count as well! Things are looking favorable, though with Catechism putting more pressure on Rodimus, Loadout takes it unto himself to try and relieve some of that pressure at least, lunging in with his modular repair device whirring audibly as he tries to secure some of those holes in Rodimus' chest. You know, the ones that are allowing the Decepticons inappropriate peeks at that Matrix thingy inside him. Not important!

Combat: Loadout quickly patches up some of Rodimus Prime's minor injuries.

< Autobot > Loadout says, "Nnngh, never a dull moment."

Scattershot watches in amazement as the action turns even uglier. Now Scattershot overall is what you might call 'desensitized' to brutality but seeing it from some Autobots is such an unusual sight that even he can be taken aback. But he gets over it quickly, as the object of his amazement is snagged by that (painfully) familiar looking whip. Scattershot tilts his head back to fix Catechism with an ugly glower. "Still owe you from before." he announces grimly, before transforming and firing his engines at full power. "But things are gettin' a little crowded - we need some room!"

Scattershot transforms into his Battlecruiser < Scattershot > mode.

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > strikes Catechism with his Ram attack!

Galvatron had, in fact, been faking, though his neck really is broken. Thus, when he stands up and starts running, it's perhaps no surprise, then, that his neck is just rolling about on his shoulders loosely. He grabs Mirage's body and prepares to aim his cannon at it... when he gets a REALLY nasty idea. He looks back into the hole in the wall that Rodimus made, and beyond it, he believes he sees... is that what he thinks they are? Yes, indeed--beyond the hole in the wall, there are several large, fat-bodied cybernetic creatures, slug-like in form, creeping towards the hole.

Galvatron tosses Mirage through the hole and precariously close to the slugs. They begin to advance towards him, hissing angrily.

"Heehhhhh... heheheh... Space Slugs," Galvatron coughs, energon dripping from his mouth. "Haven't... seen them in eons. But they're back. Our planet's natural defense system. And it is written, Prime, in the Memoirs of the Objector, that "those who prove themselves to be true Defenders of Cybertron shall be spared from the Slugs of Space." In other words, since we have spent the last few weeks RESTORING Cybertron, these SLUGS think WE are their friends. I wonder what they'll think of you, the ones who attacked us?..."

Combat: Galvatron takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Catechism looks over at the slugs dubiously. And at the talk of Galvatron mentioniong 'eons'.

"NO!" shouts Rodimus as Galvatron grabs Mirage. He darts a few steps towards Galvatron, but not nearly fast enough to stop him from throwing Mirage to the SPACE SLUGS. His right first clenches and he hesitates for a moment, but...

"We got the datacard already," he says quietly, then nods towards Scattershot and Loadout and jerks his head towards Mirage. "C'mon. The night's not over. Let's get Mirage away from those things." And then he charges through the hole in the wall and out of the scene!

Combat: Rodimus Prime begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Battlecruiser < Scattershot > and Galvatron

Battlecruiser < Scattershot > rotates to point at the hole and then blasts through after Rodimus. "Space Slugs? Well frak, wait for me!"

Combat: Battlecruiser < Scattershot > begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Loadout blinks in horror as Mirage's form is tossed out in due process, and he clenches his jaw tightly at Galvatron. "By the time I'm done with him he'll look brandnew and there'll be NO TRACE of what you've done to him, I promise you!"

Yeah. Take that. That's medic revenge for ya.

He proceeds to leap out the hole after Rodimus in short order!

Combat: Loadout begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Rodimus Prime, Battlecruiser < Scattershot >, Galvatron, Slugfest, and Catechism

"Ooooh slugs!" Slugfest says. "Them help us?"

Galvatron feels no pleasure in this small victory as the Autobots retreat, for he has lost a greater battle. Or... has he? Scowling, Galvatron produces from subspace *another* Datacard. "Yes, yes they have. Don't antagonize them--there's no reason to at the moment. Heh... Those Autobots think they've won. Well. I have another Data Card. There's nothing on it but junk data--but if THAT'S how the Autobots want to play, then that's how we'll play! We'll figure out how to start these engines and get us to Earth one way or the other--and maybe, just maybe, we can even force the AUTOBOTS to find a replacement for us!" He inserts the data card into the data station, and smiles as the computer prints out, "DATA CARD ACCEPTED. DESTINATION UNKNOWN."

"Hehhh. You'll regret your defiance, Autobots!" Galvatron snarls, cheek twitching.

Catechism looks at Galvatron nervously and decides that maybe being on Cybertron right now is a bad idea. Just maybe.