The Long Night: Mars Attacks!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 6:57 AM

EDC Station -- Mars

Somewhere between the Martian Lake and the Badlands is this installation, the EDC's original base on Mars. This particular room is circular in shape, about 50 feet in diameter, and has a 50' domed ceiling. Everything is lined in thick concrete and reinforced steel. Computer terminals ring the eastern and southern walls, set on low alert status and covered with protective plastic covers.

 "Are you looking forward to the slaughter, Spinister?" Galvatron asks over his shoulder without looking around. "I know the tiny lives of the Earthlings are normally beneath our notice, but I have to admit a satisfaction in snuffing them this time."



 has arrived in sensor range of Mars Sensor 1>

Galvatron is on one of Trypticon's upper decks or patio-like structures with Spinister, watching the shuttles carry troops and material up to the starship overhead. He seems to be talking about his evil plans.

Hook finally turns his attention away from the ordered chaos of preparations for the upcoming battle and addresses Galvatron, "Preparations are nearly complete, Galvatron. Shockwave has done a commendable job overseeing the effort, although there are some inefficiencies that could be dealt with if we had more time." He glances back at the starship, longingly, "Is there anywhere in particular I should be lending my expertise?"

Spinister gives a simple nod to Galvatron. Looking forward to the slaughter? Certainly. Spinister leads a group called 'The Mayhem Attack Squad.' More to the point, the assault will provide the Targetmaster with an opportunity to stand out- in the eyes of command, as well as the lower ranks keeping their eyes on the prize. Another rung on the ladder to...well, whatever it is Spinister's end game is.

Singe gives Galvatron a dramatic salute. "I will deliver the charred heads of our enemies to you myself, Lord Galvatron! We will be feared by mechs and desired by women!"

"Ah, yes, Hook," Galvatron says thoughtfully, turning towards the green martinet. "I want you to accompany me to Washington D.C. I may have need of Devastator if the Autobots deploy one of their own combiners. If all goes well, I will then expect you to report to Manhattan Island, to see to the construction of the entrenchments for our new base of operations. Give some thought to automating a recycling similar to the one in Darkmount- the human hive is dense in metals and other useful minerals."

Hook head tilts upward as he considers Galvatron's orders. "Of course, Devastator." he says briefly before turning his attention to the more interesting task, "The city is rich with resources, many which could be used. We'd have to purify most of the metals, of course and consider some fortifying additions to ensure the new base can withstand a standard Autobot bombardment." He hmms, "I will speak with Mixmaster and Scavenger about procuring the necessary additives." He snaps his attention back to his commander, "The structure shall meet my exacting specifications and serve all your needs, Galvatron."

Galvatron nods with satisfaction. "I know I can count on you, Hook. But let us not put the booster before the payload. First we must cripple the Earth's response mechanisms, which is nearly a fait accompli thanks to the Observers, and drive back the Autobots, which will be the challenge. The Earthlings foolishly announced that their world leaders will be meeting at the United Nations center in New York City to discuss some trivial organic nonsense, which will leave them ripe for the plucking. Once I have ground the American President under my heel, we will slay the world government en masse. Blind and confused, the so-called 'Earth Defense Corps' will be nothing but meat for the butchering." Galvatron clenches his fist with a smooth hiss of hydraulics. "But the Autobots could still send my plans awry, so gird yourself for battle as well as you can. We will strike when night falls over the Earth's Western hemisphere. It will be a night lit only by fire- the first of many such nights to come, I earnestly hope. But a long one, and we will all be sorely tested by the Autobots before it is through."

"Of course, Lord. The Constructicons and Devastator stand ready to lay waste to all who stand in the path of our conquest," Hook says dutifully. He briefly lays his fingertips on his forehead and rubs, the thought of battle clearly not something he relishes. "The Autobots are always the known variable. As in the past they shall only prove a temporary hindrance. We will find a way to battle them back and establish a foothold at the seat of Earth's government. This time we will not lose New York city and New Cybertron will stand as a testament to the Decepticons’ might."

Amber MacKenzie uses the radio to send a long-range radio message to Rodimus Prime: Rodimus, are you on Mars? Galvatron's about to strike.

Amber MacKenzie uses the radio to send a long-range radio message to Rodimus Prime: The Decepticon dreadnought is being loaded with supplies outside of Trypticon, the Decepticons are massing there, and Galvatron is giving his usual megalomaniacal pep talk. There are orders for a hit on Washington DC, a hit on Manhattan, and building a base of operations in Manhattan with melting the city down for metal. He's also talking about crippling Earth's defense mechanisms with something called "Observers" and hitting the UN during a meeting to destroy Earth's leadership. This is scheduled for nightfall over the Western Hemisphere.

Amber MacKenzie is sitting at the main monitor, watching the troops massing at Trypticon and trying desperately to reach Rodimus Prime. Trypticon is being loaded, and Galvatron is giving his usual megalomaniacal speech to the troops.

Sideswipe comes slumping in, looking utterly exhausted and filthy. Apparently he just got back out of the badlands. He'd been reported as having been tailed...again and had taken off to lose it after the last mission, not returning until he was sure it was safe to do so.

 Ratbat flaps up to Galvatron and perches on his outstretched arm. "All is in readiness, My Lord," he hisses. "The Absolution is loaded with troops, weaponry and supplies. We can depart at your command."

Very good, Ratbat. You will remain here with Trypticon's garrison," Galvatron replies, sending Ratbat flapping off into the fortress.

"Oh, POW, hey Sideswipe. You know, if you were Sunstreaker, you'd be back down that lift and into the oil bath so fast that ZOOM, you could barely see him move!" Warpath chuckles good-naturedly at his comrade.

Amber MacKenzie looks up as the others enter, her face pale with shock. "I... I think I reached Rodimus, but he's not responding. This is it. Galvatron is launching."

 Rodimus Prime's voice cuts into ALL Autobot bands on an emergency beacon, "This is an emergency broadcast to all Autobots. It looks like the Decepticons are about to make their big push. I'm ordering -all- Autobots in the vicinity back to Earth immediately. This includes all Mars based Autobots as well.

"ZING, launching what?" Warpath wants to know.

 Galvatron says, "Decepticons, the time for vengeance draws near. Those of you who are equipped for space travel, get yourselves to Earth orbit and wait there for the assault. Those who are not will board the Absolution via shuttle from Trypticon and be ferried to Earth. We will sweep the Earthlings before us and bathe the Autobots in their hot blood!"

 Rodimus Prime says, "Sky Lynx has been secretly in a holding pattern on the far side of Mars' second moon and will be ferrying all Autobot troops back immediately. I highly recommend that any human troops consider catching the same ride."

 Warpath says, "BOOM, you got it!"

Sideswipe hadn't even bothered to go to clean up. He was too intent to find out how things had worked out. Now he had his answer and it made his optics flash pale. "Scrap! Double Scrap!" he snarls as he hears Rodimus' message. "So much for R&R..."

"Well then BLAM, let's get going!" Warpath exclaims, preparing for Skylynx pickup.

 Sideswipe says, "Sideswipe checking in. Back from the Badlands...ready to go as I'll get."

 Fanfare says, "Aye aye, sah. Ah'll make sure everyone's loaded up right smart."

 Galvatron vaults the rail to the hard dry ground before Trypticon, points his cannon downwards, and fires it to blast off for the flagship, soaring up towards the Absolution.

Talia McKinley doesn't need to be told twice. Or even once, as she's out of the room to prep his craft for pickup back to Earth before the recommendations to do so have even been finished.

You use the radio to send a long-range radio message to Rodimus Prime: Galvatron's boarding the dreadnought. I guess I'll catch Sky Lynx back to Earth... There's nothing more for us to do here.

 Decepticon Starship  launches towards local space to the Orbit of Mars.

Amber MacKenzie makes a final report to Rodimus and takes a last look around the base. It'll be here when she gets back, assuming the Earth isn't destroyed. Her tricksy mind kicks in, wondering about the great timing for an infiltration mission to Trypticon. Too bad she doesn't have a nuke in her backpack, or she'd happily run off on a suicide bombing mission.

Fanfare makes his way out, carrying a few boxes and stuff as he glances to the others, nodding as he notes they were already preparing to go. "Good good. We dinnae want tae miss the action."

 Spinister says, "Mayhem Attack Squad, detour from current objectives and close on my location."

Sideswipe looks at Amber, "Need me to do anything for you?"

Amber MacKenzie only delays to grab her backpack; other than that, she's ready to go. "Heya, Sideswipe," she says tonelessly. "Uh... thanks, but just getting to Earth is all I need right now." She adds a tremulous smile. "Thanks for Spirit, too. You both came through for us."

"Great, now let's ZOOM, get on outta here!" Warpath says.

 Galvatron says, "Shockwave, you may trigger the Device when ready."

Pentagon

A huge five-sided building stands in your way -- the workplace of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The building, which appears to be a maze when viewed from above, is appropriately named the Pentagon after its shape. What used to be the main station for intelligence gathering has decayed in the past several years, becoming increasingly abandoned over time ... but then again, what was that flicker of light in the window?

 All Decepticons on Mars feel a shuddering vibration from somewhere underground as a sinkhole opens in front of Trypticon, sand pouring down into it like a drain. A pale green light shines out from within, a pillar of energy rising into the sky and stretching like a finger towards the unseen Earth. The shivering pauses a moment and there is a deep booming note, like a distant foghorn, and a pulse of brilliant energy rolls down the beam and disappears into the black sky.

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Diverting all available power to the device. Power levels at maximum. Targeting system engaged. Activating."

Sky Lynx is a braggart and a boaster, but he's every bit as fast as he says he is when push comes to shove. Maybe even a bit faster, if that can truly be believed. The trip from Mars to Earth literally seems to go by in a blurr, the slowest parts of the journey having been takeoff from the Red Planet and re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

"Alright Chaps, brace yourselves as this landing -could- be a little bumpy, but you'll understand the need for urgency I am certain! Do not worry however, as while the landing will be hasty it will be perfect, I assure you!" The Saurian space-bird has been talking like this the whole trip and only goes silent during the final approach, screaming over Washington DC and heading down towards the Pentagon, where a collection of other Autobots are gathered out front...including Rodimus Prime himself.

Of course, the bulk of those present would be human vehicles darting to and fro, as the Autobots are spread somewhat thin at the moment. Thankfully that number is about to grow as Sky Lynx sets down with a heavy *THUD* on a cleared space out front of the Pentagon, his landing ramp dropping in short order a moment later.

"There we are. Shaken, but not stirred. Everyone off! I have plenty more Autobots to move around!"

<Earth> As evening falls over the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, a pale green light shines (for most, unexpectedly, for some, with familiar dread) down out of the sky, blanketing the Earth from Ottawa to North Carolina. The green shimmer casts a strange and eldritch glow on faces, turning the sky a baleful, sickly color. It dims, a moment, and then suddenly is blindingly bright, searing the eyes of those looking up in the direction of Mars, which seems to be a searing green dot rising over the horizon like a tiny sun.

Panic reigns as everything mechanical simply stops. Telephone calls end, the receivers dead, not even a dial tone to explain the silence. Radios play only dead air. Car engines die instantly, collisions from the coasting vehicles sending out a curious cacophony of flat crunching bangs, because there are no horns to lean on and no brakes to squeal.

Aircraft go dead and dark, gliding down out of the sky, many crashing where they land, uncontrollable and unable to alert anyone of their distress. Helicopters simply fall from the sky, autorotation nigh-impossible with all electrical systems dead. Many die silently, in hospitals, as grid electricity stops, and the generators which would keep their life support running never start.

There is an eerie silence over the Earth, a silence which has not been heard in hundreds of years. Then, the Decepticons attack, descending from the sky like locusts.

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Now is the time. Washington D.C. lies stunned and helpless before us. Decepticons... ATTACK!"

Fanfare is rarely the passenger, and was fidgeting the entire way - distracting himself with his music the entire trip. AS they land, he is the first one out, saluting Sky Lynx as he exits. "Good trip mate." he compliments, glancing about for his brother and others.

<Autobot> Autobot channels briefly fill with ear-screeching static for a few seconds, then clear again.

Amber MacKenzie is still wearing her spacesuit from the Mars base. She quickly trots out of Sky Lynx, only to find her world changing, literally. She barely has time to clear the massive dino-bird before the lights go out. Bloody hell. Wrestling with the catches, she removes her helmet to breathe Earth's air for the first time in weeks. The next thing she knows, instincts are kicking in as the sky is filled with locusts, and she's diving for cover.

<Autobot> Encore says, "Oww...!"

<Autobot> Fanfare says, "Good Morning Bruv!"

<Autobot> Encore says, "Mornin'"

<Autobot> Metroplex cuts in, "EMERGENCY. EMP DEVICE WAVE DETECTED. RADIO SIGNALS CLEARED. SCANNING.

Sideswipe spent the entire trip cleaning Mars dust and sand out of his joints and off of him. He swears he's still got some somewhere...but until he can get a full oil bath and buffing, he won't get any better than what he just got. He disembarks from Lynx and goes to find a place to stand, honestly VERY happy to be back on Earth. He missed this big ball of ...dirt.

Decepticon Starship <Absolution> hovers down out of the lurid green sky, floating effortlessly over the nation's Capitol like a surrealist painting of an aircraft carrier. It is accompanied by approximately two dozen small green... flying saucers, which rake the ground before it with snapping particle beams and sizzling heat rays. Buildings burst into flames, uncontrollable due to the almost total lack of fire response. People climb from their dead cars and flee in every direction- one way is as good as another when the enemy is everywhere and there seems to be no safe place.

<Autobot> Metroplex booms, "SCAN COMPLETE. PLANET-WIDE EMP WAVE HAS DISABLED ALL TERRESTRIAL EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY. CYBERTRONIANS AND CYBERTRONIAN TECHNOLOGY ARE UNAFFECTED."

<Autobot> Metroplex's voice cuts out then to the sound of air raid sirens in the background, "DECEPTICON FORCES INITIATING COMBAT DROPS PLANET-WIDE. ALERT! INVASION FORCES DETECTED IN WASHINGTON DC, NEW YORK CITY, BOSTON, CHICAGO, TORONTO SAN FRANCISCO...."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Alright that's enough. We'll have to make do where we can. Metroplex, San Francisco is yours."

A few minutes ago, Talia was wishing she had already been on Earth.

Now, seeing the entire planet go dead as Sky Lynx makes his decent, she's rather glad she wasn't. A string of cursing follows, and she's almost afraid to look as she engages the system power-up.

But after a baited moment the turbofans of the Firehawk buzz to life. The pilot exhales the breath she was holding, then plucks off her hat with one hand and yanks on her flight helmet. Followed by the VTOL craft humming out of Sky Lynx's hold along with the assorted departing Autobots and other defenders previously on Mars.

<Autobot> Repugnus says, "Huh. That bee lady lied! She said three cities! Darnit all!"

Sideswipe looks around and sees the little green alien ships, having staggered a little as the static on the com makes his head hurt. He hears what Metroplex has to say and then he growls, "Scrap..."

<Autobot> Metroplex booms, "ACKNOWLEDGED. INITIATING BATTLE STATION TRANSFORMATION. TILL ALL ARE ONE."

<EDC> Nate Briar is inside Sky Lynx, "Any EDC mechanics that can get somehow hear this message. Try to push a car down a hill. The alternator should kick in and jumpstart the battery. Once you get three or four cars started like that, start jumpstarting what defensive structures you can."

<Autobot> Sideswipe says, "Ya think!? She's a con Pug!"

<Autobot> Sit-Com says, "Flying Saucers! Little men from Mars!"

<Autobot> Repugnus says, "Well, actually, I think she only knew about those three. Heh, 'cons are more honest when I get to take them aside."

<Autobot> Sit-Com says, "Find and steal their Illudium Q-38 Space Modulator!"

<EDC> Talia McKinley says, "Pilot McKinley here, sir. I reckon as I just came down with the Bots, my craft ain't affected by the brownout. Deployin' to help corral our unwanted claimjumpers."

<Autobot> Fanfare says, "Just cough on 'em. didnae that work in one movie?"

<Decepticon> Pirahnacon can be heard burbling and sucking water between words as he announces, "SAN FRANSCISO BAY... IN SIGHT. WE... ATTACK! FOR GALVATRON!"

<EDC> Nate Briar says, "And someone, get a medic over to Jayson Redfield if you can. His cybernetic parts are now doing him no good."

Soaring alongside the Absolution as escort, Fusillade breaks formation, and bolts for the Pentagon. Streets already clogged with wrecked cars become completely impassable once she starts bombing the major arteries leading away from the center. <<No point making it easy for anyone on foot -- or wheels, or treads!>> she announces as she banks to line back up on the building. Upon the arrival of the Autobots, she murmurs, "That was quick. Sky Lynx is no slouch, despite his size!" She slides aside as one of the Observer drones whiz past, before setting into a loitering pattern until she decides which Autobots' days to ruin.

<Decepticon> Predaking says, "PREDAKING IS WITH YOU. LET THE SLAUGHTER COMMENCE."

<Autobot> Repugnus says, "Sometimes it works for me, but for different reasons!"

Encore seems to be asleep in his drop-couch, until the EMP goes off, that is. As Sky Lynx lands, he's still asleep- until the EMP goes off and the static screams in his ears. "...owww..." He mutters as he lifts his head up, sniffing the air. "Are we here?"

<EDC> Talia McKinley says, "Great, looks like they brought their little green pests along too"

In the midst of the saucer's destruction, a swarm of Decepticons explode from the Absolution towards Sky Lynx. It's like someone turned on a hose full of evil and put their thumb over it.

"Destroy everything!" Singe screams from inside the mech cloud. "This is your chance to make a name for yourselves as new members of the Mayhem Attack Squad!" Hairsplitter is still going over paperwork as the group charges alongside Spinister. "Ok...roll call. Gattlewing, the gattlin gun with wings...Wolfbat, the bat with the wolf head...Matadon't, the bullfighter themed Pessimisticon...and Protofist, the massive Punch Master whose nebulons turn into big hands. Everyone is here, Spinister!"

They're all there, and they're all causing mayhem with their attacks. Like a squad.

Rodimus Prime was standing there, directing the Autobots who were arriving and about to give them a good pep talk of some sort or another. Then the next moment...the entire continent is going dark and suddenly human equipment and machinery around him are going dead en masse. "What in the -world-!?" Glancing around vaguely in alarm as the air fills with the cursing of more than a few human pilots and equipment operators, the Autobot Leader rushes over as his own forces disembark from Sky Lynx's huge frame. Mouth set in a grim line, he comes to a stop and starts waving urgently for people to hurry up and get off and spread out, "Alright folks, if you haven't heard Metroplex's announcements, here's how it is. Galvatron just used some kind of EMP device to knock out machinery and computers across the continent, possibly the whole world. Apparently -we- weren't affected by it, and neither were you people who were on board Sky Lynx either, so we've got our work cut out for us!" He looks up, just in time to spot the Decepticon Flagship dropping down over the city, along with a horde of Decepticons in its wake as well. "Alright folks, let's get to work. Move out!"

The Autobots and what small force of humans were on Mars to face the invasion. No pressure!

<Autobot> Fortress Maximus says, "I can confirm Metroplex's findings here up North in Ottawa, everything else besides me and my team up here is inoperative."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Frag... Did we reach Earth yet?"

<EDC> Rodimus Prime cuts in, "I'm giving emergency clearance for EDC transmissions to be funneled through Metroplex. Though I don't expect you're going to be able to raise anyone who wasn't riding on Sky Lynx at the time, unfortunately."

<Autobot> Metroplex, "PIRANAHCON AND PREDAKING SIGHTED IN SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR. COLLATORAL DAMAGE WILL BE...UNAVOIDABLE."

<Autobot> Nate Briar says, "I need Autobot assistance to get to any nuclear reactors around and power up the cooling systems. We might have a nuclear winter if those safeties aren't powered on soon!"

<Earth> Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent, a seaweed-draped monstrosity rises from the San Francisco Bay, seawater sluicing out of Pirahnacon's many vents and ports as he wades up towards land, caustic slime spraying from his oversized weapon. Pirahnacon meets him there, leaping from the south in vast and hungry strides to pour barrages of artillery onto Alameda as Pirahnacon tears apart the bridges to the island with his hands. Only Metroplex can stop them- the men and women trapped on the island now can only hope that he is equal to the task.

<Autobot> Encore says, "Ahhh frag's sake."

Amber MacKenzie is feeling useless again, but that's not new to her. With narrowed eyes, she watches the Cons' preferred targets and deduces that they're going for infrastructure rather than pathetic little squishies. She darts from one bit of cover to another and starts collecting frightened, confused people. "Stay away from the buildings and structures," she hisses at them, "Hide under bushes, long grass, in parks, anything that won't attract their attention. Don't move unless there aren't any of them nearby." Pausing under a bush herself, she strips off the rest of her space suit; it's only in the way. Then Fusillade hits Terran commuters, making a liar out of her. She curses quietly but viciously.

The odd green UFO's are soon joined by a craft that is very much an identifiable object--the space warrior Cyclonus! "HUMANS!" he booms as he swoops over the Capitol. "Your era is at an end! Your technology has failed you, and the Autobots must face us ALONE! Soon, your world will be conquered by the Decepticons!" Humans below cower before the massive swept-wing fighter, gawking open-mouthed up at him. "Prepare yourselves, for you, your family, everyone you know--YOU WILL BE OUR SLAVES! GALVATRON WILLS IT! Now witness the beginning of the end!" And in typical blockbuster movie fashion, he begins to open fire randomly on the dead automobiles everywhere, causing them to explode and fly up into the air.

"Holy slag!" Warpath says, observing the chaos around him, "What did they BAM, do, drop the bomb?" As soon as any Decepticons are within range he starts firing at them.

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Do what you can, Metroplex. But priority is NOT to let those two run rampant in the city. Fortress Maximus, if Ottawa is not under attack, load up your forces and get down to one of the besieged cities as soon as possible. Right now the only thing that's standing between the Decepticons and free reign is us and a small force of humans that were riding on Sky Lynx at the time. We'll figure out -how- this happened later. For now we'll have to deal with it."

<Autobot> Sideswipe says, "No offense but I think the people running those nuclear reactors are prepared for this. I'd let them handle the reactors since they know what they're doing and are trained to do it."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Soon as I'm out the door we'll have close air support."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "I'm hoping the human technicians can handle this emergency Nate. They have backup plans for this sort of thing and I need every able Autobot in the field right now. But if help is needed anywhere let me know and I'll send out some of our technicians."

Encore growls and runs out of Sky Lynx's door, transforming the -second- he has the clearance for his wings. He pours on the power and begins to circle, climbing higher and higher to get the range on his weapons.

<<Tell me where you need my firepower!>>

<Autobot> Encore says, "Tell me where you need me to shoot!"

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Anything with a Decepticon-symbol, Encore."

<NEST> Encore says, "ENC-55, I don't know if you can hear me but close air support is on-station and awaiting targeting."

<Autobot> Encore says, "I mean priority targets, boss."

Sideswipe begins looking for targets, doing his best to avoid causing complications with humans that are freaking out and running around like rats before a flood. Deep inside he could almost feel helpless if he wasn't too busy being pissed off at the mass confusion and chaos that the Decepticreeps are causing.

<Autobot> Talia McKinley click-click. "Sounds like the emergency patch-in is working, sirs. I'm reading Autobot frequency loud and clear... unfortunately, not getting a response from anything that didn't come down with us either."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Like I said, anything with a Decepticon symbol Encore! We're spread thin as we are, do what you can. And look people, I know we're...worried about collateral damage. And I know you'll all do your best, but right now we -have- to stop the Decepticons. First priority. The politicians can feel free to scream at us about property damage later."

Nate Briar rode back to Earth in Sky Lynx, the amazing space traveling duck. Checking his Glaive for power, he smiles as AL the AI seems to wake up. "Al, you are better than Jarvis." He suits up inside the Glaive and loads up whatever intel he can get about the Seacons. "Alright, time to go kick some bass!" The Armored Suit's engines warm up.

<Decepticon> Bruticus' booming voice chimes in in turn. "DEPLOYMENT: COMPLETE. THEATRE OF BATTLE: GENEVA. MISSION START." The sound of his heavy weapons firing cuts him off.

<Autobot> Encore says, "Politicians can go #static# themselves. Sir."

<Autobot> Repugnus says, "That's what I *always* say."

<Autobot> Encore says, "With all due respect."

<Autobot> Talia McKinley says, "I'm gonna have to agree with the Spooky on this one. Let's light up the skies, eh big boys?"

<Autobot> Silverbolt's voice cuts on the com, "Combaticons sighted in Geneva. We'll handle them. Superion engaging Bruticus!"

<Autobot> Nate Briar says, "Talia, do you want me to be your wingman?"

<Autobot> Talia McKinley says, "Let's give 'em hell to get offa our lawn"

<Autobot> Nate Briar says, "I'm looking at going after the two combiners. I know it's a suicide mission but... frag it, if I can distract them long enough to save some people, I did my job."

Rodimus Prime is giving orders, being flooded with reports in the dozens, all in the span of a matter of seconds. It's an incredible amount to process and he visibly shows it by standing with one hand on the side of his head, listening intently to every single radio message coming through and snapping off replies. Even as explosions start to light up around him. "What ho!" Sky Lynx croons as the last of his passengers disembark, and the dinobot transforms to his more saurian state before taking to the sky. "Come, Decepticons! Your biggest mistake was thinking you were going to get by freely when you still have to face -me-!" In true Sky Lynx fashion, he goes straight for the Absolution, even his huge bulk seeming small by comparison as he lashes by at high speed and strafes the Decepticon flagship with weaponsfire.

Meanwhile, Rodimus finally looks up at the enemy forces, scowling as he lifts his rifle at the ready. "Okay Autobots, let's go and kick some Decepticon can. Do what you can to protect the locals but make sure the cons -pay- for it! ROLL OUT!" And with that, he's already transforming and roaring off through a side street, carefully weaving around dead cars left and right...and simply bumping others out of his path when he needs to.

Decepticon Starship <Absolution> opens up with its guns as it glides over Scott Circle Park down Pennsylvania Avenue, barrages of plasma fire raining down from both broadsides into the city. The American Centennial Society collapses in on itself with a roar of masonry. The White House is perforated by a hammering barrage of fire, roof shattered and falling in while flames climb out of the building towards the sky. Hopefully the call from Mars came in time for the President and his family and Cabinet to be taken to safety.

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Nate, we're going to need you and your forces here in Washington."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Trust San Francisco to Metroplex. He can handle Piranahcon and Predaking and whatever other Decepticons accompany them."

Blot follows behind the wave of Decepticons encircling the region. Eventually Blot drops down to the ground in formation with a few other invading gumbies, much to their dismay as he causes a small splatter of obnoxious fluids that splurts out from his joints as his feet makes contact to the ground and his legs absorbs the shock of the impact. The other Decepticon gumbies are quick to begin harassing and mocking the fleeing humans, but Blot, being the dim witted brute that he is, can only follow in action but not in wit as he fires away at random targets of opportunity.

Amber MacKenzie loses sight of the Autobots as she herds panicky people away from the combat zones. At least there are lots of lawns, lots of bushes, but they'll have to cross freeways full of crashed and inoperable cars. The smoke provides some cover, so she points them in that direction. Anyone who can swim well might try the river, not to cross it but to float downstream to somewhere with better cover.

<Autobot> Encore says, "You need CAS, Nate. On it."

Decepticon Starship <Absolution> directs some of its point-defense guns against Sky Lynx, who is swooping and diving around it, washing it with flames and lasers. Two of the guns are destroyed almost immediately, one by his molten breath and the other by being torn from its mount by his snatching claws, but there are others.

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Blast it all! The Decepticon Flagship in orbit and the Pax isn't near enough to help. And I'm willing to bet Kup's war stories that Galvatron is sitting on the bridge."

<Autobot> Fortress Maximus can be heard under heavy static, "Finally got a transmission out. We've received your orders, Prime.  I've dispatched a quarter of my team down south east, the rest of us up here are caught up in the middle of stopping a meltdown at one of the nuclear power plants."

Starfighter <Cyclonus> zooms over the Autobots filing into the city, remarking, "So here you are to save the day once again, Autobots. But look around you, the day is already lost! What do you really think you can do to save your wretched humans this time?" His bomb bay opens and rains incendiary munitions down on them... and the surrounding neighborhoods. "This planet is dark for the moment, but no matter--soon it shall be lit once again in its own funeral pyre!!!"

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Flaming Winnebago <Rodimus Prime> and Warpath but misses Sideswipe with his Incendiary Bombs Area attack!

As the air becomes thick with defenders, Fusillade picks the first target that comes across her iron sights -- the VTOL craft of Talia's. The bomber gloats, <<Now see, air power is kinda like poker -- a second-best hand? It's like none at all -- AND costs you dough!>> Fusillade sends along a few short laser blasts, underestimating the toughness of her target -- or maybe just trying to get it out of the way of her many, many, planned bombing runs.

Combat: Space-Going B-1R Lancer misses VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> with her Nose-Mounted Laser (Laser) attack!

Decepticon Starship <Absolution> turns to the southeast, continuing to cut a swath through the city with its plasma cannon broadsides pumping bolts of superheated gas down onto the white marble rooftops like rain, punching in the Capitol dome and sending it crashing into the interior of the Capitol Building. Firestorms swirl and rage in its wake as it heads out over the East Potomac towards the Pentagon, upper guns trying to track Sky Lynx's surprisingly nimble maneuvers.

Combat: Decepticon Starship <Absolution> strikes Flaming Winnebago <Rodimus Prime> but misses Sideswipe and Nate Briar with its Plasma Bombardment Area attack! [Pulled -6]

"We're going after Rodimus Prime?" Gattlewing sounds less than thrilled. "Of course we are!" Singe exclaims. "Make Mayhem history! And don't embarrass me in front of Fusillade!" The Neb practically has animated hearts popping out his optics, barely paying attention to the charge.

"I'll make Prime good and dead!" Protofist screams and accelerates, landing in front of Prime, swinging at him with GIANT FISTS!

Combat: Spinister misses Flaming Winnebago <Rodimus Prime> with its Grab attack!

<Autobot> Encore says, "Incoming!"

Blot follows the Decepticon gumbies along, leaving behind a trail of indiscriminate destruction behind as evidence of them having been in the area. However the sight of the nearby a flaming Winnebago quickly deters the invaders from going any further, smartly so too as they know all too well what would happen if they proceeded any further. They're stuck in a catch-22 though, if they did not advance they will certainly be punished by Decepticon high command for cowardice, but if they proceeded forward... well, it's Rodimus Prime, there really isn't much to say about that. However a spark of insight appears, as they turn their head towards Blot, who blinks dumbly at the others.

Soon Blot is goaded into attacking Rodimus Prime headlong by his comrades, having been easily flattered but the details of his opponent kept hidden. The dim witted Decepticon simply snaps off a shot at the vehicle in front.

Combat: Blot misses Flaming Winnebago <Rodimus Prime> with his Laser attack!

<Autobot> Talia McKinley says, "Time to do something about that air presence."

Warpath is bombed by Cyclonus and shakes a fist at the Decepticon starfighter. "Hey now, BAM, take this, you flying scrap pile!" he shouts, firing a laser with his tank barrel. "You're not going to ZING, enslave any humans today!"

Combat: Warpath misses Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Laser attack!

Flaming Winnebago <Rodimus Prime> jinks left and right as explosions and laser blasts score the ground all around him, and more than a few come a bit close for his liking as well, scorching his paint job and blackening the side of his trailer in the process. Transforming, he rises up in a shower of sparks, just as an explosion from either Cyclonus' attack run, or the flagship's firepower detonates a gas station nearby, sending bits of shrapnel flying, including a metal rod that imbeds itself into his right forearm in a shallow curve. "Gah!"

Taking a moment, Rodimus reaches out to pull the rod free, using his built-in torch to seal the hole in the next movement as he peers upwards towards the Absolution. "Sky Lynx, if that ship doesn't get the hint, -GIVE IT- to them already!" A moment later Rodimus is taking evasive action as GIANT FISTS are lunging in towards him, as he quite literally vaults up and -over- the large Decepticon onto the other side, leapfrog-style, "I really don't have time for you slagheaps!"

Combat: Rodimus Prime quickly patches up some of his minor injuries.

Sky Lynx continues to beat left and right, jinking like crazy all over the place as the sky lights up around him. But of course, the Absolution is designed often for fighting other large targets...like the Orion Pax and the dinobird is proving a frustratingly difficult target up until he catches a blast in his midriff. Giving an audible, "Unf!" his two halves are forced apart, the Lynx falling down and crashing along the hull of the Absolution before it transforms and starts to run the length of the ship towards the rearmost section. The aerial half continues to take evasive action, drawing fire as it goes. "Oof! Alright Decepticons, time to split my attentions appropriately!" As the bird does everything possible to present itself as a JUICY TARGET, the Lynx keeps going right towards the aft engine segments, claws ripping into anything important looking and optic lasers blasting all the way. "Come Galvatron, I wonder how well your little toy can fly in a gravity well if I disable its engines!"

As a bedraggled woman begins screaming hysterically after a Decepticon shot takes out yet another building, Amber ruthlessly slaps her, hard, across the face and shakes her into silence. Shoving her into the arms of the frightened man next to her, she snarls at him to keep her quiet as they slip across the freeway, using burning cars for cover, and into the grounds near Arlington Cemetery. She hopes that's not a sign of things to come.

"There's no way to get out of the city now," she tells her little band of refugees, "so you hide." She gestures towards the well-kept grounds, their hedges and flowers, but fortunately not headstones. "Stay put, keep quiet, and don't move, or they'll find you. And yes, that means lying in dirt and under scratchy bushes for hours."

Sideswipe begins to dodge and move about trying to avoid being struck. Looking up he sees Starfighter and decides to do a little Jet Judo. Engaging his jet pack, he leaps skyward and attempts to grab ahold of the jet.

Combat: Sideswipe misses Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Bad Touch (Grab) attack!

<Decepticon> Breakdown says, "Lord Galvatron, Sky Lynx is evading our turbolasers! We've analyzed his attack and there IS a danger. Should we withdraw?"

"Okay big boy, I know this is yer first live firefight in a long time." It's probably not unusual for pilots to talk to their aircraft, but Talia is giving her ship a bit of a pep talk all the same. And maybe settling her own focus as well. "But yer tuned up by some of the finest wrenches in the corps and it's time to prove just what ye can do -- whoa!" Talia reacts on sheer reflex as proximity warnings go off across her holo-screens and pulls hard on the controls.

The Firehawk tilts to one side in response and veers off from the laser fire, a few of the beams skimming closer than would be comfortable but not scoring any direct hits.

Then proves just what sort of mobility the strikecraft has, as even as it's pulling away from the bomber the turbofans tilt to rotate it's form on the vertical axis much like a helicopter could do. As the Lancer comes back into view target screens light up and Talia presses the trigger, sending a short volley of laser fire from the guns mounted alongside the front cockpit sweeping after Fusillade.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Space-Going B-1R Lancer with her Laser Sweeping (Laser) attack!

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Now? At the moment of my greatest triumph? Oh, very well, take the ship to high orbit. I will handle this rabble myself. Cyclonus! Fusillade! Destroy the Pentagon!"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "As you command. Fusillade, form up with me, we'll combine our munitions for *maximum* effect."

<Decepticon> Fusillade says, "Nnn, gladly. This rabble is vexing me."

The Glaive jets into the airspace and attempts to provide cover fire for Talia's amazing Firehawk. As the Glaive is probably a recognized AS of the EDC, it might be picked for targeting. The EDC's General is probably one of the very few EDC leadership types with a working vehicle and being to be onsite. The firepower Nate deploys against the Decepticon gumbies won't be equal to the firepower he will probably draw to himself.

<Autobot> Nate Briar says, "If we can down a couple of these green saucers, I want to see is we can salvage their power supplies for rearming some equipment."

Encore yelps as everything seems to open fire, banking hard as he flies through the maelstrom of fire - he's decided to escort Nate into the teeth of it, it seems.

<<Incoming!>> He calls out, a shade too late as the fire comes screaming down. He pours on the power after Talia, laughing.

<<Smeg me! That's something quite impressive.>> He laughs, banking around to hit Fusillade with a follow-up. Of course, that -does- make him something of a target, broadside-on to the big bomber and probably easily targeted by any other Cons in the area!

<<Hey, laser-lips. Nice aft!>> he teases Fusillade, laughing. <<Let's give it a piercing>>>

Combat: Encore strikes Space-Going B-1R Lancer with his Minigun burst (Laser) attack!

Decepticon Starship <Absolution> hovers up further and further away as Sky Lynx continues to harry it, heading for outer space where it won't have to contend with gravity or aerodynamics, and will have the speed and maneuvering room to deal with him.

At least this will stop the firestorms sweeping through the city from being added to, although by now they seem to have gained a life of their own as they swirl north and east, Inferno and Red Alert fighting the fifty-foot-flames side-by-side with the Protectobots. Human firefighters bravely do what they can, but without the ability to pump water or travel faster than a bicycle, they're limited to trying to rescue people from burning buildings and giving first-aid.

Just before the Absolution disappears through the pall of smoke blanketing the eerie green sky, a glittering metallic speck separates from it and falls towards the ground. It's not ballistic- its path visibly curves as it falls, aiming for the boulevard where Rodimus Prime is nimbly evading the Mayhem Attack Squad. "Face ME now, Usurper! Look up, and face your DOOM!" shouts Galvatron, for that is what the object is, falling like a meteor with his arms raised to guide him and his heels together.

Combat: Galvatron misses Rodimus Prime with his Meteor Driver attack! [Pulled -4]

Starfighter <Cyclonus> waits a moment for Fusillade to get in formation with him before he banks around and makes for the Pentagon. "We'll get back to you in a moment, Autobots. For now, watch as the Pentagon BURNS!" His bomb bays open again, but he holds off for a moment. <<Fusillade, there is likely a reinforced structure underneath the Pentagon which is the TRUE command and control center for these humans. Release your bunker buster bombs, I'll follow up with my incendiaries afterwards.>> The Autobots fire up at them, but Cyclonus ignores them. <<Ignore them!>> Cyclonus orders. <<Focus on following LORD GALVATRON'S orders!>>

Rodimus Prime may not have time for Protofist, but he has his way barred nonetheless by...well, cannon fodder from the Mayhem Attack Squad. And behind them, the mysterious Spinister, flanked by Singe and Hairsplitter. The Nebulons transforms into their gun modes and Spinister opens fire on the Autobot leader as the gumbies charge him! "DECEPTICONS!" Lots of stuff like that gets yelled.

Combat: Spinister strikes Rodimus Prime with its Lock-Target Laser Rifle attack!

The enthusiasm that Blot's comrades had instilled in him earlier quickly evaporates as the flaming Winnebago in front of him transformed into the much recognizable figure of Rodimus Prime, "Oh... so that's why my gun doesn't work so good on him." Yep, even the dimmest of Decepticons can understand the danger that they're courting when they provoke a Prime. Blot quickly stops in his tracks, looks around frantically, before finding cover in the form of a burning bus. It's hard to tell if he would ever had been able to connect the dots and realize that the other Decepticons had tricked him into his current predicament.

Good thing Blot isn't dumb enough to be have the concept of self preservation elude him though. He skitters away when Galvatron makes his appearance and wisely vacates the area as he seeks more viable prey... which so happens to soar through the skies just now in the form of Encore! The Terrorcon foot soldier pulls up his slime gun and snaps off several shots towards the air!

Combat: Blot misses AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> with his Slime Gun attack!

TAK TAK TAK!-

The laser fire from Talia's maneuverable jug stitches across the bomber's front fuselage, sending tiny fragments of shattered space tile whistling down to the ground like razorwire confetti. And then, Encore gets his wish! With a yowl, the bomber endures the abuse, a myriad of holes opening up along her vertical stabiliser and left tailslab. <<Ya got moxie, -BOAT-, but the head honcho has -OTHER- business for me!" With a flare of thrust-vectoring exhausts, the hundred and fifty foot craft wind-up turns with a surprising suppleness, and thunders toward the Pentagon, cyan rings of supercruising shockwaves in her afterburner exhaust.

Sizing up the wide, flat building in front of her, Fusillade readies to spit out JDAMs, but at Cyclonus's command, the rotary launchers CLUNK-thunk to access another set of weapons -- BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrators in staggered pairs: one to detonate at the center base of the exterior wall, the second to detonate at the center base of the opposite side's interior wall. Despite the darkness, the impact and detonations are QUITE muted, obscured by the cloud of soil sent rolling into the sky from embedded warheads meant to crack through 11 feet of concrete.

<Decepticon> Blot says, "So many gnats, out of reach! Rrrrrrr!"

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "I will handle this jumped-up cavalier! The rest of you, keep the enemy air assets off my bombers!"

Rodimus Prime is suddenly under fire from multiple directions, shielding his face in the process as he's driven to one knee, trying to see a clear path out of where he's been caught while protecting his vital bits at the same time. HIs first instinct is to get away as quickly as possible and find a better position.

Then he spots the small group of refugees being led away by Amber...ironically enough only a street's width and then some away from where he is. "Okay then..." he mutters under his breath, suddenly looking up just in time to spot a familiar figure descending towards him at breakneck speed. And here Rodimus has already been knocked around a bit.

"Typical, Galvatron! Disabling the human defenses, jumping in behind your lackeys...you always were afraid to take a straight up fight weren't you?" Moving with startling speed then, the young Prime flips over backwards, transforming and roaring straight at two of Spinister's fellows that are rushing towards him...hitting one of them in the shins and sending him careening up and -over- Rodimus' hood and trailer to crash onto the pavement behind him. Transforming again, Rodimus twists in mid-air, landing on his back and skidding backwards along the pavement in a painful shower of sparks...but already his arm blasters are barking out, sending streams of electro-magnetic beams out in all directions including Galvatron, Spinister and his comrades for that matter.

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron but strikes Spinister with his Arm Blasters Area attack! That attack has temporarily affected Spinister's Accuracy. (Blinded)

Amber MacKenzie growls at the growing fires and sighs. She'll have to move her "troops" to the river after all. *Now* they pass through the cemetery, Amber pausing to salute on the way to a tree. They slowly make their way north first, passing the Pentagon and a defiant, flaming red figure to the south. Many times, they have to take cover under trees, or even to lay flat and play dead as Decepticons fly by. When enough distance is covered, they turn east towards the Potomac. That means crossing more dangerously exposed freeways, but the smoke is now thick enough to cover them.

On reaching the river, Amber ignores the power boats drifting helplessly in the river and marshals her troops to find flotation devices and cover them with nondescript cloth, even if it means donating clothing. Then she points them into the river. "I've done all I can, folks. It's up to the Autobots and what few EDCers are operational now. Remember to stay out of sight as much as possible." She herself turns back and pulls out her camcorder.

Sideswipe can't stand the fact that it seems everyone is targeting his leader and heads over in that direction. If he has to, he will be a shield for Rodimus. He's yelling at the top his voice box, as he dive bombs others and working to get past several others. Turning in mid-air, he aims his laser and takes a shot at Spinister.

Combat: Sideswipe misses Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Laser attack!

"POW, oh no!" Warpath exclaims, folding down into tank mode to track some targets. He fires off a shell with a wide Area Of Effect, hoping to catch Cyclonus and Fusillade in a blast before they can do more damage.

Combat: Warpath misses Space-Going B-1R Lancer and Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Thermal Shells Area attack!

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Excellent, the Pentagon burns. Now to burn the rest."

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> growls as he's apparently ignored, swinging around behind Fusillade and trying to step it up a notch. He growls softly, changing target to the larger ship, the bigger target - Cyclonus. It's poking the tiger, but the main thing he wants to do is stop the Cons; if one won't ignore and attack -him- instead of the target, he'll attack the boss instead, poking the tiger, so to speak.

He aims the Bofors gun at Cyclonus' tailfin! <<Gonna kick your ass, Cons>>

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> misses Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Bofors Cannon attack!

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Burn it all! Starting with the Autobots! Spare nothing! I want everything that breathes to breathe fire!"

The EDC has always had iconic characters known for specialized skills. AS we speak, Andi Lassiter is giving the Mommy Glare to some confused Sweep. Reidan Wesley is sending his goat to attack a Decepticon. Kenya, Hikage, William, Selena, and Aramasu are probably doing something behind the scenes. Jayson's battling the effects of the EMP to his cyborg parts. And Greg? Greg is wrestling with a bag of potato chips. These are the times that define the real people of the EDC.

Nate Briar commands, "Talia, I need you to pick a target and let me help you finish them off. We're going to tag-team these Decepticons one by one. With no sign of refueling anytime soon, we need to reserve and pick our fights." As Nate says that, he eyes Blot.

"So you're the slimy bastard who took down my Copernicus!" He readies a small blast of laserfire to be aimed at the Decepticon so he can judge his next attack.

Combat: Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar> misses Blot with his Pistol attack!

Turbofans stabilize back into place to level off the Firehawk once more and takes off after the Lancer with a burst of speed from the main thrusters. The combination of fans for lift/control and jet engines for propulsion was just one reason the VTOL-striker was both swift -and- agile. Not that it could catch the faster bomber.

<<Boat, maybe.>> The Firehawk dips a bit lower than the Lancer's flightpath in its pursuit, pilot watching the screens tracking Fusillade's movements. Then tips up a bit, the turret beneath its nosecone angling up at Fusillade's underside, trying to get an angle at some of her deployment bays before popping off a brief volley of autocannon fire. <<But that jus' means I don't gotta -catch- y'all.>>. Better hope those explosives don't cook off easily if the shots manage to hit.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> misses Space-Going B-1R Lancer with her Spitfire APIRs attack!

<Decepticon> Bruticus says, "INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE: DESTROYED. PALACE OF NATIONS: DESTROYED. CITY CENTER: DESTROYED. CITY OUTSKIRTS: THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT DESTROYED. SUPERION INFLICTS SEVERE DAMAGE. SECONDARY TARGET MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE. REQUEST INSTRUCTION."

Blot shakes, spreading foul smelling lubricants everywhere as he rotates his torso and swings his free arm in frustration, "Slippery gnats! Stay still and take it!" The Terrorcon finishes his tantrum by balling his free hand into a fist and swinging it in a backhanded motion against the side of a car, sending it crashing into a nearby deserted convenience store. A laser fire suddenly strikes Blot, before the foot soldier can continue any further with his wanton destruction of public property. It's certainly a clear hit, but luckily the thick amounts of leaking lubricants and other foul smelling liquids acted as an armour of sorts as they absorb the heat of the weapons fire and evaporates, leaving the armour hide below unharmed.

Blot doesn't take this act of aggression passively either, as the Terrorcon's optics flares red in anger and takes the form of a purplish mechanical monstrosity. The Terrorcon takes a few steps forward, building up momentum before leaping upwards towards the Glaive and attempts to use his ruggedly built arms to express his displeasure to Nate, "Rrrrrr! Blot SMASH!"

Combat: Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> strikes Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar> with his Blot Skoosh attack! That attack has temporarily impaired Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar>'s Agility. (Crippled)

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Very well, Bruticus, withdraw to the east. Battlechargers, you know what to do! Lay London's financial district to waste!"

<Decepticon> Runamuck says, "Gladly, M'lud. Them hoity-toities won't know what hit 'em. Eh heh heh heh."

<Autobot> Topspin pipes up, "Radio bugs are saying the Battlechargers have been spotted headed for London. Me and Twin Twist will intercept them!"

Galvatron slams into the roadbed hard enough to punch through into the pipes below it, natural gas jetting up around him and immediately igniting with a muffled WHUMP as Galvatron springs back out of the hole, grabs Spinister and uses him as a shield to catch Rodimus' electro-blasts.

Shoving the dazed and sparking Targetmaster aside to clatter onto the ground, Galvatron lunges away, swings his cannon towards Rodimus and fires a pair of booming fusion shots towards him, and Sideswipe beside him. "Says the Autobot who needs the help of the HUMANS to win his battles! When they are DEAD we will see how effective your forces are by themselves, Rodimus!"

Combat: Galvatron misses Rodimus Prime but strikes Sideswipe with his Fusion Pulsar Area attack!

As if the bunker busting bombs weren't enough, a rain of incendiary bombs follows them down, and soon the entire building is bathed in flames. Perhaps it could have withstood such an assault under normal conditions, but the bunker busters took their toll on its sturdy structure, and soon sections of its roof begin collapsing, allowing the flames to spread to lower levels and cause even more devastation. <<Excellent, Fusillade. Now to deal with these pests..>> He loops around, a stream of tracers racing towards him from Encore but none find their mark. "Engaging me from the air again, Encore? Haven't you learned how unwise that is? Regardless, I haven't time for you yet, but rest assured, I WILL deal with you..."

The starfighter descends, rapidly closing in on Sideswipe. "You dare to fire upon me?! You, a mere peon amongst your ilk?" He transforms moments before impact and puts his feet out in front of him to give the Lambo brother the dropkick from hell. "Pick lesser Decepticons as your foes, Sideswipe, for CYCLONUS will show you no mercy!" In truth, Cyclonus doesn't want Sideswipe to interfere with Galvatron beating down Rodimus, which is of course how THAT will turn out.

Combat: Cyclonus strikes Sideswipe with his Kick attack!

With the foundations and unknown bunkers below the Pentagon sufficiently rocked, Fusillade gives a fierce WHOOP as she soars past. The sting from the combined firepower of Talia's and Encore's earlier attacks seems to have made the Lancer more careful, as their next round of attacks -- and Warpath's -- are foiled by a blinding magnesium spray of chaff from the bomber's rear fuselage! She stoops into a deep roll, before transforming to robot mode, and clipping an extended flechette magazine to her ridiculous, oversized Desert Eagle styled gun. Nickel-plated of course. "Got something for BOTH of you! BLAU!" she exclaims with each trigger pull, laughing a bit too gleefully as she fills the air with sizzling ammunition!

Combat: Fusillade misses VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> but strikes AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> with her Me And My Gun (Full-Auto) Area attack!

<Autobot> Talia McKinley says, "Eyes on the skies, guys. Imma gonna try and light 'er up."

Amber MacKenzie slips southwards, back towards the combat zone. It's stupid, it's hopeless, but she's going to see this through. If she can't contribute to the fighting directly, she'll try for indirectly. Staying at a hopefully safe distance - in case someone throws a vehicle or another Transformer in her direction - she sits in a bush and records this all for posterity. And not just posterity. She sets the camcorder on wide angle and studies every move made by both Decepticons and Autobots, trying to make sense of it. What weapons they have, how they use them. She finds tears slowly dripping down her cheeks and angrily brushes them away.

"BLAU blau! BLAU!" Fusillade continues gleefully.

Rodimus Prime notes with no small amount of disgust how Galvatron blatantly uses one of his own soldiers as a 'shield' against the blast. But he hasn't got time to reflect on his enemies and their lack of morals as he's forced into the evasive again when Galvatron opens fire. Ducking forward into a tuck and roll maneuver, he comes up just a body's length ahead of the huge crater blown into the street where he was a moment ago, a brief curtain of smoke shielding Rodimus completely from view for a few lengthy seconds.

And a moment later a fire hydrant, kicked soccer-style comes rushing out of the smoke straight at Galvatron's face But it's a distraction, as Rodimus Prime himself comes lunging through the smoke, body held low and in a full on tackle aimed at the Decepticon Warlord's midriff. "It doesn't matter," he growls grimly. "You're going to fail here, just like you've failed in everything else up to this point!"

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his Blood Bowl Tackle attack! [Pulled -4]

Talia mutters as Fusillade gets clever and chaffs out their attacks, but doesn't let it deter her determination in the least. The autocannon turret swivels to follow her movements and landing, targeting relays catching sight of the overside gun being drawn. The Firehawk banks sharply and again proves its aerial agility in avoiding the enemy's fire.

The maneuver is more than just defensive though, as the craft turns broadside to the femme the right side rearward mount comes to life, machine-gun swinging out to rattle off fire that leaves trackable glowing streaks through the air as they attempt to rain on Fusillade's parade.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> misses Fusillade with her Tracer Machinegun attack!

"ME GRIMLOCK HOPE ME NO LATE FOR FIGHT PARTY!"

Grimlock soars through the sky in his clumsy, dinobot ish-way. He soon lands on the ground with a *BOOM!* and then strides towards the battle! "Me Grimlock go to place called 'Baltimore' and punch a bunch of stupid lame septi-cons who name me Grimlock no remember! But that was BORING so me Grimlock go to BIG FIGHT."

Eager, Grimlock cracks his knuckles, and then brings out his double-barreled laser blaster. He takes a moment, and then looks over at a random human bystander. "Which way bad guys go?"

Warpath dohs as he misses, but those particular shells weren't known for hitting right on target anyway. The turret of his gunbarrel swivels around, trying to track Cyclonus before releasing a blast of laser. "Gotta POW, slow you down somehow!"

Combat: Warpath strikes Cyclonus with his Laser attack!

Sideswipe is thrown backwards with Galvatron’s attack, causing him to land within range of Cyclonus's kick. He lets out a yelp and then snarls, coming to his feet as he rolls just enough to come upright. He looks down at his chest armor where he took the hit from Galvatron and snarls. Now he's pissed. With a few quick running steps, he throws a Rocket punch right for Cyclonus, no holds barred.

Combat: Sideswipe misses Cyclonus with his Rocket Punch attack!

From Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar>, Nate Briar looks at the control panels of the Glaive and looks straight Blot as the Terrorcon makes his way to attack. As Blot charges to smash up the Glaive, Nate says into the radio, "AaaaAAAAAAAaaaaAAAaaaAAAAAAh." The Glaive goes down to the ground with that attack and all Nate can do for a moment is used the armored suit's hands to try and get the mess off of him.

A moment later, the Glaive picks itself up and prepares the rifle for an attack.

Combat: Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar> strikes Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> with his Cross the Streams! attack!

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> yelps under the impact of Fusi's weapons fire, holes forming in his hull as he rocks, a small streamer of smoke forming from one of his four engines. He rocks a little, testing his stabilisers and then takes aim at Fusillade, grinning

<<So glad you could join us and dance, laser-lips...>> He comments, pulling a fighter-style roll, going nose-down and pouring on the power, only to transform at the last second, swinging forward his forehead towards the Decepticon femme.

<<Gimme a kiss!>>

Combat: Encore misses Fusillade with his Ram attack!

<Autobot> Talia McKinley says, "Gawd I wish m' bird had more biological sensors, can't tell if there's any survivors to the bombin' run."

Galvatron folds up like a book being snapped shut as Rodimus Prime spear-tackles him expertly and bowls him to the ground! The two of them slide across the boulevard, Galvatron's heels cutting gouges into the road until he slams into the US/International Trade Commission building, loose papers fluttering down like snow around them as the front of the building crumbles away. "Hngh! Like I failed at murdering your predecessor, 'Prime?'" Galvatron sneers, seizing at Rodimus' throat with his left hand and pointing his right arm at the ground. With a FWAMM he triggers the cannon and blasts off, roaring upwards like a rocket- and wrestling with Rodimus as he goes, trying to grind the side of the Autobot Commander's face into the side of the building!

Combat: Galvatron misses Rodimus Prime with his 270 Facial Grinder Ollie with a Kick-Flip Half-Twist attack!

<Autobot> Encore says, "I sure as hell hope I missed 'em"

Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> feels himself sailing through the air, his velocity slowing down as he reaches the apex of his leap and falling downwards at ever increasing speeds towards the Glaive exo-suit below as gravity takes over. It isn't long before the Glaive comes in between Blot and the ground below, exactly what the primitive brute had hoped for. Soon clawed fists begins slamming into the exo-suit, splattering slime everywhere with each and every swinging motion, as Blot and the Glaive spirals down towards the ground below. Blot loses his grip on his prey, due to the slime as well as the impact on the ground, and he falls off into a roll, "Not one of my brightest ideas..." The Terrorcon gets back onto his feet but is staggered backwards as Nate Briar expertly aimed rifle shot strikes his chin, causing him to throw his head back, "Rrrr... The angrier I am, the hungrier I get!" Blot shakes his head, spewing more stale lubricants into his environment, as he psychs himself up before charging at the Glaive with his mouth open and two arms outstretched at the ready to secure his target!

Combat: Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> strikes Glaive II - Prototype <Nate Briar> with his Devour attack!

<Autobot> Talia McKinley says, "How ye holdin' up over there Nate?"

<Autobot> Afterburner says, "Can't worry about that kinda thing right now. Gotta keep on the target. Dig survivors out once the shooting stops."

Cyclonus drops to his knees and leans back as Sideswipe rockets towards him, allowing the potent attack to fly past him. "Not good enough, Autobot," Cyclonus says, standing to follow up his attack. He's about to follow up when he notices someone dropping down to join the party. "Grimlock? Surely he'd be fighting one of the combiners--bah! You've earned a moment of reprieve Autobot, for a yet more worrisome foe awaits me!" Cyclonus runs to build momentum, taking a stray shot from Warpath--which he ignores--before jumping up and into fighter mode again. Flying low over the homes of D.C. residents, he hits his engines and accelerates right for the big guy. Maybe he can topple him with enough momentum?...

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Grimlock with his Ramming Speed attack!

<Autobot> Nate Briar says, "My Glaive is getting all kinds of damage."

<Decepticon> Predaking says, "ALAMEDA LIES IN RUINS! PREDAKING IS VICTORIOUS! METROPLEX IS A WORTHY FOE. I RELISH THE GLORY OF BATTLE AGAINST SUCH AS HE!"

<Decepticon> Blot mmmms, "This thing is surprisingly palatable." Whoa, whoa, step back for a moment, when did Blot figure out what "palatable" meant?!

The large number of bullets from Talia wing off in random directions, some of the slugs burying themselves in the ground, brickwork, and disabled cars. Fusillade peers out with some wariness from behind the now-scraped up surface of her wingblade, mouth open to sass Talia, when a looming spot on the periphery of her vision looms just a little bit too large.

"WHOA!!!" Fusillade says in alarm, dropping altitude to reduce Encore's impact, and snapping out her opposite forearm against chest to keep his studded, reinforced forehead impacting her own. "Well, consider my attention officially got!" she shouts up at him, nearly nose to nose, yellow optics flaring behind her amber goggles. Wresting away to free-fall separately from him, she juts out heels toward the ground, slowing and stabilizing her flight. "How's that swill operation of yours going anyway?! Bout time you set up a REAL business out of it, doncha think?!" She tracks his fall, and any corrections he might make, and blows a kiss, saying, "Gotta earn my name," before pitching an angrily roiling ball of plasma his way.

Combat: Fusillade strikes Encore with her Plasma Caster attack!

<Decepticon> Pirahnacon says, "HNNNG, DON'T... LISTEN TO... PREDAKING. ISLAND IS RUINED... BUT METROPLEX SAVAGES US. THE COOL BALM... OF BLACK WATER... CALLS PIRAHNACON."

<Decepticon> Predaking says, "BELITTLE NOT OUR VICTORY. WE RETREAT COVERED IN GLORY."

Grimlock does not topple. In fact, he stands firm!

As Cyclonus soars in, Grimlock brings both his hands up, grabbing hold of the incoming jet...and he braces himself, catching the super-fighter, and he digs his feet in- plowing through the streets of DC for about a hundred yards until he just...stops. And for a moment, Grimlock holds Cyclonus in place, straining every motor and servo against the Unicronian's powerful engines!

"Rargh!" Grimlock says, and suddenly twists to the side- and he swings one fist down at Cyclonus, aiming to smash him into the ground. Hard! "Me Grimlock go where BEST FIGHT is!" he declares. "Me Grimlock beat up them in Baltimore, now me Grimlock beat up you here!"

Combat: Grimlock misses Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his PUNCH attack!

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Secondary targets, Predaking, Pirahnacon. Hong Kong and Tokyo await your tender ministrations!"

Rodimus Prime struggles with Galvatron, lifting off against his will as the Decepticon leader uses his cannon for that extra burst to get into the air. Indeed he does grind against the side of the building, but as the struggle continues, Rodimus keeps his back twisted around so his shoulder does the grinding and not his face. It saves him from taking injury, but the building itself doesn't fare too well as its front shreds like confetti and sends showers of broken glass down into the street below. When he was Hot Rod, Galvatron's hands around his neck had almost ended it all for the young Autobot if not for a last second grab of the Matrix hanging from his enemy's neck. At the time he didn't stand even a sliver of a chance in hand to hand...

...things are a little more even now as he abruptly smashes both his hands upwards into Galvatron's forearm, tearing the grip loose as both forms tumble towards the street below though no doubt Galvatron will have no problem landing as easily as Rodimus, who twists in midair and lands on both feet. "Yes, I recall how -easily- you did it. Didn't cost you much in the end, did it? Afterall you only had to call someone -master- for awhile...what a fitting dose of your own medicine!"

His rifle comes up in hand, gripping it two-handed as he starts to advance, laying down a flurry of Photon blasts as he darts left and right.

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron with his Photon Eliminator attack!

Amber MacKenzie bites her lower lip hard enough to draw blood, but the tears keep coming. It doesn't help that the dead body of a man is lying ten feet away, burnt from a Decepticon laser. The sight is beyond sickening, and she fights to keep her eyes on the battle. She watches Fusillade, the Decepticon who was responsible for her injuries on Mars. Bomber, rather on the hefty size, seems to really enjoys her work, opinionated. Not limited just to bombs, either. Cyclonus... talks too much. So does Galvatron, for that matter. Typical Evil Overlords, both of them. The tears are finally ebbing, thanks to her concentrating on observation.

Encore takes Fusillade's plasma ball, and perhaps luckily for him, the blast gives him enough of an upwards kick to land in the hole in what's left of the middle of the building. He picks himself up with a growl, leveling his revolver at her carefully.

"Nice hit..." He growls, pulling back the huge hammer and then squeezing the trigger. "But I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you to step away from the busted-ass geometry and go back to yer paradise island and tiki bar."

Combat: Encore strikes Fusillade with his Pistol attack!

So many targets to choose from! The Red tank's barrel swivels, trying to get a lock on somebody. And that somebody is Blot! "KaPOW, hold it right there, lubricant-for-brains!"

Combat: <Warpath> Red Tank strikes Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> with his Conventional Shells attack!

Well at least it distracted her long enough for Encore to move in close to engage her. Shame she managed to intercept him, but hopefully him getting all up in her faceplate will keep her attention.

The machine-gun has stopped firing as the Firehawk continues its banking maneuver, Talia casting a brief check in the direction of the two scuffling. Hopefully Encore can hold his own for a few minutes now that they're getting personal.

As the Firehawk continues it's wide arc the fight between the Terrorcon and Nate's Exo comes into view. Immediately the main turret swivels in that direction as Talia squints into the holo-screen over one side of her face as the targeting laser attempts to pick out Blot's ugly form. "Time for a special delivery, fresh hot." She thumbs the cover off the trigger on one joystick and presses it. "Have a taste of this!"

&#42;CHOOM-CHOOM-CHOOM* retorts the autocannon as it spits out a burst of explosive rounds at the monstrosity to try and get its attention away from the damaged Glaive.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> with her HE Autocannon attack!

<Autobot> Encore says, "Is that a forty, Talia?"

<Autobot> Talia McKinley says, "20mm Autocannon.. but she's packin' plenty of explosive heat, don'tcha worry none."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Aw, maybe you should upgrade to a Bofors forty mike-mike?"

Starfighter <Cyclonus> growls with anger as he tries to drive Grimlock into the ground, but against all reason the Dinobot's ridiculous strength is enough to overcome even his powerful engines. "These engines were forged by Unicron! How can you--" Grimlock's fist comes down, and Cyclonus decides this test of strength has to come to an end. He rapidly transforms and backflips away from the Dinobot, letting his fist smash the pavement. Cyclonus watches the cracks spread from the impact, and gets an idea. "Heh. Pity you are too *slow* to best me, Grimlock--your strength avails you *not.*" And so, Cyclonus snaps off a quick shot at Grimlock before turning away to run for... the Smithsonian? (Yes, follow me, you slow-witted brute, follow me and help us put an end to this city!) Cyclonus thinks to himself smugly.

Combat: Cyclonus strikes Grimlock with his Oxidizing Laser attack! Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired Grimlock's Agility. (Crippled)

Galvatron grimaces at that memory, but he touches down nimbly enough and raises a foot, half-turning forward to bring it slamming down onto the on-ramp hard enough to split the pavement and flip one of the concrete sections up in front of him as a shield. The photon eliminator vaporizes a third of the slab and splits it down the middle as Galvatron bursts through it and leaps over the gap in the onramp. As he sails through the air he fires piercing stabs of concentrated energy down at Rodimus, dark face twisted with equally black rage. "You don't have the RIGHT to speak of that, Usurper! You know NOTHING of those torments!"

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with his Quantum Beam attack!

Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> tears into something with his sharp serrated teeth as his jaws clamps down onto the Glaive, oblivious to Warpath's sighting of him from far away. However he's stopped from turning the Glaive into a complete meal as the VSC-25 Firehawk showers down high explosive shells from above, tearing away shrapnels of armour from Blot in the places that the rounds makes contact with. In a flurry of motions, Blot spins around with the Glaive firmly clutched in his jaws and eventually releases it at the apex of his momentum, sending his prey flying away into the sky and hopefully towards the pesky Firehawk, "That stung. I make that stop NOW!"

Combat: Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> strikes VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> with his Blot Skoosh attack! That attack has temporarily impaired VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley>'s Agility. (Crippled)

The pistol shots from Encore land true, chewing into Fusillade's shoulder pauldrons. With a graceless 'gack!' she is spun backward into some rubble, sending dust and debris flying, before she re-emerges with a snarl. Energon trickles down the swooping contours of her frame as she straightens herself and skulks around rebar-reinforced walls. "Pht, not LIKELY, that place stinks of -low tide-." She braces wrists against the protective wall, and fires off several rounds at Encore. "No, seriously, you really should set up something, maybe Bar Planet, maybe Monacus..."

Combat: Fusillade strikes Encore with her Pt-chew! (Disruptor) attack!

Rodimus Prime certainly seems to have accomplished what he was trying to do. Poking at Galvatron bit by bit, seeing that black rage coming over his face, to see that rationality starting to peel away. Of course the end result is pain on his part as the dark stabs of energy wash over his form, doubling him up and driving him to one knee as Galvatron advances...his systems locking up and sparks erupting from his torso as he struggles to stay upright. The Photon Eliminator falls from his hands and clatters to the ground as he finds himself unable to hold it any longer.

"Gnnnrgh...! Face it Galvatron..." Slowly, oh so slowly, pushing back against the dark beam of energy, Rodimus gets up to his feet again, "...those old days of glory are gone. Now there'll always be that doubt. You'll -always- be looking over your shoulder...wondering if he's going to come back..." His right hand balls into a fist, and with a sudden powerful surge, Rodimus lunges forward, free of the beam and closing the distance as he brings his hand around in a massive uppercut aimed right at Galvatron's chin. "...afraid he's going to snap the leash back on!"

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his Jaw meet Fist attack!

"Me Grimlock made by Wheeljack!" Grimlock says, even as Cyclonus breaks away from him. The laser scorches Grim's armor, and bits of rust form along his joints- but Grimlock just storms after Cyclonus anyway, powering through the fatigued metal! "And him Wheeljack not even dead anymore! HAW HAW HAW!"

What might evolve into a semi-philosophical discussion of origin dies before it can begin, as Grimlock wrenches a lamppost (probably a historical one, too) out of the ground, and swings it headlong at Cyclonus, aiming to batter him into the ground!

Combat: Grimlock misses Cyclonus with his Traffic light! (Kick) attack!

Amber MacKenzie moves to another vantage point, as the fighters are mingling with the savaged buildings as well as each other, making it harder to watch. She slips silently, stealthily from bush to tree to a broken, pretzled lamppost (not Grimlock's) to a collapsed highway, finally settling at the latter. She's a bit closer, a dangerous decision, but she's not feeling as cautious as she should be. No, she wants to fight back, but she's simply not capable. Her fists clench in mingled frustration and fury.

Encore takes a hit to the chest and ducks back behind cover. "Workin' on it love." He calls out, laughing. He takes a pull of his cigar, leaning against the lumps of concrete that were once a heavy wall, laughing as the smoke puffs out the hole in his armour. "Frag, these things'll kill you." He comments, pulling up his Bofors gun. He hand-loads three shells into the mag and smirks, stepping out and squeezing the trigger.

&#42;Blamblamblam!* The heavy gun kicks against his shoulder and spits out its empty casings - though Fusillade is probably more worried about the three two-pound high explosive shells heading her way.

Combat: Encore strikes Fusillade with his Bofors Rifle attack! [Pulled -2]

That certainly got his attention!... maybe a little too well when Blot decides to use the Glaive as a projectile to fastball special at the Firehawk. Talia braces herself as she brings the Firehawk to a hover and swings it around broadside towards the Terrorcon as he throws the EXO, taking her chances with a risky move of sorts.

Despite being mainly a combat craft, the Firehawk does have a small, open crew compartment in the back. That with a loud crunch of metal against metal the Glaive impacts against, rocking the VTOL back as it's 'caught' in said compartment. Dented and whining in protest as the ship wobbles a bit to regain stability, dipping down towards the ground to get low enough for the downed Exo to dislodge and drop to the ground, at least less hazardously than it would of been taking the fall.

"As fer y'all," the craft hovers as it turns slowly towards Blot once more. "Ah reckon Ah've seen less uglier thin's pull outta a cow's intestines." Holding it's defensive positioning over the Glaive she fires off quick shots at the ground around Blot's feet, more an attempt to keep his attention along with the taunts so Warpath can pop him one. "Now DANCE!"

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> with her Dance Mother****er Dance (Pistol) attack!

<Decepticon> Blot says, "Grah, these gnats are everywhere. Making me leak lubricant!"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus comments dryly, "Well, at least you were doing that anyway."

<Decepticon> Blot makes an attempt to protest, but fails to follow through because he's just to damn stupid.

Galvatron's head snaps back with the hit- Rodimus is well-practiced in the sweet science. He turns back slowly, blazing yellow eyes filled with fury and teeth grinding audibly under the racket of battle, the explosions and the crackle of fire and the curious whistling teakettle-hiss of the remaining saucers' heat rays, the muffled cries of the dying trapped in the burning and collapsed buildings.

"I am GALVATRON and I fear NOTHING!" he bellows defiantly, spraying Rodimus with oil spittle as he triggers his cannon at full blast and point-blank range, firing slightly upwards from the hip. The shockwave slams out on both sides, scraping him backwards even though he's leaning against the recoil, and sweeping the elevated highway surface clean of debris on either side of him, dead cars tumbling over the guardrail.

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with his Terror of Unicron attack!

Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> rubs away at the lingering metal fragments that remained in his jaws with his left clawed hand and reaches out for a nearby light pole with his right, but before he can uproot the structure a shell drops down in front of him. The Terrorcon only had enough time to look down at the ground inquisitively before the shell detonates a split second later, sending him flying backwards roaring in anger as he is thrown through the air. He craters into the ground much closer to Warpath now, wounded but mostly angry, and it shows as he claws his way out of the crater and hauls himself up onto the street. His crimson optics locks onto the red tank in front of him before he opens his toothy maw and sprays his flamethrower at his new target of focus, oblivious to the fact that the CSC-25 Firehawk is peppering him with additional weapons fire in the background.

Combat: Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> strikes <Warpath> Red Tank with his Fire Breath attack!

The hopefuls for the Mayhem Attack Squad having been scrapped shortly after their 'grand' charge, Spinister terrorizes the Decepticon perimeter, cutting down EDC defense positions like so much fleshy butter and cutting off good guy reinforcements. Singe cackles, blasts of liquid fire engulfing a tank in flames. "Can we stop for a moment, Spinister? I promised Scorn and Buzzkill trophies!"

<Autobot> Seaspray whhhargarbls: "Seaspray, reporting in! Pirhanacon moving towards Hong Kong- I've set an intercept course!"

Three chartreuse and ochre Decepticons that look like Shockwave march through the streets of D.C., blowing up the Social Security Administration building with the laser rifles they are holding (which also look like Shockwave), dooming numerous elderly citizens to not receive the payments they weren't getting anyway. "Hail Galvatron," they cry in unison in one of Frank Welker's more subdued voices.

Meanwhile, Cyclonus leans to the side of the kicked lamppost, which smashes in the glass front of the Smithsonian (the animators have never been there and have no idea what it looks like). "You had to remind me of that," Cyclonus grumbles. But regardless, he fires at Grimlock again, this time on a lower setting, before he smashes his way inside the building, leading them, coincidentally, to the Dinosaur exhibit, where numerous skeletons of Dinosaurs are set up and even an animatronic T-Rex which... isn't doing anything because there's no power.

Combat: Cyclonus misses Grimlock with his Forward Weapons Array (Laser) attack!

<Decepticon> Spinister says, "Executrix, do you require assistance?"

"Yeah yeah yeah, we'll see how far it gets after Astrotrain rolls through it. I'll be he'll level the join-- OW!" Fusillade's tirade is cut short as the rounds punch through her lower leg. With a grunt, she tips over. From behind the wall, blistering swears can be heard, before a sharp "ENOUGH!" can be heard, followed by the blur of her shooting upward on three of four good foot thrusters. She hisses, "Pucker up, pikey!" and fires a Phoenix missile at him. It might actually even have time to deploy its stabilizers as it uncoils out from Fusillade's torso, in defiance of all known physics.

Combat: Fusillade strikes Encore with her Medium Range Missiles attack!

<Decepticon> Piranacon says, "SEASPRAY... RISES TO MEET US... WE WILL DROWN HIM."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Fr-#static#"

<Decepticon> Predaking says, "I HAVE REACHED LOS ANGELES, BUT SUPERION HARRIES ME. THE CARRION BIRD IS UNWORTHY! I WILL DISSIPATE, AND LOSE MYSELF IN THE CITY. HE WILL NOT FIND ME WHEN I AM SMALL AGAIN."

Hook soars in from overhead, at this point without the other Constructions. "Preparations have taken longer than estimated. We're encountering resistance from EDC and Autobot forces." He draws his laser from subspace, "We'll need to reposition our forces after the Autobots here are dealt with if we are to move on." Hook touches down with a thud, surveying the combat landscape, his armor showing the effects of combat sustained elsewhere.

<Autobot> Encore says, "Mayday, mother#static# b#static# #crackle#ard OW..."

<Decepticon> Piranacon says, "HA... HA. HA HA. PREDAKING, WHO IS PREY NOW? ENGAGING SEASPRAY."

Rodimus Prime had no chance to react that time. At near point-blank range he takes the full power blast straight to the middle, and he's lifted right off his feet and sent hurling back with the momentum behind the hellacious discharge. The flaming red paint job disappears in the bright flash as Rodimus is carried up and backwards, smashing straight into the side of an office building, then straight on through the other side.

And through the next building, and the next one. Rodimus is carried through four structures before he finally comes to a stop, the final one shuddering once before it starts to collapse as if in slow-motion, an avalanche of smoke and debris piling down over where the Autobot Leader disappeared, kicking up an enormous thick and choking cloud of dust that fills the entire city block beyond. A deafening silence fills the void, save for the occasional bounce and rattle of building materials falling in on themselves. Until the dust cloud clears to show the roaring flames in the background...

...and the blackened and burnt hulk of none other than Rodimus himself. One half of his torso has been cored through that one can see to the other side, but the precious Matrix chamber remains whole. Step by slow step, Rodimus advances, his shoulders rising and falling with each heavy 'breath'. Somehow, at some point he had hold of his gun again...as he emerges past the first building once more, the flames of the burning structure framed behind him, his blue optics seeming to glow through the darkness as he glares back at Galvatron. "I don't care..." he breathes out, energon splaying from one corner of his mouth. "...I don't care if you're afraid of giant horned ghosts or not. Cause I'm sure not afraid...of -you-." Leaning against the building, Rodimus raises his rifle up once more, bracing himself as best he can before he squeezes the trigger down and holds it ALL the way. It may not be as potentially powerful as what Galvatron can put out...

But as the Photon Eliminator goes off, the blast is no less hellacious as it blossoms out into a thick beam of energy that lances out right back at Galvatron in turn.

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron with his Photon Eliminator attack!

Grimlock storms onward- and, fittingly enough, he transforms! Lasers ping harmlessly from Grimlock's armor as he storms forward- looking entirely paleontologically inaccurate next to the bones and displays of the Smithsonian! But, on the other hand, those studies never took into account important things, like, say, fire breath.

&#42;FWOOSH!* Grimlock opens his mouth and spews a stream of superheated flame at the Decepticon aide-de-camp- fortunately, fossilized rocks are pretty non-flammable! The same can't be said of the rest of the museum...but hey, it could use a remodeling anyway!

Combat: Robot T-Rex! <Grimlock> strikes Cyclonus with his Fire Breath attack!

<Decepticon> Snaptrap says, "Hnnng... re... making my way to the extraction zone. Lord Galvatron. See.. hk! See that Astrotrain is... on time."

<Decepticon> Astrotrain snorts, "How hard is it to be on time for a rendezvous with a -turtle-?"

<Decepticon> Razorclaw says, "Hmmmm, yes. Prey indeed."

<Autobot> Seaspray cheerfully reports, "Rrarrrrghle grrrarghle Predagarrghle on seeaaaa arrghle!" *laser fire*

<Autobot> Seaspray burbles: "Seacons retreating! Talk about a fish fry!"

The tank splits down the middle, then rises up. The treads separate into legs and arms pop out of the sides. The head comes out of the top of the tank. It's Warpath!

Combat: Warpath misses Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> with his KaPOW have a nice trip! (Kick) attack!

<Decepticon> Razorclaw says, "We're also on our way to the waypoint. Superion lacks the wit to track us."

VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> angles its turbofans to both pull back from Blot and start lifting higher into the air once more, the Glaive and hopefully Nate inside safe enough for the time being. Talia frowns a bit at the various battles playing out as she goes for a better view of the situation, radio distress calls, and everything else. Turning in mid-air as it Talia guides the strikecraft, it looks for a moment like it might be pulling out of the fight.

Until it stops to hover, positioned between both the fights. "I reckon it's time to make this a proper shootout." On each side of the Firehawk a machine-gun deploys, recoil arms swinging out to point both weapons forward to fire in a wide spread as the craft turns, Talia trying again to pump a few magazines of rounds in the femme and take some of the heat back off Encore by putting Fusillade in a compromised position.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Fusillade with her Aerial Gunslinger attack! That attack has temporarily impaired Fusillade's Agility. (Crippled)

Amber MacKenzie finds that she's a bit too close after all as Galvatron swipes clears the surface of her highway refuge in his own unique way, the cars he's knocking about coming close enough to force her to leap out of the way. She mentally calls the rude Decepticon leader some unflattering names, silently of course, before taking to the cover of a thick hedge of fragrant rosemary, which is a little prickly but at least smells nice. By the time she looks back towards the fight, panting for breath from the sudden, adrenaline-fueled leap, Rodimus has disappeared from her sight and the echoes of a huge blast shake the ground around her.

<Autobot> Talia McKinley says, "Hang on big guy, swinging some support back yer way."

<Autobot> Encore says, "I... ain't... dead... yet..."

Encore looks up as Fusillade levitates and the missile arcs out. He has -exactly- enough time to say "Oh, shi-" as the stabilisers flick out and he almost eats the missile, propelled back a good twenty feet away on the nosecone of the missile before it detonates. The explosion sends him sailing upwards, trailing smoke on his ballistic trajectory, which ends with him bouncing over Washington Boulevard.

He lays still in his little crater for a few minutes, before a hand appears at the rim and he picks himself up slowly, spitting out parts and fragments of his internal mechanisms as he stands. Every motion is slow, and painful-looking, and it takes him almost ten minute rise to his feet, using his bofors gun as a prop.

"I... ain't... dead... yet..." He growls, several dental plates missing and a lot of his armour ripped away. One of his wings is almost entirely missing, and all his chest mechanisms are open to view.

<Autobot> Encore says, "I'm gonna need a drink after this..."

Galvatron turns sideways, leaning back as a torrent of force roars past his cheek, arcs over the city and blows a chunk out of the Washington Monument the size of an SUV, sending the uppermost third of the obelisk toppling down to spear into the lawn below like a giant dart.

Galvatron turns back and stalks forward towards Rodimus almost casually, his rage seeming to have discharged along with the energy he pumped into his foe. He kicks the smoking hulk of a taxicab aside, the radiation-mummified corpse of a congressional aide tumbling from the open door. Unaware, Galvatron treads on it, grinding it to powder. His cannon glows brighter, and brighter still, building power as he closes in on Rodimus Prime. "I do not ask that you fear me, Rodimus," Galvatron says almost conversationally, as he raises his cannon and sights down his arm. "I ask only that you kneel... or die."

Hook sets his optics on Grimlock and shakes his head, "Wheeljack's bastards; shoddy craftsmanship if I have ever seen it. Your persistence in this universe defies explanation. By all rights you should be extinct like the crude beasts you were modeled after." He raises his pistol aiming at the Dinobot Commander. Confidently he steps toward Grimlock firing a few rounds at the him, "Now seems as good a time as any to correct the miscarriage."

Combat: Hook strikes Robot T-Rex! <Grimlock> with his Constructicon Pistol attack!

Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> clamps his jaws down, snuffling the directed stream of fire and causing smoke to spew out of his mouth, "You dare make fun of me?!" Well, Blot did say that whenever he gets angry he gets darn bloody hungry too, and what can be more inviting than his own prey wheeling itself forward and serving itself on a silver platter? The rugged mechanical monstrosity steps forward, leaving behind globs of hazardous chemical waste footprints behind him as he slaps away the turret that threatens him and attempts to make a low dive at the tank's tracks!

Combat: Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> strikes Warpath with his Devour attack!

Attack Helicopter turns the corner to spot Encore...

"Now that's a trophy worth taking home to the ladies!" Singe cackles, gun barrel glowing red as Hairsplitter hums to life. Encore is about to have a serious, mysterious problem.

"Hook," calls out the Supreme Decepticon, leaning in to press the barrel of his cannon to Rodimus' chest. He does not look around; he looks Rodimus in the eye as he speaks to the Constructicon. "Prepare a cruciform to fit Rodimus' body. I will bolt him to it with my own hands, that all will see my work. I will display him before my army as we advance. His lifeless form shall be my battle standard."

Cyclonus gnashes his teeth as Grimlock stomps towards him. "Do you really think you can stop us, Grimlock? Without your human friends to help you, you no longer have the advantage of numbers, and without that--FWWAAAGH!" And Cyclonus is unceremoniously propelled out of the Smithsonian by Grimlock's flame breath, which sends him right through a wall. Some of the dinosaur skeletons do catch on fire, but mostly they're just blackened. The animatronic T-Rex doesn't fare so well, its rubbery coating melting away, slowly revealing the mechanical structure underneath, like it's some kind of crazy Terminator Dinosaur. T-D. Or something.

The skeletons may not have escaped destruction yet, however, because once Cyclonus staggers back up to his feet, charred and smoking, he produces a silver disk from a compartment on his arm. "Heh, a fell blow... but how fitting that I should answer that blow by destroying you AND the inspiration your beloved Wheeljack used to create you abominations!" He flings the disk inside. Will it go off in Grimlock's face? Will it destroy the Dinosaur exhibit!? And will Hook accidentally get caught in the blast?

Combat: Cyclonus has created a bomb: "Dino Crisis"!

Combat: Cyclonus strikes Robot T-Rex! <Grimlock> but misses Hook with Dino Crisis's Huge Explosion #9429 Area attack!

Fusillade is caught mid-air the chattering rattle of Talia's weapons-fire, tumbling back down onto the street as she is pinned by the VTOL's highly effective maneuverability. "Pitt, I thought those things were supposed to crash themselves all the time and kill their pilots," she mutters to herself. Fully absorbed by Talia's harassment, the grey and white bombardier has lost track of Encore completely (at least for now), and focuses her attention on the here and now, continuing to pop off shots from her stupidly oversized, chromed sidearm.

Combat: Fusillade strikes VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> with her Nose-Mounted Laser (Laser) attack!

Rodimus Prime glances to the rifle, noting the power charge reading almost nil by this point. He won't be able to do that again anytime soon. He had a feeling this was coming, given that he'd already been knocked around a bit and expended some energon with the other Decepticon lackeys before Galvatron jumped in too. All things considered though, he held up pretty well. If one can call staring down the barrel of Galvatron's cannon and point-blank range well by this point. And yet he still doesn't flinch, pushing off from where he leans against the building and standing up straight as he tosses his rifle to one side, letting it clatter to the ground. Even when the cannon clinks against his chest, Rodimus still stands straight and stares back eye-to-eye with the Decepticon leader.

"You always were predictable, Galvatron." Rodimus spits off a globule of energon to one side. "On the verge of losing it at any moment. And then maybe a moment of triumph that you savor for the taste of it. Promises of a grand display for your Decepticons as proof of your invincibility." And then the faintest hints of a smirk, the edge of his mouth quirking up just slightly. "And then you -always- forget to look over your shoulder."

<Decepticon> Fusillade says, "Pitt, I thought those things were supposed to crash themselves all the time and kill their pilots."

"What?" asks Galvatron, squinting. Then he thinks to look behind him.

The Smithsonian (or, at least the natural history wing) explodes! This is even worse than that one Ben Stiller movie. Flames lick at the walls and windows, lending a little bit of light to the otherwise darkened evening.

And...Grimlock endures. He rises up from the burning wreckage, red-hot embers streaming from his armor...and, acting on warrior's instinct, Grimlock snaps his head towards where Galvatron and Rodimus face off.

The damage Grimlock's endured so far is ignored- as the dinobot commander LOOOMS up behind Galvatron, meeting the Decepticon's optics for one moment.

Grimlock smiles.

"This am me Grimlock FAVORITE PART!"

&#42;CHOMP!*

Combat: Robot T-Rex! <Grimlock> strikes Galvatron with his Dino Crush attack!

Encore hears the sound of rotors and turns to face the sound. He sags slightly, as if to say 'really...?' dropping the Bofors gun and drawing his revolver, carefully taking aim at the machine almost half-heartedly, growling quietly, dripping energon down his frame with a soft growl.

"Not now..." he mutters with a soft sigh, pulling the trigger in the hopes of driving Spinister off. It seems even the recoil of the gun hurts right now.

Combat: Encore strikes Attack Helicopter with his Pistol attack!

<Autobot> Encore says, "Could do with a medic..."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime grunts, "Perfect timing, Grimlock."

<Autobot> Grimlock mmgfhf hrrfm nmmphf.

The speech by Galvatron is horrifying, and Amber rises slowly to her feet to see the battered but defiant Rodimus and the apparently triumphant Galvatron. She gropes absently for the pistol at her side and draws it, balanced on the edge between opening fire like an idiot and staying quiet and alive. She's distracted by the huge crash behind her, and she whirls to see the new crater formed by Encore's arrival. The ordinary pistol gripped hard in both hands and aimed at the crater, she stares in that direction with narrowed eyes, at least until Encore crawls out, and she can relax.

Sideswipe can be seen off in the background, battling others while trying to give cover to humans who are running for cover.

Warpath slips and falls in the puddle, finds himself still burning, and Blot chewing on him. "Ewwww, YUCK! POW, get off me!" The red tank minibot punches at the monstrosity.

Combat: Warpath strikes Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> with his Punch attack!

VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> takes the laser fire head-on, both literally and figuratively, as several shots slam and burn into its hull despite its previous aerial evasiveness. Perhaps because dodging isn't what Talia is considering right now, as she tries to center Fusillade in the center of the main holo-screen overlay of the cockpit. "Like linin' up between the horns of a bull," she murmurs, and shoves both control sticks forward.

Plumes flare out of the main thrusters as the Firehawk rattles out of the attack with a sudden burst of speed... And equally sudden swooping towards the femme as the autocannon rotates back to tuck safely under the nosecone as the VTOL makes a crazy attempt at just smashing the Con off her feet.

If nothing else, this is one human not afraid of throwing down with the big space robots, guns or otherwise.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Fusillade with her Skydive Stampede (Ram) attack!

Galvatron's entire upper body disappears in Grimlock's toothy maw as the T-Rex snaps down like a bear trap slamming shut. The sound of banging and fusion blasts ricocheting around inside Grimlock's cavernous gob accompany Galvatron's legs kicking furiously as he gets shaken around like a rat grabbed by a terrier. After a few seconds the jaws are forced open from within, Galvatron prying them apart with his immense, Unicron-gifted strength, and his cannon fires on high-impulse mode, kicking the Overlord free of the trap and hurling him down into the city.

Galvatron lands roughly, and when he tries to stand, he finds that he can't- Grimlock bit through something or other in his waist that sends signals to his legs, and they won't obey his commands. He props himself up on his arms and shouts to the other Decepticons, a sound never sweeter to the survivors of the devastating attack, Autobots and humans alike: "Decepticons, RETREAT!"

Triggering his cannon again, Galvatron blasts off and spirals away into the smoke-blackened sky, presumably towards the extraction waypoint for this combat zone. This should be awfully familiar to Astrotrain by now.

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Washington task force, retreat to the extraction zone! Astrotrain, to me, now!"

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "Grrk! And right when I'm already re-entry approach. Okay Boss, on my way! This is gonna hurt..." *sounds of screeching metal and rising heat alarms* "....okay, no problem! Didn't need that flap anyway.""

The chopper takes the blast, and Singe laughs a dramatic pompous laugh, while Hairsplitter sighs. "I'm going to have to fill out three TG3 requests to get that ding buffed out..."

The counter response comes from Spinister himself: the chopper lurches forward, gaining altitude. Enough altitude that Encore can see the chopper's belly, and sees the fusion bomb detach from Spinister's wings, hovering in the air for a moment before it locks on to the Autobot, burners kicking in and rocketing towards him!

Combat: Attack Helicopter strikes Encore with its Guided Fusion Bombs attack!

Cyclonus smiles as the Smithsonian goes up in flames... and looks appropriately crestfallen when he sees that Grimlock not only survived, but he's chowing down on his boss! "My Lord! Behind--" Too late. "Blast you, Grimlock! You'll pay for this--and so shall you, Rodimus Prime!" Cyclonus follows Galvatron up into the sky, trying to hook an arm around his waist to help guide him. "Are you well, my Lord?" Cyclonus asks, even though the answer should be obvious.

"Wait, what?" Fusillade asks incredulously as the helicopter barrels down at her. "CRASHHAWK!!!" She spins along the asphalt, skidding, before sneering, "And sometimes, you get the HORNS!" She straightens herself, and then takes a running start toward Talia, heedless of Galvatron's call to withdraw. Okay, giant robot, not so bad. GIANT ASS BOMBER going to escape velocity?! BAD!

Internally, Fusillade exults in victory -- regardless of the outcome, she will be on her way, with or without the satisfaction of having flown through an enemy. Will the Lancer live up to the literal interpretation of its name?

Combat: Space-Going B-1R Lancer strikes VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> with her Ram attack!

Hook advances a little too close to Grimlock as Cyclonus's bomb detonates. The blast launches the Constructicon a few yards up and back smashing his frame into a pile of rubble. An audible "Ooomph!" is heard upon metal hitting rock. Hook shakes his head in a desperate attempt to regain his focus. Looking up he sees Grimlock advancing on Galvatron from behind. He calls out to Cyclonus, "I was on him you carless imbecile!" He turns his head away at the sound of teeth gnawing on his commander. Hook takes a moment to steady himself and rise before charging toward Galvatron, "I'll free y---" stopping short as he sees Galvatron pry himself free of the bite. Hook takes another moment to survey the landscape before taking a step back. "We're overrun..." he mutters. He grabs a nearby taxi and soars into the air, back to Galvatron and Cyclonus he faces the Autobots putting himself and his crude shield between the injured Decepticon commanders, "We must fall back to a stronghold. There are too many!"

Foul Smelling Monstrosity <Blot> staggers back as he takes a fist in the face, his abominable-looking features further disfigured with a sizeable dent resulting from the punch. He spits out some excessive metallic fragments that he wasn't able to wolf down completely before winding up his right fist for a swing in retaliation--- except it ends prematurely in response to Galvatron's call for retreat. The Terrorcon foot soldier stops in motion, he just turns around, transforms and takes flight. Is it because Blot may have a short attention span? Or is it because he follows simple orders to the letter? Who knows? Who cares? Either way, Blot takes flight and attempts to leave.

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "We will rendezvous at the Copernicus. Astrotrain and Blast Off are shuttling between it and the extraction waypoints. The Autobots have not won this yet. We have delivered a tremendous blow tonight."

<Decepticon> Spinister says, "Mayhem Attack Squad, Galvatron has issued the extraction command. Abandon current targets and fall back."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "It will be a death knell heard throughout the galaxy, my Lord."

Encore knew the moment he heard the helicopter that he was staring down the barrel of the gun. He drew first, and he hit his target... but it was a pistol, even a hand-cannon at his scale would never take down a helicopter but, well, he's like Bruce McLane, he's got to take the shot anyway.

As the bomb falls he kind of sags a little with a soft sigh, raising his pistol even as the bomb comes in. His face shows he knows that he's not going to shoot the bomb down, but dammit he tries anyway, snapping off a single shot before the thing hits him, blasting him back into the crater he'd just pulled himself out of. He looks down and finds himself disconnected from his legs and one arm, sighing softly as he looks at his cigar, still held in a hand that's not where it should be anymore.

"Ow." He mutters to himself, letting go of his pistol with his one remaining arm and pulling out his Victory Dance cigar. He reaches for his lighter... only to discover that the leg that has the lighter in it is just out of his reach.

"Figures."

Rodimus Prime doesn't grin, doesn't taunt, doesn't even -enjoy- the moment as Galvatron is tossed around in Grimlock's mouth like he was a chewed up rat. He does lean to one side cautiously as the Decepticon pries himself loose and leaps free...but he relaxes a bit as Galvatron is clearly having his own problems now, and calls the retreat in short order. "Good timing Grimlock," he offers to the Dinobot, raising one hand in some gesture of thanks, the other rising up to grip at the hole in his torso as he winces and finally allows himself to sag back against the building behind him, his back sliding down as he clanks into a pained sitting position. Silently his gaze pans left, then right, taking in the devastation around him. The burning fires, the distant sounds of explosions and the cries of rescuers and those in need of rescue alike. Emergency services will rally, of course...machines will be repaired, systems will be brought back online. But for the moment, everything sits in darkness for now save for the burning fires and the still occasional flashes of weaponsfire as the last of the fighting peters out. And Rodimus knows this is just a taste of what's happened in many places all over the globe.

And so he sits with his back to the building, letting his head fall back with a faint *clank* of metal to concrete, in brooding silence as he starts snapping off radio messages.

<Autobot> Encore says, "I'm... out of the fight."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime grunts with some effort in speaking, "Reports are coming in that the Decepticons are pulling back all over the planet."

Robot T-Rex! <Grimlock> spits out a chunk of purple metal. *PTOO!*

He looks over at Rodimus- and, well, he's still smiling- but when you've got that many teeth, it's hard not to. "You welcome." he growls- if good naturedly.

The massive dinosaur is fairly humming with excitement, looking around at the burning battlefield. If there's anything better than retreating Decepticons...it's Decepticons who aren't retreating fast enough!

Grimlock transforms up to his robot mode, his double-blaster in his hand. With practiced ease, he thumbs the fire selector to 'LOTS' and opens up on the Decepticon fliers!

"WHAT WRONG!?" Grimlock demands, "Me Grimlock just get here, and you already running 'way! Me Grimlock no done killing you yet!"

Combat: Grimlock strikes Attack Helicopter and Space-Going B-1R Lancer with his Laser Barrage Area attack!

<Autobot> Encore says, "Structural integrity 0.01%, five out of six limbs, if you include the wings, missing... and I can't reach my lighter because it's in my -leg- compartment which is three meters out of reach."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Figures."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Those Autobots who aren't disabled and in need of emergency repair are to immediately start helping with the rescue efforts. I want Wheeljack to gather up any other technical types and start getting power restored to the most essential areas of the hardest hit areas so human rescue efforts can be assisted. Help them enough that their technicians can take over, then get to the next worst-off location."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Least we drove 'em off... how bad is it"

<Autobot> Encore snorts "ENC-55 changing callsign on all EDC-related channels to 'Black Knight'.

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "If half of what I'm hearing from Autobot scout reports, it's bad. We're too few in number to be handling rescue efforts across the planet...we need to focus on helping the humans recover so their own rescue operatives can operate unhindered."

Amber MacKenzie, still holding her pistol, is caught in the same blast that takes poor Encore down, but at least she's not close enough to get hit all that hard. It throws her forward, and she loses her pistol, but manages to turn the fall into a forward somersault... or two or three... and lands face up on someone's yard, covered with dirt. Shaking her head to clear it, she unsteadily sits up, and the first thing she does is look for her pistol. That's about twenty feet away, and she scrambles back to snatch it up. Rising to her feet, she has another look around to see if any of the Decepticons are still nearby.

She knew she was putting herself in a risky situation, but the satisfaction of seeing Fusillade sent reeling gets a smirk out of Talia all the same even as the femme is getting up and transforming. "Oh so now y'all wanna play chicken do ya?" There's no way she could outrun a ship that fast, so Talia opts for taking it and rolling with the blow, swinging the Firehawk sideways as it pulls up and tilts to the side.

Sparks fly and metal screeches against metal as the bomber tears against the smaller VTOL, tearing off the machine-gun mount on that side and shredding away layers of structuring. The Firehawk lurchs violently, appearing to be spinning away from getting crashed into.

But the spiral also brings the nose end swinging back towards the bomber as it's speeding away, the autocannon swinging back out into firing position "Maybe next time y'all think twice about thinkin' ya can just break our stuff and come stompin' down. The size of the guns don't matter as much"

There's a loud *THWOOM* as the autocannon fires an explosive parting gift after Fusillade's backside.

"As the gumpshun behind it pullin the trigger."

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> misses Space-Going B-1R Lancer with her Pyrestarter attack!

<Autobot> Afterburner says, "Reporting in for the Technobots, Prime. The Stunticons are pulling out of Singapore. Could've been worse."

<Autobot> Encore sighs softly, almost regretfully. "If fuel's needed for generators, boss, go into my hangar. You'll find a large container marked with a blue diamond with a yellow cross on it. Dilute it to 30% with water and it'll fuel anything that can burn diesel. I'll... submit to punishment for using the chemical when I've recovered, I'm fairly sure it's not allowed in Metroplex but I use it a lot in enershine brewing."

Attack Helicopter drops down next to Encore's fallen form, transforming. Singe dances gleefully over to the fallen Autobot, holding up the lighter retrieved from the leg. "Allow me!" He bows dramatically, lighting Encore's cigar.

"This one?" Hairsplitter asks Singe, pointing at the arm laying nearby.

"Perfect!" Singe is positively gleeful as the two lift the arm. "Buzzkill will be mine for certain!" Spinister transforms, a storage compartment opening for them to load the trophy. The three launch into the sky, just in time to fly right into Grimlock fire! The three get good and...well, Singed, but continue with their retreat.

<Autobot> Metroplex booms, "SAN FRANCISCO SECURED. WATERFRONT HEAVILY DAMAGED, ALAMEDA SEVERELY DAMAGED. DECEPTICONS REPELLED. RETURNING TO STANDBY.

<Autobot> Fortress Maximus says, "Somehow we were able to advert meltdown on all of the nuclear power plant on the North American continent. Astounding work from the brave engineering teams both humans and Autobots alike."

<Autobot> Encore chuckles "So I didn't get scrapped for nothin'? Cool."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Those power plants keep disconnected backup systems just for an EMP style attack. I'm just glad none of the backup setups failed and they were able to get them up and running in time. Kudos to all that emergency training."

With the other Decepticons pulling back, Fusillade doesn't have much incentive to stick around. The bomber's form shudders as she shreds her way through the Terran vehicle, engines straining. The craft slumps into the crook of one wing, before sliding off her airframe like a bug ushered off and away by a windshield wiper. Grimlock's weaponsfire ushers her along a bit more quickly. "Grimlock, Grimlock, Grimlock, always LATE to the fight. I'm taking the party with me, not my fault you're a slowcoach!" Talia's shots go wide, causing a giddy barrel-roll from the bomber as she overcompensates to evade. "Eeeee! Same to you! Ha ha!"

Warpath shakes a fist and whoops as the Decepticons retreat. "Yeah, go on, git outta here! BLAM!" he shouts. When they leave he surveys the devastation and hangs his head. "They blum, really did a number."

<Autobot> Hot Spot says, "Devastator gave us plenty of trouble here in the Big Apple, but he split up a while ago and we're in good shape, actually. Always keep the boys in peak condition, don't you know! Permission to remain in New York City for the time being, Prime? They really need us here, we're only starting to get the fires under control."

Encore takes the light with a not and a grunt, glaring at Spinister the whole way. He takes a puff on the Victory Dance and leans back in his crater with a sigh, exhaling a long plume of cobalt-lithium-copper smoke, like one would expect from a British 'Hamlet Cigars' commercial above the lip of his crater. He chuckles a little, looking over himself and running a mental checklist.

Bad points: Encore is, almost literally, disarmed. He's doing a pretty damn good impression of the Black Knight from Monty Python's Holy Grail. When he takes a pull of his cigar, it leaks out of -most- of his chest when he exhales. The numbers are probably frightening; collateral damage was inevitable in this kind of attack.

Good points: We're not looking at every nuke plant in America going up, and the Cons are retreating. The day is, just, saved.

It's a victory, and in his unique way, Encore can still dance.

<Autobot> Encore says, "No rush getting to me for a tow, guys, I'm not leaking out or anything. Feeling a little disconnected though..."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Stay as long as needed until the local fire forces can take over, Hot Spot. Then get on to the next heavily hit area and do the same. We can't focus on stomping every fire out to extinction there's too few of us. We have to help in the worst-hit areas until the humans can take over."

<Autobot> Encore doesn't sound sarcastic at all; he's being serious. "Help the people who need it, I'm happy with my cigar."

<Autobot> Hot Spot says, "I hear that, Prime. I hate to leave a job unfinished, but I know how to triage, you betcha. Hot Spot over and out."

Really it was more the point of the matter than if the last shot actually hit or not. The Firehawk is smashed and battered, but it and pilot alike made it through their first major engagement, and a big one to boot, intact.

Turbofans whine from the abuse as they struggle with pulling the VTOL out of it's spin finally and settle down to the ground with a heavy jostle as the landing skids hit the ground heavy, clunking farther to one side due to one strut being warped from the collision with the Lancer.

Once the craft has settled and the fans start to spin down to idle, Talia pops open the cockpit and stands up, resting one foot on the edge of the compartment. But instead of cheering or anything just yet she turns to look in Rodimus' direction, still in professional mode. "Give me a few minutes to make sure that buckin' didn't break anythin' too important an' I can be back in the air to help look fer survivors and whatnot."

Sideswipe comes down the street, looking dented and a bit beat up but so does everyone else. He looks around at the devastation in this region of the city and whistles low. "Damn...and I thought we ripped it up in my neck of the woods." he muttered. He walks over to where the biggest group of Bots are gathered, mainly up to Rodimus. "Instructions sir? We got 'em routed on the other side of the city...Police force and military are taking over already on that side. Where do you want me."

<Autobot> Twin Twist says, "Prime, Topspin and I chased the Battlechargers out of the City and up the countryside, but we lost them in Yorkshire. Somewhere in Leeds. Led us a merry chase. We'll be on our way back to help with the fixit jobs as best we can. Hopefully those two keep their heads down for a while."

<Autobot> Sideswipe says, "Question is...where did they flee to? Back to Mars?"

Rodimus Prime snaps off orders left right and center as he rests with his back against the building. Not even enough time to catch his figurative breath and he still has to organize and send people where they're most badly needed.

Eventually he pushes up, painfully getting to his feet and keeping that one arm clamped tightly over the hole in his chest, like a human would favor a set of broken ribs. "Help with any rescue efforts that you can, Sideswipe. Until the humans can get their disabled machinery up and running again they have nothing to help them with mechanically heavy jobs, or picking through rubble for survivors. It's where we can help the most." He grimaces just slightly, and then uses his free hand to wipe some stray energon dribbling from the corner of his mouth. "Help where you can with the worst cases, then move on to the next. Focus where you can provide the most help and let the humans take over the smaller stuff."

<Autobot> Twin Twist says, "Not unless they got a ride when we weren't looking. But who knows. That sort can blend in with traffic. Once we lost track of them, any of the frizzed-out cars we passed might've been them, just holding still."

Grimlock gives a disappointed grunt as he runs out of Fight to do, and then he too lumbers over towards the other Autobots- though Grimlock takes a moment to grab what's left of Encore in order to drag him along to the little gathering.

"Hnn. Him Swoop just radio me Grimlock. Them just chase Headmaster-guys out of Baltimore." he nods, and then takes a moment to reach out with his other hand, pulling Rodimus to a more inspiring, straight-standing position. "So...us win, right?"

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "They might have gone back to Mars but something tells me that doesn't seem likely. Galvatron isn't the type to make a big move like this, then just go back to where he was before. I want Teletran Two doing a search for increased activity. We'll find them. There's no way Galvatron can hide that much troop movement."

Encore coughs a little with a chuckle, searching through various compartments on his body even as Grimlock drags him along "Cheers grim." He comments, taking a swig of the flask and holding it up for Grimlock, if he so chooses. He doesn't, perhaps thankfully, notice that most of the Green Smile enershine he's just drank is leaking out of him and leaving a faintly glowing trail along the ground.

"Seems that way. Reckon we chucked a spanner in their works though"

<Autobot> Encore says, "I am -so- gonna regret this when damage sensors come back online..."

Amber MacKenzie finally puts her pistol away, and with a long sigh climbs the highest building... rubble... whatever to have a look around. There are no traitorous tears this time; her face is calm, her eyes cold. Dead bodies as far as the eye can see. Blasted, burned, crushed in car crashes or by uncaring Decepticon feet or by falling buildings. Damn them. Damn them all to hell. She bows her head and hugs herself, shivering. A moment of silence for the fallen, and then she climbs down to go look for Prime.

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "This mudball looks better all dark. Too bad we couldn't keep it that way."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "It's not over *yet.*"

Sideswipe looks at Rodimus, "We need to get you a medic bot before you fall on your face Sir. You aren't any good to us if are face down cause you didn't get seen to."

VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> just nods a bit as she climbs up on top of the Firehawk and walks out one pylon to the sputtering turbofan. No time to wait for official repairs, so she's going to have to make quick and do it the down home country way.

Give it a hearty kick to the cowling with her boot.

&#42;THUNTHUNTHUNTHTHTHTHTM* After a bit more wharbly and sputter the VTOL engine spins back up to full speed, at least for the time being. Satisfied Talia turns and clamors back down to the cockpit and pulls the canopy shut. Sooner she can get back in the air to help with the relief efforts, the better.

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "No, it certainly is NOT over. Hook, I expect you and the other Constructicons to work double shifts until repairs are made to my troops."

<Autobot> Dust Devil says, "Wow...I'm guessin any of us that's still able ta move are bein dispatched ta rescue, recover and clean up?"

<Autobot> Encore says, "Sadly I can't come help. I'm... not."

<Autobot> Encore chuckles

<Autobot> Dust Devil says, "wonder what happens if someone swipes Encore cigar and dangles it out of reach...."

<Autobot> Talia McKinley teases, "Ye can still do somethin' useful, big guy. Save me a drink for when I get back."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Ten Four, Talia. And Dust Devil, such a someone would earn themselves pride of place in the 'revenge pending' file. Just ask Fanfare about that, yeah?"

<Autobot> Dust Devil says, "Bettin Galvacannon would sound like a picnic compared ta what he'd do ta someone..."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Yup."

"I won't lie and say that I'm fine, Sideswipe." Rodimus winces a bit, pulling his arm away just enough to show the hole straight through the side of his torso. That coupled with all the blackened scorchmarks, rips in his spoilers and rents in his armor certainly makes for a sorry sight. "But I've been worse after a scrap with Galvatron too. I'm not leaking out, so I'll keep for the moment. And I have no intention of pushing my luck in the meantime."

For Amber's efforts, Prime is pretty easy to find. Just look for the big blackened flamepaintjob that looks like he's been kicked in the ribs one times too many.

<Autobot> Dust Devil says, "So did ya still need yer lighter or did ya just touch the cigar off with one of yer sparkin appendages?"

<Autobot> Encore says, "Surprisingly enough, one of the Cons lit it for me. Then the c#crackle# nicked my arm."

<Autobot> Encore says, "Bastard. I'll 'ave 'im for that the next time I see the prick in a bar."

<Autobot> Encore says, "I'll 'ave 'is dental plates before the year is out, that I promise you"

It's finding a way through all the rubble and dead bodies that's the hard part, but eventually Amber does just that. She gets a good look at Prime and gasps, her eyes widening for a few seconds before she bows her head to hide her shock. "Glad to see you made it, Rodimus," she greets softly, and then gets down to business. "We have the transcripts of Galvatron's exact words from Mars, and that may give you more information to work with, sir. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd suspect that they'd be going for Manhattan, since that was mentioned as their intended new base of operations."

Warpath helps with the cleanup before he goes in for repairs.

Encore looks around at the city, and shakes his head. "Bastards." He mutters, taking a pull of his cigar. He looks over at Amber, commenting before Rodimus speaks. "I caught a brief look at what you did before that bloody helicopter hit me. Y'did good."

Encore also holds up his one remaining arm for a fistbump of thanks to Grimlock for dragging him to the others. "Nice one Grim mate."

"It looks bad... but it woulda been worse than a twister in a trailer park had folks not banded together to drive them off. We'll rebuild. It's somethin' us stubborn squishies tend t'be good at." As the canopy locks down completely Talia grins and gives the regrouping Autobots a thumbs up before the Firehawk lifts back into the air and buzzs off to help with the search and rescue operations getting under way.

Sideswipe nods and looks back at Prime with concern, then looks at Amber, worry on his face for the human woman seeing all this death and destruction. He's lived with it for thousands of human years of his own kind. It doesn't get easier unfortunately and nothing he can say to her will make it any better. He nods to both of them, "I'll go see where I can help. Give a shout if you need me for anything specific." With that he turns and using his jet pack, takes off into the skies to see if he can find where he's going to be needed the most.

Rodimus Prime glances over as Amber starts to speak, noting her disheveled appearance, "Thanks. You too. I've made a bit of a career out of taking the worst Galvatron can throw at me and not staying down. I don't intend to be ending that record anytime either." He trails off then wincing as he straightens up and shifts over to a more comfortable position, half leaning against the side of a building again. "Transcripts? Yes, I'll definitely want to pour through those. If I can get you to send them to Metroplex..." He pauses, then frowns. "Well, I guess communications are kind of at a standstill right now. I'll call Sky Lynx back down from orbit and you can download a copy to him. He can get it back to Metroplex quicker than any of us so the intelligence types can pour over it. If their goal was to take Manhattan as their base, at least we know we messed up those plans."

Cybertronian Car <Moonracer> revs through the chaotic streets towards Rodimus and the gathered Autobots. She transforms, hurrying towards Rodimus. The femme is beat up but determined. "Rodimus, we're in bad shape. I'd say there's about half of Boston left. We didn't have enough Autobots to defend on a national level, much less a global one."

Amber MacKenzie nods and finally relaxes a bit, enough to lean on the single standing wall of a small store. She's done with official business for now and go to something more personal. "Heya, Encore, Grimlock," she finally says, looking up (and in Encore's case, down) at/to the mechs. "Good to see you, too. Nice job, all of you." She drops her gaze and swallows hard, though the news about Boston hits hard. Her Mum was... is there.

Encore looks over at Amber and comments, quietly. "If I'm fixed up when you need to fly out there miss, you look me up, OK?"

Rodimus Prime's mouth sets into a grim line, but he nods slowly at Moonracer's report. "Alright, we'll add Boston to the list of places that need help the most right now. I'll tell Hot Spot to get the Protectobots over there as soon as they're done in New York." Grunting, he forces himself to straighten up again, finally removing his arm from his side and letting the hole in his chest 'breathe' despite how much it stings and aches to his circuits right now. "We've all been hit hard here, folks. But we're not down and out. Not by a longshot. I know humanity has a long history of being able to bear the most terrible blows, whether caused by natural disasters or war. In the days to come there's going to be countless people who are going to go to extraordinary lengths and show what they're capable of...of that I have no doubts. The Autobots are going to stand with them the whole way. We may not be as numerous but we're going to help in any way we can. And then?" Rodimus' good hand clenches into a fist as he raises it upwards, narrowing his optics towards the sky.

"Galvatron's going to learn the hard way that he can't get away with this sort of barbarism. I promise you all that much."

Cybertronian Car <Moonracer> nods, slinging her rifle over her shoulder. "Yes sir." She grits her teeth, and notices Amber's reaction. "Amber MacKenzie? Is Boston of strategic significance to you?"

"No... strategic... importance," Amber answers quietly. Changing the subject, she muses, "Communications is the big thing, I think. Autobots have the only working radios... well, outside of my Blackberry, which has no one to receive it. I'd work on building new units ASAP, though they'd still be vulnerable to another zap from that bloody EMP. Speaking of which, how about moving Copernicus to Mars and dropping it on their heads? The Decepticons broke it, so they can have it back."

Moonracer watches Amber carefully. She still hasn't spent much time around the humans, but she did spend 10 million years on the same neuron dampening cycle as four other female Autobots: she knows there is more to Amber's response than meets the eye.

There's no way to communicate, no way to get there (she isn't going to ask for a ride when other people are out there dying). Amber can only wait and worry. "Has anyone heard anything from Alameda?" she asks. May as well see if she's going to be a double orphan today.

Moonracer shakes her head, kneeling beside Amber. "I have not heard...I can't imagine they would have dared hit so close to Metroplex. Boston was hit hard by a Seeker wing, Amber MacKenzie. I did my best to keep them occupied...I intend to return until Defensor can be dispatched. I can have us both there within the hour."

"There was heavy damage to it, last I heard." Rodimus says evenly after making several reports that are sent back to Metroplex. It's not that he doesn't care about the fate of the EDC base of course, but there's more than enough destruction to go around right now. "That doesn't mean anyone should give up hope though. Predaking and Piranacon may have caused lots of damage but there's no -way- they could have focused on mass slaughter. Ignoring Metroplex would have gotten them both destroyed really fast."

And that's why Amber doesn't ask for any special privileges. She nods in understanding. "It's possible Dad wasn't even there for the attack. It's after working hours, and he had the day shift. He'll be busy now, though, since he's a technician." Back still against the supporting wall, she slides slowly to her knees and sighs, then shrugs out of her backpack and pulls out a bottle of water. "If you need someone to carry a nuke into Trypticon, I volunteer," she announces casually.

Moonracer sits back next to Amber, not saying anything. She looks up at Rodimus. "I'll return to Boston shortly, sir...I just..." She glances down at Amber and looks back to Prime. "I have to recharge for a minicycle or two."

Greg MacLeod makes his way over to where Amber is. Fortunately his Exo was still working. "Whoa, what happened here?" he says, "It looks like world war III?"

Amber MacKenzie snorts quietly and mumbles to Greg, "Just check the Cybertron Datanet News, dude."

Rodimus Prime's head actually snaps over from his reports to look straight towards Amber. "Don't even -joke- about something like that." Grimacing, he turns and shuffles a bit closer, letting himself move down to one knee so he can get down on more eye level with the human woman. "Amber, I know this is a shock...I know this is hard right now. Believe me, I -know-. Worry for loved ones...a feeling of helplessness at this carnage...anger at the Decepticons. I -know-. But don't talk about carrying nukes into Trypticon, or any kind of suicidal missions, or anything of that sort. If you fall into that sort of thinking..." he raises his good arm, and taps one large finger against his own forehead. "It means they've gotten to you. They've managed to pierce that what separates us from them. They -won't- get away with this, I promise you. But don't let this take you down a dark path..."

Greg MacLeod ohs and checks! "This wasn't working a bit ago," he says.

Moonracer gives Greg MacLeod an odd look. "I admit I haven't been among humans long, but is this an attempt at humor? Or is it possible you've slept through a full scale Decepticon invasion?"

Amber MacKenzie flinches from the sudden closeness, but he at least gets her attention. Green eyes widen and look up at the still-taller Autobot leader as she rises to her feet. "Why not?" she asks simply. Waving a hand towards the carnage that still surrounds them, though more and more are being taken away by emergency workers, she continues, "If one person's death means that helpless, innocent non-fighters can be spared, why not? Wouldn't you sacrifice yourself for your own people? Don't you do that every time you fight the Decepticons? I admit that I really don't want to die, but... if that's what it takes to save millions of lives, then I am so there." She tries to smile, but it's a pathetic effort. "Feel free to deliver a nuke some other way, if there is one, but if not... here I am."

Greg MacLeod looks horrified. "Oh crap, I think I *did* sleep through a Decepticon attack. I gotta stop taking NyQuil."

Moonracer sighs and stands. "Amber MacKenzie, give me a name. I will locate them." She salutes Rodimus. "Sir. I'll assist the humans until Red Alert brings his mechs north." The femme transforms and revs her engines. "Amber, let me do this for you."

"It's -never- worth it." Rodimus responds firmly in time, standing up straight again, this time without a wince. It's amazing how when you get into something that's important to you it tends to make pain become just a background ache you can get past. "We put our lives on the line every time we fight the Decepticons, yes. There have been Autobots in the past who've sacrificed themselves to save others...too many than I'd care to think about in fact, but -only- as a last resort, and we grieve the loss of each and every one of them. All life is precious. -Your- life is precious." As he says that, a finger the size of a log points briefly towards Amber. "Don't ever talk about throwing it away so casually. Fight for it if you must, fight for other's lives if you feel you need to, it's your choice. But don't ever throw your life away. Keep it close, protect it and -live-. Keep on living." He looks like he's about to say more, but then stops himself, and lets out a sigh as he half turns away. "...sorry. I'm ranting when I shouldn't be. I think it's time I take my own orders to the other Autobots and get patched up. There's a lot that's going to need to be done."

Amber MacKenzie gives a little sniffle-snort of true amusement. "You risked your life for me, Rodimus. I don't forget that, and I guess you don't want your efforts to go to waste. You're right. I'm shocked, appalled, frightened by what I saw today, and that's not a good state of mind in which to make important, life-and-death decisions, especially for someone who prides herself on her common sense." She sighs, all amusement vanishing back to where it came from. "I apologize for putting you through that. It's been a rough month, even before today. I'll be better tomorrow." She bows her head to Rodimus and then looks to Moonracer. "Cynthia Vanderbilt and Catherine Morris," she replies *very* belatedly to the poor femme. "Thank you. I appreciate any help you can give them."

"Done. I will find your companions, Amber MacKenzie." Moonracer revs her engines, and she's off, bolting through the clearing that a team of human piloted labor exos were working to clear.