2033 Olympics: Land Race

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > smells of cattle because of all the cowboys she had to fight. It was ridiculous. She missed her match with Marauder because of those stupid cowboys! But now she's here for the race. Contrail guesses that she can thank Carjack for giving her this car mode now. She takes in the competition, getting her engine going.

Combat: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > sets her defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > pulls up at the starting line, already given a fine tuning and purring like a proper racing engine should. But that's not what the inventor is so excited about. "Man, this is great! Put the war aside for a few weeks for proper competative sport. I was made for an event like this... Hey, check it out. Jazz helped me pick out a kickin' new sound system so I can run this race in style!" He rolls down his windows, letting the music blaring from the speakers and amplifiers crammed in the back bleed out as the car rocks up and down a bit.

o/~I've been looking for a driver who's qualified; So if you think that you're the one step into my ride.

I'm a fine-tuned supersonic speed machine; With a sunroof top and a gangsta lean.

So if you feel me let me know, know, know

Come on now what you waiting for, for, for?

My engine's ready to explode, explode, explode

So start me up and watch me go, go, go, go

Get you where you wanna go if you know what I mean

Got a ride that's smoother than a limousine

Can you handle the curves? Can you run all the lights?

If you can, baby boy, then we can go all night

'Cause I'm zero to sixty in three point five; Baby you got the keys... Now shut up and drive! (Drive, drive, drive) Shut up and drive! (Drive, drive, drive)

No, Wheeljack has no idea what the song is -really- about.

A Junkcycle putters up to the starting line, getting into pre-determined position. Vroom, vroom. He revs his engine a bit, trying to sound like a Harley.

Vector WX3 < Outrun > is parked at the start line running a couple of internal scan, just to make sure everything is ready for that race. After all it's the best event of the Olympics! The most important too!

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > is somewhere between drunken brawls and publicly inappropriate displays of inebriation that he was able to get himself situated enough to join up with the land race. He'd already missed all the -other- events, but he tends not to really judge the length of the games in days so much as energon consumed.

Being pretty much one of the biggest vehicles here, he unobtrusively rumbles into place int he line, his huge armored form in stark contrast to the sleek vehicles all around him. Surely he won't be able to go anywhere near fast enough to keep up with -them- will he?

Well the rocket boosters on the back of his frame might say different...

The recent competitions has given Grapple a bit of a boost in both ego and mood. The generally good spirits of it all -- and not to mention that tie game from the other night in a game that he had never played before -- has really given the architect the shove needed to get out more. So, there he was, rolling up to the starting line.

Silverbolt is here to make things interesting. He's not sure how it'll work out, but it ought to bring an unknown element into the proceedings. He revs his engines, ready to transfer power to taxi his wheels.

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > drives onto the track, his engine revving as he grins to himself. This is what he lives for! This is exactly what he has been waiting for! A chance to get out and just drive!

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "..the frag is this? Lookit all these Autoscraps."

Hinder has arrived.

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "Them Stunticons are always talkin tough yet I don't see any of em here? Losers!"

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Potentially winners. If they're out getting drunk while we're stuck here racing."

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Sideswipe! Ready to show these upstarts how we do speed oldskool?"

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "Pft. Lightweights."

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "Especially Motormaster!"

< Autobot > Outrun says, "OLDskool indeed!"

Winged Payloader < Scrapper > is at the starting line, bucket scraping the ground in anticipation for the event to begin. Not because Scrapper cares about winning or anything, but he gets to WRECK into Autobots who care about winning and everything.

Plus he heard Grapple might be here, can't pass up a chance to show him who the top engineer is. Even if that is through fighting and not actually engineering something.

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Sitting on Sit-Com's seat is a small, lesser-known Junkion gumby that is cosplaying as Cloud Strife. He even has the big huge sword!

Sunstreaker has arrived.

Race: Tow Truck < Torque > leaves the race.

Torque shifts several plates before standing upright in robot mode.

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Hey!"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Just because the Stuntincons are LAME with four large wheels in their altmodes, doesn't make them lightweights."

Sunstreaker transforms, shifting into his gorgeous Lamborghini mode.

Race: Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > joins the race.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "... And it looks like Astrotrain got his fat aft out of the bar finally."

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Oooh, this is going to be -interesting-."

Ambulance < First Aid > pulls up to the starting line next to Wheeljack. "... ... ... ... ... ... ...?" First Aid asks. What's that, you didn't hear anything? Could it be because someone has their music too gosh darn loud. "... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ...fun!"

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > sets his defense level to Fearless.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "No, their inability to drink Astrotrain under the table makes them lightweights."

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > sets his defense level to Fearless.

< Autobot > Torque says, "Just make sure he doesn't ram you, Jack. He may be out of the bar, but I doubt he's sober"

< Autobot > Outrun says, "Better him than Motormaster's freaks."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Oh."

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "They're still lightweights anyway!"

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "I can take any one of em!"

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Aw, that just makes it a challenge, Torque."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Wait, do you mean they're really skinny next to Astrotrain?"

< Autobot > Torque chuckles

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Because like, he's kinda fat."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "No offense, Astro."

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > also moves onto the track in his hovercar altmode. It's difficult to miss the gold-and-black vehicle as it moves to the starting line, taking place at the assigned positions. The foot race was rather fun, all things considered, but the land race is where he's really ready to test his limits.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Me and Jazz use to race circles around cons in the old days"

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "I'll take whatever offense I wanna take!"

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > rolls his windows, which are fortunately soundproof it seems, drowning out the music. "What was that First Aid?"

< Autobot > Silverbolt says, "Okay, mechs and femmes, don't make me look TOO bad out here now."

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Watch your vocalizer, Backfire."

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > came racing in just after Sideswipe and drove onto the track, revving his engine. His paint job was polished to the highest shine and he looked fantastic. Of course he did...it was Sunstreaker. Wouldn't be caught dead in public any way else.

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "Oh look, it's one of the slackers now!"

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Careful, he might take that literally, and then Scrapper will have to put his voicebox back in his neck."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "How is that even possible!"

Ambulance < First Aid > repeats himself, "Do you think that your music's kinda loud?" Aid pauses, figuring he has his answers. Then he adds, "I had forgotten this was your first Olympic. You'll have fun!"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "People are like, 'watch your mouth' and stuff."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "I CAN'T!"

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Ugh, just get a mirror, Backfire."

< Autobot > Sideswipe snorts, "Yeah, whatever Silverbolt..."

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > doesn't really have an engine that requires revving. He's one of those vehicles that packs a massive amount of power deep inside that doesn't come and go in bursts...it's just there, and constantly ready. "Awful lotta red symbols all over the place. A'right, we're playin THAT kinda game today! Heh heh..."

His entire frame rumbles once, then the air is split by his train horn impatiently cutting across the track. "C'mon already! The sooner we start this thing the sooner I get to crunch some flimsy Autopunks!"

< Autobot > The gorgeous Sunstreaker can be heard chuckling wickedly in the background.

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "I.. don't like mirrors."

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > revs in anticipation. "I know! Been waiting since I found out... I thought about entering some of the combat matchs, but eh." Mutters under his reverbation something about 'no unsanctioned inventions ruling'. Everyone else is probably thankful.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Are you a vampire, Backfire?"

< Autobot > Sideswipe says, "Missed you at the Soccer game Wheeljack, old buddy old pal!"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "What's a vampire?"

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 0   0   NEUTRAL        --

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     0   0   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 0  0   FEARLESS       --

Silverbolt                   0   0   NEUTRAL        --

Vector WX3 < Outrun >          0   0   FEARLESS       --

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  0   0   FEARLESS       --

< Sit-Com > Junk-Cycle         0   0   FEARLESS       --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 0  0   AGGRESSIVE     --

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 0  0   FEARLESS       --

Grapple                      0   0   NEUTRAL        --

Ambulance < First Aid >        0   0   PROTECTED      --

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 0  0   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "Something sparkly, so I'm told."

Race: Race Track is initialized. Ready to begin a new race.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Yeah, they sparkle kind of like Avarice."

Daytona International Speedway! One of the most prestigious race tracks in the world! It is a tri-oval shape and roughly 2.5 miles long, so there's more than enough room for a ridiculous number of racers! And a fancy white car with a red M emblazoned on it pulls out onto the track! "Welcome to the Daytona International Speedway which is hosting the Olympics Land Race I am your host Speed Racer!" says the driver, who is Speed Racer. He seems to have trouble with punctuation. "But there was a scheduling conflict so now I will be hosting one race while also taking part in the other race that was supposed to happen today which is the Noribunga 5000 World Championship! We have combined them together to save time and money!"

It so happens that there's a bunch of other racers behind the Autobots and Decepticons, apparently driven by a bunch of shady looking humans. "Eheheheheheheh!" they chuckle evilly as the camera pans across them.

In the crew pit, Pops Racer is hopping from foot to foot in his poorly animated way. "Arggh what are you doing Speed you cannot host and race at the same time you'll be killed!"

But Speed Racer just waves at Pops. "Don't worry Pops I'll be fine!" But who's that in his trunk, which just happened to pop open? "Oh gosh Speed is competing alongside robots we'll be killed!" Spritle says poking his head out. "Ooh ah ah ah!" Chim-chim agrees. They close the trunk again.

The light flashes to red, and Speed says, "Okay everyone ready let's GOOOOOOO!!!" The light flashes yellow, then GREEN!

Hinder is actually excited about taking part in this race thing. She stands in the passenger's seat of the light blue Polizia Gallardo, peering out through the front windshield. "So the one to finish first wins?"

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "A shame. But they wouldn't allow my ball bazooka idea to make it more interesting!"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "I.. don't think so? Depends.  What do these 'pires of vam' get?"

Combat: Vector WX3 < Outrun > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Barely a nanosecond after the light turns green, Outrun's engine make a loud boom, his tires screams raising a cloud of dust. The vector accelerates attempting to leave all his opponents behind him...preferably far behind him.

"Let's show them how it's done guys!" Wheeljack calls to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. As soon as the light goes green he slams the proverbial pedal to the metal, rear tires screeching as they spin briefly and leave a trail of smoking asphalt in his wake once the Lancia tears off from the starting line.

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

< Decepticon > Avarice says, "The maker of these creatures was obviously inspired by me."

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > squeals his tires leaving a smear of black on the asphalt and a cloud of smoke in the air as he sees the light turn green. He was ignoring all the other racers and Autobots who were chit chatting. He came here to race! And he's off, moving to overtake anyone that gets in his way. "Get the lead out Sideswipe! I'm in it to win it!"

Grapple floors it! ..In that he speeds off as fast as a crane can go. Which, it ends up, is probably not nearly as fast as many of the other racers. Cybertronian or not, cranes are not made for speed or agility. Still, off he goes! .. And doesn't seem particularly upset by the slight lag. Was there a plan forming? Was he INTENTIONALLY falling behind..?

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > idles at the line, engine revving up as the lights come up and run their course. Crazy hosts, but that's to be expected. It's the speed of thought between the light going green and Impulse gunning the engine, accelerating rapidly. Time to run the paces and see what the old-timer still has in the tank.

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > sighs in disgust as the human explains that they're having a race while they have a race, so that they can race while the race. She answers her passenger, Hinder, "Yes, the first once across the finish line wins. Of course, that does not mean the fastest, per se. These races can get pretty rough." She pauses. "Otherwise, we Decepticons wouldn't bother showing up. Seriously. Who would want to race if you can't sideswipe people and slam them in the tailgate?"

Ambulance < First Aid > takes off like a shot once the light goes green! Which is to say he puts along at the speed of slowness. Sure he's a strong driver during emergency situations, but a the end of the day this isn't an emergency, and so he can play it safe. "Good luck, Wheeljack!" he calls out to the mad scientist... who's probably way ahead of him by now.

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > isn't quick in the acceleration like the other vehicles at first. So it looks a little ridiculous as all the cars proceed to pull away from him initially. But of course, Astrotrain has other tricks up his proverbial sleeve.

"Heh heh heh....and away we goooooo!"

With a deafening *BA-ROOOOOOOM* the rocket engines on his aft end ignite powerfully, propelling the triplechanger forward at neck-breaking velocity as he suddenly closes the gap, and indeed threatens to overtake quite a few in the process. How can something that big be that -fast-? Either way, he's soon rocketing around the track with the best of them, chuckling evilly to himself the whole way. "Let's see, who's gonna be lucky number one, eh? EH?"

Silverbolt has been building power until the light turns green. He begins rolling and starts to build up speed. Silverbolt isn't going to jump out at the beginning. If he has a chance at all to finish this race, much less place, then it'll be done on the back end. Right now, he applies enough power to get him started and hopefully not lapped.

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Wait."

Combat: Silverbolt sets his defense level to Aggressive.

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "They're really Sweeps?"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "I'm confused."

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "No, they just glitter like Sweeps."

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > sets his defense level to Fearless.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "They are very cold and drink the energon of the living and they don't show up in mirrors."

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "They are kind of like zombies but prettier."

< Decepticon > Avarice says, "I need the head of one of those for my collection... so Backfire is a vampire?"

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Backfire might be a vampire! He doesn't like mirrors."

Winged Payloader < Scrapper > waits for the light to hit green, then steadily applies the gas.. quickly falling behind the other racers. He's not here to be all fast, this much is true. And he does manage to catch a glimpse of Grapple out of the corner of his peripheal vision.

How do they see in altmode anyways? Is it just out of their headlights? Or do they have like 360 vision?

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > lets out a whoop and a hollar of joy at the thrill of the excitement of the race when the light turns green! He slams that petal to the metal and he's off like a shot, leaving a trail of smoke and burnt rubber behind him. "Gonna light some fires and kick some tires....Woohooo!" he shouts. He's right there whith Wheeljack and Sunstreaker, the two Lambo's twins looking fine in their Red and Yellow classic colors, standing out against the black of the racetrack.

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "I don't suck energon out of other people!"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "That's gross."

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "How can you prove you don't?"

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "When is the last time anyone saw Backfire drinking, hmm?"

Torque, meanwhile, is situated near the front row, a cube of highgrade in one hand as she gives a shrill whistle to cheer on the racers, but mainly the Autobots. "Yeah, go Bots!" She beams, suddenly picking up a sign on a stick that pretty much says 'Go Autobots!' along with a tastefully painted red emblem. While giving it a wave she also makes sure to cheer on one mech in particular in the race, "Show 'em what us medics are made of, First Aid!"

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > transforms into his Bluestreak mode.

Hinder ohs at Contrail's explanation softly, then watches as all of the vehicles around them start taking off. She's being careful to not dig her claws into the Gallardo's seat, as she was taught by another friend. "Is that why I'm here?"

Race: Bluestreak joins the race.

Bluestreak transforms into his Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > mode.

Race: Race Track is initialized. Ready to begin a new race.

EARLIER

"Yo, dawg, I heard you like to race, so I put a race in your race while you race!"

NOW

Trixie's voice pops in through Speed's radio! "Watch out, Speed! That's Oil King and he's a dirty cheater!" Speed Racer looks ahead at the tar-black car pulling in front of him. "She's right! That's Oil King!" Oil King chuckles evilly as he hits a button to discharge oil all over the track. "Eheheheheheh!" And Speed Racer hits the oil, his car wildly spinning around! "OOHHHHHHH!" he cries. But how will the other racers fare?

===========================[ Race Track Commands ]============================

!addme         Adds you to the current race

!delme         Removes you from the current race

!placements    Shows who's winning

!positions     Lists the current SPATIAL track position of each participant

!referee (Admin) Make someone a referee

!init          (Referee) Start a new race. Resets energon, positions.

!new round     (Referee) Advances the race by one turn

!remove (Referee) Remove a player from the race

!listparams    List modifiable race parameters

!param = (Referee) Change Race Parameters

==============================================================================

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Grapple                      4   0   NEUTRAL        --

Silverbolt                   5   0   AGGRESSIVE     --

Ambulance < First Aid >        5   0   PROTECTED      --

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak >     5   0   NEUTRAL        --

< Sit-Com > Junk-Cycle         6   0   FEARLESS       --

+Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  7   0   FEARLESS       --

+Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 7  0   FEARLESS       --

+Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 8  0   FEARLESS       --

+Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 9   0   AGGRESSIVE     --

+Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 9  0   FEARLESS       --

+Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 9  0   FEARLESS       --

+Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     10  0   FEARLESS       --

+Vector WX3 < Outrun >          10  0   AGGRESSIVE     --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > would have to assign Hinder to mopping the floors of the Terrorcon barracks if Hinder ruined her upholstery. She replies cheerily, "To be honest, I assumed that you were here because you're bored! But this might get interesting, heh heh heh!" She guns it and hydroplanes over the oil, losing control for seconds that are doubtless terrifying to her passenger, but instead of panicking and skidding out, she just keeps on going until she has contact with not-oily ground again. "Yeah!" Now there's Astrotrain not too far off, Wheeljack and the aptly named Outrun up ahead, and Sideswipe just behind. Sunstreaker must be so jealous!

Combat: < Sit-Com > Junk-Cycle sets his defense level to Neutral.

Getting off to a better start than he planned, Scrapper sadfaces when Grapple lags behind them all. Ah well, there will be plenty of time to crash into him later. For now, he'll settle for whomever is closest to him. Which at the moment is Impulse! He'd heard how much of a trouble he'd proven in the foot race, and so the necromechanic aims his bucket to scrape into the speedster's chassis.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > sets his defense level to Guarded.

Silverbolt doesn't bother to check behind himself, only cares about what's ahead and what's ahead right now is Grapple. He doesn't come equipped with a horn so he's forced to call out with his PA system over the whine of his engines, "Grapple! You might wanna move aside because I intend to join you up there!" he also calls out, "Looking good, First Aid!"

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > hits the track as soon as he could, late, but maybe not fashionably late, as he was slow as he catches up to the rest of the racers. As soon as the light hits green he was off, not sure if he would win but the sheer thrill of just /driving/ was all he needed as he took off after the rest of the racers

Ambulance < First Aid > putputs. He starts to speed ahead of Silverbolt and Grapple, but then holds back so he can chat with them. "Thanks Bolt! Glad to see you in the land race. I know this isn't really your forte, but it should still be pretty cool. Oh, and Grapple, you and I need to chat about a little project I have underway." Aid can't lean /too/ heavily on his friends for that project, though, for confidentiality reasons. The Protectobot squints inwardly, "Careful gang, I see oil up ahead. I bet that devious Oil King is behind this."

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > strikes Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > with his Fear the Bucket! (Ram) attack!

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > cares not for oily ground! He doesn't use silly rubber tires like so many other racers on the track. The thick black stuff goes spraying to both sides as he barrels right on through like...well, a freight train. And look at that! When the figurative smoke clears, he's not really all that far from the head of the pack either! Two Autobots up front though! He could put his own chances of winning at risk and try to slam into one, or keep it a nice clean race at this point and keep trying to win it!

Yeah right, was there ever any doubt? The only -choice- Astrotrain has to make is, "Eenie, meenie, miney....moe. You'll do! Hey Wheeljack, let's see how that tinfoil armor of yours stands up!" And with a sudden harsh wrenching to one side, the triplechanger brings his armored front end clipping towards Wheeljack's rear end in an attempt to literally crush the resurrected inventor against the wall.

This is far more polite of a race than Grapple had thought. At Silverbolt's call, he does, in fact, actually move aside. "Hello, Silverbolt!" My, he sounds chipper. Ah, and there's First Aid hanging back. A project? "Oh? I'll have to meet up with you after this is all.." Oil on the track. Huh. Crane slows down just a tad to avoid swerving, but otherwise treks on through. Maybe winning isn't on his mind; perhaps he's happy just to BE there.

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > strikes Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > with his Train Crossing attack! [Pulled -5]

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > snarls as several people slide past him. This hasn't started out good and he's not out of the race yet. It just got staaaaarrrted.... and that's when he hit the oil and slid sideways. Turning into the slide he manages to control himself and shoot off straight once his wheels hit the dry asphalt. That was close. Too close! And most likely, he's got oil up in his undercarriage. NOT good! If his paint job is messed up by that bit of oil, someone's going to pay!

Hinder is very much disconcerted by Contrail's hydroplaning, but again, in deference to the Gallardo's upholstery she avoids creating claw marks by transforming into a small white cassette on the seat until the oil slick is behind them. Then she pops back up to peer out of the front windshield again. "Are we winning?" Yes, she's a bit clueless thus far.

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > is apparently the stealthy one in the mix, given that he's right up there in the thick of things. Oil? Not a problem for a hovercar that just floats right over it! But leave it to Mean Lime Green -- aka, Scrapper -- to try and ruin his day right off the bat. "So, that's the way we play, is it?" he says, even as Scrapper makes rather hard contact. "Well, two can play this game!" Even as he spins, he whips around, fully intent on making certain that if he has to make a recovery, then so will the Constructicon. The question is, will he manage it?

And then some racer goes making an oil slick. "Oh com'n, that's such an old trick if it wasn't a classic it'd be lame. Trick of something ne--Whoa!" There's a bit of a crunch as Astrotrain manages to catch him while he's busy worrying about the oil. Fortunately the slickness sends him spinning away from the huge train instead of actually getting squished in the wall like the brute intended

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > strikes Winged Payloader < Scrapper > with his Collision attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Protected.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Heads up guys, looks like the Cons are playing rough"

< Autobot > Wheeljack adds a stifled -ow- under his breath

< Autobot > Impulse says, "Ugggh...! So I noticed."

< Autobot > Outrun says, "Nothing new there... Let show them what we can do."

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "Heh heh, who needs medals anyway? This is more satisfying!"

Vector WX3 < Outrun > seems to jump forward, leaving almost everybody behind him...almost. The speedster is side by side with Wheeljack. "Impressive start for someone your age you know!" he comments and despite him being in car mode, you can feel him smiling in his voice. His engine starts to emit louder sounds as Outrun attempts to pushing him a little bit more... he just need more power to get the lead. From there it should be easier...sort of.

Combat: Vector WX3 < Outrun > sets his defense level to Fearless.

< Autobot > Spindrift says, "Astrotrain's the one to worry about, he's got the weight to throw around."

< Autobot > Spindrift OOC augh miswindow

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Astrotrain's the one to worry about, he's got the weight to throw around."

Speed Racer spins his wheel a lot and somehow this allows his car to stop spinning! "Wow that was close I sure don't want to do that again!" Meanwhile, Oil King's tires are slashed by Sit-Com's passenger, and he spins out, eventually crashing into the shield protecting the audience in a fiery explosion! "AAIIIIEE!" But it's okay, as a random audience member says, "Look! I see parachutes!"

As Speed continues down the track, he says, "Outrun and Wheeljack are in the lead but the Decepticons are right behind them can the Autobots stay in the lead OOHHHHhhhHHHHHhhhh!?" He has bigger things to worry about as a gang of similarly painted racers begin hosing down the Mach 5 with bullets! Fortunately, the Mach 5 is bulletproof, but some of the other drivers may get caught in the crossfire!

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > hits the oil and slides sideways, "Whooooaaaaa!!!" he shouts as he goes for a bit of a ride. But he manages to get himself back under control and takes off like a shot back down the racetrack. He watches as the bashing and crashing becomes intense and he sees someone he's been wanting to run into for awhile. Putting a little more speed into things, he heads straight for the lovely Lambo in front of him, "Hey babe! Long time no see!" he says as he attempts to ram her bumper, a little love tap if you will....only if he can catch her that is.

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > misses Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > with his Hello Is it Me you're looking for? attack! [Pulled -2]

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

+Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  7   0   GUARDED        --

+Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 9   0   AGGRESSIVE     --

+Silverbolt                   9   0   AGGRESSIVE     --

+Ambulance < First Aid >        9   0   PROTECTED      --

+Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     10  0   PROTECTED      --

+ < Sit-Com > Junk-Cycle         10  0   NEUTRAL        --

+Grapple                      10  0   NEUTRAL        --

+Datsun 240z < Bluestreak >     10  0   NEUTRAL        --

+Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 11 0   FEARLESS       --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 14 0   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 16 0   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 19 0   FEARLESS       --

Vector WX3 < Outrun >          0   1   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > finally gets back under control, guns his throttle and blasts away from the oily mess. Hopefully someone will clean that up before the next lap comes around. "Gonna have to make up for some lost time here."

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > reports to Hinder, "We're doing /quite/ well, and Scrapper and Astrotrain just inadvertantly made things easier for us! Now we just need to worry about that Outrun up ahead..."

Then she sees Sideswipe in her review mirror and slams on her accelerator, adding hastily, "And him!"

But she pulls ahead and into a cloud of bullets. "Huh, I /really/ need to thank Carjack for the bullet-proofing work he did on me."

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Carjack. You are a mad genius at designing Olympians."

VROUM! VROUM! As the Decepticons crashes into the others leaders Outrun is left all alone. Taking a quick "look" behind him, he sees that the others are pretty far behind. However, he can see some people not too far in front of him...including Scrapper. "Now this could be a problem..."

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > says, "What, oil sli-" As Bluestreak was saying that, he did slip on the oil slick, and spun out a little. By the time he regained control, the other racers were far ahead. Kicking it into high gear, he raced forward again, avoiding the area and worked to catch up with the rest of them."

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Oh hey Bluestreak, didn't see you join in."

Silverbolt decides it's time to throttle up some more, and applies more power. The engines whine that much higher as the Concorde starts sounding like a jet approaching takeoff speed. Hopefully the roar is enough to affect those around him. It gets hard to hear now, and even harder to communicate outside of radio comms. He's heavy enough that the oil doesn't seem to present too much of a problem.

Combat: Silverbolt sets his defense level to Fearless.

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > snarls as he zips around several of the other racers and then yelps as he hears bullets hitting the asphalt around him, one or two pinging off his armor, DENTING IT! Oh, now they're for it! He's pissed and he steps on the gas, trying to get past Contrail if possible. How he hates that Con and if beating her will make him feel better, so be it!

First oil and now bullets? The content joy immediately turns in to surprise as Grapple takes in the incoming fire. Oh, he was no stranger to a hail of incoming fire, but.. here? Perhaps those in the lead will take the brunt of it. With that hope, he keeps on zoomin' along, wincing as a few bullet still graze him. "Is that -really- necessary..?"

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > may not have gotten to crush Wheeljack against the wall, but he at least got that satisfying crunch of metal against fragile metal out of his system. "Heh heh heh, now -that- is what I'm talkin about." And then there's projectiles pinging off of his body in a small cloud as he begins to accelerate again.. With all the chaos, he's a little surprised to see only 3 racers at head him by this point. Sideswipe's not -too- far behind him, but not really within easy reach.

Up ahead however...

"Nyo ho ho ho..." He cackles a little -too- eagerly as he catches sight of that pristine golden paintjob. Bullets still ricochet and bounce off of his front end as he suddenly puts a bit of more power to his rocket boosters, enough to close the small gap between him and the other half of the lambo twins. "Hey Sunstreaker, open up and say AHH!" And with that, the huge train quite literally attempts to smash his armored front end into the rear of Sunstreaker, trying to mess up everything from that perfect paintjob to that spoiler and...well, everything really.

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > sets his defense level to Neutral.

Ambulance < First Aid > gulps as he sees machine gun racers (we'll assume they look like they walked out of a Mad Max movie). The Protectobot is forced to speed up to avoid getting hit by them, swerving through the oil. Luckily his emergency driving training sees him through. Maybe if he catches up to Grapple they can start their work.

From being near the front of the pack to nearly the back, Impulse has quite the field to recover -- at this point, the lead has half a lap on him, and that's never a good sign. Thankfully recovering, though, he surges ahead, gunning his engine to force himself back into the race. Only one way to find out if he still can hand with the rest of them, and he's racing back to jump back into the thick of things... and hope that he can catch up fast. Bullets? That might be a problem, but it also depends on whether they can track him fast enough as he leaps back into the fray.

Combat: Ambulance < First Aid > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > misses Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > with his Rearended by a train! attack! [Pulled -5]

Hinder looks at Outrun ahead of them then yips in surprise and ducks her head down at the sound of gunfire hitting Contrail's armor. "I'll remind you." She then looks at those behind them, particularly Sunstreaker. "The yellow one is getting closer."

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Watch your bumper Streaker!"

Combat: < Sit-Com > Junk-Cycle sets his defense level to Fearless.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "I guess, if the Decepticons want to play -that- sort of race"

< Autobot > Wheeljack heh. Aheh. Ehehehe.

Damn, Impulse starts a ram war and allows Grapple to slip RIGHT past Scrapper's grasp. No matter, if it's a show down he wants; it's a showdown he'll get. It makes little difference to Scrapper anyhow, it wasn't like he joined this event to win.. did he?? Instead of ramming into him, the Constructicon merely sits back and waits for the competition to come to HIM!

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > sets his defense level to Protected.

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > is behind Astrotrain and sees him going after Sunsreaker and his spark sinks, "Oh, not good, NOT GOOD! Watchout!" He yells to his twin and just in time as he sees Sunstreaker do some fancy move and watches Astrotrain flail about, missing him! Whew! That was too damned close! He checks his HUD and decides it's not worth trying to go after anyone else and simply puts the petal to the metal and does his best to get to the head of the pack or catch up with Sunstreaker to watch his six.

< Autobot > The gorgeous Sunstreaker says, "Am I good...or what?"

< Autobot > Sideswipe says, "....Or what..."

< Autobot > Spindrift laughs. "Glad to see you two never change."

< Autobot > The gorgeous Sunstreaker says, "Shut up fragger!"

< Autobot > Silverbolt says, "Is there a third option there?"

< Autobot > Blades says, "Or."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "I concur."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Carjack designed me."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Kind of."

< Autobot > Sideswipe laughs heartily over the com, "Or what?"

< Autobot > Wheeljack chuckles.

< Autobot > Bluestreak says, "Or you can keep chatting endlessly?"

< Autobot > Blades says, "Good, what, and or. Those are your three options."

< Autobot > The gorgeous Sunstreaker snarls, "Just shut up and drive!"

< Autobot > Blades says, "Of course, your options could be the good, the bad, and the ugly."

< Autobot > Impulse says, "He will never admit to being ugly."

< Autobot > Outrun says, "He may even kill you of you call him ugly."

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Alright Bots, joking aside. I know we all wanna win, but with those brutes around, we're gonna have to make it a team effort. So keep everyone's trunks covered and your sensors open for more dirty tricks."

< Autobot > First Aid says, "Go team Autobot!"

"The match is getting brutal fast but Outrun is still in the lead despite all the Decepticons' dirty tricks!" Speed Racer says as bullets bounce off his canopy. "Can Outrun keep the lead or will the Decepticons put an end to him!?" Then, to his shock and horror, a pink car pulls ahead of him! "Speed, watch out, that's TAFFY BOSS!" Trixie warns over the radio. "OH NOOOO!" Speed cries as Taffy Boss sprays pink taffy at him through a nozzle on the back of his car. But Speed's ready for it, hitting his flamethrower, and burning a gap for himself through it! However, this leaves burning taffy EVERYWHERE!

Then she sees Sideswipe in her review mirror and slams on her accelerator, adding hastily, "And him!"

But she pulls ahead and into a cloud of bullets. "Huh, I /really/ need to thank Carjack for the bullet-proofing work he did on me."

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

+Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  11  0   PROTECTED      --

Grapple                      14  0   NEUTRAL        --

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak >     15  0   NEUTRAL        --

Silverbolt                   16  0   FEARLESS       --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 17 0   NEUTRAL        --

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     18  0   AGGRESSIVE     --

< Sit-Com > Junk-Cycle         18  0   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 18 0   FEARLESS       --

Ambulance < First Aid >        18  0   FEARLESS       --

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 0   1   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 3  1   FEARLESS       --

+Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 8  1   FEARLESS       --

+Vector WX3 < Outrun >          11  1   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

< Autobot > Outrun says, "uhoh"

< Autobot > Impulse says, "...uh oh? What do you mean, 'uh oh'?  That generally requires a tetch more information there, Outrun."

< Autobot > Outrun says, "I'm side by side with Scrapper and Contrail is right behind me."

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Looks like Astro's coasting on his momentum and Scrapper's holding back."

Vector WX3 < Outrun > seems to be unable to lose the accursed Decepticon who's not that far behind him. Suddenly a payloader appears right in front of him but thanks to his reflexes, Outrun manages to avoid him. He's now side by side with the Constructicon...if only he can manage to pass him...

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > isn't too happy about the fact that Sunstreaker got away from him. "Lucky little git. Next time I'm gonna crunch ya under my..."

A moment of silence passes as he chugs along at a steady pace, before noticing a few more vehicles going past him. All Autobot of course...and one Junkion. In fact he's surrounded on all sides. He could even take another go at Wheeljack for that matter!

But then he catches a flash of red going past him. "And where do you think -YOU'RE- going?" With a sudden harsh swerve he attempts to quite literally put his armored body right in Sideswipe's path, using -himself- as a literal barricade.

Combat: Vector WX3 < Outrun > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > strikes Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > with his Meet the immovable object! attack! [Pulled -5]

Ambulance < First Aid > surges forward, evading racers left and right. The Protectobot goes ahead and turns on his siren just to make sure he's not going to accidentally hit anyone. "Heya Silverbolt. Excuse me, Wheeljack. To one side please, Sit-Com. Sup, Sideswipe? Heeeeey... uh... Astrotrain." First Aid veers away from the trainshuttle as he passes. This just means Sideswipe gets it instead, though, so it isn't really a victory.

As the leaders of the pack loop around, Scrapper eyes his target. Well, not Grapple. The orange crane has eluded him once again. No, now he's his eye set on Outrun. Leader of the pack, cue cheasy Grease song or something. And so the Constructicon ambles over to try and force the Autobot car into the wall. < < Run little one, run! > > he manages a chuckling insult as he swerves over.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > is, regetably, weak to fire, so she has to slow down to evade the burning taffy, because if she accidentally touched any of the taffy, she might just explode. Then she would have very unhappy knees indeed.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > strikes Vector WX3 < Outrun > with his Into the Wall! (Ram) attack!

Combat: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > sets her defense level to Neutral.

Grapple almost pulls to an actual stop at the sight of.. Bright pink.. Stuff.. On fire. Instead, he simply slows down for just a moment. He isn't even really sure what it IS, but, lo' and behold, there it was. However, he was still in a race, even though it seems he's pretty far behind everyone else. He speeds up suddenly, zooming along as fast as he can, intending to get through the pink balls of fire as quickly as possible.

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "SO many squishy Autobots. Gyahahaha."

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > manages to make up quite a bit of distance, and he doesn't even have the throttle all the way down. Though he does take a turn somewhat wide to pass on the far side of Astrotrain. Engine emits a thrum that could be a growl as the train breaks towards the red lambo instead, but Wheeljack keeps his focus ahead for the moment. Honestly Sideswipe can probably handle the brute better than he could. "Don't let that big aft slow you down too much!" he shouts a bit of encouragement instead.

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: < Sit-Com > Junk-Cycle sets his defense level to Guarded.

Silverbolt makes up some distance by throttling up and decides to keep burning energon at this level for the time being. The unfortunately thing is that once he throttles up, there's no throttling down. Fortunately, he has his size on his side. He's not a literal locomotive like Astrotrain, but the principal is the same. He's an object that once in motion on the ground either stays in motion or takes off.

Hinder watches the flaming taffy as Contrail moves carefully past. "Ew." She ducks her head to 'sneeze', trying to clear the smell of carbonizing sugars from her olfactory sensors. "That wasn't gazpacho."

Seconds ago, Impulse was near the back of the field, courtesy of Scrapper. Suddenly, he's back in the thick of things. Bullets are flying everywhere, but Impulse's speed makes him difficult to track. And suddenly, he's back at the starting line, beginning lap two! At this point, he can breathe a little easier, but he can't completely quit just yet. And there's still the burning taffy to contend with, too! Well, most of what's on the ground, he can avoid, but what's flying through the air... well, that will require a bit of luck and evasion to keep from getting splattered too much with it. Even so, he throttles back for the moment, giving himself a bit of a breather before gunning it for his second wind.

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Neutral.

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > zips around the track and then barely misses the flaming taffy. Oh that was close! He grumbles as he realizes that could have been another close call and he does his best to stay on the track to keep going. This is not good. Whoever these lugnuts are that keep throwing this scrap out on the track, he might just have to have a little chat with them at little later to explain the concept of things.

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > sets his defense level to Protected.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "I'm just catching up... was that burnt taffy flying by?"

< Autobot > Impulse says, "Yeah... it was."

Suddenly a patch of taffy sidelines our Junkion hero! It gums up his wheel and he putters to a stop. "Well, crap."

Race: < Sit-Com > Junk-Cycle leaves the race.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "I'm not sure if I think that's weird, or jealous I didn't think of it first."

< Autobot > Blades says, "You should definitely be jealous."

< Autobot > Blades says, "People are burning things, and it's NOT YOU? You should be outraged!"

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, ".. Burning. Not exploding."

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, ".... Hmm, exploding taffy...."

< Autobot > Blades says, "I have a fire extinguisher here with your name on it. I took out a Sharpie and wrote 'Wheeljack' on it. I hope Hot Spot doesn't catch me."

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > yells as he's suddnely slammed into by Astrotrain and finds himself run into the wall, skidding to a stop. "YOU FRAGGER!" he yells as the massive train rolls by. He does his best to get back into the race and on the track but he's got a bit of paint scrapped off and a few dents to contend with..plus he's lost all his momentum that he'll have to work to get caught back up.

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > sets his defense level to Protected.

The flames from Speed Racer's flamethrower travel up into Taffy Boss's taffy nozzle, and his car explodes! "NYAAAGHHHH!" But it's okay! "Look, he ejected just in time!" says an audience member. "Phew, that was close!" Speed says. Meanwhile, Tritle and Chim-Chim have opened the trunk again so they can pull some of the warm taffy off the track and stuff it in their faces. Yes, while the car is driving hundreds of miles an hour. "Outrun was still in the lead but he got hit by Scrapper so now it looks like Contrail may be able to pull ahead what will happen now!?" Then a REALLY big Car tries to drive him off the track! "OH NO it's BIG CAR!" Speed exclaims as the unusually large car makes it difficult for everyone to drive past!

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  13  0   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 18 0   PROTECTED      --

Grapple                      19  0   NEUTRAL        --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 0  1   NEUTRAL        --

Silverbolt                   1   1   FEARLESS       --

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak >     1   1   NEUTRAL        --

Ambulance < First Aid >        6   1   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 6  1   PROTECTED      --

+Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 8   1   NEUTRAL        --

+Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     8   1   FEARLESS       --

+Vector WX3 < Outrun >          11  1   AGGRESSIVE     --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 16 1   NEUTRAL        --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > erms to her passenger, "I'm... not sure why you were expecting gazpacho, but no, that definitely was not gazpacho! And let's not give the trap co-ordinators any new ideas, eh? Potholes full of gazpacho would be... special." She decides to try to drive behind the really big car to draft off of its wake and save fuel!

Combat: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > sets her defense level to Protected.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Careful Outrun, you're getting close to Scrapper there."

< Autobot > Outrun says, "Yeah... he just sent me into the wall... but that fat aft is so slow that he's just a few feet in front of me."

Ambulance < First Aid > manages to break away from the main pack and end up near the leader pack!... leader pack except for Contrail, who's kicking the you-know-what out of everyone. Eventually he pulls up alongside Sunstreaker. Switching off his lights and sirens since there's not such a crowd around, the Protectobot flashes his high beams at the golden one as a greeting.

< Autobot > The gorgeous Sunstreaker says, "Would someone please take that scrapheap Contrail out of the race?"

< Autobot > Impulse says, "We'll have to careful -- he's now Contrail's shield, and she's got almost half a lap on us now."

Pitting him into the wall, Scrapper lets out a long hearty chuckle and goes in again with the large bucket this time. < < What's the matter Autoscrap, didn't dial this into your race plan? > > The shovel thing goes up, then comes down with tremendous force toward his rear tire. < < Belatedly, did you know your chassis would make one -lovely- sofa armrest?? > >

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > strikes Vector WX3 < Outrun > with his Return of the Bucket! (Ram) attack!

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > is glad to put some distance between himself and the Decepticons, for the time being. But as if the armored train wasn't bad enough, there's a -really big car- churning down the track, just as he reachs a straight away. "Oh no, I just got going again, you're not slowing me down!" The inventor veers to the side as there's a *PFFF* of smoke under his chassis on one side, popping him up onto the left wheels so he can slip between Big Car and the racetrack guardwall. "Lose some tonnage, fat aft!"

Vector WX3 < Outrun > crashes into the wall as Scrapper knocks him off his path. "You're going to get some payback for that loser! At the veery least I'll enjoy seeing Grapple beat you... after all he's the better engineer." Now that he has to catch the others, Outrun cannot hold back. He pushes his engines to the limit in an attempt to regain his position. And then BAMP... Rammed again. "Scrapper, you're not my type so BACK the *BIP* OFF!"

Big car? BIG CAR!? Astrotrain is a really big locomotive! As others swerve around to avoid the vehicle, the triplechanging spacetrain quite literally just locks up his armored prow on the back end of the other vehicle and gives it an almost casual shove to one side, perhaps even causing MORE of a hazard for the others behind him. "Outta the way lugnuts, I got carnage to create!"

It's relatively quiet at the moment, but lo and behold there's Silverbolt and Bluestreak up ahead! "Gwahahaha, c'mere blueboy, you haven't had a turn yet!" Bluestreak's rear-view mirror shows the train growing larger...and larger...

Combat: Vector WX3 < Outrun > sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Vector WX3 < Outrun > strikes Winged Payloader < Scrapper > with his Charge attack! [Pulled -5]

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > misses Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > with his Astrotain would call this a love tap attack! [Pulled -4]

Silverbolt continues to move at a steady pace. He can't move much faster or he'd risk leaving the track and disqualifying himself so now he's changeling tactics and trying to use track position and momentum to place himself ahead. He knows he's not going to win, but at least he can try and look good.

Grapple was starting to have second thoughts about this race. Maybe it was the seemingly random shenanigans the other racers caused, or that his fellow Autobots were getting rammed in to. Or perhaps it was a wad of slightly burnt taffy that somehow wrapped itself around his crane hook. Either way, he seems much less easy-going than he was at the start of the race. And now there is.. A.. Giant.. Car. "Oh..!" He careens to the side, hoping to squeeze between the guardrail and the giant car of doom. Hopefully won't go squish. Hopefully.

< Autobot > Impulse says, "...Sideswipe? You and Grapple both have a shot at Contrail, if you feel up to slowing her down."

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > is not enjoying this race and is now in a very foul mood. If it wasn't for the fact that he wants to keep himself as pristine as possible, he'd be all over that Astrotrain AND that other Lambo in a heartbeat, but the best revenge would be to beat them...so he just charges on, going for broke.

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > sets his defense level to Fearless.

"It would?" Hinder perks up a bit, then belatedly realizes that Contrail's comment was meant sarcastically. "Oh. Okay. No ideas." And that's when she realizes that Outrun isn't in front of them anymore. "Are we winning now?"

< Autobot > Sideswipe huffs, "Dammit! I'm so low on Energon as it is, I slow her down, I'm probably not going to finish this race."

< Autobot > Sideswipe says, "Grapple? You prepared to help me go after her...?"

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > almost didn't see Astrotrain coming, but he immediately swerved out of the way of the ram, narrowly avoiding the collision. "Hey!" He called out as he just raced on ahead. Staying as he is, he decided to pay the so called love tap forward.

Combat: Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > strikes Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > with his Thanks for the love (Ram) attack!

< Autobot > Grapple says, "What? Go after who?"

Ambulance < First Aid > on the other hand is enjoying the race, "So, enjoying yourself?" he asks Sunstreaker, hoping to strike up a conversation.

Well, someone is gonna have to make a charge, and Wheeljack shouldn't be the only one. Impulse follows suit, accelerating again. The Big Car, though... well, if Wheeljack can shoot through that gap, Impulse is game to give it a shot himself, and moves to thread the needle, as it were, before surging ahead to keep up with Wheeljack as best as he can.

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Fearless.

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "All these fraggin Autobots playing nice. There ain't -half- as much carnage as their should be! Imma give Motormaster such a punch."

< Autobot > Blades says, "I think Grapple didn't attend Hitman 101."

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > sighs as he sees Sunstreaker take off and knows, by looking at his HUD, that he probably won't last out the race...and he was so looking forward to this damned thing! Looking left then right, he checks his rearviewmirror and with a sudden smirk and a swirve, he slams hard on his brakes and attempts to catch Contrail off guard so that she'd run right into his aft end. Is she fast enough to evade him?

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

< Autobot > Repugnus says, "I can teach that class for a reasonable fee!"

< Autobot > Impulse says, "If you can, go for it. If not, conserve your fuel.  There's still plenty of race ahead of us."

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > strikes Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > with his Kiss This! (Ram) attack!

< Autobot > Grapple says, "I can truly, honestly say that I would in no way attend that course, Repugnus."

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > slows down somewhat as Bluestreak actually has the gall to crash into him in turn! Though it's a wonder if it did any damage given the barest of scrapes across his armored form. "Really? REALLY!?" The triplechanger exclaims at that, almost incredulously. "Ya think yer gonna take me down with -that- kinda approach!?"

< Autobot > Torque says, "Nice hit, Sideswipe!"

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Good job slowing down the interference guys!"

< Autobot > Wheeljack is somewhat shocked to see BLUESTREAK do it

< Autobot > Outrun says, "Awesome Swipe! Now if I can get ride of that loser..."

< Autobot > Repugnus says, "But... Grapple: Ace Assassin! No one would expect it! That's why it's so perfect!"

< Autobot > Grapple says, "I.. What?"

< Autobot > Blades says, "Apparently, not even /Grapple/ would expect it."

Speed Racer stares in horror at Big Car's occupant, who is leering at him evilly... BIG BIRD! "OHHHHH!!!!" he cries, as the car seems about to force him into the forceshield surrounding the track. But fortunately, though, Astrotrain causes Big Car to spin out of control--whether he meant to or not--and the huge vehicle is spinning end over end into the gang of cars with machine guns from earlier! They all scream in terror before there's a massive explosion that takes them all out and sends flaming debris in every direction. "Uh... um.... I'm sure they're okay?" an audience member says. "Parachutes?"

"Oh, those dirty Decepticons!" Speed Racer says as he weaves through the wreckage. "They're almost as bad as the racers I go up against! Scrapper is PICKING ON Outrun and he's fallen behind and now it looks like Contrail is in the lead but can the Autobots spoil her advantage I HOPE SO!!!"

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  13  0   FEARLESS       --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 0  1   NEUTRAL        --

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 1  1   AGGRESSIVE     --

Silverbolt                   4   1   NEUTRAL        --

Grapple                      5   1   NEUTRAL        --

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak >     5   1   NEUTRAL        --

+Vector WX3 < Outrun >          11  1   PROTECTED      --

+Ambulance < First Aid >        11  1   NEUTRAL        --

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 14 1   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 16 1   PROTECTED      --

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     17  1   FEARLESS       --

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 18  1   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

Silverbolt falls back a little bit, and roars on. It's hard enough to maneuver with the other racers on his track with his size. He keeps going anyway, and now is looking to start helping his fellow autobots.

Combat: Silverbolt sets his defense level to Fearless.

Ambulance < First Aid > eventually starts trailing behind Sunstreaker, and up ahead he can see the dastardly Constructicon Scrapper, whom all Autobots must avoid! "Wait... how'd he get in front of me?" Aid asks. It takes him a moment to realize that he's just about to lap the last place contender! "Huh..." Aid kicks it into high gear, swerving wide in his attempt to speed past Scrapper.

Combat: Ambulance < First Aid > sets his defense level to Fearless.

And so, Outrun lashes back with his own sideswipe (no relation)! The Payloader bounces uneasily into the middle of the track, gaining his bearings and reaiming his bucket to smack into another contestant. That being, Sunstreaker. With the front end coming down to bear on half of the lambo equasion, < < Your paint scheme would look much better with some SCRAPES on it! > > he laughs.. probably enjoying this a little more than he should, for being such a reserved mech all the other times.

But I guess when you're only outlets to be mad are rearranging Autobots into chairs or thrones, it's kinda expected.

Grapple had been doing fairly well! There seemed to be -just enough- room to squeeze through the Big Car and the guardrail. That is, until said Big Car begins to spin out of control -- and squishes him further. Grapple lets out a yelp of surprise, but once Big Car is gone he.. Is.. Stuck. Embedded in a bent guard rail, sideways and half of his wheels not even on the ground. "..Uhm.." Spinny useless wheels. Spinny spinny. "..Oh, dear." Spinny some more.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > strikes Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > with his Not the Paint! (Ram) attack! [Pulled -2]

Vector WX3 < Outrun > laughs as he sends Scrapper crashing into a wall, "Good for you. Now go look for some piece of trash, that's your hobby right? Leave race to awesome people!". The autobot speedster shifts his gears and accelerates, it's about time he leaves this hole, he has a race to...race after all! "Don't worry loser. Next times I meet you, I'll turn you into scrap metal."

Combat: Vector WX3 < Outrun > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > keeps the throttle open wide for as long as he can, trying to take advantage of the smash up job the other Bots have done, well, smashing up. Not that it doesn't stop him from whooping a cheer at Sideswipe living up to his name on Contrail as he passes them. Impulse is up ahead.. and Astrotrain lagging just beyond the lap turn thanks to Bluestreak. As much as the madcap engineer enjoys the thrill of speed, he realizes this is probably a better time to be a little cautious and shifts down a few gears, both to conserve feul and be on his guard.

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > starts to pick up some speed again, a little slow to accelerate. Not that he seems to be ina ny sort of hurry. He's all but tossed away any aspirations of winning the race by now and is just focused purely on carnage.

Thta isn't exactly a good thing, just so you know.

Though it's all quiet right now, there's still -one- potential target zooming past. One he's already given a little 'love' to once before. "Oh hey Sideswipe..." he calls out oh so evilly, suddenly slowing the rate at which the Autobot is passing him, until his front end is parallel to the car's rear end, the ground rumbling heavily under Astrotrain's passage. "Back to play again? C'mere gimme a kiss!" And once more he wrenches hard to one side and attempts to quite literally crunch something vital under his heavy bulk.

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > winces as he sees Contrail hit his brother when he slammed on his breaks but well, thee's nothing much he can do right now. He just needs to soldier on and keep going. It seems Sideswipe is willing to take the abuse this round so long as Sunstreaker can get to the finish line.

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > strikes Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > with his You go squish now attack! [Pulled -4]

< Autobot > Silverbolt says, "Okay Autobots, It's time to make my presence felt here. What do you guys need me to do to help you guys win and embarass the Decepticons?"

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > sets his defense level to Neutral.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Contrail's the one actually racing. Astrotrain and Scrapper trying to make a mess of things. Take your pick, big wings."

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > was trying to hide behind that Big Car, but it doesn't do her any good! Sideswipe slams her right in the kisser! One of her airbags deploys to protect Hinder, but her bodywork is ruined. By the time Contrail has recovered... Wheeljack and Impulse have both passed her by, and Sunstreaker is behind her. Annoyed, Contrail puts on her lights and sirens. Wee-ooo, wee-ooo, wee-ooo!

Combat: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > sets her defense level to Fearless.

< Autobot > The gorgeous Sunstreaker says, "Take out Contrail. She HAS to go!"

Winged Payloader < Scrapper > bucket-shakes at Outrun, "Next time, Autoscrap!"

"... There's some sort of irony in this," Wheeljack muses to himself when he sees sirens and lights blaring from a -Decepticon- behind him.

< Autobot > Silverbolt says, "You got it, Wheeljack. I'll try making life hard on Astrotrain first. That big lug has too high of an opinion of himself."

Threading the needle indeed! Impulse threads the needle, surging ahead and moving up first alongside Wheeljack, then slowly but surely edging him out. "Tell me about it!" he calls over to Wheeljack as he overhears the comment. "Somehow, I suspect Streetwise would be less than impressed with this picture." For the moment, he throttles back again, conserving his own energon reserves for the time being for when they'll be needed most.

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Guarded.

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > was about to whip past Astotrain when he suddenly saw and felt the big fraghead shift and move. He felt a fender go under and he lets out a yelp of pain. He spun off and slammed into the guardrail, sitting there for a second while he got his bearings...then got himself turned around and back in the race, rattled a little but still going.

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > sets his defense level to Protected.

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Despite all the smashing about, it's really something to be racing on a track this famous"

< Autobot > Impulse says, "Appreciate the assist there, Sideswipe."

< Autobot > Sideswipe says, "Guys, that's the second hit I've taken from him. I'm running low on energon and I'm not going ot be good for much for a bit till I can get back up there a little.  There's no way I'm even in the running now....just give me some time and I'll help take Contrail and Astrotrain out...Ow..."

< Autobot > The gorgeous Sunstreaker says, "Be careful little brother. Need to keep you in one piece."

< Autobot > Impulse says, "Do what you have to do, Sideswipe. Trust me, the help is appreciated."

Hinder yelps! and trasforms both to avoid getting slammed by an airbag and to prevent damaging the upholstery with her claws. The little white cassette bounces into the seat, but transforms back again as soon she can to see what's happened. "NOT NICE!" she yells after the red Countach, and watches him get his just desserts. "What can I do to help?"

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > sets his defense level to Guarded.

Speed Racer weaves through the flaming wreckage. "Contrail has fallen behind it looks the Decepticons aren't the only ones with a bag of dirty tricks hahahaha! And now Impulse is in the lead can he stay there?!" Then a lavender car pulls up in front of him, and the driver, a sexy woman, actually gets out and climbs on top of the roof of the car. She smiles seductively at Speed as she begins to unzip her racing attire down the front. "OHHHhhh...?" Speed says, his eyes becoming swirly. "Speed!" Trixie says. "SPEED! SPEEEED!"

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  16  0   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 1  1   PROTECTED      --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 3  1   NEUTRAL        --

+Silverbolt                   9   1   FEARLESS       --

+Grapple                      9   1   NEUTRAL        --

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak >     12  1   NEUTRAL        --

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 14 1   NEUTRAL        --

Ambulance < First Aid >        18  1   FEARLESS       --

Vector WX3 < Outrun >          1   2   FEARLESS       --

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     3   2   GUARDED        --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 4  2   FEARLESS       --

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 6   2   GUARDED        --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

< Autobot > Sideswipe grumbles a little about being called 'little' ...but says nothing. "Just win this damned race and I'll be happy... but if you win, you CAN'T gloat or I'll make sure to put a few dents in that finish of yours."

With a burst of speed, First Aid manages to slip past Scrapper without giving him a chance to bash his windshield in with that power shovel of his. "Whew! Sorry Scrapper. Better luck next time!" First Aid says out loud. Up ahead, he can see the starting line again. Looks like Aid is just about to finish his second lap.

Silverbolt continues around the track, surrounded by fellow Autobots. He decides the best policy is to keep protecting his fellows by staying firmly among them. Safety in numbers and the like.

It takes a few good, long shakes for Grapple to tear himself from the guardrail. When he does, he looks a bit worse for wear; a good number of scrapes and generally squished-in parts here and there. "..That was unpleasant." And away he goes again, puttering along in the race! It takes a moment to notice that Silverbolt has caught up with him in the time he was stuck. "Hello, Silverbolt!" A piece of a headlight falls off.

Scrapper lets out a sigh, no one is coming into position again for him to mangle. Ah well, might as well keep with the one you.. oh wait, there's First Aid! Rolling up behind the Protectobot, Scrapper aims for the rear axle with his bucket. Then First Aid has the GALL to offend him too? Not cool.

< < Next time is NOW! > >

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > strikes Ambulance < First Aid > with his Bucket Bump! (Ram) attack! [Pulled -2]

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > sometimes cosplays Streetwise. It's complicated. She muses to Hinder, "If the Autobots put more effort into racing and less effort into killing me, they might actually be better off, but the irony of the situation is likely lost on them. Now, you want to help? Get some /juicy/ pictures of the Autobots behaving badly. Try to document their weakness, too."

She gawks at the human lady removing her outer armour(?) and uuhs, "...yeah, humans sure are weird!" Contrail sees Astrotrain and Wheeljack behind her and Impulse up ahead. This is a precarious place to be!

Ambulance < First Aid > was actually being more or less genuine with his apology to Scrapper. But only more or less. Scrapper's still an evil Decepticon, after all. Unfortunately, the Protectobot gets his rear axle snagged and goes spinning round and round, "Whoops!" he exclaims loudly, coming to a halt as he bumps against the walls.

Combat: Ambulance < First Aid > sets his defense level to Protected.

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > yells as he feels the bucket of Scrapper hit him, scraping along his paint! "YOU FRAGGER!" He yelled just as he spun out and came to a stop. Oh he was FUMMING! It's a wonder it didn't blister his paint job, he was so mad! He spins his tires getting traction to take off and goes at full force to get caught up....

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > winces as he saw what happened to his brother and knows he's gonna hear about it tonight. Scrap. Just what he needed. A pissed of Sunstreaker. But he's got himself moving again and it's all he can do to keep going forward. Just keep going and hope he can get some energon built back up before his next attempt at something.

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > keeps going as best as his controlled speed can, keeping an optic on Astrotrain as he comes lapping up on the turn. He should just keep going, trying to win the race. He should just crack it open and go for broke... But seeing the other Autobots get smashed around is really grinding his gears... and then Contrail, who's proven fast enough to actually be a threat to winning instead of just making a wreck of people, manages to pull ahead again.

In the end, the inner Autobot wins out against the thrilling racer.

Engine roars as Wheeljack does indeed open it up wide and starts pulling in closer as Contrail is moving ahead. There's a click-click-click as the hubcaps on one side of wheels pop out, segment and angle, and start to spin with several sharp points. "Lemme bend those fenders a bit for ya!"

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Hinder bobs her head in acknowledgemet of Contrail's suggestion and starts watching the others as alertly as she can considering every vehicle is moving both quickly and erratically.

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > misses Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > with his Wheel Shredders attack! [Pulled -4]

Race: Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > leaves the race.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Frak, Hinder, videotape Wheeljack just now!"

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > starts accelerating again...having once more lost a bit of momentum in the process of crunching Autobots! But it's so satisfying smashing Sideswipe that way that he just can't resist. The only thing that would have made it more perfect is if he'd crunched Sunstreaker good too...but oh well!

And now he's got potential targets ahead of him again. The triplechanger quickly making a few decisions and then putting it into action. "Okay, playtime is over, time to get serious!" A briliant blue flame ignites from his rear thrusters and a deafening *KABOOOOM* blasts behind him as he opens a secret hidden tank inside his body, flooding an equivelant not unlike nitrous oxide into his systems. The huge locomotive suddenly SLAMS ahead in a massive amount of acceleration.

Speed Racer getsw an unknown savior as the locomotive goes hurtling past and straight at the car in front of him, the sultry woman no doubt having to bail out or employ some other escape plan to save herself as the Decepticon hits her vehicle with a deafening *CRUNCH* that demolishes the car under his heavy wheels and actually sends him airborne for a few seconds! A hundred tons of flying locomotive, and where is it aimed? All at Wheeljack rumbling along the track, the huge shadow growing larger with each passing second.

"I'll make ya regret ever climbing up off that cold slab where ya belonged with the rest of the stiffs!"

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "Well hopefully that will at least... yep, here he comes!"

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > misses Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > with his Crushed...by a freaking TRAIN attack!

Vector WX3 < Outrun > manages to catchup with almost all the others but despite Sideswipe's cleaver move, Contrail is still in front of him. The speedster sends all his remaining energon towards his engine...one last push is all that he needs...if only he can just evade that Decepticon in front of him...

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "HAH!"

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "He's comin' after me, break for it guys!"


 * BOOOOOOOOM* There's now a huge crater where Wheeljack was a split second ago, and one rather irate triplechanger for good measure.

There comes a time, when all is said and done, that one just has to take risks and play it fast and loose, so to speak. That time is now, as Impulse pulls ahead of Wheeljack and Contrail both. He's holding his own, but the time is here and now -- no more holding back. There's a whine as Impulse's engine kicks into overdrive, and the gold-and-black hovercar is wasting no time in booking it for the final leg of the race.

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Hinder compares her Accuracy to Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > 's Agility: Success!

< Autobot > Impulse says, "Breaking. Nice move, Wheeljack.  Autobots, watch out for the crazy train."

Hinder's red optics flash as she turns to stare at Wheeljack out of Contrail's side window. "Mean!" she yells after the Lancia.

... And he got their attention, that's what he wanted in the end. When Astrotrain plows into the other car trying to get to him, Wheeljack retracts the shredders and veers away from Contrail again. "Sorry baby, kissing's gonna have to wait." Just as the now womanless car is about to crash on top of him he hits the front brakes, putting himself into a forced but controlled spin that whirls away from the impending impact without losing more momentum than he already did, before shifting gears and pulling out of it.

And ends up driving backwards to keep going. "They started it!" he calls back at Hinder with a bit of a laugh.

Meanwhile, the sexy woman seducing Speed thinks to herself, o O (Hahaha little do you know Speed Racer that I have laser beam cannons in my sports bra that I am wearing and you will only realize that when it is too late and I have already blasted you with lasers hahaha!) Alas her plan is interrupted when Astrotrain speeds towards her! "AIIEEEEEE--" she squeels, frozen in terror as the massive train bears down on her. Her car is utterly demolished, but what of the woman herself? "She... jumped... free!" an audience member says. "Yeah. She's... she's fine."

Meanwhile, somehow another track has appeared adjacent to the regular track! It's cream colored, and for some reason, there's a brown, yellow, and red tank traveling along that track! "SPORTSMANSHIP: WANTING." the tank says as it pulls up alongside Scrapper. "PUNISHMENT: IMMEDIATE." It fires at him!

"Uuuhhh... wha?" Speed says, finally snapping out of his stupor. "Oh gosh the race is still going on! Impulse is in the lead with Contrail right behind! The Autobots tried to take her out but they didn't quite pull it off can the Decepticons come up from behind!?"

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  17  0   GUARDED        --

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 1  1   PROTECTED      --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 6  1   NEUTRAL        --

Grapple                      14  1   NEUTRAL        --

Silverbolt                   16  1   FEARLESS       --

Ambulance < First Aid >        18  1   PROTECTED      --

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 3  2   FEARLESS       --

+Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     8   2   FEARLESS       --

+Vector WX3 < Outrun >          10  2   FEARLESS       --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 14 2   FEARLESS       --

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 15  2   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

Ambulance < First Aid > finally rights himself. As he backs up (complete with large vehicle style BEEP BEEP BEEPs), he sees Scrapper approaching in his rear view mirror! "Oh oh..." First Aid guns it!

Combat: Ambulance < First Aid > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Pushing First Aid out of the way, Scrapper slows down considerably and tries to reverse over Impulse with his giant chuck wheels all monster truck style. < < Oh, I'm sorry.. did I break your concentration? Haha. > > he lets out, swerving this way and that.. backwards.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > strikes Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > with his Reverse Monster Truck Rally! (Ram) attack!

< Autobot > Impulse says, "...oh slag... Oooommmmph!"

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > ACTUALLY skids to a halt, digging up a huge furrow in the racetrack as his steel wheels tear up the grooves and his rear end fishtails around in a full circle before he comes to a halt.

Faceing Wheeljack, who's going backwards.

Wheeljack being the only Autobot within range.

And if it wasn't painfully clear already, even as the triplechanger's steel wheels start to tear up the ground like a charging bull...it's crystal clear now. This whole race, this entire time? Astrotrain has been playing a -totally- different game than everyone else. One that doesn't even involve the finish line. With a long wail from his train whistle, Astrotrain SLAMS forward in acceleration once more. If at first you don't succeed...

"...just you and me, you little mad inventor FREAK! You...me...and the WALL!"

Vector WX3 < Outrun > is going to run out of energon and has no choice to to reduce his speed. This is killing him but he wants to at least finish this race. No one is around him so he has little choice to but accelerates, "Come on, Come on" he mutters for himself.

Combat: Vector WX3 < Outrun > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Silverbolt sees his chance to help his comrades and does so. He roars up on Scrapper and tries to nudge him into a wall with a well placed wing.

Combat: Silverbolt misses Winged Payloader < Scrapper > with his Ram attack!

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > strikes Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > with his This sandwich is made of a train the wall and Autobot filling attack!

Thanks to the way that these race courses were laid out, Grapple was actually a bit behind Scrapper on the track. He actually stares at the swerving, taking care not to end up going too fast and smacking right in to him. But then, there was Silverbolt, who tries to ram in to the Decepticon. Thinking for a moment that his fellow Autobot might actually get it in and take the other engineer out, he speeds up..!

Combat: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > deploys her reserve energon tank.

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > 's backwards driving gives him a perfect view of what's going on behind him, even as several of the other racers come past because he's not -quite- as fast going in reverse.

He can also see Astrotrain still closing in fast, and likely having a temper tantrum.

A brief glance back see's Scrapper move in on Impulse, but Outrun is still going.

Shifts attention forward again, just to see Astrotrain putting on the speed again.

And in total defiance of any sort of logic (like most of the old crew Wheeljack is a hell of a lot braver than he is sensible most of the time) Wheeljack pulls RIGHT in front of Astrotrain and HITS THE BRAKES, taking the incoming ram in an effort to try and keep the chuggernaut from getting closer to the potential winners.

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > misses Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > with his Playing Chicken and Losing on Purpose (Ram) attack!

Combat: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > refuels Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > 's energon reserves.

< Autobot > Wheeljack hrrrrk!

Oh, this is a bad, BAD place to be! "...oh slag," is all Impulse has time to say while trying to evade, but Mean Lime Green is back at it again. "Oooooommph!" He goes wild, engine gunning hard to try desperately to retain some semblance of control... but as he wipes out again, he's still got a Decepticon behind him. "Well, no guts, no glory," he mutters, trying to time it just right... and then gun his engine as he spins out in an attempt to catch Contrail and spin her out as well!

< Autobot > Wheeljack COUGH. "KEEP GOING"

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > misses Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > with his Collision attack! [Pulled -3]

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > puts Hinder to work, collecting propaganda footage! Maybe Needlenose can do something with it all. He's a hoopy frood like that. She really has to accelerate to pull ahead, away from Wheeljack's evil tyre shredders (those are pretty rad; maybe she should buy some of those from Swindle).

Contrail totally does not refuel Sideswipe in an unthemely and treasonous fashion.

But she does dodge Impulse.

< Decepticon > Needlenose suddenly synches. "Someone mentioned my name! I can sense it!"

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "Or at the very least thought about me."

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > zings around the track, doing his best to catch up but he's trying to be careful with his fuel...knowing he's running low, thanks to being too hasty at the beginning of the race. If he can just keep on with this pace, he'll be all right! He passes several cars and does his best to stay out of their reach, all the while fuming about his ruined paint job.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Yeah, I am having Hinder collect some propaganda tapes for you."

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > sets his defense level to Protected.

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "Sweet! What are the vids of?"

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "You know I was wondering if this Wheeljack really was the real deal after all this time and not just some imitation the Bots made cause they were feelin lonely."

(New BB message (23/8) posted to 'Quotes Out Of Context' by Backfire: Do or do not, there is no try..)

< Autobot > Wheeljack coughs a few more times. "Tried to slow 'em down."

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "But he sure crunches like the real deal!"

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Eh, mostly various Autobots trying to murder me. Which isn't strange. The strange thing is that I didn't try to murder them first. I know, I know... I gotta stop slacking off."

< Autobot > Impulse says, "...ugh... so did I, missed her. Contrail has this in the bag unless Grapple or First Aid can catch her off-guard."

< Autobot > First Aid says, "Hmm?"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Want me to murder them first, Contrail?"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire makes a stabbing noise over the chan.

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > moves slowly at first around the race track and finally begins to build up a little more speed as his energon levels start to return. But there's no way he's even in this race to win it. He looks around, trying to figure out who's left and where everyone is. There's got to be someone, somewhere, someway that he can cause trouble...

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "People, people... there's enough murder potential around to satisfy all of us."

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "No there ain't."

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "You freaks quit trying to hog it all."

Silverbolt misses Scrapper, and tries to slow down a little hoping to keep a bead on him for another attempt.

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "Man, Astrotrain, c'mon. There's like entire planets of Autobots out there."

@emit "YEAH!" Speed Racer says as he crosses the finish line, unopposed now that all of his competition is dead still very much alive but injured

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Wait."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Entire PLANETS?"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "WHERE?"

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "Well like half of Cybertron for starters."

Hinder scrambles to the driver's seat of the Gallardo to watch Silverbolt try to clip Scrapper, then she scrambles across again to look back at the Astrotrain and Wheeljack sandwich. Her nose thunks against the Polizia's side window.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Probably some gross quasi-neutral planets we haven't found yet."

"YEAH!" Speed Racer says as he crosses the finish line, unopposed now that all of his competition is dea--still very much alive but injured. His family runs out onto the field to congratulate him. "Speed I knew you could win!" they all say. However, they pose something of a hazard all standing there on the race track like that! Oh no!

And yet Speed continues to give the play-by-play! "Impulse is in the lead but the Autobots have failed to slow down Contrail does that mean the Autobots will win or will the Decepticons pull through at the last second!?"

Meanwhile, the brown, red, and yellow tank fires at Scrapper some more. "ATTENTION SPAN: POOR."

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Who says it has to be Autobots?"

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  0   1   FEARLESS       --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 6  1   NEUTRAL        --

+Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 8  1   AGGRESSIVE     --

Silverbolt                   16  1   FEARLESS       --

Grapple                      18  1   NEUTRAL        --

Ambulance < First Aid >        5   2   FEARLESS       --

+Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 7  2   PROTECTED      --

+Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     8   2   FEARLESS       --

+Vector WX3 < Outrun >          10  2   NEUTRAL        --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 14 2   FEARLESS       --

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 15  2   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "What, like... civvies?"

Combat: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > refuels Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > 's energon reserves.

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Well, I guess fleshies aren't as fun."

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "They're gooey... I'd stay away from squishing them unless they're EDC."

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > doesn't even slow down of course, as Wheeljack gets in his path deliberately. He actually smashes the car up and -onto- his front end in the process, half lifting the Autobot car off the ground and just shoving him along! And he still doesn't stop, rumbling along at full speed, revelling in the fact that he's no doubt causing tons and tons of pain to the unfortunate Autobot inventor. "How's it feel, Wheeljack? Pain receptors still workin just fine? Maybe ya shoulda stayed a rusting wreck like the rest of the failures! Gwahahahaha!" Oh he's loving it, loving even the sickening way that Wheeljack finally wrenches off the front end of his body as he goes barreling on his way!

Straight into the pit area in fact. "Bwuh?"

Past the astonished pit crews, into the work areas. "Uhhhh..."

And he rumbles right over several parked racecars and proceeds to plow head-first into a fuel-storage pit. "...mommy!"

Luckily it's a safety-designated area so nobody happens to be in the immediatae radius of the very large, very colorful and VERY intricate mushroom-cloud shaped fireball that rises up over the stadium, much to the delight of the more pyrotechnic inclined members of the audience! Come on, who comes to a race to actually see the -races-?

Race: Setting parameter ENERGON-PER-TURN to 1.

TACS Racetrack(#9364TOae)

=========================[ Welcome to the Racetrack ]=========================

Your average everyday oval-shaped race track, with the accompanying grandstand. Bookies wander around offering shady deals to the multitudes of myriad aliens flocking to watch the competition.

-( Race Conditions )--

POSITIONS PER LAP: 20                 LAPS PER RACE:      4

ENERGON PER TURN:  1                  MAX BASE VELOCITY:  100

--

Type !racehelp for a list of commands

Type !placements for current standings

==============================================================================

Contents:

Hinder(#177)

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > (#9)

Ambulance < First Aid > (#4537)

Grapple(#19)

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > (#739)

Vector WX3 < Outrun > (#4878)

Torque(#10104)

Datsun 240z < Bluestreak > (#959)

Winged Payloader < Scrapper > (#2009)

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > (#31)

Silverbolt(#1719)

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > (#6792)

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > (#6254)

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > (#10743)

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  0   1   FEARLESS       --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 6  1   NEUTRAL        --

+Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 8  1   AGGRESSIVE     --

Silverbolt                   16  1   FEARLESS       --

Grapple                      18  1   NEUTRAL        --

Ambulance < First Aid >        5   2   FEARLESS       --

+Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 7  2   PROTECTED      --

+Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     8   2   FEARLESS       --

+Vector WX3 < Outrun >          10  2   NEUTRAL        --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 14 2   FEARLESS       --

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 15  2   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

Combat: Astrotrain damages himself.

Combat: Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > falls to the ground, unconscious.

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "Bwawhahaohcrap."

< Decepticon > Astrotrain KER-SPLODEY.

< Decepticon > Pounce says, "...my... THAT didn't sound good. Hehehehehe."

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > watches in his rearview mirror as Astrotrain disappears off the track and goes up in a cloud of...color and explosives? What the? Well that was worth seeing! And made his day just a little bit better! Speeding on, he steps down on the pedal and goes for broke, hoping to do some catching up!

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "What, are you scared of gross stuff like Sunstreaker is?"

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  6   1   FEARLESS       --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 6  1   NEUTRAL        --

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswi 15 1   AGGRESSIVE     --

Silverbolt                   16  1   FEARLESS       --

Grapple                      4   2   NEUTRAL        --

+Lamborghini Countach < Sunstre 10 2   PROTECTED      --

Ambulance < First Aid >        14  2   FEARLESS       --

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     18  2   FEARLESS       --

Vector WX3 < Outrun >          19  2   NEUTRAL        --

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 2  3   FEARLESS       --

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 5   3   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

Vector WX3 < Outrun > apparently...didn't move? Stupid engine... it's the last times he let Perceptor gets him ready for a race... He won't skip his next scheduled maintenance with Hoist. Suddenly his engine comes back to life and the speedster rolls at full speed towards the finish line.

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > sets his defense level to Neutral.

Grapple can't help but stare at the mushroom cloud as he drives along. Woah. That was certainly a bright and interesting show. Hopefully, none of the locals or fellow Autobots were hurt in that. Even as he stares, he moves along the track, puttering and.. In to lap two! Woo!

In hindsight that was -not- one of his best 'do the last thing the enemy expects' ideas, as despite the effort Wheeljack just gets mauled and chucked off to the side of the train's path of destruction, likely forgotten as Astrotrain goes ahead looking for other victims to mutilate.

Or maybe not.

Despite being nearly broken in two, smashed to hell and smoke billowing out from under his hood, Wheeljack manages to get going again. Barely. But barely might be just enough. Not enough to win, of course.

"Hey! *sputter-cough* I ain't done with you yet!" Wheeljack manages to pull up far to see the big fireball going off. And groans out a chuckle, as he sputters out to a stop, clearly leaking from somewhere.

"Now that's one explosion I'm -glad- to have indirectly caused."

Combat: Vector WX3 < Outrun > sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > sets his defense level to Fearless.

Race: Error - energon-per-turn is not a valid parameter. Must be an integer greater than zero.

Combat: Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > sets his defense level to Neutral.

< Decepticon > Pounce says, "No, dipstick, I was referring to Astrotrain apparently going up in a major fireball."

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > continues to race but at this point, he feels a bit defeated...no one close by to ram, not that any of them are Cons anyway and he just can't seem to get to that illusory third lap.

< Decepticon > Astrotrain can oh so barely be heard over the radio in a hoarse voice amidst the roaring crackle of flames.

Ambulance < First Aid > glances in front and behind him to see if Contrail can be found. Impulse mentioned trying to block her on the Autobot broadband, but the Decepti-Femme is no-where to be seen. Even if Aid did see her, though, he'd have reservations about actually trying to take her out. For now, Aid moves up in an attempt to lap Sideswipe.

< Decepticon > Astrotrain says, "....ow?"

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > somehow gets... stuck? In a pothole full of gazpacho? She cries out, "Noooooooooooooo!"

Wait, she's waterproof. This is just stupid. Contrail tries to get going again, though Impulse has a good lead on her now!

< < GRAPPLE! > > Scrapper happily cries out, almost too happy. Is he verging on the edge of insanity yet? Has all this crashing done something to his rational mind? Or does he really have a serious issue to pursue with the orange crane.

< < I told you -long- ago you'd pay for what you did, well today is THAT day! > > the Constructicon roars out, trying to use his bucket to upend the Autobot. It scrapes along the ground, sending sparks flying this way and that, before approaching the rear end of the crane and in a sudden movement.. send shooting upwards!

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "I was talking to Needlenose, genius."

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > misses Grapple with his You're Not Erector (Ram) attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > sets her defense level to Aggressive.

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "Hey, whoa... I ain't afraid of nothing."

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > looks around for somehting to run into or block or something...no such luck. Drat!

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "I just think, y'know, that killing humans is totally beneath us."

< Autobot > Wheeljack groans. "First Aid, I'm *cough* gonna need yer extra special touch later."

< Decepticon > Darkwing says, "we might as well kill them, help them end the sufferign that is their existance in this woefully cruel universe."

< Autobot > Wheeljack says, "... But it apparently distracted Astro long enough to run off the track, so totally worth it!"

(New BB message (23/9) posted to 'Quotes Out Of Context' by Backfire: Badtouch..)

< Autobot > Wheeljack starts to laugh, but it breaks down into coughing and groaning

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "Thanks for the morale boost, Captain bringdown."

< Autobot > Perceptor says, "What did you do this time, Wheeljack?"

< Autobot > First Aid says, "Sure thing, Wheeljack."

Lamborghini Countach < Sunstreaker > drives into a pit area and transforms, fussing over the scrape that Scrapper put on him. He looks around for the Con....if they weren't in a truce right now, that Destructicon would be no more!!!

Grapple is well and truly surprised to see Scrapper so close, and certainly only more stunned at the happy-sounding call. "Wh --" And then there's a bucket flying at him. He swerves aside just in time, but a side mirror tilts in the Decepticon's direction. "What are you talking about?"

The sleek, golden Lamborghini transforms into Sunstreaker's bipedal mode.

< < Nooooooooooooo! > > Scrapper cries out, a his rear tire popping and sending the Constructicon flailing off the track.. towards Astrotrain.

Combat: Scrapper damages himself.

Combat: Winged Payloader < Scrapper > falls to the ground, unconscious.

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Uhh...yeah...whatever works."

RE-EXPLOSION

Hinder yipes as Contrail hits a pothole, then snuffles at the air. "Not enough garlic." She then peers out the front windshield again. "Only that one in front!" She'd make a jump for Impulse if she thought she could reach him... and if Contrail opened a window for her.

< Decepticon > Darkwing says, "I am simply saying that by killign them, you are doing them a favor. Your become the bringer of the end. What more gloarious task is there then that, to end the suffering of another?"

"THAT ONE I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH!" Wheeljack yells between coughs as Scrapper also goes crashing off

Lamborghini Countach < Sideswipe > snorts and sighs...slowing down and pulling up next to his brother before transforming. "Don't even THINK about it." he says, seeing which direciton Sunstreakers eyes were looking and the look on his face said it all.

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrain > is pretty sturdy, so even a huge explosion like that won't keep him out for too long. But his race is done, pretty much. His blackened hulk resting amongst the flames and re-explosion that are soon put out by the fire crews working hard.

And there is the burnt out train, with a burnt out payloader crumpled over him. Aww, they're hugging.

EXSPLOSION 2: THE RESPLOSIONING

The sleek, red Lamborghini transforms into Sideswipe's bipedal mode.

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "But... the end is bad! Lets /not/ bring the end."

Grapple slowly pulls to the side, looking on to the RESPLOSIONING in some awe. Well, it wasn't as if he was going to win this race anyway; a glance at the leaderboard shows he was an entire lap behind. "..What was THAT all about..?"

Race: Grapple leaves the race.

< Decepticon > Drag Strip snorts. "That's an opinion, not a fact. Just ask Dead End."

Sunstreaker looks over at his brother, "Whatever." He crosses his arms and glares at the rest of those out on the track, not even in the mood to finish the race.

< Decepticon > Darkwing says, "Ah, so you fear Death then. Death comes to and for everyone. Entropy is the guiding hand that shows us all the way. Everything we do is just taking another step towards the end of something, eventually everything. To deny that, is to deny the basic fundimetals of this thing we call life."

Speed Racer's eye twinkles as a flaming mushroom cloud rises up behind him dramatically! "OKAY! Impulse crossed the finish line first and Contrail's right behind for the silver but who will get Bronze let's find out Trixie!"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Dorkwing."

Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings...

============================[ Racetrack Attack! ]=============================

Racer                        Pos Lap Defense-Level

--

Winged Payloader < Scrapper >  6   1   FEARLESS       --

Armored Locomotive < Astrotrai 6  1   NEUTRAL        --

Silverbolt                   16  1   FEARLESS       --

Sideswipe                    19  1   NEUTRAL        --

Sunstreaker                  13  2   NEUTRAL        --

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack >     18  2   NEUTRAL        --

Ambulance < First Aid >        1   3   FEARLESS       --

+Vector WX3 < Outrun >          8   3   AGGRESSIVE     --

+Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrai 11 3   AGGRESSIVE     --

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Im 15  3   FEARLESS       --

+ Racer within ramming distance

- > You!

===========================[ Sorted by Leadership ]===========================

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "We should just bombast the Autobutts with your voice."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "I'm sure they'd all off themselves in no time."

Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > takes a brief moment to shake the dizzy spell from Scrapper wiping him out once again, and recovers -- somehow, it seems it stayed pretty close between him and Contrail! Surprising! He guns the engine, moving back onto the track once again and racing for the finish. And somehow, he makes it across the line, just in time to see Scrapper following Astrotrain past the pits, out the track, and... oh dear, another fireball! "Now /that/ is something you don't see every cycle..."

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "Man if you love death so much, how come you're still alive?"

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Heh."

Combat: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > sets his defense level to Neutral.

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > just sputters to a stop, leaving a massive puddle of energon leaking behind him. Though if he wasn't in car mode he'd smile at the announcement that Impulse won, and Outrun likely got Bronze. That's two medals vs. one Con getting Silver. Whoot.

Totally worth taking a few for the team

Vector WX3 < Outrun > finally crosses the finish line and transforms back into his robot mode. "Third... not bad" he mutters but he found it hard to be beat by a Decepticon. "Congratulation old timer" he says, smiling, at Impulse.

The Vector WX3 unfolds and transforms into the autobot Outrun.

< Decepticon > Darkwing says, "No, you are mistaking me for my brother Dreadwind. He is the one with that capability Backfire. As for my own Death, I have tried many times. Unfortuatly something or someone always ends up spoiling it. It is one of the cruelities in thise universe, I and Dreadwind will last long enough to see all other things end before us, for that is what the universe is like with its cruelities."

Race: Gold and Black Hovercar < < Impulse >  > leaves the race.

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "You gotta be pretty incompetent if you fail at failing."

Lancia Turbo < Wheeljack > ehehehes, and in a transformation that actually looks like it could be painful due to how much damage he took Wheeljack stands up. Wobbles a bit. "Good job guys!... Okay, I'm gonna pass out now."

Thud, flat on his back the inventor goes.

The classic transforming sound can be heard as Wheeljack converts to robot mode.

The motorcycle splits apart and re-forms into the jovial form of Sit-Com. Let the laugh track begin!

Race: Wheeljack leaves the race.

A flurry of shifting, twisting and contorting ensues as the sleek, streamlined form of a gold hovercar transforms into the Autobot known as Impulse.

Race: Sunstreaker leaves the race.

Grapple has left.

Race: Sideswipe leaves the race.

Ambulance < First Aid > flips up into robot mode, jogging towards a certain mad inventor. As he runs, he draws out a medkit labelled USE IN CASE OF WHEELJACK.

Ambulance < First Aid > flips up into robot mode.

Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > transforms and tries to fling Hinder at Impulse, mostly for the heck of it. Belatedly, she says, "Ferret. Not duck." Then she smiles for the flashes. Silver, huh? Eh, maybe they can make a superlaser out of it or something. Contrail will take it! Though Astrotrain and Scrapper really desewrve it more, for killing everything that moved.

Race: Outrun leaves the race.

Race: Lamborghini Gallardo < Contrail > leaves the race.

In a transformation that is harder than it looks, Contrail rises up into robot mode.

< Decepticon > Darkwing says, "Isn't that the exact difintion of what others refer to as success though?"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Wait."

Combat: Contrail misses Impulse with her Hinder! (Grab) attack!

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "You have a brother?"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "I thought you two were the same guy."

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Yeah...we -get- that the universe is a cruel place, Darkwing. You should go hang out with Dead End, I think you'd get along with him better."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Just like a goofy second name."

< Decepticon > Needlenose says, "Ha ha ha."

Speed Racer flashes the camera a grin. "OKAY! Impulse is the winner Contrail gets silver and Outrun gets bronze amazing race everyone!" The camera pans over to the pit crew area, which has been converted into a sort of triage center, where all the Speed Racer villains are currently in various states of being bandaged up and treated for their injuries. They groan miserably. And yet, one could almost swear that they're animated differently from how they appeared earlier, like it was added in by the network to reassure kids that people don't die in cartoons. Well, probably nothing...

Impulse transforms back as well, looking pretty well winded now... and a bit dented. "Thank you," he tells Outrun. "You had a nice run yourself, lad." He looks over at Contrail, and inclines his head. "Nice race," he compliments. "You've got a solid engine there."

< Decepticon > Darkwing says, "No, that is simply a mistake that the small minded make, Backfire."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "So says the emocon."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Ugaaaaah, Imma live forever and I wanna die."

Wheeljack looks like he could almost be dead again!... fortunately he's still white and green and not turned grey.

Outrun grins at Impulse, "Thanks. Next times I'll make it hard for you! Now if you would excuse me, I'm expected elsewhere..."

Contrail looks shifty and tries to pretend that she did not just try to wing a ferret at Impulse. Nope, nothing suspicious, here! She smiles at Impulse disingenuously and replies, "Nice race. Too nice. But nice."

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Backfire, do you -ever- shut up?"

< Decepticon > Pounce says, "No, he doesn't."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Wait, is that a trick question?"

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Unless someone rips out his vocalizer?"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Because like, if I don't answer it.. you'll think I do shut up."

First Aid has left.

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "But if I do answer it, then you'll think I never do shut up."

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "....."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "OH!"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "What if I gave you half a reply, speaking at only half of my normal speaking loudness?"

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "And if you babble pointlessly, I'll -definitely- know that you really never do shut up."

< Decepticon > Darkwing says, "His constance prattling is one of the proofs of the true nature to the universe and its cruelities. If it was the bright hopeful place people say it way, Backfire would have had his vocalizer damaged eons ago."

Wheeljack has left.

< Decepticon > Contrail says, "Write them a memo, Backfire."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Like poems?"

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Nah, that's the emocon's thing."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Universe, I love you. Please kill me, or not.  Love, Dorkwing."

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Darkwing for the last time, we GET that you think the universe is cruel."

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "Even though the universe is an inanimate object..."

< Autobot > Impulse says, "...I think I'm gonna need a bit of body work. Two shots from Scrapper... he hits pretty hard for a fairly slow-moving piece of construction equipment.  That, and a bit of fuel to get me back to base.  I'll hit the high-grade there."

< Autobot > Perceptor says, "I can oblige you, Impulse."

< Autobot > Impulse says, "Which one, the body work or the high-grade?"

Hinder squeals as she's thrown, and transforms in mid-air so a small off-white cassette is all that hits Impulse as is more than easy enough to go unnoticed. The moment the cassette hits the ground, she transforms again and scurries to get away from the Autobots. They might step on her.

< Decepticon > Darkwing says, "Just as many lesser beings would think of any of use being "robots" and all."

< Autobot > Perceptor says, "The repairs."

< Decepticon > Pounce says, "...Drag Strip?"

< Decepticon > Pounce says, "Are you offering to remove Backfire's vocalizer?"

< Decepticon > Drag Strip says, "....maybe."

< Decepticon > Impudent Fool Backfire says, "Ahahahaa.. wait."

=============================== 2033 Olympics ================================

Message: 37/36                    Posted        Author

Land Race                         Sat Aug 25    Repugnus

--

In a close but startlingly violent race, Impulse wins the gold, Contrail gets silver, and Outrun gets the Bronze! Also, Speed Racer won the Noribunga 5000, but nobody gives a damn about that.

==============================================================================