Power Overwhelming

Tower Promenade

Inside the massive gates, elegant buildings flank both sides of the wide, main roadway into the city, their indigo steel-and-crystal walls gleaming softly in the bright starlight at night, or with a polished luster in the golden sunlight. The road is wide for an additional reason: a fallen tower lies lengthwise down the center, splitting it into two narrower, Guardian-sized lanes and forcing what little traffic there is to slow down. In distinct contrast to the pristine surrounding buildings, the downed tower is dented from its fall and badly crumpled at its base, a grim reminder of the price Omega Supreme had to pay for his city's survival. Due to the slower traffic and perhaps the unsettling testimonial to Decepticon ruthlessness, visitors rarely linger here.

In the middle of this Crystal City subdivision, a foul plot unfolds. A giant abyss has been grown in the centre of the district, a battalion of Decepticon drones drudging out load after load of excavated material. The hole has grown to a gargantuan size, so much so that the bottom is beyond normal perception. At the rim of this pit, Snaptrap stands stoic, thick arms across his barrel chest, awaiting the presence of his high commander to personally unveil the location of this sought-after signal.

Windshear is continuing to pull guard duty over this project and is right now circling the skies of course keeping en optic (and radar) out for anything out of the norm. The Autobots have tried once to crash this party, no telling if they will try again or not. Better safe than sorry.

Pretty Boy Seeker Windshear transforms into dead black and gray Cybertronian Tetrajet.

Folding and shifting with the classic noise, Banshee transforms into her Junkers Ju-87 Stuka altmode

The Decepticons are not alone! Foxfire has arrived with Bumblebee, though neither Autobot is visible at the moment, thanks to Bumblebee's stealth and Foxfire's invisibility cloak. Currently, the small saboteur is slinking around the edge of the Decepticon activity, careful not to get too close and risk detection.

Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > holds formation with Windshear, scanning the ground down below. Annoyed that she mist the events of a few days past to locate the signal, Banshee aids Windshear in hunting for Autobots down below.

< < Ground looks clear. > > she comments over the radio. < < Vindshear unt I see no Autobot activity below. It seems safe for Herr Lord Galvatron to approach. > >

It isn't long before the moment Snaptrap has been waiting for to come, as Cyclonus is rocketing towards the dig site. An Autobot guerilla fighter fires a heat-seeking missile at him from within a ruined building, but Cyclonus doesn't even acknowledge it. Since his velocity is so great, the missile never catches up to Cyclonus and simply runs out of fuel somewhere behind him. The space warrior slows rapidly on approach, sending gumbies scattering as he chooses his own landing spot, his only warning a bellowed, "MAKE WAY FOR LORD GALVATRON!" He scccrrrches to a halt, and politely opens his cockpit for his passenger.

Overbite has also picked up guard duty, and he stands in place for a while. He turns his head, looking over the area. So far he doesn't hear or see anything that indicates any Autobots are nearby.

When you've got an invisibility cloak, sneaking up on the Decepticons is easy. You can just walk up to them, and as long as none of them try to walk into you, and you don't make a sound, you're probably not going to be noticed. Bumblebee doesn't have one of those. He's just a sneaky Autobot with good optics. Right now, he's crawling on his hands and knees. He reaches forward with his right hand, holding some kind of a device which faintly glows red until it makes contact with the smooth surface ahead. It then switches to green. He moves a knee, which has a similar device attached. And so on. He'd be easy to spot, except that he's not actually crawling on his hands and knees. Right now he hangs beneath the underside of what must have been an aesthetic enhancement for the building. There are dozens of them, and in the shadow, his yellow and black camo doesn't quite stand out as much as it might otherwise. Once he reaches his spot, a nice vantage point, he looks down, optics zooming in on the ground below.

Backtalk < Flight Mode > descends from the skies above! Though not quite in the general vicinity of where the gathering of Decepticons are. Afterall, flashing a badge and shouting, "Press!" usually doesn't mean much to them.

But that'll never keep a good reporter down, of course. Several city-block equivelants away, there is the soft thumping of small rotorblades as the little blocky robot sets down on the rooftop of a particularly large spire-tower that's leaning dangerously to one side as its structural integrity has suffered under repeated bombardment during the fighting. Still, it serves as a handy perch as Backtalk begins to 'set up'.

"I know somethin big's goin down, I'll stake my journalistic reputation on it!"

"What reputation?" The response chirrups in his audials from one of his fellow broadcasters back at 'basecamp'.

"Shush!" Backtalk growls, putting down a simple metal cube that begins to expand, unfold and, shall we say, transform into a large camera unit that extends a REALLY long telescopic lens.

Bumblebee moves north to the Outskirts of Crystal City.

Bumblebee has left.

Bumblebee arrives from Outskirts of Crystal City.

Bumblebee has arrived.

Galvatron exits Cyclonus' cockpit with a practiced leap, banging the canopy shut with a little bit more verb than is actually required in his haste to make his way to the construction. . err, is it deconstruction site? Excavation might be a better word for it. Either way, Galvatron is now here, his hands clasped in front of him as though he might be about to do prayer or become a father. Today, it is difficult to place his expression. Whilst he is certainly lucid there is the expectation of. . something on his face that makes him somehow even more dangerous than before. The impression might be of a child at christmastime that is expecting a particularialy wonderful present but are not hope that it might be what he has in mind.

Either way, he approaches Snaptrap. "Well?" He demands of him, eagerly. "I trust you didn't call me here to discuss ancient silverware buried here. Cough it up -- what have you found?"

Foxfire comes to an abrupt stop, stiffening as he rests his gaze on Galvatron. He watches the Overlord intently, not daring to move, even though he is almost literally hiding in plain sight. Underneath the invisibility shield, Foxfire's optics flare and narrow, his processor working rapidly as he takes in the situation. He does not dare to even speak to Bumblebee via a private frequency; no doubt there are Decepticons about who could intercept it.

Snaptrap slams a clenched fist to his chest in crisp salute at the arrival of his leader. "Certainly not, Lord Galvatron." He makes to answer the question, but pauses as he realizes that he can't quite do so. "We have not been able to decipher the device or it's nature, exactly. What we do know is this: it is ancient - and large. Very large. I believe," he turns, motioning with a flat hand toward the pit, "that you may rather see it with your own optics, Lord."

Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > circles overhead and flies down low, tipping her wings in a distinct salute to Galvatron. The more sharp-optic'd of those down below will notice that she is very distinctly and obviously saluting him with both her pilot and gunner holograms, before she circles down to land near - but not too near - Galvatron and transform, as eager to see what's below as he, and no doubt all the others, are.

She's looking extra-polished and shiny today. I wonder why...

Folding and shifting, Banshee transforms into robot mode.

Shockwave has no heralds. Only a low humming sound and a pale violet light announces the Decepticons' chief scientific mind as he arrives as well, descending from the sky a short while after Cyclonus and transforming to touch down on hissing plasma jets. He strides to Galvatron's side, opposite Cyclonus, and turns his attention directly to the pit, ignoring Snaptrap. Barely-visible LIDAR beams play from emitters in his single eye, feeling their way over the interior of the chasm where the drones have been working so industriously.

You really cant polish a satin dead black color scheme so Windy saves some credits there. But he knew Galvatron was going to be here so he did get as much of a buff as he could (then again hes always buffed so he doesnt look that much different today then usual) and when Banshee drops low and tips her wings at Galvatrons appearance he follows suit and mirrors her moves perfectly. (Galvatron got a seeker salute in stereo)

Windshears lands by Banshee, transforming and standing there at attention.

Dead black and gray Cybertronian Tetrajet transforms into Pretty Boy Seeker Windshear.

Cyclonus would hardly complain if Galvatron slams his canopy shut too hard. At least it's not his face that got slammed, after all. Regardless, once Galvatron is out, Cyclonus transforms and takes up position somewhat behind and to the right of him. He doesn't say much for now, content simply to follow Galvatron and listen to Snaptrap's report.

Backtalk < Flight Mode > looks through the back end of the 'camera', making a few adjustments as the ridiculously telescoped lens twists left, then right as it brings into focus the gathering of Decepticons below. "This thing on?" He piques through his communicator, to which he receives a reply from home base in the affirmative.

"Alrighty, this scoop ain't getting by old Backtalk! It's showtime!"

Producing his microphone in one hand, the clamps of his other raise up and flick a small switch on the camera marked 'transmit'.

Backtalk retracts the rotor blades back inside of his body once more.

Bumblebee has an idea of where Foxfire would be, having discussed their intended approaches beforehand, but no plan survives contact with the enemy, and with his cloak, he'd have no chance of spotting him. Another device near his ankles attaches magnetically to the underside of the building, and he disengages the ones on his hands, letting him lean down a bit to get a better view. Before he even thinks of sending a transmission to Foxfire, he wants to see if there are any obvious Decepticons like Soundwave who could intercept it.

< Cybertron > Backtalk phases onto the screen with a faint hint of static and some shaky camera work that suggests he's keeping a low profile, but not -too- low, further evidenced by the fact he's speaking in a 'hush hush' whispered tone. As if he were watching some sort of ceremonial proceeding and didn't want to interrupt it, "This is Backtalk with Cybertron Datanet News bringing you a special warfront report live from Crystal City. Just moments ago, it would appear that a group of Decepticons have gathered at a site where they have been conducting some sort of excavating activities the past few days. It's been unknown as to whether they have found anything, though it's been rumored that the Decepticon chain of command have been in search of some sort of energy signature of interest. Whether or not they've found it is also unknown, but none other than Galvatron himself appears to have arrived to oversee the proceedings!

"Ah, Shockwave." Galvatron says to the other. "It pleases me that you are here to witness . . the beginning of the end for the Autobots." Galvatron seems so very, very sure this time. It's resonant in the way that he speaks and the manner of his posture. Either way, he shakes his fist in the direction of the spaceport. "Banshee, Windshear, you can both get down here. I have much for you to do -- it displeases me that neither of you have found this, but your search is to be commended. I suspect there was no way for aerial searches to locate it." Then, Galvatron simply begins to descend into the pit towards the yawning hole at the bottom. "Come, Decepticons."

At the very bottom the efforts of Scrapper, Hook and the rest of the construct-type Decepticons have manifested in a large gray steel structure. It remains mostly buried, though is obviously quite large -- that of a gestalt or better. In one spot, in the center of the excavation, the shape of a hand has been placed. Kneeling, Galvatron presses this and immediatly the rumbling of gears are heard as what appears to be a control station rises upwards and locks into place. Multiple screens show unknown graphs and the language is ancient Cybertronian by the look of it. Also, by appearance, all of the graphs are in the redline.

"Shockwave? Get this operational."

Overbite momentarily glances over at Galvatron when he arrives, and then he comes a bit closer to hear what he's saying. When Galvatron enters the pit, he follows wordlessly.

Banshee salutes at the mention of her name. "We overflew every area of the city, mein Uberfuhrer." She responds. "But as you say, with it buried this deep... even with Hinder strapped to my ving, I was unable to find anything."

She salutes again when told to come down, even though she's already landed. She follows her beloved Kommandant down the hole, looking around in fascination.

"Vot... vot is this place?" she mutters, recording everything in detail in her internal memory for her painting to record the momentous occasion when, finally, the defeat of the Autobot begins. Galvatron's ultimate triumph, after all, will make a truly great painting.

For the sake of his duty, Foxfire has taken many great risks. This time is no different. The unseen Foxfire breaks from his current position, darting to the edge of the pit to watch as Galvatron descends into it. He crouches down to peer down inside, just in time to see Galvatron raise the apparent control station. At this point, Foxfire is well aware that he is in danger of being detected, but he's also willing to gather much needed information. And he's more concerned about Bumblebee, for that matter. Hopefully both spies will escape unscathed when the time comes.

Cyclonus descends with Galvatron, resuming his usual spot at his leader's side when he lands. He peers at the screens, concentrating. He certainly has enough technical ability to potentially understand the readings, but as he lacks the necessary language skills to comprehend the language, he can't tell what graph is for what. "So this is the power source, my Lord? Regretfully, all *I* am determine at this time is that it is operating at full capacity. Is this normal, my Lord?"

Windshear gives a nod to Galvatron and follows Banshee and his leader down into the hole. He glances around as the decend but does little more then that to acknowledge the closed in space they are heading into.

Snaptrap leads the procession into the abyss, unsheathing his incendiary sword and igniting it to guide the way, casting an evil reddish glow along the cavernous walls. As they near the bottom of the pit, Snaptrap offers, "Curiously, the age of the alloy layers excavated from around this construct suggest that it was purposefully buried..." At this, he backs away and goes silent, having nothing more to relay. He merely watches... and waits.

Carnivac arrives from the Memorial Square to the south.

Carnivac has arrived.

"I would be remiss not to witness such an eventuality," Shockwave replies to Galvatron, his LIDAR beams winking out as his eye flickers with his speech. "Acknowledged."

As Shockwave mounts the control station the only sign of wariness on his part is the cherenkov glow in his chest shining more brightly when he increases his power output. "This technology is not fully known to me, but I can decipher it. Thanks to the data I absorbed from the Academe Archives I have mastered the dialect used in these control systems. The other Decepticons should establish and maintain a defensive perimeter. This will be delicate work. The artifact is of great age and has not been maintained in a geological age."

Shockwave's hand moves over the controls, fingers splitting into halves, then quarters, typing more rapidly and precisely than a humanoid hand could, and the ancient machine responds, cryptic glyphs flowing over its outputs. A radio channel opens, and Shockwave's antennae extend and activate as he begins issuing it remote commands simultaneously with his direct control. A deep, throbbing hum ensues from somewhere underground, beneath if not all throughout the city.

Bumblebee had a good view, but it's been spoiled by everybody going into the pit. So he brings his hands together again, reattaching the electrical suction cup like devices he was employed, turns off the ankle ones, so he's only using the wrist and knee units, and begins a slow, arduous climb down, trying to find a better spot to spy from. Hopefully nobody spots him as he moves down the building.

< Cybertron > Backtalk watches and commentates as the scene plays out before him, "Yes, yes it definitely looks like Galvatron is interested in something! He's descending into the pit and...aw geez, I hope they don't go -too- far down or this is gonna mess with my camera angles! I can see he's pushed some kind of switch, and some kind of control panel or something is rising up! Now he seems to be giving commands to Shockwave, who's now doing his thing! You've seen it here first on Cybertron Datanet News, folks!" Briefly, Backtalk turns back to GLARE at the camera, "As a -friendly- reminder to some of our more ANCIENT and OLD FASHIONED audience, yeah! THIS is what passes for news!"

Carnivac flips up from his grinning mecha-wolf mode into his manic robot mode.

Galvatron pushes closer to Shockwave; ignorant or uncaring of the fissible materials that his dirty, dirty internal reactor gives off. Either way, Galvatron watches in silence -- pacing back and forth as the other Decepticon does his work giving off all of the impression of a caged animal. Then, he does something truly odd. When the thrumming is heard he drops first to one knee, and then to all fours -- placing his audial on the ground before he pops upwards with a grin of total victory on his face. "Yes!" He thunders. "It /works/. I KNEW it." He points at the control panel. "This is the true purpose of Crystal City. To amplify, focus and guard . . . this. This is what Omega Supreme was so adamant to protect." He then attempts to shove Shockwave aside with his shoulder, hands reaching out for the controls.

This makes another question. Can Galvatron even read ancient cybertronian? Apparently not, because no sooner than does he attempt to shove the other than he is backing up again. " . . the power readings are terrible." Okay, so maybe he -can- read it. "You'll have to re-route around the damaged substations. At least forty out of fifty focusing nodes will have to be online for this to work."

Leaving Shockwave to it, he turns back to the other Decepticons. " . . . what is that?"

A shadow is flitting, back barely in his line of sight up away from the hole. Or was it a glint? "Windshear, Banshee. Perimiter, immediatly. I just saw the glint of a scope, I think . . "

It's not likely that Foxfire can read ancient Cybertronian. Maybe he can find someone to teach him. That would be interesting. The invisible saboteur stares at the scene before him, then his ears twitch in slight puzzlement before he glances to the perimeter, also catching sight of the scope. Mentally, he sighs in irritation, immediately realizing just what that means. It figures Backtalk would be here.

Banshee nods and salutes, turning to face back the way she came. She marches just far enough up the hole to be able to both see out of it /and/ glance back down to see what's below, and then draws her two Luger-styled pistols, working the actions with her dental plates.

"Jawohl!" she replies, dividing her attention 75/25 between the entrance to the tunnel, and what's inside it.

She's careful to time her backward glances to when Windshear's looking forwards, to make sure there's always at least one pair of optics on lookout.

"Scope owner located... it's Backtalk, some distance away. Vould you like me to bomb him, mein kommandant?"

There's just something so... so... /dirty/ about the way she makes that request.

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "No."

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Nein? Jawohl."

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Banshee, Windshear, capture our guest gently and bring him . . here."

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Let us have some visual record of this day, to enjoy it with later!"

Windshear gives a crisp nod at Galvatron and turnes following Banshee to the hole entrance. He doesnt make much effort to conceal himself as he looks around. He doesn't look back into the hole, his interest in whats going on down there is neutral at best. All hes interested in is keeping any Autobots from interfering which is something they seem very good at doing.

The Zombie Seeker routes more power to his arm cannons and starts running through different spectrums as his otpics scan the area before them.

Cyclonus does not fall to the ground along with Galvatron. Instead he arches a brow, looking about questioningly. "So that was Omega Supreme's true mission? Ah, I see. It makes sense. I never did understand why he'd be so sentimental for a society of cowards and the fragile city in which they live. Indeed, he had a higher calling. But... I do not yet understand what it is!" He glances back at Banshee and Windshear, then at Galvatron. "The Autobots wouldn't dare us attack us, now, surely?"

< Decepticon > Carnivac says, "Shall we rough him up a bit?.. Oooh, or even better!"

< Decepticon > Cyclonus says, "Whomever it is surely deserves some retribution for disturbing our Lord."

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "I vos given ze order, Herr Carnivac. I believe you should assume guard vhere ve were... just in case."

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Banshee and Windshear can handle a reporter, Lord Cyclonus. I hope."

Shockwave patiently replies to Galvatron as he resumes his place at the controls, "We are fortunate that the system is as operable as it is, accounting for the condition of the planetary infrastructure and Crystal City's initial razing before being reconstructed on the same site to conceal and support the system. I am attempting to bring all the intact nodes online, but full power will not be possible immediately." A plate flips over on one of the control station's many panels and reveals a good dozen dials, some of which stand at zero while others creep upwards, wavering higher as Shockwave coaxes the system back to life.

< Decepticon > Cyclonus says, "Of course, Lord Galvatron."

Guard duty is borrrrring... Especially guarding tunnels. Carnivac had been entertaining himself by tossing little rocks at passing workers and then acting like he never did anything when they looked his way. He didn't really have much interest in the big ancient thing the green team had dug up.

On the other hand, when Galvatron starts ranting, and then cuts off to state he'd seen something, the hunter takes interest. "Oh, maybe this won't be so boring after all~". The usual sinister grin returns to his features as he pulls his cannon from it's mag-lock on his back as he shifts his position to cover the gap in defense the two Seekers were before.

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Of course, if they CAN'T handle him . . shoot them, not the reporter."

< Decepticon > Cyclonus says, "It would be a pleasure."

Overbite looks to Snaptrap. He was not ordered to help collect the intruder, so he doesn't go out with Windshear or Banshee. "How true," he murmurs, in response to Carnivac's comment.

< Cybertron > Backtalk keeps on peering through the camera now and then, moving out front occasionally to continue the reporting. "Whatever it is going on down there, it really looks like Galvatron is interested, though they're having some kind of problem with the power or..." He pauses then, antennae suddenly quivering, "Capture him? Rough up? Hey...HEY WAIT! Independent press, INDEPENDENT PRESS! I'll come quietly! It's like an exclusive scoop, right?!" Just what he's freaking out about might become clear a moment later as two specks can be seen rising from the Decepticon ranks and closing in on his position right before the screen shifts to static with a splash screen of a drunken Backtalk with a party hat and a snifter of energon in one hand. **TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: PLEASE STAND BY**

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Vindshear, fly around to cut off his escape route. Ve strike together."

Backtalk has a brief freak-out moment that all the viewers at home can no doubt see, "Hey hey, I'm unarmed! UNARMED! You want me to go somewhere, I'll go! We all got jobs to do, right?" His arms flail about wildly as he backpedals a bit...and bumps straight into the big, expensive long-range camera.

...which goes toppling over the side and smashes into a million pieces somewhere hundreds of feet below in the wartorn streets of Crystal City.

"...I only had two more broadcasts to pay for that thing too."

Windshear sees the slagheap media bot and he swear was opening his mouth to say something when Banshee tells him to head for him. ITs going to be one of those cycles, Windy thinks as he jumps up, transforms and blasts toward the 'reportor'.

Snaptrap levels the tip of his incendiary sword at Overbite, then lifts it up to the rim of the pit. "Assist."

Banshee nods at her orders and sprints from the tunnel, a look of feral delight on her face. She motions Windshear to fly far to starboard and then transforms, taking to the air and circling to gain altitude. She tips her wings as a signal to Windshear and then dives down towards the reporter, her wing sirens screaming. She transforms to land beside him, drawing and levelling her two Lugers. "You vill comply, ja?"

Backtalk is still staring gloomily over the side of the roof at the smashed remnants of his camera waaaay way down there, "Oh man, Steve is gonna kill me when I get back..."

And then Windshear is circling about, and Banshee is landing and pointing her guns at him in the classic stick-em-up maneuver. Obligingly, the reporter puts both hands/clamps up in the air...and he's STILL holding his microphone in one.

"Do I -look- like I could run away fast even if I wanted to, lady?"

*robo crickets chirp*

"Uh, Bah Weep Granah Weep Ninny Bong?"

Banshee narrows her optics. "I did not ask if you vould run away, Herr Backtalk. I asked if you vould comply."

Overbite nods at Snaptrap. "I hear and obey," he says, and goes where he is needed. He climbs back up to the top from the pit. "Oh, how nice. An intruder to interrogate," he says.

Carnivac shoulders his cannon with one hand and holds the other to the side of his mouth to amplify his voice as he shouts in the direction of the two Seekers snagging the reporter. "Take pictures of the broken equipment! We can use it as fear propeganda against Junkions later!"

"Run away? Aw shucks, what a great idea! I'll tell you what, you give me a head start and I'll see how fast this little uni-wheel will get me! Or maybe those little rotorblades I use to get around. Or no, maybe I'll just stand here, cross my arms and look all defiant till you shoot me. In the face no less! Like I got a choice whether I'm gonna comply or not!?"

By now, Backtalk's arms have lowered and crossed over his blocky chest as he's looking all snarky as usual! He can't help it, it's just in his personality. That and he can be a grade A jerk sometimes.

Still, he does shift a bit, glancing sideways back at Banshee, "Uh, will Galvatron let me still film?" He asks oh so faintly hopefully.

Windshear pulls away and makes a wider circle of the area patroling.

Cyclonus bellows up to the two Decepticons sent to retrieve Backtalk, "Bring the interloper here, in chains if need be! Do not make your Leader wait!" He sighs, rubbing his forehead. "Surrounded by incompetents and lunatics," he says, glancing at Carnivac, because he'd never call Galvatron a lunatic, would he?

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Vindshear, LAND you trottel."

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Help me carry him."

Carnivac half turns his head and just -grins- at Cyclonus in return. It's... actually somewhat unsettling. That or the fact he likely took lunatic as a compliment.

Several of the control station monitors bring up glowing schematics, like a circuit board, but largely incomplete. The phosphorescent lines are broken in many places, like fabric chewed by insects, or a city map after a few tornadoes ran through it. The power output dials quiver as Shockwave attempts to shunt electricity around the many outages and deliver increased power to the central hub.

Foxfire is convinced that all Decepticons are lunatics to some degree. But that's probably just because he's not a Decepticon. So yeah.

Windshear transforms and lands on the other side of Backtalk and reaches for an arm to take a hold of him.

Banshee chuckles quietly and shakes her head, grabbing hold of Backtalk. She throws Windshear a sharp look, radioing him on broadband, before grabbing hold of Bactalk's left arm, readying her antigravs for when Windshear lands.

"I don't know. Perhaps you should /ask/ him, ja?"

She gives Windshear a nod, and then takes to the air with her antigravs. Between the pair of them, Backtalk should be fully restrained, and taken back to the hole.

Backtalk is hardly in any position to argue as he's hefted aloft and carried along like some drunken barfly being escorted out by a pair of bouncers, "Hey I can fly too! I can...well, okay...if you insist." Those spindly little arms of his would easily fit within one Decepticon hand anyway.

He simply dangles along, single roadwheel spinning pointlessly in the air as he's hauled back with the other Decepticons!

Galvatron is still pacing impaitently as he moves back and forth around the device, watching the graphs as best he can. As Banshee and Backtalk, along with Windshear arrive, the evil Emperor of Destruction's optics widen. " . . I thought I killed you." He says to Backtalk, in as blunt of a voice as he has ever used. "Cyclonus, slap him on principle." Then his arms cross. "Anyway!" He says; looking to Snaptrap for a moment. "You may transmit all that you wish, here. For what you about to see is the weapon that I will use to destroy Iacon and every Autobot installation on this planet. Why did I bother with Crystal City, everyone has asked? In mere moments, you will find out!"

Carnivac ... starts giggling. It's a rather creepy, imbalanced sort of giggling you'd expect from a mech a few lugnuts short in the cranial unit. "Yeah, slap him like a peeping paparazzi that tried to grab yo' ass!" ... Someone's been spending too much time on Earth.

Foxfire's ears perk abruptly, almost like antennae. This is not good! Foxfire feels a strange ache in his chest, like anxiety. He is suddenly very concerned for the rest of the Autobots, as he knows very well that Galvatron would not bluff about a superpowerful weapon. Remaining silent, Foxfire backs up slightly, optics wide as he watches the Decepticon Overlord, keeping his audials alert as well. Now he REALLY hopes he and Bumblebee can escape with the gathered information.

One after another lights go green on the console as Shockwave makes connections, rolling brownouts flickering through the city thanks to power being drawn off and redirected into the great underground cables and substations. One after another the gauges climb upwards until they are all pegged at 100, solenoids clicking into place and lighting amber telltales beside each gauge. Finally a single incandescent bulb winks on on the main console. "The system stands ready for deployment," Shockwave intones. "Shall I proceed, Galvatron?"

Cyclonus sneers at Carnivac, giving a contemptuous shake of his head. But his mood improves as he's given an order, and he bows to Galvatron, rumbling, "As you wish, Lord Galvatron. If you wish me for to kill him--again--I would be delighted to do so." And without any fanfare, Cyclonus steps up to the annoying little robot, rears back for the swing, and then backhands Backtalk. Cyclonus's brand of physical discipline, of course, is always carefully managed to provide the maximum amount of physical pain to the unlucky recipient without knocking him out... well, unless he's tired of listening to the target of his wrath, anyway. "Be respectful to your future master, little robot, or I shall do it again."

Snaptrap feels Galvatron's piercing optics before meeting them with his own, and in response the Seacon gives a curt nod. A moment later, he raises a hand and stabs to the open sky above, turning to the Headmaster nearby. "Carnivac," he flatly intones - indentification, statement, and order in a single word. Snaptrap also shifts, stalking up the access shaft dug into the side of the pit, unholster his rifle. "Seek and destroy."

Backtalk is put down in front of Galvatron so unceremoniously, making a show of dusting off his nonexistant shoulders and front before peering up at the Decepticon leader just as he makes mention of killing him, "Heh heh, yeaaaah. You don't know -how- often I get people telling me that..."

*WHONK*

Cyclonus' backhand sends the little robot sprawling backwards onto what passes for his posterior, then flat on his back, his roadwheel spinning freely in the air and the shutters on his single optic flickering open and closed a few times. "OOGFH! Okay okay! Relax big guy! I'm just the messenger! I'm here to record, pass it on, ya know! I'm the storytell..." And then Galvatron is telling him he can record everything he sees, and it's like the magic words have been spoken. All hurts are gone, and the little reporterbot is BACK up on his wheel, microphone in hand, as a modular camera device suddenly flips up from one shoulder on his body. "Film? Answer to the big question on everyone's mind, and -I- get the exclusive? HOT DANG I'm so there!"

Banshee holds Backtalk steady as Cyclonus slaps, making sure to add all the little servo twinges from being held awkwardly and a little twist /here/... just as the slap happens, of course.

And when he's told to record, Banshee releases him and stands by the door, obviously on guard - to make sure he doesn't run away or anything. And to make sure no Autobots get in, of course. She's got an expression of unabashed joy, plainly loving the fact that, it seems, finally the war may be over, with the Decepticons on the winning side.

Carnivac moves south to the Memorial Square.

Carnivac has left.

Carnivac arrives from the Memorial Square to the south.

Carnivac has arrived.

< Cybertron > Backtalk reappears on the screen after another burst of static. Now he's down -amongst- the Decepticons, filming everything as he's practically brimming with excitement, "Sorry about that folks, we're back! And now I've got an actual on-the-scene scoop! Galvatron himself has given Cybertron Datanet News permission to broadcast everything that happens down here, and has stated in his own words that in mere moments we are all about to find out just what his interest in Crystal City has been! Remember folks, you're seeing this unbelievable scoop on Cybertron Datanet News first and foremost!" A brief pause, the camera jiggles, "Suck -THAT- Fox News! How do ya like -them- apples!?"

Carnivac looks up at the pointing, though any debate on just why he should listen is prevented when Snaptrap utters two of his favorite words with an 'and' in the middle, which instead brings a giddy cackle out of the pretender as he lopes past the Seacon commander to do just that.

"No."

Galvatron says to Shockwave.

"I will do it."

He steps up beside the hulking one-eye'd robot, fingers extending out over the keys. Galvatron can, or perhaps it was Megatron that had learned it, apparently actually read much of this for his fingers dance over the keyboard and the single bulb begins to flicker and then changes to red. A small panel emerges and a red button is to be found there.

Slowly, Galvatron turns to the little shape of Backtalk. "Behold, the doom of the Autobots and the beginning of the end of the Cybertronian Wars -- and the rise of the Decepticons!"

Viciously, he stabs the button. A soft chime is heard and then the control station begins to transform and reconfigure. The status displays split sideways as a dias rises up from the middle that bears an elaborate display that has a crosshairs. Another screen nearby has a rotating image of Cybertron. Clearly some sort of targeting display.

About this time the ground begins to quake rather violently. A good six point five on the richter scale, it is enough to send some of the already damaged buildings in Crystal City beginning to crumble. It continues for ten seconds. . . then twenty, then thirty. On and on as throughout the city, multi-story tall crystalline spires begin to push their way through the planet's crust. Here and there, they push through buildings, debris, all sorts of things and after a few minutes the shilouette of one can be seen near to the open pit.

Galvatron touches the rotating planet image and a red 'X' appears. He suddenly looks like a kid in a candy store.

"This . . " He says with a smile. " . . is the remnants of Cybertron's planetary tractor beam system. With this . . . " He doesn't finish the sentence, and his words are broken by derisive laughter. " . . . observe."

It might be a mildly horrific moment as the insane tyrant taps the screen and a circle appears around what appears to be an asteroid some distance away from the planet, then taps the planetary image. " . . Now where is that power setting . . " He mumbles.

Overbite helps keep Backtalk hemmed in. All while he awaits whatever it is that Galvatron is about to do.

< Decepticon > Carnivac says, "... Wait, what am I seeking to destroy again?"

< Decepticon > Snaptrap says, "Intruders."

< Cybertron > Backtalk bobs up and down, watching as Galvatron ascends to the control panel and begins to push buttons, "Here we go folks! He's doing it! It this going to be the moment that causes the war to finish after all this time? Have the Decepticons come out on top? Was all that Autobot bravado for naught? We're going to find out!"

< Decepticon > Snaptrap says, "Armed resistance, counterintelligence. Cast a wide net..."

The entirety of Crystal City suddenly begins to rumble and shake with a six-point-five on the richter scale for well over a minute. Huge skyscraper-shaped spires start to push up randomly through the planet's crust all over Crystal City, smashing their way into the sky.

Banshee struggles a little to keep her balance but then settles back onto her feet, carefully keeping herself on her feet, until the earthquake stops. She looks up at the screen, not understanding the writing, but understanding the pictures - with Galvatron's explaination.

"Mein gott Primus in Himmel..." she mutters, grinning as she puts two and two together. "Das... ja..."

< Decepticon > Cyclonus says, "Or, failing that, perhaps a dead Autobot of any kind would suffice?"

< Cybertron > The entirety of Crystal City suddenly begins to rumble and shake with a six-point-five on the richter scale for well over a minute. Huge skyscraper-shaped spires start to push up randomly through the planet's crust all over Crystal City, smashing their way into the sky.

Foxfire instinctively digs his claws into the surface beneath him, pinning his ears back as he braces himself while the spires rise from the ground. No longer caring if he's discovered, he sends out an alert over his faction frequency.

Cyclonus is also taken off-guard by the eruption of the earthquake, but, not wanting to look weak in front of the others, he manages to steady himself, resting his hand against some of the device's paneling. "I... see. I find it interesting how many little things like this emerge on our world from time to time, artifacts created by those who failed to appreciate their potential." He glances to the side. "Or perhaps they did, and their cowardice led them to hide it away?"

Shockwave watches the gauges closely as Galvatron works at the console. Does this remind him of times long gone when Megatron and Shockwave worked shoulder to shoulder, pushing back the darkness and imposing the implacable will of Empire on all before them? Does he remember the great works of elder days, when Cybertron roamed the cosmos draining whole solar systems of energy, shining with power, the jewel of the stars? Does he reflect upon the struggle just to recover treasures long lost, technologies whose like will not be seen again by the few remaining Cybertronians who scrabble among the bleached and dusty bones of their former civilization? Does he have hope or regret, triumph or bitterness?

Shockwave's eye glows indecipherably as he indicates the control for Galvatron. "One must first open this panel." He opens it. "There is a receptacle here for a key." He reaches over and snaps off a small piece of Backtalk with his fingers, pinches it into a flat sheet, folds it and pinches it again, then quickly lases it precisely into the proper shape and inserts it in the lock. Several amber lights turn white and another panel opens, a knife switch rising out of it. "Then this knife switch may be thrown to engage the primary projector array."

Snaptrap stops his ascent as the city violently shakes, but he does not capitulate so easily. Earthquakes are a normal occurance on the ocean floor, after all. As the tremors subside, Snaptrap stabs an index finger at his fellow Seacon. "/OVERBITE/," Snaptrap growls with a touch of impatience to it. He jabs a thumb over his shoulder, indicating his intentions. "Patrol. NOW." The Seacon Commander returns to the task of exiting the pit, activating his weapons for combat preparedness.

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Be on guard, Decepticons. If we are going to get resistence it will be in the next few minutes."

< Cybertron > Backtalk has to raise his voice to be heard through all the chaos and rumbling, "The whole place is shaking now! I'm getting reports from -all- over Crystal City that there are power fluctuations going off the charts! Galvatron's talking about something about a planetar tractor beam system....that's what was under us all this time!? Unbelievable! What's Galvatron going to do with this system!? I can see he's targeting something...an asteroid in space? WOW! This could get crazy in a second folks! Remember you've seen it all on Cybertron Datanet News!"

< Decepticon > Cyclonus says, "It will be too late, my Lord."

Overbite crouches down as the ground shakes, so that he doesn't lose his balance and fall over. "I hear, and obey," he says to Snaptrap, when his commander tells him to patrol. He starts scouting the perimeter. Where there's one nosy paparazzi-bot, there's likely to be Autobots soon. Especially if the Autobots were paying attention to the broadcasts.

Carnivac erps as the ground shakes for a few moments, search briefly forgotten for a few moments as he grabs onto something to keep from falling on his aft. "I guess we're really shaking things up now!" Sniggering at his own dumb joke, the hunter pushes himself off the wall and transforms, dropping to all fours. Audials stiff at alert and cannon swiveling back and forth slowly to sweep with its infrared sensors as the mechanical mongrel goes back to prowling about.

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

Backtalk is bobbing and weaving back and forth, trying to keep his balance on that one wheel as everything shakes, rattles and rolls. SOmehow he manages to stay upright, AND commentate the whole time too. Finally, he actually boldly moves forward, and right up -next- to the console that the Decepticon leader is working on, pointing his microphone in Galvatron's direction. Excitement makes him bold as brass, it seems! "Galvatron! I don't think anyone can doubt this is certainly impressive, but do you have any words for our viewers as to just what it is you fully intend to do to the Autobots with this machine!?"

Galvatron reaches down and attempts to grasp Backtalk and lift him up so his scanners can properly focus. "This is an asteroid. I'm certain you guessed that . . . not large, but large enough for the job. This . . " He points his finger at a blip on the planetary map. " . . is Iacon. This system was originally intended to capture large spaceborne rocks and other objects and lower them gently to the surface for processing . . . but it shall take a different purpose, now."

As Shockwave performs the final key construction, Galvatron just smiles. "Behold . . the final hour of the Autobots!"

Galvatron presses the button.

Immediatly, all of the nodes in the city -- fifty in all -- begin to glow a strident green from their tips. The roar and squeal of building energy is earsplitting after a second, mind-rending after ten and still it gets louder. Harsh winds begin to blow as air is alternatively cooled or heated depending on proximity to the beams. They stab upwards into the sky, merging into a single tremendously powerful beam five miles or so above the planet's surface. With a roar, the huge column of energy rushes into space. After thirty seconds of mind exploding noise on the ground it contacts a certain nickel and iron rock that was innocently floating in space. For a moment. . nothing happens. Then, slowly, it begins to lose speed.

Fifteen seconds later, the rock's trajectory has been completely changed and it is gaining speed... heading for Cybertron. Slowly at first, but soon it crosses the speed of sound as it begins to streak towards the planet at high velocity -- pulled in by the tractor beam on a brutal, calamatious trajectory for Iacon!

"Shockwave! Estimated time to impact?"

Galvatron then grabs Backtalk by the face. "If you can hear, me, Rodimus Prime . . . I suggest running. I'd hate to kill you SO EASILY!"

< Cybertron > Backtalk boldly approaches Galvatron, pointing the microphone at him, "Galvatron! I don't think anyone can doubt this is certainly impressive, but do you have any words for our viewers as to just w hat it is that you fully intend to do to the Autobots with this machine!?" He's suddenly hoisted up by the Decepticon Leader so that he and the camera can get a GOOD look at the instruments as Galvatron responds, "This is an asteroid. I'm certain you guessed that . . . not large, but large enough for the job. This . . is Iacon. This system was originally intended to capture large spaceborne rocks and other objects and lower them gently to the surface for processing . . . but it shall take a different purpose, now."

< Cybertron > Backtalk is suddenly hefted by the face as Galvatron talks directly into the 'camera', "If you can hear, me, ROdimus Prime . . . I suggest running. I'd hate to kill you SO EASILY!"

Cyclonus, upon witnessing Galvatron's inevitable triumph over his nemesis, smiles.

MEANWHILE, ON EARTH

A sad veterinarian emerges into a waiting room, where a little girl is sitting with her parents. "Did you save Barky?" the little girl asks anxiously.

The veterinarian shakes his head sadly. "No... I'm afraid Barky... passed away."

"Nooo!" the little girl cries, sobbing as her parents try in vain to console.

Back on Cybertron, Cyclonus continues to smile.

Foxfire stares in horror. It's all he can do to keep from crying out in his alarm. His processor is flooded with various thoughts as he tries to find a solution to this dire situation. Only one real option comes to mind, however: destroy the control panel. Of course, that would mean revealing himself to the Decepticons, but Foxfire has taken such dangerous risks before.

Windshear moved out of the way once Backtalk was released and just stands there watching all of this. Hes trying to figure out how making an asteroid smash into Cybertron is a good thing but doesnt say anthing. He just stands there quietly just.. standing there.

Shockwave extends his left arm and projects a countdown onto a nearby wall. It reads 00:00:00:00:04:23:19:*blur*. "Approximately eighteen point six femtocycles. If your chronometers are set to Earth Time, four minutes fifteen seconds at the mark. Mark."

Banshee narrows her eyes as she watches the asteroid. "Er... mein Kommandant?" She says, nervously. "Are... ve safe here? Zhere is no point in destroying Iacon if Cybertron is also destroyed. Not to question your wisdom, of course."

She stands, with a slight cringe, but ready to take the galvcannoning she plainly expects.

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Cyclonus?"

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "Slap her, please and inform her that I have no desire to destroy something that I will RULE OVER!"

Snaptrap allows Overbite to overtake him on the slope, and as he does so, amplifies his instructions in passing. "Cooperate with Carnivac. If you find anything, kill it. Immediately." Then the noise comes. Snaptrap forces himself to push through it, slogging heavily up the ramp as the decibels increase. After a moment of enduring the onslaught, he pauses, coming to rest against the side of the access way with a heavy shoulder laid into the vertical surface. As it subsides, the Seacon rights himself and plods up the rest of the pathway.

< Decepticon > Cyclonus says, "At once, my Lord."

Backtalk ARMFLAILS as he's held by hte face in Galvatron's grip, though he does stop struggling as he says his ominous words to Rodimus Prime literally 'into the camera'.

"...I...I know this doesn't mean anything to you, Galvatron. But you have just -so- secured at least six different intergalactic awards for reporting for me with that line."

Cyclonus nods to Galvatron, approaches Banshee, and promptly backhands her. At least it wasn't as hard a swing as what Backtalk got--seems that asking a foolish question isn't as bad as the crime of insolence... or not being killed when you're supposed to be, anyway. "Banshee, of course he won't destroy his own domain. See for yourself. The asteroid's mass and velocity will not generate anywhere enough energy to destroy the entire planet." The right edge of his mouth perks upwards a bit. "Just part of it."

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee sounds a little nervous, plainly waiting for the slap. "I never believed zat would be your wish, mein commandant. But haff you considered ze wider consequences of ze asteroidal impact? Ve might end up on a dead vorld vunce a-" WHACK. "SHEISS, gottdamn it, ow... I sink my head just did a full three-sixty... sheiss... you're gut, Herr Cyclonus."

< Decepticon > Cyclonus remarks, dryly, "One might say I learned by example."

Looking down into the pit from his place of safety, of hiding, Bumblebee's head lights up, glowing in a soft blue as he receives and transmits communications. At this point, there isn't much sense in delaying the inevitable. Surrounded by Decepticons, with a rock the size of Texas on its way to Iacon. What are two lives when weighed against that. The Autobot Scout rarely wields a weapon, but he reaches behind his back, withdrawing a laser pistol. It looks brand new, as if it's never been fired. Quietly, he whispers to himself, "Prime told me there'd be days like this . . ."

"Killing, thought you'd never ask," Overbite says. He takes a position opposite where Carnivac is now, so that if an Autobot comes into sight, they'll have him pinned between them.

The earsplitting sound of energy in progress continues, and the beam pulls that tremendous rock towards Cybertron. Inevitably, inexorably the huge chunk of space iron bears down on the unsuspecting city of Iacon. . now two minutes away, just over a minute from entering Cybertron's immediate orbit. It is visible now as a bright point of light at the end of the long beam.

Galvatron is staring intently at the screen; waiting and watching. "Decepticons!" He says. "Vigilance! Our hour of victory is at hand, if any Autobots are to strike, it will be soon! Terminate any intruder immediatly."

Windshear raises an optic ridge when Banshee gets backhanded. He just twitches a wing and continues to watch silently.

Banshee is in the middle of broadcasting a message on the Decepticon broadband when the slap strikes home. Her head doesn't do the full 360, but it sets the cogs that sheath her neck spinning, and the lightly-built Stukacon is knocked sideways a little. She curses faintly under her breath and shakes her head to clear it, the perfect imprint of the back of Cyclonus' hand on her left cheek.

"Gottdammit... sheiss... ow..." she mutters quietly. "I'm goink to haff to panelbeat my face back into shape..."

She begins to look around, drawing her still-cocked Lugers.

Snaptrap pauses once again on the ramp after hearing Banshee question Galvatron, and then the resounding echo of Cyclonus' slap. The Seacon Commander unshoulders his rifle and levels it at Windshear and Banshee both. He shakes the barrel end of the rifle skyward, growling. "You two. Go make yourselves useful - before I use you for target pratice."

His work activating the device now complete, Shockwave attends to its safety. His head slowly revolves 360 degrees, invisible energies playing over the scenery as he scans for interlopers.

Combat: Shockwave initiates a radar sweep of the area.

Combat: Bumblebee has been found!

Combat: Foxfire has been found!

Mecha Fenrir Wolf < Carnivac > continues his prowling, but then pauses, optics narrowing a bit. The mecha-wolf turns a bit and lifts his head, canting a bit to the side as he inhales some of the stale cybertronian air through his olfactory processors. "Hmmm..." With a quiet grunt he leaps up to an outcropping to get a better view of the area, as the dust and ancient fumes stirred up by the tremors is making it hard to pinpoint anything on scent alone. The turret on his back continuing its sweeping motions with the infrared targetting system to compensate. Leaning a bit farther over the ledge Carnivac turns in that direction.. only to yip as the outcropping gives beneath his weight and he thuds to the ground again. Back legs kick in the air a few times. "It's okay, I fell on my head!"

< Decepticon > Shockwave says, "I have detected two anomalous heat sources transmitting on Autobot frequencies. Decepticons, interdict the enemy. Waypoints to follow."

< Decepticon > Carnivac says, "Oh good, all the crap stirred up by the shaking was stuffing up my nose!"

< Decepticon > Snaptrap says, "As I expected. Carnivac, Overbite pursue the closer waypoint. Banshee, Windshear, the other."

< Decepticon > Windshear says, "Acknowledged, Snaptrap."

< Decepticon > Overbite says, "As you say"

At Shockwave's sudden anouncement of intruders, Galvatron suddenly holds Backtalk up at eye level. " . . I knew it was probably a mistake to permit you to film this. Nonetheless, your purpose has been served." Carefully, he rotates the smaller robot in his hands so that he is held upside-down -- wheel upwards, and head down. Then. . with driving force, he attempts to power Backtalk straight down into the ground. Without waiting for the results, he steps away -- fusion cannon coming up as he looks for the interlopers. "TERMINATE THEM! IMMEDIATLY!" He bellows over the sounds of the tractor beam.

Banshee shoots Snaptrap a withering glare; if looks could kill, he'd be reduced to his component molecules by now.

"I do not do this because you order it, Snaptrap." She snarls, transforming and taking to the air, heading straight for Bumblebee.

< < Autobot Abshaum! How DARE YOU!? > >

Folding and shifting with the classic noise, Banshee transforms into her Junkers Ju-87 Stuka altmode

Windshear heads out of the hole to track down the farther energy reading. Once out of the hole the Seeker jumps up and transforms, heading straight for the energy source from what was transmitted to him. And its as he thought, Autobots would somehow try to interfer. Now ones about to become target practice.

Foxfire does not move. Optics dim, the invisible saboteur has his head bowed, as if offering a silent prayer to Primus, a prayer for his comrades, and the innocent inhabitants of Cybertron. If he doesn't make it out, he hopes that Bumblebee does.

And then, abruptly, Foxfire's optics return to life and his head snaps back up, a fraction of a second before his cloak vanishes, revealing him in plain sight. Surprisingly, he does not look alarmed by this; no, his expression is one of pure determination. In the instant that he appears, he bolts toward the control panel, at the same time that one of his hip compartments opens, revealing a spare explosive. No longer caring about his own safety, he proceeds to set the bomb.

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Vindshear, you haff my ving."

Pretty Boy Seeker Windshear transforms into dead black and gray Cybertronian Tetrajet.

Backtalk is power-slammed straight into the ground with a heavy *THUD* and a smashing of metal in all directions...and a flattened head on top of it.

He just stays there, implanted and twitching occasionally. Don't worry folks...he'll get better!

He -always- does.

Overbite rushes towards the target indicated by Shockwave. Transforming to his fearsome walking shark mode, he attempts to intimidate the Autobot he's headed for. Suddenly the fox appears and he rushes with jaws open, to apprehend the Autobot. Or at least he makes an attempt to grab Foxfire.

Combat: Foxfire sets his defense level to Protected.

The robot form crouches down as the shark's head flips up, and the shark's legs and arms swing around. Watch out!

Rodimus Prime arrives from the Memorial Square to the south.

Rodimus Prime has arrived.

Bumblebee's laser pistol hums softly, a red light blinking, then turning to amber, and finally green. While looking down at the weapon, he remembers the good times and the bad. He remembers the first time he met Optimus Prime. He remembers when Ravage decided to use his arm as a chew toy. He remembers the first time he travelled along the space bridge. He remembers playing wingman to Spike, helping him pick up Carly. He remembers the birth of Daniel, which was an educational experience to say the least. And he remembers how he and Spike thought they were done for, when Unicron attacked. In all this reminiscing, he failed to notice that he had been spotted. Pushing off against the building he had been magnetically attached to, he leaps into the air, and towards the pit, laser pistol in hand, firing off a number of shots. He fire pattern suggests that he's ignoring the Decepticons, and instead focusing on the control panel down below. Grabbing onto a piece of the edge, trying to steady himself, he sends some rocks tumbling down into the pit, all the while he continues to fire shot after shot at that panel, "Come on, come on . . ."

Combat: Bumblebee sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Mutant Shark < Overbite > strikes Foxfire with his Catch the Fox and put him in a box...WITH MY TEETH attack! [Pulled -4]

Dust Devil has arrived.

Remedy has arrived.

Flaming Winnebago < Rodimus Prime > rumbles along the debris-strewn streets, all the more debris strewn with all the quake-like shaking going on from Galvatron's weapon of Terror being unleashed. Doing what many would consider to be a 'brash' thing as he left the crumbling spaceport in his wake and rushed off through the ruined city blocks towards the Decepticon staging area. His mind is a rush of chaotic thoughts, all of which he's keeping to himself as he's uncharacteristically silent at the moment. And not to mention redlining his engine for ALL it's worth as he roars through the streets as fast as he can go.

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Prime spotted!"

Chestplate expands forward as arms fold in, legs bend back connecting to the back and chestplate forming the hovercar. Fans cut on providing a cushion of air.

< Decepticon > Carnivac says, "Ah, the bearer of flames, just as you would expect."

Astrotrain moves north to the Outskirts of Crystal City.

Astrotrain has left.

Hovercar saw Blurr doing a bang up job rescuing the bots and civvys. But seeing Rodimus take off, Dusty wasn't happy. Noting that both his friends were going where any sane bot would flee from, he had to follow and see if he could help. Though he stays far enough behind at first so Rodimus can't order him away. He finally comes up alongside Rodimus. < its nice to not have to follow roadways. Shortcut! > "So what's the plan?"

The slender female robot shivers, before components shift and twist, compressing the robot into the frame of a jet fighter

< Decepticon > Cyclonus says, "Flames will be all that will be left of him, with any luck!"

< Decepticon > Combaticon Swindle says, "If you can, try and save the armour. Prime artefacts go for a bundle on the black market."

"The -plan- is that I'm going to try and make it that I didn't just send Bumblebee and Foxfire off on a suicide mission, even if I had no choice at the time." Rodimus grunts over the sound of his engine, his voice clearly in deadly-leader-serious mode right now. "And you shouldn't be here!" But he doesn't make any orders for any tagalong Autobots to go back. It'd be too late now anyway, and Rodimus can only focus on the most important thing right now.

The tractor beam is howling with energy still -- a mighty column of verdant light shooting up into the sky as the Asteroid gets closer and closer. It strikes Cybertron's atmosphere and morphs from a bright white light into a glittering ball of fire that is still streaking towards Iacon at every increasing velocity. The sky grows orange with the proximity and passage of the tremendous rock, managing to even eclipse the green of the tractor beam itself. Then. . the Autobots open fire. Bumblebee's shots are ineffectual, as one might imagine from one who rarely uses such a weapon. Or at least they seem that, denting the casing. It is Foxfire's bomb though, that well and truly does the job. The blast combines with a laser burst to warp damaged, heavily armored casing inwards. The old timers built their devices to last, and it's probable it would take a nuclear weapon to destroy it. . but the console is nonetheless damaged as some circuits beneath are buckled.

The tractor beam sputters. Then rekindles. Then sputters again and dies. The asteroid is STILL on a collision course for the planet's surface, but it is now unknown where it is going to hit.

Does Galvatron like this?

No. No, he does not. A familliar bellow is heard as he lunges for Foxfire, smashing any Decepticons in his way to the side as he attempts to lock his massive hand around the cassette bot's throat with all of the fury that he can manage. "THAT WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU'VE EVER MADE, YOU MALFUNCTIONING CRETIN!"

He holds the Autobot, or tries to at arm's length in front of him -- the incoming asteroid forgotten in his fury as he squeezes hard enough that sparks fly from his hand actuators. " . . . do you remember what I did to Starscream, Foxfire? He was the -last- person who /upset/ me to /THIS DEGREE/. Do you understand . . what I am about to do to you? Do you?"

"Decepticons, fan out and destroy the Autobots. I'm going to savor this one's last twitches as I atomize him IN FRONT OF RODIMUS PRIME! Destroy the others and draw Prime in, LEAVE THIS ONE TO ME!"

Yes, Galv is so mighty he can strangle a Fox.

Combat: Galvatron sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Galvatron strikes Foxfire with his Preparation for an Execution attack! [Pulled -7]

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

< Decepticon > Galvatron says, "NYARRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!"

< Cybertron > Galvatron says, "Can you hear me, Rodimus Prime?"

< Cybertron > Galvatron says, "Oh, I hope you can . ."

Mecha Fenrir Wolf < Carnivac > recovers from his little fall, just in time for Shockwave to take care of the whole not being able to smell anything in this mess. Getting to his feet and shaking his head a bit to clear it (and you'd swear you can here something rattling), but it doesn't take long for his usual smiling expression to return. "Aha, there you are, you little runts!" He swivels the gun on his back in the direction the laser blasts, firing off the energy sapping anti-heat beam at the otherwise highly efficient minibot! "Now you've got nowhere to hide AND nowhere to run! Nyahahaha!"

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

< Cybertron > Galvatron says, "No matter if you can't. I already know you're on your way. You know what I'm going to do?"

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf < Carnivac > strikes Bumblebee with his Anti-Thermal Cannon attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: That attack has slowed Bumblebee, making him less efficient.

< Cybertron > Galvatron says, "I'm going to turn your precious Foxfire into ash in front of you. Just as a parting gift. Doubtless, you're coming to save him. It will do you NO GOOD AT ALL!"

< Cybertron > Galvatron says, "NYARRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!"

Combat: Your stats and limits have been reset by an administrator.

Cyclonus hovers up into the air, optics narrowed to slits, rifle drawn, wondering where the Autobots might be this time. "Damnable Autobots. How long were they here, watching us? And why didn't they try and stop us before now?" He peers down, and notices the suddenly visible Foxfire doing something to the control panel. "There, there!" he cries. "That one, he's planting a bomb! STOP HIM!" However, Cyclonus doesn't fire himself, as he doesn't want to risk hitting the panel. However, Galvatron himself is on top of things, as is Overbite, so instead Cyclonus turns his attention to following Galvatron's orders.

Transforming, Cyclonus is up in the air and it's only a matter of seconds before he's on top of Rodimus Prime, flying above him and raining bombs down on top of him. Oddly, however, the bombs aren't coming close to Prime. Naturally they're inaccurate in any case, but they seem especially so in this case. If Rodimus paid attention he'd probably realize that Cyclonus is erecting a wall of fire to both sides of the Autobot leader, and trying to steer him straight towards Galvatron.

Shockwave apparently is quite capable of ignoring the battle going on around him, and instead turns his attention to the console, trying to get it back online in time to gain some measure of control over the incoming asteroid! He does however make sure to place Galvatron between himself and the Autobots.

Combat: Cyclonus sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Protected.

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

Combat: Starfighter < Cyclonus > misses Flaming Winnebago < Rodimus Prime > with his Incendiary Bombs attack! [Pulled -7]

Combat: Drained 2 energon.

Mutant Shark < Overbite > of course lets Galvatron snatch the Fox, after all, it's good to let Galvatron have what he wants, and it's also bad to get in the way. So he backpedals afterward so he doesn't get any friendly fire. Then he prepares to attack Rodimus Prime and the other Autobots.

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Mutant Shark < Overbite > has 'skipped' his action for this round.

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

Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > snarls quietly and dives down towards Bumblebee as Carnivac zaps him with the cold-cannon, grinning to herself. Her wing sirens scream - but she doesn't drop a bomb on him.

No, it's worse than that. She's going to sing to him; she transforms and lands nimbly beside the yellow Autobot, gathering herself up and taking a deep breath. The cogs on her neck begin to spin as she begins to sing a single, pure note.

Discordant and harmonious notes are overlaid onto that note, gradually turning it into the scream that gives her her name - the howl of the Banshee. Legend says that once it's heard... someone will die...

Folding and shifting, Banshee transforms into robot mode.

Combat: Banshee sets her defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Banshee misses Bumblebee with her Banshee Scream attack!

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< Cybertron > Special Agent Bumblebee says, "Hunh . . . Galvatron . . . one bee sting's a nuisance . . . hunh . . . a hundred . . . that'd be enough to kill even you . . ."

Bumblebee may not use his laser pistol often, but he's a crack shot. His blasts might only be denting the panel, but his shots are hitting again and again, in the very same spot. Sliding down further into the pit, he makes no effort to run, and no effort to hide. Rubble and debris precedes him, as he continues to fire, again and again, and again and again, until he's all the way to the bottom. By the time his feet are on level ground again, he's leaking energon, riddled with holes, one even scarring the Autobot symbol on his chest. If this keeps up, it's going to be hard to identify his remains. He even lost a horn, somewhere.

< Cybertron > Rodimus Prime says, "You're going to pay for everything you've done here Galvatron, I guarantee it!"

< Cybertron > Galvatron says, "Idle threats, Rodimus. Idle threats."

Kup arrives from the Memorial Square to the south.

Kup has arrived.

Blurr arrives from the Memorial Square to the south.

Blurr has arrived.

Combat: Hovercar sets his defense level to Fearless.

Hovercar chuckles at Rodimus. "You've been my friend fer as long as I've been around. As long as I function I couldn't let ya just run in headlong inta trouble alone. Moreso now that yer leader, my job ta help protect people like you. Since I've been unmothballed, Foxfire has been a true friend ta me. I miss our goofin off and I've been able ta get the fox in trouble like we use ta get in. I don't want ta lose...." Galvatron's actions cause the young hovercar to turn toward the Decepticon leader, "NO!! Leave him alone!!!!" Bots are being hit all around him but so far none of the cons have picked him as a dance partner so he tries to send a few shots at the Decepticon Lord and Master!

Foxfire jerks back a little as Overbite, well, bites him. But he's not able to escape the Seacon's jaws himself, so it's not until Overbite releases him of his own accord that Foxfire tries to flee...but it's only a half-hearted attempt. All this time, he remains strangely calm, showing no sign of his usual emotions. As he finds himself in Galvatron's clutches, he doesn't make a sound, nor does he struggle. It's almost as if he anticipated this happening.

The small saboteur is dwarfed by the size of Galvatron's hand, and is showing no sign of pain. The only hint of emotion that he gives is a brief flare of his opens as he watches the approaching Autobots.

Foxfire is no longer concerned for his own safety.

Combat: Hovercar misses Galvatron with his You Big Meanie! attack!

Blurr moves north to the Outskirts of Crystal City.

Blurr has left.

Kup moves north to the Outskirts of Crystal City.

Kup has left.

Darkwing moves north to the Outskirts of Crystal City.

Darkwing has left.

Kup has arrived.

Flaming Winnebago < Rodimus Prime > weaves left, then right through pillars of flame as Cyclonus' bombs fall to all sides around him. The Unispawn starfighter would have an easy time of herding Rodimus towards Galvatron, as that's -exactly- where the Autobot leader is going anyway. Catching some air from an explosion that goes off directly in front of him, Rodimus lifts off in short order, transforming mid-air and flipping end over end as he vaults over the remnants of some sort of cybertronian vehicle that explodes as another bomb goes off. The Autobot leader keeps moving at a full dash, seeing Galvatron in front of him, holding Foxfire aloft. But still not close enough to stop him. Still too far away....still with Cylonus too close. And the other Decepticons running interference. Too many, too many of them everywhere. He shouldn't -be- here like this, he's a big target himself...but he couldn't stay away. Not after ordering Foxfire and Bumblebee the way he did. "You're..." Both arms come up as he releases a series of shots from his forearm blasters towards Banshee. "...in..." another series of blasts at Carnivac now, as they gang up on Bumblee. "...my way!" The last are saved for straight overhead as Cyclonus blasts around in the air, ending up with Rodimus doing a classic tuck and roll, coming out on one knee and continuing his lunge.

The trailer disengages and vanishes into thin air as Rodimus Prime's legs swing down. Arms unfold and head emerges as he stands up in his robot mode.

Kup transforms with a sound that predates its "classic" counterpart by several centuries into his likewise out-of-production Cybertronian truck altmode.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Banshee with his Arm Blasters Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Mecha Fenrir Wolf < Carnivac > with his Arm Blasters Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Starfighter < Cyclonus > with his Arm Blasters Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Rodimus Prime (Rodimus Prime) used "Arm Blasters": A Level 2 AREA-RANGED attack.

F-5E Tiger II approachs low and fast, keeping below the speed of sound to minimize her signature. Coming over one building, she lines up on the big purple and grey one, the cannon on her nose starting to flash, tracers crossing the distance in blink < dakka dakka dakka! >

Combat: F-5E Tiger II strikes Galvatron with its It's just haile pelting you attack!

There's a sound of an old engine pushing the red. It's not audible over the din of combat, but neither is the sound of the sound of gumbies and drones being crushed under the wheels as he makes his way towards the action. He detects the multiple Decepticon signatures on his threat monitors and discerns who they belong to. Clearing a ridge he goes airborne briefly, but it's long enough for him to transform and land on his feet while pulling his ancient musket laser. He lands nearby his comrades and sizes up the situation with an old soldier's weariness. "C'mon, gang. We've been getting pushed and pushed long enough! It's time to fight back! All these people here need to see that we're not going to take it laying down. No matter what they've found, no matter how they're planning on using it, we've got the light on our side and that's something these dregs can NEVER take away! Now let's show these pieces of Terrelium Trash how the Autobots do things at home! FOR CYBERTRON! FOR THE MATRIX! FIGHT!"

Combat: Cybertruck < Kup > inspires Rodimus Prime, Hovercar, Bumblebee, Foxfire, and F-5E Tiger II with heroic and righteous words!

There is nothing but hate in the optics of Galvatron as he crushes Foxfire's throat. Slowly, slowly he squeezes as hard as he can. . . until the sounds of his Decepticons engaging the Autobots. He can hear Rodimus before he sees him; a blurr of orange in the distance as lethal as the ball of fire that continues towards the surface of Cybertron, the passage of the huge rock causing a noticible tremor on the ground now. It is perhaps twenty or thirty seconds from impact.

But Galvatron, he is unconcerned. He steps aside from Dust Devil's blast -- letting it impact into the dug walls beside him as he turns to face the incoming Autobots -- holding Foxfire as high as he can. "Behold, Autobots. You have done nothing but blunder, today. You cannot hope to hold this city, and soon this machinery will be repaired. Even now, I am certain Shockwave devises the plan to do so. But now . . "

He waits a moment, voice as cold as the rest of his movements. "Behold your price, today. Behold what this mere delay has cost you. LOOK, RODIMUS! HAVE THE COURAGE AT LEAST TO WATCH THE RESULTS OF YOUR ACTIONS!" He throws Foxfire into the wall; hard and immediatly transforms. Yellow lightning begins to form around the end of his huge barrel as his capacitors cycle to full charge. With a radiant glow of pure fusion energy, Galvatron continues his rant even as Remedy's rounds bounce off of his armor.

"ASHES, AUTOBOTS! THAT IS WHAT HE, AND SOON ALL OF YOU WILL BE! ASHES, AUTOBOTS! ASHES TO ASHES!"

The weapon fires on full power, a sight rarely seen; a hellish explosion of pure annihilation.

Galvatron puts the deuce in reverse and starts to curse. . cause another sucka on the south side is about to get hurt! Galvcannon is on location now, sh*t is about to get real.

Combat: Galvcannon < Galvatron > strikes Foxfire with his. . . and dust to dust. attack!

Combat: Foxfire falls to the ground, unconscious.

Starfighter < Cyclonus > pulls an Inside Loop as Rodimus's blasts streak out at him, managing to avoid them all. "If your aim is so poor against me, Rodimus, you've no chance against Galvatron." He drops down, transforming, and tries to seize the young Prime by the arm and wrench it behind its back. "In any case, do be still while Galvatron shows you the fate of your little friend?" Cyclonus glances towards Galvatron. "I find it aggravating when I'm trying to enjoy a bit of entertainment, and some young ruffian shows up and starts a ruckus..."

Once Galvatron is finished dispensing his special brand of justice, Cyclonus remarks, dryly, "Do you suppose roast fox is a delicacy on Earth, Rodimus?"

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

Combat: Cyclonus sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Cyclonus misses Rodimus Prime with his Armlock (Punch) attack!

Combat: Gained 1 energon.

Banshee snarls as she takes the hit, which blasts her aside and causes some damage. She looks at Rodimus with a feral growl- but he's Galvatron's target. She picks someone else, spotting the F-5e, Remedy.

< < Dirty sneaky Autobot, pretending to be a seeker! > > she growls, transforming and taking to the air immediately.

Slotting in on Remedy's tail, she opens up with her wing guns!

< < Indeed, dakka dakka dakka. > > she comments, harshly.

Folding and shifting with the classic noise, Banshee transforms into her Junkers Ju-87 Stuka altmode

Combat: Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > misses F-5E Tiger II with her Wing Cannons (Pistol) attack!

As Galvatron hits the ground, Shockwave is revealed behind him, and swivels to raise his arm cannon towards each of the Autobots who dared fire on the Overlord. "Interference at this point was ill-considered," Shockwave drones dispassionately as he strides forward, emitting a thin but intense laser beam towards Dust Devil. "It would have been more tactically sound to attempt to prevent us from activating the tractor beam array. Now destruction is inevitable, even if not necessarily the destruction Galvatron intended. Why did you delay? Half-measures are a sign of the unfit." A second beam lances out towards Remedy, lighting up the sky with its crimson flare.

"Oh, so many targets, so little time," Carnivac giggles with amusement, even as he's getting pelted by a few shots from Rodimus. "Hey Boss! Your favorite playtoy is here!... Other than slapping Cyclonus, that is." He's pondering just who to harass more, when the blathering of an old mech causes his audials to perk up. Followed by a growling cackle as he turns and charges towards Kup... And somewhere in the middle of here and there turns into an even bigger and uglier problem, with massive jaws dripping with slobber trying to chomp down and use the geezer for a chew toy!

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Neutral.

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

Combat: Shockwave strikes Hovercar with his Electromagnetic Pulse Area attack!

Combat: That attack has temporarily affected Hovercar's Accuracy. (Blinded)

Combat: Shockwave misses F-5E Tiger II with his Electromagnetic Pulse Area attack!

Combat: Snaptrap sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Snaptrap, preferring the terrestrial approach to locomotion, hikes up the remaining length of the pit's access ramp like a shuffling horror, weapons the size of some Autobots in hand and at the ready. Upon cresting the apex of the abyss beneath him, he surveys the escalating violence of the area as quickly as his central processors will allow. In this evaluation, his frame is washed over with heat waves emanating from Cyclonus' incendiary herding of Rodimus Prime. Snaptrap lifts an arm to shield his optics from the roiling blasts, and in this he discovers Kup standing in the distance, the derelict blue humanoid spouting off more drivel. Again. "I thought I told him to shut up..." Snaptrap grumbles in annoyance more than anything else, leveling his atom-smasher rifle with a laboured sigh, barrel squared up for the Autobot advisor's windshield chest. "I suppose you can't teach an old mech new tricks, after all."

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf < Carnivac > misses Cybertruck < Kup > with his This will be something else big mean and hideous with sharp teeth that Kup turns into a story later I bet. attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Snaptrap misses Cybertruck < Kup > with his Atom-Smasher Rifle attack! [Pulled -3]

"Rodimus Prime! Your presence here is unwanted! Unless you want to die!" the Shark-Seacon bellows. He transforms and aims his Freeze Beam Blaster at the Autobot Leader. "Perhaps I should put you on ice before Galvatron sends you to your doom!"

The shark's arms, legs, and head swing out of the way, and his robot head and limbs appear.

Combat: Overbite strikes Rodimus Prime with his Freeze-Beam Blaster attack!

Combat: Rodimus Prime has been temporarily incapacitated.

Overbite now fires his Jawbreaker Cannon at Rodimus!

Combat: Overbite strikes Rodimus Prime with his Jawbreaker Cannon attack!

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Foxfire crashes into the wall after being thrown, and still he makes no effort to escape. He seems to have accepted his fate, and continues to face it with the epitome of calmness. Galvatron's blast completely engulfs him, leaving barely a trace of him in its wake. All that remains to be seen of the courageous little saboteur are some scraps of platinum armor, and a ripped Autobot insignia.

Combat: The next attack against you will automatically hit.

F-5E Tiger II has enough problems with an old cropduster shooting at her, but, a blast that is very familiar to her arcs past her canopy. Well, she can only deal with one thing at a time. Looking behind her, she lights off her afterburners, pulling into a climb, almost stalling before coming back to focus on Banshee < I don't claim to be a seeker, and you shouldn't either! > Her nose lights up with 20mm cannon fire at the Stuka

Hovercar cries out as his systems start sparking and suddenly he can't see what's going on. Though he would gladly shoot back at Shockwave, he doesn't know where blinky is. So instead he continues straight on the line of fire he had started out on. Galvatron. Perhaps he should thank Shockwave for sparing him the sight of his friend being atomized. "FOXFIRE!!" Throwing his propulsion units into high gear, he speeds toward where he last saw the evil Galvatron.

Combat: Hovercar strikes Galvcannon < Galvatron > with his Ram attack!

Combat: F-5E Tiger II strikes Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > with its I out Richtoffen you! attack!

Rodimus Prime's arm actually -is- seized up by Cyclonus, and actually wrenched halfway around his back. But there's a struggle going on as the Unispawn finds that Rodimus just isn't quite submitting all the way to turn it into a true armlock. A struggle issuing between the two...until Overbite's freezing beam hits hard and freezes the Autobot Leader in place. A moment later, the Seacon follows it up with another blast that strikes Rodimus in the torso, doubling him over with a solid, "Hwooof!"

And then the bright flash of Galvatron's cannon mode, the telltale spike of the energy lance from the barrel striking into Foxfire and...all but annihilating the Autobot tape in an instant. Rodimus just gapes, his mouth halfway open, no words coming from him as Cyclonus leers behind him, and makes the final insult on top of it all.

And then the Decepticon learns why it was a huge mistake. Clenching the hand of his pinned arm into a fist, Rodimus suddenly straightens and twists in place, wrenching free with a heavy *SHRUNK* of strained metal, and abruptly tearing himself free from Cyclonus' grip with a frightening amount of strength. His balance is almost thrown off, except that he manages to stop himself by throwing his other foot back, his posture ramrod stiff, his demeanor dead serious.

His rifle already in hand and pointed straight forward, drawn and aimed faster than the blink of an eye in a smooth movement that would have had Billy the Kid boggling at how fast it happened. At point-blank range, Rodimus puts the huge barrel of that Photon Eliminator a mere hand's width from the Decepticon's upper torso.

"You think it's so entertaining, Cyclonus?" His finger squeezes the trigger. "See if you can laugh this one off!"

BWA-WHOOOOM!

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Cyclonus with his The Power attack!

Combat: Rodimus Prime (Rodimus Prime) used "The Power": A Level 10 RANGED attack.

Combat: You took 23 damage.

Combat: Rodimus Prime's attack disables you instantly!

Combat: Cyclonus falls to the ground, unconscious.

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "...mein gott..."

Cybertruck < Kup > is barely into the fray when he sees Foxfire take Glavatron's blast full-on. Watching its result likewise brings abount a change in the old mech. "Not him..not Foxfire, you SLAGGIN' barbarians." he mutters, "He was better than any of you. ALL OF YOU!" he says, much louder. Inspired by Rodimus' blatant levelling of Cyclonus, there is a grim, soulless expression on Kup's face now. The kind of expression he has when he's set about work that requires no emotion, no heart. This expression and demeanor is partly responsible for getting him through so many scenarios, and allowing him to accumulate so many of his stories - one of which he's living now. When Snaptrap attacks him, it's the kind of move that he's known for. Meeting it head on so that it can miss him, he levels his musket at the Seaccon leader. "It's true -- you can't teach an old mech new tricks, but I've forgotten more than you've ever known you overgrown roll of Solaris Sushi." he squeezes his trigger, advancing on the turtlecon and letting the rounds fly.

The old, blue-grey vintage Cybertronian truck transforms with a sound that predates its "classic" counterpart by several centuries into the grizzled Autobot veteran, Kup!

Combat: Kup strikes Snaptrap with his Acid Musket Laser attack!

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Cyclonus almost allows himself another smile of satisfaction--and nearly dooming some other kid's puppy in the process--but Rodimus Prime manage to put a stop to that, ripping himself away from Cyclonus which such viciousness that part of the space warrior's metal plating is stripped away from his hand. "Anffft--" he grunts out, blinking at the damage, and before he knows it, Rodimus has that enormous rifle of his pointed directly at his chest. And of course, it blasts a hole straight through his chest, and despite the smoke you can almost see what's behind him.

"Oh, dear," Cyclonus says, voice tremulous. "My Lord... I... apologize.." His body quivers a bit. "I do not believe I will be able to..." And then, he simply collapses onto his back, out like a light.

"Cyclonus is fallen, Great Galvatron," Shockwave announces calmly, raising a heavy foot to attempt to crush Dust Devil into the tunnel floor while the Autobot is close at hand. "Shall we retreat?"

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Shockwave misses Hovercar with his Kick attack!

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "I'm a bomber. Can somevun scrape zis fly off me?"

Giant Armored Timberwolf < Carnivac > misses, and then the old mech goes and shoots at the Seacon instead. How rude, ignoring him for the dinner on a halfshell! "Hey ya oldster roadster, aren't you forgetting something?" Whirling around on his paws to face Kup once more after his whiff, the giant wolf's eyes begin to glow bright red, the flare effect followed by pinpoint beams of energy lancing out at Kup.

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf < Carnivac > strikes Kup with his If Looks Could Kill... attack!

Snaptrap behaves similarly to Kup, advancing against the Autobot's attack - not so that it will miss, though. Snaptrap stalks directly into the line of fire and purposefully absorbs Kup's strike. The round soundly connects with his titanic frame, stopping him cold and rolling his shoulders with the strength of the blow. Snaptrap's optics flash with a devilish crimson as he turns to survey the damage along his pectoral plating. "Aaaah, Kup. You've forgotten much more than that." Snaptrap empties the chamber of his rifle with a routine flip of his thumb, sending a sizzling casing onto the ground. The land erodes around the empty shell after a few seconds, and a moment longer it disappears under Snaptrap's massive foot as he grinds it into dust. "You've forgotten to fear your betters." The Seacon Commander's incendiary sword ignites at his side. "More importantly, you've forgotten to fear /me/." Snaptrap turns, bellowing in rage - but not at Kup. He glowers at Carnivac, stabbing at him with a clawed finger and then pointing off in the distance without bothering to look, "ASSIST BANSHEE! THIS ONE IS MINE!"

Combat: Snaptrap sets his defense level to Fearless.

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

Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > snarls loudly and shows Remedy that props are more agile than jets - not that it helps. The 20mm cannon rips through her armour as she pulls a tight teardrop loop - one that places herself above the F-5 as she dives to avoid the Decepticon cutting across her nose.

Grinning to herself, Banshee centres the jet - and Rodimus beyond her - in the window that lies between her pilot hologram's feet, used for aiming during a dive-bomb.

Which is exactly what she's doing. The sirens on her wings scream as she powers towards her aerial foe, dropping a bomb and pulling up at the last minute. In /theory/, the bomb should clip Remedy as it sails, whistling, towards Rodimus Prime. The 50kg explosive is probably big enough to catch Dust Devil in its blast radius....

Combat: Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > strikes Rodimus Prime with her 50kg GP Bombs Area attack!

Combat: Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > strikes F-5E Tiger II with her 50kg GP Bombs Area attack!

Combat: Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > misses Hovercar with her 50kg GP Bombs Area attack!

< Decepticon > Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Ja! I got her! How'z ZAT!"

Overbite faces the hovercar. He suspects this one Autobot fears him. He transforms back to walking Shark mode and advances on Dust Devil, jaws wide and ready to snap.

Combat: Overbite misses Hovercar with his bite (Punch) attack!

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Rodimus Prime takes no joy or satisfaction in Cyclonus' fall. At other times there'd be some smart remark. Perhaps a joke of some sort, or a pun. But now, there's nothing. Just Rodimus' harsh glare as he watches Cyclonus struggle to keep standing before he topples over.

Quietly, deliberately, Rodimus approaches where Foxfire laid a few heartbeats ago. It's one of those strange moments where time seems to stand still, where all sound seems to fade to the background. The barrel of his rifle now pointed so low that it almost touches the ground, Rodimus drops to his knees in front of the remains, his free hand raising only to tremble and hesitate, then push forward the rest of the way. Slowly, almost tenderly, his fingers ply through the ash and scraps of platinum, "...I'm sorry, Foxfire." He murmurs, voice barely above a whisper as he touches the shredded Autobot symbol. "I'm so, so sorry. I had no choice. So many lives in Iacon...you were the only ones close enough to..." The Autobot symbol shifts, and something beneath it glints once in his gaze. Blinking slowly, Rodimus sifts carefully before seizing his fingers carefully and delicately around something that he holds not unlike a precious bauble. A moment of realization crossing his features.

And then reality returns screaming in his audials as an explosion from a dropped bomb goes off right next to him, sending him staggering slightly as he struggles to keep the item in his hand cradled and protected. "Autobots!" His voice calls out over the sounds of battle.

"Pull out! There's nothing more for us here!" As he says this, Rodimus is already transforming. Dropping onto his tires as they squeal and burn out.

Hovercar HITS Galvatron and ricochet's off the nearest wall and back at Shockwave. He just barely makes out the foot of Shockwave coming at him when he suddenly launches skyward with an upward thrust. Transforming, he comes back down, with his face in a snarl and fists bunched. "He was my friend!" Through all his anger, the hovercar blasts past the explosions and misses the fierce jaws of Overbite. Perhaps he should have stayed in Hovercar mode.

Arms rotate backwards and legs fold in as Rodimus drops down into his vehicular mode. A moment later his trailer appears out of nowhere and hitches into place on his back.

The hood folds forward forming the chestplate with arms expanding out, tailend folds back with legs expanding downward.

Combat: Dust Devil strikes Shockwave with his Smash attack!

Combat: Flaming Winnebago < Rodimus Prime > begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from F-5E Tiger II

Kup says, "@emit :is squaring off with Snaptrap, bringing his full form to bear on the Seacon Commander. If Kup had a ladder, he MIGHT be able to look Snaptrap in the eye, but all he does is glare up at him, the years of experience and war etched on his face. He sees the incindiary sword ignite and he just balls his fists up and takes a fighting stance, "I don't need a fancy sword to knock your aft into next week." he says, the tone of his voice a deadly calm. It's at this point Rodimus calls for the Autobots to pull out and there is a moment of hesitation. The kind where Kup tosses orders aside and settles this here and now once and for all. He wants to, that much is obvious, but his optics move ever so briefly to where Foxfire once stood. He looks back to Snaptrap, "You aren't worth taking out today, Snaptrap. But I will. You can count on it like you can count on Galvatron being a lunatic or you being expendable." his voice is tone and level, as he backs up, relenting to Rodimus' orders. "Take it to the bank. I /WILL/ end you.""

Kup is squaring off with Snaptrap, bringing his full form to bear on the Seacon Commander. If Kup had a ladder, he MIGHT be able to look Snaptrap in the eye, but all he does is glare up at him, the years of experience and war etched on his face. He sees the incindiary sword ignite and he just balls his fists up and takes a fighting stance, "I don't need a fancy sword to knock your aft into next week." he says, the tone of his voice a deadly calm. It's at this point Rodimus calls for the Autobots to pull out and there is a moment of hesitation. The kind where Kup tosses orders aside and settles this here and now once and for all. He wants to, that much is obvious, but his optics move ever so briefly to where Foxfire once stood. He looks back to Snaptrap, "You aren't worth taking out today, Snaptrap. But I will. You can count on it like you can count on Galvatron being a lunatic or you being expendable." his voice is tone and level, as he backs up, relenting to Rodimus' orders. "Take it to the bank. I /WILL/ end you."

Combat: Kup begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Giant Armored Timberwolf < Carnivac >, Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > , F-5E Tiger II, Dust Devil, Flaming Winnebago < Rodimus Prime > , Overbite, and Shockwave

F-5E Tiger II swears as she sees the egg drop from the Stuka's undercarraige, twisting to try and dodge the bomb, only to feel the bomb hit her, without detonating, though, her nose is dinged up, along with her tail. She hears Rodimus' command to retreat. It would be nice... but, there's a freaking decepticon up here with her, and she needs to get clear of Banshee first

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Combat: F-5E Tiger II takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass]

"Oh sure, take all the fun victims," Carnivac retorts to the turtle-con, but turns to look the other way. Just in time to see Banshee lighting up the fireworks. "Bombastic! You go girl!" Then turns his head back, but the old bot is already trying to back out of the fight. "Besides, you'll never catch him, big guy! Sir!" With a leap of his powerful legs Carnivac launchs himself towards Kup trying to flee and slam his bulk into the geezer with one of his spiked pauldrons.

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf < Carnivac > strikes Kup with his Predatory Leap attack! [Pulled -2]

Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > grins joyously as her bomb hits two of her three targets - one of which being Rodimus Prime, and the other being the target she least expected to hit.

< < JA! Howzat! > >

As the Autobots begin to retreat, she banks around to try and get another few shots on the Autobot flier, cackling joyously.

< < I VILL END YOU! > > she growls, her wing guns chattering loudly again - chasing Remedy with fire and, in theory, convincing her it's really time to start running. As a supersonic jet, she can easily out-pace the 'crop duster', of course.

Combat: Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > misses F-5E Tiger II with her Wing Guns (Pistol) attack!

Cyclonus continues to smoulder on the ground. Maybe Galvatron will take pity on him and hoist him away? Or... not?

The two-fisted impact smashes into Shockwave with a forceful clang, forcing him back a step- but only one step. He comes back at Dust Devil implacably, right arm reaching out for the brave Autobot in an attempt to palm his face and crush him into the wall of the tunnel with the immense mechanical advantage which Shockwave conceals within his ugly asymmetrical hull. "Your emotional response is of no interest to me. Mercy is not dispensed here."

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Shockwave strikes Dust Devil with his Pain Dispenser attack!

Snaptrap growls at Kup, his torso rumbling in reverberation. The two stand only meters apart, a true pitting of David against Goliath if there ever was. The Seacon Commander revels in the acute atmosphere of it all, boasting a hideously malevolent smile behind that ebony face plate of his. "Mmmmm, of course. Kowtow to the Prime Child." Snaptrap's incendiary sword thudders to death, and he sheathes it. With his free hand, Snaptrap runs his thumb across his throat, cackling after Kup. "I can't wait to decorate my office with your mounted skull."

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

Overbite tries to grab onto Dust Devil to fillet him. "Your friends are leaving," he says, "You would be wise to do so as well, unless you want to cease to exist." The tail of the Seacon swipes at the Autobot as he passes.

The robot form crouches down as the shark's head flips up, and the shark's legs and arms swing around. Watch out!

Combat: Mutant Shark < Overbite > misses Dust Devil with his Nice Trip... (Kick) attack!

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As Rodimus' words sink in....probably with the help of the new holes put in place by Shockwave, he can't help but cry out. Okay there are things hurting that he didn't realize COULD hurt. "Yer all g-gonna pay..." Struggling to his feet, he sees Overbite coming and well that bit of fear he feels causes him to suddenly dive forward, narrowly avoiding the shark and just narrowly getting past Shockwave. He tries to run for it.

Combat: Dust Devil begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Giant Armored Timberwolf < Carnivac >, Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > , F-5E Tiger II, Flaming Winnebago < Rodimus Prime > , Mutant Shark < Overbite > , and Shockwave

Flaming Winnebago < Rodimus Prime > kicks up a cloud of exhaust and burnt tire smoke in his wake as he smashes through several piles of debris and wreckage strewing the streets. Jinking down several side streets, the Autobot leader makes his way back to the spaceport, which is having its own problems by the sounds of it thanks to Galvatron's little game of 'push the pretty buttons and unleash the hellish device on the Autobots'.

Even with the destruction of Iacon miraculously averted, things still look grim given the recent turn of events. And right now it's time for the Autobots to pull out and reassess the situation. Rodimus has a whole lot of thinking and planning to do.

Kup is backing up, still locking eyes when Carnivac blitzes him. It knocks him over, and he levels a finger at the biomechanical wolf, "You. You I'm going to make a coat out of." he then looks to Snaptrap, "and you? You I'm going to mount on my wall like humans do with fish. You have no idea what you've set loose here today." with that, those cold words said, he transforms and follows Rodimus off.

Kup transforms with a sound that predates its "classic" counterpart by several centuries into his likewise out-of-production Cybertronian truck altmode.

Combat: Your COMBAT flag has been cleared.

F-5E Tiger II knows she can outrun the stuka, and knows she isn't in prime shape. Banking, she checks the other bots, seeing if she should hang around to provide a little more cover versus Banshee. That's when she spots a nightmare... That convinces her to di di mau, lighting off her afterburners and heading for safety

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Combat: F-5E Tiger II begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Shockwave seems satisfied simply to have the Autobots leave, and does not expend any further energy on them as they make good their escape. "Decepticons, pursue the Autobots to the edge of our territory and return to resume security patrols," Shockwave transmits, turning his attention to repairing the tractor beam control mechanisms.

Cyclonus is still trashed. Yep.

"Idiot, my coat is already removable!" Pretender and all that. But Carnivac has an even better retort for the fleeing old timer than tha, that takes care of being semi-biological in this form... which consists of sticking out his tongue and "PBBBBBBBBBBT" loudly. And grossly, spraying spittle all over the ground.

You have already used up yor +noms for the week.

You have already used up yor +noms for the week.

Mutant Shark < Overbite > is content to chase the fleeing Autobots as far as he can before they leave the area completely. "And do not return!" he shouts at them, for emphasis. Once they're gone, he takes position as a guard once again.

Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > pursues the Autobots to the edge of Decepticon land and loops around, touching down to transform and crouch near Cyclonus. "He seems to be still online." She comments, quietly. "But ve really should get him to a medic."

"Do so," Shockwave agrees, but he does not look up from his work. Apparently he's not too concerned about Cyclonus.

Rodimus Prime moves south to the Memorial Square.

Rodimus Prime has left.

Dust Devil moves south to the Memorial Square.

Dust Devil has left.

Remedy moves south to the Memorial Square.

Remedy has left.

Kup moves south to the Memorial Square.

Kup has left.

Foxfire moves south to the Memorial Square.

Foxfire has left.

Snaptrap stalks after Carnivac, his giant rifle still equipped and primed for action. "I told you the geriatric was /mine/, Pretender. The next time you interfere in my affairs will be your last," he states, matter-of-factly. And with that, he puts one final boot to the earth and escapes the surly bonds of gravity under patented Decepticon flight systems...

"I love you too!" Replies Carnivac all too cheerfully for someone that just got threatened by a hulking mechanical murderous monster, waving a forepaw after the Seacon. Then snorts once he's taken off, though the manic grin still never leaves his muzzle. "Yowser, who lubricated in his ener-chips this morning..."

Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > snorts and nods to Carnivac "Ja, I know, shiess..." She shakes her head with a snort. "Vould you giff me a hand hauling him back to ze medibay, bitte?"

Giant Armored Timberwolf < Carnivac > pffs. "Do I look like an ambulence to you?" None the less he trots over to Cyclonus's unconcious form, grabs him by the leg with his mouth, and haphazardly slings the second in command onto his back. Then trots off for the triage area, likely bouncing and jostling the poor mech the entire way.

The sad thing is this is probably less painful than the sort of treatment Cyclonus tends to get from Galvatron

Cyclonus unconsciously hates everyone present as he is carted away.

Shockwave will of course check in on Cyclonus later to make sure he's being repaired properly. In due time.

Ju-87 Stuka < Banshee > ties a line to Cyclonus and helps Carnivac haul him back to medbay. She doesn't hate Carnivac, even if he is a fruitcake. He's funny to watch amongst the autobots, and that makes him OK -ish - in her book.

Folding and shifting, Banshee transforms into robot mode.

Mutant Shark < Overbite > doesn't care one way or the other. So he just keeps watch at his post.