The Sweeps Shall Inherit The Earth

Nevada - North America

A land of rugged, snow-capped peaks, dry desert valleys, and huge, sparsely populated expanses, Nevada, the Silver State, still has the aura of the Old West. Blessed with widespread mineral resources, it is the nation's leading producer of gold, silver, and mercury, but its main claim to fame comes from, of course, gambling. That, entertainment, and skiing make it a popular destination for tourists not only from the bordering states but from around the world. Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe are the best known tourist traps. Less well known features are the large, discreet military facilities and testing grounds in the least-populated areas of the state.

 Scourge appears on all the screens imaginable. Because he's a Boss like that. "Soon to no longer be inhabitants of Earth. Today marks the beginning of your extinction. Your services as ants in a war that is beyond your comprehension are no longer needed. Victory for the Empire is imminent. Prepare to be exterminated."

Nevada. Home to various organizations and military factories that may or may not be on anyone's particular radar. Whether it be something as silly as Area 52 or something more along the lines of a third party manufacturer for Shore Industries, there are many factories that exist within the confines of this particular section of the United States of America. It is, for the most part, quiet within this state minus the sounds of workers working and cars speeding along various roads that lead in and out of a particularly secure facility.

Shadows from above might be confused with the setting of the sun, until someone looks up to reveal the unmistakable shape of what could only be considered one serious Sweepcraft. Unicronian in Perfection and Design, this Sweepcraft is leading what is often looked at as an army for invasion purposes. Not only is there a small brigade of Sweep Gumbies soaring behind the Boss Sweepcraft that is leading the way, but there are likely any number of other Decepticons that are accompanying Him to what is sure to be the first of many victorious encounters with those that are daring to stand against Galvatron.... which, in turn, means they are standing against UNICRON. And that is something that this Sweep Leader cannot let happen. He will not let happen.

"Destroy. Everything." The words are said with just a hint of arrogant disdain as the Boss Sweep known as SCOURGE leads the way towards that one such 'random' facility that may or may not have something to do with the construction of exo-suits. "Especially that." And the Boss Sweep soars faster towards that exo-factory with evil intentioned optics glowing with terror!

Sweepcraft flies in formation with Scourge and his sweep brothers...He speeds down towards the target area and opens fire on a couple of parked cars setting them on fire. There is a growling and it's not the engines...Something odd about that one.

Sweepcraft  flies in on Scourge's right wing but slightly behind the sweep leader. As they approaches the military installations, Scourge gives them the command, "As you command! We will leave nothing but rumbles!" The sweepcraft slides to his right before diving towards the ground. All his weapons are blazing the Avarice fires on the first building that lays on the perimeter.

Reavercraft  drops out of sky with the Sweeps, his own Unicronian of a more recent (read: newer) make, casting a distinct shadow across the stars coming out in the twilight skies. He doesn't transform as he arrives with the others, his turbolaser cannons deploying from the underside of the craft to target vehicles and buildings on the ground, tracing crisscrossing patterns of destruction across the ground. His shots are not wantonly sprayed out though, it seems he is targetting carefully, aiming for military vehicles, repair and construction fascilities specifically though skipping over more civilian targets.

Harbinger arrived ahead of the awesmone that is the Tapes of Soundwave! No.. wait.. Sweeps, which are almost as good. Having shown up ahead of time, the small Decepticon has been doing her best to scout the area out, marking out potential targets as she stays hideen behind her optical camo and relaying back to Scourge anything that stands out as dangerous, or just something she would like to see go BOOM.. but mostly dangerous or a proper target.

F-16 Falcon  coasts far behind the group, merely here to provide field repairs should this little jaunt be met with aggression. She eyes the flock of sweeps and their cohorts with mild apprehension but says nothing, ascending to get a better view of their target.

Something whistles as it approaches, and high above, it sounds like a bomb is about to be dropped. Sailing down from some undetermined height is a blue and white object; as it gets closer the noise gets louder, until at last--

BOOM!

--A cloud of dust and sand whooshes out from the impact crater, and amid the debris a pair of crimson eyes light up.

Rippersnapper bursts out of the dust, headed towards the facility in question as fast as his abomination of a landshark body can carry him. He's already snarling, practically foaming at the mouth, as the smells of thousands of organic contaminants drive him into a frenzy.

"RRRRAAAAAGH! RENDTEARKILLEVERYTHING!"

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Arcee darts ahead to gracefully transform into her pink Cybertronian Tech Car, enging purring, ready to go!

Pink Saturn Sky  is already on her way out of Metroplex after having a comm tech verify the probably source of the transmission, and she spreads the word about the attack on the facility in Nevada. This really is her very first turn out of the gate in this new position, and she wants to be able to coordinate this correctly. Typically, these attacks serve as a message as well as serve a purpose for the Decepticons...and Arcee chooses to believe, as dhe heads down the highway and scans the group attacking the facility, that the message here is probably 'The Sweeps are back, but in truth, we never really went away.'.

She scoots to a stop at the facility's entrance, transforming and preparing to rush into the place.

The pink Cybertronian tech car splits apart to reveal Autobot Warrior Arcee! She's ready to kick aft!

8 Hours Ago. There's an alarm clock screeching like a frickin' banshee and a blue arm flailing about with less than galaxy-renowned aim, clumsily trying to find the snooze button. A very hungover looking bounty hunter, optics looking a bit red, who clearly isn't a morning person seems to be having a bad day even before it's begun. He looks at the alarm clock. Beside it is a small note, meant to be inspiring. To Defcon, it's depressing. It reads: Pick something positive to do today! He thinks, then says out loud, "I'm going to punch someone today."

6 Hours Ago. Defcon is at some bar in Iacon. A lit ener-smoke is in his mouth and his head is leaning against the bar itself. He looks more hungover than he did when he woke up. The bartender leaves him a large pitcher of ener-beer. The bounty hunter looks up, eagerly grabs the pitcher, and downs half of it in one very long swig. Then, with a sigh, he takes a long drag from his ener-cig. "I'm going to shoot someone today."

3 Hours Ago. It's a nice day in Iacon, for most people. Defcon just looks annoyed. He's grumbling to himself, looking at his datapad, apparently not pleased with being reassigned to some stupid special ops group. He stops suddenly, realizing he's just stepped in something very sticky. Ener-gum. He looks at his foot, a shocked expression on his usually expressionless face, then looks around. "Holy frak. I'm gonna beat the glitch outta someone today."

Present. A blur Starfighter erupts on the scene at full tilt, tearing through the air at breakneck sub-light speeds. He punches the throttle further as flames begin to whip around his hull from the sheer amount of inertia he's building up. Hatches and panels all across the Starfighter's frame open up to reveal rows upon rows of missile rackes and plasma blasters, all primed and ready to go. "Yea. I knew it was gonna be a good day. I'm gonna kill someone today."

Flat, barren fields of dirt. Long stretches of perfect running landscape. If it wasn't an emergency, Zipline could probably spend hours out here just running and honing her energy systems. Unfortunately, it is an emergency. Which still involves a lot of running. It just means she's going to wait later to get any actual adjustments done.

The cheetah bot is little more than a swiftly moving blur along the Navada landscape. She might not be much bigger than a race horse, but the tawny yellow and black of her paint sort of blends in to the dust and orange. One leg after the other, her paws hit the ground in quick succession. There's a subtle blue glow around the joints of her shoulders, as kinetic energy is produced by her generators and rerouted back into the movement systems to only push her harder.

"Time to round us up some decepti-losers!" Zipline banks away as she approaches the facility, swiftly maneuvering to circle around it in order get a good view of the battlefield.

Now what we have here is what some would like to call a target rich evironment. One that, other than a Seeker, a flying crescent roll, and some shark thing, is full of targets that look alike. Makes it hard to tell which one is the one that actually made the threatening broadcast, and which ones are just his stooges. It's hard to tell if these spaced invaders know just how close they are to EDC's front porch, or just got a lucky coincidence in what they chose to attack. They know something, either way, if they're going after the military industry sites.

Camera pan to one Sweep all too willing and eager to fufill his master's commands. He swoops down and transforms, wings spread like a demon as he hovers, drawing his weapon on some workers trying to flee the facility. He takes aim, pulls the trigger, and there's an explosive bang!

Not from his weapon, but from the hole suddenly exploding from his chest when several explosive shells slam into it at a rapid pace. He topples to the ground in a spasm as the gunship hovers behind him, smoke trailing off its autocannon as it spins down to a cooling cycle between firings.

Talia leans close enough to the cockpit glass to wave reassuringly to the workers to keep running away, and then the Firehawk pulls away and takes back to flight and banks off towards the rest of the brewing conflict, occasionally peppering off another round or two at some other nameless attackers at the fringes.

Combat: Zipline sets her defense level to Protected.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk  sets her defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter  sets his defense level to Protected.

After some clever movements and subspace application Punch becomes a Fiero. Anything further is need to know. If applicable you'll be briefed accordingly. Well. Welcome to the nightmare scenario kiddo - Punch thinks to himself. Unicronians in general, with a few exceptions drive his mind down the darker alleys he'd rather not travel. Sweeps especially so. Some things are best left un-thought, never mind unsaid so he tries to focus upon the exceptions to this case. There aren't many. Trying to shake himself from the inner thinking to the warzone out in front of him he revs his engine harder and manages it. Just.

A star falls out of the sky.

It slows, and turns. It adjusts it's course.

The sound barrier shatters with a roar as an unfamiliar streak of blue and silver flashes through the formation of attacking Decepticons, momentarily vanishing back into the night sky before-a distant flash- turns and approaches for a second pass! The unmarked craft doesn't identify itself to either side, nor does it engage as it buzzes past the Sweeps a second time, disappearing back into the dark horizon.

Jaguar F-type R Coupe  screeches to a halt as he arrives at the Nevada facility. He'd made for the broadcasted coordinates upon hearing the alert go out, and to his relief it looked like he's just in time to help. Better yet, the familiar forms of other Autobots are nearby.

The sleek white and blue car transforms smoothly, and Crusade draws himself up to his full height. He brushes a bit of dust and sand from his ankles and joins the fray, rifle drawn. Crusade transforms into his robot mode.

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Sweepcraft 's highly sensitives sensors pick the incoming Autobots/EDC as soon as they arrive in the area <> The sweep breaks his attack on the building and goes after the Firehawk. He starts chasing it around for a moment and as soon as he gets a chance, he opens fire on the terran craft. Somewhere Air Raid feels something terrible is about to happen.

Combat: Sweepcraft  sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Sweepcraft  strikes VSC-25 Firehawk  with his Power Disruptor attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: That attack has slowed VSC-25 Firehawk , making her less efficient.

The Boss Sweepcraft pulls back into the midst of the Generic Sweeps, molding in to fit with them as if he were nothing more than another one in the crowd. Those with good optics, though, would be able to single him out due to his bigger size. Even while he's focused on making sure to look like one of the crowd. As things are being exploded and destroyed, Scourge has yet to make any acts of violence from his own self. In fact, he seems to be sticking with the masses and just soaring overhead of the facility down below. He has a job to do right now. And it is one that involves using his superior scanning equipment to search through the buildings down below in an effort to find a particular heat signature.

He doesn't feel the need to drop anymore orders. Not yet. There is a very simple task for the Decepticons to follow. While he does his work.

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft  sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft  compares his Technical to 85: Failure :(

F-16 Falcon <Harrow> finds herself taking some interest in the white jaguar, one she hadn't yet seen. She decides to toy with him a bit, abruptly dropping to swoop rather close to the ground just behind him. The jetwash should send him fishtailing, if he doesn't manage to dodge. "Here to save the little Terrans?" she taunts, then ascends to strafe the ground with laserfire.

Combat: F-16 Falcon <Harrow> sets her defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: F-16 Falcon <Harrow> strikes Crusade with her Laser attack!

The Reavercraft drops back away from the mass of sweeps, after all, he doesn't get to enjoy the anonymity of the crowd. he's one of a kind, truly. Spotting the rather pink form of a certain Autobot femme, he brings his scanners to bear, trying to get a good read on the femme and see just what sort of weaknesses he can find to exploit. He doesn't come down out of the sky yet as he scans, staying far back from the emerging firefight still.

Combat: Reavercraft <Airlift> sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Airlift analyzes Arcee for weaknesses.

Sweepcraft <Wrath> dives down towards the cars he blew up, transforms and lands in a loud thud which cracks the pavement all around him. The guy looks pissed for some reason. He looks around...grabs a burning half of a car and flings it into a building. He grabs the other half and throws it at Arcee.

Harbinger settles into a quiet spot far back from the main fighting, her rifle deploying as she scans around the area quietly.. and spots a pink target. A few moments of thought, and a brief pulse of her highlights as she sends off a relay to Airlift as he him lining up on a target.

With the classic transformation noise, the sweepcraft <Wrath> transforms into his angry robot mode.

Combat: Wrath sets its defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Harbinger takes extra time to assist Reavercraft <Airlift>'s next attack.

Combat: Wrath strikes Arcee with its Half-a-burning car fastball! (Kick) attack!

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Crusade looks up as something large and incredibly fast passes just overhead. He ducks instinctively, hitting the ground in case whatever it was tries for another pass, but his prone position makes him an easy target. The rain of laser fire scorches his doorwings and back, and he gets up, hissing in pain.

"So what if I am?" he yells at the F-16, hefting his rifle to aim at the swiftly moving target. This probably wouldn't be an easy shot, but that doesn't deter him from trying. "Going to do something about it?"

Combat: Crusade sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Crusade strikes F-16 Falcon <Harrow> with his Best Friend Rifle attack! [Pulled -1]

Hound transforms into his 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> mode.

Arcee has a lot going on at the moment -- she isn't used to ordering troops around AND trying to pay attention to what's going on here in the battlefield. How DID Elita do this, it's so distracting! She's trying her best, though, and just when she thinks she's probably getting somewhere she needs to be within the facility -- WHAM, she gets hit by half of a burning car. It takes her a little while to extricate herself out of that mess, and of course by the time she gets OUT of the burning wreck, the Sweep is unable to be targeted. (How did Elita manage to stay functional for so fragging long?!!) she wonders to herself, almost flustered beyond the capacity for sequential thought.

But there's a whole roach motel to be emptied, here. Can't think about that stuff right now.

Arcee doesn't go for Harbinger because she doesn't see her! But...she sees Rippersnapper! That ought to make him feel loved.

After some clever movements and subspace application a Fiero becomes Punch. Anything further is need to know. If applicable you'll be briefed accordingly.

Focus! Punch tells himself Pushing his engine even harder Punch sticks to the plan. He wished that his plan, and rapidly developing purpose in life, was to draw fire while other people got to safety. . . wasn't the case. As he'd tell you himself, if he were speaking at the moment, wishing achieves nothing. Getting to the front of one of the buildings where the people are he transforms and tries to get an idea of who might be a threat to the escapees. There. That'll do nicely. Silently he aims and fires at an old friend. Unimpeded, Zipline makes a loose circle around the entire facility. Everything is noticed, at least by scanning systems if not consciously by Zipline. Advantagious vantige points, positioning, a coyote out where it's not supposed to be. Run, little coyote, run!

The entire circle takes barely a half minute, before Zipline is running for the front of the facility again. One thing she does notice, is Avarice making a beeline for the Firehawk. Zipline narrows her eyes a little, scanners activating. They sweep over him, quickly making note of several points that could be weak spots in the craft's armor, some nearest the wings where they meet the body. <<Present for you>> Zipline chimes to Talia, beaming telemetry data to the pilot. <<Don't say I never got you anything!>>

Combat: Punch misses Reavercraft <Airlift> with his yeah. I learned nothing. Want to explain it again? attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Zipline analyzes Avarice for weaknesses Talia McKinley can exploit.

2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> rolls onto the scene, having heard that Earth is under attack... by Unicronians and Decepticons. This... is simply a nightmare scenario for the Earth-loving Autobot... the (im)perfect example of how this beautiful planet keeps getting dragged into the Cybertronian's war. He fights a sense of anger, working to stay calm. Hound's a veteran of many a long battle, and knows better than to allow his emotions to interfere with his soldiering. And it looks like soldiering is required. The Jeep rolls through the Nevada desert, kicking up dust as he goes, and looks for a way to help.

As Defcon hits the scene at full-tilt, he takes a quick glance at the situation. There's a bunch of clones, apparently, raining havoc down on everyone. A small pink Autobot in particular is underfire, and that seems to Defcon a good as place to start as any. He banks, waves of heat and fire rushing off his hull as he shifts speeds, turning to allow most of his arsenal of plasma blasters, photon riles, particle accelerators, and pulse lasers to lock on the Sweep down below. He doesn't know which one it is; they all look alike. Unicron wasn't the most creative with all of his children.

The Starfighter's weapons begin to flare, charging up with energon, before unleashing a hailstorm of laser-fire. Blue and violet beams of plasma and scream through the air, criss-crossing and spiralling in mid-flight, all homing in on Wrath's location. Judging the sheer amount of firepower and energon he's firing, the bounty hunter doesn't seem particularly concerned with collateral damage at the moment. Holding back isn't generally in his nature.

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes Wrath with his Plasma Rain attack! [Pulled -3]

It's not the flock of enemies that gets her attention, it's the bolt of silver and blue that briefly flashes over the battle.

Talia blinks once, then stares back at the skies above. ".. What the .." Was that... no, there's no way it could be. By that point the streak is gone again. Unfortunately her distraction is just long enough for Avarice to take advantage of and get some revenge for the Sweep she already put out of the fight. Or just because he's a jerk, hitting the Firehawk with some kind of energy disrupting shot that causes several of its systems to fluxate wildly. Turbines whine audibly as they crank up to keep from stalling. Zipline's additional data burst actually helps, as it forces the targetting computers to resync in order to process it.

And then it turns in the direction of the Sweeps. Avarice mainly, thanks to Zipline's additional help, but on her displays several other of the similarly designed spacecraft also light up. With a grunt she flicks on the external speakers.

"Allow me t'give ya a proper howdy do... Pipin' hot and fresh!"

And then forward and side machine guns all light up, filling the sky with bullets and tracer rouns hailing at anything that looks like that soap-dish shaped vehicle.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Sweepcraft <Avarice> with her Welcome to Earth ... Now go away! Area attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Critical Hit!

Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired Sweepcraft <Avarice>'s Agility. (Crippled)

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Wrath with her Welcome to Earth ... Now go away! Area attack! [Pulled -1]

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

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> with her Welcome to Earth ... Now go away! Area attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Critical Hit!

Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge>'s Agility. (Crippled)

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Wrath gets hit by some plasma blasts from Defcon. The sweep turns around with a murderous look on his face. A twitch of the wrist and a battle axe appears...The edges are orange as if they were heated. The sweep's face gets even more angry...The battle's blade bursts into flame... "Come and face me Autobot...Come and FACE ME!" He throws the flaming battle axe at Defcon with surprising strength.

Combat: Wrath strikes Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with its Thrown Axe attack!

F-16 Falcon <Harrow> jerks her ailerons and twists back towards the sky when Crusade's rifle does more damage than she'd expected. "Pathetic Autobots... You're wasting your efforts!" It looks like it doesn't take much to drive Harrow off, as she's already tearing away from her target, darting back into the flock of sweeps... ...Only to fly right back out, because Talia is lighting all of them up with her crazy machine guns. "TERRAN SCUM!" she screams, and transforms mid-air to fire an icy beam at the VTOL's rotaries.

Combat: F-16 Falcon <Harrow> sets her defense level to Fearless.

The dark blue F-16 Falcon Harrow transforms into her robot mode with a swift shift of components.

Combat: Harrow strikes VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> with her Ice Pistol attack!

Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley>'s Agility. (Crippled)

Sweepcraft <Avarice> is struck by a machine gun that seems to precisely hit the weakest spot of his armor. The sweepcraft spins out of control until Avarice transforms back into his robot mode to regain control of his flight. "You are going to pay for this germ!" The sweep's optic widen and turns red a moment before a twin energy beam is fired from them.

The sweepcraft splits open and unfold, revealing the sweep known as Avarice.

Combat: Avarice strikes VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> with his Energy Dissipator attack! [Pulled -2]

As the Reavercraft streaks overhead, not only does he get a good read on Arcee with his own scanner's but he receives targetting data from an unknown source on the ground as well. He has to check the tag to recognize it, <My thanks Harbinger> he snaps out on the short range, before exploding into transformation and plummeting towards the ground and the pink femme's position. His scythe is in hand as he lands, launching towards her with claw and blade in a furious assault before he suddenly leaps up and spins in the air, snapping a hard kick towards Arcee's head.

The reavercraft explodes along its seems in a flurry of motion and a familiar sound, unfolding into the form of Airlift.

Combat: Airlift strikes Arcee with his spinning jump kick (Kick) attack!

Combat: Critical Hit!

Harbinger waits for Airlift to strike his target, before she shifts her target, optics scanning from side to side as she moves from Bot to Bot, "No, Not Shiftlock.. not Shiftlock.. no not him.. or her.." She pouts in frustation and just goes duck-duck-SHOOT and takes a pot shot at Hound.. which ends up knocking her backwards onto her back, her optical cloak shatter at the sudden disruption, "Ow... recoil... forgot about recoil."

Combat: Suddenly, Harbinger appears out of the blue!

Combat: Harbinger strikes 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> with its Lockdown Shot attack!

Combat: That attack has locked on 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound>. (LOCKON)

Combat: Harbinger's attack leaves it temporarily incapacitated!

As the Boss Sweepcraft known as Scourge is hit in the course of the random blasting of ballistics, he almost veers off course. With a bit of a snarl, as he's righting himself, Scourge barks orders at his Sweeps, "Exterminate that pest. Now." It would seem that Scourge is none too happy about the attack that has riddled holes all into his armor. After all, that is something that he's going to have to get fixed. Sigh.

For the moment, though, it would seem as though Scourge is more focused on the plan at hand than anything else. As some of the Sweeps fall from the sky, having been Talia'd, he transforms and drops out onto the top of one of the buildings of the facility they've decided to make go away. Scourge crouches for just a moment, narrowing his optics at the rooftop and practically igniting his manicured nails. They seem to gleam in the dimming light of the sunset and he starts clawing his way through the roof. He needs a better angle at which to allow his scanners to get a bead on that heat signature. "Where are you?! Pest!"

Resistance Is Futile. Fear The Scourge.

Combat: Scourge compares his Technical to 85: Failure :(

Rippersnapper gets shot, which only makes him angrier. Unfortunately he's so angry, and there's so much organic stench in the air, that he's going to go after anything he happens to be near.

Which is Hound.

Rippersnapper surges forward towards the green jeep, suddenly on him in a flash of bad animation, he's there, trying to take a bite out of the front of Hound's fender.

Combat: Landshark <Rippersnapper> sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Landshark <Rippersnapper> strikes 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> with his Shark Attack attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Critical Hit!

Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound>'s Agility. (Crippled)

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Crusade growls angrily as the F-16 zooms away, out of his firing range. "Cowards," he mutters darkly. "All of you -"

And then he spots it - a gleam of moving metal on the facility. Crusade turns, optics narrowed. He isn't too sure who the roof-climbing rascal is, but there's no way it's friendly and it's bound to be up to no good! Maybe if he could sneak up behind it...He darts closer to the facility, trying to tread lightly and quietly, and aims his rifle at Scourge's back.

Combat: Crusade strikes Scourge with his Stop right there Decepticon scum! attack! [Pulled -2]

The unidentified flying object returns, only this time coming to a rather unexpected near complete stop, VTOL systems keeping the craft level as it turns, the air around the craft's engines seemingly shaking... The craft locks on to a target, and rockets forward again, twisting into an engagement position with...Defon?

Arcee has this really calm expression as Airlift descends on her...it's somewhat resigned, and somewhat disappointed, but not really fearful at all. It's as if...she feels like she *deserves* this, somehow. All the chatter on her personal frequency, all the troops leaning on her wondering what to do, where to go, how the slag to get it together...as if she has ANY answers for them. Why on Cybertrons now non-existant moons did Sky Lynx think she could do this? She didn't even have a chance to ever speak to Elita about how SHE got it done.

And here it comes. Megafail, straigh to her face. Megafail well deserved. It's ridiculous for her to think she could accomplish this.

Airlift nearly decapitates Arcee on the first kick, landing solidly thanks to the generous assitance of Harbinger's telemetry data. Somehow, she has SOME fight left in her by the time she goes down, but it isn't very much. She figures if she's going to die like Elita, she'll go down fighting like Elita. Even if it is a failure.

Somehow, Arcee manages to get ahold of her laser-pistol, and aims it in Airlift's direction, but she has to go by her own internal sensors to 'sense' him properly; she's very nearly blind at this point, as her sensors struggle to compensate for the damage.

Combat: Arcee strikes Airlift with her Dual Heavy Blaster Pistols attack!

Defcon releases his battery of plasma-fire, pummeling the ground around Wrath more than actually hitting Wrath himself. His weapons begin to recharge, preparing to unleash another volley of plasma-weaponry at the Sweep when suddenly a flaming axe slams into his hull. It takes him a moment to steady himself, and rather than bank to try and line up another shot, the bounty hunter decides to take the sweep up on his offer.

The blue Starfighter's thrusters ignite, accelerating him in a suicide run straight at Wrath. The Sweep only has a moment to move before things get very serious. A head on collision may not be the most stratedgic tactic at the moment, but far be from Defcon to refuse such a gracious request.

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes Wrath with his Shock and Awe (Ram) attack! [Pulled -2]

"Really surprised I missed your attention Airlift. Honest. I can work with that though." Punch finally says, waving people to run to the sides and away with his free hand. He really can't get a clear shot off in this chaos as his last proven by missing uselessly but. . . maybe he doesn't have to. <<Arcee, Punch. I was doing some light reading on Sweeps the other day. Short version in case it comes in handy. Data's incoming. Note Airlift's details.>> While he's still not a priority Punch keeps guiding people away. . . clearing the scene's not fun but it is important.

Combat: Punch analyzes Airlift for weaknesses Arcee can exploit.

Zipline hears the crack of the sniper rifle before she actually sees the shooter. <<Sniper!>> She twists around, and spots the tell-tale sign of a cloak dematerializing behind her. "Neat trick," She says, as she turns to face the new tape. Her optics flick to Harbinger's gun, and she smirks. "Slaggin' nice gun too."

"Now let me show you mine." The cheetah's large railcannon materializes upon her back, a cannon large enough that it could be an arm cannon for a regular sized cybertronian. She braces slightly against the weight, but seems to maintain it fairly well. The cannon just charges briefly, not enough to get the slug into its armor-tearing spin, before firing the slug at high speed at Harbinger.

<Decepticon> Harrow says, "Nrgh... How's our directive?"

Several of those purple blips- on her screen go red as the barrage of suppression fire sends Sweeps in various directions dropping to the ground. Except for the one moving towards the facility proper.

And the one that attacked the Firehawk before. And... wait, that's not a Sweep blasting one of her wings with freeze rays. The ice freezes over one of the cowlings and sends shards crackling into the turbine blades as well. The airship is already struggling when Avarice starts sucking the juice right out of its systems. Dropping energy readouts is not a good thing for an aircraft of any sort.

"Bucking hell!" Talia slaps off as many unimportant systems as she can risk doing so to try and spare some power, then throttles the engines to speed past her two attackers and get some distance between them, managing to work some evasive maneuvers despite the straining systems. <<Takin' some heavy counter-fire up here guys, sufferin' power loss 'cross the board.>>

<Decepticon> Scourge says, "If you're speaking, you're not killing. Rectify that."

Combat: Zipline sets her defense level to Neutral.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> takes extra time to steady herself. [Pass]

Combat: Zipline strikes Harbinger with her Let Me Show You My Gun's Ammo attack! [Pulled -3]

<Decepticon> Rippersnapper snarls incoherently around a mouth full of torn jeep fender.

<Decepticon> Harrow says, "I just froze part of that disgusting Terran's craft!"

<Decepticon> Scourge says, "Do you really want me to repeat myself?"

2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> pulls in, and is immediately bombarded with various attacks coming from what seem like all directions! A shot comes out of nowhere, hitting the Jeep's side doors as a small Cassetteicon reveals her location. His turret gun swings around to aim on the small Con, when suddenly LAND SHARK???!!! The Jeep has no time to react before the Con's taken a bite out of his fender. "Ow!" His fender is nearly ripped off, leaving the Jeep looking rather odd... since that grill and fender are such classic iconic looks for that vehicle type. With a screech of tires, he starts rolling backwards as fast as he can, swinging his weapon around and trying to get a lock on the big shark. <<Land shark, eh? You've got a big mouth there, mech... just make sure you don't take on more than you can chew!"

<Decepticon> Harbinger says, " I hit.. heheh.. I hit him! BOOM!"

<Decepticon> Harrow says, "No, sire..."

<Decepticon> Harrow says, "Scream in agony if anyone needs repairs!"

Combat: 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> strikes Landshark <Rippersnapper> with his I like all of Earth's creatures- except for YOU attack!

Combat: That attack has locked on Landshark <Rippersnapper>. (LOCKON)

___   ___    _  _   ___   _   _   / __|  / _ \  | \| | / __| | | | | | (__  | (_) | | .` | \__ \ |_| |_|  \___|  \___/  |_|\_| |___/ (_) (_)

Wrath watches Defcon charges and half expects him to transform at the last second to tumble. The sweep summons a different axe from subspace. This one is more chainsaw like. Giant red axe with heated teeth. ..Aaaannd no. WHAM! The sweep gets knocked hard but grabs onto the Autobot "Brave...but futile." The sweeps optics have smoke coming out the sides as if those optics were burning coals. Wrath tries to slam down the axe hard into the Autobot. "DIE!"

Harbinger just... lays there, giggling to herself, body twitching a bit as she tries to stop it. And in a bad moment of timing, Zipline's shot rips up the twitching Scout's right side, but with Harbinger being in her own little world she doesnt seem to feel it much, "Again! Got to do it again!"

Avarice can feel the energy leaving the Firehawk and therefore turns his attention towards a more juicy prey: Defcon the bounty hunter. While not as bad as the other Autobots, he still must perish for Galvatron wants them dead. The sweep soars up in the sky as he starts chasing the bounty hunter. He waits until his brother Wrath swings his axe and then, as Defcon his busy, he unleashes a deadly blast of energy at him "FALL AUTOBOTS!"

Combat: Wrath strikes Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with its Chain-Axe attack!

Combat: Avarice sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Avarice misses Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with his Let's see if you can regen this faster than I can burner attack!

Combat: Harbinger takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass]

The spray and pray from Arcee pings into Airlift a couple of times, leaving smoking holes in his armor but seeming to not do any tremendous damage to the second generation Unicronian. His wings spread wide, casting a shadow across Arcee as he stalks towards her, growling ominously. "I'm disappointed Arcee..I expected more of a fight out of you..but I suppose that you are little more able to stand against the empire than your mentor was.." He stabs down with four clawed hands, digging them in to the femme and hefting her up overhead, "Give Elita One my regards in oblivion!" he cries as he hurls Arcee bodily at Punch.

Combat: Airlift sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Airlift misses Arcee with his Arcee missile (Ruckus) Area attack!

Combat: Airlift strikes Punch with his Arcee missile (Ruckus) Area attack!

Rippersnapper is far too happy with his chunk of Autobot, and he shakes it like a dog with prey in its mouth, before he gnashes it up and noisily slurps the energon right out of the shredded fuel lines. Overcome with hatred and bloodlust, he doesn't pay attention to Hound carefully targetting him.

Hungry for more, stops and seems to sniff at the air, his beady little eyes returning their focus to the Autobot jeep. "You stink like this planet," he hisses. "Orrrrganic loverrrr!" He completely forgets to attack with his jaws and instead, charges Hound head on and swipes at him with his wibbly, stumpy little arms.

Which happen to end in very sharp claws.

Combat: Landshark <Rippersnapper> strikes 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> with his Claw Strike attack!

Harrow eventually heads back towards Crusade, seeing as he's pestering Scourge, and that won't do. She settles on the ground behind him, draws her sizable electrified scalpel, and aims to drive it right into his spinal strut with medical precision. "Ah-ah! Mustn't interrupt!"

Combat: Harrow strikes Crusade with her Vibro-Scalpel attack!

Clawing at the rooftop has become the focal point for Scourge at this moment and it is not until he takes a shot in the back of his shoulder does he realize that his position has been compromised. He looks over his shoulder and sees a bit of smoke billowing from it and an optic ridge is raised. It takes him another full moment to turn his head a bit more to level a gaze down at Crusade. "You're new." At least in Scourge's optics. He rises, slowly, clicking his claws and tilting his head to the side as if he were a vicious animal waiting for the perfect moment to strike. "Allow me to show you just how big of a mistake you've made."

Scourge's sinister grin is the only warning that Crusade gets, before Scourge is rushing him like he were his new primary objective. His movements are swift as he leaps off the roof and he's in the air, wings used to glide him towards his target, with some extra speed as he attempts to level his foot with Crusade's chest upon his gravity-enhanced descent.

Meanwhile, it would seem that the facility is being evacuated. Stupid Terrans. Always evacuating into the danger zones. It will take a moment for Scourge's scanners to pick up on what he's come here for. Which is fine. It gives him more time to put a stop this Autobot's foolish...Crusade. Get It?

Combat: Scourge sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Scourge strikes Crusade with his The Vicious Foot of Scourge! (Kick) attack!

___   ___    _____   ___   _   _  | _ )  / _ \  |_   _| / __| | | | | | _ \ | (_) |   | |   \__ \ |_| |_| |___/  \___/    |_|   |___/ (_) (_)

The people are gone, safe, and largely unharmed. As a reward he meets an ex-boss of his. As she's incoming he cancels his mortar and with a combination of a season catch, for a spy, and some sneaky antigrav he sets he down gently with a brief "Hi, nice of you to drop in". He'll mention the torn linkage another time. Doing good has changed things for Punch. Maybe what he thought about these sweeps isn't right. The clouding in his head clears. Now equipped with a more familiar grin from his armory Punch transmits to the friendly forces in the area <<The last of the civilian population's already clear or leaving now! If you weren't giving these soapdishes hell before. . . may I recommend now's the time to send them there!>>

Combat: Punch inspires 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound>, Zipline, Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon>, VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley>, Crusade, and Arcee with majestic and noble words!

Defcon slams into the Sweep, but the sheer power and strength of Wrath refuses to let him go down! As the Sweep grabs hold of one of the Starfighter's wings, Defcon's thrusters attempt to burst him free, but the chainsaw-spinning axe cleaves into his armor before he's able to. He swears under his breath, armor ripping and shredding beneath Wrath's axe. He catches sight of a second Sweep -- who the frell knows who it is they all look alike -- and guns his engines again, finally breaking from from Wrath and away from his horrible, horrible axe. Horrible.

The blue Starfighter spins, pulling away from both Sweeps. He catches the signal from Punch, acknowledging. The gloves are coming of: Hatches open along his sides, revealing rows of missile banks, and the cruiser lines itself up, locking onto both targets and firing. Missiles burst forth, spiraling in the air, dozens of them all converging on the two identical looking targets. It's like he's seeing doble. Hmm, he muses. It's not all that different from fighting drunk.

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes Wrath with his Short Range Missile Swarm Area attack!

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes Avarice with his Short Range Missile Swarm Area attack!

Arcee flops directly into Punch's arms, and chuckles slightly at the ironic timing. "Having fun, yet?" she asks, moving to get on her feet. Her kicked head feels really bad, but...somehow, the horrible melancholy she felt earlier seems to be much improved. And when things are going bad, the positive side is that there's *always* room for improvement. "Pardon me for dropping in..."

Combat: Arcee takes extra time to steady herself. [Pass]

But just know that this probably won't be going on too much longer. I'll be wrappin' up the objective in the next round or two!'

A surge of triumph flashes through Crusade's systems at the sight of Scourge's smoldering shoulder. He raises his rifle for another shot, but searing pain and that chilling realization of "there's something sharp inside of me where something sharp really shouldn't be" interrupt him.

He lets out a choked gasp, turning his head to see who's just snuck up on him, and for the second time within the span of a minute, he's nailed by an unseen attack. A foot smashes into him, sending him to his knees with a crash. With a wordless yell, Crusade extends his armblades, swiping madly at Scourge.

Combat: Crusade strikes Scourge with his Armblades attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Crusade's risky attack leaves him temporarily incapacitated!

The UFO breaks away from Defcon, turning belly up, and falls. Engines cutting out completely, the ship drops out of the sky, breaking through clouds, plummeting dangerously close to Hound and Rippersnapper... before systems hum to life, the craft blasting past Talia's Firehawk and beyond.

2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> wheels back, trying to get away from this gnashing monstrosity so he can manauever again and find a better shooting position. But the shark just keeps coming. Those arms pack a surprising punch, and more wiring is shredded from under his grill. The Jeep grunts at the pain, but keep wheeling in a circle. His turret gun, aim locked on, fires off a round. <<Why yes, I am. This planet abounds with a beauty someone like you will never be able to see... despite the fact that you've taken on pone of this planet's very forms. I actually feel *sorry* for you.>>

Combat: 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> sets his defense level to Guarded.

Neither of them chased after her? Well, that's good. A few of the straggling nameless Sweeps take potshots, but the Firehawk weaves around them and starts banking turn back towards the complex. The Autobots are taking too much of a pounding for her to risk waiting as long as it would take for that energy system stifling to clear entirely. She's going to have to push this warbird to everything she's got left yet.

Punch's confirmation of civilian clearance certainly helps too. <<You got it. Firehawk's still strugglin' but she's got plenty of heat to give still.>>

As the Firehawk comes back into the fight it swoops in low, trying to spot that Sweep she saw heading to the buildings earlier. Finding not only that but the Bot trying to stop him, and that bitch with the ice rays trying to stop him. Pay back time. "Seein' as you like the cold..." The autocannon spins to life, this time switching over to the inciderary rounds as it gets up to speed, and belches out several of the rounds at the Seeker medic. "... Have a little heat!"

Smoke rises from the end of Zipline's cannon. Her legs are tense, prepared to leap at the slightest hint of retaliation. Her tail twitches, steadying her. Everything about her body is preparing her to run off at a moment's notice!

A second passes, and no retaliation comes. Well, that's weird.

Zipline quirks an optic, her head canting slightly to the side. She eases the pressure in her hydrolics, and leaps up on top of the ledge Harbinger was hiding behind. She appriaches the fallen tape, and with claws extended, reaches up to try and put a paw on Harbinger's chest. "Nasty recoil that's got. But do yourself a mega favor," She pulls her paw down, aiming to leave a nice few claw marks down her front, "And keep your skidplate on the ground."

Combat: 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> strikes Landshark <Rippersnapper> with his I'd actually hate to do this to a REAL shark attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Zipline sets her defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Zipline strikes Harbinger with her Just a Cat Scratch (Punch) attack!

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> sets her defense level to Neutral.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Harrow with her Pyrestarter Mode attack!

___   ___    _  _   ___   _   _   / __|  / _ \  | \| | / __| | | | | | (__  | (_) | | .` | \__ \ |_| |_|  \___|  \___/  |_|\_| |___/ (_) (_)

Avarice is showered in plasma fire which partially melts his armor. The sweep grunts in pain as he falls towards the ground but a quick transformation prevents the crash and he's soon going right back at Defcon. <<Wrath, flank him from the west, I'll strike from the east. He won't have enough room to manoeuver.>> As he circles to flank the bounty hunter, he fires a couple of disrupting shot at him.

Avarice leaps into the air, his wings folding around him as he reconfigures into a sweepcraft.

Combat: Sweepcraft <Avarice> strikes Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with his Power Disruptor attack!

Combat: That attack has slowed Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon>, making him less efficient.

Wrath loses his grip and skids a bit along the ground. He recoves but by then the Autobot craft flew off and is coming back for another attack run. A small cloud of missile is coming towards him. He lifts his arm to shield his eyes and soaks the hits. He hears Avarice's instructions and leaps onto the side firing a shot with his head cannon at Defcon.

Combat: Wrath misses Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with its Head Laser! (Disruptor) attack!

"WHAAAAT?! I AM NOTHING LIKE THE WALKING SLIME OF THIS FESTERING PLANET!!!" Rippersnapper /screetches/ at the top of his vocoder. "I'LL KILL YOU FOR COMPARING ME TO ORGANIC FILTH!"

He dashes forward after Hound, trying to grab hold of the jeep in his teeth and simply
 * fling* the vehicle into the air!

Combat: Landshark <Rippersnapper> misses 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> with his BiteFlip (Kick) attack!

Airlift watches as Punch manages to catch Arcee and keep her from harm, a smirk on the Reaver's face as he eyes Punch. "You don't seem to learn very quickly, do you Autobot?" he asks as he leaps from the building he was on, rocketing towards Punch and Arcee's positions and engaging the both of them. It would seem that Airlift has been learning some new tricks, as he swipes and kicks at the pair. Suddenly he leaps upwards and rolls onto his side, spinning rapidly and pulling his scythe from subspace at the same moment, slicing a mighty downward chop towards Punch with that huge blade.

Combat: Airlift sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Airlift strikes Punch with his spinning scythe attack!

Harbinger 's body decides it wants to cooperate as Zipline starts to dig her claws into her chestplate and rolls at the last second, coming to her feet, fists raised up as her rifle retracts into stoarge on her back, "Aren't you suppose to be out like.. chasing a roadrunner or something?" She bounces in place for a second... then turns and runs like hell, her optical camo flicking to life as she lifts on the ground just enough with her anti-grav to keep from kicking up any more dust, "BEEP BEEP!"

Combat: Harbinger is no longer apparent in view!

Harrow steps back, and hops into the air when Scourge moves to handle Crusade. Though it looks like Crusade has some bite to him. Before she can turn to ascend, Talia and her terrible VTOL light up her frame with explosions. "Aieeee!" She spasms in the air, twisting and flailing to put out the flames. "Ah! AH! YOU WRETCH! I'LL KILL YOU!" She reaches into subspace and draws a glowing cylinder, bites the top, and hurls it skywards. Probably not very wise, but she's panicked. And still on fire.

Combat: Harrow has created a bomb: "Abolition II Demo Kit"!

Combat: Harrow strikes Crusade with Abolition II Demo Kit's Huge Explosion #8957 Area attack!

Combat: Harrow's Abolition II Demo Kit is destroyed!

Combat: Harrow strikes VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> with Abolition II Demo Kit's Huge Explosion #8957 Area attack!

Combat: Harrow strikes herself with Abolition II Demo Kit's Huge Explosion #8957 Area attack!

<Decepticon> Airlift says, "Harrow, report status!?"

<Decepticon> Harrow says, "*bzzt*"

Scourge finds that he is being cut by some arm blades that belong to this Autobot that is in his path. But they barely do much of anything but manage to get him even more angry. As energon leaks from his legs, Scourge doesn't show any sort of pain or anything. In fact, he seems to be more focused on making sure that Crusade doesn't last until his next one. "Shame. You were almost a worthy opponent." Scourge then laughs because he couldn't even say that with a straight face. "I'm lying, of course. Time to die." And Scourge doesn't do much of anything besides raise one hand up, letting it gleam with evil intentions, before he flicks those claws and gives a mighty and swift swipe of those sharp claws at what amounts to the 'throat' of Crusade. He might as well make Crusade leak all over the place. And if he can ruin any vocalization wires, as well, then that will be a beloved bonus.

Combat: Scourge sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Scourge strikes Crusade with his The Deadly Claws of Scourge attack! [Pulled -2] ___   ___    _____   ___   _   _  | _ )  / _ \  |_   _| / __| | | | | | _ \ | (_) |   | |   \__ \ |_| |_| |___/  \___/    |_|   |___/ (_) (_)

Defcon recoils, smoke rising from one of his flanks from Avarice's blaster. Energon surges begin to wreck havoc throughout his systems before his internal conditioners begin to offset the damage. Wrath attempts to join in the fray but the Starfighter barrel-rolls, the shot falling wide. As if. The two Sweeps are clearly putting pressure on him, forcing him to divide his attention between the two deadly Unicronians. How long he'll be able to keep this pace is unknown.

The Starfighter suddenly spins full circle. A bank of lasers fire out, streaming 360 degrees like a burning blade encircling the cruiser. The beams carve into the earth, sending up waves of burning plasma into the air like geysers, erupting and exploding all around the two Sweeps as Defcon tries to push them back and prevent them from pincering him. "Oh frak that. There is /no way/ I'm gonna end up the meat in this Sweep sandwich."

Arcee quietly loads her gun with fresh charges, trying not to look like she's giving telemetry data to poor Punch.

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes Wrath with his Plasma Wave Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> misses Sweepcraft <Avarice> with his Plasma Wave Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Arcee takes extra time to assist Punch's next attack.

The UFO flashes back on the scene, this time buzzing past the oncoming Talia- and opening fire on Harrow! A barrage on ion-fire pours onto the Seeker!

Taking yet another scythe of Airlifts, even if it's the first one today, Punch reacts out of habit in the only way he knows how. He takes out a cig and lights it off the resulting scythe wound. He even offers Arcee one, smiling as he does so, and says "Just in case it helps the nerves." Chuckling at was a terrible reference to an earlier scene he transmits. He then quickdraws his mortar and fires at Airlift.

Combat: Starhawk <EDC> sets his defense level to Fearless.

Thunder? No.... Engines. Not just any engines, but high-performance engines capable of leaving burnt atmosphere in their wake as the shuttle they're attached to is propelled far faster than it rightfully ought to be. Gleaming armor, polished to perfection, vivid paints in sharp reds and blues, with hints of gold and the typical shuttle white, ferocious teath... Wait, teeth? Since when does a shuttle have teeth! Oh...when it's Sky Lynx. That's when. The shuttle transforms mid-dive, picking targets deliberately as he eyes the two-on-one with Defcon, and Scourge laying into Crusade, and promptly decides to make his presence be known as quick bursts of flame are delivered towards the targets that draw his immediate attention. "Want to fight? You sorry lot do not belong in my skies!"

Combat: Starhawk <EDC> strikes Harrow with his Ionized Autocannon attack!

Combat: Punch strikes Airlift with his can't fight smoking. attack!

Combat: Sky Lynx sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Sky Lynx strikes Landshark <Rippersnapper> with his Sky Lynx! More fiery an entrance than Rodimus Prime! Area attack! [Pulled -5]

Combat: Sky Lynx strikes Sweepcraft <Avarice> with his Sky Lynx! More fiery an entrance than Rodimus Prime! Area attack! [Pulled -5]

Combat: Sky Lynx strikes Wrath with his Sky Lynx! More fiery an entrance than Rodimus Prime! Area attack! [Pulled -5]

Combat: Sky Lynx strikes Scourge with his Sky Lynx! More fiery an entrance than Rodimus Prime! Area attack! [Pulled -5]

2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> 's engines growls back at Rippersnapper, sounding a little like his namesake as the Decepticon tears into the good name and the planet he loves- and then tries to tear into HIM again, too. But the Jeep has finally made enough of a circle backwards to be able to shift gears and pull rapidly ahead, avoiding the attack. But he doesn't drive off... nope, he simply completes the circle and comes right for the shark! <<I don't expect you to ever be able to understand why this planet is the gem it is, or why there is a sad, sad irony in someone like YOU taking one of it's myriad forms. But what I DO epxect you to understand is that we Autobots will not EVER allow you to damage this planet... not like you did Cybertron. We will NOT allow you to bring your creatures of waste and desolation to THIS verdant world and despoil it like you did at home!>> There's an extra rev of his engines and he drives right into the shark's underbelly- or tries to!

"Nice trick," Zipline says as she looks around her quickly. She flicks her ears, trying to pick up anything that might suggest Harbinger is still around. Nada. "Aren't you supposed to be fighting instead of hiding? Get out here so I can shoot you." Ugh, where's Steeljaw when you need him.

Probably sleeping in the sun somewhere.

Zipline is still rather close to where Hound and Rippersnapper are going at it. The crashing of metal draws her attention, and she narrows her optics. Hastily, her sensors scan over Rippersnapper's armor, and she quickly beams over several marked weak spots to Hound. <<Get him good, big dog!>> Well, Hound and all.

Combat: Zipline sets her defense level to Neutral.

<Decepticon> Wrath says, "Capacitor is shot...Losing power. I will need to finish this up close and personal."

Normally the Firehawk would be able to get back out of the blast zone after that pass, but it's still struggling and sluggish from the lack of energy forcing the engines to strain even harder than before, while keeping the main gun going at the same time. Talia manages to yawl to the side to avoid getting a direct hit from the bomb, but the shockwave from the explosion is still enough to send the craft spinning out of control.

Turbines practically scream in protest as they're forced to work even harder, swiveling back and forth to get the ship back under control. And just as it finally stabilizes out it turns around just to see what -did- attack the Seeker in the wake of her trouble. Talia's too busy staring to do any sort of shooting.

Combat: 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> strikes Landshark <Rippersnapper> with his Captain Planet is ANGRY (Ram) attack!

Combat: Zipline analyzes Rippersnapper for weaknesses Hound can exploit.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> takes extra time to steady herself. [Pass]

Crusade isn't sure of how many times he managed to land a strike on the clawed Decepticon, he just continues swinging and swinging. Suddenly there's a defeaning BOOM! that leaves him dazed, and blistering heat washes over him. He clenches his teeth tightly, summoning every shred of willpower he possesses - he refuses to make a sound, he won't give the Decepticons the pleasure of knowing that he's badly hurt. Then Scourge shreds into his neck, and this time he does scream, but all that comes out is a hoarse rasp, thick with static. Energon spews from the wounds, staining those claws, and Crusade squirms, trying to dislodge them from his throat. It's slowly dawning on him that he could very well be living the last moments of his life, and he attacks Scourge with the fury and desperation of someone who knows he's doomed.

Combat: Crusade strikes Scourge with his Armblades attack!

___   ___    _  _   ___   _   _   / __|  / _ \  | \| | / __| | | | | | (__  | (_) | | .` | \__ \ |_| |_|  \___|  \___/  |_|\_| |___/ (_) (_)

Sweepcraft <Avarice> easily escapes Defcon's plasma fire. The bounty hunter reacted exactly as expected and therefore the sweep was ready for him. But suddenly, he's showered in flame, "ARRRRGGGGGGG!!!" Despite the pain, he remains focused on his prey and transforms before trying to leap on the starfighter. As he does, both hands seems to be surrounded by a halo of energy.

The sweepcraft splits open and unfold, revealing the sweep known as Avarice.

Combat: Avarice sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Avarice strikes Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with his Draining Touch attack! [Pulled -2]

Harrow screams and struggles to shield her head as the blast thrashes her frame and fire boils her metal. Before she can get her audials to stop ringing, the mysterious spacecraft riddles her further, and she cries out in pain, desperately moving to escape. Harrow twists and folds into a dark blue F-16 Falcon mode with shark-face nose art!

Combat: F-16 Falcon <Harrow> begins retreating, leaving herself vulnerable to parting shots from Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon>

The shot from Punch slams into Airlift but the Unicronian merely flies upwards with the blast, "Another time Autobots!" he says, having other business to attend to. He flips into transformation and streaks on an intercept course with Harrow's withdrawal vector, searching for the craft that had been engaging his subordinate and spotting the Starhawk. The Reavercraft's turbolaser cannons don't deploy though as he rockets towards the craft with his velocity climbing alarmingly. If the craft is equipped with such, it will probably receive collision warnings as Airlift seems intent on ramming into it at top speed.

Wings folding around him, Airlift's body compresses and changes into the crescent shaped Unicronian Reavercraft.

Combat: Reavercraft <Airlift> sets his defense level to Fearless.

Wrath gets hit by Defcon's plasma wave and bursts of flame which engluf him courtesy of Sky Lynx. Some status report scroll through his optics which make him growl in anger. He brings out his second chain axe from subspace and walks out of the burning inferno that was surrounding him. Wrath leaves the ground game and takes off after Defcon while keeping an eye on Sky Lynx. Wrath swaps out one chain-axe for one of his throwing axe and flings it in Defcon's trajectory. He's actually aiming at something...very tiny. We will see.

Combat: Wrath misses Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with its Thrown Axe attack! [Pulled -1]

Harbinger quickly puts some distance between her and the kitty with claws.. but instead of heading out of the battle she circles around, again scanning the battlefield as she tries to evalute the situation, though she moves slower then normal as she tries to keep any sparks from breaking her stealth. She see's Airlift lining up for his attack, and since she was still half-liniked in that direction, she relays a arry of possible weakspots at the target her sensors picks him up aiming for.

Combat: Harbinger analyzes Eddie Garcia for weaknesses Airlift can exploit.

Combat: Reavercraft <Airlift> strikes Starhawk <EDC> with his it's a space fighter demolition derby (Ram) attack!

Combat: Critical Hit!

Rippersnapper is just getting into mauling this pathetic little little jeep, when the larger prey arrives and tries to roast him where he stands. His tiny little eyes turn to face Sky Lynx.

He grins.

Most mechs would have the good sense to stay on a smaller target and *not* try to take on the giant dinobird shuttlecraft. Unfortunately for him, Rippersnapper is not most mechs. He is far *stupider* than most mechs! All he can see is a giant trophy to take down, to prove that no, his tiny little arms are NOT indicative of the sizes of other parts of his body!!! And that he is the COOLEST TERRORCON EVER next to Hungrr of course. He analyzes the sound of Sky Lynx's voice, and feeds it into his targeting computer. The sides of the shark open, and two missiles extend, launching straight for the Autobot shuttle!

Combat: Landshark <Rippersnapper> sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Landshark <Rippersnapper> strikes Sky Lynx with his Twin Voice-Guided Missiles attack!

Finally, as those Terrans are running to their various vehicles to get themselves gone, there's one particularly attractive brunette woman in her thirties that is rocking one sexy ass pants suit. She's on her phone (as much as she can be with all the chaos going on right now out here) and she's making sure her workers are getting to safety. Kind of. "Get everyone clear, do you understand me?! /Everyone/." Whether that is yelled into her cell phone or at one of the factory foremen, it is difficult to tell. What happens after that is her running and jumping into her car that is rocking a 'SANDY' license plate.

Fire, though, becomes the ire of Scourge's attention as he gets burned from above. His optics narrow as he looks upwards, "Sky Lynx." The words drip with both disdain and disgust, but have just a smidge of arrogance left in them. Even as he's burned, he refuses to show any sort of pain. His body, though, doesn't follow suit as it has nothing to do but react to the flames, bubbling up and buckling under the intense heat.

It is the perfect distraction that leaves him open to getting sliced up something fierce by Crusade. Those armblades cut into him deeply this time, combining with the flames that have softened his metal flesh and more energon pours from Scourge. His optics narrow and his beard hides any sense of pain that he might be experiencing. He draws his clawed hands back once again to strike... but something pings internally and he smiles instead. "Next time, you will not be so lucky." is spoken to Crusade before Scourge leaps up and folds into a Boss Sweepcraft. And it takes off with some speed off in the direction of a particularly Terran car labeled 'SANDY'. But, as he does, he makes sure that he fires a particularly nasty beam (OF DISINTEGRATION) in the direction of Sky Lynx. Y'know, for old cycle's sakes.

Desolation Follows. Fear The Unicronian Sweepcraft.

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> strikes Sky Lynx with his The Superior Technology of Scourge! attack!

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Combat: Arcee sets her defense level to Aggressive.

Her feelings much improved despite the cacophany and confusion of everything going on around her (which didn't USED to bother her before she was thrown this position, how very strange!)...Arcee tries to assist Punch as much as possible by continuing to target Airlift.

Combat: Arcee strikes Reavercraft <Airlift> with her Disruptor attack!

Sky Lynx gets tickled by various attacks sent his way, none of them really drawing his attention (in a bad way). If anything, they do give him an idea of what to expect. Though, let's be honest... Scourge did ruin his armor. "Scourge. I would have thought us leaving the disembodied head of a former false god would have scared the lot of you off. I see I was wrong." He drops down towards the overly ambitious Terrorcon, his body breaking into two pieces as only the Lynx can manage. The puma (because it's Sky Lynx, of course it's a puma!) charges headlong after Rippersnapper, while the upper half snaps its wings open, the Dinobird breaking hard to pick up some speed and go after Scourge. "Oh well, I suppose it just means I get the pleasure of breaking the lot of you."

Sky Lynx transforms, his body separating into two. The top half retains his bird-like trademark shape, but his lower half sprouts a head and takes to the ground in Lynx form. Crusade slumps to the ground as Scourge takes off, curling up on his side. His throat is still leaking energon everywhere, but at least he's not being torn to pieces. He presses his fingers against the worst of the gashes, trying to stem the flow, and lies still to rest for a moment. They still need him out there, he assumes, and he's not going to let anyone down.

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

Combat: Punch sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Dino Bird and Lynx strikes Landshark <Rippersnapper> with his What could be better than one Sky Lynx? Two Sky Lynxes naturally! Area attack! [Pulled -6] Combat: Dino Bird and Lynx strikes Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> with his What could be better than one Sky Lynx? Two Sky Lynxes naturally! Area attack! [Pulled -6]

Combat: Dino Bird and Lynx's attack has damaged your Agility!

Airlift got bored and flew off. Wow. Punch had so many sweep jokes lined up too. That is a shame. Still look at that shot! Arcee's even better than she realises! Punch decides to try and see if he can't discourage Airlift further. He's got further away, sure, but Punch has the infusion of his cig now. He's sure he'll hit. <<I never learn. I can live with that. Can you sweep?>> Punch transmits to Airlift before firing.

Starhawk <EDC> completely loses control, spiraling off course as Airlift slams into his wing. The ship falls into a flat spin, engines cutting out. Inside, the pilot works quickly to reengage, cutting power to heavy weapons...surging his left engine to overcompensate for structural damage...

Systems engage, and the Starhawk pulls out of it's spin, roaring back into the melee and after Airlift. The sweepcraft has a serious lead, but the vehicle pushes...Heavies are out of the question, but something has to bring AL down... Combat: Punch strikes Reavercraft <Airlift> with his Once more for the cheap seats in the back! attack!

Combat: Starhawk <EDC> strikes Reavercraft <Airlift> with his Ion Burst attack!

Combat: Starhawk <EDC>'s attack has strange and mysterious effects on Reavercraft <Airlift>.

Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired Reavercraft <Airlift>'s Agility. (Crippled)

Defcon is tackled, which is something he's really not used to while in his Starfighter mode. Avarice brings down the thunder, draining energon straight through shattered cracks in Defcon's armor. The Sweep has a taste for the bounty hunter now, and a few things become quickly apparent to the greedy bastard: 1) Defcon's energon stores seem far greater than they should be. He's not just a snack, he's a frickin' happy meal. 2) Defcon was drinking today. A lot. And not the cheap stuff either. We're talkin' top shelf stuff. It packs a nice kick to it. 3) So does Defcon.

The Starfighter spins again, this time faster. This time it doesn't stop spinning. "Hold on ya little freak. We're goin' for a ride!" Defcon spins, tumbles, barrel-rolls, attempting to throw Avarice clear. Wrath's axe comes flying, but is quickly deflected by the spinning Autobot. And then his stratedgy becomes clear. Once more, his battery of charged particle cannons, plasma-beam rifles, pulse projector cannons, and phaser banks suddenly lights up the area around him in a dazzling display of blue and violet beams of energy. Weapons fire in all directions, flooding the area surrounding Defcon in devastation. What was that Arcee said about collatoral damage? Screw it. Bring the rain.

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes Wrath with his The Last Starfighter Area attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> misses Avarice with his The Last Starfighter Area attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes F-16 Falcon <Harrow> with his The Last Starfighter Area attack! [Pulled -1]

2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> gets some relief as Rippersnapper goes for... Sky Lynx?? Welp- as the Con is distracted, that just gives Hound another opportunity to lock his aim onto the shark- and that's exactly what he does.

VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> is having about the worst night ever right now when it comes to flying. Ice, energy drains, bombs, the whole shebang. She's still flying, but the system fluxations were taking their toil on the matter. She doesn't like having to keep in the air in this state, but at the same time there's too many unfriendlies in the area still. <<One of those things is chasin' a car over there!>> And the Seekers is getting the hell out of here at least.

Finally she manages to get the autocannon spinning up to a slow speed, enough to pop off a quick round of thermal rounds at that Sweep that screwed up its systems in the first place!

<Decepticon> Harrow says, "FRAG!"

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Avarice with her Wounded Bird Still Bringing Some Heat attack!

Combat: Set custom attack name for grab to 'The Little Sweepcrafts That Could'.

Combat: Set custom attack name for grab to 'The Little Sweepcrafts That Could Of Scourge!'.

Combat: Set custom attack name for laser to 'The Little Sweepcrafts That Could Of Scourge!'.

Zipline keeps an eye on the skies. That sniper is around here somewhere, she's got to be. Or, at least, she would hope so. "Really. Cat jokes," She makes a motion like rolling her optics at the transmission. "I just want to say hi," She chides, "With my gun. It's a way of saying hi." Someone's been hanging out with the Wreckers too often. But regardless of her highly advanced scanning hardware, Zipline can't pick out the tell-tale sign of a cloak glimmer. But in looking up, she does notice Talia up ahead, the Firehawk taking damage. But with Talia's broadcast, Zip's eyes dart ahead, glancing towards Scourage, and his target. "Where the slag do you think you're going?"

With a few clicks, the spurs on Zipline's legs snap down to brace herself. The barrel of her cannon slides forward, the rails glowing brightly with alternating currents that cause the slug to begin to spin. Then TH-WOOM, the cannon fires a high velocity, spinning slug straight at Scourge.

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Combat: Zipline strikes Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> with her Breaker Railcannon attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Zipline's attack has damaged your Velocity!

Combat: Zipline's attack damages your armor.

Avarice is thrown of the starfighter but he was close enough that he manages to avoid the energy beams that are raining around him. "I am not impressed Autobot. I..." Then his sharp senses warn him and he spins around just in time to see the Firehawk firing at him. But it's too late to dodge. The sweep crosses his wings in front of him to soak most of the damage. He looks at Talia for a moment but decides to help his brother rather than retaliate...for now. Turning back to start chasing the bounty hunter again, Avarice fires a couple of optic blasts...because those are supposed to be more accurate...right?

Harbinger hovers around the edge of the battlefield, as Airlift seems to be handling himself adequately, and keeps moving, her feet staying just off the ground. Optics again darting side to side as she follows the various bots, then her sight falls on Arcee again and she darts towards her, extra armor deploying over her fist to reinforce it for a blow to a join.. but curiosty gets the better of her and she stops her motion and stays still as moment then darts forward, "Arcee, Female, high-ranking officer of the Autobots. Your not in Blast Off's file.. he has so many femmes.. and blitzwing as 'relationship' in his file, why not you? Did he try and get rejected? Do you try and he reject you? Do you know where Shiftlock is? REALLY would like to talk to her if you do." She then blinks her optics as she remembers she's in a fight, and EEPS before darting away to find a new spotting position.

Combat: Avarice strikes Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with his Energy Dissipator attack!

Combat: Harbinger takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass]

Wrath frowns as his axe misses...He catches it back. The Autobot peppers him some more with plasma blasters. Wrath flies after Defcon, throwing axe in one hand and chain-axe in the other. A bone chilling roar sets both blades ablaze thanks to Unicronian technology. No more relying on range...This time Wrath flies straight at Defcon hoping to carve him up. The chain-axes comes to life and revs in a mechanical howl of a bloodthirsty monster.

Combat: Wrath misses Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with its FEEL MY WRATH!! attack! [Pulled -1]

The ion pulse from the starfighter he's engaged, along with the parting favors from Arcee and Punch, serve to cause serious structural damage to the Reavercraft which plunges towards the ground, billowing smoke as it crashes into a building. Inside, Airlift transforms quickly, wings folding protectively about his body to help shield him from damage as he starts to quickly apply patches to the worst of his damage, working to bring his form back up to a fighting strength, barely above the point where he knows he must withdraw from the battle if he is to be able to perform his necessary duties.

The reavercraft explodes along its seems in a flurry of motion and a familiar sound, unfolding into the form of Airlift.

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

Combat: Airlift sets his defense level to Protected.

Rippersnapper is bowled over by the puma half of Sky Lynx, but he's not about to take this lying down. Now there's TWO targets -- ! He's momentarily confused as he pulls himself out of the dirt, head whipping back and forth, trying to figure out which half he wants to go after first--!!

Slaggit, he'll do both.

Reluctantly he transforms, both hands on his weapon, as he runs /backwards/, away from both halfs of the Lynx. As he does so, he begins to whip up a cloud of air, the gun humming ominously. He suddenly stops, pulling the trigger.

Sudden BOOM hits the area as a shockwave of compressed air blasts towards both halves of Sky Lynx, throwing sand and debris in vortex after the Autobot shuttle.

The landshark transforms into a robot named Rippersnapper.

Combat: Rippersnapper strikes Dino Bird and Lynx with his Cyclone Gun attack!

Scourge, even in Sweepcraft mode, manages to smile. After all, that is exactly what he wanted. There can be nothing but good things if he keeps Sky Lynx's parts away from each other. He pours on the speed (as much as a Sweepcraft has, anyway) hoping that he can drag the attacking Dinobird along for a bit of a ride. Even if it doesn't work out that way, Scourge has a plan. And it includes the sudden arrival of a second swarm of Sweepcrafts. They come in hot, blazing fire and a few of them are headed in the direction of the Dinobird, intent on blasting away at it to give Scourge some room to try and get to the intended target.

But, of course, it cannot be that simple. No, there have to be things in the way. Things like Ziplines. And Railcannons. And Zipcannons. Oh My. Scourge is knocked off course a bit, though his hunting instinct is focused and locked onto that car trying to get away from all this madness. And instead of Scourge, himself, those Sweepcraft swarm down towards her to let more laser fire off, all up in Zipline's grill, hopefully.

In the midst of all this, there's another shot from that disintegration beam aimed at the car's tires, clearly aiming to take it out and make that vehicle no more good for driving. It is, after all, the target.

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> misses Dino Bird and Lynx with his The Little Sweepcrafts That Could Of Scourge! (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> misses Zipline with his The Little Sweepcrafts That Could Of Scourge! (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> compares his Accuracy to 70: Failure :(

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Lynx's armor gets thrashed by Rippersnapper... now /that/ gets his attention, and both parts of him merge before he drops down. Of course, the call that someone is going after a vehicle does catch his attention, and that draws his optical visor up to Scourge... How to deal with two threats at once? Give them both something to chew on. He looks back at Rippersnapper. "I'll deal with you shortly." And, with that, he's airborne, going after Scourge to get rid of the more immediate threat to others. Retribution for his armor can wait... "You like to play with claws, do you, Sweep? Try these on for size."

Sky Lynx transforms into the wondrously phenomenal form of a Sky Lynx!

Combat: Sky Lynx strikes Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> with his Eviscerate attack!

Combat: Sky Lynx's attack has damaged your Accuracy!

Combat: Sky Lynx's attack damages your armor.

Punch scans the field for new targets. Selecting the one he's been looking for he downloads the necessary files and re-uploads to Arcee <<New data incoming. Take your shot at the reject from a terran movie and make it a good one!>> Taking another draw from his cig Punch wonders how. . . but he's having fun.

Combat: Punch analyzes Rippersnapper for weaknesses Arcee can exploit.

Crusade climbs to his feet once he's confident that he can stand. He's aware that he isn't faring too well, but he's in better shape than he had thought. Good enough to fight, at least! A static-ridden sigh escapes him and he limps towards Punch, cradling his rifle warily as he scans his surroundings for potential threats. And... there! Crusade catches sight of that vortex of debris and the Decepticon responsible for it. He raises his rifle, takes aim, and fires.

Combat: Crusade strikes Rippersnapper with his Best Friend Rifle attack! [Pulled -1]

Defcon is struck by Avarice's optic blast, sending sparks showering into the air as once more, Defcon's seemingly limitless energon reserves are struck again. That one is clearly a hungry little Unicronian, and he dubs him as such. Hungry-Sweep. His systems strain against the force of the blow but once more, his conditioners halt the damage from completely draining him. It's a good thing he filled up on so much ener-beer earlier. Let that be a lesson to you: It's never too early to start drinking. It's 1700 hours /somewhere/.

One of the Sweeps, dubbed Axe-Sweep mentally by Defcon, comes flying straight at him, blades spinning again. The Starfighter banks, thrusters igniting as he backpedals out of melee-range just as the horrible, horrible axe comes down, barely missing Defcon. Forward cannons lock onto Axe-Sweep and Hungry-Sweep and immediately open fire. Fletchette's erupt from the forward cannons, shrapnel and blades and gears all bursting forth in a devastating belch of Decepticon-shredding firepower.

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes Wrath with his Forward Shrapnel Cannons Area attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> strikes Avarice with his Forward Shrapnel Cannons Area attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Critical Hit!

"Thanks, Punch..." Arcee tilts her head a bit, hitting the side a few times with her fist. "Fraggit all if that stupid Unicronian didn't mess up my head," she grouses. She can HEAR her internal radio mic rattling around in there, and it's just plain annoying. As she spots Crusade making a last-ditch effort to bring harm to the Terrorcon, she decides to help him out, bringing her pistols to bear on the menacing landshark.

Combat: Arcee strikes Rippersnapper with her Dual Heavy Blaster Pistols attack!

It takes a good pilot to keep an aircraft flying in the state it's in. But Talia isn't a good pilot.

She's a GREAT pilot. It's still sluggish but the Firehawk is still flying. A second wing of Sweeps is joining the fight, trying to shoo Zipline and Sky Lynx off the guy chasing the car. Well now, we can't have that can we? With a grunt Talia guides the Firehawk in as close as she can get, and then angles the turbine's towards the pack of sweeps, so the downward vortex the giant fans produce will maybe give them some rough time trying to aim at the same time. It's about all she can do at the moment.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> with her Air Turbulence at the gumbie Sweeps mind you (Grab) attack!

Starhawk <EDC> should probably stay with Talia. The Starhawk is in formation, defending her wing...And then suddenly breaks off, streaking between Defcon and the Adjective Sweeps, laser batteries blazing!

Zipline doesn't even wait for the spurs to click back into place before she takes off at a run after Scourge and the car. If cons are after humans, it can't be for something good. And according to the last meeting she had with the EDC: Humans are pretty much about as breakable as glass. The cannon clearly holds her back though. With each wide, lunging step she takes, the cannon shifts and weights down her midsection. Good for balance, bad for speed.

Which is why she disposes of it, returning the cannon to subspace storage.

Maybe a little too soon. Zipline ducks and weaves, avoiding weapons fire from the sweep drones. She lunges, leaping up on top of the drones. Her claws dig into the back of its head before she lunges off again, forcing the drone to the ground. She hits the ground a second later, far more gracefully, and keeps running

<<Why's the loser shooting at a human car? Gonna intercept!>> Cannon and obstacles out of the way, Zipline puts on more speed. But while her target is the car, her eyes are on Scourge. Optics scan over his systems, quickly gathering armor data on the sweep. Then beaming it back to Sky Lynx to use at his discretion.

2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> sees Rippersnapper still fixated on Sky Lynx, and keeps carefully aiming at him until he thinks the shark is in his sights. Crusade lands a blow, and so does Arcee, then Hound follows suite with a blast of his own- via turret gun. The Jeep rocks back a little with the shot. <<One for the Earth!>>

Combat: Zipline analyzes Scourge for weaknesses Sky Lynx can exploit.

Combat: Starhawk <EDC> strikes Avarice with his Laser Spreadfire Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: That attack has temporarily mildly impaired Avarice's Agility and Accuracy. (Dizzy)

Combat: Starhawk <EDC> strikes Wrath with his Laser Spreadfire Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: That attack has temporarily mildly impaired Wrath's Agility and Accuracy. (Dizzy)

Combat: 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> strikes Rippersnapper with his Keeping the Planet Green attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Critical Hit!

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Avarice is blasted out of the sky under the impact of the shrapnel and he heavily crashes into the ground raising a cloud of debries and dust around the point of impact. Climbing out of the hole he just dug into the ground, he's blasted by an annoying tape but with little effect. He leaps into the air and transforms. His fury makes him ignore the damage is sustaining, instead he goes right back at Defcon screaming, "DIE DIE DIE!"

Avarice leaps into the air, his wings folding around him as he reconfigures into a sweepcraft.

Combat: Sweepcraft <Avarice> strikes Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with his Power Disruptor attack!

Combat: That attack has slowed Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon>, making him less efficient.

Harbinger peers around the rock as she lands quietly and lays down, her rifle deploying again to settle over her shoulder, and swivling a bit as she tracks in on Arcee, "Hmph.. was just asking honest question.. no reason to ignore."

Combat: Harbinger takes extra time to aim its next attack.

That last shot from Defcon scores multiple hits on Wrath. A dozen piece of shrapnels make their way inside damaging critical components. As if not enough he EDC Starhawk really pours on the laser fire. The damage reports are filling up the queue. His capacitor finally dies out. He cannot carry on like that for now. Live to maim and destroy another day. The sweep transforms and retreats from the area. Wrath leaps into the air and with the classic transformation noise changes into a sweepcraft.

Combat: Sweepcraft <Wrath> begins retreating, leaving itself vulnerable to parting shots from Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon>

Skulking in the wrecked building, the Reaver known as Airlift seems to have gone undetected by the Autobots as they focus on the more aggressively active Decepticons. He considers, and then emerges from his place of hiding and looks for likely targets. Spotting Defcon lighting into Avarice and Wraith in the distant sky, he raises his plasma cannon and takes aim, taking his time to find a targetting solution as he engages his energon cascade charger into the plasma cannon. Finally he fires, the bolt of superheated plasma a purple streak through the sky towards the Cybertronian Starfighter.

Combat: Airlift sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Airlift strikes Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> with his who says Airlift doesn't care about his cousins? attack!

Combat: Airlift uses up a charge on his Energon Cascade Chamber booster pack!

Rippersnapper is being pelted in all directions by shots from multiple harassers. The pain and damage only seems to infuriate him even more. Still, through all of this, he knows he'll only be able to do a little more damage before he's forced to flee. He wants to make good on his last legs.

He fixates on Crusade, an Autobot he's never met before - this one must be new. He knows the others, and they will be around after this battle is over, but the new meat - and he's looking at Crusade like the bot is a nice big side of beef - is untested, and possibly weak enough to outright kill.

He's not a Terrorcon for nothing. He knows that Autobot morale will be utterly flagging if he can manage to slaughter the new baby.

<<I don't know you, Autobot, but it doesn't *koff* matter. After tonight, you won't be around to get to know, >> he radios to Crusade with a malicious sneer. He brings his weapon to bear, taking aim at the recruit, the roar of air whipping around him filling the air once more. He's going to shred the newbie to ribbons.

THOOOOOOOM!

Combat: Rippersnapper strikes Crusade with his Cyclone Gun attack!

With his systems being shut down like something awful, SCOURGE doesn't particularly have much time to waste. He must get the objective and that is what his focus is on. He's attacked by Sky Lynx once more, but he hangs as tough as he can at the moment. "You are a child, Sky Lynx. Always have been." That is the only taunting statement that Scourge has for the giant whatever it is, as he is more focused on pulling away and getting some room. He's going to need some room as he pulls up short and comes around for a quick pass, firing lasers of epic aiming and hopefully skill at those Autobots as he attempts to lay waste to a few of them as he makes sure to fire a few laser beams at powerlines as well. Which are stationary. And easy to hit. Dammit. Whether they impede Zipline's pursuit, fall down in front of the car, a little bit of both... it doesn't matter. As long as the car can't go any further, then Scourge will have some easy pickins.

Then they can get out of here!

The Sweeptroopers are getting knocked around and blasted around like the cheap fodder they are. It is fairly easy to make short work of them. They are only here for in a distractionary capacity in the first place. Go ahead and kill them. As for 'SANDY' she really shouldn't be using her cell phone while driving, should she?

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> strikes Sky Lynx with his Strafing Run Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> strikes Zipline with his Strafing Run Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> compares his Accuracy to 1: Success!

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Sky Lynx gets blasted by Scourge, something that probably does far more damage than he's willing to show. But, he's hardly about to slow down in the slightest. << I'm through with this. No Decepticon assaults our allies and taunts me about it. >> He looks down at Rippersnapper and gauges the Terrorcon's position before whipping around, letting his tail arc through to hit Scourge. "As I said before, get out of my skies, Scourge. You and I, we are far from equals."

Combat: Sky Lynx strikes Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> with his Sit your aft down... attack!

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

Combat: Sky Lynx's attack has damaged your Accuracy!

Combat: Unicronian Sweepcraft <Scourge> falls to the ground, unconscious.

Starhawk <EDC> streaks back past Defcon, back into formation with Talia, on a course towards AIRLIFT. Angling into a strafing dive, the craft lights up, dropping it's energy ordinance down the slide towards the Unicronian!

Arcee frowns, laying down some more cover fire for Crusade and trying to draw Rippersnapper off his 'kill'...as she's doing this, she gets a sudden sharp pain in the side of her head. At first, she thinks she's been sniped, but no. This is different. Something got dislodged by Airlift's kick earlier. With a shakey sigh, she lines Rippersnapper up in her sights, trying to distract him.

Then, it begins in her head. That man. That song. SINGING.

"Clap along, if you feel like a room without a roof! Clap along, if you feel like happiness is the truth!"

(Oh god, Rewind, your 'HAPPY' film project is playing in my head,) she thinks in dread. (WHY. Just WHY. Why did you have to film that in the base. Damn it all.)

Combat: Arcee strikes Rippersnapper with her Laser attack!

Combat: Starhawk <EDC> strikes Airlift with his More Lasers Than a Technobot! (Laser) attack!

Talia finally gets annoyed enough with the red flashes just outside her field of vision that she reachs over and flicks off the energy levels readout, grousing "Tell me somethin' I don't know" under her breath. Then focuses her attention back on the fight, and the comment buzzing in her ear piece. "Com'n ol' girl, hold out just a li'l longer." Good thing no one can see her actually pet the console for a moment before regripping the controls and pushing forward.

The Firehawk pulls a bit to one side opposite the faster Starhawk, trying to angle its attack to catch the Reaver in a crossfire between the two craft.

Punch seeks out some new targeting data. Then he sees Rippersnapper. "Hey . . . bad thing! Down!" He'll deal with that later. First thing's first. Punch can't see exactly where but Airlift's last shot gave away which building he's in. Rocking the yield up to maximum he launches the mortars into the building hoping the explosion does the rest.

Combat: VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley> strikes Airlift with her More Pew Pew Pew for You You You (Pistol) attack!

Crusade 's mind screams a warning as Rippersnapper's gun discharges; his body is too slow to react in time. He tries to leap aside, out of the cyclone's path, but he's too slow and winds up caught in the middle of it. The vortex rips at his armor, tearing the already-damaged metal from his frame.

<<If you're taking me down, you're coming with me,>> Crusade radios back. How he wishes he could simply charge at his foe and sink his blades into the Decepticon! There's no way he'd be able to make the distance, though, and settles for a volley of return fire.

Combat: Crusade strikes Rippersnapper with his Best Friend Rifle attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Punch strikes Airlift with his dropshot in the building attack!

Combat: Critical Hit!

<Decepticon> Airlift says, "Decepticons, Scourge is fallen, begin withdrawing immediately, the Autobots have brought in too significant of reinforcements to continue. I will recover Scourge."

Once more, Hungry-Sweep manages to hit Defcon with another energon-racking blast, forcing his systems to strain even further, struggling to compensate. He groans under the pressure exerted onto his systems, and is flanked by yet another Unicronian as Axe-Sweep transforms and takes off. Airlift, bastard cousin of the Sweeps, fires a staggeringly large beam-cannon, catching Defcon's hull clean in the side, knocking him completely out of the air. The Starfighter slams into the ground, skidding, sending dirt and earth surging upwards in a wave as he hits the ground hard. Not many bots could get back up from that blow, after dealing with two Sweeps already.

But Defcon does. He finally transforms into the bounty hunter, staggering to his feet. He looks heavily injured. And angry. He shoves debris out of his way as he begins stalking forward. He grabs an ener-smoke, lighting it on some burning shrubs on fire from his crash landing, placing it in his mouth and taking a long drag.

"You dun frakked up, son." He says, exhaling a puff of mist from his ener-smoke. Then he reaches behind his back, drawing a large hockey-stick shaped club from subspace. His thrusters ignite along his back, sending him surging forward in a blur of high speed motion, charging forward and swinging the stick full force.

Cybertronian Starfighter <Defcon> transforms into his Defcon mode.

Combat: Defcon sets his defense level to Fearless.

Powerlines start snapping all around Zipline. Optics widen as she fall in front of her, and she hastily tries to dodge to one side. But running so fast? Straffing isn't all that easy. She adjusts tactics, trying to leap over the first one. But her paw hits the pole, and she stumbles. She quickly recovers, but...

But they always say, watch out for downed power lines for a reason.

One of the snapped lines coil around Zipline's ankle as she lunges over the next pole. The sparking end connects with her armor and *ZZZZZOOOOOOOTTT*

Zipline convulses for a few seconds as high power electricity grounds through her. Then she collapses, smoking a little, on the ground. "... Ow," She groans, coughing smoke up from her coolant systems.

2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> starts sweeping the area, looking for more trouble... He got shot earlier, and begins to wonder where that mysterious assailant went off to.... <<Come out, come out, wherever you are...>>

Combat: 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound> searches for Harbinger.

Combat: Harbinger has been found!

Combat: Defcon strikes Airlift with his Low Blow >_< attack! ___   ___    _  _   ___   _   _   / __|  / _ \  | \| | / __| | | | | | (__  | (_) | | .` | \__ \ |_| |_|  \___|  \___/  |_|\_| |___/ (_) (_)

Scourge is knocked from the sky and smashes into the ground, rolling and flpping and smashing and everything that happens when Sweepcrafts are destroyed in less than a minute. It flips over and over, sailing past the SANDYmobile and smashing right into those powerlines. Which also fry his systems into even more of an oblivion. It all comes full circle into the Sweepcraft being no longer operational and the few Sweeptroopers that are nearby, break away from Fight Formation to save their Master. And get him away from all this crazy foolishness.

Meanwhile, that human woman slams on the brakes and gets out of her car long enough to take a video of all this. The information may prove to be useful in building a better exo-suit. Or something. Who knows.

Sweepcraft <Avarice> curses as Wrath retreats and Scourge falls in battle. He would really like to finish Defcon (yeah right) but he has little choices. Joining the other sweep, he uses a tractor beam on Scourge and drags him to safety...far far away.

Combat: Sweepcraft <Avarice> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Starhawk <EDC>

Rippersnapper is sniped right in the head by some EVIL FEMALE AUTOBOT. His HUD lights up like a Galvmas Tree with all sorts of system warnings. He may be stupid, but he's not Brawl stupid... it's time to haul his sorry fins out of here.

<< I will hunt you now, Autobot. This is not over -- not until I've crushed your still pulsing lasercore in my fangs! >> Transforming into Landshark mode once more, he thrashes violently, kicking up a cloud of sand to try to cover his escape.

Combat: Rippersnapper begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Sky Lynx, 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound>, Starhawk <EDC>, Defcon, Punch, Sweepcraft <Avarice>, Arcee, Zipline, Airlift, Harbinger, VSC-25 Firehawk <Talia McKinley>, and Crusade

Rippersnapper folds inwards, transforming into a LANDSHARK!

The firepower from the two EDC fightercraft crisscrosses across Airlift's form, but it's not until Punch tags him with that mortar shot that things start to really go bad. Airlift is blasted free of the building he'd been using for cover, and then right into the path of Defcon's stickwork. Spinning from the blow, Airlift looks shattered and broken, glancing quickly around the battlefield before snapping out some orders to the Decepticons. He leaps into the sky, transforming and streaking towards where Scourge is downed, using the gumby sweeps as cover as his lifting cables shoot out, magnagrappling onto the fallen Decepticon as he pulls into a climb, heading for the heavens at full throttle.

Wings folding around him, Airlift's body compresses and changes into the crescent shaped Unicronian Reavercraft.

Combat: Reavercraft <Airlift> sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Reavercraft <Airlift> begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Harbinger starts to pull the trigger, but twithes as both a command over the radio comes in as well as her stealth armor flickering and fading, "That.. is not a good sign." So she does what any good and loyal Decepticon does.. she gets up.. and runs as quickly as she can, her armor still trying to flicker back into working order.

Combat: Harbinger begins retreating, leaving herself vulnerable to parting shots from Sky Lynx, 2010 Jeep Wrangler Mopar <Hound>, Starhawk <EDC>, Zipline, and Reavercraft <Airlift>

Sky Lynx lands with an audible 'thoom', finally taking a moment to look himself over. What a mess... Armor is scorched and pitted from the hits taken, shredded through with more than a few of those specialized attacks, and there's a few spots that are leaking where more fortunate blasts struck internal systems... But, he's quick to dismiss it all, looking over at the rest of the Autobots present. "Autobots, EDC, sound off. What sort of damage control and casualties are we looking at?"

The Firehawk's autocannon spins to life as it comes to bear on the retreating landshark... but nothing comes out of it. With the constant struggles over energy use the Spitfire's got nothing to spit. Darn.

At least the systems are starting to flicker back to normal, if damaged, so Talia powers off the big gun and brings the ship down to the ground and land. Give it a few minutes to charge back up now that the instabilities are gone, and then fly home.