Iahex Assault

Southern Iahex

This is the main roadway into the Autobot city. Its vast ten-lane roadway is large enough to accommodate even a city transformer that wishes to enter or leave the city. Magnetically driven repulse generators are built into the roadway and allows drivers a completely smooth ride with as little wear on their tires as possible. Stretched out on either side are defensive towers of polyglass and durasteel, each mounted with missile launchers, laser cannons, and ballistic turreted weapons ready to defend this new city should anyone be foolish enough to attack it.

Contents:

1983 Chevy S-10 &lt;Gears&gt; Crash Decibel Focus Springer Steeljaw Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; Whirl Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; Astrotrain Darkwing F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; Galvatron Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok

Obvious exits: Fly &lt;Up&gt; leads to Sky above Iahex. North &lt;N&gt; leads to Central Iahex.

South &lt;S&gt; leads to Iacon Plain. East &lt;E&gt; leads to New Memorial Spaceport.

Focus wurrs in on hover engines down the exit lane of the city. Having just come back from earth, Focus is eager to see how Cybertron is doing. Dilapidated and run down, as usual. The hovercar speeds along bouncing on the mag repulsers under the roadway giving him a semi-smooth ride, but Focus goes carefully. He doesn't have the sensors in this mode that he does in robot mode.

Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; is in Iahex. For once. In fact, he's in southern Iahex, driving from one defensive embankment to another during an inspection round of the citie defenses. Why? Well, he knows that the Decepticons are planning something /big/ on Cybertron. And he knows just what information got leaked recently. That adds up to imminent attack on Iahex. Time to prep for trouble!

Decibel is a bot in the know, he's read reports and heard enough chatter to know that the city is soon to be under seige. As such he's currently making his way from defensive position to defensive position. With a data pad in hand he checks in with those manning each area and also runs a check over the systems while he's there. "Lock down that energy converter there, somebody is going to trip over it." Shaking his head he heads to the next area on his checklist.

1983 Chevy S-10 &lt;Gears&gt; follows behind Rodimus his usual chipper self, "I told you that our defenses here weren't good enough, I was saying the other day as my lube injectors malfunctioned. What if the 'Cons attacked us here? We are not ready, they will wipe the floor with us. You never listen to me, never."

VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; cruises slowly along the aerial route towards Iahex from...somewhere vaguely to the East. Even though he's flying over 'friendly' territory, he tends to swerve and roll, changing direction every few seconds in a fashion that makes it marginally more difficult to acquire a target lock on in. Although knowing Whirl, it's probably because he has trouble flying straight. He should be within sight if Iahex any second now.

Crash occupies the medical bay in the weastern sections of the city. Currently he's been seeing to little more then a few cases of road rash for the punks that wouldn't know a brake peddle if someone beat them over the head with one.. Something that Crash is sorely tempted to do. He replaces damaged armor for a new segment and uses a hammer to gdet the fittings just right. "Next!" he barks out, nearly shoving the first paitient off the table.

Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; half wishes he was the one down there checking the defenses as it were, but knowing Rodimus and Decibel are on the job is reassurance enough to let him focus more on being 'Air Guardian' at the moment. It's not like the old days when it was only him, the Aerialbots and a few others could fly, but still being a capable in the minority amongst the Autobots compared to cars and trucks he could be of much more potential use in flying patrol passes in circles around Iahex, watching and just waiting for the inevitable. They knew they were coming, it's all a matter of when, and how many.... He's just glad he made it to Cybertron in time and not to just pick up pieces.

Steeljaw arrived at Iahex earlier on the cycle with the other tapes, but while the others are who knows where, he's out on the streets with his nose to the ground. The lion isn't going to be just lying around napping when there's a mission to complete. That comes later. Now, the tape-lion is all attentive, focused soly on making sure that no decepticons sneak their way past his hyper-sensitive nose. He creeps around one of the corners of a defensive post, growling quietly to himself. When the cat is on the job, he's really on the job.

He didn't know how Eject had been able to pull it off, but the little guy had still been able to dupe Galvatron into believing he was Soundwave. As a result, the Autobots had an idea that the Decepticons would be up to something very soon.

Soon after Eject's communique had hit the radio waves, Springer had been called back to Cybertron by Rodimus Prime. Always looking for a fight, the Wrecker had traveled to southern Iahex as quickly as possible.

At the present moment, the Cybertronian Race Car is patrolling the outer fringe of Iahex's defenses. Pulling up to one of the tower defenses, the vehicle's dashboard lights up, &lt;&lt;Springer to Autobots. I've taken a stroll down towards one of the tower defenses. Things look quiet around here right now. No sign of any Decepticons -- in other words, I'm bored out of my mind. All quiet on the southern front.&gt;&gt; The Global Pose Tracker marks that Springer has 'skipped' his action for this round.

Doubledealer has arrived.

Fusillade has arrived.

Things go from an uneasy calm to maniacally violent in mere moments as Galvatron appears in the sky overhead, with a large task of Decepticons trailing him! He points down dramatically at the Iahex, and bellows, "DECEPTICONS, ATTACK! Destroy the Autobots and everything they own! ANNIHILATE THEM!" At his command, numerous multi-colored gumby seekers fire a storm of lasers down at the Autobot fortress, causing numerous explosions to ripple across the roadway and defensive towers.

Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; fragging hates Iahex. First off, he's a Decepticon, and that's reason enough to hate Iahex. Then, he hates it because he's destroyed the leaking place before, as Devastator, but it never seems to stick. Scrapper also hate Iahex, because it is like the Autobots realised that Decepticon cities, like Plyhex is just much more awesome than Autobot cities, so they renamed Iacon Iahex to get in on the action. Frakking poseurs. It offends his artistic sensibilities. But most of all, Scrapper hates Iahex, because he is a construction engineer, and from what Scrapper can tell, Iahex is horribly laid out. No, really, it makes him bodily nauseous.

So the flying payloader kind of wanders slowly, drunkenly through the air, following in the wake of violet anger and destruction personified. Now, where is that stupid lowering device he's heard so much about...?

As part of the Decepticons daring frontal assault upon the Autobot's seat of power, the dreaded SCORPONOK has been brought back into play. What the soulless, binary-bonded warlord has been doing these past few months is unclear, but what IS clear is that the hulking form of Scorponok is among Galvatron's shocktroops, clutching his tools of war in his massive death-dealing claws. his expression is tense, but reclusive, and he seems not so much to be /with/ Galvatron, as simply arriving concurrently with the Decepticon leader.

Doubledealer flies alongside Scrapper, but much more gracefully since he is a bird and not a piece of inexplicably airborne construction equipment. He casts his keen gaze downwards, gliding silently over the city, wreathed in darkness. "Scrapper, follow me. I will reveal their weaknesses to you. The traitor has uncovered much about their substructures, and I know it all. Together we'll plunge a dagger into the vitals of this filth."

F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; had been passing the cycles trying to get enough motivation together to make it look like he was in command of aerospace and was failing badly, anyone with any sense would know that it was all Hi-Test and his suffering hungry XO Darkwing, so he had given up. Then the call to battle was given, caught in the wrong place at the right time Dreadwind was dragged along even though he knew it was pointless. Flying along steadily Dreadwind will let the others bear the brunt of the initial defences, he'll be shot and suffering soon enough so why rush into it? Ignoring the obvious central targets, he heads towards the outer lanes, if he can get there first he can just sit still and with luck do nothing for the rest of this conflict, though of course he knows his luck only comes in varieties of bad.

Fusillade vanishes out of reality.

Fusillade has left.

Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; follows behind Dreadwind, their typical formation as it was easier to try and keep the even more depressive-then-himself, Dreadwind on target. He'd spent much of this week around base after having a planet dropped on him; and of coruse he was itching to cuase someone suffering in return. Hearing about the Iahex assult was perfect; bring down the Autoboot seat of power so that they know how usless it is to oppose them. &lt;&lt;I Don't see why your trying to duck out early if you decided to come along anyway, bro&gt;&gt; Darkwing radios to Dreadwind seeing him starting to veer off as he of course heads straight for the front lines.

"Decepticons!" Rodimus shouts, screeching to a halt as Iahex comes under attack and transforming. One of the buildings near him comes under heavy Decepticon fire, forcing him to leap and roll out of the way as a wall is sent collapsing down on him. "EVERYONE!" he shouts, "Man the defenses! Get to the lowering device and get us under!" Rodimus himself turns his photon eliminator on the Decepticon Seekers bought with him, firing up at them - though unfortunately, even hits are liable to send the jets crashing into city buildings!

VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; is an ideal first-responder for Decepticon air attacks. He has no illusions about being able to intercept Seekers and the like before they get into attack position. But he does like to let them know there's an Autobot up here with them, to try to make 'em hesitate and to stall them for just long enough for his ground-based allies to make a few more plans and preparations (you know, all those things that he himself never bothers with). But mostly to give those Decepticons the flying robot equivalent of a bloody nose. "hiiyyAAAAAH!" he bellows over multiple local frequencies. "Rammmming speeeeed!" This is puncuated by a smattering of long-range lasers at his all-time favorite Decepticon target, Dreadwind.

Combat: VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; misses F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; with his Laser attack!

1983 Chevy S-10 &lt;Gears&gt; transforms as the orders comes out and heads up into one of the defensive towers mumbling, "I can't hit anything if these guns haven't been properly calibrated. They weren't last time I had target practice and I am sure it hasn't been finished yet," he says climbing into a defense tower. 1983 Chevy S-10 &lt;Gears&gt; transforms into his Gears mode.

Combat: Gears takes control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Decibel was hardly out the door to make his next stop when the assault begins. As explosions begin to rock the tower he's knocked clean off his feet, his data pad skittering across the floor. Scrambling to his feet he starts barking orders as he races to a nearby terminal. "Get those defenses set. Provide target data and fire at will. Lock down the city and sound the alarms." With a few rapid keystrokes security codes are entered and the screen before him displays a list of options, skimming it quickly Decibel makes his selection. As doors seal up he continues to type securing files and deleting other in case the worst happens. "Don't need this. This can go. Who put this in the system? What a waste of space." His fingers fly as the turrets behind him open fire doing what they can to deter the oncoming wave of destruction.

Combat: Decibel takes control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Focus picks up speed and transforms at the order of man your defenses by Rodimus. Focus slides out a pair of throwing blades from his hip to rest gently in his hand and takes off running dead ahead. Dead ahead being Scorponok. Focus flicks the blades forward, giving them enough umph to zing out of his hand as several streaking projectiles.

As the Decepticons opened fire from above, Springer's day suddenly went from boring to normal -- at least in his mind. With a rev of his engine, the Cybertronian Race Car pulls up in front of one of the tower defenses. Spotting a few Autobot gumbies fumbling around with their blasters, the Wrecker activates his external speakers, "You guys get in gear and take a defensive position!! This isn't the Autobot Robo-Boy Scouts anymore!!"

Sweeping his scanners across the skies, Springer watches the multiple blips almost cover his computer screen. "Alright, I like our odds already." Activating his tactical systems, the Cybertronian Race Car pops out a pair of mini blasters from his armored hood. After locking onto the closest target, Springer lets loose a short burst of laser fire. "You Decepticons light up my life!"

Combat: Focus strikes Scorponok with his Shrunken Blades (Disruptor) attack!

Springer quickly shifts into a mean green, Cybertronian Race Car!

If somehow Crash missed the roaring call of battle from Galvatron, the seeker salvo that followed would certainly have gotten his attention. a hole is blasted into the roof of the medical bay, rubble and debris crashing down onto and around the medic, doing much to sour his mood.

Shoving a wrecked roof panal off of him, Crash makes for the door, grabbing up his laser carbine on the way, popping a energy-cell into the weapon and kicking off the safety.

His optics turn upwards the moment he's out the door, Seekers, buzzards, payloaders, Galvatrons, and a Scorponok.. "What a day to have Metroplex earth side.." mutters Crash to himself as he hefts the carbine up into the air, adding a bit of laser fire to the flurry of ant-aircraft fire that is already flying up from the city.

Combat: Cybertronian Race Car &lt;Springer&gt; sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Crash strikes Scorponok with his Laser Carbine (Laser) attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Cybertronian Race Car &lt;Springer&gt; strikes Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; with his Mini-Blaster Burst (Disruptor) attack!

Combat: You took 8 damage.

"So the moment arrives," Jetfire rumbles mostly to himself as the Decepticon approach is reported and Rodimus starts dolling out orders. The spacefighter banks sharply to break from his patrol circle and afterburners flare to launch him in the direction of the incoming assault, leaving a sonic boom rumbling in his wake.

Speeding overhead the scrambling Autobot defenders, Jetfire takes note of the gloom-jet duo. Guess it really is time to live up to the air guardian roll, as the veritech fighter swoops in and fires off a quick volley of shots at the farther back of the two. "Don't you people have some other dark corner of the universe to go sulk in?"

Combat: Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; misses Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; with his Strafing Fire (Disruptor) attack!

One thing is for sure, Steeljaw doesn't need to be told the Decepticons have arrived. He raises his head the moment their scent hits the air, and begins to growl deeply. Of course, he expected more than just a few. Perhaps not quite so many, however. Not that it ever bothers him. His eyes gleam as he glares at the Decepticons overhead. Then abruptly turns tail to head deeper into the city, avoiding destruction as it rains down around him. Maybe he can catch one a little closer to the ground...

Twin guns on either of Steeljaw's sides swivel upwards to level up on one of the airborne decepticons. They settle on Doubledealer, and the barrels on either gun begin to glow. Once charged, they begin to fire a furious barrage of high velocity pellets at the mercenary.

Combat: Steeljaw strikes Doubledealer with his Solar-Powered Pellet Guns attack! [Pulled -1]

A few Seekers go down in flames towards Iahex as Rodimus blasts them out of the sky. Galvatron pays them no mind, though, because even a Seeker falling to his doom can serve the Empire by crashing into the fortress. "Your defenses will not avail you THIS TIME, Rodimus Prime! For this day, on the ANNIVERSARY of the attack on Autobot City--" Going by the Cybertronian calendar, anyway. "--another city shall be razed, and another Prime will DIE!" Dropping down towards his arch-enemy, Galvatron tries to plant both his feet into Rodimus's chest.

Combat: Galvatron misses Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; with his Happy Anniversary (Kick) attack!

Well, not chest, then. Side. Or something.

Doubledealer dives through the wall of defensive fire coming up from the city, catching several high-velocity pellets in the process, but they don't seem to slow him down much. "This way, Scrapper! This horrible little beast blocks our way, but we're not far now... we just have to blow open this elevator shaft and descend to the lowest level, above the bilge reservoir, deep in the mechanicals of the city."

Combat: Doubledealer analyzes Steeljaw for weaknesses Scrapper can exploit.

Doubledealer swoops down and deploys a parachute mine from under his wings, blasting open the top of the shaft with a flat bang to clear the way... if Steeljaw can't stop them.

Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; is a little weirded out that the Soundwave-Predacon hybrid bird that talks like a more cheerful Dead End is singling him out. However, Galvatron certainly implied that Doubledealer knows useful things, and while Galvatron may be crazy, Galvaton is often crazy like a fox. (But not crazy like Foxfire.) So Scrapper descends along after Doubledealer, transforming as soon as he can get his feet on the good, solid ground. "All right! So what do you know about..." ...and then Springer shoots him. Scrapper stares down at the damage to his torso in dismay. Then, he draws his laser pistol, check to see if he maybe stole Scavenger's Prowl-killing pistol again, lets Doubledealer blow away the lift door, descends down, anti-grav assisted, and steps into the control room for the Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms. He calls up, from down in the shaft, "Thanks for the tip!"

The totally unassuming lime green payloader unfolds to become Scrapper, the architect of destruction!

Combat: Scrapper takes control of capture point D - Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms.

F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; sighs as he hears Darkwing's annoyingly cheery tones, Dreadwind just transmits depressingly on an open frequency, "Duck out or head into the heart of the conflict, it doesn't matter... they will come for us, they always do and they never want to be my friend..." As if to prove his point a few bolts of crimson coloured energy flies just wide of his mark, that can't be good. "And so it begins... our suffering takes another step towards the unbearable..." Not bothering with the initial assault of Whirl, Dreadwind continues on his course opening fire with his own arsenal and destroying the lighter defences of the outer lanes and claiming his dominance over the area, any smart enough to run in the face of his onslaught are allowed to, free to tell their friends that death has come to their beloved roads.

Combat: F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; takes control of capture point B - Outside Lane.

Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; watches as Whirl heads straight toward Dreadwind and is about to turn around to play 'Wreck the Wrecker', his favorite "game" after 'Medic Toss', when Jetfire tries to fire on him. Doing a barrel roll the Powermaster spins out of the way of the laser barrage. "And Shouldn't you be in a lab somewhere sulking over Starscream?" Darkwing replies as he fires at Jetfire with his Electro-Kinetic Blasters.

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; strikes Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; with his Electro-Kinetic Blasters attack!

Scorponok certainly presents an obvious and garishly-coloured target, and he is not surprised by the rapid return-fire being sent his way. The weapons are too weak to warrant even basic evasive measures, and Scorponok continues to bear down ominously upon the Autobots and thier city. A flying shuriken sinks itself into his thick purple armor, and a errant laser strikes his chest, but they are like insects to Scorponok-Annoying, but barely worthy of his attention. The warlord is much more interested in the city's defenses, and how to CONQUER them. He raises his imposing shield to ward off weaponsfire from the tower defenses as he lumbers inexorably closer, and upon reaching the base of the tower, he plunges one massive claw into the tower's structure, reaching to sever the main control lines that allow the Autobots to control thier pathetic defenses. "FOOLS! You merely prolong the inevitable. This city will FALL!"

Combat: Scorponok challenges Decibel for control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Scorponok defeats Decibel in a battle of WILLS!

Combat: Scorponok takes control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; twists out of the way like a matadore avoiding avoidings a rushing bull. "Wha-?" he exclaims, as he clasps his hands together to bring them towards Galvatron's back. "I do /not/ care about any Decepticon calender, Galvatron!" he shouts. Then he spies a certain lime green payloader approaching a certain area. His optics widen. "Scrapper got to the lower mechanism! We need him /out/ of there!" He hasn't even noticed the jet flying around in one of their transit lanes!

Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; transforms into his Robot mode.

Rodimus Prime also totally did that as a robot!

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his Double-fisted Punch! attack! [Pulled -7]

Gears turns his guns towards the sky, "Incoming Fire Jetfire," he annouces over broadband for everyone on the battle field to hear. The gun implacement tilts back and begins to fire anti aircraft shells. "Does it have to jerk so much?"

Combat: Gears misses Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; with Southern Iahex's Level III Gun Tower attack!

Decibel seems to have completed what he was doing at the terminal as he hits a final key to begin a massive data dump so nothing gets lost should the city fall. With the first matter well in hand and the defenses manned he shifts around to make sure the trio of standard troops manning the fire controls have all in hand. Giving them a nod and a slight thumbs up Decibel draws his own weapon and prepares to lend a more direct hand in defending the city. And it is a good thing too that he moved across the room, for as Scorponok strikes the tower shredding a large section the terminal explodes in a shower of sparks and machinary. Thrown clear by the blast Decibel clambers to his feet and opens fire as he ushers the others to put out fires and reroute power.

Combat: Decibel strikes Scorponok with his Laser attack!

Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; pulls a hard turn of which g-forces would likely crush any normal fighter to come back for another pass, but gets racked just behind the cockpit in the process of doing so, sending several of his interal systems fritzing. Firing his scramjets for some extra speed Jetfire hurtles back towards the fray all the same. "Starscream got what he deserved for abandoning his scientific roots on the mad dream of being a conquerer!," he snaps back at Darkwing.

And then rolls to the side as he blasts past the other jet without firing and instead banks off towards one of the other stations. As much as he'd love to shoot down the gloomjet for bringing up a very touchy matter, there's more important things to focus on. Like getting mean green away from the lifters. He transforms and lunges in to drive the mad engineer away. "Not so fast there Scrapper!"

Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; transforms into his Jetfire mode.

Combat: Jetfire challenges Scrapper for control of capture point D - Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms.

Combat: Jetfire defeats Scrapper in an epic duel of NERDERY!

Combat: Jetfire takes control of capture point D - Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms.

Although his shot had been right on target, it didn't matter much at this point. There was plenty of battle left ahead for both sides within Iahex. With Scrapper heading in the direction of the Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms, the Wrecker turns his attention to the Tower Defense he's currently protecting. As Scorponok and Decibel tussle for control of the strategic point, the Cybertronian Race Car spins its tires as it plots an intercept course for the larger foe. "Hey pal!! Didn't you read the sign on the door?!? No shoes, no service!!" Accelerating into action, the Wrecker lines up his hood with Scorponok's form.

Combat: Cybertronian Race Car &lt;Springer&gt; strikes Scorponok with his Ram attack! [Pulled -3]

Unfortunately, Steeljaw isn't the fastest of tape-bots. But where he lacks up in speed, he makes up for in sheer determination. Which is to say, even though the decepticons make it first to the annoying lowering mechanisms that never really worked right to begin with, he doesn't stop perusing them. He's almost worse than a dog chasing down a mailman. But while Jetfire zooms after Scrapper, Steeljaw tasks himself with dealing with the 'backup'.

Despite Steeljaw's deficiency in agility, he still has a grace of a cat. He lunges up on one of the outcroppings of one of the buildings nearby. He pauses briefly, only to capture his bearings. Then lunges again. Right at Doubledealer, aiming to latch onto the mercenary's back with those sharp fangs.

Focus skids to a halt as Scorponok hits the gun tower. "It will fall only when its inhabitants are broken!" He hits the side of the tower, running up it using feet maglocks and precise use of them before he hits the claw and the hole made in the wall. He grabs the cables slashed by the claw and tries to jam them together to get the defenses working again.

Combat: Steeljaw misses Doubledealer with his Steel Jaws attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Focus challenges Scorponok for control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Focus defeats Scorponok in a battle of WILLS!

Combat: Focus takes control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Bending forward, Crash transforms into his earthy truck form. He rumbles down the roadways, swerving and veering out of the way of strafing seekers to make his way back to the front gates and the giant that is Scorponok.

His hood shifts and reveals a pair of machinegune, the weapuns prodding into view just to the interior sides of the wheel base, each one swiveling to face the giant befor unloading a burst of ballistic fire.

Crash's head shunts down into his body while his shoulders snap together. A overly complicated bend and twist here and there later and he is a Picku-up Truck!

Combat: Blue Pickup &lt;Crash&gt; misses Scorponok with his Hood Guns attack!

VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; flies in low and fast over the Iacon plain, coming up on the side of the city rather than through the main entrance. His own approach vector coupled with Dreadwind's movement makes Whirl lose sight of his favorite target. Oh well, he's sure that's not the last he's seen of Dreadwind. Whirl tilts forward and pours on the speed, bobbing at the last second to clear obstacles and walls ahead of him. Once he reaches the inner lanes, he slows to a stop, rotating slowly in place to 'face' the various Decepticons forcing their way into the city. "C'mon! Come and get it! There's no Autobot medal for good behavior! I'll scrap you all!!"

Combat: VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; takes control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

Scrapper is in his element, now! Messing around in the sewer level of a needlessly complex device to lower a whole city is definitely his cup of energon tea. Granted, Scrapper's more fond of cities that can move on their own, like NCC or Trypticon. Only one thing can stop Scrapper now: a bigger nerd. As Jetfire takes back control of the lift mechanism, Scrapper protests, "Oh no, you didn't! I was building cities when you were off frittering your time away in space!" He tries to wrestle the controls back.

Combat: Scrapper challenges Jetfire for control of capture point D - Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms.

Combat: Jetfire defeats Scrapper in an epic duel of NERDERY!

"You again?!" croaks Doubledealer, sounding outraged at Steeljaw's encroaching on his personal space. "Away with you! Nasty little vermin!" Spinning, he swats Steeljaw off of him with a sweep of his wing. "Stay away from that engineer!" Doubledealer warns Jetfire, flying at the much bigger robot's face with talons outstretched to slash and wound!

&lt;Decepticon&gt; Scrapper says, "...ack, Jetfire's not gonna let me have these lowering device controls back! We're going to need to find another way."

Combat: Doubledealer sets his defense level to Aggressive.

&lt;Decepticon&gt; Doubledealer says, "Slay him! Rend him limb from limb! He can't countermand our orders if he hasn't got any HANDS."

Combat: Doubledealer misses Jetfire with his Vicious Laceration attack!

&lt;Decepticon&gt; Scrapper says, "I guess murdering Jetfire would work. I should add him to my list of annoying technicians."

Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; luaghs at Jetfire. "You only say that to mask the suffering you feel, to appear brave infront of your commrades." He tuants as the Autobot nerd goes after the Decepticon nerd, and appparently outnerds the constructicon. The laser volleys from the Dreadwind-wannabe take his attention off of Jetfire, and towards the small blue minibot. "Of course minibot woulld hide behind the llarge guns to make up for their shortcoming." Darkwing says as he transforms and attempts ripGears away from the controls.

With the sound ot turnign gears ans shifting metal, Darkwing changes into his ever blue robot mode.

Combat: Darkwing challenges Gears for control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Combat: Gears defeats Darkwing in a battle of WILLS!

THWAM! Rodimus's fists dent Galvatron's back, sending him slamming into the street. But he pushes himself up before long, shaking his head. "Nnf." He watches Rodimus Prime for a moment as he frets over Scrapper compromising the lift mechanism, and smirks. "Should have kept your optic on the REAL threat, Prime..." he mutters before leveling his cannon at Prime's back. "DIE!" *BZOWSH*

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with his Fusion Cannon attack! [Pulled -10]

Laserfire bursts against Scorponok's armor again, courtesy of Decibel, but the Headmaster manages to block the flanking fire from Clutch with his solid shield. "Then BROKEN they shall *BE!*" Scorponok bellows, grasping a support strut of the tower in his huge claws. He uses his titanic strength to rend the support beam apart, sending debris clattering to the ground, and potentially injuring any unlucky occupants.

Combat: Scorponok sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Scorponok strikes Decibel with his breaking your house &gt;:/ Area attack! [Pulled -4]

Combat: Scorponok strikes Blue Pickup &lt;Crash&gt; with his breaking your house &gt;:/ Area attack! [Pulled -4]

Combat: Scorponok strikes Focus with his breaking your house &gt;:/ Area attack! [Pulled -4]

Having claimed the outer lanes as his domain or at least Galvatron's since Dreadwind doesn't really want anything except to be left alone to quietly rust into oblivion. He does what he does best when he can be bothered and sets himself up a defensive perimeter. A few of the braver defenders that took cover rather than run pop up to see if the danger has passed, it hasn't and they are sent diving again followed by blasts of laser fire, if they won't be his friends then they shall meet their end and be free at last from their suffering.

Combat: F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; remains in control of capture point B - Outside Lane.

VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; pours high-energy photon blasts into Decepticon seekers while darting this way and that, taking advantage of the open space and his own ability to change direction so quickly to avoid their return fire (for now). "This is great!" He gushes. "We should have these Deceptichumps over more often!"

Combat: VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; remains in control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

Jetfire is apparently the biggest nerd on Cybertron! Literally. But he's okay with this. When Scrapper comes back to try and grab the controls again, Jetfire moves into better position, ducking under Doubledealers attempt to claw his robotic guts out, sparks and screechings ringing out as some overhead machinery is shredded instead. puts his size to his advantage -- He covers the controls with both of his much larger hands so there's nothing for the smaller Constructicon to grab onto. "Maybe you if spent more time with your optical sensors looking up instead of staring down your plow at everyone else's effort, you would have a better understanding of important things." Jetfire puts his size to his advantage....

He covers the controls with both of his much larger hands so there's nothing for the smaller Constructicon to grab onto.

"You may be a master engineer, but you're overlooking one simple but significant fact. Who has actually WORKED on this system and knows it better!"

Combat: Jetfire remains in control of capture point D - Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms.

Decibel no sooner had taken his shots when Focus races up the side of the tower to offer aid and get things back under control. Thanks would be offered if in the next moment he wasn't sailing through the air as one of the main supports is torn free. Crashing down hard Decibel struggles for a moment to get back to his feet but rise he does. Putting some distance between himself and Scorponok he darts from rubble pile to rubble pile as he takes aim and fires again to try and draw him away from the tower.

Combat: Decibel sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Decibel misses Scorponok with his Feedback Blaster attack!

Rubble rains down around Crash, attempting evasive maneuvers only ends with a peice of the building crashing down onto his roof, caving in the empty cab. A hard too-hard turn has the pickup teetering up on two wheels. A quick transformation put him back in bot form and sends him tumbling along the roadway.

Once he regains his feet, Crash makes a head long charge at Scorponok's.. well, shin, one hand yanked up into a wrist only to be replaced with a chainsaw. The weapon's teeth spin up to speed, and the combat medic goes about trying to give Scopr something of a limp.

Rodimus Prime is blasted in the back by the devious Decepticon! He's knocked forward onto his knees, his back a scorched and blackened mess, the armor shot right through. Despite the pain, however, he forces a mocking tone to his voice. "You think you're a /threat/, Galvatron? I don't even need to /face/ you to take you out!" and the Prime demonstrates this by remaining where he is, but kicking backwards, hard, with his right leg, up towards Galvatron's knee!

Instead of reaching and rending into metal, Steeljaw finds himself getting knocked in the face by one of Doubledealer's wings. The impact throws him back, off of Double's back before he can sink those teeth into him. He tumbles throught he air backwards. But cats land on their feet, and Steeljaw is no different. He lands lightly, but only momentarily gets all four paws on the ground before he throws himself in again.

"You... Stay away from Jetfire!" Steeljaw rumbles so gruffly that it's probably hard to make out in the first place. He thrusts himself off of the ground and towards

Doubledealer with a mighty push of his back legs. Only to try and grab ahold of one of Double's wings in his claws, with the intention of tearing at them. Gears sees the 'Con coming towards him, "Are you talking about me?" he looks behind himself to make sure that there were no others. "Of course you are talking about me, you know, you 'Cons never have anything nice to say." Gears shakes the turret violently to shake off Darkwing and levels the guns on him. "Take it back!" Focus shakes his head, as the wall around him give way sending him crashing to the ground. Focus pushes the plating off of him and shakes his head, "Not this cycle. I shall hold this ground." Focus kips up to a standing position and runs back up the tower, "Or die trying." He moves more fluid this time, having shifted his mental state into circuit-su.

Combat: Steeljaw sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his Kick to the Knee! attack! [Pulled -4]

Combat: Focus sets his defense level to Protected.

A blue pick-up truck begins to shudder and shift, ratcheting into a transformation that reveals it's true identity as the Autobot; Crash!

Combat: Crash strikes Scorponok with his Chainsaw attack!

Combat: Focus remains in control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Steeljaw strikes Doubledealer with his Claw Fury (Punch) attack!

Combat: Gears strikes Darkwing with Southern Iahex's Level III Gun Tower attack!

As Springer slams into Scorponok with his vehicle form, the Wrecker shouts out to the other Autobots in the immediate area. "Focus your fire on the big lug!! Take him down!!" Looking at the destruction the Headmaster has caused around the Tower Defense, Springer picks up part of a metallic beam as he charges forward. "Alright pal, you're going to need a permit if you're doing some remodeling around here. You're gonna have to pay the fine now!" Rearing back the blunt weapon, the Wrecker takes a swing at one of Scorponok's knee joints. Although the Decepticon is heavily-armored, the green Autobot hopes he can cause enough of a distraction for his team mates to hold the tower.

Combat: Cybertronian Race Car &lt;Springer&gt; misses Scorponok with his Broken Metallic Beam (Kick) attack!

Scrapper shrugs and replies, "All right. I acknowledge your superior technical knowledge." He's sincere enough there. Scrapper is one to admit when he's been bettered. "But if you don't get your hands off those controls, I'm going to cut them off and make chandeliers out of them." Apparently deadly serious on that point, Scrapper grabs his plain metal blade and crudely tries to chop it into one of Jetfire's wrists. Steeljaw's going to have to wait.

Combat: Scrapper sets his defense level to Fearless.

Darkwing is quickly shaken off the tower, when he notices his orginal target of Whirl shooting down his seekers. "Minibots have such thin armor. Sulking so easily. Maybe you and Dreadwind need to go out for a drink someti..." His sentence cut off by a loud *THOOM* as the minibot hits him at close range, which sends him flying backwards. "Yeah, too bad you can't hit me at a distance, if your really wanting me to take back the truth your just going to have to come and get me." He luaghs and transforms back to jet mode; getting away from those big cannons and zooms off towards Whirl. "It was so fun making you suffer the last time we met; Wrecker. Watching you beat yourself into submission rather then fight me. You should just give up now." He luaghs as he fires on the Helicopter to chase him away from his hiding spot at the inner lanes.

Combat: Scrapper strikes Jetfire with his Sword attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Darkwing challenges VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; for control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

Combat: VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; defeats Darkwing in a RACE TO THE FINISH!

With a flurry of sounds, Springer transform into his mean green robot form!

With the last of the straggling defenders having been destroyed Dreadwind turns his attentions further a field at the insistant urging of another annoying voice, Hi-Test. Dreadwind however moans out loud his half of the conversation, "This won't end well, it would be far better to just stay put and be ignored like i always am... fine i'll do it, i hope the weeks in painful repairs will be worth it for you, it won't be for me, you don't care at all do you?" Having been cajoled sufficiently Dreadwind targets the nearest threat Whirl, he's quite close trying to cover the inside lanes he'll soon learn that it was a mistake to even try existing. As he fires Dreadwind knows at the back of his mind that he's going to miss and with his luck he'll end up offlining Scorponok with a single shot.

Leaping into the air, Darkwing transforms into a Panavia Tornado GR1 fighter jet

Scorponok is faster than his bulk might hint at, due in no small part to the fact he has more than one brain with which to react to sudden stimuli. The feedback blaster is avoided, but not the chainsaw; Up close and personal, Scorponok's size makes him a broad target for hand to hand attacks. He glowers down at Crash and Springer, scathingly muttering, "/Insects/", before activating his anti-gravs to carry him upwards along the tower. His anti-gravity rifle in hand, he opens fire upon the tower's sensors, hoping to blind it to the Decepticon's presence - or at least put more holes in the already weakened structure.

Combat: Scorponok sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Scorponok challenges Focus for control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Focus defeats Scorponok in a battle of WILLS!

Combat: F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; strikes VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; with his Thermal Melters attack!

Combat: Doubledealer sets his defense level to Fearless.

Doubledealer winces audibly as Steeljaw clamps onto his leg. He turns slowly, hopping awkwardly, and glares down at Steeljaw with an expression of pure loathing. "Vermin, you will wish you had not made a pest of yourself to me."

Combat: Doubledealer analyzes Steeljaw for weaknesses.

Galvatron lets out a frustrated hiss of pain as the kick forces his leg to bend slightly inwards--just enough to really hurt. "Hrnggh! Heheh... sorry, Rodimus Prime, but despite your ever so heroic words you don't have a choice but to face me! Because if you don't, your friends DIE!" Launching himself into the air, he flies over towards the turret occupied by Gears! "Knock knock!" he sneers, rapping violently on the door to the turret. But as Gears is not likely to open up, he instead settles on trying to pry the door open with his fingers!

Combat: Galvatron challenges Gears for control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Combat: Gears defeats Galvatron in a battle of WILLS!

Gears turns his turrett as Darkwing flees and begins to be of the mind that he should secure his station when Galvatron comes a knocking and door a prying and he cannot resist the urge to punch him in the face. "Something good happens once every 1 million years I guess, and he doesn't frown. He actually does -not- frown.

Oh good, Steeljaw has gotten his attention. With a growl, the large gold feline lunges backwards off of his pray. He snarls, his tail flicking from side to side behind him. He starts to circle around Doubledealer, stalking around him like a cat would before attempting to take on an injured gazel. "It is you who are the vermin here, just waiting to be flushed out," He growls quietly, eyeing Double up carefully, sizing him up.

Combat: Steeljaw analyzes Doubledealer for weaknesses.

Decibel seems to be in the clear for the moment and decides to take a second to check in on things. Still he does not remain standing in place as he heads across the field. Spotting a lingerig Decepticon in the area he runs a prifle check off his database and grins. Activating his speakers he starts blasting out some of the most upbeat and peppy music you can image. Starting with It's a Sunshine Day, his hopes is that such uplifting tunes will drive the doom-and-gloom bot away. "Think I'll go for a walk outside now, the summer sun's calling my name..."

Combat: Decibel challenges F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; for control of capture point B - Outside Lane.

Combat: F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; defeats Decibel in a RACE TO THE FINISH!

Focus stands upon the tower, turning his energies to defending the tower for the time being. Since he has his circuit-su technique, he's moving in fluid motions, reaching out and feeling the spikes of energy coming from the rifle before they fire. His arms move together drawing his skill and technique together to bend the blasts of Scorponok's anti-gravity rifle harmlessly away from the tower. Focus glares straight ahead, but senses all with a calmness that even Beachcomber would be jealous of, if he got jealous. "You...shall...not...PASS!"

Jetfire grits his metal teeth in a snarl as Scrapper's sword digs into arm, splitting armor and causing sparks to fly as he pulls it away. But he presses a few controls as he does so, and as he turns away a random pattern flashes across the monitor and light-up buttons, followed by a monotone drone of -Control Lockout Engaged- and the console itself shutting down.

After which the air guardian takes defensive position himself between the controls and Scrapper with his larger frame. "You want to make this a matter over my dead battery, Scrapper?" He draws his rifle, the blaster in his arm-guards powering up as he pulls his recently repaired battle helmet from subspace and pulls it on. "Go ahead, make my decade."

Combat: Focus remains in control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Jetfire sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Jetfire remains in control of capture point D - Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms.

VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; tilts to one side, scooting just far enough to let Darkwing zoom right by. Then Whirl pulls back to his original position, as if nothing happened. "Nice try, but you've got to get up pretty early in the morning if you want to outrun /this/ AutooooEEAAGH!" The heat from Dreadwind's thermal blast washes over him, leaving huge patches of armor slagged and melted away. "Systems...failing...can't...stay...airborne. Tell Broadside...erk!" Whirl drops out of sight behind an Iahex building...but then a second later he rises back into sight, trying to rotate in place so he keeps his injured side facing Darkwing. "Tell him to stop playing his music so soft! We can barely hear it through the walls sometimes!"

Combat: VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; remains in control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

"GEARS!" Rodimus shouts as he realizes just where Galvatron is heading. He looks slightly relived as the turret defenses seem to hold against Galvatron for the moment. He grins for a moment, but just that, as, with a running leap, he grabs ahold of the tower. He clings to the side, scrambling up it as quickly as possible, and makes a grab for Galvatron's leg, trying to pull the Decepticon leader /away/ from the defense.

Combat: Gears strikes Galvatron with his A -SWEET- chance to punch Galvy in the kisser! (Smash) attack!

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his Foot Grab! (Grab) attack!

Crash quickly returns the chainsaw from whence it came, his hand appearing once more. Scorponok had gone out of his reach after all, but was not completely out of his range. His shoulder guns pop into view once more, the air-cooled barrels swiveling upwards and zeroing in on Scorp, following Crash's line of sight befor opening up with a burst of fire, shell casings sent scattering around his feet.

Combat: Crash strikes Scorponok with his Shoulder Guns attack! [Pulled -1]

Springer wasn't a physics expert, but he figured that swinging a metallic beam at Scorponok would do some sort of damage. He was wrong. As the Wrecker connects with his weapon, a vibration almost rattles the Autobot apart. "Heeeeeeyyyyy whatttt'sss theee bigggg idddeeeeaaa?!?" With plan A not working, the triple-changer decides to go ahead to plan B --- which is much like the first plan --- hit Scorponok.

Sizing up the Headmaster, Springer leaps into the air and tries to latch on for a few, well-placed head punches. "I don't think you're getting the message pal!! We're evicting you and you gotta stay out!!"

Combat: Springer sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Springer strikes Scorponok with his Piggy Back Punching (Punch) attack!

Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; turns around quickly and luaghs as he watches Whirl get toasted by Dreadwind. "Or maybe mayber by Brother across the lanes just needs to melt your wings off." Darkwing replies and he flies back to attempt to run Whirl off again; when he dcides to fight dirty. "You want us to turn our music up Wrecker? Alright soon you will know sufferign as your audial receptors begins to melt!" And with that Darkwing begins to play 'Crawling' By Linkin Park as loud as he can.

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; challenges VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; for control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; defeats VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; in a RACE TO THE FINISH!

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; takes control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

Scrapper's optical visor narrows to a thin glare as Jetfire refuses to surrender the controls. He switches his grip on his sword to two-handed, and he tries to again to hack at Jetfire's wrists, this time with an over-head chop. He demurs, "You'd make a much more interesting sculpture alive. Though I'm not sure your fans," cough, "would like the finished piece. Of you in pieces."

Combat: Scrapper strikes Jetfire with his Sword attack!

Goldbug arrives from the Central Iahex to the north.

Goldbug has arrived.

F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; is dismayed by the accuracy of his shot it flies straight and true burning and melting the powder blue copter, which then seems to crash instantly. "Oh great, as if things weren't bad enough..." His thought is cut short as Whirl rises once more which actually makes Dreadwind feel a little better or maybe it is the annoyingly cheery music. He sighs heavily, if his mood could be lifted by a little happy tune then Dreadwind would have been cured millenia ago, he wasn't. His attention is however drawn by the Decibel trying to take away what is rightfully Galvatron's and if only to stop any more music opens fire, "There is no sun anymore it turns black and dies as time swiftly flows past us all, like you, your music is fleeting and will soon be forgotten."

Combat: F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; misses Decibel with his Laser attack!

Galvatron winces a bit as he takes a little punch to the nose. "Unnf. You dare strike me!? I'll... urk!" He is almost comically yanked away from the tower by Rodimus, who drags him away by the ankle! But Galvatron certainly isn't about to let that slide, even though he himself slides along the ground before he twists about on the floor, trying to catch Rodimus by the side of his head with a boot. "Hmph, you actually care about that little twerp, hm? What am I saying--of course you do! Autobots do so love things that are weak and useless!"

Time continues to pass as Steeljaw and Doubledealer glare daggers at one-another, until Doubledealer breaks the frozen moment by suddenly lunging at Steeljaw, talons outstretched to try to hook the little lion like a golden eagle tearing into a wolf!

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with his Bare Foot attack! [Pulled -2]

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

Combat: Doubledealer strikes Steeljaw with his Apex Predator attack!

Combat: That attack has temporarily limited Steeljaw's Agility! (Crippled)

Scorponok's last pose: Scorponok is something of a sitting duck, floating alongside the tower. Pesky shells impact his frame, and an annoying Wrecker clings to him, pummeling him about the face and neck. The attacking Autobots are toublesome, but it is the one who is /not/ attacking that is the real thorn in this scorpion's side. Attempting a new tactic, the huge Headmaster unfolds into his battlestation mode, the rear of it magnetically locking to the side of the structure. "Your defenses are nothing but mere toys! Watch as I take them apart, bit by bit!" His automated factory equipment stirs to life, and the jointed repairbay arms begin to work upon the tower's mechanical and structural components, attempting to methodically disasemble the tower, piece by peice.

[missing poses due to crazy lag]

With an echoing CLANG! Galvatron's foot slams into the side of Rodimus's head, sending the Prime clattering to the metal ground. He cradles his head for a moment. "Nnnnh. Not... not useless. But you Decepticons could never figure out that raw power isn't the only thing that makes a person useful," he mutters. Rather than forcing himself back to his feet, he instead transforms, driving right for the Decepticon leader instead!

Rodimus Prime transforms into his Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; mode.

Combat: Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; strikes Galvatron with his The Power attack!

Gears looks over the ledge of the turret and says, "Who. Are. You. Calling. A. Twerp?" and he prepares to actually leap onto Galvatron to give him a little more of what he was getting, but a glance back at the turret and he sighs. He secures the doors as best he can and mans the turret again...

Combat: Gears remains in control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

&lt;I just can't stay inside all day, I gotta get out get me some of those rays.&gt; Blares from his speakers as Decibel moves along, you can almost see the Brady's singing it's so loud. But despite the playing of groovy tunes Dreadwind seems undetered. Unphased Decibel hears the tunes as Darkwing starts blasting his own music. "Hey now, we'll have none of that. If you got a request you call the station." Diving to the side as Dreadwind opens fire he switches things up. "No sun eh? what would that leave. A supermassive black hole perhaps?" And so Muse starts blaring as Decibel cranks up the volume a bit more.

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

And at the same time that Doubledealer strikes, so does Steeljaw. He lunges, snapping out at Doubledealer fearlessly. But immediately, it costs him. His opponants claws rend into his mane, tearing away large chunks of armor, enough to show perhaps a circuit or two. He growls with the pain, mingled with a quiet hissing sound. But isn't detered.

Those fangs that Steeljaw has his name for seek out Doubledealer's leg. He tries to bring them down right on the knee joint, and instantly, those jaws begin to snap shut in the attempts to crush it beneath his fangs.

Combat: Steeljaw sets his defense level to Fearless.

Being a Wrecker meant that sometimes you did things that weren't deemed the most tactically sound. With little regard for his own well-being, Springer continues to pester Scorponok like a Chiuaua hounding a Great Dane. The only problem is that the Great Dane has now become a fully-armed battlestation. &lt;&lt;Focus!! Keep that chair warm up there and hold your position!! We'll try to pound some sense into Scorponok!&gt;&gt;

Withdrawing his photon blaster from subspace, the triple-changer calls out to a few gumbies to form up a line of defense. "Alright gents, setup a line of fire and aim for the command tower on that base. Keep that fire going and we'll pop that overgrown pinata! Let's just hope he's got some tasty energon candy inside!"

Offering his usual dose of sharp quips, Springer takes aim with the rest of his squad. Squeezing the trigger on his blaster, a flurry of laser bolts lance out at the well-armored battlestation. *PEW* *PEW*

It's a good thing Red Alert's somewhere else, as he'd have a hissy fit over the newest prisoner to escape from his cells! Keeping a low profile (a fact made easier by the raging battle), Goldbug creeps along the sidelines of the battleground, silently heading from one pile of debris to another! He peers out from his hiding place, and narrows his optic visor- well, this is bad. Though the real question is, is the throttlebot here to help...or to make good his escape?

Combat: Steeljaw strikes Doubledealer with his Steel Jaws attack! [Pulled -1]

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

Combat: Springer sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Springer strikes Battle Station &lt;Scorponok&gt; with his Photon Blaster (Laser) attack!

Despite the difference in sizes Scrapper still manages to get the sword trust into Jetfire's side, shredding armor and revealing more battered inwards. A pained snarl rumbles from within the helmet, but despite the aching damages Jetfire remains defiant of the Constructicon. Just a little longer, as it were. Or so he's hoping. At least he can use his size to the defensive and pretty much leans back over the console bot to support himself and keep it out of access. Despite whatever doubts there may be about his past, Jetfire was loyal to the end, and more than willing to meet that end for the sake of protecting others. "You and your brothers were meant to create Scrapper, but you only twist it into destruction and ruin. It is a sad, shameful waste."

Combat: Jetfire remains in control of capture point D - Obnoxious Lowering Mechanisms.

Crash joins in on the firing squad that Springer summons from the chaos, bringing his laser carbine around once more and opening fire. Pew, pew, pew, pew. Yay, candy!

Combat: Crash strikes Battle Station &lt;Scorponok&gt; with his Laser attack!

VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; is so busy trying to protect his armorles side from Darkwing that he lets the sneaky Decepticon slip into the prime position in the transit lane. With little chance of catching the jet, Whirl turns to find another target. He settles on Scorponok - he's no Dreadwind but he'll do, Whirl decides. Tilting forward, he quickly picks up speed and then transforms, letting his momentum send him hurtling towards the giant Decepticon's back. After nearly pancaking himself on impact Whirl manages to scrabble up onto the other side of the giant Decepticon from Springer. "What's up bro," he nods briefly, before pointing his all-purpose weapons module at the side of giant head. "Burrrn Scorpy burrrn!!" he cackles.

Whirl transforms into his reckless robot mode.

Combat: Whirl misses Battle Station &lt;Scorponok&gt; with his Wrecking attack! [Pulled -4]

Doubledealer struggles with Steeljaw, the tape displaying a bite pressure out of all proportion to his size. "Skar!" exclaims Doubledealer, flapping up into the air with Steeljaw hanging off of him and trying to escape. "Deploy and destroy!" A previously unremarked chunk of Doubledealer ejects from his back with a *ping* noise and transforms, revealing itself to be a robot bat about the size of Ratbat but with a sleeker, more futuristic design. Fluttering around, Skar swoops towards Steeljaw and lets fly with an explosively intense hypersonic blast from his fanged mouth!

Combat: Doubledealer sets his defense level to Guarded.

Galvatron is battered away from Rodimus, stumbles backwards, trips over a crashed seeker, and lands on his back with a slam. "And yet you see no problem with using brute force when it suits YOUR purposes! But regardless, I am done wasting my time with you!" Throwing himself back to his fleet, he leaps for Gears's turret again. This time, he looks for some sort of access panel on the back of the thing that he can rip off and use to cross wires. Maybe that would expel the minibot?

Combat: Doubledealer strikes Steeljaw with his In the Event of Sonic Attack attack!

Combat: Galvatron challenges Gears for control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Combat: Galvatron defeats Gears in a battle of WILLS!

Combat: Galvatron takes control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Scrapper's optical visor glow a furious red, and he waves and gestures with the sword and shouts, "You don't know the first thing about me and my men, Jetfire! I create things that your foolish morals would never allow you to even dream! I am creation unbound." Scrapper puts the sword away, for now, and he jets up the elevator shaft, leaving Jetfire behind in the dank control room. Taking the lowering device is a lot cause, but perhaps one of those turrets might yet fall. He thinks he'll knock on the ninja's door, where Scorponok hasn't has much success.

Combat: Scrapper challenges Focus for control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Focus defeats Scrapper in a battle of WILLS!

Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; chuckles as he watches Whirl run off. That will teach him for trying to shoot down his Seekers. Now that the lanes belong to the Decepticons; Darkwing swoops around firing on the inner lanes to inhibite the Autobots when then win it back for all the repairs they will have to make. As Decible makes a comment on his musics, Darkwing cranks his volume up higher as "Breaking the Habit" comes on.

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; remains in control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; sighs as his darkness lifts ever so insignificantly, not because of any actions from the Autobots but purely because he missed the little radiobot. Which in turn means that the suffering that is coming to him later will be lessened somewhat for his miserable failure. "No, even a black hole dies, when there is nothing left to consume it tears itself asunder, its efforts to destroy all a pointless waste of effort..." Dreadwind dives towards Decibel about to open fire but instead he peels off and instead ensures that no one is sneaking around behind him. If you're listening carefully you can almost hear a song playing in his cockpit something about a Bad Company, Dreadwind thankfully is silent as he curses the day he was stuck with his nebulon partner.

Combat: F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; remains in control of capture point B - Outside Lane.

The Scorp-station's deconstruction efforts prove to be of little benefit, and insetad merely results in being vulnerable to Springer's assault. Whirl's wild flanking maneuver does him little good, because already the giant battlestation is in motion, rising the side of the tower, and transforming into his towering robot mode. r "DECEPTICONS! Thier city is ripe for plunder, and thier resolve crumbles with it! Press the attack, leave no Autobot building standing, no Autobot insignia UNSCATHED! Route them from thier own city, and make all of Cybertron OURS!"

Scorponok assumes his towering robot mode!

Combat: Scorponok inspires Scrapper, Doubledealer, F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt;, and Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; with dramatic and uplifting words!

Combat: You feel more courageous!

Physically, Jetfire just glares after Scrapper's retreating back. Inwardly he sighs, the scientist deep within saddened at seeing so much talent going to cruel, corrupted waste. But there's nothing he can do about that. He gives a brief glance in the direction of the other two still down here, but Steeljaw seems to be holding for the moment. So he turns his attention back himself, yanking one of the extra armor guards off his leg and using it to produce a makeshift patch over the gaping wound in his side.

Gears tossed out of the tower by Galvatrons interference with the master controls. But Gears, savy as he is, reinstates them and grabs Galvatrons leg as he takes control and attempts to buckle his knee to regain control onf the position. "I punched you in the face once..please let me do it again. Far from perfect purple man, but then I can only complain about how I can not do it again."

Combat: Gears challenges Galvatron for control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Combat: Galvatron defeats Gears in a battle of WILLS!

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

"I use force because it's the only language you understand!" Rodimus exclaims. He starts to slow down and swerve when he sees that Galvatron's managed to gain control of a tower, but when he hears that Decibel is on his way, the young Prime continues forward, going after his intended target. He uses a piece of building as a ramp to leap onto the inside lane, and gives chase to Darkwing, determined despite the obvious mismatch!

Combat: Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; challenges Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; for control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; defeats Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; in a RACE TO THE FINISH!

Decibel cuts the playlist short as he breaks away from the roadways and races towards the far tower. Still intact for the most part this tower is looking ripe for tinkering. Not bothering to climb up to the top of the tower Decibel moves for the first of the access panels on the way up. Stopping he rips the covering off and starts splicing and rerouting access to his station. "Yeah, hack the gibson." Working his magic the engineer enters the first access code and hopes for the best.

Combat: Decibel challenges Galvatron for control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Combat: Decibel defeats Galvatron in a battle of WILLS!

Combat: Decibel takes control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Whirl lifts his arm to stare at the usually-reliable weapons module. "Burn?" he whimpers imporingly at it. "C'mon, just a little...?" Then he shakes it a few times. "Well if you won't burn, then how about you /freeze!/" He points it at Scrapper now, and barks out, "Right there, Constructicreep!" The module now spits out purple-tinged energy beams.

Combat: Whirl sets his defense level to Neutral.

Combat: Whirl strikes Scrapper with his Null-Ray Module attack!

Combat: You took 8 damage.

Steeljaw doesn't look like he's about to let go of Doubledealer's leg any time soon. Or, at least, doesn't want to. He doesn't exactly have much of a choice when the small bot appears from Double's back. Sonic pulses not only start to create curious dents in his hide, but starts to effect his electrical systems as well, disrupting them due to his hyper senses. He staggers backwards, his jaw disengaging with a series of clicks and pops. While he's still backing up, the pellet guns on his sides swivel upward. One aims at the annoying whining creature above Doubledealer. The other keeps a level on the mercenary himself. The guns start glowing fiercely, collecting what remains of the sun's light, and converting it into a stream of high-velocity pellets. "Stupid BIRDS! More annoying than that Duck Hunt game!"

Combat: Steeljaw strikes Doubledealer with his Solar-Powered Pellet Guns attack!

Goldbug ducks his head as a stray bit of fire comes his way- but he's soon on the move! The little guy zips along silently- though he does pause as he sees...Doubledealer? What's HE doing here? Still, the little autobot remains quiet- though he does bring out an infrared laser pointer, 'painting' the evil bird with a targeting bracket for the benefit of Steeljaw!

The Wreckers are working on Scorponok and Scrapper is just getting himself some chopper love. Crash breaks off from the station former conflict and hightails it to the other tower.

RIt's not long befor he sees Galvatron at the panal.. It's a odd thing seeing the Emperor of Destruction working wires instead of just leveling the place. Working quickly, Crash reels out a long stretch of chain befor he sets it spinning over his head, building speed and momentum befor he slings it out at Galvatron, hoping to ensnare a ankle, limb, other such peice of anatomy and give him a pull away from the tower.

Combat: Goldbug analyzes Doubledealer for weaknesses Steeljaw can exploit.

Combat: Crash misses Galvatron with his Wrecker Hook attack!

Watching the massive battlestation rise back into the form of Scorponok, Springer watches a few of Autobot gumbies in his squad fall back. "Hey!! Get back here and fight like you have a fuel pump!!" Not exactly sure what to do with his limited resources, Springer decides to go against sound tactical strategy again.

Dipping into subspace, the Wrecker pulls out his lightsaber and activates it with the press of a button. "You've gotta get through me to get to the tower behind me. Do you feel lucky?!"

Waving the lightsaber back and forth for the cool sound effect it makes, Springer charges the Headmaster and leaps at one of the arm joints. "Let's see you fight with one arm tied behind your back pal!!" The green Wrecker swings away with an impressive display of strength.

Combat: Springer sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Springer misses Scorponok with his Lightsaber attack!

Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; luaghs as Rodimus is like snail compared to the Powermaster. "You really think your faster then a Jet, Rodimus? I guess that shows that your not the brains of the Autobots." Darkwing tuants and he flies circles around the Autobot leader to show off how wrong he was. "You should know that all this is futile. Your attempts to win will fail and your defenses crumble. Slowly your men will be picked off one by one. The lucky ones will be tossed into the Smelting pits of Darkmount and die a quick death. Others will be slowly ripped apart peice by peice as you watch, as the llook at you with thier cold blue optis; wonderign why you weren't Prime enough to save them. You could save them so much trouble if you surrendered now so you don't drag others down with you." Darkwing speaks, trying to prey on the Autobot's leaders insecurites as a more upbeat song begins to play over his radio, One by Metalica, showing he has more taste in music then just Linkin Park.

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; remains in control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; continues to maintain control of the outer lanes apparently his skill and prowess have caused all to flee in terror from his mighty assault, well that or they don't want to listen to him drone on and on and on about how terrible life is. Even Scorponok's rousing speach of how the Autobots are failing and that none shall escape fails to move him, except to speach, "They will fall but there are always more... each ready and willing to pointlessly fight against the odds, standing strong amidst the shattered remains of the lucky fallen comrades... it's so depressing."

Combat: F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; remains in control of capture point B - Outside Lane.

Scrapper is frustrated. The ninja doesn't even appear to be there! How is Scrapper supposed to get him out of the turret booth, if he can't even find him? Scrapper pulls out a screwdriver and tries to remove the hinges on the door. Maybe that will work.

Combat: Scrapper sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Scrapper challenges Focus for control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Focus defeats Scrapper in a battle of WILLS!

"Massster!" hisses Skar, flapping around in agitation while he gets pellets shot at him. "The Autobot Gold-Bug is here! I have detected lassser targeting devicesss!"

"That cur!" snarls Doubledealer, shaking off Steeljaw and flapping away rapidly. "Away, Skar! We're surrounded!"

Combat: Doubledealer sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Doubledealer begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; and F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt;

Galvatron flings Gear off with a bit of a backward kick. "Ha! Your pitiful strength is no match for my own! Now, observe as I wrest control from... eh?" He scowls. His manipulations don't seem to have any effect on the turret's operation. Snarling, he starts crossing more wires together...

Combat: Galvatron challenges Decibel for control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Combat: Decibel defeats Galvatron in a battle of WILLS!

Scorponok brings up his shield, sneering disdainfully at Springer. "I have fought and defeated a far more experienced swordsman than you, with a far superior weapon. You are no threat to me!" He spits, glaring down at the green-plated Wrecker. "Then let us see how well you will do without a HEAD!" Ever since that fateful day, Scorpnok has an unhealthy obsession with removing heads. He folds over into his massive scorpion mode, clacking his pincers loudly, before moving in for the kill!

Scorponok folds up to become a terrifying scorpion!

Combat: Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; misses Springer with his Pincer Movement attack!

That will do, at least for the time being. Jetfire gives another glance towards Steeljaw, who seems to be holding is own okay for now. The lift control station is locked down, even if the surrounding machinery is taking damage in the fighting, at least the controls can't be used. "Enjoy the chewtoy Steeljaw," her remarks to the feline, then leaps skyward and transforms.

Blasting out of the mechanism station Jetfire archs high over Iahex, pulls a tigh banking turn, and comes speeding back towards the fight below, swinging back his wings for maximum dive velocity. This may be the only chance, he's got to make this count. As he closes in, he fires her scramjets and literally screams towards the roadway at full throttle, knowing full and well he's putting himself back in immeadiate danger. "Hope you didn't miss me too much!" The spacefighter pulls up and levels at the last moment to rocket past the other jet, Jetfire hoping the shockwave left in his wake will be enough to rattle the Darkwing away.

"I know what you /can't/ outrun," Rodimus answers, transforming but keeping his trailer in existance. "Lasers!" With that, his trailer unfolds, and the cannon within is revealed just as it opens fire at Darkwing.

Winnebago &lt;Rodimus Prime&gt; transforms into his Robot mode.

Combat: Jetfire sets his defense level to Fearless.

Jetfire transforms into his Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; mode.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; with his Turreted Laser Cannon attack! [Pulled -3]

Decibel chuckles to himself as the display informs him he's been granted access to the command directory. 'That's what I thought.' He muses as he continues to bypass the systems. Detecting the attempted hack from the main terminal area he sends a short text reply across the screen 'Mess with the best, die like the rest. - Zero Cool'. Sure that Galvatron won't have anyidea what he's referring to he shrugs and starts locking out access to the other terminal.

Combat: Decibel remains in control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Combat: Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; challenges Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; for control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; defeats Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; in a RACE TO THE FINISH!

Gears is kick to the curb, as it were, and lands heavily on the ground. He stands shaking his head and looks back up towards Galvatron. He considers his previous position to another autobot neededing assitance and that darn autobot circuit kicks in. "Scapper!" he calls and points, "As much as I hate being here, I have to do something and you are my doing. Come one, make it easy on me," and he -LEAPS- towards Scapper attempting to toss him far away from Jetfire. You see, Gears is like an ant, able to lift 10 times his weight...well it is scapper, maybe 1 times?

"Aww, no freeze either?" Whirl complains, as Scrapper continues about his business (the business of Evil, that is). "That's it!" Whirl pulls the weapons module off his hand, revealing the claw-like pincer underneath, then tosses the module carelessly behind him over one shoulder. "We're gonna have to do this old school!" With that he proceeds to charge Scorponok, pincers swinging.

Combat: Scorponok uses up a charge on his Fasttrack booster pack!

Combat: Whirl strikes Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; with his Punch attack!

Combat: Goldbug appears from the shadows...

Combat: Gears strikes Scrapper with his Haul attack!

Combat: You took 15 damage.

Combat: Gears's attack has damaged your Agility!

Grrr? What is /that/? Steeljaw glares at the red dot on Doubledealer's chasis, only momentarily distracted. But there's more to it than just a red dot. He realizes in a quick nano-second that it's pointing out a weak-spot that he had previously not noticed before. Well, the more intelligent portion of his personality matrix does. The wild cat side just wants to bite it. Steeljaw lunges forward, but it's more than an instant too late. Those steel fangs snap at thin air, even though his opponent easily gets away. It's more in irritation than anything.

But he lets the decepticon retreat. The mission is still ongoing, and there are other targets to disable. Growling his irritation, Steeljaw turns away from the fleeing birds. He disappears amongst the alleyways to take a short cut to the next location known to be under attack.

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

Crash reels his chain back in. He'd missed.. or just couldn't find the proper hold. Galvatron was still at it though and just shooting him would likely not deter him at all. Crash would have to get closer. So he takes off running. Building a good head of steam, Crash lowers his shoulder like a battering ram and rushes Galvatron, trying to get him off that control panal.

Combat: Crash sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Crash misses Galvatron with his Bad Idea (Smash) attack!

"Oh no you don't!" And as Doubledealer flapflapflaps off, Goldbug dashes off after him! The little 'bot transforms to his vehicle mode and speeds after the stormcrow- only to zip straight off a conveniently placed ramp- at which point Goldbug transforms in mid-air, attempting to tackle the Decepticon! "I don't know how you got here, but I know EXACTLY where you're going!" The fugitive Autobot is visible in the sky for a few brief moments- that is, until he and his target *CRASH!* through the window of a nearby tower! (One separate from the others being fought over, it's worth noting). There are more sounds of struggle from within...and then- '*KABOOM!*

Alright, so it wasn't the smartest thing to face Scorponok alone, but then again, Autobot femmes could be watching. Besides that, it was definitely work some street cred among the Wreckers. Leaping out of the way of Scorponok's deadly pincers, Springer shakes his fist at the large beast. "Thanks -- but I don't need a hair cut. Just got my helm re-touched last week!"

The Wrecker drops back down into his vehicle form and pops into gear with a jolt of energon. "Let's see if you can hit something that doesn't have a head pal." Circling around the Decepticon's frame, the Cybertronian Race Car powers up his laser turret as he locks onto a sensitive target. "And speaking of that, I'm not sure you have a permit for those pinchers."

Springer quickly shifts into a mean green, Cybertronian Race Car!

Combat: Cybertronian Race Car &lt;Springer&gt; strikes Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; with his Heavy Laser Turret attack!

Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; noticing Jetfire rocketing ove, he breaks away from the Autobot leader to chase after the scientist. Even with Rodimus' cannon grazing across his tailfin and throwing him off a bit; the he remains stable througgh the shockwave. "I missed you much less then you miss that screachy voiced braggat boyfriend of yours." Darkwing luaghs, and likely tempting fate as he takes pot shots at the both of them as he continues to guard the inner lane.

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; remains in control of capture point C - Inside Lane.

F16 Falcon &lt;Dreadwind&gt; has undisputed control of the outside lanes none are left standing including that one defender that got melted down like a candle. Some of his aerospace warriors take up defensive positions so the gloom can spread further into the battlefield. Not caring in the slightest for Darkwing he heads full burn straight at one of the defense towers transforming at the last moment he tries to batter his way in using his bulk and momentum. "Give up now and lie still, further conflict is pointless, there is no escape for anyone, there is only death and the lamentations of the femmes."

F-16 Falcon suddenly halts it's forwards momentum and pulls up as it bends in half. The body of the jet twists and unfolds to become legs, while arms extrude themselves from the fuselage sides.

Combat: Dreadwind challenges Focus for control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Focus defeats Dreadwind in a battle of WILLS!

Oh yeah, Scrapper did get shot by Whirl earlier, but Whirl must have forgot to set the gun to 'stun'. Whoops. And then Gears tackles Scrapper. Whoosh! He's slammed to the ground, hard, and one of his ankles breaks. Scrapper curls in on himself, like a hedgehog, trying to use his shovel to protect himself the way the spines would, and he tries to splint his broken ankle with some rebar.

Combat: Scrapper sets his defense level to Protected.

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

Galvatron tries hooking his datapad up to the turret--and his optics narrow angrily as he spies a rather rude message scrolling across his screen! "What!? Damn you, Autobots! If I can't have this turret, I'll have your LIVES!" He spins about and blasts away at Rodimus Prime! "Yours, in particular!"

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with his Fusion Cannon attack! [Pulled -11]

Goldbug has disconnected.

Doubledealer has disconnected.

The giant scorpion's pincer gets *clanged* by Whirl's much tinier one, while his flank is pelted by Springer's lasers. "INSOLENT WRECKERS!" Scorponok roars, his many legs clattering unsteadily as he tries to turn to face the green space car. however, with his multitude of turrets facing in all directions, it's easy enough to capture both the Wreckers in his sights.

Combat: Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; strikes Cybertronian Race Car &lt;Springer&gt; with his The STING of SCORPONOK Area attack! [Pulled -5]

Combat: Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; strikes Whirl with his The STING of SCORPONOK Area attack! [Pulled -5]

It was a good idea at the time, but not enough to oust Darkwing from covering the roadway, the smaller jet just has too much room to work compared to the massive spacefighter. Chalking it up as a lost cause, Jetfire spreads his wings back out as he slows a bit to regain control and comes around for another pass, contemplating just shooting the Decepticon done.

Until he spots Dreadwind going for one of the towers, and Focus doesn't seem to be doing good at getting a response out of it. No offense to the other bot, but they need that tower actually defending. Swooping down towards the tower, Jetfire switchs back to robot mode and grabs onto the exterior. Dreadwing may be trying the brute force approach, but he's worked on these defenses enough to know where the emergency workarounds are. Sliding down the exterior of the tower closer to the base, he pulls open a concealed panel and plugs his diagnostic module into it to try and override control to himself. "Sorry Focus, I don't know what's wrong up there, but we really need this tower operation, so don't take this the wrong way."

Combat: Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; challenges Focus for control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; defeats Focus in a battle of WILLS!

Combat: Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; takes control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Super Veritech Fighter &lt;Jetfire&gt; transforms into his Jetfire mode.

Decibel secures the next file in line as the other connection seems to vanish from the grid. With his work unhindered for the moment Decibel glances about then returns to his maniplulation of the towers systems. He works a bit more before the sound of a massive barrage of gun fire fills his audios. Wincing he pushes forward knowing the sooner he secures his objecting the sooner he can move to help his comrades.

Combat: Decibel remains in control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

The combat has, by now, completely destroyed several essential Autobot roadways, making a direct chase of the jets impossible and giving the Decepticons free run of the sky! Rodimus frowns and sets his wagon back into subspace before sprinting towards the tower that Focus had been in control of. A blast from Galvatron sends him stumbling forward, but he recovers, moving into a sprint and running towards the Decepticon leader. "Sorry, Galvatron, I have no more intention of dying now than I did the last thousand times you said that!" he shouts, leaping at his opponent in the tackle from hell!

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron with his Tackle from Hell! attack! [Pulled -4]

Steeljaw does not have any form of stealth. And it's pretty well established that he's not very fast. But he knows his way around cities. He follows his nose, and his nose is never wrong. Usually never wrong. Unless there's perfume in the air, then forget it. This time, his nose leads him through some of the better short cuts through the city.

Which leads him right to the highly battled over defense tower. The lion's gold hide appears near the base of it, before he starts leaping up the tower's stairs. He leaps deftly from flight to flight, until he lands heavily on the defense tower's deck.

Steeljaw remains still for only a second, just long enough to gather strength in his back legs. Then he moves to strike, lunging himself at Dreadwind as he attempts to break into the control room. A fierce roar bursts from his muzzle, as he tries to pounce into Dreadwind, claws aiming to rake down into his armor.

Meet your fang filled distraction!

Combat: Steeljaw strikes Dreadwind with his Kick attack!

Gears tackles Scapper and stansd over him, not very high, but still with a offensive posture. "I suggest you leave 'Con or I am going to have to spend a few days in the Repair Bay having my foot looked at. what do you say? I don't kick you, and I don't have to have my foot joints replaced?"

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

Whirl gets blasted back off of his feet by the massive barrage. "Bringing out the big guns, huh Scorpo?" He coughs sparks and sputters out a few cogs, but then lurches back to his feet. "Don't you know who you're dealing with?! We're the Wreckers. We /are/ the big guns!" Leaping into the air, transforming and blurring his rotors into motion, Whirl falls into an attack run, incendiary cannons firing in a sequence of hollow thmp-whooosh sounds.

Whirl transforms into his crazy 'copter mode.

Combat: Scorponok uses up a charge on his Fasttrack booster pack!

Combat: VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt; strikes Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; with his Incendiary Shell attack!

'*VRROOOM* *VRROOOM* goes the Cybertronian Race Car as its heavy laser turret pelts the Giant Scorpion. *CRUNNCH* *CRUNNCH* goes the Cybertronian Race Car as its hood is impaled a few times by the Giant Scorpion's vicious tail. "I'm sending you the repair bill for that Deceptipunk!"

Transforming back into his robot form, the green-armored Autobot reaches back into subspace for his favorite weapon. "Let's WRECK and RULE Whirl!!" With that said, Springer leaps forward with another mighty swing of his lightsaber.

With a flurry of sounds, Springer transform into his mean green robot form!

Combat: Springer strikes Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; with his Lightsaber attack!

Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; orders several seekers over to keep the inner lane occupied as he jets off towards the defense tower he tried to claim earlier from that insufferable minibot. Noticing that Dreadwind now has to face Jetfire and Steeljaw; Darkwing contemplates helping him for a nano, but then Dreadwind didn't bother to help him, and this tower is more important; that blasted Autobot had had it for too long. He transforms to Robot mode and tries to smash the door down. With the sound ot turnign gears ans shifting metal, Darkwing changes into his ever blue robot mode.

Combat: Darkwing challenges Decibel for control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Combat: Decibel defeats Darkwing in a battle of WILLS!

Dreadwind comes to a painful crushing halt as he impacts the defence tower and it fails to give in the slightest, though there is now a Dreadwind shaped dent in it. "I should have known all that effort would be for nothing, nothing good ever comes from trying just more pain and suffering." Right on cue a disgustingly bright catbot leaps at him claws cutting deep but Dreadwind doesn't seem to react at first, "Oh great, now i'm going to pick up cyberrabies will my suffering never end?" Mustering enough effort for a last resort attempt to gain control of the tower Dreadwind tries to melt away Jetfire's connection, it won't work, but maybe it'll shut up the incessant cajoling in his head from Hi-Test.

Combat: Dreadwind challenges Jetfire for control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Combat: Jetfire defeats Dreadwind in a battle of WILLS!

Galvatron whips out his mace with surprising speed, attempting to snake it around Rodimus's throat before he whips him around and around, then finally releases him in the direction of Iahex. "You don't have a choice, PRIME! Now go join the wreckage of the city you're trying so hard to protect!"

Combat: Galvatron misses Rodimus Prime with his Epic Flail attack!

Scrapper glares up at Gears, and he suggests, "How about you DIE?" He's had quite enough of the depressive complaining today from all sides, and he gets enough of it from Long Haul at home. Scrapper rises up into his payloader mode and attempt to drop his shovel on Gears, to just flatten the annoying Minibot.

Scrapper cleverly disguises himself as a bright green payloader. No one will ever suspect!

Combat: Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt;'s Shovel Bash attack aimed for Gears backfires!

Combat: Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; strikes himself with his Shovel Bash attack!

Combat: You took 23 damage.

Combat: You have foolishly damaged your own Velocity!

Giant Scorpion &lt;Scorponok&gt; is hard pressed to defend himself from the coordinated assault from both the Wreckers. His fuel reserves and resolve weakened byy his failed attempts to capture the tower's defenses, the cacaphony of incendiary shells leaves him vulnerable to Springer's sabre, which slices through his thick armor with ease. The last ditch assault, combined with the Autobot's stubborn will to hold on to such an ugly city, is enough to make Scorponok reconsider the wisdom of this frontal assault. While he may have made a grand entrance, his exit will be much more subdued. With a threatening clatter of his claws, the scorpion transforms into his robot mode, and heads for the sky

Scorponok assumes his towering robot mode!

Combat: Scorponok sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Scorponok begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Springer, Steeljaw, Gears, Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt;, VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt;, Rodimus Prime, Galvatron, Darkwing, Dreadwind, Jetfire, Decibel, and Crash

Although Steeljaw's claws rend and tear, something is sort of off. The garishly bright lion pushes off of Dreadwing, and lands heavily back on the observation platform. He glares at the much bigger robot, growling quietly. ... Why isn't the bigger bot responding? That's curious. Steeljaw lowers his body further down to the ground, settling into a crouch. Enhanced scanning hardware begins to investigate the bigger bot's armor, trying to find somewhere that Dreadwind might actually take notice.

Combat: Steeljaw analyzes Dreadwind for weaknesses.

Decibel notices one of the jets transform and touch down on the landing just above him and try to smash his way into the the upper control station. Why he didn't use the other door or even land closer and try to stop him Decibel isn't sure, though he's almost certain he's planning to try and hack into the system like everyone else. Paying it no mind he encrypts the last of the subsystems and seals up the panel as best he can before slinking off. Just as he reaches the next step he spots the large form of Scorponok heading for the skies, "Hmm, we may just hold the city after all."

Combat: Decibel remains in control of capture point A - Tower Defense.

Jetfire grunts as he shifts to the side slightly, the shot from Dreadwind barely missing his shoulder and smoldering some of the plating around the acess point, but fortunately missing Jetfire's actual work. Must not be easy to aim with an angry feline hanging off of you. He punchs in a few more controls, working hurredly to properly realign the systems that have been brutely knocked out of syncronization by the rough attempts to seize control of it. "No deflector dish to bounce particles off of, but this should work..."

Combat: Jetfire remains in control of capture point E - Tower Defense.

Gears sees everything that is going on and confidently steps to the side, the drawing his leg back attempts to kick Scapper in the side. That's all, "I am gonna need a new paint job," he laments.

Rodimus Prime ducks beneath the epic flail. His hand retreats into his arm and is replaced with a thin, spinning blade. "It'll rise again, Galvatron. We've protected the people, and that's always been the heart of Iah- Iacon!" With the last word, he leans forward, swinging slicing at the Decepticon leader's midsection. "We'll /always/ rebuild, Galvatron!"

Combat: Gears misses Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; with his Kick attack!

Rodimus has Galvatron in hand once more. Crash moves to support the tower defense teams. With carbine in hand once more he lifts the laser up and sights along the back, trying to get Dreadwind in his sights.

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron with his Buzzsaw attack!

Combat: Crash strikes Dreadwind with his Laser attack!

"Ah hah! Nothing like bringing a little light to the world of darkness!" exclaims Springer as he knifes into Scorponok with his lightsaber. Dawning a metallic grin, the Wrecker offers Whirl a high-five. Not one of those puny ones either. This one has a solid clank of strength in it! *CLANK*

As Scorponok retreats, the triple-changer offers a wave to the flying mass of destruction before he turns to Whirl again, "Ah...nothing like schooling another Decepticon in Wreckonomics!!"

With enough gloating out of the way, the Autobot turns his attention back to the battle at hand. Spotting his original target in the battle, Springer makes a mad dash for the Payloader before leaping into the air with a kick that hopefully knocks the Constructicon on its side.

Combat: Springer strikes Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; with his Just For Kicks (Kick) attack!

Combat: You took 11 damage.

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

Combat: Springer's attack has damaged your Firepower!

Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; magically manages to evade Gears, if only because he doesn't want the disgustingly dour Minibot to touch him. He is less lucky when not only does Springer kick Scrapper over on his side, but Springer kicks Scrapper so hard that Scrapper breaks his laser pistol, which is stored inside of him! He summons his purple lift wing and decides that he is done for the day. Time to clock out!

Galvatron shifts his torso back just in time to avoid the spinning blade. "Not this time, Prime. Not this Prime. THIS time, there will be no survivors left to pick up the pieces!" Activating his foot thrusters, Galvatron rockets into the sky. "Cybertron is MY planet, Rodimus! You'll see this for yourself in the days ahead, as Autobots are killed one by one and your territory taken mile by mile! It will be a Decepticon world once again, as it was always meant to be! A world with no place in it for WEAKLINGS such as you!"

Combat: Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Springer, Gears, VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt;, Rodimus Prime, Galvatron, Darkwing, Dreadwind, Jetfire, Decibel, and Crash

Combat: Galvatron begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Springer, VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt;, Rodimus Prime, Dreadwind, and Jetfire

Darkwing growls as the Autobot locks the tower down; he is about to fire on Decible when he notices Galvatron making a stratigic advancement away from Iahex. "Seems that you Autobots get to keep your city of ruins." Not that the dour jet expected any less; he knew that in the end they were the ones that were going to get kicked off Cybertron; the Universe never favors them anyway. Darkwing transforms to jet mode and flies off.

Leaping into the air, Darkwing transforms into a Panavia Tornado GR1 fighter jet

Combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt; begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Dreadwind foresaw this, his devastating attack on Whirl has come home to roost as now there are two Autobots trying to stop him from wresting control of weaponry from a third. A nigh on impossible task for even the most motivated and Dreadwind has never been one of them, even if the laser blast does little extra damage to him. The other Decepticons are pulling back and Dreadwind is smart enough to know that to stay is suicidal or worse, "It would seem that for now the suffering is over, take the shattered remains of your friends and prepare yourselves for your own end, it will come for you soon, there will be no escape, our fates are sealed." Having said that

Dreadwind drifts slowly skywards hanging like a broken angel of gloom and death as he leaves the battlefield.

Combat: Dreadwind begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Springer, VH-64 Gazette &lt;Whirl&gt;, Rodimus Prime, Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet &lt;Darkwing&gt;, and Jetfire

Springer has disconnected.

Jetfire crouchs down a bit to shield the data-turned-control pad and looks back up to see the Decepticons starting to pull out of the fight. Looks back down to the makeshift controls, and grins as the red markers all turn green and he regains proper control of the turret. "You really should consider a more constructive past time, Dreadwing." Despite the faux joking tone, there's a cold edge beneath his voice as he looks up at the Powermaster shaking off Steeljaw and starting to retreat. His finger hovers over the FIRE command, but then pulls back. No, they're leaving, that's well enough.

He turns his gaze to look towards the blasted and rubbled remains of Iahex. He's got other more important work to worry about than revenge for petty insults about past burnt bridges and failed friendships.

Gears squints one optic and trains it on Scapper, "Leaving or not, someone has to be responsible for the dents on my fender!"

Combat: Gears strikes Payloader &lt;Scrapper&gt; with his Laser attack!

Combat: You took 3 damage.

Combat: Gears's attack has damaged your Accuracy!

Galvatron rises upward to the Sky above Iahex.

Galvatron has left.

Even though his second opponent of the evening is leaving, Steeljaw doesn't pursue. Not that he could; Dreadwind is taking off too quickly for the hefty lion bot to chase. Instead, Steelwing glares after the emo-bot threateningly, his tail lashing from side to side in agitation. Blinking after a second, he takes a quick look around him. Hm, it would seem that the other Decepticons are starting to leave. He had become so focused again that he simply didn't notice. He rumbles quietly, almost seeming to relax a little now that the city is relatively safe. A wreck, but relativelys afe.

"How are the repairs, Jetfire?" Steeljaw rumbles in a more friendly fashion, as he gets up on his haunches to peer in through the doorway.

================================== Autobot =================================== Message: 3/210                    Posted        Author Iahex Wrecked                     Thu Feb 25    Rodimus Prime -- Rodimus Prime stands outside at the gates of Iahex. Behind him is a city in ruins, devastated by the fierce battle that took place. Rodimus himself is dented, blasted, and burnt, but still standing.

"Autobots, as predicted, the Decepticons launched a massive attack on Iahex. Because we had prior warning, we were able to evacuate most of the non-combatants from the area first." He turns to look back at the wreckage behind him and sighs. "For the best, as you can see. We do need search crews in the area. Goldbug was spotted in thhe region - seems he got out of his cell. He... or his body... need to be found, if possible."

"In addition to that, Autobots, we need to prepare ourselves for the days ahead. Galvatron's ravings suggested that he intends an all-out offensive to push us off Cybertron." He clenches his fist. "Well, we're going to push back. We started this battle on the defensive, but we will *not* stay that way. Magnaron, the Energon Springs, the Warrens, even the Wastes. Cybertron has been revitalized again, and every territory we hold means we are that much less a drain on our allies. It's about damn time. Overdue, really. But let's keep our eyes on the prize, too." He lifts his fist in the air. "The Decepticons have been allowed to get far too settled in Nightseige and in Polyhex. Their cities, the homes of their tyranny must not be allowed to stand any longer! This is our home, and it's time to take it back!"

His hand lowers and he looks back at the ruined city behind him. "They've destroyed our city, but we will rebuild." Rodimus turns and smiles at the camera. "/IACON/ will stand again!"

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