Pawns on the Chessboard of Life

Summary: Catechism has lured the Autobots into a rigged chessboard trap! However, will the Decepticons learn that cheaters never prosper?

 Lieutenant Crosscheck says, "I suppose that's possible but the device would need to be adaptated."

 Lieutenant Crosscheck says, "But it would be hard to affect only the Decepticons."

 Jazz says, "Specialy after mentionning the plan on broadband."

 Lieutenant Crosscheck says, "Because you had doubts about the reality of you experience Jazz? We get out of there by sheer luck."

Great Arena

Despite its grand name, the Great Arena has seen better days. Most of the decrepit walls that once encircled the arena were replaced a few decades ago; the new walls are green and straight, forming a rough rhombus around the Arena in contrast to the rubble of the original walls, which formed a huge oval. There are no provisions for spectators any more, just piles of ancient debris where rows of benches used to be. At the southern apex of the oval, the slightly better-preserved remnants of an elite seating box coincidentally form a rough circle of trilithon-like ruins, strangely reminiscent of Earth's Stonehenge.

Obvious exits: Fly  leads to Sky above Great Arena. North  leads to Crumpled Hills. South  leads to Liberation Arch.

Cyclonus has arrived.

Penumbra has arrived.

Air Raid emerges from a non-descript hangar in the abandoned air base.

Air Raid has arrived.

Halligan has arrived.

Fusillade has arrived.

Rampage has arrived.

Fireflight emerges from a non-descript hangar in the abandoned air base.

Fireflight has arrived.

Shockwave has arrived.

Dreadwind arrives from the Crumpled Hills to the north.

Dreadwind has arrived.

Hi-Test arrives from the Crumpled Hills to the north.

Hi-Test has arrived.

Rodimus Prime has arrived.

Fairway has arrived.

Backfire has arrived.

Several days ago

Catechism stands in a dark office, behind a tall-backed chair. She reports to whoever may be in the chair. "So. About those crushing forcefield generators..."

There is only a beckoning silence. She continues, "They didn't want to give us the crushing forcefield generators. And by give, I mean, they tried to crush me with the forcefield generators whenever I tried to steal them. So uhm."

More ominous silence. Catechism bravely (or foolishly) sallies on, "So we only had the mildly annoying forcefield generators left in storage."

The silence is positively oppressive. "But see, there's this game..."

Earlier today

Catechism explains to a put-upon gumby Seeker, who is setting up a chessboard, "The Autobots' intel will see this chessboard, and the Autobots will naturally be curious... curioused to death!"

The Seeker stares up at her from the painting and asks softly, "Why can't we just mildly inconvenience them into the pit? Why the chessboard?"

The lines of her face set, and she mutters, "You wouldn't understand."

And this, folks, is how giant blue gryphons get built.

Now

Catechism stands at her forcefield-enforced chessboard, beaming. She looks to any other Decepticons who may be around, and she announces, "Any time now, the Autobots will arrive, and they will be trapped as pawns on the board of life!" If no one is here, she's just narrating to herself. And Life is a different game, anyway.

Avalanche has arrived.

"The structure and rationality of this game of wits appeals to me," declares Shockwave, who has come down from his high place in Darkmount to see what Catechism is up to, and is standing by, surveying her work. "To defeat the Autobots in a trap not merely of might, but of mind, would be a doubly crushing victory for the Decepticons. I commend your thought process, Catechism."

There's a Tiger poking at the chessboard! Mecha-Tiger  is curious about it, because felines, even mecha-felines, are curious. "Board of Life? Why doesn't this look like the Game of Life(tm) then?" he asks.

Cyclonus is standing on the side of the board, calmly looking at Catechism pondering his plan. He's also trying to remember what he knows about that terran game which is not much he must admit. One thing is sure, he's not going to be a queen...unless Galvatron arrives and forces him to be. "Interesting strategy Catechism. I'll participate in this...game."

Dreadwind doesn't know why he's here and doesn't really care, well he did before he was eventually dragged all the way here but it's pointless to now, "Great another horrendously convoluted attempt to get rid of the Autobots once and for all. It won't work, it never does, we're all just going to end up maimed and dying on the ground."

Backfire is already sitting upon his horse, a plastic helm taped onto his head and a sword in hand. "Yes dear sister, the Autobot's will bow before our combined might! Imagine the wonder, the brilliance, the EXUBERENCE!" In his gleeful abandon, his horse tips over. "OMMPF, I meant to do that!!"

Mecha Tiger  makes his way up to the side of the board itself, looking it over as he ponders to himself. "This should be very entertaining." He comments, before looking at the others gathered here. "I wonder how this will work?" He inquires, and chuckles at the offered pieces.

Air Raid wanders on in for some Primus-forsaken reason, having dragged Fireflight along. "So then I was like, 'dude, if you scream boom headshot one more time', and he shoots my guy in the head, so I went to his house and lit his lawn on fire. Tell ya' what, Fireflight..." Raid pauses at the sight of the giant chessboard, and the 'cons gathered. "Sweet." He yanks poor Fireflight up and hops on the h2 square.

Three yellow disk superpose themselves real quick with sound effect as Halligan gets teleported onto G2. The Autobot looks a bit confused but overheard the rules and instructions before being sent there. He looks around at his comrades. "This will be...educational." The resident SWAT Officer unhooks his ballistic shield and with the press of a button folds it in two turning it into a riot shield. A flick of the wrist brings about his trusty ASP Baton.

Fairway drops forward onto his fists while his torso spins and his legs fold inward. His hood tilts up, head flipping back to disappear beneath it, and his arms lock into place at his sides. With a familiar, five-tone sound, Fairway transforms into a DeLorean DMC-12!

Flamin' Winnebago  rolls into the area at high speed! He's heard reports of the strange board the Decepticons have been constructing, after all (possibly by one or several of those arriving with him), and is certain the Decepticons mean trouble, because don't they always? He charges in, certain of his ability to spring any potential trap. "Decepticons!" he yells as he arrives on the scene. "What in the blazes are you people up t-" and then he gets trapped on square D2! He tries to rune through the forcefield, but can't make it through. Then he transforms and punches it. "What the-?" he starts, then cuts himself off in proper G fashion.

Fireflight was listening to his brother going on and on and being drug into primus knows what. He gets yanked up onto the board and looks around. "Where do you want me bro? What are we even doing here? This looks weird..." he looks around and sees other bots and just looks back at Air Raid.

Bugatti Veyron  rolls out following the call of the Prime. Curiousity at their mudflaps. Cybertron sees it's builder sons return. His private internal music player plays The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy. And as fast as he is, he's not too swift with his distraction rockin. The fly gets caught in the trap, coming to a forcible halt on A2. "What in the name of Snowman?"

Fireflight walks over to B2 and has no clue. The square was empty and looked lonely so he steps into it and shrugs at his brother...

DeLorean  rolls in behind Rodimus, having no idea what to expect and feeling a good bit of anxiety. He knows they're riding into a trap, but he trusts Prime's judgement unfailingly. He tries to keep toward the edge of the board as they approach. He transforms as Prime does, springing forward to land in a crouch right on E1. He is in the process of drawing his rifle when he bangs head on into a forcefield. "Prime!" He looks about, mime-style, "There's a forcefield holding me here."

Fairway converts back to robot mode.

Flamin' Winnebago  transforms into his Robot mode.

Cyclonus hopes onto the C8 square, smilling coldly at the autobots trapped in front of him, "It seems your plan worked inquisitor...those fools fell right into the trap." The unicronian doesn't add anythig but his optics survey the chestboard, he is obviously planning his first move but he's also thinking he's going to like that game.

Dreadwind is standing staring forlornly at the chequered battlefield, "Black and white, no one ever sees anything in between it is always the same." Someone shoulder barges Dreadwind perhaps just trying to get him to shut up, ending with him staggering into the E8 position, he turns to get back off of the board but is trapped by the crusher field, "Typical now i'm going to be forced to take part in this grasp at insanity, i'll be crushed to within a micron of my life i just know it." A crown of gloomy clouds seems to appear over Dreadwind's square or maybe it's just an optical illusion.

Catechism more or less ignores Dreadwind and makes down a mental note to cast him into the game as Representative of King Galvatron, because they'd have to be crazy to declare any other king than Galvatron, even for a game. Dreadwind just mopes and does nothing, right? Perfect king in SPACE BATTLE CHESS. She grins and salutes Shockwave as he arrives. Oh wait, did he just make sense out of her haphazard use of the mildly inconvenient forcefields they had left over in storage? And all the spare pit traps? (Seriously, why do they have this many pit traps?) Oh, bless. Shockwave is amazing sometimes. She also salutes Cyclonus and enthuses, "I am honoured, sir! But of course it worked - curiosity killed the annoying car!" Now, Backfire, she's never seen the guy, and he's calling her sister, but at least he's got the right attitude. Not like Darkwing over there. She sees that Avalanche is not longer a total exile or whatever his issue was, and she nods to him and the other cat only slightly.

Catechism dons a hat that looks oddly like a beer hat, with mecha-dreadlocks. She looks off to the side and protests, "What? They said this was the rook hat!" She then steps confidently onto the chessboard, taking her place, on a8, and she leers at the them, exclaiming, "You cannot escape! These mildly inconvenient forcefields will prevent your egress, and force you to comply with the rules of SPACE BATTLE CHESS. Your King Rod... you didn't make Rodimus Prime your king." She stares. "Your King Some Delorean Guy will fall, today! Before our Representative of King Galvatron, Dreadwind!"

Shockwave steps forth onto the board, the forcefield springing up around him as he stops moving on ansi(hm,D8). "Autobots. You are caught in our web of deceit. There is nothing for you to do now but attempt to pit your wits and skills against our own; for which task I calculate history will judge you unfit."

Mecha Tiger  just watches as the Autobots seem to freak the Frak out, as they enter their squares. Shaking his head in utter disappointment, the Horrorcon pads his way over towards a pawn position. He has no need to take a piece with any significance. Setting his paws down on ansi(hm, E7), the the square ignites it's shield. For now, he just eyes the others and their positions. "Now lets see how this will play out, shall we comrades?" He asks, and cackles to himself.

Backfire looks to his left, sizing up Cyclonus. Then to his right, equally sizing up Catechism. Then the Seeker looks down, looking inside himself. Grabbing the cardboard pony's reign tightly, Backfire raises his toy sword in the air.

"Our opponents have shown themselves. Decpticons, join me in our glorious battle-cry! DECEPTI..CLALALALALALALALALALALAAAAANS!" Backfire roars from B8.

The Other Tiger (the orange one) hops onto the board at ansi(mh,G8) as the Other Knight. "Let's rip into em!" he snarls. He notices he can't move just yet though, so he crouches, ready to pounce. Oh what a surprise he'll get...

Fairway looks about the board with dismay, his rifle in his fist. He frowns as he sees the Decepticons lined up on the other side. "Chess?" He says. "Prime, Are you trapped as well? I have heard of this human game, but know very little about actually playing it. I believe..." he glances down at his place on the board, "I appear to be in the King's place! This is most disturbing." He does a quick search - the king can move one space in any direction. Having no head for such games, he moves arbitrarily to F1.

"Space battle chess?" Rodimus answers, optics flaring bright in surprise. He begins to stride forward. "Have you *all* gone as crazy as your leader? You must be getting the really good energon additives from Monacus and Pz-za-" and then he cuts himself off as he hits another forcefield, trapping him in D4. His optics flare again, and he taps the forcefield in confusion, then hits it. Then he looks at his feet, then around at the board. "I'm a... I'm a pawn?" he asks, bewildered. He offers a numb nod towards Fairway. "Yeah, I... seem to be trapped too, Fairway."

Air Raid frowns at the forcefield and kicks at it a little. Then he waves cheerfully at Prime and Fairway, and promptly winces at Backfire's screech. "Hey shut up!" he shouts and starts wailing on the forcefield in earnest. Abruptly it pitches him forward a single block, so he tries to keep going, and ends up smacking his schnoz on square h4. A glare goes out to Catechism and her silly hat.

Halligan marches forward shield first and ASP Baton ready to open a can of whoop-aft on anyone he crosses...diagonally. "This is ridiculous but we seem to have no choice at this point. It's win or scrap." Halligan finishes his move in G4

Bugatti Veyron  transforms, no need to roll when everything is set up for short walking distances. He narrows his optics. He looks around, seeing the limitations imposed on his side, and advances two spaces to A4. Looking dorectly across at Catechism for the moment. "I could be ripping up the highways right now."

Fireflight looks around at the entire scene, taking everything in slowly. "This doesnt look good." he says to no one in particular and does a quick chesk to see where on the board he ended up stepping. "Pawn..uhh..2 squares first move if wanted..." he looks foward then he looks at Rodimus then at Air Raid and tries not to snicker at his bros 'graceful' move... He tentively takes a step forward to B3 bracing to hit the forcefield.

With a series of gear shifts and smoothly sliding components, the Bugatti Veyron sportscar transforms into the Autobot Penumbra.

Combat: Halligan sets his defense level to Protected.

Mecha-Tiger/Knight  takes his turn. He moves forward with a jump...and finds himself sent forwards--with a sudden twist sideways! He shakes his head and rubs it. "Wha...what was that? What kind of weird moving rules are there here?" He lands in ansi (hm,F6)...no-one to pounce there.

Cyclonus watches as the autobots make their move on the chestboard. "Their formation is full of hole" he mutters, "...it's going to be an easy talk to defeat them in the name of Galvatron!" With a elegant leap into the air, Cyclonus flies towards G4, reaching behind his back and drawing his sword. He descends towards the poor autobot pawn, bringing his sword down towards his head.

Combat: Cyclonus sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> just patiently waits for his turn, Avalanche is actually quite a fan of this human game. Nothing says superiority like a board game, and to use his actual martial prowess...well this is his type of game. Regardless, as his turn comes up and the front of his forcefield opens up, he quickly strides two spaces forward. Wanting to push the envelope a little, he leaves the KING Dreadwind to his own strategem. Though, he does skid slightly to a halt as the forcefield reappears. Avalanche now stands on E5.

Combat: Cyclonus misses Halligan with his Diamond-Boron Carbide Sword attack! [Pulled -1]

The mouthy Seeker glowers at Fireflight, pointing an outstretched finger at him. "Look comrades, our glorious anthem has shaken this pathetic Autobot to his mortal coil! For the EMPIRE!!" With that said, Backfire moves forward two spaces and right one. He now rests on A6.

Dreadwind stares at the other Decepticons who appear willing and champing at the bit to partake in this utter waste of time, "Just when things couldn't get much worse they do, i knew they would but why am i the king? It's not as if anyone ever listens to anything i say, ever." Surprisingly to some but not many Dreadwind fails to advance in the slightest and remains where he started E8.

Catechism looks down the field, and she sees the little Bugatti with the little cocktail sword. She adjust her 'Rook' hat and moves over to C8, so recently vacated by Cyclonus. If she just runs headlong into Penumbra, she'll just get stuck fencing him, and she doesn't have a sword. But there is no Autobot pawn anywhere in C...

Shockwave advances smoothly across the board to A5, more cautious than his fellows. He stares down Penumbra from his obstructing position in front of Backfire, scanning his single eye across the board intently.

Fairway puts his free hand on the back of his helm. "I'm not surprised to notice that this isn't a fair game. There aren't enough pieces on the board, to begin with, and furthermore the Autobots have no rooks, knights, or bishops. Nor a queen, now that I think of it." He is actually shocked to see Cyclonus attack Halligan. Fairway's still a bit naive in the colvoluted ways of the Decepticons. But now he sees how the game will go. He steps forward to F2 and attempts to fire on the nearest Decepticon. He starts as the shot goes less then a foot before exploding against the forcefield.

Rodimus Prime frowns as he looks around the board. He spots where Catechism is. Then he looks back at where Fairway is. Then he moves to intercept the conehead... and is stopped by the forcefield. He punches it. Again. Then looks between Catechism and Fairway, then studies the edge of the board. He shakes his head and growls.

"Fairway, you'll have to avoid them until some of us can get moving backwards!" Then he steps diagonally, as Pawns are supposed to capture, into the E5 square, pulls back his fist to vent his frustration on Avalanche, then looks around again. Rodimus grins.

His right hand retracts and is replaced by a thing blade which begins rotating. With a quick spin, he swipes at everyone within range of his blade!

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> with his Buzzsaw Area attack!

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> with his Buzzsaw Area attack!

Halligan watches Cyclonus charge with his sword. The Autobot waits for the enemy to close the distance and deflects the sword blow with his own ASP Baton. "Knew you would take the bait. Now we will see just how good your strategy is." Sure the Autobot could smack the purple bunny up a bit but he has other plans. Halligan circles around and moves into G4

Penumbra eyes the arrival of Shockwave DIRECTLY in front of him. "What a beautiful gold optic. A shame it's on a burnout." Might as well get this over with, Penumbra dares to be stupid and passes forward into Shockwave's square A5 / A5, the forcefield system allowing him in to doom. His rapier is drawn and he flicks his wrist looking to carve him a slice of purple pie.

Combat: Penumbra misses Shockwave with his Rapier Wit attack!

Air Raid is steadily growing more and frustrated about being unable to simply fly off. He finds he can only watch as Cyclonus engages Halligan in the square next to him. Chess... You capture the big wigs in the back, right? And Dreadwind's in the back. Raid shrugs and steps forward to square H5, seeing as no one was targetting him. "No worries King Fairway!"

Fireflight looks around as well. So this is how its going to be eh? He doesnt know the game that well but he knows how what do to when a Decepticon is within arms length of him. So they have to fight their way across the board. So be it. He steps forward one mors swuare B4

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

Cyclonus doesn't waste anytime chasing the autobot swat around. He doesn't pay more attention to Air Raid passing in a square next to his. His optics are set on the Autobot King Ro...Fairway. A forcefield prevents him from reaching the autobot but he is not out of range of his weapons! Cyclonus leaps into the air and transforms into his startfighter mode, moving to F3 and dropping bombs on his way...one of them flies towards F2.

Cyclonus leaps into the air and quickly transforms into a cybertronian starfighter.

Combat: Cyclonus sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Fairway with his Incendiary Bombs attack! [Pulled -5]

"Fear not air commander, I will show this incumbent the error of his ways!!" Backfire yelps, his sword hand glowing with a faint light...then it extends to the tip of his toy sword. The Seeker levels it at Penumbra, as best as he can. He remains on A6.

Combat: Backfire misses Penumbra with his TOY SWORD DETH RAY! attack!

Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> just turns his head as Rodimus seems to decide that he's got some a pair of brass ones, and simply bats the small blade away. "Dont insult me, Autobot." He quickly says, and now fully turns his attention to the Autobot commander. "It's too bad, I was hoping you would be the King. Then I could crush your exo-skeleton under my feet. "Ah, but it seems Ill have to deal with you like any of your weakling compatriots." Quickly rearing back his claw, Avalanche takes a slash at Rodimus prime. He however, remains on E5.

"To the contrary," declares the voice projected from inside Shockwave's chest as his eye flashes in time with the perfectly modulated words. "your attempt at humor is unintendedly ironic." He seizes Penumbra's wrist in his literally iron grip and levels his cannon arm. The barrel swivels and locks into position, shifting colors from pink to white. "I will elaborate: it is in fact you, not I, who now runs the risk of being 'burned out.' By a collimated microwave beam."

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> misses Rodimus Prime with his claw swipe. (Punch) attack!

Combat: Shockwave strikes Penumbra with his Irradiate Microwave Spectrum attack! [Pulled -3]

Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> can't reach Rodimus Prime! He tries and he tries...but he can't move only one space! He growls in frustration and hops back to his original position of ansi(hm,G8). Hmmm, perhaps he can use this to his advantage...pouncing without warning on someone unawares! Hopefully, anyway.

Catechism goes unharassed on C8, a tower in the Decepticon heartland. Fuel pump land. Part of the board. She stares down to the board, with the scanty Autobot pawns, all the way to C2. King Delorean Guy is just over there on F2. Certainly, he can move up or down and thereby evade her, but as a tower, she knows she is much, much faster than he is. She has time to chase him. To C2 then.

Dreadwind watches as the majority of the Decepticons leap forwards to assault the Autobot forces and he sighs deeply, "Left on my own to tend to my defences, it won't be long now until Rodimus Prime comes for me, he will leave my shattered remains scattered across the battlefield." In what may be an attempt to escape Dreadwind trudges one square sideways ending up in D8.

Dreadwind's last pose: Dreadwind watches as the majority of the Decepticons leap forwards to assault the Autobot forces and he sighs deeply, "Left on my own to tend to my defences, it won't be long now until Rodimus Prime comes for me, he will leave my shattered remains scattered across the battlefield." In what may be an attempt to escape Dreadwind trudges one square sideways ending up in D8.

Penumbra burns like a roasting chicken dangling from Shockwaves grasp. The over reaching Autobot growls as he sizzles, "Get recycled, glitch." Penumbra wrests out from the gun-goblins grasp, dropping down to his feet again. Somewhere ahead an attack goes off very close in his fully occupied square from the attackers square. Penumbra sprints around Shockwave into that next square, rapier slashing out at the Decepticon Backfire in A6. "I pawn you."

Combat: Penumbra sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Penumbra strikes Backfire with his Rapier Wit attack!

Halligan keeps moving forward this time into G6. "Watch yourself Air Raid, one more step will put you in range of the ugly tiger thing." So far so good, everybody is hanging in there.

Air Raid instinctively attempts to whirl around and go after Cyclonus, but of course the forcefield stops him. "Frag, this thing is picky!" Tentatively, he steps forward to another square, stopping on H6, optics focused on sad, sad Dreadwind. "Oh pff," Raid waves off Halligan, "Let 'im try and stop me."

Rodimus Prime easily dives forward, rolling beneath the swipe and springing up in the square behind Avalanche. "Sorry, putty-tat. I'd love to stick around to neuter you, but I've got other things to focus with," he says, backing up as far as the forcefields will allow him into E6 as he fires from his pipes back at the giant tiger.

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> with his Arm Blasters attack!

Fairway has nowhere to go as Cyclonus attacks! He is blasted off his feet as a cluster bomb lands directly in front of him. As the smoke clears, he struggles to his feet, making his way to G3. "Would that I had not found myself in the king's place," he laments, "none of you would have had to protect me so." He finally gets his bearing again, dusting himself off. "Prime, friend Air Raid," he says, "Perhaps we should . . . try to cluster together?"

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

Fireflight decides hes just going to take another step foward. No one seems to be noticing him so he just steps forward into B5

Fireflight suddenly transforms

Fireflight transforms into his Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet mode.

Combat: Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet strikes Backfire with his Firefog Missile Area attack!

Combat: Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet misses Penumbra with his Firefog Missile Area attack!

Combat: Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet misses Shockwave with his Firefog Missile Area attack!

Starfighter <Cyclonus> can only curses the forcefield that prevent him once again from reaching Fairway, "You won't escape me autobot! All your friends left you to die while they run to save their worthless lifes!" The cybertronian starfighter moves to G4 to force the autobot king down the board. At the same time he keeps firing bombs all around him...the squares in the area are getting hot!

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Fairway with his Incendiary Bombs attack! [Pulled -7]

Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> just grumbles, but otherwise just jumps forward to E4 avoiding the attack. Continuing his march towards the Autobot's King. "We'll see who topples the king first, Rodimus Prime." Announces Avalanche, looking back towards the Autobot. "Unlike yours, our king is a..." He looks at Dreadwing. "A....king." He...really doesnt have much to say, and thusly, turns away from the Autobot leader.

Dreadwind for all his gloom and doomsaying does have a sharp tactical mind and would likely enjoy chess in any form, if only he knew what it was to enjoy anything. "Flame and death it is all that we will find here, we will annihilate each other leaving nothing but pools of melted metal." Continuing his swift jog across the board Dreadwind shuffles into C7 his crown of gloom matching his depressingly slow pace.

Shockwave strides powerfully 'southeast,' using poor Backfire as cover from Fireflight's fuel-air blast as he closes in on Fairway in a flanking maneuver. Shockwave comes to a stop in E1, Fairway's starting location, and turns back to dispassionately consider the harried Autobot being assailed by Cyclonus. It's only a matter of time.

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

Catechism notices that Backfire has been hit by a missiles, while Shockwave and Penumbra go unscathed. Hmm. There's a joke in there, she's sure. She sees both Cyclonus and Avalanche in position around King Delorean. She takes a few long, solemn strides to f2, putting her directly behind Fairway. At the very least, it limits his options, and she smirks and draws her whip, flailing out at his royal personage. Really, the only place Fairway /can/ move is e3, because Avalanche can easily move into e3, and she can follow him into f4, and Avalanche and Cyclonus are currently in e4 and g4.

Combat: Catechism misses Fairway with her Whiplash Whirlwind attack! [Pulled -4]

Combat: Gained 1 energon.

"Fear not Dreadwind, I shall dispatch this rogue and soon return to your side! For I am .. AHHGAH!!" Backfire roars, the last half of his brave declaration being cut off by a rapier jab to the gut. Looking down, the Seeker's face is a mask of hatred. Penumbra's sword skewered the cardboard horse. "You've sullied my costume!! Prepare for ANNILLA..AHHGAH!!" Once again, the overzealous Seeker is cut off by an attack...this time coming from Fireflight.

Gathering himself, Backfire stands and pulls out his experimental Hypno-Ray. "You /cowardly/ Autobots, must use your numbers to overwhelm such a fine specimen of soldier that I am? Well, I shall not hold back any longer then! And that means going through you my friend, and go through you...I SHALL!!!" His finger pulls the trigger on the futuristic ray-gun.

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "You know, I... think I've got an idea, but you're not going to like it, Fairway."

Combat: Backfire strikes Penumbra with his Hypno Ray attack!

Rampage has an opportunity now! Air Raid has landed in a square than he can access! He coils himself, then unleashes a pounce. He manages to work with the odd moving system and he lands in the square H6 preparing to Maul the Aerialbot! "Surpriiiiiiiise," Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> growls.

Combat: Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> strikes Air Raid with his All four claws! (Kick) attack!

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Try to hold out until I get to the other edge. I'm going to try something."

Fairway is about to jump for F2 as he gets bombed again, but sees Catechism in time to turn and make a dash for E3. He evades Catechism, but is mildly singed by Cyclonus's incendiary bombs. "If things continue in this fashion, we shall surely lose!"

<Autobot> Fairway says, "What do you have in mind? I shall cooperate however I can.  The situation is currently quite dire indeed."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "These look like trap doors we're standing on. Am I right?"

Halligan moves forward into G7 Soon...soon this farce will be over. Question is for whom? If King Fairway can buy just enough time...Hal might be able to turn this thing around. Thanks to Air Raid, there is no one blocking his path.

<Autobot> Impactor says, "What are you guys talkin' bout... ...and why aren't ya comin' up on the sensor's arrays? Where the 'ell are ya?"

<Autobot> Patchwork says, "Who's doing what now?"

"I would Doc, but I can't move backwards!" Raid demonstrates just before Fairway gets obscured by Cyclonus' bombs... and Catechism's whip "...Don't die okay!" The jet turns to continue, tossing a thumbs-up to Fireflight. "Slow and steady wins the race," he manages to grate, and is completely taken by surprise as Rampage shoves him to the ground. "UFF! You smeltin' sunnuva'..." Raid squirms away, neat claw marks adorning his armor as he heads for the square to his left, G6.

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Idiotic Decepticon trap, Patchwork. I'll go over the details when I get back."

<Autobot> Patchwork says, "Oooh. Don't think I ever heard of a good trap."

<Autobot> Fairway says, "I wouldn't put it past the Decepticons to have designed such traps."

Penumbra clucthes his own face as the hypno ray goes off. "Arf-arfarggle! He staggers towards A7 not sure where he is or what to do for the moment.

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

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

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

Rodimus Prime frowns and studies the board. His expression turns thoughtful for a moment, and he darts forward to E7 as fast as he can, then runs smack into the forcefield again. He slams both fists against it in frustration, then eyes the edge of the board. "Just a little longer, Fairway!"

Since no ones firing at him for whatever reason Fireflight just takes another stop forward to B6

Combat: Rodimus Prime sets his defense level to Fearless.

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

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "What I'm saying is, we've got trap doors beneath us. We need *someone* with the right skill set to get a look at what's down there."

<Autobot> Twin Twist says, "What about drillin'? Youse guys should drill!"

Fireflight's last pose: Since no ones firing at him for whatever reason Fireflight just takes another stop forward to B6

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Left all my drills with you guys."

<Autobot> Impactor says, "Excellent idea Twin Twist. I second this notion."

<Autobot> Twin Twist says, "Just spin up your drills and BANG POW"

<Autobot> Air Raid says, "We don't have drills!"

<Autobot> Fairway says, "I don't think that will be necessary anyway, friends. This floor's panels are indeed made to collapse.  Prime, I see what you are getting at."

This time the Autobot king is cornered and can't escape Cyclonus! "You just put yourself back to the wall Autobot. It's a pity you are not a worthy warrior..." The unicronian remains in G4 and once again fires incendiary bombs towards Fairway who'S bound to get well done soon.

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Fairway with his Incendiary Bombs attack! [Pulled -9]

<Autobot> Patchwork says, "Can you put your arms out to the side, so if they drop open you can catch yourselves?"

Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> just continues his march on the board, making his way to e3 Not too much he can do right now, as everyone has charged passed him.

<Autobot> Twin Twist says, "Oh right, I forgot you guys were 'that way.' Sorry, didn't mean ta 'dredge up' any painful memories of gettin' yer drills cut off as protoforms, ha ha. Little earthmover humor there."

Catechism considers that Shockwave has much better mobility than she does. She considers that Cyclonus, from g4, threatens h5. So, if she moves to f5, if Fairway moves to g5, she'll be right next to him. Also, if she gets out of Shockwave's way, he can move all the way to Fairway's postion. So she moves to f5.

<Autobot> Fairway says, "It seems as though the strategy of sacrificing myself will be moot after all - I am currently on the verge of being rather hopelessly surrounded."

<Autobot> Air Raid says, "Hang in there Doc..."

Backfire whirls around, Penumbra stumbling towards the end of the board. "Pathetic. I though you were a mech of mettle, not some dumbling bumbling bafoon!" No Backfire, that would be you.&r&rANYWAYS, the Seeker has dropped the toy sword and ripped off the remains of the costume. Clasping both his hands together, a slight but immense light begins to build up between the two upon the friction. Raising them up, Backfire yells over his shoulder. "Kingforthemoment Dreadwind, you have company!!" The Decepticon turns back around, slamming the two hands on the ground...palm down. A flash of light envelops him, and all the squares around.

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime hisses. "Sorry about this, Fairway..."

<Autobot> Halligan says, "A little bit more"

<Autobot> Fairway says, "Perhaps I could blast the trap door open and save myself the trouble of being pounded by munitions fire."

Shockwave aligns himself with the northeast corner of his square, and watches Catechism. As soon as she moves, the forcefield's phase adjusts to allow his passage as long as he moves correctly. And he does, rebounding from the Autobot home side of the board to home in on Fairway with heavy footsteps ringing on the hollow floor like the ticking of an atomic doomsday clock. As he enters Fairway's square his single hand opens and swings out, his momentum continuing as his upper body swivels a full three hundred and sixty degrees at the waist. His open hand comes whistling towards Fairway at head level like a piece of industrial machinery made for crushing, for lifting and smashing, for hurling and beating.

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Might not be a bad idea."

Combat: Shockwave strikes Fairway with his Palm Crush attack!

Dreadwind sees one of those horribly cheery Autobot jets approaching his terribly lonely position and sighs heavily knowing exactly what has to come next, effort. "Why struggle against the inevitable Autobot, you will lie with the empties soon enough, better to give up now." He trudges forwards to C6 drawing his rifles and opens fire melting the area around him and with a bit of bad luck Fireflight as well.

Shockwave lifts and crushes Fairway against the force wall of H5, for those keeping track.

Combat: Backfire's Solar Fist-SLAM! attack on Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet goes wild!

Combat: Backfire strikes Catechism with his Solar Fist-SLAM! Area attack!

Combat: Backfire (Backfire) used "Solar Flare": A Level 1 AREA-RANGED attack.

Combat: You took 3 damage.

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

Combat: Backfire strikes Penumbra with his Solar Fist-SLAM! Area attack!

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

Combat: Dreadwind misses Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet with his Thermal Melters attack!

FINALLY.

Finally, Rodimus Prime can charge forward to the edge of the board. This time, he skids to a stop *before* he hits the forcefield, turns to face the Decepticons. "This is the end of the board, Decepticreeps." he proclaims. "I'm declaring myself King of this game!" Then he lifts his right hand, palm up, and flicks his fingers upward. "Come get me."

Rodimus Prime is in E8, BTW.

Air Raid has succumbed to pressing against all sides of the forcefield until a side gives, thoroughly confused on the 'rules' at this point. He's reached the very edge now, at square H8, and isn't rightly sure what to do with himself. At least Roddy appears to have taken charge.

Fairway is lifted up like a bag of rubbish and bashed against the forcefield wall, incurring cataclysmic damage. He bounces off the forcefield wall and drops through the board into the pit below.

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Rodimus has become the King? This is highly irregular. Catechism, your subroutines are displaying a flaw."

Air Raid cautiously lifts his hand as well, "I'm the queen then?"

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "Fairway! How are you?"

Halligan dashes onto G8 and selects Queen from the menu. "It's a whole new game now. Defense is over." he says putting away his shield and ASP Baton. Instead he pulls out his SPAS-12 Shotgun and loads some Terminator rounds in it.

<Decepticon> Motormaster hmphs.

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "Gnn. It must be because I borked the system to declare us all the better pieces and the Autobots all pawns..."

Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet transforms into his Fireflight mode.

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "But now it appears that the Autobots will all become queens, while those of us other than Avalanche possess no such ability due to having selected pieces superior to pawns initially. It appears that your strategy is undone. Now we face a much more difficult maneuver."

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "...guess I planned for the short term, rather than the long game."

Penumbra is not doing so good as he fights his way across this board square by square. There's a flash of light and he feels his optics stressed passed normal photonic capacity. He falls forward and crawls his way into A8. The dark colours of the shapes before him, he jabs fingers out and makes his new selection. "One of my favorite celebrities back on earth... Steve McQueen." And thus, Penumbra becomes the first mustached Queen in Battle Chess.

Fireflight has no idea whats going on but he does now he just got fired on. He just ducks and steps forward again. Hes getting real close to the end of the board and then what is he suppose to do?

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

<Autobot> Fairway says, "P...Prime... I've - agh. I'm in the pit.  Underneath...under the board."

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "A common error. Do not abuse yourself excessively. If not for the code error, we would now be the victors with 'Fairway' dispatched."

Fireflight steps into B7

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime sounds relieved. "Got it. What do you see?"

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

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

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "And they'd ALL be in the pit! But I'll learn next time!" Wait. Why is she even thinking there will be a next time of a stupid giant chess board?

<Decepticon> Avalanche says, "Then I shall choose the the queen chess piece when I hit the end of the board."

<Autobot> Fairway says, "Visibility low. I'm bleeding energon.  It's wet down here.  I can hear the forcefield generators..."

<Decepticon> Fragment says, "Perhaps Hungry Hungry Hippos next time."

<Decepticon> Air Governor Ramjet says, "Hnh. You, a queen? How apt."

Starfighter <Cyclonus> doesn't waste anytime as Rodimus becomes a King, "I didn't know your were that kind of sly warrior Rodimus! But this will not give you victory today!" In a burst of fire from his engines, Cyclonus flies to D7. Once again he must fires his incendiary bombs since those acursed forcefields block his way towards his target!

<Decepticon> Hook says, "And people say /OUR/ inventions are weird.  Pfffft!"

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Rodimus Prime with his Incendiary Bombs attack! [Pulled -2]

<Decepticon> Motormaster says, "Your inventions /are/ weird."

<Decepticon> Avalanche says, "Im sorry if Im trying to win this silly game, Ramjet. Unlike others, I dont have an image to uphold."

<Autobot> Patchwork says, "Are you okay Fairway? BLeeidng energon isn't good..."

Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> walks down to e2

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime hesitates. "If you can hold out, try to take out those generators, but if you need to, take the time to patch yourself up first."

<Decepticon> Air Governor Ramjet says, "I cannot hear you over the sound of my rampant enerholism."

<Decepticon> Air Governor Ramjet glug glug

Catechism gets struck out of the clear blue sky! She snaps, "Backfire! Stop breaking the laws of physics! Forcefields don't even work that way!" Then she protests to Rodimus Prime, "That's cheating! That's /my/ job!" Furious, she sprints over to f8 from f2, her lash trailing behind her. Its area nature allows her to crack it out at the Autobots' new king. Though, it does allow Halligan a shot at her back, if he wants it.

Combat: Catechism misses Rodimus Prime with her Whiplash Whirlwind attack!

Combat: Drained 11 energon.

<Autobot> Fairway says, "I shall do my best, Prime. Attempting repairs now.  Then I shall head toward the generators."

Dreadwind is somewhat surprised that Fireflight gave up the opportunity to attack him but then that only means that a much larger attack is no doubt already on its way to him. Dreadwind trudges forwards one square to C5 knowing full well that with all the Autobots now reaching or already at the other side they will be all coming to get him now, just his luck.

Looking up, it appears his targets have attempted to flee towards the end of the board. Lifting up into the air, Backfire flies over to B8 and slams his fists down on the ground again. "Running is FUTILE AUTOBUTTS!!"

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

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

The Orange Tiger notices that he's got a target in a movable square finally. He pounces at Halligan with a roar. "Checkmate!" he snarls, though he's really not understanding the rules of this game that well. He tries to bite the Autobot.

Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> moves to G8

Combat: Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> misses Halligan with his bite (Punch) attack!

<Decepticon> Backfire says, "Perhaps a lesson in Chess would have benefitted our troops Catechism?"

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "Ha. Ha ha ha. How would show up, anyway? You overestimate my capacity to terrorize the living daylights... I mean... motivate people."

Shockwave treads back across the board to the 'west,' clenching a fist purposefully. "The situation has changed radically," he declares, arriving shortly at A4 and watching the new 'queens' cautiously.

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Guarded.

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

Fairway finds himself in darkness. It is quite damp in the pit beneath the board, and the stale air vibrates as distant generators thrum. The odd spike juts up from the ground. He stands and tries to push on the trapdoor above him, but it won't budge. He turns toward the sound of the generators and takes a few steps toward them, but has to stop to repair himself before he can go any further.

Halligan hears Rampage leap at him but sidesteps away then right into Cate's square leaving the tiger locked up behind him. Halligan approaches Catechism and gives her a taste of some point-blank 'Terminator' rounds. Big friggin' slugs that make big friggin' holes. "Hands off the king missy."

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

Air Raid pauses there looking a bit helpless, not sure who to try and attack first, or if he even /can/. Dreadwind seems to be getting farther away at every turn. Defending Rodimus might be a tad pointless. Raid eventually moves back down to H5, deadset on the 'con king.

Combat: Halligan sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Halligan misses Catechism with his SPAS-12 Shotgun attack!

Combat: Halligan (Halligan) used "SPAS-12 Shotgun": A Level 5 RANGED attack.

Penumbra finds his feet and looks to the arriving zealous Backfire. "Looking tired, manifold mouth." Penumbra transforms to car mode and with his new access, drives diagonally back across the board to C6, approaching Dreadwind for as much as his access allows.

With a series of gear shifts and smoothly sliding components, Penumbra folds into himself to transform into his sleek Bugatti Veyron sportscar mode.

Combat: Bugatti Veyron <Penumbra> takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

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

Rodimus Prime rolls with the bomb's impact, lessening the damage even though it slams him against the forcefield. He still ends on his knees for a moment as he shakes his head to clear it. He doesn't stop for long, though. He leaps over Catechism's lash on his way to Cyclonus's square, making a crushing grab for the starfighter in the process. "If you left it in the rules, it can't be cheating, right?" Rodimus snarks at Catechism as he does this.

Fireflight steps into B8 and looks around. "Ok Im at the end, now what?" he asks no one in particular. He is completely lost at this point on just what is going on and wonder if he can steps off the board. He tries to and is met with the forcefield. He turns back around and looks at everyone, "Ok, sure I get it now... someone.. Bishop me." he smirks. Yea thats right, not a queen not a king, a bishop.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his CRUSHING GRAB attack! [Pulled -4]

Rodimus Prime ends in D7, by the way.

Mecha Tiger <Avalanche> finally moves down to e1 and comes to a halt, and then taps the sequence in to change his piece to a Queen. "Alright, the game is really on now."

Starfighter <Cyclonus> is crushed! And it hurts more than he would ever admit! Part of his armor is torn appart and the decepticon second in command quickly transforms back into his robot mode. Not wanting to go hand to hand against the Autobot leader, he circles around him, "So that was your strategy? Hidding as a pawn while sacrificing your troops?" With a quick move, he pulls his pistol and fires it at Rodimus, oping to catch him off guard.

The starfighter unfold into the robot form of Cyclonus.

Combat: Cyclonus strikes Rodimus Prime with his Oxidizing Laser attack!

Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> takes a flying leap onto F6 and ponders his options. If certain people remain where they are, he will have access to them next turn. He sits and waits for his chance. He nods and growls at the other Mecha-Tiger.

Combat: Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Momentarily retreating back towards A6, Backfire looks over his shoulder at Fireflight mid-air. "Don't worry Aerialbotch, I'll be back all too soon to end your insufferable existence!!" Without realizing it, he reached his boundry and knocked himself into the protective bubble. "DFFF... ...Catechism, if you made all the Autobots pawns... ...why didn't you make all of us Queens?"

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

Dreadwind sees Penumbra moving closer to him but no attack, which for the moment is a good thing but he can feel the optics of the Autobots burning into his heavily shielded sides. At this point however about all he can do is hope the other cons do something spectacular before his messy end, trouble is Dreadwind has no hope but trudges ever onwards towards his demise, which may come in D4.

Shockwave readies his maser and closes in on Rodimus, moving swiftly from A5 up to D7 on the diagonal, in support of Cyclonus. As soon as he phases through the forcefield into the square, his cannon speaks with a high-pitched but deadly VWEEEEM, the translucent coruscating beam lancing out towards Rodimus as Shockwave tries to cook important parts inside his body.

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Shockwave strikes Rodimus Prime with his Irradiate attack!

Catechism throws herself down flat to avoid Halligan's shotgun spray. From f8, she moves to d8, where she can threaten Rodimus King with her whip. Which is generally failing her today. So she takes a more aggressive stance and tries her luck once more.

Combat: Catechism sets her defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Catechism strikes Rodimus Prime with her Whiplash Whirlwind attack! [Pulled -1]

Combat: Drained 8 energon.

Fairway finishes his repairs and slogging through the water toward the deep humming sound of the generators. As he draws nearer, the water gets deeper and deeper; eventually it is up to his knees. The uneven ground and occasional cluster of jagged spikes don't help his progress any. He pushes onward, joints causing him no small amount of pain. He walks for what seems like a decacycle, and just when he is about to keel over he sees the round humps of the forcefield generators rising out of the dark and surrounded by a purple glow. He has now doubt that there will be a housing of some kind to get through on each module before he can begin the real work of sabotage.

Air Raid dashes down to D5 as soon as he's able, stopping right before Dreadwind's square. He unspaces his rifle to draw a pointblank bead on Dreadwind, but is thrown back against the forcefield as the pressure blast recoils. "Are you KIDDING ME!?" And now Raid proceeds to pound on the forcefield right in front of Dreadwind. "NRGHH!"

Fireflight moves to C7 and fires on Catechism suddenly.

"URGH!!" Rodimus cries out in pain as first he's struck by the oxidizer laser, then irradiated. He can feel the combined attacks eating away at his hydraulics, sapping his strength. He collapses to his knees under the assault and falls forward, supporting himself on all fours, and it is from this weakened position that he is hit by Catechism's whip. "There's more to my strategy than you suspect, Cyclonus," he grinds out, though truthfully, the words do sting, even if he didn't choose his position, anyway.

Letting the weight off one arm and one leg, he rolls to the right, onto his back, and raises his arms upwards, one pointed towards the two Decepticons crowding his square, the other directed to the adjacent square.

Combat: Fireflight misses Catechism with his Laser attack!

Combat: Fireflight (Fireflight) used "Laser": A Level 2 RANGED attack.

Combat: Rodimus Prime sets his defense level to Guarded.

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

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

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

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

Halligan moves to D8 in hot pursuit of Catechism, this time a little smack upside the head with the shotgun's stock will do nicely. "Now that my piece changed you cannot get away from me."

Combat: Halligan misses Catechism with his Stock smack upside the head (Punch) attack!

Combat: Halligan (Halligan) used "Punch": A Level 1 MELEE attack.

<Autobot> Fairway says, "I have reached the generators and am attempting to cut into the housing."

Bugatti Veyron <Penumbra> transforms and moves a few squares 'down' to C3, flanking Darkwing with Air Raid. "We're closing in on the 'ornament' now Air Raid."

With a series of gear shifts and smoothly sliding components, the Bugatti Veyron sportscar transforms into the Autobot Penumbra.

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

Rodimus Prime also didn't change squares or anything.

Cyclonus was expecting Rodimus Prime's next move and he swiftly move out of the way. The energy beams pass near his shoulders without actually hiting him. "Yes...kneel before us!" The unicronian reaches behind his back and pulls his sword. Then he springs towards Rodimus, as fast as a snake and the sword dives towards the Autobot leader's throat. Cyc remains in D7

Combat: Cyclonus strikes Rodimus Prime with his Diamond-Boron Carbide Sword attack!

Mecha-Tiger <Rampage moves over to D5 to pounce at Air Raid again. As he pounces, he fires his machine guns that are mounted on the sides of his Beast Mode. Pew pew pew pew pew. "Aerialbot Swiss Cheese, anyone?" he announces.

Combat: Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> misses Air Raid with his Gun-Ports attack!

Dreadwind looks back at Air Raid and appears to be almost sad at the fact that the design of the game has stopped him from being hurt. "As i told your, friend, it is pointless, all your efforts will be for nothing, there can be no winners here, there will only be loss, frustration and suffering." Gloom King Dreadwind steps diagonally forwards to E3 with the calm confidence that he's already doomed anyway.

Electric pulses smack into Shockwave's armor and roll down his surface into the floor as he withdraws, turning back to intercept Penumbra in C6 before he can close in to assist Rodimus. Shockwave's fist is raised to piston forth as he enters the square, stepping in with his cannon arm held out to block.

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Guarded.

Catechism evades being smacked with a rifle as four Decepticons pile on Rodimus Prime. The forcefields kindly stop Fireflight's shot for her. She thinks she'll invite herself to the party as she crowds into the already-packed d7, and just to make matters worse, she decides to crack out the acid and glorp some on Rodimus Prime.

Combat: Shockwave strikes Penumbra with his Defensive Strike attack! [Pulled -7]

Combat: Catechism misses Rodimus Prime with her Acid Strike attack!

Jumping up into the air, Backfire transforms into his F-16 mode and rockets over towards C7, firing a missile before actually arriving in the square. The program somehow allows this, seeing as the Seeker was already moving towards the intended spot in the first place.

Cybertronian technology shifts and configures into a F-16!

Combat: F-16 <Backfire> strikes Fireflight with his Missile attack!

Avalanche has disconnected.

Fairway carries around a number of toolkits, each one customized for whatever task may be at hand at any given moment. Now, he produces his cutting kit and selects one of his two cutting torches. Using his combat visor to ascertain the composition and density of the generator housing, he chooses the torch fueled by MAPP gas over the standard acetylene. He fires the torch and sets about cutting into the house slowly and deliberately, sparks pouring from the steel in a dazzling display to land smoking in the knee-deep water. It takes him a good 10 minutes to make any headway, but at last he can see the control board. The Autobot engineer deftly crosses some wires and hopes it will disrupt the forcefields!

Fireflight gets hit by misisle almost point blank by a con seeker that just blasted into his square. That was square now. He pulls his gun and fires at Backfire, "Hey go find your own square, flyboy!"

Penumbra gets fried by a glitch in the shielding. "Poprivets! Why you and your zero depth perception!" Penumbra hopes Fairway gets the lead out his aft about doing something about these forcefields. He makes his way from C3 to E3 towards Dreadwind. The wee Autobot forensics expert with a rapier against the relentless gloom meister. "Surrender now, trinket!"

Combat: Fireflight misses F-16 <Backfire> with his Photon Displacer Gun attack!

Combat: Penumbra's Rapier Wit attack on Dreadwind goes wild!

Combat: Penumbra misses himself with his Rapier Wit attack!

And lo, Fairway manages to sabotage Catechism's cheap, obsolete forcefields into malfunctioning. They flicker and falter, and perhaps some of the Autobots can escape now!

<Autobot> Fairway says, "I've gotten through to what looks like the main control board. Did that have any effect?"

Air Raid is, of course, not paying attention to anything behind him, yet catches sight of Rampage at the very last nano and dodges shells. "Don't got time for you, kit kat!" Skittering away, he rushes down to D3 and waits for the field to open. Oddly enough, it opens right then and there. He runs right up to Dreadwind now, beside Penumbra, and aims a punch at the emo-bot's helm. Like hell he's running away.

Combat: Air Raid strikes Dreadwind with his Punch attack!

<Autobot> Air Raid says, "Frag yeah! Alright Doc!"

"Oh, shut it, Cyclonus," Rodimus says as he starts to kick upwards. Then the forcefields vanish and he widens his optics. "AUTOBOTS!" he calls. "Pull out! There's no need to keep wracking up the damages over THIS nonesense!" Then, rather than kicking, he swings both his legs up, rolling back, then forward, to land on his feet. His Photon Eliminator is pulled from subspace, and rather than bringing it against the Decepticons, he fires directly downwards, trying to open an escape route for Fairway!

Halligan has disconnected.

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "Note to self: the forcefields in storage are probably stuck in storage for a reason."

<Autobot> Rodimus Prime says, "AUTOBOTS! Pull out! There's no need to keep wracking up the damages over THIS nonesense!""

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

<Autobot> Penumbra says, "What?! Oh, finally! This was getting embarrassing..."

Fireflight heads toward Air Raid, "Prime said to leave it! Lets go, Air Raid!" He steps back and transforms, taking to the air.

Fireflight transforms into his Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet mode.

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "So noted."

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "On the other hand, we totally had Rodimus Prime whupped, and his little Delorean, too! If only..."

Cyclonus jumps back to avoid the infamous photon eliminator since he didn't realize at first that Rodimus isn't aiming for him. He however quickly realizes what the autobot leader is doing. The trap is a failure in the end but they still have a chance to damage Rodimus Prime... enough so they he can't defend Mexico next time the Decepticons attempt to take over the city? Who knows! Launching himself forwards, Cyclonus throws a good ol right hand at his opponent.

Combat: Cyclonus misses Rodimus Prime with his Punch attack!

Ayotzinco, what a sad silly name.

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "It had been correctly executed? Your plan worked at least as well as many. It is worth reconsideration at a future date."

Dreadwind sighs in resignation as an Autobot finally manages to accost him in his own square, "Surrender? To you? The only thing that anyone can ever truely surrender to is their own inevitable demise which.." Dreadwind is cut off unexpectedly as Air Raid punches him in the head, thanks to the faltering shields, "A small drop to add to the ocean of suffering, it accumulates, growing ever larger trying to crush me entirely, there is no relief." Dreadwind raises his arms again, his rifles still held firmly and he fires. "There is no victory, there is only pain and death here."

Distracting the Autobots from Mexico. Yes. This trap was /totally/ about that. Catechism will be able to think of that in retrospect, a little wiser after the lessons of this game. She transforms into her jet mode and lifts up, freed fro, the constraints of the gameboard, and she sends a parting shot after the accursed Autobot warlord!

Catechism transforms to her jet mode, which is quite astoundingly simple for the coneheaded model that she is.

<Decepticon> Monstereo says, "Snakes and Ladders..."

Combat: Catechism sets her defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Dreadwind misses Air Raid with his Thermal Melters Area attack!

Combat: Dreadwind strikes Penumbra with his Thermal Melters Area attack!

F-16 <Backfire> transforms, hitting the ground with a *THUD* running almost instantaneously. "You are not going to leave this field of sacred BATTLE CHESS intact bearer of the MATRIX!!" The Seeker throws a punch aimed at Rodimus' face, but misses horribly and stumbles forward...eventually falling flat on his face. "OOMPF..I meant to do that!"

Combat: XF-35B Astral Lightning <Catechism> misses Rodimus Prime with her AIM-120C AMRAAM attack!

F-16 to Decepticon, Backfire is here!

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

<Decepticon> Monstereo says, "Now /theres/ a game for the whole family."

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "...if only that. Yes. Sir. And ARGH! Where is Soundwave or Wiretap when you need them? I'd even settle for Comcast..."

<Decepticon> Big-Brother-Sweep Sunder growls at the Junkion. "Off our airwaves, Junkion."

<Decepticon> Motormaster says, "Cram it, Monstereo!"

<Decepticon> Backfire says, "I am here Catechism, what is your bidding?!?!"

<Decepticon> Motormaster says, "Get your gutless broken down scrapheap ass off our frequencies!"

Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> notices that Autobots are getting away! The forcefields are down! He dashes after Air Raid, trying to trip him up.

Rampage succeeds in grasping Air Raid, throwing him off-balance.

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "Backfire, you must hunt down Monstereo and bring me his radio. This is your quest."

Shockwave clenches his fist and turns back. He levels his beam cannon at Rodimus, the barrel adjusting to the X-ray setting. Each time Cyclonus moves out of the way Shockwave pulses the emitter, sending a rapid set of radiation bursts towards the Autobot hero.

<Decepticon> Backfire says, "Permission to abandon Operation: BATTLE CHESS!"

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Aggressive.

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "Yes, yes, be off with you."

Combat: Shockwave misses Rodimus Prime with his Precise Shot Feat attack! [Pulled -2]

Air Raid can always appreciate Dreadwind's nigh artistic poetry, it always makes him grin. "Haha, whoa!" He dances out of the way, and then faulters at Prime's orders, glowering. After all that work! "Slag," he mutters, just before getting tackled by that damn tiger again, "HUAH! Get off!" Raid aims his rifle at the mecha-tiger's abdomen, firing off a twisting blast of pressure.

Combat: Air Raid strikes Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> with his Torque Rifle attack!

Penumbra is suffering mucho meltings this day. The depressicon's assault warps PEnumbras very joints inside their sockets. He transforms laborously and revs his engine. No longer a thing of beauty, the melted Bugatti Veyron accelerates. "Why don't yall reformat yourselves with a lugwrench?"

With a series of gear shifts and smoothly sliding components, Penumbra folds into himself to transform into his sleek Bugatti Veyron sportscar mode.

Combat: Bugatti Veyron <Penumbra> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Air Raid, Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet, Mecha-Tiger <Rampage>, Rodimus Prime, Cyclonus, Dreadwind, XF-35B Astral Lightning <Catechism>, Backfire, Shockwave, and Fairway

Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet heads toward Air Raid, "Prime said to leave it! Lets go, Air Raid!" He steps back and transforms, taking to the air.

Combat: Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from XF-35B Astral Lightning <Catechism>

"Woah!" Rodimus exclaims, leaping back to duck, roll, and dodge as several shots come his way. Though he's weaker than a kittenoid, his agility certainly seems unaffected. All these extra blasts where he was just standing prove to be handy, however, as the hole is widened, allowing Rodimus to spot Fairway beneath! The Prime dives for the ground, landing on the edge of the hole, and reaches in to grab Fairway. "C'mon, Doc," he says, planning to grab him up and out of the pit...

It's then that he realizes he's no longer capable of this! He winces in embarrassment, and still holding his arm down, murmurs, "Uhm, Fairway... can you climb out? I don't think I have the strength to lift you."

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

Fairway pose sees a distant trapdoor blasted open. This is his way out! He pushes through the water as fast as he can, stepping on a rather large spike in the process. He uses his jumpjets to bridge the distance fairly quickly; they overheat just as he reaches the new opening and sees Prime's arm. "Certainly, Prime," he replied. He then grabs hold and clambers up onto the board.

Cyclonus leaps into the air and transforms into his starfighter mode. Finally free from the forcefield, he soars up into the sky, "Do not let Rodimus Prime leave this place without feeling out wrath!" Then, withtout a warning, he dives towards the ground, accelerating at a crazy speed and aiming his nosecone at Rodimus. This is going to hurt!

Cyclonus leaps into the air and quickly transforms into a cybertronian starfighter.

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Rodimus Prime with his Ramming Speed attack! [Pulled -3]

Dreadwind doesn't take any pleasure in the damage he causes Penumbra but i slightly relieved by Air Raid's dodge straight into the path of Rampage which at least means that he doesn't have to moan at two stone walls at the same time. Penumbra however doesn't counter in fact he turns transforms and runs, "Far better to die now Autobot, you will only suffer more if you escape this time." Dreadwind doesn't go to the effort of changing his previous stance, he merely twists his arms so both his rifle sights are parallel each other and then his wrist weaponry flares to life.

Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> is shot by Air Raid and snarls. He realizes that there is retreating going on, so he rushes off, himself. After all, Popup Video is on MUCHMOREMUSIC in 20 minutes!

Combat: Mecha-Tiger <Rampage> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet, Starfighter <Cyclonus>, XF-35B Astral Lightning <Catechism>, and Shockwave

Combat: Dreadwind strikes Bugatti Veyron <Penumbra> with his Dual Wrist Blasters (Laser) attack!

Combat: Bugatti Veyron <Penumbra> falls to the ground, unconscious.

XF-35B Astral Lightning <Catechism> transforms and shakes her fist as the Autobots run away from her fiendish trap. As Penumbra falls, however, she shouts, "But we have your overpriced sports car, Rodimus Prime! Hah hah!"

Oh bother, someone will probably grab him.

XF-35B Astral Lightning transforms into robot form. Catechism's feet unfold, her arms unfold out of her body, her nosecone rotates through her body and ends up on her shoulders to expose her face, and her wings rotate into position.

"Your recommendation is heard and understood," drones Shockwave in that bored voice of his. Now that the forcefield cubes are gone, he can fire the atomic rockets built into his feet, rise up into the air, and transform. To bring the hammer down.

Shockwave undergoes an extremely simple transformation to become a giant flying space "laser."

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Fearless.

Backfire gathers himself and stands up, quickly dashing away. Penumbra collapses right in front of him, and the Seeker takes the opportunity to twist the knife.

Standing over the Autobot fencer, Backfire glowers "Ha, see what your foolish pride got you Autoscrap? Didn't I say I would GO THROUGH YOU!?!?" Backfire aims a kick at Penumbra, but knicks his foot off of the flooring instead. Boucing around attempting to grab his foot, the Seeker is screeching. "OWOWOWOWOWOW!!"

There is a whirring sound and a high-pitched whine as Shockwave's reactor charges his capacitor bank, and then to no one's surprise a dazzling, eye-searing beam of light slams out of Shockwave's barrel and carves the very atoms of Cybertron's thin atmosphere apart on its way towards Rodimus Prime.

Combat: Shoxcannon misses Rodimus Prime with his Shoxcannon attack!

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

Air Raid can't ignore Fireflight, finally scrambling away to reluctantly transform and take to the air. He circles to make sure Prime and Fairway were clear before heading after his brother. Poor Penumbra... Oh well, that's someone else's job! Raid manages a long laugh at Backfire as he takes off.

Air Raid shifts and twists, pieces sliding into place to form his F-15 Eagle mode.

Combat: F-15 Eagle <Air Raid> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Starfighter <Cyclonus>

Cyclonus has disconnected.

As soon as Fairway scrambles up, Rodimus is once more on the move. He doesn't even stand completely, transforming as he scrambles up and out of the way of Cyclonus's ram, and accelerates as Shockwave fires his impressive blast towards the Autobot leader, running towards Penumbra and just assuming that Fairway is following behind. He screeches to a stop next to the fallen Autobot, shouting, "Fairway! Get him on board!" as the back end of his 'wagon' lowers. Then, as soon as Penumbra is loaded, he's rolling again, charging away.

Rodimus Prime transforms into his Flamin' Winnebago <Rodimus Prime> mode.

Combat: Flamin' Winnebago <Rodimus Prime> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from F-15 Eagle <Air Raid> and Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet

Bugatti Veyron <Penumbra> the Queen is rescued by two Kings and is put in the back of theie wagon.

Fairway is rushing toward Penumbra before Rodimus gives the order. He puts his head down and pushes past Backfire on the way to Penumbra's side. "No time for you, Decepticon!" He spits. He loads his fallen comrade into Prime's trailer quickly and then transforms to retreat behind the Autobot Commander.

Shoxcannon blasts a hole into the chessboard big enough to crash a shuttle through, but then the chessboard was already broken, thanks to Fairway's expert meddling! "After them," commands Shockwave, revolving to try to re-target Rodimus while painstakingly recharging his capacitors.

Fairway drops forward onto his fists while his torso spins and his legs fold inward. His hood tilts up, head flipping back to disappear beneath it, and his arms lock into place at his sides. With a familiar, five-tone sound, Fairway transforms into a DeLorean DMC-12!

Combat: DeLorean <Fairway> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from F-15 Eagle <Air Raid>, Candy Apple and Cream white Phantom Jet, and Flamin' Winnebago <Rodimus Prime>

Penumbra has left.

Flamin' Winnebago <Rodimus Prime> is running away too fast for Shockwave to recharge! He's really booking!

Dreadwind sighs and his arms fall limply to his sides, "I told him it was pointless, they never listen."

Shoxcannon is soooo slow. ._.

Shoxcannon shoots at Rodimus' taillights after he's already way down the road. It's just like that one time with Carly.

Rodimus Prime vanishes out of reality.

Rodimus Prime has left.

Air Raid goes home.

Air Raid has left.

Backfire spins like a top after being pushed by Fairway, soon coming to an end before falling on his aft. "I really need to stop falling down soo much." he mutters to himself. The Seeker shoots his teammates a salute, "Farewell comrades, I go to silence the mouth of the Junkions!" With that, Backfire leaps into the air and transforms back into his alt mode.

Cybertronian technology shifts and configures into a F-16!

Combat: F-16 <Backfire> begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Fireflight goes home.

Fireflight has left.

Fairway vanishes out of reality.

Fairway has left.

Rampage goes home.

Rampage has left.

Rampage enters Rampage's Mecha-cave.

Dreadwind moves south to the Liberation Arch.

Dreadwind has left.

Fairway has arrived.

Fairway vanishes out of reality.

Fairway has left.

Shockwave simply straightens up and rotates in a few places to assume his robot mode.

Shockwave transforms back without visible disappointment and walks back towards the city without further trouble. By now he's probably used to people escaping him before he can shoot them.

Backfire has left.

Shockwave goes home.

Shockwave has left.

Shockwave enters the D.Ops' office.

Cyclonus has connected.

Cyclonus has disconnected.