The Long Night: The Destruction of Decepticon Island



Decepticon Island - Trypticon's Rest

Here lies Trypticon, baddest Decepticon of them all. This area of Decepticon Island has been sculpted specifically to provide support systems and an adequate repair infastructure for the Decepticon Cityformer. He currently rests upon a massive ferrocrete pad, the ever-present yellow sand of the island scraped down and levelled to permit this contruction. He is surrounded by all sorts of equipment, from giant mobile fuel tanks to construction gantries as the Decepticons try desperatly to repair the damage that has been done by first a near-scrapping in space and then brutalization at the hands of Metroplex. Hunkered down in his city mode, he is constantly backlit by the glow of welding torches.

Not all is doom and gloom however, for his ramps are down and a steady stream of seekers and other personnel enter and leave the fortress-facility. Make no mistake, this place is on it's way to becoming the Decepticon's nerve center on earth.

Some attempt has even been made at decorating this place, with giant rock spires sculpted into past Decepticon leaders and palm trees littering the area with leaves swaying in the wind. Here and there the screech of an irate monkey punctuates a thrown coconut towards some passerby. Here and there, the burned out crater of what used to be a palm tree indicates the former presence of a monkey that bonked someone with a coconut one too many times. Either way, Trypticon looms against the volcanic mountain that is the heart of Decepticon Island as a show of strength and stability to come.

Contents:

Nosecone

Battlecruiser 

Obvious exits:

Airspace  leads to Decepticon Island - Airspace.

Cove  leads to Decepticon Island - Cove.

Arena  leads to Decepticon Island - Arena.

Caves  leads to Decepticon Island - Caves.

Beachfront  leads to Decepticon Island - Beachfront.

Astrotrain has arrived.

Carnivac arrives from the Decepticon Island - Airspace.

Carnivac has arrived.

SEVEN WEEKS AGO: Trypticon has departed, touching down at the recently obliterated Earth Defence Command base. Decepticon Island is the last remaining holding on Earth. Entire battalions of Decepticon warriors remain, from burly groundpounders who transform into Class 3 Ruination Tanks to fleets of Seekers constantly patrolling from above. They watch the perimeter with unyielding resolve, scanning the seas for the surefire signs of Metroplex emerging. They sweep the skies, knowing all too well that Superion is sure to descend upon them. They stare at their long ranged sensors, terrified of seeing the inevitable sight of Omega Supreme entering the planet's atmosphere.

SIX WEEKS AGO: "Stand brave, my fellow Decepticons," someone says, keeping the quiver out of his voice. "They are massing their forces. I know it in my fuel pump. We must be prepared to meet them in glorious battle."

FOUR WEEKS AGO: Seekers lounge around at the docks, occasionally looking up from their fishing poles just in case anything is going on. The last of the Decepticon transports take off, taking with it any remaining supplies the Cons had assembled here. Bruticus yawns in the only way the Combaticon supreme can.

TWO WEEKS AGO: A tumbleweed drifts by. Bonecrusher chases after it for kicks and giggles.

NOW: Ramjet dangles his feet off the edge of the docks, strumming a banjo opposite Seawing. Two Predacons are seated on empty crates, arm wrestling each other. Shockwave reads from a clipboard, marking off that, yes, this island is pretty danged deserted. "Those guys on Charr get all the excitement," Flywheels complains.

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

While much of the Empire has forgotten about Decepticon Island in their lust for conquest, pillaging, or just terrorizing the hell out of human-kind, Command has not. Trypticon's absence did not make the Decepticon foothold on the planet they were currently running roughshod over any less important... okay, maybe it did make it less important, but the big lumox needed somewhere to come home.

Which is why one lone mechanical wolf was on the prowl, Carnivac circling the island's perimeter for the umpteen millionth time. It took a certain kind of crazy to keep doing that for so long.

Fortunately Carnivac has plenty of crazy to spare.

SEVEN WEEKS AGO: "Damn it, Prime! Let's kill these bastards! Ah'm tired of getting pushed around like we're helpless children!" As Prime shakes his head in a resounding 'no,' Scattershot tosses his cigar at his leader's feet, storming out of the Mars fallback communication room. Rodimus' hologram blinking out. He shakes his head at Lightspeed. "Nothin."

SIX WEEKS AGO: "Technobots, merge to form COMPUTRON!" The massive gestalt opens fire on Trypticon in a desperate gambit to allow intelligence teams access to the Con laps on Mars, Astrotrain swinging off of his face.

FOUR WEEKS AGO: "Viator sucks." Amber announces to the room. "I know right?" First Aid agrees. Scattershot is not present.

TWO WEEKS AGO: The lights go out. NOW: Time for some payback. Scattershot's battlecruiser form drops out of the sky over Decepticon Island, casting a massive awesome shadow over the Con skeleton crew. "Autobots, transform and croak some Cons!"

In a chorus of shifting and spinning parts, Astrotrain's body spins and lifts up into his large robot mode.

The ground erupts on Decepticon Island, and a drill tank emerges! It's Nosecone and he looks like he's dug his way right to the island. How long did that take?

TWO WEEKS AGO: Nosecone says, "I'm going to drill to Decepticon Island. Who's in?"

ONE WEEK AGO: Nosecone says, "It sure gets lonely down here drilling."

Nosecone falls forward, his treads falling and locking into place and his drill ready to tunnel!

 Carnivac says, "... I hear the sound of engines in the distance. Reverbation is different than a seeker..."

Afterburner has arrived.

 Fusillade says, "S'not me either, I'm in transit to the Absolution."

Astrotrain is one of those Decepticons that's fishing at the moment, in fact. Although for Astrotrain, he does it in a little different fashion.

Where he got his hands on another Sharkticon is anyone's guess, but this one is a sad example of its species, and its currently kept caged up in a makeshift pit made out of an old booster engine that makes a slick 'pool side' from which it cannot escape. Starved and near crazed by lack of eating for a good while, the triplechanger lounges back idly, while dangling what looks like a severed arm with an Autobot symbol on it on the end of a rope, then snatching it out of reach again.

"Here you go...just kidding!"

"Here you go...just kidding!"

"Ah ha ha ha...now -that-'s entertainment!"

Shockwave checks off the last shipment of self sealing stem bolts from his clipboard. Excellent. Efficiency in repairing quinto-lateral hydraulic array assembly in the backup energon fuel relays will increase by at least thirty-eight point four percent. Then, Carnivac relays a message on the Decepticon broadband. Ramjet sighs, "It wasn't funny the first time, Dipswitch, it won't be funny the thirty-eight thousand, seven hundred and fifth time either."

Shockwave however looks up to the skies, listening to the sound Carnivac reported. "Confirmed," he states. "Comparing audio file with Carnivac and my detection routines." After a brief moment, he spies a small speck on the horizon. "Decepticons, we are under attack! Scramble!" Shockwave tosses the clipboard aside, charging his arm cannon as the Technobot battlecruiser begins his rapid descent.

It takes a few moments--the Decepticons haven't been battle ready in four weeks--but the defenders get their act in gear, aiming upwards and firing a blazing series of laser beams and missiles. Beyond the Decepticons present, there isn't much in the way of stationary turrets.

Mecha Fenrir Wolf  pauses abruptly, ear-audials flicking up as he raises his head to the sky, astute senses having picked up the reverbration of engines in the difference... Not that it matters much, seeing as the Technobot is about as subtle as a sack of bricks being dropped from orbit. "Music to my ears," he chortles, leaving it to question if he means the sound of incoming attack or orders.

Though instead of joining everyone else in the Stormtrooper Shooting the mecha-wolf turns and bounces towards one of the island outcroppings, swiftly scaling to the top in a few jumps and perching there, turret warming up on his back, everpresent toothy grin across his muzzle in anticipation.

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf  sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Guarded.

Battlecruiser  swoops down on the Decepticons, transforming and landing on the shore near the just emerged Nosecone. "Ah'm sorry, did somebody here order an ass kicking?" He unslings his rifle, chomping on a fresh lit cigar. He spots Shockwave, and grins. "We get to scrap you too? Hell, Ah'd volunteer for this bliz twice. Nosecone, Big Purple is mine. Afterburner, you...Afterburner?" He glances around and rolls his optics. "Around here somewhere, I guess. Nosecone, if you see Afterburner, tell 'em Ah said to kill something."

The big mech points at Shockwave. "No mountains to drop on me this time."

Encore has arrived.

Folding and unfolding with the usual noise, Encore transforms into an AC130U Gunship

"What? I was takin' out sentries," Afterburner replies, coming out of the trees with his sonic blaster still buzzing. "Wouldn't want anybody calling in the Martians."

Scattershot unfolds into his hulk of a robot mode, lovingly props his pump action acid lined slug artillery rifle against his shoulder, and lights an energon cigar he stole from Kup.

Drill Tank  nods at Scattershot. "It appears so," he says. "So, shall we get to drilling Decepticons?" He looks over at where Afterburner pops up. "Oh there you are. Yes, go kill something."

The drill tank rears up, then reassembles into the form of Nosecone.

AC130U Spooky II Gunship  enters at his current best speed; still slightly damaged from the Hoover Dam, he's trailing smoke from one engine but that doesn't seem to be hindering much as the huge Spooky approaches Decepticon Island, just a little late for the party.

Well, the Sucide Jockey creed promises Delivery or Death - not punctuality. He's flying quite low, possibly making him harder to detect.. but, well, he's a 130-foot-wide gunship, in black-and-green RAF camouflage. How hard can he be to see?

<>

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Astrotrain looks up from his game of tormenting the poor Sharkticon, just in time to spot an incoming missile fired by an overzealous Decepticon defender who's aim leaves much to be desired. With barely enough time to hurl himself out of the way, the Triplechanger dives to one side just as the explosion lights up where he was a split second ago.

All that's left of the Sharkticon and its 'pit' is a smoking crater.

And this prompts Astrotrain to rise up, on his knees in the dirt and clenching his fists at the sky in overdramatic rage. "NOOOOOO! GIMPY! He was so young, so innocent! I'd just gotten him from Swindle and already he's been snatched away from me!" Getting to his feet, he makes a grand gesture to the smoking hole and the bits of sharkticon all around the perimeter, "Goodbye sweet crippled shadow of your species, I barely knew ye!"

A few heartbeats pass, and then Astrotrain is right back to business. "Okay, what's this about Autobots that need stomping!?"

All around the island, Decepticon Seekers transform take to the air. In times past they would have already been on patrol, but lately they let things slide out of suspicion that the Autobots were never coming. Soon, though, the presence of at least three Technobots on the field give them cause to start busting a move. The Autobots have them off balance, but it won't last for long.

Shockwave, meanwhile, is never off balance. "Carnivac, Astrotrain, engage Scattershot, Afterburner, and Nosecone. Keep them apart. Do not let them get close without suffering for it first." He doesn't actually know if Lightspeed and Strafe are present, but the odds are good. The Cybertronian Commander charges towards the recently landed Scattershot.

"Your strategy is flawed, Technobot." Shockwave fires a trio of arm blasts in an attempt to keep Scattershot off guard, but this is just a setup for him to get in close and smack him with his free hand. "Decepticon Island is not the lynchpin of our war effort it once was. You would be better off scurrying back home to assist your helpless human allies."

Combat: Shockwave strikes Scattershot with his Shoot Shoot Shoot Punch attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Drained 5 energon.

Mecha Fenrir Wolf  may be crazy but he isn't stupid. You see one Technobot and it's likely others will be nearby.. sure enough, Nosecone comes out of the ground and after a few forgotten and overgrown defenses are blown up Afterburner comes running in as well. Taking the high ground is entirely sound tactically.

It also gives him a good vantage point from atop the rocks to spot a second aircraft coming in low, the sound of props having almost been drowned out by Scattershot's engines and beligerance. "Incoming air support!"

The robotic wolf peeks up from behind the rocky peak just far enough to aim his gun in the general direction of Encore's approach and fire off a few weak shots. More of a warning to try and divert him off course than actually hit, but he's not going to complain if a shot or two gets lucky!

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> strikes AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> with his I'm not really an Anti-Aircraft Defense I just play one (Disruptor) attack!

<Decepticon> Carnivac barks. Almost literally. "Incoming air support!"

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Do what damage we can. If necessary we will pull back. Decepticon Island is not worth suffering critical damage over."

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Scattershot starts sidestepping blasts from Shockwave so easily it's almost funny...Of course, he gets punched in the face. One thing with the big mech: he rarely sees the big picture. He spits energon, glancing around, quickly realizing that the Technobots have hit the island a little more chaotically than planned. No Computron. For now.

Not that he needs Computron to slay the cyclops. Scattershot settles back into a fighting stance and returns fist fire! "Nice shot! My turn!" The Technobot starts dropping bombs, reclaiming ground on his opponent with every swing.

Combat: Scattershot misses Shockwave with his Punch attack!

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

"Scattershot, look out!" shouts Afterburner, a little too late. Shockwave's on top of his team leader before he can recharge his gun, but as the punch slams Scattershot back it clears Afterburner's line of fire, and he takes a ready stance and lets fly with a carefully-aimed double-tap of concussion waves to try to knock Shockwave away from his leader.

Combat: Afterburner sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Afterburner misses Shockwave with his Sonic Blaster Pistol attack!

Combat: Afterburner (Afterburner) used "Sonic Blaster Pistol": A Level 4 RANGED attack.

Combat: Afterburner's weapon has jammed! RASPBERRY!!

Combat: Scattershot is size 7, the same as you.

"Oh for Primus's sake..." curses Afterburner, banging on his sidearm as the weapon, still cooling from taking out the sentry gumbies, overheats.

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> thinks he's getting away with his sneaky approach; he's hoping Scattershot's wonderfully loud engines will mask his own not-so-quiet approach, but alas, Carnivac notices.

<<Not content to take yer arsekicking from that bar-fight, eh Carni?>> He calls out, gaining altitude quickly to try and avoid the Con's fire, but... well, he's a big target, so his already-a-bit-damaged form takes some more hits, scoring his tail ramp a little. He turns away from Carnivac - but not to flee...

He's turning away because, as the Decepticon will no doubt be aware, his guns are side-mounted. The minigun he's carrying instead of the GAU-8 cycles up to speed and begins to rain down fire toward his long-time favourte frutloop-foe-and-drinking-buddy.

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> strikes Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> with his Personal Raincloud (Pistol) attack!

"You know, you really should take better care of your pets," Nosecone says, shaking his head at the mess near Astrotrain. "So then I will take care of you." He fires his x-ray pistol at the Triplechanger.

Combat: Nosecone misses Astrotrain with his X-Ray Pistol attack!

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Shockwave looms over Scattershot, figuratively if not literally. While Scattershot uses a mean fighting stance, Shockwave remains tall, using his height to his full advantage. The fists come flying at him rapidly, and Shockwave blocks with his forearms. Each impact causes Shockwave to take a half step back, but he refuses to let Scattershot get past him. Hopefully the rest of the Decepticons are doing the same to the others. Out of the corner of his optic, he spies Afterburner taking aim. He starts to swing his arm cannon towards him, but it quickly becomes clear that the mech's weapon has jammed. "It seems Autobot maintenance has fallen to a greater degree than we suspected," he comments even as he viciously smacks away another fist that was coming his way.

Shockwave returns his arm cannon towards Scattershot, firing a low burst at the mech at point blank range. The intent is to blow off Scattershot's right kneecap. "Has it occurred to you that the Autobots have been outmatched this entire campaign? We took Mars from you, we unearthed the equipment we needed, we threw this entire planet into chaos, and only now are the Autobots starting to retaliate... poorly. Most of your forces are stranded in every corner of the globe, helpless."

Combat: Shockwave strikes Scattershot with his Disruptor attack!

Combat: Gained 1 energon.

"I take plenty good care of my pets!" Astrotrain retorts to Nosecone as he ducks suddenly, letting the shot streak past overhead and reducing a few unlucky tropical trees behind him into ash. "Gimpy had the best 12 hours of his life since I purchased him! And the -last- Sharkticon I had got all the walks he could have wanted until he uh...mysteriously...disappeared one day, possibly during a drunken binge that I don't remember a moment of afterwards...but that's not the point!" Spotting something in the sand nearby, Astrotrain reaches out and scoops it up in one hand.

It's a severed Sharkticon tail, with the mace-end still intact. "...here's the point!" And with that, he simply gives the spiky-balled tip a quick couple of whirls overhead, then tosses it with full strength back in the Technobot's direction.

Combat: Astrotrain strikes Nosecone with his Let me tell you a TAIL attack!

Sideswipe has arrived.

Sideswipe comes flying in from San Francisco way, having heard the chatter on their frequency. He finds a place to land and takes in the situation.

"We were busy! Doing... stuff!" Afterburner protests lamely, taking cover behind a tree while he ejects the superheated fuel cell in his sonic blaster and replaces it with a new room-temperature one. "Your stupid face is ugly!"

As the Spooky turns to fire, Carnivac backs up and ducks down, continuing to creep back as bullets rattle against the rocky formation he's perched on.

Unfortunately all those shots have put cracks and nitchs in the stone, and when the weight of a metallic beast is applied in the wrong spot, it crumbles. Carnivac yelps in surprise, scrabbles with his claws a bit, but more rocks just break away and down off the edge he goes.

Cue Goofy fall scream, followed by a WHUD at hitting the ground.

Followed by flipping back onto his feet as he transforms, pulling out his rifle and pressing back up to the remainder of the rocks, not wanting to entirely give up his defensive position as he fires back at Encore hopefully before he gets a chance to turn around.

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> misses AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> with his Pew Pew Pew to You! (Laser) attack!

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

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Scattershot refuses to show anything that looks like real pain to a Decepticon, so when his leg gets the scrap blasted out of it, his face twists in pain, the Autobot staggering forward. "What can Ah say? We get bored slaughtering you guys. Also, what Afterburner said. When the (slightly) angrier Technobot opens fire, Scattershot uses that as his cue to get some face time with the 'Con commander!

Combat: Scattershot sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Scattershot strikes Shockwave with his HEADBUT TO FACE (Ram) attack!

Combat: Scattershot (Scattershot) used "Ram": A Level 3 VELOCITY attack.

Combat: You took 3 damage.

Nosecone is clubbed with a dismembered Sharkticon tail and oofs. "Sure you do," he says to Astrotrain. The spiked ball makes quite a dent in Nosecone's armor. "Well, then, take this." He fires another blast at Astrotrain.

Combat: Nosecone strikes Astrotrain with his Disruptor attack!

Sideswipe sees Nosecone taking a dent from his opponent and decides to step in and try to offer him a helping hand. Pulling his rocket launcher into position over his shoulder, he takes aim and fires one of his Flares in hopes of blinding the big 'Con.

Combat: Sideswipe misses Astrotrain with his Magnesium Phosphorous Flares attack!

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> banks around hard as Carnivac's shots whistle past him, keeping the Decepticon on his left as he turns. This time his Bofors gun wakes up and fires; Encore's spotted the cover Carnivac's using and he's attempting to counter it by lobbing bigger explosives.

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> strikes Carnivac with his Bofors Cannon attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Afterburner sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Sideswipe sets his defense level to Guarded.

Afterburner gets the new fuel cell plugged in, leaning back against the big coconut palm to peer over his shoulder at the battle.

Combat: Sideswipe sets his defense level to Neutral.

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Astrotrain suffers the indignity of being shot this time by raising one arm to shield his face as the energy blast lances against his forearm. "Grrr, you little Technocreeps and your gunplay. Let's se how tough ya are when ya ain't clinging to one another like a bunch of kinky..." And then there's a flare going off near his face, and it's only on instinct that Astrotrain shields his optics with both arms, blinking a few times as he peers up once again. Spots in his vision, but nothing else thankfully. "They're crawlin outta the freaking woodwork...awright, that's it!" And with that the big triplechanger is lunging forward at a full run, suddenly twisting around and bringing one huge foot in a sweeping motion as he attempts to kick Nosecone violently...and try to send the Technobot hurling in Sideswipe's direction for good measure.

Combat: Astrotrain strikes Nosecone with his Two for one booting! (Ruckus) Area attack!

Combat: Astrotrain misses Sideswipe with his Two for one booting! (Ruckus) Area attack!

"You clearly do not understand the definition of the word 'slaughter'," Shockwave replies. "Decepticons have been achieving victory after victory on this planet." With Scattershot briefly staggered, Shockwave closes the gap entirely with the intent to finish him off. Unexpectedly, Scattershot surges forward himself, driving his forehead into Shockwave's face. The Decepticon lets out a muffled grunt as he's forced to take several steps backwards. Shockwave is backed up against one of the walls that normally merge into Trypticon whenever the mech is here. This might be the opportunity Scattershot needs to haul ass over to his brothers.

Determined to prevent that if he can, Shockwave quickly aims for the Technobot's other kneecap, firing a second pink blast of infrared energy. "You never did explain, Technobot: Why are you even here? Has your rash desire to attack us led you to waste your time on strategically unimportant targets? Is this a last ditch effort to delay the inevitable?" Shockwave pushes himself away from the silvery wall with his hand. "Or have you come to realize the inherent weakness with the alliance you have with the human civilian government?"

Combat: Shockwave misses Scattershot with his Shooting kneecaps is hilarious (Laser) attack!

Combat: Drained 2 energon.


 * FWOOM* The BOFOS shell wasn't a direct hit, but it was close enough the blast wave of the shell hitting the ground sents Carnivac tossed backwards and skidding across the ground as little smoking bits of rock clatter around him. The Mayhemer sits up a bit and rubs his head. "Okay, defensive isn't working." He rocks back onto his shoulders and kicks up onto his feet. "Time for attack, attack and ATTACK some more! Rahaha!"

Bracing his rifle in his arms Carnivac charges back out into the open this time, hefting his trademark weapon upward and firing it at the airborne Autobot. "Let's see how well you fly with your engines running cold!"

Combat: Carnivac sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Carnivac strikes AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> with his Anti-Thermal Cannon attack!

Combat: That attack has slowed AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore>, making him less efficient.

Scattershot rolls his optics, his big dumb hard head is not even scratched. "You know, hearing you ranmble reminds me of that one time you...Oh yeah. Payback." He opens fire, full auto, on the transforming support devices aboove Shockwave as the purple mech takes his own shot. The metal groans, and collapses!

No more time to waste. Scattershot moves quickly from the fight, pointing at Afterburner as he heads for Nosecone. "Let's move!"

Nosecone is kicked towards Sideswipe but fortunately doesn't fall into him. "My, my," he says, rubbing his head. He's a little slow to get up.

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

"The humans suck, and if we didn't have to carry 'em we could be back on Cybertron fighting the REAL war," Afterburner replies. "But if Rodimus says we help out the little rugrats then we help 'em out. Nobody's gonna say the Technobots can't handle any assignment they're given," Afterburner shouts defiantly, popping back out from behind the trees and blasting away at Shockwave with his sonic pistol as he runs towards Scattershot, coconuts exploding as stray concussion waves pass through them.

Combat: Afterburner sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Afterburner strikes Shockwave with his Sonic Blaster Pistol attack!

Combat: Afterburner (Afterburner) used "Sonic Blaster Pistol": A Level 4 RANGED attack.

Combat: You took 7 damage.

Combat: Afterburner's weapon has jammed!

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> flies... rather like a brick, actually, with his engines cold. But he's got just enough control to at least attempt to make it a well-flung brick, rolling over and plummeting towards Carnivac, his propellors fully feathered for minimum air resistance.

Carnivac should have -exactly- enough time to realise how silly it is freezing engines that a) burn something and b) are carried on something stupid enough to try and headbutt you and heavy enough to make it count.

The huge autobot makes almost no sound as he plummets, save for the heavy BOOM of his impact on the ground., hopefully ontop of Carnivac

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> misses Carnivac with his I'm a 130-foot BRICK! (Ram) attack!

Afterburner blames it on his overclocked trigger finger. Afterburner is equipped with the body parts and subprocessors to fire his weapons three to five times faster than any normal Autobot! Sadly his weapons are not quite up to the task.

Sideswipe half hears Shockwave's questions but doesn't have time for snappy comebacks since he was too busy cursing heavily about the wasted flare. Damned but he needs to start carrying more than just the couple he has on hand. As he thinks about closing in, he sees Astrotrain's foot pull back and punt Nosecone towards him. Though he knows he should catch his friend, if he does, he'll just get tangled up and it'll take out both of them. With a quick twist, he avoids his fellow 'bot and with luck it brings him right next to Astrotrain's leg. He brings up his firsts and decides to go for an old one-two move against him to try and go for a joint, do a little damage, topple the giant by taking away his support.

Combat: Sideswipe strikes Astrotrain with his Piledriver Arms attack!

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This is one of those times Carnivac knew -exactly- what he was doing, despite how crazy it may of seemed. Because crazy is how he works. As the Spooky comes in on a stalled dive he grins (more than usual) and lifts up one arm to give Encore a mock wave. "No Buck Buck for you this time!" Before diving and rolling out of the way of the crash landing.

The sad thing is he's been in enough bar brawls with the suicide jockey to actually know what 'Buck Buck' means and how it relates to this scenerio.

And the end of his dodge maneuver her rolls and twists, changing forms as he does so to land on all four legs. Beach sand and burned foliage is kicked up as he bounds back towards the gunship, leaps, and tries to tear in with claws and teeth like a rabid... well, dog.

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

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> strikes AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> with his When Animals attack! [Pulled -2]

Astrotrain hasn't got time to laugh at Nosecone's misfortune, because Sideswipe is suddenly using those piledriver arms and sending the triplechanger crashing to the ground in short order, skidding halfway across the ground and coming to a halt in an undignified heap. "...hokay...fine." he mutters, the attack having been more a blow to his pride than his body at the moment. Rubbing slowly at the top of his head, he abruptly shifts and twists in place, transforming as he goes and slamming down onto his eight huge wheels. Letting loose with a shrill blast from his train whistle, and with a brief *BARRUUMPH* of rocket engine assistance from his rear-mounted boosters, Astrotrain's huge locomotive form is suddenly hurled forward with all the momentum of...well, a runaway freight train.

In such a short period of acceleration and without time to line up properly, he can't hope to give Sideswipe the full attention he deserves, but he nonetheless tries to catch the red Autobot with one side of his heavily armored front end as he passes.

Shockwave's attempt to regain the advantage comes to an abrupt halt as Scattershot cuts loose, blowing away a support strut that's part of the plug-in assembly for Trypticon. Shockwave looks up long enough to see huge metal slabs, beams, and panels come crashing down upon him. He shields his head as best he can with his arms, but from the way the loud clanging and banging can be heard across the battlefield, it isn't looking good.

Finally, a huge section of the tower teeters, totters, and falls onto Shockwave. It would be devastating were it not for Shockwave bracing himself and throwing all of his strength forward, catching the tower and keeping it aloft over hish ead before it could crush him. Shockwave makes a wheezing noise like two gears grinding against one another as he struggles to keep it off of him. Just before it looks like Shockwave is going to prevail and hurl the tower off of him, Afterburner runs by and blasts him with his newly recharged sonic pistol, knocking Shockwave off his feet. The tower crashes down, burying Shockwave underneath the rubble.

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Protected.

Parts spin, wings extend and Astrotrain transforms into a huge purple space shuttle.

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

Combat: Regained 12 energon.

With body twisting in place while folding up on himself, Astrotrain slams to the ground as a huge armored locomotive.

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

Combat: Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> misses Sideswipe with his Train Crossing attack! [Pulled -3]

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Afterburner hits the ground as a sort of armored battle-motorcycle.

Sideswipe is actually quite surprised that his one-two punch toppled the big 'Con. But he realized that yeah, it was probably more out of surprise than anything else. He moved a bit to the side as he saw Astrotrain begin to transform and blinked. "

Sparks fly from Afterburner's wheel rotors as he guns his motors and swerves through coconut palms towards Scattershot. "Watch out, airplane guy! You've got something on your wing!" His missile launcher's camera swivels to lock onto Carnivac, programming the missile's seeker-head with the mecha-wolf's image. The rack turns upwards and the missile hisses free of its tube, rises into the air and swerves back down, hunting for its target!

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> is in the middle of transforming and pulling his head out the ground when Carnivac hits, clamping down onto his arm as he stands. "No Buck Buck" He growls. "But I can still bring in the smackdown."

As he speaks, he begins to slam his huge fist into the wolf's head, dragging him around a little and looking like the poor guy whose job it is to get savaged at police dog demonstrations.

Combat: Rocket Bike <Afterburner> misses Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> with his Incendiary Missiles attack!

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> misses Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> with his Down boy! (Punch) attack!

"I think we'd be better off together," Nosecone remarks, looking over at Scattershot. He waits for the technobot commander to give the order.

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

Sideswipe is actually quite surprised that his one-two punch toppled the big 'Con. But he realized that yeah, it was probably more out of surprise than anything else. He moved a bit to the side as he saw Astrotrain begin to transform and blinked. "Oh wow! We're gonna play model railroad now? Do I get to wear the Conductor hat and everything?" he asks as he staggers back a little, watching the train begin to speed up and head straight for him, though it's a bit...off. Waiting at the last moment, he does a move that looks like it might have been right out of the Matrix and tries to leap up to grab ahold of the top of the train, planning to straddle the top if he can.

Combat: Sideswipe strikes Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> with his Bad Touch (Grab) attack!

Figures. Givw him a few seconds and Burner is off crying at wolves. He's still close enough though- Lightspeed and Strafe touch down behind the group. "Technobots! Merge to form...Computron!" The baddest combiner in the business comes together, towering over the battlefield. Encore passes over his head, because it looks awesome.

Computron has arrived.

Computron strides in while making a series of computations.

Scattershot has left.

Nosecone has left.

Afterburner has left.

Encore transforms into his robot mode, lighting a cigar and adjusting his hat.

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Combat: Removed restrictions on CORRUPT for your attacks.

Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> hates it when he has to carry things that he doesn't want to carry. Like Constructicon gestalts inside his innards. Or Terrorcons that have no respect for not touching things they shouldn't touch. Or entire dinosaur city-robots through space.

Admittedly that latter one was more a towing/steering job than an actual carrying one, but it still counts. What also counts are Autobots that try to hitch a ride on the train that moves without need of tracks, currently beating a path through the jungle foliage at breakneck pace. "No hitchhikers. Geddoff already!" For now, Computron's arrival is all but ignored as Astrotrain focuses on one thing at a time, anything more being a terrible strain for his poor CPU. Right ahead of where Sideswipe clings, an armored cowling slides back as an empty turret that looks like it -could- be manned under other circumstances rises up, pointing its double barrelled laser in the Autobot's general direction.

Combat: Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> strikes Sideswipe with his Scratching my own back attack!

The huge pile of crushed and collapsed metal shifts long after it crashed. There's still movement going on under there, and it isn't long before Shockwave smashes away the remaining I-beams and armour paneling. Emerging from the wreckage with scrapes and scuff marks all over his armour, Shockwave is in time to see the Technobots merge to form Computron. Inevitable, perhaps, but it took them longer than normal to get their act together. Without hesitation, Shockwave takes aim with his arm cannon, letting it charge for a half second before cutting loose with a blast of concentrated X-Rays aimed to slice through the connector point between Nosecone and Scattershot.

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Shockwave misses Computron with his Arm Cannon X-Ray Blast attack!

Combat: Drained 29 energon.

Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> gets swung around a few times, but twists and grapples with the larger mecha to get from getting pummeled too badly. All the erratic movement makes it hard for the missiles to lock on and they go blasting past. But not to waste, as they slam into some other piece of Decepticon fortification remaining on the island and turn it into a nasty looking fireball.

Carnivac does finally just let go, cackling gleefully as he bounds out of Encore's reach for the moment. "I think it's time for you to leaf." Shouldn't that be leave?... Maybe not, as he grabs a palm tree knocked over by Encore's landing by the trunk with his teeth and swings it at the Autobot.

Combat: Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> strikes Encore with his Coconuts To You! (Punch) attack!

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Sideswipe lets out a 'Yahoo' as he manages to get ahold of Astrotrain and go for a ride. He hangs on tight, digging in his fingers and heels, laying low and flat against the trains back. When he sees the gun turret pull back and the cannons lift up, he winces, ... oh this is gonna hurt. He tries to make himself as little of a target as possible by laying flat but still feels the scorching blast go down the back of his head, travling down his back armor and his blaster pack. But he managed to hang on and sits up a little and snarls, "So, I guess this means no 'caboose' for you this year for Christmas." With that, he decides to bring both fists down on top of Astrotrain.

Combat: Sideswipe strikes Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> with his Piledriver Arms attack!

With a ponderous clanging and crunching the Technobots unite, piling together and rising into the form of Computron, the walking cogitator! He stands still for a short while and examines Trypticon's support infrastructure, allowing Shockwave to irradiate him with no visible results. "ANALYZING METALLURGICAL FLAWS. WORKING... WORKING... WEAKNESS FOUND." Computron steps over the blast-retaining wall and reaches down to pick up two of the fuel tanks, one in each hand as if he was hefting a pair of carboys. "IN THIS SCENARIO, COLLATERAL DAMAGE IS DESIRABLE. MAXIMUM COLLATERAL DAMAGE CALCULATED. EXECUTING."

Computron raises one of the fuel tanks to shoulder height and hurls it towards the beach. He draws his cannon and fires into the distance- immediately a fireball climbs into a mushroom cloud behind the battle as the various Decepticon beachfront constructions go up in flames.

"EXECUTING," Computron repeats, flinging the other fuel tank to the ground and stomping on it. Fuel sprays out everywhere as Computron points his cannon downwards and fires again, igniting the spray into a rain of fire centered on his own position.

Combat: Computron sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Computron strikes Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> with his Rain of Fire (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Computron misses Shockwave with his Rain of Fire (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Computron (Computron) used "Full-Auto": A Level 2 AREA-RANGED attack.

Combat: Computron strikes Encore with his Rain of Fire (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Computron strikes Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> with his Rain of Fire (Full-Auto) Area attack!

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "Gah! Freaking combiners. How come -ours- are never around when we need em? Shockwave, I don't suppose you got some secret little handheld mode like Megatron used to do ya?"

Encore takes the hit to the chest and gets bowled sideways a little. He stands slowly with a grumble, raising his Bofors rifle and slapping a fresh clip into the breech. As the flames wash over him, he scowls - though he does quickly grab a cigar and use the handy flame to light it.

"WATCH IT!" he shouts "RED ON RED!"

Then he aims at Carnivac again, growling uietly as he squeezes the trigger to send all five of the fat slugs downrange at the wolf!

<Decepticon> Carnivac says, "He can fly, he doesn't -need- someone yanking his trigger."

<Decepticon> Shockwave doesn't answer the question. "Maintain your distance from him. Hold him off while our remaining forces retreat."

Combat: Encore strikes Mecha Fenrir Wolf <Carnivac> with his Bofors Rifle attack!

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Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> keeps thundering through the trees at full speed, smashing them aside like toothpicks in his path until he emerges from the clump of foliage to the other side. The heavy *CLANK* of the piledriver fists against his armor rings out, and though armor buckles, it's really more cosmetic than anything else. The fire from Computron's improvized methods scorches his frame too as he quite literally roars -through- the inferno and out the other side. "Grrrr. Since we're gonna make train jokes..." And then he abruptly transforms, with Sideswipe still clinging onto him. "Last stop, pain city. All passengers disembark..." as Astrotrain rises up, his two big hands reach up in an attempt to seize Sideswipe by his sides...and literally arc him up, over and slam him straight down -into- the ground head-first. "...that means YOU!"

In a chorus of shifting and spinning parts, Astrotrain's body spins and lifts up into his large robot mode.

Combat: Astrotrain sets his defense level to Neutral.

Combat: Astrotrain strikes Sideswipe with his Eat some Dirt attack!

Scourge was last connected on Wed Apr 11 08:00:23 2012; that was 47d 10h 9m 21s ago.

Shockwave, upon seeing the lack of damage dealt to Computron, holds his arm cannon aloft to examine the stress marks that protecting himself from the tower collapse caused. Perhaps there was undetectable damage done by the burying. Either that or he has the thing set on low. Upon Computron announcing his plans, Shockwave immediately follows where the Combiner is looking. He spies the fuel tanks even before the Technobots have reached for it.

Igniting his boot thrusters, Shockwave blasts off into the sky, seeing what's about to happen a mile away. "Decepticons, rise up! Computron is g-" Fa-WHOOSH! The fuel tank shatters against the ground, spraying the highly flammable liquid across a huge portion of the beach. A second later, and EVERYTHING IS ON FIRE.

The Decepticon looks down. The island is ablaze, and it seems to be catching. Normally the island is equipped with measures to deal with such situations, such as forcefields to smother the flames, but the systems were evacced in week four of the imaginary Autobot siege. Soaring away from Computron in an attempt to stay out of his reach, Shockwave fires a series of four arm blasts; it's a shot for each of the limb connectors.

Combat: Shockwave strikes Computron with his Four quick shots attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Drained 23 energon.

"Bwaahahaha!" Carnivac drops the tree as he rolls over on his back laughing, for the moment looking more like a hyena than a wolf. "You're fit to be tree-d! Maybe you shoulda branched out! Hahah--" The laughter is cut short however as it starts to rain flaming fuel. "Aroo?" He looks up... just in time for Encore to open fire, direct hit this time, that sends the mecha wolf flying head over tail before crashing to the ground.

Note to self, Encore now has that gun in robot mode. And it still hurts.

Tidbit filed away, he lurchs to his feet and shakes himself off, clancing to the side for a moment. "Sorry, as much fun as facepool is, got bigger idiots to worry about." He turns and bolts, summoning his larger, more durable Pretender shell as he does so (which also conveniently snuffs out the flames as he's locked inside. With several quick sprints and turns he circles around behind the gestalt, trying to stay out of both Computron's and his previous foe's easy range while opening fire with his piercing eye beams.

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

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> strikes Computron with his 20/20 Fission attack!

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Encore shrugs a little with a laugh, blowing smoke from the gun and slapping a fresh clip in. He's about to charge in on Carnivac to punish him for changing targets when he gets a suggestion. He takes three running steps and then jumps, transforming at the apex of his arc and pouring on the power... even if one of his engines is slow to catch and spits smoke. He circles to gain altitude as fast as possible

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

Sideswipe was doing ok with the whole train-ride until it got nasty. He knew in his mechanical innards what was coming next wasn't going to be pretty if Astrotrain's words were any indication. But he had a chance and tried to cling in a way that would put him on the giant 'Con's back instead. But there was no such luck. The 'Con had him and now he was on a 'Train to Knocks-ville', literally, as he felt massive hands grab him and slam him into the ground.

But years of living with Sunstreaker taught him how to fight dirty and how to cheat...he's good at cheating and there's no such thing as a fair fight. Even though he felt every bolt in his body rattle and his cervos clatter, he took booth fists and slammed them down on one of the hands that hand a hold of him. Hey, who knows, he might get lucky and break a finger off while he's at it.

Computron is attacked from two sides. One is a laserbeam and the other is some strange ray from Shockwave. "DATUM. ATTACK FROM FAR. DATUM. ATTACK FROM NEAR. CONCLUSION: BAD DOGGY!" He swings his foot at the pretender wolf.

Combat: Computron misses Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> with his Kicking A Puppy! (Kick) attack!

Combat: Sideswipe misses Astrotrain with his Shoryuken (Smash) attack!

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Astrotrain is a few things. Obviously for one, he's a triplechanger. He's also big by Decepticon standards, standing eye to eye with the likes of Galvatron or Shockwave. On top of this, he's also very strong...and very very fast. In short he's got a lot of raw abilities that your average seeker would covet to no end and may even argue that he doesn't even deserve given his attitude. Either way, up close and brawling is exactly where Astrotrain wants to be and where he does best.

Sideswipe's hands come crashing down on his own, but Astrotrain's arms suddenly push up and outwards with the impact, reducing the blow from causing any damage to just a brief standoff for a few seconds. OH yeah, he's gotten a good shot in on the Autobot...and now he's quite eager to follow it up with more. "Okay warmup time's all done, now for the main event. C'mere you!" There's a harsh *CLANK* as his right hand seizes around Sideswipe's right leg, and then Astrotrain is showing off in a display of pure brute force as he literally whips the Autobot into the air one-handed and swings him around in a wide arc, trying to smash him off several nearby trees before he releases his hold and attempts to let momentum do the rest and send Sideswipe on a long and possibly painful flight. "I'm gonna beat the red right out of ya with my fists!"

Combat: Astrotrain strikes Sideswipe with his Flung like a ragdoll (Kick) attack!

Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> grins with feral glee as he gets Computron's attention. As the giant turns to stomp on him the Pretender lunges into the ground, sliding under the foot and between the titan's legs just shy of the heel coming down on top of his head with a heavy sand shaking thud.

Springing back to his paws and using his claws for traction Carnivac skids partially to turn and keep his orientation towards the gestalt, followed by a fump as he uses his jumping ability to vault upward. Claws scrap as he lands on one of Computron's arms just long enough to propel himself up farther, aiming to grab onto a shoulder and sink his large monsterous fangs into the behemoth's hide.

Will it do a lot of damage? No. Will it continue to annoy and distract him? Hopefully!

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> misses Computron with his Computron's big enough to be a Jackbot for this attack!

Shockwave continues to rise up, staying as far away from Computron's reach as he can. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of Combiners, and their main strength? Is their strength. From up here, the Cybertronian Commander can see the whole battlefield. He can see Encore flying up into his airspace. He can see Astrotrain duking it out with Sideswipe as the pair try to beat each other into submission. He can also see Carnivac make Computron look like a dope with his superior agility.

But most of all? Most of all Shockwave can see that /everything is on fire/. It won't be long until the flames are visible from space with the naked eye. <<Seventy-eight percent of Decepticon forces are off the island. Rendezvous spot: Copernicus Station. Astrotrain. Carnivac. Withdrawal permission is granted as per your decision.>> He means any Con can flee whenever they like.

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

Combat: Regained 14 energon.

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<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "Aw yeah. *CLANK* There's nothing... *CLANK* ...like the feeling of beating an Autobot... *CLANK!* ...SENSELESS with your own two hands!"

<Decepticon> Sinnertwin says, "I prefer biting them to death, personally."

Sideswipe swears silently as he feels his fists miss the big 'Con's fingers. Before he can even roll out of the way or move to get some distance between him and Astrotrain, he feels the large hand sieze his leg and lift him up off the ground to swing him around. His body impacts the first tree, snapping it off half way up, causing it to topple over, then a second before he slams into the third, shattering it's top though it wasn't very thick since it was a young one yet, just before he's released and flung into the trees where he collides with several more trees ....rather painfully.... before coming to a stop, hung up by a large limb in one of them. Groaning, he dangles there for a moment before insult is added to injury and the limb breaks and he plummets to the ground where he lands in a heap. He clamps his lips down over the yell of pain he wants to utter, hoping to conceal his whereabouts for just a few moments while he tries to 'catch his breath'...

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

The massive and absurdly awesome combiner lifts his foot as Carnivac dives, and moves on with his day. "DEFRAGMENTATION OF COMBAT PRIORITIES UNDERWAY. UNIT ENCORE: ASSIST UNIT SIDESWIPE WITH DECAPITATION OF ASTROTRAIN."

Computron moves forward, cannon charing. "DEFRAG COMPLETE: DECEPTICON DESIGNATED AS CARNIVAC: NON THREAT. THIS UNIT WILL CONTINUE TO RAZE DECEPTICON ISLAND AT A RATE OF 146 FUSION MACROS OVER 6."

Lifing his cannon, the big mech opens fire on Trypticon's cradle, shredding it, acid lined slugs turning the structure into so much melted slag. At the very least, the Decepticons won't be able to move back very easily.

Encore circles around a few times before banking around towards Astrotrain, as reuested. His pilot hologram takes a careful look out the window as he lines up on his target, that minigun spinning up to speed to fire a sustained burst at the large purple Decepticon

<<I'mma fill you so full of holes that all the purple leaks out!>> he growls

Folding and unfolding with the usual noise, Encore transforms into an AC130U Gunship

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> misses Astrotrain with his Sustained minigun burst (Laser) attack!

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Combat: Removed restrictions on MINI-CORRUPT for your attacks.

Astrotrain watches as Sideswipe sails off into the trees, even raising one hand to shield his optics as he observes until the Autobot vanishes out of sight for the moment amidst the chaotic sound of shattering tree trunks and the inevitable crash of his sudden stop. "Gyah hah hah! Whatsamatter Sideswipe? Ya done already? Least ya lasted longer than Sunstreaker would. I bet as soon as I scratched his paintjob he'd start bawling like a ba...WOAH!"

And then there's a hail of lead falling down around him, carving a line through the trees that snaps off more trunks like a chainsaw. A sudden duck at the last moment saves him from getting it right across the back of the shoulders, and he turns in place to peer up at the source, shaking his fist for good measure. "Oh you want some too, do ya!? Awright I can accomodate ya." With that, he leaps skywards, transforming as he goes and suddenly blasting straight up in a roar of boosters on full power as his shuttle wings finish spreading out to either side. Quickly gaining height, the huge craft moves with more ease than its namesake has any business achieving in atmosphere, rolling over and bringing the huge ship diving down after Encore's form. Rather than park himself on the Autobot's 'six o'clock' and try to fill him full of holes, Astrotrain goes instead for the extreme high-speed flyby approach, his heavy laser cannons leaving a swath of purple energy bolts in his wake as he tries to stitch them across Encore's frame from one wing to the other. "Crash and burn, Autobot, right where ya all belong!"

Parts spin, wings extend and Astrotrain transforms into a huge purple space shuttle.

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> strikes AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> with his Heavy Laser attack! [Pulled -4]

Shockwave watches coldly as Computron annihilates Trypticon's plug-in, causing it to melt from the combination of fire and acid. 146 Fusion Macros over 6? The Combiner is being modest, Shockwave decides. No matter, the Decepticon war plan had this island being overrun ages ago, and it was only a matter of time before the Autobots got around to finishing it off. Shockwave recalls throwing this theory into Galvatron's face seven weeks ago, but the warlord turned out to have made the correct decision.

Shockwave points his arm cannon downward even as he hovers in mid-air. He remains stationary for a good five seconds, throwing all power into his primary weapon. His aim? It isn't Computron's limbs, or even his head. He isn't even going for Computron's face, as is popular against Combiners. He's aiming for Scattershot's now-oversized acid pellet rifle. Shockwave fires a single devastating blast, trying to disintegrate the weapon.

Combat: Shockwave strikes Computron with his Precision Shooting attack!

Combat: Drained 29 energon.

Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> tries to bite off a bit more than he can chew, but that's sort of expected. With a grunt he drops off as Computron turns to aggrivate the damages to an already burning, decimated island. But hey, excessive is what gestalts do. He doesn't seem to be too phased by being ignored as he lands on the ground, letting the titan walk away a bit on his rampage before firing what remaining charge he can out of his cannon at the hulking machine.

Combat: Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> strikes Computron with his Anti-Thermal Cannon attack!

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<Decepticon> Carnivac says, "Are we officially calling the island a lost cause, then?"

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Affirmative. Its strategic importants is minimal."

<Decepticon> Carnivac says, "Duly noted."

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Additionally, seventy-eight percent of it has been engulfed in flames."

<Decepticon> Carnivac says, "Yeah, that kinda does a number to property values too."

<Decepticon> Carnivac giggles

Computron has his acid pellet gun knocked out of his hand by Shockwave's attack. He picks the gun up. "DATUM. WEAPON DAMAGED BEYOND IMMEDIATE USE OR REPAIR. DATUM. SHOCKWAVE IS RIGHT HERE. CONCLUSION: CHUCK IT AT HIM!" The big combiner pulls back like a pitcher and then tosses the ruined weapon.

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> growls a little as A-train takes off, starting to bank from left to right in an attempt to avoid the inevitable incoming fire... which, of course, doesn't work. The heavy laser burns into one of his engine nacelles and causes it to spit a few flames, followed by thick, black smoke.

<Dammit!> He growls, banking around to try and open up with the Bofors gun on Astrotrain, though the gun jams after three of the five rounds in the clip. <<Agh! Frell!>>

Combat: Computron strikes Shockwave with his THAT WAS MY FAVORITE WEAPON BY 80 Percent! (Punch) attack!

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

Combat: You took 15 damage.

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> strikes Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> with his Bofors Cannon attack! [Pulled -2]

From afar (to Sideswipe and Shockwave), Astrotrain (atrain) hadn't thought of it. Shockwave's engaging Computron and I'm in a dogfight with Encore now.

Combat: Sideswipe sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Sideswipe realizes as he gets up off the forest floor that he's the small fry of the bunch now...compared to Shockwave and Astrotrain and even his own side, he's the 'squirt'. Ho boy. And here he goes, like the idiot he is, charging right back into battle. Moving through the trees, he takes aim and opens fire with his full auto at Astrotrain and Shockwave from his cover at the edge of the trees.

Combat: Sideswipe misses Shockwave with his Full-Auto Area attack!

Combat: Sideswipe (Sideswipe) used "Full-Auto": A Level 2 AREA-RANGED attack.

Combat: Sideswipe misses Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> with his Full-Auto Area attack!

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Shockwave holds his gun aloft after turning Computron's acid pellet gun into molten slag. That's how it's done. The Decepticon is charging up for another blast when the Technobot supreme reaches back and /hurls/ the flaming wreckage at Shockwave. There's a fightening mid-air collision as the debris nearly knocks the Commander out of the sky. Losing altitude rapidly, Shockwave suddenly becomes way harder to hit. It's because of this, and not due to any inherent dodging ability, that the Decepticon manages to avoid being blasted by Sideswipe's weaponry. Recovering in time before he can plummet into the ground, Shockwave looks very uneasy on his thrusters. "Hull plating compromised. Vision compromised. Electro-magnetic sensors compromised. Rebooting primary input devices."

Combat: Shockwave sets his defense level to Protected.

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

Combat: Drained 4 energon.

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> rolls hard to one side as the return fire stitches along his port section, causing a brief tendril of black smoke to curl behind him for a few seconds. Nevertheless, like a pitbull that's latched on and senses its prey is in distress, Astrotrain isn't about to let up. Even as Sideswipe takes a few shots in his direction, Astrotrain rolls hard, letting the blasts streak harmlessly into the sky. "I'll get back to you in a second!" he growls, before latching onto Encore's Six O'clock, then suddenly blasting his boosters to gain on his target. "And as for you, you're getting a one-way trip straight into the nearest hillside. Let me help ya on yer way!" Transforming again, Astrotrain briefly flies superman-style right over Encore's frame, before reaching behind his back and pulling out a huge and elaborate looking sword...which suddenly ignites with power as energon flows through its systems. Gripping the weapon two-handed, he then suddenly plunges straight down and attempts to ram the tip straight through that one engine of Encore's that was already burning.

In a chorus of shifting and spinning parts, Astrotrain's body spins and lifts up into his large robot mode.

Combat: Astrotrain misses AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> with his Zord-Sword attack!

Giant Armored Timberwolf <Carnivac> scores a hit!... but then the power pack his cannon is attatched to start to crackle and smoke. With most of the island in flames at this point, the heat sinks can't vent off the thermal energy the weapon absorbs from its target, and gestalts have a -lot- of heat to leech. "What the what?", yelps the pretend in surprise as he ducks his head to keep from getting burned by the sparks. "Well shoot. Except I can't. Guess it's time to scoot!" The beast transforms and jets off, hoping to escape notice while everyone else is still busy fighting.

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

Combat: Carnivac begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Sideswipe, Astrotrain, Shockwave, and AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore>

<Decepticon> Carnivac says, "Having weapons hardware issues, it's time for me to scoot scoot scootaloo."

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<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "Confirmed. Astrotrain, it is time we do the same."

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "Doggonit, I seriously wanted to crash this mouthy bot into somethin!"

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "I leave it to you, then, however do not. Get. Destroyed."

<Decepticon> Shockwave says, "No one will be available to assist you."

<Decepticon> Carnivac says, "Yeah, we still need your space taxiness"

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "I'm movin, I'm movin."

Shockwave down for a satisfying count, Computron takes a moment to survey his awesome and logically distributed damage. It looks like one of the larger fuel pumps designed to feed into Trypticon has come loose...and has taken to spewing burning energon.

"DAMAGE TO ISLAND: SATISFACTORY. CONCLUSION: REMAINING ATTACKS ARE PURELY RECREATIONAL IN NATURE."

The massive combiner pulls the pump away from it's supports, handling it like a flamethrower. "OFFICIAL REQUEST: SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND." Computron lets loose waves of hot fire towards the Decepticons!

Combat: Computron strikes Shockwave with his MAKESHIFT FLAMETHROWER (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Computron (Computron) used "Full-Auto": A Level 2 AREA-RANGED attack.

Combat: You took 3 damage.

Combat: Computron misses Astrotrain with his MAKESHIFT FLAMETHROWER (Full-Auto) Area attack!

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> banks hard as he spots Astrotrain coming in, rolling at -just- the right moment to avoid the sword. He continues the aileron roll (what Starfox wrongly calls a barrel roll) in an attempt to catch Astrotrain in the back of the head with the opposite wing on the way past.

As he does this, his rear cargo ramp drops open, probably due to damage, and one of his many kegs of enershine rolls out, chased fruitlessly by the loadmaster hologram, which it rolls straight through.

Extremely volatile stuff, the container drops towards Shockwave and ruptures on impact with whatever it hits. The burning fuel and energon is enough to set it off easily!

Sideswipe raises an eyebrow at that statement by Computron about things being purely recreational now. He's moved out of the trees enough now to see the retreating Carnivac, one he'd not really paid any attention to until now and then seen Shockwave doing his impression of a flying brick before righting himself. Astrotrain however is still a pain in his aft and with a raised optic brow he just goes for broke and opens up on all three of them again. Hey, he's a fighter-jock. He's not a uber-geeky smart guy but he likes to have a good time and though he's hurting now and really gonna hurt tomorrow, might as well have fun while it lasts.

Combat: Sideswipe misses Shockwave with his Full-Auto Area attack!

Combat: Sideswipe (Sideswipe) used "Full-Auto": A Level 2 AREA-RANGED attack.

Combat: Sideswipe misses Astrotrain with his Full-Auto Area attack!

Combat: Sideswipe misses Carnivac with his Full-Auto Area attack!

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> misses Astrotrain with his On a wing and a keg... (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> misses Shockwave with his On a wing and a keg... (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> (Encore) used "Full-Auto": A Level 2 AREA-RANGED attack.

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Astrotrain wants to keep blasting Autobots. He hasn't gotten his fill of carnage! Plus he was miffed at the fact that he hadn't caused Encore to be reduced into little more than broken wreckage strewn across the landscape yet. But then Shockwave is talking about the huge fires, and losses, and quitting while you're ahead and making not-so-subtle hints that if he stays behind he's going to be all by himself. And well, Astrotrain isn't stupid. He's a survivor, either way.

"Nnnngh, fine!" As the keg explodes nearby, Astrotrain is already jetting straight backwards, rolling in the process, then dipping low and end over end in something not unlike mid-air cartwheels as Sideswipe sends more blaster fire in his direction. The final showpiece of his display comes as he quite literally pulls a frontal flip over the makeshift flamethrower stream that manages to tag Shockwave in the process. It's at this point that the triplechanger is already transforming and already descending over Shockwave...literally folding in and -around- the Cyclops in short order in that strange way that Cybertronians can shift modes around someone without crushing them in the process. Either way, Shockwave ends up in Astrotrain's cockpit as his engines roar up white-hot for a split second. "Eat my exhaust, Autoscraps!"

He lingers with his cargo door open JUST long enough for Carnivac to get aboard...if he's fast. And a moment later, Astrotrain is going ballistic, heading straight up into the sky like...well..a rocket.

Parts spin, wings extend and Astrotrain transforms into a huge purple space shuttle.

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Carnivac makes his escape, ducking the shots being fire his way to grab onto Astrotrain's passing form and haul himself into the cargo bay. Personally he would of loved to stay and blast Bots longer too, but without his cannon working it was kinda a lost cause by that point.

All around Shockwave things are collapsing, exploding, or otherwise being destroyed as Computron wades through the island. Shockwave turns to his left in time to see one of the ramps that once led to Trypticon shatter into a million silvery shards of metal. To his right an old storage bunker crumples under its own weight, no longer able to support it due to the extremely high temperature thanks to Computron's makeshift flamethrower. Something underground near Shockwave explodes. A gas mane? Due to the exploding enershine? Or Computron's flamethrower? Or Sideswipe's random Rambo-style firing? Shockwave doesn't know and doesn't much care. A few embers touch down on his arm and leave sizzling marks on it.

Time to pack it up and leave. Right on schedule, Astrotrain blasts past, reaching out for Shockwave. Shockwave reaches up, and the pair clasp hands as the A Train yanks Shockwave and Carnivac out of the fire in slow motion while what's left of Trypticon's cradle is engulfed in a massive fireball that silhouettes the three of them.

Astrotrain transforms and suddenly Shockwave and Carnivac are inside. Shockwave is already heading from the passenger area to the cockpit. He peers out the window as the remains of Decepticon Island continues to burn. It will join the Decepticon Undersea Base, Darkmount, the original New Crystal City, and the Shark New Crystal City as bases created, used, and abandoned once they could no longer provide a use for the Decepticon Empire.

Sideswipe finally walks over towards the burning remains of the Decepticon city. "As much as I like seeing their crap destroyed...I just feel this just sends them deeper underground or somewhere else. At least here, we knew where they were." he said, looking around. Oh wow! What's one hell of a dent along his side and across his back. But he still seems functional and mobile and he guesses that's all that matters at this point in time.

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> trasforms to touch down, breaking out his case of tubed Victory Dance cigars. He takes one out and, with ceremony, pops the tube, shakes out the cobalt-lithium-copper stogie and leans in to the nearest raging inferno to light up.

He looks himself up and down with a laugh "Bit banged up, but it's about time we done this. Let's hope we keep 'em off earth, eh?"

Computron surveys the carnage and observes the Decepticons retreating. "Datum. Island on fire. Datum. Decepticons retreating. Conclusion: There is probably a bomb, prepare to depart."

Combat: Sideswipe sets his defense level to Neutral.

Sideswipe sighs and looks at Encore, "No rest for the wicked, eh?" He'd like a cigar but he's not sure this was worth one for him. Hell all he did was get the crap kicked out of him....again.

AC130U Spooky II Gunship <Encore> tosses one over again. "Survival's always worth celebrating, mate." He says. "B'sides, in my book you earned it riding the A-train like that."

Encore transforms into his robot mode, lighting a cigar and adjusting his hat.

Combat: Computron dissolves into its component Technobots.

Lightspeed has arrived.

Nosecone has arrived.

Scattershot has arrived.

Computron has left.

Sideswipe catches the cigar and looks it over, silently wishing Streaker was here. He feels like only half the equation. If Streaker was here, they'd be unstoppable, even to something like Astrotrain, only being half his size. With a quiet sigh, he lights the cigar on the flames of a nearby burning bush and takes a pull on it, savoring the flavor. "We should take off. Nothing more to see here except to perhaps hover and watch the place - burn, baby BURN!" Now this he says with a bit of a smile!

"Nice work, Autobots." Scattershot happily observes the damage as the island burns. "Long time coming. Encore, you got a third? I'm out."

Encore nods and tosses a tube over to scattershot "Of course mate, nicely done with computron there."

Sideswipe simply remains quiet, which is kind of unusual for the twin. He watches the fires burn, his eyes going in the direction that Astrotrain went before he looks back at what's left of their enemies' old base. He looks around at the other Autobots around before taking another pull from the cigar.

Lightspeed wonders around the remains of the Island as he idly kicks at the Tiki Bar. "Who would hang out here..." He muses out loud.

Encore saunters over to Sideswipe and rests a hand on his shoulder a moment. "You wanna talk mate... I know what it's like."

Sideswipe looks up at Encore and shrugs, "Not much to talk about really. Seem to be getting my ass kicked around a lot lately and it wouldn't be happening if Sunny were here."

Scattershot chomps the cigar, doesn't light it. "Eh, you had an off day, Sideswipe. Heard you murdered a Seeker and his sidekick the other night." He glances over at Lightspeed. "Figures that the tiki bar is the most intact thing on the island."

Lightspeed looks at Scattershot and nods slightly. "Hmmm...yes." He shrugs at his leader. "Should I begin dismantling it?"

Scattershot smirks. "Dismantle is a fancy word for 'trash it.' Pretend it's somebody telling you you can't be a spaceship."

Encore shakes his head "You didn't get yer ass kicked, dude, you rode the A-train. that was -awesome- man, that's the sorta shit a couple of the SJs would do. I know it's hard not havin' him around, but... you and Sunny are different to Fanny and I; I shoot, he carries." He shrugs. "Just 'cause you're a matching pair don't make you any less deadly on yer own." He takes a pull of his smoke, then glances over at Lightspeed and Scattershot "WAIT!"

Lightspeed smiles at Scattershot as he nod, pulling out his side arm. He turns his head towards Encore and smiles at him. "Ok!" He responds to Encore.

Sideswipe looks over at Scattershot, "Yeah because I beat the living crap out of Slugfest who's half my size ... with my fists. Picked him up and tossed him into Viacon like Astrotrain tossed me around." He shrugged, "Can't seem to hit the broad side of a spaceship any more." He takes a pull on his cigar. "Got the living crap beat out of me up at the Ark, helping defend it with Wheeljack. Did you know I got half my paint burned off when one of those little creeps used Napalm! When the hell did they pick up on that? Shit don't come off unless you can wipe it off somehow or it burns out."

Encore runs in and grabs a small canister of some amber-glowing enerhol. "This is a '72!"

He turns his attention back to Sideswipe "We all take a kicking, and Slugfest hits -hard- for a little twerp. Maybe just brush up in the shooting range a while. I'll come with ya, shoot the breeze some and get that bugbear off yer back."

Sideswipe starts a little when Encore calls out a 'wait'...and might have blushed at the words about 'riding an A-train' and it being 'awesome'. He shrugs a little, knowing it probably looked way cool at the time but the dents in his armor tell him the payback for that insult was a bitch.

Lightspeed looks at Encore. "Is that rare?" He tilts his head to the side. "I can't drink because of my condition...I could set the High Grade to the side..."

Sideswipe smirks some as the 'Bot dives in to save the '72. "I think we need a tiki-bar back at base..."

"Well, we did it," Nosecone says, "A job well done." He looks around at the mess that the Island has become. "Shall we take our leave, then?"

Scattershot smirks a bit at Encore. "Anytime you're done shopping, boss." He glances at Sideswipe. "Who put you in charge of the damn sad faces, Sideswipe?" He fishes his mangled rifle out of the water where it washed up. "Sounds good, Nosecone. How about you and Speed hitch a ride on Encore instead of tunneling halfway around the damn planet this time?" He smiles, shakes his head. "On the way home, you can tell Sideswipe the tale of When Scattershot Got Beat to Death by Galvatron With His Own Arm."

Encore nods to Lightspeed "Yeah that'd be nice!" he grins, looking at Sideswipe. "Yeah I hear ya man. Gettin banged up is part of it. Hell, did I ever tell you about the -two- times I've been -cored- by Galvatron?"

He grins, transforming and dropping the tail ramp for the others to board

Sideswipe shrug at Scattershot, "Sorry. This battle just reminded me of one my bro and I fought back on Cybertron. Got me to missin him. I'll be over it soon enough." he says, trying to smirk as he takes a pull on his cigar, trying to look relaxed.

Lightspeed nods to Scattershot and nods to him. "Will do Boss!" He quickly begins to set aside the High Grade for Encore, whistling a Cybertonian tune as he works.

Sideswipe supresses a shudder at Encores words, hoping to keep his thoughts now to his self. Apparently no one wants to see him having to deal with his separation issues right now but Encores words brings back a nasty memory about the day Megatron and the 'Con's attacked...the day they lost so many including Ironhide and worst of all Optimus Prime.