The Voyage Home Part 2

Transformers: 2005 - Fortress Maximus - Monday, June 25, 2012, 8:22 PM --

Sol System(#1526RntN)

This star system, tucked in an obscure corner of the Milky Way, seems ordinary enough at first glance. At its heart is a yellow, G-type star named Sol. An asteroid belt between the fourth and fifth planets makes a convenient dividing line; the four inner planets are small and rocky, while the four outer ones are gas giants. Beyond the outer planets are a number of borderline planetoids, such as Pluto, Sedna, and Quaoar. The system is also home to many comets, moons, and stray asteroids.

From this vantage point, it's not readily apparent that the third planet is home to a complex society, including billions of lives whose future may depend on the outcome of the Transformers' civil war, in which it has been unwittingly caught up.

Contents: Starfighter (#4155) Marauder(#10718) Sit-Com(#9828) Attack Helicopter(#10693) Galvatron(#3810) Wheeljack(#10743) Velum(#10708) First Aid(#4537) Amber MacKenzie(#4724) Ultra Magnus(#1260) Gravity Well Generator (#10248) Decepticon Heavy Cruiser (#9882) Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven(#9857) Junkion Cruiser (#10247) Fringe (#1879)

Obvious exits: Above Plane  leads to Deep Space - Paraplanar. Spinward  leads to Deep Space - Galactic Plane. Coreward  leads to Trifid Nebula. Rimward  leads to Deep Space - Galactic Plane. Below Plane  leads to Deep Space - Subplanar.

Spinister has left. "This ship is a total sausage fest." Singe sighs, practicing his different 'hey girl u starin?' poses in front of a reflective surface in his turret. Hairsplitter just rolls his optics and doubles down on finishing this spreadsheet on the Titanus' ammunition reserves before any ammo actually needs to be used. Where's Spinister? WHERE INDEED! Ultra Magnus has arrived.

For several weeks now, the Junkion convoy -- consisting of a single cruiser and two colony-class transport ships filled with eager Junkion workers --- has made the arduous trek from their home planet of Junk towards Earth. Their goal? To get Earth back on her feet so the television broadcasts that makes up their way of life will also be restored as well. Unfortunately every step of the turn they have been hampered by Decepticon forces bent on preventing them from reaching their destination! Thankfully Autobot ships have been sent out to intercept these Decepticon ships, each time they've managed to drag the Decepticons down and into a stalemated brawl for the Junkions to keep on going. This tendam-like race has culminated all the way here, the last leg of the Junkions' journey!

As expected, the Junkion convoy has been intercepted once more, but this time something is different! The Decepticons have dropped a Gravity Well Generator} in this region of space, preventing the Junkions from being able to use their FTL drives! It is here that the Autobot reinforcement has also arrived.

Galvatron grips Cyclonus' controls firmly even though he doesn't need to (and indeed, it's usually better if Cyclonus doesn't let him drive). "This convoy can ONLY be headed to Earth," he hectors Cyclonus directly, and the other Decepticons over the radio. "We're fortunate that Apeface picked it up this far out! We have to stop it from reinforcing the Autobots and their scrabbling little pets!"

 Junkion Ship Captain says, "Tally ho, neighbours! FTL engines are inoperative, should have purchased the extended warranty on this thing."

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FROM Steelhaven:

As the Steelhaven pulls its way into position, Wheeljack watchs various streams of data rolling across the engineering console in front of him and would frown if he had a mouth to do so with. As is his light-nodes don't flash quite as brightly as he looks up and turns his head towards the captain's chair to convey the same sort of concerned emotion. "I'm picking up massive reverse gravitronic polarities in this sector of space. Looks like the Decepticons are using an artifical gravity well to drain out the subcosmic emission particles necessary for faster-than-light operations faster than the Starscrap's ramscoops can collect them."

FROM Steelhaven:

Sit-Com is anxious about his Junkion brethren who are stranded. He mans his station like a champ. "Listen gang, we really wanna win. And we really wanna win, because we wanna win. Lemme hear you say, "KILL!" Lemme hear you say "FIGHT!" FROM Steelhaven:

Combat: Sit-Com inspires Wheeljack with heroic and wise words!

Amber MacKenzie, wearing the latest in fashionable environmental suits, sits quietly at an unused spare comm station, waiting for her chance to contribute. Whatever it may be. She's uneasy; space is not her thing, and she's very aware of the fragility of the human form. Her throat dry, she swallows and listens to the status reports being announced every so often. On hearing the Junkion ship, she *almost* tries to respond, per the simulation a few weeks ago, but catches herself back in time. She's not Uhura this time.

 Sit-Com says, "Never fear, Brothers-In-Arms. We're gonna find ya, we're going to getcha getcha getcha getcha."

 Wheeljack says, "In other words, here comes the calvary."

The needle-shaped star cruiser pierces through space in a hurry, it's aft end alight with thrusters that bring it within hailing range of the Starscrap. "Easy as she goes.." Ultra Magnus orders from the command deck, standing up from the captain's chair (that was a little too bit for him to begin with, sorry Maximus). "Bring it up on the front screen." he orders Greenhorn, who quickly patches up the connection to display from forward sensors.

"First Aid, how's hull integrity and shielding read?" he asks the Protectobot, clakking a few buttons on his console. "Amber, see if you can't hail the Starscrap."

Turning to Sit-Com, "Shut up."

 Spindrift says, ".. Oh wait, we're talking to other Junkions, I don't -need- to translate. *achem* Sorry, force of habit."

 Spindrift OOC mis, that was Jack again

Interstellar Battleship  can be see disembarking from the Steelhaven's shuttle bays, his new engines working well within expectations as he turns his massive bulk around and falls into an escort formation alongside the Autobot heavy cruiser, << Steelhaven, I'm holding course on your starboard side. I see the Junkion convoy in the distance. >>

First Aid had been out on the Steelhaven's hull, performing last minute maintenance checks on the primary plasma turrets. Magnetic feet keep him on the cruiser's hull as he steps back towards the entry hatch. "All weapon systems are 'go', guys," he says. The airlock cycles open, and First Aid hops through, landing neatly as the artificial gravity reasserts itself. Once inside, he jogs to his position at one of the tactical consoles. "Defensive systems are nominal, Ultra Magnus," he replies.

FROM Steelhaven:

The Junkion convoy follow behind the cruiser that has been protecting them since the start of the journey. From the intermittent lightning up of the transport ships' main engines, one can deduct that they're desperately trying to bring their FTL engines online even. It's a futile effort, as the gravity well generator in the area is nullifying the spatial properties required for the FLT engines to operate.

However upon seeing the arrival of the Autobot reinforcements, all three ships begin adjusting course that'll bring them to the Steelhaven. << My oh my, nice to see you guys. >> FROM Steelhaven:

Sideswipe waits for instructions since he's here for the 'fighting' and 'killing' as Sit-Com so nicely put it.

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"Indeed, my Lord," Cyclonus agrees with Galvatron, a little bar on his control panel lighting up with every syllable. "Fortunately, the Junkions' small minds make them predictable and easy to counter. Once we realized their destination, setting up this Gravity Well Generator was a simple matter." He tries to keep any apprehension he might have over Galvatron personally taking control out of his voice. "Now we only need to reduce the Junkion ships to greater scrapheaps then they already were!"

<NEST> Junkion Captain says, "My oh my, it's nice to see you guys."

The Titanus lurches forward in the darkness of space at Cyclonus' wing. <<Lord Galvatron, all weapons online and ready. I've also prepared a Powermaster Point Presentation on our status pre Junkion murder spree. It's in your inbox. Soundwave is CC'ed.>> Hairsplitter: He's awesome.

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "Magnus, that artificial gravity well needs to go."

"Then get to it!" Galvatron replies, keying the transmitter to send his voice to the Decepticon cruiser in pursuit and throughout the nearby spacelanes. "The first mistake the Autobots made was thinking they could get past us! The second was thinking their pitiful garbage-based descendents could hold us back! We will thresh the Junkions like the trash that they are, and scatter their loose scrap to the stars- then take these ships as prizes, for our own inevitable victory! Decepticons... ATTACK!"

Combat: Galvatron inspires Starfighter <Cyclonus>, Marauder, and Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> with heroic and uplifting words!

Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>> Combat: You feel more courageous!

<NEST> Amber MacKenzie says, "Enterprise, what is your status?"

<NEST> Junkion Captain says, "Plenty of gas, engines being stubborn! Could've sworn we brought premium grade gas to sweeten her up, my oh my. We're jogging on over to you now."

Sideswipe has arrived.

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "Let me know how those engines work out afterwards Maximus, we can do any fine tuning if need be."

<NEST> First Aid says, "I can get a target lock on the gravity well. Want me to go ahead and find out how well it's shielded?"

<NEST> Ultra Magnus says, "Affirmative, on both counts."

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "Will do, Wheeljack."

FROM Titanus:

Astrotrain arrives from the Fringe <Sol>. Astrotrain has arrived.

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"Acknowledged, Maximus." Ultra Magnus replies, a little uneasy commanding the Headmaster Commander's ship in his stead. It's not performance anxiety or anything like that, well.. see, Magnus has this penchant for detonating certain portions of ships.

"Good job." the City Commander nods to First Aid, briskly giving the deck a quick once-over walkthough. Dozens of the Autobot's best sit at their appropriate stations, reading numerous reports and readings that spit out form terminals. Couriers are rushing between decks, technicians are hurriedly comparing results, overall.. it's a mess of frantic hurrying.

Before Magnus is able to ask Wheeljack to explain what he just said, Maximus comes in over the radio. "Affirmative." Clicking the intercom system toggles switch on with a flick of his index digit, Ultra Magnus addresses the crew of the Steelhaven. "We've arrived to our destination Autobots and allies, as have the Decepticons. Let us not have spent this much time in transit and simulation in preparation for this journey to have been in vain by a simple misstep. Focus and do your job, and Primus willing.. we'll send these Decepticons whimpering back home with a tail between their legs and a fresh trail of energon leakage!"

"Sideswipe.. I need some long-range targetting solutions on those Decepticon vessels and weapons systems online now!" Ultra Magnus orders, after shutting off the intercom system.

Combat: Ultra Magnus inspires Amber MacKenzie and Sideswipe with uplifting and wise words!

Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> shunts more power into his engines and pulls ahead of the Steelhaven as the distinct Decepticon energy signatures appears on his radars. Inside the bridge, Galen can be seen standing behind the array of control panels inputting commands and assisting his Autobot partner in prioritizing targets, "Maximus, the Decepticons are throwing everything at us on this final stretch. I'm detecting several Decepticon signatures, and a heavy cruiser. Energy signature is consistent with Kup's reports. It's the Titanus!"

Fortress Maximus would frown if he had a face at the moment if he could, << Titanus gave Kup's fleet a lot of trouble on the way in. I was expecting the Hellbender, given that ship's reported sighting in this area. Blast! >> Fortress Maximus begins cruising towards the gravity well generator that Wheeljack mentioned, his forward radar systems begins scanning and transmiting relevant data to the Steelhaven.

Combat: Fortress Maximus analyzes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> for weaknesses Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven can exploit.

FROM Steelhaven:

Sit-Com glances at Ultra Magnus. "Well, excuuuuuuuuuse me, Princess," he mutters under his 'breath', fiddling with the controls. He hopes they can rescue the Junkions before the Decepticons can do them any harm.

On the screen in front of First Aid, the gravity well generator appears. Aid taps a button, and the display zooms in. A green crosshair flashes over it three times before turning red. "Target locked. Firing plasma batteries." Twin cannons slide out from the Steelhaven's hull, angling themselves forward. With each blast that sends the greenish energy soaring through space, the cannons recoil slightly. First Aid fires a standard barrage of three shots each.

Combat: First Aid strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Plasma Turret attack! [Pulled -6] Combat: Gravity Well Generator <GWG>'s forcefield absorbs First Aid's attack. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 0 damage.

<NEST> Galen says, "Incoming strucutral data report, Steelhaven. Make good use of it."

Amber MacKenzie is Uhura after all. Licking dry lips, she experimentally runs nimble fingers over the comm console. She'd already surreptitiously tested the equipment earlier to make sure it matched up with the simulation, which it does. Oddly enough, she suddenly feels braver and more confident and straightens in her oversized seat.

"Direct hit with all six shots," First Aid reports, "The well's shields are holding. Looks like the Cons put a lot of effort into protecting it."

FROM Steelhaven:

Wheeljack just gives a sort of acknowledging grunt at First Aid's report on the strength of the generator, and continues clicking away rapidly at his console. The engineer was up to something, but what? Whatever it is he's hard at it, and it's probably going to involve a lot of technical systems and SCIENCE that no one else in the room is going to understand clearly in the end. "Just make sure those Cons don't blow the Junkions up in the meantime!"

Sideswipe nods to Ultra Magnus and gets to his station, pushing several buttons on the main screen to pull up the targeting solutions previously requested. With a grin, he gets the display to zoom in on the Titanus, lining up the crosshairs. "Target locked Sir. Firing!"

The Junkion convoy gets ever closer towards the Steelhaven, at this rate they'll be able to form up with the Autobot reinforcements very shortly. The more quicker, and more nimble, Junkion Cruiser remains faithfully with the convoy but does bank around in attempt to broadside the gravity well generator far off in the distance, as the Junkion captain orders the crew to fire at the same coordinates they just had witnessed the Steelhaven had fired.

Combat: Sideswipe strikes Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Plasma Turret attack! [Pulled -2] Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>> Combat: You took 14 damage. Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> misses Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with its Laser Beam Barrage attack!

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "Give me a little time guys, I'm gonna see if I can't pick up the control cipher on that generator and jam those projectors."

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<NEST> First Aid says, "Alright, want us to hold fire on it for now? There's other targets we can go for in the meantime."

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "I'd recommend splitting up the fire, the gravity well is keeping us here but if we focus entirely on it we'd leave the convoy exposed."

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "And there's more than enough turrets to go around... and if thise doesn't work, you'll need to blow them off anyways so."

<NEST> Ultra Magnus says, "Negative, reacquire targeting solutions and fire on that generator."

<NEST> First Aid says, "Sure thing, Magnus. Charging up for another burst."

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "Yeah, keep shooting just in case this don't work."

Starfighter <Cyclonus>'s thrusters light up, filling the void with magenta light as he rapidly accelerates towards the Starscrap. "It will be as you command, my Lord." And then Cyclonus does what he does best, fire upon space ships until they explode. As one might expect, it's one of the few things he enjoys aside from conquest. In any case, his attack is relentless, firing one continuous beam after another through the ship, intending to puncture the hull and multiple decks over and over, though the Junkions, much to their credit, have excellent damage control. Not that you'd ever hear Cyclonus praise them for it.

As the Autobots fire upon the GWG, Cyclonus transmits, <<It is useless, Autobots! The Gravity Well Generator is protected by an INDESTRUCTIBLE force field! Your efforts are hopeless!>>

<NEST> Junkion Captain can be heard ordering his crew in the background, "You heard the man, load all cannons ye scurvvvvy dogs!"

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "I can only work so many miracles in two liftimes!"

<NEST> Sideswipe says, "You got it man!"

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with his Oxidizing Laser attack! [Pulled -3] Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 5 damage.

Marauder has left.

<NEST> Amber MacKenzie says, "Status, Enterprise?"

"Sweeps, fall upon the Junkions and rip them to shreds!" commands Galvatron, and in response a squadron of sweeps launch from the Titanus and stream towards the Enterprise on an intercept course, tugging at parts of it with their laser lassos to try to pull out important segments!

<NEST> Junkion Captain says, "The monitor shows allllll green, missy! Uh, wait what was that---?"

The Titanus takes on an almost majestic glow, partially illuminated by Sol's rays, making the purple gleam in the blackness of space. But the contrast is impressive. The area not directly lit is as black as the darkest night sky. Hurdling forward, it brings its considerable weapons array to bear. Soon, the blackened areas of the craft are briefly illuminated by the many explosions, which happen in a vacuum, as these reactions do not require oxygen for some reason. Unbeknownst to the captain of the vessel, one of the minor security alerts is triggered as the hull comes into contact with a minor bit of space debris. ..

Combat: Galvatron strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>'s Sweep Attack Squadron attack! Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 6 damage. Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: Galvatron's attack has slightly corrupted your Agility systems! Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>> Combat: Targetting Error: No target named 'starship enterprice' Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> misses Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with its Mass Driver Cannons attack!

<NEST> Junkion Captain says, "Oh, so that's what the red warning was talking about. No fuss, no must for now."

Marauder has arrived.

The Titanus takes on an almost majestic glow, partially illuminated by Sol's rays, making the purple gleam in the blackness of space. But the contrast is impressive. The area not directly lit is as black as the darkest night sky. Hurdling forward, it brings its considerable weapons array to bear. Soon, the blackened areas of the craft are briefly illuminated by the many explosions, which happen in a vacuum, as these reactions do not require oxygen for some reason. Unbeknownst to the captain of the vessel, one of the minor security alerts is triggered as the hull comes into contact with a minor bit of space debris. ..

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First Aid initially reaches over to the controls to retarget the Steelhaven's weapon systems on Cyclonus, but orders come from Ultra Magnus to keep the pressure up on the Gravity Well Generator. "Sure thing, Magnus. Charging up for another burst." As the Headmaster flagship roars in closer, First Aid is able to calculate a more effective firing solution. The energy dissipation of the starship's main guns aren't going to be so drastic anymore.

Combat: First Aid strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Plasma Turret attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Gravity Well Generator <GWG>'s forcefield absorbs First Aid's attack. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 0 damage.

Amber MacKenzie listens to Wheeljack and focuses on her own console. Jamming... jamming... How does one jam? Darn, still can't read the Cybertronian text scrolling across her monitor, so she wings it. That means hotwiring it through her pathetic Earth technology-based modified Blackberry. Hey, it's the best technology money can buy on Earth! Opening an access panel, she clips a jack from her unit to a wire and finally has something her size to work with.

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "Looks like they're focusing on the Junkion cruiser."

<Autobot> Wheeljack says, "As Powerglide would say, And away we go!"

<NEST> First Aid says, "Can we get between them and the Titanus?"

Digits continue to fly across the console as Wheeljack runs signal transmissions and electronic algoriths through processing systems and processors in his head alike. Forcefields need a projector, projectors need a control point, and control systems need commands. Commands, signals, and this was going to take some tricky work of both mechanical and computer science.

Basically it's down to codebreaking, and Wheeljack is taking the 'breaking' part almost literally, finally remarking a wry, "Here we go!" as he loads up the final counter-signal with a trojan backdoor access subroutin and hits the initiation command.

Though the only visible result of all this outside is one of the Steelhaven's sensor banks adjusting it's positioning, pointing its main emitter array towards the gravity generator and firing off Wheeljack's little digital package.

Combat: Wheeljack takes control of capture point A - Gravity Well Generator Frequency.

<Autobot> Air Raid says, "He never says that!"

"Negative, reacquire targeting solutions and fire on that generator." Ultra Magnus orders First Aid, briskly walking over to Sideswipe's station. "I want maximum firepower directed on that Decepticon warship from all independent turret stations!" he chiefly orders one half of the twin duo.

"Amber, I know communications isn't your forte.. but is there anything you can do to jam the enemy's communications?" he inquires of the terran member of the Steelhaven.

"Wheeljack, without the techno-babble.." Ultra Magnus asks, swiveling his seat around to face the engineering station. "Please tell me you have something to keep them on their heels."

<Autobot> Saboteur Foxfire says, "He does so!"

<Autobot> Air Raid says, "When have you heard him say that?" Sideswipe turns his targeting mechanisms on the plasma turrets to target the Gravity Well Generator. He's been instructed to, that's what he's gonna do, though he's not sure it's going to do any good. "Charging up! Targeting...Fire!" he growls as he lines up the cross hairs and signals another round to be fired.

Combat: Sideswipe strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Plasma Turret attack! Combat: Gravity Well Generator <GWG>'s forcefield absorbs Sideswipe's attack. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 0 damage.

<Autobot> Saboteur Foxfire says, "Within the past few days, or just whenever?"

Marauder has left.

<Autobot> Wheeljack says, "Keep firing guys... I've almost unlocked their back door but you'll keep their attention on the fighting instead."

Defense Base <Fortress Maximus> banks left and right, broadsiding with his laser batteries towards the gravity well generator as best as best as he can, making superficial damage to the troublesome contraption but the shield protecting it stands firm! An alert comes in the form of high pitched whine, catching Galen's attention. The Nebulan turns around to look at the console appealing for his attention and he recognizes what's happening, "Maximus, the Decepticons are laying it in hard on the Junkion convoy! I'm going to try to divert their attention or they're going to be in pieces by the time the generator is down!"

Galen punches in a few commands into a nearby console and sweeps his fingers across a touch pad... resulting in the two twin barreled mortar launchers on Fortress Maximus to swirvel to life. The tips of the barrel aims in opposite directions, one towards the gravity well generator, the other towards the harassing Decepticons before firing!

Fortress Maximus' armour plates splits open, accompanied by the distinct transformation sound, as his body reconfigures itself into the form of an interstellar battleship.

Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> strikes Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> with his Laser-Guided Mortars Area attack! [Pulled -6] Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>> Combat: You took 6 damage. Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with his Laser-Guided Mortars Area attack! [Pulled -6] Combat: Gravity Well Generator <GWG>'s forcefield protecting itself vanishes. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 6 damage. Combat: Drained 6 energon.

Greenhorn rushes by Sideswipe's station, carrying the new thermal readings from the braniacs downstairs. "Ultra Magnus, Ultra Magnus!" he shouts, tripping.. knocking into Sideswipe's targetting computer and messing up his aim!

Bad rookie! Looking up from beneath the pile of papers, "We did it.. Fortress Maximus turned the tide!" Greenhorn smiles.

<Autobot> Wheeljack says, "Nice shooting guys! I'll see if I can't keep them from getting them back up now!"

<Autobot> Wheeljack says, "Blow that thing out of the water... err, out of space!"

<Autobot> Saboteur Foxfire audibly shudders at the mention of water.

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

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Mmmmh. Fortress Maximus intervenes. Shall I intercept him, Lord Galvatron, or press my attack on the Junkions?"

The Junkion cruiser comes under fire as from all sides as Cyclonus' weapons fire strikes one of the power grids feeding power to its manuevering thrusters! Before the cruiser can move out of the way, a squadron of Sweepcrafts beelines towards it and the convoy. Small explosions eminates from the hull of the Junkion cruiser and the two transport ships! The Junkion cruiser holds up well under fire, but the two convoy shows visible trouble as the lights on the ship flickers intermittently. To make matters worst, while the mass driver cannons launches debris at an angle that bounces off the cruiser, it does meaningful damage to the convoy, causing the intermittent flashing lights on one of the transport to die off completely!

Dun dun duuuuuun! Looks like someone needs to go over and help fix that ship!

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Suddenly, a security alert klaxon sounds inside the Titanus. One of the external ports has been opened, from the outside, and apparently with the access codes. But no one is out there, or at least, no one should be. Several seekers are immediately dispatched to the area, lining up in a hallway, disruptors aimed at the intruding party. Chemically induced oxygen fills the room as the access port is closed, created a soft white mist. Meanwhile, the captain of the vessel orders, "You missed! Recalibrate the sensors," the cruiser is rocked by the impact of Fortress Maximus' mortar shells, "deploy the sweeps," the ops officer dutifully recalibrates the sensor array, "and fire another volley!" A squadron of Sweeps pour out of a hanger bay, "We must destroy that vessel for the greater glory of Galvatron!" the Sweeps blaze a trail through space, their head lazers firing, as they try to tear up the Junkion convoy.

Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with its Sweep Attack Squadron attack! Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 9 damage. Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>'s attack has slightly corrupted your Velocity systems! Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>> Combat: Used up 1 Sweep Squadrons. 2 remain.

<NEST> Junkion Transport Captain #2 says, "H-hey, who forgot to pay the electric bills? It's so dark in here!"

<NEST> Amber MacKenzie says, "Hang in there, guys. Don't let those lousy pirates get you down by messing with your juice."

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Keep him from interfering! The convoy must not get through!"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "As you command, my Lord."

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "Son of a glitch"

<NEST> First Aid says, "Wheeljack, are you seeing these readings from the Enterprise?"

<NEST> Wheeljack can be heard cracking what could be a neck servo. "Looks like it's time to take the hands on approach."

<Autobot> Wheeljack says, "Just don't let that gravity generator sit there. -Hopefully- my little present will keep the forcefields from reactivating."

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> happened to be in the neighborhood, figuratively speaking. Or rather, in this particular quadrant of the galaxy. Truth be told he was returning from a long range manual run to Charr, having dumped off a load of supplies too sensitive to be sending through by spacebridge. Plying the interstellar distances, it was with some curiosity that he started picking up radio transmissions in the vicinity and hearing tell of what must be a space battle.

A space battle. Without -him- being involved? Scandalous. With FTL engines glowing brightly, the triplechanger had adjusted his course accordingly and was now rocketing in towards the scene....

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "I get in radio range of the Sol system and I'm picking up a firefight, without -me-?"

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "The Junkions are attempting to escort a pair of relief vessels to Earth with the help of the Autobots. We caught them in a gravity well, but it won't last long. Destroy them!"

<Decepticon> Spinister says, "Lord Galvatron, your orders for Titanus targets?"

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "I always knew space was getting cluttered up with too much junk nowadays. Junkions included."

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "The convoy, Spinister!"

Starfighter <Cyclonus>, reacting to the new threat presented by Fortress Maximus, veers off from the Junkion ship to engage him. <<Maximus!>> Cyclonus transmits. <<You're no Magnus, but you're a more worthy foe than any Junkion.>> In a sudden spike of Foe Yay, Cyclonus wonders if Magnus is here, too. That would be great! Wait, no...

<<Even so,>> Cyclonus continues, accelerating towards Maximus at a ridiculous velocity, <<I'm going to have to ask you get out of our way. We're trying to scrape the rust off the galaxy and you aren't helping.>> And he keeps his nosecone pointed right at Maximus in preparation for a devastating impact!

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> with his Ramming Speed attack! Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> (Cyclonus) used "Ramming Speed": A Level 6 VELOCITY attack.

"This is taking too long! They're already through the gravity well's shielding!" Galvatron exclaims, pulling the lever to pop Cyclonus' canopy open. With a blast of releasing air pressure, he launches out into space and hurtles towards the Junkion ship, blazing away with his fusion cannon!

Combat: Galvatron strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with his Fusion Cannon attack! [Pulled -10] Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 15 damage. Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: Galvatron's attack damages your armor.

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<Autobot> Wheeljack says, "Blow that thing up and keep the Cons occupied. I'll go help our friends out."

"Minor power spike from the gravity well generator," First Aid reports, "Phew, looks like Maximus did it." he gives Wheeljack a quick sympathetic look as the mad scientist's technobabble attempts are rendered moot. "Sideswipe, I'll get the dorsal quadrant of the generator, you get the ventral." The plasma cannons on the side of the Steelhaven cut loose once again.

Combat: First Aid strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Plasma Turret attack! [Pulled -2] Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 14 damage.

Not entirely, First Aid. Wheeljack for a passing allows him a slight mental chuckle as, while it's the combined firepower of the Steelhaven and Maximus that take the shields down, hopefully his remote hacking will lock out the controls and -keep- them down long enough for the generator itself to be blown up.

The moment is short lived though as the distress calls come from the Enterprise experiencing technical troubles. "Son of a glitch..." He trails off for a moment, then reachs up to put one hand to the side of his head and give his neck servos a bit of a crack. "Looks like it's time to get hands on with the science." He spins on his heels and runs out of the bridge.

And a few minutes later has let himself out of one of Steelhaven's airlocks. Gripping the external hatch just long enough to flex his legs up between him and the frame her flexes and then pushes off. Then activates his arm rockets and launchs towards the Junkion ship, staying within the shadow of the Steelhaven and Maximus for as long as possible to try and avoid being noticed.

This was risky at the least. Foolhearty and crazy at the most.

Which is probably why Wheeljack is doing it in the first place!

Combat: Wheeljack sets his defense level to Protected. The Global Pose Tracker marks that Wheeljack has 'skipped' his action for this round.

As the shields fade around the generator, the crew of the Steelhaven are caught in an uproar of cheers. The front view screen displays the success of their efforts, gumbies are hugging Wheeljack and attempting to lift him up into the air. Some refugee Junkions start dancing on the bridge and one even puts on some music.

Ultra Magnus silences the music with one agitated fist through the stereo's speaker. "This isn't over yet!" he sternly dictates, as three Junkions get back to work.. mopily. Striding back to the Captain's chair, the City Commander merely nods at First Aid's initiative to sort out targets with Sideswipe.

When the hails come in from the Junkion vessel, Magnus can't turn around fast enough to find a solution with Wheeljack and company.. he's already gone! "By the matrix."

<NEST> Ultra Magnus says, "Wheeljack, -what- are you doing?"

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "What I do best... What no one expects!"

<NEST> First Aid hesitates, unsure if it would be rude to say that he predicted this.

The superstructure of the Autobot battleship shudders against the recoil of its two mortar launchers launching its destructive payload. Two distant explosions illuminates the intended targets that Fortress Maximus shortly afterwards, signifying that he has hit his mark. Unfortunately the Headmaster commander isn't given the opportunity to press on his barrage though as Galen calmly alerts Fortress Maximus of Cyclonus' presence, forcing him to fire his own manuevering thrusters and turn away from the Unicronian warrior's ram!

<< As soon as the Junkion convoy is in the clear, I'll be more than happy to. >>, Fortress Maximus transmits on open channels before repositioning his dual laser blasters to bear upon Cyclonus, << Surprise me, Unicronian. >>

Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> misses Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Dual Laser Blasters attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Drained 5 energon. The Global Pose Tracker marks that Ultra Magnus has 'skipped' his action for this round.

Sit-Com is spat out an airlock chute and attaches to the other ship, getting to where it's damaged and hastily repairing it. "Don't worry, be happy," he hums to himself as weaponsfire whizzes past.

Combat: Sit-Com quickly patches up some of Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>'s minor injuries.

Sideswipe nods to First Aid as he gets confirmation from Ultra Magnus as to exactly what he's to shoot at. The greenie that tripped and sent him firing in the wrong direction last time got a nasty look and then ignored. He grows quiet as he works to aim the crosshairs up on the ventral quadrant of the generator. "Targeted, aiming.....Fire!" And with a push of the button, he's releasing a shot at the annoying piece of tech.

Combat: Sideswipe strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Plasma Turret attack! [Pulled -2] Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 16 damage.

<NEST> First Aid says, "Hey Magnus, think you could get us between the Decepticons and the Enterprise? Might take some of the pressure off if we could tank for them."

The Junkion cruiser drifts ever so slightly, as its momentary power loss causes it to sustain more damage from the Sweepcrafts' weapons fire! Pieces of rusted hull plating flies away as shots after shot chips away at the ship. Under normal circumstances, the Junkion cruiser would probably be going into evasive manuevers, but with the convoy also under attack, the captain instead orders his crew to fly directly above the two transports in distress as he uses his own ship to act as a shield. And act as a shield the Junkion cruiser does as Galvatron's purple beam of doom connects with its saucer! Hull platings aren't chipped off this time, instead they're super heated and a superstructures vacates a path, leaving a hole behind, where the beam has struck! Within a few seconds, the Junkion cruiser's saucer has a new hole punched right through it!

Lighting on the ship flickers again, but the fact that the ship's laser cannons swirvels to life and begins shooting blue beams of its own shows that there is still fight in the cruiser yet!

Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> misses Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> with its Laser Beam Barrage Area attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with its Laser Beam Barrage Area attack! [Pulled -3] Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 16 damage. Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> strikes Galvatron with its Laser Beam Barrage Area attack! [Pulled -3]

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<NEST> Ultra Magnus says, "On it!"

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> continues burning towards the battle...the distant flicker of lasers and explosions in space getting his circuits stirring. There's nothing like a good old throwdown in the vast inkness of deep space to get his energon pumping! However, there's a complication. Galvatron talks of taking down the Junkion convoy, and yet the Autobot cruiser is in his flight path. And in space, it's not as simple as just backing off and making another approach, because that takes time. And when it comes to battle, Astrotrain is the impatient sort. So he makes an adjustment on the fly. "Awright fine."

From the Steelhaven's bridge, the first indicator that there's something up would be the radar blip announcing a very fast-moving incoming object. By the time it's identified the object as one Astrotrain in his shuttle mode, he's already well past the point of no-return, blazing a path across the distance as a brilliant supernova of purple thrusterfire ignites behind him, gaining more and more speed as he rapidly grows larger in the bridge screen's viewpoint with each passing second. By the time a target lock on Astrotrain can be attained? It's too late.

The shuttle fills the whole viewscreen for a split second in time, before it rapidly shifts and reconfigures, as at the last second Astrotrain transforms into his very heavily armored locomotive form, with his nearly indestructible armored front end aimed straight at the viewscreen glass. A brief horrible second in time seems to hang, before contact is made and with a deafening shriek of metal on metal, the triplechanger smashes -through- the reinforced armored glass and straight onto the bridge of the ship itself. Only Astrotrain would be crazy enough to make -himself- a projectile like this...but crazy he is as he smashes straight on through with a hellish explosion of debris and sparks followed by the hurricane-force winds of decompression as the internal atmosphere starts to wildly escape. Good thing Amber's wearing his space suit. Astrotrain's front end carries right onwards and straight into the bridge and a certain captain's chair occupied by a certain Autobot City Commander.

"COMING ABOOOOOOARD!" 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 Fearless. Combat: Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> strikes Ultra Magnus with his THIS is how you conduct a boarding operation attack!

Galvatron topples briefly as he's struck by part of the laser barrage filling the spacelanes, but quickly recovers, expert as he is in zero-gee maneuvers. He leans into the blast and draws a long, piercing beam across the hull of the Junkion ship, trying to carve off something more meaningful than 'just more trash' as well as the extra Junkion stuck to the outside making repairs!

Combat: Galvatron strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8] Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 18 damage. Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: Galvatron's attack damages your armor. Combat: Galvatron strikes Sit-Com with his Fusion Cannon Area attack! [Pulled -8]

"Death is usually rather surprising," Cyclonus muses as he barrel rolls to the right, lasers streaking all about him and failing to find their mark. "But if you want a different surprise..." He transforms, trying to set foot on Maximus himself. "I won't attack you directly, Maximus--I'll attack your PET!" Drawing his sword, he tries to ram right into what appears to be Maximus's control tower, feeling that that's a logical place for Galen to be right now. "After all, what's one more dead organic?" he says, trying to drive the blade in deeper for the kill.

Combat: Booster Pack Cerebros Unit is activated! It will use up a charge the next chance it gets!

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

Combat: Cyclonus sets his defense level to Aggressive.

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Very good, Astrotrain. We may hold them off yet."

Space. It's mysterious. A fitting location for a mysterious attack helicopter retrofitted with a temporary space walk capable system, small and unnoticed in a battle of starcruisers, waiting for his window. His moment. And he sees it: the form of the once dead Wheeljack separating from the Autobot ship. "Taaaaarget aquired!" Singe jeers, and Spinister accelerates towards the Autobot, or however this works in space, a flash of laserfiring opening up on Wheeljack! "Hopefully he wasn't doing anything important to the success of the Autobot mission! Because he's about to get...not able to accomplish it!" Hairsplitter. Good at Excel sheets. Bad with combat banter.

Combat: Attack Helicopter sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Fortress Maximus uses up a charge on his Cerebros Unit booster pack! Combat: Automatically deactivating booster pack Cerebros Unit Combat: Cyclonus strikes Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> with his Diamond-Boron Carbide Sword attack! Combat: Cyclonus (Cyclonus) used "Diamond-Boron Carbide Sword": A Level 4 MELEE attack. Combat: You took 8 damage.

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "SORRY I CAN'T HEAR TOO WELL. AUDIALS ARE KINDA RINGING."

Combat: Attack Helicopter misses Wheeljack with his Space Lasers! (Disruptor) attack!

The squadron of seekers aboard the Titanus lay in wait, watching as the mist fills the corridor. Soon, it envelops them in a gauzy haze. They are patient, afraid to damage the hull by indiscriminate disruptor fire. At first, all they can see is a figure, a shadow moving through the smoke. At first, they seen a deep forest green, then purple, it's camouflaged. One of them opens fire, the others do the same. They missed the Decepticon emblem blazed upon the figure's chest. Then, an energy signature emerges from the smoke, blinding anyone as a brilliant white ball of energy shoots through. It hits one of the seekers, sending him flying, his back implanting in the bulkhead. Then another one suffers a similar fate. The third, continues to fire, even as a massive hand reaches out, grabbing it by the neck. Another hand rips off the disruptor that had been firing. Marauder states calmly, "Please inform the captain that I am aboard." He drops the seeker, and continues, marching through the corridor. A moment later, a nervous voice emits across the ships communication array, transmitting to the bridge, "The intruder has, he's . . . it's Marauder, sir."

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"Hey we've got an incoming," First Aid reports. "Looks like we might have gotten the Decepticons' attention after all." And here Aid thought they'd have to physically get in the way of the Cons' attempts to blast the Enterprise. The targeting screen shifts from the Gravity Well Generator to a grey and purple space shuttle approaching at an alarming rate. "Oh, you've got to be-- brace for impact!" First Aid grips the console as hard as he can as Astrotrain smashes his way through the Steelhaven's hull, single-handedly cracking its armour and skidding all the way to the bridge. Fire and smoke start to consume the Autobot starship's bridge, and First Aid twists in his seat. There's a gaping hole where the viewscreen once was, and debris is being sucked out into space (or blown, depending on how much of a douche one wants to be). As his controls go dead, the Protectobot grabs for his photon pistol and stands up, seeking to defend his commanding officer.

Combat: First Aid strikes Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> with his Photon Pistol attack! Combat: That attack has temporarily affected Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain>'s Accuracy. (Blinded)

<NEST> Ultra Magnus says, "First Aid, you have the deck. Seal the front viewscreen with the reinforced shielding after this."

Ultra Magnus steps over to one of the many pilot seats, working together with the others to get the Steelhaven on an intercept course between the Titanus and the Starscrap. It's not as easy as just moving a joystick, as a hundred different calculations and commands must be entered to pull off the 'simple' manuever.

But the Steelhaven responds, effectively pulling in front of the Titanus and cutting off it's line of sight from the Junkion vessel. "First Aid, brace starboard shields for maximum absorbtion rate!" the City Commander shouts, retaking his position at the helm. What he sees next, it's far too late to make precautions for. "Everyon.."


 * SMASH*

Instead of trying to 'dodge' the shuttle as it crashes through the front viewscreen, Ultra Magnus attempts to catch it. Bad call. Ramming him back into the communications hub, Magnus growls as the front end digs into his Power Armor cuplinks and severs one or two connections to hydraulics. Furthermore, Astrotrain's entrance brings something else.. the loss of a vaccum sealed environment. Anyone not currently strapped in would feel the immediate tug of space, a couple of the technicians getting sucked out into the vast void. Rearing himself back and bracing against the console behind him, Ultra Magnus attempts to seize up Astrotrain and launch them back out the way he came.

"NO TICKET!"

Combat: Ultra Magnus sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Ultra Magnus misses Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> with his GET OFF MY PLANE! attack! [Pulled -3] In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream Obscenities.

Which is why Sit-Com looks like he's yelling something rather blue, but the lack of air fails to transmit words that would make Joe Pesci blush. Several Junkions pop out of the ship, holding a giant slingshot. They pull Sit-Com over to it and launch him back to the Autobot ship.

Combat: Sit-Com takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Amber MacKenzie was strapped in, but it was a jury-rigged job for a small human. As Astrotrain makes his grand entrance, she's jolted badly, the straps leaving belt-shaped bruises across her shoulders, chest, and hips. Built for larger loads than her, they do hold, and she isn't sucked out into space as the cabin decompresses. Though she's hurting, she's still alive, alive enough to whisper Bad Words about the Decepticon's ancestry, present worth, and future career potential.

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Amber MacKenzie has 'skipped' her action for this round.

<NEST> Sit-Com says, "THOSE *BLEEP*ING LOSERS!"

<NEST> First Aid says, "After this? After w-... oh."

<Decepticon> Spinister says, "Lord Galvatron, shall I follow Astrotrain's lead and support his attack on the bridge?"

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "Nnngnh, I'm comin back out in a second..."

Whether Astrotrain was dragged with or not, Ultra Magnus is sucked out the gaping whole in the front of the ship.

<NEST> Sit-Com says, "Never go drive through. NEVER go drive through?  You know why?"

<NEST> Sit-Com says, "Because they *BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP*!"

Sideswipe barely has time to brace for impact when one of the Decepticons he's gotten into a recent hate-hate relationshiop with plows through the ship. Staggering backwards, he lands on his aft and then slides half way across the floor towards part of the ripped opening as the atmo is vented outward around the cracks and crevices. Finally getting back to his feet he snarls and makes a running jump towards the nose of Astrotrain and delivers him a whollop of a punch. "I still OWE YOU!" he snarls though its lost in the mass confusion and noise.

The tip of the Fortress Maximus' dual laser cannons attempts to track the agile Unicronian's flight patterns but in the end it was for naught as every shot misses its mark! You can't say Cyclonus doesn't deliver, there was just barely enough time for Galen dodge out of the path of the sword that quickly penetrates through the section of the control tower of the battleship! Gritting his teeth, Galen does a quick double check of his power suit to see if there's any punctures. Noticing that there's none, he quickly leaps out of the hole left behind by Cyclonus' sword, "You know what to do, Maximus!"

The battleship begins to shake and rumble, converting into a robot who joins with its head before attempting to place a grip onto Cyclonus, if successful it'll be follow up with a headbutt, "Death won't happen be happening today on my watch, Cyclonus. Not mine, not the Junkions, not yours. Although when I'm done with you, you might wish you were." Ah Fortress Maximus, such a technical pacifist.

Fortress Maximus' current form begins to reconfigure itself, shrinking in size, and he eventually emerges in his robotic form.

Combat: Fortress Maximus sets his defense level to Fearless.

<NEST> A Junkion says, "Thank goodness his filter is set to Network instead of HBO."

Combat: Sideswipe strikes Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> with his Rocket Punch attack! [Pulled -2]

While technically not space boosters, Wheeljack's flight rockets are the solid-fuel type, so they work just fine in the airless depths of blackness. He's right on course for the ailing transport when the familiar helicopter comes flying in on the side. In space. Spinister must of watched some super robot anime and figured out its secrets!

The laser shots fall short of their mark though as Wheeljack does some fancy flying of his own to spin clear of them, and flip over to land on the hull of the stalled transport with a dull thud as magnetic heels latch into place. Wheeljack starts jogging as quickly as he can with magnetized footsteps towards where the debris hit the power grid. "Sorry, but I've got more important things to do than play with you at the moment!"

Give the chunk a good shove to break it free and send it tumbling back into space, the engineer kneels down and shoves both hands into the gap, trying to find the relays the piercing strike disabled and bypass them to get power going again.

Combat: Fortress Maximus strikes Cyclonus with his Headbutt attack! [Pulled -1] Combat: Drained 5 energon.

Combat: Wheeljack compares his Technical to 50: Success!

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Don't make me micromanage you, Spinister! You know the mission objectives, carry them out to the best of your ability!"

The Junkion cruiser takes another violent hit from Galvatron. Say what you will about the Decepticon leader, he reads his enemies well and is true to his ruthless nature in exploiting their predicament! One of the starboard manuevering thruster is sheered off completely by the attack, and the path of the beam continues, cutting into a major power grid to the ship's weapons systems! The laser beam cannons across the saucer of the Junkion cruiser suddenly dies out, its barrels lowers down as the power that was supplying it life fades away, and lifeless it shall remain until the Junkion repair crews inside fixes it.

Perhaps Sit-Com can do a !check tech=20 and see if she can bring the weapons online faster?

Wheeljacks' efforts is successful! What was once a lifeless transport ship soon flickers brightly once more. The disabled transport's thrusters activates and begins moving towards the protection of the Steelhaven alongside its wounded sister ship.

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<Autobot> Wheeljack says, "Bingo!"

Armored Locomotive <Astrotrain> is suddenly there on the bridge, filling the back portion of it with his armored bulk as Magnus grapples with him after the hellish impact. First Aid's shots spray along the upper half of the triplechanger's armored frame, doing negligible damage but still shorting out his optical sensors all the same. But by now, Astrotrain's all but lost to the moment as he's effectively doing this 'by feel'. He can feel Magnus grating against him, trying to throw them back outside, even as Sideswipe launches forward and smashes a fist against his armored hullplate, the steel denting but holding steady as its armored frame lives up to its purpose. "Take a raincheck, smallfry!" Astrotrain barks in response to Sideswipe. "I'll smash you around again another time. Right -now- I got bigger mechafish to fry!"

And indeed, Magnus' attempt to get them both outside kind of succeeds, in that Astrotrain actually ignites his rocket boosters and helps them -both- along. He's barely even clear before he's transforming again, shifting back to shuttle mode just slightly so that Magnus' right hand is jammed up in some of his gear works...deliberately for that matter.

"Yeah I get it, Magnus. Yer all big and tough. Here's a bit of cold hard reality for ya though. I'm built for space..." Suddenly jinking HARD around in a rapid pass, Astrotrain tries to snap/drag Magnus forcefully as he loops back over the Steelhaven's hull and attempts to careen the Autobot City Commander off one of the turret protrusions in the process. There's all kinds of debris careening off of Astrotrain's frame as well at this point but he's beyond caring, it would seem.

"You're not! Gwahahahaha!"

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

<NEST> Junkion Transport Captain #2 says, "It lives! IT LIVES AGAIN! Looks like we just might be seeing what prize awaits us behind door #3 after all!"

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> misses Ultra Magnus with his Taken for a Wild Ride (Ram) attack!

Wheeljack manages to escape along the hull of the ship, and that's when Spinister spots Astrotrain's grand entrance, as well as Ultra Magnus' exit. Never one to miss an opportunity, Spinister space-accelerates torwards the entrance of the ship, transforming and touching down as Sideswipe punches Astrotrain in the face. "Whaaat a dump!" an awesome flamethrower exclaims, "Let's do some damage!" It's honestly not a bad idea, but one that has to wait: Suddenly it's just Spinister and Sideswipe. He points Hairsplitter and opens fire.

Spinister touches down on the ground, unfolding into his terribly mysterious robot mode!

Combat: Spinister strikes Sideswipe with his Lock-Target Laser Rifle attack!

Galvatron allows the inertia of his cannon's recoil to rotate him so he can survey the battlefield, pierced by laser and particle beams and glittering with drifting debris for the distant sun to glint off of. "But it would be far more beautiful strewn with Autobot corpses," Galvatron says to no one, answering his own unspoken thoughts. "Eternally drifting monuments to my power, cast limp and staring into the deep void. Like a message in a bottle. Carrying the Word of Galvatron." He indulges for a moment in this pleasant thought before waking to the immediate battle. The Steelhaven has interposed itself between the Titanus and the Enterprise, preventing the Decepticons from bringing their big guns to bear... but there's one big gun they haven't accounted for. Galvatron ignites his rocket and dives towards the Steelhaven, transforming to latch onto its hull so that he can bring the Enterprise into his line of fire!

Galvatron transforms. Combat: Fusion Artillery <Galvatron> misses Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with his Galvcannon attack! [Pulled -4]

eeeeeee-SKOW, goes the first shot from Galvatron's barrel, building up brightly in the cannon for a moment before drawing a sun-bright line through space and narrowly sizzling past the Enterprise, close enough to melt some of the hull plating, but by the grace of Primus not a hit!

Cyclonus grimaces as Fortress Maximus's big head smashes into his face, denting his nose off to the side as the impact bounces him away from the Headmaster. "Nnnffh. An odd threat, Maximus. And surely you don't believe I'd fear whatever punishment you could deal out more than that by Galvatron, do you?" He stares off at the Steelhaven, checking what Astrotrain's up to. Ah, that hooligan busted through the viewport of the bridge. Excellent. "Excuse me," he says rather courteously before he transforms and blasts away for the Steelhaven.

What Cyclonus is up to becomes all too apparent as he approaches the Autobot ship, bomb bay opening. He abruptly pulls up as a stream of incendiary bombs flies into the breach, intending to incinerate the bridge and everyone inside. And since his bombs are impregnated with oxygen, it doesn't matter that there's no air inside!

Combat: Cyclonus sets his defense level to Fearless.

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

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes First Aid with his Incendiary Bombs Area attack! Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven with his Incendiary Bombs Area attack!

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "We need to get those Decepticons off the bridge and put weapons fire back on that gravity well generator. Most things usually don't last long under Galvatron's cannon, certainly not large cruiser in his sights!"

<NEST> Ultra Magnus says, "I'll handle Galvatron, continue with the mission!"

A few minutes go by, the Titanus has taken some damage, inflicted some, it's been a pretty fair fight. Marauder eventually makes his way to the bridge, but just as he does, the bridge is struck by something, it's not immediately clear who hit it, Junkion, Autobot, or even friendly fire, but it has made a hole in the hull, and the Captain, the poor Captain, was too close to said hole when the puncture was made. He is blown out into space as the oxygen evacuates the room. One hand reaches out, managing to clutch onto one of the shreds of the hull, twisted and bent, "For Primus' sake, help me!" he commands, and another blow is struck, probably seconds behind the original volley. The ship begins self repairs, a type of foam is jettisoned, filling the hole, hardening into a temporary patch. Marauder walks right up to the command chair, taking a seat, "You are relieved" he says softly, and in a firmer voice, he commands, "All power to the shields, gunner, find me a weakness in their defence, AND FIRE!"

Marauder has left.

Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with its Fusion Transit Cannon attack! Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 27 damage.

Marauder has arrived.

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The Junkions were trying to save Sit-Com from the evil Galvatron, but then realize they need him for ONE MORE THING! One of them tosses a harpoon with a line. "GET OVER HERE!" Sit-Com is caught by the harpoon and reeled back in--and fortunately not uppercuttied right after. He gets over to the weapon controls and starts fixing!

Bad day, bad day, bad day, BAD DAY!

Combat: Sit-Com compares his Technical to 20: Success!

Success! Well, not particularly. But this City Commander is going to take it either way. Harkening a look aftward while they sail through space, Magnus nods in affirmation as the shield doors seal up the deck of the Steelhaven once more. Returning his attention to the triplechanger at hand, Magnus notices it's -his- hand that's caught in a trap.

Nearing the Steelhaven, Ultra Magnus attempts to get his hand back by way of force.. planting two large blue booted feet on the purple shuttle and pushing against it's surface. "I'm built for war, soldier." he replies to Astrotrain's jest, eyeing Galvatron nearing the Steelhaven as well. "Little else matters at times like these."

Kicking free of his ride, Magnus gets his hand back and sails through the void of space. Aided with one of Wheeljack's crazy rocket-packs he whipped up.. the City Commander does his best to line up with the Fusion Cannon going ape s**t on the Starscrap. "Galvatron, I would have -words- with you!"

The rocket pack brings him on a direct contact course with Galvatron, but either way.. Ultra Magnus activates the Magna-Lock capabilities of his boots, securing his footing in either event.

Combat: Ultra Magnus misses Fusion Artillery <Galvatron> with his Space Embrace! (Kick) attack!

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "Wait, what? Where's he going!? I was just gonna...awwww nuts."

<Decepticon> Astrotrain isn't about to accuse Galvatron of stealing his kill.

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "I'll head back to the bridge and try to get rid of Cyclonus and Astrotrain if he heads back this way, we're going to need the Steelhaven's firepower to get this done."

Wheeljack stands up and dusts some space debris off his hands. "Another job well done." Then turns his attention back to the battle raging in space around him. Uh oh, looks like the Autobots have run into some interference on the ship itself. Damn, that's going to be a mess to repair. But no time to worry about that now!

There's still that pesking gravity generator to deal with.

Mag-stepping around some of the protrusive portions of the transport's hull -- what is it with Junkion architecture that looks disjointed by works -- to get the generator into clear view. Shunts his usuall shell launcher into subspace.

And pulls out a much larger launcher and hoists it onto his shoulder to replace it. "Good thing I brought my experimental supernova bazooka along just in case." Leave to Wheeljack to work on finding a way to set things on fire, in space. He lifts the weapon to get the gravity generator in the crosshairs and pulls the trigger. The launcher spits out not a shell, but a ball of some sort of bright energy that gives off readings similar to a minature star. The crackling sphere starts to condense in on itself briefly as it hurtles through space, until it gets near the generator and lives up to its name by detonating into a giant fiery explosive akin to its namesake.

Combat: Wheeljack sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Wheeljack strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with the Wheeljack-forged Supernova Goes POP attack! Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 7 damage.

The moment after Magnus and Astrotrain are clear, First Aid follows orders. He slams his hand down on an emergency lever, and an emergency bulkhead over the viewscreen tries to descend, but gets caught in the wreckage made from Astrotrain's entrance and exit. This allows a certain sociopathic double Targetmaster to make his arrival. With the bridge filled with fire, smoke, and debris, First Aid does a quick 360. "Is everyone alright?!" he calls out, making note that Amber is still with them. The straps did the trick, however awkwardly. With Spinister going for Sideswipe, First Aid quickly glances to see if there's any functioning consoles. Maybe he can get to weapons console and continue blasting the Gravity Well Generator out of space. Before he can, though, there's a reflection off of a far bulkhead of something bright. "Eh?" First Aid turns back towards the gash in the viewscreen that leads out into open space. He sees the dark purple form of Cyclonus's spaceship as it launches missile after missile towards the opening. Acting on instinct, First Aid dives for Amber, coming to a crashing halt against the wall, where he puts his hands up to brace himself. "Hold on!" The missiles slip onto the bridge and detonate, engulfing it in flames. While protecting Amber with his body, Aid glances behind him. His visor is bright orange from the fire's reflection. Quickly, he grabs a fire extinguisher from his knee compartment and activates it, smothering the flames before they can get out of control. Disgarding the now empty extinguisher, Aid balls his hands up into a fist and fires a concentrated burst from his surgical lasers out through the opening. Still alive, Cyclonus.

Combat: First Aid strikes Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Surgical Lasers (Laser) attack!

<Decepticon> Special Agent Marauder says, "Lord Galvatron, Captain Antique is dead. I have assumed command of the Titanus."

Amber MacKenzie isn't feeling too well. She's dazed, her ribs feel like they're broken, and only adrenaline is keeping her alert and aware. Bloody hell, is that *Spinister* in here? It doesn't help that she's pinned to her seat, but that's better than the alternative. Or is it? She doesn't have any time for any further observations as her vision is filled with fire. Fire, and... First Aid? Like Moses, he parts the sea of fire around her. "Still alive," she whispers to him. "Sorry to put you through this. Again."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "I trust you did not aid in his demise?..."

Fortress Maximus grits his teeth as his head makes contact with Cyclonus, and he's about to follow up with another fist but Cyclonus surprises him yet again by transforming and flying off. It doesn't take a genius to realize what the Unicronian warrior is planning to do, and Fortress Maximus quickly follows in pursuit! The Headmaster commander transforms and goes into pursuit after Cyclonus, stopping just short of the bridge where two garage compartments onboard the ship slides open and out races out Gasket and Grommet!

The two drones swirves left and right as it avoids the debris on the floor before they leap into the air and merge into Cog before snapping off a few quick shots at the two intruding Decepticons on the bridge!

Fortress Maximus' armour plates splits open, accompanied by the distinct transformation sound, as his body reconfigures itself into the form of an interstellar battleship.

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Amber MacKenzie has 'skipped' her action for this round.

Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> misses Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Cog's shoulder cannons (Full-Auto) Area attack! Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> strikes Spinister with his Cog's shoulder cannons (Full-Auto) Area attack! Combat: Drained 7 energon.

Out of heroics or reaction, Greenhorn gets up amid the destruction and manages to keep the Steelhaven in it's position of blocking the Titanus' firing position on the Starscrap.

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "Wait, is that Fortress Maximus?"

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "...I've been waiting for a chance at this again!"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Oh, good, you do that, Astrotrain. I have... a loose end to take care of."

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "Not to interrupt what is probably an awesome throwdown up there, but a little help firing on the generator again would be nice."

<Decepticon> Special Agent Marauder says, "I received no such orders, sir."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "That didn't quite answer my question, Marauder."

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Yes, yes, Cyclonus, take care of this chain of command dispute. I'm busy."

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

<Decepticon> Special Agent Marauder says, "I took no part in his demise, sir. The holographic recorders, if they survived, will bear witness to this, as well as the testimony of the surviving bridge crew."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus sounds skeptical. "I'm *sure.*"

<Decepticon> Special Agent Marauder says, "Orders, sir?"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "The Steelhaven can't interpose itself between you and the Junkions forever. Change course so that you may get a clear shot. Failing that, *ram them out of your way.*"

Thanks to Sit-Com quick repair work, the Junkion Cruiser's power grid is brought back online sooner than the Junkion repair crew in there had expected! With the additional power supplied by the juryrigging work, the Junkion Cruiser was able to shunt just enough power to fire its lateral thrusters and spin the ship into an angle that avoided Galvatron's violent beam of doom! It's last minute stuff like these that ruins what would've been a sure fire hit, but it's not like the Junkion crew members will complain about that! The cruiser lights up the rest of its thrusters and pulls forward to cover the convoy all the while firing its laser beams at the multiple designated targets! A few seconds later though, the Titanus' fusion cannon strikes the stardrive section of the Junkion cruiser! Causing a trail of smoke to flow from its newly opened wound!

By now the Junkion transports has reached the Steelhaven, but it was a journey made much more harrowing due to the numerous close calls from the Decepticons' attack. They certainly are not out of danger yet though, by any stretch.

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Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with its Laser Beam Barrage attack! Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 18 damage. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>'s attack has damaged your Accuracy!

Thanks to the lack of air in space, Galvatron probably wouldn't have known about Ultra Magnus if not for that challenged shouted across the airwaves. But then, Magnus is that sort of a guy. Upstanding. Galvatron swivels as he transforms back and intercepts Magnus' kick by grabbing him by the leg. "Ultra Magnus! I'm SURE you do. It's been a while, no?" Clamping his own feet to the hull, Galvatron tries to hurl Magnus into Fortress Maximus, betting that the salt-of-the-earth career soldier will be too used to having his feet on the ground to be able to recover before impact! Galvatron straightens up and converts his supports back into limbs, his cannon sliding down and locking into place on his arm as his scowling face rises from his shoulders.

Combat: Galvatron sets his defense level to Guarded.

The Titanus has been trying to get a lock on the Junkion Cruiser, but the Autobot heavy cruiser continuous to try and position itself between the Titanus and its intended target. When one of the consoles overloads, a jettison of fire retardant foam emits from the ceiling, trying to put it out. Marauder looks, seeing what he can only presume to the be ship's XO lying on the floor. All he has left is a helmsman, weapons officer, and what he suspects to be the science officer. Pointing at the third, he says, "You are now the acting XO. I want a ship's status report. Helm, get me a clear shot at the Junkions. Weapons, target the Steelhaven's engines. FIRE!"

Marauder has left.

Starfighter <Cyclonus> curses his luck as the blast shield slams down over the bridge viewport. There was still enough of a gap, however, for a few bombs to slip through. He thinks they went off inside--"Blast!" he curses when he sees white mists within, and the flames vanishing. As always, the Autobots are quick to put out a fire. Why, once he happened upon some Minibots doing a fire safety presentation at a school playground. He almost bombed everyone there, but somehow the thought of stooping that low just to injure a few Autobots repelled him. And besides, why waste perfectly good incendiary bombs on Minibots and schoolchildren?

It would have been deliciously ironic, though.

The space warrior, having evaded Maximus's fire by virtue of sheer speed and distance, lands on the outside of the Steelhaven, peering into the bridge. Ah, First Aid's is still smouldering, he surely got him. But then again, he's probably the reason why the fire went out so soon. ZAT! He takes a laser blast to the chest as he mulls this over, sneering at the limited damage. "Not good enough, Protectobot. Hm..." He peers at the thing between First Aid's feet. Is that...? Oh snap! "Ah, Ms. MacKenzie. I seem to be running into you more often these days. Shall I change that?..." Mercilessly, he raises his oxidizing laser at her...

Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> misses Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven with its Fusion Transit Cannon attack!

Marauder has arrived.

Combat: Galvatron strikes Ultra Magnus with his Flinging Reversal Area attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Galvatron strikes Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> with his Flinging Reversal Area attack! [Pulled -3] Combat: Galvatron (Galvatron) used "Epic Flail": A Level 2 AREA-MELEE attack. Combat: You took 7 damage.

<NEST> Ultra Magnus says, "Autobots, I want all maximum firepower centered on the gravity generator.. no excuses, barring self presevation. Understood?"

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes First Aid with his Oxidizing Laser attack! [Pulled -4]

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

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> is more than a bit miffed that Ultra Magnus isn't staying around long enough to get the proper beating that the triplechanger feels he deserves. And he's even MORE miffed when he realizes that Magnus is now moving off to get into a fight with...

...oh wait, Galvatron? Yeeeeeah, Astrotrain isn't going to give -him- lip about stealing his dance partners. "...nuts." Is about all he can manage, biting off anymore irritation before it can surface any further. This is about when he notices that Maximus is now in cruiser mode and is laying down fire again, and so Astrotrain loops back, his undercarriage lasers glowing vermillion as he starts an attack run, taking no small amount of glee in how he sees Ultra Magnus now being made to impact against the ship in short order.

"Hey Maximus, how about you transform so I can try to pull that head off your shoulders again!" Astrotrain taunts, as he proceeds to go lancing past the Headmaster leader at high speed, a volley of purple fire lancing out in an attempt to stitch across the length of the larger ship.

"I'd just -love- to see the look on Scorponok's face if I did it first!"

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> sets his defense level to Neutral.

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> misses Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> with his High Speed Flyby attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> (Astrotrain) used "Heavy Laser": A Level 4 RANGED attack.

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "Understood, Magnus."

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> should probably focus more on target practice and less on snappy talk.

<Autobot> First Aid says, "Sideswipe, grab onto something."

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "You got it boss. I need to get back to our own ship too anyways."

With Sideswipe down, a quick scan gives Spinister an interesting target: First Aid and a familiar face, or the bridge? He opts bridge, Singe opening fire on the controls of the Steelhaven, while checking to see if Amber sees how good he looks while doing it.

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It's true, Ultra Magnus has a penchant for silly heroic nonsense and battle cries. Then again, he learned from the best of the best. Furthermore, space is not his 'cup of enertea'. "Too long."

So suffice to say, Galvatron's manuevering and throw are easily pulled off. The City Commander squints when his back is thrown against the bulk of Fortress Maximus' hull, splaying him out like a disected frog with appendages in a small moment of sporadic flail. However, the mag-lock on his boots cements his position.. though the short on the rocket pack keeps firing. Moving a hand to the release, it whirls through space free from Ultra Magnus' back.

Enough banter, grudges, idle chatter, and heroics. It was now just a soldier, and a mission. They pull this off, win lose or draw.. the people of Earth have a fighting chance of restoring power to the civilized world and a better chance of survival.

Combat: Ultra Magnus strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with his Heroic Nonsense attack! Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 11 damage. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: Ultra Magnus's attack has damaged your Agility!

Wheeljack stows his bazooka for the time being. It had the distance to hit the generator from here, but lacked the punch since it wouldn't -keep- burning in space. Deactivating the mag-locks on his feet he reactivates his rocket boosters and launchs back towards the Steelhaven.

Though this time he isn't focused on getting to the other ship and finding damage to repair, so he can keep his attention on the Gravity Well Generator. "Actually..." Instead of pulling out a weapon as he passes, Wheeljack activates his comm-link and sends a transmission to the viral code he had uses to lock the forcefield controls on the generator. If he's still got that remote control in place, he can use it to short out the internal systems and cause a reverse feed of power that could cause some important internal hardware to violently and spontaneously combust. Because causing explosions is just something he -does-.

<NEST> First Aid says, "Guys we don't have much of a bridge anymore and the half-self-detonation system is offline. I'll try to keep Cyclonus and Spinister busy for as long as I can, but you may have to finish off the gravity well generator without us, and then we can scuttle the ship if need be."

Combat: Wheeljack strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with his Destruction Through The Clever Application of SCIENCE! attack! Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 11 damage. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: Wheeljack's attack has damaged your Agility!

Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> rumbles and drifts off course as Ultra Magnus is thrown into him, but soon recovers as his thrusters fires back, << Not quite the way I was expecting to meet up with you again, Magnus! >> Before he can say anything more though, the Headmaster commander's shields sizzles in response to Astrotrain's strafing fire, where it successfully dissipates the energy, << So much for pleasantries. Heads up, 6 O'clock. Hold back for a second while I set up a field of fire, Magnus. >>

With the said, the mortar launchers on Fortress Maximus rotates around and paints the gravity well generator in the distance with its laser designator before lobbing a few volleys of fire! << You've got your wires glitched if you think I have time to indulge in your tomfoolery, Astrotrain. >>

Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with his Laser-Guided Mortars attack! Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 29 damage. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus>'s attack has damaged your Agility! Combat: Drained 20 energon.

"You can make it up to me by blowing up a few more Decepticon bases," First Aid quips back to Amber. He cranes his neck, trying to see if his lasers blast hit Fortress Maximus or not. As the Decepticon space warrior lands just outside the bridge, First Aid brings his fist back. His surgical lasers are still smoking from the overloaded attack. "That probably explains the lousy Decepticon performance," he retorts to Cyclonus as he threatens Amber. The Protectobot swiftly severs the crash straps keeping her in place with a series of quick finger lasers. Taking hold, First Aid transforms into ambulance mode just as Cyclonus opens fire. With Amber now in the driver's seat, she's essentially protected from further attacks. Cyclonus's blast, meanwhile, rips through his passenger side rear section, causing the windows to shatter. The doctor lets out a pained hiss before racing forward, tires squealing in protest at the sudden acceleration. With Singe going back to setting the place on fire and wrecking what remains of the Steelhaven's controls, First Aid knows that the bridge is a lost cause. Acting on desperation, the ambulance races towards the rear exit to the bridge. Hopefully Magnus, Fortress Maximus, and the others are making themselves useful out in space. The doors slide open to allow First Aid to blast through. "You two are going to have to do A LOT better than that!" That's it, Aid thinks, goad them. Great going. He's just hopeful it'll buy the others more time.

First Aid folds down into Ambulance mode. Combat: Ambulance <First Aid> sets his defense level to Protected. Combat: Ambulance <First Aid> takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

Sit-Com gets himself to cover and hurriedly patches some of his own injuries. "Don't get no respect, no respect at all, I tells ya," he mutters.

It seems that all of the Decepticons' attention has shifted over to the Autobot reinforcements! The Steelhaven is boarded, and the chaos seemingly rules the day at this point, even the Titanus is focusing fire on the Autobot heavy cruiser. All this diverted attention has given the Junkion cruiser ample opportunity to move into an attack position! It cruises over the Steelhaven, casting a colossal shadow against the Autobot heavy cruiser as the Junkion cruiser, battered as it is, locks target onto the gravity well generator fires all of its forward laser beam cannons!

Amber MacKenzie really doesn't like looking down the barrel of a gun, and when it's Transformer sized, she likes it even less. Add the fact that she's strapped down... But First Aid jumps in again, and she's swallowed up by an ambulance almost before she can catch her breath. Even a mild jolt would be unpleasant, and she winces, slowly trying to fasten the seat belt. Ouch, ouch, ouch as the ambulance tears off, and she just holds on grimly, letting First Aid do the goading this time. "If I can," she murmurs.

Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with its Laser Beam Barrage attack! Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 17 damage. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>'s attack has damaged your Strength!

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Amber MacKenzie has 'skipped' her action for this round.

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"Get away from that!" Galvatron shouts over the radio at Ultra Magnus, transforming back to his cannon mode and firing a triphammer blast of cosmic radiation after the heavily armored blue back floating towards the gravity well generator.

Galvatron transforms.

Combat: Fusion Artillery <Galvatron> sets his defense level to Aggressive. Combat: Fusion Artillery <Galvatron> strikes Ultra Magnus with his Galvcannon attack! [Pulled -8]

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> grumbles as he isn't getting 'through' to Fortress Maximus like he'd prefer. "Razzin frazzin good for nothin..." Looping back again, he starts another approach run, focusing on Fortress Maximus' engine ports. "Okay first we cripple and then...we take him apart piece by piece!" Crosshairs slowly creep upwards, focusing straight on the glowing ports, and his weapon modules light up in preparation to fire yet again.

Just as Galvatron's blast lances right past and in front of Astrotrain's viewport, on its way to slamming into Ultra Magnus. Astrotrain was so focused on his target however, that he looked right -into- the blast as it streaked past, and the bright flash is enough to overload his optical circuits in the process. "WAAUGH!" Seeing nothing but white light, he has to prompt his systems to do a complete reboot before he can see again. And by that time, he's going to have to set up -another- attack run because he's already overshot Fortress Maximus at full speed...

...and is on a direct collision course with the gravity well generator.

"...eek?"

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> strikes Gravity Well Generator <GWG> with his Ram attack! Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You took 6 damage. Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: You are very aware that your life is in danger! Gravity Well Generator <GWG>> Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain>'s attack has damaged your Strength! Combat: Gravity Well Generator <GWG> is completely disabled.

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "Oooogh, that really stuck my optic sensors. I'm gonna...wait, is that...?"

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> proceeds to plow head-on into the generator, disappearing in a brilliant bright flash of destructive force in the middle of space. You can argue about how you can't hear anything, but it's still a massive explosion anyway. Take that!

Cyclonus curses, "Blast! Brave of you, Protectobot, but you can only interpose yourself between so many shots before you simply melt down into slag!" He stomps after First Aid, fists balled up--ah, but the medic made a critical mistake, and that is underestimating Cyclonus's dispassionate nature. Yes, he was irritated, but he's from a berserker like Brawl or Tantrum. So he immediately stops before he tries to pursue him... and instead turns for the weapons control console, backhanding a terrified Autobot gumby out of his seat. "Spinister, be so kind as to... 'redecorate' in here, there aren't nearly enough hull breaches. Oh, an be so kind as to prevent the remaining bridge crew from interfering..."
 * KAAA-BWOOOOOOOOM*

Smiling evilly--somewhere a kid's puppy dies--Cyclonus sits down at the weapon control console. The plasma turrets of the Steelhaven realign... and aim at the Starscrap!!! "Hm hm hm. Destroyed by their allies. I couldn't think of a more fitting end for the Junkions' feeble efforts." He slams a forefinger down on the firing button... and the Steelhaven lights up the Starscrap with everything it has.

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Astrotrain, you oaf! You know better than to cross my line of fire! Cyclonus, give me a status update on the gravity well!"

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "HOW. HOW AM I BURNING IN SPACE? IT BURNS SO MU...." *STATIC*"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "One moment, my Lord... er... the gravity well's computer is not responding to my request for a diagnostic."

<NEST> Junkion Captain says, "I see it, the way has been lit up for us! Evvvvveryone geeeeeeeeeet reeeeeeeeady to skeeeeeeetaadole!"

Combat: Cyclonus sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Cyclonus strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Plasma Turret attack! Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 16 damage.

<Autobot> Wheeljack says, ".. Oh, that is IT"

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "Alright, mission acc--- what the, what's happening on board the Steelhaven?!"

<Autobot> Dust Devil says, "I didn't do it this time!"

<Autobot> Saboteur Foxfire says, "That's my line!"

"Sir, we have weapons lock on the Junkion Cruiser," chirps the weapons officer aboard the Titanus. Marauder clenches a fist, "Excellent, give me everything you've got!" A barrage of ballistics and energy weapons fire is unleashed upon the vessel. The weapons officer exclaims, "I'm giving you all she's got Captain!" But it may prove too little, too late. Marauder leans forward, his aft on the edge of the seat, intently watching, only interrupted when the helmsman remarks, "Sir, Astrotrain just struck the generator!"

Spinister's optics narrow as the Protectobot makes his escape, the burning bridge being salvaged by retardant foams and vacuum protocols. Singe protests: "Hey, whats the deal with my fire! HEY! That guy took my lady! Ember! My love! I'll never be far away!" His passion is interupted by the arrival of Cyclonus, who Spinister nods to. "Or," Singe gun-shrugs, "We can just let Cyclonus murder her in the cold of space. Plenty of fish." He sighs. "Plenty of fish."

Spinister begins his work on Cyclonus' order, kicking open the door seperating the bridge from the rest of the ship...and opens fire, sending Autobots attempting a counter attack reeling as fires erupt and begin spreading down the main elevator systems! Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> (RB) pages:

<Autobot> Dust Devil says, "okay I did steal foxfire's line...but I didn't steal anything else...today."

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

<Autobot> Saboteur Foxfire makes a "tsk" sound.

<NEST> First Aid says, "Like I already reported, we've lost the bridge."

<Autobot> Perceptor wonders if Wheeljack can ever do go anywhere without causing something to explode.

<Autobot> Wheeljack was making Decepticon stuff blow up this time at least!

<Autobot> Dust Devil says, "ummmmm foxfire...wheeljack hasn't said anything in a while. Should someone check to make sure he's still functional?"

<NEST> First Aid says, "Unless you guys are able to get back here ASAP we may have to sacrifice the Steelhaven."

<NEST> Ultra Magnus says, "Was all personel evacuated off the bridge?"

<Autobot> Saboteur Foxfire says, "I'm pretty sure he's not on Earth right now, Dusty, otherwise I'd check up on him."

<NEST> First Aid says, "No."

<Autobot> Perceptor says, "Congratulations, Wheeljack. Now all you must do is continue such a trend."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Ah, well... some good news, my Lord. Spinister and I have taken control of the Steelhaven's bridge."

<Autobot> Dust Devil says, "ooh he's not on earth? coool...I'll just go...and do stuff."

<Autobot> Wheeljack says, "Sorry guys, little busy for witty conversation at the moment!"

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "My communications systems must have taken a beating, missed out on that. We're coming back, if Cyclonus and any other Decepticons are so eager to stay on the Steelhaven, we'll jump them in with us to Earth once I get in there."

<Autobot> Ultra Magnus says, "Stow the chatter!"

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Hnh. I'll take my victories where I find them today, I suppose. Bring it to Mars. We will find some use for it."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "As you wish."

Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with its Fusion Transit Cannon attack! Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 26 damage. Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>'s attack has damaged your Firepower!

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<Decepticon> Special Agent Marauder says, "Sir, shall I send a boarding party of Sweeps to help put down the Autobot crew?"

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "Worst comes to worst, set the ship to self destruct if we can't get back in time."

<NEST> First Aid says, "We don't have control of the bridge, but we can do it from engineering. Amber and I will head there now."

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "Make it so, First Aid."

In all the space-battle going-ons Wheeljack has made his way back to the Steelhaven after triggering the detonation on the Generator with his back-door access. But there's just as much chaos going on inside as there is outside. Generic crew-mechs are scattering as Decepticons are trying to storm the rest of the ship, setting fires and blowing stuff up as they please. Klaxxons blaring and all that.

Its through the smoke and flames that Wheeljack walks into the corridor, as pissed off as a guy without a visible mouth can look as he unslings a large barreled weapon out and points it down the hallway at the first Decepticon that comes into his sights. "Let's see how -you- like it on the barbeque, creep." A pull of the trigger sends a stream of clinging flames back at the Decepticon!

"Sorry for the jostling, by the way," First Aid comments as he blazes through the Steelhaven's halls. "Things were getting pretty hairy in there." Man, it's amazing how quickly the situation can go from good to terrible. In the span of a minute the Steelhaven's bridge went from perfectly fine and commanded by Ultra Magnus to a flaming wreck with two powerful Decepticons having taken it over. First Aid doesn't have time to panic it about it now, though. Shifting back into robot mode, he lets Amber back out. "Alright, sounds like they got the Gravity Well Generator down... not sure what's still happening on the bridge but Fortress says they're coming back." Now that the crisis has temporarily passed, all the pain from Cyclonus's weapons and Astrotrain's crash catches up to him. Aid peers down at the melted armour plating, wincing as he tries to flex them. "Come on, lets get to engineering. We may have to scuttle the ship from there." No time to deal with his injuries. <Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Not yet--there's a chance we can still destroy the Junkion ship before it escapes!"

Ambulance <First Aid> flips up into robot mode.

Combat: Wheeljack misses Spinister with the Wheeljack-forged Pyrotechnic Blaster attack!

Floating through space, Ultra Magnus can do little to manuever out of the way of Galvatron's radioactive blast. The bright purple shot flies true.. instantly fusing armor joints, bring the internal heat to such degrees that entire components of his left side are rendered to ash.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Magnus cries out, whomever said they couldn't hear you scream in space.. got it wrong.

Drifting through space, half 'paralyzed'.. Ultra Magnus is in and out of conciousness, internal systems pinging with non-responsive hails and a flash of WARNINGS.

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

<NEST> Wheeljack hehs. "I found Spinistwerp."

<Autobot> Ultra Magnus says, "Activate all technicians and med teams, prep the repair bay in Autobot City, and prepare for incom..GYAAAAAAAAAH!"

"I understand perfectly well, First Aid, and thanks for putting yourself on the line again for me." Amber sighs and summons her focus, not on a mission this time, but on a performance that will require every ounce of her resolve, her strength, her endurance, and her skill. She eyes the medic, more aware again, and asks, "Do you have the time to heal thyself, Physician?" as she walks unsteadily beside him, ignoring her own pain.

Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> boots up his engines and fires his thrusters, heading after Ultra Magnus, << Hang on, Magnus! Grit your teeth, this is going to be a rough ride! >>. The Headmaster commander follows the trail of metal debris that shows up on his sensors until he finds Ultra Magnus and swiftly ensnares the Autobot city commander with a tractor beam, dragging him inside before reversing course back towards the Steelhaven. Unfortunately that's about the most he could do given the amount of distance he has had to cover.

Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Combat: Regained 12 energon.

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Amber MacKenzie has 'skipped' her action for this round.

In reality, Magnus shouldn't worry. Last time he was blasted apart and just a handful of Junkions repaired him. This time, there's ships full of them!

The Junkion convoy soon breaks away from the Steelhaven and has done exactly what it's been instructed to do by Kup ever since the beginning of this perilous journey, let the Autobots drag the Decepticons behind and FTL to safety. The two transports takes the lead, their engines a bright blue before they disappear in a shimmer. The Junkion Cruiser follows behind, but takes yet another shot to the stardrive section, but the ship manages to enter FTL.

Sit-Com salutes with a tear of wiper fluid in his optics as the Junkion ships enter FTL. "SILLY CUSTOMER! YOU CANNOT HURT A TWINKIE!"

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Sit-Com has 'skipped' his action for this round. Combat: Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> begins retreating, leaving itself vulnerable to parting shots from Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain>, Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven, and Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>

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Two Autobots attempt to rush the entrance to the bridge. The first to reach Spinister is engulfed in flames: He throws Hairsplitter at the second - a cassette bot- the Nebulon transforming and latching himself to the Autobot's face, calmly pulling out his optics and digging through his cranial processors, leaping back as the Autobot falls, transforming into a laser gun and lasering what ever life remains out of his spark. That's when Wheeljack comes around the corner to take his shot- But Hairsplitter, who is apparently a bad ass, sees him before Spinister, using his enhanced strength to fling the dead cassette's body to take the blast. Spinister gives him a nod, and returns fire with fire, a massive fireball lashing out at the Autobot mad scientist.

Combat: Spinister strikes Wheeljack with his Flamethrower attack!

Cyclonus considers his options as he fires upon the Starscrap. He wants to ram the Junkion ship, buuut.... Galvatron *did* order him to bring the Steelhaven to Mars. Might be hard to do that after a collision. And... "Oh blast," he sighs as the Junkion fleet warps away. "Well, at least we still have this ship," he says aloud. Maybe it was to Spinister. Maybe it was just to himself. Probably just to himself. Yeah, definitely to himself. And so, climbing into the helmsman's seat, confident that no one will bother him, Cyclonus programs a new course in, and the Steelhaven begins to come about... "Not a total loss, and Galvatron should be quite pleased by this prize."

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

<Autobot> Perceptor says, "I trust the mission proceeded as planned?"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Blast. Well. Sweeps, you are to board the Steelhaven, and take it as a prize."

The helmsman notes, "The Junkions are in full retreat." Marauder frowns, "I want that ship taken out, NOW!" The gunner continues to fire at it, not that he's ever really let up. "Target the engines," though he seems to have this weapons officer well trained, as he's already targeted the engines in an attempt to stop it from escaping. Suddenly, the panel the gunner had been using explodes, though he survives. Badly hurt, but alive. "Sir . . ." Marauder looks at his predicament for a moment, then opens a frequency, "Engineering, assume control of the weapons systems from your console. Target the Junkion ship's engines. Fire at will. And get a repair team up here."

Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> strikes Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise> with its Mass Driver Cannons attack! Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: You took 18 damage. Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>> Combat: Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>'s attack has damaged your Accuracy!

<Autobot> Greenhorn says, "Success? Ultra Magnus is unconcious, slipping into core meltdown and the Decepticons have taken the bridge of the Steelhaven. What do you think?"

Fusion Artillery <Galvatron> stands up, barrel pinging and glowing (it would be steaming, but there's no air to carry the moisture) and looks around- the convoy appears to be escaping, now that the gravity well is out of commission. But his Decepticons sound as if they're effectively boarding and taking the other Autobot ship, which is of better manufacture at any rate. "Little victories," Galvatron muses to himself, striding the length of the Steelhaven while rebuilding his capacitor charge.

Galvatron straightens up and converts his supports back into limbs, his cannon sliding down and locking into place on his arm as his scowling face rises from his shoulders.

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

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"Not just yet," Aid replies to Amber, waving his hand dismissively at her thanks. "We need to get to engineering ASAP... though whether that's to save the ship or blow it up... well, we'll find out once we get there, I guess." A turbolift ride later, and the pair reach engineering. The situation here is better than on the bridge, though not by much. There's Autobot troopers running all over the place. Working one of the controls, First Aid explains for Amber, "Looks like the Decepticons are powering up the FTL drive. Well we'll see about that." The Protectobot steps away from the controls and steps up to the massive engine core that powers the entire Autobot ship. First Aid keys his command codes into the system, increasing power to a dangerous amount. Klaxons begin blaring thoughout the ship. Even as he does this, First Aid says in an even, but numb tone of voice, "I'm sorry I brought you down here, Amber. If we don't get out of this alive, I want you to know that you've been a terrific friend and ally."
 * WARNING... ENGINE OVERLOAD IMMINENT... POWER LEVELS APPROACHING CRITICAL... ***

Wheeljack growls as he's blasted with flames, but by this point he really doesn't care. The old school crew were a bit of a crazy bunch in the first place, and right now the inventor is going on the full throttle equivilent to an adrenaline rush to boot, marching down the corridor even as he arms his weapon. "Out of my way."

Though the weapon loaded may of been a bit of a psyche-out, as he suddenly transforms and barrels screaming down the corridor, intending to literally go through Spinister if he has to! Wheeljack folds down into a classic racing stuntcar with the familiar transformation sound effect.

<Autobot> Perceptor says, "Oh...my. That is not good news at all." The worry in his voice can be heard. "I am ready to assist with repairs, then.""

Combat: Lancia Turbo <Wheeljack> strikes Spinister with his Full Throttle Assault attack!

Somewhat like a seizure victim, Ultra Magnus only has real control over half of his frame.. though that's still an arm and leg to drag yourself by. Metal screeches as the City Commander claws his way to have a look at a viewscreen.. before succumbing to black out again.

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

Amber MacKenzie smiles cheerfully up at the Autobot. "It's been an honor to know you, First Aid. And considering that there are Decepticons on board that'll go up with us, maybe even Cyclonus, we'll be hitting them hard." She looks around the engineering section and adds less cheerfully, "I just wish all of us could get off. Maybe we could just jump into space and hope we're picked up by the right people?"

The Global Pose Tracker marks that Amber MacKenzie has 'skipped' her action for this round.

<NEST> Wheeljack doesn't say anything, but there is the audible *WHAM* of an unfortunate Decepticon meeting his bumper at high speed. Typical crazy G1 guy, not going down without a fight.

<Autobot> Scattershot says, "The hell's going on out there, ladies and mechs?"

Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> makes the long journey back towards the Steelhaven, being familiar with the ship's layout he swings around to the side with an auxiliary boarding hatch. As he nears the Steelhaven, he transforms and, with Ultra Magnus in one arm, glides over and enters the ship after entering his authorization codes, << Alright, we're inside the ship. He drops to one knee, setting down the wounded Autobot city commander in a safe corner. He allows himself a moment to examine his friend's condition, only departing after deeming his condition critical but stable.

Fortress Maximus' current form begins to reconfigure itself, shrinking in size, and he eventually emerges in his robotic form.

<Autobot> Sit-Com says, "You know what happened when that lady backed into a propellor?"

Combat: Fortress Maximus takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Combat: Regained 12 energon.

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<NEST> Amber MacKenzie speaks slowly and a bit hesitantly, "I don't suppose your ship has one of those bridge detachment features, do you?"

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> spins end over end lazily through space after being caught in the explosion that was the gravity well generator. Blackened and pockmarked across his entire hull, the triplechanger would have X_X's for headlights...if he had headlights in this mode. As it is, he just settles for drifting along, lost in his own little explodey-induced fantasy world where the femmes pile up at his feet, eager to bask in his glory and he laughs mightily while wearing a crown made of pure gold...and filled with enerbooze. "Gyahahahaha, I'm on top of the world!" He laments in this fantasy-realm, as he has not one but -TWO- huge arm cannons. And Starscream is still alive and grovelling, and Scorponok is bringing him refreshments on a tray, and Blitzwing is all jealous in a corner, standing with his arms crossed and a mopey look on his face.

Thankfully, some random Decepticon seeker has the presence of mind to fire out a tow cable and latch onto Astrotrain's drifting form as the Titanus draws near, ignoring the creepy giggling coming from the wrecked space shuttle.

"Tee hee hee hee hee!"

With the Junkion ship having made its escape, Marauder and the crew of the Titanus turn their attention towards securing the Steelhaven, and affecting repairs. A contingent of Sweeps emerge from the Titanus' hanger bay doors, heading towards the Steelhaven. The lead Sweep transmits, "Steelhaven, requesting permission to board." Marauder looks around the bridge, as technicians have come up, already working on panels, and a medic is looking after the injured weapons officer. With little else to do, Marauder picks up the deceased XO, and another Decepticon of unknown rank, and carries them to the turbolift doors, which slide open to reveal a slightly startled technician. He drops them on the floor of the turbolift, "Get them out of here." The Global Pose Tracker marks that Marauder has 'skipped' his action for this round.

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "The Steelhaven's old, such innovations wasn't around at that time."

Cyclonus looks up, rather shocked as the alarm klaxons go off. "But their own kind are still aboard!" he says. "Hnnnh." Rising from the helmsman's seat, he looks back to Spinister even as he gets bowled over by a mad scientist. "Spinister, they've set the self destruct for this vessel. We... must depart." He's not looking forward to facing Galvatron after this.

He has no idea any other Decepticons decided to board at this point. Oh well. Sucks to be them. In any case, Cyclonus transforms into fighter mode and flies out of the gap in the blast shield, not really caring if he burns everyone still on the bridge in the process.

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

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Lancia Turbo <Wheeljack> with his Hot Exhaust (Full-Auto) Area attack! Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Spinister with his Hot Exhaust (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Galvatron gets to the nose of the Steelhaven and tears out the windscreen with his hands, looking inside just in time to see the red spinning lights and the blaring klaxon horns. He grits his teeth. "Not even THIS? Not even THIS, Fortress Maximus? You TEST me SORELY!" He swears bloody vengeance as he points his cannon at the hull and blasts off, flinging himself through space to arc around and head back towards Cyclonus.

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

<Decepticon> Special Agent Marauder seeing that Cyclonus has evacuated the Steelhaven, broadcasts, "This is Marauder, acting Captain of the Titanus to the Sweeps on Steelhaven approach. Return to base, I repeat, return to base.

Sit-Com goes home. Sit-Com has left.

Combat: Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass]

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "I just saw from the port windows Cyclonus making a run for it. You did it, First Aid!"

<NEST> First Aid says, "Hmm? Is the ship clear of Decepticons?"

Spinister is sent flying by Wheeljack as the alarms kick off.
 * WARNING: EVACUATE. WARNING: EVACUATE:: He's on his feet quickly, regrouping with the Nebulans, just in time to get knocked back by Cyclonus' exhaust. Spinister finds himself back in the hallway, optics tightening as he watches Cyclonus jet away.

There will be time to rectify that later. Survival first.

Several foolish Autobots decide to engage him instead of escaping...but they are between him and the bridge. Spinister turns, heading further into the ship...It's an Autobot vessel, but of typical Cybertronian design...the forward escape bay should be... Excellent. Spinister moves quickly to a pod, pulling the Autobot entering away from it, pulling her head back until it touches her shoulder blades. He starts to step in, and that's when he spots them: First Aid and Amber MacKenzie.

Decisions.

He hesitates a moment, when the ship is rocked by another explosion. No time. Stepping into the pod, he hits the proverbial button, the pod sealing off and launching from the Steelhaven, heading towards the Titanus.

Combat: Spinister begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain>, Starfighter <Cyclonus>, Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven, Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>, Junkion Cruiser <Starscrap Enterprise>, and Lancia Turbo <Wheeljack>

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "I just gave Spinister a -very- good reason to follow Cyclonus' lead. So looks like it."

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "I have no idea, I've got a limited field of view on this side of the ship. If Wheeljack says they're gone though, I have no reasons to doubt him.  Wonderful job, everyone.  Wheeljack, are you able to plot a course back to Earth for us?  If the ship controls are fried on the bridge, we'll have to use manual override to get us back to Earth.  Oh... and do turn off the self destruct before our bluff becomes actuality.  ...*whews*  well done everyone."

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First Aid nods even as he puts in the final command, "That's what I'm hoping for. Once we reach the point of no return. Give it..." Aid checks his internal chronometer, "Sixty seconds or so before the engine overload becomes irreversible." That will give them almost enough time to escape. Already, Autobots are rushing to evacuate in case they have to go through with detonating the Steelhaven. Returning to the main engineering console, First Aid taps into the Steelhaven's weapons, cutting off their access from the bridge. He then takes control himself, setting the point defence laser cannons on an automated firing pattern. Anyone with a purple insignia near the Steelhaven gets targeted. The cannons swivel into position, cutting loose on Galvatron and Cyclonus as they try to rendezvous. The Sweeps dispatched by Marauder, as well as the Decepticon ship they launched from, also receive the brunt of the firepower. First Aid does all this while trying not to bleed too much on the console. "Amber," First Aid comments as he works the weapons, "Maximus says the ship is clear. could you maybe hit that self-destruct cancelation button? Third one down from the right. The blue one. You might need to enter your EDC credentials."

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "Yeah, I'm up here. Spinister learned not to stand between an engineer and the bridge of a ship in danger."

Combat: First Aid sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: First Aid misses Starfighter <Cyclonus> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Point-Defense Lasers Area attack! Combat: First Aid strikes Galvatron with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Point-Defense Lasers Area attack! Combat: First Aid strikes Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus> with Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven's Point-Defense Lasers Area attack! Decepticon Heavy Cruiser <Titanus>> Combat: You took 11 damage.

Lancia Turbo <Wheeljack> plows into Spinister and careens onto the bridge, just in time to catch the tail end of Cyclonus blasting off. It's one of those times that Wheeljack is glad he's one of the better stunt drivers of the Autobots, purposely fishtailing himself around and flipping sideways to evade the exhaust blast, transform mid-air, and land in a crouch.

Fortunately Spinister took the hint and decides to follow Cyclonus' lead in ditching the impending doom that hopefully someone is going to shut off.

He rolls a shoulder joint to get a coupling link back into place. "Just like the old days..." Letting out a sigh at memories of bygone times and friends he doesn't want to bring up right now he walks over to the navigation console, kicks the busted chair out of the way, and just squats down as it is to reconnect a few wires and shove a busted panel back into place. Then stands up and starts imputing commands. "We're damaged but still flyable. Resetting new coordinates for return to Earth."

The classic transforming sound can be heard as Wheeljack converts to robot mode.

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "I'm on my way to the br--- hrm, nevermind that. Looks like the gravlift on my deck got taken out by collateral damage."

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "We're damaged by still flyable. Resetting new coordinates for return to Earth."

<NEST> Wheeljack tchs. Then teases First Aid, "You -almost- got to outdo me by blowing up a ship. -Almost-."

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "Engage the FTL drives as soon as possible."

Amber MacKenzie moves gingerly but quickly, not any more anxious to blow up than the next sapient being. She has to put some effort into it, only to get a prompt for credentials. Rolling her eyes, she punches in her code and unlocks the button. NOW, she pushes it in. "Self destruct in 30 seconds," flashes on the monitor in warning red, accompanied by voice or Amber wouldn't have understood. She erks and tries to press harder. A click is heard this time, and the monitor turns green. "Self destruct aborted," the automated system finally announces.

<NEST> Perceptor says, "I find it highly improbable that he came even close."

<NEST> First Aid says, "Yes... well... I'd prefer not to make it a habit, Wheeljack. Amber and I have had quite enough excitement for one day, I think."

Fortress Maximus pauses in front of the gravlift, well what's left of the gravlift anyways. It seems like Cyclonus' incendinary bombs managed to burn through several decks and immolate everything standing in its path. The Headmaster commander sighs in frustration, but there isn't much he can do now. Fortunately he has very competent crew members on board and he knows well enough that they can handle the situation without any further guidance. Heck, as if they needed any in the first place! Satisfied with that though, Fortress Maximus makes his way back to Ultra Magnus and sits down beside him.

He puts on hand on top of the unconscious Autobot's shoulder and sighs, "What a day. My words, what a day."

Combat: Fortress Maximus takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Combat: Regained 12 energon.

Combat: Autobot Heavy Cruiser Steelhaven begins retreating, leaving itself vulnerable to parting shots from Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain>

Starfighter <Cyclonus>, though he managed to evade the Steelhaven's weapons, has something far worse approaching him--and there's no avoiding it. Transforming, Cyclonus looks... uneasy as Galvatron links up with him. "Ahhh... well... we did not destroy the Junkion ships or claim the Steelhaven... but... we did *heavily* damage the Steelhaven and Junkion cruiser...?" The space fighter's nosecone snaps back as its body flips upright. Arms and legs unfold from the wings and fuselage respectively, and a dour face emerges from the body, forming the robot mode of Cyclonus!

<NEST> Wheeljack says, "It's gonna take a little longer than usual guys, we can get up to FTL but not full warp, we've taken too much structural damage. We're under way though... How's Magnus?"

Decepticon Space Shuttle <Astrotrain> is sloooowly ratcheted into the hangar bay of the Titanus, so that he can be pushed off to a holding area to get some repairs later. A Decepticon seeker idly plays a scanner over him as he keeps on mumbling.

"...why yes, I -would- like mountains of gold melted down to make a chair. And Starscream will be my footstool? How thoughtful!"

<NEST> Fortress Maximus says, "He's took a critical hit, but his condition is stable for now. I'd like to get him looked after, but triage the crew's casualties accordingly.  Let's go home."

"Not heavily ENOUGH," Galvatron snaps, pulling the canopy shut after him. "I see they're all still moving. Towards EARTH, where they will no doubt reinforce the Autobots and Earthlings alike! This campaign is going very wrong, Cyclonus. Take me to Mars. I need to plan."

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

The Steelhaven swings around, metallic wreckages slips and falls off as the heavy cruiser limps its way into a turn. The engines lights up weakly, but steadily the strength of the light increases... increases... until it reaches its apex and the FTL drive on the crippled heavy cruiser engages. Just like that the Steelhaven propels itself back to Earth.