All Out Assault on Autobot City

Entrance to Autobot City

The vast atrium of Autobot City's entranceway stands before you. When Metroplex is not in residence, this area doubles as a military spaceport. Large towers relay information from around the globe and keeps the spaceport in contact with Earth's solar system outposts and the rest of the known universe.

Security cameras and gun emplacements surrounding the entrance make sure that only those who are welcome enter. Scorch marks and small holes in the wall are reminders of the last battle here for Autobot City. When Metroplex is not present, a gate allows easy passage to and from the battle station's facilities. The Space Bridge to Cybertron is constantly monitored by solemn-faced personnel. To the north is the landing pad for flights to and from Earth.

All is well and normal on a nice and sunny day in San Francisco, CA. Current, and usual, home to Autobot City.. the large towers loom above and pierce the calm cyan sky. The sun's rays part the heavens, basking the area in a soft calming glow. Birds float by, serenading anyone within ear (or audio) range with their sweet chirpiful chortling. Overall, it's just another day for lovely Metroplex and the denziens of Autobot City.

That is, until a bright purple fusion blast lances the sky and hits one of the furthest embankments. Thankfully, the chortling birds evaded it!

Floating down from the skies, the miniature version of Galvatron smiles as the smoke trails upwards and wafts over him.. Autobot guards abandoning post to inform the city or putting up meek resistance. The arching laserfire criss crosses all about, but another powerful blast from the fusion cannon cuts through the smoke and an unlucky Autobot gumby who falls to the ground.. grey as can be before making contact with the tough soil.

"Hahahahahahaha, yes. Go, inform your Autobot masters. Their reckoning has arrived." Galvatron Jr chastises the others who've retreated into the confines of Autobot City.

 Galvatron Jr says, "Hahahahahahaha, yes. Go, inform your Autobot masters. Their reckoning has arrived."

 Cyclonus says, "Someone identify the source of that transmission. *Now.* "

 Der Stukacon Banshee says, "I'm on it... seems to be comink from San Francisco. Rerouting to intercept"

 Cyclonus says, "Excellent. It is time to deal with this fool who would dare to impersonate our lord. But... perhaps not right away, if he's where I think he is."

 Galvatron says, "Decepticons, we will get to the bottom of this. And crush a few Autobots while we're at it, why not?! Ha ha! Let us see what my tiny doppleganger can do. Cyclonus, to me!"

 Cyclonus says, "At once, my Lord!"

The alarms resound, making a certain gunner run outside to see what is going on. It is chaos all around- guards running amuck as a figure... a very familiar figure is stepping into view.

Foxfire hears the mini-Galvatron. Before he can respond, however, a random Autobot darts into the lobby of Metroplex, while the alarms go off at the same time. Foxfire promptly gets his attention and asks urgently, "What's happening?"

"Well," saids the mech nervously, "there's a miniature Galvatron outside..."

Foxfire stares up at him. "Um, okay. Thanks for the report." With that, he darts outside to meet the enemy!

 Fusillade says, "More interesting than tossing ground up cobalt on pineapple fields! I'm en route."

Bell UH-1 Iroquois  was on a ridiculously boring civil air patrol. He helped rescue someone's dog that got stuck in a lake. There is slobber on his floor. He's just now coming back to Autobot City for a landing and a break to blow off some steam off-duty when he sees Galvatron(?) descending on the city to bully the Autobot gumbies. Blades doesn't have many lines, but he has to say, picking on gumbies? That's downright cowardly. He starts to arm his smart rockets, which he also feels are cowardly. Takes one to shoot one.

 Der Stukacon Banshee says, "You vere making nuclear pineapples?"

Sitting atop one of the towers of transparent titanium and ferro-fibrous steel, a young Autobot sits, seiza-style. Inaccessible to most, Brainstorm has come to think in relative peace and harmony. He controls a three dimensional holographic chalkboard, which hovers in the air. His hand movements change the components of the design, altering it. Once done, he studies it for a moment, before making a few more changes. He could have stayed up there all day, but when the blast rips through the clear blue day, he quickly taps a few holographic controls, and the image disappears. He speaks, a panel in his chest lighting up, "Autobots, we are under attack!"

 Cyclonus says, "Well, there are worse hobbies."

 Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Indeed. I hope they glow ein pretty shade of blue"

Firestar is one of the last Autobots out into the entryway! But this isn't because she isn't brave or in a hurry, it's just that she took the time to prep the med-bay for incoming wounded as best she could as the medic on duty. With her luck it is going to be her that comes back in pieces, but that is to worry about when it happens! She's here now, jogging out of the base itself with her axe in hand and a concerned look written large across her face. This just isn't going to be good at all!

Klaxons alerts blares throughout Autobot City and rouses up many of the personnel stationed within, one of whom happens to be Fortress Maximus. He is amongst many Autobot defenders that emerges on top of the many defense platforms that towers over Autobot City, and from the elevated view point he begins surveying the situation. Fortress Maximus' red optic guard lowers down, protecting his cerulian blue optics behind it, "Looks like it's just him so far." He narrows his optics before announcing to the other Autobots, "That thing that I've heard so much of in the reports? Take proper precautions everyone, if he's every bit as the reports states then his dimunitive size does not detract much from the original's power and skill."

The Headmaster commander then keys into an open channel in his communicator and firmly announces, << If you claim to be Galvatron himself, Decepticon, then you should realize that it is strategically unsound and meaningless to attack the Autobots' stronghold on Earth itself. There is only one chance to walk away from this, I suggest you take it. >>

Yeah... diplomatic stuff like this probably won't work on the real deal, let alone an imposter, but this is just how Fortress Maximus rolls.

 Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Mein gott! Autobot City ist lit up like ein Tannenbaum"

Perceptor was in the lab on Autobot City, working on various methods of possibly sealing off the antimatter portal on Alkor Zephyr for good, as well as formulating new hypotheses about the origin of the strange Galvatron clone and whether it had anything to do with the Galvatron fleet he'd encountered and recently disabled. He is suddenly aware of something sounding off on a fairly high frequency. At first he is worried it's one of his experiments going horribly awry and tenses up, fearing the worst. But then he realizes it's just the perimeter alarm. He brings up a surveillance feed of whatever's going on outside...

So....the miniaturized Galvatron knock-off was bold enough to attack Autobot City directly, eh? However, he suspects this is some sort of diversion set in motion by whomever had created the replica. He also suspects that the Decepticons will be showing up soon as well, and attempting to use this distraction to their advantage while at the same time endeavouring to determine the origins of the mysterious clone. The scientist hurries out of the lab toward one of Metroplex's defense platforms, then waits for permission from a superior officer to fire upon the enemy. He hopes that this time, he will succeed in discerning the clone's origins as well as its creators' intentions...

Galvatron rides to the scene in style, cocooned in Cyclonus' cockpit. "I admit I am intrigued to finally meet this imitation," he's telling Cyclonus, reviewing recordings of Galvatron Junior on the multifunction display. "I hope that he kills many Autobots in my name before I am obliged to destroy him due to his sudden but inevitable betrayal!"

Galvatron leans to peer out the window. "Ah, that is San Francisco below us. Let us see what there is to see, Cyclonus!" Reaching down, Galvatron unlocks and yanks the red handle, blowing the canopy and leaping out of the cockpit. The wind catches Galvatron instantly and carries him back over Cyclonus' fuselage, tumbling briefly before he stabilizes himself, points his toes and plunges towards the ground.

With a resounding boom Galvatron lands on the beautifully manicured (thank you, Groove) grounds outside Autobot City, forming a small crater. He stands up and steps casually out of the crater, shaking out his joints like a boxer warming up.

JU-87  had been half-annoying, half participating in the Reno Air Races until the call went out from Galvatron Junior. She immediately banked away and made for Autobot City at best speed, arriving with an awesome montage sequence that is completely eclipsed by Galvatron's entrance - as it should be. She transforms to land behind her Beloved Kommandant, drawing her two Luger pistols and cocking them with her dental plates - all of this serving to make the Overlord look even better, of course.

"Command me." She makes it sound like she's propositioning him, though that's mostly due to her German accent.

Folding and shifting, Banshee transforms into robot mode.

 Der Stukacon Banshee sounding sultry, says, "Command me."

Through speakers all assigned around Autobot City a klaxon siren begins to sound as Metroplex's booming voice says, "Stand Clear. Engaging Battle Station mode. Please stand back."

Blast shields begin to fall down over vulnerable windows, towers unfold like flowers revealing gun turrets and plasma blasters. And wheeled treads begin to unfold beneath the base of the Metroplex component of Autobot City. After a minute of shifting and changing, Metroplex has become a giant, city sized battlestation.

And once Galvatron has safely ejected himself from his confines, Cyclonus pulls back in a loop before shooting straight back down after Galvatron. Unlike Galvatron, though, he decelerates more quickly than his leader and manages to land gently on the grass. Maybe he appreciates the work whatever Autobot put into it, even though he'd destroy said Autobot given the chance anyway. "You need but give the word and he will die, Lord Galvatron. Though perhaps he deserves a worse fate than death for daring to impersonate your visage and mock it with his miniature form?..."

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!

The searing tone of high-powered engines rolls around the horizon, belatedly adding Fusillade to the Decepticon force. She doesn't transform just quite yet, instead maintaining a stand-off position in a holding pattern over Autobot City. Upon sighting Fortress Maximus emerge from Autobot City, she oohs quietly to herself. "A /second/ building. That came out of the first. Fractal buildings!" She dips one wing to bank, and maintains position for now, but happily goads the smaller Galvatron, <>

Galvatron holds up a hand, cocking his head curiously. "Let us see what the doppleganger has to say for itself." He raises his voice to address Galvatron Junior. "CLONE! I am Galvatron! Will you bend the knee to my supreme authority, and crush Autobots at my side, at my pleasure? Or shall we be enemies and treat the vile, crawling Autobots to the spectacle of your assured destruction?"

The look on the faces of the Autobots is pure fear, or seems to be, to the diminuitive Decepticon Decoy (how's that for fourth wall??) who laughs maniacally again, gutting an unlucky Autobot guard too slow to pull back to the frontline created by Fortress Maximus and his troops. "I am but your will Lord Galvatron, given form.." Like intestines, the gumbie's innards spill out in a jumbled mess.. "Power." he continues his sentence, the parts all lubricated with bright pink energon. The gumbie's face is that of panic, before turning gray and going limp.

Galvatron Jr simply drops him where he stands, stepping on his head as he proceeds towards the city. The head makes a sickening *SKRRRRRNCH* as it's collapsed under the tiny tyrant's heel. "Claim? CLAIM?" he inclines his head up to look at Fortress Maximus, giving a slight chuckle all the while. "My only claim is to be the PERSONIFIED WILL of Lord Galvatron himself! As for walking away from this.." he trails, turning to survey and point at the already burning fortifications. "You're wrong again, Maximus. I will so enjoy delivering this city to the Lord of Chaos, even if it's been reduced to.. ASHES!"

As his tone rises, so does the fusion pooled within the cannon's barrel. Glowing a bright purple, the weapon is aimed at the Headmaster Commander's head and trigger pulled. "Perhaps it's time to sever your head from your frame.. AGAIN!!"

Combat: Galvatron Jr misses Fortress Maximus with his Fusion Cannon attack! [Pulled -5]

Galvatron glances between Cyclonus and Banshee. "We can take that as a 'yes,' I think. Decepticons... ATTACK!"

 Galvatron says, "Ha ha, this clone amuses me! Perhaps I will raise him to a battle captain if he survives! Destroy the Autobots!"

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Jawohl!"

The shooting begins, and the reaction from the Autobot emplacements follows a moment later. Vulnerable towers begin to retract inwards as armored cowlings slide up in their place. Viewports slam shut, weapon emplacements rise into position, and Autobot City starts to shift and move as warning klaxons blare out for the benefit of anyone standing in a 'danger' zone. "Warning, Autobot City transformation under way, all personnel move to designated safe zones for transformation!" For Metroplex, this sort of transformation is quicker than that to his humanoid form, as it's more like sealing up his vulnerable bits which retract into his body, soon replaced by bristling artillery and weaponry a plenty that rise up into position.

Firestar screeches to a halt with her boot heels grinding a few sparks on the metal decking of Autobot City. It takes her exactly seven point eight seconds to size up the situation. So we have a deranged Galvatron impersonator that is even more deranged than the genuine article, Metroplex transforming around her, and Decepticons coming in. What does she do? She ducks into a control booth that opens up as Metroplex's combat mode comes online and presses her palm into the hand shaped identifier there. An automated voice rewards her efforts! "UNIT FIRESTAR RECOGNIZED. PATCHING WEAPON SYSTEMS INTO CONTROL STATION A-43." She grins to herself as she manipulates a joystick from side to side. High overhead, some turrets respond to her beck and call.

"This is gonna be the best day ever!"

One of Metroplex's Laser Lance turrets points straight at Galvatron Junior and lets him have a thick beam of blue light.

Combat: Firestar sets her defense level to Protected.

Combat: Firestar misses Galvatron Jr with Autobot City Battlestation's Laser Lance

Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> would like nothing better than to get up close and personal with that Galvatron Junior who is boiling his energon by abusing those gumbies like that. Innocents being violated is really the perfect excuse to let loose. Yet he stays in the air, because that is what he is supposed to do, however much it blows. Well, hopefully this rocket will 'blow', too... FROM OUTSIDE:]

Combat: Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> sets his defense level to Guarded. FROM OUTSIDE:]

Combat: Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> strikes Galvatron Jr with his Armor-Piercing Smart Rocket attack! [Pulled -2]

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Ein helicopter! Isn't it cute? I'll make it regret ze day it ever chose zat alt-mode."

Foxfire peers at Cyclonus and the two Galvatrons. The clone's size isn't as intimidating, but Foxfire isn't going to doubt his capabilities. The little saboteur darts around to the Decepticons' line of sight, an idea forming in his mind. "Hey!" he calls. "Say cheese!" With that, he uses his hologram systems to emit a bright flash of light, attempting to temporarily blind the three. They are the biggest threats present, after all.

Combat: Foxfire misses Galvatron with his Holoprojection Area attack!

Combat: Foxfire misses Galvatron Jr with his Holoprojection Area attack!

Combat: Foxfire misses Cyclonus with his Holoprojection Area attack!

Fortress Maximus narrows his optics at Galvatron Jr once more as it becomes clear that the clone is every bit as mad and bloodthirsty as the the original himself, << So be it then. >> The Headmaster commander moves into action the moment he sees the tip of the orange barrel being raised. He reaches out for the nearby Autobot defenders that's standing near the edge as him and secures them firmly underneath his massive arms and leaps away towards safety just in time for them to be vaporized along with the ground that they each had been standing on, "Get Metroplex into battle ready mode!" Once they're all a safe distance away, Fortress Maximus drops the Autobots he had been carrying and makes a running leap onto another tower as grounds reconfigure, blast shields lowers, gun emplacements reveals itself from cover, and battle towers rises from the ground.

Once he's secured his footing, Fortress Maximus roars into his communicator to all the Autobots, the words needed to be said are few but the intensity behind it is enough to make any Primes proud, << Alright, it's on. This is our home turf, Autobots. Roll out and put them down! >>

Combat: Fortress Maximus sets his defense level to Guarded.

Combat: Fortress Maximus inspires Bluestreak, Foxfire, Firestar, Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm>, Perceptor, and Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> with righteous and majestic words!

Bluestreak took no time in joining the cassette, pulling his rifle out of subspace as he did so. The arrival of the Decepticons just about rattled him, but he didn't show it. Instead he took careful aim at the second in command, whether it hit or not, it will take the heat off the rest of the bots for a while, and allow Metroplex to do what he does best- and Firestar for that matter.

Combat: Bluestreak misses Cyclonus with his Ion-Charge Disperser Rifle attack!

Brainstorm steps out from the ledge he had been sitting upon, and immediately begins to plummet. As he falls, Brainstorm begins to transform, contorting, converting, and rearranging, until he has become a Cybertronian Jet. Wtith hi nosecone pointed downwards, he engages his thrusters, increasing his speed, hurdling down towards the full scale Galvatron, but at the last possible moment, he pulls up, creating some shearing forces on himself, but also quite a wake. The gravitational forces play upon the air and ground, which is precariously close, destroying much of the flowers that Groove had spent so much time on, but hopefully their sacrifice will not have been in vain.

Combat: Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm> misses Galvatron with his Shockwave (Ram) attack!

"...Really?" Galvatron asks Cyclonus rhetorically as one of the little Autobot cassette warriors comes running straight at the both of them and emits a bright flash of light which Galvatron simply looks away from. He reels out his morning star in reply and swings it in an underhand sweep at the tape to try to knock it away, loops it around as he ducks under the charging jet and swings up with it again to try to smash the underside of Brainstorm's fuselage as he passes!

Combat: Galvatron strikes Foxfire with his Double Underhand With Spikes Area attack! [Pulled -2] Combat: That attack has temporarily affected Foxfire's Accuracy. (Blinded)

Combat: Galvatron strikes Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm> with his Double Underhand With Spikes Area attack! [Pulled -2] Combat: That attack has temporarily affected Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm>'s Accuracy. (Blinded)

Cyclonus glances worriedly at Galvatron at some of the things he's saying on their frequency, though he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he clears his throat and declares, "Galvatron will decide himself what his will is, impersonator! But if you're going to destroy Autobots then perhaps you're not so far off from it!" Then... what is that, a cheesy one-liner? And one he's heard before, some quiant human phrase that's said before a bright light flashes. He could never figure it out, but Foxfire sadly gave himself away and thus Cyclonus is able to simply avert his gaze to avoid the attack. "What does that have to do with cheese, anyway? Well, not that it matters. And yes, Galvatron, I know. It is insulting to be challenged by such a small creature, is it not?" he says in a droll voice.

A devastating ion bolt rips over his shoulder, and Cyclonus narrows his optics at the culprit. "Bluestreak. That's more like it." He hops up into the air, aided by anti-gravs, and lands in front of his attacker. "That shot could have seriously harmed me, Bluestreak... sadly for you, it did not." His hand snakes out to wrap around Bluestreak's throat and lift him up. "A pity that such firepower was wasted on you."

Combat: Cyclonus strikes Bluestreak with his Choke! Choke! Choke! attack! [Pulled -2]

Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill> has totally been here the entire time it's just no one noticed because no one cares about Insecticons (damn racists.) When Galvatron calls for the attack, she breaks away from formation and descends upon the Autobots with buzzing wings. Oh gosh, there are so many of them to choose from, it's really hard for Buzzkill to decide which one to murderize first. Luckily, the cassete bot flashing holograms and everyone catches her attention and pretty much makes the decision for her. She lands before the little robot fox and stares him down with her buggy red eyes before reaching out with those slobbery mandibles of hers and tries to take a nice chomp out of his face. "How dare you attempt to stand in the way of Lord Galvatron!? Your foolishness will be your undoing!"

Combat: Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill> strikes Foxfire with her Foxes For Dinner (Punch) attack!

Banshee gets her orders and transforms, taking to the air to deal with her first target- Blades. The Stukacon slots herself on the UH-1's tail and grins, the sirens under her wings starting to scream as she toys with him, aiming to, for now at least, scare the pants off the poor Autobot.

Folding and shifting with the classic noise, Banshee transforms into her Junkers Ju-87 Stuka altmode

Combat: JU-87 <Banshee> sets her defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: JU-87 <Banshee> misses Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> with her Horns of Jericho attack!

Motormaster isn't a 'flyer' so he drove his aft to the scene of the 'battle', down the road at full speed, engines roaring loudly, smoke billowing out of his stakes as he heads towards Autobot City, preparing to ram into the first Autobot to get into his way. Galvatron ordered, he obeys. He snarls, as this is his chance to do some serious damage to those Autocreeps.

Motormaster transforms into his Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> mode.

Racking her rotary launchers, Fusillade swoops in once the command is given. "Heyya, Fortress!" she shouts, almost cheerfully, before lobbing several dumb bombs in the Autobot defender's position.

Combat: Space Going B-1R Lancer strikes Fortress Maximus with her Small Munitions (Laser) attack!

The laser lance is -batted- away by Galvatron Jr's backhand, the ricochet burying itself into one of the many Autobot fortifications present. Said tower collapses on itself, shattered pieces cascading to the ground below. No big loss however, as it was a mere relay tower. At worst, the Autobots will actually have a use for Blaster's altmode. "I answer to Lord Galvatron, and him alone." Glavatron Jr sneers at Cyclonus. However Blades' rocket flies straight and true, enveloping the copy in a detonation that leaves his outer shell visibly weakened in places, armor fragments dropping to the ground in melted piles of Junkion sheet metal slag.

"Simpering fools, the only Autobot willing to face me is that of a mere Protectobot? And here you are, supposedly made of STERNER stuff!" he rages towards Fortress Maximus, the fusion coil working overtime as it prepares another shot. Or is it?

The blast from the fusion cannon PROPELS the 'copy' up and towards the Headmaster, the last moment cutting off before he lands with a THUD. Raging forward, Galvatron Jr attempts to rip into Max with bare hands. "It shall feel good to rip into your core, killing you slowly. First I'll delicately SNAP you limb from limb!"

Combat: Galvatron Jr sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Galvatron Jr strikes Fortress Maximus with his Bare Hands attack! [Pulled -2]

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

The morning star smacks into Foxfire's side, promptly sending him flying, but despite the damage, he rights himself in the air and lands on his feet. Which is odd, because he's a fox, not a cat. He snarls and lowers his ears as Cyclonus speaks. "Insulting? I may be small, but I'm a much better mech than that overgrown tin can you call a leader!"

When Buzzkill appears before him, Foxfire slinks back slightly, snarling again. Before he can do anything, the Insecticon bites into his face! He growls and pulls back, after a moment managing to free himself from Buzzkill's mandibles. He darts away to man the defenses, several wounds on his body emiting sparks.

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

Bluestreak gags slightly as he felt himself being lifted up. But even more so from the pain of having his neck cables pressed on like that. He struggles a bit, having dropped his rifle. Desperately, he lifts up a leg to knee the him as hard as he could, so he can escape that grasp.

Combat: Bluestreak strikes Cyclonus with his Knee to the Chest (Kick) attack!

Firestar is safe and secure in her little armored box. Or is she? The observation port windows can still be shot through if anyone really tries hard, but it is going to be a difficult shot. Of course her view of the battlefield is a little less commanding and she can't quite see as well as she'd want to.

But that doesn't stop her from knowing what to do!

She manipulates her joystick, settling the targeting crosshairs right over Cyclonus as he chokes Bluestreak. She waits until the little icon turns from green to red and presses the trigger and from somewhere far behind her a pair of homing missiles are launched at the Decepticon! Combat: Firestar strikes Cyclonus with Autobot City Battlestation's Guided Missile Launcher attack!

It might have been hard to notice given all the fighting going on, but something -above- started to glint just slightly as the sunlight caught it just so. A hint of metal high in the sky, and descending...fast. In a holding orbit high above, the Orion Pax is undergoing extensive refit and repairs after the heavy damage taken in the fight with Trypticon. The ship was saved from the chaos of the 'Galvatron Fleet' thankfully, but is still going to be needed repairs for quite some time yet. This of course makes it relatively easy for the Autobots to reach it in orbit as they quite literally only have to fly 'up' with the help of a shuttle, Jetfire, Sky Lynx or any other space capable bot. It also makes it straightforward to get right back -down- again, as one of those leftover assault pods from the Mars attack would show. Descending at a screaming velocity towards the ground, retrothrusters fire at the last second, slowing its descent so that when it crashes to the ground in Autobot City's courtyard area, there's a heavy crash of metal on metal rather than an outright explosion, a thick cloud of dust rising up to obscure the vision for a few seconds. The cloud rolls out and stops short just where Fort Max is currently having his struggle with the Galvatron clone. ...just in time for an arm to suddenly come out of the cloud, reaching out to suddenly seize at the right arm of 'Junior' and forcibly tear him back and away from his intended target. "I'll say one thing about this half baked copy..." Rodimus Prime grunts, shifting with his grip one-handed as he twists at the hip and suddenly WRENCHES his arm forward. "Whoever made him certainly got the -ego- down pat, if not the height!" And with that he hurls 'Junior' as hard as he can in the opposite direction...with a specific target in mind too.

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron Jr with his Here you can have your toy back Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron with his Here you can have your toy back Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Mistiming his attack run, Brainstorm manages to spare the pretty flowers, which did no harm, and certainly didn't deserve such an ignominious demise. Unfortunately, Galvatron escapes unscathed as well, and worse, Brainstorm put himself in a vulnerable position. The Emperor of Destruction does not waste the opportunity, and swings upward, inflicting considerable damage to Brainstorm's fuselage as he made his pass. His flight is gravely altered, and a trail of black smoke follows him, forcing him to land and transform. His sensor array is having difficulty picking up a signal, which only exacerbates the situation. Opening up a communication signal, he reports, "Can't see, forced . . . to the ground. I'll see what I can do, but Blades, for now at least, you're on your own." Resting for a moment, he takes a knee, and begins a self-diagnostic. While waiting for the results, he does what he can to even the odds, by firing a low-intensity blast at one of the buildings, lighting it up like the Fourth of July.

Brainstorm shifts into his imposing Robot mode.

Combat: Brainstorm sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Brainstorm strikes Galvatron with his Statue of Liberty Play Area attack! Combat: That attack has temporarily affected Galvatron's Accuracy. (Blinded)

Combat: Brainstorm strikes Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill> with his Statue of Liberty Play Area attack! Combat: That attack has temporarily affected Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill>'s Accuracy. (Blinded)

Combat: Brainstorm strikes Cyclonus with his Statue of Liberty Play Area attack! Combat: That attack has temporarily affected Cyclonus's Accuracy. (Blinded)

"There ain't nothin' /mere/ about me," Blades snarls as... Galvatron Jr completely ignores the rocket. He manages to evade Banshee's wail, possibly because is own rotor blades are just so loud. "I'm not even /merely/ angry. I'm /furious/." That said, he opens up on Banshee and Galvatron Jr, raining hot lead from above! Blades heckles back at Brainstorm, "S'okay, Brainstorm - you'd only slow me down!"

Combat: Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> strikes Galvatron Jr with his Full-Auto Area attack!

Combat: Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> misses JU-87 <Banshee> with his Full-Auto Area attack!

Perceptor watches the chaos unfold around him. He isn't surprised by this spectacle. Perhaps the Decepticons have been playing dumb, intending to use the clone as a distraction. Hmm...but if that were the case, then this wasn't really a good strategy, using the clone to spearhead an all-out attack on Autobot City. They're clearly outnumbered -and- outgunned, here. As he ponders, he interfaces with the turret he's using and commands it to spray the area below with a light artillery barrage.

Combat: Perceptor sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Perceptor misses Cyclonus with Autobot City Battlestation's Speculating...and shooting. Area attack!

Combat: Perceptor strikes Galvatron with Autobot City Battlestation's Speculating...and shooting. Area attack!

Combat: Perceptor misses Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill> with Autobot City Battlestation's Speculating...and shooting. Area attack!

Combat: Perceptor misses Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> with Autobot City Battlestation's Speculating...and shooting. Area attack!

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Aerospace, take out those fire control bunkers! Make them a tomb for whoever's manning those guns! No, not a tomb, better... a crematorium!"

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Jawohl!"

<Decepticon> Fusillade says, "Understood."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "It happens that I have just the right means of cremation, Lord Galvatron..."

Battle data and perimeter reports are continuously fed into Fortress Maximus, keeping him constantly up to date on how things are unfolding on the battlefield so he can make appropriate decisions, << I've gotten reports that our surprise attack failed. Haul it back and man the defenses, Metroplex has finished transforming. Hold the line and support the mechs around you. >> From this vantage point, Fortress Maximus is able to assess and issue orders to the other Autobot forces that has yet to be directed yet. His efforts is hampered though as he's made aware of Fusillade presence, albeit too late as the bombs detonates beneath him and shatters the tower ledge that he had been standing on, "Fusillade! Blast, terrible timing!" Soon Fortress Maximus plummets down towards the ground but is able to grab onto sturdy antenna and swing his way towards a building's roof top.

Before his feet can make contact onto the roof top, he is intercepted by Galvatron Jr, the force of the brutish assault and falling onto the ground dazes the Headmaster commander, "Gah! I'm a commander, Decepticon. Certainly you haven't forgotten what the duties requires me to do?" The impact on the ground is enough to leave a crater on the ground, but thankfully Rodimus Prime's intervention is able to give him the time needed to get back onto his feet, albeit still dazed, "Rodimus! Be careful, that one might be smaller but no less deadly." Fortress Maximus cautions with a pained wince. Now that he has breathing room, Fortress Maximus reconfigures into his battleship mode and begins laying down fire at multiple sources using the numerous weapons mounted on him in this mode.

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> sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> strikes Galvatron Jr with his Mortars and Machine Guns Area attack! [Pulled -6]

Combat: Interstellar Battleship <Fortress Maximus> strikes Space Going B-1R Lancer with his Mortars and Machine Guns Area attack! [Pulled -6]

Galvatron had a feeling the mini-clone was going to end up thrown at him at some point, and proves to be ready for it! He nimbly catches Galvatron Junior and sets him down more or less unharmed with a self-satisfied look at Rodimus. "Ah, Rodimus! THERE you are. Don't you know, NO one tosses a-" but the rest of his chiding mockery is drowned out by the hammering explosions of Metroplex's artillery falling on his position and blasting both Galvatron and Cyclonus!

Cyclonus takes a knee to the chest, the impact causing him to grunt, and more importantly, drop Bluestreak. "...mph, that won't save you, Autobot, for you have barely even--" THOOOM THOOOM! A pair of missiles slam into him from the side, suddenly and abruptly flinging him away. "Agggh!" Seemingly the entire city opens up on him, and Cyclonus feels himself forced to take to the air to evade the barrage of fire. "So, Autobots, you think you can hide safely in your turrets and rain death down upon us? No! WE will rain death down upon YOU!"

His bomb bays open, but just as he does so, a tower in his field of vision flashes brilliantly! "ARRGH DAMN YOU AUTOBOTS!" he screams as he drops bombs... somewhere?

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: Cyclonus sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Firestar with his Incendiary Bombs Area attack! [Pulled -6]

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Autobot City Battlestation with his Incendiary Bombs Area attack! [Pulled -6]

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> strikes Perceptor with his Incendiary Bombs Area attack! [Pulled -6]

JU-87 <Banshee> seems to be about to shoot Blades when she gets her orders and breaks off hard, climbing rapidly only to begin a vertical dive. At first, she seems to be about to drop a 250kg bomb, but instead she grins and drops one of the smaller high-explosive weapons - after all, why not go for as many of them as possible? With a laugh, she pulls up hard as the bomb drops from under her wing, he sirens still wailing.

<<I VILL KILL YOU ALL!>> she declares. Of course, that dive makes her a -great- target, as RAF pilots discovered during the Stuka's heyday...

Combat: JU-87 <Banshee> sets her defense level to Fearless.

Combat: JU-87 <Banshee> strikes Firestar with her 50kg GP Bombs Area attack!

Combat: JU-87 <Banshee> strikes Autobot City Battlestation with her 50kg GP Bombs Area attack!

Galvatron picks himself up off the ground and throws out an imperious finger towards the enemy from within the smoke of the artillery impacts, activating his radio. "Aerospace, take out those fire control bunkers! Make them a tomb for whoever's manning those guns! No, not a tomb, better... a crematorium!" Half-turning, he waves Motormaster and Buzzkill forward as well. "Motormaster, smash their lines and demolish Fortress Maximus! Buzzkill, support Motormaster's attack! The clone and I will tear Rodimus Prime in two!"

Combat: Galvatron sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Galvatron inspires Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster>, Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill>, Starfighter <Cyclonus>, Space Going B-1R Lancer, and JU-87 <Banshee> with majestic and wise words!

Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> shifts gears and heads straight into battle. He'd set his sights on Fortress Maximus...how could he miss!? But then, there...something orange, yellow and a hint of red. Yes, just a little twist of the wheels and he was right in light to do a little attempt at some damage on the way to his original target. With a grin that no one could see, he went for Ramming Speed at Rodimus. It was worth testing to see if this Autotwerp was half the Bot Optimus had been.

Combat: Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> misses Rodimus Prime with his Ramming Speed! (Ram) attack!

Space Going B-1R Lancer squeaks in dismay into her comm as Fortress Maximus lights up the sky around her. "Not quite as happy to see me, I see!" she harrumphs, but any other witty repartee is immediately cut off as several large anti-air slugs shred her left wingflaps. The bomber rocks as she shifts internal dampeners to compensate for the fouled airflow over her wings, and then turns her tender affections upon Metroplex's gun emplacements and its operators, per Galvatron's orders. A cluster-bomb unit containing several anti-vehicle and anti-personnel rounds sails toward Firestar's viewport, its descent slowed (and improved) slightly by the tiny white ballute attached to its tail.

Combat: Space Going B-1R Lancer sets her defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Space Going B-1R Lancer misses Firestar with her GATOR Cluster Munitions (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Space Going B-1R Lancer strikes Autobot City Battlestation with her GATOR Cluster Munitions (Full-Auto) Area attack!

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "I sink I put zat vun in ze vindow of ze bunker..."

"Cowardly Autobot!" Buzzkill shouts through a mouthful of fox face. "This is why you will never amount to ANYTHING!" Wings beat with that obnoxious buzzing noise they're known for and the Insecticon lifts into the air just as Brainstorm opens fire and destroys a nearby building in a fantastic explosion, the awesomeness of it practically blinding her. "Nice collateral damage, Autobum!" Oh snap! Brainstorm is going to need some ice for that burn. Unsurprisingly, Brainstorm becomes Buzzkill's latest target. She makes a B-line (HA! Because she's a bee, get it??) for the Headmaster and does everything in her power to stab him right in the face with that terrifying, barbed stinger sticking out of her huge butt.

Combat: Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill> sets her defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill> strikes Brainstorm with her Piercing Sting attack!

Combat: Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill>'s attack has strange and mysterious effects on Brainstorm.

With a well telegraphed, though totally AWESOME entrance, Rodimus' intended heave and ho is ruined when Galvatron Jr leans into the throw and uses anti-gravs to pad his descent. Right into the -real- Galvatron's arms! Getting to his own two feet, the copy temporarily kneels before the actual Galvatron.

"Your will personified is but a humble servant, Lord Galvatron." the copy grates out lowly, his head bowed and fusion cannon held aloft. The stunning display of Master and Plagiarism is interrupted however, when Fortress Maximus' laser array bores clean holes right through his shoulder armor segments. Energon trickles slowly from the wounds, they run deep and cause the copy some visible and audible pains. Grimacing as he rises, Galvatron Jr solemnly nods at the words spoken by the 'original'.. then throws himself headlong towards the Autobot commander!

"EGO? You're one to talk, PRETENDER!" he rages, allowing Motormaster to sweep by before striking out with a flurry of punches. "What would OPTIMUS say to this vapid collection of derelict cores? HA, tell me.. TELL ME!!"

Combat: Galvatron Jr strikes Rodimus Prime with his Flurry of Fists! (Kick) attack!

Foxfire hears Buzzkill's remark, but he doesn't bother to respond. He has more important things to do. He makes it to one of Metroplex's battlestations and climbs onto it, taking control of the weapon systems. He takes a few seconds to take aim at Galvatron, and fires, sending a missile straight at the Decepticon overlord.

Combat: Foxfire misses Galvatron with Autobot City Battlestation's Guided Missile Launcher attack!

Perceptor is a bit disappointed as he finds that only Galvatron had been hit by the artillery barrage. He notices Galvatron and his miniature copy going for Rodimus, and takes note of the numerical disadvantage his leader will have to deal with. He transforms, shrinking slightly and taking on his secondary form. He zooms in on Galvatron, searching for and finding weaknesses in his armor, then feeding them to Rodimus. Hopefully that will give the mech an advantage against the two of them. Secretly, though, he is hoping for a live specimen. In other words he is hoping the Galvatron copy could be taken alive...to the lab, preferably.

Combat: Perceptor sets his defense level to Guarded.

Perceptor folds down into his microscope secondary form.

Combat: Perceptor analyzes Galvatron for weaknesses Rodimus Prime can exploit.

Firestar is safe and happy in her defensive bunker, manipulating various controls to bring the bitter taste of evil on the Decepticons! She is not paying attention to her radar screens though, because that is someone else's job. Namely Blades and that other guy who are supposed to be keeping the skies clear.

So she's smiling to herself and putting the crosshairs' for Metroplex's cannons on Galvatron himself this time, when her world explodes in smoke and fire. Cyclonus puts his firebombs into Metroplex's armor a scant fifty meters from her control station. Fusillade is almost successful and mauls the plate all around her, but Banshee's bomb goes straight through the window of the control station and explodes in Firestar's face.

The blast is amplified by the enclosed area and sends her flying out the door amid shrapnel, smoke and fire to land momentarily motionless on the deckplate. "Ow." She says. "That really, really hurt." She picks herself up and points both hands at the first Decepticon she sees which in fate, happens to be Banshee. If she is successful her wing roots will mysteriously begin to burn. But then Firestar is off and running for another control box!

Combat: Firestar sets her defense level to Neutral.

Combat: Firestar strikes JU-87 <Banshee> with her Pinpoint Plasma attack!

Having been blinded himself in a prior entanglement, Brainstorm does not react in a timely fashion to the Insecticon's assault. He manages to save his optics, but only by lifting his head slightly, and engaging his facial armour. Where a mouth had been before, it has now been replaced by an impressive mask. His voice even seems to lower, "Not today, Insecticon." His hands reach out, trying to get a grip on her chassis, and with a foot brought between them, he tries to do a somersault, flinging her back into the melee.

Combat: Brainstorm misses Robotic Honey Bee <Buzzkill> with his Return to Sender (Kick) attack!

Grateful that his knee connected, Bluestreak was even more grateful when the missles struck the Decepticon. It took him less than a moment to get his barings together, and set up his shoulder missiles to aim at the Starfighter before backing out to a safe distance. He gets behind the battlestation, going behind one of the guns there. This is more like it.

Combat: Bluestreak sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Bluestreak strikes Starfighter <Cyclonus> with his Shoulder-Mounted Rocket attack!

Rodimus Prime grunts, "I'm sure he's plenty tough, Max. But if he was tougher than the real deal -he'd- be the one calling the shots. And I'm used to tackling the real deal already.." And then he can hear a certain Decepticon leader bellowing at his own troops, prompting Rodimus to make a gesture in his direction, "Anytime you want to try Galvatron you're welcome t..." Now -how- is someone supposed to talk all heroically and defiantly when you've got a TRUCK coming at you? Motormaster really knows how to ruin a good speech, as Rodimus abruptly has to tuck and roll hard to one side, skidding along the ground and coming up on one knee, already starting to raise his rifle at the Stunticon leader. Just in time for 'Junior' to come up and proceed to clock him one right n the jaw, followed by another punch, then another that drives Rodimus back one step, then a second before he recovers and promptly plants his feet in a wider stance and just -stops- being driven back. "...I dunno what Optimus would say, honestly." Rodimus reaches up with one hand, wiping the back over his mouth before his blue optics narrow.

"I know what -I'll- say though...Galvatron still hits harder. Speaking of which..." And with that, Rodimus suddenly wrenches in place, spinning about in a hefty roundhouse kick in an attempt to smash his boot straight into Junior's torso and propel him back...again aimed back towards Galvatron himself. "Seriously, put a leash on your pet already Galvatron! I'm not in the mood to play with it!

Combat: Rodimus Prime sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron with his Kickball with mini-me! Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron Jr with his Kickball with mini-me! Area attack! [Pulled -2]

Air burst mortars are lobbed in the direction of B-1R Lancer that flies defiantly in the face of danger! "I'd be more inclined to be happier to see you if things didn't blow up whenever you're around!" Says the guy who's armed with two twin barreled mortar launchers. Irony, eh? On the other hand, it looks like Fortress Maximus' laser cannons doesn't have much effect in slowing down Galvatron Jr and hopefully it wasn't a catalyst for his surge in aggression!

Fortress Maximus transforms back into his robotic mode and lands with a solid crunch onto the ground beneath him, before taking off after Galvatron Jr who's going all fist of fury on the Autobot leader himself! Motormaster trucks on through, but misses his target in! Things are getting hairy and Fortress Maximus knows exactly how to even the odds up.

"If he won't put a leash on him, I will!" Fortress Maximus announces his arrival by attempting to clothsline Galvatron Jr, and using the inertia of his strike to swing around and send him flying back towards Motormaster's rear end, "Time to return the favour. I've got your back, Rodimus!"

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

Combat: Fortress Maximus strikes Galvatron Jr with his Clothesline Throw Area attack! [Pulled -5]

Combat: Fortress Maximus strikes Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> with his Clothesline Throw Area attack! [Pulled -5]

Galvatron dives away from the missiles, side-rolling back up to his feet as the detonate behind him and fill the air with shrapnel and chunks of manicured lawn. This time he springs over Galvatron Junior and lunges in a soaring arc out of the smoke! As he sails towards Rodimus Galvatron twists to blast down with his cannon in a thudding barrage of fusion shots at two of the weapon turrets and Bluestreak (who is basically a weapon turret himself), before descending on the Prime. "Mood's a thing for cattle and human love-play! There's no room in our war for your MOODS, Rodimus!"

Combat: Galvatron sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Galvatron strikes Bluestreak with his Bracketing Fusion Shots Area attack! [Pulled -11]

Combat: Galvatron strikes Foxfire with his Bracketing Fusion Shots Area attack! [Pulled -11]

Combat: Galvatron misses Microscope <Perceptor> with his Bracketing Fusion Shots Area attack! [Pulled -11]

Combat: Galvatron misses Rodimus Prime with his Bracketing Fusion Shots Area attack! [Pulled -11]

JU-87 <Banshee> snarls loudly as the plasma sears her wing-roots, burning off half of a dive-brake. Annoyed, the Stukacon circles around and tries to chase her away from any weapons emplacements, though it's not likely there'll be any left as Max transforms. Sehr gut; it means that she can fight one-on-one with her target. Her wing-guns chatter as she strafes over Firestar!

Combat: JU-87 <Banshee> strikes Firestar with her Strafing Run (Laser) attack!

The second her stinger hits gold (gold being Brainstorm's face in this particular case,) Buzzkill pumps as much venom into the Headmaster as she can before he starts making grabby hands at her, forcing her to pull out. "Get your nasty hands away from me! I'm not some Autobot skank!" She transforms into her robot mode and lands behind him with her grenade launcher drawn but she doesn't fire it. Instead, she lunges forward and swings it with everything she's got in an attempt to slap him right across the face with it. See kids, you can use guns for more than just shooting! You can bludgeon people with them.

Buzzkill transforms into her robot mode.

Combat: Buzzkill strikes Brainstorm with her Gun Slap (Punch) attack!

Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> snarled as he missed Rodimus. As he roared on past Rodimus, smirking as he saw through his side mirrors how that little Galvatron Jr clocked him but good, he turned his attention to moving towards Fort Max. There were other targets of op..por...and then Fort Max transformed and moved. Slaggit! He hated it when stationary targets moved!

He had just enough time to register that the large Bot was now behind him, doing...something with that little freak of a mini-Galvatron when he felt his trailer get nailed in the aft end, sending it, and subsequently, him, slewing sideways. Slamming lengthwise into the side of one of the towers, he snarled in rage as he quickly transformed, pulling his cannon out of subspace to take aim at the offending party. His servo squeezed off a round, aiming at Fortress Maximus. A little payback was always good.

Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> transforms into his Motormaster mode.

Combat: Motormaster misses Fortress Maximus with his Atom-Smasher Cannon attack! [Pulled -2]

"You're more fun than Metroplex, I'll give you that," Fusillade remarks, wisps of smoke still trailing from her as she loops back around, before transforming and taking the fight to the ground. Saffron optics flick over the Autobot combatants, and she picks out a likely target. "Now now now, we can't be taking pot-shots at the Steward of the Empire!" she announces, before tumbling (needlessly) and snapping off a shot at Bluestreak between the blast shield gaps of his gunner position.

The sleek bomber rears up, wings collapsing onto hips even as the rear fuselage splits to form arms. The horizontal stabilizer slides up, the forward fuselage folds up accordian style, and Fusillade hops up on thrustered feet.

Combat: Fusillade strikes Bluestreak with her Ridiculous Desert Eagle Themed Argon Disruptor (Disruptor) attack!

Starfighter <Cyclonus> takes a rocket from somewhere inside the city, shuddering in mid-air! "Where'd that come from," he growls to himself, coming back around to nail him with a strafing run of sizzling laser blasts. "Go along, now, Bluestreak, this fight, and I myself, am far beyond your league!" And yet, something about this battle bothers him. They're fighting alongside someone who is most certainly not a Decepticon, and yet has disguised himself as their leader, and claims to be fighting for them. Why? How did all of this happen? And what was the meaning behind those reports the other Decepticons sent in. "Hm... I've got a theory or two about you, my little pretender," he quietly muses.

Combat: Starfighter <Cyclonus> misses Bluestreak with his Oxidizing Laser attack! [Pulled -2]

The long winded speech is interrupted by Motormaster, his retort to the Stunticon leader doubly so when Galvatron Jr launches his flurry of punches. Grinning, which is a bit eerie.. considering the lack of nose and mouth full of shark-like teeth, "Ah, such heroi..". His banter is cut short with a devastating kick to the torso. Prime's heel leaves a hellacious dent in the midsection of the copy, physically knocking him backwards thirty feet. Boots finally dig into the supple soil however, Galvatron Jr slows to a stop.. arms sagging at his sides.

Gathering what wits are left about him, the facsimile raises his helm.. just in time to get clotheslined and chuck'd at Motormaster! Colliding into his side trailer, Galvatron Jr rolls on the ground end over end furiously until a near unarmored hand latches out to dig a long line in the dirt. Temporary trench, more like it. Rising to his feet, more and more armor fragments fall off in chunks.. revealing more hidden circuitry that sizzles when exposed to the copious amounts of trailing energon.

"N.. Neh.." he grumbles, working hard for words to stumble out of his mouth. Clearing his vocalizer, he shouts "NO! I DEFY YOU, MISCREANTS!" towards Fortress Maximus and Rodimus Prime. All the while, the tip on the fusion cannon glows bright white.

What comes next, is best described as a madman's rampage. Cannon shots fill the area, most of them impacting against the ground or Autobot City. "I AM GALVATRON JR!"

Combat: Fortress Maximus uses up a charge on his Cerebros Unit booster pack!

Combat: Galvatron Jr strikes Fortress Maximus with his MINI-NYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Galvatron Jr strikes Rodimus Prime with his MINI-NYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Galvatron Jr strikes Microscope <Perceptor> with his MINI-NYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Combat: Galvatron Jr misses Autobot City Battlestation with his MINI-NYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! Area attack! [Pulled -3]

Firestar zig-zags left and right to avoid as much incoming fire as she can. There is a lot of it, too! Banshee is shooting at her and all sorts of debris is flying everywhere. Before she reaches the cover of the next defensive bunker she has a liberal adornment of shrapnel wounds. But she's almost there! Diving for it and rolling she comes up to open the door and get Banshee's strafing run right in the back. Now smouldering in more ways than one, Firestar drags herself into the emplacement and slaps her palm into the identifier.

"UNIT FIRESTAR RECOGNIZED. SLAVING TURRET CONTROL TO" She presses the mute button and swings around one of the not-blown-up turrets at Banshee and lets her have it with a vile purple beam of antimatter energy. She's mostly isolated from the heavy fighting of the big bruisers, but clearly is having her own problems. FROM OUTSIDE:]

Combat: Firestar strikes JU-87 <Banshee> with Autobot City Battlestation's Bzzzap! attack!

Brainstorm's facial armour has taken some serious scarring, even going so far as to be a mesh wound, but he'll live. His chassis still contains an impressive dent, from when Galvatron struck him as he tried to buzz the Evil Overlord TM. He softly intones, "My hands are clean. Can you say the same, Decepticon?"He isn't familiar with her, or else he might refer to her by name. He's being so chivalrous, allowing her to work in a vicious right cross, which sends his steel chin flying a bit. He narrows his optics, looking upset, but not quite mad. Aiming for the grenade launcher, he tries to knock it out of her hand, with a karate chop to her wrist.

Combat: Brainstorm strikes Buzzkill with his Kung-Fu Grip (Punch) attack!

After delivering the data to Rodimus, Perceptor sees the incoming blast from Galvatron and quickly returns to his biped form. He manages to dodge the attack, jumping behind the turret he was operating. Down below, the Galvatron clone is wailing on Rodimus. He draws his weapon from subspace and takes aim at the clone, thinking all the while, as usual. He surmises that -some- of the Decepticons must be somewhat doubtful of the clone's true intentions. It seemed to claim allegiance to Galvatron, but there wasn't really a way to prove that. If someone could make that clear to the Decepticon lea--

But his thoughts were cut short by the clone's maniacal shouting and randomly directed shots, one of which strikes him and causes him to nearly fall off of the defense platform. The scientist pulls himself back up quickly, though now he's lost his aim. Not completely, as he manages to partially recover it. Hopefully it will be sufficient to hit his target at a location on its body that has already lost its armor.

Combat: Microscope <Perceptor> sets his defense level to Fearless.

Perceptor reverts to his primary form.

Combat: Perceptor strikes Galvatron Jr with his Stop interrupting my train of thought! attack!

Foxfire cries out as a shot from Galvatron hits him, sending him falling off the battlestation. He lands hard, his small form smoking slightly. It takes a few seconds, but he manages to get back on his feet, and painfully starts climbing back up onto the station. "Damn," he mutters to himself. "I got careless."

He positions himself at the weapon controls again. "Let's see how you like this, Sandcastle Head!" A laser fires from the turret.

Combat: Foxfire misses Galvatron with Autobot City Battlestation's Laser Lance attack!

"No room for moods?" Rodimus quips as he darts left, then right, backpedalling for distance as Galvatron peppers shots in his direction, managing to avoid getting tagged by any of the fusion blasts with his fancy footwork. "The irony of that statement and who it's coming from it just mind boggling, but I'll ask anyway...did you wake up this morning wanting to punch Cyclonus or just shoot some random seeker for the heck of it? Seriously you've got more mood swings than Arcee during a..." He actually stops and looks left, then right suspiciously, not seeing the pink femme anywhere. It does nothing to help his paranoia all the same. "...actually just scratch that thought altogether." And then 'Junior' is firing blasts all over the place one striking against Rodimus' chest and driving him back a step again. A small curl of smoke rising upwards as he gives a grunt and places one hand to the blackened smear of his torso. If that had been Galvatron doing the shooting, Rodimus would probably be picking himself up flat off the ground. Then there's the ranting and raving. "...that's interesting." He grunts, and then decides to work on a theory/thought. "Pardon me, but I'll deal with you in a minute!" Ducking low as Galvatron flies close, Rodimus openly avoids the Decepticon leader, making a beeline straight for 'Junior' now through the blasts as he proceeds to demonstrate one skill asset that he has that Optimus never did. Rodimus knows how to be a real jerk at time, especially when he wants to start pushing someone's buttons. "Hey shortstuff, you call -that- a hit? I'm still standing!" Dodging left, then right to avoid some followup blasts, the Prime lunges the last distance, putting both his hands together as he goes. "Look at you, circuits hanging out already, half blown into a mess...you done -already-? Galvatron and I do this ALL THE FREAKING time, you can't even keep up with a quarter of -our- playtimes, can you?" Coming up right in Junior's face, Rodimus brings both hands arcing up, and over in a vicious double-handed downward axehandle punch aimed right at the smaller figure's head with all his strength. No, he's not playing nice and he's not pulling punches right now. "Pathetic!"

Combat: Rodimus Prime misses Galvatron Jr with his The Touch attack! [Pulled -2]

Cracks forms from the strength that Fortress Maximus had put into the feet that he had exerted all his power into when he made that spinning clothesline throw of his. He narrows his blue optics as he watches Motormaster transforms from truck to robot, his attention focused intensely at the movement of the Stunticon commander's weapon barrel. There! The experienced Headmaster commander sees the movement that he had been anticipating and quickly projects where the tip of the barrel will end and quickly leans his torso to the right as the burst of shearing air narrowly passes by him, "Motormaster. Don't you see the insanity of charging into the Autobots' stronghold? Metroplex stands guard here!"

Galen calls out to Maximus in alarm as he notices Galvatron Jr's movements, but the binary partner's earnest efforts isn't enough to boost the massive Headmaster commander's reaction time. Galvatron Jr's blast connects! Molten armour plating scatters throughout the area as the impact of the cannon shot knocks Fortress Maximus off his feet! "Gah!" Shrrppt, the sound of subspace being access can be heard and soon a fusion powered photon rifle is held in the Headmaster commander's hands and soon the tip of the barrel is brought to bear in the direction of the dimunitive Decepticon clone, "Heads up!" The trigger is squeezed and a bright yellow-whitish beam is emitted by the rifle's barrel!

Combat: Fortress Maximus strikes Galvatron Jr with his Fusion-Powered Photon Cannon attack!

Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> lines up for another attack run on Galvatron Jr, putting extra juice into this rocket. He wants to get down on the ground and rumble to get his hands dirty. Blades wants to feel the energon on his hands. But he can't, right now.

Combat: Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> strikes Galvatron Jr with his Armor-Piercing Smart Rocket attack!

Galvatron chases after Rodimus as he dodges away to assail Galvatron Junior! Not because he's concerned about the little clone, of course, but because Galvatron can't resist backstabbing Rodimus on the rare occasions the Prime turns his back on him. Cocking his fist back, Galvatron ignites his boot jets and hurtles bodily towards Rodimus' back like a missile equipped with a savage beating as its payload. "Distracted, Rodimus?" he gloats. Galvatron actually sounds like he's having a good time. Usually his mood (speaking of moods) is one of eerie psychopathic calm alternating with barely-restrained homicidal rage, but something seems to tickle him about this little clown and his fearless aggression.

Combat: Galvatron sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Galvatron strikes Rodimus Prime with his Rocketo FISTUUUUU Ultra GO attack! Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired Rodimus Prime's Agility. (Crippled)

JU-87 <Banshee> growls as the attack burns off her armour, dropping down to land and transform beside Firestar - even if she's on Metroplex, it's still a large surface to fight on. Her neck-cogs start to spin as she gathers herself up, singing what begins as a pure high A-note. The cogs spin faster and faster in different directions as other notes, discordant with the originl tone, are layered into the note, which rapidly begins to shatter glass and possibly the mechanism of the turret itself as she focusses the unpleasant noise onto Firestar!

"I scream... you DIE!"

Folding and shifting, Banshee transforms into robot mode.

Combat: Banshee strikes Firestar with her Banshee Scream attack!

Starfighter <Cyclonus> flies over his target, dissatisfied that the Autobot seemed to find cover in time. What angers him more is seeing the beating that Galvaron Jr. is taking. He was nowhere near as amused as Galvatron was by the little freak, and his performance isn't helping. "He impersonates Galvatron, and fights only half as well? The nerve of this fool! Such impertinence must be punished! But... not physically. That may draw the true Galvatron's wrath." He transforms, hovering to survey the battlefield, thinking.

A moment later, he lands near Galvatron Jr., and flings a piece of wrecked machinery in front of him. "Here, use it. Yes, just a little bit of scrap I found on the battlefield. Refuse, salvage, whatever you wish to call it... or perhaps... junk?..." That last word being a bit pointed. "Here, I shall even cover you, my little friend!" Turning to Fortress Maximus, he fires oxidizing blasts into his chest!

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: Fortress Maximus uses up a charge on his Cerebros Unit booster pack!

Combat: Cyclonus misses Fortress Maximus with his Oxidizing Laser attack!

Motormaster snarls at Fort Max comment and subspaces the cannon, pulling out his gun instead. Why go after the big guys when picking on the smaller 'squirts' are so much easier. He does a quick scan of the area and seeing several targets, he grins and takes aim at Firestar who's sitting in the blasted open control cabin for the gun turrets. This might be fun, like one of those games you shoot the targets lined up to win a prize....

Combat: Motormaster sets his defense level to Aggressive.

Combat: Motormaster misses Firestar with his Cyclone Gun attack! [Pulled -2]

Nodding at Cyclonus, Galvatron Jr fully intends to EVISCERATE his enemies before this day is done. But of course, that is before he was enveloped in an onslaught of attacks, his form probably near blinding for a moment.. stars shine brightest right before they burn out, apparently.

First the firepower of Perceptor's focused cannon tears into what little outer armor was left of him and sets it fragile.. brittle, setting him up perfectly for Rodimus Prime's amazing display of strength. The purple armor pratically crumbles under the devastating damage of the downward axehand pummeling, all breaking away and in to either lie dangling strewn about with hanging wires, or fall to the ground in heaped chunks of sizzling messes. Sparks shoot up from the ground in haphazard fashion.

Stumbling, bumbling, Galvatron Jr finds himself at the mercy of a fully powered fusion photon cannon blast, which pretty much sets the remaining dangling wires ablaze. Fire slowly trails up the dangling circuitry, the individually crest to the ground below.. vaporized and trampled underfoot. "I.. Iiih.." words come out in gasped bursts, tiny geisers of energon being regurgitated with them. Aiming his fusion cannon up at Rodimus Prime, from a knelt position, Galvatron Jr seems to be bent on one final act of NEFARIOUS deeds. "Diiiiiiiiiiii.." he coughs, the fusion cannon about ready to fire.. when Blades' rocket enters the weapon's tube and causes an implosion inside the weapon housing! Trailing upwards on his arm, the melding of rocket and fusion energy cascades upwards and pratically tears the arm from it's socket. Succumbing to wounds, Galvatron Jr collapses to the ground in a heaped mess.

As the main frame falls away, twisted and broken in half.. the remaining body, or what was underneath the Galvatron Jr armor, is covered in a thin layer of almost mucous-like film.

Combat: Galvatron Jr damages himself.

Combat: Galvatron Jr falls to the ground, unconscious.

Firestar can handle this. She isn't actually 'on' Metroplex but in a control box near to the main gates. The armored windows are no longer with this world though as Banshee's scream cracks them. Then Motormaster's cyclone weapon blows them wide open and sends fragments everywhere. Already buffeted by the scream, Firestar's armor is shredded quite badly by the combination of the two and somewhat bedraggled she steps out of the box with murder in her eyes. After she swears at Blades lots on the open comm.

From her hip she takes out a long shaft of metal and presses a button to bring to life a humming orange energy blade. With both hands she swings it from the ground in an upwards, underhand swing like a golf club, trying to bury the blade in Banshee's midriff.

"I gots better things to do than play with ya tonight, Darlin'. Ya just ain't my type! Now git!"

Combat: Firestar strikes Banshee with her Firewoman's Axe attack!

Foxfire peers around the turret to stare as the Galvatron clone kills himself. Or something. It's strange. Notice the strange filmy substance, Foxfire makes a face, a fang peeking out of his mouth. "That's disgusting..."

With that said, the little saboteur peers about at the battlefield. Then he focuses on both Galvatron and Cyclonus, sending out some disruptor rays from the battlestation.

Combat: Foxfire misses Galvatron with Autobot City Battlestation's Disruptor Rays Area attack!

Combat: Foxfire strikes Cyclonus with Autobot City Battlestation's Disruptor Rays Area attack! Combat: That attack has temporarily affected Cyclonus's Accuracy. (Blinded) Combat: That attack has temporarily impaired Cyclonus's Agility. (Crippled)

Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> has his orders to go dance the dance with Banshee, though the helicopter spends a little while rubbernecking at the... mucous on Galvatron Jr's internals. He wonders if it splashes when slammed against the ground. To cover Firestar's chance of scene, he launches a rocket at Banshee after Firestar goes postal on the German Decepticon.

Combat: Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> strikes Banshee with his Armor-Piercing Smart Rocket attack! [Pulled -1]

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Taking heavy damage"

Rodimus Prime is slammed into from behind by Galvatron, the two going over in a heap as they struggle against one another. Somehow the Decepticon leader even got one arm around Rodimus in the process, which the Prime grips at with both hands as he clenches and strains to get free. "Just...testing a theory." He growls in return, preparing some move to try and extricate himself from this situation...at least until 'Junior' proceeds to collapse with bits of his armor falling away and... ...yes, Rodimus actually ceases struggling against Galvatron for those few moments and just stares, blue optics wide. "...what the heck is that? THIS was your clone? Underneath it looks like a big pile of sn..." And with that he suddenly WRENCHES forward, bending at the hip in a move to throw Galvatron over his shoulder, and towards the 'wreck' that is Galvatron Jr. "Here, go have a look for yourself!"

Combat: Rodimus Prime sets his defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Rodimus Prime strikes Galvatron with his Epic Throw Attempt attack!

Perceptor watches intently as the clone collapses to the ground, finding the strange mucosal layer covering what was beneath the armor very strange. He then decides he needs to take a closer look in order to determine exactly what it was underneath the Junkion-derived armor. He leaves the defense platform, making his way down toward the ground outside Autobot City. It seems he's forgotten there is a battle going on outside.

Combat: Perceptor sets his defense level to Protected.

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

A little known fact is that some Cybertronians have an energon pump located in their wrist, which accelerates distribution of the life-giving fuel. Energon flows into the extremities, and out again. When Brainstorm struck Buzzkill, he cut off the flow. Energon continued to pump into her hand, but not out of it. With a scream, Buzzkill flew off to secure urgent medical attention. The moral of the story, don't pick a fight with someone who knows more about your anatomy than you do.

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

Fortress Maximus watches uneasily as Galvatron Jr succumbs, but he doesn't have a chance to investigate that curious film of mucous left behind as Galen takes control and moves him out of the path of Cyclonus' oxidizing laser! In his place, the ground beside him sizzles and bubbles sinisterly as an unsettling reminder to him of what could've happened has Galen been one second behind, "Cyclonus! It's still not too late for you all to leave, I don't see anything any of you can possibly gain from this attempt at wanton destruction!"

As if to emphasize his point, Fortress Maximus raises his arms up at the Decepticon warrior and machine guns pops up from his forearms and a quick burst is unloaded in his target's direction.

Combat: Fortress Maximus sets his defense level to Neutral.

Combat: Fortress Maximus strikes Cyclonus with his Machine Gun Batteries attack! [Pulled -1]

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Well, that hunch of mine might have been a bit off."

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "What hunch issat?"

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Ja? Fifty energon.. ach... energon credits... says it's Backfire's doing."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "No, building such a suit would require a technical skill that Backfire simply does not possess. And what Decepticon would dare build it for him?"

<Decepticon> Astrotrain says, "I got more technomological skill in a little finger than Backfire has in his whole CPU!"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "I'll tell you when Maximus stops shooting at me, Astrotrain--"

Galvatron slams into Galvatron Junior like a meteor impact, rolling off of him with some difficulty as Rodimus has clearly wrenched the joints in his elbow and hip with the awesome power of his Matrix-enhanced strength, precisely applied thanks to Perceptor's tutelage. "Ungh... you won't fool me into..." He notices his hand is covered in something sticky as he picks himself up. "What? The Pretender Process? A robot in... DISGUSE? You're not a clone!" This seems to enrage him for some reason, and he grabs Galvatron Junior by the chest and grabs him by the face as if he was palming a basketball, trying to wrench it free from his head. "You've been lying all along! You're not a clone at all, you're some... some kind of spy! Spies and traitors! Reveal yourself to me! GIVE me your FACE!"

Combat: Galvatron sets his defense level to Neutral.

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

Motormaster hears his leader yelling at ...something and turns, after missing his last target, staring in bewilderment at Galvatron as he picks up Galvatron Jr and begins to shake him. What the...? He straightens from a slight crouch he'd been in and actually turns enough to see what's going on. Well, some might actually call it gawking but no, he's not gawking, he's just...looking on, yeah, that's it.

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

Banshee growls loudly as the axe slices deep into her, spraying a fair bit of energon out toward Firestar - though there's a fair bit -less- energon sprayed out from Blade's rocket, which seems to do most of its damage to her armour and wing ervos. With a soft growl, she draws her Luger-styled pistols and takes aim at the Autobot - before firing with everything she' got, emptying both guns at her, blades, and Autobot City itself.

"I vill kick your arsch! ALL OF YOU!" she snarls

Combat: Banshee misses Fortress Maximus with her Spray and Pray German style (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Banshee strikes Firestar with her Spray and Pray German style (Full-Auto) Area attack!

Combat: Banshee misses Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> with her Spray and Pray German style (Full-Auto) Area attack!

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Nrrrg, if I can just... get this face off... we'll see who's behind this!"

<Decepticon> Special Agent Marauder says, "Ah, so that's where you store it, Astrotrain."

Cyclonus holds up his forearms to block the spray of bullets from Maximus. "Oh, it's not entirely too late--" he says, and tries firing random shots at both Prime and Maximus. "There's still a little wanton destruction we can get away with as of yet." Though he's not bothering to be accurate, and isn't even looking at who he's shooting at. No, his attention is fixed squarely on the impostor.

Combat: Cyclonus misses Fortress Maximus with his Full-Auto Area attack!

Combat: Cyclonus misses Rodimus Prime with his Full-Auto Area attack!

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "Not... much left in me, mein kommndant."

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "28% structural integrity... 10% fuel..."

What is underneath, is a horrible sight of zig zagging wires and what seems to be one and a half Cybertronians? The top half, literally just a top torso, is of minibot in stature. Pristine white in color, the arms are noticably absent and the lower half is PLUGGED into the other's shoulders and chest. Wheezing, hooked up to what would pass as Darth Vader's breathing aparatus, the piano-former sets blue optics upon the Galvatron.

It's none other than.. OVERTURE! Backfire's secretary and all around jack-of-all-trades!! Having been missing since Scattershot's assault against Shockwave, Buzzkill, and Backfire on Pluto!!! Then that can only mean one thing..

And true to logic, Backfire is the lower half of this inner doppelganger. His paint job noticably lightened under the inner film, probably prolonged exposure, the Seeker simpleton dangles in the iron grip like a corpse. Mouth agape, optics darkened, body already having sustained signigicant injury during the onslaught.. Backfire has certainly seen better days, and more sapient ones to be more precise.

As the head of Overture moves in response of Galvatron's inquiry, optics darting around the area.. his voice eerily comes from Backfire's mouth. "Lo..rd Galv..atron. It is I, Overture." he coughs, still creepy because the voice and reaction of squirting energon comes from Backfire's mouth, not Overture's. Looking downwards, "Did this vessel not want your glory? And can anyone seriously blame me for using the insepid fool to my own ends?" he wheezes, large inhale afterwards. "After sustained damage on Pluto, I did the only thing I could to survive." he defends himself, voice still trailing from Backfire's blank look and open maw.

"Did I not deliver your exacting vengeance to the Autobot's front doorstep?" he attempts to survey the surrounding area, though the arms are noticably incapacitated. "Look around you, have I not fulfilled that which you could not?" Overture finally spurts out, between baited breath.

Firestar is covered liberally by Banshee's gushing wound. It stains her from head to toe as she carries her axe swing's motion into a neat forward roll, popping back up again just in time to get shot in the chest. It slams her back against Metroplex's corridor wall with an oof. She is showing that she has been in the thick of it now, with half of her torso mangled and haging off at the rivets. The armor on her left arm is sloughing off like an infection of gangerene and her face is really sooty and dirty. She reaches over and snaps off the plating on her arm, which looks for all the world like she is rolling up her sleeves and begins to walk towards Banshee, her axe over her shoulder. She has one hand behind her back as she walks.

"Alright, Hon." She says; deadpan. "I'm losin' my paitence here by t'moment. We got 'nuff to handle ovah here without you 'septicons comin' along and wreckin' our shit, an' I think yer voice is the most annoyin' of the lot of them. So, why don't cha just fly off while ya got the chance, yer already fallin' apart and all. So I'm gonna count t'ten. Give ya t'chance to run 'away."

Firestar begins counting.

"One, two, three, four..."

At this point she presses a button on the remote control for Metroplex's missile turrets she grabbed when she exited the control room in a hurry a moment before and two missiles roar out of a silo nearby.

"Err, oops?" She says cheerfully and dives for cover.

Combat: Firestar sets her defense level to Fearless.

Combat: Firestar strikes Banshee with Autobot City Battlestation's Oops! attack!

Given a moment's reprieve, thanks to the incapacitated Buzzkill, Brainstorm's subsystems are able to implement self-repair. He's been doing that since Galvatron crushed part of his fuselage, and his diagnostics show that he is finally capable of flight. Leaping up into the air, he attempts to transform. It's a little longer than usual, sounds like there's some grinding, but he manages to do it, and get himself aloft. Switching to his afterburners, he rapidly gains altitude, doing a flyover Cyclonus, but giving himself a greater margin for error than the last time he pulled a stunt like this. "Fortress Maximus, I'm again able to provide air support." And he does this by dropping one of the grenades that Buzzkill left behind.

Leaping into the air, Brainstorm transforms into a Cybertronian Jet.

Combat: Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm> strikes Cyclonus with his Insecticon Grenade attack!

Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> attempts to transform above Banshee and drop out of the air pretty much on top of her, since the blasted woman won't get off Firestar's case. He glances sidelong at how Overture and Backfire are weirdly conjoined and just... frak it, this is jetslag. He needs to stab someone. And Banshee is here! Blades snarls, "Y'cons ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Just pack it up and call it game over. Because if I had that hot mess on my team? I wouldn't wanna even be seen with me."

Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> transforms into his Blades mode.

"That's...disturbing, disgusting and all kinds of other words right now that just aren't occurring to me at the moment." Rodimus observes as the 'reveal' turns out to be the horrible mishmash of bodies and presentation before him that he wasn't expecting in the least. Nonetheless, there's still the problem of rampaging Decepticons on the loose, evidenced as some stray shots from Cyclonus come hurtling his way, prompting him to duck and move forward to cover before he emerges again. "Whatever the case, enough is enough." "Alright Decepticons." Rodimus takes several steps closer to where Galvatron stands, his rifle held with one hand, the barrel pointed at the sky as it rests against his shoulder. THe other hand holds up a small device that looks like a datapad. "Know what this is? It's more symbolic than anything because I can use the radio too, but this is a direct line to the Autobot city network with a preprogrammed message that only Autobot command knows." A moment passes as Rodimus waits to let that sink in, "In short playtime's over, Galvatron. Either you scrape your little leftover mess of a sycophant up with a dustpan and take it with you and the rest of your troops as you get off our lawn." Rodimus shifts his hold on the pad, lifting his thumb up over the button meaningfully. "Or we ring the bell for round 2. Only I press this little button and Metroplex transforms and shows you all why he gets grumpy with Decepticons that make him move when he doesn't have to."

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

Combat: Blades misses Banshee with his Rotor Blade attack! [Pulled -3]

Foxfire pins his ears back and shudders...

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

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "I cannot remain!"

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "..what."

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "... I TOLD YOU! I bloody knew it! Ow... sheiss... nicht.... I am too damaged to continue..."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "This is... a strange outcome. I had expected a Junkion, but this?"

<Decepticon> Overture says between gasps, "You foresaw only that which I allowed you to, cow."

<Decepticon> Der Stukacon Banshee says, "I will deal vith you at ze Executrix' pleasure, Overture."

<Decepticon> Overture replies, "Licking her boot heels is the reason you will never amount to anything."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "A pity, Overture. You clearly had talent, but it was wasted."

<Decepticon> Overture growls, "Save your pity for the weak!"

<Decepticon> Contrail says, "Being pitied by Lord Cyclonus is a sign of weakness."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Oh, the weak, eh? Odd that you should say that when you turn into a *piano* and had to graft yourself onto--it pains me to say--a better warrior."

Fortress Maximus ducks behind cover as Cyclonus showers his vicinity with weapons fire, which coincidentally shielded him from Banshee's too. Normally he'd start unloading on the Decepticon warrior in response to the provocation, but Backfire's unexpected emergence provides a tempting possibility of this whole thing being settled without any further bloodshed. It is something that Fortress Maximus eagerly accepts, he takes the time to eject the spent capacitor round in his photon rifle and loads in a fresh one while giving Cyclonus a side glance, "I'd take Rodimus' offer if I were you all. It's not about honour, it's about whether or not you want to be lumped in with Backfire's foolish shennigans. One that failed and bore no fruit in the end."

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

In his attempt to get behind the safety of Metroplex, Bluestreak found himself targeted not just by one, but three Decepticons all at once. While he could be glad that he managed to avoid Cyclonus's attack, he was not so lucky when it came to Galvatron's sweep shot and Fusillade's disruptor attack. He found himself barely, just barely, managing to get to the weapons located on the outside. Slowly, he got behind one of the guns, and readied it.

Perceptor has made it down to the ground just outside of Autobot City just in time to hear Overture appealing to Galvatron. He is not sure whether he should be fascinated or horrified. Probably both, though. One thing he isn't, though, is shocked. Overture's methods don't surprise him. From his exploitation of the idiotic Backfire to the poorly constructed clone-combiner. It all made sense now. The Junkions had perceived the flying Decepticon as an 'Aerialbot' and his assistant as a fembot, somehow. Overture had manufactured a strong yet sloppily-built outer shell for himself and Backfire. Well, sloppy according to Perceptor at any rate. Surely though, he would have realized that Galvatron wouldn't take well to being imitated. And he -certainly- can't have thought that assaulting Autobot City would end well for him. That is, unless Backfire's lack of intelligence has somehow negatively impacted Overture's own.

Galvatron crushes the torn-away false face and tosses it on the ground, holding up the horrible amalgam of Overture and Backfire so he can look Overture in the eye. "Could not, or was smart enough not to?" Galvatron asks, calm again. "I should destroy you. But you remain a... technically loyal Decepticon. More importantly, you did put a smile on my face, and that's worth something." He tosses the bizarre Pretender at Cyclonus. "Cyclonus, take Overture and Backfire back to the flagship. For all his vaunted power he was only ever a pale shadow of me, as I always knew. But an amusing one. For reverse-engineering the Pretender Process he has earned his life." He glances aside to meet Rodimus' gaze and turns back to Cyclonus. "We are done here." Galvatron snaps his fingers in the air to call the attention of the other Decepticons, and blasts off, lifting away into the sky.

Combat: Galvatron sets his defense level to Protected.

Combat: Galvatron begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Autobot City Battlestation, Cyclonus, and Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm>

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Prepare a medical bay. And a prison cell. With a research simulator terminal in it."

Banshee takes the missiles and is launched several meters backwards, imbedding herself ass-first, upside down in some kind of bulkhead or other. Leaking energon, she's perhaps lucky that Metroplex' walls save her from Blade's rotors. "...Ow." She mutters, peeling herself from the wall carefully. It even -looks- painful - and the look of relief on her face as Galvatron says that they are done here is palpable. But still, appearances must be maintained. She points her finger at Firestar

"Zis is not over. I will be back - VITH A VENGEANCE!"

She transforms and takes to the air... and her engine doesn't sound healthy; it backfires and sputters, trailing smoke and shedding a few parts as she struggles for altitude.

Combat: Banshee begins retreating, leaving herself vulnerable to parting shots from Autobot City Battlestation, Rodimus Prime, Galvatron, Cyclonus, Foxfire, Fortress Maximus, and Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm>

Motormaster keeps his gun out but backs away from the others, snarling in disgust. As he walks away, preparing to transform down into his massive semi-truck mode, he leers at Rodimus. "Tell Ultra Magnus, he's next on my list..." and with that, he transforms down and takes off, shifting gears quickly as he roars away from Autobot City.

Motormaster transforms into his Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> mode.

Combat: Kenworth K1000 <Motormaster> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Autobot City Battlestation, and Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm>

Cyclonus takes a shot through the shoulder, staggering back. "Nnnnffff. Galvatron, regrettably, the Autobots are right, we must depart." Galvatron, of course, already arrived at that conclusion, and he regards the Backfire/Overture fusion with disdain as he has it tossed at him, and catches it arm's length, like Galvatron just handed him his trash. Actually, that kinda happens fairly often. With a weary sigh, Cyclonus says, "As you... command, Galvatron," and transforms, kinda sucking the weird fusion of two Decepticons into his cockpit via the magic of bad animation before blasting away. "Well, that was an odd little adventure."

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> begins retreating, outrunning all pursuit.

Firestar picks herself back up from where she dove after calling in missiles on Banshee and in complete mockery of the Decepticon points her finger right back at her. Then, in a hardly subtle gesture she moves the finger to her lips, kisses it, and applies it to the curve of her rump. Then turning away, she jogs back into the control station, bringing Metroplex's guns back to bear on the retreating Decepticons just in case anyone has the idea to turn back.

Rodimus Prime watches as the Decepticons start to vacate the premesis, and slowly lowers the device to his side, giving a sigh and a shake of his head. "Well that certainly ranks up there with 'strange things to talk about years down the road'." Putting away the pad, and his rifle, he turns back to look at the damage to the area, and Metroplex himself. The colossal Autobot naturally weathered all the stray weaponsfire with no real problems. Damaged towers and emplacements are all modular and can be fixed. The smaller Autobots of course take it a little more heavily when all the explosives are floating around, "See to the wounded and get repairs wherever you need them. Not that I expect they're going to follow up or anything but I wouldn't put it past any of their sneakier types to try to take advantage of all this chaos somewhere. Good job all around everybody. We'll chalk this up to...wierd missions."

Firestar is covered in fluids, and Blades isn't! Blades feels this is massively unfair! He makes a mental note to try to shank Banshee in the centre of mass as soon as possible. However, before this ruckus, he was just going to land and... hit the traning room, probably. Now he needs to go to medical. Eh, that's how it goes. Blades heads back off towards the landing pad.

Blades transforms into his Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> mode.

Combat: Bell UH-1 Iroquois <Blades> begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Autobot City Battlestation, Starfighter <Cyclonus>, and Cybertronian Jet <Brainstorm>

Bluestreak watches the Cons restreat, not having the chance to take some parting shots at them. And injured to boot. He does heave a sigh of relief at this whole mini Galvatron thing being over.

Brainstorm circles the area, ensuring that the Decepticons have left, and after he's reasonably satisfied, he'll return to the ground, transforming, "All right, I've got work to do. Who needs medical attention?" Yeah, warriors have fun tearing up each other, but it's bots like him that have to patch them up afterwards.

MUCH MUCH LATER..

The shuttle touches down right outside of Autobot City, a barrage of troops exit the craft and storm forward. Not all explicitly warriors, mind you, but brave Autobots none-the-less. Rifles held aloft, they march forward and up to the gates of Autobot City. Breaking off into two groups, they concede the middle as their leader breaks through the pack and up to the front.

"What in Primus' named happened to Autobot City" Ultra Magnus asks, puzzled look plastered on his face.

"That mystery might have to remain unsolved, Sir," quips one of Magnus' corporals.

The Decepticons vacates the premises! Nothing is more pleasing to the optics than that, at least for Fortress Maximus anyways. He returns his photon rifle back to subspace and moves out of cover, "Everyone call in so we can get an idea what shape everyone is in." A few Autobot gumbies radios in almost immediately, and the Headmaster commander taps his feet as he waits for the rest to sound off as well.

MUCH MUCH LATER...

Fortress Maximus can be seen giving Ultra Magnus a weak shrug, and a pained smile, "I know Autobot City looks a bit roughed up, but... Backfire happened. Sorry."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Oh, and I don't wish Backfire to hear of the very mild praise I offered him. I've nothing against flogging gossipers."

<Decepticon> Galvatron says, "Yes, we wouldn't want him to get a big head."

<Decepticon> Contagion comments, dryly. "Then a Decepticon might crawl inside of it and puppet him. Again."

<Decepticon> Cyclonus says, "Mmmh, yes, and he doesn't need a big head for what's in it."