NCC Weapon Building

================================= Decepticon =================================

Message: 2/14 Posted Author

Armament Update Mon Feb 24 Shockwave

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As seen in the diagram, the preliminary power nodes have been laid out and weapon-tower superstructures are commencing construction. It would be advisable to assign additional Constructicon oversight to the latter task, though, to ensure the towers and weapon-module ports are securely mounted. We are still awaiting a shipment of D-235 capacitor systems from Cybertron; unit Firewall misdesignated the material request as D-325, and thus we received a stock of Sped's favorite energon treats. Unit Firewall will return to quartermaster duty in four cycles, after finishing cleaning the entire Trypticon command center with a detail brush.

Once the towers are in place, we can begin to mount most of the heavy weaponry immediately. I will assign additional personnel for that event, as it is likely to require intensive hands-on labor.

Shockwave out.

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New Crystal City

The area has changed drastically in just a few short months. The ancient ruins that made up the Lost City have been completely annihilated, and no trace of their existence remains. Cyberforming has begun, starting at the power-base that houses Trypticon and stretching outwards. Thick silver metal sheets have been laid down, covering the Earth and blanketing the area in a Cybertronian landscape. Two huge structures jut out of the metal ground. One is the framework of the building that will make up the Command Center of the entire city. Fulcrum's team is working hard on that. The other is Trypticon in all of his glory. A partially built skyline connects the two, but it is not operational yet.

Contents:

Shockwave

Revenant

Trypticon <T>

The Powerbase

Sensor4

Obvious exits:

North <N> leads to Mount R'Lyeh.

Cliff <C> leads to Rocky Beach.

Fly <Up>

Shockwave stands with a datapad, supervising a group of gumbies as they work on connecting up some of the last of the power nodes for the weapon grid.

Divebomb lets out a shrill eagle screech as he swoops down low, before landing before the small group of Decepticons. He then salutes with his black wing as he lands.

Divebomb swoops down, and the ominous eagle shifts into his daunting robot form.

Divebomb says, "I see the weapons array are coming along."

Revenant is perched atop one of Trypticons walls he sits there staring out across the landscape seemingly oblivious to the work being done below.

Scrapper storms out of Trypticon's gates and takes a look around, just hoping to find an excuse to bitch at someone. Alas, nobody seems to be doing anything that deserves a smacking, so he resists. The lime green Constructicon engineer makes his way over to the former Autobot Space Shuttle, which is now in six huge chunks and is being smelted down into orange liquid metal.

A soft beep comes from the node, and the gumby gives a thumbs-up to Shockwave, who calmly taps at his datapad. "Power grid should have a stable draw. What is the update on the D-235 units?" Another gumby mumbles into a comlink, then rolls his optics. "Coming in the next twelve hours, sir. Evidently they're recalibrating the spacebridge to punch through some ionic interference." Shockwave nods, typing on the pad. "Fifteen minute break," he intones, and the gumbies relax a bit, chatting amongst themselves as the Commander turns to regard Divebomb. "It would seem so."

Divebomb slowly grins and then snickers. "Great. Now all we need to do is trick a stupid aerialbot in flying overhead..."

Scrapper continues his inspection of the work. He can see that the skyline from the Command Centre that Fulcrum is building to Trypticon is nearly finished. All that is required is the final external metal sheets, which will no doubt be made from the silvery bluish crystal coloured metal that a few other gumbies are working hard on.

Revenant does not move from his position although you can be sure that he can hear all that transpires below him.

Shockwave cocks his head. "As the majority of the anti-air batteries are not in place, such an event would be fruitless, Divebomb." He types something on the datapad. "However, once all weapon systems are online, I calculate that an attacking

force would be unable to stage an assault from any venue without incurring significant losses from the defenses."

Divebomb notices Scrapper inspecting the work being done. He salutes Shockwave and says, "Excuse me sir," and walks over to Scrapper. "Sir, can I speak with you about an idea I had. In the mean time I would assist in what construction I can."

Revenant continues to stare out across the newly cyberformed surface and listens to Shockwave's statement and ponders to himself as to whether a small Autobot might just be able to slip through the mighty defences.

Scrapper glances over and eyes Divebomb for a moment, considering the merits of this bargain. Meanwhile, gumbies continue to weld up high on the framework for the skyline. Finally the Constructicon nods to the larger Decepticon and says gruffly, "Fine. What is it that you want to know, Divebomb?" to Shockwave, Scrapper nods enthusiastically, "ANY attacking force against this battle city would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they may gain." He clenches his fist and adds, "This City will be the ultimate power on this planet, and I plan to use it." Someone was channeling Star Wars.

Divebomb grins. "Well," as he grabs a sheet of metal and moves over to the nearest gumby, "this dirtball of a planet is not like Cybertron, and I miss my old mechanest." He stops for a moment and holds the sheet in place for the gumby to start welding while another takes his place holding it. Divebomb then turns back to Scrapper and continues, "I'd like permission to make one in Australia. The only reason I ask is because I haven't hunted down any good materials to start on one."

Divebomb says, "Granted, I like my work, but I'm no Constructicon. I think I may need assistance in making it more secure than locating it in a hard to reach place."

Scrapper nods very slowly and folds his arms, "I see. A mechanest." He pauses as he really has no clue what Divebomb's mechanests consist of. "Just how much of my resources are you going to need?" He asks as his crimson optical visor narrows in suspicion. "I don't care if you build one in Australia or in Metroplex's aft, but your little nests better have a half decent purpose to them before I let you take my stuff. And what assistance do you need, exactly?"

Divebomb reaches and grabs the next sheet, noticing a gumby having a bit of trouble moving it. He assists in holding it in place and continues, "I would not ask for material just yet, I have to find the right spot for it in order to estimate how much I need. I'm more concerned with designs." Divebomb steps back from the gumbies and strokes his chin with finger and thumb. "I was thinking a security system, something that would notify myself and the other Predacons that someone has entered the lair, for starters. Not to mention possible means to properly hide it in case some stupid Autobot got too close. That way I can shoot it before the bot knew what happened."

Scrapper waves his hand dismissively and shakes his head, "Wait wait, what exactly /is/ this mechanest, anyway, Divebomb? Is this a lair or a..." He fights for the silly Earth words for it, "/Thing/ for birds?" Hey, he's a Decepticon, when does he ever use treminology regarding birds and happiness and sunshine? The Constructicon snorts, "And what's it for? Why not just stay here, in New Crystal City?"

Divebomb folds his arm in front of him. "Hey, I like to live comfortably, especially near hunting grounds. If the other Predacons want to crash there that's fine. As long as they don't trash my stuff." He pauses and assists the gumby in holding the next sheet in place. "I was thinking it could be a place I can get away from the rest...I mean a place to be used as a Predacon lair and staging point for our raids. I wouldn't even bother asking for materials except I haven't found anything interesting to build it out of."

Shockwave ignores the mechanest discussion. He doesn't care for the concept either, but the Predacons are valuable enough that catering to their quirks isn't any kind of a waste. Instead, he watches the gumby construction crew get back to work hooking up the grid, making sure the power output at the nodes is sufficient to run the multiple weapon platforms that will soon be constructed.

Scrapper frowns, insulted that New Crystal City isn't 'comfortable' enough for the Predacon. Course, he can't argue with how far it is from the hunting grounds, or wanting to get away from other people. He shakes his head in annoyance and snorts, "Tell you what, Divebomb. You get me a significant chunk of an Autobot - ANY Autobot - and I'll /build/ you a damn Mechanest in Australia. And it'll be camoflaged, too." Scrapper looks past the Predacon towards Blinky and shouts, "Hey, Commander! The skyline framework is ready to mount one of the laser turrets onto it. We can't finish putting on the final hull plating without it. Is it ready or not?"

Revenant listens as he sits motionless awaiting his next Hunt and ponders why the Decepticons waste so much time building things that are inevitably going to be left to rot once this planet is sucked dry.

Shockwave shakes his head at Scrapper. "We cannot proceed with mounting the las-cannon assemblies without the capacitor units, and they will not arrive from Cybertron for another twelve hours. Did you read my report, or did you use it to sponge up your leaks?" This is delivered in an icy deadpan; evidently Shockwave's getting just a LITTLE tired of Scrapper's attitude.

Divebomb smiles and nods towards Scrapper. "Excellent. I need to talk to Razorclaw about this, oh by the way, anyone in particular. I know you just said you'll take any Autobot, but I'm willing to take requests." Then upon hearing Shockwave's response to Scrapper, backs up a few steps and starts assisting gumbies again.

Scrapper throws his hands up into the air and snorts, "Do I *LOOK* like I have the time to read over every little report, Shockwave? I've been busy salvaging an entire Autobot shuttle and removing the useful components, getting the Stunticon pirate ship up to par, working on marking out the territory for where Scavenger's going to be digging the trenches, and getting this skyline to the command centre finished!" Ahhhh, Decepticon love. Can ya feel it? Turning towards Divebomb, his mood has considerably soured thanks to Shockwave, "What? Oh, check out the bounties I've put out. /Those/ are the ones I'd like most. And heck, if you fufill the Ollin bounty I'll even put in an extra level and a few ion defence cannons to gun down anything that comes near your little lair!" Scrapper isn't sure if he's serious or not.

Divebomb pauses for a moment with a grin spreading across his face. Then, taking note of Scrapper's tone (and awaiting Shockwave's response), decides to get back to work. Don't want to do anything to make Scrapper take back what he just said.

Shockwave simply shrugs at Scrapper's snivelling, and continues typing on his datapad as the crew finishes up wiring the last node. "Drillbolt," he intones. "Report to the comm center and contact the duty officer in Nightsiege. See if the capacitors are ready to be transshipped through the spacebridge, before Scrapper throws a temper tantrum." The aforementioned Drillbolt salutes and heads into Trypticon.

Scrapper actually would put in the ion cannons and the extra level if Divebomb manages to get the Ollin parts! Lordy how Scrapper hates Chikome-Ollin. Remember the fine print; no cheating and buying it off of him or anything. Stealing is ok. Smiting him is prefered. He waves his hand dismissively to the Predacon and focuses on Shockwave. He ignores the little comment about him throwing a tantrum and merely mutters something about how nobody understands his art, and how nobody seems to realize how grand of a project this is going to be.

Revenant would laugh at the petty squabblings of the lesser Decepticons below him except it's not something he is prone to do, even on the Hunt he is not as vocal as a lot of his bretheren are.