October 25th, 2002
~Razelore(D)

Darkmount - Launch Platform

     Forcibly hewn out of the side of a raised mountain, this sturdily constructed platform is large enough to accommodate several ships and still allow enough room for the arriving and departing patrols of Decepticon seekers. Crafted of solidly forged chunks of Durillium, it has been made to withstand the tests of time and battles.
     Around the edges of the platform are various anti-aircraft batteries and entrenched watch posts for defense drones, should anyone ever be foolish enough to attempt an attack from the air, or intrepid enough to risk approaching the Decepticon stronghold from the nearly impossible climb below.


Razelore [Robot] [D]

Obvious Exits:
 -U- Up leads to Sky Above Tarn
 -D- Down leads to Darkmount - Elevator Shaft


-Razelore is standing near the edge looking out over the planet, leaning on his cane.
-Moonlight walks on out of the elevator, a bit of a smile on her face.
-Razelore turns slowly as the elevator doors open, raising an optic ridge.
-Moonlight gives Razelore a wave, she's in a good mood and rank rarely has the daunting effect on her that it does on others. It's surprising she's still in one piece.
-Razelore nods to Moonlight, "Doing well, are we?"
-Moonlight grins. "Moderately so."
-Razelore says, "Very good, I would hate to think my troops were... not well."
-Razelore tilts his head slightly, "Coping well with your loss?"
-Moonlight nods her head slowly. "I might take things hard, but I bounce back fairly well."
-Razelore says, "Excellent, loss is a difficult experience. You have recovered well."
-Moonlight arches an optic ridge. "Well, I wouldn't say excellent. I still have my moments. It got me in a fight, but I guess that's not a problem considering it was a Bot. Then again, that Bot /did/ kick my aft."
-Razelore scowls slightly, "We are not here to fight, Moonlight. We observe, we take notes, we let our lessers take damage in the field. We do not risk ourselves for the Empire unless absolutely necessary. We will win the war for the Decepticons, through our thoughts, not through combat with the Automated Robots."
-Moonlight grins...the scowl doesn't effect her. "I like the way you think."
-Razelore smiles and nods slightly in acknowledgement, "One of the many reasons I continue to exist."
-Moonlight chuckles. "Because you think the way you do, or because others like the way you think?"
-Razelore says, "My mind has gotten me out of more situations than my weapon. You must remember that we are the elite of the Empire. Any groundpounder with a gun can kill an Autobot. Only we can cause it to come out of rest cycle screaming. We strengthen the Empire not only through the information we recieve, but also the lies we spread. We spread paranoia and fear through an inferior species with our propaganda, our words, our lies."
-Moonlight considers this. "And have you ever found the truth to be more effective than lies?"
-Razelore says, "Of course, they expect us to lie to them. The truth confuses and distracts them."
-Moonlight nods. "Then why do you think it is that most people seem to view the warriors as the top cyber-dogs of the Decepticon world?"
-Razelore says, "They can show solid results, mangled hulks of burned out machines. Of course, they only get these by knowing where the Automated Robots will be, through the information we provide."
-Moonlight puts her hands behind her back, idly wishing she had her hat. "And those who do the fighting just don't realize this?"
-Razelore says, "They don't even realize, I seldom deal with them, instead going to their commanders. I interact rarely with the other divisions."
-Moonlight hmmmms. "So I've noticed."
-Razelore says, "They simply don't trust me, and I've worked to cultivate that image. If they fail, they know being given to me is a very likely punishment. They know what I can do to them, most stay away for those reasons."
-Moonlight shrugs. "Sounds kind of lonely to me."
-Razelore looks thoughtful, "I had family within the Empire and outside it once, but no longer. I have various amusements to keep myself busy. And there is one femme... You will learn to ignore loneliness, it is a weakness to me now. I have worked alone before the Empire was fully formed. I prefer it that way, now."
-Moonlight smiles slightly. "Just so long as you're happy, I've got no complaints." She pauses. "So, what do you think of the view?"
-Razelore smiles, "I enjoy the serenity of the landscape. I wait for the cycle when the convoys of beaten Autobots bring supplies to the center of the Empire in supplication to the forces of the Decepticons. You can imagine anything in the curve of the planet."
-Moonlight nods her head and moves closer to the edge of the platform to get a better look. "It is quite a sight, isn't it? Do you go off planet often?"
-Razelore shakes his head, "No, we must subjugate Cybertron first. And for some reason, when I leave the atmosphere, the Autobots always follow and fire upon me. I have been damaged off planet far more than on the surface of Cybertron."
-Moonlight nods. "Sounds like a good reason to stay home to me. You spend much time up here when you're not scaring people?"
-Razelore says, "Occasionally... if you stand here long enough the entire Empire will pass through. It's a good place to wait for someone. Especially when they are avoiding you."
-Moonlight gives a short laugh. "I take it people avoid you often. You don't exactly sound like the most friendly mech on the planet."
-Razelore smiles, "Perhaps not, but my charming personality has had little to do with my position."
-Moonlight shrugs. "To be honest, rank doesn't mean a whole lot to me. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way. It's just not something I want."
-Razelore says, "I did not look for rank either, it simply came to me. It becomes more of a target painted on your back the higher you go. It has a few... advantages, though."
-Moonlight says, "Care to fill me in on some?"
-Razelore says, "Choice assignments, better weapondry," he smiles a bit, "The higher one rises the more likely certain augmentations can become available, things normal troops would not recieve."
-Moonlight nods. "Is it worth it in your opinion?"
-Razelore nods, "Oh yes, I have no complaints in that area."
-Moonlight falls silent for the moment.
-Razelore raises an optic ridge, "Yes? Is everything well?"
-Moonlight nods her head. "Yeah. Just thinking. I assume that's still allowed." She grins.
-Razelore smiles, "Oh yes, in my division, it's actually encouraged."
-Moonlight chuckles. "Just making sure the rules haven't changed on me. That could be bad."
-Razelore smiles again, "If the rules change that much I'll be gone and you'll be dead before the order has time to go through the relay circuits, so there's really no point in worrying, is there?"
-Moonlight shakes her head. "I'm not really worried. I don't like to worry, it spoils my day."
-Razelore says, "Mustn't have that, can we?"
-Moonlight shakes her head. "Nope."
-Razelore nods slightly, "Excellent."
-Moonlight grins. "You're rather fond of that word, aren't you?"
-Razelore nods, "Yes, it tends to convey a certain emotion, a sense of completeness."
-Moonlight looks back out to the view of Cybertron. "What do you think about the changes in the division?"
-Razelore scowls, "What changes?"
-Moonlight glances back at Razelore. "Something about an opening...Solar was talking about it."
-Razelore says, "Was he now..."  Razelore opens a compartment on his left arm and scans throught the most recent comminucations throughout the Empire, his optic ridges shoot up, "Ahh so that's how it's going to be is it?"  Razelore snaps the compartment closed, "Were you planning on joining this competition?"
-Moonlight throws back her head and laughs. "Me? No. I'm happy right where I am in the big scheme of things. You couldn't pay me enough to be one of the higher ups...even if I was qualified."
-Razelore nods, "Good, do you know who is in the competition?
-Moonlight shrugs. "Not for certain. I know Solar will be running. We're not exactly what form the competition will be taking yet, so we don't know who has a good chance. We talked about it for a bit though."
-Razelore says, "Really? What type of things were said?"
-Moonlight shrugs, trying to recall anything that would be helpful. "It started when I asked what was new. Solar mentioned something about you stepping down. I said I really didn't care that much because I didn't think it would effect me /too/ much, and he pointed out that if someone too strict should up my life could get less than fun. Then I asked him who he thought his biggest competition was. Then we tried to determine what exactly they were looking for in the next leader of the division..."  Moonlight pauses to think. "Then he asked if I thought he could do the job. I said I did, but that I didn't know if he was the best person, or if he could convince the judges that he was the best. Then he decided that he wouldn't do anything about it or worry until he knew more. And then he mentioned that if he lost, he'd still be the XO."
-Razelore says, "Did he now...? He may have gotten in far over his head..."
-Moonlight blinks her optics. "You don't think he's up for the task?"
-Razelore says, "He may very well be, but to attempt to seize it from me... few are up to that task, very few indeed."
-Moonlight looks up at Razelore. "I somehow get the impression you're not stepping down then."
-Razelore says, "It does in fact, appear that way..."
-Moonlight takes a few steps away from the ledge, moving closer to the center of the pad. "Then why would Commander Enfilade announce it if it weren't true? She's not intel, and she doesn't strike me as the type to play head games."
-Razelore says, "Solar may have tricked her."
-Moonlight shrugs. "Didn't seem that way. He seemed rather uncertain about the whole thing. Not that I think it can be taken at face value."
-Razelore says, "Perhaps it won't take to much to make him see the light then."
-Moonlight shrugs. "If you aren't stepping down, why not just say so and leave everything the way it is?"
-Razelore says, "I'd rather make a point of this. Someone has become a bit jaded with my role as commander, and they will learn the error of their ways."
-Moonlight raises a single hand defensively. "Just so long as you remember that it wasn't me. I didn't exactly plan to stumble into this after all."
-Razelore nods, "Yes, yes, just don't go sharing our little secret. I would hate for anything bad to happen to you. Am I understood?"
-Moonlight hesitates slightly. "Sure. Though I'm sure you wouldn't hate it /all/ that much."
-Razelore smiles, "Of course I would, I would despise it, if I found you weren't loyal to me..."
-Moonlight nods. "Yeah, for about 10 seconds after you did whatever it was you were going to do." She shrugs. "But don't worry, I'm not interested in pushing the issue. I just don't particularily like conversing with a mech who is going to have something bad happen to him soon...if that makes any sense."
-Razelore looks at Moonlight, "I have things I need to think about for a bit. I've got to work out the rules to this little game. If you will excuse me?"
-Moonlight nods her head. "Of course. I'm not really in a position to do otherwise, now am I?"
-Razelore smiles, "I'm so very glad we understand each other."
-Moonlight watches Razelore leave. "That makes one of us," she mutters to herself once she thinks no one can hear.