Vortex arrives from the Outskirts of Imperial Headquarters to the north.

Vortex has arrived.

Fleet is standing straight and alert in the general vicinity of the spaceport, what with having recently been told to report here. His stance is a military rest. Something that can be quickly moved into a professional attention, but still somewhat relaxed as he looks around, only the twitching of his wings betraying his actual nervousness.

Scourge arrives from the Outskirts of Imperial Headquarters to the north.

Scourge has arrived.

Scourge stalks into the area.

Compile arrives from the Outskirts of Imperial Headquarters to the north.

Compile has arrived.

With the hangars of Nightsiege's Spaceport serving as backdrop, Shockwave rises up to address the Decepticon fleet. Even with only a single eye to inspect the troops with, even the most innocuous cannot seem to escape his scrutiny. "The Autobot base situated within the Warrens is the greatest danger Imperial Operations faces at this present moment. From this position, the renegades are capable of executing a boxed-in tactic to prevent us from reestablishing security across Cybertron. I have seen fit to destroy it with a two-pronged attack."

--      Compile is standing withthe others, as the preptalk begins and he listens with earnest at the orders for this mission. Destruction, Compile loves destruction and this is something he cannot wait to do. Being a tape has its advantages.

Shockwave drops Weapon Prototype <Lancer>.

Catechism looks eager to go for this assault, standing in the back. She stands at formal attention but looks as if she's ready to head for the sky and get started on the fun. The conehead listens attentively, wondering what task she will be assigned; how she will serve her cause today.

Weapon Prototype <Lancer>

        Before you stands the emplacement imagined by Shockwave's logic and fashioned into the real by the genius of Scrapper. It is the Lancer, the next generation of Decepticon armament. Its barrel, a rail-cannon affair wrought from gleaming silver rods and matte black magnetic rings, dominates the design. It extends for several feet, and when in operation, shimmers with a protective forcefield. Its base is sharply angular, streaming outward like a modified pyramid. On its left is a rack of three large, barbed warheads classed "dumb-fire" for its fire-and-forget ways. On the right is the lighted console necessary for the weapon's use. Beneath, rugged tank treads wheel the Lancer to its destination, its three primary bogey wheels capable of bearing its extreme weight. Across the front plane of the base, a purple Decepticon insignia has been neatly spraypainted on, clearly indicating its ownership.

Well, the most innocuous member of the Decepticon fleet would most likely be the Decepticon, Fleet, but with the beginning of Shockwave's address, the seeker immediately goes to a proper 'at-attention' stance, his expression stern as he listens carefully to what the Commander has to say. For the moment, he looks as serious as a pastel yellow seeker possibly can.

One lavendar-colored jet quietly approaches Shockwave, handing the larger robot a small hand-held projection device. The Commander simply holds it out and activates it with a button-press. He emits,

"This is weapon has been code-named Lancer. It will serve this assault by initiating long-ranged attacks from Cuprahex, aimed directly for the Autobot base. Its high-yield, time-delayed warheads have been calculated to act within a eighty-six percent efficiency in destroying the base. Your task will be to distract the Autobots long enough for the Lancer to be deployed and fired. Will there be any questions."

Vortex stands at attention towards the back of the group, feeling rather alone and vulnerable without his gestaltmates- there was something to be said for having war-machines like Onslaught and Brawl watching your back. However, he is ready and willing to fight, all the same.

Shockwave takes Weapon Prototype <Lancer>.

"You will act in standard assault formations," Shockwave explains. "Choose your enemy and destroy. I will be monitoring your progress from Cuprahex, as the Lancer is readied for use. Decepticons, deploy to the Warrens... and attack."

<travel spam>

Compile arrives from the Cuprahex Sensor Outpost to the south.

Compile has arrived.

Decepticon Advanced Troops #5848 has arrived.

Sky Lynx looks down at Hot Spot, "It may be big enough for most of you, but it's not for me. I require more space. As for resizing... You sure don't complain when I have to carry you accross space..." The dinobird grins. "Anyway, next tie I'll just go back to Iahex... it's not far for me."

Sixshot descends from the Sky above Old Cybertron Highway above.

Sixshot has arrived.

Vortex arrives from the Cuprahex Sensor Outpost to the south.

Vortex has arrived.

Pyramid Jet (Fleet) arrives from the Cuprahex Sensor Outpost to the south.

Pyramid Jet (Fleet) has arrived.

Smokescreen stands around with the other cheery Autobots, milling about their secret warrens outpost, blissfully unaware of the impending doom that looms over the collective heads of the autobot cause.

  "Quiet night." The tactician remarks to nobody in particular.

Rivet looks over at Smokescreen, and nods. "I prefer it that way myself. Dunno about anyone else."

Grimlock is evidently in the middle of a heated 'debate' with Rodimus Prime. Talk about the opportune moment for things to happen.

"Aaaaaaw! Let's punk us some Autobots!" A lead, white-colored jet shouts over his emitters. He forms the last fighter in a formed wing of Decepticon jets that race out of Nightsiege, their weapons undoubtably trained at the Autobot presence on at the Warrens. Faster and faster they come, the sound of their engines quickly becoming a noticeable nuisance. Someone ought to impose a noise pollution law!

Police Car <Streetwise> is rolling around the perimiter patrolling and scanning as he does. He is beginning to wonder if anything is ever gona happen oout here.

CPT has arrived.

--      Compile is flying along withthe rest of the decepticons, and as usual, he is the last one since he is the slowest. However, he has these lovely Troops to back him up. Isn't that nice of Compile, to bring along more cannonfodd...er I mean troops to the party. :) Compile just flies onward, ready for the fight to start, and if he has to, he will break in and place some explosives in the base and blow it from the inside. He is ready fro this, and can finally beat up some Bots that are here. :) Lets get this party started.

Meanwhile, miles away at the Cuprahex Sensor Station, trouble is afoot! Decepticon technicians, commanded by none other than Shockwave, set up shop. They busily work in concert to secure a large mobile weapon to the planetary plating of Cybertron. Reinforced durasteel struts are immediately welded on and even a liberal application of shock-absorbing material is layered in, just for good measure. The act takes several moments to complete -- a few too many moments long since the Constructicons aren't present.

Sixshot soars along with his fellow Decepticons, closing in on the main target: The Warrens. Already, he has out his twin blasters, ready to rain down fury upon his enemies. Here he comes to ruin the daaaaaaaay!

Catechism flies in, grinning cheerfully. One can almost imagine that she's some friendly neighbour, just nipping over to borrow a cup of energon. Wait, one most certainly cannot! Her weapons are running hot, and her smile's just a few shades too cruel. Why, this is going to be the first time she's seen real combat since the fall of New Crystal City, and she didn't see much then! Catechism hopes she won't be disappointed this time.

Pyramid Jet (Fleet) streaks in like a lightning bolt composed of pastel yellow DEATH. Or at the very least a couple of irritating stings. He follows along with much of his seeker-kin, but as he approaches the battle site he moves away from the others so as to give himself room to maneuver. And to run, if necessary. His sensors scan the Warrens as he tries to choose an appropriate (read: relatively weak) opponent.

Vortex follows along, wishing not for the first time that the other Combaticons were with him. He spots several Protectobots zipping around mindlessly as they do, and glares. Oh yes, he was ready to fight.

And then...the sensors kick in. *WEEEE-OOOO! WEEEE-OOO!*

  "Inbound decepticons!" says one gumby at a sensor station. Sure, those inbound blips MIGHT be something else...but who are we kidding?

  At this alarm, Smokescreen instantly spurs to action. Reaching behind his back, he produces his Electro-Scrambler-rifle, already checking the saftey, the power supply, and the sights in one smooth, practiced motion that he's practiced many a time before. "Rivet-" he turns to the medic. "You might want to get under cover..." and this said, he turns toward the direction the 'cons are approaching from, crouching behind one pile of rubble...waiting.

Rivet is already diving for the nearest laser-proof object he can find to hide behind. Hunkering down, he shields his head with his hands, and chants to himself. "I love my job, I love my job, I love my job...."

Sky Lynx doesn't waste anytime as he hears the alarm, he goes airborn because we all know that, beside the Stunticons, Decepticons always come flying! But before going too far, he barks orders like the good commander that he is, "Everyone at his battlestation. Lock the door and activate the defenses. Stand your ground Autobots and do not leave the cover of our defenses."

Police Car <Streetwise> slams on his brakes and scans the area then reports in. "I got 6 inbound cons heading this way. Looks like a a good mix of um and unless my sensors are way off Shockwave is leading the charge." He loads a photon charge and readies it.

Hot Spot points up in the sky. Is it a swarm of angry locus? Nah, couldn't be. There's no bugs on cybertron. What about insecticons? Didn't you see the movie? Dey dead. That could only mean, decepticon attack! Hot Spot drops his jaw, well, he would if his mask wasn't covering it and says, "Great, just when Blades, First Aid, and Groove are back at Iahex for repairs. Looks like no Defensor for us today folks. Let 'em have it!" He holds his arms out and begins transforming into his repair base. Even though it's used for peace, it can also be used for war, like now. With a loud painful groan he shifts his body around like it was never meant to be, damn quintessons.

Grimlock was still in a bit of an annoyed mood about his earlier words with Rodimus, but not so much as he could be. In his mind, he figures he put his foot down about the whole deal and made his viewpoint on it perfectly clear. Or something like that. He always hated debating about things, he'd much rather prefer to bash them and sort it out later. Doing that with Prime might make some difficulties that even he's not willing to deal with however.

  So thus comes the call of incoming Decepticons. What do you know, sometimes the higher powers -do- answer one's prayers. "Hrnnn..." He begins, turning and stepping up and to an upper level of the outpost to get a look. "Mebbe this not be wasted day afterall." The Dinobot Commander muses, leaping down to ground level and already pulling out his multipurpose gun.

<Decepticon> Compile says, "Can we hurt them now?"

Cinderblock arrives from the Istoral Chasm to the west.

Cinderblock has arrived.

Rodimus Prime has disconnected.

The ricketing death-rattle like noise of poorly maintained engines announces Cinderblock's arrival as the A-10 becomes visible moving in from the direction of the Isotoral Chasm. He initially planned to be here earlier, but having to fly from the far end of the planet made it a little difficult.

--      Compile flies on, and points to the Autobot troops. "Take them out." and the Decepticon troops following his orders as they begin the attack on there counterparts. Compile meanwhile, looks around and scans the area. He find someone who is hiding and he smiles evilly. He angles in on Rivet and gets ready to wake him up so to speak. He grins as he gets an idea and slows, landing not far from Rivet, he walks over to the place he is hiding and he smiles as walks around and stands at the corner. He opens the radio and sends a message to Rivet. "I see you." and with that, he steps aroudnt he corner, and opens up on Rivet.

Compile strikes Rivet with 1000 Degree Flamethrower.

Pyramid Jet (Fleet) has his orders, now it's time to follow him. And did he say he was looking for the weakest possible target? Well, he lied. Instead he veers off for... Sky Lynx? Apparently his self-preservation processors have gone on the fritz. Either that or he's not expecting to have to stay out here for very long. The seeker flies down towards the big, funky, dino-bird-thing, attempting to pepper the Autobot's topside with his silly little lasers.

Pyramid Jet (Fleet) misses Sky Lynx with his Wing Mounted Laser Rifle attack.

Cinderblock transmits a message via radio.

Shockwave receives a radio transmission from Cinderblock.

"Sir!" Gearbolt sharply salutes Shockwave, "The Lancer is nearly secured. We estimate being ready to fire on the Autobot base in moments!" The Commander merely looks on with the reserved glow of his singular eye. "Then all is according to plan. Continue, technician." Shockwave turns his hexagonal head, fixating his sight on the battle as it is represented on an enlarged viewscreen projecting from the Lancer. Suddenly, there is a burst of static over his radio! "Trooper Cinderblock. Deploy armaments against stationary defenses," he drones in reply, communicating to Cinderblock from afar!

Sixshot slows his descent as he comes within shooting range of the Autobots. If he could smile, he probably would now. Swiftly, he picks out a target amongst the enemy troops gathered: Hot Spot. Then he aims one of his trusty blasters and opens up on the repair base.

Sixshot strikes Autobot Repair Base with Hypersonic Concussion Blaster (Left-Handed).

Shockwave has reconnected.

Catechism studies the selection of opponents. There's two of those ubiquitous car Autobots, that strange-looking animal one called Grimlock, an even stranger-looking animal one that her studying of files tells her is Sky Lynx, and... is that one of the gestalt commander types? Yeah, looks like it. She doesn't notice Rivet, as there are plenty of other things to occupy her attention, like the sound of weaponsfire. Making what is something of a very bad choice, although certainly par for the course for this conehead, Catechism raises an arm gun and takes a shot at Sky Lynx because a) she hasn't seen him fight before and b) flying Autobots annoy her. So what if the files indicate he can tear off her head and stomp on her still-warm corpse?

You strike Sky Lynx with Zap!.

Vortex sets his sights on Streetwise, smirking deviously as only a mech with no mouth can, and he brings his biggest and best weapons to bear just for the Protectobot. He pats his glue gun affectionately before opening fire on the annoying little car.

Cinderblock changes his angle slightly, "Roger Wilcox..." He slowly aligns himself on the ground defenses, blasts pinging off of his armored under-carriage as his forward vulcan begins to cycle. A scream of a weapon's report fills the air as he proceeds to lay down a searing stream of jacketted bullets, ripping through some of the defense cannons and their operators. Two Air-To-Ground missiles also flare out, impacting with an ammunition storage bunker and causing another secondary explosion. As the omni-targetting laser cannons continue to fire up at him, he begins a slow circle for another pass.

Vortex misses Police Car <Streetwise> with his Looks like you're in a sticky situation! attack.

BOTS

Rivet lets out a howl as the flames engulf him, causing his paint job to bubble up slightly. Grabbing his weapon, he swings it up towards Compile. "I knew I should have stayed in the recharge chamber this morning!" he mutters as he pulls the trigger. Peaceful he may be, but when it comes to saving his own hide, he'll do what he must. He scrambles to get to his feet.

Rivet manages to hit Compile with Puny Pistol Of Not-even-close To Doom.

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*

  Such are the sounds of the Decepticons opening up on the Autobot installation- and yet, through the first salvo, Smokescreen manages to keep his head down, and come out relatively intact. Fancy that. He stands, lasers blasting all about him, and takes stock of the situation. Seekers in the air, cassetes on the ground...in short, the usual. And so, Smokescreen raises the rifle to his shoulder, sighting in on...Fleet.

  What can he say? The 'con's been giving Foxfire no end of grief, these days. *KRA-KOW!* goes the blast of Smokescreen's electro-scrambler, sending a burst of blue lightning into the sky!

Autobot Repair Base gets nailed by a blast from Sixshot, that hardly damages the armor. A little dent and smoldering, sure, but far from what could be considered 'damage'. The Autobot Repair Base's defenses come on line after a bit of latency on their part. Twin fireball cannons swivel around towards the nasty flying bug trying to shoot up the thick armor of the base. Namely Sixshot. The twin black gleaming weapons move in tandem while their barrels begin to glow and crackle with pent up energy before firing out glowing flaming balls. Like the foo fighters of world war II they track Sixshot's path across the sky before closing in. Defense lasers scattered about the repair base begin firing as well lighting up the sky for all to see, but since they're AI controlled, their chances of hitting anything are about a million to one right now.

Autobot Repair Base strikes Sixshot with Defensive Fireball Cannons.

Police Car <Streetwise> finishes his scans and notices Vortex among the cons and hopes that he will get a shot at the Combaticon. He doesn't have to wait long for the answer as Vortex launches an attach his way. Fortunately he was stopped so he takes off and the attack lands where Streets was not where he is. He locks on to the Combaticon and fires the waiting photon charge at Vortex.

Police Car <Streetwise> strikes Vortex with Photon Blast.

Sky Lynx easily avoid Fleet's attack with STYLE, by sliding towards his left. It barely slow him down as he charges towards the Decepticons. A small bolt of energy hits his back, barely scratching the paint, but because of it, Sky Lynx turns his attention on Catechism. The Dinobird flies right at the Seeker, jaw wide opens and he tries to bite one of his wings off while a strange voice in his head screams : "EAT THE SEEKERS!" But of course, he finds enough time to annoy Shockwave on broadband....

Grimlock strides out, even as weaponsfire streaks past him, over him, and in one case, a few stray bullets impact across his chest, careening off with little more effect than a simple marring of his armor. He all but ignores this at the moment, raising his head to look at where Sky Lynx is getting ganged up on by two Seekers, then giving a snort, before he too takes to the air, rising straight up for the moment. He shifts the grip of his blaster into his left hand, his energon sword appearing in his right, crackling to life as he looks left, then right, as if to pick out a target, the epitome of calm amidst the chaos.

  That's when he happens to glance at some...activity in the distance, as he gets higher up in the air. If he could squint, he would...as such, he just settles for his visor dimming as he peers off at what the Decepticons are assembling. "Hrnnn...."

You evade Sky Lynx's Rend attack.

Smokescreen strikes Pyramid Jet (Fleet) with Electro Disruptor Rifle.

--      Compile is hit by the laser and he smiles. "Is that all you have?" he asks as he moves in towards Rivet and he jumps, trying to grab hold of Rivet and flip him. If he does, he lands on his feet and piledrives Rivet's head into the ground. "Hope you don't mind, but I need to bust yer head some." he says as lets go and looks at Rivet.

CONS

Cinderblock's second pass is announced by another barrage of vulcan fire. He fortunately doesn't need to dodge as the turrets go blasting hither and yon, and he in fact begins to sing to himself, "One little two little three little defense turrets...four little...five little... Ooo a -mechanic!-" One of his missiles detaches and surges down, blasting the poor Autobot who was rushing to improve the targetting systems into smoldering pieces, "...well, at least he won't have to worry about feeling that in the morning." His raucous laughter is drowned out as his vulcan continues to pound into and rip through the droid defenses. "Tsk, in my day, defense turrets could actually aim..."

Catechism half-turns in the air and hits on the thrust in her bootjets hard, just barely evading serving Sky Lynx an order of Seeker wing sushi. So uncivilized! Doesn't he know that he should at least douse her in buffalo sauce first? Aiming at the eye of the beast, Catechism kicks up the power of her arm gun slightly, seeing that her first shot did diddlysquat, and fires away.

You strike Sky Lynx with laser.

"Reinforcements complete, sir! We are ready when you are!"

"Stand aside." Shockwave commands, turning his shoulder and treading toward the Lancer's controls. The lavendar-shaded technicians scatter, affording their Commander a wide berth. Stepping before the controls, Shockwave takes command with several quick keystrokes. His thick metal fingers stab at the buttons, initiating the weapon's start-up procedures. The lowest section of the rail cannon opens, allowing for a large, barbed warhead to be track-loaded into the firing mechanism. The opened section soon closes, locking the payload within. Suddenly, the air surrounding the enormous barrel shimmers, encasing the powerful magnetic rings and keeping them from endangering the Decepticons around it.

Sixshot is bathed in fire from the repair base, his armor becoming blackened with scorch marks. "You'll pay for that!" he cries, bringing around his right concussion blaster and squeezing off a few rounds at his prone opponent.

And now we see why Fleet rescued Catechism that one time. So that big killer dino-bird-things can attack her instead. However, this does not do anything to prevent the electricity from tearing across the pastel seeker's 'belly', the crackling bolts dancing the fandango over a number of essential systems. "Graa*zzzzt*!" the seeker exclaims as he attempts to sum up his pain to the world around him before altering his direction to dive at the source of said pain, transforming as he dives, arms outstretched Superman-style as he flies towards Smokescreen in an attempt to torment him with his tasers of doom.

Sixshot strikes Autobot Repair Base with Hypersonic Concussion Blaster (Right-Handed).

Fleet misses Smokescreen with his Death By A Thousand Papercuts attack.

Vortex growls in fury when he's struck by Streetwise's photon charge, more than annoyed when his own attack misses by miles. And, of course, there is the issue of being ALL ALONE when his fellow Combaticons are off doing who-knows-what, but thankfully, there aren't enough Protectobots to form Defensor, evening it out somewhat. "Pathetic little dirt-kisser," he calls out, landing and swiping at Streetwise with a rotor blade.

Vortex strikes Police Car <Streetwise> with Rotoblade.

Bots

Sky Lynx grins as the laser bolt bounces on his armor doing minor damage, "You will have to do better than that Seeker. Where's your commander hiding? I suggest you surrender now, you're wasting my time." The large Autobot launches himself towards the seeker but he passes above him, swinging his tail at the Decepticon.

Sky Lynx strikes you with Tail Whip for 17 points of damage.

You are now at 47 endurance, or 73% total. You are 31 from c/e.

Police Car <Streetwise> watches with pleasure as the photon charge finds its mark. Though once again he is caught gloating as Vortex slashes him. He quickly transforms and fires a shot from his photon pistol.

Streetwise flips up as his legs, arms, and head appear he lands on his feet with laser in hand as he scans the area for trouble.

Streetwise strikes Vortex with Photon Pistol.

Shockwave has partially disconnected.

Rivet lets out another howl of pain as his hands go to his head. "Allright runt, if that's how you want to play it.." Pulling himself to his feet with a bit of a stumble, he leaps forward with a foot held outward, intending to slam it right into Compile's chestplate.

Rivet manages to hit Compile with kick.

Smokescreen winces a bit as more explosions go off all about him. He glances in the direction of Cinderblock, preparing to sight in on THAT decepticon...only to have a flurry of taser blasts come his way. "Gah!"

  Smokescreen ducks to the side, avoiding the volley- though he does reply with a few low-power blasts of his own...Fleet's not worth the ammunition, apparently. "Shouldn't you be running in terror by now?"

Smokescreen misses Fleet with his Low Power Scrambler attack.

Grimlock keeps floating in place, still staring off as he speaks into his radio, explosions and tracerfire slicing all around him in all directions. He pauses, for just a moment, almost casually flipping out with his right arm, his energon sword cleaving into the wing of one of those nameless seekers...yeah you know the types. They don't even -get- a name like Fleet or Catechism. Was probably jealous of them too for all the spotlight time they get. Either way, the Dinobot Commander's sword cleaves off a wing in a single pass, sending the Decepticon careening to the ground in a great explosion. This allows Grimlock to spot the lone A-10 firing along the Autobot lines, and he gives almost a distracted grunt, swiveling in place and levelling his pistol towards Cinerblock's direction. With the trademark chopping sound of Cybertronian energy weapons, he lets loose a single burst towards the Decepticon, all the while intoning. "Shoot missile at it Grimlock...bah. They talk like it easy. Grimlock go see what is! In a second...."

Grimlock strikes Cinderblock with blaster <Single shot>.

Concussion blasts rain down around the base and ripping along one of his 'legs'. The base grunts and continues tracking the sixchanger but does something different. He growls out, "I'm clipping your wings!" With that he folds back and down reforming himself into his second real alt mode, that of a firetruck. The ladder swings up and begins tracking Sixshot before it begins belching out a wide cone of foam towards the decepticon. Now as we all know, fire retardant foam does a number on decepticons, and that's what Hot Spot is hoping for now.

Defcon has arrived.

Fire Apparatus strikes Sixshot with his Immobilizing Foam attack.

CONS

--      Compile blinks "runt?" and he looks as he is kicked. "RUNT! I'll show you runt." and with that, he stands and flies towards Rivet, and as he moves in, his eyes glow, as he aims for Rivet's optics and then he grabs ahold of Rivet's head, and he looks into Rivet's Optics, and a beam of laser fires and heads for the optics. "Never mess with a Tape, especially, one of Soundwaves." Compile says as he flips back and lands ont he ground, waiting for the next attack to come.

<Decepticon> Commander Shockwave says, "The Lancer is operational. All units, I am transmitting trajectory. Steer clear of weapon path at all costs."

<Decepticon> Compile says, "Roger Roger."

"I'll have to double-check my daily planner," the pastel wonder replies to Smokescreen pleasantly, "but I'm pretty sure 'running in terror' isn't scheduled until a bit later." As he speaks he twirls out of the way of the scrambler, a faint smile on his face despite the damage taken earlier. He continues to work to distract the diversionary tactician, the expression on his face almost serene despite the danger he's in. His shoulder-mounted weaponry 'clicks' as he switches over to solid ammunition before firing again.

Fleet misses Smokescreen with his Rail Gun attack.

The A-10 takes the hit in stride, although it has blasted open a nasty looking gash across its fusilage. Cinderblock growls. Choices...choices. Defend himself against the dinobot, or continue mutilating the enemy lines below. Shockwave did order him to take out the defenses. Ah, but thats less of an issue. He changes his trajectory, apparently avoiding some magical area one imagines to be covered with the Decepticon equivalent of invisible fence by how scrupulously he's avoiding it, as he drives directly towards Grimlock, his vulcan cannon firing.

Cinderblock strikes Grimlock with Vulcan Cannon.

Whoops. Sixshot attempts to dive away but is unable to beat the spray of foam that comes at him, coating his armor. "Argh!" He struggles against the hardening foam, trying to break free, as he begins to plummet toward the ground below.

Smokescreen frowns as Fleet evades his barrage- good thing he didn't waste much energon on it. "Ah. I see." this said, Smokescreen backpedals a few more steps- as Fleet returns fire, Smokey stamps down hard on one plate of scrap metal-

  Another bit of rubble it rests on acts as a fulcrum (not the communist kind!) causing the plate to snap upright for a few moments...just enough to absorb the brunt of Fleet's attack. "Ah." says Smokescreen, already raising his left hand. "Give my regards to the decepticon medics, then." and then, his concealed machineguns are firing away, muzzle flares illuminating the dark Cybertonian night! DAKKADAKKADAKKADAKKA!

Vortex laughs as his blade sinks in to do some damage, pleased that /something/ worked. Of course, his victory is short-lived as he's nailed again by Streetwise. "That's it," he growls, swiping at him.

Vortex strikes Streetwise with Backhand.

Catechism shudders and shakes, bolts rattling loose and armour panels jarring open, as Sky Lynx's tail hits her. She shouts as her foe goes on his merry way, "Yeah, and? I've seen drones that hit harder than you do!" Snarling, the conehead brings out her 'heavy artillery', which isn't terribly heavy, alas. Hopefully it'll do more damage to the aerial Autobot that her other paltry selection. With a raptorial shriek, Catechism spins and sends off a blast of gauss Sky Lynx's way.

Sky Lynx evades your gauss attack.

Streetwise smiles as his photon blast lands on target, only to get smacked back by Vortex. "So you want to make this a fist fight Vortex, well two can play that game." He loads up and throws a haymaker at the Combaticon.

Streetwise strikes Vortex with Little fists of Justice.

The purpose of a ray-shield around the rail cannon becomes immediately obvious once its magnetic rings are powered. Resistant force is applied to the warhead, lifting it up into a dead hover within the barrel. Shockwave's fingers dart across the keyboard, transmitting a brief message to all Decepticon forces. On the viewscreen, a red reticle centers itself over a wireframe representation of the Autobot base. The final command is inputted. Fire.

The base magnetic plate generates same-polarity at an increasing levels, nudging the projectile higher and higher up the barrel. Power is supplied to the magnetic rings, supplying the same result on a tenfold level. The result is instantaneous.. and as deafening as a seismic charge...

*THOOM*

The barbed missile, as long as Ultra Magnus and just as wide, is shot by magnetic repulsion. It takes long-range flight in split seconds, becoming a shiny blur as it crosses the boundary between Cuprahex and the Warrens. One jet just narrowly avoids it, losing its wing in the process as it is shorn by the toothed edges of the missile. Its contact with the Autobot base is unavoidable -- like hitting the broadside of.. Broadside. Those toothy edges bore into the installation's plating, and along with the force of impact, buries itself into the higher sections of the base. Lodged inside the Autobot place, it has one task left: explode. Boom.

BOTS

Defcon rapidly transforms, folding himself into a bristling starfighter.

Smokescreen shoots now. You read the pose earlier!

<Decepticon> Cinderblock says, "HOT DAMN. I want one of those!"

Smokescreen strikes Fleet with Fifty Caliber Fingertips!.

Sky Lynx goes up and avoid the seeker's attack, "You are courageous...or stupid. But it's time to finish you, I have an ugly purple loser to beat." The dinobird places himself exactly above the flying Decepticon and with a scary smile, he transforms. A large Cyber-Lynx is now falling towards Cathchism, all claws aimed at the Seeker.

From his previous form, Sky Lynx transforms into his Lynx mode.

Cyber Lynx strikes you with Shred for 15 points of damage.

You are now at 32 endurance, or 50% total. You are 16 from c/e.

<Decepticon> Commander Shockwave says, "Unit progress report."

<Decepticon> Cinderblock says, "Defense turrets thoroughly damaged. Target sections A through J disabled or destroyed, Autobot casualties estimated as 12 direct, thirty indirect. Currently stuck engaging that damned Autobot dinosaur."

The base rumbles, the blast ripping the top off the base's tower. The blast slices into one side of the base's armor plating and explodes out the back. Flame shoots out vents in the top of the tower while metal rains down about the autobot's and decepticon's heads, along with a seeker wing. Poor Seeker. Even though the base has been nearly torn in half, the main section of the structure, the base itself, is relatively undamaged by the hit. Still, with the ease of that first shot circumcising the tower, the rest would be ener-cake.

Rivet grabs his optics as the laser flashes into them. "AAAH! Blast it, I can't see a slaggin' thing!" he shouts as he stumbles backwards, falling into a stack of crates. His arms flail wildly as he tries to get a grip on something to get back on his feet.

<Decepticon> Catechism says, "Have engaged Sky Lynx, sir."

Grimlock continues to hover in place as the Decepticon closes in on him. As is typical for any Dinobot, evasion is...a secondary concern. Primary concern is...of course, really just soaking the damage up. And he does that much, as the projectiles impact and spray along his body. He draws back his right hand again, before abruptly being -shoved- out of the way, not by any Decepticon, but the passage of the missile, as it displaces the air quick enough that even Grimlock has to struggle to steady himself. He whips about, watching as the warhead impacts, and detonates against the outpost, raising one hand to shield his optic visor from the glare of the explosion.

  Once it passes, he lowers his hand once more, just staring. "....Hrnnn, so that what Decepticons doing over there." And with a sudden grunt, he lurches and spins in place, as if timing it JUSt at that moment when Cinderblock should be flying close, lunging up and through the air with a flare of his anti-grav boots, lashing out with the hilt of his energon sword for the jet's middle.

Grimlock misses Cinderblock with his punch attack.

<Decepticon> Trooper Fleet reports, "Am keeping Smokescreen distracted." Since the seeker has yet to actually land a hit, that's the best that can be said.

The howl of engines announces Defcon's arrival -- just in time to see Shockwave blast the base with the massive mag-accelerator cannon. . o O (Slag.) The heavy fightercraft orients itself, casually bulling its way past the brutal fight between Sky Lynx and Catechism, before Defcon's fire-control system registers a target lock. Weapon pods snap open, and paired cruise missiles scream down from the fighter as Defcon's compression-pulse lasers strafe the rail-cannon's position as well.

CONS

Fire Apparatus begins to roll out towards Sixshot. His six wheels crunch over nearly fallen metal sheets from the tower but he disregards that for now. His headlights are pointed towards the foam encased Sixshot. He calls out over shortwave, "One more hit and we can kiss our base good-by! Someone take out that artillery!" The protectobot commander pours on the acceleration as he closes in with Sixshot to drag him under his wheels.

<Decepticon> Vortex says, "Keeping Streetwise busy, sir."

Fire Apparatus strikes Sixshot with High Speed Collision.

<Decepticon> Compile says, "I am working on Rivet and goign to cause some quakes."

Solid, Old Decepticon manufacture saves Cinderblock. With the air turbulance, and his own relatively well built frame, Grim's fist simply clangs against Cinder's armored fussilage. He does slowly come around, in the air he's got manueverability somewhat akin to a wingless turbo-hawk. He's about to give another burst of vulcan fire, when he notices the cannon has reached a stage known as 'red hot'. "Son, you should know when your beaten!" He's not going to play games with the Autobot, and so he reluctantly locks onto Grimlock with his last Air to Ground missiles. Of course, being Air to -Ground- they're not too spectacularly useful against airborne enemies.

Cinderblock strikes Grimlock with AtG Missiles.

Vortex transforms, knowing he has far better attacks in his much more vulnerable helicopter mode. He's willing to risk a little extra damage to knock a few Autobots around. He then gets the Vortex o' Doom ready for a spin, and fires.

--      Compile smiles as he knows his next attack and he waits for Rivet's attack to come. Hopefully, the laser did some damage to Rivet's optics, and if it did, then that gives compile an edge and the chance to let the good times roll. However, Compile turns as he hears the *THOOM* and he smiles. "Duck." is all he says as he falls back and rolls witht he force of the hit, and he pushs up and off the ground. He flips in the air, and as he comes down, his arms begin to alter and change and as he drops, their forms become evident.

        The arms have turned into cylinder tubes, and they are as wide as Compile, and his hands have flattened out and become the pounders that are common on his brothers Rumble and Frenzy. As he moves closer to the ground, the sonicwave generators power up in his arms and the sound is heard over the explosion from the base by the Lancer Unit. He hits the ground, and once he has, he moves forward and smiles as he looks and slides to a stop somewhere int he middle of the battle, but close to rivet's location. "ROCK N ROLLL!!!!!!" he screams as the drivers move and the whine is heard as they start to pound the ground, cause 12.0 mag earthquakes.

Vortex leaps into the air, folding into his sleek Blackhawk mode.

Fleet again tries to twist out of the way of Smokescreen's attack, but it's so hard to duck all those teeny tiny little bullets, and several tear through the aerial dancer's pretty wings. He emits an electronic growl of pain and yet still does not run. Instead he reorients himself and tries for a more erratic flight path, one that still keeps him well out of the way of the Lancer's transmitted attack trajectories.

Fleet misses Smokescreen with his Shoulder-Mounted Laser Rifle <Pulse Mode> attack.

Vortex strikes Streetwise with Vortex o' Doom.

Compile unleashes his Supersonic Pile-Drivers attack on Sixshot, Rivet, Streetwise, Smokescreen and Hot Spot, striking Sixshot, Rivet and Streetwise.

Catechism is startled by the fact there is suddenly a large, powerful cat falling at her. So startled that she just 'stands' there in the air and lets herself get rather mauled. Ow, that hurt. However, Catechism's a career soldier, and as such, life is just full of pain. She pushes away the damage alerts and dives after the cat, flicking out her combat knife. Kicking on her bootjets to raise her speed, the Seeker hope to do her own, much weaker version of slash and fall right back at her foe. "Finish me?" She jerks her free hand over in the direction of the ruined Autobot base. "That's what's finished."

Cyber Lynx evades your combat knife attack.

The protective field drops and the chamber swings open, allowing for another missile to be fed in. The initial shot has depleted the Lancer's energy banks and thus, a "cool-down" period is required before enough power has been sufficiently charged for a second shot. Better energon efficiency in the next model, Shockwave considers.

Several shots reach the distance of Cuprahex! One technician screams aloud, holding the smoking stump of what was once his hand. "They shot me! They got my hand! My HAND! Great Creator, what possessed them to do that! My hand! By the seven moons of Neptar, my beautiful hand! Oh! Oh! I'll never be able to hold something with that hand again! Oh agony!" The technician weeps, which furthers two very essential theories prominent in Decepticon doctrine: 1. Technicians are over-emotional (see: Constructicons), and 2. Germans love David Hasselhoff.

Shockwave's eye gleams as he becomes aware of a singular threat in the Autobot ranks: Defcon. While the starfighter is a ways away in the Warrens, he still proves to be a danger that can quite rapidly make his presence known. "Technicians, return fire." Shockwave wastes no time, he immediately puts in the order for another fighter wing from Nightsiege to support him while those engineers fire back at Defcon.

Sixshot falls and falls until he's smacked by an oncoming base, which drives him down into the ground, hard. At least it also serves to loosen the hardened foam on him, allowing him to break free. Yet, as he begins to stand, he succumbs to the earthquake caused by Compile, falling on his ass. "I'll remember that." he mutters before refocusing on Hot Spot. "You! Two can play at that game!" He leaps into the air, soaring up, and... transforms into his seige tank mode?! Yes, indeed he does! And he begins to plummet back down toward the Protectobot Commander.

Sixshot transforms into the form of a siege tank.

Siege Tank misses Fire Apparatus with his Cowcatcher (Centre) attack.

BOTS

Grimlock raises one huge arm to shield his face as the rocket impacts against him. His upper half is briefly obscured by the explosion as it blossoms out over his frame, sheathing him it's brilliant orange and red goodness, until it clears again. Smoke curls up from his forearm, which is noticably blackened but...little else from the high explosive warhead. "Bah." The Dinobot Commander states, turning in place, his right arm drawing all the way back as his anti-gravs humm powerfully, propelling him to a better angle. "Grimlock have more important things to do than play with `con that not sure if is Seeker or not! Grimlock think you look better buried up to neck in sand anyway!" And with that, his right arm suddenly wrenches forward. It's no secret that Grimlock is probably counted among the physically most strongest of all transformers, and it shows as he lets go of the hilt of his energon sword, letting loose in a throw of truly monstrous proportions. The blade windmills and rotors it's way at Cinderblock's aerial form soon after.

Streetwise watches as his punch lands and makes Vortex change his mind on how to excute this fight. As Vortex takes flight and nails him with an attack while Compile adds insult to injury with his little area attack. Now singed and angry Streets claas out to Vortex "Hey Vortex try this on for size!" as he switches the pistol to its other setting and fires it at Vortex.

Streetwise strikes Vortex with his Blinded by the Light attack.

Grimlock strikes Cinderblock with Energon Sword.

Cyber Lynx falls towards the ground, but a fall like that is nothing for his greatness! While falling,he also manage to dodge the seeker's knife. He easly lands on the ground and springs fowards to avoid any possible incoming attack. Looking back, he notices that his opponent is still standing, "Impressive" he mutters. He watches the seeker for a second with a sparkle of respect in his optics, be fore leaping at her, trying to slash into her armor again.

Cyber Lynx strikes you with Paw Swipe for 12 points of damage.

You are now at 20 endurance, or 31% total. You are 4 from c/e.

Rivet is bounced, tossed, and rolled by the force of the artificial earthquake, and he slams against one of the walls of the outpost. Struggling to get to his feet, he shakes his head as his optics start to clear. Grasping his laser pistol once again, he takes aim at Compile and squeezes the trigger. You can only push a 'bot so far...

Rivet manages to hit Compile with Puny Pistol Of Not-even-close To Doom.

Oh, look. Technicians with guns, opening fire on Defcon.

Energy bolts and solid rounds strike the hulking starfighter... and ricochet off, doing little more than ruining his paint job and pissing off the Autobot bounty hunter. "Right," he rumbles, boosting speed towards the emplacement. Abruptly, his centerline-mounted plasma cannon glows, and fires, a lambent beam of blue-white energy lashing across the defensive perimeter, followed by sizzling bursts of microwaves as Defcon's maser pods unload as well. The air seems to crackle with arcs of energy as the brutal Autobot grants no quarter to the poor technicians pressed into service. A dead Decepticon is a dead Decepticon, regardless of his function."

Incidentally enough, it's the actions of one Decepticon that save Smokesceen from the machinations of another. As Compile pounds the ground, Smokescreen staggers...which coincidentally takes the 'bot well out of the way of Fleet's blasts. Fancy that.

  Smokescreen pops up, still unharmed, and grins. "You know, as much as I'd like to continue trading blasts...I've got bigger fish to fry!" this said, Smokey goes into a roll, whipping his blaster up to sight in on...Compile. "Okay." he admits. "Not so big. But a priority target, nonetheless." he assures Fleet- even rubbing it it JUST a bit...as if the seeker should care.

  Of course, all of this is done as Smokescreen lets fly with a barrage of magnetically-accellerated acid pellets! (A little trick he picked up from the late Prowl, y'see.)

Smokescreen misses Compile with his Acid Pellet Gun! attack.

Fire Apparatus sees the tank coming a mile away. Well, .45 miles to be exact, but it's still enough time to react. Hot Spot transforms into his robot mode quickly launching himself into the air while Sixshot slides right under him and clear of the protectobot commander. Hot Spot chuckles and looks down towards the tank before pulling his fireman's axe from subspace. He brings it high into the air and grunts with mighty protectobot might to bring the crackling weapon down upon Sixshot with much ouchies all around.

Meanwhile...back at the ponderosa...nothing happens because it's not being fired at yet, game on!

Hot Spot grows and unfolds growing arms and legs.

Hot Spot misses Siege Tank with his Protecto-Axe attack.

--      Compile is hit by the puny pisol...and is knocked back slightly. Compile looks at Rivet, and rushes him as he jumps and his body opens up and then is covered by smoke until he lands. However, from that smoke came the forms of whistles as Tape Mini Rockets fly towards Rivet and his sensors pick up the attack, and Compile just bends all matrix like and the bullets fly over him ans Compile looks at Smokescreen. "I see you. Me no like you." and Compile extends his hands and flips back and begins to do handsprings towards Smokescreen as the Rockets fly towards Rivet. Looks like the tape is going to do two on one. Maybe Fleet could take on Rivet if they want to tagteam.

<Decepticon> Compile says, "Fleet switch.  Take Rivet, I'll go after Smokescreen.  Rivet is worked over."

Even great construction can't deal with -that- kind of hit. Cinderblock's left wing is shorn off entirely by the Dinobot leader's strike, causing him to spiral out of control. To add injury to more injury, the blade continues to cycle and proceeds to damage one of his jet engines, lodging lewdly through the turbine, and causing it to flare out further exacerbating his out of control spiral. His form attempts to shift, but each time it stalls, apparently impeded by a certain Dinobot's sword through him. Cinderblock's raspy voice rises to levels of somewhat terrified concern as he begins to rapidly approach the ground, and all of those cheesed off Autobots, "Transform! TRANSFORM!!! DAMNIT! TRANSFORM!!!!" The tell-tale high-pitched whine of a death dive begins to fill the air as he heads down directly towards the Protecto-Bot commander. His tail on fire, and completely out of control. "COMING THROUGH! LINE UP THE SOFTEST AUTOBOTS!"

Cinderblock strikes Hot Spot with ram.

<Decepticon> Cinderblock says, "Ugh...altmode flight system disabled. Dunno if my transformation sequence is working..."

Vortex cries out in surprise, blinded and incapacitated. "I'll take you for a little spin yet, Streetwise, just you wait!" he shouts angrily, hovering and darting a bit in an attempt to escape the pot-shots Streetwise will inevitably be taking now that Vortex can't see him. "Puny Autobot annoyance, I'll have you strung up and let Swindle sell you as a bootleg party favor!"

Catechism lands heavily, losing a few not-so-essential components due to the rough landing. Unfortunately, before she can get her bearing on the ground, she loses a good deal of rather-more-essential components to the lynx's swipe. Ah, well, she didn't really want that arm, right? Despite all this, she's smiling. The Seeker will be wanting to tactically relocate soon, and she knows this sad fact. Also, she'd like to go out with a bang, preferably with the bang on the part of her foe. To that extent, Catechism leaps into the air and transforms into a rather beat-up jet with a hole through the fuselage due to the missing arm, and draws on the speed and wing-mounted rockets of her F-35 form.

Catechism transforms into her alternate mode: a F-35, Marine Corps variant. Her feet flip up against her shins, her nosecone rotates through her body and out in front where it belongs, her arms tuck into her torso, and her wings rotate into position.

Cyber Lynx evades your rocket attack.

Fleet has apparently forgotten how to hit anything. Ever. He makes a mental note to have his targeting circuitry checked, scheduling it somewhere after 'running in terror.' If the seeker had even a smidgen of pride, he MIGHT be insulted by Smokescreen declaring Compile to be a priority target, but he's too busy being glad that he's not experiencing any more hurty.

The seeker takes just a moment to survey the battlefield and observes that the Autobots are teaming up two-on-one against the tape (but it's an annoying tape), while Streetwise prepares to attack the helpless Vortex. Hmm. Tough choice. He's about to go after Streetwise when Compile informs him that Rivet is really hurting. Since the pastel wonder enjoys picking on the week, he decides to dive for Rivet, performing a mid-air flip at the last moment so as to land feet first on Rivet. Or rather, the ground next to him, at the rate he's going.

Siege Tank slams down onto the ground, treads first, and manages to just veer away before a certain energy axe collides with his armor. Rounding on the Protectobot, he pauses as he watches the fallen Cinderblock successfully fall on him. Then he leaps up into his robot mode, strides forward, and attempts to kick the downed Autobot just to add insult to injury.

Sixshot unfolds into his towering robot form.

Sixshot strikes Hot Spot with Tobi Geri (Jumping Kick).

<Decepticon> Commander Shockwave says, "Second volley engaged. Stay clear and remain on target."

Kapwing! "Augh! MY OTHER HAND!" The technician holds both smoking stumps up, staring incredulously at the ruined metal. "Why. WHY. I just wanted to assist in operating large weapons of war for the Empire! I cannot freaking believe I just lost my other hand! I mean, seriously, I did not see that coming! This is just getting ridiculous! It's the principle of the matter, you know? I am so going to--*BLAUGH*" The technician eats a mouthful of plasma, severing his vocal circuits and taking his consciousness along with. The tirade is over and if Shockwave cared enough, he'd commend Defcon for his efforts. But he does not. He is more interested in destroying an Autobot base.

The rail cannon's chamber snaps shut and once more, the protective shield shimmers into existence. Shockwave's keystrokes cause the enormous barrel to move, shifting itself momentarily to reorient its trajectory by mere microinches. Obliterating the foundation, the Commander reasons, will evaporate the Autobot resolve. Energy cells deplete themselves, powering the magnetic repulsion technology into launching another of those armor-piercing warheads with the same deafening sound! *THOOM*

BOTS

"Obviously, you don't care much for proper pronouns, either." Smokescreen remarks, tone dry. Even still, as Compile begins his display of Acrobatics, the tactician just follows the tape with his optics. There's a sound, easily lost over the din of the battle, eminating from this Autobot's helm as he does so.

  Beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep...PIIIIIIING!

  Target lock! Smooth. And so, without even bothering to raise his rifle at this point, Smokescreen lets fly with both of his shoulder rockets, aiming not for the cassette directly...but they rather detonate on either side of him, clouding the 'bot in a miasma of chaff and smoke.

Smokescreen strikes Compile with his Electro Scrambler Rockets! attack.

Cyber Lynx bounces back as he lands, he spins on himself and charges his opponent once again, hopefully for the finishing blow this time. The seeker transforms and goes airborn but that won't allow him to avoid Sky Lynx. The Cyber Lynx leaps into the air as rockets hit the ground where he was standing a second ago. The Dinobot aims his jump at the jet, hoping to land on it. But as soon as he comes into melee range, he swings his claw at its wings.

Cyber Lynx strikes you with Raking Claws for 17 points of damage.

You are now at 3 endurance, or 4% total. You are -13 from c/e.

You are very conscious that your life is in serious danger in this battle.

Hot Spot grunts at the sudden crunching sound and the high pressure of a body falling on him. Well, that had to hurt Hot Spot. He looks up at Cinderblock's body and says, "Oh, you've made a BIG mistake falling on me buddy." He grunts and gets up, sparks shooting out of a hole made when something sharp hit his side. Then he falls again, this time to his knees after Sixshot gave him a cheap kick to his legs. The protectobot commander drops to his knees before gripping Cinderblock and swinging him around to use as a club against Sixshot. "Primus, if it's not one con. *whip thud* It's another!"

Hot Spot strikes Cinderblock with Club.

Hot Spot strikes Cinderblock with Club.

Hot Spot strikes Sixshot with Club.

Rivet is slammed full force by the rockets, and he is spun backwards, doing at least four 360's before landing flat on his face. This time, he doesn't get up as readily as he did before, and small trickles of energon begin to leak from a few cracks in his body shell. Struggling to get up onto one arm, and stumbles shakily to his feet. He's in bad shape, and survival instincts kick in. Weakly, he stumbles off towards one of the exits of the base, trying to get out into the open.

Streetwise smiles as his blinding flash does its job. He quickly transforms and looks to put some distance between Vortex and him self. He aid this desire by fireing his air cannon at the helpless con.

Streetwise folds down as legs, arms and his head merge smoothly into a sleek police car.

Police Car <Streetwise> strikes Vortex with compressed_air.

Starfighter <Defcon> transforms another technician into a smoking pile of molten thirty-weight, and curses as the cannon goes off AGAIN. Snarling into his comsystem, he comes around, lobbing another brace of missiles, this time aiming for the cannon itself as laser pulses strike his hull. Thank Primus for heavy armor. The fighter soars upwards, shaking off the shots as his engines roar.

Grimlock watches impassively as Cinderblock performs a Stuka dive down, down, down to the ground, one he dosen't pull out of. If it occurs to the Dinobot Commander that the Decepticon just crashed into one of his allies, he dosen't seem all that concerned about it. Just a smug sense of satisfaction as he produces a second energon sword, crackling to life a moment later. Yes, he's learned that he should carry a backup on him at all times. With a lack of immediate opponents, he turns to look towards the Decepticons in the distance, optic visor dimming as he catches sight of the telltale signs of another powerup.

  With a grunt, he puts his weapons away, and proceeds to soar down, picking up speed as a combination of gravity and otherwise as he soars straight in towards the Decepticons and their weapon...and of course, Shockwave. "It time for Grimlock to kick up a notch!" Who ever said the Dinobot couldn't learn things from humans?

  A moment later, he is twisting, and turning in mid-air. Having covered most of the distance through flight, Grimlock's transformation sets him down with a harsh *BOOM* on his huge, clawed feet, with mouth gaping open as he begins to thunder straight towards the Decepticons. The question now comes, what do you do when you have a Dinobot charging your position?

Grimlock raises his arms and begins to fold up as he leans back, rising up into his fearsome Dinobot mode.

The projectile slices into the base with a roar and explodes. For a second, nothing happens, but then the base begins to distend and bulge grossly before mental begins ripping and falling off the base. Flames lick at the open portals as the base explodes one outer wall. It finally gives up trying to contain the blast before wreckage and the body of the building flies apart at the seams. Whatever is left after the initial explosion lands in a heap inside the base filling up the hallways, rooms, and general space of the base. Someone sent us up the bomb.

CONS

--      Compile is hit and stunned in his current position, and he just poses there Ginyu style. However, as Compile is stuck (in more ways then one), the base explodes and that just pushes Compile into smookescreen and then he slides to a stop, face down on the ground. (OOC: No attack, as I am stunned.)

"DAMNIT!" Cinderblock grunts out as he's used to bludgeon Sixshot. Fortunately, the impact serves to jostle his transformation sequence, and dislodge that energy sword from where it was gumming up his works. He succeeds in transforming, and noticing that he's on fire in numerous places, missing body parts, and has a sword through his leg....decides its time for the better part of valor. He limps off, trying to make his way back to the Decepticon lines.

The A-10 splits apart, revealing the Decepticon Cinderblock!

Cinderblock begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Starfighter <Defcon>, Fleet, Vortex, Sixshot, Compile, F-35 <Catechism>, Shockwave, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Smokescreen, Rivet, Hot Spot, Cyber Lynx, Police Car <Streetwise>.

Whack! Sixshot is sent skidding after being thwacked in the chest by his own compatriot, resulting in a sizeable dent in his chestplate. "I'm getting annoyed..." he states. Twisting his form into one of his many alternates, this one his cyber-wolf form, he leaps forward and bares claws and teeth at Hot Spot. The explosion of the nearby base allows for a lovely backlighting to the Autobot's impending doom.

Sixshot twists his form into that of a winged cyber-wolf.

Winged Cyber-Wolf strikes Hot Spot with evisceration.

Hooray for being too little of a threat to be bothered with! The pastel wonder immediately takes back off, leaving Rivet, who is also too little a threat to be bothered with, to his own devices as he takes just a moment to survey the battlefield. Uh-oh. A lot less of his fellows around to soak up damage. He moves 'running in terror' up a few time-slots as he orients on a new target, and from his vantage point in the sky takes a few unaimed shots at one of those cars running about while he puts most of his concentration into not getting hurt further.

Fleet misses Police Car <Streetwise> with his Disruptor attack.

Cinderblock has disconnected.

Vortex snarls as the rather painful attack jostles his systems back into working order, sort of, and he realizes he's really in trouble and needs to run for it. "Have a little goodbye present!" he calls, firing off a parting shot as he books it for somewhere a bit safer.

Shockwave's head lifts, placing his eye of scrutiny on Grimlock. The airborne Dinobot proves to be elicit no emotion other than cold reaction. His fingers tap several more keys, placing one last command into this weapon. Self-Destruction.

"Commander Shockwave, we arrive!" The confident voice of Trooper Orchid calls out over the bleak distance between Cuprahex and Nightsiege. The violet-styled Decepticon is accompanied by twenty more jets that appear just behind Shockwave and the disparaged technicians. Omicron Wing, the Commander's personal army, powers their assault weapons for deadly conflict.

"Omicron Wing.." Shockwave commands in dull tones. His feet press against the Cuprahex plating, boot-jets igniting to propel him backward. "Terminate." The final word is given just after Shockwave reconfigures himself into that large, threatening ray-gun. The hexagonal bore points dead for Grimlock's armored underbelly as handle-mounted jets propel him into a lead position of Omicron Wing. It soon expels harsh laserfire, unrelenting and powerful. Cybertron's black sky comes alight with twenty-odd purple beams, assaulting both Autobot Bounty Hunter and Dinobot Commander.. just as the Lancer detonates.

Shockwave initiates his transformation procedures to fold into an enormous flying laser gun.

Vortex misses Police Car <Streetwise> with his Side_Gun attack.

Vortex begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Starfighter <Defcon>, Winged Cyber-Wolf, F-35 <Catechism>, Ray Gun, Police Car <Streetwise>.

F-35 <Catechism> might have let loose a screech like the rending of steel or it might have been that her wings actually made that noise of their own accord. A large, irregular portion of her wings is cut into by Cyber Lynx's claws, and most of both her wings comes loose, confirming the latter of the two hypotheses. Only by the fantastic Decepticon flight technology installed in this F-35 does it stay aloft, and only barely. Her sensors short out, dimming her world. Catechism's been beaten within a mere inch of her life, and she's leaving. Now.

Catechism begins retreating, leaving itself vulnerable to parting shots from Starfighter <Defcon>.

BOTS

<Decepticon> Catechism,static choking out much of her voice, manages, "...*zerk*...pull out...too severely damaged...Sky Lynx *brzt* a most formidable foe...apologies, sir."

Cyber Lynx grins as his opponent is finally forced to retreat... it's now time to go help Defcon and Grimlock. The Decepticons's ultimate doom weapon of the week must be destroyed! Sky Lynx leaps into the air and transforms into his dinobord mode. He roars as he charges towards the Lancer, making sure to not be in the line of fire. "Defcon, Grimlock, push harder guys I want this thing destroyed."

From his previous form, Sky Lynx unfolds and transforms into huge and scary Dinobird.

<Decepticon> Commander Shockwave says, "Retreat is ill advised."

<Decepticon> Commander Shockwave says, "Press the advantage."

Hot Spot lets go of Cinderblock, who rips out of his hands away in his jet mode. "Hey, come back...argh!" he grunts in pain from the claws ripping into his arm from the wolf now in front of him. Hot Spot grumbles and looks at the damage from the base. He calls out over the radio, "Protectobots, need assistance ASAP. Blades, Groove, First Aid, get your skidplates over here!" He stands fully and does one of those side aiming stances with one of his fireball cannons to Sixshot. He fires a few shots from the weapon causing it to smoke from the business end of it.

Hot Spot strikes Winged Cyber-Wolf with Small Blue Fireball.

Police Car <Streetwise> is really feeling good about this fight as his air cannon slams into Vortex and he inturn takes a potshot, that is sumarrially dodged, and runs like the scardy con he is. Fortunately his dodge of Vortex's shot also makes Fleet miss. Now his is getting up set. "Hey Fleet perhaps you want some of what got Vortex to turn tail and run!" ah he loads a photon charge and fires.

Rivet stumbles out of the archway as the base explodes, tossing him for yet another loop across the landscape. Rolling to a stop, he struggles to his feet. Stumbling forward a few steps, he transforms and hits the ground with wheels spinning.

     Rivet folds in his arms, and his head slides down as his chest rises to form the cab of his truck form. His legs fold upwards and curve around to lay against his back as they form the cargo box. Within seconds, he is sitting on the wheels of his vehicle form.

Smokescreen winces as the Autobase comes a crumbling down...but at the same time, the Decepticons are on the run! A Guerilla tactic? Maybe. But costly in resources to both sides...in short, what one would expect of this war.

  Smokescreen pushes the immobilized tape from his chassis, and glances around...finally settling on the retreating Fleet. "Oh, you're not going to have it that easy..." Smokescreen folds into his Datsun mode. "Not by a longshot!" he revs his engine, and sets about tear-assing down one alleyway...now, a turn here, a jink there- now HERE's a conveniently placed ramp (Dukes of Hazzard, eat your heart out), and...

  "WAAAAAAHHOOOOOOOOO!"

  Funny, is that Fleet in the way?

Smokescreen's form twists and shudders, and mere moments later, the Diversionary Tactician is no longer there, replaced by a red and blue stock car, engine revving.

Starfighter <Defcon> growls as more Seekers arrive, and Shockwave launches. "Slag and more slag, I've got twenty idiot children out here..." He throws himself into a wild roll to ditch targeting locks, as violet beams stab out, tearing at his thick armor. Molten scales flake down onto the ground far below, as the battle-scarred warship comes up right behind two other Seekers. Without a word, Defcon's weapon batteries light up, pulse lasers and plasma cannon firing, intent on ripping through the hapless troops.

Stock Car misses Fleet with his ram attack.

Police Car <Streetwise> misses Fleet with his Photon Blast attack.

Police Car <Streetwise> moves south to the Cuprahex Sensor Outpost.

Police Car <Streetwise> has left.

Tyrannosaurus Rex continues to thunder towards the weapon, the ground rumbling underneath his feet as he begins to get closer and closer to where the Decepticons are gathered. It's at this point, that his charge is brought to an abrupt end, because the Lancer abruptly detonates into a great fireball that rolls upwards into the sky, and sends several concussion waves over his form. Being big, and heavy, he dosen't get blasted over, and merely ducks his head to one side, shrapnel and stray debris roaring down and impacting off of his frame here and there. As the brilliant laserfire rains down on him, he stumbles back and forth for a moment, before slamming his tail firmly into the ground, and bringing his head up, mouth gaping wide as he comes under fire. The strategy of some is to bob and weave to avoid being hit...his is to stand there and soak it up, even as he belches forward a thick gout of flame as he settles into his secondary role as a portable flamethrower. Sure, Slag does this better, but ALL Dinobot can do this little trick, as he trails the flame through the sky, seeking to rake it across asny of the seekers that get too close.

Police Car <Streetwise> arrives from the Cuprahex Sensor Outpost to the south.

Police Car <Streetwise> has arrived.