Swindle arrives from the IHQ Troop Hall to the south.

Swindle has arrived.

Vortex arrives from the IHQ Troop Hall to the south.

Vortex has arrived.

Fleet practices against the drone. Having only recently come off the light-limited list after being totally smooshed by Grimlock, he's decided to make sure his systems are up their usual levels before actually returning to active duty. Besides, he's got a job for now. He's... Chimera's body guard? Well, whatever works. Currently the drone is set to a rather lower setting than the seeker usually uses, as he's doing a 'warm-up.' Fleet makes an uncoded laser attack against the thing, easily flitting over the return fire.

Astrotrain arrives from the IHQ Troop Hall to the south.

Astrotrain has arrived.

Swindle stolls quietly into the Training rom, casting a quick look around to sum up whomsoever may be present. His quiet assessment made, he moves over towards one of the computers that records details, monitoring the progress of the faction memebers. He taps quickly at the keys, regarding the information displayed with mild interest. With a vacant expression he half-turns to watch Fleet practising against the drone.

Fleet practices against the drone. Having only recently come off the light-limited list after being totally smooshed by Grimlock, he's decided to make sure his systems are up their usual levels before actually returning to active duty. Besides, he's got a job for now. He's... Chimera's body guard? Well, whatever works. Currently the drone is set to a rather lower setting than the seeker usually uses, as he's doing a 'warm-up.' Fleet makes an uncoded laser attack against the thing, easily flitting over the return fire. <repose for Astrotrain. Had been entered before Swindle's pose>

Vortex tags along with Swindle, having become his unofficial shadow after his random episode of stupidity. He really didn't care if Swindle didn't like it; he was going to keep an optic on his brother if only to keep him from saying and doing dumb things that could very well get them all killed. "At least he can't get hurt in here," he thought with a shake of his head. "Maybe he'll get the rampant idiocy out of his system now."

Astrotrain also strides into the training room, and lo and behold, it's not dominated by Constructicons this time! He holds his rifle up, letting the barrel rest on one shoulder as he does so, expression neutral...distant. It's been a boring day...so far. Maybe that'll change soon.

Fleet finishes off the drone on the rather easy level he had it on and looks around, optics widening in surprise when he sees that he now has an audience. Catechism was here (and red) all along, but where did these others come from. Oh, and goody! It's the guy who forced him to get drunk the other day, and the others who got a free show out of the event. If the seeker had more pride he might be embarrassed now. "Oh. Uhm. Good cycle, all," he says, inclining his head in greeting as he does. "I seem to have missed your arrival."

Catechism notes the gathering crowd with a grin. She waves and explains, "I'll be sitting out these festivities." She doesn't explain it's because she's still a little injured. That would be admitting weakness, after all. A stroke of what amounts to genius for her hits her, and she adds, "Want to study some fighting styles without being on the receiving end."

Swindle waves a hand towards the drone. "That's fair enough, you were distracted after all." He turns to take in the people present, smiling faintly. "However, since we now have quite a few people here, how about a more strenuous session?" He nods towards Catechism, a simple acknowledgement of her statement.

Vortex looks a bit surprised at Swindle but quickly recovers, instead turning his attention to a quick head-count. Swindle... Fleet... Astrotrain. Hmm. Wonder if he's over burying himself in rubble? He chuckles to himself quietly, loving that mental image. Too bad he couldn't really use it against him, too many others had seen.

Astrotrain wanders further into the training room, still balancing his rifle on one shoulder, as he looks at each Decepticon in turn, then gives a smirk. "Well well well, what a motley collection of `mechs we got here this evening. Tsk, this much firepower and no action to go with it? Sounds like a waste to me."

"Only now returning to active duty, sir," Fleet explains. 'No thanks to YOU,' he does not add, because he is not stupid. He looks to Swindle and nod his head once. "That sounds like a plan. Teams, or shall we just make this a free for all?" he asks, tossing only the briefest of amused smiles in Catechism's direction as she gives her explanation.

Swindle casts a thoughtful glance over those present, nodding slightly to himself. "I recommend a free-for-all, any objections?" He addresses those present, not counting Catechism of course. He cocks his head as a thogut strikes him. "Of we /could/ do another situation-training exercise."

Astrotrain's body spins and reconfigures until it swells out into the shape of a large, purple space shuttle.

Astrotrain retreats from the area swiftly, outdistancing all pursuit and parting shots.

Astrotrain's body shifts and spins as he stands upright into his robot form.

"What sorta exercise?" Astrotrain states towards Swindle as he speaks, turning about and standing near Fleet for the moment. Mainly cause he's the guy the triplechanger made sloshed against his will of course.

Shockwave arrives from the IHQ Troop Hall to the south.

Shockwave has arrived.

Catechism just quietly leans against the wall, unusually subdued. She watches what the others do and listens to their chatter avidly. Maybe this'll be a good time to do that 'figure out weakness and how to use them to her advantage' thing? Catechism could certainly use more practice with it. She glances at those assembled. Well, Catechism hasn't seen Astrotrain and Vortex fight. Swindle? She already knows that he prefers ranged battle over melee combat. And Fleet... well, Catechism's probably fought him more than she's fought anyone else.

Vortex pipes up. "A situation training exercise would be far more interesting than a free-for-all, at the very least." He glances at Swindle, then back to the others, remembering that Astrotrain's a great big shuttle/locomotive thing, while he was only a spindly little heli. Holographic damage or not, he could still get squished, he was sure of it. "At least I won't 'die' as quickly with fewer enemies," he adds, though mostly to himself.

Fleet has a big old triple-changer hovering over him! One that recently got him drunk and took advantage of him! Well, the first part, anyway. The seeker glances up at the larger mechanoid. "Well, last time half the group took the part of Autobots and attempted to stop the other side from raiding," he explains calmly, an occasional wing-twitch the only thing that betrays his discomfort at having the other standing so nearby.

Swindle nods towards Fleet as he answers Astrotrain's question. "The purpose of the exercise is mostly to familiarise ourselves with the terrain we'll likely be battling over, with the added bonus of improving our combat skills against unexpected opponents." He grins up at the triple-changer. "Sound good?"

"Playing an -Autobot-?" At that, Astrotrain gives an audible, "Pfeh..." And even a dismissive wave of his other hand, the first still balancing his rifle on his shoulder. "....allright, whatever. Suit yourself. Let's split up and do this then."

Vortex realizes with a start what time it is. "I need to bow out; I have Autobots to torture." He darts out, leaving Swindle all alone, which will likely please him to no end to be rid of his sadistic shadow.

Vortex has disconnected.

Astrotrain watches as Vortex runs off, leaving three combat capable mechs in his wake, and the numbers, once again, uneven. "Riiight, so much for that thought. So, back to just shooting at whoever presents itself?"

Fleet hmmms as their number is reduced by one. He shrugs and looks around at the others. "Well, we could still go with the situation. It'll be two against one, but..." he looks up at Astrotrain, "I'm not entirely sure that'll be much of a problem for some people."

Catechism looks a bit... disturbed. Playing Autobots? She turns the idea over in her head, one hand tapping against her wing. Well, if it serves a useful purpose... Vortex's sudden absence startles her back into paying attention to events at hand. She smirks and suggests, "Yeah, you could try two-on-one. But if the Autobot is outnumbered, he's got to whine about it."

Swindle watches Vortex excuse himself with a sigh. "Such /dedication/ to duty." Turning back to the others he nods to Astrotrain. "I'm amenable to either, in light of this development perhaps a free for all might be best." He gestures towards the open floor before Fleet speaks. He glances sky- er, ceilingwards and shrugs. "Okay, fine." He moves quickly over to a computer, programming in a few settings. "Situation, Cybertron-based, we Decepticons showing up to drive Autobots out of their territory."

"Oh great, -I- get to be the slaggin Autobot. I'm gonna need a bath afterwards." Astrotrain complains audibly, as he turns and walks to a far side of the training room, lowering his rifle and bouncing it in the palm of one hand, grumbling as he turns about again. "Allright fine. Here goes...here I am. A wimply Autobot. Watch me sit here...like an airhead, with dreams of prancing through the flowers with my itty bitty human friends with cherry blossoms in their hair and everything's good...."

Fleet barks out a quick laugh at Catechism and then nods in agreement with Swindle. "All right," he says, before he bursts out laughing again at Astrotrain's antics. "Well, at least I get to be myself this time." He leaps into the air and flies towards Astrotrain. Now, proper protocol might suggest that he's supposed to demand that the Autobot retreat or surrender at this point, but Fleet is a wimp and a coward, so instead he decides he's best off getting in the first attack. So, without another word, he points his right arm and fires.

Fleet strikes Astrotrain with Shoulder-Mounted Laser Rifle.

Swindle nods abruptly at Astrotrain. "Glad to see you're getting into the role." He comments wit a smirk. He's about to demand the 'Autobot' retreats or face destruction, when Fleet pre-empts him. Oh well. Raising his arm he fires off a burst of rounds from the weapon mounted there.

Swindle strikes Astrotrain with Hard Sell.

Astrotrain is struck twice then in quick succession. *BAM BAM* and he almost doubles over int he process, cut off from his musings and reaching up to touch at his side as he winces. "Sunnovafragging...slagging...somebody's been messin with my rotors, I KNOW it!" he complains audibly, before abruptly turning in place and levelling his rifle in the direction of...oh...let's see, how about...Fleet to start off? He releases a low yield blast, even as he starts to run off to the side to get himself mobile. Maybe that'll help.

Astrotrain strikes Fleet with Ion Rifle <Medium>.

Catechism watches Astrotrain's Autobot impression with an amused and puzzled expression. Perhaps he would be happier if he pretended to be someone like Sky Lynx, Grimlock, or Defcon? Then again, it doesn't look like his wuss act is going to last all that long. Hee, Autobots don't know how swear like Decepticons do, for one thing.

The attack hits Fleet on the left side of his head, knocking out a chunk of his head-vent. "Grah!" he complains as his speed, also, fails to perform as it should. "Dammit," he grumbles, being more the type to use milder swears himself as he increases his altitude before firing again, this time on a lower setting.

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

Swindle frowns thoughtfully as he watches Astrotrains response, attacking Fleet. With a brief space of time in which to consider his next move, he reluctantly decides to implement an attack he isn't terribly fond of. Quickly he draws his Gyro gun, firing a burst off at Astrotrain.

Swindle strikes Astrotrain with his Gyro Gun. attack.

Astrotrain leaps to the side as the shots from Fleet streak past, but in short order, he's caught by Swindle's gyro gun, put off balance a moemnt later and giving a harsh sounding grunt as he does so, landing with a loud *CLANG* of metal on metal. The curses continue to come out at a pace that would make a sailor blush.

<Editor's Note: At this point, I lost my connection for some reason and wandered off to sleep.>