A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) comes into the Combat Pit 4.

Ranger comes into the Combat Pit 4.

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> comes into the Combat Pit 4.

Ranger runs an optic along the ranks of the entrants in this year's Air Race. He frowns slightly, uncertain of a couple of the competitors. Scrapper is likely to prove little opposition, but he doesn't know how fast that EDC craft or that Decepticon are able to go. Sighing he transforms, readying himself for the race.

Panels shift at such an incredible speed that they seem to blur and....expand? until a large transport rests before you.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) is a little ticked apparently at his position. His vulcan has been capped, apparently to prevent any 'accidents' on the part of the Decepticon.

        The announcers take their seats for the aerial race, looking down across the field of competitors passively. Well, we speak of 'announcers' but it is in truth only a single being, albeit one with two heads. One speaks common english. The other's voice is not translatable even by the Universal Translation system. "Welcome one and all to the annual test of skill, fortitude, and raw talent! The aerial races here on Monacus will begin as soon as our competitors approach the line and the green signal is given!" The right head looks at the left and asks, "Poonda da doonda?" The left looks to the right and nods. "That's right Johnny, 10 laps of absolute mayhem!"

Ranger has connected.

Aaron Maas exits the Combat Pit 4.

From inside the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>, Aaron Maas emerges from the Combat Pit 4.

Aaron Maas climbs into the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> runs an optic along the ranks of the entrants in this year's Air Race. He frowns slightly, uncertain of a couple of the competitors. Scrapper is likely to prove little opposition, but he doesn't know how fast that EDC craft or that Decepticon are able to go. Sighing he transforms, readying himself for the race.

Payloader (Scrapper) is here for the fun of it. Yeah, there'll be all those snooty jets and shuttles, and hah, look at Scrapper! He's a flying payloader! It just adds such a wonderful dash of the surreal. Also, maybe he can crash a few of those speedsters. The damage is all holographic, in the end, so what's the worry?

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) speaks over, "Eh you! Pretty boy Autobot. You'd best leave this race if you know what's good for you." He chuckles to himself, "I'd hate to see one of my 'beloved' planetary neighbors end up in a steaming pile of junk because of an accident after all."

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> 's engines come to life as Aaron taxies to the start line, all the hopes of the EDC are riding with him. He looks around at the assembled contestans and thinks he has a good chance. He brinks the Sky Raider to the line and awaits the launch command.

        The announcers watch as the competitors make their way to the starting position. "Alright gentlemen, ladies, and various transgendered and androgynous species! START YOUR ENGINES!"

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> chuckles to himself at Cinderblock's warning. "Really? And there was me thinking you'd jump at the opportunity to inflict some damage on a 'neighbour' during the truce with no fear of repercussions." Honestly, when you've ended up a steaming pile of junk /intentionally/ then accidentally can be forgiven. As the signal comes, he fires up his engines, which build up from a dull whine to a steady roar.

Payloader (Scrapper) looks like someone just slapped a purple pair of wings to a payloader. That would be because someone did. At a tepid speed of under 60 mph, he drives over to the starting line. He glances at the others speculatively. Where are all the Decepticon jets and spacecraft? His faction can't be represented by just him and Cinderblock! There's something fundamentally wrong about that.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) begins to cycle his turbines, if an engine could have a smoker's cough then these engines do. There's a quiet rumble, and a creaking of gears and equipment as he readies himself for flight.

The lights start from the top. Red. Red. Yellow.....yellow......yellow....GREEN!

The racers speed around the track.... 

Payloader (Scrapper) is left behind in the dust, plodding through the air at 60 mph. He's construction equipment. It's only to be expected. Ranger's the fastest one here, evidently. Hmm. Scrapper's got a piece of Ranger. Perhaps he can use that to his advantage. The Constructicon calls out, "Ranger! I've got that piece of your hull! Bet you're not fast enough to come back and take it from me and still keep the lead!"

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> begins its slow roll to speed and flight as its engines scream to life. Aaron makes sure to keep a safe clearance from the other contestants. The Sky Raider finally comes to speed just in time to bank into the first turn. Aaron is running just astride Cinderblock behind Ranger. Ah that's where that nasty con got to the back as he hears Scrapper jeer at Ranger.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) takes off, slow, but he manages to catch up to the EDC craft. His engines whine for a moment, "Not flying with your own wings, squishie? PAH!" He tries to move and effectively body-slam the other craft. Subtlety? Grace? No. Cinderblock is a semi-truck in the sky, and he's trying to re-enact Maximum Overdrive with the Sky Raider.

Cinderblock tries to ram into EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>, without much success.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> finds himself taking an easy lead in the first lap of the race, noting the information on Cinderblock and the EDC craft to himself for future consideration. His running lights flicker with mild surprise as Scrapper tries to bait him? How interesting. In a cheerful voice he calls out, "No thanks, I've got a replacement already, you're welcome to what you have." Letting the words trail behind in his wake.

The racers speed around the track.... 

        "Aaaaand it looks like CINDERBLOCK tried to come high and put the EDC fighter into the wall and whoops! Didn't quite make it there and Scrapper moves up in the field, Cinderblock falling into last place. AAAAAAnd coming around the back look of the track it's RANGER in the lead, crossing the start/finish line and moving up in the field. Uh oh folks, looks like this lap is going to be pretty freaky! Columns of fire have been activated throughout the track! Watch yourself pilots, this could get a little bit TOASTY!"

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) growls as the Shrike pulls away and he falls back, engines straining. When he notices the fire projectors, he mutters, "Oh screw that..." His vulcan grinds against the restraints until it breaks away and falls off. The thunking noise of live-ammunition being chambered is heard, and he makes sure to blast the fire projectors that he gets close to, but only after those in front of him have had to fight past them.

Payloader (Scrapper) winces as Cinderblock falls behind. Well, there goes the one Decepticon jet in the running. Also, his clever ploy to make Ranger fall back has failed. Turborats. He veers here and there, trying to dodge the columns of flame. He's not terribly maneuverable, so he does get scorched here and there. Luckily, Scrapper's built tough. He also has a pathological fear of fire retardant foam and would rather get crisped than face the white stuff.

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> is heading into the corner to make the turn when the proximity alarm goes off. Aaron looks right just in time to see Cinderblock tring to rub him out. He kickes in the afterburners and does a climb and roll just in time to avoid the block head. This defensive flying has now put him comfortably into second behind Ranger. He flies through the other corner of the figure eight track and notices that he is just shy of the start finish while Ranger has just started lap two.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> grumbles slightly to himself as his systems take in the relative positions of the competitors. Unable to sigh in this form, he reflects on the imbalance over the years, lat Olympics he trailed at the rear of the pack, faced with some healthy competition. This year he's got no real competition. It's odd how things work, sometimes. It's while he's musing on this point that the gouts of flame burst forth from the track below, catching him off-guard. While he twists and turns in his attempts to avoid the flames, this form is neither particularly manouverable nor a small target. Therefore he finds himself biting back on pained cries as a couple of the jets of flame wash over his hull. "That's... new." He grunts, mostly to himself.

The racers speed around the track....     

Cinderblock receives a radio transmission from Fusillade.

Cinderblock transmits a message via radio to Fusillade.

        "Ohhhh it looks like CINDERBLOCK has decided that the flame jets don't need to be active. I think the race officials will have something to say about that one. Cinderblock moves up past Scrapper into third place while Ranger maintains a comfortable lead in first place. What? Oh my. It seems the officials have decided to add something else....new..." At this point, horizontal flame jets join the vertical ones already in place, forming grid-pillars of fire. An audible power-up sound is heard as the judges activate forcefields around the plasma emitters. The grids move in and out, up and down, creating large holes on one side and small on the other, and alternating as they move. This should be interesting.

Cinderblock receives a radio transmission.

Cinderblock transmits a message via radio.

Payloader (Scrapper) is behind as a Decepticon can be. Maybe when Ranger comes zooming by to lap him, Scrapper will try to ram him into those flame jets of doom. As it is, Scrapper has enough trouble just trying to avoid the fires himself. He can see the pattern, but his blistering speed of 60 mph means that even if he times everything exactly right, his still gets a little scorched, just due to his slowness.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) mutters, "Miserable forceshields." Agility isn't Cinderblock's forte. Armor, however, -is-. He attempts to dodge as best he can without losing forward momentum and relies on the fact he's built like an airborne tank to attempt to weather the gouts of flame. "...must...resist...urge...to use...missiles..."Aaron pilots as best he can increasing his speed every chance he gets and trying to keep the flames off the Skt Raider or General Briar will kill him.

Aaron Maas climbs out of the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>.

From inside the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>, Aaron Maas enters the Combat Pit 4.

Aaron Maas comes into the Combat Pit 4.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> regards his surroundings warily, on the lookout for more surprises in this updated, rather more challenging race. He groans audibly as he registers the horizontal jets igniting. Why couldn't they have started with those? He's far wider than he is tall, but these'll still provide a challenge... particularly, he notes, as they're not turning the vertical ones off. Still, unlike his fellow competitors, he's built for a certain amount of heat-resistance due to the need for re-entry, so perhaps that'll balance things out? Unlikely. Mentally gritting teeth he doesn't have, he tries to manouver himself between the flames, permitting a slight decrease in his speed to help him do so, estimating that his lead is sufficient to balance it out.

        "Well it appears the racers have already gone through their trial-by-fire! Ranger is moving around the track at a phenomenal rate, just one position behind the lagging Construction vehicle Scrapper, he could come around at any time! Cinderblock drops another full length behind the accelerating EDC fighter as Lap 3 is officially started by Ranger!" As soon as Ranger crosses the s/f line the flame jets are disengaged. No more fire. Nope, now it's worse. Graviton inverters are raised from the track below and activated. Firing at these will be useless. Each one shifts gravity to the positive or negative, depending on its programming. <Keep in mind this is an atmospheric race, so regular gravity is present> "Lets see how these pilots like being buffeted around in a virtual gravity storm!"

Payloader (Scrapper) finally makes it to lap 2. His lovely lime green paint scheme is looking a rather skuzzy shade of burnt olive and yet he preserves on. Okay, now's the time. He's firmly in last place, and he's no doubt doomed to stay there. So when Ranger no doubt streaks by, Scrapper juts out in front of him, hoping to 'trip' the swift shuttle. Hopefully he can keep enough control of himself while buffeted by this crazy gravity storm to make it worth his while.

You attempt to crash into Ranger, but miss.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) growls as he's buffed around and keeps attempting to maintain flight. "When I..." His engines strain to avoid being trapped between the tidal forces of two projectors, "...finish this race..." He lurches forward and does his best to maintain an even keel, "...I am going to..." He prevents himself from doing a barrel roll, "...violently..." Another harsh buck, as a few metal plates break free from his wings, "...murder...those announcers..." He does his best to muscle through the various forces, trying to keep an even pace through it. Slow, tough and steady might benefit him more then flimsy and speedy.

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> is doing a decent job of avoiding the flames hile keeping the speed up. Aaron checks the scanners and sees he is managing to put a bit of distance between himself and the con that tried to wreck him. The flames die away only to be replaced by some new device that is causing the wind currents to change along the vertical axis. Aaron takes every opportunity to climb higher so that when he gets pushed back down he won't get slammed into the ground.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> sighs with relief as the flame-jets disengage, leaving him with a a scorched and lightly-steaming hull. But what's this new threat that's replacing them? Some sort of gravitational manipulators, he realises as he passes over them. Uh-oh. His frame rocks as conflicting gravity fields wash over him, throwing him from one side of the track to the other, neatly helping him avoid Scrapper's sneaky assault, before he can regain control.

The racers speed around the track.... 

        "While Ranger continues his almost reckless pace around the track, maintaining a healthy lead over the EDC fighter, Scrapper falls behind and is lapped after a failed attempt to block him from passing! Ranger now makes a run on the Decepticon Cinderblock, trying to move up the field and lap him as well!" The gravity enhancers/reducers are shut off as the literal minefield is passed by the final competitor, Scrapper. No new obstacles this round, and thankfully no old ones either. Speed lap!

Cinderblock receives a radio transmission.

Payloader (Scrapper) lets loose a string of curses upon those who discovered the laws of physics and moreso those who decided to apply the laws of physics to tossing him around air sky. Jostled to and fro, he had no hope of 'tripping' Ranger. Mumbling, he settles back into level fight for the speed lap.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) redirects engine power directly to his turbines. His internal warning computer bleats a noisy protest in a stentorian male voice, "Engine power at one hundred thirty percent. Energy usage exceeding optimal limits, suggest ejection of non-vital sy-" The warning computer is blown from the A-10's fusillage and falls towards the ground below, bleating out its warning about why one shouldn't eject his warning computer systems. He does detach the extra ordinance he's been carrying, except for two Air to Ground missiles. The various napalm charges, missiles and such seem to detonate a mere plane length behind the Decepticon bruiser.

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> is finally to get stablized as the air currents have returned to a normal state. Aaron just some quick scans then kicks in the afterburners as there does not seem to be any adverse componet at the moment so he is going to make as much of a push for Ranger as he can.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> breaths, well, not /breaths/ per se, a heavy sigh of relief as the gravity manipulators are deactivated and no new threat emerges to replace them. Looks like a clear run to the finish. Or maybe not, he thinks as he nears Cinderblock. He wouldn't put it past the Decepticon to make an attempt to slow him down here and now. However, it would appear that the Decepticon has other things on his mind, he muses with some amusement as he watches the warning computer tumble down to smash on the track with. Assuming that to be that, he increases his speed again, trying to lap Cinderblock before the race ends.

The racers speed around the track....

        "This just handed down from the judges, due to the...ahem, massive amounts of ordinance dropped on the track the race will be shortened to only /5/ laps, yes folks /5/ laps. Consequently, since the weapons weren't actually fired, they were simply dropped, no action will be taken against Cinderblock for the damage. Jettisoning extra cargo is allowable as long as it doesn't interfere with other racers! As we start lap four Ranger still has a commanding lead, followed by the EDC fighter, Cinderblock, and Scrapper is bringing up the back of the pack! Also, another note just handed down from the judges, there will be no hazards for the remainder of the race. Speed laps, go go go!

Payloader (Scrapper) remains in last place. He expected no less. There's no flames and no crazy gravity storm now, just smooth flying. So he tries to edge forward and give that Shrike a ram. It's just silly human-built trash. Cinderblock, who so thoughtfully always remembers to salute Scrapper, deserves better than third place, and maybe if Scrapper can knock into the Shrike, he can give Cinderblock that chance.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) continues forcing his engines to try to catch up with the faster speed demons, although one of those speed demons is perilously close to his rear end. Flames belch out of his engine turbines. "I should've bought that nitro..." He runs through his various fuel reserves, but has nothing that really burns that way. Time for a little intimidation. His forward vulcan begins to cycle, screaming out its deadly report, although it has yet to fire.

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> pouse on the speed. Afterburners are blazing and engines screaming now that the race legnth has been halved Aaron is determined to stay infront of Cinderblock and maybe close slightly on Ranger as second would be great for the EDC.

Aaron Maas climbs out of the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>.

From inside the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>, Aaron Maas enters the Combat Pit 4.

Aaron Maas comes into the Combat Pit 4.

Cinderblock transmits a message via radio to Aaron Maas.

Aaron Maas receives a radio transmission from Cinderblock.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> hadn't realised that the race was originally intended to last for /longer/ than five laps, that'ss teach him to be inattentive. Still, he's got fuel enough to spare, and he's in fairly good condition, so he certainly won't suffer from cutting the race /shorter./ Very well, without any further obstacles, he just continues to cruise.

The racers speed around the track....

        "Ranger is alllllmost to the start/finish line to complete this stellar race! the EDC craft piloted by Aaron Mass remains in second place, coming around to lap Scrapper and move a single length in front of him. Cinderblock remains in third place, only 4 lengths behind the EDC fighter and Scrapper remains a full lap down in 4th place. Still folks, I hafta admit, i've never seen a Construction vehicle fly in such an.....elegant manner."

Payloader (Scrapper) is probably the only Constructicon vehicle that the annoucner has seen fly. Last he checked, he's the only one with a big purple levitation wing. Anyway, Scrapper was just thinking about ramming the Shrike back there, honest! He's actually going to try it now, because he is a wild and crazy flying payloader, and he doesn't have anything better to do in this raid. Scrapper climbs up in the air, trying to gain a little altitude, and then dives at the Shrike, shovel out-spread for a good, hard, smack.

crash shrike

You attempt to crash into EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>, but miss.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) notices as Ranger comes up near him. He growls and as much as he wants to body check the smug bastard, he's dedicating himself to just keeping up his rate of speed. That vulcan keeps cycling, a high pitched banshee like wail permeating the cacophony of Cinder's wheezing systems. A few pieces, which one hopes aren't important, break loose from his fusillage, and in one case from one of the engine assemblies itself, filling the air behind him with a scree of debris for a few moments.

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> is now closing in on Scrapper and the final lap. He looks to takje a wide berth as these cons have been trying to wreck him all race. Aaron sees Scrapper comming and baits him into thinking he flying staight and then he pulls a 'Top Gun' manuver as he slams on the air brake and dives to hte left as Scrapper goes careaning by. Once clear of the the flying Construction he slams the afterburners back on and heads in to the first turn for the final time.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> just continues to tear up the track, concentrating on nothing more than getting to the finish line one last time. Smug or not, he's quite disappointed that the race has gone so easily. He passes the time by watching small pieces of Cinderblock's fuselage detach themselves from their owner, doubtless against his wishes.

Aaron Maas climbs out of the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>.

From inside the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>, Aaron Maas enters the Combat Pit 4.

Aaron Maas comes into the Combat Pit 4.

The racers speed around the track.... 

        "Annnnnnd RANGER crosses the finish line in first place. Aaron Mass remains in second followed by Cinderblock a mere 4 lengths behind and Scrapper still in the basement. Can the Decepticon Cinderblock overtake the EDC fighter in the last quarter lap? Or will Aaron hang on for the silver medal?!

The racers speed around the track....     

Aaron Maas climbs out of the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>.

From inside the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>, Aaron Maas enters the Combat Pit 4.

Aaron Maas comes into the Combat Pit 4.

Aaron Maas exits the Combat Pit 4.

From inside the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>, Aaron Maas emerges from the Combat Pit 4.

Aaron Maas climbs into the EDC Shrike <Sky Raider>.

        "Aannnnnnnd in second place is Aaron Mass in the EDC fighter, followed shortly by Cinderblock of the Decepticon Empire and Scrapper! There you have it folks, your winners' field in the Aerial Racing Cup this year, Ranger takes the gold, Aaron Mass brings home the silver for the humans and Cinderblock brings home a bronze for the Decepticon Empire!"

<O-Decepticon> Old Man Cinderblock says, "Shameful Bronze"

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) cuts his engines, doing his best to put a kibosh on his reckless forward momentum.

EDC Shrike <Sky Raider> keeps the afterburners on despite the warning from the computers. Aaron looks at the readouts he can make it to the end of the race and he is determined to finish second and bring home the silver for the EDC. He crosses the finish line and lest out a whoop. He lands the sky raider and hops out. He head over to the landing area to congratulate Ranger on a good race, and the cons too if they will allow it.

Payloader (Scrapper) does an aerial shrug and continues to plod around the course just for the sake of it, He didn't expect to win. He's disappointed that Cinderblock didn't place higher, but Scrapper tried to crash those silly opposing fliers. It's not his fault that he's not the most nimble thing in the air... well, from a certain perspective, it is. He's an engineer after all. He could theoretically design himself to be faster.

Autobot Shuttle <Ranger> executes a quick barrel-roll in celebration as he screams across the finish line in first place, not that there was much doubt. He slows, his engines not even taxed to their limits , far from it, as his full speed would cause considerable damage to the area, and people, surrounding the track. Not to mention /himself/ if he tried to turn. Stopping, he transforms with a loud sigh which follows him down from his large to his surprisingly-smaller form. He nods to the Human, offering his own congratualtions, before wandering out of the track, reflecting on the race. In his head dance images, memories of past races and racers; Jetfire, Cyclonus, Scourge, Airwolf, even Divebomb.

Panels shift at such an incredible speed that they seem to blur and....contract? until the Autobot Ranger stands before you

Transmission from Cinderblock: Sir, do you want to bitch about the lack of Alpha participation or should I?

Cinderblock transmits a message via radio.

Ranger exits the Combat Pit 4.

You transmit a message to Cinderblock: Feel free. It's your turf. I'd sooner have the right to complain about the lack of MSE participation and honestly... I don't think Fulcrum would have helped much. He's a good mech, but not all that fast. You know.

Cinderblock receives a radio transmission.

Transmission from Cinderblock: Roger, Sir.

Cinderblock transmits a message via radio.

A-10 Thunderbolt (Cinderblock) exits the Combat Pit 4.

Aaron Maas exits the Combat Pit 4.