Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Nov 10, 2008 17:45:55 GMT -5
OOC: Have clearance from admin for radio work. Folks are free to join this thread or not as they like.
The static on the radio has been blocking communications far too long. It's taken Holi most of this time to find somewhere he feels he can safely hunker down and get to work, scurrying around the fighting and looking for cover that would hopefully obscure him from the air, too, because there's no point tackling the radio when he's out in the open and could get blasted before he's even halfway done. If he was quick enough, he might have even avoided being spotted, but only time will tell on that.
But he has his huddle now, tucked into the lee of a wind-worn rock formation a few hundred meters from the crater, and he's ready to go. Hopefully, he won't be needed on the battlefield too very soon, because he isn't sure how long this will take. He doesn't even know which one of the bad guys is responsible for this, but you can bet he'd give them a face-full of laser fire if he could. Just how low can Decepticons – er, or evil Autobots – sink?
He'll just have to get back at them some other time. Now, he braves the static of the airwaves and gets started, opening up the panel on his right forearm and frowning in concentration as he focuses on the radio. First….
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Post by Barricade-3 on Nov 12, 2008 15:24:47 GMT -5
Holi hasn't gone totally unnoticed as he'd scurried for his chosen place of cover. Fortunately for him, though, the attention he's attracted is of the friendly variety. For once.
// Barricade approaching from your 71, Holi. Verify your ident, please, // the allied Saleen transmits on the shortwave allied frequency. No idea if the micro-sized cop will receive the transmission, but there's protocols in place and no reason beyond the communications blackout to not give it a try.
Now, he just has to hope that the nasty little bad-guy version of the pint-sized terror hasn't gotten the bright idea to change his paint just to sucker someone in and hit them unexpectedly.
ooc: posting in with permission, and apologies if I've messed anything up. Just trying to catch up after a very extended absence.
1 - "7": Holi's seven o'clock position, which would be slightly to Holi's left of directly behind him.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Nov 15, 2008 20:25:55 GMT -5
Imagine Holi's surprise when a radio call actually reaches him. He blinks and peers at the display in his forearm. He can't have worked this quickly!
Ah, nope. He can't, not on shortwave. But it really is nice to hear a friendly voice over the airwaves again after so much static and dead air, and this on top of what progress he's made with Emirate Xaaron's frequency. A little tension leaves his frame, enough to stop his windows from buzzing, and he leans back against the rocks.
//Roger, Barricade, sir,// Holi answers, warm but distracted and glancing over his shoulder to double-check the Decepticon's approach. Boy, is it still bizarre to think of Decepticons being good guys. That's the most baffling thing the young captain has seen yet on this planet. Yes, including the skybull. //Holi here.//
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Post by Barricade-3 on Nov 16, 2008 19:41:49 GMT -5
A reply! A reply via the radio! And on the correct frequency!
Barricade is too jazzed up by the battle and the razor-wire edge nerves brought on by the communications jam in the middle of this major SNAFU to betray something as rookie as overt relief - not in front of the kid, anyway - but day-yum, is he relieved! And more than a little weirded out at the thought of being relieved to hear an Autobot over his shortband.
Now, if he can reach Wreckage... // Wreckage, buddy, you copy?! // he transmits on a longer wave, hoping.
Static. A little less, perhaps, than a few minutes ago, but static still, nonetheless. Frag. Well, at least he's able to talk to the kid, and that's a positive sign that whatever it is that Holi is doing, it's having some effect.
"Good to hear that," he rumbles as he slides into position beside Holi, bullying his cocky, devil-may-care buoyancy into something approximating confidence for the smaller mech. "You're working on communications, right? You do what you need to do k- comrade, and I'll make sure no one bugs you. Deal?"
One set of claws whirl away with a slight clatter and shifting of plates, revealing a menacing looking blaster with a deep orange glow building within as he sweeps his gaze over their surroundings.
Wreckage and the Boss and the Doc and the others better be safe. They'd just better.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Nov 19, 2008 19:21:46 GMT -5
It's a good thing Holi knows Barricade is an ally, or that gun might make the Micromaster very nervous. He knows better, though, so he gives the other cop a brisk nod without looking up from his display. If he wasn't so busy doing his job, he might have a moment to worry about looking too rude. But Barricade will understand, right?
"Deal," he murmurs, frowning – not at Barricade, but at the airwaves. He's got some job ahead of him.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Nov 25, 2008 20:12:52 GMT -5
Duskwing is not a happy camper. His wings are a mangled, bent mess; his cockpit is cracked and crazed; there's a smoking hole in his chest just beside it, one knee is fused, and just to add insult to injury, there's two different sets of tread marks scarring his paint, one up his back and one down his front.
He limps toward where the repair depot is supposed to be, though after swinging wide to avoid the sandstorm and the leaping shark, he's just a bit turned around. Duskwing stops and looks around.
"Huh. Dat's the crater over dere, and lookitthat, willya? Circus Prime!" He all but spits the name, "...so Hook and dem must be over dat way." Duskwing turns his head in the other direction, and notices the twisted rock formation.
His expression brightens, and Duskwing half-drags his stiff leg along as he gratefully makes for the cover of the rock formation. He's in lousy shape to be hanging out in plain sight on a battlefield; on Cybertron, he'd be lucky not to have Neutral scavengers already tearing chunks of him off.
Unfortunately, someone else beat him to it.
Duskwing all but steps on Holi and Barricade before it finally registers that there's someone else there; he stops and stares blankly, glitched CPU trying to sort out this anomaly in reality.
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Post by Barricade-3 on Nov 26, 2008 17:19:54 GMT -5
Barricade definitely understands how it is. Perhaps some of the other Autbots that have met this Barricade during the brief tenure of alliance between the forces of good would not recognize the brashly cheerful and somewhat unconventional cop in the serious and quietly intense mechanism that now stands guard over the micromaster communications specialist. Wreckage would. Frenzy, too, although that goes without saying. There is a time to screw around, and then there is a time to be serious and get down to business.
And, perhaps Barricade might be more well known for charging full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes than for this tight-coiled raptor eyeing the battlefield, but, then again, there hasn't been many opportunities for these Autobots to see this Barricade when there are lives directly counting on his actions or lack thereof. He's got no qualms with getting himself hip deep in alligatorcons by charging ahead - just ask Pee-Dee - but Holi needs time and space to concentrate right now, and Barricade is his self-appointed mechguard and the Saleen isn't about to let the kid down, no way, no how.
Hence why he does not leave his post beside Holi when he sees the heavily damaged Duskwing first appear. This could be his Duskwing, or it could be that belligerent moron that Barricade tricked the last time he ran into the slagger, and if he's the latter, there's no telling who else might be around just waiting to take a pot shot at the kid as soon as 'Cade steps away.
// Duskwing, it's Barricade, // he calls urgently over both the allied band and the appropriate Decepticon band-- short-range, since the kid seems to have at least the extreme short area transmissions somewhat clear. He hopes. // Confirm ident immediately, please. Are you approaching my position? // And if the shambling wreck answers, then Barricade will have two bodies to guard.
And if he doesn't answer... Can Barricade really make himself shoot someone who wears the face of one of his own?
Yes.
Too bad that utterly stupid expression isn't much of an identifier, or else Barricade would have his answer already.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Nov 29, 2008 10:00:32 GMT -5
There isn't much radio traffic at the moment for Holi to mind. That unsettles him, but things are hectic; people need to focus on making it through this battle safely first. The radio can wait a minute or five. It gives him a little more time to further clear up and try to secure the two frequencies he's managed to reclaim.
It also gives him a chance to be startled and look up when a Duskwing appears. In that first pump-seizing instant, all Holi sees is the face of the Decepticon who tried tackling him on the roof of Autobase and he even reaches to draw his pistol. Cooler, more experienced heads prevail; this could very well be the good Duskwing. Holi can't really assume either way until the badly injured Seeker either responds or is oblivious to Barricade's prompt.
//Duskwing, sir,// Holi says, adding his own request to the broadband queue, //please verify your position.//
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Nov 30, 2008 18:34:44 GMT -5
"Huh." Duskwing finally says something; he stares at Barricade suspiciously. "Whaddaya doin' back here, Barricade? Get lost again?"
His glance shifts to Holi; shards of rock grate under metallic feet as Duskwing shifts his weight slightly. "You playin' with Circus Prime's pet again? Dunno what the fun is in dat, he ain't got enough energon to be worth rippin' off."
Duskwing stares at Holi a bit more, puzzled and frowning. Something isn't right here--but he's not sure what.
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Post by Barricade-3 on Dec 1, 2008 21:08:34 GMT -5
That... was the wrong answer, Duskwing.
Barricade's Duskwing may be a bit on the dim side - like a burned out diode, really - but the slow-witted Seeker isn't malicious, something which this Duskwing is, as his commentary makes clear. Duskwing just isn't clever enough to think of trying to pass himself off as his Alternate like Barricade has, and, unfortunately for Duskwing, Barricade has neither the time, nor the patience to try that trick again.
Especially when the Decepticon doesn't answer either of their hails. Sad, really, since it probably would work again.
That whirling cannon that's taken the place of one gleaming set of silver claws rises, the orange glow deep in the blaster's throat growing brighter and more malevolent as it stops, fixed upon Duskwing's face. No words, no witty comments, not even an answer for Duskwing's questions.
Just the sudden fiery flare of the blaster discharging, almost point blank.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Dec 3, 2008 18:58:32 GMT -5
Holi's cautiously neutral expression turns to a frown when Duskwing ignores – doesn't hear? – not one, but both radio prompts and instead taunts him and Barricade. He doesn't sound like a very good sort of Duskwing at all. That makes him an enemy Decepticon, and an enemy Decepticon, even injured to the extent he is, still poses a threat. A fairly big threat as far as the young captain is concerned.
There's too much else for Holi to do. He can't waste time on this raging jerk when he has duties to tend and a radio to clear up. He follows Barricade's example and arms himself, pistol dropping into his hand; his aim is instinctual more than much else with his attention divided between his radio display and Duskwing, but his sights square on the Seeker all the same. And after a split-second to make a quick radio announcement – there's only a handful of voices active on the broadband, but they at least might hear him and even one or two others knowing is better than none – he fires.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Dec 3, 2008 22:31:20 GMT -5
While Duskwing isn't sure what's not quite right about little blue Holi, he's very clear on what's wrong with Barricade. He might make the lone light bulb in a downtown parking garage look bright, but even he can figure out that a charged gun swinging towards him is Very Not Good.
"SLAG--"
He throws himself backwards as Barricade's blaster fires; the blast blows the top off one badly crumpled air intake and clips part of the sheet metal origami that used to be a wing.
"Slagslagslag, you dirty rusted-out---" Duskwing flails wildly, trying to regain his balance as his fused leg refuses to shift far enough back.
Then Holi shoots him in the chest.
The shot zaps through the existing hole in his chest armor, coming in at an angle--and hits circuitry that has already been seared and torn by Override's blasts. The Decepticon falls like a puppet whose strings are suddenly cut, origami wings digging into the black sand.
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Post by Barricade-3 on Dec 8, 2008 20:15:46 GMT -5
One disabled Decepticon.
Slag, but it's just plain strange to think that. It's even worse to have done it!
Duskwing has barely settled to the ground in a crumpled heap when Barricade is on him in a massive bound, one knee falling to either shoulder and pinning the scraps of those origami wings under him. That still whirling weapon fixes firmly upon the Seeker's face, and red optics grimly meet still-lit red optics. Duskwing isn't dead. He's not even offline, but he's certainly not struggling to throw Barricade off.
One swift shot would end it all, and they would have one less enemy to worry about. Just a neuro-flash command and that blaster will fire, taking off Duskwing's head and offlining their enemy.
Their enemy. The kid. Slag. He can't murder Duskwing right in front of that fresh-faced, innocent little scrap. He just can't be responsible for that. Let someone else be responsible for shattering the kid's illusions and hardening his innocence to jaded reality; Barricade has enough on his plate in that respect for now, and he's just not going to do it.
"You are slagging lucky that kid is here," he hisses so quietly that even Duskwing might not make out the words.
A flash of orange as the blaster dumps its charge and vanishes in a shifting of parts and pieces. Another flash, this one silver, as sharp claws rip into that place upon the Seeker that Pee-Dee had shown Barricade where the radio should be. Sparks shower down from the handful of componentry now clutched in Barricade's taloned hand, and still those optics remain lit.
"Good job, Holi," he calls back. "Looks like you nailed his primary motor functions."
Look, Holi! You bagged a Decepticon! YAY!
ooc: removal of Duskwing's radio done with permission.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Dec 9, 2008 22:56:10 GMT -5
As Duskwing topples, Holi blinks in a brief moment of confusion. Barricade's shot only swiped across a wing and a shoulder thingy, didn't it?
It's only a second later, as Barricade pounces the enemy, that Holi realises somewhat numbly his own shot struck true. And actually did some respectable damage. If Holi were just a little more professional a soldier, he wouldn't giggle in a heady mix of anxiety, relief, and pride. But he isn't, so he does for a moment before tucking away his pistol and quieting, rubbing the back of his head to mask his wince when he sees Barricade tear out the Seeker's radio.
Eep.
"It… it was a good shot, wasn't it?" he wonders with another sheepish chuckle. "Well… back to work!" And he turns again to his forearm display. Or… not. The radio's clear. Holi's sense of usefulness evaporates as quickly as it filled him and he slumps. "Aw, man…."
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Dec 10, 2008 10:00:16 GMT -5
Twice Duskwing tries to tilt gun arms up to fire into Barricade's mid-section before it registers that something is seriously wrong. Panic flashes across his face as he realizes he can't move. There's an angry Barricade standing on his chest and--
"SLAG YOU! You sludge-drinking, rusted-out, Edsel-style piece junk what oughta be up on blocks in a redneck's front yard, whatinthepit you do dat for?" Duskwing snarls reflexively at the sudden stab.
Why can't he move?
Warning: primary motor control router offline. Diagnosis incomplete. Warning: radio transceiver offline; Diagnosis incomplete. Warning...
There's a very long list of things wrong with Duskwing, but he gets the obvious: his 'nervous system' has been cut off, and he's paralyzed. He now suspects that this may not be the right Barricade...
"Hey! You're not the right 'Cade!" Duskwing exclaims. "And da little guy, he's the one what messed-up my attack run on Long Haul! I thought somethin' was off--Circus Prime's pet is all black, and dis guy's blue!"
So very Not Good. Autobots in Duskwing's universe aren't nice guys who kindly let helpless Decepticons go home to nurse their wounds; they're vicious, desperate resistance fighters who'll rip a helpless 'Con's brain-component out with their bare hands to save the energy of a weapon shot, and dismantle the shell for spare parts.
At least they aren't his fellow Decepticons. They wouldn't bother removing the brain component first.
It's one of Duskwing's quirks that he fears destruction from his own officers far more than he fears Autobots. He scowls ferociously at Barricade.
"Slagger! The micro-bot got a lucky shot 'cause youse guys look like my guys. Fraggin' stupid you can't tell no one apart around here. Frag you and the shuttle you rode in on! Hope your fuel tank fills up with sand and chokes your injectors." A malicious smirk crosses his face. "Hope you get to be that yellow fragger's punching target, and hope dat red guy with the scope gets his giggles off-a you."
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