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Post by Starfighter on May 25, 2007 13:38:09 GMT -5
Starfighter made another hard, hacking cough and dug his fingers into his wrist in an attempt to halt his spasms before they started. He brushed at his air intakes as if attempting to rid them of excess dust, but his act was hardly convincing.
Every sentient creature has, at some point, pondered its own mortality. But there was something dreadfully horrific about knowing the date of your own death, and knowing that there was nothing you could do about save quit your job, defect from the army, and run as far away as you could without being brought back and shot for treason. Even if he made it out of this place alive and found a way back to Cybertron, he had only a few years left to live.
If Shockwave died in that twisted future, it meant his own life was forfeit as well.
The tetrajet practically flung himself at the other side of the tank, shooting and scraping at it the way Skystrike was with no regard to what exactly he was pulling out. If he focused his energy on actions instead of thoughts, he might be able to work off some of his excess energy and get himself back to normal before anyone noticed.
But his hands shook as they tore at the armor and he avoided Skystrike's optics.
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Fleetwind
Major
The Chancellor, His Eminent Grandeur, Marquis Fleetwind. The Insurgent Subduer of A Non-Threatening Cute Little Furry Kitten
Twined Elf
Posts: 730
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Post by Fleetwind on May 25, 2007 13:56:51 GMT -5
Skystrike: //If you come across a black metal road, follow it. You’ll either come across a gap in the road first, or you’ll see what is apparently a service station. The service station is our temporary camp.//
Demolishor: //You Autobots are even dumber than I thought if you think I'll believe that. Of course I'm a Decepticon, why else would I be using the Decepticon frequency? Now show yourselves and tell me what you did with the other Decepticons!//
Dead End: // Brawl, is that you? //
Skystrike: //Going by that line of logic, I’d be Decepticon too seeing as I’m using the slagging Decepticon frequency. And we’d love to show ourselves if we knew where you are. Which, we don’t. And we are the other Decepticons.//
Fleetwind chose not to respond to Demolishor's rather bizarre comments. He quickly decided that any attempt at reasonable explanation to someone who would use logic like that would be wasted effort. And besides, Skystrike's already proven herself willing to engage in a battle of wits with the unarmed mech; hopefully she could handle it without back-up.
Instead, he observed, //Skystrike, Fleetwind. I've passed over a number of metal roads, but I'll keep those landmarks in mind.// By this point, the tetrajet was no doubt nearing the outer edges of Dead End's range, likely just in time for him to register.
A moment later, Fleetwind spoke again. This time, his voice had a slightly tenser tone than had been heard previously. //Skystrike, Fleetwind. An unidentified craft just came into view ahead, flying sky-wards. From this distance, I can't make out any details beyond that. It seems to be between me and your signal source... is that one of you guys?//
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Post by Demolishor on May 25, 2007 14:10:01 GMT -5
//Going by that line of logic, I’d be Decepticon too seeing as I’m using the slagging Decepticon frequency. And we’d love to show ourselves if we knew where you are. Which, we don’t. And we are the other Decepticons.//
Demolishor growled. //You probably got it off Starscream, same way as you got the codes to get around our warp shield and whatever else about us he ratted out to you. And I'm noticing you haven't told me where you are yet.//
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on May 25, 2007 15:50:44 GMT -5
Dead End was up top, and did not note Starfighter's distress. Demolishor's stunning lack of logic more and more convinced Dead End that he must be some analogue of Brawl... although, Dead End conceded to himself, certain of the Predacons fell in that range of belligerence and utter stupidity.
//You probably got it off Starscream, same way as you got the codes to get around our warp shield and whatever else about us he ratted out to you. And I'm noticing you haven't told me where you are yet.//
// Brawl, er, Demolishor, do stop babbling. I know Onslaught or Megatron isn't here to do your thinking for you, and it hurts to do it on your own, so just stop. You're either to the east or west of us, and if you'd give us a clue as to what kind of place you are in, one of us might be able to guide you in. //
Of more immediate concern was that his radar sweep picked up two, count them, TWO aerial targets where he expected one. One was to the far north-northwest, over the hilly terrain across the north, moving rapidly south. That was probably Fleetwind, judging from his commentary about the hills beneath him.
The other moved at jet speeds and had emerged from the ground clutter very near where Dead End and Hook had awakened on this planet. It also wasn't quite the right direction to be Brawl--Demolishor. This suggested several possibilities, most of them not good. Dead End kept his radar running, engaged his forcefields, and deployed his concussion cannon... just in case. One of these days, a random stranger appearing on the planet was going to turn out other than friendly.
// Attention, Decepticons! I have an unknown aerial target bearing 230 magnetic, moving at jet velocities. Those of you already present, I am providing live tactical feed on your secure combat channels. // (Which he promptly does so everyone can see his nice radar picture)
Private to Hook: //Hook, rules of engagement, if any? Otherwise I shall assume standard Stunticon engagement orders.//
Private to Skystrike: //I am assuming standard Stunticon rules of engagement unless Hook orders otherwise. Autobots attacked on sight, neutral aliens at our discretion, and other Decepticons only if they attack first. Since I'm running my radar in 'loud and proud' mode, I might as well contact this stranger, as he would have to be blind not to know I'm here. //
//Skystrike, Fleetwind. An unidentified craft just came into view ahead, flying sky-wards. From this distance, I can't make out any details beyond that. It seems to be between me and your signal source... is that one of you guys?//
// That would be a 'no', Fleetwind. You've spotted my 'unidentified'. //
On the Decepticon frequency: // Unknown aerial vehicle, please identify yourself so that I don't have to waste the energy to shoot you down and kill you. Of course, if you're not listening on the Decepticon frequency and don't hear this warning, you're probably someone I want to kill anyway. // Dead End's voice sounds of dry amusement.
OOC: Dead End figured out Demolishor's general line of direction by noting which direction the strength of his radio signal was best. Unfortunately, that only gets the axis, not the bearing.
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on May 25, 2007 16:43:14 GMT -5
The gray F-15 had only barely begun to assimilate data about his area when his radio crackled to life. Well if there are other Decepticons still in radio range, this must surely be earth.
Though they seem to be sorely confused and lack organization. Another thing Starscream plans to change when he takes charge...
Some of the voices he recognized even though some of them he hasn't heard in a while.. The one that is completely foreign to him is the one that is accusing him of treachery! Not only that, but treachery.. to the Autobots? Starscream turned his radio on, blustering.
//You there! Give me your name and rank! I'll have your energon pump for daring to insinuate I would sell out to the Autobots!//
The other voice that called out to him was a Stunticon. What was his name...
//Do so much as aim your gun, Stunticon, and I'll see that your bonnet is used as a gladiator's shield. Now SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON.//
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Post by Hook on May 26, 2007 10:53:46 GMT -5
Dead End: ////Hook, rules of engagement, if any? Otherwise I shall assume standard Stunticon engagement orders.//
Standard defragmentation protocols only alerted the person in defragmentation of private comm-calls or alarm calls over the public frequencies. Hook's protocols were also modified to include direct address over a few specific group frequences - the one used by the Constructicons and the Crystal City frequency.
Needless to say, Dead End's call roused the Constructicon from his rest. Barely a sixth of a way through a full defragmentation cycle, too.
There was obviously some sort of context to Dead End's call that he was supposed to understand. Now, either he could risk giving an inane order based off a lack of information, or he could go back over his comm-log and figure out what was going on.
He seriously considered just telling Dead End to shoot to kill, but his pride intervened. It would look very stupid if he told Dead End to shoot Scrapper, wouldn't it? So the Constructicon pulled up the logs to skim, and at about that time, Starscream self-identified himself.
Hook's optics snapped on. Starscream. Here. Starscream.
Starscream would take over. Take the mechs Hook had gathered together to fuel and guide, and the Seeker would drive them into the ground.
This was intolerable.
However, so would letting Starscream undermine his authority by forcing the jet to be his second-in-command. For one thing, he did not suspect the other Decepticons would support him in suppressing the Seeker.
Private to Dead End: //I don't suppose you would shoot to kill even though he is technically on our side?//
Reluctantly, Hook began squirm out of the garage.
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Post by Skystrike/Skylar Stringers on May 26, 2007 22:26:03 GMT -5
Skystrike’s optics brightened at the sudden ruckus from behind her and turned, looking around to see Starfighter tearing into the xeno tank. She stared at him for a moment, completely taken aback by the sudden change in behavior before shaking out of it.
“Whoa, whoa! Hey, calm down! We need that thing!” The blue jet shouted before quickly bounding over to stop the other Decepticon from completely wrecking the tank. “What’s wrong with you?” she snapped, only realizing Starfighter was trembling only when she attempted to pull the pale jet back and away from the drone. Something was definitely very, very wrong.
//Skystrike, Fleetwind. I've passed over a number of metal roads, but I'll keep those landmarks in mind.//
Skystrike blinked distractedly, grunting affirmative in response over the link.
//Skystrike, Fleetwind. An unidentified craft just came into view ahead, flying sky-wards. From this distance, I can't make out any details beyond that. It seems to be between me and your signal source... is that one of you guys?//
//Unidentified—aircraft. Me and Starfighter are in the ravine so no it’s not us and we’re the only two— here.// The blue jet sounded a bit distracted over the intercom.
//You probably got it off Starscream, same way as you got the codes to get around our warp shield and whatever else about us he ratted out to you. And I'm noticing you haven't told me where you are yet.//
//We’re in a hole in the road— there is no Starscream here!// The next few seconds went by in a rush, and she didn’t really pay attention to the conversations, only grunting in whenever her named was mentioned. At least, not until a high pitched screech of a voice rang out in her head.
//Now SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON.//
OW. Glitch!
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Post by Starfighter on May 26, 2007 22:54:30 GMT -5
"Nuh..." Starfighter stumbled back, his shaking starting to get a bit worse as she grabbed him. "Nothing's wr-wr-ong. Just some dust in-in my intakes."
Not good, not now of all times when Air Commander Starscream was coming and some strange person was yelling at them over the comm and everything around them was going haywire. Not when he might actually be needed to fight and when every drop of fuel and part was a needed resource. He pulled away from her and wavered back over to the tank, forcing his hands to stay still enough to manage some modicum of delicacy.
"Hap-hap-"
He made another hacking noise, louder this time. "Happens all the time," Starfighter finished quickly. He kept removing what parts he could from the tank, leaning on it for support in what he hoped was a subtle fashion. It felt as if someone had triggered a small bomb inside his chest and he hoped nothing got too severely damaged this time.
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Fleetwind
Major
The Chancellor, His Eminent Grandeur, Marquis Fleetwind. The Insurgent Subduer of A Non-Threatening Cute Little Furry Kitten
Twined Elf
Posts: 730
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Post by Fleetwind on May 26, 2007 23:12:48 GMT -5
Fleetwind continued to close on the group, and thus, on Starscream. He was still a fair distance away, but Starscream was certainly in his view now, and odds were, he was coming into Starscream's view.
The pastel Seeker began to search the ground for the road Skystrike mentioned, but he was still over the foothills, not yet to the plains proper. Most of his attention, however, was on the Seeker up ahead, and he kept alert in case the other decided to prove his aerial superiority or make an example or whatnot. He had spent his entire existence avoiding the notice of higher-ups... now he was approaching one of the highest, and while this was still an improvement over Unicron, or Omega Supreme, even, he was no longer entirely at ease.
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on May 26, 2007 23:39:25 GMT -5
Private to Dead End: //I don't suppose you would shoot to kill even though he is technically on our side?//
Private to Hook: // That would be inadvisable. He is already aware of my presence and that I have him on radar--an ambush would be unlikely to succeed. In any case, I don't see the necessity. I'm not even sure if this is the pre- or post-2005 Starscream--both of them were rather imperious, but after 2005, he became less irritating, as long as one wasn't the target of his obsession. // After a fair amount of radio chit-chat that began with // Decepticons, we have an audio identification of the previously unknown aircraft, // Dead End says rather drily. // Do hold your fire; it seems to be Air Commander Starscream. // and concluded with Starscream's request for a role-call and report, Dead End determined that, unfortunately, this was pre-2005 Starscream. Pity. The dead one was much easier to get along with, as long as you weren't Galvatron, and didn't stand in the line of fire between him and Galvatron. "Skystrike, Starfighter, how are things progressing down there? Did the tank's power source discharge and electrocute you all or are you still alive and have cargo for me?" Dead End strongly suspected they were alive, since he'd been hearing plenty of odd noises down below. Dead mechs other than Starscream tended to be very quiet. "And does anyone know who the Brawl-clone is ranting so entertainingly on our main channel?"
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on May 27, 2007 16:10:06 GMT -5
After issuing some orders over broadband, It wasn't not long before Starscream encountered the pastel yellow Cybertronian jet visually. The vain superficial prick that he is, he immediately decided that there's something wrong with this one since he was given such a poor colour choice. "Fleetwind, eh?" He yelled to his seekerkind. "Alright, tell me what you know." Starscream transformed and remained hovering in the air. He powered up his weapons and cast his optics to the ground. He wasn't going to assume that ONLY Decepticons found themselves here.
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Post by Hook on May 27, 2007 16:19:56 GMT -5
Hook crawled out of the garage and took a quick count of the energon cubes created while he slept. Four, and since the energon cube maker wasn't creating any more of them, the vehicle had likely run dry.
He disconnected it and opened up another vehicle. Two more cubes for the extra mechs incoming, then he would disassemble the device and put it away.
And then he would start tearing up this station looking for parts that could be used to duplicate a standard energon cube-maker.
If Starscream had the barest intelligence, he would try to control the energon supply. Well, that was what Hook would do if he were Starscream. The jet, he noted, did not always think in terms of supply and demand, and how much control one could exert simply by being the one who controlled that.
Of course, Starscream was often a blithering moron.
Hook listened for the sound of jet engines as he waited for the two extra cubes to fill, his fingers twitching.
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Post by Skystrike/Skylar Stringers on May 27, 2007 23:57:12 GMT -5
"Nuh... Nothing's wr-wr-ong. Just some dust in-in my intakes."
“Like the pit it is,” Skystrike growled exasperatedly. She’d had dust in her intakes before. She’d seen people who’d had dust in their intakes before. This was something far more serious than dust.
"Hap-hap-happens all the time."
The berkut glowered at Starfighter as he went back to pulling pieces from the tank before letting exhaust heat hiss out of her head vents in frustration. Shutting off her optics briefly, she let the sudden urge to strangle the other flier fade away before turning back and glaring at the paler seeker’s back.
“Go sit down.” She grumbled in irritation, setting one dark and heavy hand on his left wing, digging her fingers in threateningly. That usually got their attentions well enough. And it was best to be direct at the moment too, seeing as Starfighter didn’t exactly appear to be in a very sane state of mind. People who weren’t in a very sane state of mind tended to make big mistakes and that was the last thing anyone needed right now.
"Skystrike, Starfighter, how are things progressing down there? Did the tank's power source discharge and electrocute you all or are you still alive and have cargo for me?"
//No, no and yes, respectively,// Skystrike answered flatly, not quite n the mood to yell up the ravine. //There’s something wrong with Starfighter, I’m not sure what, but I just told him to sit out. I’ll bring the cargo up by myself until he recovers.// She cast the other seeker a look.
"And does anyone know who the Brawl-clone is ranting so entertainingly on our main channel?"
//I have no idea.// The blue jet rumbled, picking up pieces of the tank she’d cut out earlier and few of Starfighter’s pieces as well. She then leapt back up to the road with a burst of energy to her antigravs.
“Might be his imaginary friend.” She added with a bemused snort as she landed, the sound of her feet on metal ringing out across the dark road. She ignored the radio chat now, not in the mood to listen to the strange, faceless and annoying voices yell and bicker at each other.
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Post by Starfighter on May 28, 2007 0:19:10 GMT -5
"No, really. Just dust."
Starfighter reluctantly fell back into a sitting position, shutting off his optics and trying to regulate the flow of air through his air intakes. Perhaps there might be an opportunity later to think up excuses or find something to trade in return for Skystrike's secrecy. Something.
But he'd do all this thinking after he stops doing an impression of a leaf in a strong breeze. The flare seemed to be mostly over now, and the feeling of metal melting within his chest was beginning to subside. On the shinier side of things, at least there'd only been one witness.
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Fleetwind
Major
The Chancellor, His Eminent Grandeur, Marquis Fleetwind. The Insurgent Subduer of A Non-Threatening Cute Little Furry Kitten
Twined Elf
Posts: 730
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Post by Fleetwind on May 28, 2007 1:09:46 GMT -5
After being ordered to on Decepticon broadband frequency to share what he knows*, Fleetwind transmitted the maps of the area he had flown over on a private frequency to Starscream and Hook.** Then he drew within range of Starscream himself. Seeing that Starscream has transformed, Fleetwind did so himself, so as to make conversing with the other easier. Also like Starscream, he kept an optic on the ground beneath him. Unlike Starscream, he didn't suspect that non-Decepticons were brought here: he knew it. "Yes, sir, Fleetwind," the pastel Seeker confirmed, his soft and almost soothing voice serving as contrast to Starscream's rough, high-pitched tones. "And I'm afraid I don't know much about the current situation. Dead End's explanation to you, particularly concerning the temporal anomalies, was more than I knew. It may not just be a matter of things out of time, however." He gestured vaguely to the general direction the transmissions seemed to be coming from. "These two who don't recognize you, and who seem to have highly inconsistent ideas about Megatron… well, when it was just one, it could have been shrugged off as a fluke, a single madmech, perhaps, but with two it's become a pattern and probably needs to be considered." The pastel Seeker shrugged, unable to offer more on that subject. "If you missed it," and indeed, if Starscream had been on the channel earlier, he probably would have said something, "there is at least one known Autobot to have been transported to this planet as well: Omega Supreme. When I awoke at this planet's magnetic north, he was there. I'm lucky to have escaped." Fleetwind considered what he had heard about the Air Commander, Starscream, and recalled, in particular, his legendary ego. He decided that his best course of action, for the moment, would be to play to that, at least until the exhausted Seeker could get to the ground and refuel. He bowed his head forward so deeply that even his chest followed, and he spread his hands, palms up and towards Starscream in a position of faint but detectable subservience. "Since my encounter with Omega Supreme, I have flown a considerable distance over the area detailed in my transmission. Further, even though it is dark, we make a more obvious target here than we would on the ground. Sir, I beg permission to land before my fuel reserves are spent, else I may soon crash." * See Replies #9 and #13 of the Decepticon Broadband thread, true believers!** Fleetwind's flown very far in his trek from the icy north! While there's a whole lot of unimportant in the maps he transmits to Starscream and Hook, items of note are as follows: the station and vehicle-filled hanger Fleetwind discovered in an ice crack at the far north (directions here were somewhat fuzzy, however, due to interference from the magnetic forces with the Seeker's readings). Fields of ice. A good deal of ocean. Several small islands, at least two of which appeared, from Fleetwind's height, to sport good sized cities. A mountainous coastline, including a significant fjord containing another city. Portions of the mountain range itself, including a small town and what looked, from Fleetwind's height, to be a processing station of some sort. A number of roads that ran beneath him, connecting the processing station and the city with other areas outside of his field of view. The area where the mountains fade into the foothills.
Fleetwind was not yet over the points recorded so far by the other Decepticons when he made the transmission, but it was fairly easy enough to figure out which road eventually became the one Hook, Dead End, and Skystrike had been following.
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