Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Jun 28, 2007 15:38:03 GMT -5
Dead End transforms back into robot mode, his wheels separating from his chassis to become arms and legs while his hood folds back to reveal his face. Then he hauls himself out of the three feet of swamp water and muck and Demolishor he'd landed in.
"Sorry about that," he tells Demolishor. "Traction around here is either too much or too little. Good shot, Demolishor."
The dark red Stunticon wades over to the mired mining worm, looking it over carefully.
"It appears deactivated. Stripping it now will take time and our carrying capacity is limited--I'm marking this on my charts for future retrieval. Let's see if our glorious leaders concur," he says. "Oh, wait-- that's interesting..."
Dead End lifts himself up to the dorsal side of the worm and settles on its back, looking closely at something--an access hatch. "This looks vaguely familiar. HOOK! DO YOU HAVE RECHARGE CABLES OR THAT ENERGON MAKER HANDY?"
// Oh, and I dropped my trailer a bit back from your original position when Demolishor showed up, // he adds on Hook's personal frequency.
About that time, Starscream drops in for a landing. Dead End turns to face him and says, "Glorious leader, we have one non-functioning robotic mining device here. We expended a fair amount of energy neutralizing it--credit goes to Hook for the plan and Demolishor for the precise missile shot, Cannonball for the motivational assist, and myself as bait--so I request permission to tap the mining worm's power plant or battery for power to replenish our stores. I recommend that we mark this device for later salvage, as our transport capacity is nearly filled and we would be seriously delayed for a proper salvage job."
"Oh, and no casualties other than purely cosmetic ones," he adds.
// One more thing--Skystrike, Starfighter, do either you have a memory image of the markings on the access panel above the tank's main battery? I think I may have found another such access panel here. Starfighter, you did record the tank's exterior before it was dismantled, did you not? //
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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 Jun 28, 2007 16:32:23 GMT -5
Fleetwind arrived shortly after Starscream. He transformed while still a good height above the swamp, so as to navigate the branches more easily. Even then, he did not touch down. Instead, he hovered in robot mode a bit above everyone else and studied the two strange robots warily, prepared to dart - either into battle or away from it - should things go sour once more.
The one with the missiles... based on what he heard over the radio, that must be Demolishor. So that meant that... that... what was he, anyway? The pale yellow Seeker could make neither heads nor tails of what Sky-Byte was supposed to transform into.
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Post by Hook on Jun 28, 2007 20:49:43 GMT -5
[to Dead End]: //Refrain from shouting like a hooligan. You have a radio.// Were Hook truly in a bad mood, he would have thrown 'vulgar' in there, too. But that's an insult that he rarely used, since Bonecrusher + Long Haul + vulgarity = OT3.
Grudgingly, he added, //Your tactical judgement is not particularly flawed.// If it was, Hook would have lost most of his supplies.
"You most certainly will not strip it down for parts," Hook informed the other Decepticons. "Mark it on the map for later retrieval. I, at least, have a use for a mining robot."
It's not like ore will just pull itself from the ground.
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Post by Demolishor on Jun 28, 2007 21:15:30 GMT -5
Demolishor spit something vaguely organic onto the ground and pulled a few leaves from his shoulders. "You weren't too shabby yourself. Ptew!" And whatever came out of his mouth that time slithered away into the mud and vanished. Demolishor decided not to ask questions.
The tank's larger optic refocused itself for long-distance scanning and he looked upwards. Red and white, jet mode, no one shooting at it yet...yep, had to be Starscream.
He took a step forward and nodded his greetings, not quite bowing but not being rude either. "I"m Demolishor. The guy with the teeth is Sky-byte. Um..." Politics are confusing. "I'm guessing we're on the same side now, because of being Decepticons. So, uh..."
What would Megatron say here? Megatron would say something cool with big words. "I'd like to propose a ceasefire and an alliance until we figure out what's going on. Us and your guys."
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Sky-byte
Minor
Worst Luck Ever
Posts: 334
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Post by Sky-byte on Jun 28, 2007 22:56:47 GMT -5
Sky-byte swears he wasn't cowering during the whole ordeal. Swears it.
But, give a shark a break. After experiencing the oh-so-traumatizing disappearance of a comerade, then nearly breaking into an outnumbered fight, then being attacked by a large toothy thing...one can be just a little apprehensive. He did fire some shots though (that missed).
Now with the arrival of the jets, Sky-byte finds himself grudgingly admiring the new arrivals. There has never been any decent fliers within the Predacon forces, with exception of Megatron of course. His world's Decepticons didn't count...how well can a spaceship and helicopter fly in combat?
Then there's the whole deal with Demolisher. Propose a ceasefire? Alliance? It's more like let's just surrender now before they blow us to bits. Perhaps later Sky-byte will try to turn thinks more into his favor, but for now, he'll just play dumb and submissive.
"Oh great Starscream, the presence of you and your armada just brings me onto the verge of wordlessness."
Yeah he's a complete brown-noser. Complete with tacky sweeping bow.
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Cannonball
Minor
Me, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest.
Posts: 470
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Post by Cannonball on Jun 29, 2007 1:44:39 GMT -5
Cannonball cocked an optic-ridge at the newcomers. As his attack earlier had been called off by the worm, and since the head flybot wasn't attacking him at the moment, Cannonball decided it'd be best to stand down...
For now.
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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 Jun 29, 2007 3:38:05 GMT -5
Hmm. Not only was Demolishor starting to learn to fall into line, not only did he apparently carry some significant firepower, but he was able to follow instructions. These are all points that did well to redeem this strange new Decepticon. He offered a smirk as Sky-Byte barely fell short of licking his boots, however. Apparently Demolishor's 'guys' were more eager to serve for him than he would have liked. "I'm glad you could come around.." Starscream said with a confidant tone to his voice and smirk on his face.
Now Sky-Byte might've been a groveling little turbo-toad, but Starscream loved attention of that vein. At least until it would get annoying.
"If you have assisted my troops in the deactivation, then you deserve a full share in the energon." Starscream retrieved the recharge cables he used previously from his storage compartment. These are the nipple-clamp-like cables from 'Starscream's Brigade', used to recharge immediately from a power source. He had two pairs, which he handed to Dead End. He turned to Fleetwind. "Fleetwind, give yours to Dead End."
"Now. Hook!" Starscream said as he extended his right arm in the Constructicon's direction in means of a friendly gesture. "I wish to commend you on a job well done here. We have matters to discuss." With his left arm, he gestured to an area where none of the other Decepticons were, hoping to guide him away. "Privately."
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Post by Starfighter on Jun 29, 2007 7:43:10 GMT -5
Starfighter landed near Dead End, his arms still curled around his precious datapad. He remained quiet until Starscream was finished, then came forward again.
"Right here, Dead End, sir." He turned over the datapad and held it out, displaying images of the tank from several angles, along with similar pictures of the downed and charred dirigibles and their sharp pointy teeth. He hadn't wanted to risk photographical excursions while they were shooting at him. "And some audio recordings of whatever noise it was making, in case it's some kind of communication.
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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 Jun 29, 2007 16:40:49 GMT -5
"Hmm..." Dead End studies Starfighter's images. "The battery compartment was under this one, then?" He looks downward, tapping an access hatch on the back of the worm with identical markings. "Care to make a bet whether there's a battery under here?"
[to Hook] // I should hope so. Someone in the Stunticons needs to have some. //
"Fleetwind?" The dark red Stunticon raises his voice enough to carry. "Your cables?" He holds a hand out towards the pastel Seeker.
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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 Jun 29, 2007 17:05:30 GMT -5
Fleetwind removed the cables he had in subspace as he flew down towards Dead End. Still, he did not actually land in the swamp. It wasn't vanity that prevented this, however, so much as aerodynamics. It's in a flier's best interests to keep themselves clean, and Fleetwind wasn't entirely certain he didn't still have bird-bits on him from before, anyway.
"Here you go, sir," the pale Seeker answered, handing Dead End the cables. Once he had passed them on, however, he then "skated" over the air to the walkway in order to finally touch down.
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Post by Demolishor on Jun 30, 2007 15:22:36 GMT -5
"Uh, right. Yeah." Demolishor felt a little let down. That's it, he was just accepted without ceremony? Made a mech feel unloved, it did. This Starscream seemed to think he was just another grunt.
...which, considering that a short while ago he'd been considered little more than an annoyance to be scavenged for spare parts, was probably a good thing. Demolishor wandered over to curiously peer over Dead End's shoulder, not sure how they'd get much energon out of this thing. It didn't look like an energon miner, and there weren't any clear sensors on it or protective coverings for the sensitive circuitry.
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Sky-byte
Minor
Worst Luck Ever
Posts: 334
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Post by Sky-byte on Jun 30, 2007 19:47:49 GMT -5
Sky-byte may excel at the role of 'groveling toad', but that role is only played permanently for Megatron. Inwardly, he resists the urge to do something completely childish and utterly human (such as blowing a raspberry) when Starscream turns his attention elsewhere.
One lone Predacon, stuck with a very large group of Decepticons! Oh the terrors. But this really isn't the time to be waxing dramatic. Now is the time to watch and learn the habits of these strange Decepticons. Perhaps if he can find some way to take advantage of this rather powerful group.
His plotting is interrupted as recharge is brought into the foreground. Sky-byte watches with mute but expressive confusion as the strange cables are brought forth. This is how they recharge? How drole. But really, Sky-byte shouldn't be talking. For all he knows, the Predacon way of regaining energy could be just as hilarious.
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Cannonball
Minor
Me, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest.
Posts: 470
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Post by Cannonball on Jul 1, 2007 0:34:59 GMT -5
Cannonball waits his turn for the cables, and once he would get them, he proceeds to attach them to points inside the middle section of his chest. (The silver part opens!) He continues to keep a watchful optic on Demolishor. For one, he was disappointed about not getting to fight. For two, something didn't sit well with him about that one. For three, he's a pirate, and is, at times, just right-out ornrey.
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Post by SceneMod on Jul 1, 2007 15:23:31 GMT -5
OOC: Not an IC post. Just giving folks the heads up that Starscream is waiting on an answer from Hook, and has given OOC permission to skip him. Starfighter, this means you can post whenever you're ready.
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Post by Starfighter on Jul 1, 2007 15:54:25 GMT -5
"Possibly, if those are language symbols as opposed to simple identification insignia for the vehicle."
Starfighter stared for a moment at the larger mech looking over their shoulders and takes a half-step away from him. He was used to strange-looking mechs--after all, his boss had one optic and a gun for a hand--but he still didn't feel comfortable with the spiky bulk looking over his shoulder.
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