Ultra Magnus
Major
Disappointing Fellow Autobots Since the Age of Internment
Posts: 565
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Post by Ultra Magnus on Feb 15, 2011 19:28:14 GMT -5
Magnus is too focused on his goal – and even if it means completely ripping off the outer doors, he's going to pry open that hatch the moment he gets his hands on it – to see that shadow moving over the paler black of the Pz-Zazz-lit skies. He only catches a flicker in the periphery of his vision after Nightbeat sends up a warning at the same time that Scourge taunts him across the gap. He looks up to see Scourge coming at him like a stray bullet from the heavens and he reacts, bracing himself as best he can with nothing against which to brace.
//Nonsense,// he growls. //I've just come back to myself is all.// Then Scourge bashes into him and speeds him on his way toward the ship. He's off-target of the hatch, but he can work with it. //Guzzle, if I can't get to the hatch, blow it open and both of you get aboard. Understood?//
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Post by Gertrude Huldon/Guzzle on Feb 16, 2011 8:02:52 GMT -5
Unlike the detective, Guzzle doesn't spot the black death coming for them. But the second he pops up over the radio the Wrecker spins his body and fires off a few rounds, as many as he can manage before Ultra Magnus pops up in his sights as well.
All Guzzle can do then is curse silently to himself and slam into the hull, grunting before grabbing hold of something to stop himself from going tumbling into space. The second he's back up on his feet he starts running, ready to help the other Wrecker, only to stop in his tracks when he receives that command.
//...Hrn.// Guzzle grunt, not liking it one bit, even considers throwing it to the wind, but pushes those thoughts aside as he makes his way to the hatch. //Understood. But Magnus?//
//Wreck and rule.//
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 16, 2011 11:03:42 GMT -5
//I like it,// Scourge replies, apparently entirely sincere. //It makes you a bigger target.// That would be why.
He tries to grab onto the hull behind Ultra Magnus's shoulder so that he has something to secure him when he winds back with a fist to try to clock Ultra Magnus in that shiny new head. The thing about mouths and exposed noses is that they crumple in an extremely satisfying way.
Scourge observes, //Your comrades are abandoning you.// He, arrogantly, thinks he could have probably handled all of them, even injured as he is, but it's no matter. Scourge can get them later.
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Nightbeat
Minor
Eternal Foe of Kitsch
"Truth is revealed in the smallest detail."
Posts: 453
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Post by Nightbeat on Feb 16, 2011 21:15:24 GMT -5
Nightbeat sometimes gets told he needs to learn to rely on other people more, but he can't recall ever doing something quite as leadheaded as Magnus is doing now.
//What is it with you glitched Wreckers? Not every battle has to end with someone dying in a blaze of glory! There is no way in the Underworld I am gonna let you take on Scourge by yourself!// he transmits, drawing a photon pistol from subspace and leveling it at the tanker, trying to get a clear shot as he edges his way toward the hatch.
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Ultra Magnus
Major
Disappointing Fellow Autobots Since the Age of Internment
Posts: 565
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Post by Ultra Magnus on Feb 17, 2011 11:12:09 GMT -5
To Scourge, Magnus says nothing; let the un-Prime think what he will. He focuses instead on finding some footing on the hull to brace himself as he ducks inside that wide – probably deliberately so – punch to deliver a strike of his own. But the ship lurches, probably due to Mayday if the broadband is any indicator, then rolls beneath them, dislodging him. It does nothing for keeping him clear of Nightbeat's unasked-for supporting fire and Magnus curses.
//First of all,// he barks, furious, //I have no intention of getting killed by this mockery of a Prime, blaze of glory or otherwise!// He doesn't dare try to turn and glower at Nightbeat and destabilise his momentum even further while groping for a new purchase on the Event Horizon but the enraged, insulted glare is in his acid-hot transmission all the same. //Secondly, if you're judging me based on your Ultra Magnus's performances, stop right there. I am not that Ultra Magnus and I will not die here. I'm made for this. NOW FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS AND GET TO THAT DAMNED HATCH.//
And as if he'd timed it for punctuation, Magnus finds the barely-recessed lip of another hatch with his fingertips. This new handhold brings his rearward drift to a sudden stop and, scowling, he turns his gaze toward where Scourge was, scanning the skies for where he might be.
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Post by Gertrude Huldon/Guzzle on Feb 17, 2011 12:00:14 GMT -5
Guzzle is near the hatch when suddenly, the entire ship starts moving! It throws him off balance for just a second before he grabs a hold of some pipes with both hands, riding it out before the vessel once more comes to a stand still. What happened? Did the Decepticons hijack the bridge? No, chatter on the Autobot frequency indicates otherwise. It makes him squint his optics while an annoyed grunt escapes him, but then focuses on his task, if only because he's getting twitchy. There are Decepticons in there and he's not busting up any of them!
Though if he were a more talkative mech, he wouldn't have been able to resist the opportunity to pipe in that his Magnus would have Scourge hogtied by now. He's a rusted up exhaust pipe, but if there's one thing he knows it's how to wrangle Decepticons!
Guzzle gets back up and runs toward the hatch, and the minute he reaches it he pops open one of the canisters on his shoulders. He reaches into it, fingers shifting past the various cartridges before he settles on one. //Hn. This'll work.// He pulls one out that's bigger then normal, a crude drawing of an explosion and the Cybertronian lettering for 'Boom!' scribbled on the side of it. After one last scrutinizing look he jams it into the handle, making sure it's in nice and tight before turning to face the other two Autobots. //One shot'll do the trick. But explosion's gonna be strong, though. Need to grab hold of something to prevent us from driftin' off into space.//
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 17, 2011 13:08:33 GMT -5
Scourge is flipped by the ship's shaking, feet over head, pivoting around where his hand was sunk into the hull for dear life. His wrist wrenches, and he can tell already that his grip is going to be a bit weak in that hand. That clear shot Nightbeat was looking for would have been beautiful, if only Scourge had been where he once was. That strike of Ultra Magnus's would have been great, too.
This is an awkward position, given that he's basically back to the ship, upside-down relative to most of the Autobots, and he's just holding on with one weak wrist. Scourge wraps his legs around an antenna above him and lets go with his hand. He draws his plasma blaster, holding it with both hands, and he turns to fire at Nightbeat, aiming for the neck. Scourge knows now that Nightbeat's head is designed to come off and turn into a little man, but if Nightbeat's busy screwing around trying to put his head back on his shoulders, that's one Autobot busy, and two left to deal with.
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Nightbeat
Minor
Eternal Foe of Kitsch
"Truth is revealed in the smallest detail."
Posts: 453
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Post by Nightbeat on Feb 17, 2011 19:23:58 GMT -5
Nightbeat shouts back across the radio at Ultra Magnus, imitating the city commander's tone. //First of all, I'm not judging you based on anyone but you! Taking on a 'Con alone when you've got two teammates with you is stupid! Secondly, regardless of how our rank structures may have worked back home, here you don't outrank me and you don't get to give me orders! So unless Scourge does it for you first, you can just shove your solenoids up your-// His transmission is cut off abruptly as Scourge shoots him in the neck.
Gas starts venting from the wound and the detective lets go of his gun and clamps his hand over the hole, hard, trying to form an air-tight seal. When he does this, there's a horrible cracking noise no-one else can hear.
The photon pistol floats where it is for a moment, spinning slowly.
He hit my air tank, Muzzle says over the link he shares with Nightbeat, sounding rather forced.
I know.
I'm at about 20 percent pressure and falling.
I know.
And I think you just crushed my hips.
I KNOW, Nightbeat replies, fighting what is turning into a truly massive headache as he continues inching his way one-handed toward the hatch. He sincerely hopes Muzzles does not vomit in the suit.
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Ultra Magnus
Major
Disappointing Fellow Autobots Since the Age of Internment
Posts: 565
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Post by Ultra Magnus on Feb 21, 2011 10:29:20 GMT -5
//Do what you have to, Guzzle.// Magnus spares a pensive, worried glance for Nightbeat before his scowl reaffirms itself. Nightbeat's already headed for cover and Guzzle can handle the entry. //And Nightbeat,// he adds, less snarl to his tone though his voice remains steely, //it's called covering your retreat. Let me do what I was built to do and get aboard.// He doesn't even stop to think about what it says of him that he considers himself expendable – though he flashes back to that Full-Stasis game with Xaaron.
He's on his territory here, though, and he won't let Scourge get at the other two Autobots again. It takes some judicious checking of their relative positions to square himself between his fellow Autobots and the Decepticon, but here, his armour is that much more a boon; he's a larger target, yes, but a larger and thicker wall, too.
//Children shouldn't play with guns, nephew,// he admonishes Scourge once he has one foot hooked under an odd bit of piping. Fitting his foot into it ensures it will never be the proper shape again until someone comes to repair it, but he's anchored and that's what matters right now.
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Post by Gertrude Huldon/Guzzle on Feb 22, 2011 14:48:46 GMT -5
Looks like they won't even get the chance to strap in and avoid the blast. Oh well, it would have been boring if it went smoothly. Guzzle wastes no time, turning and firing on the impromptu charge. With a mighty force it detonates, blowing open the door and sending the Minibot flying.
Next time, I'll grab a cable first.
Now let's see if he can grab a hold of something so he won't spiral off into space!
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 22, 2011 15:19:09 GMT -5
Scourge does not know Nightbeat's inner turmoil. He only knows that the detective isn't shooting at him anymore, and that will have to be good enough. Scourge actually aims for Guzzle next, but the Minibot seems to be trying to blow himself up or something, so he clearly doesn't need Scourge's help.
Just as well, Ultra Magnus is the one Scourge wants to get his hands on, anyway. The Autobot's taunt brings Scourge back to yesterday, when Shockwave was telling him to stop acting like a child. As if!
//How you've lived as long as you have, I can only assume because Shockwave made the planet safe enough that you didn't trip off a ledge and die,// Scourge growls back, firing at Ultra Magnus instead of the Minibot.
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Nightbeat
Minor
Eternal Foe of Kitsch
"Truth is revealed in the smallest detail."
Posts: 453
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Post by Nightbeat on Feb 22, 2011 17:25:28 GMT -5
//Affirmative,// Nightbeat croaks to Ultra Magnus. He's going to retreat, but not because you told him to, Mr. City Commander. And then they're gonna have words later. But not right now. Nightbeat does not have time to deal with Ultra Magnus right now.
Scrap, there goes Guzzle. //Grab my hand!// he shouts, hooking his feet under a bit of protruding machinery he thinks is a waste chute and some spiky thing that looks like a sensor. A bit snaps off the sensor. (Sorry Mayday). He flings out his free hand toward Guzzle, hoping he's able to both catch the tiny tank and also not get yanked free himself.
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Ultra Magnus
Major
Disappointing Fellow Autobots Since the Age of Internment
Posts: 565
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Post by Ultra Magnus on Feb 23, 2011 13:56:32 GMT -5
The shot strikes true as Magnus makes no attempt to dodge it or shield himself with anything but one big forearm; the gauntlet is still usable, but damaged and blackened at the point of impact.
//It's funny in a way,// he says, almost conversationally, as if he doesn't loathe the mechanism before him for everything he is, everything he perverts, and everything he reminds Magnus of by sole virtue of his face. His face, little different from the face Magnus hardly considers his own any more. The face that glares back at Scourge now, yellow optics and straight nose and scowling mouth, is the face Magnus recognises as his own after all the vorns. He goes on, //Shockwave always despised me. We tried to kill each other often enough. And when he couldn't beat me, he tried to own me.//
Magnus draws his own rifle and shoulders it as he talks, taking aim.
//Has he beaten you, Scourge?// he asks. //Or will he own you?// Then Magnus fires.
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Post by Gertrude Huldon/Guzzle on Feb 24, 2011 7:58:48 GMT -5
As interesting as the duel between black and white (and red and blue) is, Guzzle is currently trying to focus on not drifting into space. That would be bad. Thankfully, Nightbeat is there to lend him a hand and he quickly grabs it, stopping his momentum for now.
But then, he sees the wound in Nightbeat's neck and he remembers that the detective has a little man for a head. An organic, who even with cybernetic implants, tend to be kind of frail and don't survive well in space, for some reason.
...Huh. That explains the weird gasses he detected on Magnus' ship.
Right, he needs to get Nightbeat through that damn door and there is just one way he can think of that will do both that and be nice and quick. He grabs the antenna and then, as hard as he can, sends both his feet to Nightbeat's chest, hoping to kick push him with his feet with enough force to send him straight for the blown open hatch. //Let go NOW!//
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 24, 2011 10:12:10 GMT -5
//Funny. I seem to be able to peacefully co-exist with Shockwave perfectly well. Maybe you were just too bull-headed to ever try,// Scourge sneers at Ultra Magnus over the radio.
Actually, yes, those thick, long antennae are kind of like horns...
Bleagh, rifle shots! Ultra Magnus hits that shoulder that Rodimus already chopped up with his rotary blade, and Scourge feels the arm go slack. Maybe 10% functionality left there. If Scourge wants to lift tea cups and have a party with Rook, he's golden. Scourge pushes off from the ship with his feet and tries to grab Ultra Magnus by one antenna, swing around, and slam his feet into Ultra Magnus's back, right at that torso gimbal.
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