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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Aug 5, 2008 20:43:20 GMT -5
Rodimus Prime has handily explained why the Autobots have have failed to take advantage of the option that he suggests now to Starscream.
He smiles, the metal around his optics crinkling, and he greets Botanica, inquiring, "Oh, Botanica! Can you stay? I think your perspective could be most valuable."
She's a freaky plant-thing, but she does good work. But hmm, does she disprove his theory that women are aliens?
He inquires, "What Decepticons are you thinking? We should have them learn about their alternates from those among mine who would know."
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Aug 5, 2008 22:55:55 GMT -5
Botanica dips her head in acknowledgment of both greetings and Xaaron's request, "Of course, Emirate. I do not know what I can add, but I would be glad to help in any way possible."
She listens to the talk of decoys and sabotage without any visible concerns. What must be done must be done and this is no time for worries of fairness or honor. When Xaaron asks his question, though, a thought occurs.
"If I may...the lower profile the substitute the better, I would think, and not just of rank but of behavior. For example, from what I understand of...my other self...such a ruse would be easily ferreted out. The unassuming tend to be overlooked, less carefully watched."
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Post by Starscream-3 on Aug 6, 2008 6:17:12 GMT -5
Starscream looks as if he is about to say something, and then stops, mid-thought.
"..Could the portal generator be used to take us into the Decepticon base? If we traveled to my base in our world, would we not logically be able to travel through into <i>their</i> base?"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Aug 6, 2008 7:56:45 GMT -5
The Prime's optics flicker. "You guys are the ones with the generator; you'd have to tell us. The problem is, none of your Autobots and half of our Decepticons haven't been back at their base, anyway, so the primary thing that would accomplish is getting us holed up somewhere else while alerting the other side to the fact that you're here.
"I like the track you're on, though," Rodimus adds. "Maybe the Decepticon base isn't the best focal point, but we may want to consider the possibility of using the portal as a surprise attack somewhere else." You would think that after Time Wars, Rodimus would be a bit warier about just casually ripping through the fabric of space and time!
Then he returns to the matter of decoys, rubbing his chin as he does. "If we're after low-profile stand-ins, we should probably start thinking of those who haven't drawn too much of our attention first," he notes. "Don't they have a bunch of blue Seekers, though?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Aug 6, 2008 8:33:58 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron chuckles and observes, "I think you have just answered your own question, Botanica."
To the Prime, he has to provide counterpoint, and he observes, "A small, unnoticed saboteur team in their base could make things very unpleasant for our enemies, should they choose to return to their base."
He looks over at Starscream pointedly. Emirate Xaaron has seen this one's Needlenose. That he has not seen the Spinister is by far more worrying.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Aug 6, 2008 10:26:06 GMT -5
Botanica shrugs slightly at Xaaron's comment; such affairs are not her area of expertise. And right now, she's annoyed with herself for not having considered that obviously these Decepticons have the portal technology. A pity Perceptor was already given leave to go on a supply search mission....
But this prompts a question, "How did you come to have the portal technology?" then she adds, looking slightly embarrassed "If that has not been covered in earlier conversation, I mean? Would your Autobots know you have the technology, and possibly be expecting you and yours?" It's a valid question, and adds a new concern to sending in decoys.
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Post by Starscream-3 on Aug 8, 2008 6:50:24 GMT -5
Starscream sighs. "Spinister 'acquired' it for us. No doubt, they've heard about it from now. I don't know if they're expecting us to show up.. but then again. "
"I do not wish to rule out this plan, but I cannot ignore the risk. So we're back to me volunteering myself as one of the decoys again."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Aug 8, 2008 8:29:22 GMT -5
A rueful grin tugs at the corner of Rodimus's mouth as he crosses his arms and tilts his head forward to study Starscream. "Well you're raring to go, aren't you." Then he sobers. "Starscream, I know it's never comfortable to order one of your troops into danger, but have you given some thought to the situation the remainder would be left with if you took all the risk on yourself, gambled with your life... and lost? Are our potential gains from this plan really worth stranding your troops in another reality without their leader?"
"The old attitude about never ordering one's troops to do something that one isn't willing to do is something every good leader takes to heart, but just because you're willing to take a risk, and just because that risk is dangerous, doesn't mean you're the one who should take this risk.
"Starscream gets watched too closely. You wouldn't be able to pull off faking him for more than a few minutes, and while there may be a time for that - a few minutes of confusion can be a pretty big edge in a battle - we'll likely need to get the information on when and how we can use that from someone else."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Aug 8, 2008 11:03:27 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron rubs his chin, tilts his head to the side, and he comments, "Actually... there was mention of all the blue Seekers. If Starscream insists on volunteering himself, could we not simply... paint him blue?"
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Dead End-3
Cadet
"We who are about to die salute you"
Posts: 63
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Post by Dead End-3 on Aug 8, 2008 19:18:38 GMT -5
"Actually, sirs, pardon the interruption, but one of ours is yellow," Dead End felt compelled to point out. "However, most of the others except Needlenose are blue--and if you consider teal to be a shade of blue..."
"They already have one of ours in captivity--Thundercracker. I understand they have their own Thundercracker as well. The only way they tell them apart is..." Dead End shrugged.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Aug 8, 2008 22:50:27 GMT -5
Botanica raises an eyebrow at Xaaron, then deadpans, "Blue paint wouldn't be enough. His voice is too distinctive." True even when Starscream isn't being screechy!
She turns back to Starscream, "Is Blackarachnia with your group? I'd wager she's overlooked more than she should be by the- those Decepticons, given her size and... uniqueness. If her skills are similar to the one I knew, she could most certainly cause a lot of trouble rather quickly. And I'm sure Rattrap could provide an accurate character study for her." That last is said just a touch dryly.
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Post by Starscream-3 on Aug 9, 2008 19:29:04 GMT -5
Starscream pitches the bridges of his nose as Dead End helpfully offers to correct the Emirate. "I'm fairly certain they know not ALL of our seekers are blue, thank you, Dead End. After all, they know of at least one that's primarily gray and red.." Dead End's loyalty is something to be admired, but sometimes Starscream wishes he wasn't so eager to be 'helpful'.
When Botanica makes her observation about his voice, Starscream smiles and turns to her. "I don't know what your Starscream is capable of," and then, in a much different voice, "but it wouldn't pay to make assumptions." Botanica is unlikely to recognize the voice herself, but the others should identify it as a convincing copy of Optimus Prime.
Back to his regular voice, as he frowns, putting his arms behind his back. "Blackarachnia... If we asked her to do it, I have no doubt she'd agree. I don't know how convincing she'd be, though."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Aug 9, 2008 20:00:24 GMT -5
Rodimus smiles faintly, the right corner of his lips pulled up a bit farther than the other to express his amusement. He rests his right hand on his hip and says, in Starscream's voice (though the inflections match the Starscream he knows, not this kinder, gentler Starscream), "Aaaah. So you've found it handy to pick up a voice trick or two yourself, I see." Then, in his normal voice, he adds, "Believe it or not, they've actually saved the day once or twice for me." Otherwise, they're mostly useful to annoy Kup.
"Back at the subject at hand, though. We really don't want someone who has to interact for extended periods, anyway. Not unless we can get the radio frequencies first, and capturing one of theirs will put them on the alert." Rodimus shakes his head and shifts his weight back and forth, widening his stance just a little before he clasps his hands lightly in front of him. "Just someone that people are not likely to talk to much if they see them, and if they do talk, only exchange a few words with."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Aug 9, 2008 22:04:01 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron boggles as Starscream and Rodimus Prime have a touching bonding moment over their ability to fake voices.
He has to comment, "Someone they only exchange a few words with? Spinister. I am told that he barely speaks at all, and few are ever pleased to be in the presence of a Mayhem."
Emirate Xaaron has no idea that the 'good' Spinister is a chatty flirt. In fact, do these Decepticons even use the term 'Mayhem'.
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Dead End-3
Cadet
"We who are about to die salute you"
Posts: 63
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Post by Dead End-3 on Aug 9, 2008 22:48:56 GMT -5
Dead End tilted his head slightly. "Hmm.. Spinister, silent? A significant difference, then." He glanced at Starscream, almost as if waiting for a sign to continue, then continued anyway. "I wonder if their Duskwing is like ours? People do not tend to pay much attention to what he says, even when he does have something to say."
"Not that I would send Duskwing himself on a mission--but any F-15 based Seeker could be repainted to look like him... or Thundercracker." Dead End fell silent; he'd probably said more than he should, but Starscream was patient with loyal, well-intentioned subordinates. Dead End long suspected that was one advantage the good Decepticons had over the tyrannical Autobots--if you shoot your minions when they tell you things you don't want to hear, they rapidly stop telling things that just might be important--and they certainly don't volunteer possibly helpful ideas.
--- Once again skippable
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