|
Post by Needlenose on Sept 1, 2011 22:02:06 GMT -5
"Darling, all lights are good when they're on me!" Needlenose answers chipperyly. Powell cuts out, however, possibly before he gets a chance to hear Needlenose's winning comeback. Damn.
The Double-Targetmaster's wings droop. "I'm just looking at the surface here - you'll have to wait for Frenzy's report to get anything more detailed, and that's assuming you manage to cut out enough of the swears to figure out what he's actually saying. But the quick version is, not only can I not guarantee that our system is secure, I can very much guardsmen that it isn't, but I could have guaranteed that before the ant's little phone call, what with holographic Shockwave we haven't been able to get rid of." He throws up the hand not holding the datapad. "At this point, we'd have to build a whole new ship just to get a secure computer system!"
And before the ship is done being built, Needlenose, Counterpunch, Blackarachnia, Tarantulas, and several others will have already installed entirely new security back doors.
|
|
|
Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 2, 2011 22:09:14 GMT -5
Mister Black? What the?
Scourge squints and thinks. Conflict of interests, to work with the Autobots? That's... interesting. Scourge speculates aloud, "We came here, thinking Shockwave may have been here. Now we see what may be energon, and we find out that a human is using backdoors in our systems. I wonder if Shockwave is... working with humans? Has been captured by them?"
Scourge turns back around and stares at the dead, blank screen. Curse you, Shockwave. You vanished and left me to pick up the pieces, but you tied my hands with your holo-Shockwave and wouldn't even let me find my own way. Then as soon as you vanished, you might be back?
Perhaps Scourge should look into methods of making sure that Shockwave stays gone. It's a shame. He doesn't really want to. However, any Decepticon who willingly cedes power will never regain it. Maybe Scourge could eat Shockwave's spark? That sounds pretty gross, but making sure Shockwave stays dead will be hard.
|
|
|
Post by Starscream (Movie) on Sept 4, 2011 16:00:26 GMT -5
Oh, that's it. This human is so dead. No-one talks to Starscream like that unless they can back it up with a fusion cannon.
"I wouldn't put it past Shockwave to work with humans if it seemed logical to him at the time. As your second-in-command, might I humbly suggest we hunt this human down? We should make an example of him, lest the insects start thinking they can trifle with us and live to tell about it."
|
|
|
Post by Onslaught/Octavian Comstock on Sept 4, 2011 20:06:59 GMT -5
If Scourge wants to eat Shockwaves spark, then Onslaught would be happy to be the one to pick out all the pieces of it out of the cyclops' twitching form and put them on a silver platter.
Onslaught listens to Scourge, rubbing his chin with his fingers in thought. "It is unlikely that the humans would have the knowledge and means to contain our former commander. It is far more possible that he manipulated them into believing that he is their prisoner, and is now working through them. If that scenario is correct, then I suggest that we must follow up on this lead."
And then Starscream has to open his beak! "With all due respect lord Starscream, that would be a foolish course of action. We currently know far too little about the humans. The chance that they indeed incapacitated and captured Shockwave is a slim one, but it is still possible. If they did defeat arguably one of our best, well, I certainly don't have to draw it out, do I?"
|
|
|
Post by Needlenose on Sept 4, 2011 21:51:37 GMT -5
"It's not hard to find out about the humans, Onslaught," Needlenose points out, "and that's even assuming that everything that those of us who have been to this planet already know doesn't fit with this universe. They call it the 'internet. Humans make the bulk of their knowledge freely available over their networks." He pauses and tilts his head to consider something. "Granted, the bulk of their knowledge seems to concern their reproductive rituals, and I highly recommend getting your firewalls and antivirals updated before hooking up on it."
He means 'before hooking up to it,' right?
"Anyway, Iiiii think we should try to track this guy down, though I say question first, make example of second!"
|
|
|
Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 4, 2011 22:38:22 GMT -5
Hell's Kitchen: the Combaticon edition? Does the world really need to see Vortex dressed as a waitress?
If Scourge tries to deliver energon in the shape of a pizza to Blackarachnia's laboratory, it is Needlenose's fault.
"Shockwave may be powerful, but he's not the stealthiest Decepticon in the army." That one is probably Needlenose's boytoy, though the point could be argued. "We scope out the this human, we capture him, we interrogate him, and then he dies. However... perhaps there is a trap to be sprung?"
|
|
|
Post by Starscream (Movie) on Sept 5, 2011 18:08:27 GMT -5
Vortex would probably dress as a waitress as soon as he learned it would scar people.
"If the humans have defeated one of our best, that is still only one. We're all here now. We have the capacity to strike anywhere on their planet at any time with overwhelming force, without warning," Starscream reminds Onslaught.
"Do you mean to say there's a trap lying in wait for us, or that we should prepare one for the arrogant insect?"
|
|
|
Post by Onslaught/Octavian Comstock on Sept 7, 2011 18:10:49 GMT -5
No, but they do need to see a cussing Onslaught who leaves his pupils a weeping mess who are one collapsed soufflé away from a nervous breakdown. That's always fun!
"I am well aware of the internet and it's eccentricities, thank you Needlenose. But I am also well versed in it enough to realize that not all mainframes and secrets are accessible through it, even with our own superior resources." If only it was so simple, then they wouldn't need to send agents like Frenzy to top secret facilities!
"Do I need to remind you, lord Starscream, that our numbers and resources are limited? Or that the humans proved surprisingly formidable foes in most of the reported realities? Or perhaps that in some, Earth was the point where we lost?" Onslaught crosses his arms and glares at the Seeker, his visor dimming. "This situation calls for stealth and deception. Not sledgehammer tactics that will cripple only one proverbial leg of a Prenuvian centipede."
|
|
|
Post by Needlenose on Sept 8, 2011 11:58:49 GMT -5
"I don't recall recommending eliminating the fleshbag before we get the information we want out of him, including, say, independent mainframes," Needlenose starts by muttering, but when he continues he swtiches back to a normal speaking voice, "but I am saying that how we deal with the humans now will set the tone for future dealings. You may have missed this, Onslaught, but the human just tried to bully us. Bully. Us. Us. If we put out the impression that we bow to that sort of thing, we'll never be able to rule them later on."
He gives a single shrug, tossing his stand-alone back into subspace and making a mental note never to link directly to Ship's computer. Ever.
"This doesn't necessarily mean going in with a, what did you say, sledgehammer at the start. A consistent pattern of those who cross us, along with their families, suddenly vanishing can be rather effective in sowing control."
|
|
|
Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 9, 2011 21:39:47 GMT -5
"Can't I mean both?" Scourge replies back to Starscream. 'Both' sounds pretty good to him right now.
He tilts his head and nods along at Needlenose's outline. "You see, Starscream, Onslaught? There are always ways. Very good, Needlenose."
|
|
|
Post by Starscream (Movie) on Sept 10, 2011 12:26:42 GMT -5
"Don't presume to lecture me, Onslaught!" Starscream begins, jabbing a talon in the Combaticon leader's direction. "This jumped-up carbon compound with delusions of grandeur thinks he can run with the big 'bots. I'm not talking about tactics, I'm talking about respect." He's prepared to keep haranguing Onslaught, but Needlenose sums everything up nicely.
"The Mayhem is correct," he says, nodding at the other jetformer. "Just to be prudent, we should investigate the coordinates the insect provided. If we're springing a trap, we'll need bait. Pretending to accept his offer and arranging a meeting in person, perhaps?"
|
|
|
Post by Onslaught/Octavian Comstock on Sept 10, 2011 20:12:31 GMT -5
If it was just Needlenose, he would be a lot more calm. But oh no, Starscream has to provoke him! Onslaught turns to the wider Decepticon, stepping forward and not backing down, his visor band flashing. Just because he's loyal to Scourge now, doesn't mean any of his ambition or arrogance has dissipated. "Of course I did not miss that, and yes, the human must pay for his bravado! However, I am attempting to think in the long term and formulate plans instead of crying for blood. Unlike you, you short sighted, pompous fool!"
Though he backs down when Starscream suggests that next step. He crosses his arm, and begrudgingly says: "I agree, that is the best course of action."
|
|
|
Post by Needlenose on Sept 11, 2011 21:51:47 GMT -5
"You act like 'crying for blood' and 'thinking in the long term and formulating plans' are mutually exclusive states!" Needlenose sniffs. "Sure, I want his blood, and sure, I'd like it to be right this moment, but I don't recall demanding that it happen right now! I am well aware that even I can't have exactly what I want exactly when I want it, thanks."
He straightens, perking up his wings and antenna. "But it sounds like a plan's already in the works, anyway." He nods towards Scourge first, then Starscream. "Very good, sirs!" he says cheerfully. They both either called him 'right' or told him 'very good,' so it doesn't hurt to suck up a little in response.
|
|
|
Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 12, 2011 17:28:59 GMT -5
Scourge feels like Onslaught and Starscream are acting unduly childishly. If not for Needlenose remaining sensible, Scourge would probably have throttled someone by now. Everyone would give Needlenose a big heap of thanks now, if there was any justice in the world. Justice is something the Decepticons keep in short supply, however.
"Onslaught, you will investigate those coordinates," Scourge directs. This will work out, because Onslaught happens to be in the thread Fool's Rubies! Also, it will keep Onslaught busy, which is good, because Onslaught gets worrisome if he is left to plan too long on his own.
"Now then, with regards to avenging ourselves upon the human..."
OOC: Shall we fade out on planning how to murder every member of Powell's family? I am not sure how much nitty-gritty we want to get into here.
|
|
|
Post by Starscream (Movie) on Sept 15, 2011 7:25:38 GMT -5
Clearly Starscream and Onslaught need to settle this once and for all by whipping out their guns and seeing whose is bigger. (Onslaught's is probably bigger because he is a missile truck.)
"It doesn't need to be elaborate. It just needs to be final," the jetformer proclaims, nodding to Scourge.
OOC: Good with a fade.
|
|