|
Post by Perceptor on Sept 8, 2007 21:45:43 GMT -5
// Yes, please, // Perceptor replies promptly. // If you believe it may assist in convincing him of our trustworthyness, I have the data which Synapse and I have collated since our arrival, as well. If it would not be too heavy handed or giving the Decepticons too much advantage, I could forward that on to Skyfire once he clears the ionosphere. //
|
|
|
Post by Kup on Sept 8, 2007 22:56:09 GMT -5
//I don't suggest it. We gotta assume everything we say to him is being passed to Starscream. There's a line between Trustworthiness and stupidity. Bad enough that Skyfire's probably been mapping the planet... d'you know if his sensors are good enough to have picked us out from space? Because you know, we don't know where the 'Cons are camped out yet.//
Kup transmits the information.
|
|
|
Post by Perceptor on Sept 9, 2007 0:05:44 GMT -5
// If he is looking for such structures, yes, I believe so. His systems were designed for exactly such survey and information gathering work. There are other cities which, provided that the global energy relay network has activated there, will also show signs of elevated energy and industry. I believe, however, that it would only require a small bit of effort to pick this location out as significantly altered and occupied from low-orbital surveillance. Particularly with Omega Supreme in residence. His presence is somewhat... difficult to conceal. //
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Sept 9, 2007 11:18:07 GMT -5
//A possessing ghost?// Emirate Xaaron does not appear to be questioning that such a thing can exist. He knows that multiple gods exist and that they like screwing with people. He knows that there are zombies, and they will try to eat you. He knows that there are demons underground. He knows all sorts of weird things. Ghosts don't sound too odd. Maybe it has something to do with how Kup's Starscream died at the time? He notes neutrally, //I will have to do some more reading.//
Emirate Xaaron does have on his person a number of religious texts. For example, he just might have to officiate a wedding at a moment's notice, and he'd like to be prepared. More likely, he suspects he might have to look into how to bind an angry spirit. Time to crack out the heretical texts again.
//I'd be hesitant to give him any of our data, for the reasons Kup outlined. Do we want to try to get Omega Supreme airborne? At this rate, I doubt it'll do any good.//
|
|
|
Post by Perceptor on Sept 9, 2007 13:17:48 GMT -5
// Given that his structure has likely already been noted, or at least captured, on whatever footage Skyfire has already obtained, it is likely a moot point. Also given that Omega Supreme has rather vehemently and publically declared himself for the faction opposing Skyfire's partner, it is possible that any attempt to send Omega Supreme airborne will be viewed as a potential act of aggression, // Perceptor replies reluctantly. He doesn't like this situation at all. He isn't tactician enough to be concerned about the loss of an ally or the Decpeticons gain of a powerful resource; Perceptor worries for Skyfire, for the fellow scientist's physical and emotional well-being.
A flash of anger, then, for the drama this impersonal force that has done this stirs up. Time enough for that, later, though. For now, he needs to sort through Kup's other revelation.
// Starscream has the ability to return as a non-physical entity? // he asks, mulling that over. Rather more metaphysical than his tastes prefer.
|
|
|
Post by Kup on Sept 9, 2007 13:47:32 GMT -5
//Oh, yeah. Software-slumpin' pest.// Kup's opinion of Starscream's ghost might not have been so bad based only on his first encounter, but considering what it was followed up with... //Might have to do with how he died, but it still needs to be taken into account. I mean, plenty of people get incinerated suddenly and don't come back as ghosts.//
//I'll tell the whole story proper once things have calmed a bit, but over the course of just a couple of days he managed to disable both Metroplex and Trypticon, and at different points possessed Cyclonus, Scourge, Trypticon, and Astrotrain. Tried that scrap with me, but he couldn't get in.// Kup sounds a bit smug with this last statement.
|
|
Nightbeat
Minor
Lord High Instructor, Duke of Snack
Cybertron's Greatest Detective
Posts: 373
|
Post by Nightbeat on Sept 9, 2007 20:45:28 GMT -5
//Can't keep a Starscream down,// Nightbeat grumbles. //Even bein' blown up by the Underbase didn't stop him. Just came back as a Pretender. Twice as dangerous as ever. Craftiest son of a glitch I ever saw. //
He pauses, then speaks again. //And maybe the one guy I'll admit just might be smarter than me.//
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Sept 9, 2007 21:16:38 GMT -5
Oh no. Honky don't play, Nightbeat. He did not just say that Starscream is craftier than Emirate Xaaron, and he certainly didn't say that both Starscream and Nightbeat are smarter than Emirate Xaaron. Eat reactor theory, glitches1. Beside, who was just in charge of a lowly little city state and who was on the ruling Council?
//Nightbeat, Starscream got his own city blown up and then ended up answering to the machine that did it. If you want to say that Starscream's smarter than you, be my guest, but kindly leave the rest of us out of it.//
1 And in another universe, Starscream almost literally did. (See War Within.)
|
|
Nightbeat
Minor
Lord High Instructor, Duke of Snack
Cybertron's Greatest Detective
Posts: 373
|
Post by Nightbeat on Sept 9, 2007 21:28:03 GMT -5
//Eh, you know what I mean, chief. Maybe not smart, smart, but he's still one of the craftiest guys around.//
|
|
|
Post by Kup on Sept 10, 2007 15:50:21 GMT -5
//Hey, Xaaron? Folks? I'm not going to be able to hold Mirage here much longer without seeming suspicious, but, well... I am. He's another one we're going to need to watch out for - and with his abilities, that may not be easy.//
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Sept 10, 2007 17:00:21 GMT -5
//If you can't keep him with you, find a task for him that he can't easily refuse that requires him to be in the company of someone else.//
|
|
|
Post by Kup on Sept 10, 2007 22:16:00 GMT -5
Kup's voice is shaken as he replies, //Thanks for the advice. He's agreed to keep an eye on Wheelie and Holi. He also let me know about Tiny.//
There's a pause, then Kup continues, //Synapse just sent back a signal to me and Perceptor. Compressed image file. He, erm... found the ruins of a building on one of the asteroids.//
|
|
Nightbeat
Minor
Lord High Instructor, Duke of Snack
Cybertron's Greatest Detective
Posts: 373
|
Post by Nightbeat on Sept 10, 2007 22:39:46 GMT -5
//That's... all kinds of not good. That means there has to have been a moon or a planet or somethin' up there that ain't any more.//
|
|
|
Post by Kup on Sept 10, 2007 22:45:07 GMT -5
//Nightbeat, this system's s'posed to have two inhabited worlds. This one, the third from the sun, is organic. The forth from the sun was mechanoid. Tiny's species is native to it.//
//They never had an asteroid field this close to their star.//
|
|
Nightbeat
Minor
Lord High Instructor, Duke of Snack
Cybertron's Greatest Detective
Posts: 373
|
Post by Nightbeat on Sept 11, 2007 19:59:50 GMT -5
//I'd just like to add this as evidence to my Unicron theory.//
|
|