Synapse-3
Cadet
It would be a pleasure...
Posts: 84
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Post by Synapse-3 on May 2, 2008 22:21:48 GMT -5
While Hellbender and his crew strike from below, the air forces scream through the skies and the Autobots rip down the roads, a small green shuttle hovers high above the city. Others may call him a coward for not taking part in the main charge, but the scout knows where he can do his job best--and the front line is not it.
How does one peek at an opponent's battleship game? It's definitely not from the same side of the table that you're on - unless you have X-ray vision, which Synapse does not. So the scout separates himself from the tumult and chaos below in order to gain a 'bigger picture' perspective of the invasion laid out in the for-now-neat sections of the city.
Closer to city-level, two dark spheres sweep out, searching for details that Synapse misses from his high vantage-point. Catching the motives of hopefully unsuspecting troop shuffling below is what the scout is aiming for...a distressed and unsuspecting mech wouldn't be too far off target either.
// I am in position, sir. //
Eye in the sky. Yet the thought of his own counterpart doing the exact same thing hasn't quite crossed this Synapse's processors yet. Lucky for both minibots, for this Synapse can't afford to be thoroughly distracted this early into the game, especially after his last failure.
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Airazor
Rookie
"Airazor, you have to let go," Tigatron said with a slight smirk.
Posts: 186
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Post by Airazor on May 4, 2008 23:22:34 GMT -5
Airazor is also in the air, watching over the action. She's wisely staying away from enemy jets for the moment--she wouldn't stand a chance against them and she knows it.
After taking a survey of all the different positions (zooming her vision where necessary), she fires up her radio. //I'm in the air above the city. I agree with Perceptor, it does seem like our alternates are coordinating with the Decepticons.//
She's not that close to the other-Synapse, but he may or may not notice her. She's too busy focusing on the ground to have spotted him.
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Synapse
Minor
Do not touch...please
Posts: 380
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Post by Synapse on May 5, 2008 6:49:48 GMT -5
Another small green shuttle is climbing into the air.
It's taken Synapse a few moments to shake off the limb-locking surprise of the sudden attacks and appearance of not only the Decepticons, but the Autobot counterparts. Airazor's announcement over broadband was enough to push the scout into action.
// A majority of our alternates are approaching <insert road coordinates here> and air forces at the gun tower. Units are already beginning to split away. //
// Airazor, if you have the city covered then I shall head towards the Zoo. //
The scout halts his ascension at the same level as Airazor, his nodes already flying ahead of him to his given location.
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Synapse-3
Cadet
It would be a pleasure...
Posts: 84
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Post by Synapse-3 on May 5, 2008 13:24:16 GMT -5
One node sweeps through the city towards Hellbender's entrance point. But my, my... One brief check at his own Prime's location and Synapse would be smiling in amusement if he could.
// Prime, sir. Your alternate is at <coordinates here> meeting the Decepticon's entrance if you are interested. //
A brief flash of black streaks across his vision and for a moment he disregards the movement as his own nodes below. But--The shuttle whirls around in the air, optics falling first on a small form down below. Airazor.
Lazily, the green shuttle begins a roundabout descent. One of his nodes makes to form a curious pass over the Maximal, but this time, Synapse won't make the mistake of lapsing in his wariness.
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Airazor
Rookie
"Airazor, you have to let go," Tigatron said with a slight smirk.
Posts: 186
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Post by Airazor on May 5, 2008 17:59:57 GMT -5
Airazor subtly tenses as the shadow crosses over her and looks up. "Hmm..." It looked like one of Synapse's nodes, but that was unlikely since he said he was on his way to the zoo. Better double-check. She cues up Synapse's frequency on the radio.
//Synapse? Did one of your nodes just pass by me?//
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on May 5, 2008 20:33:03 GMT -5
From the west, the huge white shuttle soared over the city, sensors and scanner running at high sensitivity. From up here, Skyfire took images of the battle for later analysis--but that took only a fraction of his concentration, less than that of a drone.
He missed tiny, techno-organic Airrazor in his sweep; she was far too small. Not so the Synapses...
"Slag," he muttered to himself.
// SYNAPSE! Give me your position so I don't have to guess which one of you to shoot! // Skyfire snarled, none too pleased. The unholy confusion these similarities could spawn had crossed his mind, though he considered it more Rodimus's problem than his... until now. If the enemy Autobots weren't complete fools, they'd exploit it sooner rather than later.
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Synapse
Minor
Do not touch...please
Posts: 380
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Post by Synapse on May 5, 2008 21:53:13 GMT -5
Synapse's course doesn't deviate as he listens in to the announcements over the radio, though it does wobble and slow a few times. Firstly, it is at the realization of his slip-up in observation. Secondly, when Emirate Xaaron's sharp command for the destruction of the data back at base resounds through his communicator. Synapse recognizes the meaning of that order and fights down the panic building up in his reasoning centers. This won't be the first evacuation that the scout has taken part in...he just hopes that it will be the last if it happens at all. Preferably this wish would be fulfilled without his deactivation any time soon.
// My nodes? No, they are already closing in on the Zoo perimeter. //
Synapse slams on his air brakes and makes a 180 to reorient himself back towards Airazor. That is indeed a node completing a pass over the Maximal. A very familiar but most certainly not-his-own node passing over Airazor.
// My alternate... // The words come out confused, Synapse's soft voice even more muted than before. // Be on alert, Airazor! //
Synapse begins to zoom back, though his nodes continue towards the Zoo.
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Synapse-3
Cadet
It would be a pleasure...
Posts: 84
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Post by Synapse-3 on May 5, 2008 22:26:54 GMT -5
Curious, curious and is this Maximal playing 'eye in the sky' like he is?
Synapse's amusement is terminated by a sour irritation at Skyfire's snarled hail over the radio. // My location is <coordinates> and -- 'which one'? // The spacer turns rapidly and spots a green dot speeding back towards Maximal bird. It takes all of the scout's self-control not to blurt out 'No he's me/mine!' Instead, the scout continues on his curved path downwards, albeit, a bit more slowly and wary. Was the pass with his node noticed? Is Skyfire going to watch where he aims his huge guns?
// ...Please be considerate in how you injure my counterpart. I would like for him to remain functional...though not necessarily online. // Yes, Synapse is already delighting at the thought of a fun pick-up after the battle is all said and done.
Once again, he probably underestimates his foes.
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Airazor
Rookie
"Airazor, you have to let go," Tigatron said with a slight smirk.
Posts: 186
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Post by Airazor on May 5, 2008 22:45:19 GMT -5
Airazor doesn't falter at the order Xaaron gives over the radio. She's never heard an order like that herself, and while it does seem to be extreme, the full severity is lost on her.
Airazor carefully casts her gaze upward, looking for her teammate's duplicate while trying not to give away what she's doing. Ah, there! //I see him! Above me, descending towards my position. I'm going to try to take out his node.//
Airazor casually turns towards the node, then suddenly transforms and fires at the node with her smaller missiles. She then transforms back to beast mode and banks away. The other Synapse probably could figure out what she did just from her transforming, but maybe her missiles are small enough for him not to see...
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on May 6, 2008 7:06:20 GMT -5
// Thank you, Synapse; you'll be happy to know I'm dropping the target lock on you, // Skyfire-3 said.
Now, where was the other one? Ah, there he was! Skyfire-3 fired off two missiles at the other Synapse and banked away, scanning for other targets.
// Missiles away; if you can handle him, go for it. // Skyfire-3 said, sounding bored. He wasn't; if Synapse-3 got busy chasing his counterpart, that meant he just might fall down on the aerial surveillance job. He might even get shot down again...
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Skyfire
Major
I'm a scientist, not a....
Posts: 891
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Post by Skyfire on May 6, 2008 7:09:49 GMT -5
Another target might just soon present itself. With the roof cluttered with anti-aircraft guns, Skyfire had had to walk some distance to a clear boulevard to transform and take wing, but at last he was in the air. He climbed away from the city at speed and banked back, cannon and missiles armed.
Now, where was he needed, and what was that huge blip on his radar?
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Synapse
Minor
Do not touch...please
Posts: 380
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Post by Synapse on May 6, 2008 21:15:17 GMT -5
As soon as Synapse's nodes disperse into the Zoo, he is firing off on broadband. His processors split tasks as he quickly moves through the different jobs of cataloging data inputs, compiling reports, figuring out what to do about the presence of his alternate as well as--
Oh dear.
The green spacer comes to an abrupt halt as instinct screams at him to look up. This...this cannot be good. Optics catch sight on a white speck high above, but the sight of two objects hurtling straight towards him warrants a surprised squeak as Synapse's rockets abruptly cut off and leave him coasting.
Nonono, this minibot isn't cornered yet. Rockets sputter back to life and Synapse fights to reorient himself and distance himself from the oncoming missiles. In other words, he's heading back the way he came, jerking and zigzagging in an attempt to shake off his stubborn pursers. But that path doesn't last long either. As soon as the missiles arrive to his level, Synapse rockets straight upwards with all the the effort that would usually be put behind a planetary exit. That white speck is now becoming more clear in his vision.
// Skyfire? Skyfire? What is your location? //
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Synapse-3
Cadet
It would be a pleasure...
Posts: 84
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Post by Synapse-3 on May 6, 2008 21:33:10 GMT -5
// ...Thank you, Skyfire. // Really, the large shuttle has nothing to worry about, Synapse won't go do any chasing right now.
Synapse would simmer a bit in irritation, but the sight of Airazor unfolding in transformation in two thirds of his vision prevents him from such. So he's been noticed--and shot at! A curse slips out of Synapse's vocalizer as the targeted node pulls into a spiraling ascent in an effort to dodge the small missiles. What fate, it looks like both Synapse and his counterpart are playing the role chased in missile tag.
A searing agony blazes through Synapse's network as one missile makes contact and explodes, his node now heavily scorched but still intact. Dazed, the minibot shifts into robot mode, both him and his nodes hurtling down like rocks.
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Airazor
Rookie
"Airazor, you have to let go," Tigatron said with a slight smirk.
Posts: 186
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Post by Airazor on May 7, 2008 13:31:26 GMT -5
Airazor pauses momentarily to give Xaaron an update over the broadband, but then she's diving after the other-Synapse. She gives an all-too-birdlike screech. Her sharp talons come forward, ready to grasp and shred her prey.
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on May 7, 2008 19:57:16 GMT -5
Skyfire-3 noticed his own counterpart about the time his counterpart noticed him. He didn't hesitate, but target-locked and fired his missiles, following up with proton cannon fire.
Skyfire-3 felt no sentimentality toward his other self--it wasn't him. He knew who he was, and that wasn't him; it was an imposter, a clone, a perverse imitation. There was only one, true Skyfire, and he was it.
Uncharacteristically silent, he took careful aim on his counterpart's bow--his lasercore should be right... there! He fired twin proton beams again--
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