The Energon Pub

This probably has been done, but I'll submit it with the off chance it hasn't been.

Autobots side (total 10)
Leaders
1- Jetfire (Skyfire)
2- Silverbolt

Team
3 - Skydive
4 - Air Raid
5 - Slingshot
6- Fireflight
7- Scattershot
8- Strafe
9- Brainstorm (pre-headmaster)
10- Power Glide


Decepticon side (total 10)
Leaders
1- Starscream
2- Cyclonus
Team
3- Ramjet
4- Dirge
5 Thrust
6- Skywarp
7- Thundercracker
8- Blitzwing
9- Astrotrain
10- Scourge

(here's wiki if you don't know any of the characters http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Aerialbots )

- Rules of engagement
- None of the combiner teams can merge, both teams flew thru some sort of anomaly that jammed that function.
- Scourge and Cyclonus are like their IDW incarnations, separate entities from whatever character they were rebuilt into by Unicron. Just ignore that fact from G1 for purposes of this thread.
- They re fighting in some unknown location, there's an energon source both sides want. There's basically nothing but barren terrain on the ground, and fairly clear skies with minimal cloud coverage.
- They can not call for back up. Whomever is there is all the help they'll get. Fight lasts till one side withdrawals or can not longer fight by whatever means.

So I think that covers it, debate away!

Without Superion, the Decepticon team wins.

One crucial factor here is that the Decepticons have much more air warfare experience. They could attack swiftly and effectively, outclassing the Autobots with their practiced teamwork.

I imagine a quick Decepticon attack where Thundercracker and Thrust stun the Autobots with intense sonic booms and concussion waves, Dirge's sound sows panic, Ramjet smashes into one of the Autobot leaders, Skywarp teleports to attack the other leader and the others just attack hard. Perhaps the Autobots can be wiped out in a few minutes.

However, the Autobots are not exactly pushovers. Scattershot attacks relentlessly. There's plenty of conventional firepower in the group. Skydive's flying abilities are second to none. Also, he has a nega gun that crumbles anything it hits. Air Raid is fearless and has a torque rifle that twists whatever the beam touches. Fireflight has a photon displacer gun that distorts the appearance of things. With their weapons, both normal and exotic, the Autobots could lay waste to the Decepticons.

A lot depends on reaction time and who can strike first. If the Aerialbots can take the Decepticons by surprise, the photon displacer could disorientate the Decepticons. The nega gun and torque rifle could cripple all the Decepticons if they are all caught in the beams. Conventional firepower could then eliminate the Decepticons.