The Energon Pub

Australia--Uluru

Rampage had gone down. Headstrong too. The Fallen's junk was just increasing with every breem that passed. Just like Tantrum's rage. But for all the brutal fighting, the Predacon fueler wasn't feeling like he was making any progress. It was like raging against an ununtrium mountain.

A firebird was rocketing towards him, wings ablaze. Tantrum turned and readied his weapon, his own optics filled with rage when suddenly the creature seemed to turn into ice right before him and fall from the skies. Tantrum looked down, spying an Autobot that smiled up at him and waved before turning his weapon to some other threat.

GRAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Tantrum began to thunder downward when something else caught his attention. That runty flyer from the Thanatos fight.

GRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Tantrum changed his trajectory. That scraplet wanted to finish his challenge and prove himself? Now was as good a time as any. But as he drew closer, sword in hand ready to strike, Tantrum watched as this Nightweaver focused his attacks on the Fallen's shielding--like pretty much all of them had been doing. He was, to Tantrum's exceeding surprise, taking his best stab at getting in there and doing some damage to the demigod. Not from a distance, but up close and personal. Just the way Tantrum liked it. He had to give the little fragger credit: Tantrum would savor the moment of Nightweaver's death at his hands just a little bit less now. Not many things took that satisfaction away from him.

Fallen first. Then, runt.

But no sooner had Tantrum come anywhere near striking distance than his field of vision became white hot and his pain sensors went into overdrive.

He was falling.

Then he was crashing.

Australia - Uluru



*VEESSSKKKKKK-KKKZZZTTTTT*

"By the Allspark..." Cloudbreaker gasped in shock after materializing onto the battlefield following a bounce sequence to the Planet's surface. He noticed Mal Practice calling in to Psychout, the mech Cloudbreaker was recently appointed to serve under. Normally being reassigned under someone else would usually cuase an unhealthy stir in the ranks, but given the most recent circumstances of Decepticon infighting it was best just to roll with it for now. Besides, Cloudbreaker didn't mind the reassignment anyways, he could use something to do so he wouldn't grow bored of constantly stealing from every mindless Seeker or vehicon that just so happened to be in his line of sight in the bar.

Shaking himself back into reality, Cloudbreaker armed himself with his dual pistols and took aim at the nearest Rock-based creature he could set his optics on.

>>>Right, I’m in position over in killjoy corner, covering Landgrab and ‘Jaws with the Radrifle. Darkfire, If you need cover, call it, otherwise get out there and have some fun! Oh, and whoever gets the least kills has to cover Jaw's energon tab when we get back to the Thantos. Pew pew pew!!<<<

>>"Why even pay??"<< Cloudbreaker replied as he joined in on his newly appointed team's comm frequency, >>"You let me worry about the drinks, I know for sure that Octane's holding out on some really high-grade stuff back aboard the ship."<< He aimed his pistol towards the nearest rock lord and began spraying the elemental monstrosity with a barrage of red-hot laser fire. >>"How about winner gets a cube of some top-end Engex?"<<



"...I know you. It’s Eject right? ... I need a spotter and I hear you’re the talkative-type. Get up here and call these things out whilst your boss is working, and maybe we'll have all have a better chance of getting out of here alive?"

The blue and white Cassettebot looked up from his previous radio-frequency scans to find a mech roughly the same size as him and sporting a build similar to Frenzy and Rumble addressing him.

"Ye-Yeah..." Eject replied somewhat confused as he closed the open panel running along his forearm to give the sniper his full attention. "Yeah! You got it- uh, what's your name? I don't think I've seen you with Soundwave before..." Before the Decepticon could issue him a reply, Eject peered over the former Cassetticon's shoulder plating and noticed a couple of rock-lords who set their sights on the joint Autobot/Decepticon force.

"Time-out's over! We got two approaching from the 40-yard line!" He exclaimed as he pointed an accusatory index digit in the direction of the elemental creatures.

-

“Well commander, I know this is not the reunion we were both anticipating, but try not to be too upset. My team are now in position, so if you will forgive me not embarking down memory lane, I've got rock lords to kill..."

"Agreed." Soundwave monotonously replied to the cassette that was formerly under his command as he gave a confirmative nod in his direction before he went and perched himself up on a rock formation to gain a better vantage point.

"What? Amplify... Assist you how exactly? I don't possess your telepathic abilities, and I'm fairly certain it's not the same as boosting the frequency. Unless... Have you ever done something like this? Any precedents?"

Soundwave remained motionless as he watched his eons-long rival sort through a series of questions, most of them just in sheer disbelief of whether he should assist the Decepticon communications officer or not. Even the infamous Soundwave himself was skeptical of the idea, but time was running, it was this or nothing.

Before Soundwave could deliver his thoughts on the matter, a communication from Frenzy drew his attention away from the scene.

>>”Hey boss! When are we goin' after the big flaming guy? We can take him!"<<

>>"Negative."<< Soundwave replied almost instantly after Frenzy finished his inquiry. >>"Link up with Ravage and continue to assimilate the elemental deities while I make an attempt to procure us more information regarding the Fallen's hold over the Autobot he possessed. Remain on standby though in case a defensive perimeter is needed to be established."<< Closing the comm line to the red and black cassette, Soundwave glanced back towards the joint Autobot/Decepticon group standing around the trench.

"A process like this has never been fully tested as the need for such an extreme was never needed. Until now..." The Blue and white Decepticon replied to the latest of Blaster's questions while turning to face the Fallen's position atop the mountain side. "Given both our experiences in the field of communications, I believe we have the potential to reroute if not scramble our presence if we attempt another reading of the Fallen's mind."

Soundwave turned back to his crimson-colored rival while the display screen fixated on his chest began to erupt in a dazzling display of infographic read outs and technological graphing all regarding his latest proposal to try and isolate Hot Rod's presence.

"You are right about not having the abilities necessary to attempt a telepathic link to the Fallen," The Decepticon began as more and more info traveled across his chest plate, "But your skills in broadcasting specialized frequencies is pivotal in redirecting the Fallen's presence should he try and counter us like he did before. I propose we form a two-way psychic-patch between the both of us. With both or processor powers linked, we can establish a direct link to both our respected Starships to serve as a central relay to bounce our signal around. Once we have an established connection to both ships, we can utilize the long-range communication functions to disperse our signal across all the local satellites currently in orbit. As soon as we can all communication-lines linked and harnessed to our operating systems, I can attempt another reading of the Fallen's mind. While we are still connected, you too will be following along when I attempt the telepathic breach. You will be task with trying to divert the Fallen's own signal away from us by sending it through the connection-link, essentially dispersing his countermeasures around the various connection points and away from our processors to allow us more time to isolate the cavalier's dormant thoughts."

After he finished relaying the information to his age-old rival, the Decepticon Communications officer stared off in Blaster's direction as he sat back and watched the Autobot CO take in all the proposed data.



“Hey Rumble! Let's shake these bozos up!" Frenzy exclaimed as he tapped the blue and violet Cassetticon on the shoulder-plating before turning back to back and unleashing a deafening wave of sonic energy.

"You call that shaking?? Nah, this is shaking!" Rumble replied as his holstered his laser cannons and transformed his arm's into a pair a pile-drivers he was infamously well known to deploy. He pivoted his elbow joint to aim his pile-driver up towards the oncoming rock creatures rather than pointing them to the ground like he normally would and fired the compressed piston out towards the nearest rock lord. "Yeah! Get sum'! Rumble roared as the blunt weapon pounded a nearly perfect hole into the elemental's chest cavity.

"Talk about rockin' their world, eh Frenzy?" The loud-mouth Decepticon hollered over the roaring screech his brother was utilizing. "These guys crumble like rusted tin foil!"

>>”Lure them to the fire vortexes or they'll keep getting back up,"<< Ravage commed in to all the Cassetticons deployed.

>>"Why? I like knockin' 'em down! I could do this all day!"<<

Australia - Top of Ayers Rock

The Fallen smiled widely as Nightweaver leveled his photon rifle at the side of the shield and pulled the trigger, causing a powerful explosion. The fiery demigod withdrew his staff from the inside wall of the shield as light and sound cascaded off of the impenetrable barrier on the outside. The shield, itself, pulsated with energy as it easily absorbed the force of the detonation. This Cybertronian truly did have a death wish, evidenced by not just his own words but by his actions, as well. So be it. If he wanted to die, then die. It mattered little how these filthy creatures perished just so long as they ultimately did.

“Well, now that that’s taken care of, who’s next?” The Fallen asked as he turned to cast his gaze around the summit of the mountain. His question was answered quickly as Springer rushed to the opposite side of the shield and attempted to communicate with Hot Rod. It was another valiant attempt but, just like before, a futile one. This body belonged to the agent of chaos now. The Autobot cavalier was just a passenger in what was once his construct. Soon Hot Rod would join the rest of his kind in oblivion, but not before he witnessed their destruction first hand.

Springer?!? I can hear you, Springer! I’m here! I’m HERE!!

He cannot hear you, child. He will only hear what I allow him to hear. As far as he and the rest of them are all concerned, you are dead!

But why hide my presence from them? What is to be gained by that? I would think you’d want to emotionally torture them by revealing the fact that I am suffering in here. It would be a good weapon against their morale, so why not use it? The truth is that you’re afraid of them getting through to me. They’re on to you, Fallen! They know that I am the key to all this!

You are only the key to their deaths!! Nothing more!!! You are my vessel from which I will spread the annihilation of the Cybertronian plague across the universe and thus bring forth my master! You are a tool. You are MY tool!

You’re not fooling me, Fallen! You’re only fooling yourself! Hot Rod then turned his attention back to the Autobot triplechanger. Springer! SPRINGER!!! I’m in here! I’m alive!! Don’t give up! Don’t stop fight....

SILENCE!!!

Hot Rod’s ramblings had served to distract the Fallen once again, this time from an attack by the giant gestalt calling itself Devastator. A huge chunk of the mountain had been ripped away and flung at the fiery demigod’s position. It’s large shadow cast down around the Fallen and those close enough to him. The possessed Hot Rod gazed skyward as the massive rock came down to crush him, but then suddenly stopped in mid-air.

“You throw rocks at me now?” The Fallen questioned, his staff held high as the chunk of the mountain hovered over him. “You may be big, Devastator, but you are a buffoon! Clearly the sum of your parts makes you none the wiser!” With a wave of his staff, the demigod propelled the huge piece of rock directly back at the Constructicon combiner. The green behemoth would either have to try and dodge the immense projectile or absorb the impact. Whatever the gestalt ultimately decided, it would be entertaining.
_________

It was then that the Fallen felt a tremor beneath his feet. A new smile spread across his visage as he gazed down at the rocky ground under him to see the sand and dirt vibrate. This, however, was not caused by him. No. This was caused by something far more brave and tenacious than he had given credit for. It was either that or simply foolish and stupid. It was so hard to tell sometimes when it came to these Cybertronians.

“I was wondering when you were going to try again,” the fiery demigod muttered aloud as he expanded the shield to accommodate the new arrival. As a portion of the ground began to collapse and form a hole, the Fallen stepped back and readied himself for his adversary. A pair of crimson optics appeared in the darkness of the hole before a mechanical winged wolf leapt from the shadows and hurled itself directly at the flame-covered mech. The Fallen gave a vicious backhand to the beast, sending it flying back into the far wall of the shield.

“You phase sixers think your indestructible and unbeatable, but you’re not,” the demigod bellowed as he waved his staff and caused the hole in the ground to cave in on itself, sealing it shut just in case anyone else wanted to follow.

“The same could be said of you demigods,” the STAG retorted, reverting to robot mode and picking himself up off the ground within the shield. “I have come to end this once and for all, Fallen! You get no free hits this time!”

“Indeed,” the Fallen responded as he approached the center of the domed shield that contained the two powerful combatants. “I never expected you to make that mistake again. You would truly be an idiot if you did.” The demigod studied the sixchanger for a moment, not because he needed to but because he wanted to. This Cybertronian interested him more than the others. He was as unique as he was powerful, but yet he wanted no part in leadership. He was more than content with being a living weapon to be yielded by whomever was in power of the Decepticon forces or perhaps, more accurately, whomever held power over him.

“Enough talk, Fallen! Put your staff down and let’s fight like real mechs! No more hiding behind ancient weapons!” Sixshot’s words echoed across the summit of the mountain as he placed his own two guns down onto the ground and approached the center of the shielded dome.

“Okay,” the Fallen replied rather plainly. Turning around for a moment, the demigod moved over to one side where he slammed the bottom end of his staff down into the ground. There it remained standing like a pole or antenna. He then returned to the center and looked Sixshot directly in the optics. “Tell you what, since you gave me the first punch last time, I’ll allow you the first hit this time. Sound fair?”

“Very,” the sixchanger responded as he delivered a powerful uppercut to the Fallen’s jaw, snapping the demigod’s cranium upwards and forcing him to stagger back a few feet from the sheer force of the impact.

“Intriguing,” the Fallen commented as he rubbed his chin guard before cracking his neck joint. “I almost felt that! Hit me again! That was enticing!”

“I don’t need your permission,” Sixshot retorted, moving in for another round.

“Of course you don’t...” The Fallen’s words were cut off as the STAG unleashed a flurry of ferocious punches to not only the demigod’s faceplate but to his upper torso and midsection, as well. Each powerful hit forced the fiery mech back a few steps as the smile on his flame-covered visage grew wider and wider with each passing astrosecond. Sixshot paid the expression no mind as he continued his attack on the Fallen’s possessed body. The hellfire that emanated from the former cavalier left scorch marks on Sixshot’s knuckles, but it was nothing to prevent him from continuing his assault.

Finally, Sixshot delivered one last backhand across to the Fallen’s faceplate before kicking him hard directly in the midsection, propelling the demigod backwards until he struck the inside wall of the shielded dome. The Fallen then slumped down to a kneeling position as energon trickled from his mouthpiece. “It seems that I underestimated your power, Sixshot,” the fiery mech said with a hint of distress in his vocals.

“A common mistake from those who do not know me,” Sixshot responded as he cast his gaze over to the Fallen’s staff that stood like a spire in the ground a short distance away.

“I wouldn’t touch that if I were you,” the Fallen warned as he placed an elbow onto his knee joint.

“You’re not me,” the STAG said with a glare of contempt for this being. “As I said before, this all ends now!” Sixshot moved away from the Fallen and approached the staff. As he stood before the powerful relic, the sixchanger turned his attention to his fellow Cybertronians who were still on the outside of the shield. “Once I destroy this, the Fallen is yours. No mercy!”

Wasting no further time, Sixshot reached out with his right hand and grasped the Fallen’s staff within his actuators, yanking it out of the ground in one forceful pull. Standing there, the sixchanger felt a sense of accomplishment. Finally, after all this fighting, the Fallen would be left vulnerable. Finally, they could hurt him.

“Yes, Sixshot, it does end,” the Fallen’s voice filled the STAG’s audios. “But not for me...for YOU!!”

As those last few words sunk in, Sixshot felt a dark energy from the staff pour into his right hand and arm, eventually filling his entire body. This was the same sensation he had felt when the energy had previously struck his underside but now it was far more potent. “What? I...” Sixshot’s vocalizer failed as the demonic energies overloaded his circuits once again and hellfire erupted from every orifice across his framework. Smoke poured from his audio receptors and mouth as well as from around the seems of his optics. A flash of sparks and flames radiated from his lower back where he had suffered damage from the previous strike.

Then Sixshot’s body went limp and he collapsed to the ground, his burnt hand releasing the staff in the process. “Poor little phase sixer,” the Fallen commented as he stood over the smoldering husk of the sixchanger. “Only I can touch the staff, you fool! I, and whomever I deem worthy! You, dear Sixshot, are NOT worthy. None of you are!!!” The fiery demigod bent down and retrieved his staff before standing tall again. “Do none of you yet understand the inevitability of this situation? You are all destined to DIE! Nothing you can do will change that!”

Angling the top, pointy end of his staff downward, the Fallen impaled Sixshot through the breach in his lower back and lifted the limp STAG up into the air. “If this is truly your best warrior then you are all doomed!” The demigod said as the sixchanger let out a groan as he hung on the top of the staff he had just tried to yield. “I’m sorry, what was that? You want to rejoin your doomed brethren? But, of course, join them....in oblivion!!”

With that said, the Fallen used his staff and flung the defeated phase sixer out of the confines of the shield, allowing Sixshot to pass through the barrier without compromising it in the process. The STAG landed hard on the ground alongside the rest of the Cybertronian filth that contaminated the top of Ayers Rock. The sixchanger's systems and body were severely damaged in the fight, but even still Sixshot had not gone into stasis.

The Fallen’s shield had now shrunk back down around him, leaving no room for anyone else but himself within its protection. The fiery demigod then brought the energon covered tip of his staff up to his mouthpiece and licked it clean of Sixshot’s fluids. “Mmmm....delicious!”

Australia – South of Ayer's Rock

Darkfire kept circling above the group of assorted Autobots and Decepticons in a holding pattern when a jarring new voice entered her cranium.

>>"Why even pay??"<< Cloudbreaker replied as he joined in on his newly appointed team's comm frequency, >>"You let me worry about the drinks, I know for sure that Octane's holding out on some really high-grade stuff back aboard the ship. How about winner gets a cube of some top-end Engex?"<<

>>”Who in Pit is this!? Who in Pit are you?!”<< Darkfire snapped at Cloudbreaker, her first question actually having been directed at Psychout. >>”Get out!”<< Darkfire transformed and hovered in midair, glaring down at the new arrival. Her hand slid inward to be replaced by a flamethrower as she doused another rock lord in the white hot slag. >>”Deal with this, Psychout!”<<

Honestly, just barging into their group frequency without even so much as an introduction. The assassin could barely believe the gall of this...this...whelp! Kuh! Darkfire took out her frustration on any rock monster in her sights, coating them liberally with molten chemicals. How utterly...rrr...She couldn't even deal with it right now. She had to kill something and these rock lords were as good as it was going to get.



Steeljaw watched the interactions between Eject and Psychout with relative interest. The Decepticon cassette looked similar to Rumble or Frenzy, but the lion tracker could not place ever seeing him before with Soundwave. Eject hastily went to work, calling out two of the creatures nearby. Steeljaw continued to study Psychout. He sniffed the air a couple times, memorizing the Decepticon's scent for later reference.

“Who are you?” Steeljaw asked Psychout, “I've never smelled you before.”


"A process like this has never been fully tested as the need for such an extreme was never needed. Until now..." The Blue and white Decepticon replied to the latest of Blaster's questions while turning to face the Fallen's position atop the mountain side. "Given both our experiences in the field of communications, I believe we have the potential to reroute if not scramble our presence if we attempt another reading of the Fallen's mind."

“Well...if anyone could do it, it would be us,” Blaster conceded, rubbing his chin as he looked over to the mountain where their foe resided. A flash in his peripheral vision drew his attention to Soundwave's chest where all sorts of infographic readouts and technological graphing were available for the crimson-colored mech's perusal.

"You are right about not having the abilities necessary to attempt a telepathic link to the Fallen," The Decepticon began as more and more info traveled across his chest plate, "But your skills in broadcasting specialized frequencies is pivotal in redirecting the Fallen's presence should he try and counter us like he did before. I propose we form a two-way psychic-patch between the both of us. With both or processor powers linked, we can establish a direct link to both our respected Starships to serve as a central relay to bounce our signal around. Once we have an established connection to both ships, we can utilize the long-range communication functions to disperse our signal across all the local satellites currently in orbit. As soon as we can all communication-lines linked and harnessed to our operating systems, I can attempt another reading of the Fallen's mind. While we are still connected, you too will be following along when I attempt the telepathic breach. You will be task with trying to divert the Fallen's own signal away from us by sending it through the connection-link, essentially dispersing his countermeasures around the various connection points and away from our processors to allow us more time to isolate the cavalier's dormant thoughts."

Blaster nodded and rubbed his hands together, “Alright, sounds good to me. Now, it probably need not be said but...if I catch you rummaging around in my head or the Autobot starship in any way...I'm going to let your brain fry. That said, let's kick this supernatural demigod to the curb.” Blaster initiated contact with the Ark-22 remotely and began to bounce around his signal, circling into the Guardian once before flinging it around the planet again, utilizing circular paths that would (hopefully) leave the Fallen in an unending loop when he tried to trace it back to them and melt their processors.

Oh yeah. This was going to be fun.

Australia

Crueljaw was quiet happily throwing golems about like trailer trash in a twister when a new voice burst in over the team frequency as the Melta bombs erupted around him.

>>"Why even pay?? You let me worry about the drinks, I know for sure that Octane's holding out on some really high-grade stuff back aboard the ship." How about winner gets a cube of some top-end Engex?"<<

Smoke and flame erupted around his position as the Melta bombs exploded more golems approached the smoke as a light moved in the smoke. Like a Flame wreathed avatar of destruction Crueljaw emerged from the smoke and pounded another pair of golems. Crueljaw growled into the Comm link >>How about I stuff my plasma blade up your recharge port and watch your energon ignite. Now Go Frag yourself and let us get on with our work and Get get off our comm link<<

Crueljaw continued forward the flames dying down as he pummelled another golem before slicing it into bits with his plasma blade.

Uluru - Killjoy Corner, South(ish) of Ayers Rock.


Through his scope Psychout could see the top of Uluru as the glass-storm cleared.
The Autobots, Decepticons and those traitorous Predacons floundered against the outside of the forcefield like gobots, whilst the possessed body of Hotrod stood, unscathed, laughing as Sixshots attempt to beat the Fallen out of him failed because he picked up that staff. That staff... I’m willing to bet that thing is the key to all of this...
Psych flicked the rifle from mech to mech, studying each targets up there for a fraction of a second, pinpointing its weakest linkage before moving along to the next in quick succession.
I could end this war right now. Three bullets and two factions are leaderless, Shockwave returns to command, and the war is effectively over...

He collected his thoughts for the briefest of instances, but even in his own mind he knew no peace; You cannot stop him, this you already know and yet you still try, you still hope. the last word was said with such distaste that even his subconscious flinched. Whatever you are, YOU DO NOT KNOW ME! Wherever you came from, whatever you think you are, you are not me. Embracing the darkness is one thing, allowing it to envelop me is another. I fight on the side of chaos, of freedom, because it suits my whim, not yours. Now be silent! he retorted to his unknown 'passenger', aware of the ridiculousness of his actions. So be it ...and when you change your mind, I’ll still be here.
His own subconscious angered him, and he focused on clearing his mind again. Where is that coming from?

He was snapped from his reverie by Eject stepping up to the plate, his commentary bringing him back to reality with a jolt. Without another seconds hesitation he tagged the golems Eject called, and responded to his interviewers questions.
"The name is Psychout. You've not seen me with Soundwave before before as I ‘aint one of his. I ‘aint one of anyone’s apart from my own. You'll know as well as anyone, these cassette configurations grant a humongous memory capacity..." He swung around to his right and put a few depleted uranium rounds into a golem that Crueljaw may not have spotted yet, "...and so in my line of work, looking like this comes in extremely handy."
He quickly reloaded his rifle, and looked down at Steeljaw who had also taken an interest in him. "I also used to be a quadruped like you. I’d say I missed it, but not having the urge to sniff people’s afts is a relief." He turned back to the battle and zeroed in on another target as he glimpsed a bounce-flash above. Looks like his latest recruit had arrived. "...This isn't the first time I've met you Steeljaw, but you've never noticed my scent for a reason." He left that statement idling as his comms began to blow up with chatter from his team. He ignored it for a few seconds. "Here we go..." he said wearily to himself.



Mal Practice half-sped and half-fled in the direction of Landgrab, but his altmode was not known for being speedy. He swerved and skidded as best he could to avoid these creatures that flooded the battlefield, but he could only focus on one thing and it was GLORIOUS. Six Constructicons united into one beautiful entity. That it had the mind of a glitched protoform didn't matter to him - the myths were true! The ‘gestalt’ truly exists! He radioed ahead to Landgrab, barely able to contain his excitement

>>>Landgrab? It’s Mal Practice... isn't that thing amazing?!? Just imagine the possibilities... What tools do you have to scan it? If you like, I may be able to help calibrate them for wider spectrum signa-AARGGHH!<<< His transmission was cut short as he was shouldered by a lumbering golem moving only marginally slower than he, but apart from a big dent in his instrument array he was unscathed, his ballistic shielding made sure of that. He continued his message undaunted. >>>Getting near this guy might be tough, got any suggestions?<<<

Cloudbreaker wrote:>>"...Why even pay?? You let me worry about the drinks, I know for sure that Octane's holding out on some really high-grade stuff back aboard the ship. How about winner gets a cube of some top-end Engex?"<<

If ever an introduction made him chuckle, that one did. Psychout already knew Cloudbreaker was joining the unit, Shockwave had already pulsed that information to him, but he didn't think he’d be coming this soon. He openly laughed when Darkfire and Crueljaw responded in kind...

Darkfire wrote:>>”Who in Pit is this!? Who in Pit are you?! Get out! Deal with this, Psychout!"<<

Crueljaw wrote:>>How about I stuff my plasma blade up your recharge port and watch your energon ignite. Now Go Frag yourself and let us get on with our work and Get get off our comm link<<

Stifling the outburst that he knew would be confusing his Autobot audience, Psychout composed himself and addressed his burgeoning team, starting with Cloudbreaker’s introductions as Crueljaw never liked the idea of his threats having to remain empty.
>>> You found us then newbie? Good. Darkfire, Crueljaw? Meet Cloudbreaker. He’s Vindicators replacement - let’s just hope he lasts longer, you can give him the usual greeting after this is all over<<< He let that one hang enigmatically, it was always good to have something to look forward to that wasn’t more work >>>Cloudbreaker, you will take aerial support from higher altitude, keep those feathery flamers off Darkfire whilst she and Crueljaw clear the secure zone, although I’d stay out of her way if I were you, her blades are even sharper than her tongue. You’ll also be watching over Landgrab and Mal Practice from range, as I may need you to distract the giant green Constructicon they are scanning for a few seconds if it spots them at work. Now, you have met the crew, you have your orders, get on with it! Psychout, out.<<<

He opened a private channel to Darkfire. He’d only met Cloudbreaker briefly before his assignment to the team and knew little of him, and it was always best to be certain >>Darkfire, I need you to case the new guy out for me. Shockwave trusts him so he’s on the right team at least, but I need you to establish if he is on our level and we can fully trust him, or if he just here to check up on us. See what you think and report back at the end of the battle.<<

He then watched for a few seconds as his bodyguard Crueljaw effortlessly dispatched more of these creatures. His team was almost complete again, this time it was up to him to make sure they stayed that way. He reassumed the prone position and re-sighted his rifle as he beckoned for Eject to return to the spotters role.

“Hey, Eject” he called the Autobot sportsfan. “You ever seen a golem with its face melted off?” and took his shot, leaving the creature with nothing by an empty skull slowly dissolving in bubbling and acrid green smoke.
“There ya go Steeljaw, you can try and smell that as well if you like?”

Australia- Uluru, way behind the combat line

I'm glad I thought of this, Misfire mused as he settled in beside a group of fallen Vehicons. Just lay here, pretend to be dead for a while... He carefully added a bit more dirt to his frame to better conceal himself.

It was a bit... morbid to lie beside a bunch of dead shells, but it was certainly less scary than trying to deal with the Fallen or his little buddies. And it seemed no one had noticed he'd snuck off in the heat of battle, nor paid heed to his new hiding spot.

So he'd wait for the big names to sort things out and live to fight -or more likely, flee- another day.

-

Skies over Uluru

Opportunity.

Bistream had been waiting for a reply from Soundwave, but the dead air made it emphatically clear the communications officer wasn't in a giving mood. So Bitstream was just left hovering over the fighting, waiting... wondering how much of his statement Soundwave had decoded and how long it would take for Starscream to strong-arm it from him or for Soundwave to barter it to Razorclaw. The more time passed, the fewer options he had.

Until, of course, Sixshot fell at the Fallen's hand again and landed in the dirt. Bitstream had first made a proposal to the Phase Sixer when Bitstream thought Sixshot was in dire straits. Now, it seemed, Sixshot's bravado had proved meaningless. Suddenly their footing was much closer to equal.

Sixshot had warned the Seeker not to threaten him again. Given what just happened, it was likely Sixshot would shoot anyone who so much as offered a hand to lift him; he'd be so angry.

So when Bitstream flew down and landed before him, the first thing the Seeker did was throw up his hands.

"I can remove the Achilles virus," Bitstream explained. "But not without activating it. I don't have the same technical skill as Shockwave. I can't catch the program and extract it until it activates in your system. That's why I had to say the command code.

"I don't want to control you, I never did," Bitstream continued, hoping not to be shot mid-sentence. "All I want is for Starscream to die. And I can't do it myself, no matter how much I need to see it happen.

"Now we know you're being held back, and I can remove your last restraint," Bitstream told him. "Because if I don't, we both die here, and Starscream stays at the back of the line and turns tail when he needs to. You die in thrall, and I die without having accomplished anything."

Raw honesty. Not the sort of thing Decepticons usually said to each other.

"So, if you really think I can't help you... now that you know the finer details, you should shoot me now," Bitstream told him. "Because I'm dead either way."

"I just want to have my revenge before I go."

Summit of Ayers Rock

Ultra Magnus winced as a seething pain ran its course through his left shoulder. Immediately he ordered a diagnostic to determine the damage, though he was well aware of the cause and what had happened. The impact to the ground that had sent him and Springer sprawling across the summit after a narrow escape from the Fallen's ill tempered wrath had caused several circuits and actuators to become dislodged. Though his communications with the armor itself was not affected, the weight was now being felt on the wounded arm. The results were not as optimistic as Magnus had hoped. Shards of obsidian that had been ejected from the impact site had lodged themselves in other areas through out the armor and his linkage systems.

The Autobot commander forced his internal hydraulics and gears to grind through the obstructions, sending further particulates and pain surging through his systems. Slowly he rose to his feet, scooping up his hammer to offer himself support before reclaiming his rifle. The power cell flashed gold, indicating it still held enough energy for a concentrated burst to bring down a small battalion of hostiles. Unfortunately, Magnus was well aware that the foe he was now watching engage one of the most powerful Cybertronians ever to be poured... was more powerful than any battalion Megatron had ever conceived.

Magnus did not show a response to the uncanny and absolute defeat of the closest thing Megatron had ever developed. Instead he swiftly and deftly activated his internal communique link between himself and Prowl. "Sixshot is defeated." It was the first sentence, one that he knew well would deal a crushing blow of morale to those within the Decepticon ranks. Instead Magnus felt it was time to succumb to the situation as it stood. "Prowl, deploy the gravitational lenses. As soon as they are in position, order the Combined Fleet to action. We have to bring that shield down now."

He narrowed the band so that it was no longer capable of interception by those who were near or at least specially talented to crack the encryption that were automatically being installed into the channel. "Order Wheeljack to move the Ark 22 and Guardian into specialized positions post Ion Burst and await for final order. Soon as the Gravitational Lens is in place, order a withdrawal of proposed effective radius."

Ultra Magnus segmented the channel and placed it into the background. He pulled up his hammer by the hilt and allowed its heft to drag its head to the ground in a fracturing thundering explosion of energies. The rifle was slung back upon his back and the hammer's throat was grabbed by both hands as it was drawn back up with the cracks of electricity flaring from its main body.

His attention was turned back to the Fallen as the monstrosity lapped at the spilled energon of the six formed behemoth. "Ironically, you must find Hot Rod to be among those you judge as worthy," The commander spoke with a raised voice. He stepped forward again, his foot crunching over the obsidian deteris that radiated from the smoldering crater of partially melted rock and burbling glass pools. Magnus shrugged his shoulders again as he increased the strength of his grip on the handle of his war hammer... doing his best to mask the surges and disruptions of pain the movements caused.

Scoop slowly rose to his feet behind him. He could hear the battlefield engineer shuffle over to Springer and begin a cursory examination of the green triple changer. It allowed Magnus to focus on the task at hand... at least most of it. "Scoop, Springer, check on Sixshot. Do what you can to stabilize his condition until Ratchet arrives. Jazz, Broadside, Sandstorm... give them cover and keep the approach open for the good doctor."

Immediately he activated the inventory of his armory. Primary weapons were overcoming the damage done when Springer had pulled them clear of the fireball attack, but they would be operational and charged in short order. He held few projectile rounds left. At least two dozen mirconized rockets and a half dozen high yield missiles... and one prototype high grade stun grenade that Ironfist had given him before they left the Guardian. His internal conveyors selected the grenade and shifted it towards a secondary launcher located on the inside of his right wrist, though it was not deployed outright.

His voice was focused back on the Fallen. "There is the proof of what I speak, Fallen. You are nothing without Hot Rod's power. I find it laughable that you deny this simple universal truth. I suppose you have gone blind as well as senile after you forsook your position of honor and oath sworn in creation to your brethren." Magnus's hammer crackled again. "Very well then. You desire a grander challenge than Sixshot? Then I accept that personal challenge. Shield or no shield. Hot Rod will be awakened from the shadow you've cloaked him in, and you will be relegated to a distant memory."

Magnus swung the hammer down upon the ground, electricity pulsing through the crumpling stone as it was kissed by the Cybertronian Steel. Rock splintered and flew aside in belches of sparks as the river of power snaked its way through the sandstone. Upon reaching the magnetic field of the shield the power exploded forth as if a geyser of uncontrolled energy had been tapped and released from an eternal pressure.

Hot Rod, you better hurry the hell up. Because if you don't... Earth is going to pay the price more than you will ever realize.

After the geyser spat forth its column of charged concentrated energies, Magnus entered into a brief sprint. He drove his left ankle into a break in the summit's surface and twisted hard to right as his path began to serpentine only slightly to throw off aim. Magnus held no illusions of his strength rating in comparison to Sixshot. No, the STAG was far more powerful than he was... but where Magnus lacked strength, he more than made up for it in experience, tactics and self sacrifice. All he needed now was to buy time. Prowl had Tracks, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Nova Strike available to deploy the gravitational components, and he alone could hone it to the task at hand. If that all failed... At least the final piece was in place for the ultimate sacrifice.

Australia--Uluru

Not dying.

Not dying!

Landgrab was in the middle of a battle with a Cybertronian demigod and a Contructicon behemoth that looked like it had been spit out of the bowels of the Pit itself. And he was not dying!

Yes!

>>Go for it ‘Grabbers, we’ve got you covered. Don’t forget the rifle Jaws gave you! Mal Practice will be along with you shortly, just you wait ‘til you see what he can do...<<

Right!

>>"Right, chief. Not forgetting. Have weapon. Not dying! Woo!"<<

Crueljaw was actually providing some impressive, close-quarters cover. And every so often as Landgrab got closer and closer to a good angle, an approaching rock golem would find itself blasted with some pretty pinpoint shots before Landgrab could even think about raising his own weapon in defense. Good. More mental focus for scans.

>>Landgrab? It’s Mal Practice... isn't that thing amazing?!? Just imagine the possibilities... What tools do you have to scan it? If you like, I may be able to help calibrate them for wider spectrum signa-AARGGHH! Getting near this guy might be tough, got any suggestions?<<

Ah, there he was. That guy Psychout had been talking about.

>>Um, just my standard, deconstructive scanning equipment. So I can see inside and fix...things. Y'know. If you think they might need calibrating, you're welcome to tinker. I wanna get Psych whatever he needs."<<

Landgrab pretty deftly avoided another oncoming golem, this time finally getting a chance to use the weapon Crueljaw had given him and proceeded to cover the creature's upper torso with acidic slag.

>>"I think I'm almost in position. Just a few dozen more meters or so and my equipment should be able to pick up anything and everything about that green titan."<<

Australia--Uluru

The rock trash didn't stay down when you hit it. But when you blasted it enough, well, there wasn't anything to come back together. That seemed to be working as well as anything. Granted, if he had firepower like Shockwave did, he'd be a lot better at keeping the slagging things down and out. Or atomized from existence altogether. Oh well. He did his part.

"What's next, Blitz? We gonna-?"

But then his audio receptors picked up something. Something out of place amongst the din of chaos that assaulted all of his senses. Something.....organic.

He turned to look. Far from the outermost edges of where the fighting was taking place, Astrotrain saw the fleshling. The same human child that he had deposited well away from Uluru and told it to stay far, far away. But it just couldn't listen, could it?

Slag on a maggot...

Astrotrain checked his surroundings. The fighting was growing more and more heavy around Ayer's Rock. It tapered off the further one got away from the Fallen's position.

"One sec, Blitz," Astrotrain said, transforming into train mode and chugging off in the direction of the human child.
___

Ratbat had found a satisfactory perch on the underside of one of the Autobot shuttles. He had taken a pot shot here and there, but this was clearly not a battle for the likes of him. No no no. There were far too many opportunities for a mech of his diminutive stature to find oneself caught in front of one destructive blast or another. Particularly with a Cybertronian legend made only too real before their very optics. No, this perch would suit him just fine for now.

Ratbat stretched his metallic wings and then folded them up against his body, watching the battle unfold.

Ulruu Skies

Skydive was flying around waiting for the response from Silverbolt. When he received it, he would have smiled if he was in robot form. He noticed two fire birds coming at him on his left side and one on his right side.

No time like the present to try out the idea.

Skydive flew first to his right towards the single fire bird putting the two behind him. As he flew towards the single one, the blew fire at him which made him pull up at a ten degree angle. The fire hit one of the two trailing birds and disrupted it only slightly before reconfiguring itself back to normal. He angled himself back towards the pair which brought the single in with them making a trio. Now the fun part would be if he could land them into one of the golems before being fried. This tested all of his flying abilities and reminded him of the times he had three Seekers or Sweeps on his tail. Most of those times ended up with him on the ground unless his fellow Aerialbots rescued him. This time he knew even if they tried it would be a temporary relief. The trio continued to shoot fire balls at him with a couple coming real close.

After several Earth minutes, Skydive was able to angle them and himself towards one of the golems facing the giant Constructicon. Luckily the golem was more concern about the Construction instead of him. Skydive flew at the golem as close as possible and then pull sharp right. His plan worked out perfectly as the trio ran straight into the golem in the head, body, and right arm melting it to a hot piece of glass which slowly cooled. Once he re-stabilized himself, Skydive made a pass around Devestator getting what scans he could before he headed back towards his fellow Aerialbots.

>>Hey Air Raid, did you see what I just did? Do you think you want to match it? The golems melt quite well with that kind of heat.<<


Ayer's Rock base
As Hot Spot continued to watch the mess of the fight, he saw Sixshot falling back down and this time not getting up. It wouldn't surprise him if the Cons let him lay there especially since their main repair team were all in a giant something. Against his desire to let the phase sixer sit there to rust, he went up to where he laid cooling off any of the fire birds with his water hoses as he went. Once he got there, he ran whatever scans he could and noticed the extent of the damages. What he could tell, the damage was extensive.

>>Razorclaw, this is Hot Spot. I'm no Ratchet or Shockwave but what little I could tell Sixshot probably should be bounced back to the Thanatos. Here are the readings I took. Again Ratchet or Shockwave would have a better assessment then I would so I'll try to keep things here cool until one of them shows up to give a deeper opinion. I will even be nice and wipe my databanks of the scans I just sent you.<<

>>Ultra Magnus, I may not be able to see the whole battlefield but from what little I can tell, it might be wise to bounce up our worst cases to the Guardian. If we don't, Ratchet will be swamped with stasis locked or close to it mechs very shortly even with my team doing the minor stuff with the exception of First Aid.<<

Australia - Uluru



If the brashness of Darkfire's response wasn't enough to make Cloudbreaker jump back in shock, the open threat that came from Crueljaw certainly made the thief look about in surprise as if he were indirectly asking the others around him if this is the usual way his newfound teammates welcomed their newbies into the ranks.

"Well, they certainly were... Subtle, about that." He muttered to himself as he drew a flask from a storage locker on his hip that contained his own supply of the high-grade engex he had previously offered his comrades moments ago. "Heh, more for me then, eh?"

It wasn't until his newfound team leader, Psychout, chimed in to clarify the thief's position as a replacement for some other mech. Vindi-, Vin Dies-, no that wasn't it... Victori-, ah whatever... Point was Cloudbreaker was stepping into some pretty big boots to fill, and his announcement apparently wasn't the best of first impressions.

"To new beginnings, I suppose." Cloudbreaker toasted to himself, raising his flask slightly before bringing it to his lips and taking a small yet satisfying swig of the nearly concentrated energon. Placing his flask back and rearming himself, the gold and black platted Decepticon soon found Psychout delivering him his first set of orders.

>>"Cloudbreaker, you will take aerial support from higher altitude, keep those feathery flamers off Darkfire whilst she and Crueljaw clear the secure zone, although I’d stay out of her way if I were you, her blades are even sharper than her tongue. You’ll also be watching over Landgrab and Mal Practice from range, as I may need you to distract the giant green Constructicon they are scanning for a few seconds if it spots them at work. Now, you have met the crew, you have your orders, get on with it! Psychout, out."<<

Well that was a lot to take in all at once, but nothing too unfeasible. Luckily he had some fresh engex in his tanks now to help ease his nerves. Let's just hope it wasn't enough to make drastic difference, "Liquid courage" they call it and what not!

>>"I'm on it!"<< Was all Cloudbreaker replied back to his new defacto-leader as he shifted into his Cybertronian star fighter alt mode and rocketed high into airspace. His cockpit display immediately began to light up with various scans his basic sensors had been detecting while in flight. High temperature readings all around, multiple boogies on the ground... "Elegant Chaos" is what it could be best described as.

"Now... Let's locate our new- Ah! There we are!" The thief chattered to himself as he scanned across the locale battlenet for the energy signatures of the various team members Psychout specifically named out for him to cover over. And his timing couldn't have been any better, a couple of birds made of living fire appeared to have taken notice of the team's sole femme. Before the avian entity could take a shot of any kind at her, Cloudbreaker immediately opened fire at the beast with the two laser cannons fixated alongside his fuselage, each shot piercing through the flamed wings of said entity. The creature shrieked in what could best described as pain, but frankly it was hard to tell if they could even register such a response. Each laser blast tore through the deity's wings, but the creature was not falling. Time to try something else...

Cloudbreaker pressed hard on his afterburners and kicked his boosters into full speed as he proceeded to ram his nosecone directly though the "heart" of his foe. Connecting with his foe, Cloudbreaker could feel the intense heat of the elemental's flame covered body scorch his chassis a bit as he made a bullrush through his adversary.

"Spawn of glitch!!" Cloudbreaker cursed as he bolted through the avian beasty, his nosecone emitting a steam-like vapor following his charge. "Those savvies are hot!" Before he could lock onto another bird-like entity, Cloudbreaker's internal HUD systems erupted with two new signatures, this time displaying the identity tags of both Mal Practice and Landgrab. Right, had to cover them too. Distract the giant- whoa. Now that was a constructicon...

Cloudbreaker rocketed over towards the airspace inbetween the two mecha he had been ordered to provide cover for, reverting to his robot mode and open fire upon a few golems that appeared out of range for the Decepticon designated as Landgrab.

>>"Sorry to be meeting you both under these circumstances,"<< the thief radioed to them both as he gave a half caring salute with his pistol in hand, >>"but I'm assigned to keep the boogies off ya' tailpipes. If the big green lug there is causing ya' any ruckus, just lemme know. Got a few tricks up my sleeves I've wanted to test out for a while now!"<< Transforming back to his star fighter mode, Cloudbreaker's targeting system took aim at the nearest batch of rock lords and began to unleash a barrage of violet-colored laser fire into their rocky body structures.



>>"Hey boss,"<< Buzzsaw squawked as he radioed Soundwave from his perch. >>"That seeker is talking with 'Shot again. Can I cut him up now? I can make it look like an accident, heh."<<

Soundwave turned away from Blaster as he stared off into the distance where the buzzard-like cassette had taken refuge to spy on the teal and white seeker for him. Placing a digit to the side of his helm, Soundwave opened the comm line between him and his black and yellow cassetticon.

>>"Negative Buzzsaw. I have not heard back from Starscream yet which means we must consult another on this matter... One who I don't believe will be all to thrilled to hear this news... Hold your position and await any further commands. Keep your optics sharp and your lasers warm."<<

>>"Ugh... Fiiiiine. Buzzsaw out."<<

Closing the communication link with the vulture-like mech, Soundwave shifted his glance high towards the top of Ayers Rock where another loyal Megatron enthusiast had taken the fight straight to the Fallen, following Razorclaw's own attack on the demigod.

(("Flamewar...")) Soundwave began as he traced over the collective frequencies of the various mechanoids standing a top the rock using his telepathic abilities before locating the sole femme he had been seeking out. (("Forgive my intrusion as I would not normally interject myself into a fellow intelligence officer's mind, but the information I withhold cannot currently be broadcasted openly across standard communication frequencies."))

Soundwave then relayed the same sample recording he beamed to Starscream moments ago to Flamewar foretelling her of Bitstream's current course of actions. (("This lowly seeker holds the codes that can control Sixshot. I'm still trying to decipher how he came across them, but the point still remains that someone besides Megatron, our dear lord Megatron, has the codes to one of his most powerful weapons in his arsenal. But we can change that... We can keep Megatron's living weapon from turning on any of us and keep him in our true lord's control. To do so, we need to eliminate the seeker and I'm currently in no position for such an assassination. You on the other hand, can achieve such a goal from your vantage point. I'll leave you to your own thoughts, just take heed in my warning. Soundwave out."))

Closing his telepathic link, Soundwave turned to face Buzzsaw's general direction once more.

>>"Regardless of if the femme follows through with seeker's downfall, I want you to fetch me his head."<<

>>"It will be my utmost pleasure, hehehe."<<

Australia – Top of Ayer's Rock

Flamewar froze in place as she watched with some small amount of awe which soon soured to horror as Sixshot challenged the Fallen again. She kept her reactions very soundly internalized, betraying no emotion. Her optics narrowed as the flaming demigod impaled one of their strongest warriors and flung him outside of the barrier, leaving no opening for attack. Bad. So very bad.

Flamewar looked back to Warwolf and hissed softly to herself. “Come with me. We're going to find a medic for the two of you,” the black operative said with her hand still extended as she looked over to where Sixshot had fallen nearby. Strangely enough, a rogue seeker was landing there. Flamewar began walking toward them instinctively, listening carefully.

(("Flamewar...Forgive my intrusion as I would not normally interject myself into a fellow intelligence officer's mind, but the information I withhold cannot currently be broadcasted openly across standard communication frequencies."))

“Ngh...” Flamewar frowned slightly as she felt the blue loyalist's presence in her mind. It was a most unwelcome breach of her privacy. She kept walking forward without so much as a pause in her step however.

(("This lowly seeker holds the codes that can control Sixshot. I'm still trying to decipher how he came across them, but the point still remains that someone besides Megatron, our dear lord Megatron, has the codes to one of his most powerful weapons in his arsenal. But we can change that... We can keep Megatron's living weapon from turning on any of us and keep him in our true lord's control. To do so, we need to eliminate the seeker and I'm currently in no position for such an assassination. You on the other hand, can achieve such a goal from your vantage point. I'll leave you to your own thoughts, just take heed in my warning. Soundwave out."))

"...remove the Achilles virus. But not without activating it. I don't have the same technical skill as Shockwave. I can't catch the program and extract it until it activates in your system. That's why I had to say the command code. I don't want to control you, I never did. All I want is for Starscream to die. And I can't do it myself, no matter how much I need to see it happen.”

"Now we know you're being held back, and I can remove your last restraint," Bitstream told him. "Because if I don't, we both die here, and Starscream stays at the back of the line and turns tail when he needs to. You die in thrall, and I die without having accomplished anything. So, if you really think I can't help you... now that you know the finer details, you should shoot me now," Bitstream told him. "Because I'm dead either way. I just want to have my revenge before I go."

Flamewar glowered at Bitstream as she lifted up her fusion crossbow. A purple bolt of energy materialized and grew in size. She took aim even as she stepped forward. She pulled the trigger. The bolt of energy hissed and tore a vicious arc through the air and pierced Bitstream's chest. The seeker's chest exploded in a burst of flame and purple energy. As his body crumpled to the ground, an Autobot – Hot Spot – had trotted up to where the phase sixer lay.

It looked like the Protectobot commander had run some scans of Sixshot. That would not do. No. That would not do at all. She opened up a communique to the Decepticon communications officer on an encrypted frequency. >>”Soundwave, this is Flamewar. The Autobot Hot Spot possibly took some scans of Sixshot. They need to be eradicated.”<< That done, she closed the comm line and fired twice more into Bitstream's body, directed at his spark. Flamewar then pointed her weapon directly at Hot Spot.

“Step away, Autobot. Delete any data you gleaned,” Flamewar said coldly as she circled around Hot Spot to get at Sixshot. She did not need to add the 'or else'. It was very clearly implied. Kneeling down with her weapon still pointed at Hot Spot, Flamewar grabbed Sixshot by his arm, and grunted as she worked him onto her back. It was not safe to remain here. They needed to move him either to the Thanatos or to a medic on the field.

>>”Sixshot, can you hear me?”<< she transmitted as she continued to glare at the Autobot. >>”It's Flamewar. We're going to get you medical attention. If you can hear me, give me some kind of sign. I need to know if anyone else knows your shutdown code.”<<

(OOC: Buzzsaw used with Master Sound Blaster's permission)


Top of Ayer's Rock


Smoke drifted from his chest panel. Purple energy flew out under his hand, extended towards Sixshot. He looked down and saw the colors mingling; orange flame, dark gray smog, purple bursts of lingering energy and the pale blue of his spark exposed... a few flecks of gold slowly falling out to the ground.

Bitstream lost control of his legs. He dropped forward to his knees, reaching his hand to his chest to shield his spark from open air. He took hold of it, his grip firm and tight.

He felt mech fluid and innermost energon build up in his throat and dribble down his chin. He looked towards Sixshot, but the Phase Sixer had not drawn his weapon. He tried the Autobot recently arrived on the scene, but saw no weapon. How...?

There was no time to ask that question. He had to stay alive, had to concentrate. His hand still worked... he squeezed tighter, keeping his spark steady, keeping it in place. He gurgled out too much mech fluid as he tried to speak, spitting purple and gray fluids onto the dirt below him.

His vision went in and out of focus. He tried to get back into the moment, tried to concentrate... and saw his assailant, bow still in hand, come to Sixshot's side to assist the Phase Sixer.

He didn't recognize her. She was a Decepticon, but beyond that...

"I wasn't... supposed to die for you," Bitstream managed, voice half choked by mech fluid. "It was supposed to be... Starscream..."

His dream, his revenge... denied. Why? Why now?

He tightened his grip further, as more of his chamber broke away or melted from the heat.

Bitstream turned towards the Autobot. For several nano-kliks Bitstream just stared at him, trying to understand how he got there.

"Auto...bot..." Bitstream managed. "Want to know... a s...secret?"

Bitstream clenched his hand tighter. He tried to order his internal computer to enter stasis lock, but his gears weren't turning. Internal repairs weren't starting.

So, if this was the end, he could gain a modicum of vengeance...

"The Phase Sixer... I can c... c-control him. I can... deacti..vate."

He cared for nothing now. The revenge he now sought was pointless and bitter. But it was all he had left to regain control of something.

In his final moments he'd have some control of his destiny not known since Starscream took his life away. Even if it was spiteful, hateful, petty...

"Need to know... code..."

Bitsream's fingers brushed against each other. His spark was shrinking too fast. He didn't have long...

"Reset... pi...o-orion...ac-"

He may not have the satisfaction of seeing Starscream die himself, but freeing Sixshot would let him go loose and kill Starscream for keeping him in thrall.

Maybe, if he gave the Autobots the key Prowl would deal with Starscream to keep the code only in his own hands.

The bitterness was passing. He could feel hope again...

He felt a gash in his neck.

He relaxed his grip on his spark, his fingers no longer functioning.

He saw a flash of yellow and black, as the cassetticon Buzzsaw flew past, a bit of his innermost energon still dripping off the bird's talon.

Bitstream fell back, his vocal processors naught but unintelligible sound and the gurgling of mech fluid.

He looked up at the sky, his vision fading in and out... he tried again to enter stasis lock, but his gears would not turn. He couldn't feel his spark in his hand anymore.

Bitstream retreated into his core consciousness and replayed his fondest memory... a memory of an event that never happened.

The crowning of Bitstream Prime, after he unified Cybertron and built a new empire on the ashes of Starscream's Decepticon force. After he reclaimed his face and ushered in a new era of peace under his own iron grip.

He enjoyed that vision, even as his optics dimmed and he could see nothing else.

He tried to issue the command to replay. He tried to remember that feeling of happiness and triumph and retribution.

He tried.

On the dirt of Ayer's Rock, Bitstream expired... and Bitstream Prime lay forever entombed in his core consciousness.

His only happy memories.

The ones that never happened.

Now they, like Bitstream, would be dead and forgotten.

Australia - Top of Ayers Rock

A feeling of numbness swept over Sixshot’s frame like a wave of death. He could barely move or feel anything else with the exception of the powerful dark energies still coursing through his circuits. It was like fire burning from within. Hellfire, no less. The same fire that emanated from the Fallen, himself. Still, the STAG was conscious, his optics only seeing blurred images of other mechs and his audios only picking up muffled sounds of voices and overall chaos around him. Not even a demigod could knock him into complete stasis lock. No, only a set of code words seemed to be capable of that lofty feat.

Speaking of code words, once again Bitstream was attempting to convince Sixshot that the seeker was capable of removing said restraint. The sixchanger had a hard time hearing everything Bitstream was saying and he was in no position to give an appropriate response to the tenacious mech. Instead, the STAG let out a low moan before slowly rolling over onto his side, his back now to the information engineer in an attempt to ignore him.

The fuzzy sight of a light blue foot came into view. It was Hot Spot, now kneeling down to scan Sixshot for injuries. Or, perhaps the Protectobot Commander was scanning for something else. Maybe Prowl had sent him to complete what the black and white’s little drone had previously begun. It mattered little as there was not much the phase sixer could do to stop him. When did Hot Spot reach the top of the mountain anyway? It seemed rather odd considering Sixshot had last seen the blue mech down below not long ago. Perhaps one of those Aerialbots gave him a lift. Again, it didn’t matter.

Then another voice crowded his damaged audio receptors as Sixshot soon felt himself being lifted up by one arm and onto someone’s back. No, not his audios. It was Flamewar contacting him via his internal comm line. The sound of static filled the transmission as the dark energies disrupted even a basic communication. Still, Sixshot could just about make out what the Decepticon femme was saying to him.

>>”Yes, Flamewar, I.....can hear....you....barely.”<< Sixshot paused for a moment as he considered her question regarding the shut-off code. >>”Only....Megatron....and Star....scream know.....the code. No one....else....that I....know of. Could be....mistaken.”<<

Sixshot’s transmission ceased as thin lines of smoke rose from his badly charred body. While the dark energies within had begun to slowly subside, the damage had been done and it was extensive. He at the very least needed a CR chamber to repair his injuries. Perhaps even a surgeon. Unfortunately, the STAG’s own HUD was of little use to him. All his saw were a series of sporadic flickering numbers and symbols that meant nothing, indicating that his internal diagnostics were offline. He had no way of knowing just how serious the damage was, but he did know that it was the worst he had yet experienced.

Ever.

Australia - Top of Ayers Rock

“I’m sure the Autobots have considered something similar,” Razorclaw responded to Weirdwolf’s query as the Predacon lord fired more explosive gas capsules at an approaching fire bird, successfully dispersing it, at least for the moment. “Our options here are limited, my lupine friend. Perhaps a larger, more concentrated bang will succeed in overloading the shield or it could fail. The best chance is if Magnus can get through to the cavalier and weaken the Fallen somehow. However, I have small hopes that a mech like Hot Rod could overcome such a powerful foe.”

Hovering over Ayers Rock, Razorclaw watched the chaos play out below as Weirdwolf tried to excuse the Constructicons’ oversight in alerting him of their little gestalt project. “Do not make excuses for them, Weirdwolf. Scrapper had more than ample opportunity to inform me of Devastator. Instead, he chose not to. However, you are correct that Devastator is an asset to be used to our advantage.” Just then, the green goliath reached the top of the mountain and hurled a huge chunk of rock directly at the Fallen’s position. Of course, it had little effect as the fiery demigod used his magical staff to throw the immense boulder right back at the Constructicon behemoth.

>>”Devastator, this is your Supreme Commander, Razorclaw! Once you are done playing with rocks, I want you to attack the Fallen more directly. Use all of your fire power and strength! Let nothing get in your way! Is that clearly understood?”<<

It was time to see where Devastator's loyalties truly lay. The combiner’s reaction to Razorclaw’s orders would be a good indication if the Constructicons were still allied with him or if they saw this newly acquired power of theirs as an opportunity to take the throne for themselves. Either way, the successful merging of a specialty unit into one giant monstrosity was something to be taken advantage of. After all, if it could be done once then surely it could be achieved again.

>>”Divebomb, this is Razorclaw. From your aerial vantage point, I want you to conduct a series of scans on Devastator. Gather as much information as you possibly can. I want to know what makes this gestalt tick. Understood?<<

Cutting his comm line, Razorclaw returned his attention to the chaos below. Sixshot had somehow managed to come up underneath the Fallen’s shield. In all likelihood, the sixchanger had been allowed to as the fiery demigod felt the need to toy with the STAG some more. At first, it seemed that Sixshot had gotten the upper hand, but then things took a dramatic shift when the phase sixer touched that staff.

“It seems that destroying that staff will be easier said than done,” Razorclaw quipped to no one in particular. Sixshot was then thrown out of the confines of the shield just as Ultra Magnus made another desperate attempt to attack the demigod. Not long after, both Hot Spot and Flamewar came to the STAG’s aid, the former of which transmitted scanned readings to the Predacon lord.

“I will determine what is in Sixshot’s best interests, Autobot,” Razorclaw replied to Hot Spot as the Decepticon leader landed onto the summit of Ayers Rock near where the femme had hoisted the sixchanger onto her back. “Flamewar, I suggest that you bounce Sixshot back to the Thanatos and get him into a CR chamber ASAP. When you do, activate and bring whatever medical drones you can find on board back down with you. While the Autobots have ’generously’ offered their medical assistance, I’d rather we take care of our own.” Razorclaw then glanced over at the off-lined body of Bitstream who was lying nearby. “What the frag happened to him? That chest wound looks like it came from your fusion crossbow. Are you responsible for this, Flamewar?”

Australia - South of Ayers Rock

Prowl shot another rock lord with Wheeljack’s freeze weapon. As before, the golem turned into solid ice before the military strategist blasted it into hundreds of pieces with a well placed rocket. Thankfully, when the ice eventually began to melt from the intensity of the nearby fire tornado, the remaining sandstone pieces had been reduced to a mucky sludge from the introduction of melted water into the mix. Mud was not as easy to reform and hold together as stone and thus the rock warrior was rendered useless. Perhaps the mud would dry out and ultimately harden, but that would take some time, a commodity that they were all in desperate need of.

“Warpath! Why are you still lurking about? I thought I told you to get over and give Ratchet some cover fire while he conducts his scans of the Fallen,” Prowl yelled over to the crimson tank-former. Other mechs must think that the black and white liked to hear himself talk. Of course, his prick-ish nature didn’t help matters when it came to his subordinates listening to him the first time or even the second for that matter.

Then a response came from Ultra Magnus atop of Ayers Rock. The initial statement was not good, not at all. Apparently, the mighty Sixshot had been defeated by the Fallen. The most powerful mech on the battlefield was no match for the fiery demigod and all of his seemingly supernatural powers. The only other mech that now stood a chance was Devastator, a gestalt whose power surely rivaled that of the STAG if not more so. If the Constructicon combiner failed to defeat or even weaken the Fallen then it was high time for the City Commander’s final solution to be implemented.

However, Magnus seemed intent on executing his other idea whereby a gravitational lens would be used to merge and concentrate a combined strike from the Autobot and Decepticon fleet up in orbit. Even after all they had so far gone through Ultra Magnus still wanted to delay the inevitable. Had he not previously received the assessment from Prowl and Shockwave that showed the potential lack of effectiveness the gravitational lens would provide? Perhaps Magnus had but simply wanted to try his idea anyway in order to avoid the more severe option.

>>”Commander Magnus, I read you. With all due respect, sir, Shockwave and I have already ascertained only a 41 to 43 percent success of a combined orbital strike using the gravitational lens. In fact, based on all data currently available regarding the Fallen’s shield, it would have no real affect on it and could likely make matters worse. That barrier is not reacting the way normal shielding should. Instead, it seems to be feeding off of our attacks. I’ll know more once Ratchet has conducted the scans that I require. Until then, I strongly recommend that we hold off on any orbital bombardments until further information and data can be collected. Furthermore, if you are unable to make a psychological break and get through to Hot Rod, I suggest that you pull back and allow Devastator to take a crack at him. If that doesn’t work then I propose we simply skip the lens idea and go right to your final solution, sir.”<<

Ultra Magnus’ last resort option was not an orbital bombardment and was, in fact, currently their best bet at defeating the Fallen. Surely, transwarping the demigod into the sun, itself, would be enough to send him back to whatever fiery slag pit he came from. Of course, it meant giving up on and killing Hot Rod, as well. Clearly this was something the City Commander was not willing to do just yet.

I, however, am more than willing to, Prowl thought as he waited for a response from the Autobot leader.

Austrailia--Uluru Skies

The Autobot with the ice weapon was making significantly more headway against the fiery birds than Divebomb had been. He had leveled a couple of those earth elementals though, leaving the remainder to be picked apart by the ground forces, so he felt like he was contributing on some front. Their attacks against the Fallen were proving to be wholly inadequate. Divebomb hated that feeling. More severely, Rampage, Tantrum and Headstrong had all been dealt serious damage by the demigod--unsurprisingly as they had also been the ones taking the fight to the entity the hardest and were in the closest proximity. The Aerial Assault Warlord had no desire to join them. So when Razorclaw's order to pull back and get some information on the new, behemoth Constructicon came through, Divebomb was only too happy to comply even if it went against his own warlike nature.

>>"Divebomb, this is Razorclaw. From your aerial vantage point, I want you to conduct a series of scans on Devastator. Gather as much information as you possibly can. I want to know what makes this gestalt tick. Understood?<<

>>"Understood, Lord Razorclaw,"<< Divebomb transmitted back, his cyberhawk form soaring higher into the air and arcing back in the direction of the giant Constructicon.

And just what is it that makes you tick, hm?
___

Top of Ayer's Rock

"#%¤& you boss! This is like trying to punch through a Metroplex's forcefields with a slagging laser pistol!"

Onslaught actually let out a bark of laughter at Brawl's response. Despite the very real possibility of their imminent extinction, this battle was starting to feel more and more like old times--a combat-specialized sub-unit facing down ridiculous odds. The only trouble was this time Onslaught wasn't seeing any way of getting through the entity's confounded shields. And as more time passed, the more otherwordly support the being was able to conjure against them.

”Aaaargh! If there ever was time for one of Swindle's contraband experimental weapons I'd say this was it boss!"

"I could not agree more!" Onslaught yelled over the roar of blaster fire from an assortment of weapons, including his own.

Now was normally the time he would order his unit to make a tactical withdrawal. Retreat and come at the enemy again later with a more refined strategy. Unfortunately, they had no such luxury here. It was now or never, and he had invested too much in Razorclaw's ascension to back down now. He would fight to the death. But that did not mean he would go down without exhausting every option they had at their disposal. he opened a direct comm to the Decepticon Supreme Commander.

>>"Those last resort countermeasures you had in mind...we may now be facing few other alternatives."<<
___

Australia--Outside the Autobot Shuttle Longevity

"Keep 'em away from that shuttle, kid," Kup said, having taken a position away from the core of the fighting on top of the big dirt hill. He didn't like it, but he knew that there were going to be casualties in this battle and they couldn't afford having their wounded attacked by the Fallen's ghoulies while they were down and out.

"Got it, Kup," Windcharger said, running past the older Autobot while Kup himself took fresh aim with the pair of automatic plasma rifles he had picked up over the course of the fighting in addition to his own standard weapon. Never let a good weapon go to waste.

"Ya want a piece too, eh rocky?" Kup said as another golem was bearing down on the shuttle, club in hand. "Got plenty for ya."

Kup took a nice, satisfied drag from his cygar and allowed the molecules to flow through his system as he pulled the triggers on both weapons and started to unload on the creature.

Austrailia--Uluru

Broadside was fed up his weaponry was just not cutting it against the golems and the Firebirds were just trying to fry his circuits. He was simply resorting to throwing them over the cliff not the most elegant of fighters he grabbed one by the leg and spun on his heels he became a whirling dervish as he spun more and more like a top using the golem in his hands to slam into its compatriots.

A few cycles later he released the golem and watched it clatter into its friends like a wrecking ball it. As the huge Wrecker recovered from his spin he watched sandstorm pick up a weapon and started to fire. "Like that's gonna work" Broadside fired his rifle putting several of the golems closing on him on the back foot. The sound of smashing made swung broadsides head sideways to see Sandstorm using his new weapon to freeze the firebirds.

"Whoa did someone pack Ironhide's nitro blaster"
__________________________________________________

Sideswipe was thumping more golems with his piledriver firing his flare gun at the golems that was having some effect on them leaving small glass areas. Sideswipe smirked as he clenched his fists his piledriver extensions slid forward over his knuckles. He targeted the glass area's with his pile driver's after his 3rd golem he heard a voice.

"What would you know about chemistry? Thought you failed that class"

Sideswipe slammed his fist up over his shoulder smashing a golem in what he supposed was its face making it smash to the ground. "Yeah but at least I went to class unlike you vanity road"

Sideswipe was then aware of an immense explosion and the sound of rushing soil he turned and saw a cloud of dust heading past him.

"How's that for an encore Sideswipe? You know Sunstreaker, I do believe we've lost him again."

Sideswipe emerged from the dust his pale blue optics blazing his flare gun blasting as the dust was blown off his frame by the ferocious winds from the Fire tornados.

"You wish! That was Flashy kid let's hope your always fighting such slow witted opponents. You won't always get that much time to goof"

Sideswipe stomped forward past Novabomb the punk was probably trying to impress him much like Sideswipe usually tried to impress Sunstreaker or Sunstreaker would try and impress him.

"Hey Streaker let's thump these goons old school"

Australia - Uluru

Feedback was in the middle of listening to an Earth satellite radio station, enjoying himself (music was the only thing those little fleshy things did that was worthwhile), checking his messages, when he suddenly found himself on the other end of an orbital bounce and in the middle of ... what?

"By the... I really need to pay more attention to what my orders say when I receive them." He muttered. The casual smirk on his faceplate quickly diminished as he realized the chaos he was looking at. "Slag..." The smirk slipped back though, chaos is what he thrived in. He opened his comm >>"Uh... Psychout.."<< Yeah, that was it, that was who he was to report to. Feedback had to search his memory a bit, but he recalled running into the little 'Con once or twice. >>"Feedback here reporting for duty."<< He watched a firebird streak by not too far off. >>What the... what...? What are those? Wicked cool...<<

Australia – South of Ayers Rock

Everyone was fighting their own battles. Wildrider had tricked a bunch of rock lords into waltzing through a fire tornado, where they began to melt and drip gooey pieces of themselves before hardening to glass and being shot at; Dead End had...uh, sort of thrown another rock lord into a blazing column of swirling fire with his cable-line; Breakdown had managed a hot hookup that got rid of a flaming bird and a golem, killing two birds with one stone (ha, ha, ha); and Motormaster was probably kicking aft, too. Wherever he was. The sandstorm made it hard to see.

As for Runamuck? He was doing fine. He'd taken a punch or five, a glancing hit from a spear, and a few falls courtesy of his dodgy co-ordination. But really, he had little to complain about.

Yes, the rock lords exploded then reformed after being shot with his rifle. No, he hadn't drawn the rock lords to the fiery tornadoes where it was learned that their high temperatures reduced the golems to glass, to easily breakable glass. Yes, he would try that. No other way to beat them, apparently.

First, though, he scanned the area for Runabout, looking for a big flash that might come from an x-ray cannon. He saw nothing—just sand, dust and wind collaborating to ruin sight. The elements were succeeding, without a doubt, and Runamuck sighed, wanting his brother to be at his side as they fought. Like they always did.

We're bonded for life, 'Muck, 'til we both die in the war. 'Cause that'll probably happen and all. Anyhoo, if you ever bail on me or leave me hangin' in a fight, I'll absolutely smash the living slag out of you. Nah, I'm just playin' with ya! But seriously, I will hunt you down and I will wreck you.

Those words, straight from Runabout's oral cavity during a moment of brotherhood back in the day, teased a smile and a giggle out of Runamuck. He had to have Runabout alongside him.

He opened a channel to his fellow Battlecharger on the comm-link. >>“Hey, stupid!”<<

Pot, say hello to kettle.

>>“Where are ya? There's a rock lord glitch here with either you or your cannon's name on it. This ain't as much fun with you not around, so get over here.”<<

Uluru – Killjoy Corner

Feedbacks enthusiastic entrance jogged Psychout’s memory, he was the last of the team to arrive and whilst his specialist skills weren’t vital to this immediate battle, he had requested his assignment to the team - an ability like his would be invaluable, assuming they all survived.

>>Feedback, you’re early! I like that in a soldier. Greet the team in your own time, right now I need you to team up with Darkfire, I believe the two of you have met. You’re covering Crueljaw - not that he needs it - whilst Cloudbreaker keeps those flaming things of your afts. Our mission is to protect the Soundwave’s position and the command bunker here, and then we’re on asset recovery so keep an eye on anyone who has been ‘locked as we may need to scrape them up afterwards.”<<



Uluru – Behind Devastator

In the midst of the battle, Mal Practice skidded to an urgent halt beside the considerable figure of Landgrab and assumed his robotic form. Although his altmode was a Ratchet-esque boxcar ambulance, his robot form was more in keeping of a blacked-out version of First-Aid, although prefering to keep the bonnet of his vehicle over his head as a styled hood to conceal his twisted expressions, and he had also specifically fought to retain the small-medical bay attachment that both Ratchet and Ironhide possessed in their earlier generation forms. He uncoupled it and charged it up, activating a hologramatic display and flicked though his extensive medical data files until he found the ones he needed. Ejecting a data slug which he passed to his much new compatriot, he called to his new acquaintance; “Landgrab, this should show you exactly what spectral bands and resonance imagery you need to look for, but any and all data you get is good... Can you believe we are this close to an actual functioning gestalt? I have been waiting my entire life for this!!”

Mal giddily set up more of his instruments for a few scans of his own, and whilst he wasn’t as well equipped as Landgrab at range, he could likely draw conclusions from the data that few others would think of – the perks of being a (self titled) evil genius.

He radioed back to his officer that they were set up and ready to go >>Psychout, as Landgrab said, we’re in position and ready to begin. Forcefield is prepared to deploy if we get spotted, but I hope you have arranged us some cover just in... nevermind, I can see Crueljaw, we’ll be fine.<<

He activated the final few readouts on the HUD and whilst they began he ran his eyes over the scan the battlefield, noticing for the first time all the unconscious and stasis-locked bodies strewn around. “Looks like we’ll be busy once were done here...”


Uluru – Killjoy Corner

Once Mal was in place, Psychout turned back to Shockwave and called to his commander between rifle shots. “Sir, Mal Practice is now on the field. He’s attending to some recon business briefly with Landgrab, but can then go assist the repair efforts as you see fit. Who do you want me to speak to about them both reporting in for medbay duties afterwards?”

He reloaded his beloved rifle and keeping as many of his team in sight as possible he waited for Eject to spot more of the golems for him. At this rate, you may get out of this yet, stubborn one...

Psychout wrote:
>>Feedback, you’re early! I like that in a soldier.

"Wait, I'm early? Scrap...." Feedback muttered. He could have spent more time doing something else... not set the expectation bar so high. "Err, well, you know, I do try to make a good first impression. Punctuality and all." He hoped that Psychout hadn't heard his cursing being early.

Psychout wrote:Greet the team in your own time, right now I need you to team up with Darkfire, I believe the two of you have met. You’re covering Crueljaw - not that he needs it - whilst Cloudbreaker keeps those flaming things of your afts. Our mission is to protect the Soundwave’s position and the command bunker here, and then we’re on asset recovery so keep an eye on anyone who has been ‘locked as we may need to scrape them up afterwards."<<

"I get to join up with Little Miss Sunshine? Fabulous!" Feedback said with heavy sarcasm, not caring that she could hear him as he was on their channel. He transformed, taking the form of a EA 18 Growler, all his radar and jamming equipment exposed on the bottom of his wings and fuselage. He kicked in the afterburners and made his way to Darkfire's position. "Greets, new team...." He said to them all, "Hello Sunshine." He said to Darkfire once in a closer proximity. He started taking note of his new team mates signatures on his radar so he would be familiar with them when needed in the future.

With all the elementals The Fallen had buzzing around in the air and on the ground, and all the Autobots, his radar was a mess of unfriendly blips and warning alarms. This was certainly a test for him. Normally he was needing to pay attention to all those alarms and unfriendly blips, but today he had to sort out what unfriendly was really unfriendly and what was temporarily friendly. Autobots, good. For now at least. He chuckled. This was going to be a great test. He reprogrammed his radar to ignore the Autobots as threats for the time being. "Need music..." He muttered and turned on some loud, thumping Industrial (Earth music... well, they did it well!) on his cockpit speakers.

Uluru – Behind Devastator

The battle was turning into a Demolition derby as Crueljaw put his fist clean through a golem then realised he'd gotten his arm stuck. The golem wasn't too happy about it either its arm's and legs flailed comically as the bodyguard tried to dislodge it by slamming the offending Golem into its colleagues. He raised an optic ridge then decided to use the Golem as a mobile shield as he waded into the ranks of Golems behind Landgrab and Mal Practice.

"I see you've managed to get your aft out of that Datapad you where reading Mal. Good Job Landgrab not getting slagged so far" Growled Crueljaw he thought the big lug had deserved some credit as he turned to some more Golems going at them with his plasma blade. While his unwilling shield was doing its job using its flailing arms and legs to keep more of its compatriots from getting close to him. It was then that his comms came back to life as the midget in charge of the motley crew explained about the newbie as a second newbie joined Darkfire above him.

>>> You found us then newbie? Good. Darkfire, Crueljaw? Meet Cloudbreaker. He’s Vindicators replacement - let’s just hope he lasts longer, you can give him the usual greeting after this is all over<<<

Crueljaw sighed as he finally freed his arm from the golem and kicked it into two others sending all three hitting the deck in a sprawled heap. The bodyguard thumped forward casually slicing up the golems with execution swings.

Crueljaw's angry voice burst back into the team midget comm link

>>Let's hope he's not as useless thou I'm still going to ram his head through a wall once this is over. Who is the other Seeker loitering with the Aftassin<<

Crueljaw grabbed hold of another Golem and run it through with his sword the blade going through the front of the golem and appeared out of the back of the automation he then split the creature in two. Thou a flame attack from above brought his attention back to the fire birds he turned and roared his defiance at the creature as it swung away from him.

"Where is the air cover"

Uluru – Now Above Those Behind Devastator

Phaze wrote:Uluru – Behind Devastator

Crueljaw's angry voice burst back into the team midget comm link

>>Let's hope he's not as useless thou I'm still going to ram his head through a wall once this is over. Who is the other Seeker loitering with the Aftassin<<

Crueljaw's voice, teeming with anger, roused Feedback from his focus. "Loitering? Pfft... hardly." He grumbled. "I, sir, am, Feedback, your long distance eyes. The noise that keeps you from being seen and heard, though it looks like I won't be much help, your big mouth will give us away lightyears away..."