The Energon Pub

Smokescreen

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Diversionary Tactician
Alt. Mode: Nissan Z Rally Car
Weapons: Smoke generators, twin shoulder-mounted ECM rocket launchers, electro-disruptor rifle
Holomatter Avatar: A young, athletic caucasian male wearing sunglasses, a red t-shirt and blue jeans.
Height: 26 ft / 7.92 m
Quote: “A look can be deceiving; a touch can be lethal.”

Strength: 04
Intelligence: 09
Dexterity: 09
Speed: 07
Endurance: 06
Courage: 08
Firepower: 07
Accuracy: 09
Melee: 07
Tech Skill: 07
Charisma: 10
Rank: 06

Profile: Smokescreen is a charmer, a racer, a gambler, a cheater, but most of all he’s a deceiver. It’s his job and he does it well. By that description, you’d never realize he’s actually an Autobot. Back on Cybertron, before the Great War ravaged the planet, Smokey frequented the local casinos in Iacon where he rigged the machines, allowing him to win consistently. Eventually, of course, he would get caught in the act and then banned from that establishment, forcing him to move on to the next. His lack of ethics also came in handy on Cybertron’s illegal street racing circuit, where cheating was part of the game and Smokescreen was the one to beat. Winning meant everything to the red and blue mech, and he was willing to go to almost any lengths in order to win the most energon chips or cross the finish line first.

However, everything changed for Smokescreen once the Great War erupted. His Decepticon-like qualities quickly attracted the attention of a Megatron sympathizer, who asked him to join their cause. The offer was tempting at first but Smokey ultimately rejected it, deciding instead to join the ranks of the Autobots. In the end, he may be a liar and a cheat, but he was no killer like Megatron and his band of thugs.

Smokescreen quickly found a place to utilize his deceitful talents within the Autobot army by diverting the enemy’s attention away from his comrades, allowing them to gain the upper hand in many battles against the Decepticons. Over time, he earned the respect of his superiors, including Optimus Prime, himself. Those same attributes were useful in his private life, as well, where his friendly and charming persona allowed him to become close with his fellow Autobots. Then, at the request of Prime, Smokey would report back to him, giving the Autobot leader an inside perspective on what his troops were truly thinking and feeling.

Many vorns after Cybertron was abandoned and the war had spread out across the galaxy, Smokescreen found himself assigned to an Infiltration unit on a backwater world called Earth. Upon his arrival, he selected a Nissan Z rally car for his new alt mode mainly because of its resemblance to his original Cybertronian form. Many Autobots felt this choice would attract too much unwanted attention since racing vehicles were not usually seen on normal streets and highways. However, Smokey successfully argued that most humans would simply consider his appearance to be the custom job of a race car enthusiast, a description that fit him perfectly.

Regardless of Smokescreen’s devious nature and love for street racing, most Autobots find him to be a good friend and ally in the struggle against the Decepticons stationed on Earth. Furthermore, his divisionary tactics continue to be a great asset both on and off the battlefield.

Abilities: Smokescreen is extremely intelligent and very skilled at his function, possessing several unique features that aid him in creating diversions. In vehicle mode, Smokey can emit from his tailpipe a thick, black cloud of smoke that has the additional property of gravitating toward metal objects, such as enemy Decepticons. In robot mode, his two shoulder-mounted launchers fire ECM rockets that explode into thousands of tiny shards that produce a variety of radio signals, magnetic fields and infrared waves, wrecking havoc on the radar and guidance systems of enemy aircraft. His disruptor rifle shoots a beam of electrical energy that can short out and interfere with the operation of any electrically powered target. He has a top speed of almost 250 mph in car mode.

Weaknesses: Although a well-trained fighter, Smokescreen has below-average physical strength, making him quite vulnerable in direct combat. In addition, the proper shielding and countermeasures can protect an enemy from most of his unique weapons. Finally, Smokescreen's habit of cheating has gotten him into trouble on multiple occasions, resulting in him almost losing an arm or a leg…or even his spark!