Skies over Syria--The Obliteration—BridgeVortex wrote: "Good stuff."
Swindle smiled, enjoying the praise. “Nothing but the best.”
Vortex wrote: "Earning your kudos back with the boss, I see. Heh."
Well, that didn’t take long. Why does everyone always assume I’m working an angle? It never hurts to build some credit. he thought, but pushed them aside. No need to ruin the current mood by pointing out something so obvious.
Besides, they’d miss the point.“Is there ever a reason to not be in his graces? I much prefer to have his hands around a mech like Starscream’s throat than mine. Even the best designs have limits on their structural integrity.”
As he spoke, Swindle’s free hand went to his neck and absently rubbed one of the many impressions left there when he’d found himself on the wrong side of Onslaught’s, or Megatron’s, mood glitches.
Are they really glitches if it’s their basic setting? The thought had merit, but Swindle pushed that aside as well. There were more important things to be concerned about, like what Shockwave had planned for them.
What seemed to be in his favor was the whole group of them had been summoned, not just him. Still, if there was a way for him to avoid any… complications, he’d find it.
He glanced out the viewer and felt a familiar itch begin to grow. “Is there any chance we can postpone our, uh, meeting with Shockwave? I wouldn’t mind having a peek at what this backwater planet has to offer in our down time.”
It was more rhetorical than not, as he doubted any deviation from Shockwave’s schedule would be permitted.
It never hurt a mech to try. ~~~
~~~
AleppoThis isn’t how a battle’s supposed to go! Thrust thought as he watched
Amethyst head toward the building where it looked like the incoming fire was coming from. He would’ve tried to stop her, but a bullet striking the roof of the Humvee he stood next to changed his processor. He’d been in hundreds, no, thousands of battles, had taken fire and damage, and had dished out more than his fair share. But this, this was something he wasn’t prepared for. He felt… different without his true form. Sure, this one was nothing but a hologram, why couldn’t they still fly? He hated when the rules changed so drastically. He didn’t want a challenge, he wanted the thrill of going into combat like he’d always done.
I can’t think like this. Megatron and the others need me on this mission.Feeling a little better about himself, he hoisted his rifle and fire a handful of shots. That brought back all of his previous concerns. “What kind of weapons are these? I want my lasers and wings.”
“Fragging fleshbags! It’s because of them we’re like this!” Growling, he continued firing until the weapon clicked and he had no choice but to duck behind cover. He needed more of whatever this… thing took for ammunition.
“This is no way for warriors to fight. We’re not Autobots.”
Near him, Thundercracker shook his head as he turned his focus to the rooftops where the shots were coming from.
He hated to admit it, but he agreed with Thrust: this was no way for Seekers to fight.
Well, he reminded himself,
most Seekers.No sooner had the thought crossed his processor, he saw
Amethyst enter the building, only to come out shortly afterwards and on fire.
“This is why we need to train for ground combat more,” he said to no one in particular.
At least, it appeared she and
Redwing were operating together.
Better to have a trusted mech watch your back than not.Smirking at the thought, Thundercracker fired a few shots of his own toward the burning building’s roof, then sent a quick message to
Skywarp, >>
Not bad. Looks like they may not need babysitters, after all.<<
He would’ve added more, but the crash as Megatron’s vehicle knocked the damaged one aside echoed through the alley. The others started following after a brief hesitation.
Scrap! “Time to get rolling,” he said, the wanted to smack himself as he motioned for the others to get back in the vehicles.
Primus, now I’m sounding like Prime.“About time. This endeavor is testing my patience,” Thrust said, pushing past Thundercracker and reclaiming his spot in the Humvee.
Thundercracker chose to ignore him as he waited for the younger ‘Cons to get in.
~~~
~~~
After seeing so many of his fellow Decepticons attacking the shooter’s nest, Dessicator hadn’t bothered to attack, though he had wanted to test his new toy. He assumed, judging by its size and rounds, that it fired a powerful explosive ordinance. By human standards, anyway.
Still, he was tempted to lob a couple of rounds into the building. Maybe even those on both sides of it. Of course, that meant the convoy could be buried under tons of… whatever the buildings were made of.
Not the best way to impress Megatron or Flamewar.
“This is why I prefer to work alone,” he grumbled as he surveyed the other buildings, hoping for some reason to try out his toy. When nothing happened except for a fire he assumed one of the others started, he grunted and climbed back into the Humvee.
They’ll be plenty of chances later on, he told himself as he settled back. A few seconds later, the others climbed back in and their vehicle started moving again. Only then did the thought of his lack of action might mean.
What if Megatron or Flamewar noticed? What would he do then?
Groaning, he thought,
I should’ve stayed at the hangers.