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Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 2:53 pm
by ctrlFrequency
The Autobot Lollipop

Lock On crashed on the surface a split second after transforming to robot mode. The crashing sounded worse than it felt, but only slightly. Lock On let out a moan.

--

Vertigo was just a clip behind him. As the Autobots had stopped firing, he worried less about cover and more about the state of the best fighter of the trio.

---

Feedback dropped down to the ground as well, he kept his machine gun ready, but was also more concerned about Lock On.

"Those Bots are going to come at us the first chance they get." He muttered. "And we're in no shape to fight them."

--

Vertigo nodded as he looked over Lock On. "I think we need to convince them to let us leave without killing us." He mused. "But I don't think we're flying out of here."

--

"Autobots aren't going to let us leave." Vertigo muttered.

--

Feedback sighed. "Autobots!" He yelled out before hushing his tone to speak to the other Seekers. "I don't necessarily think your wrong, Lock On, but we don't need shot more."

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 12:57 pm
by Rodimus Prime
Inside The Lollipop

"Did they just call us?" Starfire asked.

"It's a ruse." Ironhide answered.

"Maybe we got lucky and we hit them where it hurt." she responded enthusiastically. "Maybe we..."

"It's a deception." Ironhide cut her off sternly. "They're Decepticons."

Starfire's face twisted into a sneer, but she didn't say anything.

"Let me go up there an' take a look." he continued. "If it's a trap and they take a shot, my armor can withstand more."

"And if they shoot you in the head?" she asked back sarcastically.

'Well, then..." Ironhide started, but couldn't find any encouraging words, so he just shrugged.

He started walking towards the entrance. Starfire walked behind him, her gun at the ready.

"My rifle is finally ready to go again." she said.

"Well, if they DO shoot me in the head, you'll need it." Ironhide answered, and stepped into the opening.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 2:54 pm
by ctrlFrequency
The Autobot Lollipop

"Ugh, Feedback! They've gone inside! Don't bring them back out!" Lock On scolded.

--

"Too late, the idiot already did, they're back." Vertigo muttered as he looked over the damage to Lock On's thruster.

--

Feedback sighed. "They weren't far, not like if they wanted to stop us they couldn't anyway." He said. He looked to Vertigo. "If we have the materials, can you fix Lock On enought to fly out of here?"

---

"I'm no medic." Vertigo responded. "Nothing major though, it appears. Just need a patch on his fuel line I think."

--

Feedback nodded. "Mind if we salvage a bit from the drone to get back Lock On in the air?"

---

Vertigo sighed. "Fine..." he said unhappily. "Drop him, I'll start on Lock."

---

Feedback released the drone from under his wing, stowed away his machine gun and stood so the Autobots could clearly see him and that was unarmed.

"Autobots, enough!" He yelled to them. "We've got jnjured, let us patch up and get out of here!"

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:13 pm
by Rodimus Prime
Inside The Lollipop

"You hear that?" Starfire asked. "They say..."

"It's a trick!" Ironhide said. "Don't be stupid!"

Starfire didn't say anything, she just clenched her jaw. This was a dangerous situation, and if they made the wrong move or got distracted they were finished. But she would settle this with Ironhide later.

"Listen, I'm sorry." Ironhide then said. "But we're outnumbered and grounded. They have the advantage in the air and have us outgunned."

"But they said they're hurt. They just want to leave."

"They're Decepticons, it's what they're good at. Besides, do ya think they'd let us leave if the situation was reversed?"

"No."

"Alright then. We have to be careful. But at the same time, we can't show weakness. We have to make it seem that we have the upper hand."

"So what do we do?"

"Cover me."

Ironhide then stepped out into the open, his gun in his hand by his side, and took a couple of steps toward the downed Seekers. Starfire shouldered her sniper rifle and got the Decepticons in her sights. They were all bunched together, with one of them on the ground, seemingly hurt. At least she could keep an optic on them easier this way. If any of them moved suspiciously, she wouldn't hesitate. She kept the cross-hairs on Feedback.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 7:34 pm
by ctrlFrequency
The Autobot Lollipop

Feedback's optic dimmed slightly as Ironhide appeared, gun still in hand. Figures.

"Hurry up, Vertigo." He growled softly. "They're not looking to reasonable right now, I think I'm only borrowing time."

---

Vertigo looked up. "Who is it?" He asked. "Who are we dealin with?"

---
"I don't know." Feedback whined, irritated. "All Autobots look the same to me."

He spent a moment trying to decipher who he was dealing with.

"We're leaving Bots!" He yelled. "We'll leave peacefully so long as as you let us. Shoot at us, there will be hell to pay."

---

"You're being too nice." Vertigo said.

--

"Gah! Am I the only Con who knows how handle a situation with other options than us getting killed?" Feedback muttered, annoyed that no one else saw benefit on 'live to fight another day'.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 1:34 am
by Rodimus Prime
Ironhide knew this was a crucial moment. He wasn't sure what the 'Cons were planning, but the last thing he and Starfire could do right now was look weak. So he did what he did best. He went on the offensive. In response to the Seeker's demand to let them go, Ironhide simply raised his arm with the gun in his hand and aimed it squarely at Vertigo's chest.

"There's only one way you get through this." he said with a firm but calm voice. "Drop all your weapons. All of them. NOW."

Starfire kept her finger on the trigger, waiting for any of the 'Cons to make a wrong move. If things turned for the worse, her sniper rifle was trained on Feedback, and he was going to get her first shot.

---

It had taken him a while to get there, but without his ability to fly, Starscream had to walk all the way over to the other crashed half of the shuttle. As he got close enough to survey the area, he was startled by what he saw. Lock On had just crashed, with the other Seeker's landing near him. Then, for a few moments, nothing. Starscream couldn't hear anything, he was too far away. But he could see. Ironhide stepped out of the wreckage. Aimed his weapon. A smile crept onto Starscream's face. These newer Seekers had no idea what they were dealing with. Ironhide may have been old, but he was a walking war machine. He was forged in the early days, along with the likes of Grimlock and Megatron, and with him a fight ended only one way: somebody was going to be scrapped. Regardless of which way this turned out, he would come out with the upper hand. Either the two sides annihilated each other, depending on how many Autobots there were, or the Seekers take them out and they're back to where they started. But in order for that to happen, Starscream knew he had to act. He had to be the one to turn the battle in their favor, in case it was a stalemate. But first, he wanted to see what damage the Autobots could do. If the other Seekers were hurt, they were less likely to challenge Starscream, and his value to them would also increase. And personally, Starscream just didn't like Lock On. So Starscream waited and watched. Waited for the perfect opportunity.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 12:21 pm
by ctrlFrequency
"Scrap. " Feedback muttered as Ironhide demanded they drop their weapons.

He stood silently for just a moment as he turned on all his sensors. He wasn't able to see Ironhide well enough to visually place who it was, but that voice sounded so familiar.

The sensor arrays kicked on and he scanned the area, recognition software picking up key features, he identified Ironhide.

"Scrap." He muttered again as he placed who it was. Ironhide. Only hours before had the two met down on Earth. In fact, in a similar situation. He turned to look at Vertigo. "This scrap let wants us to drop our weapons"

---

If Vertigo hadn't been holding him down, Lock On would have put a fist through Feedback's face, then a bullet through Ironhide, but the ever increasing pressure on his fuel line was Vertigo's way of saying 'stay put'.

"He's an absolute idiot." Lock On grumbled.

---

"Maybe, but he's a talker." Vertigo said. "In the least he knows he's buying time to get you airborne."

Problem was, Vertigo had called up Feedback's service record. The seeker may have been a talker, but he was no negotiator. His mouth had gotten him in more trouble than any other Con.

---

"Some of these weapons are attached, bolt head." Feedback growled at Ironhide. "Besides, I can't trust you, I'm not going unarmed around you. Need I remind you you shot down our unarmed drone? Before opening fire on us?"

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2017 7:13 am
by Rodimus Prime
Ironhide smirked at Feedback's attempt at logic and saving face.

"Yer Decepticons." he said calmly. "And ya spied on us. Why? Were ya planning a surprise 'Welcome-To-Mars' party? I doubt it."

Ironhide raised his gun just a little, now pointing straight at Feedback's face.

"The last time I'm gonna say it. Weapons on the ground. Now. Detach them if you can, rip them off if you have to. I don't care."

Behind him, Starfire was getting anxious. She didn't like this. The 'Cons were taking too long, like they were stalling for time. But why? She dropped the sights of her sniper rifle from Vertigo to Lock On. Somehow she didn't trust the big one's supposed injury.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2017 9:23 am
by ctrlFrequency
"Vertigo...."Feedback said just loud enough for Vertigo to hear. "Tell me Lock On is patched..."

--

Vertigo was frowning about being put under pressure. However, he was finishing up the patch on Lock On.

He pushed Lock's panel back on, closed up Reaper, and looked to the situation going on with the Autobot. "He's done, no guarantee it will work though."

---

Feedback was relieved at the news that Lock on was ready. He was still unwilling to give up their weapons, though.

He spent a moment staring at Ironhide, his single optic dimming slightly as he thought.

He honestly couldn't see a way out of this that was easy. The Autobot wasn't bluffing, obviously.

'Vertigo....' Feedback sent the silent message on a private frequency for just the three of them. 'We're going to have to blast out of here, get Reaper ready to attach to my hard point, Lock On, start cycling on your engines, discreetly.'

Lock On and Vertigo sent back silent affirmatives and Feedback turned his attentions back to Ironhide.

His radar was picking up Starfire lurking in the back, he could only assume she was to shoot if they felt provoked, and judging by Ironhides demands, it wasn't going to take much for them to feel that way. This was a delicate situation, and Feedback was a not a delicately worded Decepticon.

"I know Autobot's don't like fair fights and all." He said to Ironhide. "But don't you have that huggy, peace, love, and the right for freedom for all blah, blah, blah, going on?" He was absently circling his finger in the air as he spoke of freedom, obviously not convinced of anything the Autobot's ideals.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 8:22 am
by Rodimus Prime
"I don't see Optimus Prime here." Ironhide deadpanned sternly. "Do you?"

He then twitched his mouth, and a split second later pulled the trigger of his gun twice. Not even waiting to check the results, he dove back toward The Lollipop and started rolling on the ground, hoping Starfire wasn't off her game and picked up the cover.

---

Starfire was tense, and she noticed something that has never happened to her before. Her trigger finger was trembling. Then the shooting started. She knew that Ironhide had started it, he was never one for patience. But before she could react, or even register any reaction from the Decepticons, she knew she had to start shooting. She squeezed the trigger, but her finger slipped off and the rifle didn't fire. However, her unsteady finger was what saved them from disaster, as Ironhide dropped into her line of sight just as she would have fired the round.

"Damn it!" she said it out loud.

A split second later she regained her composure and trained her cross-hairs on Lock On yet again, and this time there was no hesitation. She squeezed the trigger and the high-velocity armor-piercing titanium spike shot from the long barrel straight at Lock On's massive chest.

---

Starscream was getting impatient. They were playing around. Would he have to make an appearance and jump-start things? But as he was about to descend the hill on which the rock he was hiding behind was standing on, Ironhide didn't disappoint him. The firefight started, and Starscream started running towards it. He had to make his presence known at the exact right moment in order to reap the maximum benefits.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2017 7:55 pm
by ctrlFrequency
Aft end of the Lollipop

Feedback looked briefly stunned by Ironhide's shots. He recoiled as the first bullet hit his midsection, the other... his arm.

Stumbling backwards, he struggled to regain his footing.

--

Vertigo was on his feet the moment the first shot was fired, Lock On as well, only to be pushed down again as Starfire's bullet impacted.

"Scrap!!" He wailed.

--

Vertigo only hesitated a moment, he returned fire, haphazardly, at Ironhide's and Starfire.

Feedback lifted his machine gun as soon as he regained his footing. He also opened fire.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2017 2:34 am
by Rodimus Prime
Ironhide was rolling around, trying to not get hit. However, he showed his age as he was too slow and the machine gun fire covered him, impacting all over his body.

"AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!" he half-screamed, half-growled, as much from being annoyed at his lack of grace as he was from the pain.

Finally, he made it behind the pile of scrap that was once a part of The Lollipop's hull. The smoke rose from the bullet holes, and sparks shot out of the wounds. Ironhide couldn't believe it: his legendary tough hide (for which he was named) was nearly ruined. Not by Megatron. Or Shockwave. Or even Starscream. By a lowly Seeker, whose name he didn't even know.

---

Starfire kept firing at the Seekers, but after the initial shot, she had a hard time pinpointing any of the Seekers for a sniper's shot. So instead she switched her gun's mode from sniper to full-auto and started answering Feedback's machine gun fire with her own. She didn't even bother aiming, she just pointed the rifle-turned-machine gun in the Seekers' general direction. Her main objective was to give Ironhide cover fire.

---

Starscream made it to the edge of plain where the wreckage of The Lollipop's cargo bay was crumpled and scattered. The firefight unfolding in front of him was not going the way he wanted. He was hoping the Seekers would get the worst of it, so he could jump in, take out the Autobots, and be back in total control of the Seeker squadron, and have them be too weak to challenge him to boot, especially Lock On. But the way things were... Starscream might have to step into this fight after all, on the Autobots' side. But how could he, without the Seekers realizing what is actually going on?

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2017 6:01 pm
by ctrlFrequency
Aft End of the Lollipop

As Starfire returned fire, Feedback dropped to the ground for cover, pulling Vertigo with him.

"What the frag are we supposed to do?" Vertigo asked over the gun fire.

---

"Keep firing back." Feedback said solemnly as he fired back at the Autobots.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2017 4:18 am
by Rodimus Prime
This isn't going well.

That was the only thought going through Starscream's mind as he watched the battle unfold. It was a stalemate, and that was the worst outcome. Someone had to start winning for Starscream to be able to make an impact. Didn't really matter who. He was watching, crouched down at the edge of the clearing where the wrecked half of The Lollipop was.

What to do? What to do?

Then it came to him. If he couldn't get 1 side to win by joining them, he would do the complete opposite...

"Stop!" he shouted as he jumped up out of his hiding place.

This was an enormous risk, but it had a high payoff if he played it right. He ran out into the clearing, toward the battle.

"Stop shooting! All of you!" he shouted, his arms in the air.

---

"What..." Starfire started to say.

"...the hell?" Ironhide finished it for her.

Starscream was running towards them, seemingly unconcerned that he could be shot, trying to halt the firefight. But was it a trap? Ironhide looked back at the Seekers to see how they responded.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 7:26 pm
by ctrlFrequency
Aft End of the Lollipop

In unison, the three Seekers optics all turned to Starscream

"Well, this is embarrassing..." Feedback said pointing his gun skyward, ceasing firing.

"Sky Commander." He said respectfully... Almost like a human child getting caught doing something he shouldn't​.

"We.. found the Autobots."

--

"Rather violently." Vertigo quipt.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:01 am
by Rodimus Prime
"I can see that." Starscream replied curtly to Vertigo.

He then looked around to each of the Seekers, then towards the Autobots, and finally back to Feedback.

"What's wrong with him?" he asked, pointing to Lock On.

---

Ironhide was baffled. He was also confused. What was going on here?

Starfire aimed her rifle at Starscream, switching back to sniper mode.

"Maybe this is the perfect opportunity." she whispered.

"No." Ironhide said in a low, rumbling tone. "Let's see how this plays out. Maybe the 'Cons will do the job for us. Looks like they ain't exactly on the friendliest of terms."

"Well, Starscream brings that out..." Starfire replied. "...in everyone."

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 9:33 am
by ctrlFrequency
"Fragging Autobots shot my fuel line." Lock On answered Starscream, obviously not happy with the embarrassing situation.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 10:51 am
by Rodimus Prime
Starscream hesitated for a moment. He had to be careful how he played this.

"Is the damage extensive?" he asked Lock On. "Are you able to continue functioning, or will you go off-line due to a lack of fuel?"

---

Inside the scrapheap that was once the back half of The Lollipop, Ironhide and Starfire remained behind cover.

"What are they doing?" she asked.

"I don't know." Ironhide answered. "But if nothin' changes in another 10 seconds, start shootin'. Screamer's gettin' too comfortable runnin' his mouth."

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 11:50 am
by ctrlFrequency
Aft end of The Lollipop

"Vertigo patched me enough for now, Starscream." Lock On said sounding none too happy about being wounded.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:23 am
by Rodimus Prime
"Okay." Starscream replied. "Now cease fire, all of you!"

He then turned toward the scrapheap where Ironhide and Starfire were hiding, his hands in the air.


"Cease fire!" he yelled. "You hear me, Autobots?! Don't shoot! We have to talk!"

---

"What do you think?" Starfire asked.

"I don't know." Ironhide answered. "Starscream might have the reputation of a coward, but he's not stupid. He's very cunning."

"Well, I have clear a shot at him, not as if he's hiding." Starfire replied. "The others seem like they're hurt. If I take out Screamer, that's a 1/4 of their force. I'm sure you can handle 2 of them, and I'll deal with the last one. We can end this right here."

"Yeah." Ironhide said. "But we're not sure what shape the others are in."

"What does it matter? We take them by surprise, and even if they're healthy, we can take them out."

"No. Not if they fly away." Ironhide said. "They think they have us cornered and beaten. That's the only reason they're willin' to expose themselves."

"Uh, hate to tell ya, big bot, but they do have us cornered..."

"But not beaten." Ironhide said. "I have an idea. Even if they're settin' up a trap, we'll use their trap against them."

"What...? How?"

"You stay here. I'll go out there, see what Starscream wants. While I'm out, I'll get a good look at the other Seekers, see what their injuries are."

"But you'll be in the open, they can blow you away."

"It's a chance I'm willing to take. Besides, unless all of them concentrate their fire on me at once, my armor can withstand one surprise assault. If you see anythin', and I mean anything out of place, you start blastin' away. Cover my retreat. Even if I don't make it back, at least you'll cut down a couple of them. I'd take it as a personal favor if ya started with Starscream."

"You got it."

With that, Ironhide got up slowly, his gun pointed off to the side. He stepped out from behind the junk pile, and started slowly walking towards Starscream. He put his gun away to show that he wasn't a threat.

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 6:24 pm
by ctrlFrequency
Autobot Lollipop

The three Seekers looked at each other as their commander ordered them to cease fire.

Lock On struggled to standing, pushing Vertigo aside, and put away his weapons.

Vertigo got to his feet as well, also stowing his weapons.

Feedback reluctantly put away hid as he rose.

"Lord Starscream.... " Feedback finally said hesitantly. "There's no talking to Autobots"

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:19 pm
by Rodimus Prime
Ironhide stopped at a distance he thought was relatively safe and looked Starscream in the optics.

"What?" he asked sternly.

"We need to take a moment and assess the situation we are in. " Starscream answered.

"The situation is that you and your lackeys are trying to kill us." Ironhide answered.

"Yes I realize this, but that is over now." he looked at the Seekers. "Right?"

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:48 am
by ctrlFrequency
The Autobot Portion of The Lollipop

All three Seekers looked a little confused at Starscream's sudden mention of a cease in hostilities.

"He's gone mad." Feedback said softly.

--

"Totally." Vertigo agreed.

--

"Uh, yeah, Commander. Over..." Feedback said louder, looking to the Autobots. "Won't fire another shot."

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 9:10 am
by Rodimus Prime
Starscream looked back at Ironhide.

"Good enough?" he asked.

Ironhide hesitated for a moment. He then relaxed, knowing Starfire had him covered.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"We need to figure out how to get off this mud ball." Starscream answered. "But we can't do that if we keep trying to kill each other."

"Well, it ain't like there are communication posts all over the place."

"No. Which is why we need to work together to make one."

"I don't know scrap about buildin' communication equipment."

"But they do." Starscream said, pointing at the other Decepticons, then turned to them. "How about it? If the Autobots leave you alone, could you use the wreckage of the shuttle to put something together?"

Re: The Red Planet – Fight for Survival

PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 12:35 pm
by ctrlFrequency
Feedback stood silent trying to process what had just been asked of him. Help the Autobots... Help the Autobots... Does not compute.

Getting off this damn planet did compute though.

"We have several options we could try depending on the state of the shuttle's equipment." Came his reply to Starscream. "Mal Practice's repairs were enough to bring most of my on board comms back on line. So we either need something that can amplify by boosting my the power to my transmitters, or we can see if the shuttle's comms are repairable. Either will achieve the sam-"

---

Lock On cut off Feedback's rambling with a good, solid shove. "We don't need details, a simple yes would have worked, slag."