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Howlstrike

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Hunter/Tracker
Alt. Mode: Timber Wolf
Weapons: Serrated energo blade; Plasma cannon.
Special Ability: Heightened sense of smell.
Height: 31ft / 9.5m
Quote: “The thrill of the hunt is only exceeded by the smell of fear.”

Strength: 08
Intelligence: 06
Dexterity: 07
Speed: 05
Endurance: 08
Courage: 08
Firepower: 07
Accuracy: 05
Melee: 08
Tech Skill: 04
Charisma: 03
Rank: 05

Appearance: Even though he is now an Autobot, Howlstrike's overall body design still resembles that of the Predacons. For example, when in robot mode Howl’s wolf head is mounted in the center of his chest plate, echoing the robot forms of both Razorclaw and Rampage. While his physical frame has not changed much, Howl’s coloring is now very different, featuring a primarily teal, gray and black paint scheme with orange accents across his body.

Profile: Howlstrike is a quiet loner and enjoys the thrill of the hunt more than most. Once a member of the Predacons, he was kicked out of the elite Decepticon unit for disobeying Razorclaw’s orders to terminate an unarmed mech. Subsequently shunned by his former teammates and other Decepticons, Howlstrike eventually made his way to the Autobots, most of whom also found him less than desirable to have around.

Feeling a growing sense of rage and isolation, Howlstrike found solace and acceptance with Kup, the only Autobot willing to give him a chance at redemption. Over time, the aging mech taught Howlstrike how to control his anger and channel it in the right direction. Eventually, more and more Autobots came to accept Howlstrike as one of their own, but many still do not trust him and feel that he will always be a Predacon deep down.

This belief is reinforced by the fact that Howlstrike still acts like a Predacon at times, exhibiting intense rage and acting out violently towards others when provoked. Even though the Decepticon symbol he once wore has long since been replaced with an Autobrand and his primary colors changed to teal and gray, many only see these alterations as cosmetic at best and not really indicative of what lies beneath the surface.

Howlstrike can be a brutal fighter, enjoying the smell of fear when he closes in on his prey. After a victory he likes to let out a deafening howl to signify his triumph, much to the sheer annoyance of everyone around him. Nevertheless, underneath his hard exterior lies an honorable warrior that few get to see. His ability to track and locate just about anything or anyone makes him a viable asset to the Autobots and is the reason that most tolerate him. He travels a lot with Kup, his one true friend, and is often referred to as Kup's "pet", which he hates. Howlstrike is also known for going off on his own to explore or to simply meditate.

After arriving on Earth and learning of the Predacons’ new guises, Howlstrike also picked a new alt mode similar to theirs in the form of a timber wolf. He did this as a way to spite his former teammates the next time he encounters them on the battlefield. Now, he patiently waits for the time to come face-to-face with the Predacons once again and prove who is the superior predator.

Abilities: Howlstrike is very strong and has a heightened sense of smell, allowing him to track his designated prey over long distances, whether it be organic or robotic in nature. He prefers close-range combat, expertly wielding a serrated energo blade in robot mode and attacking with his razor-sharp claws in wolf mode. Said claws are capable of tearing through most metal with relative ease while his jaws can rip open a car in seconds. As a wolf, Howlstrike is very agile and can run at speeds of up to 100 mph. In addition, he's armed with a plasma cannon in both modes for long-range combat when needed.

Weaknesses: Howlstrike is a loner and has very few friends, which can make it hard for him to find help when he needs it, whether on or off the battlefield. Being a former Predacon, many Autobots have a difficult time trusting him while others don’t trust him at all. While physically strong, Howlstrike possesses only average long-range combat skills. He is also not very proficient at using technology such as computers or other complicated devices, making it difficult for him to conduct even minor repairs to himself. Furthermore, while he has learned to suppress his anger most of the time, Howlstrike can still become enraged and lose control when others taunt him for too long or the Predacons are nearby.