| abstract | - You move west to the Entrance to Autobot City... Entrance to Autobot City The massive structure of Metroplex looms in front of you, a gigantic battlefortress and Earth headquarters of the Autobots. Large towers relay information from around the world and the large communications tower in the center keeps Metroplex in contact with the rest of the known universe. Security cameras and gun emplacements surrounding the entrance make sure that only those who are welcome enter. Scorch marks and small holes in the wall are reminders of the last battle here at Autobot City. To the north is the landing pad for flights to and from Earth. Contents: Silverbolt Quickswitch Skydive Grimlock Tailgate Blades Autobot City Sky Lynx's Lair Main Spacebridge Terminus ;auto Autobot Standard Troops #1933 PlayCo Toys Automatic Base Defenses Obvious exits: North leads to Landing Pad . West leads to Outskirts of San Francisco, California. Silverbolt chuckles at Grimlock. "Sleep well Grimlock." Quickswitch nods, "Have a pleasant recharge." Skydive glances from Grimlock leaving to Silverbolt. "He is going to be our commander Silverbolt? He is gonig to make my job much more difficult." Silverbolt smiles to Skydive. "maybe not, Skydive." Grimlock has left. "I have no complaints," Quickswitch comments, "The two of you will make a great air/ground counterpoint to each other." Silverbolt smiles to Quickswitch. "we should be. Provided Grimlock listens." Skydive glances at Quickswitch with a raised optic ridge then back to Silverbolt, "Well, we will see." Silverbolt nods quietly. "if he doesn't....he'll replace me...and we'll go back to normal Skydive....and rule the skies. Speaking of which....we need to develop some tactics to counter Ramjet......" Skydive nods, "I believe that I have seen some of his tatics at work. It means that we have to fly a looser formation than usual, but we will have to test the theory." Raptor enters from the Main Lobby - First Floor to the east. Raptor has arrived. Silverbolt taps his helmet. "I do have an idea, Skydive. a looser formation would work....so would armor and durability upgrades...." Kup grumbles under his breath as he wanders out of the city. Raptor gently walks out of the city, staying out of Kup's way, "Hey guys." Quickswitch glances back at Skydive, mildly curious and not particularly liking the look, "The experimental Seeker," he issues crisply, "It is impossible not to hear of the Decepticons' latest engineering...The Horrorcon, the Seeker..." the assault unit speaks each designation coldly, "...Our own engineers are failing," he says, directly, "to keep up with these new advances to old technology." arms folded over his broad chest, he is not impressed, "We should not be in a position to perpetually react to whichever new marvel they build." Raptor optics flicker, "..new marvel, huh? What is going on?" Skydive nods, "We should not be reactionay, no. It makes for lots of damaged units. Also, physical upgrades can never hurt if the increase effectiveness and do not sacrifice anything for those advantages." Silverbolt nods quietly. Then tugs out his rifle. "I'm gonna get this thing upgraded, Skydive. make it lighter, upgrade the servos, and add a few extra modes to it too. I wonder.....if I get myself tougher....will Superion, by proxy, also get tougher?" "Always standing around /waiting/ and wondering why /they're/ handing us our afts!" his vocalizer curls into a rapidly building snarl to the anger crowding his central processors. ".../They/ should be scrambling against our superior force!" NOT the other way around. Damn it--he clenches his fists, "DAMN IT!" he suddenly thunders, out of nowhere, "Grab a pair of bearings an just /DO IT/! Are we consumer goods or soldiers?!" Raptor steps back and sighs, crossing his arms over his chest. He'll-- just let them talk amongst themselves. Silverbolt smiles to Raptor. "hey Raptor. Sorry, but Skydive and I were talking a bit of shop. upgrades and all. you said you wanted to learn tactics?" Kup stops rambling on the radio when he hears Quickswitch going off. He frowns, putting his hands on his hips. "And, eh, what does "grabbin' a pair of bearings" entail, Quickswitch?" Kup says. "I'm one of the dirtiest fighters the bots got, but there's lines I don't cross, even if the 'cons do." Raptor nods to Silverbolt, "Its ok-- I'm kinda getting use to be the third wheel." He says with a soft laugh, "But yea-- if you got the time, and trust me, I know what you mean on Upgrades-- probably once I prove myself in some tactical leadership, maybe I can get Peacekeeper to show me how to do some repair work.. what better the a flier who can repair on.. hehe.. the fly right?" Tailgate putters around in a circle, distracted by shiny objects. Trust me, you don't want him to talk to you. Skydive nods to Silverbolt and rubs his chin, "By the way things work, he must," Skydive then turns to Raptor and looks back at Silverbolt now becoming a bit silent. Silverbolt jerks a thumb to Skydive. "One of the best Aerial Tacticians around is Skydive. I may be commander, but when it comes to Aerial tactics....I listen to him first before I give my orders." he then ponders something. "Skydive. Next chance we get...I wanna try a tactic. Ramjet's given me an idea." Quickswitch's mouth flattens into a line. The outmoded, ancient unit that still functions. Woah, it's Kup?! It is. "Oh, don't start on it, sir," Quickswitch's vocalizer quiet, half rankling, half pleading against the older mech. Tailgate runs around in circles and stops abruptly. Skydive rolls his optics slightly and says to Raptor, "I am just a student of the art form," he turns his gaze to Silverbolt and says, "Of course. It sounds like something that we should do anyway." Tailgate runs around in circles again. Tailgate stops. Raptor nods gently and debates on clicking on his communicator, then notices Tailgate-- he tries to ignore him, really does, as those violet optics focus on Silverbolt and Skydive once more. Kup eyes Tailgate like he's insane--which he probably is--then shakes his head. "Yeah, right, what was I sayin'," He looks pointedly at Quickswitch. "Yeah. Lemme tell you about this guy I knew, Quickswitch. Commando type. Sneaky, clever, real good at what he did. Racked up lots of Decepticon kills. But he started getting unstable. Started to like the killin' too much. So he loses it. And next thing I hear, a whole village of indigenous aliens gets wiped out. You know what happened to this guy, next, Quickswitch?" Tailgate has started staring at Kup, listening. Silverbolt nods to Raptor and Skydive. "a student that's always learning. tell you what, Raptor. I'll meet you over Nevada at your earliest convienence........and we'll set you up some command situations. K?" Raptor nods gently, "That works sir." He places his hand on his hip joint and smiles, "I can probably be about tomorrow early, if that is cool?" The auto-seeker asks witha flicker in his optic. Silverbolt nods quietly. "all right. If Skydive can get out there....he can get you some rather interesting scenarios. As for me....I'll give you some scenarios where you'll have to fight your way out of.....with increasing levels of difficulty." Tailgate isn't actually insane. It's just that the electromagnet he uses to attach himself to cars and save fuel is permanently mounted right above his head. Go figure. Kup might be reassured to hear that, but in all likelihood no one will ever, ever tell him. Skydive nods, "I can likely make it. I should not be too much of a problem, I can switch patrols with Air Raid." Admiration is first, then curiousity. Then scorn. The unit of this tale seems very effective. Quickswitch's thoughts clamor. Who is /he/--a contemptuous angry glare settles into his features--to judge another warrior, especially one who seems so dedicated to his cause, and apparently quite effective at that.--Followed by a lingering and perplexed coldness that registers in his vocalizer, "...Speak," he says, optics unknowingly 'wide'. Skydive hmms to himself and says, "I think that I will go update the patrol schedule now," with a nod to Raptor and a pat on Silverbolt's arm, he heads out. Skydive leaves to the Outskirts of San Francisco to the west. Skydive has left. Silverbolt nods to Skydive. "all right...see you soon, Skydive." Raptor nods gently, "Then I will make sure I'm there. Thanks Silverbolt!" Silverbolt nods to Raptor. "bright and early, Raptor. and don't thank me yet, Raptor. thank me after we're done with you." Raptor nods and gives Silverbolt the thumbs up, "You got it." Before his anti-gravs kick on and he blasts for the skies. Kup meets the glare with one of his own... but Kup's optics reflect the unimaginably long time he has lived and all the horrors he has seen along the way. "He died." Kup takes a step towards Quickswitch. "And I'm the guy that made it happen. I put him down like an animal, because, at that point, that's all he was. Just a killing machine. Heh, the guy tried to kill me before he even had any idea what I was gonna do. But as good as he was, I was better." Kups stacks his fists on top of each other, then, makes one of them suddenly jerk back and to the side. "Snapped his neck, just like that. Left the body there. Probably still rustin' in the sun." Silverbolt shakes his head as he walks on by....and lightly punches kup on the shoulder. "welcome back Kup. Don't scare everyone too badly." Tailgate looks horrified. Okay, he doesn't have a face, really, so he looks like he normally does. "Augh!" Raptor leaves to the Landing Pad to the north. Raptor has left. Kup blinks, as Silverbolt snaps him out of story-telling time. "Eh, what? Right, I won't. Look, point is, there's lines I don't cross... and for a good reason. That guy I mentioned crossed all those lines, and when you do that in the Autobots there's consequences for it. See what I'm saying?" The spacebridge doors shut and lock in anticipation of an arrival from Spacebridge Terminus , and the control panel goes temporarily offline. The spacebridge doors unlock and slide open as the transport concludes and the control panel comes back up. Sky Lynx emerges from the spacebridge terminus. Sky Lynx has arrived. Tailgate waaaghs and runs away from Kup! "He's a madman!" Tailgate has left. Tailgate passes through the gates to Autobot City. Tailgate enters Autobot City. Sky Lynx arrives, how he fits in a space-bridge, well-- if a Gesault could fit, it was good enough for the space-guardian. Even if it was rather crampt, and once he left, he was reminded-- why he just used his own power to get about, "...I hate..space-bridges.. I bloody.. hate them.." He mutters softly to himself. "He--He doesn't sound so bad," Quickswitch murmurs, uncertainly to himself. Doubt edges upward. Hypocrites. All of them! He stares down at the smaller, weak and elder Autobot, optics glowing with bemusement, with shock. His digits work, then still into a quiet tremoring fist. And, here they are, they're going to judge /me/ as well. But I WON'T HAVE IT. He stares at Kup, finally making an all too brief connection, felt sudden and unimaginable shame, but why eludes his grasp, his vocalizer works quietly, but the Sixchanger is otherwise uncomprehending, Quickswitch's thoughts demand space, crowding, warring and it shows in the tone and expression, "I do my duty.. That's all," he says, softly, no longer looking Kup in the optic. "Sky Lynx," Quickswitch sighs insularly with this sudden distraction. The war story is disquieting to the Sixchanger and yet he could not pin precisely what, nor see precisely what Kup's problem with his methods were, "It's a completely different situation." Kup nods, not looking away. "Good. Do your duty. But leave it at that, lad. Don't let the war get to you." Noticing Sky Lynx hopping out of the Space Bridge, Kup grins and waves at him. "Sky Lynx. Heh, you should feel lucky. We've only had them a short time, and before then, we had to use shuttles. And when I started out, those shuttles barely went past the speed of light..." "..Trust me.. I know.." Sky Lynx murmurs out as he nearly stumbles and shakes his head. "slow shuttles--, then improvements.. yes.. yes.." Sky Lynx always forgot how so many forgot just how old he was, then again-- he was nearly the enigma of the autobots. That was fine, he always did wonder if Kup was older.. but was to affraid to test that knowledge-- or he might feel old himself! ...He killed one of the Autobots... the assault unit remains equally stunned and admirable at the measures taken--but to the judgement on the matter, not at all. And them, I know them--smouldering and resentment toward them just what were they implying, such methods on one hand and to speak against him? Hypocrites. Damnable hypocrites! Quickswitch forces a nod, "Yes, these space bridges have brought us a long way," but the Decepticons made the leap first, of course. It figures. You receive a radio message from Quickswitch: That's a completely different situation. Sky Lynx looks over to Quickswitch and nods his head gently, before he walks onward, heading for lair. "I am sorry if I'm not-- in a chatty mood.. just.. space-bridges.. and I.. don't get along..." If one could watch his gate, he nearly looks like a drunk four-legged walker trying very hard to not look like he was. Yea-- Space-bridges really messed with him. It was probably the sheer size and complexity of his systems. Kup blinks, staring at Quickswitch. "Eh, what? Different situation? Look, lemme tell ya something somebody once told me: War never changes. And you know what? After more years than I can count of fighting, I can say: he was right. Didn't matter what the world was or what we were fighting for, the basic principles of war never changed. And one thing I learned was that when you get a mad dog on your unit, you restrain him or put him down before he takes out civilians or even his own comrades. There's just no choice." He leans his head back staring off at nothing. "Heh.. yeah, but those space bridges make everything so easy. I can remember a time when you had to wait nearly a thousand years for reinforcements or supplies. Crazy stuff. And then, then ya get told to "hold the line" no matter what. Ha!" Sky Lynx has left. Sky Lynx heads down the ramp that was reviled by the large doors opening into the darkness below. Now fully faded from view the doors close shut. "You did the right thing--what you had to do, sir! But it was another time and that /was/ another unit," he says defensively. The labyrinth of his mentality turning this way and that with the unwanted surge of memories from the prison oh yes he knew all about that, the contingent there, always darting like turbo-rabbits out the corners of their optics over what they thought he would do and it disgusted him then, and now as always, and it baffled him, too, excruciating, "And I loathed it," Quickswitch utters, pure hatred and confusion welling up in him under that bizarre alienation. Try three million years. Try it. Go on-- "Been there," he replies, gruff and teetering with rage. Suddenly as quick as this, a dry laugh, "And you think," blasted hypocrites! "I represent a potential threat to my own comerades. Typical," he doesn't even try hiding the disgust, "Just like they thought of me," and the resentment he couldn't hide. Oh! Sky Lynx was--he doesn't look very well--uh--This ancient unit is questioning my methods and my own sanity! The assault unit regarded the elder with a mingling of baffling respect and condemnation and resentment, somehow all at once, and a maddening perplexion, "...War is war," he shrugs. Kup points at Quickswitch. "I don't know for sure what you are, Quickswitch. But I listen to you, and I can already hear ya going down that slow, slow slide right down into hell." He raises himself up on the tips of his feet, to bring his head a bit a more level with Quickswitch's. "Don't friggin' go there. It's not a place you wanna be." His gaze lingers on the Sixchanger for a bit, then, he turns around and walks back into the city. "Gotta file some reports. But think about what I said. And remember: You own what you do, lad."
|
