Don't Mess With Wreckers-To-Be

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-< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 07:30PM CST >-- The Toraxxis Mega-Refinery is the last major source of fuel on the planet, its massive reactors constantly roiling overtime just to churn out enough fuel for the masses. Most of the machinery is automated, requiring few, if any workers to actually operate the facility itself.
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The security has been scant at best recently, owed in no small part to the efforts required to get Iacon back in working order...it's kind of a remote area, but the Decepticons are bound to start targeting it sooner or later. Thus, Prowl had ordered an increase in the strength and frequency of patrols about the refinery's perimeter as well as within. The reinforcements are just now arriving for the first shift of this implementation--hopefully they aren't too late. Prowl appears to be busy assigning patrol routes to foot soldiers, while the more technical types are working on installing additional auto-turrets and other security systems. ---< Starscream Posed on Dec 06 07:44PM CST >--- Recon missions. They can suck but they can also be a good thing too. The SiC is leading a recon mission now actually. He has taken Phantom and Blast Off with him to investicate the security around the Toraxxis Mega-Refinery. Energon is important to everyone on Cybertron but in Starscream's mind, the Decepticons are entitled to it more then any Autobot.

>>Blast Off, Phantom. We are approaching the Refinery, sensors on long range. Try not to make your presense known. I want a full scan on whats down there.>> he pulls up a bit and shadows the two other Decepticons from above. ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 07:48PM CST > Blast Off has been ordered to help in this scouting mission and the Combaticon has been happy to oblige. Why should the Autobots have the only access to the most important fuel source on the planet? The fuel that is life- and allows for things like, say, space travel. << Understood. Beginning scans. >> The Combaticon's sensors begin scans at long range. He's a space ship- he can work at VERY long range. He keeps high up in the atmosphere, wishing he could go even higher. < Phantom Posed on Dec 06 07:53PM CST >- Phantom, following Starscream a reasonable distance away, drops off, phasing into the ground momentarily and going a little nearer to the plan. He runs his scans before resurfacing somewhere hidden and relocating to a position near Blast Off.

"" he radios the other two. < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 07:56PM CST > Of course, if one were to request for additional security, who better to send than the shuttle capable of bringing on teams and his own sense of...well, security. Engines roar outside of the refinery as the epitomy of the perfect Autobot Shuttle (or shuttles in general) glides in to settle down outside the facility proper on the designated landing pad, his doors opening to facilitate the standard onload and offload of supplies and personnel, all while his voice chimes in on the internal speakers, "-should like to thank you for flying Sky Lynx air, and should like to believe that no other option will prove suitable for future ventures. Please disembark at this time, pictures shall indeed be available on the tarmac at your discretion. Onloads for departures shall begin in their due time." -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 08:00PM CST >-- Arcee is here at Toraxxis on security detail by Prowl's request. A lot of what she does these days is by Prowl's request, in fact, and mechs around the base are starting to talk. The pink femme pays little mind to the scuttlebutt around the base.

She happens to be near the landing pad as Sky Lynx arrives, and she grins slightly. "You're always so cheerful," she exclaims. -< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 08:10PM CST >-- Sky Lynx's rambling is fairly annoying. But Prowl puts up with it, because Lynx is an asset. A very useful one at that. At least it's expected. Anything predictable is tolerable. "Keep sweeping the perimeter, but we need optics in the skies as well. Spread out quickly." Because you never know when those pesky terrorists could show up!

Sky Spy drones are deployed, and begin to approach the Decepticon scouting party's location. Oh yes, they're just like those cursed machines the Senate used to use to invade everyone's privacy, just a bit newer and probably nastier. < Phantom Posed on Dec 06 08:12PM CST >- "" Phantom radios the other two when the Sky Spy drones start to show up. He peels off, leaving the scene. ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 08:19PM CST > Blast Off's scanners detect- oh well, look at that. Sky Lynx. The Combaticon shuttle's scans pause there, delaying because.... well, he's not even sure why. It's so rare he sees a fellow space alt, and the few he's seen more recently have been anything /but/ the civilized, sophisticated kind of person a shuttle ought to be. Not that Blast Off's seen Sky Lynx very much in a long time but he *seemed* much like his old self from way back, long ago. But... that was then, this is now. He has to focus on the task at hand, and Sky Lynx is his enemy now. << I'm detecting several Autobots, Starscream, including Sky Lynx. I also detect... I believe those are Sky Spy drones coming our way. Suggest sending some kind of interference to disrupt signals. That or fly higher to avoid them. >> ---< Starscream Posed on Dec 06 08:23PM CST >--- Starscream gets the reports in from the two and then realizes Phantom left. <> he makes a annoyed sound. <> He scans ahead and picks up the sky spys. <> He wing overs and starts heading for the sky spys. No need to try and hide from them, its useless. Might as well take them out as fast as he can. Arming his wing lasers the Seeker opens fire on the sky spys as soon as he gets in range. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 08:27PM CST > One would imagine Starscream would be really annoyed if he knew he was being utilized as a diversion... But that's probably why the air commander wasn't necessarily told that his small patrol would be the only one scoping out the sight. Air bound Decepticons make excellent attention getters for those obnoxious survellience drones, though.

That, or there's bots that forget there are Decepticons that do not rely on flight. Like the large metal maned beast that's stalking the factility from the opposite direction as the fliers. Razorclaw was on the prowl while everyone was being flustered by the high ranking officer and his snobbish drunkard companion. < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 08:27PM CST > "Of course I'm cheerful, Arcee. What else could I be? Decepticon?" Lynx chuckles softly before falling silent, either listening over the radio or otherwise. "Hmm...did you hear that? It sounded like overly aggressive laser fire from someone lacking in self confidence." His engines begin to come online as he takes to the air, cargo doors closing while the nose comes about to send him shuttling towards the source of the disturbance. "I'll bet they take off running the moment I show up." -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 08:33PM CST >-- Arcee nods and peers skyward curiously, but whatever's just happened to the Sky Spy units is out of immediate visual range. She watches as Sky Lynx zooms off confidently, then she begins prepping for trouble: immediately, she begins helping the workers secure and cover the new refinery equipment. -< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 08:42PM CST >-- As soon as the drones are taken out, their signals disappear off the scans. "Damn it." Prowl curses to himself. Well it looks like the Decepticons are just in time for the party. He immediately places the facility in lockdown--where there's one Decepticon there are bound to be others. Doors quickly begin to seal and security systems go on high alert.

Meanwhile, Razorclaw approaches from a different angle...he might be in luck, the patrols on that particular side of the refinery grounds are fairly sparse. A door a few paces away is closing slowly--if he's fast enough, he might be able to squeeze inside without getting crushed... ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 08:45PM CST > Blast Off grumbles as Starscream throws patient caution to the wind and goes to destroy the drones -and announce their presence. << But... we were trying not to get noticed, and... >> After that there's just static over the comm as he "bites his tongue" as it were. While the Seeker does his thing, Blast Off gains elevation, lasers trained on targets below and watching Sky Lynx. << I think I saw... pink over there? If so, that's likely Arcee. >> ---< Starscream Posed on Dec 06 08:49PM CST >--- Starscream makes quick work of the drones and banks back toward the Shuttle, <> he starts heading down toward the Refinery when something pings on his radar. <> he veers over toward the large Autobot Shuttle and gets ready to fire. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 08:52PM CST > The security was stretched out and the other Decepticons were garnering most of the attention. Just the oppritunity that Razorclaw had been hoping to find.

That the Autobots would attempt to lock up the facility upon noticing Starscream's patrol was a predictable response. It was already in the Predacon's strategies for the night. Enough so that Razorclaw reacts as soon as his sharp ears hear one of the doorways closing, bolting towards it with a burst of speed many forget the seemingly lethargic beast possesses. A dive and roll made at the last possible minute should be enough to get through the doorway and then back onto his paws with enough microns to take cover again. < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 08:57PM CST > Sky Lynx banks sharply as he comes to bear on Starscream to meet him head on. "Hahah! This seems familiar, Starswirl...or was it Starmoan? Star...shout? I can't recall. Something insignificant, I'm sure! We all know how it ended last time, though, don't we." He gives a rather boistrous laugh as the vents on his nosecone give that tell-tale chuff of black smoke, engines roaring to life to pick up speed as the game of aerial chicken begins. -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 08:58PM CST >-- Once Arcee finishes assisting the site workers, she stands at guard, bringing her laser-pistols from subspace and awaiting orders or incoming fire, whichever comes first. And just like everyone else around the facility, she completely misses Razorclaw's ninja-like entrance. -< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 09:06PM CST >-- Just in time, it seems--Razorclaw is able to make through the door. He almost rolls right into an unfortunate guard, who is taken by surprise. "H-halt!" he stammers, fumbling for a moment before finally managing to throw a small grenade the Predacon's way. << We've got an intruder inside the refinery, eastern quadrant, sector 5! I repeat, inruder in the eastern quadrant! >> Ah, too bad the improved security automation hadn't been ready yet.

As Sky Lynx charges in to take on Blast Off and Starscream, Prowl enters one of the buildings and takes an elevator to the top, climbing out onto the roof. He might not be able to fly, but he could use the environment to his advantage. It should be high enough to get within range of the fliers. Attempting to get a target lock on Blast Off, he aims a drone missile in the Combaticon's direction and fires. ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 09:09PM CST > Blast Off grumbles some more at that. << That is the one last large fuel desposit on the planet. Unless you plan on giving ME what we can salvage so I can go scout across the galaxy, we ought to be much more careful with that limited stock. It's our life blood. >> As Sky Lynx comes up towards them, Blast Off's weapons take aim, prepared and ready... but he doesn't fire. Yet. << Sky Lynx, we meet again. >> He doesn't get a lot of time to chat, however, because suddenly there's a missile heading his way. Those wing lasers immediately pivot and lock onto that new target. The shuttle arcs rapidly up and to the side, then dives down to send a carefully aimed shot right at the missile. ---< Starscream Posed on Dec 06 09:14PM CST >--- Details, details. Starscream hates details and the one the Combaticon just pointed out to him is not going down well. <> is all he says as he guns it closer to the Autobot Shuttle and opens fire. <> Starscream suggests to the Combaticaon right before Blast Off veers off to take care of the missle heading his way. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 09:15PM CST > It's the reflexive move to avoid colliding with the machinery that spares Razorclaw from getting a grenade right in the face as well. Alas, it means continuing the subtle approach is no longer a viable course of action, but discovery was an eventuality in this sort of operation. Hardly something that wasn't already in consideration when he approached the mega-refinery.

When Razorclaw charges from the other side of the machinery he's already in robot mode. No precious time wasted on witty retorts or taunting. He charges the guard that tried to blow him up with no restraint, aiming the thrusting lunge at the center of the mech's toros with his sonic sword to dispose of the interference with the precision lethality he preferred so he could get on with his own mission. < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 09:18PM CST > Sky Lynx is not one to play the same game twice, because...that'd be just silly. As Starscream opens fire, and completely ignores his jests, he just offers an audible sigh and rolls to expose a better armored part to the oncoming fire before transforming, snapping around so that one of his massive wings spreads and swats at the flying triangle...thing. "I dare say, Starpearl, that almost tickled." He turns, frowning at the scorch marks on his armor. "Hmph. I'll have to pay you back for that one." -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 09:20PM CST >-- After a moment's radio exchange, Arcee's expression turns very serious. "Looks like we have an uninvited visitor, I'll deal with them," she says to the workers. "Remain here." With that, she begins heading down a corridor quickly, toward the side of the building where the intrusion was first reported, both guns drawn and at the ready. -< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 09:32PM CST >-- After a brief exchange on the comms, Prowl decides to switch targets. This time, he turns the missile launcher toward Starscream and fires once more. One of them is bound to come down here sooner or later.

<< Requesting immediate assistance, requesting--aghhhh!! >> Razorclaw does indeed make short work of the guard, the sword ripping through his chest. Fuel spurts everywhere, the mech left nothing more than a heap of mangled scrap. No doubt reinforcements are inbound, but for the time being the Predcaon seems to be alone with the low hum of the machinery as it churns like so much clockwork. He's standing on a balcony of sorts, high above a massive reactor on the floor below. ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 09:35PM CST > Blast Off doesn't have to get near his target in order to shoot it. One of the benefits of being an orbital sniper, after all. The shuttle keeps his high elevation and locks targets on the source of the missiles far below. ---< Starscream Posed on Dec 06 09:42PM CST >--- Starscream ignored Sky Lynxes jests because they were too obvious. But he does reply to the lastest remark. <> and he cycles his wing lasers to his null ray and fires at the shuttle. But before he can make sure he hit, his radar goes off and suddenly a missle happens on his tail. The Tetrajey banks hard and down to try and avoid the missle but it does clip his tail. He's a bit out of control but the Seeker recovers quickly, though his tail is smoking a bit and part of its now missing. It slows the Seeker down a bit but not enough to stop him. He tracks the missles trajectory and sees Prowl on the roof. <> Starscream spits and takes a skraffing run toward the Autobot. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 09:45PM CST > Razorclaw puts his foot to the dead guard to push him off the sword blade, leaving him to clattered to a dead heap on the floor. No doubt the guard was whining over the radio even with the swift demise, so there was scant time to waste before help arrived. Keeping a ready grip on his sword with one hand the Predacon rest the other on the balcony saftey railing as he peered past it briefly. Most would just see the facility for what was visible. But while he was in beast mode his higher senses could tell so much more. The stench of fumes and grinding complaints of machinery as the refinery was pushed farther and farther past it's original capacity. Even a facility of this size was not meant for keeping an entire planet's population fueled. It was only a matter of time, then it would not matter who was in control of the plant.

Trying to subvert the planet from Autobot control would be too time consuming. Sabotage would weaken their holding but escalate the rate of breakdown in it's capacity. Turning away from the balcony Razorclaw resumes stalking down the pathway, looking for either useful equipment or some of the refinery's product he can abscond with. < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 09:46PM CST > Sky Lynx hmphs and banks again as Starscream picks up on the proverbial bait, darting past the other flier to do what he does best... Show up other shuttlecraft! Making use of the fact both Blast Off and Starscream are focused on Prowl, Lynx comes around to mid-air tackle-slam Blast Off from above, making use of teeth and sheer weight to try and push the hapless combaticon from the sky. "Greetings indeed, Blast Off." -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 09:51PM CST >-- Arcee follows the corridor, pausing briefly when she steps in something wet. Glancing down toward the floor, she sees a thin trail of fresh mechfluid coming down an incline, and she follows it upward until she comes across the crumpled body of the dead guard. She frowns, and very quietly proceeds onward, knowing she's very likely about to have an encounter with a killer extremely soon. -< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 10:01PM CST >-- Prowl smirks slightly in satisfaction as Starscream appears to have been hit in the tail. Heh, for all his inane rambling about himself, Sky Lynx isn't a bad tactician himself.

Predictably, Blast Off attempts to take aim at him from the air. Jumping sideways, Prowl barely manages to move out of the way, the shot glancing off of the metal exterior of the structure near his shoulder. Instead of firing back, however, he starts to exit the roof and heads down a stairway leading to a platform located along the outer wall on the other side, obscuring the Combaticon's line of sight.

Inside, Razorclaw's scans will alert him to the fact that there is a small control room on the far side of the reactor, likely designed to issue commands to local machinery. It has fallen to disuse since the push for automation during Sentinel's time, but it's possible that it's still operational. Though, the walkway leading to it is badly rusted, even cracked in places and also barricaded off, with danger signs all over it. Not that the barriers would be an issue for someone like Razorclaw. That walkway, though... ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 10:05PM CST > Blast Off takes aim to fire off another shot when sensors scream a warning at him. Oh, smeeelt. The immense shape of the Autobot shuttle comes winging up at the smaller Combaticon shuttle, and Blast Off wastes no time trying to live up to his name as thrusters roar to life. Nope, nope #NOPE do not want. Sharp teeth reach for the Combaticon- and *just* miss him. Being smaller, Blast Off has the advantage of higher agility- which is a good thing, too, because if Sky Lynx made a direct hit it would *hurrrt*, especially to a glass cannon like himself. Thrusters propelling him forward fast in a billowing trail of icy white smoke, Blast Off lets out a rumbling *huffff* from his engines as he dives down and to the side, trying to shake the larger shuttle. << REALLY. You thought you'd catch me unawares? I like to mingle with fellow spacecraft, yes, but I'd expect better manners from you. A little chitchat first, a cordial introduction before being so *forward* and direct. >> Blast Off aims his lasers back towards Sky Lynx and fires even as he circles closer to Prowl's location- or believed location. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 10:10PM CST > Optics narrow behind the visor band of his helmet. Leave it to the Autobots to just close off an area and forget about it because of their 'new' technology. If this had been under Decepticon control the Constructicons would of repaired it within cycles to keep things running smoothly.

Razorclaw glances over his shoulder briefly. Certainly there was reponse to the dead guard's last transmissions behind him. Looks towards the rusted walkway once more, and takes a few steps back, guaging the distance to the next stable portion of the walkway past the rust.

Then drops down into mecha-lion mode, flexes his legs a few times to make sure they don't get stiff on him, and makes a running start to use his great jumping ability to leap across the rusted area to the other side. ---< Starscream Posed on Dec 06 10:14PM CST >--- Starscream shoots Prowl into leaving the roof and the Tetrajet pulls up and swings around. So much for the recon patrol. And as the Combaticon pointed out, destroying this refinery would not be in anyones best interest, but this sure isn't going how he planned. If Scorponok is so large and in charge then why isn't he here claim this refinery for the Decepticons anyway? <> he orders as he gains some altitude. -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 10:16PM CST >-- Arcee startles a bit as she hears a loud transforming noise up ahead -- too close for her liking! She freezes momentarily, pressed up against the wall, then takes a few careful steps ahead.

She finds herself near the reactor room, but sees nothing out of the ordinary other than the place is outdated and slowly crumbling apart. But she knows what she heard -- someone is definitely /here/. Somewhere. She decides to radio Prowl. < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 10:19PM CST > Sky Lynx hmphs as Blast Off dodges rather well, but no bother! He's quick to keep pursuit. "Oh! Come now. I figured a surprise hug would have done you well. Isn't that what all Decepticons missed in life? A good hug?" He charges his own lasers, firing as he tries to get a proper lead on the shuttle-con as a few more pelt his armor and, more terrifyingly, his paint job. Oh dear... < Impactor Posed on Dec 06 10:21PM CST > High above the mega-refinery, a singular dropship was inbound. If there were any anti-air defenses, either from the Decepticons or hacked drone-artilleries on-site, the dropship would attempt to maneuver as best as it could. Onboard was the pilot and a single mech -- Impactor.

The side door of the dropship opened and Impactor was standing there with his right hand gripping the safety handle, overseeing the mega-refinery with golden optics. He had just gotten out of the medical center from his previous engagement and had a fresh coat of paint. There was that typical BLING with the little twinkly sound if someone looked up in the sky and caught the light reflecting off of him! There was little intelligence that had been funneled his way, only that the engagement was underway and since the mega-refinery was a high-priority target, command had decided to send in the heavyweight class mech.

Impactor had been told by the pilot that Prowl was on the ground and he radioed << Impactor to Prowl - High in the sky and ready for feet on the ground. Orders?>> -< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 10:25PM CST >-- Prowl doesn't make another move for the time being, keeping his head low as Sky Lynx provides the perfect distraction for Blast Off. Starscream seems to have pulled back for the moment. He turns his attention to Impactor's incoming transmission. << Get Starscream out of the sky while you're up there. >>

The rusted portion of the walkway is a bit larger than Razorclaw might have anticipated. He lands on the other side where the control room is, but the impact of the landing causes the dilapidated bridge to crack and crumble underfoot, threatening to give way and fall into the reactor below! It also makes a rather loud noise, as old rusty metal groans in protest. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 10:29PM CST > Razorclaw makes it across the jump, for the most part. His back paws land on a heavily rusted part of the walkway and it practically crumbles to dust beneath his heels. His backend drops through the resulting opening, but the Predacon digs into the stable section with his front claws and uses them to pull himself back up.

But getting back onto the walkway might be just long enough to give Arcee a chance to catch up. At least as far as the rusted portion. ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 10:32PM CST > Slag, Sky Lynx is still right on his tail. Blast Off adds even more power to his thrusters, in absolutely no hurry to get better acquainted with those jaws. He still manages to keep clear of them, but some of the Autobot's lasers DO land, rocking the brown form in midair and sending heat shield ceramic tiles scattering to the winds. His engine rumbles in some pain as he adjusts his flight path and works to stay airborne. *Hrrnngh... * << Per-perhaps *some*, yes, but you ought to remember I have far more dignity than that... I need my personal space, to be honest. Room to roam, freedom to fly. I was always an independant spark, surely you remember. Besides, I would not wish to appear so boorish as to demand such .../personal/ attention from one such as yourself. I'm sure you have plenty to do... >> Even as he speaks, he's returning fire while getting closer to the tower- maybe he can try to lose Sky Lynx among the spires and radio towers. ---< Starscream Posed on Dec 06 10:35PM CST >--- Starscream doesn't get a reply from the Combaticon but as he banks around he sees why. Hitting his afterburners, the Tetrajet guns forward and provides some cover fire for the con shuttle to regain his footing, or winging so to speak in this case. << I think we have pretty much all we needed here.>> Starscream radios to Blast Off, for some reason not noticing the other shuttle and the other Autobot about to make his day even more annoying. -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 10:38PM CST >-- Once again, Arcee hears a sound *very* close by, and this time she's able to spot a figure on the damaged walkway. The railing on part of the walkway is obscuring her view but the figure definitely looks large and somewhat predatory to her. And he appears to be heading directly toward the reactor room!

She may not be able to fly, but Arcee's comparitively smaller and lighter form help her efforts to leap onto the old walkway with a *whump*, and she begins picking up speed when she spots the missing portion of the walkway -- this one's going to need to be jumped over. Hopefully. Because it will be a bad thing to miss that jump. < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 10:41PM CST > Sky Lynx ahs. "Yes, quite. Dignity. I shall indeed keep that in mind when describing you in the reports. Shall I offer to buy you some half-filled glasses as a consolation prize so you may dignify us with some music here?" Yes. /EVERYONE/ has seen that. The massive mech stops short of following the other shuttle into the tighter confines of the tower, landing atop a roof and turning to survey the rest of the battlefield for just a moment. There is indeed a bit of folly in trying to do breakneck combat speeds in confined places when there's plenty of sky overhead to do that in. He sighs, pushing off the building to get some altitude while the other shuttle plays around in town. < Impactor Posed on Dec 06 10:42PM CST > <> Impactor replied to Prowl. He then turned his head to yell over the wind and noise of the engines, "Pilot, bring us about. Lock onto Starscream's signal and pursue. Give me a firing lane!" The pilot confirmed and the dropship lurched and turned at an angle, the onboard radar pinging the battlefield. When the hypersonic Decepticon had came up on monitor, the dropship kicked into overdrive and rocketed forward after the flier.

Impactor grabs a safety mag-hook from the winch above the opened side door of the dropship and attaches it to his hip with a zzzzz-tock sound as it locked in place. He jerked on the cable to make sure it was set and pulled his rifle from his back and set the weapon for single-shot long-range ammunition. Impactor then lifts the weapon up and wirelessly interfaces with the dropship's radar as he peers through the scope. It alerted him with a colored, blinking light to how close they were getting to Starscream.

There! They rounded a spire and there was the engagement with Blast Off, Starscream and Sky Lynx. Impactor takes aim with his finger on the trigger of the rifle and then ... click.

CH'KLOW!

A sniper-like shot loud enough to echo off of the multiple spires over the sound of engines could be heard. "You're going down, you Spawn of a Glitch!" Impactor howled and yanked back on the trigger again. And again. And again. He unleashed a torrent of gunfire from the dropship as he led his target to compensate for speed and distance. -< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 10:51PM CST >-- The walkway is shaken up once more when Arcee also jumps over onto it, landing just behind Razorclaw. As for the Predacon, he will find before him a small control room that has very clearly not been maintained in a while. But, one of the terminals still appears to be active, the holopane flickering faintly. It looks like it might have been used at one point to control various arms, conveyor belts, and fuel conduits.

Prowl watches from his perch as Impactor closes in on Blast Off and Starscream. As they appear distracted, he launches another missile at them, this time aimed at Blast Off who appears to be quite occupied with Sky Lynx's weapons already. ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 10:53PM CST > Blast Off would've answered his Commanding Officer, really, but he's got a GIANT FIREBREATHING SHUTTLE-DRAGON ON HIS TAIL. KINDA PREOCCUPIED. But Ok. He finally manages to radio to Starscream, << Status is I HAVE SKY LYNX on my TAIL. >> Ok, maybe he needs to do better than that, << I am currently working to lose him among the towers. >> The Seeker provides him some cover fire and hopefully that'll help him gain some ground- er, air. Then OMP< Sky Lynx /saw that/. << I- I don't know what came over me! That was NOT like me at all! >> There's a pause, then he adds, << But I'll have you know that was a display of HIGH skill and sophistication. >> And then- it's over? Blast Off gets into the towers and spires and Sky Lynx seems to break off his pursuit. Ha HA! He's won. Or wait no. That's when Impactor makes his presence known. S********* The Combaticon gets rocked again, this time not only do ceramic tiles come off but an entire chunk of heat shield itself gets ripped off in the barrage. << GAHHH!!! >> Half of his own volition and half because the explosions just sort of *exploded* him skyward, the Combaticon shuttle goes spinning - this time right into Prowl's shot. Which results in more spinning as the Combaticon shuttle struggles to regain control. He fires off a shot towards the last missile from Prowl, though his aim is not the best right now. ---< Starscream Posed on Dec 06 10:58PM CST >--- It's days like this that the young SiC wishes he could order someone to take the slag in his place. He gets Blast Off' comm and hears it all as he watches the shuttle blast upwards. He also sees bits of the shuttle trailing behind him. Who the smeg is shooting at him now? <> and suddenly he realizes the new bot in the game as bullets stitch down his side. The Tetrajet drops down suddenly and goes into a severe evade manuver. OF course the smoke trail he's leaving doesn't do much to stop a good lock on to his location. <> he orders and starts pulling up. "This isn't the end of this Autobots!" he says as he turns to head back to Decepticon base. Of course had he known Razorclaw was inside right now... he'd still be retreating... ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 11:03PM CST > Once he's certain he's on solid ground again, so to speak, Razorclaw shifts back to his robot mode again. Because even for robots terminals are hard to work without opposable thumbs to do so with. Unless you have those fancy direct interfaces aniforms like Ravage has, and being a warrior first and foremost he does not.

Maybe he could use this terminal to override part of the plant's processes, have some of it's shipments 'lost' somewhere the Decepticons could pick them up from. Relocate just enough to help suppliment their efforts without becoming too noticable right away. Even a small gain would help with their current position. Especially if it could be done without excess confl--

Someone else's feet clang to the floor behind him. Razorclaw turns to look, redrawing his sword with one hand... though in the limited size of the aclove he wouldn't have much room to move in a fight. "If you are wise you will simply leave and forget you ever saw anything here. Or," a bit of light does glimmer down the length of the blade, "it may be -you- that is the one soon forgotten..." < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 11:05PM CST > Sky Lynx watches the scene from above as Impactor quite literally brings the hurt to the airborne decepticons. <> He turns his attention to the facility itself. <<Where is the one inside? Perhaps we can flush him out and I can meet him at the exit?>> He double-checks, just to make sure that Starscream is indeed departing before turning to head back to the various plant entrances, scouting them out for movement while waiting for a reply back on comms, his adversaries in the air as forgotten as yesterday's news. < Impactor Posed on Dec 06 11:07PM CST > <<Copy that, Sky Lynx. Good to see you.>> Impactor radioed. The smoke trail from Starscream made it easy to track, but Impactor yelled to the pilot, "Break off and engage the secondary target!" The dropship turned to broadside Blast Off, letting Impactor stare down his barrel at the Combaticon that was spinning out of control. The dropship was nowhere near as fast as Starscream, so Impactor didn't even bother trying to chase the seeker.

Impactor switched his rifle to automatic and took general aim at the unpredictably spinning Decepticon and yanked back on the trigger....

Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!

The rifle sprayed inaccurate ammunition at a high velocity until the clip emptied. Impactor tossed the rifle aside in the dropship and pulled his pistol from his lower leg. Gripping the safety cable, he used it as leverage as he leaned out from the ledge of the dropship and lifted his hand and continued to fire. Blam! Blam! Blam!

"Sing me a tune, Blast Off! Make it a dirge!" Impactor yelled as he caught on quick to the running gag! -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 11:10PM CST >-- Arcee narrows her optics when she realizes who she's up against. While she isn't scared, she's not dumb. She already knows she's outclassed, but she doesn't have much choice but to put on her bravest face and deal with it. Maybe she'd luck out somehow. "Better come out of there while you still have a chance," she warns. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 11:20PM CST > Razorclaw certainly cuts an imposing figure as he steps back into the doorway, gripping his weapon in both hands. The resonate blade was the cybertronian equivilent to a bastard sword in size, just the faintest of audible hums from it's blade charging with sonic energy. "What's wrong, Autobot? I could sabotage the entire facility from this point and yet you attempt to call me out instead of do what needs to be done.. Not very smart, now is that?"

Razorclaw may be partially bluffing how much damage he could do from that terminal. Or maybe not. How can one tell for certain... -< Prowl Posed on Dec 06 11:21PM CST >-- With the situation outside apparently handled by Sky Lynx and Impactor, Prowl enters the building and makes a beeline for sector 5. He arrives shortly on a balcony above the one where Arcee and Razorclaw are facing off. Drawing his own long-range weaponry he takes aim at the Predacon. "Stand down immediately, Decepticon. If you surrender now, you might even make it out of Garrus-1 before the next millenium."

Sure, Starscream. Just abandon your teammates. Leave Razorclaw high and dry. Of course, they probably expected no less of him. But perhaps, the Predacon can give the Autobot a little surprise. The alcove offers a little bit of cover from any shot Prowl might fire, if he doubles down in there, though Arcee is right at point-blank range. There is also a crane arm on the other side of the room, and a series of levers look like they might still operate it. It's long enough to reach the Autobot commander...though of course there's a chance that the controls are booby trapped or won't do anything. Either case will give Arcee a definite opening. Is it worth the risk? ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 11:24PM CST > Starscream orders a retreat and Blast Off would be happy to oblige about now- but there's the matter of Autobot pursuit to take care of still- and stopping the planet from spinning. Oh wait no, that's still just him. He finally regains control and can see that Sky Lynx has broken off pursuit- but Impactor hasn't. This time he's a little better prepared. Not as agile as a Seeker, he's still on the dodgy side and avoids most of the inaccurate shots, though a few still graze his fuselage. Metal sides creak in protest as systems equilibrate and he shoots upwards again, aiming a laser back at Impactor's ship. Smelt, did EVERYONE see that??!! << The only music I'm going to make for YOU is a grand finale- a curtain call. Shame it will be the last performance you *ever* see! >> He fires off several shots- this time with better aim than last, even as he starts trying to head away from the plant. His thrusters start to roar to life again as he prepares to Blast Off yet again! -< Arcee Posed on Dec 06 11:30PM CST >-- "You...you don't know what any of that even /does/, now come out here and fight me," Arcee insists to Razorclaw with a frown, right about the time Prowl shows up. There's a moment's confusion on her part; not a hestitation of a coward, but of someone who hasn't yet honed quick decision-making skills on the battlefield. That can't be programmed; it can only be learned through experience.

She returns her guns to subspace, then draws an energy-sword of her own, and she sizes up the large Predacon commander rather boldly. < Sky Lynx Posed on Dec 06 11:30PM CST > Sky Lynx glances back at the rather stubborn Blast Off, b ut Impactor has that one well under hand, yes? Hmm...he hopes. He ducks back towards the exits and drops to the ground, patrolling around them as he starts to carefully barricade them all one by one. <<Prowl, I am blocking off exits from the outside with the exception of the rear. Perhaps we can trap the proverbial rat in the cage and limit any potential damage that might be caused.>> < Impactor Posed on Dec 06 11:37PM CST > Slag. Blast Off regained control and fired back. The shot was pretty accurate and zoomed over Impactor's left shoulder and up through the canopy of the drop ship. The thing wasn't all that armored since it was made to get in, drop the troops off, and get back out. It wasn't even a gunship with its own defense weapons beyond the front-facing lasers. The damage that first shot caused made an alarm go off and the ship tilted. Thankfully, Impactor had attached the mag hook. "I'd love to monologue with you all day, but I've got better things to do," Impactor yells in return. He took a couple of other pot shots with his pistol. Blam! Blam! But, that was when a lucky shot from Blast Off scrapped the pilot. A round went straight through the cockpit and mechfluid went everywhere. It was a gory scene. It was like the poor feller just went 'pop'! The dropship tilted the other way and started to fall out of control. "Fragging juiced-up tank of low-grade engeeeeeee---!!!" Impactor yelled as he yanked the mag hook off of his hip in a hurry, probably tearing off a plate of armor along with it as he didn't have time to disengage it and leapt from the ship to air-drop to the ground below, arms and legs spread wide. Impactor laid his own covering fire as he fell, still popping off rounds from his pistol at Blast Off until... WHUMP!

Touchdown.

As Impactor landed, debris from the ground beneath him flew up and he rose to his full height and looked skyward. Behind him, a ginormous explosion from the dropship ramming into an abandoned spire and chunks of permacrete and plasteel flew everywhere and rained around him.

<<Prowl, I've got boots on the ground. The dropship is scrapped. It looks like the 'Cons are retreating - awaiting orders.>> ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 06 11:38PM CST > A low chuckle that is anything but reassuring emits from the Predacon. "Can you be so sure of that? Or are you no better than your political predacessors, thinking I am no more than a savage simply because my alternate form is a mecha-beast of ferocity?" Prowl butting into the matters doesn't even get more than a brief sidelong glance to see where the Autobot officer is.. hmmm... Though while not as strong or as formidable Arcee was still a more direct threat at the moment.

Leaving Prowl unaccousted, however, would be a grave tactical error in either scenerio.

"Prehaps, then..." Razorclaw shifts his stance a bit, at first looking as if he was getting ready to strike at the femme, but then the movement is used to kick the lever with one of his legs. "We shall experiment." Even if the crane activating fails to knock Prowl from his perch, it will occupy him long enough for Razorclaw to deal with the pink threat. Though she's got a brief opening while he's hitting the lever to move in on him, too... ---< Blast Off Posed on Dec 06 11:43PM CST > And SCORE, totally earned some high scoring points with that shot on the pilot, right? The Combaticon is smirking internally as he leaves a trail of glorious destruction behind him. FINALLY. He feels like a proper Combaticon again. << I do so hate to be rude and not give you an encore, but I really wouldn't wish to overstay my welcome. >> With that, the shuttle rockets away, gaining speed as he tears across the sky and back towards base. -< Arcee Posed on Dec 07 12:02AM CST >-- As Razorclaw moves for the lever, Arcee quickly lunges forward in an attempt to strike first. Since her primary objective is to keep him occupied from the reactor's controls, she stabs toward his reaching hand. -< Prowl Posed on Dec 07 12:10AM CST >-- << Affirmative, Impactor. Assist Sky Lynx in barricading the perimeter of the sector. I don't want this one getting away. >> Prowl replies on the comms. He doesn't fire on Razorclaw yet, though. "I didn't say I could be certain of it, I just said it's a possibility. Whereas if you resist arrest, you'll probably be stuck on Luna-2 for the remainder of your existence. And given the odds at the current moment," In other words given that he's pretty much surrounded, "It would be in your best interests to lighten your sentence as much as possible."

The level is tripped, and suddenly the massive crane arm on the other side moves across the room--*toward* Razorclaw and Arcee. "Scrap! Look out Arcee!" Prowl shouts as the robotic arm starts to move toward them.

Having pushed it all the way up, the machine is out of control, knocking the already-damaged platform the control room is anchored to completely free of its supports and tearing through the walls of the alcove. Reaching the other side of the room, it smashes through a window--thankfully for the Predacon providing a fairly easy exit for him....if he can make it. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 07 12:17AM CST > The femme capitalizes on the brief moment she has, digging a blow into one of the Predacon's arms. But Razorclaw is quick to react, using his greater size to shove Arcee off before she can cut too deeply. "Tch tch tch. You just had to go and try to be brave. Now you're going to have to pay for -- hnnh?" He barely gets a chance to look up as the crane screams to life.. and in their direction. "Oh for Straxis sake--"

*WHUM* The crane tears into the platform, slamming into the Predacon Commander in the process, knocking him off the crumbling platform and giving Arcee an oppritunity to get out of the way.

But as the crane arm tears through the wall and smashes a window it becomes clear that it wasn't a fall to his doom in the reactor below the Predacon took. Razorclaw was able to grab onto the wild machine as it struck him and hold on long enough to climb on top, and then leap for the busted window from there. He just conveniently doesn't have to bust it himself now. -< Arcee Posed on Dec 07 12:24AM CST >-- Arcee turns and stares in surprise as the crane comes barrelling towards them. She hits the deck, and the armor plating on her back is grazed slightly by the crane arm, but it was certainly a better outcome than substaining a direct hit. Razorclaw is able to scurry out of strike range before she can right herself once more. That's when she's able to see that Razorclaw actually made it onto the wayward crane arm. "....." Inwardly, she's rather impressed by that particular maneuver. That's one more agility skill she puts on her to-do list for perfecting in the training room. < Impactor Posed on Dec 07 12:31AM CST > Impactor replies over comms <<Copy.>> With that, the heavyweight mech made a bolt down the access road around the refinery. He'd have transformed to do it, but there was too much debris from the destroyed dropship.

<<Heading to the rear of the refinery.>> Impactor calls in a status update. The destroyed spire nearby creaked and a part of it started to fall. "Scrap!" he cries and makes a rolling dive to get out of the way as a hunk of the building smashed into the ground. The resulting force sent Impactor flying against a nearby wall and then to the ground. His optics winked out for a moment and then came back online as he shook his head and got back to his feet and started in a run again until he cleared the debris.

Once there wasn't anything else falling upon him, Impactor transformed and rolled out! Or rather.. treaded out.. considering he was a tank. His treads hammered the ground at high velocity, propelling him forward.

Toka-toka-toka-toka-toka-toka-toka!

Finally he arrived at the rear entrance and brought himself to a hault before he turned and faced the access corridor and leveled his particle cannon straight at it, ready to unleash hell upon any poor fool that his FoF systems alerted him to. << In position.>>

That was when a window above smashed and a wall groaned from smashing machinery. Chunks of permacrete fell around him and he lifted his particle cannon upwards towards the opening. As the crane arm came out with Razorclaw clinging to it, Impactor wound up his cannon. The barrel of it glowed momentarily and then...

SH'KROW!

...a purplish beam of unholy wrath seared through the air. ---< Razorclaw Posed on Dec 07 12:47AM CST > Well that wasn't what Razorclaw intended with activating the crane, but it proved to be useful all the same when it gets him outside and away from the Autobo--

And then a massive beam of energy tears through the part of the crane thrust through the wall, blasting it off. Flaming chunks of metal structure fall from the sky. Slightly less flaming is the Predacon tumbling down in the midst of it all. Smoking and battered, definately.

Razorclaw hits the ground hard enough to chuck up a small cloud of debris for the last bits of wreckage to fall through.... But by the time the cloud is settling the Predacon has already transformed admist it and run off.

Enough damage has already been done tonight. < Impactor Posed on Dec 07 01:00AM CST > Impactor transforms as the cloud of wreckage and debris slams into the ground. He rises to his full height as his cannon shifts to the side and pulls back, his head emerging. The mech then lifts his hand and takes aim with his pistol at the middle of the cloud. But, as it disperses with the breeze, there was nothing left except the result of the damaging blast. Impactor grunts inwardly and lowers his pistol again. He holsters it and then turns to look back up at the hole in the wall of the control room. He shook his head and then turned to begin patrolling back towards the crashed dropship. Impactor would search for the body of the pilot to see if he survived the explosion or not. Either way, Impactor would call in for an evac, radio in the situation and carry the pilot back to the Decagon for either medical care or interment of the remains. "Buncha slack-jawed cowards," Impactor grumbled about the Decepticons. "Guess my boomstick was too big for them."

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