Vos Recon

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< Blurr Posed on Jan 14 12:57AM BRST > The Autobots have come by some intel regarding an abandoned cold construction factory on the outskirts of industrial Vos--records indicating that it has changed hands recently. Given Starscream's prior position, it's likely he still has a number of supporters with connections among the city-state's denizens.
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Prowl is fairly certain that the Decepticons must be using it to house the stolen sparks, or even potentially plan to restore it so that they can use it to create more soldiers. No doubt they'll condition the poor mechs to believe in Megatron's false ideologies so that they'll have no doubts in the cause they were born to serve. The Autobots won't stand for that, especially not Optimus! Freedom is in the right of all sentient beings...right?

At any rate, a small Autobot recon unit including Blurr and led by Prime himself approach the site from the shadows, looking to discern what exactly Starscream plans to do with the facility.

< Optimus Prime Posed on Jan 14 01:06AM BRST > Optimus Prime had seen the report flash across his monitors and when he saw the word 'sparks' highlighted automatically by his system, he gave it special attention. A cold construction factory plus sparks meant that freshly-made Cybertronians were going to be brought under the Decepticon regime against their wills, filled with hateful war-mongering propaganda. This set Prime's circuits ablaze and he mounted the recon team and rolled out with Blurr at his side.

As they were approaching the area, Optimus halted and transformed into his 'bot mode as they came to a corner near the coordinates. On the way over, he'd told his companion, "Blurr, take point. Your speed would be most fortunate in the case that one of the Decepticons spots us and needs to be incapacitated swiftly before they alert the others."

Prime pressed up against a wall and started to inch to the corner around which were the supposed coordinates of the factory, waiting for Blurr to take position.

-< Starscream Posed on Jan 14 01:10AM BRST >-- Starscream indeed still has a lot of sway in Vos and he used some of that to secure this cold fusion factory. And yes, this is where some of the sparks are being held. The Air Commander is here right now actually overseeing some assembly line modifications. "I want these sparks made into Seekers." he says to the gumby mechs working on the machinery. "Shockwave can make his own lackeys -- these are mine." he suddenly hits his comm. <> Sure hes got redshirts guarding the factory and running patrols on foot but the best way to secure the area is from the sky.

---< Phantom Posed on Jan 14 01:26AM BRST >--- A most peculiar thing will happen to Optimus while he's leaning against the corner wall -- a ghost like arm protrudes from his chassis! It moves on its own and Prime won't be able to feel it.

A moment later, he'll be able to identify the source of this phenomenon and trace the arm back to the body of a Decepticon who has apparently walked through the wall as if it were nothing and has appeared on the opposite side of the corner, his back turned to Prime.

Thankfully, Phantom doesn't see him. He does, however, pause, as if having noticed that something had gone amiss during his phase interval. Luckily, Starscream distracts Phantom and he moves on, going away from the Autobot leader. "< Where am I? Are you blind, my friend? I have been here all day. This place is very curious to me, I have never seen so many new cores. Where are the fathers? Aren't they the ones to provide a frame for all these newborns? >"

< Blurr Posed on Jan 14 01:35AM BRST > "Understood." Blurr nods and gets into position ahead of the team. Having spotted Phantom appear out of a wall, he starts toward the facility near to where the Decepticon emerged, searching for a relatively clandestine entry point.

<< Looks like there are a few patrols, be careful. But if I had to guess, I'd say this is where they're keeping the sparks. >>

< Optimus Prime Posed on Jan 14 01:43AM BRST > Optimus Prime saw the ghostly hand sticking through him as it appears that some 'power' was being used. This must be the outlier that Arcee reported. It did make Prime's optics widen and glow with what might be considered a 'mortal fear', because that particular mech could reach into someone's very core and crush their spark! The fear passed quickly however.

As Blurr began to take point, Optimus pulled his laser rifle from his subspace pocket and he looked down at its barrel. He gave it a twist - once, twice - click, click. The weapon was muffled and set for silent shots, but would be on a much slower cooldown from the overheated barrel. It was just his luck that he did that when he caught sight of a patrolling 'Con coming out of a door on the other side of the corner where he was.

It gave Prime's spark a twinge of sadness when he raised his weapon and took aim to keep the Decepticon from locating Blurr. However, he remembered how careless and murderous the Decepticons could be and Prime hardened his spark and pulled the trigger. A quiet 'blip' sound was heard and the gumby across the street nearly exploded as the shot went straight through his upper torso. Luckily, it was only a dull 'thud' as the stasis-locked mech hit the ground.

<>

-< Starscream Posed on Jan 14 01:52AM BRST >-- <> Starscream asks through his comm as he glances around. <> he walks toward an exit door to take a glance outward and see for himself if everything is ok. <> he says suddenly, <>

---< Phantom Posed on Jan 14 01:59AM BRST >--- < You know, a forefather. I hope to be one, one day. I hope to father as many sons as I am allowed, don't you? Oh, never mind, I forgot you seem to only like your own company, sorry.. > Phantom chuckles a little. However, he hears the dull thud as the Decepticon gumby falls over.

< I thought I heard something. Send some people across the street to look. I am going to keep looking around >

He disappears from sight, phasing into a wall nearby, keeping alert and heading dangerously near to wherever Blurr is searching for an entry point...

< Blurr Posed on Jan 14 02:08AM BRST > Blurr paces the length of the factory until he finds an open loading dock near the back and slips inside, once a patrol has passed. << I'm in. What's your status, Prime? >> he reports over the comms.

Immediately, he begins searching for a terminal or other machinery he might use to attempt to find out how far the Decepticons had gotten in restoring the facility to full function or where the sparks might be stored.

< Optimus Prime Posed on Jan 14 02:16AM BRST > Optimus waited a few moments and glanced around the corner to see the main entrance of the factory. Slag it. It was swarming with Decepticons. He saw another patrol coming and Prime ducked down an alley nearby, only his optics glowing in the darkness, and the end of the smoking barrel of his rifle. He caught sight of what looked like some scaffolding and he began to climb it as quietly as he could until he came to an outcropping that led into an office building in the industrial sector. It was like a balcony.

Prime radioed back to Blurr <>

Then, Prime took his rifle and lifted it up and readied himself to take out anyone who might either a.) start heading towards the docking area or b.) spot the downed gumby. Optimus' head swiveled back and forth, keeping alert.

-< Starscream Posed on Jan 14 02:28AM BRST >-- Starscream pauses, <> Primus why can't he get good help anywhere these days? The Seeker decides he's going to have to take a look himself so he starts heading toward where Phantom was and thereby hopefully heading toward the 'noise'. It's not too long before he sees a downed mech. He snaps his comm back open. <> he brings his weapons online and starts looking around and scanning. As he does he also starts walking back in the direction is seems the shot came from (judging by how the mech fell) and he starts looking upward. After a moment he stops, "Prime." he says to himself under his breath so do speak. He raises his left arm cannon towards the Autobot as he says into his comm to all Decepticons in and around the factory. <> And with that he takes aim and fires at the Autobot.

--< Bombshell Posed on Jan 14 02:37AM BRST >-- Bombshell was quite the busy little bug himself, quietly he worked closely alongside those fresh sparks ideas already forming in that twisted little mind of his. He was called in at the last moment to assist in bringing a new generation of Decepticons to order but first some major upgrades would need to be made, especially to the conditioning chambers. But such things would have to wait as it seems productivity is about to hit an all time low. Starscream's message was met with a few ticks of static before Bombshell sounded off his own Comm Link. <> Bombshell requested as he readied his flame launcher.

---< Phantom Posed on Jan 14 02:40AM BRST >--- Despite the fact that Starscreams seems to suspect Phantom's 'looking around' will be unfruitful, the foreigner proves him wrong -- once inside, he notices Blurr poking around all nosy-like, looking for a terminal. What a busybody!

He silents pulls out his photon rifle, and stopping briefly in front of one of the spark chambers, he places a hand on it and says, "Do not worry, young one. I will protect you."

He phases into a cylindrical structure near to Blurr to avoid being seen, and when the time is right, he phases out of it, coming up directly behind Blurr and opening fire.

---< Phantom Posed on Jan 14 02:42AM BRST >--- Despite the fact that Starscream seems to suspect Phantom's 'looking around' will be unfruitful, the foreigner proves him wrong -- once inside, he notices Blurr poking around all nosy-like, looking for a terminal. What a busybody!

He silently pulls out his photon rifle, and stopping briefly in front of one of the spark chambers, he places a hand on it and says, "Do not worry, young one. I will protect you."

He phases into a cylindrical structure near to Blurr to avoid being seen, and when the time is right, he phases out of it, coming up directly behind Blurr and opening fire.

< Blurr Posed on Jan 14 02:54AM BRST > Blurr doesn't have a lot of time, but he manages to procure a copy of the facility's layout, including the location of the cryo-containment chambers. Well, with enough digging, someone probably could have retrieved such records from the Senate's old database.

He's about to turn and head for the sparks when Phantom suddenly opens fire. He sidesteps, dodging most of it but some of it manages to swipe him in the side. "Ugh, not you again!" the speedster groans. "Sorry, no time for this!" He turns and dashes down the corridor toward the cryo-chambers. << Prime, I've located the cryo-containment vaults, looks like they've putting quite a few bets on turning this place into a soldier factory--should I try to grab a few or save it for next time? >>

< Optimus Prime Posed on Jan 14 03:01AM BRST > The blast from Starscream zipped by Prime's head and blasted the wall behind him. The searing ozone discolored his paint as the blast came so close. Optimus' head snapped to the origin of the blast and brought up his left hand with his forearm cannons and unleashed a torrent of covering fire down to the ground where Starscream was located to get the Decepticon to move and lose aim momentarily.

<>

Optimus then pocketed his rifle into sub-space and launched in a leaping jump from the balcony down towards the ground. On his way down, he pulled his energo-axe out of wherever it was located and Optimus impacted the ground with a slight blastwave.

"Starscream," came the iconic voice of the old police officer. "None of your null rays this time! Face me with honor like the scientist you used to be!" he cries and starts charging towards the Air Commander, axe swinging upwards in a diagonal swipe towards ole Screamer!

---< Phantom Posed on Jan 14 03:23AM BRST >--- Phantom's optics narrow, and he transforms. "You will not touch those newborns," he growls and follows Blurr towards the cryo-chambers, taking a shortcut so as to see if he can cut the speedster off.

-< Starscream Posed on Jan 14 03:29AM BRST >-- Starscream is annoyed his shot missed but before he can adjust and fire again the bot returns fire and leaps off the balcony energo-axe swining out of no where straight for him. Well he's not standing around for that even though Prime just asked him. Does he look that stupid? The Seeker gives a brief display of the speed and reflexes hes known for, one; to dodge some of the return fire and two; to get out of the way of the axe. When Prime hits the ground he smirks, "I still am that scientist, Prime and don't forget that." he opens up the turbine panels on his chest and fires off some minimissiles at the Autobot. IF he could take out Prime this could be a killing blow to demoralize the Autobots and make them easy pickings to fully destroy the way he sees it. And if this can by done by his hand -- under his watch, it would make Megatron look like an even bigger failure.

--< Bombshell Posed on Jan 14 03:34AM BRST >-- Bombshell hears the nearing commotion and decides to flee before things get too antsy. He was much too valuable to be captured right? In this line of thought he had two subordinates carry his tools and follow him through the doors. From there he transformed grabbing the items and taking to the sky. <>

< Optimus Prime Posed on Jan 14 03:39AM BRST > Optimus Prime pulls the old 'magic elbow' trick and bends his arm up to deflect one of the missiles! Ha! Just like in the cartoons! But, the second and third catch him completely off-guard and they smash into his chest and explode upon impact. Psh'chow! Psh'chow! The force of the missile explosions knock him over and back, kicking up one of his legs as he slammed into the ground. Prime's optics blinked out for a moment with static and then reset and flickered as he got to his knees a moment.

"You know, Starscream," he said quietly, a few chunks of his armor scattered on the ground around him. "You're worse than what Senator Shockwave has become. At least he can't help it with what the old Senate did to him. You? You've got no excuse." Prime opened his faceplate and spat out energon before it closed again and he rose up to his feet with a hurling might...

"Hnnnngggggyaaaaah!!!!!" the Autobot Commander yelled as his arms came over in a double-fisted swing and he launched his axe in a tumbling throw straight for the Seeker!

<>

And indeed, Optimus was about to get overrun. The gumbies were starting to come out of nowhere worse than zombies from the Walking Dead!

< Blurr Posed on Jan 14 03:45AM BRST > Blurr arrives just as Bombshell was leaving, just catching sight of his tail. Hrm...now -he- looked familiar. But no time to ponder that. He opens one of the cryo-containers and pulls out as many cases as he can carry. Not a lot, he's certainly no hauler, but anything to spite the Decepticons!

<< Affirmative, Prime. Not much more than what we probably could've found in the Senate's old records, but I'm going to try to at least save a few of these people. >> It's a good thing Blurr is fast--he could get these sparks back to base before they thawed completely. He zooms out, headed for the same loading dock he entered through, though with Phantom trying to cut him off, he may get intercepted!

---< Phantom Posed on Jan 14 03:53AM BRST >--- Phantom's phasing allows him to cut through walls and structures, therefore allowing him to reach the loading dock before Blurr does.

But just barely, Blurr is going to have to swerve wildly to avoid crashing into Phantom and sending the cryo containers flying. Which may end up the case anyway, since Phantom pulls up mere nanometers away from Blurr.

-< Starscream Posed on Jan 14 04:10AM BRST >-- "I don't need an 'excuse' for what I decide to do, Autobot." Starscream seethes and then scrambles to evade as the mech launches the axe toward him. The axe slams into the lower part of his left wing and he cries out inspite of himself. <> he orders quickly and yanks the axe from his wing. Its pretty heavy actually but he tries not to let it show. "Thanks for the suvenier." he spits and slowly lifts off into the air. Forget transforming, his wings messed up but he does his best to retreat in the same directon Bombshell just left in.

< Optimus Prime Posed on Jan 14 04:18AM BRST > Prime's optics lit up! "To slag with that! THAT'S MY LUCKY AXE!" he yelled! Prime raced towards the hovering Starscream, bringing up both fists and firing off his arm-cannons. Blap-blap-blap-blap-blap Badadadadadadadadada! He tries to shoot the thing out of the mech's hands and makes a Michael Jordan leap to grab the weapon before falling into his alt-mode after a quick transformation!

Whether he gets his weapon back or not, Optimus rolls out, plowing through an ocean of gumbies and crunching them under his wheels and flinging them everywhere!

<>

Prime turns around and plows the other way like a motorized snow shovel, throwing his gears into overdrive and clearing the area outside of the loading docks, leaving carcasses and limbs and viscera everywhere. A few dead gumbies and the Matrix sings its song of sorrow inside of Prime, but he pushes that feeling deep down and boxes it up to deal with later. He wasn't going to run off and leave Blurr behind!

< Blurr Posed on Jan 14 04:21AM BRST > Blurr is fast, but nanometers aren't enough. He smashes right into Phantom, -hard-. The cases containing the sparks are crushed between the two of them. Whether they are still viable or not remains to be seen. "Frag you!" he curses, as the collision sends both of them to the floor. "You want to get these people killed? Oh right--I forgot you don't care!"

Scrambling to his feet, he pulls out a grenade and throws it into some of the machinery, causing it to catch on fire. "Whoops, looks like you have some messes to clean up!" With that, he dashes off, leaving the cases behind--they'll be back for them later...if they're even salvageable. << I'm on my way, we've got as much as we're gonna get. >>

< Optimus Prime Posed on Jan 14 04:31AM BRST > Optimus Prime follows Blurr... like some hundred kilometers behind the speedy racer... on his way back to Iacon, leaving a trail of squishy viscera from his tire tracks and with a Decepticon bobblehead on his hood and an arm sticking out between what appears to be what becomes his legs in robot mode.

"We'll be back for you," Prime laments to the sparks.

---< Phantom Posed on Jan 14 04:43AM BRST >--- "Agh!" Phantom has overshot, not expecting Blurr to show up so quickly. The cases clatter to the floor, shattering open.

He stumbles back, optics wide and flashing brightly in a surge of emotion. "N-NO!" he cries in absolute anguish, leaning over the broken spark cases, grieved and utterly distraught.

The little dashed lights in the cracks of his faceplates leading from his optics light up and flicker, his optics like a starry supernova as he stares in bereavement at the dying sparks.

He glares in bitter hatred as Blurr and Optimus retreat, fists clenched. "Save yourself the trouble," he snarls as they leave, "I will /kill/ you next time I see you."

Then he crawls over to the flickering sparks, which are about to collapse and die. He opens his chassis, revealing a spark as bright as the heavens on a clear day. Spinning around the globe of pure light is an ethereal ring that vibrates and spins in sync with his core. When he nears the dying sparks, the light intensifies and the ring in his chassis begins to sing a little, like wet fingers tracing the edge of a wine glass. Then suddenly, the energy from his spark jumps from his chassis and is channeled into the sparks, reviving them.

After the interaction is over, Phantom carefully places the sparks, to the best of his ability, back into their broken chambers. They're weak, but still alive. Gently, he places them in his subspace compartment and heads back to Kolkular, contacting the base in the meantime and requesting a dispatch to help repair the damage inflicted to the structures attacked.