Transformers: Steel Reign

[Agent Fisher]

"No," was the quiet, simple answer from the FemBot. To say more about how the fight affected her was pointless. "He dented my new shoulder, and scorched my paint. Guess I'll be the one with racing stripes," she added, weakly trying to hide her reaction by teasing Stryke.

Stryke laughed slightly. "Nah, green stripes just wouldn't look good on you." He says then sobered. He transformed into his bot form and sat down looking out over the battlefield. "You'll be ok, Crim." He said softly.

[LadyTevar]

Stryke laughed slightly. "Nah, green stripes just wouldn't look good on you." He says then sobered. He transformed into his bot form and sat down looking out over the battlefield. "You'll be ok, Crim." He said softly.

Since he transformed, she did as well, sitting down beside him as the first faint explosions echoed from the Decepticon base as the human and Autobot artillery rained down destruction.

"I'm trying to tell myself that," Crimson admitted, pulling her knees up and resting her head on them. It was somewhat obvious she was trying to avoid looking at the legions of destroyed drones, but the battlefield was full of them. "They tried to tell me these humans were volunteers," she said sadly. "It would be easier if I could believe that."

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke gently put an arm around her. "Think about it. Why would they need to force humans to do this? They could just have just programmed them. Besides, soldiers will do alot for their country." He said. "We can even ask the one you captured and he will agree that he volunteered. Don't feel bad, Crim, they would have killed you without a second thought."

[LadyTevar]

Crim turned her face to look at him, her expression grim from old memories. "Just like our brothers and sisters who 'volunteered' for the Robosmasher?"

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke shook his head. "No, not like the robosmasher. I don't know their stories. Could be they were hurt serving their country and wanted to serve again, or maybe they were just someone who agreed to do this. I'm not sure if we will ever know, but just understand Crim, you had no choice. They may not have been able to really hurt us, but they could have killed alot of our human allies."

[LadyTevar]

"That doesn't make it RIGHT, Stryke."

Immediately after the outburst, Crimson lowered her head back to her knees, shaking her head sadly. "... do you know ... on one planet, there is a legend about us? A great planet came through their system, blocked out the sun for a time, and great warriors flew down from the sky, plundering the planet and leaving great holes that supposedly can still be seen. The one telling the story didn't believe in it, but was amused by how much my emblem resembled one of the ancient paintings."

Crimson's shoulders slumped. "If I'd been gone another 3 Vorn ... or 30 Vorn ... would we still be fighting?"

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke sighed. "Most likely, Crim, but you can't stop it on your own. And the 'Cons won't stop just cause we ask them too. The only thing they understand is war. Trust me, I know, I used to be friends with a few of them." He says.

[LadyTevar]

Crimson unbend enough to let Stryke pull her closer. "My friend was reprogrammed ... after the Robosmasher. They went into her core and changed the code line by line."

"She self-terminated, rather than let Elita-1 into her programing to restore her."

[Dark Silver]

Shockwave stood within the command center, his singular optic locked on the display screen.

Blitzwing had arrived back at the base shortly after escaping from Slipstream. Sixshot was down, unfortunately out of the range of safely obtain for now. Well, Blitzwing could obtain his fallen living weapon under the cover of the battle.

"Blitzwing, go retrieve Sixshot."

Sensors blared the incoming shells, the falling bombs breaking proximity, and Shockwave simply activated the defensive countermeasures.

Decepticon fusion weapons and targeting lasers tracked the multitude of incoming shells and bombs, prioritizing by angle of impact. Auto cannons fired out, lasers silently cut through the atmosphere, and ion cannons created sonic booms in the air.

A portion of the multiple munitions, primarily those targeting the Spacebridge complex. Shells where slagged then exploded briefly, until the first three impacted the primary power couplings keeping the targeting sensors active.

Coming up in formation behind Sky Shadow, another B-2 Spirit formed up on his flank, releasing it's own payload.

The bombs flew true, impacting upon the Decepticon fortress, despite the impact of the anti-missile and bomb weapons.

"Decepticons, Drones, Scramble! Battle phase Alpha!."

Fulcrum Drones swarmed from the the launch bays and hangers of the base, in plane and robot modes. Decepticon flyers streaked out with them.

--- ---- ---- ---- ----

Prime was flanked by his warriors as he moved to the fore, where the human lines had helped decimate the primary thrust of Decepticon drones.

"Autobots! Transform and rollout, full assault on the Decepticon base. Humans follow as soon as possible."

With that, Optimus and his flanking warriors transformed, tires tearing into the permafrost, while the fliers took tot he air. "Overload, land and offload Hornet. Deathstrike, Sky Shadow, Jetfire, Aerialbots, Slipstream, close to 3 miles and engage at will. All other Autobots, proceed at best possible speed."

--- --- ---- ---- ----

Location: New York State, Eastern United States - 300 miles off shore

Chimera and Blackout stood within the command center of the mobile battle platform. No Decepticons flew in patrol around it, none drove through the waves as the platform hovered over the tumultous blue waters of the Atlantic.

"Dive" Chimera ordered, and the flying mobile battle fortress sunk beneath the waves, the seas boiling and thrashing as they were forced apart, then closed around it.

[Charon]

The Spacebridge was dealt with completely now. There was a new threat now though, as Overload told him and gave him coordinates. The drones that were left were coming in a steady stream from various launch bays and hangers.

"Artillery units. we have some ant hill smashing to do. Switch to bunker busting ordinance and fire on these targets." Shellshock sent the coordinates over the line and then lined up his cannon. The first shot rang out, a hardened plasma shell, meant to break through heavily armored positions before releasing it's deadly payload. Even if the shell didn't make it through, the plasma should burn the rest of the way through to allow the second shot to penetrate.

The round was aimed at one of the hangers that still had a steady stream of drones coming out of it, a second round, this time a normal bunker buster shell, was fired to the same spot, intent on smashing through anything that was left at the very least and destroying a few drones at best. Just before the first shell was about to land, a third round fired out, a standard plasma shell meant to destroy any drones that may be left standing.

[LadyTevar]

Prime's orders ran out load and clear, causing Crimson to straighten up. Full assault. "Time to go," she said softly, transforming again into her Alt-mode. The HoloRider looked over at Stryke. "Don't get dented... ok?"

[Cynical Cat]

"This is Deathstrike. All units relay any appearances of gestalts or Guardians to me. I'll provide cover from above."

[SirNitram]

Overload clicked over to the human's air-control frequency. "This is Overload Prime, beginning powered descent. Keep a safe distance, guys, I tend to kick up alot of turbulence. Do not approach when I'm on the tarmac. I'll get the little guy out." The massive engines silently ignited in space, and the descent began. When there was enough air, it became a screaming, howling announcement of his passage, as the air around him became a pillar of fire, based at his heat shield. He kept his engines roaring, however, needing to move quickly.

When Overload hit the strip, his hull was glowing hot still from the velocity of re-entry. "Hornet." Overload's voice came to the little bot. "This will be uncomfortable. But you did well. And they'll fix you up." Overload transformed.

Mass cycled inward, shunted off into a little pocket of space. The maglev was glowing equally hot, but even as the heat created steam and waves in the air around him, Hornet was expelled from the cargo bay. It wasn't terribly comfortable, but it wouldn't cause further damage. Unlike, say, contact with his hull. "Overload, heading for artillery group." He reported on the Autobot frequency. He began to hover, then accelerated.

[Dark Silver]

Artillery shells impacted against Decepticon armor, the Fulcrum drones which raced out in bipedal forms took to the air, and scattered, or did likewise on the ground.

Three shells impacted against the upper level hanger bays, crumpling the steel as plasma exhaust and explosive ordinance impacted and detonated. A group of six Fulcrums who were attempting to exit where caught in the initial blast, and were immediately incinerated.

Shockwave's much more effective warriors, his true Decepticons, where never seen leaving the base, not susceptible to the incoming artillery, even as it impacted. There was just drones. The air and ground was filled with them, and though they were weakly armed and armored, the sheer numbers would more than make up for it - backed up by the firepower still left in the Decepticon Fortresses defense grid.

Jetfire and the Aerialbots were making their approaching run, afterburners and lasers ignited as Fulcrum drones exploded in the air. Autobots began appearing soon after, transforming once they were within weapons range, seeking cover where they could, their weapons leaving brillant trails of multi-colored energy in the twilight skies.

The battle was joined.

[B4UTRUST]

Slipstream took to the air again, rising on thrusters before transforming. Orienting himself towards the base he blasted off, rapidly gaining speed. He pulled targeting systems online and began sensor sweeps as he neared.

[Charon]

Shellshock had switched his targeting to the emplaced defenses shortly after his first three rounds. But as Autobot forces closed in Shellshock decided to cease his long range shelling for now and get to the front. The sharp train wheels converted to softer tired wheels as Overload pulled closer.

"I am ready for transport to the front." Spoke the old warbot, his cannons shifted some, loading another depleted uranium shell he fired towards the tower that served as the Decepticons main base, hoping to put a few holes in it.

[SirNitram]

Overload moved in front of Shellshock, backed up, and coupled. The two were linked up and ready. "Takes you back, don't it, bro? All we need now is Override strafing us and flirting at the same time." The hauler commented dryly.

The two began to move forward. Overload was slower like this, but that was no matter. He had brought spare ammo for Shellshock, and now they were advancing. The battle would be joined.

[LadyTevar]

In the forward charge, Crimson had for once remained by Stryke's side, keeping pace with him without one complaint about his speed. When the next wave of drones appeared, she again hesitated before shifting forms and pulling the two pistols from subspace.

As the drones transformed to land, Crimson again took skillful aim and began to behead them one by one. She tried to ignore what happened to the Humans after she separated them from the larger bodies, even as she knew she was only making them targets for less-compassionate Autobots. Yet she couldn't bring herself to make the headshot-kill.

[Cynical Cat]

Deathstrike studied the battle unfolding below. So far no targets worth diving for, just a mob of drones that the other fliers were handling. The Autobots really needed an air commander. This winging it business was going to cost them.

Another part of his mind ran through recent events. Why had Sixshot done what he had? Why had he taken the risk of attacking head on instead of maneuvering and attacking from the flank? Why had he fired on Hornet and not him once he had gotten on his tail? Why had he then left?

Orders. Orders made sense. Orders not to kill Deathstrike. That would explain burning down Hornet and not him and the reckless frontal assault. To prove that Sixshot was the better warrior. Not that that needed proving, but Sixshot had always been vulnerable through his ego which was about his only weakness. Who would give those kind of orders and why? Not Shockwave. Shockwave would order his death in the manner that was most expedient.

He could almost here the words. A deep and gravely voice speaking them. "Leave the traitor Deathstrike to me. I want to tear out his spark personally." Megatron. Megatron could give those orders and be obeyed. And Megatron might place a high enough value on killing Deathstrike personally that he might give them.

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke fired at the drones, hosing them with his machine gun. He tilted his shoulder and fired his main cannon, shooting a standard HE shell into a cluster of the modified humans. He looked over at Crimson. "Crim, make the headshot, your just prolonging it for them." Stryke said, his tone hard.

[LadyTevar]

Stryke's blunt statement caused Crimson to miss her next shot, the laser beam flying past the drone to shatter the tree behind it and continue onward until it petered out.

The pistols fell, lowering to point to the ground as Crimson silently fought internal conflicts. A couple close blasts from drone rifles brought her out of it enough to sidestep and turn, putting her back against Stryke's, using his larger form for momentary cover and for what comfort she could get from physically leaning against him. "Stryke... please.... they're not 'Bots, they can't be rebuilt!"

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke glanced over his shoulder, not paying attention to the firefight around him. He spoke to Crimson. "Crim, our human allies aren't going to be taking prisoners. They're gunning the humans down as soon as they get disconnected." Stryke said. He payed for his moment of inattention from a hit from a drone weapon right on the side of his face. The impact and just the shock of being hit knocked him onto his side. He shook his head, reaching up to feel the area hit. The warbot raised his small machine gun shooting the drone down.

[Charon]

Shellshock saw Crimson and Stryke. Apparently Crimson was having another episode, he'd figured that would be happening, and as such the duo were now under considerable fire without much cover. The artillery train decided to change their odds.

With a deafening sound the artillery piece fired again, Stryke and Crimson could hear the shriek of incoming artillery a second or two before the ground around them erupted as the shells hit home. Tearing some drones to nothing but shrapnel while others were thrown off their feet. A few seconds later a second whistle was heard and another shell landed, clearing away more of the drones and creating a cloud of debris, as well as two deep craters.

Silently, Shellshock added to his list as his artillery piece continued to reign shells down on the area as he and Overload got closer.

[LadyTevar]

Stryke glanced over his shoulder, not paying attention to the firefight around him. He spoke to Crimson. "Crim, our human allies aren't going to be taking prisoners. They're gunning the humans down as soon as they get disconnected." Stryke said. He payed for his moment of inattention from a hit from a drone weapon right on the side of his face. The impact and just the shock of being hit knocked him onto his side. He shook his head, reaching up to feel the area hit. The warbot raised his small machine gun shooting the drone down.

Logic warred with emotion as Crimson heard Stryke's words, but it all froze as she felt him fall. She cried his name as she whirled to face him, her optics rapidly judging his condition. As he proved he was down but not out, her internal conflicts were overridden by far older processes. Someone she cared about was down from enemy fire. Cover fire. Destroy the enemy, protect the friend

Her pistols were rising, targets sighted, when the whine of artillery gave scant warning. As the shells hit, Crimson reflectively attempted to cover Stryke and protect him from the debris.

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke smiled inside as Crimson tried to cover his larger frame. He noticed the craters. Sitting up as dirt and debris rained down from the explosions, he grabbed Crimson by the shoulder and pulled on her. "The crater." He said, running over, dragging the smaller fembot, using his larger form to cover her. Reaching it, he pushed her in first, then got in after her.