Nitram wrote:"Hey." He said quietly, and somehow, the old bot felt sheepish, as he addressed the much younger one. "...Sorry about the delay up there. With dealing with Shockwave. Knew he'd have something up his sleeve, but I was enjoying myself far too much. Sorry for being such a civbot on you."
I am surprised by Overload's comment. I did not see it coming, but in this case it is good to be surprised.
"Live and learn. I do not hold it against you Overload and you should not beat yourself up over it. These things happen. Please join me if you would, we need to discuss something important."
Cat wrote:"Breakout, could I speak with you for a moment?"
I am a popular bot it seems, but thankfully I had meant to seek out Deathstrike anyways. I need his advice and insight.
"By all means Deathstrike please join us."
I led them into Jetfire a bit away from the other bots to ensure privaticy. We need to hash out this plan away from the others at the moment.
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
Overload's treads engaged, still feeling out the unusual propulsion system of this new form. It's alien, strange, and unique, and the AI jabbering on at him all the time isn't much help either. "I will offer what insight I can, but I suspect Deathstrike will contribute far more use than I."
Half-Damned, All Hero.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
Deathstrike reluctantly entered Starscream's old friend. He would have prefered to speak away from him and he was more than capable of doing his own flying, but his preferences rarely mattered these days. He joined Overload and Breakout in their corner. "What is on your mind?"
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
My holoprojector went through the entire battle without so much as a scratch. Whoever built it should be commended, it's one of 3 parts that has never needed to be replace in my time of service. I project a map of the region humans called the middle east or the Arabian peninsula. Alongiside it I project maps of central canada, and the Northeast United States.
"I have been since I have arrived on Earth analysising the archives of the campaigns here. Overload, I believe Deathstrike will tell you that the biggest mistake that the Autobots have consistently and repeatably made is the fact that they react instead of act. Decepticons have for over 75% of the war held the initiative. Allowing the enemy to hold the initiative leads to losing the war, as we did on Cybertron as we are currently now losing on Earth." I stop for a moment. When I first arrived I was stationed at New York City. There were at the time a short company of Autobots there. I saw the forts go up... Forts that were believed able to slow down Megatron for half a Earth Day before he would remove all of them.
The holomaps of the Northeast US and Central Canada faded the map of the middleeast got bigger. Red arrows the symbols for offensive moments appeared on the map... I believe that Prime included a touch of the dramatic to my spark... All well a Bot needs a hobby.
"I believe that recent Decepticon campaigns here and in New York City are designed to make us react, distract us from the killing blow being readied. Therefore it is logical to act in an unpredicted manner. I suggest we attack, invaded Decepticon territory. Futhermore, we must attack territory that they must hold. I am calling for a large scale attack on the middle east, where most of their energy is gathered. This attack is for the purpose of destroying as much Con infrastructure's as possible. This is why I need both of your help. Deathstrike you have fought and killed many Guardian Robots, you also have in depth knowledge of Decepticon command structure and officers without the knowledge and training you can provide the attack will not suceed. Overload, I need you to help me craft the proposal to ensure that Prime and the others on Central Command will approve it and give us the resources needed... Will you help me?"
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
Overload's engine idled as he studied the proposed attack point, considering. "I'm a logistics specialist when it comes to war, and you've got a pretty good plan. The Space Bridge means we can't hit enroute, but hitting them in the heart will still work." He rumbled after a moments thought. Civbot he might be, but he had served in his role for a long time.
"I will do what I can to convince Prime we're needed on the spearpoint. We're frankly wildcards, most of us. Reformatted Autobots, ancient warbots, and of course, yourself. I suspect we could do alot of damage, if my seniority can, in fact, sway Prime."
Half-Damned, All Hero.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
"Got offloaded there when Shellshock and I were reactivated and transferred off of the European Subcontinent." Overload rumbled. "Tracks are shit there. Couldn't get any speed at all. I assume you're concerned over the fact we've lost communications."
A pause of several seconds. "This tank's AI seems to be projecting a massive invasion is the most likely occourance. It's all very dry and professional. But the long and short is we might have lost the Big Apple."
Half-Damned, All Hero.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
"I was stationed there when I first arrived. The fortesses that were built were meant to be able to slow down Megatron himself. There is a Autobot garrison. The best estimate had the city holding out for 12 hours without reinforcement. Whatever hit it is stronger then Megatron and his led observed forces." I said.
"it takes two sides to end a war but only one to start one. And those who do not have swords may still die upon them." Tolken
"I contacted Teletran-1 about Decepticon activity," said Deathstrike. "Satellite images, magnified." Beams of red light blazed from Deathstrike's eyes, projecting several images complete with time stamps. Trypticon emerging from the water, Trypticon stomping through the city, Trypticon based in Central Park. "If you are not familiar with him, this unit is called Trypticon."
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
"That is one of his functions," confirmed Deathstrike. "I believe the possibility of civilian collateral damage will hamper efforts to effectively combat Trypticon." Disapproval dripped from his voice. The Decepticons outnumbered several times over. Employing half measures against Trypticon would only exaserbate the situation.
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
"The number of Decepticons that can outdo Megatron is short.. And Trypticon is one of them." Overload rumbled quietly. "We're no match for that thing. Metroplex and Fortress Maximus might be able to cause some damage, but for us to engage would be suicide."
Half-Damned, All Hero.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
"Trypticon is no normal Decepticon. Plans for construction of ones like him where made before I left Cybertron with Starscream. I didn't know he was built. Maximus doesn't match him for size or firepower, but Maximus has been gone since before even I left. And Metroplex won't be ready for almost a year...if we can continue with construction."
The voice was Jetfire's, coming over a private comm speaker near the plotting trio, but the voice was cold and logical. "Your plan has merit Breakout. I will add my support once you are ready to present it to Optimus."
Outside, the whine of Cybertronian turbines began low, as Jetfire prepared to take off. "I suggest securing yourself, we are almost ready to leave. We should be back at the Ark in three hours."
Allen Thibodaux | Archmagus | Supervillain | Transfan | Trekker | Warsie |
"Then again, Detective....how often have you dreamed of hearing your father's voice once more? Of feeling your mother's touch?" - Ra's Al Ghul
"According to the Bible, IHVH created the Universe in six days....he obviously didn't know what he was doing." - Darek Steele bani Order of Hermes.
DS's Golden Rule: I am not a bigot, I hate everyone equally. | corollary: Some are more equal than others.
Deathstrike exited Jetfire and leapt into the sky, transforming in the air and blasting off. His engines roared as he rose into the sky. The super orbital hop would carry him to the Ark in Oregon well before Jetfire, allowing him to get rapid access to a CR chamber and then use Teletran-1.
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
Deathstrike walked out of the CR chamber, ready again to take to the front. There hadn't been much work to do after his field repairs and internal repair system had had time to work. He approached a terminal for Teletran-1. "Status on scan for subject Shockwave?"
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
Those who were going home, were by then, loaded and locked down in Jetfire. The most seriously injured, human and Autobot alike, where to be taken back to the Ark, either to be placed in the CR chambers there, or in the human case, rerouted to a appropriate human medical facility.
Of the twenty Autobots who arrived to help the humans, four had been deemed terminated, with three others - not including Hornet - had critical damage which required Stasis Lock. Starscream had escaped, and the humans had taken heavy losses - both from the Decepticon's bombarding their column, and the Headmaster's assault on the base.
Jetfire taxied off the runway, even as Deathstrike was blasting off for the sub-orbital jump to the Ark. Jetfire could - technically - perform the same, but with so many wounded - not counting the humans traveling with them - he refused, and took a more traditional route. But even this went by quicker than it normally would on a human plane - Cybertronian technology showing it's superiority again.
By the time Jetfire reached the Ark's airspace, some two hours and fourty-seven minutes later, he was slowing his throttle again. He radio'd TELETRAN-One for landing clearence, and settled into a gentle descent.
Five minutes later, he was landed, and human emergency workers were quick to offload their injured compatriots, as the Autobots disembarked after.
-------- o ------- o ------
TELETRAN-One was truly a marvel of computing power, even more advance than the Transformers themselves - a computer matched or surpassed by three others - the omniscient Ultra Computer Vector Sigma, which ran Cybertron and was responsible for the programming of nearly all of early Cybertronian's personality cores; TELETRAN-Two, built from the same design specifications as TELETRAN-One itself; and what could only be called it's offspring, TELETRAN-Three, a computer designed by TELETRAN-One itself - improving upon it's own design and utilizing the most advanced Cybertronian computing technologies available and which made it a core part of coming Autobot City - Metroplex.
But still, at present, TELETRAN-One represented the most advanced Cybertronian on Earth - able to out think, out react, and out logic every human or Autobot on Earth.
So when it received Deathstrike's remote query, it filed it away and preformed the necessary planetwide scans as request, for later retrieval. The time had finally arrived, when Deathstrike stepped from repairs, and requested the status.
The massive screen which Deathstrike stood before blinked from the pale blue of disuse, to show a image of Shockwave in all his glory, then various data readouts of his capabilities, vital statistics, and even a scroll of the Decepticon Logistic Expert and Megatron's primary Tactician every military action or plan known - as well as his scientific experiments. In the deep bass-like monotone come to be associated with it - lacking the emotional quality of the humans or Cybertronian's, it replied, "Cursory planetwide scans indicate Unit: Shockwave is not on the planet. Deep Scans of known Decepticon facilities and holdings do not indicate Unit: Shockwave is on planet."
As if to accentuate it's point, TELETRAN's screen began to flip images - updated in real time, of known Decepticon strategic points. The image seemed to freeze for a moment, as it focused on the massive shipyards which took up a large portion of what was once Iran - a facility which took from the former capitol of Tehran west to Zanjan and south to Qom. The construction lines where massive, each planetside dry dock held the hulks of various Decepticon starships - each having a similar design - in various states of construction - none better than 50% completed. Except for one.
TELETRAN's image had focused on one ship in particular, a hulking beast even amoungst giants, a monster brought back from legend and the mists of ages past. It's hull was dark black, scalloped in the front, and looked no less intimidating than it had millions upon millions of years ago, when it served as a mobile System Siege platform - then as Megatron's personal chariot when he went after the Ark as Optimus Prime and his soldiers left Cybertron.
The Nemesis was being rebuilt, and it looked more intimidating and threatening than ever.
Allen Thibodaux | Archmagus | Supervillain | Transfan | Trekker | Warsie |
"Then again, Detective....how often have you dreamed of hearing your father's voice once more? Of feeling your mother's touch?" - Ra's Al Ghul
"According to the Bible, IHVH created the Universe in six days....he obviously didn't know what he was doing." - Darek Steele bani Order of Hermes.
DS's Golden Rule: I am not a bigot, I hate everyone equally. | corollary: Some are more equal than others.
Shellshock had reactivated shortly before landing, the flicker in his optic gone, and as the old warbot stood up it was apparent that many of his aches and pains were gone. The warbot strode out of Jetfire's cavernous hanger and directly into the Ark. "Teletran, please locate unit Wheeljack and tell me where he is."
"TELETRAN-one," said Deathstrike. "Display known Decepticon facilities within space bridge contact of Earth that are sufficiently shielded to conceal unit Shockwave from your scan."
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
"1,965,856,435 matches to query, please refine," the computer answered in that monotone voice.
To ask within Space Bridge distance put the limits out there, as the Space Bridge could reach nearly anywhere on the Galactic Plane...as long as it had an appropriate stable exit point.
Allen Thibodaux | Archmagus | Supervillain | Transfan | Trekker | Warsie |
"Then again, Detective....how often have you dreamed of hearing your father's voice once more? Of feeling your mother's touch?" - Ra's Al Ghul
"According to the Bible, IHVH created the Universe in six days....he obviously didn't know what he was doing." - Darek Steele bani Order of Hermes.
DS's Golden Rule: I am not a bigot, I hate everyone equally. | corollary: Some are more equal than others.
"Negative," came the reply, "Total number of Decepticon Facilities within Space Bridge range impervious to available scanning: four hundred and sixty five. All extra-solar."
------ o ------
"Unit: Wheeljack is in his workshop," came TELETRAN's reply to Shellshock.
Allen Thibodaux | Archmagus | Supervillain | Transfan | Trekker | Warsie |
"Then again, Detective....how often have you dreamed of hearing your father's voice once more? Of feeling your mother's touch?" - Ra's Al Ghul
"According to the Bible, IHVH created the Universe in six days....he obviously didn't know what he was doing." - Darek Steele bani Order of Hermes.
DS's Golden Rule: I am not a bigot, I hate everyone equally. | corollary: Some are more equal than others.
Shellshock nodded as he continued towards Wheeljack's workshop. This was going to get very very messy, what with Shellshock, who had never exactly seen eye to eye with the scientist, coming into his workshop with a severely damaged Hornet.
Shellshock stopped at the door and sighed, then pressed a button, the door slid open and Shellshock ducked inside.
