Trypticon Laboratory

Lab equipment fills the room. Equipment hangs from the ceiling, sits on the benches and all over various tables, lines the walls, and on the table in the middle of the room. A series of terminals connect to the main computer in Trypticon. It's a maze to get through the room without knocking over any of the beakers, containers, burners, and such. Also the lab is equipped with the latest of equipment to use and study whatever comes through the door. Assorted projects lie scattered about amongst tools and other miscellaneous objects that the normal Decepticon cannot identify.

Contents:

Comcast

Obvious exits:

West <W> leads to Trypticon Medical Bay.

Comcast is in one of the small cubicles in the lab closest to the door, working on an electical device. He has a set of precision tools on-hand, and is using them to carefully adjust the device.

Fleet walks in nervously, glancing around, reminding one, perhaps, of some sort of skittish forest creature. It seems that someone recently changed his function to "Test Subject," and he'd frankly like to know who.

Comcast's audios pick up the approaching Seeker, even though he appears to be intensely working on his little project. "Ah Fleet, good timing. I'm nearly done here." He mutters from his work, not bothering to look up.

The yellow robot stifles a sigh, and comes all the way in. "All right," is all he says as he finds a nice, out of the way spot to stand quietly and wait.

Fulcrum enters from the Medical Bay to the west.

Fulcrum has arrived.

Fleet is standing quietly to the side, looking... not particularly happy to be there. It wasn't enough for him to be used constantly as a test subject by Medical, oh no, but now it seems that Intelligence wants to get into the act.

Fulcrum trudges into the Trypticon laboratory, come to pick up a couple of metal samples he left in storage. Stopping in the doorways, his optics flicker in a blink. What are /these/ two doing here? "Comcast, Fleet" he intones by way of greeting.

Fleet looks over at Fulcrum and nods in return greeting (bobble-head! bobble-head! Just kidding). "Fulcrum," he replies softly before going back to watching Comcast a bit warily.

Comcast is working on, as Fleet may be able to notice at this point, a type of speakers, plus some kind of interface. Comcast mutters to himself as he continues to work. "That much expansion should do it..." And then Fulcrum arrives. "Oh. Fulcrum." He says, in the usual manner he greets the Blacksmith. Comcast knows Fulcrum will be interested in his project, so he offers to the Communist, "I have decided to alter my shriekers that I use in robot mode. It's a simple enough process, it's just been finding the time." He puts his tools away, apparently done, then connects the device to a power-generator designed to test invididual components before their installation. "This should have expanded the range of the attack, enabling me to strike more than a single target at any one time." Since Fleet is just standing there, Comcast turns to him, pointing to a nearby supply closet. "There are panes of glass in there amongst other test surfaces. Since you're still waiting, I need a wide pane for this test."

Comcast was right, Fulcrum /is/ interested. "Useful" he states. "Though less so in a melee situations, where the waves would strike Decepticon forces as well as the foe."

"It is then," Comcast offers the Blacksmith, "That I would only use it if there were more of the enemy than fellow Decepticons in the blast range." Or if there were any Decepticons he didn't like. Either or.

Fleet opens the closet and sorts though the contents. Although it takes a few moments, he eventually comes out with a pane of glass that fits the description, at which point he looks around for a moment, then moves to the appropriate spot to set it up.

Fulcrum nods, making a note to avoid standing in the effective range of Comcast's soundwaves during combat. "Also inneffective in space, though I beleive your operating parameters don't cover that environment anyway." He glances at Fleet as the yellow seeker sets up the glass. "Should you not be using multiple targets?"

As soon as he's finished setting up the pane of glass, Fleet moves away. At first he tries to make it seem he's not in too much of a hurry, but after Fulcrum's remark, he defiantly picks up his pace. In fact, he wanders rather near Fulcrum. If any 'multiple targets' are going to get used here, he fully intends to share the wealth.

Comcast sets up his shriekers, aiming them at the window pane. He triggers them to activate, sending a much larger pulse of sonic energy out, instead of the usual thin stream. By the time it hits the glass, it's wide enough to shatter the entire pane into pieces.

Comcast is visibly pleased. "It covers a larger area, it will suffice." It is a /wide/ pane, Fulcrum. "And yes, it seems to work" He detaches the device from its power source, and begins to open up his chest compartment to re-install it. "Now for the practical test."

"Practical test?" Fulcrum enquires, taking his metal samples from the storage units, now the danger of being rattled apart by killer soundwaves has passed. "What did you have in mind?"

Fleet is still standing near Fulcrum. "'Practical' test? As in, 'back to the arena' practical, or me standing here like a moron and letting you hit me practical?"

Fulcrum actually /chuckles/, with a sound like someone chewing on gravel, amused by the thought of Fleet standing there and acting as a training dummy, especially given all the horrible things Med/Tech seem to have done to him recently.

"A run in the holographic arena." Comcast explains as he re-installs his shriekers, connecting wires from his primary energon systems and joining it up to such systems as his battle computer. "Fleet was doing nothing " Again... :P "And so I requested he provide a..." Comcast falls into a nervous lull, as he looks very frightened at Fulcrum's chuckle. "Is.. there something wrong with your vocalizer, Fulcrum?" He says at the completely unheard-of sound eminating from the blacksmith. "I was going to ask if you would like to join, but you might need that looked at."

Fleet narrows his optics at Comcast's comment. Doing nothing. Sure. Because Primus forbid he actually stop in his patrols for long enough to, say, re-energize or something. Still, he supposes the other had no way of knowing that. He is actually able to make a guess at the noise Fulcrum is making, not yet knowing him well enough to realize the other seeker doesn't chuckle, but makes no comment either way.

Fulcrum stares blankly at Comcast. What the pit is he babbling about? "Yes... the weapon will require testing" he finally says, discarding Comcast's comments about his vocaliser. "And as you will recall, you were forced to leave our previous training session early." Due to a totally awesome HAMMER TO THE FACE.

Comcast snorts. "Hopefully we can go through with this training session without interruptions. You too would know, Fulcrum, that commanding a division demands certain oblications." Comcast fires up his fully-installed weapon, and it hums to life, same as it always does. And since Fulcrum's stopped making that strange sound, he must be okay. "Well, perhaps you will both join me in Trypticon's training arena in a half-breem." Comcast picks up his tools into their carry-case and walks out, leaving an irate Seeker with a brush and shovel to pick up all the shards of glass.

Fleet isn't THAT irate at having to clean up after you, Comcast. He's rather used to it at this point.

Comcast was actually referring to a gumby!

Fulcrum knows all too well. Which is why he isn't the head of MSE any more. He's way too smart for that. Casting a glance at Fleet and shrugging, he follows Comcast.

* Spiny *

Trypticon Training Room

This stark, spacious chamber is well-reinforced and shielded to stand up to the strain of many practice bouts. A training drone stands in one corner of the room, ready for a workout. The walls are sheathed in protective alloys that house sensors and cameras to project to the shielded monitors, allowing the combatants to observe their fight and progress. Off to the side are a few seats for spectators to observe the combatants and let out a cheer or two.

Contents:

Comcast

Training Drone

Obvious exits:

West <W> leads to Trypticon Troop Quarters.

Fulcrum enters from the Troop Quarters to the west.

Fulcrum has arrived.

Fleet arrives a bit behind Comcast, partially because he had, on instinct, attempted to help in the clean-up before being chased out, and partially because... he's really not looking forward to being shot at.

Comcast, a half-breem later, has coded the room up enough for a simple combat scenario. He decides not to bother with the backdrop, unless the training room's holo generator was left set at "Training Room."

Fulcrum isn't that far behind Fleet, because he's a slow miserable mech. "Same rules of engagement as before?" he drones, loosening the hammer at his belt. "Or should we both attack you at once.. so that you may better test your enhanced weaponry?"

Fleet, without waiting for instructions, immediately takes to the air, leaping with no apparent effort and hovering several yards above the ground, as was his wont when awaiting the start of combat.

"Start by attacking me both at once.." Comcast says, "But then we'll turn it into a free-for-all." And with that.. the Seeker decides to surprise them both.. with a sonic attack!

But the surprise is on him. While he manages to unleash his shriekers, the pulse-waves are aimed most definitely at Fulcrum, while Fleet is left completely out of the picture. The surprised look on Comcast's face shows that this isn't what he had in mind at all.

Comcast strikes Fulcrum with Poorly-aimed Sonic Pulse!.

Fulcrum's teeth rattle as he clenches them together, the sonic vibrations disrupting internal workings and distorting his vision, sending lines of static arcing across his optics. "Your weapon still needs fine tuning" he grinds, raising one arm and firing a burst of heat through the waves of distortion, the rapidly heated air warping the sound to a less jarring pitch.

Fulcrum strikes Comcast with Heat Ray <Low>.

Although he makes it a policy not to speak while in combat or dance, Fleet cannot help but inwardly gloat as his move takes Comcast off-guard and he manages to avoid being hit. He may be designated test subject, but that doesn't mean he has to be a /stupid/ test subject! He kicks his jets into slightly higher power, raising his elevation to increase the distance between himself and Fulcrum while firing his lasers at Comcast.

Comcast evades your Shoulder-Mounted Laser attack.

Comcast missing Fleet had nothing to do with skill. It was just that the attack went wild, as per his prior pose, so that it wasn't even remotely aimed at Fleet to begin with!

The Red Seeker is still fuming about this, by the way. "I.. that should have.. AAAH!" Comcast suddenly realises that they are not affording him any courtesy as he is bathed in Fulcrum's heat ray. "Duly noted, Fulcrum." He mutters as he fires up his anti-gravs, launching into the sky before Fleet's laser has a chance to connect. Comcast returns the favour with a volley of his own arm-rifles.

You evade Comcast's Energy Rifle! (High) attack.

Fulcrum's boot jets let out a coughing roar as he launches himself skyward, transforming as he does so to circle around the room and flank Comcast... but rather than draw a lock on the red seeker, switches targets to his more cowardly comrade, letting off a burst from his nosecone-mounted disruptor.

Fulcrum crouches, then leaps up, his joints screeching as he transforms into a grey and green MiG-29.

MiG-29 <Fulcrum> strikes you with Nose-mounted Disruptor for 2 points of damage.

Fleet spins out of the way of the red seeker's attack, but is so concentrating on it that he doesn't spot the Russian jet's approach. The hit is minor, even to Flee's often skewed perspective, but he's none-too-pleased to be the target of both his fellows. He once more increases elevation as he moves back from the both of them, stretching out his right arm towards Fulcrum as he does so to employ his shoulder weapon again, this time in pulse mode.

MiG-29 <Fulcrum> evades your Energy Rifle (pulsed mode) attack.

Comcast wonders if he crossed a wire wrong? Hmm. He tries again, this time aiming at the yellow Seeker once again. He internally adjusts his weapon, setting to stream mode. He unleashes the attack, sending dual streams of sonic-related DOOM towards Fleet, perfectly. "Strange... /this/ is working fine." He murmers out loud.

You evade Comcast's Sonic Shriekers! attack.

MiG-29 <Fulcrum> jinks to the left, Fleet's energy-rifle making an interesting rorschach pattern on the far wall. Passing under the yellow seeker, he banks around, wing-mounted heat-rays now sufficiently warmed up to fire at peak performance.. which they do, directly at Comcast, who's not having a good day with that new sonic attack.

MiG-29 <Fulcrum> strikes Comcast with Heat Ray <High>.

Fleet twists wide to the left and drops to avoid Comcast's sonic attack, more guessing its target by the direction Comcast is aiming then anything else, what with sound waves being invisible and all (except when the animator feels like drawing in those little wavy lines). His lowering of elevation exactly as the MiG flies beneath him almost results in a midair collision, but his collision avoidance sensors alert him to the other's proximity just in time, letting him adjust his dive just in time. By the end of it all he is diving diagonally underneath and away from Fulcrum, who happens to be the only target in his field of vision. He activates his rail gun and lets loose at the other.

You strike MiG-29 <Fulcrum> with Rail Gun.

Comcast's sonic attack is going fine when it's in one mode.. but he's now confidant that it was more than a one-off. Deciding that it should be fine for a full-on test, he soars up in the air, ignoring the blasts that land on his back from Fulcrum, until he's ready to try for the sonic attack again. And yes, wavey lines DO appear when he uses it, though nothing happens this time. Comcast activates his sonics, only for them to echoe throughout his entire body. "EEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!" Comcast yells, clutching his ear drums in agony as he plummets to the ground, connecting with the loud scraping thud that only metal-on-floor can make.

MiG-29 <Fulcrum> rocks from side to side as hypervelocity rail slugs perforate his wings. Transforming to avoid a total lack of control, Fulcrum turns, raising his arms over his face to shield himself from the hail of metal. Growling, he swings his hand back and fires his boot jets, using his own momentum to increase the speed of his hammer, which he HURLS towards Fleet's faceplate, only half noticing Comcast's retard-antics out of the corner of one optic. What's he doing /now/?

The MiG-29 twists around and folds in on itself with a grinding sound, transforming into the robotic form of Fulcrum.

You evade Fulcrum's Blacksmith's Hammer attack.

Comcast's retard-antics are for the good of the empire! Show some respect!

Fleet adjusts his angled dive so it's a little more dive and a little less angle, his head dropping more quickly than his feet to avoid the hammer. He continues curving in this direction in a very wide loop until he's once more upright, turning on his axis as he does so that he doesn't come up with his back to Fulcrum. He holds up a hand, palm facing Fulcrum. "Hold up! The whole reason we were doing this just dropped out of things!" (no attack)

Comcast groans to himself as he pushes himself up from the ground. "Ugh.. why didn't it work? It was fine in the laboratory, there must be something else wrong.."

Fulcrum huhs?, his deadly sickle already in his other hand, ready to lunge forward and attempt to gut Fleet like a turbo-dog. "Oh. Comcast." Dropping to the floor with a hollow boom, he trudges over to retrieve his hammer, then approaches his downed comrade. "Perhaps" he begins, "..your systems are not configured for strikes on multiple targets, even though your weapon now has that capability."

Fleet floats in casually, remaining a few yards above the floor as he approaches the other two. "Or maybe it's the number of attacks? Backfires after the first couple, or some such?" he offers, having no real clue on the technical details, but it sounds good to him.

"That would explain why it worked perfectly when I was only aiming at Fleet." Comcast says as he brings himself to his feet. "Even if he avoided it, the stream was firing exactly where I aimed it."

<KNUJ> Radio DJ Broadcast says, "My backpack gots jets. I'm Bobba the Fett."

<KNUJ> Radio DJ Broadcast says, "I bounty hunt for Jabba the Hut because I finance my Vet."

<KNUJ> Grimlock says, "YOU GOT THE WORDS WRONG."

<KNUJ> Grimlock says, "Slag this. Me Grimlock turn on to something good to listen to."

<KNUJ> Hook says, "I am the very model of a modern major general, I've information animal, vegetable and mineral..."

<KNUJ> Radio DJ Broadcast says, "Hook! Tell your leader... Galvatron that I am up for work."

<Decepticon> Comcast says, "Up for work."

<Decepticon> Hook says, "Frankly, I don't know why I bother monitoring this station."

<Decepticon> Hook says, "The Junkion one, that is.. not Decepticon Broadband."

<Decepticon> Comcast says, "You /monitor/ the channel? Excellent. I've hated listening to it. Good to know someone else does."

<Decepticon> Comcast says, "I assume you're as thrilled that this walking garbage pile is interested in aiding us as I am, Hook?"

<Decepticon> Arachnae says, "Probably moreso."

<Decepticon> Hook says, "Well the inferiority of those poor excuses for robots does give me a chuckle.. but oh, I /do/ apologise Comcast, you are DCI. I suppose I am intruding on your territory by listening in on morons. Do you think he's sincere?"

Fulcrum hms. "I assume you also updated your targeting computer when you adjusted your weapon?" Fulcrum asks, as if it was the /obvious/ thing to do.

Comcast just looks at Fulcrum, blanky. His mouth opens and closes a few times. "Well," He finally says in a resigned tone, "I guess I'm going to need a new battle computer.

Fleet touches down lightly a distance away from the two, listening to the others talk tech. He really has little to contribute to the discussion, being as it is far out of his field, and at the moment he doesn't want to get too near them, either. They- well, Fulcrum, at least- seemed rather annoyed with him a couple of moments ago.

Of course Fulcrum was annoyed! He'd just been shot! "Yes" he states. "Or a firmware upgrade of your current one, though that may be less efficient." He pauses, glancing at Fleet. "Did you want to continue with the exercise?"

Fleet steps back a little and considers. Not that it would occur to him to hold a grudge - after all, Fulcrum slammed him into the ground and knocked him out the last time they trained together! - but it seems like a good idea to at least ease the reputation for cowardice that he has, and this might be a way to do it. "Mmm... if there's nothing else Comcast requires of me, I see no reason why not," he answers, carefully saying neither "yes" nor "no" to the question of whether he *wants* to continue the fight.

Comcast shifts his neck from side-to-side as he dusts himself off. "I think I've learned all I can in this training session.. We'll have to try another day." Crap, two for two sessions with the blacksmith ruined. Gotta love it.

It's just because Fulcrum is so totally AWESOME! Nah, Fulcrum doesn't think that... /too/ much. "Perhaps a more 'realistic' application of our skills would prove more beneficial to the Empire?" he says.

"Perhaps.." Comcast says, considering the matter. "But I would prefer to have this issue sorted first."

Fleet looks at the blacksmith. "Are you proposing a raid, Fulcrum?" he asks, keeping his voice carefully neutral. At the moment his track record on raids was none-too-good, excluding the one from last night, where they were only stealing sand, anyway. However... he was a warrior, and warriors raided, and he accepts that as his lot.

"I was" Fulcrum admits. "But if Comcast is concerned about his targeting computer's performance, it can wait. There are plenty of energy sources."

Because Fulcrum is Comcast's BITCH.

"Very well," replies the yellow Decepticon. "If that's the case, if neither of you require my assistance, I suppose I should return to patrol." This is said with some reluctance, as patrol has been filling his time far too often lately and he was becoming rather weary with it. On the other hand, it was generally less dangerous than raids, and that's always a plus.

"If you are so eager to assist," Comcast says, "I don't see why you could remain on a close patrol.. or even a patrol route that is close to a potential target." The red Seeker turns to Fulcrum. "Well, if you are free, I believe I have enough imperial credits to purchase a new battle computer."

Fleet gives only an exagerated nod for reply, dipping head, neck, and to a lesser degree, even torso, before turning on his heal - er, jet thrusters - and striding out.