Sky above New Crystal City

The air above the island is rough and turbulent, but it does little to hide what lies below. Instead of the rocky islands typical of this region of the Pacific, there is an enormous, blueish metal structure of some kind, like an outlandish, oversized oil-drilling platform. Huge sparkling spires stretch up into the skies, massive squat domes litter the island, and tall sky-scrappers loom over the ground, all made of solid metal. The city is currently in battle mode, and one can see huge cannons and missile turrets targeting any invaders. The entire coastline has been lined with long-ranged weaponry to ward off any invasion.

Contents:

Catechism

Obvious exits:

Fly <Up> Plaza <P> Spaceport <S> Coastline <C> R'Lyeh <R> Central Hub <H>

Catechism is just hovering serenely. She missed out on the big attack on Cybertron the other day, but she's not particularly put out by that. Guard duty is useful, and not every assignment can be glorious. Just so long as she's contributing to her cause somehow, Catechism's happy.

Fleet rockets into the air from the volcano, which he's taken to ducking into as an indirect way to peek into medical before refueling. Just to make sure certain lime green techs aren't in there before he enters. Can't trust those green and purple technicians, after all. But at the moment, he's in a fairly good mood. The Decepticons hold Cybertron, there's an upcoming competition he has to look forward to... the only things he has hanging over him at the moment would be his promotion and his new training regime. It was a bribe taken from his new, increased energon allotment that ensured that he was on watch for the attack on Autobot headquarters, allowing him to nicely avoid gaining /more/ unwanted attention...

Catechism hears Fleet before she sees him. Engines aren't exactly quiet, in general, unless the owner of said engines is making an effort to be quiet. She turns and waves. The conehead calls out cheerily, "Fleet! Congratulations on your promotion!" She could be jealous, of course, but she finds it much more up-beat to think that if Fleet can get promoted, surely it's not that hard, then. Phrased that way, it's all far more palatable.

Fleet flinches for a moment in response to Catechism's (apparently) well-meant greeting. If he had any pride, he might be upset about her 'If Fleet can get promoted' thing. Well, and if he could read minds and knew about it to begin with. Which he doesn't. After the initial reaction, however, he forces on a cheerful expression as he sort of tilts his feet a little, meandering in Catechism's direction. "Thanks," is all he actually says.

Catechism looks at little puzzled at Fleet's rather flat response. Eh. Flat-heads. Who can figure them? She continues convivially, "Pity there's not a bar here or something. You need to get out and celebrate!"

"No, I'm fine," he answers. "Besides, I've been upping my training schedule, and on top of that, there's a competition coming up, so I'd just as soon keep myself at full operation capacity as much as possible." Not to mention what happened the last time he got drunk... and Geist has been watching him ever more closely since. Of course, Fleet was beginning to suspect that the Sweep was off planet for some mission or another, but one never could tell... especially when we're talking about a guy who can go invisible!

Catechism tilts her head and 'blinks', her optics cycling dimmer for a moment. What, no party for the new trooper? How utilitarian. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. She says slowly, "That's very sensible of you, I suppose. Competition?" Her expression quirks at that.

Fleet looks slightly embarrassed as he turns his face away. Oh, look! Cloud! It's shaped like a fuel pump! "Erm... dance," he answers, a slight smile coloring his expression.

Catechism gives Fleet a funny look. For a guy who just got promoted, he's sure not... nevermind, flat-head right? Yes. Then her optics light up. She remembers Fleet talking about dance competitions after their four-way fight. She inquires, "So soon?" Catechism pauses. Wow, that's really rather impressive, as far as she's concerned. "Well, best of luck."

"I, for one, hope not to rely on luck," the yellow seeker answers, his expression now grim. "If it gets to that, then I really don't deserve to win." He shakes his head and quirks a slight smile, still looking off in the distance, not at Catechism. "If we hadn't just taken Cybertron, I wouldn't be doing this just now... but right now is the time for our builders, so I'm left with a bit of down time." He starts to lazily circle Catechism, almost thoughtlessly.

Catechism starts to feel just a wee bit wary. She can't put a finger on why, but it's probably the circling. Momentarily, Catechism considers her faster jet mode. Nah. Nothing to worry about here. Not letting that silly bit of anxiety creep into her demeanour, she continues chatting. "Hence the stepped up training, then?"

Fleet tilts his face just slightly in Catechism's direction as he glances at her out of the corners of his visual field. "Right," he agrees, nodding his head, his tone betraying nothing to the contrary. No need to advertise that he's accepted training from outside of Seekerdom, after all. Catechism probably wouldn't have a problem with it, but he suspected that Comcast would object if word reached him.

Catechism sighs, a pitiful little gust, and shakes her head. "I'd offer to help, but..." She trails off. Catechism may be overly optimistic, but as far as she can tell, a blunt instrument like her is not going to be any use in helping a dancer improve. She really would like to help, too. It may seem odd coming from someone who thinks that anyone who dies must have been dumb enough to deserve death, but when it comes to her fellow Decepticons, she'd prefer that the weak improve. Less materials are wasted that way.

Fleet is trying to improve, thanks! He just doesn't have enough AP for it... yet. But Fleet catches her meaning. He stops circling and kind of scoots backwards a little, like a rather skilled mid-air rollar-skater. "I understand, and appreciate it. But yeah, you'd need to be very familiar with the moves to catch when I was doing them wrong." That, and she's more a blunt instrument sort of person, anyway.

Catechism glances up, as if thinking about escaping into the blue. She winces slightly and jokes, her psychological defense mechanisms neatly snapping into place to protect her from unhappy thoughts, "Not the kind of thing where you get a set of flashcards to check the moves against, eh?"

Fleet chuckles very slightly, managing not to sound snide. Mostly. "No, no. I'm afraid that's not quite enough." Okay, maybe there was a bit of the artistic temperament in the yellow one, after all. He curls his legs slightly, an indication that he'll be thinking about taking off soon, but the direction is as yet indeterminate. "You've got to be careful about that, anyway... dance has served me well. I've brought myself to the limits of my in-built maneuverability, and since so few know the moves, they're hard for most people to predict. But they do form patterns, and I'm finding that those who... think the right way can pick up on them. It still serves, but I think I'm going to have to learn... other things to supplement."

Catechism nods. That's why she doesn't like to fly a pattern. Sure, her wingers know where she is then, but so do her enemies. She gestures vaguely and inquires, "Other things? What, hand-to-hand?"

Fleet makes a face. "I'm not built for hand to hand, Catechism. I can work a little to improve on a weakness, but I'd just as soon attack from my strengths, and nothing I can do will make hand-to-hand into one of them. No, I just mean that I need to start incorporating other ways of thinking into my fighting. Dancing has served well, I get hit less now than before I took it up, it clears my mind and is a form of discipline, but I fear I've relied too heavily on it for too long..."

Catechism says vaguely, to Fleet's insistence that he's not built for hand-to-hand, "What Seeker is?" She knows fully well that there are Seekers who do very well at hand to hand. She's been beaten on by at least one of those Seekers. Catechism chuckles at Fleet's further comments and against jests, "Just so long as you don't pick up any Terran methods. Those'd help like a hole in the head."

Green Pyramid Jet flies up from NCC Spaceport.

Green Pyramid Jet has arrived.

"Well, Fulcrum," Fleet replies, glancing at Catechism. "He's strong, tough, and slower than most our kind... his melee attacks seem much tougher than his ranged attacks. But that's beside the point." He shakes his head and smiles, amused. "And no, nothing terran, so you needn't worry."

Fleet is just kind of hovering in the sky, chatting with Catechism.

Green Pyramid Jet flies up up and away from the spaceport, humming an odd tune as she goes. Though seeing others in the area gives her pause.

Catechism was just up in the air, getting a bit of sky when Fleet came along and conversation started. She smirks slightly. The conehead agrees, "Yeah, Fulcrum. Shows the diversity of Seekerkind, doesn't it?" Idly, she asks, continuing with the main thread of the conversation, "Got anything particular in mind? It's got to be interesting to pick up stuff beyond what we got in basic."

Green Pyramid Jet starts hovering. Almost as though eavesdropping. Does she know how to get into these conversations? No. Is she playing shy? Sure.

Fleet doesn't hear the humming. Not over the jet engines. He turns in the direction of the Pyramid Green seeker, described as olive despite the fact that her 'official picture' is more a sea-foam, but doesn't really address it yet. In alt mode? It could be one of a number of people. Sadly, even Fleet was forced to admit that outside of color variations, unmodified pyramid seekers look largely alike in their jet form. Instead, he looks at Catechism and smiles, lips pursed together in an expression that refuses to touch the rest of his face. "I've got something in the works," is all he says. Fleet, mech of mystery! Oooo!

The coneheaded Seeker's mouth quirks. Fleet's being cryptic, huh? Well, see if she ever explains what buckets are for, then. Okay, that's a lousy thing to be enigmatic about, but it's the principle of the thing. Catechism doesn't notice the green Seeker immediately, but when she does, she flicks her ailerons, waving with those instead of her hands.

Green Pyramid Jet takes the flickering as a sort of 'hello'. probably as it was intended, and transforms at a distance, still humming softly as she approaches. "So... can you see your house from here?" Chimera asks, flicking a hand towards the below.

The pyramid jet unfolds into a female robot.

Fleet is, indeed, being cryptic. In fact, the new arrival gives him a chance to drop the subject entirely! He gives Chimera a rather odd look, not being familiar with her reference. He then looks down at Trypticon - his quarters are in there. Then he looks back up at Chimera. "My house?" he finally asks.

Catechism looks startled. She says slowly, frowning ever so slightly, "Uh? I can see the barracks..." Wow, the conversation is going to derail like a train turning into a space shuttle, isn't it?

Chimera almost giggles, "Yes." She answers, "What are you talking about here today so high in the air?" She's ignoring the odd looks. Probably because she's used to them by now.

Fleet pulls his knees up a bit higher, as though getting ready to spring away at any moment. "A whole lot of nothing," is all he answers. "Although I suppose if we wanted to, we could do something productive."

Catechism leans back, unobstructed by pesky walls and all that. There is nothing to support her up her but her own flight systems, and yet she's as comfortable here as anywhere. She grins and comments, mock-offended, "Up high in the air is a perfectly good place to discuss anything!"

Chimera gives a socially acceptable facial expression. That'd be a slight smile. "Unless you're sitting next to a sensor station..." She submits, "And what sort of ... productivity would you suggest?"

Fleet shrugs a shoulder. "I don't know. There's pretty much training or scouting or raiding, isn't there?" It seems that a lot of Decepticons really did need to get lives. Not Fleet, of course. He had an art, and didn't need a life. But some of these folks...

Catechism has a life. It just happens to mostly involve scouting, raiding, practice fights, and getting fixed. Nothing wrong with that, is there? Not everyone can make chairs out of people for fun, after all.

Or guard Arachnae whenever free, or hang around torture chambers, or... Uh... What DOES Chimera do in her free time?

Chimera shrugs. "We could go scout. Fly around for a while." Oh. That's right. She does target practice.

"Scouting sounds good." Fleet grins. It's not a nice grin. It's a Decepticon grin. "After all, we just took back home... best to be sure of the lay of the land here for when we take this place as well."

Catechism agrees, "Sounds like a plan." She flips into her swifter jet mode, not thinking to ask where they're going, which might actually be important.

Fleet transforms from robot to pyramid jet.

Catechism transforms into her alternate mode: a F-35, Marine Corps variant. Her feet flip up against her shins, her nosecone rotates through her body and out in front where it belongs, her arms tuck into her torso, and her wings rotate into position.

Pyramid Jet (Fleet) uhm... transforms, too. In the usual, rather boring manner.

Chimera giggles to herself, transforming. Of course, she's happy to scout. It's better than... whatever it was she was doing earlier today.

Chimera jumps up, and folds into a pyramid jet.

* Spinny! *

The Outback(#1444 RLntN)

The wilds of Australia. Called by those who choose to make the place their home, The Outback, it is a rugged land, filled with danger for the unwary, and even for those who know how to survive here, it is a struggle. It is also a place of savage beauty, a rich (and fast disappearing) native culture and a place of extraordinary solitude, unlike anywhere else on the planet. Rocky ridges give way to groves of trees, then to marshes and swamps filled with crocodiles. Stands of banyan and eucalyptus hold the gentle koalas, while vast plains of open grass (rare here) are home to the roving packs of kangaroos and wallabes. A natural wonder, unlike any other.

Contents:

Green Pyramid Jet

Uluru (Ayer's Rock)

Obvious exits:

West <W> leads to Western Australia.

East <E> leads to Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

North <N> leads to Northern Territory.

South <S> leads to South Australia.

Fly <Up>

F-35 <Catechism> soars down into view from the skies above.

F-35 <Catechism> has arrived.

Green Pyramid Jet sweeps through the lovely outback, probably looking for a roving pack of Kangaroos to spook.

Kangaroo spooking! Hey, that actually does sound like a good, productive way to spend one's time! The pastel yellow pyramid jet follows behind the green one. For once, it is not Fleet who's alt form is mix-matched! Ha ha!

F-35 <Catechism> watches for camels. They get to Australia by clinging to driftwood, don't'cha'know. No, actually, she watches for things that may be of strategic use. And her alt form is always mis-matched.

Yeah. Kimmmie likes to spook Cam--- er... Kangaroos. And wallabies. And... well. Sometimes she likes to shoot at 'em too. Bad Chimera. No biscuit. Instead she'll have some kangaroo.

So when do we get to the shooting of stuff, anyway? We've got a whole trine of Seekers out... it's bound to be only a matter of time! Fleet lowers his altitude, flying a bit closer to the ground. Because that way a radar has to be a lot closer to him to detect him. It has nothing to do with a desire to shoot random... things.

Random things? mmm... There's a platypus over there, Flee.

But no penguins.

No. No penguins. Just.... OOh. Koala grove!

What? No penguins?! But I was promised penguins! Oh, well. Those teddy-bear looking things will have to do...

And they're all organic! Squishiness.... Mmm... Might need to hose off on return to base.

Careful, there! A drop bear might fall on you if you fly too low! Despite a penchant for violence, Catechism isn't particularly interested in shooting up the countryside, unless it will somehow serve the Decepticon cause. Well, she supposes that she could go for a bit of target practice...

Target practice was exactly what Fleet had in mind, which was why he wasn't worried about their squishiness. Not like he's going to be close enough for that to matter.

Got to practice hitting the targets, that way they have less of a chance to hit you. Isn't that right?

Damned straight!

But stationary targets are hardly a challenge...

That's why you go for the 'Roos. they're bouncing and moving.

Then who the hell was it that started heading for the koalas? Well, Chimera was in the front of this formation, so for once, Fleet blames her.

Green Pyramid Jet isn't to blame! It's those danged pesky Roos that are so elusive!

And the roos with the little cork-fringed hats do stand out so enticingly. Not that Catechism sees any kangaroos with cork-fringed hats. It's just that she'd go after those ones if she did.

Obviously, /someone/ here is in a XXXX sort of mind set. Which is why it's appropriate that the trio includes none other than the Rincewind of the Decepticons! Who still hasn't seen any kangaroos, dammit. Or penguins.

Well. Some are in a wierd mindset, but still would awfully like to see some boxing kangaroos to shoot at. Because her guns are lonely, and need exercise.

Silverbolt soars down into view from the skies above.

Silverbolt has arrived.

Foxfire has arrived.

But has Fleet found any sandwiches under rocks, if not kangaroos and penguins? It vaguely nags at Catechism that maybe one of them should have kept watch. Eh, who'd be out here in the boondocks, anyway? Aside from Decepticon Seekers, of course.

Green Pyramid Jet is in the lead, harassing the wildlife. Actually, using the excuse of 'scouting' they're three seekers out to have a little target practice.

Three jets streak across the landscape. One is a F-35, but the other two are Cybertronian pyramid jets, so it's a good bet that they're Seekers. Odds are they're looking to cause trouble of some sort. Perhaps a few kangaroos for target practice... but they're defiantly not looking for penguins.

Breaking through the clouds, Silverbolt flies ungracefully as always down into the austrailian ouback. He twists, and side roll down to regular altitude. "Good thing your strapped in, eh Foxfire?" he asks jokingly, actually enjoying the patrol.

Foxfire winces, wondering if this is how humans feel when they ride roller coasters. "Yeah," he murmurs in response, then smiles slightly and peeks out of the window. "Been a long time since I've been around this area," he comments, mostly to himself.

"You see any of those hoppy things yet?" the green jet calls over to the other two, swooping low towards the ground again, narrowly missing a tree.

Green Pyramid Jet is looking for a kangaroo to shoot. Yes. and doing some dangerous flying.

What do you know! So is the yellow pyramid jet! It's almost as if time had come to a total stand-still for an hour or so!

F-35 <Catechism> is making a vain pretense at finding something strategically useful. She's not having much luck. She's not finding any penguins, either.

Silverbolt drifts down slowly, curtailing and flying without any thought about the passenger. Just looking at the scenery, he feels free out here. No thoughts about Iahex, or the missing Autobots. Just the open skies, calming to the optic. "So serene up here, don't you think?" he mutters, bringing his front-end into a nose dive.

Foxfire sighs to himself, the smile still on his muzzle, and just admires the scenary. He's trying to ignore the fact that he's not as used to flying like this as the Aerialbot is, and doesn't say anything about it. "Hope we don't find any 'Cons around," he says after a while. "This's too fun."

Oh dear. There's a concorde running over head, and somehow someone put Chimera in charge of the trio. Or at least let her take point. Although she's been concentrating on finding a Kangaroo, she's not oblivious to the shadow, or the familiar sound of a certain Arialbot engine. "Think we got some company..." She mentions, still flying her dangerous trek low to the ground. Not going to do anything about it... quite yet.

"Locals, or Autobots?" replies the yellow pyramid. With those funny Earth modes so many had, it was sometimes hard to tell. Besides, it's rule of the Transformers universe that they're constantly fooled by each other's alt modes, even when they really should know better. He powers up his weaponry. Either it's an Autobot, and he's going to need it... or it's a local, and he'll get a chance to shoot down a totally defenseless aircraft. Either scenario has its possibilities.

F-35 <Catechism> trails the other two Seekers. She radios them, "You know, we don't really fit in here. We're going to get spotted We might want to do something about that plane..." By herself, Catechism might be okay, but accompanied by two pyramid jets? not a chance.

Sailing overhead, Silverbolt notices nothing out of the ordinary. Whirling around, he catches a glimpse of two pyramid jets and a F-35. Common sense would tell him those aren't earth-style transports. "Hold on, we got company!" he manages to blurt out, pulling up into the air. Climbing higher and higher, gaining altitude and distance from them. "I just hope they didn't notice. . ."

Foxfire lowers his ears a little. "I think I jinxed us," he utters, and blinks, looking back out through the window to spot the jets. "Gotta feeling that this's gonna get rough."

And that would be Chimera's cue to start banking upwards, and towards the silly Silverbolt, who she remembers from.. oh... a while ago. "Yes, I suppose we'd better." She says, "I think they've spotted us though." Hrm... what to do... what to do. When in doubt break out the heavy artilliary. If you don't know what to do with it, blow it up... mottos to live by. And there goes the artilliary. Right at 'im. Or close enough for government work.

Green Pyramid Jet strikes Silverbolt with ballistic.

"Good point, Catechism," replies Fleet. Never mind that he was planning on attacking the whatever-it-was either way. Like Chimera, he starts banking upward in a steep climb, pushing his engines to the fullest as he gives chase. Unlike Chimera, he starts small... no point in wasting his energon if it proves to be a wimpy Earth craft, right?

You strike Silverbolt with Death By A Thousand Papercuts.

'There is no overkill.' Words to live by when one is in the business of making one's opponents dead. Oh, sure, it might be a wimpy Earth jet, but then, they can haul the pieces back as supplies or something. No reason to skimp on the weapons now. Catechisms kicks into a zoom upward and fires off a laser blast at the Concorde.

F-35 <Catechism> strikes Silverbolt with laser.

Climbing higher and higher, didn't really mean safer did it. The first ballistic attack takes a big chunk out of the rear wing. Still alright to glide up, then a laser blast ricochets off of the front window hatch. All is fine, until the last attack strikes the exact same spot as Chimera's attack. Thus, the combined efforts leave Silverbolt in a pretty nasty tail spin. Quick, think fast. With nothing else coming to mind, he pops open the emergency release hatch. Off floats Foxfire, strapped safely into a parachute seat. Silverbolt's under carriage electric rifle zooms around, managing a parting shot before he starts to lose elevation.

You evade Silverbolt's Electrostatic Battery attack.

Foxfire yelps as he's ejected, then peers over the edge of the seat and at the ground as he floats to down to safety. Once his little "journey" comes to a stop, he's off, rushing in the direction he's pretty certain the Seekers are, and sure enough, he catches sight of one...and scowls, thinking it might be the same one who took Sideswipe. He can't tell from this distance, but nonetheless, Catechism's going to (hopefully) feel the effects of a foxbot's laser vision. Which probably won't do much, but at least it's something.

Foxfire strikes F-35 <Catechism> with Laser.

Yup. It was a generic gumby conehead seeker that took the Sideswipe off. Of course, the one that got Sideswipe to go off without thinking (again) is the one who's overshot the target, and has to now circle around again. Of course, it's Chimera. And of course she's having a giggle about the whole affair. Silly Silverbolt. She's got friends with her this time. And there's no attack this round.

The pastel pyramid twists aside, avoiding Silverbolt's attack with ease before intentionally stalling out and accomplishing a deft hammerhead turn-and-dive. Well, if this were a /human/ competition, he'd get points docked as part way through the dive he transforms, and airplanes aren't supposed to do that! Sure, there is another target, but it's a tiny little speck, and it is not the one that attacked him... he continues after his original subject, firing after him with his shoulder-mounted weaponry.

Silverbolt evades your Sure! Pick On The Little Yellow One! attack.

F-35 <Catechism> could pass for a generic gumby conehead in bad light, but that's beyond the point. She's been hit, and it's a painful reminder that her better armoured robot mode is really better for combat. So she transforms. Then, Catechism seeks out the source of the pain and looks to reply by dishing out some pain herself.

F-35, Marine Corps variant, transforms into robot form. Catechism's feet unfold, her arms unfold out of her body, her nosecone rotates through her body and ends up on her shoulders to expose her face, and her wings rotate into position.

Catechism strikes Foxfire with Zap!.

Autobot Hovercraft (Defender II) arrives from the east.

Autobot Hovercraft (Defender II) has arrived.

Smokescreen has arrived.

Plummeting towards the ground, Silverbolt manages to somehow miss the attack aimed in his area. Falling with grace, doesn't seem to fit this description. Pieces seem to be falling off of the rear end, some engine comes disconnected. Silverbolt tries to aim up, pulling out of the downward spin. He manages to slow down some, but it doesn't matter much. Silverbolt finds himself above Fleet, incoming a collision course. He transforms, and curls up into a ball. Better hope this works. . .

Silverbolt flips up into his 'bot mode.

Silverbolt strikes you with ram for 13 points of damage.

Foxfire winces, backing up a few steps due to the blast, but is relieved (and surprised) that it didn't do as much damage as he'd expected. He keeps a close watch on Catechism, even though he is partly aware of Silverbolt's situation, and tries to heat things up a bit for the femme. Literally.

Foxfire misses Catechism with his Fire attack.

Circling over the future crash site of one large Concorde-esque Autobot, Chimera transforms, in order to better enjoy the moment. Oh. And he hit Fleet. Hitting Fleet is not a good thing... Which is why she must now shoot at his plummeting ball-shaped form. Maybe he'll land funny and break off a leg or something.

The pyramid jet unfolds into a female robot.

Chimera strikes Silverbolt with laser.

Fleet can't catch a break! Unfortunately, he apparently can catch Silverbolt, who lands on top of him (wasn't it the /rest/ of the Aerialbots who were Seeker-fanboys? Then why is Silverbolt the one trying to cop a mid-air feel?). The pastel-painted Decepticon manages to get out from underneath the Autobot before he can bring him too far down, but his wing is badly twisted for his troubles, and it's unlikely he'll be transforming anytime soon. Still, he's pissed, and points his arms down at the other. Yes, Chimera just shot him. What can Fleet say? He's a wimp and a bully!

Silverbolt evades your Rail Gun attack.

Catechism stays aloft, as if it's safer up there, as far as she's concerned. She would seem to be right, as she easily loops up, evading the cassette's attack, and loops back down into firing position. There may be no glory in shooting at cassettes, but not every fight can be glorious. Catechism doesn't mind. The cassette is a much better target than a kangaroo, anyway, pointy hat or no pointy hat. The cloudy Seeker fires off a shot at her intended victim quickly, trying to keep tabs on what all else is going on.

Catechism strikes Foxfire with disruptor.

The laser shot bounces off the back of the Aerialbot Commander. Silverbolt barely manages a roll towards Fleet to evade the Rail Gun. Rolling on the ground, tatics of an Aerialbot? Just as much as the crash landing he employed earlier. Using his momentum, he springs towards the seeker with a fist. "I can always count on you Decepticons for a good fight, at least!" he mutters, bring the arm towards Fleet's face.

You evade Silverbolt's Quick jab to the face attack.

Mayhem in the Outback. It's...usual, actually. For some reason, Transformers are just drawn to arid, deserted regions with great gobs of nothing of note for miles and miles. And, of course, wherever Autobot and Decepticon come together, they have to start wailing on each other.

For once, Smokescreen's entrance isn't obvious, isn't notable...there's no thrumming of engines, no plume of smoke or dust...nothing. Just, all of a sudden, Smokescreen is THERE, standing atop a large, plateau-like piece of scenery, his rifle in hand, and righteous anger in his optic.

"Decepticons!" he calls out. "Autobot reinforcements are on their way! Get the hell out of here while you still can!"

Foxfire snorts, silently wishing the Seeker would come down so he could bite her or something. But he'll have to rely on lasers and fire for now, and prepares to again use the former, but stops as he hears Smokescreen, and rolls his optics. Nice way to make an entrance, isn't it? Oh well. The little fox returns to the situation at hand, and attacks.

Foxfire misses Catechism with his Laser attack.

Oh, you can /bet/ Fleet will get out of here while he still can. This is why he's almost impossible to totally trash - he runs away way too quickly! However, he's not ready to go quite yet, mostly because, with the only one of his foes that can fly more-or-less grounded, he realizes he can retreat at his leisure. He kicks his bootjets into higher mode, increasing the distance between himself and the dreaded, evil ground (and incidentally pulling himself out of the way of Silverbolt's punch with plenty of room to spare) and leans forward a little in the air, starting a semi-erratic circle-like pattern as he aims once more at the Autobot who had the audacity to taste the sky.

You strike Silverbolt with Taste Pulsed Lasers Instead!.

And lo, there was a seeker aloft who was not shot at by any of the silly mortals crashing onto the ground. And the seeker would be Chimera. No. She can't see her house from here-- the altitude is a little low. Instead, she sees... an Autobot making himself a target. Aww. It's Smokescreen. And he's in a bad mood.

Chimera isn't in a bad mood. She's actually in a decent mood... for her. So instead of helping the poor Yellow seeker, she's sort of ... heading towards that plateau. "Really, Smokescreen..." She calls, "Are they all repaired then." Smile. Smile. 'course, she's getting a surprise ready for him. A niiice surprise.

Catechism has no intention of coming down. Strafing little Autobots from above is cloud nine for a Seeker, after all. She continues dart to and fro, which seems to be working decently well for keeping her from getting shot. Catechsm glares at Smokescreen, although she's still concentrating on putting holes in the fox. Still maneuvering in the air to avoid shots, she calls out, "How kind of you to tell us!" She, however, neglects to tell him that she figures that her and the other Seekers can outrun whatever the Autobots have, so the Decepticons might as well stick around and see what goes down here. Then she takes another shot at the cassette. Can't forget to do that.

Catechism misses Foxfire with her taser attack.

Silverbolt winces, the pistol blast hitting his shoulder. He notices the announcement from Smokescreen falling on deaf ears, and it doesn't suprise him. Decepticons being reasonable, since when? Silverbolt manages a smirk, among the massive pain the fight has caused his frame. "Staying up there, in the safety of the skies?" he taunts, pulling out his laser pistol.

Silverbolt strikes you with Laser bolt barrage for 10 points of damage.

You are now at 27 endurance and 0 injury.

You are very conscious that your life is in serious danger in this battle.

Smokescreen narrows his optics at Chimera- though he does shoot her a sardonic smirk of his own. "You forget, Chimera- there are ALWAYS more Autobots. If nothing else, it's for the sake of pestering the likes of you." This said, he raises his rifle to his shoulder and sets fly with a barrage of his own. "Besides, you don't think I'd come out here ALONE, do you?"

Smokescreen misses Chimera with his Acid Pellet Gun! attack.

Foxfire darts out of the way of Catechism's next assault, and takes cover behind a particularly large rock. Not having much of a choice, he still relies on his ranged attacks.

Foxfire strikes Catechism with Fire.

Alone? Smokescreen? Why... Yes. Yes Chimera does. And spins in the air, gracefully dodging those acid pellets. Mmm. Acid. "Of course you're not alone. Your shadow is here." The twisted smirk crosses her face again, "Which... I think should last about as long as you do... don't shadows do that?" Worried about re-enforcements? Nah. "Too bad though. I would've liked to see you taken." And there's the guns. Both of them. Point and shoot, Chimera. Worry about snappy dialogue later.

Chimera strikes Smokescreen with laser lovin'.

Let's get something straight. Fleet has no pride. He has no shame. And he sure as hell ain't stupid. Taunts do not work on him. Staying in the safety of the skies? Of course, dummy! Fighting fair equates to fighting stupid, and Fleet won't have that. But he does decide he's taken more than enough damage, and that it's time to employ that nice little /flight/ advantage. He would depart with a final taunt at the ground-bound for being, well, ground-bound, but he doesn't taunt. Because he has no pride. And because he's not STUPID. So instead, he just runs.

Fleet begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Smokescreen, Foxfire, Silverbolt, Catechism, Chimera.

Catechism grimaces as her shot misses and the cassette lands a hit, the fire singing her paint. Aw, that's what she gets for paying attention to blue cars instead of the opponent at hand. Better not do that. Deciding that she's taken small shot long enough, the Seeker clicks the setting over her arm guns over to gauss, her optics burning brightly as current flows through the magnetic coils. It's such a wonderful feeling, that. She rather doubts that the magnetic results feel wonderful for those hit by the attack, but that's rather the intent behind weaponry. The Seeker aims, fires, and hopes.

Catechism strikes Foxfire with gauss.

Ignoring the retreat of yet another Decepticon, Silverbolt turns his attention to Foxfire. Or what is firing at Foxfire, the other seeker at hand. He whips out his Electric Discharger Rifle and aims. "It would be wise to join your friend, retreating seems to be the best for you Seeker types. ." he rasps off, firing some voltage at Catechism's direction.

Silverbolt strikes Catechism with Electrostatic Discharger Rifle.

Smokescreen MEANT to miss! That was just a warning shot! Really! And so, Chimera returns fire- scoring a scorchmark on one of his wings. Even still, he stands firm, looking back to Silverbolt and Foxfire. "You two holding out?"

Without waiting for a response, Smokey brings up his left hand and sets fly with his fingertip-mounted machineguns, hoping to just put so much lead in the air that he's bound to hit SOMETHING of the femme. "Looks like your comerades are running...as per the usual, Chimera!"

Smokescreen misses Chimera with his Fifty Caliber Fingertips! attack.

Catechism spasms from the electric hit. Oh, shoot... that hurt. She radios Chimera, apology in her tone, "I'm going to pull out now. I've had enough live target practice for now, I think." She transforms and does so.

Catechism transforms into her alternate mode: a F-35, Marine Corps variant. Her feet flip up against her shins, her nosecone rotates through her body and out in front where it belongs, her arms tuck into her torso, and her wings rotate into position.

Catechism retreats from the area swiftly, outdistancing all pursuit and parting shots.

<OOC> Foxfire noogies Fleet.

Fleet gets away scott free, although his player is half tempted to have him fire off a parting shot at that person who just noogied him. But that would be responding to OOC behavior, which is wrong. So instead he shoots off skyward and heads back to New Crystal City, leaving his pride behin- oh, wait. He never had any pride! Ha! Joke's on the 'Bots this time!