IC Time
on Earth:Sat Sep 28 15:25:00 2024
IHQ
Command Center
This massive chamber lies at the core of
the upper level, its ceiling high enough for even a gestalt. The walls are
covered in monitors and consoles from floor to ceiling, while narrow catwalks
rise from the floor to the upper areas where additional terminals and consoles
are housed. At the center of the chamber is the column containing the
turbolift, while on five of the walls are large double doors, four opening into
the various divisional wings. Between the MSE and DCI wing entrances is a
smaller sets of doors leading to the War Room. Two huge main screens dominate
two of the eight walls, displaying information and images sent by the main
computer. Atop the column is the communications room, accessible by the
catwalks on either side of the column.
Contents:
Scourge
Decepticon
Object <DO>
IHQ
Base Computer
Obvious
exits:
Up <U> leads to IHQ Comm Center.
Aerospace
Wing <N> MSE Wing <S> War Room <SE> Spacebridge <SW> DCI Wing <E> Mil Ops Wing <W>
Elevator Doors <ED>
Scourge
stands at one of the active consoles, tapping over the keys almost impatiently.
From what can be seen, it appears the Sweep commander is looking over the
patrol patterns of the various Seeker squadrons over Cybertron.
Fleet
steps out from the elevator. The time he allotted for training is complete,
he's finally off the light-limited list, and it's time he got back to duty, but
first he has to actually check his assignments. His goal is the Mil Ops wing,
but upon exiting he spots Scourge. He freezes for a moment. A Sweep! Even if
Scourge is more distinctive than the others, with his back to him and no
interaction, it's hard to tell. Fleet only knows one, Geist, and if it's him,
Geist'll let him know soon enough. Otherwise, best not to draw attention.
Scourge
mutters something unintelligible to himself after a few moments, turning away
from the console. His imperious gaze falls upon... a Seeker... a pastel-yellow
Seeker. Shaking his head and giving the equivalent of an eyeroll (if
Cybertronians, or Unicronians for that matter, had eyes), Scourge begins
stalking towards the elevator... and right towards Fleet. If he gives any
indication of knowing who Fleet is, he doesn't show it. At least... not yet.
Defiantly
not Geist, then. In fact, judging by stance, baring... scrap! This one's
probably Scourge! And not only did he look right at Fleet, but he's coming his
way! Of course, the elevator's right behind the Seeker, so it could be just a
coincidence. The answer: stand to the side of the elevator, at attention. If
Scourge just intends to walk past him, he looks respectful, and if he intends
instead to address him, he looks attentive. It works nicely either way.
Scourge
continues on his way to the elevator, stepping within... and from what can be
seen, completely ignoring the Seeker. As he turns around, however, he pauses.
"Shouldn't you be out with the rest of the patrols, Seeker? Or are you as
complacent as the rest of your pathetic kind?" Nah, no seeming hostility
between Sweeps and Seekers here. Nope, not a bit.
Yes?
No? Damned either-or questions that require more than one-word answers!
"I've just been returned to active duty, sir," Fleet replies, not
actually looking at the Sweep. "Bad encounter with the Autobots a few days
back. I was just on the way to check my patrol orders, actually."
Another
would-be eyeroll as Scourge shakes his head. "Then perhaps you should get
moving instead of just standing there like an idiot... the last time I saw a
look like that, it was on Starscream's face before Galvatron... dealt... with
him."
Fleet
rather doubts that! The Seeker has next to no sense of pride and isn't
particularly confident. Starscream wore arrogance as a second coat of paint.
Though Flee wasn't there, he does not doubt that even moments away from his
destruction, these things showed through. However, the implied threat is well
understood - it is /never/ a good idea to be compared with Starscream,
especially by a Unicronian! - so the Seeker turns and quickly, practically
running, heads towards the Mil-Ops wing to check up on his assignments.
Scourge
smirks slightly to himself, letting the elevator doors close and take him down
to the next level. Yep... he's got the touch.
*
Spinny! *
Sky
Above Cuprahex
Hot, turbulent winds makes it difficult
to fly above the green mountains of Cuprahex. These winds shift treacherously,
nearly throwing any fliers against the flanks of the mountains. Below are the
ruins of the city from which the mountains were named, destroyed after many,
many strikes. Also visible from the air is part of a dull red river flowing
sluggishly through the mountains, probably the cause of these heavy winds.
Further south, the river leaves the mountains and enters some gently rolling
hills.
Contents:
F-35
<Catechism>
Obvious
exits:
North <N> leads to Sky above Old
Cybertron Highway.
South <S> leads to Sky Above Southron
Wastes <South Pole>.
East <E> leads to Sky above Graveyard.
West <W> leads to Sky above Nightsiege.
Sunken
Plain <SP> Riverside
<RS> Cuprahex <CH>
Pyramid
Jet (Fleet) is... on patrol! In fact, he's been here all along, and anyone who
thinks otherwise obviously hasn't paying attention or is delusional. He's under
orders to patrol and recon, after all, so that's exactly what he's doing.
F-35
<Catechism> is out on patrol like the good little Seeker she strives to
be. Her flight seems more exuberant than usual. She even loops and dives and
swoops simply for the joy of it, showing off the maneuverability of her jet
form, an agility that is often eclipsed by how clunky she can be in robot mode
on the ground. Cybertron is theirs! Oh, what a time to be awake and alive.
<Decepticon>
Scourge says, "Decepticons, report!"
Of
course, what's a patrol without a bit of joyriding, and Fleet himself is
enjoying the flight, doing several fancy aerobatics twists, turns, climbs,
dives, and loops along the way... until a voice comes over Decepticon
broadband. Oh, dear!
<Decepticon>
Catechism says, "Seeker Catechism, MilOps, currently out on patrol,
sir."
<Decepticon>
Fleet answers, "Seeker Fleet, MilOps, currently her patrol partner,
sir." He just assumes that Scourge is bright enough to realize that he
means the single Seeker named Fleet, and not the entire Seeker fleet, is on
patrol with Catechism.
<Decepticon>
Scourge says, "Converge on the last known heading of that shuttle. I will meet you in transit."
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>> arrives from the Sky above Outskirts of Polyhex to the
north.
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>> has arrived.
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>> soars into view from above.
Pyramid
Jet (Fleet) follows orders. It's what he does best! Hence, he converges, flying
in the direction ordered.
F-35
<Catechism> obediently sets off in the specific direction. Now, this
shuttle business can't be good, but it's just a temporary blip on the radar
screen of history, as far as she's concerned. The Decepticons will triumph in
the end. They have to.
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>> darts through the sky like the proverbial hot knife
through butter, making his way towards the shuttle's last heading. Picking up
the converging aircraft on his sensors, an unintelligible mutter serves as his
thoughts on the matter. A Sweep... with two Seekers flying as wingmen. Not a
nice thought, especially given his preference for his own pack to be at his
side. But now isn't the time... there are Autobots to hunt.
But at
least it's the right number! If you're looking at it from the perspective of a
Seeker. Three is a proper formation. Fleet is forced to push his engines in
order to try and keep up with the Sweep, and even then it's rather doubtful
that he's keeping pace. Not who he would have chosen as his wing leader, but
then, if he had chosen, he wouldn't be attacking an indeterminate number of
Autobots. However, as a servant of the Empire, choice rarely comes into the
matter.
F-35
<Catechism> hasn't had much interaction with Sweeps... no, she hasn't had
any. She briefly saw a Sweep in the med bay, true, but they had as little to do
with each other as two Decepticons in the same room can. Fleet did make it
abundantly clear to her not to let Sweeps mistake her for Dirge, but she
identified herself as Catechism over the radio, so surely that's good enough?
*
Travel Spinny! *
Sky
above Iahex
Soaring above the Cybertron cityscapes
and highways, you can get a much better picture of the devastation the war has
wrought upon what used to be a beautiful place. The huge, wreckage-filled
crater that was Iacon is particularly clear from the air, the massive imprint
of Trypticon's feet a testament to the viciousness of the war.
Contents:
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>>
Swoop
Autobot
Sensor #2580
Obvious
exits:
South <S> leads to Sky above Tunnel of
Retoris.
Northern
Iahex <NI> Southern Iahex
<SI> Eastern Iahex
<EI> Central Iahex
<CI> Western Iahex
<WI> Iacon Plain <IP>
F-35
<Catechism> arrives from the Sky above Tunnel of Retoris to the south.
F-35
<Catechism> has arrived.
Silverbolt
rises from the Iacon Plain below.
Silverbolt
has arrived.
Swoop
is flying in a slow arc above Iahex, keeping an eye out for any Decepticon
activity. Hearing something approaching, he banks around towards the sound...
Silverbolt
is flying a little closer to the Iacon Plain, keeping low; his steering getting
a little jittery. "Swoop, don't go too far. Stay in a group, so the enemy
doesn't catch us unprepared." he mutters into his radio.
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>> descends in altitude somewhat from on high, with a
couple of Seekers flanking the sweepcraft. Its' speed, however, slows somewhat.
"Scan the area," his gruff voice murmurs through the Decepticon
radio. "Pinpoint the shuttle's location."
F-35
<Catechism> would be Decepticon activity, because the statistical chances
of a human flying a F-35 on Cybertron are pretty much nil. She follows after
Scourge, not nearly fast enough to actually keep up with him, and stays off to
one side, completing the V with Scourge and Fleet. The V pattern has an added
bonus of making it easier on the trailing fliers to cut through the air, as
most of the work has already been done by the point of the V. The Seeker keeps
her optical sensors on the lookout for the shuttle, as ordered.
An
F-16C (Skydive) rises from the Iacon Plain below.
An
F-16C (Skydive) has arrived.
Aircar
<Strafe> rises from the Iacon Plain below.
Aircar
<Strafe> has arrived.
Yay!
Scourge has slowed! Although, actually, that's a bad sign, as that means things
are liable to start happening. Fleet would nod, had he a visible head at the
moment, but instead he simply stretches his sensors to their fullest. Ah, but
for a radar or enhanced senses or one of those other things that are
unavailable to the Seeker package!
An
F-16C (Skydive) enters in the distance with Strafe on his wing, "Stay on
my wing Strafe and keep your sensors scanning," he emits over the PA.
The air
speeder soars up alongside Skydive. Listening to the radioactivity from the
ground team, Strafe feels like protesting. No, there are supposed to be
Decepticons here! The Technobot is at a loss. He had a plan and now that plan
has changed due to a lack of targets. As you can tell, Strafe does not adjust
well. "Where are they?" he emits to Skydive, his normally warm and
optimistic tone breaking into impatience.
Oh,
Strafe is scanning. His sensors are working double time, actually missing large
sections of space.
Swoop
banks around towards Silverbolt and the gang, following Silverbolt's advice.
Silverbolt
banks down low, then pulls up scanning the area. Nothing as of yet, no wait one
large blip accompanied by two smaller ones. "Attack positions! I want
Skydive, behind me. Swoop, Strafe stay on our wings!" he yells into the
radio, pulling back towards the group.
"Gotcha!"
the air speeder replies, performing a barrel roll high to give Skydive the
space he needs to come alongside his commander. When the manoeuvre brings the
Technobot back into formation and when Strafe settles there on Skydive's wing,
they all might detect sigh over the sound of their thrusters. Strafe is just
relieved that the Decepticons won't get the jump on them.
An F-16C
(Skydive) falls into position as well...as ordered. He drops down behind
Silverbolt and charges his weapons, "Copy That Silverbolt."
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>>'s own sensors pick up the approaching Autobots.
"Approaching prey," he radios to the pair of Seekers flanking him.
"Prepare to engage. Choose your prey accordingly."
'Choose
your prey accordingly'? But unfortunately for Fleet, there are no cassette-bots
up here to attack! D'oh! Let's see... Dinobot... no way! The Aircar and
Silverbolt, both of whom have rammed him in the past... Autobots seemed to like
ramming Fleet for some reason. One of the other Aerialbots. Fleet powers up his
weapons as he prepares to engage, as ordered, not yet leaving formation. He
rather suspected that for him, at least, this would be another Seeker vs.
Aerialbots bout. <no attack>
F-35
<Catechism> radios Fleet, "If we gang up on one, he might go down
quick enough that his comrades will have to haul him off." Then she tilts
along her longitudinal axis and peels off after one of the Autobots on the
edge, rather than the one at the point, which neatly coincides with Fleet's own
choice. (no attack)
Slingshot
rises from the Northern Iahex below.
Slingshot
has arrived.
Slingshot
doesn't waste time when there's aft to be kicked, especially when it involves
some good ol' brotherly love, plasma style. He wastes no time upon receiving
word from Silverbolt, and transforms. Activating his VTOL, he takes off from
the ground below, heading straight for the sky, and his brothers-in-wings. He
takes a position towards the rear of the Autobot formation, and waits for his
brothers to come to him...time for some SERIOUS business.
The
ruins of Iahex begin to shift. First metal shards and beams begin to lift as a
huge anti-grav field begins to emerge from below. The ground begins to crack as
buildings and roadways begin to rise once again. Like before, the city of Iahex
begins rising from the blasted ruins above it. This one however, has been
damaged from the battle with the decepticons. A dull roar can be heard from
miles around from the massive city fortress rising like a phoenix from the
ashes.
Though
he never actually picks up the Decepticons on his radar, Strafe does notice the
enemy formation...finally. At the sight of his targets, he wastes no time,
arming his weapons with a low hum. There is nothing to stop the Technobot for
cutting loose, but the unexpected rise of Iahex into the sky. "Huh?"
is all that emits from the air speeder which gradually begins to drift from the
Autobot formation. "What the?" Strafe eventually adds.
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>>'s sensors give him an analysis of the approaching
Autobots. ID signatures appears, making each Autobot to known profiles. Just
when he's about to order the attack, he takes pause, first at several of the
confirmed Autobot IDs, and then at the rising city of Iahex. Then, quite
suddenly, he pulls upwards hard. "Fall back," he growls into the
Decepticon radio channels. "I repeat, fall back." And he launches
himself skywards as he turns back around and retreats.
Scourge
retreats from the area swiftly, outdistancing all pursuit and parting shots.
F-35
<Catechism> pauses in the air, hovering out of disbelief. Okay, so they
are a bit outnumbered. It'd be wasteful to try and fight now. Thus, she snaps
out it and quickly does an s-turn to reserve her direction and high-tails it
out of the area.
Catechism
begins retreating, leaving herself vulnerable to parting shots from Slingshot,
An F-16C (Skydive), Silverbolt, Pyramid Jet (Fleet), Sweep-Flagship <<Scourge>>,
Swoop.
Well,
if Scourge has ordered a retreat, Fleet is not one to argue! He pulls up to
follow; a Seeker is generally nowhere near as maneuverable as a Sweep, but on
the other hand, still able to perform fairly sharp turns on his own. He climbs
into the sky after his temporary wingleader, internally relieved that he's
going to be keeping his pretty pastel haul intact for one more day.
Fleet
begins retreating, leaving himself vulnerable to parting shots from Slingshot,
An F-16C (Skydive), Silverbolt, F-35 <Catechism>, Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>>, Swoop.
Swoop
hears Rodimus' order to fall back, and banks around towards the city,
definitely not wanting to be left outside. Holding his wings in a glide angle,
he swoops downwards towards the city below.
Swoop
descends downwards towards the Iacon Plain.
Swoop
has left.
Silverbolt
falls back, strafing low. He notices the rising city of Iahex along with the
others, and falls back. "They are .....retreating?" he mutters to
himself. "You grunts heard the order, fall back!" he replies, pulling
upward.
Slingshot
would shrug, were he in robot mode. Instead, he simply reverses his VTOL. What
goes up, must go down.
Oddly
enough, Strafe does not pursue, content to slowly drift from the Autobot
formation. Eventually, the Technobot catches himself, returning to the moment
now that he has verified...yes, Iahex is floating. Quickly performing a loop,
he takes off back to the city.
Silverbolt
descends downwards towards the Iacon Plain.
Silverbolt
has left.
Aircar
<Strafe> descends downwards towards the Iacon Plain.
Aircar
<Strafe> has left.
Slingshot
descends down towards Central Iahex.
Slingshot
has left.
*
Spinny! *
Nightsiege
Spaceport
The spaceport is as pristine as the rest
of the city, but it's here that you start getting your strongest indications of
the sheer military presence that's housed in the Aerospace Headquarters to the
north. The spaceport is divided into two distinct sections, as about a third of
it is set aside for a small amount of civilian traffic and trade, and the rest
is in constant motion as the patrols and strike-forces for the Decepticon
Aerospace fleet scramble from one of the two landing strips. A huge stylized
tower, dignified at worst and awe inspiring at best, rises over the landing
strips, orchestrating all the traffic. Large hangars divide the spaceport
physically. Positioned at all entrances to the spaceport are the best of the
Decepticon's security troops, who, someday hope to ascend to the ranks of
Aerospace.
Contents:
Autobot
Shuttle <Alpha Trion>
Decepticon
Advanced Troops #5848
Nightsiege
Spaceport Hangars
Obvious
exits:
Fly <Up> leads to Sky above Nightsiege.
North <N> leads to Outskirts of
Imperial Headquarters.
East <E> leads to Courtyard.
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>> descends from the Sky above Nightsiege above.
Sweep-Flagship
<<Scourge>> has arrived.
The
Sweep-Flagship seems to explode outwards as it shifts and contorts into the
visage of Scourge, complete with nifty sound effects.
The
yellow Cybertronian jet unfolds, revealing the robotic form of the seeker
Fleet.
Fleet
transforms as he comes in for a landing - pyramid jets don't have particularly
useful landing gear. On Cyberton, their form is rather recognizable, meaning
their ability to change is more a matter of utility than actual disguise
(series tag-line not withstanding). He touches down lightly, looking more like
a dancer who is finishing a rather long leap than anything else, and looks up
at his current wing-commander, waiting to see if the Sweep commander has any
departing orders before he - well, shoot. The arrival of the Autobots and
rebirth of Iahex really does put something of a damper in his routine patrols,
doesn't it?
Scourge
transforms as well... and boy, does he look pissed. Not that he doesn't usually
look irritated in some form, but this is something else. He doesn't like to
retreat... but the readouts were bad enough, with three Aerialbots... which
means big nasty things can happen, like a certain gestalt named Superion. But
Iahex rising from the wreckage atop it was something else. He doesn't say a
word, just walks towards IHQ silently and enters the complex.
Fleet
watches the Sweep leave, hiding his expression of relief while the other is in
view. Well, he supposed he could still patrol partial routes over once-more
disputed areas and undisputed Decepticon territory, but given the number of
Autobots who were there, he currently had no intention of going back near
Iahex. He takes once more to the sky. Still got a job to do, after all.
=================================
Decepticon =================================
Message:
2/9 Posted Author
Iahex Sun Jan 30 Scourge
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<<
The Decepticon spinny appears, then is replaced by Scourge's glowering face
>>
"The Autobots have returned to
Cybertron, Lord Galvatron. With the Sweeps engaged elsewhere, I wound up with
two Seekers: Catechism and Fleet. We headed for Iahex, where several Autobots
who had recently arrived came up to meet us. Before we could engage, however,
something happened..." From the look on Scourge's face, he's not quite
certain how to categorize it. "Iahex... rose into the air from the wreckage.
At the moment, it's floating over it's former resting place. Whether this is
some new Autobot devilry, I do not know... but I intend to find out. All Seeker
patrols are to be doubled henceforth. Patrols in the immediate vicinity of the
shipyards for our new fleet are to be tripled, effective immediately. This
heightened state of alert will continue until Lord Galvatron, Cyclonus or
myself deem otherwise. Scourge out."
<<
Scourge's image vanished from view, replaced once again by the Decepticon
spinny >>
==============================================================================