Cargo Skirmish

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------------------< Blast Off Posed on Jan 10 09:16PM CST >-------------------
SO, Swindle somehow got Blast Off to fly a cargo run to this spot on the Pancontinental Expressway. And the shuttle's cargo contains some weapons- but he's hoping to get a lot more. There are a few boxes of basic guns and grenades, sure, and a stash of shanix waiting for Swindle's contacts. In return, Blast Off expects a load of supplies, ammo and guns- lots of guns. Specialty weapons. Laser rifles, some rocket launchers, a few bombs, you know, the good stuff. The stuff the Combaticons- and the Decepticons- can use. 
 
Banking in towards a small offramp, Blast Off proceeds to come in for a landing. There are already some mechs waiting for him, and they cast a wary optic around before stepping forward to finish the deal. Blast Off scans the crates piled up nearby- and everything that should be there seems to be. Good, hopefully this will go smoothly. << Hurry up. >> He opens his cargo bay door. << Unload the shipment. Then I shall give you the shanix. >>
------------------< Starscream Posed on Jan 10 09:17PM CST >------------------
Blast Off is not alone though he seems to be, right? High above shadowing the Combaticons every move is the Air Commander himself; Starscream. This is an important swap of sorts and the Seeker wants to make sure nothing goes wrong. So he shadows from above and watches, listens, and scans intently. Should this go south, everyone will see why Starcream is considered the fastest Seeker in history.
------------------< Nightlash Posed on Jan 10 09:21PM CST >-------------------
Overhead, skirting the upper atmosphere, Nightlash cruises in her altmode, her drone circling about further ahead to catch any rogue signatures. When another aerial target is acquired, cloaks are quick to kick in, instantly causing her and her drone to vanish from view as supressive systems kick in. 
 
Still, while cautious, she is not above curiosity, and she banks to move over the area to get a look at what's going on below... Oh, there's a Starscream, a shuttle...and...hmm. Well, if nothing else, this should be interesting to behold.
--------------------< Arcee Posed on Jan 10 09:25PM CST >---------------------
Arcee is in vehicular mode, travelling along a long stretch of highway when her sensors alert her to the presence of Decepticons in the vicinity -- fairly close to her location. Her recent encounter with Phantom, as well as the situation with Safelight, has her eager to prove her worth because she does feel as though it's being called into question. As she travels toward the Decepticons' location, she calls for some backup.
-------------------< Phantom Posed on Jan 10 09:33PM CST >--------------------
Flying in behind Starscream in his jet form, Phantom approaches quickly, emerging from a cloud nearby. "<Hey>" he radios the Air Commander, "<There something I discovered yesterday and I think everyone should have a talk about it. Especially that guy down there, with the cargo, and my brother Quantum. I have an idea about what the Autobots are hiding from us>"
--------------------< Blurr Posed on Jan 10 09:41PM CST >---------------------
Blurr responds to the call! But perhaps Arcee just -happened- to be on patrol in that area because some of Swindle's associates got a little bit loose-lipped...
At any rate, the speedster quickly comes up beside her. << Who've ya got? >> he asks, following her toward the location. << Any ID? >>
------------------< Blast Off Posed on Jan 10 09:42PM CST >-------------------
It's always good to have backup. Blast Off's scanners inform him that Starscream is out there, then he returns focus to the matter at hand. << Hurry up, and don't mess up my cargo bay. >> The mechs mutter something about snobby shuttles but seem to do as told, starting to unload the crates.
------------------< Starscream Posed on Jan 10 09:45PM CST >------------------
Starscream suddenly gets a voice over his comm that he wasn't expecting and close by at that. <<Phantom...>> he huffs, <<Stop following me and shut up! You blow this so help me!>> and then he notices Blast Off being unloaded and slows up a bit to bank back around and pinpoint his scanners on the situation below.
-------------------< Phantom Posed on Jan 10 10:04PM CST >--------------------
Phantom's ailerons angle downward in annoyance. The jealous guy is so fragging petty. "< I was just trying to tell you something impportant>" He dips lower, noticing Arcee. He tilts his wingtip in her direction, pointing her out to Starscream. "<But fine. I'll leave you alone. But just saying, the one who did something to me last time is here. So don't be surprised if she messes you up in the head>" 
He peels off, heading eastward, but still near to where Blast Off is loading his cargo.
------------------< Nightlash Posed on Jan 10 10:06PM CST >-------------------
Nightlash watches the impending conflict and begins to assign names to images collected before opening up comms to both Starscream and Arcee. Not overlapping, mind, simply direct. 
 
<<Hiya! Pretty-in-pink, guess what! Check these guys out... got a Screamers and a Logi for ya.>> She sends the images snapped of Blast Off and Starscream overhead. <<Oh, and Magic Man. Looks like Logi is loading something up.>> And there's a pick of Phantom. <<Cheers!>> 
 
And, of course, to Screamers. <<Hiya there, Screamers! Check it. Pink-Thing and a Speed-Demon.>> She transmits her overhead images of Arcee and Blurr, then simply settles into an overhead pattern, turning her attention downward to survey.
--------------------< Arcee Posed on Jan 10 10:12PM CST >---------------------
"Huh?" Arcee is still driving up when she gets a radio call from someone she's never heard before. Probably someone in Intel, she wagers, but said mech was not showing up on her ident. "<< Umm...thanks, >>" she radios back to Nightlash. Once she's close enough to see what's going on -- crates seem to be involved, so it's probably some sort of smuggling, she wagers -- she transforms and draws her laser-pistols. "Well, what's going on here..."
--------------------< Blurr Posed on Jan 10 10:22PM CST >---------------------
"Arcee?" Blurr sounds somewhat puzzled at that 'huh'? "You okay?" He approaches Blast Off and the mechs loading the crates and transforms, smirking as he recognizes the shuttle. He wonders if Tankor actually told everyone he thought Blurr was dead. Haha, he bets that braggart did!
He draws his weapons as well, though he doesn't fire just yet. "Well, well. I'd ask for your authorization documents but seeing you've got -that- guy with you, I'm just going to assume you -don't- have any legit ones."
------------------< Blast Off Posed on Jan 10 10:26PM CST >-------------------
Blast Off almost audibly sighs when his scanners detect Phantom nearby. Uuugh /that/ guy. Maybe if he ignores him he'll go away. << Starscream, make sure that Phantom idiot doesn't interfere with this mission. >> He picks up some activity nearby, though hasn't detected anyone he knows yet. In the meantime, the gun smugglers finish unloading the cargo. < Very good. Now load the weapons inside. You'll find the rest of your payment within the compartment I just opened up- there in the front. >> He hates people he doesn't know walking around inside his cargo hold, getting dirty feet and fingers everywhere... ugh. But alas, it is the life of a sentient shuttle. 
 
Then all goes to slag in a handbasket really quickly. Suddenly there are two readings he knows all too well. << Slaaag. Get the crates in NOW. HURRY, and don't you *dare* take the shanix until they're inside! >> Meanwhile, the lasers mounted on his wings turn to aim at Blurr. << Starscream, we have a problem. >> 
 
The smugglers look up as Blurr and Arcee approach. "Uh...." They glance at each other nervously and keep trying to load the crates inside anyway. "Hey, we're doing rightful business- which is none of YOUR business, or are Autobots just THAT eager to mess with law abiding citizens conducting business and fueling the economy?!"
------------------< Starscream Posed on Jan 10 10:32PM CST >------------------
Starscream gets pinged with images of Arcee and Blurr and before he can say anything he gets Blast Off's comm. He wing overs and kicks in his afterburners. <<Back off, Autobots>> the Seeker warns as he comes up on the scene that fast. <<This is your only warning.>> his brings his weapons online and takes aim.
------------------< Nightlash Posed on Jan 10 10:37PM CST >-------------------
Nightlash watches as things move into place. Well, this is interesting, if nothing else. She rolls slowly and opens her bomb-bay doors, altering her course to fly stealthily above Starscream's position before setting her sights on the group below... 
 
Eeehhhh....maybe. She focuses on the Decepticons... So many targets. So much opportunity. But they're not shooting yet, either... so, that might need to change soon, too.
-------------------< Phantom Posed on Jan 10 10:37PM CST >--------------------
"<Right, like they are going to listen to you>" Phantom remarks candidly. He descends quickly, phasing into the ground somewhere out of sight and making a beeline for Arcee and Blurr. 
He surfaces right behind Arcee, sideswiping her and veering left, his right wing aiming to uppercut Blurr's jaw in an attempt to distract and discombobulate them while Starscream starts shooting at them.
--------------------< Arcee Posed on Jan 10 10:41PM CST >---------------------
As Starscream heads into view, Arcee smirks at his 'warning' and begins targeting him. Her initial effort is suddenly foiled by Phantom's sudden diversion, which makes her immediately dive and roll for cover. When she realizes who it is, though, she decides Blurr's got him WELL in hand, and she has the better shot at Starscream, so she rights herself into a crouch, aims, then opens fire with both pistols blazing.
--------------------< Blurr Posed on Jan 10 10:50PM CST >---------------------
"Ha! Don't play stupid!" Blurr hurls back at them. "I know who you are, and -what- you are. That being, -criminals-. Now I'm going to give you -one- chance to--"
Then suddenly someone seems to appear out of the -ground-. "What the--!" The speedster did not see that one coming...what was this guy, some kind of outlier? Must be. Despite that, he was alert enough to bend backward quickly, dodging the uppercut. Oh no he doesn't. He redirects his weapons toward Phantom, unleashing a rapid-fire salvo of high-energy photons. << We have to destroy that cargo. Though I wouldn't mind grabbing some of it, either. >>
-----------------< Quickswitch Posed on Jan 10 10:55PM CST >------------------
Quickswitch just happened to be near the area when the call went out to him, and so, the sixchanger leisurely makes a short ring over the scene to take stock of what's going on. "Blast Off, huh?" he smirks. Or the Seekers. He's no Seeker himself, but he isn't short on options.
------------------< Blast Off Posed on Jan 10 10:57PM CST >-------------------
It was a good thing to have backup after all. Unfortunately. As Starscream rockets in and Blast Off aims his lasers on Blurr, he fires up his thrusters, preparing to liftoff as soon as he's able. 
 
As Blurr advances in on the smugglers, they get a crate inside but most remain on the ground still. Glancing at each other nervously, they look indecisive- at least until shots start being fired. "That's it- you guys sort this out and get back to us when you're done!" One exclaims as they all scurry away. The crates remain on the ground, abandoned- but probably not for long. 
 
<< Slag it all... >> Blast Off mutters to himself, then proceeds to rocket up off the ground. Is he retreating? Smelt no. He arcs upwards then comes back around, about to send a volley Blurr's way- when he spots Quickswitch. he owes THAT guy, too, so he sends a strafing run the sixchanger's way instead, swooping down from the air.
------------------< Starscream Posed on Jan 10 11:00PM CST >------------------
Starscream doesn't like not being listened to and he doesn't like being shot at and he doesn't like when plans go wrong. And right now all of those things are happening at once. The Seeker gets grazed a couple of times and pulls up firing off his wing lasers at Arcee and anyone else in her vicinity.
-------------------< Phantom Posed on Jan 10 11:06PM CST >--------------------
Phantom lets Blurr's shots phase through him. "My name is not 'criminals'" he says, sounding annoyed. 
He opens fire on some empty crates nearby, blocking Blurr's view and vantage point. 
Then he ascends, and banks left, doing a strafing run over where Blurr is situated.
------------------< Nightlash Posed on Jan 10 11:06PM CST >-------------------
And there was a firefight! 
 
The cloaked Nightlash's sensors zero in on Arcee and she moves the drone to a better angle to watch the happenings around her. Cameras on all the angles! That's the best way to do it, yes? 
 
Curious, though. First shot. Autobots. 
 
Nightlash will certainly remember that. She banks again and widens her circle to take her over Blast Off's location. Ooooh, a new combatant has appeared and drawn the ire of Blast Off! She makes sure her drone gets a few good shots of Quickswitch.
--------------------< Arcee Posed on Jan 10 11:13PM CST >---------------------
There aren't too many places to take cover out here on the expressway, but Arcee's very well-trained in the artful dodge. She sustains a bit of armor damage from Starscream's attack, but she doesn't mind. If they can thwart this...convoy? Drop? Well, whatever the heck is happening out here...if they can stop it, it's still progress and it's something Arcee can put on her 'proud accomplishments' list. Prowl may have a screaming fit at her for it anyhow, but apparently that's her burden to bear in this life. "<< Hey, Starscream! >>" She calls over tightbeam. "<< You don't mind very much if we have a look at what you're picking up out here, do you? Because we're going to do that anyway. >>" Gradually, she's making her way over toward the unloaded cargo as she continues firing on the Air Commander.
--------------------< Blurr Posed on Jan 10 11:19PM CST >---------------------
Blurr jumps and twists through Phantom's strafing run, heading toward the pile of unloaded cargo. << Quickswitch, see if you can't ground Blast Off and destroy whatever he's got onboard. Arcee and I will handle the stuff on the ground. >>
Reaching the pile quickly and unsurprisingly before Arcee does, he rips open one of the crates and tries to grab as much as he can out of the box and stuff it into subspace. Oh, is that a grenade launcher? He fires it at Phantom's airborne form.
-----------------< Quickswitch Posed on Jan 10 11:21PM CST >------------------
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" Quickswitch feels the sting of Blast Off's shot as it hits his drill tank armor and he shifts to robot mode, dancing from foot to foot. "Focus on the cargo..." he tells himself as he feels a wave of fury threaten him. Fury. At everyone. The irrationally angry sixchanger opens a com and berates his Autobot allies, but then calms, transforms to laser cannon mode and aims to destroy the cargo. Since he does, after all, not have any cargo space and does have leave to mess with the cargo itself, "Silly Cons," Quickswitch says calmly, "I'll deal with you after I'm done with your precious whatever."
He shrugs, then bellows, receiving the order, "DON'T MESS WITH A SIXCHANGER!" his shots go wild!--cargo, Cons, Bots, everyone and everything in range, regardless of origin or allegience as he lets loose shot after ill-placed shot!
------------------< Blast Off Posed on Jan 10 11:28PM CST >-------------------
Blast Off enjoys the sight of his shots hitting home on Quickswitch, too, he hasn't forgotten how the Autobot once nearly killed him. He pulls up after his successful run- only to receive some return fire. Banking sharply, the shuttle avoids severe damage but it still takes out some of the ceramic tiles on his heat shields. With an even louder *HUFF* of annoyance, the Combaticon veers up- then drops down for a single, focused shot at the sixchanger. << It's so easy to mess with you- you have no self control. Really, Autobot, you should just go home. >>
------------------< Starscream Posed on Jan 10 11:33PM CST >------------------
This just keeps getting worse and worse and when Starscream notices the sixchanger show up thats when he decides enough is enough <<DECEPTICONS -- GRAB WHAT YOU CAN AND -- WITHDRAW NOW!>> No he won't say 'retreat'. He won't give the Autobots the satisfaction in hearing that. He gives a few parting shots toward blurr, arcee and quickswitch and then pulls up and lights his afterburners.
-------------------< Phantom Posed on Jan 10 11:34PM CST >--------------------
"Nice try," Phantom says, sounding bored. The grenade phases straight through him. 
He charges Blurr, his wing knocking the grenade launcher in Blurr's grip hard enough to make him drop it. 
He protoforms and takes as many crates as he can carry and loading them into his subspace, takes off after Starscream, leaving the Autobots behind.
--------------------< Arcee Posed on Jan 10 11:38PM CST >---------------------
Arcee continues to keep Starscream under fire as he plans a strategic withdrawal. She doesn't have Quickswitch's rage about things, her movements are very methodical. "Alright mechs...looks like we gave them a scare at the very least," she says. "Did they manage to get away with /everything/? -- Not too good, but they'll think twice about conducting their business out in the open again."
-----------------< Quickswitch Posed on Jan 10 11:44PM CST >------------------
Another shift of forms and the flying puma rolls and hugs the ground, avoiding Blast Off's shot, but hisses and yowls with angry pain as the Air Commander's shot manages to hit him. He transforms to jet form, meaning to engage the enemy directly in the sky, no less wrathful and no less reckless as the blocky jet takes flight and fires again and again and unleashing a string of explaitives.
--------------------< Blurr Posed on Jan 10 11:45PM CST >---------------------
"That's right! Get out while you still can!" Blurr taunts as Starscream leaves. "Oh Blast Off, your friends are leaving!" he laughs, even as Phantom knocks the launcher out of his hands. It falls back into the box it was in before. Huh. Well every outlier has to have weaknesses and limitations...he just has to figure out what this guy's is.
"Nope," he replies to Arcee, motioning toward the craes still on the ground. "Let's get this stuff loaded onto a transport and headed to the quarantine zone. Make sure this wasn't a trap first. And good Primus Quickswitch, you've -got- to get your act together, okay?
------------------< Nightlash Posed on Jan 10 11:46PM CST >-------------------
Nightlash awws...the fight's over? Well, so much for that... She drops down quickly, uncloaking to nab one of the crates, not caring what it might contain, it's a grab of opportunity. Engines roar to life to carry her off before either side can properly interferre with her snatch-and-grab. "Yoink!"
--------------------< Blurr Posed on Jan 10 11:52PM CST >---------------------
Blurr watches as Nightlash seems to pop out of nowhere. "Who the slag was that?" Then he shrugs. "Oh well. Report's still on you, Arcee." He chuckles.
------------------< Blast Off Posed on Jan 10 11:52PM CST >-------------------
Blast Off grumbles as things continue to go wrong. But not *everything*- Phantom grabs some crates, and Blast Off has one inside him still. It's not a total loss, at least. But Blurr is right, his reinforcements are leaving. Still, he has time to throw a few verbal jabs. << *Tsk*, Quickswitch. You should learn to show some restrai- >> Oh wait, he's transforming into a jet. Umm. Blast Off decides it's time to go. He still throws a response down at Blurr, << You just wait Blurr, one day I'm going to be way up here and you'll be way down there and you won't even see me take the shot... >> 
 
He catches sight of someone he doesn't know snatching a crate and takes a quick scan of her, then rockets off, trying to avoid Quickswitch's shot. << Give it a rest, Autofool! >>
--------------------< Arcee Posed on Jan 10 11:53PM CST >---------------------
Arcee frowns as Nightlash come swooping down to grab a crate, but she puts her pistols away. The time for hostilities has passed. "Let's just get the rest of this out of here and back to the base as soon as we can," she exclaims.
------------------< Nightlash Posed on Jan 10 11:57PM CST >-------------------
Nightlash just giggles. Audibly at that. She has a crate! It may have nothing! It might have everything! It might be larger on the inside! ...she'll find out later. It's entrusted into her drone's care and custody as she banks sharply to get a look at the scene below, taking a few last pictures for her own reference. "Catch you lot later!"
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