111/The Fall of Toraxxis

**Prowl has posed:**
The Toraxxis Mega-Refinery continues to churn like clockwork, constantly overhauling itself. Still, the effectiveness of its location is starting to wear thin with the reservoir below it slowly running dry. Building a new facility somewhere else would still be a monumental task. And thus it still stands, pumping out fuel as fast as it can.

    Security here is tighter than it used to be, thanks to some of the terrorist attacks that have occurred in recent decacycles--though it's probably not as strong as it could be--the Autobots do have other interests at the moment. Therefore most of the personnel are techs running around, monitoring and maintaining the machinery while C.L.U.T.C.H drones circle the perimeter. Maybe there's even a medic or two on hand...after all, occupational safety. Sometimes a tech or mechanic gets hurt on the job.

**Springer has posed:**
    Springer is part of that 'tighter security,' not wanting to miss out if the Decepticons try to start anything. He tries to stay out of sight as he patrols, carrying his massive cannon across his chest, but he is a big, green guy, and kind of stands out. He keeps in contact with the other Autobots over radio, checking in regularly to make sure all is quiet. As he walks, he peers into shadows and up overhead, trying to cover every possible approach.

**Aegis has posed:**
In contrast, Aegis is very still, looking inwards instead of outwards. While she is quick to act as a medic, otherwise she is content to be an observer. At the moment there is no medical crisis, or even a need. So she's sitting out of the way, optics dimmed to the dullest orange. But her audials are alert for the slightest hint that she might be needed.

**Quickswitch has posed:**
From amidst the shadows, the stealthly beast gives something of an affirmative grin to Springer. If the Decepticons try anything, he's certainly looking forward to it. The very large sixchanger prowls amidst the shadows in beast mode, takes to the sky in jet mode, and even takes to the ground in Drill Tank mode, should anything subterrainian happen afoot.

**Starscream has posed:**
The time has come to take care of Toraxxis. The Second in Command assembled everyone in the command center with a plan, his plan and who knows how his plans go but it is what it is. The lofty Seeker informed everyone who was going to do what in short order. Swindle, Valour and Sunstorm were to create the biggiest diversion they could come up with outside of Toraxxis to keep the Autobots focused away from the the refinery while he and Razorclaw infiltrated the refinery with the codes to stop the bomb and lock the Autobots out of the computer system, thereby taking control of this refinery.

Starscream of course only gave lip service to any objections or lip service because, Starscream. And once the meeting was ended the lot takes off for Toraxxis. Close to the refinery he and Razorclaw break away from the rest to head toward the back of the refinery. "You have your orders." Starscream says though the comm. "Make it good."

**Arcee (7) has posed:**
"Yes, Commander," Sunstorm intones, soaring in tetrajet mode toward the refinery. He's fully aware that his flashy colors will be caught first by the sensors. "Valour, Swindle, the time has come to wake these fools up!" Once he's within range of the refinery, he opens fire on it, attacking wide and then soaring upwards and back to draw fire.

**Razorclaw has posed:**
For once in his life Starscream actually had a half decent plan, so the most Razorclaw had to say was to make sure Starscream assigned roles appropriately... which considering how much of a loud attention hog Sunstorm can be, was probably a good choice. Valour is reliable, and Swindle would lend credit to appearance as if a raid considering his usual activities.

And right now he was just lurking in wait with Starscream, ready to move at a moment's notice when the oppritunity arrises from the diversions being made.

**Swindle has posed:**
Swindle circles the refinery, using his mounted cannon as a rotating turret so he can fire on the run in vehicle mode. That should be plenty distraction enough, and his loops around the facility are large enough that anyone chasing him won't catch on the futility of the pursuit for a while.

**Valour has posed:**
Valour flies in formation with Sunstorm, shadowing him and following his lead on the attack on Toraxxis. As Sunstorm opens fire, Valour does as well. Lasers lance from housings in Valour's wings as he hones in on weak points in the refinery's defenses for maximum damage. "For Megatron!" he calls out fearlessly, knowing that it's a dangerous time politically to announce your allegiance to the exiled leader, but not caring as he flies headlong into battle.

**Prowl has posed:**
As soon as the Decepticons appear, of course, the refinery's defenses open fire full blast. Alarms shriek as drones deploy to defend the facility, and security move to evacuate civilians from the outer areas.

    But where is Prowl in all of this? Certainly not outside, but sitting at a monitoring station inside. He opens a comm to Springer, Quickswitch, and whoever else might be on hand. << Don't let them past the defenses. How many hostiles do we have?"

**Springer has posed:**
Springer runs out into the open, and scans the area before radioing back to Prowl, "I've got two in the air and one on the ground. I'll take out the Combaticon and then move up to the jets." As he speaks, he lowers his weapon off his shoulder and takes a bead on the circling Swindle. He takes a moment to aim, leading Swindle slightly before squeezing off a shot. As soon as he fires he keeps moving, racing forward and preparing another shot.

**Aegis has posed:**
Security issues usually means that doors close. But Aegis is opening doors. Specifically medical doors. Hissing a soft curse in a foreign, organic langague she prepares to receive any injured that might need her attentions, and bodies can't be brought in through closed doors. While she's a medic, she isn't completely passive, and the notion of dying never struck her as a particularly pleasing one. Clutching a rather generic pistol in one hand, she watches the door, just in case something hostile should appear instead of supplicants for healing.

**Quickswitch has posed:**
Quickswitch responds to Prowl, "There are at least three, as Springer said. I'm engaging the Tetrajets." And Quickswitch transforms into his decidedly non-Tetrajet-shaped jet mode. This one is freakish, cubical, and it's any wonder how it can remain airborne, let alone perform aerial manouvres. He opens fire on Valour, a random choice really. "Come now, Decepticons. You ought to know better than this." he says hawkish, contemputuously at them.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
The bright orange tetrajet sustains some damage as he sails intentionally low around the facility. "<< You fools would be wise to simply surrender /now/, while you still have life in your spark to do so, >>" Sunstorm intones menacingly as he circles back around. Oddly, he's not really putting up too much of an offensive fight with the Autobots. He seems to be much more into taunting them and taking pot-shots at the facility's defenses. "<< Come on! Are you cowards? Valour, I think they're afraid! >>"

**Razorclaw has posed:**
Razorclaw says nothing other than over the comm, just nods his maned head faintly to Starscream before leaping from his position and making a break for the designated rear of the Factory. He's fairly sure Starscream will actually follow. Certainly the Second In Command's desire to look good and get most of the glory for himself will win over his cowardice.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream does indeed follow the Predicon into the rear of the factory. And of course he will take all the credit for this. He is the commander of this mission, right?

**Swindle has posed:**
Swindle yows as he's hit, and screeches to a halt, nearly tipping over in the process. He tries to track his attacker with his cannon, letting loose a volley of return fire. "Hey, watch the paint!" he shouts.

**Valour has posed:**
Valour nails some of Toraxxis's defenses, but is hit back in kind. He pulls up as one wing smolders, and then banks around to make another run of it. However, that's when one of the rare air-capable Autobots rises up and moves in for a successful attack. Now Valour's wings are smoking in two places. "It is you who should know better than to support the tyranny of the Autobots," Valour replies haughtily, changing course to target the Autobot sixchanger. "It is time the unworthy truly know fear." This time, Valour opens up with the rotary cannon in his nosecone, flying directly at Quickswitch in a brave/stupid game of chicken.

**Prowl has posed:**
According to the schematics Demolisher provided them with, there is an access tunnel located near the rear of the facility that leads to a conduit directly connected to the main reactor room where the master detonator is located. It's the fastest way there, but also a dangerous one. The conduit is used to flush the refuse out of the refinery and into an incinerator, all the toxic, unwanted junk that makes raw energon dangerous. The flush mechanism activates once every breem....

    Well, if Razorclaw is headed there, then he must have absolute confidence that both he and Starscream are fast enough to make it through before they get, quite literally, flushed.

    Meanwhile, all hell has broken loose outside. Most of all the automated C.L.U.T.C.H drones have been redirected toward the diversion, even as more of them deploy to keep the Decepticons occupied. Inside, Prowl replies to the comm. << Good. Keep me updated. >>

**Springer has posed:**
Springer is shot directly in his broad chest, but it doesn't even slow him down. "You'll have more than your paint to worry about when I'm through with you, Swindle!" he shouts, running forward to a closer defensive position before stopping long enough to aim at Swindle and fire again. "I don't know what you Decepticons think you're going to accomplish here, but all you're going to get is hot lasers for your trouble."

**Aegis has posed:**
As for Aegis, at this point she's just pacing. Fighting means injuries, there's no avoiding it. This isn't some fight for show. It's just a matter of who gets hurt, when, and how badly. Any moment now someone is going to need help, someone is going to come through those doors either on their own two legs, or with assistance. But she never liked the waiting part. Neither is she eager to run outside and take a peek at how the fight is going. Still, not knowing is a bit hard on the nerves...or what passes for nerves at any rate.

But pacing is useless, so after a few moments of that, she simply puts that energy into taking stock. Making sure she knows exactly what she has on hand, exactly where it all is, even counting steps from one table to the next. Mapping the room in her mind. It beats worrying.

**Valour has posed:**
Valour breaks off his engagement with Quickswitch as he's nailed by the refinery's defenses again. "Let me take a moment to shut these down," he calls out to Sunstorm, and loops around again, firing his wing-lasers at the defenses as they rise up against him. 'We've got to give them more time,' he thinks, but of course says nothing to that effect, not wanting to give the game away. Instead he focuses on the defenses, targeting, firing, and moving on to the next target with ruthless efficiency.

**Razorclaw has posed:**
Time was of the essense, both for the small window of oppritunity they have, and because the diversions weren't last forever. So instead of bothering being fussy with it Razorclaw just uses his claws to rip open the access point and climb inside. No time to dwaddle and make sure Starscream was following, there was only so much time until the system would try to flush again, and they had to reach the end of the shaftworks and get back out at the point Demolisher's information indicated before them.

**Swindle has posed:**
"Obviously something," Swindle snaps. He tries avoiding the return fire, but he overturns as one of Springer's well-placed blasts blows out a tire. He transforms as he tumbles, rolling sideways. He gets a bead back on Springer and prepares to return fire. "And just what do you think YOU are accomplishing, yourself?"

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"<< Swindle, Valour, at your earliest opportunity follow flight plan formation B, and fan out to provide cover fire, >>" Sunstorm instructs, as he banks back outward. The diversion is over. Now the first wave is beginning their attack -- the heavier hitters -- so the diversionary team can now do their work. He notices Razorclaw already gaining access to the facility, so when he banks back around, he lands nearby and transforms. This time, he's working to bring attention to himself, still being a diversion but specifically to cover what Razorclaw is doing.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream follows Razorclaw silently as he hears the 'diversion' outside. He also knows what they are doing out there won't last forever so he too is being as fast as possible. Actually he's so focused on the task at hand he's not even thinking about how tight the space is they are in. Occasionally his wingtips scrap the wall but with a shift of his wings the Seeker keeps going. He thinks to himself that they are making good time but he's not about to say that to the Predicon, no need to feed the mechs ego even more.

**Prowl has posed:**
The inside of the conduit is positively disgusting, being covered with all sorts of debris and refuse from the waste flushing through. With everything that's been going on, they really haven't the time or drones to spare to keep the thing clean. They just make sure it doesn't get clogged or jammed up. Plus, it's also extremely hot in there. Well it's a good thing Sunstorm wasn't part of the infiltration team, right? If they've made certain to enter immediately after a flush, they can insure the longest possible passage time. Which is not much, given it probably now -looks- a lot farther than it seemed on the diagrams, and it's definitely not spacious enough for Starscream to jet there.

    Speaking of Sunstorm, the cream colored seeker's attempts to draw fire are somewhat successful, allowing his teammates to enter the shaft with relative ease. Auto-turrets are now emerging from within in addition to the drones, climbing up and attaching themselves to the outer walls to get a good shot at their targets.

**Springer has posed:**
"What I'm going to accomplish is turning you into so much scrap metal, Swindle, somet---" Springer is hit by Swindle's EMP Grenade attack, and he suddenly falls to one knee, leaning heavily on his blaster cannon while he holds his head in his other hand, trying desperately not to simply fall over.

    Eventually Springer just gives into the urge, and falls forward into his speeder mode, magnetically clamping the blaster cannon to the roof of his vehicle mode. "Maybe you should have stayed home today, Swindle," Springer calls out as he starts to recover, and then he hits the gas, revving right towards the sly Combaticon.

**Aegis has posed:**
All that noise. Aegis never really understood that driving need some mechs have for violence. Maybe she should go out there... But no, she's not a battlefield medic. She simply doesn't have the armor for it. Methodically she starts laying out tools that she will likely need in order of importance. Supplies are opened and piled to reduce time spent when casaulties start poring in. If nothing else, at least she won't be told off for being caught unprepared.

**Valour has posed:**
<< Roger, Sunstorm. Moving into position, >> Valour replies, and fans out as planned, dodging defensive fire as he swoops down and transforms to land lightly in the proper formation. Heading towards the group of Autobot heavy-hitters, Valour nonetheless takes a moment while walking to fire up at Toraxxis's Defenses, trying to keep them busy and off of Sunstorm as Commander Creamsicle leads them into Phase 2 of the attack.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm URGHS dramatically as the Marauder Turrets pummel him in the shoulders and chestplate. As much as he hates this, he really can't complain; it could be MUCH worse. He could be down in those confining quarters with the infiltration team, which looks /unbearable/.

Steeling himself for more punishment, Sunstorm draws his glaive from subspace, and begins hacking and slashing at as many turrets as he can reach. "Turrets, ugh!"

**Razorclaw has posed:**
The Air Commander is probably having a terrible time. Razorclaw, on the other hand, is unphased by the disgusting surroundings. Getting emotional over such things was nothing but a waste of time and effort. Nor was it hardly the first time he ever had to slog through filth for the sake of a mission, either. He just keeps pushing ahead as quickly and effectively as possible to find their intended exit point. No waste on time or movement on his part, as anyone would expect of the Predacon commander.

**Swindle has posed:**
Swindle is about to reply to Springer's witty rejoinder when he's given orders over the broadband. He takes to the air, the ruined tire making a vehicular conversion impractical, and with the other air units, fans out to provide the necessary cover fire. "I'll grease your axles next time," he says as he lifts off.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream doesnt want to discuss the filth in this place. He doesnt want to discuss the walls coming closer to him starting to cloud his senses. "Are we there yet?" he whispers, or tries to. His voice doesn't lend well to whispering. "Why are you so slow?" Yes Starscream can even contradict himself.

**Prowl has posed:**
Sunstorm's glaive cuts clean through the Marauder Turret directly in front of him, and he manages to take out couple more on his sides. But there are just so many of them! One of them launches a series of EMP grenades at he and Valour even as the tetrajet's lasers slam into it.

    Starscream and Razorclaw have nearly made it to the reactor room. There's a small port in the side where those cleaning drones must come through--it's barely large enough for each of them squeeze through. It's been nearly a breem if anyone's been keeping track--they have mere astroseconds to get through. In fact they can probably already hear the groan of machinery above as the floodgates start to open.

    Well it's a good thing both of them are fairly fast, it seems Starscream has chosen roles wisely. They barely manage to get through in time and find themselves in the central reactor room--and sure enough just as Demolisher had promised the master control is mounted to a wall on the far side of the room near some flow controls.

    But they aren't alone. Standing across from the console with his back to the reactor is Prowl, his arms crossed. "Starscream. You didn't think I counted on this, did--" He pauses as some random debris chips off of a wall and hits him on the side of the head. Who knows where that came from. Maybe it's because Springer hit a wall too hard. ...Nah. Anyway it was just a scratch. "Ahem." he continues. "Did you?"

    Not far away, as Aegis is preparing her tools, one of the workers comes running up to her, his optics wide and frantic. He doesn't look hurt, but... "Hey! You've got to help, they're going to blow this place!!"

**Springer has posed:**
Springer speeds towards Swindle, but with the effects of the EMP blast hits a refinery outcropping at full speed and nearly flips over from the force of the collision. "Not my finest day," he mutters as he transforms back into robot mode and climbs unsteadily to his feet, taking a moment to lift his blaster cannon off his back. "Not so fast, bucko! I'm not through with you yet." He lifts his cannon and fires another shot at Swindle.

**Aegis has posed:**
The medic femme hisses an oath again in some organic language and nods her head. "Whatever needs to be done, if it is in my capacity, I'll do it." All her careful preparations didn't prepare her for the place being blown up. But Aegis doesn't hesitate to help the mech asking for help. Instead she follows his lead and does her best to think on her feet to save lives. Because that's just what she does.

**Prowl has posed:**
The mech leads her to the reactor room where Razorclaw, Starscream, and Prowl are standing. She may or may not recognize the device on the wall as some kind of master detonator. Either way, the situation looks tense.

**Valour has posed:**
Valour continues to keep the Toraxxis Defenses busy as he steps lightly to avoid their attacks, floating a few meters off the ground between hops and barely touching the ground when he does. Opening up ports in his chest, he fires a volley of mini-missiles at several turrets, trying to blast them methodically to keep his comrades safe out here, and to protect his commanders once Razorclaw and Starscream have completed their mission.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Back outside, the turrets manage to land a really solid hit on Sunstorm -- right in the faceplate. So his optics are a little messed up. "How can this happen?? HOW??" He staggers around like a drunken soldier for a few moments, then storms toward what he thinks is one of the turrets in order to release a little frustration. "How dare you blind me! I am a divine entity!!" he bellows, kicking at...something he believes is a turret.

**Swindle has posed:**
Swindle acks as he's blasted again. "Hey, can't we talk this over?" he says, "C'mon, this is nothing serious. Just a little playing around, understand? What do you say, no hard feelings?" The Combaticon peddler tries with all his might to talk down the angered Springer.

**Razorclaw has posed:**
Razorclaw doesn't seem all that surprised at finding Prowl in the same room that was their target destination. If anything he's possibly the one Autobot that would be expected to be there. He wasn't a blathering moron like most of the faction he associated with. "Of course not. Things would hardly be an oppropriate challenge otherwise."

In a surge of motion completely opposite of his lethargic reputation Razorclaw hurtles himself at Prowl, bumrushing the stragetist so Starscream can put his former scientist intelligence to use on the controls.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream somehow gets hit with some of the same debris that Prowl just got pinged with and it chips his paint. But more importantly he makes him think a wall is about to come down on him. Isnt claustrophobia fun? Its about that time Raxorclaw tackles Prowl and yes, it gives the Seeker the perfect opportunity to run to the control panel and key in the codes Demolisher gave them. At least the importance of this is taking his mind off where hes at right now.

**Aegis has posed:**
Damn! Aegis isn't a diplomat. She sure as hell isn't a warrior. She knows she has no chance against the cat-THING taking down Prowl so she focuses on the mech at the controls who looks AWFULLY familiar. In fact, she knows his body pretty well seeing as she's patched him up twice. Funny how these things work out. Slowly she walks towards him. "Are you sure you want to do that. An awful lot of people are going to be hurt if you meddle with that, and not just the ones that are your enemies." Her voice is smooth, even, calming. Outside she looks unflappable. Inside she feels like an idiot.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm flails, then trips and falls into the passage carved out by Razorclaw. He stumbles around blindly in the dark, makes a few wrong turns, begins praying and chanting loudly....

Eventually, he does emerge into the area with the rest of the Decepticons, but it's definitely going to take him a while to get that accomplished. Not the best day for the orange Seeker.

**Prowl has posed:**
Prowl is tacked to the ground by Razorclaw, and the two of them tumble a few paces. He grapples against the Predacon, attempting to throw him off but the Mecha-Lion is pretty strong and manages to keep him pinned. "Hggrnn...I knew this would happen. I knew it from the moment Demolisher went missing! It's a good thing I came prepared." Not that the remote detonation wasn't already in place, anyway. Why of course he's that much of a prick. << Springer, Starscream and Razorclaw have breached the main reactor room, they've pushed the systems into overdrive. Reactor's going critical! Evacuate all units -now-! I repeat pull out -now-! >>

    He holds up a cylindrically-shaped device and presses down on the top of it. A red light blinks on suddenly even more alarms sound off, indicating that the system has been locked down and explosives have been armed. Now even though Starscream has the codes, it's going to take some serious skills to try to reverse that. He could try...but is it really worth it?

    Transforming suddenly, Prowl attempts to simply drive out from under Razorclaw and make a beeline for the nearest exit.

**Springer has posed:**
"There's nothing to talk about," Springer replies, unmoved by Swindle's attempt to smooth talk him. "It seems to me you have two choices - drop your weapons and surrender yourself to the law - or die. I'm not messing around tonight." Springer draws his lightsabre, and takes a moment to ignite it before he leaps high, high into the air, preparing to slash his sword directly at Swindle's center mass. "You should have surrendered when you had the chance, Swindle."

    However, just as Springer is about to launch his attack, he gets a radio message, and instantaneously transforms into his chopper mode instead. "All units - withdraw at once! I repeat, all units - evacuate immediately. NOW." Springer hovers over his security team, making sure all of them get away before he, himself, withdraws.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream is busy keying in the codes when Aegis comes up and says what she does. He looks at her. "Many people will get hurt if you keep interupting me --" and then Prowl happens. He looks back and then glares at Razorclaw. "You had one job, fool. One job." he looks from what the Autobot has set into motion to the computer monitor and runs various calculations in his head in a split second. "RETREAT!" he orders outloud and through his comm and turns to run out.

**Swindle has posed:**
Swindle now hears the sound that's currently music to his ears. Starscream's screechy demand for a withdrawal. "Honestly, I'd love to stay and chat, but you know, commanders," Swindle says, and he takes off with Starscream and the others. "Chow."

**Aegis has posed:**
Aaaaaaand Aegis made a fool of herself for nothing. So much for that. What little bravery she possesses was blown up by the Autobot officer, not the Decepticon terrorist. Go figure. She doesn't bother giving Starscream a remark, she's too busy running for her own life. That's what happens when you don't pick a side. There's no one to grab you or give you a boost. But she has to accept this for now.

But what she will do is camp herself outside the radius to set up emergency triage for any survivors. It's the least she can do for screwing this up. As for Prowl...well...if he comes to deal with her, she'll deal with that then.

**Razorclaw has posed:**
Razorclaw rolls as Prowl tears out from underneath him, getting back on his paws quickly enough. He's all about to take off after the Autobot, but ears splay back as the majority of alarms go off. Starscream's chiding, on the other hand, is hardly phasing. That you get use to considering it's pretty much everything the Air Commander says, and in all honest, not an opinion the Predacon really gives two slags about. "Dooming themselves is the Autobots' own fault for putting a sociopathic soldier in charge." Nope, he's out of here just like everyone else.

**Prowl has posed:**
The timer ticks to 0 just barely after everyone has made it out safely. Well...everyone who can. Hopefully Sunstorm somehow made it out as well.

    At any rate, the explosives go off sequentially, a chain of fiery balls expanding one after another until the entire facility just goes up in flames, hot gases and debris flying in all directions. Mushroom cloud and everything. And when the dust settles, nothing is left of the Toraxxis Mega-Refinery except piles of broken framework and rubble.

    It's a depressing sight, really...there aren't many survivors. They either got clear, or didn't. And if they didn't, they most likely got torn apart or incinerated. Not much left of them to repair.