1057/Battleground: Ibex South 3 - 4

**Prowl has posed:**
    The city of Ibex managed to settle down at least a little bit after the Autobots' victory at the central sectors, but it wasn't long before the Decepticons were back at it again, pushing toward the south half of the region once more.

    Again, the sky is alight with the fires of battle, and artillery explodes on the ground all around. Just another day in paradise, right? Another day of violence and conflict on a planet torn apart by war.

    This time, Prowl is at the helm, directing the Autobot defense from a spot in one of the watchtowers of the main forward base in southern Ibex. He keys a series of commands into a console, and a storage bay below opens up, deploying another unit of assault drones toward the enemy.

**Buzzsaw has posed:**
There's some spy's eyes in the skies in Ibex this cycle... Buzzsaw glides quietly overhead and surveys the defenses as they open up on Blast Off, just giving a faintly amused look at everything before zeroing in. The unfortunate thing for Prowl is...by using the base defenses, he does give away precisely where he's at within the structure itself.

The folly of copy-paste defensive structure plans. CURSE YOU MASS MANUFACTURING...

<<Transmitting... do me a favor, Blast Off, make him scream. I doubt you'll succeed, but...still. It's the thought that counts, yes?>>

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth was cloaked overhead, a but further over the lines as he took in his own tactical scouting. "<<Oh that would definitely be /more/ than acceptable if you are actually capable of doing such.>>" He'd chuckle as he took in his own scouting data, his ear twitching as he started getting a rather.. Uneasy feeling, then again, whenever on the field with Prowl he always felt that way cause of those BLAST FIRE GRENADES.

      "<<Will be making my own mark momentarily, do hang in there Blast Off.>>"

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off rockets in fast, hoping to be on top of the enemy before they know what hit them. Alas, it doesn't quite work out that way and the shuttle shudders under the impact as a direct hit shatters most of his armor, sending ceramic tiles showering down below. No time to think about it, though, he's got a fight to win.

Receiving Buzzsaw's message, the shuttle locks in likely targets... oh but wait, Prowl's right over there in that tower, hmm? The Combaticon can't resist. He swoops in, transforming and landing on the tower, still up above where Prowl is nestled in among controls, and looks down with a grin- not that it's visible through the faceplate. "Ah! JUST the mech I wanted to see.... time to test THIS out!" He suddenly whips out a flamethrower, a little big and blocky, with fuel cells and everything. It's glorious. He radios Buzzsaw, "<< Oh, I hope I do. I really, really do. >>" Prowl's burned them all too many times in the past- literally. To Goth, "<< I will. >>"

With a flip of a switch, it's on and engaged- and then Blast Off kicks in a window and lets loose a flood of flame, both in and out of the tower. FIRE for YOU, and YOU, and YOU! He nearly cackles at the dream come true! "It looks a little cold in here! You've been so generous keeping us warm in the past, let me be the one to return the favor!!"

**Prowl has posed:**
    Prowl watches with a brow arched when Blast Off comes charging in like a fool, wielding a flamethrower. Well, well. The Combaticon is even more petty and immature than he thought.

    "I apologize, have I injured your pride too much in the past? If it's any consolation, I promise you it wasn't personal. And neither is -this-." Even as the room is filled with flames, he launches a missile straight at the broken window.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
     As the events took place between Prowl, the southern defenses at Ibex, and the Decepticons that were attacking, the distance sound of an egine revving started to grow louder.. and louder.. until over the ridge, the silver grill of a red and blue hauler truck could be seen. As it drew near, and breached the confines of Ibex proper, rolling across the battlefield.. the trademark blaring of the truck horn sounded, smoke rising from both of the smoke stacks. The vehicle turned, moving at a pretty fast rate, and hit a ramp formed from wreckage of debris, mechs, and all kinds of randomness. As the hauler went airborn, it began to shift; parts shifting, twisting, extending and folding back, before Optimus Prime came to land on his feet, sliding just slightly before resting his optics on the southern walls.

      He picked up the sight of the flames from the Tower, before looking even higher, optic sensors surveying the area for additional hostiles as his battleplate slides down over his face. Reaching his right arm out, he pulls his ion blaster from subspace, before resting optics on the closest thing in an area that it shouldn't be; presumably some random no name mechs trying to cash in on the chaos of the fight.

      ".. why does this not surprise me.." He vents briefly, before lifting his arm with the ion blaster, and shifting focus on the flying bat, squeezing the trigger and releasing a shot towards one of them, for nothing more than to get their attention, though his optics shifted upwards, looking for any potential hostiles in the skies. He amplifies his audio relay sensors, bolstering the volume of his voice. "These walls will not fall. I am in a bad mood. Who gets dismantled first." An attempt at intimidation? Yes, most likely.

**Buzzsaw has posed:**
As Optimus transforms, some odd synthesizer music begins to play, slowly growing louder until it drowns out everything else in the area. o/`You've got the touch.... You've got the power! o/`

Buzzsaw ignores this, however. Rogue radio waves can be investigated later. For now, there's a battle to focus on. <<Optimus is of no concern. If we bring down the base, we win, regardless of his...presence.>>

He shifts his attention to the building itself. <<I'm picking up potential weaknesses in the foundations. Stand by, Blast Off... focus on the structure. We can break Prowl later.>>

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth started cackling madly upon seeing Blast off set not only the defences on fire, but PROWL as well! Oh, Ohh it was such a sweet catharsis to behold. "<<Ohhh, Oh this is brilliant!>>" he'd nearly shout over the commlink. He would however have to quickly collect himself once more and focus, chuckling out over the commlink. "<<Yes, yes, I do apologize, was more than a little bit of a catharsis to witness.>>" He'd reply with a wild Grin.

      Unfortunately that made enjoyment of the autobot SIC's pain would melt away as a.. Well, bigger fish, appears on scene, which is pointed out by Buzzsaw, and Goth could only sigh, his optics settling into a half-shuttered position. "<<...Oh lovely, we now have a prime problem..>>" He'd grumble, well this looked bad as he listened over the Radio chatter. "<<If you intend to show up, attack the base, and attempt to cover Blast Off, he's already taken a few heavy hits.>>" he'd quickly report as he went into a dive.

      A faint whistle coming off his wings as he did, he'd eventually pull up as he sped forward to the base, appearing in a sudden burst of black, red glowing pixel particles as he brought his wings forward to wreck his claws across the base, and then promptly pull up high into the air.

**Onslaught has posed:**
Onslaught is enroute to the South Ibex Defenses, heading in to offer an assist to his fellow Decepticons. <<I'm en route,>> he sends over the broadband. <<Keep me apprised of the situation.>> He grunts when he recieves word that Blast OFf is about to engage the enemy again. <<Good luck. I'd ask you to save some of the defenses for me, but honestly, if you can destroy the place in front of Prime's optics, do it!>>

**Blast Off has posed:**
"THat was for you, Goth!" Blast Off cackles as the flames hit their target. He leers down at the Autobot and tsks... but unfortunately for him, the smoke and fire is enough to mask Prowl's missile until it's too late to get out of the way! "Gahhh!" The shuttleformer falls off the tower at the impact, energon leaking from his frame and setting off his own trail of smoke, but fortunately he's NOT so injured he can't just transform and cut the fall short. Instead, he blasts back skyward... just in time to see Optimus Prime come out of nowhere. Oop. The Combaticon fires up his thrusters to get out of there fast, unwilling to face Optimus Prime face-on. Of course, that goes with about anyone else, too. \*cough\*

Now up in the much more comfortable arena of looking down on everyone, Blast Off has a moment to access the state of things. His HUD is blaring at him... things aren't looking good. But Onslaught's on his way! That alone is enough to amp up his courage some, and he drops altitude just enough to taunt down below, "<< Oh, this isn't personal, not at all! In fact, let me make this as IMpersonal as possible! >>" He suddenly veers up again, putting distance between himself and the others as he launches his biggest attack, a (nearly, seems his weapons systems took a hit, too) full force orbital bombardment raining down below where Buzzsaw uncovered weaknesses. "<< Understood. >>"

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Optics narrow now, seeing Blast Off falling, shifting and then thrusting upwards.. and then the bombardment. He lifts an arm up to shield himself from any debris caused from the explosion. "One.." He begins to count to himself, before the bat-mech appears and launches another attack on the defenses. ".. Two.." He turns to look up once more, bringing his ion blaster to focus on the shuttle. He squeezes the trigger, unleashing a blast, as he works on crossing closer towards the Tower where he had fallen from. "You're not getting away that easily."

**Prowl has posed:**
    Scrap, things definitely weren't looking good. As soon as Blast Off hightails it out of there, Prowl himself gets out of the burning room. This city was most likely a loss, but that doesn't mean he won't make the Decepticons hurt as much as he can before he gets out of there.

    He moves along the top of the wall, scoping out the situation. Blast Off falls out of the sky as Prime's ion blaster lances through the air--well, so much for that target. So he focuses on the others instead, loading an incendiary into his launchers and firing along the most optimal trajectory he can find quickly.

**Goth has posed:**
     Awww Blast Off!...Aww smelt, Blast Off. Goth would chuff out at the Prime taking down Blast Off, and would quickly radio those there to get the shuttle. Unfortunately in his haste he takes one of Prowl's grenades and lets out a pain filled shrink form the fire starting to eat away at his armor like a paper napkin! But he starts madly cackling. "REVENGE IS A GLITCH, ISN'T IT?!" He'd snap as he delivered some petty retribution of his own for that! He'd take in a deep vent and release a loud screeching upon those below.

**Buzzsaw has posed:**
And down goes Blast Off.... acceptable losses for the battle at-hand. The And Goth is also on fire. Wonderful. So, very quickly, this is turning into every other battle all over again. Hrm. Buzzsaw studies the situation and then just turns his attention once more to the base. <<It's almost down... keep fighting through. We'll topple this one yet. Keep Prowl occupied. I'm going in.>>

He folds his wings into a dive and studies the battlements on his way down, blades extending as he goes straight for the fissure created by Blast Off's bombardments. <<Let's see if any...critical bolts have rattled loose.>>

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off ....goes down. Fast and hard. Still worth it, though! The shuttle trails a great deal of smoke after Prime blasts him, careening dangerously past one of the towers before veering off to crash somewhere off on the side. Somebody (not a 'Bot) go get him after the fight, please.

**Onslaught has posed:**
Onslaught's engines roar with a combination of pain and rage as he's struck by Prowl's attack. The sight of Blast Off falling out of the sky spurs Onslaught forward. <<Blast Off? Blast Off, report!>> he orders as he takes aim at the South Ibex defenses -- specifically the section closest to Prowl.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Optics track Prowl as he moves across the battlements, and then his attention is pulled to the wall that caved and crumbled under the focused assault of the bombardments. He looks out in the direction of the attack, focusing on Onslaught. He disregarded the actions of the bat, barely even noticing him at this point. He sends a tightbeam to Prowl as he keeps optical sensors resting on the Missile Trailer. "<They've claimed Ibex this cycle. Let them celebrate their temporary outpost. Pull back.>"

     Despite this, Optimus takes a few steps forward and focuses on the remaining Decepticons that he can see. "Celebrate, if such is what you intend to do. But know that next time.. restraints are off. If we have to beat every last drop of energon from your frames, we will. You earned a small victory.." He turns after a moment, and starts shifting down into his transport mode, though finishes his thought. ".. but it's been a while since I've torn apart a Decepticon.." Uncaring of whether or not his words were heard at this point, Prime starts trekking back the way he had come from when he originally arrived at the battlefield, though he remains alert, in case of any attacks directed to him as he departed.

**Prowl has posed:**
    Prowl follows his commander and orders the rest of the forces to retreat as well. Indeed, the Decepticons have managed a small victory today, but he'll make sure this won't last forever. Goth's screeching gets ignored, as it barely did anything to him beyond a few little hairline cracks in his outer armor. Hmph, it seems Blast Off wasn't the only petty one here today.

**Buzzsaw has posed:**
As the defenses start to go critical and systems drop offline, Buzzsaw flies his way out. It's glorious, really. Especially when Optimus starts to give some overly glorified and verbose 'we're better than you blah blah blah' diatribe...

He records it, then promptly deletes it from records. "We don't care, Optimus... here, let me show you precisely how little we care." There's a soft pair of 'THWOOMPH' sounds as micro-mortars are lobbed after the bots. "One day...everything you hold precious will crumble to dust and your grand, holy crusade will end..."

With that, he simply alights on Blast Off's fallen frame, wings folding in as he glowers after the deparintg Autobots, optics glowing a faint crimson and totally not looking like some kind of carrion bird about to feast on the dead...

**Goth has posed:**
     He's cackling still, cackling like a mad-mech, Goth despite being in pain, with smoke billowing from the melting wounds in his armor from the lingering flames, is still cackling gleefully as he goes into a freefall, before spinning himself around and zooms off to help attend to the fallen Blast off, he is /very/ much in a good mood.

**Onslaught has posed:**
Onslaught transforms back to his robot mode, ignoring the Autobot retreat for the time being as he makes his way to where Blast Off has fallen. <<We did it, though. We've claimed South Ibex from the Autobots. Right under Prime's optics>> he sends over broadband.