1296/Battleground: Sonic Canyons 5 - 2

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash is ever so casually just swooping through the area scanning...clouds. Totally just clouds. Yep. That's all. But by pure chance, she picks up the encroaching Decepticon menace and giggles over the comms. <<HEYYYY We've got targets! And not just little ones, the kind that are nice and big and blow up real good...>> She cycles through her weapon systems...

<<We're gonna need a lot of guns, by the way. Hope you brought your own!>> Moving in to...totally do a thing, she just lets fly a missile right at her chosen target for the evening or something.

Or...really just the first one to cross her targetting reticle.

**Roadbuster (140) has posed:**
Really?! Does the femme not know who their talking to? If anything can be said about Roadbuster is that the Wrecker always brings the BIG GUNS. The large mech doesn't reply to Nightlash as he works the defense console confirming and marking all visible targets as he says mostly to himself, "Hmm, groundpounders,flyers. Well lets give them a proper greeting." Once his own targetting systems are synced with the computers he looks out at the battlefield as drones are set loose.

**Dogfight has posed:**
Alarms warning that the Decepticons are approaching is something a lot of Autobots stationed in the Canyons probably don't want to hear, and are going to run for the cover of the defenses.

Dogfight was not one of them. The Triggerbot was one of the first running up onto the ramparts. <<About time! This assignment was getting fraggin' boring>> The reply is a bit on the overly eager side. He leaps over the edge of the rampart and transforms, taking to the air undaunted by the vicious winds that blow about. The wild femme is already shooting at the air commander she he angles upwards to intercept the Combaticon, nosecone guns flaring brightly. "I'm gonna scatter yer scrap halfway across Cybertron!"

**Megatron has posed:**
Megatron flies into the area, leading a contigent of some of his stronger forces. As the defenses attack and he takes a minor blow, the silver slagmaker snarls. "Decepticons. Target their defenses! Cripple them, and then wipe them off the face of the planet." he says, firing a opening shot straight at the Autobots defenses!

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream in his tetrajet mode, goes blitzing a crossed the sky at high speeds, causing the familiar shrinking of the wind that when it goes over his wings. "<<Right then, Decep--AHG!>>" Starscream shouts over the communication link as he's unfortunately, struck by Nightlash instantly.

      "<<YOU INDIGNANT LITTLE WRETCH!>>" He shrieks at Nightlash! Oh she was going to pay for that! AAaand then he's hit again by Roadbusters drones, and he spews a series of heated angry curses over the communications link... This was /not/ going his way. He'd transform into his root-mode, his heel thrusters kicking in to keep him aloft in the sky above as he pulled out a familiar set of small, round, metallic objects, pressing a button on them, and then throwing them down at the combatants below.. and in the air With him! They are not called Cluster bombs for nothing!

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off comes sweeping in with the other Decepticons, orbital bombardment already warmed up and ready to go. The Autobots are waiting, it seems, and before he can react in time he's been hit by Roadbuster's drone attack...and dag-frag it all, it hits his newly upgraded armor! The shuttle rumbles in annoyed disapproval as major chunks of his beautiful new armor falls to the ground, though at least when Dogfight comes in for another hit, Blast Off sees and evades in time.

With another rumbling \*HUFF\*, he snarks back, "<< You'll have to do much better than \*that\*, Autobot. MUCH better. >>" As he drops a full-charged orbital bombardment on the base, he adds, "<< And who /are/ you, again? >>" His snobby question and elite drawl could be compared to a certain caterpillar in a certain movie with a girl named Alice.

**Deadlock has posed:**
    Deadlock is out on the field again, this time at the Sonic Canyons. Hmph, definitely not his favorite place, but orders will be orders. Drones swarm at them from the outpost, but he manages to evade them. He potshots at one of them, knocking it out of the air, then grabs it and throws it at a small grouping of them.

    However, it seems Blast Off and Starscream aren't doing quite as well. "Really?" he mutters to himself. "Getting hit by drones, huh. What is this some kind of new fad?" He aims his Path Blaster into the air, trying to bring Nightlash down.

**Shadowstar has posed:**
      Unlike some of the other Decepticons who charge in guns blazing, Shadowstar approaches in her robot form, keeping out of sight of the defenses and defenders until the attack order is given. She even watches Megatron and Starscream get hit by the drones before she carefully deploys a new toy. A rather large toy.

      She has been warned that using it is holding her life in her own hands, but also couldn't resist trying out a weapon that might give her a bit of a feeling of what it is like to be Megatron or Shockwave on the battlefield. And so, once it is fully charged, she pops up and aims the monster plasma launcher at the defenses, having to rest it over her shoulder. "Take this! Hahaha!" she exclaims before pulling the trigger.

**Dogfight has posed:**
"I'm gonna -- Oof!" The bombs Starscream scatter out explode nearby, the shockwave kicking Dogfight off-track. He rolls to restablize, but Blast Off is able to get off his cannon fire in the opening. The maneuver has Dogfight flying upside-down for a moment, and taking a closer look at the Decepticons actually engaging the base. The Big Cannon himself is even here. That's not going to be good for them. You could understand most troopers being wary about engaging the biggest baddest Decepticon there is.

But Dogfight prefers to leap first, you take too long looking and you might not jump at all... wait that's a different flier's motto. Anyways, he finishes the roll and goes into a dive, wings flipping back and the big guns coming out as he does. "You're gonna regret showing your bucket face in public, creep!" He ignores the canyon winds whipping against his form, instead focused on flinging superheated fury at the Decepticon Tyrant in a combination of bravery and recklessness.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash is rocked. Hard. By all the things, it seems. Something in her processors absolutely clicks off for a moment and she just sort of blanks a bit, which also just means she gets absolutely buffeted by that wind and...oof. Just like that, every system she has is yelling with red warning lights and all that nonsense...

Still, somewhere in the flat-spin, she snaps out of it and drops what has to be one of her more notable tantrum-worthy payloads...and that just lights the everything on fire right along with it.

**Roadbuster (140) has posed:**
Roadbuster nods as the drones register hits while picking his rifle up off the floor. He keeps his sensors synched with the base defenses saying, "Still got to ask why this place is even important to either side. Tactically a waste." He moves to the top of the walls and looks out as the others fight taking note of the environmental hazards saying, "Ok on my call." The wrecker looks down his rifles sights waiting a few moments as the Marauder turrets move into position, "Steady... steady....LET EM RIP!" The base guns immediately fire off a volley as Buster calls out.

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream optics up Roadbuster who everyone at this point has missed and is ready to lob one of his cluster bombs his way when he is blown violently off course by the wind! even smacking into the canyons side, and then comes in Nightlash, adding insult to injury with /fire/ Oh he is NOT happy, and grumbles out once he's properly hit the ground. "Blasted Autobots and their damn projectiles..."

      He'd transform into his tetrajet mode once more and shoot upwards into the air. "Oh I shall show them what a /real/ fire looks like!" He'd snarl to himself, unleashing his own incendiary missiles, however in doing so he also takes a /serious/ hit from the turrets, smoke and energon are leaking from his wounds, time for him to turn tail and get the heck out of here! they have megatron, they can deal with this without him!

**Shadowstar has posed:**
      ...and that is the last thing Shadowstar remembers for several moments. When she finally sits up again, she has dropped the prototype after it apparently fired from the wrong end and has been hit with other things while she lied there motionless. If not for recent upgrades to her durability she might not even be functional!

      And she is on fire, which she really dislikes! She...kind of hunkers down behind her chosen boulder for a few seconds praying to Primus that no one saw what happened. Of course, Nightlash is here so...it is probably playing in Maccadam's by now.

      Still, she is not down, so Shadowstar tries her best to pretend like she was always missing those sections of armor and internals and keeps attacking! She floats into the air and her four wings start to spin around her waist, and a veritable rainstorm of micro-missiles peppers the Autobots!

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off grunts as he is somehow AGAIN hit by this Roadbuster... yes, that Autobot is asking for payback. But not right now... the shuttle remains focused on his task. Though he does inwardly smirk to himself as Starscream misses all his targets but the stationary ones. He's not dumb enough to SAY so, though. He simply does his job- and he does it well, of course, letting loose another orbital blast.~ He also notes that despite the destruction of much of his armor, he DOES seem to be holding onto more health than before. It seems to be working, even now. Good.

**Deadlock has posed:**
    Flying is often an advantage...but not this time, it seems, as vicious winds blow about the canyon walls, buffeting those unfortunate enough to be in the air about and even smacking them into sheer cliff faces. Deadlock manages to stand his ground, digging in with his peds and gripping a nearby metal formation. However, while that prevents him from getting knock back by the wind, it doesn't protect him from Nightlash's fire bombs. Now -that- sends him into a cliff wall anyway. Ugh.

    He watches, deeply dissatisfied, as most of Starscream's missiles don't connect. Isn't he supposed to be better than that? Anyway, Deadlock charges at the defending forces, choosing the largest target--who happens to be Roadbuster. Marauder turrets blast him from all angles, but he presses on with dogged determination, launching himself at the Wrecker and aiming for cracks in his bulky armor!

**Megatron has posed:**
Megatron snarls as he sees Starscream retreat. "Coward. Must I do everything myself?!" He says, his well known rage in full efect today. "You're new here." he says to Dogfight. "Allow me to make you an example of what happens to thsoe who defy Megatron." with that he powers up his fusion cannon, and fires a shot directly at the poor Autobot!

**Nightlash has posed:**
There's something amusing about Starscream getting huffy and missing approximately all the things at once. There's something less fun about Shadowstar hitting her with the annoying things, especially when more of her systems go on the fritz.

She huffs a bit and something in her systems say that...well, revenge is the best cold dish to serve. Or...something like that.

She pauses mid-flight to replay that in her head... Nope, that's absolutely the way it goes.

And then there's the fact that she can hear the base groan in protest... But, hey! She'll at least absolutely make something mad here, and she lets her drone get a proper lock on the Decepticon second-in-command and giggles.

"I just wish I had a time to write your name on this one..."

**Roadbuster (140) has posed:**
Roadbuster looks up and moves behind cover as the flames strike and spread over the base. Quickly grabbing a fire suppressor he sprays a area around him to clear some space. This leaves the Wrecker vulnerable enough to be caught in the explosives sent by Shadowstar. Letting out a vent he steadies himself as Deadlock's charge is registered on his sensors. Taking the hit he doesn't immediately strike back while backing away.

 Looking at his options Buster feels its not time to skirmish with the con one on one as there are too many other combatants still on the field. Glancing between Deadlock and the battlefield he preps a couple of shrapnel missiles, the cannon on his shoulder moving into place before he turns to fire. First at Deadlock then at the largest threat still on the field, Megatron.

**Dogfight has posed:**
Dogfight pulls up from making his firing run on Megatron. But not so focused on that target he doesn't notice the other attack warnings blaring. The jetfighter veers towards one of the towering canyon walls as the fireblast missile homes in on him. Only to pull up at the last moment to fly vertically along the wall, the missile slamming into it below as it can't elevate as quickly. He follows the wall up and shoots into a half-loop to get reoriented towards the battlefield.

Then gets a swarm of micro-missiles head-on as he's coming back in, multiple hits flaring across his fuselage. Engines sputter momentarily as something is knocked loose, but then kick back in as he's roaring back and trying to get a bead on the biggest threat on the field again.

Which isn't hard to find when Megatron turns and fires his infamous cannon at him. That sets off several system alarms and leaves the Triggerbot's form smoking from several spots. But he's still diving. Right towards Megatron, even as something in the back of his mind is telling him he should be scared, something else is reminding him that if he doesn't try to occupy Megatron he's just going to frag everyone here. Being scared of him is irrelivent.

"Dogfight's my name, lemme show you why!"

At the last moment he transforms, arm cannons already out and blasting even as his feet slam into the ground and skid with the momentum.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Welp. There goes Starscream. Blast Off veers back after launching another devastating orbital bombardment, energon low after two full strikes. He'll let the others get distracted with fighting Autobots while he remains on target. But first, he has to recharge a bit, so he flies up and over the canyon wall before swooping back in again, watching with bemused surprise as Dogfight actually takes Megatron on headfirst. Brave, but stupid.

**Starscream has posed:**
     This is just not Starscream's day! He gets shot out of the air by Nightlash and goes crashing down to the canyons below, completely offline and in his jet mode! Least he can still punish those ingrates still by making them have to drag him back in such an inconvenience mode!...At Least he hopes, before the darkness swallows up his coniucness.

**Megatron has posed:**
Megatron blinks in surprise for a minute as Dogfight keeps goiing at him. He narrows his optics "what is it with you Autobots and your heroism?" he transforms, powering up again. "Maybe I didnt make myself clear." Oh dear. its a good thing he has to power this up becuase Dogfight kinda has a warning his next blast will come from the tank cannon.

**Deadlock has posed:**
    Deadlock takes the shrapnel missiles as Roadbuster backs away from him, bringing up an arm to shield himself, though he still takes some damage. "What's the matter big guy? Scared to take me on?" he taunts. "Seems out-of-character, for someone with skidplates as wide as yours!" he says, as he fires his Path Blaster at the Wrecker.

**Shadowstar has posed:**
      Shadowstar feels much better after raining down little explosions on everything! Or at least, something of her pride has been restored. But now things are looking bad. Starscream is down, and everyone except Blast Off is looking rough. And she is still on fire!

      She looks down at her dropped prototype for a few moments, then picks it up again. She isn't going to let Megatron down! And if she does, she can blame it on Gunly for making shoddy weapons! She takes cover and takes aim again, and the heavy hum of the big gun charging up can probably be heard pretty far off before...she pulls the trigger again. And might have her eyes closed and her teeth clenched. "I will not fail you, Lord Megatron!!"

**Dogfight has posed:**
Dogfight partially lowers his smoking blasters, actually giving a moment's pause when Megatron transforms into a rightfully fearsome tank. Well, he wanted to get the tyrant's attention and that certainly succeeded. The pause lasts a moment.

And then he grins, optics flaring at something. "Nah, I heard you fine and clear." The blowtorches retract back into his arms, and instead a gatling pod folds up onto his shoulder. It starts spewing bursts of laser shots, even as he's darting to the side, making it look like he's trying to keep out of the direct line of that cannon. "Just don't -care- for whatever smeg dribbles out of that maw."

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash sort of wobbles in flight after watching Starscream drop out of the sky and laughs a bit, it's something she'll record and broadcast over everything later, most likely...

But then there's bigger fish to fry, so to speak, and she whips around to sight in on the next big ugly thing in the sky, the Blast Off, who's apparently being very stand-offish...and is absolutely a threat to the base, right?

<<Dogfight, I ... okay, you keep shooting, duck later! Promise it'll be worth it!>> She checks her ammo levels a moment and cycles through a few of her onboard armaments before just...shrugging, thinking better of it, and opting to go nose-first at the shuttleformer.

At least, that's what she'll tell everyone later, and totally not that she forgot to throttle down while taking her time to look through inventory while flying towards the Combaticon.

**Roadbuster (140) has posed:**
"Kid, they never teach you not to kick a insecticon nest?", Roadbuster replies as he tanks the shot, slightly forcing him back. Yeah he just called Deadlock a kid as he picks up the largest piece of debri he can find. Slamming one end into his fist like a bat he steps forward, "Ya got a lot to.... damnit!" He looks away from the con as he listens to the comms, "Dumb fragger, not in the mood to pull their tailpipe outta the fire."

 The smaller con is ignored as the Wrecker jumps off the base wall and charges forward while still hauling his improvised club. His destination is obvious as he prepares to swing, "Hey! Remember ME!?" Busters visor is red as he goes straight for the warlord himself.

**Deadlock has posed:**
    Roadbuster seems to threaten but not attack. Deadlock just scoffs as the Wrecker goes after Megatron instead. Not that he minds. Megatron is certainly a stronger foe, and if the Autobot wants a death wish, then he doesn't have a problem with it.

    "Hrrrngghh..." he grunts, holding his leaking side for a moment. The former assassin checks his blaster, seeing that it only has one charge left before it overheats and needs to go into a coolant flush cycle. He ducks behind a trench shield and fires it at the base defenses.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off still isn't fast enough to evade Nightlash, who comes up as he flies down and collides with him. "<<GAH!!>>", the Combaticon shuttle's engines rumble loudly as his fuselage is smashed and HUD starts blaring warnings at him. "<< Fraggit, >>" he snarls at the Autobot flier in a burst of uncouth anger, before collecting himself (somewhat literally) and turning orbital lasers that have instinctively started aiming at Nightlash back to the base. No, he's got one last shot and he's going to make it. "<< You Autobots' desperation are showing... but it is to no avail. >>"

Just as he is about to make the final blow, Deadlock gets in before him. He nearly unleashes it anyway... on TOP of Deadlock.... but withholds, rumbling his annoyance instead. "<< Well, like I was saying... >>" Hmph.

Wait, this means Nightlash is an available target now. Heh. He turns the almost fully charged laser and takes it out on Nigthlash instead. he'll just \*imagine\* she's Deadlock. Actually, getting Nightlash is satisfying too.....

**Shadowstar has posed:**
      Somehow, after that first bout of terribleness...Shadowstar has basically been ignored. She is unsure if she should be insulted or glad. On the one hand, it has allowed her to keep attacking when she probably should have retreated by now. On the other...that means she is losing out on glory! No one is even going to know she was here at this rate!

      That won't do at all. So, even as Deadlock deals with the base, her many mini-missile hatches open along her wings. "All of that bravado and you still couldn't stop us!" she exclaims, gliding forward toward Megatron and his attackers while raining down more of those little explosives. No, she isn't trying to take advantage of Megatron's presence to increase her fame! Not at all!

**Megatron has posed:**
Megatron fires that long-built up blast at Dogfight, snarling. "I gave you ample warning. Yet you still come. Pay the price of herois...ARGH!" He calls out as he is smacked in the side by Roadbuster's improvised club. "Slagging.. uresed WRECKERS!" he snarls the last word, his rage and indignance at the whole situation burning like the fires of the pit itself. "Both of you. Just.. DIE!" with that he lets loose on poor Dogfight again.

**Nightlash has posed:**
While Blasty and Shades certainly want to get Nightlash's attention, they'll just have to find another time to actually get it, because the hits from both sides are quite enough to hit something that's probably important and her sensors go offline, sending the droneship crashing down somewhere along her trajectory after that glorious slam into Blast Off.

**Roadbuster (140) has posed:**
"Not going to Mortillus today, slagheap. Come on, yer a pit fighter aren't ya?", Roadbuster taunts. <<Ya know the drill, evac! I'll follow.>> Course the big guy is gonna stand his ground as he raises his weapon and aims to slam it back down on the tank.

**Dogfight has posed:**
Dogfighting is as much about the maneuvering as it is the fighting, and while he's currently on his feet rather than in the air Dogfight still keeps that in mind. Megatron turns to track him again, while Shadowstar swoops in to release more missiles. The Triggerbot deploys his cannons again... but points them straight down as he fires. The plasma streams shoot out with enough force to actually throw him off the ground, out of the radius of the missile bombardment and by some sheer stroke of luck or fate just barely skims out of the way of the furious wrath spewing out of Megatron's cannon.

Okay even his thrillseeking bravado realizes that was too slagging close for comfort.

Plus something in the base blows up anyways thanks to Deadlock.

Dogfight skids and stumbles a bit due to his injuries from the improvised jump, and vents out a sigh. He really wants to keep fighting, to get in there and help Roadbuster... But then Nightlash goes down. And while he may be all for the fighting to the end, potentially losing an ally is a much crueler fate. <<But don't you dwadle long either, sir!>> he snaps back to Roadbuster, before turning and transforming. His engines hack and cough a bit, and in the end he fires his currently backwards facing cannons for some additional emergency thrust.

He's leaving, but he's following the trajectory Nightlash went down as he did, to make sure she gets retrieved out of the cannons before some Deceptichump tries to come finish her off for good.

**Over the Decepticon Broadband:**
     <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "We have won! I certainly was a large part of it with my /impressive/ orbital bombardments."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock snerks.
     <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Very impressive, as always~"
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "Victory! yes, yes of course, Blast Off."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off purrs.
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "Mhmm...yes. Very good Blast Off, just making sure you know you did a good job. Especially the way you had to announce that out loud to everyone."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Of course...being rammed by that half-bit Nightlash diiid damage how impressive you were."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "Wait, he got rammed? Slag."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock snickers quietly.
      <Decepticon> Goth just lets out a long suffering groan.
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "Rammed, but not offlined. MY armor is holding up well."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Did anyone see where Starscream crashed, by the way?"
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "She on the other hand.... not so much."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "What decent fighter doesn't take a few hits and keep on going? This is our arena, Decepticons. Our victory. Own it. Destroy all who oppose us."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "Of course, Lord Megatron."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "I was too busy doing my job to pay much attention to where Starscream crash-landed."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Oh dear...I do hope he isn't lost~"
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "Eh, I'm sure the med teams will find him."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "Would be a tragedy, I'm sure."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "I mean, if they don't pick out his gaudy paint job, then I'm sure he'll wake up at some point and start whining. They'd -have- to hear him at that point."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off snerks
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "If one of you will /kindly/ pick up Starscream while I beat this wrecker into the ground..."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off sigh. "Yes, Sir.
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "I cannot have a 'chat' with him about cowardice if he falls into enemy hands."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "As gentle as a warrior's caress, Deadlock."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "Sounds like a job for Blast Off, anyway."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "I've got it, I'm a shuttle, after all. I doubt a puny groundpounder like \*you\* could handle him."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "Yeah, you're right. I'm not gentle enough."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "sigh. By that I mean no."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "morons."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar hees.
      <Decepticon> Goth can actually be heard cracking up over his communlink, even falling off his seating.
      <Decepticon> Deadlock chuckles. "Didn't think so."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "You just don't have a shuttle's strength and struts, deadlock. But not everyone can be as amazing as I."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "Let me demonstrate what a warrior's caress is."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "I know, not everyone has the same soft, gentle touch."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "The ones he learned from the books."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Femmes like that gentle touch at times, you know~"
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "Yeah, why don't you go and caress Shadowstar tonight."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "you better be talking to Blast Off."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "Oh, I can be gentle... a sniper HAS to be. I assure you, shuttling has very little to do with... gentleness. But if you hope to squeeze off a shot at JUST the right instant with JUST the right amount of force- well, you HAVE to be more than some blundering blunt instrument."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar sounds like she just got something caught in her intakes!
      <Decepticon> Deadlock chuckles.
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "Why must you people be so slagging literal."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "It was a joke, my Lord."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "I swear. I say the word destroy and no one reacts. I say the word caress and everyone is all over it."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off wheezes
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "I'm.... going to find Starscream now, Megatron."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "Don't let me keep you."
**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off watches with satisfaction as Nightlash careens, then crashes with further assistance from Shadowstar. Somehow, he doesn't mind if SHE kill steals.... as much. "<< Nice work, Shadowstar~. >>" He continues bantering on the radio before proclaiming he is going to go shuttle the unconscious Starscream back to base.

**Shadowstar has posed:**
      Shadowstar grins with delight as Nightlash goes down. It really does feel good to go after Nightlash, just like Blast Off thought! Dogfight avoids her barrage, but he also retreats to help Nightlash. So one down, one retreating...and one big mech left, trying to take down Megatron. Well, Shadowstar isn't going to let that happen!

      She still has energon in her tanks! And though she is keeping a bit of distance between herself and Roadbuster, she still pulls out her Twin-barreled plasma blaster and takes aim. "You really should have pulled back with your friends! There is no way you can hold back both the mighty Megatron and the amazing Shadowstar!" she says with a grin before beams of purple plasma lance out at the big mech.

**Deadlock has posed:**
    Deadlock practically collapses from exhaustion once he squeezes off that last shot. The walls come tumbling down, and the victory is theirs. Though it came at quite the price, it seems.

    He's not sure this outpost was worth it, but maybe--it is a pretty defensible position, as today's battle proved. And the environmental hazards of the area make capturing it even harder.

**Megatron has posed:**
Megatron continues to go after Roadbuster, now that he calls him out on being a pitfighter. He transforms. "I am. This is just another arena. And you and I are mere opponents." He pauses, his hand turning into a mace. He is a sight to behold, already sparking and smoking from several deep wounds. He gives a grim, energon caked smile. "You and I will have to duel more often, wrecker. But for now. I need to educate my troops about something." whatever that means. He brings both fists together, slamming them into Roadbuster!

**Over the Decepticon Broadband:**
     <Decepticon> Megatron says, "And that's a warrior's caress."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "...you...did not 'caress' him hard enough, sir."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off WHEEEZES.
      <Decepticon> Dustoff says, "...I'm gonna order mental examinations for all y'all if ya ain't careful."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off cough... "I mean, I've found Starscream. Loading him up now.
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "Yes well. THANK YOU BLAST OFF."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "...You are welcome"
      <Decepticon> Goth his laughing just gets louder, and strained, yep, they've laughed the bat into submission.
      <Decepticon> Vortex says, "try not to caress him bro."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "I AM NOT GOING TO"
      <Decepticon> Vortex says, "This is my new favorite word you know."

**Roadbuster (140) has posed:**
Roadbuster raises his arms as he tanks the shot, "Oh lugnuts, go be a mini-Starscream elsewhere. Even if you have a spine." He listens to his comms before he nods saying, "Don't care what lesson ya got, jobs done." What he says comes clear as the last shuttle pulls out. The big guy braces himself as Megs pushes him back with a solid hit. The Wrecker remains standing as he drops the club, "Another time." He quickly transforms, wheels tearing into the ground as he turns to roll away.

**Over the Decepticon Broadband:**
     <Decepticon> Dustoff says, "Vortex... yer lucky, yer mental state's beyond savin'."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "\*there's a \*THUD\* in the background somewhere\*"
      <Decepticon> Vortex says, "You guys should just give up on being sane. Its easier this way."
      <Decepticon> Vortex says, "like I said dont caress him. Pat the nosecone. Tell him hes pretty."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "I'll leave that for you to do"
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "ENOUGH."
      <Decepticon> Sixshot says, "Before his lord chooses to throw you all into the arena with no pain inhibitors. Get back to base. Otherwise mode drills and worse for several cycles."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "Thank you, Sixshot."
      <Decepticon> Vortex giggles "Sorry still stuck on that warrior caress thing. I cant help it."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock makes an exasperated noise. "Primus, I was being -facetious.-"
      <Decepticon> Dustoff says, "Careful, Deadlock, most Decepticons won't understand that big word there."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "I know, Deadlock."
      <Decepticon> Sixshot says, "Find Scrapper and send his team to do whatever to that base."
      <Decepticon> Deadlock says, "Are you insulting the cause?"
      <Decepticon> Dustoff says, "Nope, jus' some of those drawn to it."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Before I go to the medical bay...permission to shoot Gunsly on a low setting, sir?"
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "I say! I object!"
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "For who is more facetious than I?"
      <Decepticon> Blast Off huffs... "Very few, indeed.
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "Yes. Find scrapper and demolish that base. Shadowstar. Return to base."
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "Right-o, Blast Off, I knew you were in my corner."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "...relatively speaking."
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "Come, come, leave a tender moment alone."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off responds with a soft \*huff\*
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "those who need repairs. To the medbay."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "don't make me herd you."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Is this...a warrior's tender moment?"
      <Decepticon> Blast Off huffs louder
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "Forget I ever said that."
      <Decepticon> Vortex says, "Said what?"
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Because if so I believe you can shoot each other."
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "Alas, I have not a warrior's caress, but that of a rogue. But tell me, darlings, which would you prefer?"
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "Do not worry, Sir, not everyone is quite so... dense. I am focused, as always, in medbay and have brought Starscream with me, as you ordered."
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "Indeed, my good bloke, you are not dense in the least."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "...."
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "Rather bloated full of hot air, I dare say. But that is part of your charms."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off HUFF!
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "And that would be aforementioned hot air escaping. Don't worry. There's more where that came from. Plenty more."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off grumbles
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "Right, I do believe this channel ought to be used for important military communications and not banter. So I shall sign off unless I have something important to report."
      <Decepticon> Shadowstar says, "Do not be silly. You cannot -have- a warrior's caress. You can only receive one or give one. Perhaps you meant a warrior's cuirass?"
      <Decepticon> Hookshot says, "Warrior's cuirass? I have a few of those in storage. But, alas, I am signing out."
      <Decepticon> Hookshot -click-
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "I never thought I'd have to give the order but here it is."
      <Decepticon> Megatron says, "No one is to say the word caress on this channel for at least one cycle."
      <Decepticon> Blast Off says, "...Gladly, Sir."
      <Decepticon> Dustoff says, "...'course, all readily reliable exceptions supposedly stink...but, y'know... I'm sure someone'll find a way t' sneak it in there."