[Priority Broadcast][Video - backdated to Wednesday]

[megatronicpolarity]

[The feed opens to a view of Megatronus Prime, a bloodied sword in hand. He gives it a hard flick to clear the worst of the gore from his blade, and a chunk of what used to be one of the monstrous centipedes flies off and knocks a nearby Acolyte in the head. It stumbles out of frame. Megatronus doesn't pay it any mind and addresses his audience:]

I imagine few of you will argue with me if I say that our guests have overstayed their welcome. Hospitality has its limits, after all.

[Besides which, he certainly never invited them to visit in the first place. Rude, centipedes. Very rude.]

When the creatures of the Badlands haven't the sense to retreat of their own volition, I find that a concentrated application of brute force is often enough to convince them of their error. My kin and I have determined that these monsters are likely led by a demon hiding at the core of an offshoot of the Badlands – if you've wandered outside of the Haven, you've likely noticed the approaching darkness. That is where we will be applying our force.

- and when I say 'we,' I don't simply mean my brothers and I.

Refugees, I call on you for volunteers who can fight; failing that, I'll accept volunteers who think they can fight. Anyone with a skill that would serve them well in combat, or those capable of supporting combatants. What you lack in size or experience can be compensated for through other means. I am willing to offer what gifts I can to those willing to fight in order to improve the likelihood of your... success.

[Survival. The word he means is 'survival.' Dragging Refugees to the heart of enemy territory often ends poorly for the weaker members of the group, but it's a necessary sacrifice.]

Unless, of course, you'd all rather be subject to regular attacks within the Haven. For those of you that care enough about your friends and your place here to act, I will be waiting for you in my arena. The Acolytes will direct you if you cannot find your way.

If you bear my Glyph, I expect to see you there.

[OOC note: there's a companion log to this post up over here for those who want to sign up their characters and collect a temporary boon ICly!]

Comments

[winged_knight]

[And right now Megatronus is the only one offering any structured resistance. Something that is quite welcome after enduring the recent invasion.]

I am capable and have done my part in this and past invasions.

[He's likely more than capable, and it likely shows in his bearing, but he's also humble and sees no reason to prove anything beyond that.]

[megatronicpolarity]

I'll hold you to that.

[Don't take it personally, Wing. Megatronus is a heavy-hitter even among the Firstforged, and he's eternally critical of the battle prowess of the lesser mechs.

But a volunteer's a volunteer, and experience is the best teacher.]

Would you ask anything of me, or are you confident that you need no gift?

[winged_knight]

I expect nothing less.

[Experience is an excellent teacher to be sure, and until recently he's been without its tutelage. Oh, how Braid and then Unicron changed that.]

The current invaders are easy for me to handle so long as their numbers are not great. What we face in this new part of the Badlands though? I cannot judge my skill against. Do whatever benefits our cause the most, I trust your judgement. However, if resources are limited and others are more in need, then I elect to defer.

[megatronicpolarity]

[Someone who trusts his judgement! Now there's a rare sight.]

If there's something I can promise you about this venture, it's that your opponents will be great in number. The Badlands are their home and stronghold and they will rally to defend their superior.

It disadvantages no one if I assist you. Take a moment and join me in the arena, and I will show you another means of disabling these monsters.

[winged_knight]

[He has no reason to doubt it. Combat is Megtronus's purview and if anyone knows enemy's strength it should be the Prime.]

I will accept your offer then and see you in the Arena. Anything to aid in purging this world of its corruption and to make Haven safe once again.

[A pause, like he's reconsidering. He wouldn't want to take such gifts for granted but...]

As a note...I am a martial meleeist. I prefer not to use use ranged weapons and I am forbidden to use firearms altogether. It is the way of my order. I...don't know if that changes things.

[megatronicpolarity]

You're giving the monsters more consideration than they deserve, but that won't be a problem. I prefer the direct approach myself. I will see to it that your gift is suited to be used in hand to hand combat.

[Megatronus' motivations, of course, are considerably less noble. He just likes to feel the life leaving his foes. There's nothing on this Cybertron or any other that can compare to the tactile joy of a good fight.]

[winged_knight]

It's simply our way. Taking life is never something to trivialized. The preservation of life, all life, should remain paramount. [A shift of his shoulder nacelles, not quite a shrug, but recognition that not everyone shares this philosophy.]

Our species lost sight of that. We destroyed our planet and almost annihilated each other in the process. Hundreds of other worlds and species paid the price for our inability to control our warfare.

[Wing's reasons for melee combat are the same, to behold the consequences of his actions, though he doesn't enjoy the feeling. Instead it's to bid them on their way and perhaps ask forgiveness.]

Though these things...if they are indeed the minions of the antithesis of Primus, then they are an affront to life itself. [That sounds a whole lot like a no mercy clause.]