re_alignment | [Video] - transmission from the outer edge of Haven

Entry tags:

tf: dreamwave | jetfire (crau)

[Video] - transmission from the outer edge of Haven

Does anyone perhaps know what these things are? [Here, let him just shift his arm and hold up what very clearly is a sharkticon, if you actually know what that is. Which Jetfire really doesn't. Even if he feels like he should know, for some reason.]

It seems the majority of the forces that fell through the Lambda unmarked are these creatures. Lacking an estimate in numbers, but most of them either fell over the Junk Pile, or surrounding the Haven...

[Jetfire frowns, even as he drops the dead sharkticon and fires at something on the ground.]

Of note is that some of the ones that fell outside didn't attempt to get in, but rather left the immediate area. I haven't had the opportunity to follow them far, but they did seem to be wandering in a particular direction.

[There's a pause, the video turning to nothing more than streaks of darkened sky and flashes of Jetfire's frame as he fights something in the air, which, when he stops again, is only briefly seen in a flash as it falls past him, a mess of metal and flesh.]

... Hm, Wing? Any particular area you've noticed that might need an organized air-strike?

[More than one flyer working in tandem, that was.]

[Locked to DW!Starscream.]

Don't get in over your wings, Starscream.

[He's not expecting a response. They were fighting together only a short while ago and the Seeker had been perfectly fine then, but he'll express his concern either way.]

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[Wing streaks over the edges of the Junk Pile, observing enemy movements.]

The strays that fall outside seem to be drawn to the temples. Whether that's by some instinctive drive or a commanded order I don't know. I've been picking them off but they seem to be moving in greater numbers now. We may need to fall back to defend them--

[There's the sound of a transformation and the sizzle of plasma blades, the video flickering as the feed changes from internal to external. One creature falls from the sky in disproportionate pieces, forming a stepping stone to a second and third who find blue blades through their midsections. A spin of metal as Wing passes between them and transforms again, the rev of his nacelles blasting them away.]

--Solus's temple should be our highest priority since that's where the medics and wounded will be gathered.

::Not all of the medics, I'm afraid.::

[Pharma is in his alt mode, flying over the general area that encompasses' Liege's fortress. His movements seem to indicate he's tracking something.]

::Good strategy, all the same.::

[Wing spies the movement to his left and his sensors pick up Pharma's signature.]

Pharma! Ah, well--[He'd correct you and say that he meant all the medics capable of treating patients are st Solus's Temple, but that would be RUDE.]--Thank you. Do you require any assistance over in Liege's Quarter?

[Yes, yes it would be.]

::It depends on how heavy my target turns out to be.::

[Pharma flies after one of the sharkticons that is not traveling in a group, hovering above and behind it. A gun mounted on a turret swivels to catch it in it's cross-hairs.]

...How heavy you say?

[Wing circles in a smaller arc, watching Pharma. He doesn't take you for the reckless type but seeing as you're the one work on a cure for the rust plague, the safety of several others hinges on yours.]

You're... capturing prisoners?

[Pharma is silent while he lines up his shot. The unsuspecting sharkticon is hit square in the back with the null ray Swindle so graciously provided. For a fee of course.]

::Test subjects, actually.::

[One more shot to make sure it really is down and the jet medic begins to descend.]

[There's a pause before Wing replies. You're not sure if it's because your response makes him hesitate or because he's occupied with an opponent or two.]

I certainly won't disagree that these things require study...but what kind of tests?

[A hatch opens and deploys a net that the jet drags over the prone sharkticon.]

::That, I could not tell you. I am sure Liege will inform me when he sees fit.::

[Carefully, Pharma tests the weight of the beast, determining if his net will hold.]

Ahh, yes, I recall his request now.

[He really couldn't argue with a First Forged, could he? Sorry Pharma, Wing will have to go all Greenpeace on your aft some other time.]

Well if you need assistance do let me know. I'll try to keep the area clear.

[He turns on a wingtip and buzzes a lone sharkticon heading towards Liege's quadrant, drawing it away as he climbs. At the apex of the climb he shifts out of his alt and draws his weapons in one sinuous move, gravity taking hold and pulling his plasma blades through the body of the sharkticon. With a flash of silver and white he returns to his altmode and resumes canvasing the area.]

[Jetfire, meanwhile, is working inwards from the outside, basically opposite of Wing, and hums thoughtfully.]

Most of them, yes. I've been picking off the ones that do go that way. I'm uncertain why some of them don't, since as I've come to understand it, the Haven is the only completely constructed and populated area on Cybertron currently.

[He's certainly taking note of what Wing is doing, and while the angle doesn't allow it to be seen, his optics narrow thoughtfully.]

We could reconvene above and work from there. If you'd prefer to go ground-melee for a while, I could give you air support.

[Scientist or not, his flight-function was exactly that when it was needed; aerial support, either for those on the ground, or for the smaller, usually more maneuverable flight models. Jetfire's speed was intended to allow him to get to hot-spots of contention fast, not just to avoid enemy fire.]

[Wing muses over this bit of information as he skirts the Junk Pile, checking on the various clusters of melee below.]

Perhaps there's something else drawing them? Energy or other resources? [He pauses, unhappy with the concept of his next thought.] What about the Badlands? Vector Prime warned me not to venture near when I began my aerial explorations. I don't know its direction from here--he only described it visually--and it's not within a day's flight for me.

[He ponders their other options.]

It's too easy for a single ground troop to get overwhelmed with these numbers, even with air support. Though if we find a defensible enough position it'd work.

[Nevermind that Drift would have a conniption fit forceful enough to worry Ratchet...]

[He changes his vector toward Solus's temple to get a sense of the battle there.]

... The latter might. While this Cybertron would, obviously, be rich in resources, they would probably be the most easily accessed here in the Haven rather than beyond it. [Frowning on his end, Jetfire wishes Wing would have gotten a direction.] In the interest of knowledge, perhaps Vector Prime would be willing to at least confirm or deny whether these coordinates would be in the direction of the Badlands.

[Here, have some sent to you, Wing, which are where Jetfire had to split and fly back towards Haven and the main attacking force.]

A ridge or a hill would make things easier for you... if you'd still want to attempt it, I wouldn't suggest something that would hinder the approach from any direction, since that would at the same time lessen your own view... And I can more easily lay down cover-fire on an open area.

[Jetfire isn't, really, overly invested in taking risks, but both of them can fly, so Wing, even if temporarily overwhelmed, wouldn't be stuck on the ground.]

[Wing is under the impression Vector was reserved about the direction because certain fliers in his house are a little too curious for their own good.] Couldn't hurt to ask him I suppose.

[Oh good, it was getting lonely down here.]

Higher ground is definitely preferred. And something with good footing. [Which was rare in the Junk Pile. Even so, he thought he remembered seeing a rock outcropping to the west. Which was in the area of Solus' temple; doubly good.] Let's do it.

[He won't lie, part of him is itching to get into a fight. Just don't tell Drift.]

[Wing banks around the group of sharkticons Jetfire's sent his way, taunting them with a flick of his ailerons before jetting off towards the aforementioned outcropping.]

[Well, to be honest, if Jetfire finds the coordinates to the Badlands, he would also be too curious for his own good.]

You're the one who's going to be on the ground. [Jetfire chuckles and lets Wing decide where and how he wants the group of sharkticons Jetfire's managed to corral.]

[And don't worry, he won't tell. Besides, this way he has a definitive point to drive any other creatures towards when they run out of this group, and Jetfire - disliking battle or not - is nothing if not practical when he has to engage.]

[Jetfire shoots just one more volley towards the group, this time around and behind them more than at them, then takes off after Wing while keeping an awareness of the group in the case they'd decide to break away from their tormentors.

But, apparently, there's no danger of that, especially whenever Wing touches down in his chosen spot.]

[Maybe it's a flier thing? Insatiable curiosity.]

This should do quite nicely.

[The smaller jet makes an impossible tight circle and with a spin of metal touches down on the rock outcropping. There's a gentle rise in front of him and a more sheer drop to his rear, not high but hopefully just enough that the Sharkticons couldn't climb it without him noticing.]

[He draws both plasma blades with a flourish of honed skill, assuming a balanced stance and waiting for Jetfire to bring them enemy to him.]

[It doesn't take long, especially as the sharkticons have certainly seen Wing, who's a lot more easier to reach than their aerial tormentor. Jetfire blasts by overhead, the sharkticons having abandoned trying to futilely reach him or scramble out of the way of the spatters of laser fire, clawing up the hill towards Wing instead.]

[Making a turn overhead, Jetfire turns around to hover somewhere above and to the side of Wing, neatly taking out three sharkticons with a few well-placed blasts to thin the group Wing would get on his aft some.

It took him more power and hits than it should have needed, he felt, but he'd need more to compare with.]

How many can you take at a time?

[Definitely the one thing that Wing is unprepared for in all of this is how horrendously ugly these things are. He's not quite sure which is more disturbing, the dismaying number of teeth they have of the fact that those teeth seem to make up most of their face. Thankfully they seem to have conversely small mental capacities.]

[These critters? Yeah, pretty dumb. Mindless, even. Which made handling them far easier for Wing on various points.]

[Wing sidesteps his first opponent and cleaves cleanly through its side. With a twist his momentum carries other weapon through a second, with a final stab to finish it off. A third sharkticon launches at him off the first fallen body, but Wing darts low and forward, slicing through the creature's underbelly as it sails over him.]

[With a smooth shift he regains his ready stance and faces the next small group approaching the hill.]

Assuming they are all this simple, I'd say three and four at a time is entirely doable.

Hopefully they are, kepeing them throttled to that amount shouldn't be impossible.

[If Wing wasn't as close as he was and Jetfire wasn't playing support and making sure the sharkticons could only approach in small groups, he'd have used his double-barrled particle cannon.]

[As it was, he lifted from his previous position which wasn't really flexible enough, starting to make circles around Wing, wounding or outright killing sharkticons to keep their advance on the mech on the ground controlled.]

[As long as they didn't get surprised or overwhelmed... this would be entierly doable.]

[Wing takes them as they come, making the most efficient strikes as possible, trying to conserve his energy. His plasma blades, turned up to higher settings, make easy cuts through the metallic bodies of the sharkticons. The flashing blue arcs a telltale sign of his position that Jetfire can see.]

So far, so good. Hopefully I can keep this up.

[He holds no guilt. These strange creatures, not even animal intelligence, just forces of chaos made manifest, had no place on this infant world. Had they'd been living, free-willed creatures he'd be hard-pressed, unwilling to use lethal force. But no. When he'd asked Vector Prime what he could do, how he was needed, Vector's answer now rang true. The world needed defending, and defend it he would.]

I don't know what they are, but if you find yourself in the area of Solus's Temple, I'd appreciate the chance to investigate that creature's make up. After all, the faster we can figure out what makes them tick, the faster we can optimize our strategy for getting rid of them.

[ Science bros unite ... ? ]

Certainly. Though those that are most numerous seem to possess a standard, close-to-cybertronian make-up, if with curious differences. I should be able to bring one over, if not immediately, at least when things let up.

[Jetfire sighs faintly; he wants to pick over one of the shark-like mechanoid creatures himself, but that will have to wait until after this is all over.]

Interesting... I'll look forward to when you can come by. Don't rush, though! My interest in research comes secondary to keeping the rest of us safe.

[ He pauses, then decides that he may as well offer. ]

And since I've gleaned that you're a scientist, if you come by when you're free, perhaps we could investigate the creature together?

[ Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but you like science, so let's experiment together maybe? ]

Of course. I'll attempt to find one that's as intact as possible... or make the attempt at the next few ones I take out, though most of them are, ah... Small enough that does present something of a problem.

[The offer, even such a simple thing, has Jetfire smiling slightly. Both because getting to work together with someone is (nearly) always beneficial - more than one processor bent to a particular problem was a good thing - as well as simply the offer itself, and Ratchet taking the time to wait.]

I'd certainly like that, if you would not mind waiting--- [And, while Jetfire's certainly more of a soldier than he once was, a conversation can hold more weight than keeping... as much attention as he perhaps should, which means he almost gets his helm crushed in as a creature's mace tail only barely misses him as he jerks back while it flies past, having jumped at Jetfire.]

Er... a moment.

[With that, the video briefly cuts out, though by the noises, it's clear the connection hasn't been completely cut, and when the video turns back on a few kliks later, Jetfire has his removable helmet on.]

Ah, right. If you wouldn't mind waiting, I'd be much obliged, since the advantage more than one opinion gives usually covers more ground quickly.

[He'd probably look somewhat sheepish what with his lapse in attention earlier, if his expression could be seen.]

Well, don't go risking your health in order to get a good sample. I'm sure that we'll still find out quite a bit from whatever scrap you've got thus far.

[ Ratchet rubs his hands together, also eager for the chance to talk to someone about science. He's been living with war-builds for so long... oh. But Skyfire really ought to protect himself, yes. ]

Of course! Don't let me distract you -- go take these slaggers out, then come find me after they're taken care of!

[ Pause, then, with a bit of a smile in his voice-- ]

Or if you get hurt. I want to see you pronto in that case, as well.

Ratchet, out.

There would be more needed than what the average of these shark-like creatures are capable of to injure me, truly, unless I was particularly... careless.

[He chuckles and nods, unseen or not.]

Certainly, on both accounts. I usually don't make a habit of not going to a medic when there's one available.

[Jetfire really isn't difficult in that regard and then let's the feed cut after Ratchet's called it.]

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[Video] - transmission from the outer edge of Haven

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/threadjack [Video]

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/threadjack [Video]

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/threadjack [Video]

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/threadjack [Video]

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Geez how did I lose track of this?

/cries softly

I still love you I swear! <3 (Is this too old? Can drop and do something new if you want.)

we can always do a few more and see if it works, or otherwise drop it.

Sounds good. ^_^

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btw, been assuming this was voice?

should work, yes