Ch.5 AUTOBOT STARSCREAM (Autobot thread)

[Neo Calrissian]

Retroblazer cocked his head and listened intently to the plans being cooked up. He piped up when Quickshot looked to him for his advice.
"I don't like the idea of putting you in harm's way, Quickshot. I vote you take Torque with you, and both maintain cloaks- I'll stay in reserve with Paraphus and Powerplay a click or two away, whilst our four fliers do a couple of fly-overs, make it look like a regular patrol."
He inwardly smiled.
"I ain't stupid. They don't call me security for nothin'."

[Onix Solo]

Quickshot shook his head

"I want Torque to keep Starscream in hi scope at all times. I can, however, be present with Jetfire while cloaked, if that is what Jetfire wants."

[Jazzman Crothers]

"Your a cloaker? I should of known they're would of been at least one cloaker on your team. If you and your team did remain out of sight, then we can truly learn what he is up to. And I dearly hope that this time, his intentions are somewhat honorable."

Soon it was decided that the Raiders would pick the location to meet Starscream and set the scene to escort Starscream back to the ruins of Iacon where Autobot HQ was station.

---

6 Astro Hours Later....

Close to the city state of Tarn, a strange section of Cybertron exist. A large body of energon induced coils grow at a extremely fast rate. Some are merely a long and narrow as regular fuel pipes, others as large and long as space shuttles. Some say its the result of the wild nano-mites that have been exposed to one of the openings that lead from the Well of Sparks, where Transformer life begins. What ever their origin, its a metallic jungle that easy to get lost in.

In this jungle lives the odd wild life that Cybertron is responsible for. Razor-wolves and Turbo-foxes hunt down anything they can get their jaws around while Micro-bat have claimed the sky, swooping down on victims when small robotic life forms will not suffice. Space slugs have made the rare appearance here and are in fact guarded under Cybertronian law since they have shown to be intelligent and help maintain the core of the planet. But the worst of them all would have to be the Cyber-spiders. Traveling in packs, they take hold of their victims and draining them of energon while they are still alive. They're had been reports that the Decepticons were using Cyber-spiders on Autobots, but to what extent the Decepticons could manipulate the creatures was unknown.

Before coming to this place, the Raiders geared up with all that they needed and fixed up as much as they could without drawing attention to themselves. And they still heard nothing about Max Convoy's fate. But they also didn't hear anything about their fight with the Wreckers.

So now they waited. As per Quickshot's orders, each Raider had their position. Torque, finally sobered up, took a high position with his sniper weapon ready. If he had to, he would rain a quick death on anyone who stepped out of line. Due to his hangover, he remained quieter then usual, which suited his task just fine.

The flyers flanked him at his left and his right about 35 feet away. Maverick and Swift were on the left while Indelible and Valkyrie were on the right. Each of them were instructed to wait until Quickshot gave the order to either escort Starscream or chase him, if need be.

Hidden on the ground, Powerplay was in tank mode and covered himself with the smaller coils, ready to roll out if he was needed. Paraphus and Retroblazer, on the ground as well, were instructed to hide and play look out for anyone else either then Starscream to appear.

In an clearing, in the center of where every Raider was, stood Jetfire, waiting for his "friend." Patiently he waited and hide whatever fear he had well enough that no one could tell what he was feeling. Quickshot was close by, but no one knew where.

[Speedy]

Valkyrie was paired up with Indellible on this... quest...

It definitely felt odd, not running a mission... or whatever this was... without their leader...

But it definitly beat having to possibly get reprimanded.

The flyers were perched up above the clearing, hidden, save for the opennings above them, which would make it easy to jet out if Starscream bolted.

"I can't help thinking this is a trap..." she said in a hushed tone, mainly to herself... then turned to Indellible.

"Er... sorry sir... thinking out loud." she added also hushed, and returned to her view of the clearing.

~I'll call Mav and Swift in a bit, see how they're doing...~ she thought, as she briefly looked in the direction they were.

She did prefer the first idea of the patrol fly-overs... but this way they could swarm Starscream, should he try to fly-out of there...

[Indelible]

"Internal comms only soldier", requested the Autobot, "We don't need excessive chatter on the air waves. Starscream may not be trustworthy, but he's no fool either."

Pulling out his Neutron Assault Rifle, Indelible began assembling the parts of the weapon in readiness. If it all went wrong, or Jetfire got into too much trouble/under the influence of Starscream, then he would have no trouble taking them out, both of them, if need be. Although he would only neutralize his fellow Autobot of course.

[Jazzman Crothers]

Off in the distance, a very audible snap was heard. It caught Jetfire's attention right away. His head snapped in the direction of the sound. At first, he saw nothing. Only shadows dancing across the cleaner spots on the massive coils along with the occasional flashes of light that reflected off their shiny surfaces.

Despite the lack of evidence that anything was there, Jetfire couldn't help but call out. "Starscream? Starscream is that you?"

"Over here my friend."

Startled by the voice that seemed to appear behind him, Jetfire about faced and saw a dark shadow close to a massive coil tree. The wings of the seeker was apparent and the voice was unmistakable. Out of the shadows came came the dark grey and red Decepticon that made the average Aerialbot shake with fear. "As promised, I am here."

Jetfire didn't look happy. "You could have radioed ahead. Suppose I had open fired?"

"Jetfire, Jetfire, Jetfire." Began Starscream. "You forget, I know you to well. You were expecting me so of course I knew you wouldn't have open fired. Besides, I'm a former Decepticon. Being sneaky runs in my fuel lines."

"Yes, former Decepticon." Prayed Jetfire. "Now we should move quickly. This place isn't safe, why you chose it is beyond me."

"To be alone of course. Any one of us being seen together wouldn't do much for our reputations now would it? You did come alone, right?"

Jetfire wondered if Starscream was aware of the Raiders. "Yes of course, like we agreed. Now if your serious about joining the Autobots then lets go!"

"Wait." Starscream said. "Lets think about this. Would the Autobots really trust me? Of course not. Even if they did, they would never allow me out of there sight and I'm sure I would be their puppet for all their scientific needs, just like you."

Jetfire was feeling stressed now. "I don't know where you got that from but thats not true."

"Oh but I think it is. Face it, your working on a way to combat dark energon aren't you? You know and I know that the substance is unstoppable. Wouldn't you prefer to work with under my command again? Megatron is need of a scientist of your caliber."

"This isn't what we discussed!" Jetfire was yelling now. "You told me that you wanted to defect to the Autobots!"

"Yes. I lied." Smirked Starscream. "Jetfire, we need you. No one will threaten you while Megatron is on power. No one will disobey him. Or me once me and you over throw him and take power of the Decepticons for ourselves. Think about. Your mind and my military cunning will be unstoppable. Especially after we have achieved victory over the Autobots. With you help of course. Help Megatron reach his goals and after wards, we will strike."

Jetfire realized that there was something Starscream knew that he didn't. The Autobot scientist decided he had best to get that knowledge out of Starscream now while he had the chance. "Wait. What exactly is Megatron up to? Has it something to do with the massacre of the Emptys?"

"Yes, and that is all I will tell you. Make a choice Jetfire. Don't wind up on the losing team. Optimus Prime has no idea what Megatron has up his sleeve this time."

Jetfire was at a lost. He didn't know what to do or say. He hoped the Raiders would make a move and soon. Had they lost all trust in him now that Starscream made him look like a fool for believing him?

Jetfire couldn't wait. He made his move. "Damn you Starscream. I will have no more of this. You have wasted my time. Go now, leave and never contact me again."

"Oh I'll leave, but not without you." Starscream raised his arm to reveal his nuller ray rifle. "I suggest you disarm yourself. I promise that I won't damage you permanently. How painlessly I do so is up to you and how you cooperate."

[Onix Solo]

Quickshot hadn't been far away from Jetfire the whole time. Just off to the two's right. He was ready with Battle pistol trained on Starscream. He couldn't say he was suprised by the outcome of this situation, but like he told Jetfire, the Raiders weren't leaving without Starscream, one way or another. Quickshot got on internal comms with the team.

*com*"Starscream double crossed us. He's here to take Jetfire to the 'Con's, not the other way around. Fliers, get ready. Retroblazer, Powerplay, move in after we engage."*com*

Quickshot lined up a shot at Starscreams Null Ray and in a moment of silent stillness, he took his shot, hoping to disable Starscream's rifle.

*com*"Torque, disable him!"*com*

[Speedy]

Valkyrie switched to the internals channel, where the team would hear her in their head, but not beyond that.

"Right... sorry, sir..." she said to Indellible.

She turned her attention back to the clearing.

~I still have a bad feeling about this...~ she thought.

Then Starscream appeared... still wrapped up in his ego while he spoke...

She was going to radio Swift and Maverick anyway to see how they were, but that topic then changed.

+Silent Flyers COM+

"Swift, Mav... If the snipers can't get him... we pursue, disabling shots only... we need him in... most of a piece..." she said, radioing to the other two flyers...

She turned to Indellible.

"Unless there's another plan..." she continued, looking at the veteran..

+COM+

[Bomblast]

Swift stretched himself out, getting ready to take to the skies. He looked over at Maverick and nodded.

+++COMM+++
"Roger that. Just remember, Starscream is as tricky in the sky as he is on the ground. And where there's one Seeker, there are usually more."
+++COMM+++

Torque had his weapon trained on Starscream since the Seeker had appeared. He shifted his aim to Starscream's weapon when he heard Quickshot.

+++COMM+++
"Roger that. I have a shot."
+++COMM+++

Torque aimed for the centre of Starscream's weapon and fired.

[Jazzman Crothers]

Starscream's nuller ray exploded when Quickshot open fired. The seeker reacted, his fast-seeker reflexes moving him out of the way but not fast enough as Torque's shot found a target. "ARAARGH! My Foot! Thundercracker cover me!"

Off to the left where Starscream had been, a flash of machine gun fire came to life. Bullets rained upwards at Torque.

Jetfire began to run for cover. After the first few steps, he fell to the ground violently, as if something had hit him.

"Lets Rock!" Yelled Powerplay as he tore out from cover. He headed towards Starscream.

"Come gang! Lets get down there!" Yelled Maverick, who was ready to ignore his orders of staying in position to fly after Starscream if needed just to get in on the action below.

Before he could make his move, something from the shadows jumped on him. Two purple creatures attached themselves to his back and knocked him down.

Swift then saw what had attacked Maverick, Cyber-Spiders. More began to approach him.

Valkyrie and Indelible and even Torque began to see spiders coming to invade their positions.

[Indelible]

"Too late for other plans soldier!" warned Indelible as the shots rang out and the cyber-spiders began to appear. In the commotion the Autobot had yet to see Maverick ensared by the creatures, concerned more by Starscream and Jetfire.

+++ COMM +++
This is commander Indelible to all Autobots, shoot to defend only! I don't care what happens to Thundercracker but Starscream more valuable alive than he is dead!
+++ COMM +++

As he was about to join the fire-fight amongst the coils, he noticed a horde of purple cyber-spiders coming towards him and the other Autobot, "Valkyrie! Cover me and take out as many as those cyber-spiders as you can, I must contact Jetfire! Slag it."

+++ COMM +++
Indelible to jetfire are you injured! Please resond! Come in Jetfire|!
+++ COMM +++

[Bomblast]

Swift deployed his club and swung at one of the spiders on Maverick, knocking it clean off. He was about to swing at the other when it leapt at him. They both fell to the floor with Swift on the bottom as more spiders closed in.

Torque ducked behind cover and activated his cloak as machine gun fire raked his position. He deployed his scimitar, ready to deal with the spiders.

[Onix Solo]

Quiskhot realised the situation was in a position to spiral out of control fast, and the rumors of the 'Cons using the cyber-spiders seemed all to true.

*com*"Fliers, strafe the coil-line* Retro, Powerplay, secure Starscream! Paraphus secure Jetfire!"*com*

Quickshot didn't know what to hit, did he go after Thundercracker? But then he didn't think Jetfire just tripped on his own.Still invisible from somewhere near by, Quickshot spoke out to Jetfire

"Jetfire, you okay? What happened?"

* OOC: coil-line, like a tree-line, but coils

[Jazzman Crothers]

Jetfire didn't respond as he was knocked out. From behind him, Cyber-Spiders began to approach him.

As Quickshot spoke out to Jetfire, he then heard someone close by say, "A-Ha!"

Pain shot through Quickshot's body as he was lifted off his feet. As he hit the ground, he could see Skywarp appearing out of thin air, so to speak. The seeker couldn't see Quickshot so he ordered the spiders to grabbed Jetfire. "Hurry up and get him out of here!"

Indelible could now see more and more Cyber-Spiders coming out of the coil jungle. Many of them began to jump down on Powerplay and swarm the tank bot while others began to jump from the tallest parts of the coils to another. All the while trailing a strange string like substance behind them, that attached its self to the top parts of the coils.

Maverick fought back as the spider tried to bite him. The first one back already taken a bite out of Maverick's shoulder, and his inner system readings were showing that he had been drained of a small percentage of energon.

Realizing that if more spiders were to swarm on him and Swift, Maverick made a quick decision. He pushed off the spider that was on him and tackled Swift. The two aerialbots and the spider still fighting to bite Swift fell off the large coil and on to the ground. They ended up within the jungle of coils, on the outside of the clearing where Jetfire was suppose to meet Starscream.

The spiders around Torque began to search franticly for him when they could no longer see him. But they were getting closer to where he was positioned.

Down below....

"Starscream your an idiot!"

"Shut up you fool! Eleinate the Autobots all ready! We must take Jetfire or Megatron will have our heads! Skywarp, grab Jetfire and lets go!"

[Bomblast]

Torque moved slowly and carefully as the spiders moved closer. He targetted the nearest to him and waited. Once the spider was within striking distance, Torque lashed out with his scimitar and neatly bisected the spider. His cloak flickered when he attacked, causing the remaining spiders to see him briefly. He quickly moved to a new position, careful not to get too cloe to the spiders.

Swift landed hard, with Maverick on top of him and a now flattened spider underneath. He tried to get up, but struggled with Maverick still on him.

"Hey, dinner and a movie first buddy."

Once on his feet, Swift switched from his melee weapon to his firearm. He looked at Maverick.

"Quickshot has the right idea. Let's play to our strengths and go upstairs, show the Seekers who rules the skies." He said with a grin.