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Post by Bomblast on Jul 18, 2011 9:23:45 GMT -5
Through a small gap in the smoke generated by Smokescreen, Torque saw that Perceptor had fallen.
"Oh no..."
Torque shifted his aim to the Seeker nearest his comrade and opened fire.
"Sorry Safecharm, looks like we're expecting some company!" He shouted over the roar of his weapon.
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Post by Neo Calrissian on Jul 20, 2011 16:37:01 GMT -5
Safecharm continued to fire at the oncoming seekers. The seekers swirled and fired overhead, creating massive destruction. As the firing intensified, Safecharm broke cover and ducked from side to side to distract the seekers from his comrades in no man's land. A nearby explosion knocked him off his feet, but didn't wound him. As Perceptor and Smokscreen reached the bomb crater, a figure appeared from inside and raised a handgun. Firing five shots, each seemed to find it's mark, striking a fuel tank and sending their enemies hurtling towards the ground. The shocked Autobots realized their contact had ended the fight in a matter of astro seconds, and stood dumbstruck as he walked towards them. As the smoke cleared, the figure could be seen leaning on a sword, and a familiar voice came from the settling dust. "Your aim still needs a little work, my friends." Standing before them, grinning, arm outstretched in welcome, was Nexus.
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Post by Bomblast on Jul 20, 2011 20:38:42 GMT -5
Torque had gone to Safecharm's aid and was carrying him to the crater where Smokescreen and Perceptor were. He almost dropped Safecharm when he saw who else was standing there.
"Nexus! You old pile of bolts! We've not seen you since we arrived at Fort St Pyrotron! How in the name of Primus have you been?!"
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Jul 21, 2011 8:06:04 GMT -5
"And where, precisely, have you been?" Asked the inquisitive Perceptor.
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Post by Neo Calrissian on Jul 22, 2011 15:49:23 GMT -5
Nexus smiled, spinning his blaster in his fingers and holstering it. He beckoned to his friends, inviting them into the bomb crater, which was a lot deeper than it had originally appeared, with some kind of hatch set into the side. He sat down heavily as the travelers gathered around, and began to speak. "I've been busy, my friends. Since I got here, the fight's been even harder then ever before- the Decepticons are getting more daring, and the Hellraiser cell in Iacon is at it's lowest ebb- this declaration by Straxus has left them demoralized and orderless. The Decepticons have taken control of the inner city- all of the defenses, the government buildings, the med centers... the only way we can win this battle is out here, in the slums of Dead End. If you're ready, I'd like to get you re-energized and out into the field immediately."
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Post by Bomblast on Jul 22, 2011 20:08:11 GMT -5
Torque grinned and clapped Nexus on the back.
"Back in the field? Why do you think we left Fort St Pyrotron? They've turned it into an R&D facility, which isn't suited too well for most of us here." He paused for a moment, then turned to Perceptor. "Sorry Perceptor."
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Jul 25, 2011 14:55:16 GMT -5
"You proceed from a false assumption that I am one that needs apologizes when comments are made and aimed at inflicting damage upon my self-esteem. I am an scientist. I have no ego to damage. Come, let us do as Nexus has said and remove ourselves from becoming targets of a much more destructive force." Suggested Perceptor.
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Post by Neo Calrissian on Jul 25, 2011 16:34:42 GMT -5
Nexus nodded happily. "I'm glad to here it, my friends. Your first assignments are recruitments: for what I've got planned for the coming solar cycles, we're going to need a few specialists. They're all Autobot vets, so I'm hoping they'll be happy to return to active duty." The hatch in the side of the 'crater' turned and opened. A tall, slight mech appeared from the darkness, brandishing a bottle of energon slugger. "Sorry I'm late, boss. Drink?" Simultaneously, Safecharm and Nexus looked at each other. "No thank you." "No thank you." "Ahem... Perceptor, this is Crosscut. He'll be aiding you in your mission. You're to pick up a tech specialist called Nyquist, who's currently imprisoned by Decepticons in an underground furnace facility. You'll need a few false IDs, as the only way in is via a heavily guarded service elevator; pick them up from requisitions back at base. From what I here, Nyquist a quiet, thoughtful bot with unmatched hacking skills. You two should get on just fine. Torque, you'll head out with Safecharm- you need to locate a special operative who goes by the name of Redline. My contacts tell me he's a tough customer; a skilled assassin who's troubled but loyal. He's been seen hanging around the bars in the Trade Depot, so I'd start there. Finally, you're with me, Smokscreen. We're seeking out a scout called Stryke, who's recently ended up besieged inside a abandoned temple to Primus in the tenement blocks to the east. We have to get to him before the 'Cons overwhelm him and have him extracted by our airborne forces. Not a lot known about this one: seems to keep to himself. His dossier flags him as perfect for my operation, though. Okay, comrades, you have your assignments. Shall we go?" He gestured to the hatch from which Crosscut had appeared.
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Post by Hoist on Jul 25, 2011 19:05:09 GMT -5
Smokescreen had transformed and was slightly more rested by the thoughts of all these vets and specialists. As the others seperated to their given orders, the Autobot had to wonder about this "Stryke" character. Slowly he approached Nexus to ask about their pick-up.
"This bot, Stryke, do you know how much he knows? Is anything known about him? - like whether he would blab if he was picked up? If he knows too much he could be more of a liability than an asset..." pondered Smokescreen.
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Post by Bomblast on Jul 26, 2011 6:52:10 GMT -5
Torque's shoulders slumped slightly.
"So me and Safecharm get to pick up a possible drunk? If he's as good as you say, would you be opposed to us sobering him up any way possible?"
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Jul 26, 2011 16:34:57 GMT -5
"Torque, if your contact doesn't live up to your expectations, you can always take Crosscut." Perceptor said as he eyed the energon slugger and moved for the entrance.
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Post by Bomblast on Jul 27, 2011 6:06:41 GMT -5
Torque laughed at Perceptor's comment.
"I love your sense of humour, Perceptor."
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Jul 27, 2011 12:08:56 GMT -5
What Torque didn't know was that Perceptor was deeply worried about this Crosscut person. He tried to hide it with thoughts of discovering what really happened back at the fort.
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Post by Neo Calrissian on Jul 28, 2011 15:46:25 GMT -5
Crosscut looked at Perceptor eying his bottle of slugger and making scathing comments about him, but simply shrugged and tossed the bottle carelessly to one side, before saluting the scientific bot.
"Apologies, sir. I came straight from a little celebration with the rest of the bots back at HQ- we heard that the survivors of Plaugeswarm were coming our way, and, well... we cracked open a bottle to welcome you, and we must've started out a little premature. I swear it won't effect my performance in the field, sir."
Nexus shrugged silently as Smokescreen asked him about Stryke.
"There's very little information on any of these mechs, I'm afraid. We know he was on his way to join Operation: Plaugeswarm and was held up by a seeker patrol before he made his way to Iacon, but other than that, very could be discerned from his file. Don't worry- his psyche profile didn't show up any red flags. I wouldn't have picked him if I didn't think we could trust him."
+++
And with that, the Autobots entered the confines of the hatch, into a tunnel that would lead them to HQ, and later their respective missions. Each was willing and ready for anything... or so they thought.
END OF CHAPTER 1
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