[Original RPG] Shadow War: Time and Disregard (Polyhex)

[Reflector]

It is the year 2025. After the Quintessons' expulsion from Cybertron and a short period of detente while both sides rebuilt, tensions mounted and the war for territory has begun again. In Polyhex, the city bustles in a secretive way, operating as a city-state at war without the official declaration having been given. Gigatron orchestrates border skirmishes at his convenience from Castle Darkmount while the remainder of the army mills about the city on perpetual standby.

********

Darkmount: Throne Room

Gigatron stood again on his balcony overlooking Polyhex. This time the fires had been quelled and order was restored - Polyhex was Decepticon again. It wasn't quite what his vision had dreamed yet, but it was on its way. For now the leader returned to his chamber to address the calls that were sure to be inundating his intercom.

[Heinrad]

Praxus, suburb of Polyhex:


Sitting in the middle of what was one the town center of Praxus is a massive impact crater, a crater that would be left by a starship slamming into the surface. Built into the crater, around the mangled hulk of the battle fortress, is a frame gantry.

At various levels of the gantry, scupper drones work, repairing the hull.

Trypticon: -now much shorter than he used to be, sitting in base mode, his systems monitoring the status of the drones and the general percentage of the work completed- "And I thought things would be more exciting now that I can mingle......"

-----------------------
Temporary construction hut:


Leozak: "Well?"

Drillhorn: -pouring over charts- "Yes, we're on schedule to convert Trypticon's body into a starship, given that we don't want anybody to know about it. But....."

Leozak: "But what?"

Drillhorn: "We lack power systems. No reactors, and the one heavy power system converter array we had left is currently powering our newest team member."

Leozak: "At least he's loyal."

Drillhorn: "Given the number of guns we put on him, he'd better be loyal."

[Skidmark]

Just above Praxus:
Sixshot arrives at Polyhex after Cloudraker and Fastlane escape from his clutches. He sees the massive crater and goes to investigate and lands near the construction hut.
------------------------------------------------------

Sixshot:"What the.......What's going on here?

[optimusskids]

Wingspan's office

Wingspan sighed and then shut an intelligence summary from the Conviction the wreck of the ship lay at the edge of Polyhex's space landing field having been towed there by the Tyrant and very carefuly manouvred into position. It had proved a goldmine of information about Quintessons and their naval forces. Some of the codes were however proving stubborn.

Wingspan pushed his chair back wheels skittering on the deck plates and checked the wall chronometer.

He'd hit a dead end maybe he'd go and see Excavator a visit a visit to his friend might be just the thing.

[Heinrad]

Praxus, temporary construction hut:


Leozak and Drillhorn: -look up at Sixshot barges in-

Leozak: -scowling- "We're trying to rebuild Trypticon, what does it look like we're doing?"

Drillhorn: "What do you want, Sixshot? Most of the resources we've been able to scavenge from this rubble pit of a city is going into our work. Although if you know where we can get a couple of quarter-sun fission reactors, I'm sure the Captain here will be much friendlier."

[Skidmark]

Praxus,Temporary construction hut:


Sixshot:"All I have is a few energon cubes.Take it or leave it."

[Heinrad]

Temporary construction hut, Praxus:


Drillhorn: "We'll take them."

[Skidmark]

Temporary construction hut, Praxus:

Sixshot:"Well here you go."
He hands them the energon cubes.

[optimusskids]

Sublevel 15 , Maze

Weirdwolf prodded the empty along the corridor. The empty had been lucky to survive for so luck the Decepticons, the Quintessons the invasion. Looked like his luck had just run out though.

Weirdwolf prodded the empty into a large room.

"to the maze welcome yes."

The empty looked up at Weirdwolf with dull optics.

Weirdwolf grinned.

"setting free you am i, next room in find will you a energy recharge full and a vibro cutlass."

The empty looked at Weirdwolf

"why oh why are you doing this?"

Weirdwolf grinned some more

"like I hunt be to sporting yesss. You have 2 Breems and after then come will I."

a look of puzzlement and confusion flashed cross the mechs face and then a tiny flicker of hope.

"Get you maze out of merciful will be I."

The empty looked relieved.

"oh thank you lord Decepticon thank you."

Weirdwolf showed a full set of teeth as his grin widened."

"yes kill you will I quickly."

The empty's hope changed to fear and he scuttled quickly into the ante chamber with the weapons and energy in them.

[Skidmark]

Temporary construction hut, Praxus

Sixshot:"So what do you plan to do with Tripticon once his rebuilt?"

[Warcry]

(OOC: Weirdwolf = brilliance )

Command Centre, Darkmount

Astrotrain looked up from the datapad in his hands to greet the two Decepticons approaching him. The shorter of the two, a brightly-coloured Targetmaster, handed the admiral a datacard.

"A report on our operation in the Rad Zone, sir," he said. "The smugglers were totally unprepared for our attack. The air strike wiped out the whole nest of them, it would seem."

"Good work, Spinister. Any casualties on your part?"

"None," the Air Commander said with more than a little pride. Astrotrain had noticed the other Decepticon's demeanour warming a bit since they'd retaken their homeworld. He was still unreadable and remote, but the arms-length detachment that he'd created between himself and his fellow Decepticons had receded, if only a little bit. "I've already sent the team off for a bit of recreation." He crossed his arms obstinately. "Which, I'm afraid to say, is why we're here."

"What are you talking about?"

The third Decepticon, silent until now, spoke up. "What he's talking about, boss, is that you've been spot-welded ta this chair since before we left. We're goin' drinkin' and you're comin' with us." Ramjet grinned and grabbed Astrotrain by the arm, lifting him out of his chair.

"This is mutiny," the admiral protested weakly.

"Damn right," Ramjet said, his grin widening. "And you wish we'd do it more often."

"Yep." Astrotrain shrugged. "Let me guess...the Black Nova?"

"The Black Nova," Ramjet told him.
_______________________________

Black Nova Bar, The Dead End

Cyclonus sat in the bar's darkest corner with his back to the wall, his oxidizing laser resting on the table in front of him and Nightstick perched nearby. His red optics blazed, cutting through the shadows around him and giving the powerful warrior a diabolical air. The rest of the dive's patrons made sure to give the Targetmaster a wide berth, and even the serving staff seemed to be reluctant to approach; had he actually been drinking the energo-ale in front of him, he would have been vaguely irritated by now.

In ages past, he would have written off the other Transformers' fear as a reaction to having a high-ranking Decepticon officer in their fuelling hole...but Cyclonus hadn't been a Decepticon in a long time. He'd abandoned his rank when, in the aftermath of the war with the Quintessons, it became clear that Gigatron didn't know what Galvatron's fate had been and had no real interest in finding out. Such treachery from his master's chosen heir had been, to say the least, galling, and Cyclonus had no interest in serving such a mech. In fact, he had no interest in serving anyone who wasn't Galvatron.

And so he'd dedicated these past years to searching for his fallen leader. To finding him at all costs. To reviving him if possible. To avenging him if not. His quest hadn't been without difficulties, though, and he'd had to make compromises.

And at that moment, one of those compromises entered the bar and slid into the seat opposite him.

"What do you have for me?" Cyclonus didn't bother to look up at his visitor.

"A new lead," the cloak-wearing Transformer told him in a curious accent that wouldn't have been out of place in northern New Jersey. "We gots us an idea 'bout where the Quints is hidin', and we's willin' ta hand it over ta youse. For a price."

"Naturally." Cyclonus finally looked up at the other Transformer, but didn't bother leaning in furtively toward his co-conspirator. "What does Black Shadow want this time?"

"Nothin' too hard," the gangster assured him. "See, there's this, uh, other client of ours that's got a big hate goin' for the Quints. We's hear that there's a few Quints hiding out with the neutrals up in Protihex. He's lookin' for a partic'lar Quint whose s'posed ta be hangin' around there. I got a dossier for youse on him." He tossed a datacard across the table, and Cyclonus caught it without thinking. "We needs ya to head ta Protihex, blend in, and find out as much as youse can about this guy. Get us the info we need, we give youse the location of the Quints, and they can tell ya what they did with Galvatron. Deal?"

"Deal." Scooping up his weapons, Cyclonus stormed out of the bar without another word.
_______________________________

Astrotrain brushed past the familiar purple Decepticon as he walked into the bar, and visibly shuddered when he realized who it was.

I'm just glad Spinister didn't see him, the admiral thought. A gunfight here would just mean more paperwork.

A smile on his face, Astrotrain followed his friends toward the bar.

(OOC: Any Decepticons with nothing better to do, feel free to join in on their carousing. )

[optimusskids]

The Black Nova Bar

Pounce glared at the barman

"Same again and make it quick."

[Reflector]

Darkmount: Throne Room

It had taken less time than Gigatron had anticipated to dispatch his myriad callers and peruse a mountain or two of reports on reconstruction, maneuvers, and intelligence. With much of his menial work behind him, he clicked on his throne's communicator.

"Cryotek, see me at my chamber."

********

Central Hospital

The damages had been more severe than the doctors had at first suspected. Multiple gunshot wounds suffered while defending the Tyrant had damaged critical computational centers, and there were few Decepticon technicians or doctors who fully understand the repercussions felt by Reflector's unconventional systems.

Gigatron had insisted on returning his best loyal spy to action, and a dozen experts had been called in to consult on the case. Much time passed with Reflector on life support while the medics fought with opinions. Eventually something resembling a consensus formed: they would meld the best parts from each into one survivor and pray theircollective mind could handle the strain.

The procedure had been as laborious as the decision. After years of toil combining Viewfinder's body, Spyglass' head, and Spectro's face, they had brought the new construct to stable condition. There had been some lively debate and friendly wagers over just how the snoop would handle the change.

The door to Reflector's CR chamber slid open, and Reflector alone stumbled out, looking haggard but new. The technician who had overseen the last stage of his recovery stared at him tentatively.

"How do you feel?" the technician asked.

Reflector regarded the hospital room with bewildered optics. "Different," he answered, three voices at once. "Alone. Where are..." He wasn't sure which to ask for, all three submitting different ideas.

"Your other components?" the technician offered. "You are them. We had to modify your design to save you. I'm sorry. We had no choice."

Reflector looked unconvinced of the answer, and he began to shake abruptly. The technician watched in awe as a light wireframe silhouette of Reflector stepped out of his the spy's body, materializing with color as it pulled in metal dust from the air to form armor. A second followed a moment later, thus leaving three identical clones, save the shutter in the original's torso.

"Better," they declared in unison. "Thanks."

Reflector marched out of their room in unison, the awed technician looking on in wonder and confusion.

[optimusskids]

Cental Hospital

Slicer looked up from his datapad as he heard a commotion across the corridor. His hobby of pimpin' vehicles had lead to a desire to try his hand at the medical profession. As an opportunity to inflict pain and suffering on helpless victims it was beyond compare.
However patients were reluctant to fall under the care of the brutal Decepticon massive assault specialist however he had found a niche in the realm of cosmetic surgery. That and in the morgue.
The other medical staff were reluctant to let him anywhere else really reasoning that the dead could not complain and applying a coat of paint and an extra spoiler or two was unlikely to cause permanent damage.
Slicer was not altogether happy about this situation but it did have some upsides one of which was the ability to strip the corpses in his care for spare parts , fiddle the paperwork and sell the bits on the blackmarket. Before the remenants were sent away to be smelted.

[Heinrad]

Temporary construction hut, Praxus:


Leozak: "Get a larger crew, for a start. Then go do what we Des-er, Decepticons are destined to do. Go into space and expand the Empire."

*********************
The Black Nova:


Thundercracker: -sitting with the others, yet apart, nursing his drink, feeling out of place, as usual-

[tahukanuva]

Black Nova

Dethlok's strode into the doorway, his huge bulk attracting much attention, he didn't really notice. What he did notice, however, were the familiar faces of the Decepticon's just "Thundercracker, my friend, it's been a few months since I've seen you," he said, sitting down across from the seeker.

------------------------

Polyhex: Market

Flattop sat behind the counter of his shop, watching the people pass by his modest storefront. I wonder why Sunstorm hasn't stopped by in a while. He just hasn't been the same since Deathsaurus left...

-------------------------

Polyhex: Temple

Sunstorm sat in a small throne he'd erected beside the statue of Primus. He'd put the throne there shortly after the retaking, though he rarely left it anymore. While he'd always disagreed with Deathsaurus' atheist arguments, Sunstorm just couldn't shake the feeling that, deep down... he might've been right.

[redman prime]

Black Nova Bar:

Apeface and Snapdragon were close to the back door, avoiding and in turn being avoided by everyone. Which suited them both just fine. Apeface spit after every small sip of his fourty weight, which had been in steady succession since they had wandered in a few hours ago.

Neither spoke; merely grunting when another cocktail was needed. if it wasn't for the slosh of Snapdragon's small pool of leaked oil and Apeface's mucus, the silence would deafen.


More towards the front of the bar were two smaller, yet distinctly more boisterous cons, Rumble and Frenzy. The brothers sat belly up to the bar, howling obscenities at whomever was near enough to be offended.

Pounce just happened to be near enough. "Hey, Pounce, why don't you grow a pair and just get it yourself?" Rumble hollered out, reaching over and grabbing a bottle of twice distilled energon malt.

"Give me that, you twit." as Frenzy snatched the bottle out of his hand and proceded to take a quick hit off of it.
"Next?" he raised the bottle and gestured it towards Thundercracker.

[Ravage]

Hatemonger sat in his office. He was watching several holovids of what was going on around Cybertron.

Much to his surprise the probe that many other Decepticons and himself was never discovered allowing him a means to peek into events on the planet.

However, nothing drew his attention yet.

The General mused and sat in his chair waiting.

***********************************************

OOC I had an idea for Blackstar's TM Partner Shatterstar. If it's ok with the mods I will add it to his profile if not just pm me and I shall edit away!

Cryotek's Lab

After the retaking of Cybertron Cryotek found himself a new home in the largest lab he could find in Darkmount.

He crackled with glee as a new project of him started to come to life on a table when Gigatron summoned him.

The Decepticon genius looked down at Shatterstar, he lost his Targetmaster partner Blackstar during the one of the battles for Cybertron. He found he made a decent replacement for his former Bird Cryo and kept the being around.

"Looks like it's time for business." Cyrotek said looking at the Nebulon. "Watch the lab." He said walking out the door.

"You got it." Shatterstar said monitoring a scanner.

*************************************

Roadblock was out on a firing range making sure he was ready in the event of another battle.

**************************************

Bar

The Predacons all sat in their own area of the bar. Calling over drinks when they felt like it. Razorclaw was generally relaxed but eying the whole bar.

Tantrum and Rampage were wondering if starting a fight would be of amusment as Divebomb and Headstrong were busy trying to play an Astro-Pinball machine.

[optimusskids]

Black Nova bar

Pounce looked down at the 2 casseticons

"What did you say?"

his weapons suddenly appeared in each hand bayonet glinting in the light.

[Reflector]

Central Hospital

In the hall, Reflector glanced groggily through the window of the room across the corridor, making optic contact with Slicer. Although their minds were still in the process of coalescing, Reflector realized how intimidating it must be to have six optics returning the attention of two, and the three clones smirked mischievously. Maybe these new accomodations would work out after all...

********

Zenith: Constructors' Lab

Finally it was done and everything was in readiness. In the corner of the laboratory, held vertically by a tractor stretcher, the manifestation of Hammer's design stood lifeless. It was a slender white and red Micromaster, clearly military in appearance and sporting a ferocious visage. Excavator had built it exactly to specifications, except for his addition of Stonecruncher's particle cannon embedded in the torso. He was almost proud of his work. Almost.

With the preparations complete, Excavator tapped a few keys on the console before him. The monitors washed with a red digital countdown from 83, and Excavator took the time to move into a glass tube next to the new frame. He pulled a metal cap attached to a cable down over his head, identical to the one atop his creation. Excavator looked down at Stonecruncher's petrified dying fluids still encrusted on his torso. The countdown ended, and the corridor outside was flooded with pink and white light from within the lab...