Do what you guys want. I'm eager to bring Optimus back but it doesn't have to be a quick battle. I don't plan on bringing him on-line until the Axalon is clear of Maximals inside (except for those in CR's) unless they're unconscious. If any Preds are left inside, they will have to face his wrath before he takes care of the Preds outside, or be left for someone else to clean them up. 
Mwahahahahahaha! Oh, Phoenix, Airazor is in a CR in the hangar, not in either of the two that are located near the command center where Aurora and Ironclaw are. Just FYI. ))
Ignoring Terrosaur's bantering and keeping himself protected from his laser shots, Rattrap did his best to hold his ground with the turret gun system. His back ached from the wound Steelclaw had inflicted on him earlier, and it was growing more difficult to focus with that and the flying lizard's condensending words, not too mention nightfall. ((OOC: Someone mentioned battling during the night, right?)) Nevertheless, this acting Commander wasn't going to give up easily, not after everything he and the rest of the Maximals had already been through. Optimus's death would not be in vain. These slagging Predacons were NOT going to win! This fueled Rattrap's enthusiasm and he concentrated on hitting his opponent."Ahahahaha! Where did you learn to shoot, Mousy? You couldn't hit the broadside of Omega Supreme's backside with aim like that!"
Rattrap's optics widened with a gulp in his throat as he witnessed the heavy fire of his lasers beginning to rain down on him. Slapping a button set the turret system to automatic firing so he could flee at the last second before it was too late. The guns continued firing to the best of their ability at Terrosaur before his firepower melted the barrels and the armor caved in on the controls. Having had leaped off prior to the Predacon's barrage, Rattrap landed hard on his hands and feet right next to the rock formation that he had been perched on with the Nomad's turrets. Crouching and leaning his back against the rock, he covered his audio sensors when the barrels backfired and blew up the whole gunning system right above his head. Fire and a large plume of smoke filtered into the air. For the moment, Rattrap remained hidden behind the rock, hoping that Terrorsaur got hit by a shot from the turrets before they exploded, or would assume he killed him and move on to another target, or that someone else would distract him. Anything to give Rattrap time to figure out his next move because otherwise he was a sitting duck and he feared his firepower was inferior to Terrorsaur's. He already used up his two demo charges earlier with Cheetor and didn't restock them before this battle began."Here, let me show you how its done"
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Rhinox grumbled under his breath. So far nothing was going right, except for Whitegrazer's return and Aurora's repairs. And how were the others holding up outside? No time to check since he had his own mess to deal with. Instead of speaking into his comm. link, he sent the young Fuzor a message: @Aurora: Two Predacons have infiltrated the command center. Either stay where you are and protect Ironclaw, or find another way outside to help someone in the battlefield. He wasn't sure what to do at this point. Maybe she could help him and Whitegrazer if she could sneak up on the two they were dealing with. Maybe she'd make her own decision and it would be the right one. He trusted her. Right now he was short on choices and a plan. Seeing how well this Umbra fellow took care of himself in such an unfamiliar ship, Rhinox deactived Sentinel before it could do anymore harm to Whitegrazer. Things were definitely looking grim..."Still unconscious,"
His machine that Whitegrazer had been using was damaged now from all the gunfire and offline. He had no idea if it had worked; they would have to wait and see. He wasn't going to let on what it was for to anyone, and just hoped no one would give a second glance to the cables and cords running from it and into another room.
The science engineer watched Umbra take his real form while "Dinobot's" appearance dissolved. Quite remarkable, and the ability intrigued Rhinox but he didn't dwell on it under the circumstances.
Honor and respect? Who was this Predacon? Another like Onyx and Steelclaw perhaps? He couldn't let his guard down but he did halt his firing and listened to the new Pred.Well.. I'm not so sure on coordination now.. but you did force me out of my disguise.. So I guess I should stop holding back as my way of honor and respect.
Rhinox's red optics simply studied Umbra's observations without commenting as he peeked over the large, round table that was he was using as his cover. Was it that obvious that they weren't soldiers? Well, it was obvious to Rhinox that Umbra had no idea who he was fighting and why. Maybe he didn't care. "That's because we're unlike any other puzzle you'd be familiar with," the rhinoceros commented in a somewhat calm voice. Maybe he could interest his curiosity or distract him with conversation. "If payment is your only motivation to this war, then you will not survive because you lack what we thrive on."I'm guessing this isn't a military vessel? Though Dinobot seems like a seasoned vet,Cheetor on the other hand is a little too hotblooded to be out of the Academy..Your defenses are also set on stun.. I dunno.. just too many puzzle pieces aren't fitting yet..But I guess it doesn't matter, I wont get paid until my mission is complete.
Narrowing his optics at Cecaelia, Rhinox lifted the round console that had been his cover and tossed what was left of it at her, resisting the urge to fire his chain gun instead. It would be difficult to dodge it as small as the room was. But she should be thankful because at this point, he felt like smashing both of them into tin cans with his bare hands and tossing them outside as recyclables, much like how Waspinator always ended up. Was it worth it to show a little compassion to these two? Well, he didn't know them, and right now Whitegrazer was in trouble, so he didn't see much choice. Best not to lose who he was in order to defeat them. In any case, now the robust Maximal was exposed, but he kept his aim on Umbra until he reached behind himself and drew his twin chain gun which was now targeting Cecaelia. Two big, powerful guns and one large, angry Maximal. Make my day, he thought."Oh. My-AHHHHHH!!!" "SHUT UP! PONY!" "UMBRA, GET DOWN!"
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Meanwhile, in the room not far from the Axalon's bridge, the stasis pod holding the blank protoform quietly whirled to life as it downloaded data from a console it was hooked up to in the command center and received the gift of life it needed in order to proceed.
"Spark acquired," the pod's computer revealed inaudibly to anyone who wasn't in the same room it was as a bright, pulsating spark filtered into the blank protoform from Rhinox's machine. "Calibrating TransMetal interface..." it paused. "Calibration complete. Rendering... Activation code complete. Acquiring DNA code... Confirmed. Processing DNA sequence..."
Okay, so Rhinox threw what was left of the console. Still better than being shot at with his chain guns. 
And if one of the outcomes occurs, umm...I guess it would just give Optimus more motivation to kick some Predacon tailpipe when he returns? 
))
