(( OOC: Great posts, guys! I'm very much enjoying everything going in the battle, especially the Predacons' attitudes and humor. Keep it rolling!
@una and NK: I'm assuming you guys already have a plan of some sort since you haven't given me a chance to jump in with Rhinox, which is cool. I wasn't sure what to do with him, but if you're definitely going to have Whitegrazer duke it out with Umbra, then I'll get Rhinox and Tigatron out of there. I don't want to do the same thing I did to WorpeX with Airazor.
Oddly enough, I keep track of all that information and much more!
Well, thank you for correcting me, NK. I try to keep track but my brain and memory can only handle so much. XD
Was waiting for DarkSpark to post with Terrorsaur, but he'll get another chance to chase down Rattrap if he wants. Gotta take advantage of the shields being down so he can get across the waterfall through the
Axalon. XD
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IC:
"Report, vermin!" "You know I have not given you permission to be destroyed by anyone but me!"
"Lucky for you, Chopper Face, that was just a nice fireworks display I put on ta celebrate the Preds' inevitable victory!" Rattrap joked over their transmission. Wait... Did Dinobot really care about him? Dawwwww, that over-grown iguana! He nearly gagged at the thought. Sort of. Back to business, in a more serious tone he added,
"Nomad's turrets are down, thanks ta Terrordork. I'll be on the other side of the 'fall shortly." Witnessing the
Axalon's shields being deactivated, Rattrap didn't think Rhinox would have done so in the middle of a battle, unless they were already depleted. That wouldn't be good. In fact, that would pretty much be the end for them. As darkness covered the entire region, he peeked around the large rock formation in search of Terrorsaur in the sky. Taking a chance, he sprinted to the
Axalon's hangar entrance and hurried inside, closing the large door behind him and unaware of Manterror's presence. That is until he noticed a hole in the wall and the giant bug tantalizing Airazor who was stuck in the large CR. So he quickly hid behind some large crates near a wall.
"Yo, Big Green, what's with the shields?" the rat asked in a whisper over his comm. link while he while thunderous booms from outside the hull could be heard from the battlefield, rattling the ship.
"And why didn't ya tell me we had a mantis infestation too?"
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You're right,what you thrive on is hope..After all, that's what lights our darkest hour is it not?
Hope was a big part of it, yes, but Umbra wasn't able to see the whole picture. Perhaps because of who he was, his lifestyle, his occupation, his past. Rhinox didn't know, and he didn't dare waste time explaining.
Lady Cecaelia, I'd advise caution when playing with your new toys.. You know while that feels kinda pleasant.. it's awkward..
The interaction between the two Preds suggested they were indeed partners of some sort, and also far too confident in their business on an enemy vessel. They didn't seem to be the hardcore, kill-every-Maximal type either, which was both useful and merciful. All of this analyzing made the rhinoceros hesitate on smashing them into itty bitty Preddy pieces with his twin guns of doom. Still, he kept them aimed at them.
"Really? You know... I know a Predacon crimelord who owes me a favor. She could triple the amount of whatever you are bei-"
You know how many bots have tried the line that they know a crime lord or banker or so willing to pay more if I switch sides? It's insulting..I'm not merely some murderer or two bit freebooter you know. I have scruples about my contracts, otherwise how else do you get returning clients? Besides.. I already gave you guys the same offer and laid everything out in the open, Dinobot refused on your behalf since he didn't like my methods, the Predacons didn't mind and showed the goods upfront.
"We'll see how long that lasts," Rhinox managed a cold chuckle, thinking how absurd this whole situation sounded.
"Megatron will use you as a pawn just like he does with every Predacon. He doesn't follow contracts," Rhinox decided to warn him. If this octopus guy thought he was "safe" with contracts and getting paid every time, then he was sadly mistaken, and he was probably going to find out the hard way, like Glowstick had. Very unfortunate. As for Dinobot's actions according to Umbra, Rhinox agreed with the decision. If all this guy was looking for was payment instead of out of the kindness of his spark, then he most likely didn't belong with the Maximals because there was nothing they could offer except friendship, loyalty, trust, kindness and compassion. Nothing materialistic that could satisfy him.
Personally.. I don't like using hostages.. So, I think I'll arrange something more fair and fitting, for a intellectual like yourself Big guy..
The robust engineer watched him closely, his worn index fingers on the triggers of his large guns, ready to fire. The disks were already spinning, but he didn't unveil any bullets yet to either him or Cecaelia.
You have 1 minute 30 seconds before the bomb detonates.. If you try to disable the mag lock before disabling the bomb, it'll go off on the four of us. Good luck, we'll be cheering for you.
With Whitegrazer suddenly pushed in his direction, Rhinox was forced to drop one of his guns and catch her in his open arm just before she plowed into him. Growling, he looked at the bomb attached to her back, his red optics enlarging as Umbra wished him luck on disarming it. Following his tentacle that was pointing at Tigatron unconscious on the floor, Rhinox frowned and quickly put both of his guns away.
Lady Cecaelia.. head into the hall, but be careful of ambushes.. we don't know how many are left on the ship. I'll remain on the bridge. We need to finish both parts of the mission. Normally I don't do introductions.. but usually my targets don't live this long either... As it's more polite to introduce yourself first,My name is Umbra.
"B-bb-but partners should stick together! ... Alright.."
And him and Whitegrazer might not be living that much longer anyway, so what was the point to introductions? Those were for ones who actually wanted to have a conversation without killing them. Standing behind the white mare in robot mode, Rhinox studied the bomb cautiously while Cecaelia hurried out of the bridge.
"Umbra... I heard that name before. Wait."
Rhinox blinked, bewildered as Whitegrazer casually walked away from him when he was trying to figure out what he could do to diffuse the bomb on her back.
"It's an honor to meet you, Umbra. Pardon me for being brief: I issue a challenge against you. Defeat me under one minute and thirty seconds and I will gladly allow myself to submit to my consequence. If I defeat you, you will take the bomb off me and you and Cecacila will leave our ship immeidately. I only have one condition: Rhinox and Tigatron be able to exit the bridge... away from our fight or harm."
Has she lost it?! thought the rhino.
"I can disarm it, Whitegrazer," Rhinox objected as he took a step toward her, pleaing with an extended hand. Watching her smile at Umbra with this senseless offer of her's, he could only shake his head in disbelief. This was an unnecessary tactic! If they lost her and Optimus came back... Frankly, he didn't know what that would do to him. ...If he comes back. Should it be taking this long? Did it work at all?
"Your move, Umbra."
Rhinox stayed where he was, lowering his hand and watching them.
Oh? You throw up a bargain hard to refuse..Though do remember.. it's rude to challenge someone without presenting your name first.. Your master should of taught you that before you learned Diffusion.
...Still lost.
Your two friends are free to go. I accept your terms and establish this as a contract, prepare yourself.. "Miss Pony".
Emotions of despair, disbelief and anger came over Rhinox's face and his glaring optics showed it. As much as he wanted this to be avoided it seemed Whitegrazer left him no choice but to obey this contract she just made with the enemy and take his leave along with Tigatron. Insane! She was putting her life at risk and for what? If Umbra wanted the shields down, Rhinox would have done that sooner than allow this!
I hope she knows what she's doing, he thought. Without wasting anymore time, he moved over to Tigatron and carefully lifted him up, draping him over one of his shoulders.
"Hang in there, Tigatron," he said softly to his comrade whether he could hear him or not. Pausing, he looked over his other shoulder to see if Aurora was still in the other room with the CR's. He didn't think so. Where had she gone? Sneaking around as well as Rattrap does, he hoped. Rhinox hurried with the white tiger toward the medical bay.
"Yo, Big Green, what's with the shields?" "And why didn't ya tell me we had a mantis infestation too?"
Rattrap! Thank the Matrix.
"What?" he asked, completely unaware of Manterror being inside their base as well. Anger was really beginning to swell inside of him. He went on. "One of the newer Predacons took it upon himself to lower the shields after taking Tigatron and Whitegrazer hostage," Rhinox explained to his small friend over their comm. link.
"I'm taking Tigatron to Medbay while Whitegrazer 'deals' with Umbra." He emphasized the word as it left a sour taste in his mouth, obviously upset about something.
"Heed caution, Rattrap. Cecaelia is in here somewhere as well. I don't know what their mission is, but Umbra fooled us with some kind of cloning camouflage ability."
Hearing all of this bad...
very bad news from Rhinox, Rattrap drew his gun and moved quietly but quickly to another spot in the hangar, using large objects to conceal himself from the Predacon insect.
"I read ya," he softly acknowledged, concern in his voice.
"Orcariner to Maximal team," "I'm in need of assistance. Back-up would be much appreciated."
Great. If Orcariner needed assistance, then he must have been facing some pretty nasty Preds by himself. Not good.
"Dinobot, what're you doin' out there? Bein' a porker? Give Orcariner some backup," Rattrap ordered over his communication link.
Looking down on the floor, the leading Maximal found a screw and picked it up. Then he threw it across the hangar, hearing it making a loud clang on every other metal object it hit in order to distract Manterror away from Airazor. Rattrap's back continued to ache but he attempted to ignore it. The whole vessel shook as the red lights continued to flash while Terrorsaur pounded its exterior outside.
"Hey, Blades-for-brains! Eat dis!" the maximized rat shouted as he stood up from behind a metal crate and fired at the mantis.
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