The Intergalactic Highway

Another familiar blip appeared on Xzuk's radar as he left the cave.

He saw Icebreaker towing an iceberg at least three times his size. It was quite impressive.

Xzuk smiled as he walked forward and noticed the two pods attached to the iceberg.

"Nice work Icebreaker!"

Orcariner watched as Xzuk and Icebreaker quickly got to work with the stasis pods and the damaged turret. Moonshine followed them into the caverns with the second, leaving the bigger Maximal with the third gun. He turned it over and examined the alien technology.

I have no idea what I'm doing, he thought.

If he had studied it through a Cybertron database, then this would be an easy task. Unfortunately, Orcariner was not a very good explorer, being unable to investigate and discover new things on his own. He heard noises and a conversation from the other three, indicating that they had quickly gotten to work with whatever their plans were. Shrugging, Orcariner walked out of the waterfall and placed the weapon on a protruding rock.

Maybe we can convince intruders that this gun works and is defending the waterfall! That way they'll just avoid us outright!

The idea was too optimistic. Predacons alone would just scrap the thing and move forward. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head.

This weapon reacts to robotic signatures. If we can use the stasis pods and energon to power up these guns, we can use them to defend ourselves from hostiles...especially Predacons, assuming they'd break our truce. We'd just have to reprogram the software so that the turret only attacks non-Maximal signatures.

Orcariner smiled from his brilliant idea and picked up the turret with his tools extending from his fingers. The emotion quickly faded as he looked at the technology.

I have no idea what I'm doing.

So, he continued to stare.

((Well, look who's back. And feeling prime! Anyway...me Taran back!! I'll be bringing another character in. Expect his bio up soon. Apologies for the narrator: he doesn't respond well at 9:12 in the afternoon ))

Well, all things considered, vines were the least of Lineos' problems as he peered up at the sky.

It can't be!!! Unfortunely for our revolting Predacontm, it is a...What is it, Lineos?
A stasis pod. Yes, captain obivous, it is a stasis pod. For your observation, you win positive -15 points.
Trajectory of stasis pod appears to be...60 degrees latitude by 34 degrees longitude. Ah yes, good. ...wait a minute. Computer, what is my current location. current location is 60 degrees latitude by 34 degrees

"Aw, frag"...



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As the stasis pod slammed in for impact, it's occupant stared nervously at his screen.

Please don't fail on me! Please don't fail on me. Please for the love of Primus, fail on me!! Wait, what? was the mental scream as the pod slammed into the ground, missing another stasis pod and a lizard by a foot.

((in a singsong tune)) It didn't fail tonight, it didn't fail tonight, you're on a diet try it... Ahem, would you kindly shut up now.

Or what? Or I damage your pod in a drama convient manner and leave you at the mercy of mr. Cannibal.

Acknowledged. Beginning scan for alt-mode These are the options displayed on our Maximal's screen.

• Ceratosaurus
  Pristochampus
  Megalania
  Titanis
  Triceratops

Decisions, decisions. I choose the three-horned one.

Transreplication completed, this maximal had barly stepped out of his pod, when suddenly a tan mass of flesh, raised on it's hind legs, bellowed a cry of fury and slammed down on the unsuspecting Maximal.

((ugh. I hate bios, but i like characters. if you want to know the beast mode before tomorrow, do a little research and think about which one I would like. hint: they must be awesome.))

Orcariner grabbed the alien turret and walked back though the waterfall. Heavy, wet footsteps echoed through the caverns as he approached the other Maximals.

"I think we can try to reprogram at least one of these to avoid Maximal signatures, but still fire upon any other technological lifeforms," he said, "Problem is, I'm not sure how to go about doing this."

Xzuk turned and smiled.

"No worries. I can handle some of the tech stuff with the turrets. Dont start trashing the damaged one yet. I've got a plan for that one."

If all went well, he could make a holoprojector to cover the entrance of the cave. That way, they may not even need the turrets.

"Icebreaker, you have any experience with tech?"

He turned to one of the turrets and began ripping plenty of wires out and smiled as he found the two ports that he was looking for. He grabbed a small circuit and bridged two wires as the turret came to life.

"It's motion sensitive and set to your maximal signatures. It wont fire on us, or any other biological organisms. If said organism has even a trace of metal and it doesn't recognize the signature, it's toast."

Icebreaker finished smashing the ice around the second pod, he looked up noticing a stasis pod land from overhead.

He then lifted it up walking towards the waterfall and hopping in, then setting it down Guess you'll have to sit down with Moonshine to do that. Maybe you can hook them up to a computer off these pods and try to figure out those gizmos..hm? No.. I'm no good at stuff like that. I can do some basic repairs but reverse engineering? I'm more into finding food and blowing things up. Icebreaker then hopped out walking towards the other stasis pod and grabbed it, then walked back towards the waterfall.

Placing the second pod inside next to the first one he then turned Computers, guns.. now we just need a CR chamber and an energon cash.. but first I better go to one of our fellow brotheren..

Icebreaker then held up his hand in a wave walking out of the waterfall. He activated his comlink Hey Xzuk, a Stasis pod just landed south of us. You want to join me in bringing this guy in? At the least we can get the pod and use it for parts around here..

Orcariner unhinged the rounded roof off Moonshine's stasis pod and easily carried it with one hand towards the waterfall entrance.

He said to Icebreaker, "While you two are out, I'm going to collect some energon crystals. If you get static from my radio transmission, it's the interference."

Icebreaker stops raising an optic ridge after hearing the whale state he was going to gather crystals Uh.. Are you sure that's wise that you would go do that? Er.. nevermind, Just try not to beach yourself big guy. I don't think even I can move you. Least.. not without using some ice and wire..

Icebreaker then shifted his board towards the south Nevermind that request Xzuk, it's more important to have the base ready and Moonshine shouldn't be left alone she's too important.. you may want to build some sorta.. box for those crystals he's bringing..

Icebreaker then rushed off on his board at high speed heading towards the south, he road towards the canyon swinging the board up as it drove up the wall into the air, then arced landing in the grass as he left the stable zone heading out.

Xzuk would have liked to accompany Icebreaker, but he was right. Base was first priority for the moment.

He placed the turrets behind the stalagmites and began disassembling a stasis pod. He had an idea.

He pulled the metal plating from the pod first, and began bending and twisting them into two vertical pillars. He then proceeded to make a gear system that would move a thin wire from the ground, to the tops of the pillars.

"Fusion cutter..... ah! There you are!"

He smiled again as he began pulling circuitry and the screen from the pod. He mounted the screen to one of the pillars and stood inside the ring.

"Test number... one..."

The wire ran up and down and a green field appeared around him as the machine began basic repairs.

"Test Successful. We have a CR chamber."

He smiled to himself as he began working on the damaged turret.

"Stable energon," smiled Orcariner, "Gotta thank whoever made all this if we see them."

Drawing his right blade, the Maximal split the sheet metal in half. He continued to bend and shape them until both halves appeared as makeshift bins. Setting down on of them, Orcariner walked to the tiny energon deposits and proceeded to dig them out with his blade. He soon filled the first bin, but unfortunately, all of the stable energon in the area had been used up.

"I guess they mined most of it, but this is still adequate for now."

Bringing up his interface map, Orcariner scanned around until he found more energon deposits.

Blast it, he thought, That's beyond the damper field.

Looking at the amount he accumulated thus far, Orcariner knew that it was a necessary risk. He picked up the other bucket and proceeded to walk towards the edge of the alien territory.

"Orcariner to base. I've picked up all of the stable energon I could find, and I'm now moving towards the edge of the damper field. If you don't hear from me in mega-cycle, come look for me at the location of my last signature reading."

Icebreaker listened to the message as he started to go out of range, he sighed thinking to himself Oh geez.. is he really going to risk beaching himself?! then sped off weaving between some trees before going into the plains.

Coming into range he raised his optic ridge looking at what he assumed the pod going under attack HEY! Back off! he then shouted towards the creature, jumping up with his board to slam into the creature.

NaitoKage wrote:Icebreaker listened to the message as he started to go out of range, he sighed thinking to himself Oh geez.. is he really going to risk beaching himself?! then sped off weaving between some trees before going into the plains.

Coming into range he raised his optic ridge looking at what he assumed the pod going under attack HEY! Back off! he then shouted towards the creature, jumping up with his board to slam into the creature.

another one? With a jerk of his head, Lineos looked at the new intruder. This distraction gave this... creature(Ceratosaurus) enough time to deliver a swift kick to Lineos lower region, causing Lineos to back up.
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This planet is already trying to kill me! I've haven't even been here one minute! thought Cerano as he stood up and looked over at this lizard as it lowered itself down to four legs. With a bellowing roar, Cerano snaked his head down to rip open it's back. As he did so, Lineos rose up to attack Cerano's soft under belly.

((only warning:this is going to get ugly))'looks over suspicously at note'

Icebreaker landed sliding the board, then withdrew a gigantic cannon from his back pointing it at the group CHILLOUT! he then shouted firing off two ice shots towards the two reptilian transformer's feet causing large icicles to raise from the ground near inches from them.

Icebreaker then kicked up his board as it transformed attaching to his left shoulder as a shield.

Orcariner stood at the border of the damper field with uncertainty. He had forgotten how populated the riverbed was with energon, and there were even more scattered across dry land. As soon as he left the field, the radiation would send him into stasis lock if he did not return to beast mode. Sighing, the Maximal set down the makeshift bins and walked into the river.

Stream's moving north, he noted, How fortunate.

"Ocariner, beast mode," he said aloud.

Transforming into a killer whale, he escaped the damper field and felt that same tingling sensation as before. In beast mode, his organic layers would shield him from the touch of raw energon. On the other hand, he was handling them with flippers.

Hmm...I've never segmented raw energon before. Then again, only a few non-professionals can actually pull it off."

Orcariner sank to the bottom of the river and dug his flipper into the mud. He dragged it until several small crystals rolled into his grasp. Swimming back into the damper field, the whale set the pile of glowing mud into the empty metal bin.

"Xzuk's going to hate me for this," he muttered, "But it's the only way I can collect this stuff."

The killer whale swam back down to the deposits and repeated the process, going back to toss more mud-covered energon into the bin.

Moonshine was busy picking up the remaining pieces that got left behind from the CR chamber and other needed equipment. Her hopes were that some of the leftovers could be salvaged for medical gear so she could have a small medical facility set up for those injuries that they wouldn't want to spend too much power on by using the CR chamber.

Though she hadn't said anything, she was glad that Xzuk had stayed behind to keep her company. There just weren't enough maximals to go around.

"Hmm.. we may be able to use parts from the pods' heat shield to create energy deflectors that will allow us to stay in robot form a little while longer. Perhaps we could even modify these deflectors to conceal our energy signatures for a short period of time, so that the alien weapons on this world may not notice us as quickly," she said partly to herself, but loud enough for Xzuk to hear her.

It would require some work to make these alterations and she wasn't entirely sure it would work.

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Luna had come close to laughing when the squid had told her to work with Tantrum.

"Well, at least I'll have enough meat following to last me a lifetime!," she exclaimed, narrowly avoiding Tantrum's punch that followed. Tantrum would have attempted again, but he was stopped by a power surge caused by the energy build-up. Grudgingly he transformed to his bovine form. "Hmmph!"

"Oh come you," Luna gestured as she trotted off.