Protihex-City state

[Laser]

Beam was in shock after what had happened. She had forgotten to answer Volca's question, and had turned around to reply when Volca ran to help Silentsong and Tecton. She felt really embarassed. "Man..." She had watched Laser, or should she say 'Lazarus', spiral up into the sky with Spironok and disappear into the heavens. It was pretty cool, to say the least. She wished she could fly.

Hopping down from the window, Beam decided she would get to know the other bots. Carmana, the young hot head bot he seemed a little down on himself. She'd try to cheer him up--staying the hell away from his pistol. Watertight, a strange fellow, but he looked pretty friendly. And, of course, Silentsong. Beam knew exactly how to fix the wound Silentsong suffered from, quickly and neatly. But she was afraid of Jumpstart, and frankly, he didn't seem to be confident in her skills as a doctor. So she decided to talk to Carmana first.

Skipping up to the sad bot, she crawled up to him. "Hi!" She stuck her hand out for a fist bump. "I'm guessing you're Carmana? Welcome to the team! I'm Beam." Her eyes flashed with joy. That rhymed.

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

The deep midnight jet floated to the heavens quickly. Aegis's voice filtered through on their channel. "Acknowledged. I will retain a speeds below mach 1. However, if the ship command insists to move faster, you will have to latch onto me so I can get us a headstart. We are maintaining good pace, though."

As a rule, Laser preferred higher altitudes. But he wanted to work with Aegis to the best of her abilities. He was VERY impressed with her thus far in terms of communication, lingo, performance, and, most recently, her 10k flight ceiling. That was very good. He would have never guessed judging by her frame that she could achieve such a height. Laser was an expert in all elements of flight. He could see Aegis was well-versed as well. Based on what he'd seen so far, he was sure he was sharing Airspace with an Ace.

"Our search pattern is a simple scan until we are 6 cybermiles outside the Ion Tax (codename for the Iota Temple). Once we are within said area, we shall break off and do a clean sweep--complete with thorough spot checks to insure a clean LZ for the Bloodrust. Interrogative: Our elevation seems to limit us to smaller scan radii and I fear it make us easier to spot in the near future...do you recommend we remain or increase our altitude?"

[carmana]

Cat mans looked at the bot that greeted him and nodded, his face plate twitched a bit as he forced a smile. "Nice to meet you Beam, I um...I guess you saw all of that crazy stuff out there hu? I blew my chance at a good first impression, letting old memories surrounding my pistol cloud my judgment and actions, guess I'm a sentimental fool...haven't even been an Autobot for a week and I blew it already. Oh um...sorry about going off like that, just lots of stress coming out. Did you want to talk about something?"

[DarkXenith]

Aegis would never admit to her skill in the air in casual conversation, but it was quite evident that she was extremely well versed in her chosen element to anyone on the ground. The reality of the situation was that her contoured plating and unusual elliptical wingform gave her a natural advantage when airborne, her aerodynamics were first-rate in all aspects regardless of her apparently ‘archaic’ styling. What she lacked in speed, she more than accounted for with manoeuvrability. She’d never win a race, but she’d certainly turn heads at an aerial display.

Holding steady on the dark jet’s starboard wingtip, the femme gave a few moments thought to his question. It was an obvious test of her ability as a newcomer to the group, but she was game for a challenge. Her reply, when it came, was evidently very considered:

“With your permission, I’d rather not be on tow. If my lack of speed proves a liability to the transport, I will drop back to flank and guard the rear from potential attack. I can make use of reduced turbulence from the combined slipstream effect of yourself and the ship to reduce atmospheric drag on my control surfaces. I could probably push to somewhere in vicinity of Mach 1.2 under those conditions.

In terms of active recon, I’d advise we take a slightly higher altitude to maximise the effect of our scanning equipment. Personal recommendation would be to climb to 2.5k, minimum. That will also give us clear visual through the atmospheric haze and minimise the occurrence of false positives from the ship’s hull-plating. Any higher and we leave it vulnerable to direct attack by putting ourselves out of reach.

If you wish, we can split the scan field. I’m better with short range and I’d assume your calibration is long range as a high altitude specialist? If you’d like to take a broad sweep ahead and advise anything that requires further attention, I will fly ahead of us to investigate and report back.”[/color]

As Laser had probably already noted, Aegis' colouration would be an added advantage at a slightly higher altitude. While she appeared quite staid in styling on the ground, she blended near perfectly with the dull grey-blue of the Cybertronian sky, the black bands on her wingtips and tail only serving as a marker for her whereabouts to her airborne compatriots.

[Laser]

Beam tilted her head in both pity and curiousity. She felt bad for Carmana, but she was also interested in why he was so attached the stupid pistol...

"Yeah. What the hell is so special about your pistol? I mean...I don't want to sound like a jerk, but why are you hanging onto it like a wild animal does to a piece of food? You really flipped out there...." She trailed off the question, not wanting to seem like she was accusing him or confronting him about the subject.

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

Aegis's opinion was golden. Laser answered back immediately:

"Wilco. We'll stow the tow for now. Reports indicate an incoming Rust Storm brewing at our destination. We'll be converging on dryer weather and far more turbulence, making the slipstream a bit more difficult to utilize. Until then, you are free to use whatever means you deem necessary to maintain a comfortable flight pattern.....I agree with your advisory: Approaching 2.5k at an ascension gradient of 100 m per microsecond."

"I won't take any chances breaking off from the party until we are completely clear of Protihex Airspace. That bothersome episode between Fear and the immediate company bodes foully...and if he decides to pull another card, I want to be here in case he does. We can spread out, but I will remain level with your wings for some time before I plunge into the horizon or ascend further into the atmosphere."

Thermal scans online....

[carmana]

Carmana looked at beam and sighed. "I hang on to this old thing as a memento of my years as a security bot, I lost a lot of friends over the years, including the bot who gave me this pistol. He was my best friend, I miss him to this day, he gave me this my first day on the job and it has saved my sorry plating many times over. I shouldn't have snapped but still, so many memories could have been taken away from me." he trailed off

[concentratedrandom]

Starport had been watching the rest of the Autobots at a good distances, still think of the events that had been taking place ever since he had visited Vibro back in Iacon. Ever since he had jumped out that window, the violence had risen to such an extreme level. Now, those brought together by war even fought each other. Before, they weren't getting along well, but now Fear had taken their trust and shot Silentsong. Starport couldn't even see how the events had happened, he could only hear some of their words through communications. But he could tell what had happened, and it wasn't good. He still needed to think things out, so he was glad he still had time before they would land. He had been talking for a while now in a low enough voice so no one heard him, sorting out his thoughts on this fight. Despite the trouble they were having, Starport started to laugh.

"Damn, a cycle, never thought it would happen. Never thought I'd live this long to see time repeat itself. Still bet that's the reason it's call a cycle, but to think I'd live to see it still happening. This war is new, but all those bots, I can see so many old faces when looking at them all... They're the future of Cybertron, and they'll make way for those who come next. But I should have rusted long ago, make way for another, shouldn't I? I don't know what I'm still doing here, I helped build what we have, it's for them to use it. But look at them, they clash heads and still work so well together. Just like... Dammit, you know you're getting too old when you're seeing memories just like the present. But I'm still here, I may have been in the past, but I'm still here. And since my spark didn't go out to make way for the next generation, I'll just serve myself."

Finally coming to this conclusion, Starport made his way back into the group. No one would notice, not while they were focused on the events that had just taken place. Letting out a large sigh, he smiled rubbed his head, still seeing the past in what was happening. He was sure though, it wouldn't end as well as the past had.

[DarkXenith]

"Understood. On your six."[/color]

Banking away slightly as Laser took an ascendant path, Aegis pulled into a steep climb seconds after him. Executing a typical Cobra maneuver, she dropped into a parallel course a few k's off his wingtip. The Cobra was a classic move, nose up on the vertical axis and hit the acceleration hard before partially stalling to drop out of the climb, into position. Yes, it was a little ostentatious, but it was rare the femme flew in company much less with an equally skilled flier. She'd show him a little of her ability while the going was good purely to let him gauge her better as a wingmate.

"Atmospheric and meteorological concerns are noted, thank you.

Advisory: I'll need to divert above the weather front to avoid my cooling intakes becoming blocked and forcing me to ground. Co-ord feed would be appreciated for any checks. Will be flying 'blind' to ground activity.

Awaiting further instruction on POI ahead."[/color]

And so it was back to business as Aegis brought her scanning arrays online and began a deliberate forward sweep of the area in the ship's flight path.

[Towreck]

Towreck sighed, wiping his brow. In the time he had started working, he had done a great deal on the weapons collected by Laser, especially the Gunblade for Cutlass. Not only did Towreck solve the heating problem in the muzzle, Towreck had also added in a inter-cooling system that was used with the ammo that the now converted Gunblade used. Since Towreck couldn't find any form of Energ-lok(Cybertron Equivalent to Flintlock) Towreck was able to convert the Ammunition to a neutron, energon hybrid mix, that was compatible with the cooling system, helping lessen the overheating period greatly. Towreck also sharpened the blade itself, cleaned up the sheathe for it, and even shinied up the golden hilt of the blade. Towreck smiled to himself, sliding it back into the sheathe. "Cutlass is going to enjoy this weapon, I absolutley believe it..." Towreck said aloud, before moving onto the other weapons, getting them in battle-ready condition for his Fellow Autobots

[Laser]

Beam patted Carmana on the shoulder. "I understand you buddy. I've lost friends in the past. Mostly to drugs, but, I still understand what you mean about losing so many memories." Then she was slightly more serious. "But we could have lost an Autobot. A life. And we all care about that ten times more than your pistol. You should feel the same way."

Giving him a friendly peck on the cheek, Beam hopped down to move on. "You should take that thing to Towreck. He'll...um...'pimp' it up or something for you. He's good with weapons." She waved to him and then started walking around screaming at the top of her lungs. "Watertight! Watertight? Where are you?"

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

Aegis was awesome. She flew like a pro and was highly educated. But Laser realized the conversation wasn't going to advance further than radio banter and status updates. So, after:

"Understood, Aegis. Standing by for further updates and orders from the ship. If I detect any disturbance on the radar, you will be notified."

He went back to his normal, silent, reaper attitude. Waiting to rain death on enemies and silence the souls of the opposition

And then it occurred to him.

"Aegis, if you do not mind my inquiry, why have you utilized such an older style for your alt form? I remember when those styles were new....and yet, your alt type is older than mine. What advantages do you find in such an archaic genre?"

[DarkXenith]

Aegis remained comm-silent for a few moments longer, apparently intently focussed on her immediate task of ensuring safe passage for her comrades aboard Bloodrust. In truth, she was again formulating an answer. Laser had a reputation, and as her superior he had every right to quiz her on her most obvious weak-point; her design. He was indeed correct, the particular aeroform she’d chosen was ancient; it pre-dated his own configuration by a considerable margin of time. It was at clear odds with her chronological age.

Chuckling lightly as she opened comm to answer, she finally returned:

“Ask what you may. I will be completely honest with you, Laser. I wasn’t built as recon. I was originally a news-trade field reporter – a journalist, before the current civil war erupted. I needed to present myself as feminine and non-threatening to those I was investigating, but I wanted an alt that handled as well as it looked in the event I ever had to make a prompt exit – please don’t mistake that comment for vanity, it couldn’t be further from the truth in my case. I chose to take on this form as a result. It has a rather appealing aspect to the masculine members of our species because of the apparent curvature of the fuselage in certain areas.”

Knowing the guardian was hardly the kind of mech to fall into the above categorisation, a wry note crept into her tone as she continued with her justification:

“In truth, this form is extremely lightweight and exceptionally manoeuvrable. While I know I’m not top-line specification by modern standards, I have the edge over those with more modern forms. I’m smaller than most current aeroforms; other fliers tend to underestimate me to their cost as a result. My armament may be basic in comparison to your own, however I can easily hold my own in a dogfight situation against much larger opponents and I carry sufficient to do equal damage to ground-based attack. For reference, as I doubt you had the audacity to scan me over upon arrival, unlike the medic and the pirate amongst our number; I carry four smart incendiary missiles, two 20-caliber gatling guns and a current payload of fifty cluster bombs in cargo storage at any one time.

As I’m quite sure you’re aware, this design was originally used for mid-altitude harrier-work, most typically recon, air-to-air combat and defensive operations. I fully understand its limitations and make best use of its advantages as per its original modus operandi now. You need not concern yourself with any notion that with my 'archaic' build I present a liability to the cause. You have my assurance that I won’t be.”

Trusting that she’d accounted for his potential misgivings, she finally finished with:

“What of yourself? Why the classic ‘flying triangle’, if you don’t mind the personal enquiry, that is?”[/color]