Transformers: Alone and Unafraid

[frigidmagi]

Prime and Megatron disappeared, but the war continued. Cybertron burned, but the war continued. In the end, we were fighting for a dead world and most of us knew it. Some of us refused to admit it, the rest of us fled. Thousands of Cybertronians spilled out into the galaxy, autobot and decepticons both fleeing a dead world and an unending war. Nobody learned anything, we kept on fighting across the star systems.

The Decepticons split up into small groups fighting each other as often as they fought Autobots. Each Decepticon leader proclaiming himself the new Megatron and trying to carve a new empire out of the worlds. Autobots weren't much better, some of them ran off and hid. Others fought Decepticons with wild abandon and damn the cost to anyone else. Some Autobot bands even started fighting each other over strange points of ideology as if we didn't have enough problems.

But then things got worse. Out in the hind end of space, a Decepticon founded an empire, calling himself Stravous he gathered over a 100 Decepticons and recruited a number of races preaching a religion of destruction and conquest. 3 species bent the knee en masse to his preaching, another 7 were enslaved and 5 wiped out to the last infant. The League of Free Sapients was formed to stop Stravous' advance. 80 Autobots and Decepticons and their allies fighting against 150 of Stravous cons.

Now we got a group on the far side of Starvous empire, calling themselves the Free World Alliance. They're asking us for help and we can't afford to let the empire expand. We're sending a fleet and a unit. I just hope this isn't a mistake.

Commander Breakout, League of Free Sapients

Transformers: Alone and Unafraid is set in the greater galaxy, during the time when Prime and Megatron are deactivated and rusting on Earth. Those of you playing are playing bots sent out to defend an isolated bunch of worlds against a decepticon onslaught.

Now guidelines, each character needs to be able in work in a team, no lone wolves here guys. He or she or it needs to be able to work with biological creatures. So no slavers, maddog killers, or assholes. If this is to much of a problem... Play another game. Now you can play a Decepticon as there has been plenty of defections and turncoating on both sides, just play more thundercracker and less shockwave.

[Dark Silver]

Question: What is the status of the "Master" techs, Read: Power Master and Head Master and Target Master technologies.

[frigidmagi]

Alone and Unafraid is set in the greater galaxy, during the time when Prime and Megatron are deactivated and rusting on Earth.

In the far future.

[LadyTevar]

After talking to Frigid, I'm in.



Name: Shimmer
Affliation: Autobot (female model)
Classification: Courier/ Spy
Size: 8m

Background:
When the Autobots and Decepticons fled the dying Cybertron after the loss of the Ark, Shimmer went with a group of fellow Autobots. For a time, she remained simply a courier, helping the far-flung Autobots keep in touch, if only tenuously.

That changed when she was recharging on a planet that came under sudden attack by Stravous' forces. Unable to leave, Shimmer used her illusion ability to remain out of sight. However, she knew she had to find out what they were planning to do once they left. Thus Shimmer became a spy.

She managed to get off-planet finally, before the Decepticons had total control, running to the closest group of Autobots she could find; the Wreckers gang lead by Grimlock. From then on, Shimmer stopped simply carrying messages between Autobots, and started actively tracking down planets held by Stravous' forces to infiltrate. The information she gathered she handed over to whichever group of Autobots she felt could best use it: Grimlock, Breakout, UltraMagnus.

Her path took her across the warzone, and she survived a few close calls. She has impersonated Decepticons and sapients of all shapes, whatever it took to get the information. To her, however, it was worth it. She was making a difference, helping the Autobots gain an edge, however temporary, in the ongoing war.

Personality:
Shimmer is still young and dedicated to the cause, despite the loss of the Ark and of Cybertron. She has learned to quickly adapt mannerisms and languages of the planets she infiltrates, as well as how to be nearly invisible to Decepticons by playing to their prejudices.

Special Systems:
1. Variable Paint Scheme.
To aid in her function as spy, she is able to alter her external skin pigment from a light silver/gray up to a deep twilight blue. This extends to a limited digital camo pattern.


2. Fake transponder.
It's not only the visual senses that need fooled, but the technology as well. The fake transponder can be turned on and off at will, switching the brand as well.

3. Improved sensors & data storage.
Couriers and spies have to be able to transport information, as well as hear and see things they shouldn't. They also need to have the means to play that information back in detail.

4. Hologram Function:
Mostly used for impersonation during her missions, the holograms are limited to within a meter of Shimmer's chasis. They can be used to playback vital data Shimmer has acquired. The holograms are full visual spectrum, but non-solid.


Weaponry: (Electricity based)
Lightning Whip: Extends up to twice her height, able to entangle an opponent. Possible to cause EMP damage to unprotected circuitry.

Arc Welder: In the Golden Days of Cybertron, an Arc welder was simply that, a high-powered electric welding gun. Centuries of conflict had many of these turned from peaceful repair into deadly weapons of war. After all, if it could melt metal, it could damage armor and joints.
Shimmer can summon it when needed whenever she needs a ranged weapon.

[SirNitram]

Name: Shunt
Affiliation: Megatron.(Note lack of 'Decepticons')
Function: High speed air superiority/courier.
Alt Form: Unique Seeker.
Quote: "Already There."

Appearance: Visually, only two things seperate Shunt's robot mode from his fellow Seekers. One, where many Seekers have sharp lines, his are smoothed out and curved, carried over from his alt-mode. The second is he's noticably shorter, his transwarp technology tucked in subspace to avoid damage. His alt-mode is a far cry from the pyramidial Seeker and Conehead models, though, all smooth curves and curious geometry. Weapons are all kept in retractable bays.

Armanent: In robot mode, he uses a gyrojet pistol, using small(For Seekers) rockets fired from a handheld launcher, each firing plasma into the enemy to 'burrow' into the target and cook from the inside. In his alt mode, he is equipped with smart MIRV bombs, capable of striking specific targets, though without the punch of dedicated 'ground strike' weapons. In dogfights, he has twin rotary Null Cannons, reigning hell on his unsuspecting foes.

Abilities: Shunt's air to air and air to ground capabilities are impressive enough, and he's trained extensively to make maximum use of the surprise and confusion his teleportation grants him.

Special Power: Created after the success of Skywarp as a teleporting Seeker, Shunt was optimized to be more energy efficient and with superior range. To this end, his entire protoform was assembled around a transwarp shunt, and his alt mode was meticulously formed to maximize the efficiency of this power. As a result, short range, tactical teleports use barely more energy than flying normally. Due to the dangers of Transwarp travel, a number of safeguards were installed to ensure he never travels back or forward in time.

History: Built by Megatron as a new seeker model, Shunt moved from 'prototype' to 'Soldier' quickly, to the great disappointment of Starscream('The Red Retard', in Shunt's words). On a deep-space recon mission when the Ark and Nemesis launched, Shunt quickly found Cybertron being taken over by petty warlords. With no loyalty felt to the Decepticons there, he launched in pursuit of the last transmissions of the Ark.

Years have gone by, and Shunt's taken to a new life. When he stumbled on a world with pre-industrial civilization being extorted by a collection of deserters, he fought them off, using hit-and-fade tactics to leave them cowering and begging for surrender. Since then, the planet's medieval civilization has prospered from the forcibly converted ex-mercenaries working the fields and mines, and Shunt remains operation thanks to a rare, unusual form of crystal. For him, it was a microcosm of Megatron's vision: A peaceful world, ruled by the strongest warrior there.

Shunt might still be there, if it wasn't for the distress call. Breakout had put holes in Shunt before, and he'd dropped bombs in return. But Straxos had been just a cruel idiot when he left. If he was expanding, he was a mad-dog.

The ceremony was short, the people praying to their metal god for a swift return. Shunt exhausted the crystals he had hoarded, and flew through an electrical storm just to boost his reserves to make the jump towards the League Of Free Sapients.

[Dark Silver]

Name: Grindstone
Affiliation: Decepticon, Freelance
Function: Heavy Infantry
Quote: "A warrior without honor, is less important than all the Empties in the Rust Desert"

Altmode: Cybertronian tank

Appearence:



Only swap out the red with a royal purple coloration.

Armament: In robot mode, Grindstone is equipped with a chest mounted high energy neutron laser, as well as carrying a hand held missile launcher. In vehicle mode, the neutron laser becomes the tank's main cannon, capable of firing shells up to five miles distance with little trouble (on a clear shot)

Special powers: None

Personality & History: Before the Great War, Grindstone was a a simple mech, functioning as a Security Mechanoid for the Nova-run Race Pits in Iacon. He thought he had a good exsistence, if he was looked down upon by those who attended the races, and the track owner because he was "just security". When war broke out, things changed. Grindstone worked hard to see to others safety, those who looked down on him, now looked up to him as a protector. Until one day when he was seen talking to a Decepticon. The Decepticon was a old friend of his, cvoming to offer recruitment into the ranks of the 'Con army, if Grindstone would take it. He didn't - to him protecting the people under his eye was more important.

Unfortunately, the people who he protected didn't feel the same. The owner of the race-way had seen the discussion, and thought for certain Grindstone was selling them all out. He made it back to the group before Grindstone did, and got the crowd worked up. The mechs he protected tuned on him in a nanoclick, and attacked him. Grindstone refused to fight them, trying to explain, and in moments, he was in Stasis Lock.

He was still in Stasis Lock when his former friend found him, and brought him back to the Decepticons for repairs. Grindstone felt a debt of honor to his friend for saving him, and signed up with the Decepticons. After meeting Megatron and hearing several speeches by the Leader, Grindstone became a loyal Decepticon Warrior, fighting in many battles when comanded.

When Megatron disappeared, and petty warlords began to rise up in his place, Grindstone turned his back on them. When Cybertron began to burn, Grindstone left, vowing that he would not allow the name Decepticon to be tarnished by the petty greed of short sighted mechanoids who only wanted power. He spent the next several centuries traveling the stars, and doing just that - attempting to uphold the honor of the name Decepticon

When he heard the call from the League of Free Sapients, Grindstone knew what must be done, to return honor to that sector.

[Armaina]

Name: Merka
Affiliation: Autobots
Function: Soldier/Brawler
Alt Form: Performance Car/Sports Car

Appearance: Medium build fem, possibly about the size of Blurr or Jazz. No color to speak of aside from the color of her metal. She has a protective coating for her metal but otherwise she has no colored paint at all, even her autobot symbol is just embossed on her hood instead of any sort of colored decal.

http://pics.livejournal.com/armaina/pic/002741c5
Except headlights are supposed to be part of the pauldrons
http://pics.livejournal.com/armaina/pic/002815rr
Merka at left

Personality: A rather extroverted brawler, she's the sort that's the first to give a newcomer a strong handshake and a hearty pat on the back. She takes teams and companionship very seriously, and looks to the team she's with as a small family, as much as that can make sense for cybertronians. This makes her fiercely loyal to her teammates, and has a very 'no man left behind' mentality.

Armanent: She is purely a close combat mech, preferring to meet her enemy head on. Aside from her fist she has retractable blades in her gauntlets she uses to impale her opponents. No projectile weapons to speak of, may carry grenades if needed.

Abilities: Despite the fact that she is a car built for speed, she is not a light mech. Powerful jet engines make up for the weight to produce the speed she needs. Because of this she can jet boost into at high speeds or use them for maneuvers in her robot mode.

History: A loyal follower of Optimus since the day she was sparked, she's served in the Autobot forces for as long as she had been able to. When Cybertron began to fall apart, she stood her ground for as long as she could with other autobot forces in hopes that maybe something could be done about it, though it was ultimately futile.

Forced to leave for their own survival, Merka kept with a small band of autobots. Though they had hoped to regroup with other autobots and return to Cybertron, many of them considering trying to find Optimus themselves, this idea was quickly squashed due to the difficulty of merely surviving. When word was out that there had been a gathering a very dangerous force that could be harmful to more lifeforms than just themselves, her small group agreed to join to help the cause.

[LadyTevar]

Oh, I like Merka. And your sketches are great :)

[rhoenix]

Name: Farshot
Affiliation: Non-aligned
Function: Artillery / Sniper
Alt Form: Heavy Assault Fighter/Bomber

Top speed: Powered by neutrino burst engines, Farshot is capable of Mach 4.5 at sea level, and escaping most planet's gravity wells under his own power.

Quote: "One by one, they fall."

Appearance: In his robot mode, Farshot is large and heavily-built, with heavy bracers on each of his forearms, and other armor besides. His optics are gold - more an artifact of his sensors than a political choice.

In assault craft mode, Farshot is a large, resilient, and heavily-built fighter. Though not as agile as the Seekers that predated him, Farshot has a top speed few can match.

Armaments:
- Nova-class guided shell launcher
Accessible only in his assault craft mode, this is his most feared weapon. This launcher is located along the belly of the assault craft, with a rifled 105mm barrel ending shortly beneath the nose. Each shell is a guided heavy munition fired at mach 8, and able to make impressive course corrections mid-flight - though it is not able to out-maneuver an agile aircraft. His usual shell is an armor-penetrating type, releasing a metric ton of fusion-temperature hydrogen plasma forward in a cone where it strikes - useful for both creating entrances, and obliterating his enemies. However, a shell containing a sensor-swarm (see below) is another useful option, as is a traditional high-explosive type.

- Charged Particle Cannons
Located beneath the wings in his assault craft mode, and mounted in his forearm bracers in his robot mode. Farshot's charged particle cannons each fire bolts of energy that travel at very close to the speed of light, and explode violently on contact with matter. Each cannon has a refire rate of 1 shot every 0.25 seconds, and are used primarily at close to medium range.

Abilities:
- Sensor-swarm
This system was added during the design process by Megatron to make Farshot's Nova cannon accurate to a preternatural degree, though it certainly has found other uses over the years. Farshot can release a sensor-swarm by flying high overhead of his intended target, releasing what appears to be a fine silvery mist - however, he is capable of releasing them in robot form as well.
The mist is in fact millions of microscopic robots, which then explore the intended area, and feed back highly-detailed sensor data to Farshot about energy readings, lifesigns, radioactive-decay readings, air current readings, telemetry readings, communications, and many other details about the area. Farshot is capable of having up to three sensor-swarms active at a time, with automated processes setup to alert him of any interesting readings so he is free to concentrate on other things in the meantime. The sensor-swarms have a limited lifespan, lasting about seven days before the swarm quietly self-destructs, leaving no trace behind of their presence.

- Self-sufficiency
Though he must gather the various materials, Farshot is capable of manufacturing his own shells for his Nova Cannon, as well as new sensor swarms. However, due to limited facilities, he can only manufacture one item at a time, whether it be a shell, or sensor-swarm.

History: Designed at first by Megatron as a support craft for the Seekers, Megatron quickly realized the benefits of having self-sufficient aerial artillery - however, the base where Farshot was constructed was mostly destroyed but for the hidden bunker where he lay. It was only later, when a solar flare nearly touched the ruined base that he awoke.

Though he had all the memories Megatron wished him to have, what Farshot was able to see of the universe around him conflicted with them - enough so that he decided to explore the universe as himself, not as a member of any particular faction. To this end, he spent much time in the unexplored reaches of space, dropping sensor-swarms quietly to observe and learn about different places and the peoples that inhabited them - learning to be in awe of things as they are, rather than as a vision of how someone wished to mold them.

However, even in the far reaches where he flew, news of the League of Free Sapients reached him, and he knew he had to take up arms once more.

[Armaina]

Oh, I like Merka. And your sketches are great :)

Thanks :D She's fun hehe, though I need to do a better sketch of her.

[Cynical Cat]

Name: Deathstrike
Alternate Form: Guncutter
Nicknames: Used to Be, Scrapheap, Deceptitrash, Empty, Murderbot
Role: Combat Air Transport
Quote: "Broken but not beaten. I still function."


Appearance: In robot form he is a large, midnight blue humanoid who appears to be encased in armour and has a transformable right arm cannon. A pair of wings form a short "v" on his back. In guncutter mode he is a thick bodied aircraft with large thrusters. He has guns on both his nose and wing tips.

History: Once he was a fierce Decepticon Warrior, but his faith in the cause failed as Cybertron died. He and a small band of Decepticons left for another world, but the war followed them there. Forced to flee and broken, he drifted through space scavenging what he could to fuel and repair himself.

On the moonlet of Scraw, home to an abandoned industrial facility, Deathstrike made a temporary home until it was usurped by a pirate clan. Autobot hunters pursued the pirates to Scraw where they fought a hide and seek running battle. Deathstrike allied with the Autobots, aiding them with his knowledge of the facility and turning the tide in their favor.

The Autobots offered release from a miserable existence and foes worth fighting and so their ranks were bolstered by one of Megatron's soldiers. Deathstrike received a number of repairs and his crippled alternate form was reformated into something more useful, but the warrior's damage was such that only an extensive rebuild could fix everything.

He is not a popular with his new comrades.

Abilities

Big, Tough, and Scarred: Deathstrike is a big, well armoured 'bot who possess considerable strength. In guncutter form he is less well armoured, but even larger and capable of absorbing more damage. His armour is, however, worn and battered from ages of war and neglect. While the weak plates have been replaced, a few flaws remain where a weapon is more likely to penetrate.

Murder Machine: Deathstrike is a skilled and bold warrior who lived up to his name as a soldier of Megatron. As a result he is not terribly popular among the Autobots who have lost comrades to him, although most respect his value. Jury rigged repairs have mostly been compensated for by redundancies, but his speed has slightly degraded. His targeting systems are quite accurate, but are plagued by an intermittent glitch. Unfortunately, the stresses of prolonged combat make the glitch more likely to occur.

Flyer: Once a powerful interceptor and ground strike craft, Deathstrike is now an armed transport. Relying primary on nuclear engines, Deathstrike can manage fairly high speeds and good maneuverability although he is not a fighter. In robot form he can fly clumsily and manage thrust boosted leaps.

Transport: As a guncutter he can carry several small 'bots internally and a medium sized 'bot attached to his undercarriage. The heavier the load, the more his flying suffers.

Armament

Weapons Bay: Deathstrike has a large weapons bay that can accept variable payloads. His current standard load out is multiple clusters of small, close to mid ranged air to air swarm missiles to repel Decepticon flyers. The weapons bay is not usable when carrying a 'bot on his undercarriage, but is useable in 'bot form.

Particle Beam Mounts: In guncutter form Deathstrike has two nose mounted and two wing mounted rapid fire particle beam weapons for close to mid range combat. They have a light punch, but there are four of them and even heavy armour will ablate under a sustained barrage. The cannons are dependent on the same systems that support the Mark III Executioner, so if either system (as opposed to physical gun) is offline then both are.

Mark III Executioner: One of the last products of Cybertron's weapon industries before the complete societal breakdown into civil war, the Mark III Executioner is fusion cannon. It is slow firing and quite effective at close and medium range. It doesn't pack quite the punch of Megatron's famous weapon, but it is deadly. Deathstrike chose this weapon to replace his ruined x-ray laser, which was damaged beyond repair.

[General Havoc]

Name: Cavalier
Affiliation: Autobots
Role: Main Battle Tank
Quote: "No better friend, no worse enemy."

Biography: Cavalier is the epitome of a tank: large, imposing, dangerous, and well aware of it. A war machine to his very spark, Cavalier believes himself the ultimate expression of what an Autobot military model ought to be. Combat is his element, the setting wherein he is able to practice his chosen art form, and like many of the Decepticons he fights, Cavalier enjoys warfare to a degree that is probably none too healthy. Unlike a violence-addicted Decepticon however, Cavalier's enjoyment manifests itself in a thirst for the rush of danger and the thrill of victory, as well as the adulation, both external and internal, that comes from performing some heroic feat in the service of what he considers a manifestly good cause. Though there are those (including himself at times) who would call Cavalier arrogant and foolhardy, his unwavering willingness to engage any opposing force, regardless of danger or odds, and his apparent immunity to battle fatigue, have won him a reputation for daring and effectiveness that are only partially tarnished by his similar reputation for casual (if congenial) arrogance and recklessness. One of those rare natural soldiers that war occasionally brings out, Cavalier just plain enjoys fighting the Decepticons, seeing himself as a modern-day knight in shining armor out to slay dragons and save the universe. There are even some who might agree with him.

Appearance: An large, olive green, main battle tank with twinned cannons mounted in the turret, Cavalier could be mistaken for nothing but what he is. His vehicular form is imposing and lethal, an implacable, armored war machine capable of simply drubbing anything within several miles into submission. Though not as speedy as some smaller models, Cavalier can move fairly well when necessary, whether in pursuit of a broken enemy or hastening to the aid of a threatened friend.

In robotic form, Cavalier resembles a medieval knight, covered in protective armored plating and sporting a shield of solid duranium and a fiery energon sword. His head is shaped into a helmet, and his optics are neon green, while his body color is the same olive drab as his vehicular form. This has led to several primitive organic races nicknaming Cavalier some variation of "The Green Knight" in their own language. In all forms, however, Cavalier's appearance is that of a powerful, armored warrior, willing and capable of engaging any foe that might be foolish enough to cross his path. On good days, he can even live up to it.


Weapons:

120mm Twin cannons: Cavalier's main battery is a pair of hypervelocity five-inch smoothbore guns mounted in his armored turret. These cannons fire a variety of Cybertronian shells at mach 8, and can strike targets five miles away with ease. His shells include everything from sabot-discarding, armor-piercing penetrators to HEAT rounds, traditional high explosives, and smoke. Fed by automated reload systems, Cavalier's main cannons pack a tremendous punch, capable of simply shattering even a medium-armored Decepticon with one salvo. Cavalier can only employ his cannons in vehicular form.

Energon Sword: Cavalier's primary personal-scale weapon is a straight-bladed longsword designed to be used one-handed, carried in humanoid form either at Cavalier's side or (more often) in his hand. As befits Cavalier's showy persona, the sword glows bright green, appearing almost to be dripping flames, and Cavalier is fond of playing with it even when not in combat, as he believes it makes him look more imposing and impressive (others may disagree). Lest it appear to be a mere prop, however, Cavalier's sword is a terrible weapon, and Cavalier is quite capable of cleaving a lighter Decepticon in half with it, a fact he has demonstrated directly more than once. His sword cannot be accessed in vehicular form.

Armored Shield: In humanoid form, the frontal glacis plate of Cavalier's vehicular hull is converted into an armored shield mounted on his left forearm. The shield resembles a medieval kite shield, with the Autobot logo stenciled proudly upon it in the manner of a heraldic crest. Comprised of solid face-hardened duranium plate, the shield is literally the toughest piece of armor on Cavalier's already heavily-armored frame, and can be used to deflect blows that the rest of Cavalier cannot. Cavalier can (and will) also employ the shield offensively in melee combat, slamming enemies with it in the manner of a bludgeon to do damage or knock them off-balance for a follow-up stroke with his sword.


Personality: Nobody will ever mistake Cavalier for modest, but at the very least, Cavalier practices what he preaches without question or hesitation. Though there are plenty who question his judgment, nobody questions his commitment to seeing the Decepticons vanquished and their plans of galactic dominance undone, nor his almost foolhardy bravery in seeing those plans disrupted. Arrogant though he may be, Cavalier can at least somewhat back it up, and is perfectly willing to laugh at himself when his thirst for glory leads him to make decisions with unpleasant consequences for his own personal well-being. More than anything though, Cavalier regards himself as the most powerful Autobot alive, and therefore embraces the notion that the protection of weaker beings (which, by definition, is everyone else) is his own responsibility. The chauvinism inherent in this mindset is objectionable to say the least, but there are admittedly few Autobots, and even fewer organics, who would go so far as to object to Cavalier insisting on defending them against an unstoppable tide of Decepticons.

[Agent Fisher]

Differences from the pic: No heavy cannons under the craft and a turret on top of the craft.
For what Cutter looks like when flying.

Name: AirCutter ( Cutter for short)
Alt Form: Close Fire Support Gunship
Affiliation: Autobot

Quote: “Cutter here, where do you need the pain?â€

[Steve]

Name: Crankcase
Alt Form: Recovery Carrier
Affiliation: Autobot
Quote: "Maybe I wouldn't have to fix you all the time if you were more careful!"

Appearance: A sizable bot, Crankcase has specially designed tools installed in his digits to enable precision repairs in the tight spaces of other 'Bots and 'Cons and a built in toolbox compartment and diagnostic equipment in his torso and arms. In vehicle mode he is capable of carrying at least one 'bot of any size; multiple bots if they're the smaller ones. Primary colors are white and blue with green trim.

Personality: Make no mistake, Crankcase is a great Cybertronian engineer, which means he can rig equipment and fix up his comrades. But taking the time to fix a cracked actuator or a damaged optic sensor means less time to do all the other repairs that demand his attention, meaning even less time for his projects. You know, the mods and kit and gear that will allow you to win battles against greater odds? He's therefore usually, well, cranky when he's got other bots crying to him over damage that they could have avoided if they used their heads. He doesn't mind organics so much; they don't have to get fixed because they stubbed their foot when kicking at that delicate piece of machinery he spent 2 whole cycles repairing. *hint hint*

Equipment: Aside from a plethora of tools for building, repairing, and maintaining machines (including himself and other bots) he has his blaster. There are many like it, but this one is his. It's rather deceptively-simple for a mechanical-minded bot to have, but sometimes you just need to shoot things. He also has a shoulder-slung emitter that can be used for emitting more powerful blasts of energy or if specialized emissions are needed for a particular mission.* The emitter is also active in his vehicle mode.

If the occasion demands, he is naturally capable of cooking up bigger and nastier stuff to carry around. If he has time to actually build and test this stuff instead of having to repair damage to his comrades or to the equipment they manhandle. *hint hint*

*Think Wheeljack's shoulder thingie

[LadyTevar]

I like the idea for Crankcase

[Steve]

Thanks. I suspect Shimmer and Crankcase will get along swiimmingly, since she doesn't seem like the type who will constantly be in need of repair or who will be damaging his machinery and equipment.

On the other hand, Cavalier will soon become the bane of Crankcase's existence.

[General Havoc]

Cavalier will enjoy being the bane of Crankcase's existence.

[Armaina]

Haha I think Crankcase might not be too fond of Merka. She's a brawler so she would naturally be gaining a lot of damage in close combat.. At least there isn't a paintjob he'd need to worry about.

[frigidmagi]

Okay, I intent to kick off tomorrow. Please wait for my opening post folks. Until then enjoy this additional background information.

A breif word
The galaxy is a large and complicated place, the vast majority of (believed to be about 90%) of sapient creatures do not have FTL travel, in most sectors of the galaxy you will find few if any travelers or ships. 20% of all spaient creatures in the known galaxy are mechanical in nature. Of all known sapient creatures the most fearsome are the Cybertronians, no other species is even close to an individual Cybertronians destructive power and endurance. A single Cybertronian can all by itself win battles or alter the course of wars. The 'mass' exodus of Cybertronians has had an impact out of proportion to it's size, estimated at several hundred thousand individuals it has resulted in radical alterations in the astro-political scape and expansion of the habitats of other species and the utter extinction of others.

The average mechanical sapient stands at ½ to 2/3rds the height and weight of a average cybertronian, althought it should be mentioned that Cybertronians are greatly variable. Large examples of the species such as Commander Breakout tower over any other known species. Additionally even smaller Cybertronains are more durable and more heavily armed then any known species, a result prehaps of millions of years of warfare. No other known mechanical species can transform.

Biological species are much smaller and weaker then mechanical species but are more numberous.

Overview Rho Sector:

The Rho Sector has one of the largest concenrations of Cybertronians, many of them activily engaged in a series of wars. The largest of these conflicts are still in progress and is being fought between the Greater Decepticon Empire and the League of Free Sapients. Other allainces are forming along the borders of the GDE as it pursues a warlike course of expansion and conquest. This mass incursuion has resulted in a rampent spread of techonology and social upheavel as well as wide spread militarization. This has touched off a number of secondary conflicts beyond the scope of this document.

The Greater Decepticon Empire: Founded by the Decepticon Starvous, there are 3 free species with 7 fully enslaved species, it is the single largest unit in the Rho Sector. Starvous rules from the mechanical planet Cytrax, inhabited by a mechanical species who are commonly called meckhans. The Mechkhans were disorganized and often put down upon species until Starvous and the Decepticons arrived. Starvous unified the planet and preached an religious idelogy based around the strong ruling the weak and worship of a Cybertronian figure named Megatron, (interviews with Cybertronians comfirm that Megatron is a real historical figure who is likely deceased). A harsh heirarchy was enplaced and the Meckhans were regumented, indocurated, militarized and pointed outwards.

Political Organization: Starvous ruled as Grand Autocrat and Lord Commander of the Empire, below him in council are the Decepticon officers who exerise a collective veto over laws and policies. Most Decepticons do not sit in the council despite having the legal right to do so. Beneath the Decepticons are the Officer Caste, victors of a harsh and merciless selection process. The Officer Caste serves as miliatry leaders, judges, governors and other power positions. The military is divided between Free Soldiers, popularly called Iron Arms, who make up the closest thing to a citizenry the GDE has. Slave Soldiers, who revel in the nickname KillSponges make up the rest of the military. Skilled Labor, Sciencists, Engineers and others are owned by either Starvous directly or by various organizations and officers within the military. As valued property they have rights and protections. Below them is everyone else, slaves who are not owned by the military or officers as individuals have no protection under the law.

Member Species: Member Species are those who serve “freely” in the GDE.

Meckhans: A mechianal species averaging 9ft tall and weighting 500pds. Meckhans make up the majority of the officer caste, they also make up most of the assualt class of the Iron Arms. They are humanoid in apperance with longer arms then average able that hang down past their knees.

Torcs: A biological species that converted, many of them are in the Iron Arms with very few officers, however they have some claim to fame as spies and infliratiors. Being an average sized and build Torcs are easily modified to appear as other species and have produced many skilled deep cover agents.

Ulani: The Ulani were a biological species whose reaction to Starvous idealogy was an extreme one, they pursued a policy of widespread cybernetics among the population, divoricing themselves from their biological nature as much as possible. To the point that reproduction is now via labs that mix genetic material in large banks and produce new Ulani in batches. The Ulani are 7ft tall and heavily built and have often plugged themselves into larger, stronger bodies, some as big as Cybertronians. Due to the limitations of techonology, those bodies however are nowhere near the power level of your average or even weak Cybertronians.

Important Slave Races:

Remi: A biological race, their enslavement was overseen by the Ulani which leads to their current predictatment. The Remi are herbavorious quadupeds and large strong ones at that, using four trucks set around their mouths as minipulator limbs. Their traditional social unit was a herd. After being conqeared the Ulani used them as cybernetic test subjects and found that with the right enchancments and brain alterations that Remi could be turned into armored units. Today the Remi are used as expendable shock troops, their frames able to carry heavy weapons and armor and their minds altered to the point that refusing orders is impossible. The Remi herds have been reduced to breeding stock.

Carnutes: A mechanical race that is snake like in appearance with many ball jointed limbs set along the body, the Carnutes are small for a mechanical race being about 3 feet in length and 1 foot thick. They are mainly used as techs and maintaince workers by the GDE. They are often found on naval vessals.

Lexovii: An aquatic race, used as undersea troops and labor. They are a biological race of crustations.

Cybertronians of note in the GDE:

Starvous: Was of no account in the Cybertronian wars and one of the 1st to flee. Several of his empires were overthrown by wondering autobots. Fleeing one disasterous confrontation he crashed landed on the small moon of a gas giant. Unable to transform or repair himself, he experienced visions where he believed the spark of Megatron came upon him and instructed him on what he had been doing wrong. He was found by Meckhans during their exploration of their solar system and enough of them came to believe his ideals that they overthrow the old system and installed a repaired Starvous as Grand Autocrat. He transforms into a small spaceship.

Iron Claw: Starvous XO and right hand bot. Iron Claw had been on the front lines of the Cybertronian war, losing his right arm it was replaced with a fighting claw, a large raking melee device capable of gutting most autobots. He enjoys close combat and loves the feel of his claw slamming into a sapient creature. Starvous recruited him and found an utterly loyal minion as Iron Claw was not doing well after leaving Cybertron. Iron Claw transforms into a tracked vehicle with a spiked ram on the front, an armored vehicle right out of Mad Max.

[LadyTevar]

I almost get a "Hitchhiker's Guide" vibe off that.... but there's not enough humor ;)

[General Havoc]

Additionally even smaller Cybertronains are more durable and more heavily armed then any known species, a result perhaps of millions of years of warfare.

So... you're saying that compared to the rest of the galaxy, Hornet is both very tough and extremely well armed?

This bodes ill for everyone.

[frigidmagi]

Well the boy did go play with elephants in the first game.

What I meant though basically was that even bots like Bumblebee or Rumble are pretty hefty compared to your average sapient. This doesn't mean they should play tag with armored divisions and think they'll walk away, but well... To give an in game example Bumblebee (The Gen 1 version) would kick the fuel out of any 5 Meckhans and it would a pretty elite group of 10 to have a chance of stopping him. Heavy weapons would help even the odds.

[Lys]

Name: Blastcap
Affiliation: Mercenary
Role: Combat Engineer
Alt-Form: Armoured Engineering Vehicle
Description: Large, slow, tough, and none too suble.
Quote: "No problem I can't solve with enough explosives."


Appearance:

At first glance it would be hard to guess that the tall, powerful, heavily built humanoid is a female model. Only the delicate features of Blastcap's face have anything feminine about them, but those are normally obscured behind a blast visor whenever she's working. It is thus a surprise to many when they first hear a woman's voice coming from the hulking form. She is coloured a matte dark grey, but in parts her armour plating has become dinged or scratched, revealing the original rusty crimson scheme. Blastcap's vehicle form has a strong similarity to the Russian IMR-3 engineering vehicle which is built on a T-90 chassis, but she is twice its size. Her claw-excavator arm is capable of fine manipulation and possessed of a number of useful tools. In android form the arm is attached to Blastcap's back and can be used as ably as any of her other limbs.

History/Personality:

Blastcap claims to not remember when, where, or by whom she was built, only that she is Cybertronian. No identifying marks or emblems grace her body, nor does she appear to have ever had any. If pressed she may acknowledge similarities to Decepticon and Constructicon design philosophy, but admit nothing else. Because of of her blunt personality it is easy to take her face value, but there have always been whispers that she is hiding something.

Over the long course of Cybertronian warfare, Blastcap has fought on and against many sides. Though her loyalty has always been explicitly to herself, she has yet to abandon a comrade or break a contract except in the most trying of circumstances. Most everyone she has worked with found her a solid and reliable ally, if a bit irritating at times.

She has no time for any but the barest decorum, and will always speak her mind if she is to speak at all. Rarely impressed or excited, Blastcap has a tendency to complain like an old grodnard every time she has to do anything she doesn't like, but never hesitates to do what needs to be done. If Cybertronians have ghosts, a few can say that the last thing they saw and heard was Blastcap muttering about how much fun she's not having. Not an inspiring fighter by any means, she has never held any ambitions of leadership. Blastcap's responsibility is only to herself and her terms of employment, or so she says. Stories of her going above and beyond for no apparent reason have occasionally made the rounds.


Abilities:

Demolitions - Blastcap's speciality and joy. She has thorough knowledge in how to detect, analyse, plant, set, defuse, modify, or build various kinds explosive devices from simple black powder charges to the most complex of atomics. She is also adept at analysing structures and determining their weakness so as to more efficiently destroy them. To the extent that she appreciates architecture, it is for the challenge rather than the aesthetic or functional value. The tools of the trade are stored in her forearms.

Ordnance Disposal - She can detect and disable all sorts of traps of both the explosive and non-explosive varieties; allowing her to efficiently clear paths through minefields and booby trapped corridors.

Third Arm - The vehicle form's claw-excavator arm is an extra limb in android form. It is capable of fine manipulation, equipped with a number of tools, and as agile and dexterous as any other limb. With it Blastcap is very dangerous at close combat. She does, however, rather dislike brawling. The arm has very good reach, and is useful for handling dangerous devices while keeping them away from her body.

Munitions Bay - If she can get the materials, Blastcap is capable of manufacturing all sorts of ordnance. She can also store a number of munitions and explosive devices within herself.

Earth Moving - Being equipped with a shovel and an an excavator, she can quickly dig earthworks and fighting positions if necessary, and has at times been hired to assist in public works projects. It's not work she much enjoys, but there's pride in doing something you can do well.

Helper Robots - Blastcap has six small semi-autonomous robots inside of her body. Three are skittering spider-like units, and the other three darting hover units. All of them are always connected to her through a heavily encrypted wireless link. They are equipped with tools that enable them to assemble and disassemble all sorts of nasty little devices that go kaboom. They are also capable of scouting and detecting traps and minefields.


Weapons:

Twin Chain Guns - Small, rapid fire, automatic cannon. They usually fire high explosive dual purpose (HEDP) shells. In android form there is a chain gun in a 270 degree gimballed mount on each shoulder. Blastcap can aim and fire her guns independently, but with diminished accuracy if her attention is otherwise occupied. In vehicle mode they are twin-linked and mounted on a small turret with full 360 degree rotation. In both modes they have enough elevation and tracking speed to engage aerial targets.

Fusion Charges - The Cybertronian version of a satchel charge. These variable yield devices are some of the most powerful portable munitions around. They are equipped with a variety of trigger mechanisms making them suitable for demolitions, excavation, landmining, and a number of other uses.

Breacher Charges - A much smaller and subtler version of the fusion charge. For those times when something needs to be blasted open without levelling the whole block.

Cutting Laser - Mounted on Blastcap's claw arm, the laser is intended to be a tool rather than a weapon, but in close quarters the difference is academic. Each helper robot has a smaller cutting laser that it can use to defend itself.

[frigidmagi]

Rheonix, Cat posted first. Let's not have everyone rush over to Nitram. Besides folks with you being summoned to Breakout's office, that means you should already be on the bloody planet.

[rhoenix]

Rheonix, Cat posted first. Let's not have everyone rush over to Nitram. Besides folks with you being summoned to Breakout's office, that means you should already be on the bloody planet.

Got it - I'll edit.

Edit of first IC post complete - now I'm walking into the office.