* Thrashmane is on the bridge in his chair, going over a bunch of stuff about stuff * Solder is looking over Diecast. * Flashpoint sits somewhere in the lower obs deck, reading. Ugh. That was the most painful thing I've felt in years. * Rockbox is on the lower ops deck watching stuff * Redliner is off being lazy somewhere. He's fallen asleep on Obs deck, sprawled out on a couch next to Flashpoint. ... zzz... * Splitwit is drunk! * Waitstate is on the bridge. There's a full crew, since we're nearing our destination. * Slipstream is on the bridge *Beep boop bleep bop* (traditional bridge noises) Well, it sure-darn looks like it! What in tarnation didja do? * Slipstream is lounging around at her station with her feet up, tossing a demo sphere into the air and trying to get as close as possible to the ceiling without actually hitting it *rubs one eye* Was being nice to Slipstream. Then she flips out and kicks me in the face. Approaching the designated coordinates. So far, nothing's showing on nav screens though. * Chameleon is somewhere on the bridge And I landed on an oversized toolbox, then a wrench fell on my face. Then she turned kung-fu on me and broke one arm. * Sunspot sits around the bridge near Thrashmane, in case there's some sort of, um, engineering emergency at their destination. * Gearlock is umm. Somewhere. * Rockbox gets up and heads for the brig * Outreach sits in medbay, looking over Diecast * Apocrypha is hanging around on the bridge, as usual. Well! I suppose we'll start with the face, then. Eh, Outty? Pardon? * Avalanche is pacing around the plaza, since there's an atmosphere of something about to happen. Well, that's where all your damage is, seems... yes? Right, but "Outty?" So... are we getting ANYTHING on sensors? * Rockbox reaches the Brig and looks for Recoil * Gearlock departs his quarters and takes a leisurely stroll throughout the ship... * Slipstream isn't paying any attention to sensors, or anything else on the bridge for that matter. XD Yeah, Outty! Outreach! That doc o'er there! * Solder notions. * Outreach looks over at the mention of his name "Pardon?" * Diecast looks over. "Erg. Didn't see him." Outty! I'm gonna work on his face, alrighty? Oh, do what you will. Just don't break anything.... * Solder begins removing Diecast's faceplate. D'you wanna be shut down? Not a blip, nada, nothing. Should we be getting anything? Stasis locked? Out cold? Um... nothing on foxtrot bandwidth. Or any, for that matter. Whichever is less painful. Very well, If you need my assistance, I will be in the lounge...and do no muck up the entire medbay, please No problem, Outty! ...zzz.... * Rockbox finds a small service bell on a desk and rings it where is Recoil? * Apocrypha sits at science. Apoc, anything on your console? * Recoil comes out Hey, you want something? * Earshot chills in the obs deck, Spaz flittering around his head Uh, yeah. Some kind of sensor contacts. It's, um, not very distinct. * Chameleon taps the top of his console continuously. I came to get those two out *points to Eequ and Hi Fi* * Solder initiates stasis lock on Diecast, removes his face plate and begins hammering out the dents and welding rips back together. And it doesn't seem to be on all the sensors. Could be a malfunction or some kind of space interference or something. * Outreach quietly sits in the med-lounge, sipping some ener-caf and reading a new medical journal Reaching exact spatial coordinates in 10 ... annnnnd... All stop. We're heeeere! * Gearlock idly hums a tune as he strolls along. * Solder re-sorts all sorts of wires and junk on Diecast's face, then replaces the faceplate. * Slipstream eyes Cham for a moment, then lets Scrabble out of her shoulder compartment and throws the spiderbot at Cham Okay, those signatures are definitely there. anything we can put on screen? Whatever it is, it's... straight ahead. And, uh, still not showing up on a couple of bands, including visual. * Solder begins doing the same thing to the massive dent in Diecast's torso. Guy sure does know how t'get into trouble. Wonder which one of'em's the real varmint! hm. *sits up properly and actually starts paying attention to her scanners* Cirrus, take us in on a heading to home in on whatever it is Science is picking up. Ahead slow. In case we hit it, heh Aye aye! * Chameleon watches as Scrabble lands on an arm, then proceeds to climb over to the top of the console and joins in the tapping with its front 2 legs* Here we are. Putting on-screen... Yeah, yeah... they're free to go. * Recoil glares at the brats as he lets em loose * Solder puts Diecast's torso back together. Well! Now this here arm... Its about effing time! ... is in really, really terrible shape... uh... wha' happen'd * Slipstream eyes whatever has been put on-screen... * Waitstate takes a look at the Science viewscreen as the visual begins to clear Quiet! Both of you I better not see you two again in here * Eequ looks daggers at Recoil as Hi Fi just tries to stand up Eequ! * Solder completely disassembles Diecast's elbow. * The screen resolves. I'm out of here! * Eequ storms off * Chameleon wonders if he can get Scrabble to tap the console with more than just 2 legs * Rockbox gets Hi Fi out of the cell and carries him to the lift Recoil, you might want to keep a cell handy for Hi Fi. You'll be seeing him again * The screen displays the image of an unfathomably immense metal construct, shaped vaguely like a gigantic thorny jellyfish. The main body is dominated by a circular iris of some kind, and from the top and bottom extend massive prongs of metal, covered with an incomprehensible number of lights and windows. * Despite the fortress' lack of even minor anthropomorphism, the feeling that it is scowling contemptuously down at you is inescapable. * Talis looks out a viewport * Sunspot looks up at the viewscreen with big impressed eyes. * Slipstream eyes the thing on the viewscreen with a raised browplate That... is one fugly station. And BIG. all the more fugly. Scan it for docking ports and try to get an interior scan I wonder what that is. * Redliner sleeps through it all. "zzz..." * Solder puts Diecast's arm back together and leaves him in stasis lock hooked up to a terminal to monitor his vitals and such. *brightly* Three guesses as to where the beacon is! * Scrabble razzes Cham * Rockbox heads for the medbay with the once again unconscious Hi Fi * Recoil glares as they leave * Outreach comes out of the lounge, over to Solder "How is he?" I wonder how OLD it is. It's no Cybertronian architecture I recognise. * Eequ heads for the obs deck to meditate Um, if it's Cybertronic at all. Power readings? Big. You don't want to know. Looks okay to me! Whaddya think? Wonder when they'll send out the welcoming committee. Not as much as I'd expect for the size, but...yeah. More than us, anyway. * Slipstream grins * Talis walks over to a larger viewport and continues to watch the thing outside. We're too far out for us to tap in to the Autobot or Decepticon datacores to look for a match, unfortunately * Outreach shrugs, smiling "Look impeccable. You are a doctor among surgeons, Solder Any life signs? Scanning... Uh... thanks! * Solder thumbs-up. * Outreach smiles, patting him on the back, holding up a warm mug "You look beat. Enercaf?" * Chameleon finally looks up at the viewscreen "We get to blow it up?" I can't detect any life. * Rockbox enters the medbay and looks for a medic Eh, sure, why not! If y'think he'll do without anyone t'watch'im sleep! * Earshot looks puzzledly at Eequ as she walks into the Obs deck, Spaz flying over and bleeping at her But the thing is...I mean, if there's fifty Ickyaks on that thing, I don't know that we could detect them from here. It's STILL not even showing up on a couple of sensors. Cirrus, keep moving us in, slowly * Cirrus complies What Apocry's tryin' to say is that the big fugly is shielded out the kazoo. * Gearlock wanders out onto Ventral Obs... Take a break, my friend *looks over a Rockbox* Need a hand, sir? Continuous scan. Break out the heavy duty actives. I wanna know what's inside before we go nuts with away teams yeah. I'm Rockbox, this is Hi Fi. He needs some help here We could shoot at it. ... sorry. Autobots :p * Solder retreads to the med-lounge. got the tungsten kicked out of him yesterday * Gearlock was expecting just broad, open space, not fugly ship doom. He stares at it for a while. So, um... ... that was probably the last beacon, huh? I'd think so, yes Sure! What the Medbay is for! What seems to be the problem? *a large sensor-eyes slides out of the side of Outreach's face, covering one eye as it scans Hi Fi find me a docking port. We'll probably want to go in, regardless Uh... well, besides getting beat up by about thirty 'bots, he discharged his powercore There might be one about halfway down that cluster of pylons coming out of the center. Or it might be a radiator. Or a gun. he keeps coming in and out of stasis lock ... we're gonna dock with this thing? You're insane. Send a shuttle at least. We still need an entryway There's a better idea. Though finding something that -is- a docking port first would probably be even better, neh? *grins* I don't do this a lot... powercore, huh? Well, bring him to a med-bed * Outreach goes over to get his tools * Slipstream starts scanning the Big Fugly Slip, your station is better equipped for this sort of thing. Find me something I can use I'm tryin'. Like I said, that thing is shielded out the kazoo. * Rockbox pulls out a datapad and brings up Hi Fi's medical history, then hands it to Outreach * Rockbox puts Hi Fi on a med-bed * Flashpoint looks away from what he's reading and spots the big thing outside though the big windows. "What the..?" It's hard to tell from here what's docking ports and what's weapons ports. I don't think y'wanna stick the Freedom into a weapons port, neh? No, I really don't think that would be a good idea But... yeah. There. *highlights a small area on the viewscreen showing the Big Fugly* Try that. * Solder pokes his head back into the Medbay. Need a hand, Outy? Sunspot, take a look at it please? * Sunspot gets up and walks to the screen. * Waitstate works on the assumption that his engineer would have a better perspective * Sunspot looks at the screen thoughtfully. * Sunspot points to one of the ports. * Solder walks back over to Diecast and checks the monitor again. Well, I guess that's that! That's a docking port. It's got a floor. * Solder reactivates Diecast. * Outreach grins "I'll manage, Solder. Keep an optic on Diecast, though" The gun ones are all rounded, but that one's got a floor. So does this other one... * Diecast jerks awake "Well, one second awake and I already feel like new" * Solder nods. "'I'm turnin' him back on to see how he feels. Monitors look fine. * Sunspot points to another a little further off. Feelin' better? Slip? You concur? Sounds good to me. * Outreach scans over Hi Fi, retrieving a small polarity-cup, running it over Hi Fi's chassis, slowly smoothing out the dings and craters and dents Might wanna send something in to check it out first though. * Thrashmane watches with interest good idea He's lucky. Most of the damage is just cosmetic. I sense some internal flaying, though. He'll have to stay the night here if he would stop trying to emulating false martial arts from Earth, he wouldn't end like this Slip, prepare a sensor drone and launch it * Slipstream makes it so! "Done." Diecast! How d'y'feel? Specifics an' all, boy! * Thrashmane looks over his shoulder at Wait "Anything you want me to do?" I'm not getting anything on any communication channels. just keep scanning Outreach, you might want to restrain him. He has a nasty habit of waking up during repairs and trying to wander off Slip, check out that port * Thrashmane keeps a scannin'! * Slipstream sends the sensor drone into the supposed docking port Hmm, indeed. Well, if he tries any of that, I will introduce him to the wonderful world of Laser-scalpels to the groin-plate *and laughs* little medical humour there. I'll secure the med-bed I wouldn't advise anything like that. He's an expert in hand to hand fighting :) * Diecast lifts himself off the table, rubbing his head * Outreach smiles slightly, and takes out a welder, secure flayed and gnarled edges and wires on Hi Fi Well... you're a regular miracle worker, Solder. Ahh. Scanning nothing out of the ordinary so far, grey one. I'll return tomorrow. Thanks doc. Well, thassa good thing t'hear. can you confirm it's a docking port at least? With about as much confidence as I can from here. * Thrashmane presses buttons! He does important things! No problem at all. I will comm you if anything major happens... plus, inform Hi Fi's sister she is due for a check-up in the next few breems, and you as well in a few cycles * Chameleon spins around on his chair and starts talking to Scrabble. "...The joys of being a spy that sits around on a bridge..." will do * Rockbox leaves the medbay * Scrabble rolls its eight little optics and beeps sympathetically Well, I guess you're good to go, Die... well, if we're fairly sure it's an entryway... *shrugs* Throw the Freedom at it and see what happens. I was gonna say ready the shuttle for launch, actually * Same diff. Throw -something- at it already. Hell, throw -me- at it if you want. I can be there and back before a shuttle's even ready. I like the idea of flying into it... * Rockbox goes to look for Eequ * Outreach hums a little as he busily works on Hi Fi, fixing circuits here, welding armor there... Away team... Me, Cham, Apoc... anyone else want to go? I'm comin'. or recommendations? You might want some fighters. And y'can't stop me. *grins* Avalanche would be a good choice. Yay, I have a use. And Gearlock. We probably want to make a big enough group to take care of itself, but not, uh, so big a group that we all die if something, um, happens. And Earshot's pretty observant. He probably could help in a place like this. Uh, Ghost? Don't hurt me for that suggestion. Starfighters would be a good idea. Just in case that station follows the trend of blowing up in spectacular ways while we're visiting it Okay Slip. You can come. Thrash, signal Avalanche for away duty *nods* Like you could stop me. ;) How 'bout Gearlock? *Thrashmane comms Avy "Attention, Avalanche." He's pretty sensible. * Avalanche perks up. * Gearlock meanwhile is just watching the huge ship from ventral obs, pondering the make of it. [comm] Something going on? [comm to Slipstream] Hey there, she-varmint! Yer buddy Diecast's all fixed up now! Just thought you'd wanna know. Did he really deserve all that, though? [comm] Yes. Yes, he did. *chuckles* [Comm] Head to the shuttle bay, on the double. * Earshot sits in the Obs deck, mapping out starcharts for fun [comm] Okeydokey! * Solder retreats to the Med-lounge. Again. [Comm] Time to do your thing, follow? Oh come on... Also, Outreach and Gearlock * Rockbox finds Eequ on the ops deck * Avalanche nods to himself and heads to the shuttle bay as instructed. Don't take it so personally, DC. Just avoid'er! * Thrashmane now comms Gearlock [Comm] Gearlock, off to the shuttle bay with you. Eequ, are you OK? hm... get Ghost in there after all. If we run into something scary, it might be nice to be able to scare it back what do you think? ...? [comm] ah, right. On my way. [Comm] Outreach, you're requested in the shuttle bay. * Thrashmane doesn't bother to tell them what they're doing. * Outreach looks up, then goes to the med-lounge, looking at Solder "Will you finish the repairs on Hifi? I've been summoned" No problemo! * Solder thumbs-up. Thank you. And tell Eequ, if she comes in, that her check-up has been rescheduled. I'll comm her at the appropriate time Outty; leave your logs? I didn't catch what was wrong with the lil' guy. Okeydoke. * Outreach hands Solder his medlogs "be back shortly" * Solder walks back into medbay and over to Hifi's table. * Avalanche reaches the shuttle bay and resumes his pacing. * Rockbox looks at Eequ, trying to find the right words to say * Outreach head out of the medbay, and arrives at the flight deck * Thrashmane eases back in his chair, looking at the image on the screen "Oh, is Earshot also going?" Slip, Cham, you're with me? hm? what? * Gearlock heads to shuttle bay... I'd assume so I suggested Earshot as a point-man for inside the station. Do you approve? As long as I'm not on the shuttle or stuck on this ship, I don't care who I'm with. :) Er, I suppose it couldn't hurt. Sure All right why do they always do that to me? * Eequ sighs and looks at her hands * Chameleon comms Ghost about the mission, since he doubts anyone else would want to. [Comm] Bridge to Earshot, please report to the shuttle bay. * Outreach looks about the Shuttlebay, his large toolkit in hand * Waitstate leads his team to the shuttlebay * Earshot looks up from his star-mapping, and walks out of the obs deck * Gearlock arrives at shuttle bay... he spots Avy and Outreach... * Slipstream picks up Scrabble before leaving the bridge after Waitstate * Earshot arrives in the shuttlebay * Chameleon runs off with Wait and Slip * Solder works on Hi Fi. Weld, solder, strip, solder, cut, snip, weld, weld, straighten, scan, scan, weld... * Slipstream gets to the flight deck! Before, after, or at the same time as Wait and Cham, who knows! * Waitstate observes his team... Cham, Ghost, Slip, Avy, Gearlock, Outreach, Earshot, and Apoc... we're gonna need the big shuttle Eequ, I'll look over the video logs. If I find anything that shows you were only defending yourself, I'll go talk directly with Waitstate * Ghost-Stalker shows up at the shuttlebay. She doesn't make any effort at all to talk to anyone * Outreach looks at Waitstate when he arrives "Pardon, sir, but is there someone in need of medical attention?" so, who's bringing the keg? * Moonstone, who's been sleeping in a corner of the bridge, notes Wait's absence and jumps up in the Big Comfy Chair. sorry Outreach, no. Hopefully there won't be. But we never know, eh? * Outreach sighs, vexed. He's never liked field duty... * Earshot looks about, smiling slightly, waiting patiently Keg? *eyes Gearlock for a moment* * Gearlock grins. "Seems like a rather large party to me." *shrugs* * Waitstate gets the Frei prepped. Heh, good point. Hey, maybe we'll breach a keg or several if we get back. I tried to stop it, I really tried... they just wouldn't back off of him... He was down. Leaking fluid all over the place. They just pressed in. said they were going to teach him a lesson this time even if they had to kill him... Everyone who's not flying under their own power, time to load up * Thrashmane monitors the situation I'm up for emptying a keg later! * Apocrypha boards. several, definitely. * Avalanche gets in the shuttle and finds a nice spot by a window. * Slipstream chuckles * Ghost-Stalker boards the shuttle. * Rockbox stands silently, taking all this in Cham, you flyin' or ridin' the shuttle? * Talis shows up in the shuttle bay, watching everyone board the shuttle *notes Talis entering the flight deck* Hey, big green! Want shuttle escort duty? * Talis is armed with both quad guns in his hands, and both panels on his shoulder armor are flipped up, revealing a small collection of rockets * Gearlock wasn't expecting to ride in the shuttle, so he doesn't board... Don't think I'm quite manoeuvrable enough to pull off the job! But I'll cover you on your way back in Whatever ignites your boosters, big green. :) * Earshot moves his feet a little "C'mon, lets launch! I'm itching to stretch my wings!" you don't mean who I think you mean?! well, you gotta admit the monkey has had some success in the past at keeping him in check * Solder continues cleaning up Hifi. yeah, until Hi Fi figured out how to run rings around him. * Avalanche turns to Outreach. "So what exactly is going on right now, anyway?" * Slipstream waits for everybody to board the shuttle and get the hell out of dodge already. everybody strapped in? * Outreach shrugs "I have no idea" * Thrashmane makes sure he has a good connection with all the members of the away party, and approves I'm sure someone here can build up his intelligence a bit. Just say the word and I'll have him sit on Hi Fi instead of you you need your vox-poc checked? :) We're ready, Waitstate. no I don't. Now then, you want the break or not? * Redliner continues to sleep right through it. "Zzz..." * Slipstream opens the flight deck's massive doors and kicks the shuttle out already, before transforming to starfighter mode and following it out. :P * Waitstate launches the shuttle towards the pants-dampeningly scary station * Gearlock manages to shift to fighter mode with relatively little trouble, and follows out. * Chameleon transforms and zooms out after everyone * Earshot settles in behind Gear and Slip Hey, Waitstate? What's the situation here? * Thrashmane monitors like a good Mission Ops guy * Solder finishes on Hi Fi and sets his monitor to run diagnostics for the next few hours. * Slipstream zooms out ahead of the shuttle and takes point We're not entirely sure. The upshot is, this is kind of our final destination on the whole beacon quest. We think. We can't scan past the exterior though. Don't say "final"... That sounds nice... okay, bad choice of words *thinks* yeah, I do. * Gearlock flies wingman to Slip... * Earshot flies a little ahead and to the left of Cham [comm] All right, if that thing starts shooting at us, we tear ass out of here. [comm] That WAS the plan, yes [comm] roger that, heh *clears throat* So... Sunny, how're you? [comm] Or I could just vanish and keep an eye on things... [comm] One of you wanna check out the port we're aiming for? [comm] Couldn't hurt, Cham [comm] I'll do it, Wait then its done. Hi Fi is Strong Arm's problem now * Sunspot looks up from kneeling in front of the Big Chair and patting Moonstone. [comm] No, you stay with the shuttle, Earshot. I'll check it. *zooms on ahead before anyone can say anything* Hmm? I've been okay. It's been kinda dull lately, with all this waiting to get places... * Outreach sits in the shuttle, quietly skimming through a medical journal * Gearlock stays with Earshot. :) Well, at least you don't have to learn an entire new operating system. * Waitstate watches Slip on sensors fool bot... Awww, that sounds hard. Complicated, more like * Earshot flies with Gearlock But now you know that everything's nice and safe! Heh, yes. * Slipstream zooms towards the docking port... nothing unfriendly happens, which is more than slightly disturbing, really. [comm] ... right. Oddly enough, everything seems all clear. * Thrashmane quickly returns his attention to the situation outside. * Eequ transforms back to cassette mode and returns to the safety of Rockbox's chest * Rockbox heads for the Plaza * Slipstream reaches the docking port, lands, then tfs and looks around. * Gearlock meanwhile remains silent, mostly watching and waiting... * Solder lounges around the Med lounge. Okay... I guess I'll leave now? * Avalanche looks at the station out the window. I wonder who's left on the ship. [comm] Come on down, join the party. ... you're still here? ... No one told me I could leave. I said y'could go awhiles ago, son! [comm] good. I'm bringing the shuttle in to dock It looks kinda abandoned... But why abandon something like that? Oh. Well, my mistake. Bye! * Diecast jets Maybe it ate the crew. * Waitstate docks, and everyone disembark * Slipstream continues hovering in space just outside the docking port, scanning the area as the shuttle lands * Earshot lands in the port-thing, tfing and looking about "This has to be the second creepiest place I've ever been in..." * TheHungryWormhole decloaks immediately off the Freedom's starboard side. * Rockbox enters the Plaza and heads straight for Terra's Well, I've always been good with--hang on a sec... Eh, I've been in creepier. Holy crap! * Ghost-Stalker has her Gauss-Flayer unsubbed before she's stepped out of the shuttle [comm] Avast, planetlubbers! Fancy a-meeting ye here. [Comm to Waitstate] Cap'n? * Chameleon lands and tfs and walks over to everyone else. * Gearlock lands and shifts to botmode, staying in one place for now... Sunspot... sit in the chair, wouldj'a? [all-deck comm] Hey, anyone still on board? * Slipstream looks back out at the Freedom and spots the worm hole. "... well that can't be friendly." * Gearlock frowns slightly. * TheHungryWormhole fires belaying harpoons. [comm to Solder] Yeah, what's the prob? * Thrashmane keeps the comm with the Hungry Wormhole strictly on audio * Roadkill decides to meander up to the bridge. * Sunspot gets in the chair. * Outreach exits, toolbox in hand All right, good. Now, act captain-y, love. * Waitstate hears nothing on his comms, the station blocking the signal [comm] Not a thing! Just wonderin' how many're still here. * TheHungryWormhole activates tractor beam. * Thrashmane puts the pirates on visual * Solder falls over as the ship shakes. [comm] All righty then. *reaches the bridge just as the Freedom shakes* * Sunspot sits up straight and shoos Moonstone away. * Redliner meanwhile still sleeps through it all. * Thrashmane sends a signal to alert the ship * Waitstate investigates the airlock * Rockbox gets knocked into Terra's as the ship lurches [comm] As ye can no doubt see, this battle be far less verbal than the last. * The pirates appear on the screen. Arr, and the like what the hell? Why are you attacking? Do you have some claim to this station? [comm] But thank ye for a-pointin' the way to a safe port for us. What in TARNATION?! * Sunspot tries to sound all serious to the scary pirates. [comm] But thank ye for a-pointin' the way to a safe port for us. * Waitstate gets the door open after a little prodding looks like we have our way in :) [Ship-wide Comm] To all crew members, please remain calm, there is nothing to worry about. Er... please find somewhere safe to stay for a little bit while command gets a few bugs out of the system. Thank you and have a pleasant day... Well, I guess we may as well, y'know, get going.