Sins of the Fathers

Cyclonus arrives from Lower Sections.

Deathsaurus remains in the repair bay, using the opportunity to scan through recent reports while he awaits the next available medic. While he's visibly damaged, his attention is focused as ever, and he looks up sharply as someone enters.

Damage report - Endurance: [ 39] Status: [Heavy Damage]

Cyclonus enters the repair bay, his armor shining and undented, as if he just shined it up this morning. His gait is powerful and confident as he steps through the door. As the doors slide shut behind him, he folds his arms behind his back and looks around the room.

Deathsaurus says, "Well, Cyclonus. I was wondering when you would stop by to see to your Insecticon warrior." He indicates the table in the back of the room with a slight motion of his head - though the location is pretty unmistakable, considering the Barrage clones that are clustered aimlessly about the table.

Cyclonus nods at Desz as he moves over to the table. Much of his confident swagger has disipated in the wake of seeing one of his progeny in such distress. With but a mental thought the other clones are commanded to stand down and cluster in a back corner of the room. Turning to Desz for a second he looks back at his son. "I came as soon as I was able commander Deszauras."

Deathsaurus's optics flicker faintly. "Perhaps you should remain more closely informed of what goes on in our ranks." His detached tone warms slightly as he adds, almost regretful, "I do not know if the damage can be repaired. And yet, I have seen worse injuries that allowed survival."

Cyclonus's optics flicker with anger and then sympathy. "Who is working on him?"

Deathsaurus's expression shifts back to something faintly aggravated. "I should be so lucky as to know," he growls. "This is precisely why we need more coordination and unity. The medics like the warriors are off keeping to their own devices, it seems."

Deathsaurus pushes aside the computer terminal and brings his torn wings up around him to present some semblance of a picture of dignity, despite his injuries. "But as long as you're here, and you cannot do anything for your ... creation? ... at the moment -- there are details I need to know about your activities."

Cyclonus nods, "Perhaps you are right." He turns to look at Desz, "I have turned over provisional command of the insecticons to Venom." He pauses as Desz speaks. "What do you need to know?"

Deathsaurus pins Cyclonus with his firey gaze. "The nature of the Insecticons and their origin. Venom said something most odd to me the other day, perhaps you can confirm."

Deathsaurus says, "Something about already having been dead, and being brought back to life. A former existence that he does not well recall, or at least he would not tell me. I question, still, where you found the necessary source of life-energy to revive them?"

Cyclonus shrugs ever so slightly as he turns to look back at Barrage. "My life force has been merged with thiers to create this. With Blood's help they were able to be revived."

Deathsaurus says, "Your life force. Infused into dead Decepticons? That would seem to be a strain on anyone's life force, to activate so many individuals at once."

Deathsaurus regards Cyclonus closely, watching for his reaction, making it clear from his manner that he's not entirely convinced.

Cyclonus nods attempting to hide his fear of descovery from Desz by watching his fallen comrade. "So it would seem, Commander Deszauras."

Deathsaurus tilts his head a bit, asking almost conversationally, "And yet ... you show no ill effects. Curious, is it not?"

Cyclonus nods, "Perhaps there was another energy source that Blood used.." This admission seems almost pulled from him. His old honor instincts are comming to the fore..he cannot lie to a commander..but then he wants to!!

Deathsaurus pursues the thread on instinct. "Are you telling me that Blood added his own life-energy to the mix, and so is a co-creator of these new warriors?"

Cyclonus clenches his fist as he looks at Desz, "No commander Deathsaurus, he did not." he seemed on the verge of saying something and then his mouth snaps shut..he turns back to Barrage.

Deathsaurus states calmly, "Cyclonus. If we do not know how they were brought to life, how do you expect our medics to keep them alive? You still mistrust the high command to the extent that you would risk the lives of your creations?"

Cyclonus pauses for a long moment as if at war with himself. Both fists clench..on the one hand he does not want to reveal the energy and its source. On the other hand he does not want to loose Barrage. Finally he turns and looks at Desz. "You know that I was created by Unicron. His energy transformed me from an earlier form into this one. I still have latent access to this energy source. Blood was able to link me to him once again, and we used it to reawaken the Insecticons." This admission appears almost painful, and his tones sounds like they were ripped out of him. Now he stands in an almost defiant stance as he looks at Deathsaurus.

Dotcom arrives from Lower Sections.

Deathsaurus looks at Cyclonus in silence for a long moment, his expression impossible to read. Whatever he was perhaps going to say, is silenced at least temporarily by the arrival of a new individual.

Dotcom tromps into the room, munching on what appears to have been part of a tractor...

Cyclonus is standing looking at Desaras, his fist clenched and his look proud and yet defiant..almost as if he is waiting for an axe to fall. He doesnt notice Dotcom as of yet.

Deathsaurus's sharp senses are unlikely to miss someone entering the room, even when his attention is on the revelation before him. He looks toward Dotcom and muses, "So, here we have another example of the use of this ... energy." He looks back toward Cyclonus. "They live and function. And yet, I would question whether the trade-off is worth the price. You toy with energies that are not fully understood."

Cyclonus's optics drop very slightly for but a moment. Then his own power returns, "Perhaps I understand the energies only too well Deathsaurus."

Dotcom hmms? "What's this all about?" she inquires.

Deathsaurus says, "Furthermore..." now the Decepticon commander rises to his feet, making for an impressive sight despite shredded armor and slight trickling of fuel, because his optics flash brilliant for a moment in anger, "you did not see fit to inform your comrades of this action. Perhaps you would have been given approval none the less, but we would have been aware of the potential pitfalls."

Deathsaurus ignores Dotcom's quetion for the moment, his indignation having been roused by Cyclonus.

Deathsaurus says, "Now we have a warrior near death, for whom medics may or may not know what to do - whether his origin makes him more likely to survive, or less likely. Had others been in on it from the beginning, there would be more information to use now."

Dotcom blinks... "If he dies, can I eat him?"

Deathsaurus glares at Cyclonus as though restraining himself from flying into another tirade about what he's trying to accomplish for the faction and how everyone has to do their part, etc. etc. -- perhaps it's Dotcom who throws him off track, because he turns to her and snaps, "No!"

Dotcom startles and jumps slightly.... o O(Someone's in a bad mood..) She backs off though, not really in the mood to get shot at...

Cyclonus folds his arms behind his back a gesture that makes him vulnerable and yet powerful at the same time. His fear and inhibitions seem to vanish at the same time. he looks up at Deathsaurus with no fear beyond the respect given to an equal. "Deathsaurus, for the past decades I and my comrade Scourge have been the butt of all the jokes and the ones who have performed the menial labors, and the jobs no one else wanted to do. With the loss of Galvatron our position was not only lost, it was CRUSHED! You speak as if the Decepticons have been showing us fair treatment and comradery. Now I have regained some of what I have lost. Through risk of my own life force the Decepticons have regained a powerful force and yet I am still not trusted, questioned and second guuessed. What is that...commander?"

The brilliant light in Deathsaurus' optics slowly fades back to the more usual shade. The critical moment of rage is past again, and he settles himself slowly back onto his repair table. He watches Cyclonus steadily and speaks in an entirely calm tone now, again almost conversational, almost imploring, "Do you see what I'm trying to say, Cyclonus? To you, and to all the others? You speak as though your treatment at the hands of lesser commanders were to be laid at my door. How long will the inadequacies of past pretenders to the leadership be held against me? I am not Overlord, nor Scorponok, nor any of those fools."

Dotcom mutters to Cyclonus, "...new fool...?"

Deathsaurus shifts his attention to Dotcom. "You have something to say, Dotcom?" he demands.

Dotcom hmms? "Ah, I was just asking Cyclonus something, I don't want to bother you with trivial questions which are beneath your importance."

Deathsaurus notes pointedly, "Nothing my warriors do is beneath my importance. We are a unified front against the enemy, after all."

Cyclonus smiles a smile with absolutly no humor in it. His tones are grim and deep as he begins to speak. "You are now in command of our forces. By default you assume all the liablilites of the past commander. Until you change something it remains the same and the fault is yes laid at your feet. I have given the Decepticons my complete loyalties and got stepped on for that loyalty." He looks over at Dotcom as if finally to acknowlege her. "These.." He gestures twards Dotcom, "..are my loyalties now. I will lay down my life to protect them." He looks back at Deathsaurus, "If you are a new commander with a new regime, then you will have to prove that you are worth that loyalty...and no amount of posturing will acomplish this."

Dotcom says, "Well one would hope you'd not wish to hear useless chatter, else you might become overburdened with information and unable to distinguish the important matters."

Deathsaurus responds to Dotcom, "You needn't worry that I would be unable to distinguish what's most important. It seems there are others, however" here he glares again at Cyclonus - "who need to be reminded of our prioritites. It's all well and good to be protective of one's immediate team-mates, as long as you do not forget that you are part of a larger army. Without the support of the Decepticon forces, your precariously-won creations are at risk of extinction. Get that through your stubborn head, Cyclonus!"

Dotcom drops "Dotcom".

"Dotcom":
A femme with red, white, and black markings.

<OOC> Deathsaurus says, "Clone?"
<OOC> Dotcom says, "yup"

Cyclonus nods at Deathsaurus saying nothing, and yet in his optics can be seen his distrust of this new Decepticon army and this new commander who appears the same and yet different from all the others he has met before.

"Dotcom" walks up around the other side of Deathsaurus, peering at him.

Deathsaurus just shakes his head in disgust, and then makes a dismissing motion with one hand. "See to Barrage," he says, his tone devoid again of all inflection. "Perhaps he will yet prove to me that his boasts of skill bear some resemblance to the truth."

"Dotcom" blinks... "Barrage is injured then?" She had not known the identity of the damaged one...

Deathsaurus notes that Dotcom has cloned herself as they spoke, and regards the two identical Insecticons apparently without much surprise.

Cyclonus tunrs without a word and looks over at Barrage. He nods to Dotcom, "Yes he is. He is in need of repairs." His voice has fallen, inflections of sadness are laced in his words.

Toward the back of the repair bay, a group of Barrage Clones has stepped back from the table holding the two cleanly-sliced pieces of Barrage.

Dotcom drops "Dotcom".

"Dotcom" walks back over towards Barrage... "What happened?" she inquires, concerned about her comrade... she'd never show such concern for Dezzy, but for one of her own kind, yes.

Deathsaurus notes the second clone, and demands, "Is there some reason, Dotcom, why you have duplicated yourself twice in this particular situation?" Is he just curious, or is he getting at something again? It's just blasted hard to tell with him.

Cyclonus speaks but his optics never leave Barrage, "He was damaged in combat. The DECEPTICON elite have not yet seen fit to repair him." His voice is grim.

Dotcom and clones narrow their optics at Cyclonus' news.. they turn in unison, and respond sharply to Deathsaurus' question, "No." They then turn back, and move to cluster around Barrage...

Deathsaurus says, "The Decepticon elite partition our limited resources in the most logical manner. Take care with your snide implications, Cyclonus. I myself have not yet been repaired from my battle against Road Caesar - - who would have destroyed this entire ship and your unfortunate creation's remains."

Dotcom pauses, as if hearing something from somewhere else... "Activity on the Autobot frequencies..." she notes.

Cyclonus's head wips around to look at Dotcom, "who?"

Deathsaurus says, "Report, Dotcom!"

Dotcom hmms... "That odd female Jammer... and one other... Galaxy Shuttle I think... nothing of importance so far."

Deathsaurus says, "Galaxy Shuttle -- had his spare parts handed to him in the battle by Killbison. A pity that he survives."

Cyclonus says, "What are they talking about, Dotcom?""

Dotcom says, "Jammer appears to be having radio problems with her communications."

Cyclonus nods as he returns his attention to Barrage. He runs a hand lightly along his armored form and watches him carefully...

Deathsaurus says, "You will inform me if they discuss anything of greater interest."

Dotcom continues to listen to the chatter, mostly Jammer saying hello over and over again, and not hearing the response... "That's what I do."

Deathsaurus says, "Incidentally, Dotcom -- it's my understanding that each Insecticon clone requires a certain amount of energy, thus the need to consume ongoing resources. You might keep your energy-balance ratio in mind."

Dotcom seemingly ignores him, focusing on the radio transmissions, trying to boost the signal...

Deathsaurus indicates the two clones with a slight motion of his head, then essentially dismisses the subject by reaching for his computer terminal again.

Cyclonus smiles at this, but the smile is hidden as he keeps his optics on Barrage and his back to Desz.

Dotcom whispers to Cyclonus.

Dotcom walks up to Cyc and whispers something... "...does not... me..."

Cyclonus nods to Dotcom as his smile fades. He whispers to her, "He is different from the rest. Maybe he will be something more then a cannon mount. But he will have to show me first."

Dotcom nods back at Cyc, then smirks at the radio... she broadcasts the intercepted transmission to the room..<Autobot> Jammer says, "oh you know..just terrroizeing humans...anything interesting going on?"

Cyclonus smiles at the transmission.

Dotcom emits, <Autobot> Jammer says, "um, ooops..ok I wasn't terroizing humans then..yeah, ok...um I was just sitting here..."

Deathsaurus smirks faintly. "Terrorizing humans. With what, tales of how they're about to be crushed by us? Pathetic Autobots."

Deathsaurus taps at the console with the tips of his claws, writing up who-knows-what plan for the future.

Dotcom snickers at the transmission....

Deathsaurus seems no longer to pay attention to the others, but those who know better would be aware that nothing much gets past him. Still, he seems totally focused now on his task, the soft click-click at the console faintly audible in the room.

Dotcom facepalms.... "I knew Autobots were stupid, but this...."

Deathsaurus notes, without taking his eyes of the screen, "You will find them more stupid than you could imagine, Dotcom. For instance, they speak of unity with human worms. Let them be unified in oblivion."

Dotcom says, "I think I am going out for a bit..."

Dotcom takes "Dotcom".

Dotcom takes "Dotcom".

Cyclonus nods absently..

Dotcom heads for Lower Sections.
Dotcom has left.

Cyclonus turns to leave as well...

Deathsaurus glances up briefly from his task, watching the others take their leave.

Cyclonus heads for Lower Sections.
Cyclonus has left.