Transformers: World War II

[SirNitram]

"This is war." Overload said as he emerged from comms and moved to return to his battlesuit to move and prepare defenses. "There's a lack of requirements for 'nice.' Just do the damn job."

[LadyTevar]

"Yessir," Pathfinder answered, without his usual cheer. He was very uncharacteristically silent as he finished bolting together the anti-air and other defenses, simply doing his job and waiting for Deathstrike's arrival.

[Cynical Cat]

The land rushed toward them and then Deathstrike was streaking towards Coldstaph. "God, look at the mess," said Stephanie.

"It is war," replied Deathstrike.

"It doesn't bother you?" she asked.

"Why should it? That is the nature of war."

She bit back a reply.

"We're coming in for a landing," he replied. The Decepticon plane dipped his nose down and descended. The trail of plasma ended as his thrusters powered down, blasting out only hot air as he slowed down.

"I've seen better runways. This is going to be a bit rough." The jolt at touchdown felt like it ripped Stephanie's spine out of her body. Deathstrike touched down again and began breaking to a stop. He let Stephanie out and then transformed.

Observers saw a midnight blue plane of impossibly advanced design transform into a tall robot with wings swept behind his back. A long, silvery gun with six sinister looking radiator flanges running most of its length length was attached to his right arm. Standing at his feet, next to four crates, was a tall woman wearing a bomber jacket with long red hair pulled back in a braid. Piercing blue eyes looked out from a face that most would call beautiful.

[General Havoc]

Cavalier glared daggers at anything that happened to be in front of him, be it Overload or a passerby. "I remember," he said to Pathfinder in a low, diesel rumble.

He gave it a few moments, then shook his head.

"That 'stubborn honor' of his isn't worth the reactor waste it's written in. 'Honor' is just an excuse Decepticons use to let themselves feel good about burning planets into cinders. Someone didn't bow down enough, so they incinerate an entire city. Honor means they did it in daylight."

He looked around for something to hit, and found nothing.

"If you're willing to let it go," he said to Pathfinder, "then I'll let him pretend he's reformed if that makes you all feel better." He turned back to Overload. "But he steps out of line one micron, he lays a hand on one human or Autobot, he so much as makes me imagine that he's about to screw us over, and I'm turning him into ball bearings. Because I'm not new at this either, Overload."

No sooner had he made the complaint, than his personal radar picked up an inbound fast-mover. He didn't need to turn to see who it was, but he did so anyway, and found a massive Decepticon starfighter descending towards the runway, or such as it was.

"Ostentatious bastard, isn't he," he commented to Pathfinder as Deathstrike came in for a landing. "Couldn't have come as an IL-2 or something?"

[LadyTevar]

Pathfinder looked up, his optics picking out the places that were 'off' on Deathstrike. "Maybe he can't. Look at his armor," the small Autobot said quietly, before sighing deeply. "Overload... do you want me to help him carry those over?"

[SirNitram]

"It'd be appreciated." Overload offered the smaller portion of the load to the tanker-bot, nodding to the newly arrived flyer. Yea, he'd not be surprised if Deathstryke had no earth-Alt mode. He didn't look the better for wear.

[Cynical Cat]

The Decepticon hoisted the mass of crates over his shoulder and walked behind Stephanie. "Yo boys," the Canadian called out. "Christmas has come early!"

[LadyTevar]

"I had thought the human Christmas was for happy surprises," Pathfinder said, the smaller Autobot saying off to the side, but Deathstrike could almost feel his optics burning. "You're the last thing we'd thought we'd see here, Deathstrike."

[Cynical Cat]

"I was addressing the boys, which being a giant robot, you're not," said Stephanie, addressing Pathfinder. "Deathstrike?"

"There isn't a problem," said the Decepticon. "Not from me." He stepped around Pathfinder.

"I have a few crates of the best human technology can do with some Cybertronian help," Stephanie said. "Man portable anti-tank weapons. MAWs for short. We even brought a training launcher. A direct hit will go through a Panzer IV's front armour. Who's interested?"

[Dark Silver]

Drake approached Deathstrike and Stephanie as Deathstrike transformed and Stephanie offered the weapons.

"Dr Killian," Drake said, "I'm Lt. Colonel Drake, commander of the Joes here at Coldstaph." Drake didn't salute the civilian, "Heavyload, Launchpad, get some men and get those weapons stowed" he called to two passing Joe's, before looking back to Stephanie and her Decepticon partner. "We'll get you to show the men how to use them shortly, but first, if you don't mind telling me what your doing here? We didn't hear anything about Canada having one of the Cybertronians on their court..."

[Cynical Cat]

"I'd be glad to help Colonel Drake," said Stephanie. "Those are, by the way, half the MAWs in existence. The other half on the boat. As for Deathstrike, it's a long story."

"The short version is that an alien space ship crashed into northern Canada in thirty-eight and was made a very deep, dark secret. After a number of failures I managed to get enough up and running that he could do the rest. As to why things are kept secret, that's not my call. I'm fairly sure that keeping the Germans from knowing that we had any at all helping us was part of it, and he's been a big help, technically. We wouldn't have the MAWs without him. Do you have any idea of what kind of knowledge of rocketry and explosives they've all got in their brains, let alone what they can simulate on systems that powerful . . . I'm babbling aren't I?"

"Anyway, I'm sure legitimate secrecy was part of it and I'm sure parity with the Americans is another part. Despite what I keep telling people, its hard for them to get through their heads that the Cybertronians aren't just new war machines joining old countries. It's too big of an adjustment. Anyway I guess someone realized that some of this secrecy was counter productive and wanted to show the Americans they had Cybertronian muscle as well. Of course it was all top secret so no one knew until it happened. That's my guess, at least. They don't consult me for these kind of decisions and they would probably ignore the answers they didn't like if they did."

[rhoenix]

Crosswind only shrugged in response to the conversation about Deathstrike as he continued wiring up essential parts of the base, and the base defenses. "This will be an interesting test of that honor of his, I'd say. We'll see how well he fits in; I remember other 'Cons ditching Megatron over the years. Some of them even stayed Autobots."

With that, he finished connecting up the anti-air gun he had setup and activated, smiling as it attached properly to the rest, though he did have to rewire a few circuits.

A few moments later, his personal detection scanners picked up the fast-approaching plane, the profile of which fit the newcomer, though there were...discrepancies.

Finishing his duties wiring up this power generator and set of AA guns, Crosswind decided to approach the new, redheaded female human arrival, as well as the former Decepticon he needed no assistance remembering.

He took his time walking up, stopping about twenty paces away to calmly regard the tall, dark robot for a moment before speaking. "Primus' eyes 'Strike, you're looking kinda down. You sure about signing up over here?"

A visor met optics through the distance, each 'bot meeting the others' gaze.

[Cynical Cat]

Deathstrike inclined his head slightly in a gesture of respect. Crosswind was a skilled flyer and had spoiled more than one of Deathstrike's attack runs. "One cannot regain one's honor by walking away from the path of honor. This is what my rescuers wish and so shall it be." The Decepticon sounded resigned.

[Charon]

Hunter had finished preliminary scouting and placing of charges, mostly a few tripwires and a couple of the new radio detonators. He still didn't fully trust them, and they didn't work all the time. But they were damn handy.

He was coming back with the jeep when Deathstrike came in. "Well, I'd never guess he was a Transformer..."

When Stephanie made her pronouncement that Christmas was early Hunter did let out a bit of a cheer. He was a fighter that for all intents and purposes was far out of his league, even if he did have reservations he was gonna be happy to have one more working with them.

"As for those MAWs Dr. Killian, I'd love to get a look at them." He stepped up. "Name's Hunter, I'm the go to guy for the Joes' explosive needs, so I'd be happy to learn how these MAWs work."

[rhoenix]

There was a few moments' pause, and then Crosswind nodded twice. "Alright. You and I will probably be talking quite a bit over the next while, then. If you mess with us though, I'll load your laser core into a shell for that AA gun over there, and shoot it into this system's star once I'm done with you."

With that, he walked back a short distance to grab another crate, one of the three remaining AA gun crates. He stopped before he got too far, and turned halfway back, looking back at Deathstrike with a smile. "It'll be good to have you on this side of the war for once," he finished with a chuckle, resuming his walk to where the next AA gun would be wired up.

[Cynical Cat]

"Autobots," Deathstrike sneered as he heard Crosswind's attempt at a threat. If he was inclined to betray them he would simply burn sky towards Germany and get the best rebuild the Constructicons could manage, not this half jury rigged Frankenstein rebuild by carbon based, gravity well bound primitives. Even with his guidance their technology was limited, to put it kindly.

"Sure thing," Stephanie replied. "Three cases have MAWs, twenty-four to a case. The other case is two reusable training launchers and ammo." She walked over to the crates.

"Crowbar," she said, holding out her hand. Some generous soul provided one.

She pried open the top and pulled out a training launcher. It was a short tube. "Ceramic tube, a byproduct our new fancy composite armour program, established with Deathstrike's help. Quantities are extremely limited, its not equal to Cybertronian plate, but it's better than just bolting on steel."

She pulled out the inner tube, doubling the length. "The real deal comes loaded. Iron sights, effective range out to four hundred meters, not that accurate outside of two hundred. Total package is a little over three and a half kilos, three kilos of which are rocket. A direct hit will but through the front armour of an upgraded Panzer III or IV. It'll probably dish out some hurt if you his a Decepticon that's already been damaged or in a weak spot. Might also mess up a smaller Con's day, but they've never been tested against Cybertronian tech. It should be quite handy against German or hybrid tech though. Also, don't stand behind one of these things when its being fired. Back blast will burn your face off."

[LadyTevar]

Pathfinder let Deathstrike go, although he kept his audio receptors tuned to what the human woman was saying. Interesting toys he'd made for them to play with. Now that Deathstrike was closer, Pathfinder could get an even better look at the damaged warrior. Whatever had happened to him, he looked like he'd been junked and rebuilt out of scrap, but the 'Con still held himself with a touch of pride.

Pathfinder had to give him credit for that, as well for the careful way Deathstrike was watching over the human female. But that wasn't his problem. He'd let Overload handle the 'Con and work him into the team. Although Crosswind seemed most ready to work with him. Then again, Crosswind had very few fliers to talk with on Earth.

Earth. Not Cybertron. Still a war, one they'd entered solely because of the Decepticons and Snakes, but ...
Slag it, Pathfinder would work it all out later. For now, just say nothing.

[rhoenix]

The smile didn't quite leave Crosswind's faceplate as he walked off. Both he and Deathstrike, being aerial units, had very good sensors. Maybe Deathstrike wanted him to hear his sneeringly disparaging "Autobots" remark as he walked off.

Then again, maybe the former 'Con didn't have anything else to say, given that his entire world had likely flipped around since he left Megatron's waste-flinging hordes, and all he had left to console him was bitterness. Crosswind could understand that, having had to leave his entire way of life and living behind once the war made itself undeniable.

Ah well, let the big 'Con make his little remarks, thought Crosswind. When it came down to schematics, when it came down to fighting, wounding, falling, and dying, all philosophies tended to vanish in the face of explosions, and one's own mortality.

One's mortality always seemed too long, or too short, depending on when.

In the meantime, Crosswind now only had two more AA guns to hook into the defense network, and then he could begin setting up the party favors for the guests due to arrive here in a day or so. If the Snakes and 'Cons hadn't learned to always avoid places in Autobot territory that looked safe by now because they rarely were, well, they'd learn. Eventually, anyway.

[Charon]

Hunter whistled softly at it all. "I don't suppose we're lucky enough that these beautiful rockets you've handed to us are able to be jury-rigged into regular tubes huh? Or have you not bothered trying that yet?" Hunter knew how it worked, 90% of the time the things were tested, usually half-assedly in the research and development, and then it was sent out into the fields where the grunts saw what they could do with it.

"And I'm gonna assume another shipment of these aren't coming for awhile so we'll want to be sparing. Point and shoot like anything else we've got right?" Hunter moved to take the training tube from Stephanie.

[Cynical Cat]

"Regular tubes?" said Stephanie with a puzzled look on her face. "Soldier, as far as I know these are the only man portable rocket weapons in existence. There are no regular tubes. Each launcher is a one shot, disposable system."

[General Havoc]

Cavalier had nothing in particular that he wanted to say to Deathstrike, and apparently the feeling was mutual. Deathstrike was a ground attack model, designed with the primary job of destroying Autobots like himself. That was only reasonable, indeed Cavalier often joked that Deathstrike had been built as a counter to him personally. But to have him standing there, as though all of the crimes he had comited were expunged because he had deluded the Canadians into thinking that he could be trusted... it set Cavalier's Energon boiling. What Pathfinder saw as creditable, Cavalier saw as insufferable injustice. That Deathstrike should still be allowed to walk around after everything he had done, whatever the excuse, it was almost too much to bear.

He grumbled subaudially and turned away from the Decepticon flier, looking over instead the human-sized antitank weapons that the scientist had brought with her. So these little tube-mounted rockets could hammer through a Panzer IV could they? Cavalier himself liked to eat a breakfast of diced Panzer IV with a side order of Half-track whenever chance afforded, but of course not everyone had that option, certainly not the Joes. And giving them something that made the German armor think twice only meant more opportunities for good old-fashioned mayhem.

Before putting Deathstrike entirely out of his mind however, he opened a private radio com to Crosswind.

"When we get out there," he said, "you watch that con bastard like a hawk, okay? Do not hesitate to put him down if it looks like he's about to do what we all know he's thinking of doing. I'll back any play you have to make, but we're gonna be counting on you when he turns around and does what he does best."

[Cynical Cat]

"Right," said Stephanie. "You have Autobots and undoubtedly all sorts of projects that I don't need to know about. Anyway, why don't you show me to something that can pass as a firing range and I can show you and your buddies how to shoot these things without cooking yourself or your pall and then you grab as many MAWs as you want and go do soldier stuff?"

[rhoenix]

Last one. The last AA gun on this side was being unpacked at the moment by Crosswind, setting it up and checking it over just like the others. As he was withdrawing the struts for the cannon, he received Cavalier's private radio, smiling grimly as he did. He sent a reply on the same channel, using the same encryption. "That's the easy part, Cav. The hard part will be if he manages to walk the line."

With a satisfying click that never quite grew old to him, the big gun's frame was now in place. He began to finish assembling it, as a background process began to analyze topographical data for the area surrounding the base. With this last gun on this side almost ready, setting the traps for the expected guests they were going to host was next on the to-do list. Hopefully a few Decepticons would see what appeared to be cover as they approached during the ensuing firefight, and shudder at the memory of what happened last time they tried to take shelter behind it.


(EDIT: Clarified second paragraph)

[Charon]

Hunter only smiled and nodded as he took a look around, spotting an open area that had been cleared out, probably about the same time that the fort had been built. "Yeah we've got a nice spot." He grinned. "Very scenic. Triggerfinger, Loneshot, Grind, get over here. Our neighbors from the North have brought some gifts."

Hunter grabbed the other training launcher and escorted Stephanie to the location while the other Joes were catching up. "Alright Miss, show us how it's done."

[Cynical Cat]

"It's pretty simple," said Stephanie. "The MAWs are loaded, but the training launcher is reusable. You just extend the tube like so. Take aim using the iron sights. Effective range four hundred meters, accurate to about two hundred. Line up target. Make sure no one you don't want to set on fire is directly behind the launcher. Tap this to fire. Toss launcher. Simple. Why don't you boys give it a whirl?"