User blog:Bzero/Attack in Altihex

Slamdance appears on-screen, a slight smile playing across his deep red face. He immediately introduces himself: "This is Slamdance for ABN-Cybertron, broadcasting live from the Baird Beaming Transmitter in Kalis." He sobers slightly as an image forms over his shoulder. The scene is one familiar to anyone who's witnessed battlefields across Cybertron: catastrophic civilian destruction. A small graphic identifies this as 'Altihex.' Slamdance continues, "Last cyber-week Altihex was hit by an unexpected attack from one of the roving mercenary Seacons identified as Seawing." The image over his shoulder changes to a slightly-blurry image of what looks like some kind of flying mechanical manta ray. "Seawing's attack came without warning, and a request for help was sent out. The first responder was an Autobot, identified as Dust Devil." The image is replaced by a friendly-looking midnight-blue Autobot. "Initially the attack seemed without cause, but our reporter on the scene quickly encountered a possible mastermind behind the assault." The image changes to that of a small black and light-grey Mini-bot with a silver faceplate. "This is Rook, broadcasting from Altihex," he reporter says. "Earlier this cyberweek I talked with Snaptrap, leader of the Seacons. He took responsibility for the attack, but claimed the methods used stemmed from a misunderstanding." A recording appears of a massive, heavily-armed robot warrior, identified as 'Snaptrap, Seacon Commander' by a small caption below him. He is recorded as saying, "I told my intelligence officer, Seawing, to find a way to speak with an Autobot. He chose his method poorly. When the Autobot responded to the violence, I was alerted that Seawing had 'completed' his mission, and made my way to the scene, here in Altihex. By the time I arrived, there was some damage done to the city, the Autobot, and to my subordinate. I quickly told him to back off, and he -will- be punished for his actions."

The screen changes to Rook, who reports, "Snaptrap claims that his goals temporarily align with the Autobots, for the singular purpose of 'working to possibly help stop Cybertron's destruction. Purely for profit reasons, mind you.'"

The image changes back to Snaptrap, who says, "We work with whoever pays us. If no one is paying us, we steal what we want or need. Our methods may align with the 'Cons, but we have no real connection to them. As for the 'Bots... It is currently an alliance with one of them, not the faction as a whole. We made a mistake, and this Autobot is helping us erase that mistake."

The screen turns back to Rook, who says, "Their goals may be laudable, but for now, the people of Altihex have paid the price. Only time will tell if the efforts will be worthwhile.  Back to you, Slamdance."

The image returns to Slamdance, who moves on to a weather report about severe storms ravaging Tyrest...