Log Title: Lost in Space
Characters: Cyclonus, Laserbeak, Shockwave
Location: Decepticon Warship <Odin's Wrath> - Galactic Center - Milky Way
Date: February 08, 2022
TP: Liege Maximo TP
Summary: Shockwave travels to the center of the galaxy to find evidence on Megatron's disappearance.
As logged by Laserbeak - Thursday, February 17, 2022, 9:21 PM
Hub - Galactic Center - Milky Way[]
- The Hub is the seat of power of the Cybertronian Empire. It is a network of cyberformed structures wherein resides the Liege Maximo, claimed progenitor of the Decepticons.
- Decepticon Warship <Odin's Wrath>
- Shockwave's personal warship.
February 08, 2022, Earth time -- Cyberdate 75571.4 on Shockwave's homeworld. Dating format here, at the center of the galaxy, unknown. Shockwave and his crew go through what might be a one-way trip through the warp gate, trying to find the last known location of Megatron. What they find, through long-range sensor scans, is a massive hub of planets - all cyberformed into interconnected robotic spheres.
Shockwave
Shockwave stands at the center of his warship's command deck, hand clasping gunhand behind his back as he remotely watches what his ship's various sensors pick up and takes in the hub of planets. "A.. illogical setup." Simple but to the point as he lets the handful of crew and the support he recruited for this task take in the changes.
Perched on Shockwave's shoulder is Laserbeak. He's been known to perch on Megatron and Soundwave, but noticeably never Starscream. "Agreed," he squawks, bobbing his head rapidly. He glances over at the sensor scans. "No sign of Emperor Megatron... I'll scan for the Corumkan." Laserbeak takes flight, gliding over to the instrument console and transforming. In tape mode, he slips into a slot, allowing him to access all the ship's sensors directly.
Shockwave simply nods briefly, still looking at the main screen, "Record all sensors readings as well as any anomalies that may occur, even the minor ones. Security and escorts, prepare for battle." He remains still but his tone and inflictions make it clear he is speaking to the rest of the ship's occupants.
Laserbeak makes sure Shockwave's message is broadcast properly to the ship's small but trusted skeleton crew. "Not picking up any traces of the Corumkan - either intact or destroyed. Not sure if that's good or bad. I am picking up a lot of security chatter. Strangely enough, it feels like a forked version of an old Decepticon code. I might be able to break it." Within the console, Laserbeak's tape-ribbon whirrs.
Shockwave speaks, "Do so." He still remains still, the large Mech taking in the details before sends a command to have the closest locations where Megatron might of been from the readings they had before coming here added to the screen. "Any signs of space assets? Ship or being."
"I'll scan while my codebreaker subroutine works on this signal," Laserbeak reports. "Uh-oh. Scanner is picking up an incoming scout ship, heading in this direction. From its heading, I don't think it's detected us yet, but if it continues its current course, it will soon. Unfortunately, it's heading almost directly to the spot where Valour's astrophysicists pinpointed Emperor Megatron's exit point. Orders, sir?"
Shockwave ponders that for a few moments before he replies, "We are here to retrieve our Lord. We will not hide nor run." A quick check and another command snaps out, "Take us to full alert. Escort, prepare to board and sieze that ship if necessary. Security, prepare to board as well." He focuses in on the scout, taking in what details he can of it's possible armamanets, speed and crew sie.
"Uh, yes, sir," Laserbeak squawks, although from his emotional tone Shockwave can tell he's not happy with the decision. Still, he scans the incoming ship and forwards the data to both the viewscreen and Shockwave directly. It's a small ship - no bigger than Skyfire in ship mode. Lightly armed. "We could definitely take it, sir. Capture it - maybe torture the pilots for information?" THIS idea seems to please Laserbeak.
Shockwave finally moves a little bit as he nods, "We need records of this area.. that ship should contain what we need." A pause, "And yes, if they will not willingly part with the information, you may retrieve it however you wish."
Laserbeak squawks in joy. "Entering firing range. Orders sir? Another moment and they'll detect us." Laserbeak pulls up a host of firing options, as well as a communications channel in case Shockwave wants to taunt or threaten. "Channel encryption broken. We can now intercept or jam transmissions as well. What is your desire, sir?" Laserbeak sounds excited. So brave when safely inside Shockwave's massive, heavily armed ship.
Shockwave briefly considers the many options avaiable, "Activate focused jamming on the scout, maintain scans for any other ships nearby. Disable and board. If they resist, put them down except for the pilots or any who appear to be of importance." He would go himself.. but he would likel ymake a few holes that would not be of major use. "Attempt to keep the ship itself as intact as possible."
Laserbeak squawks, "You got it, sir! Operation: Isolation and Capture commencing." The moment the shuttle starts to slow, indicating it's picked up the Wrath, Laserbeak jams its subspace transmissions, and opens fire with the Wrath's cannons, targeting the ship's engines. "Firing now!" Laserbeak chirps gleefully. Laser lances strikes out almost invisibly in the darkness of space.
The scout ship is hit without warning, and begins to spin on two axes, even as it continues wildly towards the Wrath. Laserbeak's senses pick up an attempt to call for help, but the Wrath's communications array successfully jams any outbound communications. The ship fires small rockets to try to slow its spin, but is only partially successful. It remains still out of control as it drifts towards the Wrath.
Shockwave silent sends a command to the computer controlling the ship's filght to keep it in the scout's blindspot as it gets closer, "Boarding teams, I am waiting." He quickly takes in the damage, comparing the ship's tech to their own and assessing how bad the damage is. "Excellent targeting, Laserbeak. Lord Megatron would be happy with your accuracy."
"Thank you, sir," Laserbeak chirps happily, as Cyclonus is dispatched to further disable the ship and board it. Ripping off the cargo doors and entering the ship in the silence of space, he soon shortband radios Shockwave, << No crew. This might be a drone. Orders, sir? >> He takes control of the scout ship and rights it, orienting it so its weapons are pointed AWAY from the Wrath, just in case.
Shockwave gives a quick command, "Laserbeak, remote access its computers and download all information on this sector, especially near the points where Lord Megatron may be." His optic flickers, "I will attempt to subvert it to our side while you do, to assist in our search." A quick check and a small nod as he radios back to Cyclonus, << Check for any physical items that may be of use to our efforts, Cyclonus. Then ready a bomb for when we will need to.. remove the ship from any possible interference. >>
"You got it, sir," Laserbeak squawks, although after a moment, he continues, "Negative - sir, the ship itself is alive."
At the same moment, Cyclonus checks in. << Commander, >> he tightbeams respectfully. "Analysis of the cargo hold reveals traces of material of clear Cybertron origin, Decepticon manufacture. I believe this ship was used to salvage the Corumkan. Its presence here may not be coincidental."
Shockwave simply stands there, a minor challenge rearing its head, "Alive, Laserbeak? Sentient AI or another?" He takes in the news about the salvage and nods briefly, "Then we need to find out what it knows.. it will surrender the information or I will break it fr standing in our way"
"Scanning more deeply," Laserbeak squawks, quieting a moment while he runs analysis on what the data is telling him. "Two sparks detected - it's some sort of combiner, sir. A bond like that would be easy to exploit. Threaten and torture one while the other watches - trust me, sir, I can get you anything you need from them."
- << Ship disabled and under my control. Shall I bring it in, sir? >> Cyclonus reports.
- Continued in Lost in Space II.