| abstract
| - Welcome to the Racetrack Your average everyday oval-shaped race track, with the accompanying grandstand. Bookies wander around offering shady deals to the multitudes of myriad aliens flocking to watch the competition. Welcome to the Dromedon aerial race 'track'! Hovering stands have been put up for the non-fliers to watch, but wings (or something else that serves the purpose) are required for the actual racing! The announcer has wings, too, as someone seems to have drafted one of the denizens of Pony World to host this event. A pale blue pony with white hair and pictures of whistles tattoo'd on her butt hovers on blue wings that should be much too small to support her, but manage to do so, anyway. A couple of far too adorable birds hover holding a microphone stand hover in front of her. She leans forward. "Ladies, gentlemen, and... creatures?" she begins hesitantly. "Welcome to the 2031 Olympics Aerial Race, sponsered by Six Lasers! Now, we'll beginning the race momentarily, so if the particpants will just take their places..." From Exo-Armor Pegasus , Jayson Redfield has been waiting for this race. After all, he didn't do so badly last year, having come in third. He is, at the moment, peering oddly at the pony. Weirder things have been seen, he supposes, but he still wasn't expecting the event to be hosted by a My Little Pony. He shrugs it off, however, and inches his Pegasus exo-jet over to the starting line. Mechanical Wyvern flaps his wings as he gets into his starting space. He caws loudly at the other participants. "Me win for honor of Terrorcons!" he says, "Rip losers!" Dreadwing arrives on the raceway, the Superjet being one of the more rare sights but it seems that the two powermasters have actually combined to try and win an event. "You shouldn't bother primative. Your efforts will just be futile." The getalts says in his ever cheerful tone. Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet pulls up into his position for the starting point of the race. F/A-18E "Super Hornet" taxis well away from the combiner jet. Who knows what that thing's capable of! Robotic Bald Eagle flies around haphazardly, because the 'track' is in the air, and as such conveniences like lines in the ground, of which there is none, are nowhere to be found. "OH GOSH WHERE IS THE STARTING LINE!?" he yells. Fortunately, he manages to bump into Jayson Redfield before the race starts and he's disqualified for not being at the starting line. "WHERE IS THE STARTING LINE!?" Americon yells again as he clings to Jayson with his wings. From Exo-Armor Pegasus , Jayson Redfield looks toward Americon oddly. Even more oddly than he was looking at the pony. After all, there is now a US-flag-colored eaglebot clinging to his jet. "It's...right here..." Wind Whistler continues to flap her wings rapidly, still hovering in place. "And on your mark... get set... /go/!" she shouts, and so the race begins! Dreadwing makes his way to the starting line, with little care what the others may think of his presence here. It doesn't matter nothing does, not even this pitiful race, though the pained expression of the losers as they try and fail might just be worth the effort, "There can be only one result here and it will not be enjoyable." Race: Race Track is initialized. Ready to begin a new race. Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Grey Spaceship 0 0 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus 0 0 FEARLESS -- Exo-Jet Apollo 0 0 FEARLESS -- F/A-18E "Super Hornet" 0 0 NEUTRAL -- Dreadwing 0 0 FEARLESS -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 0 0 NEUTRAL -- F/A-18E "Super Hornet" ignites his engines and accelerates down the track, taking off and swooping upwards towards the slalom course! Combat: F/A-18E "Super Hornet" sets his defense level to Aggressive. Combat: F/A-18E "Super Hornet" takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet speeds off down the airborne track as soon as the signal is given. Jayson's not sure if he'll get a medal this time, but damned if he isn't going to at least try. Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Mechanical Wyvern hops a few times, flapping his wings a few times vigorously before becoming fully airborne. A harsh shrieking cry fills the air as the Terrorcon lifts off. Combat: Mechanical Wyvern takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Dreadwing ignites his engine and takes off down the track, not seeming to care about the other around him. Combat: Dreadwing takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Robotic Bald Eagle releases Jayson as the silly looking pony abomination declares the race has started! "What? OH SH--" he shrieks, and flies off after the other racers as fast as his engines will take him! Which... isn't actually that fast, relatively speaking! Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Exo-Jet Apollo Jet seems a bit off the game initially, as other racers react quicker to the starting signal. But the pilot quickly pushes the throttle forward, sending the vehicle surging forward after the pack of racers. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship rockets off with a smooth hum of his thrusters. His streamlined build getting minimal air friction. "May I shine brighter this time around..." Combat: Grey Spaceship takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet follows everyone else down the runway and sweeps up into the air to head for the racecourse. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Robotic Bald Eagle 5 0 NEUTRAL -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 6 0 NEUTRAL -- F/A-18E "Super Hornet" 8 0 FEARLESS -- Grey Spaceship 10 0 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus 13 0 FEARLESS -- "And they're /off/!" shouts Wind Whistler, fluttering. "James Bailey and his Apollo take the lead, followed closely by Dreadwing! Behind them, Fragment and Jayson Redfield's most /wonderfully/ named Pegasus fly neck to metaphorical neck, but the night is still young!" F/A-18E "Super Hornet" tries to stay away from Americon, whose danger to himself and others is well-known among the Decepticons. Combat: F/A-18E "Super Hornet" sets his defense level to Guarded. Combat: F/A-18E "Super Hornet" takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] From Exo-Armor Pegasus , Jayson Redfield smiles in pride at Wind Whistler's comment about his exo's name. He continues to fly his jet along the track, skillfully avoiding any obstacles that may be thrown at the racers. And, despite a mild fear of heights that in some situations affect his performance, his progress isn't hindered. Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Mechanical Wyvern is so far only concerned with keeping up. He'll worry about ramming someone later, when one of the humans comes close. Combat: Mechanical Wyvern takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Dreadwing powers his engines to full but somehow that little speck of a human James manages to out race him, not to worry though soon enough he will learn what it is to falter and fail. Dreadwing calls out to the human in a forboding tone, "There is no way for victory to be won by something as short lived as you, you are nothing but a mote of dust to be blown away when the dark wind howls through existence." Combat: Dreadwing takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Robotic Bald Eagle looks a bit sad as he watches the other races zoom right by him! He sighs as he flaps his wings discontentedly, following the other racers. He would like to ram one of the humans, but alas, they are too far away. Windshear, though.. he's right behind THAT guy. Americon looms closer to the jet. Oh Primus, don't succumb to the urge! Don't succumb! Urgh! Oh no! Americon gives in and tries to snap at one of Windshear's tailfins, proving Boomslang's fears about him to be right on the money! Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle strikes Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet with his Ram attack! Exo-Jet Apollo Jet nudges its way carefully past a few of the slower comptitors, then comes upon a region of open air. Engines howl and emit angry white plumes of fire as it calls on emergency power to punch through the opening and take the lead. Now James has to keep an eye on tactical screens to determine what the other racers are doing behind him. Especially the giant aerial mass that is Dreadwing. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship gently twists in the air, feeling out air currents and gas density at any given moment. Vapor is cut through and violently dragged in the wake of flight. "The Decepticons had better not have another embarrassing shutout like we got in sharpshooting. There'll be executions if so I'll warrant." Combat: Grey Spaceship takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet has no idea why a human is in this but no matter. That one seems to be the one to try to beat so he works on trying to work through the pack toward the human. Then he feels a snapping at his afterburners and running a scan behind him he picks up Americon. He ignores him until the cassettecon takes a hunk out of the left afterburner. The Seeker jacks his brakes in an attempt at having this birdcon get more then he bargoned for jammed in his beak. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet sets his defense level to Aggressive. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet strikes Robotic Bald Eagle with his Ram attack! Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Robotic Bald Eagle 5 0 FEARLESS -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 6 0 AGGRESSIVE -- F/A-18E "Super Hornet" 14 0 FEARLESS -- Grey Spaceship 19 0 FEARLESS -- Dreadwing 0 1 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus 3 1 FEARLESS -- "Aaaaand the Pegasus pulls up with the Apollo, while Dreadwing follows not far behind." Wind Whistler declares, remaining weirdly calm for a race announcer. "Meanwhile, the little Eagle robot has crashed into the Cyberjet Windshear, the first crash of the race... but now, the humans are about to lap the Eagle. Will there be an upset as they try to pass?" F/A-18E "Super Hornet" continues to cruise around the track, watching out for the humans to pass near him. He's not the fastest jet by far, but he might be able to contribute that way! Combat: F/A-18E "Super Hornet" takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet somehow comes right up to James's Apollo. Inside, Jayson grins and offers his superior a thumbs up, a mixed sign that not only is everything okay, but also to wish him luck. Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Mechanical Wyvern has his sights set on the two humans that are some distance ahead of him. Nothing else even matters in his field of vision. He'd love to tear the exos to pieces and make the humans bloody smears on the tarmac, but that isn't allowed yet. So he'll settle for knocking one over. "BRAWWWK, get humans! No let win!" The fact that there's no Autobots whatsoever in this race hasn't seemed to have dawned on him yet. Combat: Mechanical Wyvern takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Dreadwing watches as of course the filty germs are of ahead of him as he continues at full power. "I don't see why you guys try. It will onyl end in tears for you as you fall from the sky and crash into the ground in a spectacular explosion; the only thing tht will be remembered about your existances." The superjet drones as he follows behind them. Combat: Dreadwing takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Robotic Bald Eagle gets an entire wing shoved into his face, more than he bargained for! "BAWK!!!" he screeches, bashed backwards and sent flying... right into the humans! He rights himself, spreading his wings and coming after THEM, now, like one of those ninja-eating eagles from Ninja Gaiden! Oh no, which one will he go after!? GAME: Americon rolls a (100)-sided die: ROLL: Jayson Redfield rolled a 99 ROLL: James Bailey rolled a 35 He goes after Jayson! Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle strikes Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet with his Ram attack! Exo-Jet Apollo Jet swerves through curves and turns, but has to cut one banking manuever short as Jayson's Exo pulls up alongside. <> James drawls over ship-to-ship comm. <> he continues, voice serious now As he eyes displays showing the positions and placements of the various competitors. <> This last as Americon demonstrates. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship finds himself outdistanced by the three race leaders and comfortably ahead of the rest. If the race were over right now he might get to buy a tin medal for 4th. But it's early, and he is patient. He stuck out last years foot race afterall. He finds himself slightly slowed by more friction, perhaps the backwash of those pulling ahead. He attempts to make angular corrections. Combat: Grey Spaceship takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet feels the cassettecon off of him and notices the humans are about to lap him. Perhaps he might have something to 'say' about that and he veers over toward the closest one to ram him. (James) Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet misses Exo-Jet Apollo Jet with his Ram attack! Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Olive and Sand colored Cyber 8 0 AGGRESSIVE -- Robotic Bald Eagle 11 0 FEARLESS -- Mechanical Wyvern 2 1 FEARLESS -- F/A-18E "Super Hornet" 10 1 FEARLESS -- Dreadwing 11 1 FEARLESS -- Exo-Jet Apollo 15 1 FEARLESS -- F/A-18E "Super Hornet" spots one of the humans coming this way! He swerves towards it, but overcorrects and ends up leaving the track, disqualified! Combat: F/A-18E "Super Hornet" sets his defense level to Fearless. Combat: F/A-18E "Super Hornet" strikes Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet with his Ram attack! Race: F/A-18E "Super Hornet" leaves the race. "Oh, my!" exclaims the Pegasus. "It seems as if the Decepticons are now actively targeting the humans! Who would have expected such a turn of events? Despite this, James Bailey remains in the lead. Behind him are Dreadwing, followed shortly by Fragment. But what of the rest?" "But oh, my! One of the jets has left the track!" Wind Whistler exclaims. She is also the Pegasus mentioned in the last pose. :(Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet continues to speed around the track. <> Jayson is alarmed as Americon comes right at him, and succeeds! "Get off me, birdbrain!" he emits. Once Americon is shaken off him, he is then...hit by Boomslang. "Damn it!" Jayson swears as he attempts to steady his exo-jet. <> he radios to his comrade. Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Mechanical Wyvern croaks in disappointment as one of the Humans happens to drop into range....and is already knocked over. He zooms past, intent on catching up with the other human. Combat: Mechanical Wyvern takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Dreadwing watches knowingly as the race starts to break down into a battle, "Just as everything that exists must eventually crumble and be destroyed so will those that feel they can triumph." Dreadwing powers onwards ignoring those behind him as he chases the surviving human but he prepares for the inevitable after all he's a big target and no one here is a friend. Combat: Dreadwing takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Robotic Bald Eagle gives his head a good shake as he rids himself of his craving for ninja. Jayson didn't look particularly ninja-like, anyhow. "HAHA, RUN HUMANS!" Americon caws as he burns after Jayson. "You'll only die tired... IN AMERICA!" Fragment and Dreadwind are spared from his destructive presence... this time. Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Exo-Jet Apollo Jet adjusts airspeed just slightly as it begins to lap other competitors. Inside, James is having a hard time keeping track of where others are and which Decepticons seem to be going for pure speed versus delaying tactics. But since the area around him seems to be clear for now, he tasks a few of his Exo's systems to begin calculating projections based on behavior this far. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship feels the wind resistance change as he turns onto the next lap. Flying competetively in a gas giant more interesting than the void of space. There is an old curse. May you live in interesting times. Combat: Grey Spaceship takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet misses the human and drops further back. He concentrates on trying to edge up toward the lead instead. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Robotic Bald Eagle 19 0 FEARLESS -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 19 0 AGGRESSIVE -- Exo-Armor Pegasus 8 1 FEARLESS -- Grey Spaceship 2 2 FEARLESS -- Dreadwing 3 2 FEARLESS -- Exo-Jet Apollo 4 2 FEARLESS -- "And James Bailey retains the lead, but Dreadwing and Fragment are close behind him," Wind Whistler announces. "The race has once more become just that: a race, as the lead players concentrate on getting or staying ahead, while the followers are far enough behind that they /can't/ attack... but wait! Jayson is close enough to go after any of the lead racers. The question is, will he?" Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet recovers! Now it continues to speed around the track, accelerating in an attempt to catch up to its fellow exo-jet. Jayson just hopes no more Decepticons decide to pick on him! And no, Wind Whistler, he will not. He doesn't work like that. Slag has arrived. Mechanical Wyvern hasn't got anyone to Ram! So he fumes noisily in squawks and caws as he keeps going. Combat: Mechanical Wyvern takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Dreadwing watches as he draws close to the the insignificant human, James that remains in the lead. The dour superjet deciding to take his chance to try and knock the other human from the lead. "When you crash and burn, you will understand the futility of trying in this bleak darkness we exist in." Combat: Dreadwing misses Exo-Jet Apollo Jet with his Ram attack! Robotic Bald Eagle flies close to Windshear, optic twitching as he feels the temptation to attack him yet again! However, he suppresses and continues to fly down the track instead! "Uh, so, sorry about earlier, Windshear!" he says. "I just can't help it sometimes!" Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Exo-Jet Apollo 's computer systems crunch away at the quick algorithm James asked to run, returning the results...which more or less match what Wind Whistler just said. Irony. And Which is why the sudden blare of a 'collision warning' alarm as Dreadwing tries to clip him is such a shock. But the alarm does it's job, and with a bit of warning James manages to twist his aircraft out of the way and then speed ahead. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship finds his experience with the Mesosphere of Dromedon Major is aiding his navigation of it. He decides to take trace element samples with his ramscoops at a time more sensable after the race. For now focus is priority one. Among the ever moving bodies in an asteroid field, one cannot afford to be distracted. Among competetors, the same can be said. Combat: Grey Spaceship takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet is surprised to hear Americon say that, "Its ok." is all he says as he pulls up the rear of the pack. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Robotic Bald Eagle 7 1 FEARLESS -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 8 1 AGGRESSIVE -- Mechanical Wyvern 13 1 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus 14 2 FEARLESS -- Exo-Jet Apollo 14 2 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet rounds a corner. Jayson is determined to give it all he's got, despite the setbacks of being assaulted. Here goes nothing! Combat: Wind Whistler misses Exo-Jet Apollo Jet with his Grab attack! The Terrorcon's patience, what little he has of it, has finally seemed to have paid off. He's within ramming distance of two potential targets. One's a human, however. The question of who to go after is thus settled. Using a bit of an updraft from the racers ahead, the Winged Wyvern tries to come down upon James Bailey's exo from above and behind. Combat: Mechanical Wyvern strikes Exo-Jet Apollo Jet with his Ram attack! Slag flies in from a trajectory suggesting that he's not a part of this race at all, and this is proven by the dull thud of him landing in the stands, where Slag takes a seat. "Me Slag want to see him Swoop win today." he states plainly to anyone listening, unaware his dino-brother isn't competing. Dreadwing tries and fails, as expected, had he made contact the little human would have been knocked flying unfortunately the gnat managed to evade his bulk. "Failure and suffering, the only true constants in life." The move costs him a place as Fragment moves out of his considerable slipstream and ahead of him, shunting more power to his engines Dreadwing attempts to retake his lost position and attain another chance to make the human suffer for trying do hard. Combat: Dreadwing takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Robotic Bald Eagle continues to fly along and does anything weird, and he doesn't really feel like lashing out at anyone, so he just continues to fly along at his usual slow pace for the time being. In America. Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Exo-Jet Apollo Jet is rocked badly by Cutthroat's pounce. Even as it pulls ahead of the flying creature, it leaves a trail of armor plating and a piece of one rear stabilizer falling to the ground behind. The Exo-Jet now moves noticeably slower, with its aerodynamics affected by ruptured armor and other assorted damages. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship adjusts course like a shark gliding among reefs as Dreadwing gambles on putting James back and loses. He admires the boldness but would rather the super jet had stayed on course for the glory of the Empire. Priorities and motivations differ among individuals however. Fragment just seeks to run the race, as proved when he pulls up along side James for the moment and doesn't go for any wing batterings. Coming up behind Cutthroat however, is a hazard for the human to keep himself preoccupied. He manuevers again to give the pair a respectable berth. Combat: Grey Spaceship takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Fortress Maximus has arrived. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Robotic Bald Eagle 14 1 FEARLESS -- Mechanical Wyvern 16 1 FEARLESS -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 19 1 AGGRESSIVE -- Exo-Armor Pegasus 14 2 FEARLESS -- Dreadwing 17 2 FEARLESS -- Grey Spaceship 7 3 FEARLESS -- Wind Whistler appears to have a good deal of energy, as she's /still/ hovering in place! "Fragment is now in the lead, by a fair amount! Dreadwing lags behind in second place, while Bailey follows him. My, but this /is/ an upset! All in all, however, considering the participants, the racers have been /remarkably/ well behaved!" From Exo-Armor Pegasus , Jayson Redfield just keeps flying his jet. Yep. He's just a teen in a jet, running a race. Don't mind him. Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] It's a bird! It's a Plane! No, It's CUTTHROAT! And he sees another bird-not-plane. "AWK we peck humans good!" he says to the robotic Eagle, "Now me peck again!" Slag hears the comments and shakes his head, "Me Slag no like this. Me Slag say something up someone sleeve. Me Slag say someone gonna cheat! And where's him Swoop? Why he not here beating everyone?" Combat: Mechanical Wyvern strikes Exo-Jet Apollo Jet with his Ram attack! Fortress Maximus transforms into his Battleship mode. Dreadwing contines the course as he tries to regain what was lost. He's not surprised it cost him. The universe was always seekings ways to make him suffer in some fashion. If he overtakes Fragment, he will, but as long as the humans are kept in their place he can maybe find some small shread of happiness in that. Robotic Bald Eagle glares at Wind Whistler for daring to suggest he's well-behaved. He's just trying to place, is all! Well, he supposes he WILL be well-behaved this time... "What?" he says as he flies closer to Cutthroat. "I am sorry, I did not hear you! What is the thing that you said earlier which I did not catch?" He flies closer and closer to get his answer, but THEN he flies TOO close! Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle misses Mechanical Wyvern with his Ram attack! Combat: Dreadwing takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Battleship transforms into his Battle Station mode. Exo-Jet Apollo Jet gets smashed aside by Cutthroat again, which knocks him out of Windshear's way. Looks like the Decepticon teamwork is paying off again. Inside, James is rattled around by the impacts, but after running an eye over diagnostics reports decides he can keep up. For now. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship checks the race position telemetry as he turns onto his third lap and double checks. His placement looks good, but celebrating early is a timeless downfall of any warrior from any sector of the galaxy. There is no taunting. There is no rising confidence. There is only survival and precision. A razor can make ugly gouges if pulled without respect. He finds himself coming up behind another human racer as he tries to keep the race commentry out of his mind. Getting distracted by a ridiculous creature like a winged pony with tats on it's rear would be humiliating. Combat: Grey Spaceship takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet continues in the race. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Robotic Bald Eagle 16 1 FEARLESS -- Mechanical Wyvern 17 1 FEARLESS -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 8 2 AGGRESSIVE -- Exo-Jet Apollo 14 2 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus 16 3 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet continues to speed along the course! At this point Jayson doubts he or James will grab the Gold, but one never knows! Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] "Oh, goodness!" exclaims Wind Whistler, faintly startled. Faintly. "Fragment has nearly passed the finish line! Only Americon, Cutthroat, and Jayson have a chance of stopping him now! A good deal behind him is Dreadwing, and lagging behind /him/ are the humans. At this point, gold and silver are all but assured, and now the only question is who takes bronze!" Mechanical Wyvern cries out in anger as Americon gets a little too close and personal. He flails, trying to knock Americon down as well! Combat: Mechanical Wyvern strikes Robotic Bald Eagle with his Ram attack! Slag watches and almost yawns. "Me Slag say this boring like hoo-man racing. All these guys do: go fast, turn left. Me Slag think someone put on better show than this!" he shakes his fist generally at the sky above where the race is taking place. Dreadwing powers onwards his existence burning up as fast as his energon, whilst winning seems beyond his grasp now he can take solace in the suffering of the humans as they are pushed back into third place, all that effort for nothing. "You were warned humans but you failed to listen, such a pity... such a waste..." If only they were knocked out of running completely, proving the might of Decepticon air superiority, still the combined air commanders are happy to rub it in their faces anyway. Combat: Dreadwing takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Robotic Bald Eagle lets out a horrible "BAWWWWWWKKK!" as he gets tangled up with Cutthroat, and there is much flapping of wings, snapping of beaks, and thrashing of claws! Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle misses Mechanical Wyvern with his Ram attack! Exo-Jet Apollo Jet speeds ahead, once again seeing open sky. Unfortunately, this is due to how far ahead Fragment and DreadwinG are and not because James himself is in the clear. "Yeah well...we've been warned before!" His voice crackles out over external speakers, voice straining slightly from the g-forces as he banks through another turn at close to maximum speed. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship monitors fore and aft proximity blips, and finds himself practically surrounded by warning blips. It's tight flying and he'd be more comfortable if they were space rocks instead of beings with will and adjustable manuevering. His circuit nerves are tuned up as if balancing on a thread. Combat: Grey Spaceship takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet just continues on in the race, more or less now just enjoying the flying. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Robotic Bald Eagle 16 1 FEARLESS -- Mechanical Wyvern 18 1 FEARLESS -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 15 2 AGGRESSIVE -- Exo-Jet Apollo 5 3 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus 9 4 FEARLESS -- "And Fragment takes the gold," Wind Whistler announces primly. "Dreadwing is not far behind, though both Cutthroat and Americon are well placed to interferre with that. Jayson Redfield is looking to be the likely canidate for third place, but James Bailey might yet overtake him." Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet darts around a corner here and there. It's pretty smooth flying for someone so young. Combat: Wind Whistler misses Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet with his Grab attack! Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] The Mechanical Wyvern continues flailing and flapping and squawking as Americon is still tangled up with him. "What you doing?" he croaks, "Should be pecking humans!" Combat: Mechanical Wyvern strikes Robotic Bald Eagle with his Ram attack! Dreadwing watches as Fragment prepares to take the gold, as he picks up the rear. "If only our 'comrades' could focues on the humans for a moment, maybe the humans could be knocked out of the running." He idly suggests to the other Decepticons. Combat: Dreadwing takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Robotic Bald Eagle yells, "YOU RAMMED INTO ME!" as he goes tumbling through the air with the Terrorcon, and he squeezes away from the other bird, only to fly right into Windshear's jet engines. "BAAAWWWWK!" Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle misses Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet with his Ram attack! Exo-Jet Apollo Jet inches towards its fellow Exo-Jet, swerving to one side and then the other to try and find a clean passing vector. They're in the final lap though, and the distance remaining in the race is rapidly being eated up by the high speeds both craft are flying at. No telling if he'll get his chance before the finish line...or if all of the Decepticons still in the mix will even let him. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship makes the final turn and crosses the finish. He confirms his standing methodically twice and then flies off the course out of everyone elses way. He has carved out apiece of glory for himself and the Decepticons. He allows himself the pride that gold brings. Race: Grey Spaceship leaves the race. Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet hears Americon yelling and stands on a wing to be avoided by the Cassettecon and then levels out and keeps going. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Racetrack Attack! Racer Pos Lap Defense-Level Robotic Bald Eagle 16 1 FEARLESS -- Mechanical Wyvern 2 2 FEARLESS -- Olive and Sand colored Cyber 6 3 AGGRESSIVE -- Exo-Jet Apollo 14 3 FEARLESS -- Exo-Armor Pegasus "Dreadwing takes silver," proclaims Wind Whistler regally. "Jayson is not far from the finish line, but Americon, still on his first lap, is lined up perfectly to strike at him!" From Exo-Armor Pegasus , Jayson Redfield keeps keeps flying. Yep. Though he is eyeing Americon warily--the cassetticon *is* rather unpredictable. Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Mechanical Wyvern finally manages to untangle from Americon and continue on in the race. Nowhere near winning placement, but at least he did his part to keep the other Decepticons on top. Combat: Mechanical Wyvern takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Dreadwing powers past the finishing line, taking silver for the Decepticons and he knows that his time now is all but spent, once more he will be torn asunder and forgotten by all and none shall care. "A victory, but a fleeting one for these medals are nothing and soon they shall return to that same nothingness." Dreadwing departs from the track in a cloud of gloom. Race: Dreadwing leaves the race. Robotic Bald Eagle misses his target, and yells, "SHUT UP YOU STUPID PONY! I'll ram anyone I want!" at the cute abomination. Then, of course, he tries to ram Jayson anyway. "SUP HUMAN!" he shrieks. Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle strikes Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet with his Ram attack! Exo-Jet Apollo Jet is still maneuvering this way and that trying to get around Jayson's Exo when Americon suddenly makes it much easier. <> he mutters over the comm before streaking by the ensuing wreck. Combat: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship silently appretiates he came out without a scratch on him as he observes the continued mobile wrecking in progress. How many parts of the racers have fallen and become lost forever? Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Wind Whistler stares at Americon. "... Cute... abomination?" she asks, tilting her head. "I am... uncertain as to how I should take that!" Then she shakes her head, returning her attention to the race itself. "Oh! Either way, it seems that James Bailey has put a lock on the Bronze! Now it's just a matter of sorting the remainder. It would seem that Jayson and Winshear are nearly neck and neck. Shall they finish out?" From Exo-Armor Pegasus , Jayson Redfield may have lost the chance to claim a medal, but he's determined to at least finish the race! Combat: Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet takes extra time to steady itself. [Pass] Grey Spaceship hovers, a grey beacon of hope and inspiration to future generations of would-be-fliers. Grey Spaceship fully expects to never be offered an endorsement for an Asteroids themed breakfast cereal, but only because of politics. Mechanical Wyvern flaps along as he's still way back. Repeated rammings and tangling with Americon have pretty much sunk his chances at any meaningful reward. Combat: Mechanical Wyvern takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Robotic Bald Eagle stares back at Wind Whistler, shocked. He didn't call Wind Whistler a cute abomination! Well, ok, he *thought* it, but... OH PRIMUS! "GET OUT OF MY MIND!" Americon screams at the flying pony. "Why would you want to be there, anyway!?" Indeed, Americon is probably one of the few Decepticons immune to mind-reading, because seriously, who would WANT to read his mind? Anyway, he keeps flying. Combat: Robotic Bald Eagle takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet continues on with the race. Combat: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet takes extra time to steady himself. [Pass] Race: The racers speed around the track, and the scoreboard lights up with the new race standings... Peppy yells, "Do a barrel roll!" Exo-Jet Apollo Jet pulls out of the race area, then shifts into a robot form and sets down next to the other medalists. Race: Exo-Jet Apollo Jet leaves the race. Wind Whistler blinks as she realizes that she somehow responded to Americon's thoughts before! She winces and covers her face with her front right hoof. "I... don't know /how/ I wound up in there, but I swear, I am never going back!" Then she shakes her silver mane and says, louder, "Anyway, Jayson Redfield has placed fourth, while Windshear has taken fifth place. The only ones still flying are Cutthroat and Americon and... do you two really intend to finish this out?" she asks, peering up at them. Dreadwing watches the other races as they fly arounf in circles, finding himself somewhat disapointed in the fact that a Human got even the lowest medal. It figures that the other Decepticons in this race aren't able to take out a pair of humans. From Exo-Armor Pegasus , Jayson Redfield smiles in satisfaction as he crosses the finish line. He slows the speed of the exo-jet and swerves to the side so that he can exit the race, transforming to robot mode after he leaves the track. Exo-Armor Pegasus Jet transforms into its Exo-Armor Pegasus Robot mode. Race: Exo-Armor Pegasus leaves the race. Mechanical Wyvern halts in mid-air. He suddenly realizes there's no point in finishing out the race. "No need waste time!" he squawks, suddenly exiting the race. Race: Mechanical Wyvern leaves the race. Race: Olive and Sand colored Cybertronian Tetrajet leaves the race. Windshear has left. Robotic Bald Eagle frowns, stopping in mid-air as he realizes there's no point in continuing to race further. "BAH! This is all the pony's fault, pony! If you had added WEIGHTS to the other, faster racers, the race would have been MORE FAIR... for ME." He sulkily flies off to the stands. Dreadwing sighs deeply as he starts to transform, his mind tearing appart as the twin fliers of gloom begin to reassert themselves and seperate. "And so it ends..." are Dreadwing's final ominous words, at least for now. Combat: Dreadwing dissolves into its component Dreadwind and Darkwing. Dreadwind has arrived. Darkwing has arrived. Dreadwing has left. Hm, that's odd. One of the little birds that accompanied Wind Whistler into the arena is missing! Meanwhile, Americon is approached by a Hot Slarg vendor, who asks if he wants one. "URRRP," Americon replies, belching. A little feather escapes his mouth. "No thanks, I just ate." Grey Spaceship takes in the finale of the event and then takes a victory lap now that the 'track' is clear. Wind Whistler listens to Americon's rant, her eyes still opened wide. "But slowing down the faster racers in an event to determine the fastest would be illogical," she observes. Yes, she really does say things like that. She's the Spock of the My Little Ponies. She continues to hover. "And that, ladies, gentlemen, and... Americon, is that. Thank you for attending the 2031 Olympic Air Race. I hope you enjoyed yourselves, and good ev- hey! Where's Sweet Muffins!" then she wanders off, searching for her missing birdie.
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![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)