| abstract
| - Europa Despite the icy inhospitable nature, there is opportunity here on Europa. The planet is a harsh ice world orbiting the gas giant Jupiter. Cold does not begin to describe this place. Its average temperature -276.07 Fahrenheit (-171.15 Celsius), and the surface of this moon consists of huge slabs of ice that's been affected by its close proximity with Jupiter. Salt water is present underneath the ice. It can get very lonely on Europa with only the red glare of Jupiter to keep one company. Contents: Risk - Water Station The purple glow of nuclear-powered turbines fades away as Cyclonus shifts into Robot Mode. Sunder accelerates and departs, becoming little more than a speck joining the stars in the glory of space. On the icy moon of Europa, it is freakishly cold. Big surprise. The structure has been repaired only in the most basic amount since the Terrorcon attack that destroyed it and now Cyclonus is standing inside the structure with his hand on his chin. Bending over the main computer terminal -- pointedly ignoring the Autobrand on it -- he hmms, calling up the station schematics. A call has been put out for those willing to assist to rally to him, but as of yet, he is the only one here. With Decepticon failures coming in all over the solar system (the Moon, Mimas, Uranus) and successes being limited to the fringe of the system, Shockwave is touring the various new outposts, seeking to ensure that they are functioning at top efficiency and are prepared to defend against an Autobot attack. Europa is largely useless to the Decepticon cause except that it deprives the Autobots of a staging ground against Io and the humans of their precious water. For Transformers water of course is only good for killing Scraplets and making Seaspray feel useful. Shockwave treads through the ex-Autobot base. He appears behind Cyclonus, looking at the schematics he has called up. "Have you found anything worthwhile to take in this facility?" He drones. Cyclonus nods to Shockwave. "Affirmative." He says without greeting the Great Betrayer even for a moment. "Autobot interest. This a major facility for both the Autobots and the EDC. They /will/ want it back, and the oppertunity to inflict harm on them when they do so must be considered. And this is where I fall short. I wish to defend this installation, but do not wish to spend much in the way of resources on it as it is largely worthless." He alters the schematic and points. "The facility is equipped with high speed pumps to bring water to the surface. You are the technical expert. Is there a way to use this as an inexpensive weapon with a largely inexhaustible supply of ammunition?" Europa. Again. Ransack didn't want to come back here after his last trip. Sure, the fighting was fun, but now that had passed, and all that remained was a lot of ice and some stupid water station. Whoo hoo. Deep down the Insecticon would blow the place sky high just as soon as look at it (after all, that'd keep it away from the humans just as well, right?) but it was command's call, of course, and disobeying was something he tried not to make a habit of. Not healthy at all. As the shuttle that had given him a lift back to the frozen moon departed, Ransack made his way into the facility. When the boss calls, you don't want to avoid answering. Sweepcraft is inbound, having come as requested to help secure the place. He scans about, checking for signs of enemy presence. He finds little of immediate interest or importance, other than the intrinsic strategic value. Shockwave listens to Cyclonus patiently. "Your logic is sound," he states afterwards. "If the Autobots are willing to throw military assets into a facility that is largely irrelevant to us rather than striking at a facility we *do* require, such as our base on Io, then by all means, we can convert anything this water station has into a functional weapon with little risk to ourselves." Shockwave steps up to a monitor next to the one Cyclonus was using. "Affirmative. The environmental conditions on Europa are extremely hostile, even to Transformer-life. It will not require much to make said hostility an even larger obstacle for our foes." Shockwave brings up a topographical map of the surrounding area on Europa. There's ice as far as one can see. Cyclonus grunts as Ransack arrives. "Ransack." He states. "Unlike some, as of late, you have been proving yourself competant." It seems that this is the only compliment the insecticon is going to get from the Lord Commander. "It would seem, Shockwave, that your labour force is beginning to arrive." Leaning against a structural support beam he crosses his arms paitently. "The question is how to deploy it. A large volume of water could be used in two primary ways. If the target was far away and the water had a couple of seconds to crystalize it would act as a cannon of sorts. In close, which is what interests me more, it could be used to coat an Autobot and leave them vulnerable. But some means of effective aiming must be devised." Ransack salutes Cyclonus quickly. "Thank you, sir!" Inside, he was beaming. Sure, it was a minor compliment, but it was good to have his greatness recognized by others without having to shoot them in the face a few times before hand. His buzz was a little harshed, though, by the words 'labor force.' Not exactly his area of expertise, but hey, it couldn't be THAT hard if losers like the Constructicons could do it. "At your service. I'll build anything ya want and I won't even knock it down afterwords!" Sweepcraft keeps patrolling up above, waiting for any orders to do otherwise in the meantime. His sensitive scanners will tell them when and if any opposition arrives. Shockwave slowly turns to see Ransack. "I see," He comments to Cyclonus. "I recommend a series of devices that will sit on the surface and has been tapped to access the liquid water deep under the ice. The device will draw the water up, keeping it above freezing temperature, and then expel it. Either the water freezes and bludgeons its targets or it strikes them and *then* freezes... an even more dire situation for any Autobot." Shockwave again looks back at Ransack. He does not consider the Insecticon's offer to build things to be even worth entertaining as a notion. "Ransack, I am uploading 5 sites near the water station I want you to scout." The five sites appear on the topographical map. "You will take readings of the ice and the water beneath. If they are suitable then they can be used as water cannon locations." "I see one of the sweeps has arrived." Cyclonus comments, as he glances towards one of the scanners. "You may wish to employ them in scouting as well. In the meantime, I will go to the storage facility and see what may be found in terms of pipes and pumps." "Scouting, eh?" Ransack considers the order for a second. Easier than building something, probably, but far less interesting. The idea of a freezing water cannon on the other hand was exciting. Any kind of new weapon was like the for the explosion loving locust. "Shouldn't be a problem. Do I really have to drag the Sweep along, though? I gotta be more than enough to handle a little job like this." The fact that Ransack considered himself above needing help in such a trifling matter was fairly obvious. He was never good at sugarcoating his words. Sweepcraft somehow figures that where scouting is concerned, it'll be more of a case of him dragging Ransack, not the other way around. <> he reports, <> "Affirmative," Shockwave replies to Ransack, concuring with Cyclonus's orders. "Competence may be required," he explains. The cycloptic Decepticon turns back to the topgraphical map. Sunder shows up on the map as well as a little icon, and so Shockwave will be able to track both his and Ransack's position and status as they set out to scout the various locations he's set out for them. Tapping a button on the control panel, Shockwave toggles on the radio to contact the Sweep. "Sunder, this is Shockwave. You and Ransack are to go to the five sites I have uploaded into your navigational computers and determine the thickness of the ice and how deep the water is beneath it." Ransack's optic visor dims for a second. He never liked Shockwave, but much like complaining, voicing such an opinion would be hazardous. The logic freak would get his some day, though...just maybe not from Ransack. "Right away, sir." The Insecticon spins around and quickly transforms into his alternate mode, wings fluttering and thrusters igniting as he speeds out of the water facility and back to Europa's cold surface. <> <> Sweepcraft replies to Shockwave, then gets into formation beside Ransack. <> he agrees. The heat from his ion drives dissipates quickly in the bitter cold. Ransack's limbs fold as he falls forward onto his locust form's legs. Shockwave does not require Ransack to like him. Only obey him. As Ransack leaves to join up with the Sweep, Shockwave turns back to the topographical map and watches their progress. "The first nav point is one kilometre northeast of your position," he reports. This is at the base of an ice cliff overlooking the water station. It's frigid here, but oddly beautiful. <> The transmission trails off as the mecha-locust takes in the sight of the natural wonder. His red bulging bug eyes scan all over the cliff, indulging the beauty...and causing a tiny spark to burst forth from his antennae. Ransack's limited intelligence cannot put together a sentence eloquent enough to describe how much he wants to blow the entire thing to tiny little ice shards. Sweepcraft knows well the beauty of Europa. Although, to his mind, his idea of beauty is a gutted corpse or ruined chassis. Property damage is engaged in by the Sweep whenever he feels like it or is ordered to, but he's less mindlessly destructive than the Insecticon. <> he reports. Cyclonus emerges onto the command deck at this point, his hands clasped behind the small of his back. "There is more than enough equipment for our needs. You simply need to devise locations and some form of aiming mechanism." Perhaps Ransack is a lil' Ultra Magnus in the making? Shockwave toggles the radio on again and states, "It is not hostiles you are searching for, Sunder. To reiterate your stated objective: You and Ransack are to go to the five sites I have uploaded into your navigational computers and determine the thickness of the ice and how deep the water is beneath it." He toggles the radio off and glances over at Cyclonus. It is hard to read Shockwave's 'face' but he is perhaps silently asking whether Sweeps are any smarter than Insecticons? Cyclonus shakes his head slighty at Shockwave, watching Ransack and Sunder on the video monitors. "There are some . . " That he states. "That for whatever means, fail to pay attention to your objectives. Allow me." He stomps his finger down on the transmit button for the general broadband. "Idiots. You will follow Shockwave's orders, and cease your gawking or I will see to it that you are entombed in ice on this word that you apparently love so much. You have five minutes." Sweepcraft is of course scanning the ice and water. <> he says, <> Gigantic Locust is snapped out of his daydream (involving dropping the the biggest missile he could possibly find on this planet) by the direct and angry transmission from Cyclonus. Being frozen would mean being unable to do much of /anything/ much less destroy. It was time for a rearrangement of priorities. The Insecticon takes a quick scan of the area and adds a <> onto Sunder's report. Division 'operations' not found in the Decepticon faction. Shockwave lets Cyclonus lay down the law for the others. The military operations mech must admit that when all is said and done, Cyclonus knows how to motivate the troops better than anyone on this side of Galvatron. Or possibly Blot, but that's for different reasons. Shockwave keys in Sunder's numbers and states, "Does the site provide a clear line of fire on any potential targets at or around the water station?" Cyclonus has his hands clasped behind the small of his back as he waits to see what Shockwave has come up with. Afterall, he is the saboteur here not the putter-togeather. "I may attempt to draw the Autobots to this facility." He says, thoughtfully. "By planting false intelligence. So make these defenses as best as you can." He is still watching Ransack and Sunder. Gigantic Locust jets over to the cliff, clinging to it with his legs and climbing up a little. His eyes look back down at the surface below. <> He detatches from the wall of ice and flutters back over by the Sweep. Clearly his keen tactical insight will prove him better than Sunder. Sweepcraft ponders the site before him briefly before answering. <> "I always plan for maximum effect," Shockwave assures Cyclonus. It's never clear how much of what Shockwave says is out of ego and how much is simply the truth. Tapping the radio button again, he states, "Very well. I have marked the location as a potential site. Move onto the next one." He looks back at the Decepticon second in command, "Shall we assemble the equipment you spoke of and prepare to move out once our sites have been determined?" he asks. Cyclonus indicates the way to the storage shed with a gesture of his left hand. "After you." He states, in a flat voice similar to Shockwave's own. Apparently, keeping Shockwave in front and where he can see him is a priority. << What about mounting a second cannon at the top of the cliff? >> Gigantic Locust ascends, giving the peak of the ice cliff a quick scan-over. <> The child-like glee comes over the radio loud and clearly. <
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