Post by Jazz on Mar 15, 2015 21:28:09 GMT -5
-Character Info-
Name: Jazz
Age (or human equivalent): Roughly in the early to late 50's.
Gender (or human equivalent): Mech / Male
Species: Cybertronian
City of Origin: Staniz
Faction: Autobots
Original Occupation: Created as a worker-bot who advanced to the higher classes as a Musician, then settled in as a Cultural Investigator for the Hall of Records. Member of Kaon's Security Services prior to the Decepticon uprising.
Current Occupation/Specialization: Member of the Elite Guard, specializing in sabotage and infiltration.
Appearance:
( Main mode pictured here )
Jazz is a bulky looking mech because of his framework, but hardly a heavyweight by any stretch. He is built for speed so his plating is light-weight, as well as aerodynamic. The true color of Jazz's optics is unknown, as they are completely hidden behind his blue visor, but are likely similar to those of his Autobot comrades. Protruding from the sides of his helm above his audials are two triangular shaped extra sensory horns that give him a feline-like appearance. One might think they are merely a strange cosmetic touch that his creator came up with, when actually they provide Jazz with sensor readings of his surroundings. This information is fed back to his HUD, which in turn displays the readings to his visor to indicate the location of various signals. This is helpful when he needs to take cover and and isn't willing to pop his head up from hiding. At the sides of his helm there are two vents that stop at his cheeks.
Jazz's upper chassis carries the majority of his heavier framework. The front end of his vehicle mode doesn't fold down like most do, but rather protrudes out from where the windshield would meet the hood all the way to the front bumper. The hood has two high-beam cool blue LED lights to provide a very clear and bright line of sight in the dark. His red Autobot insignia is on the top of his hood and is very easily spotted. His shoulders are reinforced with layers of folded metal that shift from the door frame area of his vehicle mode. His front wheels lay on his shoulders and he has his two door panels extending from his back. His servos are black in color. The wheel rims are lined with LED strips as a cosmetic upgrade, which is an alteration that is also reflected on the wheels located on the outside of his legs between his knee and ankle joints.
His alt mode is a 2012 Lotus Elise S ( pictured here ). While it's not the most inconspicuous of vehicles to drive the roads of Nevada, it's at least a little easier to overlook in a bigger city like Las Vegas.
History
Beginnings
Cybertron was not always stricken with the thoughts of war plaguing its surface. Once, Cybertronians lead normal lives where they could enjoy the simple pleasures that settled their processors and ease the tension out of their gears . Jazz was one of those mechs.
Jazz was created to be a worker - sparked and raised in the slums of the shipbuilding city of Staniz way in the northern region of Cybertron, where everyone fended for themselves and took whatever odd jobs they could get. He lived up to the personification of an audio based mech from the wild, lively, colorful and music capital of the entire planet, picking up on the sounds the machinery he worked around to either repeat it pitch for pitch or alter it in some way to make it his own. It was clear that he had an unusual knack for creating various musical beats and harmonic rhythms both with his vocal processor and small items he would clank and slide together to create 'beats'. Quickly he became established in both vocal song and the use of rather crudely made instruments, which were created out of everything from empty canisters to magnetic strips.
The mech didn't believe in a locked in caste system and pledged that one day he would get out of the slums and when he wasn't working he hung out in the streets to play for whatever credits he could earn.
It wasn't long after that that Fate finally decided to play a hand in Jazz's life.
Rise from the Slums
The Assembly in Praxus housed the some of the greatest minds of the arts and sciences, and often performed live musical renditions at the theater halls. One of the organizers was a Towerling who had heard rumors of the worker bot with the unusual musical talent, and traveled to the streets of Iacon to find him. He watched Jazz perform for several cycles to ensure that was he was seeing was not some fluke before he made Jazz an offer that he couldn't refuse: leave the slums for the opportunity to perform for the masses of Praxus.
Easier said than done.
Transferring from one position in the caste system to another was not something that was as easy as being promoted in the workplace. It was more of a way for the Cybertronians to 'know their place' in society and for a long while that had merely been the accepted way of life and climbing the tiers was unheard of. It was a cut-throat society built on the ideals that you were created for one purpose, and you would die with that purpose.
The Towerling who had approached Jazz had connections and a lot of credits to throw around to get what he wanted. So after some pulled strings, threats of blackmail, and the exchange of money, the factory where Jazz was created received him on their lines once more, only this time it was to rework his codes and IDs to 'recreate' him as a model designed for the upper classes. His musical talents assisted with this transition, as workers rarely ever had such skillsets that made them more advanced than other low-class workers outside of the varying work types such as the difference between construction or delivery. The money didn't stop flowing with the under-the-table deal, however. Without Jazz's knowledge of the extent the Towerling would go to get his way, all prior associates of Jazz had their memories filtered and altered to have no recollection of him. Through the workings of connections and those who had no problem getting their hands dirty then keeping their mouths shut for the right price, everything had been done to ensure that the Towerling would not be caught up in the mess. Anything that would raise question to payments was easily rolled into into explanation of being large purchases, which was not unheard of with those who had more money than they knew what to do with.
Everything was fixed in place, so now it was all left up to Jazz and his determination to protect the life he had been given and the extent he was willing to take to keep it from being threatened. He would have to reinvent himself to fit with this new position in the higher class and never speak of his original occupation or have any acknowledgement of what he did prior to the day he was re-ID'd. The constant attention to detail and working a room to make himself fit in would assist him later in life with further advancements.
Once established at his new home in a small room in the Towerling's residence, Jazz was given formal training with various instruments as well as vocal instruction. It was a much more leisurely lifestyle than he was used to, but he never looked down on where he came from no matter how far he advanced. Even if he were never allowed to make mention of it, that didn't mean he had to frown upon it. This was a blessing that he had been given the chance to rise up in spite of the stranglehold of the caste system, though he probably wouldn't have thought that same had he known the extent of the coverup.
Jazz was no mindless puppet who sat around. Instead he observed everything around him and though at first it was to the benefit of working to fit in, it soon became a way of insight to understanding the nature of the world around him. It became pretty clear that this was no normal Towerling that had found him. He didn't exactly want to know how he got to this position, but it appeared this Towerling had built up quite a nice place for himself, if you count slaves as nice decoration. It was easier to see thing when you were on the inside looking out and the separation between the lower class and upper class bothered him. Growth was not allowed, you died doing what you were created for, and you never spoke out against it. This forced placement of his fellow Cybertronians within cookie-cutter statuses began to bother him and it wasn't a feeling that phased out now that he was in a higher place within the classes. No, instead it only became stronger.
Jazz was not able to turn a blind eye to the issues with his Towerling 'adopter' for long.
Criminal Enterprise
It didn't take long before Jazz was a master of his musical talents and was given the nickname of Meister, opting out of use of his real designation for performances. "Meister" became well-known around Cybertron and was sought after to play privately by everyone from the working classes to those in the Council. Jazz was awarded quite a number of items for his impressive displays, but that did little to sway his growing hatred for the caste system. Fairly quickly he began to hate his 'friend', the way he treated the others just made him grind his dentals in anger, but there was nothing he could really do about it. So instead he simply remained quiet, trying his best to avoid being in the same room with the other nobles present at the times during parties as much as he could. To the Towerling who had taken him from the slums, Jazz was nothing more than a sponsored pet- his way of keeping more worth coming in to feed his greedy needs.
To keep himself from saying anything that could get him in trouble, he focused on his music and putting out new pieces almost as fast as his processor could come up with them. This worked out in his favor, as in the foreground all Jazz had to do was entertain guests and do what he did best and he rarely had to do much more interacting than a courteous 'thank you for coming and listening'. Though after overhearing some questionable bits of a conversation involving 'making someone disappear', Jazz realized that there were more illegal things happening than would just be scuffed at. It was serious, and he couldn't just pretend nothing was going on while he lived his cushy life.
From then on, Jazz never stopped taking notes of what his Towerling sponsor was either talking about or participating in when he thought he was in the absolute clear. Sometimes while he would be having his off-to-the-side meet ups with specific friends, Jazz would stand as close as he could to listen in to the conversations, or act as a tender to bring drinks to his Towerling and his close friends to have an excuse to approach. Other times wouldn't need such sneaky means, as slip-ups were common when one had too many drinks and a decent form of entertainment. The illegal apprehension of slaves, unauthorized memory cleanses on those who could expose them, underhanded dealings, unexplained disappearances and black market sales of stolen parts. It was all things that made Jazz's energon tanks run cold.
One day Jazz hoped this knowledge would be to his benefit.
As all good things eventually do, everything started going downhill for him. It took him longer than it takes a boulder to roll up hill, but it eventually happened. Jazz hit a block in creativity and with the growing demand for new pieces or some updated music it put a lot of strain on him to come up with new material to appease his fans and followers. It was a stressful time between Jazz and the Towerling but they weren't the only ones enduring difficulties. During this time, tensions within different factions on Cybertron were becoming much more evident. Clashes occurred more frequently over the caste system ( ones that Jazz couldn't really say the arguments of were unjustified ) and with the possibility of it turning into something more the risk of war was a prominent issue no matter how many times those of the highest seated politicians tried to push order back into place.
This was the opportune time to make a move. Jazz needed a way out of the situation he was in and he had the intel to assist him in the transition. He knew that the Towerling would never willingly let go of his money maker so Jazz had to take matters into his own hands and take the consequences that came as they would. Jazz traveled to Iacon's High Council Pavilions and went before the Senate with the knowledge he had for them, trading immunity and protection for his information. Once the Towerling and his groups's arrest and eventual execution for their crimes, Jazz was ordered to be returned to his previous placement as a worker. Through fan and follower petitions from those within various levels of the hierarchy as well as the undeniable part he had played in taking down the criminal enterprise, the Senate reconsidered their decision. With his invaluable persistence and ability to identify even the smallest detail, he was offered a position of Data collection for the Grid.
The offer did not fall on deaf ears and and he was off to a new life in Iacon within that cycle. While exploring the Hall of Records, where he would be frequenting often, he came across someone he actually liked for the first time in years. Orion Pax was his name and by Primus was he a nice change of pace.
From this point onward, 'Meister' would never be heard of again.
The Dawn of War
Jazz's first taste of the new caste system was a relief from what he had been stuck in previously. He served as a Cultural Investigator, tasked with the duty of collecting various cultural data from around Cybertron (and, later on, onto other planets). This gave him a freedom that allowed him to explore reaches on Cybertron that he hadn't been able to before, but it was rather demanding for his time. This required him to hang up his instruments for good to devote all of attention to his new line of work, and, though with some reluctance, he did so and began the new chapter. Part of his workings involved reporting directly to the Hall of Records and analyzing the Communications Grid. In doing so he was able to interact closely with and befriend Orion Pax, who was working on similar projects. Though the data collection was more reserved in conversation, Jazz wasn't one to ever turn down a possible friendship no matter how resistant the other party.
With tensions rising throughout Cybertron, Jazz was removed from his previous job and placed within the newly formed Kaon Security Services, which pretty much grounded him to the area but allowed him the opportunity to frequent the Pits to watch the Gladiators in battle. Somehow he became hooked on the spectacle, with the raw violence both alluring but disgraceful to him. He assisted Orion in tracking down one such gladiator who shared the ideology of the faulty caste system, but Jazz was hesitant about the kinship from the start and did not hide his opinion on the matter. Each time Megatron met with Orion, Jazz openly warned his friend to be cautious and to watch his back.
It was not difficult for Jazz to stand alongside Orion when he was promoted to the rank of Prime, especially after the powerful speech that he had delivered. Though he would have opted otherwise, Jazz still had duties to carry out as a member of the security team and the two spent less time with one another after the promotion, though was aware of the unraveling friendship of Orion and Megatron, and suspected an inevitable uprising- a suspicion that soon came to light. The clashes between the classes erupted violently and an all out war broke out in Megatron's name, sending Cybertron into a split of factions. It was during an attack on Iacon by the Decepticons in which Jazz fought against them that officially made him an Autobot.
After the assault on Praxus which demolished the city and nearly the entire populous, Jazz approached Orion - who was now serving under the title of Prime- with his determination to prove his worth within the Autobot ranks. With the Prime's good word he was able to begin formal training as first a guard, and then into the Elite Guard. Jazz served loyally under his leader to carry out the most dangerous of tasks, sometimes alone, without hesitation or question. During one of these missions staged late in the war, Jazz was sent off with a small team of Autobots to infiltrate a suspected Decepticon hideout. Unaware of the great numbers that the Decepticons had managed to gather in a short time, his team was ambushed and eliminated. With lines of communication broken due to the chaos of the Exodus, the team was written off by the Autobots as lost.
Unknown to Optimus or those Jazz served under, the former musician had feigned his death and hidden beneath the bodies of his comrades. Damaged, and unable to either transform or contact the Autobots, Jazz was forced to trek across Cybertron through use of the underground systems to avoid being spotted. By the time he arrived back to base, the Autobots had fled and the Ark was gone. He was able to do minor field repairs on himself using what little was left available to him, but some damage had still been done that he could not manage on his own. The only option he had was to get off of the dark planet, the one that had once been his home, in hopes of following his leader.
Eventually Jazz was able to commandeer a small shuttle from Iacon's outskirts, and launched it in an attempt to track the Ark. Along his journey he made several stops, from space stations to tiny outposts, to listen to the small talk and idle chit-chat in order to follow the leader he had lost. Now in a new area of space, Jazz has managed to pick up on an idle communication calling for Autobots to come to the new planet. The voice alone was enough to make him follow without a second guess, a voice from his past that he had been searching for. So he plugged in the coordinates and made his way towards Earth.
Personality
A creative thinker, Jazz comes up with plans, or songs, on the fly no matter the situation at hand - be it a hostile takeover, or a broken bridge. He is equally prepared to smooth talk his way out of a squad of Decepticons as he is to dispatch them with a quick draw of his photon rifle. He usually displays the same charm to the Decepticons as he does to the Autobots - given the right situation, of course. It is this natural sense of friendship that gives him an edge in many situations. If it wasn't for the fact that they were trapped in an all out war with the Decepticons, he might buy the nearest Bot or Con a drink and then jam out on the closest instrument.
Jazz is outgoing and charismatic. Even in the middle of this war he can muster a level of cheerful positivity that can be rather infectious, even if the situation doesn't necessarily call for it. There is no one who can say that they deny for even a split klik his loyalty to the Autobot cause.
On the battlefield, Jazz shows a determination to get his fellow Autobots out in one piece and hold ground for as long as possible. For him, it is not necessarily winning the fight that counts: it is gaining the upper-hand in a situation whenever possible and getting his comrades out with their sparks intact. Knowing when the odds are against you and pulling back before the casualties pile up can be just as much a victory as being able to plant a flag on a hill and claiming the battle in your favor. That said, he wouldn't mind the opportunity to snuff out a few 'Cons along the way...
Jazz's easy-going facade is something that those around him have come to expect from the saboteur, and he is not one to disappoint. However, despite his laid back and 'go with the flow' attitude, Jazz has a demons that he keeps locked away in the dark recesses of his processor:
Guilt. It is an an internal issue that he was told many who fight in the war suffer from, a reminder that not everyone can be saved. Sure, Jazz had seen many Cybertronians die around him during the time he served in the Elite Guard - some of them even by his own hand - but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. From time to time even Jazz must take a step back and isolate himself just to clear his thoughts and push the past back to where it belongs. This is Jazz's own little secret, one that he deals with quickly and quietly when it comes up - and when it does, this cool cat just needs to vent alone, away from the optics of others.
Likes
Jazz enjoys anything related to culture, but especially to music. It's to be expected considering what he did as a living before the war. If it has a good beat, he's dancing to it. If there's no music on display, a friendly chat is normally next of his list of things to do. If he finds anyone willing to give him five minutes of their time, Jazz will ask questions, crack jokes, and try to make a friend. He is almost never without a bet. Be it a bet to go without music for one solar cycle, or to only use his vehicle mode in the next infiltration, the chance to drop people's jaws at the mention of the words, ''I did it,'' never ceases to amuse him.
Before the outbreak of the war, Jazz had fond memories of Cybertron from both his youth and his young adulthood. It's a place that will forever be held dear in his spark, and one day he hopes that they can bring life to it once more. Even if it's just a pipe dream, it's at least something.
Dislikes
Ever see a new paint job dirtied up for some unnecessary reason? For a bot who likes to keep himself tidy and in pristine care this is a daunting task, especially when you're a white vehicle driving through terrains that are less than kind to your paint. Jazz isn't one to turn down a rain storm if it means that it'll wash the grime away.
Being one who enjoys to relax and 'go with the flow', Jazz dislikes people who don't know what it means to have fun. Those who are uptight and tense all the time are usually his focus when it comes to idle chit-chat, despite of their level of determination to get away from him. Jazz will do what he can to try and lighten their sour mood, sometimes crossing over to that 'I'm going to disable your vocal processor' line.
There is a thing about a certain level that liars can achieve that gets Jazz's circuits twisted up. The more malicious and deceitful it is, and the more determined the coverup, the more irritated it makes him. He's always willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt and he likes to be proven wrong when this arises - but if it turns out that his initial suspicion is correct and he catches you in a lie, it's best to just come clean. He's much more forgiving that way.
Jazz doesn't like anyone who is willing to give up without a fight. Jazz's primary though process is simple: if you're going to go in fighting, go out fighting. This also goes for those who complain about a situation but don't do anything to either fix the problem or stop it outright from happening. In his mind, even if a situation is out of your control it's better to at least try and fail than to fail without the effort.
Meetings? Don't mention those around him, at least where he can hear you, or you're not going to see him in attendance. Protocol meetings are the worst! Just listening to someone talk on and on is bad enough, but being forced to sit through it? Jazz can't sit still for too long or he'll start to get anxious, which is usually hinted at by a tap of his pede on the ground to signal that he's ready for things to wrap up.
Strengths
Photon Burst Rifle
The photon burst rifle was once a commonly used weapon within the Autobot ranks. While it's ideal for short to medium ranged shots, Jazz prefers to down his targets before they get too close. The rifle fires three photon blasts per round which allows for damage to be dealt without the high consumption of ammo at once. Paired with the calculative trajectories that his sensor array and visor field provides makes him a highly proficient sharpshooter and quite capable of long-range combat. The addition of the mounted scope provides Jazz with a greater level of accuracy for medium to long range shots, but without the heavy damage of a typical sniper rifle. He's a decent enough distance shooter, although is no way a master of the craft. While snipers, who have perfected the art and spent countless time honing their skill would wait upon a high ridge, braving the elements and not moving a muscle before lining up that perfect shot, Jazz is the type of shot who runs about, jumps into position and locks onto a target then fires as fast as he can with the three burst rounds after a scoped aim at vital locations.
Multi-colored LED Strobe Beacons
While in either mode, Jazz's headlights are usually turned to the standard cool blue LEDs. Though when the situation arises, the headlight assemblies and driving lights are able to rotate completely on their joints to trade out for the 'hidden' beacons mounted on the backs. The two upper beacons each contain 24 high-intensity multi-colored LEDs which are able to strobe over 60 times a minute in rapid triple-set successions over a multitude of different colors, while the lower have 10 of the same LEDS but pulse at a slower rate. The dazzling display may cause temporary optic malfunctions and the closer proximity the target is to Jazz, the higher the possibility of more immense damage that may require the assistance of a medic to fix.
Jazz is protected from blinding himself with his own lights by a simple fact of directionality and placement. The lights point outwards, which results in a single-direction aim towards those directly infront and up to a 45 degree angle to either side. Mounted on the front of his hood mode, the large section of car easily blocks the light from his point of view, there by keeping him safe. Nothing fancy really, just a big ol' piece o' car in the way and logical headlight placement.
JBL GT-series high quality speakers and dual 5000 RMS subwoofers
If one would assume that Jazz would have an impressive sound system to blast the tunes he enjoys listening to, they would be correct; but that would only be the half of it. While the set of JBL speakers can play at a very large range of volume with their own polymer cone woofers, Jazz also has a set of 5000 RMS subwoofers connected to his systems that deliver a very heavy blow to anyone standing too close. In bot mode the subwoofers are located in compartments at his hips that can rotate out to aim forward, while in vehicle mode the woofers are tucked away in the door panels and can rest on the window ledges once they are rolled down. All of this head-throbbing power is connected to his energon feeds and draws directly from the source.
To those on the receiving end of this mighty array, they've got two choices:
A) You jump behind any piece of solid cover, his sound waves may be strong but rock or steel is stronger. This provides Jazz with a chance to go for cover on his own should he be out in the open, or to retreat should the situation call for it.
B) Turning your own audio receptors off, and while not everybody can do this as easily or as effectively as Jazz, it certainly reduces the risk of being deafened. For those who can't, the dodging behind cover would be your best bet.
One would wonder how Jazz is able to keep himself from becoming deafened or injured by his own subwoofers. It's a concept that is built into his system as a counter measure against self harm. The between the layers of metal in his helm is a thin layer of material similar to a human equivalent to a cellulose insulation that works almost like a noise-cancelling bubble. This material contains a series of micro sensors that, once triggered, sends a signal to his systems and shuts down his audio receptors as well as all forwarding communication. This does not protect him from the throbbing sensation that he endures each time he needs to use the speaker system - which forces him to only want to use it in short bursts- but it does keep him from permanently losing the inability to hear. This does, however, open him up with another weakness ontop of the energy drain.
Built For Speed
Jazz's alt mode is able to reach a top speed of 234 km/h ( 145 mph ), not the fastest there is but for a ground-pounder, it's decent. Jazz's frame is made out of a durable, lightweight Cybertronian alloy equivalent to carbon fiber and is constructed in repeating lines of microscopic diamond-shapes. It lowers the power-to-weight ratio which means greater speed at a quicker pace, assisted by his aerodynamic design by a lowered center point of gravity, that allows for a faster climb in speed without much effort. It is able to withstand high levels of heat as well as corrosive materials and rust. Some of this speed does carry into his bot mode with the 'stop/twist on a dime' maneuverability to him can prove to be an annoyance to those he's squaring off against.
Field of Vision
While the visor is stylish, it also provides Jazz with a wide array of ways to pick up his opponents without needing to actually see them. Whereas most would have trouble in the dark without assisting light, Jazz is able to maneuver in the dark without it. The visor can alternate between standard sight, thermal feed, and night vision so he can track his way through without the risk of giving away his position. His sensory horns pick up energon readings and feed the information directly to his HUD to pick up targets easier. So while others are blundering about, he's able to move through without any issue.
Weaknesses
Lightweight frame
Fairly obvious, Jazz has a decent level of durability and is perfectly constructed for speed, but it also means that he can damage fairly easily. There's a bit more to go through in his chest area, but it's barely a defense against the more high-powered weapons available. The lightweight Cybertronian alloy does not respond well to point stresses or sharp-impact hits. Straight beams such as lasers have a particularly easy time getting at him and can outright pass right through certain areas of the fused constructs. If one were to apply enough constant force to one area the fibers will eventually give in and become crushed, which would lead to complete structural damage to that location. Jazz would prefer to pick them off from a distance than to be engaged in hand-to-hand combat, being that in order to even land a decent enough blow would require him to have a running start ( be in either mode ) and then lunge with his fist at the ready. It's feasible, but the probability of him being able to do it more than once is unlikely.
Exposed Joints
This speedy armor's weaknesses don't stop there either, oh no! Each one of Jazz's joints moves when he's transforming and they need a clear path in order to do. That means he is allowed a greater range of motion than most, including a full 360 turn of at his waist, it also leaves them nearly fully exposed ( aside from his chest ). It allows for easy repair and routine care since one would not need to remove panels to get to them, but it also makes them moving targets and free to be shot at. Should one of them go out it would prevent him from being able to transform, not to mention it would be quite painful.
Blindness
The only down side to the infiltrator's seemingly invaluable visor is itself. His optics were never finely tuned to be used on their own so his dependency on his visor becomes a great hindrance should there be a malfunction. If this thing so much as cracks it looses all functionality, as the various cybernetic wiring running through the reinforced glass is all needed in order to display the various vision modes. However, a mere crack isn't enough to put it fully out of commission, that would require breaking it in two. Once a moderately sized chunk of blue tinted glass has been knocked loose, Jazz is practically blind. All colors and shapes blend together into one big mess, instant headache material. The best way to achieve this is a single shot, even a pistol would do, to the visor, which would crack and shatter in the process of protecting the user's optics. Jazz is aware of the vulnerability that he faces, so he takes great care to ensure it's kept in peak condition and does his best to ensure it does not sustain more than a minor chip or crack.
High Energy Drain
It takes a lot of energy to power a 1000 watt amplifier and to keep his strobe lights going. The entire system is directly linked to his energon feed so if he were needed to use either of these for more than a couple consecutive hours ( even less if he were needing to use both at the same time ) his energon supply would completely drain. If his tanks were to drop into the emergency rations all systems except communications and visual would go out, allowing for him to call for assistance and to keep him aware of his surroundings but not be able to move so much as a digit. His joints would merely give in and he would crumple to the ground in a heap- similar to what a house of cards endures when being blown over- and would be in this vulnerable situation until he refueled. With a full drain of energon, he wouldn't even have so much as the comms to radio in to base. Jazz keeps an emergency ration on him in his subspace as backup but it's only a small portion that would last less than thirty minutes. Jazz keeps track of his supply and makes sure to top off before he goes anywhere since he never knows when he may be faced with a combatant.
Blindspots and Deafness
Jazz needs to turn off his audio receptors and sensors in order to use his speaker system or else he risks permanent damage to them. This keeps him from hearing anything around him, be it an incoming transmissions from his allies or a secondary opponent that he didn't realize was there. If another opponent were able to turn off their audials or somehow block out the sound they would be able to sneak up behind him by keeping in his blind spots. Knowing of this issue, Jazz tries to keep himself backed up against something solid so that he is not blindsided, though it's not always an option and he has to hope that the speakers and light show do their work quickly so he isn't left as a sitting duck for too long.
Distractions
Never one to pass up the chance to take in information about the culture around him, Jazz is one of those who can do so effortlessly. Be it lingo or slang that he picks up or references about the world around him, he's well in tune with his surroundings. This acts a major distraction for him and sometimes misses communications coming in because he's wrapped up in things he's snuck off base to catch up on, something that he's been reprimanded for in the past.
On top of becoming distracted, he can also be determined to a fault. Jazz is unwilling to disregard a mission he feels could be beneficial to the Autobots, even if it's otherwise thought to be too dangerous. Sometimes this requires him to take these types of missions on alone, which can put him in some tricky situations. More than once he's found that he's bitten off more than he should have been able to chew at once, but he's managed through, even with warnings that stunts like that will eventually be his undoing. Points for determination, though, right? If it could give his side the upper-hand, he's willing to risk his spark for it.
While he has great respect for his chain of command, there are some limitations that exist that any sensible Autobot would agree with. Jazz has no issue with authority, though should the order given go against what he believes to be in the best interest to the Autobots, he will try and find some way to fail it with enough of a cover-up that it's difficult to find fault in his actions.
Special Skills ( Not Weapons Related )
Adaptability
Being the crafty, think-on-his-feet kinda mech, Jazz has an uncanny way of adapting to his surroundings. Whether it be due to his more laid-back personality, or the natural thought process when he's making music, but no matter how dire things may be he is able to keep a cool head and rarely has a problem coming up with a way out of a problematic situation. He is well responsive to change and can improvise quickly should it call for it. This is vital since the missions he volunteers for tend to be amongst the trickiest or most dangerous. Whatever surprise the Decepticons come up with, Jazz can usually counter it and stay one step ahead of the game. Sometimes it's not even strategic as much as impulse, but nothing gets you out of a ticking time bomb like a good ol' fashion dive behind a wall or whatever piece of metal or rock may happen to be at the perfect angle to protect him from being shot at. This isn't limited to combat either, oh no! You march up to this guy and demand a field report from two weeks ago, and he'll just come up with a little white lie like it were the absolute truth.
Infiltration
Jazz is equipped with a small array of skills when it comes to being one of the top-notch infiltrators and saboteurs. His agile design and smaller stature allows for him to get through some of the tightest places that most other mechs have issues squeezing their ways into, while his lightweight frame makes it possible for him to be quiet when maneuvering around to aid in his stealthiness. There's no denying that Jazz is good at what he does, but what happens once he's crossed behind enemy lines? What can he do productive once he's gone through all the effort of getting inside?
Here's a hint: It involves a lot of flash and perhaps a little over-the-top. Jazz always tries to complete his missions with his own little bit of flare to it, so while tapping into the self-destruct system would be the ideal choice for most, he much rather climb under the console and do some rewiring to trigger it that way, maybe leaving a small calling card of some sort behind. That, or plant a bomb in a ventilation shaft and high-tail it out of there before the Decepticons even know what hit them. Either way... Do it with style, or don't bother doing it, right?
Sample RP
"Mayday, Mayday! Comin' on over the Autobot frequencies, can anyone hear me? This is Jazz tryin' to connect through. Hate to say it any other way, but I'm comin' in HOT! This atmosphere's got some mean resistance, man!"
Jazz was trying to pull back on the controls to level the ship out but he was clearly having difficulty doing so. He hadn't expected that he would be faced with this much trouble and inwardly wondered if the ones who had sent out the signal had gone through the same thing? He was going to have to tell whoever was in charge of this fiasco that they really need to warn others about this entry issue so they don't come in as blind as he did. All sorts of warning relays were going off around him, indicating all the structural damage that the ship was sustaining and that the engines had locked up. Honestly, with some of the stuff that he had already had to go through, to be taken out like this just wasn't in the cards.
'Gotta make it. Ain't gonna let myself go down without at least landin' this blasted thing!'
Boy, this was going to be fun, though.
"Come'on ya old pile of cosmic rust, line up! You're just bein' a twist in my circuit now."
The ship left a trail of smoke in its wake as it broke through the final resistant atmospheric layer and started to fully nose-dive and spin as it plummeted towards the surface of the planet. Jazz pressed his back into the seat and pedes to the floor then pulled back as hard as he could on the controls. The pull of gravity was working its charm, increasing the speed that he was dropping now that he was just cutting through separating air.
"Pull... UP!" Jazz pounded his left servo against the controls on the overhead panel. While it usually wouldn't have been a good idea to just go hitting things, it seemed to work. One of the alerts went off and the autopilot engaged which right away went to work with leveling out the ship and kicking on the engines. Sure, he was still going down, but at least this time it wouldn't be as catastrophic as it could have been. He just had to pray to Primus that he didn't hit the broad side of some giant rock.
When the impact came it wasn't rock that he hit. Instead the belly of the ship skidded across the sands, sparks rising up as parts of the ship started to disengage and fly off. It was rough, bumpy, and Jazz didn't think he would ever slow down. Pray tell, he was thanking the cosmos the moment hat he finally did. Once everything had halted he released his grip on the controls and his visor dimmed as his systems started to ease off of the high from the head rush caused by the immense surge of energon he had been enduring the past few moments. He didn't have much time to sit and relax to think about his current situation before he was drawn back to the reality of it all by a small, high-pitched beeping sound.
The console had switched its commands over and began to send out a distress signal.
Jazz knew it wasn't a good idea to stay in one place too long with that thing going but his joints just didn't want to function at the moment and the tension hadn't completely eased out yet so trying to fight it could have ended with him face down on the floor and not able to push himself upright. This was a tricky predicament to find himself in. Heck, for all he knew there could have been an enemy right around the corner of... wherever he was... and here he was about as useful as protoform without a spark. Comms were shot so he would have to recuperate here and hope that alliance assistance came quickly. Assistance that wasn't in the form of the opposing faction than he had pledged his allegiance to, that is.
Name: Jazz
Age (or human equivalent): Roughly in the early to late 50's.
Gender (or human equivalent): Mech / Male
Species: Cybertronian
City of Origin: Staniz
Faction: Autobots
Original Occupation: Created as a worker-bot who advanced to the higher classes as a Musician, then settled in as a Cultural Investigator for the Hall of Records. Member of Kaon's Security Services prior to the Decepticon uprising.
Current Occupation/Specialization: Member of the Elite Guard, specializing in sabotage and infiltration.
Appearance:
( Main mode pictured here )
Jazz is a bulky looking mech because of his framework, but hardly a heavyweight by any stretch. He is built for speed so his plating is light-weight, as well as aerodynamic. The true color of Jazz's optics is unknown, as they are completely hidden behind his blue visor, but are likely similar to those of his Autobot comrades. Protruding from the sides of his helm above his audials are two triangular shaped extra sensory horns that give him a feline-like appearance. One might think they are merely a strange cosmetic touch that his creator came up with, when actually they provide Jazz with sensor readings of his surroundings. This information is fed back to his HUD, which in turn displays the readings to his visor to indicate the location of various signals. This is helpful when he needs to take cover and and isn't willing to pop his head up from hiding. At the sides of his helm there are two vents that stop at his cheeks.
Jazz's upper chassis carries the majority of his heavier framework. The front end of his vehicle mode doesn't fold down like most do, but rather protrudes out from where the windshield would meet the hood all the way to the front bumper. The hood has two high-beam cool blue LED lights to provide a very clear and bright line of sight in the dark. His red Autobot insignia is on the top of his hood and is very easily spotted. His shoulders are reinforced with layers of folded metal that shift from the door frame area of his vehicle mode. His front wheels lay on his shoulders and he has his two door panels extending from his back. His servos are black in color. The wheel rims are lined with LED strips as a cosmetic upgrade, which is an alteration that is also reflected on the wheels located on the outside of his legs between his knee and ankle joints.
His alt mode is a 2012 Lotus Elise S ( pictured here ). While it's not the most inconspicuous of vehicles to drive the roads of Nevada, it's at least a little easier to overlook in a bigger city like Las Vegas.
History
Beginnings
Cybertron was not always stricken with the thoughts of war plaguing its surface. Once, Cybertronians lead normal lives where they could enjoy the simple pleasures that settled their processors and ease the tension out of their gears . Jazz was one of those mechs.
Jazz was created to be a worker - sparked and raised in the slums of the shipbuilding city of Staniz way in the northern region of Cybertron, where everyone fended for themselves and took whatever odd jobs they could get. He lived up to the personification of an audio based mech from the wild, lively, colorful and music capital of the entire planet, picking up on the sounds the machinery he worked around to either repeat it pitch for pitch or alter it in some way to make it his own. It was clear that he had an unusual knack for creating various musical beats and harmonic rhythms both with his vocal processor and small items he would clank and slide together to create 'beats'. Quickly he became established in both vocal song and the use of rather crudely made instruments, which were created out of everything from empty canisters to magnetic strips.
The mech didn't believe in a locked in caste system and pledged that one day he would get out of the slums and when he wasn't working he hung out in the streets to play for whatever credits he could earn.
It wasn't long after that that Fate finally decided to play a hand in Jazz's life.
Rise from the Slums
The Assembly in Praxus housed the some of the greatest minds of the arts and sciences, and often performed live musical renditions at the theater halls. One of the organizers was a Towerling who had heard rumors of the worker bot with the unusual musical talent, and traveled to the streets of Iacon to find him. He watched Jazz perform for several cycles to ensure that was he was seeing was not some fluke before he made Jazz an offer that he couldn't refuse: leave the slums for the opportunity to perform for the masses of Praxus.
Easier said than done.
Transferring from one position in the caste system to another was not something that was as easy as being promoted in the workplace. It was more of a way for the Cybertronians to 'know their place' in society and for a long while that had merely been the accepted way of life and climbing the tiers was unheard of. It was a cut-throat society built on the ideals that you were created for one purpose, and you would die with that purpose.
The Towerling who had approached Jazz had connections and a lot of credits to throw around to get what he wanted. So after some pulled strings, threats of blackmail, and the exchange of money, the factory where Jazz was created received him on their lines once more, only this time it was to rework his codes and IDs to 'recreate' him as a model designed for the upper classes. His musical talents assisted with this transition, as workers rarely ever had such skillsets that made them more advanced than other low-class workers outside of the varying work types such as the difference between construction or delivery. The money didn't stop flowing with the under-the-table deal, however. Without Jazz's knowledge of the extent the Towerling would go to get his way, all prior associates of Jazz had their memories filtered and altered to have no recollection of him. Through the workings of connections and those who had no problem getting their hands dirty then keeping their mouths shut for the right price, everything had been done to ensure that the Towerling would not be caught up in the mess. Anything that would raise question to payments was easily rolled into into explanation of being large purchases, which was not unheard of with those who had more money than they knew what to do with.
Everything was fixed in place, so now it was all left up to Jazz and his determination to protect the life he had been given and the extent he was willing to take to keep it from being threatened. He would have to reinvent himself to fit with this new position in the higher class and never speak of his original occupation or have any acknowledgement of what he did prior to the day he was re-ID'd. The constant attention to detail and working a room to make himself fit in would assist him later in life with further advancements.
Once established at his new home in a small room in the Towerling's residence, Jazz was given formal training with various instruments as well as vocal instruction. It was a much more leisurely lifestyle than he was used to, but he never looked down on where he came from no matter how far he advanced. Even if he were never allowed to make mention of it, that didn't mean he had to frown upon it. This was a blessing that he had been given the chance to rise up in spite of the stranglehold of the caste system, though he probably wouldn't have thought that same had he known the extent of the coverup.
Jazz was no mindless puppet who sat around. Instead he observed everything around him and though at first it was to the benefit of working to fit in, it soon became a way of insight to understanding the nature of the world around him. It became pretty clear that this was no normal Towerling that had found him. He didn't exactly want to know how he got to this position, but it appeared this Towerling had built up quite a nice place for himself, if you count slaves as nice decoration. It was easier to see thing when you were on the inside looking out and the separation between the lower class and upper class bothered him. Growth was not allowed, you died doing what you were created for, and you never spoke out against it. This forced placement of his fellow Cybertronians within cookie-cutter statuses began to bother him and it wasn't a feeling that phased out now that he was in a higher place within the classes. No, instead it only became stronger.
Jazz was not able to turn a blind eye to the issues with his Towerling 'adopter' for long.
Criminal Enterprise
It didn't take long before Jazz was a master of his musical talents and was given the nickname of Meister, opting out of use of his real designation for performances. "Meister" became well-known around Cybertron and was sought after to play privately by everyone from the working classes to those in the Council. Jazz was awarded quite a number of items for his impressive displays, but that did little to sway his growing hatred for the caste system. Fairly quickly he began to hate his 'friend', the way he treated the others just made him grind his dentals in anger, but there was nothing he could really do about it. So instead he simply remained quiet, trying his best to avoid being in the same room with the other nobles present at the times during parties as much as he could. To the Towerling who had taken him from the slums, Jazz was nothing more than a sponsored pet- his way of keeping more worth coming in to feed his greedy needs.
To keep himself from saying anything that could get him in trouble, he focused on his music and putting out new pieces almost as fast as his processor could come up with them. This worked out in his favor, as in the foreground all Jazz had to do was entertain guests and do what he did best and he rarely had to do much more interacting than a courteous 'thank you for coming and listening'. Though after overhearing some questionable bits of a conversation involving 'making someone disappear', Jazz realized that there were more illegal things happening than would just be scuffed at. It was serious, and he couldn't just pretend nothing was going on while he lived his cushy life.
From then on, Jazz never stopped taking notes of what his Towerling sponsor was either talking about or participating in when he thought he was in the absolute clear. Sometimes while he would be having his off-to-the-side meet ups with specific friends, Jazz would stand as close as he could to listen in to the conversations, or act as a tender to bring drinks to his Towerling and his close friends to have an excuse to approach. Other times wouldn't need such sneaky means, as slip-ups were common when one had too many drinks and a decent form of entertainment. The illegal apprehension of slaves, unauthorized memory cleanses on those who could expose them, underhanded dealings, unexplained disappearances and black market sales of stolen parts. It was all things that made Jazz's energon tanks run cold.
One day Jazz hoped this knowledge would be to his benefit.
As all good things eventually do, everything started going downhill for him. It took him longer than it takes a boulder to roll up hill, but it eventually happened. Jazz hit a block in creativity and with the growing demand for new pieces or some updated music it put a lot of strain on him to come up with new material to appease his fans and followers. It was a stressful time between Jazz and the Towerling but they weren't the only ones enduring difficulties. During this time, tensions within different factions on Cybertron were becoming much more evident. Clashes occurred more frequently over the caste system ( ones that Jazz couldn't really say the arguments of were unjustified ) and with the possibility of it turning into something more the risk of war was a prominent issue no matter how many times those of the highest seated politicians tried to push order back into place.
This was the opportune time to make a move. Jazz needed a way out of the situation he was in and he had the intel to assist him in the transition. He knew that the Towerling would never willingly let go of his money maker so Jazz had to take matters into his own hands and take the consequences that came as they would. Jazz traveled to Iacon's High Council Pavilions and went before the Senate with the knowledge he had for them, trading immunity and protection for his information. Once the Towerling and his groups's arrest and eventual execution for their crimes, Jazz was ordered to be returned to his previous placement as a worker. Through fan and follower petitions from those within various levels of the hierarchy as well as the undeniable part he had played in taking down the criminal enterprise, the Senate reconsidered their decision. With his invaluable persistence and ability to identify even the smallest detail, he was offered a position of Data collection for the Grid.
The offer did not fall on deaf ears and and he was off to a new life in Iacon within that cycle. While exploring the Hall of Records, where he would be frequenting often, he came across someone he actually liked for the first time in years. Orion Pax was his name and by Primus was he a nice change of pace.
From this point onward, 'Meister' would never be heard of again.
The Dawn of War
Jazz's first taste of the new caste system was a relief from what he had been stuck in previously. He served as a Cultural Investigator, tasked with the duty of collecting various cultural data from around Cybertron (and, later on, onto other planets). This gave him a freedom that allowed him to explore reaches on Cybertron that he hadn't been able to before, but it was rather demanding for his time. This required him to hang up his instruments for good to devote all of attention to his new line of work, and, though with some reluctance, he did so and began the new chapter. Part of his workings involved reporting directly to the Hall of Records and analyzing the Communications Grid. In doing so he was able to interact closely with and befriend Orion Pax, who was working on similar projects. Though the data collection was more reserved in conversation, Jazz wasn't one to ever turn down a possible friendship no matter how resistant the other party.
With tensions rising throughout Cybertron, Jazz was removed from his previous job and placed within the newly formed Kaon Security Services, which pretty much grounded him to the area but allowed him the opportunity to frequent the Pits to watch the Gladiators in battle. Somehow he became hooked on the spectacle, with the raw violence both alluring but disgraceful to him. He assisted Orion in tracking down one such gladiator who shared the ideology of the faulty caste system, but Jazz was hesitant about the kinship from the start and did not hide his opinion on the matter. Each time Megatron met with Orion, Jazz openly warned his friend to be cautious and to watch his back.
It was not difficult for Jazz to stand alongside Orion when he was promoted to the rank of Prime, especially after the powerful speech that he had delivered. Though he would have opted otherwise, Jazz still had duties to carry out as a member of the security team and the two spent less time with one another after the promotion, though was aware of the unraveling friendship of Orion and Megatron, and suspected an inevitable uprising- a suspicion that soon came to light. The clashes between the classes erupted violently and an all out war broke out in Megatron's name, sending Cybertron into a split of factions. It was during an attack on Iacon by the Decepticons in which Jazz fought against them that officially made him an Autobot.
After the assault on Praxus which demolished the city and nearly the entire populous, Jazz approached Orion - who was now serving under the title of Prime- with his determination to prove his worth within the Autobot ranks. With the Prime's good word he was able to begin formal training as first a guard, and then into the Elite Guard. Jazz served loyally under his leader to carry out the most dangerous of tasks, sometimes alone, without hesitation or question. During one of these missions staged late in the war, Jazz was sent off with a small team of Autobots to infiltrate a suspected Decepticon hideout. Unaware of the great numbers that the Decepticons had managed to gather in a short time, his team was ambushed and eliminated. With lines of communication broken due to the chaos of the Exodus, the team was written off by the Autobots as lost.
Unknown to Optimus or those Jazz served under, the former musician had feigned his death and hidden beneath the bodies of his comrades. Damaged, and unable to either transform or contact the Autobots, Jazz was forced to trek across Cybertron through use of the underground systems to avoid being spotted. By the time he arrived back to base, the Autobots had fled and the Ark was gone. He was able to do minor field repairs on himself using what little was left available to him, but some damage had still been done that he could not manage on his own. The only option he had was to get off of the dark planet, the one that had once been his home, in hopes of following his leader.
Eventually Jazz was able to commandeer a small shuttle from Iacon's outskirts, and launched it in an attempt to track the Ark. Along his journey he made several stops, from space stations to tiny outposts, to listen to the small talk and idle chit-chat in order to follow the leader he had lost. Now in a new area of space, Jazz has managed to pick up on an idle communication calling for Autobots to come to the new planet. The voice alone was enough to make him follow without a second guess, a voice from his past that he had been searching for. So he plugged in the coordinates and made his way towards Earth.
Personality
A creative thinker, Jazz comes up with plans, or songs, on the fly no matter the situation at hand - be it a hostile takeover, or a broken bridge. He is equally prepared to smooth talk his way out of a squad of Decepticons as he is to dispatch them with a quick draw of his photon rifle. He usually displays the same charm to the Decepticons as he does to the Autobots - given the right situation, of course. It is this natural sense of friendship that gives him an edge in many situations. If it wasn't for the fact that they were trapped in an all out war with the Decepticons, he might buy the nearest Bot or Con a drink and then jam out on the closest instrument.
Jazz is outgoing and charismatic. Even in the middle of this war he can muster a level of cheerful positivity that can be rather infectious, even if the situation doesn't necessarily call for it. There is no one who can say that they deny for even a split klik his loyalty to the Autobot cause.
On the battlefield, Jazz shows a determination to get his fellow Autobots out in one piece and hold ground for as long as possible. For him, it is not necessarily winning the fight that counts: it is gaining the upper-hand in a situation whenever possible and getting his comrades out with their sparks intact. Knowing when the odds are against you and pulling back before the casualties pile up can be just as much a victory as being able to plant a flag on a hill and claiming the battle in your favor. That said, he wouldn't mind the opportunity to snuff out a few 'Cons along the way...
Jazz's easy-going facade is something that those around him have come to expect from the saboteur, and he is not one to disappoint. However, despite his laid back and 'go with the flow' attitude, Jazz has a demons that he keeps locked away in the dark recesses of his processor:
Guilt. It is an an internal issue that he was told many who fight in the war suffer from, a reminder that not everyone can be saved. Sure, Jazz had seen many Cybertronians die around him during the time he served in the Elite Guard - some of them even by his own hand - but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. From time to time even Jazz must take a step back and isolate himself just to clear his thoughts and push the past back to where it belongs. This is Jazz's own little secret, one that he deals with quickly and quietly when it comes up - and when it does, this cool cat just needs to vent alone, away from the optics of others.
Likes
Jazz enjoys anything related to culture, but especially to music. It's to be expected considering what he did as a living before the war. If it has a good beat, he's dancing to it. If there's no music on display, a friendly chat is normally next of his list of things to do. If he finds anyone willing to give him five minutes of their time, Jazz will ask questions, crack jokes, and try to make a friend. He is almost never without a bet. Be it a bet to go without music for one solar cycle, or to only use his vehicle mode in the next infiltration, the chance to drop people's jaws at the mention of the words, ''I did it,'' never ceases to amuse him.
Before the outbreak of the war, Jazz had fond memories of Cybertron from both his youth and his young adulthood. It's a place that will forever be held dear in his spark, and one day he hopes that they can bring life to it once more. Even if it's just a pipe dream, it's at least something.
Dislikes
Ever see a new paint job dirtied up for some unnecessary reason? For a bot who likes to keep himself tidy and in pristine care this is a daunting task, especially when you're a white vehicle driving through terrains that are less than kind to your paint. Jazz isn't one to turn down a rain storm if it means that it'll wash the grime away.
Being one who enjoys to relax and 'go with the flow', Jazz dislikes people who don't know what it means to have fun. Those who are uptight and tense all the time are usually his focus when it comes to idle chit-chat, despite of their level of determination to get away from him. Jazz will do what he can to try and lighten their sour mood, sometimes crossing over to that 'I'm going to disable your vocal processor' line.
There is a thing about a certain level that liars can achieve that gets Jazz's circuits twisted up. The more malicious and deceitful it is, and the more determined the coverup, the more irritated it makes him. He's always willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt and he likes to be proven wrong when this arises - but if it turns out that his initial suspicion is correct and he catches you in a lie, it's best to just come clean. He's much more forgiving that way.
Jazz doesn't like anyone who is willing to give up without a fight. Jazz's primary though process is simple: if you're going to go in fighting, go out fighting. This also goes for those who complain about a situation but don't do anything to either fix the problem or stop it outright from happening. In his mind, even if a situation is out of your control it's better to at least try and fail than to fail without the effort.
Meetings? Don't mention those around him, at least where he can hear you, or you're not going to see him in attendance. Protocol meetings are the worst! Just listening to someone talk on and on is bad enough, but being forced to sit through it? Jazz can't sit still for too long or he'll start to get anxious, which is usually hinted at by a tap of his pede on the ground to signal that he's ready for things to wrap up.
Strengths
Photon Burst Rifle
The photon burst rifle was once a commonly used weapon within the Autobot ranks. While it's ideal for short to medium ranged shots, Jazz prefers to down his targets before they get too close. The rifle fires three photon blasts per round which allows for damage to be dealt without the high consumption of ammo at once. Paired with the calculative trajectories that his sensor array and visor field provides makes him a highly proficient sharpshooter and quite capable of long-range combat. The addition of the mounted scope provides Jazz with a greater level of accuracy for medium to long range shots, but without the heavy damage of a typical sniper rifle. He's a decent enough distance shooter, although is no way a master of the craft. While snipers, who have perfected the art and spent countless time honing their skill would wait upon a high ridge, braving the elements and not moving a muscle before lining up that perfect shot, Jazz is the type of shot who runs about, jumps into position and locks onto a target then fires as fast as he can with the three burst rounds after a scoped aim at vital locations.
Multi-colored LED Strobe Beacons
While in either mode, Jazz's headlights are usually turned to the standard cool blue LEDs. Though when the situation arises, the headlight assemblies and driving lights are able to rotate completely on their joints to trade out for the 'hidden' beacons mounted on the backs. The two upper beacons each contain 24 high-intensity multi-colored LEDs which are able to strobe over 60 times a minute in rapid triple-set successions over a multitude of different colors, while the lower have 10 of the same LEDS but pulse at a slower rate. The dazzling display may cause temporary optic malfunctions and the closer proximity the target is to Jazz, the higher the possibility of more immense damage that may require the assistance of a medic to fix.
Jazz is protected from blinding himself with his own lights by a simple fact of directionality and placement. The lights point outwards, which results in a single-direction aim towards those directly infront and up to a 45 degree angle to either side. Mounted on the front of his hood mode, the large section of car easily blocks the light from his point of view, there by keeping him safe. Nothing fancy really, just a big ol' piece o' car in the way and logical headlight placement.
JBL GT-series high quality speakers and dual 5000 RMS subwoofers
If one would assume that Jazz would have an impressive sound system to blast the tunes he enjoys listening to, they would be correct; but that would only be the half of it. While the set of JBL speakers can play at a very large range of volume with their own polymer cone woofers, Jazz also has a set of 5000 RMS subwoofers connected to his systems that deliver a very heavy blow to anyone standing too close. In bot mode the subwoofers are located in compartments at his hips that can rotate out to aim forward, while in vehicle mode the woofers are tucked away in the door panels and can rest on the window ledges once they are rolled down. All of this head-throbbing power is connected to his energon feeds and draws directly from the source.
To those on the receiving end of this mighty array, they've got two choices:
A) You jump behind any piece of solid cover, his sound waves may be strong but rock or steel is stronger. This provides Jazz with a chance to go for cover on his own should he be out in the open, or to retreat should the situation call for it.
B) Turning your own audio receptors off, and while not everybody can do this as easily or as effectively as Jazz, it certainly reduces the risk of being deafened. For those who can't, the dodging behind cover would be your best bet.
One would wonder how Jazz is able to keep himself from becoming deafened or injured by his own subwoofers. It's a concept that is built into his system as a counter measure against self harm. The between the layers of metal in his helm is a thin layer of material similar to a human equivalent to a cellulose insulation that works almost like a noise-cancelling bubble. This material contains a series of micro sensors that, once triggered, sends a signal to his systems and shuts down his audio receptors as well as all forwarding communication. This does not protect him from the throbbing sensation that he endures each time he needs to use the speaker system - which forces him to only want to use it in short bursts- but it does keep him from permanently losing the inability to hear. This does, however, open him up with another weakness ontop of the energy drain.
Built For Speed
Jazz's alt mode is able to reach a top speed of 234 km/h ( 145 mph ), not the fastest there is but for a ground-pounder, it's decent. Jazz's frame is made out of a durable, lightweight Cybertronian alloy equivalent to carbon fiber and is constructed in repeating lines of microscopic diamond-shapes. It lowers the power-to-weight ratio which means greater speed at a quicker pace, assisted by his aerodynamic design by a lowered center point of gravity, that allows for a faster climb in speed without much effort. It is able to withstand high levels of heat as well as corrosive materials and rust. Some of this speed does carry into his bot mode with the 'stop/twist on a dime' maneuverability to him can prove to be an annoyance to those he's squaring off against.
Field of Vision
While the visor is stylish, it also provides Jazz with a wide array of ways to pick up his opponents without needing to actually see them. Whereas most would have trouble in the dark without assisting light, Jazz is able to maneuver in the dark without it. The visor can alternate between standard sight, thermal feed, and night vision so he can track his way through without the risk of giving away his position. His sensory horns pick up energon readings and feed the information directly to his HUD to pick up targets easier. So while others are blundering about, he's able to move through without any issue.
Weaknesses
Lightweight frame
Fairly obvious, Jazz has a decent level of durability and is perfectly constructed for speed, but it also means that he can damage fairly easily. There's a bit more to go through in his chest area, but it's barely a defense against the more high-powered weapons available. The lightweight Cybertronian alloy does not respond well to point stresses or sharp-impact hits. Straight beams such as lasers have a particularly easy time getting at him and can outright pass right through certain areas of the fused constructs. If one were to apply enough constant force to one area the fibers will eventually give in and become crushed, which would lead to complete structural damage to that location. Jazz would prefer to pick them off from a distance than to be engaged in hand-to-hand combat, being that in order to even land a decent enough blow would require him to have a running start ( be in either mode ) and then lunge with his fist at the ready. It's feasible, but the probability of him being able to do it more than once is unlikely.
Exposed Joints
This speedy armor's weaknesses don't stop there either, oh no! Each one of Jazz's joints moves when he's transforming and they need a clear path in order to do. That means he is allowed a greater range of motion than most, including a full 360 turn of at his waist, it also leaves them nearly fully exposed ( aside from his chest ). It allows for easy repair and routine care since one would not need to remove panels to get to them, but it also makes them moving targets and free to be shot at. Should one of them go out it would prevent him from being able to transform, not to mention it would be quite painful.
Blindness
The only down side to the infiltrator's seemingly invaluable visor is itself. His optics were never finely tuned to be used on their own so his dependency on his visor becomes a great hindrance should there be a malfunction. If this thing so much as cracks it looses all functionality, as the various cybernetic wiring running through the reinforced glass is all needed in order to display the various vision modes. However, a mere crack isn't enough to put it fully out of commission, that would require breaking it in two. Once a moderately sized chunk of blue tinted glass has been knocked loose, Jazz is practically blind. All colors and shapes blend together into one big mess, instant headache material. The best way to achieve this is a single shot, even a pistol would do, to the visor, which would crack and shatter in the process of protecting the user's optics. Jazz is aware of the vulnerability that he faces, so he takes great care to ensure it's kept in peak condition and does his best to ensure it does not sustain more than a minor chip or crack.
High Energy Drain
It takes a lot of energy to power a 1000 watt amplifier and to keep his strobe lights going. The entire system is directly linked to his energon feed so if he were needed to use either of these for more than a couple consecutive hours ( even less if he were needing to use both at the same time ) his energon supply would completely drain. If his tanks were to drop into the emergency rations all systems except communications and visual would go out, allowing for him to call for assistance and to keep him aware of his surroundings but not be able to move so much as a digit. His joints would merely give in and he would crumple to the ground in a heap- similar to what a house of cards endures when being blown over- and would be in this vulnerable situation until he refueled. With a full drain of energon, he wouldn't even have so much as the comms to radio in to base. Jazz keeps an emergency ration on him in his subspace as backup but it's only a small portion that would last less than thirty minutes. Jazz keeps track of his supply and makes sure to top off before he goes anywhere since he never knows when he may be faced with a combatant.
Blindspots and Deafness
Jazz needs to turn off his audio receptors and sensors in order to use his speaker system or else he risks permanent damage to them. This keeps him from hearing anything around him, be it an incoming transmissions from his allies or a secondary opponent that he didn't realize was there. If another opponent were able to turn off their audials or somehow block out the sound they would be able to sneak up behind him by keeping in his blind spots. Knowing of this issue, Jazz tries to keep himself backed up against something solid so that he is not blindsided, though it's not always an option and he has to hope that the speakers and light show do their work quickly so he isn't left as a sitting duck for too long.
Distractions
Never one to pass up the chance to take in information about the culture around him, Jazz is one of those who can do so effortlessly. Be it lingo or slang that he picks up or references about the world around him, he's well in tune with his surroundings. This acts a major distraction for him and sometimes misses communications coming in because he's wrapped up in things he's snuck off base to catch up on, something that he's been reprimanded for in the past.
On top of becoming distracted, he can also be determined to a fault. Jazz is unwilling to disregard a mission he feels could be beneficial to the Autobots, even if it's otherwise thought to be too dangerous. Sometimes this requires him to take these types of missions on alone, which can put him in some tricky situations. More than once he's found that he's bitten off more than he should have been able to chew at once, but he's managed through, even with warnings that stunts like that will eventually be his undoing. Points for determination, though, right? If it could give his side the upper-hand, he's willing to risk his spark for it.
While he has great respect for his chain of command, there are some limitations that exist that any sensible Autobot would agree with. Jazz has no issue with authority, though should the order given go against what he believes to be in the best interest to the Autobots, he will try and find some way to fail it with enough of a cover-up that it's difficult to find fault in his actions.
Special Skills ( Not Weapons Related )
Adaptability
Being the crafty, think-on-his-feet kinda mech, Jazz has an uncanny way of adapting to his surroundings. Whether it be due to his more laid-back personality, or the natural thought process when he's making music, but no matter how dire things may be he is able to keep a cool head and rarely has a problem coming up with a way out of a problematic situation. He is well responsive to change and can improvise quickly should it call for it. This is vital since the missions he volunteers for tend to be amongst the trickiest or most dangerous. Whatever surprise the Decepticons come up with, Jazz can usually counter it and stay one step ahead of the game. Sometimes it's not even strategic as much as impulse, but nothing gets you out of a ticking time bomb like a good ol' fashion dive behind a wall or whatever piece of metal or rock may happen to be at the perfect angle to protect him from being shot at. This isn't limited to combat either, oh no! You march up to this guy and demand a field report from two weeks ago, and he'll just come up with a little white lie like it were the absolute truth.
Infiltration
Jazz is equipped with a small array of skills when it comes to being one of the top-notch infiltrators and saboteurs. His agile design and smaller stature allows for him to get through some of the tightest places that most other mechs have issues squeezing their ways into, while his lightweight frame makes it possible for him to be quiet when maneuvering around to aid in his stealthiness. There's no denying that Jazz is good at what he does, but what happens once he's crossed behind enemy lines? What can he do productive once he's gone through all the effort of getting inside?
Here's a hint: It involves a lot of flash and perhaps a little over-the-top. Jazz always tries to complete his missions with his own little bit of flare to it, so while tapping into the self-destruct system would be the ideal choice for most, he much rather climb under the console and do some rewiring to trigger it that way, maybe leaving a small calling card of some sort behind. That, or plant a bomb in a ventilation shaft and high-tail it out of there before the Decepticons even know what hit them. Either way... Do it with style, or don't bother doing it, right?
Sample RP
"Mayday, Mayday! Comin' on over the Autobot frequencies, can anyone hear me? This is Jazz tryin' to connect through. Hate to say it any other way, but I'm comin' in HOT! This atmosphere's got some mean resistance, man!"
Jazz was trying to pull back on the controls to level the ship out but he was clearly having difficulty doing so. He hadn't expected that he would be faced with this much trouble and inwardly wondered if the ones who had sent out the signal had gone through the same thing? He was going to have to tell whoever was in charge of this fiasco that they really need to warn others about this entry issue so they don't come in as blind as he did. All sorts of warning relays were going off around him, indicating all the structural damage that the ship was sustaining and that the engines had locked up. Honestly, with some of the stuff that he had already had to go through, to be taken out like this just wasn't in the cards.
'Gotta make it. Ain't gonna let myself go down without at least landin' this blasted thing!'
Boy, this was going to be fun, though.
"Come'on ya old pile of cosmic rust, line up! You're just bein' a twist in my circuit now."
The ship left a trail of smoke in its wake as it broke through the final resistant atmospheric layer and started to fully nose-dive and spin as it plummeted towards the surface of the planet. Jazz pressed his back into the seat and pedes to the floor then pulled back as hard as he could on the controls. The pull of gravity was working its charm, increasing the speed that he was dropping now that he was just cutting through separating air.
"Pull... UP!" Jazz pounded his left servo against the controls on the overhead panel. While it usually wouldn't have been a good idea to just go hitting things, it seemed to work. One of the alerts went off and the autopilot engaged which right away went to work with leveling out the ship and kicking on the engines. Sure, he was still going down, but at least this time it wouldn't be as catastrophic as it could have been. He just had to pray to Primus that he didn't hit the broad side of some giant rock.
When the impact came it wasn't rock that he hit. Instead the belly of the ship skidded across the sands, sparks rising up as parts of the ship started to disengage and fly off. It was rough, bumpy, and Jazz didn't think he would ever slow down. Pray tell, he was thanking the cosmos the moment hat he finally did. Once everything had halted he released his grip on the controls and his visor dimmed as his systems started to ease off of the high from the head rush caused by the immense surge of energon he had been enduring the past few moments. He didn't have much time to sit and relax to think about his current situation before he was drawn back to the reality of it all by a small, high-pitched beeping sound.
The console had switched its commands over and began to send out a distress signal.
Jazz knew it wasn't a good idea to stay in one place too long with that thing going but his joints just didn't want to function at the moment and the tension hadn't completely eased out yet so trying to fight it could have ended with him face down on the floor and not able to push himself upright. This was a tricky predicament to find himself in. Heck, for all he knew there could have been an enemy right around the corner of... wherever he was... and here he was about as useful as protoform without a spark. Comms were shot so he would have to recuperate here and hope that alliance assistance came quickly. Assistance that wasn't in the form of the opposing faction than he had pledged his allegiance to, that is.