Soundwave
Nov 21, 2016 21:49:22 GMT -5
Post by Soundwave on Nov 21, 2016 21:49:22 GMT -5
PLAYER INFO
Name/Alias: Zercon
CHARACTER INFO
Name: Soundwave
Age Equivalent: Early Thirties
Gender Equivalent: Male
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Decepticon
Original Occupation: ████████████████████████
Occupation/Specialization: Third in command to the Decepticon faction, and the eyes and ears of the cause. He is acting communications specialist and head of intelligence.
Appearance:
Facial Features: None, or more accurately, a solid black visor that can be used as a projection screen to depict graphs, icons, emblems, and other forms of imagery and glyphs for communication. This screen is a concave triangular shape, framed on either side by branching dark panels of armor that flare out to cover his jawline and acts as a throat guard. Above this screen sits a twin set of chevrons that are narrowed thin and spike like, one centralized right in the middle to shoot up with a trapezoid in its center, and the other flared out to continue the 'V' shape of his helm. A thin crest of a ridge trails from the middle mass, swooping to the back of his helm on what is otherwise a smooth shape banded with slightly varying shades of his primary colors.
When it comes to bio-lights, tiny pipelines of illumination crest on the upper edge of the larger chevron shape, as well as on the perimeter of his faceplate. Between his jaw guard and visor, also sits this same lighting, but it is broad, three angular shapes that further frame his features. Lastly, a trapezoid sits in the centermost point of the chevrons, leading to a tiny square right where a bridge of his nose would be if he had a face to speak of.
Physical Features: Atypical with a surreal flair of broad and narrow all at once, Soundwave skirts multiple lines of overall design to create his recognizable form. Upon first glance he appears fragile in a way, delicate sharp angles and narrow components that are countered by a broad chest and the occasional patch of armor. The most bizarre point of it all however are his arms. Soundwave's arms are bizarre when it comes to the vast majority of other Cybertronian due to the fact they will become his wings when he transforms. Slender, built of thin panels and plates, they can almost look more décor than truly functional. The upper limb branches past his narrow shoulder assembly, hooking into the air to cut a striking silhouette of a shape, while the lower limb folds past the elbow to extend the plating into a guard. Thin etches of bio-lights trail between the seams on the broad surfaces, leading down to his hands that tuck underneath a wrist guard at the bottom of the wing's edge. His fingers are slim, and that is putting it lightly, each hand destined for far more delicate work and fast processes on a keyboard. He has only three fingers and a thumb, the same magenta purple illumination peeking through the joints.
While his arms are exceptionally odd, his center mass and legs look far more in line with the norm in comparison. His aforementioned broad chest is triangular, with shoulders hiked high in raised sockets that can give him a mild hunching posture. There appears to be two definitive layers to his overall frame, with a base layer of black sheets and smooth curved plating, contrasted with panels of navy and charcoal latched overtop in an angular cage to protect the more fragile inner workings. Laserbeak meshes into the armor here on his chest, integrating so seamlessly one would never guess it was a cassette.
Soundwave’s lower limbs can look digitigrade at some angles, but are plantigrade with an offset knee. His upper legs are short, with armor clapped around them to protect, leading down to a large knee guard that flares up abruptly. The joint for his knee sits here, but the lower leg hooks back behind this to offset the angle and make the leg appear to crook forward. Sleek panels, limited details, there is only a flare to protect his ankle mechanisms before leading to sharp spear like peds that come to a dangerous point at the toe and heel.
His body is overall comprised of black armor clad with navy and charcoal plating. This outer plating does not hold any bio-lights but in contrast the black inner workings do. Everywhere that these layers are visible reveals a weaving web of illumination that pipe and jut across his frame like the circuits of a motherboard. The lighting is subtle, non intrusive, all weaving towards his central mass to collect just under his jaw where an orb of magenta lay nestled.
Altmode: MQ-9 Reaper
Sleek, spindly, and streamlined, plus some other perks befitting of a surveillance drone, makes it no surprise that the Reaper is Soundwave's choice for an earthly Alt-Mode. But while he took the human device's form, the propeller on the back is not in play. Where there was one a single propeller, nestles a Cybertronian engine, the black metal ringed in magenta lighting. This allows him to keep up with most other flyers, ((Instead of the slow 300mph of the propeller version)) though will never be able to keep up with the seekers if they were to go full tilt.
History:
Flat. A void. When individuals encounter Soundwave, it is hard to really know what it is they are dealing with. Rumors, tales, woven lies and truths all bundled together into a twisting miasma; it paints a picture from multiple angles. On one story you have a loyal soldier that once held great power on Cybertron's surface, acting as one of the council of 13 from days old, on the other you have a shadowed spy, moving with silence like a ghost to accomplish a task behind the backs of foes and friend alike, or maybe just a clerk or a drone that had gained sentience. A gladiator is a flicker of a rumor among these, while others don’t even paint him as ever having a past of any kind, one devoid of true sentience and not even being a true Cybertronian in his core. A tool, a prop, an icon used to instill fear and keep those that could have illusions of grandeur in line.
They are all ████ in one way or another.
Soundwave has been functional for a great deal of time, his past bleeding into the shadows as he does aboard the Nemesis in the most recent of days. What is known however, is the fact that he ████████████ and was a gladiator in the pits of Kaon, and it is there that he first crossed paths with Megatron. Back then, Soundwave had a good deal more armor and bulk than he does now, heavy plates protecting his frame from deadly damage in the ring. He moved with a fluid joining of grace and strength, an ability that nearly permitted him to defeat the prized gladiator. This act alone earned mutual respect, and started the foundation for his value for them to work long-term.
Having earned a place at Megatronus' side, Soundwave actively worked with him and Orion to further spread their ideals and speeches to the masses, playing an intrical part in letting them be heard by those that otherwise would be oblivious to the revolution that was hoped for. The older mech knew however what the end goal was, playing his fair share in the political games, and being able to see where Megatronus' was going from the onset. Soundwave was not surprised at the gladiators grab for power, and could only sit and watch as what should have been simple, became overly complex when Orion finally stepped forward.
The war began in full, and Soundwave's assistance morphed from one of strictly relays and communication, to ████ and ███████. He took an active role, performing a myriad of different tasks, from going with others to destroy the Iacon Energon Refinery to starve out those that opposed them, to being a guiding hand on missions to warn of incoming issues and exploitable angles of approach. His roles were varied, and he filled each one flawlessly, even at one point leading over Kaon's prison system where Zeta Prime was locked away. Through a series of chaos and the Autobot's attempts to rescue the Prime, Soundwave ended up █████████████████████████████████████.
Upon relocation to the Nemesis and his new station, Soundwave filled the role of head of communications among other tasks. He has made it his job to not only organize and keep the warship functional and monitored, but took a personal goal to track and hunt down every relay remotely relevant to the Autobots, in order to pinpoint their location for tactical strikes. This said, with Megatron out on a personal quest, and being under the command of Starscream, Soundwave filtered a lot of information aside to be used by their lord later on, deeming it not important to get the more easily riled second in command inspired into doing something hasty.
Once Megatron returned however, things moved swiftly then, many plots, many new tasks. The languid pace he had been functioning for three years was no more, and Soundwave applied himself to every request and command that came his way. He kept Starscream in line, and tracked down Agent Fowler for interrogation after he declared knowledge of the Autobot base. But while that particular endeavor resulted in no information gained from the human directly, Soundwave did figure out one key thing simply from WHERE the human was picked up.
The Autobots were in Nevada.
But then Megatron was seemingly killed, an outcome the spymaster refused to accept.
He played passive again, following Starscream's orders and playing along, until he found a flicker of a signal related to Megatron. With his lord's body was retrieved, still alive, he sent out an instant summons for Knock Out and his partner per Starscream's 'request', while keeping on high alert to monitor what happened next. Sabotage, plotting of deceit and murder, the two mechs tried to play Soundwave the fool, and he had none of it.
Thankfully, things resolved themselves in due time, and Megatron became functional once more, where Soundwave stepped forward to his job as always, ready to use what he knows against any that dare stand in his way.
Personality:
Soundwave is a reserved individual that does not seek interaction with others actively, and when he does it is for a tactical reason to accomplish a goal, or simply remind the other person that he is always listening and watching, and that they are to refrain from trying anything questionable. He acts as a permanent reminder to Decepticons that nothing goes unnoticed, and treachery on any level will be clipped down before it can even begin to bud in full. In a way, Soundwave has become the 'boogeyman' for both factions.
While he is physically capable of speaking, a permanent vow of silence has clipped Soundwave's voice away, further painting him as an emotionless, and hollow husk of an individual to fill the fearful role mentioned above.
However, he still feels things, of course. He can feel grief, and sadness, joy and amusement, but he just doesn't depict it in ways anyone but those closest to him can pick up, and... with a ship full of individuals ready to backstab for power? There really isn't anyone close to him to learn these traits. But for all his solitude, he holds an unwavering loyalty to Megatron, a loyalty that can seem near subservient to those that do not know better.
He will jump when asked, perform on cue, he will accomplish any goal set out before him by his leader, and will do so with precision and efficiency. Finding a Decepticon more loyal to Megatron and the cause is near impossible. But for all the implied servitude, he is smart enough to make his own decisions and conclusions, opting to follow because his ideals go hand in hand with those of his leader. This high level of intelligence means he is that much more dangerous, acting as an extension of the warlord's will.
Pragmatic: No tactic, no method, no action is too dishonorable and out of line as long as it gets the job done as efficiently and swiftly as possible. There is no time to dally, no time to stall, and no time for courtesy and abiding some invisible rules of interaction and war as far as Soundwave is concerned. He does what has to be done, and any method is acceptable if it produces results.
Vindictive: While his want for revenge isn't consuming, and he can stand beside someone he wishes to make disappear without complaint if the situation calls, Soundwave does take an individual's lack of worth and past actions into account. If their value ever fails, and they prove to be the liability he knows they are, he will happily dish out poetic justice to put them in their place.
Likes:
Silence: Not related to his vow of silence, a quiet environment is appreciated, and holds significant value. Namely this equates to places around the Nemesis, but Soundwave isn't so detached from the outside world he can't appreciate quiet elsewhere as well.
Decisive Action: Have a plan? Act on it? Good. Don't look back and follow through with it, only deviating if it will better the outcome. Hesitancies and faltering to second guess oneself is how individuals die.
Order: Things really should be where they are meant to be. While Soundwave is not obsessive about such things, and will not fiddle with other's belongings to line them up proper, he does appreciate smaller details. It conveys that someone has forethought and considers things to come instead of blindly living in the moment.
Dislikes:
Blind Servitude: While loyal soldiers are few and far between, loyal soldiers that appreciate the cause for what it is, and don’t just follow a prized gladiators shadow are diamonds. The vast majority of these seem to follow Megatron blindly, basking in his presence and taking his words as the voice of Primus in a way. While they can be used to further goals, their idiocy and ignorance is painful.
Braggarts: Good job. You accomplished what was asked of you, do you want a cookie? Too bad. Boasting, bragging, and preening ones metaphorical feathers is frivolous and pointless. It does nothing but further highlight an individual's insecurities and weakness.
Starscream: The jet plays his role, and fills some sort of twisted amusement for Megatron, but his value is limited. He is leader of the Armada, and a common annoyance. He technically can be smart, but acts too blindly and carelessly for Soundwave, and that’s ignoring the mech's treacherous ways which clash with the third in commands loyalty.
Strengths/Weapons:
Agility and Grace: Soundwave does not fight unless he is forced to, but when he does he couldn't be further from what you would expect from someone once upon a time labeled a gladiator. He moves decisively and smoothly, dodging strikes and attacks with as minimal motion as possible though can twist and spin around to deflect. It can appear almost dance like, but it keeps him near enough to counter, and throws off others more brutish tactics.
Firearms and Artillery: As standard for many Cybertronians, Soundwave has a small gun within his forearm that can be used when called upon. It isn't particularly powerful, his limb too narrow and thin to accommodate anything of real value, and as such cannot pierce heavier armor and may be challenged even by medium plating. It needs to be used tactically at weak points, and more often than not is a distraction more so than weapon. However, when he transforms into his alt-mode, it combines with other components within his main mass, and becomes a more capable system, able to pierce medium armors and some heavier ones. In addition, while his Alt-mode is CAPABLE of housing solid ammunition and missiles, he does not do so and would only bother under Megatron's command for a directive.
Shielding: While his forearms appear delicate and thin, able to be punched in and decimated by a hard enough strike, the fact of the matter this couldn't be further from the truth. The broad panels are heavily reinforced, and are capable of being used to block incoming strikes with unexpected efficiency. This harks back to his days of a gladiator, making sure that even though he does not intend to go out onto the battlefield, he still is more than capable of handling himself if a confrontation were to arise.
Data Cables: Extruding at either side under his 'ribcage', for lack of a better term, the data cables are dual purpose tools that can either be used for his job or for combat with ease.
Space Bridge Management: Being so ingrained into the systems of the Nemesis, and knowing its Space Bridge inside and out, Soundwave is capable of manipulating portals with efficient dexterity and finesse. The portals can be summoned anywhere at will, and may be manipulated to be turned horizontally, or even be moved while open and active. Moving the portals while open however requires focus and constant calculation and manipulation, meaning if his attention is pulled elsewhere, movement will halt or the portal will vanish entirely.
Sound Manipulation: Not only can he record and bend people's voices to use for his own communication if the moment calls for it, but he can create sounds to use as weaponry. Low frequency bellows, high-pitched screeching shrills, whatever is needed to induce pain and disorientation upon another. It won't leave long-term damage unless there is prolonged exposure, but it will make most individuals falter or flinch back.
Energon Efficiency: With his slow moving gait, calm mannerisms and efficient actions, Soundwave doesn't burn through Energon as readily as his far more animated counterparts. This allows him to go longer periods of time without fuel, and can permit him to survive stationary for a good deal of time
Weaknesses:
Exposed Wiring: Underneath Soundwave's shoulder assembly is a large void in which internal functions are visible, hydraulics, wires, pipelines and even a few spring like pieces bared to the outside world. If this area is cut into or damaged bad enough, his motor functions of that limb would cease to be. This same effect occurs on his hips as well, though is a bit more covered by his waist flaring.
Elbows: While he can take strikes to his forearms, and block incoming attacks, he moves his limbs to make sure they are capable of actually supporting such a blow. If an impact were to hit the side of his elbows without proper accommodation or angling it right, the fragile narrow joint can snap entirely. Comparing his limbs to swords is not a far assumption when it comes to durability, needing to have force exerted at the proper angle to hold up to wear and battle.
Lighter Armor: In days of old, he was a true gladiator. Heavy armor, bulky frame, mass that was built up to deliver his skill and speed with brawn and brutality. As time and roles have changed, and adaptation to a new role was needed, he has grown significantly lighter and more narrow, shedding away the excess to leave him as he is now. His armor no longer holds the heft it once had ((other than his arms)), and is susceptible to normal ammunition just like most others. This lightness also applies to his overall weight, able to be thrown or knocked over if he isn't rooted. Some points of him become near skeletal due to this, his hands being a main example. His hands are so thin to have exceptional dexterity, that he does not punch directly with them if he has to strike, and instead curls the fingers down to hit with the extended guard plate of his forearm. A hard impact can shatter the joints.
Data Cables: For all the boons and abilities the data cables hold, they have a few serious drawbacks. Every strength anyone holds can only go so far, and there is always a catch to make them as strong as they may seem from an outsider view.
Environment Sensitivity: Being his armor is so thin, and overall mass is so narrow, temperatures can penetrate to inner workings a lot quicker than it can huskier built individuals. This means that if he is tasked to go out into the blasting chill of the arctic, he will succumb to shut down far quicker than others if the electrical generator in his torso can't combat it. In contrast, attacks based around fire or high temperatures will penetrate and start to melt uppermost connectors if he cannot pull away fast enough. He had to sacrifice insulating capabilities in order to be able to house everything else he can do and retain agility.
Laserbeak: While it is difficult to really classify from an outsider's view what exactly Soundwave feels about his cassette due to his reserved nature, what is apparent is that he does care for the small avian creature and will take actions to try to save him if he is put into direct threat. As long as the end goal is not compromised, Soundwave will drop what he is doing at any given moment, to be able to seek out his Cassette if he is put in danger, meaning that he has been known to turn his back upon an Autobot he otherwise could have killed.
Value: It is presumptuous and near arrogant to assume his true value to the Decepticons is a weakness, but it does play a role. Soundwave's skills mean that he is seldom sent out into the field for combat, and does not often get called to act out and perform a mission on his own. This means despite his skill and deadly ability, he is effectively a non issue on the field of battle 99% of the time.
Distrust: Seeing all he has, knowing what he knows, and the countless years of being disappointed at others has left its mark. Soundwave does not trust anyone to do what is right for the cause without his looming shadow behind them to act as a warning. He feels if he looks away for even a moment, someone like Starscream will scrabble for control like a power crazed animal. The only ones he trusts are his Cassettes, and Megatron.
Special Skills:
Intelligence: Having once been ████████████████████, and his long lifetime in active roles, Soundwave has a significant amount of experience and knowledge gained through the years he can pull from and instill upon others. He is smart, and not only in regards to communications and surveillance.
Experienced Hacker: There is very little that can stop Soundwave when he has a goal set before him. He can shear through firewalls and defenses like tissue paper, and zero in right to the information he requires for whatever outcome he has in mind. This is only challenged by heavily encrypted Autobot files, but even that just slows a task down to at most a week of dedicated work and effort.
Backup Files: Soundwave has a plan for nearly everything, and his own demise is no exception. The spymaster creates routine backup files of all the data and knowledge he knows, storing them ████████████. This means that if he is ever captured and has to crash his systems to revert himself to a clean slate ((That holds no information of value)), a Decepticon that knows where to locate the other backups can upload them to Laserbeak, or directly to Soundwave to return him to normal. As long as his body and spark remains intact, he can effectively be brought back from the 'dead'.
Silence: Soundwave can be alarmingly quiet, adding to his haunting reputation and allowing him to observe individuals when they aren't on their best behavior. Each step is soft and a light tap of a noise, allowing him to not only blend in with dark navy colors, but move like a ghost.
Extra Info:
What Came First? You don’t have to be exceptionally clever or observant to notice that the Decepticon icon looks strikingly similar to an adaptation of Soundwave's helm. Whether the icon was made to honor the most loyal of followers from the start of the rebellion, or if Soundwave modified his own crest to duplicate it is unknown, but whatever the case it just means that he is that much more ingrained into the faction as a whole.
Cassettes: It is no secret Soundwave has more than one Cassette, but their exact locations remain scattered. Rumble and Frenzy are ███████████████ while Ratbat is ████████. In addition ████████████████████████████████████.
Soundwave's Voice: Information gathering can be a delicate thing, and sometimes requires direct communications and a far more hands on approach... or... in this case a paws on approach. Ravage has served as a loyal counterpart to the voiceless mech for many years, and holds the honor of being one of the few that Soundwave trusts in full. They share a Gestalt Bond, meaning their sparks are in tune with one another making a weak link over immeasurable distances. This was a bond created out of convenience, need, and through like minded approaches, and while made rather quickly all things considered due to the threat of death to one, it was not made lightly. As much of a risk as it could have ended up however, it worked out beneficial to them both, and Ravage has been tasked to perform missions and jobs Soundwave is unable to do on his own.
Through their link, they are able to know the general direction where the other resides, and can pick up on emotional cues and general status. Direct communication through said connection is impossible though, words and phrases lost through the void between them, but with practice and time, they are still able to convey much by just the smallest ripples of notions. If one of the pair is injured badly, the link will snitch to the other instantly, so that something can be done about it before things escalate. If one does happen to die however, the feedback to the survivor can be catastrophic. While Soundwave would survive the ordeal, there would be a wound in Ravage's wake, enfeebling his spark.
CHARACTER INFO
Name: Laserbeak
Species: Cybertronian Cassette
Appearance:
Simplistic to a fault, Laserbeak does not resemble any earthly creature enough to be compared. He has a small, elongated triangular body, with a tiny magenta screen on the front that acts like his eyes. Branching away from this modest central core, are six broad paneled wings that spread out in a ragged display. Angular and sharp, the centermost wings hook at the ends like scythes, while a spiked branch protrudes mid way down to add stability. Fanned at the back of his body, are a few sharp panels that extend out, that will flick and flare open if needed to act like a makeshift tail. Nestled in the center of all of this, is a purple Decepticon emblem.
Personality:
Not seeming to have a personality of his own, Laserbeak is more akin to a tool, but does have some basic sentience to be able to avoid danger and recognize ill will towards it. Comparing his intelligence to a canine is too much though, as he is not able to problem solve without assistance.
Strengths/Weapons:
Speed: With a paneled body that is decisively Cybertronian with no attempts to blend into human tech, Laserbeak is notably faster than Soundwave, and can cut through the air like a blade. Six wings are used to accomplish this; able to hover when they are fully flared, and able to chase down spacecrafts when folded flush. These multiple wings also permit him to have exceptional maneuverability, cutting sharp angles and turns in an instant.
Sharp Wings: While they can't be used offensively against other Cybertronian, unless he tried to nip at fingers or something, the blades of Laserbeak's wings are sharp enough to shear through some human technology and lighter metals if rammed. Even if one of his wings are dented marginally from this, the others can compensate.
Lasers: What would Laserbeak be without lasers? Not a very fitting name is what. The avian Cassette has a twin set of guns attached to his underside, holding more oomph and power than his larger counterpart. These lasers can slice into medium armor with ease, and make a nasty sting on heavier plates, if not sear a decent hole.
Like Carrier Like...: Just like Soundwave, Laserbeak has a twin set of data cables that are able to maneuver things and upload information. Unlike Soundwave's, however, they aren't really good for much else unless you count perching on something. They can link into computer systems to turn him into a terminal for Soundwave to work through, permitting the Carrier to remotely hack. Laserbeak does not have the intelligence to hack alone without this guidance.
Weaknesses:
Delicate: For how big Laserbeak appears at a glance, he is actually surprisingly small and holds very little mass. It does not take much to snap a wing, which can catastrophically affect flying ability and hinder his overall functionality. Any gunshots unless it is the human calibers will take him down readily if someone is skilled enough to land a shot.
Unmistakable Whir: Laserbeak makes a recognizable sound that varies on how fast he is flying. At high speeds it is a near screaming shriek as he cuts through the air, while in smaller quarters it is a softer variation. For a spy oriented Cassette, it is a bit of a tattletale, but once perched he is silent.
Not Independent: Laserbeak has enough sentience to have his own thoughts and considerations, but they are all very primitive focused on survival or accomplishing a simple task. If Soundwave needs Laserbeak to infiltrate somewhere, he is more often than not controlling the Cassette or guiding it himself through the process.
Special Skills:
Pocket: When Laserbeak is attached to Soundwave's chest, he can fold away from his mass and create a pocket of space between them. Here, valuables can be stored that others can't readily thieve in any way.
Name/Alias: Zercon
CHARACTER INFO
Name: Soundwave
Age Equivalent: Early Thirties
Gender Equivalent: Male
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Decepticon
Original Occupation: ████████████████████████
Occupation/Specialization: Third in command to the Decepticon faction, and the eyes and ears of the cause. He is acting communications specialist and head of intelligence.
Appearance:
Facial Features: None, or more accurately, a solid black visor that can be used as a projection screen to depict graphs, icons, emblems, and other forms of imagery and glyphs for communication. This screen is a concave triangular shape, framed on either side by branching dark panels of armor that flare out to cover his jawline and acts as a throat guard. Above this screen sits a twin set of chevrons that are narrowed thin and spike like, one centralized right in the middle to shoot up with a trapezoid in its center, and the other flared out to continue the 'V' shape of his helm. A thin crest of a ridge trails from the middle mass, swooping to the back of his helm on what is otherwise a smooth shape banded with slightly varying shades of his primary colors.
When it comes to bio-lights, tiny pipelines of illumination crest on the upper edge of the larger chevron shape, as well as on the perimeter of his faceplate. Between his jaw guard and visor, also sits this same lighting, but it is broad, three angular shapes that further frame his features. Lastly, a trapezoid sits in the centermost point of the chevrons, leading to a tiny square right where a bridge of his nose would be if he had a face to speak of.
Physical Features: Atypical with a surreal flair of broad and narrow all at once, Soundwave skirts multiple lines of overall design to create his recognizable form. Upon first glance he appears fragile in a way, delicate sharp angles and narrow components that are countered by a broad chest and the occasional patch of armor. The most bizarre point of it all however are his arms. Soundwave's arms are bizarre when it comes to the vast majority of other Cybertronian due to the fact they will become his wings when he transforms. Slender, built of thin panels and plates, they can almost look more décor than truly functional. The upper limb branches past his narrow shoulder assembly, hooking into the air to cut a striking silhouette of a shape, while the lower limb folds past the elbow to extend the plating into a guard. Thin etches of bio-lights trail between the seams on the broad surfaces, leading down to his hands that tuck underneath a wrist guard at the bottom of the wing's edge. His fingers are slim, and that is putting it lightly, each hand destined for far more delicate work and fast processes on a keyboard. He has only three fingers and a thumb, the same magenta purple illumination peeking through the joints.
While his arms are exceptionally odd, his center mass and legs look far more in line with the norm in comparison. His aforementioned broad chest is triangular, with shoulders hiked high in raised sockets that can give him a mild hunching posture. There appears to be two definitive layers to his overall frame, with a base layer of black sheets and smooth curved plating, contrasted with panels of navy and charcoal latched overtop in an angular cage to protect the more fragile inner workings. Laserbeak meshes into the armor here on his chest, integrating so seamlessly one would never guess it was a cassette.
Soundwave’s lower limbs can look digitigrade at some angles, but are plantigrade with an offset knee. His upper legs are short, with armor clapped around them to protect, leading down to a large knee guard that flares up abruptly. The joint for his knee sits here, but the lower leg hooks back behind this to offset the angle and make the leg appear to crook forward. Sleek panels, limited details, there is only a flare to protect his ankle mechanisms before leading to sharp spear like peds that come to a dangerous point at the toe and heel.
His body is overall comprised of black armor clad with navy and charcoal plating. This outer plating does not hold any bio-lights but in contrast the black inner workings do. Everywhere that these layers are visible reveals a weaving web of illumination that pipe and jut across his frame like the circuits of a motherboard. The lighting is subtle, non intrusive, all weaving towards his central mass to collect just under his jaw where an orb of magenta lay nestled.
Altmode: MQ-9 Reaper
Sleek, spindly, and streamlined, plus some other perks befitting of a surveillance drone, makes it no surprise that the Reaper is Soundwave's choice for an earthly Alt-Mode. But while he took the human device's form, the propeller on the back is not in play. Where there was one a single propeller, nestles a Cybertronian engine, the black metal ringed in magenta lighting. This allows him to keep up with most other flyers, ((Instead of the slow 300mph of the propeller version)) though will never be able to keep up with the seekers if they were to go full tilt.
History:
Flat. A void. When individuals encounter Soundwave, it is hard to really know what it is they are dealing with. Rumors, tales, woven lies and truths all bundled together into a twisting miasma; it paints a picture from multiple angles. On one story you have a loyal soldier that once held great power on Cybertron's surface, acting as one of the council of 13 from days old, on the other you have a shadowed spy, moving with silence like a ghost to accomplish a task behind the backs of foes and friend alike, or maybe just a clerk or a drone that had gained sentience. A gladiator is a flicker of a rumor among these, while others don’t even paint him as ever having a past of any kind, one devoid of true sentience and not even being a true Cybertronian in his core. A tool, a prop, an icon used to instill fear and keep those that could have illusions of grandeur in line.
They are all ████ in one way or another.
Soundwave has been functional for a great deal of time, his past bleeding into the shadows as he does aboard the Nemesis in the most recent of days. What is known however, is the fact that he ████████████ and was a gladiator in the pits of Kaon, and it is there that he first crossed paths with Megatron. Back then, Soundwave had a good deal more armor and bulk than he does now, heavy plates protecting his frame from deadly damage in the ring. He moved with a fluid joining of grace and strength, an ability that nearly permitted him to defeat the prized gladiator. This act alone earned mutual respect, and started the foundation for his value for them to work long-term.
Having earned a place at Megatronus' side, Soundwave actively worked with him and Orion to further spread their ideals and speeches to the masses, playing an intrical part in letting them be heard by those that otherwise would be oblivious to the revolution that was hoped for. The older mech knew however what the end goal was, playing his fair share in the political games, and being able to see where Megatronus' was going from the onset. Soundwave was not surprised at the gladiators grab for power, and could only sit and watch as what should have been simple, became overly complex when Orion finally stepped forward.
The war began in full, and Soundwave's assistance morphed from one of strictly relays and communication, to ████ and ███████. He took an active role, performing a myriad of different tasks, from going with others to destroy the Iacon Energon Refinery to starve out those that opposed them, to being a guiding hand on missions to warn of incoming issues and exploitable angles of approach. His roles were varied, and he filled each one flawlessly, even at one point leading over Kaon's prison system where Zeta Prime was locked away. Through a series of chaos and the Autobot's attempts to rescue the Prime, Soundwave ended up █████████████████████████████████████.
Upon relocation to the Nemesis and his new station, Soundwave filled the role of head of communications among other tasks. He has made it his job to not only organize and keep the warship functional and monitored, but took a personal goal to track and hunt down every relay remotely relevant to the Autobots, in order to pinpoint their location for tactical strikes. This said, with Megatron out on a personal quest, and being under the command of Starscream, Soundwave filtered a lot of information aside to be used by their lord later on, deeming it not important to get the more easily riled second in command inspired into doing something hasty.
Once Megatron returned however, things moved swiftly then, many plots, many new tasks. The languid pace he had been functioning for three years was no more, and Soundwave applied himself to every request and command that came his way. He kept Starscream in line, and tracked down Agent Fowler for interrogation after he declared knowledge of the Autobot base. But while that particular endeavor resulted in no information gained from the human directly, Soundwave did figure out one key thing simply from WHERE the human was picked up.
The Autobots were in Nevada.
But then Megatron was seemingly killed, an outcome the spymaster refused to accept.
He played passive again, following Starscream's orders and playing along, until he found a flicker of a signal related to Megatron. With his lord's body was retrieved, still alive, he sent out an instant summons for Knock Out and his partner per Starscream's 'request', while keeping on high alert to monitor what happened next. Sabotage, plotting of deceit and murder, the two mechs tried to play Soundwave the fool, and he had none of it.
Thankfully, things resolved themselves in due time, and Megatron became functional once more, where Soundwave stepped forward to his job as always, ready to use what he knows against any that dare stand in his way.
Personality:
Soundwave is a reserved individual that does not seek interaction with others actively, and when he does it is for a tactical reason to accomplish a goal, or simply remind the other person that he is always listening and watching, and that they are to refrain from trying anything questionable. He acts as a permanent reminder to Decepticons that nothing goes unnoticed, and treachery on any level will be clipped down before it can even begin to bud in full. In a way, Soundwave has become the 'boogeyman' for both factions.
While he is physically capable of speaking, a permanent vow of silence has clipped Soundwave's voice away, further painting him as an emotionless, and hollow husk of an individual to fill the fearful role mentioned above.
However, he still feels things, of course. He can feel grief, and sadness, joy and amusement, but he just doesn't depict it in ways anyone but those closest to him can pick up, and... with a ship full of individuals ready to backstab for power? There really isn't anyone close to him to learn these traits. But for all his solitude, he holds an unwavering loyalty to Megatron, a loyalty that can seem near subservient to those that do not know better.
He will jump when asked, perform on cue, he will accomplish any goal set out before him by his leader, and will do so with precision and efficiency. Finding a Decepticon more loyal to Megatron and the cause is near impossible. But for all the implied servitude, he is smart enough to make his own decisions and conclusions, opting to follow because his ideals go hand in hand with those of his leader. This high level of intelligence means he is that much more dangerous, acting as an extension of the warlord's will.
Pragmatic: No tactic, no method, no action is too dishonorable and out of line as long as it gets the job done as efficiently and swiftly as possible. There is no time to dally, no time to stall, and no time for courtesy and abiding some invisible rules of interaction and war as far as Soundwave is concerned. He does what has to be done, and any method is acceptable if it produces results.
Vindictive: While his want for revenge isn't consuming, and he can stand beside someone he wishes to make disappear without complaint if the situation calls, Soundwave does take an individual's lack of worth and past actions into account. If their value ever fails, and they prove to be the liability he knows they are, he will happily dish out poetic justice to put them in their place.
Likes:
Silence: Not related to his vow of silence, a quiet environment is appreciated, and holds significant value. Namely this equates to places around the Nemesis, but Soundwave isn't so detached from the outside world he can't appreciate quiet elsewhere as well.
Decisive Action: Have a plan? Act on it? Good. Don't look back and follow through with it, only deviating if it will better the outcome. Hesitancies and faltering to second guess oneself is how individuals die.
Order: Things really should be where they are meant to be. While Soundwave is not obsessive about such things, and will not fiddle with other's belongings to line them up proper, he does appreciate smaller details. It conveys that someone has forethought and considers things to come instead of blindly living in the moment.
Dislikes:
Blind Servitude: While loyal soldiers are few and far between, loyal soldiers that appreciate the cause for what it is, and don’t just follow a prized gladiators shadow are diamonds. The vast majority of these seem to follow Megatron blindly, basking in his presence and taking his words as the voice of Primus in a way. While they can be used to further goals, their idiocy and ignorance is painful.
Braggarts: Good job. You accomplished what was asked of you, do you want a cookie? Too bad. Boasting, bragging, and preening ones metaphorical feathers is frivolous and pointless. It does nothing but further highlight an individual's insecurities and weakness.
Starscream: The jet plays his role, and fills some sort of twisted amusement for Megatron, but his value is limited. He is leader of the Armada, and a common annoyance. He technically can be smart, but acts too blindly and carelessly for Soundwave, and that’s ignoring the mech's treacherous ways which clash with the third in commands loyalty.
Strengths/Weapons:
Agility and Grace: Soundwave does not fight unless he is forced to, but when he does he couldn't be further from what you would expect from someone once upon a time labeled a gladiator. He moves decisively and smoothly, dodging strikes and attacks with as minimal motion as possible though can twist and spin around to deflect. It can appear almost dance like, but it keeps him near enough to counter, and throws off others more brutish tactics.
Firearms and Artillery: As standard for many Cybertronians, Soundwave has a small gun within his forearm that can be used when called upon. It isn't particularly powerful, his limb too narrow and thin to accommodate anything of real value, and as such cannot pierce heavier armor and may be challenged even by medium plating. It needs to be used tactically at weak points, and more often than not is a distraction more so than weapon. However, when he transforms into his alt-mode, it combines with other components within his main mass, and becomes a more capable system, able to pierce medium armors and some heavier ones. In addition, while his Alt-mode is CAPABLE of housing solid ammunition and missiles, he does not do so and would only bother under Megatron's command for a directive.
Shielding: While his forearms appear delicate and thin, able to be punched in and decimated by a hard enough strike, the fact of the matter this couldn't be further from the truth. The broad panels are heavily reinforced, and are capable of being used to block incoming strikes with unexpected efficiency. This harks back to his days of a gladiator, making sure that even though he does not intend to go out onto the battlefield, he still is more than capable of handling himself if a confrontation were to arise.
Data Cables: Extruding at either side under his 'ribcage', for lack of a better term, the data cables are dual purpose tools that can either be used for his job or for combat with ease.
• Data Transfer: Creating speedways for information, and used to link himself directly with the Nemesis or other computer systems, Soundwave can effortlessly process mass amounts of information far quicker than other connections. It links up with his systems and processor nearly directly, making all actions intuitive and 'organic'.Antennae Relay: A simple device nestled between his shoulder blades; it appears traditionally as an orb like mass with spines and protrusions sticking out of it. This piece of armor acts as a connection to the Nemesis, and other relays he hacks into to keep wirelessly updated on everything going on, and can be boosted if it is unfurled.
• Raw Strength: As long as he is properly rooted to the ground, and locks his spinal plates in place, he is capable of exerting immense torque and power through the data cables. The majority of their mass comprises of the mechanics to make this possible, with the slender copper and gold relays protected in their center. The cables have more physical power than his arms hold, and when push comes to shove he is not above exploiting this fact.
• Electrified: All the electrical information that can speed through the cables, can be supercharged to make it an actual attack. Spiraled open prongs on the ends of the cables, can deliver a devastating output of power that can knock smaller Cybertronian offline if contact is maintained long enough, or cause immense pain to those that are larger.
• Grip and Weapon: The prongs at the end of the cables can grip and maneuver objects with care, holding high enough dexterity due to a myriad of other small feelers that can extend. The smaller tendrils are fragile and delicate, but the larger trio of prongs are strong, able to rotate at high torque to create a makeshift drill to try to breach armors and cause damage.
Space Bridge Management: Being so ingrained into the systems of the Nemesis, and knowing its Space Bridge inside and out, Soundwave is capable of manipulating portals with efficient dexterity and finesse. The portals can be summoned anywhere at will, and may be manipulated to be turned horizontally, or even be moved while open and active. Moving the portals while open however requires focus and constant calculation and manipulation, meaning if his attention is pulled elsewhere, movement will halt or the portal will vanish entirely.
Sound Manipulation: Not only can he record and bend people's voices to use for his own communication if the moment calls for it, but he can create sounds to use as weaponry. Low frequency bellows, high-pitched screeching shrills, whatever is needed to induce pain and disorientation upon another. It won't leave long-term damage unless there is prolonged exposure, but it will make most individuals falter or flinch back.
Energon Efficiency: With his slow moving gait, calm mannerisms and efficient actions, Soundwave doesn't burn through Energon as readily as his far more animated counterparts. This allows him to go longer periods of time without fuel, and can permit him to survive stationary for a good deal of time
Weaknesses:
Exposed Wiring: Underneath Soundwave's shoulder assembly is a large void in which internal functions are visible, hydraulics, wires, pipelines and even a few spring like pieces bared to the outside world. If this area is cut into or damaged bad enough, his motor functions of that limb would cease to be. This same effect occurs on his hips as well, though is a bit more covered by his waist flaring.
Elbows: While he can take strikes to his forearms, and block incoming attacks, he moves his limbs to make sure they are capable of actually supporting such a blow. If an impact were to hit the side of his elbows without proper accommodation or angling it right, the fragile narrow joint can snap entirely. Comparing his limbs to swords is not a far assumption when it comes to durability, needing to have force exerted at the proper angle to hold up to wear and battle.
Lighter Armor: In days of old, he was a true gladiator. Heavy armor, bulky frame, mass that was built up to deliver his skill and speed with brawn and brutality. As time and roles have changed, and adaptation to a new role was needed, he has grown significantly lighter and more narrow, shedding away the excess to leave him as he is now. His armor no longer holds the heft it once had ((other than his arms)), and is susceptible to normal ammunition just like most others. This lightness also applies to his overall weight, able to be thrown or knocked over if he isn't rooted. Some points of him become near skeletal due to this, his hands being a main example. His hands are so thin to have exceptional dexterity, that he does not punch directly with them if he has to strike, and instead curls the fingers down to hit with the extended guard plate of his forearm. A hard impact can shatter the joints.
Data Cables: For all the boons and abilities the data cables hold, they have a few serious drawbacks. Every strength anyone holds can only go so far, and there is always a catch to make them as strong as they may seem from an outsider view.
• Rooted Deep: The two cables are embedded deeply into his frame to have the adaptability and strength that they do, locking into his core mass and branching off into multiple connector points. If these cables get snagged in something, or pulled, they cannot be detached to free him from the snare. If they do become ripped out or severed, the amount of data lines and controls within them would feedback and cause immense amounts of pain, more likely than not leading to a shutdown.Antennae Relay: The mass of satellite connectors here permit him to metaphorically speak to the Nemesis, and gifts him every technological boon that the great ship or other hacked into components can offer. However, if this is damaged in any way, he will be cut off entirely and unable to gain these benefits. This includes, but is not limited to, surveillance feeds, data transfers, and even the Space Bridge itself. Destroy this, and he becomes half blind and stranded.
• Feedback: Wired directly into his processor, and tapping into his electrical systems, the cores of the cables are highly conductive weak points. This means that electrical attacks can go both ways, and if the charge is too powerful to overwhelm an attempt to block it, it will surge directly into his system and knock him offline.
Environment Sensitivity: Being his armor is so thin, and overall mass is so narrow, temperatures can penetrate to inner workings a lot quicker than it can huskier built individuals. This means that if he is tasked to go out into the blasting chill of the arctic, he will succumb to shut down far quicker than others if the electrical generator in his torso can't combat it. In contrast, attacks based around fire or high temperatures will penetrate and start to melt uppermost connectors if he cannot pull away fast enough. He had to sacrifice insulating capabilities in order to be able to house everything else he can do and retain agility.
Laserbeak: While it is difficult to really classify from an outsider's view what exactly Soundwave feels about his cassette due to his reserved nature, what is apparent is that he does care for the small avian creature and will take actions to try to save him if he is put into direct threat. As long as the end goal is not compromised, Soundwave will drop what he is doing at any given moment, to be able to seek out his Cassette if he is put in danger, meaning that he has been known to turn his back upon an Autobot he otherwise could have killed.
Value: It is presumptuous and near arrogant to assume his true value to the Decepticons is a weakness, but it does play a role. Soundwave's skills mean that he is seldom sent out into the field for combat, and does not often get called to act out and perform a mission on his own. This means despite his skill and deadly ability, he is effectively a non issue on the field of battle 99% of the time.
Distrust: Seeing all he has, knowing what he knows, and the countless years of being disappointed at others has left its mark. Soundwave does not trust anyone to do what is right for the cause without his looming shadow behind them to act as a warning. He feels if he looks away for even a moment, someone like Starscream will scrabble for control like a power crazed animal. The only ones he trusts are his Cassettes, and Megatron.
Special Skills:
Intelligence: Having once been ████████████████████, and his long lifetime in active roles, Soundwave has a significant amount of experience and knowledge gained through the years he can pull from and instill upon others. He is smart, and not only in regards to communications and surveillance.
Experienced Hacker: There is very little that can stop Soundwave when he has a goal set before him. He can shear through firewalls and defenses like tissue paper, and zero in right to the information he requires for whatever outcome he has in mind. This is only challenged by heavily encrypted Autobot files, but even that just slows a task down to at most a week of dedicated work and effort.
Backup Files: Soundwave has a plan for nearly everything, and his own demise is no exception. The spymaster creates routine backup files of all the data and knowledge he knows, storing them ████████████. This means that if he is ever captured and has to crash his systems to revert himself to a clean slate ((That holds no information of value)), a Decepticon that knows where to locate the other backups can upload them to Laserbeak, or directly to Soundwave to return him to normal. As long as his body and spark remains intact, he can effectively be brought back from the 'dead'.
Silence: Soundwave can be alarmingly quiet, adding to his haunting reputation and allowing him to observe individuals when they aren't on their best behavior. Each step is soft and a light tap of a noise, allowing him to not only blend in with dark navy colors, but move like a ghost.
Extra Info:
What Came First? You don’t have to be exceptionally clever or observant to notice that the Decepticon icon looks strikingly similar to an adaptation of Soundwave's helm. Whether the icon was made to honor the most loyal of followers from the start of the rebellion, or if Soundwave modified his own crest to duplicate it is unknown, but whatever the case it just means that he is that much more ingrained into the faction as a whole.
Cassettes: It is no secret Soundwave has more than one Cassette, but their exact locations remain scattered. Rumble and Frenzy are ███████████████ while Ratbat is ████████. In addition ████████████████████████████████████.
Soundwave's Voice: Information gathering can be a delicate thing, and sometimes requires direct communications and a far more hands on approach... or... in this case a paws on approach. Ravage has served as a loyal counterpart to the voiceless mech for many years, and holds the honor of being one of the few that Soundwave trusts in full. They share a Gestalt Bond, meaning their sparks are in tune with one another making a weak link over immeasurable distances. This was a bond created out of convenience, need, and through like minded approaches, and while made rather quickly all things considered due to the threat of death to one, it was not made lightly. As much of a risk as it could have ended up however, it worked out beneficial to them both, and Ravage has been tasked to perform missions and jobs Soundwave is unable to do on his own.
Through their link, they are able to know the general direction where the other resides, and can pick up on emotional cues and general status. Direct communication through said connection is impossible though, words and phrases lost through the void between them, but with practice and time, they are still able to convey much by just the smallest ripples of notions. If one of the pair is injured badly, the link will snitch to the other instantly, so that something can be done about it before things escalate. If one does happen to die however, the feedback to the survivor can be catastrophic. While Soundwave would survive the ordeal, there would be a wound in Ravage's wake, enfeebling his spark.
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CHARACTER INFO
Name: Laserbeak
Species: Cybertronian Cassette
Appearance:
Simplistic to a fault, Laserbeak does not resemble any earthly creature enough to be compared. He has a small, elongated triangular body, with a tiny magenta screen on the front that acts like his eyes. Branching away from this modest central core, are six broad paneled wings that spread out in a ragged display. Angular and sharp, the centermost wings hook at the ends like scythes, while a spiked branch protrudes mid way down to add stability. Fanned at the back of his body, are a few sharp panels that extend out, that will flick and flare open if needed to act like a makeshift tail. Nestled in the center of all of this, is a purple Decepticon emblem.
Personality:
Not seeming to have a personality of his own, Laserbeak is more akin to a tool, but does have some basic sentience to be able to avoid danger and recognize ill will towards it. Comparing his intelligence to a canine is too much though, as he is not able to problem solve without assistance.
Strengths/Weapons:
Speed: With a paneled body that is decisively Cybertronian with no attempts to blend into human tech, Laserbeak is notably faster than Soundwave, and can cut through the air like a blade. Six wings are used to accomplish this; able to hover when they are fully flared, and able to chase down spacecrafts when folded flush. These multiple wings also permit him to have exceptional maneuverability, cutting sharp angles and turns in an instant.
Sharp Wings: While they can't be used offensively against other Cybertronian, unless he tried to nip at fingers or something, the blades of Laserbeak's wings are sharp enough to shear through some human technology and lighter metals if rammed. Even if one of his wings are dented marginally from this, the others can compensate.
Lasers: What would Laserbeak be without lasers? Not a very fitting name is what. The avian Cassette has a twin set of guns attached to his underside, holding more oomph and power than his larger counterpart. These lasers can slice into medium armor with ease, and make a nasty sting on heavier plates, if not sear a decent hole.
Like Carrier Like...: Just like Soundwave, Laserbeak has a twin set of data cables that are able to maneuver things and upload information. Unlike Soundwave's, however, they aren't really good for much else unless you count perching on something. They can link into computer systems to turn him into a terminal for Soundwave to work through, permitting the Carrier to remotely hack. Laserbeak does not have the intelligence to hack alone without this guidance.
Weaknesses:
Delicate: For how big Laserbeak appears at a glance, he is actually surprisingly small and holds very little mass. It does not take much to snap a wing, which can catastrophically affect flying ability and hinder his overall functionality. Any gunshots unless it is the human calibers will take him down readily if someone is skilled enough to land a shot.
Unmistakable Whir: Laserbeak makes a recognizable sound that varies on how fast he is flying. At high speeds it is a near screaming shriek as he cuts through the air, while in smaller quarters it is a softer variation. For a spy oriented Cassette, it is a bit of a tattletale, but once perched he is silent.
Not Independent: Laserbeak has enough sentience to have his own thoughts and considerations, but they are all very primitive focused on survival or accomplishing a simple task. If Soundwave needs Laserbeak to infiltrate somewhere, he is more often than not controlling the Cassette or guiding it himself through the process.
Special Skills:
Pocket: When Laserbeak is attached to Soundwave's chest, he can fold away from his mass and create a pocket of space between them. Here, valuables can be stored that others can't readily thieve in any way.
Hard Drive: Effectively a thumb drive with wings, Laserbeak can hold a significant amount of data in his core. This includes Soundwave's backup files if things were to go awry.
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