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Banshee

The name or term Banshee refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Banshee (disambiguation).
“ Ich bin Banshee von Trypticon... and this is my city. ”

BANSHEE is not the average Decepticon, if such a thing ever existed. Honourable, artistic, and with a passion for opera, Banshee is more cultured than most of her kin, painting portraits of her commanders and singing opera in her spare time. Her anachronistic Ju-87 altmode is surprisingly effective in the modern warzone, superior in agility to most jets in a dogfight, though of course she's much slower. Banshee packs a punch, carrying 250kg and 50kg bombs, R4M incendiary rockets, two Bordkanone 27mm cannons and a rear-facing 7.62mm machine gun, eschewing energy weapons in favour of old-fashioned cannons and bombs 'from a more noble era'. Unfortunately, her focus on agility and punch leaves little spare weight in her frame for armour, meaning she goes down easily... if you can hit her. In robot mode specially modified vocal subsystems, originally designed to grant her perfect pitch and an enormous range for opera singing, have been turned into the fearsome, shattering scream that gives her the name Banshee -- systems she can use in both modes.

Banshee is also the presenter (and main driving force) of the Decepticon Propaganda Network, often playing Die Stadtorgel live, giving weather reports (with special care taken to note the winds for the flyers) and, of course, announcements from Megatron.

Due to the damage done when Trypticon attacked Iacon - and the subsequent removal of his control collar, a latent gift has been awakened in Banshee's spark and she now serves him, apprenticed to Windblade, training to become a Cityspeaker.

Description

Banshee is a tall, somewhat 'shapely' Femicon, with a sharp, authoritarian style. Her anachronistic altmode is made obvious by the folded wings of the Ju-87 Stuka on her back, and the fact that her head is the engine, gearbox, and propeller - the blades of which are folded, almost looking like pigtails. 

Her face is found between the two heads of the Junkers Jumo 213 engine - its inverted-V design forming the perfect place for it. She has red eyes, with the Junkers Motorwerken logo below her left eye as one might find the fleur-de-lis on a warrior-nun, and she's most commonly found with a pair of purple-tinted goggles pushed up onto her forehead with the straps dangling down on either side of her face - obviously held there magnetically. The straps wouldn't fit around her head anyway, due to its unusual shape. In addition to the Junkers logo, Banshee's face has been whitened and marked with red swirls around her eyes, marking her as a CitySpeaker. The metalwork of her face is actually stained and anodised quite deeply by the markings, much deeper than just her Junkers stamp.

Her is head supported on a thick, cog-ringed neck and several hydraulic cylinders- an archaic, out-dated pattern that she seems to prefer.

Her shoulders are formed from the engine cowling of her Ju-87 altmode, and lead to arms that, in her alt-mode, become the cranked base of inverted gull-wings and spatted undercarriage. She has long, slim fingers, unsuited for carrying weight or hard manual labour- not that she'd do much of that /anyway/...

Her torso is suitably 'endowed' and shapely, leading to slightly wide hips and long legs that terminate in high heeled feet. Her knee joints are, apparently, particularly attractive compared to most

BansheeHead

Attendants

Banshee has her own (themed) team of three Gumby attendants. As well as being excellent singers in their own right, the three help Banshee maintain her rather specialist ammunition stocks, as well as obtaining for her the very best refined energon whiskeys and brandies. They echo her Germanic styling.

Unteroffizier (Corporal) Sprocket is the smallest of the three. He is perhaps twelve feet tall when walking on two legs, and his altmode is an SdKfz 2, more commonly known as a Kettenkrad. As well as the smallest, Sprocket is the strongest of the three, able to haul long trains of bombs, shells, bullets, rockets and fuel between the ammo dumps and Banshee's revetment. His first response to danger is to try and get the supplies he considers his responsibility out of danger. He operates as Banshee's Ordonnanz, or Batman.

Gefreiter (Private 1st class) Hannah and Flieger (Private) Magnus are a mini-combiner pair. Together, they form an SdKfz 251/17 Schützenpanzerwagen (2 cm) "Hanomag" half-track, configured as a light anti-aircraft gun. Individually relatively weak, when combined they can tow Banshee around, if she is unable to move under her own power for any reason and they are armed with a 20mm KwK 30 flak gun. When danger threatens, they cover Sprocket's escape, or work to allow Banshee to take to the air and confront the threat..

History

Pre-MUX History

Banshee was, once, one of the many generic legions of Seekers, assigned to Megatron as he pursued the Ark - her perfect pitch and singing ability were the only defining feature that set her apart from the others; not important, in the grand scheme of things. Somehow, her stasis chamber was knocked loose and remained buried under Germany, until she woke up during the late 1930s. Unable to pick up any Decepticon signals - or any Cybertronian signals at all - and dangerously low on energon, Banshee joined the Junkers production line. Assuming the form of a Stuka to remain hidden and only surviving at all thanks to the fuel she was given to fly to her squadron, Banshee flew for Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2) Immelmann, flown by a barely-competent crew whose colleagues (thanks to her assistance) thought them gifted, while waiting to hear from others of her kind. As the war progressed, Banshee's crew began to pick up on certain little hints that she wasn't what she seemed, and by 1943, they were keeping her secret from their commanders. By 1944, the rest of StG2 Immelmann were keeping her a secret from the rest of the Reich. Ironically, had she been found out it is likely she would have survived and joined Axis and Blitzkrieg in flying for the Luftwaffe in her own right.

After the False Reich was defeated, she powered herself down to hide. Her crew had a plan - their last act, before retiring to civilian life, was to have Banshee sent to the Imperial War Museum - to hide, as Cybertronians always have, in plain sight.

To this day, the night guards of the War Museum in London speak of hearing opera at night, around the Luftwaffe exhibit; legend states it's a ghost. It's not, though it might as well have been. Low on power, Banshee was unable to transmit out to her comrades, though she could hear them again, and sang of her loneliness every night. As the signals grew stronger, She gathered the last of her strength, preparing to try and contact her people one last time...

MUX History

In 2013, the Imperial War Museum in London underwent a major building redevelopment, transforming the museum to mark the Centenary of the First World War. As part of the renovations, Banshee was moved out of the vault. Receiving signals from active Decepticons, Banshee used some of her last energon to transform, where she was assisted by Mistress Armada, Slugfest, and a German museum worker to refuel and return to the Decepticons. She took part in the fight against the Quintessons soon after.

Banshee cityspeaker

08Sep2013 - Nightlash, following some errant Heavy Metal radio broadcasts, encountered the Decepticons Banshee and Rainmaker. Suspiscions between Rainmaker and Nightlash were high. However, there was only tense dialogue as Nightlash tried to find out the current Decepticon agenda. Rainmaker, however, refused to divulge any information on the matter and the two parted ways.

In 2017, Banshee and Acid Storm came up with a plan to target the Witwicky family for destruction -- perhaps ironically, to save the human race.

In 2018, Banshee was instrumental in the capture of Windblade and was promoted for her efforts.

In 2022, Floodlight promoted Banshee to Hauptmann (Captain).

Logs/Reports

2013

Aug 28 - Reportink for duty!

Sleeping Banshee

Banshee appears onscreen, freshly painted and repaired. She seems to be in the training room of Trypticon.

"Guten Tag. I am Banshee, formerly known as one of ze many, ze innumerable legions of Seekers we, er, used to have." She coughs. "As you can see, I no longer fit the description of a Seeker.
When... whatever happened to the Nemesis happened, I was shaken loose. Awaken durink ze 1930s, I hid amongst ze humans, adopting a new altmode. One I have found to be most effective."
Cut to a piece of black-and-white footage of a Ju-87 Stuka. The words on the plane's engine cowling make it clear who it is - Banshee. In some really nice editing, the footage fades smoothly into a video of her current look - she's wearing a variant of the German Home Defense livery, a smooth olive-green with yellow wingtips, nose, elevators and rudder, flying in the training room. Her Third Reich insignia is gone, replaced with Decepticon tags.
"Ze Junkers Ju-87 stuka. Ridicule me for retaining zis altmode if you vish, but first before you cast judgement, observe."
In the footage, she pulls a half-roll and dives, the sirens on her wings screaming as she lays a 250kg bomb square onto the top of the first training drone's head.
The image cuts to an image of her letting fly with the newly-installed R4M rockets, saturating a cluster of training drones with flame. As a Seeker-type drone flies at her with guns flying, but she banks hard - showing off her superior maneuverability to the far-faster jet. She sits herself on its tail and fills the jet full of 27mm fire before it can turn around. Finally she drops a 50kg bomb on another cluster of Autobot drones, dropping to the ground and transforming.
She starts to sing, a pure A-note as her moth-like wings spread to their fullest width, fresh R4M rockets appearing from subspace onto their racks. "Ich gebe zu, das Geschenk der Tod vom Himmel!" She sings, spreading her arms as the R4M rockets launch, nerbelwerfer-style - sounding almost like a church organ as the eight warheads whistle from their racks. The camera tracks them as they arc through the air to finish off the group that she'd previously bombed.
She steps smoothly towards the camera, smoothly wiping soot from her shoulders with a soft smile.
"As you can see, I am a capable airframe. Ja, modern Dusenmotor are faster, but you will be hard-pressed to find a modern airframe zat can carry as much hardvare as me in this compact a space, unt I have superior agility to your average seeker."
She salutes. "I look forward to fighting Quintesson unt Autobot abschaum with you. Auf Wiedersehen! Banshee out!"

8/31 - "The Final Phase"

Approach

The Quintesson Sevax is being put on trial for incompetence. He allowed a Decepticon to escape captivity and damage one of their Space Bridges. In retaliation, the Quintessons have chosen to advance their plans to the final phase.

2017

Jun 09 - Insecticon Verschwörungen im Norden

BansheeLogo

Banshee's custom Luftwaffe-styled Decepticon eagle appears, followed by Banshee's face. She looks pretty beat up, with the exhausts on one side of her engine/head black and sooty.

"Guten Abend, Kommandeure und Führer." She snaps off a sharp salute, despite her battle damage. "I was out on rovink patrol today... zer simple north pole loop. I voz strugglink mit der vinds when I spotted somesink... upon movink to get a closer look I caught sight of two unknown insecticons unt Snaptrap... during vhot appeared to be ein prisoner exchange or meeting." She sags slightly. "Unfortunately, I vos not able to get further information due to beink discovered. Zey fired upon me unt I made to attack, however zer three of zem fired upon me unt... vell, I am not zer toughest airframe, unt heavily outnumbered I decided to vithdraw unt bring mein information back. I enclose ein sketch of zer two insecticons, and ein sketch of zer rough scene as I came upon it.

She straightens, and delivers a very politically incorrect salute. "Heil Megatron!"

Decepticon Spinny.

Banshee's sketches show off that she is a very good artist. There are busts of Flashfire and Underfoot, and actually they look pretty good. The third sketch shows Snaptrap removing some kind of collar from around the neck of Flashfire while Underfoot waits to greet her, rendered from about 500ft up and 3/4 of a mile away. Banshee's wing is in the bottom of the scene, and somehow the whole scene portrays a slight motion, as if the viewer were flying at around 350mph.

Checklist
Chat

September 11 - "Decepticon Royal Rumble"

Infighting continues among the Decepticons.

October 27 - "A Quiet Storm"

The beginnings of a beautiful friendship...

November 01 - "Imploring Shockwave"

Acid Storm and Banshee bring their proposal to Shockwave.

12 November - "Banshee Unt Viper"

Viper visits Banshee at her revetment outside DHQ.

November 29 - "Ideas Presented"

Acid Storm and Banshee present their ideas to Shockwave.

December 18 - "Attack on Autobot City"

The Decepticons launch an attack on Autobot City.

Dec 19 - Operation Vengeance results

The Luftwaffecon crest appears.

BansheeLogo

It is replaced by the blond-haired, pale-skinned form of Banshee's pilot hologram, taken from the centre of her front console. Heavy damage can be seen on her tailplane through the windows, several of which are broken. She's also leaving a fairly steady trail of black smoke behind her.

"Reportink mission success!" Banshee says, cheerfully, turning so the camera can see Metroplex behind her, his command centre and repair bay, still trailing smoke. "Zer flash-pak performed as advertised, unt all three I was issued vere expended durink zer mission. Zer first vun struck zer repair bay, Metroplex' defensive batteries shot down zer second, vhile zer third took several hits but impacted zer command centre unt ignited. I don't know if it did zo at full power. I do not know if any of zer vitvicky family voz in zer facility at zer time, but if zey vere, it is unlikely zat zey vould able to survive. Even if zey did not perish, Führer Megatron's message has been delivered. Further vengeance strikes against other troublesome facilities unt individuals in zer coming months may not be a bad idea. Zat is all. Heil Megatron!"

Banshee banks away from Metroplex, then the Decepticon insignia re-appears.

Dec 20 - This is a Decepticon Propaganda Network broadcast for: Humanity!

Banshee adds her carrot to Megatron's stick.

2018

Feb 10 - Zer Luftwaffecons are Recruiting!

Usually, between shows the Decepticon Propaganda Network's broadcasts show advertisements for weapons and luxuries, like most other channels - though of course with a more militaristic tendency than more 'open' channels.

DPN Testcard
Occasionally, however, it's begun showing one that takes up the entire break. It begins with a marching drum beat that slowly builds into a rousing opera, praising Megatron and the Decepticons. As the opera builds, the picture fades from black to images of the recent Decepticon strike against Autobot City and other operations, focussing primarily on Banshee. Then the camera focuses on Luftwaffecon HQ, panning down past the big concrete flak tower to focus on the hangar, proudly displaying red flags bearing the Decepticon sigil in purple and white, and Banshee's mural of the great Decepticons across the main doors. The music fades a little as Banshee steps into view.

"Guten Tag, andere Decepticons." She says, with a slight bow. Captain's bars grace her 'collar' now, at the corners of her windscreen surround. "It hast come to mein attention zat mit zer increase in rescources ve are now enjoying viz Cybertron's renewal, many of us are now applicable for re-assignment of our alt-modes. I know zat zer current generation of vehicles hast many very good options, should you be vanting to change, but I vould like to show you a generation off shapes zat many overlook. I am talking about zose of zer second great var. I myself am exceedingly fond of zer Ju-87 Stuka zat I adopted for survival reasons back in zer 1930s unt 40s. Ja, I do not haff zer ability to jack zer sound barrier like some of you modern Kampfjets... but how long does it take Kampfjets to turn around?"

The image shows Banshee and an unknown Seeker training. The Seeker attempts to energy-fight, making high-speed passes on Banshee; she seems to dance around his firepower, dodging most of his shots - and every time he passes her, she deploys her dive-flaps and swings herself around on his tail, filling him full of 27-mm cannon fire. Although damaged, she wins the fight.

"Unt mit zat said, zere are several options with Düsentriebwerke, if turbines are to your tastes, from a variety of nations. I mein self am, of course, biased towards Deutschland"

The picture is replaced with a picture of the Me-262 - Blitzkrieg, in fact. It is followed by an Arado AR-234, a Gloster Meteor and a de Havilland Vampire. A P-80 completes the scene as Banshee continues talking.

"However I invite you to try zer instant power response unt surprising load capacity of zer verbrennungsmotor; I myself can carry more zan a third again more payload zan any similarly-sized kampfjet, vithout any detriment to mein turnink ability. Join zer Luftwaffecons. Bring ein new dimension of varfare to zose who would oppose our benevolent conquest of zer galaxy - history!"

The scene fades to black with more rousing music, then regular programming resumes.

April 17 - "Attack on the Metal Plains"

The Decepticons are at it again, launching a massive campaign in an attempt of take over the manufacturing base of the newly-revitalized Cybertron. Only Elita's squad of plucky Autobots can stop Shockwave's relentless march to the west from Helex.

Apr 21 - Report from Trucial Abysmia

BansheeLogo

Banshee appears on screen, apparently sat in a massive deck-chair on a Trucial Abysmian airfield, sipping from a small container of something. Hannah, Magnus, and Sprocket are visible behind her, building a model prisoner-of-war camp out of sand.

"Führer Megatron, Decepticon Befehl. König Mohammed ist serious about his offer to become part of zer Empire." She reports. "He considers Cobra to be veak, unt ven he asked vot zer Decepticons could offer his country, I told him plainly - ve vould, if ve veren't busy vith other crises, respond to attacks against him unt his country. I told him zat ve haff bigger concerns, such as zer distinct possibility of Unicron's return, or vorse, zat may delay or prevent response... essentially, zat ve vould treat his land as any other part of zer Empire. Zis pleased him."

She smiles, sipping her drink. "Unt if zis is any indication of zer quality of ze fuels here, I am impressed. I suggest ve send some of our more... personable soldiers to patrol here occasionally... fly zer flag, so to speak, and send formal treaties to be signed unt finalize everysing to zer point vhere not even Earth's byzantine laws can give zer Autobots a path to unseating us. I alzo suggest ve start looking into zer local population, find ourselves a few mechanically-gifted engineers unt start training zem to assist our medical staff. Vith, er, friendlier medics, of course. Not some of zer... more var-veary, shall ve say. Humans are not a species zat responds well to coercion - trust me, I lived vith them for a long time. Be gentle vith zem; zey are as independent, proud, unt inventive as ve are, despite ze inferior physical form unt short lifespan... zer very traits zat make zem hard to..." She searches for the right word a moment. "Domesticate, shall ve say, are vot make zem such a good subject race."

"I vould alzo like permission to put zese three flag designs before King Mohammed, to become the new official Trucial Abysmian flag. Zat is all."

Three variants of the Trucial Abysmia flag appear on-screen. In each one, the Decepticon insignia has been placed, prominently but not to the point of vulgarity.

The Luftwaffecon crest re-appears, and the screen goes blank.

2019

  • September 14 - "Brandishing the Banshee" - Starlock gets her chance to talk to Banshee about what they may be able to do

to convince Megatron to play the political game.

2020

  • 3/11 - "Disgruntled" - A day after the explosion over the communlink, everything is oddly

moving forward as if it's a normal day, with Leozak reporting to Deathsaurus.

Mar 26 - Bedlam

This is a sound-only recording. In place of any visuals, there's just a static picture of the main stage at the Harmonex opera house, with Solus singing on stage. Music begins playing, some kind of harp-like instrument. The singers are not Solus; it's hard to tell who is singing at first, but the slight Germanic inflection on some of the Cybertronian words gives it away as Banshee. There are two primary 'voices' - a narrator figure sung with her natural contralto, and a deeper, baritone Warden.

The Narrator explains how an asylum was built near a crossroads of two cities, before the war. Those sent there were monsters, some of them thought incurable. At first the song is hopeful and light… the Warden proudly boasting how the first patients will be released soon. But over time he grows pessimistic, and as the narrator grows more mournful, she tells how the warden starts to worry about the Asylum destroying cybertron. At this point, Banshee adds three more voices whose entire job seems to be a faint wail of lament, adding even more to the mournful turn of the song.

The Warden never clarifies as to whether it's the patients or the asylum itself, but he is ignored. He grows louder and ever more desperate. He even becomes violent, until suddenly...


...the Asylum falls silent, goes dark. There are rumours of disappearances around the area - nothing ever concrete, of course. But even the Turbofauna avoid the place - the old, haunted Asylum.

After several seconds of silence, Banshee's soft voice jolts one back to the present. "Zis is a fragment of an unknown opera, written around the time the Var broke out. Ve do not know zer name of zer opera, only the name of this one piece. 'Bedlam'. Be careful around old asylums, ja?"

The Decepticon Propaganda Network jingle plays, and the recording ends.

4/15 - "IRC LOG: Creeper"

Sometimes the internet gets weird.

May 17 - "Returning Deathsaurus to Darkmount"

Deathsaurus is returned to Polyhex; Leozak and Ghost talk.

Jun 22 - State of Trypticon

Banshee appears on-screen. Behind her is what appears to be the pipe stack of a baroque symphonic organ. "Trypticon's recovery from zer collar continues, at a slow but steady pace." She says. "His solar collectors are fully deployed and we are expecting to completely fill his critical reserve tank with energon by the end of the month. Once that is complete and levels are stable, ve vill begin filling his primary and secondary tanks. I expect him to be fully ready for battle by ze end of zer year."

"To aid in his recovery, and that of Cybertron, I have constructed the first large-scale musical project since hostilities commenced. I call it "Die Stadtorgel", or 'The City-Organ' in English. It is, I believe, zer largest symphonic organ on Cybertron, if not in zer galaxy, plumbed throughout his form, unt able to be played from here in zer command centre."

She smiles, and turns to the camera. "I have a space set aside for a concert hall - Decepticon architects, this is your first alert. A full design brief will be released shortly, because a project of this scale, the first real Concert Hall since zer var broke out, MUST be opened to all the architects of Cybertron... but you will get first look"

Her smile turns proud now. "And the final touch - I note, zis is entirely untested, but... if I haff done my designs right, it should provide Trypticon's Kaiju mode mit ein sonic weapon, should someone musically-inclined be at zer console...."

July 29 - "Ill Omen Crypt Keeping"

SCiEnCE! has determined that a trip to the crypts deep below Polyhex is needed to continue the effort to return Omen to capacity in her original or another full frame.

  • August 28 - "Treachery among Friends" - Omen puts pieces together and realizes the depth of the treachery surrounding Starlock and the Combaticons situation.
  • Nov 12: "Decisions Made" - Ghost goes to Trypticon to talk to Banshee about the Combaticons issue. Trypticon weighs in. Afterwards, a moment is taken as she's convinced to take a rest.
  • December 21 - "Con Chatter" - Something bad happens in Ky-Alexia.

Dec 23 - Weihnachtsgrüße von Banshee!

A sub-basement under Die Flakturm
Luftwaffecon HQ, Tarn
December 23rd, 23:45
Music: https://youtu.be/z0wK6s-6cbo

German heavy metal plays over the speakers. Sprocket steps back away from the stil, shutting off the gas and hurrying back behind the blast shield. The still shudders, venting a plume of avgas-scented steam from an emergency vent, through the space he's just vacated. At the still control station, behind another blast shield, Banshee frantically works to vent the overpressure in a semi-controlled manner, routing it up to Die Flakturm's heating exhaust system.

In another sub-basement, hearing the rumbling, Hannah and Magnus shut off the heating system, to make sure that the steam, saturated with aviation gasoline vapour, doesn't reach the heating system and cause an explosion.

Back in the still room, the jury-rigged still clatters and rumbles a few times before falling silent, pressures returning to safe levels. Cautiously, sprocket steps forward with an empty shot-cube, pouring off the first measure from the freshly-distilled Benzin.

Banshee tests it to make sure it's not (too) toxic, and then necks it back. She stiffens, half-gasps, and coughs, once.

Sprocket leans forward "Wie ist das Benzin?" He asks, nervously. The subtitles read 'How is the Benzin?'

"Es ist perfekt." Banshee rasps, looking a little emotional. "Wie ich es früher mit Gunter und Hans gemacht habe." She sniffs. Subtitles: 'it is perfect. Like I used to make with Gunter and Hans.'

Banshee's friends, senior officers, and newcomers to the Decepticon ranks each receive a small keg of the Benzin, shaped like a stamped metal gasoline can, painted the same olive drab as Banshee's frame, with a blue stripe. It is marked with the Luftwaffecon eagle, a warning triangle, and warnings in several languages that the contents are flammable, and listing the estimated potence. Megatron's can is, of course, the largest.

A note tied to the handle with purple ribbon reads "Weihnachtsgrüße - Banshee, Trypticon, Sprocket, Hannah & Magnus" in cursive script. They will be delivered at 00:01 on Christmas day.

The Benzin itself is not the best engex in the world. It is, in fact, quite the opposite - a rough, home-brewed moonshine, pale blue in hue and reeking of leaded aviation gasoline. It gives off a faint pale blue vapour if allowed to get warm. It is potent battlefield moonshine.

The back of the note explains that this is the engex that Banshee and her crew learned to distil from her fuel rations during the Human War, back in 1943.

2021

  • February 7 - "Bug Hunt" - Cyclonus leads a team under Kalis to wipe out the remaining transorgs around the Dweller's hibernation chamber.
  • February 07 - "Summoned by Megatron" - Megatron gives orders concerning Ibex.
  • March 12 - "Ibex Incursion" - Valour leads the Decepticons in a strike to take over Ibex itself well before the deadline he, himself, had set. The Autobots scramble, the defenses they had worked on now being put to the test.

May 16 - Trypticon R&R Request

To: Megatron, Valour
CC: Other Relevant Decepticons (Ghost, etc)

Subj: Altihex Storm/Trypticon R&R Request.

The message begins with Banshee seated formally at Trypticon's console, looking a little awkward. She clears her throat. "Sirs. I know this is going to sound like an unusual request, but... I vould like to request permission to bring Trypticon down planet-side to Altihex during zer storm. I... do not haff any tactical reason for zis, I just... vell, I think he vill enjoy it, and enjoy vatching zer Storm Dancers." She shrugs, before continuing. "It vould be nothing more than rest and relaxation for him. I feel it vould help him recover further, and after... after his last bttle, I feel he could to mit a bit of a pep-up. Ve did not expect to face Fortress Maximus UNT Metroplex together." Bansee pauses. "Thank you for your time."

May 24 - Re: Re: Trypticon R&R Request

The message is hand-written and then digitized.

Mein furher. Before I proceed, rest assured - your orders vill be followed. I just wish to offer extra information, and... mein own perspective as Stadtsprecher.

I believe we can use any possible Autobot aggression to our advantage; if you were to reconsider, I would announce, loudly, that Trypticon merely intended to watch the storm, peacefully. I do not indend to haff him do anything other than sit down there... if the Autobots attack, it vill be a propaganda victory. I vill immediately vithdraw Trypticon to orbit, and we can publicize the footage on all networks, and it will draw many of those... undecided individuals to our cause.

Banshee signs the message in her cursive script, Banshee von Trypticon.

  • 6/24 - "The Rules" - Banshee discusses the current situation with Trypticon.

Jul 05 - Rules for Conduct with Trypticon

The DPN test-card is shown on screen, then Banshee appears on screen, standing in Trypticon's command centre. "With the recent... changes in leadership, things are... difficult. Therefore, I feel we must lay down some rules for future interactions with and aboard him. These rules are for your safety, and my sanity as Trypticon's Cityspeaker." Banshee bows slightly.

The DPN test-card re-appears before the screen goes black. Then, the following text appears on screen

Trypticon's Rules:
1) There is to be no fighting aboard Trypticon. If fighting breaks out, all participants will be spaced, regardless of rank, unless there is a clear aggressor, in which case it is they who will be spaced.
2) Trypticon serves the Empire. He will not be deployed to help decide who leads, should a disagreement in who is Fuhrer arise. He serves the Reich - not personality cults.
3) Music time is important. It is, one might say, sacred. If die Stadtorgel is playing, I am either playing to calm Trypticon, or teaching him to play. For your own safety, do not interrupt music time unless it is an emergency.

Oct 29 - You Are Cordially Invited...

This message goes out on all the major channels.

Banshee appears on screen, in front of a set of ornate double doors. Her Cityspeaker markings are picked out in shining silver, and she has applied gold leaf to her Junkers mark. She smiles widely.

"Guten tag! Decepticons, Autobots, Neutrals, humans, and anyone else who is hearing! You are cordially invited to the inaugural musical gala at Stadttheater Trypticon, in Ultrix. All are welcome and we, that is to say Trypticon and myself, personally guarantee the safety of all who intend to visit."

The picture changes to show teasers of the theatre, panning up the fluted columns and showing a few of the boxes. Banshee's voice continues. "Please do not come if you can not hold your temper with those whose views differ from yours; this is a musical performance, not a brawl, and those who try to disrupt proceedings will be facing Trypticon's wrath. And as we all know, he has plenty of that to spare."

The view cuts back to Banshee. "This will be the first public performance of die Stadtorgel, Cybertron's largest artificial musical instrument - a massive symphonic organ plumbed throughout Trypticon's entire form."

She smiles, the view fading to show Trypticon in the large Ultrix Amphitheatre, the morning sunlight glinting off a few visible pipe-stacks.

Nov 06 - DPN broadcast: In memory of Ultrix

The DPN test card, darker and more subdued than usual appears on screen, without its usual jaunty militaristic jingle.

Banshee follows it. She's in the studio aboard Trypticon, and there are three thick strips of black velvet marked, one marked with the Decepticon symbol, another marked with the Autobot symbol, and the third left blank and unadorned behind her.

"I vish I could begin this broadcast like any other, with a simple 'guten abend' but I feel that would be an insult to those who fell at Ultrix late last night. It is not a good evening for us here at the Decepticon Propaganda Network. Ve, like many of you at home, are hurting. Trypticon himself barely avoided the attack, and has taken minor damage as a result. Rest assured, Trypticon is being repaired and will be fighting fit shortly."

Banshee gives a half-smile at the 'good' news, then sighs, looking down at her desk for a moment to collect her thoughts. "To zose who have lost loved ones, who have lost their homes, I am sorry, for I can not offer you comfort, I can not be a shoulder to vent upon; I am a Decepticon - ze only solace I can offer you are two simple promises."

Banshee takes another moment to collect her thoughts. "The first: Trypticon and I will remember the names of all who were murdered at Ultrix. Whether they were Autobot, Decepticon, or Neutral is irrelevant... they will be remembered. And my second promise - I swear by Trypticon's burning rage, zey vill be avenged."

Banshee stands up, fury visible in her optics. "Zey came here to watch Trypticon make music, they came here with peace in their hearts and they were murdered! I do not care about alignment, zey vere our audience. Zey did not deserve this; they came when they had no need to trust Trypticon, to trust me, and yet they came and because of that they were murdered. I can not bring zem back," Her voice cracks a little. "Primus knows I vish I could. But by Trypticon's burning, endless rage, I swear can ensure zat zey are avenged, and remembered."

The darkened, subdued test card re-appears for a moment, and the transmission ends.

2022

Feb 02 - Trypticon's status

From: The office of the Cityspeaker of Trypticon (apprentice)
To: Reichsführer Starscream
Subj: Status of Trypticon

Lord Starscream. Trypticon is well; Repairs are mostly completed. Trypticon is at full combat effectiveness and would like to know who exactly shot at him. There is not much to report about what is going on; we have been making repairs and ensuring we are settled. Trypticon is ready to return to orbit or move as you wish.

Signed
Banshee von Trypticon
A digital copy of Banshee's personal cypher - encoded in a highly modified version of the WW2 Luftwaffe enigma code - is enclosed.

May 08 - Ultrix Investigation Preliminary Report

As Banshee is currently in Tarn, she's preceded by the DPN test-card.

When she appears on screen in front of the mural, she looks ANGRY. "I haff been digging unt vorking vith zose investigating Ultrix, unt I haff come to zer conclusion zat mein concert vos deliberately targeted." She growls.

"Ze zo-called merchant ships zat ve gave haven to during zer magnetic storms vere shams, packed vith explosives unt judging from vot vos found tied into vun of zer comm systems - both short unt long range - sending a targeting beacon. Their IDs were garbled but neutral, we assumed at ze time zat it vos interference, but I now believe ze IDs vere deliberately scrambled. I believe ve did not detect zer explosives because of zer storm scrambling sensors… zey read as normal as anything else did vith all zer interference."

She takes a breath, checking her datapad. "Additionally, light attack craft debris vos recovered from zer Crystal Island unt Titanium Turnpike areas by scouts following reports of 'falling stars' during or shortly after zer electromagnetic storm, seeming to show evidence of a reactor overload."

She sets down zer datapad. "In short, ve vere set up. Somebody, I don't yet know who, targeted us deliberately, trying to harm Trypticon, either in retaliation for mein attempts to resurrect Decepticon culture or in an attempt to neutralise a threat."

The test-card reappears, and the transmission is cut.

2023

Primus Pilus

2024

Veritas Prime

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