MACHINE WARS FANFIC TECH SPECS
                              by Dave Van Domelen

     In remolding a number of European Transformers to fill out the Machine
Wars line, Hasbro didn't really try very hard in picking good matches to the
actual toys.  They just took a classic name, found a so-so match, and slapped
it on.  And while this worked (IMO) on Sandstorm, it didn't work on the
others.  So here are my character writeups for the "Optimus Prime,"
"Starscream" and "Soundwave" toys.  The Optimus rewrite is the same as posted
in the review of that toy.


AUTOBOT: Ultra Rodimus
Based On: Machine Wars Optimus Prime
Function: Commander
Quote: "Until All Are One!"

After Optimus Prime took back leadership of the Autobots, Hot Rod returned to
his carefree ways...until tragedy struck.  When on a mission with Ultra
Magnus, the Decepticons launched a sneak attack that left both badly damaged.
Hot Rod was near death, but Ultra Magnus knew that the young Autobot still
had a destiny to fulfill, and sacrificed his own life by downloading Hot
Rod's personality matrix into his own body at the expense of his own.  The
new Autobot, Ultra Rodimus, feels a heavy responsibility to live up to his
friend's sacrifice...perhaps heavier than when he bore the Matrix.
     Because Hot Rod's personality matrix lacked the components necessary to
control Ultra Magnus's exo-structure, it was rebuilt into a battle platform
capable of acting under Ultra Rodimus's control.

STR 10  INT 8  SPD 7  END 9  RNK 8  COUR 10  FRP 9  SKL 8  Avg 8.625


DECEPTICON: Nightgaunt
Based On: Machine Wars Starscream
Function: High-Altitude Bomber/Interceptor
Quote: "My enemies never see me.  Pray you see me."

Silent and brooding, Nightgaunt has no friends and prefers it that way,
spending his time at the edge of the atmosphere on patrol or on attack
missions.  His advanced stealth defenses along with hypersonic speeds mean he
appears on radar as a quick "ghost" at best.  On bombing runs, he drops
computer-controlled "smart" bombs from near orbit and lets them follow their
programmed paths to the ground.  His powerful X-Ray laser also lets him more
directly destroy targets both on the ground and in orbit, but firing it
lights up sensors across the hemisphere.  In robot mode he is less suited for
combat, with only his powerful fists to rely on in close fights.  He can fire
his X-Ray laser through his chest in robot mode, but this seriously weakens
him, so the first shot has to count.  His personality along with lack of
personal combat ability prevent Nightgaunt from trying to unseat the much
smaller Megatron.

STR 8  INT 7  SPD 10  END 7  RNK 6  COUR 7  FRP 10  SKL 7  Avg 7.75

     [Note: the toy's scope is the X-Ray laser mentioned.]


DECEPTICON: Soundtrack
Based On: Machine Wars Soundwave
Function: Battlefield Communications
Quote: "A coordinated offense can defeat a spirited defense."

While experimenting with ways to increase his utility on the field of battle,
Soundwave designed a new body for himself.  However, dissatisfied with the
many compromises required by this form, he abandoned his plans, retaining his
more compact tape recorder form.  Some time later, when the mercenary
Doubledealer was lying mortally wounded by the Autobots, Soundwave
transplanted the Cybertronian's consciousness to his disused alternate body,
on the grounds that the similarity in forms would ease the transition
(Doubledealer's Nebulan partner died from injuries, however).  Having sworn
his loyalty to the Decepticons after what the Autobots did to him,
Doubledealer took on the name Soundtrack to honor his new body's creator, and
uses the combination of battlefield prowess and communications skill in
service to the Decepticons.  He has only one weapon, but it is a potent
one...an Ultraviolet Ram, capable of shattering lesser Cybertronians with a
single shot, and also able to fly independently of Soundtrack, both to gain
intelligence and to snipe at exposed positions.  Soundtrack is also capable
of using his communications gear to intercept Autobot transmissions and to
scramble the reflexes of those nearby.

STR 8  INT 8  SPD 6  END 9  RNK 7  COUR 9  FRP 9  SKL 8  Avg 8