Transformers: MASK 88 - After Action Report 01

March 1988



Master Sergeant Matthew Warrick (aka Coax) officially joins GIJoe and the MASK Task Force. He is debriefed by General Hawk starting on a helicopter trip from The Pit in the deserts of Utah to the location of MASK's headquarters in the outskirts of Jasper, Nevada. General Hawk fills in Coax of the existence of two factions of robotic aliens.

Landing in the refitted missile silo base, Coax is introduced to Cover Girl, who will be serving as chief engineer and mechanic for the MASK Task Force. She then says: "Say hello to your team." as the majority of the vehicles in the hangar convert to assume the form of giant robots!

"I am Optimus Prime," The largest of the robots introduces himself. He goes on to explain to Coax how they crash landed on Earth after escaping their dying home world 4 million years ago. And only since the recent eruption of the Mount St. Hillary volcano, have they been awoken. Optimus goes on to introduce the rest of the team:

Law Dawg (converted from a Ford F150 pickup truck),

Angel (a mini-con, converted from a Honda motorcycle),

Gearwagon (converted from a Mack Wrecker),

and Siren (converted from an '82 Firebird painted as a police interceptor),

(The other PC, Ace, was sick this session, so she will be introduced later)

NPC Autobots on the base include Brawn, functioning as the MASK Quartermaster, Brainstorm as their chief scientist, and Brainstorm's mini-con companion Arcana.

Coax is then introduced to Matthew Trakker, the former head of Project: Spectrum and original commander of MASK. Trakker has decided to retire to help raise his son.

Following a brief tour of the MASK facility, Coax is once again mind-boggled by Cybertronian technology as Optimus Prime uses a "ground bridge" (a freaking hyperspace portal!) to teleport back to his command center: The Ark.

Coax: What are the rules on the Ground Bridge?

Brainstorm: Basically, it can be programmed to transport you anywhere on Earth. But we use it sparingly, as its energon signature can be easily detected if we leave it open. So it's only used for quick trips.

Coax: Right... so, no trips just to check in on grandma or go to Hawaii...

The next several days are spent getting acclimated with the team and becoming familiar with the next technology. Coax learns to fly the Thunderhawk and use his new helmet: Airlift, under the guidance of Matthew Trakker.

Siren runs practice combats with Coax so they can synchronize their tactics. Brainstorm takes notes on this interaction.

Coax learns the Autobots have their own communications satellite in the form of Cosmos and starts teaching Cosmos to play chess so he won't be so bored in outer space.

After a few days, Cosmos alerts the MASK team to a spiking energon signature he's discovered emitting from a supposedly abandoned mining quarry near their location. The team ground bridges to a location one mile away from the mine. Arriving to the mine, Coax and Angel proceed as the forward recon team, due to their smaller sizes. Unfortunately, they are spotted by a Decepticon lookout: Ratbat, at the entrance of the mine. As Ratbat attempts to skulk away, he is spotted by Angel and Coax, who shoots down the Recordicon. The report of Coax's heavy rifle alerts the other Decepticons in the mine, leading to an extended battle in the mine's corridors.

The remaining Autobot arrive to backup their teammates, as they battle numerous Vehicon troopers. As the battle goes deeper into the mine, they find the commanders of the operation: the Constructicon Scavenger and the Decepticon fuel quartermaster: Octane! The Decepticons are surrounded by energon converters and have an open ground bridge of their own. Angel attempts to flank the Decepticons and shut down the ground bridge. As the other Autobots take down the swarms of Vehicon troopers, Coax blasts Scavenger. However, the wounded Decepticon boards an energon transport and passes through the Ground Bridge. Seeing that all his allies have fallen or escaped, Octain retreats through the ground bridge as well, just before Angel closes the hyperspace portal.



Just as the Autobots celebrate their victory, the ground bridge briefly opens, depositing a Decepticon heavy Vehicon, rolling into the mining cavern in tank form and taking aim at Gearwagon. Just before it gets a shot off, Coax blasts the Heavy Vehicon (with a critical hit!).

Angel dismantles the ground bridge so it cannot be opened again.

In the aftermath of the battle, the MASK team discovers the mine belongs to Extensive Enterprises. They also find a series of alien ruins and artifacts which Law Dawg, in his capacity as a former explorer and colonist or many alien worlds, recognizes as belonging to the Vok.

Mysteries abound!

End Session 1.



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