Attributes
Abilities
Advantages
Energon
Spark
Willpower
| Name: | Swiftsting | Generation: | Optimal | Protoform: | Predacon |
| Player: | NPC | Beast: | Mutant Scorpion/Bee | Alliance: | Predacon |
| Chronicle: | Secrets of Cybertron | Nature: | Ringleader | Class: | Super |
Attributes |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical | Social | Mental | |||
| Strength (x2) |
| Charisma |
| Perception |
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| Dexterity (Flight) |
| Manipulation |
| Intelligence |
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| Stamina |
| Appearance |
| Wits |
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Abilities |
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| Talents | Skills | Knowledges | |||
| Alertness |
| Animal Ken |
| Computer |
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| Athletics |
| Piloting |
| Enigmas |
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| Brawl |
| Etiquette |
| Investigation |
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| Dodge |
| Firearms |
| History |
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| Empathy |
| Melee |
| Demolitions |
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| Expression |
| Leadership |
| Repair |
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| Intimidation (Size) |
| Performance |
| Matrix |
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| Primal-Urge |
| Security |
| Politics |
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| Streetwise |
| Stealth |
| Procedures |
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| Subterfuge |
| Survival |
| Science |
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Advantages |
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| Backgrounds | Weapons | Mechanisms | |||
| Computer |
| Stinger x3 | (Tails, Beast) | Armor |
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| Generation |
| Dart Launcher x3 | (Tails, Beast) | Cybervenom |
|
| Rank |
| Pinchers | (Beast) | Download |
|
| Resources |
| Plasma Cannon | (x2, Shoulders) | Flight |
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| Size |
| Cutlass Blaster | (Attached) | Radio |
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| Zoom Vision |
| ||||
Energon | Spark | Willpower | |||
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| |||
| Beast Mode | |
|---|---|
| Strength |
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| Dexterity |
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| Stamina |
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| Appearance |
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| Spark Powers | |
|---|---|
| Healing |
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| Telekinesis |
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| Telepathy |
|
Spark Location: Lower abdomen
Vehicle Mode: VTOL/Helicopter
Image: Visually, Swiftsting is a mutant monstrosity, who towers over the Predacons he commands. His beast mode is very unnatural: a three-tailed scorpion with the wings and head of a bee. His huge size and immense strength belie an agility left over from a previous body in a previous time, which is most apparent when he is in the air, flying on four bee's wings. His beast mode body is a mottled grey and gold. In robot mode, gold and silver metal emerge as accents to his frame. Two of the three tails hang up over his shoulders, and the middle tail rests behind his head. His facial features are humanoid, but harsh. The shoulder-tails double as blasters, and when all three tails blast at once, a golden light emerges that is the equivilant of a cutlass blast. In both modes, Swiftsting's armor is thick, and pieced together in patches.
History: Long ago, a Predacon subcommander named Stingwing was partnered with a subcommander called Upgrade on a faraway planetary mission. Unlike most Predacon subcommanders, the two—both insects, bee and hornet—came to trust one another, and developed an almost fraternal relationship. Upgrade was the clever one, but Stingwing was the one with the wealth, the one people remembered. After returning to planet, Stingwing managed to secure a commandership, and kept Upgrade as his subcommander and advisor. When Upgrade learned of new technology appearing on Cybertron, brought back from the Beast Wars on Earth, he became obsessed with aquiring it. He landed Stingwing a Maximal contact, a female scorpion who had become friends with Blackarachnia. Her name was Whisperswift, and she was more than willing to become a Predacon and pass on the secrets of Transmetal II...after she and Stingwing fell in love.
Stingwing and Whisperswift built a Transmetal II Driver from scratch, and tested the volitile device on volunteer subjects. Those that survived became Transmetal IIs, the first among the Revolutionaries. After successful experiments with the Predacons Krakken, Blackout, and Epitaph, the lot was drawn to see which of the partners—Stingwing, Upgrade, or Whisperswift—would be the next to become a Transmetal II. Stingwing won, but insisted that Whisperswift go instead. As the device activated, the underground Predacon base was raided by Maximal troops, who had been alerted by a Counterpunch double agent. The Maximals were authorized to take the contraband technology. In their haste, they destroyed the Transmetal II device, with the female Predacon still inside. Stingwing was able to rescue his mate, but the damage to her spark and body was severe. As she died, she passed on another secret she had learned from Blackarachnia. She begged Stingwing to carry her spark, so she would live on in him, and he would benefit from her Transmetal II power. Thus, Stingwing became Swiftsting.
For a while, the dual-spark arrangment was ideal. Swiftsting received messages from his second spark, and, when his mate was opinionated, he acted on her wishes. Upgrade never quite noticed the change in his friend's personality, becoming too obsessed with reproducing the Transmetal II technology that gave Swiftsting his power. However, before Swiftsting could completely utilize the knowledge hidden in his secondary spark, a rogue Predacon found out about his operation. This Predacon, the Transmetal II Telepathy Master called Mindrazor, attacked the spark of Whisperswift late at night, while Swiftsting was unaware. Existing only as a mind, Whisperswift was overtaken by the astral presence, and eliminated. However, Mindrazor found it useful to occasionally masquerade as Swiftsting's second personality. She asked for personal favors from Swiftsting or his troops, all while teaching him the gift of telepathy. With Swiftsting as her unwilling ally, Mindrazor began to push Swiftsting's tream, the Predacon Revolutionaries, toward Unicron's agenda. In the meantime, Swiftsting himself is interested in getting Megatron to back his plans. He would be the perfect figurehead for ultimate takeover, and, with his legendary ego, would he really see the backstab on its way?
Roleplaying hints: Get to the point. Among Predacons, Swiftsting is not known as a commander that minces words, and he is not known to bluff often. Speak in short sentences,a and delegate responsibility whenever you can. You admit you rely heavily on the support of your subcommanders, but you word as commander is always final, and, when need be, enforced with an iron fist. You learned long ago the value of having Upgrade on your side, and Transmetal II power, among yourself and your ranks, is a valuable asset as well. You tend to favor Transmetal IIs above other Cybertrons, now that you've seen the power they offer. Your inner voice is your most trusted ally of all, though sometimes she asks you to do things you do not understand.
After discovering the truth about Mindrazor, Swiftsting becomes consumed with vengeance. When Mindrazor is destroyed, Swiftsting becomes disillusioned with his revolution. He has Megatron on his side, but used the wrong help for the wrong reasons. No longer well-trusted by his subcommanders, Swiftsting eventually seeks solice in a new sector.
Quotes: "The Maximals oppress us because our leaders are weak. A revolution must occur. We are that revolution."
"Don't question me."
[When facing Maximal opposition] "I don't have time for this."
Timeline: Swiftsting appears for the first time along with his Revolutionary counterparts in the first season episode "Guarding the Green." On planet Earth, he temporarily disappears, when he is attached by Insecticons, and taken prisoner by a Vok device in the episode "Plauge: Part One." He joins the narrative again in the third season, in "Other Visions." He returns to command in "The Maximal Approach," after his memories have been restored. During the Secrets of Cybertron movie, the true connection between his mind and that of Mindrazor is finally revealed. He destroys her, and gains knowledge of his own telepathic powers. At the end of the series, Swiftsting is placed in charge of a large sector in Predacon territory.