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I have to say its great to see this tournament back on the road, more than any other writer you can turn a battle into an epic story, and Leprosy vs Psyclo was a tense one at that
Straight from the off it becomes avident, that unlike the high-paced frenetic attitude we had in the first of our round 2 fights, this one is likely to be a far more sedate affair with both Back To Rock 2 and Killotine Evo sliding out of their respextive corners delictaely. Neither robot seems to want to commit to making the first attack and this shows, as the 2 gently circle around the arena, either hoping one will make a mistake, or be the first to bravely take on the other. As it is, its Killotine who makes the break first using a sudden burst of speed to plow straight into the side of Back To Rock 2 and slam the axe down onto the lurid 6mm titanium lid. A dent appears but nothing more as the axe bounces back up and into its original position. This attack seems to make Martijn realise that he cant be entirely cautious in his approach and he attempts to turn to bring the wedges to face one another. Killotine is again the quicker however and seeing a potential overturning slams the axe down again, this time onto the front hydraulic lifter of Back to Rock 2 and this time getting the axe stuck in. Although the damage is minor, its enough to give Killotine a grip, and he starts trying to push Back To Rock 2 around. He doesnt however have enough purchase, and so the 2 machines just end up in a tug of war that ends up looking more like a game of ring a roses.
Killotine lifts the axe out but Martijn is prepared for such an occurence and immediately charges at the front, inspiring Steve to slam the axe down again, only this time Back To Rock 2 is too quick and as the power of the axe lifts Steves machine into the air slightly, he gets underneath only to be hit on the top with the shaft of the axe which itself manages to make a small dent into Back To Rock 2s lid as well, showing just how much power there is in that Killotine axe. Martijn raises the arm and although progress is slow due to the hydraulic mechanism, it does the intended job, gently overturning Killotine who rolls off its rounded back and onto its top panel. His response is far faster than the original attack and in a flash the axe has fired and Killotine Evo is back on its wheels, albeit also back on the lifter of Back To Rock 2.
This time Martijn decides its more worthwhile trying to ram the Team Braveheart machine into the wall, and he slowly accelerates before finally reaching a mammoth top speed and slamming Killotine Evo into the arena sidewall at the opposite side of the arena. he raises the flipper again, obviously tring to hoist Killotine out of the arena, but the slow nature of the mechanism makes this an impossible task, and he just ends up stacking him on his back against the pit release button. The pit descends as Martijn continues to have his machine hold his foe up against the wall, until the Refbot comes in and separates them. Martijn seems to be out of any other wortwhile ideas, as Killotine Evo flops back to Earth from his resting position on his back. He attempts to get underneath the sides of Back To Rock 2 but to no avail, and so instead just slams the axe down on the lid again, another hole appearing. He tries to push forwards, but Back To Rock also drives forwards and the result is to lead Killotine Evo in a curve going straight towards the pit. He releases the axe so he doesnt end up driving himself in, but this isnt of any great help as Back To Rock 2 immediately reverses and backs Killotine Evo into the pit which hed been trying to avoid in the first place.
CEASE
Killotine gets the chop. Back To Rock goes like a wild thing into the heat final.
Heat 6 - Heat Final - Psyclonized v Back To Rock 2 (27) - Tactics received via MSN
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Activate!
And were off, immediately AJ tries to get Psyclonizeds hammers up to speed, whereas immediately Back To Rock 2 attempts to replicate the onslaught from Leprosy Infection from the last fight. He flies in lifter plates first at Psyclonized but the hammers are already up to a good speed and they slam into the 6mm titanium front panel, causing it to bend around where the hole left by Killotine is. Back To Rock 2s huge level of torque manages to keep him from flying away too far though, and hes back onto his foe in a split second. This second the hammers are barely whirling and with even more power in the drive than Leprosy Infection had before, Back To Rock 2 finds absolutely no problems shunting Psyclonized around the arena. He lifts up the arm gradually as he does so, so by the time he reachs the sidewall, hes got him pressed against one of the angle grinders. This turns out to be an absolutely genius attack from Back To Rock 2, but he doesnt quite know it yet, but when the Refbot comes to separate the 2, Psyclonized falls to the floor and its immediately evident that one of the angle grinders has shredded straight through one of the rubber tyres. AJ tries to drive off on it, but it immediately unravels, and leaves him with only 3 working wheels on that wagon.
He does however manage to get the weapon up to a reasonable speed. Matirjn doesnt seem to be quite sure which part of his machine to use as a repellant, but quickly gathers that th elonger he takes to think, the quicker the hammers are moving. He immediately launches in rear first and gets a backside full of hardox... The back panel has completely caved in and its the first damage that Psyclonized has cause in the heat that manages to show the real potency of the weapon. Again though torque kicks in, and Back To Rock 2 is just able to reverse into him, slamming him across the arena and into the pit release button before AJ has time to think about trying to drive in the opposite direction. The siren sounds and the pit descends and Martijn knows that its his best chanceof disposing of AJs favoured machine. He backs off in order to turn around and AJ tries to hobble away with his unbalanced 3 wheeled machine, but finds himself just wandering around very limply. He does managae to get the hammers slightly up to speed though, and another impact dents the lifter once more but Back To Rock 2 doesnt even get flung away by the impact.
Matirjn raises the lifter once more, which seems to be moving slightly more sluggishly in itself and props AJ against the wall. He backs off, comes round the side and delicately knocks him back off before he has a chance to fall and run away. AJ knows whats coming next and also knows that it could cause one of the biggest upsets of the series as Maritjn raises the lifter again slightly, turns delicately, before running Psyclonized to the edge of the pit, lowering the lifter, and sending one of the most dangerous machines that FFW has ever seen into the pit of oblivion and out of the competition.
CEASE
Psyclonized was hypnotized. Back To Rock? Carry on my wayward son He goes through to the series semi-finals.
Straight from the off its Forcepower 5.0 who comes out of the starting blocks like a maddened hare, managing to drive across the arena and slam into 8645t before their driver has eve had a chance to blink. Forcepower gets underneath with the wedge and slams the real robot into the wall so hard that he flies over onto his back. The flipper fires and immediately he reacts quicker this time, driving off into the centre of the arena, and spinning around to keep the flipper facing the number 13 seed. Forcepower charges in again for a head on collision and 8645t fire the flipper out of sheer panic. Amazingly enough though the slip makes contact and throws Forcepower onto his back. Forcepower then tries to reverse into the flipper again with the wedge, but ends up flying straight up it. The beasts flipper fires again, but with the weight of Forcepower being so high up, he just ends up putting himself on his back and Forcepower 5.0 flailing in the air.
Forcepower 5.0 spins the motors as the 2 machies are trapped, neither being able to get up off of the floor. Eventually he manages to wobble himself free, but for some reason 8645t is stuck on his back, seemingly unable to self-right, Forcepower 5.0 gives it a few tentative nudges, before deciding that something must have happened to the flipper. It later turns out that the sheer weight of Forcepower on top of the arm for so long damaged the ram, but for now all they know is that their robot is on its back with no way of getting back up. After prodding it a couple more times for good mesaure, AJ, circles to get a perfect run at the pit release button with 8645t still in tow. He slams him into the pit release button, and although his intention is to dispose of him, its not quite recognised in the way that AJ planned, as the slam takes 8645t into the air, over the wall, and out of the competition.
CEASE
8645ts next numbers will be on a mortuary slab. Forcepower forces his way into the heat final.
Heat 7 - Round 2 Fight 2 - The Epidemic (29) v Slaying Mantis F
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Slaying Mantis F seems to know what it has to do to get rid of The Epidemic, but Kodys machine seems to know that too, and immediately starts flying around the arena with no particular direction in order to get its dangerous spinning shell up to speed. Slaying Mantis F realised hes let the shell get slightly too far to risk try to crush anything, so keeps the beak raised and goes in with the wedge, obviously thinking that its his best chance of escaping scathe free. He slams into the full body spinner, and escapes relatively mark free, though a small cut has appeared in the wedge where one of the bottom row of teeth has got stuck in. The Epidemic wastes barely any time in getting back up to speed though, and with a bit of a wobble as Kody tries to work out which direction is forward, slams straight into the side, a large gash appearing in the side panel, meaning Kody scores the first major damage points of the fight.
Alex knows that to have any chance he has to stop the weapon and so begins circling The Epidemic, seemingly bemused and waits for an opportunity. Kody gets bored of the waiting and so flies in again, but Alex notices the onslaught coming and gets the wedge facing, again coming out with little visible damage, though the impact shows as both robots spin away. Kodys spin up time is remarkable and no sooner has he stopped wobbling the shell appears to be back up to a frighteningly dangerous speed. Alex charges in with the wedge again, and again both robots are thrown away, but this time The Epidemic ends up slamming straight into a wall. Whilst Kody flusters again trying to work out which way hes pointing (round robots really ought to have an arrow on them) Alex finally sees the chance to make an impact slipping underneath the slowed shell and bringing the crusher down. the 8mm titanium stands up to the force of the crusher fairly well, with the lid just bending slightly rather than being perforated in any way.
He attempts to back away, however progress is slow as trying to carry a difficult 100kg shape is weighing Slaying Mantis down heavily. He decides reversing is not his best bet and lifts the claw, allowing him to move round slightly and bring the claw down again, to give him an opportunity to drive out forwards. This proves to be just as difficult a task though as the manouvre has allowed to The Epidemic to fall off the wedge slightly and so his teeth are now digging into the arena floor, preventing Alex from driving Slaying Mantis F forward at any great speed. Its not long before the refbot comes in and forces Slayign Mantis F to let go of his foe, and no sooner has he done so, does The Epidemic start whirling off again like a headless chicken, seemingly aiming to disorientate his opponent. This works, as Slayig Mantis F attempts to go flying in, only to discover hes shot too far, and so The Epidemic can come slamming into his back, ripping into the aluminium boron carbide at the back as if it was nothing more than cardboard.
Kody carries on across the arena in order to pick up more speed again, and as he gets up to his maximum potency, it shows just how powerful the machine is as the dust on the arena floor around him goes whirling around the floor like a ground level tornado. Slaying Mantis F decides to charge in with the wedge again, and finally the damage to it shows as a huge chunk of it, going into the side is ripped off by the full body spinner. Kody licks his lips with glee as the innards start to become exposed, and with another slam, completely shreds through the already sparse side armourment. Slaying Mantis F deserves his credit as he carries on, getting the wedge pointing forwards again, and the next attack leaves barely any scar, though does sens him staright into the angle grinder, causing sparks to shower across the arena. Unfortunately for him though its left exposed, the already brutalised side armourment and with another crash from the shell, Kody tears the rest of the panel off, taking a motor and a wheel with it.
Kodys decided that this is one fight hes not going to hold back in though, and with Slaying Mantis F still able to wander around in circles, he decides that hell keep going until theres no life left in Alexs machine. All it takes for this to occurs is one more slam though, as with one impact on the already battered rear panel is torn into again, and with it comes the little red removeable link, the scourge of so many roboteers facing spinners. Alexs machine is counted out in what seems like the first countdown for a long time, whilst The Epidemic gently slows down the motors and conserves himself for the heat final. Refbots red light lights up and even the house robots feel a little sorry for Slaying Mantis F and so the announcer immediately ocmes on overhead.
CEASE
Me - Slaying Mantis should is now praying for a miracle. The Epidemic takes more lives and goes through to the heat final
And so the heat final itself
Forcepower 5.0 (13) v The Epidemic (29)
Thoughts, Tactics, Predictions, Even MORE cherry throat sweets?
w00t again! Bloody awesome fight, Matty, and great work ethic here.
Forcepower 5.0 (13) vs. The Epidemic (29)
The chances of me surviving this fight are VERY slim. He has 6mm Hardox monocoque armour, shiteloads of power and a very controlled drive. For this fight, I am going to try and dash away from ForcePowers advances with the Magmotor power, and immediately smack the flat sides repeatedly, hoping to take an entire side panel off after much bashing, seeing as it cant be shredded, and then eat into the internals. Hopefully it should happen as my spinning ring has tons of power from its Etek weapon motor, but I wont underestimate ForcePowers endurance. If its an actual true monocoque, which thanks to Joey it should be, then my tactics of going for the sides wont work, and Ill have to take a very risky approach; smack into the side of his wedge to try and take it off, and then if the front gets exposed, keep slamming that. After Ive lost, which seems bloody obvious due to the match-up , congratulate AJ on a job well done and buy him a can of Magners.
No cherry throat sweets, though Ill take a lime one if you have it. :P
Heat 7 - Heat Final - Forcepower 5.0 (13) v The Epidemic (29)
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Forcepower immediately from the start hopes that this is a repeat of his team mates matches against Leprosy Infection and Back To Rock 2, and so charges right out of the blocks from the off towards the number 29 seed. The Epidemic knows exactly what to expect though and so immediately skids to one side, nearly resulting in Forcepower 5.0 driving into the wall through his own haste. This slip-up allows the Epidemic all the time he needs to get up to speed, but AJ turns around and tries to come flying in with the wedge. Again Kody manages to shift slightly to one side and he impacts straight into the side skirt of Forcepower 5.0, ripping it off its rotary joint completely. Ajs not having this and so turns around to get his revenge, but once again Kody dodges the charge with expert driving skills. AJ is just having no luck at getting the speed of the shell down, yet knows that he cant just sit back and wait for The Epidemic to come to him, as even this early in the fight, the torn off side panel is a big advantage for Kodys machine should it go to a judges decison.
Evidently hoping that at some point hell either get the shell to stop, or that Kody will bounce off him, he decides to run across the arena and open the pit. The siren wails like a banshee as the familiar noise reverberates around the audience and the pit descends to its sunken position. No sooner has he done it than does his plan almsot come into action as Kody careers across the arena whilst the back of Forcepower 5.0 is exposed, crashing into it, and managing to leave scratches on the very thick 6mm hardox frame. The impact however sends him skidding off, right past the edge of the pit. The audience groan as The Epidemic has a very near miss, but he has an even nastier shock waiting for him as he spins right into the CPZ of Matilda. He slams into the wall, stopping the shell completely and is immediately met by a huge lump of flywheel which throws him up into the air and nearly out of the arena. He lands back on his wheels again outside of the CPZ and after attaining which way is forward slams into forward gear and lives to fight on with no more than a tooth missing and a slightly scratched shell.
Forcepower 5.0 sees all of this coming however and no sooner has he managed to get away, Forcepower 5.0 manages to get under the barely spinning shell and is shunting him right across the arena, and into the opposite CPZ, containing Mr. Psycho. Kody hammers frantically at the controls and manages to escape just as the hammer falls, making a dent in the arena floor. Another dodgy aim from the biggest of the house robots. But again, theres no let off for The Epidemic whos beginning to see this fight slip away from him as Forcepower 5.0 charges after him as he escapes, thrusting him straight into the wall, attempting to throw him out the way he did to 8645t. But theres only pain waiting for Forcepower as the invertible wedge follows straight through underneath The Epidemic and gets him stuck underneat the angle grinder. Kody thanks his lucky stars and immediately backs off to spin up the shell. A couple of seconds later and he comes flying in, sending both robots spinning and with it, the remaining skirt on Forcepower. Ajs machine has been left naked!
The impact has knocked Forcepower 5.0 out from under the angle grinder but The Epidemics shell has been allowed to get back up to full speed. A cat and mouse match follows as Forcepower 5.0 tries to catch The Epidemic who seems clearly more worried about whatll happen if it goes to a judges decison, knowing hes on top based on damage. Forcepower 5.0 catches him eventually though, and slams the wedge underneath him, sending him spinning away and sending the Epidemic dancing as the centre of gravity wobbles all over the place. Forcepower 5.0 regains his composure and turns back around for another onslaught but The Epidemic has balanced himself and is nearly back up to full speed. AJs machine flies towards him, but Kody manages to manouvre his way over to one side and slams the already skirtless side panel. Both robots spin away once more, but this time its once too many times for Forcepower 5.0 who gets strung up by his own patarde, and goes spinning straight into the pit he opened in the first place.
CEASE
Me - Forcepower wasnt quite feeling it... The Epidemic plagues his way into the series semi-finals
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