The Dinobots Strike Back: M&M Adventure - Overview and Introduction

  

Dinobots Strike Back

Overview

The Decepticons have infiltrated Mount Lomas and installed a secret base from which they intend to launch attacks against the nearby Autobot Headquarters and siphon energy from Bay City. In the process of hollowing out hidden chambers within the mountain and constructing an underwater access to Dolphin’s Bay, the Constructicons discovered the properties of the native black coral, and the base's construction was re-directed, turning it into a laboratory and then a processing plant to extract the coral's power.

 

Megatron now plans to use the special properties of refined black coral to generate a Decepticon superfuel which will provide an indefinite power source and multiply the strength of each Decepticon warrior many times over making them effectively invincible!

Can the Autobots destroy the power plant before it comes online and the Decepticons become unstoppable? The answer to that question... is up to you!

Introduction
Dinobots Strike Back can be used as a site-based or event based scenario and is intended for a group of 4-6 PL 8-10 heroes, presumably Autobot warriors or super-powered humans and is based on the Find Your Fate Junior book of the same name. The adventure can be adapted for a lower PL series by providing the heroes with temporary access to mechs or transtectors (perhaps newly arrived from Cybertron or designed by Wheeljack) or by reducing the capabilities of the Decepticon forces. For example, Megatron may have placed a lesser commander in charge of the operations at Mount Lomas or an ambitious subordinate may be simultaneously plotting a coup and provide the heroes with unintentional assistance.

If Dinobots Strike Back is used as a one-shot or introductory adventure, the players should be assigned Autobots to play. Bumblebee, Skids, Sludge and Swoop play prominent roles in the original story and provide a wide range of capabilities. Wheeljack provides mostly background assistance, but would make another good choice for a player character. Smaller groups may need to control more powerful Autobots such as Grimlock, Windcharger (in this adventure, he’s powerful at least) or even Optimus Prime!

The adventure can even be reverse engineered to create a Decepticon scenario; can the Decepticons generate enough superfuel to crush the Autobots once and for all before their secret base is discovered? The answer is up to you!

Getting The Heroes Involved

Depending on the group of players and exactly where the gamemaster would like to pick up the action, there are several ways in which the heroes can become entangled in the events at work.

In the original story, the Autobots learn about the Decepticon’s activities after a skirmish between the Dinobots and Insecticons results in Bombshell gaining mental control over four of the Dinobots and ordering them to attack Autobot Headquarters and destroy anything in their path. The Autobots quickly learn of the Dinobot’s behavior and may ask the heroes to investigate. If the heroes are Autobots, they may learn of the Dinobot rampage while patrolling the area and human heroes operating in nearby Bay City will need to act fast; the city lies between the Dinobots and Autobot Headquarters!

Mount Lomas and portions of Dolphin’s Bay are located within a scenic state park. The default assumption is that the adventure takes place in the off-season (limiting the potential for collateral damage) and that the park is officially closed, however this could be adjusted to have the heroes vacationing in the area and providing them the opportunity to notice the Decepticon activity.

Consider the following additional adventure hooks:

•Three different military-style jets (Starscream, Thrust and/or Skywarp) can be seen (separately or flying in formation) in the sky over Dolphin’s Bay or Mount Lomas State Park. The varied coloration of the vehicles is noteworthy. Keen observers recognize the craft as modified F-15 Eagles; depending on the current game year, this could be very odd indeed.

•Visitors to Dolphin’s Bay have commented on a lack of wildlife over recent weeks. Fishermen likewise report an impact on business. Local restaurants begin altering menus as a result of being unable to obtain the fresh seafood for which the area around Bay City is renowned.   

•Wildlife experts have grown concerned as notable species normally taking residence near Mount Lomas begin behaving oddly; the endangered metalhawk butterfly seems to have begun an uncharacteristic migration away from Mount Lomas; tiger salamanders have been spotted near homes in the greater Bay City area; nests of migratory waterfowl have been recently abandoned or show signs of having been disturbed.

•Residents just outside of Bay City report experiencing tremors, while observers at BCU record no seismic activity.

•Starscream steals unstable samples of the Decepticon superfuel and, along with a small cadre of generic Deception warriors, sets up a satellite operation building his own loyal army with the intention of challenging Megatron’s leadership. He then attempts to steal materials or military hardware in non-too-subtle ways. If Starscream or any of his companions are captured, they buckle under interrogation and tip the heroes off to the Mount Lomas operation (and then beg that Megatron not be informed of their tattling).

•If the heroes encounter and ignore any of these hooks, simply have the Decepticons launch an all-out assault on Autobot Headquarters and then Bay City (and then… the WORLD!). Grant the Decepticons an easy victory (due to their use of the completed superfuel) and have them occupy (or destroy) the Autobot’s base, defeat (and capture or kill) Optimus Prime and party like it’s 2005. If the heroes are involved in the fighting, grant them victory points for their valor in the face of a swift and insuperable conquest and task them with finding and reorganizing any remaining Autobots to design a plan to stop the inevitable Decepticon conquest of Earth… maybe there’s a way to “poison” the superfuel or replicate it to give the heroes a fighting chance. 

Kicking Off The Action

The two most likely starting points for the action in Dinobots Strike Back are Autobot Headquarters after the Dinobot’s have been taken over by Bombshell’s cerebro-shells and Bay City as the Dinobot rampage approaches.

Read one of the following sections aloud to the players or design your own introduction:

Autobot Headquarters Intro
Another fine day near Bay City began as any other with the Autobot heroes, led by the wise Optimus Prime, planning their next steps in waging their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons. Suddenly, Hound’s transmissions arrive and interrupt the quiet of the morning with disturbing news; The Dinobots, those mighty yet rebellious warriors, are rampaging in towns east of Dolphin’s Bay!

“These reports don’t make any sense,” exclaims the Autobot commander. “Why would the Dinobots tear up farmland outside Hidden Valley? They know they are supposed to protect humans — not harm them!”

Suddenly, Swoop arrives nursing a damaged wing. Spotting him, Optimus inquires “Swoop! Do you know what is going on?”

“Terrible, bad thing happen to Dinobots,” Swoop laments. “Bombshell sting the Dinobots. Only me, Swoop, get away. Now Bombshell the Dinoboss. Me no understand.”

Behind his facemask, Optimus’ jaw sets grimly. “But, I think I do…” facing the other Autobots squarely, he continues; “Bombshell must have ‘stung’ the Dinobots with his cerebro-shells,” he explains. “Once Bombshell plants a cerebro-shell, he controls his victim’s mind. Now that they are under Bombshell’s control, the Dinobots are a threat…” the Autobot leader thinks for a moment, then goes on, grimly “not only to ourselves, but to the humans we are pledged to protect. They must be stopped… no matter the cost.”

Bay City Intro
The peaceful quiet of a lazy afternoon in Bay City is suddenly shattered! “Listen to this!” exclaims a young woman holding a bag of groceries as she gestures at a nearby media device. “Jeff Buckwell, Action 5 Live! reporting from your eye in the sky. You can see below us the devastation at Sweetgrass Fields Farm in West Haywood. Fires are breaking out all around us here and…”

The accompanying video lends weight to the reporter’s words; trees are uprooted, sheds smashed and live power lines dangerously snapped. Multiple small brush fires threaten to expand in the otherwise gentle breeze. The scene looks like a war zone! “… we’re trying to get a closer look now. I can see police and fire” the commentator breaks off then continues more intently “The police are drawing their weapons, I can see a SWAT truck. They’re shooting, oh my gosh it’s the Dinobots! The Dinobots are attacking!”

Suddenly the feed breaks off and an ashen faced pair of in-studio anchors sit in stunned silence before the older of the two speaks unsteadily; “We’ve just lost Jeff… but we can confirm that the Dinobots are attacking West Haywood. Everyone in that area is advised to stay off the roads and await further instruction…” he stops and touches his ear piece while his partner picks up the narrative. “It’s absolutely critical that everyone stays away from West Haywood and if you’re in town, stay where you are until the EMTs get to you or the authorities provide additional instruction. We all know how unpredictable these Transformers can be and the Dinobots are the worst of the bunch. Bay City leaders are attempting to reach the Autobots for comment,” her partner breaks in, sharply “Sorry Carin, we’re being told now that the Dinobots are approaching Bay City, I repeat: the Dinobots are coming here. The Chief of Police is asking for calm, the Dinobots are moving slowly and there will be plenty…”
The news cast and similar reports continue to dominate the local media and starts being picked up nationally, however it is impossible to go on listening as panicked civilians begin racing to their homes or vehicles and a clamor of screeching tires and screams takes over the area.

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