The Story
Circling the star Alpha Centauri, ages ago, was a planet unlike any other in the heavens -- Cybertron. No rock or soil or sand contributed to its bizarre geography. Its content was entirely -- mechanical. Cybertron existed, from metallic surface to core, as a vast Saturn-sized machine world... a world whose origins were lost in the dead past. Yet life had evolved here. It had grown and adapted and thrived in its environment remarkably well. And cities rose across a broad mechanical expanse... cities that were the products of Cybertron's dominant life-form -- the Autobots. Whereas life elsewhere in the cosmos usually evolved through carbon-bonding, here it was the interaction of naturally occurring gears, levers, and pulleys that miraculously brought forth sentient beings. They created a mechanical paradise... a machine-filled landscape where each Autobot went about his pursuits in peace and prosperity. But every paradise has its serpent... and on this world it was Megatron, commander of those who called themselves -- the Decepticons.

In the weeks that followed, Decepticons from everwhere reported for clandestine meetings to learn the logistics of the coming clash, and their parts in the struggle. The wonders of their techology bestowed upon the Decepticons the awesome ability to transform into weapons of unprecedented power. With these tasks completed, all was in readiness for the first assault...

The war spread until it was a global conflict; the forces unleashed were staggering, inconceivable. And each attack upon an Autobot stronghold was orchestrated with the precision of which only finely tuned machinery is capable. As the powers at play grew in strength, Cyberton itself was shaken losse from its orbit -- and sent hurtling through space. And still the war raged across the battle-scarred surface of the runaway planet. Though taken by surprise, and destroyed by the billions in the initial assaults, the surviving Autobots were not defenseless. Each was gifted with the ability to alter his configuration into strange, unearthly vehicles... vehicles of great offensive potential. And while the Decepticons in their armored aircraft shapes swooped down upon the many Autobot city-states erected during the war... the Autobot warriors stood firm and fought back. In time, the magnificent armies on each side of the struggle became known as -- the Transformers

Others
Swoop
Function: Dinobot Bombardier "Fear can hit targets unreachable to bullets."

Making a spectacular descent from the sky, he watches with unhidden glee as enemies scatter in terror before his looming presence. And that's just the way he likes it because he knows fear is a more effective weapon than any equipment he carries. Fear is also his greatest friend. This Dinobot's kind, good-natured side is disguised by his horrifying form of all the Dinobots, even his comrades have been known to shy away.


In Dinobot mode he can soar at 250 mph and his air-to-air missile launcher under each wing fires missiles equivalent to 5,000 lbs of TNT and has an 8 mile range, though his specialty is swooping down to low altitudes and releasing them virtually point blank at that targets and then speeding away. As a robot, he can use the launchers and a 4,000 degree Celsius thermal sword that can slice through most materials. Although he's extremely maneuverable and has great endurance due to his low fuel consumption, his relatively fragile wings are vulnerable to enemy firepower.