Well, we€™re an eighth from our goal, the Series Finals, but we don€™t stop until all the battles are done! And we€™ve got two more for you tonight. Gentlemen, we€™re at Heat B!

Heat B
Round 1 Battle 1
Namie€™s Style and Wedgie vs. Slammer V and Metal Sonic Spin Dash

€œFrom Team JimBob: Namie€™s Style€¦and€¦Wedgie!€

Odd name for a vapourbot, but that doesn€™t mean Namie€™s Style is any less dangerous! Chezza€™s first ever vapour features 5.5mm Hardox armour and a low-pressure rear-hinged flipper, but the wheels are exposed vertically. Wedgie is actually Son of Wedgie from David Sheppard, another surreal rename. Like its teammate, it has a low-pressure flipper, and some nifty upgrades to help it survive€¦and flip away.

€œFrom Team Vengeance For All: Slammer V€¦and€¦Metal Sonic Spin Dash!€

It€™s Alex Holt€™s oldest vapourbot! Slammer V is a swiss-army-knife of a vapourbot, an axlebot design with several attachments, among them a claw, a disc, a wedge, and axe heads. If you can€™t keep up with Metal Sonic Spin Dash, then you€™re too slow! This hedgehog-bot comes with a vertical mounted sawblade and a front spatula to help get under other robots.

Note: Since Alex didn€™t give tactics, Slammer V will be using the vertical disc today.

Roboteers, stand by€¦

Booth #1: Chezza, David Sheppard
Booth #1: Alex Holt, Steven McGregor

Damocles makes a reappearance, and Dead Metal appears for the first time, with the pincers and carbide-tipped sawblade.

3€¦
2€¦
1€¦
Activate!

It€™s havoc time once again as all the competitors break away from their spots in the first battle of the heat, eager for some blood. It€™s Slammer who draws some first, smacking the disc up against Wedgie€™s front flipper but unfortunately not even making a scratch, especially not it€™s not up to speed. Wedgie responds with a shove and a quick FLIP, sending Slammer over. Not that it accomplishes much, but it very momentarily stuns Slammer and allows Wedgie to move in and slam it against the wall! Meanwhile, Namie€™s Style has its hands full with Metal Sonic Spin Dash, as the initial charge sent it right up onto MSSD€™s spatula, and now Steven is in control. BANG! OOH! Some sparks shaved off of Namie at that hit, and make a wide cut in the front blade! MSSD tilts slightly, relieving the pressure of Namie off the saw to spin it up again, but Namie€™s flipper activates and throws it off of MSSD. Angered, Steven gives chase, but it isn€™t long before Namie turns around and is confronted. WHAM! Both meet€¦and again it€™s Steven who comes off the better of the two, as the spatula defeats the damaged blade and makes way for the sawblade. BANG! The flipper blade of Namie is chewed up very much at the middle, and Chezza looks worried.

However Wedgie cuts Namie a break by dodging a charge by Slammer and colliding into MSSD€™s side with some force, getting his own flipper into play and breaching MSSD€™s side. FLIP! MSSD goes over onto its back and Chezza goes full throttle this time. Namie slams into MSSD and smacks it into a CPZ! Slammer€™s disc is spinning wildly, but definitely not as fast as the raging fury of Damocles€™ motors as the newbie house robot trundles in. FLIP! Namie tosses MSSD against the wall for a possible OOTA but it doesn€™t happen, as MSSD simply bounces off and lands on its wheels€¦in front of Damocles!

CRASH!!!

That has got to hurt. A hit from one of the drums of the house robot directly on the sawblade, and it€™s completely bent away from the main axle€¦or bent and taking the axle with it! Not to mention the fact that it€™s also sent MSSD onto its rear again. Namie collects MSSD while it tries to self-right, and takes it all the way across the arena for another great slam into the arena wall, Chezza looking ecstatic. Slammer looks to intervene, and gathering some nerve thrusts headlong into Wedgie€™s side while Dave is slightly distracted by the flight of MSSD.

CRASH!

A fine hit, I must say, and it€™s tossed Wedgie onto its back. Wedgie self-rights, but only just lands in front of Slammer€™s disc again. No big CRASH, but it has inverted Wedgie again. Alex looks absurdly pleased with the current scenario and moves in again, but can€™t flip Wedgie over this time, and backs off to spin the disc up. Namie flips MSSD against the other wall and backs in to try and help Wedgie, as MSSD just falls onto his back from the wall, and rights itself. WHAM! Namie tackles Slammer€™s left wheel and spins it right around, unfortunately Namie went too fast and smacked into the arena wall - BZZT! Wedgie takes a shot from the arena saws, while on its back, and gets sent flying! Slammer goes after Namie, but barely nicks the corner of the front with the disc, tilting Chezza€™s vapour a bit but not really achieving much. However the disc has hardly stopped, and Slammer moves in again!

CRASH!

Don€™t you just love these amazing disc hits? Anyway Namie has been toppled onto its back, and Alex is ready to repeat what he did with Wedgie, only to find the said Wedgie at his rear immediately, and beaching it. However, intrusion happens at his own rear as MSSD comes roaring in and smacks into Wedgie€™s rear, hard. The saw isn€™t spinning, and doubtless we know why, but it doesn€™t seem to have killed him entirely. Chezza however fully intends to kill off MSSD entirely, and Namie gets around to MSSD€™s side. It€™s having trouble getting under those skirts, though, and onlly manages to push MSSD against the wall and trap it there. MSSD drives forward, trying to shake Wedgie onto itself and snag it with the barbs atop that top panel, but with the weight of Slammer on top of Wedgie that ain€™t happening soon. Strangely enough Slammer€™s disc is spinning, just a few millimetres from the ground. Realizing this Steve backs MSSD up a little but careful not to entirely release Wedgie€¦and Namie pounces. It slides straight under the side skirt and lets loose a FLIP! Over goes MSSD, right out from under Wedgie, and into the wall! Before it can recover, Namie is there again and flips it again. FLIP! MSSD gets a little air and collapses onto the wall on an angle€¦and seems to be stacked! The wheels ain€™t touching the ground and the srimech is hitting air! FLIP! Ooh€¦Wedgie has tossed Slammer a bit, but thankfully the disc does not hit the floor. In fact, it turns in Alex€™s favour as the disc be pointing straight at Wedgie! Dave realizes his mistake much too late€¦

CRASH!!

The flipper gets it in full and the entire hit blows Wedgie back quite far, and there are some nasty dents on that flipper right now. Chezza seems satisfied that MSSD can€™t move, and leaving him for dead goes after Slammer. The Watcher moves over, a little awkwardly as it drives by the arena saws which unexpectedly pop up, and bumps into MSSD€¦which does nothing. Steve shakes his head at the loss of his second robot in the competition as The Watcher counts MSSD out.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!

Alex however isn€™t about to let Steve lose MSSD yet, and turns on Namie, as the box wedge approaches with wrath. Wedgie drives back in, a little shakily, as Slammer puts the half-spun-up disc into Namie€™s flipper. A dull THUNK as the blow bounces off the flipper, leaving a scratch, and Namie powers into the axlebot and stuffs it into the pit release button! Whoa, get off that pit, Wedgie! Wedgie does so€¦and goes over to MSSD and tosses it€¦over the fence! Just barely, though, as MSSD balances on the railing for a second before sliding down. Slammer is able to get away, very hard to catch with a wedge, as Namie tries to catch up with him. Wedgie moves in from the side, intercepting Slammer and sending it flying onto the floor flipper. BZZT! Ouch, Namie has to watch out for those arena saws! Slammer spins around to face Wedgie who comes flying into him and gives the axlebot a great big helping of his wedge!

CRASH!!

The disc of Slammer is pleased, as it€™s just had a five-course meal of that wedge by tearing a wide gash in it and throwing Wedgie back. Namie moves in while the disc is stopped and tosses Slammer over. (FLIP!) Another momentary stun and Namie pushes Slammer back towards the wall. Oof. Right into it. Slammer spins around, driving one wheel over Namie€™s entire wedge, which proves to be a big mistake€¦FLIP! A nice flip there and one wheel is caught on top of the arena railing! Just like poor old S3 in Series 6€¦Alex tries driving one wheel off the railing, and it lands right on top of Namie again. FLIP! €¦and that€™s the end of that. Slammer gets thrown just over the fence by the low-pressure flipper and joins MSSD out.

The competitor battle may be over, but Dave€™s obsession of house robot attacking reforms as Wedgie tackles Dead Metal and tries to flip him over. Obviously the leverage is too much and Dead Metal just falls right back onto him. Damocles is out in a flash but it€™s Namie who gets to the CPZ first, getting to the other side and tossing Dead Metal up a little onto Wedgie, giving Dave the leverage he needs. FLIP! Over goes Dead Metal! Dave gives Chezza the thumbs-up, but Damocles is quite angry€¦

CRASH!!!

He smacks into Wedgie without warning, sending it flying across the arena! Namie moves in against the house robot but is also smacked away, though not as much CRASH to it. And€¦Wedgie is out, appearing unable to move from that blow. Namie is on its back and self-rights, but unable to avoid Damocles€™ other drums.

CRASH!!!

What a hit! And€¦wow. Namie€™s Style has been sent flying over the fence€¦ironically, landing on top of Slammer V. Damocles spins down its drums, and with minimal effort, pushes Wedgie down the pit from the rear.

CEASE!

It€™s the slammer for the most overrated vapourbot, and that Metal Sonic Spin Dash is in way over its top speed - I mean head!
Namie€™s Style and Wedgie advance to Round 2!

--------
--------

Round 1 Battle 2
Infusion Alpha and GeForce 4.0 vs. Tough As Nails and Henry VIII

€œFrom Team SpunOut: Infusion Alpha€¦and€¦GeForce 4.0!€

We already explained about the Infusion family last time, so you don€™t need to be reminded about how deadly Infusion Alpha is. GeForce 4.0 on the other hand certainly has the force, which needs to be briefly described. Basically a wedge with a giant flipper, he€™ll toss you around at Mach 7! And with some decent armour, spinners won€™t have an easy time with him, that€™s for sure.

€œFrom Team Operation Devastation: Tough As Nails€¦and€¦Henry VIII!€

Right from Jeroen van der Loo€™s workshop: Tough As Nails, a real robot that won the Dutch world championship qualifiers in Series 7. Think a giant pair of pneumatic pincers with 2 rear wheels, and you€™ve got it. :wink: Hardox armour should make this robot live up to its name. Henry VIII has a history, albeit brief. A box with a 3mm titanium scoop and a tungsten-tipped axe should make others bow down. It€™s plenty powerful but the skirts are quite thin; 1mm titanium doesn€™t sound too promising.

Roboteers, stand by€¦

Booth #1: Aaron Knight, Andrew Jackson
Booth #2: Jamie McHarg, Liam Eliot

It€™s a Double Whamlet of sorts, but Cassius Chrome accompanies him for the triple.

3€¦
2€¦
1€¦
Activate!

Infusion and TAN start out first, as Infusion attempts to get around the rear of TAN, but isn€™t having much luck. TAN moves in.

CRASH!

Not the best hit, but TAN is sent back a little and out of reach. As the flywheel revs up, and Jamie tries to re-alignhis target, Aaron contemplates over a tactic, and finally settles on belting TAN with the wedge. Infusion moves in quickly to prevent a sortie. WHAM! TAN is actually NOT gotten under, but pushed back by the sheer power of that kinetic boost and shoved against the wall. The pincers close€¦

CRASH!

That was indeed a nice hit, and an added bonus is that TAN has been beached now by this, tilted up onto the wedge! Now Liam acts; Henry VIII moves out to help his teammate but Andy reacts just as quickly, and GeForce blows into his path and meets the scoop, sliding under it quite easily. WHACK! The axe comes down and makes a dent in the flipper, but by no means does this mean that GeForce is harmed. Indeed no, as GeForce brings Henry VIII to the wall, and FLIP! A huge toss, and Liam hangs his head, as his eyes follow his robot€™s path onto the arena camera track. A quick KO, and Infusion releases TAN finally, allowing it some room, or maybe to allow GeForce to come in€¦neither! It€™s giving ITSELF some room to turn around and bring in the flywheel!

CRASH!!!

The left claw takes it, but doesn€™t get harmed, really, at all. Maybe a small dent, but that€™s it€¦and GeForce comes screaming in like a thunderbolt! The wedge gets that damned side of TAN and carries it to the wall€¦but TAN slides off the side onto its wheels. Andy sees the danger and backs off as TAN aggressively moves in with the pincers open. Infusion cuts him off with the flywheel.

CRASH!!!

The same side gets it€¦and another small dent, but really, no damage. And now TAN has been turned around a bit€¦Andy smiles, moves GeForce in to attack the rear, and gets under it like nothing. TAN is pinned against the wall, and beached completely, and the flipper is activated. FLIP! Tough As Nails joins its teammate on the wrong side of the arena wall.

CEASE!

Tough As Nails? I€™d say not. Henry VIII might need to be rewritten.
Infusion Alpha and GeForce 4.0 advance to Round 2!

(Message edited by kodster on May 16, 200