SoundwaveAllegiance: Decepticons
Function: Communications
Alt. mode:
modern microcassette recorder; Formerly Tape Deck
Weapons: Concussion blaster
Special Abilities: Highly advanced sensors (especially audio and wireless); ability to read electrical impulses (telepathy); photographic memory; mass shifting; Cassettes
Height: 33 ft / 10.07 m
Quote: “Cries and screams are music to my ears.”
Strength: 08
Intelligence: 09
Dexterity: 06
Speed: 02
Endurance: 06
Courage: 06
Firepower: 07
Accuracy: 09
Melee: 09
Tech Skill: 10
Charisma: 07
Rank: 08
Profile: What is more valuable to a commander: loyalty or reliability? Loyalty is a luxury, but reliability is a necessity for effective military operations. Soundwave exemplifies the latter while projecting as much of the former as realistically possible. Soundwave is an indispensable lieutenant and a fierce warrior, with seemingly unshakable loyalty to Megatron and the Decepticon cause. Whenever the Decepticon leader enters combat with Soundwave beside him, he is assured that he will perform his duty unerringly.
Those who had the displeasure of crossing paths with him during his long and illustrious career in Internal Affairs might paint a significantly different picture of him. They might describe him as a sadistic manipulator who respected no personal boundary and took voyeuristic pleasure in wresting the secrets of others. They might accuse him of blackmail, graft, and numerous other self-serving corruptions of his position. However, given the sheer volume of dirty secrets housed within the vast memory banks of the Decepticon known as Soundwave, it is little surprise that Megatron pays little heed to what ‘they’ say.
Soundwave is a Decepticon of many talents. His highly tuned sensors can intercept enemy transmissions and detect the faintest whisper of a sound; his scientific background was the basis for his largely self-taught repair skills (his area of particular expertise is cerebral neurocircuitry); his unique telepathic powers let him extract information from any sentient being, mechanical or biological.
He is a skilled and ruthless fighter when necessary, though not a warrior by nature. He is calm, patient, and composed, often to the point of seeming emotionless - but in truth he is simply callous. Though unfailingly loyal to those few who have earned his friendship, Soundwave regards everyone else as a mere tool or plaything.
As an expert in cerebral neurocircuitry and memory processing, Soundwave is able to utilize Autobot prisoners in some truly unique ways. He has no moral constraints against doing so. In fact, one would be hard pressed to find any moral constraints in Soundwave.
Soundwave was the first Decepticon to infiltrate Earth, and he has been here for nearly 25 Earth years. Some of his fellow Decepticons believe that so long a time with only his Cassettes for company has driven the meticulous mastermind mad. Those foolish enough to air such theories are swiftly and subtly reminded just how sharp Soundwave’s hearing is.
Abilities: Soundwave has great physical strength and intelligence. He is a skilled and highly professional soldier and lieutenant. His internal scanners can detect even the lowest level energy transmissions for communications purposes, as well as sounds that are nearly inaudible to most audio sensors. He can even "read minds" by monitoring the electrical impulses inside someone's brain circuitry, if he's standing within 100 yards of the subject.
He can act as a communications center for the Decepticons, keeping all units within 2000 miles in contact. His internal ECM suite allows him to jam enemy transmissions within the range of 100 miles without help of external amplifiers. This equipment also plays havoc with guided missiles and similar devices. His photographic memory is due to the immense information storage capacity of the dedicated drives in his chest.
Formerly, Soundwave’s alternate mode was that of a cassette player. This form, chosen during the preliminary stages of the Earth Infiltration mission, served him well for many years. The Mass Shifting capabilities of his systems allow him to shrink to the size of a native entertainment device, or one fit for a Cybertronian.
However, he has recently upgraded his alt mode to a more modern hand held microcassette recorder, with his Cassetticons assuming the form of microcassettes. Disguised as this small and innocuous device, Soundwave is once again easily hiding in plain sight.
Soundwave wields a concussion gun and a shoulder mounted, multi-chambered mini-rocket launcher. Soundwave also has great physical strength and is a skilled fighter, able to stand his ground in battle. In both modes, his chest cavity can store the compressed forms of the assorted Decepticon cassettes (aka, Cassetticons), which he can select and launch.
Weaknesses: He has no specific physical weaknesses. The only thing that can really rattle his composure is a threat to his Cassetticons.