The Diego Diaries: Incoming

=0=Flight line, Autobot City, Mars

They stood together, Springer, Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, Ironhide and a gathering of security. Among their number was Ratchet, who had come also to assess the situation among those who were incoming. Initial reports stated that the refugees were in pretty good shape, the facilities aboard Maximus the difference. Omega was in less robust shape but was heading toward them to land first.

He appeared in the sky, a shining white blur moving with speed escorted by a Martian battle shuttle and Silverbolt. Approaching the runway he banked and then slowed, dropping gear and touching down. He rolled for a distance and then turned, moving toward them with a stately air and a sense of great power. Behind him the other two came, Silverbolt transforming after touching down. He turned and stood, waiting for Omega to help him get energy and repairs once off loaded.

Optimus watched him come, this one time guardian of Crystal City and a companion of many a campaign. He wondered where the morose and solitary figure had been all this time and was sure that like everyone else there were interesting tales to tell.

Omega rolled to a stop, dropping a ramp and at the top several Autobot soldiers appeared. They walked down and paused at the bottom looking upward. At the top of the steps a rare individual appeared. A femme mini-con carrying a youngling child stepped into view. She paused, her unease evident and then she began to deplane. Behind her coming in small groups were more mini-cons, mechs and femmes. Here and there was a sparkling and other younglings, some being carried and some walking, their faces reflecting the ordeal of their journey.

They paused at the bottom looking up at the god-like figure of their Prime flanked as he was by Ultra Magnus and Springer. Ironhide, standing to one side was gigantic in proportion to the mini-cons and they looked with no small trepidation at the greeting committee.

"Welcome to Autobot City," Prime said, his deep sonorous voice warm and filled with pleasure at their arrival. "You are safe here. This is city is in a security zone that encompasses this entire solar system. You are entirely safe."

A sense of relief went through the crowd and one of them stepped forward looking upward at Prime. "We appreciate the welcome."

Prime knelt, meeting the mech with a level gaze. "We have medics and others waiting for you. If you go with them they will help with the process of examinations and interviews. We would like to know all you can tell us of your adventures and your journey. We are trying to find out what's out there so we can rescue more of our people and bring them here to safety."

The mech nodded and turned looking at the group behind him. "We need to tell what we can about what we've been through. The more they know the more of us they can rescue," he said. With that, he turned and led them away, moving with a number of Autobots toward the fortress and the evaluation process beyond.

As they left, Omega Supreme transformed and stood before them in all his magnificent glory. He was a phenomenal individual and the wear and tear of his journey was evident upon his once gleaming body. Prime moved toward him looking upward. "Omega, its a joy to see you again. You have found refuge here."

"Understood. It is good to be here," he said, his deep and mechanical tinged voice replied. "You have built a colony here. There are alien forms beyond this world in the third planet from the sun."

"They are our allies. They are partly responsible for this moment," Prime replied.

Silverbolt walked to Omega, the two an astonishing sight to see side by side. "Omega, Silverbolt will help you with your repairs and energizing. If there is anything you need just comm me. I am very happy to have you here at our colony. I hope you will consider it home now."

"Affirmative," Omega replied. "Likelihood, optimal."

Prime smiled and nodded. Silverbolt touched Omega's arm and the two turned walking toward the repair and refueling station that had been built for the airstrip. Overhead still orbiting were the remaining Aerialbots and the shuttle keeping company with Fortress Maximus. The greeting party transformed and drove toward the main fortress, taking the road that had been built to a large pad designed to certain specifications.

Communications exchanges had allowed them to build a foundation pad for Maximus that would allow him support and integration into the city. He was gigantic, large even for Guardian robots and they had labored long and hard using specifications from other occasions in his company to make the pad. Getting communications from Maximus, they had modified it making it more in keeping with his newer and more preferred alt mode.

The pad itself signaled a vast being, one of such gigantic proportions that anyone happening upon him in his city mode would be unable to know that they were actually occupying a living being. He had all the facilities of a city, the ability to produce things and house large numbers. He was a fully functioning metropolis and his firepower was astonishing. Even the Decepticons were given pause at the sight of him coming at them in battle.

A part of Prime was beyond happy to have such a being a part of their city. His firepower would ensure that anyone who had the misfortune of attempting to attack them would pay a great price for doing so. They reached the area where Maximus would reside and pulled to a stop, transforming and gathering together.

Behind them the Tharsus Plain spread out in all directions. It was a feature that occupied about a quarter of the land space of the entire planet. Volcanoes were scattered here and there, the giant Olympus Mons just off the feature in the great distance.

Autobot City, the fortress the only above ground feature visible was nearby. The potential to link it to Maximus was already being accomplished as the excavations began to push out toward this direction. The increased population was going to ensure that the expansion of their city would grow in this direction.

They waited and then they saw him, the great form of the Autobot Guardian finally appearing in the distant sky. It was an awe inspiring sight to behold.

=0=California

Will Lennox sat on his patio drinking beer and reading the newspaper. His daughter was playing nearby and his wife was in the house. It felt homely and peaceful and he once again thanked God that he had such a good woman. Any number of women wouldn't tolerate the separations and the divorce rate among their profession was very high.

The cell phone rang and he answered, the cheerful voice of Robert Epps on the other end. "Bobby! What's going on, man? I thought you and the family were going to Florida to see the Mouse."

"I am but I wanted to give you the heads up. Someone at a radio satellite installation in Hawaii phoned a friend of mine and told me that there was a lot of activity in the vicinity of Mars. It was unidentified and coming from out of the solar system."

Lennox was silent a moment and then sat up straighter. "Have they reported it to the Pentagon and the other authorities yet?"

"I don't know," Epps said. "I got the information from civilians and they don't mesh with the military very well. My source grew up with me or he probably wouldn't be my friend."

"What do you suppose it is? Did they tell you very much?"

"They said it was fast, numerous and coming and going from Mars to the solar well. Optimus has all that area under scrutiny. I think you might want to call him and tell him that there are big eyes from Earth watching what's going on. And … you might tell Prime that he could tell a brother."

Lennox smiled. "I'll tell him. Are you guys still going to Florida?"

"My kids would kill me if they don't go see the mermaids and shit," Bobby said with a chuckle. "What about you?"

"Just staying home. I'll call Optimus and call you back. Have you heard from Niall?"

"No. He and his girl were going hiking or something in the Jersey or Guernsey Islands. It's some kind of cow. I don't know how well they receive cellular traffic out there."

"All right. I'll call you back," Lennox said as Epps signed off. He sat a moment and then rose, walked to the kitchen and pulled out a specially encrypted cellular phone from the backpack that he kept on a hook by the back door. Walking back out, he sat down and began to speed dial a very special number.

=0=Near Autobot City, Mars

A giant shadow cast upon the ground and dirt began to swirl as the biggest flying object ever to enter the Sol System began to slowly and meticulously descend to the carefully constructed and maintained pad that would be its resting place. It was monstrously huge and eerily silent as it lowered slowly to the ground.

Nearby, watching intently all of the Seekers of Autobot City had gathered, flying out to see the show when they spotted the big Autobots as they came in. Omega Supreme was someone they had sparred with often and Fortress Maximus, like Metroplex was also deeply feared as an opponent.

The dust began to kick up and swirl, stinging and biting at the Autobots as they stood nearby watching the giant carefully adjust himself, moving this way and that as he lowered onto the foundation of a new life. When he finally settled it was with a soft rumble in the ground. Then it was silent.

Fortress Maximus was enormous, sitting on the plain like a gigantic futuristic sphinx. It had a tall tower in the middle of its configuration that held weapons and was capable of firing in defense of life, which was the only reason it would take part in battle. Fortress Maximus, like almost all of the gigantic Autobot guardians was a seriously committed pacifist.

Prime transformed and drove forward, entering the facility and transforming once again. Around them were corridors that led to the armory and other areas including the control center. He turned and walked toward it entering and pausing. A bank of computers drove the spark of the entity and Prime addressed them. "Maximus, I am Optimus Prime."

A deep voice echoed in the building. "Optimus Prime," it said.

"Welcome to Autobot City. We are glad to see that you survived."

"Affirmative," Maximus replied. "Sentiment reciprocated, Prime."

"Your cargo … we need to know everything you know about them and the galaxy beyond here. This is the place where we have made a stand and we're gathering our people to this place of sanctuary."

"Your call was heard. There are many on their way. Some of them are Decepticons."

Prime nodded. "The Seekers that have harassed you … they are nearby."

"Affirmative. They have shadowed our journey."

"They may be seeking sanctuary here too as well, Maximus."

It was silent a moment. "That would be acceptable."

Prime grinned. "My sentiments exactly."

Behind him he heard the sound of footsteps and so Prime and the others turned, looking around and then down. Before them were a group of mini-cons, a number of them peering from around the corners nearby. One of them, a red and blue mech stepped forward looking up at Optimus with a stern expression. "I'm Leader-1, Prime. I lead the village."

Prime nodded, scrutinizing the mini-con. Tough. Even abrasive. He vented a small sigh. Just want he needed. More Gears. As he stood looking at the tiny mini-con, a call from California rang through.

=0=TBC

2011 (3)