The Diego Diaries: Stuff (dd6 81) needs editing
-0-That morning in Ops Center
Prowl listened as the faint message was played for him. It was a distress call from a direction they were planning to investigate. It was past the former orbit of Caminus, perhaps one of three settlements there which needed possible rescue. This appeared to be either one of them or an exploratory group. They would be coming through a dangerous sector of space that could include scuffles with Razorclaw.
He called for the usual suspects who responded swiftly including Ironhide and Ratchet. They gathered around the table in the center while Prowl called up the relevant images. A blinking light was moving slowly toward them, closer to Razorclaw's influence than they liked. Prowl looked at his officers. "We have a small group, perhaps 2-3 thousand coming here. They appear to be in bad shape and even more so, among them may be Decepticons mingling and hiding. They had no direct evidence but stated in their faint message sends that there are mechs that 'appear to be so'."
"That's fragged," Springer said as the others nodded. "They could shoot at any moment when we board."
Prowl nodded. "Discretion is highly promoted. We will bridge out to get them. We need hard intel. Where did they come from? Are they an advanced group or are there more somewhere? How many? What kind of condition? Are they under attack? Are there other colonies and settlements as well? We need this fast and as thoroughly as possible."
"I want Phobos," Ratchet said. "We need a big medical presence. I'm going to take the Home Guard group with me this time too."
"You aren't taking Partition are you?" Prowl asked with a frown.
"I am," Ratchet said. "It's shock time. Maybe seeing the end result of The System will chip his veneer."
"Ha!" Ironhide said. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"It is in your hands," Prime said to Ratchet. "We need to leave now. Prowl has designed the group. You design the teams," he said to Springer.
"On it, Prime," Springer said as he turned to leave with the mechs with him.
"Starscream, I leave the air support to you," Prime said. "I will be going out. I leave it to the rest of you to decide what you will do on that score."
"I am coming," Starscream said as Rainmaker nodded. "Red Wing has field command. Come, Elder. Let us do this thing," he said as he swept toward the door with the rest following.
"Salton Sea for Command, Phobos for Medical, Omega and Xantium for jail or platforms for the Seekers," Prime said as Prowl nodded. "Let's be ready in a joor. Sooner, if possible."
Everyone broke for the doors.
-0-Up in the sky getting medical kits together
Ratchet dropped a number of kits on a table. "Pack them according to the lists, Partition. I have to make calls."
Partition looked at the stack, then Ratchet. "I'm a diplomat. This isn't diplomacy."
"It is. If you do it and I don't hit you, then its a diplomatic coup. Otherwise, I have a kit to put you back together right here on hand. Win-win for me. For you ... ?" he asked letting the question hang in the air.
Partition frowned at Ratchet. "You don't think I can do this."
"You read my processor," Ratchet lied. Reverse psychology was the key to this kid.
"Frag you," he said turning to the problem at hand. As he did, Knockout walked into the room. "You rang?"
"We're heading out, Knockout. We're going to a depleted migration that may or not have Decepticons hiding. We need you to tell us if you see any and help do the elder triage."
He nodded, then glanced at Partition. "Who's this?"
"My protege. He's learning how not to be an aft," Ratchet said with a smile.
Knockout looked at Partition with an appraising stare. "Nice paint. Really great finish."
Partition who was looking at him as well as reading his tattoos nodded. "I have a great detailer. At least someone understands me. Where are you from?"
"Iacon. The Districts. You?" Knockout asked.
"My family is from there abouts. I wasn't separated there but it doesn't matter," he said glancing coldly at Ratchet. "Some don't have to be born there to be superior in the ways that matter."
"I won't argue with you there. Much," Knockout said with a smirk at Ratchet. Ratchet who was internally making calls smirked back. It was all going as planned, though Knockout and Partition didn't know that.
"Some would argue," Partition said glancing at Ratchet. "They forgot their place."
Knockout glanced at Ratchet, then Partition. "How so?"
"If this was the way it was supposed to be, someone other than him would be doing the medical program here," Partition said warming up to someone who also wore high caste engravings and tats. "The low castes would do what they're good for … clean up."
"Would that include Breakdown, do you wonder?" Ratchet mused as he smirked to himself.
"If he's low caste, yeah," Partition said. "The only thing low castes are good for is to sweep the streets."
Knockout glanced at Ratchet, then Partition. His optical ridges narrowed. "Is that so?"
It was then that Breakdown appeared in the doorway coming to Ratchet's call. "What do you need, Ratchet?"
"Partition … did you ever meet Knockout's bond? Breakdown, come on in," Ratchet said. He did and on cue, just like Ratchet knew he would, the youngster read Breakdown's tattoos and etchings.
"You're bonded to that slag heap?" Partition asked, none too wisely.
That was when Knockout leaped on Partition.
Moments later …
Breakdown and Ratchet stood side-by-side watching Knockout drub Partition all over the room. Partition was getting a lot better but he was no match for a warrior, Autobot or Decepticon. Breakdown glanced at Ratchet. "Do we break this up?"
"I don't want to. It's kind of entertaining. I didn't know Knockout had that level of fisticuffs. He was always using his cattle prod."
Breakdown grinned. "He frags me. I figure we're the anti-Ratchet and Ironhide."
Ratchet guffawed loudly, then grinned at Breakdown. "Watch it, infant. You may get adopted if you keep that up. How about we break this up?"
Breakdown who was inordinately pleased nodded, then waded in with Ratchet. Soon the participants were apart. Knockout was livid. "LET ME GO!"
"No," Breakdown said as he glanced at Ratchet. "Do I let him go?"
"No, but he deserves a good frag tonight. He defended you," Ratchet said.
"OF COURSE, I WOULD!" Knockout said as he stepped away from Breakdown. "You're lucky I don't have my equalizer. You'd be twitching on the floor for a decaorn."
"Frag you, traitor," Partition said as he glowered at Knockout.
"I think this went well," Ratchet said with a cheery voice. "However, we have sick people to get so pack it up and get busy."
Breakdown half dragged a seething Knockout out the door as he walked off with a big grin to help get ready. Partition watched them go, then glared at Ratchet. He turned to the pile of gear to begin again.
"Be careful with the packing. Someone's life may count on you being right," Ratchet said as he walked to the computer nearby. They wouldn't exchange a word until they walked out behind a pallet of medic kits to go to Phobos. Partition would try to hide it but the size of the massive ship would be impressive to him even if the commander of it, his nemesis bot, Ratchet would be boss hog of the whole thing.
-0-In the elder emergency care center of Phobos getting ready
Knockout stood in the middle of a big group of doctors and nurses, specialists, techs, and medics giving orders for where they would work and what they would do. He was in charge of this portion of the incoming patients while Breakdown would be chief of field medics for everyone out there. Gypsy would handle infant and youth care while Ratchet would take the worst case scenarios. Cambo would handle the adult portion of the migration. Thus, the intake officers on the hangar deck way below would direct the orderlies where to take patients based on their age and/or severity of wounds.
Ratchet made a quick inspection with Partition following, then went to the flight deck to await liftoff. Partition followed him like a puppy, halting when he did, moving along when they walked onward. The ship was unbelievably big, heavily armed, completely redesigned as a medical vessel, and had personnel bustling even as the equipment and supplies were still being loaded.
Through the forward viewports it was a highly correographed dance of ships, vehicles, ground crews, and Seekers. The Seekers were still in groups but shortly, once they received their orders, they would transform, then jet straight upward into the sky. It was an astonishing sight for Partition but just another mission for Ratchet. Partition watched as Omega and Xantium transformed nearby, then rolled along the runway heading toward the flight that was forming up around Prime's ship, Salton Sea.
He watched the crew on board his own ship as they took their stations and began pre-flight. The ship's pilot was a mech he had seen around but until someone called to him he didn't know the name. "Nitro … we're go at tactical," someone said.
The big mech, a nearly solidly black Seeker nodded. "Good. Check in through my console," he said as lights began to blink on the panel. He checked them off, then glanced at Ratchet. "We're go when they signal, Ratchet."
Ratchet nodded, then walked to the command seat to sit. "Good, Nitro. Until liftoff, I think I'll sit here on my throne. Megatron won't mind anymore."
Rough laughter greeted that as Partition looked at and listened to the mechs getting it together. It was informal and oddly compelling. A mech leaned back in his chair to grin at Ratchet who was mugging in the command chair. "You need a crown."
"And a big old turkey drumstick," Ratchet said as the mechs laughed.
"Where's Ironhide?" someone asked.
"He's on Salton Sea. He's with Prime. Sort of his calling," Ratchet replied.
"Aren't you missing a conference or two?" someone asked, someone who was a genitor himself.
"We are. They're used to us now. Besides, Orion is one of the two we were supposed to have today," Ratchet said with a smile.
"I want that kid," another mech said. "I heard that Drift and Springer want him too."
"He's a dealer show piece. They have to get their own little mech," Ratchet said. "That little mech is a caution. He's a genius mech in my opinion."
"His mug reminds me of someone," a big mech said with a grin as he sat in the navigator's seat.
"That's a handsome little mech," Ratchet said. "He's about the handsomest little mech of them all."
"You have four with the same face, Ratchet," the big mech said.
"Isn't that great?" Ratchet asked with a giant smile.
HUGE laughter met that remark as Ratchet smirked in the command chair. "Slaggers."
"Fortress Maximus Flight Control to Phobos," a voice said over the intercom.
"Phobos here," Nitro said as he turned back to the console.
"You're cleared to move up in the flight formation," the voice said.
"Thanks, Flight Control. Copy," Nitro said as he began to move the huge ship. It lifted slightly, then moved forward sliding into a section of the group already ahead of them forming into the liftoff order of flight.
Partition glanced around, then looked at Ratchet who glanced up. "Pull up a chair, infant. Take a load off. We could be out there a while."
Partition looked around, then pulled a chair forward. He sat, then stared at the forward screen. The ships ahead began to rise upward, then they followed. It was dark almost immediately outside as they continued to follow the group toward the Triggers who loomed large nearby. They swept up, then they slid into place between the long arms that ran into the distance.
Ratchet watched him out of the corner of his optics, noting that Partition was really interested in what was happening. Maybe it was the grandeur of the armada or the adventure. He didn't know but it was good to see. Outside, the flare of Trigger 1 burst into view, something that seemed to amaze Partition.
"Trigger Control, you're clear to move at the count," Perceptor's voice could be heard to say.
"Got ya, Percy," a voice said over the com line. The ships ahead began to follow as the Seekers jetted ahead of them. One by one until it was their turn, the big vessels flashed forward until the jolt of movement indicated they were going as well.
The whirl of energy surrouded them, a bright light that strobed. Then they were through it into the darkness of space right away. They formed up, then flew forward heading toward a distress signal that was now strong and clear.
"Help us. This is a flight from Camphir, a Cybertronian settlement in the Barren. We heard the call of Optimus Prime and Starscream. We are sending a distress signal for you to come. Help us. The situation is dire. We also have Decepticons in the group. We need help. Please come... Help us. This is a flight from Camphir, a Cybertronian settlement in the Barren ..."
-0-TBC 8-2-17