The Diego Diaries: Forward (dd6 84)
-0-In a conference room off Ops Center on the Salton Sea, near a refugee group from the far side of the Empire
They sat around the table, then stared at each other a moment. Four big mechs sat across from Prime, Raptor and Ironhide. Jazz was there to gather the intel that might arise along with Elita. Prime leaned forward on his elbows. "Identify yourself, your unit, your purpose, and why you are here."
The biggest mech, a hard-bitten looking character nodded. "I'm Furion. These mechs are Char, Scope, Prim, and Menace. They're my officers. We were a security unit on the Rim, the far side before you reached the energy rifts. The Ghost Straits as they're called now." He didn't notice Raptor smirk slightly at that. "We provided security, kept out a lot of strange and hostile aliens as well as holding discipline in the shipping lanes out there. I commanded a big group which was siphoned off bit by bit."
"Go on," Prime said as he listened.
"We were aware that Megatron had changed. That was clear. Word was out that a lot of mechs were leaving and some were having to double down on their discipline to stay alive. I always knew Megatron was a slagger and that his form of command was brutal. We were far enough out that we didn't usually catch his slag but its crept out to us slowly but surely. All of it was bad, that only the most loyal had any sway with him and even then he was unpredictable. The only ones he gave any latitude toward were Shockwave and Galvatron. Someone told that waste heap was related to Megatron, that he was his son," Furion said with a cold expression. "Both of them killed families and threatened everyone but he had a mutt of his own. That's rich."
"He is, Galvatron. He's Megatron's son," Jazz interjected.
Furion grinned slightly. "Fragger," he said. "Well … we came this way hoping to meet up with someone, then we saw this group. They were running toward your message. We slipped in, then split up hoping we'd fit in better that way. What's the story here? They're being held away from their home settlements. That's all we know."
"They are," Prime said. "Tell me more, especially about the empire where you were and the command structure. You ran away from Megatron. He will hunt you harder than he hunts me to even the score. If we fall, you fall too."
Furion nodded. "We know," he said. "The empire beyond you is still holding discipline, still tightly run and still functioning. There's an alien race holding the reins while Megatron is gone. He's gone off to recruit allies. He wants you dead so badly, Prime. He wants to hang your helm in the command center of his ship. He's gone but the others … we don't know who or what they are but those who have to work the most directly with them are scared of them. You know us, Prime. We don't scare easily. Some of those who question their right to rule, who go to their home base to argue about it, they never come back. I don't know where that's located but its said to actually be inside the energy rifts, the part farthest from Cybertron. Mechs I know who aren't afraid of anything are afraid of them. That's holding the army and the Cause together, that and fear of reprisal from Megatron."
"You have no idea about what they are," Raptor asked. "Not a small inkling at all?"
Furion shook his helm. "I would tell you if I could," he replied as the other four nodded.
"What's the likelihood that more will defect?" Prime asked.
"I think they would but the security net has dropped and it'll take big bearings and a lot of coordination to come out now," Char said as the others nodded. "Don't get me wrong. There's a lot of Decepticons who still believe in the Cause and Megatron. They won't be an easy get but there are many who are worried and wary. They might want to come out but I don't know if they'd be able to fit in where polite folk live, if you know what I mean."
Prime nodded. "What else can you tell me?"
They chatted a bit longer, mostly telling what was already known. They came from far out on the edges of unknown space, so their information wasn't as up-to-date as those closer in. Furion leaned back in his chair. "How hard was it to take Cybertron? When and how, Prime? Not that I'm surprised. You were the hardest slagger to kill. You never gave up. What do WE need to know now?"
"We flew in and landed," Raptor said. "There wasn't a shot fired."
The four glanced at him, then Prime who was still appraising them. "Just like that," Char said.
"It helped that we took metrotitans and the Supremes with us," Ironhide replied. "That sort of shut down the conversation."
"That and the starvation everywhere," Raptor replied. "Starvation, abuse, neglect, a toxic pit everywhere … our people were on the edge of dying. That helped a bit, I'd say."
"I heard that your colony was the real deal. Where are we going? There to prison or Cybertron?" Menace asked. They stared at Prime with hard optics and wary expressions on their faces.
"You will go to detention on our colony world. You will be held in the prison until you decide if you can make the changes you need to live and work there or whether you stay in detention. We have many who can not change. The Stunticons are there along with Turmoil, Barricade and others. It's up to you. If you decide to try to be a citizen, then we give you over to the tender mercies of the Former Decepticon Association. They are led by Nitro, Scar, Payload, and Rampage."
"Rampage," Furion said in surprise. "I heard that Predaking was out here. How is it that he's with you? What about the others? Are they as well?"
"No," Raptor said as he sat back with a grin on his face. "Those slaggers want Rampage but he's not available. He has children, a bond and businesses that matter more than slagging around with his half wit brothers."
"Businesses?" Chaos asked with surprise.
Ironhide grinned. "Yeah. He's a baker."
Menace grinned. "If you say so, slagger."
"I want you to call for everyone in the group that's a Decepticon to signal their presence for pick up. Tell them that if they want a fight, I will tell my troops to shoot them dead on sight. These civilians have priority. I hope you get my meaning and resolve," Prime said.
It was silent, then Furion nodded. "I do and its a good look for you." He was silent a moment, then nodded. "They were told to stand down and signal their locations. I told them what you said. All of them have signaled receipt to my message."
"How many are there?" Raptor asked as he stood.
"112."
Prime glanced at Ironhide. "Get them. Raptor, please take these mechs to Xantium. I am told the jail is there."
The mechs rose, then nodded to Prime. "We had a chance to make a run for it to Razorclaw when you came for these ships, Prime. We didn't. I would hope that counts for something," Chaos said.
"It all matters," Prime said somewhat enigmatically.
The big mechs walked out with their guards and Ironhide while Raptor went to tactical to begin the roundup of 112 mechs and femmes. It would be a peaceful gathering up of the troops.
-0-Ratchet
They walked forward to the command center where they moved to either side of the open doors. Glancing swiftly inside, then pulling back, Springer puzzled. He looked inside again, his big gun pointed upward. Five mechs were sitting on the chairs on the command deck watching the doorway with big grins. Their guns were lying on the console nearby. Springer relaxed, then walked inside with his gun ready. "You aren't even going to try?" he asked with a slight grin.
One shrugged. "Nope," one replied with a smile.
"We surrender, just so you know," another said as he stood. "I hear ya got beer."
Ratchet nodded. "Praxus Black Label if you act right."
They glanced at Ratchet as he subbed his gun. "You can't find that. They don't make it anymore," another said.
"They do where we're going," Ratchet said as Partition slipped into the room to watch with almost unholy fascination.
"Take me there," a big mech said with a grin. "I haven't had one of those since I used to steal it from warehouses."
They laughed loudly, the two former enemies and now possibly allies rising to gather for the walk to wherever they were told to go. One of them glanced at Ratchet. "I heard there was football, too."
"Oh, frag yeah," Ratchet said as they walked toward the doors together. "Praxus Science won the first Martian Primal Cup held."
"Now I know you're lying," the same mech said as the room erupted in laughter. He paused by the open doors. "Truthfully. Who won?"
Ratchet smirked. "Praxus the first year because Prowl packed the team. Kaon this year and the last. Kaon has won two out of three."
"Frag," a big mech said from the middle of the group. "My home town."
"More reason to behave," Ratchet said as the group walked out to go to the transport that would take them to the lockup on Xantium. Ratchet watched them go, then turned to Partition. "You mind, I see."
He stared at Ratchet. "Who are these guys?"
"Border security from deep space. All Decepticons. They're surrendering. Count your blessings. They would cut your throat as look at you any other time." Ratchet walked forward with Partition behind him. They entered an elevator, then disappeared into the ship once more.
-0-Earth2
He stared at the message from the District Central Office. The disciplinary hearing for his daughter was in two days, after the general meeting. The board would hold an executive session behind closed doors to discuss this, a problem requiring the right to privacy. The board was a mixed bag, some he knew and others he could only get here and there information about from the Community Bulletin Board. The President was a mech called Hugh-E who he was told usually went by the name 'Huge-E'. Apparently, he was monster truck size, worked in some kind of professional capacity, was a father and bond, was universally well-liked, and the offensive center of the Kaon Kavaliers.
The Vice President of the board, shockingly enough, was Sunstreaker. He was a dedicated father, in a 'trine bond' with his brother, no less, and someone respected and even feared in the community. He was the son of Ironhide who was secretary of the board. That took a moment to assimilate. There were three others who would be there, the community liaison, a mech board member called Burkley who was an engineer, a femme board member named Witlow who was a liaison for the staff of the district, and a young mech board member named Column who with someone named Mani was liaison for the student population. He would be the one most directly involved in seeing to it that his daughter had a good opportunity to have her rights respected and her case heard properly.
There would be, for the purposes of this meeting, a priest from the Temple, Lady Sela by name. She was their educational and outreach director and someone who would be a tie breaker for the vote. Rain would be represented by an attorney named Endar and he would do the talking. She could be there if she wished and she did. He dreaded that part but didn't argue. It was impossible to argue with Rain when she was determined to do something. The case would be presented, her teacher and whoever was involved in the matter would speak, Endar would do his bit, then the board would ask their questions, if any. They would discuss the case 'off line', whatever that meant, then render a decision. It would only be appealed to Prime. There was no other avenue.
The meeting would be held in the later afternoon the following day. It would be a tense afternoon, evening and morning for Owen Harris, master of every universe where Cybertronian law didn't prevail.
-0-TBC 8-7-17 edited 8-10-17