The Diego Diaries: War (dd6 96)
-0-On the line at the airfield
The endless stream of big ships, all of which bristled with guns, finally ended allowing the three command model vessels, Salton Sea, Moonbase and Phobos as the major medical platform to begin to move. Slowly, they joined the lineup heading for the runways, rolling past those who guided them forward outside on the ground. It was quiet and all business on the ship as the vessel rumbled along.
Harris watched the crew, then Prime, then the forward screens and view ports. They were getting closer until they were the front of the line. Almost at once, without much of a jolt to signify they were airborne, the huge vessel lifted up. Almost in seconds, they left the bright light of morning on Mars and were in space.
The sight before them was astonishing to Harris who stared at the screen mesmerized.
-0-On the watching post in Autobot City
"There goes Prime's ship," Clarice said as she sat in a chair by the window with her binoculars. "That big one is the Salton Sea, named after the place on Earth."
They stared at it as it almost instantly disappeared to be followed by Moonbase, Phobos, then a seemingly endless line of Wrecker fighter shuttles. Mariah stared at the sight. "Owen is on that ship, right? That's the one that Prime commands, right?"
Clarice nodded. "Yes. He's in the viewing box that we use when we go on missions. It protects us from just about anything that comes."
Mariah looked at her, then the scene. "He's an idiot to go. What possessed him to do that?"
"Boys will be boys," Clarice said with a grin.
It was quiet as the group gathered watched the armada leave one by one into the darkness of space. When the last ship disappeared, Judy Witwicky turned to the group. "What happens now is they clear up the airfield, then go back to their lives. If you want to follow the armada and what happens watch The Hourly News. Right now, we're going to get going. We have a lot to see and a lot to do. You're going to practice getting in and out of vehicles and places. Let's go."
With that, the humans, most of them in the viewing box gathered their gear, got a scan, then followed their leaders out of the box, down the stairs and into the vehicles. It would be a five car convoy that would pull out onto Fortress Road to join the morning traffic as they sped their way to the Industrial Park Cities a number of Cybertronian miles away.
-0-Partition
He walked into Ratchet's office looking good. He was missing his pout, the usual dour put upon aura and sense of outrage that was part of his 'charm'. Ratchet who was sitting at his desk finishing up things, making assignments and parting out things against the possibility that he would have to go with the group when they called him glanced up. "Good morning, Sunshine."
Partition sat. "Good morning. When do we go?"
"When the call comes. We also serve who sit and wait."
"I don't want to wait. I want to be there. I joined the Wreckers." He looked at Ratchet almost in defiance of the big mech mocking his actions.
Ratchet nodded. "Good for you. You're in the company of experts, the cream of the crop among our army. They don't do things the orthodox way but they get it done. What motivated you?"
Partition who expected something a lot less supportive thought a moment. "I don't like the idea of anyone holding our people. Frag them. I want to get them back. I like soldiering. Don't get me wrong. I'm going to be a diplomat. You need the assist obviously, but this is … interesting."
Ratchet leaned back with a grin. "It is, isn't it. I do hope that you understand that it'll be a while before you ever see combat. You have a lot to learn. Learn it with them. Remember everything they teach and tell you. Don't assume that you know better. You don't. Discipline is the backbone of good soldiering, that and being patient. They don't take losers. Don't be one. They'll kick you out so fast your head will spin."
"How did you become a soldier?" Partition asked.
Ratchet considered that. "I was given a chance to become a doctor. I was told that it hinged on being an army doctor. I wasn't all that into the army. I didn't think much of the Primes at the time but I wanted to be one and help the soldiers and civilians that got into trouble. I did it and didn't look back. I already knew how to fight. Every ghetto kid does. Shooting was just another form of math and servo-optic coordination. I had millions of years of practice so no one worries when I'm there. You don't so its uncertain if you have the ability and know how to do the right thing when the moment comes. They'll show you. Learn it, then serve The People. There's no higher or more noble calling."
"My father never served. Neither of them. No one in our family was ever a soldier. I'll be the first one. We always did everything else. I like the ..." He paused to look at Ratchet, gauging his expression for anything less than respect. He considered the calm listening expression on Ratchet's face, then continued. "I like the way soldiers talk to each other. I like their humor and the way they hang out together. It's fun. There's not much fun working in an office. With the soldiers, they can come and go as they want. I think I like the lifestyle."
"That's the lull before the storm. Fighting is pretty awful. It's no fun being in a group of comrades and being the only one who comes back," Ratchet said. "There's a downside to it but the togetherness … the comradeship … that's the golden part. That's the part that matters."
Partition nodded, then leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He seemed to wrestle with something, then looked at Ratchet. "My family isn't behind me. I think my atar will try and stop this from happening. I think he's going to come to you to make it so."
"He can come but it won't change a thing. First of all, you're adult. You can choose your life and frankly, I think I'm proud of you, Partition, for taking the initiative to do something that helps everyone of our people."
Partition looked at him with a strange expression. "You and I hate each other."
"I don't hate you. Do you think I'd have mentored you if I did? I see something really good in you. I want you to find it. I think when you do you'll be a better person and you'll understand that when Primus and The One said, "All are one" it meant everyone. Everyone equal."
Partition stared at Ratchet with a wavering expression, then sat back. "I don't know. I just know I like what I'm doing. For the first time, I think I like what I'm doing. Don't get me wrong. I know it'll be hard. I'm up for it. Right?" he asked, staring at Ratchet with a firm expression on his face.
Ratchet laughed. "I'm of the opinion that if you want something bad enough and work hard enough, you can get it. Remember, this won't be fast and it'll be hard but the mechs who decided to take a chance on you believe in you. Don't let them down."
He grinned slightly. "I won't. I don't know why this feels so good. I just wish I was with the armada right now."
"You will when I go. I'll call you. Don't worry about your atar. You three are mine to boss around. I have your back," Ratchet said with a grin.
Partition stared at him with a slightly puzzled expression, then rose. "Thanks." He turned to go to the job he knew was waiting, then turned back. "What was the other thing?"
"When I think I'm mad at you, I think about you as a child without prejudices or worries or woes. Then I find myself wanting to do more to help you find your way. No one is a hopeless case to me, Partition. Not you. Not your genitors. Go and do the job from yesterday. It's still there. Are you on my alert?"
He paused a moment to sense for it, then nodded. "I am." He stood a moment as if to say more, then nodded. "I'll prove all of you wrong."
"You won't with me. I have faith in you. That's yours to lose," Ratchet said.
Partition stared at him, then nodded. He walked out to the scut job that he had to do as Ratchet's project and he would do it perfectly.
-0-Command Bridge of the Salton Sea
They joined the group that was waiting to go to the Trigger for transport through the two giant space bridges and the smaller one, the Autobot City Space Bridge as named by a child at Sparkling Day in a contest. A tech had brought breakfast to the bridge and was handing out covered boxes with food made in the massive galley down below. This ship was capable of deep space travel and the crew needed to eat.
Prime took his and began to eat it as Prowl stood over him telling him essential information. He ate like anyone ate food, using his fork like anyone else. What Harris expected, he didn't know. Nearly every direction he looked afforded a new bit of information or action that helped build the picture in his mind.
Raptor sipped his … coffee? Ironhide was eating again, something he had already done at The Fortress. Hard Drive sat with Rem eating his food as the pilot readied to join the others in the running arms of the big devices.
Ships lined up, what seemed like hundreds, then a flash of light bloomed, another one, then a smaller one. The bridges were up and running. Almost as one, the Seekers leaped forward vanishing almost immediately. They were followed by other ships, many of them support, then an endless appearing steam of battleships and battle cruisers. The Supremes followed, all of them, their size almost too much to believe in ship mode. The lines moved forward including their own vessel. A voice appeared on the intercom. "Salton Sea, this is Miler-Navigator. Do you have your coordinates?"
"We do, Navigator," Rem replied.
"Very well. Good sailing and come home safely," Miler said.
"Will do," Rem said as he threw the throttle forward. The ship fairly leaped forward flying behind Moonbase and ahead of Phobos into the violent swirling maw of the bridge.
It was blindingly bright, then settled into a spinning vortex of crackling, sparkling light for what seemed hours but could only be seconds. Then it settled back into space again as they slipped through. Before them, the armada had formed up. Wrecker shuttles were ahead of them followed by cruisers, then battleships. A space in the middle was kept for the three behemoth warships, Phobos, Moonbase and Salton Sea. They slipped into place, the Seekers dispersed and took up their places while the Supremes formed around the support ships in the rear. Among them would be ships from Cybertron on the first joint maneuvers and mission of the new paradigm.
"Have the fleet check in when on station, General," Prime said to Raptor who nodded. He turned to tactical and got receipt on his message. Turning back to Prime, he said, "We're ready to go."
"Very well," Prime said. "Open a channel to the fleet."
A young Home Guard Seeker mech sitting at Communications opened the channel. "You're clear, Lord Optimus," he said.
Harris watched him. The formal title was interesting to hear. Prime gathered his thoughts, then began.
"This is Optimus Prime. We have gathered our forces to rescue our people. We are not clear on what happened to them or what we face. I am sending a hailing message to those who would hold our people in bondage. Do what we ask. Take immense care. Our great hope is to do this with overwhelming force, then leave as soon as possible. Until all are one. Prime out." He looked at Rem. "Take us forward."
Rem nodded, then threw the ship into forward momentum. All of the armada moved with him as they slid ahead into the eternal night time of space.
-0-TBC 8-17-17 edited 8-22-17