The Diego Diaries: War (dd6 105)
NOTE: I'm editing the whole thing and I found out that my spell checker which I used on my last computer from the get go wasn't working. ARGH! It is so bad. :D I am fixing them as fast as I can. :D
-0-In the Flight Center of Salton Sea
Starscream turned to his commanders and seven of the biggest data retrievers in the fleet. "We have the course plotted. You will be bridged out to follow the projected path of the mark. Scan wide in case they have diverted or we have miscalculated. Be ruthless and find where they went."
They nodded, then followed Red Wing out to the bridge room. Rainmaker who watched them turned to Starscream and Thundercracker. "What do you suppose are the odds its them?"
Starscream shrugged. "Even, I would wager."
-0-Mars
Rain Harris climbed into the vehicle waiting for her, a vehicle from Earth2 driven by one of the newly certified residents there. It was their security shift coordinator for days, Malcolm DeWitt. She sat beside him as he waited to pull out into traffic. :How was your day?: he asked with a slight grin. He was STOKED to be one of the fifty that had provisional privileges outside the habitat. They could come and go for 'essential and necessary matters' which apparently included picking up Owen Harris's wayward daughter.
:It was okay. You get to drive out in the world?: she asked.
:I do. Keep your gear on until we get to Earth2: he said pulling into the traffic and making it to the light at the intersection of Main Street and 8th Avenue. It turned red so they halted. A bot was crossing so they watched him.
:When do we get to come out and wander around like anyone else?: she asked as the light turned green and they moved forward with the traffic.
:Not for some time yet: he replied as they picked up speed, merging with traffic on the newly renamed Basilica Road heading for the boondocks and home.
:How about a detour here and there?: she asked glancing at him hopefully. :You know … just a look around:
:That's why we aren't getting full clearance yet, stupid moves like that. If we do that and get caught, then everyone pays. No thanks, Missy. We're going home: Malcolm said as they sped onward into the distance. They weren't going to be taking any detours home.
-0-The human population on Mars
The word had gotten out among the Family group and the news that Ratchet was being held by unknown aliens had sent shock waves through the community. Everyone in the N.E.S.T. Group and The Family understood discretion so they kept it among themselves. No one was even aware if the elders such as Ravel and Tie Down knew.
They didn't.
"This is so distressing," Thelma Lennox said as she sat with her friends in a lounge by the window of the Family Habitat.
Mikaela Banes nodded. "I remember meeting them when they first came. It was so dangerous and hurried then. We had to find and secure the AllSpark. Ratchet was more serious then. The situation was so dire, but this … he's a big part of this place."
"Ironhide must be so angry," Mama Fig said as she petted her two chihuahuas. Both sat in her lap with their little smiling faces and demanding ways. "I think I need to consult my cards," she said as she pulled a tarot pack from her knitting bag. They watched as she set up an array, then consulted it with concentration. At last, she picked them up, put them in their box and stowed them in her bag. She looked at the others who were watching closely. They had seen her predict too many things correctly to be that skeptical. "They will get him back. And guess what? Someone is going to have a baby!"
After a moment, Mailie Turner, the grandmother of James Hoyt, a student in Terradive's class leaned forward. "Who, Rosa?" she asked.
Rosa 'Mama Fig' thought a moment. "Oh. I forgot to check."
-0-Earlier that day
They drove in convoy away from the airfield aiming toward Industrial Park Cities. They merged with traffic heading that way which went swiftly as shift had changed earlier. Jessie Landon noted her passengers taking snaps out the windows as they watched the changing scenery. :We have Terra, the Hub City coming up. This is the anchor city of several others. Pax, Crystal City and Luna form the Hub Cities. Each of them house millions of civilians and soldiers. Terra is the city where Sparkling Day School #1 can be found. That's the school where Prime and Ironhide's kids attend. Some of the younger ones also attend the Circle of Light Preparatory Academy, a private school run by one of the sects that are so important here. The Day and Youngling schools also have human kids attending. If I ever have any kids of my own, they're coming here:
:Will we be able to visit them one of these days?: someone asked.
:Eventually: Jessie replied. :I love the schools. You never saw so much attention and details. The Youngling Day and Intermediate Day schools have state of the art science facilities. They have a telescope at each that can see out to Neptune without assistance. Then there's the Planetarium in Terra. Each of the five main schools have a massive swimming pool, dance studios, music programs that are resurrecting their culture along with art facilities we can only dream of. You should see their library. They have their own printing company putting out their books and other things. Anything that they want and need, they get. The School Board is awesome. Hugh-E is president; Sunstreaker, Vice President; and Ironhide, Secretary:
:Do you know them? The twins and the others? Very well?: someone asked.
:I met them, Ironhide, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Prime, and Jazz from day one. The others we met at Diego when I was stationed there. They're family to us. We're Cybertronians too. Hugh-E is the greatest. His bond is a micro mini-con:
It was silent a moment, then a civilian sitting next to Jessie half turned toward her. :Hugh-E is massive. I've seen him in games. His bond is a micro mini-con?:
:Yeah. Their sparklings are too. When they go somewhere together, all of them ride on Huge-E's hand: Jesse grinned. :His bond's name translates out to … wait for it … 'Boo-Boo'. Isn't that just about as cute as it gets?:
Everyone on board agreed.
-0-Industrial Park City 3
They parked to watch giant overhead buckets of red hot metal pass over to a big flat form. When it arrived, it was tipped and began to pour a measured amount into the forms. Fire flew upward until the drip ended, then the melted molten ore flamed on the platform. It was slow moving, taking it to a heated press where it would be formed into whatever was needed for the order at hand. It was mind blowing, the scale and scope of the operation.
They moved onward following Judy Witwicky's truck, driving out into the sunlight once more. Down the way they went into a section that was a massive clean room where electronics, communications gear and chemicals were designed and created. The entire inside was sectioned off for various works by transparent steel.
:This is amazing," someone said. "What's the clear material made from? Some kind of high impact glass or plastic?:
Lois Morshower-Howell shook her head. :No. That's transparent steel. Given what they're doing and their mania for keeping things neat and environmentally sound, they use transparent metals like steel and aluminum:
It was silent a moment, then the voice spoke with a slight sense of awe. :Wow. Do you think they'll share with us?:
Lois grinned. :I don't know. Maybe if we use 'please': They drove onward to the next stop.
-0-Playground at Youngling Day School, Terra
They stood together in a group listening to Silverbow as she began to explain her idea. She had told them of the research that she had done and all the things they might need to make it real. Sunspot who was up for just about anything suggested a few things of his own and it began to snowball. It would take a while for it to be presented to Mr. Terradive but he would pursue it because they asked. It was also one of the cutest things he ever heard about.
Standing in a group nearby, the humans of Earth2 watched the other kids play. A ball rolled near them stopping before a small group of the human boys. One of them picked it up, holding it in his hands. He stared at the small group of mech boys that waited for him to do something. Then the human boy ran forward with the ball, throwing it to a little mech. The little mech smiled, then threw it back. All of the boys ran forward joining the game. It would be the ice break for the boys of Earth2 to be part of the world of little mechs that they needed.
The girls would take a bit longer.
-0-RTR Tools
They sat together, the elders and Ratchet's parents, eating lunch around the table that sat in the corner by the little lounge. They had learned how to cater but for Fridays when Docker and Corr insisted on making family favorites to bring along with a tasty pastry from the bakery in the Mall. Today, it was 'Italian food' developed by Rampage and his culinary geniuses at The Catering Place. 'Lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, a big salad, and garlic bread' rounded out the meal followed by Chan's favorite, a big slice of 'chocolate cake'.
"Do you need more tea, Atar?" Ravel asked of his father. He did. Ravel sat again. "We have the babies tonight. Ironhide and Ratchet are still with the fleet. Ironhide called in for both of them. It's not certain when they come back but they will."
Appa Ratchet nodded. "Our boy will be home in no time. He's that good."
They dined onward, then went their separate ways to clubs, school and work.
-0-On the way to the settlements
Jazz flew the ship cloaked and stuffed with mechs. It couldn't be seen due to the tech they had built into it and the huge power packs that kept it concealed. They passed the first two planets, planning on gathering intel from them one at a time, ending with the one closest to the exit door, so to speak. Flashing past, they saw the odd ship, all of which were Cybertronian, but so were the locals so no clear deductions were made by their presence.
Flying past a rocky cold planet, tidal locked with the star they all shared, they reached the first of the two remaining planets, itself hot and damp. The last one was where they were going. They flew over a rocky world with possibilities, then over a large settlement. Beyond it, they continued until they reached a huge rocky dirt tip, one with eroded caverns and overhangs of gravel and what appeared to be broken trees. Flying along its leading edge, Jazz found a cavern big enough to hide them, then backed into it with the runabout's face pointing out for fast escapes.
Powering down, he turned to the three big mechs hunched in the back. "Well, here you go. If I get closer, then they'll find us."
"Not a problem," Hal said. He was a big gnarly former Decepticon who had the same feature as Mirage. Squatting next to him was a Seeker, Pardon. There were half a dozen others in the army and air force who could do the same thing as them but they weren't experienced enough for this. Nor were the five civilians who also could disappear and stay off sensors at will. The hatch popped and he slid out followed by Mirage and Pardon. Glancing back at Jazz with a grin, the three turned toward the settlement in the distance. Mirage and Hal gripped Pardon after he transformed, then the three disappeared from sight. As long as they were invisible, no one could hear nor see them but each other. That was the one flaw about being invisible. No one else could see you but another with the same special feature. It was lucky for them that it was so rare.
Jazz sat back, then closed the hatch. He monitored the area as he waited for them to return.
-0-TBC 8-22-17 edited 8-23-17
NOTES! CHAT TIME! RUMOR CONTROL! BWAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAA!
Guest chapter 104 . 17h ago
Who are they? Are they some of those demon beings that were once trapped in Cybertron that Shockwave freed? The same type of being the Prime exorcised. Or maybe they're Insecticons? Or could they be the fraggers that wanted the Cybertronian tech from the dead on the planets that were once the Functionalists colony, or even the Functionalists themselves?
ME: Note to self: Go back and revisit the notes on the demons. :D More coming including who shortly. The others from the Functionalist colony will be back. This time? Who knows. ;)
Megatron Owes Me Money chapter 104 . 22h ago
I know you hinted it was someone they had encountered since coming to our area of space but the Starscream thing makes me think maybe the Combaticons because they were created by Starscream. If not them maybe one of the Insecticons? They were one of the first they battled back at Diego Garcia before establishing a Mars colony I think.
ME: BWAHAHAHAA! Its someone that they know and have encountered. It will be revealed shortly. :D:D
Ragemoose chapter 104 . 22h ago
"He was going home. Optimus Prime was coming." WHY DO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?!
i dropped my phone in the lake here and had a tiny breakdown about it, twice. my parents both dove in and felt around with their feet to get it back for me. It's in some rice now. I came back and this had updated, which made me feel better- kind of. Better cause i always love to read it but also more anxious because its so thrilling and stuff, you know? im worn out now, lol. I was so high strung i missed the eclipse.
I hope everyone gets a rest soon. they deserve it. I think when ratchet is in this sort of situation it effects ironhide harder than it does ratchet, really. I just imagine him all filled with angst with nothing to do with it. Hopefully his elders can keep him occupied- although usually when i get all worked up it just makes my work sloppy. Taking a nap is probably the only thing that helps me really but I'm like a big ol' baby so taking a nap fixes most of my problems ha ha. Maybe Ironhide should take a nap.
ME!: BWAAAHAAA! You sound like you have my luck. :D I like the byplay between everyone when things go wrong. Ironhide is such an emotional guy. Hang in there, sweetness. Silverbow has something planned. :D:D:D:D
Burningrose194 chapter 104 . 23h ago
I can't figure out who it is, i was thinking that it was jhiaxus but now I'm not sure
ME: Heh-heh-heh … it will come out shortly. :D:D:D
kattenbelletje chapter 103 . Aug 21
I hope they can capture a hish ship so they can reverse engineer the invisibility tech.
ME: Prime is going to take his game to them and try to get more than just aliens and their soldiers. That's in the future. He needs to figure out a few things including the alien saliva thing. That I have them coming from another dimension will speak to that, something that the bots haven't figured out yet. It will come from an unlikely source.
Megatron Owes Me Money chapter 101 . Aug 20
RE: At 'Prison School' You have Owen Harris along with Rain, Mariah and Kyle back on Mars, but isn't Owen on the Salton Sea with Lennox's group? Or did I miss something?
ME!: Thanks for the catch. FIXED! :D
Silverhornd chapter 102 . Aug 20
I am sure that Raptor knows that the aliens are aboard his ship can't he just gas or freeze them or cut the gravity off and have them floating in the air like balloons so that the bots can take pot shots at them or blow the out of the air lock. I think that it is about time that the bots bring the heat to the Hish's home world or find someone who hates them more than the bots do so that they will love to take the information that the bots have and use it themselves, you know that old saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend there has to be someones who hates the Hish so much so that they would love to get some pay back. How do the tall whites or the reptiles or the small or the large grays or the white council feel about the Hish. How about getting the other reality Megatron come to help since they are supposed to be this side Megatron's allies I bet that would throw them off for awhile and confused them and give the bots time to kick butts.
ME: I love the way you think. LOL! The thing about the aliens, they adapt. They can even live in vacuum. I remember in the first movie when Ripley jettisoned the alien on the escape pod. They were sent off into space but nothing about it falling away made me think it was dead. The others aren't that up on the aliens yet because they haven't dealt directly with those creatures yet. That's this story's take on the aliens themselves. Their handlers , the Hish are well versed here and the others know about them. I am going to have them branch out but for now, they don't consider the Whites or Reptilians good prey yet. The other reality Megatron is genius. That goes on the list.
Leoness13 chapter 102 . Aug 20
Meep...
I haaaate the Alien aliens...xenomorphs I think they're called...so gross. Lucky the bots haven't had to deal with their reproductive methods. Nightmare city.
ME! ME!ME!ME!: I hear you, Leoness. When the original Aliens came out I thought ah, an alien space movie. How bad can that get? I went by myself. I nearly ate my own hand. :D:D:D
Happy AFTER Eclipse Day, Everyone, Everywhere!) :D:D:D Or as the bots say, Monday.
SNICKER! My new computer spell check reads Mikaela as kamikaze.