The Diego Diaries: Boom (dd6 113)
-0-On the deck of the Salton Sea
All that was missing was the 1812 Overture.
Ratchet thought about the demolition of Parliament in the movie, "V" as the forward views fed by ships monitoring the destruction lit up the room. The mined buildings went up in a row like dominoes with buildings toppling expertly into piles of twisted metal, glass and dust. Around the vast settlement where nearly 46,000 individuals had lived and called home for eons, the explosions were brilliant flashes of light punctuated by flying particles and fires. It was a sad sight to see, the homes of so many disappearing into the ether. It continued for what seemed like an impossibly long time, then halted equally abruptly. The view changed and again, demolitions continued at quarries and other sites utilized by the people farther away. That changed to scattered communications and security towers and other warning and information transmission sites that were used to protect everyone, or at least give them a heads up. They went up too.
When it was complete, Prime turned to Rem. "Take us to the next locale, Rem."
He nodded and as he began to fly the big ship toward the next location, the outside view reflected that. It was silent a moment as they watched, then Partition turned to Ironhide. "Thanks. That was fun."
Ironhide nodded. "You can't go wrong with a good munition. Our armories are the best. Assessment?"
Partition nodded, then looked at the screen again. "The site won't be fit for habitation again without a total rebuild. All of the outlying infrastructure is demolished and I'm assuming that we're going to do the same at the second site."
Raptor nodded. "We will," he said. "Nothing that can be turned against us will be left standing. He may rebuild and replace but he won't have a stick to hit us with in between that. It gives us time, delivers a message and makes him think twice." He turned to Prime. "I wouldn't, however, hold my breath. Cassio may be more subterranean and strategic but his brother, Ebio, is a slagger. He likes to fight if the game is completely going his way. I never liked him, though I will say, I only met him twice."
Prime nodded. "They are a bad combination. We will have to beef up our tech out here so that we can track this. I want it placed where they cannot locate it with ease. I want to know where they go and who comes to visit them."
"On it, Prime," Wheeljack said from a station nearby.
"We're coming up on target two, Optimus," Blackjack said from Sensors.
Prime glanced at Ironhide, then nodded. "You have discretion," he said.
Ironhide looked at his console, then turned to Ratchet. "Do you want to push the button?" he asked with a slight grin.
Ratchet grinned back. "I would, but then, I saw your face, Switchblade, when Partition got to do it and you didn't. How about doing the honors?"
Slag hit the fan along with laughter, a lot of it from his own father, Rainmaker, as he walked over with an embarrassed but amused expression. He paused before Ratchet. "Are you sure that you don't want to do it yourself?"
"And deprive you, infant? Not on your spark. It's all yours," Ratchet said nodding toward the control panel.
"Yeah, push the button," Warlord said as he smirked at his youngest brother.
Switchblade grinned back at Warlord, then looked at the button. "Don't mind if I do," he said, then pushed the button. Another symphony of mayhem blossomed on the screens as they all turned to watch.
The city was just as big and complex, the center for business, apparently, from all the hangars, workshops and other buildings that seemed to make up the bulk of the structures there. It went off in a pattern that maximized the blasts, shrapnel from explosions and toppling. When it lay in a smoldering mass, Prime glanced at Ironhide. "I am assuming that you wired the important features of the main settlement?"
Ironhide nodded.
"Very well. Rem, take us there," Prime said.
The ship turned followed by its armada, all of them flashing forward to reach the third planet swiftly. Switchblade stood beside Partition with a grin on his face. He turned to Ratchet. "Who gets the honors this time?" he asked.
"I DO!"
Everyone turned to see Rainmaker stand, then walk toward the console with a big smile on his face. "Why should the infants have all the fun? Don't you know? Age and treachery always defeats youth and talent."
There was HUGE laughter and agreement on the bridge as they slowed to within range of the planet ahead. The screens showed the settlement with all its features and possibilities. The three worlds were deserts, warm and featureless. The settlement was the only thing that ranged from the local color pallet of grays, sandy tans and black.
Rainmaker stared at the screen, then turned toward everyone with a grin. "Step aside, infants. Let me show you how this works."
Laughter greeted that as he made exaggerated motions with his arms and servos before pushing the button. It was instructive how carefully mined the settlement was that only those buildings that counted, administrative, utilitarian and business, went up in smoke. When it subsided, Raptor turned to Rainmaker who had become a great personal friend. "Bravo. You could give master classes in button pushing."
"He pushed a few of mine on more than one occasion," Prime said with a chuckle. Huge laughter greeted that.
Ratchet watched Partition as he listened and absorbed everything going on. The kid was awash with good cheer in the company of those who had no agendas or social restraints. These mechs and femmes were legit and he was relaxed and happy here. It was amazing to him to watch. He had no expectation that Partition was 'fixed' but he did know that it would be incredibly hard for the kid to return to the old mech that was being honed and buffed here among them. It made Ratchet feel incredibly good.
"That's the end of it, Prime," Blackjack said as he checked the last bit of data. "What now? Do you tell Imperialis or let him find out on his own?"
"It would not be neighborly to go without saying good bye," Prime said. "Blaster? Can you contact them?"
Blaster nodded, worked a moment, then glanced at Prime. "You're open."
Prime turned to the screen again which still showed the destroyed cityscape. "Cassio Imperialis, this is Optimus Prime. Answer."
A voice answered quickly. "Imperialis here."
"We have taken our people and we are going to leave. I am going to be watching this space and all that transpires here. I would advise you to stay away from the Empire and Cybertron as well as all my territory around Mars. You go to Razorclaw at your peril. I will destroy any ship that you send over the line of my sovereign territory. There will be no warnings. I do hope you understand my resolve."
"I do, Prime. I hope you understand mine," Imperialis replied before he cut the line.
It was silent a moment, then Raptor turned to Prime. "Dibs on slapping him into the next dimension."
Laughter.
"I grant that request, General," Prime said with a grin.
Raptor grinned back, then looked around the deck. "Well done. Do we go home now or do you want to find more lost sheep and bring them home?"
"Are there any around?" Prime asked.
Raptor turned to Tactical where his father was sitting. Hard Drive shrugged. "I can look if you want me to."
Laughter. Huge.
"Please do," Prime said with a grin.
Raptor took over Sensors and linked with his father. It was silent a moment as they did an extended deep space search utilizing the combined sensors of the three battleships. After a moment, Hard Drive turned to Prime. "Nothing can be found for several sectors in all direction. It's hard to tell with the floes. We can send drones out to transmit data, then self destruct if you'd like."
"I would. Make it so, gentlemen, then let us leave here. I have to talk to The People about this," Prime said.
It would take about ten minutes to launch six drones to cover a 360 degree view of the local area. They would transmit the data back along with details for a star map. At some point they would either run into an energy fissure and blow up or self destruct themselves. They were handy but not intended to be long lived or captured by anyone.
The servo of Magnus and the Tyrest Treaties had a far reach.
The ships began to form up around Salton Sea as they regrouped for the ride home through the bridges. They were many and bristled with guns. The damaged vessels from the fight had been sent ahead and were at the shipyard outside of the colony, the one set in the distance under the command of Roadie. They would be evaluated and repaired if possible. If not, they would be salvaged, then smelted again. Nothing was ever wasted if they could help it.
Prime sat at the command seat talking to Prowl who was relaxing at the command table. Ratchet turned to Partition who was looking around with fascination. "Why don't you go forward and sit with the mechs until we get back."
Partition looked at him, then the group of soldiers sitting on the lounge chairs and couch-like benches that lined the walls in the forward section of the command deck. "Okay," he said, then walked to join them, sitting down among them.
Ironhide stared after him, then turned to Ratchet. "He's getting there. He was impressed with the armory. He didn't act caste struck or anything. He just wanted to learn things and be there."
"He's got something that he never used, Ironhide. I saw it in him early on. He just never had anyone to help him find it. I like the kid. He's still a doofus but we can change that. We can do it together," Ratchet said.
Ironhide nodded. "You do know that the family has taken him on as a project."
"They have?" Ratchet asked with a smile. "That's a good thing. Read him The Code sometime when you think he's ready. It will be a big benefit for him, Ironhide."
"He'll have to prove it. We don't share it out with very many," Ironhide said with a trace of doubt.
"I know, but he's a lost sheep. We can't leave anyone behind," Ratchet said as he watched Partition join in on the chat. The soldiers there were listening to him ask something, then one subbed a handgun. He handed it to Partition, then began to explain it. It was a good thing to watch.
The formation didn't take much time and the signature burst of energy signaling bridges flashed on the forward screen. Prime glanced up from a datapad. "Rem, do the honors please."
"Yes, sir," Rem said as he hooked up with Flight Command at Fort Max. "Prime 1, the Salton Sea to Flight Command. Permission to return to base. I request the flight order."
"Flight Command to Prime 1," a voice said. "You are cleared to proceed as per protocol. Establish a tier three orbit. Landing order will be given then."
"Understood. Prime 1 complying," Rem said. "Primal battle group, this is Prime 1. Prepare to re-enter home space. Form a tier three orbit as per protocols. Acknowledge." Dozens of pings were received in receipt. Rem turned to Prime who nodded, then threw the ship forward. Behind and beside him, ships and other vessels followed. They slipped into the three twirling vortexes, then disappeared from view as they closed up behind them.
It was as if no one had ever been there.
-0-Some time later
Imperialis walked along the potholed street that led through the settlement. Ships dispatched to the other two planets had shown complete destruction. Nothing was left from the bombardment there and little of use was left here. There were buildings that could be barracks if they wished but not much more. Even the utilitarian aspects were destroyed. Whoever mined the settlement knew what they were doing. He was seething but it never showed on his face. His brother, Ebio, was handling that part.
It would be some time before the big gray and red bot calmed down enough to help him plan to build what they needed to begin their occupation. It would be a start, the beginnings of a long hard re-occupation. As they did, the pair would be plotting their revenge.
-0-TBC 8-30-17 edited 8-31-17