The Diego Diaries: War (dd6 351)
-0-Out there
They flew out of the bridge at high speed, then found their place in the armada that was forming up into the battle line that they would use to forge ahead. Seekers were interspersed with the fast ships, some of them hitching a ride on their hulls by magnifying themselves on board. When the check in was made, they set off swiftly, heading for a place in space where they were clear the intruders were traveling. The moment Prime's group jumped there they would become visible to the others. Even old ships had the ability to detect movement this far out even if they might not be able to tell what it was to any degree of accuracy.
They flew forward quietly, everyone in the command crew working silently together. The humans watched all around themselves, turning toward the forward screen and Ironhide, then back to the others. Rem glanced toward Prime. "I detect running lights ahead, Optimus."
He nodded, then turned in his command chair toward Dev at Sensors. "What can you read, Devcon?"
Dev checked, then turned to Prime. "A really, really big battle group," he said.
-0-At the Autobot City Municipal and Interplanetary Airport, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire, Postal District 4
The new group came in just as those leaving gathered to go. The two in question followed the newbie group glancing this way and that as they made their self conscious way forward. They had arrived in London by train from Edinburgh dressed in their usual 'uniform' of pretty dress and sweater for her, nice slacks, short sleeved shirt and sports jacket for him. Priscilla and Randolph McLean followed everyone on board and settled in for the incomprehensible ride through the solar system toward Mars. As they rounded Mercury, a soldier for N.E.S.T. who was going along for the ride since one never knew when someone would lose their mind on the way over walked to them. "Mr. and Mrs. McLean?" he asked.
They looked up and nodded. Everyone around them turned to watch as the N.E.S.T. soldier asked them to come with him to 'suit up'. No one knew that the two were the parents of Sandra Pritchard and had finally worked up the nerve to go to another world to visit their newest, most beloved granddaughter, Aedh, who was born at Autobot City, of all places. They got up uncertainly, then walked to the back of the ship where they were shown how to put on the environmental suits that they would wear at all times outside the habitations and half the time inside. They marveled at the clear membranes that encased their feet and hands, made from material that didn't feel any different worn than their own skin.
They had walked back in tan environmental suits with the different patches on the shoulders that identified them as Family and gave their names and nationalities, C. McLean, R. McLean, Scotland, UK. The Autobot sigil was placed on both shoulders like they were with everyone else, a sign of solidarity and the fact that some of them were actual Cybertronians as well. Soft comfortable boots fit their feet immediately, though they were unaware that they were designed to do that, conforming in the best way to each wearer. Walking back, they sat down, uncomfortable in the gaze of everyone around them. When the soldier, Sargent Trevor Smith walked back to his seat next to a smiling attendant, several leaned in to ask about their changeover. Cilla glanced at Randolph uncomfortably. Then looked at the others who were curious. "We're going to be visiting our daughter who lives on Mars. We're going to visit our grandchildren."
The conversation would roll until they landed giving both a minor taste of celebrity. Randolph 'Rand' would love it. Cilla wouldn't.
-0-Out there
They broke down the enemy fleet even as they were scanned back by the Decepticons. Both sides were measuring the other with the outcome not in doubt by both commanders. Neither side was going to go to oblivion without a fight. The humans who were watching noted the efficiency and silence with which all was done. Then Prime took a datapad in servo from Delphi and called up Prowl on a battleship nearby. All of the commanders then came on scene through split screen at the front of the ship. "We have a big group. Prowl, I would like your input."
"We could ask them to surrender or leave but something tells me that they won't. I would, however, start with that gesture. Then we need to move fast. What I want to know, sir, is if you're resolved to fight to the end if they decline? They expect a fight but if we jump right at them and unload, we can knock out a lot of their force or disperse them so they can't work in solidarity together."
Prime nodded, then glanced at the others. "Comments? Suggestions?"
"I think if we call up the rest of the Supremes and bridge them in behind the battle group to hem them in and to allow them to use their slim lines to tackle specific targets, we can prevent them from flying apart in unmanageable numbers and configurations," Alor said. "What we don't want is a billiard affect of all manner of flight paths to intercept and deal with."
Delphi and Turbine nodded. "It would prevent us from splitting up too much. As it is, some of them are going to get through. We have to prevent them from jumping."
Prime nodded. "Get them here. Bridge them into place directly. I want them there immediately. While you do that, I will speak to this mech." He turned to Sandstorm. "Put me through."
Sandy nodded, then worked the board. It was silent, then a harsh deep voice could be heard. "Optimus Prime … you live. How sad for us all."
"Shrike, I am asking you to leave this space and not come back. It is my domain and sphere of influence. Turn around, go back the way you came and I will let you live," Optimus said with a cold tone.
Overhead, Prowl was working out the order of battle as he called up Beta, Gamma, Zeta, Alpha, and Kappa. They would be arrayed around the farthest side of the enemy fleet when they bridged in. Both triggers and the small one would handle this matter with the smallest lag time possible. Until it happened, Prime had to bluff.
"I'm coming to speak to Ominous, then Razorclaw. You need to step aside, Prime. You can't stop me and I'm not leaving. So make of it what you will. We're heading onward. Fight or frag off," he said, then the line went dead.
:That fucker is asking for it: Bobby Epps said. :This is going to be a fight:
Everyone in the boxes watched grimly as Prime waited for Prowl to signal that things were go. Around him, the battle groups were given their targets as they began to array themselves in the path of the big group of blinking lights some distance ahead. That group was still coming forward though it was spreading out, taking positions against a fight. It was tense but calm on the bridge, a strange combination for a battle. The most uneasy individuals were the humans from Earth2. The others including the Witwickys were transfixed with interest.
"They're bringing their guns on line, Optimus," Devcon said calmly.
"Shields up for us. What is the status of our weapons?" Prime asked as a flash of light across the bow indicated energy shields were now in place.
"Our fleet is go," Alor said quietly from nearby.
Mick Murphy and Tom Brennon watched the show. Swiveled in their seats, their belts firmly clicked into place, they noted with a military eye the informal but professional show around them. They had never gone to battle with the Autobots but the stories of Morshower and Fulton who had resonated with them. Now, it was a bit different. Everything they loved and believed hinged on Optimus Prime and his armada being very, very good.
Rick Harris sat behind Murphy, his face reflecting the tension he felt as he watched. The armada seemed enormous and so did their side. This was familiar to him, going to battle, but he never liked it even as a soldier who was decorated and respected. He preferred the solitary tramps through the wilderness and the feeling of being close to an ancient being, Mars, to this flash of lights and guns. Owen Harris divided his attention between Prime with the mechs before him and the show on the monitors everywhere. Some of it was data which he couldn't read and some was detailed views of the ships ahead. They looked ferocious.
Pierre Beliveau had never been in war. He had never been in conflict. He was a diplomat and therefore, this represented failure to him. War was failure. He would have that view in common with many of the Autobots in the armada. He was glad that Prime was here but he regretted his decision to come. Better the shit you didn't know than the shit you did. He could just as easily have read about this in the papers than be here. Fortunately, he was in the same box as a number of soldiers. Unfortunately, he had chosen to come. He would never make that mistake again.
Jessie sat between James Brooks-Spencer and Gavin Pritchard. She was watching Devcon, a mech she loved and wondering what would happen next. She had been in combat before and she wasn't afraid now. Living with the bots had given her insight and she trusted and believed in them with an almost unholy intensity. They would prevail. Then she pulled her encrypted phone from her pocket. Hoping it would work, she pressed a button that was highlighted with a face. It rang, then a voice spoke, a deep one. "Sunstreaker here."
"Sunny," Jessie said. "Where are you?"
"On Impactor's Revenge. That you, Jessie?" the deep masculine voice asked.
"Yes. We're on Omega. We want to see what happens. I'd tell you more but it might get intercepted." She smiled. "Bring the rain, Sunny."
A chuckle filled the box. "We will. Stay low and keep your powder dry, Jessie. Sunstreaker out."
She slipped the phone into her pocket, then sat and buckled in. "It works out here. Take that Verizon."
They laughed together, everyone but Pierre as Prime gave the order to go.
-0-At the Municipal Airport in Autobot City
They walked off, carrying the odd bag until everyone was in the reception terminal. Cilla and Rand McLean were led off by Sargent Smith who pulled them to one side. He handed them a metallic appearing device that was as big and thick as a deck of playing cards. "This is your helmet. See that red button? Press it."
They did and nearly dropped the face masks that popped up. Everyone heading in and everyone heading out paused to watch, film and take pictures. Smith who was used to this helped both pull the hoodie feature of their suits up over their heads, then took Cilla's mask. "This is coded to your DNA so when you press it against your face, it will shape itself for you. It's transformational like a lot of stuff here. The hoodie is what it attaches to, so always have it up when you go somewhere or it won't work. Here," he said holding the mask up. It was a half mask, all translucent front without back and when it fit on the face it was minimal. It didn't stick out more than needed and it hugged the face and head well so it wouldn't obscure view or bump things. It was so clear that it gave the impression of having no mask on at all. The mask in Smith's hand was held against Cilla's head and it attached automatically. "What color light do you see? It's on the tiny pop up screen in the lower right corner."
She glanced down and saw red turn to green. "Green" she said though no one could hear her yet.
Smith nodded, then helped Rand before putting his own on. He showed them the channels, had them experiment with the screen that could show information and images, especially GPS stuff before being clear they were go. :We're going out now. All you have to do is know that if you aren't safe the barriers in place around the colony won't let you out. They will signal you that you aren't safe. Okay?:
They nodded. He grabbed their gear and led the way to a segway where they entered, sat, then fastened the belts to stay on. When they were ready, he sat down on the seat and began to drive the big segway toward the barrier nearby. As he did, the crowds of over 400 humans gave them a standing ovation and cheers. Waving with surprise, Cilla and Rand McLean rode toward the barrier, pierced it to emerge into the cold airless sunlight that was Mars that day. It would be a nice drive across the airfield toward the Arena District and the Monastery District to the Resort.
-0-Go
Down the way, well out of easy reach, five big Supreme mechanisms materialized out of thin air. They appeared, then launched their missiles. They sped off toward the huge fleet that was moving away from them even as they burst into view. Optimus stared at the screen above the forward view ports as the missiles roared toward the enemy fleet. It was beginning to weave and launch counter measures as the distance between them and fiery impacts began to grow shorter.
"They've launched, Prime," Devcon said in a calm voice as he rose to leave. He reached the elevator, then disappeared. As he did, several Autobot shuttles jumped forward to shoot missiles and launch counter measures at the incoming. Behind them, flashing with an almost unheard of speed, a Cybertronian ship followed.
:That's Dev: Glenn Morshower said. :He's going to take out the missiles:
A shuttle which was following opened a door and a mech leaped out, transformed into a fast light blue streak of a ship, then flashed after the group.
:Who's that?: Martin Constable, commanding the naval group for the United Kingdom at Diego Garcia asked.
"It's Blurr," Rem said as he watched the show with the humans.
They flashed past the shuttles showing the proles what real speed looked like. Small missiles flashed out and bore down on three of them coming. They connected in a fireball that flared, then winked out before Dev and Blurr came around and fired on the other four. One was nicked, then spiraled out of its flight path straight into a counter measure that blew both up. The others flew onward heading toward Impactor's Revenge and the City of Simfur.
"Take them out, infants," Hercy said as he lounged on Simfur.
Riot grinned, then began to hammer that direction with one of the mounted guns. A missile blew and another spiraled off to blow up by itself. "Them losers, zero. We'n's two."
Huge laughter erupted.
Impactor's Revenge laid down a blistering line of fire that caught the remaining missiles and blew them up. Grinning in his seat in the engineer's station, Springer chuckled. "Two more down, infinity to go."
It was then way down the field of battle that the missiles from the Supremes caught up with several of the fuel tankers that supplied Shrike's fleet.
-0-TBC 5-10-18 edited 7-3-18