The Diego Diaries: War and Aftermath (dd6 358)
-0-Earth2
They came out of the many hatch doors that led below to the shelters. They were ushered out by the eight men and one woman who made up the Autobot Auxiliary Security Force Unit that reported to Springer and were paid for by the Autobots. They were a big sticking point in the negotiations with the humans who wanted to police their own domain without what they considered interference and prying eyes.
The bots had insisted in having a force, albeit small, inside. They would be trained to their own specifications in a hostile world where a poor lapse in judgment could be fatal and would be able to understand and respond even more than the others to events as they emerged. It had been agreed upon, though the nine former soldiers from numerous countries on Earth stayed in their own separate quarters in the building, one that overlooked the back of the facility facing the great plain beyond.
They had apartments, work out rooms, a sauna, lounge, and small lap pool. They were autonomous to the living arrangement even as they were autonomous to the command structure, reporting to and taking direction from Siso and the other shift commanders in the Operation Center of Earth2, a space they were keyed to enter and leave.
They were the neutral observers that were needed if there was ever a problem that caused a clash of facts. Now they helped everyone come back up to the facility even as one was heading to the Farm to check on the others there. It would take a moment for everyone to come back out, passing these individuals dressed in N.E.S.T. camo and special gear that linked them into the bots even when they weren't on the comm system.
Walking out, their conversations and exclamations filling the concourse with a loud racket, they headed for a big monitor nearby that someone had turned on. On the screen, laying where he landed, Omega Supreme sprawled in all his frightening glory. Someone near the front glanced at someone next to him. "Who could do that much damage to him?"
No one knew yet.
-0-Out there
The small ship shuddered as it lost its tail section. They had targeted the rest of its propulsion system given it was still able to move, disabling it entirely. It drifted downward, if downward existed in space, falling away from the others. It bounced against a disabled cruiser listing nearby rupturing its hull. A segment of the cruiser imploded, then blew outward as some major functional junction exploded inside. The shrapnel of that explosion ripped the small ship open and those watching could see the sparking interior as its electrical system began to fail. They were dead in the water.
"This is Optimus Prime. Throw down your weapons and step into space. Come to me and you will be given good treatment as per the Rules of War and Space. Refuse and we will end your misery with our next barrage and go to the another ship. Prime out."
There was no movement, then a number of mechs stepped toward the holes and began to jump out. As they did, Prowl sent for the three prison ships at Autobot City. They would be coming through the open bridges nearby when the first slaggers came within grabbing range. One down, twelve to go.
-0-Autobot City
They came out of the woodwork, shell shocked and surprised. The transponder system relayed messages to all adults in the system, letting them know that the all clear was underway, that the airfield in the middle of Autobot City was off limits for some distance around, that Omega Supreme was determined to be in serious but stable condition, that the Prime was pursuing the battle to a good conclusion 95,000 light years away, that the two quarantined piratical groups were hunkered down and not offering support to the newcomers and that The Hourly News was the best source for truth though they would continue to update through the emergency transponder system as it came in.
Traffic began as individuals began to go about their business again with a number heading toward the airfield anyway. None of them would be from Earth 1 or Earth2 because they were ordered to return to their habitats and await the final all clear. Until then, the news outlets were their only source of information and they were playing everywhere in the colony as everyone waited for the updates and eventually, the word from Prime himself.
-0-Temple and Monastery
They gathered at the Temple, the representatives of each discipline when there was a disaster. Cyclonus and Chevron sat at the table as Heatout, several other Circle officials and the representative for the Peace Mission gathered.
"Thank you for coming at such a time," Chrome said as he joined them with Lauren and Lady Sela. "We have a catastrophe on our hands, both our own and theirs. The enemy have lost a great deal of lives and we have a responsibility to them as surely as we do to the two families of the dead and the 22 of the wounded on our side.
"Prime will be gathering them in as they take down the fleet. Right now, Turbine who is our liaison there said that there is still surrender to undertake. A good third of the enemy fleet made it away, heading back into the Bootes Barren. The rest are disabled or blocked from escape. Prime and the fleet will probably have to board some of them and take them down deck by deck."
It was funereal at that news.
Cyclonus sat back. "I will liaison with Prime. I am very skilled at ship boarding."
"You are, Master," Lauren said. "However, you are also the Master of the Monastery and thus, your duties to the greater portion of your followers rather outweigh the possibility of your loss doing something like this. We are rebuilding our respective groups together and separately because we are the living repository of each group's wisdom. A loss such as yourself is not replaceable."
Cyclonus stared at him a moment then nodded slightly. "You speak wisdom. I will speak with Prime and see what is needed."
"Good," Chevron said with a slight grin. "I worried you might feel called to do direct intervention when its obvious that your calling is here, Master. The Monastery would not exist but for you."
Cyclonus considered that then nodded. "Very well."
Lauren then picked up a data pad. "We need to be ready to receive the dead. Prowl has informed me that they will be cared for here. Shall we decide what we need to do?"
They would spend a couple of joors working out the process, then adjourn to help those who were coming to them in their anxiety over the operation.
-0-Out there
They sped along among the debris until shooting erupted. Moving swiftly behind floating chunks of it, several dozen piratical Decepticons stared back at the other ships with fury. They were trying to surrender and their own side was shooting at them. :Snapper to Prime. THESE FRAGGERS ARE SHOOTING AT US! WE'RE SURRENDERING! YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!:
"Prime to Snapper. Stay where you are. We are going to take care of this," Optimus said as he turned to Devcon and Hardie. "Please take care of this." He turned back to the view. "Prime to Springer."
"Springer here."
"We are going to take care of the shooting. Then move in and take them on. Scans indicate that we have 27 surrendering. Perhaps you can transfer them through ship bridge to Warden Gee-Gee's ships."
:On it. Springer out:
As Prime sat back willing himself to relax he listened to Ironhide direct the Earth action. Outside, he saw Impactor's Revenge moving up as Devcon directed a barrage at the shooters. The shots flew through the ships that were either unable to move or blocked in, finding their target. It stitched the side of a cruiser which was using guns mounted along the side of it to fire upon their own side. It blazed with fire, then winked out. Shooting stopped immediately.
"Prime to enemy battle group. You are hemmed in or disabled. You are at our mercy. You can choose to make this difficult and lose anyway or you can await your turn to surrender and live. We can make it happen either way, though I will suggest that in only one scenario you still get to walk around. The next ship that fires on anyone of us or someone surrendering will be destroyed. Prime out."
Nearby coming in gingerly, Impactor's Revenge reached a group of seven mechs trapped by a huge section of a battleship. They slid silently beside them, then the hatch opened.
Roadbuster who had transferred aboard stood with Drift and Springer in the doorway armed as they grinned at the 'Cons. Well ... all but Roadbuster were grinning. He was simmering with malevolence and battle lust.
:Come on in, boys. The beer's on me: Springer said as the furious faces of the mechs huddling outside made him laugh.
One of them shoved off and drifted to the door where he was scanned, shaken down for arms, then shoved roughly inside.
Sandstorm grinned as he moved the mech along to a functioning bridge in the back. He stepped through and was gone. It took a few minutes to send the other six onward before they moved on to the next group, three Man Mountain Deans trying to hide behind a single piece of ship rubble. Pulling them in, feeling ant-like in their towering evil, they shoved them along as well. Then they moved onward.
Ten down, seventeen more to go.
-0-At the other end of the bridge on a big big prison ship
Gee-Gee and her team waited at the bridge with giant guns and grins. The mechs came in, were frisked again, their transponder stuff scanned and all other manner of virus control and hidden this and that taken care of.
They were led to the desk at the forward deck where they were asked a few questions. After getting few answers, they were dragged or shoved toward a cell where they entered, then were contained as others came. It would take half a joor to get the 27 from the small ship. There were cruisers and battleships among others that were still to be sorted. As for Shrike? His demise or escape would have to be settled in a deck-by-deck search.
Meanwhile, the next ship fell into the cross hairs of a seething Xantium. Prime could detect the big mech's rage through the heat surrounding him and the minute tremor in the auras of everyone on the deck as they dealt with it. "This is Optimus Prime. Captain of the cruiser D-4s-A or anyone who can hear me. We are targeting you now. Drop your weapons and step out. Float toward us and we will retrieve you. Your own side is targeting you. Do not be a fool."
A harsh enraged voice could be heard. "Why should we? What's waiting for us with you?"
"A place of safety, medical care, good food and a chance to live a better life. Where's Shrike? Hand him over. You have no loyalty to him now. He has not stepped up to lead you. Surrender and live. Fight us and you will die."
It was silent a moment. Prime frowned slightly. "Prime to Springer."
:Springer here:
"Board the cruiser, D-4s-A and show them the error of their ways. Come out in one piece."
:Understood. Springer out: He turned to his crew who were cracking their knuckle joints and fingering the edges of their blades. "Time to dance," he said as he walked to the hatch. "Boys, cover us. We're going in."
With that, Springer leaped into space and with momentum floated to the listing cruiser to magnetize. Behind him with grins, feral glee or both, the twins, Roadbuster, Splice and Reamer, a huge experienced former 'Con ship boarder followed.
Seekers arrived with guns and magnetized to the cruiser hull. Grinning at Springer, they waited for his call. He was walking toward the hatch nearby, then halted. :Hello, the broke ass cruiser. This is Springer and I'm here to repossess this fine mo-sheen due to nonpayment. You can come out and walk into the inevitable with your limbs intact or I'll ask the Seeker horde on the hull here to ventilate this sad aft vehicle. I get paid either way:
Drift who was admiring Springer's gall and his fine blue optics grinned. :You've been hanging out with the humans again. Ask me how I know:
:I would but something tells me this isn't going to be easy: Springer said as below their peds they could feel the tremor of a group running toward the hatch nearby. They stepped back and raised their guns just as the hatch began to slide open slowly...
-0-Earth
"WHAT THE FRAG! SLAGGERS! FOLLOW THEM!" Ironhide bellowed as the deep divers sent down to take a bead on the signal near a few lava vents came up empty handed. Actually, they came up with beacons that were placed there to distract and confuse. Neither quite happened but it was enough for the 'Cons to leave the unstable and very volcanic Hawaiian Islands. "GET A BEAD ON THEIR SORRY AFTS! I WILL PERSONALLY KICK THEM INTO ORBIT!" Ironhide said to his crew as they began to fix a bead on the underwater path of their quarry.
They were heading for the bigger Pacific Ocean and the eastern coast of Africa. Without so much as a fine adieu, the Autobot ships lifted off and bombed onward leaving helicopters and the fleet of RIMPAC spinning.
Metaphorically.
-0-TBC 5-16-18 edited 7-5-18 5-7-19