The Diego Diaries: End Game (dd6 609)
=0=Prime
"Send the message, Typhoon and Tennyson, as you go. I want it repeated over and over again until they surrender," Prime said over the inter-ship intercom system.
:Understood: -Ty and Tenn
Nearby, two massive vessels who were scanning the nebula began to move, one separating slightly from the other as they flew forward into the gas, debris and darkness. They were gone in seconds but the message Prime sent was heard over the intercoms of Salton Sea as it began to broadcast.
"Remaining armada of Pulsar and Rabid, this is Optimus Prime. I am sending this message to you so that you might decide in an informed manner what you plan to do next. I would suggest that you listen carefully and choose wisely. As of this moment, Pulsar, Rabid and eight of his general staff are in my custody. They were hunted and taken prisoner along with Shrike himself when their ships were destroyed.
"I am aware that you know Omega and Xantium Supreme are hunting the rest of you after decimating your armada. I am also aware that some of you were members of Shrike's fleet that was destroyed earlier when you made the mistake of trying to make contact with Ominous and Razorclaw. You were poorly led but it doesn't have to be your epitaph.
"Your fleet comprised 8 cruisers, 12 battleships, 13 large battle shuttles, 14 smaller ones, three fighter transports and a number of support vessels. As of this moment all but 2 battleships, 8 large shuttles and 12 small including 2 fighter transports are intact and resisting. All of the rest have been destroyed or surrendered. None of your cruisers are intact. Given that you are not interplanetary vessels and that your fuel and munitions support ships are now out of the picture, you will be stranded here in this, a very rarely traveled area of space to die if you do not surrender.
"It would do you well to know that Tennyson, a metrotitan and Typhoon, a dreadnought are entering the nebula to map and locate where all of you are. Seekers have already marker buoyed every exit point in the area so that if you try to leave here you will trigger the markers and we will bridge to you immediately. There is no way you can escape that we will not capture you.
"I am telling you that if you surrender you will be treated according to the Rules of Warfare and given all the protection and rights that you are entitled to receive as citizens of Cybertron. You have my word on the Matrix of Leadership that there will be no reprisals nor poor treatment. I am going to be broadcasting this surrender for a few more joors before I assume that you do not wish to do so. Then I will order Tennyson, Typhoon, Xantium and Omega Supreme to go into the nebula, hunt you down and destroy you. I am giving you six joors. Prime out."
Prime sat brooding on his command chair as outside the pincers were beginning to close on the rest of the armada. By the time six joors had passed everyone who was left would have surrendered, their ships would be impounded and Tennyson would be helping locate every single individual dead or alive who was still unaccounted for. Anything that couldn't be towed or salvaged was stripped, mined and blown up. It worked with a clock-like efficiency.
=0=The Hourly News, Autobot City: THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS!
"We have gotten updated information from the Office of Strategic Communications about the interdiction currently going on out of the system. Commander Jazz released the following information …" Aleph said as he read ahead. "The Autobot armada engaging the enemy intruders have halted and destroyed their ability to advance further and are currently in the process of gathering up the few remaining individuals and ships that were part of the battle group of the phase six mechanism, Pulsar of Capital City.
"The enemy armada consisted of 8 battle cruisers, 12 battleships, 13 large battle shuttles, 14 smaller ones, 3 fighter transports and 14 support ships of varying kinds. There was fierce fighting in the nebula where the enemy had fled and through the efforts of the Prime's forces, most notably Omega and Xantium Supreme, they were whittled down to a remnant of their former strength. They are currently taking surrenders from those who remain at large.
"The losses for our forces include four battle shuttles, heavy damage to the hospital ship, Phobos, damage to Furious Storm, The Salton Sea, Omega Supreme and his brother, Xantium Supreme. The two Supremes are wounded but not seriously. Phobos took heavy damage and will require dry dock at Saturn Orbital Shipyard.
"There were casualties on that vessel and others but no fatalities. It is estimated that there will be between 8- and 9,000 casualties from the enemy armada with most of them dead at the scene. The numbers of surrender at this moment stand at 22,310. They are being sorted for medical need, then transported to Kellus in the local group of Cybertron for incarceration. None of them will be brought to Mars but for the leadership which includes Rabid, Calamity, Barster, Heat and their overlord, the phase six mechanism, Pulsar.
"All of them are in high security and will remain thus until such time as they stand trial for their actions. Pulsar is injured and will be housed in maximum security at the Prison Hospital Center here on Mars as a 'special circumstances prisoner'.
"Among the wounded in the Prime's service are Commander Springer who is recovering very well at the Autobot City Medical Center, Commander Ratchet and several of his medical staff along with a few Autobots who were in the destroyed shuttles. No one is serious and no one was killed. We were all very fortunate this time around.
"The fleet will be in about midnight Martian time pending the outcome of the wind down. A message by the Prime is scheduled for 1200 hours on the TMC tomorrow if all is well. Let's go to the airfield now and catch up with Jacx. Apparently, there are ships with wounded arriving through the Triggers now ..."
=0=Parkland at Tower 2, Mare Tranquilitatis, Autobot City about the same time
Three big mechanisms knelt down beside a tiny Datsun convertible that was plowed into a little pile of sand. It was slightly listing in its crash. Standing next to it gesturing with his tiny servos and speaking with deep, deep concern (for himself and the vehicle as well), Orion of Mars tried to explain how he zigged when he should have zagged.
Genesis who had taken autopilot off to see what the little dude would do if he drove himself found out. Orion who was singing happily as he 'drove' the little car suddenly found himself in control and drove straight into a tiny mound of sand that was artfully placed to border a crystal bed.
"Whoops," the big kid said as he along with Quasar and Fireball jogged over to help him out. He was tilted and dazed with surprise.
"I NOT, ORION, DOING THE SHE! SHE COMED TO THIS HERE," he said as he pointed to the sand pile. "I DRIVEDED THIS," he said as he showed them how he DRIVEDED. "I, ORION NOT DOING!" He put his servo over his mouth in a show of extreme shock and not-me-ism eliciting the same laughter it always did. Given he wasn't shooting for laughter when he used this, his last ditch effort to con himself out of a chair of doom, it always puzzled him when someone would.
Farther away, a number of cars, pickups and a big little truck were going in circles. Sunspot who was driving 'Optimus' around by himself, the only one of the kids who was, bee lined to the wreck site. Pulling up, he leaned out of the driver's side window with a look of concern. "You wrecked, Orion?" he asked.
Genesis chuckled. "He did. We got this, Sunny," he said as Quasar and Fireball pulled the tiny car out, fixed the sand heap and put Orion back in the driver's seat. "Hang on, Orion. Here we go!" With that, Genesis returned steering back to the control and the little car rolled off again.
Orion looked back to wave abandoning the steering wheel when he did. It was fortunate that he was back on controls. Sunspot waved back, then hit the pedal following the tiny convertible down the little path.
The nine big kids gathered to watch with grins. "Well, we won't do that again," Genesis said with a chuckle.
They would.
=0=On the way home to Iacon
They rode in a cab to get there without the jostle or hustle of the metro. Reaching their apartment, Drift got out to hold the door for Springer who slid out with wobbly legs and a big frown.
Drift reached for the cane Springer refused to use and watched as the cab drove off. He frowned at Springer as well. Holding out the cane, he stepped closer. "Use this and don't give me slag."
"Its slag to use it," Springer said as he gripped it.
"Not if you fall on your face," Drift said as they moved toward the door.
It would take a while to get there and when they did Springer sat heavily in his chair. He tossed the cane onto the couch across the way and watched as Drift got them both a beer. Catching his own, he grinned. "Home sweet home. We missed the entire show. You should have stayed and helped with the fun and games."
"I thought about it but then I knew you wouldn't do what they wanted without me here to boss you, slagger. Its all your fault," Drift said as he flopped onto his chair.
"It usually is or so I'm told," Springer said as he squeezed Drift's servo.
"Just so you know," Drift said with a grin. He squeezed Springer's servo back.
As the details dribbled in, both of them would be pissed they missed the show.
=0=Salton Sea
They sat here and there around the deck watching the forward screen as things were hauled in, troops and ships gathered who would sin no more. Ratchet limped in to sit in the engineer's seat forward for Prime and next to the pilot. He glanced around. "It's in hand. I decided to delegate. What's the end game, Optimus?"
"Well, you getting medical attention for one," Prime said with a slight frown. "Go get attended, Ratchet."
"I am. I just need a wash and wax. Where's the family?" Ratchet asked as he shifted slightly to ease a pain in his side.
"Gathering up stragglers," Prowl said as he walked forward to join them. "We could make it an order."
"Where would be the fun in that?" Ratchet asked as he saw the elevator door open and Sun step into view.
Behind him came the twins and Jack. They all looked the worst for the wear. Gathering around Prime, they stared at Ratchet. "What happened to you?" Sun asked.
"We were strafed by the fighters you slaggers startled from their hive," Ratchet replied. "You look like you were run over by a truck."
"Make it a cruiser and you'd be right," Jack said with a grin. "Where's infant?" he asked Hardie who joined them.
"He's with the others doing clean up detail," Hardie said with a grin.
Sun nodded. "Good. He's in good company then."
No one in that group but the twins grinned at the commentary, such was the group mindset of the elders about their 'little mech'.
"What's this I hear of you riding a turret gun into the nebula shooting all the way?" Prowl asked Sun who smiled with an eerie reflection of all the mechs in his family.
"I DID!" he said with a laugh. "I got to gut a ship and then was picked up. We got Shrike when we did."
"Counting coup are you?" Ratchet asked.
"Maybe, maybe not. I think Lissie has us beat. I'm not sure I want to play that game now," Sun said with a big smile.
"Got beat by a femme? By a GIRRRRLLL!?" Ratchet asked.
"Frag yeah. Little femme can WRECK!" Sun replied.
No one argued with him on that score.
"I think Zee and Omega own this game," Prowl said.
Beyond the view screen ships could be seen heading their way, some in tow, some flown by Autobots and in custody on all of them there would be hundreds and hundreds of resigned, pissed, fearful, seething and/or weary enemy troops.
Sun glanced at Prime. "We've laid down the sensor buoys. Anyone coming this way will trigger them. Right now, Ty told me that he was sweeping he entire area with Tennyson. They're going to make sure that no one gets left behind dead or alive."
"Good," Prime said. "Thank you, gentlemen. I look forward to the final counts so that I can congratulate Lissie personally."
Huge laughter greeted that. If you discounted Xantium and Omega, Lissie came in first. No one would be surprised that she did. The quiet ones … you have to watch out for them.
=0=TBC 3-10-19 edited 3-31-19
ESL
epitaph (epy-taff) the writing on your grave stone