The Diego Diaries: Cat and Mouse (dd6 633)
=0=Broadcast headquarters, MCA Consortium Broadcasting, London, Rome and New York … New York City
"Good evening. We have latest breaking news on the murder of Italian national, Silvio Lombardi who worked for Earth2 on Mars as a security officer until his death there three days ago. He is the second murder in three weeks. We were informed two days ago that he had been found murdered, an event that followed that of Lawrence Dobbs of Texas here in the United States.
"The first was Mr. Dobbs who was found murdered in a pile of boulders at milepost 15 on the TransWorld Highway some 21 miles from Earth2 itself. It would appear that Mr. Dobbs was bludgeoned to death by person or persons unknown. The newest victim is Silvio Lombardi of Florence, Italy, 35 years old and a senior member of the on site security service that is employed by site director, Owen Harris of Harris Industries and Technology. There are very little details known about each of these murders to date. Optimus Prime who is in charge of the situation as per the charters and protocols of the human habitations is not releasing any information beyond basic details in light of the investigation being ongoing.
"We are waiting for the cargo ship, Sea of Reeds to arrive and touch down at Ramstein Airbase in Germany with the body. It has spent the last three hours delivering members of an investment group who had gone to Earth2 to discuss future business ventures on Mars and to meet with and speak to senior Autobots who are key to that process. They have come from different countries all over the world and we are told that agents from Interpol, local national policing agencies and intelligence forces from their countries were waiting to interview them about this situation.
"There are no details being released at this moment from these interviews but we are seeking to speak with them though preliminary indications are that they were not aware of this happening until the Autobots came to the habitat to invoke the charter and begin their investigation. I am told that Stephanie Goldman is at Ramstein Airbase now. Stephanie?" he, David Harper asked.
The sound of engines could be heard as the screen split and a woman standing with others by a security fence faced a camera with a microphone. Behind her in the darkness of early morning, lights flooded an area near the base hospital and a group of soldiers were waiting by a gurney and ambulance. "David … I'm here at Ramstein Airbase waiting for the Autobot cargo ship to arrive with the body of Silvio Lombardi who died in a mysterious incident some miles from the Earth2 habitat. So far we're held up because the vessel is dropping off guests to the Future Is Now conference held at Earth2. When that is accomplished, they will come here and transfer the body to the waiting ambulance. David."
"What is the word at the base, Stephanie? Have you heard if Lombardi's family is there yet? What is the situation on the ground?" David asked.
"I was told that the parents and siblings of Silvio Lombardi had arrived a few hours ago to wait for their son to arrive here. They were accompanied by an attache of the department of state from Rome and were met by the Italian ambassador and his legal consultant for the embassy here. They are gathered at the hospital and will be here for what follows next. They are going to be performing a post mortem on the body here to determine what happened to him. The family has released no statement but apparently are very distraught about this whole matter as one would be. David."
"If you can hold on, Stephanie, we're going to go to our bureau in Rome for a report from Julio Marconi. Julio, do you hear me?"
A tall handsome man in a dark suit standing in the light of a gathering of news reporters and local people drawn by the hooplah answered. "I hear you, David. I'm here waiting for a statement from the government about this situation. It would appear that they're waiting for the post mortem before issuing anything more than what they have already. The Prime Minister expressed his surprise and disquiet that this has happened to an Italian national and expressed his concerns about the safety of the habitat and the responsibility of the Autobots to ensure the lives of everyone who live in them.
"Inside sources state that there is a lot of nervousness about this situation and concern for the numerous Italian nationals who live in the different habitats on world and serve in the N.E.S.T forces there. They are going to issue a statement when the report reaches the Prime Minister and not before. Right now, the alliances between Italy and the government of the Prime is solid and secure according to informed sources. David."
"Julio, what is the local reaction to this news among the population? Are they moved by this or is there calm?" David asked.
"So far, so good. There is great shock in the public but it would appear that most are waiting for the facts before making judgment," Julio said. "I would say it was a measured response to the incident so far. David."
"Thank you. Please stand by, Julio. Right now, we are going to our London bureau to take the measure of reaction there. Stephen, what is the situation in London tonight?" David asked.
A short man with dark hair and striking green eyes was standing outside Downing Street with a crowd, some of whom carried anti Autobot signs. "David, we're waiting for a statement from the Prime Minister who is consulting with his ministers and we are told, Prowl of Praxus about this incident. There is a conference call going on inside the Prime Minister's residence about this situation. The United Kingdom are very close allies to the Prime's government and there are many of their soldiers serving in the N.E.S.T. armed services, the most famous being Niall Graham of Scotland.
"The Prime Minister has a close working relationship through Prowl of Praxus, the sub commander of the Armed Forces and bond of the Prime of Cybertron. All of the major allies conference with him once a week for a half hour to discuss matters of mutual interest and import. Right now, I can tell you that there are a number of European leaders of governments on the call and when there is more facts laid out, then they will issue a joint statement and not before. David."
"Thank you, Stephen. Please stand by. We are going back to Stephanie at Ramstein because we have just received word that the Autobot ship is coming in for a landing there. Stephanie, what do you see?" David asked.
The scene changed to night time in Germany. The wind was blowing and rain was beginning to fall on the tarmac as everyone huddled under what shelter they could find. The lights of the base flooded the area illuminating those who were here to receive the body. This would be the last stop for the Autobots before leaving for home. The vessel could be seen coming in, its running lights bright as it came to touch down nearby. It rolled along, its gleaming white sides showing off the gigantic Autobrand, the Emblem of the Primes, its name in NeoCybex glyphs and several things that they didn't know the meaning.
It flew along, then slowed swiftly, turning to come forward to the place where it would halt. It was oddly silent, the great vessel as it came to a stop near the fence where the press waited.
"David, the Sea of Reeds has landed and is being readied to off load its last passenger. This ship I am told is not sentient but one of the many in the commercial fleet of the Prime that serves the planet and its many commercial ventures.
"They are getting ready to open the hatch. Who will be there to facilitate the transfer, I am not clear. Last time it was Ambassador Ratchet of Iacon himself. We shall have to wait and see. The gurney is being moved closer as the six soldiers delegated to take the coffin are getting ready to do so," Stephanie said.
The gurney halted near the plane, then the six soldiers led by an officer walked to the plane as the hatch opened. The lights inside flooded the area as Ratchet stepped out with Springer and Drift. They walked down and met the group of base military officers and dignitaries that were going to take charge of the body. They huddled together as Ratchet knelt and the other two bots leaned in to listen.
The images on the screen were of Ratchet discussing things with the soldiers and dignitaries including the Ambassador for Italy to Germany. It was intense, then Ratchet stood. Drift and Springer walked back up the ramp, went inside, then came back out. Springer was holding the casket in both hands, the smallness of the figure itself oddly poignant. He walked past the group, then knelt down. Gently, carefully, reverently, he placed the casket on the gurney.
Rising to step back, he watched as Drift knelt to place the flag of Cybertron and Mars over it. It was like someone spreading a handkerchief, he was so big. Then he stood and the soldiers waiting took charge, walking off with the casket to the ambulance. The bots watched them go, themselves shiny with rain as it began to fall harder. Then they walked back to Ratchet, paused as he talked some more with the humans, then rose himself to go. Without ceremony, they walked up the ramp and the hatch closed.
After a moment of two, the vessel signaled that it was leaving and then without a hitch, it rose straight up into the air to disappear into the dark raining sky. Silvio Lombardi was at last home again.
=0=Going home
"Some of them were pissed off," Springer said as he lounged on a chair by the windows of the vast hold.
Ratchet nodded. "They're scared. I don't blame them. They're finite and small. They want this over as badly as we do."
"This is going to frag up the relationship and maybe stir the hornets nest isn't it?" Drift asked.
"You're a little too late. Prowl messaged me that two of our stores, one in Belgium and another in Australia were bombed. No one was hurt and the damage negligible. I'm only worried about our employees. You two better get with Prime over this. We're going to have to do some work keeping everyone safe here."
Springer nodded. "Frag," he muttered under his breath.
=0=Autobot City
They watched the news which alternated between the scene at Ramstein and the two sites where pipe bombs had gone off. It was like old times.
Prowl glanced at the doorway as Ratchet, Drift and Springer walked in. They were recalled by bridge and thus spent minutes rather than nearly an hour in transit toward home. The senior Autobots watched them come to the table, then sit.
"Good job. Short overview?" Prowl asked.
"They stated that they were going to be as patient as public opinion allowed for the results. No one is going to do anything to the relationship but they want and need facts and results as soon as possible. I gave them my word they would get them as fast as we could determine. Given that we're dancing around the problem of ringers, its going to be delicate for us to do this. I think they are the killers and we have to balance taking them down to save the locals any more death or leave them to find their handlers and save maybe thousands more by doing so."
Prime nodded. "This is a conundrum. Of course, there is the third possibility. We take the ringers in and ring their necks." He glanced at a pensive Jazz and Blaster. "Do you two think you can be Mueller and Anderson?"
The two glanced at each other, then Jazz grinned. "Do I look like I can?" He laughed. "You can take that two ways. Those low rollers? Sure."
"Then I think its time to hunt for moles," Prime said as he stood.
"Again," Ironhide said as he joined Prime.
All of them rose, the senior Autobots, grizzled veterans of a zillion hellish encounters and special operations that would dazzle the imaginations of professional soldiers all over the galaxy. Together, they walked to the door of Ops Center heading to the N.E.S.T. Headquarters and the two ringers.
They were led by a seething Optimus Prime.
=0=TBC 4-8-19