The Diego Diaries: Abalone and Beyond (dd8 274)
=0=There
"Test it and see if you can reach them."
The kid sitting at the communications console tapped in a message, then hit send. It was quiet a moment, then a familiar voice could be heard.
:Hercy? Anyone? Is that you?: Blaster said over the intercom.
The youngster turned toward Hercy with an almost impossible expression of relief. "I think we got the Operational Center on Mars, Commander."
Hercy grinned. "I think we do. Sun? You do the honors?"
A chuckle could be heard. :This is Sun. That you, Blaster?:
:Sure is. Where are ya?:
:Getting ready to come home. Stand by, okay?:
:Standing by:
=0=Ops Center, The Fortress, Mars
Prowl glanced up at the sound of Sun's voice over the intercom system. He tapped a device, then picked it up. On the screen of it was the smiling visage of Ironhide the Elder of Praxus. "So what's the word?" Prowl asked with a smirk. "Where are your fellow travelers?"
:If you mean the 'Cons, we have a fragging good story for ya, Prowl: Sun said as he sat back to tell it.
=0=On a shuttle nearby
Cord listened to the conversation then toggled a link to Sun. "So this means we part our ways? The blockage for both of us must be over."
:We have to work out a hand signal when we come for ya, Cord: Sun said with amusement in his voice. :Do we need to adjust the plan or is it still go?:
"It's go from this end," Cord said as the younger kids with him nodded their helms hopefully. "Are you going to bridge out?"
:Not until you're out of here. If anything goes wrong you could be stuck out here. If things go south at least with us you have a place to go: Sun said. :Go ahead. You go first then we're going to clear this place to wait for your armada to proceed:
"Alright. We might be stuck with them a while but in the end, we're out of here. All of us," Cord said. "Let's hope that we get this right."
:You and me, brother: Sun said. :When you're ready:
"See ya on the other side," Cord said as he tapped a console toggle at the communications station. "Cord to Armada. Come in."
After a moment a deep voice answered. :Cord. Are you alright? What happened?:
"We had a run in with the Autobots. We have information and as many videos as we could get but the system they have is buttoned down so tight its not much. We need to bridge in." He stared at the kids who were watching him with hope and gratitude. Some of the older mechs had that same hungry look, too.
:Stand by: the voice said.
Cord switched channels to ensure only his group heard this part. "This is Cord. You know what we planned to do. Keep your head. Stay together and I'll get us, all of us on the same ship so we can leave together. This is the end game here. Don't falter now. Cord out." He sat back then the voice spoke.
:We're sending a bridge at the coordinates you sent. Go fast and we'll bring you in:
"Got it," Cord said.
A bridge big enough to take in the four remaining ships two at a time appeared and without hesitation they flew into it to disappear.
Watching nearby, Sun and his group called up their own.
:Prowl to Sun and group. We're bridging you to a rescue site. Meet with Prime there. Prowl out:
A bridge huge and fiery blew up nearby so they flew swiftly toward it to disappear into the spinning well of infinity. It closed behind them.
=0=Ratchet
He watched a number of shuttles fall into a low stationary orbit indicating to him that the group chasing the Decepticons had been brought back in one piece. He felt lighter than a moment before as he walked toward a ship to find food and a moment of respite.
Prowl now had the videos and would review them with Sciences and Prime when Optimus left here.
He entered a big ship being used as a repair site then found the small food station inside. Pulling out a number of items that seemed to speak to him, Ratchet walked back out then climbed a ramp back into Avalone. He walked to a lounge that he knew was nearby and after prying the door open he jacked in, got the lights going, then sat down to eat.
He thought about Avalone and Banner as he ate, two quiet mechs who loved each other terribly. They'd been a secret bond for eons of time preferring not to tell anyone for the attention it would bring to them. They liked a quiet life together, the two of them and had the same interests and world views.
Most of them did, the big frames. They served the Prime and The People with everything that constituted them. Nothing facing them, not even a sure death would turn them from their duty. They were the best of the Cybertronians. They were the most universally beloved of their people that existed.
They'd risked their lives ferrying millions from Cybertron and always came back for more. They protected colonies, they were finding by lying nearby in a city mode that wasn't populated but helped manufacture needed things. It allowed them to lift off faster that way to defend. When someone would come that wasn't good for the peace of the community they learned to regret it right away.
He'd been a doctor to this frame from the beginning of his career and he loved working on them. They were complicated almost beyond belief but he managed to make a mental landscape in his processor that made it easy for him. Working on them was the best thing ever. Check that. Working on their KIDS was the best thing ever.
He finished his food then rose to leave. Walking out toward the elevator he took one up to the bridge to keep the ball rolling. Avalone's energon levels would stand at 56% when he got there.
=0=Terra
Prowl walked in to a room full of mechs and humans with dark expressions. Girding himself for ANOTHER problem, he paused before the desk behind which Magnus sat. "What's going on then?" he asked.
"Have you see the news or heard the business reporting from this morning?" Venture asked his son.
"Not yet. I've been busy with a lot of things. The shuttles chasing the Decepticons in the Benzuli are back by the way. They were bridged to augment the fleet at the crash site," Prowl replied.
"Well, Commander," Caro said with an expression. "We appear to have a real problem before us."
They explained it in detail, at least as far as they knew then waited as Prowl digested the news.
He stared at them, one to the other then pulled a chair to sit. "Well, isn't this … interesting." He considered the data pad in his servo with all the known information. "Is this going to update?"
"I programmed it to do so, Prowl," Magnus said. "I'm guessing we're going to be playing interplanetary chess for a while."
Prowl grinned faintly. He glanced at Magnus then the others. "Its my favorite game."
=0=Avalone
They walked onto the deck of the giant ship to halt beside Ratchet and Prime who were talking together at the conn. Both turned to them then grinned.
"Well, hail the conquering heroes come," Ratchet said as he slapped servos with the group.
"That's us," Sun said. "We made a bridge with the 'Cons in the group we were chasing, Prime. They're going to be an ally if they come through the barrier. They gave us a bunch of information about the leadership. Do you know about two phase sixers called Paladin and Serial?"
"Nothing more than a name on a very long list," Prime said. "Two of them?"
Sun nodded as did the others with him. "Those two slaggers are running a very good show and a large one. They have a science twerp with them named Lancer."
"Lancer," Ratchet said. "I remember something about a kid named Lancer who was a protege of Jhiaxus. There was some kind of controversy about him being so at the time. I'll have to look it up."
How many want to defect? That is what you mean right?" Prime asked.
"There's several squads on board the ships probably coming and the entire group with cord. He would've come with us but he can't leave his mechs behind. He says there's good mechs there," Hercy said. "He's from Helex like me. That broke the ice."
"Well played. What do you expect if this comes together?" Prime asked. "Can we depend upon him or not?"
"I believe him," Hercy said as the others nodded.
"Then we have a toe hold in that den of thieves," Sun said. "Two phase sixers with smarts and a science slagger who might be the spawn of the Liege Maximo. Typical orn for us."
It would be.
=0=In The City
They walked into the Ops Center together then sat around the table. Turning on the monitor that played Earth content, Prowl found the business channel that was playing around the clock. It wasn't speaking to the problem at hand but given their pattern it would roll up again.
"This changes everything," Prowl said as the commercial began to play with the sound down. "We need to get on top of this. Have you spoken to Barron? He would have the inside track on the legalities and all the broken clauses and promises."
:And hearts?: Sam asked with a smirk.
"That's not possible when there isn't one in play," Magnus said with a slight smirk. "I have yet to identify one in this group."
:You're probably right: Warren said as he lounged in a chair next to Sam. :We aren't talking about genuine individuals:
"Apparently not but we are looking at a sporting time when this all comes to pass," Prowl said with a grin. "Personally, this just might become my favorite problem of all." He reached over to toggle the comm channel. "Prowl to Barron."
:Barron here, Prowl:
"Could you please come to the Operational Center for a conference about a possible problem that lies in your bailiwick."
:On my way. Barron out:
Prowl sat back and put his peds on a chair. He crossed his arms over his rather comely chassis then grinned. "I think it already has."
=0=Ratchet
He stood on the deck jacked into the access point for the massive intellect that was Avalone. He had just reached 75% of energon capacity and the flow was picking up. Ratchet would now begin to access the higher levels of Avalone's personality. It'd be a layer by layer process for him, coaxing back into some sort of electronic forum the mech that was Avalone.
Ratchet had created a forum of texting possibilities that would be first step. The last thing they needed to do was wake him conventionally because he would come apart at the seams and probably die in the attempt. Most didn't know that and often problems asserted themselves when one tried. As it was, Ratchet would assess his lucidity, coax him forward from slumber and explain the situation so he wouldn't react and hurt himself more.
:Ratchet code 54, status input barrier override 17A-4457P-A85, proximity clone override, 7B8, entry request on override six: Ratchet thought the words into the feed noting the text being created as he spoke it. A tiny node in the middle of Avalone's processor was what he was shooting for. If nothing was broken or damaged he would score it and the slow careful process of bringing Avalone out of his sleep the proper way would happen.
=0=Ops Center, Mars
Barron walked in then paused at the table. Nodding to everyone there he turned to Prowl. "What can I do for you, Commander?" he asked.
"Please. Sit, Barron. We have a tale of woe to tell you," Prowl said with a grin.
=0=TBC 10-13-2021