The Diego Diaries: Hard Way (dd8 524)

=0=In the Sub Operational Center in The Fortress

They worked out the subtle scans that were given by specialist Seekers who overflew the colony doing deep and very specific data mining. It was on a large data pad with the grid and on the massive wall sized monitor nearby that what they discovered began to appear.

Starscream was speaking.

"We had an analysis of the chips made and dialed in a very specific program that was used to scan for the slaggers who bear them. Its among the best we have and those who did it are the best experts that exist for this kind of work. Unfortunately, Prime, the materials used and the design they bear match a lot of things that most of our soldiers carry on their persons as well as others who have specific jobs or professions that require such tools. This is what we got," he said tapping in the data to project the findings on the pad and wall monitor.

The colony lit up like a Christmas Surprise tree. Included on the map was the location of RTR Tools in The City.

They stared at it with feelings of futility mixed with rage.

Rainmaker glanced at Wheeljack and Perceptor. "There is no more possibilities to dial this in more specifically?"

"We're looking, Elder, but not finding right now," Wheeljack said as Perceptor nodded. "This is a common design and material. We used the weight of these devices combined as well as them singularly to help purge those who aren't part of this and it didn't matter. There's a wealth of devices and weapons that match. Some of the anti-personnel devices that soldiers and marines carry match the data perfectly, unfortunately. We're talking about millions and millions of individuals."

Prime considered that, then glanced at Magnus. "What is the story with their processing data through the Bureau of Refugees and the Port?"

"That will probably be our best bet, Optimus," Magnus said. "We have most of them located. It would appear that about 120 or so of them left their assigned locations and moved. Where they moved is unclear. I am highly annoyed about this."

"We all are," Arcee said as she rubbed his back.

"We have 4,235 individuals on our radar excluding those in the prison. We have to locate all of them. If we plan to make a massive raid to capture them all at once, then we can't miss these outliers," Magnus said.

"We also have to be clean about it," Ratchet said. "Nothing will give the slaggers who are already here and haven't made the jump a bigger notion than making this a mess."

Prime nodded. "I need data. I want to know where they are employed, where they go to school and where they hang out. If we can find that out we can plan a strike that will take them out together. We also have to plan for the possibility that we will miss some and they will be on the run."

"Ah. Urban warfare. Its been a while," Elita said as she glanced at Arcee.

"Since last the attack," Magnus replied grimly. "I do recall how much fun that wasn't."

Ratchet grinned at Magnus. "I heard you were a beast, a magnificence. See what I did there?" Then Ratchet froze. "The Magnificence."

Everyone glanced at Prime who stared back at them with a look of surprise. He glanced at Prowl. Then Ratchet. "I am open to anything."

=0=A short time later

Turbine entered the room leading the priests that followed and Alpha Trion. He held a box, one made long long ago by someone from his clan that carried The Magnificence. He walked to the console, put it down, then bowed to the box slightly. He looked at Prime. "We're here."

Prime glanced at the group with him, then Turbine. "Thank you, Maker," he said formally. "I am taking a chance that something I need found will be enabled through this relic. I do not know what Its limits are for seeking that which I desire."

Turbine glanced at the others, then turned to Prime. "The Magnificence is able to answer any question that Its asked with true information either of the past or now. It will not answer any that are detrimental to the good order or are asked to make trouble for others. It has Its ethics and will not set them aside for anyone."

The others nodded.

"It will answer your questions, Prime, if they are ethical," Alpha said.

Prime considered that. "We have to find a party that is dispersed throughout the colony. They bear in their helms chips from the Quintessans and the Functionalists. They somehow managed to miss the scans in the turmoil of being brought in. It could also be that they do not have them or they are hidden in some unknown manner. They did not register on the scans during immigration. I am hoping for the first but must prepare for the second.

"I would need a listing of everyone who bears them and their location," Prime concluded.

Turbine glanced at the priests and Alpha, held a conversation off line, then turned to Prime. "It can do so."

Alpha walked to the box, bowed, then opened it. He held up a nondescript golden globe with identical jewel-like features here and there. He held it out to Prime who took it. "It operates on honest questions but attitude matters. Respect and manners are required. This object is considered holy by many and could be part of an original Prime."

Everyone stared at it with surprise. That was new information to most of them. The priests, Alpha and Turbine didn't appeared fazed.

Prime nodded to Alpha, then walked to the map wall with the device. "I am Optimus Prime, the First Disciple of Primus. I would like to ask a question and receive an important answer to it, sir."

The device was unprepossessing through it bore colorful jewels on its golden matte surface. They weren't cut jewels but rather raw appearing ones of very simple design. It didn't blink or glow but It responded. "You seek that information. In what form?"

"I would request a map on this wall monitor of the colony. In it are a number of individuals who came in the last migration here. They bear detonator chips in their helms, between one and three apiece. I need to know their names and locations. I must do my duty to save them from this peril."

It was silent a moment, then the voice spoke again. "Admirable. I will comply."

The monitor blitzed light, then settled. On it were the locations, faces and other data points to identify those sought and where they worked, lived and spent time. They were grouped in Crater District 13 and spread out over the cityscape. All of them including those in prison were there.

Prime stared at the map, then the relic. "Magnificence, is that all of them, chips or no?"

"It is." Then the relic went dark again. The lights that seemed to animate the stones, all of them red and linked to points inside by the reflected lines of that action on the surface of the golden object went out. It looked lifeless again.

Prime stared at it marveling again at the incredible uniqueness of their species, then walked to Turbine. He handed that mech the device, then bowed slightly.

Turbine stared at it, returned the bow, then turned to the priests and Alpha. For a moment they murmured a prayer of thanks and appreciation for the device, then Turbine put it into the box and closed it. He glanced at Prime. "The relic was happy to help. It has been eons of time since it was asked a question. It thanks you, Prime."

"I am honored to be the one who did, Turbine. This is grace that we have a way to find these people. Without this boost we would be in real trouble," Prime said.

"What now?" Chevron asked. "How may we help you?"

Prime considered that. "There is something you can do, Master."

=0=In a prison conference room

Fila walked in without cuffs, then halted before the table. Sitting there with their beautiful energy and sweet smiles were Lauren and Chevron of Simfur. She bowed automatically, then froze a moment, chastened in anger at doing so. Then she walked to a chair to sit. "What brings you both here, Eminences?" she asked formally.

"We came to see what you need, Fila of Capital City. We were informed that you were here," Chevron said in his gentle voice.

"You may set me free."

Lauren leaned forward on the table top. "We cannot do that, Fila. We can help you understand this place and the new paradigm. It is so here because Primus and The One will it."

"Is that so?" she asked.

They both nodded.

"You have children with you. Can you be sure that they don't have the deadly devices in their helms? Do you wish them to be harmed because you are angry with the new way?" Lauren asked.

"I didn't ask to live in a colony like this. I don't care to cooperate. We have changed for the last time," she said flatly.

"There are hundreds of thousands, even millions of high castes here, Fila, that felt the same way until they lived here a while and found common ground with everyone. We all protect, help and take care of each other. We were invaded a short time ago and all of us fought together. We defeated the invaders with our unity," Chevron said as the others nodded.

She stared at them unmoved.

"We are aware that through your practice of dynastic bonding in your closed circle that you have created physical and mental deficits for yourselves," Alpha said with his usual (lack of) tact. "There is no more room for systems like yours and the others. Too many have died and no one here will go backwards.

"Most of the objections were settled through Caste Court and Primal Decree. We are happy and fulfilled. We have taken Cybertron and the Inner Empire without a shot. The Pantheon has outlawed The System and will not allow it to return."

"The Pantheon … I highly doubt it," she said coldly.

"You shouldn't," a voice standing near the door said.

Everyone startled then turned around to stare.

=0=In District 13

They sat in one of the lounges of a big private club in the sub basement of a business building off Main and 15th Avenue in City 3 of Crater District 13. Some sipped fine wine and chatted while others read newspapers or ate in a formal dining room nearby. This was The Club, a hangout for unrepentant high castes who wanted to have some semblance of their way of life without getting arrested.

The underground newsletter, High Times was published here and all of the social life of the tightly knit group on world revolved around this space. It looked innocuous on the door, "Deep Space, Incorporated', a code word in their strata for a safe spot to come and bitch.

No one else came here. You needed a chip to activate the doors. It kept an entirely low key presence on a floor shared with two other huge clubs, both of them based on activities. One was the clubhouse for the Civil Air Patrol and the other the Fireman's Auxiliary.

It was here that the frustrated aspirations of those who wouldn't bend a knee to anyone were fanned into fury.

=0=TBC 9-16-2022 edited 9-19-2022

The story of The Magnificence is so convoluted. This is a part that probably is as good as any to explain it a bit:

Contrary to the stories, "Epistemus" had survived the God War intact. When the Knights of Cybertron made their pilgrimage into space, "Epistemus" joined in the exploration. One of the earliest ports of call was the planet Ki-Aleta, inhabited by an advanced and enigmatic race of organic beings known as the Omega Guardians.

Electing to remain behind as the Knights continued their travels, "Epistemus" continued to study alongside the Guardians, his thirst for knowledge proving so great that he eventually did away with his body until only his head, now "an orb of pure information", remained.

Epistemus's head would become known as the "The Magnificence." Not only did the Magnificence develop a reputation as a vast database, containing a map of the known universe and every exploitable resource within it, it also possessed the ability to answer any question with an immediate and accurate answer, though it remains ambiguous if Epistemus's head retained any trace of his original consciousness, or if the answers the Magnificence produced were simply a product of the manipulations of the Omega Guardians.