The Diego Diaries: Copycat (dd8 557)

=0=The Nebula

"The humans of Earth on this side of the divide were really peaceful. They were advancing toward becoming space-going and we were watching them, Prime was because they had some metals on their planet that some of his industrialist friends wanted. He took a fleet and attacked them after giving them an ultimatum. Unfortunately for him, they resisted. They did a good job of it because that was enough to spark the revolution on Cybertron.

"Because that happened, they weren't totally annihilated but they were pretty bashed," Blue Bacchus said. "They're our allies, working with the Resistance but they hate the Autobots. Can't say I blame them."

"Resistance?" Springer asked.

Blue nodded. "That's our original name. Decepticon came from Optimus. We embraced it to cut the propaganda potential down and the sigil as well. It helped to keep the truth on the table about us."

"Our Earth is violent and headed for a near extinction event when we came. Its getting better and will in the end, I think, succeed but there's a lot of resistance from small violent corners to the idea that we live in the same system. They pretty much destroyed each other over greed and resources," Drift replied. "They're our best ally and friend. I like the humans. They have guts."

Black Shadow nodded. "Ours do, too. They're working hard at getting back to their former state and we help them. We're close, the two sides. We marker buoyed their planet against interference and we have a lot of cooperation between us as allies. No one is ever going to do that to them again."

"Good," Springer said.

=0=Home Front

"There," Scout said as he finished the costume for Orion. He had decided to be an Oreo and Scout had personally created the costume for him. He grinned. "This is so cute. The space for his face is just right."

It was round, perfectly made and had spaces for his arms, legs and little face. He carried it to table where the other costumes were laying. Ratchet and Prime's genitors along with available extended family were creating costumes for the trick-or-treat that would come the following orn. Given the circumstances, it looked like another wash for the soldiers to be home to participate.

"They're going to be so cute," Corr said as he finished part of Sunspot's costume. "Having them all go as cookies is genius, Trooper. I like all their choices." He glanced up at the others with a big grin. "I love cookies and biscuits. Some call them biscuits. I like the words."

Appa Ratchet who was 'straw-bossing' from a chair nearby because he couldn't help with this kind of creation being all thumbs grinned. "Biscuits, cookies … I love them all."

They would have some, all of the adults, when things were finally finished.

=0=Out there

"We have them but they're just big, not like this," Tarn said as he relaxed with the Autobots on Kup's ship. "They obey the Prime whoever that is. They're guardians of The People and fight like demons."

"What happened when Optimus was deposed?" Kup asked.

"They ceased fighting and gathered together in Altihex to discuss what to do. They have the special relationship that's spark bound to whoever has the Matrix. Is that the same for your side?" Tarn asked as the mechs nodded. "Well, they decided that they'd follow Megatron and we're glad of it.

"They resisted most of what Prime ordered because the Matrix was so sacred they didn't believe It would allow such orders. They believed Optimus was going his own way. They're part of Megatron's armed forces and their job is not just to guard him and Cybertron but to go and do the heavy lifting among The People to make things right. Optimus marred their reputation a bit."

"Megatron envied ours so much he made one of his own. It was a hulking mess," Kup replied. "We have it as an orbiting science center for our educational program. Its in deep stasis because its so fragged up it has to be fed constantly or it'll hurt itself."

"That sounds like something Optimus would do," Tarn said grimly.

It was silent a moment, then Lon glanced at Kup. "This is weird isn't it, Appa."

Kup nodded. "Yep," he said.

=0=Tennyson

"We're coming up on the nebula," Heretech said as he leaned over the Home Guardsman at Sensors. He glanced at Prime. "I am unclear how well this ship senses. I'm assuming that you will overlap your big ships to pierce this soup?"

Prime nodded as he glanced at the map going forward. They'd past their version of Earth and its heavily buoyed spacial radius. Ships from Megatronus were parked in orbit apparently assisting in their rebuild. It was strange to think he ordered what had happened in any universe let alone this one. "We will do that and find them faster." He glanced at Hard Drive. "General, you have discretional control."

Hardie bowed slightly, then calmly began to give orders to make the search happen.

Heretech would watch him, a mech he knew had been dead a long time. All around him the cognitive dissonance was strong. He glanced at Megatronus sitting beside Prowl chatting about the characteristics of the nebula. He wondered what the Boss thought about all of this. They'd have an interesting debrief when this was all over.

=0=The Hourly News: The News at 0600

"Good morning, Mars, Earth and Cybertron. Welcome to the Morning Joor with Simbion and Lark. Good morning, Lark," Simbion said to the big handsome Seeker news reader sitting next to him. They were the popular anchors to the Morning Show which was the first and longest version of the Hourly News broadcast. They had extra time to dive into things with the extra hour.

"Good morning, Simbion. Lots of news today," he said in his usual cheerful manner. "Today is a holy day at the Monastery for Prima and we can expect a lot of attendance by pilgrims there. Also, we're down to the wire in Adult Basketball. Given the breaks in the schedule for missions among the soldier-players, I never thought we'd get to the semi-finals."

Simbion chuckled. "Me, either. There's also a new production being readied to broadcast on the MCA with an all human cast. The show is going to be all human for the first introductory season, I'm told, then introduce Cybertronian characters for the next. That makes how many productions here?" He considered that. "Three or four. We're going to talk to Leonora Huttle about all the interest in creating content here for broadcast at the midway point in the show."

"We also have a number of students from Intermediate Day schools to discuss the science fairs just concluded and the sports as well. Rugby is just ending, football is just beginning and someone told me that they figured out how to have the kids play baseball. I can't wait to hear about that. I love to watch baseball broadcast from Earth," Simbion said.

Lark nodded. "I love sports. Kids racing is under discussion with the directors of the race track and the School Board. That also reminds me that the Delegate Assembly is set to adjourn for the holidays on Thanksgiving so their agenda is being finalized for votes next Second Friday. Aleph is going to fill us in on that."

"That leaves news, sports and weather so let us begin," Simbion said as he turned to the camera. "It was reported that the armada that left Autobot City two orns ago is doing a search for a fleet of seven ships that arrived on the migration trail with ill intent," he began.

=0=Around

"… with ill intent. The identity of the intruders is unknown and the Office of Strategic Communications is withholding that and other information due to security reasons for the fleet. Commander Jazz …"

Tie turned up the radio over the sound of Ravie beating out a blade to temper in the water bath shortly.

-^-At Full Circle in Terra ...

"...Jazz of Kaon said that when information was declassified as to need and delivered to him he would release it to the news services for everyone to hear …"

"I hate it when they have to go to these kind of things," Edict said as he cleaned the diner counter in the cafe. "I hate that we still have to do this."

Joon who was weaving nearby nodded. "I do, too."

"… in the meantime, the news from Cybertron is very upbeat and positive …"

-^-In a library study annex at the University of Mars ...

"Then the test is postponed?" Kestrel asked.

Tagg nodded. "Too many on the mission."

"I am so sick of war, Tagg," Kestrel said with a sigh. "When will any of us ever know peace?"

"Whenever I am with you, Kestrel." Tagg glanced up from his book. "That's when I know it."

Kestrel stared at him. "You are and will always be my hero."

Tagg grinned. "You and Orion are mine."

"… news from Cybertron is very positive and upbeat …"

They both stared at the radio.

"Perfect timing," Tagg said.

-^-Shelving items at a grocery store in the Eight Ball ...

"… upbeat. The housing development rate in the major metro areas is rising at a greater clip following the miracle of the removal of debris that had held back reconstruction to a massive degree. All of the toxic and bomb strewn sites as well as all deep subterranean and surface damage to the body of Lord Primus Himself was healed by our Great Lord during a Festival some time back ..."

"That's brilliant. My old atar is an electrician for the Union and goes there every orn to work. He's just going from job to job without waiting for the sappers," a kid said as he stocked shelves at The Grocery at Amadie.

His friend and co-worker helping him grinned. "Its all good for Cybertron."

"… Because it was done by Lord Primus, the preparation work for reconstruction was eliminated allowing for construction and reclamation of the dead to proceed at lightning speed. It was reported that the total reconstruction of Kaon stands at …"

-^-A teacher and staff lounge at a school ...

"… stands at 42%. Greater Iacon is 51% restored. Capital City because it was so ornamental and historic is proceeding at a slower pace given that every few meters an ancient relic or important object is discovered. The percentages along with pictures and videos of the condition of each of the major urban centers, the country villages and other locations can be found in The Community Bulletin Board files under Cybertron: Reconstruction."

The break room of Floor 18 of Sparkling Day #1 played the Morning News. Staff came and went, doing this and that as the news of the world(s) continued. Another orn on Mars was well underway.

=0=At the nebula

They began to hit the 'leading edge' of a 'recent' nebula and its blast of energy that sprayed out into infinity in all directions long long ago. They were beautiful to see in images taken by deep space telescopes but to find them was to be in them for a long time before the density of their residue began to accumulate enough to let you know.

This was an irregular nebula, one that as hazy in 'appearance'. There were eddies inside with particles and bits coming together to make things, a common feature of nebulae. It was in these spaces that stars were born. Many were the worlds that existed inside of them with most moving through, then out again to open space at some point.

This nebula was as cold as any, cold enough to leach heat from space which had little to spare itself. Stars inside were brilliantly hot and avoided by whoever traversed them. They were formed by the gravitational pull that nebulas exerted, created and enhanced by the formation of particles into larger objects.

Even though they were usually the residue of exploded stars, they were never still and ever busy creating within their confines new objects. It was into this darkness that the fleet began to fly with their sensors spread widely, interlocked to seek out in the mass of debris and dust seven odd ships and their even stranger crews. No one would be truly aware of the other while they did it. Such were the limitations of traveling through nebulas.

Prime considered that as he watched Prowl and Heretech plot the most obvious possible course Disson could have taken and part them out to the big ships. They would throw a wide net and hopefully catch a big fish before they jumped elsewhere again.

Hopefully.

=0=TBC 10-30-2022

ESL: A straw boss is someone who 'directs' things and doesn't help a bit, usually because they have ZERO talent for the thing being done. A very antique word from the 1800's.

Had a blast of long covid yesterday. The fatigue is getting to be a lesser thing but the dizziness is real. It feels like you're standing on jello and whenever you move it wobbles. It comes and goes. Feeling good now. SIGH! Be careful out there. XO, Nana.