The Diego Diaries: Boom Boom (dd8 567) not edited yet :D

Sorry. Family slag. :D:D:D

=0=On deck

Springer took the call, then glanced at Prime. "We have a shooting. Two young mechs are dead."

A pall fell on the deck as they, too, took that in, then Prime turned the command chair to face him. "What are the details if any?"

"We know who it is. Its our suspect in the Tempo murder. This mech has become a serial killer with these shootings,"Springer said grimly.

Prime considered that. "You may go back and attend to this. Hercy and Kup can have command control of the flight."

Springer and Drift walked toward the elevator to disappear right away. Everyone else on deck waited grimly and hoped superstitiously that this wasn't an omen of how the stand down would go.

=0=Home

They walked out of The Fortress where a patrol was waiting with their horses. They mounted up and began to ride for the city of Bern where the suspect lived. It would take a while to get there. While that was going on Sky was working the scene in Retriades which was cordoned off, though a crowd was gathering and the news team for IntraCom as well as beat reporters for the papers had arrived after hearing the squeal on the police bands.

The suspect that had been under round-the-clock surveillance since the tip came in that he was good for the murder of Tempo had been followed home where he was forted up at his genitor's house. He had no retreat from that position.

=0=Out There

Time ticked onward as the stand off continued. Hardie leaned against the console with a calm expression on his handsome face. It was very quiet as they waited.

=0=There

They pulled up before a tower where the Heavy Weapons Intervention Team of the Watch as well as a number of mechs from the security forces waited. They were there to hold any out from entering and assisting those on their way toward leaving. Walking up to the group and their on-ground commander, Hazor of Altas Mountain, they gathered together.

"What's the word?" Springer asked.

"We were there when the fight broke out, Chief," Blandon, a senior Watchman said as his partner, Clamp nodded in agreement. "We saw some kids run out of an alleyway calling out to him, then he pulled a gun and started firing. Two fell and one ran away. He looked at the two he shot, then ran. Clamp followed him as I called for an ambulance and secured the scene until Sky and his guys arrived. I caught up with Clamp here. His genitors live up there."

Springer nodded. "Well, this is slag," he said. "I want you and Clamp to come with us, Blandon. We're going up to see what we can do. How has the building been sorted?"

"We had mechs secure their floor as well as the floor below and the one above. Everyone is moved out but the suspect and his genitors. We scanned. There's five individuals in the apartment. Who the other two might be is unknown," Blandon said grimly.

Springer looked around. A runabout was sitting nearby on the street which was completely cordoned off. It would take anyone hurt directly to the Bern Medical Center downtown. "Let's go up. I want the intervention team to follow, half staying in the elevator with the rest of you securing the stairs at both ends of the floor."

It was a grim group that walked inside with Springer, Drift, Blandon and Clamp.

=0=There

He came in grumpy, filled with anger and little else. He wasn't in any condition to do better or speak to anyone in the apartment. He was drinking more than he needed, used banned substances being bantered about through an unknown source and had little control over himself. His genitors who were entertaining Como and Paws glanced up to see him walk past to the spare room he was more and more coming to call home. Nothing was exchanged but worried looks.

Humr and Shel had welcomed their son in when he came. They were slowly making their way into a life filled with hope and friends including Como and Pawz who had always kept track of them as they began to take off themselves. Default's genitors had grandchildren and lots of inroads into the life of the world before them and had been including Humr and Shel to help them, especially since the Convocation of the Will. That had shaken everyone's cage.

Hard.

They watched Gravity walk into the corridor without acknowledging anyone. They saw the flashes of concern on Humr and Shel's faces, getting a flash of their own in remembrance. Como leaned forward. "We were thinking about a late dinner. How about joining us? We can have a good time. I know a great place."

Humr hesitated, then rose drawing Shel with him. "That's a good idea. I haven't been out in a while. Thank you, both of you." He walked to the corridor. "Gravity, Ada and I are going to dinner with Como and Pawz. We'll be right back shortly."

There was no response so they walked to the door together, leaving without a further word.

=0=Out There

"Put me through, Communications."

The drone did, then Hardie began again. "This is General Hard Drive. I am commanding as is my right that you stand down your guns and obey me. We need to relieve you of the detonators in your helms and get you to your new life right away. If you defy me I will come and honor fight your leadership. Everyone of you will have to stand down and shun these mechs if they lose. No one is to interfere. Send your compliance. I, Hard Drive command it."

There was a brief silence, then oddly enough, pings came through. Prowl counted them against the manifest of the passengers. When it balanced he glanced at Prime and Hardie. "That's all of them including the slaggers. What do you want to do now?"

Hardie glanced at him. "I have to go."

:I'm coming as well, General: Hercy's calm voice said over the inter-ship com channel where everyone was listening.

Hardie nodded. "Very well."

Ratchet rose to walk with him. "I have my best band aids with me."

"Make sure you have your gun," Prowl called as they disappeared into the elevator.

=0=There

Como, Pawz, Humr and Shel stepped out of the elevator and walked to the outside doors. They stepped onto the sidewalk and began to walk toward town and a Metro to Iacon for a bistro Como liked. Nearby in the darkness watching them, a couple of mechs who were tailing Gravity waited for the team they called to come. It would be fortunate that the four adults would be gone right now. It wouldn't be for the four kids who joined up with Gravity.

=0=A runabout heading toward the command ship of the migration

Hardie flew the runabout with Ratchet and met up with Hercy outside the ship. "I think its time to pay them a visit. Look alive. They aren't noted for good judgment."

Hercy stepped from his battle shuttle to float to the hull just as Ratchet and Hardie did the same. They joined up, then Hardie rapped on the hatch door. :This is General Hard Drive. Open up:

The hatch opened, then they slipped inside. It closed behind them.

=0=There

They took their positions, then waited for the word. Springer and Drift were in the elevator going over the intel once again. The word that some had left earlier that might be Gravity's genitors was confirmed by Central Emergency Command with a check for their transponders. What seemed like anyone from the distance Blandon and Clamp had stood was in reality Gravity's genitors and friends.

Springer considered that a blessing, then walked toward the door with Drift, Blandon and Clamp. Arraying themselves on either side of the door, Prime rapped on it. All of them could hear footfalls as someone inside came to the door.

"Who is it?" a voice asked.

Drift nodded at Springer.

"This is special delivery. I have a special delivery for someone named Humr," he said.

There was no movement but the sound of voices whispering was heard. The voice spoke again. "Leave it outside."

"I can't. It needs signed for. Just sign it and I can go home. I'm late already delivering this slag," Springer said.

They waited silently for an answer.

=0=Out There

Hardie and the others stared at a group from the ship. It was a good ship well maintained and well lit. "Who am I addressing?" he asked calmly.

"The command council of this migration," an older mech replied coldly. He was someone Hardie remembered, a mech who made his wealth from the trade in art.

"Where is Tarrier?" Hardie replied.

It was tense as hell on the deck.

=0=There

It was silent as the mech waited tensely with guns in hand. Blandon and Clamp held heavy duty tazers.

It was then that the door began to open.

=0=Out There

"Tarrier is indisposed. We are here to listen to you."

"That's interesting but you do understand that there is no listening to be had here. I have ordered you to comply and if you don't then the penalties are severe. Either you obey me and by extension The System or you don't and by your actions accept that its over and dead. I have told you of the penalties for disobedience. I am here to see what you decided to do about my commands," Hardie said.

The committee shifted slightly, then the elder bowed his helm. "We are in compliance, Lord Hard Drive."

Ratchet who was watching with his gun ready to deploy considered the possibilities that it might just be this easy.

It would be.

=0=There

The door opened wide enough for Springer to grab a kid's arm and squeeze it. The kid blanched, then walked out silently as the pain froze any attempt he might make to be problematic. Drift jerked him away to the elevator where a number of mechs took him into control.

The door stood partly open and for a moment there was no sound. Then a voice inside called out. "Martly? What's going on?" There were footfalls, then the door opened wider.

That was when Springer, Drift, Clamp and Blandon rushed inside.

=0=Radical Wind

Hard Drive stood on the hangar deck watching as shuttles began to bring the passengers aboard the migration ships over to the titan. The bridges were also working to send a number of them that required immediate medical attention onward to Autobot City and the Medical Center there.

Ratchet stood next to Hardie watching the refugees, then he glanced at him. "Never underestimate the power of old habits?"

Hardie nodded. "When Tarrier didn't show up I knew they weren't going to fight. They were there to negotiate their way out of this. They weren't prepared to buck the system by disobeying me. The old habits die hard."

"I don't mind that they do sometimes," Ratchet replied. "I wonder if it would have been this easy without the Convocation? I think they were between a rock and a hard place."

Hardie nodded. "That was a good thing, Ratchet, the Convocation. I think it made the difference here even among those with impaired judgment."

The flow of refugees would continue a while before they were fully loaded. By the time the migration's ships were organized and piloted to go everyone would have their chips removed from their helms. It would also be true that nearly all of them would have between two and three.

=0=There

They plunged through the door and jumped the kids inside who were sitting in the living room drinking and playing cards. It was a short ruckus and then they were in custody. They sat on the couch staring with surprise and no small amount of anger and fear as the place was tossed from stem to stern. In the end, Drift would find a gun hidden in a floor panel.

It would forensically be found to be responsible for three murders.

=0=TBC 11-13-2022