The Diego Diaries: (dd8 298)

=0=Unidad

The Autobot squad reached the habitat and jumped through the holes in the plated windows of the environmental entrance to enter the monster sized facility. Running for Farm Road, directed by the maps from the Emergency Command Center, itself under siege at the moment, a squad of Autobot soldiers ran swiftly for the habitat itself and the farm animals that had no idea what was coming toward them.

=0=In another place

They ran like the wind, a massed herd of horses heading for the back country that made up their amazing pasturage. They were the horses of the Autobot City Stables and those that weren't currently working were spooked by the fighting in the colony. Ships flew over and some shot at others as fighters engaged along with Seekers sometimes overhead.

A big white stallion was leading the pack just released to him which included ponies and small horses that were part of the stabling clientele. Earlier, a mech and three hands had run to the stables from the shelter below, spooked by fear of the horses and ponies that they loved dying in the fighting. They lead all the horses in the building's stalls to the paddock beyond. Opening the gate, they hurrahed them in, then ran for the fences at the far end of the space where a lot of horses were in the fields beyond watching in a state of agitation.

The mass of steeds behind them churning with anxiety and fear as they swirled in the paddock until the gates were opened. In a steady stream, the horses and ponies ran through and onward toward the field where all of the others were watching beyond the last set of gates.

Grabbing a horse's mane, scrambling aboard, a stable hand kicked the horse in the flanks as he bolted forward. Onward they flew toward the last gates that separated the remuda from the fenced acreage beyond, a space that went on for miles and miles and miles. When they reached it, they milled with agitation until he jumped down, opened the gates and began to flag them through.

The horses surged forward as a huge while stallion nearby ran toward them halting by the gate as horses fled through it. He stared at the mech who was releasing them as if he understood. Then he spun around and began to kick and buck his way forward, gathering the herd together. All of them ran toward the hills beyond away from the Stables and the siege that was underway. They would disappear in seconds.

He would watch them until they were gone from view, hope for the best, then transform to drive back and head into the shelter which was below the stables with his two partners where those who worked here waited for the all clear to sound.

Fleeing from the fighting, a mighty herd of metallic horses followed their leader as he led them away from harm.

=0=Unidad

They walked along the fences on the road that led throughout the massive Earth-like area of the habitat. It was mystifying to the bots who were toting huge guns, the sight all around them. They were on high alert for anything given this anomaly, apparently one of three in the middle of the desert world they'd landed upon.

Watching them as they approached, a massive bull stared with malice in his eyes. He was the bull of the herd and a beast. The big animal who weighed nearly a 1,000 pounds was a Charlois and the favorite breed on the family farm of the geneticist who was running tests on the animals. He wanted to see if habitats had any effect with their artificial environments on the health of the big animals. It would provide those living off world with another set of data to use to determine long term living arrangements for Earthers and their creatures.

The massive bull was named Captain and he was the ruler of his domain with two other minor bulls his companions. He stared at the mechs who slowed to stare back. They didn't see the sign on the fence nearby and it was questionable that they could read it if they did. It simply said, "I hope you can clear this pasture in 7 seconds because Captain can in 6."

He rose, staring at them with intensity as he did. Then he turned to face them, parking his powerful hooves in the green grass as he watched them in his magnificent defiance.

The mechs glanced at each other, then walked closer to the fence. As they did the cows and their nearly yearling calves rose and began to walk away toward the creek and a stand of trees where they would disappear into the foliage.

Captain didn't move an inch.

He was joined by his fellow units.

=0=Industrial Park Cities about the same time

Drift, Springer, Company A of the Autobot Marines and the 210th battalion were spread out along the front fence and gates of the Industrial Park City's main thoroughfare entrance. There was an eight lane highway leading through and past the massive work area along with an overland freight line and one dedicated to passenger travel. Many were the workers who rode here on the speedy passenger line, the one underground or hitched a ride on a flatbed for the fun of it.

Coming toward them in a relatively low atmospheric mass, the enemy ships were strung out over the colony. There were a least half making their way over the relatively barren space between the Crater Districts in the distance and the Park City itself.

No one dared make themselves known. It was to their advantage that the ships that were following two big battleships weren't disturbed or have to turn out or back to the urbanized part of their landscape.

"Well, this is fragged. In three more miles they're going to be over us," Springer said. "That last group following will barely be free of the Tri-Cities. We're going to have a mess."

"Then we herd them," Drift said. "Drift to Prowl."

Prowl's grim voice came over their line. :Prowl here:

"We have to herd them, Prowl. We're going to have them fall on the cities if we don't," Drift said.

:Understood: Prowl said, then turned toward Prime. "Your orders?"

"What we planned, Prowl," Prime said grimly. "Do it now."

Prowl nodded, then contacted the relevant figures. "We have to bring them together out over the unsettled area. Make it happen."

=0=Around the colony

Those rose up in a fiery cloud of noise and fury, literally thousands of Seekers who were full time warriors in the Air Force. They were heavy gunners, reserved for this moment by Starscream and Rainmaker who were commanding the air game in the Emergency Flight Center below the main one. They rose up into the air, then disappeared into space.

All around them there was fighting on the approach to Aerie Hill and in the distance. Beyond that, the astonishing sight of an armada flying toward the Industrial Park Cities could be seen glinting in the sunlight. They were strung out, flying with ease toward the industrial heart of the colony. They wouldn't stay strung out for long.

=0=Paladin

He sat on his throne watching the battle all around him. They were moving toward the industrial plant of the colony, an astonishingly vast area of industry and shipping that rivaled that of Greater Iacon and Nova Cronum in the day. That he'd been a longshoreman with the very same Optimus Prime back then made the moment ironic. Optimus and Paladin would rise or fall over the same place they had their start, an industrial park.

It was then that Seekers fell out of the sky In vast numbers and began to blast the living slag out of the vessels that were tarrying over the Tri-Cities.

=0=Unidad

He stared at the mechs as they stood by the fence staring at him, marveling at the massive beast as he stood his ground. Captain stared back lowering his head in warning. Behind him, two other bulls were walking toward him. One was the Hereford bull, Tarzan who was the main father of most of the calves here. The other was a bison named Cody who was bigger than both but had a temperament of solid gold. The two reached Captain and paused by his side.

Standoff.

For now.

=0=Alor at The Fortress

They came through the ground bridge below sent to Alie by Ironhide. They ran into the Rec Room, then some went elsewhere on the building including the roof which oddly enough wasn't breached yet. It wasn't for lack of trying. The shooting outside from fighters defending The Fortress and small arms fire from the building itself kept them from making that great leap. Literally.

Alor stood at the command table once more, gathering information to send to the fleet. As she did the Central Labor Hall was breached and several groups of Decepticons ran inside, nearly overrunning each other as they looked around in astonishment. As for as the optics could see were businesses, governmental offices, a huge central post office, private and public businesses offering an astonishing array of services and food places galore. Art was displayed and the arrangement of lounges and food courts was stunning to them.

After a moment of digesting their soon-to-be bounty, one of them pointed to a sign. It said, "The Fortress and the Offices of The Prime". They glanced at each other, then looked around again. As one, they ran toward the tunnel that would lead that way which was well lit and lined with store front businesses and a sidewalk on both sides of the 'street'. In seconds they would reach Central Corridor and be within shooting distance of the Operational Center of Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars and Optimus Prime's empire.

=0=Up there

Hard Drive was watching the sensor unit grid of the colony tracking the invaders and redirecting forces against them. He noticed a blinking alarm that was activated with the entry of the Central Labor Hall. He tapped through the layers, then saw on a camera a team of about ten Decepticons running heavily armed toward Ops Center through the Old City. He glanced at Prowl. "They've breached the Central Labor Hall and are heading toward Ops Center."

Prowl stared at him, then checked the data. "We don't have anyone there to interdict. Tell the forces inside to fall back to Ops Center and barricade the door. I'm going to redirect the marines near the Temple to go there and relieve the forces at the door. I want the 'Cons removed from the gates outside. They appear to be on their own with their forces moving out from the airfield. They might not be reinforced because of it."

Hardie nodded, then rose. "I'm going to go there myself. I can help scan for slaggers and relieve Alie and the shift of some of the work."

Prowl nodded. "Alright. Go swiftly."

Hardie picked up his big data pad, stuffed it into its case, then ran for the bridge on the ship nearby. When he was gone Prowl was already working on two other problems.

=0=Unidad

"What is it?"

"I don't know. Some kind of organic monster," one Decepticon said to another.

"Go and see what it does," the first said.

"You go," the second replied.

"Very well," the first said as he stepped over the fence and began to walk through the thick grass toward the three hoofed behemoths.

They stared at him, their tails flickering to signal their growing agitation as the mech got closer and closer. When he was close enough to push their last buttons, the three of them charged together.

=0=Earth2

The sound of shooting rang out again, then feet running toward what everyone knew was the door. They ended abruptly with the sound of more shooting. A heavy force fell to the ground sending tremors through the shelter.

Everyone strained to listen, then the sound of a pretender appearing by the door inside the shelter drew everyone's attention. It was Victorious. He glanced around the room, then stepped closer. "We have ended the advancement of the intruders. They will be taken to the Medical Center when the battle is over. No one is permitted to go upstairs unless we command it until further notice."

"What about the defenders, Victorious? Are any of you hurt?" Cindy Tomas asked as she wrung her hands in fear. "None of you got hurt did you?"

Victorious turned to her, this nice now Cybertronian woman who not only 'got' them but loved them. "None of us are hurt, Cindy Tomas."

It would be hard to quantify how relieved everyone was to hear that.

=0=TBC 11-9-2021

NOTE: I'm going to dig all the way through this but the Family Tower is the one that is occupied at the penthouse level on downward so they can't be in the same building as Prime. They have a separate one right there. Kestrel and Tagg have their home one floor below Prime's which means their home is toasted. Ratchet and Ironhide live on the 24th floor of the same building.

Charlois: (shar-lay) this breed is a good cow but the bulls can be a handful. My dad had one growing up that was trained to a pitchfork. When someone entered his paddock they had to have it. If they did, he would lay down until they were through. If they didn't have it he would try to kill you. They are white, huge and great animals. He's included for sentimental reasons. :D:D:D