The Diego Diaries: Throw Down (dd8 320)
=0=In the meeting
It moved onward, then Prowl received a message. He glanced at it, then Prime. Sliding the message device to Prime, he waited as Optimus read it.
It was silent a moment, then Prime halted the meeting. "I would like everyone in this room who is not military to cut their audio and turn to face the far door."
Everyone stared at him, glanced at each other, then moved to comply. Humans fumbled with their audios, something that Prowl accounted for, then rose to face the far end of the room where the door was. So did the civilians in the room.
When they complied, Prowl nodded to Prime.
"Please put the message through, Prowl," Prime said. "Keep the focus of the image on me alone."
Prowl entered the screen data, then a big monitor nearby came to life. On it was the silent intense figure of Paladin. Next to him was his second, Serial and for a second Lancer could be seen before he moved away from view.
It was silent in the room as everyone who could look took stock of the Decepticons.
Then Paladin relaxed in his chair. :Hello, Prime:
"Paladin. Get to the point." Prime was having none of it.
:I just want to say that the first round goes to you but the game is still on and I don't intend to lose: he said. :Nice set up that you have. I'll enjoy winning it on the field of battle:
"You had just a small taste of what I can bring to the table," Optimus said as he noted Prowl working furiously to locate the enemy armada. "Is this all you have to say? We have had many say it and most of them are either dead or in stasis."
:Good to know: Paladin replied. :We'll see you around:
The screen cut off and there was silence but for Prowl's furious digits working on a laptop on the table.
Prowl glanced at Prime, then tapped the roll up map on the table. It came to life and flashed through a number of sector maps before it landed on one showing the general area of Epsilon Eridani. "The signal originated here," Prowl said pointing to the table. "I triangulated through the arrays tagged into the dreads at the DMZ. It seems they bridged there because it would take a while to fly that distance."
Prime glanced at Wheeljack and Perceptor. "I want to know the range and power of their bridging capability. Its not a great distance to go a few dozen light years but its too close to Razorclaw for me."
They nodded.
"On it, Prime," Wheeljack replied.
Prime considered the situation then glanced at Prowl. "Get me Razorclaw, Prowl."
Prowl did.
=0=At an Ops Center near Epsilon Eridani
"They just showed up," the sensor officer told Razorclaw who stood over his shoulder to check the screen showing a lot of lights. "They bridged in."
"We need to know who they are and their intentions," Razorclaw mused.
"Prime wants to talk, boss," a big mech at communications said.
"Well, Prime, right on time," Razorclaw said. "This can't be good. Open the channel."
Prime appeared on a screen as both mechs stared silently at each other.
Then Razorclaw nodded slightly. "I see them. What now?"
=0=Mars
"We have a mutual problem," Prime said. "The armada belongs to two phase six mechanisms who have learned to get along. They attacked our colony and learned the price of doing that. Right now they are licking their wounds and you might want to understand that they intend to take you and Ominous down to consolidate their fleet to take us on here."
:That would be interesting: Razorclaw said. :They weren't prepared for your situation then:
"No, they were not," Prime said coldly. "I want to make my position very clear, Razorclaw. Logic dictates that he regroup, then attack either you or Ominous. He is not the joining type. If that happens then we are effectively at war. I will not allow these mechs to have any kind of toe hold inside the sphere of my influence. If it means that I have to come at you in force to destroy everything that you possess to keep it out of their hands, then consider it done."
Razorclaw considered that. :If I were in your place I'd do the same but it would mean if you did that we would fight both of you. I won't be giving up my domain, Prime, not to him or you. I want you to know that:
"I am aware," Prime replied. "It would do you good to keep us informed of their activity and location in that area. We will be following them as well. Telling us about this will do you some good because I mean what I say. If they attempt to take you over we will come with all we have and end the threat of both of you. Prime out."
The screen ended.
Razorclaw stared at it, then turned to his second. "Send out flights. I want to know where they are and what they constitute. I need that information immediately."
The hive would buzz for a while.
=0=Mars
Prime stared at the screen then glanced at Prowl. "Get me Ominous."
=0=Out there past Caminus
He walked in then sat on his chair waiting for the screen to deliver the face of his arch nemesis. When Prime appeared, he sat back to wait.
:Ominous, this is Optimus Prime:
"Prime. What's the reason for the call?"
:You already know: Prime said. :Two phase sixers brought an armada to my colony and paid a heavy price. They are currently in the vicinity of Razorclaw and are mulling which of you they will strike to gain a toehold in this area:
"Phase six. That's not good. Anyone I know?" Ominous asked.
:Serial and Paladin: Prime replied.
Ominous mulled the names remembering a few mechs named Serial but no one he remembered as phase six. One never forgot that breed of maniac. "Don't know them. Why do you call me? We caught signatures in the Epsilon Eridani area. I'd think you'd call Razorclaw."
:I have. I want you to know that they will strike either you or Razorclaw and if they do I will declare war. We will come to whichever place the battle is engaged and destroy everything and everyone there. I will end this threat for Cybertron and for this region of my empire. It would do you well to keep me informed about them. Do we have an understanding?: Prime looked incandescent with rage but he was calm, cold and contained.
Ominous considered that, then nodded. "I have no problem letting you know. But if you attack us then we fight back."
:You may but you know it will be futile. Remember what I have said. Prime out:
The screen went blank.
=0=Mars
Prime was silent, thinking to himself, then he glanced at Prowl. "They may rejoin the meeting."
Prowl rapped his knuckles on the table and pointed to his audials as others in the room alerted the civilian bots. Everyone turned back, signed on and sat in silence.
"On occasion we have important business that only takes a moment to clear up. Its easier that you remain than leave. Where were we in the meeting, Prowl?" Prime asked. He sent Prowl a text as he relaxed with Praxus in his arms.
"We were at Loon's portion," Prowl said as he read the message. It was a text from Prime to prepare to declarations of war for him to sign should it mean so with either faction. It was a long time since he was told to do this very thing.
Ratchet who got the underlying subtext stared at his data pad. "We have injuries, some of them serious but no one is going to die on our side. Three of our Seekers aren't going to be airmen in the Wing anymore but they'll have a full life anyway. Most of ours will be discharged over the next few orns.
"The other guys have about 22 dead and 122 with injuries, most of them non-life threatening. The prison has the upright and able of which about half have some sort of boo-boo. The staff at the Prison hospital are taking care of it but we're ready to step in if needed.
"There are no civilians who were injured but a lot of calls to social services and Processor Health. We expected that and have our staff deployed ably. No hospitals or care centers were injured but there are cosmetic damages to be undertaken. Nothing that's too bothersome. More aggravating than anything else. Otherwise, we're lucky as frag."
It was a subdued group that ran through the agenda as each department unloaded their situation. Overall, given the damage some of the buildings took and the length of time the population was in shelters, it was a miraculously decent outcome overall.
:We finished getting the offices and Ops Center back together at the HQ: Will Lennox was saying. :Right now, we can go back in and do the job. We need to know what your plan is for addressing this to Earth, Optimus: Will sat as the last speaker, something that was becoming a pattern, a sort of pride of place thing.
Prime thought a moment, then leaned forward onto his elbows. Praxus slid off gently to the tabletop to lay on his back in sleep. "I plan to speak to the colony tonight. Tomorrow, I will address Earth from here. We will not be releasing travel and other aspects of our life with Earth for another orn or two to make sure that all is safe and well to do so."
He sat back, then glanced at Ratchet. "I will be having you do the heavy lifting for the relationship and to report what happened here and why. We will choose a platform for that to happen when we get our people back fully to their lives, human and Cybertronian." Prime glanced at Will. "We will be talking to you about this but for now we have nothing to confide until I talk to my people. I will call upon you, William, shortly."
:Good, Prime. I'll be there when you do: Will said.
Prime sat back, then scooped Orion up in his arms. The little mech grinned at him, then settled against Prime's armor which was warming for him. "We must be vigilant against anyone who would come here in malice. I am told that a war criminal was arrested last night."
"Cartouche," Springer said as several in the room reacted.
"He was such a propagandist," Miler said with disdain. "I blocked his channel in the end."
"I think we all did, Milie," Sela said with a sigh.
"I suppose you're too glum for a good of the order blow out then?" Ratchet asked.
Prime glanced at him, then shrugged. "It would be good tonic but I do not have anything amusing to say."
"I will then," Ratchet said glancing at Ironhide. "Seeing your aft bouncing around the arena for basketball and me planning my wardrobe for this year's games … that makes it all good for me."
Apparently it did for everyone else as well.
=0=Out on personal recognizance
Demetri and Patron walked out of the Courthouse to the corner of the block. Iacon was busy with traffic given that the transportation system was down for the short term future. Demetri glanced around with annoyance. "That was insufferable."
"You know the system here is different and it won't be changed as long as Optimus is Prime. I would doubt that anyone would want it back even if he wasn't," Patron said.
"I think I want to consult an attorney about some questions I have about this attack. It would appear to me that Optimus Prime dropped the ball somewhere. Come with me. I know a firm in Bern that might be the ticket," Demetri said as he waited for a break in the traffic. When it occurred, both transformed and drove onward with the rush.
=0=TBC 12-09-2021
Notes answered tomorrow. :D:D:D
ESL
personal recognizance: being freed from confinement with the provision that you behave yourself while you are.
