The Diego Diaries: Out There (dd8 395)
If you find a word with extra parts like wellness instead of well, its my writing program defaulting to the more used version. I hate it when it does that, sort of a nerd style autocorrect. That's what has happened all along and I'm trying to edit them out. SIGH!. HUGS!
=0=In space
They flew forward into the darkness heading for another pick up point, one of fifty they'd have to access. Sending their shuttles out in teams of four to see what was going on, they began to scout the set ups on the planets as they found them. Most of the colonies would be on harsh worlds that afforded by virtue of their design at least a place to stay. A few were nice and one was spectacular.
Raptor considered the road ahead. The intel beeping in a steady stream to the titan showed 'Con scouting parties not so far away as to make them comfortable. They were small, few in number but they were there. It would take only one siren to alert the local garrison which was of unknown strength and sophistication.
He glanced at his father sitting calmly in the command chair. "What do you think? Do we find out about this slagging base?"
Hardie glanced at his daredevil son. "Only if they spot us. I don't want to provoke a hornets nest if I don't have to."
Raptor smirked at his father. "You're no fun."
Hardie grinned at his son. "I never said I was, infant."
=0=Out there as well
They flew their route together, two shuttle style ships with enough firepower to defend but not enough to attack anything bigger or more powerful than themselves. Command decided that would be good enough given the lack of activity in this part of the universe from any enemies let alone Autobots. The new leadership was cheap and support came slowly, too slowly sometimes. They were making their own energon and parts to keep up with normal wear and tear.
It was maddening.
Five mechs occupied each of the two vessels, a mix of criminals, former civilians who wanted adventure, booty and a chance to shoot rich people along with hardcore ideologues of the Decepticon persuasion.
The route they flew took them farther out each time as they mapped this area, a former holding of theirs back in the orn. They needed new maps because the old ones were super old and the bosses who made their life hard said to do it. Their side had fallen apart when Megatron lost his marbles, shot everyone up and then went off on a fool's errand trying to find allies.
It had been a puzzling thing, the need for more allies when the mechs and femmes who were still with him were loyal, mostly. They were caught up in the endless drudge of war and they were many. However, old Buckethead had an idea and there was no changing his processor.
Yes, even his own side used that term from time-to-time.
When no one could hear them say it.
They had fallen into personal kingdoms, some of the vast and mostly empty swathes of territory that was held by the Cause. Many were the successful leaders like Razorclaw and Ominous who got away. Some were still leaving when they could.
Then a new player came, one who was going to tend to the situation for Megatron. He had recorded a message telling everyone to obey or he would personally 'end their spark'. Given he had decimated so many times that most mechs and femmes knew someone who was killed, they gave in and began to coalesce again.
It wasn't the same. There was still the Cause but an edge was there, one that couldn't be roughed out. He'd decimated them, put a death order on one of their most useful assets, the Seekers, precipitating them vanishing in thin air and put someone in place that was violently ruthless about imposing order and obedience again.
The Cause contracted, falling back into place but not before many had left and others even now were planning to leave. The problem with that was the danger that presented. Anyone who tried and failed was executed on the spot wherever they were found.
The Decepticons were a hot mess but they held. One could even say that nothing but the leadership had really changed since 'treason' constituted even mocking a bad order from the beginning. How much different was it now? Not much overall.
The two ships flew on unaware they were on the radar and sensors of an Autobot and Network rescue mission not that far away. It was probably a good thing for both sides that the strange nature of the area prevented easy detection for the Autobots and the Decepticons of both their presences.
=0=Consulate
The inspection was signed off and a number of bus loads of happy people were driven back to their new home, given a tour by the team of mini-cons who did shift work there, then settled in. It was a big deal on Earth to know they were back and that the building itself had been so mightily improved.
Ratchet had been there in pretender gear with Jetta who led everyone around. The many dogs there were delighted with the outdoor space and for a while it was festival there before everyone buckled down to the business of moving in, setting up office again and trying to recreate what they were working on from scratch. It would take a while.
=0=Out there
They came aboard using the bridges Fury and Camber carried on their vast massive selves. Medics and civilian Home Guardsmen helped them forward to the comfortable lounges where they'd be housed until the armada left to go home again. They came in scared, tired, worried, hopeful, frightened, nervous and relieved.
Wave after wave of mech, femme, elder, baby, teenaged sub adult, toddler and child entered the ship and disappeared with someone down the corridors to safety and relaxation. Soldiers were there to show force and help them feel protected but everyone would be glad to leave.
They finished up here and went onward to the 35th location for pick up. While they did the two shuttles would be coming back their way to go to the base for stand down.
=0=Mars
They walked out of the Autobot City Unified School District Central Office building in Metrotitan. Springer and Drift walked down the street to the Metro which worked here. It would be a way to take the direct line to Iacon which led to the direct lines to other far away cities in the colony. The Circle Line was still under repair so they had to pass through other places to get home again.
Drift glanced at Springer. "Did you see the notice on the bulletin board in the hallway?"
Springer glanced at Tell in his carry case, then Drift. "No. Why?"
"Atar has an opponent for the School Board," Drift replied.
Springer glanced at him with surprise. "Really? Who?"
"Someone named Callo. All it said is 'Callo of Praxus' had filed against Ironhide. Someone named Timber filed against No-A and someone named Piero filed against Sunstreaker."
"Whoa," Springer said with surprise. "Who are they?"
"You're going to like this part. I checked the database and I'll deny it if anyone says so because I was nervous waiting and all …"
Springer stopped to look at Drift who was dithering around his grin. "What?"
"They're disgruntled former high castes but you didn't hear it from me or Fenix either," Drift said.
Springer grinned. "Oh frag," he said with wonderment.
They walked on toward the Metro and disappeared downward into the mid morning crowd.
=0=Telephono
:Hey, Ada:
:What?: Ratchet asked as he sat buried under paperwork.
:Atar has an opponent for the School Board. So does Sunny and No-A:
Ratchet digested that a moment, then sat back in his chair. :Who?:
:Someone named Callo of Praxus for old Dad. Piero for Sunny and Timber for No-A: Springer said as they rode along on the Metro for Iacon.
Drift sat beside him jacked into the conversation. He grinned at the turn of events. This was going to be either hilarious or ugly as frag.
:What do you know about them?: Ratchet asked as he glanced down at the baby who was smiling at him. Springer smiled back.
:I was told they were disgruntled high castes by someone who will deny it if asked because he skimmed the databases and his name is Drift. But you didn't hear it from me: Springer said with a big shit eating grin at Drift.
:Thanks: Ratchet said to both of them knowing full well you got both when you got one. He chuckled at the breach described but vowed to the death that he wouldn't rat the fraggers out. Ratchet of Iacon wasn't a snitch. :I'm on it: He sat back, then began to search for someone using his security access who happened to be named Callo, sorting for the one he wanted from Praxus until he got him. It would be enlightening.
=0=Out there
Ratchet walked onto the deck toward Hardie and the others, then sat on the navigator's seat. That mech was having dinner nearby with some of the others in the food rotation on deck among the command crew. "How's it going?"
"Good. I didn't expect to see you here," Hardie said as Raptor walked over to sit in the pilot's seat. "You just passing through?"
"Probably," Ratchet said with a brilliant smile. "What do you know about a slagger named Callo? He comes from Praxus."
Hardie glanced at Raptor, then grinned. "A lot if he's the same one."
"Callo, son of Corme and Blisto. Ring a bell?" Ratchet asked.
It would when the two of them stopped laughing loudly.
=0=Moments later
Turbine pulled out a chair at the command table for his son, Blackjack. He was called to the deck by his father to have a 'confab' about something with Ratchet.
"Hi, Ratchet. What brings you here? We got it in servo with the medical part," Blackjack said.
"I came bearing information and they just laughed," Ratchet said as he nodded to Raptor and Hardie who were still snickering.
"What?" Blackjack asked his father.
Raptor grinned. "Remember Callo of Praxus?"
Blackjack glanced from one to the other. "How can I forget? Why-" Blackjack sat back startled with gathering insight. "He came to the colony?"
"He did," Hardie said with a chuckle. "He's there. His family is there. So are his friends, that whole group of them. Remember?"
"I remember his slagging father and his father's brothers. Don't tell me all of them are in the colony," Blackjack asked with a gathering grin.
"They are," Turbine said with a smirk of his own. "Guess what Callo of Praxus just did?"
Everyone of them glanced at Ratchet.
Ratchet dazzled them mightily. "Callo filed against Ironhide for the School Board."
Blackjack would laugh until he couldn't.
=0=On the way back
Ratchet walked through the last bridge in The Fortress, then went upstairs to spread his cheer and light everywhere. When he got to the command table he sat. "Hey, Prowler. Just got back from the fleet. They have 35 bagged."
"Why did you go?" Prowl asked. "I thought it was all in hand."
"It is. I had other business to attend to," Ratchet said as he sat back to enjoy a slow and delightful disclosure.
Prowl recognizing the signs almost pulled rank but that would be no fun and he could use some. "Do tell."
"Well, apparently Ironhide had a nemesis bot growing up just like Orion and Han. His name is Callo of Praxus. Guess what he did," Ratchet asked with his best smile. "Go ahead. Guess."
Prowl stared at Ratchet, then kicked him under the table. "There's more where that came from, slagger. Disclose."
Ratchet smirked at Prowl. "You kick like a wuss." He leaned in closer, more conspiratorially. "Ironhide's nemesis just filed for his seat on the School Board."
It would be unanimous. Prowl would howl with laughter for a while.
=0=TBC 3-22-2022
ESL
ideologue: (eye-dee-uh-log) true believer, someone who believes even when evidence says otherwise. Happens with politics and religion a lot. People are so rooted in and invested that nothing will change that. Soundwave in most universes is an ideologue who follows Megatron without question. Those can be very, very dangerous people.
