The Diego Diaries: There (dd8 441)

Apparently this didn't upload last night. You get two today. :D

Sorry about that. :D:D:D:D

It was very fun anyway though. Just say. :D:D:D

=0=On their way just a bit earlier

The groups with DC, Rattler, Padlock and Barker began to reach the forward moving armada of Prime. As they followed orders and began to pass them to fly onward toward a bridge and waiting ships to assist them, they stared silently and with awe at the vessels that he commanded.

A massive ship, bigger than a metrotitan along with two others that were only smaller by comparison loomed like a planet before them as it was surrounded with the almost comically smaller forms of battle shuttles and two Supreme mechanisms. The youngsters were mute and the elders whispered amongst themselves, almost as if they were afraid to speak louder until things were more clear. No sense drawing fire if you didn't need to.

"That's a big dreadnought, a really mature one," an elder said. "I haven't seen one since I was a kid. I lived near Nova Cronum where they were constructed. I wonder who that is. Can you read his designation?" he asked another beside him, one with specialist optics.

He nodded. "That's Tennyson of Praxus. He bears some Primal Vernacular, the kind all the big ships have. Its usually poems to Primus, The One and the Primes. The sigil is there, both metrotitan and Dread." He was silent a moment. "Rumor is Prime has most of them back. I talked to someone at Base 1431 and rumors are running riot. Do you remember how many were made?" he asked his partner.

That mech nodded. "Fifteen were made."

"I heard that Prime either has all of them back or they're ready to come if he calls them," that elder said.

The kids rose to walk to the port window. They stared at the massive ship in silence until they passed it and all the others. Lights were bright on it and they could see the hangar deck through the energy screen that kept out vacuum, used only when they were on mission and had to launch ships swiftly. Several big battle shuttles were on deck being readied to go if needed. It was stunning.

"What now, Appa?" a kid asked both elders.

They were silent a moment, then the first glanced at the frightened overawed kid, one of a surprising number of their soldiers anymore in the far out bases where any warm body would do. Most of them were conscripted from settlements and other places, all of them against their will. "Now? We surrender and mean it, infant," he said as the other nodded.

"Okay," the kid whispered.

=0=Base 1431

Jayco ran from his quarters to Ops Center. There was no one there. He stared around in astonishment, then heard it outside, the thunder of multiple ships lifting off to leave. Running with speed outside and toward the airfield, he looked up to see the sky filled with vessels and their running lights. Almost as one, they burst into speed and flew off to disappear nearly at once.

He glanced around with fury and surprise, noting that those who were still here were running to his side. "WHAT THE FRAG IS GOING ON!?"

"I don't know," a soldier said. "Can we give pursuit?" he asked a pilot who was standing next to him.

"We don't have any ships," that mech said with astonishment evident in his voice.

"GET ME THE OTHERS!" Jayco bellowed as they almost as one ran toward Ops Center.

They entered, then crowded around the communications terminal. One of them linked into the router and sent a message to DC's base. They waited for the correct counter signal, then DC. What they got instead was something else.

:I am Optimus Prime: a voice said, one that filled all of them with dread.

=0=Tennyson

They reached the 'Con base staging coordinates almost immediately, sliding to a halt with surprising speed. Nearby were the other shuttles with everyone watching a sight that would never get old.

"Prime, Jayco is signaling DC," Blaster said.

"Open the channel," Prime said quietly. Around him, the titans and senior officers gathered. It was an amazingly impressive sight.

:Signal 42, DC. This is Jayco. Most of my base just evacuated. What's going on? What's happening with you?: a deep voice asked, one filled with rage and tension.

Prime considered that, then spoke. "I am Optimus Prime."

The other end would be silent for a bit.

=0=At the bridge heading for evacuation

The four groups came to a halt in a spread pattern that would make sorting and sending onward easier. The Port of Autobot City was waiting for them with a large military presence. A lot of mechs and femmes from the Former Decepticon Administration would be there to assist the assimilation of the latest number of former colleagues into a decent life. It was all waiting for them as Omega Base and the others halted their feed of refugees for a joor or two.

Paragon who was on the deck of Gamma helping Blackjack with the transfer stared at a data pad. There were almost 7,000 individuals here any number of which could be secretly harboring ill intentions. They had the duty to figure out what was what and who was who among them.

"Search teams, medical and techs, you're deployed according to grid plan A3-2.1. Go with Seeker escort. We're forming up 25 ships to go through at a time. I order go," Blackjack said as he sat in the command chair.

A spray of shuttles, roundabouts and small troop transports burst forward as they went to their part of the puzzle before them. All of them would field a medic, a data tech, a mental health specialist, a former Decepticon trained in this kind of intervention and three armed mechs. Seekers would deploy themselves casually on the hulls of ships in plain sight. They'd be heavy weapons and boarding specialists. Their tats would be easily readable for the newcomers to see.

A shuttle slid beside a ship whose hatch was sliding open. Theirs did as well as the team inside began to step out and float over to this, a shuttle with perhaps 30 individuals inside. Reaching the shuttle, they began to step inside.

Sunstreaker reached them first with his medic designation on prominent display. Behind him came the others including the data tech who was a sweet young Home Guardsman. They'd already decided amongst themselves that this kid would be protected. "Who's in charge here?"

An elder turned to him. "I'm in command. What's the drill, Autobot?" he asked without malice and a trace of a grin.

Sunstreaker smirked at him. "How about going to the promised land to be a good boy, Appa? We're here to figure out your hurts, your data, your intentions and send you on. It can either be to jail or paradise. Its up to you."

"Would they let us live there?" a young kid asked. He was standing by the window with a tense aura. "We gave our oaths. Is that enough?"

Everyone stared at him, a young kid who looked like life had been hard. Some of them shifted uneasily.

"Kid, if you want a good life its up to you. Just go there and follow the rules and law. The System is dead and won't be coming back. Everyone gets to have a good life," Marker said. He was an older Autobot who had kids about this age and was going to be a grandfather soon. It was as painful as a burn to see a kid like this, one who obviously wasn't supposed to be here and probably didn't have a choice in the matter.

"That's what we're here for," Rango, a former Decepticon ship boarding specialist said with a slightly gruff tone. The kid was a reminder of a lot of things to everyone, most of them not good. "I'll help you myself. I was a Decepticon once. There's no Decepticons any more. Just Cybertronians. You stay with me and help me with this. Then we can go there and maybe find family if you have some. There's over 300,000,000 of us living in Prime's colony alone with more coming every orn and we have Cybertron and the inner empire. Maybe you can get lucky today."

A femme stared at him, then stepped closer. "I have family. Somewhere."

"We'll help you," the youngling tech said earnestly.

It was silent a moment, then the elder glanced at Sunstreaker. "What do we do?"

"We got this," Sunstreaker said as he pulled his sensor out. He'd scan them, they'd get tagged, sorted, there were no priors that required arrest so they'd go forward into the first group to leave.

The kid would stay with Rango.

=0=Tennyson

:Prime:

The deep voice broke the tense silence.

Prime replied. "I am here."

:What's going on, Prime?: Jayco asked.

"You are being boarded. The bases here are problematic to my ability to find our people. The other four bases have surrendered and are being sent to sanctuary. Your base is on their way as well. Now we need to settle the problem you still represent. Surrender and you will be treated well. Fight us and you will regret it. You will be removed from this area."

:That doesn't sound too appealing: Jayco said.

"Then look up," Prime replied. He glanced at Raptor. "Send Corsair to do a flyover."

"Raptor to Corsair. Do a slow pass over. Let them know you're there," he said.

"Understood," a deep voice replied, then a massive ship began to move forward heading toward the base which was nearby. As it did it bumped debris drifting around out of its way before planning a descent and a leisurely flyby.

It was silent for a moment, then Corsair was back. :Commencing descent to fly over. I see mechs on the ground. They're staring upward. I do not contemplate problems from them. There are no ships on base:

"Understood, Corsair," Prime replied.

A visual came over the front view port as the big ship descended, then leveled out. It seemed as if he was stopped as he inched overhead, his shadow blotting out the base for a moment. He flew over them, then began to ascent, heading back into space again.

"Prime to Jayco."

A brief silence was broken by a deep voice. :Jayco here:

"I will take your surrender now," Prime said.

:You expect it?:

"Corsair, describe the threat he faces," Prime said.

:Understood. Jayco, I am Corsair of the Prime's Flight. I am here to exercise my function to obey him and to protect our people. You pose a threat to both. I do not have to tell you, do I, what that means to my oath and most basic function do I?: the deep educated voice said. There was a noticeable edge to his sound.

:Corsair, I see you here. We're not an enemy. You have what you want. You can leave now and no harm, no fail: Jayco said with an equal edge.

:You pose a threat by existing in these circumstances. It would take little for your faction to reinforce your base and send even more to other places: Corsair said. :As long as you remain you pose a threat. I will exercise my function if you do not surrender so I can render this place unfit for any kind of habitation:

It was silent, then Jayco was back. :Prime, we're prepared to leave and not come back. Let us go and we'll call this all good:

Prime considered that, then checked the scans of the base. "On what ship? I do believe that all your ships are now mine."

Prowl smirked ever so faintly.

=0=TBC 5-24-2022