The Diego Diaries: Corsair (dd8 442)

Covid after effects last a long time apparently. I hate them.

=0=There

It was silent, then the deep voice was back. :You'll toss us in prison and some of us figure going out guns blazing is a better deal:

"You are only in prison until you decide to change and fit in. Following the laws and rules is what we require. When you are dead you can not change your mind. Consider that, Jayco," Prime replied. He glanced over his shoulder as he muted the line. "Does Corsair have the knowledge to null without killing them?"

Metroplex nodded. "Do you wish it?"

"I do," Prime replied. "Jayco, I am giving you five minutes to decide. Choose wisely. Prime out." He glanced at Metroplex. "Do it please."

Metroplex rose from the chair where he sat to walk to tactical with a number of his brothers. Jacking in, he said, "Corsair, we require a nullification, one that is nonlethal for those below. Commence immediately of you have that memory."

:Understood: came the reply.

"Hook us visually into Corsair," Prime said.

The forward screen changed immediately as the view of the ground came onto it. About 50 or so mechs were standing there in an agitated state staring upward with their guns in servo. The frustration level of the group didn't need subtitles.

"Prime to Springer."

:Springer:

"Corsair is going to nullify the group on world. I want you to organize pick up. They have priority passage to the prison on Mars. Have medical personnel ready to receive them. They appear to number about 50-55 in all," he said.

"On it, Prime. Springer out." He sat back to consider the situation. Glancing at Hercy and Kup, he grinned. "Put the scene down below on the monitor. Corsair is going to null ray them in a moment."

The monitors around the ship switched to view the debacle unfolding on the ground as Corsair began to descend toward the mechs standing there once again. They began to run but fell onto their faces as the sickening yellowish-white light of a null ray hit them. They face-planted, then were still as their weapons flew in all directions.

Corsair flew upward again into space.

"Well, it looks like a clean up," Springer said with a chuckle. "Springer to Gee-Gee."

:Gee-Gee here, Springer. What's up?: she asked from the deck of Gamma Supreme where she was watching the prisoner uptake before returning with the first send through of ships to Mars.

"We have the ground game in control. We're going to gather them up. Its about 50-55 or so. We're going to stack them up and take them through before returning to assist with the migration. Heads up."

:Thanks, Springer. I'm going to go through now: Gee-Gee said. :I'll meet you there. Gee-Gee out:

Springer rose to walk to the hatch. "Take us down, Ilka."

"On it, Boss," she said with a grin as she arced over to fly to the ground below followed by five other shuttles.

As they did, Corsair pulled back to return to the migration to be a transfer platform for those in need of medical help right now. Many would, so long were the bases off the path of support by the Decepticons.

=0=On the ground

They flew in and landed near the drop zone.

Literally.

Stepping out, they stared around. A pretty solid base was nearby and all around them like limp rag dolls, the ground was littered with mechs and a single femme. "Springer to Prime."

:Prime here:

"What about the base?"

:Blackjack will survey it, then blow it up. Status report:

"Everyone went sleepy-by. The litter problem here is out of hand." Springer grinned as he watched the mechs pick up the 'Cons and toss them into shuttles. Several were with him and they were making short work of the problem. Even as he watched a shuttle was landing nearby.

He noted Blackjack and Ironhide walk from it to join them. "About time you got here."

"Well, Ironhide's beauty routine takes a while," Blackjack said with a chuckle. He glanced at his son's frowning face. "You're giving me my favorite expression of yours."

It disappeared immediately to huge laughter.

"We got the base. Thanks for tidying up," Blackjack said as sappers stepped out with mines and other implements of destruction.

"Why not have Corsair just blow it up?" Lon asked.

Blackjack grinned. "Ironhide wants to break a few things himself."

Ironhide glanced at his father with a growing frown. "Projecting much?"

"For you? Yes. For me, yes."

Huge laughter greeted that as the last mech was placed in a ship.

"Gotta run. Gee-Gee is waiting. Take good video," Springer said as they began to walk to the shuttles. They took of nearly immediately to disappear into the darkness of space.

Ironhide, his father and the others watched, then turned around to stare at the base.

"We better get this done. Mine what you want after we go over this installation then blow it. Corsair gets the rest," Blackjack said with a pure understanding of his son.

Ironhide grinned in spite of himself with a pure understanding of his father's understanding of him. "Done deal, Atar." With a certain swagger of his aft, Ironhide of Praxus headed toward the base with his dad and the group that would allow him to toss the more interesting portions of it after the survey was made. It would be that kind of satisfying.

=0=On the way to Mars

"We have all the prisoners. Appa and Atar are going to blow things up with Corsair," Springer said to Prime over the comm system.

Prime nodded. :Good work. Return here when you have delivered them. Take the time you need to assist:

"Understood. Springer out," he said as the monitor changed to the Emblem of the Primes. He sat back comfortably. "No horsey ride tonight."

Snickers greeted that.

"Well, we do get to punch Decepticons, so …" Drift said as he sat back with comfort himself.

"Any regrets or weird feelings when you see the 'Cons lose?" Bezel asked his God-Mentor/role model and friend.

"Nope," Drift said with a chuckle. "I consider it therapy."

Snickers rounded the shuttle as they flew over the top of the huge migration. Lights bled into the space around them giving the area a soft glow. It was visually beautiful. On and on they flew until the huge blossom of infinity that was a bridge showed up in the forward

view ports.

"Home, Jeeves," Springer said. He toggled the comm console and added numbers to speak to the other shuttles. "This is Springer. Follow us in. We just received priority to go through. Ping receipt."

Pings could be heard as the group formed up, then flew through the twirling energy port. They were gone in seconds.

Watching from every view port and window available in the forward ranks of ships nearest to the bridge, hopeful optics followed them as well.

A youngling mech stood beside his brother. "I'm tired, Porto. This is a miracle."

His brother nodded. "I heard from someone that there's a rumor going around the group." He glanced at his brother with hope on his face. "I heard that Prime made a real city."

Sandman stared at his brother. "I hope so," he said quietly.

They would stand by the view port until their ship, already cleared could go through.

=0=Mars

They came out over the planet with their cargo and flew downward on a cleared priority pass. The ground came up on them as they landed on the airfield at the prison fifty miles, Cybertronian miles, outside of the main urban area. They settled, the ships powered down and mechs began to rise to step outside into the darkness of gathering evening.

Springer and his group walked out, then over to where Gee-Gee, Winnie and Coleus were waiting. "Hi. Long time no give you garbage," Springer said with a smirk.

Winnie smirked back. "You mean refuse. We don't take garbage. We got more class than that."

"That's us. Classy," Coleus said with a chuckle. "What did you bring us?"

"Die hards," Drift said. "The part of a base that didn't surrender. Corsair nulled them. I would hate to be them."

"Well, they now have something in common with Razorclaw and Ominous," Gee-Gee said. She grinned. "You ever been nullified?"

"Uh, I'd rather not talk about it," he said with a smirk. He hadn't even told Drift about that one.

"Well, lets see what kind of assortment you brought us this time," Gee-Gee said as she walked toward the shuttle crews who were laying the slaggers out on the tarmac like goods at a bazaar.

Bizarre.

"We expect a high return on our investment. Just so you know," Springer said. "That's some fine handwork if I say so myself."

The mechs and one femme were laying on the ground in deep repose. It was interesting to see the tattoos on their arms and shoulders. It was a guarantee that this lot wouldn't be seeing freedom any time soon.

"That one is Jayco," Springer said as he read his meter.

The medic with them had scanned them and took their transponders to check against the mainframe before they arrived. They had a real load here.

"Old Jayco is a piece of work. A road rager from Torus States back in the orn. These three," he said pointing to a set laying nearby, "were part of the same gang." He stepped closer to the femme. "This little runt is suspected of killing her in-laws and denting her bond really good. Fortunately, she had no kids so this gene pool is as far as it goes."

"Nice," Gee-Gee said. "Is the bond here?"

Springer went through the information on the meter, then glanced at her with surprise. "That one over there? The blue guy? That's him."

"What the frag," Winnie mused. "A bond made in the Pit."

"I'd be afraid to put them in the same cell," Springer said as he stared at the mech, then the femme.

"All of these go into isolation until we figure them out," Gee-Gee said as Winnie nodded.

Winnie herself was staring at the femme.

All of the mechs there were glad they weren't her.

"Is this all of them?" Gee-Gee asked.

"That's all for now," Springer said. "We're hoping we can bring our spring line here but its still being sorted out."

Winnie laughed. "We're open all night."

Springer hugged Winnie, then Gee-Gee. "We're going back for more. You know us. Avid collectors and all."

"We do," Gee-Gee said as Coleus began to organize the troops to handle this, perhaps the first and only package that would be delivered to them if things held out.

A moment of chat was had, then Springer and his group walked to their shuttles and pulled out nearly immediately. They would return to the scene on priority status.

Gee-Gee, Winnie and Coleus watched them go, then their well trained staff gather up the litter. "That femme is something else."

"I think her bond is worse," Winnie said to unanimous agreement.

=0=Prime

He sat at his command chair looking at a console spew data at a rapid rate. The tech teams were finding the group rather healthy but tired and strained. They had a long tense journey and many showed the effects of hiding.

The Decepticons among them were respectful of commands, silently watching with a hopeful air and bringing no trouble forward. They were the usual group of runners that had been traumatized by privation, lack of support from The Center and decimation. It was notable that caskets were among the holds of some of the ships.

He felt a weight lift off as Corsair rejoined them. Maybe this one would go alright after all.

Win some. Lose some.

He would relax and reflect on the upcoming basketball game on their quest to be champions again. He would do that around his duty.

=0=TBC 5-26, 2022