The Diego Diaries: Beta'd (dd8 482)
I'm editing this and the name, Gesso was auto-corrected to gestapo. I LOATHE auto-correct. FIXED!
=0=Graham
He was standing beside the Korean woman soldier and a man from Denmark when the ships launched missiles at Beta Supreme. He gasped. "Oh dear god," Niall said with horror.
It was strange how fast and slow it was when the lights of the missiles flashed forward. In conflict sometimes it seemed to take forever for something to happen. Then it did. There were three battle shuttles assisting refugees in between Beta and the three Decepticon ships. Almost on automatic they launched counter measures, then began to back up toward Beta who was just starting to move himself.
Launching his own counter measures, he began to barrel roll away when the only missile that survived all the bombs laid down by the shuttles and his own automatic systems hit him in the chassis. It exploded and over the com system everyone on board Songbird heard him growl with pain.
Prowl stood almost instantly, staring at the improbable, the sight of a Supreme mechanism gut shot and falling away in the darkness. "RATCHET! BETA IS HIT!"
:I KNOW! I'M ON MY WAY!: Ratchet's voice could be heard as the intercom filled with voices calling for help and those telling Beta they were coming.
Two of them were Omega and Xantium Supreme.
Prowl stared at two huge bright lights coming toward them from across the way. "Xantium and Omega, stand down. Ratchet is on his way."
"FRAG THAT, PROWL! WHERE ARE THEY!?: Xantium's voice said over the comm system.
Prowl turned to the map and noted who was available. "Hercy and Springer, drop what you're doing and assist. I don't want anyone getting away or shooting anyone else. The three ships are marked," he said as he sent data to the battle shuttles.
:On it, Prowl: Hercy said as Springer echoed his words.
Two shuttles who were nearby broke off and flew toward the three 'Con ships who were getting ready to leave in the chaos.
=0=Watching in a cage nearby
It was almost electrical, the tension in the view box. The soldiers watched as a leviathan ship listed nearby. Sparks could be seen through a gaping hole and there were liquids freezing in the area around him into weird shapes. A shuttle pulled up as mechs stepped out and floated to the hole to disappear inside. One of them appeared to look like Ratchet but the darkness of the area and the distance put that to question.
"What the hell. That ship is alive," a Canadian soldiers said.
"The biggest ships here are all alive, from Songbird who's a metrotitan to these three Supremes. Xee is going to rip them to shreds." Epps glanced at Lennox. "This sucks hard."
Lennox nodded as he watched other ships bearing medical insignia slide to a halt on the far side of Beta. That was when the three others, the 'Cons, rose up swiftly and moved onward heading toward open space. The two shuttles that were assigned to interdict began to cut across space to intercept. It was highly likely that a fight was going to be had in full view of everyone.
=0=Prime and Hercy
They sat on the command deck of their respective shuttles as other ships were seen approaching from the distance to cut off the three 'Con ships exit. Seekers were hovering in the background handed over to Prime to use as he saw fit. Right now he was grim faced with outrage.
=0=Solo and Company
They worked hard on their ships plotting a course that would take them through any number of groups of refugees as they made their way over the top of hundreds of vessels waiting for rescue. It would be like threading a needle to do what he felt they had to do so they could escape.
Their ships were sleek, overwhelmingly armed and very fast. Their agility would be put to the test as an Autobot shuttle began to close ground on them. Just as their guns came on line, the three ships ducked back down into the migration again.
=0=Prime and Co.
"Frag," Sunstreaker said as they began to follow the ships. Behind them Hercy was in pursuit. Ahead of them, Auntie Lissie and Steiner were flying their own shuttles, commandeered on Prowl's orders to block their course. As they did, the 'Con ships revved up their shields which were brutal for ramming things and plowed forward. As they did ships with refugees began to be pushed away to collide with each other.
=0=Prowl on Songbird
"Frag!" Prowl said as he watched the pursuit. "They're ramming refugee ships and they're colliding together. This is going to be a bloodbath if we don't take them out fast."
:Understood: Prime's voice replied over the com system.
=0=Prime
They flew behind the three which with their enhanced shields did what shipboarding crews did, disrupt and destroy anything that dared to do anything but surrender. Ships were shoved aside at full speed as they were hit by the vessel's shielding causing them to ram into others or spin. Some of them flipped as the three ships plowed forward ignoring the Seekers who were frantically trying to clear a path for them to pass through by directing or shoving together those that were likely to get hit.
Behind them with guns fully armed and deployed, two Autobot shuttles followed.
=0=The Hourly News: Reclamation
"We have a bulletin in just now that tells a grim story in the migration effort. A group of Decepticon ships, at least three were approached but refused to surrender. In their attempt to get away they fired missiles at Beta Supreme wounding him to an unknown degree. Onsite medical attention is being administered with the intention to get him home for more.
"It is said that Empire Chief Medical Officer Ratchet of Iacon and big frame specialist physicians Tumult of the Gods and Rever are assisting him in pretender gear. Its not known when they can affect his transfer here but the Big Frame Medical Treatment Center in the Hangar District is preparing for his return at any time.
"Everyone who doesn't have business in the area, the Military Airfield or the Commercial Hangars in District A, B and C are asked to stay away. The Emergency Response Center is preparing for any sort of landing that is necessary to bring down our great Beta safely.
"Two tow ships are leaving Saturn Shipyard to facilitate his safe return and two sky cranes are readying to be of service should he require assistance to set down." Aleph glanced at the camera. "This is very sad news to hear that one of our heroes, one of the titan class has been injured. We will bring you updates as they come in.
=0=In a gaping hole in the middle of a massive ship
Ratchet sloshed through energon as he rushed to various safety valves to shut off his wounds. Energon was pouring out around him as Rever and Tumult helped him. It was touch and go but finally the valves had their safeties in place and the gushing showers had become trickles.
Ratchet docked into Beta with a remote device slotting it into a comm port. "Beta, this is Ratchet. I'm opening protocols to speak to your systems and executive core. I'm going to shut you down into stasis. Acknowledge."
A deep rumbling moan rattled through the ship, then a faint acknowledgment. "Understood," whispered through the space.
Ratchet feverishly worked on a handheld, then it seemed that the painful atmosphere vanished.
Tumult who was on a console nearby glanced at him. "Beta is in stasis, thank Primus."
Ratchet nodded. "We have to get him ready to go. He's going to have to come in without assisting us. We need energon, Rever."
"On it," Rever said as he hooked into the Emergency Command Center on Mars to send tanker ships.
"We better find his crew. Ratchet to Prowl," Ratchet said.
:Prowl here: came the tense reply.
"We have his bleed out contained. There's lot of stuff to do but he can't help. We're going to have to bring him in cold. Who was aboard?"
Prowl was off line a moment, then he was back. :He has two symbionts. They're below decks. I don't know where they are but they're not sentient:
"Understood. Stand by for us to get him ready for tow," Ratchet said.
:Understood. Call for whoever and whatever it takes. Prowl out: Prowl sat back with a grim expression, then called Mars. "Prowl to the Emergency Command Center."
:Inferno here, Prowl:
"Ratchet's getting Beta ready to transport. What's the situation there? He won't be able to assist this himself."
:We have fire control ready just in case. The other Supremes, Kappa, Gamma and Zeta are here to help. The Medical Center in the Hangar District is ready. We've transported the big frame medical teams from Cybertron here to be on standby like you asked. All is ready:
"Good. Its going to take a moment but be ready when I call. Ratchet out," he said as he began to work to stabilize a ship so big that it had to have a 700 foot tall building to walk around in. It would be a grim and messy business.
=0=Prime and Hercy
They followed more slowly as the ships disrupted around them began to crash, show damage and leak fluids. Inside them were refugees who were already at the edge and now this was going on.
"Prime to Lissie and Steiner. Do you see where they're coming out?" Prime asked.
:There's a break in the pack ahead. Everyone is moving out as fast as they can. We're waiting for them: Lissie's calm voice replied.
"Be ready to fight. We need assistance here. They have plowed a rut through this area and everyone is in trouble," Prime replied. "Do you hear me, Prowl?"
:Yes. I'm sending shuttles in to rescue: Prowl said. He was calm but incandescent with rage filled undertones.
"Hurry, Prowl," Prime said as they avoided a big shuttle that barrel rolled in front of them. He sat in his chair gripping the arms tightly as he mentally willed the enemy to head into the clearing ahead.
=0=Waiting
The Military Airfield was the center point of the colony. Radiating out of it in all directions, the first habitation zone of the entire show surrounded it. It was a massive space that shared at one edge a commercial zone that handled all of the Empire's shipping on and off world. Slacker was the boss there, he and his now bond, the femme Gesso who worked in the commercial center as his personal right arm.
They were lonely, the two, when they met and despairing about the loss of family from war and running. It was a good match and they were inseparable. Whatever got shipped or was needed, it began and ended with both.
Now the field was cleared and the long big frame runway was lined with emergency vehicles with flashing lights. Ships ready to dump foam on the runway hovered overhead. Fire suppressant vehicles and ships were also ready. After the harrowing crash landing of Omega Supreme, nothing was being left to chance.
The Watch had closed off all the streets leading into The City but for those who lived there. No one was allowed to go back in after leaving work unless they were essential. They would keep order while the operation was running, then let everyone travel once again as they pleased when it was concluded.
News and media people were there including Galaxy Film Productions and a new group, Mars Films which was allied with Galaxy and staffed by talented filmmakers as well. Everyone waited for the bridge to appear placed there by one of the two new Triggers that floated in parking orbit overhead. They were up and running with only a few more cosmetic details to work out.
Autobot City was ready.
=0=Out there
They were running swiftly, flying with considerable skill when they broke free of the mass of ships that had allowed them to live thus far. When they flew into the opening ahead, two Autobot shuttles were waiting while behind them two more flew in hot pursuit.
=0=TBC 7-21-2022 8=12=2022
