The Diego Diaries: Polity and Such (dd8 18)
=0=Deck of Tennyson
"Do it," Prime hissed.
Ratchet jumped, then headed toward Polity. He knelt, popped a panel, then plugged in. It was silent while he did.
All around the vast room mechs and a few femmes were watching. Those who were used to the calm reasoned dignified mech who lead them so brilliantly were startled to see this side of him. Those who knew and served with him weren't. They'd seen him take the low road before when things were against the wall time and again. It was a fallacy that the enemies they faced confused Prime's 'softer' humane side with some sort of inability to be as hard and tough as the moment called for.
But then, that was their mistake.
He stared at Polity who was reviving, then glanced at Ratchet as he closed Polity's panel, unplugged, then rose to look at him. His face was glacial with fury as he stared at Ratchet.
"I'd forgo the helm, Optimus, when you punch him. It might be problematic to what you're aiming to achieve," Ratchet said quietly as he stepped back to stand between a tense Springer and a solemn Drift.
Polity rose, rubbed his cheek, then turned toward Prime. "Are you going to hit me again? I suppose this means you win something."
Prime crossed the space between them, gripped Polity's neck in an iron servo, then pulled him upward to be level with his own face. "You will acknowledge me or you will not continue to live."
Polity who clung to Prime's servos with his own as he dangled two feet off the ground stared at him with loathing and hatred. The room was almost unbearably silent for what seemed like forever, then Polity nodded faintly.
Prime let go, he staggered, then sat heavily on the floor. Prime stepped back but not too far. His fists were clenched, his battle shield still in place and his optics drilled Polity hard.
The moments ticked, then Polity stood.
"Yield or die."
Polity stared at him as he rubbed his neck, then glanced around. "You aren't giving a good example to the troops, Autobot. Or should I say Decepticon?" A fist caught him in the gut and he dropped to his knees. He stared up at Prime around his pain. "The truth hurts. Maybe not to you but its still the truth."
"That's where you'd be wrong," Raptor said coldly. "Right now, a huge armada is heading this way with the aim of killing you and adding your operation to their own. Then they'll make a play for Razorclaw and Ominous. When they beat them, they turn on us and our people. Cybertron is part of the equation. Killing you if necessary is merciful. Its better you go to the Matrix than our children and elders. I don't believe one mech or femme on this deck would miss you. Nor on the ground either." He stepped closer to allow his aura to unsettle the big pirate. "This is the only way you continue to live, slagger."
Polity relaxed, then glanced around the room. "Well, that's how it starts. Remember I told you."
"Yield. This is the last time I tell you," Optimus said.
Polity stared at him, then nodded. "I yield. And frag you, Prime. You just put a knife to your own throat."
Hardie stepped closer. "You are the burden of Prime with all that entails. You will withhold nothing he asks. You will not lie or deceive in any way. I second myself to Prime and will do his bidding in relation to you no matter what it is." Hardie turned toward Prime. "I seek the second."
Prime who was staring with fury at Polity glanced at Hardie. He nodded, then his battle shield slipped back. "You will tell your mechs that they will do as I say. You will tell them that you have acknowledged my command superiority and they will obey me. Do it now."
Prime turned his back on Polity, the greatest insult amongst the warrior class, then walked to his command chair to sit.
Everyone watched him, then Hardie turned toward Polity. "Rise and make the announcement."
Polity staggered to his peds, rubbing his jaw as he did. Then he glanced around. "Where?"
Hardie nodded toward Blaster. "Blaster will assist."
He walked over and waited until Blaster cut him in. "Go, slagger."
Polity stared at Blaster, then began. "This is Polity. I'm assisting Prime through this situation. I have … acknowledged him and his authority. Obey him. Polity out." Polity glanced at Prime, then Hardie. "I'm no longer useful to you. They know and they won't follow me or my orders again."
"Too bad for you." Hardie glanced at Springer and Drift. "Take him to the brig. Then move to your ships. Wait for orders but remember everyone comes back. Spread the word, grandsons."
Springer nodded, then gripped Polity by the arm. They began to leave with Drift as Polity called back to Prime. "YOU'VE MADE A TERRIBLE ENEMY, PRIME! WATCH YOUR BACK!"
When he was gone, the deck hands turned back to their jobs, some of them with surprise and others with amusement.
Raptor glanced around, then walked to the little femme. :Are you alright, granddaughter?: he asked her in the elder-familiar.
She glanced upward. :I think so, Appa. What … is that mech … he threatened Lord Optimus:
Raptor grinned. :Lots of mechs did and some always will. But know this. That mech, Our Optimus Prime, can handle all of them. Don't you ever worry about that. By the way, some of you kids will be bridging back to Mars. Its nothing about your abilities or nerve. Its all about us loving you out of harm's way:
:I can do this, Appa: she said.
:I know you can, infant. But your first real duty or three shouldn't be this tense. I'm having my son take you back. Your regular army replacements are on the way: Raptor said as three other femmes and five mechs rose from their stations to walk to him.
As they did the door to the elevator opened and nine individuals from the regular army arrived to take their places. Those leaving gathered around him, some of them with disappointment and concern.
:Appa, what about our records? Will we be harmed against these kind of duties in future?: the little femme asked. :I want to serve:
Raptor looked at her, then the others fondly. All of them were young and none of them were regular army. :It won't. I'm putting a letter of commendation into your records when I get back. You infants made me proud: he said.
He would.
They glanced at each other and then him with surprise and pleasure. The little femme hugged him and some of the others did as well.
Then Raptor glanced at the little femme. "Take this group back with my compliments, infant. General Blackjack will get you through to Mars. You all did your duty well."
"Thank you, General. You will be okay? All of you?" a youngling mech asked.
He nodded. "Yes, we will." He watched as they walked to the elevator, then it closed to take them down to one of the many bridge rooms on the ship.
Several of the titans and Tennyson himself who were leaning against the console watching grinned at him. "Can I go, too, Dad?" Tennyson asked.
Raptor laughed. "Only to bring me back a bottle of your best," he replied.
They laughed, then the spell was broken. The enemy was approaching and they had to make a line of death that they wouldn't be able to cross. As they bent to the task, the rest of the massive fleet had lifted off from Mars and was heading through the bridge to join them.
=0=Down below
They stepped off the elevator, then walked down the long corridor toward the extensive and deeply highly secured brig area of Tennyson. They walked through security checks and other arrays before arriving where a drone with a gun waited. Springer was cleared so they all continued, following the drone to the cell block where Polity would be staying. A gate opened as Springer turned to him. "Your castle awaits."
"Frag you, Springer. You will rue the day," Polity said as he stepped onto the platform. The gate was sealed and energon flowed to make touching the bars a one-time venture by the inmate inside.
"Remind me when I rue the day," Springer said to Drift as they began to walk out.
"Glad to," Drift said as they disappeared from view.
Polity watched them, then the drone who stood with the gun in servos before the gate. He would stay there forever or until relieved of duty. This cage was impenetrable. Polity walked to the bunk, then sat heavily. "Frag you, Prime. You pack a punch."
It would be a long time before anyone came down to relieve the drone of his duty and his package.
=0=Prime
He sat and relaxed his mind to allow himself to think about the threat coming their way. The rest of their fleet was racing toward them as Prowl arranged their defense. When they were finally arrayed, the planet below was covered. The line of death that stretched for as far as they could see was a terrifying prospect for anyone.
Prowl walked over to stand beside him. :Are you alright?:
:I am fine:
Prowl considered Prime's tension, then turned to face him. "We are ready when you are."
"What is the status of the enemy?" Prime asked.
Prowl switched the screen to reflect the real time approach of the enemy led by Nitrate. They were spreading out in a fight pattern probably in anticipation of Prime. It was time to change their sense of security. "We've got the armada in place."
"Then take us out," Prime said.
Prowl glanced at Rem.
He turned to the task and Tennyson began to slip forward. The group with them waited behind to do whatever the situation demanded. Given that the fort and all its outlay was now the property of Prime and that they had an enemy in the midst of an important migration route, they would need an outpost here. This one would do nicely.
The group gathered speed as five Supreme mechanisms joined Tennyson. As they did a recorded message reached the bases of Razorclaw and Ominous …
=0=Razorclaw
He walked into the operational center of his fortress and sat down at Communications. Plugging in, he listened.
=0=Ominous
He gathered in his command center lounge with his most trusted mechs to listen to a recorded message by Optimus Prime.
=0=Prime
"Razorclaw and Ominous, this is Optimus Prime. I am sending this message to you to update you on a serious threat to our mutual domains and to give you a warning from me about this situation. A few orns ago we detected a large force coming down the part of the Bootes region that we chart as the Bootes Chute. It is a major migration route for civilian refugees, Seekers coming in for asylum and alien traders. Because it is a very important route for any number of reasons, we watch, guard and defend it for our people.
"We are aware that you know that the former Decepticon Polity has created a fortress of his own. We watch him as closely as we watch you and when we came to survey your bases we surveyed his. Because he felt unwilling to comply, we blew up his base as we did yours.
"Right now, a huge breakaway group of former Decepticons and civilian criminal elements is heading this way down the Chute. They are the biggest, most heavily armed and diversified group to ever come this way. Their intention was to take out Polity, claim his base, then use it to take out both of you, Ominous and Razorclaw, by overwhelming force of arms. It is entirely probable that even before your unfortunate decision to defy our census efforts, it would have been impossible for you to defend yourselves against this group.
"As of the moment, we have taken down the command of Polity and claimed his group and resources. We have arrayed a battle group against this new one led by Nitrate and are preparing to show them the error of their ways to come here with malice. It is clear in my processor that if you make even the smallest overture or attempt to assist this group that your time to exist inside the confines of my domain are over. I have at my disposal enough firepower and diversity of arms to do what I have to do to defend our people.
"I am telling you to stay on your bases and do not attempt to disrupt, assist or attach yourself to this situation. I will not give you a chance to retreat. If anyone of you comes forward to assist or take advantage of this situation, the orders I have given are to reduce you to dust particles. I have no more patience. Do not make me show you.
"When this is settled, I will show you the outcome. Until then, do not wander from the space that I allow you to occupy. You will not like what follows. Prime out."
It was silent for a moment in two operational centers in the middle of the sovereign territory of the Prime of Cybertron.
=0=TBC 11-19-2020 11-20-2020
NOTE:
elder-familiar: when someone who is older refers to someone else like they were family. calling another daughter or grandson, that is elder-familiar.