The Diego Diaries: Incident: Borg (dd8 256)
I made a plot hole the size of the Atlantic here and removed it. The story is about five hundred words less but that part will go where I wanted it, not here. I sometimes get scenes and save them for insertion into what I'm writing and this was a mistake. Thank you, eagle eyes. You are my hero. -Me
=0=On the way to an escape point
They flew in their tight group formation every onward, the Decepticons under the command of Cord of Helex falling in with the Autobots. It was an easy thing to do given the military background of the commanders in charge.
"What do you think about Cord defecting?" Sun asked his brother.
"Not likely right now given his attachment to his mechs. I admire that. I think if he had them all he would. He's smart and he's disgusted with things. Given he took the chance to run its likely that he has all his kids with him in the armada. Also given that some of them are still with Paladin, he won't turn his back. The mech has ethics. He's what we called 'interesting' back in the orn," 'Jack replied.
"I do recall that," Sun said with a grin. "We need to keep working on him. We need to know how his group works, the details. Hercy."
:Here, 'Jack:
"We need Cord's details and intel," 'Jack said. "What's the likelihood that he'd defect given he had all his kids with him?"
There was a pause, then Hercy was back. :I'd say it was fairly good. I think he wants something more than a bad posting and the threat of decimations now and again. I'll keep working on him:
"You read my mind, brother," 'Jack said.
=0=Autobot Station, Silk Road, Orion Arm
He got the word, the commander of the installation and sat down with his general staff to plan a retreat of the station if the word came that Paladin's fleet was coming. The station could fly but wouldn't be able to outrun a battle fleet. What Prime and Prowl had in mind was for it to fly into a Trigger and come out somewhere else, perhaps in the relative calm near Alpha Centauri. What the problem would be was to do it fast so that the enemy fleet didn't have a chance to use the bridge as well.
It would be a long and precise conversation at the major hub for travelers and commercial traffic on the Silk Road.
=0=The Hourly News
"So when more information comes to us, we'll bring it to you right away. In other news, the colony is taking a census to ensure that all of our people are counted. The Colonial councils want to make sure that the services provided and planning for our people's expansion is evenly dispersed. Having an idea of the number of seniors, those who have special needs and those who work that might need family assistance are among those targeted for tally. The new plans for our most vulnerable population drawn up by the Committee for Elders, Children and the Disabled needs more information to provide the right kinds and amounts of services to them and their families.
"The expansion plans for the colony past the current set include a number of amenities that have no alignment with any particular development but rather will be placed on land that's been settled on the plan for such projects. An enlarged and enhanced Six Lasers Over Cybertron is on the books for construction down the road along with a fairground and other features that cater to quality of life.
"The census will help with planning both now and in future. When the census begins, the link to fill it out will be sent to your personal transponders. Those with difficulties that preclude answering them in this manner will be given a link in the data system that will be placed in the Community Bulletin Board file marked 'Colonial Census'. Anyone without the ability to access either possibility or has some disability that prevents it will be contacted personally through Social Services who will team up with census takers. This process will begin on First Monday.
"In a moment we'll be right back after the Community Bulletin Board scrolls through public announcements, legislative hearings open to public comment and club notices. When we come back we'll have sports and weather including the announcements for the new season of adult basketball. We'll be right back," Lim-Lee said as the screen cutaway to a slowly scrolling fed from the Community Bulletin Board.
=0=Elsewhere
"Look at him!"
Springer stopped fiddling with a data pad filled with reports to glance over at the play pen nearby. Tell was holding on to the sides and somehow managed to pull himself up to stand in a wobbly manner. He smiled at them in that ear splitting way that all babies have in all dimensions and galaxies. It was a smile so big a shuttle could land in his mouth. "What the frag," Springer whispered with shocked surprise.
Drift who was doing a pile of reports, going through them for information which he enjoyed as much as he enjoyed the 'colorful' remarks written there had glanced up at the sounds coming from the playpen. Though Tell was deaf, he wasn't silent. The baby was standing and for a moment he froze. Then he called to Springer.
Both of them stared at Tell, then as one rose to walk to him and kneel at the playpen.
"You're a champ, Tell," Springer said as he smiled at his son.
"Better than a champ," Drift said. "He's perfect."
Tell smiled, patted the railing of the playpen, then fell on his tiny butt. He sat surprised, then glanced up at them with a giant smile.
Springer reached in to pick him up, then kissed his little face. "You are so cute. What a great mech you are."
Drift grinned. "He is. The best one."
They sat on the floor complimenting the baby as the afternoon rolled onward toward night time. They would eat dinner, go home to organize the baby, then head for the office once more. Putting the baby into his crib nearby for the dispatch femme to watch over, they would take the Metro to the stable and begin a night of wandering the colony looking for trouble.
They would find it.
=0=Out there
Cord considered the old mech in the ship nearby. They were having an off line conversation about this and that while nearby Bardo watched him with a slight frown.
Bardo was aware that Cord was talking but to whom it was, that was the conundrum. He had his suspicions but he kept them to himself.
Outside, the trail of damage had thinned out and they were moving onward. Signals that were being sent to test the area for bridging were coming back filled with static. It was still too 'high test' here for them to risk a bridge. They'd have to continue onward. As they did, Cord and Hercy would have their chats and he would enjoy them immensely.
=0=Night time in City 5, District 4, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire
It was a riot in progress as two equally matched groups slagged it out in front of a bar. The spectators who were there had moved back to allow the melee to continue without killing anyone including them. Right now it was fists and fury. It could turn to weapons at any time.
They rode in, then jumped off just as someone whipped out a gun. A bullet flew, struck Rowdy in the shoulder and led to an entanglement of horses as he reared back and began to flounder.
Drift who'd ridden in on him as usual and ground hitched him as he ran to grab a mech heard Rowdy howl. He glanced back and caught a bottle on the helm, a big hard bottle that dropped him like a rock.
Springer who was in the middle of flailing milling horses trying to grab Rowdy's reins caught a kick in the leg. He staggered, then pulled reins to bring three horses out of the floundering group. A number of horse patrolmen waded in to assist. Springer who was limping gripped Rowdy's reins, then began to be dragged everywhere as the maddened horse backed away toward the other side of the street.
The melee continued as patrolmen drove up, transformed and waded in. The gun never fired again but it was still in play as police vans and more cops drove up and joined in.
Springer tugged as Rowdy screamed in pain, backed into the wall of the building across from the melee, then jolted forward to slip and fall to the ground. He floundered, then paused there in pain and confusion as Springer managed to grip his helm. Rubbing the big stallion on the side of his beautiful face, he glanced at the fight going on nearby.
Drift was staggering to his feet with energon running down his cheek.
"DRIFT!"
Drift turned to him, staggering forward to join him. "What the FRAG! MY HORSE!"
"DEALER!" Springer called.
A big mech who was tossing slaggers into the police van he drove glanced toward Springer, then startled. "WHAT THE FRAG! SOMEONE SHOT THE HORSE!?"
"CALL A VET! HURRY! THE STABLES HAS A VET ON DUTY ALL THE TIME!" Springer said as he tried to calm Rowdy.
Rowdy settled, then lay on his side shaking as energon ran from his shoulder. The fury of the cops battling the last of the fighting yelling mechs on the sidewalk was given a boost by the sight of that horse laying on the ground injured.
=0=The Hourly News
"We have a bulletin just in. There was a brawl with gunfire at The Golden Horde Bar and Grill in City 5 of District 4 a few moments ago, on the corner of 5th Avenue and Barley Street. The Watch is asking pedestrians and those using the roads in that city to stay away until the scene is cleared and studied for forensics.
"During the fighting a gun was discharged and a horseback patrolman's horse was shot. It's not known how badly the patrol horse was hurt but a veterinarian who is on duty at the Autobot City Stables is on the scene providing assistance. When there is more information we will tell you. Jacx is currently heading to the scene," Lim-Lee said.
=0=On the scene
Vans drove off as Forensics worked the scene. Sky stood over Springer who was petting Rowdy's face as the vets from the Stables looked over his wound. It was a tense and strained moment for all of them.
=0=TBC 9-20-2021 NIGHTY NIGHT!