The Diego Diaries: Incident: Home Front (dd8 257)
NOTE: I wrote a HUGE plot hole in part 256 that a couple of eagle eyed readers noted and told me about. Sometimes a scene will come up and I'll write it. Then I put it in a folder to use when the moment comes. Picking the wrong scene will screw this up royally. :D:D:D I erased the offending part and will put it in later at the right moment. Thank you so much. =Me
=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.
"How is he?" Springer asked as he crouched by Rowdy's head, stroking it and his long neck.
The stallion was laying on his side breathing heavily as the vets probed the wound gently. Then he raised up crying out before Springer gripped the bridle to tug him back down. "Can you do something about the pain?" he asked as he struggled with the huge horse.
"Give me a minute, Commander." The directing veterinarian at the Stables, Bolo, dug in his kit. He pulled out an anesthetic and pressed it against the neck of the big horse. It hissed, then they waited.
Breathing hard, kicking his back legs, Rowdy slowly calmed, then lay his helm on Drift's lap.
Drift was kneeling next to Springer, then slid close to cushion Rowdy's helm. He was panting from distress but the pain seemed to be subsiding. "Easy, baby. You're going to be great." He pet the horse, his servo sliding down the big chestnut's long neck.
On his shoulder, a deep wound was seeping energon, though less than before. It looked terrible and stained his legs. He relaxed at last against Springer and Drift as the vets began to work to get him transported.
A bandage filled with some kind of yellow ointment was packed gently into the hole, then another laid over it to cover the wound. Scans were made, then Bolo glanced at Springer and Drift. "We have to get him up. He could come up kicking and biting so be ready to move fast. He won't mean it but the wound is deep and it hurts."
Both of them nodded, then Springer stood as Drift whispered to Rowdy. "Come on, big boy. Time to go home," he said as he rose, then gently tugged on the reins.
Behind him on the side away from Rowdy's steel shod hooves a number of individuals were gathered to help him stand.
Rowdy rolled up, then put pressure on his limb. He shrieked with pain, kicked and thrashed, then lay down again.
Drift sat and pulled the big horse's helm into his lap. "What the frag. How are we going to get him to the animal hospital in Terra?"
"We have to have him lifted," Bolo said. "We have one for big animals, there's so many of them in the colony now. I'll call for it. We're going to blindfold him and give him some local anesthetics for the wound area. We're going to slip a sling under him and lift him up to transport. If you could come, Drift … you're his rider, right?"
Drift nodded as he stroked the trembling animal's face. "I am. You better call Ada, Springer. Rowdy is one of theirs."
Springer nodded, made the call, then knelt to wait for the lift truck that was part of the Animal Hospital of Terra and handled the bigger animals in the colony. It would be a tense wait.
=0=Up there
"I have to go out," Ratchet said as he took the call.
"Where?" Ironhide asked from his chair. The kids were in bed and he was ruling his kingdom from his usual spot.
"City 5, District 4. There was a shooting and one of our horses, Rowdy, got shot in the shoulder," Ratchet replied as he reached the door.
"WHAT THE FRAG!? HOW?!" Ironhide asked.
"Someone shot off a gun and nailed him. They have to use a lift truck to get him to the Animal Hospital in Terra where, by the way, the cow, cat and dog have to have their annual tune ups. Make the appointments, Ironhide. I'll let you know how Rowdy is," Ratchet said grimly. He opened the door, then left.
Ironhide switched to The Hourly News which was running the story.
=0=There
"I'm Jacx and I'm on the scene at The Golden Horde Bar and Grill in City 5, District 4 where a shooting has taken place during a brawl that involved a number of individuals. It was a major call with assistance from the horseback patrols that were in the area at the time. During the fighting, a gun was fired and it struck a horse in the mounted patrol commanded by Commander Springer of Polyhex, the head of both the Watch and Empire security.
"The horse whose name is Rowdy was struck in the shoulder and went down. Right now, the veterinarians from the Autobot City Stables are with him preparing him for transport to the Animal Hospital of Terra. It'll take a lift truck to get the big stallion on the transport truck that's used for large animals who have need of the hospital. This is the first horse in the patrol that's been injured in the line of duty. I talked to Springer and his sub commander, Drift of Kaon a moment ago to get the latest update on the brawl and Rowdy."
The scene cut to a recorded conversation. Jacx was kneeling beside an upset Drift and a pensive Springer. "Gentlemen, how is Rowdy?"
"The vets told us that he has a deep wound in his shoulder which is going to need surgery to repair. He can't stand because of the wound and the pain. He's been given painkillers and a sedative so he can be handled," Springer said.
"How will they get him up?" Jacx asked.
"They have a boom truck that manages the bigger animals on-world when they need transport and can't move themselves. They're going to use it and sling him on board," Drift said.
"This is the first officer shot in the line of duty in some time," Jacx said. "What happened?"
"We got a call about a big fight here and answered it. It's our practice to keep the horses back out of the way of the danger. It was a wild shot that hit Rowdy," Drift said. "He's my horse to ride on patrol. I wish I could tell you how I feel right now," he said as he stroked the big horse's handsome face.
"How many horses are there in the mounted patrols?" Jacx asked as the camera lingered on Rowdy's face.
"We have 200 horses at our disposal including 22 from Optimus Prime and Commander Ratchet. Rowdy belongs to Commander Ratchet and Commander Ironhide but we're allowed to use them for our mounted police. They're highly trained and very smart. Its a joy to have them and to do this kind of policing. The public really likes them, especially the kids and they give us a unique way to do the job that foot patrols and driving can't," Springer said.
Ratchet arrived nearby, transformed, then walked to the vets who were waiting for transport. They chatted a moment, then Ratchet walked over to the horse to kneel beside him. He patted Rowdy. "Poor baby. I love riding this horse. They'll do good work at the Hospital when they get him there."
"I was told this is your horse, Commander," Jacx said as he glanced at Ratchet.
"He is. We, the bond and I have 11 horses and so does Prime. We have so many because of the Autobot Scouts and because our son, Sunspot loves them. His wish for one created the first horses here. He rides all the time and they have a lot of fun. Rowdy is a great horse and as gentle as the rider needs. This is hard to see," Ratchet said as he stared at the horse. He was relaxed now and hopefully in better condition to move.
They chatted with Jacx a moment, then he signed off. "I want to take video of him being moved. Then I'll head back. He's so beautiful. Its amazing that humans have animals like this that let you ride them around."
"Sunspot loved horses. He loved horses and dogs so we got him one of each. He'd have his horse live at the house if he could," Ratchet said with a grin as a big truck rolled up with a boom attached. Mechs stepped out, techs from the Animal Hospital, then walked to the vets to get the lift organized.
Jacx stepped back with his camera crew and they began to roll the film while he gave commentary.
Ratchet rose to step to one side as the techs came to take stock of the horse.
"What condition is he in mentally? What will you predict he does when he has to get up?" a big burly tech asked.
"He's pretty sedated. If we can get the straps around him, then lift him slowly and steadily, I think we have a good chance of doing this without him kicking himself to death," Bolo said as the others nodded.
The techs began to organize to lift Rowdy. They pulled out slings that would be slid under him and attached to the lift which would pick him up without pressuring him to walk when he obviously couldn't. It would take sliding the slings under him but they had a technique for it.
Bolo walked to Drift, then with his help slid a blindfold over Rowdy's eyes. He didn't fuss but accepted the blindfold which would help him stay calm.
When that was accomplished and vitals taken, the mechs together managed to slip slings underneath the horse without disturbing him too much. When they were in place, the ends were hooked to the lift and everyone gathered to assist or step out of the way.
Drift watched as the slack line was taken up, then gently the hoist began to lift. He felt Rowdy's tension but comforted him as the horse began to rise. Up he went, then he kicked before settling, his sides trembling from the effort.
Bolo checked him again, then nodded to the technician running the hoist. With Drift holding his head, the mechs and techs poised to assist the move, Rowdy was hoisted into the air, onto the truck and gently lowered until he was barely touching the floor. It was enough to comfort but would prevent him from standing on and aggravating his wound.
Drift climbed in and stood by his helm, whispering to the horse who listened, his ears tilted toward Drift.
Ratchet and Springer watched as the hatch was closed in the back, then the driver walk to the cab.
"We're going to go slowly. A team is waiting for us there," he said as he climbed in and shut the door. It purred into life and began to move down the road led by Watchmen with their lights flashing both ahead of the truck and following.
Ratchet and Springer watched them go, then Ratchet turned to him. "I'll go and see what's happening if you have to work."
Springer considered the dilemma, then nodded. "Thanks, Ada. I'll get there shortly. I have to see what's going on with the scene and then we'll go there."
Ratchet hugged him, then walked out to transform. He drove off with his own lights flashing.
Springer and the boys would take a bit of time on the scene, then cut cross country to Terra.
=0=TBC 9-21-2021