The Diego Diaries: Stuff Happens (dd7 83)
=0=On the edge
Ratchet stood next to the command table on the deck of the former Decepticon battleship and now medical vessel, Phobos. They were waiting for the lights that were moving swiftly their way on the roll up data pad on the table. It was a large mass of big lights which were coming with speed through the darkness up the arm of Orion. They would have passed the marker beacons set there to dissuade those who might come with bad intentions from the blow out they had with the Supremes making mincemeat of intruders earlier.
They ignored them and followed the light beam of Prime's message, the Omega Beam. It went out into all directions of the universe to find even the smallest most lost of their own kind. It had attracted this group at last so they came with haste.
"What do you think they're going to be like, Ratchet? Good condition or something less?" Alor asked as he sat in the command seat running the show.
"I don't know. The data hasn't reached us yet and it'll be only preliminary. These mechs can take a lot of punishment and can run on very little systems-wise. I'll have to take a look under the hood." He walked to the command chair to lean against it. "Eleven is a lot of mechs. They must be really homesick to come here like this. Most of them find their way to the hiding place. I wonder what they can tell us about the world out there."
"Lots, I hope," Alor said as a message came through to Phobos.
:Riot to Prime Command:
"This is Commander Alor of Iacon, Riot. I have the Prime's Command. Tell us what you need and it's yours," Alor said.
A pause was had, then the deep masculine voice was back. :We are glad to hear your voice, Maestro. We are eleven ships, two of us are hurt and need assistance. The two were attacked and the assault was close enough for three of us to hear their distress calls and come to save them. The others we picked up along the way here. We heard Prime's call and we are here: he said.
"This is Commander Ratchet of Iacon, Riot. Can you send data to us on your conditions. What is the status on the two wounded?" Ratchet asked.
:Commander. I'm glad its you. We have many wounds among us and two of ours were shot up enough that the pirates could board them and hack at their systems to get them to halt for plundering: The voice dropped to a dangerous low.
:They won't be doing it again:
Ratchet glanced at Alor, then stepped forward to the view port. "When you send, I'll review. We're going to fix all of you up and seat you at our colony. We can't tell you how glad we are to see and hear from you."
:The feeling is mutual: Riot said. :Sending data now:
"Put it on the forward view screen, Alie," Ratchet said as the view of the forward windows changed to a massive screen with data flying across it to finally form into lines of information. Ratchet watched the data scramble, then settle. He scanned it prioritizing the mechs in his mind, then turned grimly to Alor. "Two of them are in a bad way. Expect crash landing potential."
"Oh frag," Alor said. "We missed Tyke. Lucky us."
"Yeah," Ratchet said grimly.
"Alor to Prime."
:Prime here:
Optimus sat at the command table with everyone of the senior Autobots still on world and a number of those from Big Frames Construction and Repair Depot both here and from the office at Trypticon. It included as well those from the city managing the pads for the big ships. "What is the status of things?"
:Well, we have eleven mechs, all of them giants. Riot leads them and he's a battle ship slash colony vessel. None of them are great but can be repaired given time but two are hurt. I mean crash landing hurt. Pirates shot them, boarded, then began to hack them to gain control. Only Riot and two others being near saved them:
"Oh, frag," Ironhide said. "Crash landing? Ratchet … are you sure those two are that bad? Can they maintain an orbit for repairs?"
:No. They would fall eventually. Pretty damned soon, Ironhide. Understand, they need massive transfusions and all hands on deck on a stable platform to get to them. The ground will get them sooner or later. We need to land them and then get the lead out. The others can wait and some of them are in good shape. They can land in city mode on their pads. Jetta? Are they ready?: Ratchet asked.
"We have seven ready. We've been pounding this project, Ratchet. They have the framework of the final infrastructure but we have more to do with all of them. How many can sustain an orbit and how many are worse case scenario and need down now?" Jetta asked.
:Give me a moment: Ratchet said.
It was sickening now tense the group was that waited. Even the civilians who were part of the Community group were here to listen and assist where they could along with Alpha Trion and three of the priests. Some held babies and others sat with grim expressions. Nothing about this was lost to them. Tyke had left a big impression and an impressive set of divots in the ground when he crashed himself.
Finally, Ratchet was back. :Jetta?:
"Here, Ratchet," Jetta replied grimly. An equally grim Mack stood beside him with Hauser, their cousin, here for the absent Springer while Hercy and Kup were on their duty.
:We can seat four of them safely. Those four need the chance to set down and will be fine, I believe. Five of them can keep orbit until things are set up. That includes their group commander, Riot. The two who are hurt need down immediately. It's going to be a bitch. They're being helped with tractor beams. It's part of the reason they came this way, the need to assist the two as swiftly and hands on as possible: Ratchet replied.
"Very well. Stand by, Ratchet," Prime said as he looked at his staff. "Jetta, we need a flat surface far enough away that if they crash and explode, nothing is leveled by the event." Prime stood up with a grim expression. "I do not believe that will happen. I know your expertise. I also know," he said glancing at a grim faced set of titans standing and sitting along the wall, "that you are the experts who will save these mechs."
Ty and Metroplex nodded. "We will get them down."
Fort Max who was working on a data pad glanced at Prime. "It's going to take tractor beams from big ships."
"That means Dangerous needs to come here now," Ty said as the others nodded.
"Please make it so, Typhoon," Prime said. "Prime to Ratchet."
:Ratchet here:
"Ratchet, we are going to build a landing site where we can direct them. Dangerous is going to use his tractor beams to help bring the ships down. How fast will you be here?"
There was a pause, then Ratchet was back. :I'm going to take a ride with Riot. He's one of the two ships towing the worst off. Two others are towing the other. We can be there if we fly through the system in two joors. If we need to be faster, we will beam in. Right now, my teams and I are transferring to the ships to see what we can stem:
"RATCHET! When they bring the ships in you slagging better not be on either one of them. If they're going to crash, then no one better be on them," Ironhide said none too temperately.
:Riot to Ironhide:
Ironhide girded himself. "Ironhide here."
:No one will be aboard our brothers. No one will risk their lives on board. We understand what the situation is and concur:
Ironhide stared at the com device a moment. "Riot, you will come here and everyone will survive. Understand that."
It was silent a moment, then a strained solemn voice replied. :We know:
No one said as word, then Prime turned to his mechs and femmes. "Get this going. We have less than two joors. Something tells me that this is going to happen fast and hard."
Everyone arose, then walked out the door to make a miracle happen.
Twice.
=0=On the ships in question
Ratchet stepped off the runabout that was parked on the hangar deck of the first damaged ship. The vessel was running muted lights, its hangar deck dark and ominous appearing. The doors were blasted and there were energon marks inside. They walked onward, the team with Ratchet, following him as he ran toward what his sensors told him was the worst damage.
The ship's lights would barely light their way.
=0=On the plain southwest of the Tri-Cities
The colony was entering evening when the Seekers came down in waves to blaze a hard compacted landing zone for the two damaged ships. They strafed the sand with plasma and melted it harder and denser with each pass. They would fly shifts until the surface was dozens of meters thick and hard enough to handle a hard landing. It would be less difficult to work on a broken hard surface covered in spider cracks than to dig a ship out of a rocky sandy pit.
Emergency vehicles were arriving along with ships, tankers and a command center. They would park far enough away having learned their lesson with Tyke and set up to be ready for whatever was to come. Giant lights brought in from the Industrial Park Cities were set up around the perimeter to allow everyone to see whatever was going on without too much trouble.
Jetta, Ultra Magnus, Prime, Prowl, Paragon, Raptor, Hard Drive, Blackjack the Elder and Younger, Ironhide the Elder and Younger, Turbine, Delphi, Starscream and Rainmaker along with Hauser stood on a small hill watching things get set up as Prowl ran information on all of it to Jetta.
"What a slagging mess this could be," Hardie said quietly. "I saw a titan crash once and it was a terrible sight."
Sun nodded. "This one will make it. Both of them will. I have a feeling in my tanks."
"Your feelings are never wrong," Jack said grimly. "I hope your streak continues."
The screaming of Seekers coming in with flame throwers jetting napalm on the ground cut off further discussion.
=0=The Hourly News: BREAKING NEWS!
"Good evening. We're cutting into regular programming to give you an updated message from the Office of the Primes," Gen-O said as he appeared in the middle of programs all over the place including the down link on the MCA to Earth.
The 'leaking line' in space was allowed to broadcast as well after discussion between Prime and his senior officers. It might do the slaggers in the local group a public service to know that eleven more titans had made their way home.
"The Office of the Primes has released information that a pod of eleven metrotitans have made their way up the Orion arm toward our system. They heard his message to them on the broadcast lines they use and have come this way through dangerous space.
"It is indicated, though the information is very preliminary that two of them have sustained severe injuries from pirate attack and will be coming to Mars under tow. It is unknown as of yet the extent of their injuries but they are considered bad enough at this juncture that a crash landing pad is being erected seven miles south of Tyger Pax.
"Emergency Service vehicles, medical emergency services, public works and units of the army and air force are on the scene which is being created by Seeker flyovers. It is indicated that the two have to be on the ground as soon as possible to begin emergency work on their injuries.
"The Prime has decreed that the highway system be closed in the affected areas and that the Public Airport nearby be also closed until this situation is rendered completed. There will be no sightseeing or spectating due to the seriousness and danger of this operation and anyone approaching the area will be arrested for endangerment. The roadways are going to be listed along with the highways and any closures of businesses or schools as well.
"The highway system between Roundabout #4 at the Mausoleum to Tyger Pax is closed until further notice. The Habitat Highway that ends at the TransWorld Highway junction is closed. The human habitats on Habitat Highway including Earth 1, Earth2 and the Consulate are being ordered to remain off the roads and are confined to their sites as per emergency powers of the Prime. The traffic on the TransWorld Highway not related to commerce or emergency business is closed. School functions at stations on the highway will be met by air transport until further notice.
"The highway to Terra from Autobot City at Sports Center Road, Metroplex Highway #3 as well as Temple Road are closed. If you are going to work in any site that requires you to use the highway system, check the Community Bulletin to see if the roadway is open. If it isn't, then you are ordered to stay away. The overland train system will bring workers to and from Industrial Park Cities at the hub stations in Pax and Crystal City. If you work at the Industrial Park Cities, you can board a train from either city to reach your destination and return as well.
"Those of you who use the highway system between Autobot City and the Tri-Cities, you are ordered to stay off the road to allow emergency traffic to use them. All schools in Centurion and Kalis are closed and that applies to private and religious schools. Terra, Iacon and other locations are open for school tomorrow. I repeat, Centurion and Kalis schools are closed tomorrow until this situation is resolved."
=0=Sitting in an apartment with his Appas and Ammas
Sunspot watched the news playing on the monitor as he lay on the couch in his apartment while the elders got the kids ready to go to bed. He sat up, then walked to the wash rack. "Amma?"
"What, angel?" Docker asked as she put out heated towels for the imps who were in tubs getting a scrub from Chan, Corr and Appa Ratchet. Tie and Ravel who were watching glanced at Sunspot.
"School's closed tomorrow in Centurion and Kalis," he said as Spot walked in to stand beside him. Sunspot draped his arm over Spot's body as Robby the Cow entered, too.
"Why is that so, Sunny?" Tie asked with surprise.
"I think its because two metrotitans are going to crash on us," he said solemnly.
=0=TBC 9-10-19 HI, MISS FANCY! :D:D:D