The Diego Diaries: Alarm (dd7 84)
=0=Out there
They flew in on the signal which was explaining the rights and limitations of anyone who came there. There were lots of possible 'rights', mostly to get your income into their own and even more and violent limitations on your behavior. This was a shoot you and discuss it later kind of place, one all of them had traversed more than a few times in their travels.
That they spoke from a list of language choices that included not just Cybertronian but English was the thing that was strange to them.
They flew onward into the darkness heading for a slowly growing place of light up ahead.
=0=On the ground back home
The Seekers had finalized the landing zone so that mechs operating as heavy duty rollers could smooth places in its glassy surface that were bumpy or formulated around rocks. It was going to be a smooth and slippery surface but it was the only one possible given the circumstances. The area it covered was long enough that if a titan slid it had a chance of staying on it even at speed and distance.
The Supremes were there standing at the side where the medical station and command center were. If there was going to be a slide, they were there to help. Cosmos and Astrotrain who were back from Earth and system duties were walking together to join them.
Across the way and down a few miles were huge tanker vessels and trucks. They would attach lines to the two and begin emergency transfusions while the work went on. They would sit last and therefore, the teams would have to feed them manually with ships lifting off to go to the Big Frame Energon Depot while others landed in their place.
It was amazing to Prime how fast the project had come together. The practice and planning after Metrotitan was going to pay off. The hard part was getting them down without a fiery crash. As he thought about that, Dangerous was teleporting into a high stationary orbit over the field on the planet below.
=0=In Banner
They hurried to the junctions that fed energon into the big vessel. By the time they got there, they were wading in energon up to their knees. There were machete-like slashes everywhere. Dropping techs and medics along the way to patch and staunch the worst of them, Ratchet slid into the main junction for routing energy.
The room was a riot of slashes and smashed instrumentation. Huge conduits were leaking energy from gash after gash. "FRAG! RATCHET TO ALOR!"
:Ratchet: Alor's tense voice said.
"I NEED WELDERS! GET ME SOME WELDERS AS FAST AS YOU CAN!" he said as the energon splashed against him as it leaked.
"Alor to Scar."
After a moment a deep voice echoed over the bridge of Phobos. :Scar here. Alor?: he asked.
"I need welders, Scar. They slashed the slag out of the titans and they're leaking energon, lots of it. Bridge in to where Ratchet is. I'm sending the data to Miler at the Trigger, Trigger 1. Call him and he can send all of you directly to Ratchet. Hurry. It's dire," Alor said.
:On it: Scar said, then the transmission cut out.
Alor sat tensely waiting for anything or anyone to tell him that they made it to Banner.
=0=Out there
"I got a message from Alor," Prowl said as he turned to the group waiting on the sidelines. "They slashed the slag out of the two ships and they're bleeding to death. Ratchet sent for welders. I'm going to send tankers to rendezvous with Ratchet to transfuse them on site. It might keep them self aware long enough to get down."
Prime nodded grimly as he waited for the Matrix to stir. He didn't feel anything from It as they waited and watched the sky. All of them could see Dangerous in ship mode in fixed orbit overhead in space.
=0=Elsewhere
"Damn," Will swore softly as they sat in the lounge with everyone in the Family Tower watching the scene on the monitor. "I want to be there."
"I already asked," Niall said as he sat beside his wife, Linda holding his daughter, Aedh in his arms. "They say its too dangerous and has too many variables."
"Then we're looking at a crash landing or two," John Fulton said as he sat on a couch with three civilians who were big wigs in the European Union on a visit to see the bots. "I can't imagine the devastation to the bots and to this place if they do."
"They probably have experience handling things like this. I hope," Lois Morshower-Howell said with a strained voice. "I hate this."
So did everyone else.
=0=Out there
The support vessels slid into the formation waiting for the big ships who were going to be in a visual formation in just moments. They were barreling along taking their wounded along and bringing with them Ratchet and his crew who had flown out to meet them incoming. By the time the last ship slid to a halt in the group, the ships were seen on visual.
=0=Here
:Alor to Prime and Prowl:
"We are here, Alor," Optimus replied tensely. He cut in the others as they glanced his way.
:We see them. Riot is pulling a ship and another is behind pushing. There is another set like them. We have the plan to send them in and we'll do it. Is Danny ready to help bring them to ground level?: Alor asked.
"He is, Alie," Prowl replied. "What's the status on those hurt and did the relief ships arrive?"
:They're here and ready to assist. Ratchet just told me that the welders arrived on both ships and Goldwing is commanding on the other wounded vessel while he runs the show from Banner. They're trying to staunch their wounds while we transfuse. We have enough to do so two times over so if they can halt the bleeding we can do this. They're not good: he said.
It was silent for a second as the group digested that bit of news. "Please keep us tuned in. Real time, Alor. We're getting this ready and we need to know when we have to move, ready or not," Jetta said as his grim faced brother, Mack climbed up the hill to the group.
:Understood. Our tankers are meeting the group. Riot has slowed to a stop along with the others. Switching to forward views: Alor said.
Their internal view systems kicked on to show the scene in all its immense glory. Everyone stilled to watch and digest what they could that would help them.
The scene was a mass of gigantic ships, two sets of which were tractored to two who looked battered almost beyond belief. It would take a lot of work to restore their beauty, everyone thought as the ships began to attach automatic umbilical lines to the ships. Alor then switched on audio.
:Ratchet, we brought energon. The specific mix you ordered. Can we connect?: Wheeljack said as he ran the relief operation from a big tanker while Perceptor remained on the Trigger at Mars.
Ratchet watched the welders weld the slashes to shut down the downpour. He was staring at meters nearby watching the pace of Banner's bleed out as well as that of the other ship, The Dandy. "Hang on, Wheeljack. Just a moment." He cut into the other ship's telemetry, did the math, then said, "Now, 'Jack. Hurry."
The ships outside moved to the multiple injection points where energon was normally fed or was transfused during emergencies. They had affixed, now Wheeljack sent the orders to begin. Soon, tens of thousands of gallons of energon would be flowing from the giant tankers into the ships. It would be enough to stabilize them and keep them lucid enough to help with the ordeal ahead. The idea was to keep them awake. As it was, that was hit or miss for both.
Ratchet walked to the command deck and crossed the floor. He noted that the interface panel was muted. Plugging in, he listened. "Banner? This is Ratchet. I'm a doctor. We're here to save you."
A fuzzy sound was heard, then a faint voice. "Where is … where is he?"
"The Dandy? He's with us. We're going to take both of you to safety. Prime is there," Ratchet said. "Just stay awake."
Banner didn't answer.
=0=On the groundwork
They landed their ship, dismounted, then walked across a hard tarmac toward a fortified town nearby. The area around it was clear and free allowing the locals to see in all directions for miles. The wall around the city looked 50 meters tall and was fortified by energy bars and big guns. There were sniper towers that looked automated and the one gate through which everyone entered was highly secured.
Elita grinned at Chromia, then stepped up her pace. "Show time, boys and girls," she said as they walked across a moat-like structure toward the gate. Everyone followed her.
=0=Out there
"Riot, you can send the four fit mechs onward. They can take up orbit at Saturn. We will lead them in. Once we have these two down on the ground, the rest of you can come," Ratchet said.
:I have to be there, Ratchet, when you do. I can help lower them: Riot said.
"We have a dreadnought, Dangerous, there to help us do that. One dreadnought can handle it, Riot. We have six," Ratchet said.
It was silent a moment, then Riot was back. :Danny and Ty are here?: he asked with surprise and emotion.
"Yes," Ratchet replied. "Clipper is on duty nearby but all of them will be there to help you. Let us do the heavy lifting this time."
Riot was silent, then he was back. :I have a duty to them to come but I will bow to your efforts. I am weary:
"We know. When we get to Saturn, then you have to let go. Danny will be there and take over," Ratchet said. "We're going to be ready to go shortly. I'll com you when."
:Very well. I'm on standby: he said as his line went dormant.
"Ratchet to Prime."
:Prime here:
"We're nearly done here then we go in. Give us two joors. Some of the others are coming in early to park in orbit. All of them can but Banner and The Dandy. We're transfusing them now. The welders are getting the upper hand here. There's still bleeding but not like it was," Ratchet said.
:Tell us what you need and we will do it: Prime said.
They chatted together while the tankers and welders did their duty.
=0=Elsewhere
The seven of them sat on two couches together while six pensive titanic kids sat in chairs or on the floor in front of the monitor watching the news as they showed the preparation and effort of the rescue currently underway.
Sunspot stared at the screen in the comfort of a heated blanket and his Appa's lap. Spot lay by the window on his heated bed, his snoring audible in the quiet room. The Hourly News was reporting.
"The Office of the Primes stated a moment ago that tanker vessels have reached the group and are currently transfusing the two affected ships. The other nine appear to be sound enough to make the journey here without much effort expended on their part. All of them are depleted and require medical attention but the two ships tentatively named Banner and The Dandy are still in critical condition. They will be brought through the system when they've been stabilized," Aleph said as images of the emergency site played on the screen.
"This is terrible, Atar," Ravel said to his father, Ratchet. "The titans are holy. I'm so worried."
"Prime is running the show, son," Appa Ratchet said as Docker nodded. "PRIME WILL DO IT! YOU WILL SEE! He's holy, too."
Everyone in the room nodded as the scene on the screen switched out to the solar well. Ships pooling their lights gave form to a mass of ships, most of them congregating around two that bore the marks of fighting. As they did, four of them moved off and headed through the buffeting energy swirls into the system and a parking orbit around Saturn.
For now.
=0=TBC 9-11-19
NOTES!
leoness chapter 83 . 20h ago
I love the big frames. The visuals of them as well are so impressive.
ME: Thanks, honey. I love them so much. They're so selfless. When Metroplex gave up his energon to get the Ark going in The Fall of Cybertron game, I just fell in love with them. HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 82 . Sep 10
This is great! I love more big frames. So much fun!
ME: I agree. :D:D When Metroplex smashed Sixshot with his fist in a graphic novel, that was the end for me. These guys are handsome, too. Their visors make them along with their antenna tower finials. HUGS!
Guest chapter 80 . Sep 9
Nice, we finally find out what happened to Carnivac too.
ME: I'm going to be adding more of 'what happened to them?' things as I edit. Some of them are so hurt they end up like Rampage and Starscream not knowing the difference. :D HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 80 . Sep 8
Everyone needs a wild West! I love redemption. It's so amazing. You write it so well. You know, part of me really wants Orion to talk well. I can't imagine what he has to say. It's probably amazing! Maybe he's a super genius. LOL I wouldn't put it past him.
ME: Thank you! :D Redemption is sort of the family by-word here. LOL! Orion is such an imp. I sort of let things flow about some things when I write and when that flows out that he has to speak better I think I'm going to miss it terribly. However, Halo has the glitch, too, so we shall see. :D:D:D HUGS!
leoness chapter 79 . Sep 7
curse you climate change!
ME: Isn't that the truth? We have had a summer of 70-90 degrees and its weird as heck. This forest fire is at 163,000 acres and just now getting in hand. Driving through a burning forest fire is the strangest thing I ever did. HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 78 . Sep 5
I think it's great to check in on some of the idiots in the prison to see if they can relearn or not. This was a great little section. :-)
I'm so glad those babies found their parents at least three of them. That's so great! I hope that prime beats the crap out of the idiots out there. They really need to go away.
ME: Thank you, honey. Getting some hope to the other 22,000 plus is a good thing. I hate how war hurts everyone. Prime is going to do a lot. Things are coming together fast and he's going to kick some tailpipe as Smokey says. LOL! HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 77 . Sep 4
More seekers! Awesome! I can't wait for more.
ME: More coming, darling. :D I love the Seekers. Starscream is in my personal pantheon. LOL! HUGS!
kattenbelletje chapter 71 . Aug 28
Ah yes, nobility and their inbreeding to keep the bloodline pure. That was a mess.
ME: I know. I find it fascinating that such thinking exists. Hemophilia should have taught everyone a good lesson. HUGS!
Smooches to all!