The Diego Diaries: Titan (dd7 85)

=0=Coming

They flew through the system moving as fast as their energetic wakes would allow. Four of them came, big cargo ships flying in ship mode heading for a speck of light that beckoned them. They were lost forever in the darkness of space, only a couple of them being together for longer than humans might conceive as possible. The rest of the eleven were alone and only three of them had found Soft Space, Riot included. They'd come back to find others, those who were hunted and bring them to safety. That's how they found Banner and The Dandy.

They passed forward bases who shot flares of welcome for them. They flashed their lights back as they continued onward. They would hurry as fast as they could to Mars where they would take up a high parking orbit over the field where the ships would come down. If they had to, they would make themselves a position in the overhead portion of the rescue where their tractor beams could find their way to their injured brothers. They wouldn't be allowed to fall if they could angle a hook into them themselves.

Standing at the windows of the Forward Base at Charon, staring out as the huge massive ships flew past, their running lights bright along their enormous forms, the soldiers and civilians at the forward bases marveled at them.

"Eleven," Jam Nut said. "We have eleven more. Eleven more cities in the colony. Its almost too much to believe."

The others nodded as the lights faded away.

"Lucky us," Carton said with a grin. "Unlucky Megatron."

Laughter greeted that as they waited to watch for the appearance of others. It was still being decided if The Dandy and Banner were strong enough to handle a teleport.

=0=At the site

Ratchet stood in the command center covered in the spilled energon of Banner. He was working on the environmental computer that ran his systems. Some of the markers were improving and the big ship was much more coherent. Ratchet was telling him what he decided. "Banner, what we're going to do is allow Cryptic Warrior and Striker to beam you into the system. Then they'll tow you to our colony from the Saturn Orbital Shipyard. We can't do what we need there because you have to have a steadier flow of energon than we can manage there. So you'll be going shortly and all you have to do is remain awake. You don't have to do anything else."

"I understand," a muzzy voice replied over the intercom system. "Thank you," a soft whisper added.

Ratchet glanced at the panel which looked brighter than before but he was worried nonetheless. It would be skill and miracles if they made it to land without a crash. "Ratchet to The Dandy. What's the word, Goldwing?"

:We're stabilized. Dandy is pretty solid for now. He wasn't as slashed up as Banner. We've got everything staunched and he's powered up. He has enough energon transfused to make this a pretty fair endeavor. What about Banner?: Goldwing asked.

Ratchet replied over their internal link. :He's pretty bad. He's lost a lot of energon. We're going to be nip and tuck if he doesn't crash. I'm going to put Danny on a three way: Ratchet called, then linked into Dangerous. :Danny, we're just about ready to go. I think I'm going to send Dandy now. He's better. The more energon we can get into Banner, the better. He's going to be very, very problematic on the landing. He's in and out with me here:

:Understood, Ratchet. Four of them are due soon and they already told me that they would be here with tractors as well. The area will be narrow and I'm not sure how to manage that but we'll work it out. Send them and we'll be ready: Danny said.

:On it. Goldwing, take off. Have Riot and Enzio leave now. We're going to be coming shortly. Just between you and me, Goldie ... if he dies ... Banner ... I want it in space and not on the ground. Don't tell anyone I said so: Ratchet said grimly.

It was silent a moment, then Goldwing replied. :Understood. Ratchet: There was a pause, then he was back. :I believe he'll make it. He will make it:

:From your lips to Primus's audials: Ratchet replied.

:Hurry ahead. Danny is waiting:

:On our way. Goldwing out:

Ratchet stood on the deck watching the dials and meters as they slowly, ever so slowly crept forward.

=0=Onward

"Goldwing to Riot."

:Riot here:

"Time to go, Riot. You and Enzio will take Dandy in. I'll go with you and keep him stable. Ratchet will follow when Banner is stabilized."

"What is the word on him, Goldwing?" Riot asked with intense worry in his voice.

"Ratchet believes the more energon he gets the easier the landing. Dangerous and the others are going to be there to lower him. Don't worry. Let's get there. Tell the others to go as well," Goldwing said.

Outside the forward view ports, the effort was still underway. Then five ships who were in need of help but fully capable of leaving began to head out. The first four who left would be seated on the ground right away. Their hurts were nominal. Upgrades and fixes would do the trick.

These five were needful of more attention and would get it either in space or at the big frame depots on Mars, around Saturn or even the Ceres Depot. They would leave and beat Banner in. When they were fixed, they would sit and become city habitations like the other four.

Banner would be towed by Cryptic Warrior and Striker. They were huge colony ships, Striker with a medical function as well and they would bring him to Dangerous who would do the heavy lifting. They would have to wait a while. The tankers were still flooding their ailing brother with assistance.

=0=Nearing Saturn

Four huge vessels flew onward now led in by Seeker squadrons commanded by Red Wing. He would handle any flight assistance during the operation, returning from Mars after helping these four arrive to await the teleporting of Dandy, Riot and Enzio.

At Autobot City, the tension was thick on the ground as everyone waited for the newcomers. All of the big frames were there in pretender gear standing to one side with a grimness that was palpable. A vast open space was ready for anything and everyone in the colony who handled ship emergencies including crashes was here to assist.

Emergency vehicles were lining the edges of the landing zone, oddly menacing looking in the stark light of massive towers brought here from Industrial Park Cities.

Grim faced mechs from the Fire Department and Watch were there standing in groups ready to rush forward to fire suppress and save the wounded if they crashed. Many of them had seen big ships crash including titans. No one wanted to see that here. There was something incredibly tragic and desperate about the idea of it. These were pure beings. To see one die like that was revolting to everyone there.

Prime and his officers, the city's Community Council civilians who were drawn by the horror, priests, press and medical leadership waited on a hill near the landing pad. There was little conversation as they waited and watched the sky stoically. All that they hoped for was a good resolution.

It would take a while before the news that four of them had arrived and were taking up a stationary parking orbit very high in the atmosphere directly over Tyger Pax.

Somehow, that made it just a touch better than before.

=0=Riot and Enzio

They flew forward heading into the boiling swirling bubbling energy field that demarcated the boundary between the solar system and open space. Gathering in their bodies were forces that were beyond the understanding of humans and would be for eons. Equipment developed through the genius of the Cybertronian People was powering up to move three incomprehensibly massive ships from here to Saturn.

They flew through the worst of it, then lit their candles. In a split second light burst forward, surrounded them completely, then all vanished. Seekers following them saw them leave, then arced around to return to the remaining three.

:Cloudburst to Ratchet:

"Ratchet here, Cloudy," Ratchet replied as the barest minimal levels of power were attained at last.

:They vanished:

"Thanks," Ratchet replied. "We have to wait a bit longer. Go on board Phobos if you have to."

:Roger that:

Ratchet watched the panel that showed the Seekers returning to Phobos, then entering it. He glanced at the dials on the panel once more. Not enough. Not enough yet. They would have to wait. "Ratchet to Prime."

:Prime here:

"Dandy is on his way. Riot and Enzio are bringing him in."

:Understood. How is Banner?:

:He's going to be a problem. He's really hurt. They managed to board him and hacked him up. Apparently, Dandy managed to roll and roll until the others arrived. Those inside were tossed around because he voided his gravity plating.

:Banner was attacked too fast and his systems were slammed hard. He had no control over his plating or he would have done the same. It's a standard tactic when boarded. He couldn't even close up his walls to crush them. Poor slagger. He's going to be the tough one: Ratchet said off line.

:Understood. Let us know when you come. And Ratchet … don't be on board him when you do:

:I know: Ratchet said. :Ratchet out:

Prime stood on the hillside listening to the chatter between the ships incoming, Riot and Enzio towing The Dandy and everyone on the ground here involved in their family who were waiting with dread and fear for their arrival.

=0=The Hourly News: LATEST BREAKING NEWS! at 0122 AM TMC

"Right now, we have an update on the ongoing situation at the edge of the system. Four of the eleven metrotitans have been cleared to come here and take a high parking orbit over the colony. Until the ground situation is resolved with The Dandy and Banner, nothing else will be undertaken.

"Riot who is leader of their pod and his brother, Enzio are towing The Dandy to Mars where he will be assisted to the ground by the dreadnought warrior, Dangerous who is here from the DMZ to assist with landing both highly damaged vessels. Because of their wounds, they will need towed and tractored to the ground. Dangerous who as a fully mature adult dreadnought is more than equipped to do so and is here in stationary orbit over the landing field.

"According to the Office of the Primes, Banner and The Dandy have been together since The Fall and have spent most of that time avoiding pirates and aliens who desire their technology. Apparently, they were discovered and pursued by Cybertronian pirating teams who managed to disable them, then board both.

"Banner was damaged in systems control and has the most worrying injuries from knife attacks on his energon lines. The idea was to bleed him to death, then crash him onto a planet where he could be pillaged at their leisure. The Dandy was attacked and boarded but still had control. He began the standard boarding defense by barrel rolling with the pirates inside. He managed to disable them when they were discovered by Riot and Enzio.

"Those two were leading seven others on the Omega Beam to the colony following the recorded messages of Prime, Starscream and The Great Elder when they heard the distress signals of Banner and The Dandy. They came in the nick of time, took out the pirates, then towed the two injured mechs with them in their haste to arrive here.

"Right now, Riot and Enzio are going to be arriving here in about a bream towing The Dandy. Banner is still at the edge of the solar system being treated before movement. He will be teleported if possible or towed by Cryptic Warrior and Striker. Both of them are warrior class-colonial designated mechs who will be doing the work of teleportation.

"We haven't been able to speak to anyone on the ground at the landing site but we have requests in," Aleph said with a grave voice. A portion of the screen showed the field as the rest held his image. "I would like to repeat the road and highway, business, governmental and school closures for the next few orns. I would also repeat that the human and Hu An Habitats are at full restriction until further notice by command of the Prime. Here they are," he said as he began to read them.

As he did, Riot, Enzio and The Dandy appeared out of nowhere near the Big Frame Shipyard at Saturn.

=0=TBC 9-12-19

NOTES:

There is such a thing as a jam nut. I work in a hardware store and its one of my faves. LOL! I love hardware. ;)

palpable: (pal-puh-bul) a feeling or energy that is felt and noticeable. If someone is really nervous and you feel their nerves, then their nerves are palpable.