The Diego Diaries: Sun Dance (dd7 167)
=0=Ops Center, Sun Base
He vaguely noted that heavy treads were heading his way as he poured over the data. There was a map laying on the table which was being built by the Seeker's data sends while they were doing a deep scan world wide. There were three new pits, all of them small and containing no more than a couple of bodies. All of the bodies in his preliminary examinations as they waited for the coroner and company to arrive involved blunt force trauma and bullet holes.
The sound of ped falls drew his attention. Ratchet sat back as he watched Prime and Ironhide followed by senior Autobots who played on the team walk his way. "How was the game? I'm guessing that its over?"
Prowl who was with them nodded. "It is. Terra won 20-5."
"Good," Ratchet replied. "Have a seat."
Chairs were pulled as grim faced mechs sat down ready to hear the bad news which Ratchet had withheld from the during the game and a joor afterward to let them finish things up without interruption.
Prime glanced at the map. "I am assuming that you are doing a site survey of the possibilities."
"Correct," Ratchet said. "I've got seven pits, three of them very large … that is, holding more than five bodies and four that are small with two or less individuals. They all have in my preliminary examination signs of beatings and a coup de grace bullet hole in the back of their helms."
It was very silent, then Ironhide shifted. "Frag. What have you done so far?"
"I had Machlis and Faber brought back along with representation both for and against," Ratchet replied. "I talked to them. They're as cold and self righteous as anyone I've ever met. They're Functionalist Council level oblivious here. I don't detect anything that hints to mental defect but I'm going to let Jarro and Rung sort that out. They appear to be the usual hardcore narcissist that believes in their own invincibility and entitlement. We have a Special Circumstances crime here."
It was silent a moment as everyone there digested that bit of news.
Prime sat back in his chair with a weariness that was apparent only for a moment. "Tell me what they told you, Ratchet. I want to speak to them as well."
"They don't believe we, the lower classes come from The One and Primus or at least not in the same way they do. We're 'equipment'." Ratchet grinned humorlessly, his expression tight. "Stop me if you've heard that before. They went on about their way brought the greatness of Cybertron to its heights, the Pantheon doesn't love us, they don't believe that Cybertron fell without a fight, they had no respect for the priests. I asked Lauren and Sela to come and they both called them traitors for going into the streets to help fight the tyranny during the Clampdown and the Rising. I don't think they support revolution, the slaggers," he said with a slight smirk. "Its the usual bubble babble. They really don't like you."
"Frag them," Prowl said with a cold tone. "We don't like them either."
A chuckle went around the room at that remark, then it settled.
"Sela and Lauren are here to do the last things for them, the prayers and the rest," Ratchet said. "It's the least we can do." It was silent a moment. "I think we need to do this right and see what the Pantheon have to say. This slag has to be nipped in the bud."
Prime nodded. "I am assuming that the processing and interviews are being handled?" Prime asked.
"They are," Ratchet said. "Sky is doing the forensics, the Coroner's Office is going to take the bodies and do forensics autopsies. All of us will get all their information. Processor Health is going to interview their survivors, if any, so we can know what's going on here once they're identified. We need to find the locals when we figure out who they are so we can talk. A data tech is going through the records database here and a team is on the databases already back at the colony to find anything pertinent about this and any other crimes that might be found here. The committee to investigate war crimes is meeting at Mars now."
"Good. 'm going there now," Optimus said.
They rose as a group, then walked out the door to walk to the wasteland nearby that was a freight yard where boxes and crates were stacked. Between them in deep graves, the bodies of their fellows were found. It would be a very busy crime scene, that and the others for some time.
=0=Home
"What do you think now?" Sideswipe asked as he helped put the babies to bed. They had dinner earlier, spent time with friends who were also genitors with kids, then came home to hit the hay.
"I think they have a different kind of offense running the femmes the way they do. We have to find a way to countermeasure them. They're fast and big, strong like us and if we can't contain them we're going to pay at the score board," Sunstreaker said as he tucked blankets around Uraya.
"I think you're right," Sideswipe said as he handed the baby her sleepy bed dollie.
=0=There
It was a grim sight to watch as the crews sifted and removed things, took pictures, scans and other informational efforts to get the complete picture.
Prime stared at the holes then glanced at Ratchet. "What do you need here? What is the situation on the refugees and their progress leaving here? Paragon is moving Homeland. He's moved 600,000 refugees thus far. Your group has been given priority. When you finish here the other planet should go swiftly."
Ratchet nodded. "Good to hear. We have moved 1,500,000 or so individuals. We don't want to glut the port. We also know Atlas will be needing to move refugees shortly so our window is very narrow before he has to send his. He found several hundred thousand new refugees and needs the space at Omega Base."
Prime considered that. "Tell us what you need, Ratchet. I am going to have a talk with Machlis and Faber." He turned away slowly, then began to walk back to the Cener and a bridge from a ship parked nearby.
Ironhide glanced at Ratchet. "The kids are good and the decorations are up for Christmas Surprise. We saved a few for you. I have to go with Prime but I'll be right back," he said.
Ratchet nodded, then watched him walk off with the others toward the ship bridge nearby.
Prowl who was standing next to him turned to Ratchet. "Do you need anything?"
"No," Ratchet said. "I'm going to push this through."
Prowl nodded, then glanced at the retreating figures heading toward Ops Center. "I'll go and see what happens. I'll call you when we get done." With that, he walked toward the Ops Center himself.
Ratchet watched them go, then walked to the forensics team to get the latest update.
=0=Mars that night
Lim-Lee took the update information, read it, then waited for the cameras to go live again. They did and she began. "Welcome to The Hourly News at 0100 hours on the TMC. We have an update from Refugees and Immigration that we have received over 2,000,000 new refugees from two worlds discovered in the Dead Zone that's called The Ruins. There were two groups of refugees that went there after The Fall and The Great Exodus to establish safe colonies on two worlds in a place where the Decepticons wouldn't find them.
"The Office of the Primes say that the repatriation is going well and that all will be accomplished in about three orns. There is very little information available about these groups other than that they're healthy, well and mostly ready to move to get out of an area so unstable. More information is promised by 1200 hours according to the Office of Strategic Information. When it arrives we will report it. Right now, we will go to Jacx for reports from the Port of Autobot City," she said.
They would report the influx all night long. Nothing would be released about the problems of Sun Base for the time being.
=0=In a Conference room at the Prison
Machlis walked in, slowed, then composed himself even more when he saw the Prime and a few of his officers including Hard Drive of Praxus waiting for him. He stopped by the table, then sat when Prime nodded to a chair in front of him. He did, then waited. He was very good at this kind of game.
"Machlis, I have heard and seen disquieting things from Sun Base. I would like you to tell me about it," Prime said.
Machlis stared at him stony faced. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."
"There are graves there, Machlis," Hard Drive said. "They're filled with individuals who were beaten, then shot to death. Given that you and Faber run the colony, there's no way you don't know about this. We want you to tell us. We're giving you a chance to explain yourself before we talk to anyone else about it."
Machlis stared at Hard Drive. "You have no hold over me, Hardie. You and your Elites don't have any status in this brave new world."
"They do," Prime said. "Because I will it."
Machlis considered Prime, then glanced at Hard Drive. "I don't have to speak to any of you. I don't expect you to understand the reasoning and elegance behind our rule of Sun Base. You live a lesser life with lesser standards. I was never fooled by the Elites, Hard Drive. I always knew what you thought about our way of life."
"Really," Hardie said quietly. "Please, do enlighten me."
"Your caste was never part of The System. You were there to disrupt. You were there to stand in the way of real progress."
"You mean like the Clampdown and the confiscation policies that allowed you to take over other people's businesses, own all the profits and ideas and pay them a pittance? Those ways? I don't mind. Guilty as charged," he said.
Machlis stared at the handsome face of the tall immaculate mech. "You are a traitor to your caste. I don't know how you got that much power to make the Elites matter and have The Code be such a hindrance. I don't really care myself. I just believe it was a mistake not to take you and your group down."
"You wouldn't do it. Not you and yours. You'd outsource it first. You never were the one to get your servos dirty. You have no courage on that front," Hardie said. "It doesn't take courage to kill mechs and femmes. What did the femmes do that warranted a bullet in the back of the helm? And when you tell me about that, tell me how much courage it takes to murder someone from behind."
Machlis glanced at Prime. "I do believe I'm finished here."
"You are finished when I dismiss you, Machlis," Prime said. "Answer the questions."
"I don't have to," Machlis replied. "If you really aren't the great fool and fraud that you are you will be holding to the laws of Cybertron and when I invoke, this is over."
Prime stared at him, then Springer who had come here to listen for any clues he might find about the situation on Sun Base. "This person has invoked. Read them their rights and film them. Then put them into solitary confinement. They will talk to no one from this point forward unless its their attorney."
"Glad to," Springer said. He tapped Machlis on the shoulder. "Rise, sunshine. The dungeon awaits."
Machlis rose slowly, then walked out without a word. When he was gone Prime glanced at Drift who was watching with a pensive expression. "Please bring Faber."
Drift stared at him then nodded. He left without a sound.
=0=TBC 12-27-19
NOTES TOMORROW!
ESL
disquieting: something that bothers someone, makes them less quiet in their comfort zone than usual.