The Diego Diaries: Out there (dd7 180)
=0=Motoring On
Ratchet sat in the command seat of his vessel, the medical battleship, Phobos as its senior officer and commander. Everyone else was sitting around the vast space including Optimus. Ratchet grinned at him. "Want my throne, O' Messiah of The People?"
Prime grinned. "No. You look comfortable."
Snickers greeted that, then Sideswipe turned to Prime from Tactical. "There's a bridge opening up just outside the perimeter commanded by Typhoon."
Prime rose to walk to Tactical. He looked at the screen and read the data. "Hercy, Kup, Springer … intercept."
:On it: -Springer
:Got it, Prime: -Kup
:Will do, Prime: -Hercy
Three battle shuttles cut out of the line up and turned up the gas. They were gone from view nearly immediately but their bright lights were now blinking on the maps that were put up on the forward view port. The bridge was holding as three ships flashed out heading straight toward Prime's armada.
"I'll give them points for bearings," Ratchet said.
"They're going to regret it in a few seconds," Elita said as she walked closer to the screen to watch.
The bright lights of the three ships scanned them as a heavy beam swept through Prime's armada even at this distance. They then turned on a dime to return to their bridge with three Autobot battle shuttles hot on their heels. The shuttles were closing on them when they entered the bridge, then all of it winked out. The three shuttles flew through the spot, gathered info, then turned back toward the armada.
:Springer to Prime:
"Prime here," Optimus said as Ratchet rose from the chair to sit at navigation. Prime walked forward to sit in the chair.
:We lost them but the trail they left is mostly Cybertronian tech. Some of it involves metals and trace elements that are ours alone. They have our formulas and they have our ores. I think someone gave them more than they should have: Springer said.
"Understood," Prime said. "Rejoin but at distance. If they come through again shoot them so they disable. You have discretion on use of extreme force."
:Understood: Springer said as the three shuttles rounded, then began to fly in parallel to the armada while keeping proximity to the area where the ships seemed to prefer to appear.
It was silent on deck a moment, then Prime leaned back. "They showed them the processes. They showed them the formulas. This is very grave."
Ratchet considered that. "It would appear that we have the worst breach of tech I've heard of since Jhiaxus was hanging around. Certainly between us and a non-Cybertronian."
Prime nodded. He glanced at Hard Drive. "Would you ask Warden Gee-Gee to bring Machlis of Iacon here please, General? If you could form an escort from the bridge to the command deck, that would be appreciated."
Hardie stood. "I would be honored." He walked to the comm station, sent a message, then walked to the elevator for the ride downward.
=0=Autobot City Civilian and Military Prison, Special Detention-Solitary Confinement, Section 41, Administration Segregation
Gee-Gee walked to the building where Machlis and the others from that round up were being held separately. They were in 'the block house', a stone building that housed a good fifty cells which were designed to prevent any possibility of communication between those living here. They were austere in their design with one window, a small one built in the door that could be sealed. Inside, the worst of the worst were kept. She walked to the door that belonged to the cell of Machlis, then keyed the code. It opened so she walked inside.
Machlis was sitting on the berth watching television. He looked up, then leaned back warily. "Yes?"
"Optimus Prime wishes to speak to you," Gee-Gee said. "Please stand and lets go. I have big mechs outside who can carry you if you feel less inclined to obey."
Machlis stared at her, then stood. Silently, they walked outside heading for the Command Center where they would use the bridge to go to a ship flying an ungodly distance away, an operation that might be considered threading a moving needle. They would arrive there in no time.
=0=On the Phobos, at the ship board space bridge room
Hardie watched them walk through, three of Gee-Gee's big guards, the small femme and a wary appearing Machlis. He saw Hardie, then slowed. Hardie stared at him a moment, then said, "Follow me." He turned toward the door at that point, then walked onward.
Machlis followed along with the others. It was a silent ride upward to the command deck by elevator, then a long walk across the vast room to the chair where Prime sat brooding. Everyone on the deck watched them approach but no one said anything. The forward view held charts of space with lights indicating movement of ships while the windows around them showed the usual view of space in flight. He reached Prime, then halted. It was tense and silent.
Prime stared at Machlis. "We have had ships come through bridges to reach this space, use crude but definitely Cybertronian long range sensors to scan us, then leave as swiftly. The data indicates that the technology they are using is our own. Sensor data indicates as well that they use technology that is supported by our processes and formulas. I would like you to explain how this is so."
Machlis stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't know."
It was tense and silent a moment, then Hard Drive stepped closer. "Understand, Machlis. We're aware of your trading partners out here. We've had contacts with them already. They have our tech and they have our formulas. Only two groups are responsible for that. One of them is with the Pantheon, the Functionalist Council and that leaves you. You armed, aided and abetted enemy aliens in violation of every code, treaty, resolution and law that we maintain. You put a knife at our throats when you did."
Machlis stared at Hard Drive. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Then maybe we don't need you anymore. Maybe we can throw you out an airlock and you can float around out here forever or until a rift takes you out," Raptor said. "My son tells me that our metallic form draws plasma and electrical storms. He would know. He lived out here helping our people since The Fall."
Machlis glanced sharply at Raptor. "Prime isn't Nova. He would no more do that than I can fly."
"We all can fly, Machlis," Ratchet said quietly. "All of us."
Machlis glanced at Ratchet, his expression hardening. "Is that so."
"Sure," Ratchet said. He glanced at Prime. "This one won't talk. How about we go through the entire group until we find one who will?"
Prime considered that, then glanced at Hardie. "Please go with the Warden and find a weak link. This one can stay here a bit."
Hardie nodded and with Gee-Gee and her mechs, he walked to the elevator to go.
Machlis watched him go then turned to Prime. "You want to play this game then."
Prime who was discussing things off line with the others looked at Machlis. "What game?" he asked.
Machlis fell down in a heap to the floor.
It was dead silent but for a Home Guard mech who gasped in surprise. He glanced at Ratchet. Holding up a meter, Ratchet grinned. "Not to worry, infant. He's in sleepy land. Just keep doing what you're doing and watch," he said nodding to Prime, "a master at work."
Even Prime managed a small grin at that remark as Ratchet walked to Machlis to arrange him better on the floor. He unsubbed his gun, then waited for Hardie and Gee-Gee to return. Ratchet glanced at the kid who seemed slightly more relaxed. "Did you know that Trooper and Scout of Iacon are my grand genitors-in-law? I hope this gets recorded so I can use it as an audition tape. You should have seen the time that we pranked the humans with a shoot out with imaginary finger guns. I was a triumph."
"You were a loon," Prowl said as he walked onto the deck. "I was the star of that little bit of insanity."
"I'll share top billing with you because I'm nicer than you," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
Prowl smirked as he paused before Machlis. "This looks promising."
"Perhaps," Prime said. "I think I am getting tired of being called a soft sparked Autobot."
"If the shoe fits ..." Sideswipe said from nearby. "By the way, why aren't I on a shuttle?"
"Because we can't do without ya," Ratchet said with a big smile.
"We could learn, however," Prowl said with a smirk.
The elevator opened as Hardie and the others walked out with Faber. He looked pissed but he walked silently toward Prime and his mechs. As he got closer, he saw Machlis sprawled on the floor. He slowed, then showed extreme shock on his face. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
Prime stared at Faber coldly. "I need information. He did not give me information."
Ratchet grinned, then waved with his gun in hand. "It's okay. I'm a doctor. He didn't feel a thing."
Faber stared at Ratchet, then Machlis, then turned toward Prime. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
"I needed answers to questions. Machlis did not feel inclined to answer. Now I am going to ask you. It is your choice what the outcome will be," Prime said coldly.
Faber looked around with intense emotion, then back to Machlis. "THAT WAS MY ADA!"
"Are you going to answer Prime's questions or do I have to put you down, too?" Ratchet asked.
Faber stared at Ratchet, then turned to Prime again.
"I want to know what types, kinds and forms of weapons you have given the aliens that are bridging here to scan us. I want to know how they got the materials to make them. I want to know the range of their space bridges and I want it now. I want every shred of information you can give me. You gave our technology to war-like aliens who can theoretically bridge to our colony and Cybertron. You will give me that information now," Prime said.
Faber stared at him with a war going on in his processor. "And if I don't?" he asked in his rising fury.
"Then you will have no more value to me than Machlis," Prime said.
It was incredibly tense in the room as Faber did the math. Then he answered. "Frag you, Prime."
He clattered to the floor next to Machlis.
Ratchet subbed his gun, then bent to arrange Faber on the floor. He glanced up at Prime when he was finished. "I would like it remembered that I'm a dead shot. Literally."
Snickers rounded the room.
"Bring me the next one," Prime said.
Gee-Gee and Hardie nodded, then walked back to get the next fool. They were gone in seconds.
Ratchet sat down again, relaxing in the navigator's chair. "Anyone want to bet we go through a few before they crumble?"
"No," Prowl said. "I have Encryption working on their databases. If we crack their codes we can find out what we need to know. They're as bad as the Functionalists for this. They kept good records," Prowl said.
"Good," Raptor said. "Bury them in paperwork."
They flew ever closer as they waited for the next one to come back with Hardie and Gee-Gee.
Moments later …
They walked back to the command chair, Gee-Gee, Hardie, three guards and Fuller, the brother of Faber. He was tense but composed until he got close enough to see his brother, Faber and his ada, Machlis laying silently on the floor. He slowed, then turned on Prime. "WHAT HAPPENED!? WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
Prime stared at him, then answered coldly. "I asked questions. They refused to answer. It is your turn now to choose."
=0=Along for the ride
Miler sat at the navigation station on Trigger 1. He'd never been on a mission before like this and certainly not on a Trigger flying with its partner on the way to the Benzuli Expansion. He would run the transport of the planet through the Trigger while the one held its field integrity during transit. Trigger 3 at Sirius A would manage to place it with their help. It would be an exacting mission but not unknown. They'd managed to move Caminus and several gas giant planets around the local group. They were setting up this planet to join a star that had none. It was going to be a great practice for Cybertron and others in its local group. Right now, the best part of this was the adventure.
He had no idea what was going on inside the vastness that was The Salton Sea.
=0=TBC 1-11-2020 :D:D:D NOTES TOMORROW! :D:D:D HI, FANCY!