The Diego Diaries: Onward (dd7 196)
=0=On the deck of Tennyson, still in the orbit of Cybertron
:Optimus, are you alright?:
He glanced up at Prowl who was staring at him with a serious expression of concern. :I am fine. I dialed down my pain receptors:
Prowl glanced at Ratchet nearby. :Ratchet. Optimus has pain:
Ratchet glanced up from the tactical station, then walked to the table. Plugging in to Optimus, he read the data flood, then glanced at Prowl. :His audials are broken. The pieces are scattered around the slotted area near the back. It might feel like sharp pain but his pain receptors read at null point. If he has pain he can't feel it:
:What does that mean? Is he making it worse or what?: Prowl asked.
:No: Ratchet said as he scanned the area with a handheld. He pulled the plugs, then studied the data. :The shards that shattered are clumped together and can't rattle around anymore. If he could feel it the feeling would be like needles but he can't. I don't see it being an issue until we can replace them:
Optimus who was sitting at the command table reading incoming data looked at both. He had streaks of oil and a couple of scorch marks on his arms. There were four small wounds that were field patched and would receive full repairs later. Right now, he was in a world of total deafness only broken by his own thoughts and the interpersonal communications that all of his species bore.
Thank Primus.
Prowl stared at him with a frown, then turned to Ratchet. :He should be resting. He should be in the hospital recovering from replacement surgery and how hard will that be? I could barely get past the twinnies:
:He should be but that's a futile thing: Ratchet said as both stared at Prime with frowns. :Right now, I have him on my sensors and I'm monitoring him long distance. The first moment we can have, he goes with me to the Medical Center and a berth there:
:I cannot do that, Ratchet: Optimus said as he sat back gingerly in his chair.
"You will if I say so," Ratchet said.
A couple of the Home Guard nearby glanced at them, then turned hurriedly back to the job at hand. Tennyson and the others were working but Typhoon grinned at Ratchet before he joined them again.
:Springer to Prime:
"Prowl here."
:Prowl, we found our quarry. How's the dog fight doing there? Do you need us to assist?: he asked from the deck of his ship.
"We have it, Springer. Continue," Prowl said.
Beyond the forward view port a scene of disaster was playing out. The last fighter carrier to leave the orbital pattern it and the other ships were holding had launched its fighters moments before.
A fighter carrier listed nearby as it burned inside with great ferocity. Another was drifting as it lost its mobility while the last one fled onward. The two left behind had launched their fighters and some had even come from the one flying away with Lissie and the others chasing it. The fighters came out and swarmed toward the three cruisers and other ships that were holding them from their arrival in orbit. As they did, a swarm of Seekers burst around the curve of the planet and dove into them.
It should have been more furious. One would expect it but given that the fighters were not expecting them, given that their mother ships were basically scrap and their resistance was futile, they had little incentive to make the dog fights last especially when the dreadnought and titans came over the horizon heading straight for them.
Most of the fighters arced away heading after their comrades with the Seekers in hot pursuit. Here and there a fighter drifted, shot through and through but most flew away into space. They would be an easy pick up because when they did the math … dreadnought/titans plus no where to go multiplied by a dwindling on board fuel supply equaling doomed … the answer only led to surrender. It would be an intensely surly group of Decepticons, civilian criminals and dead heads that would be gathered from the seething mass of frustration that signaled their willingness to give up a few at a time.
A fifteen or sixteen mile long ship with guns with barrels big enough to hide a big shuttle along with three others arriving at the same time was good incentive to do so, too.
=0=Out there
They chased the four battle shuttles away from Cybertron as they headed out toward the direction of the Rim and the outermost reaches of (semi) Decepticon controlled space. Behind them the battle was raging as they watched the two crippled fighter carriers launch their cargo. They were like ants pouring out of a hole to defend the hill as they swarmed in masses.
"What's going on with the battles at home?" Sideswipe asked Kup who was staring at the console.
Kup glanced at him, then back to the console. "The slaggers had a fight but it appears they sense the futility. Apparently Tenn and the titans have arrived on the scene."
"They're getting the upper servo? I saw the order to send Seekers. Heavy gunners, I think," Sideswipe said.
Kup nodded. "Prime sent in the cavalry."
They sped onward into the darkness together.
=0=Homeland
The gathering forces continued to grow in the vast distance as Hard Drive and Alor sat side-by-side looking at the data rolling in. Hardie leaned back as he considered their situation. "Hard Drive to Wheeljack."
A great number of relays sent his message and Wheeljack's reply in nearly real time. :Wheeljack here, Hardie:
"What's the status of Sun Base, 'Jack?"
There was a pause, then Wheeljack was back. :We're looking good. I'm hoping for a release in the early morning if all stays this well:
"Thank you. Contact me when the Triggers are ready for this one," Hardie said quietly.
:Will do. Wheeljack out:
It was silent a moment, then Hardie leaned forward to stare at the data pad. "Frag," he whispered softly.
=0=Mars
"We have an update from the Offices of Strategic Information," Aleph was saying. It was nearing dawn as the broadcast continued. "The battle group that was in orbit around Cybertron over the city of Nova Cronum has been neutralized without ground fall. Several large ships have been allowed to escape to prevent their fall into the gravity well of Cybertron in the event that a shoot out disabled them. They are currently being pursued.
"As it stands, two fighter carrier ships have been disabled in orbit and one is furiously burning inside as the survivors are evacuated to waiting ships and prison or the hospital. One has fled with Autobot shuttles in hot pursuit. Four battle shuttles escaped with pursuit after them as well. Cruisers, how many is unknown, disabled themselves trying to flee with one surrendering to the dreadnought Tennyson who is part of the ready-go fleet kept here on the flight line or in permanent orbit at Autobot City.
"There are indeterminate numbers of prisoners and injured being taken into custody by Seekers in the heavy gunner class who were dispatched to take care of the fighters when the disabled carriers launched them. It was a very one sided and short battle. There is no current combat going on in the orbital paths of Cybertron. All further episodes that might occur will happen in the pursuits currently underway.
"In a moment, we will discuss these new developments with Commander Jazz and speak with Deputy Warden Coleus at the prison to find out how things are going on there," Aleph said.
Watching him with interest and a dinner plate of very tasty food, Will Lennox glanced at the others who were sitting with him eating dinner as well. "That was a lucky miss. I wonder how bad it really is?"
"When Prime gets back he'll tell everyone. I never saw a government that disclosed as much as Prime's," Seymour Simmons said. "It's uncanny."
Nearby, watching them and the screen, mercs sat and dined. Neither group would speak to each other for the rest of the night.
=0=On Tennyson
Prime ordered the three titans to follow the chase groups to support a smart surrender without a fight. They disappeared into the distance. Tennyson was holding orbit near the battle scene as his environs were being used to gather up the dead and wounded as well as be a platform for the clean up crews who were working to clear the orbital lane.
They watched the situation outside, then Prime glanced at Prowl. :What is the situation at Homeland, Prowl?:
Prowl put in the call, listened, then glanced at Prime. :It appears that a force is being built up at the edge of our sensor capability and perhaps they'll come our way:
Prime considered that. :Ask Hard Drive what he needs, then send it. We need to barricade the traffic lane to Homeland. I do not want a fight if we can help it. Have you contacted Wheeljack for an update?:
Prowl made the call, then sat back in his chair. :All is going well but it looks like tomorrow morning at the earliest for a release. All things being equal, of course:
Prime nodded, then looked at the data pad. :Of course: he replied.
=0=Mars
The children were parted out after breakfast, some heading to the library to study for a test in science when school began again and the rest to daycare centers. It was the orn after Christmas Surprise and thus, the colony was swinging wide open. Traffic was brisk, refugees were wandering or getting business done and it was a bright energy that lit up the atmosphere of the colony which was still festooned with trees, lights and beautiful decorations. They stood at 107,000,000 plus citizens as of the moment.
The little group of elders walked out of the elevator at the Medical Center, then headed for Ironhide's room. Entering it quietly, they walked to the berth and gathered around.
Watching them come in, Ironhide grinned. "You're up early."
"We put the tykes in daycare, then came to see you, son," Ravel said as he took Ironhide's servo. "We brought you a treat."
Chan, Corr, Docker and Appa Ratchet stood on one side of the berth while Tie Down stood with Ravel on the other. Tie handed a box to Ironhide who was propped up on the berth.
Ironhide took the box, then grinned. "Thanks."
"We think you'll like them, Ironhide. We do," Ravel said sweetly.
"When do you get out, son?" Appa Ratchet asked.
"They won't let me out because Ratchet wrote a hold, the slagger. I'm going to sneak out if this takes too long. There's a battle somewhere with my name on it," Ironhide said.
Chan grinned. "Your ada told us you would say that. Alie mentioned something about his ped and your aft."
"Sounds like him," Ironhide said with a chuckle. They chatted a bit, then the group walked out to 'let you rest, son'. He grinned as they left, then looked at the box on his lap. He opened it, then marveled. It was filled with small crescent shaped buns with white frosting on them. He took one, smelled it, then popped it in his mouth. Savoring the sweetness, he grinned. "Ah … little crescent moons with frosting. Will the World of Buns ever run short of surprises?"
He would spend the next few breems eating them as he pondered that, one of the questions of the ages. The monitor would play the news as he did.
=0=Homeland
Hardie sent his list of necessaries for the possibility of battle ahead. The group was still congregating far away. As long as it did it allowed Cybertron to get things in order, then return with their firepower.
"This is fragged," Alor said as he signed off with Ratchet. "Prime is deaf. The infant is awake and snarling at the nurses. Ratchet told him he'd plant him if he wasn't a better patient. The infants are in daycare until school starts."
"Sounds well in servo," Hardie said.
"I hope so," Alor said with a sigh. "This is fragged."
"I won't argue with that," Hardie said with feeling.
TBC 1-31-2020 edited 2-7-2020
We used to eat sweet crescent rolls with frosting every Sunday. It was our treat. A German style bakery made them. I still dream about them. :D:D:D