The Diego Diaries: Even More Stuff (dd7 200)
=0=Now
"They just arrived," Prowl said as he glanced at Prime. :The Trigger team just told me that they have Homeland and they're moving it to be inserted into orbit. It came through well:
Prime sat back relieved. "I am glad." He glanced at his general staff sitting around the table and the room. "What is the situation with the Vergans?"
There was silence a moment, then Prowl stood. He changed the forward view on the monitors ahead of the command deck to the data pad that was tracking the oncoming armada. About a joor away from them now were a number of moving lights that signaled their scout group. Waiting for them was Prime's own welcoming committee. Their lights were fixed near the remains of a nebula that had drifted into thin strands of energy over eons of time. Springer and his group were there.
:I estimate that their scout group will be picking up on our team in about a joor or less: Prowl said. :Their jumping is predictable. I have a team analyzing the data from this encounter to try and discover the kind and types of bridges they have and the level of competency of their tech at the moment:
Prime considered that. "Do you suppose that the team is sufficient? What sort of enemy configuration is coming this way?"
:We see several fast ships smaller than our battle shuttles. They appear to be fast, light and agile. How heavily armored they are is up to debate: Prowl said.
"Then we can hope that they see our might and leave," Prime said. "I do not suppose that they will."
No one argued with him.
=0=The Hourly News: LATEST BREAKING NEWS!
"Welcome," Aleph said. "We have an update on the situation on Cybertron. We also have video as well. This is what we know. An armada long gone from Cybertron has returned to Nova Cronum, apparently its home base asking for instructions to land. They didn't identify themselves but were told to hold orbit in space while they were brought down a few at a time. A cruiser and two battleships landed at the Old Airfield at Nova Cronum. They were surrounded and asked to surrender according to normal instructions of all returning Decepticon vessels.
"They refused and a battle broke out in which a lot of Decepticons were killed and a number of Autobots wounded. Having good cover, the Autobots were able to defend their positions when the Decepticons refused to surrender and began to shoot. Given that there were three enormous ships of war involved, Seeker flights came through and disabled the vessels.
"The resulting fires and exploding fuel tanks reduced the ships to rubble and the explosion of the tanks killed over 2,600 of the Decepticons in the blast. Only three members of the crews of the three ships survived the explosion. A number of Autobots were wounded and several received burns from flying fuel and lubricants. Optimus Prime received injuries but is still in charge of the operation.
"It's reported that ships in orbit waiting to land which included three more battleships, at least three more cruisers, three large fighter-carriers, four battle shuttles and a number of lightly armed fuel and supply ships decided to run and in the resulting melee most of them were either destroyed trying to flee or were allowed to go to be hunted down farther away from Cybertron. The fear of ships falling into gravity and onto the refugee camp and other parts of Nova Cronum was dire so they were allowed to go.
"All of the ships that fled were recaptured, their crews arrested and taken away. They launched fighters but troops of Seekers engaged and made short work of them. There were some injuries to the Seekers involved but nothing serious according to our reports. The clean up of the operation is in full swing and the Prime will stay with the effort until its completed to ensure that the city and its vulnerable citizens are safe and free from danger.
"It's also reported that about 200 Seekers were recovered from this band. Its said that they were not aware of the order Megatron put out on them that demanded their extermination, both the soldiers and their families. They're being handled through the Bureau of Refugees, Division of Seekerkin through the courts and offices at Aerie Hill. They gave their oaths to Optimus Prime and the Matrix and were sworn to their honor by the Great Elder himself.
"Right now, wounded are being taken to the big base hospital at 581g for care and treatments. The situation is well in hand," Aleph said. "We have video now of the battle at Nova Cronum and in space above the city." He glanced at the stage hand out of view who signaled that the video would begin. He would do the voice over since Jazz was at the Ops Center getting the update on Cybertron as well as find out about Sun Base and Homeland. That news wasn't for distribution yet.
The scene changed to a view where shooting was occurring. Mechs were running for cover as hell broke loose. Then it showed scenes of Seekers on targeted runs that blew up parts of the three ships. Images of Prime firing, then ducking were shown, images that put him ridiculously close to the embattled grounded enemy vessels. It also showed that Ironhide was down.
The scene shifted showing Sun dragging Ironhide away to a corner of a building under heavy fire, then returning to half drag, half carry Prime as well. There was a lull, then the silent video of Rainmaker claiming the Seekers. When that was accomplished and Warlord had left to assist his father, a huge explosion and the sight of Prime flying through the air to land about 600 feet away could be seen.
=0=Deck of Tennyson
Prowl frowned, then glanced at Prime. "Who gave them authorization to play that scene?"
Prime who watched it fascinated glanced at Prowl, then shrugged. Someone at IntraCom just landed on Prowl's Personal Shit List™.
=0=The scene
The fireball of the ships was astounding and so was the scene when the fire teams and medics came to help. Ratchet could be seen with Prime, then Prowl, then rotating scenes around the burning ships, pockmarked buildings, mechs racing here and there, some looking over the dead and familiar faces working hard to find the living if they existed.
They wouldn't. Much.
The scenes in space were equally appalling with ships shooting it out, burning, then listing, launching fighters, trying to flee and all the resultant chaos and destruction that close quarters combat implied. The scene ended with the solemn grim face of Aleph. "We'll come right back in a moment."
The scene switched to a data read out of what was happening.
=0=Venture
He sat on a chair with Stealth and Styre. They were babysitting the children of Prime and the trine here at The Residence. Everyone was asleep while they watched the news hoping to find out when everyone would come home. It was horrible watching the fighting, something all of them had seen in their long travail through space. It had been appalling to see Prime fly through the air.
Kestrel and Tagg were on their way to the apartment to sit with them. A call by Prowl had been relieving. Orion was going to be fine. They were just stuck on the other side of the empire from home due to the preoccupation of the bridge system with planetary displacement. That would be temporary.
A rap on the door led Venture to let both inside. They walked in, commiserated with Styre and Stealth, then sat. It would be a long tense evening waiting for news from Miler who was working at Sirius A on The Project.
=0=Appa Ratchet
He'd gotten up to get a drink when he had the impulse to turn on the news without sound. He read the captions as the story unfolded, then watched with dismay as the video ran. It was sacrilege that Prime had been tossed like that. Optimus Prime was holy. That infant was the center of everyone's happiness and sense of safety. It wouldn't do that he be treated like this, Appa Ratchet mused. He sat down in a chair to watch and would be found there snoozing away in the morning with his cat laying on his lap.
=0=Hospital
They sat together, Lissie on the berth and Ironhide beside her watching the news bulletins and videos. It was maddening.
"I see you, infant. What are you doing that far from decent cover? Didn't we teach you better than that?" Lissie chided gently.
He looked at her. "It happened fast, Amma."
"You never were a fast runner, Ironhide. Your side of the family aren't built for speed. I expect that you will use better tactics next time," she said with a slight grin.
He considered her, then grinned himself. "I will, Amma."
He hated having her worry or think poorly of his abilities. He was a CHAOS BRINGER after all. They sat together sharing fudge and the odd comment or two from Ratchet when he could. Until the Triggers were available, everyone in The Ruins was stuck there.
=0=Springer and Company
They watched as a bridge opened nearby and four fast ships flew out of it. It disappeared but the ships kept on coming. They were heading their way and it would be impossible to assume they didn't know that Springer and his companion shuttle were there.
"Open a channel," Springer said as he lounged in his chair. "Use their language files, Rem."
Rem did, then glanced at Springer. "It's open."
Springer thought a moment, then spoke. "This is Springer, Chief of Security of the Empire of the Primes of Cybertron. I'm asking you to identify yourselves."
The ships didn't. They just kept coming.
:You don't seem to have the same charisma you've had in the past, Springer: Hercy said from the ship next to him. :I'm oddly disappointed:
"That's what Drift says every time you frag, I hear," Sunstreaker said with a smirk.
Drift glanced at Sunstreaker. "You confuse us with yourself. Who wouldn't want a piece of this?" he asked as he nodded at Springer.
Springer who had turned in his chair to slag Sunny grinned at Drift. "Do tell."
"I would but they can't handle it," Drift said with a smug expression as he sat back in his chair.
Huge laughter and catcalls greeted that.
Nothing else did. The lines were silent.
"Do you think they don't understand us?" Sandstorm asked. "We didn't exactly hug and kiss the last time we saw them."
"Slaggers were trying to eat us," Springer said. "Enemy ships, respond."
They didn't.
=0=Prime
He watched with growing disquiet as the distance between them disappeared. Then he turned his chair around. "Magnus."
:Yes?: Magnus answered as he sat beside Arcee and Elita at the table.
"I need more information. Go to Mars and shake it out of the prisoners. I need to know the Vergan's level of technology and what they have in their arsenal. I want to know if they have caught up or how far they need to go."
Magnus rose, then with Elita and Arcee in tow walked to the elevator and a long jump to Cybertron's bridge in The Citadel and a shorter jump to Mars.
=0=Mars
They waited in the conference room of the Command Center of the Autobot Civilian and Military Prison waiting for prisoners to arrive from Special Detentions. Faber and his elders would be examined one at a time. Prime needed to know things that the prisoners might not know but it would be here they would start. As it stood now, everything was up in the air.
=0=Prime
"What do you figure they have, Optimus?" Raptor asked. "Hard to tell what they can adapt."
Prime nodded. "I know. What I am worried about is that they sold our processes to these aliens as well."
It would be funereal on deck.
=0=Springer
:What do you want to do, infant?: Hercy's voice asked over the ship intercoms.
"I want everyone to get ready and look alive. Man your guns," Springer replied as everyone took a seat and sighted in the weapons.
As they did, the ships from the Vergo Confederation came screaming in.
=0=Control Center
"Come in and sit down, Faber. I have questions for you," Magnus said from the head of the table.
Faber stared at the grim faces before him, then walked to a chair to sit.
=0=TBC 2-6-2020 2-7-2020
581g, the designation of Gliese 581g on uncensored broadcasts that might be shown to Earth. It protects it still.