The Diego Diaries: Conflict (dd7 206)
=0=There
:We're making good headway, Prime. This planet has a very liquid core and there's huge blobs floating in the core that can move and make things less stable than Sun Base. They're iron in nature and have magnetic properties. This might take longer than the other. Sun Base is exceeding standards. If I didn't know better, Prime, I'd swear that the planet was helping us move it to Sirius:
"Then there is no way to predict a time line for when the Triggers are free?" Optimus asked as he watched the forward view screens showing a large group of ships from the Vergo Confederation gather, then begin to proceed toward their lines.
:We can't. Sorry, Optimus. We'll give you the heads up immediately when we can let Homeland off the leash:
"Very well, Wheeljack. Prime out." He sat back considering everything the aliens were doing. "What is their point?" he asked.
"You know how it is, Optimus. Sometimes there isn't one."
He glanced toward the voice, then started a moment. Floating in the air in a seated position, the amused expressive face of Micronus Prime was staring at him. Sitting on a couch by the view ports in the forward section was Onyx and Solus Prime. He rose, then bowed. "Welcome. I could use your wisdom."
"You do not need our wisdom, brother," Onyx said. He glanced at the monitor and the display of the scene transpiring in space. "I would think they would understand futility but they do not. They have no fear of death. They will spend eternity with their god which they believe is a wonderful thing. Its always amusing when thoughts like that supersede life. Life is a gift. Too many throw it away," Onyx mused.
Prime glanced around. Everyone was frozen in place, stopped in time when the three Primes came aboard. He looked at them. "Sun Base is doing well. Homeland is taking longer. I do not want to fight but I will not allow them to come to Mars and Cybertron if they decide to follow us. They already know where Cybertron is thanks to the rulers of Sun Base."
"That is true," Onyx said. "It is most unfortunate that Primus never seems to catch a break." He thought a moment. "I do believe that is how humans say that."
"It is. Its a rather good expression," Micronus said as he floated closer to Prime. "You are as perplexed and uneasy as ever, brother. You have saved two planets, both of which are grateful. They wish to continue their lives around a bright star without the danger of the energy floes. I will tell you that they were not going to be struck any time soon by the energy floes but the timelines … they ebb and flow." He glanced at Onyx. "Correct?"
Onyx nodded. "Correct. I can see a brighter future for Primus building at some point. I cannot tell you when but I can see it as a very bright streamer in the time line swirl. If things continue then all will be well."
"But they change," Solus said. "Nothing is written in stone."
"Always. The only constant in this or any other universe is change," Onyx said. "I am disturbed that these people have Cybertron located. They do not fear death, Optimus. They have visions of an afterlife that is calm and peaceful so they fear very little." He grinned slightly, a very strange expression on such a face as his. "They all go home to the same house. Even if they see their version of The One differently than We do, they go to the same One and the same destination nevertheless. There are no differences there."
"We are all one. Its rather our creed, I hear," Micronus said with a grin. "I hear that it was granted to one and all through the efforts of Our brother, Thirteen. I wonder where He is, our dear brother?"
Prime didn't bite the bait but he grinned very, very slightly. "You are here to give me advice? To tell me the outcome?"
"We are here to cheer you onward, brother," Solus said. "We do appreciate the attention you give to things but you must believe more strongly in your own senses. These are aliens. Aliens have differences. They will react differently in situations than you might but they are all loved by The One. We have confidence in you."
"The planets … what is their view on this mission?" Optimus asked.
"They are happy with the outcome thus far," Micronus said. "They have expressed that and when this finishes, however it finishes, I think they will be very content. This is a very dangerous place to live."
Prime nodded. "We are trying to get out of here without a shot fired. They insist on making this a war."
"They do not fear death. They are part of the same philosophical point of view with their religion and desires for their respective cultures. Its admirable, all things considered, how they are such great and good allies and friends," Onyx said. "They will stick together no matter what. When you harm one, you harm them all."
"They will find Cybertron then," Optimus asked.
"We have not said so," Micronus said. "We do salute your efforts, brother. We are not so far away." With that, Onyx and Micronus faded away.
Optimus glanced at Solus who had risen and was floating toward him. "Lady."
"Brother," Solus said as she kissed his cheek. "Confidence. Do what your spark tells you is the best solution. We are not far away." She faded from view and when she did everything came to life again.
Prime glanced around but no one noticed anything amiss. He walked back to his chair, then sat. The scene on the screen was perplexing.
=0=Farther out there
"They are an odd lot," Metroplex said as he sat at the command table on Clipper with all the others standing or sitting there with him. "They want to be slagged."
"Talk to them, Metroplex," Typhoon suggested. "Sweet talk them while the rest of us line up missiles. I don't want them to take out any of our shuttles."
Metroplex opened a channel. "Alien force, this is Metroplex of the Metrotitan battle group, Constellation. I am asking you to turn about and leave this space. You are heading into a battle that you cannot win. We are titan and dreadnought class ships of war who have only one function and that is to protect our people. If you attempt to pass the barrier line we have made, we will destroy you. Respond."
The ships kept coming, then slowed to make a long line just before they would have met up with the battle shuttles and before they would have crossed the demarcation line that the titans and dreads represented.
"What are they doing?" Typhoon mused. "I don't like the looks of this."
The big frames murmured agreement.
=0=Closer to There
Several battle shuttles slowed, then halted together. Far down the way, just before entering their clearly marked space, the group of ships had come to a halt, then spread out to make a very long and powerfully manned line.
"What does this slag mean?" Sandstorm asked as he watched out the window.
"I don't know but it looks like trouble," Springer said as everyone on board agreed.
=0=Tennyson Command
"What are they doing?" Delphi asked. "I think our shuttles should pull back to Clipper. I don't feel good about this."
"Make it so, General," Prime said as he watched the line up with growing disquiet.
"Shuttles, this is General Hard Drive. Pull back and form up on Clipper."
The shuttles made a tight turn, then flew back to Clipper where they took up defensive positions. It was a good thing that they did.
=0=Home
They walked out with the children and the door closed behind them. Lissie and Ironhide who were still hostages to fortune glanced at each other. "How do you feel, infant?"
"Fit as a fiddle," Ironhide said. "What about you, Auntie?" he asked.
She held up her stump arm, then grinned as he flinched. Again. "Fit as a fiddle."
Ironhide frowned, a look that she loved. "You enjoy doing that."
"Maybe. Maybe not. Do you have the take out menus?" she asked.
He unsubbed them, then handed the booklet to her.
"What kind of outrageous dessert do you want after dinner?" she asked as she reached that set of pages. They would spend a bunch of time choosing and it would be delivered later. All of them.
=0=There
:Metroplex to Prime:
"Prime here."
:We detect that the ships are attempting to make an energetic link between them. We are uncertain why but it makes us a little bit wary: Metroplex said.
"Suggestions?" Prime asked.
:We are recalling our Seekers and small vehicles. We are sending the shuttles back to you. I do not want anyone out there just in case. We do not know what we are dealing with yet: he replied.
"Understood. I will come to you," Prime said.
:I would wait: Metroplex said. :Until we understand this I would like to keep command split:
"Very well. Link us in, Metroplex," Prime said.
Sounds of voices discussing the situation came over the intra-ship communications lines as the monitor showed Seekers and small vehicles boarding various big frame hangar decks and the Wrecker shuttles flying back the way they came. It seemed as if everyone was hunkering down for battle.
It was tense on the bridge of Tennyson.
=0=Clipper
"I don't want to be caught flat footed. Caminus, Hammer, Striker … come with me to another ship. Let's keep the command split up," Typhoon said as he rose from his chair. "We'll be linked in, Metroplex."
That big mech nodded as he watched them leave.
"Look," Titan said.
Outside, the ships in a long line began to flash energy to each other, forming as they did a long glittering line of light hooking them together. It was going fast down the line, something that gave its own sense of forbidding.
"I don't like this," Metrobon said before the last ships were linked. "What does the data tell us?"
"Nothing good," Metroplex replied grimly.
Then the alien ships disappeared in a long blazing burst of light which burst into life, coalesced into one point, then flashed outward toward Clipper at an astonishing rate of speed.
Metroplex started to rise, then called out to one of Clipper's drones. "SHIELDS!"
As he said it, the light struck Clipper engulfing the enormous ship nearly entirely.
=0=All around the may pole …
"What the frag," Prime said as he stood up and walked closer to the monitors. "Prowl, call them."
Prowl who already was glanced at Prime. "I get no response."
"What about the alien ships?" Prime asked as he turned toward Smokescreen who sat at Tactical.
He worked a moment, then glanced at Prime. "They're power is down. I don't know how long they have before they recharge but they will. They're drawing energy from the nebula and its starting to power them up, Prime."
"Prime to Clipper."
There was no reply.
:Typhoon to Prime:
"Prime here."
:There's dead air between us and Clipper. I seek permission to take out those ships:
"Permission granted," Optimus said tensely.
A blast of mathematics and Primal Vernacular filled the airways as the ships in the line received their commands from Typhoon. In seconds after they did a stream of slimline missiles were launched from every titanic ship there. It seemed like a swarm of snakes heading out with furious purpose as they flew from launch bays from nearly a dozen titanic frames.
The ships facing them broke formation, some flying forward while others tried to flee to a nebula. Some of them made it while others were instantaneously obliterated. The ships heading into the nebula disappeared but the missiles followed. After a moment there were flashes here and there along with ignited gases when they exploded. Nothing more followed that.
The forward screen came to life as Kappa fed the images to Prime. As they watched debris float here and there, most of it the size of a small waste basket, numerous ships were speeding to the darkened figure of Clipper. Some of them would be Wrecker shuttles, one would be Phobos with Ratchet and the others would be Seekers and roundabouts from a couple of battle ships.
Prime would beat them all there.
=0=TBC 2-13-2020 2-14-2020 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, MY DARLINGS! :D
Fancy: I love the way men goof around. These guys could be my uncles and dad. :D:D:D
Silverhornd: I agree. ;)
HUGS TO ALL!