The Diego Diaries: Doing That (dd7 315)
=0=Landing on a planetoid in the middle of nowhere
They stepped down the ramp to head for the main building nearby, what they considered to be the Operational Center for the local swine. Entering, they chatted with the mechs tearing the place apart, then walked over to where Ominous lay sprawled where he fell.
Hercy grinned as he nudged the huge mech with his ped. "Looks peaceful. I think I'll let him sleep."
"Are we taking them?" someone asked nearby.
"Can't hold them all. Leaving the leadership. Whoever might try to fill the gap could be a worse fragger," Hercy said.
"There might be a fight or they might flee or they might decide to commit suicide with us. What do you think might happen, Commander?" the young Home Guardian pilot asked with big optics as he stared at Ominous, hitherto before only a name on the news.
"The first two will be promising. Could be either. The last? We're ready for 'em if they do," Hercy said with confidence.
The kid stared at him with worshipful optics. "What do we do, Commander? Do you need help with this one?"
"Actually, I want photos," he said glancing at Splice.
Splice nodded, then began to film the carcasses all around.
"Where's Straxus?"
"In here," a Seeker said as he walked toward a room. He entered, was gone a moment, then came out dragging an unconscious Straxus by one leg. He dropped both in front of Hercy. "Don't say I never did anything for ya."
Hercy grinned. "I won't." He glanced at the mechs. "Grab him, boys. It's about time to leave." He walked toward the door, then left.
The 'boys' watched him go, then glanced down at Straxus. He was big, red, white and black with a helm shaped like a two-headed ax. "That's one ugly mother fucker," Splice said.
Everyone nodded.
"You've been hanging out with the soldiers again," someone asked.
Splice nodded.
They stared at the silent mech for a moment.
Splice grinned. "Humans have nice words."
Everyone nodded.
Four of the mechs reached down to claim an arm or leg, then began to walk toward the door. A worshipful young kid pilot followed them. He also had another word for his 'army' vocabulary. He would eventually google what it meant. That he was rocked by the meaning would make his ada and nana proud.
He would still keep the word. He just wouldn't use it around them.
=0=Up there
They gathered on Paradisio to discuss a revamp of the plan, something that often happened when things changed or went well. It was a big crowd who chatted with Prime as Prowl took notes to change the orders of battle.
"I wonder who this Straxus is?" Randolph McClean asked as he watched them and listened to the translation line.
"Straxus is a maniac. He was a dictator of Polyhex during the war and killed anyone for anything. He poisoned Metrotitan with code or something and that caused him to join the Decepticons. Tyke is the youngest of his line and generation so he was easily turned. He's the one that nearly took out Terra when he was brought to the colony for repair," Niall replied.
"Ah. I remember that. What a disaster and scare that was," Randolph replied.
Half those present grinned at him, this really nice, likable man. That his Scottish accent was so easy on the ears was extra.
Prime listened, then chatted with Prowl off line a moment. Prowl was taking notes but he was also formulating plans around them. After a moment, Prime glanced at the group. "I am okaying the changes. I want Straxus in the brig and we will keep him with us." He glanced at Blaster. "Have you buried listening devices around this area? Sensors as well?"
Blaster nodded. "Wheeljack and Perceptor helped. The last two are being installed. He will never see them and they have dampening fields built in. They're like the ones in the DMZ."
Prime nodded. "Thank you. I think expediting this is a good idea. I can imagine that Razorclaw knows that Ominous went silent. I want him off guard. Monitor his frequencies, Blaster, and let me know if anything changes before we take his base on."
Blaster glanced at Wheeljack and Perceptor. "You okay with the job?"
"We just got word that they're finished and heading for Omega," Wheeljack said.
Blaster nodded to them, then walked to his station to monitor the calls from Razorclaw if they came. Or not.
"What is the ETA for everyone returning to ships?" Prime asked.
"Just a moment or two. Most of them are already returned," Prowl said. He set the data pad down, then began to update the big data map. "We can leave in five minutes."
Prime glanced at the mechs watching and waiting, all of them of the titan class along with his senior officers. "Very well. Please proceed to get ready to leave for Razorclaw's fortress, gentlemen. Are your shuttles back?"
"Mine are," Paradisio replied.
Tennyson checked off line. "I have two coming yet. One of yours has Straxus," he said as he glanced at Paradisio.
"Lucky me," Paradisio replied grimly.
Then all of them derezzed to return to their main configurations.
=0=The Hourly News
"Thank you for sports, Gizmo. Next weekend's football is looking to be very exciting," Lim-Lee said as she took a data pad handed to her off stage. She looked at it. "I have a message from the Office of Strategic Communications about the mission that departed earlier this day. Commander Jazz of Kaon reports that the fleet stood out and mass teleported to the Caminus security zone to take a census of the Decepticon pirate base commanded by the renegade Decepticon Ominous.
"Lord Optimus wishes to take stock of the types and kinds of fortifications, troop numbers, ships and other considerations they can field. He left with two dreadnought ships, Tennyson and Paradisio. With them went four metrotitan class vessels called for this mission, Relentless, Sunset, Sunrise and Calamity. A contingent of Seekers, half a dozen battle shuttles and all six Supreme mechanisms joined the fleet.
"It is intended by the Prime to overfly and survey all of the bases in the local area who are transgressing upon his sovereignty. He wishes to assess threat and give them a taste of it himself. It is believed that the size and configuration of the vessels that comprise the armada will give a much needed jolt of reality to the intruders.
"Commander Jazz concludes by stating that when more is known, it will be shared. Right now, it would appear that the mission against Ominous went extremely well without any casualties or battles. It would appear that this many titanic vessels was the difference." She grinned at the camera. "Right now, we will take a break and come back with the planetary weather forecast. If there is more news about the mission, I will bring it to you."
The screen cut to the Community Bulletin Board.
=0=Out there
They landed on the flight deck of Paradisio. Hercy stood, then glanced at Straxus who was piled up on the floor. "Grab him. I was told to have him brigged."
Four mechs stood with good natured slagging, then grabbed him and hoisted.
Splice grinned. "He's gained a few pounds. Did you frisk him?"
"We figured Ominous did," another mech replied.
They stared at Straxus, then dropped him. He clanked. Then they began to frisk him good. They found a long bladed knife in a tender spot and tossed it to Hercy.
Splice grinned. "I'd wash your servos after handling that."
Hercy grinned. "You, too, slagger."
With raucous laughter, they walked out to head for the brig with their limp prize.
=0=Getting ready
Hard Drive consulted with Prime and Prowl, then walked to the command desk. "Attention, fleet. This is General Hard Drive. Our orders are finalized. Are there any questions?"
Replies came over the intercom. No one had any questions or confusions.
"We will beam out on my count. Bring your vessels to readiness now," Hardie said as he felt the unbelievable power of Paradisio under his peds. Sitting nearby plugged in, Paradisio had the faraway look that they all had when they were commanding themselves.
It was the same look babies got when they filled their pants.
That one.
He grinned slightly, then received the pings. Everyone was back and ready to go. He glanced at Prime. "We are ready at your command, Lord Optimus."
Prime considered the moment, then nodded. "Take us out, General."
Hardie bowed his helm, then turned toward his own command deck. Everyone was ready to go. "Hard Drive to fleet. We are go at my count. On my count … ten … nine … eight … seven … six ..."
=0=Far away
"You might want to know that all communications with Ominous are dead. They just went out all at once."
Razorclaw who was sitting by a window working on a project in the rec room glanced up at the Officer of the Deck. "Why?"
"I have no idea," Barker replied. He was a big mech, a good fighter, smart and dangerous. He had been with Razorclaw for a long time.
"See what you can do. What about that fragger out in the Bootes? Any more word from him?" Razorclaw asked.
Barker shook his helm. "No. I think we're being blocked by Prime."
"I wouldn't be surprised," Razorclaw replied softly as Barker walked back to the Ops Center. He sat back to consider the possibilities …
=0=Elsewhere at the same time
"… five … four … three ..."
"Close your eyes," Thomas Lennox said. "I think we're bugging out of here."
If Will Lennox could hear his old dad, he would have hugged him. Thomas Lennox was getting the lingo down big time.
"… two … engage ..."
A huge light blossomed, then it died. When it did, they were in an area of space with a lot of debris and stars close and far away. They were also spread out. Paradisio was with Kappa. The others were distributed with the titans and dreads. In the middle of a circle of steel, the sprawling base of Razorclaw could be found.
On sensors.
=0=There
Razorclaw heard the klaxons blaring, then jumped up to run to the Ops Center. Everyone was working hard at their stations, especially Sensors and Tactical. He paused by the command table and his shift commander, Barker. "What's going on?" he asked as other mechs including his brothers walked into the room to see what was up.
"We have ships appearing out of nowhere, huge ships and they have us surrounded. None of our lanes are free of them and we have no escape routes. Big ships bridged in and we … I see about a good dozen signs."
"Run them," Razorclaw said. "I want to know who they are."
Barker did, then glanced up. "The metrotitans aren't local. He must have four new ones. There's two dreads, one of which is Tennyson. All six of the Supremes are there."
It was truly silent on the deck for a moment, then Razorclaw calmly walked to his command chair to sit. "Open up a channel to Prime."
It took a moment but Optimus's face appeared on the huge forward monitor.
"Prime, this is Razorclaw."
Prime stared at Razorclaw from his chair. His bridge was busy, bots were veteran and known to this enemy and his ship was obviously gigantic. "Razorclaw."
Razorclaw considered Prime, ever infernal Prime. No matter how many times he was killed he never stayed dead. "What brings you here?"
"I am here to do a comprehensive mapping of your base, your armada, your soldiers … all of it."
"Just like that."
Prime nodded. "Just like that."
"I suppose you'll shoot us up if we don't agree," Razorclaw replied.
"It crossed my processor," Prime replied.
It was deeply silent, then Razorclaw sat back relaxing in his chair. "What happened to Ominous? He's gone silent."
Prime stared at Razorclaw, then replied. "He disagreed with my decision."
It was silent and strained again.
=0=TBC 6-29-2020