The Diego Diaries: Razorclaw (dd7 316)
=0=There
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.
Prime studied the big mech even as he was studied. Both of them were forces of nature and neither of them were easily killed. Even as Prime had exited the world over eighteen times, that many times more he came back to strive forward ever against the tide. This was the first time in his long life of struggle and honor that he was ahead of the game.
Razorclaw mused over his situation. Obviously, he had overpowered Ominous. Perhaps that mech was in his brig. Or not. Prime was tactical and smart. If Prime didn't take all of the soldiers that filled his ranks along with Ominous, someone would step up to fill the vacuum, perhaps someone worse and less intelligent than Ominous. Ominous was a ravening beast but he wasn't stupid. He'd never pushed Prime and that alone was enough for Razorclaw to consider the big Decepticon at least not totally hopeless.
Most 'Con commanders were.
"Why would you believe I would allow you to measure my power and with it my ability to oppose you? You might decide that you can overpower me and end my operation if you do," Razorclaw replied.
"What makes you think I cannot now?" Prime replied.
"The simple fact that poking a hornet's nest is a bad idea. We could burst out of here in all directions including that of your precious Earth. You might kill all of us but not before we do a lot of damage between then and the end," Razorclaw said. He leaned back in his chair, studying Prime. "We've been good neighbors. We've kept to ourselves. Your need to do this is unprovoked."
"You are in my sovereign territory. You were not invited and your presence is an affront to my sense of order. I have one single overriding duty, the care and protection of all who fall within my sovereignty. That means every Cybertronian who lives, ever lived or even hopes to live is my charge including all aliens we cross paths with. The Covenants and Charters spell that out clearly. You presence makes that fraught. It is my duty to inspect you and check for threat."
"What if I give you a report? It won't be as detailed as you wish but it will give you a ball park figure," Razorclaw said.
"Prowl, give him an idea of this armada," Prime said.
Prowl rose to walk to a computer, then a series of images began to appear on the monitor. They were the armada grouped in pairs in positions that surrounded the enemy and cut off retreat in all directions. Prowl began. "This is the dreadnought Tennyson and the titan, Sunset. In this quadrant is the dreadnought Paradisio and the two Supreme mechanisms, Alpha and Beta. This is the titan Calamity and Kappa Supreme. This is Xantium and Omega Supreme. This is the titan Relentless with Gamma Supreme. This is the titan Fury. He's supported by Seekers and several battle shuttles. Others are interspersed at escape points to bottleneck anyone coming out. Shall I continue or do you get the drift?" Prowl asked coldly.
The images lingered on the screen, then faded. All of them were taken where they were placed in space. It was massive overwhelming power and all of it keyed to the device that Prime carried in his chest. They were spark bound to anyone who bore the Matrix and he knew they were to this mech, this Prime also on a personal level. It was always a strength for the Autobots, he considered, the loyalty that Prime commanded from others.
He was screwed.
Razorclaw was silent a moment. "Nice. I don't suppose you would use them against me. I detect a defensive strategy here. I am thinking, Prime, that it won't be compatible for me to command these troops to allow this. It won't be compatible and it won't be tactical."
"What won't be tactical is getting obliterated by refusing," Hard Drive said.
"Maybe," Razorclaw replied, "but you'd do the same thing in my place." He gazed at Prime. "I am declining. I will fight you. If I lose, so be it. That's always a stake in the game, Prime. I am willing to bet it. What are you willing to bet? Who has the most to lose in a shoot out?"
"As you wish, Razorclaw," Prime said. :Cut the transmission:
The screen went dead as Prime stared at the image of the outside on the main monitor. He thought a moment then spun his chair. "Begin, General."
Hard Drive bowed his helm, then called to the fleet. "Attention. This is General Hard Drive. We are going to launch at my count. Prepare for section 3-B in the operational plan. Be ready and ping to me."
It was silent a moment, then pings were heard, many of them. Hardie chatted with Prowl, glanced at Prime who nodded, then returned to the console. "Fleet, checked and go. Launch at my count. We are go. Ten … nine … eight … seven … six ..."
=0=Home
The twins finished collecting children's toys. They were ticked off that they weren't with the mission but they had to play a game. That it had come out in their favor was a bonus. That they missed the mission was a HUGE deduction in the overall score they kept about their lives.
"Anything more on the mission, Blue?" Sideswipe asked as he closed a toy box lid.
"Not yet," Blue said. "I called a friend at the Ops Center and they're confronting Razorclaw right now."
"Frag," both twins said as the same time.
=0=There
"Five … four … three … two … launch. Launch. The word is go."
A slight tremor greeted that underfoot as a giant pair of torpedoes were launched. They sped away as the forward monitor showed others doing the same. As they did, the dreads both charged up their massive null beams for launch as well.
"I would hate to be there when this slag hits," Ironhide said quietly to his amma.
Turbine nodded. "You and me both. I hate EMPS and null rays."
"You don't know what you're missing," Starscream said about his favorite personal weapon.
"If you say so, Starscream," Turbine said with a grin.
=0=Impactor's Revenge
They sat with the crew, Drift and Springer. They'd bridged into the shuttle and walked forward to sit with Kup. "What's the word?" Springer had asked.
"The word is kaboom," Kup said as the mechs laughed. Then two giant beams shout out of Paradisio and everyone hushed in amazement. "That's the biggest null ray I've ever seen. Remind me to watch my manners around the dreads."
"Manners?" Springer asked as the mechs laughed loudly.
=0=Razorclaw's redoubt
"THEY'VE LAUNCHED TORPEDOES! BEAMS ARE INCOMING!" someone shouted at that moment.
Razorclaw jumped up and glanced around. "LAUNCH THE ALPHA GROUP!" he managed to say before the null rays hit the base and the lights went out. Following closely behind, a torrent of torpedoes bearing EMPS began to land and blow up.
The sickening deadness of the EMP blasts reverberated throughout the base. The dusty dry echo of them shattered electronics everywhere. The base was huge and the outlying areas as well. They were all targeted and pummeled by the blasts. Mechs who were running to ships and gun emplacements fell as they hurried, falling into an agonizing darkness of sickening emptiness.
Ships systems blew up, lights and installations, power fixtures, the giant power station that fueled everything there over the vast base erupted, burst into flames, then instantly died in the nearly non-existent atmosphere of the locale. It was bright then it was deeply, deeply dark. Nothing moved. Nothing could. The attack was over almost as fast as it came.
=0=Paradisio
They gathered, the big mechs in pretender format to go over the data that would be rolling in from the Seeker flyover. They launched behind the torpedoes and the beams that went dead as soon as they bathed the planet. Zooming forward with their lights extended, they would make the three flybys, then return to base. Behind them to do the heavy lifting, a good dozen battle shuttles and all of the Supremes flew.
Prime relaxed on his chair as he went over the requirements for this raid. They would strip mine the place, gather whatever they could concerning the group's activities with other species and locations in their local area, any contact with other roving groups as well as a few special pick ups that he had discussed with Ratchet and Prowl off line. The mechs gathered as intel came in.
The base was big and well dug in. They would have everything in detail down to the choice of armor polish in the communal wash racks. Most if not all of the electronics of the base including nearly everything that powered it was toast. They would essentially be as bereft of hope as Ominous.
Somehow, that didn't bother anyone gathered.
Prime stood up, then looked over the burgeoning data map on the table that was showing everything and anything Razorclaw. "I think its time to take our leave. Prime to Hercy.
:Hercy here:
"Did you get the message?"
:Yes. We're on it now:
"Very well. Cull the place, find the packages and bring them to Paradisio. We are going to mine the area for sensors and listening devices, then leave."
:Understood. Hercy out:
=0=There
They walked into the command center stepping over mechs where they had fallen. They were looking for several who would be coming back with them. It was time to do a practical thing but one that would enrage Razorclaw and test his legendary patience to the maximum. They were going to be leaving with his brothers.
"Spread out. Let's get what we came for. Check for anything that looks like a captive. Look for civilians that got stuck with them," Hercy said.
They would find no civilians or other aliens but they would find Razorclaw's brothers.
=0=Deck of Paradisio
The humans watched the bots as they received data, relaxed together and watched the operation at stations all around the seemingly infinite deck. It was quiet, orderly and professional. Even the civilians were impressed.
"I saw the image of Superion facing off with Predaking when he was destroying everything in his path. He was twice the size of Superion, I think," Jessie said.
"Ratchet was there, too. What a terrifying thing that was," Niall said. "He took the picture. I think I'm going to give a framed portrait of that image to Owen Harris for Christmas."
Everyone laughed, then Mick glanced at Niall. "Give me one, too."
=0=On the ground
They found the three remaining brothers of Razorclaw sprawled near the forward window of the Ops Center. Divebomb, Headstrong and Tantrum looked worse for the wear.
Hercy smirked. "Well, look at them. Let's get them tossed and trussed up. Ratchet will off line them when we get to Paradisio."
Good natured grumbling greeted that as the three mechs were tossed for weapons, then hoisted. It would be a strange walk with them toward the ships waiting and a magnetized bench on Omega Supreme. Everyone would rampage to get anything that looked promising and Splice would take pictures of everyone from the Ops Center outward until it was time to go.
When they gathered to leave, it would be a dark and cold place left behind.
=0=Paradisio
"Everyone is finished and returning. They have the package," Prowl said.
Prime nodded. It was quiet a moment. "I do not expect Razorclaw to be happy about this but we cannot have him capable of combining, even if that would be a lesser thing given the path Rampage has chosen. I am going to put an information blackout on the three of them for a while. I will personally tell Rampage if and when we release this information." He glanced at Hardie. "Is the local area mined?"
"The last sensors are being placed," Hardie said.
Prime sat back and relaxed slightly. "That is good. It will be good to go home."
No one would argue with him.
=0=The Hourly News: LATEST BREAKING NEWS!
Lim-Lee looked at the data wafer. "I just received a message from the Office of Strategic Communications. The fleet is heading for home after achieving every objective that they planned to do. The Prime will be giving a message to the Empire tomorrow at noon detailing the mission and its objectives. They will be home shortly. Everyone is asked to stay away from the Military Airfield unless you have specific reasons for being there while they come in," she said. "Well done, fleet," she said with a smile.
=0=TBC 6-30-2020