The Diego Diaries: Home Again (dd7 323)
=0=Approaching noon at Studio 14, IntraCom, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire
Prime sat at his set mentally going over his report to the Empire about the new threat and the new prisoners. It would be broadcast everywhere and that included Earth. The MCA would clear the time when he cut into all of the broadcast media he had at his command.
Jazz was talking to Blaster, both of whom were his 'Communications Divas' as Revet so aptly put it. Short of being parted out, both of them claimed directorship and camera-ship over Prime's broadcasts. Jazz walked from the camera that Blaster was manning, then took his chair just out of the line of the device. He sat, then nodded to Prime. "You're live in three … two … one."
The logo appeared of 'The Primes of Cybertron', then his handsome face. Many would be the humans who would muse that he was, a handsome metallic individual easily discerned to be so. He gazed at them with wisdom, gravitas and dignity, three things in short supply amongst the ruling classes elsewhere. He gave you confidence and you knew that lying was something anathema to him and his obvious moral code.
He gave a slight nod, then began. "I am Optimus Prime ..."
=0=In an Intermediate School classroom in Iacon during civics class
They sat in their seats at their tables which were in a large circle in the large room. Beyond them through the wall to ceiling windows, the colony rolled onward. Ships could be seen flying overhead carrying heavy steel to this and that project around the colony. Towers of habitation and commercial activity surrounded them, this public school that sat on the main plaza of this huge bustling city. Children watched the Prime with intensity.
"I am Optimus Prime ..."
=0=At Club Hoyle On The Square, Terra
The club was humming when the screen changed. In this, the second Club Hoyle in the colony, they watched as they dealt the cards, civilians, soldiers and worker bees. The mission had been hush hush but they had some information because the Prime always released something as it happened out there to ensure that everyone would be confident in their troops. The rumor mill seldom got it right so that openness was a good thing.
"I heard we have prisoners," a mech said as he ate his sandwich, a hearty Cybertronian confection from way back in the orn.
His bond nodded. "I heard that, too. I saw Winnie at the store and she was talking to a friend. They got a bunch," the little femme said as she ate her lunch with the bond. It wasn't often that they did but their schedules coincided sometimes. When they were finished he would teach her pool. She would need a foot stool to do so.
"I am Optimus Prime ..."
=0=At City Hall, Autobot City
Elita sat on the couch as Magnus swiveled his desk chair to watch the broadcast. He'd been on call to go but had only popped in after the slaggers were dragged from the brawl on the command deck to the brig. It was pleasing as frag to see Straxus hauled off and the ride home had filled him in on what happened. What impressed him always was the manner in which Prime talked to their people. He had a deepness of greatness that always led him to find the right way to tell things to others. Considering earlier in the orn …
Prime and Magnus sat in the conference room as the door opened. Bon and Rampage walked in, hesitated a moment, then walked to a chair to sit down. It was silent a moment, then Optimus leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table top. "Thank you both for coming. I would like to tell you a few things that you deserve to hear from me before you hear them on the news. Its about the mission."
Rampage considered that. "Its about my brothers."
Prime nodded. "We did a flyover to scan them far, wide and deep. Razorclaw wasn't amenable and we had a disagreement of opinion. Because our ships were dreadnoughts, they were able to fire and land null rays on his base. It took actual fighting off the table, something that I favored in the end. We were able to get what we wanted and when we left we did so with Divebomb, Headstrong and Tantrum."
Rampage silently digested that news, then sat back. Bon stared at him with a slight worry. "Well, I'm glad they aren't dead. They are my brothers but we have nothing left between us if they remain the way they are. Thank you for that, Optimus."
Prime nodded. "We left Razorclaw because the vacuum in leadership that would create might spawn a real problem for all of us given the kinds of mechs he has attracted. His base was decimated. We bombarded it with EMPs."
Rampage grinned slightly. "He won't like that."
"We know," Magnus said. "We want to contain his menace and allow him to process the possibility that he will never be strong enough to be more than a minor irritant. With all of your brothers here, he will never be the danger as Predaking that he was before."
Rampage nodded. "He won't. We were unique, the most perfect combiner ever created. He had that power, the ability to mesh all of our own into one perfect will. We were … its difficult to explain. All of the others were rushed and foolish. They were just one glitch away from falling apart. With us, it was good, it felt good and even though most of us didn't like to do it … the loss of your personal self is not normal … when we were combined it was a beautiful thing. A feeling of power and oneness." He grinned. "I'm not the sort of mech who thinks about things like that but its the only way I can describe it."
Prime nodded. "I understand. The three will be put into stasis and kept in the high security quarantine section of the prison. I wanted to tell you myself because I value you greatly for your transformation and all that you bring to this colony. You are a very valued and greatly appreciated mech who does a lot of good for a lot of individuals. If there is anything connected to them that comes up or you find you have need, my door is open to you and we can discuss it."
Rampage nodded, then stood with Bon who took his servo. "Thank you, Prime. The idea of the old Rampage is in my processor but he feels like something I saw in a movie, not me. I am happy here, maybe for the first time in my life." He reached out and they shook servos. He shook servos with Magnus, then the two walked out.
"Predaking is one for the books, the history books," Magnus said as he glanced at his childhood friend and brother.
"Where all nightmares belong," Prime had said quietly …
Elita shifted on the couch as the seal was replaced by Optimus. "Here we go."
Magnus nodded.
"I am Optimus Prime ..."
=0=Unidad Terra 1
They were in a meeting about a convention that would last a week and would be attended by humans from Earth. About thirty countries would be represented with envoys that would discuss science and trade with the three human habitats, Unidad, Earth2 and Earth 1. Prima Station would have an observer but wouldn't participate. They were still too new to be more involved with anything but getting things progressing there. The Consulate was sponsor of the event.
Brandon Clark, Carly Spencer-Brooks, Sam Witwicky, Lois Morshower-Howell for the Resort and Owen Harris among others paused the conversation to watch Prime's presentation. The rumor mills were going and it would be good to get solid information.
James and Jason Daniels, Theodore Galloway and Beau Weaver were there with Owen to watch and listen.
"I am Optimus Prime. I am here today to update you on the mission that was undertaken two days ago and came to fruition late last night. As you know, there are several battle groups of pirates, privateers and Decepticons that have founded forts within the sphere of my influence. They are heavily monitored and we have placed a great deal of our power in place to deter them from causing trouble to us or to Cybertron.
"My sphere of influence is over 100,000 light years in a sphere around this system. Given that Cybertron is 800 light years from Earth and Mars, it places our vulnerable home world well within territory that we can easily defend. This sphere runs to the edge of the Bootes Constellation, a jump in defensive lines given the invasion some time past by the Decepticon Shrike and his battle group. We expanded the territory that we defend and monitor from that time and will do so again given the arrival of a new group inside the Bootes Barren.
"That group is lead by a mech named Polity who is the son of a senator who was involved with his family in creating the largest construction firm in the Empire. He is smart, educated, tactical, capable, knows how to build and creates amenities for his crews when they have a base. That makes him unique among Decepticon and pirate commanders, the care he takes of his ships and crews. They are loyal to him and he is loyal to them.
"At the moment, they are hemmed in and overawed by our show of power. We took with us two dreadnought ships, Tennyson and the newly arrived Paradisio. With Paradisio came four metrotitans, a hunter group of great and noble experience. They are Calamity, Relentless, Sunset and Sunrise. All of the Supreme vessels came with us, Omega, Kappa, Beta, Gamma and Xantium. 200 Seekers and ten battle shuttles rounded out the force.
"We scanned them and they had to allow it, something that we know will be a dueling point for Polity. However, we have accurate information of his base and force size. Because we were after that with him, we also sought that with our other two secured enemy forces in our zone.
"The first was Ominous of Slaughter City, a Decepticon commander with a large force near Caminus. The second was the Predacon, Razorclaw with a large force near Epsilon Eridani.
"Both forces are held in check by massive shows of force and excellent tracking by our military. Razorclaw's base fronts a demilitarized zone or DMZ that is guarded by metrotitans and dreadnought vessels. The base of Ominous is guarded by the dreadnought vessel, Clipper and both forces will be augmented by our new arrivals. Both intruder groups know that they would be annihilated by us if they made any threats and thus, they have been contained securely for a very long time. I expect that to continue.
"The base of Razorclaw was decimated as well as Ominous and it will be very difficult to come back from the level of devastation we left behind. When we left, we took prisoners who were being held by Razorclaw and turned them over to Warden Gee-Gee at the prison. Two of them were Straxus of Yuss and Emirate Xeon of Kaon. It was reported that Xeon had been killed by Megatron long ago, essentially sparking our civil war. Apparently, that information was incorrect and his recovery was a very great surprise.
"Both Straxus and Xeon are very dangerous mechs. They are being held for arraignment, assigned counsel and will be, if so indicted, held over for a Primal Hearing with Special Circumstances. So grave are the alleged actions and crimes attributed to both, there is no other platform through which justice can be served.
"I am aware that there are many among you with very real and deep grievances against one or both of them. I am asking you to put your trust in me that your hurts will face a tribunal where you will have your say and justice will prevail. I would conclude this with a very deeply felt sense of gratitude to our armed forces, our veteran soldiers, the Home Guard who accompany us now, our air force, the Seekers, under the able command of the Great Elder and Commander Starscream and all of the support teams who help get us get ready and toward our destination. Thank you very much.
"Information about this matter will be released as it is formulated. Thank you, Cybertron, Mars, the Local Group and all of the spaces where we live and work for your patience and support, It is the greatest task before me to keep you all safe. I extend that to Earth, our partners in all things. Thank you and good afternoon."
The screen flipped back to the Emblem of the Primes.
=0=TBC 7-9-2020 7-22-2020