Chapter 121
=0=Ops Center and Prowl
The e-mail responses had been sent and now he waited. Other tasks had to be done. Masses of data that rolled in around the clock from around the world and beyond had to be analyzed. Data on the goings on at Autobot City had to be considered, responded to and routed to the correct department heads as well. More reports of gangs trying to get weaponry were coming in. It never ended, so he sat at Teletraan with three datapads spread out before him. He'd plugged into the console to get information directly from the seething mass of raw data piling up, picking out what he needed to make informed decisions about plans being formulated in different locations in his processor, logic nexus and battle computers all at the same time.
Optimus wanted a dozen or so possibilities sorted out and counter measures drawn up, personnel selected and infrastructure in place to take them at a moment's notice. Around him the crew worked at their usual peak level of efficiency. They were pros and knew what to do. The morning staff meeting would be held later this night so that all who were involved would be able to put their pieces of the mosaic on the table for the others to see.
Right now, Mirage was on Inside Man.
Prowl had sent the e-mails to Shockwave and some to Galloway, Daniels and Lydia Nast posing as Bill Nast.
Optimus was handling the soldiers, going to N.E.S.T. meetings and managing a new demand by the Senate for another hearing.
Jazz was taking care of dealing the local intel and working out the possible angles for special operations that the situation as fluid as it was might present.
Ironhide was managing building wide security with emphasis on the younglings and his own sparkling.
Everyone was busy and tense.
It was a normal day at Diego Garcia.
=0=Ironhide and Orion
He stood in the doorway watching the children sitting together on the floor gathered around Red Alert who'd come up in the voluntary rotation to work in the youngling room on off duty time. He was showing them a book with pictures telling them about fire engines, about putting out fires and general damage control procedures. They were enthralled and he was tightly wound but ecstatic.
Ironhide was amused and Orion was gawking around as he sat in his father's arm tucked into the crook that was becoming his favorite place to sit.
Red Alert answered questions, then they all broke to play, building houses and structures go 'burn them down', practicing the things that they'd just learned. Red Alert walked around telling them how to tighten up an escape route, what would happen when a second story block house fell from a flash over and other general but pithy observations. It was all terribly amusing.
Ironhide looked down at his 'little buddy'. "You wanna be a fireman?"
Orion looked at him, his optic ridges frowning as he strained to understand the comments of his father. They were so much noise to him but comforting. They were the noises of the figure who along with his carrier/creator mattered the most to him.
Ironhide smiled as he raised Orion up, holding his tiny body in both his servos. He kissed him then put him back in the crook of his arm, walking out to begin the rounds of the building to check every possible point of entry and exit. Then they would go to Med Bay for Orion's carrier/creator to snuggle, kiss, feed, snuggle, kiss and snuggle him before putting him down for his nap.
Orion would recharge soundly with Ironhide sitting nearby fidgeting, reading or chatting with someone until his 'little buddy' awoke and they would make the same journey again, making sure that the embassy was as snug as could be.
=0=Ops Center and Prowl
The emails began to arrive so Prowl marked them for the meeting, finding that they were intermediate replies. That is, they were acknowledgments about meet ups and the informational e-mails of actual times and places would be coming up later on in the week. It depended on clearing the schedule and finding the best possible venue for all involved. Daniels, Galloway and 'William Nast' were going to go. They'd intercepted Lydia Nast's e-mails so that Shockwave wouldn't know about her and he didn't.
So far.
It was a juggling game but important enough that they could deal a significant blow to the Decepticons if they succeeded. They would also be preventing harm to Mrs. Nast.
=0=Shockwave
He sat plugged into the console of the Nemesis. Arriving orns before he'd sifted every possible corner of the ship, every byte of data, every cast off bit of flotsam trying to understand two things. First, the disposition of the Seekers. They were gone and he would have them. He would search the entire galaxy until he found them. Secondly, Starscream had been playing at a dangerous game. He had a good idea but had fallen through on execution.
As ever.
The parts of the whole were sound. There was enormous amounts of human currency gathered together to use to co-opt the players that were necessary to the outcome. It was gathered from those who would least be able to do anything about it; drug dealers, gun runners, slavers and the like. They had contributed albeit unwillingly to the downfall of their world in more ways than just their own actions and activities.
A number of steps had been taken. A partial ownership in Intel-Martin and its subsidiaries to use as a cover for Decepticon activity was genius. Bringing egotistical humans of influence into his sphere was also genius. The framework was sound. The actions within that framework weren't. He would have to apply his ruthless logic to the problem to work out a smoother transition from where they were to where they wanted to be and then execute it.
First, he would meet with the humans, Galloway, Nast and Daniels. He would show them a side of High Flyer that they didn't know existed. Then he would make good on the contracts with Nast to deliver him Autobots as agreed-upon. The mole Starscream was playing had told them of younglings and a sparkling present among the Autobot garrison.
The idea of it was stunning, infants among their own kind an almost unheard of thing. Rumors among the colonies had spoken of such but it was unfounded. Either they were in existence but hidden from him or someone was telling him lies or myths. He could use younger subjects in his work. There was much to do with perfecting his species and they would be more than a little useful.
Then there was the problem with Autobot City.
Prime had made a fortress on the fourth planet from the human's sun. They'd created a system of alarms that wouldn't allow easy entrance into the system. He'd have to ponder that. A lot of things had come to pass that would've been destroyed quickly if he'd been here. However, Cybertron had taken longer than he considered to rebuild. The space bridges, now in partial working order had taken longer. Some things had been forgotten.
He considered it all and the biggest question as well... where was Megatron? What had happened to him and where was he? That he didn't know. He would take it one step at a time and with logic and a lack of emotional engagement he would unwind the ball of string that had been cast aside with the disappearance of the Seekers and find a way to salvage things before there was more unrest in the empire than there already was.
=0=Ops Center and Prowl
Ironhide made his rounds then walked into Ops Center pausing beside Prowl at Teletraan II. Looking at the data stream he grinned. "Shockwave wants a meet up."
"It appears so," Prowl said reaching over to take Orion into his servos. Smiling and cooing, he hugged the infant to his chassis. Patting its little aft, he began punching up the texts of the e-mails. As Ironhide read them Prowl tended to the sparkling who was happy to be with anyone who wanted to hold him.
Grinning around his binky, Orion looked at the red chevron of the handsome winger who held him so gently. Reaching up, he tried to grab it, falling very short of his target.
"How do you suppose he'll greet everyone? Holograms?"
"Hard to say, Ironhide," Prowl said looking up from the sparkling. "I don't know if he's going to have a front person, make a hologram or just expose himself to them and scare them into cooperation. His logic and mine don't cross paths very easily."
"You aren't evil," Ironhide said scrolling them down as he read.
Prowl chuckled. "Thank you, Ironhide. I try."
Ironhide glanced a Prowl with a grin. "He likes you, Prowl."
"I like him," Prowl replied. "I've been responsible for four younglings but never a sparkling. I love them, sparklings, oddly enough. They're so small and cute. This sparkling, Ironhide, is the cutest thing I've ever seen."
"He is," Ironhide said grinning with pride. "What about you and Prime?"
Prowl shrugged, his expression hard to read. His eyes never left the sparkling. "I don't know. It'll have to be seen. But I expect more sparklings among the mechs now that they've seen this one and Gear Shift coming up on separation. I hope so."
"So do I," Ironhide said moving to sit across from Prowl and his sparkling. "That sparkling is the second best thing that's ever happened to me."
Prowl looked up with a nod. "I know what you mean." He looked at the sparkling. "I really like you, Orion. You're one cute little sparkling."
Orion who was looking at Prowl's chevron smiled. Then he chirped, the first sound he ever made on his own besides crying.
Prowl looked at Ironhide as surprise suffused his face.
Ironhide whose optic ridges disappeared somewhere behind his head leaned forward to look at his son. "You little slagger, you," he said with a smile.
Orion grinned back. Around his binky.
=0=Med Bay shortly after
"IRONHIDE! HOW THE FRAG CAN YOU KEEP DOING THIS AND NOT GET ME!?"
"Ratchet, it was just Ops Center and he was just sitting there looking around. It was just Ops Center."
"I DON'T CARE! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO COME AND GET ME!"
"Ratchet..."
"I DON'T CARE!"
=0=Ops Center and Prowl
He came back from an afternoon of meetings tired and drained. The Senate was going to require another meeting. It would be about the 'problems' of the personnel at the base with the Autobots among other things. Beau Weaver had gotten control of the committee and was going to be using it to revisit the treaties that were signed previously. They wanted to have Optimus Prime come himself but he'd refused.
Since they were paying their own way now with the proceeds of their patents and the resulting products that supplied alternatives to oil based energy they had more leeway in what they would agree to or not. Another issue were the products themselves which were going to make a dent in the energy market worldwide earning the wrath of oil producers who were major campaign contributors to the committee members among others.
He walked onto the command deck and steered his way to Teletraan II, smiling at Prowl. Pulling up a chair to sit he explained the complications. Getting updated by his SIC, he then arose, pulling Prowl to his peds. "Better call the senior staff together. We have to figure out what we are going to tolerate and what we can tell them is off limits. I also think an update on Shockwave is in order."
Prowl opened a channel base wide. Speaking in Cybertronian he called them together. {Senior Autobot staff and department heads, meet in the conference room right now. Thank you}
Walking together, they made their way to the conference room nearby. Moments later a harassed looking Ratchet carrying his sparkling and a contrite Ironhide following joined them to sit in their usual places. Others came just as quickly and they began.
Prowl pulled the file up on the e-mails and they read them together.
-0-
To: Daniels, Jase, Galloway, Ted and Nast, William
From: High Flyer
I am glad to hear that you find my suggestion to meet together a good one. I am in the middle of some negotiations and will be sending instructions about where to come and when by Thursday this week.
I would like to discuss the projects that have been on the table for some time, the collaborations and new ones as well. I am aware that this is a high risk security venture but I assure you that I will provide security for all and we shall meet in a secluded venue.
Wait for my e-mail on Thursday and come to the location your e-mails will specify. Private planes will bring you to the meeting. I want this to be as quiet as we can make it and without the added burden of a lot of extra people that add nothing.
Until then,
High Flyer
-0-
To: High Flyer
From: Jason 'Jase' Daniels
Good to hear from you. I'll be leaving Diego Garcia tonight to return to Virginia. I'll be free then to ride to your venue with Ted Galloway. I'm delighted to talk to you about the 'projects' and any new collaborations as well. It's good to be in the company of like minded people. I'll inform my father and grandfather about my absence here in Diego Garcia. I want you to know that they are men of influence and will be very interested in what you have to tell me. Until then,
Jase Daniels
-0-
To: High Flyer
From: Ted Galloway
I'm glad to hear from you at last. The projects have been a fiasco and Bill can explain them when we all get together. Jase Daniels is coming here and we can come together. Looking forward to a productive meeting. I wish also to tell you that it's imperative given my candidacy that this be as quiet as possible.
Until then,
Ted Galloway
-0-
"Well, it looks like they're getting together. What about Nast?" Perceptor asked.
"We've been doing the correspondence for Nast," Prowl said. "We've also been intercepting what Lydia Nast sent and so far she's got no place to go to find him. She's aware that something is up but not what it is."
"When are we going to pull him into this? I think it might be good to scare him to death and have him go to the meeting," Ironhide said smiling at his sparkling resting as he was in Ratchet's arms. He looked at Prime. "Unless you have something else in mind."
Prime looking at the sparkling himself looked up. "I agree."
"With what? Scaring Nast, sending him or what?" Ironhide said looking at his sparkling again.
"Both," Prime said sitting back. "I want to have a chat with him tomorrow. I think once we explain the situation and what he's liable for he might be willing to be on our side for leniency later on. I also believe if he knew he was implicated in crimes with Decepticons he'll be receptive."
"I want to be there for the interview," Ratchet said with a grim expression.
"Me, too," Ironhide said. "This could be fun. Why not have Springer and Arcee there, too?"
Prime grinned as he glanced Prowl. "Make it so," he said quietly.
Prowl agreed with pleasure.
=0=That night
"That's one cute little sparkling."
"I agree."
"Are we getting a sparkling?" T-Bar asked as he walked to his father and climbing into Prime's lap. "That's a cute little sparkling. He can't talk."
"Not yet," Prime said pulling the youngster into his lap. "Soon."
"I like sparklings," T-Bar said settling into Prime's arms.
Prowl grinned. "So do I."
Prime glanced at Prowl and swallowed. "Time for recharge," he said rising to gather T-Bar into his arms. "Time for recharge!" he said brightly as he walked toward the bedroom with youngling mechs in tow.
=0=In the bosom of love
"Are you still mad at me?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, Ratchet. Half of what happens just happens and I couldn't get you anyway. Not in time."
"Taking him for his first visit to the wash racks is not spur of the moment. Taking him to see Ops Center for the first time is not spur of the moment. I WANT TO SEE HIM SEE THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME, TOO! What else have you done without me?" Ratchet sat in the chair by the berth with Orion feeding from the line at his wrist.
"Uh, nothing. Really." He considered the other times he'd taken Orion to Ops Center and prayed to Primus Ratchet wouldn't find out. That and the other places.
And people.
And things they looked at.
And games they played.
Or Ironhide played and Orion watched.
Like roll the dummy grenade. Orion liked that game.
He also prayed to Primus that Ratchet didn't find out about that one either.
"What?" A piercing optic pierced him.
"We just wandered around. Went here and there in this place and nothing else."
"Better not, Ironhide. I want to see him do his first things, too."
[Pause]
"If you see Prowl he might tell you that he held Orion this afternoon."
"Okay. What about it?" A fierce piercing optic pierced him. Fiercely.
"He … uh, he chirped."
[Pause to digest the new slag]
Rise.
Quiver.
"WHAT THE FRAG!"
"Language, Ratchet, language." He rose holding his hands in a 'tone it down' gesture even as he knew it wouldn't help.
"LANGUAGE MY AFT! OUR SPARKLING SAID HIS FIRST SPARKLING WORD AND YOU DIDN'T GET ME!"
"I couldn't. It just happened..."
"I DON'T GIVE A FRAG! I WANT TO BE THERE!"
They paused their verbal fisticuffs as the sparkling began to wave his little arms with a grin appearing on his kisser.
Ratchet looking at him with love pulled the plug out.
The infant became still for a moment then grinned.
Then he spoke again.
"Frag."
[Pause]
Two sets of startled optics look at each other.
Then at the sparkling.
Then each other.
"Slag," they said together.