The Diego Diaries: Chaos 51 (dd3 51)
=0=The Muster
The film crews arranged themselves as they arrived from following their soldiers to the airfield. Some of the big mechs had pulled their weapons from their homes, their dojo or their work site. They had hurried to the airfield gathering with comrades as they awaited ship assignment. Xantium stood nearby and all Wreckers were ordered to report who had been called up. They stood with Kup and Springer, relaxed, laughing and calm.
:These fuckers are going for combat. Look at them: Jack Mellar said to no one in particular. They all agreed anyway.
Nearby tethered to small carts to boost her power, the incredible Kappa awaited. Supplies for the hospital were being stowed inside and she accommodated them memorizing their contents to facilitate locating them for use once in battle. Ratchet was inside organizing the arrangement for racks of berths and two surgical stations in the rear of Kappa's vast hold.
Gypsy ran up the ramp and paused by him. "I'm going on Xantium."
"Am I surprised and do you have permission?" he asked with a grin.
"No and no," she said smirking. "They're mine and I'm theirs."
"Well, remember that Comet, Turbo and Cambo also are yours, too," Ratchet replied.
She nodded. "Do you really think they'll fight?"
Ratchet considered that then nodded. "I think they will."
She vented a sigh and shrugged. "Well, we'll just fight back. Wreck 'n Rule."
He looked at the tattoo on her shoulder that said just that and grinned. "One riot, one Wrecker."
She grinned then headed for the ramp to disappear into the gathering and carefully choreographed chaos outside. He considered her loyal good sparked soul. Then he continued to do his part of the problem before takeoff.
-0-On the tarmac with The Hourly News: Latest Breaking News!
"Gen-O, I missed speaking to the Prime. He's already boarded Zeta. But it would appear that there's a big problem with this migration. Apparently and all of this is just preliminary … a large contingent of Decepticons are among them and there may or not be a hostage situation. I talked a moment ago with Chief of Intelligence and Prime spokesman, Jazz."
(Cut to Ops Center. Mirage is working on data on Teletraan III as Jazz pauses)
"Jazz, what can you tell us?" Jacx asked.
"Not much at the moment," Jazz said. "We have a situation that's still developing in the new migration. We're sorting out what information we've received and retrieved from the situation on site. But not much is known yet about them or their intentions."
"We've been watching the construction of a new prison to the east of the airfield. What's the story there and have you had reason to expect trouble for a while now?" Jacx asked.
"We always expect trouble and when we don't have it then all is good. Right now, we want to have options. We were aware of Decepticons for some time now. We didn't get a good vibe from these so we decided to boost our options just in case."
"There's a call up going on outside. The Master of the Muster has nothing to tell us. What do you know?"
"We've had a military response available for every migration that has come through. For some, there's shootin' and sortin' out things. For most, there's only a peaceful landing. That's what we're aimin' for here."
"When can we expect more information?" Jacx asked.
"We're not sure. The battle group will go through the bridge and assess things there. The best part of this situation is simple. We have a bridge and a huge professional army. They can't win."
"Thank you, Jazz. Back to you in the studio, Gen-O."
-0-On the airfield
They loaded their ships, three Arks along with the ones already commissioned. Several hundred Seekers heavily armed with rockets, among their numbers boarding specialists gathered with their clan chieftains and bonds, some holding infants in arms. The war cries of their clans rang up into the air, echoing against the Fortress. When they accomplished their emotional solidarity they launched, most of them straight upward.
Old Seekers, venerable individuals, their tattoos and scars testimony of their long fabled existences standing with their emblematic decorated staff in servo watched proudly as the younglings of their tribes and clans lifted off. They called them out, their ululations rising upward with their youngsters. A crowd began to gather and the atmosphere was electric as the flotilla was hurrahed by those who would have to wait for their return.
Tie Down stood on the edge of the tarmac with Ravel watching as the ship bearing their son gathered up to go into battle. They were solemn as they watched. Ravel stepped closer to Tie and looked up. "He will come back just fine. He's a doctor. No one would harm a doctor."
Tie looked down and nodded. "Even Megatron wasn't that stupid. Our boy was never on the kill list, Ravie. He will help all our soldiers to come back."
Ravel nodded. "He's going out with Prime after all. I know he will come back in good order."
"He will." It was silent a moment. "We'll have to get the babies shortly. Poor Ironhide, having to put Hero in the sparkling nursery."
"We'll take care of them," Ravel said firmly. "She will stay with her atar after this is over. Ironhide is so proud to have her with him. He's a good atar, our Ironhide."
Tie grinned. "He is."
They stood together watching the battle group until they lifted off to go. Then they walked back to their store to finish up replacing things back where they belonged.
-0-At the prison
Alor stood with Flint and Jetta as the logistics of the prison were given by the assistant construction boss. Scar, Payload and Bulkhead were with the fleet. They walked here and there, poking this and that as they learned how the prison would function. From the sounds of the inmates coming they would need all the force they could muster.
"What about isolation?" Alor asked.
Jetta considered that. "I thought the brig was for that."
"It could be, Jetta but what if they're are too many to put there? We have very bad mechs coming," Alor suggested.
"You're right," Jetta said. He turned to the assistant and began to work out the details on a very high security facility nearby. It would be in order when the battle group came back.
-0-The humans
They stood together watching, all of the humans on Mars present. They gathered on top of the storage and shipping crates that had names of places and transport lines from Earth. The view was perfect, safe and all of them watched intently. Many still filmed. Most stood and commented now and again as the battle group gathered.
:So this is what war looks like: Aaron Belcher said. :We never see this. It's never shown on Earth:
:I hate this. What if our bots get killed?: Lenora said.
:They won't: Jack Mellar said.
:How do you know that?: Lenora asked.
:I don't. I just have a feeling: Mellar replied. Then the sound of hundreds of Seekers lifting off all together made conversation moot.
They lifted in groups, hundreds jumping upward and transforming. They blasted off in a flurry of fire, their engine blow back nearly wiping the crates completely clean of humans. Huddling together, hanging on tightly, they rode it out. When they straightened, the big ships began to pull up their ramps.
The Arks lifted off with a roar and rose straight up until disappearing. Then the Guardians followed, Kappa, Gamma and Zeta. Xantium followed along with three battle cruisers that looked fast and deadly. They rose straight up and vanished as well.
When they did, the airfield looked empty and the silence was almost painful. They stared up a while, then looked around the field. Groups were still working getting ready to receive refugees as the elder Seekers walked back to the city. The humans would stay and watch for a while.
-0-In the upper atmosphere
They climbed upward finding their designated parking orbit as the flotilla began to form up in battle configuration. Starscream would command the flights from Zeta. Xantium would hold the Wreckers and other shock troops. They would align themselves in battle with the Seeker boarding specialists. Exercises together had honed a close working relationship between the two groups.
The Trigger held its position in space, the energy flow from the sled shooting out to drill the hole that led to the disaster forming on the other end of time. By the time Gamma rounded Mars and found itself alongside the Trigger, Prime ordered Starscream to send in the scouts.
A group of very fast heavily armed Seekers broke off and shot through the aperture. When they did, the rest formed up around the Guardians. Prime sat on a bench staring at the center table that held the roll up datapad that would outline the entire procedure. Once they crossed into the end zone of the space bridge it would reset to that reality from this one. A sound crackled and the scouts reported.
:Sabre 1 to Flight Control:
"Flight Control," Starscream's voice said over the open line. "Report."
:The migration is stopped. The target is arrayed starboard. We detect weapons online:
"Sabre 1, any lights?"
:Not yet, Flight Control:
"Stand by. Flight Control to Prime."
"Prime here, Flight Control."
"They're setting up to fight. I would suggest a power move. Meet their force with our own."
Prime considered that. "I am in agreement. Then we are go."
"Affirmative," Starscream replied. "Sabre 1."
:Sabre 1 here:
"Red Wing, format plan A. Wait for us. You are our optics."
:Affirmative:
"We are go, Prime," Starscream said.
"Go. We are go." Prime sat back as the great vessel accelerated forward and as he watched they fell into the great energy vortex crossing time and space for war.
-0-Kappa
Ratchet stood at the view port and watched as the ship leaped forward. Goldwing and several medics stood with him as well. The stars smeared then the energy of the Trigger filled their view. It was greenish-blue for the merest of seconds, then the stars were back.
There was also streaks of energy. The other side was shooting.
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
"We are working to retrieve our people and contain the menace of the enemy, Colonel, General. Our broadcasts will be heavily censored of any mention of these actions for now. When things are clear and locked down, we will brief you completely."
"What does the outcome look like, Mirage?" General Glenn Morshower asked.
"We're not allowing the Decepticons to come through the gate without meeting our rather lengthy list of requirements. What's worrisome is the fate of the hostages. We have their children. Now we have to rescue them."
"You do understand that we will do what we can. All you have to do is ask," Colonel John Fulton, commandant of Diego Garcia said. Morshower nodded.
"Thank you both," Mirage said. "That is extremely meaningful to us. We appreciate you both a great deal."
"And we, you," Morshower said. "I hope you keep us updated. We will pray for everyone."
Mirage nodded. "Thank you, gentlemen." A sound of beeping caught his attention so he signed off. Taking up a datapad, Mirage considered the information. They had crossed fully over to the other side and apparently were met with bullets. Not a good way to start, he considered. Being stuck here sucked, too. He walked back to Teletraan III and sat monitoring the flood of information coming back through the aperture.
It would be a long wait.
-0-Prison
They worked under spotlights digging, building, attaching and firing up. The most serious malcontents would be placed here under greater scrutiny as well as longer proximity to the others. The last thing needed was trouble in a prison. Nothing could touch the last riot and they wanted it to stay that way. Jetta directed the construction from a hastily designed plan with Grapple. It would take joors before they tested the bars but when they did it would be perfection.
-0-In the mix
They came through the aperture, an imposing force with fighters flying alongside big warships like limpet fish on the body of a shark. The Guardians broke to one side and flew toward the mass of civilian ships that were bunched together. When they did, a blast occurred as a Decepticon battle cruiser shot their way out of the wall of civilians who had been their shield. They fired on Kappa, Gamma and Zeta as they did.
=0=TBC 2012 (10) edited 12-23-18