The Diego Diaries: Psyops 3
-0-Out there
They walked about checking out the area, looking into conduits that would house electronics and cabling and checking the space set aside for ships. There would be hardened bunkers here at some point and Autobot City was merely a stones throw away through the gate.
Big transmitters would be placed on the roof of the fortress allowing broadcast to the 'Cons wherever they were hiding. The range for their propaganda broadcasts would be well beyond the debris field in which both sides were drawing the line. When they had exhausted questions and all the information was clear, Prime and his team turned to walk to the ships.
Revo was standing in the doorway of the City of Cybertropolis when they approached. :Prime, Overlord is asking to speak to you:
Prime nodded and walked in followed by Blackjack, Alor, Ironhide and Springer. The hatch closed as the group moved to the forward station. Pressure was equalized and conversation was available again. He sat and nodded to Revo who put the call through. "This is Optimus Prime."
"Hello, Prime. This is Overlord."
"What do you want?" Prime asked coldly.
"Now that isn't nice. I just noticed the activity here and I guessed it was you. After all, who else is out here?"
Prime sat silently. He waited but not for long.
"You're going to play it that way are you?"
"I want the hostages. Give them to me and we part without rancor," Prime said calmly.
"I can't do that and you wouldn't leave me alone if I did. I know you too well. It isn't your style to leave an enemy on your flanks. I will tell you what. Come to me and let's settled this between mechanisms. The winner claims it all, the loser is vanquished. No muss, no fuss," he said, the malevolence in his tone remarkable.
"How about you give me the hostages and we don't kill you," Prime countered.
A harsh laugh could be heard. "You know that wouldn't be fun. Come to me, Prime and I'll let the hostages go," Overlord said. "Or, I can restart the battles of Kaon here for my own personal amusement. I have 2500 hostages, Prime. It would be amusing to watch them fight each other to the death."
"I will hold you responsible for the death of anyone in your custody, Overlord. I will hunt you and kill you with my bare servos."
"I would love to see you try," Overlord said breezily.
"I won't come alone," Prime said.
There was a pause. "The Matrix?" Overlord asked.
Prime didn't answer. He sat and waited.
"Well, I can see you're busy. I can't wait to trade fraggings with you and your sorry little Autobots, Prime. I will await your arrival with great pleasure," he said and the line went dead.
They sat a moment, then Alor leaned forward. "He's about as mental a bot as I've ever seen and I've seen the Reapers, Prime. I would suggest that we haul aft and make a go of this before he gets bored and starts torturing the hostages for fun and games."
Prime nodded. "Blackjack, take everyone and everything you need. I want the broadcasts going yesterday."
Blackjack nodded and sat back. "Consider it done."
They loaded up and the four shuttles lifted off heading for the bridge nearby. They shot through and it dissipated, the funnel following them through until they reached the other side. Then and only then did it collapse and vanish.
-0-On the ground nearly immediately
The airfield was crawling with ships as the Guardians and the biggest battle cruisers began to prepare to leave. Tankers and cargo vessels were also prepping as mechs loaded tons of things into their vast holds. On the ground, the bosses directed heavily laden trucks and flatbeds to the proper vessel where they off loaded. Mechs and femmes were everywhere working feverishly as IntraComm filmed the spectacle for The Hourly News and the Autobot City Daily News.
At the fabrication sites in the shipyard giant sections of stone walls were being prepped for lift off by heavy cruisers and their tractor beams. It was an orderly madhouse and many were the humans who had come to take pictures, watch and comment. Cameras were filming as the big mechs and femmes worked to make things ready for shipment through the gates.
Overhead, the Trigger and the smaller former 'Con bridge were being readied and when they were they burst into flames, their apertures opening with their malevolent controlled violence. The entire bridge team was there to work and keep the flow of mechs and materiel going as the expedited mission moved with urgency.
-0-At the tarmac in the mix
Prime and Prowl stood on the deck watching as the intricate ballet swirled all around them. Blackjack and Alor were working with the supply bosses as they met all the endless lists of needs and orders put to them. The city was ablaze with light as trucks went back and forth, the streets and highways clogged with traffic. Seekers had arrived and were assembling with Thundercracker and Red Wing nearby, ready to provide security to the mass movement of ships and supplies.
Starscream ambled over and paused by Prime. "I hear that Overlord has threatened to kill the hostages in his games."
Prime nodded. "He has. We can't have it. If we have to strike them we will. I would like a quick sensor sweep of the area with your fastest intel specialists. I don't want to provoke him. I would like swift long range scans. Anything he can fail to detect easily is what I want."
Starscream considered that and nodded. "I can arrange that. It will take a bit of recalibration of their sensors to boost them long range. Too bad we can't add a mini-con to the mix for power," he said with a slight smirk.
"I don't think Leader-1 would approve," Prowl said with a slight grin.
"We will discuss adding power packs to the three Seekers that I know who can do this from a great distance. Their signal will be so fast it might just register as ambient energy from the region."
"That would be wonderful. Thank you. The sooner, the better," Prime said.
Starscream nodded and turned to Red Wing, the pair walking off to implement the request. Ironhide passed them nodding and joined Prime. "We can start lifting off the wall sections of the Fortress at your command, Optimus. The heavies are ready to hoist them into space. We have enough of them ready to go to make the enclosure. The floor sections are being finished with speed and came come next. The mechs on the other side are waiting. The steel girdings are in place ready for them. Jetta just checked in."
Prime nodded. "Prime to Wheeljack."
"Wheeljack here."
"The curtain walls are ready to go."
"Okay. We are ready too," Wheeljack said. "I'll alert Fort Max Flight Control. We'll have them in a parking orbit ready to go when the security flights are ready to protect them."
"Good," Prime responded. "You have my permission."
"Okay. Wheeljack out."
They stood watching, then the heavies lifted off, five of them rising from their sector of the airfield. They rose up slowly and one of them moved forward flying over Prime and his party toward the shipyards beyond the Temple Precinct. The sound was thin in the atmosphere, which oddly enough was adequate enough to carry the personal conversations of all the Cybertronians themselves.
They turned and watched as the first ship paused. For a moment it just hung in the air, then yellow beams shot out in four places from its hull. They flashed down to the ground which couldn't be seen over the buildings that stood between Prime, his party and the shipyard. It was only moments later when the huge curtain wall slabs could be seen rising upward as the beams retracted to raise them.
The ship rose into the night sky and another came into the same space. They repeated the motions until all five of the ships had their cargo. They had all ascended into the night sky disappearing into the darkness of space beyond. The winking lights of the Trigger could be seen as it braced itself in place, pausing in its continual orbit to run the show.
Prime turned and nodded to Blackjack and Alor. "Better go, Ironhide. We have to hurry."
Ironhide nodded and turned hustling after his genitors as they turned as well. They disappeared into the City of Capital City which rose upward and disappeared as well. The bustle of other ships, the endless stream of equipment, cargo and mechs would continue all night and well into the next orn before the shell of Fort Apache would be hammered and lowered into place.
-0-Nearby
:This is slagging awesome: Jack Mellar said unaware that he had picked up Cybertronian cuss words. :What the hell is going on?:
:It's classified: Will Lennox said.
:Do you know what's going on: Mellar asked Lennox.
Will shook his head. :Yep:
:You gonna tell me?: Mellar asked glancing at the handsome soldier.
:Nope: Lennox grinned. :Earn trust and you'll get it. You still have a ways to go:
Mellar looked at him and then turned his vehicle. With a burst of speed, he shot across the tarmac heading for Prime's group.
:He's got gall: Epps said glancing at Lennox.
:He does: Lennox said. :Stay here: he said to the other humans gathered at the spot and turned blasting off after Mellar. Epps looked at the others and then followed, Graham staying with the curious scientists and filmmakers where they waited near the cargo boxes where they usually stood, out of the way and in safety.
Bluestreak walked by them heading toward the party too when Aaron Belcher called out. :BLUESTREAK!:
The big winger paused and looked down at them. Turning to walk back, he knelt down. :What?:
:What's going on?: Belcher asked.
He glanced at Graham who shrugged with a smile. :You haven't been briefed I take it?:
:No. But we would love to know what's up?:
:I don't have clearance to tell you: Bluestreak replied with a shrug of his own.
:But you're related to the Prime. Is he around here?: Belcher asked none too wisely.
Bluestreak leaned back slightly glancing at Graham. :You might want to remind him of the rules, Niall: With that, Bluestreak stood up and turned walking to the group around Prowl.
:Smooth move: Niall Graham said with a grin.
:I just asked: Belcher replied.
:It will get you tossed back to Earth in a heartbeat. Don't push your luck: Niall said. He looked at the others. :Stay here: With that, he turned and toodled off after Bluestreak and the others.
Belcher watched them go and as he did he studied the group. They were big, prominent and gathered around the biggest bot in the group. He had seen that bot many times and speculated on it in his mind that the massive figure was the Prime of Cybertron. As he did, a micro-mini-con walked passed with great force of personality. He didn't know who Leader-1 was but he studied that bot and noted the great reception he got from the other taller figures. He grinned slightly. /... maybe that's Optimus Prime …/ he thought to himself.
The hullabaloo continued onward around them.
-0-The Seekers
Three Seekers sleek and incredibly streamlined stood with Starscream as Gold Wing finished his installations. The sensor gear they carried in their bodies was among the finest ever created among their people. It had been enhanced to be speedy, stealthy and accurate to a degree unheard of until this moment. They listened to their orders and then gathered with their comrades.
Starscream stepped back and squeezed Thundercracker's arm.
:Do us proud:
Thundercracker nodded and smirked. :I always do:
Starscream smirked back and watched as Red Wing, Thundercracker and Cloud Burst gave the orders for liftoff. The sound of their thunder was astonishing and the ground vibrated with their energy. One hundred Seekers lifted off, their jet wash blowing dust all over as the fire of their engines dotted the night sky like fireflies.
They rose up and were gone almost instantly forming in flights before the former 'Con gate overhead. Several battle cruisers laden with cargo, technicians and soldiers began to lift off leaving the Guardians to be last in the flight order.
Watching them go upward, Optimus Prime became aware of the soldiers and one of the filmmakers making their way toward him and his officers. Behind them came Bluestreak followed by Leader-1. It was going to be exciting he thought glancing at Prowl with a slight nod. The winger paused and all turned to the groups filing their way.
Jack Mellar halted and looked up at the giants looking down at him. :Sir, may I speak to you?:
:We are rather busy at the moment: Prowl replied.
:I was just wondering what is happening? There's so much activity that it has drawn us to this place. We want to do your people justice. We don't want to be wrong in our presentations: At that moment, he meant every word. He wasn't just a Hollywood wise guy. He was a serious filmmaker wanting to do justice to his subject.
The soldiers pulled up and switched to the comm channel for the bots that excluded other humans. :Hi. They want to know what's up:
Prowl nodded. :Optimus?:
:Tell them that we are building a base farther out to help the refugees that come. It is a triage station that is going to help them reach us in better condition:
Prowl looked down. :We are building a triage station on the migration trail. We want to make sure our people get here in better shape with less than the usual wait:
Mellar nodded only partially mollified. :We're filming it. We would like to schedule interviews with senior staff about some of the events we're here to watch. We want to get this right:
:Will Lennox is liaison officer for the film venture. Make your requests through him and I will allot time: Prowl said nodding.
:I can imagine that your Prime is pretty proud of this venture. It's pretty amazing to watch: Mellar ventured himself.
They all looked down at him. :Our Prime is: Prowl replied.
At that point, Lennox grinned. "We better get out of the way, Jack. There is traffic coming:
Jack looked around. :I don't see any traffic: he said.
Lennox gripped his arm and tugged him. With great reluctance he turned and followed Lennox back to the waiting area. They all watched him go. Then Bluestreak turned to Optimus and grinned. "I hear you are very proud of what's going on."
They chuckled and Prime nodded. "Very."
At that point, Gamma followed by Omega, Kappa and Zeta Supreme began to lift off. They would be followed by a Xantium stuffed with Wreckers.
It would be glorious.
=0=TBC
2012 (11)