The Diego Diaries: Psy-Ops 28 (dd3 107)
-0-On the tarmac
The big ships were standing on their gear waiting for the word to go. The City of Diego Garcia was one of the latest battle shuttles the shipyards had crafted to date. It was huge, sleek and fast, bristled with guns and was ready to take on Supreme class ships meeting and in some ways exceeding their agility. Omega and Kappa had been part of the design of this ship class and it showed.
Omega Supreme was the other vessel and he would serve as the platform for Prime's command. Starscream and Blackjack along with Flint and Alor would travel with him. The others would be distributed among the two ships with Jarro and his colleague, Micca traveling on Omega. They would do the observation of Soundwave and make the profile that would be the diagram for future plans concerning Cybertron and her nominal leader.
"We're going on Omega," Sunstreaker said rolling up with Sideswipe. Bluestreak followed them as they waited for the rest of the designated group to arrive. Blackjack and Alor would be arriving with Flint shortly through the bridge portal, coming back for the mission from Fort Apache out on the migration trail.
Ironhide and Ratchet bantered with the twins and Blue as Prime and Prowl walked across the tarmac to join them. The sound of Seekers landing drew their attention and they watched as Starscream, Thundercracker, Red Wing, Cloud Burst, Nitro and Silverclaw landed hard, then walked toward them. The last was a formidable chieftain of the most warlike clan of Seekers on Cybertron, the clan to which Starscream's ada belonged. He would be coming with them because he'd been given a death order personally by Megatron for demanding better treatment for his kin. The scars he bore on his face were the price he paid to escape.
Barron walked to the gathering group with Alpha Trion and three priests, all of whom were smiling and chatting together. Neo followed them with a pensive expression on her pretty face. Gravitas walked with her, his own expression filled with the same angsty determination as Neo's.
In the distance, a ship was coming in for landing and when it did Blackjack, Flint and Alor would emerge hurrying over to join the pre-flight briefing with Prime. They gathered around Optimus.
"Thank you for coming," he said as Rampage joined the group. "I am glad you are here and we shall play this like I discussed yesterday afternoon. Our intention is to undermine Soundwave and to cause him to be an ally in retrieving our hostage refugees whether he wishes it or not. We have troubleshot the scenarios that seem the most likely with Jarro and will play this by audial. You are here as a show of solidarity and to let Soundwave draw conclusions, perhaps the right 'wrong' ones that we need. You do not have to act or speak. We shall do that for you. Just stand quietly and stare."
"What if he wants to say something to us, Optimus," Neo asked.
"I trust your instincts." He looked at all of them. "One of our sacred purposes here is to safely retrieve our people. He is part of the roadblock and he needs to be pressured to help us remove Overlord as a threat. That is our ultimate goal, the safety and security of our refugees."
They followed Prime or the suggestions of the Master of the Muster to the ship in which they would travel. When they'd all boarded including the Wreckers and front liners who would provide security, the hatches closed and the ships lifted off. Following them were over two hundred Seekers who would provide the dot in the exclamation point they were planning to deliver to Soundwave. They disappeared into the sky and were gone.
-0-On the way
"Fort Max Flight Control to Trigger Control."
"This is Trigger Control," the familiar voice of Wheeljack replied.
"They're yours, 'Jack."
"Thank you, Fort Max Flight. We'll take it from here," Wheeljack said as he sat at the master control station. "Omega and Sem," he said calling out the two who would fly the ships. "Come in."
:This is Omega:
:City of Diego Garcia to Trigger Control, this is Sem:
Wheeljack checked his board then glanced at Miler. The math was go. "Omega, we're initiating vortex. Standby."
His digits flew and the boiling energy storm of the time portal flared into life when the energy beams running up the long arms of the sled coalesced and shot forward as one. It flashed into life and the two ships began to power up. "Sem, you are go," Wheeljack said.
"Roger. We are go," Sem said as he put the pedal to the metal. They shot forward and were gone.
"Omega, you can go."
:Omega is go: The deep sonorous voice replied to Wheeljack as the massive life force that was Omega Supreme jumped. It slid into the energy rupture and was gone.
Wheeljack sat back watching the greenish-blue hole in the time-space continuum flourish under the tremendous power of the Trigger. It might take days for the parties to accomplish their task in the field. But sitting here waiting, the time that would pass might only be a moment or a joor. Such was the enigma of bridging.
-0-Out there
They came through at the other end some distance away from the meet up coordinates. It would only take about half a joor to get there and they would be meticulous in their arrival time. The Seekers shot through having massed together on the other side. They took up station on the two ships and flew with them toward a region with large broken planetoids and asteroids of some size.
Prime sat on his ship with his senior officers. The priests sat in the back of the hold nearest to the hull hatch with Alpha Trion, Neo and Gravitas. Barron was in an animated conversation with Alpha but the others were silent and pensive. They were going to meet the Great Demon of their existence. Megatron had faded a bit but this one was an ever present danger.
Jarro and his colleague, Micca huddled together going over datapads and equipment. They would be able to scan Soundwave without his knowledge and measure a number of vital statistics that would help them decipher any number of revealing things. They would also analyze the recording that would be made of the encounter both physically and audially. By the time they were finished with their work, a very impressive accurate profile would be constructed. It would become the master blueprint from which to run anything they planned against the big Decepticon.
Prowl prodded Prime with a ped. "Are you okay?"
"I am fine," he replied. "I was thinking about how many encounters we have had over the vorns together. How many times have we met and tried to master the moment and each other?"
"I left my calculator in the apartment," Prowl said with a slight grin.
Optimus grinned slightly back. "No doubt," he said.
"Sir, we're approaching the landing site. We're being hailed," Sem said leaning out of the cockpit.
"Put it through, Sem," Optimus said.
:Optimus Prime, this is Soundwave:
"Optimus Prime to Soundwave. We receive you."
It was silent a moment.
"I'm waiting here. I have two ships and a guard. I'm following the agreement."
"As will I," Prime replied. "I have two ships and a guard. We will land and talk. If there is shooting, it will be unfortunate for you. There will be 200 Seekers in orbit of the site and a Wrecker crew with me. You will not be out of their range at any point as per the agreement."
:Understood: Soundwave said and the line was cut.
"Take us down, Sem," Optimus said glancing at the overhead monitor. It showed Soundwave as a red light, the ships as blue and the large security force as green. It was all as expected.
The ships banked and flew through the debris field that floated through space with the craggy collection of fragmented failed planets that made up the local area. The ships banked again and slowed preparing to land. As they did, the Seekers peeled off and began to formulate the detection grid that would span the planetoid linking all of their sensors together. A gnat couldn't sneeze underground without them knowing it. They would fly the pattern until their party left and they'd be armed the entire time.
The City of Diego Garcia sat down near to Omega, the two forming almost a straight line before the ships and party of Soundwave. They sat a moment inside as Rem powered down, then the shuttle's hatch opened, its ramp sliding out to plant itself securely. It was dark and cold with the lights of the ships providing the only illumination.
A number of heavily armed bots stepped and rolled down the ramp forming a line in front of both ships. They stood without expression, their leadership waiting silently with them. Kup, Drift and Springer were dispersed along the line. They stared at Soundwave and his soldiers with cold optics.
Prime and Prowl were next followed by Ironhide and Ratchet. They walked to Soundwave and halted together. It was silent a moment, then Soundwave nodded. :You asked me here, Prime. I am here:
Prime stared at him a moment. :I am here to tell you about a problem I am holding you solely responsible for. I am here to tell you that you are going to fix it as well:
:Is that so?: Soundwave said, his blasé facade difficult to read. But then it wouldn't be Prime's job to do that. He'd brought along experts who could and would take on that chore.
:It is. The problem is part of your deteriorating ability to rule and because it is, you are going to be held accountable: Prime looked at Soundwave coldly. :This is not negotiable:
:What is the problem?: Soundwave asked without expression.
:Overlord is the problem: Prime said quietly.
-0-Nearby on Omega
"That one stung," Micca said as he listened to the conversation. A dozen cameras and instruments were analyzing, recording, dissecting and compiling raw data for later study. Jarro continued to monitor the sensor data that told of Soundwave's physical and emotional responses. They would amass mountains of data in the course of their visit and it would take three orns to have a report for Prime. It would be illuminating.
-0-Nearby
:Why is this a problem that required a meet up?: Soundwave asked, his optics scanning the group before him discretely.
:He's your creature, our problem and your responsibility:
The word hung in the vacuum between them, then Soundwave shifted slightly. :And why would that be so?:
:He has taken hostages from a migration and pulled into a redoubt for the long haul. We want them back and we want him gone:
Soundwave considered that and the resolve in the vocal processor of the Prime. He'd changed since the days of The Fall and the Great Exodus. This Prime sounded like he meant business. Shrugging slightly, Soundwave considered the demand. :He's at Garrus 9. He's running the prison:
:He is here. He is running from Megatron and has a number of ships and crews with him, the worst kind of predators. He took over a migration and removed 2500 refugees from ships. They are in his custody and you know what that means:
Soundwave considered that, then shrugged again. :He's gone rogue. I did not give him permission to leave the prison. What do you expect me to do?:
:Your job:
A flash of anger flared inside the cold figure of the taciturn Decepticon but he suppressed it. He wasn't given to rash emotions. They led to ruin in his experience. :And that would be what?:
:Call to the 'Cons. Tell them to give up the hostages and we will consider letting them live:
Soundwave considered that. :If he left Garrus 9 without permission, what makes you think he will obey me?:
:Because this is one more screw up for you, Soundwave. Megatron will come back sooner or later. This will be one more nail in your sarcophagus:
Soundwave considered that. Prime was right of course but he had few cards of his own to play. :Where are they?:
:On the migration route. I won't bore you with details where that is. You know already. Your faction is driving our people to me so they can be slaughtered when Megatron gets back. Megatron who will kill you for letting things get this out of servo:
Soundwave considered that, then glanced past Prime to a number of individuals climbing down from the shuttle. He looked at them as astonishment flashed through his processor at some of them but he kept it off his face. He didn't, of course, know that he didn't keep it off the sensors of Jarro and Micca. The new bots walked to Prime.
Nodding to Soundwave, Flint grinned. :Hello, Soundwave. Its been a while:
:Flint: Soundwave said with an ease he didn't feel. He knew the others, too. Blackjack, General and formerly Master of the Autobot Army. His bond, Alor was known intimately by every Cybertronian alive. He was that famous and loved for his music.
:We came to Prime because Megatron was going to kill us, too, By the way, my group never worked for the 'Cons just so you will know. Full disclosure and all that: He glanced at Alor and Blackjack. :You know my brother and his bond:
Soundwave glanced at them. :I do: he said evenly.
:They ran the ghost ships in the Benzuli Expansion: Flint said with a slight grin.
Soundwave cast a sharp glance at the two, then Flint. :Is that so:
Flint nodded. :It is. They now fly and fight for the Prime. They do and so do their crack troops, ship crews and Seeker flights:
More bots began to come from the two ships walking up to stand in a half circle behind Prime and his officers. A number of landing sounds were heard as Seekers began to walk around the big ships to join the rest.
Prime glanced at Prowl. That worthy stared at Soundwave and gave him some of that old famous all business demeanor that had made Prowl the greatest second for a Prime in their history.
:The group behind me is composed of a number of individuals who now led their full support, expertise and services to the Prime and the population of Mars: Prowl said. :You may know some, you may not know others. Allow me to introduce them to you: He looked at the group. :Nitro was a veteran ship commander in the Decepticon fleet. He now gives that experience and talent to us. You know Starscream:
The big Seeker smirked at Soundwave enjoying the big 'Con's barely concealed outrage with great pleasure. He nodded to the big mech who barely managed to nod back.
:Red Wing is a very veteran Tactical Flight Commander of the crack First Air Wing and Cloud Burst commanded Special Operations for the same group. Thundercracker needs no introduction. You know his prowess well. Silverclaw is the Great Chieftain of the Mountain Clan of the Seekerkin of Northern Cybertron near Vos and someone who had a death sentence from Megatron himself for daring to seek better conditions for his people. He escaped and commands Seekerkin with Starscream on Mars. His authority and dignity are a credit to our colony and we are honored by his service to all of us there:
That worthy holding his staff of authority in servo looked as formidable and dangerous as any Seeker anyone there had ever seen before. He stared daggers at Soundwave, his red optics unflinching.
Starscream looked at him and felt intense pride. The elder standing before Soundwave was of his own kindred. Starscream stood proudly beside Silverclaw, one of his closest and oldest friends.
:Barron was a judge on Cybertron and a master of the law. He works for the Prime. Neo was on the Council of the Ancients and held the Matrix between Primes with Gravitas. They stand with the Prime of Cybertron. The priests are here to show their solidarity with the Matrix bearer and the restored Temple on Mars. The relics that underscore the authority of the Prime and serve our people are there and you've seen them yourself. Primus Himself restored Them to the Temple, such is His love and respect for Optimus Prime: Prowl's voice was filled with pride as he delivered that bit of news to the enemy of his life and peace of mind.
:All of them are here to show their solidarity of purpose with the only legal surviving political, religious, ethical and moral leader of our people wherever they are in the universe and the only righteous symbol of Cybertron that exists anywhere: He stared at Soundwave, his expression bearing the most minute trace of schadenfreude. :And you know the rest of us. We field a deep veteran bench for our regathering people. We're the pointed spear of Optimus Prime. We're the knife blade that's held to your throat, Soundwave. We are Prowl, Ironhide, Ratchet and last but not least, Rampage:
Behind the group a figure stepped from the shadows. He was ferocious in appearance and demeanor. He stepped forward. :Hello, fragger. Guess who I work for now?: he asked in his deeply guttural utterly terrifying voice.
=0=TBC 2012 (12) 12-12-2022