The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box 57 edited for boo-boos :D

-0-Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth

Glenn Morshower sat in Ops Center at the Autobot Embassy on a comfy chair next to John Fulton, three Pentagon officials and the American Secretaries of Defense and State. They were there at his invitation to view and hear something that they had never seen before. They were present to see and hear what the Autobots brought to the table.

He had discussed it at length with Optimus Prime over several years. The big mechanism understood the intention and possibilities if he agreed, so he did this time. After all, among their usual array of delusional enemies were humans that didn't have a clear view of the threat and nature of response that their situation required. This would help resolve both with powerful advocates for their point of view.

It was the practice of both N.E.S.T. and Autobots to allow the audial portion of the battle at hand broadcast over the comm systems of both Ops Center, theirs and the humans. The video transmitted from all the participants only played in the Embassy Ops Center and it still did. However, this was the first time outsider humans had been formally invited to watch as well as listen. The N.E.S.T. soldiers, Morshower and Fulton had often been present or recipients when video on the monitors was broadcast in the Embassy center if they weren't on the same missions. They were brothers and trusted. All other requests short of Fulton, their regular N.E.S.T. friends and Morshower were always denied until now. Only brothers and sisters allowed. If someone died, the Autobots only wanted those who loved them present.

Giant monitors, three of them playing the internal video of the soldiers in battle switched from one to the other with subtitles of who they were flashing on-screen along with their visual vantage point. Communications translated the audio to English for the courtesy of the humans. Everyone who sat in comfortable chairs watched with rapt attention.

"Go!"

Springer's voice shouted as a group of mechs ran under fire across a clearing to a building that footed the overhead guard tower of a fenced structure that was obviously a prison camp. He ran himself when the others were clear, the visual jerking with each footfall, then it cleared as he paused with his group.

"Hurry and take the gate! NOW!"

The visual of mechs running shooting up and all around filled the screen as they ran for the prison gate and blew it up with concentrated fire.

"Down! THE SEEKERS ARE COMING IN!"

Springer's voice filled the air and everyone paused falling to the ground, covering their helms. A terrible frightening sight of dozens of Seekers on a strafing run filled the view as Springer's vantage watched them bearing down on target. It was searing, horrendous. Then they cut loose on their barrage. Springer ducked and the view was of dirt and rocks. There was blow back as sand, rocks and other debris slammed into him. He looked up, the view obscured with dust. He must have arisen because the view became bigger.

"HAVE YOU GOT THE GATE!?"

A shout came back in the affirmative.

"PONY UP, BOYS! WE NEED TO GET THE POWER SOURCE AND GET READY TO ASSAULT THE CENTER! GATHER AS PLANNED AND AWAIT THE COUNT! GO!"

The sound of running feet, bodies slamming into walls for cover and optics looking up, down and all around filled the screens. Then the scene changed to a different view. It was an overview. Someone had gone to the back of the ridge against which the control center was dug in. They were looking down surveying the scene.

It was Elita-1.

The group with Springer was bracing to advance and the power source nearby was secured, all of it passing through the vantage point of Elita's optics. A voice spoke that had a softer tone than the mechs they were listening to already.

:We need to blow it without harming the computers: Her view turned and looked toward a small nearby building that appeared to function as a power source and two bots could be seen crouching to defend it. :The power source is secured. Let's open up this tin can:

"I know that voice," Fulton said. "That's Elita. She must be leading her team to take the control room."

"Who's she?" the Secretary of Defense asked.

Morshower grinned. "She's a kick ass femme and a reason women shouldn't be held back from anything the military offers."

Fulton nodded. "She's going to be their worst nightmare."

They turned and watched the action.

Springer's view popped up on the screen. :Elita's on top of the center. Get ready at her go. Elita:

:Springer:

:We're ready when you are:

:Affirmative: The view cut to her and she was seen standing over a hole in the ceiling looking down into a dark pit. The others were around her, their weapons in servo awaiting her command. A gray femme knelt and peered inside, her blaster in servo.

:I think they're focused on the front. They aren't looking this way. Should we beat their afts?:

:Goes without saying, Chromia. Springer:

:Springer here:

:We're dropping in. Give us a count of three then come forward. We'll drop them inside to keep them off you. Make it quick. We're designing this to protect the computers:

:Affirmative: The view cut to Springer who was in a group of his own mechs. :Elita and her team are going to distract them. We go at three. Listen for her count. Elita, we are go:

:Affirmative: Elita looked at her femmes, the view of them on-screen. :We drop in until all of us are there. Hold off fire unless they spot us. When we get the drop, we blast them. Drop them without a battle. Clean and mean. Are we go?:

The scene showed a group of femmes nodding, one of them with a smirk that spelled no mercy for their prey. Chromia took no slag from anyone. With that, the scene became chaotic as Elita stepped into the void and landed without a sound inside.

Behind her, the sound of heavy mechanisms landing surprisingly quietly could be heard. She glanced back, the others standing ready with weapons poised. Then the view changed as she began to creep forward through a maze of equipment, stores and other unidentifiable things.

"Three ... two ... one!:

Then all hell broke loose.

Morshower watched, his adrenaline pumping. He knew Fulton felt the same. He, Fulton and the two secretaries were the only ones with real combat experience in the group. This brought back memories of other times. The other members of the group were desktop warriors, those who had served all their lives but had never seen a bullet fired in anger. They were as enthralled as he was.

The scene cut to Springer who was watching the center. As he did, flashes of light inside indicated gunfire.

:ONE! SPRINGER! GO!: Elita's voice carried over the system as Springer's vantage point rose and began to bounce with running. Fire flew past him and blasted a hole in one side of the building and again at the other end. A big white and red bot that Morshower and Fulton recognized as Drift ran into one of them, red swords in servo.

"Who is that dumb fuck just carrying swords?" one of the desk jockeys asked. "Where's his fucking weapons?"

"He's carrying them," Fulton said with a chuckle. "Obviously, you have no idea what you're talking about."

The man smiled. "You're absolutely right," he said.

Drift's point of view came online and he stood in the darkness, the flashing of lights beyond pulling him forward. He paused to look at the big machines in the room he was in. Turning, he nodded to others following him. "This is the computer nexus we defend. Stay here. Drop any 'Cons who come even accidentally near it." The mechs with him nodded and stepped closer to defend it.

Drift moved forward, the tips of his swords gleaming in the weird lighting. As he crept closer, the movement of Decepticons backing toward him firing as they went could be seen. He seemed to brace himself, then moved. A flash here and there seemed almost too bright to look at, then it was over.

:ELITA! SPRINGER! WE ARE SECURED! THE MACHINERY IS SECURED!:

:DRIFT! WHERE THE FRAG ARE YOU!?:

:Here, you dumb aft. We're outside the main computer center in section A:

:Stay there: Springer's point of view came on. In the destroyed part of the command center that had controlled nearly all the mechanized part of the operation, a row of Decepticon soldiers were kneeling on the floor with their servos on their helms. Several other Decepticons were sprawled on the the floor. Elita was by a computer with Greenlight checking the integrity of the system. She turned and looked at Springer, nodding. :We're good. Tell Optimus:

Everyone looked relieved and Springer turned walking forward to the rest of the building. When he reached where Drift was standing, he paused. :Springer to Optimus Prime:

:Prime here:

:The computer system, back ups and power supply are secured:

The relief in Prime's voice was audible in two Ops Centers on two worlds. :Good. Go to phase two unless it's already on:

:Affirmative. We're going there: Springer's viewpoint focused on Drift who stood leaning calmly against a big machine, a smirk on his face. :We have to go round-up the cattle:

:Well, they picked the right cowboys for the job: Drift said.

Springer snorted. :Whoopie-ti-yi-yoh: With that, the lot of them turned to look outside warily, then go back through the hole in the wall. Greenlight would stay behind and monitor the machines until Perceptor and Wheeljack arrived with Ratchet.

-0-On their way

Ratchet stared out the window as they flew through the energy torrent. When they reached the other side, the shuttles supporting the battle were lined up together with Seekers sitting or standing on the hulls. The battle on the main planetoid was winding down but the other one with the group lead by Jazz was still going strong. Mechs from Springer's command were gathering to go there to support and help with the prisoners in the camp.

-0-Jazz

He crouched by the mouth of the mine. There were five Decepticons and fifty prisoners below in this shaft according to sensors. It was the only one left that hadn't surrendered yet. He waited as the mechs below worked through the math deciding if today was truly a good day to die or not. Behind him, his mechs crouched.

The barracks were being organized by the structure that was in place by the prisoners themselves and the mechs not working on the last part of the battle plan. The 'Con prisoners were being held in a corner of the prison yard for collection and transport and to keep them out of the furious servos of their former prisoners. It was chaotic but coming together.

:HEY!:

:WHAT!: Jazz was heard to reply as his audio and visual filled screens on several ships and two worlds away.

"IF WE GIVE UP, WHAT HAPPENS?!"

Jazz grinned slightly. :FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T KILL YOU! SECONDLY, YOU COME WITH US TO OUR COLONY! YOU WILL BE JAILED UNTIL YOU PROVE YOURSELF TRUSTWORTHY! DID YOU HEAR PRIME AND STARSCREAM'S MESSAGE?!"

It was silent a moment. "YES! SO WHAT!?:

:WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF DECEPTICONS AND SEEKERS LIVIN' IN OUR COLONY FREE AND CONTENTED. THEY FIGHT FOR THEIR COLONY, THEIR FAMILIES, FOR CYBERTRON! WHO ARE YOU FIGHTIN' FOR? MEGATRON? HE ISN'T HERE TO SAVE YOU IS HE! HE ISN'T HERE TO HELP YOU! DON'T BE A DUMB AFT! SURRENDER AND HAVE A LIFE! STAY THERE, HURT THE HOSTAGES AND DIE! CHOOSE!:

Jazz could be seen settling down, his vision turning from the tunnel to the camp, to his men and back to the the tunnel. It seemed like forever, then a voice called out. :HEY! IF WE SURRENDER, DO WE GET A CHANCE TO DO WHAT YOU SAID?!"

"YOU DO!"

"WE'RE COMING OUT! WE'RE LETTING THE WORKERS GO FIRST! IF WE DO THAT WILL YOU LET US SURRENDER!?:

:FRAG YEAH! DO IT NOW!: Jazz replied.

It was silent a moment as the view of the tunnel through Jazz's optics was silent and dark. Then movement could be seen as one by one, bedraggled and weary civilians trudged out, their servos in the air, their optics frightened. Jazz's viewpoint rose. :Take them and get them to the barracks. Ratchet should be here soon:

Mechs could be seen stepping forward, their arms ready as they helped the civilians pass. They continued until the last one stepped out. He paused by Jazz. :They had to beat their leader into a pulp. They want to surrender. They told me that they were deadly serious about surrender and I believe them. Fraggers. Clobber them for us:

Jazz's viewpoint nodded. :Go with him. He'll lead you to safety:

The civilian nodded and moved away, the viewpoint returning to the hole. :COME OUT WITHOUT WEAPONS! WE ARE GOING TO SCAN YOU AND IF ANYONE OF YOU HAVE A WEAPON IN SERVO OR SUBSPACE, WE WILL SHOOT YOU DEAD! UNDERSTOOD!?:

:YEAH! WE HEAR YOU!:

For a moment, there was nothing, then mechs came out of the darkness, big ones with their servos up. They were gathered and cuffed, pushed forward until they were gone. Jazz turned to two other mechs and nodded. With that, they turned and went into the tunnel to look for anyone else left including the two 'Cons that had decided to make a point and got bashed to the Pit for it from their own side.

-0-Diego Garcia Embassy, Ops Center

"I like Jazz." A desk jockey grinned. "He's kick ass."

"He is. They all are. You can see why we need them with us and how much trouble we would be in if we had to face mechanisms like this alone," Morshower said glancing at the Secretaries.

"Playing to the choir, General," the Secretary of State said with a grin. The Secretary of Defense nodded. "No doubt."

They all turned back to the screen to watch as Jazz and his mechs crept down the tunnel using night vision as they did what they always did so well ... their job.

-0-TBC For Pip

2013 (3)