The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box Returns 10 (252) edited for boo boos :D
-0-On the way
They lined up, the Seekers first in the flight order. Prime was on Omega with Ironhide and the command staff while Ratchet stood in the hold of Kappa with his medical teams. He was busy getting the medical computer database going when he noted a small creature looking up at him.
Grinning, he grabbed Jessie Landon segway and all. Reaching up, he put her on a shelf with a railing, handing her a length of rope that looked like a small piece of string in his big servo. :Tie this to yourself, then the railing. If there's a jolt, I don't want to see you fly by. Oh and I asked Kappa to maintain atmosphere in here so we can talk normally. If the door opens, there will be a force field to keep out vacuum. Even if that fails, the suit will keep you going. If you get sucked into vacuum you will be fine. I will come and get you. Understand?:
Jessie nodded. "Thanks for getting me on a ship, Ratchet. I won't get in the way," she said fastening the end of the rope to the railing securely. "If you need help though I can help you. Just ask."
Ratchet grinned. "I will. Probably."
Jessie looked around watching doctors and medics settling in for the ride. The ship was a floating hospital with surgical stations, treatment and triage as well as berths for the sick and injured. "Do you think we're heading for a fight?"
"Probably."
"We got cleared to be in combat you know, American female soldiers. I'm ready to rumble," she said with the same determination that he usually got from Gypsy when she was being thwarted about going into battle.
Ratchet grinned. "I don't doubt you can manage in battle. I'm just telling you I will beat your aft if you try. You are on observer status, little missy and don't get any ideas. One Gypsy is bad enough. I don't want to mess with two."
At that, the ship lurched, then smoothed out as the disorienting sensation -for humans- began in earnest. It ended almost immediately as they entered the controlled maelstrom of the bridge vortex. Next to them some distance over, the Seekers fled into the smaller one nearly as one, Starscream's command vessel in their midst.
On the ground below Ratchet knew, other ships and Seeker flights were gathering. They were fielding a massive response to the threat and were prepared to engage the Decepticon fleet as well as Paragon is necessary. The hope was that an overpowering response would be enough to make them disengage.
The green light glowing in a rolling storm outside the view ports continued, then ended as they exited into real space once more. They had not moved an inch. Space flowed around them and they were in a different place when they arrived.
-0-The Seekers
They burst into space near the relays where the flight had sent their message. There was nothing close by but the signal of a mass of ships could be read on sensors. Starscream sitting in the command ship noted the data flowing in. It signaled a Decepticon battle group heading toward the coordinates of Paragon's settlement. Seven large battle cruisers and other ships of the type typical of a Decepticon group began to materialize on his big tactical datapad.
"There they are," Thundercracker said grimly. "They must have Rattler and his flight. Where else could they be?"
Starscream nodded grimly. "I agree. Open a channel to Prime."
-0-Prime
They sat on the ship as it fell through time and came out on the other side on the leading edge of a massive gigantic migration. Ships of all manner, shape and size stretched out an astonishing distance as they scanned the group. A flight of statistical Seekers streaked off to do a flyover and assess the situation.
"Starscream is calling in," Ironhide said glancing at Prime.
"Prime here."
"We have reached the relay. The younglings aren't there. But there is a large battle group in the vicinity and they must have them," Starscream said.
"Very well. Stand by," Prime said. He nodded to Smokescreen who sat at communications. He opened a hailing channel for that sector. "This is Optimus Prime. Identify yourself, Decepticon battle group."
They sat and listened, the static of the channel filling the command deck. Starscream listened too on his own. The sound continued, then broke. "This is Hydro, commander of the Decepticon Battle Group Revenge. What do you want, Prime?"
"I want the Seekers that you took," Prime replied coldly.
"What Seekers?" he asked.
The line was silent a moment. "You have five Seekers that belong to us. If you don't release them now, I will hunt you down and kill you."
The silence stretched out. Then he replied. "The Seekers that you mention were injured. We retrieved them according to the Laws of Space and they are receiving medical attention as we speak. I am not willing to release injured individuals to space and be responsible for their condition and possible re-injury."
"Your concern is noted," Prime replied equally coldly. "We will take full responsibility for them. Release them and allow our Seekers to find and bring them to our ships. We have fielded an vast armada to find them and assist the migration nearby. If you don't do this, you will be declared an enemy and hunted down. If you wish to make a place for yourself out here, you better know that no one is as strong and as technologically advanced as we are. Ask Paragon. Tell him when you do that we will hold him responsible for this action as well."
It was silent a moment, then the voice was back. "We don't intend to be bad neighbors, Prime. We have tried to help bots in distress. If you want them, we will let them go. Its on your helm what happens to them. We tried to do the right thing." Then the line cut off.
"Starscream, I am diverting ships to back you up. I don't know if he is intending to let them go but I want firepower beyond Seekers at your disposal. I would also be mindful of booby traps when you get them back," Prime said.
"Acknowledged," Starscream replied. "We are moving up. Who is coming?"
"The City of Iacon and Valles Marineris." Prime looked at Ironhide and nodded. He sent the orders over his comm link to their captains and the shuttle and refitted Decepticon battle cruiser peeled off heading out for Starscream's coordinates.
"Very well. We will meet them," he said signaling off.
Prime sat back and regarded the forming confrontations on the enormous datapad on the table before him. Yellow lights indicated Starscream who was moving toward blue lights, the Decepticon battle group lead by the mech, Hydro. Two ships, Valles Marineris and City of Iacon were zooming to intercept Starscream. That part was going as planned.
Prime's group were the red lights parked before an enormous mass of white lights, the migration. Even as he looked, a steady stream of green lights were emerging from the small bridge heading out to the coordinates given by Rattler for his flight stranded on a planetoid in the distance. Behind them came two medical ships and a large transport from Autobot City.
The two bridges stood open, their icons on the datapad funnel shaped. They would stay open until everyone began to pull back taking the migration with them. Back at Autobot City, the mechanisms of reclamation were in full swing with extra landing zones in the hinterlands around Autobot City being readied for the masses of ships that would be coming. Without making other areas available even including the facility on Ceres, the airfield would be buried under the mass of ships and transports expected.
Gamma and Zeta readied to go, leading energon transports to the migration. They were designated to rescue Alpha and Beta. Once that was accomplished, they would become transports for the sick and injured, the famished and the vulnerable.
Camera crews from the series filmed everything they could including groups of Hu An who had gathered to watch. The silent aliens stood viewing the massive action, fully briefed as everyone was via the migration by IntraComm. That was the cover story so far. The humans filmed them, then watched as they turned and began to help load the ships with cargo.
Beyond in the gathering darkness, the work lights of their rising habitat space which would be north of the airfield and east of Aerie Hill could be seen.
-0-At the hospital
Venture and Miler left with Miracle and the little mechs. They had stopped in long enough to see how Kestrel and Tagg were doing after their replacement surgeries from the morning. Feeling better than they had in vorns, they were still groggy from pain blockers and treatments to ensure that the new joints would be accepted by their protoforms. They had a good chat, the lights of the airfield shining in their windows until Miler adjusted the tint.
"I can only imagine the feelings of the mechs and femmes in the migration," Kestrel said to Venture. "I am so glad they have a place to come to. I think every time I close my optics that I will wake up back on Cybertron."
Venture nodded. "That's still a thing I feel sometimes, Kestrel. Just know it passes."
They chatted, then rose to leave, infants and younglings getting hugs and kisses. When they left, the two were already drifting into recharge.
-0-Bluestreak
He hurried to the store to pick up treats that he had forgotten in the bustle of getting Sunstreaker and Sideswipe to the muster. Kaon sat on his arm and the twinnies rode in his hold. He wasn't going this time but would handle medical statistical collection for Ratchet at this end.
The streets were filled with individuals going here and there in preparation for being part of the reclamation. The schools were working overtime to manage not just infants and younglings of those on the mission, but those who would help here and the expected massive influx of infants from the returnees themselves.
The lights in City Hall would burn all night as they prepared for the housing of thousands of different individuals and families, some of them with special needs. Data Collection put out a call for their teams to assemble for the massive influx of information not just from individuals themselves, but for the ships and their precious store of databases, books, paintings, objets de art and other things Cybertronian that would be requested for inclusion in the giant computers designed to hold data and images for all to see.
The museum had gathered in an emergency meeting to help with the storage, restoration and preservation of artifacts and data that was critical to their specie's understanding of themselves. So much had been lost that a priority was given to the effort to restore the gaps in their own knowledge of themselves and their culture.
Teams from the guilds and unions headed to the plants to make food and bulk energon for fuel and medical needs as well as any other demand put upon it by a massive influx of new citizens. Ships would need refueling as the big tankers came and went through the gates. Medical energon would be needed for individuals as small as sparklings and as large as Guardians. Food was always critical during these periods and the proper food at that. They had become experts at making different grades of energon to feed to different individuals at different places on the starvation spectrum.
Medical Specialties would be busy making parts, devices, tools and protoforms for the demand to come. Medical teams would be assembling at the airfield, hospitals and aid stations for incoming patients. They would be busy all night getting ready for the orders given by Ratchet subject to change according to what they would meet out there.
Security around the city was ramped up, the Home Guard security specialist teams being drafted to help with the crowds as well as any disorderly or disoriented individuals that might come with the tide. An extension to the prison annex, now almost empty of Decepticons from the last round up was created for any and all bad actors that might come through the net.
IntraComm and The Autobot Daily News were busy recording the activity, interviewing individuals and gathering the news for broadcast not only on The Hourly News but 'Good Morning, Autobot City', the news program "Out and About In Autobot City', the 'Aerie Hill News' as well as the Community Bulletin board.
The tower sites were going around the clock as entire blocks of finished habitation were getting the final touches of fixtures and furniture for the incoming newbies. Lights were bright as cranes lifted crates and boxes up the sides of the towers even as the elevators carried more as well.
Jetta walked from tower to tower inspecting, checking, observing, suggesting, taking suggestions, helping by lending a servo, congratulating and mediating as well as signing off on the herculean effort of those involved even as crews worked on new towers in the ever extending suburbs of Terra and the underground transport system that had become so vital to the city.
It was awesome.
-0-At the airfield
Cosmos landed, his ramp falling. Down walked a number of dignitaries, all of them in habitat suits. They continued to where Sargent Figueroa stood waiting. He saluted and they replied. :If you follow me, I will take you to the observation platform, sirs:
They nodded and followed, some of them already knowing the way. When they had clambered up onto the shipping crates, they all turned to watch the action. Among them were General Morshower, Colonel Fulton, the Secretary of Defense for the United States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the defense leadership of France, Germany, the UK and Russia.
They would be mind boggled.
Standing on a crate nearby, Sam Witwicky, Warren Roberts, Michio Yamaha and Sheila Conroy would be too. The three Hu An standing nearby getting the astonished gaze of the newbies would not have any comment on the matter.
-0-TBC
2013 (3)