The Diego Diaries: Here we go. (299)
-0-At the conference
"We have fled taking a group with us that included Seekers. Most of them had defected from the army to the Decepticons after The Fall, but we had a flight that was loyal. We had gone into space to hunt for the AllSpark because we knew it had been launched to prevent Megatron from getting it. We found along the way a lot of desperate civilians. We gathered them and found a refuge in the Benzuli region, in sectors next to it protected by unstable energy surges.
"We burrowed in and built colonies adding more and more individuals to our protection over the vorns. The 'Cons looked for us, then pulled back as Megatron regrouped and began to re-organize his position. He has a son, a very dangerous unstable mech whose only happiness is in fighting and killing. Megatron gave him control of the area with the brief to kill anything Cybertronian in the area that didn't identify as Decepticon.
"He sent in ships with hunter groups whose sole purpose was to blow up entire worlds if necessary to find and kill anyone who wasn't a party to his father's machinations. We had to strike back and we developed a lot of skills doing it. Then he withdrew. I don't know why but he did. The rumors were pretty strong but what happened was Megatron disappeared. He was gone nearly a vorn, then he came back. He was changed, homicidal and beyond dangerous.
"What had transpired was, he had been taken captive by an organic people, you and had been held against his will. The word was that he was aware of what was happening to himself the whole time. He never was very stable but the mech that came back, especially after losing two battles on this planet was infinitely worse and more dangerous. He took his son and headed into space to look for allies in his quest to even the score. Even with allies.
"We heard that he was in the Delta Quadrant. Shockwave was his closest ally and he is in Prime's custody. Their son is a danger to all things because as bad as Megatron is, Galvatron is worse. That bot has nothing between his audials but hatred. You are delusional if you think that because we leave, he will too. What you did to him offends the deepest part of the warrior ethic of our species and make no mistake, Megatron is a warrior. He will never forgive or forget."
They stared at Blackjack with solemn expressions, then the British representative nodded. "How fresh is your information on these two and their whereabouts?"
"I have been here for a while but another with us came yesterday from the frontier," Blackjack said nodding to Prime. He turned and walked back pausing beside Ratchet, Ironhide and Rainmaker.
Prime turned to the screens and nodded. "We have with us a very important personage, the Great Elder of Cybertron. He is the chieftain above all chieftains and the final authority over Seekerkin. It is good to remember that Seekers went almost exclusively to the Decepticon side and to have them with us is not only a great advantage but an indication of the problems in the Decepticons and their faltering leadership. I would like to introduce Rainmaker, the Great Elder and Lord of all the Seekers of my species." He turned and nodded to the big Seeker who looked at him with expectation.
He walked forward and paused, allowing the humans to take his measure even as he took theirs. He was huge, incredibly heroic in his demeanor and covered with the kind of gravitas that one only got with years, experience and hands on. Optimus had it. Blackjack had it. Rainmaker had it. Megatron would never even know it existed.
"Gentlemen, I am Rainmaker and I came to the sanctuary of our Prime with my people. I was a Decepticon and fought for the Cause which spoke of equality and opportunity for my people. Prime did his best but the corruption was too deep. Had it been different, I would have stayed by his side, I admired and respected him that much. But the times were torrential and bad happened.
"Shortly ago, Megatron put a death order on Seekers, perhaps in reaction to the defiance of Starscream, perhaps in response to the growing paranoia and hatred that he carried back after being missing for so long. I am personally party to two conversations about his captivity by an 'insect species that needs to pay for their actions' he said. I never knew what species that was until I came here. Megatron is seeking allies in the greater galaxy as of now, then he plans to come back. He won't be reasoned with, not by you or us. He is teaching his maniacal son to be his successor and if you believe Megatron is a bad mech, you haven't seen his son.
"The Empire is in disarray. Megatron holds it together by force and unbridled fear. If a unit doesn't please him, he decimates it. He lines them up and kills randomly among the ranks until the message is driven home. Cybertron is in the care and control of Soundwave, the weakest link in the chain of command. Shockwave is in captivity and no longer the horror he once was to all of us, especially to Seekerkin but Megatron seeks to know his whereabouts. You are fortunate that Prime keeps him in stasis, a condition that prevents his discovery. If you had killed him, Megatron would not be deterred by any threat or bargain you could concoct. Shockwave is his bond."
It was silent a moment, then Rainmaker continued.
"Entire battle groups of Decepticons are becoming autonomous in the dissolution of the Empire. Until Megatron comes back and asserts control, the leadership of the battle groups will either continue to serve him in fear or breakaway and form their own kingdoms. There are two within range of this solar system that we passed on our way here with many more evaluating joining them.
"One of the satraps building his own fiefdom nearby this system is called Paragon. I have known him for vorns and he's very dangerous. He will have designs on Cybertron, the leadership is in play with Megatron gone and Soundwave weak, but he will also look to this system. The only reason he hasn't followed the energon trail to this planet and Mars is because Prime and our army is here. The fragments of energon in the system beyond come from the planets inside. They know that. We do as well. It kept us alive on our trek here because we used it as we found it floating freely from the formation of this system.
"The energon alone will keep them here. It is rare in the universe, essential to our existence and no source is ever not exploited to the fullest, with or without the cooperation of the native species. There are three fortresses here already. Paragon has one, another group as yet unidentified and Soundwave. Soundwave has built a fort to fall back to when Megatron returns and make no mistake. He will return.
"You are not to be blamed for this but you are also not blameless. You made yourself important when you held him in captivity, exploiting his body and mind all the while he was aware. We are here gathering our people together. I will put out messages to the galaxy calling all Seekers to me. No Seeker will work for Megatron when I do this. They will come, all of them including our suffering children.
"We will band with Prime and defend this system. We will defend the million and a half civilians already on Mars and the million on their way. We will defend you. I am one with Prime, the First Disciple of Primus. I will lead my flights under his command. We are united in our resolve. Even if you refuse to believe me, it is so. Even if you refuse to face reason and the responsibility of your own actions, no matter how much you didn't know, we will continue to do that.
"The beasts that roam among you have no clue what lies beyond your blue skies. We do and we are here to defend you along with our own. No matter what you say here, we will stay on Mars and help our people. We cannot leave and take two million individuals with us into uncertainty and privation. It won't happen. We must hunt these groups together and end the threat they pose to our unity. I am the Great Elder of Cybertron. I have never bent my knee to another being. Even Megatron stood up when I entered the room. But I do so to Prime, the only lawful moral leader of our species. You would do well to listen to him. He speaks with great wisdom and knowledge."
The Elder nodded and turned walking to the door where the others stood. It was silent a moment. Then Morshower turned to the representatives. "We do the work. We face the risks, the Autobots, Seekers and us. You sit in your comfortable offices and never have to feel the heat of battle. I am standing by Prime and our treaties. I am standing against these bastards and I think you should too. We have to find the wolves in our flock and take them down."
The representatives sat a moment, then the Canadian representative nodded. "I agree," he said.
The others nodded and leaned forward. "What would you suggest that we do, Optimus?" the German representative asked.
Prime looked at Morshower, then the screens. "We hunt them down and end the threat. You will have to manage the politics. We will take care of the chase. We have done it once already. We can do it again."
They continued to talk for an hour, then the meeting broke up. The decisions were clear. Optimus Prime and the Great Elder would speak to the United Nations explaining the threat to the world-at-large. They would continue to take in their people no matter what the humans had to say. There was no possibility of leaving Mars with between 2 and 2.5 million Cybertronians, the possible population of the planet when the next two migrations arrived.
They would also manage the threat of the three fortresses in their sector. That was brandnew news and resounded among the representatives. The idea of battle groups founding their own kingdoms and taking out whatever and whoever was nearby was terrifying. They would also work in tandem with N.E.S.T. and agencies in various signatory countries to capture the individuals that were causing the bombings and terror.
When the reps signed off and Optimus walked out with Morshower and Fulton on his servos, the basic framework was in place. It was a standoff over the continuation of their presence. Diego Garcia was their embassy and sovereign territory. It would take a sundering of the treaties between the United States and Autobot Nation to force the close of the Embassy and that wasn't going to happen.
The group walked to the Autobot hangers and entered turning into the Ops Center to sit and debrief. Optimus set the humans down and Prowl fetched chairs. They sat as the big bots settled. "Well, what do you think, Glenn? John?" Ratchet asked as he sat.
"I think that the United Nations events will be important. I would be sure to impress. I also think that we have the task at least for now to catch these fraggers," Morshower said.
John Fulton nodded. "You made the case, gentlemen. The threat nearby and the realization of the mistake of holding Megatron dented the hard shell."
"Megatron would come even if you hadn't held him, John. He would come for the energon. Mars is between 40 and 45% pure high grade energon. There is also at least 15% energon on Earth. The conditions were ripe for its growth with the volcanic nature of this system's worlds," Prime said.
They all nodded.
"This Galvatron sounds like a fragger," Glenn Morshower said.
Rainmaker nodded. "I had the chance to end him but it didn't happen. He has optics in the back of his helm. He's feral and as dangerous as they come. His father sees no wrong in him, giving him chances to be cruel and murderous at every opportunity."
"Then we off his ass," John Fulton said. "End him like The Fallen."
Ironhide grinned. "Better get in some time at the dojo, Prime. Little mech thinks you need to kill them both."
Prime grinned. "We may come to that, old friend."
They sat and began to plan the campaign that would lead to the capture of the shadowy groups that had begun to attempt to change public opinion though fear and violence. Before it was too late, they had to act. The beginning campaigns were laid out in the Ops Center of Ground Zero, The Autobot Nation Embassy at Diego Garcia on Earth.
-0-Back at the farm
He stood at the window looking out. Someone was supposed to come and get him. He had his harness on and his little book bag in his fist. His brother stood next to him equally flummoxed. Footsteps behind him alerted them so they turned and smiled brilliantly at the same time.
Tie Down grinned. "Hello, my sweet little mechs. Time to go." he took their leashes, their little bags and turned them, the trio walking out the door to the elevator. It was the first orn of weekend but the Pit had arrived so they were in military and emergency infant day care for a few hours. Grandpa had to finish some smelting that had reached critical mass. Now he was back and they would pony up, heading for the big world beyond. Orion and Praxus were ready to roll.
-0-Alor
Alor had the two babies, Hero and Prowler. They were lying on a soft blanket in a sunbeam in his apartment recharging. He himself was reading his favorite series of books, murder mysteries with an Englishwoman named Jane Marple. It was quiet and peaceful in the apartment, the calm before the storm. When Blackjack and the others got back, there would be no time like this to enjoy.
In a few orns, the playoff game between Kaon and Vos would occur. Conferences were coming up in the schools. All of the lovely things were proceeding as well as the darkness. He looked at his babies and smiled. "Who loves ya?" he asked. Then he returned to his novel and the murder of an artist by someone.
He could never guess who.
-0-The Trine
Bluestreak and Sideswipe walked home putting groceries away. They were having a small party that night in the apartment with couples from their group. There would be finger food and high grade. The infants would be spending the night with the grand genitors, Venture and Miler.
It was their 'date night'.
Sunny was at the dojo shooting the slag, Sadee was coming soon to discuss her new paintings, then they all would come home to get ready. Ten mechs were coming over and they would have a great time. As Bluestreak fussed around the apartment getting toys and other things put away, Sideswipe lounged in a chair to enjoy the view.
-0-Sunspot and Canine
They sat in the store watching Ravel hone the edge of an impossibly sharp and long knife. "That is a sharp knife, Grandada. Whose knife is it?"
"A youngling in the Home Guard, sparkling. He wants to give it to his atar. His atar is a wood carver. He picked up the skill on an organic refugee planet."
"Do we have wood?" he asked as he sat watching, Spot sprawled on the floor beside him.
"We can get it from Earth," Ravel said with a smile.
"Are we going swimming this weekend, Grandada?" Sunspot asked watching as Ravel rubbed the blade with a soft cloth.
"We plan on it after dinner," Ravel said with a nod. "We want to see you all swim. I hear you can float very well."
"I can," Sunspot said with a big smile. "I'll show you."
"I cannot wait, sparkling," Ravel said with a grin. "That's why I'm trying to get this done. I want to be able to see all three of you in the water."
He sat watching his grand ada working hard, his amazing servos coaxing the steel into a sharpness that was lethal. They would chat and laugh, tell stories and work until Tie Down came with the babies. Then they would all go to the Community Swim Center to play in the water.
-0-Aerie Hill
They sat on the berth in their little apartment. They had been given one but had a 'house mother' who helped them, visiting every day to assist their independence. They had never had a home of their own before and they were enthralled with it. Their friends, the other four were living in a nice dorm with community rooms and their own space.
It was glorious.
They sat chatting, trying to figure out some of the events that had overpowered them. It grew silent a moment. Then Cardinal shook his helm. "I didn't know that in a trine things like merging happened. I don't know what to think about it."
"I know," Raptor said, his expression slightly distasteful. "I don't like looking at my spark. I don't think its safe is it?"
"I don't know," Farrell said reclining. He thought a moment. "What do you think about going to the school?"
"I don't know. I don't know how to read and write very well. I don't want anyone to laugh at me," Raptor said with a cold expression.
"They won't. I won't let them," Farrell said with his own cold expression.
There was a knock on the door and they paused. Cardinal got up and walked to the hallway that led to the living room. He opened the door. Outside, a Seeker mech stood with a grounder. "Hi," he said with a smile. "Can I come in with my bond?" he asked.
Cardinal hesitated, then stepped aside as the two walked in. Farrell and Raptor stood in the hallway staring at the strangers. They looked at the younglings, then smiled. "Hi," the Seeker said. "My name is Terradive and this is my bond, Roto."
Roto smiled and nodded. "Hi."
They looked at each other, then the two. "Hi," they said back.
"Can we sit a moment and talk to you?" Terradive asked.
They nodded and all of them moved to the couches and chairs sitting. It was quiet a moment, then Terradive grinned. "I used to be a Decepticon. Now I'm an Autobot and a teacher. I want to talk to you about coming to my class," he began.
Roto nodded. They would spend time with the little trine, get commitments and when the time came, the little mechs wouldn't be able to enter the classroom. No one said anything was ever going to be easy.
-0-TBC
05-09-13