The Diego Diaries: Decision Time 1 (322) This is dedicated today to Novamyth who understands Prowl's pain. ;) edited
-0-Out there
They stood together talking over their predicament internally as the Autobot party watched. Prime considered the possibilities. They could be genuine in their desire to come to the colony. They could come and not be genuine, merely biding their time to make their moves or they could leave. He didn't believe they would. The city was a big draw and having them in their midst would require extra security precautions until they proved themselves. The former Decepticon Association would have to keep a heavy servo on them. The leadership would be tracked night and day, hopefully without their knowing.
The group finally turned and walked back pausing before Prime and his party. Shield nodded. :We would like to come in from the cold, Prime. We understand the limitations as well and accept them. We're tired of having no home:
For a moment, Prime indulged what it would be like for the words spoken to be true for Shield but it passed swiftly. He nodded. :Very well. We want your crews to disarm and transfer to the Guardians. Your ships should power down weapons systems, lock all personal arms in lockers, then fuse them and wait for the transfer. We are going to be working on the theory that you are hostile until we get you through the processing procedure. It is standard for every Decepticon that we get. Ask Starscream if you don't believe me:
Shield glanced at the big Seeker who nodded. :We will have you in our sights. Until all are one must be proven by my former faction:
Shield nodded back. :Very well. I will give you my weapons now: He subbed his guns and they were taken by Ironhide who turned and called to a mech in Omega. He stepped from the ship and took the weapons as others crowded around him. One by one, the group of Decepticons 'disrobed' allowing their weapons taken and an inspection of their subspace to be performed. When they were clean Prime nodded. :You will come with me. I will expect you to stand down the ships in your group and allow transfer of personnel to our Guardians. I am calling for transport ships to help facilitate this maneuver:
Shield nodded and turned with his group heading with Prime's for Omega. They boarded and the mechs were parked on a bench, an Autobot with weapon in plain sight standing casually nearby. They looked around, this the first time they had been on a ship of this nature before. None of the vessels in the Decepticon fleet were sentient. None of them. The Autobots on the other servo nearly overflowed with them. Kappa and Omega were here. He knew about Metroplex and Fortress Maximus. Logic would dictate that more of Omega's siblings could and should be expected. "Nice vessel," he said to no one in particular. "I had not been aware that any of the Supremes had survived the war."
Rainmaker sat across from him staring at the big Decepticon appraisingly. "There are many there with more coming. It would do you well to know that once you cross the line into Autobot Nation, you are entering a fortress of enormous power and security. There will be no tolerance of anything that detracts from the peace of our homeland. You must prove your fitness to be free or we shall imprison you just like we did Shockwave and Sentinel Prime."
Prime who was watching the datapad on the table before him quashed a grin. This would be an interesting trip home. He stared at Shield from the periphery of his optics as Rainmaker tested the mech for his edification. All of them were expert at probing situations and individuals for his benefit and Rainmaker was no different. They were one indeed.
"Shockwave," Shield said quietly. "I wondered where he went. Megatron is looking for him."
"He will have to look longer and harder. He will not get that one back," Rainmaker said as Starscream sat down beside him, a smirk on his handsome face. "All of the worst are in the prison."
"Blind Spot, Barricade, Scorponok, Turmoil to name a few," Starscream said with a grin. "A few of the Senators from Cybertron too."
Rainmaker nodded. "Fools. You cannot win against us. I am giving you warning. Every former Decepticon will be watching you. Do not humiliate us by disturbing the peace. I personally will not like it."
Shield noted that more than aware of the power Rainmaker wielded and the reality of the threat to his person. "I am ready to relax, Elder. I want to find a place without war."
"We will hold you to your word, Shield. We have not worked this long and come this far for you to bring discord. I have been traveling a very long distance to find home. We have found it in the city. We will be swift in our defense of this good place and all who live there. Never forget that," Rainmaker concluded. "I have spoken."
Shield nodded more than aware that the conversation was closed to further commentary. Glancing around him, seeing guarded interest on the faces of his subordinates, he wondered what would be next. Outside, ships were being boarded by groups that had come through the space bridge outside their window which had opened up upon their boarding of Omega. Vessels of both Cybertronian and alien design came through heading toward his own to disgorge dozens of armed soldiers and boarding experts. Seekers poised on the holds of the ships he had brought added to the impetus of surrender. His ships were surrendered without incident. It would take three joors to empty them, secure their contents and supply flight teams to bring them in. A tanker refueled three ships before they began to stand out heading toward the space bridge and the fabled realm of Prime.
-0-At the city
The airfield got ready to take in more big ships, vessels that would need a lot of refitting. The shipyards had been moved north of the airfield away from the Temple and Human Science Habitat area to maximize access to the technical opportunities the field supplied. It also opened up that area to development in future for those already there to expand. The shipyard was vast and an intriguing sight for the Hu An habitat that was south of it. Nearby, also north of the airfield but south of the shipyard the N.E.S.T. habitation was going up beautifully. The three permanent human habitations were finally getting sorted out. The big apartment in the tower in the Mare Tranquilitatis would be the home of humans who were friends and family of the Cybertronians. Even though visitors would be given rooms there for their stays, it was the home base of the humans that were loved, many of whom even held Cybertronian citizenship. The Human Habitat, the domed structure that was first would remain the habitat of those who came for science or scientific inquiry. This new habitat would be the home of the soldiers and civilians of N.E.S.T. who worked with them.
-0-On Omega
Prime sat stoically, the alpha crew with him chatting offline among each other, Rainmaker and Starscream's helms nearly touching as they went over a plan for expansion of entrepreneurial space in the business mall that was rising at Aerie Hill. Shield sat watching them and the others considering his options as his own officers sat without comment. He looked at Prime, then focused on his own internal thoughts. It would be a quiet ride to Autobot City.
-0-At the airfield
They came down through the space bridge and landed in the hurly burly of mid day in the city. Security was there to gather up the slaggers and corral them in the former triage space that could be turned into a prison at the drop of a hat. Prowl walked to Ops Center as the rest of them organized the bad guys. It would take a few joors before they could be brought to medical for their implants. Everyone was waiting as Jazz and Elita worked out the interrogations that would have to precede any further considerations.
-0-Ratchet
He stood in the emergency room watching his crews work like well oiled machines. Things had turned out well with the 'Cons so far. They were giving up to come in and that meant four new battle cruisers and three battle shuttles to add to their fleet. The fighter carriers and other support vessels would be a good addition too even though they were of Decepticon design and construction. Low on amenities and high on battle, they were antiseptic in design and intention. No comforts beyond that of the officer's quarters. The very high up officer's quarters. He turned and walked out heading for the street and a stroll to Ops Center. Prowl was running the show from ground zero as Prime pursued servos on as lead Messiah in the holy quest for a homeland without slag for all of them.
Reaching the Fortress at last, he sassed the elder mechs playing games in the courtyard, bantered across the rec room, then entered the Ops Center making a bee line to the center table where Prowl sat working. He looked up and grinned. "What's shakin', bacon?"
Ratchet sat, a beatific grin on his face. "Nice one, Granny. Not much. The mech of my dreams is out in the field with Ironhide."
They both snorted, sitting back to relax a moment. "We won this first round but it is apparent to everyone that they can't be trusted. They will require intensive implants and some without their knowledge. We want a tracking device, one that can't be dampened or redirected. Wheeljack has a youngling who has been working on this as a required implant for our soldiers so we can find them. We're going to test it on these slaggers."
"Good. Nothing like a smart youngling to make things spin around," Ratchet said with a nod. "I can do that. We don't want them to know so we can piggy back it on the detonator device, right?"
Prowl nodded. "We can." He leaned forward. "This Shield, he's friends with Barricade. Actual real friends. They worked together in Kaon. This is going to be strange."
Ratchet nodded. "I'll pack extra C-4 in his chassis," he said.
"Don't tempt me, Ratchet," Prowl said with a grin. "We have plenty of space in the prison. Jetta has drawn up plans to put an expansion for the officers in detention over that little ridge on the other side of Sentinel's cell block. They can speak but be far enough apart not to become a problem."
Ratchet nodded. "I would love to hear their conversations. You're not putting them in with Turmoil or Blind Spot? What about Motormaster and Deadend? They might cancel each other out."
Prowl snorted, a grin forming on his handsome face. "Don't tempt me. I think putting them all in the same cell block might be interesting. Add Scorponook and Barricade and see what happens."
Ratchet considered that, then nodded. "You might want to do that. It might be instructive."
"Or destructive," Prowl said nodding. "Have you heard about Sideways?"
"That little con man. What about him?" Ratchet asked.
"Nothing so far. I saw him go into Club Hoyle during the middle of the orn and wondered what he's doing to earn his keep. Nothing so far. He's loafing, hanging out in the bars and pursuing a youngling mech whose family is not impressed," Prowl said.
"Maybe he needs to be arrested for vagrancy. Bring him in so I can scan him, then throw him in with the others. Might be fun," Ratchet said. "He can work. He needs to and he doesn't need to bring down anyone's youngling."
"I will pose it to Optimus. He is ruled by the Matrix. If that seems too personal an attack to this menace, he will be curbed from doing it. Or not," Prowl said with a grin.
"I would decapitate his aft if he was buzzing around Hero," Ratchet said with a nod. "Ironhide would disperse his body parts all around the planet."
"That goes without saying regarding Iacon and Uraya," Prowl said with a nod.
Ratchet paused. Then he stood. "Time for my close up. They need me. THEY REALLY NEED ME!"
Prowl laughed, then shook his helm. "You're certifiable."
"That I am, Prowler. That I am," Ratchet said as he turned and walked out heading for the triage tent and the mass of newbie, would be, might be, probably won't be citizens of their fair shores.
-0-TBC
June 3, 2013