The Diego Diaries: Gone 3 (344)
-0-On the ground: Interior Alaska
Another ship landed and more troops jumped out, Wreckers and close quarters experts. They walked to Prime and caught up on the latest news, taking places around the holes to listen. Nearby, walking along the tundra with a box in their servos, Wheeljack and Perceptor scanned the ground underneath, their machine scanning for tremors. They had rigged the array and debugged it, turning it onto this part of the Earth. It had begun to scan the area around them and was moving out in concentric circles. It would take a while to build a picture of the ground underneath them. Given the haphazard direction underground hives and their tunneling usually took, it could meander all over.
Corporal Trevor Smith sat on a hump of muskeg staring at the ground as he waited for whatever to happen. He had emptied his skull to the three officers of his striker team telling them everything he knew. There was a mole in the Pentagon, one in the U.S. House of Representatives, one on the General Staff of the Chief of the General Staff, Commanding of the United Kingdom's army and two who were staff to members of the British Parliament. There were others as well but he didn't know them. He had heard his parents talking about the ones he knew because they were important figures in the Iowa militia scene as well as The Resistance.
:What are you staring at, Springer?:
:A sad deluded kid: Springer replied.
Ironhide walked to stand next to him. :I can see that:
:I can't imagine my genitors leading me that astray: Springer said glancing at Ironhide. :Make me a promise:
:Alright: Ironhide replied glancing at the tall bot himself.
:When this is over … when Drift and Sideswipe are back safe and sound, adopt me:
Ironhide grinned a moment. :Are you serious?:
Springer glanced his way and nodded. :As a spark attack. I have to have something to look forward to through the dark joors ahead:
:Done deal:
:Ironhide?: Springer asked looking at Ironhide with serious optics. :Don't tell Ratchet. Let him find out the hard way:
Ironhide nodded, a slight smirk gracing his pugnacious face. :Easiest thing I can do:
Springer grinned, then turned back to the wan kid sitting by himself in the midst of gathering forces. He walked toward him and knelt. "Hey, kid. You alright?"
Blue eyes filled with devastation looked up at the big bot with great emotion. "You can ask me that after all this? I'm the enemy."
"No. You're a kid who listened to the wrong information," Springer replied.
"Drift is down there. Your bond," he said equally emotionally.
"I noticed that," he said with a faint grin. "Drift and Sides are tough and smart. We'll get them back. You had the stuff to get this far. Be tough and keep going. What's done is done. If you really mean it … if you are really on our side, hold your head up." He rose and looked at the kid. "Man up, kid."
He watched as Springer turned and walked to where Prime stood watching Wheeljack and Perceptor try to find the hive central. Watching him go as well were an equally impressed Graham, Epps and Lennox.
-0-Underground: Interior Alaska
Three Wrecker teams made their way through the darkness heading for whatever was going to come following the carvings on the walls left by Kup and Devcon. Ahead in the darkness were miles of tunnels, all of which at some point would lead back to the hive central. It would also lead to uncounted numbers of Insecticons as well. They walked carefully, their sensors networked as they crept along in the inky darkness.
-0-On their way: Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
They flew through the water like birds in flight heading toward the target their queen had given them. She had been bored in Italy. Thus after arriving in Alaska and the middle of her own kind once more made the decision to make a strike of her own. Sending a large contingent away, they were halfway to their target by now. She could command because no one was in command. The 'boys' thought they were but she actually was. Their teams were three in number, the usual configuration with six members each. However, the Insecticons were as numerous as 'grains of sand on a beach' or so it seemed. She could destroy everyone by sending the mere thought to her 'minions' and they knew it.
So she led.
She would make the first salvo in the war against the humans and their allies, the Autobots. They would never see it coming and they would be unable to protect against it. It would be glorious. She sat on her rock, the hordes around her sitting, facing her, waiting for a command, waiting for anything. The other bots sat on their ledge watching with wary optics. The two Autobots hung from her own web on the wall. Everyone got it.
She was queen.
-0-Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth
Ships began to arrive unloading teams of mechs who would take up residence at the Embassy to deploy at a moments notice to any hot spot that might erupt on the Earth. Wrecker teams, heavy and light armed shuttles, runabouts and more medical technicians arrived. Ships settled in their parking spots, their arms and special systems arrayed to be online immediately.
The humans watched them, many of the soldiers new to them but they were greeted warmly by the bots and returned the favor. The army femmes sat on a packing crate on the flight line trading quips and remarks with the bots, many of them friends. It was a very pleasant afternoon.
-0-On their way: Closing in
They were coming closer speeding with an unnatural swiftness toward their target. They flew under water in flocks like birds, spears of malice heading for the heart of the target that aided their enemies. It would only take two more joors to get there.
-0-The Hourly News: Breaking News, IntraComm, Autobot City, Mars
"This is Lim-Lee with the latest breaking news. A message issued from the Office of the Prime moments ago states that the playoff game scheduled for tomorrow is canceled indefinitely due to deployment of several players on military exercises. The game will be slotted for a future date when the soldiers involved return to participate. It was suggested that such interventions will happen from time to time and the Prime regrets any disruption in the plans of the people around this event. More information will be forthcoming later. In other news...
-0-Ratchet
He prepped the medical ship that would be going to Diego and gave the last set of orders to his hand chosen medics. They would be going ahead to set things up and he would follow once he made arrangements for the younglings with his genitors and Ironhide's. Flint was already in Alaska with the striker teams they had sent. Alor would be going to Diego with him to help with strategizing at that end while Blackjack would stay on Mars.
He watched as the shuttle took off, then turned, then hurried toward the city to part out the sparklings.
Again.
It was with a heavy tread that he made his way to his genitor's store disappearing into the noon time rush as he did.
-0-On their way: Within sight
They were one joor away from their target, the music of their queen filling their skulls as they hustled to please her. They were mindless when she spoke, her beauty overpowering, her sensual voice overtaking their will without effort. They swam onward, flying through the water below the sensor level of the human's paltry networks, aware that the Autobots would not be expecting them where they were going.
It was as she planned it.
-0-On their way: Heading toward Earth
Ratchet and Alor sat on their shuttle as it blitzed toward Earth. The infants were parted out, Neo and Laret taking Hero and Prowler. Ravel and Tie Down would get the rest and live in the big apartment until everyone came home. Ratchet had explained the situation to them about Drift and Sideswipe, both of whom were missing as of yet. He did so because he feared the grapevine would find them first. Ravel burst into tears and Tie Down looked gutted. "What will we do? How can we get our boy back, Ratchet?"
"We are working on it now. They only have real value as hostages, Ada. Don't cry. We'll get them back. If you help me with the babies, I can help too," Ratchet said as he gently rubbed his Ada's back.
Ravel looked at him with terrified optics. "You will be safe? You and Ironhide? What about Sunstreaker? He must be terrified."
"I can think he's a lot of things, Ada. Terrified is only about fifth on the list," Ratchet said. He hugged them both and stood. "I will stay in touch."
Ravel rose and gripped his servos. "Please do, Ratchet. Please let us know when you find them. Hug them for me."
Ratchet hugged them both and nodded. "I will." When he turned to leave, he felt like the Pit. But he put on his game face and left.
-0-On their way: Within fifty miles of target
They were getting close so they formed into teams dividing up among each other to make the most of their moment. They were fifteen minutes away from their target.
-0-On their way: Coming up on dog leg for landing
They were coming into the base, the tower giving them clearance. Sitting together commiserating their misery, they waited for touchdown. As they began their descent they felt an energy behind them, then the impact of fire on the tail of their ship. Jostled, they grabbed onto the structures around them as their shuttle came in for a crash landing.
-0-Underground: In the Hive Central
She sat on her rock feeling everything that they felt. Around her, the multitudes gathered sitting to enjoy her joy. She smirked at them, then the mechs sitting on their ledge near the two Autobots. It was a glorious moment for her, one she was prepared to savor slowly. It would come to the time where she would kill everyone not of her own kind, but that glory was for later. She was prepared to parcel out her happiness bit by bit.
For her, there was no rush.
-0-At Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth
They came in on the radar after rising from the sea. They gathered in their groups and flew with guns blazing to the base itself. Fire strafed the decks and things blew up as the Insecticons made their entrance. Mechs ran out of the Embassy and nearby hangars guns blazing. Insecticons swarmed, their guns shooting everything that moved. Some transformed and went hand-to-hand with mechs on the tarmac. Humans ran everywhere as buildings emptied. Soldiers firing their weapons, most of which were ineffective trying to protect civilians who were running for the shelters. Screams, blasts, fire and explosions rocked the place as buildings began to blow up and burn.
Jolt stood in front of the Embassy shooting upward as a big Insecticon flew straight at him. They crashed together rolling several times before stopping to grapple together. Another mech jumped on the Insecticon from behind and with an energon knife removed the bot's head from his shoulders. A flash of fire showed his demise as his head rolled away. Jolt jumped up and joined the mech running for a group of humans trapped behind cars.
They gathered them, handfuls of them and hurried to the Embassy. Before they made it there several Insecticons made well aimed shots and the roof blew up. Turning, speeding toward the Administration building, they carried their load of screaming humans toward a shelter nearby. Dropping them off, they hurried back to the battle.
Ratchet and Alor stepped out of their smoking shuttle and transformed their weapons. Moving together, they began to shoot everything that flew past. Landing good shots, they reached a big hangar where a number of Air Force mechanics and some of their femmes were crouched. Jessie had a rifle and was shooting at the Insecticons as they flew past, her bullets ineffectual even as her grit was sterling.
"GET BACK IN THE HANGAR!" Ratchet yelled as he and Alor stood before it shooting right and left. The Embassy was on fire, mechs standing in the damage shooting Insecticons everywhere they could. The administration building was burning as was the hangar where their conversations were held. Barracks were destroyed along with hangars and warehouses, workshops and public buildings. Ratchet looked around wildly searching for more humans and safety. There was no place left that could afford any. There were other humans though and they were in danger of dying. "ALOR! I'M GOING FOR THOSE HUMANS! COVER ME!" Ratchet yelled.
"GO!" Alor said standing to fire both of his weapons as behind him humans cowered behind a terrified but resolute Jessie Landon and her rifle.
Ratchet ran out shooting until he reached overturned vehicles, some of which were on fire. He grabbed the humans, then turned and ran back taking shots on his shoulder. "FRAG! FRAGGERS! THAT FRAGGING HURT!" he said as he set the humans down and patted at his shoulder where there were sparks from fire. "FRAG!"
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?" Alor asked between shooting at this and that flapping past.
"I'LL LIVE BUT I WON'T SLAGGING LIKE IT!" Ratchet said as he began to fire again.
Nearby, several Autobots were grappling with Insecticons and getting the short end of the stick. A huge boom rang out and one of them exploded. A tank driven by humans came between two buildings and was firing. One more 'Con exploded and the other took off, freeing up the three Autobots who turned and began firing again.
It seemed to take forever. Then it was over. The Insecticons flew up and away disappearing into the horizon and the ocean expanse beyond. The silence was terrible for a moment, then reality slammed in. There was screaming, exploding ammunition, fire and imploding buildings. The scene was incredible and surrealistic.
Ratchet walked out and surveyed the scene for a moment. The home they had carved here, this first island of peace in a life of running and suffering was broken and burning. The anger rising inside of him was almost more than he could contain.
"RATCHET!"
The voice finally reached him. He looked down into the soot stained face of Jessie Landon. "I WILL HELP YOU!" she said around her tears.
The others came out behind her, some of them hurt or burned, all of them in shock. Ratchet cleared his processor and nodded. "We need you to sit down and rest a moment. There's unexploded munitions and you all are in shock."
Jessie nodded. "I'm so glad you're here, Ratchet. What would we have done without all of you?"
Ratchet put that out of his processor. He knelt down and looked at her. "We are one, Jessie. Remember that."
She nodded and swiped at her tears. "We will help you," she said firmly. The others nodded equally firmly.
"You already have," Ratchet said quietly. Then he stood and began to help the wounded and displaced, human and Autobot alike.
-0-TBC June 23, 2013 edited