The Diego Diaries: Retraction 1 (353) edited
-0-On the ground in Alaska
They watched as the ramp came down and the bots stepped off. Cheers went up at the sight of Sideswipe and Drift. Walking toward the hole, they paused looking down into the muddy darkness. "I vaguely remember that hole," Sideswipe said to general snorting and a lot of genial punches.
Drift looked at Springer who was standing with his usual bemused expression. "Hey."
"Hey. You're getting slow," Springer said as they bumped fists.
"Yeah, well … I'll work on it," Drift replied with a slight grin.
For a moment it was silent, everyone made awkward by what wasn't said. Then Optimus and Ironhide joined them. "Where are the teams?"
"We sent Blurr to get them," Flint replied.
"When they get here blow the hole shut. Is it cataloged?" Prime asked.
Flint nodded. "We need to check the bots when they get back. We have built an image with the surface scans from Wheeljack and Perceptor. I think we can add to it by downloading the bots' internal data collections too."
"Good. We need to track where they go and the extent of their tunneling. This isn't good at all," Prime said.
"Optimus," a small voice called out. They all stared down at a concerned William Lennox. "Does this mean that the Insecticons have tunnels beyond this local area?"
Prime nodded. "I am afraid so. There are worlds we know of where they tunneled for thousands of miles. We have to find out their hive structure to see what we can do to find and remove the threat they impose."
Lennox looked at Prime with concern. "They've been here a long time, right? They were here to help do the invasion back in the day?"
Prime nodded again. "They were. Even if we had left, they were here as part of the invasion protocol process from the distant past. You would have been overrun and destroyed no matter what we did about staying or going. It was always going to happen."
It was a sober group that began to gather up their gear as the sappers among the Autobots began to prepare the demolition of the opening once their teams were pulled out.
-0-On the ground: Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth at about the same time
The shuttles touched down settling near a stretch of runway with destroyed and damaged B-1 class bombers massed in groups. Ramps slid down as hatches opened, bots emerging carrying boxes and the like. Ratchet stood watching, Glenn Morshower in his servo. The bots in front of the lines emerging walked toward them and paused. "Hello, General Morshower. Ratchet," Hoist said. Grapple nodded behind him. "We came to do some construction with your permission."
"You have it. That and our thanks, Hoist," Morshower said. "What do you need us to do for you?"
"Just stand back. We will have shelters and services going in about a couple of joors," Grapple replied. They moved around Ratchet and walked onward carrying their boxes. Pausing to reconnoiter, Grapple put down his box and moved to check the concrete footprints of the demolished buildings. After a moment of conversation between them, Hoist and Grapple took out drills and began to sink holes around the edges of the platforms to hold the steel beams all of the buildings would be slotted into. A concrete mixture that would harden upon contact was squirted into the holes, then pre-measured steel beams were slid down into them.
Ratchet set Morshower down near a small pile of boxes. He sat down on one to watch along with other gathering humans as the Autobots began to reassemble the base. "They took all the information from the measurement of foundations and the images of the base for guides, Glenn. Then they rebuilt them from sturdier materials with improvements. The plant that will run the base will be solar and you will have storage capacities for electrical and water that surpass anything you could do on your own. Waste treatment and debris management will be completely self contained. No more pollution, trash or waste water problems. We have ironed out all the shortcomings you have for the base so they are eliminated."
"Thank you, Ratchet. You didn't have to," Morshower said glancing up at the tall medic who had knelt down beside him.
"Of course we did," Ratchet said glancing down at him. "Until all are one."
Morshower nodded. "Until all are one." Something inside of him wanted to cry but he sat stoically watching as giant sentient metallic beings began to recreate the base as if using toy models.
Behind them walking in teams, the buildings began to emerge from the shuttles carried by soldiers and civilian Cybertronians. They were of one piece minus the roof that would cover each of them. They were coated in solar paint, a formula that would take the place of solar panels. Solar paint was a very simple technique for solar collection among the bots that had been applied to every surface of every replacement building like a clear coat of varnish. It would endure in good stead long after the buildings fell down.
Walking past Ratchet and the humans, several bots carried the Administration building. Pausing for directions, they moved to put it in place, then lowered it into its slots gently. They disappeared inside the corresponding slots of the building. Standing back, they all watched as Grapple and Hoist welded the building to the concrete pad that would hold it. Stepping back, looking inside, they nodded to each other. Coming up behind them, bots carried the roof. They put it on the building, did the welds and stood back.
The windows were bigger and entirely energy efficient. The slots for devices were clear on the sides of one end. Hoist reached into a box and took out a number of tiny metallic devices. He turned and slotted them into the places on the building where they would be housed. They were electrical, electronic and general in function. Every need the building had would be met by them. A moment to hook up the waste system occupied them, then they stood back. "There. One down."
Morshower looked at Ratchet, then stood. He went to the two story building trailed by other humans and peered in through a window. It was as beautiful inside as it was out. The workmanship was inhumanly well done and over all a great improvement from the previous building. He looked up at Hoist and Grapple. "Gentlemen, this is a remarkable building. It is as beautiful as it is functional. I wish I had the words to thank you," he said.
Hoist and Grapple beamed. "You don't have to, Glenn. I wish you could know how much Hoist and I like to make models. We have more to do. I expect that we will have half the base replaced before night fall. We have several more buildings to settle in now. Then we have to go get more."
Morshower grinned. "Thank you, Grapple and Hoist. Tell everyone on Mars how much we appreciate this. Tell them that their effort is beautiful too."
"Oh we shall," Hoist said with a smile. "It is a labor of love for you and your people, I assure you," he said turning to his partner. "We have more to do, Grapple."
They turned with their assistants and walked toward the shuttle to get more replacement buildings. Ratchet and Morshower watched them as did the civilians and soldiers of the base. One by one, they brought out buildings, setting them into place, hooking them up. When this first run was accomplished, they would have replaced the Administration building, three barracks, the base hospital and seven of the workshops and mechanical buildings that had been destroyed. When they took off, the base occupants were already beginning to explore the new accommodations, most moving from the cramped crowded hangars to the barracks. What was doubly surprising inside was that the furniture had been replaced as well. Even bedding was stacked nearby for the residents to use pending base resupply.
A note on a box of pillows was opened and Major Sewell read it to those gathered around him. "To whom it may concern: We have made these for you. We know you need some comforts now. It was our great honor to help you and among our artisans, the idea of making miniature items such as this delightful. We stand with you. Until all are one. The Guilds and Unions of Autobot City, Mars."
They stood a moment considering the message, then began to unpack the boxes. There was bedding, dishes for the kitchen with the Emblem of the Primes on the plates and cups, shower curtains and rugs to make their quarters homely. They put it together and the base personnel moved in occupying all the barracks, taking their rooms again. It was tremendously, incredibly morale boosting to do so.
The message would be framed in the common room where it would have pride of place forever.
-0-On the way
Drift and Springer sat side-by-side in the shuttle on the way to Diego Garcia. They had been restrained in greeting each other but that was for the public side of things. They would make up for it later in private. :Arachnid would have eviscerated you:
:I know. She has complete control over the bugs. They will do whatever she wants: Drift replied.
Springer nodded, then grinned. :I did something stupid while you were gone. A really, really stupid thing:
Drift glanced at him with a smirk. :Oh yeah? Spill:
Springer glanced at Drift, inordinately happy to have his partner back. The moment of revelation that he had been taken still reverberated through his skull. :I asked Ironhide to adopt me so I would have something to look forward to morale-wise ... through my darkest hour here:
Drift snorted, then chuckled, the others glancing at him curiously. He looked at Springer. :What did he say?:
:Yes:
They sat together with small grins on their handsome faces. Drift nodded. :That sounds promising. You still going to have him do it?:
Springer shrugged. :Sounds like fun. Those two practically raised me and Hot Rod. We were hot helmed punks when we signed up and they kept us both out of prison:
:And you aren't now?: Drift asked.
:What, me? I'm fragging mature: Springer replied with a grin.
:I can see that: Drift replied amiably as the angst of the part few joors slowly leeched away. :What about Ratchet?:
:I told him not to tell Ratchet. I want that old mech to figure it out himself: Springer replied.
Drift snorted, then gathered himself. :I'm in:
:Good: Springer said glancing with a big grin at his partner.
The shuttle began its dog leg into Diego as the bots inside braced themselves for the destruction and harm they had been briefed to expect in this, ground zero of their redemption. The humans sat pensively, the prisoners silently, the senior leadership stoically. The shuttle smoothed out, leveling a moment, then touched down rolling to a stop where it was directed to park by a bot. They sat a moment, then Prime rose. Looking at the prisoners he spoke. "You will go to Autobot City and be interned. It is up to you what happens next," he said, then turned and walked to the hatch. Everyone on board followed him,
Runamuck looked at the slowly re-closing hatch, then his brother. "This is going to be hard," he said.
Runabout nodded. "I hear you, brother."
The shuttle lifted off again and disappeared into the sky beyond.
-0-Outside
The warm weather was welcomed, the humidity in great contrast to the dry air of Alaska. They walked toward the base and Omega. They were nearly to the big Guardian when Bluestreak raced down the ramp and jumped on Sideswipe. They twirled, then Blue looked at him with anxiety. "Are you alright?"
"I'm great." Sideswipe looked in the distance as Sunstreaker rolled down from his shuttle. The others followed congregating in front of Omega. "What the frag happened?" Kup asked as he stared at the Autobot embassy, or what was left of it.
"The Insecticons came out of the sea and attacked the place," Ratchet said. "They leveled it just as we landed."
"You got shot, Ada," Sunstreaker said with no small amount of anger.
"Three humans got dead," Ratchet replied.
It was silent a moment, then Sideswipe shifted. "That isn't going to go over very well is it?"
"No," Ironhide said with equal anger.
Prime walked down the ramp of Omega and rejoined the group, Prowl by his side. "Here is what we do," he said as he began to give orders. Morshower sat on Ratchet's servo nodding in agreement.
"I want the moon scanned down 100 miles deep. When its clear we build a base there with a complete Ops Center. We station a major force there along with Seeker flights. Our response time from Mars is too great. We deploy in seconds, not minutes. Space bridges between Mars, Diego and the moon will be priority, I want satellites in orbit around Earth to facilitate deep scanning. If there is any strange subterranean movement I want to know. Map the underground water systems, the caverns that are naturally occurring and other features that are normal. Then routinely scan everything on a regular basis. If there are any changes, we will know where they are. I want this base to be pristine. I don't want anything left that tells that anything terrible happened here. I want the humans to come here and feel safe and comforted. Anything less than that is unacceptable."
"Thank you, Optimus," Morshower said with a nod. "The work is already underway."
Prime nodded. "I am more sorry about this and the three lost souls than I can express, Glenn," Optimus replied with a tone of great weariness.
"We know," Glenn said nodding. "I know."
"Prowl will coordinate the Luna base and Flint, you manage the base rebuild," Prowl said as the big black Autobot nodded. "I will, Prime," he said.
"We will treat Luna Base as a full fledged outpost with complete personnel complements and flight status optimal for Seekers. I want it to happen yesterday," Prime said grimly.
They nodded and turned to make it work.
-0-At the Temple Restored, Autobot City, Mars
They walked down the corridor heading for the reliquary chamber. Their footfalls sounded enormous in the utter silence surrounding them. Chevron opened the door and they entered, the four acolytes who would become priests during the Festival of Primus following. Lights instantly came on and the expansive chamber was lit up in the areas where relics rested. The rest of the room was dark casting a sense of holiness and mystery to all of them. They paused a moment, then continued. Pausing before the first one, Chevron began to measure it and speak the statistics to Templar. He took them carefully down on the datapad he held as they began to make the final arrangements for the artifacts to be displayed in the Temple Annex nearby.
The Temple had been granted an increase in space, quadrupling the large enclosure they already had due to the removal of the shipyards and underground factories to other spaces. A large open annex had been built west of the Temple with cobblestone paths leading to it from the Temple and its environs. It was a huge pavilion open to the air with lighting designed to focus on the exhibits that would begin to be shown there in rotating collections. The collection that was being prepared now was of the most sacred of objects, including among others the newly returned Star Saber of Prima and the Forge of Solus Prime.
Lost among the many legendary artifacts of the ancients was the Chimera Stone and the Requiem Blaster. The latter was a weapon that drew its energy from quasars, black holes or supernova's heat registers, had its own gravity and could destroy planets. Its mass was so great even Optimus could not wield it and it was clearly in their living memory the most dangerous weapon ever created. No Cybertronian ever struck by it lived through the experience. The Chimera Stone was so ancient that its image and function were lost to history. The closest one could find to what it might be was the idea of two in one, female and male encapsulated into one format. Beyond this incomplete speculation, nothing more was known.
The Omni Blade was the property of Nexus Prime, one of many blades he was known to carry. This blade was black and reflected no light. It too was gone into the ether. Joining it was another of his swords, the Chaos Edge. Sitting on a shelf nearby, a nondescript appearing artifact attracted Gravitas. "The Apex Armor seems so insignificant but it can defeat anything."
Chevron glanced at it and nodded. "Some of them are glorious like this sword or those," he said nodding toward other implements. "Some are less ostentatious like this one," he said nodding to the polarity gauntlet sitting on a shelf nearby. "Others are not well known. The Infinite Combinatoric for instance. We only know its name. Then there's the Magnificence."
"I have heard of that," Vraz said nodding. "It is said that it has a complete database of the known universe and every usable resource imaginable located upon it. It can give perfect answers to questions asked." He turned looking at Chevron for a moment. "I was led to understand long ago that Alpha and Metroplex were guarding it. At least Metroplex anyway."
Chevron looked at Vraz, a slight grin on his face. "That sounds about right." Then he turned back to the relic making the final measurement. "Let's look at the Forge shall we?" He turned walking to the magnificent golden Forge of Solus Prime.
"Master, will the Chronicles and the Quill be on display as well?" Eronus asked.
"Alpha has agreed," Chevron said with a nod.
"Then its going to be glorious," Gravitas said with a smile.
"Yes," Chevron said nodding with his own smile. "It will."
-0-TBC July 3-4, 2013
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY IF YOU CELEBRATE IT! HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY IF YOU DON'T! :D:D:D;D;D;D;D
I sat down last night to write this and woke up in the chair at 3:30 in the morning. :O :O :O HUGS!