The Diego Diaries: Skills (477) edited
-0-At Sciences, Autobot City, Mars
They stood at the desk watching as the fragments of the bomb were examined. They were so miniscule that they were nearly useless. "What interests me, Wheeljack is the fact that I can find no chemical residue. The lack of residue indicated to me that they detonate this device with something other than explosive power generated by an unstable substance. It could be conjectured that they do it with sound or light. It might be remotely detonated using either of those two triggers."
Wheeljack considered that. "That would make sense. It would also explain how thoroughly the explosion destroyed the device itself."
Perceptor nodded. "I have seen this tech somewhere on Cybertron but it eludes me. I think I saw it during The Fall."
Wheeljack considered that, then it came to him. "I remember. We need to talk to Optimus."
Perceptor nodded, then they turned walking for the door and Ops Center nearby.
-0-At Ops Center
They waited as the senior Autobots gathered. Ratchet, Ironhide and Alor finally arrived, then they sat. Perceptor looked at Wheeljack. "Tell them, 'Jack," Perceptor said.
"We are hypothesizing on the bomb. It leaves no residue so it must be detonated by something that can be triggered from a distance or by unconventional means. I would speculate that it would be light or sound. I am leaning toward sound." Perceptor nodded. Wheeljack thought a moment, then looked at Prime. "Do you remember the bombing campaign in the Tagon Heights?"
Prime nodded. "Someone was blowing up the industrial plants. Someone wanted to drive the Neutrals out of their neutrality."
Perceptor nodded. "We discussed this together then, Prime when you put us on the task of catching those individuals. We could find no residue at those bombings then either. They were incredibly destroyed as well."
"I remember that," Blackjack said. "I remember the rumors. It was said that high castes were going after the Neutrals to get them to join the fight against the rebellion."
"That was a stronghold for Neutrals," Alor added.
Prime nodded. "That it was. I remember that they began to migrate off world about that time since they were determined not to be a part of either side of the war."
"Their actions were much appreciated by Megatron," Starscream said with a faraway expression on his face. "I believe I remember this campaign."
Thundercracker nodded. "He did appreciate it. Less opposition and an easy retrieval later on. He sent spies out to find the bombers. We had no more luck than it would appear you did."
Perceptor nodded. "This is very high tech and dangerous. They don't have to be near it and they have a delivery system that allows them to come and go without being picked up on security. Or even for that matter, seen."
"That was also part of the situation on Cybertron. They expanded their campaigns to Praxus and blew up the headquarters of the Missionaries and other Neutral groups that were based there. We never caught them and it is highly probable that the individuals responsible for that then are here now," Wheeljack said grimly.
"I am vexed, Prime that these slaggers should visit upon our peace and unity their war and division. I am tired of them," Starscream said with irritation. "It would be a very bad thing if someone's elder or infant were harmed by these slaggers. It was a miracle that your infants weren't home when the first bomb went off, Doctor."
Ratchet nodded. "I agree. What we have to do is figure out what these devices are and home in on their frequencies. Jamming them colony wide might help us prevent more bombings."
"That would not be impossible but it would be difficult. We aren't even certain what they are using," Perceptor opined. "We need to get some theoreticians together and brainstorm what it would take to make a unique weapon like this."
"Some of our Seekers use sound for a weapon," Thundercracker said. He glanced at Starscream. "We should call them up. They would have insight."
Starscream nodded. "Make it so, Thundercracker. The sooner the better."
"We also need to see how they disguise themselves from security," Prowl said. He looked at Wheeljack. "You have the schematics and information for Mirage and the other three mechs who can generate invisibility, correct? Can that be useful?"
Perceptor nodded. "It is a framework within which to seek a solution. We also have the Pretender data and hardware. It will take time. We are still trying to re-imagine the methodology and technology at work here."
Prime nodded. "Time is of the essence. Springer … how is the mood of the city and are there problems arising among the former castes?"
"We have had fights. No one wants the System to be here so they don't have much patience when someone brings it up. The ones who seem to be bringing it up are former high castes and usually when they are drunk. There is worry about bombs but a lot of resolution. They are not ready to be cowed by a long shot," Springer said.
Prime nodded. "Good. Neither can we be. Right now, we have to keep working. I am not going to green light the mission until this is resolved or at least contained. I don't want my senior staff divided if and when I need your assistance. Right now, we keep pressing onward." He glanced at Magnus. "I am told there is a new business in city site 1."
He nodded. "We okayed the business plan by the five in question. Detection devices are being incorporated into the surrounding areas but not in the business itself. We are wary about their ability to detect our presence."
Prime nodded. "Good. Around the clock surveillance is mandatory. Only the most veteran and with the utmost stealth."
Springer nodded. "On it, Optimus."
Prime nodded, then sat back. He glanced at Ironhide with a grin. "I understand you have an affinity for bold fabrics."
Ironhide glanced at him, then frowned at Ratchet. "Did you tell him our business?"
"No, Ironhide. I didn't tell him our business. I told Prowl," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
Snorts and grins were had by all. Ironhide sat back glancing around the table. "I don't think that a room should be all one color. Putting color in the room makes things look bright and cheery."
"Fuchsia. You wanted fuchsia, magenta and two kinds of purple. Then there were the giraffe spots, zebra stripes and leopard prints. All in one room," Ratchet said enjoying Ironhide's discomfort.
Everyone took a moment to reference the correct imagery, then Alor sat forward and looked down the row at his son. "What the frag, Ironhide? What is wrong with you?"
"I was thinking the same thing myself," Ratchet said patting Ironhide's servo.
Ironhide looked at his ada, then frowned. "You're supposed to defend me to the death, Ada."
"Here," Alor said holding out his thumb. "I guarantee you will feel better."
"OH HA HA, ADA!" Ironhide said with a big grin.
Prime sat back momentarily relieved of some of his foreboding. "You appear to be taste challenged, Ironhide. I am surprised considering what a Renaissance mech you are."
There was a pause, then Ironhide grinned smugly. "I am aren't I."
Ratchet grinned. "I won't argue with that. Much."
Chuckles were had. Then the group began to break up until the usual suspects and half their genitors were left. Ironhide shook his helm. "I will be hard to live with if they begin a bombing campaign here."
Prime nodded. "We have a feel for the culprits. I will have them picked up before it happens."
"You have that right under the law," Barron said with a nod. "What I am concerned about is the situation of the former high castes if this happens, the guilty are captured, tried and convicted. What then?"
"We have been working on that for a while now," Optimus said. "If exile must happen, it must be where they can manage and we can defend. Mercury is too extreme. The delineations of light and dark as well as hot and cold make it much too difficult to manage there for mechs with perhaps limited skills for fending for themselves. Venus is extremely hot so the habitat would be enclosed to make it bearable. None of the outer planets are workable and Earth is out. What we have done is build a habitat on Ceres. It is the dwarf planet between Mars and the outer giants. It has water and solid ground to work with. The gravity is very light but the temperature is in the safe zone for normal habitation for our species. The distance between here and Ceres is extremely short so we can monitor their situation. What it will not be is an independent outpost nor will it be assisted by the Depot there. We have laid the habitation down on the far side of the dwarf planet to avoid as much as possible interactions between the Depot and the settlement. This is not independence. This will be exile."
It was silent a moment, then Barron spoke. "They will need a contact beween them and us."
Prime nodded. "An advocate is part of the exile process in circumstances such as this. We cannot send them onward out of our system. They would take too many relevant details about our life here with them."
Barron nodded. "I am not sure how this will go but if there is a Convocation ... I am assuming the habitat is for that purpose ... a place of exile for those who cannot adjust," he said as Prime nodded. "The bombers will be what? Imprisoned? Put into stasis?"
Prime considered that. "It will be stasis if they kill anyone. Prison if not. They are too skilled to be exiled to Luna even with the base there. We will have to keep them here. We will also have to relieve them of any attribute that gives them an advantage over our stewardship."
Barron nodded. "I pray they don't kill anyone for more than obvious reasons."
"We all do, Barron," Prime said solemnly.
-0-At a start up business in a city
They watched the crew clean up the mess of building to suit the simple offices of the newest start up in the city. It was four blocks from Burnoff's tower and optic level with the raised highway that wrapped around the city. They would be able to see automobile and foot traffic as they worked. It was beautiful. Floor to ceiling windows flooded the space with light. Their offices had a central corridor to the lobby and elevators but it was inside, rather than along the outer walls. There was an office space with a big workroom, design facilities, conference space and a storage room. They watched the cheerful crew leave, then stood looking around.
"Furniture is due later. The rest of it will come tomorrow. We were lucky to get a crew this late in the orn," Kale said as he walked to the one couch and sat. He grinned. "This is awesome. We're going to rule."
The others grinned and nodded.
-0-At the University
They walked out together after classes were over. They would dine out, then go home. Dinner would include a couple of 'their boys', two of the Elite Guard that had protected and cared for them for so long. They would discuss their new lives, both sides, then part happily. Kestrel would go for his counseling session at the Metroplex Mental Health Center while Tagg went to The Hobby Shoppe to get more copper tubing for a project he was making for the little mechs. It would be a model of the Six Lasers Over Cybertron ferris wheel. It would be able to turn and light up when he was finished. When they came together once more, they would retire to their apartment to study.
They would do so with intense happiness and resolve.
-0-At the house in the tower where insanity blooms
The Hourly News was playing on the monitor as Ratchet unpacked the replacement cookery items that he had picked out earlier under the stern direction and expert optic of his ada-in-law. Alor had since gone off to pick up replacement stuff including a vast array of 'spices' for Ratchet's soon-to-be produced spice rack. After all, Ironhide had promised Ratchet one.
They had both laughed uproariously over that news.
He put things back into the brand new cupboards closing them when full. As he did the door opened as Alor tottered in carrying two big boxes filled with food and other items of cooking. He sat them on the table, then grinned. "I bought a nice array of spices. We can put them on the counter until Ironhide produces a rack."
"You are a terrible ada," Ratchet said pausing with a glass in each servo.
"I know," Alor said laughing. "My old ada told me the only reason you have younglings is to get grandyounglings. Remember that."
"You hit the jackpot here," Ratchet said putting the last thing in. He closed the cupboard and looked in the boxes. "So what are we having for dinner?" he asked with a dazzling smile.
It got him approximately nowhere.
-0-TBC October 18, 2013