The Diego Diaries: Mission (488) edited
-0-Other side
They grouped up on Salton Sea and flew onward, their sensors combining to enlarge their reach. It was familiar space to most, this area of stars and darkness. They were heading for a fringe system that had a large number of planets. The search for energon had made Soundwave re-evaluate what had been previously discarded as a lost cause. The Empire was exploding the planets and asteroids themselves to get at the hard to reach deposits that were freed in the blasts.
The group began to pick up floating debris long before they were able to have a visual of their targets. As Blackjack and Alor sat together in the command center of their ship, they were hailed.
"Unknown vessels, this is the Decepticon warship, Violate. Identify yourself or die."
The voice was harsh and brutal, the type of voice they would expect from a 'Con ship captain. Blackjack glanced at Alor, then walked toward the conn. "This is the Terror. I am its captain, Vos."
It was quiet a moment, then the voice was back. "Turmoil is the captain of the Terror and there is a warrant to shoot to kill on you and your ship."
"Turmoil was captain. He isn't now. We dumped him where the Prime could find him and we came back. All of us," Blackjack said in his stern voice.
"Allow visual," the voice said.
Blackjack nodded, then his visual and that of the bridge went out. A moment passed, then another returned. The figure of the mech commanding the Violate was brutal, cold and wary. They stared at each other a moment, then the captain nodded. "I am Dunum. Where did you come from?"
"Far away, near the space where the Prime is holed up. Turmoil was fool enough to think he could bargain with the Prime. He found out to his eternal regret that you can't," Blackjack said.
"You were near the Prime's stronghold? There are many rumors. What do you know?" Dunum asked.
"That the Prime has a massive redoubt, that the Supreme Guardians are returning, that Metroplex and Fortress Maximus are already there. I hear that there are millions living there now in a series of vast cities and that the army is enormous and powerful. I saw dozens of patrols of Seekers supporting all of it."
"Then they found energon," Dunum said quietly.
Blackjack nodded.
"Why didn't you defect?" he asked regarding Blackjack closely. "Many are."
"Prime doesn't allow anyone in his system that doesn't give him an oath and one to the Matrix. Turmoil had no sense. He was willing to do that," Blackjack lied. "He was willing to risk his spark with the Matrix but we weren't. We also weren't ready to be domesticated."
Dunum smirked. "You want to come back here to do what? Serve the Cause?"
Blackjack snorted, then grinned coldly. "I am not ready to take a pay cut."
Dunum regarded Blackjack for a moment, then nodded. "Some of us aren't so hardcore about our options either."
"The Prime is that away," Blackjack said glancing over his shoulder. "Come with your servos in the air and he will entertain your petition. Come any other way and he will obliterate you. I haven't seen such security even when Cybertron was up and running before the Fall."
Dunum considered that. He nodded. "Thanks for the information. Where are you going if I might ask?"
Blackjack gave him the coordinates, then Dunum checked them out. "You are heading for prison camps on the fringe. Why?"
Blackjack stared at the mech for a moment. "My son works at one. I want to get him so we can go to Cybertron. I want to make a deal with Soundwave."
"A deal?" Dunum said as his ship slipped into view from behind a number of asteroids.
Blackjack nodded. "I want to raid Prime's energon mines. For Cybertron of course."
Dunum grinned. "Of course. Need help?"
"Always," Blackjack said. "Of course … I would be in command."
"Sure," Dunum said with a nod. He smirked slightly. "Do you really think that Soundwave will allow three of his battleships to go pirating?"
"If it meant energon coming back to the Empire, yes," Blackjack said.
"Very well. I will let you pass. When you come back through I will be here. We will go to Cybertron together and I will throw my ships into the project."
Blackjack nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
Dunum nodded back. "Return and we will leave." The screen went dead.
Alor watched as their own returned to a field of stars. "You lie with facility. I am impressed. You must teach this to your son."
Blackjack snorted. "Ironhide is hopeless."
Alor grinned. "He takes after you."
With a reasonable expectation of success, the ships flew onward into the darkness heading for three different camps that would yield nearly 1000 prisoners to their care.
-0-On the Violate
Dunum sat mulling the problem in his processor. He could stay and command his little battle group. Or he could go with this mech who had surpassed the formidable Turmoil, ventured near the Prime's refuge and lived to tell about it.
There were rumors of the Prime and his solar system fortress. How true they were he didn't know. This mech had given them a slight clue. He had confirmed the giants, the presence of large quantities of energon and the size of the population he protected. He had confirmed the defection of the Seekers, something he still struggled to understand and made the prospect of leaving here for there very appealing. It was said Decepticons were welcome with caveats. This mech had confirmed it.
The old hatred for Autobots was still there. It burned as hot as ever but it was joined with a new flame. It was joined with aggravation that the enemy was flourishing and even regrouping while they struggled. Soundwave needed energon. This mech knew where to get it and he had bigger better ships. Obviously, his crews had no scruples and would follow the toughest captain.
He would be that tough captain.
Turning to his communications officer he gave orders. A small ship broke out of his formation and zoomed after the battleships. He would sit here and wait.
-0-On their way
The first camp strike target hove into view as they slowed to arc their trajectory. The Seekers had jumped out earlier finding cover to hide their presence unless needed. It was highly probable that Dunum had sent a scout to watch them so they proceeded carefully. They continued onward, then called the camp at the proper moment.
Another inspection.
Another scared reception.
Another safe landing.
-0-On the ground
Springer walked from his ship to the gathered command staff of a prison camp that was a holding area for political prisoners. There were Circles, Neutrals, Knights, Missionaries, intellectuals, philosophers, religious leaders and politicians from the Senate as well as various city-states. They were too important to kill and too dangerous to disperse into other camps to make trouble. They were kept here where they worked on electronics for ships and communications systems. :We are here to take the prisoners. This camp and the next two are being shut down: he said.
:We were not told: the Officer of the Orn said semi defiantly.
:We have orders from Megatron: Springer replied. That closed down defiance as well as discussion. :He wants new specimens for the Games. If you have a problem with this we can take you with us too:
They stepped back shaking their helms. The Officer of the Orn glanced around. :What do you want us to do? Do we go with you?:
:No. You wait here for pick up: Springer said as he glanced at his team. :Gather them up: The others turned walking toward the various pens and prisons. They were all released and taken topside where Ratchet and his group waited. It would take 2 joors to move the masses but they would be loaded aboard Moonbase at last.
Springer turned glancing at the Decepticons who had stood watching without a sound. He grinned coldly. :I will tell Megatron you were a great help:
They didn't make a sound as he climbed into his ship which lifted off immediately. When he arrived aboard the Phobos the scans of the planet were complete. They had everyone they had come for both dead and alive. They departed right away. A small ship who was following departed in hot pursuit as well.
-0-Moonbase
The mass of injured and sick was immense but they worked to sort them out. Many were those lost in their processors, the shock of rescue too much to assimilate. They were sedated then placed on cots in the wards established in the great expanses of the vast ship. Those that were in 'stable condition-transportable' were traded between ships by inter-ship bridging. That technology was now what it once was in the Golden Age, standard equipment on vessels both big and small. Even though Moonbase was a warship, its major function was to be a hospital and its design reflected both features. Like Kappa, it could do both but was heavily tipped to be a hospital.
Ratchet walked among the patients working out their problems and needs, writing on tags even as medics and nurse practitioners worked to implement his findings. Most of the mass of individuals were in serious condition. None of the prisoners were expected to be very good but this was just bad all around. No one needed immediate surgery. They would wait until they headed back for the second time. Transfusions and patches would hold them for the few joors they would remain here. All they needed to do was get the last camp's victims, then run for it.
He paused by two little mechs familiar in their designs and tattoos. He took one by the servo and squeezed it. Weakly, optics gazed upward looking at the figure who faded in and out in his view. "Who are you?" he asked faintly.
"I am Ratchet. I am your doctor," Ratchet said softly. "Lay here and let the energon transfuse you. I promise you that you will feel better soon."
"I am tired," he said. "My colleague and I tried to help everyone hold together. It has been a long terrible road."
Ratchet nodded, then tucked the blankets around him more tightly. "It will be alright. When everyone is on board we will go to the Prime. We will go to where the AllSpark is."
"You have it?" he asked turning his helm slightly to see the image of the figure speaking somewhere above him.
"We have it and the Well. We also have the Flame. We have the Temple restored. Chevron and Lauren are there among others," Ratchet said as he soothed the little priest in his sorrow. He wept, the little priest and to Ratchet is was somehow more terrible than any one else. This little mech was inoffensive and had served their people selflessly for who knew how long. That he would be caged and mistreated burned in Ratchet's circuits. He stood over the pair until they drifted off in recharge before leaving to help someone else as they gathered for their next target, then the journey back to Mars.
-0-Intra-ship
Ironhide stood at the command table of his ship checking out the next step of their plan. They had another camp to hit, then they would turn back to Mars. Once that group was dropped off they had one more journey to make. Then it would be finished. They would have liberated in three strokes seven camps freeing in their rescue effort over 1700 individuals. The actual count was being re-calculated since more prisoners had arrived since Shockwave's tenure as boss.
"Ironhide."
"Ironhide here."
"We need to move to the last camp on this swing. Be aware that a small shuttle is with us. We are going to capture it. Seekers will disable the vessel but before they do I want us to triangulate on it to jam their signal. I don't want Dunum to alert anyone out here. They can still do it with bullet messages even if their long range line is down."
"How do you want to take them?" Ironhide asked.
"I leave that to you. Just get them off our tails, son," Blackjack said.
Behind him bent over the table Ironhide could see his ada working on the course using the tools of navigation to plot their path. He grinned. It felt like old home week. "On it, General Atar."
Blackjack grinned, then nodded. "Kick tailpipe, Ironhide. Blackjack out." He turned to watch Alor. "That youngling grew up alright."
"I know his genitors. How could he not?" Alor opined as he glanced up with a smirk. They both turned to the task of their next strike.
-0-On the Phobos
Red Wing and Springer stood together on the flight deck going over the plan to neutralize the shuttle. The Seekers would stop it dead in the water, then the Wreckers would go on board to take the crew. He would give the ultimatum for the shuttle to give up or die. A three prong attack was usually the ticket. Everyone nodded, then Springer turned to gather his crew. Red Wing turned stepping out of the ship through the open doors. He flew off to coordinate his part of the plan.
Ironhide turned walking to the elevator. Entering, he called for the bridge. :Ratchet:
:What?:
:How is it going?: Ironhide stepped off at the bridge heading for his chair.
:We're getting there, Ironhide. This group is in woeful condition:
:Hang in there. We have to neutralize a shuttle. You may have more casualties shortly:
:Got it. Bring the hurt, Ironhide. Ratchet out:
Ironhide sat and nodded. /... bring the hurt, Springer …/
-0-TBC October 29, 2013
NOTE: The three battleships are confiscated refit, redesigned Decepticon ships. Given that on Transformer: Prime, Megatron's ship carried a crew of 4,000, having three of them in force is a really formidable presentation. The crews that are on board are nowhere near the 12,000 possible for their usual crew complement. But they are enough to get the job done. A typical nuclear powered American aircraft carrier usually hosts a crew complement of 5,000+ individuals.
SPRINGER: FUN FACTS FOR SPRINGER WHO IS NAMED THAT BECAUSE HE CAN JUMP HIGHER THAN A BUILDING. SPRINGER HAS MANY DIFFERENT INCARNATIONS IN DIFFERENT UNIVERSES:
***G1 Springer:
"Springer is the archetypical action hero: great in a fight, unselfconsciously brave, confident, and always ready with a dead-pan sarcastic quip to lighten the moment. Someone you can depend on to ride in, save the day and be smug about it. Though his easy self-confidence is one of his most notable features, actually being responsible for others weighs heavily upon his otherwise jocular personality. Nonetheless, Springer ascended to lead the Wreckers. He has twice been named as Rodimus Prime's successor to take the Matrix of Leadership and lead the Autobots, though neither one actually came to pass.
"Springer combines the thrusting power of his legs with his retro thrusters to move rapidly through the battlefield, leaping tall structures in a single bound. Although he is quite speedy, he is not faster than a speeding bullet."
***Transformers Animated Springer: "Springer was a top student of Sensei Yoketron and member of the Cyber-Ninja Corps during the Great War. His expertise lies in sword fighting, and he is equipped with a light saber and jump jet modifications."
***RETURN OF THE FALLEN SPRINGER: (Osprey is his alt format which would make him extremely tall since an Osprey is 60 feet long. He was never used in the film cut late in the filming but the design of him in the bottom of his entry for the 2009 Springer is … uh, interesting.)
"Springer is not one of the more skillful bots and in a fight he only has his formidable brute force to rely on. That might be a disadvantage but while he's only ever risen to the middle of the Autobots ranks he's still got smarts. Using his smarts, he's able to come up with ways of using his strength and firepower that the enemy won't see coming. This has given him one hell of a reputation, one that makes him sound more monstrous and stubborn that he really is. Don't believe everything you hear though: he's not an ogre, he's just a soldier. A soldier's soldier, having a combat record to be proud of!"
"First rule of engagement: know your enemy. Second rule of engagement... do the unexpected! -Springer."
(All information from TF WIKI DOT COM)