The Diego Diaries: Mission (489) edited
-0-On the deck
Springer pulled his teams together, then the lot boarded two of the large shuttles parked in the tie down space at the edge of the launch bay. They powered up and flew out of the ship, the energy screen sparkling as they pierced it. They zoomed out turning toward the stern of the ship where they waited. Somewhere out there was a shuttle that had to be neutralized. They would do it after the Seekers finished the first stage which in Wrecker parlance was 'slag the fraggers to the Pit'.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe lounged on the shuttle as they waited for the go. The three ships were gearing up to jam the shuttle so it couldn't signal its situation to Dunum.
"Who gets to board, Springer?" Sideswipe asked as he sat by a window, his swords sliding in and out of his wrist gauntlets. "I do, right?"
Springer glanced over his shoulder, then grinned. "Maybe."
"Slagger," Sideswipe said with a grin. He looked out the window as a mass of Seekers flashed past. He could almost feel the breeze it seemed. They were gone is seconds. "Turn up the channel. I want to hear this."
Kup complied and the cryptic commentary of the Seeker flight filled the ship.
"Red 1, go left. Red 2, go right. Buzz, stay with me. We will charge them, draw their fire. Come around and take them out." Red Wing's voice was calm and direct. He was the flight master and they were so expert at this they could do it in recharge.
"Coming straight on." -Red Wing
"Coming around. We are go." -Red 1
"Affirmative, Leader 1." -Red 2
"Going in." -Red Wing
It was silent a moment, then a flurry of chatter exploded over the intercom.
"GOING RIGHT! BREAK RIGHT!"
"Affirmative."
"GOT SMOKE!"
"I SEE FIRE! COME AROUND QUICKLY!"
"I see it. Going for the propulsion now."
"Taking shots. Pulling back. Take out the guns on the starboard side."
"Affirmative."
There was silence a moment, then Red Wing was back. "Leader 1 to Kup. You are go. We will give you cover."
"Affirmative," Kup said as he stepped on the gas. Everyone on board stood up to walk to the door with guns and swords present. They took rocket packs slipping them on as they waited. The ship began to slow and as it did a burning hulk appeared along side. Through the windows they could see fires and smoke as well as a few movements as mechs moved around. Then there was a shudder as the ship exploded something in the aft section.
"Looks like fun," Sideswipe said with a wolfish grin. "Last one in is a loser."
"Prepare to lose, Sideswipe," Sunstreaker said as he bumped his brother back with his hip. The door opened and they swarmed out rocketing toward the listing shuttle that was dead in space. They would reach the main hatch in seconds.
Magnetizing to the hull, they turned toward Springer. He rapped on the hull, scorch marks from Seeker fire stitching its side telling the tale of resistance. :OPEN UP! SURRENDER AND WE LET YOU LIVE! DON'T MAKE US KICK YOUR AFT!:
Small arms fire rapped against the door but didn't pierce its armor.
:What now, oh mighty leader?: Sandstorm asked with a grin as he looked down the contour of the shuttle at Springer. Drift smirked. :Yes. What now?:
Sunstreaker moved to the front of the hatch, then brought out his blaster. With a series of shots the hatch disintegrated into splinters of flying steel. Without another word, he sped inside with his swords flashing.
Springer looked at the others, then grinned. :We do that: He flew into the shuttle to engage what was left of the resistance.
There wasn't any.
-0-On the command decks of the three faux 'Con battleships
"Springer to command."
"Blackjack here." The message was being routed to Ironhide and Revo who stood listening as well.
"We are clear. There was only a pilot and two other mechs. They were taken into custody. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are taking them to Moonbase. We're good to go."
"Well done. Prepare to depart. We have one more camp to take before going back. What is the status of the shuttle?" Blackjack asked.
"It's scrap," Springer replied with a grin in his voice. "Want us to mine it?"
"We will take the frequency and transponder code in case we need it. Before you get on board again mine it. You can detonate it remotely," Blackjack said.
:Affirmative. Springer out: The big mech looked at the others. Let's shake this ship down. Get the log and database downloaded to the Phobos. Drift and I will mine it. Then follow Sideswipe and Sunstreaker back to Phobos:
The others nodded, then bent their helms to the task. The ship was stripped in no time, the routing of the engines to overload placed in motion. They were walking down the corridor of the Phobos heading for the brig to check on prisoners when Springer detonated the overload. A flash and debris exploding in all directions signaled the demise of a ship no longer needed. Its crew had a new ride for the duration.
-0-Flashing forward
The camp loomed before them, a twofer, two for the price of one. It only held about 150 prisoners all of whom were once important to the Resistance that had tried to save their home world from destruction. They had no work to do. They sat and endured. Their lives were solitary and their diversion only that which they could manage on their own.
The message that they were an inspection team alerted the Control Center that their assistance in the matters at servo would be a smarter move than fighting. When the shuttles landed they were met by a number of youngling mechs who were anxious to leave the planet and go somewhere else. Anywhere else.
:I am here to take the prisoners and break up the camp. Megatron wants victims for the games in Kaon: Springer said to the slightly gullible younglings.
They stared at him, then each other. :You're going to give them to Megatron? He will kill them: one said to everyone's surprise. Everyone that wasn't a Decepticon that is.
:Why do you care?: Drift asked curiously.
The younglings looked at each other, then the two faux 'Cons. :We talk to them. They aren't bad. They're not dangerous I think:
The Autobots stood a moment mulling that over, then Kup nodded. :Climb on board, younglings. Take your boss here too. We're taking everyone topside. Settle into the ship and wait for your new orders:
The younglings nodded, then followed Sideswipe to the shuttle that they had flown down to expedite things. They filled it, then it lifted off. Everyone stood watching it for a moment. :I think I don't know what's real anymore: Kup said shaking his helm. He looked at the others. :Let's get out of here. We have one more camp to hit:
They nodded, then walked to the fence where the prisoners congregated. They looked wary but resigned. One of them, a tall good looking mech stepped closer. :Are you here to kill us?:
:No: Kup said. :We're here to rescue all of you. We're Autobots … Wreckers on a special mission from the Prime. We're going to a colony he controls:
They glanced at each other, then the big mech looked at Kup. :We want to believe you:
:You can. Come on. Let's go: Kup said dropping the bars. The big mech hesitated, then stepped out. He looked at the others, then nodded. They joined him gathering around the Autobots. He held out his servo.
:Who are you?: he asked as Kup gripped it tightly.
:I'm Kup:
He nodded. :Thank you. I am Pious Maximus:
Drift nearly plotzed.
-0-Up there
The Decepticons were stripped of guns and other combustibles, then marched through the hallways to the brig several levels downward. As they walked they asked a zillion questions, looked at everything and by the time they were placed in another big cell near to the others they were ready to give their oaths. The 'Cons offered nothing but dead ends and fear. They were younglings from the boonies of Cybertron. They joined up to eat regularly and get adventure. Neither desire panned out. This looked better so they took it. They were a very genial group of prisoners in the rapidly filling brig of Phobos.
-0-On the ride upward
Drift knelt before Pious Maximus. "I am honored to meet you." He showed his tats and the big mech nodded. "And I, you."
Drift sat down next to him. "The Knights, the Circle and the Missionaries are regrouping on Mars, our new world. You will like it there. Dai Atlas is on Cybertron building a spy network. He will be glad that you are alive."
"I am glad to hear about him. I had no hope." The big mech looked at Drift. "I will do my part for the peace."
Drift nodded. "The System is over. Prime is a good leader and the colony will surprise you. Get well and find your footing. The Temple is there. Its restored and the priests manage the Allspark, Well and Flame in its precinct."
Everyone looked at Drift. "Then Prime found it," one of them said softly, reverently.
"It's better than that. Primus himself restored them to Prime's care," Drift said with pride. "You will see."
They sat quietly riding to Moonbase and the off loading of the victims into the tender mercies of Ratchet and his teams. Then they would return to Phobos for the trip back through the space bridge.
-0-Salton Sea
Blackjack sent the bullet message as they neared the place where the bridge would appear and take them home. They slowed as they waited, then it burst into sight. With as much speed as they dared, they slipped through, Moonbase, Phobos, then Salton Sea. When they were inside the tunnel the aperture closed and chased them back to Mars where it would close behind them shutting out the rest of the universe.
Pious Maximus sat by a window in a lounge of Moonbase, a transfusion in his arm. He was debilitated, starved, suffered protoform wasting and had a few batters and bruises from a long time on the wrong side of power. He watched the stars reappear, then the huge form of a red planet below. Ships were circling, some parked and others waiting to go downward. Satellites were in orbit, other devices as well. As they found their orbit the formidable shape of The Trigger came into view as they completed a traverse of Mars. He stared at it and the rest with disbelief. Then Moonbase began its descent. It would be the only ship to do so because the others were getting ready to go again. The prisoners were in lock down and could wait for their prison cells.
They had another camp to hit and it couldn't wait.
-0-Down below
The crowds were there to help or watch. Stretchers bearing more cases as well as those still ambulatory made their way down the ramp of the vast ship. Ratchet walked to Prime and paused, turning to watch with the command crew. "So far, so good."
"I am glad we only had one shoot out," Prowl said nodding.
Ratchet chuckled. "Sunstreaker took it into servo."
"I am sure he did," Prowl said with a grin.
"When this lot is off we can go. The sooner we get done the better I will feel. This has been a great mission. I don't know if we can pull it again but it is always a win for me when no one gets hurt. We do have a lot of prisoners on the Phobos including a promising bunch of youngling mechs in this last haul," Ratchet said.
"I will speak with them," Prime said as the Officer of the Orn signaled the all clear.
"See ya," Ratchet said as he turned to run to the ship. Up the ramp he went with the medics and doctors. When all were aboard, the ramp went up, the hatch closed and the big ship lifted off nearly soundlessly. It was gone in seconds.
The command crew would take longer to go back to Ops Center.
-0-TBC October 30, 2013