The Diego Diaries: Phase Six 8 (511) edited
-0-Around a ship darkly
The fighter-shuttles of the Wreckers, vessels designed to their exacting specifications began to edge toward the five heavy armored cruisers that were Silo's formation. The gray of The Fallen gleamed dully in the bright light of 1,000 Seekers forward lights and the intensity of the Supremes overhead. They were moving slowly over the top of the migration feeding a comforting message to everyone on the ships awaiting rescue. Thousands of faces stood by windows, portholes and view ports watching the unbelievable spectacle outside.
Kup stood in the open hatchway of his shuttle watching as the looming side of Silo's personal ship came closer. He was armed, stogie firmly in place, his optics taking in the vessel in front of him. It had ped holes for them to stand in, to help them climb but their personal magnetism would take care of that. Leave the easy routes for the engineers and mechanics.
He glanced behind him noting that eight Wreckers were there armed to the teeth, grins of anticipation on their handsome, sometimes battle scarred faces as they awaited the go. Around the group Seekers had advanced to stand on top of each vessel, magnetized with their rockets pointed straight downward. At the slightest signal they were ready to unload their arsenals straight down into the ships.
:Springer to Kup:
:Kup here, kid:
A grin met that remark over the comm link. :We're go here. What about you?: Springer asked from the open hatch of his own shuttle. Drift and Sideswipe stood behind him grinning, Sideswipe restless to go as usual.
:Born ready. Slowpokes like you are the problem: Kup replied. Laughter could be heard over the line from the five battle shuttles that had found their marks. The Seekers would enter behind them, five to each ship. They would put the ships into automatic so that they could be towed as a group through the bridge which was still open and roaring nearby.
:All call: Springer said as he listened to everyone check off the 'go'. When all had, Springer nodded to Drift. :Let's go kick aft: he said as he turned to jump out of the doorway. Everyone behind him joined in slamming into the ship, magnetizing as they did.
:YEE-HAH!: Sandstorm said as he grinned down at Sideswipe. :Last one in is an aft head!: he said with a whoop. He gripped the hatch latches and pulled hard. They clicked and slid back opening. He pointed straight down jumping into the ship with speed. Behind him slipping in like fish being sucked down a drain, the rest of them followed.
-0-On the Phobos
The humans sat watching the show, the entire dialog of the conversation with each group exact and clear to them through the translation links. The interactions between Prime and the two 'Con leaders were incredibly tension making. The exchange about the sparkeater was something out of science fiction but the effect on Target was unnerving. He was as afraid of it as they were but he hid it rather better than the humans watching the riveting drama unfolding.
There was a pause as the boarding party communications were allowed to 'leak' out. Then they were gone as the sound of mechs pounding into ships through various holes and entryways made clear what was happening to Silo. Target listened as he watched his own screens, then all of it was gone. Prime looked to the humans like a sphinx but Target was showing a slight fraying. He glanced at Prime, then sat back. "I can assume that the fox is on its way," he said.
"You would be correct," Prime said. "I do not want it on my ship."
"Then we should discuss surrender because I don't want it either," Target said. "My group is freelance now, looking for a harbor that is safe and willing to entertain first class ships with first class crews. They are the cream of the crop, hand chosen by me for a life of adventure."
"You make the idea of creating your own empire to challenge Megatron analogous to the Autobot Scouts," Starscream said with a smirk. He glanced at Ironhide who looked at him with a grin. "I am expecting to hear of their launch soon." Ironhide's grin faded.
"I won't presume to understand what is clearly a private joke," Target said. "But the idea of having an alliance is conducive to longevity in relation to our dear unlamented leader," Target said. "I would like to be a partner in your venture, Prime. A useful partner. I would like guarantees for the future for me and my crews."
"Your concern for your crews is touching," Starscream said. Prime who was listening evaluated the figure before him as his officers carried the ball. Target was smart and most likely ethically situational in his moves and beliefs. He was a bureaucratic cipher, someone who could be both good or bad depending on the moment. He was Prowl without a spark, without a conscience, without hope. The idea of him rankled. He and Paragon were peas in the same pod. It, however, was a pod that Prowl would never fit, was never meant for and would never countenance personally.
"My crews are loyal," Target said with a nod. "They are very skilled and have a lot to offer."
"Skilled at what?" Blackjack asked. "Killing civilians? Overtaking free worlds to turn them into char? Stealing what isn't yours for an empire that is unworthy of anyone's talents? You cannot fool us, Target. We have met and defeated your like many times."
"General," Target said, "Paradigms change. Things present themselves that are opportunities to those with the vision to see them. Our partnership doesn't have to stop with your group and mine. Paragon and Cyclonus are looking for stability too. Then there is Soundwave. I am sure he isn't looking for Megatron's return too happily either."
"And when will the 'dear leader' return?" Starscream asked.
"I have no idea. I heard he is far, far away trying to end an empire as vast as stars in the galaxy," Target said. "I however see that as an opportunity for all his enemies to find a way to end his spark when he returns while remaking Cybertron into a functioning viable world once more for our people."
"Whose fault is it that our people are brought this low? Every moment you prolong the inevitability of your surrender someone suffers in this mass. Give up and talk later. We have civilians and others to retrieve," Alor said coldly.
"Maestro, we can help," Target said with a nod of respect to the musician that he loved more than any other he had ever heard in a long eventful life. In that, he was entirely unabashedly Cybertronian.
"You know our terms," Prime said. "We cannot have discussions until you surrender."
"You have no idea what the colony is do you," Ironhide said. "It is the greatest Cybertronian habitation known since the Golden Age. Surrender and see it. I dare you."
"Ironhide," Target said nodding his helm. "Serving with your genitors … what a delight for you. As for your assertions about the colony … I am sure it is adequate."
The entire bridge complement laughed aloud but for Prime who kept his optics trained on Target. Starscream looked at Prime. :Delusional fragger. Apparently he hasn't gotten the word yet:
:Give him an aerial visual, Blaster: Prime said nodding to Starscream. :I think it would be helpful:
Starscream snorted, then nodded. "I think so too."
Blaster nodded, then gathered the right visuals. He looked at Target. "I am sending an aerial visual of our city as it stands now. Read it and weep, fragger," he said as he sent the images.
Target looked at his right side monitor as images came to it. They filled every monitor on his ship and the others as Blaster punched through their shields with a bullet send. Decepticons all over every ship in Target's group paused to watch as images appeared on the multitude of devices all around them. A vision of the colony flashed into life, one that was approaching Autobot City from the south.
The Fortress with its giant guns appeared followed by a wide vision of both airfields and their attendant buildings, all of which followed Cybertronian aesthetic. They were of typical design and as such beautiful. They gleamed, then the vision changed direction.
Fort Max and Metroplex, both of them obvious appeared along with endless towers of habitation that were arrayed past their own in concentric circles around large open spaces. All of it ranged alongside and were cut throughout with well made paved roads. It exploded outward in all directions, then came around to show two enormous stadiums for sporting and public social events.
The view swept over the city, its wide streets lined by enormously tall towers, big gleaming business plazas and at one end, the Temple of Simfur. Onward the vision went flashing along the highways, then exploded upward with the giant city of Terra. Their towers were beautiful and many, the streets busy with activity. A slow pan allowed the distant views of Crystal City, Luna, Pax and beyond, the tri-cities of Tygerpax, Centurion and Kalis. On the other side of that highway was the beginnings of other buildings, perhaps another vast city or cities to house the multitude of citizens that could be seen in the views going everywhere, living and working everywhere.
There was obvious construction across an eight lane highway that snaked outward from the hub central city passing what was obviously a Cybertronian-style mausoleum and the slowing rising magnificence of a basilica. The panning of the viewpoint allowed a view of a vast industrial city beyond with roads leading in and out of it to excavation sites where raw materials were being gathered. The view abruptly changed as the vision flew over the cities already shown to linger over the vast terraced structure of Aerial Hill.
Then it ended.
It was silent for a moment, then Target looked at Prime. "You have been busy."
-0-On the command vessel of Silo
They inched along, their lights pointed downward as they crept. It was silent but for the usual sounds of a non-sentient ship working to hold its integrity. They were on their way to the central recreation area where most of the crew would be during their down time. They ate their meals there, talked and recreated. Now they were told to go there and wait for Autobots to gather them up.
Kup paused, then peered around a corner. The big open space on the ship where Seekers said everyone waited was filled with mechs standing or sitting silently as they looked back in various stages of fear or loathing. Kup stepped out, his weapons pointed forward. "Well, fraggers … time to go to the lock up."
The others stepped in noting the size of the group. Fifty new Decepticons would be in the clink from this ship alone. Silo and his executive officer was not among the group. Kup looked them over, then turned to a youngling mech with a surly expression. "Where is your boss, youngling?"
"How would I know, fragger?" he asked. Kup dropped him with one punch. He looked at the next youngling who looked back with large round optics. "Where's the boss, youngling?"
He turned and pointed forward. Kup nodded to Springer and Drift. "See ya in a minute." He moved off to the bow of the ship to find its leaders.
Springer watched him go, then glanced at Drift. "Bag these fraggers. I'll go with the old geezer." He turned disappearing into the ship after Kup.
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
Prowl received the information about the capitulation of Silo and his group rated to be about 200 prisoners give or take a few. He considered that, then called Jetta and Magnus in. Turning to take care of ten other things including tucking Prowler's blankies again, he turned to greet the pair when they entered. "We have a problem, gentlemen," he began.
-0-Out there
"Springer to Prime."
The call was timed to interrupt and it did. Prime nodded and the message was put through. "We have control of Silo's group. The ships are in automated mode and will be towed through the bridge in half a breem. The crews have been loaded upon Kappa and will be going in a moment. It was a breeze. Waiting for orders."
"Stand by, Springer," Prime said quietly. He looked at Target. "What is your decision? Understand this. You aren't going forward and you aren't going back. This is the end of the line for you as an independent entity. What you choose determines how long you will live. Choose well."
He sat quietly staring at Prime. His crews were waiting for his leadership. They were in the middle of a vast civilian migration surrounded by a force of Autobots the size and ferocity of which he hadn't seen since before the Great War. Guardians, squadrons of Wreckers, hundreds of armed and determined Seekers, fighting ships and forces that had him surrounded made his options simple. He could fight and die or he could give in and live to fight another orn.
He looked at Prime, then nodded. "We surrender," he said simply.
-0-TBC November 12, 2013