Chapter 533
-0-At the feed bag
"So, Hercy … are ya ready to become my Master of Training for the Home Guard?" Ironhide asked the small mech currently on his third plate of food. Where he was putting it was anyone's guess but it was a fascination to most to watch.
He glanced up. "Tell me what ya want, I'll be there."
"You're the Master of Training," Ironhide said with a nod. "We have a huge militia including an air wing. Put 'em through their paces, mech, show 'em what they need to know."
"I will, Ironhide," Hercy said with a solemn expression on his face. "I trained a 1,000 mechs and femmes in my colony. Never lost a one. Guerrilla tactics, youngling. That'll do it every time. Hit hard and fast, then fall back. Draw them in, then hit 'em harder."
"Frag yeah," Kup said as he sipped a beer. He'd killed three plates himself. Now was time for the pre-dessert beer. "Old Hercy forgot more than the rest of us know. Combined."
Everyone grinned.
"Won't argue there," Blackjack said as Alor nodded.
"We figured you winter killed*, Hercy," Ratchet said.
"Not me, Ratchet," he said. "When are you going to dump that old codger of yours and take up with a real mech?"
Hoots and hollers greeted that.
Orion who was eating off everyone elses plate turned to the old mech with a giant grin. "ADA!"
"What?" Ratchet asked.
"Who she?" Orion asked pointing at Hercy.
"That's Old Hercy, your Atar's boss," Ratchet said with a smirk.
Orion considered that, then ran off toward his Appa. Opening up like a baby bird, he 'shared' a bite of pie with his great great grandfather.
"That sparkling has his priorities right," Hercy said with a grin. "That little mech looks familiar, Ironhide. So do several others," he said glancing around at the infants standing around grazing desserts off the plates of their elders.
"That little mech is one fine handsome little mech," Ratchet said proudly. "He and his siblings are knockouts." He glanced around. "Hero."
A little femme, a sweet little happy infant with delicate femme wings ran up. "ADA?" she asked with an almost impossible happiness.
"See this mech?" Ratchet asked pointing to Hercy. Hero nodded as she smiled at the little mech. "He taught your old atar how to be a real, not textbook soldier."
She stared at the little mech. "Thank you, Mr. Hercy." She walked up to him and hugged his leg. Then she glanced at Ratchet. "Can I have some pie please?"
Ratchet grinned, then rose to walk to the kitchen with the tiny mite following.
Hercy watched them go. "What a sweet little femme."
"Won't get an argument out of me," Ironhide said with great pride as his genitors nodded in agreement.
"Little femme is a glory," Alor said.
"It works on her," Hercy said glancing at Ironhide. "Your face works on her."
Immense scorn and cat calling met that remark. It was universal at last. Ratchet was an insane mech.
-0-Out there
They cruised through space tracking the one they wanted. They were three, Acroplex, Metrobase and Metrocon, three of thousands. They were tracking another, Metrotitan who had defected to the Decepticons. They were close to him, their pings reaching but remaining unacknowledged. The gap was closing as they flew dead out after their brother. They would catch him.
Soon.
-0-Circle Hall, Autobot City, Mars
They sat in the union hall borrowed for the occasion eating dinner with their fellows, enjoying their company as they celebrated an alien holiday together on an alien world. It was a miracle that they'd come this far, this mass of pacifists. Some of them were from the Circle home world, Theophany and others were from colonies and outposts all over the galaxy. It was miraculous, indeed, that they'd found refuge here to have the opportunity to rebuild not only their own faction but the lives of everyone else. That it should be in company of the Prime and the Temple artifacts was seen as a sign of Primal confidence in them and their future prospects.
Vin and Joon sat with their friends, those who'd come with them on their flight. He, the former governor of Tyger Pax was counseling families and children, soldiers and others who'd been harmed in the journey from Cybertron to this place of sanctuary. He'd found his spark and had turned it to do good where in the past he'd only done as much as he thought he should for those in need.
Joon was a weaver at the Circle shop, Full Circle in Terra. She specialized in tapestries that told the story of the Beginning and Primus.
"I'm so sorry about that youngling killed in the shoot out," Joon said to a femme sitting next to her. "I can't imagine the family and what they must feel."
The femme nodded sympathetically. "I know. Their family and friends are caring for them." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I'm worried about the high castes, Joon. They don't seem to understand the new life here. I'm afraid that there's going to be more trouble. The bombings … who isn't aware of those who are causing them?"
Joon nodded. "I know," she said softly. "I heard a rumor that the Prime called for a Convocation of the Will."
The femme blinked. "Really."
Joon nodded. "Yes. It'll be soon, I'm told. There are many problems facing the leadership. They must prioritize but the Convocation is coming."
Her friend considered that, then shook her helm. "That will be amazing. I have never seen one before. I've only heard of them in the past."
Joon nodded. "I know. It's the only way, Kel. I know that the Prime will prevail. He's Primus Blessed."
"That he is," Kel nodded in agreement. "We must trust in him." She glanced at Joon. "We must also make sure that the vote is informed. It's our duty to stand with him and tell the truth about this place to those who aren't willing or can't adapt. We can't have lies and deceit spread before such an important event."
Joon nodded. "I know. Its going to be a bumpy ride."
They sat together discussing that and other things. The new Halls of Order being constructed in Centurion was a big topic among the Circle as they sat together happily celebrating a holiday none of them had ever heard of before coming here but all embraced deeply.
Thanksgiving was a wholly Circle thing to feel.
-0-In the dark of space
:Metrotitan, answer me:
It was silent as the three flew onward, Metrobase, Acroplex and Metrocon. :Metrotitan … the Cause is dead. You're illogical in your persistence. Meet us on the planetoid ahead. Meet us and talk: Metrocon said.
There was no reply for a moment, then there was. :I'm not interested: he replied at last. :I've chosen my faction: As that deep voiced message reached them so did blasts from his cannons.
The three swerved and answered in kind.
-0-At the feed bag
"We need to have a staff meeting tomorrow morning first thing," Optimus said as he sat in his chair completely satiated with dinner with a happily babbling Miracle on his lap. "I think it is time to trouble shoot problems and take stock. How is the construction going in the new cities?"
Magnus also feeling no paint glanced at him. "Very well, Optimus. We're working on the first two of the seven until we get them to the point of finishing touches and furnishing. Then we're going to concentrate on the next two. That way we're working on having the option of nearly completed habitation possible if a group comes in with more on the way, rather than seven completely unfinished cities. Going one at a time seems wasteful of manpower as well because some specialties have to wait for a new site to begin.
"Jetta has figured out how to do two to near completion at a time. Then if needed, they can be finished and ready right away. All of them are interconnected and will be on the road and train grids with everywhere else. They're tunneling from the Tri-Cities now for the metros and will extend from the other cities when that's completed."
Prime considered that. "That is good news. We have more refugees coming on the bare edge of the sensor grid. I am thinking that the twenty million that the Knights managed to airlift off Cybertron before The Fall are heading toward us piecemeal."
"I would agree. The configurations are so big, that must be the pool being forced this way," Magnus said with a nod.
"What is the status of the Basilica? I have not had time to visit the construction. I hope to do that soon," Optimus said.
"It has all its stone walls and the inside is nearly complete but for the statuary and other appointments. We're working from plans and images gathered from databases and the museum. The roof will be last part finished, its so high, and the vaulting requires cranes and personnel working on the new cities. The outside and staircases are finished. It will take a bit of time but it'll be completed well before the next Festival."
"Good," Optimus said. He glanced at Magnus. "If the family of Commotion wants the funeral there allow it."
Magnus nodded. "They have already asked. The Priests are in agreement even if it isn't consecrated yet."
Optimus nodded. "It will give us a window into the opposition as well."
Magnus nodded. "Agreed."
The door bell sounded so Hero ran to it with Uraya and Iacon. They stared up at the door latch way above their helms.
Springer stood up and walked to them, grinning down at the three tiny femmes. "Let me help you."
They smiled gigantically and watched as he opened the door. Standing outside with big grins, Jetta, Mack and Elita-1 waited with their own offerings. Walking in, scooping up tiny femmes, they joined the party. They were enormously welcome.
-0-Out there
Bolts of lightning flashed as bots traded shots in the darkness. Dodging and twirling with a dexterity that would've left their smaller Autobot compatriots agog, the three pursuers planted strategic hits on their recalcitrant brother. Flames flared, then died in the vacuum of space as debris began to trail the titan.
:GIVE UP, TITAN!: Metrobase called.
:FRAG YOU!: he said as bolts sprayed out, two of them hitting their targets.
-0-Metroplex and Fortress Maximus in conversation with Omega Supreme and his siblings, the Dinobots, Cosmos and Aerial Bots who are at the Hangar Complex, Autobot City, Mars
They paused in their conversation as Metroplex, Fort Max and Omega listened to something far away.
Kappa who was sitting with her brothers and Silverbolt glanced with concern at Omega. "What's wrong, brother?" she asked, reaching out to touch Omega's servo.
He didn't answer, then he did. "They found him. They found Metrotitan and there is a battle."
Metroplex, the eldest of the titan class vessels on world and one of his frame's co-chieftains listened to a distant conversation. He felt as did the others the blows delivered. The Titan giants were designed to hold linked sparks and thus, not only did they feel each other, they were also tracked by pirates that way.
Fort Max felt it, too. :Metroplex, I am alerting Prime:
:Affirmative, Max. We must get them here: Metroplex said as he listened. "Titan is fighting them. He is injured:
:He will lose. Again: Max said grimly. :Fortress Maximus to Prime:
-0-At the feed bag
Optimus Prime paused in conversation with Jetta and Elita. :Prime here, Max:
:Optimus, our brothers have found Metrotitan. They are engaged in battle. Acroplex has signaled that they will teleport here when they disable him. Expect injuries: Max said.
Prime sat a moment digesting the news, then replied. :Affirmative, Max. Doctors will be required? Will they teleport directly here?:
:Affirmative. They aren't tracking aliens like Metroplex. They will teleport directly here. They will follow your message send. I will tell you when they begin:
:Thank you, Max. We are standby. Optimus out: He sat a moment digesting the news, then Prowl's question caught his attention.
"What happened, Optimus?" Prowl asked with concern.
"Fort Max just told me that some titans are going to be coming this way. More than one. They found Metrotitan and are engaging in battle. He will be coming in injured. Maybe they will, too. We should expect more than two or three."
"Frag," Ratchet said rising to go. "NOT ONE HOLIDAY! NOT ONE NAMING CEREMONY! However, I will say Happy Christmas Surprise to us," he said with a grin. "I suppose I'll need every slagging medical person in the colony stat?"
Prime nodded. He looked at Jetta. "We are going to need lots of medical grade energon shortly. Max will tell us when they teleport."
Jetta nodded, then rose. "I'm on it." He looked at Elita and Mack. "Come on. We have a wounded titan coming in, maybe more than one."
The two rose and walked to the door with him to disappear outside.
Springer saw him go, then rose. He set Uraya and Iacon gently on the ground. "What do you want us to do? Secure a flat zone and smooth it for what? Three or four titans to land for medical?"
"It'll be better than doing medicine in space," Ratchet said nodding. He looked at Prime. "We're going to need feed lines to the ships until they settle on pads. I'm assuming they're city mode ships rather than battle or commercial formats. Wrong assumption?"
"No. I think we have to be ready for anything," Optimus said rising himself. He thought a moment, then shook his helm. "I saw the graveyard on the Moon back home. I had no hope for many to still exist but apparently they do. They are ours and we will save them. They are even more endangered formats than our own. They are hunted for their tech by just about everyone." He looked at the roomful of family. "I know you will manage the infants. Thank you. Miler, we will need the Trigger just in case."
Miler stood. "On my way. I'll alert Wheeljack and Perceptor as well as the command crew," he said as he reached the door and disappeared.
"They will not bring Metrotitan unless he is disarmed and safe. But I want security in the zones of initial occupation, Springer. I also want the leader of the Knights here in the colony to come see me. I want them to help us bring them in," Optimus said.
Drift nodded. "I'll get him."
"Very well," Prime said turning to Prowl. "If you could manage this and meet me in Ops Center, I will go there now."
"I'll go with Springer," Old Hercy said rising to leavae. Kup did, too, as did the twins and Bluestreak. "We're going to keep the peace for ya, Prime."
Prime glanced at him with relief. "I am glad."
The security group left leaving civilian family and Ironhide's genitors. They stood up, putting infants on the ground. Handing
Metatitons: The metatitons were vast. They were part of the arsenal of the Knights of Cybertron, sentient ships with the ability to teleport across the universe to go wherever they were needed to go including across galaxies to Mars if necessary. It was said that they had 'super sparks' that allowed them to exist in multiple universes at the same time. That also linked them together. They had bridge technology on board that was highly sought after and because they were unified in their sparks, they were 'easy to track' for the technology hunters that killed them and scavenged their bodies for stuff. Bounty hunters tracked and killed them for their technology, the fraggers. :(
One of the moons of Cybertron had an 'elephant's graveyard' of a massive number of them where they were being salvaged by bad guys to sell their technology. They were hunted beings. Because they are interlinked, I am hunting for them too for this story. I like boggling the humans. :D Metrobase and Metroplex are two of the named titans but there are literally huge numbers of them. Some slept under cities like Crystal City -Metroplex- whom Omega protected. Some will have names I give them. If they don't have Metro in their name, they are mine. These bots are dedicated, sentient and pacifist in nature. They are soldiers of the Autobots but for Metrotitan who defected. They obey and serve Prime as the First Disciple of Primus. They are good, good guys. I am also considering how a femme might be part of this.
They come when they are called. They have heard Prime's call in this story and are coming. I love the huge bots because they are so interesting. Not all of them will be city bots but most will be.