The Diego Diaries: Beach Head 3 (589) Indicates Cybertronian languages being spoken. : word :
-0-Outside the Embassy, Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth
Ratchet and Bluestreak walked out of the Embassy just in time to intercept Andrew Settles in a speeding humvee. He slid to a halt, then stood up looking over the windshield. "RATCHET! THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE! SIDESWIPE IS DOWN AT THE DOCKS AND HE'S LOADED FOR BEAR!"
Ratchet looked at Settles, then as one Bluestreak and the medic transformed peeling out. Settles sat, then turned in a tight screeching circle to follow.
-0-At the docks
Sunstreaker transformed at the edge of the docks carefully making his way through the crowds that had gathered to watch the standoff at the USS Gonzalez. The crowds parted as the big mechanism skated toward his brother. Alerted by Ratchet, he had torn out leaving the shooting range to attend to the problem. :Sideswipe, what are you doing?: he asked as he rolled toward his brother.
Sideswipe didn't turn his face away from the humans that stood in fear and anxiety on the gangway of the ship. :I want to see someone:
Sunstreaker reached Sideswipe, glancing at the humans as he did. One of them, the officer-in-charge was actually trembling. Oddly enough, he didn't like that the officer was. It didn't please him anymore the way it used to when someone looked at him with fear. :Who?:
:A fragger named Frazer. He's on that tub but he won't come up. Coward: Sideswipe leaned toward the small group of humans. "Tell him to come up or I'll get a can opener, the coward."
The small group glanced at each other, then looked behind them. The captain of the ship was coming forward. They stepped back as the middle aged, trim figure stepped in front of them. "I am Captain Cardinelli. What can I do for you?"
"I want to see Cameron Frazer. He won't come out to talk, the coward." Sideswipe stared at the Captain, scanning and assessing him. He was regular navy and no one's pushover.
"Commander Frazer is on board working for me. I also don't like your tone," Captain Cardinelli said stiffening his posture. It was damned clear that he didn't like Sideswipe talking to him in the manner he was using.
Sideswipe on the other servo had been a soldier too long to put up with by-the-book fraggers like this one. "My tone doesn't matter. Frazer needs to strap on his balls and come up here to talk to me."
By this time, the sound of engines revving nearby drew their attention. They all turned to look up the docks. Ratchet and Bluestreak followed by Andrew Settles were speeding toward them. Two of the vehicles fell into bits, then re-emerged as robotic figures. Both of them looked concerned, moving as swiftly as they could among the gathering multitudes which seemed to encompass entire crews of every ship at Diego Garcia's waterfront docks.
"Oh frag. Here comes Mom," Sunstreaker said with a smirk.
Sideswipe chuckled, then nodded. "Time out for me."
Ratchet reached them along with Blue. :What is going on, Sideswipe? I ask both as your Ada and superior officer:
:I want to speak to a fragger named Frazer: Sideswipe said.
The humans standing around in great numbers including those on the gangway of the USS Gonzalez listened and filmed with their private cameras and cell phones as well but understood nothing. The conversation was held in Cybertronian Standard, the common lingua franca of their civilization. To the humans, it sounded like static and electronic noise.
:Sideswipe, lets go somewhere and talk about this: Ratchet said. :Let me handle this. Tell me what's up and I'll make it happen. I am the ambassador after all. Words is my thang:
Sideswipe smirked at Ratchet, then looked at Captain Cardinelli, his expression hardening into a frown of disdain. "That fragger is a coward. He needs to slither up here and man up. I want to talk to him. I don't want to eat him," he said in perfect English.
Ratchet turned to Cardinelli. "Captain? I am assuming that is your rank. I don't have a lot of experience with naval ranks and personnel."
"I am Captain Cardinelli, commanding of this vessel. We were accosted by this person," he said nodding angrily toward Sideswipe. As he did, the seven foot swords in Sideswipe's cuffs slid out. Cardinelli though affected didn't flinch. "Are you threatening us?"
Ratchet gripped Sideswipe's arm tugging it. He stood immovable, then looked at the humans. Leaning in himself, he looked at Cardinelli coldly. "That little punk is going to hear from me. We will talk. Know that." Then he turned and began to roll back up the docks to the road.
The entire group watched him go, then Ratchet turned back to the humans. Cardinelli was livid. He looked at Ratchet angrily. "I am unaccustomed to be treated like this, Ambassador. Its unprofessional and brig worthy."
Ratchet considered that, then leaned in himself. "Why don't you just bring Frazer up and we can get this settled? All he wanted to do was talk. Why are you hiding Frazer?"
Cardinelli stepped closer. "I won't be treated like a punk."
"Neither will I," Ratchet said standing back up.
"You will be hearing about this. This is a breach of the rules governing the joint base use and a slam on the honor of the United States Navy," Cardinelli said. "I will file a formal complaint with the Pentagon, Ambassador. Count on it."
"I will. I will also ask your superiors why you are stonewalling a reasonable request for a conversation between my soldier and your sailor," Ratchet said. "I can play that game too. Count on it, Captain."
Cardinelli stared at Ratchet with a simmering rage. "You are guests of this world, Ambassador. You are not necessarily welcome here by everyone. You would do well to remember that."
"Did you watch the footballs games from Mars?" Ratchet asked.
Cardinelli looked at him, then frowned. "What has that got to do with this?"
"Answer the question," Ratchet said.
"What if I did?" Cardinelli asked.
"That's what combat is like with our species. I would think that the Egyptian fiasco would cure you of your hubris. I do remember a number of ships going down in the ocean without firing a single shot in defense. I wouldn't be making the remarks you just made in too many places. Sounds like MECH and the Resistance's rhetoric to me."
"Are you accusing me of being a traitor?" Cardinelli asked with quivering outrage.
"You tell me. MECH and the Resistance use the same phrases. I would remind you also that we are an autonomous people, that the treaties that govern our presence protect us from blustering types like you. We have defended this marble with our lives. It would due you some good to remember that. Respect goes both ways. A conversation was requested. It would have been a good idea for you to have allowed it."
"I think I'm done with this conversation. You will be hearing from us through channels," Cardinelli said coldly. He turned to leave, an affront to Ratchet which was intended.
"Hey," Ratchet said. The human stopped, glancing back at Ratchet. "You will be hearing from us too. What are you hiding?"
Then Ratchet turned to walk away. Cardinelli watched him go. He stood a moment, then walked back to the superstructure and the command deck where Cameron Frazer was watching the whole thing through the windows.
-0-Nearby
Ratchet walked up the road to where Sideswipe was standing talking to Bluestreak. He was nearly there when he noticed that Sunstreaker was still back at the ship. Turning, he looked at the situation. Sunstreaker was leaning down talking to the sailors who were looking up at him. Then he turned to roll up the docks to the three who watched him come forward.
"What were you doing, Sunstreaker? Inquiring minds," Ratchet said.
"They wanted to know about my shine. Discriminating minds," Sunstreaker said.
Ratchet shook his helm. "Handsome is as handsome does. Let's go to the Embassy." Ratchet looked down. "Come with us, Andrew."
Settles nodded, then stepped on the gas driving through the forest of legs of the bots. The four transformed, then took off after Andrew, two mind blowing Lamborghinis, a beautiful convertible Datsun 510 and a perky hummer search and rescue vehicle.
-0-Moments later
Prowl stepped through the bridge, then walked to Ops Center. He entered, then checked a few things before turning to watch four Autobots and Andrew Settles walk into the room. He nodded to the conference room following them as they went that way, Sideswipe carrying Settles on his servo after he parked his hummer by the door. Entering, they sat.
Then they stared at each other.
Then they stared at Sideswipe.
Then they all began to talk at once.
-0-Seconds later
Prowl looked at the broken cup in his servo, the one he used to rap for attention. Andrew Settles who was hiding behind Sunstreaker's servo as bits of the cup flew past peered over the top of the bot's hand. "Wow. That was close."
Prowl looked at the cup, then Settles. "I am sorry, Andrew. Are you harmed?"
"No," Settles said as he moved from shelter to the lounge chair that Ratchet had taken off the shelf, placing it on the table for his benefit. He sat, then grinned. "Feels good."
"Nothing but the best, Andrew. You know why?" Ratchet asked with a slight grin.
"Nope," Andrew said as he slid the chair back to recline.
"Because we're livin' the dream, Andrew. Livin' the dream," Ratchet replied. It was the right touch.
Prowl sat back, a grin on his face. "Ah, a jest before the gallows."
Sideswipe looked at Prowl. "What's the punishment? I was after all only trying to talk to the fragger."
"Why?" Prowl asked as he sat back folding his arms over his chassis.
"Because someone I know is being hassled by him," Sideswipe said.
"Who?" Prowl asked.
"A sailor," Sideswipe said sitting back to cross his own arms too. "A Navy chopper pilot."
"How do you know?" Ratchet asked.
"Because I'm observant. Because I am pretty clear what it looks like when a fragger beats you down," Sideswipe replied.
"Are you confessing something to your old Ma, youngling?" Ratchet asked with a slight grin.
Sideswipe grinned. "In your dreams, *ma*," he said. "I wanted to talk to someone. That fragger didn't allow it. Since when is having a conversation with someone against the rules?"
"It is when they don't want to talk to you. What is on your processor, son?" Ratchet asked.
"Its personal," Sideswipe replied.
"You have put us in a difficult situation, Sideswipe," Prowl said. "We don't need to have a problem with the armed forces here. The Navy hardly factors into our equation but I still want and need their good will."
Sideswipe stared at for a moment, then nodded. "I know but this is personal."
"You aren't going to tell me then," Prowl said.
"Its personal," Sideswipe said.
"Then you need to go back to Mars until this gets straightened out," Prowl said.
"I would prefer not to." Sideswipe sat forward. "I would prefer to stay here."
"Then give me a heads up," Prowl asked.
It was silent a moment, then Sideswipe looked at the four of them with a very serious expression. "I think that Frazer is abusing a femme."
It was silent a moment, then Prowl leaned forward resting his elbows on the table. "How do you know?"
"I see it between them. She is scared of him," Sideswipe said.
"That's all? Have you talked to her?" Prowl asked.
"I talk to femmes here all the time. Both of us do," Sideswipe said glancing at Sunstreaker as he leaned back in the chair. "They tell me things."
Sunstreaker nodded in agreement.
"Then you need to talk to Fulton," Prowl said.
"He's not here. Frazer is the fragger and I want to talk to him," Sideswipe persisted.
"And do what? Pulverize him?" Prowl asked.
"No. Yes. But no. I want him to leave her and all the other femmes here alone," Sideswipe said. "I think I can persuade him."
"And end the alliance. This would be all they needed to make trouble for the treaties," Prowl said. "I will talk to Fulton. You are not allowed to go off and talk to any of the humans. I forbid it, Sideswipe. I will brig your aft forever. On Charon."
Sideswipe looked at him for a moment. "Then do it soon, Prowl. I'm going to protect this femme. Do it soon." He rose, then paused. "Am I excused?"
Prowl looked at him, then nodded. "Dismissed."
Sideswipe turned, then walked out of the room. He transformed to skates and left the Ops Center. Blue stood up, then looked at Prowl. "I'll go with him." He did.
The others sat a moment, then Sunstreaker rose. "Some fragger is fragging with the femmes around here. They don't take care of it, Prowl. Too many military femmes get bad treatment and no one seems to do a slagging thing about it. They tell Sideswipe." He moved around the table, then left the room.
Prowl and Ratchet sat a moment, then rose themselves. "I think I have a meeting with Morshower and Fulton. You coming?"
"Yeah. I think we have enough complaints in the pipeline without me being here to create more," Ratchet said.
The two walked out the door and took a bridge back to Mars.
-0-TBC January 16, 2013 edited 3-10-14