The Diego Diaries: Onward (653)
-0-In a dark place
They worked hard cutting stone in a quarry where hard rock had been found. They were cutting it with torches that didn't require gasses to burn. Some of the hostages sliced large blocks out of the stone of the planetoid where they had been taken while others dragged them off to a slowly growing fortress their captors were erecting.
About five hundred of them were working with each shift. He had beaten out of them the identity of those with specific skills to make the work go faster. Some cut stone, others pulled it away from the pits. Still others dressed it, making it smooth enough to be useful in placement. None of the stones were being cemented in place. They were being stacked so perfectly that cement was superfluous for the outside walls.
It was cold and dark in the rocky crag where they worked. Dragging the heavy dense stone to the construction site was very hard. It was also bone crushingly hard to find hope in the midst of a disaster like this. They were steps away from the holy land and it had been blocked. All of them knew in some part of their spark that Prime would come for them. What was terrible to contemplate was what would happen to some or all of them when he did.
They worked without comment more than aware that their families and friends, their children and siblings were nearby vulnerable to harm if they didn't work hard. So they did. When their shift was over they would be marched back to their disabled ships were they would eat some energon and rest. Another group would go do the work they just finished and the misery would continue. It seemed that they were stuck in the bottom of a well and even starlight couldn't penetrate their despair.
-0-On the way
The Seekers that had come through the aperture of the bridge formed into four groups of 200. One flew on ahead while the others formed around the armada. It took a moment to gather up but they did and pressed onward. When they were at least an estimated five million miles from the calculated center of the territory that Trannis and his forces were determined to be they would stop to lay down their own bases. Ships moved off with their complement of support heading to make a circle of iron around the area. It would take half the orn to do so but when they reached their predetermined places they would dig in themselves.
The iron curtain would fall on the area and no one would be able to leave without being intercepted from two groups waiting in two different directions. All of their responses were interlocked and no way out of the center was possible without a fight. All of them would take up positions on solid ground to base themselves for the long haul. They didn't expect that this would be a short duration event. Sieges seldom were. There was also the possibility that Trannis could use the hostages for bargaining or even hurt them in the negotiations.
It was a tough hand but the only one they had at the moment.
-0-Autobot City, Mars
The morning light filled the room as he stood by a window looking out at the city called Centurian. An enclave of Missionaries lived in towers around him and many in his building as well. Winter who had taken the lead to see about the settlement of his group had taken him on as well. Corlie-1 was a mech from his hometown and they had other things in common too. Both of them were young, both had been thrust into leadership positions and both of them were artistic. Corlie was a painter.
His family was sleeping in the apartment that had been given them, one with a room for his baby as well. It was big, beautiful and stationary. Having never known life on the ground, this was a paradigm shift that was disconcerting. His genitors and that of his bond lived down the hallway now, overwhelmed as well by the changes and the luxury that they were assured everyone else had too. His ada and his bond's younger brother were in the hospital recovering from accidents that had not been properly attended for years. He would be seeing them shortly.
Corlie turned to walk to the berth room where he had slept restlessly the night before. His bond was recharging with a weariness that only the incredibly exhausted could understand. Their infant was lying in a crib in soft blankets recharging as well. He had been examined by specialists who had said there were things that needed done to help him become well. It could even mean that his spark chamber would have to be transferred to another protoform.
It terrified him. He had an appointment today in the afternoon at the Sparkling Hospital with protoform specialists. There were other options available depending upon how their tests on the rescue protoform turned out. He didn't understand any of it. He just felt the fear.
He walked to the baby and stared at him in the crib. His protoform was pretty and although the baby was small he looked well to his atar. He had the simple colors many of the Primus Peace Mission's followers usually gave their children. A light blue body with a wide band of white around his little arm. That was his son.
He tucked the baby's blankets around his little form, then turned to walk back to the living room again. The sun was very bright now and the city was waking up. The day would be long. Until his son was safe, he wouldn't be happy. He sat and watched the roads below until his bond awoke. Then they would eat something together. It would be the first orn of the rest of their life but except for circumstances changing, the anxiety and fear were still the same.
-0-Prowl
He walked to the sensor station, Sojourner in arms. She was sleeping quietly in her blankets. Prowl paused, then glanced at her. He grinned, then took the newest intel from the operator. Walking back to sit, he lay her in the box on the floor next to his chair. The data map before him showed the net closing around the area in which Trannis was holed up. It would be an iron first against which Trannis would flail. They hadn't even touched the depth of the forces they could field against the Decepticon if necessary. They had a very, very deep bench.
"Prowl to Prime."
"Prime here," a static filled response replied.
"We have put our second wave on standby. We have launched vessels with the temporary communications buoys. They will be dropping them along the route to your base and when they're online we can have visual as well as greater audio reception without holding the bridges open to accomplish that."
"That is good news. Right now we are making our forward bases. We will continue the link up between groups here. It will not be perfect but it will be better," Prime replied.
They discussed a few other things, then signed off. Prowl turned to the stack of datapads before him. He would stay on task until his ada brought him lunch. He had forgotten the time. He would not be off duty until something was settled.
None of them would.
-0-Trannis
He sat on his ship relaxing. Things were going along well. His fortress was rising nicely. He would be living inside of its confines soon enough. Right now, he had no real idea what was going on beyond the general area. Not having Seekers was making intel difficult. He sent his fighters out to espy the local area. He knew that Prime was coming. That mech would never abandon civilians in trouble.
His ships were divided between three locations on his large planetesimal. He didn't want to lose his entire force if Prime decided to break through and take him out. His crew worked quietly, all of them professionals with wide ranging experience. Most of them were Decepticons and all of them were extremely hardcore. Some of them had been criminals who found in the Decepticons a great home away from home. "What is the word on the fighters?"
"Nothing yet," a mech said. He glanced at Trannis. "Signals aren't strong in this mess."
Trannis nodded. "At least Prime will have the same problem." He rose and paused. "Keep me updated. I'm going outside." He walked out of his ship heading for the fortress. He would be pleased with the speed of the work. At this rate, he would be inside in a couple of orns.
-0-Out there
Prime sat at the command table watching as the groups began to find their marks. All four of the others had located themselves strategically around the location they had estimated for Trannis. Finding him specifically was going to be difficult due to transmission interference for sensors and intraship communication. Getting the signal boosts to Autobot City would be an improvement but it didn't help them here.
Salton Sea had settled on a large planetary fragment that had been cratered during its journey from who knew where. A number of ships were parked on its surface scattered around the pockmarked surface allowing for better defense against Trannis's forces. All of the logistics of supporting a large force were in place here and would be out in the mix. Prowl was an amazing logistical planner.
"Optimus."
He turned to Blaster. "Yes?"
"We have ships buzzing. They appear to be fighters," the big red Autobot said glancing over his shoulder. "They appear to be scouts."
Prime nodded. He glanced over at the console where Thundercracker was running the show for Seekers. "Thundercracker, we have visitors."
He glanced up, then nodded. "Send me the intel, Blaster," the big Seeker requested. Blaster complied. Thundercracker studied it, then glanced at Prime. "Do we take them out?"
Prime nodded. "If you can take them alive, fine. If it means danger to our side the option is open."
Thundercracker nodded, then turned to the console and the several big screens that showed every Seeker in the armada. "Blue Leader to Red 1."
"Red 1 here," Red Wing's voice calmly replied.
"We have visitors. I'm sending you the coordinates and headings for them. Take them out if you can't catch them. No casualties for our side if possible."
"Roger that," Red Wing said. "We will leave the lines open."
"Affirmative," Thundercracker replied. Static could be heard as the line was left open. Then the crosstalk began.
"Red 1 to Red and Blue flights. Follow me. Divide into two teams. I want you to find them and hold. Wait for orders. Don't be seen. Shoot if they shoot you. No one gets hurt. Reply."
Pings could be heard, then it was quiet again. Prime sat at the table with Ironhide and Paragon who had joined them for part of the logistics discussion before he would head back and spell Prowl in Ops Center. Arrow was in the mix here so he was as concerned as everyone else with the situation.
"It's dense here. Come around," someone said.
"I am. Boulders ahead," another said. Small talk, course adjustments and warnings about conditions made up the commentary for a few moments. Then it was quiet.
"Red 1, we see them," a voice said.
"Roger that, Blue 3. Find a location with options and wait." Red Wing was silent, then back again. "All converge. Check in."
Pings were heard again. Thundercracker sat watching the screens listening to Red Wing coordinate his forces. Red Wing was subcommander to Starscream when he commanded the Decepticon armadas. He was calm, smart, incredibly veteran and highly skilled at ambush strategies. It was silent, then he was back. "Go on wave pattern b. Wave pattern b. Copy."
Pings rang out again. Then it was silent.
Prime who was listening stared at the datapad on the table. It wasn't showing the action. The density of the field debris was blocking a clear visual of the venture. He could only sit and listen, trusting to the skill and professionalism of the troops.
"WE HAVE THEM! THREE OF THEM! COMING AT YOU, SQUIRE! TURN OUT!"
Prime had no idea who the speaker was but the sound in his voice was tense and surprised.
"THREE MECH FIGHTERS! FOUR OF THEM! HEAVY GUNS! GO RIGHT! NOW!"
"LOOK OUT! WE HAVE THEM!"
Other voices spoke, some of them clearly, others with static overlays. It was noisy and brisk for a moment, then silent again. Everyone sat listening here and in every Ops Center in Autobot servos. Tension was evident and growing until Red Wing spoke again.
"Red 1 to Blue Leader."
"Blue Leader here."
"We have them. We have one casualty. We have taken them out and will tow them back. Send back up. Have a medic waiting. Three of them are dead. Several wounded. All of them are neutralized. Over."
"Affirmative, Red 1. Who is hit?" Thundercracker asked.
"Choco."
Thundercracker nodded. "Very well. Gold Wing is in range. Bring him to Moonbase. It just arrived. What about the others?"
"The wounded will be taken there too. Do we bring the dead? Over."
Thundercracker glanced at Prime who nodded. "Affirmative, Red Wing. We have backup coming. Pull back and regroup on us."
"Affirmative, Blue Leader. Red Wing out."
Everyone sat back with some relief. On the edge of the established range of their sensors in this cloud of debris Seeker signals began to appear on screen. With them came signatures of fighters. They would be a while getting here but when they did Prime, Thundercracker, Ironhide and Ratchet would be waiting for them on the hangar deck of Moonbase.
They would fly in the wounded including Choco who would survive and four wounded Decepticons of which only three would survive. The one who didn't would join the others in the morgue. Those who were able bodied would be brought to Prime for interrogation. It would be a very interesting chat.
-0-TBC March 16, 2014 edited 4-4-14
NOTES: A guest posted this on my comment page about the push to block even innocuous use of other people's universes by others. This is called the Stop Online Piracy Act or something like that and there is a petition asking for it to stop because it would affect writers like me and others. If you want to sign it and they need about 40K sigs by next Friday. Put .com on the end of SOPA2014 and it will get you there. Hugs to all out there. No matter what happens, this story will be written and posted. :D This one is for you too, Miss Sesshykiss. :D
Fancy: Take care out there. I am glad you have the story too. It will pick up again. Hugs to you, my dear Fancyspinner.
Note by guest:
"Don't know if you've heard it but SOPA IS BACK. Okay we only have 6 more days left to sign the petition before they delete all fanfics fan art and all that jazz! Just go to SOPA 2014 and sign it so they won't delete it! Those fraggers don't know when to quit! Right now we only have 60,000 but we need 100,000 so pass this message on please! We cannot be defeated!"