The Diego Diaries: Move (662)
-0-Out there
The five ships began to move back along the path they had taken to arrive at the place where they were confronted. Nearly 2,100 individuals had been rescued, many of them grievously wounded. They were already clearing Moonbase to Autobot City as that vessel followed with the armada in the wake of the mighty Metrotitan. It would be impossible for humans to understand the size of the metroformers in flight mode. Their massive structures were in a definition of colossus that had to be seen to be believed.
That there was a crew on deck filming was a testament to their tenacity and the still emerging full understanding of humans in the processors of the senior Autobots. The bots understood the frailty of the human body but were nonetheless happy to have them along. All of the good collaboration of the bots with N.E.S.T. soldiers was paying off for the film crew and scientists as they built their own trustworthiness themselves. They were allowed along on missions where angels feared to tread. That included this one. They had just arrived now that shooting was less rather than more likely. Hopefully.
Leonora Huttle and Camera Man Zeb stood on their segway with a couple of new interns from Earth, kids with talent and a jones for aliens. They filmed the senior Autobots and included the remarkable scene outside the forward viewport as they did. It was amazing.
"What is the distance to the release site?" Prime asked as he sat at the table, his affect calm and thoughtful.
Wheeljack glanced over his shoulder. "Coming up now."
"Open a channel to Trannis," Optimus said glancing to see Prowl walk through the elevator door to cross the deck to where he sat.
"It's open," Wheeljack said.
Prime glanced at Ratchet. "Are the files ready?"
Ratchet nodded grimly. "They are."
Prime looked at the screen which was filled with five ships, one of them gathered in two broken sections, all of which were held fast with light yellow beams of energy projected by Titan. "Trannis, this is Optimus Prime."
A guttural voice replied. "Hello, Prime. What can I do for you?" His voice was light in tone but not texture. They had gotten his attention.
"I am returning to you the five ships you sent. We no longer have need of them," Optimus replied evenly.
"That's alright. Keep them. We did make an effort to comply with your request and the ships? Consider them gifts from us to you," Trannis replied.
"Then you relinquish all title to them?" Prime asked.
"It's the least I can do," Trannis said with a smug tone. "By the way … nice metro-former."
"Metrotitan is one of thirteen living on our colony," Prime replied.
It was silent a moment, then a dry chuckle could be heard. "Thirteen? I don't think there are that many out there in one piece after all this time."
"You are gravely misinformed," a deep offended voice replied. A slight tremor through the deck indicated Titan's thoughts on the remark, a giveaway to his youth. None of his elders would have betrayed their outrage with outward emotion. They would have slagged the fragger to the Pit calmly, efficiently and been done with it.
"Tyke! I heard you were dead. Was a real shock to our side to lose such a useful idiot. What do you hear from Straxus?" Trannis said, twisting the knife.
Power levels in the big ship rose, then slowly subsided. "What is your command, Prime?"
"Detonate the ships, Titan. Trannis does not want them any longer," Prime ordered calmly.
"Very well," Titan said as he began a feedback loop in the arms of energy that had pushed the ships inside the territory that would be claimed by Trannis and his fortress. As he began dozens of fighters emerged on the sensor screen heading their way. "Detonation commencing," he said in the peculiar shorthand of the giant formats. A flash occurred outside as five beams overloaded when cut from the source and shot straight at the five ships. They exploded in a firey blast, their parts shooting out in all directions. When the screens compensated, then came back online all that was left was drifting debris, blobbules of liquids swiftly freezing and a sheen of gas that sparkled with color as it swiftly cooled. The ships were no more.
It was silent a moment, then Trannis was back. "Nice. You don't mind if I send the welcome wagon do you?"
"Not if you mind losing them," Prime said. "Everyone you lose is a permanent loss. Everyone I lose has a dozen replacements waiting."
The sensor screen showed swiftly moving ships heading their way, then they slowed before turning to go back.
Score.
It was silent a moment, then Trannis spoke. "I will return the refugees when my fortress is finished."
"You will return them now." Prime sat back waiting.
"Frag that. I need assistance," Trannis said.
"I have some images for you. It might explain to you my reluctance to believe anything you say." He turned to look at Wheeljack, then nodded. 'Jack sent the images.
-0-Trannis
He sat on his throne considering the new information before him. Prime was flexing his muscles and muscles he had. One city-former was bad enough but thirteen? If Prime was right it was bad news for everyone out here who wasn't part of Prime's paradigm. The firepower, the use as a platform, the ability to produce anything requested inside their colossol format was a serious hindrance for any enemy who wanted to keep living.
Thirteen.
-0-Less far away than before, after long eons of hiding and looking
:I feel them:
:I do too:
:We have to go there:
:I will follow. Put the gem inside your hangar deck:
A momentary pause to comply. :We can go. Combine our energy and let's go there:
A momentary pause to comply, then a flash of immense light. When it faded no one was there.
-0-In a gravel field in space
Ratchet sat listening to Trannis. He was on the defensive. He had expected Prime to be strong but the city-formers gave the correct impression to slaggerdom. Trannis was sitting up straight in his chair, of that Ratchet was clear. What he was thinking, what the bridge crew was considering as they looked at the images sent was another thing altogether. They were afterall talking about 'Cons.
-0-On the command deck of the Severity
Trannis sat on his throne watching as images of mechs and femmes from the mined ship were show. It was deeply quiet as everyone looked at the pictures of maimed children, some cying, some wan and vacant appearing. They looked at them without comment, then Trannis replied. "Is this supposed to mean something?"
"He would need a spark to feel anything for those he maimed, Prime," a voice could be heard.
"Ratchet!" Trannis said brightening to the moment. "I had the brief to catch you! Megatron wanted you alive. He had space on his wall for a new decoration and saved it for you. I was never interested in catching you. I always shot to kill."
"Frag you," Ratchet said. "You weren't smart or fast enough. Give it up and live. Don't and die. What does your crew think about blowing up babies? All those babies without legs and arms. Are you proud?"
No one on Trannis's bridge said a word. They stared at the forward screen silently.
"What's the matter? I should think blowing up babies is right up your alley," Ratchet replied. "Anyone want to claim credit?" he asked as images of energon splattered infants played across the screens of Trannis's ship. "Must make you feel really special killing children."
Prime glanced sharply at Ratchet who shook his helm. Prime relaxed slightly as they sat waiting for a response.
They wouldn't get one. Something else interrupted the moment.
-0-On their way
They gathered their energy linking it together. Space jumping their way was ancient among their species. Seeker drones were capable of it. It was how they travelled so far and were able to communicate their information. These formats were ancient, accomplished and very skilled at long distance travel. They were even able to trans dimensionally travel, sometimes staying in others to rest or hide. It was a skill that literally thousands of their own kind had come to learn and use. Those that were still alive in this dimension that is.
They traveled through the multiverse until they reached the faint trace of 'the other'. It was only then that they coalesced together.
-0-At the scene of dispute
It became as bright as the sun for a moment, the displacement of great energy ruffling the deck below their peds. Gripping the table, Ratchet stabilized himself as others around him magnetized. The light lingered, then faded. Monitors on overload came back to clarity. All was visible again around them but it was different. Completely amazingly different.
Titan exclaimed, then switched the view to the new arrivals. All of them looked at the sight before them. Then the screen switched back to Trannis. He was watching too, his expression concerned. Glancing at Prime, he cut the transmission. A call was made by him to the newcomers.
"This is Trannis, commandant of the nearby base. We welcome you here and invite you to come to us," he said. "I will give you shelter."
"You will not," Metrotitan replied, his voice filled with anger. "They are ours."
Prime stepped closer to see. "Metrotitan, identify."
"Metrotitan to unidentified ships. Please state your designations and purpose."
It was silent a moment, then a deep voice ... an ancient one replied. "I am Metro-Hex. I am here with others. We heed the call of the Prime."
"I am Optimus Prime. I bid you welcome." Prime stepped closer searching the big format for identification. There were two and they were old, the glyphs on their fuselage represented by Primal Venacular, the ancient language of the Primes. It was notable that the great narcissist and snob, Vos would only speak that language himself. "You are most welcome. We shelter many of your format at our colony."
"We are weary, Prime. We have injuries and a most precious cargo. We wish shelter to mend and heal, then the opportunity to serve a Prime once again," Metro-Hex said.
"We will take you there, Metro-Hex. Please stand by," Prime said. He turned to the others. "Get Trannis on the line."
A momentary pause brought the image of Trannis back. He was silent, staring at Prime without comment. Optimus returned the look. "Trannis, we are telling you again ... surrender the civilians or we will ensure that you never leave this sector of space alive."
"I will kill the civilians. You know it. I know it," Trannis said without pretense. The killer was strictly in view.
"And it will be an empty victory for you. We will reduce you to rubble," Prime said. "We just received into our company two more city-formers. Fifteen, Trannis. How long will you last with that force against you."
"Not long enough," another voice said as a gun materialized on screen, its barrel resting against the helm of Trannis. "Consider this group under new management." A big bot stepped into view followed by several others, their weapons focused on Trannis as well. "We want terms, Prime," the new bot said. "We want no truck in harming babies."
Prime considered that, then nodded. "Our terms are simple. Lock all your weapons into storage, then fuse the locks. Power down and disable your ships. If anyone moves against the boarding teams I send, they will be shot down. All of the civilians need to be in their ships with the hatches locked. Disarm them if they are mined. If even one is harmed we will destroy all of you. There can be no resistance. You will be taken to our colony and placed into detention until you can justify joining our community as free mechs and femmes. We are approaching five million individuals in population. We are not going to endanger them until you prove yourself. Do you accept or not?"
The new mech nodded. "I do. Do you?" he asked all around. Many were the murmurs. "We will make it ready. We will enforce it. We can expect your teams to come then?"
Prime nodded. "Lock this one down. He committed crimes and he will be held accountable."
"Sounds good to me," the mech said with a slight grin. "Trannis was always a pain in the aft."
Trannis for his part sat quietly, then he stood slowly, the guns moving along with him. "Oh ye of little faith," he said turning to lash out before several gun butts put him on his face on the floor. The new bot looked at Prime. "Give us a joor, then come. We will be ready." He paused. "We don't hold to hurting children. Those babies ... they will be alright won't they?" he asked with a pained expression.
"It remains to be seen," Ratchet replied, unwilling to let them off the hook too easily.
He nodded. "We don't like it," he said, then the screen went blank.
It was silent a moment, then Starscream turned to Prime. "Do we trust them?"
"Trust but verify," Prime said quietly. Then he looked at the titans holding place nearby. "Metro-Hex, what is the precious cargo you have?"
Metro-Hex told them. They would stand stunned for some time.
-0-TBC March 26, 2014 edited 3-29-14
NOTE: Since they are city and city-state guardians, Metro-Hex guarded Altihex and the other, the Hydrax Plateau. :D I just assigned them to these two places. After watching Metroplex awaken under Prime in Fall of Cybertron, it seemed reasonable. :D