The Diego Diaries: Now (669)
-0-In the aftermath
They entered Ops Center for the update. They would have the staff meeting-debrief the next orn. Weariness and a sense of stability in their overall situation was ascertained, so they sat a moment to go over the orn's remaining vital issues. As they sat talking the detail bringing Trannis up from the brig below departed to do so.
Prime sat back. "This was a lucky break. Trannis would have pushed it to the bitter end."
Ironhide nodded. "It was. But we did it anyway. And we get a new forward base out of the deal. I think a Seeker should man that as well because of the need to have fleet troops in that mess. They can maneuver better in that soup than ships."
Prime nodded. Glancing at Starscream who looked inordinately pleased, he nodded. "Would you do the honors?"
"Of course," Starscream said with a nod. "I believe a full wing should be settled there. This will give us good cross reference to Slacker and Cyclonus who are nearby as well."
Prowl nodded. "We can beef up an array and get depth."
Prime nodded. "I want to know what's coming and going on out that way faster. We could have lost that last group. What is the situation on them, Ratchet?"
"They have done without so long and have been out of contact with us that they almost are another species altogether. They are Missionaries and have been taken in by Winter and the group who greet and assimilate the Peace mission noobs. As for the condition of their people … well, it could be better. They had to learn medicine out of books and their protoforms while rather good aren't actually up to it for about three of the babies. They will require spark chamber transfers."
It was silent a moment as they assimilated that, then Thundercracker sat back with a shake of his helm. "There is no end to the trauma for all of us is there."
"Not until Megatron is dead," Ironhide said coldly.
"I think I agree," Starscream said with a weariness not normally seen in him.
"I think it would do us good to catch up on the petty things and get organized for the next migration. It would do us even better to have a smooth transition. I am not clear on the number of predators out there but they appear to be gathering," Prime said. "I want them cleared out. I read the preliminary report on our team that was captured and it looks bad. They appear to breed their acid monsters in the bodies of others by parasitic transfer. I want them eradicated," Prime said grimly.
Ratchet nodded. "I agree," he said sitting back to watch as a big mechanism under heavy guard, heavily manacled walked into the huge room. He walked toward them with a look of murderous rage on his face. He wasn't the most outrageous individual but he was mean and violent. He paused by the table and stood insolently. Springer and Drift who had gotten him with Hercy and Kup turned to Prime with a grin. "His majesty here has graciously consented to speak with you."
Prime nodded. "Trannis, why aren you not dead?"
"I take a lot of killing," he said with a humorless grin.
"Like cockroaches," Starscream said with a nod.
Trannis looked at the big Seeker with cold optics. "Speaking of which..."
"Nasty insults will get you everything," Starscream said with a grin.
"I think he needs to be stripped of his useful bits and junked," Ratchet said as the cold optics looked his way. "Nothing but trouble even for Megatron."
"I think target practice would be more fun," Ironhide said with cold optics of his own. "Give the Home Guard younglings some real world practice."
Prime quashed an urge to laugh, then looked at Trannis. "Tell us why we should not call Megatron for pick up?"
"Megatron isn't in this sector and you know it. He's off trouncing some big bio-organic empire on the other side of the galaxy. Why do you think the Empire is in such turmoil?" Trannis said.
"You tell us. You seem to be the fragger with the answers," Ironhide retorted.
He looked at Ironhide, then smirked. "You would love to have them wouldn't you."
"No, actually. We have room in the stasis lockup and that's where I would put ya," Jazz said. He looked at Prime. "If this slagger doesn't spill what he knows now, I think we should cut our losses and stick him in the cooler with Shockwave."
They got his attention.
He looked at Jazz, then Prime. "Nice tactics letting them turn the screws. So … you have old one eye?"
"Since way back the hell long ago," Ironhide said. "We have lots of room in the fridge for slaggers like you."
"Shockwave deserves it. I on the other servo am just misunderstood," he said with a smirk.
Humorless laughter met that. Springer glanced at Prime. "This fragger is not going to say anything. How about we put him in the clink?"
"You'll never know what I know," Trannis said, "if you do that."
"You don't know slag," Springer said.
"I know that Cybertron is reviving. I know that Cyclonus is sending energon to Cybertron via space bridge. I know that Cyclonus has talked about a big hit of raw energon within an orn's travel by ship. He said it over his encrypted lines to Soundwave. He hates the Decepticons but he loves Cybertron. It pains him to see our home world in this kind of condition."
"Where is the strike?" Prowl asked.
Trannis shrugged. "I don't know. There's energon all over this sector. It floats in space. It could be that he found a planetoid with energon. It could be that he's playing Soundwave for some reason. I didn't see any ship traffic. Just the messaging."
"Why do you tell us this and why should we believe you?" Ratchet asked.
"You shouldn't. I wouldn't," Trannis said with a grin. He moved, then sat in an empty chair relaxing as best he could. He was an arrogant violent fragger with no nerve endings that showed or betrayed anxiety. It was doubtful that he had that evolutionary adaption. Most sociopaths didn't. "So … what happens now?"
"We have three hots and a cot for you, slagger," Ironhide said.
"Take him to Cell Block A. Put him in with the Stunticons," Prime said.
Springer gripped him pulling Trannis to his feet. He grinned broadly. "Motormaster and the fam?" he asked with a cold laugh. "This could be fun. I'm sure we can make you regret this decision."
"I doubt it," Prowl said coldly.
"We'll see. Nice to see you have your favorite calculator with you, Prime. Might need someone to add two plus two for you," Trannis said as he was shoved to go. He walked off laughing in the company of the four Wreckers. It was a sight for sore optics to see his sorry aft disappear out the doorway.
"Fragger. How many psychopaths does that give us in the prison now?" Ironhide asked glancing at Ratchet.
"Enough to make a perfect storm of slag if they ever get out of there," Ratchet said.
Prime nodded. "Prowl, have security make an assessment of our prison and lockups. I want to make sure that no one ever does get out unless we allow it."
Prowl nodded. "Consider it done."
-0-Later on
Ratchet walked to the hospital tower via the apartment. It had been a while since he had been home so he went to check the damage. Entering the living room, he paused. It was home. It had that feel. It was in pretty good condition considering that infants had lived here with others not himself for several orns. Checking each room, straightening this and that, he walked out again heading for the hospital. He would stay there for a while sorting through the stack of data on his desk, the rounds of patients in the wards and the consultations by doctors, nurses, medics, families, patients and all the rest that would take a while to get through.
Business as usual.
-0-At the main armory, Fortress
Ironhide walked in with a nod to the crews that were working hard on two things that were necessary after a mission. They would retrieve ammunition and guns from the ships, soldiers and Seekers involved via the hubs that dotted the city. They would drop off 'special issue' … that is, anything taken on as part of the mission specific and not their usual gear, etc. That would go into their lockers in their local hub, the Home Guard locker rooms or their home safes. Then the armory teams would calculate what needed made to replenish their stores.
Ironhide sat, then grinned. He opened his hold and pulled out a madly smiling little mech with a tiny chevron glowing happily. He was in his Seeker bag, his little helm the only part of him showing. His little hat covered his helm but for his chevron and face. "A!"
Ironhide blinked, then looked around. "Sh," he whispered, then grinned. "Slagger. You're going to get us into trouble getting all smart and growed up." He gently lay the baby on a blanket he pulled from his hold. Sitting back, he worked to catch up even as he watched the infant sing and talk to himself.
It was perfect.
-0-At the prison
They walked down the pathway that led to Cell Block A. Passing through the electrified gates, they entered the inside ring of the facility. A path led to the two gate entrance to Cell Block A where the Stunticons were held. They weren't out so it was relatively easy to drop the gateway and shove the big slagger inside. His cuffs died away as the gate went back up. He stared at them a moment, then walked closer. "You know that I will get out of here and when I do I will find you slaggers."
"Good luck with that, fragger," Hercy said. "I look forward to it."
Behind them, the door to the barracks opened with bots stepping out. A huge mech stood on the porch, then stepped down to walk to the group by their door. He looked pissed. "What's going on?"
"Got another nut case for ya, slagger," Hercy said. "Trannis, you know Motormaster? The others are somewhere unless you ate 'em," the little mech said glaring at Motormaster with a cold optic.
"Put this fragger in another cell. I don't like him." Motormaster stood appraising the smaller but equally mean bot.
"Can't. We're consolidating slag into one heap," Hercy said turning to walk back to the big outside gates.
Springer snorted, then turned to join him. The others followed and all stepped out of the lockup. It would be a pleasant walk back to the city listening to the screaming coming out of Cell Block A. It would be music to their audials.
-0-At the Metroformer City
Kappa walked away from the big city formats who were watching her, two of them especially intently. Holding her servo and chattering happily as he did, Swan walked with someone who would have a big part in his growing up. Sitting on his shoulder, Swoop listened to the child chat. They were going to look for rocks for Swan's collection. Xantium who walked along with them smirked as he did. The 'child' was nearly as tall as he was.
-0-March 31, 2014 edited 4-1-14
Sleepy tonight. Not used to the sun coming back. :D Hugs to all tonight. :D