The Diego Diaries: Chaos 39 (dd3 49)
=0=That next morning, Flight Center Briefing Room, Fortress, Autobot City, Mars
They filtered in, specifically chosen Seekers sent their orders by their Commander, Starscream. Standing on the platform, Red wing and Cloud Burst waited in front of the wall-sized monitor that bore the Emblem of the Primes set on the backdrop of the city in real time. Cameras all over the city sent images to the Community Bulletin Board, the schools, security and IntraComm. They were used to showcase the city to anyone who wanted to look without traipsing around themselves.
Big Seekers, sleeker smaller ones and any number of fighter-type mechanisms walked in and sat, chatting together as they waited. At last, Jazz, Flint, Blackjack and Thundercracker walked in pausing with Red Wing and Cloud Burst a moment to go over the details once more. They then walked to the side to stand against the walls to listen.
"If I may have your attention," Red Wing asked tapping the table in front of him.
Everyone quieted and gave it. Red Wing began. The plan would require a number of different kinds of Seeker specialists. The sweeps that would scan for the needed information, their internal configurations designed to take data at quantities and in a range that nothing else sentient could match would go first.
Behind them, one on one with the sweeps, a 'heavy' would follow. They were Seekers of the 'dreadnought' class who were firepower and speed combined. They would be paired with a sweep to provide cover and protection. Behind them in the vicinity of the space bridge vortex, data experts, the 'catchers' would be waiting. They would receive the 'data bullets', encapsulated raw data from the sweeps and shoot it in a more technically accessible format from their internal programming through the vortex to array relays and the Ops Center beyond to facilitate perusal.
It would be a swift enterprise with the element of surprise making their efforts possible. All precautions would be made to protect everyone involved and expedite the operation. As he explained the situation, Red Wing deferred to Jazz for details.
"We aren't very clear on this migration. A message came through in the overnight dump that indicates it's very, very big. They were harassed a long time before bunchin' up to come here. The 'Cons … who knows?" the intel chief said with a shrug.
"We can assume that the 'Cons in the mix are hardcore and won't give it up without a fight," a big Seeker said. "They will, of course, be sorry."
Helms nodded all around the room. Flint standing beside Blackjack watched with the same fascination he saw on his brother-in-law's face. A big Seeker shifted. "Will we have leave to fire back?" He was a 'dread' and would follow closely a sweep.
Red Wing glanced at Jazz. "We plan for this to be fast but if the migration is too big it might allow them to recover and shot at ya. You can shoot back in self defense but we hope it won't break out into a shootin' war. Remember, we don't want that."
"Fraggers," the Seeker said.
Everyone nodded. Flint was elated. It was all still new. Blackjack watched the Seekers marveling as well. This is nothing short of miraculous.
They continued onward, refining and redrawing the details until the plan was finalized. Then they sat and talked, all of them on stand by, all of them waiting for the muster. Flint, Jazz and Blackjack walked back out and headed for the meeting of Senior Autobots and Community Leaders nearby.
-0-Moments later
"And so we will be heading out shortly to make the flyover. We need a breakdown of the situation for the reclamation," Optimus concluded. He looked at Ultra Magnus.
That worthy looked at his datapad. "We can house over 150,000 individuals at the moment with the possibility of 100,000 more in a decaorn. We have begun to excavate the satellite town nearby one mile west of our city proper for the new habitation site.
"It will be where we put the newer arrivals when they come in future and there will also be commercial space built there as well to make it a town proper with amenities. We also have medical and educational designs in progress for that same location. The roads will be paved and quadruple laned coming and going to the site. We want the city and its satellite areas to be as unified as possible."
"This is the third stage of our design plan, Optimus," Jetta said. "With our new population and the skills inherent, we can begin to work and plan strategically for the road ahead. This satellite needs a name by the way as a separate community as Aerie Hill has. I suppose you can manage that somehow. We're calling it the Plateau for now since it resides on one."
"That can do for now. We can discuss that issue when you are ready for residents," Optimus said. "What about expansion of services in that area?"
"We've discussed things with the relevant social organizations and have set aside one tower in the first group as an educational facility. We would assume with a division of placement of students in the public schools that the University could expand downward in the tower it occupies now to accommodate more students and programs. That can be discussed in greater detail as we progress," Magnus said.
Optimus nodded. He looked at Ratchet. That worthy who sat next to a vigilant and wary Ironhide leaned forward. "Our medical tower is a worthy site and will be more than adequate to meet demand short of all out annihilation for a population quotient projected to exceed two million. Right now, we'll continue to maintain our headquarters there. But like the medical substations throughout the city, we'll build a large one in the new construction. It will be a feeder site like all the others. Femme and infant medicine will continue to be focused in the Metroplex hospital. We're centering geriatric medicine in mine. All of it will coordinate out of my office there."
Optimus nodded. "That sounds fine. I do not want distance to be a factor in survival."
Ratchet nodded. "I agree."
Optimus looked at Ironhide and grinned. "I see you still have your sparkling."
"Slag right," the big Autobot said shooting withering optics at the smirking and rather relaxed S.I.C. sitting across from him. "Mech's got a right to hold his sparkling without sticky digits making grabby motions every time she comes into view."
"I could order you to give me that sparkling, Ironhide," Prowl said with a grin.
Ironhide froze, his essential agreement with command hierarchy overtaking his common sense.
Hoo-hah.
Ratchet snorted as he looked at Ironhide who was sitting with a wariness that looked like a chubby kid guarding his last cookie against a shark and smirked. "Wussie."
General agreement of the derogatory fashion erupted.
Optimus shook his helm and grinned. "Item three anyone?"
Everyone smirked, then looked at their datapad. It actually was time for item three.
Nova grinned at Optimus. "I'm here for Herling who is handling input into the general design of the new school tower with Grapple. This is what he wanted me to tell you about our educational program. We just graduated 10 engineers, 12 pilots and 20 aerial mechanics in the tech school. They're the first and we're awfully proud of them."
Everyone made proud noises and wished sincere things for Herling and the students with Optimus promising to write letters of congratulations to all of them, thank you, Prowl.
Nova beamed. "We also have for the Sparkling and Youngling Day Schools adopted Ratchet's ideas about Halloween."
Pause. Uplink. Initiate search. Halloween, noun. Definition, examples. Downlink. Blink optics in amazement. Glance at each other and gauge personal reactions. Stare at Optimus who was staring at Prowl who was staring at Ratchet who was staring back at Prowl.
"That is … interesting," Optimus said. He looked at Ratchet. "Care to elaborate?"
"It's a children's holiday that a lot of adults participate in as well. Children dress up, have parties and trick or treat. It'll be fun. They can wear costumes, families can go everywhere, everyone gets visited and they get to see the city. Win-win."
It was silent a moment then Optimus nodded. "You have my consent. You also are in charge of getting this out there and making things happen."
Ratchet nodded. "You can't daunt me, Optimus. I accept."
Prowl grinned.
Optimus glanced at him. "You can, too."
Prowl looked at him and shook his helm. "Thanks, partner."
"Do not mention it," Optimus said with a grin. Ironhide smirked at Prowl. Optimus looked at him. "I want a written proposal for the Autobot Scouts on my desk by the end of the week."
His smirk faded and Prowl's grin grew.
Optimus looked at Prowl. "As his second, I expect for you to help him."
Prowl lost his grin.
Everyone watching kept theirs.
-0-A joor and a half later
Everyone filed out but Prowl, Ratchet and Ironhide. The winger looked at them with a gimlet optic. "You two are ruining my life."
"I get to boss both of ya. Life is good," Ironhide said rising with his infant in his arm.
"You just think you do, Ironhide," Ratchet said looking at him with a smirk. "*Autobot Scouts*"
Ironhide gathered his tattered dignity and walked out, his helm held high, his sparkling held close. They watched him then turned to each other. "He's such a big femme isn't he."
"I think so," Ratchet said sitting back with a grin. "So … what do you plan to be for Halloween."
Prowl stared at Ratchet for a while before letting him know. Pointedly.
-0-At the Airfield
They gathered in groups of three. A heavy, a sweep and a catcher stood together in little groups coordinating timing, frequencies and calls. Beyond them, two battleships and three Arks with full soldier complements stood on standby waiting for any call to help. As they did, a shuttle was loading to go to the Trigger carrying the techs, a few officers to coordinate as well as Miler, Wheeljack and Perceptor to run the show.
It lifted off when everyone boarded and was gone from sight swiftly. Overhead, the huge gleaming figure of the Trigger was coming up in orbit and would soon be held in place by thrusters to allow the aperture to open in the proper sustained place. It had been refueled by the plasma chamber via geosynchronous bridge over a course of four orns and would be good for the duration of even a very large and long reclamation.
Red Wing and Cloud Burst after leaving the SA/CL meeting walked with Jazz, Flint and Blackjack to the groups of Seekers waiting. They gathered around the five and got the word.
It was go.
-0-Overhead
Miler, Perceptor, Wheeljack and their techs stepped off the roundabout in the hangar of the Trigger. Walking to the bank of elevators, they boarded and rode up to the top floor where the command center was. It would take them half a joor to bring the big machine up to launch status and a moment or two later to fire up the powerful energy cells to shoot enough power into a fixed location to create a rupture in time and space. When it was locked in a stationary orbit and ready to go, Wheeljack contacted Fortress Maximus Flight Center.
"Fort Max Control, this is Trigger Control, over."
"Trigger Control, this is Flight Control. Are you go?"
"We are go. We switch flight control over to you."
"Affirmative. Stand by." Flight Control called the signal to the masses of Seekers who stood on the tarmac waiting. When they received it, they began an orderly assent in stages to the air. Transforming and blasting off, they began a two circuit orbit of Mars to get into battle formation for the flight through the bridge. When they were ready, so was the Trigger.
"Wheeljack to Red Wing."
:Red Wing here, 'Jack:
"We're opening the aperture and when it's clear to go I'll signal you on three."
"Affirmative." Red Wing signaled the mass to form up on him in the flight pattern agreed upon. Sweeps were in front in a wide array with their heavy escorts. Catchers came up behind, each of them waiting for the signal. :We're go on your call:
"Affirmative," Wheeljack said glancing at Miler. That worthy looked up at last and nodded. Wheeljack turned and gave the call: "Red Wing, you are go, go, go."
And with that they went through the burgeoning hell of the controlled rupture in space. It would stay open for their return. The time it would take for them to finish their sweeps on the other side would be of a quick but noticeable duration. When they returned from doing it, almost no time at all would have passed on this end of the equation.
=0=TBC 2012 (10) edited 12-23-18
