The Diego Diaries: Ring, ring part two

=0=Diego Garcia, Earth

Prowl walked to the Administration Building and the communications hangar that allowed them to speak to humans both here and abroad. The sun was warm and Kaon was settled inside the carry hold that formed part of his trunk in alt vehicle mode. It was centered just below his spark chamber and the infant was dozing in the warmth of the spark of his grandgenitor.

Entering the hangar, nodding and speaking to those who waved and paused to chat, Prowl made his way to the platform and stopped before it. Prime had commed him earlier and updated him on the Seekers, the mini-cons and the intel from Lennox. He had called Morshower and told him that they were protecting refugees off world and that Prowl would update him on the details. Thus, he was here for a conference call to the states and relevant individuals beside the general.

The screen blinked and the image of Glenn Morshower appeared. On three other screens were the images of the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the Vice President of the United States.

"Good morning, Prowl. I would like to introduce you to the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. Wallace."

Prowl nodded to the minister, a certain amount of awe visible on that worthy's face. Wallace had never spoken to an Autobot directly and the impression he had about Prowl, his exotic beauty and the once again clarification that humans weren't alone in the universe was clearly visible. "I am honored, Mr. Prime Minister," Prowl said in his even calm and well modulated voice.

He nodded. "And I am honored to meet you too, Prowl."

The Secretary of State and Vice President who had many a conversation with Autobots in general and Prowl in particular greeted him. Then Morshower got down to business. "Prowl, Prime said that you would brief us on the situation regarding Mars and refugees."

Prowl nodded and began. "As you may know, Optimus Prime gave a general call into deep space alerting Autobots that might be within reception that there was a place to come, that he was here and that the Allspark had been found. That call is traveling through space and our people, Autobots and civilians alike are receiving it.

"We know that the hospitality of humans would be strained by the addition of more Cybertronians to the base, that it would cause problems politically if we started massing on these shores so we looked for the best solution available. We had to house Shockwave as you know. Facilities were constructed for that," he said without lying. They had been specially constructed. "We have Shockwave in deep freeze. But along with the soldiers that have come and are coming to our side, we have had refugee civilians. Some of them have been through torments of enormous consequence to their well being.

"We have been building accommodations for them on Mars, staking a garrison there to protect not only them but also to ensure that Shockwave is not rescued or escapes."

"So you have begun essentially a settlement on Mars," Wallace said. "When were you prepared to tell us?"

Prowl considered the edge in the PM's tone. "We were thrown into this situation over a number of events that required us to work with minimal information dispersal. I am sure that you have been advised that there are security breaches among the allies that make keeping secrets difficult."

"I have been informed," Wallace said.

"We have had by necessity to make accommodations for our civilians on the nearest habitable planet. These civilians include babies, children, families, females and the elderly. They are in need of stability, medical attention, educational opportunity for the children and safe secure accommodation. We provide all their necessities ourselves including energon and medical care. Mars has become a staging area for the defense not only of Earth but of the entire solar system. And it hasn't cost the citizens of Earth one thin dime. We now have a staging area for defensive and offensive actions that benefit Earth as well as our vulnerable civilian population."

"How big a facility and population are we talking about, Prowl?" the Secretary of State asked.

Prowl did the math in his processor. "We have a garrison strength both here and on Mars of more than 100 Autobot soldiers. They comprise the entire spectrum of talent and design that Cybertron provided. We have an aerial force of five Aerialbots and half a dozen armed shuttles. The civilian population has passed 200 and we expect that more will be coming due to information that we have collected from interviewing those already here."

"A small population overall," the Vice President said.

"But among some quarters several hundred too many," Prowl said.

"There are those who would be unhappy to find that any of the planets in our solar system were colonized by anyone but us," Wallace said.

"We did an extensive search of laws across the world and through the international treaty and law compilations of the United Nations and international courts and agencies related to other planets and moons. There are no laws that allow a country or group of countries ownership of Mars. Indeed, existing space law prohibits the ownership of any planet and moon in this solar system by any one nation or combination thereof. We have chosen to resolve a problem that would have been untenable here by using the resources and space of Mars. There is no legal prohibition anywhere on this planet nor in its many legal jurisdictions to prevent that."

"You expect us to be partners and yet you don't tell us about something this important?" Wallace said, the edge in his voice becoming more pronounced.

"On the contrary, Mr. Prime Minister, we told you that we were building facilities and stationing a garrison on Mars to ensure the incarceration of Shockwave." Prowl waited watching the emotions on the Prime Minister's face. "What are you objections, sir?"

Wallace considered them and sighed. "We would like to be better informed. Nothing in your declaration about Shockwave included refugees. Some of us would be in a tenuous position if this information was made public."

"I understand the idea that if you have one planet in this system that is yours, then all of them are. But you have no capability to reach let alone explore and settle Mars. We had a need. It enhances our ability to protect Earth as well as our own people. They have been through grueling ordeals. Our settlement such as it is helps them and gives us another reason to fight for this system."

"The President would like to know more about this settlement, Prowl," the Vice President said. "We would like to see what it entails and perhaps begin scientific exchanges between Mars and Earth. Even the other planets and their moons. We appreciate all the science you have provided to us thus far. We just see the opportunity to expand our projects with this situation."

"And we agree," Prowl said nodding. "We have been mindful of our security limitations relating to our facility on Mars. We know of your concerns and emotional attachments to the planet and the rest of the solar system. But we must all be cognizant of the new reality. The Decepticons have been denied a base within the solar system with which to stage and strike Earth. We have enhanced the security of the system and Earth as well with our presence and the time cut from our responses due to our presence off world. Our sensor system is being augmented as we speak to ensure that nothing comes within numerous light years of this system. We wish to be aware and ready for anything that might come."

"And we appreciate that. Our partnership is incredibly important, Prowl," the Secretary of State said.

"Its the most critical alliance we have," Morshower said. "The Autobots have been true blue and I trust them completely. I know in this world with all the underhanded double dealing that passes for agreements and treaties that might sound naive. But it is what I feel and know from experience, long intimate experience with the Autobots and with Optimus Prime."

"Thank you, General," Prowl said nodding slightly to the screen where General Morshower sat watching him. "It is deeply reciprocated. We work with soldiers from many countries, the United States and the United Kingdom first and foremost. They are our brothers."

The conversation continued, grievances about the situation getting a full airing and by the time they signed off a plan had been formulated. No mention of the settlement on Mars would be made until the conspiracy facing them was wrapped up. That would be anytime within days to a week. Once that was done a series of announcements followed by video evidence of the settlement and the civilian and Autobot populations would be distributed. People could see for themselves that the newest neighbors on the block were reliable allies.

Everyone signed off mollified and Prowl walked out into the sunshine patting his chassis as Kaon began to stir. He smiled and continued, aware but unconcerned that Daniels was walking out of the N.E.S.T. HQ. Daniels paused and watched the elegant and stately creature pass in front of him. Prowl was probably the most unknowable Autobot in the garrison and he always felt a bit off put by him. Nothing was changed today and so he waited until Prowl was past and then continued on to his hummer and the barracks by the firing range nearby.

=0=Autobot City, Mars

They stood in the courtyard nervous and tense. Prime walked out of the building, any number of mechs and femmes, some with infants, paused to watch the proceedings. More Seekers was the murmur in the crowd, more Seekers defecting. Prime stopped before Starscream who was standing with them. He nodded. "Starscream."

"Prime," Starscream replied with a smile, his silky voice even more so. "I have some comrades that are ready to pledge their oaths both personal and Seeker to the colony and to you."

Prime nodded and looked at the Seekers. They were a cross section of Seeker types. Some were tall and more heavily built like Thundercracker and some were lighter in frame and elegant in styling like Starscream. They were all battered and dirty, their self-conscious unease about it evident. They had few medics in the Decepticons and they showed the patching and replacement parting that was typical of their type and the neglect that aspect of their army presented. The worst part for Prime was their gray coloration. Nothing of their individuality nor their personal beauty could be seen. "Are you prepared to give to me your personal and Seeker oaths? That you will abide by the rules of the colony, the laws of Cybertron, obey the leadership of the Prime of Cybertron and remain neutral in the conflict that has divided our people?"

They looked at him and then the spokesman, the battle scarred veteran held out his servo. Prime gripped it sealing the deal with a burst of electrical energy. The oaths were transmitted to him, recorded and filed internally as one by one they stepped forward and agreed. When they finished, Prime smiled. "Welcome," he said. He turned to Starscream who was watching with a smirk as he swayed gently, the hatchling in his arms recharging. "If you would show them the facilities, then have them go to Ratchet to be examined. We would like to resolve any medical issues that they might have."

Starscream nodded and turned to them, a look of happiness on his face rarely seen. "Come with me," he said and then he turned leading the way inside.

They entered and walked down the corridor, Starscream leading them. Some of the Autobots nodded to him, one made him pause so he could see the infant and civilians watched as they did. Mini-cons, some of them brand new to the colony moved back out of their sight, fear forming on their faceplates.

They moved forward, Starscream in front, the seven bedraggled newcomers in the middle and Cloud Burst and Thundercracker bringing up the rear.

The community shower racks had been improved with more space and facilities to be had. Some of the mini-cons were in there and were placated by the presence of other mini-cons like Bumblebee. The Seekers paused staring at the showers with something akin to awe. Starscream smiled. "Go inside and wash off The Fallen. When you are finished and your colors are shining like glass I will take you to the doctor that saved my life. Mind you, he's a holy terror but he's rather good at what he does."

With that, they entered and began to have the first real shower that any of them had had in eons. Literally.

=0=Medbay

Ratchet sat on a chair, a little mini-con youngling sitting in his lap, a rust stick in his mouth and a big grin on his face. An Autobot who had been a renowned confectioner before the war had made a big stock for medbay to use when refugees would come. The youngsters among them were mollified and exams went better with treats. That Ironhide would raid the stash from time to time was also a plus for Ratchet. Nothing like keeping the big galoot happy.

As Ratchet sat a mech appeared in the doorway, his white armor scuffed and his optics wary. He was accompanied by Kup who followed him in, his usual bluff good humor rising when he spotted Ratchet, an old friend from the old days. "Ratchet!"

"Kup!" Ratchet replied rising with the tiny youngling in his arms. "What brings you here? Need a sprocket tightened or what?"

"I have a mech you need to pass on," Kup said nodding to the silent figure behind him. "Drift."

"You finally made it here," Ratchet said handing the youngling off to Sideswipe who had come to stand by Ratchet as the sound of Drift's name. "Welcome aboard."

"Thanks," Drift said his optics taking in the entire room including Sideswipe.

"Don't mind Sideswipe. He's just taking care of his old genitor," Ratchet said. "Come on over and lets see what's going on with you."

"Nothing," Drift said walking reluctantly to the medberth.

"I'll be the judge of that," Ratchet said plugging Drift into the machinery. Around them the swirl of patients, all of them small and even tiny continued as the garrison took care of the new arrivals. Ratchet, aware of Drift and what and who he was didn't care. He was a patient and that was all that mattered.

That is, until Cloud Burst came in with a new Seeker.

=0=TBC

2011 (3)