Home chapter 9: The press meeting was decided to be in New York
Now the location of the press meeting in New York is not a real place. Now just before Optimus and Ultra Magnus boarded the plane for New York, Wheeljack gave them each a chip containing the updates to the holoform program. Yes, I'm calling it holoform instead of hologram from now on. Okay, It was late Tuesday evening in the pacific ocean when they left so, it was Monday in New York when they arrived lets say around 10AM and landed at JFK. The accurate times of travel between the base and New York is probably way off but, this is fiction. And yes Optimus and Ultra Magnus did use their improved holoform program at the convention hall. More details in the story. Please keep check in on my profile page for updates on my other stories and what I'm working on next and I want to thank a lot of you for putting my story on your favorite list and following this story too.
ALSO THE PRESS NAMES AND MEDIA AFFLICTIONS ARE FICTIONAL note I've re-posted this, a big thank you goes out to Wacko12 for mentioning to me that I need to put this marks "" between what someone is saying. I realize now I've been probably making it confusing to read, sorry about that! I will never claim to be as good as others but I sure do appreciate their help, trust me I do!
It was Tuesday about 830PM and Optimus and Magnus were saying their good byes before leaving for the press meeting in New York. Both the Autobots and Lennox's team there on base had their digits crossed hoping that this meeting could be a start to improving relations with the rest of the world. Optimus and Magnus was driving up to the plane when Wheeljack caught up with them and gave them both each a portable drive chip. Then Wheeljack told them, "here on this port drive is a large packet for the updates to the holoform program that will help you both, I hope". Optimus then placed his hand on Wheeljack's shoulder and told him, "good job Wheeljack and thank you for working all day on it". Then Wheeljack stood by as Optimus and Magnus transformed into their vehicle mode, drove up the ramp, turned their engines off and set their brakes. It was a large cargo plane that can carry troops, trucks, supplies and more. It's one of two that are station here on the island and this one has become of sorts dubbed the Autobot transporter. The crew started strapping them securely with anchor straps to the deck of the plane and 15 minutes later they were taxing down to the longest runway on the island and took off for New York.
Both Optimus and Magnus decided to catch some recharge time before getting there to the states. So, eight hours later petty officer Tom Clats came over and taped softly on each of their vehicle modes and said, "sirs, it's four hours before we land." Then moments later Optimus said through his loudspeaker,"thank you Tom". Tom just waved back at them and walked away. Optimus and Magnus started talking to each other through their comm link about the holoform program. "The update on the holoform looks much more solid", Magnus said. "It does and we can now be about 500 feet from our original form," Optimus said back. A few seconds later Magnus asked Optimus, "but how are we going to use the holoform program and stay close enough for it to work"? "We will enter from the west side of the building in our vehicle mode then we will be close enough to the stage". Optimus answered and he sent the memo to Magnus that the General sent to him while they recharged. "Also, the General would handle the introductions since he too will be there," Optimus said to Magnus. To which Magnus subconsciously said through his loudspeaker aloud, "thank Primus"! The crew onboard that were setting about 25 feet away were suddenly startled and turned quickly around now looking up at the two trucks. Wow, if only you could see the blank stare on Magnus's face plates; you would laugh your aft off! "I, hmm, finally solved what I was working on" was the only excuse Magnus could say off the top of his processor. Optimus then said, "Yeah, my old friend that's the easy part." By then the crew had went on about with their own conversations. "Oh frag, what's the hard part?" Magnus dared to ask. Optimus replied, "meeting the press, there we are on our own sort of. Listen, we need to figure out the character profile we want our holoforms to look like and read some of the questions the press submitted." Optimus told Magnus and they both for the last four hours had pour over so many different profiles until they decided on a simple business suite with a black tie. After that Optimus had decided that he needed to write down some notes so he turned his holoform program on, reached into his briefcase on the table behind his drivers seat, took some cards out and begun writing his speech. Magnus also during this time turned on his holoform program to get a few cards out of a drawer behind his driver's seat to write down some answers to the questions in case they asked him.
About four hours later they landed at JFK and when the plane came to a stop they waited as the crew removed the anchor straps and lower the bay door. In a few minutes Optimus started up his vehicle mode and backed up then Magnus did as well and they were met there at the plane by the police. Then the Captain, who was waiting just 50 yards from the plane by his car announced over his loudspeaker, "Welcome, please fall in line for an escort to the convention center." Optimus spoke up through his loudspeaker and said, "could you please be more specific, front of or behind your line of cars"? The officers there just looked at each other rather puzzled. It was odd to them to be talking to a vehicle. Then Captain Stagton walked up to the red truck and stood in front of him and said, "when the other cars start moving, fall inline behind the third car." Captain Stagton seem a little uneasy standing there and talking to a truck and Optimus and Magnus notice the uneasiness in their body language. "Understood and thank you Captain Stagton" came Optimus's gentle baritone voice through his loudspeaker. The Captain walked away and he signaled the other cars to move out as he walked back to his car. The first cars started moving out and when the third car started to move Optimus and Magnus fell into line behind it leaving the airport in route to the convention center. Magnus spoke to Optimus over their comm link and said, "Optimus the fear in these people I understand but, do you think".. Magnus stopped in mid sentence. He didn't want Optimus to think he doubted Optimus's decision. Optimus replied, "my friend I saw that too but, I still have hope that we will turn the corner with them after the press conference."
About twenty minutes later they arrived at the west entrance of the convention center and were escorted in through the large bay doors. Optimus watched as the three cars pulled over to the side and he stopped to await orders where to go. Then an officer walked over toward Optimus and said. "Commander Prime, you both can park over there by the elevators and wait there until called to come around to the stage." "We will," Optimus said back to the officer. Then he and Magnus drove the short distance over to where they were told to park and turned their motors off. A few minutes had pasted and most of the cars had left but, two remained parked in the garage and one officer remained standing by his car. "Optimus, Just how is our holoform going to be introduced to the media? Magnus asked sounding somewhat concerned. Optimus was quite for a few minutes thinking to himself and then he said, "all that I can say is General Moreshower has known for years now of the holoform program we had use it only when we thought the pubic would see us when traveling." "Well, I hope we see him first here in the garage," Magnus said. To which Optimus simply said, "yes we will. He is being escorted here to this entrance."
It was twenty minutes before 1PM when Optimus and Magnus heard the sirens of the police department coming closer. They both knew this was General Moreshower coming and a few seconds later it was the military police escorting the General's limousine into the west entrance. The limousine came to a stop across the parking garage from where Optimus and Magnus were parked. The local PD were now leaving as other military vehicles came in. The door opened and the General stepped out where a solider was standing at attention and the General told him, "I want everyone cleared out of here right now." "Yes sir," the solider said then he gave the General a saluted, turned around and within a minute the garage was cleared out. The General then walked over toward the two big 18 wheeler s parked by the elevators one was blue the other red then Optimus spoke through his loudspeaker and said, "Good afternoon General Moreshower." The General was now standing in front of the red truck whom he knew was Optimus and saw that the other Autobot parked next to him had the same Autobot emblem on the front of the truck grill. Seconds later both Optimus and Magnus turned on their holoform program, opened their doors, stepped down and each stood in front of their vehicles. General smiled at both of them then said to Optimus, "this must be Ultra Magnus I presume"? Magnus stood at attention and saluted the General and answered, "Yes Sir".
The General gave a saluted back and said, "At ease, I would be the very last person right know you need to be nervous about. Well, I will make my conversation with you both brief cause we don't have much time. Now I'm going in there to make my speech then when I'm done I will introduce you both and then you both come and join me on stage setting to my left. So, when you walk up the steps to the stage you will see me to your right and there will be a table for you gentlemen to sit at. This should put you as close as possible to your vehicles and I've been told from where the stage is and this door is less than 400 feet. Now, there will be at least one hundred members of the media out there and many of them from overseas and the conference should last about at least forty five minutes. The General paused for a moment and then said, nice suits but, the General paused then went on to say, "can one of you choose a different color suit. You both have the same color or is that"... before the General had a chance to finish his sentence he saw them look at each other, then the holoforms disappeared then re appeared moments later. Both now where wearing a different color and style suites but both wearing plain white shirt each with a black tie. It was first of many to pardon the punt outer body experience they both would face ahead. The General just shook his head and said, "Gentlemen follow me", they followed the General out of the parking garage and just inside the main convention arena. "Alright, you two please wait here until I finish greeting the press then when I announce your names and tell you to please join me on stage then you both can come, got it?" Optimus and Magnus at the same time said, "Yes sir" then the General shook their hands and said, "you two will do fine," and with that the General turned around and left out for the stage. They both stood there looking at each other then Magnus whispered to Optimus and said, "ok lugnut I hope this works!" Optimus who looked right at Magnus then told him, "To late to chicken out now Magnus". "I'm not!" Magnus snapped back. Then they got quite and stood there listening to the General as he began his opening speech to the press.
"Good afternoon, I'm General Moreshower and I lead the air force division of the United States military. Today marks I hope a new start and for sure answers to some of your concerns. Several years ago they, the Autobots came to this planet and specifically this country seeking an artifact from their world and they had no intention to stay here once they found it. It was discovered but, the first battle between these two factions destroyed it. There was to be more conflicts between the two factions over the years and yes a string of horrified battles and millions of deaths worldwide and along with it the unfathomable sheer destruction that we have ever seen before now. This last battle in Egypt was the end of the war between the two factions. And I tell you now they sincerely regret that this has happen to our planet. We have allied with the Autobots in helping them destroy the war monger Megatron and his ledge that were called the Decepticons. I'm not here today to convince you or your countries to change or accept them nor are they. But, their leader knows there are questions that many of your country's leaders and citizens have that you want to ask. Many of them they may not be able to answer but, it's not because they don't want to. So much technology has been built by them to increase our awareness of others of their kind. But I have been told the Decepticons have been accounted for and that none have survived. I was informed about three years ago of a technology being created that would give early warning detection of other Cybertronians out there. The program was designed and installed in to thousands of satellites that litter our galaxy. And it was with that tech they received a signaled of surviving Autobots who have made it here to earth in the past few months. Now some of those new arrivals are the younger generation of the Autobots and they have already made it know to us their committed to a better relationship between us. They hope along the way we as humans can understand them. Folks I'll put my little speech in a nut shell, the Autobots wish us no harm and they simply want to live here in peace. And I know for some of you that will be easier said than done; hell you may never accept that but, that is why I called this meeting for you to listen to them and ask them your questions then decided.
Through the years I will tell you that they have been station to one located on a military base located overseas and they have accept that but, I can also tell you that no man lives alone and strives. You might find this interesting and that is they had before the war destroyed their home planet, jobs much like the jobs we as humans have. They worked in warehouses, factories, doctors, scientist, teachers and more. I must say from my experience along with my team there that is also stationed on that base agree; that there is more to them than meets the eye. Today I have two of them here and trust me when I say their technology is very far more advanced than ours, it is! Now they have a holoform program and don't ask me how they do it because I just saw it moments before coming out here to talk to you but, if you didn't know any better they look human. Now listen, I know what you might be thinking but I have had orders from higher up and anything they have done has been passed by my door first. Two, their leader has made it very clear to me that they will never use this technology to try and live like us because, they know they are not. But instead only use it to stand face to face with us when we met. As we all know they in their normal form can tower some 15 to 30 feet taller than us. Now to get this press conference started I would like to introduce to you their Leader Optimus Prime and fellow Autobot, Ultra Magnus now would you please make them feel welcome and stand up." The press stood up and begin clapping and Optimus and Magnus very briefly stared at each other in surprise and quickly made there way up to the stage, walked towards the tables then stood in front of them waving back at the press who suddenly got real quite and stared back. Then the General spoke up and said, "okay gentlemen and ladies please let's be seated." Optimus and Magnus took the clue and turned around and sat down behind the table where two microphones were there in front of them.
The General nods at Optimus and then he said to him, "if you have something you want to say go ahead and speak up then another microphone will be passed around to the press for them to start asking their questions afterwards." Optimus, whom never liked attention on himself briefly looked over the crowd then reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out notes he had wrote on some cards, mentally cleared his throat and began to speak. "Thank you General Moreshower for having us here today and thank you also established members of the press for being here. My Autobots and I could never said enough how sorry we feel in our sparks for the grief my kind has put you humans through. As the General has told you, I had no intentions to bring this war here to your planet and it suffer nearly the same fate as our home world. But, that war is over as the General stated Megatron and his fellow Decepticons have been killed, dismantled and their remains melted down. We have through the years with the US Military have launched several thousand satellites into the earth's orbit and spanning many thousands of miles outside of the moon's orbit to monitor in read time any detection of a signal given out by Cybertronians. And it is with these satellites we were able to located the rest of the known surviving Autobots that have just arrived just little over a month ago. Optimus stopped talking as he looked around; it was suddenly becoming increasingly difficult for him to deal with the magnitude of flashes from their cameras in his eyes. Please, Optimus then put his hand in-front of his face and said, "could I ask you to stop with the flashes of light it is literally blinding me." Then they stopped, and Optimus went on to finish what he was saying. "Thank you, now I would like to try to answer your questions."
"Hi, My name is Chris Tarin from the Vantor paper in New York and my question is to you Mr. Prime and it is a three phrase question if I may?" Optimus nodded then the reporter continued to asked his question. "First Sir, why did your kind come here in search of an artifact and secondly, how could you assure us that this is really the end of your war brought upon our planet and lastly and which is most concerning, why wouldn't other Decepticons find you here and retaliated the death of their leader?" Optimus looked down briefly at his notes then looked up at the reporter. "Mr. Tarin, you asked firstly why did we came here in search of an artifact. That relic was called the Allspark and it had the power to restore within time, our world and support life there for us. It was destroyed and with it all hope for our world. After we left our solar system there was only a few hundred of both factions left that scattered across the galaxies in search of that artifact to which many died looking for it. We, my Autobots and I had found from searching the world wide web a pair of glasses that had the coordinates of the Allspark on them. The Allspark was originally in the north pole and sadly we now know it was Megatron who had found it first and had crash landed there at least a century before it was found a hundred years or so ago by explorers. We also had learned that he and the Allspark had been moved to an undisclosed area here on this continent and he was kept in a cryogenics induced frozen state for decades. Your people didn't know who he was nor what the artifact was. The second part of your question is how I can be sure that this is it with our war.
Please allow me to go back in time and tell you of our world. There was at one time billions of us much like the population of your world until the civil war which divided families, friends and others to either fled into hiding, support our fight or joined the Decepticons. Over the past few years of our exists here on your world we have destroyed the remaining two hundred eighty five Decepticons that were hiding here and that number includes those in the last battle and all with the help of the United States military's assistants. I have sadly a record of my fallen soldiers, those that didn't want anything to do with the war and had fled underground and lastly those of the Decepticons that died. There were several millions of Decepticons and Autobots at one time when the war broke out on our home planet of Cybertron. We tried to protect those who had fled into hiding but, eventually we were not able to and they had all died at the hands of Megatron and his ledge of warriors. Our planet is or the lifeless shell of it is located 4.5 trillion light years from here. When there was no life left on our planet I led the rest of the Autobots to other planets in our solar system to create battle stations the first two were called moon base one and the other counterattack. Then five other battle stations were built as we sought refuge from planet to planet. But, despite our best efforts the Decepticons too sought refuge as they hunted us remaining Autobots down and with each encounter thousands more of both factions died in combat. There was only a little over one hundred of us Autobots that survived and at least maybe three hundred Decepticons left as we scattered through out the galaxies in searching of the Allspark and many more between both factions died looking for it. It has been only recently, thousands of years later that we have been reunited with those Autobots that remain and from them I have been told of the Decepticons they know that were killed in the battle with them. This simply means all Decepticons that were alive when we left Cybertron have been accounted for. Over the past few years of our exists here on your world we have destroyed the remaining two hundred eighty five Decepticons that were hiding here and that number includes those in the last battle and all with the help of the United States military's assistants. And I will finally concluded saying with out a doubt we, the Autobots are the only ones left on your planet and we hope to remain in your grace. I can't stress this information any more to further convince you, rather time will."
To say the media was stunned was a major understatement. But, another reporter this time from India spoke up and there was an interpreter there to repeat in English but the Autobots could themselves understand what the gentlemen was asking. The reporter asked his question then the interpreter and repeated the question. "My Name is Bali Indepar from Mumbai India and my question is why would you want to stay here on earth and not leave and return to your solar system or is it that you have no way to leave our planet, thank you." After the interpreter repeated the question, Magnus then answered the question surprisingly in perfect dilate of the reporters native language then repeated his answer in English. "I will answer that question now in English, the one rather small cargo ship I and the latest list of Autobots that had landed here it was reindeer-ed nonfunctional upon entry into your atmosphere. The heat had burned what left was functioning of that on board computer and we landed with only manual controls. That cargo ship has been gutted for any useful things and was scraped last week it is located on base. Due to our technology being far advance from yours we were not going to be able to fix it. Secondly, even if we could leave, where we go? There is no resources for us to build a base to live upon. We wish to stay here amongst you , we have been under a treaty currently with the United States on an undisclosed base in the Pacific ocean for now three years and so much we want to share with you. We have discovered ways to end many of the diseases your world is plaque with and help you improve your technology advancements in communication and other places." Another reporter stood up to the microphone, "Hi, my name is Charles Mint from the Newsnet paper in Los Angles. My question is to General Moreshower if I may?" The General shook his head then said, "Mr. Mint please your question need to be addressed to these mechs not me." The reporter replied "Yes sir, Mr. Prime I'll ask you then. What kind of life you want to live here? What or how could you live amongst us with out using this holoform pretend to be us and make a living?" Optimus was glad to hear someone from the media ask him about it and Optimus said. "Mr. Mint that is a very good question, you have companies now that have automation computers on board that drive semi trucks and other transportation of commerce across this country. My ability to work among you would be a cross country truck driver delivering products. Other details are still being developed and those would be citizenship, identity, approval and more before that can begin. Plus, as you have been told, those of us that were here for the last few years were just reunited we love ones and dear friends we thought were dead. Therefore, our first stage is to take the time we need as a family unit. Much like you when love ones have left home, it is good to see them again. I hope that gives you an idea into our world that too, is much like yours." You could have heard a pin drop after Optimus had surprisingly shared a very personal feeling with those there in the conference center.
The conference went on for another thirty minutes and Optimus and Magnus traded off taking questions and shared about their world and told the press that we are referred to as mechs and femmes as you humans refer your selves as men and women. Our sparklings are another name used to describe a baby, younglings you will reference to as children but we do share the same term, born. Same basic meanings but different words. Magnus shared too when asked what their planet looked like and then he shared about their transportation methods. We had metal by ways that connected through out the city and some went in different directions and they were tracks we connected to with metal wheels and now we use rubber tires to traverse your highways. We had buildings made also of metal and we walked around on our planet like we do here but the distances and size of our area and buildings were of course in portion to our size. For example our exoskeleton was different. Meaning the outer metal frame we had was different from here because, here we have chosen an exoskeleton that resembles earthly vehicles. Another reporter from San Francisco asked what about your holoform and how does it work to make you appear as you are now. Optimus said, "I didn't write the program our resident technologist did but, the only way I can simply explain it is that our genetics are made of trillions of different sets of algorithms that with the program we can transform a portion of our selves into a human size form that can we use but it has a limited range. I hope that answered your question because explaining it any further to you; I would have to admit is out of my wheelhouse." Some of the reporters then started to cheer and others applauded because they were all surprised at him using the reference, 'out of my wheelhouse' cause he really didn't know how to explain it any other way. Magnus came across their private comm link and said, "well, that impressed them". "Yes my friend, Optimus said, and we have so much more that could too!" Optimus looked on and so did Magnus then Optimus spoke up again, I don't want this program to alarm to you. The use of this program is not to pretend to be you because, we are not. Instead, it is to be only used in interactions with you thus making it easier for us to met together on eye level.
The meeting went on for about an hour and a half but, the General felt this first meeting was very important. He also saw that Optimus and Magnus were growing more and more comfortable as the conference went on as one question led to another. Optimus and Magnus traded off on answering questions then Magnus was asked by a reporter from the Washington science journal and the reporter asked,"What could you bring to the table in helping us achieve in science and health." Yes, while our technology is more advanced that yours we could help with many of the plaques that hunted your world and much more" Magnus said . The same reporter asked, "what about your weaponry and will it be destroyed." Optimus came back responding by saying, "yes they have been dismantled, melted down and never to be used again". The General stood up with the microphone in his hand and said. "Please members of the press I hate to end this but it's now 230PM and these mechs have a plane to catch home although I will said the ball is now in your court. You have met these two here and they share the hopes of all of their kind; and I think I see here folks we share the same hopes. Maybe in the next few weeks or even months you will meet them again." And with that the first press conference was over and they had won an astounding applause and appreciation from the press. Optimus and Magnus stood up and started waving at the press and even gave them a thumbs up which won them even more of those intense flashes of light in their eyes. They were somewhat both in shock yet at the same time, they both felt again hope for their future.
It was nearly 4PM when Optimus and Magnus got back on boarded the cargo plane and now they headed back to the base when Optimus spoke up talking over their comm link to Magnus and said, "that was as the humans refer to, mind blowing! I never felt it would be that easy or them that interested in us coming did you?" Magnus said, "no I didn't either but now starting over for us could really be now a reality." Then Optimus said back,"I hope so too my friend, they are a very curious species and in some ways I guess we are too." The flight went on for another fourteen hours and other than a stop on the island of Hawaii they recharged during the flight back to Diego and back across the international date line again this time it was 5AM Wednesday back on the island!
Okay, this chapter was so hard cause I wanted to lay the foot print down of the interaction between the press and Optimus so clearly and each time I come back later to prof read it again there was something else to change or more detail added in part of it and that was tough and now I'm going to post it now as is! If you find something confusing let me know but, I hope you enjoy it. I would like to send out a big thank you to the some twenty people on here that follow this story and those who have listed it on their favorites and follow my other stories too! A big shout out to G1 Daughter of Optimus and Elita and to KerSPLOOT who recently added this story and other of my stories to their favorite list and are following it. There is so many more of you out there that have over the years done the same and I acknowledge you too. I truly appreciate you taking the time to add me to your favorites and are following it too!
Next time Optimus later that day which is Wednesday Morning, will have a meeting with the other Autobots and tell them what happened and the younglings sit down together by themselves and talk about what they learned of the press conference and what they think about it and they want to do.
Okay some one asked that I go back through and use the "" marks between what someone had said. Well, I hope I did it right and not made it more confusing. Oh tell me one way or the other if it before was confusing as who was talking or now. Cause I did said before or after the sentence who was talking but, any help would be great. Too, I'm not a good writer, I have read a lot of stories on here and their writing is way out of my wheelhouse, I just hope the way I write you like it. Feedback does help but, I'm more comfortable writing the way I have been writing though but, I'll just say maybe the way I have been writing is wrong,you be the judge of that !