The Diego Diaries: Forward (dd6 28) needs more cow bell. ;)
-0-Owen Harris
He sat in one of the lounges of Earth 1 going over emails from his teams on Earth. They were going to be heading here in small groups starting six days from now. It was late and the sun had long since set casting everyone into the kind of inky darkness that only an alien nightmare could supply. He was glad for the outside lights which the bots used in great quantity. He had watched bots and their trucks all evening coming and going from Earth2 in the distance.
They were worker bees going through the last minute stuff and inspectors of the different systems. He had a chat with Jetta and found out that the experts who were directing the construction of the different tech and particular areas were overseeing the finished product for sign off. They were also running a test on the systems that were in place to alarm if anyone even accidentally tried to get into things they weren't allowed to see or touch. That would, of course, being the cavalry and a punt back to Earth would result for any offenders.
They were still transporting pallets and pallets of stuff from Earth, mostly personal items at the moment. Since everyone living there would occupy an apartment if married or established in a relationship or a smaller 'bachelor' arrangement, soon-to-be residents were sending their stuff to make a home when they got there. It was palletized, labeled and marked for the area it would be shipped to and placed. It would take a few days for the humans to settle in and get things sorted out but the system they used was amazing. Even Owen in his frustration gave first score to the bots.
Children walked past bouncing a ball as they headed toward the play area nearby. A big dog followed them as they chatted their way past where he sat. Their school was up and running but the colony's system wasn't. Nearly 18,000 alien children were out of their routines.
Children.
It still seemed odd to him though it didn't to the humans here at Earth 1. They were used to everything and fit in. They had friends among the bots who came and went here. He wondered how long it would take for that to be so at his facility.
A call came through, Joaquin Flores of Earth who wanted to speak to him about publicity for the moment they entered and took possession of the habitat. He would be occupied by that for a while.
-0-Earth, California
They sat in their operational room, the senior staff of Earth2 who didn't get to Mars before the shutdown. They were going over the plans for the first two weeks there. They would be followed by cameras the whole time. Earth was due the scrutiny. Everyone here had to buy into the project there. That way it would be a success for everyone and perhaps lift humanity's eyes from the ground to the stars.
Several billionaires who had paid for a lot of it and were going to be going too listened to the command crew as they outlined the steps needed to get the facility. First, Prime would walk through with Harris and the others already there. It would be a detailed inspection and recital by those bots who were part of the construction, engineers of all manner who were even now troubleshooting the facility, and others who would sign off or not with Prime.
A lot had been redesigned at the time they began to build as the size and other features were enlarged to manage the longer term prospects of a facility that would house 5,000 humans. The bots knew construction and growing facities over the long haul. The human group would need room to expand so that was built in along with structures in which to create even more space. The last bit of communications equipment had been installed so they talked regularly with the bots there through this, a permanent command center for Earth2 here in the sunny climes of southern California.
They would relay to those waiting around the world who were going in the first few groups all decisions and latest information so they would be ready to go and up-to-date when the time came to bug out. They were scattered all over the world, some with families and children coming as well and others who were bachelors. It was hoped that given time, the families extended and otherwise of those living and working in Earth2 could come and go like families did in the other human habitats.
No one wanted to miss their people too much, even the senior staff. As it was, they chatted with Mikaela Banes and Sam Witwicky who were there to be intermediaries for Autobot Nation and the Prime himself as they worked out the order of march. It would be a pleasant easygoing afternoon. The command staff of Earth2 were regular folks who were as eager to get to Mars as Sam and Mikaela were to make sure it went off without a hitch.
-0-The Hourly News, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire
"The weather will be cold over the next few orns. Winds will be northerly at 15 miles per hour and particulate levels will be slightly elevated because of it. We suggest you take precautions for those who are elderly, infirm or young. We will be back with the headlines in a moment. Here is the schedule for the Temple, Monastery, and Halls of Order on the Community Bulletin Board." Lim-Lee was replaced by a slowly rolling set of text which scrolled past live images of each place embedded in the screen.
Ratchet who was cleaning up the apartment after putting infants to bed paused to look. Lines were still moving toward each place as their people sought comfort, wisdom or company. He hadn't gone himself because there was too much to do on the job. He had to give the prisoners full physicals tomorrow and assist Rung and Jarro as they searched code and build basic psychological profiles of the group in question, 34 individuals who gave him the creeps as the humans said.
Ironhide was on Cybertron with Optimus and half his family going about to show the flag, comfort the people and take the pulse of things. He was making a point of going to the shrines, the Temple in Simfur and the skeleton of the Monastery in Upper Tetrahex. So far, so good it would seem. Time would tell.
Ratchet's own family were managing some of the children apiece and he would place whoever he had to in the Emergency Military Daycare in The Fortress to make ends meet so to speak if necessary. This was one of those times when things sucked. That was another human expression he liked.
The femmes were busy helping Prime on Cybertron. They were well tuned in to the locals and could take the temperature of things accurately. Jetta was busy getting Earth2 up to speed. Magnus was working as hard as a one-armed paper hanger. That was an image Ratchet loved as well.
The twins were here but due to go out on station when things got back on track in six orns. Charon and Enceladus beckoned. It was Bluestreak's turn to be home with the kids. It had been a long time since they had a normal orn. He paused to think about that, then resolved to make a family event that would bring everyone back together again including Prime's family.
The big kids were working with their ammas and appa on station getting extra training in should events require the older dreads to go somewhere to slag someone. The kids would then be the thin blue line between Razorclaw and the colony. Any training they got was a good idea. That they would have the entire Supreme family and the pretender format of every big frame on-world on their command deck to advise them would be a good thing too.
Springer and Drift were busy with the slag going on here though Ratchet did hear about their request for Titan. He knew that Titan was a fighter but he had grown extremely content housing bachelor soldiers and all the emergency rescue stuff. It wasn't hard getting him to reverse duties with someone else and come home.
Ratchet also heard the implied family comment that Springer had used to con Prowl into getting Titan back. He grinned. They would eventually have a family. They really liked little kids but he wouldn't push it. Prowl might but he wouldn't. Having kids wasn't a side project. Soldiering almost made it one but Springer and Drift would have to get their slag together to make it a good experience for little kids.
And themselves.
Maybe he would have more grandchildren. He didn't know. He would be very happy when and if it happened. As for kids … Chromia had pulled a fast one hitching up with Maelstrom. They had a good thing going, a bond of mutual respect and wrestling. It almost seemed as if they had copied dear old Ada and Atar.
Ratchet snickered. Greco-Roman foreplay. He could see it. He finished up in the quarters, then paused to check the mail. A short message from Ironhide indicated that they were treking around the south pole of Cybertron and they would be at it for at least one more orn, maybe two. He would let everyone know.
Ratchet glanced around, then shut off the monitor. Setting his sensors for the house, checking his emergency links to the hospital, setting his night time sensors on his elders down the hallway, he walked to his berth room to recharge. He would conk out before he had completely laid back.
-0-Knockout and Breakdown
"What do you think about this break?"
Breakdown shrugged. He was in the washrack getting ready for bed. "I don't care one way or the other, though I like being busy. It does give us more time for Breakout." He walked out and shut off the lights. Laying back on the berth, they were both quiet a moment. "I never asked. Are you Clavis or what?"
"Temple," Knockout said. "You?"
"Neither. Never had time or interest. It's hard to care when you're hungry all the time. I do believe in the Pantheon. I mean … it's obvious. Right?"
"Right," Knockout said.
"I think we need to make sure that Breakout has what he needs on that score. I want him to know what and who he is as a Cybertronian. They make sure they know things in school. By the way, we put him in during the next call up of the Prep Academy."
"I thought we talked about this, Breakdown. He's too young and he needs us," Knockout said.
"Frag that. He needs to play with other kids. He goes to school. They make sure that they learn what they need to know … the Temple included. Or maybe its the Clavis. Are they Clavis?" Breakdown asked as he glanced at his partner who was lying on his back beside him.
"You're asking me?" Knockout asked with surprise.
"Whatever it is, he gets it. He gets what he needs," Breakdown said.
It was quiet a moment, then Knockout grinned slightly. "You turn me on when you use that tone of voice."
Breakdown grinned. "I know. By the way … I want to show him to my brothers."
Knockout glanced at Breakdown. "Is that safe? You aren't going to let them hold him? I don't trust half of them. You have some really screwed up siblings if I say so myself."
"Yeah," Breakdown said in agreement. "I'm not going to let them see him that way. I want them to look at him. Maybe ..." He was quiet a moment. "I don't know. Maybe it'll mean something to them."
Knockout heard the forlorn tone in Breakdown's voice and squeezed his servo. "I should hope so. This is one high end sparkling."
Breakdown grinned in spite of himself. He grinned just like Knockout knew he would.
-0-At the main headquarters of the Autobot City Day/Night Watch
Springer stared at the latest intel. They weren't riding out tonight. They were going over data that indicated gang activity, some hot spots of violence here and there as well as a report that someone was sure they had seen Sherma and Moma in the colony. That was a bit of information that Springer was personally going to undertake to check out.
Drift went over a pile of data, then glanced at Springer. "Do you really think they're here?"
"I don't know. I want to have the detectives go to the detailers tomorrow and ask around for anyone getting more than the usual cosmetic changes. I want to know who had major work done. Also, we need to check the clinics and private practices. Most would likely be those who were getting repairs from the war but there may be mechs and femmes out there getting camoflaged. I want those two fraggers."
Drift nodded. "We will get them then."
Springer grinned. "I like your optimism."
The night was brilliant outside with pools of light here and there, headlights on the streets and highways and the passing overhead of ships and satellites. Autobot City was one orn closer to a more normal life.
-0-TBC 6-6-17 edited 6-6-17