The Diego Diaries: Getting There (dd6 31)
Haven't had a chance to edit this. Hope it makes sense. :D:D:D:D:D (Had a long out of state phone call.)
-0-The morning after (state mourning)
The house was busy with kids getting ready for school. It was time to go back after ten orns of state mourning. The banners of The One and His love for Cybertron would stay up for the rest of the month and perhaps more. It depended upon Prime. As for now, the colony was coming back to life. The door opened as ammas and appas entered to collect children.
"What's on your schedules?" Ratchet asked as he took stock of his elders and Ironhide's. Alor and Blackjack were among the throng with a smiling Scout in his old dad's arms.
"We have to go to school too, infant," Appa Ratchet said. "Ravel and Tie are due at the store. We go there after class to study and assist. The usual stuff. We will get the kids after school."
"No you won't," Ratchet said. "I arranged for the Circle Daycare to come get them. Sunspot can go there after his lessons at the Academy." Ratchet looked at Sunspot who nodded. "When can Bos, Co-D and Reflector come over, Ada?" he asked hopefully.
"Call them tonight and make play dates. We'll make sure you get together," Ratchet said. "Their adas and atars said they want you kids to be together."
Sunspot smiled as he leaned against Spot. Spot smiled too.
Ratchet grinned. "Does everyone have their homework, projects, bookbags, and snacks?"
"WE DO! WE DOIN' THIS SHES, ADA! YES!" -everyone
"Okay. Now scoot," Ratchet said as the mob turned toward the door to leave. They did noisily. Ratchet grinned at Blackjack. "There appears to be an infant here."
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Blackjack said with a grin before he fled out the door.
"You going to Vegas?" Ratchet asked as they watched a three and a half ton mechanism levitate out the door. "By the way, he's a big baby."
"Then you understand where Ironhide comes from do you?" Alor asked with a chuckle. "I am. I haven't been on station a while and there's a stack of reports and intel to go over. There may be a meeting at Ops Center later by the way. Heads up. What's your schedule?"
"I have to be on stage and perform for the masses," Ratchet said spreading his arms widely as a brilliant smile formed on his face. "I, Ratchet of Iacon will educate the n00bs about the Ways of the Mech. I will show them the greatness that is Me."
"You're insane, one of your best qualities," Alor said. He grinned. "Film it, slagger. I want to see them squirm."
"Done deal. Donuts?" Ratchet asked as they walked to the door.
"Don't mind if I do," Alor said as the door closed behind them.
-0-At the mustering place, Earth2 Command, somewhere in Southern California, Earth
They gathered on the tarmac, 200+ excited individuals who were the first group to leave for Mars. They would be the techs who would assume important positions within the command structure and needed utilities. Behind them in groups of 200-500 would be the scientists, worker bees who would man the stores and offices, provide services, manage data, maintain the physical plant, and other important but mundane things. There was no glory in being a maintenance person until something clogged or broke down. Then you were God.
They had, along with others who were maintaining a number of supporting and/or important positions, received trained over the internet by the relevant bots to handle and appreciate their jobs. No one would walk blindly into this giant experiment. Families who were coming would be last to get here. They would be part of the overall study of effects, etc of living here but they weren't 'essential equipment' at the moment.
Cameras flashed and rolled as the press did their bit for the moment. It was a HUGE deal that this was finally happening, though the human presence on Mars had been so from the beginning. Will Lennox in uniform stood with the leadership that wasn't already on Mars for an Autobot City Touring Company ship to land. It was coming in on approach so the excitement level was MASSIVE.
The ship landed nearby, a fawn-colored vessel with the symbols of The Primes and the Martian-Cybertronian flag on the tail section. Autobot City Touring Company, Ltd. was printed on the sides in discreet lettering in both English and NeoCybex. This was the first time that a ship from their fleet had landed anywhere but the designated ports of call that they operated from. It was a BIG deal here on Earth.
As it rolled to a stop, Will Lennox got everyone's attention. "Get your passports and paperwork ready. Be ready to be inspected. You have to go through that here and at Customs and Immigration at Autobot City." Will watched them happily and excitedly get ready with a grin of his own. He knew what they felt and every time someone new came to Mars, it helped him remember that moment when he, too, stepped down onto the soil of a different planet. "Form a line on me," he said holding up his arm.
They did, making a long line of chattering excited humans who were caught lovingly on cameras as they did. This was the 'start of a paradigm shift that would make humanity different forever' and 'a new page in the history of humanity is being written by these brave pioneers'. He grinned. They were going to a state-of-the-art facility with everything they needed. There wasn't a hardship to be found. If they tired of the view, they had the Resort and the Farm to go to for a fix of home. Before his family could join him, Will had felt the burn of separation but even that wasn't part of this team's reality. Children and families would arrive last.
The vessel halted, the ramp came down and so did human and bot worker bees. The humans walked to them, showed their papers, had their bags and persons scanned, then allowed on. The seating inside filled up as they filtered in, then the ramp came up as the last entered. Clearance from the tower gave them the go, so they lifted off directly and disappeared into space leaving the commentariat to speak about the greatness of the moment as the first group of 'pioneers for Earth's future' sped their way to Mars.
-0-Earlier, before the n00bs arrived, when the walk around and sign off happened
Prime and a number of engineers, scientists, Wheeljack and Perceptor, Ironhide because he was Prime's 'RIGHT SERVO GO-TO MECH!', Hercy and Kup because they were curious, Prowl because he was organizing the meet ups soon-to-arrive, Jetta because he was the main engineer, Mack because he was head of Public Works and had a lot to do with this place's structural and systems integrity, Ultra Magnus because he was tall, imposing and the 'boss of shit' as Lennox would say or as Epps would say, 'boss at shit', Ratchet because he would blather first and foremost and in doing so would nicely lay down the limits and obligations of being here, and Cliffjumper who was along because Buzzie was the reserve nurse for the bots here in case something happened and Buzzie was on duty with a big accident case so he asked Cliffie to come here for him … that one … all were already there waiting. So was Paribolus in pretender gear.
The human contingent on-world led by Harris had just arrived having motored over with the soldiers and Consulate members who were here in numbers and were waiting outside in the elevator for the first ride up together. The leadership of Earth 1 was here too. The Resort was repped by Ron Witwicky who was a demon on detail and mellow enough to call bullshit on something without making an enemy. They all arrived at the entry deck, then would go up in an elevator.
All around them the desert of Mars stretched out to a light blue horizon. There was nothing to break the view since most of the ridges and rock piles here weren't that tall to look at. They were if you were standing next to them and some of the more daring in the crowd going upward were thinking of climbs in some distant future.
They arrived, then stepped out to be greeted by a forest of solemn-appearing mechanical men who regarded them with something less than great happiness, at least to their inexperiences eyes. They stared at each other, then Harris stepped out into the huge room that led toward bigger and equally well lit places. He walked to the group, then bowed at the waist. Staring upward, he looked into the optics of the strangest species he could have ever considered existing. Pulling off his helmet, he spoke. "Lord Optimus, we are incredibly proud and happy to be here in this beautiful place constructed for us by your people. It's our greatest hope that we can become as big an asset here as all the other human groups have become. We thank you so much for what your people have done and allowed to be done. From the people of Earth2 and from Earth itself, we are forever in your debt."
Prime nodded. "Thank you. Welcome to Mars and the human community that are our friends, countrymen and women, and great good neighbors. This facility was constructed from your template but little about it followed your plans directly. The environment here holds no second chances so we have taken liberties to perfect and even change the designs. We would like to do a walk through to show you what has been changed and why. My staff will show what this facility is, then tell me if there is reason and cause to sign off your habitation. Until then, we do not authorize you to live here. Safety must always be first."
"Yes, sir," Harris said. "We've discussed things among the Earth2 community and we wish to express to you and your people our deepest consolences for the catastrophe that befell you just recently. We extend our deepest sympathies to all of your people, sir."
:He has good manners, the insincere slagger: Ironhide said. Agreement hit that remark around the group.
"Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your kind words," Optimus replied. "We have ended state mourning but have solemn mourning for the rest of this month. That will be a significant factor in the life of this colony."
Harris nodded. "We understand."
Jetta glanced at Prime who nodded, then looked at the humans. "Let's go do the inspection." It would take four hours and in the end when it was clear that the place was sealed up against human danger and/or tampering, Prime signed off on it. The humans would have a lease on the facility for 100 years just like the other human habitats. They would reside and use them for one century Earth time before the renewal came up. Given that all of the human-inhabited facilities were the property of the Prime including the Consulate and N.E.S.T. HQ by agreement with caveats, cancellation could happen given the right provocation at any time. That point was made clear and not lost on anyone.
-0-Arrival in the Promised Land a short time after sign off
The ship touched down at the Autobot City Municipal Interplanetary Airport in Autobot City. A human delegation was waiting to help the n00bs through security. It was a jubilant thing when they stepped off and touched Martian soil (Actually marble tiled floors). Everything that was going to happen now was on film. The walk around with Prime was the only bit that wasn't. Bots helped the humans form a line so they could clear Customs and Immigration like everyone who came here from Earth.
They chatted, waved at the camera and even danced with delight being here at last. Oddly enough, none of these 200+ had come here before now. The waiting list for the Resort was stupefying. When the last one cleared Customs and Immigration, they walked though the bridgeway to the touring bus that would take them to their habitat. It would drive through The City and head outward down the highway past the Temple District, the Stables, Mausoleum, Basilica and roads that led at the junction just before the other human habitats in two directions. Left would take you to Earth 1 and right to the Consulate. A huge number of humans were planning a welcoming party for the n00bs when they were briefed and settled in.
The bus pulled out and away they went on their most excellent adventure. While that was happening, Ratchet and a few humans and bots were lounging around Earth2 waiting for them to arrive. It was going to be a long week of briefings and hoo-hah for everyone.
-0-TBc 6-9-17 edited 6-12-17