The Diego Diaries: Moving On (dd6 38) needs editing. :D
-0-At Earth2
Ratchet stood on the platform in the huge auditorium as people began to fog in. They were ecstatic over their situation and ready to get on with things. Part of that was the chat with Ratchet and The Boys. He had been given discretion by Prime so he had allowed 1,500 humans to come this time. That would mean two more of these talks with the remaining 3,000 who were yet to arrive. By Martian Friday everyone who was supposed to be here would be.
The sun outside was streaming brightly into the massive room as the first third of the space was filling up with men, women and children, young and old, excited, interested and expectant. He had decided that this group, the families, secondary workers and elders would be a good group to do at once. The remaining were families and those who were part of the 'life' of the habitat and who would be part of studies to determine effects of life here on children, babies, and elders. They would be shopkeepers, make the newspapers and handle the downlink to Earth and all its many communications and public relations possibilities. In short, the Quality of Life Squad.
They settled, then Harris stood. "Thank you. I would like to introduce Ambassador Ratchet for the talk. I hope you pay strict attention to his directions and that of the soldiers who will be next." He sat.
Ratchet looked them over, then scanned the slag out of them. Talk burst out of the group, then settled as the electrical sensation hit all of them. "I just scanned you. I now have files of everyone in this room and in the other group. I know who you are from the bracelet with your information you wear, the microchip in your arm and your profile of health which I just took. Some of you are nursing conditions that aren't life threatening. Some of you are older and have elder issues. Most of you are very healthy. We have a medic coming here once a month to do that and consult with your medical staff. The hierarchy of human medical command begins at N.E.S.T with their doctor and Will Lennox will fill you in when he speaks.
"Right now, you know the rules about the dangers and how important safety is. I cannot stress it enough myself. Make it clear to the most vulnerable among you … you will die if you make a mistake out there. If you remove your helmet for any reason, you die. We have a retrieval system for humans where a team from a bridge comes for you. It's activated immediately by tech in your gear. Sometimes it might be fast enough, but what if it isn't? You may live but it would be with serious impairments.
"Lennox is the boss hog here on-world. What he says goes and even you, Harris, won't have the authority to deny or undermine that authority. There is no human around who knows life here like Lennox, Epps and Graham. Your access outside is going to be heavily supervised for a long time until we're all clear that everyone is up to the challenges that await you out there as carbon based lifeforms. As for the bots … we're used to you and will watch for you on sensors. However, if there's a fight or if you go to or too near to the bars here you may get crushed to death. We're a martial society and our people have been through a lot. Sometimes, things happen. Be aware.
"We work off the Terran Military Clock, the TMC, and we have Martian Monday through Sunday as a courtesy for the humans here. The Hu-An also have a circadian cycle like you so we're going to work from that for your sake. Cybertron, itself, has a nearly 47 hour day and we have a 'week' of fourteen days. We kept the fourteen day set up here utilizing the conditions of this planet. Some of us can go forever without recharge and some of us don't need it but live a settled life anyway.
"You will find endless similarities to your life on Earth here on Mars among us. It does us all good to seek them. Even though we are a very unlikely alien, we're a sentient species of immense antiquity. Some say we are the first species ever. Be that as it may, we have enormous experience with aliens ourselves and we want your life here to be good. I expect there to be a learning curve but I also expect that you will meet it and mutual respect can be achieved here like it has been at the Sciences Habitat, N.E.S.T. HQ, the Consulate, and among the families at the Tower and the Resort.
"I'm aware that you were filled in about this facility and what happens if you so much as put a nail in the wall. We have staff, both human and bot, who can do what you might need to have done. They've been trained to handle the special qualities of this habitat. Structural integrity is essential to safety and you don't know what can be built into the walls. You might hammer a nail into something integral for the entire facility and cause a catastrophe. This facility can sustain a nuclear blast. But it only takes the loss of one nail to lose the horse race." Ratchet chuckled. "I'm not sure that's a correct rendering of the expression I wanted to use but it serves my purpose."
The humans who were entranced clapped and whistled.
"This group is different from the first because there are children here. They're a serious responsibility in normal circumstances but here it can be lethal. We have specialized gear for children who live here. Our older children are not the worry. They're professional in their conduct and understanding. Babies? Not so much. I know they've trained with their gear but training and being here are much different. It's up to you to be on top of this and if there are any problems out there, security will appear and grab you to safety. You have been shown that program but nothing beats seeing it in action." Ratchet turned to Epps. "How about pressing your distress button?"
Epps did and almost immediately a bridge burst into sight with a pair of bots stepping in. With a grin, they grabbed Epps by the arms and jumped back in. The bridge closed immediately. Everyone stared at the empty spot with astonishment.
Ratchet laughed. "That's how fast it is when there's a problem or if there's tampering. They grab and go. You might survive or not … it depends on the catastrophe. Don't assume because they come that fast that you have less duty to be vigilant. They're even faster for children and practice everyday for any kind of problem. They know seconds count and there's a habitat into which you're pulled that will keep you safe and alive. Everyone of you are on their radar. Now we have 6,272 signals to monitor. It should be stated that none of the humans on-world before you ever had to be recalled but for one. That was because of illness overtaking them. As it goes now, different habitats have a contest amongst them to see who has the best record of non-utilization of the set up from New Year to year's end." Ratchet turned to them with a grin. "How's that going?"
"We're 0 and 1," Lennox said. "We gave Olivia's rescue to the Tower and they gave her back."
Snickers were had, then Ratchet turned back to the crowd. "Let me tell you about the supply system here and now it works."
-0-At the same time on Cybertron
They sat with a local council, one comprised of elders and hard working mechs who had kept the communities together through all their long ordeal on-world. Prime listened as they outlined their progress. Ironhide kept the record and noted what they needed so it could be provided. Much of the local progress was because capable mechs of all castes had banded together, sometimes with the former Decepticon leaders to get things done.
The list was made, then the topic changed. An elder nodded to Prime. "Lord Optimus, what is the status for the Functionalists? I recall them when I was a youth and I lost family and friends during their recalls."
"We have them in custody and there will be a Primal Tribunal. The crimes of which they are accused are beyond just me to adjudicate. The Pantheon will be called upon to hear the accusations and make the final decision. I will render my verdict but the Pantheon has the final say."
"There can be no penalty harsh enough for what they did. They murdered children and babies," a big mech said with considerable heat. "What about theirs? I heard that 4,500 of their people were with the Council."
"There were that many but more than half of them were servant class. They came with their families and if they owe a debt by their conduct they too will stand accused as well. We are not Cybertron under Sentinel or Nominus. We cannot seek vengence or act in a way that invites the tyrannies of the past back into our lives. We have changed. Our world and our lives are what they must be if we are to resurrect ourselves in a decent way. You must trust in the Matrix," Prime said.
The grim faced mech nodded. "I have no problem with the Matrix. I have a big problem with them. What you did, Lord Optimus … it was the only thing you could do without abandoning them. The Council did that. That has to be a charge against them. They left them after they killed them knowing a predatory group was ready to come and pillage. That has to be paid in kind."
Prime considered the group before him, hardworking decent mechs and femmes. "Justice, as much as it can be afforded considering the horror of these actions, will be served. You have my word of honor."
It was silent a moment, then the elder nodded. "We believe you. But you might want to know that there is a Functionalist enclave by the Sea of Mercury. They gathered there after the Fall and you might want to do something about them before others decide to do it for you."
Prime rose, then nodded. "Thank you, Abba, for the information. I think that we need to go there now."
-0-Earth2
"And that pretty much sums up how this colony runs, where you can go and not go, what you can and can't do, and what the penalities are if you mess up. Lennox can't save you nor can anyone else here if you decide that you want to tinker, pitch a fit, make trouble, break a law, or be an aft in any manner," Ratchet said.
"I won't," Lennox said with a pointed expression. "I'm not here to get you out of trouble if you screw up. Having you gone makes my life better. There have been 900, then 1,200 and now 5,000 of us here. Before you came, we were all good. I want it kept that way. It's up to you but if you can't, you're going. All I have to do is say go and you're gone. Remember that. I don't like funerals."
The conference continued, several dozen questions were asked, then the n00bie humans were dismissed. They nearly ran from the room in their excitement to see the place and begin. The locals and Ratchet watched them go, then glanced at each other. "We only have to do this two more times. By Martian Friday they will all be here," Niall said with a slight grin. "This is going to be strange."
Ratchet nodded. "It is but for most of them … 99% of them, this is going to be a good thing. I think they'll be great. Its the 1% that makes me nervous, Harris and the other hot shots."
"The billionaires," Graham said with a nod.
Then Epps grinned. "Did you know that they offered me a job here? They would pay me half a million dollars to be part of the security force in the habitat"
Everyone turned to him. "What did you tell them?" Ron Witwicky asked.
Epps frowned. "What did you think I said?"
"Yes?" Will asked with a grin. It was all slag after that.
-0-On the way back to N.E.S.T. HQ
Ratchet had modified his design into a cabover so that all of the soldiers could fit. The others were catching a ride on a delivery truck. "Epps … who asked you to join them?"
:Harris: Bobby Epps replied. :Why?:
"I'm going to create an atmosphere in here, boys. Take off your hoods,: Ratchet said with a smirky tone. They did. "What about telling this to Morshower? It's a violation of the agreement to solicit others from their jobs. This might be useful to getting into whatever it is Harris thinks he's doing."
"You mean accept the offer?" Epps asked with surprise. "I gathered he was joking."
"Was he?" Ratchet asked.
"I don't know. Rich old men are a bit out of my experience," Epps said with a grin.
"Let me talk to Morshower about it. It might come to nothing or you might be making large at the habitat," Ratchet said with a smile in his voice.
"Lucky me. If I have to do this then make sure I get a few paychecks in the bank before you pull the plug," Epps said as they motored onward down the road.
-0-TBC 6-15-17 edited 6-16-17