The Diego Diaries: Meet Up (dd6 118)
-0-Ops Center Conference Room
They chugged along taking report after report as the department heads chimed in. From Springer (Security, on and off world), to Magnus (the colony's management and focus along with treaty-related security), Arcee (femmes), Herling and Nova (education and children), etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, everyone got their turn on the catwalk. At last, they reached New Business. Prowl stared at the agenda, then glanced toward the door. Standing there, leaning against the doorjamb, Trailbreaker kibitzed off line with Hound who was standing behind him. "Gentlemen? You're up?"
Everyone turned to look at them, then Hound turned to call to someone out in the rec room. Roto appeared, then grinned. "Looks like a firing squad," he said to laughter and commentary as he entered the room. He glanced at Hound and Trailbreaker, then began. He told of a certain pink and light green femme, an older, very young resident having arrived in the first migration and her determination to be a good and loving citizen of her colony. He told of her idea, one shaped by a decaorn of research. He told of its meaning, kindness and sweetness.
The group listened enraptured as Roto explained 'Silverbow's Idea'.
Hound and Trailbreaker stood nervously in the door, summoned to go to the meeting on behalf of their tiny daughter. She had explained her meanings and desires and they had fallen, once again, under the spell of her genuine goodness. They were here to be her champions. Roto had come for Terradive to be his. Roto explained what would be needed, what would be required, where it would unfold and now long. It would require help from departments of the colony and would only take a brief instant in the center of The City. When he was finally done, the committee stared at him silently, then each other.
Starscream cleared his throat, an entirely unnecessary thing, then nodded. "I like this. A little femme has come up with this and wants to do it?"
Roto, Trailbreaker and Hound nodded together. "Yes," they said together.
Starscream looked at Prime who was as dazzled by Silverbow and her good little spark as the next one. "What say you, Prime?" he asked.
Prime glanced at the others, then Roto. "Of course," he simply said.
It was go.
For the following day.
In the center of the colony.
-0-A joor and The Good Of The Order later …
They walked through a bridge to the biggest encampment that was operated by the Circle and Knights. They were met by officials of The Network and led to the building that was the control center of the whole shebang. Dai Atlas was there along with his lieutenants. Ratchet and Prowl met them, then sat. They would spend four joors going over the situation, then visit the orderly camps where refugees were sent to get well enough to go onward. It was a colossal, monumental achievement by the groups and their enigmatic leader. When Prowl and Ratchet walked back through the bridge, they would have visited both of the major staging areas where the refugees came to recover before going onward, three other camps where they were gathered to send onward when given a medical clearance and two others that housed workers for the effort and supplies.
By the time they left, a plan would be in place to put a titan in the first camp to supply the effort in real time rather than be fed massive shipments from Mars. There would be more doctors and medics sent, those who were training to get real world experience. They would work shifts here and study medicine on Mars. More techs would come to help set up their sensor network to extend it even further into the universe as well as build and support the supply system that fed sometimes up to three million individuals. The new titan would also help them with infrastructure to house everyone. It would be more efficient and help with communications.
Before they touched the deck of The Fortress, a titan would be happily winging its way through Soft and every other kind of dimensional space on its way to service for The People.
-0-On the way upward
"That's one talented mech," Ratchet said as they re-entered the rec room. Walking to the Ops Center, they stopped at the command table to sit. "He's doing heroic work. Hard to imagine that he and Optimus had words in the past."
Prowl nodded. "I know. Time mends all wounds."
Ratchet sat back. "You have the next segment of the story, Prowl, by the way Turbine is the scorekeeper, I think. You're getting it sent to you. When we get it a certain length, then we post it anonymously."
Prowl nodded. "Who's after me?"
"Amma Corr," Ratchet said with a giant grin. Prowl grinned back. "What do you think about Silverbow's proposal?"
"I'm going to be there with my best camera. Does she need us to help her?" Prowl asked.
"I'll ask Terradive tonight. The thing happens tomorrow at mid orn," Ratchet said. "This is going to be off the scale cute."
Prowl nodded. "It is."
-0-Elsewhere
"This is what you do," Hercy said as he demonstrated it on Kup. All of the Home Guard trainees were watching, some with an intensity that was almost comical if it wasn't so sincere. Among them was Partition. They were in the dojo learning how to get free of restraints and multiple mechs gripping your aft. "Now, pair up, infants. Time to practice."
A big mech with an easy manner turned to Partition. He grinned. "You ready for this?" he asked.
Partition nodded, then smirked slightly. "I was born to do this," he said, then the two began to grapple.
-0-An art room in the school
Terradive's class worked together creating 'the thing' that Silverbow instructed. She was straw boss of the effort to do the 'thing' that had been borne in her processor when she was looking at videos on Youtube. They had sat together going over the plan, then ran it past their music teacher. Miss Sido who was enchanted by the idea helped them to prepare the music part of their 'thing'. Their art teacher, Miss Coral worked with them to create the art part of the project as Terradive watched the group create an idea, work it out, assign parts, then make it happen. It was what he wanted them to do and become, independent self sufficient thinkers. The humans who were part of it, too, worked as happily and that for some reason included Rain Harris who was now back in class. The three girls that were new had come more into the middle of things mostly because of the other human kids and some of the friendlier Cybertronians. Each of them helped to put the project together, one that would be put to the test at noon the following orn.
He couldn't wait for it to happen. He had invited the entire school board, the entire governing committee of the colony, the Seeker Council of Elders, and as many of the ammas and appas in their circle as they could manage to contact. Those elders would put out the word. IntraCom and Galaxy Productions would hear of it and be there too. Many would be the individual who would be waiting in the middle of the colony to watch the 'thing' currently in progress in the Art Room of the Youngling Day School #1 in Centurion.
-0-At a diner at noon
Lucien sat in a booth waiting for Laslo when Hobbes walked in. He was looking for a seat when Lucien saw him. Waving him over, he invited Hobbes to have lunch with them. He glanced around. "I'm thinking Edict will be here shortly. He's working in the lunchroom of the Sparkling School in Terra helping the babies eat. He likes it." Hobbes stared at Lucien, a mech he knew well and had conspired with in the labyrinthine dystopia that was the Central Command of Cybertron back in Iacon in the orn. He liked Lucien and Lucien liked him and his cousin, Traachon. "How are you, Lucien? And Laslo? I haven't seen you since you came."
"Not as well as I wish but better than being on the run. I understand that you had a spot of trouble when you came." Lucien sat back to hear the tale.
"Did you," Hobbes said gloomily. "We were manhandled when we arrived and consigned to prison. We've been put into servitude to pay off the sentence. Frankly, I'm at a loss here, Lucien."
Lucien nodded. "Then you heard about me?"
Hobbes stared at him. "You weren't from my district so I couldn't come. I would have assisted you, Lucien, but the outcomes are foregone conclusions anymore. You can't win in a caste court."
"So it would seem," Lucien said as he sat back to receive his food. Hobbes ordered, then watched the big mech begin to eat. "I'm going to run for public office. What about you?"
"I thought about it but for now, I don't know. Edict is still under a great deal of stress with all that's happened. Sunee is in the Processor Health Center under a Primal Hold."
"What?" Lucien asked with surprise. He knew Sunee enough to know that he was trouble but never had it risen to such a level in the past. At least, not within his hearing range anyway. "Why?"
"The same problem in the migration when the soldiers came to check the ship. There was a fight, then he did the same thing during the court hearing over that fight. He was held over and has been there ever since. Did you know that Traachon's daughters are in secure hold in the Hospital detention center? They're in stasis."
Lucien stared at Hobbes with a stunned expression for a moment. "Why?" he asked with genuine surprise.
"Their special functions," Hobbes said. "They were trying to affect an alliance with like-minded humans on Earth and were caught. They've been in stasis for some time and I don't know when its going to end."
"What does the community think about all this?" Lucien said as he leaned closer.
"They ignore such things. There was an organization, the Iacon Order, that represented us but gave in after a while. Apparently, the director and founder, Fenix, folded his cards when he got 'religion'." Hobbes frowned. "He and my cousin, Maddow lead it now and it's a service organization for the colony as well as a social club. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Maddow is here?" Lucien asked.
"He's a house historian for the Museum and an archivist specialist for the Temple. He's useless, Lucien. Trust me," Hobbes said.
"What about his guardian, that former police officer … what's his name?" Lucien asked as he thought through infinite memories for a face.
"Hauser? He's a detective and gang specialist for the Day and Night Watch, the policing forces," Hobbes said gloomily. "They disappoint every orn."
It was silent as Hobbes got his food delivered. They ate for a moment, then Laslo and Edict appeared in the doorway. Hobbes waved them over, then looked at Lucien. "Don't talk about this in front of Edict. He's struggling to be happy and I don't want that to be a problem for him."
Lucien nodded as the two arrived, then sat. No one would talk about anything but happy times.
-0-Art room in a youngling school
The mechs from The Game Place arrived with the three things and the other stuff needed for the 'thing'. Silverbow who was the straw boss directed the stuff to be placed just so, then thanked the mechs with a hug and smile. They walked out with a spring in their step. The kids looked at the 'thing', then Silverbow. "This is going to be amazing, Silverbow," Spirit said with a slight tone of awe.
She smiled, then nodded. "I think so, Spirit. Let's see this thing," she said, then they began to take stuff out of the big boxes.
Terradive watched them waiting for their call to arms but it didn't come. The little kids in his class had this.
-0-Ops Center again with information for Optimus
Prime read the notes from Dai Atlas, the list of things needed, the changes to the mission as they adapted, and the call for a titan. The titan was called by Metroplex who sat with Prime along with Tennyson, Paribolus and Typhoon.
"Then the next group coming will number 2 million?" Typhoon asked as they mulled over the information.
Prime nodded. "I have asked Wheeljack to do something for me that will speed things up and solve a problem that Atlas has already told me about. If this can be worked out we can take a continuous stream of civilians all the time rather than rake in millions at once. I want to do bridging to the area and deliver them here without ships. They don't have enough ships to take everyone here now because they are getting individuals without transport on sites and its become unsafe everywhere to go by ships even if they have them. Convoys and pirates appear to be a normal thing out there now, so they want assistance to do this more safety. As long as there are pirates making things difficult in the local area, its difficult so we are going to be assisting them with that problem shortly."
"What about posting another dreadnought out there, one to stay in space as a ship ready to fight. That will give the refugees coming from the local cluster and beyond some security," Typhoon said. "There are fifteen of us altogether and three more have made it to Soft Space. One of them is an old buddy, Siphon. He's about as bad aft as they get, me excluded."
Prime grinned. "When can he come?"
"He's on his way," Typhoon said. He glanced at the others. "Why don't we go pay Dai Atlas and his group a visit? That way we can show them how powerful and useful a dread can be. He can house a lot of individuals in comfort as well, elders and those that need it, and be a better hospital site than a tent."
Prime nodded. "Thank you. That relieves my processor a bit."
The mechs stood, then looked at him with serious expressions, all of them. "You do understand, Optimus, that we live to serve you, First Disciple of Primus. Just ask and it will be done, from now and unto death." The group of mechs bowed slightly. "See ya on the other side," Ty said with a grin as they turned to leave.
They cleared the deck as Prowl reached Prime. He looked at Optimus. "That is a very classy group of mechs."
Prime nodded. "They are," he said.
And the beat went on.
-0-9-5-17 edited 9-6-17
To all who are in harms way, in hurricanes, fires or flooding, you are forever in my prayers and thoughts. I wish I could help you more than just love you dearly. Take care and know that forever you are loved by me.