The Diego Diaries: Dicker (dd6 303)
-0-Diego, shortly after a spectacle
:Where do we stand or sit?: Sunstreaker glanced at Ratchet. He had seen The Spectacle on the monitor and blitzed over to hang out.
:Wherever your sickeningly good looks will do me some good: Ratchet said as he smiled brightly to the roomful of humans who were gathering. Sunstreaker grinned, then walked to the wall nearby to lean against it to watch.
Cameras were everywhere and the networks as well as the consortium broadcast was carrying the whole thing live. Ratchet would sit in front of them on the usual huge bench while other bots would stand here and there in front ready to assist or to record the goings on. Humans would have chairs. Ratchet stood in front of about 300 humans, all of them with an agenda. They represented about 15 countries and several major corporations. There were also trade and technology groups here. He sat, then glanced at the army techs who were running things. "Are we ready to go?" he asked.
They grinned and nodded.
Ratchet looked at the crowd who were sitting down or getting there. He grinned. "Welcome to Diego Garcia, a super secret base," he said as everyone laughed. "This was ground zero for the Autobots when we came here eleven of your Earth years ago. There were five of us then, me, Ironhide, Jazz, Bumblebee, and Optimus Prime. We helped you with a problem or two, then stayed to make sure those problems stayed small and managed. Along the way, we made ourselves at home among those who live and work here, some of them dear and deeply loved friends. When it became clear that when Optimus Prime's signal for more soldiers to come defend the Earth also attracted refugees, we had to do something. He's the Prime and they're ours. We found a place for them and we've continued to take them in.
"From the first group of about 54+ individuals, we've graduated to rescuing nearly two and a half million at a time," he said as some in the room gasped. "We received them, working as hard as we could to provide shelter, care and quality of life. Our children go to first class schools. We get to choose the work we want and we all live a high quality life in terms of material desires. Our people are industrious, far thinking, intensely decent, resilient, and good. Those words can describe anyone of them and it truly defines Optimus Prime.
"He has never given up the faith, seeking a place of safety for our people even as we searched for Megatron and objects of great prestige that are his alone. He never wavered. He never gave up. He helped those along the way who were in harm's path and suffered for it sometimes. He commands respect and gives it. That makes him about unique among those who lead. In these days all over your planet, that sort of leadership, that sort of inspiration may seem odd or even quaint. But understand … I'm talking about a devotion to his people, culture and duty that has spanned millions of your Earth years.
"Now we gather to talk about things of interest, some of them mutual. Nothing that's agreed upon nor declined is done with glibness nor a lack of understanding how important it may be to you. We know what it means to want something desperately, but understand … we also are no one's fools nor are we likely to approve anything that doesn't meet our standards or holds its own integrity. We live a life with standards that we don't compromise. Understand … if your proposal calls for resource development of the planet and its delicate environment without greater purpose than to exploit the local mineral base, it will have hard sledding with us. We're careful about the care and tending of worlds. Given that you have a lesser drive about such matters, we're going to be hard line for proposals that involve mining or other planetary invasive practices.
"We also have been neighborly in terms of the kinds and number of developments for humans on world. I know that you want more but you don't have to develop, build and maintain such structures nor defend them. We do. We love our humans. They're our friends and some of them are our countrymen and women. We're happy to have them and we work and live together well. We will maintain that relationship without distraction or disruption. If you keep that in mine, we shall be fine.
"Warren Roberts is our business agent and general manage of Autobot Nation, Incorporated. Warren is our interface between your world and ours as well as the personal legal counsel, adviser and friend of the Prime of Cybertron. Also with me today, among a cast of individuals who will come and go at times is Sam Witwicky, our business and field representative for Earth. Carly Brooks-Spencer is the general representative for commerce and all business related matters for the United Nations Consulate on Mars, Mikaela Banes is our Communications and Public Relations Director for Autobot Nation, Lucien of Iacon is my political adjutant and consultant, Fenix of Capital City is legal counsel and consultant to the City Manager, Ultra Magnus of Iacon who isn't here yet as well as legal counsel to Venture of Praxus," Ratchet said nodding to the big handsome mech. "Venture is chief economist and economic adviser to the Prime for the Empire, Caro of Polyhex is manager of business contracts and economic development. Last but not least," Ratchet said as he turned toward the doors in the back of the hangar which were opened for the breeze. "Those mechs are all soldiers, some of them are my sons, all of them are just this side of awesome. They came for the fun. Right, boys?"
They laughed loudly, then grinned at the humans who ran a range from intimidated to outright awe. Ratchet grinned, then looked at the group. "The Prime's second in command, Prowl of Praxus should be here eventually. He'll probably bring a hammer with him just for me," Ratchet said as the room burst into laughter and applause, just like he knew they would. He smiled brilliantly, then glanced at Warren. "If you would do the honors, Warren."
Warren Roberts who had been sitting with the other aforementioned members of The Family rose to walk to a podium with a dozen microphones. "Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. I first met these incredible people when I was working for the State Department and was sent here to investigate aggressive actions against the Autobots by paid mercenaries who were brought on base with a liaison stationed here. It was a life changing experience. I found my calling. I'm the gateway to the kingdom. No one passes through that gate without my permission. Through the efforts of everyone named, both human and bot, we've managed to work out an amazing array of opportunities for our people to live and work off world and for us to live together in a way that fosters friendships and understanding.
"There are many installations on Mars that are the domains of our own people. There are the first ones, the Sciences Habitat and the N.E.S.T. Headquarters where the garrison lives. After that, the Family Tower was made to house families of soldiers and eventually, a lot of others. After that, Earth 1 came about. Then the Resort of Autobot City, the Consulate, Rick Harris's adventuring business, and finally, Earth2. There are roughly 6,400+ humans who live there full time. That number fluctuates because many of the long term residents, the scientists, the soldiers, and those who run the Resort had family members come to visit and most of them now live either part or full time on world.
"Babies have been born on Mars, human babies. Angus Optimus Wilkerson and Aedh Louise Graham will forever list their place of birth as Autobot City, Mars, the Primal Colony of Optimus Prime. There are four more babies on the way. We know and appreciate your desire to join them and make a life for yourself and your business on Mars. We understand completely. But you must also understand a few things as well.
"Mars functions and thrives because there are rules, standards and laws that are in place and they work. Everyone follows the laws of Cybertron. That's part of every charter. The Ambassador can tell you about the endless minutiae that we had to go through to delineate everyone's duties and responsibilities. All of us agreed. If you break the laws of the colony, you will be arrested. There are even jurisdictions agreed upon inside the habitats that also can be adjudicated by the Autobots. The entire operation that includes a lot of other planets, enormous burdens of responsibility including the building, maintaining and facilitating all of the habitats and the security of everyone falls to Optimus Prime.
"I will tell you that in my life I have found individuals that are honorable and good, but no one meets the level of decency, intelligence and honor that defines Optimus Prime. It's my deepest honor and achievement to be his agent but more so, to be his friend. We are here to discuss ventures and their feasibility. Some of you might not be satisfied and others will be. Either way, you're here to tell us what you'd like, how it would be accomplished and why it would be ventured. We're open to your ideas and if we don't accept them now, go back and work on them. You will find from the conversations today how things function here. Use that knowledge." He glanced at Ratchet. "Mr. Ambassador, its all yours."
Applause greeted Warren as he sat. Ratchet grinned at him and he grinned at Ratchet. "Thanks, Warren. You know how we feel, too." He looked at the expectant crowd. "You have the agenda. Shall we begin?"
They would. The mechs watching glanced at each other, then Sunstreaker walked to Ratchet and leaned down. :You need us?:
:I will always need you: Ratchet said with a dazzler.
Sunstreaker chuckled. :We're going for a swim. Have fun:
:Slaggers. Abandon me in my joor of need: Ratchet said as they walked out with laughter. He glanced at the humans. "Infants these days," he said to laughter.
-0-Ops Center, you know where
"You sort of set yourself up for this;"
Prowl glanced at Prime with a gimlet optic. "Yes," he said softly. "Thank you for reminding me."
Prime grinned, then chuckled. "You two are fun. Just know that. When do they want me to swing by and shine my light?"
"I will message you and you aren't really going to … shine?" Prowl asked warily.
Prime grinned, then rose. "Figure of speech. Maybe." He walked with a light tread to his office.
Prowl watched him go, then glared at the monitor. "You're a slagger, Loon, but you're surprisingly good at shaking your aft. Especially since you don't really have one," he said softly to himself. He grinned, then turned back to work that included the invite to a barbecue at Warren's house after the big game.
THE ONE PRAXUS WASN'T GOING TO BE IN! AGAIN!
With a sniffle heavily suppressed, Prowl of Praxus went back to work.
On his donut and tea.
Frag the loon.
-0-There
"We would then be able to supply helium to Earth and carry on research about life on Titan and Europa. We know that you have already made a lot of surveys of the system and we've gone over that a great deal, but we also want to have a chance to explore. It's in our genes," a science presenter for a powerful multinational energy company consortium said. He would continue.
-0-Cybertron
"This is the Dead End. When we came here it was a mad house. Nearly everyone was starved, all of them were damaged and helpless. They lived in squalor and we had to chase them down. Right now, there's word that some have crept back. They don't know they're free and we can help them. There's mechs and a femme or two that are in long term care and probably won't be able to live on their own again. But they'll be safe and cared for. We're going in there and look. Keep your tread light, your scanners open and when you locate someone, tell me. We have to approach them carefully. Some of them will kick your aft."
Inweld, Morius, Partition, and Lancer stood near the gate of the ghetto where who knows how many had lived and died over the eons. Bezel and Lon were with them as they walked in to look for lost sparks. It was empty and eerie as they walked down the dark empty street. The area was going to be torn down and rebuilt as housing for those who lived in this area. The buildings that would be rising up for the very bots they rescued would be as high caste as they could make them.
They walked into the dark brooding area with long shadows thrown by the light towers around the area. They would walk in the spooky area for several hours and find no one. It would be an enormous relief. Walking back to the ship parked nearby, they climbed aboard and lifted off to the Wasteland of Kaon. They would find the odd addled mech there. They would treat them gently, hold their servos as they babbled and personally check them into the local hospitals. It would be an education.
They would all pass it.
-0-TBC 3-19-18 edited 3-31-18