The Diego Diaries: Barbecue (dd6 319)
-0-Mingling
Optimus and Ironhide stood beside Warren meeting people as they walked through the gathering. There were famous faces around them and some who weren't. All of them were important in business, government and media with many of them hoping to align themselves through their various projects with Autobot Nation. A number of businessmen were gathered together talking shop when Warren stopped beside them. One of them was the elegant Englishman, Colin Brady, from the Diego conference. Warren introduced them, then mentioned that they were businessmen associated with Autobot City. It was a conversation starter of the finest kind.
"Mr. Paxton," Brady said as he looked at Prime. "You have business relationships with the Cybertronians. How did that come about?"
"We have aligned interests. Warren Roberts was so kind as to assist us at that junction," 'Orion Paxton' said with deliberate vagueness.
"We, that is, the four of us represent ventures that we put before the Ambassador at the United Nations Economic Development Forum at Diego Garcia recently. We don't feel very confident that our prospectus will be received with a lot of enthusiasm. What was your experience in dealing with Prime's government?" Blake asked as the others nodded.
"We want to do business with Prime in a partnership manner but I don't feel a lot of interest from them," another partner, a Canadian named Harper James.
"We had no problems," Prime said. "I believe that if you are open and above board, that you tell all that you desire in the most truthful and steadfast manner, it helps. They have had bad experiences with humans and that continues once in a while in the habitats. They are very ancient and can read artifice easily. Also, they have different viewpoints on stewardship of environments than most who live here. The ends does not justify the means to them."
"We would be conscientious in our stewardship of habitats and ventures," Harper said. "We would be careful and meet all expectations."
"What are your projects?" Prime asked as Warren listened. Ironhide was a blank slate beside him, giving away no emotions about where he stood on the conversation.
"We want to build a scientific outpost on one of the big moons of the gas giants. Perhaps Europa. We want to do hard science, harvest helium and explore. It's something that we want to do that will benefit Earth. Our resources for energy are running out. We have to adapt. If we could build an outpost there we can work on these problems. That would lead to other ventures including more human habitation on Mars and perhaps space stations in the system beyond what Quan Tell is proposing."
"You presented your proposal to Ratchet, then," Ironhide said.
They nodded. "The Ambassador heard our proposal but I don't feel confident," Lucas Bearup said with a shrug. He was a venture capitalist from California who specialized in energy investment. "I find it hard to read the Ambassador."
"Ratchet's smart and he's no ones fool. If you gave a good account, you'll get a fair rendering. He'll discuss it with Prime and they'll get back to you," Ironhide said.
"Do you know the Prime and the others who make the decisions?" Harper asked.
They both nodded. "Very well," 'Orion' replied.
"Then maybe we can prevail upon you to put in a word for us," Brady said. "In the spirit of advancing the well being of Earth together."
Prime nodded. "I will do that. I would like to know something that keeps popping up in conversation."
The humans nodded. "Alright. What is it?" Brady asked.
"We keep hearing about a huge habitat constructed on world by Prime who would operate and run it as owner-director. It is said to employ and house 20,000 humans and would be his domain. The projects would include working on products and ideas to help with Earth's problems. What do you hear about this?"
"I've heard it. It's in the rumor mill. Some would like it to happen, though having the Prime having final say over it not so much," Harper said. "It sort of came out of a group of venture capitalists and others in New York who were angling ways to get more humans on Mars and finding a way to do projects on their minds this way. I think it was sent out as a trial balloon which is getting a lot of currency on Earth. It's sort of an underground idea that's making the rounds."
"Who are these guys?" Ironhide asked.
"A group called Focal Investment. They're a bunch of tech freaks who made their mark and now want to be the next Elon Musk. They live and work on Wall Street and from what I hear are very influential, all of them wanting to make their mark on the world. They don't actually have a lot of social graces, but are very driven and goal oriented," Harper said.
"I think I know which group," Warren said. "They have lots of money and want to make more by working on futuristic ideas. They're obnoxious and don't really take no for an answer."
"I was wondering. I heard the rumor and some of those on Mars are concerned about it," Prime said as he looked at the humans. "The community there is very tight and they take care of each other. The idea of someone coming without good intentions would not sit well."
"We just want to do what we have planned. Some of them want more habitats. Prime has an entire world and we just want our little part of it," Brady said. "It would seem unneighborly not to share."
"The Autobots have standards," a voice said as someone joined them. "They look at things differently. They have concerns about the planets they occupy and what they do with them. They don't think much of what's happened to Earth and they would never let you do that there," Will Lennox said as he stood beside Warren. "They have little use for doing something just to do it. Everything but energon comes from space. They don't have mining operations for anything else and when they finish up a quarry, they return it to its former condition. No one would be able to tell otherwise when they were finished."
"Major Lennox," Brady said holding out his hand. "Good to meet you." Niall Graham and Andrew Settles joined the group and introductions were made. Brady grinned at Graham. "I would like to speak to you later about life on Mars if you don't mind, Captain," he said.
Niall nodded. "Alright," he said as the N.E.S.T., Sciences and Consular contingent from Mars made their way to the party. By this time, food was being brought out by the catering crew and everyone began to make their way to the tents and tables to sit. As Ironhide walked along with Prime and Warren, he noted that Ratchet was in conversation with a familiar face nearby.
Michael Bay.
-0-Nearby
He walked to the group of individuals having a conversation, then picked up a glass of champagne off a tray held by a server. "Thank you," he said. He turned to the group who were looking at him. "Hi," he said.
"Hello," an older man replied. "Are you a friend of Warren's?"
Ratchet nodded. "Warren and the Autobots."
It was just the right approach.
-0-Glowering in line
"Cosmic rust getting to you?" Prowl asked as he grinned at Ironhide.
The big mech glanced at Prowl. "Among other things."
"Eyes on the prize, Ironhide," Prowl said softly. "Intel. His studio and partners have a proposal in for Optimus to go over."
"Fraggers," Ironhide said, then he moved up, saw the food and felt immensely better. Warren Roberts knew how to eat like a warrior.
-0-At tables
They began to sit, taking their food and drink to the dining area. It was getting on toward evening and the light was fading. Lanterns came on and gave a beautiful effect to the gathering. The soldiers began to sit and so did the various Autobots among them. They wore a small round black pin on their lapels that was mostly unnoticeable unless you knew what it was. Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Smokey, and Bee joined the soldiers.
Smokey watched the humans around him. "It's weird being this small. And this … soft," he said as he touched his own arm. "How do you guys stand it?"
The humans laughed. "I don't know, Smokey. How do we stand it, boys?" Epps asked with a grin.
A number of individuals began to sit around them including a number of movie industry and media people. It was obvious that they wanted to talk to the soldiers but everyone was having too good a time to make it easy for them. As they began to gather, Michael Bay walked to the table with his food and drink, sitting with Able Morrison who was head of the studio that distributed Galaxy Productions' works.
The soldiers smirked at each other as the bots stared at Bay. Moments later, more Autobots came over to sit including Springer and Drift.
:Springer, your boyfriend is sitting behind me: Sideswipe said with a smirk. :You know who is here:
Springer glanced at him as the buzz surrounded them on all sides. :Who?:
:Think movies. Think cosmic rust: Sideswipe said as he jerked his head in the direction of Bay.
Springer froze at the sight as Drift smirked. "So. He came."
"A gift from Warren. He wants on world to film stuff," Sunstreaker said as he gazed at Bay like he was a mark.
"Well, he won't," Smokey said hotly.
Everyone around them paused to glance at him. He glanced around, then sat a bit lower in his chair. "He won't," he said in a soft voice. "Will he?"
The soldiers on both sides laughed. "We shall see," Hercy said with a smirk. "It's up to Optimus."
Prime walked out with Prowl and Maureen as she led him to the table where they wanted both to sit. Ratchet and Ironhide followed along with the other senior Autobots. Alor and Devcon walked to the table, then Dev walked toward Smokey nearby, taking a seat he saved. They sat and grinned at each other. "I could hear you in the tent," Dev said.
"Sorry, Amma," he said with a grin, then he nodded toward Bay. :That's the guy who makes the movies about us, Amma:
Dev looked at Bay, memorized him like prey, then grinned. "Eat up, infant. There's more where this came from."
"Good thing, Amma. I'm hungry. But know that no one makes desserts like you do," Smokey said as he began to eat again.
Everyone grinned at him as he did.
-0-Nearby
"What did you and Bay chat about?" Maureen said as Ratchet sat across from her.
"Well, he likes my look. He asked if I was an actress. I told him I was a friend of Autobot Nation." Ratchet grinned. "He asked me the likelihood of his company and studio getting a chance to work on world. I told him fair."
"Do you really want him there?" Warren asked with a grin. "I don't think he'd be welcome with open arms would he? He did, after all, kill most of you including you," he said as he glanced at Optimus.
"I did die in a heroic manner," Optimus said with a grin. "That part if it had to happen was at least memorable."
"It was slag," Prowl said quietly. "You're above such things."
Ratchet laughed. "Go, Prowl," he said. "It was remarkably civil. I didn't have time to have a cinematic discussion with him but I did tell him that there were a lot of Cybertronians who think his cavalier attitudes about killing bots aren't popular on world."
"What did he say?" Alor asked.
"He said he only cared about Bee and Optimus," Ratchet said. "He didn't care about the rest of us. He told me that he could always just make up more." It was grim for a moment. "I asked him about making Mirage a doofus. He laughed. I don't think its a deeply held thing for him. Its all about the boom booms. I told him Wheeljack is a handsome bot and that his rendition of 'Jack was incredibly offensive and awful."
"And?" Prowl asked.
"He just shrugged," Ratchet replied. "I don't think he likes criticism because he's up his own aft a bit but I'm surprised I didn't punch him. By the way, a number of these slaggers want to speak with the four of you before this is over to get inside tips and intel on us and how things operate. They really, really want to come to Mars and around the system."
"We have to discuss the proposals. I want them troubleshot to the last detail," Optimus said. "As for the 20,000 human habitat … its the brainchild of venture capitalists in New York who are tech billionaires. I want you to find out about them, Ratchet and Alor, when we get back."
They nodded. As they chatted, Harper James and Colin Brady walked to the table taking a couple of empty seats. They settled, then grinned at Maureen. "What a beautiful dinner, Maureen. Thank you for having us," Colin said.
"It's our pleasure," Maureen said. "We like to have a good mix of people at our parties."
"You do, indeed. I learned that these gentlemen," he said nodding to the group at the table, "are in business with the Autobots. We hope to speak at length with you before the evening is over. But before that, perhaps you can tell us a bit about the cars we passed walking in here. I was told they belong to you."
Ratchet grinned. "You can say that," he said.
-0-TBC 4-4-18