The Diego Diaries: Roamin' and Gloamin' (dd6 337)
-0-There and here and there again
They arrived at the Temple, two classes from Youngling Day. They piled out to meet both Lady Sela and Lord Chrome. They greeted the children, then gathered them around. "Infants, welcome to the Temple. Today, before you go inside for your history lesson, we have another out here at the Pavilion. The display you will see will be open to the public in two orns. Right now, we're going to see what it holds and talk about it. It covers a period of our history that was very bad and it was the starting point of what has happened to us ever after. We are going to talk about the Functionalists. Come with us," Chrome said gently as the kids made a long line. With their teachers and Lady Sela, they walked up the winding path to the huge open air pavilion nearby.
-0-The Hourly News everywhere
"Today it was disclosed that a number of humans from Earth would be taking residence at Earth2 in three orns who have a negative history with The People, It began during the initial habitation of Optimus Prime and his advanced team on the island of Diego Garcia in the middle of the British Indian Ocean on Earth. Having found the AllSpark on world after a long and brutal search, Optimus Prime, CMO Ratchet, Commanders Ironhide and Jazz along with Autobot Scout Bumblebee who made the initial discovery then settled in to help the humans defend against Decepticon incursions. There were many Decepticons still roaming Earth and there would later on be the discovery of a Protocol Team led by Arachnid as well.
"During their stay, more Autobots were sent for and came, heeding the call of Optimus Prime, drawing refugees as well. It was then that several humans were sent as State Department liaisons who would handle the Autobot brief for their government. They included Theodore Galloway and Jason Daniels. It was also during that time that humans began to liaison secretly with the Decepticons in exchange for technology that included Autobot soldiers to reverse engineer.
"During that period of interaction, Jason Daniels, Theodore Galloway and a man named William Nast worked together to make agreements with Decepticon leader, Shockwave. Given the level of tech that Shockwave could deploy, the humans had no idea that the human they were talking to was an upgraded hologram projected by Shockwave himself. Implicated in the deal making was Jason Daniels, liaison to Diego Garcia for the Autobot brief, his father, James Daniels of Daniels Industries, his grandfather, William Daniels who was former Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and last but not least, William Nast of Intel-Martin, a mercenary security company that specializes in private armies.
"After a long period of investigation upon discovery of their activities, all four were arrested, tried and sentenced to prison for treason and lesser offenses. Several days ago, the President of the United States gave them full pardons and they were released from prison. The story would end there for Autobot Nation but for a friendship with all of these human males with Harvey and Louis Richardson who are major partners in the corporation that runs the Earth2 facility on TransWorld Highway Road. Harvey Richardson has petitioned the Prime's office to allow the four to work at Earth2 on projects reflecting interests of the corporation in research and development.
"The Office of the Primes released this statement. 'Optimus Prime has given provisional permission for Jason, James and William Daniels along with William Nast to reside in the Earth2 facility under a number of highly restrictive caveats. They will be monitored, have no access to the colony unless granted by Primal Accord, and will be subject to scrutiny for the actions with deportation the penalty for any infractions.' There is no information for why they have been allowed to come here given the past but the Richardsons are asking for these people, four close friends, to have a chance to rehabilitate themselves in the midst of those that they harmed with their actions. Their desire is for friends to resurrect themselves and become productive individuals."
Magnus who was listening smirked slightly. "Whatever you think you might be up to, Richardson, Optimus is three steps ahead of you."
Jetta who was there with Mack nodded. "Truer words never spoken. Jazz is running the show with Paribolus. I'll keep you filled in."
"Do," Magnus said before they turned back to the new habitation site in a crater north of the Crater District.
-0-Resort Office at the same time
" … resurrect themselves and become productive individuals. We are going to take a break here and come back after the community club news from the Community Bulletin Board." It began to scroll slowly in NeoCybex, French and English.
Lois sat back from her computers, then grinned. "They're trying to infiltrate us. We better get our game dolls rehabbed and built a defensive line around this place. I think they might be coming here when they can."
"I hope they do," Sarah Lennox said as she remembered the men from Diego. She grinned. "This might be fun. Are they bringing wives or girlfriends?"
"I don't know," Judy said as she turned to her screen, flipped open the colony's 'phone book' and dialed in Earth2. A face appeared, a pretty woman of about 30. "Hello, Casey. Did you hear the news?"
Casey frowned. "We did. Sorry in advance."
"Apology accepted. Tell me all you know," Judy said as the women in the office gathered around to listen.
Gavin Pritchard who was checking a message nearby grinned. If anyone could get intel together, it was Judy Witwicky. He would fill in Niall and the boys later on.
-0-Sitting in a cafe at the new University of Autobot City …
"What do you suppose that might mean for Orion?" Kestrel asked with a slight worry.
"I think Orion has everything completely in control," Tagg said. "He's a very deep thinker, our son. He wouldn't allow them here if he didn't have it buttoned down. Don't worry, Kes. It will be fine."
Kestrel nodded. "He is very clever about this sort of thing. I find machinations difficult."
"That's because you're good, Kes," Tagg said with a grin.
Kes grinned back. "We can talk to him tonight. I won't allow anyone to harm our boy."
"Then we're on the same page, Kes," Tagg said as they ate at a table in a large beautiful cafe in the administration building of the university. All around them, students dined. Others walked busily here or there or gathered to chat. It was the final place where higher learning would be moved and it was brilliant.
As they sat eating, a forlorn winger walked up to them and sat with his own lunch. "You don't mind do you?" Smokey asked the two.
"Not at all, Smokescreen," Tagg said with a grin. They both helped him with his studies and they both loved the big kid who loved them back.
"You sound like my ada," Smokey said as he organized his plate to eat. "My family only calls me that when they're going to lower the boom."
"Then don't give them an opportunity to do so," Kes said with a grin. This mopey reluctant student was hilarious to him and he loved being around him, he was so bright and cheerful.
He looked at Kes with exasperation. "We're talking about physics."
Tagg and Kes both laughed loudly.
-0-At a meeting at Circle of Light Preparatory Academy
She drove into the conference room and parked. Bando who was a specialist on child intake gently put her on the table where she sat on a chair. Bando sat himself, then grinned. "Welcome, Mrs. Graham."
:Thank you, Bando. I'm so glad to be here to ask a few questions: Linda Graham said with a smile. :I know that our daughter, Aedh, is a bit young but Niall and I both want to have information about this school because we would like to have her attend here, then enter Sparkling Day when she's finished with the program:
"Your son attends Sparkling Day in the infant groups, right?" Bando asked.
:He does. He's attended that school since we came here to live. Both Niall and I are very happy about it. He's among four human babies his age who attend. What we want is for our children to have a thorough education in a very unique environment: she said, this surgical doctor and co-director of the Resort.
"We would delight in having your daughter attend here," Bando said as he opened a datapad. "This is our program. We know she's very young but its good to have plans in place for that event." They sat together talking for a joor, then Linda signed the application for Aedh's attendance. Niall would swing by after shift to sign as well.
-0-Sciences
"Then this system is a go," Wheeljack said as he looked at the data from the sciences station aboard a ship in orbit in the Sirius system. "We can utilize a few things to set it up. Sirius B won't be a problem. Much. We can use Selso V to test. If anything goes wrong, no one lives there and it'll be first of the five inner system planets that needs moving anyway. If this goes well, we can think about Cybertron and Gliese."
"The data will tell. We can move the inner system planets, the local group as our run ups to Gliese and Cybertron. This puts us a great deal closer to saving them from wandering. We can load the different planets with different kinds of sensors so we can figure out what affect moving them has on the worlds themselves as well as simulations of our own people."
Wheeljack nodded. "Agreed. Let's get this in presentation order to take to Prime. He has the call. Also get the data together to show what affect moving Selso V will have on the other planets in that group."
The youngsters and oldsters of the planetary group handling the science behind planetary transfer nodded, then bent their helms to the task.
-0-Farm
"This dispersal array of water is doing better than that one," Andrew 'Army' Steadman said. He was a tall thin man who was a pioneer of coaxing large amounts of food out of difficult and unproductive places. He was in charge of the overall program of food production, though there were many different individuals who had their share of the pie. He glanced over to another mass planted area and noted that the greens growing there were only half the size of the ones in the plot he was standing in. "I always wondered what part gravity would play in the growth or inhibition of growth in plants. The underground dispersal of water to the root systems is a better system than spraying. Its also good in the conservation of water as well." He looked up to the dome overhead with its bright daylight streaming in. "I am in awe of their tech. Think about the simple joy of not worrying about water condensation inside the facility."
The three scientists with him looked up and nodded. "Can you imagine what it would be like without this? We'd be crammed into a tiny set of habitats fending off our deaths from radiation poisoning and hoping against hope we could succeed," Arthur Talbot said.
Army nodded. "I look around this place and I'm in awe. We have a fully functional farm. If we succeed in any rate here we can grow our own food. The animals will always be exempt but we can grow a lot of our own produce here."
Ana Pavlov nodded. Then she stepped closer. "Did you hear the news this morning? On The Hourly News broadcast?"
Everyone with her nodded grimly. "We have to be watchful and careful. We're getting sketchy characters here and I don't want the Autobots to think we have anything to do with them. I also was told that some of the partners are coming here with their offices to work. The Richardsons to be exact or some of their partners. I don't know which it is but I don't like it. They have no idea what we're doing here and how we're not in it for profit yet. We can't do this out of order. It has to be done right without interference or pressure from management."
They nodded. After a moment of conversation, they bent to the task again. They were trying out non poisonous and non ruinous pesticides for weeds. They were also allowing some areas to have weeds to study. Everything was new here, even the stuff they had mastery of on Earth. This was all new territory. It was the most exciting and fascinating thing ever. The morning would pass quietly on The Farm at Earth2. As they worked, the roving camera feed that was automatically downloaded to Earth over the dedicated channel on the MCA would show them from time to time on the job.
-0-At the door of the CMO
A face leaned in with a grin. "You home?"
"Nope," Ratchet replied. "I'm here. What's up, bub?"
"We're going to lunch or 'lutch' as I heard it pronounced once by a little kid at Sparkling Day. Come with me or shall I say 'us'?" he asked as he moved his arm into view. Sitting on the palm of his big servo was a little femme with a white face and a copper paint scheme wearing a pale yellow onesie. Her long 'tresses' pooled around her as she smiled at Ratchet around her binky.
"Ah, incentive. Is that what this is or a bribe?" Ratchet said as he arose to take Halo into his arms. "Hello, cutie pie."
"She is. Looks like someone, I'm told," Ironhide said with a tiny preen.
"I heard that. Don't know what they're talking about," Ratchet said as they walked out heading for the elevator. "What's the poop out there in the colony?"
"Well, most think she's the cutest little femme ever. She likes micro mini-con popgun shells. She's saying atar like a pro. That's about it," Ironhide said as they stepped into the elevator.
"Sounds good to me," Ratchet said as the door closed on both.
-0-TBC 4-24-18