The Diego Diaries: 'Epps: The Moosical' (dd6 401)
-0-At the Autobot City Interplanetary Municipal Airport, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire
Zak Hadden paced nearby as Monica sat beside Bobby Epps on a couch in the airport waiting for a supply ship from Earth to arrive with his parents. They had lifted off about an hour ago to pick up a mech from Diego, then continue onward. They were part of the Autobot Nation fleet, a shipping arm of the Autobot Nation Foundation and Commercial Enterprise entity that supplied their stores worldwide and facilitated other business transactions. There were centralized warehouses all over the Earth which were supplied with product. That product was then dispersed to stores or to customers through their burgeoning online presence.
He turned to the pair. "I guess we live in Unidad now," Zak said. "Weird how fast things can change."
Bobby nodded. "I know. I had no idea that my dad and granddad were part of Prime's plans. They retired as farmers. Now they're back at it."
"I think its wonderful. My dad and mom are easy to work with. They're all about the work and the ideas. They don't run things like a pirate. Owen Harris targeted us from the moment we agreed to help Optimus with his plans." Zak shook his head. "He doesn't like having to toe lines or having employees that don't obey everything he says. I think there's going to be a lot of Earth2 workers jumping ship."
"Then he'll have to replace them. Right now, we know who you are. Newcomers could be a hazardous proposition," Bobby said. "We'll take it day by day."
Zak nodded. Then he turned back to the window as the sound of an engine making its way toward them was heard. Lights flashed through the facility from an approaching ship, blindly bright in the facility which was empty on the Earth side of the building. Steeko was there to put them through immigration but no one else was. The other side, the bot side was busy as usual orn and night.
The vessel came forward, then turned slightly to align with the jetway that would allow the humans to walk off into safety. It slowed, then stopped. After a moment, the jetway slid out and hooked to the ship with a hissing seal. They gathered at the window, the three of them to watch. Two mini-con mechs came out carrying kennels. Next came crew who flew the ship. They carried the Hadden luggage, tiny looking bags and cases in their big, big hands. Then next came a mini-con leading the Haddens forward. They were looking everywhere with excitement as they followed the mini-con.
"Here they come," Zak said with a big smile. He was nearly quivering with excitement as he and Monica watched them walk through the jetway toward the door that would let them inside. In seconds, they cleared that hurdle, then walked into the huge facility reception area glancing around with amazement. Glancing their way, they saw Zak and Monica. Bellowing with joy, they ran to each other and hugged tightly. Babbling was key for a moment, then they turned to Epps. "Mom, Dad, this is Master Sargent Bobby Epps of N.E.S.T. This is my father, Leslie Hadden and my mom, Terri."
They shook hands. "This is incredible. We flew through organizing this. I'm delighted to see you, Sargent, and to be here," Les Hadden said.
"We're glad to have you. My father and grandfather are going to be running the dairy," Epps said proudly.
Both Haddens stared at him, then their kids who smiled and nodded. Les leaned slightly closer. "Dairy?"
Steeko walked to them with a grin. "How about we clear you through customs and get you on your way? It's getting late."
They followed him to the counter nearby and after giving their passports and photo ID over, the pass through to 'foreign worker-permanent status visa' was cleared. Epps turned to the happy foursome. "Why don't we leave here so Steeko can go home. Come over here and we'll show you your gear. We can check-clear you on it tomorrow. This gear is rated for each of you alone. It won't save you if you mix it up so we put your name on it. It'll read your bio signature when you don it and that way it'll alarm if you pick up the wrong stuff."
They followed Epps to the couch, donned their gear with some fumbling, then followed him to the barrier and out to where a N.E.S.T. truck was sitting. Walking past it, he stepped out onto the platform that ran all the way around the vast building outside. Down the human steps next to the bot steps he went, then paused before a sand garden that bordered the staircase. Turing to them, he grinned. :Step on that. Its the real Mars."
They looked at it, then smiled at him. Stepping into the sand, they both turned to their son. :We're on Mars. We're really on Mars:
Everyone laughed, then Zak nodded. :You'll get used to it. About ten life times from now:
They chatted a moment as Epps pointed out a few sights in the darkness around them and the glittering beauty of The City beyond. Darkness had arrived and without the city's lights, it would be pitch dark around them. :Come on. We're heading for Unidad. Let's load up and go:
They did and entered the vehicle, peeling out to cross the Military Airfield which was only busy with Seeker flights and the odd ship coming in or going out on soldiering business. Back behind them, the shipping center near the Municipal Airport was going great guns as usual and would do so around the clock. The group was silent as Epps reached Fortress Road and slipped into the lighter traffic of night.
Les looked out the window. :How many are bots and how many are cars? Is there a way to tell?:
:Not always but most of the bots drive without holograms sitting behind the wheel. If it drives without a driver, its usually a bot: Epps replied.
It was silent again as they drove Fortress Road, passing the Citadel which looked skyward bathed with floor lights, massive guns and menace. They entered the intersection, then turned left to head for the big roundabout near the Mausoleum that had a turn off toward the Mall of the Tri-Cities. It would be there that they would follow the highway toward Industrial Park Cities, then turn off the road to plow through the darkness toward the massive lighted structure of Unidad-Terra 1. It would be impossible to miss once they passed the Temple District and the outer edges of The City.
:Is that the Temple of Primus?: Terri asked.
:It is. You're not cleared to enter it: Epps said with a grin. :Don't feel bad. Most aren't:
:Its huge. And beautiful: Terri mused. Then she turned to her kids. :Have you been to the habitat yet?: Terri asked Monica and Zak.
They nodded. "We have. We moved there after we resigned from Earth2. Optimus Prime made sure it was easy and brought us here. We might be the only ones living in it tonight beyond the internal bot crew who are getting things organized and finishing up other stuff. The Operational Center will have a full crew who'll be there all the time, changing with shifts. We aren't allowed to enter it, same as Earth2. Earth 1 is run remotely for now. No one there has charge of the facility. It's not considered safe. There might be 100 individuals there, tops. It's suited right now to house 45,000: Zak said.
:Whoa. What's the command structure of the facility? I'm assuming that Optimus Prime has some kind of structure in mind: Les said as they passed the Mausoleum and entered the huge roundabout. It was four lanes around with turnoffs to different places spaced out around it. They took the road to Mall of the Tri-Cities which was posted in English, French, NeoCybex, and Sim-Keen, the Seeker language of choice. Heading toward the lights of the Tri-Cities, several other facilities located along the highway were busy with crews clearing sand, stones and debris. With Seven Cities-South in the distance, they made their way as best they could. As they did, the glow of the behemoth habitat could be seen easily from the night time flood lights that illuminated it to the world.
No one had a word to say as it slowly grew bigger.
-0-Night time at Unidad
Corbal who was facility manage for all aspects of the building and had an office in the administrative area of Ops Center sent his army of workers onward with a big smile. He was a mini-con Seeker who had a degree in business administration, systems management and was currently working on one that included international business. He was hooked on advancement after spending too much of his youth shooting at other younglings across the philosophical divide. Now he was running a massive installation filled with humans (eventually) and it made his elders proud.
He walked back to the elevator and went directly upward two flights to the finally configured Operational Center for both buildings which were fused together in a slightly tweaked building design that held a slight crescent shape. The crescent shape accommodated Invincible's slightly smaller size with the bigger Thrasher. It was a nice touch and was a stunning design, this place, with the usual sweeping views, highly polished interior and major amenities for the inmates. He would have to run this place in all its many and sundry aspects and do so as not only the youngest manager on Prime's business division team but the most highly placed Seeker. He was thrilled and so was his family.
Entering, he nodded to Micro who was overall operational control officer of the place. "I'll be in the office, Micro."
Micro nodded, then turned back to Springer and Drift who were going over the internal security force which would go online the following orn and the procedures to implement if there were emergencies. It would take a while, then Drift and Springer would gallop off into the darkness to do battle with the Elements of Evil.
-0-At the gates
They bumped their way in the darkness over dunes, rocks and the odd pot hole toward the receiving area of the facility, the same style of entry that Earth 1 and 2 utilized, though many times more vast. Buzzing in, they pulled up in front of the airlock where Breezer waited. He was the 'majordomo' of the place, the go-to guy for information on locations, things and all that made life worth living. He would be the one who would make the place fly until everyone who was going to live here worked it out. Then he would be one of the shift leaders for Micro.
Airlock magic happened, then they stepped out, walking to the door as Breezer had a mech collect their stuff. He followed them in and set down the dog kennels, knowing from experience with humans that they liked their piddly little yappers with them. They opened the kennels, two border collies rushed out and jumped all over everyone, then they followed Breezer to a vehicle with a trailer attached. Loading up, he looked at Epps. "I set the GPS to find their quarters. If you'd drive them, it might be easier than trying to load me up as well. I'll meet you up there."
"On it, Breezy. Thanks," Epps said as he hopped in and drove forward. They drove along the street which was drawn onto the floor until they reached the buildings that formed the inside and made actual streets appear more normal in the towering structure. Listening to the GPS, he drove onward until he came to the big vehicle capable elevators along the back walls. Entering, the vehicle set the elevator and they went upward. The elevator had a glass wall that allowed them to see out as they passed each level toward the top. The view, of course, was on the darkness beyond which was the enclosed habitat. There were no lights placed into its vastness yet. That would come when areas were marked off, roads built and canals constructed.
"This is amazing. Look at all the lights out there," Les said.
"Those are different cities, Dad. Some of them have five or six major cities situated in a cluster with each other. You have to see it to believe it," Zak said as they halted and the doors opened.
Epps drove out and followed the directions until he came to stop in front of an apartment door where Breezer waited. Shutting off the vehicle, dogs and people climbed out, then halted before Breezer. These two apartments are yours," Breezer said. He showed them how to key their place to their bio signature, then glanced at two across the way. "That's the apartments of Harley and Omar. They asked if you'd come over when you got here."
"Thank you, Breezy. We will," Bobby said as they watched the big mech nod, then walk back the way he came.
"They can walk around in here. Good," Terri said.
"They design the habitats that way. It helps them with emergencies. You're going to find that safety is king around here. Come on," Epps said as he walked across the hall and rapped on a door. The others followed with their dogs and when the door opened, they entered to welcome, hugs and dinner. Merlie Epps, wife of Harley, mother of Robert Merritt 'Omar' Epps and grandmother to Robert Merritt 'Sonny' Epps, Junior had made the first meal ever served in the complex and everyone would sit down to eat it.
After that, they would talk cows, crops and how lucky it was to be alive. They would become fast friends in the process.
And it wasn't even morning of the second day yet.
-0-TBC 7-2-18 edited 7-5-18