The Diego Diaries: Cat and Mouse (dd6 625)
=0=Ops Center conference room
A micro bridge burst into being down table and a number of individuals walked out in gear. Warren Roberts and his aide, Milton along with Mikaela Banes and Sam Witwicky who were in New York at a meeting to handle this catastrophe on Earth walked out to gather with the humans just as a vehicle drove in, parked with the others and humans began to get out. John Fulton, Ron Witwicky and the Teasdale twins walked to the ladder, climbed up and gathered with the group.
:Sorry we're late. We were on conference calls: Warren said.
"Welcome. We were discussing the situation together," Prowl said as he gathered more chairs for the newcomers. "We will meet after this to gauge reaction and plan our response."
Warren nodded and joined the others in chairs and couches.
Everyone turned back to Owen who watched the newcomers gather. They were either employees of Autobot Nation or friends but all of them were allies and family in the optics of the bots.
:I'll do everything I can to assist here, Prime. I pledge Earth2 to this goal. No one wants this individual captured more than us. We might be living with them and their behavior is despoiling everything that we labor to achieve. We aren't the enemy. We're in this for the same reasons as everyone else: Owen said.
:Truth: Ratchet said as Prime nodded slightly.
:Optimus, you know we're with you. Coming here was a life's dream. I was different when I came, less aware of my duties and responsibilities to the Earth and more selfish and arrogant: Brandon Clark said.
:You were a dick: Judy W said as everyone nodded and laughed.
Brandon laughed as well. :I was. But I learned. I learned to love this place. I got married in the habitat by you, sir, something I never expected I was so driven by the job. My son is going to the nursery at the Circle Academy and will attend the public schools here when he's old enough. I want him to have everything and the experiences with your people are the biggest part of it. I hear he has a friend there, a little femme named Pico. That thrills me.
:We're pioneering for our people and the road was never going to be smooth but this … this is bad and we're devoted to helping you find this person. We don't want anymore people hurt: he said with conviction.
:We don't: Gavin said. :My family is here, too and attending the schools with bot kids. It's what I hoped for when I heard that Niall was part of this and I'll always owe him for recommending me to you: he said as he glanced at Judy and Ron.
:You're the best: Judy said as the others nodded.
Gavin grinned. :Thanks, boss:
:You better believe it: Judy said as she walked to Prime. She put her hand on his giant servo. :When I first saw you tearing up my yard and breaking my fountain … you really did that … I was … ambivalent. I was pissed and intrigued. I didn't know you then but I do now and I'm a citizen of your world and mine. When my son brought that psychotic car home I never thought it would lead to this but I'm so happy. I have purpose here. I can help people come here and find out what a great place this is and what great people the bots are.
:No one has greater buy in than us. Why, Glenn and Barbara are bringing their son here to work at the Resort now that he's retired from the army: she said with a smirk at Glenn.
Everyone laughed.
:Call it nepotism if you like: Glenn said. :I expect to work there sometime myself:
Huge mockery.
:What I'm saying is … we are one. We are family. We all work to the common good and those who don't … we will find you and hunt you down: Judy said ominously.
:With a purse to the face: Sam said as he sat next to Carly on a couch.
HUGE mockery and lots of cheering for Judy.
Not a small bit of mockery for Sam and a chiding for allowing the shooting of 'those babies', the kitchen appliances turned hell beasts.
The little slaggers.
It grew quiet.
Then Michio turned to Prime. :We were among the first to come after N.E.S.T. We love it here. We do great science for all our people which we could never do anywhere else. We know how lucky we are. Understand, we will help you find this person. No one is going to hold back. We're as shamed by this as anyone else. We're all in this together: he said as he turned to the delegation from Earth2. :We're going to expand some fine day. Our presence is going to grow here and other places, too. How fast and well that happens depends upon us doing our duty and being good to each other. All of us, Owen:
Everyone nodded, then Warren stood. :What do you want us to do about this, Optimus? I'm shaken by the savagery of this and all of us owe it to the dead and their families to find out the cause, the person and put stop it:
Prime nodded. "We are not going to release very much information about the crime scenes or murders themselves. We are not going to discuss it pending the investigation. I would like Earth to understand that we have tremendous technological advantages over them but we never promised infallibility nor did we ever promise that nothing bad will ever happen. We work very hard to make risk minimal and we have slowed the advancement of human habitation here because of things like this. Until this is cleared up, there will be no further talk about it," he said.
:Shall I mention the habitat being built at Arcturus?: Ratchet asked Prowl.
He turned a cool gaze on Ratchet. :If you want to be permanently stationed to Slaughter City:
Ratchet grinned, then tuned back into Prime.
"Our greatest concern with large numbers of humans was the simple notion that not everyone would be on the same page as the rest of us in expectations and behavior. We have to resolve this and make it clear who is responsible and why. The mercenaries will stay in protective custody and we are not allowing visitors. We want them to be alone to think about this and hopefully at some point tell us what they might know. Either way, they will not be targets." Then Prime leaned closer to the group. "That means his targets of preference will not be available. We shall see if this is a grudge match or something less personal."
:That means we're going to be targeted: Owen said catching onto the subtext immediately.
"We are expanding our presence at your facility as per the Charters. We are going to do what we can to make sure no one is harmed further," Prime said as he sat back.
:But … how will you know? How can you? You already have immense security and still this happened: Harris persisted.
"What would you have us do, Mr. Harris? We are already doing everything we can," Prime said. He glanced at Prowl. "Are the troops deployed?"
"They are," Prowl said as he picked up a data pad. "I'm sending to the facility a platoon of handpicked individuals who will be taking up positions inside the facility. There will be two on each floor, one to stand by the elevators and main entrance doors and another to rove. Outside, there will be a number of mechs who will be on call. All of them will be heavily armed and all of them will be able to handle events and extractions as they may arise. They have authority superseding your own, Mr. Harris, on the security of the facility and protection of the people. They answer to Prime.
"We're also placing a team outside with a vehicle equipped with enough tech to manage the security of the entire facility. If any of you go off grid for any reason or act up they can tell the mechs inside and they can respond. Normal tactical prevention."
Everyone considered that, then Owen stepped closer. :Only Earth2?:
"So far, it would appear that only you are endangered. If this expands to other habitats we'll expand our due diligence. We'll also facilitate any dependents including children going back to Earth until this is settled if there are those who wish it. We'll facilitate their return once this is settled," Prowl said.
Owen stared at him, then the others.
Carly glanced at Prime. :Optimus, we're willing to take them in. We have a lot of apartments and barracks style places for them that aren't occupied yet until we expand our population. We have eight and a half floors of apartments and housing to open if we need to. We have ten thousand now and can increase it to forty later so we have the space. I want you to know that Unidad stands with you and will assist you in any manner you require. We all are one. We're here to show the way forward to our people and we have to do that together: She looked at Owen. :We have thousands of apartments and barracks that are not filled because of our current population. We welcome anyone you send that you wish to protect better:
:We will help, too: Brandon said as he turned to Owen.
Michio nodded. :We're usually filled to the gills with our families who live here now. Until the expansion is finished in the lower levels for housing, we don't have much space but we offer what we have to you: He stepped closer. ;This is where we show our quality, Owen. This is where we show everyone who we really are. The doors of Sciences Habitat are open to you in your moment of need:
:And the Consulate: Bat Erdeme said.
:We can bunk a few: Bobby said. :Just a few:
:The Resort can take some, too, if we juggle the books: Judy said as Lonny and Sarah nodded.
Owen stared at them, then the bots. :I'm overwhelmed. I'll go back and organize this. I agree. The vulnerable need to be moved to safety. Whatever it takes, we will do:
"Fire the mercs?" Raptor asked with a slight grin.
Owen stared at Ratchet, a fabled, wily and extremely beloved figure. :I have no legitimate reason to do that, General. I don't want to compound this with knee jerk decisions:
Raptor nodded but said nothing. He stared at Owen as if he was measuring him.
Owen turned to Prime. :What do you require of us, Lord Optimus?:
"Your absolute cooperation and the truth. That is all I need right now. Decide upon your population, then tell Ratchet. As the liaison between all the habitats and me, I give him leave to make arrangements and facilitate this."
Ratchet looked at Prime, then smiled. "Liaison? I am?"
Prime grinned slightly. "As of now."
"Ah," Raptor said. "Generalissimo Supremo of the Little Slaggers. Nice title."
Ratchet preened, then glanced at Prime. "Then … I'm essentially the boss of all the human habitats on world short of you?"
Prime nodded. "Sure."
Huge laughter greeted that, then Ratchet sat back with a huge smile. "Sweet."
More laughter.
"I think we need to settle the business of the metro stations that are currently closed beneath the habitats," Prowl said getting everyone back on track. "Everyone here is either permanently cleared to use them for now or are just for this meeting. I would like to say that we're amending that and everyone here is cleared for travel at will on the system. Earth 1 is cleared for the entire population. The Consulate is limited to you, sir," he said nodding to Bet Erdeme, the Mongolian liaison officer of the facility. "For now."
He glanced at the others. "The Resort, Sciences, Family Tower and N.E.S.T. stations are now open permanently to the locals who live and work there. Earth2, the Consulate and Unidad are limited until further notice to those here in the room. As for those who are affiliated through employment by Autobot Nation, you are all cleared."
:Sweet: Milton said with a grin. He loved roaming the colony.
"That takes care of it now. The others … Earth2, Unidad and the Consulate are on track for the stations usage but are not cleared as of yet through the probationary and mandatory training period required," Prowl said in conclusion.
:How long is that, Commander?: Owen asked.
"Anywhere from soon to never. Until this killer is caught we're slow marching big changes. Giving them access to the entire colony through the underground system is not a good tactical measure."
Prime nodded. "We will catch this individual. Count upon it."
There wasn't a person on the table who wasn't behind that simple ideas. Even Harris.
Ratchet's tech confirmed that.
=0=TBC 3-30-19 edited 4-6-19