The Diego Diaries: Cat and Mouse
=0=Conference room at Earth2
It was a grim faced group of people sitting in the room listening to Owen Harris brief them, then tell them of the plan for the next few. "Unidad offered to take all non-essential personnel on board until this threat is taken care of. Everyone else volunteered but they themselves have accommodations for us. Everyone who isn't on the books as employed here will go there."
People shifted at that news, their disquiet evident. They were the section and department chiefs, those employees who had supervisory powers over a section of the vast facility's many departments and groups.
"What we're going to do is utilize this as a training exercise and have the families gear up, take their essentials and go. All of the pets will go as well. We're going to be transported a few hundred at a time by Autobot City Touring Company. They will have buses do the transport and a specialized trailer for the animals built just for them as well. There won't be direct contact until this is over because they're going to go to Level 2 on the threat scale so make your goodbyes count."
"Nicely put," someone in the back replied.
Owen shrugged. "I hear you but this cannot be helped. Prime wants this to happen and he has control through the charter and documents. We're going to do this right now."
They rose and walked out the door to the concourse to upend the apple cart throughout the gigantic facility.
=0=At the data center, Earth2
They were working at his terminal inputting data for the agricultural project when the intercom alerted. Pausing the work, they listened with everyone else including those in the school and hospital.
"May I have your attention please."
It echoed all over the place as Owen gathered his thoughts. "This is Owen Harris and I want to have your attention. Due to the situation involving the two deceased individuals from our facility, we've been invited to send everyone here who isn't listed on the record as staff to decamp to Unidad until the situation is straightened out. This is a Primal directive and thus through the charters a command we have to obey.
"I have agreed considering the uncertainty of this situation and thus, I want you to listen carefully to instructions to make this possible in the best and least disruptive manner. Here is what you must do. I want you to gather enough clothing and other personal items to last a few days. Remember, your normal suit can be washed the same time you shower and it dries cleanly almost instantly so that should make your choices and needs easier. You will need to bring your pets unless they're fish or other things where transport puts them into jeopardy. Those will be taken care of here so make sure you drop a message to Xi in Zoology. Also, your plants will be taken care of as well. Drop a note to Lacey in Botany and she'll put you on the list.
"Once you gather your gear and belongings including any medical items come to the habitat doors. Take everything you need and wish before you go because we aren't going to have you back until the all clear. I'm asking for those whose last names begin with A, B, C, D, E, F and G to go there as soon as you can. If you need help to gather your children, I've tasked individuals to help.
"We're going to be transported to Unidad by Autobot City Touring Company with the animals being carried there in a special trailer designed for this as I've said. Put them in a carrier and have them ready to be hauled. There will be assistance if you buzz us for it. Thank you," he said.
It was then that the place exploded into action.
=0=Ratchet
He rolled down the road, then made his way to Earth2. Pausing to peer through the vast walls of transparent steel that made up the entrance structure, he then walked into the doorway to go inside. Everyone was busy getting ready to go when he finally entered the facility itself. The visiting human moguls were here and there in groups watching the locals getting ready to go. As he stood by the door watching, a number of them came over to speak to him.
"Ambassador," one of them said, a man named Robert Mason who was a billionaire manufacturer of parts for large vehicles such as trucks, ships and planes. He hoped to build habitats and transport vehicles both space and ground oriented. He waited as Ratchet knelt. "What's happening?"
"As you know, two employees here have been murdered and the murderer or murderers haven't been apprehended yet. We don't want them to change up their modus and start attacking anyone else because we removed the remaining mercs into protective custody. We're putting security inside here and removing potential targets to a safer place," Ratchet replied.
"I figured you'd have them by now with all your advanced tech and all," he said.
Ratchet chuckled. "This isn't Buck Rogers. We're good but we're not infallible. We'll get them but we don't want to elevate whoever is doing this to a serial killer. One more murder makes them one. We removed the remaining mercenaries. That means the target of choice isn't here so anyone else is a secondary possibility."
"What about us remaining? That means we're the targets instead," another man said, one who was head of a vast network of banks.
"Short of having you all in the jail, that's the best we can do. Don't be alone and don't talk to strangers," Ratchet said. He stood, then moved back as people began to gather.
The place was noisy, full of what seemed like chaotic movement but was coming together as those who were going hurried to the doorway. Animals in crates were being carried to a pallet where Roadbuster stacked them carefully. They would be carried out by fork lift to the black trailer outside designed for transport of animals in the outside environment.
The logo for Unidad was clear on its side. A mech who transformed into a heavy duty pickup would tow it to Unidad and come back for more. There were a lot of pets in the facility.
Children stood besides piles of baggage as they waited with their parents. Some of them walked to Ratchet and stared upward. He knelt again. "Hello, infants. Exciting isn't it."
They grinned at him. "We get to live on The Ranch?" one of them, a youngish little boy with blond hair and a big smile asked.
"For now. All you have to do is go about your business and not jaywalk," Ratchet said with a smile.
The kids laughed, then moved closer to lean on his ped as they chatted.
Then Owen came out of the administration sector and drove a tiny pickup truck to the door with the other members of the board in the back. They climbed out, then walked to Ratchet.
"You came to observe?" Kyle Davis asked.
Ratchet nodded. "All of the things you do are a potential informational mother lode. Right now, you're practicing bugging out and you didn't know it."
Owen nodded. "Maybe something good can come of this then," he said as he keyed in his phone to the intercom system and began to speak. "I'm hoping that everyone whose last name begins with A through G is here and ready to go. I would like you to form a line to go to the buses. Your animals will be transported and your baggage that won't fit on your lap should be placed on the pallets. Hopefully, your name tags are still on them."
A bit of monkey notion occurred, then everyone began to file out the door. Children waved to Ratchet who waved back as they walked to the bus and climbed aboard. As they did, Owen gave more instructions over the system. "I would like everyone whose last names begin with H, I, J, K, L and M to get ready as well. If you're still waiting to go, please get ready and be on standby. The sooner this is completed the better off the whole facility and its occupants will be."
Ratchet would watch as the next group came, some of whom boarded still empty spots on the waiting buses and left with the first group. Those who were staying hugged and kissed, then watched solemnly as the three big buses and the animal transport left the facility to go to Unidad. He would in the end join them. The doors closed behind them as everyone waited for the buses to come back for more.
=0=Unidad
They waited, a large group of residents to help the newcomers to their quarters and new life. All of the officers were there and all of the business owners including Bobby Epps' family. They had allocated apartments from the vast inventory waiting for permanent residents when the facility next brought in more crew and had created a school for the kids in a conference room that could be expanded. The idea was for the smoothest transition and the least disruption.
They were a population of 15,487 here at Unidad with the added number of family and friends who came to live here permanently. Having a family group, having elders and others who had time to help with the home side of things as well as assist with their own skills the work of the facility was an asset. That they managed to get along swimmingly thus far was part of the ongoing study about this habitat. It was a major study going on in all of them.
Brandon Clark stood beside Carly and her team as they waited. Earth 1 had been ready to assist but the massive number of apartments and barrack style living spaces here had trumped everyone and he was glad. They had a good thing at Earth 1 and he liked the family style slow pace of the place. Having 3,800+ newbies come would be a hellscape. He walked to the hatch window to peer out. He could see Ratchet bombing down the driveway heading for the door.
=0=Ratchet
He transformed, then entered the sixteen lane habitat entrance to wait for the others to arrive. He chatted with a crew from Public Works who were wiring more directional signage into the big entrance to sort out trucks that were just dropping off here from those who were going to be parked permanently for common usage. When the three huge buses and the pickup truck and trailer rolled in to a halt, the doors closed and the atmosphere equalized. The doors to Unidad opened and the buses began to unload.
It was noisy and chaotic for a moment until Carly got their attention over the intercom attached to her phone. "May I have your attention?"
Everyone calmed down, then turned to her. She smiled. "Welcome to Unidad Terra 1. My name is Carly Brooks-Spencer. I am the chief administrator for this facility and I welcome you to it. We are honored to assist you and have organized your arrival here to maximize your transition and minimize chaos. Our people are here to take you to your quarters and assist you to settle in.
"You will be given an apartment to live in while you are here. We've created a school for your children so they may pick up their education without delay. We invite you to enjoy the facility and ask for help if you need it. For now, we know you will understand that the same rules of the road that apply at Earth2 apply here. This is a facility that is owned by Autobot Nation and is under the direct jurisdiction of the Prime of Cybertron. The rules are the same here but the penalties for infractions fall under his jurisdiction.
"So without delay, please form a line so a member of our community can escort you to your quarters and help you settle in. All of the volunteers have agreed to be your personal resource and be available to you day and night. Please take advantage of this and know as well that there are informational kiosks all over town." She turned to the line of residents that were waiting, then nodded.
One by one, the newcomers were taken into hand by the residents and escorted off to their new homes. The animals would be delivered with them. As they began to leave, the buses and truck outside unloaded the last thing, waited for the all clear, then drove out to bring more to the facility. It would take three hours to do it but by then everyone who was from Earth2 who didn't have an online job function would be sheltered in the vastness that was called Unidad Terra 1.
=0=Charon
They watched the news, bot and human as the story unfolded in real time. The latest news event was playing on the news channel as the garrison watched Earth2 evacuate their non essential personnel to Unidad.
"It's a good thing Unidad is there," Boxer said as he lounged in the rec room. He was regular Autobot army and a great guy. Beside and around him were humans and bots watching as well.
Sunstreaker nodded. "We'd have to send them to Earth otherwise."
:I hope they catch those fuckers soon. They're giving us a bad name. I love this place: Jack Paxton said as Trevor Smith nodded.
:One of these days I'm going to retire here: Trevor said. :I'm not sure I can live on Earth full time ever again:
:I hear you: Jack said as they watched with the bots.
Horst Mueller and Colin Anderson didn't have much to add to that.
=0=TBC 3-31-19 edited 4-6-19
ESL:
mogul: (moh-gl) someone who has a ton of money and power