The Diego Diaries: Avalone and the Rest (dd8 276)
=0=In a conference room on Mars
Prowl who was enjoying this unholy moment gazed coolly at Harris who was sitting pensively on his couch. "Is Mr. Harris's name on the list of scofflaws?" he asked.
"No," Caro said almost gratefully. He was NO good at confrontation it would appear.
Prowl who was staring at Harris with a slight smirk said in a soft voice, "More's the pity."
Harris stared at Prowl and for the first time recognized his jeopardy here. Most of the named billionaires in the document dump lived full time at Earth2 with a few at Prima Station and Unidad, plying their businesses long distance while availing themselves of the publicity and trade opportunities that doing so created on Earth.
All of them had massively increased their wealth being here while grudgingly fallen into the cashless pattern of the dominant government of Prime. What little they lost that way they worked hard to massively increase in other endeavors related to their situation.
They were called The Squad by business channels and others who were dazzled by their savvy at selling themselves as something other than they were. Several of them lived at Prima Station and Unidad, given leave to do so by Optimus Prime who was working out their network and interconnections by having them here looking out rather than on Earth looking in.
Harris felt a chill at the possibilities since he received a phone call at his office this morning about the news that was going to be breaking today. It wasn't going to take him down. He was smarter than these fools who were lazy and less likely to cover their own tracks. Even though they included heads of state, government offices and even the Queen of England, he hadn't gone that way with his fortune.
Glancing around himself he noted that he was alone on his side of the line. :I heard about this morning, Lord Optimus. I'm as surprised as you are:
"I doubt that," Prowl sniffed as he sat relaxed in his chair with his arms crossed over his chassis. All of his tattoos and the poems of his family began along the side of his arm and wound down to the other side of his body in tiny text tastefully embedded in the color scheme that made him look sleek and dangerous.
:Given that we're here, Lord Optimus … what do you wish to say to us?: Owen asked as he bit the bullet.
Optimus considered the question, then the answers that Barron had provided him about the mess that had been created by the data breach. "It would appear to me, Mr. Harris, that your party has violated the terms of your contract with us including the morals clauses that put into jeopardy your continuation with Earth2."
It was leaden in the room as Harris considered that.
Everyone stared at him noting with their special equipment that he was rattled and his concern level was somewhere circling Alpha Centauri. Be that as it may, he still kept his outward composure.
:I'm not on the list or in the documents, Lord Optimus. I admit that I'm shocked that some of those who helped finance the push to create Earth2 are. I would hope that you would understand that the actions of the others, as bad as they seem to sound are not sanctioned or abetted by me. I would hope that my place at E2 is still secured:
Ratchet who'd listened to and watched the show thus far on an internal screen activated his monitor behind Prime and Prowl to join the fun. "WELL! WHAT DID I MISS!?" he asked around the most dazzling smile he had.
Huge laughter erupted in spite of things, then it settled with the briefest of relaxation from the (intended ice breaking) moment.
"Well, Autobot Liaison for All Human Habitations On World, we appear to have a problem," Prowl began with a slight smirk. "It would appear that The Champions of Their Way Of Life got caught cheating."
"Allegedly cheating," Blackstone interjected.
Magnus glanced at Blackstone who he admired and liked as a good friend, then Prime. "There is news that indictments are going to be coming down on a number of individuals who live here and are implicated. It would appear that all sixteen of the men that are thus far named have arrived here and have entered Earth2. Some of them live on Prima Station and some at Unidad. I wonder why they all went to Earth2?"
"For the cake and ice cream," Ratchet said with a straight face. "The baker there is a genius. A true and veritable genius. Or so I've been told. Amirite?" he asked as he peered at Harris.
Harris grinned faintly, painfully. "I won't argue about that."
"So what are we going to do here because I'm the Head Boy and all and need to know," Ratchet said with another giant smile.
"I have to get in contact with the authorities and see what this entails. It very well could be that I'll be fielding extradition requests if this leads to indictments like it suggests. Right now, I would like to know where everyone is and why some of them are grouping at Earth2, a habitat that is not their local home," Barron said.
"I would like to know that as well," Prime said. "I expect that my government will be contacted to deal with this. There is a process that has to be met and I will assume Blackstone will inform you. I will also have a hearing to see how many of the contract and treaty items have been violated along with all the morals clauses that are part of agreements like this.
"Given that all of us have a duty to meet and even exceed the agreements and treaties as representatives of our respective worlds and species, it behooves us to understand if they still stand as they are or if there has been harm to them making their legal legitimacy suspect," Prime said.
:Lord Optimus, I hope that you understand that my name is not among those being put forward. I assure you that if I had been part of this it would have been on the list. I would hope that we have a strong enough working relationship for you to understand that I condemn this and feel my legitimacy to lead Earth2 is intact in spite of the actions of others: Harris said.
Prime considered him. "Perhaps we are too different. Perhaps our world views are not the same. But I assure you, Mr. Harris, that a good leader takes ownership of his situation in both the good and the bad. It would be negligent for you to do otherwise, accepting only the good things and underplaying your responsibility to keep your own house in order.
"No one gets the blame but me when things do not go right. No one else stands in judgment but me because I lead. When you became a leader you assumed responsibility for everyone and everything that happened in your purview. You cannot step away from that now. Its not what leaders do," Prime concluded.
It was deeply silent as two different viewpoints stared at each other, then Owen stepped closer. :I wouldn't deny my responsibilities nor walk away from them. I'm just frustrated that something like this can happen and put into jeopardy everyone and everything we worked so hard to create. I would be devastated if the posting that I hold and I hope I've proved over the years is lost to me. I love living here and working with everyone to build a better future for our people. I hope that you take that in consideration during any deliberations you make:
Prime nodded. "I will. For now I am exercising the controls and powers that are mine in all the agreements when such situations as this arise. I am relieving you of your duty and duties until this is more clearly understood. You are on standby leave until I give you permission to rejoin your position. In the meantime, I am appointing Cynthia Tomas as Acting Director of Earth2." He looked at the deeply surprised woman. "I would like you to run Earth2 until we decide what can be salvaged and what if anything has to be changed."
She glanced at a shocked Owen, then Prime. :Are you sure?: she asked with surprise.
Prime nodded. "I am."
She stared at him, then stood. :I will do my best, Lord Optimus:
"It never crossed my mind that you would not, Ms. Tomas," Optimus said. He glanced at Harris. "You will give her all your keys and operational documents and devices to assist her to assume command until this sorts out. Until then, you have no authority at Earth2 until I decide otherwise. I am sure Blackstone will apprise you of my full powers to take back the facility." He glanced at Blackstone who nodded. "You are wise to engage Blackstone. If anyone can help make sense of this, it is him."
Harris stared at Prime with shock, then his expression composed. He nodded.
"Ms Tomas, please consult with any one of us, Mr. Satello of Prima Station and Ms. Brooks-Spenser from Unidad. I expect everyone at Earth2 to assist you fully in your new duties until this matter is settled. If there is resistance I expect you to report it to me." Prime glanced at Owen, then Cindy.
:As you wish: she said almost breathlessly.
"Springer, I want an accounting of the whereabouts of the sixteen individuals who are here and whatever information you feel I need to know. I want their homes sealed on their normal postings if they live alone. If they do not, then those who live there may remain. I would like them to be held in confinement in the detention center at Earth2 until we sort out if they are reasonable enough to allow to roam free.
"All correspondence by any of them both on and off world will be recorded as per the agreements. Ms Tomas will inform them that this is happening so everyone understands that what they say and send is being taken down. I would also like you to go with Ms Tomas and lock the offices of the individuals involved and disconnect their electronic devices so that they may not use them. I want that part locked down.
"Also, get their keys, devices and change all their passwords. Until this is made clear to me I will take the posture of protecting information that might be useful to the authorities. We must preserve the rights of all involved as well so put it in a data sector of Teletraan with high security locks that require both you and Cindy Tomas to open."
Springer nodded. "Done deal," he said as he glanced at Cindy Tomas. "You can go back there with us. I suppose you're going to tell the population about the changes, you and Satello? Carly? If you do, wait until we get what we need and lock everything down."
"Alright," Carly said. "We only have three of them ourselves."
"We have the rest," Cindy replied. She looked at Prime. "I will do my best."
"I know," Prime said. "I would suggest that Mr. Harris hand over the relevant items requested now."
Harris stared at Prime, then Cindy who looked uncomfortable. He reached into his pockets and handed over keys and a small data pad. "Am I to assume that my data will be locked out to me as well?"
"Are you confessing to a crime?" Raptor asked.
"Don't answer that," Blackstone said. He glanced at Raptor. "Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty, besides … his name is not in the data dump."
"That must be very comforting to you," Prowl chided with a slight smirk. "It is to me."
Deeply stifled guffaws were withheld by nearly every bot in the room but Blackstone who stared pointedly at Prowl.
"No. There is no reason at present to do so, Mr. Harris. I do believe that this meeting is concluded for now. I would like the disposition of the individuals named to come first. Springer, perhaps you and Drift can take Ms Tomas back and get the ball rolling," Prime said.
"Done deal," Springer said as he reached for Cindy.
She climbed on and off they went through the door and the Center beyond.
It was silent a moment then Harris turned to Prime. :When this is over and I'm proven to be no part of it, what then?:
"It is my hope that you are not a part of this though you may find that hard to accept. It is a detrimental thing to live in a society, bear all of its fruits but pay nothing for its upkeep. It marks that sort of person to me as very low. When this is over and you stand vindicated, there is still the matter of your judgment. You brought them in. You were in charge of the situation. That part of this will still be in play."
Harris stared at Prime.
Prime stared at Harris.
Ratchet watched both with amusement. Sometimes it was good to be him.
=0=TBC 10-15-2021
A lot of really high profile jobs have morals clauses, that is, if you screw up you're out.
The Queen of England is mentioned in the Panama Papers. So are half the world's monarchies, big business and politicians like Tony Blair of the UK. Cheapskates come in all flavors and nationalities. Did you know that South Dakota is a tax haven for cheaters? I didn't either. Interesting, no? :D:D:D
NOTE REPLIES TOMORROW! I HAVE MY HEAT BACK! I have an overpowering desire to take a nap. :D:D:D