The Diego Diaries: The next real day (dd8 314)

=0=Ops Center that early morning

They walked in side-by-side to the command table where Paragon was sitting. Pulling up chairs, he gave them the sit-rep as it stood:

1. The plain was clear of downed ships. They were towed away and were in the process of being demolished. There was good tech, not so good instructions on construction and assembly given the burning and so it was being done carefully, the recycling.

2. The highways were surveyed and there was some potholing but not very much. Emergency crews should have had them done by now and would be available for other construction.

3. The airports around the colony that were attacked, the Military Airfield, the Autobot City Municipal and Interplanetary Airport and the one south of the colony, Autobot City Airport #2 where most runabouts to the Valles were held were being surveyed for repair. They were top priority to get back online and for the moment the other five commercial airports and several at Aerie Hill were taking the bulk of traffic.

4. Commercial and passenger travel between Earth and Mars was still on hold. Most of the traffic went outward to the bases and forts with a bit going to Prima Station. The Autobot Nation Commercial Station on 'The Silk Road' out on the Orion Arm had received its Seeker squadron and would be housing them with rotations home until things settled. They would use the bridges of Tennyson to get there and back again via the bridge of Omega Supreme who sent them to Tennyson at the dimensional breech. At the moment this was the best and fastest way to get things going. The Triggers that were left were busy.

5. Sciences was going over the plans of the destroyed Triggers and were getting ready to start immediate rebuild. The Triggers that were still left, numbers three and four were on duty with several new gas giants that were leveraged into a small star's solar system against the possibility of it being the site for Cybertron. That location was top secret. In face, it wasn't on any database on the planet.

6. Train and Metro transportation systems were nearly completely assessed and it wasn't great. The Train Hub Station, the staging area of all the trains both above and underground, the place they were repaired and cleaned everyday, the spot where some of the switches for direction were made was smashed flat. About 300 miles of track was destroyed and all of it would have to be realigned when the rest was replaced.

A few of the Metros had been blown out when their buildings were struck. Five stations would need a lot of work and all would have to be tested and adjusted. Tracks were found to be untouched and true. There was that after all. Both the parallel passenger and commercial tracks underground and above were good.

Praise Primus.

7. The Electrical Station which controlled most of the colony was damaged but not badly enough that despair was imminent. It was a priority operation and was being expedited toward going online full out again. Right now, the colony rotated through a four joor on, four joor off program that hopped all over the affected colony which was estimated to be about 23% of the entire population. So far no one was injured by it being spotty in service. Most of the dire home bounds were on private generators and so were the 'essential businesses and workers'.

8. The survey of Sparkling Day School found the building functionally sound which was no surprise given how well made everything was. But because of the angle and how the shuttle had plowed in at the base of the massive tower, it would be explored to the nth degree to ensure that it was as sound as the orn it was made. It would take about two decaorns to reach a safe sign off.

Pity the parent of that school.

9. Down the street the Circle of Light shop, Full Circle was toast. It was burned to the ground and everything in it that wasn't in the vault for the most valuable things was destroyed. Inside the vault, the most rare and important objects and all manner of wonderful things were placed each night to protect them. Because the siren had been so fast, no one in the store could grab the incredible weavings and other objet d'art that were on display. All of it was gone including the loom Joon used that was the oldest one known to exist.

But for the objects saved in the big vault, it was an unmitigated disaster. The Circle was already in talks with their skilled members about rebuilding the store back to more architecturally exacting standards. Also, calls would be put out into the vast widespread Cybertron Diaspora for more antique looms.

They would be found. Four of them. None of them would be as old and beautiful as the one lost but they would be a nice consolation.

10. Bullet and energy blast holes were everywhere. They even peppered the dome of the Legislative Center but did no harm to anything inside. The domes were tested and found to be extraordinary in their defense of those and whatever was inside. None of the habitats minus the Consulate's basic outside structure were harmed because of them. It was a hard way to test the effectiveness of that technology but it came through admirably.

11. The Resort was only slightly damaged by gunfire across its facade. The N.E.S.T. HQ as demolished inside by broken water mains and a platoon of 'Con hooligans getting inside. They didn't get below the first floor before fleeing but they did a number on everything they saw.

CUE THE DINOBOTS!

IntraCom was blasted all over and would have to be refaced with stone. They entered and trashed the first floor before leaving. It could all be repaired but for now the broadcasting ability was being put back online. When it was The Hourly News would come back. A down link to Earth was still on hold though the requests for information and interviews were off the hook. Sam and Warren were on those fronts taking care of it in New York.

Prime would speak to everyone when he was damned good and ready.

12. A few homes had been slammed and damaged so Paragon had contracted private firms to repair them. They were families in the business on Cybertron who wanted to try it on their own. All of them were great and in demand especially for unique and excellent finish detail. Their work would speak for itself in the gratitude of the homeowners they were dispatched to assist. That worry would be off the books in three orns.

13. The Energon Administration had rerouted control to their main building outside of Terra since their main substations were either destroyed or damaged. They would handle the rebuild of the pipeline to the Crater Districts and hopefully have that up and running in a decaorn. The rotation of energon would be two joors by two joors. No one would be without heat and comforts. The storage cells that every apartment had built in would be their 'generators' and help with the down time.

14. No one died evacuating hospices, elder living centers, specialist health centers, nursing homes, hospitals, rehab facilities and other healthcare places. The drills all of them were required to run often had paid off. Though some patients and residents were disoriented by the change, then change back, most had come through with flying colors. That was an immense relief.

15. The prisons had come through with flying colors. The few who wouldn't go to shelters without great harm to themselves would be examined to see if there was a way to overcome this problem and ensure their safety. No one could be allowed to be in harms way and this posed a new and strangely interesting problem.

16. The military stood down with a good 100 injuries but no deaths. Catching the enemy on the ground and holding their armada near it as they flew toward the Industrial Park Cities had made it hard for the enemy to fire back in the wild shooting gallery of metrotitans, 2-mech Autobot fighters and Seeker swarms. It was less a miracle than sheer guts and skill.

They were fighting for their homes and families. It made a difference.

None of those injured would die but three wouldn't be soldiers ever again.

17. The Consulate was being 'debrided' as Public Works crews dug out the hole and tried to find anything that hadn't been destroyed. It was a moot point. Given that energon didn't need oxygen to burn, it blazed hot and fiery until it was shut down at the tap. The footing of the building would be inspected, then the complicated process of building an environmental habitat would begin in earnest. It was hoped to get them into it as soon as possible. It would be the biggest bone of contention in the link up with Earth.

This was the general outline of the situation before them. The Industrial Park Cities hadn't been touched. None of the habitats on Habitat Road had their structural integrity compromised but for the Consulate.

Both Earth2 and Earth 1 had been breached. Their environmental doors were broken to allow entry. Though there was thrashed spaces in both, none of the important things were harmed and all could be replaced easily. The integrity of every human habitat passed muster on the list at nearly 98% and would be optimal once a few more things were tweaked.

Unidad lost the Chapel in the Woods while a few of their more belligerent animals had taken their wrath out on the intruders. Otherwise all was well. The camera footage of the bison and bulls smacking the crap out of the Decepticons was hilarious and perhaps the only amusing part of the whole disaster. The guns that were missing when the 'Cons fled would be found by a forester a few days later. The Watch would take them into custody but not before the mercs would get a good look at them.

Departments were sending in reports. There were a few fights and calls for the Watch but it was mostly quiet and muted. The cameras were showing the colony on a rotating basis which most of the colonists were watching. The only other channel operating until IntraCom's main tower was restored by nightfall was a weather station on the TransWorld Highway.

Prime listened to Prowl and Paragon give the sit-rep, then more when Hardie and Delphi joined them. He nodded as he added up the situation spoken by all of them, then sorted through solutions in his processor. They'd missed Thanksgiving. They'd missed the opening orn of basketball. It was a forlorn contemplation for the moment.

"We're called out the requisite work crews once the bosses had time to get the word from Jetta and Fort Max. They're going to be working on the situation together. By the way, the titans are back to their normal selves and the children are playing nearby as usual," Delphi concluded.

"That's good to know," Prowl said. "Those two children are our pride."

"They are," Hardie replied. He glanced at Prime. "Are you alright, Optimus?"

Optimus glanced at Hardie from the data pad in his servo. "No. But we will be. Then we hunt for Paladin and Lancer."

It was cold, the big mech's voice.

Hardie considered that. "We are yours to command."

Optimus nodded. "I am always deeply aware of that and the honor is not lost on me, old friend."

"What about Earth?" Delphi asked as he sat back in his chair to contemplate the next steps.

"We cannot talk to them now but I have authorized a statement to be released. The longer we are not in communication, the worse it gets for us," Prime said.

=0=MCA, Brussels, Earth

"We have just received a communication from the Office of Strategic Communications on Mars authorized by the Prime of Cybertron and Autobot Nation. Chief Information Officer Commander Jazz of Kaon has forwarded a statement from Optimus Prime of Iacon and it reads as follows," the woman said. She began to read it to her audience which at this rotation of the night there meant nearly the whole world.

"This is Optimus Prime. I wish to communicate the following information regarding the attack upon the colony of Autobot City on Mars and the outcome of it. I am not at this moment able to broadcast any information or visual details until a number of communication towers are repaired. When they are, we will be fulsome with details.

"For now, I wish you to know that an unprovoked attack upon the system was made by a very dangerous set of foes traversing the Benzuli Expansion known as The Ruins. Two of their leadership were phase six mechanisms and one of them was the science protege of a war criminal from Cybertron. The attack was added and abetted by bridge technology that held a slight advantage in speed for them. By the time we met them near Uranus they bridged directly to Mars.

"Given that they were coming our way we activated the sirens and the entire colony went into the shelters including all humans in all habitats. It was a good thing that drills have been undertaken on a regular basis because the enemy's bridge jump would have placed everyone here in danger if they had not gone to ground.

"There was an engagement of battle that happened over the colony itself. The enemy landed at the Military Airfield in the center of Autobot City and engaged our soldiers, marines and air forces all over the colony. The fighting was ferocious and many were the ships that crashed into buildings or to the plain between the Terra Hub and the Industrial Park Cities.

"Paladin, the Decepticon Phase Six commander of the armada attempted to take his fleet over the colony to overtake the Industrial Park Cities. It would have been a disastrous event if he could have managed it but it meant flying over the titan districts. When he had cleared the colony and was over the plain between, the titans transformed and attacked them without mercy. There are 47 titanic frames living here and they drove off the enemy while bringing down five ships doing so. The ships included several battle shuttles, fighters and a cruiser.

"There was damage elsewhere. The Consulate of the United Nations burned to the ground due to the energon grid being compromised. No one there was injured and all were evacuated to Unidad where they will live until the Consulate is rebuilt. The Resort of Autobot City was defended by Seekers from Aerie Hill's Home Guard and Master Cyclonus of the Monastery of the Clavis Aurea. No one was harmed there.

"The big habitats and Prima Station are sound and no one was hurt. The entries of Earth 1 and Earth2 were breached and there was some damage inside but they were chased off by titans who were defending the humans in pretender format. No matter what format they take, they are invincible fighters. The Family Tower, The Mall of Terra and the Sciences Habitat of Earth were unharmed as well. N.E.S.T. Headquarters was breached but the Dinobots made it a short lived affair.

"There is damage to the colony, to our businesses and some of our homes. I, myself lost my home when a mortally wounded shuttle careened toward it and sheered off the top four floors. It is a miracle of training, desire and leadership on the ground and in the air that this resulted in no deaths among our people and warriors.

"There is much to see and tell about this. But the takeaway should be clear. The courage, skill and unity of our forces prevented an enemy from harming our people. I am proud of our people. I am proud of the armed forces that defended the colony and the skilled workers who will make the repairs. I am proud of the human community that did their part as well.

"Tomorrow, I will begin broadcast of the MCA and we will show you the situation. There will be interviews for the MCA with the human community. For now we are in a level 2 lockdown until we are clear that all of our situation is known. If you have a loved one here do not be afraid for them. They were courageous through this and I am glad they are here. Communications with Earth will be restored when the lines are once again cleared. Until then, this is Optimus Prime of Cybertron. Until all are one."

Fade to black.

=0=TBC 12-01-2021

ESL:

debride: (dee-bry-d) In medicine, it means to cut away any flesh that is dead to prevent a wound from getting infected. It is part of the treatment for burn victims, the poor angels. Very effective against gangrene. That can kill you. Ugh. I'm not meant for medicine. My niece the nurse is. Its nice to have one in the family. :D:D:D