The Diego Diaries: Getting There (dd8 351)
=0=The Hourly News, 12:14 joors on the TMC
"Welcome back. I'm Capset with the midday news, sports and weather. The Office of the Primes released the detailed mission report of the attack on our colony recently. It details what happened, the effort which met it and the aftermath. The report will be presented to the Legislature to review and to make commentary which will be forwarded to the Prime for his perusal. This is not required by the Prime but he has arranged this to ensure that the colony is fully apprised of events through their representatives.
"The report will be debated in committees, the Colonial Defense Committee chaired by Aemon of Mandua who represents District 128-1A and 1B in Crater District 3, the Colonial Preparedness Committee chaired by Docker of Uraya who represents District 1-1A and B in Autobot City and the Committee for Public Relations Between Earth and the Empire chaired by Salus of Capital City who represents District 431-B and D in Cignat in Seven Cities-East. Each of those committees has the right and duty to call any of the Prime's General Staff including Prime himself to discuss the report and the aftermath of the battle. The discussions will also include what can be done to improve anything that would appear to require upgrading or more preparation.
"The hearings will be held on First Wednesday and will be broadcast colony-wide. Some of those who will be invited to discuss the attack will be Chief Medical Officer Ratchet of Iacon, Sub-Commander of the Autobot Armed Forces Prowl of Praxus, Senior Commanders Alor of Iacon and Paragon of Iacon, Generals Hard Drive, Raptor, Turbine, Delphi and Blackjack of Praxus along with field commanders, some of the soldiers on the ground, Master Cyclonus of the Monastery of the Clavus Aurea, Chief of Empire Security and Policing, Senior Commanders Drift of Kaon and Springer of Polyhex along with a couple of the captured Decepticons who've become repatriated citizens of the colony. The hearings will be held in the large public hearing rooms at the Colonial Legislature and there will be seating available.
"In other news, the word of progress for the Consulate of the United Nations is that in three and a half decaorns it will be reopening to the staff and consuls who live there, many of them with their families. The designs of the building which were attractive in the original drawings have been upgraded with an outside dome component. It was decided that there would be expanded opportunity for the residents to have more space for activities. There will be a very large garden and green space attached under a dome with a large outdoor swimming pool for the residents to use. The Hu-An are coordinating the green space with their usual expert eyes for beauty and utility. There will be a tour of the facility given to the Hourly News field team when it reopens.
"The schools have been back on schedule for some time now after the utilization of a number of pre-schools around the colony who stepped up to take in the children of Sparkling Day School. That facility took a direct hit by a crashing shuttle which struck the ground, slid into the lobby and created damage up to the fifteenth floor of the tower. It took a lot of effort to ensure that the structure's integrity was preserved, then repairs could begin. The Unified School District signed off on the last repairs of the building this morning with the Public Works electronics team ending its review of the building's many different electronic data and communications systems.
"Senior Commander Jetta of Iacon reported that the replacement line for energon leading from the junction just before the Consulate of the United Nations to Crater District 4 is nearly completed. The Consulate was hit and destroyed the relay line when it exploded, a line that's divided into half kilometer lengths in underground tunnels. Its flow is controlled by energon substations that began to blow up as the destruction and fire that began just before the Consulate at the big junction station under the Habitat Highway exploded outward.
"The fire progressed along the path taking out pipe section after pipe section along with its substation control as it made its way toward Crater District 4. The possibility for disaster if it had reached City 2 would have been colossal. The system was rerouted to other lines to ensure that the Crater Districts had access to energon at different times on a rotating basis. The lines that care for the titan districts were untouched because they are placed on a separate system against such things happening.
"The latest report on the Train Hub that was destroyed by one of several ships that fell when shot down by fighters and titans has been framed in as of midnight last night. Round-the-clock repairs are underway to return that essential utility to public service once again. The hardest part of the repairs involves the tunnels some of the trains run through.
"The single bar that allows the trains to hover on the track railing overground to their destinations on our magnetic system is fully repaired and being tested. What's missing is the hub station where the entire system begins and the rolling stock that was destroyed in the fighting. The repair and maintenance facility is also under being rebuilt and should be fully operational when the train hub is opened again. It will be an expanded facility with amenities for travelers on a system that runs world wide.
"Before we take a moment to peruse the Community Bulletin Board, we would like to extend our congratulations to Autobot Nation Business Agent for Earth, Samuel Witwicky and Chief Executive Officer and Mayor of Unidad Terra 1 Carlene Brooks-Spencer for their wedding yesterday at the habitat. It included a Praxian bonding ceremony officiated by Lord Optimus Prime and culminated with a shivaree around the colony on the back of a fire truck. May you have many happy returns. We'll be right back after this."
=0=Teacher Lounge, Sparkling Day School
" … and may you have many happy returns. We'll be right back after this."
Terradive and Roto shared a moment in the middle of lunch to firm up plans to go to the game in Retriades between the Crater Comets and the Kaon Kavaliers. It was going to be a group effort among the friends to pull off the weekend that they'd planned.
"I called the twins and they've reserved the Upper Tier spot in the Valles that we like. The entire group can occupy that space and still have room left over," Roto said as he worked through the plans to camp, climb, do some flying, some parkour which was becoming a 'thing' among the bots who had their own version, eat a lot of food and drink a lot of beer. There would be a few kids but not many. Most in their circle were still childless couples.
"That's good. Now what about food?" Terri asked as he took notes for what they'd have to bring.
"I called the Takeout Place. They're going to deliver," Roto said.
Terri glanced at him, then grinned. "Brilliant."
Roto grinned. "I know."
=0=News
"Welcome back. We're going to have the latest in sports from our lead sportscaster, Fraker."
"Thank you, Capset. The sports scene is winding down for some and revving up for others. The Youth Track League has finished its season this past Second Sunday. Iacon Intermediate was the big winner in the field events taking all three of the major sports, shot put, javelin and discus. The winners were …"
=0=Ops Center
"… and Camie of Pax in javelin …"
The news played in the background as Ratchet walked to the table to sit.
Prowl glanced up. "What are you doing out and about?"
"Laying these on the masses," he said holding up his servos. "Yea! I do heal the sick, verily I say."
"Heathen." Prowl leaned back. "I got word from Madura about the pub crawl after the game. He's taking it into servo. He says just part out the kids and come. By the way, I was informed by Hard Drive that the boys will be gathering at your hotel and watch the kids."
"Sounds like a plan," Ratchet said. "I don't know which party I want to attend, theirs or ours. Ironhide did look cute passed out in that box. By the way, our watch dogs will be busy busting up fights rather than keeping us out of jail. We just upped the odds that we get arrested. Isn't that great?" Ratchet flashed him his biggest and best smile.
Prowl basked in that a moment, then grinned. "Some of us find it a better idea to skip that rather than go. You need to fix your moral compass. Loon."
"Moral compass. What's that?" Ratchet replied. "So we go solo do we or do you have another watch dog to set on our afts."
"We're going solo," Prowl said as both of them paused to listen to the news.
"The first game to be played to kick off the Adult Basketball League of Mars will be between the Crater Comets and the Kaon Kavaliers. The Crater Comets were the hands down winners of the championship last year and are favored to win this season. All of the players on both teams are back and are reported healthy.
"The second game will be between …"
"Well, we better get our game on," Ratchet said as he rose to go. "What's your cheer gear like?"
Prowl stared at Ratchet for a moment with slight bemusement. "I'm not damaged goods trying to get attention."
"No," Ratchet said. "You're a Praxus Science fan. That's guaranteed to ensure that you never do. Bye." With a huge grin Ratchet walked out to do his private patients visitations.
Prowl watched him go with a cool optic. "Slagger," he whispered under his breath.
Meanwhile …
"The Autobot City Golf Course and Country Club has opened up its lessons schedule to first come, first serve. The outreach to the Intermediate schools to create an intramural golf league has been accepted by the Autobot City Unified School Board. The committee to start the league and recruit and train youngsters in the game includes Board Secretary Ironhide of Praxus who is said to be a very 'enthusiastic' player himself according to his grandfather, General Raptor of Praxus. Adult tournaments will be starting just before football season in September. Lessons are available for interested individuals.
"The University Rugby League is winding up with its championship on First Sunday in the School District Arena in Autobot City. All are invited to see the conclusion of a very rough and tumble season. The start of Youth Football and Youth Archery will be in March this year. Infant T-Ball will begin at the start of April. Contact the office at the School District Arena. Numbers are in the sports sections of the Community Bulletin Board.
"We're going to take a break, then will be right back with weather and a wrap up of headlines."
=0=Out and about
He walked out of the School District Tower, then glanced around the area. He was a former high caste involved in education on Cybertron before The Fall. He was now a candidate to stand for the School Board in the upcoming elections. He was imminently qualified, was used to getting his way and was determined to beat Ironhide's aft. Callo of Praxus was an old nemesis. He grew up with Ironhide, went to the same schools, divided paths during University but had little in common.
Even though Ironhide's caste and the combined wealth of his family trumped Callo's, he was a guided missile toward getting what he wanted. He and Ironhide never liked each other. They even competed when really small but learned to ignore each other as they grew up. It pleased Callo that he would have a chance to best Ironhide in the election. With a light step, he headed out toward home and the soon-to-be publishing company that he and his family were restarting here.
=0=News
"Welcome back. Gentry will give us the forecast for the next few orns."
The scene switched to a cheerful looking youngster in front of a huge screen that showed Mars. "Thank you, Capset. Well, the weather is looking good for the next several orns, mostly sunny with light winds from the north. Temperatures will range from -10 degrees Fahrenheit during the orn to -59 degrees at night. That's -23.3 Celsius during the orn to -55.55 during the night.
"As I mentioned there will be light northerly winds that could drop the overall temperatures between five and ten degrees in the late afternoon. The weather station in the North Pole has countered stronger gusts for the next few orns but they could appear here at the colony by mid orn First Monday…"
=0=Listening while making a bet
"I hope the winds don't come up too much. Little mech will be shoveling at the Temple in jig time."
Smokescreen who was setting snacks and drinks down on the kitchen table chuckled. "I have to say, Dev … its one of the funniest things on world when they have to shovel."
Devcon smirked. "I know. Don't tell the kid."
"HELLO! I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE!"
=0=TBC 01-24-2022
NOTES:
parkour: its an exercise where people run across a landscape, usually urban and rugged with buildings of all size and shape climbing, jumping and the like. It takes skill, guts and strength to do it.
Intramural: a series of games that are played inside a system. For instance, a university starts three soccer teams. All the players attend the same university but play on their team against the other two. That's intramural, inside the system. Extramural is when you play games between other schools and yours. College football is extramural.
