The Diego Diaries: Budge and Mystic (dd8 431)

=0=The day continues

"Have you been by to see them?"

"No. Have you?"

Sideswipe shook his helm. "Not yet. When Blue gets off I thought I'd go. I don't know what to say to them without someone there."

Sunstreaker nodded as they both waited to board the supply vessel that was taking their shift home from Charon. Their duty was over for a decaorn. The Forward Base crews were given extended downtime but would always be on call. It was a bonus for working that far out and an indication at the growing ranks of first class soldiers able to come in.

Someone nearby shouted. Both glanced that way but it was for someone else. Sunny sat down to stare at the floor. "How do you feel about having a Seer in the family?"

"Naked," Sideswipe said with a chuckle. "What about you?"

"The same," Sunstreaker said with a huge grin. "I thought I'd have a chat with Mystic about the run up to the championship."

"You might not want to know," Sideswipe said as they rose to gather their gear to board the vessel nearby through the walkway.

"That's the part that worries me," Sunstreaker said as both lined up to go. They would be gone in minutes heading back toward home and the news on whether their kids did a good job in their new school, something that was supposed to start today.

=0=Lennox and the new kids on the block

They took a break from the outline of what life was like here, the introduction to the Cybertronians and their way of living and other pertinent topics. Standing in line at the refreshment table, Niall Graham was surrounded by soldiers.

"What's the story on the mercenaries at Earth2?" one asked.

"The former administrator has them along. They're the troublemakers from Diego in the day. We keep away from them and when they fuck up we arrest them. Or Springer does anyway." Niall took a cup and began to fill it. "I would heavily advise staying away from them. If you go here and there in the habitats or the Mall you might run into one. The bots hate them and you don't want to piss off the bots."

"Why not kick them off world?" a female soldier asked.

"Tactics. I think Prime would rather see them than wonder where they are," Niall replied. "This is Prime's redoubt. He has it pretty buttoned down but the few who come here with ill intentions tend to give their game away. Prime plays a very, very good game."

Lennox was nearby with Gavin watching the soldiers as they gathered here and there to talk and take refreshments. None of them came to him probably due to rank. It was fine with him.

"Ratchet's coming tomorrow?" Gavin asked.

Lennox nodded. "He got family back who needed his assist."

"That's good. It must be amazing to live as long as they do and find family," Gavin said. "I wonder what it would be like to know my tenth great grandparents?"

Lennox grinned. "I don't know. Weird?"

Nearby they chatted together, this band of individuals who would be working together in the most dangerous environment they could ever face short of vacuum. The masters of the game would show them how to do this and then take them out for their first half a dozen ventures and if they passed that they would be on their own.

Relatively.

The two units were autonomous, entities with their own negotiated mandates. But they were going to work together on some things and make a viable force to defend together when necessary. This whole mission would be a process.

"Time to go back," Lennox said as he checked his watch.

With a lot of chat, they walked back to the big room, took their seats and began to listen. In a few minutes Perceptor of Crystal City was coming.

=0=The Hourly News

"Good mid morning Martian time, Autobot City, Cybertron, Earth and the Empire," Lim-Lee said. "Today, the colony is about to learn the outcome of the School Board Elections which closed last night to voting. The Commissioner for Elections, Polax of Capital City undertook the administration of the election which included all six seats and the student representative position.

"Elections are always exciting and this one is no exception. Among the candidates is a human by the name of Ron Witwicky of Los Angeles, California who ran for Seat 2, an open position on the Board which with Seat 1 will represent the entire colony and not just a regional district like the others.

"Gen-O has been with the commissioners at Election Central in the Legislative Office Building at the Delegate Assembly Complex. We will go to him now for news and possibly election results. Gen-O?"

=0=The human community

Those who could were turned into the news because it'd been broadcast earlier that morning that winners of the School Board election would be announced this morning. From the Resort to the habitats to the Tower to Prima Station, the human community was listening and watching.

So was Earth.

It was debatable whether Ominous and Razorclaw were and Caminus had its own board for their schools, so ...

=0=Delegate Assembly Complex, the Offices of the Election Commission, Mid Town, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire

Gen-O appeared in the lobby of the section of the building that handled elections. It was busy, filled with interested onlookers and worker bees. It was exciting to see the buzz. "Lim-Lee, I'm in the lobby of the Elections Commission here in the Legislative Office Building. The commissioners are certifying the results which they've said would be released in a few moments.

"None of the candidates are here but all of them are online to be interviewed at our request," Jacx said as the doors opened behind him and Polax along with two other commissioners walked out to a microphone stand nearby. The room quieted. "Let's listen," Gen-O said softly.

The cameras zeroed in on the group.

"Good morning. My name is Polax of Capital City. My fellow commissioners are Sophist of Simfur and Straton of Helex. For the past several orns the colony has been involved in the elections for all the seats of the Autobot City Unified School Board. The turnout exceeded expectations and is broken down as follows.

"Among the registered Cybertronian population which is everyone now from Level 1 sub adult to elders, the voter turn out was 98.7%. There are some ballots waiting to be counted due to those off world but the amount in question will not affect the final outcome. The data will be updated when they are and posted for all to inspect.

"Among those youths who were eligible to vote given the Primal Directive just rendered, I am proud to say that the count tally is a 100% turnout," he said as the room erupted in applause. He grinned as he waited. Then he continued.

"For the eligible human population which includes not just those with Cybertronian citizenship but all who live here as full time residents from Prima Station to Mars, the voter turnout was also 100%. Its gratifying that our two smallest voting blocks have taken their responsibility to spark."

Huge applause greeted that.

"Given that the new voters were an experiment to see if this privilege would be upheld, I will be asking the Prime in our certification meeting which is a formality since the vote has already been certified by the commission, that the Prime extend the franchise permanently to youth and to those humans who claim permanent residency on world."

Huge applause greeted that.

=0=Ops Center

"Do you feel magnanimous enough to do that?" Prowl asked.

"I do," Prime said. "I am very proud of our youth and the human community right now. I shall say so when I announce that very thing."

Prowl grinned. "I hope loon voted this time."

"I do, too," Ironhide said.

=0=There

"The tally has been made and now we would like to announce the winners of the various seats on the Board. For Seat 1 which is an open position held by Carmella of Torus States against the challenger, Timbre of Capital City, the winner is Timbre of Capital City."

Applause.

"For Seat 2 which is also an open slot held currently by Sterno of Stanix, special circumstances have been granted. Sterno withdrew his candidacy due to family commitments and so Ron Witwicky of Los Angeles, California on Earth is winner of this position."

Huge applause.

=0=Resort

The women watched the news and applauded Ron's win.

Judy Witwicky who was watching with them saluted everyone with her mimosa. She looked radiant in the tiara she wore, one studded with genuine brilliant diamonds. "I can't wait for the first board meeting," she said to huge laughter and approval.

=0=Ops Center

"They got one slagger on there," Ironhide grumped.

Optimus nodded. "One against six? I do believe Coros, if he wins will be a great ally."

"He'd be great no matter what," Prowl said. He grinned. "I thought I'd never say that about him."

Everyone nodded as Polax continued.

=0=Polax et al

"For Seat 3 currently held by Sunstreaker of Kaon and challenged by Pierro of Polyhex, the winner is Sunstreaker of Kaon."

HUGE, HUGE applause. Sunstreaker was a legend in the schools.

=0=Dojo in a crowd

They sat in the lounge watching the returns. When Sunny was announced the applause was huge.

Hercy glanced at him. "What's the first order of business?"

"We have to elect the positions among us. I'm going for Vice President again. Then we tag team Timbre. This is just the start of them trying to get things back their way," he said darkly.

"They won't," Sideswipe said equally grimly.

Everyone there agreed.

=0=Polax et al

"For Seat 4 currently held by Ironhide of Praxus and challenged by Callo of Praxus, Ironhide is the winner," Polax said to huge applause.

=0=Sitting at the table with the others

"Well, this deserves a good frag," Ratchet said to annoy Prowl.

Huge retching sounds almost buried the sound of applause.

=0=Polax etc

"For Seat 5 currently held by No-A of Kaon and challenged by Sirio of Iacon, the winner is No-A."

APPLAUSE!

"For Seat 6 currently held by Hugh-E of Slaughter City and challenged by Lane of Capital City, the winner is Hugh-E."

HUGE APPLAUSE!

"For the final position, a formerly appointed and honorary seat for a student from Intermediate Day, now elected by petition from the students themselves, the two candidates were Coros of Polyhex and Simby of Polyhex. The winner of that position is Coros of Polyhex."

HUGE MASSIVE APPLAUSE for the kids.

"I would like to thank everyone who ran for these positions to give of themselves for the well-being of the colony, Cybertron and the Empire. It takes a special kind of courage to do that and we applaud everyone."

APPLAUSE!

"We thank everyone who voted, both our new voting communities and our old. Its an honor to serve you as commissioners to uphold fair elections. Voter tallies will be posted in the Community Bulletin Board. The next elections are coming up in five decaorns and they include the Fire District Board, the Energy Administration Board, the Oversight Board for Public Transportation and the mid-term elections for several of the Delegate Assembly positions.

"Consult the Elections folders in the Community Bulletin Board if you wish to file for a position. We welcome you all. Thank you very much for this fine election and remarkable turnout," Polax concluded.

=0=In a civics class at Intermediate Day #1

Bedlam ensued, then everyone sat again to beam at each other and a remarkably happy Coros and his campaign staffers. It was incredible how happy the kids were. Their petition had not only gotten them the franchise but made their honorary non-voting position on the Board into a voting one. Coros would have a vote just like the other members.

"I think we need to do more," Sil said as she stood.

Her teacher and their mentor who helped with the petition, a small mech with a big spark, Mr. Calligan grinned at her. "What are you going to do now, Sil?"

"Well, since we can vote I think we should run for other offices," she said with a brilliant smile.

They would.

=0=At an apartment having lunch

"Well, we have one seat," Callo said. "I think we have to file for everything. There's seats coming open in the General Assembly and the path forward to real power is in the smaller Delegate super assembly. I'm going to have to study this. We need to organize and get this done."

"I know three of us who already have filed for different seats in the General Assembly," Timbre said. "My win was heartening."

=0=At school

She felt the burn but didn't feel daunted. She would file for other chances. Simby sat in class taking notes about hurricanes on Jupiter while around her the excitement of voting swirled. She would try it again.

=0=TBC 5-10-2022

I hear you about Sunny. He hasn't had too much support from others and when he sees his kids fly its really powerful. Those kids are his ticket to feeling better about his own lack of hope and opportunity, SunriderandSunspot. He's driven to make their lives better. HUGS!

The right to vote is called a 'franchise' in America.