The Diego Diaries: (dd8 458)
THIS WAS TO GO OUT LAST NIGHT! I THINK! I DON'T KNOW! I'M CONFUSED!
Am I missing more than one day? I don't remember. DAMN YOU, COVID!
LOL! I am lost here. But here you go. I'm on it for the next. -Me in LaLa Land.
=0=At the meeting
"Our schools are doing well. The last influx from the bases are being screened for their needs. Their genitors are very tense but highly motivated. They're not used to services applying to them as well so they need a lot of information. The Former Decepticon Association is stellar in the partnership to getting the trust of the newcomers, both grounder and Seeker. We know that this is a process.
"Thanks to the efforts of the Seeker Community and the Great Elder, we now offer flying for our District based Seeker children in alliance with the Seeker Academy in Aerie Hill as well as our speaker program which will lead off with units of study taught to our Intermediate Level 2 children by Red Wing. Its such a blessing having all of it integrated for all of us.
"We're preparing for the migrations you've alerted us about and hopefully, we're going to hit the ground running to help them. Thank you for the heads up each time. Its invaluable," Herling said as he sat back in his chair.
"How big are they?" Payload asked from his spot behind Caro.
Prowl glanced at them. "Massive. We're sending out data teams and assistance so we can see the need and size but the sensor data read as many as those that were in the millions in the past, perhaps even exceeding them."
"What's the population so far here, Magnus?" Ratchet asked.
He consulted his data pad, perhaps the most important one in the colony a moment. "We're approaching 375,000,000," he said quietly.
They took a moment to absorb that news.
"I remember when 57 in all nearly capsized us," Ironhide said. He glanced at Prime. "The messages are either getting to The People or word from others has. We have to be on it."
Prime nodded. "Hard Drive, you were discussing the situation on Cybertron. It won't take refugees for some years yet. Correct?"
Hardie nodded. "It won't. The local group could in a pinch but I wouldn't recommend it. Until we get them tethered and upgraded from their current condition it'd be strenuously hard to do."
Prime glanced at Magnus and Jetta. "Gentlemen, you were discussing the open range beyond the Crater Districts that is northwest of the Golf Course, that direction. What about developing there?"
"We could but it'd be in Tier Three and outside of the range of our desired defense zone," Jetta said.
"We could remedy that by building a military and airbase out there as well," Raptor said as Blackjack nodded. "I've given it a lot of thought, Prime. We're building up our central urban area, a sound idea as well as making for a beautiful colony. Yet there's lots of space that isn't too far out but falls into Tier Three. What about expanding as we see fit and augmenting them with airbases? We can station soldiers as well and use them a training centers for Home Guard and regular soldiers."
"That way we can cover the colony from more than just a couple of directions, like the Military Airfield and the depots," Blackjack said.
"Its highly likely that any further strikes against us will round on the central colony and our air field like before. If that happens it takes out our mobility and capability to strike back if its not diversified. This way we can call in strikes from other areas," Alor said as Prowl and Paragon nodded.
Prime considered that. "We should not limit it to one base. I want a plan drawn up to build them in the colony and around it with bases in strategic locations. If we can cover a greater area of habitation space and raise the level of defense for that area into Level Two and One, then we will be able to expand our habitation zone for the comfort and ease of our people. I like this idea." He glanced at Raptor. "I would like you and Alor to design your ideas and bring them to our strategy meeting Second Tuesday as soon as possible so that we can troubleshoot them.
"I am troubled by the attack to this orn and part of it is the concentration of our forces in three places, the airfield, the depot up north and the one southwest of Earth2. This will expand training opportunities as well. I would like training capabilities built in and include the humans as well, both groups. The safer and better they understand what they are in for, the better. Thank you, Raptor."
Raptor grinned. "My pleasure. We're champions at building bases but ones with the amenities we can provide here? Its going to be fun."
Agreement was had.
"Magnus, Jetta, please make a plan to develop in all directions of our colonial plan thus far. The only direction I want left out is the prison. That area is always going to be the highest security and I want room for expansion there if needed."
"On it," Jetta said with a grin. "Fun will be had by all."
Hoots and 'oh yeahs?' rounded the room.
Prowl glanced at his data pad. "Your turn, Magnus."
"We have a third of a billion living here now with millions in space heading this way. We're taking in 20,000 new refugees every orn from Omega Base until Second Wednesday. They're going to shut down for expansion of the base and its feeder stites as well as upgrade tech. That means the Port won't be receiving refugees from the Knights until next Second Wednesday. That allows us to do needed work there as well. They're also going to be consolidating groups into Omega Base during this time and they're not in very good shape, I'm told. They cleared the decks to make this possible." Magnus glanced at Ratchet. "I presume they let you know."
"They did. We're doubling and tripling the medical aid. I'm also taking a few of the senior mentor kids there to get a gander, albeit a short and highly structured one. I think I'll take Barrett Walker along."
"Is that a good idea?" Alor asked.
"I believe in him," Ratchet said. "He's turning into a champion and I want him to know what's ahead. He's lived a sheltered life of privilege. Its always good to see how the other half live and Omega Base is beautiful, functional and the worst stuff there hard to find unless you know where to go." He grinned. "How about Rambler and the titans coming along?"
Prowl glanced at Prime who shrugged, then nodded. He turned cool optics on Ratchet. "I'm coming, too."
"Sure, Granny," Ratchet said to huge laughter.
"Our housing is staying ahead of need. Crater District Eleven and Twelve are the last of the major plan. We're going to build south of the colony and expand Stable Road into a eight lane to the new sites. If we can utilize the plain northwest and west of the Crater Districts we can put a hold on that for a bit," Jetta said as he glanced at Magnus who nodded.
"We have a plan for transportation networks that link up everywhere," Magnus said as Jetta nodded. "We will have overland and Metro mass transit to all locations as well as expansion of the cab and now bus systems we're launching. Buses will drive between cities as opposed to mostly staying in a city like the cab system. Its a process staying ahead of things."
"We're going to be designing different plans for cities and interconnecting them more in the Cybertronian manner for Cybertronian tastes," Fort Max said. "Its a nice nod to Cybertron for those who never lived there and those who did. Its been asked for in surveys of what sort of emenities we would like to have for our people."
"The designs you've all made are beautiful," Caro said. "I feel so at home in the colony. Everywhere I look I see beauty."
"We follow our basic natures," Lauren said. "Where there is love there is beauty and this place has both in abundance."
Everyone nodded their helms toward the sweet mech with the glorious aura.
Sela slipped her arm around him and squeezed gently.
"That's about it. We will survey the area suggested and get to work. Right now our inventory suggests we can house just under 4,000,000, something we can continue to strive for with our streamlined processes and our amazing work force," Magnus said in conclusion.
"Please give them my sincere regards for their effort, Magnus, Jetta," Prime said. "They are the backbone of our entire colony."
"Will do," Jetta said as he grinned at a beaming Payload, Bulkhead and the other construction bosses, guild and union leaders who attended as members of the Council.
"How about the Temple report?" Prowl asked.
Venture glanced at Lauren who ginned at him. "We're doing a great job at offering counseling to those who are in need. Some need is very great and with Social Services and Colonial Mental Health, we're making headway. The school for scribes just opened in the Annex and its a wonder. The caligraphy has to be seen to be believed. Some of the fragile books and documents we've had recovered are being hand transcribed to be able to be seen and studied again. I love to sit beside them and watch. Its art."
Lauren beamed. "Some of our greatest artists in this genre were found a while back and worked to start this up and train others. We're a very fortunate people."
Everyone grinned and agreed.
"Lady Sela will tell about the school but the visits by classes to the Temple are much remarked upon by The People. They're very glad to have their kids learn about our history and the Great Ones as well. All in all, its very well, wouldn't you agree, Lords?" he asked.
Chevron, Lauren and Sela nodded.
"Our school just goes from glory to glory," Sela said with great happiness. "Our children are so beautiful. They exceed all of our expectations. In the next call we will use a lottery system again to expand our student body to fifty. We realize that our programs and facilities are up to the ideals we set for them and our eight little pioneers will become our first second levels."
Lots of love went to her over that.
"Does Halo still have problems going to school every orn?" Ratchet asked.
"She's passed that hill," Sela said. "This decaorn, she's master of the cloak room."
Ironhide had a moment as everyone applauded, though most of them didn't know what that was. If they ever saw it they'd see tiny lockers with tiny book bags hung on pegs under them. Beautiful calligraphy penned their names on not just their chairs but their little lockers as well.
"We're very happy to share some activities with the little school at the Monastery," Sela said as she smiled at Cyclonus and his elder councilor with him.
"We have short excursions into the colony, the playlands, museum and library downtown. We want our children to find a sense of safety outside of the circle of our practice," Cyclonus said.
"Its wonderful to see them play and be happy together," Sela said. "All in all, as I have said, we're having a wonderful term.
Everyone applauded as they always did for the Guiding Hand and Temple reports. The auras of those involved invited it. Even Cyclonus's.
"I think we can hear from the humans right now. We have a closed military meeting after this," Prowl said. "How about from our newcomers."
Jackson Davis who was sitting between Owen Harris and Will Lennox rose to stand on the table top. He held his data pad in his hands nervously as he bowed slightly to Prime. :Lord Optimus, its a tremendous honor to be here. Thank you for welcoming our installation and application to join in here. Its our deepest desire to be part of this community in a positive and productive manner:
:He's telling the truth: Ratchet said to everyone in the room but the soldiers and other humans. :Registering 100% sincerity:
:Its about time: Magnus said dryly.
Snickers were had by all. Off line.
=0=TBC 6-19-2022
I thought today was Thursday all day. BWAHAHAHA! Yay, me!
