The Diego Diaries: (dd8 461)
=0=Out there
"Wow."
Everyone glanced at Turbine as he sat at the command table staring at the window. The glow stretched so far from end to end that one couldn't see where it went. It was the biggest migration that had come to them so far.
:Atlas to Prime:
They jolted out of their stupor as Blaster opened the channel.
"Prime here."
:We have a situation: Atlas said.
=0=School
They stood together on the tarmac outside during their mid afternoon break. All of those who had been with Coros and several of the team who didn't go were gathered to hash out what had happened and how they might do better at Earth 1.
"Barrett was great. I didn't know he was high caste until now," Pulley said.
"He's got the same story that we do," Jessine said as she leaned against her boyfriend, Pulley.
Romance was beginning to show itself even among these ultra focused kids.
"He did a good job today," Faun said.
"He's a nice guy, Barrett. He's trying to find a way to be useful and help others. He didn't have a lot of help with his family but they've come around. His sisters haven't though," Rambler said. "I went to the Terra Mall with him and they were there. I like that mall," he said with his usual sweetness …
=0=At a cab stand inside an environmental entrance at the Mall of Terra
They got out of the cab, stared around at the bustling place, then walked for the main entrance of the vastly enlarged mall for humans on the edge of the Aerie Hill District. It took a moment for the other humans there to notice them, a bot and a boy walking for the door. Some paused their way to the cab stand or the Metro to watch.
Barrett who had invited Rambler to hang out at the Mall felt like he was on patrol. No one was going to bother this kid who he liked greatly if he had any control over the situation. They walked inside to pause and stare around.
"This is amazing, Barrett. Thank you for inviting me," Rambler said as he stared around.
Barrett glanced at the kid who was just slightly taller than he was, a tall thin human boy. Rambler had tattoos and etchings on his arm that were unknown to him but the one Barrett did know was on his shoulder by a small Autobot sigil. It was the symbol of the Primes and below it was a tiny symbol of the House of Optimus Prime himself. This boy was the son of a king of an empire and it marveled Barrett what a nice kind kid he was, totally unaware of the power his position would give him in a class conscious world like Earth.
They walked onward to wander through stores and boutiques. It amused him how much Rambler was interested in what things were and how they were used. They discussed games and Barrett got one for two players that they both liked. A date for gaming at his house was made, or better, the lounge near it where they could play without his sisters nosing around.
When they walked out, the two girls were standing there waiting for them, watching with huge interest. The two boys slowed to a stop as Barrett frowned deeply at the pair.
"Who's this, Barrett?" Gina asked.
Barrett felt the ire rise in him. "This is Rambler, a friend from school. Scram."
Tynsley grinned. "I know who you are. You're Rambler, Optimus Prime's son."
"Come on, Rambler. Let's go," Barrett said with an almost unnatural flare of anger rising in him.
Rambler glanced at him, then the two girls. Nodding to them, he followed Barrett down the concourse. It was quiet a moment, then Rambler glanced at him. "Are you okay, Barrett?"
"Yeah," he said as the flare died down. "Those are my sisters. They haven't gotten it yet and I didn't want them to embarrass me in front of you." Barrett stopped to stared at Rambler. "Your father is like a king. Of an empire. But you're my friend. Its different on Earth. I'm not clout chasing here. I like you, Rambler. You're the nicest guy I ever met."
Rambler grinned. "Thanks. I like you, too. My atar is a king but we don't call him that. A Prime is chosen to lead our people to the greater good. If they don't the Matrix will either choose someone else or wait for them to come. My … father is The One Who Comes. Its been prophesied that he would come and lead us out of this nightmare. For me, that's a humbling thing."
They continued onward glancing around at the beautiful structure and its amenities.
"I was an orphan trying to keep my little brothers alive. It changes you, things like that. All I want to do now is help people and love them. When I first saw my parents, when they helped us that first day I never felt so loved and safe. Not for a long, long time. I know my real parents are happy. I don't mind your sisters. They'll learn won't they?"
Barrett sighed. "I hope so. This is the best place I've ever been and you're the first friend I ever had that I think likes me for me and not what I have or who I know. I know what you mean, Rambler."
Rambler grinned. "What's that place, Barrett?"
They would wander onward, chat and laugh. It would be a good day for Barrett Walters.
=0=There
They stood on the deck having bridged in from the mass of lights slowly approaching them. Dai Atlas and a couple of his lieutenants greeted everyone. "So you can see the orders are still ongoing. We had to pull colonies out as swiftly as we could and when we did there were others fleeing as well. We've coordinated them as best we can but the size is beyond us for management data."
"We're getting that now," Prowl said. "What's the danger quotient in the mass?"
"High. We have a lot of unknowns. Some of them bear Decepticon markers. We've been canvasing as best we could. Some answer and some don't. My teams are out there working to get good data but its not as much as we'd like. We're many millions here, Optimus," Atlas said.
Prime nodded. "We know. We have been tracking this a bit of time but things have made it impossible to undertake until now. Are they trying to recapture lost territory or are they expanding into new?"
"Both," Atlas said grimly. "The territory that they've recaptured is marginal areas around the central mass but they're also expanding into new, mostly probing explorations that I believe are resource driven. All of that hinges on the availability of energon being present. Now that they've secured that new territory I expect their expansion to stop or at least slow down."
"Why didn't they keep the settlers for slave labor?" Raptor asked.
"More mouths to feed," Star Saber said equally grimly. "Better to pile them onto you and wait for the dust to settle."
Prime agreed. "We have continued to expand all the habitation and amenities that are going to be needed for a planned 100,000,000 new settlers. We are ahead of our goals and if this group does not exceed 10,000,000 we can house them relatively easily. What condition they come in, the degree of possibility to settle in without uproar will be my concern. Each new refugee is a question mark to us."
Atlas nodded. "We usually sort them out before sending them but this was an emergency the like of which I haven't seen since the Great Exodus."
"Then we must do our best," Prime said grimly.
"Optimus, the totals are here relatively exact," Turbine said as he glanced at the group forward. "We're looking at nearly 8,000,000 refugees."
It was silent a moment as the number sank in.
=0=Later that afternoon
Barrett Walters sat on the bus going back to Earth2. Behind him, his sisters sat silently, watching him as he brooded.
Leaning forward, Tynsley slid closer. "What's up?"
Barrett glanced at her, then shrugged. "Nothing."
"That kid is the son of the Prime. Nice catch," Gina said as Tynsley sat back.
Barrett glanced at them angrily. "He's no 'catch'. He's a nice kid I met. I like him. He likes me. We're friends. We'd be friends if his dad was a street sweeper." He sat back staring ahead stonily.
"Okay," Gina said as she glanced at her sister with amusement.
Another kid rose, walked to Barrett and sat beside him. They chatted together all the way to Earth2.
=0=There
Red Wing transformed then slid into Xantium. He walked forward to the group waiting. "We have a lot of 'Cons in the group. We're trying to mark them now on a grid map," he said as he handed Delphi a data wafer. "This is what we have so far. You can use it for the rest. Its a data template for ship plotting, Delphi."
"Thank you, Red," Delphi said as he slotted it into a jack.
Forward, the screen changed to show a grid map with lights dotted here and there. It was a small number and probably not the end number of problematic individuals present.
Prime thought a moment, then glanced at Prowl. "Call everyone up. Put the colony on Level 4 security. All military areas including the main airfield downtown are off limits for civilians not related to this. Make it a need basis for exemptions in the affected areas for businesses and workers. We have to concentrate on this. This is a long term project and I suspect there's going to be fighting as well."
Prowl nodded, then walked to a console to sit and write the orders. As he did data began to come screaming in from the last of the Seeker data flights.
=0=The Hourly News: Latest Breaking News!
"We've just received a bulletin from the Office of the Primes via the Strategic Information Office. A migration of unprecedented size which gathered together under Decepticon harassment is coming this way and the Prime, Lord Optimus has met it with his officers. It is preliminarily estimated to be as many as eight million individuals. Some of them were gathered by the Knights of Cybertron led by the remarkable mech, Dai Atlas and his rescue organization, the Network.
"Given the problems that lie ahead, Level 4 security has been declared for all military areas and the Military Airfield in the center of Autobot City. All civilians who are not classified essential workers are now barred from those locations and others to be declared later. If you work downtown then you are asked to check with the Emergency Command Center at Fortress Maximus at 321-54-257BA to see if you're area or work status is given clearance to continue.
"The restaurants in the area are exempt from closing. Given the number of workers who will be prepping ships and doing other jobs related to this operation, food services for those individuals will be vital. We suggest that you find out what your status is and then refrain from going to the city center until things are relaxed.
"The Alpha, Beta and Gamma Fleets will be leaving to attend to the migration. The Auxiliary Standby Emergency Services Fleets, all three will be going as well. Six of the metrotitans of the Reserve Fleet at Cybertron, those who are without permanent stations for this purpose will be joining as well as several battleships fitted out for emergency medical service.
"The Port of Autobot City Immigration facility will be off limits for anyone but those who work there or who provide escort services for newcomers. They're all on standby at the moment until its decided how to bring our people home with the bridges from Omega Base shut down for the moment," Aleph said as he solemnly read the note. "It would appear that the Decepticons are making waves again," he said grimly.
=0=Earth2
"That sounds bad, Clark," Willow Walters said as she watched the news bulletin with her husband and kids.
"Prime's out there, you can count on it," Clark said.
Barrett who was standing in the doorway nearby after finishing his homework considered Rambler. How must he be feeling tonight, he thought. It was the first time he'd ever taken the time to consider that about anyone but himself in his life.
=0=TBC 6-22-22 7-23-2022
