The Diego Diaries: Jammin' (dd8 500)

Eighth time we passed 500. :D:D:D

=0=Camber

They sat at the command table going over the data so far. It was a needed moment of reflection and re-organization for the massive job ahead of them.

Hard Drive glanced at Prime. "I've collated the data thus far and this is how it stands. We've repatriated 2,269,364 individuals most of whom are in fit enough condition. All of them are strained from this and leaving so abruptly, most of them. Among them were 4,310 Decepticons soldiers asking for asylum. Their families and companions number over 10,000. There were no Seekers in this group but Warlord is getting them interviewed to double check if someone is in trouble.

"Among this group we have about 5,000 or so medical cases, most of them surgical. The number of those exhibiting mental conditions that warrant attention are under 1,000. The number of children in this group are in the same margins as others, 10% of the number so far."

Prowl sat straighter. "Can we handle 750,000 children? How many are school age?"

"That's being determined by the Emergency Planning Committee," Ironhide said. "We have contingency plans to receive our worst case scenario number, 1,000,000. This is projected under that and we're canvasing teachers and staff in the group coming. We can do this. If we can't I'd tell ya."

Prowl and everyone else looked relieved.

"I loathe these big migrations. They put us to the test every time. Its my worst nightmare that we can't put the services out there for them. I know we can house them. Crater District 10 and 11 are up to housing and District 12 and 13 are under construction. Its the services that worry me," Prowl said.

"We got this, Prowl," Ironhide said. "Thank Primus. I think everyone needs to get together and troubleshoot this. We could have been buried here. Maybe we can share things that work together and do more integrated planning. We can't be caught flat footed ever."

Prime nodded with a relieved expression. "It will be called after we absorb this group."

Heavy footfalls drew their attention as Mirage walked across the deck toward them. He pulled a chair, then sat. "Jazz is out there chasing down a number of assassins that might be here. What we want to tell you is that we have the number on the group coming behind this one. The rumor that its big is just a rumor. This next group is about 150,000 individuals. Most of them are high caste colonies that went out together and networked to stay in touch. There's normals among them but that's the word."

"Oh great," Prowl said darkly. "I think we need to build more jails."

Snickers greeted that.

"I think we need to make our point loud and clear," Prime said. "I am very, very tired of entitlement. Look at what we have done, all of us together. Look at this group," he said as everyone did. "High, mid and low working together to make something for everyone that is great and good. I will be prepared for the next group that comes."

He glanced at Mirage. "What is the task that you pursue right now, Mirage?"

"Assassins. Three of them are rumored. They're stealth 'Cons. Jazz and Devcon are hunting for them. I'm going back out to join them. I thought you might want to know what we've nailed down thus far. When we know more you'll know."

"Thank you, Mirage," Prime said as the big mech rose and walked back to the elevator. He was gone in seconds. Prime glanced at his team. "What else do we have, General?" he asked Hardie.

"We have more ships than you can shake a stick at," Hardie said. "We're having our inventory checked to find rare things that we need, ships that might need parts that are hard to make and transports for the military and civilian sectors. Most of these ships are small and rough. We're stripping them including the personal effects of their crew complement, then towing them to send in convoy into a star.

"We have a number of very nice high caste yachts and a few liners that are quite nice. Someone mentioned turning them into casinos for the humans to vacation around the solar system," he said with a grin. "I might go for that myself."

General agreement was had.

"We're going to take good ships, anything that's experimental, military or transport that we don't have, scavenge ships for tech, then dump them into the path of a star. We have them tagged so we know they make it there. We don't want them going off course or being picked up by others. Its protocol."

"That's good to know," Turbine said. "We have enough slaggers with our tech."

"What about medical, Ratchet?" Prowl asked.

Ratchet glanced at his data pad. "We're handling things well at Gliese. The big hospitals there are doing most of the heavy lifting. Having three more titan medical ships come there was a good idea. We have seven now, all of them with different specialists in their drone population that helps when they come in fast.

"Our mental health situation is good. All are holding out. There's only been a few hundred commitments with the hope they're short term. Home Guard Medical is pulling their weight like champions. There's a certain medical squad that's pulling duty at the Femme Hospital as we speak," he said with a brilliant smile …

"Can I get you something?"

A big mech glanced around, then down to spy a tiny femme micro mini-con staring up at him with a data pad and a stylus, looking all the world like the tiniest waitress ever. "What?" he asked.

"Can I get you something? My name is Sil and I'm a CNA. I can get you something. Are you hungry or thirsty?" she asked in her tiny Mini Mouse voice.

He considered that, then nodded. "I could use something to drink."

She smiled, a brilliantly soothing sight. "I'll be right back." She walked off, disappeared, then returned almost immediately holding a bottle of juice that looked ready to capsize her. She paused before him. "I have juice for you."

He took it, stared at the bottle, then her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Are you alone or are you with someone? Maybe I can find out what's going on if you are," she said with her guileless big blue optics.

"My bond is getting a repair on his servo. I'm just sitting here," he said, then he removed the cap and took a sip. He looked at the bottle, then her. "This is great. Thanks."

She grinned. "It's Class A energon base."

He stared at her, the bottle, then her. "Class A?"

She nodded. "Half this planet is made of Class A and A- energon. That's why we can build this colony so nice."

He sat back as he took in that information. "Oh."

She grinned. "When my boyfriend Coros and the others get here we'll help you and get you started for home."

"Your boyfriend?" he asked.

She nodded. "He's a member of the Colonial School board and the Delegate Assembly. He just got elected."

"Your family lets you have a boyfriend that old?" he asked with surprise.

"He's my age. Kids get to vote and do things here," Sil said with a big smile. "He ran for the seats and we helped him win. I'm was elected to the Elder Advisory Board. I help the colony plan things for all elders. Do you have an elder with you?"

"Several. All of them," he replied.

She grinned, then drew a small data wafer from her data pad. She handed it to him. "There. That's my card. If they need anything they can call me and I'll help them. Its my job now to help elders."

He stared at her, the card with her pretty little face, her contact information and the logo of the Autobot City Elder Advisory Board of Mars. He looked at her. "Okay."

She smiled at him like the sun.

=0=Elsewhere

"They're doing a great job, those kids. All in all, we're up to it. So far, very little disease that matters including protoform wasting, at least among the high castes." Ratchet sat back. "I have Boise looking into the set ups of the colonies out there. He'll find out if things were 'difficult'."

"Boise?" Delphi asked.

"A private investigator that I use. He has a business with three others and does fantastic work. The Watch uses them, too, sometimes. I think they're looking into the Tempo murder for the family. Just so you know," Ratchet said.

"Well, that's bullshit," Prowl said with a frown. "Pardon my speech. Maybe."

"If they find anything it works in Prime's favor. I've known Boise a long time. He's got integrity and so do the others. They're family," Ratchet said. "They might even get lucky and break this open."

=0=Elsewhere a bit later in the orn

She walked into Hauser's office with a data wafer in her hand. She was Miki who was the office manager of the Detective Bureau of the Watch on Mars. She was Hauser's Maxi. "This is for you. It just came in off the web." She handed it to Hauser who was working on a set of foot tracks that might help them find a vandal.

"Thanks, Miki. What is it?" he asked as he sat back to read it. "Whoa. Luck is a lady."

"Is that what it is?" Miki asked with a grin.

"I will always say so," Hauser said with a grin. "Thanks, Miki. Top secret for now."

"Figured as much. Good hunting," Miki said as she walked to the door and back to the job.

Hauser watched her go, then looked at the data wafer. "Well, I think your luck just ran out, my friend." He then dialed a long distance call to Springer.

=0=Sitting on a shuttle nursing his wounds and a lot of grudges

"Springer here."

Everyone glanced at Springer as he took a call. He switched to off line to finish it. When he logged off he glanced at Drift. :I think we got our first good lead on the Tempo murder:

:What?: Drift asked with surprise.

:The name of the slagger who did it: Springer replied with grim satisfaction.

"What are you two talking about?" Sandstorm asked, ever the snoop.

Springer glanced at him, then grinned. "Recipes."

"For disaster," Drift said as the group broke into laughter.

They'd finish their meal, then head out for more slaggers. The list of Decepticons located in the midst was swiftly dwindling, thank Primus.

=0=Camber

The meet up lasted, then broke up. As it did Prowl received a call from Springer. He listened, then signed off. Glancing at Prime who was sitting in the command seat again, he walked over to stand next to him. Staring at the forward view of the various operations ongoing, he glanced down at Prime. :We have a lead on the killer of Tempo:

Prime glanced up sharply. :Who?: he asked.

:Gravity:

Prime stared at him for a moment, then sat back. He was silent a moment, then he glanced at Prowl. :I wish I could say I was surprised. I did not see a good end for that one:

Prowl nodded. :I suspect that this could be a spark for the high caste community with another one of theirs being held accountable for their abysmal actions:

Prime nodded. :What is happening in this regard?:

:Hauser has him under surveillance. We're going to go in on this when we get back. Until then we're watching and gathering what evidence we can. Apparently he fragged someone off and they're getting even:

Prime nodded grimly. :With friends like that, you do not need enemies:

Prowl nodded then walked back to the table to sit and continue.

Nearby in the Gerbil Cage as the human transport habitat was now called, the group awake considered Prowl and Prime's conversation.

"I wonder what new hell just erupted?" Niall Graham asked as he sat beside a sleepy Andre Boudin.

"I don't know," Andre said, "but I'd hate to have either one of those two on my tail."

Niall nodded. "You and me both, brother."

The night would wind onward with more and more exhausted refugees making their way to safety.

=0=TBC 8-14-2022

ESL

repatriate(d): (ree-pay-tree-ate) to bring something back where it belongs. Each refugee is coming home to their people and as such are being repatriated.

Guileless: (guy-ul-less) not having anything but sweetness and goodness. Something that is pure and good like Sil and the kids.