The Diego Diaries: Stuff and Then Some (dd8 7)
=0=The next morning
They walked to the Ops Center for the long overdue catch up staff meeting, Ratchet and Ironhide. Children had been stowed in cabs and buses with Halo in Ironhide's hold herself. She was singing to herself in that warm, dimly lit, well padded interior. He listened with contentment even as he continued his ruse. They walked inside, took their usual plate and cup, then walked into the room to find their seats. It was filling up as they sat down as councilors and soldiers made their way there.
Prowl was sitting in his chair musing on Ironhide, then leaned over to have an offline conversation with Neo who was leaning down to speak to him silently.
Ratchet watched them as he chomped on a chocolate covered donut. Prowl looked his usual self, Prime was nearby having a call from somewhere and the buzz of voices was constant. Sitting in the middle of the table were the usual humans and Larc's representative. The habitats, the space station and other sites like the Resort had their reps present including slaggers like Owen Harris and Kyle Davis.
Prime concluded, then took his seat. He rapped his knuckles. "Shall we begin?"
Everyone turned to their lengthy agenda datapad, winced, then sat back for the long haul.
"I think we can assure everyone here that the renegade phase sixer that was roaming these parts is now in a secure lock up in the Prison Hospital." Prowl began.
Relief and congratulations flew, then it settled again.
"We have identified him as Rotor with the Phase Six designation of Xylon. He was a very dangerous mech and its good riddance to him," Prowl said. "We can start with you, Magnus."
Ultra Magnus who was sitting between Arcee and Jetta picked up his datapad. "We had a rousing success with Halloween on the date it transpires," he began as groans were sounded here and there.
"Thanks for doing our familial duty," Ratchet said as he grinned at Turbine.
"Scout and Trooper stepped up," Turbine said. "I'll send you snaps."
"Frag," Ironhide said. "I forgot about that."
"What?" Hardie asked with a slight smirk.
Ironhide glanced at him, then sat back. "Halloween. I heard about it. I sorta wanted to see the kids do it."
"What did you hear about it and when?" Sun asked.
Everyone stared at Ironhide who glanced around at them. "Frag all of ya."
Hoots and laughter greeted that, then Magnus continued. "All went well. Right now, we're getting ready for Thanksgiving and Holi has Christmas Surprise. I've turned it all over to her. The colony is going to be decorated for the seasons that roll up and it will culminate with the championship football game on the week before Christmas Surprise. Its running later because of missions and other interruptions.
"Our refugee count continues as they come in a steady stream from Omega Base and the Network's camps all over the place. We stand at 183,000,000+ individuals." He waited a moment for that to sink in. "Our housing is adequate and Jetta can fill that in. We are doing well, very well housing everyone. We have to expand our Sparkling and Youngling schools again but that won't be a problem with set aside buildings.
"We're building a specialist hospital on the highway between Crater District 5 and 6 to allow us to remove medical facilities out of the cities into a regional area where everyone can come. Rather than use that space in the cities for this we can increase our housing and business districts, centralize medical for three districts and use the space instead for homes and businesses. All of the usual amenities and services in the cities will be there but for this one. It will be built around the concept of access with landing on roofs and runways possible for ambulances and other transports.
"Public Works is expanding roads and highways out into the unused land between districts and cities with the option of expanding habitations into those areas at some point in future. Given that we have a lot of construction of said items underway, it was decided by the Planning Commission to put them in as well against a future need. Those that aren't necessarily needed right now will be blocked off and maintained by Public Works against drifting sand and other wear and tear.
"The Planning Commission meets in two orns at City Hall here to discuss the new districts in the master plan and to develop amenities for the cities in place that include the Park Land play area for children in City, Crater District 2. Its a solid hit and highly utilized. It was in the plans for more but we've bumped it up."
"I love Play Land. Its a great place to play and have picnics. Schools are using them for parties and excursions," Neo said.
"I am fond of giving our children as many pleasant experiences as possible given some of their lives," Optimus said.
"I agree," Magnus replied. "We're also introducing more and more different kinds of plant life from Cybertron into our controlled environmental buildings of this type. Sciences are working on finding ways to introduce more of that here. But that's for them to explain. Right now, the colony is well in hand and Cybertron is running very efficiently. The district commanders can fill you in on that." He sat back and put his datapad on the table.
Prowl nodded. "Jetta? More?"
Jetta sat forward. "We're hard on it for the next sector of housing. Each time we build we get better. We're also doing more and varied plans and interiors. Each so far is ahead of schedule."
"How are your genitors?" Ratchet asked.
He smiled. "They're doing great. Ada is working on a book and Atar is looking into a new career. Both of them are doing well in counseling and its all good."
Everyone expressed their pleasure as Jetta sat back. "I don't have more yet, Prowl, but my report will explain the details. We're ahead of the game so all is well."
Prowl nodded, then looked at Ratchet. "Loon?"
"Are you speaking to me?" Ratchet asked.
Prowl smirked.
"Okay," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile. He began his report around the snickers. "We've opened a new mental health facility in City 5 of Crater District 4. Its a high security lock up for civilian mental patients. Its forty stories of all manner of accommodation, recreation, treatment and the like. Jarro has moved his offices there and let Rung expand into his former one. Our treatment programs are mostly effective with the usual mech or femme but the heavy cases, those who might be violent or self destructive will go there. The local one here in The City will be transitioning over to children and sub adults."
"What's the picture there, Ratchet?" Optimus asked.
"We have a lot of severely disturbed children and sub adults. Those are hospitalized here and on Gliese at Amity which has a specialized wing for such cases. Given the size of our population and their experiences, we're rather miraculously low in such cases. Or perhaps they haven't announced themselves yet. Either way, we intend to gather them all and get them treatment.
"For those of you who know Waldeen, son of Traachan and Millow, he's going to be allowed day passes from the Hospital to work at the stables. He likes animals, riding, caring for the horses and hanging around the cowboys. I think we have a possibility that he can at some point leave and live on his own. He wants to learn to take care of animals." Ratchet grinned. "He loves them and they love him back. Win-win."
"What about Traachon and Millow?" Springer asked.
"Well, since medical ethics prevent me from telling you things, I'll say this. Traachon is still in a rut but getting better. Millow is a black hole of 'I'm not sure yet'." Ratchet smiled a dazzler to snickers and smirks all around.
Prowl tapped a stylus on the table top. "Medical ethics … its a vague memory for you."
"I think I did pretty well, Granny. I didn't tell them about your stretch marks did I?" Ratchet replied.
Prowl frowned.
Prime grinned.
"Is that all? If so, you can go back to your cell and stay there," Prowl said. "Stretch marks. As if."
"I've declared all I'm going to say including my genius," Ratchet said as he channeled his inner maniac. Snickers went around the room. "I'd say medical is doing well and you're welcome." He sat back with a satisfied smile.
"What about those crazy high castes a while back," someone in the far end of the room asked.
"Medical ethics?" Prowl asked with a slight smirk.
"Alright," Ratchet said, then he glanced down table. "Pico and Carbide are released to their families and all are in counseling. It appears they're on their way. Rockwell is still an in patient who works in your district office. Right, Raptor?"
Raptor nodded. "He's doing a lot better and I think he's going to be okay."
Prowl nodded, then glanced at Ratchet. "Are there any more rules you'd like to break or are we good?"
"We're good. However some of us won't just settle. I, myself am great," Ratchet replied. He glanced at Ironhide. "Right?"
Ironhide paused his fourth donut a moment to glance at him. "Whatever you say, Loon."
"What a naughty little mech. Or are ya?" Delphi asked.
Ironhide glanced at him, then frowned. "Are you calling me a liar?"
"Yep," Delphi suggested.
"I need new elders," Ironhide replied darkly.
No one at the table disagreed.
=0=TBC 11-7-2020 11-8-2020
Unedited. I keep falling asleep writing this. HUGS! :D