The Diego Diaries: Yammering Part Two (dd8 62)
=0=Confab, jibjab
The meeting wandered on shepherded by Prowl as they worked down the list, dispatching Old Business swiftly as they began to wade through the inland ocean that was New Business.
"We've got the in-ground infrastructure nearly completed at Crater Districts 7 and 8 northwest of Seven Cities-North. We finished nearly everything but the final checkoffs for a number of the developments in Crater District Six so we can shift focus. We're laying out the groundwork designs, geological testing and other data for the two after that. We've clustered them around the main and oldest part of the colony, Aerie Hill, Autobot City and the Terra Hub utilizing two craters of a smaller size but perfect location.
"Our system is so streamlined that it almost works itself," Jetta continued. "Auntie has decided that she wants to handle more of the details of design and shipping, taking over more of it herself, thus the greater streamlining and efficiency. I think she wants to be a bigger part of the colony than just the mainframe computer."
"Can she use pretender gear? I know her body is sort of … voluptuous but it'd be awesome to see her amongst us. Doesn't she have a crush on someone or is that the other way around?" Ratchet asked, ever nosy.
"She and Severus of the Torus States have a good companionship," Perceptor said. "Severus is a remarkable intellect even among the titan frames."
Several titans grinned at Percy, then nodded in agreement.
"She's more than welcome among all of us. Perhaps its time for her to step out and expand even her remarkable horizons," Metroplex said.
"We're working on it. There have to be many fail safes for her, so important to everyone she is," Wheeljack said.
"Ah, young romance," Ratchet said with a huge smile.
Chuckles were had, then Jetta continued. "We have a population approaching 190,000,000 individuals shortly and so we've put into motion Plan 82-B to expand the Port where the refugees enter. We want it to be less prone to set backs if something happens to the four macro bridges that operation there. It would help Omega Base and the other three if the funnel, if you will, wasn't so narrow. We're going to create room for four more bridges and spread out the bounty."
"Sounds like a sound idea," Sun said. "We have to pick up 20,000,000 locally in the Bootes Chute region and there's the what? 198,000,000 of the 200,000,000 we identified out in the Rim and Outland area left to get as well? We can double this slagging colony if it happens in a reasonable amount of time."
Everyone took a moment to ponder that horror.
"I remember when we were nearly overrun by 57 refugees," Springer said.
"57 what?" Jack asked.
"Uh, 57, Appa," Springer replied.
Huge laughter and reminiscing greeted that for a moment.
"We have to continue working to provide for our struggling people," Optimus said. "How are our support industries and other resources holding up, including our industrial output in the Park Cities?"
"Well, we expand the hospital and educational side of things with every city we open. We reserve a number of towers in each for the medical, public amenities, governmental and educational side of things. Every city opened expands our capabilities to handle those things with ease. A lot of private versions of some of these things are part of the business sector for each. We can barely keep up with applications for businesses and services. That I find wonderful, the entrepreneurial possibilities for those who never had a chance before to chase their dreams.
"Our educational programs and institutions are keeping up with those who provide vital services such as teachers and public works. There are so many professions out there … those who work in the museums and libraries, private industries that do hard research for solutions to our problems, those who want to do in private practice what they could do in public … lawyers, educators and doctors, for example. The list is endless and very exciting.
"The suppliers are doing a good job though we're expanding more and more through the Industrial Park Cities Master Expansion Plan. We upgrade it according to need and right now we have under construction more warehousing for The Foundry Exchange which supplies everyone and their businesses with the necessary raw materials and finished objects. We're expanding steel production and fabrication because our work force grows along with demand created by every migration. We've also expanded the division that handles all of the development and manufacture of those items that we supply to Earth for their many and myriad problems, something that's under review again due to new requests. We'll hold that conference at Unidad shortly with all the envoys there from all over Earth.
"We have a comfortable system in place because we have hands on the ground and a lot of smart mechs and femmes doing research and development. Some of it won't pay benefits for a while. Some of it is just for expansion of scientific knowledge. We haven't done that on Cybertron since the Golden Age because the only thing that mattered there was how much income something could generate now, rather than 'this is interesting, lets study it and if there's an application for it somewhere way down the line, good for us'. R&D is king here."
"I am very proud of this and when I go to the Industrial Parks, I am overcome with awe and gratitude at the effort, skill and ingenuity of our people. You are so valuable to our well being, old friend. There are no words of gratitude I can speak for how much we as a recovering and re-surging species owe you," Optimus said with spark felt emotion.
Jetta grinned. "Thank you. I will tell everyone."
"Please do. We must get together and make Labor Day special for our people. We have to let them know how much we owe all of them for their service and skill. It would be impossible to do this without their efforts and I, for one wish it to be understood by all of them everywhere," Prime said.
"Well, Prowler … you and I are on again," Ratchet said with a giant smile. "Beer and skittles for everyone."
Huge laughter greeted that, then they plodded onward.
Caro dulled the entire room with the assistance of Venture regarding the masses of income and investment capital Autobot Nation, Inc. and The Prime Trust had accrued. Even giving it away to fund much needed projects all over the Earth as well as granting freely much needed technology, they still couldn't keep up with all of it. It was an interesting conundrum for all.
:That was dull:
Prowl glanced at Ratchet with a cool optic. :Savage:
Ratchet chuckled as more reports were heard including that from Herling that conferences were soon and the Child Find program was calling for all infants of a certain age to be brought in for evaluation and potential enrollment. Watching Ironhide glower at everyone was hilarious even for Herling who dragged out the moment by making all manner of details about the intake process clear.
Barron was next. He consulted his datapad. "Well, we have the Wheelus Faction trial coming up, Lord Optimus. Crader has volunteered to testify against them and we're weighing the value of that against the sheer mayhem he poses. There are others as well including hearings on the new prisoners brought in with their old warrants and as well as new charges. Polity, Inana, Ninlil, Corso and Sole along with Nitrate are among them.
"We also have to have hearings to review the holds that affect Motormaster and his brothers, Stiletto, Blind Spot, Barricade and Turmoil among others. I don't look forward to that but it must be done to extend their holds or release them. As it stands, they need to have a comprehensive evaluation and then a hearing to examine their incarcerations." He glanced at Ratchet. "That includes full physicals, Ratchet. I've already had Rung and Jarro dispense the mental evaluations. They're in the file already."
"You're not going without me," Ironhide said darkly.
"We'll come along as well," Sun said as Jack nodded.
"Done deal," Ratchet said.
"We have to present new public safety rules to the Colonial Committee so they can take them to their individual districts to talk to their constituents to get input. Then we meet again to debate what they're want to refine or add things to them that are helpful. Ultra Magnus will assist with this as the colonial governmental representative. These include procedural rules about meetings and delegation presentations. We want to make it easier for those who have issues to bring them forward."
"That is a good thing, Barron," Optimus said. "Until we drop even partial martial law, this can be intimidating to those who saw the government and its different mechanisms as the enemy. Thank you for that."
Barron nodded. "We're preparing representation to Polity and that group. When its sorted out, we can get with your legal aide to figure out when, where and so on."
Everyone agreed.
More came and went, senior news, communications such as newspapers and IntraCom, more movie, television and documentary requests, art, sports, cultural exchanges and the like. It was all taken up and when the last slagger spoke, everyone turned toward Drift and Springer.
They sat up straighter and looked back.
"So … how is fatherhood working out for you?" Starscream purred.
"So far, so good," Drift said with a smirk at the nightmare of his waking dreams. "Can't complain."
"Good. When he comes to live with me, I will be gratified. I despise whining," he said in his lowest sexiest register.
Huge laughter greeted that.
Drift pulled the baby into his arms and sat back. "I'll remember that."
"For the Good of the Order?" Optimus asked hopefully.
"WHO WANTS TO HELP ME BAG AND TAG CAMERON FRAZER!?"
Everyone did.
=0=Later that afternoon
Drift sat in a chair watching Tell in his gently bouncing bouncy chair. He grinned at the baby and the baby grinned back. "He grinned at me."
Springer who was at the counter getting their early-evening-just-before-shift-takeout/ordered in/dinner going because it was his turn glanced over his shoulder. "He does that a lot." Springer grinned. "I like his little amber optics. I didn't think I would but on him its a good look."
"Better than red," Drift said, "though I'm partial to it a bit."
"I noticed," Springer said, then he glanced at the table nearby. Looking at the baby, he considered their former easy-going lifestyle. Somehow, it didn't seem 'right' to sit and chow down in the living room. "Uh, should we eat at the table tonight?"
Drift glanced at him, then Tell. "Maybe that's a good idea," he said as he rose and carried the baby chair and all to the table. He set him carefully on it, then glanced at Springer. "Do we have … um, stuff? The dinner stuff?"
"Plates and things?" Springer asked with a smirk.
"I grew up in a packing crate. We used our fingers and toes," Drift said as he walked to the cupboard. He opened it and pulled out two plates. Using a cloth to dust them off, he put them on the table. "Do we use glasses for the beer?"
Springer glanced at Tell. "Could be a good idea. We want him to have … you know … normal stuff. A normal life."
Drift pulled two glasses out and dusted them as well, putting them on the table. He also added utensils, then glanced at Springer. "Need help, Sport?"
Springer grinned as he dumped the last Chinese food carton into a bowl. He had four bowls of food in dishes he'd dusted, then handed two to Drift. "Set this stuff on the table and I'll get the beer."
Drift carried heaping bowls to the table as Springer retrieved two beers from the beer locker next to the fridge. He pulled the tops, then walked to the table to pour the cold beverage into the glasses.
Both of them sat, glanced at Tell, then each other.
"Well, its different," Springer said.
Drift nodded. "It is. First time thing as Ada would say."
Springer grinned. "It is. I sorta get how he felt."
"So do I," Drift said with a chuckle. He raised his glass, clinked it with Springer, then both saluted Tell. Sipping his beer, he grinned. "Bony appetite, slagger."
"You, too," Springer said with a chuckle.
And thus it went, the 'first time' dinner between Springer of Polyhex of Cybertron, Drift of Kaon of Cybertron and Tell of Polyhex-Kaon of Cybertron.
=0=TBC 01-10-2021 01-12-2021
ESL:
voluptuous: (vole-lup-two-us) something that is full figured and sexy, sort of curves falling out of their gown sexy. Sophia Loren was voluptuous and so was Marilyn Monroe. Its both a quality of body shape and of character. Mae West, the old time comedian and movie star who is HILARIOUS was both. She wrote and did her own stuff, unheard of at the time and was a one liner pez dispenser. She oozed sex appeal and remained so into her 70's and beyond. In the 1920's, I believe, she had a show on Broadway that was entitled 'Sex'. The puritanical element nearly lost its mind. She made famous this line, "Why don't you come up and see me sometime?" She discovered Carey Grant. She was also about 5 feet 1 inch tall but seemed taller by her mannerisms and swagger. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED HER.
Oh and Ratchet used this word to mean that she was huge and everywhere. It sort of fits the intention. :D