The Diego Diaries: Diplomatin' (dd7 132)
=0=There, in NYC
"Its a thing now to hunt the big frames, kill them and take their tech. Titan tech is about the most valuable thing out there short of taking one over. But that's not the way it works," Ratchet said as he glanced at the row of kids watching with deep interest. "Quadrus, you're the oldest. Come here."
Quadrus started, then walked around Springer to Ratchet who stood. He towered over Ratchet but he paused next to him.
Ratchet smiled. "This is Quadrus and he's an immature titanic frame. The only thing immature about him is his growth. Even though he's about 31 or so feet tall, he's still a baby compared to the adults of his designation.
"Quadrus, what is your special function?" Ratchet asked as the humans before them stared at both with intensity. He had them where he wanted them.
"Our special function, both the dreadnoughts," he said glancing at the boys who were staring at both of them with interest, "is to serve The People by obeying the commands and desires of the Prime of our people. We do so with all our spark. It is an honor to do so."
"Can you turn that off? Is it possible to deny your allegiance to a Prime? Ever?" Ratchet asked.
"No," Quadrus said as the others nodded. "We can't. Its who we are. Our sparks are related to the Matrix and we are spark bound to serve both him and our people. We serve and protect our people and serve and protect the Prime."
Drift was grinning as he watched the earnest kid tell the humans what they would do to their deaths for their people and Optimus. It was amazingly refreshing to see such goodness and dedication in one so young and pure.
"But you live life in the colony like other kids your age," Ratchet said.
Quadrus smiled. "We do. We get to live in a house and go to school. We have clubs and activities. When the soldiers need us we go to our stations in the DMZ. We can have both. You're our genitors and we have our appa and ammas, too. The others of our frame, our uncles and aunt, they're part of our family. We get to do everything now."
"You didn't before," Ratchet said.
"No. We didn't have any kids around us for a while, then the wolf packs formed up and our uncle, Ravening Wolf organized us to go with other warriors, our elders, to find our frames where they were hiding and bring them into safety. Sometimes there were fights but mostly we escorted them to safety with the others. There are thousands of others, Ada."
Ratchet nodded. "I know. Your frame and the dreads, you're dazzling. We've located all the dreads, right?"
"We got the last three to safety, Uncle Max told me," Quadrus said. "That makes all fifteen of them in safety. Its a good thing. Some of them were in trouble."
"It's hard for humans to imagine a 15 mile long ship ever in trouble," Ratchet said with a grin. "What do you want to be when you're adult?"
He thought a moment. "I think I want to remain a soldier but I love science. I want to be a scientist. Maybe an astronomer."
Ratchet nodded. "Good idea. Looking into deep space is a gift."
He nodded, then turned slightly to Ratchet. "I never had a chance to do things like this. Appa and Ammas did a good job helping us grow up but having a family is everything. We never had so much fun. Thanksgiving is coming and so is Christmas Surprise. We might even visit the Earth to see what others schools are like. I can't wait. This beats being in space. Our colony and this system is home. There's nothing we won't do to defend it, Ada. You know you just have to ask."
Ratchet nodded, then glanced at the other kids who straightened, then nodded in agreement. "That was never in doubt. The things that have happened to the habitats, the death of the two humans … what do you think about that? What is the word you get from younger mechanisms?"
Quadrus considered that. "That was terrible. I always thought that nothing bad will happen to the colony, its so protected. The humans are a part of our colony and I like them. They come to our schools, we like the soldiers … Judy Witwicky and the others are fun. They like us and we like them. It should've never happened. I don't know what happened but its so sad."
"Humans add a lot to the colony," Ratchet ventured.
"They do. I like to hear their stories. They have so many different religions and cultures. They come to school and talk during our civics class. They tell us about things that are sorta … did you know that you can't look at someone's feet or its an insult in one of their cultures? Isn't that interesting?" he asked.
Ratchet nodded. "Thank you, Quadrus."
He nodded, glanced out at the humans, then walked back to his place.
Ratchet watched him go, then turned back to the humans. "Its important to me that you understand us. That you find commonalities between us rather than differences. We care about you. We care about your safety and take a lot of time and effort to make sure you're not only safe but doing a lot of what you came to do.
"You do science and agriculture among a lot of things. You study all manner of different ideas and projects that will be of service to Earth. We provide all the habitats as well as maintain and guard them. We let humans into nearly every area of our lives including our philosophies and organizations. We always have. The treaties that we have with you are sacred to us.
"We have our own life which is represented by our children here," Ratchet said. "We defend that. We gather our people wherever they are. Its important to me that you understand that we are one. We have more commonalities than differences.
"The terrorists want you to believe other than that. They want you to believe that we're too different, too alien and strange for you to be safe around. They want fear to rule the alliance. They want you afraid so they can divide us. They want to tear down the agreements and treaties, break the bonds between us and find common ground with the Decepticons. They believe deluded notions such as the idea of us leaving will somehow make things safer, rather than the other way around. Some of them would align with the enemy. Even their name should give you a clue. Decepticon.
"I wanted you to see our children. We cherish them and raise them with all the care we can. We support their dreams and their safety. By extension, we do the same to those of Earth by protecting, supporting and assisting you with all your concerns and problems. The children of Mars who are from Earth have as much of our time and effort as our own and we love them, too.
"We aren't different. Those kids there and the two mechs, they're all mine. Those kids go to school, play, attend their clubs, live with us and make our world radiant with their sweet goodness. We love them. We started a school the moment refugee children reached us. We're more like you than not. But the terrorists and their supporters will lie to you and say otherwise.
"We're know we're different than your ideas of alien life have ever devised possible. Probably more different than you expected. We can make all manner of mechanical things. We're a bit on the shape shifting side that way because we evolved along those lines. But we're also fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. We're grandchildren and grand parents. We have families, attend the races and football games, bet on sports, bar hop, have dinners and special occasions just like you do. We have holidays, protect each other, love on the humans whenever they show up, do science, take care of the sick and helpless, forgive each other and love each other.
"We're pushing 100,000,000 citizens on Mars but our crime rate is so small its a slagging miracle. Everyone has what they need. All of them are wanted. All of them are saved. We could have chaos and pandemonium but we don't because we work to save our people from their traumas and traumas they bring with themselves.
"The terrorists of M.E.C.H., the Family and The Resistance would tear us apart, you and me. They would have you think that we're too different to understand. That our families aren't real and that nothing good came come of our alliances. They will lie to you without evidence that if we were just gone the Decepticons would follow. They never have an answer for the fact that Arachnid and her destruction crew were living in a dormant state under the Earth for 10,000 years waiting for a signal to kill you all, one that never came because we prevented it.
"They lie and fill you with fear. They tried to infiltrate and spy but we caught both of them. All that they tell you is untrue, a lie based on creating fear. Nearly 21,000 humans live on Mars. We're nearing completion on the space station that will be in place between Earth and Mars and be a human habitat as well.
"We give you what we can in terms of technology and assistance to help you with your problems. We don't charge a nickel for nearly all of it and what our business ventures earn on Earth we plow back into projects there that are cost free to the recipients but are geared to maximum assistance for your problems. All of it we do for you and we protect you at the same time.
"Right now, there are four major enemy installations within easy reach of this solar systems. They're dug in and they aren't going anywhere. There are roving bands of pirates and alien groups that prey on others. All of them know about you and what this system offers in fuel and other necessities. They're held at bay by us. They know they can't fight us and because they do they stay away so everyone who lives here is safe.
"There are individuals on Earth who want to divide us. They want to drive a wedge between us and the general population so that they can find a way to break our agreements, friendships and partnerships. That cannot stand. That cannot prevail. We work together to make this system a safe and bustling place filled with possibilities and opportunities. We listen to your requests, troubleshoot them and create the ones that past the safety first hurdle. The liars and terrorists out there would break that and open the door for all of the dangers we keep away to flood through.
"That can't be allowed to happen. There are many humans on Mars and they can tell you how we live, what we believe and who we are. Ask them. Talk to them. They will tell you honestly answers to every question that you might have.
"We're going to keep growing. There are twenty thousand plus humans on Mars. There will be more and more to come. The solar system is waiting for you. But you must decide what you want and who you trust. We are one. We are united. It's our creed and our template for life as we gather back again. We welcome you among us and care about you.
"These two situations are anomalies. We've been living together since 2006 and this is the first real problem that we have between us. We never told you we would be perfect in all things but we've been pretty amazingly good. Humans are safe on Mars. Humans are welcome. We ask that you think about this, that you consider the totality of our time together and how we've been safe together.
"For now, just know that the Prime of Cybertron and his people honor you and work hard for your safety everyday. Seekers fly routes throughout his sphere of influence of which this system is centered to patrol for dangers. We keep a ready fleet on the flight line at the Autobot City Airfield and field forts all over the place. No one can come here without our sensors going off.
"We've beat back armadas with real costs to ourselves and we will continue to do it. We will honor and uphold the treaties. We will continue to count among our closest friends the soldiers of N.E.S.T., the Global N.E.S.T. Alliance and all our allies on this world and beyond. We keep Razorclaw and those like him at bay with our might which we utilize to protect you as well.
"We do this because we care about you and want to be the best neighbors possible. What happened is an outlier. We hold the relationship intact from our end. We hope that you do as well. We will be releasing more information about the two and what we'll do about this in accordance with Cybertronian law. Governments have been alerted, they are safe and have excellent representation.
"Until then, we wish the best for Earth and our friends and allies everywhere. We send again our condolences to the families of Lawrence Dobbs and Silvio Lombardi. We didn't wish for this to happen. It wasn't what we wanted or work for but it has happened. The two men who are charged with their murders will stand for their crimes. Until then, we pledge our allegiance to you, to Earth and this solar system. From the Prime of Cybertron, Optimus of Iacon, we thank you for the opportunity to speak and meet with you. Thank you," Ratchet concluded. He rose to stand, then glanced at the doorway.
Lucien had stood there listening. It was interesting the kind of diplomacy that Ratchet did because it was personalized and had a point that often took a while to realize. Because he made it personal, it drew the listeners in more than more traditional methods. He glanced at the kids, then stepped back. They were getting ready to go.
Ratchet turned to the Secretary General, chatted a moment, then turned to the members sitting in the audience. He nodded, grinned, then turned to gesture everyone to leave. Springer stepped out and waited as the kids filed by, then Drift. With Lucien following, he walked down the corridor to the door that led outside.
Ratchet spoke a moment to a couple of allies, then with a wave walked out of the door to follow the others. The sound of a bridge was clearly heard and as they walked through it the cameras rolled. They held on Ratchet as he spoke to a couple of the men waiting in the lot for him, then walked into the bridge with a grin and wave to disappear almost immediately.
The show was over.
=0=TBC 11-14-19
I was so damned tired last night that I couldn't even keep my eyes open. Feeling great tonight. Will be on it every day I'm thinking. The bots demand it. They never stop until I write it all down. LOL! Slave drivers. :) ;)