The Diego Diaries: Moving On. (dd7 233)
=0=Moving on
Ratchet finished his home bound patients, then walked to the Metro to go to the Port of Mars to see how things were going through the refugee portals. The morning was moving along and he was going to be going to Cybertron about 1300 to have lunch in the highly ornate Officer's Dining Room in the Citadel. He had eaten there a couple of times with the highest officers of the realm way back in the orn before Optimus became Prime during a few visits by aliens they wanted to impress. Mostly, It was the dining room of the senior Autobots and those visiting from the Imperium or whom Sentinel wanted to impress.
My, how the mighty had fallen, he thought with a grin.
He reached the Metro station, one of seven that were part of the Port's configuration. Given that it was once the staging area to repair titans, it had a lot of access points that were now utilized to take newly arrived citizens in different directions to their new homes. He walked up the steps and headed for the long structure that was being expanded to handle the load of newcomers that came orn and night.
Entering, he walked to the desk and pulled up the statistics for medical status of refugees. It was looking good at Omega Base given the support that was sent to Dai Atlas and his crew. That translated back to them as less injured, damaged or ill mechs and femmes coming to clog the system. It would be a very interesting sojourn until lunch.
=0=Cybertron
They walked from the shuttles to gather on a broken tarmac. Beyond was the jagged outline of a township that was an industry town back in the orn, a nameless place detailed NC-312-A on the maps. It was a place where they synthesized energon for transportation that was surrounded by rough housing projects for a hard bitten local population. The refineries were broken and in the process of being dismantled. The darkness made the wreckage sinister as they gathered to discuss the project. Around the local area there were lights that beat back the darkness as everyone working there did their part.
"The refineries are essential for the re-creation of this area. We've put together a lot of the refinery replacements through pre-fabrication and will truck and train them here when the bases are set for them to be assembled. The energon will be brought in by ship and stockpiled in that area," Decanter who was Hardie's chief of staff said as he pointed toward a vast fenced area nearby that was crisscrossed with train tracks. "We have the area secured against anyone who might want to come and help themselves.
"The narrow gauge train tracks have been recreated and they will be the route through which the energon will be taken to the refineries. This area has a camp about ten miles from here that will employ about 12,000 individuals all told in time who will be making the raw steel. The product will be taken to different areas around here to be formed into what needs to be done."
"What is the end game for it?" Hardie asked.
"We're re-making small towns, replacing all the housing and businesses in this area. We want to restore the industrial sectors here without requiring the services of a titan because they wouldn't fit here. Most of the titans on world are being added to the local area as part of the infrastructure but this area is going to be small towns and a few places where the trains come through and there's going to be warehouses here eventually. It would be a lot to ask of a titan to take up residence here."
"I see," Hardie said as he stared at the fences nearby. "I think this is good work. The sooner the better. We can have more employment for a lot more locals when this begins because businesses can be started and rebuilt when it happens. We need to make sure that those who live here and get homes are the locals who belong here, especially if they want to return. I've received letters and messages asking that they get a chance to come back to their area and homes."
"We've sorted out the old plats, General," Marlie, an aide told him. "We took them and worked out who lived, worked and owned businesses here. We're preserving the small local businesses and people's homes. The corporate stuff and all of that … we've submitted information to the Committee For Economic Investigations to sort things out about them. We don't have to worry about putting the high castes back into their places until its sorted out who really owns what."
Hardie nodded. "Good. We have to sort out a lot and no one is going to be put back into places they don't belong." He walked toward the refinery area to look at the scene. Behind him, the others came including Ironhide. Behind Ironhide, carrying a heavy backpack, Rockwell followed stoically.
=0=School
He stood outside the door waiting to go inside. He was tense but determined to go to school. Having been home schooled by his family and friends in their small town outside of Sun Base, he was in good shape. They'd been educating their young for a long time and keeping things on the down low so that the leadership of the colony wouldn't find out. Some of the punishments for things like that were worse than they were on Cybertron during the orn.
The door opened and his social worker walked out with his ada, atar and the new teacher, Mrs. Lyrica. They were introduced, encouragement was given to him and his genitors, then they hugged him. He watched them walk toward the office with the social worker and felt his spark flutter. He looked at Mrs. Lyrica who grinned at him. "Hello, Baldo. I'm Mrs. Lyrica and I will be your teacher. Come inside and let's get you settled."
He followed her into the room which was vast, colorful and amazing. The class was working on things as she called them to attention. They paused, then turned toward her. "Thank you for your attention. I want you to meet Baldo. He's a new student from a colony that is going to be in our class. I want you to help him in anyway you can. Being the new one is never easy and he's come a long way to be here."
She turned to Baldo. "See that seat over there? That's your place now. Why don't you take it and we can work out what you need to do to join us. Alright?"
He nodded, then walked to the chair to sit. He had new things, data pads and a snack in his new book bag. He sat it on the table, then looked at a mech who would be sitting beside him at their table. "Hi," he said uneasily.
"Hi," the mech said. "Don't be nervous. I was new once, too. I'm Bos," he said.
"Baldo," the new mech replied.
They would work out what he needed to know and by lunch time he was relaxed and ready to rumble. When the siren for recess was heard, they ran outside fully garbed against the cold, a new experience for Baldo. Bursting out the door, they both ran for the swings. When they reached them, Bos smiled at the kids waiting for him. "We got a new mech. This is Baldo," Bos said.
They smiled at him.
"Hi. I'm Sunspot. Bos is my brother. Do you want to play football?" he asked.
Baldo would.
=0=1200 Hours on the TMC
Ironhide walked back through a bridge to Autobot City where Ratchet was waiting. He carried a data pad with everyone's order. "We have to hoof it."
Ratchet took the data pad, considered it, then grinned. "You can press this button," Ratchet said pointing to one on the pad. "It will send it to the different places for prep and we can just pick it up."
"Then do it, mech," Ironhide said as they walked out amiably. "I AM IRONHIDE! I CAN'T DO EVERYTHING! BUT USUALLY I DO! BUT NOT TODAY!"
Ratchet punched the button, then grinned at Ironhide. "I can see that prayer hasn't helped you much."
"SLAG RIGHT!"
They wandered into the crowds street side and disappeared.
=0=Waiting for part of the order at The Takeout Place
"And that's when I was told I have to go to the Temple prayers with Rockwell."
Ratchet stared at Ironhide who looked like a kicked puppy, then laughed.
Ironhide frowned at him. "Slagger."
"I'm not laughing at you, Ironhide, I'm laughing with you," Ratchet said.
Ironhide frowned deeper. "No you aren't."
"You're right," Ratchet said as the box was slid over the counter to them. They thanked the youngster, then headed out to the other six places they would have to go before they collected all of it to take to Iacon. It would be a pity party the whole way.
=0=The Citadel, Iacon, Cybertron
They walked up the stairs to the main level, then took an elevator to the top floor. Down incredibly ornate hallways heading for the Officer's Dining Hall, the two meandered. There were several boxes and it was a good thing that Ratchet had helped out. A gravity cart would have been easier but that would take planning. They reached it, then walked into the open door.
Sitting around the table waiting, every adult in Ironhide's life including those of his ada, Trooper, Scout, Steiner and Lissie watched as they staggered in. It was silent as they stared at the two, then Ironhide turned around to walk out.
Ratchet set down his boxes, then chased after Ironhide. Steering Ironhide back inside, he laughed as they pulled out lunches, then set them before the group around the table. When even aides and Rockwell were settled, Ironhide pulled out his own food while Ratchet took his. The two sat down and it was quiet.
Still.
Everyone stared at Ironhide without a sound.
"WHAT!?" he asked.
"Nothing," Hardie said. "We're just admiring our little mech. The one who wanted a caste court. The one who volunteered our good friend, Rockwell here to morning prayers at the Temple for the rest of your decaorn of delinquency."
It was deadly quiet as Rockwell who was sitting at the end of the table glanced at Ironhide with a startled expression, then one filled with rage. He didn't say a word.
Ironhide stared at him, then grinned. "Well, I try," he said.
The room erupted in laughter, then everyone began to eat.
"Ratchet, how is Optimus doing?" Turbine asked.
Ratchet peered down the huge ornate table. "He's better. I'm not allowing him out for another orn or two. He's got to allow the welds to season."
"There goes football," Sun said. "What's the word on it?"
"There's a league rule that if more than two members of a team get hurt in the line of duty they will reschedule the games around that. Vos and Terra are both rescheduled. When everyone is up to play, then they'll have the games right away even if its in the middle of a decaorn rather than wait for the weekend. Pretty good for all of you that this is so," Delphi said as he glanced around the room.
"How's Prime's hangover?" Raptor asked. "I'd ask infant but I think I already know the answer."
Ironhide frowned at his beloved grandpa, then stared at his half empty beer. "I think I need about fifteen more of these to get through the afternoon."
"Aw," Lissie said as she patted Ironhide's arm with her newly installed and newly repainted servo. "Don't feel bad. I'll help you. You can hold my hand." She smiled, then unsubbed her old damaged servo. She put it on Ironhide's plate.
The bellow he made could be heard for blocks.
=0=TBC 3-17-2020 4-9-2020