The Diego Diaries: Stuff To Due (dd7 289)
=0=Saturn Shipyard
Ratchet stood on the deck of the huge station that was part of a vast complex that was in a parking orbit over the planet below. Its rings weren't perceptible due to the angle they were in orbit. Their delicate forms could be missed unless the right viewpoint was possible. In a gravity cart beside him, one that was modified and stored at the Ops Center at Mars for such things, three humans watched the same view.
Will Lennox, Robert Epps and Niall Graham stared out the huge windows of the command center to the show outside. There was a huge war world station nearby swarmed with workers and their vessels that was halfway through construction. It would take the place of the one that was on duty down the Orion Arm as a warning for anyone coming that way.
There were floating stations around the area that were construction and assembly points for various things that were used to repair the biggest ships and constructions underway. Various small ships and vessels traveled here and there including a huge runabout that was towing some big device toward the war world.
:This is amazing: Graham whispered as he watched the ship pulling something large that sparkled lights over its surface. :We're so far behind them its scary:
The others nodded.
:I'm glad that they're on our side. I wonder what's the situation with the Decepticons right now?: Epps asked.
Ratchet glanced down, then grinned. "They don't have the organization or discipline to do this and you can't do this with slave labor. You pay your people a lot, in our case, a life they deserved all along and this is possible. You let individuals be free to think and do, to be what they want to be and the unity is automatic. This is the way you progress, boys. This is the way you get millions of individuals to live their best life. When they do that, we all benefit."
It was quiet a moment as they watched the show as behind them the operational center continued onward. It was massive and there were huge monitors around the space showing the different operations ongoing with dedicated crew and techs for each one. There were ships being built along with the war world station and around the area huge platforms were stationed to assist the work on refitting and rebuilding titanic frames.
One was nearby, a ship that was bound for Cybertron that was a smaller metrotitan, perhaps even a femme. Before they could ask about it a huge light appeared before them and when it died down floating near the northern pole of Saturn, the magnificent and stupendous sight of a dreadnought had appeared.
Ratchet grinned, then glanced at the humans. "Show time, boys. I have you hooked into me. Wherever I go, you go."
:Thanks, Ratchet: Will said as he stared at the massive ship. :I can't even begin to fathom how you know how to work on them. Did I ever tell you lately that I'm somewhat in awe of you?:
The other two nodded, then all three looked upward at Ratchet.
Ratchet snickered. "All my mechs say that," he said as he stepped closer to a comm station. The little cart floated with him. "This is Ratchet of Iacon, chief physician of all big frames. Please identify yourself and allow me to link in."
A deep sonorous voice came over the intercom system. "I am Paradisio, Ratchet. I am here to assist the Prime and The People. You are free to link."
Ratchet pulled a data plug from a panel on his shoulder, then slotted it into a port. He typed on the console a moment, then it blinked a small white light three times. Ratchet pulled it out, then stowed it again. "Welcome, Paradisio. We're glad to have you. Do you have pretender gear?"
"I do. Metroplex transmitted it to us when we left Soft Space."
"Can you come to my signal?" Ratchet asked.
"Stand by," Paradisio said. It was silent and tense a moment, then the sound of someone resolving behind them was heard. The four turned around to look.
A big mech was standing before them, one seemingly grim with age and purpose. Most of the dreadnoughts had a battle configuration and capability but they usually served as transports, support for colonial worlds and other benign purposes. They were designed to show others the might and capability of the Cybertronian Empire and because they did and were many, there were lots of conflicts that never happened because they existed. They were built by The People and animated by Primus and The One through the Well of Allsparks.
This one, Paradisio, was a battle ready mechanism who spent most of his life in selfless service to The People. He was very big, though not as tall as Typhoon but more solidly built. He was stern in affect but a gentleman with old fashioned manners. He walked toward Ratchet, then nodded his helm in respect. "I am Paradisio, Commander Ratchet. I am honored to meet you and be of service to The People. I am yours to command through this experience and I thank you for helping me to reach my fullest potential through the work that I know you are here to do. I have many pains that were partially assuaged in Soft Space but the upgrades and mends that I seek will only happen here."
Ratchet bowed his helm back. "I am honored to help you. Your frame is a work and wonder and its the greatest pleasure I have to assist my fellow Cybertronians back to the peak of their power. I'm assuming that Sunrise is nearby?"
"You are correct. My bond is nearby waiting for the word to come. We are not clear about how things are going to happen though," he said glancing toward the window, "I have not seen such organization and infrastructure since the Golden Age." He glanced at Ratchet with a serious expression. "I am unsurprised given the quality of this Prime."
"Optimus will be here tomorrow morning," Ratchet said. "He has much to organize for the plans you'll partake upon. The other titans … Calamity, Relentless, Fury and Sunset. They're coming? I was told they'd space this out."
"They are. We do not want to overtax the facilities, though I had no idea you had this much capacity," he said as he turned toward the window to look outside. His massive body, sixteen miles long in ship configuration blotted out most of the view of space as it held in a parking orbit over the north pole of Saturn. As he did, a sound was heard nearby.
Lennox, Epps and Graham who himself was filming the exchange glanced around to see several titans materialize behind them. Typhoon, Metroplex, Fort Max and Hammer of Primus, himself a medical engineer of necessity, not training appeared and solidified.
"Paradisio," Typhoon said with a grin. "Come and give your old brother a hug."
Paradisio who smiled for the first time walked to the mechs and began to hug and exchange greetings. It was a sweet thing to watch, mechs nearly at or just over 40 feet in height greeting each other after unspeakable eons apart.
"Tell me, Pari," Metroplex said as he shook Paradisio's servo in the warrior manner. "How are the others? I do believe all fifteen of you are safe now."
He grinned. "We are. The others are still in Soft Space. Everyone there knows what has happened and are very happy. Anyone you ask is willing to come and serve. We do so with gratitude."
Ratchet glanced down at the humans, then switched to a private channel off line. :What you see here is the most selfless and the greatest of our people. The big frames are spark bound to Prime but they do what they do because they're made of love. We're the luckiest people who ever lived to have such greatness amongst us:
The men stared upward, then nodded. :Thank you, Ratchet, for letting us come along on the things you all do. This is the greatest thing ever: Bobby Epps said.
:It is, isn't it?: Ratchet replied before he walked forward to join the group. He was almost comically short among them. "Now I know what a micro mini-con feels like around the rest of us."
They chuckled, then another figure began to resolve nearby. He was tall and handsome, seemingly a common trait among them all. Given their visors, they seemed inscrutable and oddly calm in expression. It was a very cool and handsome design for totally relatable faces and enhanced their mystery. He walked forward into Fort Max's embrace.
They embraced each other, welcoming him, then Ratchet turned to the humans nearby. "This amazing mech is Sunrise."
The humans waved to the group from their enclosed gravity cart.
"These are our allies. They killed Megatron a couple of times and beat the Decepticons every time they came to their planet, the third one from this star." Ratchet smiled a brilliant smile as he watched the big mechs stare at the humans for a moment.
"They are very small," Sunrise said with an expression of curiosity on his handsome face.
"Well, plutonium comes in small packages," Ratchet said.
Huge laughter greeted that, then Typhoon looked down at Ratchet. "I suppose you're going to start repairs?"
"I figured Paradisio first, then he can fly onward to Mars. We can then have you come in, Sunrise. Where are you from here?" Ratchet asked.
"Just inside the solar well. There appears to be a base nearby my present position," he said.
=0=Near a forward base
They stood at the window staring at the monster vessel nearby. It was close enough to see in detail but not close enough to cause problems in the little planetary system. Charon was only just that much smaller than its host, Pluto and among its five moon system everything was well in balance. This ship rather blotted out the usual view and as they stared at it, they marveled at their people's creativity together.
"That's one fragging big ship." -Twin Twist
Everyone nodded.
"I'm glad they're on our side." -Rack 'N Ruin
Everyone nodded.
"I'm glad they follow Prime." -Twin Twist
Everyone nodded.
It would go on like that for a while.
=0=Moments later on Paradisio's
They bridged over as ships with workers, doctors, techs, repair specialists, data managers, construction bots both sentient and not began to fly their various different specialist platforms toward the huge mech. There were outside and inside points of entry, places to slot in and all manner of access. They had their jobs and were heading post haste to begin them. Another dreadnought and four metrotitans were waiting their turn.
Ratchet and the humans stood and floated on the bridge of the massive vessel, itself a vast open space. Nearby, a very large panel with lights flashing signaled the spark and consciousness of the ship. Ratchet walked to it, then placed his servo gently upon it. "Hi, Pari. I have your list. We're on it."
The lights flared, then his voice was heard. "Thank you, Doctor. I will help you."
Ratchet grinned. "Since when does anyone of your frame not?"
He would walk onward to the computational center of the ship and following him would be a gravity cart filled with silent, awe-filled humans.
=0=The Hourly News
"It was reported today that six titanic frames were coming to Mars to attend to security details for the Prime and The People. The Elders led by Metroplex and Typhoon were contacted for details. We were told that two dreadnought vessels, Paradisio and Sunrise as well as four metrotitans of the Hunter Class, Calamity, Relentless, Fury and Sunset were coming for permanent duty here.
"There are fifteen dreadnought class vessels in the pantheon of big framed ships, all of which have been recovered and work either here or in a secured area where we're told thousands of metrotitan ships are located. The exact spot is undisclosed for security reasons but its delightful to know that these, the most selfless and honored of our people are secure.
"They're arriving in staggered intervals at the Saturn Shipyard for repairs and upgrades, then will be placed in service for the colony and our empire against the different hostile groups that have made their way here. We're currently containing the existence of Razorclaw, the Predacon chief and his battle group near Epsilon Eridani. There is also the group near Caminus headed by the Decepticon Ominous that is currently contained near that affiliated colony world which is overseen for security by the dreadnought vessel, Clipper.
"The Prime operates a policy of containment utilizing overwhelming force to keep them in check and to protect the migration routes through the Orion Arm and the Bootes Constellation. Because it's a policy of containment, the need for ships of this quality and type to overawe any negative forces is crucial. Right now, there are dozens of ships available to meet any force here on world. Among those working freely or sitting as habitation sites, the Prime commands 37 adult metrotitans and gives home to eight immature individuals including two infants. There are five dreadnoughts already here which will be supplemented by the addition of Paradisio and Sunrise. Included among them are the Supreme vessels who number six as of now. There are at least 20 known to have been working during the Golden Age and perhaps we shall be lucky enough at some point to call them all home.
"There are currently 4,200 metrotitans working both on world and in defense of Cybertron in space, all of whom came to the call of Prime. Never since the Golden Age has such a group of big frames been so assembled. The dreadnoughts are receiving repairs, then will be part of the defense of the system that includes the interlopers as well as functioning as a rapid response team lead by the dreadnought Tennyson.
"We will return in a moment with an interview with Commander Ultra Magnus about these new arrivals and their function in the security of our empire. We'll be right back," Lim-Lee said before the Community Bulletin Board announced the last few road closures due to sand removal and the lunches at the various schools.
=0=Earth2
"Damn," Kyle said as he glanced at a thoughtful Harris.
Harris nodded. "Beau Weaver and his family arrive tomorrow. There's never a dull moment here."
"That would be an understatement," Mariah Davis replied.
=0=TBC 5-27-2020
It is canon that the metrotitans numbered into the thousands before The Fall. There are twenty known Supremes of whom Omega is the oldest.