The Diego Diaries: Chaos 63 (dd3 63)
-0-Conference Room, Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
It was silent a moment as they digested the news. "Optimus, that slagger is just starting. We can bend this around to our favor if we move," Jetta said.
Prime nodded. "I believe so," he said glancing up at Starscream. "The Seekers have done extraordinary work in removing potential fuel from the servos of enemies. We can congratulate their efforts even as we redouble for the future."
Starscream nodded. "Thank you, Prime. We shall train the newcomers for the task and set them to it."
"Perhaps we can do this more efficiently," Flint ventured. "If we send larger groups out with some heavily armed for security, they can do this more safely than the lightly armed flights that go out now. They could also use the Guardians as the receptacles from the energon they find. They can gather more at a time and haul it back with fire support."
Starscream considered that then nodded. "I agree. We can do much more in the time frame we have and cover more ground with bigger groups and larger vessels to carry what is found."
"I agree," Prime said. "Please make it so, Starscream."
The big Seeker nodded. "We shall."
Prime sat back. "We shall utilize the small bridge to expedite this as well." He looked at Wheeljack. "Would you be able to help them come and go?"
"We can," Wheeljack said nodding. He glanced at Miler who nodded. "Consider it done."
"We can meet after the meeting, Starscream," Wheeljack said. The Seeker nodded.
"Herling," Prime said nodding.
The Director of Education for the entire planet sat forward. "We're assessing the children that came with this migration. We're looking at 987 new students for our schools. We're going to have to stretch our resources and ask for more mechs and femmes to be teachers. We have a group graduating shortly … fifteen of them. There are three other classes in the system. We have the thirty teachers mentioned and will be training them to our system so that they can step in. We will meet with Jetta, Nova and I, to look over the new educational tower with Jetta and the committee. I'm thinking that we'll put the sparkling school alone in the existing tower and have all the younglings in the new one."
"Oh joy. Another move," Ratchet said with a grin.
Herling smirked. "You love it. Admit it." He looked at Prime. "We're growing at such a rate that we need to divide our little ones apart to allow us to provide the right kind of services for them in the best amount of space sharing the expertise we have more efficiently. We'll draw up conclusions for our schools and what we plan to do with our staff questions and projections. We'll get it to you as fast as possible."
Prime nodded. He glanced at Jetta. "What is the forecast on the new construction? I don't want to be caught flatfooted by a new migration. I would prefer to handle one crisis at a time."
He nodded. "We have 100 towers either under construction or on the planning table. Our goals are the same. We will complete each one unfurnished and enter those apartments into the housing database at City Hall. The Housing Authority is working with us to make the allocation process as smooth as possible. We're storing the fixtures to complete the apartments in the basements and sub floors of the buildings so that when an order comes through, the techs can go and use the equipment there to swiftly finish the living spaces for habitation. We don't want anyone to have to wait or to be uncomfortable. They're already exhausted as it is."
Prime nodded. "An admirable system, Jetta. What about Aerie Hill?"
Jetta glanced at Starscream. "We have continued on the existing building and have broken ground on the next phase of building. The current facility is eighteen stories high, curves more than 29,500 feet and is home to the current population. There is a perfect ridge of land behind the habitation itself that will be highly complementary to the design of the facility that is there now. We are working with the designers, all of whom are Seekers and graduates of the University School of Architecture and Design. They will be submitting plans to the City Planning Commission for finalization shortly. I will brief you on it when it is finished. It will be stunning."
Starscream nodded proudly. "It is. I am well pleased."
"That is good news. We have the luxury of good thinking and willing well trained servos," Prime said.
They continued on the list of topics until they were cleared away. Dismissing the department heads that managed business and other things not necessary to the current crisis, Prime sat back to consider his options. Everyone quietly waited. He leaned forward on his elbows. "We have to make a base out there that is within striking distance of Overlord. We have to man it with a force that can withstand anything they throw at us. We know that we are dealing with dark energon. But it is clear that not everyone is using it. We had seventeen mechs surrender that had no trace of it in their system," Prime said glancing at Ratchet.
Ratchet nodded. "None."
"Then we build a slagging fortress that'll make them cry. Perhaps building it here prefab and taking it through to assemble there in quick time," Blackjack said nodding. "We would need fighting power of a large magnitude until the data regarding the flyover is assessed."
Prime nodded and glanced at Jazz. "We have a final report due in a joor, Prime," Jazz replied.
"Good," Prime said. He looked at Blackjack. "I am giving you command of the forward base. We will design a force to make them think twice about taking you on."
Blackjack nodded. "I would be proud to do it, Prime."
Alor nodded. "I'm in."
"Quelle surprise," Ratchet said with a grin.
It broke the tension.
"There will be an air component, enough soldiers to handle anything they throw at the fortress and ships to take the battle to them," Blackjack said. "Being able to get reinforcements at a moment's notice through the bridge will be brilliant. We can do reconn and force the situation at your command, Prime."
"We can," he agreed. "I also want to bring in another component that is on my processor," Prime said. "This is secret above top secret," he said looking slowly around the table.
"Do you want me to go, Optimus?" Herling asked solemnly.
"No," Prime said. "Your teams do a lot of good for the genitors involved in missions. I would like your input as well."
"I will do my best, sir," Herling said solemnly.
Prime nodded. "Soundwave is building a base close enough to us to reach without too much effort. It is well within the range of his current level of bridge technology. I want to use his uncertainty about his own situation vis-a-vis Megatron and Cybertron to influence what happens with Overlord."
"You don't think they'll make a pact do you?" Elita asked.
"Not really," Optimus said. "He fled the Empire. That means it could be equally true he was fleeing Soundwave. No one is as secure as us. Overlord is stuck in space with the possibility of energon around him. Whether he finds and distills it, we cannot be sure. Soundwave is either setting up a forward base against us or a fall back base for himself. He is a free player here. I will also say that there is a burgeoning resistance on Cybertron."
"You know about Cybertron?" Venture asked. "Of course you do," he said shaking his helm. "Tie Down and Ravel were rescued from there. I think I'm going senile."
Ratchet grinned. "I can't imagine why."
It was quiet a moment. Then Ironhide shifted slightly. "First order of business, get the energon we can reach out of the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Field. Then, build a fortress in stages to be sent through the bridges to be assembled on a planetoid out there. Put forces together, train for specialized contact, get the communications setup in place and be ready to move when you call the go. That's about it?"
Prime nodded. "Just about."
"Then we better haul aft," Jetta said with a grin.
"When *don't* you haul aft?" Arcee asked with a grin.
"Don't ask," Elita said with a grin. "I'll tell no lies."
Slag erupted among friends. Then it subsided.
"What about fort security out there, Prime?" Springer asked.
"It will have to be tight," Prime said. "I will let you design it. Assign good mechs. We can rotate tours through the bridges to allow you to have time here off duty that is not compromised by flying there and back. We can also throw an armada or two through the bridges to assist you. We want to pressure Overlord into giving us hostages. We want him to feel it."
"That could be a pretty tall order, Prime," Ironhide said. "If he's compromised by dark energon, he won't be anymore sane than usual."
"We have to do what we can. I do not want the hostages to feel they were abandoned. There are also the new migrations to consider. They will be coming. They will not be harassed. I will not allow it. I want to send a message to Soundwave and ask about Overlord. I want to know what he says and how he says it. We can meet up to talk. We can also assess his own position by his demeanor." He looked at Jarro. "I would like you along to read his temperament, Jarro."
"I will do my very best, sir," Jarro said nodding. "I have an assistant that is expert at interpreting body language and speech patterns."
"Good. Please include them, too," Prime said. He looked at the others. "We must put the safety of the hostages first. We have to pressure Overlord to give them up. We can do that by undermining his command. The two mechs we took in earlier, Coldspray and Hardtime told us they were planning to leave a long time. Fifteen others defected at the same time. They said that things are going downhill and have been a long time. We can undermine solidarity with Overlord by letting them know on their side what is waiting on this side of things. Propaganda is a tool we will use. Again, Jarro, we will be leaning on you as well as Jazz and Mirage for the special ops features."
Jarro nodded. "It will be our pleasure, sir."
"Alright. We need to begin yesterday," Prime said. "Is there anything for the good of the order?"
"We undertook an expansion that increased our population by one fourth. We did it with very little disorder. I think that's admirable," Herling said looking around the table. Everyone nodded with pleased expressions.
Springer grinned. "I meant to tell you that our tagger is a changed femme, our three youngling drunks spent time in the clink last night. They're going to be heavily addressed by the court, I'm told," he said glancing at a smirking Barron who nodded. "Count on it."
"Their genitors will not be pleased. We also had sparklings visit our substation near the Mare. They were incredible. They're welcome anytime," Springer said grinning at Herling who beamed like the sun. "The odd fight, the odd argument … that's about it lately. We have devices on eighty-seven former 'Cons that can come off. We've done due diligence checking them out and they're being model citizens. They're also being policed by former 'Cons as well. That's always a help."
"Good to hear. We have nearly half a million war weary and exhausted individuals. They have had a hard life. It is a miracle that there isn't more upset and unrest than we have," Ratchet said.
"That's true. You haven't been in a public brawl in a few orns, old mech. That's a plus in and of itself," Ironhide said easing his daughter onto the table. Smiling at her, ignoring the catcalls, he unwrapped her as she lay looking up at him. "Now that's a slagging fine sparkling." Grins and compliments attended to his remark as he looked up. "We'll arm whoever goes out and build an armory at the new fort out there. We want to have slag delivered by our side with extreme prejudice."
"What did he just say?" Neo asked with a grin.
"I think he's reading the Jason Bourne stories," Ratchet said with a chuckle.
"When do we get that sparkling?" Neo asked.
"See ya," Ironhide said wrapping her up. He stood swiftly, tucking her into the crook of his arm. The rest chuckled and stood, most of them leaving to go about the business of fragging with Overlord.
Ratchet, Prowl and Prime were left. Ratchet leaned forward noting that the infant mech was back with Prowl. "That's a tiny infant. I can't imagine his ada's anguish."
"Don't try, Ratchet," Prowl said. "We're going to get them back. Slaggers."
"From your lips to The One's audials." Ratchet said.
Prowl rose slowly and nodded. "Not a bad idea," he said. "Take a walk with me."
Ratchet rose and looked at Prime. "Something tells me that a trip to the Temple is in order."
"Say hi for me," Prime said with a grin.
All three laughed in spite of themselves.
-0-TBC 2012 (10) edited 8-16-18