The Diego Diaries: Catch Up (dd3 497)
-0-Later that afternoon
They gathered together in the conference room for an update meeting, the senior Autobot officers, city management both military and civilian, Seekers, the city engineer, Jetta with his boss mechs and Herling for schools. They chatted together, then Prime and Prowl entered. Prowl passed data pad agendas out to all. They perused it, then sat back.
Prime glanced at Prowl who began. "We need to catch up and figure out where we stand. The Seekers just lifted off heading out to the migration which will be picked up by us in an orn and a half. Right now, we need to know how the housing issue is going."
Jetta looked their way leaning forward slightly. "We're ready to house more than 800,000 individuals right now because we're putting in the finishing touches on housing and amenities in Tyger Pax and Centurion. There's still things to finish at Kalis but they'll be done in about three orns. The final fit for Tyger Pax and Centurion is underway with apartments being given the last touches and a sign off on the construction plan as each building is cleared. We're forwarding each sign off to Magnus when its finished.
"Right now the city amenities are in place. The groceries, restaurants and post offices are open and doing business. More businesses are seeking licenses to work there and some are moving into spaces as we speak. That should pick up after the finish work on the city is completed. We expect that it'll become busy when the refugees get there. This doesn't count the hundreds of apartments and barracks that are available around the cities that are in place already.
"We can put mechs and families into them, allowing them to enter established neighborhoods which should be comforting especially to those who are elderly. We're set aside an elder building in Tyger Pax similar to Vos Tower in the Metroplex District. I imagine Santa Prime will have to go there was well during Christmas Surprise."
Everyone grinned including Optimus who nodded as well. "I look forward to it greatly. Right, elves?" he asked to a squirming Jazz and Ironhide. That was received well.
Mostly.
"The underground stations are open and have been for some time. They're served not only on the Circle Line that traverses the whole city but on trunk lines that branch out to specific places. All in all, we should be able to meet the need handily. Hopefully." Jetta grinned, then sat back.
"Thank you, Jetta. Please convey my thanks to everyone. You too, gentlemen," Prime said nodding to Bulkhead, Payload and Scar.
"We will, Optimus," Bulkhead said with a grin. Everyone looked greatly pleased.
Prowl glanced at Magnus. "Ultra Magnus?"
"We have data space ready for over 1 million new individuals. The servers that have been placed at the new routing hub under Fortress Maximus have been trouble shot and are performing at optimal level. We have over 20,000 individuals prepared to assist refugees in the first call. We have 20,000 each on the next four. If the flood is fast, we'll open an alternative processing center at the Autobot City Municipal Airport to alleviate the strain at the Triage Center north of the Military Airport.
"Given that the main landing zone for the ships coming in will be that airspace, we have two other places to help if the crush is too much. One will be the empty space between Aerie Hill and the other is the space west of the prison. They can be activated in less than a joor."
Prime looked relieved. "I give you discretion. I'm aware of your efforts to make the process smooth."
Magnus nodded. "Thank you, sir."
"Herling?" Prowl asked.
He leaned forward with his data pad in his servos. He stared at it a moment, then glanced at the group. "We have space in the schools easily for 3,000 new students as things stand now. We have teachers and support staff lined up that can cover that amount of influx. Some of the teachers will be in trainee programs with supervising teachers assisting. We have a number of youngling students in the University that can be pressed into service and the teachers of the Circle of Life groups have said they can assist until the situation is remedied. Most of them are involved in activities relating to their group and the skills that they're trying to revive so they have begged off long term positions for now. They're, however, delighted to assist for the short term.
"As it stands, we have a tower allocated to schools in Tyger Pax that we can use if the need is too great. Right now, Sparkling Day School in Terra and Youngling Day School in Autobot City are up to the task. We're considering moving the Intermediate School to the Tyger Pax building if the influx of students makes using that space for the younger kids necessary. We don't have enough information at the moment but we can adapt when we do. We'll cover the situation as best we can."
"And we appreciate it, Herling," Optimus said with a nod. "We know that each migration has its own problems. Let us know how we can help. Perhaps we can even double shift the students. It will not be the best solution but it can help us through. What is the situation at the Day Care Centers?"
"We have a district sponsored center in each of the cities that care for younglings before, during and after the work orn as well as special events like this. We also take in infants whose genitors are involved in emergencies, personal and public or on military duty. Those are easier to fill in relation to positions because they aren't necessarily academic jobs and the training program for aides is comprehensive. We owe them a lot of thanks for the job they do."
Prime nodded. "Please convey mine, Herling."
He nodded, then sat back. "I will be honored."
"Barron?" Prowl asked.
Barron sat forward with Blackstone and Coln-2 by each side. "I'm aware that the confidentiality of what I'm going to discuss now is between us and this room," he said glancing around.
Everyone nodded.
"We've been going over the evidence of the bombings with the idea of determining the culprits responsible. Right now, the evidence is inconclusive. Gravity is in custody with eight orns to go before the law requires us to let him go. It's highly unlikely that we can build a case that will be conclusive to the degree it must be. The bits and pieces of the bomb can be made anywhere. The shop they managed contains the materials but then so does many others. Right now we're looking at freeing him at the end of this period unless we can find conclusive evidence."
"What about video?" Ratchet asked. "That is, beyond the obvious around their business? Anything that looks suspicious?"
"No," Blackstone said shaking his helm. "We have video of them coming and going normally. But the video of Gravity becoming invisible and returning to visibility is circumstantial. There are six individuals in this colony that have invisibility as their special function."
"It fits the time line. The images show him carrying something invisible for a moment. But its not enough?" Starscream asked.
Blackstone nodded. "Unfortunately. He could claim he was carrying a present to his ada."
Starscream snorted. "Fraggers. Give him to me for a moment. We'll know right away what's going on and who is the culprit."
Blackstone grinned. "I will take that under advisement."
"We have them covered, right?" Ratchet asked glancing at Springer.
Springer nodded. "They're covered orn and night. We're not being secretive about it either. Those fraggers are going to know that we're watching their afts."
Prime nodded, then glanced at Jarro. "What is the disposition of Sio?"
Jarro looked at Prime, then Ratchet. "I would say that he's fit to stand trial for the battle in the courtroom. He's very volatile but cunning as well. I'm clear with him that he's been arrested in the past and gotten free because he's smart enough to go along with the system. I would say he's got a very obvious personality disorder, he's filled with entitlement and narcissism with a very cavalier attitude about others that he feels unworthy.
"But then so do a lot of the high castes in the colony. The difference with them and him is relatively simple. They have enough self awareness to understand the need to cooperate in our society. He'll never agree that this is necessary. I expect him back in custody within a relatively short time."
"Then he's stable enough to try?" Prime asked
Jarro nodded. "He's stable. He understands the difference between right and wrong. He just doesn't care. He's got a defiantly non compliant personality with borderline criminal tendencies that's narcissistic and unconcerned about others. He's ready to stand trial but his punishment, if any, must coincide with therapy in my opinion. I'm not clear if therapy will do much good. He's a very hardened personality."
"What is the law on incarcerating this kind of personality, gentlemen?" Prime asked.
Blackstone leaned forward on his elbows. "There's only that employed by The Clampdown. Prior to this, one could incarcerate an individual for their actions. There was nothing that could implement that for someone who's just a fragger. If you use the laws on the books you'll be following the course of action devised in The Clampdown to coerce compliance to the state."
Barron nodded. "If we can prove an overriding danger to the common good then there's honorable laws to utilize. However, without that done we'd be doing the same thing that drove us to despair."
Prime nodded. "I know. I will not be going down that road. What I want is this mech followed orn and night like the others when he gets out of jail. I want to know if he's ready to stand trial for his actions?"
Blackstone, Jarro and Barron nodded. "Yes, sir," Jarro said.
"Very well. Then in the interests of the prisoner and his right to a speedy trial I would like to know if you can hear and adjudicate the case, Semi? I would prefer to reserve any Prime Hearings for the eventuality that we can determine the bombings and their perpetrators."
"We can," Semi said glancing at the others who nodded. "I appreciate your adherence to the law and our obligation to prisoners, sir."
Prime nodded. "Even if it is not perfect, we cannot forget that we are better than the past. Please make it so, gentlemen. Springer? Make sure that security is tight. If the audience acts up brig them."
Springer grinned, then nodded. "My pleasure."
Prime thought a moment. "Have you interviewed anyone who knows these individuals elsewhere?"
"We can," Barron said nodding. "They inspire a lot of fear."
"Take Springer and Drift with you then. Even if it does not help us now it will build a clearer picture of them and their genitors. I do not trust them either."
They both nodded.
"Ratchet?" Prowl asked.
"We're good to go. The survey underway right now will help us figure out what we have to do medically," Ratchet said. "We've also expanded our processor health outreach this time. We're receiving masses of individuals. I've heard that you've come up with a way to help newbies in the tri-cities, Magnus. What about that?"
"We've been allowing individuals to move into Tyger Pax with the idea of having citizens available to help newcomers. The Tri-Cities will be almost exclusively newcomers which could bring up problems. So we've asked the Circle and Knights of Cybertron to send groups of their members into the cities to circulate and help the newcomers to learn the cities, the way of life here and answer questions.
"We would also double the optics on the ground with their inclusion in the process with the Watch." Magnus sat back. "We want to minimize fear and disorientation. We also want to identify troublemakers faster."
"You and me both," Springer said. "We've opened fifteen Watch stations in each city, all of them substations to the main one which is located at the main subway line in each city. We've graduated a large class in the Law Enforcement program at the University as well as having procured from Military the services of roughly 2,000 Home Guard who will rotate with full time soldiers into the Watch to do duty there.
"They'll be paired up with the veterans. I've moved up a number of mechs to run the Watch as the particular City Supervisor. Kup will take Kalis. Lon is going to run Tyger Pax and Twin Twist will supervise Centurion. They're stand up mechs with a lot of poise and talent. I feel very secure in the layout."
"You'll work out of Station #6 down Temple?" Herling asked.
"That's the main station," Springer said. "The muster will happen in the main stations of each city, then disperse. We've tuned into Military in case of strange or lethal occurrences through the Emergency Services Center at Fort Max. We have a lot of Autobots and former 'Cons walking beats in the new cities now for a while with the idea of making it part of their permanent service. We want peaceful assimilation to the new surroundings for everyone."
"Then we're on the same page," Prowl said nodding.
"What is the situation with the bombing suspects during this reclamation?" Prime asked, then glanced at others in the room, the civilians. "Some of you are not senior Autobots or military. I am holding you to the same oath of secrecy that they have been sworn to uphold on some topics."
They all nodded, their expressions serious and committed.
"We are shadowing them orn and night. We can put them into home detention during the reclamation. That's legal isn't it, Barron?" Springer asked.
The three lawyers discussed it internally, then Barron turned to Prime. "There's no law against it but it would follow closely along the line of The Clampdown Non-Association statutes that were used so badly against the groups that wanted change."
Prime considered that, then nodded. "Very well. If they become an issue brig them. If they keep themselves in line … just follow them. I do not want any any bad event to mar this reclamation. I will be inclined to overlook the smell of the statutes to ensure the public peace while things are in flux as a last resort only. I hope you understand, gentlemen, that this will not be something I want to do. But I will if it ensures the well being of everyone when feelings and emotions are so high."
The lawyers nodded.
"We understand, sir," Coln-2 said.
They continued, then the agenda was met. The civilians left to make the plates spin. The soldiers sat relaxing on their chairs.
Prime shook his helm. "This is bad enough without the outliers."
"Let them try it," Ironhide said. He glanced at Prime. "I'll murderate them."
Prime grinned. "You have been watching cartoons again."
Ironhide snorted. "Five dependent younglings. Then there's the twins."
That got a round, then Prime relaxed. "I hear that they are the only ones living in their tower in Tyger Pax."
"They are. They want all of us to move there and share the sparklings amongst us," Alor said with a grin. "I have half a mind to do it."
"That's what it would take. Half a mind," Springer said ducking Alor's fist.
"Well, they won't be alone long. Tyger Pax is going to be the first city we send refugees to live," Arcee said.
"The dojo is shaping up well, too," Kup said. "Couldn't have gotten built without me."
That got the love it deserved.
"You're a fraud. By the way, did you all know that Pious Maximus was in the prisoner group?" Drift said.
"He's alive?" Prowl asked.
"Alive and kicking. Expect admiration to bloom wherever he goes," Drift said.
"Ah, your cult," Optimus said with a grin.
The laughter that received was only excelled by the caustic optics of the true believers. "The only better thing than Pious showing up would be Dai Atlas," Drift said doubling down.
"I can think of someone better."
They all looked at Ratchet.
"Who?" Blackjack asked with a grin.
"Old Hercy."
It was silent a moment, then Magnus nodded. "That would be good," he said glancing at Kup who was studying his stogie. "Then we'd have book ends with Kup."
Ratchet snorted, then laughed. "We would. The City might not be able to handle two straw bosses at the same time."
"We can handle it," Kup said with a certain snooty pride. "Just so he knows I'm the senior boss."
"He's older than you, Kup," Prowl said with a slight smirk. "He's older than dirt."
"I'll be sure to tell him," Springer said.
Then the alarm outside went off.
-0-TBC November 4, 2013 8-9-19