The Diego Diaries: Gliese 581 g (607)

-0-On the ground

Optimus Prime stepped off a shuttle, then turned to survey the scene. Four Supremes were there parked nearby disgorging troops and equipment. There would be enormous deep space detection devices set and manned here to watch for anyone showing up to investigate this, a rather nondescript system around a rather ordinary red dwarf star. It was estimated that 3 out of every 4 stars in this galaxy was a red dwarf, stars that were never more than fifty percent the power possibility of the sun from their new home system.

Red dwarfs don't radiate the heat of a yellow sun but rather transfer their power internally. The sun of their new system would burn out in 5 billion years but the life span of this dwarf could run as long as ten trillion. Its light was less but proximity to it made Gliese 581 g illuminated to a degree that would be satisfactory to a human. That it was tidal locked to the dwarf meant that all day every day was day time. It didn't spin nor did it rotate. One would have to go several thousand miles to the east of where they were to find darkness.

Overhead in stationary orbit he could make out the form of Phobos which was the base ship for the teams who would live here as well as any medical that would come up. Zeta as a command vehicle format would be the communications and operational center for the mission. He turned to walk toward it passing troops settling in as scientists and technicians worked to move parts that would be erected into a massive array.

Space bridges were to be had on Phobos, the Supremes and through direct contact with Mars. He walked up the ramp, then paused as Grimlock turned to look at him. He was standing by a computer playing a game. "Optimus Prime comes here?" he asked with surprise. "What me, Grimlock do for you, Prime?"

"I came to see how things were, Grimlock. Are you here with Xantium?"

"I am. Me, Grimlock come with Xantium. Me, Grimlock live on Xantium. Me, Grimlock live there without Slag. Slag is stupid," Grimlock said.

"You still do not get along?" Optimus asked with a grin.

"He, Slag is named good. Slag is a bum," Grimlock said trying out a new word.

Optimus grinned. "I will not argue with you, Grimlock," Prime said as he patted Grimlock's shoulder. "Who is winning?"

"Not me, Grimlock. Grimlock not like this game," he said glowering at the console.

"Keep practicing, Grimlock. You will master it yet," Optimus said as he continued forward. Climbing steps, he reached the main deck, then continued onward to the flight module. Bots were there working on their part of the operation. They were linking the Supremes to scan deep and wide until the new arrays would be ready to begin that task for them. He looked around, then nodded. "Do you need anything? How is it coming along?"

Insert, a tech who specialized in communications glanced up. "We are optimal for now, sir. There are more shipments for the new arrays both here and in space that are being readied back home."

"What sort of installations will be ground based?" Optimus asked.

"We will be building a dish array half a mile in that direction," he said nodding toward the east. "It will be large, about forty small dishes that will be able to combine and search out 300 light years in all directions when we put the space component online. That will be four satellites that have the combined power of ten of similar size because of the boosters that we have designed to add to their configuration."

"We will have time to prepare for defense that far out," Optimus said. He nodded. "Good work. Thank you."

Insert nodded, pleased. "Thank you, sir. We are hurrying so that this can be online in ten joors."

"Remarkable. Thank you," Optimus said with a nod. "Do you know where Ironhide and Wheeljack are?"

"Down in the crevasse last time I saw them," Insert said with a nod.

Optimus nodded back, then turned to walk out. Passing an engrossed Grimlock, he exited the great vessel to walk across the busy foreground to the ledge nearby. It had been modified with steps carved into the incline. They were broad and solid, capable of carrying heavy mechanisms and their stuff up and down with ease. He walked down them, across the floor until he reached the two he sought. Wheeljack was scanning, Ironhide was watching, the two trying to measure the depth of the deposits in the local area.

"Prime," Ironhide said with a nod. "This appears to be a huge mass of energon. Its energon of all kinds including two types we haven't seen before."

Wheeljack paused, then nodded. "It appears that there has been a blending of types. I am finding white and purple energon. I am not sure if its new or if its just a new color. It doesn't appear to have different properties from that which we already know."

Prime nodded. "How volatile is this area? Is it safe for us to be in the middle of this?"

"It is," Wheeljack said. "It's like any other deposit. As long as we don't introduce an ignition device we will be alright."

"What about the habit of red dwarfs shooting out a blast of energy in the blink of an optic?" Optimus asked.

"That can't be predicted. Much," Wheeljack said with a grin. "The only way we will be able to prevent that from being a problem would be to remove this planet from the system."

"That's going to be the ultimate goal, Wheeljack," Prime replied as he glanced around. "I am hoping you have some ideas about that."

"We do," Wheeljack said. "We can make a presentation as soon as Miler finishes the equations around the solution that we are sort of brainstorming. We do know that the possibility of moving planets is feasible as long as it moves in one piece. If we had to tow one it would be liable to fractures and other tectonic weaknesses. As it stands, moving this planet is going to be a real fragger."

"I am assuming you have details for the full range of the problem at some point," Ironhide asked.

Wheeljack nodded. "We want to do this without cracking it up. Consider that Cybertron has engines that Primus formed himself when he terraformed Cybertron during his transformation period. Being metallic, it has less potential to tear apart. This is a bio mass with tectonic forces as well as the all important surface features to consider. If it moves, everything ends at once … the atmosphere, the oceans … they will evaporate straight away … the cold and hot sides have their immediate problems. It will take a lot of discussion to make this happen without blowing the place up."

Prime nodded, then turned. "I am going to check out the encampment. Let us know what you need, Wheeljack." He continued back the other way heading toward camp.

"We could crack this place up couldn't we," Ironhide stated rather than asked.

Wheeljack nodded. "Its a real possibility. And consider this as well. This is essentially a mine. If we don't do this right, it will explode from the masses of energon here."

"Frag," Ironhide said.

Wheeljack nodded. "That about sums it up."

-0-Diego

Ratchet walked from the Embassy to the hangar. The night before had been fun hanging with the locals and watching the out-of-towners get drunk and fall into the ocean. Some of the bots had driven humans around, their roaring engines filled the air. The stars had been thick in the sky when a woman named Joan fixed him with curious optics. "May I ask you a question?"

Ratchet looked down, then nodded. "Sure."

She moved closer. "What is it like to lose your world?"

Ratchet looked at her, at the serious expression on her face, then considered the question. "I think its like losing part of your body. Its like losing your arm. You learn how to function but the loss is always there."

She nodded. "Your children … they may never see your home world again."

Ratchet nodded. "They might never indeed. That means we have to teach them. We do that, showing them who and what they are. They will love Cybertron even if they never get to see it. It is our touchstone."

She nodded. "My mother was a refugee. She had to flee her country as a child and it was hard. We all knew it was there and it still is. I can't imagine the disconnect if it was gone."

Ratchet nodded. "We know it will be ours again someday. We are a hopeful species. We are undaunted. We fail but we get back up again."

She nodded. "I'm glad."

Ratchet grinned. "Tell your mom that I hope she gets to go back some day. It helps."

"I will," she replied. "How long has it been since you were home?"

Ratchet considered the last time he was home, when the Fall was in full bloom and no one could go anywhere without the thought of death following. "Its been a very long time," he said quietly. They chatted until the party wound down.

-0-Gliese 581 g

"What's with you?"

Hot Rod turned toward Sideswipe. "Nothing. You?"

Sideswipe who was standing at the edge of the crevasse with Hot Rod grinned. "You are a terrible liar."

Hot Rod who was brooding glanced at Sideswipe. "Smokey's genitors invoked."

"I heard," Sideswipe said with a huge grin. "Been there, done that. I see that you have another opinion on the topic?"

Hot Rod frowned. "Glad to know I could entertain you. Fragger."

"Aw. Your feelings are hurt? Either suck it up or chase someone else."

"I don't want anyone else, I want him," Hot Rod said. "He's a great kid."

"He's young and good looking. He also is a Praxian born youngling with all the baggage that comes with that. You can't break the invocation. They have legal rights. I know. I heard them from Prowl at the top of his vocal processor."

"How did that end?" Hot Rod asked with curiosity.

"If we wanted it, we had to put a ring on it," Sideswipe said with a grin. "You want him, you better bond. That's what it will take."

"I'm not ready for that. You go ahead with the noose around your neck but don't expect me to be hogtied," Roddy said with a smirk.

"Then good luck," Sideswipe said turning to walk down the steps to the crevasse floor below.

Hot Rod watched him go. "It isn't about luck, Sideswipe," he said quietly.

-0-TBC January 31, 2014 There would be more but I am dragging a leg tonight. I am feeling all the sleepies tonight. More tomorrow, my darlings. Night! I will proof read it tomorrow. My optics are clanking shut. :D edited 2-5-14

NOTE: I put this in the last one but I will add it here. I wanted to make back stories for both the bots and their culture, imagining it as I went. I would think they would go for simple ceremonies and dignity. They would also have their odd ball habits and ways, like the Praxians and those of Stanix. Since Vos is the home land of the Seekers, there will be 'rituals' and the like for them too as this goes along. The Praxians strike me as rather traditional and conservative, thus their naming ceremonies and the invoking parental rights stuff. Smokey doesn't have a legal leg to stand on because this set of rules has the force of law. Even Ironhide knows if his parents invoke on him, he is out of luck too. :D I like that it feels weird and strange, that some think its even wrong. To us it is. To them, its their life. Thank you for your amazing reviews. It gives me a chance to see if my goals have been achieved. :D They were. :D

I will promise you that the Kiss TF phenom will not see the light of day here. TF wiki it. You will be amazed. And not in a good way. :D:D