The Diego Diaries: Habitat 1 (683)
-0-Space Bridge Station #1, Ops Center, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars
Ratchet shot the breeze with Prowl who'd helped brief him on Prime's final thoughts and considerations about the city proposals from the humans. He, himself was off in the hinterlands going over the new industrial city being built south of the one they already had.
Perceptor and Wheeljack joined them.
"Ready to go?" Ratchet asked.
"We are. We're told that Springer and Drift are coming along," Wheeljack said with a grin.
"Why?" Ratchet asked with surprise.
"Because Ironhide wanted to go but hasn't turned in reports about the intake and inventory of munitions from the mission yet," Prowl said. "I told him I'd have his bearings if it wasn't on my desk by tomorrow this time."
"I think you should clear things with Prowler next time. Apparently he's Ironhide's partner in the armory," Ratchet said with a grin. "I think he's the brains of that duo."
"I'll remember that," Prowl said returning the grin.
At that moment Springer and Drift sauntered in pausing by the group. "Dear old dad told us we're supposed to take care of our old ma," Springer said with a grin.
Ratchet smirked. "Did he, the slagger?"
"If you want him to, *ma*," Springer said before a fist to his chassis took care of his daring-do. "Ow."
"Good. Let's go shall we? My fan club is waiting," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
The others snorted as Prowl made the usual fake vomit sounds. Grinning, Prowl watched as they walked onto the platform. A harrowing vortex of energy appeared before them.
Stepping onto it, they wandered forward heading directly to the bridge at Diego Garcia. This bridge had the power to send anyone anywhere because it was located at home base which had access to the plasma energy chamber for fueling. The others were only as far reaching as their design and power packs allowed.
Prowl watched them go, then grinned. He walked to the door and the world above. When he got there he'd keep on going.
-0-Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth
They stepped off laughing loudly over 'dear old ma', then Ratchet punched Springer in the gut again. Stepping down, he ambled off leading the party forward to the upper level where the Ops Center and rec room were located.
"You should know better than to rile your ada," Drift said quietly. He grinned at Springer who was grinning himself even as he rubbed his gut.
"Nowyou tell me," Springer said as they both laughed.
-0-Outside
Ratchet stepped out, slowing to a halt in the warm sunlight. It felt good to him and the others, much nicer than the severe cold of a late Martian spring.
Lounging on a hummer's hood, Major Andrew Settles waved. "Ratchet!"
Ratchet looked down, then grinned. "Andrew. How are ya? Been a while."
"I know. I'm good. You ready for this?" he asked.
"I don't know. What do you think?" Ratchet asked as the others gathered to listen.
"I don't like some of them, the civilians. The scientists are fine. Jim Collins is leading them. He's great. Watch your butt with the two civilian leaders," Settles replied as he stepped down to board his vehicle.
"I will. I'd encourage everyone to do the same. Ironhide says its a nice one," Ratchet said to raucous laughter and rude remarks. He turned to them and grinned. "Fraggers." Then he nodded to Settles. "Lead on, Andrew."
He did.
-0-Nearby
They stood in a group together, scientist and civilian alike. Since there already was a contingent of human soldiers on Mars, this group wouldn't have a military component. How they'd provide their own security, something they insisted upon doing was anyone's guess. Some of those waiting had already met some of the bots heading their way. Some of them were actually friends. Others didn't know more than they'd seen and read of them in media publications.
Andrew Settles parked, then stepped forward to the group. "I'd like to introduce everyone before we begin," he said looking up and over to each party. "This is Jack Morrison, Head of Security for the project. This is Simon Abdul, chief of the sciences division, Raymond Terry who is designated liaison to the Prime for the colony, Jerry Skura who will be head of the habitat plant itself, Lowell Marks who is chief onsite administrator as well as Jim Bob."
Ratchet grinned, nodding to the amiable man who was their liaison with NASA and the scientific community. "Jim Bob, long time no see."
He grinned. "I intend to remedy that. I'm bringing the twins with me."
"Oh lord. That;s going to be fun. Are Cindy and Lola here?" Ratchet asked.
"They're packing their bags as we speak," Jim said.
Ratchet nodded. "I'm assuming we'll be meeting more of you but this is the first group?"
"Our architect is getting treated for stomach pain, Ambassador," Lowell Marks replied. "He'll join us shortly."
Ratchet nodded. "You aren't the original chief administrator."
Marks nodded. "He's got a conflict right now. He'll be joining us later along with the others who aren't here who were part of the original team. They're working on the project on Earth and had conflicts."
Ratchet nodded. He glanced at the others who were watching without comment. "I brought some of my team. This is Perceptor and Wheeljack who're in charge of science for the Prime's Brief for our colony. This is Springer and Drift, both of whom are in charge of security."
Everyone nodded, then it was quiet.
Another man walked out of the hangar with Colonel Fulton. He looked upward. Fulton grinned. "Hi. Good to have you here."
"Good to see you, John," Ratchet said as the others nodded.
"This is Brandon Clark. He's the overall head of the project," Fulton said nodding to the intense 30 something man standing beside him.
Clark nodded. "Hi, Ambassador. We're very happy to have a chance to get this project on the road."
Ratchet grinned slightly. "That remains to be seen," he said laying out their position in five words. "There's a lot to iron out."
"Then maybe we can start," Clark said glancing at the hangar behind them.
They began to walk inside with the bots following. The hangar was open at each end to allow a cooling breeze through the vast interior. They walked to tables, then sat on chairs watching as Ratchet took his seat on a pair of shipping boxes that were brought in for him. The others came with him pausing inside the room.
"What do you want, Ratchet? We can hang around," Springer said.
"You can. It might be educational, boys," Ratchet said with a grin.
"We can watch a 'master at work'?" Drift asked.
Ratchet snorted as did the human soldiers there. "Oh, ye of little faith. Stay or play, boys. Your call."
They glanced at each other, then walked to the door to lean and listen.
The humans watched, then turned to Ratchet. "Shall we begin?" Brandon Clark asked.
Ratchet nodded. "I'm open to your presentation."
Clark glanced down the table to Lowell Marks and Raymond Terry. "Gentlemen."
Lowell Marks leaned forward to begin their opening. "We'd like to discuss the possibilities inherent in having a permanent autonomous human city on Mars. We'd like it to be at least fifty miles from Autobot City and the Primal Colony but close enough to be able to have exchanges between both settlements.
"We'd like to work with your people to build a colony of our own that pays its way and is a center for us here of science and commerce."
"What's the plan for construction?" Ratchet asked as Wheeljack and Perceptor sat on their own seats, their attention fully framed on the humans.
"We're at a disadvantage as you well know," Marks said. "We'd have to bring everything to Mars by ship which would mean a tiny installation after nearly a year's voyage. Therefore, it would be in our best interest in establishing a habitation to have your help in a partnership." He looked at Ratchet studying his face. It was hard to read.
"Continue," Ratchet said with a nod.
"Please ask questions as you feel the need, Ambassador," Marks said with a nod.
Ratchet nodded back. "I will."
Marks considered his situation. They were at the mercy of the bots for construction of their colony. They'd need the alien's good will. "We concede that we're at a disadvantage regarding the colony and transport. We'd have to ask you for assistance in both areas. We have our plans and designs for the construction, things that we've worked on extensively. Travel would be instantaneous through the space bridges and construction would be faster and even more well done with your talented work force. That's what we have to discuss first, whether you'll agree with us on our proposition."
Ratchet nodded. "That crossed our processors. We're aware that you're technologically disadvantaged. We'd have to have a serious review of the plans that you developed. Mars is an unforgiving environment. Anything that doesn't pass muster will kill you."
Marks nodded. "We'd be working closely with Wheeljack and Perceptor. We brought our scientific team with us with the idea of going through it with them."
"We'll be happy to do that," Wheeljack said. "What you have to understand is, we won't sign off on anything that's dangerous or inadequate."
Marks agreed. "We know and we want that information." He glanced at his colleagues. Clark sat forward. "Brandon Clark is our overall project liaison who'll be the interface between our side and yours both there and on Earth."
Clark nodded. "I would hope that the relationship we're feeling out here becomes the start of a partnership that will grow and be mutually beneficial to all of us. We're more than aware of the problems that exist on our end. Our level of technology is less than yours which is evident but our zeal to learn about Mars and our solar system is undaunted. We hope that our proposal will be understood in the sense of exploration and the human desire to know."
"We're very cognizant of such desires, Mr. Clark. Our people have the same urges. We're also aware of the techno-gap that exists between you and our own people. We know that you cannot build your own colony without our help. You can't even get there in a timely manner without us. I don't say that to cause disharmony between us. I do say that to highlight a major problem for you. You don't have the technology to do this on your own. It would take decades for you to achieve what I'm told you're seeking to build on Mars at your current level of technology.
"We know and knew all along that you'd require extensive help from us to make this possible. We'd also be unwilling to help you if there was even the slightest idea of doing this without all of the extensive safety programs and other details in place. You'll have to make a very firm case that any of your designs and programs will be suitable to protect your people from the unforgiving habitat in which you want to enter.
"You will die in under a minute if your suits are breached. You will die from radiation poisoning without the proper shielding. You will have to have all of your provisions, tools, tech and other items in place to do your work and live healthily. The gravity alone is less than a third of Earth. The habitats that you live in have to account for that without making you sick from the health considerations of minimal gravity and low atmospheric pressure over time.
"The sand alone will abrade your suits if they aren't up to that component of our atmosphere. We've worked hard to keep the sand storms down but things still happen. All of this is incredibly important and there can be no arguments with us if we find you fall short of the target. This isn't a contest. You have to live the way we say or it will mean your deaths."
Clark nodded. "We're aware of that. What we have to know is very simple. Can we use your bridges? Can we count on your help?"
Ratchet considered that, then leaned closer. "That will hinge on what your true intentions are for your presence on Mars. Why do you really want to come?"
It was silent in the room.
-0-Armory
Ironhide looked up from his desk as stealth servos picked up a tiny mech. Prowler smiled brilliantly, tweeting to the mech with his face who'd plucked him from his atar's desk top. "ADA!"
Prowl looked at Ironhide with surprise. "He talks."
"Sh!" Ironhide said rising to peer out the window of his office to the great room outside. "Don't tell anyone."
"I won't," Prowl said as he tucked the infant in the crook of his arm. He then walked out the door.
Ironhide watched him go, then sat slowly. "Frag," he said with a sigh.
-0-Ops Center
Prowl sat working on his usual slag as a tiny miniature of him sat on the table gnawing on a cookie. Recharging in a box bed also on the table, Sojourner lay quietly. It was good. All was well.
At least for Prowl.
-0-TBC April 14, 2014 4-15-14 7-24-19