The Diego Diaries: Reckoning (dd6 270)
-0-Courtroom
"I am Coln-2. I represent those who have no voice. I represent Cybertron and our people. I have the duty to tell their tale," he began. "We have listened to the tales told by our elders of the days of tribulation and trial that shaped us for good or ill into what we are now. The humans say that the past is prologue. It is. We have been haunted by systems of belief imposed upon us from the earliest orns of our existence, systems that assume things about all of us that are rooted in alien interference that has never been shaken off or excised from us. It has led to eons of evil, criminality and despair. Now, we sit here in judgment over another action so vile and terrible that it requires oversight by the Pantheon.
"We are here to address actions that have resulted in unspeakable crimes which the defendants face. We are talking about genocide … mass murder, slavery, abuse on a grand scale, perversions of our laws, trade in our weapons and technology with alien entities in violation of the Tyrest Treaties, and all other laws that apply to our duty and responsibility to prevent others from having such things. How many other species have suffered terrible possibilities because such trading and commerce happened? We may never know. What we do know, however, is that because of these individuals and their criminal conduct couched in religious belief, more than half a million of our people were murdered without mercy. And make no mistake," he said coldly as he turned to the group. "Religion was the smokescreen that you used to cover up your greed, avarice, indifference, and hatred for anything but yourselves.
"We intend to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you did what you did with depraved indifference and that you have utilized your philosophy as a screen to cover up your hateful conduct and your overwhelming greed and cowardice. We intend to prove you to be a criminal organization with evidence, testimony and expert witnesses, some of which you have already heard. What happens to you after that is in the hands of Optimus Prime and the Pantheon." Coln-2 bowed, then sat.
Blackstone stood, then bowed. "We have the charge of assisting the accused with a defense and explanation for the actions that happened. We will be doing so to the greatest degree possible. We do not challenge the fact that this happened. We will be putting forward a defense that shows why it did and what it all means from the aspect of their philosophy and viewpoint. I do not expect it to be easy. I do not expect it to even prevail. But we are advocates for our clients and will do what we can to assist what they have decided is the path forward. We have counseled them in the new paradigm and they are adamant. Thank you, Lord Optimus," he said as he bowed, then sat.
Prime nodded. "I would warn the defendants that they listen to their counsel. Now is not the time to disregard their wisdom." He glanced at Prowl. "We will take a break, then meet again for the prosecution to begin."
"Please rise," Prowl said as Prime stood and walked to the door nearby that led to the judge's offices.
The bailiff called the defendants to rise and they walked out, all 34 of them. The door closed behind them. The exempts rose, chatted a moment, then walked out, all of them heading back to a life they never expected to have. It was silent a moment, then Ratchet walked to the silent mechs in the last row. He sat, then grinned slightly. "Any thoughts?"
"Do you really expect them?" Traachon asked.
"Not really," Ratchet replied. "I don't expect natural reactions from any of you. You're so grand, remember? How does it feel to be reminded that your first ancestors on both side were slaves?"
They stared at Ratchet coldly but didn't reply. Then Cargo sat slightly forward. "How long are we expected to watch this?"
"Why, all the way through, infant." Ratchet grinned. "It's what the humans call a 'hail Mary pass', this effort. It's the last thing you do before the end slams you into the ground. A desperation move, the last chance … I'm hoping that if you hear this it might stir something in you, something that's covered in rust and lost for eternity … you know … your spark." Ratchet rose and with a grin walked back to the group gathered around Hard Drive and Delphi.
"You never talk about that slag, Appa," Ironhide said.
"We were just a few of many," Hardie said. "There were many leaders. It's sort of interesting that everyone who spoke were those we knew and worked with."
"Alpha was one," Delphi said. "A-3. He was quite a fighter for a scholar. Then there was also old recruit here." Delphi hugged Hercy's shoulders.
"It still burns, Delphi, after all these long years. It was like yesterday talking about it," Hercy said.
"You should. Get it out," Rung said as he eyed Hercy. "It helps with the burn."
"Maybe," Hercy said.
They chatted together as Prowl joined them. The different lawyers were talking together with their aides and assistants and the room felt heavy. Prowl glanced at Blackstone. "I don't think they must be cooperating with Blackstone," Prowl said quietly. "Too bad for them."
"They got away with everything since forever. I think they believe they can talk their way out again," Delphi said.
"Frag that," Hercy said as Cyclonus walked back into the room. He had a cup of something in his servo. He drank it down and tossed the cup into the disposal. As he did, Prime walked back inside.
Prowl walked to the desk, then called for order to return. The bailiff sent the prisoners back inside and everyone sat down. "Due to the circumstances of their case, we are asking for decorum to be preserved. We have stationed security inside and outside to secure this place and if you cannot handle the proceeding, please leave. You may be seated."
Everyone sat, Prime nodded and Coln stood. "I would like to call Commander Prowl to the stand."
Prowl rose, walked to the stand, then recited the oath. He turned toward Coln. "Please tell the circumstances that led to the discovery that the ships carrying the Functionalist Council and their party were heading our way."
"We received notice that a group was coming, one that wasn't aware that they were heading in a direction that would take them to Razorclaw at his enclave. We sent Seeker flights out to see who it was and determine enough information for us to affect a rescue as well as warn off Razorclaw from attempting to overtake them. It was then that they were identified as Functionalists. Their ships bore their insignias … a yellow castle nut with two sets of wings and three circles. We sent a message to them and received one in reply."
"What did it say?" Coln asked as he took up a datapad and put the message up on the big monitor on the wall nearby.
"It said that they acknowledged Prime and that they wanted to talk to him," Prowl replied.
"What happened next, Commander?" Colie asked.
"Optimus Prime along with a number of our older officers who have had experience with the Council of 12 and their manner went out to the ships who were being held together with Seeker protection. It was then that we arrived and dialog began," Prowl said.
"Did you have reservations about this group based on past experiences with them?" Coln asked.
"Objection. We are discussing the present. We have not established the relevance of this line of questioning," Blackstone said.
"Very well," Coln said. "Given Razorclaw and a number of other factors, did you approach this group with concerns or was this just another group of refugees?"
"You're fishing, Coln," Blackstone said.
Prime considered that. "Is there a way to retrieve your information with further questioning? Follow the line of events and perhaps you can get your points made. I have to find for Blackstone."
Coln nodded. "What happened when you got to the group, Commander?"
"There was discussion on our ship about the group and incidents from the past when someone on board remembered a tactic that they had employed in the past where devices were placed in processors to implement what were called 'recalls'. That is, when a bot was considered useless and disposable, the chip was detonated and the bot died. They could then be smelted down and reused for other things. It was discovered on the ships meeting this group that some of those on board carried those chips in their processors."
"What happened next?" Coln asked. The room was funereal.
"CMO Ratchet did research, then called upon Teletraan to help with determining if anyone on board carried the detonation chips. Several did, all of them from the first age which he then removed. It was determined that everyone elder enough to have lived during the Functionalist Dominion would probably carry them. It was later determined that this was true both on Mars and Cybertron. They were removed. It was determined that Gamma and Xantium Supreme carried them and they were sent back."
Coln nodded. "What happened once this was determined on your way to the group?"
"Prime ordered them to be brought over, the leadership, all twelve," Prowl said. "Four came and there was discussion about the terms everyone follows when coming to Mars. We download databases and materials that we use to rebuild our culture. We return them afterward. They didn't want to do that. They offered little and refused the rest. There was discussion, they refused to cooperate so Prime ordered a ship destroyed, one that was a drone. Prime ordered them to turn over the device that the Functionalists use to make their recalls … the device that activates the death chips in the processors of everyone they have around them and they refused. It was then that Prime showed him the error of his ways."
"He pulled off the arm of Eleven of Twelve and began to beat the other three with it. He then was told that they activate the recall together. It takes all of them to kill with that process. He also, One of Twelve, blamed this activity on the will of Adaptus, something we all considered blasphemy when he said it." Prowl was hot when he said that part and it was obvious that he didn't care.
"What happened then?" Coln asked.
"Ratchet was commanded to deactivate them until this process could be neutralized. If it took twelve of them to do it, four were now disabled. We had found half a dozen of the recall chips in the processors of our senior crew. Who knew how many others had them? At that point, Prime was called to the Matrix. We waited in silence for him to return to us," Prowl said.
"Is it possible to know what transpired?" Coln asked as he glanced at Prime.
"I am not able to comply," Prowl said.
"I was in discussion with Solus Prime," Optimus said. A hush fell over the group. "She was not opposed to what I did to get the information, though I personally find such actions not in keeping with my own views. However, lives were at stake. I will explain further is necessary, but suffice it to say, we discussed the moment and little more."
Coln nodded. "At this point, I assume, you boarded the ships and took them over. What happened then?"
"We did. Then we began to go through the databases. It was then that we discovered where they had come from and that there were many more out there who were not here. Given all of the elements thus far, we had a very great foreboding about the remaining unknown number who weren't in the group. With the arrival of Master Cyclonus, it was determined that all of those who weren't here, half a million, had been killed. They were murdered by the group before they fled."
The room was silent as a grave.
-0-TBC 2-10-18