The Diego Diaries: Sun Dance (dd7 169)
=0=Outside
The sound of the breeze ruffling the trees nearby was soft and pleasant as they sat together, three old friends and another crisis. The sun was warm on their armor. Birds could be heard somewhere and the city around them was warm with radiated heat from the sun. It was quiet and peaceful.
"We need to have a team go to the sites and check this out. Have Sky lead it with an armed crew, Prowl," Prime said quietly.
Prowl made the call then glanced at Ratchet. "Are you alright?"
"I don't regret it. I knew he'd play games and it might mean someone would die or continue to suffer. I can't imagine the families here and what they might be thinking about it. We haven't had a lot of time to ask around and get the reports of missing but I know they're here because they always are. They always are," Ratchet said as he stared at the ground shaking his helm in inevitability. "I just didn't have a desire for the song and dance this time."
Prime nodded. "I do have to ask for your guns. I suppose I can do a drum head. Nothing that Faber said can be used in a court room. But something tells me anyway that it will not be a problem for a trial."
Ratchet nodded. "I agree."
Heavy treads could be heard as Hardie and Magnus walked toward them. They glanced up.
"So ..." Hardie began. "What do we do now?" He glanced at Ratchet. "Blackstone said he will be your representative about this. I would take him up."
"Good to know," Ratchet said with a grin. "I don't suppose I could ask for a Caste Court. I think I know some of the judges."
Prowl snorted. He grinned at Ratchet in spite of himself. "You're incorrigible."
Prime nodded feeling infinitely better for a moment. "I think a drum head is in order to secure the understanding of the others. I want them all there. We have to go over this and get things right." He stood. "Let us go in and talk."
Ratchet rose, then with the others walked to the building where the others waited solemnly. Ironhide hugged him, then they entered, walking through the operational center to the conference room nearby. Everyone entered, all of them who were there minus Sky and his team, then the door closed.
Blackstone turned to Ratchet. "I will help you and I hope you accept my counsel."
"I do, Blackstone. Thanks," Ratchet said. He walked to the table to stand and wait.
Prime walked to the table, then sat. "Please … everyone sit."
The door opened as Drift and Springer walked back in with grim expressions. They leaned against the wall to listen.
Prime considered things as he glanced at Ratchet then looked at the others. "We have found out that there are a number of mining operations here to make the steel that they need. They are not run by miners, all of them. Two of them are used as detention camps where prisoners work long joors at hard labor. That news was not made available to us and it would appear that it is not general knowledge amongst the population because no one has raised it to us yet."
Magnus leaned back in his chair. "What about the graves? We have several now. Are there more? I'm almost afraid to ask."
Prime nodded. "We found out that there are several around the planet, those we have found now, two in a forest and the rest at the prison detentions at their mining operations. The chief of security, a mech named Drummer has been accused of carrying out execution orders and running the apparatus that includes the mining sites and other enforced prison labor operations. All of the graves are his work according to Faber."
It was grim in the room as Barron and his aide took notes. "You do understand, Lord Optimus, that nothing that was said by Faber is admissible evidence in a court trial."
Prime nodded. "We know."
"I noted a trend," Ratchet began before Blackstone interrupted.
"I think it would be a good idea to ascertain your status in relation to this incident, Commander, before you say another word," Blackstone said as he glanced at Prime. "I am the attorney of record, sir. What is the charging status of my client? I would need to advise him if there are charges to be faced with this incident."
Prime sat a while thinking about it. "I am going to have a drum head. I think it would do to get it over with now." He glanced at Prowl. "Are you ready to record?"
Prowl nodded. "Yes," he said as he glanced at Ratchet and a solemn appearing Ironhide.
"What are the charges, Prime?" Ironhide asked.
Prime considered that. "Behavior unbecoming to an officer, unauthorized use of firearms, intimidating a suspect to a crime. I think that will cover it."
"Ratchet," Blackstone said then he went off line. They discussed things a moment, then he glanced at Prime. "We are ready if you wish this, Lord Optimus."
Prime stared at Ratchet then rapped his knuckles on the table. "This hearing is in order. I am presiding over a drum head hearing into the aforementioned charges against Commander Ratchet of Iacon. How do you plead?"
Ratchet sat back with a grin. He glanced at Blackstone who nodded. "Guilty by reason of temporary mental and emotional defect."
"Then you admit to it?" Prowl asked softly as he glanced up at Ratchet with a slight grin. He was writing furiously on his datapad as it recorded the event as well.
"When was it ever in doubt?" Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
Prime quashed a smirk then glanced at Blackstone. "Please explain."
"Given the obvious strain of this operation, given that the leadership is unwilling to be forthcoming about the citizenry here placing their well being in doubt and raising the stakes that there are those missing who are in imminent danger, it is our theory that Commander Ratchet did what he did to prevent death. He placed himself into a situation that endangered himself in the pursuit of the well being of others.
"The condition of his emotional and mental state of stress at the time, a condition that we contend is temporary led to the actions that were committed. Therefore, he is not responsible for his actions fully and there are thus mitigating circumstances for what he did." Blackstone sat back. He glanced at Ratchet who patted his servo as both of them waited.
Prime glanced at Coln-2. "You are a prosecutor. Tell me what you think of this theory?"
Collie considered that a moment. "I would pursue a different brief against Commander Ratchet if I was the prosecutor but if I were Blackstone I would pursue this path. It could very well be true. Given that lives have been determined to be in jeopardy, given that the leadership concealed that from us, given that Commander Ratchet is a medical officer with an impeccable record in the past, it could very well be a temporary breach of conduct motivated by an intense and overwhelming sense of urgency for the missing."
Prime considered that as a young mech walked in with a data pad. He handed it to Prowl, who read it as he walked out.
Prowl shook his helm. "May I update everyone on the information?"
Prime nodded silently.
"Sky found the two camps. There's a graveyard at each. There are about fifteen individuals altogether there who are inmates at a very spartan facility. Some of them look unfit and unwell given their sentences to work in the mines. He called in medics and they're being airlifted to Mars. He's going to work the crime scenes and is bringing in two other teams to help." Prowl sat back. "He is uncertain the number of graves or if they're mass in type. He will let us know. He's calling in the forensic archaeology team from the Museum in Terra to assist in the task."
It was silent in the room, a weary kind of silence, then Prime sat forward to rest his elbows on the table top. He looked at Ratchet. "You were right, old friend. I knew you would be."
"You can sense some things after a bazillion years of this slag, Optimus. I wish it were other but it wasn't to be. I can spot this in my recharge," Ratchet replied.
Prime nodded. "I know," he said then sat back. "It would appear that our worst fears have come true. Given that I have a high level of expectation for my officers, given that we have a duty to act appropriately, I find you guilty of the charges listed before you. I sentence you to the prison for three months." He shook his helm. "I suspend the sentence given the circumstances." He looked at Ratchet. "I think I can find someone to manage this process so you can go home."
"I would like to finish," Ratchet said. "We have three quarters of the refugees moved out and by tomorrow morning we're going to be nearly done. I would like to stay and help."
Prime considered that then nodded. "Alright." He looked at the others. "Sometimes you see too much. Sometimes you have no more patience. This is not a game to us. Every life is precious and matters. Sometimes it is not neat and orderly. I do not approve of such measures but sometimes they are the only ones that work. Not even the smallest and meanest life is worth losing by playing games. I for one am through with games forever."
The group stared at him then Hard Drive sat forward to lean his elbows on the table. "When we overthrew the Quintessans we had to find our people. We had some of them, a few that didn't get away. I was interrogating one of them who refused to tell us what we needed to know. It was about the database that told us where everyone went when they were sold.
"He stared at me with a smirk … you know the look," Hardie said as he considered a very old memory. "So I picked up my gun and shot him through the helm. I still can hear him sliding to the floor. I told someone to bring in the next one. He saw the dead slagger laying on the floor then told me everything I needed to know. We got the database, we got our people and I never looked back. I also never told anyone that story before."
Hardie glanced at the civilians. "Sometimes its not neat. Sometimes its really bad. Its what war is. Its what we find ourselves as warriors sometimes having to do. You think you're above it and then something terrible happens and you have to do something outside of what you hoped you would never be or have to do.
"That database included the locations of children who were sold as equipment and pets. We had to find them. We did because I put a round through a monster's helm. I don't know what you'll think about me for telling you but I want you to understand nothing about war is neat and all of it is shit." He leaned back. "I think that human word sums war up as neatly as any of our own."
It was silent.
Then Blackstone vented a sigh. "I think so as well. I never was a soldier but I went to prison trying to help the peace movement. I understand pressure and hard decisions. I'm glad, Lord Optimus, that you've decided on mercy. I think that's a thing that was in too short of a supply for too long among us. Thank you."
Prime nodded to him. "I know. We have stepped away from this now, all of us together into a world where the 'better angels of our nature' can be free to be who we truly are. We are right now what we always deserved to be. This cancer keeps coming no matter what we do. We cannot let it poison us when it does." He looked at Ratchet. "You probably saved lives by doing this hard thing but I hope you never do it again."
Ratchet nodded. "I would like that, too."
Prime stood then glanced at the individuals in the room. "I would appreciate it if there was a seal on this incident for now. I am aware that it will come out at the trial of these individuals and we can address it then. Until then, consider it part of the ongoing case and keep it from the public by Primal Decree. We have enough sorrow amongst us for everyone."
Everyone stood, then nodded.
Prime glanced at Hardie. "General … I am sorry that it came to that for you but I am happy that children were saved. I just wish that … our path had been different, that is all."
Hardie nodded. "We all do, Optimus. We aren't infallible and sometimes its hard to keep things from getting out of hand. But given our lives all this time and the things we've seen and done, I think we're pretty miraculous all in all."
Prime glanced at Ironhide. "Assist Ratchet with the operation, Ironhide. We'll help with the children. Christmas Surprise is in five orns. I hope we can have a holiday for once without chaos."
Ironhide nodded. "On it."
They chatted a moment then everyone began to leave, some of them touching base with Ironhide and Ratchet about home before they left.
Ratchet glanced at Ironhide when they all filed out. "Well?"
"You did what you had to do. We found mechs and femmes that needed a speedy rescue."
"You're not going to hang me by my thumbs?" Ratchet asked with a slight grin.
"Don't bring The Sexy into this, old mech. You didn't do wrong in my book. Remember that. There's some slag that has to be done. You did the right thing." He grinned. "I have spoken."
"Really?" Ratchet said as he relaxed slightly. "You make my neural net all tingly."
Ironhide snorted, then grinned. "You're one dirty old mech. Did you know that?"
Ratchet grinned as they walked toward the door. "Given you had to audition in the berth to be my old mech, you sound surprised."
"I AM IRONHIDE! I AM SURPRISED!"
They both laughed as they walked out the door to the operation center. The door closed silently behind them.
=0=TBC 12-30-19