The Diego Diaries: Cloudy (dd7 391)
=0=In a courtroom
The defense continued. Questions were raised about the procedures involved in gathering the evidence that had been released in an uncontested discovery process. Given that most of it was from the hands of those involved including recordings, the biggest contest was to see it disallowed and if failing to do so, to begin the long process of discrediting it.
There were three lawyers with supporting casts who were taking on the task of Karyll Wheelus and his family. Two lawyers were representing Larken of Galaxy Industries. They disputed everything that was laid on the table sparking rebuttals from Coln-2 over their characterizations. Apparently, when Larken was rounded up he was unwilling to come quietly.
By the time both sides had given their presentations, Prime had made a few decisions. He would allow them to contest the procedures about arrest, their contention being that the soldiers who rounded them up were brutal and used excess force. Having heard the tales when it happened repeated to him by Prowl, something he knew the mechs would be happy to regale again, Orion considered those involved to be professionals. It would appear that Larken was affronted by his treatment so he wanted to contest it. It wouldn't help his case overall but he was adamant apparently.
It was silent in the room at last as Prowl turned to Orion. "We can adjourn for you to consider some of this information."
Orion glanced at Prowl. "I do believe that the soldiers can be called to discuss the arrests as a separate issue. There will be many voices and they can tell what they saw and did. I am supposing that they will be deposed to make sure that there is belief in the integrity of their statements?" He looked at Coln and the lawyers.
"We would like that," Spurie who was repping Larken said.
"Then it will be done. I am not clear, Coln-2, whether your own records are as full as you wish with their recollections?"
"We would like to speak to them again," Coln replied.
"Then we shall make them available. They will be cautioned about speaking about this together," Orion said.
"Thank you," Spurie said as he bowed his helm.
"I am going to think about the rest of your suggestions, requests and petitions. I will give you answers this orn. We will send them to you by courier, both of you. Each side will know my decisions together. I would like to consult a few of the legal issues for the best possible decisions," Orion said.
The mechs nodded. "Thank you," they murmured.
Orion looked at Prowl. "Is there a timeline when this process will proceed?"
Prowl consulted his computer, then glanced at Barron and his group who were sitting at the consultation table with their computers and data pads to answer any question that came up. "What is the scheduling for these trials, Barron?"
"We have a tentative arrangement for three orns from now to begin with the Wheelus cases and Larken," Barron said. "We are very happy to get this preliminary work finished up. The timelines that are in place under modified martial law and to extend them beyond the end of this month would be stretching things a bit far even so."
"If they have to be released I will order them immediately arrested and begin new timelines," Coln said.
"And I will contest this harassment. My clients have been in prison for four years waiting for trial or release," Spurie said hotly.
"Gentlemen," Barron said as both turned toward him. "Lord Optimus has a great deal of latitude even in modified martial law regarding such things. Our constitution and foundational documents out of which all our laws come is specific at least on paper about the rights of our people even if it didn't happen in practice. However, in moments of great emergency, the Prime can suspend some of the usual practices until things are settled again."
"Suspending a person's right to a timely trial is hardly a 'usual practice', Barron," Spurie said.
"I will not allow the habits and practices of the past to become our present or future," Orion said. "This is not Cybertron. Given that, we are still endangered. We are at present at modified martial law. We will do our best to make right what we defend and believe but there are limits on occasion to what we can do. It is not what we want. It is what we must have until the peace is assured."
"We could have had full martial law," Prowl said. "We discussed it at length given the fact that the empire is not secured and that there are enemies all around us in striking distance. We do our best within a modification of that level of security. It's Lord Optimus's order that the security level we live under still give the people security without overly undermining their rights, privileges and freedoms. It's not perfect. It's not what we truly want. It's what it is."
"For you, Prowl. You can come and go as you please," Spurie said.
"That's true but then I'm not accused of the number and severity of the crimes your clients allegedly committed. We can argue about this all orn. I suggest that you research the laws and legal standing of the court system during emergencies and under martial law. You will find you have little footing on this path," Prowl replied.
Spurie glared at him, then turned to Prime. "Lord Optimus, in light of this ongoing crisis and its affect on the speedy, or not, trial we all want, I am asking that my clients get house arrest. At least that way they don't have to languish in prison."
"I object, Lord Optimus," Coln said as he rose. "The crimes these individuals are accused of committing are heinous, ruthless and have met the level of a Primal Hearing with Special Circumstances. To have them in the community where anything can happen and out of the expert management by the prison system is asking for disaster. Many of our population are victims of their offenses. The best and most secure place for them is prison."
"If they're monitored and ordered into their homes, they won't be a problem, Coln," Spurie said. "There are a lot of mechs in this colony and on Cybertron that have that possibility."
"I would suggest, Spurie, that given nearly none of those prisoners are charged with the downfall and near extinction of our home world, the empire and our species necessitating a hearing with possible intervention of the Pantheon, its understandable that this is the best possible choice for them. None of those individuals have that much to explain." Coln was lit.
"My clients are alleged, ALLEGED, Coln, of crimes. There are no convictions. They have the right to ask for home incarcerations and a better environment to wait for trial. Surely, the grid can handle them," Spurie shot back.
Orion and Prowl watched them argue as they discussed the house arrest process here on world.
Spurie turned to Orion. "Lord Optimus, having them in a better place after four years of prison life is not a big request given the nature of the home arrest apparatus here. Surely you agree."
Orion considered it, the idea of these individuals not within the confines of the prison. He had been as much a victim of their crimes as anyone else and some of them were responsible for his ill treatment as he began to lead the worldwide push back against them. "Gentlemen, I am aware of the technology that keeps house arrest viable as an option. I am also aware that these mechs are facing alleged crimes that span not just a lot of time but the empire itself.
"I do not feel given the charges that house arrest is the best option for them. We have a duty to our people to ensure their safety, both for our people and your clients against those that might want to make them a target. Therefore, I do not agree to home incarceration," Orion said.
It was silent in the room, then Spurie glanced at Coln. "I would like to write an appeal, sir, outlining my position and the degree of compliance my clients will undertake to win a home incarceration."
Orion nodded. "I will welcome it."
Coln glanced at Spurie, then Orion. "I will send a brief explaining my reservations."
Orion nodded. "It will be welcomed." He listened to Prowl a moment, then glanced at both parties. "Is there anything more to add to this discussion?"
Both sides demurred, concluding their presentations.
"Very well. You will receive your answers before nightfall," Orion said as he stood. Without a word, he walked to the door and left.
Prowl rose. "This hearing is concluded." He spent a moment talking to both sides and Barron before walking to the door to follow Orion. He found the big mech in the small room staring at a picture on the wall of Iacon. Prowl glanced at it. "That's how it is now. We're going to make it better. You want all of it better."
Orion nodded, then glanced at Prowl. The winger was staring at him with emotional optics. "I hope that I fulfilled your expectations."
Prowl put his data pad down, then stepped into Orion's arms. "You did. You always have. You always will. You did good."
Orion held Prowl enjoying himself. "In three orns this trial begins. I am not hopeful that I will be restored to my proper place in the timeline by then."
"You'll ace it. No matter what, you are still Optimus Prime."
"But I have no Matrix," Orion said.
Prowl considered that, then glanced upward at Orion's face. "You can do anything you want without It. When you're restored, so will It. Until then, just do what you believe. I will help you all the way. You were good in there. If it comes to that, the two of us will do this thing together. Mostly, you listen and ask the odd question. Its for your benefit that they speak and present things."
Orion nodded. "I cannot guarantee that the Pantheon will come to make Their decisions about these mechs and their deeds. It requires a Matrix, I believe, for such things to happen."
"We'll see. I don't think your Matrix is the only reason They weigh in on things with you," Prowl said.
They stood together holding each other, then gathered up to go. Orion would lead the way and a proud but intensely watchful Prowl would follow.
=0=Later that afternoon
Ratchet stepped out of his office to head for different medical centers. Prowl had weighed in on the hearing and how 'brilliant' and 'insightful' the Messiah of The People-Teenager Edition™ had been. It was so relieving to know that Orion had a grip on his situation and could function in it that Ratchet bee lined for the cafe nearby and got a banana split. He sat at a table and began to eat it.
Orion was doing great. Ironhide was getting his aft beat by his elders and would be in court to stand for his disorderly brawl arrest the following orn. There was something wrong about this picture, he thought with a chuckle. Ironhide the Bad Aft was still in the youngling mech somewhere.
Good, he thought as he shoveled it in. When he finished, he rose to dump his stuff in the recycle, then amble off for a tour of the medical centers on world, then a jaunt to Gliese to check out the medical centers there. It would be a pleasant afternoon all told.
=0=Cybertron
They hiked across a barren flats heading for a small village nearby. Ironhide was carrying the bag with treats for kids even as Halo hummed to herself and her dollies in his carry hold. Ordinarily, the elders would circulate her amongst themselves but today it was his turn.
"You carry the infant, infant," Hard Drive had said. "Get in some bonding with the babies. A mech has to stand up to his duties and responsibilities or he's no mech. In this mech's family, a father must be a father."
Ironhide had nodded as they headed out on foot. "I know, Appa."
The others grinned as the infant they adored fell in with them.
"What is the first duty of a father, Ironhide?" Raptor had asked, quizzing him on The Code for fun.
"To take responsibility for their family, to provide for them as best they can and to love their ada," Ironhide had replied.
"Sounds like you read The Code," Sun had said.
He glanced at the beloved and wildly fun uncle he'd heard about all his life but never expected to meet. "I did. Appa gave me a copy for graduation."
"Then you know you must guard it with your spark?" Sun asked.
Ironhide nodded. "I do."
Sun glanced at Raptor, Blackjack and Hardie who were ambling along behind them. "You raised a righteous youngling."
Hardie grinned. "We try."
Laughter would echo through the void for a long time.
=0=TBC 9-29-2020 10-24-2020