The Diego Diaries: Cloudy With a Chance of Prison (dd7 402)
=0=At the Courthouse on Mars
"Given that the leadership began to consolidate masses of wealth from their business practices, most of which were intensely predatory, they needed legal justifications which they received by undue influence in government. They received their special attention by either directly bribing officials or employing members of their families. It was estimated at the time of The Fall that 62% of middle management in business, ergo the giant conglomerations were related to someone in politics.
"There was a revolving door between government service and corporate employment. If one includes some of the highest level military in that merry-go-round, then the military-industrial complex is complete. It became the interest and purpose of the government to maintain the interests, both business and political of the corporations given that so many went from government to private sector jobs among their closest political supporters and back again. It wasn't in the interest of government officials to do things against the interests of their future employers.
"Corruption was endemic through every layer of Cybertronian society, business, politics, media and culture. All of it was arranged to enhance the power and wealth of the smallest class of individuals against the well-being of our people and the well-being of our empire. There was hunger, homelessness, a lack of opportunity to achieve what you wanted to do, get help if you were sick and a general oppression by the peacekeeping forces that were governed by corrupt officials doing the bidding of the high castes and their political allies and puppets.
"There was no corner of our society, culture, business, educational process and media that wasn't corrupted and held under sway by this conglomerate structure. Consider an octopus with all its arms strangling everything and everyone while the head is the small group in charge of everything. A society that doesn't value all of its members is a society that is not only a failed state but one heading for massive unrest and anarchy.
"Our society at the end was a dictatorship where the government began to tighten its grip on all the structures that our people used and needed. The media, the few independent elements that were left were co-opted or shut down, draconian laws about gatherings and freedoms were laid out, secret police disappeared individuals and tracked others including the peace movement unlawfully.
"Masses of wealth were transferred out of the society and stored in banks and other institutions to hide it against discovery. Because the idea at the time was to squirrel away fortunes, the upkeep and quality of work spaces as well as pay for workers and their benefits hit rock bottom. Given that they were never very good, it was made even worse but what seemed a group psychosis among the ruling class. There was an inevitability built into their actions that they could never see. I couldn't convince them and neither did Venture who tried as well."
Prowl glanced up in surprise, then at his father who grinned slightly. He shrugged at his son who gazed at him with new found respect. This thing his father had done had been the last thing he would have expected.
"It should be noted that the funds that were hidden included millions and billions of shanix of 'donations' to politicians, millions and billions of shanix skimmed from their own businesses against the possibility of paying taxes and millions of billions of shanix that belonged to pensions, private personal savings and public funds to help small businesses were stolen and secreted away. I do not believe its ever been found, even if shanix had value which it doesn't anymore.
"Politicians from the lowest ranks to Primes took outright bribes, tailoring their orders and programs to suit the needs of corporations. Propaganda outlets that included the mainstream media like the News Net broadcast it to divide and keep divided our people so they wouldn't be aware of the massive illegal transfers of wealth going on under their noses. Never in the history of our civilization, not even when ruled by the Quintessans or the Functionalists was there a transfer this massive from those who made it to those who received it to those who were granted it for favors. Our civilization was being hollowed out preparatory to collapse which brought about revolution and the war. Even the most fearful individual will pick up a weapon when they see their children suffer. No one in the ruling class seemed ever to get that simple notion which gives you a clear idea of what they thought of everyone not in their club.
"Giant corporations are heavily responsible in the disaster that was borne out of their actions, the corruption that brought us to death's door. All of them were networked, striving together to get power and wealth so vast and great that none of them would ever live long enough to spend it all. None of the corporations are exempt from this conclusion but for a handful of them who were run by those with a functioning conscience such as Lady Stephonia and her family, for example. If I sound a bit bitter, I am," Mettle said. He bowed to Prime, then stepped down to walk to the audience to sit. When he did, Venture stood.
"Venture of Praxus is next," Prowl said.
Venture was sworn in, then turned to the room. "I am Venture of Praxus, chief economist of the Empire during the reigns of Nominus and Sentinel Prime. I was associate head economist during the reigns of Nova and Zeta Prime. I am very aware of the corruption that transpired between the major corporate conglomerates and the government. At no level of that structure was there freedom from such actions.
"Nothing was built on Cybertron or in the Empire that didn't require bribes. One bought influence and held it like cards. When you needed something, you dealt one and things happened. Many were the plans submitted to me that skirted the laws and codes of our world. Many were the plans submitted to me that violated basic laws on bidding projects or meeting standards and codes. It was no surprise that mines, towers and other creations were substandard and dangerous.
"I made it clear that the plans didn't follow the standards that we required and when I did they removed that role from my office and gave it to someone who rubber stamped them. I would attend conventions, meetings and functions where corporate officers and owners would discuss going around the rules, who was the one to bribe and what to do about hiding wealth openly.
"Cybertron never had a moment to breathe. The elements for freedom and equity were never there nor were they allowed to flourish when they appeared. Those who rose to power and implemented systems of checks on our people merely continued the oppression that was created by the Quintessans and refined by the Functionalists. There was never going to be a time when everyone else and their needs mattered. Revolution was inevitable when the government that you paid for never gave you a return on your investment. Corruption and collusion between the ruling monopolies made that impossible and because it did, revolution and war was inevitable."
Venture turned to Orion. "Of all the Primes I served, you were the only one who didn't take bribes or turn your back on all of our people. You tried to make things right but it was impossible by the time of your reign. I knew that you would fail because the tentacles of the octopus were strangling our empire and her greatest treasure, all of our people, to death." Venture bowed, then walked back to his seat.
It was silent a moment, then Prowl glanced at Orion talking to him off line. He turned back to the people sitting in the tense room. "We will take opening arguments now."
Coln stood with his ever present datapad, then began. "We are here to carefully and fully delineate the behavior and practices of Galaxy Industries, a multi-planetary conglomerate the likes of which has never been matched by our people at any time in their history. We could go on and on about the things this company and its management are responsible for but we have narrowed our focus to corruption, unsafe practices that resulted in deaths and injuries as well as tax fraud, bribery and theft.
"I could go on forever listing the crimes that were part of the operation of this corporation. I could tell you about the orphans and bonds who lost their loved ones, from genitors to their own children. I can tell you about the futility of their lives, how they lived in miserable conditions and worked for the lowest wages possible. I could tell you about how the management of Galaxy built liability into their products, setting aside enough money to pay off those injured by their products before they decided it was more cost effective to pull them from the market.
"They were predatory, owned the media and government and helped turn Cybertron and the Empire into a wasteland. When the end came, they were the first to flee. We are here to extract some small portion of what they owe to all of us. I intend to get it with my presentation. It will be an honor to speak for those who cannot." He gave Larken a hard glance. "It will be my very great honor." He sat.
Sheldon stood. "I am here to defend my client. I shall do so to the greatest effort I can muster. We will fight every charge vigorously. I expect that this will be a difficult trial but given the possibility of the Pantheon weighing in, it is my duty to do so. Thank you." He sat.
Orion considered the paucity of information given by both mechs and concluded this would be a bloodbath in the end. He glanced at Prowl, then nodded.
Prowl turned to Coln. "You may begin your prosecution, Coln-2."
Coln took a moment, then stood. "I would like to call Mettle back to the stand."
Mettle rose, then walked to the stand. He took the oath, then waited patiently with his own datapad.
Coln walked toward him. "Mettle, please tell me about the financial underground that the corporations used to avoid taxes and how they did so. I will admit the exhibits as you call for them."
Mettle nodded. "I will be happy to do so."
He would be.
=0=On a plane not so far away
"This is going to be ugly."
Onyx nodded. "I do agree. I find them unfathomable. Who would deliberately deny anyone the possibility of life and a future of hope?"
Micronus shrugged. "I don't know. We left behind a mess. This should be straightened out. I don't see a future path among those presenting for any of them to walk away."
"Do you suppose Primus will require Us to come to the proceedings?" Micronus asked.
"I hope so. I would like to go there and slap the frown off Larken's face. I realize that all are one but that one irritates Me."
Micronus who was floating in the air next to his friend grinned. Onyx Prime had no idea how funny He could be sometimes. "I would pay good shanix to see that."
Onyx glanced at him. "If shanix were still worth anything."
"That's true," Micronus said. "Perhaps We can appear in the courtroom this time. I want to see their faces when We do."
Onyx smirked slightly. "Exhibitionist."
"That's me," Micronus said as They both faded from view.
=0=Three joors later
They sat in the small room in the private area off the courtroom for judges and Primes taking a break from the trial. Prowl was going over a listing of the schedule, then glanced at Orion. "What do you think so far?"
"I think I could weep for our people," Orion said. "I become Prime and still I could not stop this madness."
"You tried. Hard. You had no chance. This is madness … pathology. You can't save someone who has no idea that they're drowning. These trials are long overdue. We'll have them until they're finished."
Orion nodded. "I agree though … I wish ..."
Prowl squeezed his servo. "You and me both."
=0=TBC 10-11-2020 10-25-2020
This period of Cybertron's long agony is canon.
ESL
paucity (paw-city) scarcity, not much of something