Author's Assistant Note
As Merchant Navy Cadet is now steaming generally south at sixteen knots towards the exotic Port of Singapore he is unable to maintain regular updates and has made arrangements for a proxy to. So undaunted by fierce gales, suicidal birds, and lack of wi-fi he presents the eighteenth chapter in the latest story arc. Without further ado…
The Tribunal: Michael Rickers Series
The black Jaguar XJ MkIII pulled up outside the hotel in Westminster. Baines killed the motor and stepped out of the car then locked it up. He walked around the front of the car and climbed the steps and walked through the entrance into the foyer. Waiting for him there was the holograms of Optimus, Elita and Arcee. Baines padded over toward them and extended his hand out to Optimus.
"Glad you could make it at such short notice. Only you three here I take it?" He asked as he shook hands.
"The others could not attend. Most in part due to the time difference with others still getting rest and the children have to attend school later today. How did you managed to get this going in such short time?"
"Don't thank me. Thank Mr Barnaby. Where is he by the way?"
Optimus pointed to the conference room to Baines left. Elita looked at the admiral with the question clear on her face. Baines side stepped Optimus and placed a hand on Elita's shoulder.
"He's doing just fine. It sounds worse than it actually is. He's awake and sat up in bed and is his normal self. Besides he's been though worse in the past. I believe you were with him when he was going through worse" Baines gave a reassuring smile.
"But he is okay? I mean really, is he okay?" Elita said back.
Baines squeezed her shoulder slightly tighter "I've been having to worry about him for far longer then you have. I'm not overly concerned so neither should you" He explained.
Elita brought a slight smile to her own face. It was what she needed to hear after getting the news about Michael being put in hospital.
"Right then. Shall we crack on with it?" Baines told the three as he walked through to the conference room. The three exchanged a quick glance with one another and followed suit.
"...and that sir is the reason why I did what I did" Barnaby said to the three man panel, then he sat sat down.
Major-General Simmons listened to what Barnaby had said "I see. Well in light in this new development, myself and my fellow panel members will have to adjourn so we can discuss these matters" The panel members stood up with everyone else doing so then the three left the room.
Baines looked to his left and spoke to Barnaby "Thank you for this"
"Any time. I will be calling control to the stand and I will have him confirm everything I have said and after that I will request that all charges against Michael be dropped"
Baines simply nodded then stepped over towards the three holograms.
"Admiral, if it will help I would wish to speak to the panel to give my opinion of Michael" Opitmus said.
The admiral exhaled "Well I don't think it's necessary. But if you really want to?"
Before anyone else could say anything the doors opened again and the panel members came back in. Nobody expected them to that quick. The three men sat down and the proceedings started again.
Both Baines and Barnaby stood up.
The Major-General addressed the two "Well in light of what has happened, it is clear that this tribunal has been set up for ulterior methods of an outside party and has attempted to manoeuvre an unfair conviction. So in light of this I will take on board your suggestion Mr Barnaby I will acquit Cadet Rickers of all charges. Is there any more the two of you would like to say for this session?"
Both nodded an affirmative. Barnaby spoke first "I would like to call the director of MI5 operations and have him confirmed all of the matters previously addressed. For the record"
"Granted. And to you Rear Admiral. What is it you wish to add?"
"With your permission sir. The leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime, would wish to speak to the panel"
The Major-General leaned back in his chair and quickly thought about it "Permission granted"
The proceedings had carried on. The MI5 director had been called to the witness box and slowly and carefully every detail was explained and any misunderstandings were corrected.
"Control, now that everything has been cleared up, can we now condense all this together in a nice short summery" Major-General Simmons said "Now to ask you one more question. This tribunal was convened to assess the potential danger that Cadet Rickers poses to the national security of the United Kingdom. What do you have to say to that?"
Control took a deep breath and started his answer "In short Michael Rickers is essentially a good person. Yes, he has shown on many occasion that he can be be very violent and has proven to be very deadly. But it is the safety and security of the innocent that is over riding principal in everything he does. Yes, I have used him as an asset to kill. But he knew for every second why he was doing it. It was for the national security and in the interest of the United Kingdom. And also frankly some of my officers within the security service aren't even half as good as Mr Rickers and I would really like having Mr Rickers on my team. And that sir is what I have to say on last question"
Simmons looked to his colleagues seeing if they had further questions. They didn't.
"We have no more further questions to ask. Unless there is anything else you would wish to add?"
"I do not"
"Well then, I can thank you for your attendance here today and we will consider all that you have told us. You are free to go"
Control nodded the once and quickly and quietly left the conference room.
Simmons looked towards Baines "I believe you have someone who wishes to speak?"
"That is correct sir. The leader of the Autobots would wish to speak with the panel"
Simmons made a hand gesture that said 'Go ahead'.
Optimus' hologram stood up and slowly made his way round to the witness box.
The three panel members looked at each other, making sure they were all thinking the same thing.
"I'm sorry, but not wanting to sound ignorant, but I was under the impression that the Autobots were robotic in nature?" Simmons said to the hologram.
"We utilize holographic technology to better interact with humans" Optimus answered while pointing to himself then to the holograms of Arcee and Elita.
Simmons and the other two on the panel sat back stunned at this revelation. All that time they were there and they had no idea.
"Right. I see" The Major-General said while trying to think what to say next "Well, erm... sir. As you are not a citizen of any country or due to the fact your existence for the wider majority is unknown, everything you say won't be put down on record. However we will listen and consider all that you say. You are not bound by any law to speak the truth but I only request you stay to the truth. So what is it that you would like to say to us in regard to Cadet Rickers?"
"When we first met Michael Rickers, it was immediately apparent that he was person that was full of anger and hate. At first he decided that he did not want to be a part of a team and that he would have liked to have gone back to being alone. He had managed to get into a life that he was happy with then when that was taken from him he could not tolerate it. At first he went out on a mission of vengeance but slowly overtime he accepted us and became part of our team and his mission of vengeance then turned into an investigation and ultimately led to the rescue of another Autobot and also the deaths of others had finally been answered. In the time he has been with us I have seen a change in Michael Rickers. Though he still may have his anger and at times violent nature, he has now learnt to control his aggression and use it more productively and uses it to help protect humanity from the threat of the Decepticons. I believe Michael poses little or no danger to your nation and yo
u would be foolish to bring punishment upon him"
After Optimus said what he had to say he stepped away from the witness box and strolled back over to his seat with the others.
"Well then" The Major-General spoke "Is there anything more that anyone would like to add?"
Silence from the room.
"Well in that case then I will call a close to the presentation of evidence and we will adjourn now and make our findings. Rear Admiral Baines?"
Baines stood up "Yes sir?"
"I hear that Cadet Rickers is currently receiving treatment in hospital. Is this correct?"
"Yes sir"
"And when will Cadet Rickers be fit enough to come here?"
Baines looked anywhere but the Major-General for a few seconds as he thought about his response.
"Sir, I believe he might be able to attend tomorrow"
"Very well. We will adjourn now and consider our findings. Rear Admiral Baines, I would appreciate that you contact my office to confirm that Cadet Rickers is in a healthy enough state to be standing for the conclusion of this tribunal. Could you do that please?"
"Yes sir. That will not be a problem"
"Well in that case then the panel will now adjourn and we will reconvene and the next earliest date of convenience"
With that the three panel members stood up and marched out of the conference room with everyone else standing up as they left. Once the three left through the double doors everyone group together near the doors and they slowly made there exit.
"Well that's all we can do for now" Baines said to the group "All we can do now is hope for the best. So you all better get some rest for the day, tomorrow should be a long day whatever happens" With that Baines strolled towards the foyer and out into the street to his car and drove off in the direction of Guy's hospital.
The next day came round and in the late hours of the morning and through the busy London traffic the white Ford Transit minibus pulled up outside the hotel. The holograms of the Autobots were the first to get out closely with June and Fowler helping the children out who were still tired due to it still being night back home. Once they were all out, the Minibus took off and left them to walk into the hotel and they stood waiting around for the last session to begin. All of them wanted to be there to see what would happen to their friend. Jack went and searched out where he could get coffee to fight off the fatigue. He asked one of the grey suits where he could get some and was shown in the direction of the hotels restaurant where hot drinks where available all day round. Then seeing that Jack got a coffee, Fowler went to get on as well. He might be trained to cope with terrible conditions but that doesn't mean you pass up a chance of a hot cup because you know you can go witho
ut it. Take it while you can because the next opportunity might be a while off.
The group had by in large stayed put in the foyer as they waited for proceedings to begin. Outside the old black Jaguar pulled up in the street, it took the group a few moments to register its existence as they were all talking among themselves. But when one looked, quickly so did the rest of them. They watched as Baines dressed in his uniform climbed out and adjusted his white cap on his head, then walked round the front and open the front passenger door. They continued to watch as Baines leaned in and helped Michael get to his feet who too was wearing uniform. The children gasped at the sight of the black eye patch over Michael's left eye. Baines closed the door for Michael and opened the back door and reached in and got Michaels white cap and passed it to him.
The group noticed that Michael was stiff as he slowly climbed the steps to the foyer. Baines locked the car up and raced up the steps and opened the door for Michael and the two entered the foyer and slowly approached the group.
The children couldn't contain their excitement of seeing their friend for any longer with Raf and Miko running up to him and launching themselves into a fierce hug nearly knocking Michael over. Even though it caused him a slight ache in his abdomen he still bend down to return the hug.
"We've missed you" Miko said.
"Not as much as I have"
Michael held onto the two younger children for a few seconds. His mind wanted to be sure this was real and not a dream. When he was sure they were real he let them out of his tight embrace.
"How does that feel?" Jack asked, pointing out the eye patch.
"Well, it still aches and it stings from time to time, but I've been given painkillers for it. But it should be off in a few days if it heals quickly. All I need now is a parrot and I'm sorted"
Jack had to laugh at that joke, he too was very glad to see Michael.
"Right I think it's time we all went into the conference room" Baines told everyone as he started to sheppard them towards the double doors with his arms outstretched.
They'd all entered the room and took their places while they waited for proceedings to start. Then after a few minutes the double doors opened and the panel walked in and went over to their chairs. Everyone stood as they sat down.
"Cadet Rickers, could you stand there please, this won't take long" Major-General Simmons told Michael as he pointed on a spot in the centre of the square made by the panel's desk and the desk with Baines and Barnaby on opposite sides, with the gallery and the witness stand forming the other two sides to the square.
Michael held his cap to his left side and stood straight and tall on the spot looking directly at the panel.
"Cadet Rickers. This panel was convened to look into the events of December last year where you were tasked with retrieving classified government files, where in which you took it upon yourself to destroy it and almost handed them to an enemy of the United Kingdom. And also in due part to these events this panel was also convened to assess whether you are deemed to be a risk to national security and to the widen public in general" The Major-General explained.
"Now listening to the testimonies of those brought before us we have come to our findings and thus our recommendations. Unless there is anything you would like to add?"
"No sir" Michael stated along with a small shake of his head.
"Well in that case I shall announce the findings. It is the conclusion of this tribunal that you Cadet Rickers are not a risk in both parts"
Quiet sounds of relief was audible from everyone in the room.
"Further more, it is the decision of this panel that everything you have done so far has been in the interests on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and that you have willingly placed yourself in danger to protect others from the evils of this world, and other worlds. So our recommendations will be this. All charges against you are to be dropped and that you are to be released from prison custody effective immediately. And also due to the fact that you have been removed from your lectures at Warsash Maritime Academy, it is my understanding that you have incurred a salary penalty from your company. So in recompense you will be compensated for loss of earnings. Do you wish to challenge these findings and recommendations?"
"No sir"
Simmons looked at Michael for a moment, trying to determine whether Michael was fully okay with the announcement or whether he really want to challenge them.
"Well I will draw this tribunal to a close. Cadet Rickers, you are free to go"
"Thank you sir"
The three panel members stood up and left the room leaving everyone to congratulate Michael on his acquittance. But Michael still had something on his mind that he wanted to sort out, so instead of being with the team he rushed off out of the double doors and after the panel. He caught them as they were about to leave the hotel.
"Major-General. Sir?"
Simmons turned around slowly "Yes, Cadet Rickers?"
"I just have one question"
Simmons looked at Michael for a moment "What's the question?"
"How is she doing? Is she... happy?" Michael hesitantly asked.
The Major-General's face tighten as he padded over to Michael till there faces were inches apart.
"Officially I have to say I don't think you are a dangerous person. But my personal opinion is the exact opposite. Do you think for one moment I would expose my daughter to a violent and dangerous person like you? Forget all about her, you barely knew her and it was a while ago. She moved on, so it's about time you did too. Understand?" Simmons spoke quietly but coldly. Then when the two glared at each other long enough the Major-General turned around and left the hotel.
"Michael?" Elita asked from behind "Is everything okay?"
Michael put a fake smile on as he swivelled around to face her "I'm fine" He lied.
Elita stepped over and hugged him tight "Let's go home, yes? I told you all would be fine. It's over now"