The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box 55 edited for boo-boos :D
-0-In the courtroom, Autobot City, Mars
Then Prime began to speak. "One of the most important aspects of this case was to get to the root of it. The motive had to be presented for the event to be fully understood. Even though the first fight was not allowed into the record, it was an essential part of the motive for this case. What was the root cause? The System was.
"Coln-2 introduced into the record a number of affidavits of mechs that were witnesses but not called. They told a story about these five younglings that is instructive. They have had incidents of discord with others. When the former caste status of those mechs was determined, they were all former low-castes. There are no incident reports of these five making disparaging remarks or acting out against anyone else. It was always former low-caste status mechs.
"They have made it clear to me and to Semi that they have a problem with those who by the nature of the system were locked into a caste that didn't allow them or their families opportunity and prosperity until they came here. I find that important. I believe that it is the root cause of the argument.
"I have made a vow to Primus and The One that we would become here what we were intended to be but never were allowed to become on Cybertron. One people together. We are One. Our colony is at last what we supposed to be from separation. We made a point of telling you from touchdown that very fact.
"Our army protects everyone. All of our people are flourishing and excelling. We live in peace together, former Decepticons, Seekers, Neutrals, Circle, Knight, the former low, middle and high castes. Nowhere else, not even on Cybertron has prosperity and peace been accessible to every single person regardless of their former status.
"You are not the first who refused or were unable to let go of the past. All of them have learned. You will too. You will not only because I insist you will, but because the city and her people will. We won't allow this stain on our honor to continue. Either you change, learn to contain your feelings or you leave. If jail isn't enough to change your views on this illegal institution, then perhaps you need to move on."
The room was deeply quiet as friends and family of the guilty staring at Prime with alarm. They shifted, one of them reaching forward to squeeze the shoulder of one of the younglings. Then it settled.
"I have a difficult charge. I have to retrieve all of our people no matter where they are. I feel their need and their danger through the Matrix. They consume me. There are dangers around us that demand our attention. If the Decepticons come they will not worry about caste. They will kill us all equally. Everyone matters. All of us matter.
"Endar and Highrode, I understand your complaints and I have decided to allow an appeal to this decision. As you know, under the old system there could be no appeals because this format was intended to be a control device for the population and the status quo. I will allow an appeal to a panel that will consist of seven randomly chosen individuals. They will be chosen from the entire population. You may present your appeal based on the transcript of this hearing, the facts and points of law that you feel need clarification. You are limited to this hearing and nothing more"
:Just like us on Earth: Graham said glancing at Epps. Epps nodded.
"I would hope that you understand that the System is dead. I will not allow it to come back. For those of you in the audience who need to speak to me about your concerns relating to it or this hearing, make an appointment and I will hear you. I would also ask you to speak to the priests in the Temple. They have some experience with those who find change difficult." He looked around the room, then at Prowl. "Metroplex wished to speak."
Prowl nodded and called the big mechanism. His image flashed onto the screen. "Metroplex, you are on for your statement."
"Thank you, Prowl," the deep masculine voice of Metroplex replied. "I wish to express my outrage that violence could occur in my park. That is the space that I designed for peace and joy. When the children come to play, I feel great happiness. I am weary of war and discord. This is the first time in longer than I can remember when I have been truly content. I have families living in my environs and workers making for themselves a life they could never have on Cybertron. It is disturbing that this happened to me, my residents and visitors. I will not allow it again. That must be made clear, Prime."
"I will make it so, Metroplex," Prime replied.
"Very well. For those of you who live as families with these younglings in my city mode, you are welcome to stay. You have been good company. Your younglings on the other servo may not return if they don't change. They showed a lack of respect that I will not tolerate. I do hope I am clear to all of you. Respect is an absolute requirement."
The room was silent a moment.
"Thank you, Prime for allowing my contribution to this hearing."
"Thank you, Metroplex for all you do and I am glad you voiced your feelings about this matter," Prime said.
"Until all are one, Prime," he said, then he signed off.
It was silent a moment, then Prime looked at the bailiffs. "Please take these younglings to the jail. Hold Florus there until tonight so he might go to the prison with less scrutiny. Your futures are now in your own servos. No one can make things right but you."
They nodded and with silent stunned expressions, all turned and walked out of the room. Prime watched them, then looked at the audience. "You have a job to do as well. If you hold the ideals of the System, you need to rethink what you believe and how you see the world. The Army doesn't fight for some of you. I don't work for the few. I work for all of us. Our Army protects and defends everyone. They always did. For anyone to feel that they deserve the front of the line because of caste is disgraceful. It will not be allowed. The priests and mental health personnel of the city are here to help you. I suggest that you avail yourselves of them. This hearing stands in adjournment."
For a moment no one moved, then they stood up and began to file out silently. The five mechs who were free to go paused a moment, then Talin and Julon walked down the steps to Prime and Semi. Talin offered his servo. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. You did the right thing trying to stay out of trouble," Prime said.
Talin nodded. "I don't want to worry my genitors. I don't want to fight anymore either."
"Then don't. The power is in your servos," Prime said nodding.
The younglings turned and walked back to their waiting genitors including the atar of Talin. He was clearly disabled and when they turned, he took his son's arm to climb the stairs. Prime watched them go, then turned to the lawyers. "Gentlemen, thank you."
Coln-2 grinned. "You're welcome."
"Thank you for the opportunity to appeal," Endar said nodding. Highrode agreed. "We understand the motive aspect. We just feel that we want to stress the event itself. We also want to have a review of Florus and his participation. He did after all come to get his son."
"He did. Unfortunately, resisting the arrest of his son was a bad idea," Prime said.
"We'll see during the appeal," Highrode said with a smile.
"Thank you, gentlemen for your effort," Prime said. He grinned slightly. "You had an uphill climb with your repeat offenders."
"Thank you for not allowing that as part of the record even though I would venture that it mattered to you," Endar said.
"Motive for behavior is key to understanding it. This had to have a clear motive and I agreed with Coln-2," Semi said with a grin.
"Appeals, Semi," Endar said with a grin. "We shall see." He looked at Prime. "When do we get the word on that?" he asked. "Do the defendants get to remain free until then?"
"Barron will take care of the appeal process. He will alert you," Prime said. "As for the defendants, they are where they belong for now."
Everyone nodded and the meeting began to break up, all of them climbing the steps to the doors. Outside, sitting on a couch together, Springer and Drift watched them come out into the hallway.
"I can assume you lost?" Drift asked Endar.
Endar smirked. "For now," he said.
"Oh joy," Springer said rising. Drift stood too and the pair paused beside Prime watching with Prowl as the legal mechs walked out. "How long did they get in jail?"
"Six months for the younglings and three for Florus. He's in the prison," Prime said.
"Wow. With which crowd?" Drift asked.
"Sentinel's group."
"There is something behind that placement beyond getting him separated from his son?" Springer asked knowing something of the thinking of his one time partner.
"I want to see what Florus does after three months with Sentinel and the others." Prime looked at them. "It's that simple."
They nodded. "This could be fun," Springer said as they turned to walk to the street below. "I suppose we are go for the simulations."
"You are. Let me know what you think. If you are at optimal, then we go today," Prime said.
Springer nodded as they all walked toward an elevator nearby. They paused as the sound of soft tapping was heard. Then Prime walked back to the doors and opened one. Two humans walked out and looked up. "Thanks, Optimus. I was hoping someone could hear us," Bobby Epps said with a grin.
Prime smirked. "I live to serve."
Hoots and laughter greeted that. Springer looked down. "You little punks better head for the airfield if you expect to go with us. If this shakes out, we won't be returning to the city to get anyone."
They glanced at each other and turned running for the segway. They hopped aboard and buzzed off heading for the elevators and the long run for the airfield. When they got there, Lennox would be standing on the ramp with Figueroa waiting for them. They would all run inside and with help from Revo settle into their safe box behind the pilot for the duration.
"Make sure they don't get killed," Prime said with a grin. "The House Foreign Affairs Committee wouldn't like it."
"Got you covered," Springer said as they all turned to go to the elevator. The doors closed and they were lost to sight.
-0-On the airfield
The troops gathered, climbing aboard their vessels as the teams came together to leave. Two Wrecker fighter ships, the battle shuttle that would carry the femme team and another battle shuttle carrying the sim team gathered themselves to leave. Nearby, two of the Supremes stood discussing carrying victims back through the bridges to safety. Three large vessels with enhanced equipment to create special environments were standing by, the non-sentient ships preparing to serve as transport for both aliens and bots.
The midmorning sunlight brought the spring temps up to nearly -40 degrees as the mission was organized. A light breeze ruffled dust across the tarmac and the sound of the city and all its activities could be heard in the low atmosphere. The sound of normal voices, human voices if they could be heard outside of their face masks would sound deeper than they would on Earth. But to fulfill that experiment, one would have to die to do it. It was enough just to know that fact.
-0-In the Trigger
The team sat bringing the extraordinary powers of the big bridges online. One by one, the two energy vortexes flashed into being. They pulsed, then settled. On board two of the vessels preparing to leave, prototype ship bridges hummed as they powered up waiting for the moment when they would flare and allow the soldiers to go through.
Ironhide and his genitors walked to the airfield minus one small femme sparkling. Having dropped her off with Tie Down and Ravel, they hurried onward to their duty. By the time they entered their ships, the fleet was lifting off. They watched as the sims ship lifted off and headed for the bridge, disappearing into it to set up the operation.
-0-Check in with Flight Control, Fort Max
"Jazz, check."
:We are go:
"Springer, check."
:We are go:
"Elita, check."
:We are go:
"Red Wing, check."
:We are go:
Smokescreen who listened in turned to Prowl and nodded. "They are go. Sims are go."
"Very well. Begin," Prowl said as overall control of the operation.
Smokescreen turned back to his control panel. "You are all go."
They came around the curve of Mars, Elita's ship in the lead and shot through the vortex one after the other, a fleet of Seekers following. They flashed through and were gone. By the time they were through the other side, peds were on the ground, things were being destroyed and overpowered. It would be flawless. In almost the blink of an optic, the word would come back that the operation fulfilled all of the objectives set for it.
Seconds later, Optimus Prime would be entering a ship to head out. He would rendezvous with his group and lead them into battle. He would do so with the support of General Blackjack, former Master of the Autobot Armed Forces, Commander Alor, strategist and ops specialist, Commander Flint who led battalions from back in the orn, Commander Ironhide, Master of the Autobot Armed Forces and his specialist team captains, Elita-1, Springer and Jazz.
He felt invincible. Only time would tell if it were true.
-0-TBC For Pip
2013 (3)