Verdict

Outside Memorial Spaceport(#175RntN)

The expanse of the metal planet known as Cybertron stretches for as far as the eye or optic can see, a worn, battered vastness of torn, warped, irregular metal plating damaged by millions of years of warfare. The ruins of Autobot Headquarters lie to the north, all that's left after a massive Decepticon assault. Running east and west is the more-recently constructed, and so in better condition, highway that encircles the planet and provides a speedy means of transport for ground vehicles, be they Transformer or non-sentient. To the south is what remains of the old Memorial Spaceport, its gleaming building now nothing but a painful memory.

Contents:

Autobot Standard Troops #1321(#1321)

Tunnels under Memorial(#8385)

Autobot Sensor #8558(#8558)

Obvious exits:

Fly < Up > leads to Sky above Memorial Spaceport.

East < E > leads to New Cybertron Highway < East >.

West < W > leads to New Cybertron Highway < West >.

First Aid has arrived.

Silverbolt has arrived.

Crosshairs has arrived.

Pinpointer ejects from Crosshair's turret mount as the Autobot's vehicle form spins sideways as though in an involuntary roll. But it is not a crash as his legs unfold from beneath the vehicle and his arms emerge. As his head pops into position, Pinpointer is caught in Crosshairs' waiting right arm. The Autobot targetmaster duo are now in Robot mode!

Twin Twist has arrived.

Kup has arrived.

Foxfire has arrived.

Fortress Maximus has arrived.

Fortress Maximus transforms into his Battlestation mode.

Broadside has arrived.

Clutch arrives from the New Cybertron Highway < West > to the west.

Clutch has arrived.

Rodimus has chosen what may seem an unlikely place for the site of his trial: outside the ruins of the old Autobot headquarters. A makeshift podium and some tables, most put together swiftly from debris and scrapmetal, set the stage. Rodimus, apparently choosing to forego traditional arrivals, is already in place... but then, this is neither a human trial or a civilian one. There's no formalized spot to serve as the witness' stand. Witnesses are, in fact, going to have to literally stand instead. Painfully absent is anything resembling a jury's box.

By this point, ten million years after they left, the Steelhaven Autobots might hardly recognize this planet anymore. It's been leveled and rebuilt and releveled and rebuilt more times than most can count. Oh, and it has two suns, two moons, and two giant-heads-that-act-as-moons now.

Rodimus has chosen what may seem an unlikely place for the site of his trial: outside the ruins of the old Autobot headquarters. A makeshift podium and some tables, most put together swiftly from debris and scrapmetal, set the stage. Rodimus, apparently choosing to forego traditional arrivals, is already in place... but then, this is neither a human trial or a civilian one. There's no formalized spot to serve as the witness' stand. Witnesses are, in fact, going to have to literally stand instead. Painfully absent is anything resembling a jury's box.

First Aid is visibly nervous as he paces through the old ruins of the memorial spaceport. He's seen this place get built and rebuilt many times before, and with the movement to Alpha Centauri a part of him is interested in seeing another new project begin here. He makes a note to speak with Grapple and Hoist about it sometime. First Aid is a doctor first and a construction engineer a distant second. But these thoughts do little to distract the Protectobot from the issue at hand. Fortress Maximus, and by extension his soldiers, are on trial for desertion.

Crosshairs is already here, as he has been since the early morning -- well before the appointed hour of the trial. Which may come as a surprise to a select few who are aware of what he was up to last night. Either way, Pinpointer stands upon Crosshairs' right shoulder and togeather the two wait. Though there is a certain absense of emotion in Crosshairs' face and a constant movement that tells of being uneasy. Who wouldn't be?

While younger than many (if not all) of the Autobots, Silverbolt stands with arms crossed waiting for the guilty to be judged. He looks around at the various Autobots that have come to witness this trial. His stern face tends to frown a bit more as his optics scan over a *master Autobot.

Clutch looks around carefully. "I've never been to an Autobot trial before," he comments. "I hear a few have taken place in the last few decades though." Then he blanches a bit. "Uh...I'm sure this one will go a lot more smoothly."

Kup stands near his table, grumbling about Rodimus as he sorts through a stack of Cyberpapers. "Can't even get a half-decent chair," he mutters. "Razza fraggin' frag..." To his sides are his assistant, FOXFIRE, and his client, as it were... Fortress Maximus! With a heavy sigh, Kup lines his papers up, sets them down, locks his fingers together behind his back, and waits for the fun to start.

Foxfire does not mind standing. He does it a lot. But, being an animal-mech, he can sit pretty much wherever he pleases. Like First Aid, he is also nervous, but trying to stay calm with a superficial cheerfulness, in hopes that it will make everyone else feel better. He taps First Aid's leg with a paw as the medic paces. "Settle down, will you?"

SEASON FOUR: EPISODE XX

Fortunately for Fortress Maximus, Cybertron has always been a blown-to-hell slaghole, so the presence of some pretty radical geographical changes can only bring an enhanced feeling of dismay. In his battleship form, he descends through Cybertron's thin, poisonous atmosphere, on a rendesvous with destiny.

Retro-thrusters fire in a synchronized hiss of white gas, the blocky, two-pronged hull of his battlestation mode hovering over the trial site. Coming to a hover after a slow descent, the tell-tale sounds of transformation echo across the barren, metallic landscape. Cerebros connects to his neck in a flash of light and Fortress Maximus stands on the surface of his home world for the first time in millennia.

He turns his pronged head to survey the area before stepping forward towards the tribunal gates. "Once, I was a judge at this tribunal," he allows himself, kneeling before the minibot Mech-At-Arms. He summons his gigantic rifle, removes the photon charge pack, and hands it over, stock first.

"C'mon, Max! All of 'em!" The minibot grumbles, shaking a fist while stumbling to balance holding the gun.

"Very well." Various compartments open along Fortress Maximus' chest and legs, and a few minutes pass as rounds and rounds of munitions are unloaded from his body.

Battlestation transforms into his Fortress Maximus mode.

Twin Twist can been seen seated toward the perimeter of the site, resting his chassis on a discarded chunk of rubble, hsi rifle resting across his knee servo as he polishes the barrel intently, keeping his optics from the guilty and casually ignoring the worried pacings of his fellow Autobots. Wreckers, huh? Who know's what they're thinking?

Rising above the battlefield, Broadside assumes his giant robot form.

First Aid finalles picks a spot in the seats set aside for audience. He sits down and clasps his hands together, resting them under his chin. "I'm nervous, Foxfire," he tells the minibot as if that weren't already plainly obvious. "Autobot trials don't always seem to go very well, and it's making me..." the doctor waves his hand dismissively, "But enough about that. How are you holding up, Foxfire?"

Broadside shuffles in as unobtrusively as he's able to sit in on the trial.

As Fortress Maximus arrives, Crosshairs finally decides to turn and meet his destiny. Or at least his role in this particular venture. It may come as a surprise to some when he transforms that Pinpointer removes large briefcase from his vehicle mode's storage unit and struggles to heft it until Crosshairs rises back up into his robot mode. Well, wait. That's not the surprising thing. What is more surprising is that he takes the briefcase and begins to walk -through- the crowd with polite excuse-mes until he reaches the first guard. Identifying himself he is allowed to pass and then takes up a position at a table across from Kup's. What's this? Fortress Maximus is going to be prosecuted by one of his own men? That is certainly what it looks like as he begins to withdraw papers, eyes narrowed, pointedly avoiding Fort Max's gaze but going about his business otherwise.

Nightbeat has arrived.

Foxfire shakes his head. "I'm sure it'll all be fine. Don't worry about it." It's not like the Autobots execute people on a daily basis, after all. But that goes without saying. "I'm doing just fine. Been assigned as Kup's assistant..." Not that he really minds, but he's a bit apprehensive.

Twin Twist casts an optic across to the gathering crowd as he sets aside his rifle. Recognising one of his own, the broad Autobot offers a smirk, and pulls himself to his feet. Finding his place beside Broadside, the blue-grey 'Bot folds his strong arms across his chest plate, eyeing the form of Fortress Maximus with a look of disgust crossing over his metallic features, "Hey Broadside.. didn't fit you for the court martial type."

Broadside shrugs back at Twin Twist. "I never knew this guy back in the day. I wanna make my own judgement on him so when people say what he's about, I got it first hand."

Steeltread has arrived.

"I know," First Aid tells the mini-cassette. "But I'm worried about what a guilty verdict would mean in this case. Not just the loss of his defensive capabilities against the Decepticons, but for any Autobot who wants to step away from the war and stop being soldiers. I always considered the Autobtos a volunteer army." Granted resigning and desertion aren't quite the same thing, but hey.

Rodimus Prime looks down at a datapad on his little podium, and speaks up to address both First Aid and Clutch with, "Well, if a Decepticon wants to try and attack in the middle of this business, their funeral." Victory Leo is another problem entirely, but luckily Fort Max's head is already designed to come off, anyway. Granted, the affair might not be all that comfortable to Galen.

Finally, the Prime looks at those gathered before him. "Well, looks like we can get started, then." He pauses a moment, then continues. "I think we all know why we're here. Fortress Maximus and the crew of the Steelhaven are accused of the crime of desertion. Yes, I realize that Autobots tear off on their own on a pretty regular basis around here, but it's one thing to go out for a jaunt and show back up a few days later, and quite enough to quit the war for ten million years. The difference in magnitude is severe enough that this warrents... special handling." Rodimus inclines his head towards Max. "Fort Max? Kup will be serving in your defense." Man. It's almost as if Rodimus /wants/ to let him hang, isn't it? Then he lifts a hand and gestures towards Crosshairs. "Crosshairs is acting as prosecutor. This is a court martial, and while a jury is not assumed, you're within your rights to request one." For those thinking carefully enough, Rodimus words might provide a faint hint. In order to make the most severe punishments accessable, a jury /is/ assumed... or is this just a pecularity of giant robot space trials?

Trials. Nightbeat hates trials. He always has, and recent events have given the detective another reason to hate them. Justice ain't got nothin' to do with a trial, and truth? Don't make him laugh. Trials are just a dog and pony show. Sometimes, you're the pretty lil' pony, prancing around like you drip rainbows outta your radiatior. Sometimes, you're the dog, and there's nothing for you but to be taken out behind the shed.

Nightbeat's been the dog.

Still, he's gotta vested interest in this, right? Two vested interests, just shy of a wardrobe. No surprise that he's late, the detective staggers into the trial and takes a stand at the back of the pack - he can hear it all from anywhere. He smells like he hit up The Steel Balloon just before bookin' it here. Needed a little something to settle him down and keep his motormouth from running off.

Crosshairs is looking more and more uneasy as the time begins to start the trial. Pinpointer, who in this case would much rather be anywhere else is unfortunatly not. This is a feeling echoed by Crosshairs who sits mutely, regarding his papers and then Rodimus Prime. There is, if one is watching him, a flicker of anger in his optics -- the look of one who has been forced into something but after that it is gone and he stands, waiting to be allowed to speak to get this train wreck a rollin'

Twin Twist grunts, speaking in a hushed tone, "Sure. Way I see it, though, deserters aren't worth their weight and should be used for a far greater purpose." He smiles thinly, patting his internal ammunition cache, "And rounds only ever run in the right direction." As the procedes start, the Autobot clenches his strong jaw, watching intently, trying his best to keep his optic off of Fortress Maximus.

Foxfire slowly nods an acknowledgement to First Aid, going quiet as Rodimus starts speaking. There's a lot that the little tapebot wants to say, quick to defend Fortress Maximus and the others, but now is not the time. He'll get his chance, he's sure.

Steeltread tots his way in and sits in the back. he's got an interest in the proceedings.....question is....how much?

Silverbolt is a bit shocked when it is announced that Crosshairs is announced as the prosecutor. His optics open up widely as he looks at Crosshairs and then he frowns. Silverbolt looks at Kup and knows Kup will do his duty; Crosshairs is an unknown

First Aid nods back to Rodimus Prime. "yes sir." The Cons weren't really the issue, but indeed he was worried about Victory Leo and other rogue elements within the Autobot faction. As the flaming avenger noted, if they want to attack while two Wreckers, Fortress Maximus, and Rodimus himself are here, it won't go well for them. The Protectobot looks over at Fortress Maximus's defendant. He knows what Rodimus is going for here, and he does have confident that Kup will not betray his morals by putting up a shoddy defence. He has too much trust for the oldtimer, despite the previous 'confrontation' he and the Autobot elder had.

Clutch leans towards First Aid and says in a low voice. "Hey...forgive my cluelessness, but when you said you were worried about what a guilty verdict would mean -- what would it mean?" He makes a subdued gesture towards Fortress Maximus. "For them, I mean."

"Least it's not Cliffjumper," remarks Broadside, leaning down to whisper back to Twin Twist, "Well, there's deserting and then there's leading a charge in the opposite direction. There were folks called the likes of Optimus and Prowl 'deserter' until they showed back up after the war was practically over. I don't hope for much but I want to hear what the guy's got to say for himself."

Springer has arrived.

Kup looks over at the stockpile of munitions Fort Max has dumped in front of the bailiff, wondering to himself how many Decepticons his client could have blasted to bits if he hadn't ran off like this. Bah. Doesn't matter now. His gaze turns up--way up--at the large Autobot as he tells him, "So. Yer choice, Maximus. To be honest, though... I think yer gonna be just fine."

Then he *drops* his gaze down to Foxfire. "You ready, lad? Don't worry, we're gonna come outta this fine. And then I'm gonna go to the nearest bar and drink myself into a permanent coma."

"Least it's not Cliffjumper," remarks Broadside, leaning down to whisper back to Twin Twist, "Well, there's deserting and then there's leading a charge in the opposite direction. There were folks called the likes of Optimus and Prowl 'deserter' until they showed back up after the war was practically over. I don't hope for much but I want to hear what the guy's got to say for himself."

Foxfire sometimes dislikes being so small that people literally have to look down at him. He sighs, then nods. "Ready as I'll ever be, I guess. And no comas! Otherwise we'll have to find another cranky old mech to take your position." He smirks.

Rodimus Prime looks towards Crosshairs and inclines his head. "Go ahead and present your opening case."

Kup smirks, muttering, "Eh, coma's after the trial, lad."

Fortress Maximus strides into the trial chamber, his blue optics regarding the other Autobots who have gathered there. Standing into the Circle of the Accused, a blue forcefield circle lights up around his feet with a resonating gong.

"I'm willing to submit to your judgment, Rodimus Prime," Fortress Maximus replies. If the Headmaster is shocked by Rodimus' choice of defense counsel, he doesn't seem to be of mind to protest it. "A jury will not be necesary."

Fortress Maximus looks to Kup, giving the old Autobot a nod.

Twin Twist looks sidelong toward Broadside, his lips curled as if he were about to say something before stopping himself, turning his head as he cranes forward to listen for the opening case. Curious to see what happens next..

First Aid leans back over to Clutch, whispering discreetly, "What would the punishment be? It would be up to Rodimus. Desertion is a pretty serious offence though I'd think there would be mitigating circumstances. At the worst I think it'd be either imprisonment. At the least, some sort of probation. I guess exile would be possible as well, though, uh, maybe that wouldn't make sense in this case."

Nightbeat is literally of two minds on this topic. One mind belongs to Muzzle, a Nebulan detective who got kicked off the force just for suggesting that the giant death robots from space might not be as much of a band of thugs as the media thought. Muzzle respects Galen, for all his sacrifices - the man left a promising political career and a dame with smokin' hot gams back on Nebulos. Almost all the Nebulans left someone or something real important to them back home. If the Steelhaven Autobots get sixed over this, what happens to the Nebulans? The other mind is Nightbeat, and given that he spent for-fragging-ever as a prison guard, doing his duty while his circuits slowly shorted out due to sheer boredom, he ain't too sympathetic to a bunch who would deek out on the war just because they got sick of it. Goin' deeper down, uncomfortably so, though, he's got this haunting sense of guilt. If he hadn't gone lookin' for them, maybe the 'cons would never have spotted the Steelhaven Autobots. Maybe they'd have made a clean break. If the Steelhaven Autobots are sent off to meet their makers, it's on Nightbeat's hands.

And that's why he wishes he had energon on hand. Nightbeat squints, his headache getting worse. What's Rodimus Prime's angle here, assigning that old warhawk Kup to defense and one of the accused, Crosshairs, as prosecution? Something about the big boss's phrasing... something's screwier here than a hardware store's fastener aisle.

Crosshairs does not thank Rodimus Prime as is customary for a Prosecutor. Instead, he takes a breath and simply begins; pulling up his datapadd. "This is a military court martial, a trial to determine if Fortress Maximus and those under him are guilty of two primary charges. The first is of desertation. The court seeks to prove that Fortress Maximus willingly led his crew away from a battle where they were required and against orders. The court seeks to prove that he knowingly, and willingly abandoned his fellow Autobots to the horrors of war, and that he left, without intending to ever return, in violation of his duty and that by virtue of being in command, is responsible for the actions of his crew -- though they must be tried also." He pauses for a moment, then continues.

"The second charge is the willful theft of the /COMISSIONED/ Autobot Cruiser Steelhaven, for transport in the above crime. This court seeks to prove that this vessel was commandeered against orders and against will and used in a manner contrary to its intention. The Steelhaven was not simply Fortress Maximus' to go galavanting of around space in."

One more pause as he addresses Kup. "Does your client wish to plead guilty to the charges?"

Kup looks over to Crosshairs for a moment, then up at Rodimus Prime. In a voice uncharacteristically devoid of feeling, he says, "My client pleads not guilty to all charges." Then, he snatches up a cyberpaper up from his desk, looking over his notes as if nothing remarkable happened at all.

This time, it is not Crosshairs that speaks but the more dimunitive form of Pinpointer on the desk. "Very well." He says, with just a trace of sadness in his voice. "As our first witness, we call Rodimus Prime to the stand."

Twin Twist growls, his optics hard and glaring on the proceedings as he shuffles in his seat, his arms folded tight as his heel digs into the ground. He's annoyed, but he's got a right to be, right? After all, the Wreckers have been putting their lives on the line the whole time Fortress Maximus and his crew were off gallavanting across the galaxy..

Rodimus Prime's expression, like that of Kup, like that of Crosshairs, has been an unreadable mask. He remains standing behind his podium, though at times he looks down at the datapad in front of him. Of course, for all anyone else knows, he's playing video games. However, when he himself is put on the witness stand, the surprise is obvious. This, of course, is highly irregular, but the Prime realizes that he's painted himself in a corner where he can't really use that, so instead he dips his head in a nod and says, "Er... very well." Then he steps out from behind the podium. The datapad is still left behind.

Kup's optics bulge at hearing who the first witness is, but then, he smirks wryly, realizing that it's just as well that Rodimus get a dose of his own medicine. He leans over to Foxfire, muttering quietly, "Anything you wanna ask the boss when we start throwin' 'im questions?"

Crosshairs takes over from Pinpointer. "My apologies, Rodimus Prime. I understand that you may not have been expecting this, but I want you to verify a couple of things for the court. Who better afterall, than the mighty leader of the Autobots?" He is still in that impassive mask as he reaches into the briefcase and withdraws a document. "These are the original specifications, as well as the documentation relating to the launch of the Autobot Cruiser Steelhaven. Could you confirm for me that to the best of your knowledge, these documents are genuine? And when you are finished that, most importantly . . . could you confirm this document?" Another is placed in front of him. "This is a copy of the comission information of every member of the Steelhaven's crew. Most notably . . Can you please confirm for us Fortress Maximus' official rank of Lieutenant Commander, and thus confirm he is in fact, a member of this military?"

Foxfire sits up on his haunches, almost like a meerkat, to get a better look at the rest of the present Autobots. He feels a little out of place, being the only quadruped here, and the only tapebot, too. But he sticks by Kup, still waiting for a chance to speak up. Oh, there it is. Well, sort of. He blinks at Kup, and shakes his head. "No...not really." He's a saboteur, not a lawyer! But that's not going to stop him from defending someone whom he sees as a valuable ally.

First Aid watches as Crosshairs goes over the initial basic information. None of this is a surprise, but the Protectobot is eager to see what miracles Kup is going to pull out of his hat. Hopefully.

Focus arrives from the New Cybertron Highway < West > to the west.

Focus has arrived.

Steeltread makes his way over towards Foxfire and scritches his ears.

Foxfire leans into the scritching, his tail wagging a little.

Clutch leans towards First Aid again and comments, "Rodimus Prime wasn't around at that time, was he? Well, not as Rodimus Prime at least? For that matter, not many of us were. It's kind of ironic, but Kup might be the only Autobot who was actually around when the Steelhaven was 'lost'. And he's defending Fortress Maximus."

Rodimus Prime accepts the documents handed him and looks them over. He rubs a light finger over the official seal... Sentinel, hmmm? and scans the wordings for the proper phrasing and all. Finally, he makes to hand the documents back to Crosshairs. "Well, they appear to be official," he answers.

First Aid nods back to Clutch. He refrains from commenting about Kup's earlier stated position about what should be done with Fortress Maximus. He considers that something spoken in the heat of the moment. "He should still be able to verify the documents are accurate. Most of us never even knew Fortress Maximus /existed/ before now. There was very little mention of him in the history banks until this investigation."

Crosshairs nods, taking the papers and handing them to Kup or his own perusal. "I am done for now with this witness, though I may call upon him later. I merely wished to determine that the Steelhaven was officially Autobot property and that Fortress Maximus is officially a lieutenant commander."

Crosshairs nods at Kup in an 'He's all yours' sort of way

Clutch leans back to First Aid and whispers. "Something tells me this may take a while..."

First Aid continues whispering back and forth with Clutch. They are being quiet so as not to disturb the trial. "It's worth it if it gets an accurate result."

Twin Twist casts an optic back toward Clutch with a short growl, keeping his voice hushed, "Tellin' me. I say we just deactivate him now and get on with it.. Find something worthwhile to do with all that ammunition, eh?"

Steeltread simply /GLARES/ at Twin Twist.......

First Aid shoots Twin Twist an annoyed look along with Steeltread.

Nightbeat rubs his chin, wobbling just a little. Is Crosshairs trying to filibuster and waste time here, going over boilerplate that everyone knows? He glances sidelong at Twin Twist. Maybe it's a good thing there's no jury.

Foxfire also turns to glare at Twin Twist, baring his fangs warningly.

Kup frowns, taking the forms, and looking through them one-by-one. Nodding back to Crosshairs, Kup steps forward, approaching Rodimus with some forms of his own. "Rodimus Prime, here are the mission briefing logs for Operation: Hyper Gate, which is the mission Fortress Maximus took before departing from Cybertron. Could you tell us, please, what this mission's objective was, and if any equipment had been assigned to Maximus to assist in its completion?" He hands the documents to Rodimus, patiently waiting for him to take them.

The triplechanger was seated near the front wearing a serious expression as he took in the proceedings. He had his own opinions about the ongoings, but at the sametime he wasn't about to ignore the valid points of view from those within the trial itself. Who knows, they might change his mind, but eitherway he'd wait. And unless things got really rediculous, Springer'd remain seated, not jumping up like in some 'jerry springer' (ha?) human talkshow classic drama.

Rodimus Prime accepts the paperwork back and once more scans over it. His expression remains carefully neutral as his optics sweep the pages, and then he nods once and looks up. "His mission was to draw Scorponok away from Cybertron and to keep him removed from the war. As for equipment assigned... that list is pretty long, including ammunition, repair parts, starting energon stores... but the most significant item was the Steelhaven." He pauses and looks up at Kup. "Do you need me to read off the whole list?"

Broadside rests his chin in one massive hand. The Wreckers were putting their lives on the line when the Ark crew were off sleeping through the war, too. He reflects to himself that it might've been better if they'd never been found. Maybe it'd better if Fort Max's ship had never been found either. Maybe the same thing will happen.

Crosshairs seems almost impaitent to get this on. But who can blame him? "Are you finished with this witness yet?" He asks Kup

Kup shakes his head, taking the forms back. "No, the rest of that isn't important, Rodimus Prime. Thank you." He walks back to his desk, shuffling them into the bottom of his stack. Leaning towards Foxfire, he mutters quietly. "Trick to these trials is technicalities. Just because something ain't right don't mean it's illegal, see what I'm saying?" Louder, he says, "Yes, I'm finished."

Clutch shakes his head at Twin Twist, "Deactivation? That's out of the question." He frowns and adds slowly, "I hope. I mean, would that even do the Autobots any good? Wouldn't you rather have his firepower on our side? That's what he's being accused of here - not helping the Autobots. Now that he's back, you want to get rid of him again?"

Crosshairs taps his fingers togeather uncomfortably. "Next I call Twin Twist and Broadside both to the stand. You can come togeather."

Clutch adds quickly to Twin Twist, "Uhnevermind."


 * CLANG* is the sound of Steeltread clapping a hand over his mouth....and yet....those near him can hear him snerk....

Nightbeat hears what Kup's whispering about wrong and illegal not exactly being the same thing, and he can't help but nod in agreement - which might look a bit funny, given that most folks probably can't hear what he's nodding in agreement to.

First Aid watches as Twin Twist and Broadside are called up. He can't help but wonder what those two are going to have to say that'll be relevant to the case. He suspects a lot of war stories coming right up, but this does not worry him.

Twin Twist leans closer to Clutch as if he's about to respond.. but then? Called up? That's a shock. Freezing mid-movement, the Wrecker casts an optic toward Broadside, then back to Crosshairs. A confused frown forming over his optics as he scratches his head module, nudging Broadside from his seat, "Better head on up, fella. Guess I'm not needed.."

Rodimus Prime nods once he's done and returns to his position, watching the events unfold in front of him with interest. To all appearances, he is still completely cool and collected, and no hint of his own opinions shows on his expression, though if someone watches carefully, he might, for a moment here or there, look very, very tired.

Crosshairs apparently can hear Twin Twist quite well. "I said both of you, come to the stand, plaese."

Crosshairs apparently can hear Twin Twist quite well. "I said both of you, come to the stand, please."

Broadside clambers up to his feet, rising to a Fortress Maximoid height himself as he crosses to the stand with a mild shrug. "Right then."

Twin Twist leans closer to Clutch as if he's about to respond.. but then? Called up? That's a shock. Freezing mid-movement, the Wrecker casts an optic toward Broadside, then back to Crosshairs. A confused frown forming over his optics as he rises, and walks with Broadside toward the Witness Stand, making sure to send a wink toward the snarling Fox-cassette.

Crosshairs hands both Broadside and Twin Twist a very obvious thing. It is a textbook of legal terms. Both are identical. "We'll make this fast. Twin Twist, why don't you read the definition of a a deserter out to us? Boadside, your service record is impeccable. As a Wrecker you have been through more battles than we can count. You represent the finest combatants the Autobots have to offer. Why don't you tell us what a deserter is, and what they do to those fighting around them?"

Another pause. "When he's done, and after you've finished reading, why don't you tell us the same thing, Twin Twist? What is a deserter, and what effects do they have on those around them?"

Kup leans in towards Foxfire again. He mutters to Foxfire, "... be an... emotion.... had... we... in... bit... is too... fer... t'... I'll..."

Steeltread continues to scritches Foxfire's ear.....still glaring at Twin Twist.

Twin Twist holds the legal textbook in one hand as he is told his intructions. A look of faint disgust crossing over his features as he shrugs his large shoulders, tossing the textbook aside. He was never booksmart. Looking back to Crosshairs, the Wrecker shakes his head, and sighs. "I don't need any book - A deserter? A Deserter is a coward. Someone who turns his back and abandons his -friends-, his -duty-. Someone who runs from a fight without ever wanting to return.." Casting an optic toward the accused, the Autobot snarls. "A deserter is someone -I- have a problem with."

Broadside pages carefully through the tiny textbook, clears his throat and recites, "Any member of the Autobots who without authority goes or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to remain away therefrom permanently; quits his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service; or without being regularly separated from one of the armed forces enlists or accepts an appointment in the same or another on of the armed forces without fully disclosing the fact that he has not been regularly separated, or enters any foreign armed service except when authorized by the Autobots, is guilty of desertion."

Foxfire mutters to Kup.

Nightbeat looks over at Foxfire and narrows his optical band to a slit. Oh, the defense assistant doesn't wann follow due process? What a crying shame. Don't look too good for the defense.

Crosshairs taps the desk in front of both mechs. "Thank you very much, especially for yours Broadside. Hearing that coming from one of our most respected warriors means alot. Perfectly on the textbook side as well." He takes a breath, and one will see for a moment the faintest look of misery in his face, but he pushes it away almost instantly. "Twin Twist." He continues. "And Broadside both. You have covered the legal definitions admirably. Now, I want you to tell us all, face to face as front line warriors, what a deserter does to his fellow mechs. We understand what is on paper, but what makes it /wrong/." He glances at Kup. "Once each finsihes their next statement, I am done with these witnesses."

First Aid continues to watch. Overall he likes Broadside's answer better than Twin Twist's. Coward, hmph.

Fortress Maximus remains silent in his shimmering forcefield tube, giving Twin Twist a curious glance at the witness' particularly vehement reaction. As per proper procedure, though, he remains silent unless called on by the court.

Gears has arrived.

Kup grins down at Foxfire. He mutters to Foxfire, "Eh,... sweat..." He straightens himself, folding arms across his chest as he awaits what the two wreckers have to say.

Tailgate has arrived.

Grimlock has arrived.

Broadside closes the little book and sets it aside, elaborating by way of reply, "To me personally, deserters cause a breakdown in the fabric of the armed forces, they betray the trust that every soldier must have in his brother in arms. The number one thing, number one, that you need to know when you're in a foxhole and there are Decepticons coming at you by the dozens and there's shells falling all around you, the most important thing, is that your brother in arms has got your back. If you can't trust him to fight alongside you, you're the only one running out there into the fire and you're gonna die. And that's a mug's game. We all know that in every charge someone's likely to bite it, but if you go alone it's definitely you. If you go together you can tell yourself it'll be someone else, or better yet no one because you're all together, you're hard as nails and you're unstoppable. When someone leaves... none of that makes so much sense anymore. If they can go, you can go. If you can go, why stay? The doubt. It gnaws. It breaks the weak and it shakes the strong. It's treason, pure poison. Poison is what it is." He nods firmly.

First Aid reaches forward and taps Kup on the back of his shoulder to get the oldtimer's attention.

Twin Twist casts an optic sidelong toward Broadside, -one- of our most respected warriors? He was never that good at advanced mathematics but really? Looking back to Crosshairs, the Autobot considers his next words. "In my experience, frontline warfare is far more than orders and manuevers. That sort of fighting is for the topdogs upstairs. On the frontline.. we're on our own. The mech to the left of you, THAT's your army. He'll be the one who saves you when the worst comes. Your comrades are the ones you rely on.. not politicians, not some new fancy weaponry.. hell, we could be all be wielding Galvatron's power, but without friends to back you up? It's all to waste. Desertion is more than just army policy.. its abandoning your friends.. your comrades. You're letting others die in your place. Just look at this.. here.. why is this City in ruins? Who's fault is that? It's not the fault of those who fell, I can tell you that much."

Tailgate sneaks in and goes to sit in the gallery. Or maybe he's been sitting there the whole time! Sneaky Minibots, always sneakily sneaking places!

Broadside nods in agreement and gives Twin Twist Wrecker-knuckles.

Crosshairs nods a few times as Broadside speaks. "A breakdown in the fabric of the armed forces." He echoes. "They betray the trust that each soldier must have in his brother. You have to trust that your brother has your back. Treason. Pure Poison. Frontline warfare is more than orders and manuers. The mech to the left of you, that's your army. Desertation is abandondoning you friends, and your comrades." He crosses his arms behind the small of his back. "You see, not only has Fortress Maximus violated the legal terms of the law, but he has violated the spirit of them as well. By leaving with the intention of never returning, he has broken the law -- and violated the sacred trust of his brothers in arms. How can anyone expect to not only fight alongside a known deserter, but how will anyone trust him again? Let alone any of the other headmasters?" He pauses, and adds, very clearly. "As I said, as Broadside and Twin Twist have so aptly confirmed, the letter and the spirit of the law is broken here. Fortress Maximus is guilty of not just abandoning the Autobots in their need, but all of the psycological damage that was caused as a result. Perhaps others would have lived if the firepower of he and his team was on Cybertron, but perhaps more would have lived had they not been demoralized by the loss?"

He gestures to Kup. "I am finished with these two witnesses. I remind the court as well that these are two of our finest warriors. If any would know, it would be them."

Grimlock is somewhere in the gallery, watcing the trial with an impassive air about him- such is the benefit of having a featureless mask & visor, really. "Hn." he grunts, and crosses his arms across his chest.

Kup approaches the stand, such as it is, giving the two Wreckers scrutinizing looks. He paces in front of them for a few moments, optics narrowing before he speaks. "Let me ask you something, Twin Twist--" he begins, apparently focusing on him for some reason. "Let's say I order Broadside here to go get some ener-ice-cream back at base, and I order you to go to the frontlines on Magnaron so that Seekers can drop cluster bombs on your head all day, and I don't bother sayin' when either of you stops. How would you feel about that? Pretty upset, I imagine, right?"

Tailgate calls out, muffled to disguise the origin of his words, "You tell 'em, Kup!"

Twin Twist looks between Kup and Broadside, and shrugs his heavy set shoulders, "If that's where my orders take me, then no, I wouldn't be upset. I don't know if you've heard, Kup, but we Wreckers? We're the ones sent to clean up. To go where no-one else will. Even if that means suicide.. If Broadside must go one way, then so be it, just the way things work."

Clutch has been gazing at Twin Twist and Broadside thoughtfully since they were labelled some of the Autobots' finest warriors. He gives Crosshairs a quick look when he talks about the psychological damage Autobots suffered from Fort Max's & Co.'s absence. He raises a hand and looks like he's about to say something but pauses to pay attention to Kup and Twin Twist.

Nightbeat snorts and mutters lowly, "Indefinite orders are a glitch. 'Nightbeat, go sit on a ball of hot slag until your circuitboards crack.' Still, if they ain't indefinite, y'can usually just ask the brass for new ones when you're done." He's standing near the back of the pack, and he's a bit wobbly.

Crosshairs points his finger at Nightbeat suddenly. "Nightbeat. Stand up and say that. Loudly."

Broadside gives Crosshairs a curious look.

Rodimus Prime looks like he's perfectly content to allow Crosshairs to interrupt Kup's crossexamination in order to yell at Nightbeat. At least, he doesn't really say anything about it.

Gears is in the peanut gallery...but surprisingly, he's keeping his mouth shut. After all, this is neither the time or place to be going on about one's aching pulleys or leaking lubricants.

First Aid fidgets in his seat. While he thinks Fortress Maximus should be forgiven for his decision to leave the war behind, he doesn't think the orders he received to go find energon is really justification.

Nightbeat's attention snaps over to Crosshairs, an, 'Honest, officer! I didn't do it! I'm just standing over a corpse with a smoking plasma blaster because of a real funny mistake,' expression on his face. He rubs his neck, feeling out the seal that connects Muzzle to his shoulders, and he says more loudly, "Indefinite orders are a glitch, ask me any day, but anyone with a half a processor can ask brass for new orders once the old ones run out, yannow? I don't think Broadside would spend the rest of his life at the base, eatin' ener-ice-cream. He'd get back in the action, like any good soldier."

Crosshairs points at Nightbeat again. "Thank you." He then resumes his seat.

Twin Twist casts a confused optic back to Crosshairs, scratching his head module idley. Was that a normal event in a court martial? ..Not sure.

Foxfire kind of...hangs out with First Aid. Just waiting. He'll get his chance...

Kup nods, maybe a little too eagerly. "Oh, well, great, Twin Twist, glad to hear you'd be ok with that, because that ain't too far from what happened here." He holds up the mission briefing log for Operation: Hyper Gate, waggling it violently in the Wrecker's face. "BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS HERE! Go lead Scorponok away, oh, and get done with that, I dunno, WHENEVER! Signed, Sentinel Prime!" Kup's expression turns to one of rage. "You got a problem with his orders, then you take go to the Morgue and take it up with him. His head's probably still in there."

With that, he's about to return to his desk when Crosshairs abruptly asks Nightbeat to repeat himself louder. While Nightbeat seems to bring up a good point, Kup shrugs it off. "You'd think so. But unless he got orders to the contrary, Broadside *could* eat his ener-ice-cream all Primus-fraggin' day-long if he wanted to. The problem, here, was the failure of Sentinel Prime to give clearly defined orders, and keep potential successors informed of who was doing what." He smacks the form in his hand. "Took me DAYS to find this document because it was in the wrong folder! And I'm pretty sure Sentinel Prime himself put it in there!" He shakes his head, then storms back to his desk. "I'm fraggin' done. Call yer next witness."

And Kup seemed so formal, at first!

First Aid continues to look uncomfortable as Kup explains his defence. It might work, but it doesn't sit very well with him.

Crosshairs doesn't seem overly bothered by Kup's display of emotion. Though it's hard to say, that hard mask of neutrality has stuck so firmly on his face for the last while; only wavering just that once. "For my last witness, I call Fortress Maximus to the stand."

Broadside steps down and trudges back over to the side. "Wouldn't be desertion then, I guess," he mutters to Springer as he sits back down. "Just cowardice. No law against cowardice."

Nightbeat is probably gonna get in trouble here, but curiousity killed this cool cat, and he has to ask, tone conversational, "Yannow, Kup... don't you ream me out every time I forget to check my messages? Say there ain't no excuse for it? Even if I'm on a deep cover mission?" He seems to be implying, 'So what was Fortress Maximus's excuse for never checking in?'

"Me Grimlock still get make fun of cowards!" the dinobot chimes in- just to be heard, really.

Twin Twist grinds his jaws together as he glares right back at Kup. It didn't make sense to him. But then, it probably wasn't supposed to. Striding from the witness stand, the Autobot makes his way back to his seat, and grumbles. "Plenty wrong with it though.." he says, in response to Broadside.

Tailgate can't see! He's too slagging short! The little Windcharger-clone hops over to Grimlock and thumps him on the side with his hand. "Hey big guy, mind giving me a boost up so I can see these slagheads yammering?"

Rodimus Prime straightens up now, and though he still seems to keep most his thoughts to himself, he does take on an increased interest as Fort Max is called forward. If someone watches him close enough, perhaps faint flickers of worry hiding beneath there.

Kup answers Nightbeat without looking at him as he places the orders back in his stack of notes. "Sending a transmission might've given away his position," he says, almost sounding disinterested.

Grimlock grunts, then neatly plucks Tailgate up...and proceeds to try to deposit him onto a nearby pile of scrap. "Me Grimlock not ladder." he rumbles.

Tailgate mutters, "Yeah, 'cept for Wheelie."

Fortress Maximus looks to the inner wall of his forcefield confinement area before it winks off, and with a moment of hesitation, the Headmaster strides forward as he is called.

"I will answer your questions to the best of my ability, Counselor," he replies to the summons, turning his optics on the crowd of Autobots who've gathered to witness the proceedings.

First Aid shakes his head, leaning back. The case for winning is looking better and better, though the Protectobot doesn't approve of the method being used. He watches as the titan Fortress Maximus gets up and walks over. He idly scritches Foxfire. If Steeltread is also still scritching Foxfire, that means there is a lot of scritching going on.

Nightbeat's hands loosely ball into fists, and the detective slouches, sulking, voice a low, disgruntled mutter, "Yeah. Because givin' away my position won't get my knees broken and lead through my windshield." But Nightbeat can be written off. He's in Intel. Any one of them could die, and there'd never be so much as an obit. Plausible deniability is a harsh mistress.

Foxfire is getting lots of scritches. This makes him a happy cassette.

Steeltread leans over towards First Aid and says something rather troubling. "if the headmasters are on Trial here.....what about the Targetmasters? or am I missing something?"

Crosshairs inclines his head at Fortress Maximus as he arrives. Once again, there is that expression of complete misery in Crosshairs' face. This time it lingers for about five seconds before he masters himself and steps back. "I have a lot of questions for you, Lieutenant Commander." He asks. "But let's get one thing off the hook, since people seem to be debating about it. If your mission was to lead Scorponok away, then obviously you didn't want to be too stealthy. Because he had to follow you. Are you going to tell this court that in eleven million years, or however long it was, there wasn't the ability to send a five second encrypted and audio only message that you were still online, still continuing orders and Scorponok was still in pursuit?" He leans forwards, a little more.

"Are you telling me that in eleven million years, if you were truly doing your job, it never occured to you to send an update?"

Crosshairs adds. "I mean, if Scorponok was supposed to follow you, and you couldn't be too stealthy anyway, a five second update isn't too much to ask? Am I right?"

First Aid leans over Foxfire to reply to Steeltread. Presumably this means Foxfire is between them in the seating arrangement. "I think this is just Fortress Maximus on trial, though if he's found guilty it might not sit well with the other Masters' chances. Though in their case at least they were following their CO's orders."

GAME: Hazard has partially HIDDEN-disconnected.

Clutch scowls. He's still close enough to overhear First Aid. "I can't speak for all of them, but I saw Brainstorm and Sureshot in action. Deserters or not, there's no doubt we can count on them in a fight."

Fortress Maximus thinks about Crosshairs' questions carefully. "I was carrying out Sentinel Prime's last order as well as fulfilling the wishes of myself and my men to be done with the civil war. I did not wish to continue my battle with Scorponok elsewhere. While it was our goal to lure him sufficiently far enough away from Cybertron that his return would be impracticable, after that, my objective was to find a uninhabited planet for the crew of the Steelhaven to start their lives anew. In peace."

First Aid nods in agreement with Clutch. "I saw Fortress Maximus himself in action. In my mind there's no way he's a coward. Just someone who couldn't stand the war any longer." The doctor looks over as Fortress Maximus clarifies his previous intentions.

Grimlock hnnns, and leans in towards Clutch & Foxfire & First Aid. "How come him Crosshairs prosecuting him Fortress Maximus? Me Grimlock thought them be on same ship?" he rumbles.

Foxfire digs his claws into the surface beneath him, his optics dimming slightly. "There are some mechs who don't want to be exposed to war. Mechs who don't want to fight. I can't say I blame 'em." He shakes his head, and looks up at Grimlock. "I...really don't know."

Nightbeat stares at Fortress Maximus as he outright says that his goal was to find an uninhabited planet and quit the war. He scuffs at the uneven ground with a foot and shakes his head, because if he says anything, it'll be a curse bluer than his paintjob. And the man says he's not guilty of desertion?

First Aid hesitates before answering Grimlock. "I wasn't entirely clear on that, I admit. I think it had something to do with..." he tries to figure out a plausible way of explaining it. "...having people defend the opposite side they'd normally find themselves on."

Steeltread turns and nods to Grimlock. "Hey grimlock." he then blinks at Fort Max's answer.....and ponders something. "division in the ranks?"

If someone is watching Rodimus very close, as Fortress Maximus makes his admission, his expression falls briefly, and he looks... incredibly old, incredibly worn. Much older than any mechanoid barely built when /Optimus's/ crew left has a right to look. But that moment is fleeting enough that it could easily be passed off as one's imagination.

Crosshairs certainly hasn't been looking happy about prosecuting Fortress Maximus. Perhaps someone duped him into it. Cough. Either way, he gestures towards Fortress Maximus. "I think that explained things nicely. In Fortress Maximus' own words, he could have returned to Cybertron. His intention was to find an uninhabited planet and desert his fellow Autobots during a time where the vessel and the people in it just might have made a difference." He steps forwards, gesturing around him.

"We're all tired of fighting, gentlemechs. Every single one of us. This war has dragged on for the bulk of everyone's memory, young and old. But most stay and fight it out because that is what their orders indicate, and what they have to do. By his own admission, Fortress Maximus led his own people away from the war and intended to never return. That, gentlemechs, is the definition of a deserter. Right from the book. To leave or run away from service with teh intention of never returning. To forsake your duty."

"Gentlemechs? By his own definition, and explanation Fortress Maximus is guilty, both of desertation and theft of the steelhaven."

A long pause, and Crosshairs draws a very visibly shaky breath.

"The prosecution rests."

"Me Grimlock not tired of fighting! Me Grimlock fight ALL THE TIME!"

Okay, so maybe Crosshairs' argument fails to take dinobot mania into consideration. That happens sometimes.

First Aid glances over at Grimlock, "Give it a few million years," he says, though even that might not be enough to satiate Grimlock's appetite for destruction.

Twin Twist offers a smirk in Broadside's direction, speaking as softly as a hardened veteran can. Naturally, most of the crowd would be able to pick it up, "Can't be much longer now.."

Steeltread chuckles at Grimlock. "They didn't figure Dinobots into the equation, Grimlock."

Fortress Maximus frowns disapprovingly at Crosshairs' conclusions.

Foxfire looks increasingly upset, ears lowered, and an expression like he's about to start crying. "Desertion shouldn't mean a damn thing!" he blurts out suddenly. "Who cares if someone wants a more peaceful life? There are a lot of Autobots who don't want anything to do with this war! We shouldn't *force* them to fight if they don't want to!"

Tailgate bounces from foot to foot on his scrap pile, the one Grimlock put him on. Then he starts shouldering his way up towards the front. "Slaggit, this ain't right, I GOT SOMETHIN' TO SAY!" Ever the socially-unacceptable maverick, he continues on toward the 'bench.'

Twin Twist sends a sharp growl Foxfire's way, "Mr Deserter over there wasn't just any civilian.. he was a ranking officer! He took a valuable ship, and a crew of hard fightin' Autobots with him. Let the civilians farm.. you sign up for war? You play your part."

Kup, however, does not appear to be rattled by Maximus's own admission that he wanted to leave the war, even though one would think his whole case has been torpedoed! He steps forward, fingers locked together behind his back. "Fortress Maximus, your orders were to lead Scorponok away from the war, correct?" Ah, he's back in form. "Let me ask you something. Suppose you founded this new colony, and Scorponok never learned its location. Would he ever give up? Would he ever stop trying to find you? Would he ever think to himself, "Oh, darn, that Maximus sure is slippery. Better report back to Megatron now, tell him I was too stupid to find the guy, and go back to the war on Cybertron." Would he really do that?" Kup's tone sounds skeptical. "And suppose you went back to Cybertron. Wouldn't Scorponok follow you there?"

Rodimus Prime glances for the moment towards Kup, to see if he's preparing, and then straightens. "Order in the court!" he demands firmly. "Foxfire, Tailgate, calm /down/. Kup's not yet had his rebuttal!"

Grimlock snickers. "Him Kup have big buttal."

Nightbeat explains calmly to Foxfire, "There is a difference between desertion and getting a discharge, Foxfire. There's a right way of leavin' a war and a wrong one. There's also a real wrong way of leavin', and that's when you take a battle cruiser and a bunch'a troops with you."

Tailgate grinds to a halt somewhere between the gallery and the trial floor proper, emitting an electronic buzz of a huff and planting his fists against his hips. "Fine!"

Kup tries, ever so hard, to repress the urge to kill everyone. Outwardly, his face is the embodiment of trainquility.

Crosshairs completely understands how Kup feels.

First Aid reaches over and pats Foxfire, "Easy, Foxfire... let them finish," he says in a hushed tone, trying to calm the Cassettibot down. He meanwhile gives Tailgate a look, but he has no idea how to help that minibot.

Fortress Maximus looks upon Kup stoicly as he asks some difficult questions. "Perhaps I had hoped in vain to live in peace, Kup, but I believed that I could outmaneuver Scorponok on the fringes of the Galaxy and leave him to perish of energon starvation, the victim of his own hubris." He pauses. "But the Battle of Nebulos has shown me the error of my ways. I could not hope to run away from the hatred of my enemy, and many have suffered for it as a result. If Rodimus Prime sees fit to punish me for this, so be it."

Crosshairs raises his hand to be allowed to speak, looking at Rodimus Prime. He has something to say, but he'll go about the proper channels! This time!

"The prosecution has something to add?" Rodimus asks, gaze levelled on Crosshairs.

Crosshairs nods slightly. "Correct." He says. "I just wanted to draw attention to the reality of what Fortress Maximus has said. He believed he could have outmanuvered Scorponok. Which is a finite end to the mission. But rather than return to Cybertron, with Scorponok perishing . . the intent was never to return. By his own volition. I just wished to point that out to be considered. Thank you. I believe that one . . " He points at Tailgate "Wished to speak also."

Tailgate calls, "Ya damn right I do!" back at Crosshairs.

Kup waves his hands frantically. "Wha-no, no! Don't let him speak! Uh, objection! Witness is..." What is the witness, exactly? "...special!"

Nightbeat snaps at Kup, "Discrimination!"

"Overruled, Kup," Rodimus says firmly. "He can speak." Oh, boy. /This/ should be good. He looks down at Tailgate. "Please be brief. Fortress Maximus is the one currently on the stand, not you."

Foxfire blinks at this. He taps First Aid's arm and asks quietly, "Is it wise to let Tailgate say *anything*?"

Grimlock replies for the medic: "No."

Kup throws up his hands, looking like he wants to say more, but just settles grimacing and muttering to himself.

First Aid shrugs at Foxfire. He answers even though Grimlock already did for him. "I don't see what it could hurt. I certainly don't mind hearing what he has to say."

Rodimus Prime gets ready to shout Tailgate into silence once he starts making Rodimus regret the decision to let him speak.

Nightbeat gets his revenge for that stupid ankle monitor! The detective fist-pumps. It occurs to him that maybe he should have sought revenge a) out of earshot and b) while sober. Oh well.

Gears just stares. This ought to be good.

Tailgate huffs, "Finally! /Thank/ you your Priminess," and clambers up to stand on whatever he's supposed to be sitting on for this. Barring that, the Prosecution's table. Since he has /no face/ it's hard to tell that he's angry except his optics are (slightly) narrowed (very slightly). Oh, and he's yelling. He points his blocky finger out at the gallery. "Shame on all of you!" he yells. "/Shame/!" He points at Crosshairs. "Especially you! How many of you frackheads have been out there slagged in a ditch somewhere for macrodays or astroweeks wishing you wouldn't be rescued just so you could put down your slaggin' laser and have a little peace for once in your slaggin' life? How many gamillion years does someone gotta fight to get any respect? How long before you make one mistake and some stupid young punk puts you up on trial for actually going somewhere and /making/ a peaceful life rather than just hangin' around wishing you could?" His optics glow different colors (probably evidence of his own neurosis). He points over at Fort Max. "So the slaghead made a mistake. Took a break for awhile after going on a dangerous mission. Well you know who else took a break for few million whosits after going on a dangerous mission? I'll tell ya, OPTIMUS FRACKING PRIME, that's who! Whether he was unconscious or just stock on a fracking rock eighty billion light thingies from wherever! So WAKE UP and before you sentence this fracker to infinity brig years, look at your slagging selves in a mirror and ask yourself if you wouldn't a' done the same fracking thing, sent out to nowhere in some stupid chase. We're /Autobots/, we're supposed to be the better mechs. If you wanna punish him, you punish him, but at the end of the day if he wants to pick up his laser rifle and you won't let him, you're guiltier than he is for puttin' it down in the first place! And that's ALL I got to say about that." He hops down from his perch and starts walking grumpily back to his seat.

"Huh. Him Tailgate say somethin' that kinda make sense." A pause, and Grimlock takes a moment to look around, a bit...dismayed, really.

"Am me Grimlock in alternate ooniverse or somethin'? Hnn. Least nobody have beards."

First Aid watches Tailgate with a look on his face that is half surprised, half in awe, half horrified, and half mathematically invalid. "Wow," he says once the minibot is done. "That's... sort of what I've been thinking as well."

Crosshairs is silent as he listens to Tailgate, keeping his reactions to himself. Though it's quite hard to do so. The more astute of those around him might just see a flicker of respect in his optics for TAilgate. "Is the defense finished?" He asks Kup. "Anything else to say? Let's get this over with."

Foxfire facepaws at Grimlock, then...stares at Tailgate speechlessly.

Nightbeat just snorts after Tailgate's speech. "Didn't I say that there's a due process for gettin' outta the army? Yeah, I did. We wouldn't be having this stupid trial if Fortress Maximus had played his cards right and filled out a few forms. 'scuse me if I ain't got much sympathy - and what sympathy I do have ain't even mine; I'm borrowing Muzzle's - but I was awake on a hellhole the whole time. Doing my /duty/."

If someone is looking at Rodimus as Tailgate finishes his rant, the Prime is /grinning/. Grinning wide, absolutely pleased, and for just a moment, not hiding it. However, that moment passes, and he remembers himself. His hand slips over his mouth, and it doesn't come down before the mask is back in place. As Crosshairs speaks up, he looks down at Kup. "Kup. /Are/ you finished, or did you have more questions for Fortress Maximus?"

You receive a radio message from Crosshairs: You know, I expect you to come clean for the record that I didn't do this voluntarialy. However it pans out.

Kup stares at Tailgate for a moment, then smiles. "Uh, well, that was pretty well spoken, actually. I agree with ya, lad. Ehm, back, to, uh, Fortress Maximus. Now, I understand what you were saying, but my point is simple." He holds up another form, which has SCORPONOK printed in large, bold lettering at the top, with "Psychological Profile" in smaller letters under that. "This is Scorponok's psych profile. That evil slagger was obsessed with Fortress Maximus. He would *never* stop chasing him, even if, indeed, it meant he drained all his fuel up in the process of doing so. As far as I'm concerned, by hiding out from the war, he'd just complete his mission. Nothing more or less. And actually, I think we got one more witness--" He looks about dramatically. "Galen, could you transform for us? Got a few questions for ya. First of all, did you have any involvement with Operation: Hyper Gate? Were you involved with Maximus's plans to settle a colony in some distant part of the galaxy? And lastly, how long have you been a member of the Steelhaven crew?"

Rodimus Prime receive a radio message from Crosshairs: I don't think I'd appreciate being anathema to my own people as well as yours.

Rodimus Prime does not reply.

Fortress Maximus nods at Kup's request to Galen, and without much fuss lifts up both hands and detaches his head from his body with a whine of a disengaging magnetic coupling. Galen detaches from the head block and unfolds into a human-sized exo-suit, landing at Fortress Maximus' feet.

"No, I was not involved with Fortress Maximus' mission prior to his arrival to Nebulos. We were binary bonded a few weeks ago."

Kup looks down at Galen, nodding his head before he turns to Crosshairs. "Did you wish to ask the witness any questions?"

Nightbeat wobbles back and sits down on his skidplate, rather ungracefully. From one detective to another, for the duration of the trial, Muzzle's been trying to convince Nightbeat to less of an... other synonym for detective, but when the Galen card is played? Muzzle wins out. Nightbeat's head dips down, and he holds it, his headache only getting worse. The Steelhaven crew literally aren't the same Autobots who left Cybertron. How can they be punished?

Crosshairs thinks about it for a moment. "Yes." He says. "One." He glances at Galen. "Did you undergo the procedure on your own free will, knowing there would be consequences that you may not have forseen?"

Fortress Maximus gives Crosshairs a suspicious look, detectable on the expressive Transformers-style humanoid faceplate on his exosuit. "I was not coerced into bonding with Fortress Maximus, no. In fact, he was unconscious due to his injuries when the decision was made. If anyone has room for protest, it is Fortress Maximus himself." Galen crosses his arms. "Every act we take has unforeseen consequences, Cybertronian. I did what was best for the future of my people and do not regret that decision."

Crosshairs nods at Galen, seeming to understand. "Thank you." He says to him. He then nods to Rodimus Prime, a bit tiredly. "Once again, the Prosecution ressts."

Tailgate checks the nonexistent watch on his nonevident wrist as he shifts in his seat. Maybe he's missing a robo-rights rally for this.

Rodimus Prime inclines his head towards Crosshairs. He glances down at his datapad, then looks up once more at Kup. "Any further questions, Oldt- Kup?"

Nightbeat was standing in the back of the pack, wobbling. Then he was sitting, holding his head. Then the detective falls entirely over, leaving a Porsche with an engine running lowly and erratic and a knocked-over armour-clad Nebulan. Muzzle gets to his feet, and he climbs atops the Porsche's roof, raising his small, gloved hand. It seems he has a comment he'd like to voice.

Nightbeat slouches down into Porsche 959 form. Time to roll.

Kup nods as Galen answers Crosshairs's question, then shakes his head at Rodimus. "There are a lot of things Fortress Maximus could have done differently in this incident. Maybe he could've called back to base, requested new orders, gone back to Cybertron, rejoined the war, handed his ship back. Maybe he could've done that. We also could've had a few more Primes butched by that maniac, Scorponok." He points at Rodimus for emphasis. "You yourself almost got killed by him! If you ask me, Operation: Hyper Gate was one of the few smart things Sentinel Prime ever did, because Scorponok would never, EVER give up the search for Maximus. He succeeded in his mission of luring the Decepticon away with aplomb. That isn't desertion, it's duty. And some of us may not like it, but the universe ain't perfect, everyone. Sometimes it hands you a slag sandwich, and all you can do is grin and eat it."

He paces about slowly, hands behind his back. "More important than that, however, is the fact that Fortress Maximus is now bonded to an organic life form, who only met Maximus a few weeks ago. Obviously he had no involvement with Maximus's official *or* personal missions. Since Galen is a part of Maximus now, to punish Maximus would unfairly punish Galen as well." He nods at Crosshairs. "Yes, there are consequences for actions, sometimes unexpected. But in this case, *we* can decide those consequences. *We* don't have to punish someone for something his partner did. We can do the right thing in this case, which is to find Fortress Maximus and Galen not guilty of all charges. Thank you."

He walks back behind his desk and says, "Defense rests."

Clutch looks around, then ventures, "Is anyone gonna ask Fort Max, or Galen - or both of them, I guess - what he and his crew plan to do now? That's more important to me than what happened in the past."

Rodimus Prime listens carefully to Kup's words. For a brief moment he offers the elder a pained, saddened smile, and then then once more the mask is in place. "Clutch, trials, by their nature, are concerned with the past." He turns and looks back at the Nebulan waving his hand in the back. "Muzzle? You had something to say? Go ahead and speak up. It's almost time we wrapped this up."

Twin Twist can't help but sit, and stare. Obviously he missed the memo on transforming heads, or perhaps just hasn't seen it happen in front of him before.

Muzzle flashes a brief, chragrinned smile, and he says, 'I'll be quick... sir. I just wanted to say this ain't the same crew that set out from Cybertron. I mean it literally. They teetered on the edge of death, and our hands pulled them back. Doc Arcana's work, credit where it's due. They're still themselves, but they're us, too. Would you try a dead man?"

"Dead, Muzzle?" Galen backflips, connects with Cerebros then sails in one blocky brain mass into the air, transforming into Fortress Maximus' head once more.

"I've never felt more alive. I'm ready for your judgment, Rodimus Prime." Fortress Maximus folds his big blocky arms in front of his even blockier torso.

Rodimus Prime smiles at Muzzle, and though the rest of his features are stern, there is still genuine warmth in that smile. "Thank you, Muzzle." He looks around at the others, and then once more puts down the datapad and walks around to the other side of the podium. It seems obvious he's about to say more.

Kup braces himself, his expression steely. He's feeling pretty confident that he's got a solid defense for Maximus, but knowing Rodimus lately, he has to expect anything.

Twin Twist shuffles and sits up, the shock of Fortress Maximus' head reattaching sending a little shudder down the Wrecker's servo-spine. Narrowing his optics intently, the Autobot looks toward Rodimus, and watches.

Crosshairs has a different attitude than Kup. He is seated, leaning forward over his desk; elbows resting on the surface in a tense posture as though everything depended on his perfomance already. Which is odd, because he seemed pretty upset about doing this. Perhaps he's afraid of winning?

Broadside shares Twin Twist's expression for a moment. He still hasn't gotten used to the cyborg symbiotes some of the wayward Autobots have come back with either.

Tailgate looks bored. "Aw, just get on with the total injustice already.." he grumbles.

First Aid rests his hand on Foxfire, momentarily stopping the scritching due to all the suspense. His optics are glued to Rodimus Prime.

Muzzle jumps down from Nightbeat's roof and lands neatly on his feet. Pretty clearly, he's not plastered like his partner. The detective laughs nervously. At least Galen's spirits are alive and well, despite the detective's analogy. That smile on Rodimus Prime's face... is that a good thing? Nightbeat's door snaps open, and Muzzle piles inside the Porsche. Yeah, better keep his head down, right now.

Kup internally thinks up ways to get back at Nightbeat. Maybe some really unpleasant assignment. Yeah... a pointless mission in the middle of nowhere. And assign Tailgate as his partner.

Rodimus begins. "It is on me in something like this to interpret matters of Autobot code, and in one matter more than anything else, the code is clear. We, as Autobots, do not knowingly and intentionally punish innocents for the mistakes of others. And here I'm not just talking about the Nebulan-born /Autobots/," Rodimus emphasizes the last word, making it clear that he meant it when he said the Nebulans were to be treated as any other Autobot. "I am also talking about the Steelhaven crew themselves. Muzzle is right. They are /not/ the same crew that left Cybertron all those years before. That crew left to serve their mission... and did just that, though they allowed their judgement to become clouded along the way. And then they /died/ on Nebulos." He looks at Fortress Maximus, then at Crosshairs. "Your partners have made you new robots... /better/ Autobots, gentlemen. Your partners have redeemed you." Then he looks up at the others.

"Of course, I do realize that /something/ of the Autobots who left Cybertron still returned to us, and so I would like to remind everyone: a desire for peace is, in and of itself, an admirable trait. It's when that desire overrides duty that strength becomes weakness. It may be enough to leave the rest of us wondering... is that weakness still there?" He looks down at Clutch, then at First Aid, and smiles. "I think you should ask your comrades, people who have already fought side by side with the Steelhaven crew, who have already trusted their /lives/ to them in the heat of battle, whether they think our new arrivals will turn tail and run."

"You may have noticed unusual choices for both prosecution and defense. You see, from the start I had considered the Nebulans' situation. I had considered the reports brought back on the Steelhaveners' performance on Nebulos. I had considered, frankly, what a boost the addition of their forces would make to our own, and I realized that in the end, we would /have/ to reintegrate them into our forces. But before that could happen, there needed to be some attempt at closure. Those who were left behind /were/ hurt, they /were/ damaged by the Steelhaven's departure. Grievences had to be aired... and more importantly, /both/ sides needed to take the first steps at understanding. We /have/ to move forward, as a united army, as /Autobots/, but before we could..." Rodimus looks at Kup, "those left behind would have to at least try to understand, to empathazie, with why those who left did what they would." And now he looks at Crosshairs, "And those who left needed to show that they understood the hurt they caused, that they might not do such again." Rodimus sighs and looks down. "In order to force things in that direction, I... I tricked or co-erced both Crosshairs and Kup into their roles, and for that I am deeply sorry. It is my hope that some day they might understand why I did the things I did, and forgive me.

Finally, the young Prime looks up once more, out at the crowd. "Either way, this trial is ended. My verdict is... unimportant, really. The Steelhaven Autobots shall be re-integrated into our forces, placed in the divisions most appropriate to their skills and abilities. They are no longer to be considered a seperate sub-group, all of their own. They... /*WE*/ are all Autobots, and I beseech each and every one of you to remember that."

"HERE HERE!" Cries out Steeltread. "It's about time SOMEONE stated that fact!"

Rodimus Prime finally finishes with, "Case dismissed." In case people who need food or bed need to run off RIGHT NOW.

Broadside nods gravely, although his expression is unreadable as he has no expression to read. This helps a great deal in Wrecker poker nights. Except against Whirl.

Fortress Maximus lowers his helmet in a visible sign of relief, a strange motion from the normally stoic and unmoving silhouette of Fortress Maximus. He lifts up his visor after the brief moment of thanks, turning his blue optics to Rodimus Prime.

"Thank you, Rodimus," Fortress Maximus responds, his voice sounding more energized after the decision is handled down. "I know I have much to prove to your troops, but I swear that I will do all that I can to do so."

Tailgate yells, for no obvious reason, "It FIGURES. You people make me SICK!"

Crosshairs at this point, finally shows a reaction. He doesn't celebrate, does not whoop in triumph. Nor does he show much more of a reaction other than a forward slump with his head in his hands for a moment. Then he rises, stiffly; taking a few breaths to master himself. Rodimus said it all -- he'd very much been not realy a willing participant in this. "What Fort Max says goes for the rest of us as well. We won't let you own." He then turns, and offers his hand to Kup in congradulations.

Grimlock has left.

Twin Twist nods solemnly, looking for Broadside's reaction before turning, and making his way for the exit. "Autobots, maybe. Still got plenty to do before -I- feel comfortable fighting with 'em." He grumbles.

Rodimus Prime settles back, moving from his knees to sit down completely, legs propped up at an angle so that he can curl his arms around them. The position is... young. A bit out of place on Rodimus's large frame, and more fitting of the boy he once was. "I... truthfully? No. I mean... I remember Optimus Prime's disappearance, sure, and I remember what it felt like for those of us left, but... that was different, because when we did find them... they had never intended to stay away. So... well, I can imagine, to an extent, but I... I realize I'm missing out on the scale. But Kup. In the end, I couldn't let that... that couldn't be the deciding factor. Imprisoning them, or worse, would have torn the Autobots apart worse than the route we took. That much I'm sure of. And that consideration /had/ to be my priority, even over..." He doesn't finish that sentence. Instead, Rodimus looks down at his hands, his optics darken, and he croaks out, voice a hair away from a sob, "Kup... I'm... so sorry I had to put you through that."

Crosshairs has left.

Kup nods, sputtering, "I know, lad, you did what you had to do. It's alright." He stares at the ground. "I... ain't mad at you. Don't worry about that. I'm just..." He searches for the words, but comes up empty. "...I don't know. Maybe I'm mad at the whole fraggin' universe. That is this the way it's gotta be, and I gotta accept it. I'd have thought I'd learn by now that I won't always get what I want, but I guess I gotta have that lesson hammered into me a few more thousand times before I really get it." He stays silent for a moment. "I dunno how I'd take it if Maximus thanked me for defending him. Maybe I'd hit him. I dunno. Maybe I'll just avoid him for a while."

Rodimus Prime considers Kup's words, and can't help but think that if that's the worst that would have happened, and if that's the worse Kup plans to do right now... they really did make progress here tonight, after all. His head bobs once in affirmative. "I understand old man. Do what you need to." He smiles sadly as he starts to stand up. "It's what we all do, right?" A pause, then, "Anyway, I've got to get back to Iahex. With as much time as we spend on Earth, or Nebulos, or the Orion Pax, or... well, you know... I need to make sure our own house is in order." He's probably lying. He's probably going back to his room to listen to goth music and pout. Or maybe not. "I'll see you around, Kup," Rodimus says as he turns to transform.

Rodimus Prime transforms into his Winnebago < Rodimus Prime > mode.

Kup, without looking up, just nods. While Rodimus drives, Kup himself just sits there. He'll come back sooner or later.

1986 Pontiac Trans-Am < Tailgate > rolls out.