re_alignment | AUDIO; location encrypted

I offer a formal apology to Vector Prime and the rest of his brothers, as well as Blurr. I am aware that laws have not been officially made nor approved, but I cannot wait in the light of several criminals threatening to murder innocents and already maiming some of us -- have maimed and tortured others. This, I cannot abide by.

Prism, the A.I. responsible for attacking various victims in this place, including two of my crew members, you will be taken in. You may surrender or you will be taken by force.

Overlord, former general of Megatron, you will not hide. I will reclaim you as a prisoner, and you will be locked away -- for an eternity, as long as that is within my power. You are welcome to surrender, or you will be taken by force.

Jaguar, you have threatened the safety of all on this planet. This will not be tolerated. You may surrender or you will be taken by force.

There are several others under suspicion here due to their... colorful history. I suspect you will know who you are without requiring me to name you so publicly.

Ultra Magnus, out.

[PRIVATE TO: Elita One]

I have a request to ask of you, considering your skills. You are welcome to refuse, of course.

-=-=-

[PRIVATE TO: Blurr]

Blurr. Cheetor insists on going after Jaguar. I informed him to not approach without back-up. Would you accept following him for now?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You think I want him there? Or here, at all? That's Embarrassment City, population everything I'd rather forget.

Oh, okay. Well. He was impulsive and flighty and I heard - though I didn't witness it firsthand - that he set off some bombs he stole from a Wrecker, but I don't think anyone died. If he didn't come clean to you about it, it's not because he felt like doing it, he's incredibly guilty and he was practically begging the Link for punishment after it happened.

[Starscream resists the urge to be smug, barely.] My consultation?

I take it you aren't flattered by his behavior, then.

No one was killed, but there were injured individuals.

I have few others I can speak to about this. [As in, like, no one at all.] Can I count on you to be unbiased towards Blurr?

[he realizes after a split second that he needs to stick his neck cables out a little for Blurr, he owes Blurr, for giving him a chance at the outset.]

You want me to be his judge, or the prosecution, or--?

I need your consultation on what should be done with him.

He is a capable enforcer of the law. I don't like the idea of throwing him to prison. Additionally, I don't know how to hold individuals responsible for actions not under their own choosing.

But I can't turn a blind eye to it either.

Give him a probationary period. 'Community service', but dress it up meaner sounding than that, so he feels like he's genuinely atoning. And formal, one-on-one apologies to the people who got hurt in the bomb thing - he feels better, you enforce the law, and it's mitigated so you're not executing a mech who was out of his sensors at the time - more restorative than punitive.

If I know Blurr, he'll be grateful he's being taken to task for it--even if you and I both know it wasn't his fault.

He already answers to you as a superior, right?

You have an ability as a politician. [He doesn't like that, but it's disgustingly useful.] I will consider your recommendations. I... owe you my thanks.

[That was hard to say.]

He does. He... seems to look forward to it.

[No one looks forward to obeying Ultra Magnus, so this is kind of a weird switch for him.]

You don't owe me anything, big guy, I'm happy to help. [he practically preens at the praise - it doesn't matter where it comes from, what matters is that he desperately needs for people to believe it.]

Oh, okay, let me tell you why that is. [Starscream considers himself an expert on Blurrs, don't mind him] This Blurr, unlike ours, is a workaholic, and he thinks everything that happens is somehow his fault. He wants to be above reproach, so he works his muffler off to try to make that happen, but nobody's above reproach. Suddenly you show up - competent, driven, strong, in charge. I don't know what position you held in his world, but I'm pretty sure based on other universal duplicates you're not that far off from what he's used to. He can follow your orders and rest easy knowing you're going to pick up his slack. No more nightmares about being in charge while something horrible's going down.

...He was so desperate early on he was teaming up with me, what does that tell you?

I'm sure.

I see you have been taking the time to analyze him. [Worrisome and useful all at the same time.] Blurr did not want to be in charge. It's easier to pass it to someone else while taking orders. Hm.

He was desperate, wasn't he.

What can I say? I'm a people person.

He just wants to help. That's really as simple as it gets. One of those rare decent Autobots you hear about.

Clearly.

Yes, his eagerness to work is. Unusual. [He doesn't like admitting that, but it's true.]

AUDIO; location encrypted

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE

voice; PRIVATE