re_alignment | AUDIO;

Entry tags:

✘ tf: idw | ultra magnus

AUDIO;

To all of the new refugees:

I am Ultra Magnus. Second-in-command of the Lost Light, the duly appointed enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, second-in-command of the local law enforcement of this Cybertron, and one of the members of the law committee.

Many of you are arriving with concerns and questions, naturally. We understand; many of us are here to assist you. Should you find your questions unanswered, I will attempt to guide you. However, I will admit, there are many things I don't yet know, but I will work to find you an answer. The circumstances of your arrival have been curious. [And worrisome.]

Wing and Drift are offering a location for your temporary stay. Perhaps we could work on something slightly more personable for you in the future. That can be a project worth arranging if Haven's Hub does not have enough space.

To remaining citizens:

Blurr has begun a memorial service in regards those lost to us and the dead. If you wish to pay your respects, perhaps you should observe what he's done.

I am aware of First Aid's murder. I will investigate. I will find who was responsible. And they will be brought to justice. This is not a promise, it is a fact. A truth.

I request that you remain as helpful and welcoming to our new arrivals as much as you can be.

[Private to: FIRSTFORGED]

I have several questions, should any of you be available.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes. I know. You don't want me involved.

[He has no idea what that last bit's about so he's just going to nod agreement.]

Rodimus should be brought into the loop, though.

You're going to take it personally. [Sort of... a question, with how his voice tones out.]

I plan to. I've been working on a full report describing what's been happening in order to bring him up to date.

I just want to do something to help. Rodimus thought well of me to put me in the command cadre, too. That's all.

All right. I'll leave that to you, too, then.

You are already well preoccupied, Drift. And I will admit, I am surprised you would bring that up now of all times.

Very well.

I am capable of deciding how much I can take on, Ultra Magnus.

Look. It's clear you don't like me. I don't know why, but that's not important right now. And I'm bringing it up now because it's obvious that it's an issue between us. On your side. One that impedes my ability to do my job.

No, you aren't. You are reckless, you nearly get yourself killed several times pointlessly if I recall correctly.

Despite what you think, Drift, I do not permit my emotions to influence my decisions. I permit only fact. Whether or not I like someone does not impact those decisions. At this point, First Aid's murder falls into the hands of the police because it requires investigation and only just. You are a warrior, not an investigator. You are also not part of the enforcement team on this Cybertron. Per regulation, I would not permit you part of the investigation for that reason alone.

It was war, Ultra Magnus. We all nearly got killed. Many times. Hold that against me and you'll have to hold it against Rodimus and Perceptor as well.

This isn't about the law enforcement team. I know I'm not part of the law committee. I know my past would have disqualified me immediately.

But there's more going on here right now than First Aid's death.

I'm not talking about the war, Drift.

No, this is entirely about the law enforcement team. You are making it about something else.

I am aware of that. Considering the status of the unmarked, I presumed additionally you would be heavily preoccupied with that as well as you are working with Wing to assist them.

What have I done since the war that's reckless? I've followed orders and tried to protect the crew.

If it was 'reckless' to go to Messatine than so are Ratchet and Pipes. It saved lives. It was worth it.

I am making it about the fact that I feel that I'm being thrust out of the loop. I'd like to know what to do to fix it, before it becomes a problem and someone dies. If you're too busy to deal with that now, that's fine. Just...'note' my desire to talk to you about it in the future.

I'm talking about our time here.

No matter who it is, if they are not part of the police force, I would not disclose information, Drift. Short of Rodimus himself if he demanded it, I would not provide details of any kind. Your implication that I would make this decision based upon feeling is acknowledged and refuted.

If you'd like to talk, then it will have to wait until I am done.

What here? I fought against an invasion. Lots of mechs did. I went to the Badlands because I had to. Everything I've done has been to help people.

Contact me when you are ready, then. I won't take up more of your time.

But if you're sharing information, and not keeping me in the loop, then that's your doing, and I don't want that held against me. I am Rodimus's third in command. If you take your authority from the Lost Light, I should be at least in the loop for every decision that affects the safety and well-being of everyone here. As you do.

If you choose not to do that, that's, well, your choice. I won't fight you about it. But I can't earn your trust, unless you give me a chance.

You sought out Overlord on your own. You would have made it out to the Badlands again since the Calling for only one reason. Do I need to arrange a list of your reckless behavior in bullet point?

You would not be held accountable for not being part of the loop, because you are not police of this Cybertron. Yes, I do take my authority from the Lost Light, and you only do so when it is convenient for you. You have not followed any one of my orders since I arrived here, Drift. Bear that in mind when you mention the command cadre.

Trust is a hard thing to earn, no matter who it is. But arguing to be part of something that I cannot legally permit does not help. I ... appreciate your efforts in desiring my trust, but you are legitimately required elsewhere. Until I am ordered by Blurr or Rodimus otherwise.

I was trying to rescue Perceptor. I did rescue Perceptor. I didn't get injured or die. Is that reckless? I don't know. But I couldn't sit by and watch him get tortured. I saved a life.

All I'm asking is to be given what information you should give someone who is directly under your command. I would rather not have to hear things secondhand. Through, say, Wing.

If you were completely without back-up, who is to say you would have survived? The facts are present: yes, you saved Perceptor. But it was also reckless to be on your own when I specifically instructed otherwise.

I am perfectly capable of delegating information to someone under my command when it is required.

I was without backup.

I did survive.

And if I hadn't, it wouldn't have mattered.

All right. So what information do I need to know about these Glyphless.

You speak of the chain of command, yet disobey my orders. You desire information based on that chain of command. Make up your mind, Drift, on where it stands for you.

While I would... rather wait to inform more when I have more information, the data I have is disturbing to me. I don't know what to say to Rodimus about it yet. It... won't go over well.

I spoke to Vector Prime concerning their lack of glyph. To my understanding, the term "Glyphless" has been said in regards to monsters that were here before. Is that correct, Drift?

Yes. All right. I disobeyed your orders, because it was Perceptor. Maybe you wouldn't break a rule for someone who is...more than a friend. Maybe I was wrong to do it. But I have to think Perceptor would have died if I didn't get there when I did.

It was not a wise decision. But it saved his life.

But you're right. This is me...trying to make up for that.

Yes. We had these shark creatures suddenly appear in the Junk Pile. They weren't smart--like the Swarm, just instinct--but there was something guiding them toward the temples. We didn't know then, but it might be this same Unicron Vector mentioned.

I won't play with "what-if" ideas, tempting as it may be.

If this is about gaining my trust, understand that it is no simple task. It's difficult for. ... Anyone.

These new arrivals are also the Glyphless. What we heard before was the Calling, but it wasn't for us. It was for reinforcements. The people here unmarked are those reinforcements, according to Vector Prime, and they will eventually go insane and try to kill us. He refuses to help them. He stated we should just kill them.

I do not... agree.

We can't kill them. That's--Rodimus is one of them. This can't be right.

There has to be a way to help them.

I will not kill my commanding officer, or any member of my crew.

I don't know if Vector Prime is right, but I won't turn my back on them.

[A curt nod. ] I know. You wouldn't.

[He still was reassured by hearing it, though.]

Vector's never lied to us, that I know of. Just...not told the whole truth.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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