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Post by Mirage on Jun 15, 2011 23:14:22 GMT -5
Mirage has been steeling himself for the worst ever since he first picked up that keening sound. He did not expect to see someone taken apart alive, however. Mirage shutters his optics and cycles his ventilation several moments. As he does he, wonders if Sentinel added this little detail specifically to see how Mirage would react, but the spy quickly comes to the conclusion that it was simply the most universally horrific thing that the blue Prime could come up with.
Skyfire's reaction snaps the spy out of his brown study- and immediately makes Mirage want to bury his face in his hand. And now Slider is moving up as if to obey Skyfire's orders, when Skyfire has absolutely no authority in the group.
Mirage simply hates working on a team.
//I think now would be a good time to remind that we really have no idea if our radio communication are secure or not.// Mirage says calmly. He can't keep a thin thread of disdain out of his tone when he next speaks however.
//Skyfire, these are tryouts for a diplomatic fighting team.// Yes, Mirage is breaking the fourth wall a bit here. Sort of. //Your reaction is quite the opposite of what is needed in the situation and most certainly will not help those with both real and perceived authority bring this to an amicable solution for both parties.//
//Also, I do not believe that Sentinel at any time specified that the prisoner was mentally deficient. Scared to near-death, and lacking in good sense, but not unstable. Now be still, and let us hope that these people have an appropriately low opinion of the thoughts and emotions of those they term lesser classes that we might still salvage this.//
//Sentinel, are the Aquillan's known to be gamblers at all?//
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Caution: Hero makes wide right turns.
Posts: 385
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 16, 2011 20:37:58 GMT -5
Optimus quickly moves to place himself between Skyfire and the Aquillans, spreading his arms to block any shot at the aliens in case anyone decides to try shooting their way out. "Stand down, Autobots!" he says, putting all the Optimus Prime-ness he can muster into his voice.
//No-one is shooting their way out of anything! I don't like this any more than you do, but we can't just come in here and tell these people how to- that is to say-// Optimus goes quiet as Mirage starts talking. //What Mirage said,// he finishes lamely. Stupid sexy well-spoken Mirage.
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Override
Minor
The Chancellor, Her Noble Potency, Empress Override. The Glorious Victor over Everyone Else On the Track
Shut up and drive
Posts: 476
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Post by Override on Jun 16, 2011 22:12:21 GMT -5
Override returns the dignitary's hug, and then... all hell breaks loose. Lovely.
Actually, no one's actually fired a weapon, so it doesn't qualify as hell. So maybe all heck breaks loose instead.
// Listen, folks, I've got no intention of just turning that guy over. Never mind right and wrong, any of you wanna be the ones to explain to Perceptor what we had to do to get his cure? But can't we at least try and do this in a way that at best leaves the Decepticons with a whole lot of potential allies who have things like black hole guns and at worst leaves us at war with another species? If the Autobots back home just up and took what they needed when a few roadblocks were tossed in their way, I wouldn't be working with you guys now. //
And yes, Mirage, she heard your point about the radio, but it still seems less rude to make her own point this way than out loud.
Then she glances back at the others and snaps, annoyed, "All of you, calm down and knock it off!" Sorry, Optimus, but if she's going to continue the 'alpha female' charade, she's got to include you in that. She sighs, shakes her head, and glances towards the ceiling as she turns back the indigo Aquillan. "Men!" she sighs, exasperated. "They're just sooooo over-emotional. But what can you do?" She gives a shrug, hands lifted almost to her shoulders, and a crooked grin. "Life's just a lot more fun with them than without 'em, know what I mean?"
"Anyway," she lowers her hands and looks towards 'Pinkie.' "Listen, I respect that this is part of your culture, but our culture won't allow us to just turn this guy over to be tortured. So... so I want to issue a challenge. For the cure, and his life." Some may notice that she left out the 'racing' part, but if any of them spoke Velocitronian (which is unlikely) they might realize that those are shades of the same definition. Velocitronians have many words for 'challenge' and 'race,' and many times they are the same word.
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Post by Elita-1 on Jun 17, 2011 16:39:19 GMT -5
Elita-1 quite visible boggles at Skyfire's outburst, but her expression quickly thins down into one of annoyance, playing to the audience and nodding along with Override. Elita gives Slider a look that very clearly says Get back here and behave and Optimus one that says Shut up dear, the grown ups are talking. Hopefully, they both forgive her later.
She moves up a bit closer to Override, watching and listening with all the attention of an apprentice. Inwardly, though, Elita is confused. Skyfire's outburst startled her, yes, and she finds the idea of the poor, scared scientist they dragged back here getting taken apart rather distasteful, but....
They're here to save their friends. Why does it matter so much what these aliens do with one of their own?
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Post by Sentinel Prime on Jun 17, 2011 20:26:41 GMT -5
Sentinel Prime really wants to climb up Skyfire just so that he can smack him in the head and then make Skyfire go stand on one leg, holding a bucket of grease in either hand, repeat 'I am a worthless grease stain' for a few cycles. For one thing.... no matter how awful the thing he's placed before them in the try-outs is, Skyfire is still being extremely judgemental on not a lot of evidence. For another and, in Sentinel Prime's opinion, more important thing, Skyfire is acting like he's in charge when he has no authority at all, either real or pretend, which is destabilising everything! And he's failing at diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Slider makes matters worse, by blindly following Skyfire, despite Skyfire having no authority. Weapons drawn already? Eeesh!
Mirage... actually phrases his suggestions as suggestions while trying to calm everyone down. Sentinel Prime has to wonder when the knife will come, but it's not now, apparently.
Then Optimus Prime also acts like he's in charge, when he isn't. Sentinel prime could strangle him, if he wasn't busy trying to play Override's arm candy.
This is chaos. Sentinel Prime despises chaos. There are not numbers large enough to express how many transform-ups he wants to make everyone do. He puts a hand behind his back and crosses his fingers as Override tries to salvage the situation, and Elita-1... at least doesn't make everything worse.
'Pinkie' looks... well, seriously annoyed, to say the least, and she pulls back, raising a taloned hand, looking ready to rake Override across the face. She does, however, pause, in mid-extension, and listen to Override, only barely restraining herself. The silver one, behind, in the execution chamber, mantles and hisses, her hand resting on the lasergun at her hip.
'Pinkie' grinds out some advice to Override, "Hood and jesse them," because that works well on birds, of course, to calm them down, "and take out their vocalisers and put their tongues to better uses. You are few, so you do not understand. We are many, but we are not stupid. That," she points a claw at the prisoner, "is a snivelling, worthless wreck, but that was sane enough to stand trial. We are not barbarians. We do not cull our sick." She actually seems rather defensive in that point. "This is not torture. This is recycling. Parts taken fresh, undrugged will save many lives; provide for new lives."
She further hisses, "Your Decepticons are few, but if they come here again, they will die." So no, she's not enjoying the comparison between her people and the Decepticons, who worked with a renegade and stole from them.
'Pinkie' concludes, giving Override a rather odd look, head cocked, "Trial by combat, you mean? Trial by combat is old and little-used but still on the books. That," she looks over at the prisoner, "declined. That is weak and knew would lose. But we will accept your challenge, even though you are few and we would not want to see you die, because either way, some of the many will die, and that is enough."
//They gamble a bit, Mirage,// Sentinel Prime answers, deceptively mildly, once he is fairly sure that 'Pinkie' and 'Silver' over there aren't going to try to gut all of them.
Then he shouts at the lot of them, //Put your pistons back in your subspace pockets, the lot of you! Skyfire and Optimus - you are not in charge here. Make suggestions if you want. Make strong suggestions, even, but none of this ordering bots around and waving weapons about. Slider - you mecha-sheep! Don't just follow anyone who has a half-cocked idea. Keep the chain of command clear or get stuck in the mud. We are Autobots, and we exhaust our legal options first before we play thief and ruin diplomatic relations.//
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Skyfire
Major
I'm a scientist, not a....
Posts: 891
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Post by Skyfire on Jun 19, 2011 7:59:32 GMT -5
Skyfire's weapon is not actually out; it's just ready to deploy into his slightly curled hand. His mouth is still compressed into a hard, flat line, and his wings twitch, but he settles back into something like an escort posture rather than ready to attack and run.
"Yes, ma'am," is all he says to Override publically.
// Mirage, if our frequencies that are meant to be secure from the Decepticons are compromised, we're in worse trouble than a diplomatic tiff. At least know they know we have principles on the subject.//
Then, a bit sheepishly, // Thank you for understanding the problem, Override. I, ah, apologize for stepping on your authority--it's an old habit I have from riding herd on a completely amoral junior partner... I tend to decisively take command regarding things that a Decent Bot Just Doesn't Do. I... should have trusted Autobots better. //
They're not Starscream, you idiot. You should have known better... but it looked so bad, and like they would just go along to get along... Not all my partners are Starscream. Not even most of them. Though he wonders why Elita-1 had nothing to say...
Skyfire radios more calmly, // They are lying, perhaps even to themselves. Analyze it without my emotional arguments. If it weren't torture, they would have disabled the victim's pain sensors or consciousness center, and there would be no screaming. If it were about population control, they would restrict self-construction. Harsh penalties and easy executions are about maintaining authoritarian control, no matter how they rationalize it--and their technology is too advanced for such control to be necessary for mere survival. This is not a 'lifeboat' situation. It may, however, be a relic by way of tradition of a past survival mentality--that helps those in power to stay in power. Do with that analysis what you will, but do not be deceived that their practices are innocent and benign in spite of appearing repugnant and strange. Not every alien practice is just an innocent local custom; sometimes they are simply not very nice people. //
Belatedly, he directs a comment toward Optimus, // Yes, you can just tell strangers what to do when they tell you to compromise your own morals and ethics. //
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Post by Mirage on Jun 21, 2011 12:56:18 GMT -5
Skipping Slider due to time-out. Reminder guys, this is a 24hr time-out thread.
Mirage moves up through the group to stand just behind and to Override's right. Mirage is not the largest male here, nor is he the most impressive physically, but he is still what would be considered by many avian species to be an almost perfect specimen. He is slight and graceful, obviously confident, flashy but not overly so, and when he does speak his voice is like liquid honey.
"If I may, m'lady-" Mirage's tone is differential, and it is clear he is speaking to Override, "I am the group's best hunter and best shot. I could go against their best in a hunt or target shoot, the wager being the prisoner's life- and my own freedom." Spare parts are spare parts, right, but chances are someone would like to have an exotic pet like Mirage. "But regardless of outcome, the cure for our sick must be given."
Mirage deliberately gives his suggestion aloud, partially to show himself off to the alien in charge. Partially, because he does not want to wait for the argument to go round upon round via radio. Override, as the "leader", can certainly refuse his offer without loss of face. It can be passed off as a male looking to impress his mate, after all.
Also, because Mirage doesn't trust himself not to rail at people right now.
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Slider
Cadet
Unlicensed Redshirt
Posts: 95
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Post by Slider on Jun 21, 2011 16:30:55 GMT -5
Slider quietly stows his weapon and gets back to place in the back of the procession behind Elita, where he belonged. He wishes he could explain to them why he'd reacted as he had. If he had a more eloquent vocalizer he'd tell them how his past had come out of nowhere and hit him like a hammer blow. He doesn't though, he just goes back to his place, shrinking underneath withering glares and Sentinel's shouting.
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Caution: Hero makes wide right turns.
Posts: 385
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 22, 2011 19:22:01 GMT -5
Optimus only acted like he was in charge because Sentinel wasn't doing it! It's not his fault he was up first in the rotation!
//Yes, sir,// he transmits sheepishly. Privately, he agrees with Elita-1. In the end, Autobot lives are more important than alien ones. However, until they exhaust all their other options, they should try to save alien lives too. You never know, after all. You might get to know one of the aliens personally, and she might have a magic key that brings you back from the dead. Having a high-level cleric around is useful when you die as often as Optimii tend to.
//No, Skyfire. You can refuse to compromise your morals, but you cannot tell them what to do. We can try to educate them, but if we force them to do what we want, we're no better than Decepticons,// he says gently. This is probably not the time to argue philosophy, though.
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Override
Minor
The Chancellor, Her Noble Potency, Empress Override. The Glorious Victor over Everyone Else On the Track
Shut up and drive
Posts: 476
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Post by Override on Jun 23, 2011 21:39:20 GMT -5
Override braces herself for the slap that doesn't come, then she brightens at 'Pinkie's' suggestion. "I've got 'em handled for now. The other stuff'll have to wait until later." What? She's a diplomat now! She can lie!
She frowns at the answer concerning her challenge, however. "So, wait. You're saying this challenge thing has to go to the death?"
"Yes, of course," answers 'Pinkie.' "we are many, and we must become fewer. But not just that," she adds, pointing at Mirage, "All of your few here, to make it worth the time."
Override's lips twist into a frown, and she dips her head in a nod. "Hey, you mind giving me a sec, then? Just to think it over?"
When Pinkie nods in the affirmative, Override switches to the radio and looks back towards the others.
// All right, guys. Seems like they're pretty determined to see some of their own dead in order to cut down on this 'many.' I can't be too sure about the turning off pain centers business. She said the parts work better 'undrugged,' so it might be something similar in effect? Anyway, the options I see is we give them the guy and get the stuff and they kill the guy; we shoot our way out, and most likely end up killing several of them, and maybe we save this guy, and maybe we get shot down ourselves because we're outnumbered and low on fliers, and maybe get a whole mess of aliens torqued at us; we do this challenge thing, and still end up killing some of them unless we can find a way to wiggle outta it, and maybe get one of ours killed while we're at it.//
She shakes her head, resting her right hand on her hip. // I guess it's Sentinel's call, unless we're voting, since he wrote the scenario and all. Either way, I'm voting the not blasting our way out one. If we go with the challenge, maybe in the time it takes to do it, we can figure some way to avoid killing someone, but... maybe in the time it takes to do it, one of our sick guys might finish their last lap, too. //
OOC: Posing of Pinkie worked out with Sentinel's player.
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Post by Elita-1 on Jun 24, 2011 11:15:55 GMT -5
//The point you're missing Skyfire, is that we don't know their entire situation. Also, there are entire cultures built around the idea of survival of the fittest. They say they don't cull their sick, which is a step up from that; instead, they heal them.//
//That they heal them using parts from the morally weak may only be a slight distinction, but it is a less gray area.// To her, and possibly to many an Animated Autobot. //Many cultures, even some of the Cybertronian cultures represented here, see nothing wrong with utilizing any asset when it is presented.//
//You can disagree, you can debate, you can walk away, but you can't risk damning your friends to death because something makes you squeamish.// Elita finishes.
She nods at Override. The race queen makes a lot of sense, and Elita is good with the proposal. Nervous, yes, but good.
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Post by Sentinel Prime on Jun 24, 2011 20:37:36 GMT -5
As far as Sentinel Prime can tell, Skyfire has made a hypothesis, and he's just going to stick to that hypothesis and ignore any data that doesn't fit it. Yes, Sentinel Prime is judgemental, but that doesn't mean he has to like it when he sees it outside of the mirror. He's just having nightmares now that they crash on Earth with the Decepticons, because that apparently always happens. They land in the mighty city-state of China, stumble out of the crashed wreck of the Event Horizon, and come across some criminals murdering some young women, to sell the corpses as ghost brides. Skyfire sees this, concludes that humans are irredeemably evil, and concludes that because humans are evil, it's okay to steal their coal to power up the Event Horizon. A giant white robot busting up their coal burning power plants ticks off the Chinese, who launch their New-Clear missiles. Then the humans from the jealous city-state of the United States of America launch their New-Clear missiles, too. Then India starts feeling left out. Then everyone, human and Transformer, dies in a New-Clear firestorm. Nine million years later, some Quintessons roll by in a spaceship and engage in a celebratory chuckle.
Chaotic good characters terrify Sentinel Prime.
Optimus... has a rather good point. How annoying of him.
Sentinel Prime breaks in with a firm, //Yes. It is my call. That said... stealing would take time and get a multi-planet government torqued at us. That's off the table. We can fight them, which also would take time, or we can hand the prisoner over, which Skyfire and Slider just won't do.//
One of the things he's been reading says that a good leader should never give an order his troops won't do.
//So we'll fight them. One rider I want added, Override - we'll fight volunteers. Real volunteers. No one forced into it. And we get the cure sent back to the Event Horizon before the fight.//
Mirage had a good idea. Sentinel Prime thinks he'll steal it.
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Skyfire
Major
I'm a scientist, not a....
Posts: 891
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Post by Skyfire on Jun 27, 2011 19:03:47 GMT -5
Skyfire stands stock-still, watching, making no threatening moves. After his outburst, the locals are guaranteed not to trust him. Worse, his fellow Autobots simply do not understand what he's getting at.
// Optimus, that's not what I was saying. If someone demands you compromise your ethics for their convenience, you certainly can tell them what to do with their demand, and what you think of it. I wasn't saying we can force anyone else to do anything--but if someone else requires that you violate your beliefs, ethic, morals in return for not letting your friends die, that's a form of extortion, is it not? //
// Elita, you have no idea how squeamish I am or am not. This isn't about squeamishness--this is about being coerced into committing a morally offensive act. I left the Decepticons because I don't believe that acts such as handing people over for torture and execution so long as it benefits me and mine are right or tolerable! //
Skyfire bows his head slightly. // Yes, Sentinel Prime. //
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Post by Mirage on Jun 29, 2011 19:07:01 GMT -5
Mirage cuts his optics over toward Sentinel, but the spy keeps his expression bland. He sees what you did there, blue boy.
With a differential nod first to Pinkie, then to Override, Mirage fades back again to his previous position at the back of the company.
//One- preferably two- of us should take the cure back to the ship. I would prefer not to trust our wounded's survival to these people's honesty and timely delivery.//
Mirage has some he would suggest for this task, but he is attempting to be a team player here.
//I will fight, if needed.//
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Caution: Hero makes wide right turns.
Posts: 385
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 30, 2011 18:48:44 GMT -5
Optimus nods silently at Override, playing the part of the obedient and subservient male. Inwardly, he's finding it difficult to not be the one giving the orders. It's easy enough taking commands from Emirate Xaaron and Rodimus Prime, they're high command. Following orders from Sentinel Prime is kind of weird though. They used to be of equal rank back home! He's sure he'll get used to it eventually, though. It'll be worth it.
//Yes, sir,// he responds over the radio.
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