Rusti startled and found herself sitting in a chair at the back of a conference room. Two short tables headed the room’s front and three yards before them stretched another table at which sat Rodimus and Ultra Magnus. Rusti swallowed and trembled, disoriented. What happened to the corridor? How did she suddenly arrive here?

Ambient sat beside her and showered the young woman with a smile. The femme leaned over to whisper in her ear: "Try not to fall asleep." Still shaken, Rusti merely nodded and blinked while her brain whirled with questions.

Magnus triple-checked the five digipads squatting to his left while Rodimus stood to address the assembly. "I think all bodies ordered to blow in have arrived. Let’s hit the start button. Prosecution: Cobalt, goes first. Defense: Improv, will follow. And don’t bore us with repetition or emotional crap. We don’t have time for it." Rodimus sat down and rested arms on the table, fingers intertwined.

Cobalt took the floor, digipad in hand and faced the assembled Autobots and organics. "You’ve all been asked to appear today because each of you are witnesses to an accumulation of incidents that have led to sabotage, betrayal and murder. Due to the current circumstances and situation in which we find ourselves, this is a closed room. The trial is televised across the fleet, but we hold no audience here, all seating is reserved for witnesses only. Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus have agreed that this trial is to be kept short and there will be no appeal unless witnesses and evidence point to a reasonable doubt in favor of the accused. With that said, the Prosecution wishes to make the case."

Magnus nodded once. "Request granted."

"September 2038. The year the Quintessons invaded Earth and drove us into refugeeism. One of the many events that lead to our departure was that of failed defense systems. Every fortress city, and the computer that oversees central and external controls, failed to give advance warning regarding attacks by the Quintessons and the Inoux-and strangely enough, mechanisms that rooted the cities themselves from underground."

Cobalt paused a moment. "Survivors from Fortress Sonix, Fortress Draco and Fortress Maximus all reported failures in equipment, failures in perimeter defense systems and failure by the computer system to forewarn underground proximity invasion. What that means is all fortress cities are equipped with artificial intelligence. They know when barriers are breached. They can identify over a million types of foreign materials. The only things that could slip past the guardian force shields of an Autobot city are phasing technology, as demonstrated more than once by the Quintessons... and ghosts."

Cobalt waited for the audience to snigger, although he was not joking about ghosts. The Autobot programmer eyed Rodimus Prime before he continued. "Questions and rumors regarding the surprise attack and consequential Quintesson invasion have circulated among the fleet since our departure from Earth. Whomever, whatever was responsible for laying the fortress cities, and thereby, Earth itself at the mercy of hostile forces knew exactly how to do it, and do it without leaving so much as an evidentiary trace filament."

The Autobot prosecutor paused again and caught the optics and eyes of those present in the room. "So, just exactly what would it take to disable the defense systems and warning systems of a fortress city?" Cobalt shrugged. "We’re hoping to answer that question during this trial."

Again Cobalt let silence fall before making another count in the prosecution. "Let’s advance the time line to six weeks ago. The fleet took temporary bivouac on the planet Cratis. And I know I speak for everyone when I say that it was a tough time. The ships were in disrepair. The water was unusable. Supplies were limited. A lot of people required medical attention. And then, naturally, we get an unwelcome visit by a new Decepticon faction. There was an awful battle of which we survived. And then, with the ships repaired, we started leaving Cratis. Except, somehow, the Crested Moon could not take off. Sabotage? Accident? We’ll look into that, also.’

"Finally, just two weeks ago, two Autobots were discovered dead by two different people. Medical examination has recorded that neither death is the result of the battle on Cratis, nor that during the escape from Earth. These accusations are not lightly made. The subterfuge was deliberate, well-planned and professional. Most of the evidence was found by sheer accident. Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you as prosecutor in search of justice not only for the two Autobots found brutally murdered, but in search of justice for the millions of people affected by the Quintesson invasion of Earth. And while I believe the defendant here today did not act alone, it behooves me to set him apart and place him on the scales of justice for acts of sabotage, destruction of entire cities, the death of uncounted thousands and the endangerment of those onboard the Crested Moon.’

‘The defendant, Redial, communications officer on board the Crested Moon, is accused of all the aforementioned. From sabotage of defense systems of all the fortress cities on Earth and Mars, to the near-destruction of the Crested Moon, to the deaths of Autobot engineer Klasp and xenobiologist Orca. It is my goal to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that Communications Officer Redial is guilty of these crimes."

Cobalt returned to his table and scanned through a datatablet. At the front Rodimus and Magnus exchanged pads, scribbled notes on them then fixed their gaze upon Defense representative Improv.

The Paratron triple changer stammered to himself before taking the front. "Well... seems prosecution has set up a pretty good case. Naturally, the responsibility of proof lies in their hands. Funny thing is, they managed to single out one person. One person did all that? One person had the ability to sift through hundreds, maybe thousands of pass codes and firewalls in order to bring down the Earth? Really? And why, I must ask, would someone such as my entrusted, here; why would anyone want to create a situation in which they too, would suffer, or even end up terminated? Where’s the logic in that?"

Improv paused for the same effect as Cobalt. "This case is absurd and I will impress upon the witnesses and our leaders to weigh the evidence verses the plausibility. How could one person do all that?" Improv scanned the room once then silently took his seat.

Cobalt claimed the floor and called on the first witness: Eclipse. "You’re the... what, on board the Crested Moon?"

"Midshipman." Eclipse glued her optics on Cobalt.

"What’s that mean? What are your duties?"

"I troubleshoot and correct problem drive systems between engineering and navigation. I check for power balance and communications between the navigational drives, the forward thrusters and engineering power output."

Cobalt nodded. "So you’re in sub-engineering."

"Yes, sir."

"That day when we left Cratis. All the ships took off according to a predetermined schedule set by Ultra Magnus. The Crested Moon failed in lift-off. And according to several reports, there was a commotion on the bridge-a commotion in which Optimus Prime had to send someone to the brig. Can you tell us, Eclipse, exactly what happened?"

She hesitated as guilt scrawled over her face. "There was ...we were about to lift off when navigation... that’s Linear... couldn’t retract the docking clamps. The docking clamps appeared to be jammed."

Cobalt nodded and scanned the small audience. "You know, Eclipse, not everyone here knows how an Autobot space cruiser operates. So, can you give us an idea how the docking clamps work, or are supposed to work?"

"Uh... well, the landing gear works in conjunction with the engine; the ship’s engine starts a shutdown sequence, the landing gear folds out, the wings tilt up slightly. The ship lands and the docking clamps secure the vessel to the ground. If the ground is metallic, then the docking clamps employ an electro-magnetic field. If the ground is organic, then the docking clamps insert eight-foot steel spikes into the ground. In lift-off, the spikes are retrieved, the clamps fold up and the ship takes off."

Cobalt returned to his table. "But the clamps were jammed, preventing the Crested Moon from escaping an impending Inoux attack, weren’t they?"

Eclipse nodded. "They kept telling me I screwed up; that I did not follow through with my job-"

"What was the argument about, Eclipse? The one on the bridge?"

"Linksys insisted the clamps weren’t working. Redial insisted they were and that Linksys wasn’t doing his job right. So I enacted a scan and found all my personal access codes were erased."

Cobalt let silence hang for a moment. "So, when the docking clamps malfunctioned, Optimus ordered someone to fire on the ship-and I presume he meant someone had to blast off the docking clamps."

"Yes, sir."

"What, exactly, did Redial have to do with the argument? What’s his job on the Crested Moon?"

"Um, he’s the communications officer." Eclipse eyed Redial at the defense table before looking left at Cobalt.

The Paratron investigator peered at Redial then back to Eclipse. "Don’t you find it odd that the communications officer would accuse navigation of not doing his job?"

Improv piped up, "objection. The question is irrelevant."

Cobalt lifted a finger to continue his point. "It’s very much relevant and I will make that clear: Eclipse, what happened thereafter? How did the Crested Moon escape Cratis without damage to the clamps?"

"Uh... I wasn’t there personally, but I read a report stating that Blaster fixed the problem."

Cobalt feigned puzzlement. "Huh. A communications officer fixed a problem that supposed to be a department of engineering? What-what about your pass code access points, Eclipse? Are they working now?"

"I had to erase all my access points and reestablish my status with the drive systems."

"So you had to start from scratch," Cobalt assumed.

"Yes."

"Interesting. Well, thank you, Eclipse. Ultra Magnus, I have no further questions."

Eclipse squirmed in her seat as Cobalt settled behind the table and picked up a datatablet. Rodimus called for defense to take the floor and Improv slithered around his table; a smile shadowed his face.

"Hmm. Let’s see..." he scrolled over his datatablet, "Eclipse, my research shows that your expertise is not in sub-engineering. Is that right?"

"Yes, sir."

"You initially originated from Fort Sagittarius, working in the city’s transform maintenance division, were you not?"

"Yes."

"So, how was it that you were assigned as sub-engineering?"

"I worked with cargo shuttles on Paratron and Cybertron before assigned to Earth."

Improv lifted his expression. "Ah. So you do have some expertise in the area."

"Yes."

"And if you’re so experienced, how was it that you did not detect a problem with the clamps before lift-off?"

"I-"

"It is supposed to be your job to make sure all systems under your charge are working properly and either repair them yourself or make sure they are repaired by someone else if something is wrong. Is that not right?"

"Yes-"

"Then how was it that the clamps were not working at all? How could you have not known there was a problem?"

"I checked them earlier that day, the same time everyone else checked all the Crested Moon’s systems in preparation for lift-off. Everything checked out-"

"Did you bother to make sure the software and wetware assembly was connected?"

"Well, no. But-"

"Then you did not do your job."

"I lost my access!" Eclipse desperately added.

"No further questions, Rodimus." Improv dropped into his chair behind the table.

"Thank you, Improv," Rodimus grumbled. "Cobalt, if you have another witness..." Rodimus waved a hand as though waving off a fly. Eclipse removed herself from the witness seat as Cobalt stood.

"Thank you, Rodimus. Prosecution calls Alto to witness... please?" He and everyone else watched the slender, gold and grey femme take the front. She sat in the chair and folded one leg over the other. Her face reflected confidence.

Cobalt approached and made sure the small audience had full view. "Alto... tell us of your... what do you do?"

"I am fleet cartographer."

"So you map out our navigational readouts?"

"Yes."

"You’re also trained as communications back-up, are you not?"

"Yes."

"So, you know the other communications officers; uh, Blaster, Ambient, Redial, Talk Chalk and Wavelength... uh... Mnemonic and... Volt?" He waited for her affirmation. "Yes, of course. So, you know the defendant, right? I mean, everyone does. It’s no secret that there’s been a rivalry between you and Redial. Both of you act as ‘floaters’ between ships that do not have a communications officer. Am I right?" Again the prosecutor waited for Alto’s answer. He hesitated and pretended to read from his datatablet. "Not more than two and a half weeks ago, a Wednesday by Human reckoning, you and Redial got into a rather vicious fight-I mean, this wasn’t the only confrontation between the two of you, but that particular day, you two just went off like a pair of bulldogs. Would you tell us what went on? What was the fight all about?"

Alto nodded deeply. "I caught Redial tampering with a communication relay on board the Gabriel Genesis."

"Well, now that’s Rodimus’ ship, isn’t it? The Gabriel Genesis?" Cobalt lifted his optics from Alto to Rodimus and back. "How do you know he was tampering? What exactly was he tampering with?"

"I caught him tampering when I worked on my daily scheduled check points."

"How’s that? N-not everyone here knows about communications or cartography or stuff that you do. So... how about you tell us what that’s all about?"

Alto curved her lips in a light smile. "Think of communications as though it were a tree. You have the trunk, the roots, branches, twigs and leaves. Relays act as the roots of a tree. They are buffers that prevent one conversation from crossing into another. Crystalized isolinear components empower the subspace lines linked between person-to-person, person-to-ship, ship-to-ship, all computers and other equipment across the fleet. My duty as communications officer is to maintain, repair or replace components, lines and power grids on each ship."

Cobalt gave her a dubious look. "Sounds complicating."

"Oh, I love it! I love what I do."

"But you... don’t seem to approve of Redial’s work ethic?"

Alto stared daggers at the defendant, "If I had my way, I would have cut his hands off."

Rusti fought sleep as Alto gave the rest of her testimony. The femme’s technical jargon shot over the young woman’s head like a Boeing 557.

Someone touched her elbow and Rusti shook her head, pried her eyes opened and shivered. She was not in the courtroom; now she sat in a nightclub. The dim lighting gave an atmospheric feel of comfort. The scent of alcohol and food filled the air. A crowd of people faced the club stage where a humanoid male stood with a piece of paper in his hand.

"I told a friend of mine that my sister hit me the other day. He said ‘Lauk! You got beaten by a gurl?’ My first guess was that my friend didn’t know girls could hit." The crowd chuckled and the comedian continued. "I said, ‘I said my sister hit me. I didn’t say anything about a girl."

The crowd broke into laughter and someone on Rusti’s right leaned closer and whispered, "this guy really needs new material."

She turned and found Ambassador Koontah at her table. He nursed a cup of coffee, or at least an extraterrestrial equivalent thereof. He pointed to the stage where the humanoid comedian was now an Autobot Rusti did not recognize. He sat on a metal stool while the background behind him portrayed a space scape.

"My friend, Orb, approached me the other day. ‘I’ve decided I want to procreate," he declared. I stared, confused and dumbfounded. Not because he was thinking about having offspring, but because I was worried for the baby. I said ‘Okay. So... how long has this been in your processor?’

He said, "about an hour."

The Autobot comedian nodded sagely when the audience laughed. He paced, shook his head. "I said, ‘Orb, I don’t think that’s one of your better ideas.’ he said ‘why? Everyone does it. How do you think I came about?’

The comedian searched the ceiling with his optics, feigning patience. "I really wanted to tell him that mistakes happen all the time. But I didn’t say that. Instead, I said "Orb, I don’t think it’s a good idea because the poor offspring will look exactly like you."

The audience thundered in giggles.

The Autobot waited for the room to settle. "He was so upset that my friend decided to see the Matrix. After saying something like that, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that the Matrix doesn’t take appointments from the terminally morose."

The room rumbled with laughter and applause. But Rusti did not see why that was so funny."

"I hope you realize you’re going to get into trouble," Koontah said next to her. The audience rumbled in conversation as the comedian took a break. Rusti held the Wanakian Ambassador’s solid black eyes.

"I’m guessing I’m dreaming," she surmised.

"No one dreams on Bare Anches, Miss Witwicky." he added a spoonful of sugar to his coffee. His furry ear twitched and Rusti briefly wondered if the ambassador ever suffered fleas.

She banished the thought and stared at the stage. "But I’m dreaming now. I’m supposed to be at a trial."

"Yes. And yes, he’s guilty."

Her head snapped back to him, eyes wide, mouth open. "Ohmigod."

"You’re not dreaming, Rusti. You’re communicating with me."

"Ambassador Koontah is back on his home world. You can’t be him."

He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. "Who said I was the ambassador? This is how you perceive my personality, Rusti."

"Who are you?"

"I suspect that eventually one decision, Rusti, will determine your entire life: both your future and your past."

Rusti Witwicky to the stand.

She jolted to life and greeted Ambient’s grin with a sheepish smile of her own. Disoriented yet again, Rusti excused herself as she passed a few people on the way toward the front. God, everyone’s eyes/optics will be on her! Rusti’s heart raced. Her cheeks flushed and her brain turned to mush.

She looked to Rodimus whose optics dimmed with a strange darkness. He winked at her and Rusti’s innards flipped. All her internal bells went off. Rodimus should be sedated and strapped down. But like everyone else, Rusti decided not to confront the Autobot leader of his present state of mind; not at the moment, anyway.

Cobalt glanced at his datatablet. "Miss Witwicky..."

His voice trailed off and Rodimus’ faded in, [Don’tchya worry, Lady Friend. Just answer his questions.]

[Am I that obvious, Roddi?]

[Mmm... you could say that. And stop sitting on your hands. It’s impolite.]

Rusti shuddered and folded her hands on her lap. She tried not to think how everyone watched her. Did they know she was jittery? Did they know she fell asleep? Did they know?

"Miss Witwicky?" Cobalt searched her with inquisitive optics.

"Um..." Rusti considered this worse than standing in front of a classroom, "c-could you repeat the question? I’m sorry." Someone in the room huffed with impatience and it did nothing for her nerves.

"How did you know there was a body onboard the Sunset Kummya?"

"Um..." Rusti did not want to say it; not to the audience and not to herself. "I heard the ship complain of discomfort."

The audience quietly murmured with disbelief. Magnus struck the table with his hand once and silence turned the room dead still. Cobalt paced toward the middle.

"So, you knew there was a body onboard?"

"No."

"You had no previous knowledge of Orca’s dismantled body lying under the floor plates in the ship?"

"No."

"What about the incident regarding the Spiral Star?"

"What about it?" Rusti realized she sounded unintelligent in the face of the audience. Her brain shut down and she wanted to hide.

Rusti stared at the report. Flashes of memory brought a face back to the present; something alien, thin and grey. It was a girl with hollowed eyes, scarred cheeks and needle holes. Her split lips swelled with infection. Rusti dragged her head back to the room, back to the trial. "Um, I can hear ships speak to me. I think everyone knows that by now."

"Were you aware that the Spiral Star complained of sabotage? Did you recognize it as sabotage?"

Distant music reached Rusti’s ears, or rather she imagined music playing somewhere far away. "Um, I’m not an expert by any means. All I did was mention what I heard."

"Is that so?" Cobalt challenged. "And what else did you hear the ship say, Miss Witwicky?"

Rusti batted her eyes twice and thought: That it wants to put on a dress, high-heeled shoes and go out on a date with Ultra Magnus! She cleared her throat to keep from laughing at the image in her head. "Um, it, the ship said... well, it read the signature of a scalpel used to cut lines."

Cobalt nodded. "And was that scalpel tetra tri-audio ninety-six point zero seven on forty-three point nine cyberwats?"

She squirmed. "I can’t honestly remember the exact type. I was recovering from injuries I sustained from a fight with a Decepticon."

Cobalt’s face softened. "But you recall a tool mentioned by the ship, is that not right?"

"Yes, I remember there was the mention of an instrument."

"That’s all I need. Thank you, Miss Witwicky." Cobalt turned away and the music filtered through the walls and floor. Rusti closed her eyes. The lyrics sounded vaguely familiar.

Rusti batted her eyes when a shadow passed in front of her. Improv’s alien animal design shadowed the ceiling lights and Rusti momentarily forgot she was in front of an audience.

"Are you with us now, Miss Witwicky?" the defense representative asked sharply. Rusti dumbly nodded. Improv dragged his line of sight to Magnus and Rodimus. "It seems clear to me that the girl here is delusional. Perhaps she suffers a similar ailment as Jasmine Goodwin? Certainly she’s not a raving lunatic-"

Rusti glared. "If you have a question, I’d appreciate it if you’d direct it at me."

Improv’s smile turned to condescension. "Oh, so you are interested in joining the rest of us, are you, Miss Witwicky? Please tell us when you first became aware that you had the ability to communicate with ships. I’d love to know all about that. It’s no secret that you have some sort of... talent. Certainly something that can charm our leaders into doing whatever pleases you. Oh, I’m sorry, am I getting personal there?"

Rusti’s glare ran icy-cold. "I’m sorry, could you repeat the question? I’ve missed your point."

"Well..." Improv paused and searched the room’s far right corner. "It’s just that I question your credibility, Miss Witwicky. For all we know, you could have sabotaged or rigged the records. You could have done the damage yourself. As for the body... well, for the most part, evidence is inconclusive. Oh, well, of course, we know that Orca died before the battle with the Decepticons. But maybe it is that you knew where she was all along. Poor dear; locked up in that small space and you waited until the right moment to point out her whereabouts."

Rusti pursed her lips and nodded. "You know, your little assumption might actually work except that I was onboard the Crested Moon when I first heard the Sunset Kummya complain."

"Complain?" Improv scoffed. "Ships complain? Are they ticklish, too? Do they sing? Do they quote poetry?" A few sniggers followed Improv’s jest. He held up his hand for another question. "Miss Witwicky, do you know the defendant at all?"

The young woman shook her head. "Only by name and assignment."

"So, from where you’re sitting, you can’t tell me anything about the defendant? You can’t read his mind?"

Her brows creased with annoyance. "No."

"Then tell me, Miss Witwicky," Improve pressed, "how do we know your little skill isn’t some sort of cheap trick? How do we know you didn’t stage the incidents?"

Rusti’s attention slipped from the defense rep to the wall on the right. It swirled and moved as though millions of metal bugs crawled along its surface. Improv yelled at her, demanded she explain herself. Rusti set her gaze on him and remained calm. "Emphacto, Improv. Sh’shtaz sik t’tok. Omk zh’vvupteen." Rusti heard the words in her own voice but she didn’t think she really spoke them. Clearly Improv didn’t like being accused of playing games. He glared at her with flaring optics and bowed back to his seat.

Magnus quietly dismissed Rusti as Cobalt stood. "I have another witness, if that’s alright?" he asked.

Magnus gave consent as Rodimus watched Rusti walk down the isle to her seat. The further she walked, the younger she became until she reached her seat. At that point, Rusti turned into a hand-knit doll. She hopped into the chair and sat quietly. Her face, devoid of emotion, stared straight ahead and did not look at him.

Cobalt called Galvatron to the witness seat. Magnus inwardly groaned and hung his head. Galvatron quietly took his place and glued his optics to Cobalt, knowing everyone else stared at him.

"Galvatron, you were the one who found the body of Autobot Klasp, were you not?"

"Yes. Would you like an autograph?"

"And did you know aforehand that the body was there?"

"No."

"Can you tell us the condition of the body when you found it?"

"Dead."

Magnus dropped his head into his hand.

Cobalt tried again: "Will you tell us the state of the body when you found it?"

"Well, truth be told, I dropped out of forensic school. Things that ooze ‘r just... ewwey. However, I was bright enough to discover a body tucked into an external exhaust hatch on the Sunset Kummya." Galvatron scanned the room and his optics contacted Redial’s. He flashed a grin then turned serious when Cobalt asked another question:

"But would you or would you not say that the person was there voluntarily, or maybe placed there?"

"Objection!" Improv announced. "Leading the witness!"

"He is not!" Galvatron retorted. "I know exactly what he’s saying. Sit down, shut up and go back to moping." the Decepticon looked back at Cobalt. "He was dead, Oh Great Prosecutor. D-E-D. As in lifeless. If the poor fellow-what was his name?"

"Klasp. Now, Galvatron-"

"Yes, Klasp. Crappy name for a victim. Nevertheless, I’m under the distinct impression that dead people do not bolt themselves under plating from the outside. If he were alive, I’d have to say that he was trapped, not buried. Furthermore, First Aid announced that the poor guy was brutally murdered before the Decepticon attack. I think that will be all. Thank you, Galvatron for a glowing and inspiring testimony."

Cobalt stared at the former Decepticon leader, unable to invent a comeback. He shifted awkwardly. "Uh, no further questions, Ultra Magnus."

Cobalt reclaimed his chair and Improv rounded his table to face Galvatron. "Well, certainly this is unprecedented! A Decepticon standing witness in an Autobot trial. You must be exceedingly proud of yourself, Galvatron."

"Why? I don’t think it’s good and wonderful at all. I found a body. Someone died. That’s one less person counted among us. Don’t you think it’s a bad thing that our people are dwindling in numbers?"

"Well, yes. You’re right. It is a bad thing-"

"And here you stand, expecting me to celebrate something different when someone has died to make that happen. And clearly, it was a stupid death. He did not die to save someone else."

Improv nodded, "Well, yes, but-"

"Everyone needs each other right now." Galvatron interrupted. "If anyone is to survive long enough to return and rescue Earth, then we all need each other."

"That is true. However-"

"And here we’re holding a trial because the chump whom you’re defending is accused of betrayal and murder. And you’re taking the time to point out that I have made history?" Galvatron stared hard at Improv.

Awkward.

Improv faked a slight cough. "No further questions, Ultra Magnus." and he returned to his seat.

Galvatron turned and smiled at Magnus then at Rodimus and for the merest moment, Galvatron thought he saw Void’s head on Rodimus’s body. Unsettled, Galvatron left the witness seat and found a chair behind Rusti. He said nothing but kept his optics on Rodimus.

Cobalt stood. "Prosecution calls Cloudstreaker to witness."

The shy femme gripped her digipad tightly and sat stiffly, all too aware of Magnus’ optics on her. She hoped she didn’t screw up and look like an idiot.

Galvatron leaned forward and whispered ever so quietly in Rusti’s ear, "Have you been watching Rodimus?" she did not turn around but nodded. Without moving, Galvatron scanned the courtroom wall to wall. Nothing seemed or felt out of place. But the vision raised his hackles.

"I was assigned to investigate anomalies regarding digipad entries and missing tools," Cloudstreaker said. She glanced at Redial who flipped her off.

"And please tell us of your findings, Cloudstreaker." Cobalt watched Rodimus lean back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest. A smug smile appeared on his face. Rodimus fixed his gaze on Redial and it bothered Cobalt. He focused on the pretty femme.

Cloudstreaker suppressed the temptation to squirm. "A multitude of log entries were purposefully deleted from sixteen pads and three tablets. Each entry should have logged in time of use and the assignment for which the digipad or the datatablet recorded."

"Who do you think is capable of such a feat? Is it easy to delete that kind of information?"

"No. Even if the digipad or datatablet were broken, the information would be backed up on a separate drive inside the article." Cobalt moved from the femme’s line of sight and she noticed how Galvatron concentrated his gaze on her. Cloudstreaker dropped her optics, unsure how to take the stare. She leaned over and pretended to rub off non-existent dirt from her ankle. She kept her optics on the Decepticon and learned he was not watching her at all but Rodimus.

Cobalt switched tablets. "Cloudstreaker, is it impossible to erase information from these pads or tablets?"

"Well, it’s time consuming and you have to know what you’re doing, but no, it’s not impossible."

"What qualifications would you need to erase information from the pads or tablets?"

The air shifted around Cloudstreaker. She sensed a flux in the energy patterns in the room. "Uhhmm... you’d have to know pass codes and operation system protocols. Even then, it would take days to bypass Ultra Magnus’ gridlock system. Datatablets were designed to store personal log entries and track progressive assignments. Most users personalize their tablets. So lost information can have personal repercussions."

Cobalt kept her on track: "and digipads?"

"W-well, digipads are interlinked with ship computers, each other and the intranet for the transfer and sharing of data and communication. So, even if one digipad is damaged, chances are, all the information on it has already been transferred elsewhere."

Cobalt held up a digipad. "What can you tell me about this particular digipad?"

Cloudy examined the pad, turned it upside down, scanned the access panels and scrolled through some of its contents. "Someone has tried to bypass the gridlock."

"Can you tell me if the digipad will still work or not?"

"No. This pad has been damaged beyond use. It’s locked up and apparently missing its vital database. And see the black areas on the screen here? It tells me there’s been internal damage."

Cobalt turned away and picked up a datatablet. "So, what if I suggest that the defendant here was the last person to use the pad?"

Cloudstreaker shot a glance at Redial but kept her expression neutral. "Um, it’s entirely possible that as a communications expert, the defendant has the tools and the codes to tamper with digipads. Most communications officers have a level seven access. Blaster, of course, has level nine."

Cobalt smirked. "With a level seven access, Cloudstreaker, does that mean a communications officer has the capability to use the pads and tablets as part of a bomb? Or maybe attain access to a ship’s CPU and cut communications between bridge navigation and pilot controls and a ship’s landing gear?"

Cloudstreaker nodded. "Oh, most certainly. With either a digipad or a datatablet, I can access controls from anything like the main ramp to the surge flow of a ship’s engine." Cloudstreaker snapped her gaze back to the prosecutor. "In fact, Cobalt, you can use these to look up anything about anyone on any ship. You can hack into their personal files, steal their codes and look into their work schedules. You’d have to be very good at it, but it’s still not impossible."

Cobalt retrieved the pad from Cloudstreaker and retreated to his table. "Cloudstreaker, what can you tell me about Redial? Do you know him at all?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me how you know him?"

"We’ve worked together on occasion."

Cobalt stood next to Cloudstreaker so that she had clear view of the accused. "What can you tell us about Redial?"

She shrugged and averted her optics left. "Redial worked as communications sub-router for Fort Horizon before he was reassigned to Fort Draco. He worked with Talk-Chalk for a while but they did not get along. So he put in a transfer to Fort Sagittarius. There was... an incident... um, a misappropriation of equipment. And he was disciplined and reassigned to Fort Zenith on Mars as communications officer."

Cobalt stepped back into the femme’s view. "Now, before reaching Fort Zenith, Redial was sent to Fort Sonix to inspect and transport vitally expensive communications equipment for Zenith. Is that not right?"

"Yes. There were several new prototype components shipped to Mars to extend communications beyond the solar system; communications that we believed were superior to Quintesson technology."

Cobalt paused to let the information sink in. "And how do you know about this equipment, Cloudstreaker?"

She hesitated. "I helped develop it."

"You-you helped... you um, you and Redial developed this equipment together?"

"No, sir," Cloudstreaker corrected. "Blaster and I developed it. We had to bring Redial to Fortress Maximus to train on it for four days."

Cobalt paused again and glanced at the audience with mild surprise on his face. "So... so you’re saying that Redial here has been to Fort Draco?"

"Yes, sir."

"And he’s been to Fort Sagittarius?"

"Yes."

"And Fort Sonix and Fort Max?"

"Yes, sir."

"And as far as you know, did he ever visit Fort Horizon, your home-city?"

"Yes."

"And how do you know this?"

"I am-was-second in command at Fort Horizon."

Cobalt paced back to his table. "And as second-in-command, you are responsible for keeping tabs on all visitors, is that right?"

"Yes. Redial was visiting Japan on leave. He was there for three days and two and a half hours."

The prosecution representative folded arms over his chest and nodded. "Then it might interest you that those very same cities, every one of them, all failed to warn security of impending invasion. All Autobot cities are believed to be victims of sabotage. How are we going to prove that?" Cobalt took his seat. "No further questions, Ultra Magnus.

Magnus granted Improv permission for cross-examination. Rodimus stared at the ceiling. The word ‘sabotage’ struck something deep inside him; a memory riding in the darker areas of his head. But for the love of Primus, Rodimus could not bring the memory to surface. Sabotage... sabotage. It was important and he could not say why.

He watched Galvatron watch him. Neither of them moved. Rodimus did not know or care what thoughts ran through the Decepticon’s meta processor. But a rational part of the Autobot leader hoped Galvatron had the capacity and the strength to focus and lead the Autobots should something happened to Optimus and/or himself. As the trial progressed, something inside Rodimus slipped further and further from reality. That wasn’t so much the problem; he just did not care.

Improv circled Cloudstreaker like a wolf. "How well do you know the defendant? Do you not realize what he’s being accused of? How accurate is your data? How well do you know communications?"

In spite of her nerves Cloudstreaker managed to remain calm. "Rodimus Prime encountered a digipad with a damaged subsystem. It recorded Redial’s request on personal data regarding Klasp. It was unauthorized access. We found data that linked the same tool Rusti Witwicky mentioned to Redial. Some entries were eliminated but there were trace fragments of data that implicated Redial’s involvement."

"Implicated?" Improv demanded sharply. "How so? You mind elaborating on that, Cloudstreaker? Because what you’re saying is pretty damaging. And you know what the penalty is for perjury, do you not?"

Cloudstreaker sent him a mild icy glare. "Data input by any Transformer is not like a Human typing a keyboard. In digipads, there are certain residual electro-magnetic frequency marks that act like fingerprints. For example: Convoy’s EM signature frequency sits at point four seven degrees. Rodimus’ EM signature is entirely different. Redial’s EM signature sits at fourteen degrees. Mine is two point nine. So it’s not difficult to tell who’s used a datatablet or a digipad, even if they’ve erased their name, time of use and assignment."

Improv smirked. "And you know this how?"

Cloudstreaker clamped her lips shut and had to summon greater courage. "I-I can read, manipulate and control energy waves." she dropped her head when Improv stared at her with sudden prejudice. The room stifled with silence until Improv moved to his table.

"No further questions, Ultra Magnus."

Rusti looked on as Rodimus and Magnus glanced at one another in non-verbal communication. Those few humanoids present squirmed in their uncomfortable seats. One Paratron produced a cloth and rubbed the surface of a wounded arm. Wordless moments stretched, testing everyone’s patience and mood. Rusti wondered what Magnus and Rodimus planned to do should they decide Redial was guilty. She blinked. Wait, wasn’t that what the person in her daydream said? She hoped it was wrong.

Rodimus stood stiffly and straightened his digipad so that it lined up with the table edge. Several seconds held the room’s occupants in wait until Rodimus considered the alignment satisfactory. He pinned his optics on Improv as if noticing the Paratron for the first time. "Defense," he said smoothly, "you got more tags to your story?"

Improv perked and left his swivel chair. "Only that I find it doubtful that the accused here is capable of endangering the lives of millions and millions of people. I question the validity of Miss Witwicky’s testimony and I question Alto’s statement based on her current attitude toward my charge."

Rodimus puckered his lip components before dropping into his chair. Magnus stood. "Improv," the Major-general called, "explain why your findings are doubtful."

"Well... first off, Alto’s rivalry with Redial makes her testimony sound more like a set-up than an actual report. How can I be certain of her as a viable witness when clearly, she has less than respectful opinions regarding my charge? Secondly, Miss Witwicky, at the risk of sounding prejudice, is Human, neither Autobot nor Paratron. The very notion that she might have some mechanical... psychic powers sounds too incredible to be believed. If the... young lady is truly so endowed, then maybe she’d like to demonstrate her capacity here in front of an audience."

Rodimus picked up a pointer and played with it between his fingers. He leaned back in the stiff seat with a blank expression and crossed one leg over the other. "Yeah. You’d almost be right, Improv. Except that we got recorded and witnessed evidence. I mean, reports and cameras seldom lie. Rusti, FYI, has buzzed from one ship to the next, checking out shits and giggles. As for Alto, she’s a seriously compulsive reporter. Mags here double-checks her spelling and grammar then assigns Blaster to re-double check her math. All in all, I say we ring the dinner bell and end this trial. So, everybody out. Go home. Take a bath. Read a book."

A strange foreboding settled under Rusti’s sternum. Galvatron lingered with her until everyone else cleared the room. He helped her to the floor and strolled behind her. The Decepticon dared a backward glance. Magnus’ all-business mask fell away and now the Major-general stole a glimpse at Rodimus. Suspicion and wariness flickered across Magnus’ expression for a tenth of a second.

If Rodimus noticed, he did not show it. Prime scribbled something on his digipad. He smiled darkly and the Decepticon’s powercore skipped a vibration when Rodimus’ lip components stretched further out than what was normal. Saying nothing, Galvatron departed and quietly locked the door behind. Across the hall, Rusti waited for him, watching with an unsettled expression. Galvatron offered a light smile. "Mizz Rusti?"

She hesitated. Her eyes darted away then back to the Decepticon. "Galvatron, will... um, will you take me to see Optimus?" With a smile Galvatron kept his pace deliberately slow. They abandoned the short corridor and its dim lighting in silence. Autobots passed them with furtive glances; some with disapproval. But Galvatron shined them on and grinned.

They left the ship and Rusti jumped ahead and forced the towering Decepticon to a halt. "Okay, stop." He did. Six inches shy of stepping on her. Galvatron knelt on one knee. Rusti’s expression reflected approval over his manners. "I don’t get something."

"Ask and you will be mostly-answered."

"Okay. So, they found Redial guilty. But there was no jury. They had witnesses and evidence up the wazoo. But prosecution did not make a closing statement. Defense was allowed to state what he didn’t like about certain witnesses? I-I don’t get it."

Galvatron nodded. "That is why there were two leaders present."

"Two people do not constitute a jury, Galvatron."

"You’re looking at Autobot society as a republic or a democracy. But truth be told, Mizz Witwicky, neither Autobots nor Decepticons operate in such a manner. It is either a monarchy or a dictatorship. Just because there is no jury of peers, does not mean the defendant in question is receiving an unfair trial."

Confusion wrote across Rusti’s face. "How so? How could it be fair if there is no jury?"

"Think what a jury is; a collection of individuals with varying backgrounds whose heads are everywhere but on the moment. Not one of those people know the defendant. Their task is judgement by objectivity. That’s what the trial by jury is designed for. But in the case of Autobot society, the Autobot leader knows each and every Autobot personally, even if there is no relationship involved. All the Prime needs is evidence and witnesses to determine the defendant’s guilt. If there is doubt, then the prosecution will be ordered to go back and re-substantiate their evidence. Hearsay or discriminating evidence is not used in court. And knowing Optimus as I do, he will not even tolerate it. Every Autobot is innocent until proven guilty. So you see, it’s not unfair at all."

Rusti sifted through the information and nodded. In all the years she lived with the Autobots, she never witnessed anything like this. But then, there was nothing normal about their present situation.