thisavrou | [VIDEO][001] - Backdated to Magnus' Arrival

[The video feed flickers to life, and despite the commotion, it's very much intentional. For those of you who know Riptide, you can see him frantically trying to escape from two hands that about as big as he is. Finally, one hand seizes Riptide and slams him to the floor. With some stability now, the camera is able to focus on Ultra Magnus. For those of you who don't know him, prepare to be bored. For those of you who do know him, it's possible that he's much much bigger than you remember, having had a few necessary upgrades recently.]

[He clears his vocalizer.]

Attention to all those who receive this broadcast. My name is Ultra Magnus. I have recently come aboard this ship and have been given the position of bailiff and parole officer. Let it be known that I have served as an officer of the law prior to my enlistment aboard the Moira, and as such, I promise that I will treat my duties and responsibilities with the utmost care, respect, and diligence that is befitting the position. I am fair and even-handed, and I look forward to working with all of you and becoming a productive member of the community.

That said, I have in my custody the one known as Riptide. He is a former comrade of mine, who served aboard the same ship as I did. Some of you may know him, and I am obligated to inform you that trusting this individual is a huge mistake. He is, as of now, being apprehended for being an accessory to mutiny.

[If Riptide wriggles, Magnus quickly presses his considerable weight down on him to make him stop.]

As I am still unfamiliar with the ship, I wish to know where the brig is located. I also wish to know everything about the due process aboard, as I intend to have this...this...ne'er-do-well answer for his crimes against his chain of command. In addition, if there are any forms and paperwork associated with the booking of prisoners so that they can be properly processed, I will more than happily fill out any and all necessary forms.

Again, I hope to make your acquaintance and let's all be sure to follow the new rules and expectations set forth by our current caregivers.

Magnus out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah? Well, he hasn't done anything like that here.

[ Snake may not know much about Riptide's past or his situation back home, but somehow he gets the feeling that he'd mutinied for a good reason. Either way, he'd rather hear it straight from Riptide instead of this over-zealous newcomer. ]

Generally people get a clean slate here, unless they were killing innocent people back where they come from.

[ Like a certain other purple Cybertronian who should most definitely be locked up. ]

His actions put us squarely in an un-winnable situation. We were left for dead and I was personally about to make my last stand before I arrived here.

[ Well, that sounds pretty damning, Snake has to admit. But he knows there are two sides to every story and he's finding it hard to believe that Riptide would be behind something like this.

He doesn't particularly like it when his carefully crafted impression of someone ends up being completely wrong. Especially because it's happened way too many times for comfort. ]

Any idea what his motivations were?

No, but that is why I wish to find out.

If he knows something...anything...I think I am entitled to it. I understand I can't place him under arrest by the laws governing this ship.

However, I do follow Cybertronian law. While he can't be imprisoned or tried, I can at least apprehend him and bring him before the rest of our crew.

This is probably something you were better off handling privately.

[ Too little too late for that now, but Snake figures he might as well try to defuse any repeats in the future. ]

Riptide's been on the ship for a while, gotten to know people. It's pretty natural that those people are gonna get defensive.

[ And some are likely to take Riptide's word over this stranger's. ]

I admit and will hold myself accountable for my actions. I wish to coexist amicably with the people and crew of the Moira.

I understand that no one wants to see their friend get apprehended by the law. I was merely...overzealous in doing my duty.

[ Okay, well, at least the guy can admit it. ]

I'd say have a heart-to-heart with Riptide and figure out where he was coming from. You can go from there.

[ Somehow, Snake is giving advice to robots. Why is this his life. ]

I intend to. I suppose I am...

Unsettled.

Riptide wasn't alone in his decision to strand us and stage a mutiny. There were...others. Many of whom I served beside in a war that lasted millions of years. Good friends and comrades. Loyal and trustworthy. I feel...

I do not know how I feel.

[ Now that this guy has calmed down a little, he's speaking with a lot more sense and a lot more honesty. It's more than Snake would expect, given that he's a complete stranger, but it does shift his opinion of him. ]

Betrayed, probably.

[ He should know, he's been there. ]

I don't know much about this war or about where you come from in general. But if people who you trusted turned on you all at once, there must have been a reason.

Yes. That.

There were...extenuating circumstances. I could understand to an extent why they did what they did but...

Leaving us all for dead...?

[He sighs.]

My apologies. I am sure this is hardly any of your concern.

[ Snake shakes his head. ] It's fine. [ Sometimes you just needed to get it out, and sometimes it was easier to do that around a complete stranger. ]

So what are you going to do with him?

[ It might be best to refocus his thoughts onto the future, rather than letting him dwell on the past. ]

Ask him what he knows. Ask him his reasons.

Ask him what we could have done differently. Done better.

Then, it is up for our commanding officers to decide. I enforce the law, but that is as far as it goes.

Fair enough.

[ Snake's curious to know how this all turns out, and he plans to question Riptide about it himself when he gets the chance. Obviously that isn't going to happen now, since there hasn't been any sign of him over the course of this conversation. ]

Is enforcing the law part of the job that they gave you here? Or is that just something you're carrying over?

[VIDEO][001] - Backdated to Magnus' Arrival

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