A massive Space Station, twice the size of Jupiter, functioned normally as it orbited a gas giant three times its own size. It was shaped like a globe, but the bottom half was golden while the top was made of windows and atmospheric shields. Looking into the dome, one could see buildings surrounding a central sphere, almost like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. As it floated, multiple ships entered visual range after slowing down from their journey through warp space. The ships were assigned flight paths and docked at their respective air locks. An elderly Femaxian woman, a fat, elf-like man with a goatee and roughly half Optimus\u2019 height, and Earthia of Greengate waited for their new visitors. The visitors (Optimus, Megatron, Llyra, Gaia, Vector Sigma, and Aleena) then came forward. \u201cWelcome to the Council Station,\u201d greeted the Femaxian. \u201cI am First One Marnath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Basso Profundo, Grand Conductor of Eurythma,\u201d greeted, or rather SANG, the elf-like man in his bass voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I am Earthia of Greengate,\u201d finished Earthia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNice to finally meet you in person, Earthia,\u201d replied Aleena. \u201cI\u2019m Aleena, Queen of Mobius.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m Llyra, Supreme Councilor of Nebulos.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTransformers need no introduction!\u201d sang Basso Profundo. \u201cEspecially not you, Optimus Prime and Megatron! You two upended the Council\u2019s hopes that you had finally stopped fighting yourselves!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBasso Profundo,\u201d replied Optimus, \u201cwhat we\u2019re about to tell you all will end our war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany Primes have said that; all have lied!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBasso Profundo, enough!\u201d snapped Earthia. \u201cWe have to get going.\u201d She turned to the new arrivals. \u201cIf you will follow us.\u201d Everyone followed them to the Council Chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery welcoming,\u201d muttered Aleena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Transformers\u2019 reputation isn\u2019t a good one,\u201d explained Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that going to mean for us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No clue.\u201d They entered the chambers and Optimus\u2019 group was floored by how many members there were. Earthia then took the highest seat and tapped a gavel on a little stand. The chambers went quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs she who issued summons,\u201d she called, \u201cI convene this, the ninety-eighth Galactic Council.\u201d Everyone sat down. \u201cTo confirm your council-ship and right to be heard, present now your pieces of Tarxanite, my fellow councilors.\u201d Optimus\u2019 optics went wide as he looked to Aleena, then Megatron. Megatron was still looking around the chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBigger than I remember,\u201d he muttered. \u201cMust have added new members.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegatron, Tarxanite!\u201d hissed Optimus. Aleena looked to him in pleading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRelax, look,\u201d assured Megatron. \u201cThis isn\u2019t the first time I set foot on this station. Sentinel Prime and I came here to try and plead our case about Mobius when it was Earth. They laughed us out, but we still managed to be heard at least.\u201d Optimus and Aleena then noticed what people were putting into a collection bowl that floated by their seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026They\u2019re not pieces of\u2026Tarxanite, whatever it is,\u201d remarked Aleena. \u201cThey\u2019re pieces of junk!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe original plan was to use Tarxanite to buy your right to be heard,\u201d explained Megatron, \u201cbut when the First Galactic Council came together, it was during a Galactic Economic Depression that was so bad, you couldn\u2019t even buy a gemstone as common as Tarxanite. They were, to a point, flat broke when they came together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026So, change the name!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo what, pieces of whatever we happen to have in our pockets at the time? Real grand sounding.\u201d They then went through their pockets and put them into the bowl. This went on for a minute until it stopped at Basso Profundo\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBasso Profundo, your Tarxanite, please,\u201d directed Earthia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMight I point out,\u201d sang Basso Profundo, \u201cthat we are still short a delegation. I am as content as a chorus to wait until the Quintesson Imperial Magistrate arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Imperial Magistrate is dead!\u201d called a voice. Just then, Judge Commodore Brinn stepped into the chambers and deposited what he had in his pockets. \u201cThanks to THEIR banishment of THEIR devil from an insignificant planet,\u201d he pointed an accusing finger at Optimus and Megatron as he spoke through his face of wrath, \u201cmy planet and people are gone! I have only a ship of survivors, and no women to help restart the race! Optimus and Megatron, I accuse you of using Unicron as a means of eliminating us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot guilty!\u201d countered Optimus. \u201cWe only wanted Unicron out of our lives! The coordinates were supposed to go somewhere away from all civilizations, especially from those even bordering on the Neutral Zone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhatever crime we have committed, I assure you,\u201d supplied Megatron, \u201cit was NOT our intention. We have proof of this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, do you?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe refers to us!\u201d called Gaia. The Council members then got a better look at her and Vector Sigma and started chatting amongst themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA Vok?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that Lux and Umbra\u2019s daughter?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is impossible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnicron is only the darker half of a Vok named Primacron,\u201d continued Gaia. \u201cThe Transformers are not guilty of the Quintesson Genocide. If anything, we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat proof do you have that YOU are the real guilty party?!\u201d demanded Brinn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAllow me to tell the tale,\u201d explained Vector Sigma. \u201cAttach me to the best mind probes you have. You will see that I am not lying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Bring out the T-9 model mind probe,\u201d called Earthia. Vector Sigma was wired to a machine. \u201cNow, speak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt starts before the Big Bang,\u201d began Vector Sigma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once he finished his tale, everyone got readings that confirmed he was telling the truth and was sane. Brinn seemed to have sobered up. \u201c\u2026Very well, I withdraw my accusation of the Transformers being responsible for the genocide of my race. You\u2019re still accused of rebelling against us when we commanded Cybertron.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn that, we happily declare that we\u2019re guilty,\u201d answered Optimus. Vector Sigma was removed from the mind probe and returned to his seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe question is not whether the Transformers are responsible for Quintessa\u2019s destruction,\u201d called Earthia. \u201cThe question is that Primus and Unicron woke Tornedron up and Starscream\u2019s directing the action. So, how do we answer it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe fight them!\u201d called Vector Sigma. \u201cWe all have weapons and-!\u201d The chambers hooted in laughter. Basso Profundo stood up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis station is a fortress,\u201d he belted out, \u201ca well-supplied fortress! There is no need to fight if they cannot get in!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy friends,\u201d called Megatron, \u201cthere is a third option. In another age, when this station was much smaller, the First Galactic Council voted to leave the Vok home-world alone. \u2026That was a mistake in the long run. Yes, it kept the peace, but gave Primus and Unicron a means for enacting their combined experiment! Better were the days when mastery of the stars came not from deals with distant Gods, but by working with active ones! Lux, Umbra, and Gaia were the example of divinity taking an interest in their creations! Councilors, we are left with only one option\u2026we must free the Vok and Gaia\u2019s mothers!\u201d The chambers were silent\u2026for only a few seconds. After the silence, jeers followed as everyone angrily pointed at Megatron and made threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShoot him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTear out his voice-box!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShoot him AND tear out his voice-box!\u201d called Optimus, prompting Megatron to roll his optics. \u201cThen shoot the voice-box and buff out those scars!\u201d Brinn then spoke up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Imperial Magistrate would have freed the Vok!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo one rushed to their aid in the past!\u201d countered Basso Profundo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s not likely their mood will improve on their release!\u201d called a woman that looked like a Vulcan but dressed as an Aztec woman and used her emotions. Her name was Alana of Tlalak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI agree with Vector Sigma!\u201d called Llyra. \u201cWhy should we listen to the pseudo-mermaid?!\u201d Alana twitched as she glared and answered Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause the \u2018pseudo-mermaid\u2019 comes from a race capable of conquering your world!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou threaten me?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI silence you!\u201d Alana then drew a pistol and leveled it at Llyra. Optimus rushed and knocked the pistol aside, but Alana had fired it at the ceiling from the impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRash idiot!\u201d grunted Megatron as all hell broke loose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is lunacy!\u201d mumbled Aleena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is politics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMeanwhile, our enemies are bearing down on us,\u201d muttered Gaia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf they aren\u2019t already here,\u201d mused Vector Sigma.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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