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Fortress Tenebrous

Blackout kept to the shadows, no small feat for a warrior of his size. He was silent out of fear if not much else.

The DJD? At first Blackout thought it was some joke. A cruel prank someone was playing. But the Decepticon Justice Division was no prank. They were as terrifying as the stories said.

Which is why the bulky flier decided to keep his yap shut. Let Turmoil handle the power plays that came with these operations. More so than ever, Blackout wished to play his part as the loyal soldier.

Tesarus wrote:"Bring him out. Let all bear witness."

Blackout almost felt sorry for the unlucky Spintrail. Almost. However, if the bot was on the List, then he must have done the unforgivable to his faction and fellow soldiers.

Musterimg all his courage, Blackout took this opportunity to step out into the view of the five members of the DJD, announcing his presence with his usual heavy footfalls. "Commander Turmoil, if it pleases you, shall I retrieve the traitor and bring him here?"

Fortress Tenebrous – Command Center

"We would not dream of interfering with your operations here," Kaon said, looking around. "Such wonderful Cybertronian architecture already in place in such a relatively short period. Your efforts bring us that much closer to this war's end. As do ours."

Turmoil stared at the DJD’s communications officer with hidden disdain. How dared he compare their efforts? Perhaps if these powerful Decepticons had been used against the Autobots, Kaon would have been right. But that was not what the Decepticon Justice Division was aimed for. The DJD was a boogieman. Carefully crafted propaganda machine of Megatron’s to keep rank and file from doubting their allegiances out of fear of losing their lives were they to cross one of the many myriad directives the DJD used to maintain their list. The was no doubt that the DJD had taken care of several internal threats that could have endangered the Decepticon movement but on the whole Turmoil felt that the sadistic inquisitors hurt their cause more than they did for it. The original idea of justice had been corrupted. Whatever the DJD had stood for when it was originally launched was gone. The war was won by the people. These five were nothing but officially sanctioned serial killers.

"I think perhaps you misunderstand our purpose. Word of our presence, and particularly word of the fate that is soon to befall poor Spintrail, must be allowed to spread. Those here must bear witness to his charges and the consequences. It decreases the likelihood of such behavior being repeated."

"Bring him out," Tesarus sighed. "Let all bear witness."

”Misunderstand? No. Merely, I disagree.” Turmoil replied uninfluenced by Kaon’s diplomatic or Tesarus’ blunt words. The stage was set, there was no denying this from Tarn. ”This should have been dealt with internally with minimal effect on operation efficiency. But there’s no changing the course now.”

Blackout, one of the many Decepticons present stepped forth, no doubt wanting to impress the DJD or at least to get out of their presence.

"Commander Turmoil, if it pleases you, shall I retrieve the traitor and bring him here?"

”Bring him in.” Turmoil replied back to the eager warrior before raising his voice to catch attention of another Decepticon gawking on the DJD. ”Whisper! Allow Kaon access to our communications relay. Help him set up the tribunal.”

Tenebrous--Command Center

Whisper was relishing the back and forth between Turmoil and the Justice Division. He could not imagine what it must feel like to have the power to speak with any of these mechanoids in the manner with which they were speaking to each other: the barbs, the passive aggression, the subtle dismissiveness. It was thoroughly entertaining. But Whisper had not acquired his designation through mere happenstance. He quite enjoyed living up to it, leaving the majority of thoughts unspoken.

”Whisper! Allow Kaon access to our communications relay. Help him set up the tribunal,” Turmoil barked out, acquiring Whisper's specific attention.

"As it please our commander," Whisper said with a respectful bow before approaching the DJD themselves. The one to whom Turmoil had been referring, Kaon, turned to face him. Whisper was momentarily taken aback. Where two optics would normally be, Whisper saw only empty, shadowy voids. And yet it was all too clear that the Justice could indeed see him. Almost like he was staring into Whisper's own spark.

"If you'll follow me," Whisper said quietly, before motioning the way to the relay.

Tenebrous--Command Center

Lookout was doing his level best to avoid any unnecessary attention being drawn his way. Exchanging a couple of nervous glances with Shocker and the others had been about the extent of his movement. This was not at all a room he wanted to be in--unless he was somewhere fixing something and the rest of the place was completely empty.

That was far from the current reality.

"I will not be found wanting," Skyrar said.

"I'd hope not. Or you're gonna get whatever's in store for this poor mook they're summoning now."

((Gonna do some nudging here))

The Decepticon who had been manning the station looked and then backed away as Kaon had approached, his arms tucked neatly behind his back as he quietly surveyed everything. Whisper had moved to take the controls but Kaon simply waved him away. None of this technology was foreign to him.

Kaon watched carefully on the communications hub as Blackout had departed, made his way through the corridors of the fortress before ultimately arriving where Spintrail was working. Guards in place, Spintrail was quickly taken into custody. The steady march back to the command hub began.

"Less than a breem," Kaon said as he turned back to face Tarn and the others.

Right on schedule, the double-doors opened once again and Blackout returned, along with the guards and the mech in question.

"C'mon guys, what's this all about, huh?" Spintrail said as he looked from the guards, then to Turmoil, then to the very distinctive presence of the Decepticon Justice Division. Terror washed over his optics.

"O-h f-f-frag me, no.....NO!" Spintrail cried out as he pulled against the grip of the guards.

Kaon couldn't help but grin.

Tenebrous- Command Center

The mini-con sitting in the cockpit of his larger brother's alt-mode had just realized he was shaking. He hadn't really noticed it before, as he had been stunned quiet by the voice of Tarn talking to these other High Command types. Drill Bit on the other hand, had fallen asleep and began to snore...even in vehicular mode.

>>"No yeh idjit! We can't have yeh fallin' aslep around 'ere!"<<, Gauge pinged his brother, and punched the dashboard in front of him. Drill Bit woke up then with a start and tensed his servos, getting ready to transform.

>>"No yeh bloomin' barnacle 'ead!"<<, Gauge messaged him angrilly. He had to get out of the seat because his stupid brother insisted on transforming anyway. With a "keh kuh koh kaugh kuh" (transformation sound), the orange and black drill tank became a burly mech again. He was smiling stupidly, and looked down at his small obviously agitated brother.

>>"Eh wats wrong Gauge? I 'ad a nice nap. Feel right as a fiddle again I do."<<, Drill-Bit relayed.

>>"Well that's good fer you yeh oaf!
Now git that smile off yeh face and look around yeh. The DJD are gonna execute someone and I don' want us teh be next,
yeh git meh?"<<, explained Gauge, who was sweating oil at this point.

All this info coming into Drill Bit's head hurt his tender circuits. Still, he stopped smiling and nodded seriously to his tiny twin, bending down and putting out ahand to offer Gauge a lift so he could see better. Gauge climbed into Bit's hand and Bit stood up straight again, mesmerized by Tarn and Turmoil. They were both so commanding...so perfect...so terrifying...and so were Tarn's kin...the other DJD. He didn't want to make them angry. He felt bad suddenly about getting drunk back on the ship.

All of a sudden then, the doors pushed open and guards were dragging in a guy who was complaining and soon terrified. The two drill cons both simultaneously felt the dude's desperation. However, unlike the dude being held for this trial, Drill Bit and Gauge had no crime against the Decepticon Empire. What had this guy done? Something awful, likely.

"That's the guy.", Gauge whispered into Drill Bit's nearest receiver. Drill Bit just nodded. He was shaking now, which felt like a small earthquake to Gauge.

"Shhh...stop shaking.", Gauge quietly pleaded to his brother.

Tenebous – Command Center
Time ticked away as Tesarus stood motionless, waiting for him to be allowed to take part in the upcoming proceedings. He had tried to coax things along, but this Turmoil had resisted as passively as possible. Not that he cared if if he or other resisted or came quietly.

No, that’s incorrect, he reminded himself. I want them to resist..

His optics remained locked on Turmoil, displaying neither emotion nor his thought process. Few could look him in the optic, much less match him in a fight, but Turmoil looked like such a mech, and for that, he was willing to give this world’s commander a modicum of respect.

"Less than a breem," Kaon said as he turned back to face Tarn and the others.

Tesarus turned his attention to Kaon, but remained silent.

As the double doors opened and the first vocalization of the name on their list reached his receptors, Tesarus slowly turned his head toward Spintrail.

"O-h f-f-frag me, no.....NO!" Spintrail cried out as he pulled against the grip of the guards.

He resists. Good. So good.

“We begin?” he said, though it was difficult to discern whether he meant it as a question or not. His voice seemed to echo in the command center as his chest mounted shredding blades rotated slightly, possibly out of anticipation of coming events.

Tenebrous--Command Center

Hearing this "Spintrail" nobody cry out in terror was music in Helex's audio receptors. That was about it, though. This one...this one wasn't going to be even remotely a challenge. No, like Kaon had said, this one was purely a lesson for the others: "Take heed. Mind your loyalties. Or this fate will be shared."

“We begin?” Tesarus inquired, his blades beginning a cursory spin. Helex's internal combustion chamber began to glow more intensely.

"The sooner, the better," Helex said, looking to Tesarus and then to Kaon and back to Vos and Tarn. "Who gets the honors?"

Tenebrous - Command Center

Tarn poured over the consoles while they waited, trying to select an appropriate setting. Kaon informed them of their target’s ETA, and he appeared within the allotted time frame. Kicking and screaming only when he saw them. An admission of guilt. Tarn had been wondering if he’d make it interesting by implying that he had done nothing wrong. Suppose not. Pity.

As the others eyed their quarry, Tesarus tumbled out a question to which Helex gave an answer. Stepping away from the console, Tarn approached Spintrail, leaning down to look at him slightly above optic level and staring him down. Without looking away, Tarn called for his comrade.

“Kaon. Be so kind as to escort Spintrail out of Turmoil’s command center. We wouldn’t dream of imposing on his hospitality.”

Standing up straight and stepping away with a bit of a flourish as he gestured to the gathered Decepticons. “And set up a video feed to broadcast throughout Tenebrous. Everyone must know what comes of treason.”

Orders given, Tarn folded his hands neatly behind his back and stalked off toward the door where the crowd of onlookers had assembled. Shocker skidded back so fast, making way for the DJD. Tarn’s optics ran over the lot of them, lingering on each individually for the briefest of moments. His own ranks would fall into line. But these...might need further instruction.

“Come,” he uttered in a voice that lacked no authority to all present. With that, he strode out of the room and to their destination. A smaller room intended for torture and interrogation. Upon entering it, a soft tune wafted through the air. The Empyrean Suite.

Tenebrous--Command Center

“Kaon. Be so kind as to escort Spintrail out of Turmoil’s command center. We wouldn’t dream of imposing on his hospitality.”

Tarn was being more accommodating than Kaon would have expected. In his perfect scenario, the act would be done here, so the collected optics of Turmoil's minions could bear direct witness to what was to happen to this latest traitor. But, Tarn had a different vision. One that would no doubt serve its intended purpose just as well. There was always more than one road to Iacon.

None of those misgivings found any voice, however. Kaon simply nodded and approached Tarn and their intended quarry. Spintrail recoiled even further as Kaon approached. It was good to see that their reputation was firmly in tact.

"I didn't mean.....I didn't......I-I....it was just..." Spintrail muttered as Kaon grabbed him lightly by the elbow joint.

"Come," Kaon whispered quietly. Almost soothing. Deceptively so. The mech seemed to melt in his grip, offering no resistance. He simply walked, protesting his innocence in quiet ramblings.

Tenebrous- Command Center

With the monotonous and eerie order given by the masked tank mech of the DJD, Drill Bit began to make his way out of Turmoil's Command Center, keeping with the small band of mechs who had recently been drafted to The Peaceful Tyranny. Gauge had climbed from his brother's large hand to atop his right shoulder and kept his balance as his larger sibling's heavy feet made their way to the torture and interrogation chamber to bare witness directly to what was to become of the traitor.

Drill Bit was bit by bit becoming more level headed after his little nap he'd had and his previous aloofness was quickly being replaced by sheer terror. He qas quite scared of what was happening....fearing for the one named Spintrail. His increasing tremors in his trembling threatened to dislodge his Minicon sibling's footing and send him crashing to the floor. Gauge though, grumbling inwardly with irritation, smacked Drill Bit on the head and messaged him, glaring at him from the corner of his optics visor,

>>"Stop yer shakin' already you lug! Look at it this way....we aint him an we aint gonna betray no one...ye hear?! The DJD want us ter see this here demonstration so that we know our place. We know it. It be to be good Decepticons. Just....try ter relax..."<<

Drill Bit tried to stop shaking, and was able to lower the tremors to a slight rumble, and he replied,

>>"Yeh...I know it Gauge. I'll try."<< That didn't mean though, that they weren't both very scared. They knew if they got on the nerves of the DJD, they could very well be next. For now, they just watched. The sooner it was over, the better. Right?

Tenebrous--Command Center

As Kaon progressed with his quarry, the formidable physical specimen of Helex intercepted their progress. Kaon handed Spintrail off to the larger justice.

"If you would accompany our subject, I have a feed to establish," Kaon said. Helex grinned and looked down at the obviously frightened mech. He leaned over, bringing his olfactory sensors just a meter or so away from Spintrail's cranium.

"Your brain module's on overdrive. I can almost taste it. Pretty soon....you will, too. Heh heh."

That seemed to be the last straw. Spintrail started to bolt, but one of Helex's oversized hands was holding not only his shoulder joint, but a good portion of his upper torso also. He wasn't going anywhere but where the DJD wanted him.

Even if he had to be dragged.

Tenebous – Command Center

Kaon wrote:"If you would accompany our subject, I have a feed to establish," Kaon said.

Tesarus waited, watching as Helex took hold of Spintrail.

Why does he get the traitor first? His chest-mounted shredding blades increased their rotating speed as he watched the smaller mech try to break free.

They always try. They always fail. In the end, it is only the justice we bring that matters.

Keeping his expression even, he turned his attention to the group of mechs watching them. Their energon raced in their fear, he could feel it. If it’d been in his nature, he would’ve smiled. Instead, he turned to follow his fellow DJD enforcer.

OOC-Coverage and nudging

Tenebrous--Interrogation Room

With the Empyrean Suite playing softly in the background, Tarn waited as Spintrail found himself being summarily dragged into what would now serve to be his final execution chamber. The other members of the Decepticon Justice Division arrived in short order. After Helex threw Spintrail down on the floor, he was summarily surrounded by the five of them. Tarn traded a brief glance with Kaon--the latter confirming that all was in readiness.

"Fellow Decepticons, long ago, in Megatron's infinite wisdom, he created a vision for the future. A vision of destiny. A vision of peace. Peace to be had through hard-fought war and, ultimately guided by his steel hand. It is a vision to which all of us...here, now....watching this...have pledged our undying loyalty. It is that very wisdom which established....us. The Decepticon Justice Division. Because Megatron knew that there would be some who falter. Some who turn their backs on Megatron's vision and instead decide to fight to restore the way things used to be. The days when Cybertronians worshiped some mythical toy in some Autobot's chest and allowed the government to force-feed them their future.

"If we want the future that Megatron has promised us, then there is a price. That price is LOYALTY! Each of you who wear the Decepticon insiginia, who have undergone the Rite of Deceptibrand, wear that loyalty for all to see. Indeed, within that insignia are fragments of your own spark casing, the very thing which tethers you to this immortal life that you have been given. When you forfeit your loyalty to Megatron, you forfeit that everlasting life. You forfeit your role in Megatron's perfect peace.

"Our brother Spintrail has turned against that peace. He has seen fit to conspire with Autobots to undermine the work you do here. He has been tried and found guilty. His loyalty is broken. Dead. Thus....he must join it.

"Know that we do this in the fervent hope that none of you who remain will be equally as foolish. Tesarus? I would hate for him to try and run. See that he can't."

Tenebous – Interrogation Room

Tesarus took his usual place in the circle, glaring down at Spintrail, allowing his intent to wrap the traitor in a ever tightening blanket of despair. Fear was a terrible weakness, but a wonderful weapon. And this traitor is about to understand the true meaning of that word, of the depth his betrayal has cost him.

He ignored the music playing in the background, impatiently waiting for the real music to begin. Though he understood their need, he could live without Tarn’s theatrics. The real entertainment would come with the screams of a traitor.

His chest blades, that he’d managed to slow once they entered the interrogation room out of respect for Tarn’s speech, started rotating slightly as his anticipation continued growing the end of Tarn’s speech neared. Though Tarn had a tendency to be longwinded, Tesarus had heard these speeches enough times to know their flow, and he relished the fact that Helus hadn’t damaged Spintrail more than a few scrapes.

Tarn wrote:“Tesarus? I would hate for him to try and run. See that he can't."

Tesarus had been waiting for his name, and with a crooked smile that displayed the joy he felt at being first, his chest blades increased their speed until they were a blur. He chuckled as the traitor’s pleas started flowing, and watched the growth of the mech’s fears as Tesarus stepped forward and his shoulder mounted grappling claws extended and grasped Spintrail by his arms, pinning them to his sides before lifting him so their optics locked.

“Come, traitor, struggle all you want. It will only add to the weakness of your actions.”

Tesarus grabbed Spintrail’s legs, one in each hand, and squeezed, crushing the outer housing and causing oil to leak as he slowly, deliciously placed Spintrail’s feet into the open housing in his chest. Spintrail’s screams as the blades cut into his metallic skin, turning his legs into little more than twisted, energon coated stumps in seconds.

It took everything Tesarus had not to continue, but knowing his role and the punishment that would come if he disobeyed broke though his euphoria.

With a slow, regretful motion, his grappling claws pulled Spintrail out of his chest cavity, and dropped him back onto the floor.

Tesarus’ chest blades slowed, allowing the energon and oil to drip off of them to join the long rivulets running down the large mech’s front and back.

A pity it ends so soon. Such mettle is disappointing. Pulling his gaze from the writhing mech to look at Tarn, Tesarus bowed his head. “As you wished.” He tried to keep his disappointment out of his voice as he stepped back into his previous position to watch the remainder of the traitor’s execution.

Tenebrous- Interrogation Room- Spectator Crowd

>>'It's happenin'! Squelchin' fuel pumps and sparkeaters, oh my Primus!"<<, came Drillbit's anxiety filled message to little Gauge.

Gauge, still perched upon his large sibling so that he could see the procession, clung to the large tank-former for dear life. Even though he was usually calm even during these kinds of situations....the whole dramatization and the presentation of it from the DJD was terrifying enough to evoke the deepest fears from even the most seasoned of warriors in the Decepticon ranks. Gauge was trying himself not to shake now, as he once again started to feel the quaking tremors of Drillbit's uncontrollable terror.

>>"I know! I KNOW! OH!! There goes 'is legs!"<<, Gauge sent back, his optics wide with horror. The scent of fresh bodily energon wafted through the air. Spintrail cried and screamed, and the combination of sounds and scents sent the two brothers' fuel pumps knotting up and making them sick. Still though, they couldn't take their eyes away, while in their ears all that played over and over were the words LOYALTY and the sounds of Spintrail's anguish.

[Fort Tenebrous - Interrogation Room - Spectator Crowd]

Slag.

That was the only thought inside of Ignition’s head. He really couldn’t say much else. This wasn’t a demonstration, it was an execution. The DJD were known to be a group of… well, he couldn’t even say what he was initially thinking, they were just outright psychopaths.

Obviously, he couldn’t say this out loud. He was a simple engineer. He’d get shredded in the same way Spintrail was.

Ignition turned to his fellow engineer Drill Bit and whispered, “Geez, he’s really got it in for himself, hasn’t he?”

Question everything but say nothing, that’s what he did. Best to remain quiet and get on with it than to cause any trouble.

Such a waste. Not only had Spintrail wasted his own life, the DJD were wasting Turmoil’s time. A simple, swift, summary execution before the audience would have been long dealt with by now. Instead they had to make a spectacle out of it, they had to play with their victim to drive in their point. Had it been Turmoil running the DJD, he would have replaced this sadistic theater with brutal effieciency. This was mockery of justice. A slagging circus with sadistic madman as its ringmaster.

As Tesarus ground Spintrail’s legs to ribbons, Turmoil turned his attention to Kaon – DJD’s communication officer. ”You caught him dealing with Autobots Kaon. I need to know what he sold to them. How am I to react? Tighten the security? Change base and defense layouts?”

Turmoil crossed his arms across his chest as he waited for the DJD to continue with their game. ”We must learn from this.”

Tenebous – Interrogation Room

Tesarus remained stoic as he watched the crippled Spintrail writhe and struggle on the floor, fluids continuing to squirt out from servos and fuel lines that no longer served a function.

He didn’t just enjoy his work, he basked in it. Anointed, some might say, in the fluids of his fellow mechs.

Their purpose was to provide a message in as brutally a method as possible, and they did that. At least, he did. The others would send their own messages, but his would be the one those in attendance would remember. Of that, he was certain.

Not that it mattered, he thought. We all serve the Decepticon cause.

Yes, the cause. It was the one thing that had allowed Tesarus and the others to expand their functions and fulfill their destinies. The Decepticon cause had begun with the great Megatron promoting equality and them finding their destinies. Such a simple concept, and yet so many struggled to find or understand it.

That was where he and his fellow Decepticon Justice Division came in.

We help them understand. His optics focused on Spintrail. Whether they understand it or not.

The thought brought a quiet chuckle to his vocalizer as he allowed the silence of those watching envelop the chamber.

Tenebrous--Interrogation Room

As Kaon watched with subdued glee as Spintrail struggle on the floo9r, the bottom portion of his upper torso spurting all manner of fluids onto the floor as his lower torso had been effectively grinded away by the formidable Tesarus. Pitiable. And pitiful.

>>”You caught him dealing with Autobots Kaon. I need to know what he sold to them. How am I to react? Tighten the security? Change base and defense layouts? We must learn from this.”<<

A transmission from the site commander. Performing his due diligence. Good. That increased Kaon's confidence in the longevity of this site.

>>"He was selling blueprints of Styx. Prison layout. Defensive encampments. Unfortunately for him, he happened to sell them to a DSS operative rather than a legitimate Autobot. Thus, the Division believes the damage was mitigated; however, that makes him no less guilty. The Nebulos site appears to have remained secure."<<

Kaon wasted little time to answer Turmoil’s query. A desirable quality in a subordinate. It appeared Tarn had chosen his communications officer well.

>>"He was selling blueprints of Styx. Prison layout. Defensive encampments. Unfortunately for him, he happened to sell them to a DSS operative rather than a legitimate Autobot. Thus, the Division believes the damage was mitigated; however, that makes him no less guilty. The Nebulos site appears to have remained secure."<<

”I see.” Turmoil spoke up, mentally visioning his next step in making sure that Kaon’s assessment of Nebulos was to stay secure. ”I will begin an internal investigation of my own to weed out potential accomplishes of his. This operation will not be compromised further due to internal issues.”

((OOC-Posting and nudging for the sake of momentum and eventual closure to this nugget.))

Tenebrous--Interrogation Room

”I see. I will begin an internal investigation of my own to weed out potential accomplishes of his. This operation will not be compromised further due to internal issues,” Turmoil prompted, eliciting a thoughtful tapping of Kaon's chin structure by his primary digit.

>>"If that investigation bears any fruit, we would be most interested in hearing of the names. For posterity, you understand,"<< Kaon transmitted back before returning his attention to the beleaguered Spintrail, whom Tarn was now crouched down beside.

"You, my poor little Spintrail, were as disappointing a traitor as I've seen in some vorns. I can only hope that your death serves as a suitable enough example that we need not return here," Tarn said, before lifting up the upper half of Spintrail's leaking torso by one arm. "Helex..."

At the mention of his name, there was an audible churning of machinery and an increased glow from the reinforced, shaded polyglass that covered a portion of the hulking mech's chest. In short order, the panels slid away, revealing the full magnitude of the blazing inferno within.

"P-P-Primus...p-p-p-pleeease f-f-for-"

"To the Afterspark you go," Tarn said, before lobbing the muttering traitor into the walking incinerator. His screams could be heard even after Helex closed the heat-resistant panels for a few astroseconds longer before the room once again returned to almost complete silence. All that was left to be heard was the soft, calming instrumentation of the Empyrean Suite.

"Well, with that unpleasantness having reached its natural conclusion, I do believe we will take our leave."

Tenebous – Interrogation Room

Tesarus continued to watch passively, enjoying the feel of the traitor’s energon and oil mixing as it flowed down his frame. Despite doing his part, he felt himself growing bored as Helex was given free rein to do what he did best.

It wasn’t that he questioned his commitment to Tarn or Megatron, but he had hoped this mech would have proven to have something more to him than the squealing of an Autobot.

Spintrail wrote:"P-P-Primus...p-p-p-pleeease f-f-for-"

Tarn wrote:"To the Afterspark you go,

But then that is the sound of all traitors. He grumbled to himself at the thought and the blades in his chest slowed until they stopped. It had been a joy to shred the legs of the mech now burning within Helex, but he wished he had put up more than a pathetic fight. If one lacked the inner fortitude to face their deactivation with impunity, then they should make up for it in the struggle.

Of course, not everyone understood the need to truly live their beliefs like he and the rest of the DJD did. Perhaps, one vorn they would. Or perhaps they were incapable of such things. However they met their end, he hoped it would be by his blades or Helex’s fire. Anything else was… a disappointment.

Tarn wrote:"Well, with that unpleasantness having reached its natural conclusion, I do believe we will take our leave."

Yes, other traitors await us, Tesarus thought as he studied the infuriatingly arrogant Turmoil briefly before readying to follow Tarn back to their ship and their next destination.

>>"If that investigation bears any fruit, we would be most interested in hearing of the names. For posterity, you understand."<<

Kaon, as expected – contacted Turmoil discreetly. The communications specialist of the DJD went straight into the business at hand, earning an acknowledging nod from Turmoil in response.

>>”Naturally.”<< The taciturn general in charge of the Nebulos operation replied back to Kaon before slowly turning his gaze back at the spectacle of DJD’s making taking place before his unsympathetic gaze.

With Spintrail’s lower half shred to ribbons, there wasn’t much left in the tank of the traitorous fool. He didn’t even make an effort to fight back as Tarn lifted his remains up. Other than muttering his prayer to Primus before being nonchalantly thrown into Helex’s internal furnace.

"Well, with that unpleasantness having reached its natural conclusion, I do believe we will take our leave."

Not a moment too soon. As far as Turmoil was concerned, the DJD had worn out their welcome. Their mere appearence had practically halted all of their efforts on Nebulos for this little show of theirs. It was time to get back to work. They had a war to win after all.

”Your ship is fueled and your supplies refreshed.” Turmoil addressed Tarn. ”I take the business between us have been concluded?”

((OOC-Tarn reverting to my control.))

With their work completed and the subject of their adjudication having been consigned--quite literally--to the ash heap of history--Tarn took a brief moment to survey the expressions of the other members of the DJD. They all appeared to be contented by the work they had done. True, this Spintrail had offered them no challenge like that Stanixian madmech Megadeath had, but their quarry would not always be Decepticon warlords capable of slaughtering worlds. Sometimes...well...sometimes it was the Spintrails of world, too, who had wandered astray and were trying to undermine the cause in smaller and less noticeable ways.

In that regard, Spintrail would be an invaluable lesson for those Decepticons gathered here and for the story his death would evoke as it spread to join the other tales of those who had turned against megatron's ideals. Loyalty to the Decepticon cause was to be absolute. Betrayal, perhaps even in the most innocuous of ways, could result in a fate worse than death. Yes, in that regard Spintrail had most certainly served his purpose.

”Your ship is fueled and your supplies refreshed. I take the business between us have been concluded?” Turmoil reported. Ah, Turmoil. So eager to be done with this. Tarn supposed he could not blame him. Were he a warlord of some stature, he would certainly would not want his garrison to become known as a safe harbor for treason. Tarn was reasonably sure that any future traitors would be weeded out well before they managed to earn themselves a spot on the List.

"You've been a most...accommodating host," Tarn said, choosing his adjective very precisely. No need to make this glorified grunt think that he'd been more helpful than he had been, but there was also no need to antagonize him either. Were Tarn a different sort, he might have chosen a different word. But business between this outpost at the Decepticon Justice Division had been successfully concluded. No need to pull at any outlying strings and risk a full unraveling.

"We shall take our leave," Tarn said, nodding to the others before turning and stalking off in the direction of the Peaceful Tyranny.