| abstract
| - This is where the Quintesson Grand Tribunal holds court. The five spiral staircases lead up to a platform at the top of the cylinder. A trio of raised daises are where the three Judges of the Tribunal sit (or hover) when holding a session or a trial. The dais is attached to the walls at the back of the chamber, with a closed portal above the topmost dais. In the center of the chamber floor is a yawning pit, an orange glow flickering from below. This glow emanates from a pool within the pit, the water constantly churned by hungry Sharkticons. A long, metal plank stretches out from the trial floor to above the center of this pit. This is where the defendants stand. A large toggle, attended by an Executioner, allows the Quintessons to drop defendants to the Sharkticons below. <> Across the world, every television channel suddenly goes out. Airwaves go to static and digital signals freeze. It remains this way for several moments, before a new image appears. The same image on every channel: the Quintesson face of Judgement. The face within the pharoahnic helmet speaks in an aged voice, "People of Earth... today is a black day for you. As we usher in the final days of your tenancy, we mark this occassion with a grand event. Usher in the prisoner..." The camera pans out to show a grand judgement hall. Acerbitas hovers on a raised dais, with another five-faced Judge to his right, on a slightly lower dais. The Dais to his right remains empty. Four Bailiffs lead a third judge onto a platform that extends out over an orange-glowing pit in the center of the chamber.Sevax is led into the Tribunal chamber, energy bands holding his tentacles to his ovoid body. Sevax is led over the pit trap by bailiffs. <> Acerbitas's ancient voice echoes across the chamber, "The Prosecutor shall read the charges..." One of the Quintessons with the elongated heads floats forward, "Warlord Sevax, you are charged with gross negligence, resulting in damage to Quintesson property. How do you pleed?" <> Sevax says, "Innocent! Spare me this mockery of justice. I am not amused." <> The Prosecutor's tentacles wave in the air, "Does anyone present have any evidence to submit to the court?" <> Seawing steps forward. "I, Seawing of the Seacons, shall speak!" he rumbles. He looks at Sevax. "The Warlord Sevax was routed by a single Cybertronian, and called upon me to defend the Loquella; had I know the strength of the enemy, I would have come more prepared!" <> Acerbitas hovers quietly as Seawing speaks. The Prosecutor intones, "This evidence has been noted by the court." The xenomorphic head pivots toward the highest dais, "Has the Grand Warlord reached a verdict?" Acerbitas' face of Judgement echoes, "I have." The motions of this trial play out with almost mechanical precission, making it evident to the audience that this is a common practice for these aliens. The Prosecutor goes through the motions, "Guilty or Innocent?" The Warlord spins around, finally settling on the skull-like face of Death, "INNOCENT!" The Prosecutor looks off the screen, "Feed him to the Sharkticons!" The camera once again pans around, just in time to show an Executioner's clawed arm throw a dramatically oversized lever. The end of the platform, benaeth Sevax, drops away. <> Judge Sevax drops into the pit, having the self control not to scream until the sharks are upon him. Sevax screams like a girl as he's overwhelmed and dragged down into the Sharkticon pit <> Judge Sevax screams like a girl as he's overwhelmed and dragged down into the Sharkticon pit <> Acerbitas shifts back around to the face of War, "This trial is concluded. Tenants of Earth... your planet's execution begins." The image changes to a shot from high orbit, showing another Spiral descending toward... this one larger than most. Possibly even larger than the Bellum. It looks like it's going to touch down off the coast of Japan, near where the Flagg was sunk. Acerbitas's tentacles wave as he descends from the dais, "Seacons, to the Warship. We rendezvous with the Transverto." <> The Quintesson broadcast continues to track the Spiral's descent from multiple angles as it burns through the atmosphere. (Where are all these cameras coming from, anyway? Do the Quintessons have a surveillance contract with M.A.D.?) Steam rises from the ocean as the still-glowing hull touches the water, plunging deep into the depths. As it comes to settle, only the uppermost tier of the Spiral and its command spire remain above the water. Doorways all along the sides begin to open. As water flows in through several ports, the orange stain flows out of others, rapidly encircling the Spiral. Brownish-green smoke begins to pour from piping at the base of the spire, rising up into the atmosphere. <> Acerbitas's image replaces the footage of the Spiral, shifting to the unholy face of Wrath, rasping its damning words, "The Grand Tribunal hereby passes judgement on the planet of Earth, and sentences its citizens to perish as we claim your planet as our own!" --- Meanwhile, in Moscow...
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![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)