I Can't Deal With That Now.

slag post Ultra Magnus

[minimusmagnus]

*squints at you* and just what do you think you are doing?~ @Ultra-Meghnus

@ultra-mehgnus

[looks up… and up… and up…]

[…is this really how tall he is in the armour?]

I am keeping affairs running smoothly on this ship. As, I assume, are you.

[ultra-mehgnus]

I attempt to keep them running smoothly.

However… *oh god, is he really that short without the Armor?* things do not always run according to plan and circuits get fried on all sides.

*he squinted more, was he really that goddamn short? Platform feet. That was going to be his next upgrade. Pladform feet*

[minimusmagnus]

I find it best to merely observe and only step in when the situation becomes dangerous.

It helps to put good guidelines in place beforehand. I find that others have less resistance to following rules if they are unrestrictive as possible without compromising safety.

[ultra-mehgnus]

Have you met Wheelie yet? An inter-dimensional entity stepped in to make the airlocks disappear just to keep him safe. *he sighs heavily* I believe the earth Coloquialism about "herding cats made of Jello" applies appropriately.

[ultra-mehgnus]

Ooc: I'm watching people tiptoe around with the new @minimusmagnus blog that was made, likely in response to people not liking how I wrote Magnus.

But like, don't tiptoe? The Tumblr TF role play community has a long history of doing this, hell this blog and my @youvegotthedare blogs exist for the exact same reason.

So if anyone is concerned about my reaction to it, especially since no one discussed anything with me, dont be.

I'm pretty sure the new Magnus blog will write the character well, and if I could give any advice to them: remember that canonically Magnus is the most inflexible in situations of change (remember he couldn't operate the Magnus Armor when he believed Megatron Betrayed them, and the only reason he snapped out of it was to prove Rodimus was wrong).

Write Magnus true to canon and true to yourself and you should be fine.

But like, ya could have told me what you planned ahead of time so I could let you know that I would promo you instead of blindsiding y'all like this.

But seriously folks, go follow the new Magnus blog, because Magnus needs more love on Tumblr.

I ain't going anywhere myself, but there's alwats room for the new kid on the block.

Show 'em some love.

[sniproscope]

OOC:

If I step on any toes, I apologize- but this comes off as INCREDIBLY entitled.

I know the mun of that Magnus/Minimus blog, and the reason they started it was because they liked writing the character, and had nothing really to do with your portrayal of Magnus- to assume otherwise doesn’t come off as very friendly or well-meaning.

The people who interacted with them weren’t “tiptoeing”, they were threading. It’s what you do when you roleplay. There was no tiptoeing, there was no whispering about trying to dodge you, they found someone who wanted to thread, and started threads.

And what would there be to discuss with you? No one is obligated to tell you who they are threading with and why unless you ask- and even then they are fully within their rights to not tell you? You aren’t in any way owed reasons or information about who threads with who.

And Magnus being “inflexible” is YOUR interpretation- that’s how you read his interactions and how you viewed his character. Not everyone is going to have the same interpretation as you; Especially with speeches like this being made by Magnus which shows a great deal of development and deviance from this “inflexibility” you claim is Canon(tm).

[ But like, ya could have told me what you planned ahead of time so I could let you know that I would promo you] And this was just decidedly unnecessary, if we’re all being honest. Absolutely no one is obligated to tell you when or if they decide to create a character blog; this isn’t an early 2000s IRC roleplay room, there’s no mods to report character apps to?

“You should have told me what you were doing so I could promo you” Considering how a lot of this is worded it seems better NOT to, because- again, a LOT of this comes off as rather entitled and kind of rude. 

[ultra-mehgnus]

Consider this, the new blog starts interacting with a Rodimus who is known for being touchy about interactions (I was told so by a mutual friend), and who seems to (if you read the tags) not like it when they dont get their way.

So you'll have to excuse me if I feel a little hostile concerning the situation. I am trying to not make it a hostile situation and I genuinely mean well towards the new Minimus blog.

If you see me as being ingenious or whatever, that is an interpretation you are free to have. However ignoring the fact that I bear little to no ill will towards anyone is overlooking the truth of the matter.

And if you want to throw the inflexibility and not adhering to canon at me, you may, but remember that i specified situations of stress and change. Magnus is most relaxed when everything is humming along perfectly, he's more personable and generally nicer. But in situations of high stress and when the rules are being thrown out the window, Magnus becomes uptight if not outright angry.

As I said, new blogs being made to replace ones that are no longer in favor is the norm around here. I've seen it with at least a dozen Rodimus', Rung's, and Optimus'. So don't be surprised of it being my first conclusion, since it seems I am wrong about that, I do apologize.

But it doesn't change that I am ok with this cycle, and it doesn't change that if I want to welcome new members to the community with open arms -regardless of why they made blogs- that I can welcome them.

If someone chooses to interpert that welcome as backhanded, I cannot change that. I just try to say what I feel in my heart.

I have no grievances with anyone, I just find the highly suspect nature of the situation hilarious, and I find it even funnier knowing that my initial guess was wrong!

I've spent 9 long years role playing, ive been doing this long enough to find situations funny before I find them upsetting.

After all, its about fun, not politics, and I for one, have fun writing Ultra Magnus the way I write Ultra Magnus, I understand it might not be to folks taste, but they don't have to go to just one Magnus. There are at least two that I know of now, and there may be more I dont know about.

Its about fun, and I do fun my way.

[minimusmagnus]

*squints at you* and just what do you think you are doing?~ @Ultra-Meghnus

@ultra-mehgnus

[looks up... and up... and up...]

[...is this really how tall he is in the armour?]

I am keeping affairs running smoothly on this ship. As, I assume, are you.

[ultra-mehgnus]

I attempt to keep them running smoothly.

However... *oh god, is he really that short without the Armor?* things do not always run according to plan and circuits get fried on all sides.

*he squinted more, was he really that goddamn short? Platform feet. That was going to be his next upgrade. Pladform feet*

[ultra-mehgnus]

Ooc: I'm watching people tiptoe around with the new @minimusmagnus blog that was made, likely in response to people not liking how I wrote Magnus.

But like, don't tiptoe? The Tumblr TF role play community has a long history of doing this, hell this blog and my @youvegotthedare blogs exist for the exact same reason.

So if anyone is concerned about my reaction to it, especially since no one discussed anything with me, dont be.

I'm pretty sure the new Magnus blog will write the character well, and if I could give any advice to them: remember that canonically Magnus is the most inflexible in situations of change (remember he couldn't operate the Magnus Armor when he believed Megatron Betrayed them, and the only reason he snapped out of it was to prove Rodimus was wrong).

Write Magnus true to canon and true to yourself and you should be fine.

But like, ya could have told me what you planned ahead of time so I could let you know that I would promo you instead of blindsiding y'all like this.

But seriously folks, go follow the new Magnus blog, because Magnus needs more love on Tumblr.

I ain't going anywhere myself, but there's alwats room for the new kid on the block.

Show 'em some love.

[ultra-mehgnus]

* Angering Ultra Magnus is a mistake... Pissing off Minimus Ambus.... well.... He is a goddamn point one percenter..... That... is catastrophic*

[ultra-mehgnus]

"Minimus? Let's go for a walk, alright? I think it's time to take a break."

Unfortunately I do not have time to, I am currently overseeing Updates to the code, as a discussion I had privately with Optimus led me to believe that not only have I not been forthcoming enough with the details of the Code, as well as the fact that the Code needs updating to be more modern. *He turned back to his work, Rung should have known that getting Magnus to do anything the larger bot didn’t want to do would be pointless, and that addressing him as Minimus would unlikely work for a while as he has been mostly subsumed by his Ultra Magnus persona at the moment*

[sparkmender]

“No. We’re going for a walk, whether you want to, or not.”

As small as he is in comparison to the Magnus armor, Rung can still put his foot down, laying a sense of grace and dominance over both his voice and EM field with intent to force the other into at least listening.

“You can edit the Code at any time. It will hardly be going anywhere. But I need you to come with me, because otherwise, the crew is going to throw you in the brig. Do you understand?”

[ultra-mehgnus]

*Magnus simply smiled at him* Section 338.4 - 8. “Cause for arrest must be stated. attempt to arrest an officer without due cause can be met with force.” To put it plainly Rung, They can’t arrest me for disagreeing with them. If they attempt to they compromise the very belief in freedom that they hold so dearly. And if they throw out the code in order to ensure the freedom of members of the crew who identify as Decepticon or Fromerly Decepticon, then they will have doubly compromised that belief in freedom. If they want to lock me up, they have to throw out the very belief that people are entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. If they do that, well, let us not forget that Optimus Prime is aboard this ship at this juncture.  I Doubt anyone wants to explain to Mr. “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings” why that freedom is being infringed upon, to his face.  The Autobot Code exists to prevent the very abuse of power they desire to commit. So tell me Rung, are you going to let them imprison someone for expressing the right to free speech? or are you going to quietly leave before they realize you are up to something? *magnus crossed his arms firmly. This was the sort of stuff he was born for, the immortal lawman? enforcer feared by those who broke the Tyrest Accord? No, Ultra Magnus- No, Minimus Ambus was a civil rights activist, he saw his own brother abused and beaten for being a Beastformer in their youth. He had advocated for the freedom and civil liberties of all Cybertronians who were considered inferior. He was not about to be shut up because a bunch of people didn’t like that he disagreed with them, especially since those people were were the people in authority- because what was oppression of freedom of expression in order to maintain tranquility? it was the very thing he had become an Autobot to combat- it was Peace Through Tyranny*  Now go, before you get caught in the crossfire of people too thin skinned to be told they could be wrong.

[ultra-mehgnus]

*Magnus’ Particularly Salty Memos not directed at anyone in particular*

The Ranking system put in place by the code is extremely rigid. and while previously I was able to enjoy the benefits of being the Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest  Accord, which enabled me to set outside of the codes confines when pursing particularly dangerous targets such as Scorpinok or Prowl, I was still limited by the burden of evidence. I had to prove someone was guilty of a crime before I could charge them or arrest them. However since handing the mantle of the Accord Enforcer to Fortress Maximus, I have been beholden to the much tighter confines of the Autobot Code. Leaving the chain of command with Optimus as supreme commander of the Autobot Forces ( primarily because no one has taken the time to transfer command at all. even the one time when Optimus did transfer command, it was done informally with no proper documentation rendering that entire instance unusable as a precedence for leadership transfer within the bindings of the code), followed closely by it’s Chief Operations Officers, typically Ironhide, along side the similary ranked office of the Chief Security officer, or Prowl to be more specific. Below that ranking would be the field commanders and the unit commanders. such as the commanders for the lightning strike coalition, and the wreckers. a small subsection intersects with these are the City Commanders. This would be roughly the rank I hold in the Autobot command structure.  Individual ships as well as the instances of other Primes typically operate outside of the military command structure unless there is an overall battle commander or if someone does the proper paperwork and makes sense of the whole “multiple primes” situation. As to date we are living in the first era since the time of the thirteen to have more than one living prime, leading to the rank of “Prime” being almost irrelevant except in religious matters such as is the case with the Camiens.  The Primary point of this being that inside of the autobot command structure approval for actions such as arrests of high ranking officers require going through the highest level of command, which means, effectively, Prowl can prevent his own arrest by gaming the system as no one is able to go around him to get information to Optimus, through official channels at least.

[ultra-mehgnus]

"Minimus? Let's go for a walk, alright? I think it's time to take a break."

Unfortunately I do not have time to, I am currently overseeing Updates to the code, as a discussion I had privately with Optimus led me to believe that not only have I not been forthcoming enough with the details of the Code, as well as the fact that the Code needs updating to be more modern. *He turned back to his work, Rung should have known that getting Magnus to do anything the larger bot didn’t want to do would be pointless, and that addressing him as Minimus would unlikely work for a while as he has been mostly subsumed by his Ultra Magnus persona at the moment*

[ultra-mehgnus]

*Magnus Salty Memos to no one in particular*

The Autobot Code is constructed in such a way that it directly frustrated the actions of a prime, requiring them to go through a series of “hoops” as it were, in order to get things done, while ensuring their actions are not of malicious intent or corrupt, nor for any self aggrandizing measures. These rules were initially set in place after Sentinel Prime proved to be extremely corrupt, and were later updated when Nova Prime was revealed to be Nemesis Prime, making the regulations on unilateral decision making by Primes more difficult, at the request of Optimus Prime.  Later these sections were updated to limit a Prime’s power further at the behest of Windblade in an attempt to curb Optimus Prime’s actions on the planet earth.  Interestingly enough Rodimus Prime never ran afoul of these rules, save the time he remained captain when voted out, However it has been noted that it is possible that Getaway tampered with both the votes, and the list of crew-members that Rodimus was given. Under these circumstances it is not possible to discern if Rodimus violated this section of code, wheras the past violations by Sentinel, Nova, and even Optimus during the period in which he annexed earth were far more blatant and quantifiable. 

[ultra-mehgnus]

*Magnus’s Salty Memos to no one in particular*

The entire Purpose of the code is to deal with crimes committed under it’s juristiction and with proper cause. To arrest someone without proper cause would be a gross abuse of power and perversion of justice.  If I were to say orchestrate the imprisonment of obstacles to my goals in order to achieve what I wanted. or to arrest someone purely for disliking them or what they have done, I can assure you Sentinel Prime would have been the first one arrested and thrown in jail a long time ago. However most situations where an arrest is possible within the code are reserved for situations of either violence or of extreme danger and there must be enough evidence to prove that an arrest is warranted. exceptions are made for assaulting superior officers, assaulting innocent bystanders, and asaulting comrades in arms or any other violent crime witnessed by one who has the authority to arrest another person.  Arrests are also allowed to be made regardless of rank or title, as long as there is evidence to support the arrest, a superior officer or a prime cannot be arrested without enough evidence that they committed a crime, and the same goes for those who are of a lower rank, they cannot be arrested without due cause and supporting evidence that they committed a crime.

[ultra-mehgnus]

*Magnus is salty, so enjoy his salty memos to no one in particular*

If anyone actually bothered reading the code, they would see that “Decepticon liturature” is allowed, because now Megatron is an autobot and 90% of his writings are poems and the other half is Towards Piece.  To assume the Code does not adapt is to have never read it. The entire point of constantly updating it is to make sure it works for the times. At one point the code actually banned being colored Purple, do you have any idea how many Autobots alone are purple? outdated sections are removed as needed and when applicable replaced with modern interpretations that take into account necessary changes without compromising the overall integrity of the code, in fact, if it were not updated the code’s integrity would be compromised already. 

[autobotcommanderoptimus]

Musings of an Ancient Prime

@starsparkcd The choice to join or leave a faction is extremely personal, I wish you the best in whatever future you choose for yourself. That being said, @ultra-mehgnus Has only one good point, which I will address in a moment. For the time being, Ultra Magnus, you are being a petty and petulant child for acting as if your concern is any sort of excuse for belittling Rodimus. The only point Magnus makes that is valid is how will the Lost Light be affected by this, and from what I have seen it is causing quite a disturbance, but it is one that can be weathered as long as you all come together as a family instead of attempting to pull each other apart or tear each other down. @whirliibird Perhaps you should consider that Magnus comes from a perspective opposite yourself almost exactly, and that to him changes are dangerous and should be made with care and council. Whereas you Magnus, should consider that the fluidity of your fellow crewmates means that they will be able to adapt no matter what happens. But perhaps the greatest cause for my own concern, and quite possibly the solution to all your problems, is that you all seem to have forgotten that @megatronus-maximus has proven himself a capable leader, and with the help of Rung and the others, he will be able to captain the ship in a capable manner.  After all, you consider yourselves to be a family, and what is a family but those who have become one?

[ultra-mehgnus]

I... Understand Prime... Perhaps I have spoken out of turn...... 

[starsparkcd]

First of all, there is nothing wrong with the Autobot Code. Second of all, what happens if your officers reject your resignation? *Magnus is literally trying to not lecture Rodimus right now, but his tone implies the enitre lecture right in those two sentences.* ~ @Ultra-Mehgnus.

“First! What’s wrong with it is right there in the name. It’s the Autobot Code of Conduct; as of right now we have multiple members who are Decepticons, or consider themselves neutral. The Code doesn’t account for them, meaning that despite any intentions they could be in violation of multiple rules at any time just by behaving like themselves.

Two! We’re not longer at war, and most of the Code was created and written during wartime, meaning that by its very nature a good majority of it is completely outdated and no longer applicable, or only applicable in certain circumstances. I’ll point to the ‘no Decepticon propganda’ point I know is buried in the Code somewhere, which defines anything and everything written by, promoted by or symapthetic to Decepticons and the Decepticon Cause as propoganda. Which means that any literature our Decepticon crewmembers currently own from their faction would result in them being arrested, despite not even knowing the Autobot Code.

Three! If my officers–or anyone else on the crew–don’t agree with changing the rules, then they’re welcome to explain why and if their reasons are reasonable and make sense then I’ll consider their contributions while looking at what needs to be changed. If however they’re clinging to old ideals that no longer work during peace time or doing it because ‘that’s how it’s been’, they’re welcome to step down and I will appoint new officers who are willing to consider that times change and sometimes old rules and solutions no longer work and need to be replaced with ones that do work, and work fairly for all parties living under them.

And four, you don’t get to reject my decisions about my personal beliefs or faction. The decision to not be an Autobot isn’t something I’m deciding on a whim, Magnus. You’ve said, multiple times, very loudly, that you don’t respect my authority, or even me as a person. So I don’t see why I should respect your opinion on whether or not I choose to leave the Autobots.”

[ultra-mehgnus]

I do not disrespect you, I do not however, respect how you gallivant about while holding the mantle and title of a Prime. I do not respect that you have no respect for rules or regulations. and I do not respect that you actively shirk your duties. I have never said I disrespect you as a person, you have a good spark, and when you listen to it instead of hiding behind the persona you have cultivated for yourself, you have wisdom beyond your ages. You are devoted to your friends and would give up your spark for them just as quickly as they would for you.  I find you as a person to have goals as noble as those of Optimus himself, But you are no Prime. You behave as a clown, pretend to not understand things or outright play dead when things aren’t going your ways.  Such behavior is unbecoming of a Captain or a Prime, and I have been hard on you because I believe you can do better, be better. I fully believe that if the Matrix chose you to be a prime, that there is a reason, I also believe that if the Matrix chose you to be a prime you must live up to what that means to thousands of beings across the universe. Not what it means to Nova, or Sentinel, or even to Optimus himself. But to the Cybertronians who still believe in the Primes, to the Camiens who place their faith in every matrix blessed prime, almost blindly, and to the Autobots, who will follow you to the end of the universe and back, all because you are a Prime.  As for questioning your decisions, that is my job. Before Megatron came aboard this vessel I served as it’s second in command. in my duties as first officer it has always been to question your decisions so that you might be presented with the potential ramifications of the decisions you make, because you do not just hold your life in your own hand, but the life of every person who believes in you on this ship, every person who chooses to follow your lead without question.  As for rules, you gravely misjudge the Autobot code if you do not believe that it can accommodate anyone who chooses to serve on a vessel governed by it. Megatron has done well abiding by the  code, as have many of the Decepticons who have joined our ranks. The most egregious code violations are done by those who have no moral compass and no sense of decency, such as Prowl…..  You do a disservice to yourself  and your crew if you think you can just go off and play hooky without considering the ramifications to those who actively look to you for guidance and for those who see the greater potential within you. So where do you get off sulking and saying the universe revolves around you? that you get to choose for your entire crew what they want? Because I will bet you that if you reject the Autobots some will come after you, and the Decepticons and Galactic Council surly will, but you will also potentially bring those who follow you into greater danger.  You must choose what is the right thing to do, and what is right for you, may not be what is right for your crew, for your friends, and for your family. So tell me Rodimus, can you be the Prime everyone needs you to be? Because I believe you can. After all, a Prime is not an Autobot, or a Decepticon, Nor a Nail, nor a Maximal, or a Camien, nor a Predicon, a Prime is a leader who has to make the hard choices because they make choices for more than themselves.

[starsparkcd]

There’s a difference in questioning my decisions to make sure I understand the consequences and outright disrespecting me and my authority as captain, and outright insulting me to my crew. [he breathes slow for a moment, optics closed as he holds tightly to control of his temper.]

I think you have a fundamental misunderstanding of who I am as a person. You know the choices I’ve had to make. You have all of them in that stupid database of yours, the one you rely on so damn much, but that doesn’t tell you anything, does it?

It doesn’t say anything about what it’s like to watch the life being sucked out of everyone you care for by the very hands of a Prime, of watching as the Autobots enforced that Prime’s power. Of hating the Autobots as much as everyone else, but thinking maybe one of them could help. Leading Optimus Prime into the heart of your home because you thought he was the one person on the planet who might understand and might have a chance to save them and then watch him fail to live up to that hope, Magnus.

To have him tell you to save all those people yourself while he plays distraction, knowing that none of them had the strength to even stand and walk, to evacuate and his words of wisdom were to tell me too bad go find a way.

To burn it all down in a firestorm and have OPTIMUS PRIME TELL ME THAT GOOD LEADERS HAVE TO MAKE HARD CHOICES HOT ROD, YOU DID WELL.

That was my first impression of Optimus Prime and his Autobots, Magnus. Good job murdering everything you loved, Hot Rod, that’s what leaders have to do sometimes. So don’t you condescend me, Magnus, or tell me that Primes need to make hard choices. I’ve made those choices. And I know when someone thinks I’m not worth their respect, I’m not stupid.

And I think you’re the one misjudging the Code. You stick to it religiously, live and breathe it like it’s the only thing that keeps you alive. You assume that it can solve any and all problems when it can’t.

And I don’t want them to follow me because I’m a Prime! That’s something you and everyone else don’t seem to understand. I want them to follow me because they trust me, they believe in me and have faith that I’ll do what’s right for everyone. Not because some stupid bauble said I was a great leader. Following Primes blindly is what led to a four million year war. I may be reckless but when the chips are down have I ever shirked my responsibility, ever stepped back and let others get hurt without doing everything I could to protect them?

You think I don’t hear the whispers of the Matrix every night? You think this isn’t something I’ve thought long and hard about? It doesn’t matter that the stupid thing’s broken now, because I felt it inside of my spark, and of the two of us I think I know what it approves more than you do.

And who said anything about hooky? I said I resign as an Autobot. I said nothing about leaving my post as captain of my ship, or leaving my crew. Maybe it’s time to leave Autobots and Decepticons behind. Maybe it’s time for something new, where everyone matters. Maybe it’s time to be a fucking Crusadercon. Reclaim the suffix, that’s what Swerve said right? Reclaim the entire god damn species, and keep looking for the things that matter instead of the things we lost. Maybe that’s what’s right.

Maybe it’s time you took your own advice about seeing the consequences of your actions and thinking things through.

I think, Ultra Magnus, it may be time for you to step down as an officer in favor of someone willing to compromise when it comes to whether or not a set of rules is truly beneficial to the crew and their safety.

[ultra-mehgnus]

Do not lecture to me about the Autobot Code Rodimus. The very fact that you think that rules can be sidelined shows that you have no idea what the code governs. The Code makes sure that when people make stupid decisions, they are countermanded. Rule #478.9 was created in response to the very situation you have addressed, where Optimus prioritized winning the battle over saving lives. That particular section of the code declares that “Civilian life cannot be expended at the expense of a military campaign”. Have the Autobots been good at keeping to the code? No, they have not. Have they tried? Yes, they have.  Optimus is no saint, but he isn’t the devil either.  As for leaving the Autobots and Decepticons behind, it is a noble goal, but it is not one you can enforce anymore than you can make people accept your choice. People inherently choose factions, because people inherently seek an identity. People can choose to move on, but others may choose not to, or worse, they may not let others move on. As for disrespecting your authority of Captain, I have only one thing to say: What goes around comes around. You have had no respect for my role as enforcer of the Tyrest Accord- lest we not forget our first meeting on earth when you were in flagrant violation of both the code and the accord. You brought me aboard this ship as a commanding officer, yet you treated my advice and suggestions as jokes, and treated the Accord, much less the code, as if they meant nothing. You cannot rightfully expect me to respect the captaincy and authority of someone who does not respect the Authority of the Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, because in that capacity, I outranked both Autobots and Decepticons.  The Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord has Always outranked Both Autobots and Decepticons, because both Autobots and Decepticons agreed to the Tyrest Accord. You have implied in your statement that disrespecting someone in authority over you is wrong. So, when you can acknowledge disrespecting me when I was the Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, then I will be willing to re-evaluate my judgement of you. As for resigning, the very fact that you bring it up suggests you forget why I am an officer aboard this ship. It suggests you forget that you have people like me around to tell you the things you don’t want to hear, to tell you the things you don’t like. And if you want only yes men who will tell you what you want to hear, then you are the one who is unfit for duty. 

[whirliibird-blog]

Push comes to shove, I’m throwin’ my weight behind Team Rodimus.

Who’s with me.

[ultra-mehgnus]

The real question is, Is Rodimus Prime doing what is right for team Rodimus? or even for this ship.  The Lost Light has, for lack of a better word, become a family over the years.  Can this family survive being pulled apart? or is it even being pulled apart? Those are the difficult choices a leader must make. 

[whirliibird-blog]

I think, pal, you’re the one gettin’ pulled apart here.

For cryin’ out loud, one of our Guiding Hand is literally called Adaptus. We’re made to overcome, adapt, and evolve, ‘cause we’re, ya know, living intelligent machinery.

‘Sides, Maggie. Rodimus really has been thinking this over for a long while, now. And I’m damn proud of him for speaking up about this, finally. You had ta have seen it coming.

[ultra-mehgnus]

Whether one has been thinking about something for a long time or not does not matter.  What matters is what the end result will be. Can Rodimus be certain all will be well if he leaves? Can he be certain all will be well if he stays? My job is not to encourage him or give him pats on the back and hand out praise in the form of an award shaped like my own face, that is his job. My Job is to criticize his decisions, to criticize everyone’s decisions, so that they are sure they are making the right decision. Freedom may be the right of all sentient beings, but I am no prime, I prioritize the safety of all beings be that the safety of this crew, or the safety of it’s captains.  If that means I have to roadblock an idea until all parties are sure it’s the right decision, one that is made in the open and with the input of others, instead of alone and in the dark, then I will. Because Rung Damn-it, too many people making decisions in secret is what led to Overlord’s Rampage, to Prowl’s numerous crimes, to Getaway’s mutiny, and to this whole goddamn war starting in the first place. So you’ll have to excuse me if I’m going to be critical of the decisions made by those in power above us. Because just because a decision feels right, does not mean it is the right one at the moment. 

[whirliibird-blog]

Push comes to shove, I’m throwin’ my weight behind Team Rodimus.

Who’s with me.

[ultra-mehgnus]

The real question is, Is Rodimus Prime doing what is right for team Rodimus? or even for this ship.  The Lost Light has, for lack of a better word, become a family over the years.  Can this family survive being pulled apart? or is it even being pulled apart? Those are the difficult choices a leader must make. 

[starsparkcd]

First of all, there is nothing wrong with the Autobot Code. Second of all, what happens if your officers reject your resignation? *Magnus is literally trying to not lecture Rodimus right now, but his tone implies the enitre lecture right in those two sentences.* ~ @Ultra-Mehgnus.

“First! What’s wrong with it is right there in the name. It’s the Autobot Code of Conduct; as of right now we have multiple members who are Decepticons, or consider themselves neutral. The Code doesn’t account for them, meaning that despite any intentions they could be in violation of multiple rules at any time just by behaving like themselves.

Two! We’re not longer at war, and most of the Code was created and written during wartime, meaning that by its very nature a good majority of it is completely outdated and no longer applicable, or only applicable in certain circumstances. I’ll point to the ‘no Decepticon propganda’ point I know is buried in the Code somewhere, which defines anything and everything written by, promoted by or symapthetic to Decepticons and the Decepticon Cause as propoganda. Which means that any literature our Decepticon crewmembers currently own from their faction would result in them being arrested, despite not even knowing the Autobot Code.

Three! If my officers–or anyone else on the crew–don’t agree with changing the rules, then they’re welcome to explain why and if their reasons are reasonable and make sense then I’ll consider their contributions while looking at what needs to be changed. If however they’re clinging to old ideals that no longer work during peace time or doing it because ‘that’s how it’s been’, they’re welcome to step down and I will appoint new officers who are willing to consider that times change and sometimes old rules and solutions no longer work and need to be replaced with ones that do work, and work fairly for all parties living under them.

And four, you don’t get to reject my decisions about my personal beliefs or faction. The decision to not be an Autobot isn’t something I’m deciding on a whim, Magnus. You’ve said, multiple times, very loudly, that you don’t respect my authority, or even me as a person. So I don’t see why I should respect your opinion on whether or not I choose to leave the Autobots.”

[ultra-mehgnus]

I do not disrespect you, I do not however, respect how you gallivant about while holding the mantle and title of a Prime. I do not respect that you have no respect for rules or regulations. and I do not respect that you actively shirk your duties. I have never said I disrespect you as a person, you have a good spark, and when you listen to it instead of hiding behind the persona you have cultivated for yourself, you have wisdom beyond your ages. You are devoted to your friends and would give up your spark for them just as quickly as they would for you.  I find you as a person to have goals as noble as those of Optimus himself, But you are no Prime. You behave as a clown, pretend to not understand things or outright play dead when things aren’t going your ways.  Such behavior is unbecoming of a Captain or a Prime, and I have been hard on you because I believe you can do better, be better. I fully believe that if the Matrix chose you to be a prime, that there is a reason, I also believe that if the Matrix chose you to be a prime you must live up to what that means to thousands of beings across the universe. Not what it means to Nova, or Sentinel, or even to Optimus himself. But to the Cybertronians who still believe in the Primes, to the Camiens who place their faith in every matrix blessed prime, almost blindly, and to the Autobots, who will follow you to the end of the universe and back, all because you are a Prime.  As for questioning your decisions, that is my job. Before Megatron came aboard this vessel I served as it’s second in command. in my duties as first officer it has always been to question your decisions so that you might be presented with the potential ramifications of the decisions you make, because you do not just hold your life in your own hand, but the life of every person who believes in you on this ship, every person who chooses to follow your lead without question.  As for rules, you gravely misjudge the Autobot code if you do not believe that it can accommodate anyone who chooses to serve on a vessel governed by it. Megatron has done well abiding by the  code, as have many of the Decepticons who have joined our ranks. The most egregious code violations are done by those who have no moral compass and no sense of decency, such as Prowl.....  You do a disservice to yourself  and your crew if you think you can just go off and play hooky without considering the ramifications to those who actively look to you for guidance and for those who see the greater potential within you. So where do you get off sulking and saying the universe revolves around you? that you get to choose for your entire crew what they want? Because I will bet you that if you reject the Autobots some will come after you, and the Decepticons and Galactic Council surly will, but you will also potentially bring those who follow you into greater danger.  You must choose what is the right thing to do, and what is right for you, may not be what is right for your crew, for your friends, and for your family. So tell me Rodimus, can you be the Prime everyone needs you to be? Because I believe you can. After all, a Prime is not an Autobot, or a Decepticon, Nor a Nail, nor a Maximal, or a Camien, nor a Predicon, a Prime is a leader who has to make the hard choices because they make choices for more than themselves.

[ultra-mehgnus]

What was it Megatron once said about Rodimus.... “ I [Megatron] take stock, Optimus takes stock, you sulk, you’re doing it now”