Oneshot: Above Vos
Oct. 26th, 2012 02:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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tf_speedwritingPrompt: 5# Setting: a balcony overlooking a city (20th October 2012)
Author note: Inspired by 300
Above Vos
"You have indeed a beautiful city, winglord," said the envoy of Iacon with a smile as he entered the balcony. "The view from this place is nothing but stunning."
Starscream nodded and stepped towards the edge. No railing, no anything stopped the wind that caressed his armour and the tips of his wings. Beneath him were the dozens of towers of Vos, glittering in the sunlight, while the Vosnians flew proud and free between. Some of them had spotted their lord and his guest and were now hovering near, watching curiously .
"Thank you, this balcony was built by my ancestors and is nowadays rarely in use."
"Really? What a shame." The envoy hesitated for a moment, but then he dared to step next to the winglord. They were so very high up here, that the endless horizon seemed nearer than the ground. He tried to hide his trembles from the nonchalant seeker. "It deserves more than to be forgotten."
"You're right. Maybe I'll put it in use again soon." Starscream saw to his guest. "But tell me the proposal of the lords of Iacon and their Prime again, Chromedome."
The envoy tried to ignore their surroundings and nodded. "As you wish. For the exchange of the much needed energon, they want to be granted a say in the citys rulings."
"Ah," said the winglord neutrally and turned fully towards his guest. "What kind of say?"
Chromedome shifted a bit. "They want a veto in anything concerning the city's armada and that a contingent of one hundred seekers serves permanently in Iacon. Also they demand that any and all of Vos' energon treaties with the colonies are handed to Iacon. Furthermore, the Prime wants to install a few observers in the city's parliament and -"
"Don't waste more of your words." Red optics narrowed in barely hidden contempt. "I'm intelligent enough to know what all those small says amount to. Let's call it by name – Iacon demands a vassal treaty from Vos."
For a moment only the wind was to be heard, then - slowly - Chromedome nodded. "It's a fair demand considering that Iacon will save the citizens of Vos from a famine."
"A famine they created!" spat Starscream. "Who treated all the colonies like slag so that they wouldn't trade with Cybertron anymore? Who failed to protect the shipments?"
"The Iacon army did all it could -"
"Spare me your lies!" Starscream made a very fast step to the side and was now between the door and the envoy, blocking his only escape. "I've read the reports and listened to the rumours, I know enough that your Prime wants only one thing – power."
Chromedome felt his spark flutter when he saw were the winglord now stood, but then he calmed down. Even Starscream, infamous for his temper, wouldn't dare to do anything to an ambassador. "The Prime is a wise and merciful mech," he argued softly. "And Vos giving allegiance to Iacon is a reasonable demand. Vos would thrive and the only one who would lose are you, Winglord Starscream."
For a moment Starscream just stood there, then he said: "This isn't just about me bowing to your Prime, this is about me swearing all those that I protect and represent as the winglord into following the Prime, while knowing that they would be nothing more than second rate citizens!" His red optics burned. "Or did you really think that we don't know what you say about us? Clip the wings of a seeker and he'll show you what he always was – a beast. Or, seekers are only good for two things – interfacing and war, but in both cases you should keep a leash near."
Chromedome would have liked to step back from the irritate seeker, but behind him was nothing. Instead, he sighed. "Please, that are only small parts of the population, you can't put that much stock into unimportant sayings."
"I wouldn't exactly consider things taught in educational datapads unimportant," said the winglord with a wry tone. His wings twitched with barely contained emotions. "How many of your lords want to use this chance to force us into a vassal treaty to keep us contained? How many want to see us as nothing better than slaves?" Starscream's finger touched the headlight embedded in the breast plate of Chromedome and glided along it. The mech shuddered. "I don't know the exact number, but they were enough that they put relations with the colonies at severe risks, and endangered my whole city to famine." He pinched a few cables between armour parts in sudden fury.
Chromedome flinched. "These are baseless accusations, winglord."
"Oh, I assure you, they're anything but baseless." Starscream smiled sharply and his hand moved to the face of the envoy, tenderly stroking the cheek. "Did you really think that we would bow? That we, the race that was given the sky as its domain, would allow ourself to be leashed?" With a strength that his frame had concealed flawlessly, he suddenly forced the envoy back, towards the edge.
Panic flitted across Chromedome's face. This wasn't possible. He wouldn't dare... "Winglord, please, rethink your position!"
"No," was the cold answer.
"Please!" His pedes were losing their hold. The wind pulled merciless at him, joined by gravity. To steady himself his flailing hands clung to the winglord's armour for dear life. "Your people will starve! And Iacon will never forgive the death of their envoy!"
"Maybe. But this doesn't have to concern you any more."
Chromedome couldn't believe it. How had everything fallen apart so quickly? How had he miscalculated this badly? "You're mad! If you do this there will be no treaty but war!"
Starscream's smile widened. "Then war it will be," he said and kicked his guest over the edge.
The envoy fell from the ancient place used for executions of all those that had threatened their freedom with a long, long scream that echoed against the towers and spires and through the whole city. Everything in Vos stopped and watched the mech plunging, not one flyer trying to stop his fatal descend.
Starscream, though, turned around and entered the tower, already mentally preparing for what would come. And all he felt was excitement.
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no subject
Date: 2012-10-26 05:26 pm (UTC)By the end of this, I found myself wondering if Chromedome was really that naive to think that Iacon actually had Vos' best interests at heart or if he was trying to just placate Starscream, knowing the truth. In any case, he paid the price, whatever the truth was.
Chilling, but very good glimpse of pre-war Starscream.
Starfire201
no subject
Date: 2012-10-26 07:45 pm (UTC)I agree, Chromedome miscalculated badly. He put too much trust into the protection his position granted and didn't realise (failure in research here) that Starscream held their freedom and pride above everything else (and let's admit it, a famine and war at the same time? Bad idea.).
I can't think that Chromedome was that naive to think that Iacon wanted the best for Vos, but he was a politician and he would say what would earn the most desirable outcome. First, that Starscream agreed and then, he tried to save his own life.
~silber
no subject
Date: 2012-10-27 08:37 am (UTC)First off, though: blocking is only escape. - blocking HIS only escape.
And I don't agree with the above review; while there is a chance that the balcony's use was once so 'famous' that it is part of Vos' history (which even an outsider could have known about), I think it absolutely normal and reasonable, for a balcony in Vos to have no railings. Surely, the Seekers built all of them like this, to just up and fly away whenever they please? As a proud part of Cybertron's society, why would they bother with safety issues applying to groundframes in their own city?
If I didn't belief in Optimus inherent goodness, I would wonder if he sent Chromedome because the mech is expandable ^-^" He's certainly not a good diplomat and naive (and his name seems to imply that he's a dazzler and nothing much else).
Considering the information given, I can wholly understand why Starscream blames the famine etc. on Iacon and the Prime there - though I would have preferred it if he had had better arguments than the thing with anti-Seeker propaganda - it's a bit hard for me to believe that Optimus would sanction such stuff in the first place... - Does someone manipulate both sides' from behind the scenes, perhaps?
Anyway, great FF, as always; I enjoyed the political world building as usual! :)
no subject
Date: 2012-10-27 10:01 am (UTC)Mistake corrected.
It would be interesting to describe more parts of their culture, but you're right, I can't imagine them having reailings anywhere. Why should they? That's why they execute people through falling - it's a very dishonourable way to go. At least, I imagined it to be. But it never fitted into this small oneshot.
:D I didn't mention the Prime's name because I've difficulties as well seeing Optimus as an evil guy. But maybe Sentinel...? Chromedome certainly was expendable, but he was also a too bad ambassador. But this is politics, who knows what's played behind the scenes? ;)
Yeah, I kind of have the other side of the arguments in my mind. And the anti seeker propaganda is true, but not something really official. More of a thoughtless action in Iacon.
In this world there are many many manipulators. :D More than one for sure.
Thanks. :D It seems I can't let go of the political world building. It's too much fun.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-27 04:17 pm (UTC)*shrug* Just a minor typo, had this been my FF, I wouldn't have spotted it >_< I hate those, while reading, you automatically fill the 'h' in to make it 'his' without noticing. I love it when your own brain works against you *facepalm*
*nods* I suppose, if they don't want to get rid of groundframes, they warn their guest's politely to be careful and stay away ^.^ And I can totally see that, falling to deactivation being a very dishonorable way to go! Maybe they clip your wings, to execute Seekers that way, and then the whole family/clan bears the black mark of shame...
When I hear 'Prime' the first association is always Optimus XD But you're right, Sentinel, I'll bet you that I buy HIM using such tactics (or not owning up to his own mistakes in politics/economy/war).
I like it :) Not everything can be fluff or H/C (though I'm never complaining when it IS LOL).
no subject
Date: 2012-11-02 06:40 pm (UTC)The brain can be very helpfuol, but sometimes it works simply against you. Kennst du diesen Affentest in dem die Gorillas im Bild rumhüpfen?
Yep, I can really imagine this as well. There can't be a more shameful way to go for a seeker than falling to death. :)
Yep. I have a big story in my mind that is really only about the different Primes and how they changed Cybertron.
True fluff needs hurt too. No wonder we all love H/C. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-11-05 10:50 am (UTC)Nein, kenn ich nicht. - Was ist das?
Now I would really love to read something about a seeker who is damaged and thus grounded and has to depend on a groundframe to get out of enemy territory or something. Would be interesting to see how that affects his psyche, how he struggles - especially if those two TFs are good friend...
Write it, write it! :)
no subject
Date: 2012-11-06 11:47 am (UTC)Have fun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo
Write the idea?
I'm writing it. More or less... when I have time... which means I'm pausing. XD But the first 6000 words or so are written.
no subject
Date: 2012-11-07 01:37 pm (UTC)Aha. Und was heißt das jetzt für mich, dass ich 15 Mal gezählt habe und auch den Gorilla gesehen habe? XD
LOL It's actually part of my "Meeting Half-Way" - only problem with that is that I have only managed to write the first part so far. And for now, I completely lost interest in TF as far as writing in the fandom myself is concerned.
6,000 words already, yay! :) Can hardly wait to read it!
Martin J Potter
Date: 2012-11-02 03:02 pm (UTC)Re: Martin J Potter
Date: 2012-11-02 06:24 pm (UTC)~silber
no subject
Date: 2012-12-01 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-02 11:27 am (UTC)