Transformers: Survival of Defective Products

Draft Chapter 99

After the provisional ruling on T-47 took effect, news of Sentinel Prime popped up again on her private channel.

Sentinel's Enemy: [The first task was handled very quickly.]

The vector stared blankly for two seconds: [What, you didn't expect me to bring up the risk level table?]

Sentinel's Enemy: [I was just surprised; your first strike was more accurate than I expected.]

Vector: [That only shows your expected ability is average.]

The other side stopped for a while this time.

Sentinel's Enemy: [Targeting lower-level supply depots makes it easier to gain a good reputation.]

The vector looked at him with a chilling aura gathering in his eyes.

She threw dirty water on her as soon as she arrived; it's so annoying.

Vector: [I already told you to follow the official procedures if you have something to say. Should I make this a quick reply for you?]

There was no further reply from the other end.

-

The next day, when Master Titanium came over, the debriefing document for the vector was finally finished. The system had just shown that the archiving was complete, and before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, Master Titanium pushed another document in front of her.

Yin Vector looked at the new document, remained silent for a long while, and resignedly took it: "About the T-47?"

"What happened next?" Master Titanium said as he sat down next to her.

Open the vector menu to see the title.

[Draft Supplementary Interpretation of Basic Supply Guarantee Clauses]

She paused, then said, "Draft?"

"Your ruling today will be cited," Master Titanium said. "If you don't provide a proper explanation, similar cases will be brought up again using the same reasoning."

After a moment's thought, the vector indicator asked, "So N9 will appeal?"

"Maybe, maybe not. They've already seen your first judgment," the Titanium Master said. "What they present to you afterward will be more complete and more realistic."

The vector slowly leaned back against the chair.

Got it, the old Cybertronian system really did a great job of increasing her workload.

Master Titanium placed the second and third documents on her desk.

[Boundary review applicable to temporary suspension procedures]

[Sources of Security Review Authority for Administrative Departments]

As Yin Vector stared at the documents, his eyes slowly widening: "These belong to me too?"

"You are the Chief Justice."

"I thought I was just going to court, issuing rulings, and writing debriefings."

Master Titanium looked at her: "That's only part of it."

She now genuinely suspects that the real meaning of the Chief Justice's position is "all the trouble ends up on you."

Master Titanium's tone remained calm: "You rejected the shutdown today using Article 24. What we need to confirm next is whether Article 24 requires further interpretation in similar basic supply matters, and whether the administrative department has room to expand its shutdown authority under the guise of security review."

Yin Vector looked down at the document: "In other words, after I finish learning these laws and regulations, I now have to start learning why the specific regulations are interpreted in this way, how to review and modify them, and how to find and fill in the gaps."

"Yes."

She nestled peacefully into the chair.

Great, the job has been upgraded, I want to lie on the board even more now.

Master Titanium didn't rush her, patting her shoulder and saying, "Let's start with the supplementary explanations. You don't need to finish everything today."

The vector looked up: "Really?"

"real."

Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard Master Titanium add, "But there are still two court hearings tomorrow."

Pointer vector: "..."

She held back the breath she had just begun to breathe: "I understand."

-

Over the next few days, the vector began to understand what a chief judge was.

The court hearing is only the most obvious part.

Following that are rulings, enforcement supervision, review reports, supplementary interpretations of clauses, departmental authority reviews, applications for access to sealed archives, and a seemingly endless list of legal comparison tables.

She started returning home later.

Sometimes when she gets back, the streetlights have switched to low-brightness night mode, and there are far fewer phones on the street. But she still has unfinished drafts on her terminal, and the judicial system will very considerately remind her:

[It is recommended that preliminary opinions be completed before the next work cycle.]

These things will eventually be added to her list of things that cause psychological harm.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime's name is appearing more and more frequently in public channel announcements.

Iron Fortress Coordination Room, lower-level supply restoration, inter-city dispute mediation, medical station repair—many matters naturally began to converge on his side. The title "Autobot" was also mentioned more and more frequently.

Within Calon City, the Decepticon symbols are becoming increasingly prominent.

That cold, sharp logo began to appear in the internal identification systems of some military region equipment, supporter channels, and periphery outposts.

When the indexing vector occasionally scans for relevant information, it will pause briefly before continuing to revise her laws and drafts.

The world seems to be splitting into pieces, but the supplementary explanation she has in hand won't be completed just because the world is divided.

-

When she returned to her residence that day, Megatron was standing on one side of the main screen, which displayed the station report of the Charon Military District, while on the other side was the feedback of the signal projection sent by Soundwave.

[The third batch of internal identifications has been completed.]

[Supporter response has increased significantly.]

The frequency of external attention has increased significantly.

Megatron stood in front of the screen, the Decepticon symbol on his chest gleaming with its dark, sharp edges under the cold light.

The vector glanced at it, said nothing, and dragged its pile of documents to sit on the other side.

She had just opened the draft when a cup of low-stimulation energy drink suddenly appeared next to her.

The vector looked up, but Megatron's gaze did not fall on her.

"Don't wait for the ambulance to remind you."

She took the energy drink and her gaze lingered on his mask: "Where did you learn that?"

"He's noisy."

Vector: ...Can the absence of an ambulance be used as an excuse?

She picked up the glass, took a sip, and then looked down to continue reading the draft.

After a while, Megatron finished processing a report from the military region. Instead of leaving, he sat down next to her.

He remained silent.

Yin Zong glanced at him: "What do you need?"

"no."

She looked down and continued reading, but after a moment, she couldn't help but look up and ask, "Then what are you doing sitting here?"

Megatron looked at her: "Can't I sit here?"

"Yes, it is possible."

"Then deal with your things."

Today, I simply don't have the extra processor to analyze why Megatron suddenly sat down like a silent, silver-gray sculpture.

She continued with what she was doing, while Megatron, a moment later, reopened the Decepticons' feedback report.

The light from both screens blended together, quietly spreading across the desktop.