#Not military SIC Starscream

[hello-im-not-a-possum]

Where did you get the "transformer x mouthwashing" crossover idea?

I was interested in Transformers, I watched a few playthroughs of Mouthwashing, I noticed character similarities...

And most importantly, I noticed character differences.

Both Jimmy and TFP Starscream are cowardly, lying, power-hungry people who can and will betray others for their own survival. But Jimmy is the human equivalent of roofied alcohol; Useless in a survival setting (in general), knocks people out (Swansea, likely Anya and or some other poor girl pre-pony express, given that Curly implies he's helped Jimmy though a situation like that before), and gets people into rough situations that due to the time and place, they will not survive (Everyone).

While Starscream is... Starscream is closer to a living military grade swiss army knife; Sharp, cold, but incredible at securing resources (The three years Megatron was off-planet), Works well under high-stress dangerous situations (The entire show/four million year war. Seriously, look at the cards he was dealt, look me in the eyes and tell me you can do better I know I can't), will cut down any opponent without mercy (Cliffjumper, Wheeljack had Soundwave not stopped him), is willing to work with/save others should it benefit him in a substantial and or petty way (Saved Breakdown from MECH despite Megatron telling him not to, saved Arcee from Airachnid despite her being a threat to him because Bee convinced her to spare him/presumably their shared distaste for Airachnid.) And I could go on, but I'd need a rewatch of the show to refresh my memory of everything this robot has endured.

I swapped the two SICs not at the start at their stories, but when everything started to go downhill for the other (The crash for Jimmy, before leaving the decepticons for Starscream) because had Jimmy been there at the start of the war, he either would've been one of the first to die or would've killed so many decepticons in an attempt to save his own skin and had Starscream been there at the start, he would've ran a tight ship and the crew would not think of him fondly, but everyone would make it out okay.

TL;DR: Anya hates Jimmy because he turned a bad but survivable situation into a life threatening one via exploiting his power over her and dammed them to rot in space. And in a non-life-threatening situation, Anya would mildly hate Starscream because he's an asshole who cheats at board games, but at least he's an asshole who takes the job, his mental health evaluations, and their situation seriously.

[whatudottu]

I don't have too much context on the Aligned books, but a part of me thinks that the reason why the Decepticons in TFP are a bit more hesitant to actually accept Starscream as a leader (an official one when Megatron was found comatose rather than a temporary one while Megatron was soul searching) is because of his status of being forged and alloted as a military bot, whether it's seeker high command or what.

The Decepticons in Aligned started because Megatron was a charismatic gladiator from the pits of Kaon, speeches like poetry and ideology loud and proud. A lot of mecha see him as the face of the 'Cons (despite their symbol being clearly Soundwave's face) even if Megatron's grasp on tactics had to be learned in a fight never flight scenario that the pits put him through. When it comes to being a functional leader, Megatron barely knows anything and is leading by being essentially a figurehead though if you brought that up he'd slay you the instant you spoke, which would probably be the reason WHY Megatron insists of having Starscream be his Second in Command despite all his treachery.

The Decepticons feel that they NEED Megatron, for having anyone else be in charge would feel like hypocrisy, the closest anyone would ever get to being a leader based purely on being a model Decepticon would probably be a Vehicon which well... 1) they'd have to outclass Megatron's very impressive charisma, and 2) Vehicons don't have the best eh track record of being treated well. And seeing that Megatron NEEDS a competent Second in Command, competent enough to plan out strategies he wasn't forged (or constructed) to train in, the second element in play perhaps is the satisfaction of being of higher rank than a military bot. And I'm not pulling that shitty 'exotic bird' seeker shit in here, seekers aren't an entirely different species or worse a fucking animal species (it's a job, it's a rank, it's a role, etc), but who wouldn't feel even a remote sense of accomplishment, glee, whatever at having to fight tooth and nail to get to the very top of something and having someone that didn't have to work hard to be good under your command?

And that shit pisses of Starscream so fucking bad.

As the SiC, Starscream can preen all he likes about suggested strategies and pathways and general other management duties of an entire army (or at least to the sphere of influence the Nemesis holds), but it is Megatron with the final word. Like a rich idiot CEO flaunting their power and kicking dirt into their adviser's eyes, Megatron still has the mindset of a gladiator, has only the experience of a gladiator that Starscream gawks in horror at. To be fair, in combat (even in minor activities like fencing and mind combat like chess) you fear the amateur that knows no opening strategies for if the beginner has no strategy how can you outplay them, but that would only work up until a certain extent. Sometimes games of combat last near forever, a complicated battle between winning and losing of micromanaging fleets and squads to correctly combat the enemy, other times you make a fatal error, exposing your weak spot and cringing as the knife sinks deep.

If Starscream ever were to permanently take over the Decepticons as their leader, he would have far more foresight in planning - as evident by his competence at the beginning of TFP whereby he, the entire Nemesis, and their mining operations went undiscovered for years - and probably needle the Autobots with far less casualties between engaging and victory. However, he from his background is not representative of the Decepticons, for he came from something. Starscream did not battle his way to the top, not in the same way Megatron had to in the pits, nor did he battle his way into the Decepticons, he from memory was purposefully sought after. Hell, given his tendancies as SiC already giving Starscream a bad rep with many a 'Con, Starscream isn't as... not liked (Megatron would hardly be considered 'likeable') but... compelling, as grandiose of a leader as Megatron had built himself to perfectly appeal to an audience.

They need each other to rule, and the saddest part of TFP and it's characterisation is that statement is inherently contradictory. Neither can stand being in the same room as the other, there is a significant power imbalance between the two and frankly? Their mutual dysfunction working with one another is detrimental to the effectiveness of the Decepticon High Command.

As it is in canon, it's eh not the easiest to watch. Megatron makes the dumbest decisions and Starscream has to pull a plan out of his ass to make it better, or Starscream gets over ambitious and Megatron feels threatened and sets everything back to the status quo in the way a gladiator does.

I think that it might've been cool, interesting maybe, if the Megatron and Starscream had a more balanced dynamic. Megatron cannot have a Second in Command that doesn't know what they're doing, cannot have one that doesn't take initiative and seize the moment; Soundwave isn't a military bot, Airachnid's impulse is to run away to try again. Starscream cannot hold an audience, he cannot inspire troops with a rags to riches story he himself does not have; Vehicons have less power in their voice fresh off the assembly line, they are the people Megatron inspires.

Maybe in some universe where the Decepticons are more akin to a fucked up family, this could be... something better. idk... I just think it's interesting.

[vaguelydcwnwards]

STARSCREAM (EARTHSPARK) ;;

name ; starscream pronouns ; he/him (in an androgynous way) faction ; decepticon sexuality ; omnisexual size class ; medium frame frame type ; seeker alt. mode ; f-18 hornet job ; air commander lord commander of the decepticons

relevant HCs ;

spark derived from the allspark but frame factory-built

was low caste from creation, assigned low ranking military

was one of megatron's earliest and most ardent supporters; bought into decepticon rhetoric full-stop and would have burnt down the senate himself if he'd been allowed

was actually loyal to megatron for a long time, even when megatron's violence began to be turned towards him; only began to buck back fully once he saw megatron's behavior as destructive towards the cause, which is when starscream began to unpack his own hurt.

being in GHOST's prison for a decade and a half just allowed him to stew on his negative emotions. he's not really been able to heal.

trined to novastorm and skywarp.

as megatron's former SIC, is now lord commander of the decepticons as they currently stand.

his vibe is angry, radical anarcho-communist. emphasis on the angry. his selfishness is a learned survival trait, but hashtag's influence has made him want to try and work on at least that aspect of himself.

tags ; gen tag | hc tag | aesthetics tag | ic tag | gen ship tag (tbd)

[viper-commander]

Starscream lay exhausted on his berth. Finally. Finals were over. He could feel the gnawing ache of hunger but couldn’t quite muster up the energy to move.

Pitiably he called out to his roommate. “Skyfire-” Sadly there was no response.

“Hmph. Be that way.” While mulling over the futility of life and the tragic unreliability of friendship - overall ignoring how processor-numbingly bored he was-  Starscream then flopped over onto his front. Trying once again, unsuccessfully, to muster up the will to get off his fat aft and get himself a snack or something. Maybe he should see if there’s anything on the holonet.

He grasped around at the edge of the berth for his tablet and smiled at the feel of its smooth metal and screen. He pulled it out and...it wasn’t his tablet, this was a datapad. Huh. Who’s datapad was this?

Ugh.

Maybe he has a game on here or something? Perhaps even a good enough novel. Elated he turned on the screen and nearly gagged at the contents. Cheesy cringy romance. Filled with horrible horrible things like forbidden love, love triangles, and true love’s kiss.

He read the title of the first story.

Spark-Eater: His Eternal Spark & Spark-Eater: Instinct Isn’t this the cringy from that bestselling Spark-Eater series from awhile back? Something about an interspecies romance between a strange variant of spark-eater and some tall-tower Iaconite filled with utter nonsense like love triangles, blood feuds, misunderstandings, and whatnot.

Admittedly, sometimes Starscream enjoyed trashy romances like this but anything but this piece of slag. He huffed angrily as he swiped the screen. (Although that may be because the Love Interest had better chemistry with the Love Rival than the Protagonist. It’s definitely not because his ship did not sail, it definitely was not.) The next stories weren’t any better, in fact they were probably worse and to be honest he almost regretted it. The first one almost made him hurl the datapad against the wall.

“Possessive War-General Pampers His Cute & Delicate Spark-Mate.”

“What to Do When the Fallen One Loves Me?“

WHAT IS THIS SLAGGOTRY? WHY ARE ALL OF THESE TRASHY ROMANCES?

Starscream gagged before swiping to see what the next story was. Too curious at this point to realize that his standards were starting to ‘temporarily’ being worn down.

“The Ruler of Cybertron Always Thinks I Love Him.”

“Oh, Allspark!”

“The Short Story of Whitewing.”

Back. Into the pile. Hopefully never to be seen again. If he ever gets the motivation to move then these are the first things to be burned. Call it a lab accident. It’s for the betterment of Cybertron. However Starscream choked when he read the title of the next story title, temporarily offlining the datapad.

“Civil War: A Prime’s Love for An Intergalactic Warlord.”

What the pit?

Curiosity burned in his chest. The pure absurdity of the title was shocking. It was embarrassing and yet...it was an enemies to lovers ship. His faceplates burned from second-hand embarrassment. Yet the sheer shamelessness of the title made him curious. It was tempting. Unintentionally he turned it on, the device flickered online.

“In a devastating war waged for several millenia, the Autocons raged a battle against the evil forces of the Deceptibots.”

Starscream had barely read the first sentence when the world turned blue. Well, it didn’t exactly turn blue but it felt like it did. Blue-white spirals of light exploded, lighting everything up in a wash of blue light as it devoured everything that was there. He held tight to the promisingly entertaining romance.

It was confusing, light and color and sound danced in and out of his senses. Time and space became indistinguishable. When the dancing colors finally passed he looked around. It took a moment for his optics to adjust and very nearly rolled off his berth. He felt a gun pointed at his head. He could feel the nozzle pointed insistently at his helm. It took him a moment to swallow. This really didn’t look like his apartment. It looked almost like the Vosnian military headquarters but with grounders. Lots and lots of grounders. With depressingly sad paint jobs and big weapons. Really big weapons.

WHEN THE FRAG DID HE GET KIDNAPPED? Starscream took a moment to internally panic.

What to do. What to do? Internally he was panicking. How do you get crazy mechs like these ones to back off?

Red and blue optics stared at him. Some were confused but most were focused on the berth that magically appeared while others stared at the datapad clenched tightly  in his servos. Warily he tightened looked up.

“WHERE THE FRAG AM I?!”

The landscape was strange. It was open and wide in a way that Cybertron had never been. Everything from the ground to the very air was foreign in a way that screamed that this was another planet. Distantly Starscream noticed that his berth was located in the epicenter of a crater.

From above, several red and blue optics peered down, symbols of what was probably some sort of interstellar gang stamped on their chestplates or shoulders.

One of the blue-eyed mechs started to approach him. Stepping down into the crater with online weaponry. Online. Frag.

Starscream skittered back on the berth but he held tight to the berth. There was a circuit overloader stashed in a secret compartment here, the question was if Starscream could reach it fast enough. Somehow, the mech holding the online firearm at his head almost looked surprised.

Slag. Slag. Where the slag is he? What are they?

Then the mechs started hooting strange noises at each other, pointing digits at him before making the strangest gestures. Great, so he was somehow on an uncivilized planet surrounded by barbarians.

He could almost imagine Primus was laughing at him. He always wanted to be an explorer and see other planets, civilizations, well now he just got his wish.

~

meanwhile

~

“Starscream!?”

“Wheeljack…what did you do!?”

"Why is there a baby Scream here?”

[m0thisonfire]

I made a modern Au where Prowl’s a detective and Starscream’s the golden retriever friend. Essentially Zootopia with extra steps but with Autobots and Decepticons.

It’s mafia based in the sense of the Decepticons being weapon dealers/thugs/mercenaries while the main Autobot cast is an elite special forces meant to stop them.

Cybertronians and Humans live in peace together and the Autobots are the main peacekeepers. The Cybertronian groups are divided by build type, for example: Autobots are ‘Manual Built’, (meant for working and everyday civilian life like humans, no weapons and are considered pretty safe) Decepticons are usually ‘Military Built’ (originally manufactured for war and never had their weapons removed or deconstructed for civilian life, considered considerably more dangerous and unstable but still have their niche in society) It’s meant to pay homage to the Allsparks Almanac’s implications that Autobots were labor bots and the Decepticons were originally their protectors.

The main plot is that Prowl and Starscream usually meet at a cross walk on their way to their respective work places and is a classic case of ‘-And they saw each other everyday but didn’t really talk to each other-’ Until one day Prowl’s pissy because he can’t solve a case with a mysterious elusive Decepticon *coughLockdowncough* Starscream is somewhat curious about what’s bothering him and Prowl vents to the retired ex ‘Con (not that he knows that yet). Since Star is an ex con and doesn’t want his walk buddy stressed he decides to give him a small nudge in the direction of who the ‘Con would be.

Somehow the two end up running around Detroit trying to stop Megatron from taking over the city while Starscream’s trying to hide the fact he used to be the literal SIC of the Decepticons, which becomes more and more difficult considering Prowl is a detective and Starscream is Starscream.

—

Lockdown, after being chased down and detained: Starscream! I was wondering when you’d show your face again, coward!

Prowl: You know him?

Starscream, trying to act nonchalant and confused: I’m not sure… we might have gotten into a bar fight some time ago? I dunno-

—

Blackarachnia, being brought in for questioning: So, Starscream, this is what you do in your free time now?

Prowl, growing suspicious: How on earth do you know the head scientist of the BioWare plant..?

Starscream, sweating slightly: I already told you, Prowl, I used to be a scientist before I went into Comics. It’s not rocket science to figure out-

—

Blitzwing, a well known Decepticon: Vell, Starscream. I knew you vere the adventurous type, but an Autobot? Zat doesn’t seem like you at all…

Prowl, getting even more suspicious: …Old friend of yours..?

Starscream, sweating profusely: Gee, Blitz! It’s been a while! I haven’t seen you since the old reunion party! How long it’s been? Twenty years?

—

Finally catching up to Megatron after many more coincidences: Well well well, if it isn’t my old traitor of a Second in Command- Starscream!

Prowl, slowly turning to his new partner:

Starscream, sweating bullets and choking on words: I- You- Well- Shoot, me?? I think I would hAve remEmbered thAT-

—

Starscream after getting him and Prowl out of deaths way: .. / .- -- / … --- .-. .-. -.---

Prowl, not in the mood for Starscream’s shenanigans: What is that.

Starscream, trying to lighten the mood: It’s Remorse Code…

Prowl, about to snap: I’m even angrier now.

—

Eventually Starscream and Prowl go on to continue to crack down on the bad guys and go on to get Starscream into the special unit so he can help take out the Decepticon threat once and for all. Maybe they go on a date, maybe not. Prowl would still be pissed Starscream lied to him and the poor bird is just trying to get his crush to forgive him-

Yes this au is an excuse to make Prowl x Reemed!Starscream content, it’s my late night simping and I get to choose the ship-

[jazz-miester]

Love it and now for some more comedic that make some big shots feels small

Like modern reader telling idk some a holes of some g1 bots in their other scarcasic stuff and just lay in them that is kinda funny yet have a point?

Honestly the main mech I see them doing this to is Starscream. As much as they like to mess with him they also genuinely want to see him grow as a person and outside of Megatron's tyranny.

Reader: *Watching as Starscream tries to lead in Megatron's absence. * *Paying more attention than people give them credit for as they see the SIC get more and more frustrated. As he gets more agressive in his yelling, he becomes more vocal and almost physical with his troops.*

Reader: *Gathering themselves up from their spot in the floor. Frenzy and Rumble on either side of them in case reader decides to make a break for it.* "Hey Screamer!"

Starscream: *Already overwhelmed. Tired. Mad at Megatron for giving him to much of a work load. These mechs are not his Seekers. Not his already loyal troops. He also isn't ready to deal with whatever foolishness reader is ready to dish out.* "Not now Human. I am busy. Take your games elsewhere."

Reader: *Shakes their head.* I'm not here to cause anymore grief than you already have ya poor excuse for a tinker toy. I'm here to help."

Starscream: *Scoffs and rolls his optics. Getting down on one knee to be level with the reader.* "And how do you think you could lead military troops human? You are no war leader. No commander. And you have no away over my mechs." *He leans further down. Servos on either side of the reader.* "Most of all you are a Autobot pet. Why would you help a Decepticon?"

Reader: *Furrows their brows. An anger of sorts bubbling within them.* "Because. Unlike you I'm not one to treat others with anger if I wish for them to do something." *Reader pokes a finger at Starscream.* "Least if all I'm not someone who lives up to the rumours surrounding them. You couldn't lead a gaggle of ducklings if they thought you were thier mother's. Fuck mech. Even Grimlock is able to lead the Dinibots! What have you accomplished here outside of a sore vocalizer!"

Starscream:*Anger slowly rising then ebbing as he realizes this human is right. More so than most mechs. He listens as they go on. Then hangs his helm.* "Then what do you suggest, y/n? I defect? Get offline by the DJD? Do I allow my troops to walk over me?"

Reader: *Softens.Sighs. Then shows Starscream a kindred he has been sorely missing.* "No. Starscream. No. Despite being a Con you are a good mech. I've heard what the others said you were before the war. Before Megatron corrupted you." *They pause.*

Reader: "Starscream. You have to learn about your troops before you command them. Learn about their strengths and weaknesses. About who they are and what they do. Show them that you are unafraid to fight alongside them instead of cowering as you so often do. Stand strong and allow yourself to be. It is why Megatron and Optimus are so successful as leaders. They are a standing stone for these mechs to look upon. A constant. A known variable in the chaos if your War. Lead yourself first. They will follow."

Starscream: *Sighs. Wings drooping before he collects himself. Then he stands tall. And goes to do what he was trying to have his troops do all along.*

Reader: *Watches as the troops one by one follow Starscream and are led with an efficiency they have yet to have in a long time. No longer is this group being lead by Megatron's chaotic center. But calm and going. They still lose the battle but that is a given.* *The Autobots have to win every battle. They lose. Even once. And the Decepticons will win this War.*

Starscream:*Gather the reader up in his servos with a gentleness he has never given them before. Reader is cradled in his servos.* "You gave me kindness Human. One I thought your kind did not have. I'll not harm you. This once. Do not think I will do this again."

Starscream:*Hands reader to Optimus. Gently transferring them from his servo to Primes.* "Take care of the Human." *With that he leaves. And if the read notices a bit more niceness from Starscream on the battlefield. Well. Who are they to care what the future leader of the Decepticons is to do."

[witchofthesouls]

Can we have a sweet reunion with Con!s/o and their family aboard the Nemesis? They've been gone for too long 😓😓😓

(Hot damn, quite a few people wanted to see a reunion. Ahhh, I tried but the Quintessons attacked, so here’s a moment between Thundercracker with his family at the Autobot base.)

Thundercracker onlines to the ugly orange shade of the Ark’s medbay. Two pairs of big red optics on small faces grow wide and then the squealing starts, the sparklings crawling closer to his face. Thundercracker grunts as small, chubby limbs dig into the fresh welds.

“Stop that,” you chide from the side, getting up from a chair and brushing them off. Blue’s in your arms, beginning to sniffle from the interrupted feeding. Red and Purple are gearing up as well.

“It’s,” he croaks out, forcing his arms to cooperate and pat their small frames. “It’s fine.” They give out, pulling them close and forming a loose hug around the small forms.

He can’t access his comms, but the trinebond is lively as ever. Skywarp pushes raw relief and excitement. Starscream burns hotly, his attention completely on something else.

Maybe you can read his expression since you snort, Blue’s back to your chassis. “You took a hit meant for Air Raid. That idiot.” There’s vicious amusement in your optics. “Starscream is taking them to task now. 

Well, that explains things. Oh, to be a scraplet in the vents when Autobot Command realized their aerial team had been commandeered by the Decepticon SIC and Winglord…

Thundercracker’s smile turns into a grimace as Red prods the welds and Purple pats over his chassis, curious over how their sire has a flat surface rather than a shiny cockpit. His own spark shudders in memory of the high velocity trapper, slicing through military-grade armature like gelled energon and clamping over his spark chamber.

Your face is calm, patting Blue’s back, but it’s your EM field that tells a different story. It grasps to his in tight hold, mingling deeply and reluctant to pull away.

“Vortex was out of commission.” It’s not an apology but it’s the closest he could offer. With Bruticus out and the Constructicons pulled back, it made the remaining two gestalts all the more necessary to head the Quintessons’ ships. The sparklings chirp and he never, ever wants them to land in the slavers’ destructive grips.

“I know.” He knows you don’t like it, but you don’t blame him either. He sees that the inhibitor collar is gone from your neck and wonders which Autobot took it off. He doesn’t want to think how close the ships came to the downed bases.

Decepticons as a whole aren’t big on the small, quiet gestures. They wear their associations openly, proudly, upon their frames: similar paintjobs or styles, deliberate marks on kibble, or a well-placed bite. You grasp his servo quietly, palm warm against his and he has no complaints.

It’s not the reunion he’d pictured, but as the two sparklings scramble to pat his chassis, chirping at him with little nubs flicking, and their sibling dozes off your arms, full and content, optics flickering sleepily, he doesn’t mind it.

[pandoraarti-transformers-blog]

Ohhhhhhhh mmmmmy gods

These were a pain to do and I knew they would be after I did the sketches, but my stubbornness was too proud of how they looked to not ink it...

Anyway, from bottom to top is basically the progression of their lives....

With starscream : from obeying Droid (butterfly thing next home played a big role for him) curious young scientist ( a cinnamon roll) to someone enrolling into air military (after skyfires 'death' and being kicked out of the Science Academy) to the jerk SIC we all know and love (or hate depending on your preference)

With shockwave, it's pretty straightforward from the picture because I have a hard time putting events in his life into words...:

From great scientist to lonely exiled Empurata victim (who was secretly seething with rage at the Council) to the Decepticons logical top scientist and 4th in command.

Probably won't do soundwave or Megatron because I'm struggling with their designs =_=;

[pessimisticshape]

How would Starscream fit into your Tf: Universe?

Prompt by : @Transformersmr-hq

((The starscream in building on is TFP Starscream, which is also WFC starscream.

I'm not one for romantizising toxic behavior in people and I pull no punches when it comes to analyzing villains and their motivations. Some people have a tragic backstory that explains, but not excuses, why they are the way they are. You have people who were raised a certin way and don't know any better because no one is born evil. And finally you have people who are just bad, nothing happened to them to cause them to go down a bad route and they were raised fairly well but we're allowed to get away with too much. Permissive parenting show be a federal crime, imo.))

I feel that most Starscreams would fit in military and scientific factions. Most starscreams' colors match this as well.

• Red(w/ a dull unassuming paint job of dark shades of greys)- military

(G1, Prime, armada, IDW, MTMTE, RID, WFC)

• White- scientific

(G1, Armada, RID, WFC,)

• Blue- artisan

(G1, RID, WFC,)

Starscreams are very sure in their abilities, so sure of them that it's causes them to bite off more than they can chew. Star would have excelled at a merit based society, he is very skilled, but he thinks he's to good learn how to be better. He dosent take criticisms well and can be brash and pigheaded when faced with what he wants.

Star is very charismatic but he's a terrible leader. Yes, in prime he did lead the Decepticons for those three year Megatron was taking a space nap, but across most Starscreams' this seems to be a constant. He is too self absorbed and selfish to consider what it takes to be a great leader that in inspires their followers to do their bidding. He's an incredible commander and tactician but an awful leader. (He's the Pearl to Megatrons Sugilite, lol.)

Ambition is good, it makes you want to do more and be more. Stars are incredibly ambitious and that's ok. The problems arise when he steps on others to reach his goals. He makes way, way too many enemies for him to maintain his goal for long. IDW Starscream had to flee vos because he embezzled tax dollars and was caught. And he never considers what to do if and when he reaches his goal. Starscreams are very calculating so for them to not think about these things is frustrating for me.

I think before the war, and before his canoodling with Megatron, Starscream would have been an aspiring officer or scientist. He would have been very good at what he did, so much so that most would overlook his more negative traits. This would contribute to star never improving his crappy personality. Give or take a few tutors and classmates. Why change if everybot already accepts you.

The Primary military faction was a very toxic place that brought out the worse in most mechs that enter there. The high protector believed that the pressure would make better soldiers. He was discredited and relieved of duty but not till after star had graduated. It's a much better place now but it was already too late for Star.

Starscream wouldn't have many friends, outside of bots he works closely with, like jetfire, skywarp and thundercracker. He would have made himself notorious for the misfortune that seems to befall mechs that get close to him, which he may or may not have had something to do with.

He was never a good person to begin with and his Training only exacerbated these qualities in him. It almost as if he had a pathological need to betray and backstab, even when it was his fault or his responsibility and everyone knows it, he still lies and blames others. Like when the incident with the zombicon outbreak on the nemesis. Even if both he and knockout were the cause, Starscream outranks knockout so he would be held accountable.

((When writing interactions between Starscream and other seekers, I jokingly make them uncomfortable and unnerved by his presence. Like if there was a wasp getting to close to you. His mannerisms and reputation put average fliers on edge. He's The Air Commander and SIC of the Decepticon Army. Not someone who's attention, good or bad, that you want on you. ))

Starscreams will not hesitate to throw anybot under an airbus. Anybot. He just doesn't care. This comes back to haunt him severely. All enemies and no allies.

Also from what I've read, Starscream has a silver tougue and able to talk himself out of and into trouble. He is painfully insecure and seeks validation from any source friend or enemy. This would stem from his antisocial nature and isolation caused by his varies misdeeds.

The worse thing about starscream, besides everthing about him, is that he doesn't know how to hold on to what he achieves. He works so hard to get things but he can't keep them cause he's a selfish, greedy dumbass. He wants power, he wants control but he doesn't want the responsibility of what getting those things would entail. You have to be composed, you have to be a source of motivation and maybe not be a known underhanded, morally bankrupt coward. Just a thought.

((Like he shoots himself in the pede on so many occasions that I'm starting to think it's intentional. I love this cranky bird man but sometimes I wanna just shake the hell out him screaming STAHP BEING MEAN! STAHP BACKSTABBING! JUST BE NICE! Breakdown's a Decepticon and he's not a pompous asshat!))

Back on topic, in my universe Star would probably be a scientifically inclined cross faction military cadet. His primary aspiration would be becoming the next sky monarch or in their high guard in Vos. But as he learned more about Cybertron and the legacy of the primes he would have wanted to become the next Prime.Cadets have a lot of privilege which would foster Starscreams narcissistic tendencies. He's handsome to behold from afar until he opens his mouth. He'd have many admirers but he wouldn't able to hold a mate for more than an orn.

Based of Stars appreciation and attachment to his frame id say that at the time of his creation his frame type was the first of that kind off the assembly line. But this pretty normal behaviour for fliers.

When vosian newbuilds are old enough they are sent off to be sorted and placed in boarding schools. Higher placements just mean that the new build will start at a more advanced level. Star would have been placed pretty high at a young age as he has an overactive mind.

I've been digging and I've come to the conclusion that most Starscreams' have a Cluster B personality disorder. Or all of them if you observe their actions. There is no concrete cause but there is a correlation between children that were verbally abused and developing personality disorders. Maybe Star was too young to be placed in such advanced courses with older seekerlings. They might have bullied him. :'(

Starscreams' lust for power and influence, or maybe just power. With the way things were going on cybertron during Starscreams hayday anybot would have done anything to come out on top, in Vos and in the other city-states. That might have lead star to affiliating with the factionless and Megatron's up-and-coming Decepticons. Him looking for any way to get ahead of the rest and Megatron looking to get a foothold in Vos and access to an aerial Armada.

I feel like starscream thinks he's so in control that he doesn't believe he is susceptible to manipulation which is why he is able to be used by Megatron.

Depending on the starscream, because of course, Stars motivation for usurping Megatron is sketchy at best. Most reasons are personal vendettas and others are to simply take his place. TFP Starscream is completely fine being a Decepticon but has noticed over the past millenia Megatrons sanity is slipping or has slipped. He does things that are incredibly detrimental to the Decepticon chances of winning the war.

Decepticons have all but won the war, they have an arsenal of weapons, they have a motherfricken BATTLESHIP! If they'd decided to spend most of their resources actually training their clone soldiers and looking for ways to restore cybertron and NOT actively antagonizing the Autobots they could've avoided all that extra nonsense with the predacons, and the dark energon, and UNICRON the god of flippin death and unlife! Megatron, is an egotistical Jackass, and any, any mech that worships him is dumber than the altmode they flew in on. Soundwave? Dumbass. Shockwave? Dumbass. Dreadwing and Skyquake? Double dumbasses.

It's ironic that their fanatical loyalty to him and the Decepticon cause, still Megatron, was there undoing.

[tyrantofthefirmament]

Lord Starscream, what was a standard day for you like as SIC on-board the Nemesis? Specifically, what were your duties and responsibilities?

My duties were basically - everything. I was second in command of the entire Decepticon army, and specifically aboard the Nemesis, I was the Executive Officer. Every detail of the ship’s operations went through me, and as Air Commander, I also had a separate set of duties pertaining to the semi-independent operations of the Seekers, and later the Eradicons, though the latter were technically not my troops.

On normal days, when we weren’t actively in battle, I usually got up a couple of hours before my shift started, so I could refuel by myself and read all the reports that came in overnight. I didn’t like being briefed by Soundwave without knowing myself what had gone on. I would also fly during that time.

Once my shift started, I would go to the bridge and Soundwave or I would brief Megatron. Often Soundwave would brief him and I would point out the things I felt warranted the most attention, raise concerns, and make recommendations for how to proceed. I was in charge of the flier units and the mines, and it was my responsibility to keep them running smoothly and keep Megatron informed on their progress, though he didn’t require daily updates on that. It’s worth noting that I kept our forces fully supplied, even on remote planets, and had surplus fuel reserves, even with Megatron blowing up productive mines.

My main responsibilities as SIC were to hand down orders from Megatron and to advise him on strategy. Once I came up with a plan, he’d usually change it, and I would figure out how to actually proceed and then coordinate the operation. Or sometimes he would outline an objective and I would make all the arrangements myself, assigning units and establishing timetables and backup plans. Megatron, though short-sighted, was more of a big-picture mech, while I thrived on the nitty gritty of military operations. My long term strategy was better than his (mine involved actually winning the war), but I could also handle all the minutiae involved in getting us there.

I had three aides de camp who assisted me with administrative tasks such as assigning Eradicon and Vehicon teams for duty, and did my pre-flight checks. 

All the officers typically worked three or four hours past when our shifts were meant to be over, and I did a lot of scheming research on my own time as well.