#to save both her and Tailgate from Airachnid

[cliffandthekid-archive]

★ Sierra or Cliff !

How Cliffjumper feels about Arcee:

I like you // I love you // You’re one of my best friends // You’re like family // You are family // I dislike you // I hate you // I’d kill you if I got the chance // I want you to like me // I’m scared of you // I would adopt you // I’d date you // I’d sleep with you // I’d marry you // I’m worried about you // You confuse me // You’re annoying // I pity you // I respect you // I trust you // I feel protective of you // I’d invite you with me to parties // I’d lend you my money // I’d borrow your money // You’re good-looking // I’m suspicious of you // I’m hiding something from you // You’re fun // You’re boring // I’m upset with you // You’re nice // You’re mean // I’m envious of you // You’re smart // You’re stupid // I look up to you // I think you’re a better person than me // I think I’m a better person than you // I want to apologize to you // I wish I’d never met you // I never want to forget you // I want to get to know you better

[nevis-the-skeleton]

What if TFP Autobot Starscream (who helped Miko), bonds with Arcee over their lost loved ones... ❤️ Star talks about losing Skywarp, Thundercracker + Skyfire... Arcee talks about losing Tailgate + Cliffjumper... Star is both horrified and filled with guilt, when he learns Cliff was Arcee’s BFF...💔 (Autobots don’t know that Star destroyed Cliffjumper...) 

Wow… I think if Arcee ever finds out the truth it could be really dangerous for Starscream ^^; … I feel it's going to be between cute and super sad (TvT)… Thanks for your request sweety anon ^^! Besides, it's funny, but I wrote a somewhat similar scene in my story "The Polar Star" X), the difference is that Skyfire is alive, and Arcee already knows the cause of Cliff's death.

~~~

Arcee was in the medical bay with Ratchet, after a mission during which they came across Airachnid. The Autobots were lucky to have Starscream with them, as he was quite responsive, and saved the warrior from dying at the hands of the Triple-changer.

The motorcycle was not looking at Optimus, while the latter was quite disappointed with her behavior. Arcee put herself in great danger, and the mission could have gone horribly wrong. The doctor continued to repair the injuries of the motorcycle, and said:

“You should thank Starscream, it's thanks to him that you're still alive."

The Seeker watched all this from afar, and decided to move closer, not really looking for a thank you, but wanting to make one thing clear.

"I hope next time you don't have the same stupid idea like running right into your enemy!

- Mind what concerns you! the warrior got a little annoyed.

- It concerns us all! Because of you, we almost failed this mission!

- You really only think about the mission, huh?!

- Of course! What exactly do you think about when you go into battle?!

- …!

- The principle is to don't die, Arcee! So why are you going into it?!

- Stop arguing! Ratchet growled. Arcee you thank him and we move on!

- … Before that, I would like to know what got into her!

- Starscream, don't insist.

- No, I want to know if I should expect an event like this again or if it was exceptional!

- It's not the first time… admitted Bulkhead in the distance.

- Bulkhead! Arcee was indignant.

- I think he better know. It really surprised him you know.

- No wonder, since he follows orders like a little Turbofox!

-…?!! Pardon?!!! Starscream get angry.

- If Optimus ordered you not to move, you would! You're so afraid of not satisfying that you forget your own dignity!

- And you?! You think you're have dignity when you answering Airachnid's taunts?!

- …!

- You are predictable for her! She knows how to piss you off! I don't know what she did to you exactly, but it would be nice if it didn't make you forget your team!

- As if you knew what teamwork was!

- Well, apparently I know it better than you!"

The Autobots and the children watched their confrontation from afar, unsure how to intervene. The two robots continued their argument, and Arcee cried out:

"OK! You wanna know the fragging reason?!

- Well yeah! replied the jet.

- She murdered one of my friends in front of me! She deserves to die!

- So you're doing this for revenge?!

- I want to do Tailgate justice!

- Is it really worth losing your life?!

- What do you know anyway?! You never loved anyone but yourself! You can't understand ! You don't know what it's like to lose someone you love!"

Starscream's wings flew up in indignation, and he angrily replied:

"Shut up! You don't know me! Frag!!"

Everyone looked at the Seeker with surprise, while the latter had the wings high with rage, and the body tense. The jet looked away, a mixture of shame and anger crossing his face. He clenched his fists, and quickly turned his back on Arcee, rushing for the elevator to the roof of the base.

~

Starscream was on the edge of the roof, and really wanted one thing, and it was to sink into a hole, or else become invisible… He wanted to disappear, to flee… he didn't want to see the Autobots again… it was too much shame… What a stupid reaction! Why did Arcee's words hurt him so much?! What did he get out of getting upset like that?! It was useless... really useless...

The Seeker lifted his wings in spite of himself when he heard the elevator door open, but he didn't turn to see who it was. He really didn't want to see anyone, so he preferred to ignore them. Was it too hard to leave him alone for five seconds?!

"Hey, Starscream." said Arcee.

The jet clutched his wings behind his back, and scowled at the warrior's voice. He did not look at her, and replied curtly:

"Don't you have other people you want to be mean to?!

- The one who is currently mean is you!

- …”

The motorcycle sighed slightly, and scratched her head, before declaring:

“I came to apologize.

- Is it on your own initiative, or did you "stupidly" listen to an order from Optimus.

- Actually, it was from Ratchet."

Starscream finally decided to look at Arcee, who continued:

“But he's right, what I said wasn't nice. I can see that upset you.

- Not necessarily…

- So what are you doing there, sulking on the roof?

- Maybe I didn't like how you surrounded me so well!"

The warrior could hear the sarcasm in the Seeker's voice, and she stepped forward before sitting down next to him. The jet grunted a bit nastily and moved, which upset the bike.

"I don't have Rust! Arcee exclaimed.

- You're too close."

The warrior raised her optics, telling herself that Starscream really had a serious problem. She wasn't that close!

“I haven't heard a single excuse yet." finally said the Seeker.

The motorcycle sighed with a smile, and answered:

"No, it's true.

- What are you waiting for then?

- How impatient you are!

- It's my trademark!

- I wonder what your friends could think of it!

- …I never had any friends…

- …”

There was a silence, before Arcee spoke again.

"Liar."

The jet said nothing, and no longer looked at the warrior, returning his gaze to the desert horizon in front of them. The motorcycle did the same, and sighed softly, before declaring:

“I had a great friend at the time, his name was Tailgate.

- The one that Airachnid killed?

- … Yeah…

- How was he?

- Hm?

- Well, he was a good friend…?

- Very…"

Arcee said nothing more, talking about it seeming to be quite difficult for her. Starscream looked back at the warrior, he hesitated and flapped his wings, then said:

"You're right, I lied to you...

- About?

- My friends…

- Where are they now?"

The Seeker didn't answer, but his drooping wings spoke for him. The motorcycle made no remark, until she smiled:

“Tailgate loved to joke, even though he was really lame at jokes.

- Ha! Surely he would have gotten along well with Skywarp! Even if his thing was more pranks!

- Who is Skywarp?

- He was a member of my trine. He wasn't very smart, not to say completely stupid sometimes.

- Hey! That's not very nice for him!

- But what?! It's true! He always managed to put himself in the some scraps, you always wonder how!

- It's your it's your doppelgangere in this case! laughed Arcee.

- I won't allow you! the jet indignantly smiled.

- Birds of a feather flock together as they say!

- Oh no! The difference is that when he found himself in scrap he always managed to get out of it!"

It was then that Starscream quickly lost his smile, and he lowered his head, before adding weakly:

"Until he couldn't find a way to do it…

- It's a bit the same for Tailgate…” sympathized the warrior with sadness.

There was a bittersweet silence, and the motorcycle asked:

"And the other member of your trine, what's his name?

- His name was Thundercraker.

- How was he?

- … Big?

- But no ! In character!

- I said it! Big! He thought big! Always looking far into the future, as far as he could!"

The Seeker had the optics shining with love when he spoke of his trine, as if they were still alive, despite the fact that he spoke of them as the distant past. But that look was quickly dulling, as the realization of their disappearance always came back eventually… The jet sighed with sorrow, and shook his head, before saying:

"I'm bothering you with my stories...

- Not especially… "

The flyer gave Arcee a grateful look, before looking at the horizon again. The warrior swung her legs above the void, before saying:

"I'm sorry I said you didn't love anyone… I realize how wrong I was…

- … You weren't totally wrong…

- …?

- … Before I met TC and Warp, I was friends with another robot…

- Who was called?

- His name was Skyfire…

- …

- He died before the war, and I was so sad, that I had decided never to love anyone again… Until I met my Trine… but, again, it was a huge mistake…

- …I can understand how you feel…"

Saying those words Arcee turned to a rooftop burial, which the Seeker hadn't actually seen when he came up. The warrior smiled sadly, before losing it completely, then declaring:

"After Tailgate, I swore to myself that I would never have a partner again... I didn't want to lose anyone again..."

It wasn't long before the jet saw the horn on the grave, and his Spark froze in his chest, as he realized who it was!

"It's... the flyer stammered.

- Yes, it's Cliff…

- …

- He's the one who allowed me to reconnect after Tailgate… He helped me all along…! But... I ended up losing him too...

- You… you loved him…?

- He was my best friend… Maybe even more…

- …

- The Decepticons killed him…! Like they killed Tailgate!

- …This is war, Arcee…

- They treated him like a test subject…!

- …”

Starscream didn't know what to answer, as a multitude of devastating emotions lacerated his Spark. Finally, he found the words to say, that came out on their own:

"I'm sorry…

- Why are you apologizing?

- Well… uh…

- You're not a Decepticon anymore, Starscream.

- …

- It's not your fault.

- …”

The Seeker wanted to admit it, to say it was really his fault, to confess his crime… But, no matter how hard he tried, nothing came out… His selfish wish that they had a possible friendship was stronger than the truth… Arcee got up, and put a comforting hand on the shoulder of the jet, before saying:

“Again, I'm sorry for what I said. I'm waiting for you downstairs, the others are worried, you know?"

She ends up walking away, not even giving the flyer time to answer. Starscream eventually found himself alone on the roof, at least, not totally alone, as Cliffjumper's grave was still there, seeming to tower over him in its shadow.

The Seeker rose in his turn, and advanced hesitantly towards the tomb. He never quite got to look at it, even when he found himself face to face with it. The jet lowered his wings, not knowing himself what they were trying to express, as far too complex emotions raced through him. Starscream finally had the strength to speak, and asked in a voice broken with grief:

"Say…? do you really think i belong somewhere…?"

But, of course, to this question, he received no other answer than silence…

[seeking-the-stars]

💖 TOP 5 FAV TFP EPISODES:

Darkness Rising Part 1: 

*Probably the only episode where Starscream is treated with respect and dignity, which ironically goes away after Megatron regains leadership by the next episode! (After the ‘Darkness Rising’ arc, Starscream seems to be taken less and less seriously over the course of the show...)

*I like Jack’s terrified reaction to the Transformers, it’s more realistic compared to Raf and Miko would usually roll with what’s happening like it’s no big deal. It’s always kinda frustrates me that Jack was the only kid that actually cared that they almost died later on. I actually like that trait Jack had, trying to the only sane man of the team but then they mostly got rid of that trait after ‘Darkness Rising’!

*It’s super ironic that Miko aka the kid that wishes to go on the Autobot adventures the most, is the kid introduced last and missed out on the show’s first battle that Jack and Raf saw! (Well, second battle if you count Cliffjumper losing to the vehicons...)

Scrapheap:

*The scraplets are one of the many things that basically become wasted potential in TFP Season 1, but they’re still horribly awesome.

*I love that Raf wanted to keep the scraplet as a pet at first until it attacked Bubmlebee then Raf did not hesitate to destroy it and apologized to Bee for what happened, even though what happened wasn’t Raf’s fault.

*Half of the fandom talk about how badass Miko can be sometimes that they’re usually forgetting that Raf and Jack are badasses as well in their own right; all three kids managed to take down half of the scraplet swarm all by themselves. Meanwhile, I like how Optimus and Arcee comforted each other and were about to accept death with dignity. We all know they were going to live, but it’s still both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Predatory:

*This is the episode where I like Jack the most, cause it feels like he actually has a personality other then liking motorcycles and girls. Also, his partnership with Arcee has greatly improved and feels more interesting compared to ‘Speed Metal’. I also like how Jack becomes rivals with Airachnid like Arcee did.

*This is one of the two episodes (the other being ‘Crisscross’) where I actually like Airachnid’s character (before she became female Starscream) and I like the war flashbacks Arcee has throughout the episode, even though the writers could’ve given her a more creative past with Arcee instead of repeating the losing partner tragedy with Tailgate. Maybe replace it with Airachnid killing Arcee’s sister? 

*Like I said, some people are so focused on Miko that they forget Jack can be a total badass too sometimes. In fact in this episode, I think Jack was more badass then Miko cause unlike Miko who relies on cybertronian technology to take down her enemies, Jack uses what little supplies he already has on himself (multi-function pocket knife and magnesium fire-starter) to destroy Airachnid’s ship. Now that was pretty smart of him.

Shadowzone: 

*Even though Starscream never had a proper chance to use the power of dark energon, he still looked pretty awesome when he tried.

*It’s pretty creepy how Terrorcon Skyquake’s severed hand is way faster then him.

*Jack was almost as awesome as he was in ‘Predatory’. Jack actually felt like the leader of the kids that TFP was trying to make him into. Also, even though I felt pretty annoyed with how bratty Miko was in this episode and how she’s the reason they got trapped in the Shadowzone in the first place, she did risk her life to get Raf his glasses back and it was great that she did take responsibility for her actions after they were free from the Shadowzone. (If only she didn’t repeat her mistakes in the future episodes...) 

Stronger, Faster:

*Ratchet only wishes to help his team and this episode shows how much he cares behind the grumpiness.

*Even though Ratchet becomes a jerk after taking the synthetic energon, he does raise some great points about how Optimus would rather risk the lives of his fellow Autobots, then end it by destroying his former brother Megatron once and for all.

* Ratchet truly shined in this episode, even though he lost the battle against Megatron, cause I still believe Ratchet was right in wanting to destroy Megatron. (And it shouldn’t have taken Raf almost dying later for Optimus to realize this...)

💔 TOP 5 LEAST FAVORITE EPISODES: 

TFP Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising:

*They should’ve ended at ‘Deadlock’...

Partners:

*If only Starscream kept his mouth shut and the Autobots weren’t such hypocritical jerks...

Rock Bottom/T.M.I.: 

They’re tied because they’re basically both the same story; Miko’s recklessness almost getting Bulkhead killed and she’s sad about it and takes responsibility, but she never properly learns her lesson and it’s by pure luck that Bulkhead is still alive... 

Metal Attraction: 

*I feel sorry for Jack in this story, he keeps getting pushed aside by June and Arcee. He helped save his Mom last episode and yet June treats him like he’s a little kid and is a bit condescending towards him near the end. (At least Jack stands up for himself near the end of season 1.) I know June means well and she’s only trying to protect her son, but I can understand Arcee’s frustration. Speaking of Arcee although I get her being salty about June, I dislike how she flip-flops; she lets June keep Jack in the base, but after she learns Miko sneaked out, Arcee allows Miko to stay with her and Bulkhead... (At least Arcee makes Miko return to the base when things got more serious...) 

Speed Metal:

*I’m sorry, but almost everything about this love triangle drama Jack is a part of is stupid. I also dislike how strict Arcee was in this episode, but at least she gets better by the end of it. The only thing I truly liked about this episode was the Decepticons... 

[whatudottu]

Because I've held this off for too long, once again it seems that @nukeli has beaten me to the punch with colour schemes. Damn my procrastination or whatever, but I only just realised that I didn't put any mention of the 'fodder' classes (Vehicons, Insecticons and I suppose Autotroopers since I'm including them) and wanted to put down my thoughts before writing this up.

An added bonus here is that certain character have different alts (based on character changes and even the heavier focus of 'robots in disguise' that these Decepticons are after) so it's not just me ranting about colour schemes.

Yes, this was why I was complaining about the wiki altmodes, so deal with the vehicles I found instead. May or may not be due to me using images as references haha.

The Autobots (you are here)

The Decepticons Part 1

The Decepticons Part 2

Going in order of my notes, we begin with Cliffjumper. He’s obviously a 1970 Dodge Challenger and what colours I’ve given him are on the image below. Nothing much to say about a definitely dead character other than I didn’t just wanna make him blue.

Next on the list is good old Doctor Ratchet. I’ve had it in my mind ever since Nuke’s one post that SG!Ratchet was like Medic from TF2, so I guess I took it and ran.

To play an opposite to regular Ratchet, he comes across as affable and friendly but is really just doing the things he loves to people he hates. Autobots, Decepticons, hates everyone. He despises Optimus Prime too, but he can’t do anything unless he wants to be cooped up in his berthroom reattaching his limbs for it. Believe him, he tried.

As for altmode and colours, I spent way too long finding that he resembles a Mercedes Benz G-Class ambulance that I was ticked to find out he wasn’t at all. I special looked for the green coloured ambulance because Synth-En, duh!

Breaking in after the Doctor comes our local wrecker Bulkhead. I don’t have much of a read on this guy, other than the fact that I thought it’d be a cool idea for him to lose a lot of his memories after ‘TMI’, ya know, from the Synth-En recipe? Certainly not set in stone, but it could very well contribute to my accidental theme of memory (which only has some small links in the posts I actually created).

With the help of my car enthused cousin I have given our not so loveable mech a Terradyne Gurkha, a little more military than the wiki’s off-roader Lamborghini that I’m too annoyed to bother to look at. I thought that the military origins and the black colour scheme sorta allude to something something mindless military man. yada yada.

Following him is our ever wonderful Optimus Prime, or maybe Lord Prime? Haven’t thought too much about that. What I have thought of is this master manipulator who mayhaps also be a little bit delusional idk we’ll decide in the car.

I always loved the idea of a smiling SG!Prime, as if there’s still hints of this benevolent leader that the original has, but it’s warped and meant to add fodder to the war, encouraging mechs to fight to their deaths all in the name of not only the Autobots, but their Prime. Also as a warped version of the original, I wanted Shattered Glass Optimus to be deluded in the fact that Megatron will change, change at least, to submit to the real leader. Ain’t happening. That’s sorta there with Ratchet too, but well, you read Ratchet’s piece didn’t you?

SG!Prime is consistently purple and black, and whilst I have found a Peterbilt Semi Truck with that wonderful colour, it comes with white instead. Think about it, this typically evil colour paired with often innocent white, that’s like perfect for what I’m going for.

Fitting that he’s next, it’s time for Prime’s Second In Command Ultra Magnus. I’ve... really got nothing for him. Maybe he’s still by-the-books but like he finds loopholes just to commit atrocities? I don’t know.

I’ve given this boy a Mack Trident alt instead of Prime’s Peterbilt, just for differences sake.

After Magnus, we got our little bug Bumblebee... or is it. Because I wanted to change his colours a bit without going into Beast Hunter territory, I wondered if bees come in different colours and, low and behold, they do!

As for the boy himself, I think he was one of the bots manipulated by Prime himself to join the cause and, given his almost rewritten personality, has only lived through to this point in the war by sheer luck. This mech is an absolute menace, feral and powered by the need for Prime’s approval, tearing others with denta and servo more often than with stingers and blasters.

Now you’ve noticed I haven’t been using his name? That’s because he’s now Blue Band (I just realised he’s still bb haha)! He gets his name from the Blue Banded bee, and I found a Chevrolet Camaro to match.

In line with BB’s younger status, feast your eyes on Shattered Glass Smokescreen! Oh boy isn’t he a delight. His hero worship has essentially turned him to a prime (pardon the pun) candidate for Optimus to form into his perfect super soldier, who already would die for this deranged mech even before laying optics on this grand Prime.

So, he’s an absolute suck up, a straight up spoiled brat that has it harder than Blue Band for Prime’s acknowledgement, and is actively showing off and bragging that he’s Optimus’ favourite (he’s not, he just encourages it because that’s the easiest way to get Smokey to do what he wants).

Almost to reflect that (perhaps another pun) I found this gaudy Chameleon Chevy Corvette that absolutely SCREAMS show off.

Regrettably partnered up with him after the passing of Cliffjumper, Arcee has run out of patience. Not everything she does is motivated by Airachnid (what kind of character would that be? not a fun one) but she does often enjoy killing those connected with her. After Tailgate, she’s gotten a little mad, but her effectiveness otherwise increased so others never bothered to ‘fix’ her.

Having lost both of her partners, when she absolutely hates another (read; Airachnid and Starscream because he still kills Cliff) the best kind of revenge is putting her opponents in her own pedes. Oh, that mech’s growing attached to one of his comrades? Slice and dice them before their optics. Oh, that femme is finally coming out of her shell and making friends? Gore out their spark and hope that humans don’t decide this would be the perfect time to practice what they preach and save the life of that same mech with a hard to perform surgery that may or may not have been lost to time.

Okay so she’s obviously a Kawasaki Ninja (haha that’s kind of fitting) and I was tempted to make her pink like other Arcee iterations, but look at this fancy stuff right here. He hoo glowy look pretty!

Almost in leu of an Airachnid archetype, Wheeljack comes in. Though still quite the wrecker and ever the bomb enthusiast, instead of actively celebrating his impacts and going solo to stop the rust settling in, he’d rather be offed whilst mechs are distracted by his pretty explosion and lay forgotten in the dirt.

I may have accidentally rooted the unintentional memory theme deeply with the wreckers (Breakdown included) and maybe just took it and ran, giving everyone else a little connection, but Wheeljack is probably the most explicit in this idea. He hates nicknames (which i super Ratchet uses to mock him here in Shattered Glass) because that’s like... naming something you’re going to keep to quote that specific fic which, honestly, I can’t remember. Wheeljack split from others to stop them from remembering him and put himself closer to a situation where he can die alone, as morbid as that sounds. No grand death, no stupid death and no straight up suicide (generally that’s a VERY impactful kind of death) so just a mediocre end is what he’s been looking for for a little bit too long.

As for his colours, I apparently have no taste and should not have a car because I really like what this image has going for it. This C3 Corvette is probably one of the few cars that fits the straight up box of a sports car that Jackie’s got, so I’m sticking to it, so no, don’t show me the wiki I’m ignoring it this was too painful to give up dang it!

Okay, finishing off the bots, I have the Autotroopers. Sure, I’m not using a reference of a car to show off the colours, mainly because there’s also going to be flier troopers too, maybe... surely... definitely. Most depictions of them are white, you know, goodie goodie, and I’m tempted to just laze around and do just that. Instead, I think a goldish colour would be fun.

Aside from sharing a key colour with Ultra Magnus, essentially a war lawyer, which is perfect for subjects made to obey, a nice glimmering finish almost feels like they’re all manipulated by Prime to believe in the Autobot cause. I suppose the special devision, if there is one, would be a nice Prime purple, sorta like if it’s Optimus’ personal guard if he actually had any belief they would do their jobs.

Oh boy this is so long...

[eyrmia]

TFP Shattered Glass bios incoming!

Though Team Prime is small, consisting of (at most) only eight bots (but highly trained, mind you), they have managed to ally themselves with the American government against the Decepticons.

Agent Fowler is the Autobots’ liason to the government. He’s not very fond of them, but he does it because it’s his job. He has his suspicions, though, that Optimus may not be everything he says he is.

General Bryce is Fowler’s boss, and doesn’t appreciate the agent’s suspicions.

Silas/CYLAS is one of MECH’s top operatives. MECH is a somewhat anarchic organization that seeks to overthrow the government. The discovery of the alien secret has only spurred MECH on. They are enemies of both Autobots and Decepticons. At first, Megatron thought they could be an ally, as they attacked the Autobots, but then they nearly killed Breakdown.

Jack Darby is Arcee’s partner. He’s the only one of the kids who’s ever tried to leave. If Miko hadn’t convinced him to change his mind, he’d be dead right now. Sometimes he wonders about the ‘Bots, but Arcee saved his life from a Decepticon. She can’t be evil…right?

June Darby is Jack’s mom and is extremely protective. It gets on Arcee’s nerves. She seems to have connected to Ratchet, though. Ever since they’ve started talking, Optimus had noticed changes in his medic’s behavior. It troubles him.

Miko Nakadai is Bulkhead’s partner. The big lug treats her better than the other ‘Bots treat their companions, and she kind of likes him. Wheeljack creeps her out though. She gets the feeling he wants to dissect her…or blow her up. If the Autobots are bad, well…she refuses to see it. She’s finally found someone willing to be her friend, despite her oddities. Why would she give that up?

Rafael Esquivel is Bumblebee’s partner. He’s the only one who can understand the ‘Bots beeps, so they immediately bonded. His friend always pays attention to him, shielding him from the evils of the Decepticons and treating him like a true friend whereas everyone else just ignores him, so he ignores Jack when he tries to tell him his crazy theories.

Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots. Ever since stealing the Matrix of Leadership from Cybertron’s core, he’s been nearly unstoppable. He’s a master manipulator, having learned the art from Megatron himself, then mutated and perfected it. His actions have shown that there is no line he will not cross to get what he wants.

Ultra Magnus is Prime’s ruthless second-in-command. He’s powerful and cunning, and willing to do his boss’s dirty work. His loyalty to the Prime is undying, second only to his loyalty to the Elite Guard code. Before he reunited with Team Prime, he spent his days terrorizing the remaining inhabitants of Cybertron.

Ratchet is Team Prime’s CMO. Ever since the good doctor’s discovery of synth-en, he’s been hyping himself up on it, becoming a bigger issue for the Decepticons. However, he has also shown reluctance to heed his Prime’s every order, and the Decepticons suspect that he may be a potential ally. Is it possible the doc still adheres to medical morals, or does he have ambitions of his own?

Arcee may be more unstable than Ratchet. She takes special pleasure in slicing up her victims, but her mental issues may be caused by her losses. Her ex-partners, Cliffjumper and Tailgate, were brutally killed by two Decepticon soldiers. Now, she seeks her revenge on Starscream and Airachnid, going to any length to have her peace.

Bumblebee learned much of what he knows from Arcee, including his relentlessness. He seeks revenge against the Decepticon leader, Megatron, for his voicebox. It was ripped from his throat during a battle on Cybertron, and he has never forgiven Megatron, nor Ratchet, for his inability to repair his damaged organ.

Bulkhead is the Autobots’ muscle. He and his buddy, Wheeljack, make a nearly unstoppable duo. He may not be the sharpest pencil in the box, but he brings enough to the fight to stop Breakdown in his tracks, and maybe even Megatron.

Wheeljack may be a lone wolf, but he’s not one to back down from a fight. Some call him a coward for using grenades and other contraptions, but he’s just smart. He doesn’t get along with the rest of Team Prime, but when he does find himself operating with them, he wreaks havoc.

Smokescreen is Team Prime’s newest recruit. He seems to be obsessed with Optimus, to the point of it being kind of creepy. The rest of the Autobots don’t exactly like him (especially Arcee and Ratchet), but he doesn’t care. He may have tried to steal the Matrix once, when Prime was incapacitated, but no one can prove it.

Cliffjumper was Arcee’s partner, before his death at Starscream’s hands (literally). After, he was twisted into a zombie by Megatron and forced to attack Arcee.

The Decepticons certainly have the larger army, but they are at a disadvantage. Nearly everywhere on Earth is unsafe for them, with human governments hounding after them 24/7. They may not be incredibly fond of organics, but they will fight for a second chance for all beings.

Megatron is the leader of the Decepticons. He’s perfect by no means––he had the Matrix of Leadership stolen from his hands, fell victim to Unicron’s mind manipulation, overcame an addiction to dark energon, and now has to fight a war on a planet allied with the wrong side. But he’s kept his chin up through thick and thin, and his soldiers have always been there with him. He will not succumb to Prime’s darkness. He will fight against it, and bring Cybertron back to life.

Starscream is Megatron’s second-in-command. Sometimes his intentions have been questioned, but he is loyal to his friend and leader. He’s had his crises, but he always comes back. He took command of the Decepticons during Megatron’s absence, and suffered the wrath of his leader’s dark energon-addled mind.

Soundwave is the Decepticons’ communications officer and Megatron’s third-in-command. He may also be Megatron’s oldest friend. He hasn’t spoken since the day the war broke out, maybe longer, but he doesn’t need words. He was also friends with Ratchet, and believes the doctor may be persuaded to change sides.

Shockwave isn’t truly trusted by many. An empurata and shadowplay victim, the only reason he sides with the Decepticons is because it is the more logical choice. He has a strange fascination with Ultra Magnus, an obsession that likely stems from his days on Cybertron post-Exodus when his forces clashed with Magnus’s Wreckers in a deadly struggle.

Dreadwing is one of Megatron’s most loyal soldiers. He may be a tad too enthusiastic, but his spark is in the right place. Unfortunately, this has gotten him into trouble on several occasions, when his impulsiveness got him into a spat with Wheeljack or another Wrecker, or even Optimus Prime himself.

Airachnid was formerly Megatron’s second-in-command, taking Starscream’s place while he was gone. After his return, she left the Decepticons, believing it was better for her to strike out on her own. No one knows where she is now, but Megatron hopes the Autobots didn’t get their hands on her…especially Arcee.

Breakdown was the Decepticons’ counter to Bulkhead, up until his mysterious death at the hands of MECH. The big lug had a problem letting go of old friends, but he was a loyal soldier (even if he lacked in the intelligence area). He had a fondness for the drones that the other Decepticons didn’t share.

Knock Out is the Decepticon CMO. While he’s not the most skilled or most experienced ‘Con medic (or ‘Con in general), he puts his spark into everything he does. He can be a bit snappy at times (and vain, but for good reason), but deep down, he cares. The loss of Breakdown changed him, though, and he’s been quieter ever since.

Predaking is an experiment created by Shockwave. At first he swore loyalty to Megatron, but as his intelligence began to increase, so did his potential for mutiny. Then the Wreckers killed his still-growing brethren. Some believe the only reason he is still loyal to Megatron is because that is how he will enact his revenge against the Autobots. Megatron tries to discourage him from his dark path, but it doesn’t appear to be working.

If I were to ever write a fic about this…well, it wouldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows. I would want to portray the Autobots and Decepticons as human (as “human” as giant robotic aliens can be, anyway), with more issues than just the war. I don’t want anyone to be perfect or evil. That’s why I can see Megatron as a struggling drug addict, Starscream as a forgiving abuse victim, Bumblebee as a war-damaged child, Ratchet as a field medic with moral issues. I just hope I’d be able to do them justice.

None of these ideas are fleshed out or anything. If I ever wrote this don’t be surprised if things changed. Sorry if there are plot holes, bad ideas, etc.