Transformers: Shards of Lithone 1.2 The Scourge

Hi, y'all! It's another comic from your resident Hasbro fanboy!

This is where we finally start seeing some action, so be advised, there's one Bad Oscar in this installment.

Rated Teen for Sci-fi violence and action.

Comments

[howard035]

Surprising, that Autobots and Decepticons can encounter each other and not immediately turn into combat, though it does eventually end that way.

Are there any differences between a drone and a full cybertronian other than the presence of a spark? Are all Vehicons drones?

[MyHobby]

4375040

Surprising, that Autobots and Decepticons can encounter each other and not immediately turn into combat, though it does eventually end that way.

So, like, one of my working titles for this story was Transformers: Cold War, but it wasn't quite applicable. More information on their situation will be forthcoming at the end of the chapter.

4375040

Are there any differences between a drone and a full cybertronian other than the presence of a spark? Are all Vehicons drones?

These Vehicons, as an homage to the original Vehicon Army from Beast Machines, are all sparkless drones. Lifeless machines. There's a story behind them, and they do not have a 100% approval rating. They're Shockwave's brainchild--Megatron never liked the idea himself.

In this series, the poor, mistreated underclass wears a different face.

[howard035]

4376284

They're Shockwave's brainchild--Megatron never liked the idea himself.

I always wondered about why so many Decepticon lieutenants were loyal to Megatron. I mean Starscream, obviously, but so many other big shots like Shockwave were high-class scientists in an extremely stratified society before the war, and then they decide to swear total loyalty to this big angry pit fighter?
It makes me wonder how many of them were planning to whack Megatron once the Autobots were destroyed, and all the other smart scientist/lieutenants were just annoyed with Starscream for constantly jumping the gun.

[MyHobby]

4376350

I always wondered about why so many Decepticon lieutenants were loyal to Megatron. I mean Starscream, obviously, but so many other big shots like Shockwave were high-class scientists in an extremely stratified society before the war, and then they decide to swear total loyalty to this big angry pit fighter?

It makes me wonder how many of them were planning to whack Megatron once the Autobots were destroyed, and all the other smart scientist/lieutenants were just annoyed with Starscream for constantly jumping the gun.

Charisma, chutzpah, and a lot of people who think he's right.

Many saw Starscream's continued failures as a sign of what would happen should they try to overthrow the big man himself. A lot of Megatron's power lies in threat of physical and psychological harm. First of all, you've got hundreds upon hundreds of soldiers who think of Megatron as not just the second coming, but the only coming. You can't gain their support by openly taking out Megs, you've got to be more subtle about it. That's why Prime Starscream was always dancing around the issue--he wanted to be Megatron's successor, not his murderer. One of those would have led to some avenger of energon hunting him down.

Second of all, Megatron leads from the front. You have to be able to topple one of the greatest warriors in the history of Cybertron if you wanna take the throne by force.

Shockwave's level of loyalty varies by series. Original cartoon? Loyal to a fault, mostly because his job was specifically guarding Cybertron, and Megs didn't spend much time there, what with the resource-rich planet he wanted to plunder. original comics? Beat Megatron to a bloody pulp and usurped him openly because he's just that bad an oscar. Logically, with his abilities, he should rule.

Prime Shockwave never usurped him mostly because Megs let him play with his toys all day. Fully funded military research and all that.

According to some continuities... A few members of the original Council orchestrated the Decepticon uprising, back in the day. Ratbat, for example, made sure Megatron's speeches were televised and advertised. His ultimate plan was to take control of whatever army Megatron dredged up--and sit hismelf as the head of the new ruling body. As a reward for his aspirations, he was rebuilt into a minicon body-type and left under the command of Soundwave. He is now the Decepticon's accountant. People remember Ratbat's audacity.

Soundwave himself is loyal to Megatron because he's content to be the second-most influential transformer in the universe. He waits in Megatron's shadow, watching and listening to the Decepticon troops, wary of any discontent. He has files upon files of blackmail, even a fraction of which would utterly destroy dozens of lives. Some say he has dirt of Megatron, but wouldn't dare use it. As long as Megatron is in power, Soundwave has a place of power. As long as Soundwave watches Megatron's back, Megatron enjoys a more secure reign.

A lot of Decepticons just really buy into Megatron's ideology that Cybertronians are inherently superior, and are destined to rule all worlds. And the ones that are just thugs? They don't care who's in charge as long as they get to punch something. Take Motormaster, for example, who is far too stupid to make anything of himself. He's mostly in charge because he hits harder than the other soldiers under his command.

Megatron's position is not a comfortable one, but it is a powerful one.

[howard035]

4376546 Say what you will about Megatron, he certainly has charisma.