Kind of a silly question but how do your robots get their names? I just really like to know random world building facts lolz
That’s a good question! Cybertronian names can be chosen or assigned. Because of how closely personal identity is tied to function, it’s customary to change names when you change vocations, or if your social status changes. That’s why many names seem overtly descriptive, and some ‘Bots go through multiple variations of them.
Part of why name-choosing is so common is that many ‘Bots on the lower rungs of the social hierarchy are not given names on creation. Sparklings considered the property of corporations and city governments, namely those cultured from dead or similarly low-caste Bots, are assigned either numbers or stock names, which makes them easy to keep track of as assets. A ‘Bot with a number designation assigning themselves a unique name when they graduate to a higher status role is a point of pride, and often used to assert their worthiness and importance over those without.
On the other side of things, Bots from high-caste lines are almost always assigned names on creation, and they are much more likely to keep these names into maturity. Optimus Prime’s original name, Orion Pax, is a good example of a high-caste name; unlike the descriptive, functional names of lower and mid-caste bots, it’s quite abstract, making use of a celestial motif popular with post-Quintesson elites (ex. Nova Prime, a famous Prime from recent history involved with space expansion). This was a given name he kept up until his ascension to Primacy, a social move on Cybertron treated with similar religious significance as the Papacy.
Now, on war-era Cybertron, it’s common to assume a “battle” name. Many ‘Bots change prefixes, suffixes, or even create entirely new titles for themselves to fit with their military roles. This practice was standard for a time, but interestingly, the youngest generation (sparklings cultured at the beginning of the war just entering maturity) have broken this trend, opting for more generic “throwback” names. Current and former Academy Autobots like “Hotrod,” “Arcee,” “Springer,” “Bumblebee,” and “Knockout” prefer simple names that don’t seem to fit any one category, but reflect their personalities.
TEXT: Starscream is no stranger to burning bridges. In her early life she fled from vocation to vocation, escaping inter-polity trading to a promising scientific apprenticeship, before eventually washing up in the last place that would take her; Cybertron’s military. Despite the political tension, she assumed this would be an intelligent career choice, as she didn’t foresee Cybertron’s multi-millennia era of peace ending anytime soon.
When the Council of Primes authorized the formation of the paramilitary Autobots, Starscream graduated from a technical officer to a squadron co-commander. Her sharp charisma and quick thinking made her formidable, but her temperament often landed her in trouble with her superiors, relegating her to reconnaissance and security work. She found this unbearably dull. Dissatisfied with her place in the Autobots, both materially and philosophically, it wasn’t long before the prospect of defecting occurred to her; when the opportunity presented itself in the form of a first lieutenant position with the Decepticons, she didn’t think twice, weaponizing her charm to recruit as many of her fellow aerial corps as possible.
In the beginning, the Decepticons seemed like a perfect fit. Starscream’s high intelligence and varied experience made her a creative combat strategist. Unleashed from disciplined military training, she developed a controlled, yet unpredictable attack style, propelling her to infamy with her enemies. Perhaps most importantly, her appeal was irresistible, and her duplicitous duende made her a natural complement to Megatron’s grandiose sincerity. For a while, things were perfect… but inevitably, like every opportunity before it, Starscream couldn’t keep herself satisfied for long.
Today, her position with the Decepticons feels more and more like a burden. Destructive spontaneity and a hot temper have soured most of her relationships with her fellow officers, Megatron most of all. Starscream’s frustration with her commander’s perceived inaction manifests in many acts of rebellion, even attempted mutinies, all of which Megatron has taken great efforts to hide from their subordinates. Once a formidable unit, the Decepticon high command has become inert, dysfunctional, and resentful.
As the possibility of being expelled from Cybertron
entirely looms over them, Starscream finds herself
between worlds. Does she satisfy her seemingly unquenchable ambition and try to take control of the Decepticons-permanently? Does she submit to her restless neurosis and abandon her station entirely? With the survival of her, Megatron, and everyone else on the spaceship Determination at stake, she has to decide what’s more valuable: the Decepticon cause she’s become attached to, or herself.
Quick question: What will happen if your version of megatron meets other versions of megatron, like idw mtmt megatron, bayverse megatron, earthspark or any other version of megatron or starscream?
I don’t have any interactions thought out, but this version of Megatron for The Decepticons is much younger (still in the middle of the war, before Cybertron was a lost cause) and hasn’t become completely apathetic with time, so I imagine the opinions of any other Megatron would be very judgmental and hostile
this is still an insecure and ineffective Megatron, not a cruel and resigned one