What are the other high-guard members' relationships with Megatronus like, if they exist at all?
How protective can they get over Megatron? Is anyone particularly worse than the others?
Who in the high-guard have the best relationships with each other? Is there a duo who don't really like each other? Is there anyone who stays with the Decepticons for ulterior motives beyond the core mission?
Has anyone ever snapped and done something that resembled their canon version a little too much? What was the fallout of it?
I don't all of the high guard well, so I'll only explain with the ones I do recall seeing in TFO:
Starscream- he was the leader of the high guard, and was also Megatronus's advisors. The two were often explaining and planning out battle strategies. Starscream didn't engage in battle as often, choosing to be a pacifist until the prime's death, and only took on battle for the sake of survival and to help the high guard on the surface. Being a scientist, he prefers to spend his free time finding out how to improve the technology they had currently to help their survival.
Shockwave- He was a senator before he joined the high guard, and accepted the role by Megatronus after he was stripped of his identity and cast out like junk. He became his lieutenant in the high guard, and joined Megatronus often with Soundwave to fight off the quintessons. He liked to visit Starscream and see what he's been up to in the lab, but usually spent his time with Soundwave and enjoying the knight's cheerful attitude and presence.
Soundwave- Second-in-command in the high guard, and one of Megatronus's closest companions. Megatronus, before his ascension as a Prime, had originally been a gladiator (my hc). He worked with Soundwave in the rings often to stay alive, and would enact battle strategies to try and keep as many people alive against opponents. Soundwave had pledged loyalty to him twice, once in the ring for saving his life, and second when he was appointed as a knight.
Skywarp and Thundercracker- general members of the high guard. They joined the guard for different reasons- Thundercracker wanted to do something new, and Skywarp was a huge fan of Megatronus Prime. Thundercracker would occasionally spar with the prime to improve his skills, while Skywarp would visit to bring him news of any enemy info or ask about Megatronus's life as a gladiator.
Most of them are protective of Megatron, with Starscream and Soundwave being the biggest ones. Soundwave's loyalty to Megatronus immediately shifted to Megatron, and made a vow to ensure that he could repay his debt from his gladiator life with Megatron. Starscream makes sure Megatron takes necessary breaks while also keeping him updated on how their base is improving. Between them, Soundwave is far more protective, and will often times act threatening to other high guard members if he thinks they're showing disinterest in Megatron's plans or show dislike to him (this caused him to have a small fight with Thundercracker over this one time).
Soundwave has the best relationship with everyone. He's the 'sunshine' of the group, ensuring everyone is happy and motivated to do their best. His empathy is higher than most, so he always tries to connect with everyone and help them in any way he can, even if that means his presence is not wanted. His greatest enemy is Thundercracker, who sometimes challenged Megatron's plans.
While everyone saw Megatron as their prime reincarnated, Thundercracker saw the flaws behind that dream. He reminded Megatron the high guards limits in manpower and supplies for some of the missions during meetings. Most of the high guards find it annoying and hate it too, but Megatron always accepts it happily as feedback, finding his opinions more helpful than what others thought.
Deadlock stays with the Decepticons, but not for the goal. In truth, he's a spy for the Autobots, and tries to use their plans against them whenever he gets any info from other Decepticons. He along with many other mechs are kept in a base separate from the high guard and Megatron, so he can't tell where they are for Optimus to properly capture his beloved. No one knows about his real goals yet, and likes to act as a 'humble warrior' before the Decepticons as a guise.
Megatron was the one who ended up reverting to his canon self momentarily, and it was after Soundwave took a fatal blow in his stead. He tried to save the knight, but after confirming he was indeed dead, he lost it. His optics went from yellow to red, he didn't listen to anyone, and only followed his anger, and his anger pointed to the mech who shot Soundwave- Elita. Needless to say, his rage left a huge blow to the Autobots, tearing them apart with his hands or his cannon recklessly, while using his spear to impale and split them in half. Only after Elita was long dead and the Autobots had retreated did Megatron eventually come back to his senses. He spent the next few orns mourning the loss of Soundwave, and felt a deep sense of guilt for his senseless killing in his rage, falling into a deep depression in that time alone with his thoughts (this was also when Megatron was sparked I should add-).
Hope that answered it! I like seeing asks like these, that focus on the background characters more!
