Finally committing to sharing this massive metal man, still not 100% happy with the design but i'm not gonna mess with it anymore, he gets the job done.
Feel free to hit me up with design suggestions, lore questions, thoughts, etc! All of this is still a major WIP and i love getting outside input!
--
This is my AU's take on Megatron, though currently he IDs as: DSM-16
The short of it:
DSM-16 is a custom designed weapon build (specifically a shoulder mounted machine gun), commissioned by Convoy Solus within Tarn (Cybertron's primary military manufacturing district) to kickstart a line of specialty combat equipment mechs meant to withstand the harsher conditions of Cybertron's wilds. The DSM-16 model was crafted with a symbiotic host system in place, allowing the weapon to be synced with an assigned wielder, allowing for more efficiency/accuracy out in the field.
The long of it:
DSM-16 has had 3 wielders/hosts prior to being assigned/bonded to Ironhide. The most recent of which, Commander Cyclonus, was offlinedmurdered while on mission. DSM-16 survived the ordeal and was brought back to Tarn to receive repairs and a new host. He is far too valuable and useful to be kept on the sidelines for long.
DSM-16's superiors/creators/owners assume he has no memory/archived storage of the events that led to the loss of his previous host due to the extent of the damage he received. They are wrong.
DSM-16 is unconscious and still in the early stages of self-repair when he is reassigned to a young, almost fresh off the line Ironhide. Ironhide, despite having a fairly common vehicle alt mode amongst his peers, was manufactured to have a spark that could withstand a host/symbiotic bond. He has no field experience at the time of the bonding and is eons away from being DSM's equal in experience or skill. However, Ironhide is a soldier while DSM is a weapon. As such, Ironhide holds the authority, much to DSM's chagrin.
Through centuries of ruthless, lethal, and consistent work DSM has earned himself a solid reputation within Tarn (despite what he is). He is a revered and respected piece of equipment and as this new bond with Ironhide settles he will make use of what little leeway this reputation gives him.
DSM-16 is leashed to his creators and their whims, but with a fresh naive host and a new bitter sense of resentment, he will not be leashed for long.
Some additional fun facts:
DSM's visor is required to be lowered at all times when not within Ironhide's private quarters. He is also rarely ever seen in root mode outside of Ironhide's private quarters, as is expected of equipment.
DSM was built without a mouth, instead the area on his helm is fitted with additional vents to help with temperature control and filtration. He does have a voice box, but its rarely used (he only ever talks to Ironhide, and that can be done through the bond)
DSM has his own built in smelter, forge, and fuel refinery. He is capable of processing raw energon and creating his own ammo from raw materials/metals. This means he runs very hot and needs a larger portion of fuel to keep his systems running smoothly.
DSM-16's ID is a small part of a literal identification/serial number that is attached to his spark/bio-code. His creators have redefined this portion to stand for: Defensive Shoulder Mount - 16gauge
The name Megatron will eventually come from a series of inside jokes shared between him and Ironhide, when the pair make their eventual escape DSM will choose the new name as his first step towards reshaping his identity.
Megatron is not out to fix Cybertron. He has little to no attachment or regard for any mechs outside of Tarn's boundaries. His only wish is to put the means of production into his own kin's hands, meaning other weapon/host pairs within Tarn. He wants to overthrow the manufacturers who made him, he could care less about how the other cities handle their affairs. As such, the Decepticon cause will not exist within this AU as it typically does, if at all.
My wanting to create a Transformers OC has led to the complete redesign and overhaul of the planet/lore/canon characters because I can't leave well enough alone.
I have so many thoughts and concepts in my head, so this is going to turn into a masterpost while i hash things out because it all has to go somewhere. I promise this will be better organized as time goes on.
I'll have a proper "plot" & lore summary eventually!
I'm referring to this project/rewrite/redesign/alternate universe as the above title card states: TF: Made to Order. Assemble. Stock.
But TF: MTO is fine for short.
══════════════════
The tag i've been using looks like a bad scrabble hand.
#TFMTOAS au
More tags for art/lore and the like will pop up eventually i guess? hecc
══════════════════
And there's been some character redesigns/short writing bits already posted:
📖 AO3 Collection
Ironhide Redesign
Megatron Redesign
Starscream Redesign
Vos Titan Concept/WIP
The OC design that started this descent into madness.
Some of these have lore typed, most don't. Oops.
══════════════════
The vibes:
𝔹𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕 𝕒 𝔹𝕠𝕥! 𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕪 𝕊𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕜 𝕊𝕒𝕝𝕖! 𝔸𝕝𝕝 ℕ𝕖𝕨 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕥 𝔽𝕣𝕒𝕞𝕖!
𝟠𝟘𝕜 𝕐𝕣 𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕪 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕡𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕤𝕖! 𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕊𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕟𝕠𝕨!
You are a product, manufactured from the spark up to execute a purpose. To fulfill a contract. To satisfy a customer.
Before the fall, Cybertron was at the peak of its industrial revolution. Spark manufacturing was becoming more efficient, more consistent, and being able to order custom builds was now easily accessible (even for those of a 'lower caste'). There was a tool for every job, an upgrade for every frame, and relations between the districts had never been more productive.
Let's explore functionist Cybertron with an extra dash of capitalism. All Cybertronians are products (even amongst their own kind), some just happen to hold a monopoly over their own means of production.
