#transformers high guard

[suzieloveships]

Cybertron Pre-Sentinel's betray

AKA High Guard x B99 au

Base on my previous post

Part 2/Part 3

Starscream: That's how we do it in the HG, sir. Fight bad guys and look good doing it ------ Shockwave: Could you make TC stop doing that weird thing with his face? Skywarp: Crying? ------ Starscream: Let's go! Chest bump me! Soundwave: You don't want to do this Starscream: No, I really do Soundwave: It hurts you every time Starscream: No, I know, but I'm fired up. The adrenaline is gonna carry me through. Here we go! [They chest-bump, and Soundwave effortlessly knocks Star to the floor] ------ [Megatronus enters the room with his wrist is in a splint] Starscream: Whoa. What's with the cast? Megatronus: I sprained my wrist. Skyfire: Oh no, what happened? Megatronus: Don't worry about it, I'm fine. Starscream: Yeah, Primus, Sky. Back off. Leave the guy alone [he cranes his neck to check if Prime is out of earshot] All right, huddle up, everyone. Bring it in, bring it in. So he wouldn't say what happened, which can only mean one thing. Skywarp: He's in a fight club. Starscream: No. He did it doing something he's embarrassed by. Like smiling. Only question is how do you hurt your arm smiling. Thundercracker: Could be a sports injury Megatronus: Attention, everyone! I can hear you speculating about the nature and origin of my injury from my office. I tripped over un uneven sidewalk. I did not think it was relevant to your jobs, the jobs you should all be doing right now. Get to work. Megatronus to Starscream once everyone in gone: Do you want to know how I actually hurt my wrist? Starscream: Yes. Megatronus: I was hula hooping. Prima and I attend a class for fitness and for fun. Starscream: Oh, my Primus. Megatronus: I've mastered all the moves. Starscream: Why are you telling me this? Megatronus: Because no one will ever believe you. Starscream: You sick son of a glitch. ------ Starscream: So how'd you convince the whole squad to betray me? What'd you offer them? Megatronus: I asked them if they wanted to embarrass you, and they instantly said yes ------ Skywarp: Oh, no. Despite what I've been saying for years, that aft just might quit ------ Shockwave: Come on, sir, the math thing isn't the problem. The war is keeping you and Prima apart. You two just need to bone. Skyfire: [chuckles nervously] Megatronus: What did you say? Skyfire: Don't say it again. Shockwave: I said you two need to bone. Skyfire: [whimpers] Megatronus: How dare you, General Shockwave. I am your Prime! Megatronus: Bone! Megatronus: What happens in my berthroom is none of your business. Megatronus: BONE?! Megatronus: Don't ever speak to me like that again. ------ Shockwave: So Starscream's doing the right thing instead of the selfish thing? [to Skyfire] You did this to him ------ Megatronus: I wanna show you a picture from last night that really upset me. Starscream: Okay, but in my defense, Shockwave bet me 50 shanix that I couldn't drink all that shampoo. Megatronus: That's not what I wanted to- You drank shampoo? Starscream: What? No. You're the one farting bubbles. ------ Megatronus: Please, keep an eye on Thundercracker today. He’s going to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and get himself punched. Skywarp: Sure, I would love to see Thundercracker get punched. Megatronus: Try again. Skywarp: I mean I will stop TC from getting punched. ------ Starscream: This is where we came the night we pass our first big exam and you fell in love with me. Skyfire: Star. Starscream: The night you flirted with me for twenty klicks and I became obsessed with you forever. ------ Thundercracker: Life is a party and I’m the piñata. ------ Soundwave: You could've died.  Starscream: The doctor said all my bleeding was internal. That's where the energon is supposed to be ------ Soundwave, holding kitten!Ravage: Prime was right. I've been so worried about my own kid, I forgot about my stupid grown-up kids [points at the seekers] Starscream: That's insulting ------ Thundercraker: Sexy train is leaving station, check out this caboose. Later sluts Everyone: Starscream: Just let him have it

[eisenartworks]

Transformers One Analysis: A foreshadowing of Starscream's betrayal - conflicting loyalties?

Because I've been observing the seekers a lot, and I was rewatching the end credits for Transformers One, because it got me curious where exactly they're getting branded, and if the three examples we got were Shockwave, Soundwave, and Starscream - turns out, it wasn't, it was all seekers. But! I did notice something:

*Seeker may not necessarily be Thundercracker, but with similar cockpit design (Seekers vary by cockpit design).

Observing what little we can in this shot, we do see that a good deal has it on their cockpit/chest or their shoulder:

But on the other hand, we get an explicit shot of Starscream's insignia ON his wing, and the shot is lead with that before revealing the freshly rechristened Decepticon High Command:

And I thought "that's weird".

Or maybe, it isn't that weird. Since, ofc, Starscream's insignia placement is where it's traditionally located, it's an allusion to that!

But the thing is, we also have to consider all the other factors in the context - there's a deliberateness here, an emphasis. For one, the animators didn't spare a single shot of any other seekers getting branded on their wings. They emphasized that they got it on their chest or their shoulders, and it's odd! Because in any other transformers media, seekers also get it on their wings! Are you telling me they couldn't be bothered to show at least one who had it branded there?

But the thing is, the movie is rife with intentional details. It's a movie that encourages you to observe. And with what you observe, you question. And the scene wants you to ask the question:

Why is it significant to show deliberately that seekers got branded on their chest/shoulders? Why is it significant that Starscream got branded on his wings but not his cockpit unlike any other seeker?

My theory: loyalty.

Which is an insane thing to accuse Starscream to have considering his, uh, established precedence of treachery in all transformers media, BUT HEAR ME OUT AND CHECK THE CONCEPT ART FOR THE SEEKERS, OR RATHER, THEIR COCKPITS:

Ofc, the other seekers are simply a mix and match of these examples, but I also want you really look at Thundercracker and Skywarp:

Checking T.C.'s and Skywarps resective cards, the symbol of their cockpit matches with Starscream:

"But wait, maybe it just matches with any other seeker?" I considered it as well, but I think the emblem isn't just there for decoration. Why do I think so? Because of Skywarp; he has the same cockpit design as Slipstream and two others, but he's the only one with an emblem. Why?

Me, I think that emblem is a symbol of the High Guard - the cockpit design on Starscream isn't just for aesthetic, it's there to show he was the leader, and the High Guard served the Primes. Thundercracker and Skywarp also has these emblems to set them apart with the other seekers, and traditionally, they were Starscream's teammates (or trine in fanon terms). It explicitly tells us that Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp are to be grouped together.

Here's the thing: Starscream on first watch seems like the typical Starscream, but there's something more than meets the eye with him (lol). We can debate how effective his leadership is back when he used to lead to and fro or what his actual moral allegiance is considering by joining the Decepticons and when he attacked Iacon, he's betraying everything the Primes stood for, but weirdly enough, I DO think he is genuinely loyal to the Primes. Considering the movies theme of 'Fall from Grace', Megatron isn't actually the only example of it in the film - the High Guard is too.

Questionable effectiveness aside, I would like to point out the High Guard didn't serve Sentinel. Or more explicitly, Starscream doesn't beg Sentinel for mercy or to be spared to try to bargain his way into gaining power (let's be real, we all can think of a Starscream who would absolutely do that), instead he viciously threatens Sentinel, even when set on execution. Another thing I want to point out, is that if the High Guard was only fighting Sentinel JUST so they could get their high status back, then they could have just. Served him? If they truly don't have any moral backbone, they could have just bargained with Sentinel to keep their status and comfort and still do High Guard things with a "Prime". And it's a win-win for both groups too - Sentinel gets to have an elite force to be his enforcers for his regime, the High Guard gets to keep their status and safe from any retribution. But they didn't. Instead, they chose exile on the dangerous surface with little to no energon, hiding from Sentinel and the Quintessons, all the while trying to survive with incessant threat of death hanging over their heads, potentially killed by their environment, their enemies, or starvation.

Which makes me assume some things: while definitely no longer good people, there's some lines they won't cross, Starscream included; they're not motivated by status, they're motivated by revenge on Sentinel; it seems they're loyal to who the Primes ARE, not to the system the Primes' established.

Which brings to my theory: Starscream DOES betray Megatron, but not because out of greed for power, but rather for a good and understandable reason, and because Starscream still holds some belief in the Primes' ideals and what the High Guard used to fight for.

That's the significance on why Starscream has the Decepticon insignia on his wings - not on his cockpit, where he could brand the Decepticon insignia over the High Guard emblem, not below the emblem, where both symbols exist in equal measure, but on his wings, the farthest away from his chest, leaving his High Guard emblem in full, untouched view.

[devils-yui]

Do you think the Iaconian High Guard were happy to go home for once, even in a charge of an attack on Sentinel? Do you think they’d have expected to survive and gone home? Do you think they’ll ever keep in memory the thought that the first glimpse of their “home” again in what felt like eons became their last as they were exiled again?

[suzieloveships]

Cybertron Pre-Sentinel's betray

AKA High Guard x B99 au

Part 1/Part 3

Starscream: no big deal, I'm not afraid to be alone with my thoughts, my thoughts are awesome. Action holofilms, traveling to another planets, gigantic cubes of energon, my mother never loved me, I'm going to die alone Starscream: oh boy, that happened fast ------ Starscream: How are we looking? Skywarp: Sexy, but not like we're trying too hard. Like, sure we're trying, but it's almost...effortless? ------ Starscream: Megatronus got injured during our last mission. Megatronus: I’m not injured, I was just lightly stabbed. Prima: I’m sorry, you were stabbed! Megatronus: LIGHTLY stabbed! ------ Starscream: So, what, now I'm just supposed to do anything that Shockwave does? I mean, what if he jumped off a cliff? Megatronus: If Shockwave were to jump off a cliff, he would've done his due diligence regarding the height of the cliff, the depth of the water, and the angle of entry, so yes. If you see Shockwave jump off a cliff, by all means, jump off a cliff. Starscream: You jump off a cliff. Magatronus: Gladly. Provided Shockwave did first. ------ Starscream: I refuse to believe anyone here is a mole. Here, watch this. I know what everyone's gonna do tonight. Skywarp is going to pratice teleporting again. Skyfire's gonna be going over his weekly budget. Thundercraker is going to write his fanfics and if I run and leap at Soundwave, he will most certainly catch me in his servos. Coming in! Soundwave: No! I'm holding energon! [Starscream jumps and Soundwave lets him fall] ------ Thundercracker: Skyfire, do I look like Starscream to you? Skyfire: What? Thundercracker: do I look like Starscream to you?! Skyfire: No? Thundercracker: then why are you trying to screw me?!  ----- Starscream: The question is: Who here does the best impression of Megatronus Prime? You'll be judged on voice, body language, and overall lack of flair. Everyone will perform the same scenario: Megatronus eating a sweet cube for the very first time. Let the Prime-off begin! Soundwave: What is this non-nutrition monstrosity before me? Shockwave: The sugar in this is quite sweet. Thundercracker: Ooh, mm-hmm, mm-hmm-hmm-hmm! Starscream: That's your Prime impression? Thundercracker: I can hear him doing that. Skywarp: Looks like a sticky pillow. Starscream: I don't care for it. Classical music. Megatronus: What's going on here? What are you doing? Starscream: Captain, hey, nothing, just eating some sweet cubes. Care for one? Megatronus: Sweet cubes? [eats it] Hmm. Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm! Thundercracker: I knew it! ------ Megatronus: What happened? Starscream: Well... remember when you told me not to burn the ship down? Megatronus: You burned the ship down?? Starscream: No, I had the fire put out immediately. This is a success story! ------ Starscream: Oh... I’m so tired. I can’t keep my optics open. Here, I need you to slap me. Megatronus: I’m not gonna do that. Megatronus: [Slaps him hard] Megatronus: I thought perhaps the element of surprise would help. Starscream: It did! ------ Starscream: I'm gonna go take another crack at that Quintesson's spy we captured. Skyfire: You've been in there, like, five times. What are you gonna do? Annoy him into talking? Starscream: Ha, ha. Very funny. *Later* Starscream, sitting in front of a spy with a guitar: 2, 3, 4! Starscream, strumming randomly on guitar: *Pterodactyl screeching* ------ Starscream: Alright, you’re clearly not listening to me. I can say whatever I want. Soundwave: Tell me about it. Starscream: I murdered Thundercracker as revenge. Soundwave: I feel you. Starcream: Now that I realize how easy it is to solve problems that way, I can’t stop murdering. Soundwave: Been there.

[suzieloveships]

Cybertron Pre-Sentinel's betray

AKA High Guard x B99 au

Part 1/Part 2

Soundwave: Just talk to him and apologise.

Shockwave: Nope. I’m going to wait until I am on my deathberth, get in the last word, and die immediately.

Soundwave: That’s your plan for dealing with this?

Shockwave: That’s my plan for dealing with everything. I have 72 arguments I am going to win that way.

------

Megatronus: Starscream, can I speak to you for a minute? In private.

Starscream: Ooh, someone’s in trouble. It’s me. I don’t know why I did that.

------

Starscream: Maybe it's not too late to get out of here. We could start a new life on some distant planet, maybe have a lab in a basement of our home

Skyfire: How dare you tempt me with a lab in the basement!

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Thundercracker: Skywarp, I screw up, big time.

Skywarp: TC, given your daily life experiences, you’re gonna have to be more specific.

------

Shockwave: It's just that you can be... judgemental, at times.

Megatronus: What a stupid thing to say. Name one time that I've been judgmental.

Shockwave: Okay.

-2 seconds ago-

Megatronus: What a stupid thing to say.

-present-

Megatronus: Oh, I see.

------

Thundercracker: Desperate times call for Desperate Housewives

Megatronus: What?

Thundercracker: Measures! I said measures!

------

Starscream, to Megatronus: before you say anything, yes, we screwed up, and yes, you warned us, and yes, I don't know where I'm going with this, but I do know this

Starscream: I have reached the end of my sentence

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Skyfire: once we get that new berth we'll have to break it in

Starscream: oh I hear what you're saying, mattress trampoline

Starscream: wait no you were talking about sex

Skyfire: yeah

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Thundercracker: remember you have to pretend to be surprised

Shockwave: how's this: oh my Primus, it's so much worse than I imagined

Thundercracker: the energy was great but the message was flawed 

------ Starscream: Anything interesting happened while I was gone Shockwave: Prime banned headphones from the main bridge after the "Skywarp incident" Skywarp incident ⬇️

------ Starscream: Okay, okay, okay. I think I know how we can get some more money. Skywarp: Yeah, you would make a good prostitute. Starscream: I'd make an amazing prostitute. ------ Shockwave: We talked about emotions for 20 minutes Megatronus: Primus below ------ Starscream: What I'm about to say will make you very horny but you have to try and remember we're still at work Starscream: Do you want me to quiz you? Skyfire, turn on: Primus, yes

[suzieloveships]

Thinking about Cybertron Pre-Sentinel's betrayal (Read watching b99 funny moments and imaging Starscream as Jake, Skyfire as Amy, Thundercracker as Charles, Skywarp as Gina, Shockwave as Rosa, Soundwave as Terry and Megatronus and Prima as Holt and Kevin)