Editing Alignment

{{inprogress}}
{{apocrypha}}
{{comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Unofficial conventions|Transforce 2001–2002]] novella
|prev=The Last Days of Optimus Prime
|next=
|image=Alignment online cover.jpg
|caption=[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] would sell his cannon for this to be canon.
|title="Alignment"
|publisher=Transforce Productions
|date='''Book 1:''' [[August 25]], [[2001]] (Transforce 2001)<br>'''Book 2:''' [[August 10]], [[2002]] (Transforce 2002)
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|illustrations=[[Lee Sullivan]]<br>[[Andrew Wildman]]<br>[[Geoff Senior]]<br>[[Kev Hopgood]]<br>[[Jeff Anderson]]<br>[[Lew Stringer]]
|editor=Paul Cannon
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

"'''Alignment'''" is an unofficial Transformers novella written by [[Simon Furman]], designed to tie up the loose threads left over from the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' comic book, and to bridge the gap between the Generation 1 era and the [[Beast Era]]. The storyline was produced without [[Hasbro]]'s approval, and as such, is considered non-[[canon]], but is included here on {{SITENAME SHORT}} due to the insight it offers into the author's [[Authorial intent|thought processes]] regarding the earlier storylines that it follows. As such, those elements of the story that enlighten official stories (namely, the true nature of the [[Liege Maximo]] and the purpose of the [[Hub (G2)|Hub]]) could reasonably be considered [[pseudocanon]].

"Alignment" was published in two parts, both released exclusively at the UK convention, [[Unofficial conventions|Transforce]]. Book 1 was released at Transforce 2001 in a magazine-styled format; at Transforce 2002, Book 1 was reprinted alongside the newly written Book 2 in book format. In 2005, the whole story was made available online.

The story features covers and interior illustrations by noted Marvel UK artists, [[Lee Sullivan]], [[Andrew Wildman]], [[Geoff Senior]], [[Kev Hopgood]], [[Jeff Anderson]], and [[Lew Stringer]]. 

==Synopsis==
The story takes place several hundred years after "[[A Rage in Heaven!]]", by which time the [[Autobot]]-[[Decepticon]] alliance established in that story has broken down, and hostilities have begun once more. In the intervening years, [[Galvatron II]] destroys Megatron and assumes leadership of the Decepticons, arranging the construction of a fleet of [[Warworld]]s. In a major battle at [[Pinea Omicron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] succeeds in defeating Galvatron, but is knocked into [[stasis lock]] himself in the process, leaving both sides leaderless and in grave need of [[energon]]. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] assumes the role of acting Autobot commander on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], while the Decepticons, led by a High Council, regroup on "New Cybertron", a world transformed into a metallic sphere through use of the [[cyberforming|eco-structuring]] process previously employed by the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]]. The Autobots are facing downsizing and other "unpalatable" options, while the Decepticons—having a collective leadership as nobody wants to ''be'' leader—are facing irrelevance and the rising [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] faction are openly talking about surrender.

As the story begins, Ultra Magnus sends a crew under the command of [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] to search for energon, only for their ship to inadvertently enter the cloaked region of space concealing the Hub, a massive structure of interlinked planets that is home to the menacing, mysterious Liege Maximo. Using this massive resonant web of worlds, the Liege Maximo plans to ascend to the realm of the gods, and with the time of the universal alignment that will allow him to accomplish this goal about to begin, the Liege Maximo takes no chances and directs his forces to attack both the Autobots and Decepticons to keep them occupied. To fight back, a cabal of Decepticons led by [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] secretly restores Megatron to life, and the Decepticon leader is able to safely evacuate New Cybertron and blows the planet up to destroy the Liege Maximo's armies. Ultra Magnus is also able to get his fighting forces off Cybertron, and both sides then counter-attack the Hub.

Grimlock's crew attempts to sabotage the Hub from the ground, but they are systematically killed, leaving only [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] alive by the time the united Autobot-Decepticon counter-attack arrives and draws the Liege Maximo's attention. As the Liege Maximo focuses his attention on the armada, Megatron performs a solo strike on the monster's exposed flank, dying in the process, but causing it to feel pain for the first time in millennia. Panicked, the Liege Maximo begins the alignment, separating his lifeforce from his corporeal form. His body is destroyed by the armada, and Swoop commits a final act of sabotage, causing the portal created by the Hub to collapse. With nowhere to go, the Liege Maximo's lifeforce dissipates, and he is destroyed.

The resolution of this threat leads to the signing of the [[Pax Cybertronia]] and the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. The Decepticons are replaced by Predacons, the species downsizes to save energy, and hope blossomed for an enduring peace.

"[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|With hindsight]], they really should have known better."

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1= 
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (1)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (3)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (4)
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (12)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (13)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (14)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (21)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (22)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (5)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (6)
*Stormfront (7)
*Mantissa (8)
*Sabrejaw (9)
*[[Mindgame]] (10)
*[[Killzone]] (11)
*[[Direwolf]] (15)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (16)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (17)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (19)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (20)

|c4=
*[[Liege Maximo]] (18)
}}

==Glossary==
{{note|Since "Alignment" is not canon, the story's unique concepts lie outside of the scope of the wiki. For readers' ease though, below is a list of all concepts "Alignment" introduced to ''Transformers''. Writers of official media, feel free to [[canonizing|canonize]] at will!}}
{{collist|2|
*'''Characters'''
**''[[Direwolf]]'', a Decepticon; former acolyte of Unicron. Practitioner of [[dark science]]. 
**''[[Ebon Knights]]'', the next big threat after Praetorian.
**''[[Killzone]]'', a Decepticon; member of the council.
**''Mantissa'', a Decepticon; chief scientific advisor of the council. Female.
**''[[Mindgame]]'', a Decepticon; member of the council.
**''[[Mogahn the Mass]]'', ''presumably'' some''one'' who formed the next big threat after the Swarm.
**''[[Praetorian]]'', ''presumably'' some''one'' who formed the next big threat after Mogahn.
**''Sabrejaw'', a Decepticon; member of the council.
**''Stormfront'', a Decepticon; surviving member of Galvatron II's elite guard & member of the council.
*'''Locations'''
**''Alpha-Epsilon Overloop'', a portion of the Hub.
**''Arc'', a collection of tactical stations under Iacon.
**''G345 of Lateral Transverse String North-North-East'', an ore-processing station. A portion of the Hub.
**''Grand Forum'', an open hall with Decepticon political importance on Cybertron.
**''[[Hadean System|Hadean system]]'', a region of space either near Cybertron or home to it.
**''[[Hulla Filament]]'', a portion of the Hub.
**''Interlink world of Pi Omega4'', a portion of the Hub.
**''Junction 654 of intersecting obverse transit tubeways 42 East 16 and South East 214'', an energy routing station. A vital portion of the Hub.
**''[[Kolkular]]'', a Decepticon city on Cybertron.
**''Lateral transverse string D1089'', a portion of the Hub.
**''[[Pinea Omicron]]'', the location of a devastating Autobot vs Decepticon battle, at which Optimus Prime destroyed Galvatron II. Next big threat after the Ebon Knights.
**''Progeny'', a comet given name by Perceptor.
**''[[New Kaon|Pyrovar]]'', the six-mooned planet conquered by the Decepticons and eco-structured into New Cybertron.
**''[[Stellar Galleries]]'', a building on Cybertron.
**''Wilderzones'', the regions of space unexplored to Cybertronian knowledge.
*'''Objects'''
**''Hyperwave'', a type of starship.
**''[[Magno-clamp]]s'', equipment in a Transformer's body to ensure attachment of/to metallic surfaces.
**''Multiform attack jets'', a type of jet.
**''Sensory/Analytical Data pod'', S.A.D. pod. A recording and broadcasting device.
**''Starpedo'', a torpedo for use in space.
**''[[Vanguard-class Deep Space Interceptor|Vanguard Command ships]]'', a type of starship.
*'''Other'''
**''Alignment'', the moment on which the portal to the dimension of the gods opens.
**''[[Dark science]]'', an evil-purposed, magic-like form of science. 
**''Energon shield generator'', a shielding mechanism invented by the Autobots.
**''Holospore projection'', a cloaking mechanism.
**''Mecho-minder'', used idiomatically to refer to a caregiver
**''Quarian thrash'', some type of music not appreciated among most Transformers.
**''Solar rek'', a unit of distance.
**''TAC-scan'', a battle-related scan.}}

==Relation to other works==
"Alignment" served to answer several of the questions surrounding the mysterious entity, the Liege Maximo, that the ''Generation 2'' comics raised. The story explained, as the comics had hinted, that the Liege Maximo was one of the first Transformers created by Primus, who sought to reconnect with the divine origins of the Transformers by gaining access to the realm of the gods. This was the reason for the eco-structuring that [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and the Cybertronian Empire were subjecting planets throughout the galaxy to during the ''Generation 2'' series—this interconnected series of metallic worlds formed the "Hub", a resonant structure that would allow the Liege Maximo to accomplish his goal.

The story also served to form an explicit link between the (Marvel Comics version of the) Generation 1 time period and the recently concluded [[Beast Era]]. It is noted that while the Decepticons are leaderless on New Cybertron, the members of the [[Decepticon High Council]] are unable to agree upon a course of action to further the Decepticon cause. Specifically, a splinter group referring to itself as the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] advocates "unconditional surrender to the Autobots, a pooling of resources, an extended time of gathering and secret re-building"—this, of course, being the tactic of the [[Tripredacus Council]]. At the conclusion of the story, this is ultimately the voice that wins out. Additionally, energon depletion forms a major part of the story, and to overcome it, the concept of [[Great Upgrade|downsizing]] the Transformers' physical forms is introduced. A final tidbit is the sudden appearance of a [[female Transformer]] in a continuity in which the Transformers have always been a [[Prime's Rib!|"genderless" species]]. This shift in composition ties the Marvel continuity more tightly into ''Beast Wars'', where female Transformers are not an uncommon sight. 

Since writing "Alignment", Furman has incorporated some of the story's unique concepts in the official material he has worked on. The Furman-penned ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'' made reference to "Alignment", explicitly noting that it was unofficial, but reiterating the Liege Maximo's status as one of the group fiction now referred to as the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]]. Years later, that latter detail would become [[Canonizing|officialized]].

"Alignment" was also responsible for coining the name "[[Galvatron II]]" to refer to the Galvatron introduced in "[[Rhythms of Darkness!]]", which was later officialized by [[e-HOBBY]] when they used it as the name of their exclusive version of the 2003 Galvatron reissue. Furthermore, the storyline which accompanied the e-Hobby [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Laser Ultra Magnus]] reissue described this Galvatron as possessing a Warworld, apparently taking its cue from the backstory briefly covered in "Alignment".

In 2010, in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]'', the authors [[Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster]] (through their in-universe proxies [[Jim Sorenson (Animated)|of the]] [[Bill Forster (Animated)|same names]]) noted that "Alignment" is an accurate account of the future of [[Universal stream|Primax 984.0 Gamma]] (i.e., Marvel Comics US continuity), "as chronicled by Simon Furman". Then, shortly after ''The AllSpark Almanac II'' was published, [[user:jimsorenson|Jim Sorenson]] himself added the "apocrypha" template to ''this'' page, explicitly defining "Alignment" as ''not'' necessarily official. Then in August 2015, the Facebook version of [[Ask Vector Prime]] said this timeline ''definitely'' had "Mogahn the Mass, the Ebon Knights, the battle of Pinea Omicron, the Liege Maximo, and eventually the Beast Wars", as close to saying ''Alignment'' as possible without actually saying ''Alignment''. Confused yet? Then, in 2016, the also Sorenson written story [[Book of Logos]] depicts (in its pseudo-Jacobean English speak) what sounds an awful lot like events from this story taking place in the ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' universe.

In short, the canonicity of this story is dubious, and will likely remain a subject of debate on this wiki and elsewhere. The text of the story itself has still never been published in officially licensed media.

==Notes==
*Mentioned characters: [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] [[Mogahn the Mass]], [[Praetorian]], the [[Ebon Knights]], [[Galvatron II]], the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], [[Trannis]], [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]

===Continuity notes===
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] is featured in this story as the acting Autobot leader while Optimus is out of commission. This is notable because Ultra Magnus had previously only ever appeared in the UK-exclusive issues of the Marvel Comics, but never in the US issues nor the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' comics. With this story set long after the latter, this would be Ultra Magnus's first present-day appearance in this continuity since he was last seen in the [[1988]] UK comic story "[[Deadly Games!]]". A version of Magnus from an alternate future timeline was seen in subsequent issues, but the one featured in this story would be the one last seen in "Deadly Games!"
*[[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is shown to be facing a desperate energy crisis from a severe lack of [[energon]], and one solution mentioned in the story is the prospect of downsizing for better energy efficiency. This solution is exactly what led to the creation of the [[Micromaster]]s, as first described in [[1990]]'s "[[King Con!]]". By the end of the story, downsizing is all but stated outright to be what led to the era of the [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], in reference to the common fan perception of the [[Great Upgrade]], and which was first stated to be a thing in the [[BotCon 1999]] prose story "[[Schism (story)|Schism]]" (which was also penned by Simon Furman).
*"It is noted that "several hundred years" had passed since [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] had been destroyed, which occurred back in [[1990]]'s "[[On the Edge of Extinction!]]". The [[1996]] ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Dark Designs]]" stated that the era of the Maximals and Predacons on Cybertron was "three centuries" after the [[Great War (G1)|Great Wars]], though that just barely qualifies for "several hundred years" (the [[2000]] ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon episode "[[Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search]]" would later provide a more plausible time span of "eons" after the Great War, but which is more often ignored over the "three centuries" span).
*Several major threats to the [[Transformer]]s are listed off as having come and gone since Unicron's destruction, including [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] (both from the Marvel ''Generation 2'' comics), as well as new, unfamiliar threats like [[Mogahn the Mass]], the [[Praetorian]], the [[Ebon Knights]], and the devastating battle at [[Pinea Omicron]]. Both the latter and "the fifty or so years that had preceded it", are attributed to the current energy crisis facing Cybertron.
*It is said that "Under [[Galvatron II]], the Decepticons had built and mobilised a huge fleet of [[Warworld]]s". The Warworld was a huge mobile battle fortress first built by the Decepticons under [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon's]] leadership in the ''Generation 2'' comics, and control of which was seized by [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] after he killed Bludgeon and took back Decepticon command.
*It is also said that the Autobots had relocated Cybertron, for its own protection, by using technology that Jhiaxus had previously used to terraform planets into other Cybertron-like worlds, which was first seen happening in the first Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic issue "[[War Without End!]]".
*The situation for the Decepticons in this story is said to have gotten so bad that a "splinter faction" called the Predacons was growing in support for "unconditional surrender to the Autobots, a pooling of resources, an extended time of gathering and secret re-building." And, by the story's end, the Predacons are noted to have replaced the Decepticons entirely. All this is meant to plant the seeds for situation on Cybertron for the Predacons of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, who were said to have descended from the Decepticons after the latter had surrendered to the Autobots at the end of the Great War, as stated in the episode "[[The Agenda (Part 1)]]". In the same episode, the ruling [[Tripredacus Council]] was also said to have been biding their time for their longterm goal of an eventual takeback of Cybertron from the Maximals, which the aforementioned text in this story also alludes to.
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] feigns being able to speak normally in this story. This is in reference to the explanation previously given in "[[Transformers: The Facts]]" (a 12-page booklet included with [[Time Wars|issue #200]] of the UK series) for why he would sometimes speak normally and sometimes speak in "caveman-speak" like his [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|cartoon counterpart]].
*[[Direwolf]] stated to be a former acolyte of Unicron. The [[Acolyte of Unicron|Acolytes of Unicron]] were a group of cultists who worshipped the Dark God and wore masks of his visage. They first appeared in the 1990 issue "[[The Void! (US)|The Void!]]" and were originally unnamed as a group. Years later, the formal name of "Acolytes of Unicron" was later [[canonizing|canonised]] by the [[The War to End All Wars, Part 1|final story arc]] of ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]''.
*The story introduces the existence of "a much older reality" than the current one, in which gods dwell. While this does call to mind the "[[old realms]]" in which Unicron and other gods originally existed before the former devoured everything and, inadvertently, set off the [[Big Bang (event)|Big Bang]] that birthed the current universe, the existence of this one suggests it is a separate place since the other one was fully eaten by Unicron.

<!--===Continuity errors===
*Magnus reads info about the Hub from the S.A.D. pod's transmission when its Starpedo was launched before Grimlock or any of the Hyperwave crew had even come across the Hub.
*Page 47: Grimlock is singled out as a Dinobot in contrast to the other four Autobots of his team. But one of those four is Swoop, who is also a Dinobot.

===Other errors===
*In the first half, the Alignment is not uppercased
*Page 38: "had be" should be "had to be"
*Pages 39 and 55: "S.A.D.. pod"
*Page 48: "a invasive"
*Page 58: "plains" should be "planes"

===Transformers references===
*stasis field (like stasis lock)
*New Cybertron
*"It was of the first, born of the living form of Primus."
*"It understood the Grand Plan,"
*Page 49: "It's over… finished."-->

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20070704093846/http://www.transforce.org.uk/alignment.pdf Alignment online @ transforce.org (archived copy)]

[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Issues]]
[[Category:Text stories]]