User:Locoman/Sandbox:Maximals

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Arising from the ashes of the Great War, the Maximals are the descendants (at least in part) of the Autobots, controlling Cybertron under the Pax Cybertronia. The Maximals and their counterpart race the Predacons both owe their origins to the Great Upgrade, which provided the downsized, fuel-efficient bodies that became the hallmark of the successor factions.

In many ways, the Maximals share traits with their their Autobot ancestors; primarily a "civilian" race, the Maximals are committed to upholding the peaceful, democratic values of their forebears. All this said, they aren't perfect: they still have their jerks, and Maximal science has occasionally resulted in the occasional unethical scientific horrors.

The most distinctive factor of both Maximal and Predacon physiology is their development of pseudo-organic beast modes, allowing both sides to adopt alternate modes that blend in seamlessly with the organic lifeforms found elsewhere in the universe. This technology, an offshoot of earlier Pretender tech, sheathes a beast mode in an artificial organic skin, integrating its natural instincts directly into the Maximal form.

When Maximals take on beast modes, they tend to select mammals, birds or fish, although this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Occasionally, Maximals might choose to become insects, reptiles, or dinosaurs.

I'm a Maximal. I have to give peace a chance, no matter how unlikely it seems.Optimus Primal, "Before the Storm"

Fiction

Beast Wars cartoon continuity

The exact origins of the Maximals (and Predacons) were never entirely explained, though several aspects can be inferred from dialogue. Optimus Primal mentions the Great Upgrade as the time when the Autobot population transitioned "from Autobot to Maximal." Around this time, the Autobot capital of Iacon was abandoned and replaced by Cybertropolis as the new capital of Cybertron. The Search No specific timeframe for this upgrade was ever established; the events of Beast Wars and Beast Machines are stated to have taken place 300 years after the end of the Great War, though whether this is in Earth years or Cybertronian years has never been made clear. Possession It appears that the Maximals arose at some point after the end of the Autobot-Decepticon war; Optimus in particular speaks reverently of Optimus Prime as his "ancestor," though whether or not he's speaking literally or metaphorically is anyone's guess. The Search

By the modern day, the Maximal government had organized itself into a bicameral democracy overseen by the Maximal Elders and the Maximal High Council, the former ruling from the Council Citadel. Master of the House The general Maximal populace of Cybertron had largely forgotten about the struggles their ancestors had faced in the Great War; a state of affairs that the Elders found convenient for their purposes. Under their tenure, most records relating to the Great War were sealed away, and Maximals were forbidden from travelling to Earth. Possession

Despite this, the Maximals maintained a significant space presence, using the development of protoform and beast mode technology to explore neighboring worlds such as Regalis V without disturbing the native life forms. Home Soil Stasis pods, which allowed large numbers of protoforms to be safely carried through space Beast Wars (Part 1), suggests that these expeditions were the precursors to an expansion-minded colonization program. The most significant development in regards to space travel was the invention of transwarp travel, an evolution of space bridge technology which allowed ships to travel through time as well as space. Beast Wars (Part 1)

Beast Wars cartoon

According to Optimus Primal, peace between the Maximals and Predacons had lasted for centuries. Beast Wars (Part 1) At some point in the past, Maximal scientists conducted research into Starscream's mutant spark, Possession hoping to learn more about its anomalous immortality. Bad Spark The end result of their experiments was Protoform X: a hyper-aggressive mutant who promptly slaughtered the staff of Colony Omicron. Bad Spark At some point after this, the Maximal Elders would lock away almost all data related to the Great War and its participants. Possession

Protoform X was eventually detained and sent away from Cybertronian space aboard the small research vesselAxalon, helmed by Optimus Primal. The Elders intended that Protoform X would be banished to a barren planetoid, never to return to Cybertron; Bad Spark early into their mission, however, Optimus and his crew were diverted off course to pursue a group of Predacon criminals led by Megatron, who had stolen one of the Golden Disks aboard a commandeered starship. The only transwarp-equipped vessel close enough to deal with the criminals, the Axalon pursued the Predacons through the transwarp portal. Though the Axalon successfully jettisoned their cargo of protoforms into orbit, the ship itself crashed on a mysterious, primitive world seeded with vast amounts of raw energon. To cope with the dangerous radiation, both sides opted to adopt beast modes based off the local lifeforms. Beast Wars (Part 1)

Despite Primal's best intentions, the two sides quickly broke the ceasefire and sparked the conflict that would become known as the "Beast Wars." The four Maximals were joined by Dinobot, a Predacon who voluntarily chose to become a Maximal, Beast Wars (Part 2) in turn, the reanks were joined by Tigatron Fallen Comrades and Airazor. The Spark On Cybertron, the Maximal government attempted to find the lost crew of the Axalon by deploying temporal probes across transwarp space. The Probe

Unlike the Predacons, Maximal programming directly integrated beast mode instincts into the consciousness of the Cybertronian; damage or overruse of the beast mode could cause the feral instincts to completely override a Maximal's higher functions, turning them into mindless animals. Call of the Wild

The Maximals and Predacons soon discovered that the world had been colonized by extradimensional aliens known as the Vok; Before the Storm realizing that the aliens would soon arrive to sterilize the planet after their experiment had been "contaminated" by the Transformers, the to factions formed a grudging ceasefire to find a way to impede the beings. Other Voices, Part 1 Optimus Primal volunteered to destroy the Vok weapon aboard a refitted stasis pod, only for Megatron to doublecross the Maximal leader and eliminate him and the Planet Buster in a single stroke. Other Voices, Part 2

The destruction of the Planet Buster caused a quantum surge to erupt from the destroyed superweapon, the strange radiation produced by its passage causing mutations in several of the Transformers and protoforms on the planet that both sides know new to be prehistoric Earth. Both Cheetor and Rattrap were exposed to the energies and were mutated into new "Transmetal" bodies; Aftermath damaged sustained to a pair of protoforms gave rise to the FuzorsQuickstrike and Silverbolt, the latter choosing to join the Maximals after Rhinox successfully resurrected Optimus Primal in a fresh new Transmetal body. Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2) Shortly afterwards, however, Airazor and Tigatron were abducted by another Vok weapon, Other Visits (Part 1 and not long afterwards Dinobot would lay down his life to defend humanity from Megatron's attempt to retroactively erase them from existence. Code of Hero

It was soon revealed that Megatron had deliberately set a course for prehistoric Earth in an attempt - on the orders of his predecessor, the original Megatron - to hunt down the Ark and kill Optimus Prime. The Agenda (Part 2) Contending with the efforts of Ravage, the Maximals pursued him to Mount St. Hillary but were unable to prevent him from shooting the dormant Autobot leader and nearly wiping out reality in a devastating time storm. The Agenda (Part III)

Thanks to the actions of Blackarachnia - who, as a reprogrammed Maximal, would also have been wiped from existence — history was returned to its normal course; to safeguard Prime's spark while Rhinox repaired his body, Primal merged with it and transformed into a powerful "optimal" body. With the Axalon ruined, the Maximals, now joined by Blackarachnia, relocated to the cave just outside the Ark to protect it from any future Predacon interference. Optimal Situation In time, they were joined by Depth Charge, who had tracked Protoform X to earth to eliminate the mutant. Deep Metal

Megatron's attempt to further upgrade the Transmetallization process saw the mysterious Transmetal driver enter the fray, and it would go on to upgrade both Cheetor Feral Scream Part 2 and Blackarachnia into powerful Transmetal 2 Transformers, turning the latter into a full-fledged Maximal in the process. Crossing the Rubicon When Tigatron and Airazor returned to Earth as the Vok emissary Tigerhawk, Megatron deployed his final contingency plan: raising the Nemesis to annihilate the Maximals, Autobots, and protohumanity in one fell swoop. Nemesis Part 1 Thanks to both Depth Charge's sacrifice and the actions of a morally conflicted clone of Dinobot, Optimus was able to defeat Megatron in the final battle of the Beast Wars; using a jury-rigged Autobot shuttle, the surviving Maximals returned home, bringing Megatron with them as their prisoner. Nemesis Part 2

Beast Machines cartoon

While Optimus and his crew were off-planet, Maximals had continued to evolve; during the recent Quantum Cycle Upgrade, stasis pods were rendered obsolete after every Maximal was fitted with a built-in DNA scanner. Survivor At some point after this, Botanica and her crew were sent to the distant world Regalis V to study the native lifeforms. Home Soil

After Megatron's return to Cybertron, the Maximals were nearly wiped out to a 'bot by his Vehicons, who hunted them across the planet and extracted their Sparks, with Megatron taking the Council Citadel in Cybertropolis as his seat of power. Master of the House Forbidden Fruit When Megatron was thwarted by Optimus Primal, the Maximals were restored with new techno-organic forms. Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future

3H comics

The Maximals presumably took their name from the Maximal Upgrade, which was instituted after the end of the Great War and the signing of the Pax Cybertronia. Several prominent Autobots partook of the upgrade, including Rodimus Prime and Arcee. Departure

Dreamwave Generation One comics

Half of a Maximal symbol could be seen on the doors to the Ark. Night of the Combaticons

IDW Beast Wars comics

The Maximal faction appears to have arisen as an Autobot subgroup at some point before the end of the Great War. In the year 2035, the Maximals and Autobots participated in the battle that followed immediately after the deaths of both Optimus Prime and Galvatron; with command of the factions ceded to the Primal Council, the conflict seemingly concluded when the Tripredacus Council voluntarily surrendered, allowing for the signing of a temporary ceasefire. The conflict gave rise to the development of protoform technology, which would form the basis for future Maximal colonization endeavors. Dawn of the Predacus

In the years that followed, the Maximals and Predacons grew in prominence and eventually eclipsed their respective progenitor races. At some point, the Great Upgrade occurred, which saw every Maximal and a handful of surviving Autobots downsize into fuel efficient bodies. Among them were the former Autobots Ironhide, Silverbolt, and Prowl, who became the first Maximal Elders in what would later be known as the Maximal Imperium. Beast Wars Sourcebook

Despite the apparent ceasefire, war, in some fashion, would continue on between the new factions for some years; the Maximals were known to have set up "re-education centers" in their prison camps and the Predacon BB was a "guest" of one such place. Beast Wars: Sourcebook In the last days before the signing of the Pax Cybertronia, a group of Maximals led by Lio Convoy pursued Galvatron and a force of Predacons to the planet Gaea, where they battled for control of the planet's Angolmois energy until Lio Convoy's group prevailed. Beast Wars Sourcebook Beast Wars II cartoon

Following the signing of the Pax Cybertronia and the official end of hostilities between the Maximals and Predacons, the Great War and its numerous minor conflicts were officially considered over. The Maximal Elders remained on guard for any attempts to violate this new peace and dispatched Big Convoy to take out the rogue dissident Magmatron when the Predcaon attempted to restart the war. In time, both governments established the Bi-Partate Committee for State Affairs to deal with inter-factional diplomacy; Beast Wars Sourcebook the Maximals maintained a standing law enforcement presence in the shape of the Maximal Command Security Force, Dawn of Future's Past and trained new recruits for their military arm in the Maximal Military Academy. Beast Wars Sourcebook

In these peaceful postwar years, the civilian branches of the Maximal government turned its attention to the stars, and focused on several long-range exploration and colonization missions. Many Maximals - some of them civilians looking for new adventures, others veterans of the Great War looking to start anew - volunteered for these missions, reduced to a protoform state for ease of interstellar transport. Beast Wars Sourcebook

Neither side was prepared for Megatron's attempt to change history by travelling back in time, and the Maximal Elders responded by dispatching Optimus Primal and his crew to chase the stolen ship through transwarp space. Dawn of Future's Past Not long afterwards, Magmatron would embark on his own scheme to pursue Megatron to prehistoric Earth; the Maximals responded by secretly inducting the Maximal double agent Razorbeast into his ranks. Hoping to raise an army from the stasis pods left on prehistoric Earth with which to conquer Cybertron, Razorbeast managed to tamper with the shell program required to turn the protoforms and managed to raise an adhoc team of Maximals to counter Magamtron's plans. The Gathering Both sides warred with one another until the rise of Shokaract and Unicron's heralds threatened both sides. Both sides joined forces to defeat the menace on Cybertron, but the planet was left ravaged and defenseless by the battle, allowing Megatron - freshly returned from his defeat on Earth - to easily conquer the planet with hordes of Vehicons. The Ascending

Titan movie comics

Starscream identified Simon Furman as a Maximal whose alternate mode was a "strategically shaved ape." #7's Star Screams According to Vector Prime, Furman joined the Maximals because they had the better dental plan. Ask Vector Prime, 16/6/2015

Beast Wars: Uprising

The Maximals were one of the two "Proto-races" created by Fortress Maximus, using the Energon Matrix he acquired from humanity, in the aftermath of the Great War, in the mid-21st century. Head Games They took their name from Maxima, "She Who Sang", basing their insignia on her luponoid steed. The Predacon Manifesto Smaller and more energy efficient than their precursors, the Maximals were initially used by the Builders of Cybertron to carry on the war in their stead, until it became clear this wasn't a possibility. The Maximals and Predacons inherited a ruined Cybertron ruled by a corrupt and selfish oligarchy, as the Builders oppressed their successors out of jealousy for their greater freedom of movement, making the proto-races second class citizens at best. Broken Windshields Some Autobots surreptitiously had their Sparks installed into proto-race bodies, and were treated no better by the Builders. Micro-Aggressions On what few extra-planetary ships there were that patrolled the Allowed Zone, Maximals served as command officers, subservient to their Micromaster political officers, a tactic of the Builders to ensure the proto-races didn't start getting along, and that they remembered who was still in-charge. Intersectionality Not that Maximals and Predacons needed help disliking one another, as there was always low-level tension between both races at the best of times. Burning Bridges Trigger Warnings The Maximals were supposedly governed by the Maximal High Council, but in practice the Council had little actual authority. Not All Megatrons

As a substitute for actual war, and as a way to further serve their pettiness, the Builders—inspired by human fiction—instituted a series of Games, their most favored of which was gladiatorial combat, which any Maximal could be dragged into at any time, save those in the Maximal Command Security Force, who were exempt. Unknown to the proto-races, these games were rigged, to make sure once again that neither Maximals or Predacons got along. Broken Windshields

In the 24th century AC, thanks to the Resistance, the Grand Uprising against the Builders began; three-quarters of Cybertron's Maximal population opted to join the burgeoning Resistance against the Builders. Broken Windshields Four years into the war, the reputable Darksyder Inc. introduced the Beast Upgrade to Cybertron, granting proto-formers much more energy efficient beast modes. During this time, the Maximal High Council began seizing more and more control of their people from the Builders. Not All Megatrons Within a year of the Beast Upgrade's appearance, the Maximal High Council seized the Tagon Heights, declaring it was now the Maximal Nation, and was neutral so long as they were left alone. Cultural Appropriation When the Vehicon Apocalypse kicked off, the High Council eventually voted to join with the Resistance to bring an end to the Builders. In the aftermath of the war, the Maximals became part of the newly formed Cybertronian Parliament. Derailment

Sometime in the thousand years after Unity Day, the Maximals were replaced by the Commandrons. The Inexorable March

Ask Vector Prime

In some realities, the Maximals were founded by Fortress Maximus. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/08 In other realities, the Maximals and Predacons were all Mutants. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/01

In one particular universe, the Beast Wars were fought in Alpha Q's universe; the Maximals involved in that conflict adopted strange alien beast modes to cope with the peculiar conditions of each world. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/03

The legendary Hyperdrive inspired many Maximals who studied his bygone adventures. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/16

In another timeline, the Maximals and Predacons clashed on prehistoric Earth for control of Earth's Mini-Cons. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/13 The Maximals pursued the Predacons to southern Mexico some 3000 years ago; their exploits were recorded by the native Natiltec, who came to worship the aliens as animalistic gods. Fire in the Dark

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

The Maximals existed alongside Autobots, Decepticons, and Predacons in the 21st century AC. In the aftermath of the Earth/Cybertronian war, Maximal shepherds co-habited the plains of Uranus with Predacons. The War Never Ends

Variations

• Transmetals: When exposed to the exotic radiation produced by a quantum surge or a Super Energon explosion, some Maximals and Predacons develop a "mutated superstructure," granting them purely mechanical beast modes while their robot modes take on additional organic traits. In most instances, Transmetals develop a tertiary "transport mode." Such robots are undetectable to Vok technology.

• Fuzors: An alternate evolution also stemming from said radiation, Fuzors possess a single beast mode based off two or more creatures, mashed together into a single chimeric form. Fuzors possess a degree of Transmetallization that also renders them invisible to Vok sensors.

• Mutants: When exposed to a transformation virus, Fuzors may react to the infection by losing their robot form, instead developing the power to switch between two beast modes at will. Paranormal abilities such as telepathy frequently manifest.

• Transmetals 2: The power of the Transmetal driver has the ability to upgrade Cybertronian lifeform one step beyond the initial Transmetal mutation. Transmetal 2 Maximals are recognizable by their asymmetrical and frequently monstrous appearances, incorporating a patchwork of organic and mechanical components in both modes. In some instances, Transmetal 2 Transformers develop supernatural powers such as telekinesis or rapid healing.

• Technorganics: When reformatted by the Oracle, Maximals become an entirely new type of being, one that merges true organic life with Cybertronian construction at the cellular level. Considered to be the "perfect" fusion of the mechanical and the technological, technorganics transform via fluid shapeshifting and manifest a variety of energy-based powers.

Notes

• The "Maximal" faction name came from a desperate attempt by Vincent D'Alleva to figure out a new protagonist name that would represent the animal Transformers, clear trademark checks and please the executive group. He combined the name of a scrapped G.I. Joe line, Manimals, with the name of the car driven by the team marketing coordinator, a Nissan Maxima. Manimals + Maxima = Maximals. Ta-da!
• The Maximals were going to be in a season 3 episode Transformers: Prime as cowboys but this idea did not reach fruition.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Cybertron (サイバトロン Saibatoron)
• Latvian: Maksimāļi
• Mandarin: Jíxiàn Dòngwù (Taiwan, 極限動物 "Maximum Limit Animal), Qiángdàshòu (Taiwan, 強大獸 "Strong and Powerful Beast"), Jùwúbà (China, 巨无霸, "Extremely Gigantic")
• Polish: Maksimale ("Maximals")