User:Locoman/Sandbox
- The NAILs are a pseudo faction of Cybertronians from the IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
The NAILs (Non-Aligned Indigenous Life-forms) are a large group of neutral Cybertronians that returned to the planet in the wake of its rebirth. Not a faction as such, they are a collection of civilians, pacifists, deserters from both sides and contentious objectors. Many of them chose to leave Cybertron at the start of the war, while others opted out of the escalating Great War while it was ongoing.
The term "NAIL" was coined by Prowl, which explains why it sounds kinda rude. They're not very fond of the name.
Known NAILS are:
- Metalhawk, their main representative when dealing with Autobot high command.
- Hipotank
- Sky-Byte
- Tappet
- Zetca
- Scrambling neon
DecepticonNAIL - "Super Cy-Kill"
Later on a number of Autobots and Decepticons joined them, including:
Fiction
IDW Generation 1 continuity
The departure of the neutrals began during the early stages of the war, during an event known as the Exodus. Numerous Cybertronians, worried about Cybertron's dwindling resources and the inevitable escalation of hostilities, began evacuating the planet. Dai Atlas and Tyrest oversaw the safe evacuation of approximately 10-20 million refugees. Fallout House of Ambus
Later in the war, more Transformers began deserting. Among them many would-be evacuees was Prowl, who tried to flee aboard the Peaceful Resolution. It was shot down before reaching orbit, and this incident would galvanize Prowl's resolve to the Autobot cause. Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime Dai Atlas himself would flee the planet with a retinue of followers known as the Circle of Light.
From there, unaligned Cybertronians spread out into the galaxy in a diaspora. Some attempted to rebuild working communities on distant planets Stick Together while others simply roamed the galaxy for millennia. During this time, Metalhawk deserted the Autobots after a disasterous battle against Turmoil.
After Optimus Prime plunged the Matrix into Vector Sigma to defeat the D-Void, Genesis Cybertron was "reborn" in some fashion and a pulse signal was sent out into space to every Cybertronian... including the massive faction of non-combatant Cybertronians. They were expecting to find Cybertron a paradise; instead it was a twisting, primordial wreck, and they were not happy. They demanded that the Autobots leave the planet to them, as penance for ruining it with "their" war.
A riot ensued, with the Autobots reluctantly using their Decepticon prisoners as additional crowd control. It was only calmed when Optimus addressed the crowd, announcing his intention to go into voluntary exile in exchange for the Autobots being allowed to stay on Cybertron. The Death of Optimus Prime However, their protests were evidently not quelled completely, as the day before Rodimus and the Lost Light departed for their mission, a NAIL transformed himself to death as a form of protest. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It Metalhawk managed to join the Autobots, serving as a voice for the NAILs. Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
The NAILs continued to chafe against both the Autobots and Decepticons, demanding free elections... an election that would likely put Metalhawk and his friend Starscream in charge of Cybertron's provisional government. Dinobot Hunt Which might had happened... if Megatron hadn't shown up. The End of the Beginning of the World Metalhawk accused Starscream of conspiring with Megatron, prompting a mass NAIL riot. City on Fire Metalahawk managed to broadcast a speech to his people, promising an election and imploring them to stand against violence and factionalism.
It was at this point that Megatron and Bombshell deployed their own play for power: unleashing a new and improved Devastator on the city of Iacon. Numerous NAILs and Autobots fought against the monstrous combiner, and proved triumphant, defeating both Megatron and Devastator. Meanwhile, Starscream, seeking an advantage of his own, backstabbed Metalhawk, shooting him dead with Turmoil's cannon.
Even so, the disastrous attack proved to be the last straw for Cybertron's growing neutral population. Taking advantage of this shift in public opinion, Starscream ripped off his badge. Inspired by the words of a dying Metrotitan, he declared himself the new leader of the NAILs. Iacon was now a city for neutrals: any who opted to stay would also have to renounce their old factions. Those who refused were cast out into the wilderness. Numerous Autobots and Decepticons chose to stay behind, joining the faction. Heavy is the Head
Recurring NAILs
Tappet
- Main article: Tappet
Something of a rabble-rouser during the earliest days of Cybertron's provisional government, Tappet found himself antagonized by both Autobots and Decepticons for his outspoken views on Cybertron's destructive factionalism.
"Super Cy-Kill"
- Main article: Super Cy-Kill
"Super Cy-Kill" was around for the earliest days of the war on Cybertron, but left before the war went interplanetary. He returned to Cybertron early on, but was killed in an explosion, a byproduct of the re-energized Cybertron's energy build-up.
Four-armed triplets
A trio of identical robots who sport four arms each. They were among the first wave of NAILs to return to Cybertron, and were seen milling around in Iacon's spaceport with the other new arrivals. Sometime later, the red triplet was arguing with "Super Cy-Kill" when a massive explosion killed all three triplets.
Hovering cylinder
This odd Cybertronian was seen hanging out with his friend the Scrambling neon Decepticon in Iacon's spaceport. The Autonomy Lesson He later bore witness to the death of Horri-Bull. The Autonomy Lesson The World & Everything in It
Two-headed NAIL
This beige, two-headed NAIL arrived shortly after the rebirth of Cybertron. The Autonomy Lesson He (they?) later attended Bumblebee's memorial for the crew of the Lost Light The World & Everything in It
