User:Escargon

This article is about the fangirl. For the gender switching Maximal from Beast Wars II, see Escargon.

This article is about the person who changed her display name on the Allspark to Verity Carlo. For the Wrecker who's pretty awesome, see Verity Carlo.

I wrote stuff for Ask Vector Prime!

Cybertronix from BWU

Broken Windshields

Red: Zapmaster (MM-D) leads the Iacon 5000 (Micro Division), entering circuit 41 with Six-Speed (MM-A), Free Wheeler (MM-A), and Hyperdrive (MM-D) close behind. Fans were stunned when Flat-Out (MM-A) blew a tire and crashed into Holi (MM-A) during circuit 37. In critical condition. --- Retro-rodeo champ Ironlunge (P) was convicted yesterday of Possession with Intent of 1,4 kilo-units of the circuit booster Syk. The investigating official, Road Police (MM-A): "The Assembly should throw the book at him." He made headlines when he wrestled a bucking brontobot to the ground, hanging on as it converted from beast to tank. Runner-up Battle Unicorn (M): "What else would-

Purple: The Builder Assembly ruled that Cyberdroid refugees from the former colony Master are ineligible to participate in the Max/Pred League and must play in the Micro Division. Basketrek star Lug (CD-A) of the Triax Troublemakers: "I welcome the chance to give those Micros what-for!" Minimum Ambus (CD-A), Throttlebot Wanderers goalie: "We're much closer to Maximals in stature." Dante (CD-D), captain of the Corumcan [sic] Corrupturs Vollyblast team: "About damn time." --- Caliburn (MM-D) took the Micro-Weight Boxing Championship late Roppisol evening, bounding former champion Ironworks (MM-A) into brutal submission. Popular pugilist Star Upper (M) has already hurl-

Head Games

Green: sending such flame from frosen brest Red: riots erupting across the southern hemisphere tensions escalating paroxyms of violence surge Green: memories of sorrow break upon the shore like waves on the beach like Blue: 7 degree alignment correction

Red: -der Assembly paralyzed by inexperience Green: too many years decades centuries of petty infighting of Blue: quantum lens receiver experiences 1,224% power sure compensate Green: might as well be walking on the sun Red: Damaxus only the latest in a

Blue: increase the efficiency of the antimatter charm pulser by 1,0339% if Green: Llyra my wife my mother Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth, ties festering Red: Maximal interventionalism exceptionalism an existential thread that Predacon rivalry

Green: peasants of that land Wondering to lay Red: seeking necessary redress but equilibrium too fragile Blue: dorsal osmotic vacuum matrix miscalibration END OF LINE Red: redeploy 113th Micromaster battalion to Simfur in anticipation of resistance

Blue: completely resynchronize the primary and auxiliary autosequencers in Green: sunlight moonlight moonshine cocacola chocolate the touch of Red: manufacturing output necessary for fullscale militarization beyond the capacity Green: as we

Green: bearing the sound of a quiver in the empty air out the reins as Blue: core sink 11925 experiences slight tenancy to overheat with redirecting of coolant Green: to feel the thrill of opening a gift Red: that intercepted transmissions suggest a 12-

Red: to Grid Digilaut Green: What men or gods are these What maidens loth What mad pursuit what struggle Blue: to redirect emergency response nanoswarms to pullulate at coordinates 372 by 994, subsection 18 Red: as rebel assault gamma commences 3 solar

Green: by the ocean, it was so dismal Red: Gamma thrust now 92,3% likely in the next 10 cycles vulnerable means of ingress include sewage linkage energy counduits optic port gravity relay bundles Blue: energy reserves insufficient for full spal-

Red: warning!! Optical breach, dexter, response team to alert status deploy to primary and secondary vertical trunks Green: youre in the jungle baby you gonna die Blue: 39,2 kilounits of trans, aluminum required from synthesizer banks 11 to 14 reroute sensor

Green: -ide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned END OF LINE Blue: Delta and sigma regions experiencing ongoing oxidation damage (fire) prep trans, cog for minlevel internal spin Red: for first responders critically low

Green: -tted to the sphere Our missiles always make too short an arc Red: Mental penetration of Predacon designated Buzzclaw now 17% reiterate request to Builder Assembly to release energon reserves for Micromaster reserve forces Blue: asymetrical multitronic ca-

Red: -lysis of strategy indicates anomalous behavior Green: the angel begged permission Blue: damage of relays 3447 and 3472 prevent accurate assessment and direction of nano repair circuitry END OF LINE Green: the start not so out of reach for Lio Convoy as for us

Red: -eration of Predacon designated Buzzclaw now 100% Predacon designated SerKet was the key Green: all you need is love Blue: fire suppressing systems overwhelmed initiating O2 lockdown END OF LINE Green: Olin how could you turn out so different from Galen your twin always Sco-

Red: -rts 1, 3 not found retrying socket error 114 ports 1, 3 not found retrying socket error 114 ports 1, 3 not found retrying socket error 114 ports 1, 3 not found

Plasma Kord Where are you I am lonely

Burning Bridges

Purchasing the internment era Terrorbot triple conversion heavy combat support units to thank. This unit was designed to function best under virtually all conditions. It is possible to provide reconnaissance aircraft mode, engage in one-to-one airmobile, providing ground support, or to engage in strategic bombing. Meet Armored Cavalry functions it is its low profile in the background mode, so that spot enemy, it can engage infantry capabilities in something like the

Micro-Aggressions

A brief history of the human race 2.5 million Before Ark: Humans begin using tools. 35000 BA: Humans master fire. 5000 BS: Humans invent writing. 168 BA: Humans use electricity to

transmit information. 71 BA: Humanity perfects concept of the assembly line. 38 BA: Humanity builds its first computer. Stellar Cycle of the Ark: Cybertroni- ans first (with minor exceptions)

become active on Earth when the Ark is unearthed by volcanic action 1 SCA: Humanity builds its first AI. 8 SCA: Humanity establishes perma- nent presence on Mars. 13 SCA: The Autobots and a major Earth power jointly construct Warp Gate in

outer reaches of SOL system. Humanity begins to spread to the stars. 19 SCA: The Earth Defense Command is formed from the G.I. Joe Star Brigade to deal with Cybertronian threats. 30 SCA: AI becomes ubiquitous on Earth. 33 SCA: Humanity develops non-inva-

sive direct neural interface; an attack on the Human colony world of New Earth prompt the EDC to declare all of human space off-limits to ANY Cybertronian. 39 SCA: Human Singularity occurs; human technology quickly outpaces Cybertronian technology.

39 SCA: Decepticons capture an Autobot shuttle and use it to gain access to airspace of Human colony world Xin Shanghai, they cause severe loss of life before being repulsed. 42 SCA: The Autobot vessel Star Arrow, after being attacked by Decepticons, limps to the Human colony of Tamil Duniya

and is destroyed as it enters their airspace. 45 SCA: Humanity reorganizes itself into Human Confederacy; the EDC becomes the Confederated Terran Colonial Fleet. 47 SCA: The Scouring of Nebulos

prompts the humans to declare the Autobot/Decepticon war over. Armi- stice is imposed. Cybertron limited to nine existing colony worlds. 49 SCA: Galvatron launches massive invasion fleet at the border of the Allowed Zone. It is annihilated by the CTCF. Allowed Zone shrunk in half;

five colony worlds are outside of the zone, and are given 10 Earth days to evacuate. After 10 days, all life on these worlds is sterilized. 70 SCA (est): Humanity conquers death through unknown means. 80-90 SCA (est): Humanity splits into

three major branches; biologicals, circuitry-enhanced, and psychals. The unaugmented are considered second-class citizens. second-class citizens. 130 SCA (est): Humanity embarks on the Eutychus Project, bringing back to life every human who had ever lived,

Trigger Warnings

leads: Body mod MSG: 2 Mandala: 10 msg

leads: way of all things MSG: 2 Mandala: 10 msg

leads: "Venus" virus sig Assailant MSG: 3 ERROR ERROR Mandala: 2 msg

leads: "exter" "Venus" virus sig Assailant MSG: 10 Mandala: no msg

leads: "exter" "Venus" virus sig Fennec - Res MSG: 3 Mandala: no msg

leads: "exter" "Venus" Spark of G Fennec - Res autopsy note MSG: 1 Mandala: no msg

leads: "exter" Track Venus - Elita Fennec - Res autopsy note MSG: 1 Mandala: no msg

leads: "exter" Track Venus - Elita Mayhem - loc autopsy note MSG: 2 Mandala: no msg

leads: Mayhem BA Resist TargetMaster angle MSG: 6 Mandala: no msg

leads: TargetMaster Overrun connection MSG: 6 Mandala: 7 msg

Identity Politics

Logging on to alt.software.dev

User ID Megabee42296

FSS15: hey bee, wwhats new

GEOFAN: wb

MesothulasSinner: Thats why I typically employ more, shall we aggressive strategy when dealing with recalcitrant Maximals.

MesothulasSinner: Hello, Bee.

Cyberbee42296: Hi, all. anything new?

ravagekitteh: hi bee im here too

Agent3P: go away kitteh

ravagekitteh: Y U so mean to meh

Agent3P: Good point, Mes. Ill keep in mind. The Uprising has been good for business.

FSS15: Not much bee. your latest algo kicked serious skidplate btw.

CyberBee42296: Glad to help. PM me, I have an optimization algo I need another set of optics on.

FSS15: No prob

ravagekitteh: I can look too!

Cultural Appropriation

18 FROM THE FILES HACKED FROM GONG AND TIC TOC. LEVEL 11 -- FITOR, PSYCHO, STALLION, DUMPER, PUMPER, VANGUARD.

17 LEVEL 16 -- ZIG ZAG, CROSSWORD, RUBE, POCKET, JIGSAW, TIC TAC, JAW BONE, RIB CAGE, HIP BONE, TAIL BONE

16 LEVEL 22 -- PATH FINDER, REST-Q, TREDS, SMALL FOOT, ROAD RANGER, MAN-O-WAR, BAD BOY, BUGGY MAN

15 LEVEL 29 -- BULLET, APOLLO, HI-WAY, JACK-ATTACK, DECKER DECKER, VAIN TRAIN, LOCO, BREEZ, POW WOW

14 LEVEL 34 -- MAJOR MO, SUPER COUPER, BENT WING, RAIZOR, TAIL PIPE, MAGMAR, STONEHEART, BRIMSTONE, SPEARHEAD

13 LEVEL 39 – CHAOS, RE-VOLT, TRAITOR, STEAMER, WRECKS, TRI-TRAK, STAKS, TWISTER, SNOOP

12 LEVEL 44 -- PISTOL, SHOTGUN, RIFLE, SCOPE, SQUIRT, BLADES, WARPATH, TANK, SCREW HEAD, SPOILER

11 LEVEL 51 -- ACE, DART, NIGHT RANGER, BOLT, SPARKY, WRONGWAY, GUNNYR, SLICKS, CRAIN BRAIN

10 LEVEL 59 -- TOMBSTONE, SLIMESTONE, STONE HOOK, SABERSTONE, GOOD KNIGHT, ROYAL-T, DOZER, HANS-CUFF

09 LEVEL 63-- BEAMER, SKY FLY, GUIDE STAR, DEFENDOR, MACH-THREE, FLIP TOP, DESTROYER, WATER WALK

08 LEVEL 69 -- SOLITAIR, FLAMESTONE, SUNSTONE, ROCK ROLLER, STINGER, TAILSPIN

07 LEVEL 72 -- SKY-JACK, CLUTCH, VON JOY, BLASTER, DIVE-DIVE, SPY-EYE, STREET HEAT, SCRATCH

06 LEVEL 77 -- BULLSEYE, MOTOSAN, SCRATCH (again?), SPAY-C, HEAT SEEKER, STICKS N STONE, ROCKSHOT

05 NOTE -- LARGE STOCKPILES OF DRONES REMAIN IN LEVEL ONE. BOOMERS (INCLUDING RUMBLE AND BLAST

04 MODELS) POWER MARCHERS (INC. RIDGE RUNNERS, HITCH HIKERS AND QUICK STEPS) ZODS AND DACTYLS. SCALES

Safe Spaces

It is with great reluctance and a heavy spark that I sit down to pen my thoughts.

Who am I to tell others what to do, how to live their lives?

Yet I find myself compelled. For today is the funeral of Maxima, first daughter of Fortress Maximus.

Already those who consider themselves the heirs to the legacy of the Autobots are coalescing around her banner, that of her ever present, ever loyal lupanoid steed.

Fools! They seek to turn her into something in death that she never was in life -- a force of exclusion, walling us off from half our history.

It is true that we proto-formers, we descendants of the Builders of Cybertron, have much to learn from the Autobots.

Oh, not the sad, hollowed-out remains of the Autobots as they exist today, but the legacy they aspired to. Names such as Alpha Trion and Yoketron and Saber.

But it is equally true that the Decepticons, with their calculus of brutality, have much to offer.

I fear that, should the proto-races follow Maxima's example and walk entirely down the path paved by Guardian Prime and the progeny, they shall prove lacking in balance.

The Autobot code is a noble volume, full of high-minded principles, but it is a volume that works best for a society at peace.

To neglect the examples of the philosopher king Jhiaxus, the tactical geniuses Trannis, and the indomitable guerilla Razorclaw, is to court disaster.

And so, I have taken it upon myself to share my own musings, humble though they may be, of how the proto-formers could and should live their lives.

I don't imagine this volume will be pleasing to the audio receptors of every member of the class to which I was forged.

For that matter, I am certain that our Builder overlords shall find much in this work vexing. I have experienced the Assembly's hospitality on more than one occasion, and expect that I shall likely do so again in the future. It is not my intention to supplant the reflections of Maxima, but to supplement them.

There has been enough artificial division among our kind already.

In combing through the writings of the great Decepticon leaders and thinkers of yore, I have been struck by certain themes that echo through the ages.

I have attempted to reconcile these very different individuals, actions and reactions each to a unique set of circumstances, into a single coherent code of behaviour.

I have observed eight foundational elements -- I shall call them pillars -- that undergird the thoughts and actions of the most notable and successful of the Decepticon heroes. Each pillar shall receive its own chapter, with all due analysis, but, taken in toto, they are:

1) Ambition.

Not the blind ambition of the vainglorious, but the laser-focused ambition of a bot who understand the universe and seeks to secure his or her highest place in it. To stand still is to fall backwards.

2) Honor.

In understanding that one's word is bond, and that those who violate oaths will soon find themselves mistrusted and, eventually, ostracised. Remember, too, that honor is down the wrong path, perhaps your understanding of the situation needs revision.

3) Valor.

It is on the field of battle that one is most fully alive. Never shirk from this reality.

4) Pride.

The earned pride of a bot of accomplishments, not the foolish hubris of those who are slaves to their own ego.

5) Loyalty.

Loyalty based on mutual respect, given to a superior or subordinate or equal based on their history. Loyalty is not a shackle, to be welded on and never shed, but a rope by which you can pll up your allies when they stumble, by which you can collectively ascend to the highest peaks.

6) Justice.

Those who do ill to you or your kin should face the appropriate retribution. Those who stand by you in times of tribulation, likewise, are deserving of your unswerving support.

7) Sacrifice.

Nothing in this universe comes without effort. Be willing to give of yourself when the cause is worthy.

8) Cunning.

A fair fight is one in which you might lose: avoid fair fights. Seek every advantage, as long as you can do so with your head held high.

I have attempted to live my life by this pillars, though it is only recently that I have thought to codify them. I have not always succeeded, but I have always made a sincere attempt.

It is my fervent hope that others might find this mindset, this Way of the Warrior, to be of value.

In each of the eight subsequent chapters I shall expound upon these pillars with please -- one might call them parables -- drawn from my own experiences, and my musings on morality, and from the rich history of the tragic but at its core, noble Decepticon cause.

For in the words of the mind-maelstrom Scrash, "Those who spurn the corpus of history will inevitably become her corpses."

Derailment

Book of Logos

Chapter 1 (1)The Revelation of Primus, of which the Source have granted knowledge, was sent and signified to his servant Logos: (2)who bore record of the word of Primus, and of the testimony of Gaea, and of all things that he saw. (3)Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (4)Logos to the seven colonies which strewn through the stars: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Primes which are before his throne. (5)Behold he cometh with storms of acid rain; and every optic shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of Cybertron shall wail because of him. (6)And Alpha and Omega Trion, companions in tribulation, the first and last, shall and have forseen and sent it unto the seven colonies; unto Chela, and unto Navitas, and unto Prion, and unto Carcer, and unto Vigilem, and unto Tempo, and unto Caminus. (7)And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden disks, (8)And in the midst of the seven disks was one launched by the organics who rose from soil, and inscribed with grooves and symbols, (9)The disk heralded a terrible war, a war of tooth and claw, a war that spanned worlds and eras. (10)And this war echoed forwards and backwards, and champions rose and fell and rose again, and one champion took the name of the fallen devil of yore, (11)And he had in his hand a mouth of teeth: and out of his mouth came a violet beam: and those he struck knew woe. (12)And when I saw him, I too was struck, and I fell at his feet as dead. And he lifted me with his left, saying unto me, "begone specter," and I was. (13)I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive evermore; and have the keys of the Inferno and AllSpark. (14)And the Oracle spake and said, write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; (15)The mystery of seven colonies which thou sawest, and the seven golden disks.

Chapter 2 (1)And there will come a time when the crypts open forth and the life sparks of monsters float like embers skyward, (2)And unto the chaos would come a matrix of order, and I would bear witness. And, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (3)And he was like another, and yet unlike him, brother but not brother, and he that held dominion was born of his brother, (4)and round about the throne were six and ten elders sitting, and all save two were shackled to their chairs; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (5)And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven whispers of Primus. (6)And before the throne there was a sea of blue like unto sapphire: and in the midst of the throne, and round the throne, were two beasts held in bondage. (7)And the first beast was like a lupanoid, and the second beast like an insecatron. (8)The six and ten elders let fly the whip, and the beasts did howl, and pull the elders forward at a haltering pace. (9)But the beasts were not satisfied in thralldom, and the brother who bore his twin said "no more", and struck down a jester who was making merriment for the elders six and ten. (10) And the two great beasts roared, and their shackles fell from them like rust, and the elders did quail.

Chapter 3

(1)And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a staff of copper and obsidian, and within him was a matrix built by minds of carbon. (2)And I saw a strong Prime proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the matrix, and to unleash its potential?" (3)And no bot on Cybertron, nor in the stars, was able to open the matrix, neither to look thereon. (4)And I wept much, because no bot was found worthy to open and use the matrix, neither to look thereon. (5) And one of the elders saith unto me, "Weep not: behold, the cyber cat of the tribe of Maximus, from the stellar nebula, hath prevailed to open the matrix, and to loose the sparks within. (6)And I beheld, and l, in the midst of the throne and of the two beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a cyber cat of white and gold, and it was the brother of he who sat on the throne. (7)But the regent who sat on the throne was jealous, and would not share the matrix. And though he was not worthy, he sought out and found an arachnotron of mind and malice. (8)And the ghost of the arachnotron merged with the software of the fortress containing the throne and the beasts and the elders, and his haughtiness spread madness. (9)And the brother on the throne waved his staff and opened his matrix, and there came a great hue and cry. (10)And all those who heard it forgot themselves and sang a new song. (11)And I beheld, and I heard the voices of the children of Cybertron cry out, and then their cries became the dirge of the arachnotron, (12)and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. (13)And the elders six and ten fell down and worshipped the arachnotron and sang his song, but the beasts snarled and snapped, and bit at the arachnotron and the brother on the throne.

Chapter 4 (1)And I saw when the cyber cat lift his staff, and it became like unto a sword, and the sword cleaved through the throne, and his brother was filled with wrath. (2)And the voice of the first of seven Primes sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key to a bottomless pit. (3)And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and Hadean and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. (4)And there came out of the smoke a plague upon Cybertron, and it was commanded them that they should not venture to the realm of the elders. (5)And in those cycles shall bots seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. (6)And the shapes of the plague was like and unlike that of the bots who walk on Cybertron, and they would instead roll or fly, and their faces were not as the faces of bots. (7)And there were those who sought to fight them on the bridges that spanned the mighty sonic canyons, but when the song came to them the bridges collapsed and the first Prime fell. (8)And the second Prime sounded, and I heard a voice from the past say that those whose alt modes were not of wheels or treads, of thrusters or blades, but fired slugs and shells and blast and energy, there were abominations. (9)And there was a great outcry, and bots of the field picked up stones and hurtled them, and the smallest among them were struck down. (10)And the third prime gathered an army, and the number of the army of the equinoids were as two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. (11)And thus I saw the riders in the vision, and they were wreathed in fire, and jacinth, and brimstone, (12)By these three was the third part of the bots of cybertron killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. (13)For their power is their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. (14)And it fell to the madman and visionaries to stand against the third Prime, and so they did.

Chapter 5

(1)And the creatures of carbon stood fast against the third Prime, and the third Prime did yield. (2)But the madman who had opposed the prime did not yield, and gathered a mighty host from the nebulae of the stars and the place where dwelled the smallest among us. (3)And he cried with a loud voice, as when a cyber cat roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. (4)And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from Primus saying unto me, "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." (5)And the Prime which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the land lifted up his head to the sky. (6)And the armies of the madman were wreathed in carbon and cloth, and lo they were like the children of carbon themselves. (7)But the creatures of carbon had learned much, and were not to be trifled with, and their wrath at the madman's deception cut deep. (8)And so did they smite the armies of the madman and the Prime alike, and say unto them, "no more." (9)And the armies were sundered, and those who tilled the fields and condensed energon from the atmosphere were chastened. (10)And I took the matrix out of the Prime's hand, and consumed it, and it was in my mouth sweet as argon: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitten. (11)And the brother on the throne said unto me, "Thou must prophesy again before many bots, and nations, and tongues, and kings."

Chapter 6

(1)And there was given me a scepter: and the fourth Prime stood, saying, "arise, and measure the pavilion of Primus, and the galleries and libraries within. (2)But the court which is without the pavilion leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Empties. (3)And I will give power unto my two beasts, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score solar cycles of dominion. (4)And if any creature, be they of silicon or carbon, will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoured their enemies: and if any will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. (5)And when they have finished their testimony, the beasts that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them."

(8)And their dead bodies shall lie in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Kalis, though it is not the first city to bear that name. (9)And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three solar cycles and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. (10)And the dead shall rise, and stalk the living, and so too shall the Prime rise. (11)And after three days and an half the spark and life from Primus entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. (12)And I heard a great voice, and it was the fifth Prime, and the Prime was ambitious, and looked to the third planet, and there did he find both cube and harvester. (13)And there was a great cyberquake, and a tenth part of the city fell, and in the cyberquake were slain of bots seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and cursed the name Primus. (14)The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. (15)And the six and ten elders, which sat before Primus on their seats, turned their back on the teachings, (16)Saying "our reign comes from our own wits, the fruits of our own labors," though they in truth were lame, and relied upon garments of steel to even walk. (17)And the nations were angry, and their wrath was great, and the time of the dead and the harvester and the cube portended the end of says, (18)And the pavilion of Iacon was opened unto the heavens, and thus did they gaze upon their vast army of the dead: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and a cyberquake, and a great hail.

Chapter 7

(1)And there appeared a great wonder that walked the land, a great red dragon, having two heads and four forms, and seven crowns upon his heads. (2)And his tail did draw the third part of the stars of the sky, and did cast them to the ground: and the dragon stood before the tyrant of his throne, for to devour his empire as soon as it was born. (3)And there was war in Iacon, and Kalis, and all of the cities of bots: the cyber cat and his hosts fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought with his dark minions. (4)And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more among the stars or even the timestream. (5)And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the fallen, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the night, and his dark servants were cast out with him. (6)And I heard a loud voice saying, "I am the sixth Prime, I am who would stand against Chaos." (7)And this Prime did not have a matrix of his own, though the one who came before had. (8)But this Prime did join with his fellows, in body and in mind, and indeed did join with the spawn of Chaos who were freed from destiny by the daughters of carbon. (9)And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the land, he persecuted the tiny silicates and sought their power for himself. (10)And to the Prime were given two wings of a great deatheagle, that he might fly into the wilderness, and a mighty megaweapon, that he might face of the serpent. (11)But the serpent was not bested by force of arms but by the betrayal of his ally, and lo the stars did scream.

Chapter 8

(1)And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw two beasts rise up out of the sea, and crawl forward into destiny. (2)And the final Prime, who was numbered seven, approached, and I saw his head and a great wound; but before my eyes the wound did heal, (3)and from the wound did crawl a bot, much smaller than I, and he was the apex of the people, (4)And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two orbital cycles. (6)And he opened his mouth in song, and quiet the wail of the dead who had come to sweep over Cybertron and the world. (7)And it was given unto him to make war withthe saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (8)Nor did his power come from a single partner, but from bots numbering three, as did the madman. (9)And as the sixth Prime drove back Chaos, so too did the seventh Prime fell the madman. (10)He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity; he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. (11)And the seventh Prime commanded entire cities, and lo the cities did walk, and where they walked the ground broke, and fire spilled forth. (12)And the madman exerciseth all the power of the first dragon before him, and indeed became the dragon himself.

Chapter 9 (1)And I looked, and lo, a mighty volcano stood undisturbed for stellar cycles numbering forty thousand time a hundred, and in her fire slumbered the final Prime, who was also the fifth. (2)And I heard a voice from Primus, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: (3)And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the two beasts, and the elders:and the song came from beyond the light of the galaxy. (4)And though the song sounded sweet, it was composed of the bitter smoke of their torment, and it ascended up for ever and ever. (5)And there was a second generation, one that spawned and spawned and spawned again, until the divine Spark of Primus was but a ghost of a memory. (6)And I heard a voice from Primus saying unto me, "look," and I beheld a black cloud, and it was connected to a hundred hundred more, and in the center was a bot, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (7)And he sat in the center of the web, like the arachnotron before him, and the dragon, and waited for the alignment. (8)But a bot of teeth and claws came, and to his hub descended, and with the namesake of the dragon did battle the bot on the black cloud. (9)And as they battled, there did come a swarm, and the swarm did consume all in its path, (10)And the seventh Prime did render unto the swarm his own form, and the matrix with it. (11)And the swarm did consume him, and render him unto his parts, but in doing so, it tasted of his origin. (12)And thus it was reminded of its destiny, and the world of carbon was spared.

Chapter 10

(1)And from the world of carbon the men of carbon stretched forth their hands and into the sea of stars did hurtle themselves. (But) the waters were choppy, and the sea contained malice and mischief, and the carbon hand would be burned by forces unknown and unknowable. (3)Yea, and the leviathan would rise from the sea, and the fury would be like unto the Inferno itself. (4)And the oceans of Andromeda did clash with the white band of stars like milk. (5)But the two beasts, lupanoid and insecatron, did come forth and battle with the leviathan, who comprised a billion billion beings, and were both apart and together. (6)And it was the database of databases that did power the two beasts. (7)The database of databases which was the final ambition of the wings of thunder, the database of databases which gave life to the head of evil. (8)But the database of databases was not for the wings of thunder to own, and he was cast out of the head of evil and cast into the depths, and the database of databases cast with him. (9)And in this depths there arose an Oracle. (10)Before Cybertron was, the Oracle was. (11)And the Oracle did forsee and ordain the wings of thunder would be cast out, and that the beasts should arise from the shame. (12)And the beasts did sing the song of the Prime and the Maxima, and the song of the Thirteen, saying, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord Primus. (13)Just and true are thy ways, thou emperor of emperors, thou emirate of emirates." (14)Thus it was written, and thus did it come to pass.

The Inexorable March

In this paper it is my intention to examine a few of the more puzzling aspects of the protoformer rebellion of 13th Cycle 071 and the subsequent First Vehicon Apocalypse.The received wisdom has always been that Lio Convoy, leader of the Resistance, was a hero and a visionary, who led Cybertron through a catastrophe and wisely departed before allowing himself to be made a dictator. This simplistic reading of events leaves out entirely the fact that his first action as a Resistance fighter was to execute an innocent bot on a live media tron, hacking into the signal on an auto race to display his savage butchery. In addition, there is strong evidence that a member of his most elite group of fighters attempted to activate a biological weapon and infect a crowd watching an innocuous sports match of some kind. Further, records from the Maximal Commando Separatist Faction contain reference to an attempt to pervert Titanmaster technology into a weapon of mass destruction. These act strictly contravene the terms of the Pax Cybertronia developed jointly by the Autobots, Decepticons, and the peoples of Earth as represented by the Solstar Order. Note: this would logically have occurred during the height of Terran Ascendancy, long before the Fall of Man and subsequent period of brutal civil wars known as the Saeculum Obscurum.

Could it not easily be argued that the creation of the Vehicons would seem like a reasonable response to this warmongering. Indeed, Lio Convoy’s answer to the emergence of the Vehicons was to deploy weapons mass destruction against dense Builder population centers, hoping in vain to force the so called Assembly of Builders to surrender. There is no doubt that the Vehicon experiment was a tragic miscalculation, but there seems little doubt that the Assembly was pushed to such extreme measures by Lio Convoy and his band of upstart rogues. One only needs to look at the composition of Lio Convoy’s army. The records of the First Vehicon Uprising pulled from the Cybertropolis database show that he had aggressively pursued Beast Mode technology with little regard for the safety and wishes of his followers. His army contained on less than four combiners, one of which may have been an alien cyberbiologic organism. Perhaps most egregious was the use of bots rigged with core bombs attuned to their very sparks, presumably against their will. All of these things would be considered war crimes today.

This is not even to address the rumors that Lio Convoy himself was part Vehicon, a triple changer with a beast and a jet mode, or that he eventually partnered with a Titanmaster known either as Mecha Usagi or Moon. If Lio Convoy was indeed a triple changer or a Titanmaster, it must surely have occurred after the Unification War, else some documentation would have survived. It also seems unlikely that Lio Convoy would voluntarily become part Vehicon. For all that he would subject his troops to experimental upgrades, his well documented disdain for Vehicons during the Second Vehicon Apocalypse makes that seem remarkably unlikely. Perhaps it was Galvatron II, Lio Convoy clone, that inspired such rumors.

The final blow against the First Vehicons was struck by a bot identified as Protoform Ex, at some point in the three orbital cycles after their introduction. There is some indication that this was an unfortunate individual illegally and immorally modified from his very forging to have a very strong regenerative capability and an almost inexhaustible capacity for violence This would be bad enough. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that X has been a polarizing figure in studies of this period because it has usually been assumed that, given no known technology can survive the energies of a K strength blast at ground zero, there had to have been at least two Protoform Ex’s operating around this time, although reportedly with very similar capabilities. Perhaps this is further evidence of Lio Convoy’s modification on his followers to pursue his own ends. Perhaps these multiple Protoform Ex’s were his version of the Vehicons.

We will likely never be able to know for sure, although Pontiff General Rampage has made extensive study of the period and when interviewed, told he is reasonably sure no one true Protoform Ex ever really existed. His theory is that the designation was fabricated to cover for the Resistance’s use of suicide tactics. The Resistance would graft a few easily recognizable features onto a hapless zealot, give him a suicide mission and tell him to call himself Protoform Ex. Naturally a legend began to form. Certainly this is more plausible than the immortal regenerator theory, which has no basis in the science of the day, and is something that even we, some ten thousand stellar cycles hence, are unable to replicate.

In addition, the people Lio Convoy surrounded himself with certainly had dubious records. Black Arachnia, a Maximal who seemingly appeared from nowhere, has been linked to numerous terrorist actions before and during the period designated the Unification War, including the slaying of Assemblybot Supersonic, and the attempted capture of Titanmaster Oversurge. Let us not forget Ciphershark, similarly well known for carrying out black ops missions with a callous disregard for the lives of his enemies or those under his command, and Tarantulas, Lio Convoy’s famously amoral chief scientist and Predacus Secret Police liaison. And then, of course there is Grimlock, a name that echoes through the darkest annals of Cybertron. Grimlock, who was purported to be an Autobot under the command of the most probably mythical figure Optimus Convoy, proved himself a deadly and intensely immoral combatant during Lio Convoy’s campaign, culminating in the aforementioned attempted release of the Genesis Virus. Historians have tried to distance Lio Convoy from the actions of those under his command, but there is no evidence beyond wishful thinking that they did anything without his approval and, most likely, instruction.

These are but a few of the points that will be expanded upon in the paper, which will be published in these very pages and given in full as a lecture at the Heinrad Institute For Historiographical Science on the anniversary of U Day.

Extract from the introduction of “Lio Convoy: Unity Through Tyranny” by Second Professor Hatchet, Sistex University, 37th Cycle 2074, Primax 215.19 Epsilon

Other: Notes from Colgin:

Bladez - Cybertron Unicron w/ Beast Machines Thrust head

Bugsie - Beast Machines Scavenger w/ Beast Wars Retrax head

Creepy - Cybertron Scrapmetal w/ Beast Wars Tarantulas head

Klaws - Energon Sharkticon w/ G1 Venom head

Hornet - Animated Slapper (modified design with wings)

Pincher - Energon Slugslinger w/ IDW Beast Wars Manterror head

Scorp - Energon Scorponok

Vamp - Cybertron Megatron w/ G1 Chop Shop head

I just stylized Spoons' original GoBots design (his hand and foot) as he is reformatted into Deadlift - obviously repurposed from the RoTF character.

Crasher (using the Spychanger Daytonus mold with a redesigned head) is becoming Fracture (again, repurposed from the Movie character...duh :P)

So to the more unknowns:

At the bottom, Crain Brain (a recolored CW Hook) is becoming a Sweep, which is repurposed from RoTF Dirt Boss...though the color scheme isn't spot-on.

The top Sweep is being reformatted from Screw Head, using Unite Warriors Nosecone as a basis, but with his drill weapon actually forming his head.

And though I intended for it to be more visible, only his foot shows up; but Slicks, recolored from Spychanger Mirage, is being reformatted into "Armada", who is using Classic Mirage's body, Crasher's alternative white color scheme, and a head based more on the Crasher toy.

And um...let's see. In the E&F scene one image (the one with the Renegades), Cy-Kill is in his Transtech body, and the rest of them are original, "Transtech-ified" versions of their GoBots forms...except Snoop was based on the Armada Terradive mold.

And on the cover, other than Deadlift and Fracture, all the GoBots were just stylistically redesigns of their original bodies in GoBots. I guess to clarify, featured on the cover are: Squirt, Bent Wing, Tail Pipe, Major Mo, Throttle, Motosan, and Tri-Trak. There's also a Command Center and a modified Thruster in the background

The top left is an internal media app of sorts.

The top is music that's paused. It's says, "Love Forever - To Protect You" (the Beast Wars Neo opening theme). Below that is the artist which says, "Nekomimi A/B ft. Stage-Dive"

The middle thing is a reading tablet. The book is titled, "A Whole World of Pain". Below it is the author "Furmanator".

The bottom part of the app is for messages. The red character is indicating that he has "5". The top contact says, "Crazybolt" and beneath that is "Magmatron".

The very bottom left is a full shield meter and a partially full energon meter. The text next to it indicates that it's "113" units full.

The top right, next to the Predacon insignia reads, "D-38" on top (Bazooka's ID number) and "Bazooka" on the line below that.

The small circle immediately bottom left of the scope is his axe/gun and an ammo/clip display. The red number indicates that he has "8" more shots left of this clip, and the blue number shows that he has "6" more clips.

The very bottom left is a map/compass. "N", "E", "S", and "W" are the blue characters on the outside of the ring (clockwise). The white text says, "Protimax".

Within the scope, the text next to the Decepticon insignia reads, "Long Haul". Next to the Autobot insignia says, "Quickmix". And the orange text in the middle says, "Micro Trailer".

The large black character on the Micro Trailer says, "12", and the red text below that says, "Cybertron".

And the numbers next to the indicators on the crosshairs say, "10", "20", "30", and "40" from the inside out.

Well, Monsterous is a recolorer Monstructor with Tripredacus' head. At one point, I suggested Rescue Bots High Tide with Armada Thrust's head for Odd Ball. (I haven't actually gotten to finish the story, so I'm not sure if he's described to fit or contradict that)

Things about me

• I'm a transgender girl.