Predacon (BW)
| The name or term "Predacon" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Predacon (disambiguation). |
- The Predacons are a faction in the Beast Era portion of the Generation 1 continuity.
Arising from the ashes of the Great War, the Predacons are, at least in part, descendants of the Decepticons, born from what remained of the original five Predacons. By order of the Pax Cybertronia they exist as something of an underclass, appearing to be equals, but firmly under the Maximals in the social order.
Origin
Little is known of the origin of the Predacons, beyond their decent from the original Decepticon group of that name. In particular the Decepticon Predacon Divebomb is known to have taken an active role in recruiting several ex-Decepticons following the end of the Great War. They were in existence and at war with the Maximal Imperium prior to the signing of the Pax Cybertronia, at which time most laid down their arms, but a few went rogue.
Organization
The Predacons, although apparently governed by an organization known as the Predacon Alliance, appear to be a splintered faction. One of the major ruling bodies is the Tripredacus Council, but they may represent only one political voice within the Alliance. The Council keeps its followers pacified under the Pax Cybertronia with the promise of a slow, sly return to power, whispering of a long term plan to overthrow the Maximals when the time is right. A number of Predacons have expressed dissatisfaction with this approach, leading renegades such as Megatron, Galvatron and Magmatron to recruit private armies of followers and, either covertly or overtly, strike out against the Maximals on their own. All known Beast Wars-era Predacons tend to fall within the arms of these renegade militias, with the exceptions of the Tripredacus Council itself, Tarantulas, and Ravage, who were members of the Predacon Secret Police. It is unknown whether the Predacons have any sort of official standing army or defence force other than this internal Secret Police.
Bases of Operation
It is unknown where exactly the Predacons are based.
The Tripredacus Council holds meetings aboard a space station, Predacon Command Outpost One.
While one would presume the Predacons also had some sort of presence on Cybertron itself, there is evidence that seems to counter this. After they return to Cybertron following the events of Beast Wars, Optimus Primal, Megatron, and the rest refer frequently and exclusively to the missing population as Maximals and later Maximal sparks only. This seems to strongly suggest that they did not expect any Predacons to be on the planet, or at least, if they were, in such small numbers as to not even rate mentioning. Beast Machines story editor and head writer Robert N. Skir seems to suggest that the Predacons suffered the same fate as the Maximals in his FAQ pages.
(In real world terms the Predacons were excluded from the Beast Machines show and toyline in fear of confusing children with a third faction. Nonetheless, "in-story" it remains an odd and conspicuous absence.Except in one notable case where Rattrap, Remarking on how their former "buddy" Rhinox (now Tankor) was being so brutal, mentions to Cheetor what would a vehicon be like with the spark of a Predacon)
