Targetmaster (technology)
Targetmasters are one of several specialised Transformer warriors that were developed during the war on Nebulos. See also Headmasters and Powermasters
'Targetmaster' is a term used to describe any of the Autobots or Decepticons who were involved in the wars on Nebulos and have had their sidearms or other primary weapons binary-bonded to a living being. Created slightly after their more drastic Headmaster cousins, the Targetmasters benefit from being able to go into battle without losing their heads.
A Targetmaster, unlike a normal Transformer, is able to possess a living weapon, one that is capable of making its own tactical decisions and target priorities. As most Targetmasters follow the practice of carrying an extra "backup" weapon in addition to their Targetmaster partner, this allows them the luxury of having a gun that they can leave to its its own devices: the ultimate "fire and forget" weapon.
The benefit to the Nebulans who participate in this bonding is fairly obvious: they gain the power to transform themselves into a gun, and if that was good enough for Megatron, then who are they to argue with the results? Targetmaster partners tend to be more aggressive and warlike than their fellow Headmasters and Powermasters, which tends to come with the territory when someone volunteers to be a walking cannon.
Historically, the Targetmasters were created from the second generation of Transformers to come to Nebulos: those who had not agreed to the Headmaster bonding (and were not willing to go quite that far), but still wanted to reap the benefits of binary bonding. At various points in their careers, such stalwart warriors as Hot Rod, Kup, and Blurr have been counted amongst the Autobot Targetmasters, while notable Decepticons like Cyclonus and Scourge also accepted the process in order to reap the benefits of such added power.
Terminology
In conversation, both the primary Transformer and their Nebulan partner are referred to by the title "Targetmaster". Unlike other factions of the Autobot/Decepticon war, like the Dinobots or the Constructicons, Targetmasters are not considered to form their own unit: Targetmasters can regularly deploy alone or with other, non-bonded Transformers.
The term "Targetmaster" is a description for the unique bonding shared between Transformer and Nebulan. If an Autobot or Decepticon loses their Nebulan partner (such as was the case with Hot Rod, when his partner Firebolt died), then they cease to be referred to as a Targetmaster. Unlike their fellow bonded Transformers, it is possible for a Targetmaster to leave, abandon, or otherwise seperate from his partner with no ill effects - a Headmaster who splits up his binary bond will have a hard time getting much done without his head, and a Powermaster does not last long without his engine, but a Targetmaster can always pick up a new gun.
Where this is opportunity for confusion, this article refers to the smaller transforming partner as a Targetmaster partner.
Defining Characteristics
Not all Transformers that turn into guns are Targetmasters. Megatron Shockwave and Sureshot change into powerful weapons, but they are not bonded to a specific partner or share any of the traits usually associated with the "Targetmaster" title.
Partnering
Targetmasters are binary bonded to a specific Targetmaster partner or partners. Unlike non-Targetmaster gun-Transformers, their systems interface, resulting in vastly increased accuracy while leaving the larger Transformer's attention free for other tasks.
In order to be considered a Targetmaster, a Transformer must have a specifically chosen biological partner. All known examples are Nebulans, but this is not necessarily required. The partner wears a specially designed exoskeleton (not unlike the Exo-Suit worn by Daniel and Spike Witwicky) that allows him to change himself into a weapon. Both of the partners undergo a procedure known as "Binary Bonding". Although each of the pair is still an individual being (unlike the gestalts formed when some Transformers combine), they will be able to share thoughts and sensations, not unlike a psychic connection. One of the many advantages to this is that a Targetmaster can send commands to his weapon without needing to actually touch it, or even be in the same room.
With the sacred institution of Targetmastering under assault, Cybertronian Lawmakers attempted to define Targetmasters as a union between One Transformer and One Nebulon. But the masure failed to pass the Council of Elders, and soon bizare three-way partnerships sprang up, or oegy-Seacons, even partnerships with animals and non-sentient machines. An inevitable downslide into godlessness.
In vehicle mode, the Transformer usually has some kind of port or area where his partner can rest in weapon mode, functioning as a sort of self-guided turret and protecting their larger comrade while he focuses on other tasks. Since the partner is the one who controls their weapon mode, they are self-aiming and capable of tracking their own targets independant of any other weapon systems that the Transformer may have available.
Also, it should be noted that in some rare cases, Autobots or Decepticons have been known to bond themselves to multiple Targetmaster partners. These elite warriors are sometimes called "Double Targetmasters", to emphasize their extra abilities. In addition to forming into individual weapons, the partners of most Double Targetmasters can often combine to form a single, even more powerful weapon for their Transformer ally.
