TF Redesigns: Megatron’s “Most Loyal” Lieutenants
So I watched Bumblebee and I loved it. So much so that it got me back in a Transformers mood, and prompted me to complete one of my pieces, alongside updating my other one before it. (After fixing a spelling error, for some reason it no longer appears on the dash, even though the WIP version does... Oh wellz). Also because I felt like including the Big Guys (Blackout, Lugnut and Shockwave) would fit the theme of the piece better :).
Now onto the Redesigns themselves. All the way back since last year, I thought I’d take a crack on how I’d do TF stories if the opportunity was given to me, and what better way to start than drawing some Decepticons?
From here on, I decided to mix elements from almost all TF lore that I can find... With the biggest influences going to Transformers: Prime, the Movies, and the IDW G1 comics. So here goes nothing (and also, prepare for Long Post)
First off are the True Believers of the Decepticons cause.
Soundwave: The First Follower
Megatron’s very first recruit, and the most steadfastly loyal to his cause. He is chief communications officer, and the head of the Decepticon Logisitics and Intelligence Division. It his job to collect information from the enemy... and “friend”. He keeps a watchful eye on all major Decepticon factions, and because of his closeness to Megatron, is considered untouchable by everyone else... even Starscream fears Soundwave’s influence.
Soundwave of Nyon was once a poor, derelict Cybertronian living amongst the slums and alleys. Forged with the ability to hear the wavelengths of others, he almost went mad with hearing the thoughts and ceaseless babble of others. It was only in the gladiatorial pits where he felt he could hone his power to something useful...
With his power in control, he looked at Cybertron and was convinced that the society and legacy brought upon by Nova Prime (aka Nova the Conqueror/The World-Burner) was unsustainable, and eagerly joined Megatron’s cause during his gladiatorial days - For Megatron wanted to bring true equality to Cybertron.
No Functionist Council of Thirteen to lie to the masses, no Power Hungry Senate... Just Bots in control of their own destinies...
Tarn: Head of the Justice Division
The most ruthless enforcer of the Decepticons. Betray the Cause at your own peril.
Damus of Tarn was forged a Point-One Percenter with terrifying abilities. When his voice reached a certain pitch, he can disrupt the Sparks of others, causing them to “give out”. Feared by all, even when he didn’t mean want to be, he was an outcast in Cybertronian society, and even underwent Empurata after accidentally angering some Senators.
It is little wonder then, that Damus become enamored with Megatron’s manifesto of reform and equality... And when reform became revolution to topple to corrupt Senators and their bootlickers, Megatron allowed Damus, now Tarn to unleash his darkest wishes upon his former tormentors.
As the head of the DJD, everyone is terrified of him, and even the other’s amongst Megatron’s inner circle gives him a wide breadth. If anyone so much has a whiff of betraying the cause of the Decepticons, then they get on the list... a practical death sentence.
As a fighter he unrelenting and immensely durable, with a tank mode and two fusion cannons attached to his arm, there are very few things that can get in the way of his presence.
Mega-Empress: The Apostate of Caminus
Solis Umbra of Caminus was once a member of the Way of the Flame, but has long sinced renounced it in favor of the Decepticon philosophy. While others lead through fear and terror, she maintains the loyalty of the rank-and-file in the way of a priestess... By inspiring devotion to Megatron and the belief that Megatron’s way is the closest to the meaning “Til All are One”. Though she acts as a glorified counselor and guide to new members of the Cybertronian cause, she is no slouch in a fight... Her axe, Judgement, is a testament to that fact.
The only one of the group from a colony world conquered by Nova (who promptly passed away shortly, thus leaving the world in the dust and fighting for survival), she longed questioned the divinity of the Primes and the Way of the Flame, for if the primes were truly divine, why did the latest “heir” stripped mined Caminus of already precious Energon supplies and hopped somewhere to find a new conquest for the burgeoning Cybertronian empire.
While on a mission to spread the Way of the Flame to “The Home Planet” as Cybertron was referred to, she was crushed to find out that, for all of Cybertron’s splendor, it was rotten in its core. Abandoning the Way of Flame and the Divinity of the Primes, she looked for other beings to look up to. She rejected the tenents of the Guiding Hand and other forms of worship... Until she read a certain manifesto by a certain charismatic gladiator. The moment she read “You are being Decieved”, it struck a cord in her.
Now donning the nickname “Megaempress” due to her charisma and her ability to create some fanatically loyal followers, she follows the Decepticon cause in its battles and conquests throughout the galaxy... And hoping one day to “catch up” with her fellow Camians and “enlighten” them.
The second batch has the theme Dedicated Giants of the Cause
Blackout: Behemoth of the Working Classes
The working bot’s hero, Blackout of Thetacon is the leader of the Decepticon rank-and-file, and head of the Decepticon Deconstruction Division, though he’d much prefer to call it “The Demolition Division”. Monstrously strong with an unbreakable endoskeleton, he maintains the goodwill of his men by fighting, struggling and laughing alongside them. And everyone rightly fears the might of his EMP punches... enough to deactivate an entire city sector.
A Point-One Percenter, forged deep in the heart of Cybertron’s industrial center, and one of the strongest Cybertronians seen since ancient times, he began as a lowly heavy-transport, albeit one that awed his comrades by just how much he could carry and move, and pull through the harshest environments.
Deep down though, he considered a pugilist at heart, and competed in many contests of champions... and promptly punished for it by the higher ups for “deviating from his assigned station as judged by the council of thirteen”.
This caused him to resent the authorities, especially the Functionists. Who are they to deny the people’s right to their own directions in life? This resentment soon became fear, when he learnt that - alongside being a Point-One-Percenter - he was an Outlier with the ability to generate EMP waves... meaning he was living on borrowed time before he’s “decommissioned” from his job.
When Megatron began recruiting more Cybertronians for his cause... Blackout promptly dropped whatever he was doing, and gathered his fellow worker-bots to meet up with this “Megatron” fellow and what he’s selling... and the rest is history.
Of all of Megatron’s lieutenants, he still maintains his code of ethics, as first and foremost he believes in the original ideals of the Decepticons as agents of change... Ignorant (or in denial) of just how far gone Megatron’s drive for power has gone.
He treats his foes with respect, after all “A Bot on the other side is a bot like me and you.”
Has a spark brother by the name of Grindor.
Lugnut: The Indestructible One
Lugnut of Kaon loves to fight. From the day he was forged he loved fighting. Having an alt-mode of an Aerial Bomber Jet really helps, however his love of fighting caught up to him when simply he could not obey orders to stop, and thus chucked into the gladiatorial pits of Kaon, hoping someone would eventually dispose of him.
That day never happened. For Lugnut was blessed with a nigh-indestructible outer shell and trounced almost every one he encountered and a mighty weapon built into his own fists... The POKE (Punch of Kill Everything)...
He WAS undefeated... Until he met the GLORIOUS Megatron.
Megatron was the first one to ever defeat him (by aiming at Lugnut’s joints and optics). Expecting death, he was instead spared, against all odds, by the up-and-coming Gladitorial Star, and has become LOYAL ever since.
Due to his insane amounts of loyalty to the GLORIOUS leader, he can be put to any of the other teams, acting as heavy muscle alongside being the GLORIOUS leader’s personal attack dog, just in case the others need some “motivation” to do their duties as Decepticons.
Shockwave: Just Your Humble Scientist...
A senator-turned scientist, Shockwave of Iacon is a believer in stone cold logic. He follows Megatron because he believes that it is the logical path to... And because Megatron gives him carte blanche to do heinous experiments in the name of SCIENCE.
Gifted with an enormous intellect, that allowed to see the direction of Cybertronian society from a purely economical, social and mathematical trends -and the direction was anywhere but good. Being of the privileged Senatorial class, he attempted to reform from within... But ultimately failed, and his attempts were deemed dangerous by the rest of the Senate, who promptly tried to dispose of him.
Betrayed by the body that was supposed to be ruling Cybertron for the good of the people, decided that,in pure, logical terms, the Senate was a failure, and needed to be disposed of by any means possible... And what’s an easier way to dispose of a corrupt political class by a full on revolution led by a capable leader?
Though he is a scientist, Shockwave last remnant of his senatorial days, an Alt-Mode of a mighty Mobile Artillery Piece, allows him to be a versatile combatant in long-range assaults.
Alongside that, he is also well armored and armed, his Arm Mounted Astro-Mag cannon is the second most famous weapon amongst the Decepticons... Beaten only by Megatron’s famous fusion cannon.
