Transformers: Of Bots and Men

What's in Your Spark

A few days after his humiliation at the Iacon council, Megatron gathered his followers and launched an attack. This offensive turned into the first battle in an all-out war for control of Cybertron. Every capable Autobot was called into service to deal with the growing menace, now known as Decepticons.

During this time, severe damage was done to the core of the planet, and the data clerk Orion Pax ventured there to try and repair the ill effects. As he stood in front of the heart of Primus himself, the ancient Autobot detected the innate spark in Orion. For his bravery, compassion, and heroism, Primus bestowed upon the unsuspecting Autobot the Matrix of Leadership. It was here that a very surprised and humbled Orion Pax became the greatest hero of the Autobots, Optimus Prime.

With the impromptu coronation of Optimus, Megatron's war efforts doubled. In the eyes of the mad Decepticon, Optimus had just robbed him of his right to rule. Determined to see his former friend suffer, Megatron led his army into countless battles that spanned over the stellar cycles. Thousands of bots sacrificed their sparks on either side of this conflict, fighting for control over cities, supplies, and everything else imaginable.

...

Ten stellar cycles into the War for Cybertron, the Decepticons launched an offensive on the city of Iacon, determined to claim it in the name of Megatron. Vehicons marched towards the city in innumerable masses, flyers passing above them while dropping missiles and plasma fire upon the Autobots. The Autobots returned this assault with one of their own, the Elite Guard charging to meet the oncoming hoards, and soldiers manning turrets to try and hit the descending Decepticons.

Amongst the flyers laying siege to the city were two unmistakable Decepticons. One was Starscream, the Captain of Megatron's Seeker division, and the other was Massacre, Megatron's second in command. The two sent missile after missile down at the Autobots, Massacre let out a cruel cackle, transforming as she landed on the spire of a building. Starscream landed as well, the two cons looking down at the carnage.

"Look at them all." Massacre chuckled darkly. "Nothing but pieces of scrap to be tossed onto the heap."

Starscream chuckled at his superior's description. Though he may not get along with most of the Decepticons, Massacre was one of the few that he tolerated for their shared sadism when it came to the Autobots.

"And there are those who say I have a way with words." He commented.

Starscream gazed down at the battlefield again, sending down a few shots with Massacre doing the same. They both thoroughly enjoyed the sight of the bots falling to their assault, and then a certain figure caught Starscream's eye.

"Well, well." He voiced. "What have we here?"

Massacre turned her gaze towards where Starscream was looking, squinting into the distance. A cruel smile graced her face as she saw a familiar blue and red bot leading the charge.

"As I live and process." she said. "Optimus Prime himself."

Starscream saw the gleam in her optic sensors, that sadistic spark he knew he could use to his advantage. After all, just because he tolerated Massacre's existence doesn't mean he wouldn't use her to further his own game.

"How fitting that the greatest Decepticon warrior and the leader of the Autobots should be in the same place together." Starscream told her, smiling maliciously.

Massacre paused, turning to her fellow con with a suspicious look.

"What do you mean?" She asked, her voice conveying her suspicions.

"Well... Just imagine the thrill of the hunt." He told her, his voiced laced with a persuasive edge that cut through Massacre's suspicion. "The glory of the battle. The praise of Lord Megatron. You could actually be the one to cripple the Autobots.... By eliminating their leader."