Part machine broke Grindcore- Ledjentdary! Brutalicious! An underground shockdrone artist with a large cult following. Originally hailing from Simfur, Grindcore has toured many colony worlds. With energetic las-tar work and machine-gun percussion, his band's unique sound has made him a legend in the world of Cybertronian music. Shockdrone is known for its violent themes, and Grindcore's music is no exception. His lyrics are openly supportive of the Decepticon cause, but remarkably steer short of full-on propaganda, which many of his listeners wouldn't approve of. After all, it's no fun kicking ass if you're being told to. His music has been famously banned in many city-states, and is distributed through dubiously-legal home-burned audiochips and pirate radio stations. Skywarp is his biggest fan. Human Food- Cybertronians are perfectly capable of eating and digesting food composed of organic compounds found on Earth. According to Soundwave, it's delicious. Sumdac Systems- A Silicon Valley tech firm specializing in large-scale corporate network architectures. Founded by Isaac Sumdac in 1980, Sumdac Systems became an industry giant in the 1990s by performing contract work for much larger companies, such as Microsoft. They developed a reputation for quality work done quickly, with many novel applications of system redundancy. By the 2000s, they were the number-one choice for any Fortune 500 company looking to revamp their network. In 2010, Sari Sumdac inherited the position of CEO, and immediately set about diversifying the company, dabbling in software as well as other ventures such as ride-sharing, social media, and subscription streaming. These somewhat dubious choices were actually a front, shielding Sumdac Systems' actual new project: The development of user interfaces for military hardware. Rumor has it that a sixth-generation fighter jet has been shipped to Sumdac Systems in order to create a neural network-driven targeting computer. Sari Sumdac- The current CEO of Sumdac Systems, Sari has a reputation for a lack of formality, and for strong-arming the company's board of directors. She's also known for spending most of her salary on "pet projects", a few of which she has actually brought to market, skipping the corporate R&D process. With a genius-level IQ and degrees in computer science and biomechanics, she has the credentials to back up nearly any boast. Michael Banes and Carl Spencer, a pair of her old college friends, work closely with her as a Yes and No man, respectively, as well as a brainstorming think-tank. Casualties Bulwark- Bulwark grew up in Trypticon, where the constant threat of hostile wildlife necessitates being ready for combat at any time. His father suffered a debilitating injury from an ickyack attack when Bulwark was very young, so Bulwark spent a great deal of his life with a creeping paranoia of meeting a monster that he couldn't kill. To compensate for this, he spent every credit he earned upgrading his body with additional armor. When a dangerous ickyack did eventually attack his neighborhood, he was ready, and easily slew the beast, preventing any loss of life. This attracted the attention of the local Decepticon cell, which eagerly recruited him. Bulwark was mostly assigned to defensive missions, where his thick armor suited him best. As part of the mission to Earth, Bulwark acquired a modified FV4034 Challenger 2 altmode, sporting a NATO smoothbore gun and increased armor protection. He was assigned to block the road between the Autobots and their dropship, preventing an escape. However, in the close-quarters battle that ensued, his armor proved to be a liability, slowing his movements down and allowing Bumblebee, Chromia, and Ironhide to flank him easily. He was disabled by a barrage from the Autobot gunship, Broadside, but his incredibly durable physique allowed him to live despite his injuries. However, it is likely that he may never be able to fight again. Fatalities Hatchet- Originally a member of an independent terrorist group on Animatron, Hatchet made a name for himself by preying on Autobot garrison convoys using guerrilla tactics and optical camouflage. These tactics, combined with Hatchet's tendency for theatrics, terrified the Autobot troops, who began to tell stories about a deadly invisible warrior, attributing to him supernatural abilities and feats. In turn, this made Autobot convoys break even faster when Hatchet ambushed them, feeding his ego. Thanks to his reputation, Hatchet joined the Decepticons with much fanfare, and he continued to carry out his raids, mostly working alone. As part of the mission to Earth, Hatchet acquired a Local Motors Rally Fighter altmode. He ambushed RC and Grimlock in much the same manner as he ambushed other Autobots on Animatron, and even managed to wound RC and take her hostage. However, he did not account for the arrival of Scorn, who easily overpowered and executed him.
part 3017 Call this a special edition of The Chosen Stars Lore because it doesn't actually contain any lore. I've seen a lot of people create "voice actor" lists for their fanfictions and comics and whatnot, so I figured I would give it a half-assed go. There is some value to picturing what the characters might sound like. I won't have every character here, obviously, but these are the ones I feel the most certain about. Also, just to toy with it, for some I will include both an "A-List" Hollywood actor and a more down-to-earth VA option. So here we go. Autobots: Optimus Prime: Absolutely, positively Keith David. God bless Peter Cullen, but he feels a little played-out at this point. Keith David lets you get that gravelly wisdom sound, but he can also be damn scary if he wants to. Bumblebee: Donald Glover can do a good job of transitioning from suave to goofy freakouts, which Bumblebee would need. In absence of Glover, Bumper Robinson would be just fine with a slightly more mature delivery than Animated Bee. Chromia: Actually getting an Australian national would be cool, but who? Rebel Wilson, mayhaps? She certainly could cover the goofier end of the spectrum. Ironhide: Both Corey Burton and Jeffrey Combs did a great job as their respective Ratchets, and since TCS Ironhide is mostly a crotchety old dude bot, I think either would work well. Though I think Corey Burton had a better sense of levity... though that could be attributed to the writing. Breakthrough: Deedee Magno Hall, because Bird Mom. A mom of birds. A mom for birds, even. Hmmm. Lifeline: Jennifer Hale? She certainly has that air of confidence. RC: Jen Taylor, going as icy cold as she can. Though Grey DeLisle has a very nice mix of smooth and cunning (Azula, anyone?) Grimlock: Steve Blum's work on the bass side of his range is great for commando types, but if I really wanted to play up the "soldier of fortune" aspect, I wouldn't say no to David Hayter. Kept you waiting, huh? Scorn: I dunno. They're going to have to do a lot of screaming. Open to suggestions! Broadside: Perhaps the unquestioned champion of boisterous shout-y dudes, John DiMaggio. Airazor: Does picking Tara Strong feel unoriginal? Yes. Is it the correct choice? Also yes. Sky Lynx: The big twist will be that he's Peter Cullen, and not Prime. In TCS, Sky Lynx was much more of the public face of the Autobots, the guy with all of the statues and stuff, so having the "traditional" Autobot leader voice makes some lore sense. Ideally his delivery here would be pretty close to his normal speaking voice, less gravelly and exaggerated than his recent performances as Prime. Decepticons: Megatron: If we're going A-list Hollywood, nothing can beat the silky smooth pipes of Benedict Cumberbatch. TCS Megatron is an intellectual freedom fighter and Beaniebaby Crumblepants is perfect for that, plus he can sound damn threatening. In his absence, I would also accept Crispin Freeman going full Alucard, if a little deeper.They'd be very different, but both would get across a similar idea. Starscream: Johnny Yong Bosch has a good mix of youthfulness and seriousness. Coupled with an angsty, breathy delivery and I think he'd be perfect. Soundwave: Ashly Burch. A lot of her semi-youthful performances have the perfect mix of mischief and dorkiness for Soundwave. Hotbox: Kevin Michael Richardson, no question. Mixmaster: Amanda Winn Lee doing her classic Rei Ayanami monotone with just a hint of spite. Sandstorm: Saffron Henderson's Naomi Fluegel has always resonated with me as a badass femme fatale voice, both sensual and mysterious. More to come, maybe? I dunno. Look out for more actual lore when the next chapter comes out. EDIT: I left out Lifeline, so I added her.
part 42: Revenge of Boneless Pizza This is going to be another lore thread post without much lore. The last chapter didn't add a lot to comment on, other than some new characters. So instead, enjoy a similar tangent as the last post, the "official" theme song of TCS: That's right, we're going full Jojo. By the way, if you look closely at the lyrics, you might see why I picked this song to represent the world of TCS: Yes Lyrics - Homeworld (The Ladder) Anyway that's all I have for now. Catch you next time!
Not really a new addition to this thread, but if anyone would be interested in starting a TCS-themed RPG, PM me.
part 2077: Other Factions pt 1 The Predacons- The Predacons are a "faction" in the sense that its members share similar ideologies, but no single formal group structure has emerged yet. The Predacons, as they call themselves, reject many of the conventions of post-colonial society as the products of "weak" and unmotivated people, claiming that governments have made the populace complacent. As a symbol for their rejection of society, most Predacons adopt metazomorphic altmodes. The founding members of this movement are known as "the Hunting Party," a group of ex-Autobot militia members who established their own government on a remote corner of Promet-2. Eventually, their territory was invaded and reclaimed by the colonial garrison under command of Slammoth, but the Hunting Party themselves escaped and went on to spread their ideology elsewhere. Most Council officials, and higher elements of the Autobot command, do not recognize most current Predacon movements as a threat-- Predacons only seem to emerge in less-developed or frontier territories anyway, so they rarely interfere with Imperial law and commerce. The Hunting Party- While their current location is not known, anonymous posts to the cybernet seem to indicate that the Hunting Party remains active, and continue to propagate Predacon ideals. The group's de facto leader is Razorclaw, who penned the Predacon Creed. Razorclaw, like the other members of the Hunting Party, served as an Autobot for Animatron's colonial garrison. He was honorably discharged, and afterwards founded his own private militia, seemingly out of dissatisfaction with peacetime life. His primary hobby was big game hunting, but actual animals were scarce on Promet-2, so he instead hunted down Decepticon cells for sport. He was joined by Headstrong, Tantrum, and Runriot, who he had served with. Their "independent state" did not last long and had a maximum population of around 45 individuals, but their activities began to interfere with the operations of the current colonial garrison, so a police action was enforced.
Part 2078: Other Factions pt 2The Raksha- Though neighbor to the prosperous city-state and later imperial capital of Iacon, Kalis has always been a tough place to live, due to its rocky and mountainous terrain and small amount of arable land. Before the Destron Wars, Kalis and its peoples had mostly tolerated Iacon, whose faith in Primus and his Children had come into conflict with their own indigenous beliefs in Xal, a more abstract deity. The Destron Wars forced the two to cooperate, and unfortunately Kalis fared much worse in the war than their more affluent and technologically-advanced neighbors. Iacon did lead reconstruction efforts in Kalis, but incorporated the city-state into their growing post-war alliance without the consent of Kalis' governing body of elders. Overnight, Kalis had lost its sovereignty, and had become a satellite state for Iacon. Almost immediately, a separatist resistance to this "foreign occupation" formed, taking the Kalicean name of the deadly Mountain Coiler, the Raksha. For hundreds of stellar cycles, the Raksha have been a thorn in the side of Imperial rule of Kalis, though in recent times they have become much more of a lethal threat than an annoyance. This has been mainly attributed to the leadership of Nightracer, who has been instrumental in militarizing their disorganized ranks. The Raksha have now been able to assassinate Autobot commanders operating in the area, disrupt trade lines, and even convert villages to the cause. Nightracer and the Prophets of Xal- The Raksha movement has two motivators-- the political, and the religious. Interestingly, the most fervent, deadly, and cunning warrior of the Raksha cause does share the religious zeal that many of her compatriots do. While Nightracer does encourage her followers to join her religious war, her doctrine emphasizes the political aspects of the movement, which many in the upper echelons of the Empire find troubling. Her actual origins are shrouded in some mystery, as is the nature of her military training. She has been the target of many assassination attempts by Autobot forces, but none have been successful, and have only increased her reputation among the residence of Kalis as a hero, and, as some say, a messiah. In fact, among some elements of the Raksha it is believed that Nightracer may actually be an incarnation of Xal, and Nightracer's rhetoric has never explicitly denied this. Her skill and charisma have attracted to her a band of loyal followers, who have deemed themselves the "Prophets of Xal." Notable among their ranks are Deadzone, an electronic warfare specialist; Mirage, a swordsman and specialist in guerrilla warfare; Meshugga, a fanatical preacher whose fervor can make him nearly immune to pain; Wreck-Gar, a private assassin contracted to kill Nightracer who instead converted to the cause; and Scourge, Nightracer's bodyguard and second-in-command.
Sorry about the necromancy here but I do believe this is the best place to upload this. As I've posted on my official thread, I've officially discontinued work on TCS's main story, but there are still a few aspects of the world I want to flesh out. One thing I always wanted to show was this, the hierarchy of the Empire. Let me give a brief explanation of how this all works. The Empire's history can be traced back to a powerful warlord of ancient Cybertron who was able to unite the surrounding tribes into an army capable of conquering their neighbors. He founded the city of Iacon and gave himself the binomial title of Vector Prime, establishing a succession: Whoever lead the empire after him would be the next Prime. For hundreds of years, the Prime was the emperor, and the Empire was a domain over which they had absolute authority, covering the surface of Cybertron and beyond to the colony worlds. Iacon itself had a democratic government, mostly for the management of municipal affairs, but this democracy did not extend beyond the capital. It was Zeta Prime who established the current division of power and spread democratic representation to the whole of the Empire while limiting the power of the Primes. The democratic system is two-tiered. First, Imperial citizens can vote for representatives in the Senate, with population determining the number of Senators per region. Most polities are represented by a single Senator. The Senate then votes among their number to determine the ten-member Council, which is the supreme legal authority in the Empire tasked with interpreting the charters of the Primes. Certain laws can be passed by the Senate alone, but the largest and most complex must be presented to the Council, which has the ability to veto any proposal they choose. It is this arrangement that makes the Council highly scrutinized for corruption, but the Senate does have the ability to remove a Councilor through a vote of no confidence. Much voting in the Senate is done along coalition lines, which often can unite representatives from across vast stretches of space. Zeta Prime's reforms removed legal authority from the office of the Prime so that they could focus on their duties as commander-in-chief of the Autobots, the Empire's military. Considering that even at the time this involved coordinating multiple forces of combined arms across dozens of worlds, this is widely viewed as an excellent and necessary decision, and one that preserved the dignity of the position and its historical context as a military leader. The Prime and the six positions directly below it are known informally as the Seven Commands. These are unified by their use of the traditional Iaconian binomial title. The title has two parts: first, a descriptor, usually chosen either by the title bearer or by the previous holder; and second, the formal rank. For example, Orion Pax (himself an Iaconian native, hence his traditional binomial name) was given the descriptor of Optimus due to his desire to find the best possible outcome in any situation, thus his full title was Optimus Prime. The current Prime, Cirrus Prime, was formerly Airazor, and chose her descriptor for her passion for flight as well as symbolizing her "clear sky" peace policy. Maximus is the oldest of the Commands and was originally held by Vector Prime's head lieutenant. They focus on field command of the Imperial Army, as well as its logistics, artillery, and they have some influence over procurement of materiel as well. The current holder of this title is Grand Maximus. Supreme is the next-oldest and also was contemporary to Vector Prime's reign, being the admiral of his sailing fleet. During the Destron Wars, it was the military engineers of the fleet that designed the mighty Guardian machines that allowed the smaller Cybertronians to fight on par with their giant enemies, so development, deployment, and tactics of Guardian units became part of the Supreme's authority as well. The role of Guardians has changed dramatically over the centuries, but so too has the fleet-- they are both now primarily a space-focused force. The current holder of this title is Tacitus Supreme. Defensor is the title of the leader of the Autoroopers, the Autobots that provide law enforcement on Cybertron itself. The Autoroopers are by far the least militarized of the branches, as their main mission is direct interaction with civilians, and in that sense the position of Defensor is much more one of public policy than that of a military commander. The current holder of this title is Vos Defensor. Magnus is the title of the commander of the Wreckers, the Autobots' main expeditionary force. The Wreckers were initially created by Solus Prime in the early colonial period, where they were instrumental in clearing colony worlds of hostile alien lifeforms. The Wreckers have a reputation of being a rough and rowdy lot to whom the laws of the battlefield are only light suggestions, and most of their leaders throughout the years have embodied this stereotype. Recently the branch was beset by scandal when Bravo Magnus, formerly Hawkeye, a hero of the Trypticon Affair on Earth, abandoned his position to form his own paramilitary organization named Castle Bravo shortly after his promotion. The position was then filled by Bellator Magnus. Superion is the leader of the Aerialbots, the Autobot flyer corps. While they have largely been viewed as an extension or support mechanism for the Imperial Army and Fleet, the Aerialbots have slowly been gaining more independence and both tactical and strategic flexibility-- the founding of the Superion command by Sentinel Prime was a large step in this direction. The current holder is Alpha Superion. Major is slightly different from the other Commands as it is a clerical position. The Major is the appointed representative of the Minors, the traditional colonial military governors. When the colonies were first founded, it was the Autobots who were responsible for enforcing laws and policing the populations of corporate workers, and this military policing has remained in place to this day, though there have been numerous reforms to attempt to combat the many controversies this has created. For his valiant service in defense of Mission City on Earth, Sentinel Minor was appointed to become the current holder, Sentinel Major. Trion is another formal title for the Autobots, though totally different in nature to the other Seven Commands. The Omnibots are officially Autobots, specifically an espionage and counter-intelligence group; but the branch was created by the Council, not by the Primes. They are uniquely a joint venture between civilian and military forces, and due to their unique charter, their ultimate source of authority is the Council itself, not the Prime. For this reason there is some measure of distrust between the two forces, but this is often portrayed in media as necessary for a balance of powers. The current leader of the Omnibots is Umbra Trion, formerly the Omnibot known as Jazz.
