Decepticon

## History

The Decepticons found its origins as the **Ascenticons**, a collection of resistance cells and terrorist groups inspired by Megatron and his writings, most particularly *After The Proudstar: Nova Prime and The Illusion of Progress*, a banned book that called for an end of the caste system. Initially known by his original name of Megatronus, he was a star of the illegal gladiatorial games, providing a platform to start attracting like minded mechanoids to his cause. He stroked their dissatisfaction with the ruling Senate and Functionist Council, claiming that it’s their fault they are mocked and ridiculed by other races. He rebelled against the Senate, the Council, and their ideals of functionism, measuring a bot’s worth by what they change into instead of their personal skills. His charismatic speeches swayed hundreds, then thousands to join his cause. As Ascenticon membership significantly grew, Megatron renamed the clandestine organization "Decepticons" after the phrase "you are being deceived", a line from another of his most popular essays, *Towards Peace*. It was a name that summed up the hypocrisy and corruption of the Cybertronian government.

Decepticon creed, as espoused by Megatron, was simple. He stated that Cybertronians had lost the honor and glory that once made them great during the Golden Age, and that the only way to get it back was to show the rest of the galaxy their superiority and inherent power. Particularly effective was Megatron’s rhetoric on their superiority to other races, especially those organic in nature, and preached that as inferior life forms, they were destined to be conquered by them.

## Overview

### Infiltration Protocol

As the Great War began to bleed to other worlds, Megatron created a strict infiltration protocol that all Decepticons must follow to the letter-a carefully staged process of destabilizing and conquering inhabited planets. The staged conquest is highly secretive, with soldiers under strict orders not to break cover until late in the process. The initial phases of the protocol consist of:

**Phase 1 "Infiltration"** - Comprises the initial infiltration of a planet's society and gathering of intelligence, which is used to target places and people of interests.

**Phase 2 "Escalation"** - Involves the agitation of pre-existing conflicts and igniting "international hotspots" by using facsimiles-artificial duplicates of key members of the planet's native population, equipped to duplicate the original's actions, memories, and personalities, but programmed to serve the Decepticons' interests.

**Phase 3 "Devastation"** - Continues agitation of conflict, but may involve direct-albeit discreet-involvement of the Decepticons (such as dealing with people who suspect outside influences, etc.)

**Phase 4 "Revelation"** - The Decepticons have dropped cover to some extent by this point, attacking the most destabilized areas of the planet directly.

**Phase 5 "Expansion"** - A special *modus operandi* known as "Siege Mode" is initiated. This involves the military protection of assets, with the Autobots or the natives are now making efforts to stop the Decepticons through straightforward military force; a massive above-ground fortress (known as the "siege armature") is typically installed on the planet and used as a base of operations. Secrecy is no longer an option.

**Phase 6 "Conflagration"** - Involves the invasion of the destabilized planets on the brink of collapse and the elimination of any possible resistance, and during this phase, extremely powerful Decepticons from the "Warriors Elite" that are designated as Phase Sixers (consisting of Sixshot, Black Shadow, and Overlord) are deployed with only one job in their minds-execution. (Note: All of the Decepticons specialized in this phase have fail-safes installed in their systems that prevents them from using their firepower and tactical acumen from being used against Megatron himself)

**Phase 7 "Repopulation"** - After all life on a targeted planet is wiped out by the invasion force, a specialized fleet of ships is deployed to commence cyberforming the world into a new Decepticon colony through the use of Seeds, devices that turn all organic matter around them into molten metal similar to the living metal that makes up Cybertron's surface.

### The Decepticon Pillars

* **Ambition**: Not the blind ambition of the vainglorious, but the laser-focused ambition of a bot who understand the universe and seeks to secure his or her highest place in it. To stand still is to fall backwards.
* **Honor**: In understanding that one's word is bond, and that those who violate oaths will soon find themselves mistrusted and, eventually, ostracized. Remember, too, that honor is never blind, and should honor lead you down the wrong path, perhaps your understanding of the situation needs revision.
* **Valor**: It is on the field of battle that one is most fully alive. Never shirk from this reality.
* **Pride**: The earned pride of a bot of accomplishments, not the foolish hubris of those who are slaves to their own ego.
* **Loyalty**: Loyalty based on mutual respect, given to a superior or subordinate or equal based on their history. Loyalty is not a shackle, to be welded on and never shed, but a rope by which you can pull up your allies when they stumble, by which you can collectively ascend to the highest peaks.
* **Justice**: Those who do ill to you or your kin should face the appropriate retribution. Those who stand by you in times of tribulation, likewise, are deserving of your unswerving support.
* **Sacrifice**: Nothing in this universe comes without effort. Be willing to give of yourself when the cause is worthy.
* **Cunning**: A fair fight is one in which you might lose: avoid fair fights. Seek every advantage, as long as you can do so with your head held high.

## Trivia and Notes

### Trivia

* The suffix "con" is typically attached to Decepticon subgroups, such as the Constructicons and Insecticons. A notable exception is the Minicons.

## Links and References

* Appearances of the Decepticon
* Faction Gallery: Decepticon
* Membership of the Decepticon