The Great War - What's it all for?

[Hursticon]

Yes, this raises another interesting dilemma: Who was Blackarachnia?

You could always use TF: Animated's explanation... Nah.

I like the concept of the Predacon shell program's depth, in that her original personality has been so irreparably modified, so too her memory to varying degrees, that it could never be fully/properly retrieved but at her very core, re: spark, Maximal belief structures and various segments of memory still reside; just slightly tainted.

As to her original personality, and by extension Inferno's also, I think it's a very open book but I like to think of her as an excelling Maximal espionage agent with a passion for Cybertronian History; who's detailed knowledge only contains errors due to the Pax Cybertronia's ruling that the events of the Ark's crew, Earth's location and subsequent information be skewed - resulting in her interest as to the contents of the Golden Discs.

[GoktimusPrime]

I refuse to believe that Maximals in stasis were nothing more than blanks with Sparks. They had to have some kind of life or memories from before going into the pod.

Why do they have to have had another previous life? The Axalon was an expeditionary vessel - her 5 year mission, to explore new worlds suitable for colonisation. Why not populate new worlds with new born protoforms?

As Paulbot said, protoforms based on pre-existing Cybertronians were the exception, not the rule. Unit 2 and Wing Sabre's sparks were remotely uploaded into blank protoforms to save them. Grimlock wasn't a protoform per se, he opted to spend the journey aboard the Axalon in stasis rather than deal with prolonged inactivity of a long trip (kinda like some people go into suspended animation in other scifi franchises like Aliens). His stasis pod simply scanned him a local alt mode form when he awoke from his suspended animation. Protoform X was likewise placed into "suspended animation".

Basically unless canon tells us otherwise, I'd assume that all the protoforms were blank and "unborn" Cybertronians, not pre-existing ones.

[Verno]

No way. What if the protoform woke up and didn't want to be on an exploration vessel? They're stuck on it for 5 years. No way. They are volunteer positions.

And you're overlooking the role of the Stasis Pod itself.

With a little bit of imagination: The Stasis Pod is dropped off at a planet, the Axalon would fly off to another planet, the pod would land, scan the environment, adapt a Beast mode most suitable for the terrain, and then the reformatted protoform in its new skin would search the new environment to see if it was suitable for colonisation. Then, after a period of time, the Maximal would climb back into the pod and fly back into orbit to meet the Axalon and move on to another planet.

The volunteer Maximal crew would have skills suitable for this job. And a life before getting onboard the Axalon.

[GoktimusPrime]

No way. What if the protoform woke up and didn't want to be on an exploration vessel? They're stuck on it for 5 years. No way. They are volunteer positions.

Unless you can show me canonical evidence to support your claim, I'm going to go with the concept that protoforms are "unborn" Transformers - with the sole exceptions of ones which canon has exempted (e.g. Tigatron, Airazor, Rampage, Grimlock). I don't recall any canonical evidence that definitely indicates that Blackarachnia was a pre-existing Cybertronian prior to her activation on Earth. Simply being able to recall certain events from the Autobot-Decepticon War alone isn't enough as she could have accessed that from data tracks aboard the Dark Syde etc.

What if the Maximal protoform didn't want to be an explorer? Well what if a Decepticon was created that wasn't sure if he wanted to be a Decepticon? Or an Autobot who wasn't keen on being an Autobot? (or an Autobot who was just plain nutso evil?) Or a Transformer who was part of an army but deplored fighting? Or one of Megatron's Predacons who doubted their cause?

Not every Transformer _wants_ to be in the situation that they're in... but often they are, and in the case of war they have little choice. Rattrap made it very clear that he was less than enthused about being a combatant in the Beast Wars. At least as a civilian colonist I suppose they could apply for a transfer off their colony and request reassignment to Cybertron or wherever. It is possible for transfers to occur among Maximals - after all Big Convoy was transferred out of active front line combat duty to being a trainer for new recruits.

"Fate rarely calls us at a moment of our choosing."

Besides, one could argue that one advantage of colonising a world with "newborns" is that they're not going to be homesick for Cybertron; most of them would probably accept being colonials because that's all they've known... after all, when it looked like Ravage might help the Maximals return to Cybertron, it was Silverbolt who looked rather upset and remarked, "Cybertron... the home I've never known."

And you're overlooking the role of the Stasis Pod itself.

With a little bit of imagination: The Stasis Pod is dropped off at a planet, the Axalon would fly off to another planet, the pod would land, scan the environment, adapt a Beast mode most suitable for the terrain, and then the reformatted protoform in its new skin would search the new environment to see if it was suitable for colonisation. Then, after a period of time, the Maximal would climb back into the pod and fly back into orbit to meet the Axalon and move on to another planet.

Or they could just use a remote probe to do this. We have done this with Mars, and our technology is crude and primitive compared to theirs!

Besides, canonical evidence shows that stasis pods are incapable of flight. The stasis pod that Optimus Primal and Blackarachnia flew were heavily modified. Besides, if they could, then it would've been a silly idea to drop off Protoform X to some uninhabited world if he were capable of using that stasis pod to get off-world. Tarantulas and Blackarachnia were able to modify stasis pods for flight using parts salvaged from the Darksyde (e.g. stolen transwarp drive).

[Verno]

You're hamstrung by Canon.

Maximals aren't slaves. And the Great War is over. A Maximal can do whatever they want to do. If they didn't want to be on that ship, then they wouldn't have been. This isn't Starship Troopers where one has to earn their citizenship with a stint in the military.

Rattrap - Probably escaping some kind of criminal charge for not so reputable transactions.

Cheetor - Youth, excited by the prospects of adventure.

Rhinox - Old hand, looking for a quiet ride around the Universe in peace.

Optimus Primal - 1st time Captain of his very own Starship.

None of this is 'canon' but can be assumed by what we learn of them and of their decisions during the course of the show.

Stasis pods always seem to be rigged with Transwarp cells when they're 'modified', but I'm of the opinion that they are already fitted with engines for planetary entry/landing and take-off. They sure as hell wouldn't all crash land - we've seen what happens when they do.

Rampage's was probably specially built as a prison. There is nothing in canon to say it was and there is nothing in canon that says that it wasn't, so canon, which you hold so much stead in, fails a lot. You've gotta take some creative license from time to time.

[Hursticon]

Canonical evidence Goki? - We are talking about Transformers right?

Honestly, I'd like to see this sort of question fleshed out in some new Beast Wars based media, rather than seeing G1 rehashed all the bloody time, amongst many other subjects as the series has left things like this open enough to speculation.

The lack of canonical evidence is present for both sides of the argument, if it wasn't we wouldn't be having this conversation but I put this too everyone:

Simon Furman has stated that, with regards to the upcoming continuation of the US Marvel G1 continuity issue #81, whilst he wont be continuing on from G2 he won't be completely disregarding it either and as such (I hope), as he is on record as saying he really wanted to do more with Beast Wars, what if he were to work towards building the narrative (hence cannon) around the Pax Cybertronia and the introduction of the Predacon and Maximal factions proper? - What are everyone's thoughts on this progressive step and would members be against such a destination?

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Maximals aren't slaves. And the Great War is over. A Maximal can do whatever they want to do. If they didn't want to be on that ship, then they wouldn't have been. This isn't Starship Troopers where one has to earn their citizenship with a stint in the military.

Wouldn't it be interesting if Goki was right, though? Between that and the Protoform X experiment it kind of puts a different slant on the Maximals, who come off looking more like the Animated Autobots. It'd also kind of explain BW Megatron's urge to 'free' the Predacons from Maximal rule.

If Blackarachnia did have a pre-Earth personality I'd be inclined to put it as a sassier, snarkier, more sultry version of Prime Arcee, eager to get off boring Cybertron. But that's just IMO, and if we're looking at canon then BM Blackarachnia is the most likely bet.
*shudder*

[Hursticon]

Wouldn't it be interesting if Goki was right, though? Between that and the Protoform X experiment it kind of puts a different slant on the Maximals, who come off looking more like the Animated Autobots. It'd also kind of explain BW Megatron's urge to 'free' the Predacons from Maximal rule.

An interesting suggestion, sort of like a repeat of what apparently transpired in the IDW G1 Universe i.e. Megatron leading a group of bots out of oppression.
(I like that idea )

If Blackarachnia did have a pre-Earth personality I'd be inclined to put it as a sassier, snarkier, more sultry version of Prime Arcee, eager to get off boring Cybertron. But that's just IMO, and if we're looking at canon then BM Blackarachnia is the most likely bet.
*shudder*

I concur, *shudder* , but I like the idea of her being akin to a darker TF: Prime Arcee.

[Verno]

If Blackarachnia did have a pre-Earth personality I'd be inclined to put it as a sassier, snarkier, more sultry version of Prime Arcee, eager to get off boring Cybertron. But that's just IMO, and if we're looking at canon then BM Blackarachnia is the most likely bet.
*shudder*

Shuuders all round.

But if we must tip-toe this line of canon, 2 points come to mind.

1. BM showed that a Transformer could have one personality transposed over another. eg. Thrust over Waspinator. Jetstorm over Silverbolt. Tankor over Rhinox.

2. Whatever BW Megatron's Transmuter device was that was used on Rhinox was, it turned Rhinox into a Predacon, and was an altering of his personality. some facets, namely his schemingness and such, were hightened. Others, like his compassion, were lessened or removed.

I would think that a Predacon Shell Program would have a similar effect to the Transmuter in its altering of personality. So I think you're right about BW Blackarachnia being sassy, snakey and sultry originally, but with the Shell Program over the top, she had a few personality tweaks as well.

-Edit-

Oh and BW Megatron's actions were never for the greater good of the Predacons, it was always about himself, his own power.

[Bartrim]

I believe the great war started over an argument about what was considered canon for their favourite show