TF Beast Hunters Episode Six - Chain of Command

[Zommael]

I know, right! Wheeljack seriously needs to build a Space Bridge and get over himself. He's like a petulant child who always wants to muck around and gets all pouty when he's pulled into line. Seriously... if I were his commanding officer I'd have him arrested or insubordination. Or executed (re: Sun Tzu's The Art of War).


Wheeljack wouldn't even listen to Optimus half the time. And dude... this is an army and the Autobots are at war! When you're serving in the armed forces, you follow orders. Questioning or defying orders puts lives in danger. If the commanding officer makes the wrong call, then that officer takes full responsibility (such is the burden of command, as Rodimus Prime experienced in G1). Great... now I got that song from Mulan running in my head...
"You're unsuited for the rage of war, so pack up, go home you're through. How could III make maaan out of yooouu?"
...kinda sad when Wheeljack gets outclassed by a freakin' Disney Princess!

Except the Autobots don't really act like an army, nor do they really have the numbers to call themselves that. They're a single small unit, and while the threat from the enemy has steadily grown, it's still diminished from what it was on Cybertron. In that situation the interpersonal relationships are important. While Optimus wasn't able to control Wheeljack as well as he does, say, Bumblebee, he was at least able to manage him and work with him when necessary. Magnus can't even do that. He only sees the broken rules and not the rulebreaker. It's an immediate problem for Wheeljack but it will be a problem for the other Autobots as well, and eventually for Prime. In a small, tight-knit group like the Autobots on Earth, being a stickler for protocol like Magnus isn't helpful. He needs to focus less on how the job is done and more on getting it done. Even Ratchet, the most stubborn and set in his ways of the Autobots prior to Ultra Magnus' arrival, understands this and is able to be flexible. Ultra Magnus insistence on a rigid chain of command and by the book approach will eventually be as much of a problem for the Autobots as Wheeljack's insubordination. I'm not just saying this because I like Wheeljack (Ultra Magnus across all his incarnations is one of my favourite characters in the franchise) but because that's how it is. The Autobots aren't a huge army with multitudes of troops. They're a small unit more comparable to a football team or a small company, and in that situation, people are more important than protocol.

[GoktimusPrime]

The Autobots were a huge army, but they've been scattered and reduced to working in small units, and sure, Ultra Magnus probably does need to adjust to this. But Wheeljack's immaturity really doesn't help. Here's a commanding officer who's out of his comfort zone working in an unfamiliar structure... work with him. Constantly disobeying his instructions and giving him attitude doesn't help anybody. And the show implies that Wheeljack's had this attitude for a long time, possibly even before the Autobots were diminished.

The problem with Ultra Magnus is that he's freaking inconsistent, and that irritates me greatly (especially considering that consistency is the core spirit of the Ultra Magnus character; just as fighting for freedom is the core characteristic of Optimus Prime). He's ineptness comes from his penchant for insisting that everyone follows the rules, but does nothing to enforce them! Rules are pointless if they are not vigorously and consistently enforced. Ultra Magnus is partially at fault for the way that Wheeljack treats him because he _lets_ him get away with it. The moment Wheeljack backchats Magnus his reaction should be, "How dare you address me that way!" and bloody do something about it! In this way, Megatron's actually a better military commander because he will suffer NO disrespect from any of his troops. He's even managed to get Starscream in tow because unlike other Megatrons before him, he refused to put up with Starscream's crap (Animated Megatron too - but his Starscream went and became undead/immortal... snap ). Megatron's soldiers follow his orders to the letter... it's little wonder that the Decepticons have the upper hand (and a miracle that the Autobots weren't wiped out centuries ago).

If Wheeljack has an issue with Ultra Magnus, he should be deferring the issue to Magnus' commanding officer, Optimus Prime. Then Optimus Prime can counsel Magnus and help him better lead the Wreckers. That's really what should've happened centuries ago back on Cybertron. But the stupid thing is that Wheeljack just up and leaves. It's just his whole stubborn "lone wolf" thing which works out to be lame because the story doesn't seem to provide any endearing reason for why he lashes out against authority (other than just being a tenacious punk). Depth Charge is an example of a better written lone wolf IMHO. He was provided with a far more credible back-story for his mistrust of authority.

"I've gotta hand it to you, (Optimus) Primal. When you screw up you do it big-time."
- Depth Charge [Deep Metal]

[BigTransformerTrev]

He's ineptness comes from his penchant for insisting that everyone follows the rules, but does nothing to enforce them! Rules are pointless if they are not vigorously and consistently enforced. Ultra Magnus is partially at fault for the way that Wheeljack treats him because he _lets_ him get away with it. The moment Wheeljack backchats Magnus his reaction should be, "How dare you address me that way!" and bloody do something about it! In this way, Megatron's actually a better military commander because he will suffer NO disrespect from any of his troops. He's even managed to get Starscream in tow because unlike other Megatrons before him, he refused to put up with Starscream's crap (Animated Megatron too - but his Starscream went and became undead/immortal... snap ). Megatron's soldiers follow his orders to the letter... it's little wonder that the Decepticons have the upper hand (and a miracle that the Autobots weren't wiped out centuries ago).

And this is why the senior kids at my Specialist School are out of control - the section coordinator is "Ultra Magnus", but they tend to obey me because I'm more "Megatron". Maybe you could come and talk to her Gok

[liegeprime]

Yes, as far as I can see it, Magnus should rule with an iron fist in a velvet glove.

As per what you were saying about consequences of insubordinate actions Gok, Im with you, a few bangs and wallops of that hammer outa knock some sense and respect out of WJ

Seriously! He pretty much knows they are underhanded in the situation - even Miko voiced it out - really? again?... what been unsaid coz it's a kid show - That's a lot of BS Wheeljack, suck it up!! What a baby! Wrecker, pffft baby....heh.