The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 1 CONTENTS YouTube channel and posting reviews and features on the website, but with just a few 1 Cover art writers it’s not easy especially with the 2 Introduction ambitious plans we have for the future. 4 Fiction: "The Lost Warriors" 7 Fiction: "Full Throttle" With that in mind we’re shifting focus for 10 Comic Strip: "And Justice For All" The Cybertronian Times going forward. As 19 Fiction: "For Survival" everyone gives up their spare time freely 23 Comic Strip: "Birth Of A Star" to work on our projects, it's not fair for me 27 Fiction: “Mentor” to place demands on anyone to meet 30 Comic Strip: “The Story Of Drift” deadlines. I'd rather have all our 31 Jazz Jives! / Credits contributors send material in when they are ready so we're taking a more relaxed INTRODUCTION approach to content.

We’re finally back with another issue of I've often found that this has meant that The Cybertronian Times. When the Auto our writers and artists have more fun with Assembly convention wrapped up in 2015 their work for us, resulting in much better we hoped to continue publishing CT work all round and if that means delaying quarterly to keep ourselves active. Things the release of a magazine then it's worth didn’t quite go to plan... making that compromise. While we still want to release the magazine as often as While we were able to produce Issue 17 possible, we won't initially set ourselves a within a few months, things went downhill fixed release schedule and make the same after that! The good intentions were there mistake we did a few years ago. at first. We had a stockpile of unused material and new talent joined us to make We also won't wait for content to be it happen, but then real life got in the way. completed. I would rather bring you an Instead of releasing Issue 18 at the start of issue with content we have available rather 2016 as we originally hoped, it was five than make you all wait and not know when years before it became a reality! we'll be able to deliver one. If that means a chapter of an ongoing story skips an issue, This wasn't for a lack of trying. This issue I'd rather do that than make you all wait a has been a work in progress since the end few extra months to read anything at all. of 2015, with article being written, comic strips being created, cover art being To help further, we're shifting focus from a drawn, but it's been a long process. And as general TF fanzine to a fiction only title. our team here at Infinite Frontiers has What this means for you as our readers is changed over time, so has our focus and that each issue of The Cybertronian Times work with The Cybertronian Times. will now just feature comic strips, one-page shorts, original text stories and artwork Most of our team have commitments including never before published pieces elsewhere alongside their day jobs and from our archives. Any other family lives. And fewer of them are content will be on our website. Transformers fans compared with our team from several years ago. That doesn’t Most of the pieces you'll find here will be mean we’re abandoning our Transformers self-contained but as we increase the work though. Far from it. We’re releasing release schedule we'll run more serialised videos from our convention on our fiction and comic strips. With this new format we will also look at the page count

The Cybertronian Times is published by Auto Assembly, a division of Infinite Frontiers. Infinite Frontiers is a non-profit making organisation primarily responsible for publishing fanzines and running websites dedicated to science fiction, gaming, and geek culture. Auto Assembly is its Transformers wing and is by no way endorsed or approved by or Takara / Tomy.

No infringement in intended of any copyrights held by Hasbro and/or Takara / Tomy and all original content in this fanzine are the copyright of InfiniteThe Frontiers,Cybertronian Auto Assembly Times and/or Issue its respec 18 tive- Pagauthors.e 2 and if we think that a smaller bite-sized story, created a comic strip or produced fanzine released more regularly is a better some Transformers fan art, please email option then this is how we'll release the us and we'd love to showcase your work in magazine in the future as well. these pages!

Before I finish, one thing I want to say is Until next time... that this issue has been in development for some time. Everything here is at least five Simon Plumbe years old, and in the case of "And Justice Editor For All" by Chris Phillips, these pages were some of his earlier works as you'll see in [email protected] future instalments of this story. www.autoassembly.org.uk

Finally, we would LOVE to see more of YOUR work in here. If you've written a

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 3 "THE LOST WARRIORS" Transformers: Prime Fiction by Stephen Walker-Emflorgo

In the Autobot base; Miko was playing her sinisterly and scratched his chin, “Scan guitar trying a new tune that she had just and identify”. Soundwave’s zoomed in on learned to play nearby both Raff and Jack the blips and created a 3D image of the were listening. However the Autobots objects. Both were cylinder-like in shape Arcee, and Ratchet were too and they both had the Autobot logo burned busy to notice. Miko finished her song and on them. knew exactly what they gave a brief bow. Raff and Jack clapped. were. “Statis Pods,” he said to himself. He “That was good,” Jack commented as he turned to his Decepticon crew. finished clapping. Miko felt happy about the comment “Thanks, I’ve been practicing “Starscream, come here.” he bellowed. for about a week”. Just then the Starscream walked up to Megatron and Groundbridge opened and Optimus and stood to attention. “What is your bidding Bulkhead came through. Miko put her mighty Megatron,” Starscream asked. guitar down with Jack and Raff, and then Megatron walked closer to him, “There are ran towards Bulkhead. “So how’d it go? two statis pods that have crashed landed,” Find the signal? Smash some Cons?” she he said. “You are to go and collect them. asked. Bulkhead’s answer was far from Take Airachnid and Breakdown with you.” cheerful. “I afraid not.” He replied “There Starscream was surprized by his change was nothing but a bunch of humans of tone. “But Lord Megatron, they are not digging up the ground. We had to remain fit or redeemed enough to take on a task in vehicle mode the whole time.” Raff such as this.” Starscream said in a wondered why there were people around concerned tone. Megatron grabbed near the location. Starscream and held him up by his neck. “Are you Questioning MY Authority??” Just then Jack’s mobile began to ring Megatron bellowed. “Uhhkk… n...no.no breaking the discussion. “Whose phones Master.” Starscream choked. “Goood.” ringing?” asked Ratchet. Miko and Raff Said Megatron and dropped him to the turned to Jack. “Look, I’m sorry,” he said in ground. “Now, Get Going!” he ordered. a sympathetic tone “It’s my mum, I’ll make Breakdown, Starscream and Airachnid left it quick.” Arcee looked to prime, “What the bridge to carry out his orders. does she want now?” she said. Jack immediately answered “Mum, what is it?” * * * June has some important developments. “Jack, you need to turn on the news now, In the Autobot Base Ratchet had put on there’s a story that you need to see.” She the telecast if what June was talking about. said urgently. “Why?” Jack questioned. The reporter on television had gotten on to June replied in a whispering voice, “The the last news story. “Archaeological Autobots need to see this.” Jack’s attention experts have found an anomaly in an was immediately grabbed. Archaeological dig.” The picture turned into an image of the pit with two prehistoric * * * fossils in it. They were of a Tyrannosaurs Rex and a Pteranodon. Beside the On the Nemesis floating in earth’s orbit, skeletons were two partially buried Soundwave entered the bridge. Megatron cylinders, sticking out from the dirt covered turned to face him. “Soundwave,” he said, partially by mud was the Autobot insignia. “Report”. Soundwave face showed a map Ratchet knew what they were. “Statis of a location with lots of geographical pods,” he gasped. Raff looked confused, detail, in the centre of the map there were and Jack and Miko got up from the sofa. to dots that blipped every two seconds. “What are Statis pods?” asked Raff. “Interesting,” said Megatron as he smiled Optimus turned to him. “Statis pods were a

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 4 cybertronian passenger escape system, site the Groundbridge portal opened and installed within Autobot Shuttles that fled the three Autobots came out and changed Cybertron during the war.” he explained. into their robot forms. Optimus turned to Ratchet continued to watch the footage as his team. “Stay on alert,” he said the reporter spoke again. “These strange cautiously. “The Decepticons many come objects are metallic in structure are at any point, and we must be on our estimated to be over 68 million years old, guard.” “Yes sir,” replied Bulkhead and close to the end of the time of the Arcee. They then made their way towards dinosaurs. Scientists have been forced to the Statis pods. They were both partially give up the Palaeontology dig after worries buried in the ground covered in sand with that the geographic area around the site the underside encased in a red crumbly may collapse at any point.” The screen rock. Optimus started to communicate with went down and the Autobots looked at Ratchet. “What is the geological state of each other, Arcee broke the silence. “Do the area Ratchet?” he asked. Ratchet you think Megatron will try to get the looked at the screen. “It looks like the pods?” she asked. Bulkhead stepped news report was right, Prime. You need to forward. “I wouldn’t put it past him. I mean tread carefully.” “Understood.” Prime Starscream found Skyquake and then answered. The Autobots stepped carefully awakened him to use against us.” Prime towards the pods. “Are they both in status looked at his team, “We cannot allow to lock?” Asked Arcee. Bulkhead took a fellow Autobots to be converted into closer look and swept of some dust. A Decepticons or to be slaughtered for monitor was revealed still beeping as a line Megatron’s gain,” he answered. moved up and down. Bulkhead gave a shy of relief. “They’re both ok. But the problem * * * is trying to find alt modes for them. “Prime stepped up. “Very well.” He said. Out in the desert Breakdown, Airachnid “Bulkhead, Arcee, prepare to move our and Starscream where en-route to the comrades.” location traveling in their vehicle modes. “Why does Megatron send us to do his “Oh I don’t think so!” said a voice. It was dirty work?” Airachnid complained. Starscream. He, Airachnid and Starscream interrupted, “One more Breakdown managed to find the location. compliant like that and you’ll be facing “Seeing as this property has no owner, I Megatron’s wrath on your own, even think that we take this and claim it as though you’re a femme he will not take that ours,” he gloated. Optimus face mask into consideration.” From that moment on immediately activated. “Stand Down!” he the three kept quiet as they continued their shouted. Airachnid stepped forward. “I journey. don’t think so,” she said. “This time, I am not going to get away empty handed * * * again!” “That’s what I was thinking!” added Breakdown. The three Decepticons At the base the Autobots prepared to roll charged at the pods. Prime knew the pods out for the desert. Optimus turned to his had to be protected at any cost. “Autobots! team. “Bulkhead, Arcee prepared to Defend the Pods!” He said. Arcee and rollout,” he said. “Ratchet, prepare the Bulkhead both with guns got ready to Groundbridge.” Ratchet activated defend the pods. Arcee fought bravely to switches and the Groundbridge opened. try to find off against Airachnid. Ratchet then spoke, “I’ve set it up o that Starscream zoomed around in jet mode you are roughly just outside the area of the but was shot down by Prime. Breakdown dig”. Bulkhead and Arcee turned to Prime. and Bulkhead clashed the impact shock “Autobots, Rollout!” the three Autobots the ground and cracks spread all over the changed into their alt modes and drove cliff. through the green glowing Groundbridge. A few seconds later at the abandon dig

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 5 Suddenly the Pods began to shake; a rock this place.” Swoop added “Me Swoop think hit a switch which activated the pods. Both that this nice room to move about.” of the pods shot a green beam of light that Optimus turned to Ratchet. “Could you scanned the dinosaur fossils. Then there show them round the base?” Ratchet “Ok was the sound of twisting metal snapping. Prime. This way.” he said point his arm to A cloud of dust flew up into the air blocking the entrance. Both of the newcomers everything in the area from view. As the followed him back. Miko broke the silence. smoke clear the Autobots slowly turned to “Who are they?” she asked. Bulkhead look. The Decepticons gasped and turned to her and spoke. “They are Starscream were suddenly afraid. Grimlock and Swoop. Two of the unsung Standing outside now broken pods in full heroes of the great war.” “How do you view where two metallic dinosaurs with the mean?” asked Raff. Optimus knelt down to Autobot Logo on their bodies. The looked answer. “Originally they refused to fight in around slow to react at first. The T-rex the Great War but then when the time recognised prime. “O..pp.ttii.mmusss” he came, they took their side with us and help spoke. “Destroy THEM!!!” Yelled save millions in the exodus of Cybertron.” Starscream. The Decepticons fired theirs Jack posed a question to Optimus, “So guns at the Autobots and the two how did they end up on Earth?” Optimus creatures. Arcee yelled in pain as a blast finished his story. “They boarded one of hit her waist and Prime distracted by the the last shuttles that left Cybertron was laser fire was tackled by Starscream. “So nearly a wasteland.” Prime them stood up this is how the Mighty and turned to the rest of his team. “This Falls. Oh I’ll enjoy this.” He said with a discovery may turn the tide if the war and sinister smile. The T-rex then charged may lead Megatron to use more infamous towards the fight and grabbed Starscream methods.” He said. “But with old comrades in its powerful jaws and shook him like a found we may be able to turn the tide of dog’s chew toy. The Pteranodon jumped this war”. into the air and started to bomb the other Decepticons. The T-rex them threw * * * Starscream out and he crashed into Breakdown. At this point he knew it was On the Nemesis, Megatron was angered pointless to stay there. “Retreat” by his troop’s failure. The three Starscream shouted. The three battered Decepticons had their heads hanged in Decepticons then transformed and fled the shame and were ready for punishment if sight. Prime was grateful. “Thank you.” He Megatron decided to. “You Pathetic said. Arcee now practically recovered from scrapheaps fail to come back with the injury looked at prime with a confused anything?!” he yelled at them. “I am sorry, look. “You know them?” she asked. The Master. But we have something that may two metallic beasts changed into their still prove useful.” Megatron’s eye gave a robot modes to reveal their identities. “You look of suspicion. “How can you be sure?” still no recognise us?” the stranger asked. he said. Airachnid stepped forward. “We “NO way!” exclaimed Bulkhead, “Your managed to salvage a small bit of the Grimlock and Swoop”. They both nodded. ships data banks during the fight. It may show us more useful Intel.” She handed * * * Megatron a data chip in on hand. Megatron’s expression then turned to one Back at the base, Bumblebee, Miko, Jack, of interest and a sinister smile appeared. Raff and Ratchet were surprized to see “Well…” he said. “It looks like you did two new bots come through the space manage be of some use.” He then turned bridge. The Children were indulged and to Soundwave. “Take all you can from the other Autobots gasped. Optimus this,” He ordered. Soundwave took the turned to the two newcomers. “Welcome chip and headed out. Megatron turned home, old friends.” He said. Grimlock back to the three. “The rest of you leave looked around the base. “Me Grimlock like now.” “Yes sir,” they all said in unison.

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 6 Megatron knew that even though he had not claimed the main objective, that he had vital information that could change the battle in favour of the Decepticons.

"FULL THROTTLE "

by Matthew Shatford

The crowd cheers, they cheer for their Goldbug began to think backwards at that newly hailed heroes and protectors, point, he remembered how the station that protectors who the rest of the world fear the Throttlebots were one was attacked by and distrust. The sky fills with colourful Sixshot, one of the most feared confetti and jets strafe the sky in Decepticons of all time and were then celebration. A procession of six cars drives chased by him until they were saved by down the street, all cheered for, not the giant Metroplex. because of anyone held within them, but After being rescued by Metroplex, the for what they are. The six cars line up next Throttlebots 'borrowed' a ship from the city to each other in a specially cordoned off Metroplex was guarding and began looking area of a large car park when the crowd for refuge, but all they found was goes silent. The six parked cars suddenly destruction. The Decepticons had begin to shift and are instantly replaced by managed to wipe out every Autobot the six robots that every British man, outpost within scanning range of them. woman and child have grown to know The Throttlebots, deciding to avoid all these past few months, the Throttlebots, possible enemies tried to keep out of the and with their arrival, the cheering way of the Decepticons, whilst searching resumes, but louder than before. for allies amongst the stars. One journey “Well this is a welcome change” took them close to Garrus-9, a virtually Chase whispered, inaudible to all but the impregnable Autobot fortress, where all closest humans and the Throttlebots. they found was a battle scarred world with “Yeah, 'specially after the treatment Decepticons hunting down Autobots, we got in 'America” Freeway added seemingly for sport. They would have tried “You can't blame the Americans” to save them, but what chance did six little Goldbug said “they went through a lot Autobots have against a force that could during the Decepticon occupation” take down Garrus-9? “Yeah, so why are the Brits so The Throttlebots eventually found welcoming?”Searchlight asked themselves on a planet that had been “The Decepticons basically ignored destroyed in a battle. Not from the Europe during the occupation, they Decepticons in this current attack,but from focused on the US and China due to their a few years before. The Throttlebots militant sizes” Goldbug explained, then managed to find shelter and repaired their pondered further “I guess they didn't think wounds from fighting Sixshot before, whilst a small mound of land like this would be finding any supplies they needed to refuel worth anything” their ship and themselves. “But you can bet they would have come to Europe after draining the US!” A long time passes, many Deca-Cycles Wideload added when Goldbug hears something, an Goldbug new this was true, he'd seen it on Autobot emergency frequency. He rushes many other planets, in the distant and to the ship, where the rest of the more recent past. Throttlebots had already gathered and they listen together. “Megatron has been defeated, possibly dead. Optimus Prime is alive and on Planet Earth. All surviving Autobots are

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 7 to regroup on Earth ASAP, Coordinates to their presence is what made this planet the follow” battlefield it became. The six Autobots looked at each other at that very moment, and all silently agreed. Days passed and the ship docked into They set off from the planet and headed to another harbour, the six 'cars' were this planet, keeping an optic out for any unloaded and left for their owners to claim. potential traps that the Decepticons might Once they knew that no humans would have set for them. notice the Throttlebots began to drive themselves away from the harbour, and The Throttlebots arrived on Earth about a through this new location. year afterwards, after taking a few detours According to the map they had managed to avoid the Decepticons still in space, to download from the internet they were in where they found that the Autobots were England, a large part of the island known not being led by Optimus Prime, but by as Great Britain or the , as Bumblebee instead. Apparently Optimus well as learning a few other things. They had given himself up as a prisoner of war observed very quickly that this place for reasons the Throttlebots couldn't wasn't battle-scarred or under understand, and they certainly weren't reconstruction after the Occupation, a going to follow Bumblebee of all Autobots. quick look through the internet showed that “Where will you go?” Bumblebee England was mostly untouched, and were asks Goldbug “If you leave us then you will only involved by sending teams to America be deemed a rogue by Skywatch, and to try and help them and by leading a captured” group called NATO. “I don't know where we'll go, but Something that instantly struck the we're not going to stay here in this cave Throttlebots however was the attitude and be controlled by these humans like towards Transformers here, whilst they you seem content to do” Goldbug replied. knew that Decepticons were bad, they also And with that Goldbug and his team accepted that there were a second faction change into their newly scanned vehicle in existence, who weren't evil. A fact that modes, all different makes of Earth cars, the Americans seemed to not understand, equipped with some signal scramblers that very understandably of course, from their Wheeljack gives them just as they leave to perspective all robots are the same and try and keep them hidden, and they roll were trying to kill and enslave them, plus out. both factions were hiding there for many years before, scaring a lot of them as a The Throttlebots arrive in a harbour, opting result. to travel by Earth means rather than flying As a polar opposite however, the British around in an alien space craft and scaring seemed amused by this revelation, and the humans in the process. The six 'cars' even had competitions active for people to are loaded onto a large ship, destined to see if their own cars are Autobots in arrive in another continent in a few days, disguise or not. Driving through the giving the Throttlebots time to heal up and countryside, the six Autobots looked for a plan things. place to hide, just in case the British aren't Goldbug sat there in his vehicular mode quite a friendly as they had been made out and reflected, on their short journey to be when they arrived in a large city through America, they had seen so much called Birmingham. damage and destruction, caused by the Decepticons during their occupation, The six cars seemed quite at place in this however, he also knew that they had city, apparently accustomed to large caused it too. Not the Throttlebots groups of cars all in succession of each themselves, but the Autobots as a whole, other driving down the streets. The they came to Earth following the Throttlebots continued their search for a Decepticons originally and then stayed, home but were forced to stop by a set of

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 8 lights that compelled the native vehicles to without Megatron, but now these humans stop until the light changes colour again. will at least have some form of protection Whilst in the queue amongst the native against them, especially after Goldbug vehicles Chase noticed something to his sent out a beacon to any approaching side, a snapping sound high above to the Autobots to come to this part of the world side of building next to him. Chase where they were free to be who they are, managed to reposition his side-view mirror and not urged to hide. He hopes.... to look at them through his vehicular observation systems when he sees where The end? the sound originated from, a pair of humans on a wooden platform attached by simple wires to a winch, but the wires were snapping, most likely due to stress. The platform's wires snapped and the two humans began to plummet down towards the ground, when they are stopped mid- way, rescued by a large red robot, who had previously been a small red car just seconds before, and greeted by a small cheering crowd.

Back in the present, the Throttlebots receive a token key from a human, referred to as a “Mayor” and they take in the adulations from the amassed humans. Goldbug knows that the Decepticons are likely to come here one day, with or

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 9 "AND JUSTICE FOR ALL" - PART 1 Written and illustrated by Chris Phillips

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 10

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 11

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 12

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 13

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 14

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 15

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 16

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 17

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 18 "FOR SURVIVAL" Movieverse Fiction by David Underwood

NOTE: The majority of this work takes sun to Cybertronian space, and ended place shortly before the events in the conflicts. Now, it all seemed to be for flashback of IDW Publishing’s nothing. The Autobots, under himself and Transformers: Foundation #3. The Optimus Prime, were losing. Megatron’s remainder takes place at the conclusion of Decepticons had swept across the face of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. the planet, undoing all he had created. There was little hope for Cybertron now. Now… Evacuating the Autobots and leaving the Decepticons to their conquest was all he Optimus was beaten. Sentinel Prime stood could think to do. All anyone could think to over him, ready to end the battle. He heard do. Megatron arriving behind him. The battered leader of the Decepticons posed “It’s horrific, is it not, Sentinel?” no danger to Sentinel. Megatron was a proud, arrogant fool, but he had been Sentinel Prime whirred at the sound of the Sentinel’s puppet for too long now to even voice. Instinctively, he reached for his contemplate betrayal. Primax blade; holding it ready to defend himself. His shield unfolded from his arm Megatron cocked his fusion shotgun. like a metallic bloom before coalescing. Sentinel was willing to let him end The massive, malevolent form of Megatron Optimus’s life. Even now, after betrayals emerged from the darkness. The on both sides, Sentinel still had kind Decepticon leader’s hands were open in a feelings for the Prime he had trained to declaration that he came unarmed. succeed him. All those years teaching Sentinel Prime had no led Cybertron and Optimus about his destiny could not be the Autobots by being so foolish. He knew washed away by more recent events here well that his former student was a weapon on Earth. Even if he has become such a unto himself. crushing disappointment to me. “The destruction that ravaged this world… Megatron fired. It was beautiful once,” Megatron continued. “Now we see that beauty Sentinel’s systems went into stasis. disfigured.”

The past… “All of this is your own doing, Megatron,” Sentinel replied sternly. Satisfied that if Sentinel Prime, the once leader of a united Megatron and his Decepticon lackeys were Cybertron, looked out on a world torn of a mind to attack him they would have asunder. The interlocking sections of done so by now, Sentinel caused his Cybertron’s surface were scarred and shield to collapse in on itself and retract. burned by the execution of the war that He was not prepared to sheath his blade some had taken to calling “Great”. Sentinel just yet, however. could not help but feel a failure. His dreams were a shattered as the planet he “It was necessary. A necessary war to so deeply loved. bring Cybertron back to the glory days of the Primes you taught us all about. Where did I go wrong? Cybertron needs strong, un-doubtable leadership. Many doubt your and With Megatron and Optimus at his side, he Optimus’s claims to the title of Prime. They had brought unity to his fractured world. always have!” He had restored the Allspark, brought a

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 19 Sentinel remained silent. Megatron would ignite your control pillar,” Megatron said. not have insisted on this meeting to offer He continued to lie on the ground under the same justifications for his war that he Sentinel’s weapons, but he was prepared has always espoused. to move in a micro-second. “But there are things that you do not know.” Megatron noticed his old mentor’s lack of response. He laughed to himself. “You Sentinel remained troubled. The plan had know my reasoning,” he said and took a been flawlessly executed. Only a handful step closer. of Autobots knew of his plans for the space bridge. He had deliberately kept the Prime’s grip on his blade tightened. “All too number small so as to avoid the dip in well,” Sentinel replied. morale were the coming evacuation common knowledge. The Decepticons Megatron looked at his old mentor. Long were everywhere and more numerous that ago, when Cybertron knew peace, Sentinel he and Optimus had supposed. “What, would have known what was going on in then, do I not know?” Megatron’s mind. But now, he has no understanding of the mind of his former With that question, Sentinel understood pupil. It was one of many things that had that he had lost control of the moment. changed since the beginning of the war. Megatron was in command here. But it will Megatron leaned in. Quietly, he said, not be allowed to remain so. He stood up, “Soundwave has seen what you have his weapons slid away. built.” Megatron got to his feet, gripping on a The simple sentence smacked into twisted husk of metal to pull his bulk Sentinel like a thousand blows from an ion upright. cannon. The Primax blade finally came into action. Sentinel swung the weapon “I can give you what you want,” Megatron with all his mass at Megatron, knocking said. “I can lead you to a planet with all the him off balance. In the same action, a gun resources needed to rebuild Cybertron. emerged from Sentinel’s arm and attached Metals, minerals, and, more importantly, a to his right hand. He held it to Megatron’s labour force. I can give you victory.” head. “Your victory!” Sentinel retorted. “How?!” the last descendant of Primus roared. “What spies do you have among Megatron snarled. “No! Victory for us all! the Autobot ranks? You know better than Imagine Iacon rebuilt, Sentinel. All the to defy me, Megatron. Answer!” damage repaired. Think of it: Cybertron in a golden age the way we used to dream The anger on Megatron’s face shifted. of. A new order’s first act for its people.” Calm returned. He knew he was in control of this meeting; even the pressure of Sentinel smiled. “Ahh, so you would rule.” Sentinel’s weapons against his armour would not change the balance of power “In consultation with others. With you. With here. Sentinel Prime, for all his powers and Optimus if he can be made to see reason.” might, was yesterday’s leader. The future belonged to Megatron and his Sentinel’s powerful mind considered the Decepticons. The Fallen showed me the implications. He knew that Megatron would way to power, but he is a fool if he thinks I never really share power. This all began will bow to him forever. because he was made to share command with Optimus after I stepped back. But the “I know that you are packing the pillars into prospect of a Cybertron restored! That was a ship in readiness to leave. I know that a powerful prospect. you need the power of the Allspark to

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 20 Could such an opportunity be ignored? A race of gods has become little more than a race of petty destroyers. “There are thousands of us, Sentinel. More than you know. It is simply a matter of Sentinel had seen and felt enough numbers. We will win. You, Optimus, and destruction. all the other Autobots cannot stand against our tide. There will be nothing left. “It will have to be carefully planned,” Cybertron will die.” Sentinel said to Megatron as he turned back to face him again. “My departure and Megatron knew that he had Sentinel now. yours cannot appear suspicious.” “I will allow the Autobots to storm the Allspark’s chamber to power your device Megatron smiled. “They won’t.” and for your ship to leave. Join me after on the planet that will lead to our salvation. Sentinel Prime had the feeling that he had From there, we can lead Cybertron to stepped into the abyss. The Autobots are glory.” never going to win the war, he told himself. This deal had to be made. He knew that Sentinel turned his back on the Megatron was less concerned with Decepticons’ leader. A battle raged Cybertron than with winning power. That beyond them. A battled perfectly timed by did not matter. Megatron could be Megatron to coincide with this meeting. dispensed with after he had served “Let our potential ally see the costs of Sentinel’s purposes. saying no,” he had told Shockwave. It pained Sentinel Prime more now to see He turned to the horizon again. Some of the destruction being visited on the home the flames were beginning to die down. that he had fought to protect for so long; The bodies were being collected for burial. Megatron’s promise of a renewed The massive machines of war began to Cybertron made the damage of today all turn and head away. Somewhere, though, the worse. Flames rose into the now the fight continued. The whole planet sunless sky. Lattice work levels collapsed, continued to suffer. trailing destruction and death behind them as they fell towards the Core. Gunships The deal had to be made. streaked along flight paths to new engagements beyond the horizon where Now… more slaughter would be undertaken. Buildings, once majestic and awe- Sentinel Prime awoke, his systems inspiring, were little more than burnt-out returned to functionality in sequence. shells of wasted metal. Energy pulses and The sounds of the battle continued around explosive rounds streaked through the air him. What had been a guaranteed victory in search of targets on both sides. Massive had been turned into a rout. Cybertron’s artillery platforms moved into position future had been snatched away by across the battlefield. Autobots fell to the Optimus and his followers. Self-righteous ground in death, pools of spent energon fools! The needs of the humans pale in forming around the corpses. Decepticons comparison to the needs of Cybertron and trudged ever-onwards. Megatron’s forces her inhabitants! were unstoppable, unbeatable. The new order was inexorable. No, Megatron was deserving of blame as well. His selfish need to rule was all that It was an assault on Sentinel’s senses that mattered to him. Cybertron was all that would have brought a biological organism really mattered, why does no-one see that to tears. The pain was too much. He was but me? The Decepticon leader’s head old. In his life he had been witness to too and spine came spinning to a stop just to much devastation on the world he loved. Sentinel’s left. The battle had ruined the head further; Optimus’s energon axe had

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 21 cut almost two-thirds of the way through it. A fitting punishment for his betrayal of Sentinel Prime’s dream of a Cybertron restored.

Sentinel began to crawl away. If Megatron was dead, then Optimus still lived. Sentinel was in no shape to continue the fight now. He had to find a way to escape the fate Optimus would inflict.

“All I ever wanted was the survival of our race,” Sentinel pleaded. Even now he hoped that Optimus could be made to see reason. Sentinel had not wanted the death of the Autobots, but it was the only way to end the conflict and restore Cybertron. “You must see why I had to betray you.” Optimus Prime kicked his former mentor to the side of the bridge. Sentinel saw then that Optimus was carrying Megatron’s shotgun.

The current commander of the Autobots – one who had learned all he knew from the fallen mentor at his feet – cocked the shotgun and aimed it at Sentinel’s head. He continued to feel the sting of Sentinel’s betrayal, but it was being slowly overpowered by pity. Optimus replied, “You betrayed yourself.”

In the quick second of life that remained to him, Sentinel Prime – once the leader of a united Cybertron and mentor to the current Prime – amongst his protests at what was about to befall him, thought: Perhaps I did, but it was for Cybertron.

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 22

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 23

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 24

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 25

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 26 "MENTOR" DOTM Movieverse Fiction by Andrea Tang

Author's note: This story is written in the instilled in me a respect and compassion first-person voice of Optimus Prime and is for all my fellow Cybertronians, despite the set in the "Dark of the Moon" movie conflicts that existed between them. Not universe. one type or group of Cybertronians had the right to take away the freedom or deny the The distant past. existence of others. The great Primes, the first leaders of our race, respected and All I know is that I was alone and hidden valued all sentient life Sentinel had told when Sentinel Prime found me. The first me. They were virtuous and wise kings of words I ever heard were his... our world before their fall. 'Give me your hand, young one.' 'What happened to them?' I had I saw his face above me. It was asked once. warm and inviting. The azure lights of his 'They were betrayed...by one of optics were soft and gentle. His arm their own.' stretched down towards me... 'Why would one of the Primes 'There is nothing to fear. You are betray his brothers?' safe now.' Sentinel's expression had darkened. His voice was reassuring. I '...Because there is potential for darkness remember cautiously reaching up to him, in us all. And even the wisest of us can my small hand tentatively grasping his fall.' large one. Then his fingers wrapped Sentinel had made me aware of the securely around mine, and he pulled me divided tribes of Cybertron in my youth. out of the darkness...and into life. This is These tribes often clashed with one my earliest memory. another over scarce energon and old Over the stellar cycles of my youth, rivalries and prejudices. There were great Sentinel guarded and taught me well. He hostilities between them and it was protected me, raised, nurtured and shared dangerous to venture into certain his wisdom with me. The world I was born territories. Sentinel taught me to fight for into had been one of famine, divisions and my own protection. He was a skilled violence. But he told me of an early time warrior and taught me everything that he when Cybertron had been a planet of could. We used to spar with blunt blades. growth and beauty, and when the early He honed my weapon aim with target Cybertronian race worked as a unified practice. Our hand-to-hand combat whole. He believed that such times of sessions usually resulted in me flat on the peace, harmony and prosperity were still ground... possible in Cybertron's future. He taught 'Get up, Optimus. Get up and try me to believe that too, never to give up again,' he used to tell me. hope for a better tomorrow for our I always obeyed. I always pushed homeworld. He regaled me with stories of myself up again. I remember those lessons Cybertron's ancient past: creation stories in physical combat with my mentor fondly. about the Allspark which granted life to all They were some of the most enjoyable Cybertronians and mythical tales about the times of my youth. first Cybertronians to walk on Cybertron: As time passed, Sentinel took on the Dynasty of Primes, whom he was other promising students alongside me. descended directly from and who created First was Elita-One. She was a young the first transforming Cybertronians. I warrior from a female tribe. She left her listened mesmerised to his stories. tribe to join us. She had impressed 'Freedom is every sentient being's Sentinel...and me. right.' Then came Megatron. We had He passed those words to me, found him wandering the barren plains of

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 27 Cybertron. Like me, he had apparently said. I was sure of it. I was sure that I been abandoned and left alone. Sentinel could not possibly be descended from the took pity on him and offered him a place Primes of ancient myth. with us. He became as close as a brother I told Sentinel, 'I know in my spark, I to me. am not different from my friends.' And finally, there was Shockwave. I needed to find out the truth He was a quiet but sharp-minded young though. I needed to find out how much of bot that had been outcasted from his tribe. what we believed about the past was real. Sentinel accepted him when he came to So I chose to lead Cybertron's science us, looking to 'expand his horizons'. I came division and become involved in to value him for his uncanny logic and archaeological digs. And my brother intelligence, though he was never one for Megatron was to lead Cybertron's defence talking much. forces. It had not been Sentinel's original Together we were mentored under idea, but he gave us his blessing. And thus Sentinel Prime. We were his students, his Cybertron came to be divided into two protégés. We grew to rely on one another. separate bodies that were to work toward Megatron was my brother. Elita-1 was my a common goal. Together as brothers, first and dearest friend. Shockwave was a Megatron and I co-ruled Cybertron, one respected companion that always had our fair, the other firm. backs. We trained and worked as a tightly- What happened after that was a welded team. gradual decline into a war that ravaged our The time came when we aided our entire world. My brother Megatron turned mentor in his greatest achievement: against me. He betrayed me. Cybertron entered a new golden age when In the final days of the war, Sentinel Sentinel brought a sun into orbit of it. The Prime had re-created an ancient sun powered the Allspark and granted light technology of the Primes that would have and life to our world. Energon was made saved the Autobots and allowed us to win plentiful, hatchlings arose and finally the the war in time. That was what we warring tribes of Cybertron set aside their believed. A ship called the 'Ark' carried differences and were united. An era of Sentinel's precious cargo. With a crew, peace and prosperity had begun. Sentinel was to leave Cybertron in it. But Sentinel had been the one to as the Ark escaped battle, it was shot rejuvenate Cybertron. He should have down, and our hopes went with it. I had been the one to lead us all in the new been there, watching in horror and golden age he had ushered in. But instead, disbelief as it exploded in Cybertron's dark he stepped down and approached me. skies. The Ark's burning remains tumbled Under the fading orange rays of out into cold space, flung to the stars. I Cybertron's first sunset, he told me ran. It all came apart, the Ark, our something that I was not ready to hear or desperate hopes for it. Sentinel Prime was accept. 'Optimus, I believe you to be of my lost to us...to me. My predecessor, my lineage. I believe you are a Prime. And it is mentor...he was gone. your destiny to lead Cybertron.' I rejected him. I had not been The recent past. prepared and I reacted with denial. I did not believe him. The stories of the Primes The moment when I found Sentinel Prime he used to tell me were just old myths and again aboard the Ark, crashed on Earth's legends. I did not know how much of them moon, had been surreal. Slumbering were grounded in truth and how much frozen in deep stasis, he lay holding the were just fanciful fiction. The Dynasty of key to his secret weapon, the space bridge Primes was long dead. Only Sentinel control pillar, to his chest. He had guarded remained as the last Prime descendent. it with his life. The last hope of the That was what I believed. There were no Autobots had been rediscovered on other Primes left, certainly not me. I was Earth's moon. I had found my mentor not destined to lead Cybertron like Sentinel again. As I lifted him in my arms, I was

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 28 filled with awe. It was like a dream. So long survival of our race. You must understand I had believed him gone... why I had to betray you...' 'Sentinel, you're coming home, old 'You didn't betray me. You betrayed friend.' yourself.' It all came rushing back upon his I drop to my knees before Sentinel's revival, all my memories of Sentinel. He lifeless body. had been a noble and wise leader, a great '...Because there is potential for descendent of the Primes, my darkness in us all. And even the wisest of predecessor, my guardian, my mentor. us can fall.' When we had observed the sun setting Slowly, cautiously, I stretch my arm behind Earth's green hills, it had been down towards Sentinel. My fingers reach reminiscent of that moment eons ago tentatively for his limp hand, the hand that when we had watched Cybertron's first had once securely grasped mine. sunset together at the beginning of the 'Give me your hand, young one.' golden age... My hand wraps around his. 'So majestic and peaceful this 'There is nothing to fear.' planet. Unlike the final days on Cybertron.' I shut off my optics for a long 'I've wondered what might have moment. I see his warm and inviting face been if you had fought the final battle again, the soft and gentle light of his instead of me.' optics... I'm reaching up to him once 'Never mourn the past, young more... warrior. Thanks to you, our race survives.' 'You are safe now.' Down on my knee, bowing before My optics come back online. him, I had offered him the Matrix of Sentinel's wrecked body fills my vision Leadership. 'You were our leader, again. I look away from him, my gaze Sentinel. It is your right to lead us again.' rising to the heavens instead. The sky has I pushed the Matrix to him. He been tinted red by the setting sun, as if glanced down at it as it hovered in his blood-stained. palm. Then he returned it to me. 'In a world 'Why Sentinel? Why?' I do not know, I am no longer your teacher, My hand tightens around his... Optimus, you are mine.' 'Forgive me...' He had passed the mantle of ...then I let it go. leadership to me once again. 'Freedom is every sentient being's right.' The present. A bitter whisper escapes. 'Sentinel...you forgot...' This place is all too familiar. I always return here, back to smouldering, desolate battlefields. Standing amidst the devastated ruins of the Earth city Chicago, surrounded by death and destruction, I gaze down upon the mutilated bodies of the two Cybertronians that I once called mentor and brother. Megatron's decapitated body spills dark red fluids. His head lies nearby, my energon axe still buried in it. Sentinel Prime is but a sad shadow of his former self. Pieces of his torn armour lie strewn across the ground. His head and chest are punctured by gaping gunshot holes. My discarded blaster rifle rests beside him, still warm from its kill. 'Optimus, all I wanted was the

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 29

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 30

Jazz is taking a break from answering your mail this issue as he decided to see what all the fuss was about with Beast Wars. So he ran off with our DVD box set and is currently sat in front of the TV watching all of them.

Hopefully we'll pry him away from the screen to be able to get him back to the magazine for the next issue so send your letters in for Jazz Jives! by email to us at: [email protected]

You can use the same email address to contact us to send in artwork, fiction or original comic strips you’d like us to consider for publication.

CREDITS

Issue 18 of The Cybertrtonian Times is Fiction published in July 2021 by Infinite Frontiers. “Mentor” - Andrea Tang “For Survival” - David Underwood Editor “The Lost Warriors” - Stephen Walker- Simon Plumbe Emflorgo "Full Throttle" - Matthew Shatford Cover Art Paula Griffee "And Justice For All" by Chris Phillips was Artwork written and illustrated in 2015. Paula Griffee The Cybertronian Times is copyright © Comics 1998-2021 Auto Assembly / Infinite "And Justice For All" Frontiers, All Rights Reserved. Story, Art, Letters: Chris Phillips "Birth Of A Star" web: www.autoassembly.org.uk Story: Paul Goodenough, Tim Brown email: [email protected] Art: Ed Pirrie “The Story Of Drift” Story, Art, Letters: Matt Marshall

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 31

The Cybertronian Times Issue 18 - Page 32