Chapter Text
Thundercracker was just finishing a meal with Skywarp and Blast when the bellow echoed through the valley. Every Seeker froze, immediately dropping whatever they were doing to gather at the base of the hill. Skywarp grabbed both of them and suddenly, they were at the base of the hill as well.
The two wrestling Seekers from before sat together, practically intertwined. Dirge's trine lurked at the edge of the crowd. A lone Seeker pushed their way in, but quickly backed off as a Seeker from a trine hissed at them.
"Who's that?" Thundercracker whispered, pointing to the lone Seeker.
The lone Seeker was white and navy blue with red accents. They lingered at the edge of the crowd, still trying to push in whenever they could, but always meeting resistance.
"Nacelle," Skywarp said. "Ka is untrined, if that's what you're wondering."
It wasn't what he was thinking about at all, but that explained why ka was alone. Thundercracker continued to search the gathering crowd. All of the familiar faces were here, except…
"Where's Starscream?" Thundercracker asked.
He hadn't seen Starscream since Sunstorm gave him that checkup.
Skywarp shrugged. "Don't know. But he'll show up once Winglord Megatron starts talking."
Speaking of… the Winglord's optics scanned the crowd. When ka was satisfied, ka raised kas wings. Ka stepped forward.
"A band of Autobots was discovered traveling through the crystal hills," the Winglord said. The crowd hissed. Ka waited for them to quiet before continuing. "It is a large group. To drive them off will require the efforts of every able Seeker."
The tingling fear from Skywarp's direction wasn't completely unexpected, but the sharp anxiety from Blast's was. Thundercracker glanced at Blast. Nas wings were low, a grimace on nas face.
"You're gravid," Thundercracker whispered.
Blast shook nas helm. "That doesn't matter."
Thundercracker had never met a carrying mech before Blast. There wasn't much space for raising newsparks on a military base, aside from himself. But he'd learned enough from stories and casual talk to know that newsparks were fragile.
If Blast fought and was injured, na could lose the newspark. An attack to the cockpit could damage the developing frame. If the glass was shattered, the newspark would only have its shell to protect it.
The Winglord had to know that. So why would ka force Blast to fight? Did ka not care?
The sky screamed, startling Thundercracker from his thoughts. A streak of magenta barreled toward them. The Winglord turned, but it was already too late. The magenta streak slammed into ka, unfolding into a Seeker.
"The crystal hills aren't worth the hassle!" Starscream shouted. "They barely have any suitable prey! It's just as easy to send them a warning. Then those dirtkissers will be on their way!"
Megatron pushed off the ground. Starscream fell backward with a yelp. Mid-motion, Megatron grabbed kan and flung kan. The crowd parted. Skywarp dragged Thundercracker to the side.
The Winglord stalked toward Starscream, who hissed as kaz rose.
"If we let them go, then more will come," Megatron growled.
Starscream shook kas helm. Ka took a step back, pulling at the edges of kas wings. Slowly, swords unsheathed from them, shining in the light. The Winglord bared kas dentae.
"Let them!" Starscream hissed. "The crystal hills are barely worth defending."
Ka swung kas sword. The Winglord blocked it with kas arm. The blade ground against it, but as Starscream withdrew it and swung again, no mark was left on the Winglord's plating. Thundercracker knew the Winglord was large and powerful, but how thick was kas plating to take a direct hit from a sword without a scratch?
The Winglord kicked Starscream in the cockpit, grabbing one of kas swords as ka was sent sailing backward. Ka threw the sword away. Starscream dug kas pedes into the ground to stop kas sliding, striking back. Megatron grabbed the remaining sword, throwing it away as well.
Starscream's wings lowered, a sting of fear traveling through the hill. Then, ka leaped and took off, transforming. The Winglord followed, chasing ka through the sky. They weaved, taking shots at one another with their rays. Starscream sailed ahead of Megatron, outmaneuvering kan, but every shot ka took bounced off of the Winglord's plating.
The Winglord flew over Starscream, transforming midair and landing on kaz. Starscream transformed in response. The two grappled, clawing and biting, as they descended. Starscream shrieked as Megatron bit down hard on one of kas arms just before they reached the ground, the pain stunning ka enough for the Winglord to pin kan.
"Yield," the Winglord growled.
Starscream hissed, then threw kas helm forward, spitting in the Winglord's face. The Winglord shook kas helm and growled, slamming Starscream against the ground. Starscream yelped.
"That trick won't work on me again," the Winglord said. "Yield."
"Never!" Starscream hissed.
Megatron adjusted kas grip, pinning one of Starscream's arms with kas elbow as ka gripped Starscream's helm. With kas other hand, ka grabbed Starscream's injured arm. Ka tightened kas grip, the metal creaking beneath it.
"You can't hurt me!" Starscream said, fear leaking into the air. "You need me to fight!"
The plating gave with a crunch. Starscream howled.
"It doesn't matter to me if a pathetic traitor whose systems don't function dies in battle," Megatron said.
Starscream writhed. Ka whimpered, the air saturated with pain and fear.
"I yield!" Ka cried. "I yield!"
"Good," the Winglord said, rising. Ka laid kas pede on Starscream's cockpit, preventing the other Seeker from getting up.
The Winglord turned toward the crowd, kas optics roving over them. As kas optics fell over each member, they lowered their helms. Satisfied, ka stomped kas pede, eliciting a squeak from Starscream as it slammed against kas chest.
"I expected everyone to be prepared for departure by sunset," the Winglord said. "This meeting is dismissed."
Finally, ka released Starscream. The Winglord returned to kas trinemates, heading back toward their burrow. Starscream rolled over, attempting to rise, but collapsed with a pained cry as ka placed weight on kas injured arm.
The crowd dissipated, slowly going back to whatever it was they were doing before. Blast and Skywarp turned away, but Thundercracker couldn't. The pain in the air tugged at his spark. He took a step toward Starscream.
A hand closed around his arm, tugging him backward.
"C'mon," Skywarp said.
Thundrcracker inclined his helm toward Starscream. Skywarp followed his gaze. Waz wings fluttered, waz optics going wide. Wa tugged him again, but he remained in place.
"Nope," wa said. "Not Starscream. That Seeker is mad in both senses of the word—insane and angry!"
"Starscream is hurt," Thundercracker said.
Ka was also the only mech so far that had challenged Megatron. If Thundercracker had to take Megatron down to accomplish his mission, it would be best to have Starscream on his side. Or else, he might risk the same thing happening to him—from either end of the confrontation.
"Ka is going to swat you," Skywarp said. "Maybe even bite you. Let's not get hurt so close to a battle—"
Thundercracker ignored wan, shrugging wan off and taking steady steps toward the hurt Seeker. Up close, it was easy to notice the trembling of Starscream's wings. Ka tried to rise again, muffling another cry.
Thundercracker crouched down, offering his hand palm up. He ducked his helm and turned it to the side, watching the other Seeker from the corner of his vision.
"Hey," he said. "I can help."
Starscream stiffened. Kas wings rose. Raw, burning shame scorched the air. A whoosh reached Thundercracker's audials, and he backed away just in time to avoid a swat.
Starscream crouched, still shaking. Kas dentae were bared, kas claws on display. Ka balanced precariously on kas uninjured arm, having used the other to attack. The plating of the injured arm was crushed at the midpoint of the wrist and elbow, energeon weeping steadily from it.
"I don't need whatever pathetic scraps you're going to offer me!" Starscream spat, finally pushing kaz up. Ka backed away, wings twitching, a grimace momentarily passing over kas face, then took off.
Despite being swiped at, Thundercracker wasn't angry. The pain and shame in the air before Starscream departed made the true motive of the Seeker's harsh actions clear. Thundercracker had never been injured like that before, but he knew it had to hurt. The pain patches in his storage space grew a lot heavier.
Belatedly, he realized his expected spark pain never came. Did that make it worse to keep them to himself when others needed them?
Sunstorm seemed to know how to make medicines, but would what na offered be as potent? Would Starscream even ask for it, considering how much ka seemed to dislike the other Seeker? The thought of Starscream hiding somewhere, alone and ashamed and in pain, about to endure a battle with kas injury, pulled at Thundercracker's spark.
But he couldn't fly after kan, because Starscream was already gone. So, Thundercracker turned away, rejoining Blast and Skywarp. They settled in a small dip in the ground. Skywarp took Thundercracker's hands in waz, examining them.
"Ka didn't get you," wa said, tone dripping with relief.
"What was that?" Thundercracker asked.
"A challenge," Blast said. "Starscream has wanted to lead this flock since ka could speak, but ka will never be able to defeat Megatron."
"Why not?"
Blast closed nas optics and sighed. "Ka is a fading spark. The medicine keeps kan alive, but only that. Most of us expect kas spark to give out one cycle."
"What's wrong with kan?" Thundercracker asked.
Blast gave a small laugh.
"If we knew that, we wouldn't be gossiping," na said. "When ka hatched, Starscream was just like any other seekerling. But after ka weaned, ka grew weak. No matter how much ka fueled, ka wouldn't grow. Winglord Red Wing tried everything na could, and that's when they found the medicine. But ka has never been as strong as kas peers."
Red Wing… that must have been the previous Winglord. But what did na have to do with Starscream?
"Red Wing?" Thundercracker said.
Blast flicked nas wing. "Winglord Red Wing. The dead don't lose their titles. Na was Starscream's dam."
Kas dam… Starscream was the creation of the previous Winglord. Megatron didn't kill during challenges. Skywarp said so. Yet, Winglord Red Wing was dead. Had ka killed nam for the position? Was that why Starscream kept challenging Megatron?
If someone had killed Prowl, Thundercracker wouldn't hesitate. Just the thought made him dig his claws into the grass.
"Why didn't anyone else help kan?" Thundercracker asked.
He was the only mech who approached. Skywarp had actively tried to discourage him.
"Ka is an ungrateful scrapheap," Skywarp said, waz voice growing sharp. "But the real reason is that ka brought it on kaz by challenging Winglord Megatron."
Thundercracker could understand Megatron defending kaz. But to keep Starscream pinned after ka had defeated him? To stomp on kas chest after ka had already yielded? Did Starscream really deserve that?
"It just seems excessive," Thundercracker said.
Skywarp's wings twitched. Blast sighed.
"The Winglord has done worse," Blast said. "Starscream still tries."
!!!
Sunset was only a couple of breems away. Starscream didn't return. No one searched for kan. Ka was missing before that. Was that typical for kan? To disappear for cycles only to reappear to battle the Winglord?
Thundercracker ran his claws down his cockpit. They caught on the crack still at the center of it. He traced the crack.
Starscream would need those pain patches. After the battle, others may as well.
Thundercracker stood. Skywarp had, for once in a rare moment, left him alone in the nest. Wa was out collecting more leaves and other items to line the nest, which Thundercracker had suggested. If they came back with injuries, they would want extra padding.
Checking the area before exiting, Thundercracker emerged from the burrow and headed toward Sunstorm's. He paused before the entrance, checking for the presence of others. The entrance to the burrow was longer than others, so it was difficult to detect anything. But at the very least, Thundercracker thought Sunstorm was alone.
It wasn't that he was afraid of Bitstream and Hotlink. He just would prefer speaking to Sunstorm without them there. If Sunstorm recognized the pain patches at all, na would know where they came from, and may be able to put the pieces together. With how deeply na hated Autobots, Thundercracker didn't want to know how na would react.
Luckily, Sunstorm was alone. Na was busy arranging clumps of leaves on the floor, lining them with grass and sticks. Seems Thundercracker wasn't the only Seeker to contemplate extra padding for their nest.
"Hi," Thundercracker said quietly.
Sunstorm looked up, nas wings lifting.
"Hello," na said. "I sure hope you haven't already gotten injured. The battle hasn't begun."
Thundercracker shook his helm. "I have something that might be useful."
Sunstorm tilted nas helm. Thundercracker took a the brief silence to open his cockpit, pulling out the pain patches. He kept a few for himself—just in case. He didn't know when he or Skywarp might need them.
"I usually get spark pains around this time of the vorn," Thundercracker said, offering Sunstorm the pain patches. As na took them, he continued. "But I haven't gotten them yet. I figured these would be more useful in your hands."
Sunstorm hummed. Na examined one of the patches, squinting at the lettering on the side that declared the patch's potency and type.
"Sparkbreak," Sunstorm said.
"Huh?"
Sunstorm continued examining the patch. "Sparkbreak. That's what those pains are. It happens to lone Seekers. Their frames punish them for not having a flock. Had you been outdoors, your calls would have let us find you."
If he had been outside…? Thundercracker stiffened. Had Sunstorm put the pieces together that quickly?
Na placed the patches in a carved out section of the wall. Then, na shook nas helm. The air hummed with fury.
"The Autobots are so cruel," Sunstorm hissed. "Stealing seekerlings and depriving them of the company they need to survive."
The Winglord said Thundercracker wasn't the only captive raised Seeker in the flock. Sunstorm just implied the same. Thundercracker hesitated. In his spark, he wanted to defend the mecha that raised him. They never meant to hurt him! They just… didn't know.
"So, since I have a flock now, it won't happen again?" Thundercracker asked.
"Not unless you leave," Sunstorm said.
Na came closer, nas claws reaching out. Thundercracker leaned away.
"Please allow me to check on the damage to your cockpit," Sunstorm said sweetly.
Thundercracker forced his plating to lie flat. Sunstorm's claws ran gently over the crack.
"It's healing beautifully," Sunstorm said. "It may be gone by the end of the next decacycle, if this keeps up. You said you typically felt sparkbreak around this time?"
Thundercracker nodded.
"The damage to your cockpit likely delayed it," Sunstorm said. "Damage to the glass pauses the cycle."
Thundercracker scrunched his olfactory ridge. "Cycle? What cycle?"
"Your frame's natural cycle," Sunstorm said. "Sparkbreak and Data Hunger are the two sides of it. You're an untrined Spark, so it'll hit you hard."
Data Hunger… that would be why Thundercracker never experienced it, and why the spark pain always came around the same time. But what was he supposed to do? He barely understood what Data Hunger constituted, let alone how to deal with it!
Before he could ask, the two Seekers were interrupted by pedesteps. A loud thump sounded as Thundercracker turned around. The backs of pale gray wings flicked irritatedly, framed by magenta plating.
"Sibling!" Sunstorm cried, but Starscream was already out of the burrow. Sunstorm shook nas helm and sighed, turning back toward Thundercracker. "Can you catch him, please? You're very strong, and it needs to be someone he can't get away from. Otherwise he won't come at all before we leave."
Thundercracker forced himself not to preen at the compliment. He was strong. But, more importantly, Starscream was fast. If he wanted to have any chance at catching the other mech, he'd have to do it before he took off. Thundercracker nodded and exited the burrow.
He launched himself just as Starscream leaped, wrapping his arms around the other Seeker's waist. Starscream stifled a cry, going completely limp in his arms. Thundercracker turned back toward the burrow. Suddenly, Starscream squirmed, kicking against Thundercracker.
"Unhand me!" Ka hissed.
Gently, Thundercracker forced kan back into the entrance. Ka turned back, baring kas dentae.
"I see how it is," ka grumbled, heading back through the entrance.
Thundercracker followed kan the whole way, settling in front of the exit. With an irritated growl, Starscream sat in front of Sunstorm. Slowly, Sunstorm reached for Starscream's injured arm. Kas wings tensed, a quiet growl escaping from kan, but ka allowed Sunstorm to take it.
Sunstorm turned the arm, examining it. Na ran nas claws around the injury, pausing as Starscream snapped kas teeth at nam when na got too close to the injury. Na glared at kan. Kas wings lowered.
"It's fine," ka said. "I'm fine. Stop touching it."
"Your tolerance for pain is unrivaled, sibling," Sunstorm said calmly. "Please let me put a brace on it, at least."
Starscream let out a drawn out hiss and rolled kas optics. Ka held out kas arm, leaning kas helm back as Sunstorm reached for supplies. Na took a piece of bark, breaking it gently at various points, then wrapped it around Starscream's injury, tying it in place with a rope woven of flattened plant stalks.
Starscream withdrew kas arm, snapping it back with force. Ka poorly disguised a flinch, kas wings twitching.
"There," ka said. "Are we done now?"
Sunstorm shook nas helm. "No. I want to check your systems."
Starscream glanced at Thundercracker. Thundercracker lowered his wings. With another long hiss, Starscream turned back toward Sunstorm.
"Now?" Ka said, voice growing higher in pitch.
"When else will I catch you?" Sunstorm said. "You don't come unless it's to get your medicine, and I can't check it if you've already run out."
Starscream growled. Ka shook kaz, plating ruffling and unruffling.
"Fine," ka said. "Not like the dirtball over there hasn't seen enough already."
Thundercracker bristled. Dirtball? How dare he! Just because he was raised by Autobots…
Sunstorm reached forward, placing nas palms on Starscream's midsection. Starscream dug kas claws into the ground as Sunstorm felt the delicate area. The surge of discomfort in the air made Thundercracker's plating tingle.
Maybe he shouldn't be watching this. Ratchet always made sure his patients had privacy. He would never have allowed Thundercracker to sit in on an appointment like this at home, especially if his patient didn't seem to want it. But curiosity won. Thundercracker wanted to know, especially since no other Seeker in the flock did.
"There's some distension," Sunstorm mumbled. "You might need to start taking more."
"I could've told you that!" Starscream hissed. "But you insist on putting your claws all over me anyway. You don't make enough of the powder for me to take more!"
"You're a skilled hunter," Sunstorm said. "Between you and my trinemates, I'm certain we can get enough."
Starscream scooted backward, flaring kas wings.
"I already spend most of my day hunting! I don't even get to eat half of it!" He spat.
Whatever this medicine was, they needed something from mechanimals to make it. If they didn't have enough, Starscream couldn't eat. Suddenly, his complete disappearance made a lot more sense. He wasn't hiding away—he was hunting.
"I can help!" Thundercracker said before he could stop himself.
Starscream's wings shot up. Both Seekers turned toward him. Sunstorm smiled.
"That would be immensely appreciated," na said.
Starscream hissed. "I don't want help from a dirtball!"
Sunstorm reached up, striking Starscream gently on the top of the helm. Starscream went still, blinking. Then, kas wings lowered, shame burning the air. But as quickly as the shame appeared, it was swallowed by anger. Starscream swiped at the air in front of Sunstorm as the other Seeker jumped back.
With a hiss, Starscream rose, heading toward the exit. Ka shoved Thundercracker out of the way and launched himself through the exit. Before Thundercracker could follow, the roar of a jet engine reached his audials. Starscream had already taken off.
Although Thundercracker was insulted, he shook that off. Starscream's life was more important than his feelings. Besides, this could be the opportunity he needed. If helping Blast made the Seeker more friendly to him, surely the same would work for Starscream?
Thundercracker flicked his wing. Based on how Starscream treated Sunstorm, it didn't seem all that likely, but he didn't have a lot of other ideas. He needed Starscream on his side. Neither of them could take out the Winglord on their own.
Thundercracker turned toward Sunstorm. Nas wings were low, a grimace on nas face.
"What do you need?" Thundercracker asked.
"Just the solvent tank," Sunstorm said. "Preferably intact, and only from mechanimals that eat other mechanimals. I use its contents to make the powder."
"You don't need the rest?"
It was such a small organ, and it contained so little.
"You can keep the rest," Sunstorm said. "That's all I need."
Skywarp didn't like the solvent tank anyway. It usually ended up discarded if Blast didn't take it. Giving it to Sunstorm would be easy. But why only the solvent tank? Why did Sunstorm need the solvents to make Starscream's medicine?
"Blast told me Starscream was a fading spark," Thundercracker said. He paused as Sunstorm stiffened, but curiosity tempted him. "What does that mean?"
"Sparklings that fail to thrive are called that," Sunstorm said. Nas voice was quiet. Na drew in on naz, wings moving to cover naz. "Whether they are born weak or grow weak. Their sparks fade before they can be saved. But Starscream isn't a fading spark—ka is a survivor. Against all odds, ka lives."
A survivor… it lined up with what Blast said, but didn't give him any new information. Starscream was sick as a seekerling and needed medicine. He still wasn't any closer to knowing why. But maybe he didn't need to know.
"He is," Thundercracker said. "I want to talk to kan, but ka is always gone."
Sunstorm hummed. "Ka always hides away, even when ka isn't hunting. I've never been able to find kan when ka leaves. But being alone isn't good for a Seeker. I've tried to get kan to stay. Ka always refuses."
"How can I talk to him, then?" Thundercracker asked.
Sunstorm flicked nas wings and leaned forward. "Ka is untrined. Ka has already rejected kas other options. But I know ka has to be lonely."
Thundercracker stopped himself from bringing a hand to his chestplates. He knew too well what loneliness did to a Seeker. Why did Starscream not only stand it, but seem to prefer it?
Starscream had swiped at him when he came close. Ka called him a dirtball and tried to refuse his help. But beneath the bluster was fear and shame so potent Thundercracker didn't have to search to feel it.
'Words are empty. Actions and instincts talk more than they ever could.'
When Thundercracker invited Skywarp into his burrow after accepting the stone, it felt right. He was never told that was what he was supposed to do. He just did it. It was instinct. Was that the key? Could he get past Starscream's sharp exterior by taking advantage of his instincts?
Sunstorm said Starscream was untrined. If Thundercracker courted Starscream and was accepted, Starscream would have to be around him. Then, they could talk and plan all he wanted. And, though Thundercracker didn't want to admit it, some part of his spark wanted to soothe the other Seeker. But he pushed that part away.
"I can try," Thundercracker said.
!!!
Sunset was approaching. It was mere moments before they would depart. The rest of the flock was already loosely gathered in the valley, occasionally glancing at the Winglord's burrow. Luckily for Thundercracker, Skywarp was napping beside Blast. Wa couldn't stop him from doing this.
He slipped out of Skywarp's gentle grip and ascended the hill, spark spinning faster in his chest. His plating snapped tight, stinging with the force. But if there was any chance, he had to see it through.
The Winglord's optics already glared at him from the edge of the burrow. Thundercracker knelt and lowered his helm. His wings shook as he lowered them as well.
"W-Winglord," he stammered. "I want to speak with you."
Slowly, the Winglord emerged from his burrow. The sun shone behind kan, casting a shadow over Thundercracker's frame.
"Go on," the Winglord said.
"You said every able Seeker," Thundercracker said. "Does that include Blast?"
The Winglord grunted. "It does."
Thundercracker's wings flicked. He forced himself not to look up.
"B-Blast is gravid!" Thundercracker said. "If na fights, the newspark might—"
"But na can fight," the Winglord said. "So na will."
Before he could stop it, Thundercracker's plating flared. He dug his claws into the dirt, fighting not to bare his dentae.
"Na is gravid!" Thundercracker hissed, throwing his helm upward. "Na already lost one newspark. If na fights, na might—"
Thundercracker was thrown sideways as claws scored across his cheek. As he laid in the grass, stunned, hot energeon dripped down his chin. The Winglord had just hit him, and he hadn't even challenged kan.
Anger rose above reason. Before Thundercracker could think better of it, he stood, wings flared, and faced the Winglord. He bared his dentae.
"You don't care, do you?" Thundercracker spat. "Blast could lose nas newspark and you wouldn't care at all. What kind of leadership is that?"
The Winglord growled. Thundercracker growled back. Then, the Winglord pounced, bringing a fist to Thundercracker's chest. A crack reached his audials as Thundercracker staggered backward, his chestplates stinging. Before he could recover, he was already on the ground cockpit-first.
A weak, pained squeak escaped him before he could stop it. Pedes pressed into his back between his wings, grinding his cockpit into the dirt. Claws wrapped around one of his wrists, picking at the paneling of his wrist port. Then, the claws wrapped around it fully as his arm was pulled backward. The joint groaned as it was pulled in an unnatural direction, a jolt of pain passing through it.
"Yield," the Winglord growled.
Thundercracker dug the claws of his free hand into the dirt. "I wasn't challenging you!"
"Yield!" The Winglord barked.
Thundercracker went limp. That must have been answer enough for the Winglord, as the massive Seeker stepped off of him. Thundercracker kept his gaze averted as he pushed himself onto his knees. Anger simmered beneath his plating. This wasn't supposed to be a challenge—it was supposed to be a discussion!
But the Winglord didn't care about that. Any questioning of kas actions constituted a challenge. If Thundercracker were back with the Autobots, this wouldn't have happened. They would've discussed the issue. Maybe not calmly, but it wouldn't have risen to violence. He would've been heard.
"Blast can have all of the seekerlings na wants when every last Autobot is dead," the Winglord said.
But that newspark wasn't just any newspark. It was the only thing Blast had left of nas trinemates. Did Megatron even know that? Did ka even care? The answer was no. Thundercracker hadn't seen kan speak to anyone but kas own trinemates. Ka didn't even interact with the Seekers ka ruled unless it was to assert kas authority.
When Thundercracker first arrived, he held some hope that this could be resolved peacefully. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have to kill the Winglord to bring peace. But proof was piling before him that this wouldn't be the case.
To protect both the mecha that raised him and this flock, Winglord Megatron had to be removed. There was no other option.