This was inspired by the War for Cybertron game, but takes place primarily in the Prime universe, with elements of G1 mixed in. It's set a bit after the war started.
I don't own Transformers.
Humans liked to think they were the first to come up with The Meeting Room. A place where important people sat around a table and deliberated over important matters (mostly the end of the world by hostile alien invasion), presenting information on big screens, waving manila folders in the air, and slamming fists on the table to further cement their point. But no. Credit for the creation of the modern Meeting Room as known today was attributed to the Decepticons. It didn't take long before they saw a war was hard enough, but trying to run a war without any sort of organization was a nightmare.
Which was why meetings were often held in a dark, windowless room of one of Kaon's spires, usually between Megatron and the highest ranking Decepticons, such as Starscream. Second In Command, Air Commander, Lord Megatron's right servo, the best of the best, and future leader of the Decepticons as soon as Megatron was out of the picture. Soundwave and Shockwave were also present too, but the way Starscream saw it, the walking calculator and Megatron's silent shadow weren't as important as his valuable contributions.
Valuable contributions like:
"It's no wonder the attack failed!" Starscream slammed a fist onto the table. "If you knew anything about Seekers, you'd know you can't just send them to the front line and expect victory!"
Across on the other end, sitting in the biggest chair (because of course the one calling the shots got the more prestigious and comfy chair), Megatron was massaging his temple. Fighting a war was actually rather difficult, and Starscream's screeching was not helping. "Then what do you suggest?" He asked, voice low and menacing.
Honestly, anyone with a strong sense of self-preservation would've seen the signs of danger and made a tactical retreat. While Starscream typically counted himself among those types, today wasn't the case. When the SIC jumped up from his seat to say his piece he really hadn't thought of any evidence to back up his argument. So his processor had gone blank.
"Uh…" Say something smart! This is the perfect chance to shine and get a better chair, one that won't give my backstruts such a crick after every meeting.
"Well, Starscream?" Though everyone else looks pretty comfortable…what if Megatron had my chair made like this on purpose?!
Everyone was staring at the SIC expectantly.
Say something!
"TRINES!"
Megatron quirked an eyebrow ridge. "Trines." He repeated flatly.
"Yes," Starscream straightened up. "Trines." The Seeker said again, trying to sound cool and composed to recover some degree of dignity after that blunder.
"When 3 Seekers bond to each other, they form a trine. It's the way we've done it for millennia. A trine can share thoughts and information with each other instantaneously. It's how they can react and act quickly and cohesively when in flight. We've always worked best in trines, so if you want your Seeker armada efficient and deadly to destroy those blasted Autobots once and for all, you need trines."
It was then the SIC realized the whole time he was talking Megatron's optics had been progressively narrowing to crimson slits. And Starscream had been working for Megatron long enough to know it was like a grenade countdown, but for the warlord's rage. After all, it wasn't coincidence that he was positioned across from Megatron, where the warlord could keep an optic on him and react accordingly should he find it necessary.
Starscream was halfway through slowly positioning himself to bolt from his chair when Megatron suddenly said.
"Shockwave. I want you to organize all the Seekers into trines. Immediately."
"Yes, Lord Megatron." The cyclops nodded and took his leave, probably already running the calculations in his processor like it was nothing out of the ordinary for Lord Megatron to listen to Starscream's advice.
All the Seekers. Something about the way he said it made it sound…almost as if…
"Wait!" Starscream snapped out of his shock, optics going wide. "Lord Megatron. You can't possibly mean me too!"
He always believed to have seen the worst of Megatron by now. But this was something Starscream never could have seen coming, and would have gladly taken an angry Megatron over this any solar-cycle. Because no amount of physical pain could ever hope to compare to the evil, slag-eating smirk that would forever plague Starscream's recharge for the rest of his existence.
"Of course I do. You've said it yourself, it's the best tactical way to manage the Seeker armada. Consider it…" Megatron waved his hand a bit, thinking of the perfect word. "…a promotion."
Promotion?!
Starscream bristled at the word. This was insulting! He was the Second in Command! The only promotion he wanted was to become Leader of the Decepticons, Lord Starscream! Emperor of Destruction! Huh, that actually had a nice ring to it…
Before he could speak his mind to say what's what, Megatron shifted his attention towards the TIC on his right.
"Soundwave, you know what to do."
Megatron judged the two Seekers brought before him with a long piercing stare.
So this is it, then, Thundercracker thought. Primus decided I am to be one with the All-Spark. Or perhaps I shall end up in the Pit, who knows, maybe there is nothing beyond and we merely made this all up to comfort us from the unavoidable fate that awaits each and every one of us. The game of life is rigged…
Skywarp was not as calm and serene as Thundercracker. Though standing straight, he was actively looking around at everything. Thundercracker, Starscream, Soundwave, the Decepticon logo looking down on everyone from the ceiling, the little scratch on the corner of the table.
If this about what happened in Polyhex, I'm scrapped! Just gotta play it cool, as long as I don't make optic contact with Lord Megatron, he'll never find out! Wait… isn't Soundwave some sort of mind-reader? Right, then I have to not think about-Frag, I'm thinking about it again!
"Hmm…are you sure these are the…best candidates?"
The ever silent Soundwave nodded. According to the data packet the TIC sent him, Thundercracker was notorious for being a very contemplative individual who spent large amounts of time alone. And Skywarp was an idiot.
"Very well." He pointed at each of the three Seekers and barked. "You! You and you! Form a trine."
"With these fools?" Starscream scoffed as he crossed his arms and looked up haughtily. "I'd rather offline!"
"That can be arranged." Megatron's fusion cannon glowed.
"No-no-no! It's merely a figure of speech." Starscream frantically tried to come up with a valid excuse. He refused to get trined with those two!
"My liiiiiege," The SIC stressed the words out, stretching the letter I to the highest decibel his screechy voice box could go. "It's just not so siiiiiiiiimple. Forming a Trine takes a long time, why, there's dozens of complex… rituals and-and ceremonies. Not to mention the-"
Megatron wasn't buying it.
The Decepticon leader rolled his optics. "To my understanding, a Trine consists of 3 Seekers, does it not?"
"Well, I suppose when you look at it that way…yes." Starscream reluctantly admitted.
"And I see three Seekers," Megatron gestured towards them with one dramatic sweep of his arm.
"Right there."
Skywarp not very discretely stepped aside, as if getting out of the range from the pointing could miraculously get him out of this situation. Thundercracker ran a servo down his faceplate, shaking his helm.
This was going to be a disaster.
So that was my take on how Starscream, TC, and Skywarp (who clearly are a very dysfunctional team from what's seen in the game War for Cybertron), become a trine.
I'm pretty sure Megatron made them into a trine just to make Starscream's life harder.