Disclaimer: Transformers © Hasbro
Warnings: AU, brief hinting of a mech-pile towards the end.
Notes: ...and I should be studying my Latin. Damn muses.
It was a delicate hierarchy, and if the Autobots knew how fragile it was they would do whatever they could to remove the key component.
As it stood, however, there were even Decepticons who didn't know the truth regarding the balance of power at the top of their army. And the ones who were aware would do anything in their power to maintain it.
What the world saw was a hierarchy doomed to eventual self-destruction: Megatron at the head of the Decepticon forces, the treasonous Starscream at his side as air commander and second over the entire army, Soundwave close by as head of communications and the third in the command chain, and Shockwave as the ever-loyal third-lieutenant and head of Cybertron base command. The combination was volatile, four similar-yet-different personalities in constant danger of clashing – and, in Starscream's case, clash often they did.
At least, to the outside world.
What so very few knew, however, was just how much of the conflict at the top was genuine – to a degree – and just how very much was an act to keep true dissidents from attempting a coup.
The truth of the matter was, the four commanders at the head of the army had struck early to keep disgruntled soldiers from staging a hostile takeover. The plan had been shockingly simple: one of Megatron's top lieutenants would strike out, and the commander would strike back. The difficult part had been deciding who would play the role of Villain in their 'production.'
Soundwave had been at Megatron's side from the very start, aiding in gathering many of the soldiers now fighting under the Decepticon banner. It would hardly be believable for the stoic, seemingly-emotionless mech to suddenly stage an uprising against the very leader he'd stood behind with his whole spark.
Shockwave could potentially play the role, but again there was the potential that it would not be taken seriously. The mono-opticed mech was Megatron's elder by stellar-cycles, true, but there was no questioning that he had thrown away his career in order to stand by the war lord. He could become disgruntled over time, but too early and the illusion would be shattered in an instant.
The only valid choice, then, was Starscream. No one except for a precious few knew where the seeker had come from or his background before the war. All the majority of the army knew was that he'd been top of his class at the War Academy and that he took pride in his achievements. As no one save for High Command and his own trine knew that he had been a pacifist – and in a way, still was, as he refused to carry weaponry aside from his null rays – and a scientist once, there would be little to no questions if Starscream abruptly turned on their leader.
Not only would it prove Megatron's right to be leader, it would show that he could be merciful as well; after all, the SIC was a valuable asset to the cause, and destroying him would prove useful to no one. And thus it began, a minor play put on over and over again, generally at times when dissension could clearly be seen in the ranks and Megatron needed to once again prove his leadership.
And if sometimes once Starscream had been repaired he and Soundwave were summoned to Megatron's quarters to 'discuss the next retrieval mission,' no one batted an optic shutter. If the other Decepticons believed that the seeker was being further punished over his coup attempts, then it was all for the better.
Loyalty such as that shown by his officers deserved to be rewarded on occasion, and Megatron didn't hesitate to do so.