Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, copyright Hasbro, Seibertron's Heavy Metal War game, or War For Cybertron, just the characters that I created for my own usage on said games. I'm not making any money off of them, I just play the games for fun.

"Dramatis Personae"
'Custodes'
By J.T. Magnus, 'Turbo'

Decepticon base
Sol system, planet Mars
circa-A.D. 1000, human Gregorian Calendar.

The former Ground Commander of the Decepticon Battlefleet was in standby mode to reduce power drain, despite a minor malfunction in his air-cooling systems that caused a cavitating backwash through his circulatory ducts. In human terms, Stormmaster snored in his sleep.

He was awoken by a voice, "Commander, if you require recharge, I can complete Delta watch alone."

Stormmaster increased the power to his systems and recognized the speaker, "Uplink."

The large red Transformer nodded in acknowledgement, "Commander."

The other Transformer raised and lowered the feed from his optics - in essence, blinked - a couple times, "How long was I out?"

"Only point zero four per cent of the rotational cycle. You realise that you don't have to stand watch, Commander, if there's other activities requiring your attention."

"I didn't feel like recharging," Stormmaster answered defensively, "My defragmentation protocols keep bringing up the old days - before the war... the Sundering... Exodus..."

"Ah," was Uplink's response, "I suppose you'd feel more about that than many of us, Commander, you were in the midst of it, after all."

The black mech nodded slowly, "One could say that I have a better understanding of the situation than most."

Uplink was easily twice the size of his commanding officer, but the smile that graced his face belied him being a gentle giant - at least outside a laboratory, "Your gift for understatement is remarkable, Commander."

Behind the visor that hid his eyes, the facial structure surrounding one shifted as Stormmaster did the Cybertronian equivilent of raising an eyebrow, "Was that a joke?"

Uplink's head tilted to one side, "I believe so, Commander."

"You're getting better," Stormmaster informed him, "It's only taken you a few million years."

Uplink stood up and paced the length of the room before returning, "Commander, I don't understand why you insist on using human terminology... with respect, we're not humans, it's... highly inaccurate."

"That's the key word, 'respect'... I respect humans, Uplink... It's been three thousand years since we arrived on this planet and began watching our neighbors... in that time they've gone from simple stone tools and plant-based shelters to creating metal armor and stone fortresses, running from predators to asserting themselves... They've progressed much further than we have as a species in any equivilent length of time, despite their own limitations. Give them another thousand years and what will they create, what will they be doing? There's the distinct possibility that we'll be their first encounter with a species other than themselves, Uplink... They may be physically deficient compared to us, but their numbers are greater and they have a surprising capacity to go beyond what they should be capable of. We shouldn't underestimate them, they could be a powerful ally or a dangerous enemy."

"Commander..."

"Enough, Uplink... consider yourself relieved of watch, I'll complete Delta shift myself," Stormmaster turned his attention to the long-range sensors focused on the neighboring blue orb, "I doubt I could clear enough processor space to recharge anyway."

"Commander, I..."

"Go, Uplink."

"Yes, Commander," Uplink tapped his right fist against his chest, then turned and left the room.