The Decepticons were flying back to Cybertron in Astrotrain, the battle of Autobot city was a major defeat for the Decepticon army. Many faithful Decepticons perished in battle the Constructicons, Insecticons, and many others. But, the biggest loss was the Decepticon's leader Megatron. With Megatron, dead someone must take his place and the bot looking to fill that role was none other than Starscream.
Astrotrain was having trouble flying given that there were so many Decepticons inside him. The weight was making it hard for him to maneuver and was depleting his Energon. If the Decepticons didn't get rid of some dead weight then they would be stranded in space.
Inside Astrotrain's rocket form the Decepticons were quietly sitting around. Morale was very low, the Decepticons were shamed, humiliated, and broken. So many were wounded or broken. The only one not in low spirits was Starscream and how could he not be? For so many years he's dreamed of becoming the leader of Decepticons and now with Megatron dead and Decepticons broken now is his time.
Suddenly Astrotrain contacted Starscream. "Jettison some weight or I'll never make it to Cybertron!" Astrotrain said in a strained tone.
Knowing the Decepticons needed to lighten the load Starscream got up and spoke up. "Fellow Decepticon's Astrotrain has requested that we lighten our burden!"
"In that case I say we dump the badly damaged and deactivated," A Decepticon suggested.
"Do I hear a second on that?" Starscream asked aloud.
Every fully functioning Decepticon shouted "AYE!" in unison.
"And against?" Starscream asked, looking at the wounded.
"Nay!" Every badly damaged Decepticon said to the best of their abilities. None of them wanted to be abandoned nor did they want their fallen comrades to be jettisoned into space. They fought hard for the Decepticon army and deserved a memorial. Unfortunately for them, there were more "Ayes' than "Nays".
"The 'Ayes' have it," Starscream said proudly.
Like a pack of rabid cyber dogs, the healthy Decepticons went to work on the wounded. There was a brief tussle in which the wounded still showed that they had some fight left. But it was all nothing. Starscream opened a starboard hatch as the Decepticons pushed and shoved their wounded brethren toward the opening. One by one, they were sucked into the empty void of space, among them; Thundercracker, Skywarp, Kickback, Bombshell and Shrapnel. Starscream watched with a sick smile and then turned his gaze to Megatron.
"You know, Megatron," Starscream said. "It actually pains me to do this."
"I still function, you fool!" Megatron said weakly, but he could feel his grip weakening.
"Want a bet," Starscream said before Megatron was pulled out into space.
Megatron could be heard screaming the name of the Air Commander, and then it faded as he disappeared into the void. Starscream callously waved goodbye before closing the hatch. He sauntered among the remaining Decepticons, even arrogantly dusting off his hands. He looked around the deck at Decepticons that still functioned; the Constructicons, Blitzwing, Soundwave and Ramjet, Dirge and Thrust as the remaining Seekers along with Starscream himself. Only one thing remained that needed to be done.
"Well, seeing as Megatron is now dearly departed, it's time to establish a new leader. And I nominate myself," Before Starscream continued, his armed up his Null Rays. This affectively quelled any naysayers. "Any questions?"