Transformers: Survival of Defective Products

Chapter 102 The Beginning of a Tyrant

(This chapter is still told from a third-person perspective, but it tends to be told from Megatron's perspective and ideas.)

The Decepticons' power expanded faster than the Council anticipated; after all, the Council always underestimated what they didn't want to admit.

In the Kalon command center, the regional nodes on the main screen lit up one by one.

Kalon is the center, followed by the edge channel of Qingqiu City, the underground relay node of Moyetian City, the Tulak defense line, several old mining areas, and some cities that have not been publicly named but have begun to send out responses through the intermediate lines.

Soundwave stood to the side of the main screen, and data streams were reflected on the screen in front of his face.

"The response rate of the Qingqiu City Edge Channel has increased."

"Three stable forwarding nodes have appeared in Moye Heavenly City."

"A long-term unofficial cooperation has been formally established along the Turac defense line."

"Kalon's internal identification completion rate exceeded the original target."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "The wearing of Decepticon symbols has increased outside of Charon. Publicity has risen."

Show several records on the main screen.

Organically, the Decepticon symbol is engraved on the outer shoulder armor, and the engraving is shiny.

Some miners retain their tokens even at the risk of having their energy blocks deducted.

There is also a blurry video from the edge of Xuanji Lake City, showing several combat mechs giving a speech, their outer armor also bearing the Decepticon insignia.

The red spider watched those images, its wingtip twitching slightly.

"Congratulations," he said. "We've gone from trouble for Charon to trouble for all of Cybertron."

Knockdown stared at the screen, criticizing, "Those carvings from Qingqiu City have such rough lines; I doubt they have any aesthetic sense at all."

Deadfire crossed his arms and sighed, "They didn't carve it for you."

"Then it needs to be engraved even more carefully," Knockout said. "The stance can be firm, but the appearance cannot be sloppy."

Tianzhen chuckled softly.

Haiyi didn't laugh, but looked at Weizhentian: "The military region's attitude is also changing. Before, they were just observing, but now several lines have taken the initiative to make contact."

Shockwave lifted a single optical mirror: "If the current diffusion rate is maintained, the Decepticons will form a stable cross-city structure within three Cyclone Moons."

At this moment, Megatron was looking at the main screen.

He didn't rush to speak; the red optical lens focused on the lit nodes, measuring a map that was gradually taking shape.

The name Decepticons has a sharp edge to it.

Footsteps came from the doorway.

When Barricade came in, his outer armor still bore traces of the dust from the arena.

Without wasting any words, he tossed a list of applicants for lower-level combat units onto the small screen next to him.

"The situation at the arena is out of control."

Red Spider raised an eyebrow: "That sounds like bad news."

"They're not causing trouble," the roadblock said. "They just want you to see them."

He looked at Megatron: "They want to be integrated into the group. Training, patrolling, external collaboration, whatever. They don't want to just stand in the stands and shout anymore."

Tianzhen glanced at the list: "Quite a few."

The roadblock sneered, "These are just the ones who dare to register."

Megatron finally spoke: "Sieve."

The roadblock nodded: "It's already being done."

"Don't let in anything that just shouts." Megatron said calmly, glancing at the barricades. "The Decepticons want machines that are actually useful."

"clear."

On the other side, Nao Fantian pushed several tracking lines onto the screen.

"There are two forwarding lines in Moye Tiancheng that weren't spontaneous; there's an organization testing our reaction. Should we investigate thoroughly?"

A thunderous voice came through the communicator, even more lively than "Mao Fantian".

"Two of their senior advisors have very close ties with their former parliamentary staff. Perhaps we should use a third route?"

The facial recognition screen lit up slightly: "Executable."

Oscillator: "After the hidden line is connected, the exposure probability needs to be assessed simultaneously."

Megatron looked at the densely packed lines.

No, it's not enough.

He wanted to make Cybertron, this old machine, calculate the existence of the Decepticons every time it was turned on.

The sound waves continued to report.

"In addition, the judicial center has been updated."

Megatron's gaze shifted almost imperceptibly.

A briefing pops up in the corner of the main screen.

[Basic Supply Risk Rating Standard: Passed.]

[Simplified version of the temporary suspension of automatic judicial review clause approved.]

[Low-privilege appeal entry synchronization rules: Pilot program approved.]

[Basic Legal Framework and Public Safety Low-Level Course: Entering the trial phase.]

[Tiered access to career entry materials: Not approved.]

……

[Draft proposal for the establishment of the Cybertronian Comprehensive Basic Academy: Not passed; review record retained.]

After reading it, Red Spider's tone was somewhat subtle: "She really managed to shake up those old things."

Knockdown chuckled and leaned against the side: "I'd love to see the parliament's expression when they receive that draft of the Basic Academy."

"I doubt it'll look very pretty," said Deadfire.

"That's a pity." Knockdown whistled. "Even an ugly expression has its merits."

Megatron didn't respond to their words; his gaze remained fixed on the records that had been passed.

She did push things forward, relying on her own skills and a tough attitude, step by step, cutting open those places that were originally sewn shut.

Megatron knew how busy she had been lately.

Sometimes when she came back, the terminal was still on, and her glasses showed signs of fatigue from watching the French newspaper for too long. Sometimes she even lacked the energy to argue with him.

She would complain, get tired, and feel frustrated, but she never stopped moving forward.

Like him, she was not one to back down after being rejected.

She used the law to renovate, and he used power to reconstruct.

Every basic guarantee that should exist has to be pushed forward by her again and again before it can be implemented.

Every entrance that should have been visible to those on the lower levels required her to fight the council for the third, fourth, or even longer rounds.

Systems don't fix themselves.

It only moves a little bit reluctantly when pushed to its limit.

It needs someone to use brute force to pull it forward.

Red Spider was still looking at the briefing when he suddenly said, "Her actions will make the council grit its teeth sooner or later."

Megatron said coldly, "They should have learned to swallow their broken teeth long ago."

Red Spider chuckled and said nothing more.

The sound waves cut another set of data to the side of the screen.

Optimus Prime's public trust index has been rising recently.

The use of the term "Autobot" is increasing.

[Positive reposts appeared on the public channels of Iron Castle, Cloud Mountain City, Tagopax, and Tagan Heights.]

[Following the release of the progress report on the restructuring of the registration system in peripheral urban areas, the feedback from relevant channels has been positive.]

This time, the command center was quieter.

The red spider wisely kept its mouth shut and didn't comment on the knockdown.

Megatron looked at those few lines of text.

Optimus Prime.

He rarely thinks of the name "Orion" in formal contexts now.

Cybertron has already changed his story on his behalf, so there's no need for him to bring it up again.

Optimus Prime was indeed not an empty shell that the Council casually put forward. He began to govern and coordinate, turning the attention of those previously unrelated entities in the same direction.

He earned his approval, which made Megatron even more unhappy.

However, giving up is another matter.

Cybertron passed the leadership to Optimus Prime.

The light of the public channel, the recognition of the ancient program, and the growing admiration from the city all fell upon him.

What he received was under the supervision of the Caron Military District, and he only reluctantly gave it up under her coercion and enticement.

He doesn't care about the Parliament's favor.

But he couldn't accept that they portrayed their own power as a risk that needed regulation, while portraying the power of another machine as an orthodox force worthy of admiration.

Especially when that orthodoxy was not yet truly complete.

The leadership module has not yet been properly implemented.

This matter is not over.

The leadership position has fallen to Optimus Prime, but that doesn't mean everything should naturally be handed to him.

What truly matters is still uncertain.

Megatron stared at the data on the main screen. The red optical lens was gloomy, concealing a surging, overwhelming darkness.

He was angry, and he was also resentful.

From miners to gladiators, from the arena to the Charon, from lower-class supporters to military districts, leading those who dared not speak out to now willingly having the Decepticons engraved on their armor.

These were never given to him by anyone; he earned them bit by bit through hard work, risking his life, and even using violence!

Cybertron still prefers to give the word "leader" to another machine.

Okay, then he'll show Cybertron that another power can also be the answer.

The meeting continued.

The sound wave reports a new round of intelligence nodes, and the shock wave provides the diffusion probability.

Tianzhen and Haiyi discussed the military region's access methods, Naofantian suggested postponing the disclosure of several hidden lines, while Jingtianlei demanded that the probes behind Moxie Tiancheng be dug out first.

Megatron listened intently.

Occasionally, orders are issued or overly ambitious proposals are deleted, ensuring that an entire region is truly implemented and continues to move forward.

The Decepticons need to be structured, disciplined, powerful, and make all machines aware that their weight cannot be ignored.

Freedom, fairness, and order are all important.

If these words lack the strength to support them, they are nothing more than beautiful but meaningless rhetoric in parliamentary announcements.

Megatron despised that kind of nonsense, and even more so those who stood on high ground and disguised patience as stability.

The Decepticons will make them hear their roar and submit to their ruthless methods.

As for the attraction vector...

The thought appeared briefly, but no function could ignore the place it occupied in his brain module.

She dislikes uncontrolled adoration and doesn't like a name overshadowing all individuals.

She hates anyone who uses loyalty to devour their own subjectivity.

Megatron knew better than many other machines.

She would definitely frown, question him, look at him with that sharp yet calm gaze, and then explain every dangerous part of his words.

That would certainly annoy him and make him pause for a moment.

But a pause does not mean a complete stop.

In his view, the Decepticons were simply allowing those machines that originally had no name, no position, and no right to be seen to finally stand in the spotlight.

She will understand.

She should understand.

His future cannot be without her.

Just as the Decepticons shouldn't only be in Charon, the Leadership Module shouldn't be assumed to belong to Optimus Prime.

And the vector should not be placed too far away from it.

On the main screen, the city nodes are still lit up.

One by one.

The sound waves rose: "What's the next stage of the diffusion range?"

Megatron watched as the points of light gradually connected.

Kalon, Qingqiu City, Moye Heavenly City, Tulak Defense Line, Xuanji Lake City, Hydra Plateau...

This is far from enough!

All areas that haven't been lit up yet are only temporarily unlit.

"Everywhere there is a response."

Megatron said, "Make them all Decepticons."