TF: Renaissance - plot outline

Book 1 – ‘Transformers: Renaissance’

4,000,000 BC

The Ark mission has been successful. Optimus Prime and his intrepid crew have destroyed the asteroids that threatened Cybertron but have left themselves dangerously low on resources. This is the moment Megatron chooses to strike. Above the third planet of the local solar system the Nemesis engages the Ark, locking the two ships together with tractor beams and boarding tunnels. The Decepticon commandoes pour into the Autobot ship led by Megatron whilst Shockwave monitors the battle from the Nemesis. At the height of the battle Optimus Prime, seeing no hope of victory, chooses instead to die honourably – taking his sworn enemies with him! The Ark’s massive engines power up taking the craft - and the attacking vessel - on a collision course with the planet below. Shockwave immediately warns Megatron of the danger but aas the Decepticons flee towards their ship both vessels begin to enter the planet’s gravity well. Shockwave pursues the only logical course of action and begins disengaging the Nemesis before it is pulled down with it’s victim – a move which greatly angers Megatron and his warriors still aboard the Ark! The Decepticon commander and his force only just make it back to their craft but it is too late – the Nemesis is already falling to the surface with no hope of pulling up. Megatron is unaware of this however as he is busy throwing Shockwave back out of the airlock, ignoring his lieutenant’s claims that he was attempting to save both the ship and it’s crew. By the time the Decepticons realize their predicament they are just seconds from impact. Megatron’s final moments are spent bitterly enjoying the thought that half the world away, the Ark is about to suffer a similar fate…

c.500 AD

The Chinese monk, Hoei-Shin and four other monks journey to a land that lay to the east across the "Great Eastern Sea", which he called Fusang, a mythical land that had existed in Chinese folklore for a long time prior to the birth of Heoi-Shin. Their purpose being to spread Buddhism. They encounter and influence the local civilization, the Ichi who would eventually influence the Mayan empire in the south. The expedition also encounter many amazing sights but none more so than the wreckage of the Ark! Hoei-Shin is compelled to report the discovery of this tomb of metal giants but is full of fear over what the future might hold…

c.1500 AD

Around the same time as Christopher Columbus is setting foot in the new World, an earthquake in the Mediterranean reveals that an island off the coast of Florence isn’t all that it appears to be. The Florentines have just discovered the remains of the Nemesis! Lorenzo de Medici is quick to see the possibilities presented by this and pours his vast wealth and resources into resurrecting the ‘Iron Titans’ within. A team of alchemists are eventually able to reproduce Energon whilst leading engineers and inventors such as Leonardo da Vinci are employed to restore the towering war machines. Everyone is surprised when they turn out to be sentient but Lorenzo holds them in check through being the only source of Energon. Megatron and his troops grudgingly follow Lorenzo’s orders and set about the conquest of Italy and eventually spread across Europe carving a Florentine Empire. Megatron bides his time, knowing an opportunity to avenge himself on Lorenzo and acquire an independent supply of energon will present itself eventually. He doesn’t have long to wait…
During the invasion of the British Isles something highly unexpected occurs. Decepticon soldiers attacking Stanshame Castle are attacked by an Autobot – the legendary ‘Man of Iron’. The Autobot is eventually defeated and Megatron is called to the area. They discover a hidden Autobot rescue craft under the castle – loaded with energon.
Megatron returns to Italy and kills Lorenzo and other members of the de Medici family. Seizing power, Megatron re-establishes the Florentine Empire as the Decepticon Empire and continues expanding it. Everyone within the Empire’s borders become his slaves – their only purpose to manufacture new warriors, mine for fuel or – in the case of captured alchemists - produce energon.
The Decepticon Empire eventually spreads it’s reach across Europe and eastwards into Aisa but encounters the unexpected at the border of China. A huge wall surrounds the country, but that’s not all. The Chinese, being so isolationist, have succesfully created their own army from the remains found by Hoei-Shin a thousand years earlier to protect the glorious 'Middle Kingdom' and is more than prepared when the Decepticon’s eastern push reaches their borders… Megatron is more than a little surprised to find his old enemy, Optimus Prime, leading the defence!

Book 2 – ‘Transformers: New World’

(Prologue)
4,000,000 BC

The crashed Ark is in emergency mode, carefully rationing it’s power reserves in anticipation of a rescue mission from Cybertron. Shockwave, ejected from the Nemesis, plunges to the Earth where he crashes in the jungles of Central America. The computer observes this event and decides that the possible threat is too dangerous to go unchecked. It uses the last of it’s power to resurrect five of the lifeless crew, restructuring them to blend in with the surrounding lifeforms and dispatches them to deal with the Decepticon. As the team’s shuttle lifts off the Ark finally powers down, leaving no record of what became of them or their target.

c.1550 AD

Refugees fleeing from the carnage in Europe begin to settle the eastern coast of America. They encounter nomadic tribes in the north and a powerful empire in the central lands – an empire dedicated to the worship of five titanic metal monster gods, represented by five lavishly adorned statues in the capital city of Tenochtitlan. Europeans recognize that the five statues are actually inactive Transformers whose fuel reserves must have run down long before and seek to reactivate them for defence against any possible Decepticon threat crossing the Atlantic. This leads to conflict with the Aztecs.
In Britain Megatron discovers the rescue shuttle’s Navigator and the signal being beamed to Cybertron. He uses it to send a message informing of both his and the Autobot’s survival and of the energy-rich world upon which he is stranded.
Disgruntled by their inability to acquire the Aztec’s Transformers, a Spanish expedition sets out into the jungle in the hopes of possibly finding more. They discover and retrieve a badly damaged Cybertronian body and return it to their colony where it is restored to operational status. The Spaniards’ delight swiftly turns to terror, however, for they have reactivated Shockwave who sets about enslaving the colony.
Optimus Prime and most of the Autobots are based in China holding out against the spread of the Decepticon Empire. A small party of Mini Autobots led by Bumblebee are guarding the Ark in Fusang in the west and are sent to subdue Shockwave but he easily defeats them.
Shockwave next turns his attentions to the Aztecs who find they are forced into an alliance with the Europeans since they are the only people who know how to empower the five monster gods.
The restored Grimlock and his team defeat Shockwave as they did many centuries before. The Aztec Empire, Fusang and European colonies become allies.
Grimlock is made Autobot commander of the New World.

Book 3 – ‘Transformers: Colonisation’

c.1600 AD

Megatron’s message is answered – but not only by his fellow Decepticons!
Arrival of Scorponok’s Army from Cybertron reinforces Decepticons and leads to expansion of the Empire into Africa and India in spite of Autobot missions out of China. Scorponok becomes Governor of Europe.
Arrival of Fortress Maximus and his followers, pursuing Scorponok. Fortress Maximus becomes joint Autobot leader in Fusang and America – much to Grimlock’s disgust!

Book 4 – ‘Transformers: Revolution’

c.1750 AD

Industrial Revolution. Humanity begins mass development of technology advanced enough to deal with Decepticons.
French Revolution. The beheading of Scorponok and several of his followers. Beginning of the collapse of the western arm of the Decepticon Empire.
American Revolution. The European refugee states attempt to establish themselves as a single powerful nation.

Book 5 – ‘Transformers: Age of Reason’

c.1800 AD

During one battle Optimus Prime and Megatron clash for the final time - both die of their injuries. Optimus passes the Matrix to Ultra Magnus.
This leads to humanity’s first discovery of Cybertronian religious beliefs: Primus and Unicron
Following the death of Megatron, Starscream rises to prominence. He is a poor leader and the Decepticons are forced to withdraw from several European countries such as France and Germany.

Book 6 – ‘Transformers: Empire’

Late 19thC AD

Encouraged by signs of Decepticon weakness, various Human states begin to conglomerate into a single larger nations.
Decepticon Empire weakened further by internal strife as several individuals attempt to oust Starscream and gain power

Book 7 – ‘Transformers: Great War’

Early 20thC AD

The newly emboldened human nations and their Autobot allies launch their first major campaign against the Decepticon Empire, liberating most of Europe and re-establishing the old countries.

Book 8 – ‘Transformers: Reich’

Mid 20thC AD

A German man called Adolf Hitler and his followers discover the remains of Scorponok and his followers on the borders of France. They secretly develop a process allowing them to control the powerful transformer bodies. Hitler binary bonds with Scorponok and they attempt to re-establish the Decepticon Empire in Europe. Development of various binary bonding technologies leads to an arms race between the two sides.
The war goes badly for the Decepticons, eventually resulting in the total collapse of the rest of the Decepticon Empire.

Book 9 – ‘Transformers: Revelations’

Late 20thC

As the Autobots attempt to help the humans rebuild their world it turns out that there are far greater threats than the Decepticons. The coming of Unicron and possibly the end of the world!