Transformers Universe MUX
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Transformers Universe MUX
Transformers Universe MUX
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Punch

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This article is about the heroic Autobot who masquerades as an evil Decepticon - for his mirror universe counterpart, see Punch (SG).
Counterpunch is a Decepticon. His Autobot counterpart, Punch, is nearby. Really nearby.
G1 PunchCounterpunc art

He takes his energon shaken, AND stirred.

PUNCH is as calm, cool and well-adjusted as one would expect of an Autobot, although also stoic and generally a mech of few words. From the Autobots' perspective, he seems far more at home tucked away in data archives for Autobot Intelligence than being on the battlefield. Ironically, this is exactly the way he likes it. Punch possesses a rare mutation of his transformation cog, allowing him to assume a second robot mode. With it, this consummate actor from Harmonex assumes the role of COUNTERPUNCH, infiltrating the Decepticons as a deep-cover operative. Punch's entire personality changes when he becomes Counterpunch, courtesy of a personality-shell matrix that provides a means of disguising his true allegiance as an Autobot. Despite it all, Punch is constantly suspicious that there could be a double-agent operating within the Autobots, much as he operates within the Decepticon ranks. Despite knowing just how much he has to lose from taking too many risks, Punch willingly does so regardless – a testimony to his courage, convictions and the rightness of his cause. Armed with a twin mortar launcher as Punch, and with a photon cannon as Counterpunch. Transforms into a bright blue Pontiac Solstice with a top speed of 160 mph. Interestingly, all Autobots are outfitted with energy dampers that mitigate the effects of Counterpunch's photon cannon, though generating sufficient pyrotechnics to fool the Decepticons, but very few know these are installed, much less why.[1]

History[]

Generation 1 cartoon continuity[]

1987Punch2

Pontiac Fiero mode

In 1987, Punch was rebuilt into a blue Pontiac Fiero.

MUX History[]

In 2017, Counterpunch, Dust Devil, Seaspray, and Shockwave traveled down to the Cybertron Underworld to seek out the knowledge of Vector Sigma. In spite of clever diversionary efforts by Counterpunch, the Decepticons were almost overwhelmed by Centurion Droids... until they were suddenly called off by Dust Devil.

Punch2

Pontiac Solstice mode

In 2020, Punch was rebuilt into a bright blue Pontiac Solstice. Counterpunch returned from spending several months assessing loyalty to Megatron and the Empire in several outlying outposts and such -- he didn't even have to shoot many of them. Punch... is probably buried deep in Iacon's data archives doing his data collation thing, though he's probably due to poke his head out sooner or later.

Logs[]

2016[]

Counterpunch

Counterpunch

2017[]

2021[]

Feb 28 - Intel Analysis[]

<< text-only report >>

TO: All Autobot Personnel
FROM: Punch

SUBJECT: Current Intelligence Analysis

1) Ibex Situation: Contacts within the Decepticon Empire have not been able to confirm whether the Empire will back down from Ibex, given the recent data breach initiated by Starscream. Given the recent public statements made by Air Commander Valour, assume Ibex will be attacked, and plan defenses accordingly.

2) Nova Cronum: Intelligence from Nova Cronum indicates that mines are still a problem, making supply convoys to cities like Altihex and Tyger Pax. However, data obtained in the field from a reliable source indicates that Tyger Pax seems to be doing what it can to work on the mine field from their end. Incognito of Tyger Pax is heading up a small contingent that are marking mines; whether they've been able to disarm any has yet to be ascertained.

Additionally, there are rumblings concerning Incognito and Tyger Pax -- leadership in Nova Cronum have caught wind of Incognito approaching several theoretical research facilities with offers to pack up and move to new facilities in Tyger Pax. There's been nothing official just yet, but I think there may be some underlying tensions there that I recommend monitoring, just to be on the safe side.

Mar 23 - Intel Notes[]

<< text-only report >>

TO: All Standing Autobot Forces
FROM: Punch, Data Analyst

SUBJECT: Intel Update (Possibly A Bit Late)

1) Reports have been trickling in of fuel convoys from the [[Decepticon[[s heading into Calyhex (the city-state), and apparently bound for Calyhex (the Titan). No intelligence from Decepticon sources indicate any sort of alliance between the Empire and the Titan itself; it's entirely possible this is something in regards to a potential move of Calyhex (the Titan) from the city-state proper. Destination is currently unknown at this time.

2) There's also been a couple of reports from neutral contacts within Tyger Pax, indicating that they're mobilizing a small convoy of repair/construction personnel. No real details, other than a destination: Praxus. Maybe Tyger Pax is offering some construction repair and assistance to Praxus?

Nov 07 - Analysis: Ultrix[]

<< the Autobot spinny pops up and remains, with Punch's voice coming in, audio-only >>

"No time for chit-chat, because I'm running around like headless cyber-poultry, trying to make sense of everything. So, let's talk Ultrix.
"My contacts on the other side of the fence mirror much of Starlock's report: they're quite upset, to be polite about it. Current conjecture from them is that someone, somehow, snuck a capital-scale starship into the system and performed an orbital bombardment, then warped away without being detected. The assumption is that they possess an advanced cloaking technology. My contact also indicated that Nemesis was mentioned, but considered doubtful as he's deceased - the only reason for his mention was that a similar tactic was utilized when both Polyhex and Tyger Pax were reformatted back to their glory after Galvatron turned both cities into twisted Unicronian cyberscapes.
"None of the neutral city-states, to my knowledge, have technology remotely like this, let alone the facilities to build something like this without being detected by either faction. Given the anger shown by the Decepticons, they clearly didn't do this themselves. Unfortunately, this is all I know at present. I'm going to be keeping busy trying to stay on top of this, so if anything does come to light, be sure to let me know via the usual channels."
There's a brief pause. "I'll be going over our own records, just to make sure nothing's slipped between the cracks. No, this doesn't mean I think we did it and tried to cover it up, but I'm leaving nothing to chance."

2022[]

Mar 18 - Primus Pilus[]

TO: Optimus Prime, Elita One, Ultra Magnus, Jazz, Ratchet
FROM: Punch

SUBJECT: Current Events

Apologies for not responding sooner, but I've been, well, more than a little busy assessing the current situation within the Empire. I personally prefer to have as much information as I can gather before submitting a report - that being said, the usual disclaimers apply as always, because there's quite likely information I still don't yet possess.

So, Primus Pilus: is he, or is he not, Megatron returned? He certainly claims to be, and despite the heavily rebuilt form he currently possesses, there are certain indications to validate his claim. Vocal pattern analysis, for instance, gives somewhere around 97.2 certainty that he is Megatron. He certainly seems aware of the leanings towards peace that have - or had - been brewing over the last couple of years. With a physical appearance such as his current form, it still has that "I want to be seen, heard, and intimidating" vibe that the old Slagmaker has been known for all these past millions of years.

The Decepticons are split - some, for some inexplicable reason, actually see Starscream as a viable leader, and I trust him about as far as my other half could care to throw him, which is to say the sleaze is enough to where I have no desire to touch him, much less throw him. Others are taking him at his word and siding with him. The Destrons, for their part, seem content to sit back and watch the potential civil war (or festivities, given the personalities involved and how they view such things) unfold like some Terran action-adventure movie.

Apparently, there was an altercation within the last few cycles where Skald and Starscream both double-teamed Primus Pilus and actually defeated him - some might take this as a sign that Primus Pilus is not Megatron, given his known power levels. Then again, Megatron did pretend to be "killed" by Galvatron - done as a test of loyalty for the Empire. The Dominicons failed that test, hence the current state of affairs as to why they've taken and fortified Valvolux, but asking why the Empire chose not to pursue bringing them back into the fold is another matter entirely, and outside the bounds of this current discussion.

I intend to approach and make contact with Primus Pilus, regardless of the risk. There are certain aspects of the investigation I have to conduct personally that requires such close proximity; those aspects, such as the disappearance of the Decepticon warship Corumkan and seeming loss of Decepticon Intelligence agent Nightshade, are things that require answers in order to potentially further validate (or invalidate) his claim to be Megatron. I also want to get some closer scans of him, to run by Decepticon MedTech for their own analysis, as well as gather further intel to pass along to you.

Apr 01 - Report: Primus Pilus[]

<< The Decepticon spinny pops up, before being replaced by the visage of Counterpunch >>

"Last cycle, I had a little chat with Primus Pilus. In some ways, it was an enlightening conversation; in others, not nearly as enlightening as I'd like, but there are limits to which I'm willing to risk my neck -- especially if his claims are true. That being said, the highlights:

"One: The nature of Primus Pilus's physical chassis was discussed; apparently, I'm the first one to even bother asking him about this, at least according to him. His claim was that some secretive 'allies' who have yet to reveal themselves to us were the benefactors of his supposed rebuild. He was unwilling to divulge specific identities, however; only that they would reveal themselves at the proper time, and that they hold no control over him whatsoever. I question the validity of this, namely due to the evasiveness and vague ambiguities with which he answered my queries, but I'm no medic, and verifying the presence of any control mechanisms -- or lack thereof -- is beyond my scope.

"Two: He does not know the whereabouts or status of the Corumkan, or anyone who may have still been aboard as of when the ship breached the Warp Gate field without navigational coordinates and disappeared with him; he is, however, interested in finding out what happened to the ship, since it entered the Warp Gate along with him. This bothers me as well, but as I'm no genius when it comes to the specifics pertaining to faster-than-light travel, I can't verify whether or not he speaks the truth. As such, I recommend making no changes to the list of those missing-in-action from the Corumkan's disappearance, including that of Intelligence Operative Nightshade.

"Three: Primus Pilus hasn't bothered trying to escape because he's waiting; personally, I think he's waiting for his secret allies that he won't go into detail about to break him out. For his part, he claims he hasn't tried because he's waiting and watching for Starscream to react when this peace thing inevitably fails; that, and he expects Starscream to grovel for him to return and take charge of the Empire once again.

"Summation: Is Primus Pilus the Megatron we know and remember? I don't know. There's red flags a-plenty with the vagueness and all the mystery. At the same time, though, I'm not yet willing to discount the possibility. Unfortunately for us, only time will tell."

<< Counterpunch's visage disappears, replaced by the Decepticon spinny once more >>

April 6 - Addendum: Primus Pilus[]

TO: Optimus Prime, Elita One, Jazz, Ratchet, Ultra Magnus
FROM: Punch

SUBJECT: Addendum - Primus Pilus

As I indicated in my previous report as my intended course of action, I took the liberty of delving into the dungeons of Megatron's Castle in Kaon to have a little chat with our would-be Megatron claimant, Primus Pilus. He's been stewing in one of the cells there, following his altercation with Skald and Starscream, but hasn't yet attempted to free himself from his current predicament; something I admittedly find rather odd, even with his explanation of wanting Starscream to come groveling to him to retake the reins of the Empire.

That being said, while it might be easier to simply remain on-site and continue my surveillance and intelligence-gathering, I feel like the specifics of this information should come to you all directly. As such, I'm planning to open myself a window wherein I can exfiltrate, come to Iacon and deliver my briefing firsthand, and then return on-station to resume my usual activities. Things are still so jumbled here within the Empire's ranks that slipping out and back in again won't arouse any suspicions.

I'll wait for word on when to schedule my window of opportunity, give you all a chance to mesh your various schedules, and then I'll come in to deliver my briefing - assuming, of course, you deem it necessary for me to come in.

Jul 08 - Dossier: Honeytrap[]

Dossier File: VIP #04-08-HNY

Name: Honeytrap
Faction Status: Unknown

Historical Background: Honeytrap is a femme Insecticon who joined ranks with the Decepticons when Megatron brought the Insecticons into the Empire's fold; however, her joining was out of necessity, as she was threatened with death and the extermination of her hives, should she not comply. To my understanding, she's not particularly been fond of any of her Insecticon brethren ever since. 

       Possesses both a large and small insect mode: in her case, a cyberbee, although her design has certain similarities to the Terran species apis nearctica - the only known species of Terran honeybee indigenous to North America, which went extinct some fourteen million years previous; this may prove more enlightening with the information below.
       Her service within the Decepticon Empire was considered barely passable - some might argue that she did just enough bare minimum to keep from being executed. Her primary function was to serve as a fueler and supplier; she is one of the very few Cybertronians with the intrinsic ability to safely produce and store energon in cubes of her own making. Her particular energon, from all indications, is more powerful than your current standard cubes, but the Empire didn't get very much from her: a side-effect of petty rebellion on her part, from all indications. Like all other Insecticons, she can create drones, although there is more nuanced stratification of her drone ranks than the typical Insecticon brood (worker drones, warrior drones, and elite warrior drones to serve as the Queen's personal guard).
       Honeytrap's last known posting was aboard the Decepticon flagship Nemesis, along with Bombshell, Kickback, and Shrapnel. Like all the rest of the crew of the Nemesis, she was presumed lost with all hands when the Nemesis and the Ark crash-landed on Earth some four million years ago.

Speculation: Clearly, Honeytrap is far more resourceful than many suspected; she survived the crash of her escape pod without severe damage somewhere in the Egan Range of the Nevada section of the United States' Rocky Mountains. Her sensors clearly found a preserved match for her design in the extinct apis nearctica species, given the alterations in her appearance. How long she remained on Earth before escaping is unknown, but escape she did, only to return here to Cybertron. 

       Word on the street through various contacts have revealed that she had returned to Cybertron without alerting anyone as to her arrival: how she made the journey is unknown. But the underbelly of Cybertronian society has talked about a mysterious femme offering high-quality energon for sale, and the talk indicates that she's been at it for most of that time. Given her treatment at the hands of Megatron when she was originally forced into serving the Empire, I suspect Honeytrap decided to strike out on her own.
       She's learned a lot in her time back on Cybertron, to boot: some have ruefully admitted that she's an extremely shrewd negotiator when it comes to her energon and her services; she knows her value and the value of what she supplies, and she's extremely good at reading others. As one contact put it: "She (Honeytrap) makes Octane and Ratbat seem like charitable philanthropists." The notion of Swindle, or that one Sweep, Brigand, trying to one-up her on making a deal was met with loud and derisive laughter. She's a queen by design, and she knows it: she's every bit as capable of manipulating everyone around her as Bombshell, except she doesn't need cerebro-shells to enforce a sense of obedience. She's that good at twisting others to her way of thinking.

Summary: Honeytrap is not to be underestimated. The fact that she's building a hive in clear sight in the ruins of Stanix indicates that she's apparently already revealed herself to someone within the Decepticons: my guess would be Megatron/Primus Pilus, given that no indication of knowledge of her presence has been shown by Starscream and his Vosian rebels (the Decepticon term for it, as I understand the current intra-factional political landscape).

Thoughts: Strangely enough, however, she hasn't seemed to have rejoined the ranks of the Decepticons, as there was no evidence of the Decepticon insignia on her person, so she's still playing the field. Recommend potential subtle contact to ascertain the scope of Honeytrap's loyalties: using the prospect of wishing to try a sample of her improved Stanixian energon wine would be a good way to get in. Attacking her seems foolhardy: in part because of her drones (even the worker drones have some minimal combat capability), but also because such an attack might very well push her back into the arms of the Decepticons. Crazy as it may sound, it may behoove us to try and keep her neutral in the affairs of the factions, rather than letting her side with the Decepticons out of a sense of expedience; trying to get her to side with the Autobots might be an intriguing possibility, but I doubt she would be willing to trust the Autobots. As plenty of Terrans like to say, after all: "Better the devil you know." She doesn't like most of the Decepticons, and she REALLY doesn't like any of the Insecticons in particular, but she's far more apt to work with them despite her dislike than she is to trust us. Her manipulative bent is, unfortunately, all too well learned and the lessons ingrained.

Jul 08 - Decepticon Dossier: Honeytrap[]

Dossier File: #01-04-INS

Name: Honeytrap
Factional Status: Former Decepticon / Currently Neutral

Historical Record: Honeytrap was amongst the Insecticons who came into the Decepticon fold; in Honeytrap's case, it was under coercion, as Lord Megatron decimated virtually all her cyberbee hives (with Insecticon help) and threatened her with the eradication of the single remaining hive before she finally (and begrudgingly) bent the knee. Her service record was considered barely passable, and her hive's contributions to the Imperial energon reserves, given her fueler functionality, were considered meager at the best of times.

Four million years ago, she was assigned to the Imperial flagship Nemesis along with Bombshell, Kickback and Shrapnel. When the vessel crash-landed on Earth along with the Autobot Ark under command of Optimus Prime, all hands were considered lost until their awakening 4.578 decivorns ago; Honeytrap was one of the few still considered missing in action.

Given the recent admissions from her announcement of coming back out of the shadows, it seems evident that she somehow didn't fall victim to the prolonged stasis-lock to which the crews of both the Ark and Nemesis succumbed. Likewise, how she managed to escape Earth entirely after being reformatted into the form of a now-extinct Terran honeybee species remains a mystery at the present time. But from all indications, she's been back on Cybertron for quite some time, and seems to have undergone quite the metamorphosis in personality since she was last seen: the phrase "she makes Octane and Ratbat look like charitable philanthropists" as a testament to how shrewd a negotiator she's become kept cropping up; in the time or two that either Swindle or Brigand's names were brought up as someone to negotiate against Honeytrap, derisive laughter was the overwhelming response.

Thoughts: Clearly, Honeytrap has grown a great deal over the last four million years. Before, she wasn't really willing to stick her neck out for much of anything and did everything she could to blend in with the crowd. Now, not so much: as mentioned previously, she's a shrewd negotiator with a very solid view of not only her own worth, but the value of the services she can provide, which has expanded her role from being a mere fueler to incorporate her skills as a purveyor of goods and services.

She's no Cryotek in terms of being one of the big names of Cybertron's criminal element, but given her reputation, I believe that might be a holdover from her original unwillingness to stand out from the crowd: she's been exceedingly careful not to position herself as a threat to the criminal hierarchy, but rather a complimentary element that better facilitates criminal activities. She styles herself as a queen, particularly with her hives in the mix, as well as her goods and services she can provide for the right price.


Summary: The fact that she's set up shop in the ruins of Stanix indicates that she's already revealed herself to someone within the Command hierarchy before now, particularly given the growth of her hive structures; I'll assume that it's Primus Pilus/Megatron, given the relative silence otherwise. The fact that she's not wearing a Decepticon sigil tells me only that she's currently enjoying her 'neutrality', which means it's entirely possible she will continue to make deals with the neutrals; she might even make deals with the Autobots, but I imagine the prices for her energon and any additional services she can provide skyrocket astronomically.

My guess would be that the Autobots will likely attempt to try and keep her neutral. She could possibly make for a good fit within Decepticon Intelligence - if only to keep her separate from the other Insecticons, given that she's been fickle at the best of times in relations with them since they helped decimate her hives to force her into the Decepticon fold.

To that end, I recommend that we attempt to bring her back into the Decepticon fold, but also allow her a certain degree of autonomy within the ranks: she's got a taste for power, but by the same token she seems content to wield it the way she does now in regard to her goods and services. I would also recommend that, rather than simply repeating history and trying to force her to bend the knee as before, we approach her with more diplomacy and tact. Whatever the case, the Insecticons should NOT be involved in such efforts to recruit her back into the Empire.

2023[]

Apr 13 - Sleeping Sickness Research[]

<< the Decepticon emblem pops up all spinny-style, before being replaced by the visage of Counterpunch >>

"I only recently became aware of a broadband transmission made by Nightbeat, of all individuals, who made some interesting claims pertaining to victims of this so-called "sleeping sickness", like what Valour and others are suffering from. However, it seems no one followed up on it, and so I dove in to see what I could find.

"Nightbeat's conclusions -- specifically that the "sickness" has been weaponized and used on specific targets such as important commanders, intel personnel, medics and warriors -- are confirmed. I took the liberty of accessing the Autobot databanks, and aside from Nightbeat's outliers, which he was kind enough to explicitly mark in his rather exhaustive documentation of his investigation, everything held true to his premise.

"I went ahead at that point and cross-referenced all of our known cases of the "sickness", matching them up against his parameters, and the results still held true. There are a few outliers that don't match up, but that appears to be extra effort taken on behalf of whomever is weaponizing this "sickness" to defeat discovery of the targeting patterns utilized by the perpetrator(s). This is also holding true for certain neutrals, although those parameters are more along the lines of who might identify the pattern or help develop a cure. Nightbeat specifically mentions Incognito of Tyger Pax not being amongst the affected personnel, but as the Autobot detective also pointed out, Tyger Pax has had a lot thrown at them recently, so it's kept Incognito from offering much aid to anyone -- as it stands, Tyger Pax is undergoing reconstruction efforts to repair the damage from that recent storm that hit.

"Nightbeat is currently looking into who the perpetrator(s) may be -- for my own part, I imagine it's likely another diversionary tactic being utilized by Liege Maximo's forces to keep us running around like headless turbo-chickens while he continues his campaign of manipulation. I'll be keeping a close watch on the Autobot datafeeds in the meantime. Counterpunch out."

<< Counterpunch's visage disappears, replaced by the Decepticon emblem spinny >>

Jul 13 - Liege Maximo Briefing (Preface)[]

TO: All Autobot Forces
FROM: Punch

SUBJECT: Liege Maximo Briefing

From the depths of my cubicle in the data collation section of the intel archives, I bid you all greetings. I hope you're all ready for a rather lengthy brief, because there's a lot to go over. If you aren't ready, well tough: you're getting it anyway. Please do not file this in your spam or trash folders upon receipt, because all the information to come is incredibly important.

Normally, I'd run this through Command first, but the contents of the following brief are explosive, to say the least. I felt that, in this particular instance, it's better to get the information out there than to let it get dripped piecemeal. Elita, Magnus, Jazz: if there's a problem with this, my apologies, but the sooner this data gets out into circulation within the Autobots, the better. I also suggest that, in the spirit of cooperation, we forward this information to the neutral city-states and their effective leadership - so we may want to grant access to this information to Illarion and Incognito, among others.

That said, let's get started.

Jul 13 - LM Briefing (Imperial Summary)[]

I. Decepticon Empire Summary

While there is no longer a "civil war" within the Decepticon ranks to speak of, there are still rumblings. The Empire is solidly under the command of Megatron/Primus Pilus (yes, they're one and the same, big surprise there), with Starscream supposedly imprisoned at the present time. The Primus Pilus moniker is directly from none other than the ancient member of the Thirteen known as Liege Maximo. Several of you have heard the rumblings of that name before now but let me confirm it beyond shadow of a doubt: Liege Maximo is very real, and he is a clear and present danger not only to Cybertron, but to the universe at large.

While Megatron is nominally in command, there is still no small amount of tension between Megatron's loyalist forces (what we've always known as the Decepticon Empire) and Liege Maximo's Cybertronian Empire (yes, there is a difference, I'll get to it soon enough). From several of my personal contacts within the Empire's ranks, it is accepted that Megatron is continuing with the Primus Pilus name to the Cybertronian Empire, but privately within the Decepticon Empire's ranks, he is very irate with what he deems a reneging of the agreement made between Megatron and Liege Maximo as a requirement of the rebuild into his current form. The source of this stems from our next topic: Ultrix.

Jul 13 - LM Briefing (Ultrix)[]

II. The Truth Concerning Ultrix

Several months previously, I penned an analysis of the attack on Ultrix, where I had yet to identify the perpetrators behind the cloaked capital ship that orbitally bombarded the city-state. Unfortunately, I cannot identify the name of the vessel, nor can I discern its current location. What I can confirm, however, is that part of why Megatron is so irate with Liege Maximo is because he was later informed by Liege Maximo's Cybertronian Empire that they are responsible for the orbital bombardment. It is concerning that the Cybertronian Empire is in possession of such advanced cloaking technology; rumblings from one of my contacts within the Empire indicates that Counterpunch, my nefarious counterpart, is planning to attempt to acquire the technology through Decepticon Intelligence, but I have no confirmation of such a plan at the present time.

Jul 13 - LM Briefing (The Hub)[]

III. Liege Maximo's Cybertronian Empire

For all the mystery of Liege Maximo as an individual, other than the fragmentary accounts of the deeds of the Thirteen, there is actually a significant amount of information regarding his Cybertronian Empire (hereafter referred to as "The Hub"). It's location has been confirmed to be near the center of our galaxy. Several Decepticons wound up at The Hub, courtesy of the Stargate: Megatron fell through with no destination coordinates input into the system, as did the Decepticon warship Corumkan and its crew. Megatron and virtually the entire crew of the Corumkan were captured, for lack of a better term: while Megatron made his deal with Liege Maximo, the crew of the Corumkan were not so lucky; they were indoctrinated into the Cybertronian cause. Those who resisted were smelted down for raw materials; the derelict remains of the ship were also smelted down for reuse by The Hub.

Only one managed to not only escape The Hub rounding up Megatron and the Corumkan: Decepticon Intelligence operative Nightshade, who managed to cloak and evade The Hub's security forces for the entire duration of her stay there. It was only due to a reconnaissance mission by Shockwave and Cyclonus that Nightshade was ultimately rescued from The Hub, although by that point Megatron had already returned to Cybertron and disrupted the burgeoning peace talks between the Autobots and Starscream.

Nightshade’s debriefing, which I managed to obtain a copy, is fascinating reading. The vast majority of Cybertronian troops under Liege Maximo’s command are composed of clones (although not in the traditional sense as we know it from the Insecticons; see below for details) and drones; while there are some exceptions, the overwhelming majority are effectively mass-produced, although not through traditional Cybertronian methods of construction or reproduction.Nightshade’s description of this process, which she claims to have witnessed first-hand, was quite horrific in her personal experience – given Nightshade’s reputation as collected and cool-headed, this should say something. Her report indicated that The Hub apparently performs a ritual of sorts, through which an energized liquid metal is spun from the body of the host and then split off in a mitosis-lke manner to create a duplicate of the original. The more this process is repeated, the more amoral they become; more distressingly, it seems to also lower the overall sentience of the reproduced individual(s), hence their drone-like behavior.

Jul 13 - LM Briefing (Chaos)[]

IV: Chaos

The Chaos is a scorpion-shaped scout vessel that originally arrived in Earth orbit in the Terran year 2000. It was originally quarantined in Earth orbit after discovery of a Meccanibal infestation which overwhelmed the ship while en route to Earth, killing the entire crew. It remained otherwise silent and relatively unexplred as a result, although there is a report from that time indicating that much of the original infestation of Mecannibals was destroyed and that Liege Maximo was named specifically.

This changed in the Terran summer of 2021, when Ghost and Incognito bypassed the quarantine to begin an examination of the ship. A team from Cobra’s Solar Serpent vessel followed suit in spite of warnings. What happened next was unexpected: the ship “woke up”. The Meccannbals not only managed to reproduce to at least their original infestation levels but are also apparently under remote control from the ship’s computer. The ship’s internal defenses and Mecannibals coordinated to repel the boarders, attacking everyone. While everyone did escape, it’s rumored that Cobra may have somehow captured one of the Mecannibals, although confirmation of this has yet to be acquired.

The vessel’s last known location was in the outer Solar System, and again has been quarantined – this time because it’s very clearly awake and is actively using weapons to defend itself from any further approach. Worse, Ghost’s after-action report within the Imperial network indicates that it sent a burst-pulse transmission towards The Hub. I believe it safe to assume that the Chaos was actually under silent running in an intelligence-gathering capacity, and as such is very aware of Earth, humanity and their overall technological level. I would not be surprised if forces from The Hub might attempt to attack Earth in an attempt to draw off our forces and thereby potentially crippling our ability to respond when they come for us. I won’t presume to make suggestions on our response at that point – I’ll leave that to strategists like Prowl.


Jul 13 - LM Briefing (Dossier)[]

V. Liege Maximo File

Dossier File: VIP 13-07-LM

Subject Name: Liege Maximo / Qui Decipitur
Faction Status: Leader of the Cybertronian Empire (AKA, The Hub)

Historical Background: According to what accounts are accessible regarding the original Thirteen, Liege Maximo was the seventh to be created by Primus, originally designated Qui Decipitur. Unlike Prima or Megatronus (AKA, The Fallen), Liege Maximo was conceived as a master manipulator and strategist. It is widely understood that, while Megatronus led the original incarnation of the Decepticon Empire with the ideal of glory and honor through conquering Cybertron and then projecting that strength outwards into the universe, Liege Maximo managed to infiltrate the inner workings, teaching them the tenets of manipulation, subversion and treachery. How true this is depends on the perspective of those telling the story, or laying it down as written word.

What is known, however, is that by the beginning of the Second Cybertronian War - the first conflict between Autobot and Decepticon - Liege Maximo had already succeeded in corrupting Megatronus and manipulating the remaining members of the Thirteen into a conflict with one another that succeeded in seemingly killing Solus Prime and exiling Megatronus, striking him from all records and replacing him with the moniker "The Fallen".

When his role in the affair was later discovered by the remaining Thirteen, Liege Maximo fled with a loyal retinue of former members of the Decepticon Empire, all of whom are likely to hold high ranking within his Cybertronian Empire, and headed for the center of the galaxy, where they first constructed The Hub and began to spread his imperial ambitions from there. It is assumed to be at this point that Liege Maximo set aside his given designation of Qui Decipitur, replacing it with Liege Maximo.

Virtually nothing is known from the time of Liege Maximo's departure until the Terran Earth year 2000, when a Cybertronian scout ship designated Chaos arrived in the Sol System and entered Earth orbit, ostensibly in response to Autobot and Decepticon signals being received and broadcast from Earth. The vessel was infested by Mechannibals while en route to Earth, and the crew killed, yet the computer apparently managed to take control of the infestation. While the infestation was pruned back, it was not eradicated.

Aside from an attempted quarantine breach in 2000 by a Decepticon named Aries (later known as Harbinger and then Nemesis before his demise in 2019), none approached the vessel until approximate Earth date July 2021. For further information regarding this event, refer back to Section IV. Other, more notable recent events related to this ongoing history can be referred to in Sections II and III.

Speculation: For all the information we seem to have, we still have remarkably little information pertaining to Liege Maximo himself. That aside, the information we do possess paints a frightening picture: a master strategist unlike any we've ever experienced before. It is clear that his forces have been on Cybertron for some time now, particularly given the timing of Megatron's return to Cybertron as Primus Pilus: in a single move, Liege Maximo managed to unravel peace talks that had gone on for nearly a year after Megatron's disappearance into the Cybertron Spacebridge, forcing us into a division that only benefits him. Had the peace talks succeeded, Liege Maximo might well have met a united Cybertron; instead, he gets to engage both forces in a multi-front engagement: Autobots, Decepticons and Neutrals - and this doesn't include the prospect of a front aimed at Earth, which is even more divided than we are along racial, socio-economic, and cultural mores (just to name a few).

While Liege Maximo is highly intelligent with a remarkable grasp of strategy and tactics - the best analogy would be the Terran one of Liege Maximo playing chess while we're playing checkers - it is also important to note that this can all too easily go down the proverbial petro-rabbit hole. We cannot afford to over-think what Liege Maximo is planning or thinking, but likewise, we can't afford to under-think it either. No offense to Nightbeat or Red Alert, but someone (or multiple someones) will need to keep them both on a short leash so that they don't go off the deep end with any investigations they conduct into Liege Maximo.

Summary: None of us, regardless of faction, can afford to underestimate Liege Maximo. He has the resources of an entire empire behind him, with an unknown but likely numerous legions of soldiers at his disposal. It would be safe to assume that his resources far outstrip anything we could put together, even if we were able to somehow temporarily unite all of Cybertron under a single banner.

Final Thoughts: Despite the fact that I defer my strategic assessment to Prowl, I do have the distinct feeling that he is engaging in a "divide and conquer" strategy. Assuming that he's subverting the Decepticons (again), this leaves the neutral city-states like Altihex, Tyger Pax and Valvolux in a very precarious situation. I suspect that Liege Maximo would concentrate on the Autobots specifically - break us, and he'll have Cybertron in the palm of his hand. Given that the Chaos is still located in Saturn orbit in the Sol System, the prospect of Earth being a target to further weaken us cannot be discounted.

Aug 31 - Intel Orders[]

<< the Decepticon spinny pops up on screen, before being replaced by the visage of Counterpunch >>

"While I'm sure that the rumor mill within the ranks of the Empire have already spread the word, consider this official notice: as of last cycle's meeting, Lord Megatron has placed me in command of Decepticon Intelligence. For the time being, Ravage will be serving as my XO - this is a reversal of roles, but neither of us are about to question Lord Megatron's decisions.

"That said: Nightshade, your cycles of skulking hidden in Iacon's airspace are over, at least for now. Air Commander Cyclonus and I both have plans for your specialized talents, which he and I will discuss soon; however, his plans will likely supersede my own, at least in the short term. Ravage, go ahead and report to Cyclonus, as he intends the same purpose for you as for Nightshade.

"As for the rest of you in Intelligence, I want reports of your current activities and missions, and I want them last cycle. Depending on those reports, you may find yourselves with new assignments. Glory to the Empire!"

<< Counterpunch disappears, replaced once again by the Decepticon spinny >>

Alpha-Trion-2020

Alpha Trion

2024[]

HookG2

Constructicon Hook

Notes[]

“ Truth. As terrible as death, but harder to find. ”
  • Punch sports a considerably different prototype face during his first commercial. Counterpunch is the same, however.
  • The Doublespy concept seems to have been kicking around for a while before actually being executed:
    • A concept sketch exists that depicts Punch/Counterpunch as a hi-tech jet more in line with the 1986+ aesthetic which transforms in a way somewhat similar to the final car version.[2]
    • Not one but two early patents were filed for a car Doublespy. The first patent depicts the car that can turn into a large robot or split straight across the middle, with the front and back ends of the car each transforming into a separate robot. It uses a car model identical to the final Punch/Counterpunch.[3]
    • The second patent keeps the car as a single unit, however the car now folds along the center from the front bumper to the rear windshield. One robot mode is formed when the car is transformed normally, the other is formed when the car is transformed and folded to reveal a new head, chest, and arms. This model has an identical leg transformation to the final version.[4]
  • At the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, a Punch/Counterpunch miniseries known as "Legacy of Rust" was announced.[5] As of 2015, it has yet to come out, but it's been stated that Stuart Moore wrote all four issues.[6]

Foreign names[]

  • Japanese: Doublespy (ダブルスパイ Daburusupai), Spacepunch (スペースパンチ Supēsupanchi), Counterpunch (カウンターパンチ Kauntāpanchi)
  • French: Pugilil, Contrecoup (Canada)
  • Italian: Spy, Ultraspy
  • Mandarin: Shuāng Miàn Rén (双面人, "Double-faced Man")
  • Russian: Punch (Панч), Vyshibala (Вышибала, "Bouncer")

Some Thoughts[]

Note: The following discourse sums up what I (darksabrz) find most appealing about both Punch and Counterpunch as a collective character.

Punch spends most of his time (supposedly) deep in Iacon's data archives playing the data-crunching game, to the point that most Autobots probably forget that he's actually one of them. Sure, he's nice and personable enough, seems a happy and well-adjusted sort, but few people actually see him. And if he's hardly seen there, surely it calls into question his dedication to the Autobot cause because he's virtually NEVER on the battlefield. There's a character that embodies Punch in the movie "The Usual Suspects": Robert "Verbal" Kent. Quiet, mild-mannered, unobtrusive almost to the extreme.

All of that, however, is a masterful act by the most accomplished actor to come out of Harmonex. Optimus Prime himself would have a hard time thinking of anyone more loyal and dedicated to Autobot ideals than Punch. But why? How can that possibly be the case, when he's virtually never around?

Only a handful of Autobots know the truth, those being Optimus Prime, Alpha Trion, Elita One, Ultra Magnus, Jazz and Ratchet. Punch's ideals and dedication to the Autobot cause transcends physical presence on the battlefield or in a data archive. This is the mech who's willing to risk his life continually to give the Autobots a fighting chance. That truth is a testament to his courage in the face of adversity, his perceived rightness of his actions, and his dedication and resolve to the Autobot cause. And what is that truth?

That truth has a name: Counterpunch. There's another character in "The Usual Suspects" that embodies Counterpunch, down to the last jot and tittle: Keyser Soze.

Let's face it: this is a mech who is so dedicated and resolved to do what needs to be done that he took his gift of possessing a second robot mode and turned it into the lynchpin behind a masterful act: becoming his own nemesis. There's no denying that there were costs to be paid, lines to be crossed, but all for the greater good. If there's a living embodiment of the Vulcans' saying. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one)", it is Punch. He has sacrificed of himself time and again, crossed lines so that other Autobots wouldn't be forced to do so, and played the game as masterfully as anyone else. And he's been at it for a long, LONG time.

Players[]

Punch is played by Darksabrz.

Is this all there is?!!

This character article is a stub and is missing information. You can help Transformers Universe MUX by expanding it.


References[]

  1. ↑ New note by Darksabrz
  2. ↑ Transformers Generations Deluxe, p97.
  3. ↑ Patent #JP61-106187
  4. ↑ Patent #JP63-038484
  5. ↑ http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/san-diego-comic-con-33/san-diego-comic-con-2010-idw-publishing-panel-highlights-170274/
  6. ↑ http://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2015/02/27/windblade-returns-in-transformers-combiner-wars/
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