Blitzwing
Bombshell
Cliffjumper
Cyclonus
Elita-One
Galvatron
Gears
Grimlock
Hoist
Hot Rod
Hound
Inferno
Ironhide
Jazz
Megatron
Optimus Prime
Perceptor
Prowl
Ramjet
Ratchet
Rodimus Prime
Rumble
Skyfire
Skywarp
Slag
Snarl
Starscream
Swoop
Thundercracker
Thrust
Tracks
Ultra Magnus
Wheeljack

Function: Treacherous, Loopy Air Commander Voice Actor: Chris Latta First Appearance: "More Than Meets The Eye, Part 1"

Nightwind's Words of Wisdom:

*snicker* Every time I read Starscream's little motto/quote thingy, I have to...Well, snicker. I mean, it's so...poetic. Starscream is many things; poetic just isn't one of them, I'm afraid. :) But anyway...

You know, you've just gotta love Starscream. You can either love him to the point of near-deification, like me, or you can just love to pick on him, like Megatron. But, no matter how you slice it and no matter your overall opinion of Starscream, you have to admit that the TF universe just wouldn't be the same without him. I mean, even after he died, he was still an integral player in the TF universe, up to and including Beast Wars! You can't say that about any other character, really.

And as for me, personally... Well, I wrote a big, long essay about why, exactly, it is that I love Starscream to the point of near-deification, so I shan't bore you with all the gruesome details again. If you don't know the story and for some strange reason you want to know, go here and read your eyeballs out. :)

Here, I'll just add that...Well, the main reason that I adore Starscream is that, indeed, I identify with him on many different levels. In many strange ways, he and I are exactly alike, in both good and bad and sometimes quite mundane ways. He is me and I am him except that he's a robot and I'm not...and I'm real and he's not, I suppose...though that gets into all sort of metaphysical stuff about whether or not I actually exist... But anyway, be that as it may, I don't really have to create a self-insertion character for TF fic-writing because The Powers That Be already did it for me! It's true!

And it's quite...scary, sometimes, how very like each other Starscream and I can be, even down to the fact that we both started out life as scientists but got rather...er, sidetracked along the way. And we've both found our soulmates. ;) And, yes, there are all the behavioral/situational similarities that I noted in the abovementioned essay. But I think that, in the end, the overriding similarlty between Starscream and me is that we're both starving for attention. So, because of that, we'll both get sulky and extremely jealous when left out of the limelight, to the point that we have to do something to shift attention back to ourselves, even if we earn only negative attention because of that desperate attention-grab. (Witness Screamer's behavior throughout the episode "Enter the Nightbird," as just one example of what I mean by this; I can really relate to him in that episode. :) ) In fact, I think in some ways I like Starscream because he's willing to do the really extreme things that I'm too afraid to do in order to be noticed...

Anyway, I think that, in essence, both Starscream and I have a need to be needed, a need to be and feel important, a need to matter in the grand scheme of the universe. That can be a good thing or a bad thing...and, in that sense, it makes us both kin to Scavenger, as well. How's that for freaky? :)

The Official Word:

Profile: Starscream makes no secret of his ambition to overthrow Megatron as Decepticon Leader. He is ruthless, cold-blooded and cruel. In that sense the two rivals are very much alike. But he has a vain side that clearly distinguishes him. He considers himself the most sophisticated and handsome of the Decepticons. He exudes a high-class, urbane air that provides a certain irony to his murderous tendencies. He looks down at Megatron for being antiquated in his military strategy. Starscream believes the Decepticons should rely more on guile and speed rather than brute, destructive force to defeat the Autobots. Megatron overlooks the potential threat Starscream represents for one very good reason: Starscream is very good at his job.

Abilities: Starscream is one of the fastest flyers of the Decepticons, reaching speeds up to Mach 2.8. He can climb to sub-orbital altitudes of 52 miles and nose-dive down to near ground level in mere minutes. This makes him particularly effective in surprise attacks and hit-and-run actions. He can shoot cluster bombs a distance of 40 miles, each of which can level an area 10,000 feet square. His null-ray rifle can interrupt the flow of electricity in any circuitry it hits for periods of up to two minutes, effectively preventing the operation of many machines dependent on those circuits during that period.

Weaknesses: Starscream overrates himself sometimes, and finds himself in situations that are more than he can handle. His nose-dives often overload his gyro-circuitry leaving him disoriented briefly. But, overall, he is a very tough nut to crack.

Miscellaneous:

Best Place to Starscream-Watch:
Oh, how to pick just one or two...? Oy, tall order. In fact, I can't pick just one or two... But I'll try to be brief here...

OK, for Starscream at his outrageously attention-grabbing best, I'd have to go with "Enter the Nightbird," "Auto Berserk," and, of course, "Starscream's Brigade." All are Starscream at his snarky, contrary, "I'll show you, Megatron!" best. But to see a glimpse of what I consider to be the real Starscream — i.e. the real "person" who lurks beneath (and, I think, hides behind) the camouflaging big, loud personality he's constructed — you've gotta watch "Fire in the Sky." It's a hurtful episode for my poor Screaming One, yes...but it's goooooooood! :D

(Some of) Nightwind's Favorite Starscream Quotes:

"I'm impressed!"
~Admiring Rumble's destructive capabilities in "More Than Meets The Eye." And he's not being sarcastic...for once.

"Time makes all things possible. I can wait."
~Waxing all patiently philosophical in "More Than Meets The Eye."

"Away move! Before collide we!"
~Channeling e.e. cummings in "Auto Berserk."

"Wanna bet?"
~Ahhhh, his last words to Megatron in the movie, right before tossing him into deep space, after Megatron proclaims that he's still functioning