Looking back, the two biggest changes I would have made if I was going to submit it are these: less animal alt modes (the rational behind so many is that, with the decline of operational human technology, humans are now more familiar with animals, would find such alt modes easier to deal with). I would have kept Megatron’s, Prime’s, First Aid’s, Starscream’s and Scrapper’s, though. I like the alt modes for the leaders too much, and the other three are the only ones who didn’t have animals for assorted reasons. Also, I would have given some of them original names rather than trying to shoehorn some of them into G1 character names whether it works or not. I never bothered with episode summaries and such, instead sticking with the bare minimum that the contest called for (and not even bothering to turn that in. Bah).

Transformers: War of the Gods

Inspired by (with names shamelessly stolen from) the existing Transformers series. One might also think about Thundarr the Barbarian while reading this, but the comparison didn't occur to me until I had already worked out most of the details.

Setting the stage: Although this is not a script, the following would be done as a voice-over at the beginning of the first episode. It provides a good initial overview as to what’s going on. Further details and explanations will follow the voice-over sections.

Picture the planet Earth as seen from orbit. But wait, the colors are off… there is rather more brown then there should be, and huge patches of black scar the landscape in some areas. The biggest scars are over the biggest population centers of modern day. As the viewer watches a voice (resembling, suspiciously, the Narrator at the beginning of More Than Meets The Eye part 1) says, “The time is Earth’s distant future. The last war of man has been fought, and there were no winners. Humanity has been cast back into the stone-ages, forced to build again from the ashes. Only this time, the landscape has been scattered with the relics of a better time, artifacts of the high technology mankind once commanded. Among these leftover relics were humanity’s greatest creations, powerful machines that could change at will from giant robots to other forms, machines so complex that, over time they developed the ability to think and to feel. These machines are the Transformers, and to the primitive humans who encounter them, they are as gods.

“Now a new war is being fought on Earth, but not a war of man. The heroic Protectobots battle valiantly to defend mankind from the evil Constructicons, who seek total dominion over their human masters. The broken planet shudders under the onslaught as these two factions clash, the fate of all humanity hanging in the balance. No, this is not a war of man, but a war of the gods.”

This is what we shall tell the children, and they will believe us. The Protectobots are good, they believe in freedom. Freedom, as all us good little westerners have drilled into our heads from a very young age, is the most important thing you can have. The Constructicons want to rule the humans, so they must be evil. The kiddies will buy that. When they grow up they may begin to ask questions and ponder the deeper meanings of things, just as those of us who grew up on Generation One Transformers now ponder it, but as children, they will accept the initial explanation.

Adults may begin to realize that both sides actually believe that they are acting in the best interests of mankind. The Protectobots (called so because they wish to defend humanity) do believe in freedom. They believe that humans should be allowed to rebuild themselves and their civilization, receiving help from the Transformers only when requested. In a way, they revere their creators’ species much as their creators’ species has come to revere them. Look at what they accomplished once on their own! Surely they can do so again!

The Constructicons (called so because they seek a rebuilding) do want to rule the humans. They believe that mankind has proven itself incompetent to rule itself. They may have a point. They believe that humans must be controlled, their progress guided, to ensure that they do not wipe themselves out entirely. In a way, they also revere their creators’ species, but there is a sadness. Look at what they accomplished once on their own! Just imagine where they might be today if they had been prevented from destroying their own civilization!

This is all neither here nor there. For our purposes, the Protectobots are good, the Constructicons are evil. They will fight, and good will triumph over evil, and everyone will live happily ever after. Until humanity blows itself up again.

We shall start with a battle. That will get the young ones interested, and keep then watching. The hows and whys don’t matter. Perhaps a couple of Protectobots are been out scavenging supplies and materials for their respective cities (each major Transformer “rules” his or her own small city-state thing, although “rule” is a rather loose term for what the Protectobots do) when they are spotted by a group of Constructicons. The battle is incidental to the overall plot, just a way to get the viewer into the action.

We’ll have the Protectobots lose the first time, to build tension. They will go limping back to Iacon, Optimus Prime’s city-state, and report for repairs. Optimus worries that things have not have not been going well for the Protectobots, and also that if the war continues much longer, the Earth’s already straining ecosystem will collapse entirely, making the planet uninhabitable for organic life. Neither side will send their humans out to fight (that would make the whole reason behind the war pointless), but their continued clashes may destroy the fragile organics anyway.

In the first several episodes, the focus will be on dastardly tricks on the part of the Constructicons (who occasionally use a “the end justifies the means” philosophy) in their attempt to overcome the Protectobots, with the occasional attempt by the Protectobots to get inside of Constructicon city-states and free the oppressed inhabitants. This is what we will call our “Ultimate Plan Of The Week” stage, although a particularly complex plan could get a two-part episode. Perhaps an attempt to reduce the Protectobots to their earlier, non-sentient states here, an attempt to brainwash Protectobot-protected humans into supporting the Constructicons there, and several good old fashioned all-out brawls. During this time hints will be dropped now and again about another robot from time out of legend, a machine of great power who’s function was to repair the ecological damage that humans had done to Earth even before the war. Such a machine could not only solve many of the problems of the failing planet, but would provide whatever faction found it with enough power to utterly defeat the other side. This machine is called the Matrix.

By the time the second half of the season is underway, the focus is slowly going to switch from just ducking it out with the other side to finding the Matrix. There will be a few false leads, but eventually a reliable track is found. Of course, the Constucticons are the ones who find it, and in the final, multipart story-arc, it seems as though the Protectobots are always a step behind them. Things look grim near the end as Megatron is the first to find the Matrix and, to ensure that he has total control of the device, actually interfaces with it directly.

But wait, what’s this? The Matrix, though not self-aware, contains safeguards to prevent illegal intrusions, put in place back in the days when many computers still networked to prevent such a powerful device from being hacked into, and Megatron trips one of these protective programs. The Matrix directly attacks Megatron’s internal processors, sparks fly everywhere, there are tons of cool electricity effects, and when it’s all said and done, Megatron collapses, dead to all appearances. The Constucticons are terrified by the event, the Protectobots are heartened, and the final battle goes quickly. In the end, Optimus Prime is able to activate the Matrix, not through direct interface but through more old-fashioned means (think futuristic looking keyboard and/or touch screen displays), and it begins its work restoring Earth. The good guys have won, the bad guys have lost, and humanity can go back to doing the things that humanity does best. Unless Megatron wasn’t really dead…

Characters:

It should be noted that there are three distinct "flavors" of Transformers. There are the ones that started out as computers that gained control of "dumb" systems and were able to use them to build themselves transforming robotic bodies (although some gained the help of other robots who had achieved their independence earlier). These Transformers often have animal-type alt modes, since those are alt modes that the humans they deal with are able to understand, after a fashion. Still, these "animals" are more reminiscent of the blocky animal alts that could be found in the original cartoon series, as opposed to some of the later cartoons. The second category are the computer-controlled vehicles that later gained self-awareness. These ones found ways to upgrade themselves (or had help doing so) to grant the ability to transform, and usually have their original vehicle as their alt mode. The final category are for robots that were actually built as robots, keeping in mind that not everything a human builds and labels a "robot" looks even remotely humanoid. These can have nearly anything for an alt mode, and don't always keep their original form at all (making them more like the category that started as computers). Those who do keep one of their original forms are often much smaller than the typical Transformer.

Protectobots:

Optimus Prime, god of learning

“Without freedom, there is no growth.”

Optimus Prime, strongest and wisest of the Protectobots, leads his forces tirelessly in an attempt to prevent the spread of the Constructicons’ tyranny. Optimus started his existence as an educational computer, and thus learning is very important to him. His city-state contains the biggest operational library in what is left of Earth. Believes humans must be free to find their own way, and that learning facts without learning to think is not a true education. Transforms into a robotic elephant.

First Aid, god of medicine

“I’ll not rest until their pain and suffering ends.”

First Aid originated as an emergency medical android, but no longer inhabits his original body. He transforms into a small, light helicopter-based vehicle. He is torn between his belief that human beings would be better off without the Transformer's interference (thinking that providing too much knowledge and technology too soon would cause Earth's old problems to re-ignite all the more quickly) and the pain he feels as he watches humans suffer at the hands of such primitive medical practices. By Protectobot law, he is allowed to heal humans on his own, so long as the procedures he uses are kept secret from them, but his inability to help everyone has lead him to "cheat" a little. In secret, he has been training a select group of humans as healers, which is strictly against the rules.

Grapple, god of art

"Art is alive, and living is art."

Once a computer used for the creation of multimedia artwork in a staggering variety of forms, Grapple now finds the simpler, often more functional arts and crafts of present day society to be a pleasant change from what he considers the more sterile art forms of the "Dead Age". When he initially gained self-awareness he was concerned that the fall of civilization would lead to the fall of culture, and was overjoyed to learn that art can never be truly exorcised from the soul of man. Still, he works tirelessly to preserve the artistic remnants of ages lost, and when time allows will search the planet in the hopes of rediscovering some of the missing masterpieces. Transforms into an indeterminate bird of prey (a very, very colorful bird of prey).

Red Alert, god of security

“To protect and serve.”

Red Alert was once, naturally, a high tech security system, and fanatically protects his humans even today. He sided with Protectobots primarily because he fears the Constructicon way would lead too quickly to the redevelopment of guns and similar high-tech, personal weaponry, but he sometimes questions his allegiance. Red Alert is prone to paranoia, and never more-so then when he's been entertaining doubts as to whether his path is indeed the correct one. Transforms into a large guard dog.

Smokescreen, god of money

“Put your money where your mouth is.”

Smokescreen started existence as a computer used to track the exchange of money on international levels, and is less than pleased with the fact that humanity appears to have fallen back on a barter economy. He is impatient to see mankind redevelop an advanced system of commerce, and would perhaps be tempted by the Construticons’ philosophy of more direct guidance, but he believes that free commerce would have difficulty flourishing in a tyrannical state. That and Megatron believes that the invention of money was a big mistake that caused a lot of humanity’s problems to begin with. Has a habit of playing his cards close to his chest born from the security protocols of his earliest days. Transforms into a white and gray lion.

Constructicons:

In actuality, the group usually called the Constructicons are, in fact, made up of two distinct, but allied factions. Megatron's faction, technically named the Reconstructicons, follows the precepts described above. Starscream's faction, the actual Constructicons, believe that the only way to ensure the humans' safety is to not allow them to advance technologically at all (as opposed to the guided advancement that the Reconstructicons favor). Humans living in a true Constructicon's city-state are usually very well provided for, and very carefully watched and controlled. The two factions have formed an alliance because both sides believe that Optimus's teachings are by far the most dangerous, although some have also suggested that Megatron just likes having Starscream around to argue with. Megatron is the nominal leader of the combined factions primarily because he has more experience on Earth and a greater backing.

Megatron, god of justice

"Humans have proven themselves incompetent in self-rule."

Originally a police computer, Megatron is now the ultimate expression of justice unfettered by compassion or mercy. Although never intentionally cruel, he is both cold and ruthless, and the city-state he rules is known for its strict laws and harsh punishments. Extraordinarily cunning, he also takes great pleasure in logical argument, and has been known to try and engage Optimus Prime in debates over their respective philosophies even in while engaged in heated combat (especially while engaged in heated combat if there's a chance the debate might distract Prime from the fight). Very protocol minded (particularly since he developed the protocol himself), and reacts badly to any public challenges to his authority. Still, subservient units are allowed to bring up questions to policy in private, provided they follow the proper channels. Transforms into a black horse. Has no apparent eyes, but doesn't need them due to numerous sensor arrays hidden about his body.

Starscream, god of the heavens

"I have soared the stars for them, and they have forgotten me."

Starscream is unique among all the Transformers of Earth in that he did not actually develop self-awareness while on the planet. He began existence as an unmanned space vehicle sent out for purposes of exploration and information gathering, programmed to return home with his discoveries by a predetermined route. It was during this voyage that he became intelligent. He took joy in each new discovery and longed for the day when he could fulfill his ultimate purpose in life and reunite with his creators, bringing his knowledge back to them. The discovery of his home planet's fate was a blow to his spirit that he never fully recovered from, and now he desperately clings to the pathetic descendents of his makers, working to actively prevent the redevelopment of technology out of the fear that they will use it to destroy themselves entirely. Sometimes wonders about the fates of others like him that were sent out, but is too terrified by the thought of what might happen on Earth in his absence to try and find out. Retains his space vehicle as an alt mode, although it has been modified to allow atmospheric flight.

Blitzwing, god of battle

“I’ve got a job to do, and so have you.”

Blitzwing was once a weapons targeting system and, as a result, is now subject to suspicions on the part of his fellows who are apt to include him and other similar mechanoids as part of "what went horribly wrong." Because of this he has developed a rather combative personality, although he strongly maintains that military might is an important element in self-defense. Constantly tries to grill Starscream for potential "threats from the stars." Still, his usefulness in combat cannot be ignored, as he is one of the most strategy-minded of all Constructicons. Places a very strong emphasis in chain of command, he becomes frustrated when those he considers underlings either make decisions that lie above their "level of approval" or fail to make a decision that should have been solved at their level. Transforms into a robotic eagle.

Bombshell, god of mental well-being

“Everyone think Happy Thoughts!”

Definitely a member of Starscream's sub-faction, Bombshell, who was once a psychiatric therapy device, believes in keeping humans happy, safe, and compliant by submersing them each in their own ideal virtual-reality. On the other hand, he cannot resist the temptation to try to make those individuals with mental illnesses (real or perceived) well, and so for some humans the false reality can becomes a nightmare where they are forced to work through their deepest fears and darkest secrets in a attempt to make them sane, despite the fact that even that would not free his "patients" from their artificial surroundings (it would just make them a lot more pleasant). Even many of his allies believe that he goes too far. Transforms into a giant ant.

Scrapper, god of structures and dwelling places

“All buildings house souls, even the vacant ones.”

Scrapper was an machine used for architectural design, and today is extremely protective of those buildings that remain. He has an almost religious way of thinking, for he is certain not only of the idea that he himself had a soul far before he had self-awareness, but that each building is, in some way, alive, with a personality of its own. Can be distracted anytime combat moves into a zone where the ancient constructs still stand, and will admonish anyone who damages such a structure. Capable of designing magnificent edifices of his own, he is frustrated with the fact that it will be so long before humans are capable of building them (and he currently lacks the resources to build things on his own). Oh, and building more of their own structures would be great, too. His alt mode actually changes regularly as he transfers his central self from body to body in a constant effort to find the form most ideally suited for heavy construction.

Minor characters (sample human worshippers)

Chip Chase

"If you fear failure, you'll never accomplish anything."

Chip Chase is actually the descendent of a genetic experiment intended to create a human-based species for survival on a higher gravity planet, and thus he is quite strong and tough on Earth. He is also, due to his heritage, something of a centauroid in appearance, with four strong, heavy legs ending in paws (as opposed to hooves or whatnot), and no tail. This oddity has made Chip rather shy, although once he warms up to an individual he becomes quite talkative, with a tendency to babble. Chip is a follower of Optimus Prime, and is wholly dedicated to his doctrine of furthering one's own education through personal research, trial and failure. He is also extremely intelligent and curious, although his curiosity, combined with his determination to "figure things out for himself," have occasionally put him in considerable danger.

Archeville

"Justice is, indeed, blind."

Archeville was originally from a small village that was burnt to the ground by a band of roving, human marauders. When Megatron saw to it that the perpetrators were caught and put to death, Archeville dedicated his life to Megatron's service. He is now Megatron's high priest and chief representative among the humans of his city-state. He is devoted to the doctrine of absolute justice, and frequently stands in for Megatron on trials, where he administers his justice. Unfortunately, unlike Megatron, Archeville does not always listen as carefully as he should, or think the facts presented through as completely as he needs to, and sometimes comes to incorrect conclusions or issues hasty proclamations. Has gouged out his own eyes in a demonstration of his devotion to his god, but we won't tell the children this. They'll just see a blindfold.