Optimus Prime
Sept 4, 2014 15:19:34 GMT -5
Post by Optimus Prime on Sept 4, 2014 15:19:34 GMT -5
-Player Info-
Name/Alias: Zercon
-Character Info-
Name: Optimus Prime
Age: Late Forties - Early Fifties
Gender: Mech
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Autobot
Original Occupation:
Data caste clerk for the Iacon Hall of Records - Mentored under Alpha Trion.
Occupation/Specialization:
Last surviving Prime and current leader of the Autobots.
APPEARANCE:
Image: LINK
Eyes: Mechanized and far from the sleek glass covered orbs of many others, Optimus' eyes consist of a series of apertures and rings in a dark gray color, all leading to a central smaller cyan lens plate. The outer rings visibly move while focusing.
Facial Features: Optimus has a plain faceplate with a couple of lines beneath his optics and broad brows overtop that are often set to a general neutral look. On either side are two vents that hide a retractable faceplate of heavy armor which covers the majority of his features when activated. Framing this is a series of blue armor, from a slimmer arched chin guard on the bottom, to a sleek dome that protects his processor on top. Attached to the front of the arching blue armor sits a crest that juts up in the front, balanced out by a series of three thin finials on either side of his helm that are anchored into audial disks.
Physical Build: Typically the tallest among his troops save for a few exceptions, Optimus is not a small Cybertronian in the slightest, standing with broad shoulders with rather dramatic heavy plating that hooks up on either side of his helm. Attached to each shoulder sits the Autobot emblem, and while his body may be constantly scraped with hairline cuts and burrs, the raised brand is always clean and pristine in a chrome finish.
His upper torso houses silver smoke stacks upon his back, while iron glass windshields that can take notable force sit on the front. Below this are two hefty latching bands of red armor, with a second set in chrome below to indicate 'ribs' which protect vitals with ease. The chrome bands hold small headlights. This mass leads down to a comparatively narrow silver waist and hips that are capped in thin cobalt paneling.
While Optimus' torso holds considerable width to house powerful components that add to his strength, his upper arms and legs are comparatively narrow, elbow and knee joints borderline fragile which is however relative given overall stability. Forearms and lower legs push out to far broader structures, forearms clad in red leading to narrow hands with squared off fingers, while his legs are cobalt and flare to house wheels and broad peds.
Altmode:
Peterbilt 379
Primarily red to account for his upper body, while a band of cobalt rings the bottom and takes over as the dominant color in the back beyond the sleeper cab. The vehicle is accented with chrome, and holds the Autobot emblem on the grill.
Pertinent History:
Starting off as a simple Data Clerk during the Golden Age, Orion soon earned a place within the Iacon Hall of Records due to his efficiency and dedication to his tasks. He flourished in this arrangement, happily accomplishing his duties and serving under his mentor Alpha Trion. However, the more he learned and delved into Cybertron's past, the more troubled he became for its future. There was a large disparity of freedom among the different classes of their world. The ruling class they had guiding them was corrupt and all-powerful, looking out for themselves more so than the greater good of their kind.
While seeking means to try and rectify this fault, he stumbled across the words and ideals of a Gladiator named Megatronus whose goals lined up with Orion's own hopes. The unlikely duo countered each other well. In Megatronus, Orion had a strong speaker to rally others, in Orion, Megatron had means to get access to information and avenues to launch his words further. In time, the unlikely friendship bordered on brotherhood, their reach gaining enough power to be granted an opportunity to speak to the Council.
This is where Megatronus' true nature unfurled and Orion's eyes were opened.
Displeased at Megatronus' violent demand for power and fearing they would lose their one chance for change, Orion stepped forward outside his comfort zone to take charge, casting aside his meeker ways to make an empowered speech. He spoke with passion and hope, his devotion to true equality and the better good moving the council. It earned him the title of Prime, even with the Matrix not viable to be handed over.
Orion had hoped his actions would still bring the outcome the duo had hoped for, that the newly titled Megatron would not be upset, but more... happy... that they made it another step up the stairway for the greater good, but such wishing was void. Soon after, the divide between teams occurred splitting the majority of Cybertronian into two factions, and the planet was plunged into war via Megatron's backlash, much to Orion's absolute horror.
Once conflict was bubbling up in surges, Orion got pushed into serving as a Military commander under Sentinel Zeta Prime with the assigned task to try to help suppress the violent surges of the working class. He was uncomfortable with everything about the war, and making decisions that affected so many, until the needless slaughtering of the Tower Bombings. This shook him on a core level, and forced him to shed much of his hesitancies to step forth into more assertive a post.
There was no other option.
Rallied, Orion faced every challenge with determined zeal, earning his metaphorical stars and learning swiftly the ways of war. He rose in power and ranking so much so that when Sentinel Zeta Prime fell in battle he took charge of the Autobots in full to help guide them forward. The Matrix had been lost upon the past Prime's demise, but was subsequently located upon traveling to the core of their world to try to cure the poison within it.
Facing what was effectively their god face to 'face', Optimus' spark was seen as befitting of the Matrix of Leadership, and the relic was granted to him in the process. Undergoing a drastic change of frame from a low armored data clerk to one equipped for war, Optimus took it upon himself to follow in the past Prime's footsteps and change his name to mark the transition, shedding off Orion and becoming Optimus Prime.
Despite his best efforts, the core of their world still went black.
The war had laid its mark on the land, the planet a dead husk of what it once was, leading to mass evacuation and forcing their conflict to spread across the stars. Many were lost in the trip, their population rocketing down to dangerous levels since the All-Spark had been sent away. The current stage of this war had now landed upon Earth, where the Omega One Outpost was created with the aid of new allies in the form of the United States Government.
Now with a strong enough footing on the planet's basics, Optimus sent out a broad interstellar message in order to call any Autobot survivors to Earth. This call to arms also simultaneously declared a warning to Decepticons and those that intended harm to the planet and its inhabitants, that the Autobots would fiercely protect their new homeland that had so graciously accepted them.
There were three years of stability after this, before the Decepticons returned in full with the emergence of their Leader from a long absence. The constant struggle has become all the more dire due to the Dark Energon he brought with him, despite additional Autobots answering the call to arms. It is upon this world Optimus tries to keep his troops together, through the subsequent madness and constant new threats that plague this unfamiliar world.
Optimus' well of patience is growing thin, and while he will never become the monster who he fights against with all his spark, he is learning some individuals need harsher jerks of a leash to remind them they are all in this together.
They cannot afford to fall apart into chaos.
PERSONALITY:
Optimus has a presence of power, stability, and control. His stance, his words, everything about him cries out of one that knows exactly what they are doing, actions moving with no hesitation to make judgment calls on what must be done in times of war. It is with this certainty that he guides his team with understanding and compassion towards others, but with the subtle edge needed in order to keep a stable military foundation still in play under the surface.
Choosing to act under the newer concept of 'family', Optimus leads with a goal of his troops building connections rather than being acquaintances that must rely on strangers. This social environment is something he will almost push for others to have, yet he finds it exceptionally difficult to get involved himself. Because of this, he can seem almost robotic and quite distant with his team.
His direct approach and more limited wording plays with his anti-social edge to create blunter responses. From simply noting others opinions rather than starting a debate, or saying a flat no in reply, he can almost seem detached with emotions altogether most of the time. This further reinforces the idea of an icon that stands before others rather than just another mech. However, while he plays this role well to a point others assume 'that is just how Primes are' the fact is he is mortal, he is not perfect, and he can feel emotions stronger than one would ever conceive by the way he outwardly carries himself.
This pendulum of highs or lows feels continuously canted towards negative with worry and concern, yet is projected as being the opposite to his troops. The burden of the decline of their species and the loss of their planet throws the scales of his inner emotions off balance. Guilt is a plaguing factor that corrupts with the added weight of how many lives now rest upon him and how many bodies he was forced to use as stepping stones to get to where they are now.
The heavy heart and weight of responsibility is a smothering cloak that pushes him to feel this need to hide his true worry and concerns. If he permits himself to show apprehension, how would that affect his team? How would that hurt their morale if he seemed uncertain? If he showed just how anxious some decisions made him to come to a conclusion with, would they trust him to even lead them? The illusion of control is one he carries well.
Sacrificing himself in order to give others hope, is the least he can do.
Patience: Optimus' tolerance is renowned, and he utilizes it to the best of his ability. He will endure chaos enough to try to get to the crux of the issue and speak others down from their posts rather than getting angry enough to yell or force to submission as other commanders may have through this war. This well of patience is almost frustratingly deep, though not infinite, an end is there and with every chaotic Autobot to continue to flow into the base, it grows ever strained.
Empathy: From always offering an audial to an Autobot in need, to an ability to understand and consider the viewpoints of the most extreme Decepticon. Optimus can rationalize many beliefs and ideas, even if he cannot condone or accept them as being right or just. While this empathy may be used to try to sway a Decepticon off their path, it is more often used to council Autobots who are stressed or in turmoil. While he is no therapist, he does what he can for his soldiers to keep their spirits high.
Regret: Optimus often thinks back to when the war was in its infancy. Back when things were so fragile and delicate, teetering on an edge between conflict and revolution. He worries if there was something he could have done, something he could have changed...
Not Perfect: While in his core he is a good soul, this does not mean he is incapable of feeling less than desirable emotions. Rage, revenge, animosity, he can become frustrated and upset with others if pushed the wrong way and spited. He will not outwardly display or act upon any of these unless pushed into a corner, but he will undergo internal debate. For fleeting moments he could process ire towards even an Autobot that is acting foolhardy or disobeying commands, but he would never outwardly express this anger voluntarily. He chooses to suffocate his own responses from a heave of exacerbation and rage, to a leveled chastising about how they disobeyed his directives and instruct what punishment will follow.
Acting more as a leader figure trying to teach, than a Lord demanding cooperation.
The only exception is when around Ratchet for he feels more capable of expressing older traits and how he feels, as the Medic had witnessed who he was before he became Optimus.
LIKES:
Order: While not a super uptight about things, Optimus does appreciate order to his surroundings and those around him. Excessive anarchy, such as sports or games that do not cause harm to their cause or base, will tend to drive him away so he does not need to watch all the potential disasters roll out. Formatted and more reserved situations and areas appeal to him greatly and give him even more clarity of mind.
Family: A human term he has just recently started to understand and embrace. He views his Autobots as a sort of familial team that looks out for one another, not out of obligation, but out of a want to do so.
Information: A data clerk at heart, he does find pleasure in learning about new things. New technology, new environments, new species, and most of all history, however the subject matter is not terribly important. With the war reaching increasingly strenuous turns, he finds time to read without guilt hard to accomplish, and has lapsed on learning much about the world they now call home.
Humans: ((To a degree)) As... troublesome as the human children can be, constantly making him worry about them being underfoot or slipping past them through the ground bridge into danger, their species is unique. The speed in which they adapt and grow to seek advancement is just a marvel to him. Compared to Cybertronian, humans live for only a blip of a moment before dying of old age, yet they accomplish so very much.
DISLIKES:
Idle Chitchat: While he is a patient soul, and would do what he can to make sure others are comfortable, it can become tiring if he is constantly bombarded with nonsensical stories or jabbering that has no link to current issues. He isn't really one for small talk, and if it breaches above a certain line, he isn't above just standing and walking out.
Excessive Force: Just because Optimus dislikes using force to achieve what they need, it does not mean he will not do so. He understands in war, one must sometimes do things they ordinarily would not.
Dishonesty: Optimus will trust others until they prove to him they are incapable of being trusted. Lying to him is almost stamping oneself with a permanent red mark. While he can take their thoughts into consideration after the deceit, unless the initial lie had good merit? He will always second guess what is spoken from them. It can take some time before his trust will fully rebuild, if it can at all depending on the initial affront.
Humans on Ground Level: This is almost a pet peeve to him. They have platforms raised high specifically for their kind, yet they tend to scramble on ground level where they are in quite a bit of danger. An accident is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Being Waterlogged: Getting rained on is one thing, but being completely submerged in water is another. Optimus does not like how it feels in the slightest, and as such is more likely to avoid large bodies of water if given the option.
Megatron: Or more, what he has become. The other Cybertronian used to be viewed almost as a brother to him, and he looked up to his ideals and strength while he was Orion. Now to see him fall so far from grace? Is painful. He will always hold a bit of hope, as irrational as it may be, that Megatron can someday see reason and be pulled around. Yet Optimus knows deep down the only outcome is extinguishing his spark.
STRENGTHS/WEAPONS:
Forearm Rifles: Slender with dual barrels on each limb, the forearm rifles are built to offer two forms of attack.
The primary blast is more for piercing power than actual cannon strength. This does not mean they cannot give a good hit that can knock someone off balance; it just implies they are more likely to spear medium armor and burn heavy than they are to rip off large pieces of metal upon impact. They are able to be fired with faster speed than the more charged attack.
The secondary blast is more akin to a true canon, needing a short power up before discharging with both barrels at once. This one is more likely to throw someone to the ground outright or cause more severe damage upon impact such as ripping a limb clean off or piercing into heavy armor. However, using this form of attack excessively drains reserves of power in hemorrhages.
Forearm Blades: In addition to the rifles, the large boxy forearms house enough room to also harbor double edged swords. Each sword is comprised of two thinner blades that fold out from opposite angles to clap together into one unified shape. These blades effectively double his reach as they are as long as his actual forearm is, and are capable of ripping into heavy armor with ease due to the power that can be pushed behind them, though Optimus' strikes are often more reserved than a full assault.
Heavy Armor: Outfitted for battle, Optimus is capable of taking an impact in strides. His shoulder, chest, forearm, and shin armor are exceptionally strong, providing adequate protection from many forms and levels of attack. While the rest of him is still reinforced, it does not hold the same standard and can't take quite as hard of hits, eeking more towards the medium level. Oddly enough it is the brightly colored areas that are the strongest, as if trying to draw the eye and aim of foes away from the weaker silver points.
Resiliency: Able to take a punch and keep kicking, Optimus is no stranger to injuries and will keep powering through it to try to reach an intended goal. He may not be able to shut down pain receptors within himself to keep on trudging along, but he will do the best he can to blot out his personal agony. He could stay upright while harboring injuries that could down another bot, though it is definitely not a pleasant experience.
This resiliency also applies to a desperate cling to life. Upon death's door he is capable of clutching on as long as possible until it simply is no longer an option, not one to give in easily even when standing upon the threshold of the All-Spark. He is determined to not leave his team.
Fighting Skills: Optimus had to learn to fight in a no mercy crash course at the onset of war in order to transition from a data clerk to a warrior. Now that he has settled into the role fully he is more than capable of applying his skills to combat to overpower normal opponents. Hard strikes with fist or blade, a heaving swing of a leg to sweep the limbs out from under a foe... he works with more calculated impacts and counters rather than acrobatics or outright speed.
Strength: Optimus has a hefty amount of power within him that doesn't always line up with his rather leggy frame. He can easily heave up moderate sized Cybertronian and throw or slam them down with enough force to cause destruction if he deems necessary. He has raw lifting power in his arms to the point he has the ability to pull one as heavy as Bulkhead up from off a ledge with only one arm, though that does take a drain from his reserves of energy.
Sure Footing: With a balanced mix of weight on his shoulders and legs split between the axis of his hip, his footing and stability is rather strong. With his heavy mass, this means when he plants his foot down it tends to stay in place until he desires to move.
WEAKNESSES - PHYSICAL
Weak Points: Optimus has primarily heavy armor, but this cannot apply everywhere while maintaining good mobility and function. Most notable are neck, inner elbows, behind the knees, and the sides of his abdomen. The elbows may be somewhat protected by branching armor flares that make a cage, but they are viable to strikes. In contrast, his knees are really only guarded by a narrow knee guard and are otherwise thin compared to his mass. They are put under extreme pressure so a strong enough strike could be devastating.
Heavy Weight: Optimus is rather hefty in mass, easily surpassing most other standard individuals. As such, it is impossible for him to maneuver upon more fragile environmental structures and buildings. Ice is particularly nerve wracking, and unless it is the arctic he will avoid.
Large Frame: Coupled with his weight, he has a tall frame that can make traversing in the Human's world a bit of a challenge. While it can be hard for most bots to duck under passageways or through subway tunnels, he simply is far too elevated to comfortably make such trips in any form.
Strenuous Fighting: Optimus has to make a choice, he either fights exceptionally hard in a short burst to reach a goal and then lull in a more rested state, or he has to move with level motions and a more marathon approach. Should he heave his mass and power at full tilt for too long his systems will start to overheat and cause strenuous pain to knees and other joints. Melting wire housings and localized shutdowns when high temps become too much are imminent unless he can ease back for a minute. This really only comes to play when fighting Megatron or multiple foes, while his more methodical approach tends to be enough for the standard brawl, given his power.
Forearm Delicacies: Due to the fact his forearm can transition from hand, to sword, to gun, only to also be used for his Alt-Mode, there are a lot of moving parts. To shoot or strike the limb in mid transformation would be devastating. While the timing window is exceptionally small, and would require skill to accomplish, the payout would be immense as it'd cripple his limb, if not make it tear itself apart from momentum into a flurry of red and steel plating.
Disorientation: Optimus is upright essentially all of his time. His large size and the way his frame is balanced make it so that in combat he seldom, if ever, is thrown or ends up upside down. He has enough coordination and self awareness to launch out of his Alt-Mode, roll, and end up upon his feet just fine. However, should he be launched off axis to roll off a cliff, or be slung upside down beyond his control, he struggles to orient and can freeze up for a good bit.
Flexibility: While he can move with a broad range of motion, when it comes to his back there really isn't much he can do. The heavy armor of his upper frame and bulky structure of his forearms, means that if something or someone is there, he will be unable to reach them to pry them free.
Weaknesses - Personality
Lying: Optimus finds lying painfully difficult, even if it is necessary to protect his team. Unintentionally he will display almost an aura of nervousness and uncertainty. While it is not overbearingly obvious, if someone is keeping close watch to his eye movements, stance, or minute changes in tone of voice, they may notice it. The only time he could give off passable lies is with single word responses.
As Megatron said- "Orion was never very adept in the art of Deception"
Stayed Hand: Killing is not really something that he can stomach with any form of ease. While he understands it isn't completely avoidable, and has downed many in this war out of self defense or necessity, should there be an option for mercy he will take that road. Every kill that is notched into his belt leaves a wound, rather than a bragging point.
Second Chances: Optimus is a bleeding spark. He wants to believe that there is good in everyone and that reason and logic resides within each living thing. He believes Decepticons truly do feel they are doing the right thing, and should they realize this isn't the case he will kindly offer salvation within the Autobots. This can leave him viable to misdirection and traps.
Chains of Leadership: With the burden of leading the Autobots and carrying the Matrix of Leadership, he finds it exceptionally difficult to find joy and fun in anything, as well as any form of relaxation. He believes he has to be working, thinking, planning, and any lull or break is allowing the Decepticons to get that much further ahead. He can't sit for too long before standing to move in some way, and finding recharge past the most basic to function and fight is borderline impossible. This has undoubtedly done damage, but he simply cannot turn off his own mind.
SPECIAL SKILLS:
Code Manipulation: Just because he has been outfitted for war, does not mean he has forgotten his intellectual side. Optimus still retains the information he knew as a Data Clerk, and can use it to crack Autobot encryption coding with enough patience and time invested into it. He also knows how to most efficiently search through databases to try to find the information he seeks, and how to hide and encode files into their own databanks.
Intelligence: With the wisdom of the Primes, he has resources at his fingertips not available to others. This permits him to siphon off past experiences both his own, and from past leaders, plucking out examples from within of how certain situations may turn out. Due to this capability, Optimus tries to be ahead of the opposition. This intelligence can be held out for his team to use, or withheld as needed to keep them all safe.
Just because he has the intelligence, however, does not mean he himself has done everything and does not know if it will play out perfectly in the current timeline. Some things need to be learned through action, through the experience of victory and failure, and he just has to accept that one can't always be two steps ahead.
EXTRA INFO:
Matrix of Leadership: Imprinted memories and echoes of Primes long gone, the Matrix is a complex object that seems to be a mix of mystic and mechanical properties. Its true internals and functions are shrouded in obscurity, since none of the Primes have taken it upon themselves to explain it beyond vague generalized concepts. What is apparent is the fact that it houses memories and experiences, and is a link to the All-Spark itself.
Name/Alias: Zercon
-Character Info-
Name: Optimus Prime
Age: Late Forties - Early Fifties
Gender: Mech
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Autobot
Original Occupation:
Data caste clerk for the Iacon Hall of Records - Mentored under Alpha Trion.
Occupation/Specialization:
Last surviving Prime and current leader of the Autobots.
APPEARANCE:
Image: LINK
Eyes: Mechanized and far from the sleek glass covered orbs of many others, Optimus' eyes consist of a series of apertures and rings in a dark gray color, all leading to a central smaller cyan lens plate. The outer rings visibly move while focusing.
Facial Features: Optimus has a plain faceplate with a couple of lines beneath his optics and broad brows overtop that are often set to a general neutral look. On either side are two vents that hide a retractable faceplate of heavy armor which covers the majority of his features when activated. Framing this is a series of blue armor, from a slimmer arched chin guard on the bottom, to a sleek dome that protects his processor on top. Attached to the front of the arching blue armor sits a crest that juts up in the front, balanced out by a series of three thin finials on either side of his helm that are anchored into audial disks.
Physical Build: Typically the tallest among his troops save for a few exceptions, Optimus is not a small Cybertronian in the slightest, standing with broad shoulders with rather dramatic heavy plating that hooks up on either side of his helm. Attached to each shoulder sits the Autobot emblem, and while his body may be constantly scraped with hairline cuts and burrs, the raised brand is always clean and pristine in a chrome finish.
His upper torso houses silver smoke stacks upon his back, while iron glass windshields that can take notable force sit on the front. Below this are two hefty latching bands of red armor, with a second set in chrome below to indicate 'ribs' which protect vitals with ease. The chrome bands hold small headlights. This mass leads down to a comparatively narrow silver waist and hips that are capped in thin cobalt paneling.
While Optimus' torso holds considerable width to house powerful components that add to his strength, his upper arms and legs are comparatively narrow, elbow and knee joints borderline fragile which is however relative given overall stability. Forearms and lower legs push out to far broader structures, forearms clad in red leading to narrow hands with squared off fingers, while his legs are cobalt and flare to house wheels and broad peds.
Altmode:
Peterbilt 379
Primarily red to account for his upper body, while a band of cobalt rings the bottom and takes over as the dominant color in the back beyond the sleeper cab. The vehicle is accented with chrome, and holds the Autobot emblem on the grill.
Pertinent History:
Starting off as a simple Data Clerk during the Golden Age, Orion soon earned a place within the Iacon Hall of Records due to his efficiency and dedication to his tasks. He flourished in this arrangement, happily accomplishing his duties and serving under his mentor Alpha Trion. However, the more he learned and delved into Cybertron's past, the more troubled he became for its future. There was a large disparity of freedom among the different classes of their world. The ruling class they had guiding them was corrupt and all-powerful, looking out for themselves more so than the greater good of their kind.
While seeking means to try and rectify this fault, he stumbled across the words and ideals of a Gladiator named Megatronus whose goals lined up with Orion's own hopes. The unlikely duo countered each other well. In Megatronus, Orion had a strong speaker to rally others, in Orion, Megatron had means to get access to information and avenues to launch his words further. In time, the unlikely friendship bordered on brotherhood, their reach gaining enough power to be granted an opportunity to speak to the Council.
This is where Megatronus' true nature unfurled and Orion's eyes were opened.
Displeased at Megatronus' violent demand for power and fearing they would lose their one chance for change, Orion stepped forward outside his comfort zone to take charge, casting aside his meeker ways to make an empowered speech. He spoke with passion and hope, his devotion to true equality and the better good moving the council. It earned him the title of Prime, even with the Matrix not viable to be handed over.
Orion had hoped his actions would still bring the outcome the duo had hoped for, that the newly titled Megatron would not be upset, but more... happy... that they made it another step up the stairway for the greater good, but such wishing was void. Soon after, the divide between teams occurred splitting the majority of Cybertronian into two factions, and the planet was plunged into war via Megatron's backlash, much to Orion's absolute horror.
Once conflict was bubbling up in surges, Orion got pushed into serving as a Military commander under Sentinel Zeta Prime with the assigned task to try to help suppress the violent surges of the working class. He was uncomfortable with everything about the war, and making decisions that affected so many, until the needless slaughtering of the Tower Bombings. This shook him on a core level, and forced him to shed much of his hesitancies to step forth into more assertive a post.
There was no other option.
Rallied, Orion faced every challenge with determined zeal, earning his metaphorical stars and learning swiftly the ways of war. He rose in power and ranking so much so that when Sentinel Zeta Prime fell in battle he took charge of the Autobots in full to help guide them forward. The Matrix had been lost upon the past Prime's demise, but was subsequently located upon traveling to the core of their world to try to cure the poison within it.
Facing what was effectively their god face to 'face', Optimus' spark was seen as befitting of the Matrix of Leadership, and the relic was granted to him in the process. Undergoing a drastic change of frame from a low armored data clerk to one equipped for war, Optimus took it upon himself to follow in the past Prime's footsteps and change his name to mark the transition, shedding off Orion and becoming Optimus Prime.
Despite his best efforts, the core of their world still went black.
The war had laid its mark on the land, the planet a dead husk of what it once was, leading to mass evacuation and forcing their conflict to spread across the stars. Many were lost in the trip, their population rocketing down to dangerous levels since the All-Spark had been sent away. The current stage of this war had now landed upon Earth, where the Omega One Outpost was created with the aid of new allies in the form of the United States Government.
Now with a strong enough footing on the planet's basics, Optimus sent out a broad interstellar message in order to call any Autobot survivors to Earth. This call to arms also simultaneously declared a warning to Decepticons and those that intended harm to the planet and its inhabitants, that the Autobots would fiercely protect their new homeland that had so graciously accepted them.
There were three years of stability after this, before the Decepticons returned in full with the emergence of their Leader from a long absence. The constant struggle has become all the more dire due to the Dark Energon he brought with him, despite additional Autobots answering the call to arms. It is upon this world Optimus tries to keep his troops together, through the subsequent madness and constant new threats that plague this unfamiliar world.
Optimus' well of patience is growing thin, and while he will never become the monster who he fights against with all his spark, he is learning some individuals need harsher jerks of a leash to remind them they are all in this together.
They cannot afford to fall apart into chaos.
PERSONALITY:
Optimus has a presence of power, stability, and control. His stance, his words, everything about him cries out of one that knows exactly what they are doing, actions moving with no hesitation to make judgment calls on what must be done in times of war. It is with this certainty that he guides his team with understanding and compassion towards others, but with the subtle edge needed in order to keep a stable military foundation still in play under the surface.
Choosing to act under the newer concept of 'family', Optimus leads with a goal of his troops building connections rather than being acquaintances that must rely on strangers. This social environment is something he will almost push for others to have, yet he finds it exceptionally difficult to get involved himself. Because of this, he can seem almost robotic and quite distant with his team.
His direct approach and more limited wording plays with his anti-social edge to create blunter responses. From simply noting others opinions rather than starting a debate, or saying a flat no in reply, he can almost seem detached with emotions altogether most of the time. This further reinforces the idea of an icon that stands before others rather than just another mech. However, while he plays this role well to a point others assume 'that is just how Primes are' the fact is he is mortal, he is not perfect, and he can feel emotions stronger than one would ever conceive by the way he outwardly carries himself.
This pendulum of highs or lows feels continuously canted towards negative with worry and concern, yet is projected as being the opposite to his troops. The burden of the decline of their species and the loss of their planet throws the scales of his inner emotions off balance. Guilt is a plaguing factor that corrupts with the added weight of how many lives now rest upon him and how many bodies he was forced to use as stepping stones to get to where they are now.
The heavy heart and weight of responsibility is a smothering cloak that pushes him to feel this need to hide his true worry and concerns. If he permits himself to show apprehension, how would that affect his team? How would that hurt their morale if he seemed uncertain? If he showed just how anxious some decisions made him to come to a conclusion with, would they trust him to even lead them? The illusion of control is one he carries well.
Sacrificing himself in order to give others hope, is the least he can do.
Patience: Optimus' tolerance is renowned, and he utilizes it to the best of his ability. He will endure chaos enough to try to get to the crux of the issue and speak others down from their posts rather than getting angry enough to yell or force to submission as other commanders may have through this war. This well of patience is almost frustratingly deep, though not infinite, an end is there and with every chaotic Autobot to continue to flow into the base, it grows ever strained.
Empathy: From always offering an audial to an Autobot in need, to an ability to understand and consider the viewpoints of the most extreme Decepticon. Optimus can rationalize many beliefs and ideas, even if he cannot condone or accept them as being right or just. While this empathy may be used to try to sway a Decepticon off their path, it is more often used to council Autobots who are stressed or in turmoil. While he is no therapist, he does what he can for his soldiers to keep their spirits high.
Regret: Optimus often thinks back to when the war was in its infancy. Back when things were so fragile and delicate, teetering on an edge between conflict and revolution. He worries if there was something he could have done, something he could have changed...
Not Perfect: While in his core he is a good soul, this does not mean he is incapable of feeling less than desirable emotions. Rage, revenge, animosity, he can become frustrated and upset with others if pushed the wrong way and spited. He will not outwardly display or act upon any of these unless pushed into a corner, but he will undergo internal debate. For fleeting moments he could process ire towards even an Autobot that is acting foolhardy or disobeying commands, but he would never outwardly express this anger voluntarily. He chooses to suffocate his own responses from a heave of exacerbation and rage, to a leveled chastising about how they disobeyed his directives and instruct what punishment will follow.
Acting more as a leader figure trying to teach, than a Lord demanding cooperation.
The only exception is when around Ratchet for he feels more capable of expressing older traits and how he feels, as the Medic had witnessed who he was before he became Optimus.
LIKES:
Order: While not a super uptight about things, Optimus does appreciate order to his surroundings and those around him. Excessive anarchy, such as sports or games that do not cause harm to their cause or base, will tend to drive him away so he does not need to watch all the potential disasters roll out. Formatted and more reserved situations and areas appeal to him greatly and give him even more clarity of mind.
Family: A human term he has just recently started to understand and embrace. He views his Autobots as a sort of familial team that looks out for one another, not out of obligation, but out of a want to do so.
Information: A data clerk at heart, he does find pleasure in learning about new things. New technology, new environments, new species, and most of all history, however the subject matter is not terribly important. With the war reaching increasingly strenuous turns, he finds time to read without guilt hard to accomplish, and has lapsed on learning much about the world they now call home.
Humans: ((To a degree)) As... troublesome as the human children can be, constantly making him worry about them being underfoot or slipping past them through the ground bridge into danger, their species is unique. The speed in which they adapt and grow to seek advancement is just a marvel to him. Compared to Cybertronian, humans live for only a blip of a moment before dying of old age, yet they accomplish so very much.
DISLIKES:
Idle Chitchat: While he is a patient soul, and would do what he can to make sure others are comfortable, it can become tiring if he is constantly bombarded with nonsensical stories or jabbering that has no link to current issues. He isn't really one for small talk, and if it breaches above a certain line, he isn't above just standing and walking out.
Excessive Force: Just because Optimus dislikes using force to achieve what they need, it does not mean he will not do so. He understands in war, one must sometimes do things they ordinarily would not.
Dishonesty: Optimus will trust others until they prove to him they are incapable of being trusted. Lying to him is almost stamping oneself with a permanent red mark. While he can take their thoughts into consideration after the deceit, unless the initial lie had good merit? He will always second guess what is spoken from them. It can take some time before his trust will fully rebuild, if it can at all depending on the initial affront.
Humans on Ground Level: This is almost a pet peeve to him. They have platforms raised high specifically for their kind, yet they tend to scramble on ground level where they are in quite a bit of danger. An accident is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Being Waterlogged: Getting rained on is one thing, but being completely submerged in water is another. Optimus does not like how it feels in the slightest, and as such is more likely to avoid large bodies of water if given the option.
Megatron: Or more, what he has become. The other Cybertronian used to be viewed almost as a brother to him, and he looked up to his ideals and strength while he was Orion. Now to see him fall so far from grace? Is painful. He will always hold a bit of hope, as irrational as it may be, that Megatron can someday see reason and be pulled around. Yet Optimus knows deep down the only outcome is extinguishing his spark.
STRENGTHS/WEAPONS:
Forearm Rifles: Slender with dual barrels on each limb, the forearm rifles are built to offer two forms of attack.
The primary blast is more for piercing power than actual cannon strength. This does not mean they cannot give a good hit that can knock someone off balance; it just implies they are more likely to spear medium armor and burn heavy than they are to rip off large pieces of metal upon impact. They are able to be fired with faster speed than the more charged attack.
The secondary blast is more akin to a true canon, needing a short power up before discharging with both barrels at once. This one is more likely to throw someone to the ground outright or cause more severe damage upon impact such as ripping a limb clean off or piercing into heavy armor. However, using this form of attack excessively drains reserves of power in hemorrhages.
Forearm Blades: In addition to the rifles, the large boxy forearms house enough room to also harbor double edged swords. Each sword is comprised of two thinner blades that fold out from opposite angles to clap together into one unified shape. These blades effectively double his reach as they are as long as his actual forearm is, and are capable of ripping into heavy armor with ease due to the power that can be pushed behind them, though Optimus' strikes are often more reserved than a full assault.
Heavy Armor: Outfitted for battle, Optimus is capable of taking an impact in strides. His shoulder, chest, forearm, and shin armor are exceptionally strong, providing adequate protection from many forms and levels of attack. While the rest of him is still reinforced, it does not hold the same standard and can't take quite as hard of hits, eeking more towards the medium level. Oddly enough it is the brightly colored areas that are the strongest, as if trying to draw the eye and aim of foes away from the weaker silver points.
Resiliency: Able to take a punch and keep kicking, Optimus is no stranger to injuries and will keep powering through it to try to reach an intended goal. He may not be able to shut down pain receptors within himself to keep on trudging along, but he will do the best he can to blot out his personal agony. He could stay upright while harboring injuries that could down another bot, though it is definitely not a pleasant experience.
This resiliency also applies to a desperate cling to life. Upon death's door he is capable of clutching on as long as possible until it simply is no longer an option, not one to give in easily even when standing upon the threshold of the All-Spark. He is determined to not leave his team.
Fighting Skills: Optimus had to learn to fight in a no mercy crash course at the onset of war in order to transition from a data clerk to a warrior. Now that he has settled into the role fully he is more than capable of applying his skills to combat to overpower normal opponents. Hard strikes with fist or blade, a heaving swing of a leg to sweep the limbs out from under a foe... he works with more calculated impacts and counters rather than acrobatics or outright speed.
Strength: Optimus has a hefty amount of power within him that doesn't always line up with his rather leggy frame. He can easily heave up moderate sized Cybertronian and throw or slam them down with enough force to cause destruction if he deems necessary. He has raw lifting power in his arms to the point he has the ability to pull one as heavy as Bulkhead up from off a ledge with only one arm, though that does take a drain from his reserves of energy.
Sure Footing: With a balanced mix of weight on his shoulders and legs split between the axis of his hip, his footing and stability is rather strong. With his heavy mass, this means when he plants his foot down it tends to stay in place until he desires to move.
WEAKNESSES - PHYSICAL
Weak Points: Optimus has primarily heavy armor, but this cannot apply everywhere while maintaining good mobility and function. Most notable are neck, inner elbows, behind the knees, and the sides of his abdomen. The elbows may be somewhat protected by branching armor flares that make a cage, but they are viable to strikes. In contrast, his knees are really only guarded by a narrow knee guard and are otherwise thin compared to his mass. They are put under extreme pressure so a strong enough strike could be devastating.
Heavy Weight: Optimus is rather hefty in mass, easily surpassing most other standard individuals. As such, it is impossible for him to maneuver upon more fragile environmental structures and buildings. Ice is particularly nerve wracking, and unless it is the arctic he will avoid.
Large Frame: Coupled with his weight, he has a tall frame that can make traversing in the Human's world a bit of a challenge. While it can be hard for most bots to duck under passageways or through subway tunnels, he simply is far too elevated to comfortably make such trips in any form.
Strenuous Fighting: Optimus has to make a choice, he either fights exceptionally hard in a short burst to reach a goal and then lull in a more rested state, or he has to move with level motions and a more marathon approach. Should he heave his mass and power at full tilt for too long his systems will start to overheat and cause strenuous pain to knees and other joints. Melting wire housings and localized shutdowns when high temps become too much are imminent unless he can ease back for a minute. This really only comes to play when fighting Megatron or multiple foes, while his more methodical approach tends to be enough for the standard brawl, given his power.
Forearm Delicacies: Due to the fact his forearm can transition from hand, to sword, to gun, only to also be used for his Alt-Mode, there are a lot of moving parts. To shoot or strike the limb in mid transformation would be devastating. While the timing window is exceptionally small, and would require skill to accomplish, the payout would be immense as it'd cripple his limb, if not make it tear itself apart from momentum into a flurry of red and steel plating.
Disorientation: Optimus is upright essentially all of his time. His large size and the way his frame is balanced make it so that in combat he seldom, if ever, is thrown or ends up upside down. He has enough coordination and self awareness to launch out of his Alt-Mode, roll, and end up upon his feet just fine. However, should he be launched off axis to roll off a cliff, or be slung upside down beyond his control, he struggles to orient and can freeze up for a good bit.
Flexibility: While he can move with a broad range of motion, when it comes to his back there really isn't much he can do. The heavy armor of his upper frame and bulky structure of his forearms, means that if something or someone is there, he will be unable to reach them to pry them free.
Weaknesses - Personality
Lying: Optimus finds lying painfully difficult, even if it is necessary to protect his team. Unintentionally he will display almost an aura of nervousness and uncertainty. While it is not overbearingly obvious, if someone is keeping close watch to his eye movements, stance, or minute changes in tone of voice, they may notice it. The only time he could give off passable lies is with single word responses.
As Megatron said- "Orion was never very adept in the art of Deception"
Stayed Hand: Killing is not really something that he can stomach with any form of ease. While he understands it isn't completely avoidable, and has downed many in this war out of self defense or necessity, should there be an option for mercy he will take that road. Every kill that is notched into his belt leaves a wound, rather than a bragging point.
Second Chances: Optimus is a bleeding spark. He wants to believe that there is good in everyone and that reason and logic resides within each living thing. He believes Decepticons truly do feel they are doing the right thing, and should they realize this isn't the case he will kindly offer salvation within the Autobots. This can leave him viable to misdirection and traps.
Chains of Leadership: With the burden of leading the Autobots and carrying the Matrix of Leadership, he finds it exceptionally difficult to find joy and fun in anything, as well as any form of relaxation. He believes he has to be working, thinking, planning, and any lull or break is allowing the Decepticons to get that much further ahead. He can't sit for too long before standing to move in some way, and finding recharge past the most basic to function and fight is borderline impossible. This has undoubtedly done damage, but he simply cannot turn off his own mind.
SPECIAL SKILLS:
Code Manipulation: Just because he has been outfitted for war, does not mean he has forgotten his intellectual side. Optimus still retains the information he knew as a Data Clerk, and can use it to crack Autobot encryption coding with enough patience and time invested into it. He also knows how to most efficiently search through databases to try to find the information he seeks, and how to hide and encode files into their own databanks.
Intelligence: With the wisdom of the Primes, he has resources at his fingertips not available to others. This permits him to siphon off past experiences both his own, and from past leaders, plucking out examples from within of how certain situations may turn out. Due to this capability, Optimus tries to be ahead of the opposition. This intelligence can be held out for his team to use, or withheld as needed to keep them all safe.
Just because he has the intelligence, however, does not mean he himself has done everything and does not know if it will play out perfectly in the current timeline. Some things need to be learned through action, through the experience of victory and failure, and he just has to accept that one can't always be two steps ahead.
EXTRA INFO:
Matrix of Leadership: Imprinted memories and echoes of Primes long gone, the Matrix is a complex object that seems to be a mix of mystic and mechanical properties. Its true internals and functions are shrouded in obscurity, since none of the Primes have taken it upon themselves to explain it beyond vague generalized concepts. What is apparent is the fact that it houses memories and experiences, and is a link to the All-Spark itself.
Optimus is woven tightly into the artifact, all of his memories and who he is since the point he was labeled Prime by the Council are locked into the object. This means if it is taken away or drained of all its energy, he will revert to the moment before he stood up to make his empowered speech. Optimus as everyone knows him would still be 'alive' though just another imprint in the Matrix core, serving to guide and help whoever is next to bear the mantle.
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