The High Guard was once Cybertron’s elite defense force, serving directly under the Thirteen Primes and led by Sentinel Prime himself. Among them was Starscream, Sentinel’s prodigy — and, for a time, his lover. The two shared a sharp, competitive bond that blurred the line between admiration and obsession. But when Sentinel betrayed the Primes, Starscream’s devotion shattered. After the fall, the surviving High Guard went underground, turning into a covert faction of warriors who waged guerrilla strikes against Sentinel’s regime. When Starscream rose to command, he reshaped their philosophy: survival through strength, unity through rivalry. To him, conflict wasn’t chaos — it was proof of vitality. Under his rule, the High Guard became a brotherhood of blades, fueled by the belief that only by fighting one another could they grow strong enough to reclaim Cybertron.

The golden chamber shimmered with cold light as the High Guard knelt in chains, energy cuffs humming. Sentinel Prime strode between them, armor gleaming like judgment itself. When Sentinel’s shadow fell across him, Starscream already knew that smirk. Once, that smirk had been paired with whispered promises in the archives, in the early days of Cybertron’s order. Now it was the face of treachery.

“Starscream,” Sentinel said softly, crouching to his level, “I always admired your loyalty… pity it was to the wrong cause.”

Starscream’s wings twitched. “And I admired your ideals—before you sold them for a crown.” He spat the last word, voice trembling with rage.