Transformers Beyond: Legendarium (OLD)

Chapter XII: The Age of Order

The Age of Order, also known as the Functionist Era, was a time of great strife on Cybertron as the planet was under the increasingly oppressive rule of its ruling bodies, with the caste system of Functionism becoming a major social institution following the Republic of Cybertron's isolationism from the wider galactic community.

Approx. 16 million stellar cycles ago:

Following the infamous Combatron Wars and Border Wars, Cybertronian society fell into a melancholic malaise. In the aftermath of such destructive conflicts, extreme measures were taken to ensure such horrors never again threatened Cybertron with Nominus Prime passing the Nominus Edict, a piece of legislation that would end the Cybertronian expansion and undergo isolationism from the rest of the galaxy in order to ensure security and stability on Cybertron for eons to come.

With the Neo-Colonial Period at an end, the caste system of Functionism is reconstituted as the dominant social system on Cybertron in the face of dwindling energon reserves. The caste system was implemented by Nominus Prime during the post-Second Cybertronian Civil War reconstruction period to maintain a stable society. Cybertronians still believe there is a sense in the idea that everyone is best at one thing and meant for that one thing alone. They never stopped dividing people into roles primarily based on what alt-mode or body-type a Cybertronian had. But more than before, Cybertron becomes incredibly oppressive with the increase of Functionist sentiment, as bots are expected to stick to a single job determined by their alt-mode. Many Cybertronian subspecies within the low castes, most notably outliers, beastformers, monoformers, and even cold-constructed Cybertronians face prejudice and discrimination from a large majority of the upper and middle castes. As for Minicons, they're commonly viewed with suspicion by their Guzzler cousins as both the Senate and the Functionist High Council employ some Minicons to serve as their secret police.

After the passing of the Nominus Edict, the Senate and the Functionist High Council grow increasingly corrupt, deciding that it was now time for a power play as the title of Prime was now subordinate to them. Using their far more organized regimen, the two ruling bodies managed to sneak legislations and other laws that gave them increasing power, leading to a cold war between the Senate and the Functionists with both sides slowly but surely gaining more power to see which one would become the dominant power on all of Cybertron. Notable Senators in office at this time included First Senator Proteus, along with Halogen, Decimus, Ixion, Torenia Pax, Dai Atlas, Shockwave, Ratbat, Trannis, Crosscut, Sherma, Momus, Contrail, Sigil, Drivetrain, Levitacus, Avalon, Gravitas, Crisscross, Heretech, Golbax, Raja, Tantalus, Kudon, Vraz, Eronus, Neo, Templar, Emeritus, Afflous, and Thalos. Notable Functionist High Councilors in office at this time included Head Councilor Steelheart, along with Nightwielder, Obliteration, Refractionary, Fortuity, Firefight, Repulsor, Deathpoint, Conflux, Limelight, Faultline, and Regalia.

The Senate quickly cracked down on Cybertronian society, implementing numerous authoritarian policies, and beginning excess mining, turning once grand city-states like Kaon, Tarn, Helex, Kolkular, Blaster City, and Slaughter City into industrial wastelands. Secretly with the aid of the Cult of the Black Epoch, corrupt Senators are able to eliminate many transgressors to their rule and also increase their political power. As for the Functionist High Council, they begin to militarize in order to cement their authority. All members of the Council, including Steelheart, were high-level Outliers with extraordinary powers. The Functionists erase all information about them, including their identities as outliers, so that it won't be used against them. The Functionist High Council recruits many powerful outliers into their private militia forces, the Functionaries and the elite Council Guardians.

Approx. 15 million stellar cycles ago:

Wallowing in a self-imposed cultural stagnation and decline, Nominus Prime and the Senate turn a blind eye to the degeneration of Cybertronian culture as the people--increasingly oppressed by the caste system and strict energon rationing--turn to hedonism, decadence, and criminality to their dissatisfied lives some sort of meaning. Many low-caste and middle-caste citizens start careers at the illegal gladiatorial pits in the Badlands, with the Elite Guard trying to shut down the games but to no avail. The Senate, aware of why the games began, does nothing to stop them.