Tachyous Prime
The head elder of the Maximal Council, caught in a dangerous political game with the Predacons. Created by OpMaximus.
Name: Tachyous Prime
Faction: Maximal
Rank: High Elder to the Maximal Council of Elders
Function: Supreme Commander of Non-Wartime Maximal Government and Military. Chief Executive and Legislator.
Type: Regular (Beast Warrior)
Beast Mode: None (Modeless by virtue of position)
Gender: Male
Hei 12ft.
History
Publicly, Tachyous Prime rose to political prominence first as a small time bureaucrat from a large district on Cybertron, and then later as an ambitious member of many governmental councils. Through a network of friends and supporters, gained largely by measures falling just short of bribery, he was elected to the Maximal Council of Elders (by a razor thin margin) at the age of 98 SC. As a junior member of the Council, Tachyous was a brash and outspoken. He garnered the contempt of the primarily old guard Council with his lavish life style and “bully pulpit” grandstanding. After the death or retirement of many senior members of the Council, Tachyous again rallied his supporters, winning the position of High Elder at an unprecedented age (113 SC). The “Prime” suffix was added to his name to denote his new position. He has held this post ever since, occasionally using his power and authority to ensure the election of Council Members who share his political and social views on Cybertron and the Galaxy at large.
Unofficially, the ‘bot known as Tachyous rose to his position on the Maximal Council through the support of the Predacon Tripredacus Council. Between the triumvirate’s considerable resources, and Tachyous’s own small support base, he was just able to secure the prestigious office. During the fifteen years he spent as a junior Councilman, Tachyous was almost universally reviled as a bully and an idiot. Many of the old guard Council members deliberately went to grate lengths to legislate around what they considered the biggest mistake on Cybertron. However, time won Tachyous’s battles for him. After only a short time in office, the rigors of old age forced many of his opponents out of office. In the ensuing vacuum of power, and again with the covert assistance of the Tripredacus Council (notably the Triumvirate named Cicadon), he was able to elevate himself to the position of High Elder. As Tachyous Prime, Tachyous proceeded to manipulate the Council, lacing it with junior Councilmen harboring loyalty more to him than the greater ideals of the Cybertronian state. Though he would very much like to forget it, the Predacons have not forgotten the vital assistance they rendered Tachyous Prime in his early years. They hold it over his head and force him to comply with their wishes on various “small and unimportant” matters of Predacon policy. This is why, under his administration, the Maximal Council has opened political relations with the Tripredacus Council, and even gone so far as to allow them a number of private audiences.
On a recent space flight, the Tripredacus Councilman Cicadon accosted Tachyous Prime. The Triumvirate reminded the High Elder of the assistance he had personally rendered, and threatened scandal to keep him in line. Believing himself to be above such blackmailing, Tachyous Prime took a belligerent attitude toward the Predacon. In response, Cicadon slipped the first half of a lethal cyber-virus into the High Elder’s drink. After Tachyous had unknowingly consumed the virus, Cicadon informed him of its “unique” properties, and told him that if he didn’t do as he (emphasis on Cicadon as opposed to the Tripredacus Council) said, the other half of the virus would be administered by an unspecified means. Tachyous Prime still carries the dormant half of the virus in his systems, fearing that everything he eats or drinks may contain the deadly trigger. It placed him effectively under Cicadon’s control, and to a lesser extent, that of the Tripredacus Council.
Prime, as High Elder, personally supervised the trial of certain Maximal 'Freedom Fighters' charged with terrorist acts committed on the planet of Gaiana. Under orders from Cicadon to stifle the Defense's case, Tachyous gave the Prosecution almost unheard of leeway in presenting their arguements. Though this act was considered very suspicious by some, or at least heavily biased, his position allowed him to get away with it in a reasonably easy manner. His efforts would have been successful if not for the suprise testimony of the Predacon General Blacklight (there at the behest of Tripredacus Councilmen Ramhorn and Seaclamp, who had entered into a conspiracy against fellow Triumvate Cicadon). Though startled by the shocking turn of events in chambers, Prime accurately infered that Cicadon's power had diminished greatly in the high Predacon council. Gambling, with his life on the line, he threw his lot in with Ramhorn and Seaclamp. Considering Cicadon's death only days later, this would appear to have been a good move for him.
Currently, Prime maintains his position as High Elder. With Cicadon dead, he believed that the shadow of his blackmail might be lifted. He was wrong. The blackmail remained. It was only the holders of his leash that changed. Like Cicadon before, Tachyous is now firmly in the grip of Tripredacus Councilmen Ramhorn and Seaclamp.
Personality
Tachyous Prime is a marginally intelligent bully with a commanding presence and short-lived temper. In chambers he tends to be very short and insulting to any Councilman disagreeing with his point of view. He is an impatient ‘bot, with no time for matters he does not deem important to him, or beneath his concern. Lately, the matters that do concern him gravitate toward the whims of Cicadon and the Tripredacus Council. He is afraid of the trigger component to his cyber-virus to the point of near paralysis. As such he will do nearly anything to avoid disfavor in Cicadon’s eyes. He will do it unthinkingly and unerringly. Because of the threat of the trigger virus, Tachyous Prime has become very suspicious of everything, especially the ‘bots around him.
Appearance
Tachyous Prime is a large, 12 foot tall bot with a solid, powerful construction reminiscent of (or so his flatters say) the ancient Rodimus Prime. The comparison is not completely without merit. Large square sections of the High Elder’s legs, torso, and arms are an almost crimson red. His shoulders and forearms are accented with bands of yellow, while his entire body is chased with silver accents. His face is an elegant silver mask with long graceful features, topped by thick crimson plating that closely resembles a helmet. Tachyous Prime’s optics are a bright yellow and he has a red maximal symbol engraved in his left breastplate. He speaks in a deep booming voice that is enough to intimidate most ‘bots. Even some on the Council of Elders itself.
Statistics
Strength: 7
Speed: 6
Skill: 5
Aim: 4
Intelligence: 8
Discipline: 5
Stamina: 5
Firepower: 7
Luck: 8
Weapons and Equipment
-Specially Designed Laser Pistol: Based on a design used by high level Maximal Army operatives, this squat black hand gun produces a quick succession of high energy laser bolts. The deep yellow bolts are effective at up to a hundred yards (though Tachyous Prime could never hope to hit anything at that range), and are enough to fatally injure most ‘bots at close range. Though this is ridiculously powerful for a normal ‘bot, Tachyous was able to pull strings as High Elder and have his model crafted. It is important to note that the gun was only produced at large cost to the Maximal government. It is his only armament, and he stores it in a specially designed thigh compartment on his right side.
Graphics Provided by Riboflavin
