Alternate Modes
Alternates modes (or altmodes) are an intrinsic and important part of Cybertronian biology and culture. An altmode is a Cybertronian's non-robot mode and can be a vehicle, a weapon, an instrument/tool or an animal. They are able to transform, physically, thanks to their Transformation cog (t-cog).
Cybertronians are typically forged with their altmode already encoded, though it can be changed later, either for utility purposes or as disguises. A bot's altmode can be changed but the kind of altmode can not without a system overhaul as base specs (size, grounder/flyer, etc.) are hardcoded at creation. See: Megatron had his altmode specs rewritten to go from a low altitude mining vehicle to a spacecraft, but those are both large flying vehicles. He could't, say, make himself a grounder or a pendrive. Gestated bots also emerge with thier altmodes encoded, but will not be able to fully transform or scan a new altmode until they've reached functional maturity (see: reproduction and growth). They will be able to transform into a more simplified version of their altmode when their bodies have become fully proportional.
For a large part of Cybertron's history, there were a number of Functionist laws in place that placed Cybertronians in a caste system based on altmode type and rarity. The frustrations and unrest that grew under this system were a defining factor in the creation of the Decepticon faction. While the official, hardline functionist laws and politics have largely been abandoned throughout the war, functionist sentiments are still widely felt among the upperclass.
As Altmodes are such an integral part of Cybertronian society, it can be difficult for those with non-normative modes, even without functionist sentiments. Techno-organics, while discrinimated against for their general exsistance, are looked down on for not having 'proper' altmodes. Blackarachnia, for example, has a giant spider.
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Energon soluble vs. Non-energon soluble
The prefered form of sustinance for Cybertronians is Energon, a substance mined in crystaline form from energon farms and typically taken in liquid form. While energon is the most efficient and enjoyable form of sustinance, it's not all they eat. Oil and Gasoline are the most common for earthbound bots, though the traces of organic material in oil can cause slight changes to Cybertronian function if taken in long term (probrably nothing to worry about) and solid foods like Energon goodies, oil cakes and rust stix are also common.
Enegon and substances that can fuction similarly are called Energon Soluble materials. They are things that the body can take in and use to power itself and, notable, to power self repair systems. they do not contain the materials that make up the Cybertronian frame, but they facilitate the creation of them. in contrast, Non-Energon Soluble Material are things that make up cybertronians that they can not typically eat (it also, technically, can refer to organic material that is wholely indigestable to Cybertronians, but those things are usually assumed to not be part of the conversation). Protomatter and most metals are considered non-energon soluble. Some materials like rust (the form used in rust stix and other treats) are considered soluble because the oxidation process makes it easier for fuel tanks to deal with. Still, it's not considered healty to eat in large amounts.
Some bots, notably Decepticons forged or reformatted during the war were given the ability to digest non-energon soluble materials due to energon shortages and long periods spent off world with little rations. While there are many sources of non-energon soluble materials, the most available source during active battle in a war (and the most unsavory) is Cybertronian bodies themelves, giving many cons a bad rep as being cannibals.
Reproduction
Cybertronian primarily reproduce through forging: the process of creating protoforms (blank bases made from protomatter) of varying models and placing spark within them/building on top of them to create fully formed and mature Cybertronian. Forged bots are almost always created for a specific purpose, and are typically put into training for their purpose of given to a designated 'master' to apprentice under after creation. Bots can also be forged for other cybertronians, to act as apprentices for the bots who ordered/designed them (their creators), or as sparklings. Bots can be forged at an earlier stage of development so their creators can raise them, rather than trying for a gestational sparkling.
Cybertronians can also reproduce sexually, though many don't bother. Cybertronian fertility is famously low, making trying for a sparkling extremely unlikely to work out unless considered in the longterm (ie: multiple thousands of years of regular interfacing). Add this to the time and energy it takes to gestate a sparkling in the first place, and it becomes clear why most would prefer to forge. (not everyone, though.)
Most members of the main cast were forged: Megatron (as a soldier), Optimus (general build, but send into an officer program), and Bulkhead (farming). Some were forged for specific creators: Ultra Magnus and Steel Maxims (Military/Officer, created by Goldenrook), Sentinel (Officer, created by Steel Maxims), and Shockwave (Military use, created by Panopticon). Very few were gestated: Bumblebee and Wasp (by Grubwranger and unknown sires), and Swindle (by Ironhazard and Sidewinder).
Growth
Cybertronian bodies grow and change naturally as they age, not just through upgrades and reformatting, which are manual processes. All bots will change, even thoughs forged fully formed, as they move through the stages of Cybertronian development. These are as followed-
new spark- a newly formed spark/a spark that doesn't get have a frame to hold it.
Typically used to refer to gestated sparks, but sparks formed to be placed in forged protoforms are also considered new sparks. While new spark is the term for this specific stage of development, older bots will often refer to any bot under a certain age (usually their first century) a newspark, either as a term of endearment or an insult.
sparkling- a bit with a frame who is not yet ready to survive outside their carrier's tank.
Even bots forged to a young age are rarely created this small as sparklings are still fairly unstable and require a lot of energy and recourses to get to a point where they are able to survive after emergance. This stage is where physical defects are most common, typically due to lack of nutrition, disease, or injury to the gestational tank. The time frame for gestation is very flexible, as it depends on the carrier's health, energy levels, size, model, etc. Some bots can purposefully slow the growth of their sparklings to reserve energy in dire situations without having to terminate, functionally placing their sparkling in stasis (though this is not at all recomended and has very little study behind it to make sure there are no ill effects on the sparkling). Some bots, expecially small bots, physically can't handle longterm carryings and have to be forced into emergance.
pupae- a newly emerged bit, similar to a human infant.
Pupae are able to survive outside their carriers, but are not fully formed or proportional and therefor can't transform. pupae haven't formed any natural 'armour' around their frames, so their sparks are exposed along with their 'soft spots' (the small gaps between plating along the ridge of their heads). Most pupae begin to form armour and the first traces of physical odd ends like helm features at this stage and their basic helms should form within about six months. Their natural colouring will be present, but not as intricate as it may be as they age. Their protomatter is very squishy, though it hardens as they age. (see to the right- Stalk is a pupae, newly emerged.)
bitlet- the stage between pupae and mechling, similar to a human toddler.
For most bots, this stage will begin about three earth years after emergence. Their colouring will start moving to its correct placements, and their protomatter hardens, but their sparks are still exposed for most of this stage. They're not yet fully proportional, but they can begin practicing shifting and flexing their plating as it begins to form their armour. Many creators call their bits bitlet long past this stage, as it's a very cute term and embaresses their bits terribly.
(see image to the left- Carryon and Maximfly are bitlets.)
mechling/femmeling- A bit that is nearly/fully proportional, similar to a human child (5-12).
This stage tends to begin three to five years after the bitlet stage begins. This stage is typically marks a number of milestones in a bit's growth: the ability to properly transform, the full solidification of armour and colouring, and the covering of the spark chamber. While their outer bodies are finishing their development and now just need to grow, their inner workings still need fine tuning- something regularly transforming can help with. Because they're not fully to size yet, their altmodes may be smaller and slightly simplified from what they will be as grown bots. Most mechlings's weapons systems are operational within a few years. Their mental/logical systems are still very underdeveloped, but at this stage they begin to make more rapid progress. Mechling is technically considered a gender neutral term, as the majority of the cybertronian population are considered mechs.
(see image to the right- Lurch and Hark are both mechlings.)
neophyte- a bit that is fully proportional and physically calibrated, but may still have growing to do and mental development to work on. similar to a human teenager.
This stage tends to begin about 15 years after the mechling stage and it can last up to the rest of their first century, making cybertronians a relatively quickly growing race considering their lifespans. Neophytes are still considered young but usually aren't called bits anymore. As they've reached their physical maturity for the most part, neophytes are eligable for upgrades, but not reformats as they can damage their growth.
The names for these stages of life come from different time periods and areas, so they don't all sound the same (similar to how humans have adult and child but also teenager and toddler).
Upgrades and Reformats
Cybertronian frames can be changed and supplimented in a number of ways, both consentually and not. The most common forms are Upgrades and Reformats. The primary difference between the two is that upgrades are temporary, small and can be removed, exsisting seperately from a bot's frame, while reformats are permenant, typically large scale and built into a bot. A bot like Lockdown for example has many upgrades, enough so that they've begun to ship of theseus his original frame, but all of them can be removed and switched out at will. Optimus on the other hand, who went through a minor reformatting with his ascention to the rank of Prime, cannot remove those changes (they're mostly cosmetic, with some strenghtening of his struts and hardening his sparkchamber.)
Common upgrades include weapons, defense systems, altmode addons and sensory heighteners. While these are all used and common in military settings, they're also useful for civilians. Optimus' axe, for example, while working well for fighting, is also very useful in space bridge repair! Also, because upgrades are seperate from the bot's frame, they can be removed relatively easily for better and worse. Better because they can be switched out, removed and fixed as needed. Worse, because upgrades can be forcefully removed and stolen by others (notably by skull faced bounty hunters.)
Reformats are most common in the military, usually by younger bots looking to get a better chance in the military/cover the most common weaknesses of their models and reformats given to specific ranks to make them harder to kill and give a more standardized look. Civilians often have little use for reformats unless they're drastically changing their occupations.
Less common are altmode overhauls. While general stats of an altmode are hardcoded (see altmode section above), the physical reality of a bot's altmode can be either slightly altered or completely redone (though the process is wildly expensive, even for more minor changes.) Some bots, like Megatron, overhaul their altmodes for military or political reasons. Other bots, like Blitzwing, didn't have a choice in the matter.
On that note, not every change is freely chosen or consensual. Many bots in politically dangerous positiions (minorities, prisoners, political dissidents, etc.) are often put through unlawful and unethical augmentations. Domestication, for example, is a form of torture done to Cybertronians with beast modes, lobotomizing them and denting their T-cogs so as to leave them basically an animal. In prewar Cybertron, the tradition of Empurata was a punishment given to criminals (and those who went against the senate) where their hands and heads were removed and replaced with faceless heads and claws. Shockwave was one such victims.
