#cloudstrike bayverse

“Strength is proven by those you protect.” (hehe their motto)

"The Stratos Vanguard" is an independent Cybertronian organization allied with the Autobots, led by Commander Cloudstrike. Although they share many of the Autobots' ideals: protecting innocent life, opposing tyranny, and resisting the Decepticons, they are not part of the Autobot chain of command and operate under their own leadership, structure, and objectives.

Originally formed as a specialized rapid-response force, the Stratos Vanguard is built around speed, precision, intelligence, and coordinated action. Their members are known for now choosing highly optimized racing vehicles as their alternate modes, reflecting a culture that values efficiency, engineering excellence, and control. While this makes them stand out among most Cybertronians, the Vanguard sees these forms as practical tools rather than status symbols.

The organization is relatively small, with only a handful of elite members (thirteen members in total), each fulfilling a specific role within the team. Rather than acting as a conventional army, they function as a mobile task force capable of reconnaissance, strategic intervention, asset protection, intelligence gathering, and high-risk operations across vast distances.

Among allies, members are simply referred to as Vanguards, while many Decepticons know them by the nickname "Skywardens." The name originated from their habit of appearing unexpectedly on rooftops, ridgelines, elevated structures, and strategic vantage points long before anyone realizes they are present. To their enemies, the Stratos Vanguard has earned a reputation for always watching first and arriving exactly when they are least wanted.

Although independent, the relationship between the Stratos Vanguard and the Autobots is exceptionally close. Optimus Prime and Cloudstrike have worked together for thousands of years, and mutual trust between the two organizations runs deep. When a crisis exceeds the capabilities of a single Autobot team, the arrival of the Stratos Vanguard often signals that the situation has become truly serious.

I mean, I wanted to go the more original route instead of making them all Autobots or Decepticons; having your own faction is cool, right? I haven't seen much of this. And doing them in the Bayverse isn't for the weak (but I think they would look good in TP or RiD)💔.

Okay here's a sketch of Cloudstrike not even painted done with sweat blood and tears omg why are they so hard to draw