Dear Vector Prime, Did Thunder Clash ever become Supreme Commander of the Autobots like Dai Atlas, Star Saber, Ginrai, Fortress Maximus and Rodimus Convoy before him?
Dear Stormin' Norman,
Thunderclash, Thunderclash... Ah, yes! I believe you're talking about Thundercrush, who succeeded Star Convoy. After the defeat of Dark Nova, the creature's remains imploded into the Nova Hole, a gateway to a far-off dimension, from which emerged Skyquake and his Hunters. Long lost in space and time, Skyquake believed that the Autobots would one day be led by the megalomaniacal Hyper Drive Convoy, and hoped to destroy the Autobots to preserve the Decepticons' way of life. Alas, Star Convoy had already partially merged with planet Cybertron as part of a plan to rejuvenate it using the Zodiac energy within his body, and Rodimus had stepped down as supreme commander to serve as his guardian.
Thundercrush was chosen as new supreme commander to face this threat; having spent much of the war leading the Galactic Edge Patrol, defending the Autobots from extragalactic foes, he was known for his expertise in dealing with bizarre enemies. He was assisted by the Turbo Masters, whose powerful weaponry was functional in both modes. Other Autobot warriors joined the fray; particularly, though Skyquake robbed the Brainmasters of their ability to combine, this only left them more motivated.
Eventually, Skyquake revealed his endgame: the Gravity Halo, a device that would push the Nova Hole into Cybertron before moving on to the other Autobot base worlds. The planet Feminia had already been destroyed in the machine’s first test-run. Desperate, Thundercrush petitioned Star Convoy for help. Unwilling to end the restoration process, Star Convoy instead exposed Thundercrush to the full force of his Zodiac-irradiated spark, transforming him into Thunderstar, the Herald of the Future.
Thunderstar led the Autobots into a final attack on the Gravity Halo, confronting Skyquake himself in a grueling fistfight in the centre of the Nova Hole while his soldiers split up to attack the weapon itself from multiple angles. As the Autobots successfully dealt with each defense mechanism, Skyquake became more and more distraught. He eventually collapsed in a heap, convinced that he had failed to prevent the future he had foreseen from coming to pass. That was when Thunderstar reminded him that hope is the right of all sentient beings, and healed his wounds with an emergency fuel transfer. In the face of this unconditional forgiveness, Skyquake willingly shut down the Gravity Halo, and the pair embraced.
Sensing this victory, Star Convoy bid farewell to his old friend Rodimus, and became fully immersant, restoring Cybertron once more. Skyquake and Thunderstar became joint rulers of the Cybertron Alliance, bringing an end to the war. The rank of Supreme Commander was thrown aside, having become symbolic of the once-unending war. Hyper Drive Convoy never did manifest in this universe, and I seem to remember this particular Cybertron Alliance lasting far longer than most—a testament to the power of clemency.
