#transformers mermay

Returning to the subject of suspected members of Optimus Primes harem, Prowl is a prominent member of the autobot pod. Like Mirage, he is broadly speculated to have either been adopted or else was an already prominent member of a smaller pod that was absorbed into the autobots. There is enough evidence for both theories that it is generally accepted that he wasn't born into the pod.

Up until this point when discussing the autobot pod members it has generally been seen that they are more accepting and friendlier towards humans in their territory. The social openness of mer like Bumblebee, Jazz, and Wheeljack have already been noted as examples. However, this doesn't mean the pod as a whole is so easy to approach.

A good example of this is Prowl who tends to avoid human contact or otherwise keep his distance whenever possible. In fact, he's been seen deliberately disappearing from sight even when his fellow pod members remain out in the open. Why exactly he does this is as of yet unknown. While it could be a reaction of fear, it could also be a strategic action to increase the overall groups safety. Seperating one member to run for aid should anything go wrong. Or else keeping someone on the perimeter as a lookout.

Regardless of his anti-social behavior, Prowl has still been observed frequently thanks to frequently being in the presence of other members of the pods leadership like Optimus Prime and Jazz. In fact, when they are in the area Prowl might actually stick around more closely. It's because of this that researchers are able to confirm that he is another member of the harem alongside Jazz and may be one of the most prominent members.

It is speculated that Jazz and Prowl may be mates. However, given how little is known about mer mating habits, this can't be fully confirmed. The theory is largely based how, in the past, Prowl has been observed rearing at least one pup. A young mer named Bluestreak who has since grown into adolescence. It's unknown if Bluestreak was an adopted member of a previous pod that Prowl was a member of, or if Prowl birthed him. And in the latter case its even more unknown who the sire of the pup could be. Though Jazz is a popular candidate the lack of clearly shared features between the two make it difficult to speculate. Although Jazz was observed taking part in the rearing of the pup alongside Prowl. Muddying the waters even further.

MERMAY TRANSFORMERS!

Counteracting Starscreams treacherous reputation, as well as his violent relationship with Megatron, is Soundwaves loyalty and devotion.

Identifying members of Megatrons harem has been hard due to the territorial nature of the Decepticon pod. However pretty much all observing researchers agree that if Megatron, like so many other merformer pod leaders, has a harem then Soundwave is guaranteed to be a member. Not only that, he may have produced pups with him given he has been observed with at least two smaller merformers who are believed to be his children. But this idea doesn't necessarily have any solid evidence as mer just as frequently adopt orphaned mer from both within and out of their pod. A behavior Soundwave has been observed taking part in previously.

That being said while the two being Soundwave and Megatrons children is possible and may even be likely, researchers have been unable to confirm the parentage of the presumed pups. Approaching a merformer caring for young without being welcomed by the mer themselves is considered risky even with the mildest mannered of mer. It would be presumably deadly with any member of the decepticon pod. So any actual investigation has been deemed impossible.

Especially as Soundwaves place by Megatrons side has been more than earned. He is a powerful warrior that appears at Megatrons side in every territorial conflict and rivals Starscream in his intelligence. Many cameras and observation devices that humans have used to try and record and track the members of the decepticon pod are believed to have been removed and destroyed by Soundwave himself.

The decepticon mermech pod is one of the most difficult pods to research. It's members are usually violent, anti-social, and usually avoid cameras.

Usually.

Knock Out is the well known exception to the rule. He is easily one of the most photographed and recorded members of the decepticon pod and researchers strongly suspect that this is, to some degree, on purpose. In so far as any mermech can be claimed to be vain, or loving attention from outsiders, Knock out is definitely the standout example of this behavior.

However, any would be researcher shouldn't mistake his vanity displays as a sign of comfort or even approval of the presence of humans in decepticon territory. Sightings of Knock Out are generally treated as an early warning sign that there are other decepticon pod members in the area, and most crews will begin immediate removal of any ship or crew from the area. Furthermore Knock Out himself has been known to attack ships at the slightest provocation.

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Jazz is the performer of the autobot pod. Much like Bumblebee he has been observed being friendly to humans. But unlike Bee, who likes to get up close, Jazz tends to keep his distance. Performing flips and singing for ships that pass by the pod or through autobot territory.

He can get a great deal of distance when he jumps from the water and is an acrobatic swimmer. Being able to move through the water like a dancer. Jazz is also a marvelous singer, being considered living proof that the old stories of sailors being lured to their deaths by the singing of mers has an element of truth to it.

While all of this gives Jazz a lighthearted air and has made him, just like Bumblebee, popular amongst humans who are friendly to the pod; Jazz is has been reported to be one of the most dangerous members of the autobot pod when crossed. Arrested pirates have actually reported seeing him crawl up the edge of their ships to pull people overboard, and has been observed frequently being in the midst of the fighting when the autobots get into conflicts with other.

Now for Bumblebee!

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Despite his small size, Bumblebee is one of the most prominent members of the autobot pod. His bravery and skills as a scout make up for both his size and his inexperience and has earned him the trust of Optimus Prime himself.

Bumblebee's mos stand out trait, however, is probably his friendliness towards humans. Something that creates no end of concern amongst some of the older and more cautious of his pod. Especially since little Bumblebee is very frequently one of the first amongst their number to approach ships passing through the territory.

He insists that this is just to make sure they're safe for the rest of the pod to approach and that he's just doing the job that's been given to him; scouting. Even so, Optimus Prime has forbidden him from directly talking to humans who have not been greenlit by the pod and encourages that he stay out of sight as much as possible.

And Bumblebee tries to follow his leaders orders, he really does! At least when they're out in the open ocean. In shallower water, however, Bee tends to toss caution to the wind and has since become a recognizable mer to the people who live along the coasts his pod will occasionally travel along. With some humans he's befriended even anticipating his arrival every year and making sure to set aside a nice bit of their catch just for their yellow mer friend.

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Thundercracker is one of the observed companion mer to Starscream. Appearing to be one of the few members of the decepticon pod who frequently travels with the cunning mer. They have been observed hunting and swimming together with another mer called "skywarp" so often that some researchers suggest Thundercracker and Skywarp may be related to Starscream in some way. Potentially siblings.

LIke very other member of the decepticon pod, Thundercracker is not to be approached callously. He is just as deadly in a fight as Starscream and is just as likely to overturn any boat he finds in decepticon waters.

If some daring researcher does set out to observe him it is actually recommended that they take no weaponry with them. It has been suggested that he is less likely to attack unarmed humans and will even take a non-violent interest if, from a safe distance, cameras and underwater drones are involved. Although any university attempting this should be warned that Thundercracker has been known to steal such devices if he can successfully disconnect them from their lines. So some financial risk is involved.

What exactly he does with the cameras given he can't use them is not known.

There has been a push amongst a subset of government researchers to make an attempt to capture Thundercracker and place him in captivity so that researchers can better observe a decpeticon mer up close in relative safety. Mostly to find ways to combat the more dangerous tendencies of the species. Mer-rights activists have protested hard against the suggestion, pointing out that removing a mer from their pod and native habitat could have severe negative consequences on their well being. Officials have pushed back. Pointing out that as one of the less violent members of the decepticon pod, Thundercracker may be their only option to observe what differences, if any, exist between him and memebrs of other pods, like the autobots.