Jetfire's History
Prior to the war, Jetfire was a colleague and friend of Starscream's in their scientific pursuits. The goal they sought after was to unearth the slumbering Metroplex, or at least his head, so that they could uncover information about Titan language and culture in order to further their current world. One day while visiting multiple potential sources of funding for this effort the two encountered a protest by, and the arrest of, the upstart miner Megatron, though their reactions differed immensely. While Starscream was excitedly taken in by Megatron and his actions, Jetfire wearily tried to hurry them along, noting they still had several meetings to get to over their research while frustratedly dismissing the miners' plight compared to the duo's own. At their meeting with Orion Pax the senator was receptive to the end goal, though was darkly insistent that their focus on academic research vs military application was incorrect, and was willing to fund them. However, his "concerns" regarding who was to be privy to their results turned Starscream off the prospect, and Jetfire attempted to shush him before the scholar walked out. The two would later secure funds regardless, and the two visited the dig site, trading good-natured barbs over Starscream's excitement at their new reality. Jetfire soured the mood however, as when he expressed concern that their funds could run out before they crack how to communicate with the Titan, Starscream sharply rejected working under Orion Pax even as Jetfire attempted to dissuade his friend's objections. Jetfire soon agreed to drop the matter, though would eventually begin communicating their findings to the senator behind Starscream's back. When one such report was spied on by his friend, Jetfire quickly tried to diffuse the situation, arguing that Starscream would never join the Decepticons and espousing his loyalty and told him to affirm this. When Starscream failed to answer when pressed Jetfire flew into a rage and grabbed him, shouting once more at Starscream to deny being a Decepticon. Starscream did indeed say he was not a Decepticon, but added that this was simply because unlike him, the Decepticons were fighters rising against the encroaching Autobot tyranny. He then expressed his betrayal at Jetfire being okay with this reality while dealing with them, and Jetfire struck him to the ground, then chased him back to Metroplex when Starscream transformed to jet mode and flew out of the meeting room's window. Jetfire just missed Starscream however, and after seeing that his former friend had irreparably corrupted all of the data they had collected, he angrily demanded the Autobots there to find him so that Jetfire could drag him back to Orion. He then kicked the side of the Titan's head in anger.
Jetfire would later be among the Autobots who entered the Earth battlefront, and at some point engaged Starscream there, being shot down in a forest by the Seeker. He was also present for the war's final battle and was one of the soldiers who engaged Megatron, sporting upgraded armor while he fought the Decepticon leader. He was last observed being served a fierce uppercut during the scuffle.
He later relocated back to Cybertron with the others post-war, Jetfire came to reside in Gold City in particular. He quickly took advantage of Blaster focusing on Megatron instead of his assigned target, and took the opportunity to deliver Starscream to Goldbug himself. Even after all this time he was still utterly focused on the Metroplex project, and stressed to Goldbug that they couldn't simply rip out Starscream's spark as that would risk damaging it and the communication key within. He attempted to persuade Starscream to hand it over willingly, remarking to Slicer that this wasn't personal on Starscream's part, instead being his dedication to the Decepticon cause. When Goldbug pressed him again after returning from killing Skywarp, Jetfire once more insisted to the increasingly irate warlord that he needed time to get the key, and then restrained him from frying the Seeker with their torture device, emphasizing how much Goldbug wanted himself a Titan. When Goldbug proceeded to level his cannon at Starscream after slaughtering the Insecticons, Jetfire immediately cried out "NO!"
He defended himself against Goldbug's accusations of stalling his assignment, insisting that they had no idea if the key could be obtained with Starscream dead. Goldbug released Starscream from his restraints to savage him just as Megatron and the Decepticons began their full scale assault on the fortress, and after seeing that Starscream was able to make Goldbug lose control like they always made himself do the same, Jetfire struck the Autobot in the face to defend his friend. He helped Starscream up and attempted to apologize before being stopped and told his actions were enough. The moment didn't get to last, as Goldbug took advantage of their distraction and blasted Starscream in the back. Jetfire cried out at his friend's injury, and was helpless to do anything but watch as Goldbug tore out the Seeker's spark, killing him. His resultant scream of anguish was loud enough to be heard by those fighting outside the compound's walls. He dropped to his knees in disbelief as Goldbug walked out and sent several guards in behind him, taunting the scientist that Starscream was never going to leave alive, and if Jetfire didn't either, it would be nobody's fault but Jetfire's. That final taunt would be the final straw for Jetfire, and it spurred him to immediately stand and grab one of the henchmen by the arms, ripping them from their sockets and slinging the guard into another. He made short work of the rest, internally reflecting on the Autobots' failures to control the Decepticons and bring the order they had promised. He considered both sides to be at fault for Starscream's death, getting him dragged into their ridiculous causes and war, and deciding he'd had enough of it all. He attempted to fly away from the city with Starscream's body, but was spotted and intercepted mid-air by Megatron, who separated the two under the mistaken belief that Jetfire was the one responsible for Starscream's death. Jetfire remembered Megatron was the reason Starscream even joined the war in the first place and began shouting in a frenzy that his friend was a scholar they had turned into a soldier, brokenly saying it was his fault as Megatron restrained him, calming him by saying this wasn't what Starscream would want. Megatron collected his fallen comrade's body, promising to establish a memorial once the city had been taken and cleaned up. Jetfire noted they'd ALREADY taken the city and asked if Megatron was going to wait until the new Decepticon headquarters was built. When Megatron attempted to deny that, Jetfire interrupted and said it was what Starscream would have done and would have wanted done for him, the cause was that important to the Seeker. Megatron asked Jetfire to help them in Starscream's honor, and track down his spark along with Goldbug. Jetfire sarcastically said he thought Megatron was a good recruiter, before saying he'd consider the offer. His final request before transforming and flying off to parts unknown was make it something quite dramatic as a favor to Starscream.
