Love, compassion, mercy are words that had no meaning for Megatron. He had risen to the leadership of the Decepticons by a combination of brute strength, military cunning, ruthlessness, and terror. On Cybertron he was commanding general in charge of all military operations against the Autobots, who referred to him as "The Slag-Maker." It was a title of fear. A title of respect. A title Megatron relished. Only his defeat at the hands of Optimus Prime kept him from plunging Cybertron into endless, crippling war.