NAIL

The mostgenericsin one scene since the heady days ofEnergon.

TheNAILs(Non-AlignedIndigenousLife-forms) are a large group ofneutralCybertroniansthat returned to the planet in the wake of its rebirth. Not a faction as such, they are a collection of civilians, pacifists, deserters from both sides and conscientious objectors. Many of them chose to leaveCybertronat the start of the war, while others opted out of the escalatingGreat Warwhile it was ongoing.

The term "NAIL" was coined byProwl,which explains why it sounds kinda rude. They're not very fond of the name.

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

The departure of the neutrals began during the early stages of the war, during an event known as theExodus.Numerous Cybertronians, worried about Cybertron's dwindling resources and the inevitable escalation of hostilities, began evacuating the planet.Dai AtlasandTyrestoversaw the safe evacuation of approximately 10-20 million refugees.FalloutHouse of AmbusAs the war intensified, more and more Transformers began deserting, includingProwl,who once tried to flee the planet aboard thePeaceful Resolution.Although the ship was shot down before ever reaching orbit, the incident galvanized Prowl's resolve to the Autobot cause.The Death of Optimus PrimeEventually, as the war intensified, Dai Atlas himself abandoned Cybertron with a retinue of followers known as theCircle of Light.

As Cybertron died by degrees, unaligned Cybertronians spread out into the galaxy in a diaspora. Some attempted to rebuild working communities on distant planetsStick Togetherwhile others simply roamed the galaxy for millennia. During this time,Metalhawkdeserted the Autobots after a disastrous battle againstTurmoil.Interference PatternsThroughout the war, other Autobots and Decepticons such asSky-Bytewould occasionally desert their respective factions and strike out on their own.A Better Tomorrow

AfterOptimus Primeplunged theMatrixintoVector Sigmato defeat theD-Void,GenesisCybertron was "reset" into a primordial state, and this rebirth triggered a massive pulse signal that reached every Cybertronian in the galaxy—Autobot, Decepticon, and noncombatant. The neutrals expected to find Cybertron a paradise; instead, they discovered that all traces of civilization had been destroyed save for a crude shantytown erected over whereIacononce stood. As a provisional government for Cybertron took shape, Metalhawk worked with the Autobots and served as a voice for the majority of neutral Transformer, a demographic that Prowl dubbed "NAILs." Three weeks passed, and as more and more neutrals arrived tensions between them and the Autobots threatened to boil over entirely: the newly dubbed NAILs held the Autobots responsible for destroying their world, and demanded that they leave the planet so that they could rebuild in peace. Finally, when Optimus Prime returned to Iacon after fighting D-Void, these tensions boiled over and the NAILs began a full-fledged protest that quickly turned into a riot. The Autobots reluctantly deployed theirDecepticonprisoners as additional crowd control until Optimus Prime made a speech, announcing his intention to go into voluntary exile in exchange for the Autobots being allowed to stay on Cybertron.The Death of Optimus Prime

However, their protests were evidently not quelled completely, as the day beforeRodimusand theLost Lightdeparted for their mission, aNAILtransformed himself to death as a form of protest.How to Say Goodbye and Mean ItFinding the tone of the word "NAIL" derogatory, Metalhawk asked Autobot leaderBumblebeeto stop using it.The Autonomy LessonTaking this to heart, Bumblebee began encouraging the use of other terms like "neutrals" or "new arrivals", though Prowl insisted on "NAIL" for a while.Stick TogetherThe NAILs continued to chafe against both the Autobots and newly freed Decepticons and demanded free elections—an election that would likely put Metalhawk and his friend Starscream in charge of Cybertron's provisional government.Dinobot HuntHowever, whenMegatronreturned, the civil unrest his arrival sparked led to another mass riot when Metalhawk accused Starscream of conspiring with Megatron.City on FireMetalahawk managed to broadcast a speech to his people, promising an election and imploring them to stand against violence and factionalism.

"What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?"

It was at this point that Megatron andBombshelldeployed their own play for power, by unleashing a new and improvedDevastatoron Iacon. Numerous NAILs and Autobots fought against the monstrouscombinerand were eventually able to defeat both Megatron and Devastator. However, Starscream, seeking an advantage of his own, took advantage of the chaos to fatally backstab Metalhawk amidst the confusion. Taking advantage of this new shift in public opinion, Starscream—inspired by the words ofMetrotitan,who had proclaimed him as a "Chosen One" destined to unite CybertronPrimus: All Good Things—made a show of ripping off his Decepticon badge and pronouncing himself the new leader of the NAILs, blaming Metalhawk's death on factionalist violence. Iacon was now a city for neutrals: any who opted to stay would also have to renounce their old faction, and those who refused were cast out into the wilderness.Heavy Is the Head

This new state of affairs did not last long, however;Shockwave's attempt to end the universe saw the destruction of Iacon entirely, while Autobots, Decepticons, and neutrals teamed up against this new threat. In the aftermath, Autobots and Decepticons were allowed to return to Iacon, now dominated by the transformed bulk ofMetroplex,in a second attempt to build a functioning postwar society.Hello Cruel WorldTowards PeaceWith the formation of theCouncil of Worlds,the NAILs were joined by a substantial demographic of unaligned colonists from Cybertron's various colony worlds, which eventually grew to eclipse them in political prominence.Windblade vol. 2 #4

In the years that followed, several former NAILs such asTappetandPlaybackvoiced their concerns over Starscream and his Autobot-friendly government whenJoe Coltonand hissupervillain allianceattacked Cybertron.Primeless, Part 1In the wake of Shockwave's return to Cybertron in the guise of "Onyx Prime",Starscream, who had by this point been impeached and jailed for his many crimes while in office, formally rejoined the Decepticons.Unstopped and UnstoppableSeveral familiar NAILs appeared among the many Cybertronians teleported toVictoria FallsafterUnicronattacked and destroyed Cybertron,A Sunrise Darkand presumably settled into a new life on Earth with the other displaced members of their species.Post

Recurring NAILs

According toBumblebeeand Metalhawk, the NAILs number in the tens of thousands, outnumbering both the Autobots and Decepticons. While the vast majority of these NAILs were relegated to non-speaking crowd-filler parts, several of thesegenericsmade repeated appearances throughout the earliest issues ofRobots in Disguise.

Bug NAIL

NotGoodra.

A four-eyed, four-armed Cybertronian with a mantis-like body was one of the many NAILs that arrived in Iacon's spaceport.The Autonomy LessonHe later attended Bumblebee's memorial for the crew of theLost Light.The World & Everything in ItMany years later, he was one of the Cybertronian refugees who wound up inVictoria Fallsfollowing the destruction of Cybertron.A Sunrise Dark

Four-armed triplets

A trio of identical robots who sport four arms each. They were among the first wave of NAILs to return to Cybertron, and were seen milling around in Iacon's spaceport with the other new arrivals.The Autonomy LessonSometime later, the red triplet was arguing with "Slave Cy-Kill" when a massive explosion killed all three triplets.Stick Together

Metalhawk

Metalhawk has spent the last few millennia on a hunger strike.

Main article:Metalhawk

A former Autobot, Metalhawk deserted his old faction after a destructive battle onDabola.He joined theCircle of Lightand adopted pacifism. He returned to Cybertron thousands of years afterwards, serving as the NAILs' main representative when dealing with Autobot high command. He wound up working with Starscream, a decision that ended with Starscream killing Metalhawk and using his voter base as a stepping stone to seize control of Iacon. Metalhawk returned from the dead during the "Dark Cybertron"crisis, but soon sacrificed his life to thwartShockwave's plans.

Hipotank

Main article:Hipotank

Having sat out the war in deep space, Hipotank wasn't pleased to learn that Cybertron had reverted to its "primordial" state. He was killed in the Decepticon riots sparked by the return ofMegatron.

NAIL protester

Main article:NAIL protester

Martyring himself for the cause of a faction-free Cybertron, the "NAIL protester" transformed himself to death shortly before the launch of theLost Light.

Pointy-headed NAIL

Just below the bug guy's head, and next to Jazz.

A NAIL with a long, flat red head was one of the early NAIL arrivals;The Autonomy Lessonhe bore witness to the death of Horri-Bull.The Autonomy LessonThe World & Everything in ItHe later watched Starscream storm through the streets of Iacon.The World & Everything in It

Green and yellow NAIL

This NAIL arrived in Iacon's spaceport during the initial resettlement efforts, and also witnessed the execution of Horri-Bull.The Autonomy LessonThe World & Everything in ItIn the wake of Megatron's return, he was one of the NAILs who found himself on the wrong side of the Decepticon riots. Tappet and Zetca were seen pulling his body out from under some debris, but it's not clear if he was alive at that point.The Verge

Scrambling neon NAIL

Main article:Scrambling neon Decepticon

The scrambling neon NAIL was friends with the hovering cylinder NAIL. They spent most of their time together, and were last seen together shortly before the Decepticon riots plunged Iacon into anarchy.

Hovering cylinder

This odd Cybertronian was seen hanging out with his friend theScrambling neon NAILin Iacon's spaceport.The Autonomy LessonHe later bore witness to the death ofHorri-Bull.The Autonomy LessonThe World & Everything in ItHe was last seen being manhandled byApefaceduring the destructive Decepticon riot.The Verge

Sky-Byte

Main article:Sky-Byte

Sky-Byte deserted the Decepticons following a series of atrocities committed by theConstructiconscommitted onVaras Centralus,and returned to Cybertron shortly after the first wave of NAILs made planetfall. Later, Sky-Byte joinedSoundwave'sSanctuary Stationwith the promise of the Decepticons pursuing peace.

"Slave Cy-Kill"

Main article:Slave Cy-Kill

A civilian, "Slave Cy-Kill" spent part of the war on Cybertron, but left before the war went interplanetary. He returned to Cybertron with the initial wave of NAILS, but was killed in an explosion, a byproduct of the re-energized Cybertron's energy build-up.

Tappet

Main article:Tappet

Something of a rabble-rouser during the earliest days of Cybertron's provisional government, Tappet found himself antagonized by both Autobots and Decepticons for his outspoken views on Cybertron's destructive factionalism.

Voxpop

Main article:Voxpop

"Life could be so sweet, if these were both my feet!"

Voxpop arrived shortly after the rebirth of Cybertron.The Autonomy LessonHe (they?) later attended Bumblebee's memorial for the crew of theLost Light.The World & Everything in It

Zetca

Main article:Zetca

An Autobot-turned-contentious objector, Zetca was one of the first NAILs to return to his homeworld, but was unhappy to see that the Autobots had beaten him to the punch and set up a government of their own. He managed to survive the bumpy re-integration attempts that marked the early days of life on post-war Cybertron.

Notes

• A number of Autobots and Decepticons abandoned their factions to remain in Iacon during the events of "Heavy Is the Head";some of these desertions were temporary, but others chose to become permanently neutral. Deserters include:
  • Blurr
  • Circuit
  • Cloudraker(later rejoined the Autobots)
  • Dirge(later rejoined the Decepticons)
  • Fastlane(later rejoined the Autobots)
  • Jazz(later rejoined the Autobots)
  • Landfill
  • Longtooth
  • Rattrap
  • Scoop
  • Squawkbox
  • Starscream(later rejoined the Decepticons)
  • Swindle
  • Tankor

• Among the NAILs is one who appears to beBoba Fett.

Foreign names

• Japanese:NAIL(ネイルNeiru)

• Swedish:Nyanländ Ickeansluten Transformer( "Newly-arrived Non-aligned Transformer" ),NIT