sentinel prime au

Sentinel's jet engines were removed, the wings remained, but they were now useless and constantly got in the way in the mines. The only gold parts remaining were inside the crest and on the groin plate, and that was it. The remaining gold parts, minus the T-cog, were replaced with dark gray pieces, and the optics remained blue. A Decepticon symbol appeared on its upper chest plate.

Psychological trauma and internal conflicts:

The trauma of losing status. For Sentinel, being a leader isn't a role, it's the essence of his existence. Stripped of his title, his T-cog, and his gold, he feels as if the core of his identity has been ripped out. Hence the compulsive movement toward his chest—not just a reflex, but an attempt to find a support that no longer exists.
Humiliation is like constant pain. He's deliberately left with wings that get in the way and gold dangling from the most inconspicuous places—this turns every day into a series of small but painful reminders of his fall. His guards laugh at his awkwardness, and this laughter strikes at his most vulnerable point: his self-image as a flawless, majestic leader.
A conflict between pride and survival. Sentinel hates to obey, but his instinct for self-preservation compels him to restrain himself. He knows that any open rebellion will deprive him of even the crumbs of comfort he has (a warm room, proper food), and this forced submission hurts more than any blow.
An identity crisis. He constantly wonders whether he was truly worthy of power or whether all his greatness rested on symbols and artifacts. This thought is unbearable for him, because it calls into question his entire past life.
Isolation and loneliness. As the only "worker" among the warriors, he finds himself outside any community: not a leader, not a fighter, not an equal. This loneliness amplifies his inner voices, making memories of the past especially loud and cruel.

After the loss of the T-Kog and his fall, Sentinel's personality fractures. On the surface, wounded pride and a suppressed rage remain—he hates his current position, despises those who now stand above him, and fights every second the urge to break into open confrontation. But beneath this armor, shame simmers, eating away at him from within: he cannot accept the fact that his power has proven so fragile, and his greatness so tied to an artifact.

Before his fall, Sentinel embodied the imperial ideal: commanding, charismatic, and accustomed to unquestioning obedience. He sincerely believed that Cybertron could only prosper under a firm hand, and he saw himself not just as a leader, but as a guarantor of order and the race's greatness. He combined the qualities of a brilliant administrator and a cold pragmatist: he knew how to inspire, but more often than not, he sought obedience through hierarchy and displays of force. His pride was more than just a character trait—it was the foundation of his sense of self. For him, status, gold, symbols of power, and, most importantly, the T-Cog, were not decorations, but proof of his right to lead.

GOALS
Destroy thirteen Primes (successfully)
Obtain the Leadership Matrix (failed)
Obtain Megatronus's Transformation Gear (successfully)
Maintain your position as ruler of Cybertron
Prevent the disclosure of their crimes to the citizens of Iacon
Continue your collaboration with the Quintessons
Destroy the High Guard, Orion Pax, D-16, Elita-1, and B-127 (all failed)
Survive among the Decepticons (in progress)

CRIMES/VIOLENCES
Treason
Usurpation of power
Mass murder
Terrorism
Torture
Desecration of corpses
Abuse of power
Psychological violence
Attacks
Massive material damage
Kidnapping
Enslavement
Theft
CONSPIRACY

VILLAIN TYPE
Power-hungry egoist (former)