The Rat Pack were formed as part of the Maximal Defense Force in the days following the Pax Cybertronia. Vector Maximus, a former Autobot and a war hero during the first Heavy Metal War was named as the unit's commander. His keen, computer-like incident knew that peace on Cybertron was tenuous at best, and set out to train the best unit possible to help maintain the fragile peace. Most of the Autobots on Cybertron who hadn't already received the Maximal upgrade began to reformat themselves with the new, smaller, more agile, fuel-efficient forms. Vec Max declined the Maximal upgrade, knowing that in spite of that fact that his inefficient energon-guzzling form was not suited to peacetime, it may be invaluable to the defense of the planet should war come again. Hot-headed Velocity, Vector Maximus' most trusted lieutenant, also maintained his Autobot form, though they both swore allegiance to the lawful Maximal government.
Vector Maximus and Velocity have served with some of the greatest heroes of Cybertron; Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Landmine, Wheeljack, Bumblebee, and even the Maximals Optimus Primal and Cheetor. They have seen hard combat and action on several different planets. And they were more than prepared for the outbreak of the second Heavy Metal War, thanks to the warning of the Autobot-turned-Maximal Grimlock. Grimlock was an Autobot war hero and most powerful of the Dinobots, and when peace came to Cybertron Grimlock decided it wasn't for him. As the Autobots who remained on Cybertron gradually accepted the Maximal upgrade, so too did Grimlock, though reluctantly. Grimlock rapidly grew bored with peace and began to seek thrills in the less savory parts of Cybertron. Here he found a secret enclave of Decepticons, once again holding their gladiatorial combats at Darkmount and gearing up for full scale war. Though Grimlock was tempted to join them, his warrior heart could not stand all that the Decepticons stood for - tyranny, subjugation and evil. So he warned the Maximals of the peril; starting with Vector Maximus.
Vector Maximus tapped two great Maximal war heroes he had served with before - Rattrap and Cheetor, to join the Rat Pack, and quickly put together a team that was the best of the best. Now they stand ready against the new threats of the Decepticons and the Predacons.
The seeds of the Rat Pack grew from the his former unit, Team Nebula. Many valiant Transformers fell in that team's extremely dangerous missions. Some brave Autobots who fell in the line of duty and whose names shall not be forgotten are: Bumblebeetle, Rambulance, Greasemonkey, Battlemaster, Blowback, Spaceout, Omegatron, Leojack, Wildgyre, Deuce, Taillight, Hailfire and Whirlybird.
[ Incoming message. Source unknown. ]
[ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]
> COMM LINK: ONLINE
> SIGNAL SOURCE: MOON BASE ONE (DARK SIDE)
> ENCRYPTION: AUTOBOT CYBER-LEVEL 4
> TRANSMISSION TYPE: AUDIO-VISUAL
> STATUS: STABLE ☑
> PLAYBACK BEGINNING...
> DECRYPTION KEY: 5 ROBOT POINTS
> MESSAGE: "IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT..."
> RESPONSE: "...AND I FEEL FINE."
[ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]
