"If they don't want to join the Decepticons, then they're more likely to ally themselves with the Autobots. They claim to be opposed to the old system, too." Starscream scowls. "But not all of them. Megatron has made some alliances, though most of them have formally joined the Decepticon movement by now. And civilians in Decepticon-controlled cities are about as protected as the troops are."