The Renegade Decepticons were rogue Decepticon warriors who did not follow the leadership of the Decepticon Empire. As part of their punishment by the rulers of the empire, the renegades had their personality components removed from their structures, their bodies, and were placed within the Decepticon Detention Center. There they would remain powerless as their structures were destroyed to prevent them from becoming a threat. Certain personality structures had been imprisoned for millions of years and could only influence the corporeal world if new bodies were built for them.