The ACTUAL Chain of Command

So... what is it? There've been a myriad threads here in the past debating about whether Rattrap or Rhinox was technically second-in-command (and we can get in to that too) but what about the rest of them? Obviously nothing else was spelled out, but based on the dynamics who do you think generally speaking outranked who?

Maximals

1. Optimus

2 and 3. Rattrap and Rhinox. Rhinox certainly functions more as Optimus' number two (and is retroactively stated in Beast Machines to have been second-in-command which is why the job was open for Cheetor), but there's no getting around Optimus flat-out stating Rattrap's in charge when he's gone. And even in Aftermath/Coming of the Fuzors, Rattrap seems to sort of function as the guy holding it all together and says to himself "Optimus, how did you do it?" Of course, Rhinox was indisposed for most of those episodes, and did shut down Dinobot when he tried to take command.

Ultimately I think we're left with the fact that Optimus probably didn't have a cut-and-dry lieutenant, and Rhinox and Rattrap both functioned in that capacity but in different ways (Rhinox is the guy he leaned on for science know-how and took care of the home front, Rattrap was more likely to be in the field and handle things from that end)

4. Dinobot. The events of Maximal No More may have lowered him, but when he was around, I definitely think he was a plateau about everyone else. His opinions and take on things were very valued, and he was occasionally put in charge of little mini-missions.

5. Cheetor/6. Silverbolt. Despite his youth, I do sort of feel like he outranks Silverbolt, who it often seems is kind of kept on a short leash. It's not like there's ever a situation where Optimus, Rattrap and Rhinox are all gone, so it doesn't matter, nor is it like Cheetor could issue an order and Silverbolt would have to follow it. But I do think Cheetor's a more trusted member of the team who is more likely to be given autonomy and allowed to make decisions on his own. Silverbolt on the other hand seems to be less and less valued by the Maximals as time goes on. He ignores orders and goes off to do his own thing a lot, and Optimus really seems to grow tired of it, and his ideas and suggestions tend to get shot down.

After that it gets murky. Blackarachnia is clearly last-in-command whenever she's present. Tigatron, Airazor, and Depth Charge are really too removed from the day-to-day operations of the Maximals for them to really factor in.

Predacons

1. Megatron

2. Scorponok/Inferno. This one's pretty cut and dry. Being second-in-command was like Scorponok's whole thing, and when he died Inferno started to be referred to as sub-commander.

3. Tarantulas. Sort of by default. Megatron doesn't trust him, but in a lot of situations Tarantulas just sort of has to be in charge of the others, because the others don't know what the hell they're doing. Tarantulas was pretty clearly shown to be in charge of the Tangled Web mission, for instance. Megatron definitely relies on him, for more than his scientific knowledge. Like with Dinobot, I get the sense that Megatron would really, really like it if he could trust him, because he knows Tarantulas is more of an equal than an inferior. It's not unknown for them to even have moments where they almost get along.

4. Dinobot II when present is probably next. Megatron trusts him and relies on his skills, but doesn't seem to have high regard for his decision-making abilities.

5. Rampage. Obviously Megatron keeps him on a short leash, but he does tend to let him go off and do things on his own and he utilizes him quite a bit.

6. Blackarachnia. I tend to get the impression her main job in the Predacons is as Tarantulas' direct underling. Megatron doesn't trust her at all and, unlike Tarantulas, doesn't really need her. But because she's not an idiot she beats the rest.

7. Terrorsaur/Quickstrike. They're both treated as idiots and not well liked or respected, but when they're paired with Waspinator (which they often are) it definitely comes off like they're in charge.

8. Waspinator. Of course.