MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Secret Weapon: D-5

2011-06-15T02:09:32Z

121.54.58.153:

{{episode|
|series=RiD
|ep=8
|title="Secret Weapon: D-5"
|japanese=謎の兵器! D5
|romaji=Nazo no Heiki! D5
|translation=Mysterious Weapon! D5
|image=Secret Weapon- D-5 Midnightexpressd5.jpg
|caption=Shouldn't there be a heart flashing on the screen?
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]], [[Studio Gallop]]
|written by=[[Kazuhiko Gōdo]] (Japanese) [[Marc Handler]] (English)
|director=[[Yoshiaki Tsutsui]]
|animation studio=Studio Gallop
|airdate=[[May 24]], [[2000]] (Japanese) [[September 17]], [[2001]] (English)
|continuity=
}}

'''Another train heist.''' 
'''Autobots to the rescue''' 
'''[[Bullet Train to the Rescue|Is this a rerun?]]'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]] mug the absent-minded [[Doctor Yoshimoto|Dr. Yoshimoto]] to steal a [[floppy disk|disk]] that belongs to [[Doctor Kenneth Onishi|Dr. Onishi]]. His fellow scientist tries to fight off [[Dark Scream]] by tossing a fire extinguisher. A fire engine arrives, and the Predacons think it might be [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]]. So [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]] licks the disk up and the three retreat.

[[T-AI]] and Optimus wonder why the Predacons are so concerned with stealing a regular disk. [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] are contacted to be placed on alert.

[[Image:Secret Weapon- D-5 Train.jpg|left|200px|thumb|That's one evil-looking train.]]
Under the sea, the Predacons look at what's on the disk: Images of a steam locomotive branded "D-5". Knowing only that the train holds some importance to the doctor, [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] orders his goons to capture it. In the same room, Dr. Onishi mumbles something about Grampa.

Coincidentally, [[Koji Onishi|Koji]] happens to be attending a demonstration running of the D-512 Stanwich Steamer train ("[[Grandpa]]") with Dr. Yoshimoto. [[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]] and the [[Autobot Brothers]] also attend, waiting for the Predacons to attack. The train pulls into the station where Koji and the rest of the crowd of observers are waiting. They board the locomotive and start to enjoy their trip on the anachronism. The rest of [[Team Bullet Train]] arrive to make sure the train is protected as much as possible. Oh, and Side Burn and a cow ruin [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]]'s day—moo!

[[Image:Secret Weapon D5 Dark Scream coal.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"I've been working on the rail-" No, I'm NOT going to finish the song!]]
[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] begins the Predacons' attack on Grandpa, attempting to invade the train's interior by sneaking down the train's smokestack, but he's quickly knocked off course by a face full of smoke. Dark Scream tries to grab onto the top of the train, but receives a face full of smoke when the train goes into a tunnel. Not entirely giving up his fight, Dark Scream gets up, but is literally railroaded by [[Rapid Run (RID)|Rapid Run]]. Slapper gives his shot at invading the antique, but Midnight Express notices the amphibian attacking Grandpa and evicts the interloper. The two battle on a beach, and the Autobot clearly has the upper hand. The dastardly [[Gas Skunk]] waits ahead with a weapon, and when the train passes, he traps the two remaining train-bots in a pulse field that disturbed their fuses, but Grandpa, having no fuses, passes through.

[[Image:Secret Weapon- D-5 Autobots.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Whose bright idea was to put a cleaning station AT THE OCEAN?]]
Grandpa pulls into the station successfully, and the human passengers disembark, but as soon as they're off, the Predacons commandeer the vessel. The bullet trains chase after the hijacked machine, but Sky-Byte diverts the train away from its protectors. T-AI determines that the train's new track will lead it into the water, but Midnight Express refuses to let Grandpa fall into the ocean. The train derails, and Midnight Express jumps into the water after it. Underwater, Megatron tries to grab the falling choo-choo, but Midnight Express snatches the train before it literally falls into the enemy's waiting hands.

Afterwards, Koji and the Autobots understand how the endurance of the relic is a symbol of hope.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[T-AI]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] (8)
*[[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] (9)
*[[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]] (13)
*[[X-Brawn]] (14)
*[[Railspike (RID)|Railspike]] (16)
*[[Rapid Run (RID)|Rapid Run]] (17)
*[[Rail Racer (RID)|Rail Racer]] (19)

|h2=[[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Gas Skunk]] (1)
*[[Dark Scream]] (2)
*[[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]] (3)
*[[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (11)

|c3=
*[[Doctor Yoshimoto]] (4)
*[[Doctor_Yoshimoto#Assistant|Doctor Yoshimoto's associate]] (5)
*[[Kenneth Onishi]] (12)
*[[Koji Onishi]] (15)
*[[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"I told you you can't use nitro glycerine instead of nitrous oxide; it doesn't work like that."
:—'''Doctor Yoshimoto's associate''' informs him he fails at science.

"They seem to be afraid of this fire engine. Must be some new kind of phobia. I'll look it up in my psycho guide book."
:—'''Doctor Yoshimoto''' analyzes the Predacons.

"This is a police operation. Your dates are not relevant." 
"They're relevant to me, bro! You shoulda seen that classy chassis!"
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Side Burn''' sum up their personality clash.

"That smoke's a menace! It's clogging up my air filters!" 
"He's blowing his stack because you made him mad. Steam engines are very sensitive."
:—'''Rapid Run''' and '''Midnight Express''' discuss "Grampa".

"I know what this is about. I've fallen under some ancient vehicle curse, right?"
:—'''Kelly''' bemoans the running joke that is her life.

"You messin' with me, pal?! What are you thinking?!" 
"I was thinking toads have big mouths and small brains."
:—'''Slapper''' gets burned by '''Midnight Express'''.

"Someone's in the kitchen with DAAARRRKK SCCREEAAAMM."
:—'''Dark Scream''' raises the question of who'd ''want'' to be in the kitchen with him...

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Car Robots''===
* In ''Car Robots'', T-AI explains to Optimus that the disk stolen by the Predacons contains information on Doctor Onishi's hobbies. ''Robots in Disguise'' prolongs the mystery of the disk by leaving this out and simply having her rattle off its technical specifications.
*The scene of Prime wondering what the disk might contain is extended for ''Robots in Disguise'' with some repeated footage.
*In ''Car Robots'', when T-AI starts calling up the Autobot Brothers, the scene switches to Doctor Onishi being scanned on the Megastar. ''Robots in Disguise'' inserts an extra scene between these two, made out of animation from "[[Spychangers to the Rescue]]", of Prowl and Side Burn responding to T-AI's summons, and Side Burn requesting (in vain) that he be excused for a date with a red sports car.
* Sky-Byte and Gas Skunk suggest that "D-5" might stand for "Dynamite-5" or "Diamond-5" in ''Car Robots'', while in ''Robots in Disguise'', they propose "Destructor-5" and "Dilithium-5". Dark Scream and Slapper's suggestions of "Destron-5" and "Danger-5" are the same in both versions.
* Koji knows the disk has been stolen by the Predacons in ''Robots in Disguise'', but has to be told about it by Yoshimoto in ''Car Robots''.
* In ''Robots in Disguise'', both Midnight Express and Doctor Onishi refer to the D-512 train with the nickname "Grandpa". In ''Car Robots'', Midnight Express calls it "Ancestor", while Doctor Onishi merely mumbles "popo" in his sleep, which is Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound of a train.
* In ''Car Robots'', the Autobots are guarding Professor Yoshimoto, rather than "Grandpa" itself, and the Autobots do not realize what the Predacons are after until they make off with the train towards the end of the episode.
*Team Bullet Train are ''not'' part of the guard duty in ''Car Robots''. In the scene with the Autobot Brothers stand guard, Prowl then gets snippy with Side Burn for (logically) suggesting Team Bullet Train take over, prompting Side Burn to irritatedly bump into him and point out that the brothers can't very well follow a train on tracks. In ''Robots in Disguise'', Prowl takes issue with Side Burn grousing about missing his date, and Side Burn's bump is reimagined as a good-natured "[[Eric Idle|nudge-nudge wink-wink]]" elbow as he describes the ''attributes'' of the car he's had to stand up.
*''Robots in Disguise'' shortens the scene of "Grandpa" leaving the station by just a teeny bit.
*Rather than threaten Sky-Byte as they do in ''Robots in Disguise'', ''Car Robots'' has Team Bullet Train bemoan the fact they cannot fight properly in train mode.
*In ''Robots in Disguise'', Rapid Run argues that "Grandpa" cannot understand them; in ''Car Robots'', he's pointing out how they're here to protect Professor Yoshimoto, rather than the train.
*When Dark Scream threatens "Grandpa" with "round 2" in ''Robots in Disguise'', he's shouting a warning to Slapper in ''Car Robots''.
*After Gas Skunk's pulse attack fails, ''Car Robots'' cuts to Megatron on the Megastar. ''Robots in Disguise'' cuts to a commercial break after the failed attack, and so once the show returns, an establishing shot of the Megastar floating beneath the ocean (taken from earlier in the episode) is added before the scene moves to Megatron.
*When Slapper and Gas Skunk try to pull the switch in different ways, ''Robots in Disguise'' has them fight about which way is right, while ''Car Robots'' has Slapper just goofing around deliberately.
*Where ''Car Robots'' cuts directly from the image of the tracks poking out over the cliff to Megatron in the water below, ''Robots in Disguise'' adds a dissolve between the two shots, shortening their total running time.
*Just before Doctor Onishi awakens, ''Robots in Disguise'' adds an establishing shot of the Megastar.
*Before he starts raging about the failure of their mission, ''Robots in Disguise'' adds a new composited scene of Megatron, seen from behind, watching footage of "Grandpa" on one of his screens.
*The message of the episode's final scene differs across the two shows. In ''Car Robots'', Koji believes that his father likes "Grandpa" because it harkens back to a simpler time before society relied so much on speed and high-tech equipment. Given that this is a bit of a silly metaphor in a show about super-advanced robots that regularly race at high speeds to save humans, ''Robots in Disguise'' goes for more of a "Little Engine That Could" metaphor, with Koji believing that his dad's love for the train was because of how it symbolized perseverance.

===Continuity errors===
* When "Grandpa" fell into the ocean with his coal-burning furnace still going, he should have exploded. But that would have just broken Midnight Express' heart... or circuits, or whatever.

===Transformers references===
* Dark Scream suggests that D-5 stands for "[[Destron (disambiguation)|Destron]]-5"

===Trivia===
* T-AI says the floppy disk is standard capacity, 1.44 Megabytes. But the correct size is 1.40 Megabytes, since the disks hold 1440 KB of data, but a Megabyte is actually 1024 KB (or (2^10) KB), not 1000 KB.
* Numerous characters from both factions—most notably Midnight Express—go through this episode either suspecting or flat-out ''insisting'' that the steam locomotive is actually alive and sentient. Yeah.
* And speaking of which, the Predacons actually get ''beaten'' by the locomotive. No wonder Megatron went looking for [[Decepticon|better help]].
* There's no real reason apparent why Optimus Prime is in battle mode and Team Bullet Train have formed [[Rail Racer (RID)|Rail Racer]] in the last scene—they're just watching the train with Koji...
* Kelly's red sports car has the number plate J41-98.
* "Grandpa" is a [[Wikipedia:JNR Class D51|JNR Class D51]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Transformers: Car Robots'' — Vol. 2 ([[Pony Canyon]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' — Volume One ([[Maximum Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' — Three-Disc Box Set: Part 1 of 2 (Maximum Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' — Battling the Predacons (Maximum Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' — Special Edition 2-Disc Set (Maximum Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' — Season One (Maximum Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' — Ultimate Collection (Maximum Entertainment)

==External links==
*[http://www.ridforever.info/transformers-transcripts/rid-episode-08-secrest-weapon-D-5.php Secret Weapon: D-5 on RiDForever.info]
*[http://www.premierguncabinet.com/Hidden-Gun-Cabinet-c7.html Hidden Gun Cabinets]

[[Category:Robots in Disguise episodes]]

The Autobots' Secret Weapon

2011-06-15T02:05:04Z

121.54.58.153:

{{comicstory|
|seriesissue=Marvel Books Hardcover Storybooks
|prev=Battle for Earth
|image=The Autobots Secret Weapon cover.jpg
|caption=[[Constructicon (ROTF)|Foreshadowing]], anyone?
|title=The Autobots' Secret Weapon
|publisher=[[Marvel Books]]
|ISBN=0-87135-061-0
|pagecount=45pp
|date=1985
|written by=[[Nancy Krulik]]
|art by=[[Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski|Charles Nicholas]] and [[Roberta Edelman]]
}}
:''The Autobots' Secret Weapon is a storybook set in [[Generation 1]] continuity.''

'''The Autobots attempt to save a captured Sunstreaker using the oldest trick in the book.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Autobots secret weapon sunstreaker wax.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off.]]
Sunstreaker is sitting alone along a riverbank waxing and shining his chrome when Devastator steps into his sunlight. Once seeing the large Decepticon Sunstreaker transforms to run but Devastator steps upon his fenders, damaging them. He transforms again to turn and fight, but is powerless against Devastator. He tires out so the giant Decepticon captures Sunstreaker and brings him back to the Decepticon hideout.

Once in a prison cell Sunstreaker tries destroying the bars with his hands and laser rockets, but to no avail. To Sunstreaker's surprise Devastator breaks apart into his six components. They introduce themselves as the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s. Megatron arrives and exchanges sneers with Sunstreaker. He explains his plan that with an Autobot captured all the rest will surrender. Sunstreaker responds by shooting at Megatron, hitting him in the head. In response the Decepticon leader and duo of Constructicons fire back, forcing Sunstreaker to retreat and tend to his wounds in the cell. Megatron orders Soundwave to send a message to the Autobots about Sunstreaker's capture.

Back at the Autobot camp the Autobots are getting worried about Sunstreaker's absense. Blaster then receives the signal from Megatron, stating they are defenseless against Devastator and must surrender. Sideswipe quickly shouts that he will go rescue Sunstreaker. Grimlock then says he will send Slag and Sludge to go with Sideswipe as backup. Optimus warns them and explains to them the nature of Devastator's components before they go.

[[Image:Decepticonguards1.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Hey, if you want to [[Army-building|army build]] some Sonic White MP3 Soundwaves...]]

The trio of Autobots head to the Decepticon hideout, but Sideswipe quickly drives into a land mine. He flips into the air and transforms to save himself. At the Decepticon base they fight a due of Decepticon guards but were taken down by "awesome [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] weapons."

Once inside the Autobots run into Devastator. Slag shoots but only angers Devastator. Sludge attempts to aid his fellow Dinobot but both are shot down by the massive Decepticon. Sideswipe then tries to attack Devastator in car mode but Devastator simply sticks out his arm to stop him. All three Autobots are then thrown into the cell with Sunstreaker.

Megatron gloats and orders Hook to rebuild the Autobots into Decepticons. This causes some in-fighting between the Constructicons so Megatron decides to put off the Autobot execution until sunrise. He then sends another message to the Autobots demanding their surrender or else he will rebuild the Autobots into Decepticons.

[[Image:Autobots secret weapon trojan devastator.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"'Rumbles are red, Frenzies are blue, Here's a giant butter Devastator for—' ...who wrote this??"]]
Swoop adamantly says they must surrender to save their fellow Autobots, but Optimus Prime disagrees. He gets and idea and the Autobots work all night long on the new plan. First they send a giant Devastator statue over to the Decepticon hideout with the letter:
{{bigquote|Megatron, you win. We cannot fight Devastator. We are giving you this statue as a peace offering. We surrender!}}
Megatron reads the note and promptly declares that the [[Earth]] is theirs. He orders the Autobot prisoners to see the statue, who refuse to believe the Autobots would surrender. Devastator walks up to the statue and touches it and immediately its head flies off. Swoop leads the Autobots from the statue interior to attack the Decepticons.

[[Image:Autobots secret weapon prime megs.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Megatron, conquerer of worlds, slayer of Autobots, defeated by a shiny piece of metal.]]
In his confusion Devastator splits into his components who go and fight an Autobot each. Swoop continues to bombard the Decepticons from above while the Autobot jets attack the Decepticon jets. On the ground Rumble opens a fissure in the ground by pounding on it, but doesn't realize that the Decepticons are the ones falling in.

Megatron attempts to end the battle and shoots at Optimus Prime, but Prime grabs a piece of shiny metal from the ground and reflects the blast back at Megatron. The Autobots then grab their wounded and return to base.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (1)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (5)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (7)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (10)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (11)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (12)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (13)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (14)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (18)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (19)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (20)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (21)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (22)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (25)
|c2=
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (2)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Decepticon guard]] (15)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (16)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (17)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (23)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (24)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (25)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)
}}

==Errors==
*On the cover, Bombshell is colored like Trailbreaker.
*In the story, Trailbreaker is colored yellow and green.
*Huffer is colored green and purple like a Constructicon.

==Comments/Notes==
[[Image:Autobots secret weapon autobot jets.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
*The cover makes no sense. Not only is Bombshell on it, who does not appear in the story, but he and Hook seem scared of Devastator. We won't even attempt to explain how Hook and Devastator can [[Constructicon (ROTF)|independently exist simultaneously]].
*Laser blasts look like paint guns.
*Sideswipe refers to Sunstreaker as his "twin Autobot".
*The [[Decepticon guard]]s are based off Soundwave's [[character model]] and smile when shot.
*Swoop flies around in robot mode with only his head transformed.
*[[Autobot superjet|Multiple Jetfires]] appear and are based off the toy.
*This book follows [[RIRFIB]]
*''Megatron's fusion cannon is reflected by a shiny piece of metal.'' He'd be powerless in a Dreamwave story!
* Megatron's character model here is based on the preliminary one seen in the first toy commercial and some early Marvel comics.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
[[Category:Generation 1 storybooks]]

== External Links ==
*[http://www.premierguncabinet.com/Hidden-Gun-Cabinet-c7.html Hidden Gun Cabinets]