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Home Soil

2009-07-21T07:15:57Z

124.149.144.93: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=19
|image=HomeSoil Maximal plant attack.jpg
|title="Home Soil"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[March 15]], 2000
|written by=[[Megeen McLaughlin|Meg McLaughlin]]
|directed by=[[Dennis Heaton]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''A spaceship crash-lands on Cybertron, releasing a tentacled alien monster. The Maximals and Vehicons both rush to take control of the vessel's secrets.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 植物の反乱 (''Shokubutsu no Hanran'', "The Plant's Rebellion")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HomeSoil Silverbolt shipcrash.jpg|left|thumb|200px|My god, Bones. What have I done.]]
High above the planet of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a mysterious spaceship and a cluster of asteroids prepare to make planetfall. But the automated space-cannons manage to destroy the asteroids and badly damage the ship, sending it plummeting towards the planet. Flying above the city streets, [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] sends word of the ship to base.

Underground, a worried [[Optimus Primal|Optimus]] examines the wilting [[technorganic]] trees and ponders their survival and the future of Cybertron should they die. [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] tries to console him, but to no avail. Suddenly, [[Rattrap]] bursts in, telling the [[Maximal]]s about the ship's crash. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] has also found out about the arrival of the ship and orders [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] to destroy any survivors of the crash. Thrust obediently heads towards the site, turning this into a race against time.

[[Image:HomeSoil Maximals head towards crash.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Not running ''away'' from something for once.]]
As the Maximals head towards the crash site, Thrust and his troops whiz by them. Several of the drones peel from the squadron and about-face, turning to fight the Maximals. Transforming into robot mode, the Maximals make short work of the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s, but they have lost time. Primal splits them into three teams: He and Cheetor will travel on the surface, Rattrap and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] will go underground, and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] will take to the sky.

In the air, Nightscream and Silverbolt destroy a squadron of Aero-Drones, but Nightscream still treats newcomer Silverbolt rudely, even after the latter compliments their teamwork together.

In the sewers of Cybertron, Blackarachnia laments to Rattrap of Silverbolt's lack of affection, even after she freed him from his Jetstorm slave form and reformatted him into his present condor form. However, the conversation is cut short as two [[Vehicon Mole|mole drones]] burst in from the sides. Blackarachnia destroys one and Rattrap commandeers another, and the duo head towards the site much quicker.

On the surface, Cheetor and Primal are surrounded by a group of drones. The two flying Maximals arrive to help them, and together they destroy the drones.

Eventually, the Maximals arrive at the ship. Stepping inside, they discover that the walls are covered with plant matter. They are suddenly attacked by a tentacled plant beast, but when they fight it, it turns tail and heads underground, towards the Oracle and the technorganic orchard. Primal fears that the fast-growing seeds the alien leaves in its wake will contaminate and destroy the orchard.

[[Image:HomeSoil Optimus prebotanica.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
However, he has a plan: Tapping the power of the [[Vector Sigma|Oracle]], he attempts to reformat the monster. Cheetor protests, seeing as only "Cybertronians" can be reformatted, but Primal goes ahead with his idea, and the alien is bathed in a white light. The organic components of the creature begin to merge with the technological, and a technorganic, sentient plant emerges. The creature explains that she too is of Cybertronian descent, and that several years ago, she and her crew embarked on a mission of exploration similar to the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'''s (except without all the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|guns, violence and killing]]). Reaching a [[Regalis V|planet]] covered with aggressive, mobile plants (in other words, "talking trees"), she and her crew took the natives' forms to study them and avoid predation. The plant says that Megatron's attack had "shorted out" both her ship and her higher mental functions, so she was merely acting out of self-preservation.

But the plant-bot is cut short as a phalanx of Tank Drones attack, beginning to ravage the orchard. The newest member of the Maximals takes action, transforming into her robot mode. Shooting one drone with electrical energy, she uses a "chain-lightning" attack, with the energy leaping from one tank to the next, until the deadly circuit is completed and the drones are destroyed.

[[Image:HomeSoil Optimus botanica plant.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Examining the poor state of the plants, the robot notes that different plants need different lighting, and she throws a bomb-like device onto the lights currently used. As the light changes, the technorganic plants flourish, and the new Maximal introduces herself as [[Botanica]].

Above, Megatron (encompassed within the [[Grand Mal|big floating head]]) notes the newest arrival and transforms into a "spaceship mode", destroying the remains of Botanica's ship and the rampant plant growth around it.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (1)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (2)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (3)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (5)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (6)
*[[Botanica]] (13)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s
|c2=
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Motorcycle Drone|Motorcycle Drones]] (9)
*[[Sonic Attack Jet|Sonic Attack Jets]] (10)
*[[Vehicon Mole|Mole Drones]] (11)
*[[Tank Drone|Tank Drones]] (12)

}}

==Quotes==
"Don't worry, legs, I know the drill."
:—'''Rattrap''', about to take out a mole drone.

"As we remain static, the organics grow yet stronger. Clearly this infestation must be exterminated once and for all."
:—'''Megatron''' makes with the foreshadowing.

==Notes==
* This is the only episode where Grand Mal Megatron transforms.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*Glitch

===Continuity errors===
*Primal doesn't suffer any weakness post-reformatting, as he did with Nightscream. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit|Forbidden Fruit}}
*Like Nightscream, Botanica is able to transform to robot mode immediately after being reformatted. Then again, like Nightscream, she was reformatted by Optimus Primal directly, instead of the Oracle, which might be a deciding factor in the new transformation process.
*Rattrap usually transforms into robot mode in order to interface with computers. In this episode, he transforms ''out'' of robot mode to do it.
*It apparently doesn't occur to Optimus to use his jet boosters to reach the downed spacecraft first.
*Why does a Maximal shuttle look exactly like a four million year old Autobot shuttle, instead of, say, the Axalon, one of its contemptories?

===Transformers references===
*References

===Real-world references===
* Nightscream and Silverbolt declare "Do not pass 'Go!' Do not collect $200!", a clear reference to the popular board game [[wikipedia:Monopoly|Monopoly]].
* Nightscream at one point refers to Silverbolt as "Typhoid Mary", a reference to both the previous episode and the infamous real-life carrier of the Typhoid virus.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* The planet that Botanica and her crew were sent to explore is apparently Planet Jungle from Mainframe Entertainment's other toyline-based cartoon ''[[wikipedia:Shadow_Raiders|Shadow Raiders/War Planets]]''. Whether this is an intentional crossover or simply due to the recycling of backgrounds and animation models for budget reasons is unclear.

==External links==
*Link

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)

2009-07-16T02:40:13Z

124.149.144.93: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|image=Secret of Omega Supreme title shot.JPG
|caption=His real name is Ralph.
|series=G1toon
|ep=46
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=35
|title="Quest for Survival"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-45
|airdate=[[November 6]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''When the Constructicons begin mining on a distant asteroid, Optimus Prime calls on Omega Supreme for assistance, only for a long-standing enmity between Omega and the villains to come to light.'''

:''Japanese name:'' オメガ・スプリームの秘密 (''Omega Supreme no Himitsu'', "The Secret of Omega Supreme")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Secretomegachatinwoods.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Paradise: visited. Self: Never visited."]]

A rocket ship bursts out of the ocean and travels into space. Guided by an unknown force, the rocket lands on an asteroid and then directs that hunk of rock into Earth orbit. A door on the rocket opens, revealing the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], who step out and signal [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] of their success. The Decepticon leader intends to mine the asteroid for the energy-rich ore inside.

During his own orbit of the Earth, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] catches sight of the operation and reports in to Autobot headquarters. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] contacts [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] for help. During a one-on-one chat, Optimus senses that Omega is holding a grudge against the Constructicons and demands an explanation. Omega complies in normal speech.

[[Image:Omegadefendscrystalcity.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A rare instance of seeing his tank.]]

''On Cybertron, Omega Supreme is a good-natured, friendly [[Guardian Robots|Guardian Robot]]. One of his assignments is guarding the [[Crystal City]], the creation of his friends, the Constructicons. Unfortunately, they are altered by Megatron's [[Robo-Smasher]] and permanently changed into Decepticons. The Constructicons then trick Omega into leaving his post, and during his absence, they destroy the city. After losing his friends, his job and his city all in the same day, Omega swears he will first help his friends recover and then will get vengeance on Megatron.''

[[Image:Robo-Smasher and Omega Supreme.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Devastator and Robo-Smasher vs Omega. The 'Cons are doomed.]]

''For weeks, Omega tracks the Constructicons, until he captures them and tries to reprogram them. At first, it appears that they have been restored, but on their way home, the Robo-Smasher corners them. The Constructicons form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and wrestle Omega into the Robo-Smasher's clutches. The machine goes to work at reprogramming Omega; he is able to pull away in the middle of the process, but the experience leaves him scarred and emotionally barren except for his desire for vengeance against his former friends. He chases after them for millions of years and finally finds them on Earth.''

Knowing that Omega's judgement might be clouded fighting the Constructicons, Optimus orders him to remain on Earth unless Prime himself gives the order to head to the asteroid. Omega acknowledges Prime's order.

[[Image:Secretomegafightscons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Sure, fire at the rocket whose top half is a cannon.]]

In space, Cosmos gets a sample of the ore from the asteroid and brings it back to headquarters. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] determines that the ore is organic in nature. Prime has just ordered Omega to destroy the asteroid, and now he's regretting that decision. His further attempts to contact Omega fail because the huge Autobot is bent on revenge.

Once on the asteroid, the vengeful Omega immediately attacks his enemies, wildly smashing open a huge fissure. The entire asteroid breaks in two like an egg, hatching an [[Asteroid bird alien|alien creature]], which flies toward Earth. (Although it appears somewhat robotic, Teletraan I's claims that the asteroid was organic in nature imply that the creature is, in fact, biological.)

The creature heads straight toward Earth and begins to destroy [[San Francisco]]. Powerglide, Ironhide, Smokescreen, Tracks and Beachcomber move to stop it, but fail after several attempts.

[[Image:Omegasupreme%26creature.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Objective: Catch them all."]]

Omega is still attacking the Constructicons when Prime tracks him down. He demands that Omega stop his attack and instead clean up the mess he created by releasing the creature. Prime tells Omega that only he can save Earth by luring the monster back to its food supply on the asteroid. When the Constructicons escape, Omega threatens Optimus, but the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] refuses to back down and reminds Omega of his past.

[[Image:Omega Supreme tears up.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Optical leak: imminent. Tissue: desired.]]

Finally, Omega concedes to Prime's authority and heads off. He confronts the creature and leads it back to the asteroid, where it eats its fill and then flies off into space, never to be seen again.

In the meantime, Prime uncovers Megatron's ore-processing facility and singlehandedly destroys it.

At the end of the day, Optimus thanks Omega for fulfilling his duty. Both Optimus and Omega express hope that he might one day regain some of the feelings that he lost.{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (8)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (12)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (13)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (14)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (18)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (20)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (21)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (22)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (23)

|c2=
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (1)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (2)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (3)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (5)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (6)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (17)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (24)

|c4=
*"Doc" (Cybertron doctor robot) (15)
*Robo-Smasher victim (16)
*[[Asteroid bird alien|Asteroid beast]] (19)
}}

==Notable quotes==
"Where are you going?" 
"To talk to the only other Autobot who can fly into space." 
"Omega Supreme! Sounds like a barrel of laughs."
:—'''Powerglide''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"That asteroid may be new fuel for Megatron. The Constructicons are mining—" 
"Constructicons?! Constructicons: Enemies. Enemies die!" 
"This is a military mission, not a vendetta, Omega." 
"Results: Same!" 
"What happened between you and the Constructicons, Omega?" 
"Question: Irrelevant. Answer: Private." 
"I want to know about it." 
"Order: Received. Will talk."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Omega Supreme'''

"Quit squirming! This is for your own good! HAHAHAHHAHAHAH!"
:—'''Devastator''' parrots Omega's words back at him while holding him down for the Robo-Smasher to reprogram him.

"Megatron failed. I lived...but changed. Since then, I feel only hate for the Constructicons."
:—'''Omega Supreme''' reveals the results of his betrayal to Prime.

"Revenge: soon. Anticipation: high. Vengeance: GOOD!"
:—'''Omega Supreme''' after being ordered to remove the Constructicons from the asteroid in orbit of the planet.

"Keep San Francisco clean—leave!"
:—'''Tracks''' to the monster.

"What—eh—if we all just split up—" 
"Then he'd hunt us down one at a time." 
"Then I say we ''unite!''"
:—'''Hook''', '''Scrapper''' and '''Bonecrusher''' debate how to deal with Omega Supreme.

"Relax, man. Remember, we're all one with the universe." 
"We're about to become one with the pavement! Duck!"
:—'''Beachcomber''' and '''Tracks''', as the creature is attacking.

"Perhaps someday, you'll see that there are more important things in life than revenge." 
"Possibility: Growing."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Omega Supreme''' see a little hope for future therapy.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Near the beginning of the episode, when Hook is talking to Megatron, Sideswipe (an Autobot) is standing to his right. When the camera angle switches, he is replaced by Soundwave.
* The Constructicons wear Decepticon insignias from the beginning, when they were still Omega Supreme's friends.
* Also, why do the Constructicons have earth forms in the flashback?
* On another note, when Omega Supreme is talking about Megatron giving the Constructicons a 'new form', the sky behind him is the sky of Cybertron at the time.
* When Omega Supreme is removing the Robo-smasher from his head, his left forearm is disconnected from his upper arm.

===Continuity errors===
*"The Secret of Omega Supreme" established an important (and contentious) second origin story for the Constructicons. According to Omega Supreme, millions of years ago, when he was the guardian of Crystal City on Cybertron, he befriended the then-benevolent Constructicons. Megatron subsequently rewrote the Constructicons' brainwaves, turning them into a combining force for evil. This story contradicts Megatron's assertion (in "[[Heavy Metal War]]") that the Constructicons were built "recently" on Earth. However, he might have been referring to their current bodies, akin to what happened with the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], so this account of their origin isn't entirely invalid. Regardless, the Constructicons' origin is complicated by a flashback in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" in which the Constructicons are shown creating Megatron, which contradicts both previous origin stories. These different origins for the Constructicons have become notorious as one of the biggest continuity errors in the series.

*Optimus Prime refers to Omega Supreme as the only other Autobot capable of spaceflight, yet in season one, Skyfire made at least one interplanetary flight to Cybertron when it was in Earth's orbit in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]".

*According to both Omega Supreme and Optimus Prime, the reprogramming effects of Megatron's Robo-Smasher can never be reversed, but in "[[The Core]]", [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Chip Chase]] were able to sway the Constructicons to the Autobots' side with [[dominator disc]]s. This may have been yet another brainwash/override of previous programming rather than a "reversal", as such.

*Optimus Prime's surprise at Omega Supreme's post and function (MOS) back on Cybertron doesn't make sense, considering he had been given the Matrix and thus the rank of Autobot Commander about three million years before Omega's encounter with the Robo-Smasher.

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_secret_of_omega_supreme.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secret of Omega Supreme}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]