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Key to Vector Sigma

2010-04-07T11:16:29Z

125.237.60.114: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{disambig2|the Key itself|the episode that introduced it|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}
:''The Key to Vector Sigma is an object from the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Key to vector sigma bm.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Not a Sky TV remote so don't think about changing the channel.]]
The '''Key to Vector Sigma''' was an ancient device that was connected to [[Vector Sigma]] and allowed a [[Transformer]] to activate the ancient intelligence. It appeared as a small remote with an overdeveloped power circuit and had the ability to control the robotic [[Centurion droid|Centurion droids]] that remained in the lower levels of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and defended Vector Sigma.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon===
By the 20th century, the Key was present in the hands of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] on Cybertron until his home was attacked by the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] who gave the key to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in his quest to imbue five cars with intelligence. Megatron would face some resistance from the guardians below but learned that the Key could reprogram them. He would activate Vector Sigma and give life to the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 key metal.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Oh damn... we'll let the cleaners sort that out.]]
When he returned to [[Earth]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] informed him that the Key possessed a different power on Earth which was capable of destroying it. Megatron accidentally learned, while studying the Key, that it was capable of transforming matter into metal. He began the process of transforming Earth into another Cybertron but was defeated by the [[Autobots]]. [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] would later destroy the Key after he forced Megatron to drop it which reversed its effect on Earth. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

===Beast Machines cartoon===
[[Image:Nightscream Technomatter.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Suddenly everyone realized how those trees on Earth had suffered.]]
Using the [[Diagnostic Drone]], [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] was able to obtain the code that formed the basis for the Key and materialize copies of it. He shot [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] with it, which caused the [[Maximal]] to turn to [[technomatter]] and go insane. The condition was contagious, as anyone Nightscream touched ''also'' became technomatter. Pleased with the results, Tankor faked his own death, knowing that [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] would find the decoy corpse and plunder the Key program from it. {{storylink|The Key}} Tankor hoped that Megatron would use it to destroy all organic and techno-organic life on Cybertron—including Megatron himself, who still possessed his dragon beast mode. Megatron had the key duplicated and added to his Vehicon drones, who used them to zap a huge vine grown from the Maximals' orchard. The Maximals were able to sever the vine before the effects of the technomatter reached the rest of their plants. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

Eventually, after Tankor gave [[Optimus Primal]] the key to activate the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] in an attempt to force Megatron's hand, both Megatron and Primal activated their doomsday weapons, apparently disintegrating all three of them, but (thanks to a last-second change of mind from Primal) leaving Cybertron intact. {{storylink|End of the Line}}

Primal would be resurrected by the Oracle shortly afterward, while Megatron would survive in a purely organic form. Rhinox, however, was lost to the Allspark. {{storylink|Fallout}}

Megatron atempted to use the key to turn cybertron into a [[Technomatter]] planet but was stoped by Optimus Primal. {{storylink|Endgame Part III Seeds of the future}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Diamond Select Toys===
* The human-scaled [[Autobot Matrix of Leadership]] includes a human-scaled Key to Vector Sigma.

===Timelines===
[[Image:VectorSigmaBotcon07b.jpg|right|180px|thumb|So the volley ball and dodge ball are the same thing.]]
* A removable key was packaged with a hollow plastic Vector Sigma, a special souvenir item offered [[Exclusive|exclusively]] at [[BotCon 2007]].

{{-}}

[[Category:Objects]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:MacGuffins]]
[[Category:Technology]]

Key to Vector Sigma

2010-04-07T11:15:50Z

125.237.60.114: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{disambig2|the Key itself|the episode that introduced it|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}
:''The Key to Vector Sigma is an object from the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Key to vector sigma bm.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Not a Sky TV remote so don't think about changing the channel.]]
The '''Key to Vector Sigma''' was an ancient device that was connected to [[Vector Sigma]] and allowed a [[Transformer]] to activate the ancient intelligence. It appeared as a small remote with an overdeveloped power circuit and had the ability to control the robotic [[Centurion droid|Centurion droids]] that remained in the lower levels of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and defended Vector Sigma.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon===
By the 20th century, the Key was present in the hands of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] on Cybertron until his home was attacked by the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] who gave the key to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in his quest to imbue five cars with intelligence. Megatron would face some resistance from the guardians below but learned that the Key could reprogram them. He would activate Vector Sigma and give life to the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 key metal.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Oh damn... we'll let the cleaners sort that out.]]
When he returned to [[Earth]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] informed him that the Key possessed a different power on Earth which was capable of destroying it. Megatron accidentally learned, while studying the Key, that it was capable of transforming matter into metal. He began the process of transforming Earth into another Cybertron but was defeated by the [[Autobots]]. [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] would later destroy the Key after he forced Megatron to drop it which reversed its effect on Earth. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

===Beast Machines cartoon===
[[Image:Nightscream Technomatter.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Suddenly everyone realized how those trees on Earth had suffered.]]
Using the [[Diagnostic Drone]], [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] was able to obtain the code that formed the basis for the Key and materialize copies of it. He shot [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] with it, which caused the [[Maximal]] to turn to [[technomatter]] and go insane. The condition was contagious, as anyone Nightscream touched ''also'' became technomatter. Pleased with the results, Tankor faked his own death, knowing that [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] would find the decoy corpse and plunder the Key program from it. {{storylink|The Key}} Tankor hoped that Megatron would use it to destroy all organic and techno-organic life on Cybertron—including Megatron himself, who still possessed his dragon beast mode. Megatron had the key duplicated and added to his Vehicon drones, who used them to zap a huge vine grown from the Maximals' orchard. The Maximals were able to sever the vine before the effects of the technomatter reached the rest of their plants. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

Eventually, after Tankor gave [[Optimus Primal]] the key to activate the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] in an attempt to force Megatron's hand, both Megatron and Primal activated their doomsday weapons, apparently disintegrating all three of them, but (thanks to a last-second change of mind from Primal) leaving Cybertron intact. {{storylink|End of the Line}}

Primal would be resurrected by the Oracle shortly afterward, while Megatron would survive in a purely organic form. Rhinox, however, was lost to the Allspark. {{storylink|Fallout}}

Megatron atempted to use the key to turn cybertron into a [[Technomatter]] planet but was stoped by Optimus Primal. {{storylink|Endgame Part 3 Seeds of the future}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Diamond Select Toys===
* The human-scaled [[Autobot Matrix of Leadership]] includes a human-scaled Key to Vector Sigma.

===Timelines===
[[Image:VectorSigmaBotcon07b.jpg|right|180px|thumb|So the volley ball and dodge ball are the same thing.]]
* A removable key was packaged with a hollow plastic Vector Sigma, a special souvenir item offered [[Exclusive|exclusively]] at [[BotCon 2007]].

{{-}}

[[Category:Objects]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:MacGuffins]]
[[Category:Technology]]

Tigerhawk

2010-04-07T10:16:46Z

125.237.60.114:

{{factions|maximal}}
:''Tigerhawk is a [[Maximal]] and emissary of [[Vok|the Vok]] from the [[Beast Era]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:TigerhawkGenesis1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|800-Ton Jesus.]]
In the fires of an unknown place between time and space, the [[Vok]] aliens de-Sparked and fused the bodies of [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] together to form '''Tigerhawk''', a Vok-controlled super warrior intended to bring justice to the time-disrupting Transformers on prehistoric [[Earth]]. But when the two extracted Sparks unite and re-enter Tigerhawk's body, a different purpose and personality seems to emerge.

Tigerhawk is by far the most powerful Transformer in the Beast Wars. In robot mode, Tigerhawk can fly, has missile launchers under each arm, his wings double as shields, and he has wrist-mounted electricity cannons. His beast mode contains razor sharp claws and teeth, as well as a pair of chainguns on his forearms. However, these outstanding powers are nothing compared to his uncanny shamanic abilities to control the weather and terrain of Earth almost at whim.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Tigerfalcon'''
:''Italian name:'' '''Tigre Alata''' ("Winged Tiger")
:''Polish name:'' '''Jastrząb''' ("Hawk")
:''Latin American name:'' '''Tigrehalcon''' ("Tiger Hawk")

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Blu Mankuma]] (English), [[Kōichi Tōchika]] (Japanese)

[[Image:OtherVictories BirthofTigerhawk.jpg|left|250px|thumb|You see, when two Vok love each other very much...]]
Concerned with [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s constant futzing with the timestream, the Vok extracted the Sparks of the inert, captive Maximals [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]. Their bodies were merged together to form the staggeringly powerful Tigerhawk. Inhabited by two members of the Vok species, Tigerhawk travelled to Earth as a blindingly powerful energy comet.

[[Image:OtherVictories-Tigerhawkwinks.jpg|right|thumb|250px|thumb|He's got Tigatron's voice but Airazor's mannerisms.]]

Tigerhawk's energy-ball plunged to Earth, impacting and utterly destroying the [[Darksyde]]. Declaring himself the emissary of the Vok, he charged Megatron with "the willful disruption of time and space", and demanded Megatron's immediate surrender. Megatron was not so keen on this idea, and ordered a Predacon attack instead. Tigerhawk engaged and defeated the entire [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] force, then shot down Megatron. [[Optimus Primal]] arrived at that point, concerned that if Megatron was killed, the Spark of the original Megatron would also be destroyed, thus worsening the damage to the time stream. Tigerhawk dismissed Primal's concerns as intolerable interference, and buried him in the ground with a wave of his hand. Tigerhawk was seconds away from executing the unconscious Predacon leader when Tarantulas disabled him with specialized versions of his arachnoid helper-drones.

[[Image:Nemesis1-Tigerhawkbeastmode.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Pretty sure flapping your wings slowly doesn't let you hover in place, Tigerhawk.]]

Tigerhawk awoke to find himself a captive in [[Tarantulas's lair]]. The spider attempted to destroy Tigerhawk's mind by forcefully removing the Vok presence inhabiting it. Due to a fluke coincidence, [[Tarantulas]] only succeeded in destroying himself, alongside the Vok who had controlled Tigerhawk. The Sparks of Airazor and Tigatron, which followed Tigerhawk to Earth, merged to become one and entered Tigerhawk's body. {{storylink|Other Victories}}

Tigerhawk's memories appeared vague—at first he seemed not to remember being Tigatron or Airazor, yet after a moment he recognized Earth as "home". He remembered enough specifics of the Beast Wars to find surprising the appearance of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] as a Transmetal 2 and Optimus Primal in his "Optimal" form. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}

[[Image:BWNemesisPt2 deathofTigerhawk.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Violent deaths in a kids show! Cool!]]
Megatron, not long afterward, discovered the Decepticon warship ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', and attempted to use it to destroy the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' itself. Tigerhawk attempted to single-handedly stop the ''Nemesis'', and despite holding his own for quite some time against the legendary warship as well as simultaneously draining the ship of it's power just by holding it off, he was killed by the ship's main cannon. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
{{-}}

====3H comics====
[[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]] was an alternate version of Tigerhawk, among the differences being that A.) he was alive, and B.) he was in league with [[Unicron]]. Those who had known Tigerhawk all mistook Razorclaw for him until he cleared up on his identity. [[Optimus Primal]] sarcastically berated himself for the mistake, claiming that even Tigerhawk's [[nano-flea]]s were far above the likes of Razorclaw. {{storylink|Universe (2003 comic)|Universe}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
{{note|Although it picks up after the first season, the ''Beast Wars Metals'' manga is not in-continuity with the television series.}}
[[Image:Tigerfalcon1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Four katanas, 'cuz godlike elemental powers just aren't enough.]]
At one point, [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]'s [[spark]] became separated from her body, and her body was then possessed by a malevolent force. Airazor's body did battle with [[Tigatron]], though Tigatron could not bring himself to hurt Airazor due to his affection for her. Desiring death over harming her, Tigatron gave her one of his katana and knelt down.

As evil Airazor struck his neck with the blade, the real Airazor's spark traveled through the katana and into Tigatron's body. Inside cyberspace, the two reunited Maximals embraced, vowing never to be apart again. As their sparks joined, Tigatron and Airazor were reborn as the powerful Tigerhawk! (How romantic!)
{{-}}

===''Beast Machines'' cartoon===
When Megatron went possesing dead robots tigerhawks body (which somehow got on cybertron) with Tarantulus legs were possesed but the body was distroyed by [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackaracnia (BW)|Blackaracnia]]

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
[[Image:BW Tigerhawk toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Fly, my kitty! Fly!]]
*'''Tigerhawk''' (Transmetal 2 Ultra, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-50'''

: Tigerhawk transforms into half-robotic, half-technorganic, flying robot tiger-thing. Yes. In beast mode, he is armed with "feather" missiles very similar to the Fuzor [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]'s, with spring-loaded switches to flip the wings forward, and flip-out missile launchers which activate when a lever on Tigerhawk's back is pulled (which also moves the wings). Under his beast head is a small cockpit with a pilot's chair (see Trivia below).

: Like Transmetal 2 Megatron, Tigerhawk features a somewhat aborted "third mode", which is just a minor rearrangement of his beast mode parts with his vacuum-metalized helmet covering his beast tiger head, making him look rather like Battle Cat from ''He-Man''.

: In robot mode, Tigerhawk has a decent level of articulation, though his elbow joints are designed in such a way as to be not particularly useful. Due to his heels being vacuum-metalized, they are especially susceptible to scratching, as owners are likely to reposition them frequently to cope better with the heavy wings and gimmicks on his back.

:This mold was later used to make ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]].

==Trivia==
[[Image:BWRConcept25.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One Winged Angel]]
*The extremely short duration of Tigerhawk's appearance on the show was the result of a strange confluence of factors. At the time, it was not at all certain that the ''Beast Wars'' franchise would be ending. However, at one point, after Tigerhawk had already been written into the show at Hasbro's explicit request, the company considered not releasing his toy at all. Thus he was ordered killed off immediately, and was. Hasbro eventually decided to release the toy, but by that point it was too late to change the scripts or animation.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.toys.transformers.moderated/browse_frm/thread/1f02d1311fc9de33/05dc8df47640b9b7?lnk=st&q=script#05dc8df47640b9b7 Larry DiTillio explains Tigerhawk's strange, short life.]</ref> Tigerhawk's toy did not appear on shelves until well after his death on the show.

*In the ''Beast Wars Metals'' comic, Tigatron was interpreted as a samurai; the katana being their weapon of choice. Hence the whole samurai motif for Tigerhawk.

*Originally, Tigerhawk, along with [[Optimal Optimus]] and Transmetal 2 Megatron were to have small driver-like figures sitting on control chairs located in cockpits on their bodies. These drivers were meant to represent their sparks. But [[Hasbro]] later realized that kids might confuse these spark representations as drivers controlling the robots, so they were abandoned, but the cockpits remained. The spark pilot was eventually used in the Japanese release of [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]].

*Even before they were combined into Tigerhawk, Airazor and Tigatron had a gender-ambiguous history. Tigatron was a male robot with a beast mode that seemed to be scanned from [[Snowstalker|a female tiger]], while Airazor was a female character in the English version of the show and male in the Japanese version then female again in ''[[Beast Wars Metals]]''.

*Although often thought of as a [[Fuzor]] because of his two-combined-animals beast mode, Tigerhawk was never officially designated as such.

*Tigerhawk's toy features a bird like helmet, which when placed over his tiger head, resembles Battle Cat of ''[[Wikipedia:The Masters of the Universe|The Masters of the Universe]]''. For some reason, the cartoon model didn't have this feature.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1999/Maximal/Tigerhawk/tigerhawk.htm Tigerhawk at TFU.info]

[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Transmetals 2]]
[[Category:Vok]]

Maximal

2010-04-07T04:11:42Z

125.237.60.114:

{{factions|autobot|maximal|maximalbm|dinobot}}
:''The Maximals are a faction from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:Maximal symbol.png|right|180px|thumb|Woof woof!]]
Arising from the ashes of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the '''Maximals''' are the descendants (at least in part) of the [[Autobot]]s, controlling [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] under the [[Pax Cybertronia]].

:''Japanese name:'' '''Cybertrons''' (サイバトロン ''Saibatoron'')
:''Polish name:'' '''Maksimale'''

==History==
The exact origin of the Maximals has never been fully explained, nor has the time of their emergence as a faction. [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''The War Within'' depicts a Maximal symbol in Cybertron's prehistory, and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' references Maximal and Predacon conflict before the Pax Cybertronia (thus before the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]). The ''Sourcebook'' also seems to place its versions of ''[[Beast Wars II (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' in this pre-Pax Cybertronia era. Additionally it indicates that Predacons (specifically BB) were being "re-educated" in Maximal prisons during the Great War.

At some point, possibly after the [[Pax Cybertronia]] had restored peace to Cybertron, the [[Maximal Upgrade]] program was introduced. The program emphasized fuel efficiency through downsizing. Many of the surviving Autobots eventually upgraded via bio-tech overhaul and cloistered themselves away, but some few stayed active in Cybertronian society to guide the emerging Maximal faction into the future. The [[Maximal Elder]]s locked away much information about the Great War (and especially the location of [[Earth]]) from the young population, fearing it would re-ignite old grudges or inspire [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] insurgents to rewrite history using [[transwarp]] technology.

The theft of the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], which set in motion the "Beast Wars," occurred approximately 300 years after the end of the Great War.

'''Note:''' ''Specific dating for this has been suggested in ancillary material, but in the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon itself this date is fairly indistinct, as 1) there's no way to know when exactly the Great War ended, and 2) it's not clear if those are Cybertronian or Earth years.''

==Physiology==
The Maximals retained many similarities to their Autobot ancestors, and many of the Autobots who underwent the [[Great Upgrade]] basically took on smaller, newer versions of their old bodies. The downsized Maximal body was apparently intended mainly for better fuel efficiency and greater durability. There has been some hinting that this was an offshoot of [[Micromaster]] technology, which had a similar goal<ref name="Departure">[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] states that the [[Maximal Upgrade Program]] will include a Bio-Tech overhaul , the magnification of latent abilities and additional fuel savings making upgraded mechs at least ten times more efficient on page 6 of [[Departure]]. The language is intentionally evocative of [[Pretender]] and [[Micromaster]] technology.</ref>. As was the case with the Autobots before them, Maximal robot modes frequently lack a robot-form flight option, unless a flight mechanism is specifically included or unless the Maximal has an airborne [[alternate mode]].Some Autobots that died in the great wat where ressurected as Maximals like [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] they became a part of the [[Magnaboss]] combiner along with [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]].[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] how got the upgrade was very unhappy about the downsize part, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] also became a Maximal

The greatest and most common innovation of the Maximal era is the development of pseudo-organic Beast Forms, which allow Maximal alternate modes to blend in seamlessly with the organic lifeforms found elsewhere in the universe. This technology, an offshoot of earlier [[Pretender]] tech<ref name="Departure"/>, sheathes the Maximal's alternate form in an artificial organic "skin" and integrates the beast modes instincts into the Maximal's form. While still primarily using [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] for fuel, such Maximals have been shown to be able to eat food like organic creatures, though it is unknown if they require such food to survive or merely as an alternate energy source. The beast mode instincts are integrated to such a degree that they have been able to dominate — if not override — [[Circuits|logic circuits]] on occasion. When Maximals take beast modes, they tend to favor mammals, birds, and fish, though this is not a hard-and-fast rule.

At the time of the theft of the Golden Disk, the technology to adopt such forms was reliant on external mechanisms situated in [[stasis pod]]s and [[CR chamber]]s. They were mainly used for explorers and military personnel, while the general Maximal population retained classic mechanical body forms. Some time after the [[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]] and [[Darksyde]] left the planet, an upgrade was instituted that incorporated [[DNA scanner]]s and the ability to adopt beast forms directly into the mechanical-style bodies of the general populace. This move suggests a likely intent to increase exploration or colonization programs in the near future. In all likelihood the subsequent planetary conquest by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] derailed these plans.

===Variations===
*[[Transmetal]]s - Beast-style Maximals hit by a Quantum surge have been shown to mutate in such a way that their physiology "reverses", so their "beast" forms take on mechanical properties while their "robot" forms become more organic. Often tertiary vehicular modes manifest. Such robots are undetectable to [[Vok]] technology.

*[[Transmetal 2|Transmetals 2]] - Beast-style maximals affected by the Vok's mysterious [[Transmetal driver]] became asymmetrical and monstrous in both forms, each of which incorporates mechanical and organic systems seemingly at random. These types of Maximals tend to possess odd extra "powers" such as healing or telekinesis.

*[[Technorganic]]s - When reformatted by the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], beast form Maximals become an entirely new type of being, merging true organic life and Cybertronian technology in every cell of their being.

==Organization==
[[Image:Bmmaximal.png|left|180px|thumb|Beast Machines era insignia. Whether this was also the pre-Beast Wars Maximal symbol (similar to the Predacons) is unknown.]]
The [[Maximal Imperium]] was the state that the Maximals formed. The term "imperium" would imply an empire, though the Maximals have never displayed any militaristic-expansionist inclinations, something more in line with the Predacons. However, it might be speculated that their exploration programs, referenced in ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines'', were a precursor to an expansion-minded colonization program.

The Maximal Imperium appeared to invest both legislative and executive power in a [[wikipedia:Bicameral|bicameral]] legislature, the Maximal Elders and the [[Maximal High Council|High Council]]. It is unknown what the relationship and division of powers were between the two legislatures, although it appears the Elders were the more senior legislature. Like their Autobot ancestors, the Maximals had a strong belief in [[democracy]], even going so far as to elect their military leaders when unable to communicate with the high command. This could cause problems when there was an even number of voters. Some evidence suggests that the Maximal Elders were more repressive and secretive than strictly necessary. Another powerful political body is the cross-factional [[Bi-Partate Committee for State Affairs]], whose appointed members include both Maximals and Predacons.

The Maximals are by nature peaceful, but the realities of the universe still compel them to have armed forces. An elite force of security enforcers, the [[Maximal Command Security Force]], was also established to help keep the peace. Another special group were the [[Imperial Peace Marshal]]s. Usually the highest rank is [[Supreme Commander]], awarded to Maximals of [[Convoy]] status, who are given an [[Energon Matrix]] linked to the [[Vector Sigma]] supercomputer. The Supreme Commanders answer to the Maximal Elders, and there is some evidence to indicate that the Maximal Elders included former Supreme Commanders.

==Maximal society==
Not much is known about the Maximal-led, post-Great War Cybertron. There does appear to have been commerce ([[holo-chip]]s), entertainment ([[Six Lasers Over Cybertron]]), and industry.

The planetary capital is located in [[Cybertropolis]], a city built over the ruins of old [[Iacon]]. The planet is shared with the remainder of the defeated Predacon faction. Many Predacons feel they are living as second-class citizens under a repressive rule. There is some evidence to suggest that Predacon presence on the planet was minimal but this is not confirmed. Regardless, a relative "Cold War" style peace prevailed, with much distrust simmering on either side. Maximals enforced the peace by means of groups such as the [[Imperial Peace Marshal]]s and the [[Maximal Command Security Force]].

We know that the Maximals focused heavily on exploration. Exploration vessels, filled with [[stasis pod]]s containing newborn [[protoform]]s, would search out new planets and seed them with those protoforms, which would assume modes based on the native lifeforms and collect data. Post-war Cybertron experienced a visible boom in scientific and technological curiosity. Some of this curiosity, however, resulted in monsters such as the seemingly immortal and murderous [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]].

==Notes==
*The "Maximal" faction name came from a desperate attempt by [[Vinnie D'Alleva]] to figure out a new protagonist name that would clear trademark checks and please the design group. He combined the name of a scrapped [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] line, ''Manimals'', with the name of the car driven by the team marketing coordinator, a Nissan ''Maxima''. Manimals + Maxima = ''Maximals''. Ta-da!<ref>[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/BC04interviews.html Botcon 2004 Interview with Vinnie D'Alleva], p1-2</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Beast Era]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars II]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Neo]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Maximals| ]]
[[Category:Timelines]]

Arcee (G1)

2010-04-07T04:08:56Z

125.237.60.114:

{{factions|autobot|quintesson}}
{{picsneeded|merchandise}}
{{disambig3|Arcee}}
:''Arcee is a [[Female Transformer|female]] [[Autobot]] Later a [[Maximal]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ArceeG1-2010storypage.jpg|right|300px|thumb|These aren't high heels, they just forgot to finish building my feet.]]

Most make the mistake of noticing only '''Arcee'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gender, but these first impressions are quickly expanded upon. Arcee is a merciless and deadly warrior who's an expert in hand-to-hand combat and one of the best sharpshooters on record. The reason for her ferocity is how much she cares for her fellow Autobots and especially the [[human]]s they protect. She knows how fragile her organic companions are, and she's equally aware of the evils the [[Decepticon]]s are capable of. Peers such as [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] may be more durable than the humans, but she no less fights to defend them as well. They get in plenty of trouble, so someone has to be the level-headed one. (Some believe Arcee has a [[Transformer romance|romantic]] attraction to either of those two, but that depends on who and when you ask.)

If concern for her friends is her strength, it's regrettably also her weakness. If anything would happen to, say, [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]], she might just completely lose it. And she may be quick, but she's not very strong.

:''Hungarian name:'' '''Arszi'''
:''Hungarian name'': '''RC''' (''The Movie'' dub)
:''Italian name:'' '''Saturnia''' (''The Headmasters'' dub)

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actress:'' [[Susan Blu]] (English), [[Masako Katsuki]] (Japanese, ''The Movie''), [[Yōko Kawanami]] (Japanese, ''Transformers 2010''), [[Atsuko Yuya]] (Japanese, ''The Rebirth''), [[Carmen Sheila]] (Portuguese)
[[Image:Springerarceecmonwoman.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"I bet you Hot Rod is the Chosen One." "What? He's cute, but ''please''." "Okay, if I'm right, you have to date me instead." "You're on!"]]

During the assault on [[Autobot City]] Arcee was instrumental in helping [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] transform the fortress to repel the [[Decepticon]] invaders, buying precious time for reinforcements and likely saving many lives. She was among the few Autobots to survive [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron's]] savage blitz on the city and to form the small army sent to engage the planet eater, [[Unicron]], who was threatening [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] at the time.
Although she was nearly left behind when Unicron’s minion [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked, she, along with Autobot leader [[Ultra Magnus (G1)| Ultra Magnus]], and his small attack force managed to hold their own against the villain long enough to befriend the citizens of the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], reunite with their lost Autobot comrades, and fight their way into the depths of Unicron where [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] was finally able to open the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] and kill the giant foe.

[[Image:ArceeTFMovie.jpg|right|200px|thumb|She, uh, meant to flood the tunnel.]]

Throughout the entire affair, one of Arcee's top priorities was the protection and care of young [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]], a human friend of Hot Rod who had wound up on the adventure with her. {{Storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

After the Matrix chose Hot Rod to become the new leader of the Autobots, [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], Arcee remained as one of his closest soldiers. She helped fight a surprise attack on the first [[Galactic Olympics]]. When Ultra Magnus, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] were discovered missing, she and Springer took off after the perceived kidnapper. Although they were successful in capturing their quarry, the [[Skuxxoid]], and taking his ship, he deceived them about the identity of his employer. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} This still turned out to be beneficial as they arrived in time to save Rodimus Prime and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] from being pummeled by a mob of Decepticons. When Rodimus learned that the [[Quintesson]]s were the real ones behind the kidnapping, she partook in the rescue mission on [[Quintessa]], saving Magnus, Kup and Spike seconds before the planet was detonated. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}}
She, along with the others, was sent by the explosion to the planet of [[Goo]] where they were stranded until the Junkions were called in to salvage them. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} Although she was only briefly seen in the aftermath, it was assumed she returned to Cybertron with the others, and fought when Galvatron waged a full scale assault on the planet. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

Arcee was among the small group of Autobots that managed to stop a Quintesson plot to use the resurrected body of [[Optimus Prime (G1)| Optimus Prime]] as a sort of sleeper agent to lure the rest of the Autobots into a trap. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}
She was also seen among the other Autobots cheering when Unicron’s plan to connect himself to Cybertron failed. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[Image:ArceeDepth.jpg|left|thumb|250px|With this, she won't ''need'' to be a sharpshooter!]]

Later she accompanied a squad sent after Galvatron and his troops who had broken into a secret chamber on Cybertron. This too would turn out to be a Quintesson trap. This time, the Decepticons were fooled into releasing the Quintessons’ dangerous experiments, the [[Trans-Organic]]s, and their most powerful member The [[Dweller]], a giant energy leech that turned all Transformers into energy vampires. After trying to fight off both Galvatron and the Dweller in the dark tunnels, only she and Ultra Magnus were able to escape and warn Rodimus Prime and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] in time to stop the Dweller and turn the other Transformers back to normal. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}
[[Image:OnlyHumanlineup.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The color scheme isn't flattering on a jumpsuit, either.]]

She, along with Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, and Springer became the targets of crime lord [[Victor Drath]] after busting one too many of his operations. With the help of [[Cobra Commander| Old Snake]], the four Autobots were captured. Their minds were transferred from their bodies into the forms of [[synthoid]] humans. They managed to escape disposal by Drath’s men, and Arcee eventually made it back to Autobot City in an attempt to warn their comrades that their former bodies were going to be used to blow up the city. Being an unrecognizable human, no one believed her, and she was locked in a detention cell instead. Luckily when Ultra Magnus and Springer managed to foil Drath’s plan all four Autobots were subsequently returned to their rightful bodies. {{storylink|Only Human}}

[[Image:HeadmasterDanielRebirth1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Daniel has two mommies.]]
The almost maternal connection between Daniel and Arcee was a powerful one, which was only strengthened some time later when Galvatron tried his most ambitious plan. Using the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber|Key]] to the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], Galvatron tried to release its destructive power. Arcee, along with Hot Rod, Kup, and a large Autobot crew, managed to snatch the key away and escaped to the far off planet of [[Nebulos]]. There, they became embroiled in the Nebulons' struggle for freedom against their own oppressors, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]]. In an effort to combat both the Hive and the Decepticons that had tracked them down, the Autobots and the Nebulons agreed to become partners and developed the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] and [[Targetmaster]] processes. Having been critically injured trying to save her from [[Snapdragon]], Arcee chose Daniel to partner with as he now needed an [[exosuit]] to survive and was her ”dearest friend”. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

[[Binary bonding|Binary bonded]], the two proved quite effective in combat as did all the Autobots and, later, Decepticons who became Headmasters and Targetmasters. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}} Trying to escape with the key, Arcee and Daniel were captured by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and held prisoner until Spike and [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] were able to break them out of the Decepticon City just before it was blown out into the deep reaches of space by a blast of energy from the Plasma Energy Chamber. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====MC Axis comic=====

[[Image:Arcee-modelkit.jpg|right|thumb|150px|S.O.B's shot my Leia-buns!]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], following a devastating battle, [[Firestar]] and [[Moonracer]] observed their enemies retreating and presumed that things would be quiet for a while. Suddenly, they were attacked from behind by a massive [[Decepticon]]. Arcee immediately saved them by killing the villain with a single shot. Arcee reminded the two Female Autobots that war is especially tough on females. They then pondered whether danger is tripled when three beautiful women are involved. {{storylink|MC Axis (pack-in comic)|MC Axis pack-in comic}}

{{-}}
=====Binaltech=====

In the [[Alternity]] divergent universe, Arcee assumed a [[Binaltech]] body after the destruction of Unicron. Her upgrade was specifically designed as a part of the [[Timaeus Project]] to breach super-dimensional space. At Perceptor's direction, she drove in circles around an accelerator track while a chip in her cerebro circuitry helped focus her thoughts towards breaching "superspace". She was riding the track and had just succeeded in opening a rift to superspace when Autobot City came under attack. Arcee recklessly attempted to go to the rescue without taking the proper procedures to reduce her velocity, and ended up crushing herself into a wall at over 400 mph. 38 seconds later, her consciousness rebooted in a spare BT-21 model. During her transition, she was contacted by the [[Optimus Primal|Protector]]'s spark, which was being held elsewhere in the Autobot City labs. He instructed her not to worry about him, but to protect the human researchers and the [[Alternium|superspace object]] she had succeeded in extracting with her efforts.

Arcee did as she was told, but the Protector's spark was taken away by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s agents, and fell into the hands of [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]. When Nemesis Prime resurfaced in Australia, the Autobots confronted him. As Ultra Magnus and the others assaulted the Decepticons directly, Arcee managed to sneak into their base and retrieve the Protector. By giving his spark to Optimus Prime, she enabled Prime to grow strong enough to defeat his evil counterpart.

=====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms'' comic=====

After receiving an SOS signal, Arcee and the Autobots responded to aid the humans. Their rescue efforts were interrupted by Galvatron and the Decepticons, but Rodimus Prime managed to defeat their enemies, and the Autobots flew the refugees to safety. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 1}} On another occasion, Arcee and her friends were confronted with five copies of the lost Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. They eventually uncovered Galvatron directing the "[[Megatron Corps]]", and destroyed his drones. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 2|issue 2}} Arcee was also present when Ultra Magnus gave a tour of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] to a group of human children. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 3|issue 3}} She was on the planet [[Feminia]] during the Decepticon invasion of the world, as well. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|issue 5}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
{{note|The Headmasters anime ignores the events from the 3-part "The Rebirth" story arc.}}
:''Voice actor:'' [[Yōko Kawanami]] (Japanese)

In 2011, Arcee either lost her taste for combat or was slapped into her place by the male Autobots, so she acted as [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s secretary, filing reports, working computers, and monitoring events. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

{{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}} {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}} {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}}

At one point, she wanted to go with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] to search for a new homeworld after Cybertron blew up, but Rodimus told her to stay because she's a girl, and girls are worthless. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

During a party shortly afterward, she slow-danced with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], and the pair had ''something'' resembling a mutual attraction. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}}

{{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

At one point, Chromedome became aroused at seeing her transformation from a car. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}}

{{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}} {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}} {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!}} {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}} {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}} {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}} {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

===Marvel UK comics future timelines===
[[Image:Arceeprimesrib.jpg|left|300px|thumb|They're not men, Arcee. Transformers have no gender. We've been over this!]]
Arcee was constructed by the Autobots in an alternate future 1995 as a good-will attempt to placate [[Feminist mob|angry feminists]] who thought that they were "sexist" for having no women in their group. After trying multiple times to explain that Autobots, being robots, had no gender, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] surrendered and ordered [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] to make a new Autobot who would meet the humans' demands for sexual equality. However, when Arcee was unveiled at a public ceremony, her pink, skinny and curvaceous form enraged the very audience Prime intended to placate. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Horri-Bull]], [[Fangry]] and [[Squeezeplay]] who immediately attacked, looking to crush the "secret weapon" that was promised. Prime warned Arcee to stay back, lest she get hurt in battle, but the female Autobot, rightfully annoyed at the Autobots' lack of faith in her equal ability, singlehandedly forced the Decepticons into a retreat. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] thought that was pretty hot. The feminists were enraged beyond words. {{storylink|Prime's Rib!}}

[[Image:Arceehotrodspacepirates.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Y'know, Arcee, if you'd stop running pidgeon-toed, maybe we'd be out of here by now.]]
Arcee and Hot Rod became quite friendly, but with his ascension to Prime status in 2006, they began to drift apart. She was stationed at [[Autobot City]] on Earth and got bored by her duties. The [[Quintesson]]s attacked in 2008, stringing out the city's population to the wall and using a wounded Arcee as bait to attract Rodimus; when he tried to use the Matrix to heal her, they stole it and he reverted to Hot Rod. Despite her injuries, she assisted him in awakening [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and devastating the Quintesson fleet. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

In 2009, Arcee tracked down [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] on Earth, where they were planning to use a laser bore to leech energy right from the planet's core. Joining a small Autobot detachment, they destroyed the drill and returned to Autobot City to face the greater threat: a timestorm that threatened 20 years of history with destruction. As Galvatron had spent months back in the 20th century, the universe was unraveling from the anomaly.

[[Image:TimeWars3-ArceeDinobots.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Dinobots 1, Chivalry 0]]

Arcee, Rodimus and several other Autobots traveled back in time to 1989 in order to retrieve the Decepticon villain. Unfortunately, the Autobots of that day mistook them for imposters and tried to kill them. Arcee was nearly mauled to death by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] before [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] explained that they were actually travelers from the future. Even more unfortunately, Galvatron had acquired some allies in the past: Scourge, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], and the mighty [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]]. She joined Kup and Ultra Magnus in trying to triple-team Megatron, but was only swatted aside like a bothersome insect. Arcee survived, however, and managed to take a few cheap shots at Galvatron later on in the fight. Eventually, the timestorm asserted itself on the battle, and consumed Galvatron utterly, ending the temporal distortion. {{storylink|Time Wars}}

Arcee and the Autobots returned to their time only to find it had reset so Galvatron never time-jumped and had instead conquered Cybertron. Their resistance movement was quickly crushed, and the Autobots were forced to leave their homeworld. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}} Arcee joined a hundreds-strong Autobot team in fleeing to Earth to regroup. When the Matrix-imprisoned [[Unicron]] possessed Rodimus, Arcee showed a more ruthless side in being the only one of the Autobots to advocate using lethal force on him. {{storylink|The Void! (UK)|The Void}} {{storylink|White Fire}} As Unicron would go on to possess Rodimus again and devastate Cybertron in 2010—an event she witnessed—her ruthless attitude appears to have been the right one all along. Yes, Rodimus Prime managed to contain Unicron again, but at what price...? {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

{{note|Her only appearances in the Marvel U.S. comics were in their [[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel Comics)]] adaptation ("[[The Planet Eater!]]", "[[Judgment Day!]]", and "[[The Final Battle!]]"), and a profile in issue 4 of their [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)]]. All stuff out-of-continuity with the US storyline.}}

===''Big Looker Storybook'' continuity===

[[Image:Wildboyofquintessonbattle.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Look, Dinobots, do you get along with Arcee or not?]]
Kup led Hot Rod, Arcee, and the Dinobots on a special mission to take supplies from Earth to a space station on Cybertron's second moon. Despite Kup's warnings, the Dinobots loaded too many supplies onto the ship, and the ship crashed on a planet. Everyone landed safely, but Kup recognized the place. It was the planet [[Quintessa|Quintesson]]! They were interrupted by a tribal scream and a flurry of firestones. However, the boy who made his presence known was not aiming at them, but at the Quintessons behind them. The boy's name was [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], and he had been abandoned on the planet when his ship crashed there earlier.

Wheelie led them through the jungle, battling Quintessons along the way, until they reached Wheelie's crashed ship. Hot Rod was able to fix it, and everyone left the planet Quintesson, Wheelie included! {{storylink|The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson}}
{{-}}

===Beast Era===

====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====

After digging his way out from underneath a sudden rockslide caused by an unexpected energy surge from a damaged [[stasis pod]], Rattrap demanded to know what in the name of his Great Aunt Arcee was going on. {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}

====''Universe: Featuring the Wreckers''====
{{note|The following takes place during the [[Beast Era]], specifically its cartoon continuity, which took from both the original cartoon and the Marvel Comics. However, these stories seem to be written to be specifically taking place solely after the events of the original cartoon.}}

{{quote|I liked her better when she had that kid in her head.|[[Devcon]]}}

[[Image:Arceedeparturemourns.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Gothy 'cuz all her toys get canceled.]]
During a battle against a horde of killer [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbirds]], [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] (now an adult) sacrificed their lives to end the threat. The death of Daniel took a serious toll on Arcee, who became reclusive, preferring to sit alone with images of her former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster partner]]. Over time, she slipped away from her friends entirely, disappearing within [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. After an unspecified event, she took on the form of a techno-organic spider, and learned the skills of both [[Crystalocution]] and the previously lost art of [[Tekkaido]]. She strongly believed that she had premonitions of her friends' deaths before they would happen, and this knowledge had driven her insane. She hid herself away, hoping to spare herself the pain of experiencing this phenomenon.

[[Image:Arceedeparturespider.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Don't underestimate me, I'm more than just a pretty fa— well, just don't underestimate me, okay?]]
Hundreds of [[Stellar cycle|stellar cycles]] later, when [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] returned from [[Earth]]'s past and conquered Cybertron with his army of [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]], Arcee's solitude spared her from the onslaught. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], now known as simply Rodimus, had helped form a new team of [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] and wished to enlist Arcee. But Arcee rejected his offer as she was still too embittered by her experience, though she was touched by the Wrecker [[Fractyl]]'s words. Rodimus's Wreckers were followed by Megatron's new Vehicon generals, [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] and [[Blastcharge (BM)|Blastcharge]], causing a battle that resulted in Fractyl's near-death. Refusing to lose another, Arcee used her spark to save Fractyl, also reformatting him into a Transmetal body. Arcee agreed to depart with the rest of the Wreckers, and she and Fractyl assisted them in defeating a vast Vehicon army in order to reach an old [[Autobot shuttle]]. {{storylink|Departure}}

But the Autobot bounty hunter [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]] had snuck aboard their ship and attacked some of their group. Arcee and the others raced to the rescue, and Arcee was quickly felled by Devcon, despite his new, smaller Vehicon body. After things were sorted out, Arcee tended to Fractyl, whose new Transmetal form was wildly unstable. At Arcee's insistence, [[Apelinq]] created a crude medical bot, [[CatSCAN]], to assist Fractyl's recovery. Arcee was oddly unable to foresee the deaths of [[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] and [[Sonar (BW)|Sonar]], a result of a yet-unknown saboteur amongst their ranks, as she happily watched CatSCAN discover himself while working on Fractyl. Their ship set down on their [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]-given destination, the remote planet of [[Akalo|Archa Nine]]. Arcee stayed behind with a few others to repair damage to their ship by their mysterious saboteur, who turned out to be fellow Wrecker [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. Cyclonus stole the [[Divine Light]], the artifact the Wreckers were searching for, and returned to his true master, [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]]. {{storylink|Betrayal}}

[[Image:Arceedisclosure.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Just like old times, but smaller.]]
Arcee blamed herself, as she hadn't been able to foresee death since she saved Fractyl. Demoralized, Arcee and the Wreckers left Archa Nine and headed to another planet at the insistence of their divinely-inspired leader, [[Primal Prime]]. They landed on a small icy planet, and a small scout team, including Arcee, was sent to investigate. After searching for hours, they stumbled upon [[Al-Badur]], a [[Quintesson]] scientist. Arcee immediately readied her weapon, as she and Rodimus had had enough of the Quintessons for several lifetimes, but Primal Prime asked her to lower them. Al-Badur was a somewhat welcome source of information regarding their quest, and before they could leave the planet with him, they were under attack by a horde of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] sent by Cryotek. Arcee and Rodimus quietly bonded as they battled the Sharkticons; it was just like old times. Slowly but surely, Arcee's demeanor had lightened. After the Sharkticons were defeated, Al-Badur explained their problem. The Divine Light was an ancient Quintesson piece of technology that allowed them to tap directly into the power of [[Primus]], and now Cryotek had it! {{storylink|Disclosure|Disclosure}}

But when they returned to Cybertron, it had changed during their absence into a [[technorganic]] paradise by the [[Great Reformatting]]. Quintessons had seized the opportunity to invade the planet, but Primal Prime assured Arcee and the others that Cryotek was their only concern. Primal Prime, Apelinq, [[Ramulus]] and [[Tigatron]] left them to find Cryotek, leaving Arcee and the others to take their injured to safety before joining the counterattack forces on the ground. Instead, their shuttle took heavy damage and was descending in a ball of fire and smoke. Arcee, grabbing Fractyl's body and what life support she could, abandoned ship with the rest. Disregarding Primal Prime's orders, Arcee suggested they find Cryotek and help the other Wreckers defeat him. Descending into the layers of Cybertron, they met [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], who joined them on their journey.

Finding the battleground between Cryotek and [[Sentinel Maximus]] (the combined form of Apelinq and Primal Prime, newly merged by Primus), Arcee reluctantly set aside Fractyl and his life support to join the fight. She helped Devcon defeat Cryotek's mutated pet [[Chro]], using her weblines to hold the monster still so the bounty hunter could shoot at it. But Cyclonus and Rodimus had disappeared beneath some rubble, so Arcee, Fractyl (who had been magically repaired by Tigatron expending all of his [[Vok]] powers) and the others went digging for him... and instead found [[Botanica]], [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]... and Arcee's nephew, [[Rattrap]]. They avoided each other's glance awkwardly.

They found Rodimus, but he was in rough shape, having fought nearly to the death with Cyclonus. Arcee and the others agreed to follow Al-Badur's instruction in defeating Cryotek, and helped direct the battle between Sentinel Maximus and Cryotek to a chamber deep within Cybertron. Arcee asked Fractyl to keep on Rodimus, who was extremely weak. Their group arrived in the desired chamber, but Arcee had a bad feeling about the place. It seemed familiar. She recognized it too late. It was a Quintesson banishment chamber, and Al-Badur had activated the containment shield within, locking Sentinel Maximus, Cryotek, and himself inside a forcefield bubble that fed into a strongly gravitational portal into nothingness. To Arcee's initial horror, despite her pleas, Rodimus stood up to deal with the situation. She knew that his next action would kill him in his weakened state, but after his assurances, she resigned herself to the outcome. Rodimus and Cheetor, both [[Matrix Templar|Matrix Templars]], used their skills to drain Cryotek of his Primus-stolen powers. As expected, this was too much for Arcee's long-time friend, and though they succeeded in saving Cybertron, Rodimus was dead.

But death isn't an ending, she realized. It was just another change. "And change is what we do." Arcee and Fractyl gathered his body to take it to a secret burial ground that Arcee knew of. She promised that this time, she wouldn't disappear forever. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
Arcee can be seen as a member of Hot Rod's underground rebellion team on Cybertron, battling the forces of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}} Both Hot Rod and Springer appeared to be in love with her, though she seemed rather uninterested in both of them. In reality, Arcee was a sleeper agent for the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]].

{{note|Due to [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s bankruptcy, this story was never concluded.}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
In order to oversee the decommissioning of all Cybertronian technology on Earth, Arcee was sent to the planet alongside [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], the last of which whom she had a mutual attraction to. Shortly after the group arrived at [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]], the facility came under attack by [[Cobra]], and Arcee helped fight them off alongside [[Scarlett]], who was surprised over the existence of "girl robots". {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1}} Upon hearing about a security breach in the lower levels of Area 52, the group headed there and, to Arcee's horror, found Bumblebee injured and low on energy. Before much could be done about him, the group was attacked by [[Serpent O.R.]], who took control of [[G.I. Joe battle mech|G.I. Joes' mechs]] and forced them to fight the Autobots before bringing the roof down on everyone. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2}}

The Autobots and Joes survived, and quickly followed Serpent O.R. through a warpgate to Cybertron, where they were attacked by [[cannibalizer]]s. Arcee didn't think they were very threatening, but suggested that they retreat to protect the humans. During their escape, she promised that she'd rotate Bumblebee's tires if he could outrace her... only to run straight into Serpent O.R. and his new army, who remorselessly killed Bumblebee and captured the others. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3}} They eventually managed to escape thanks to their G.I. Joe friends. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4}}
[[Image:GIJoevsTFArtofwar5_Arceecrys.jpg|right|180px|thumb|]]
After hearing that Serpent O.R. had captured [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], Arcee and the others made their way to his chambers, only to find that [[Cobra Commander]] had taken control of Serpent O.R.'s body after he had seized the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. "Serpentor Prime" effortlessly defeated most of the Autobots and Joes, but Arcee dodged his tentacles and managed to rip his chestplate off, allowing [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] to take the Matrix's power and defeat him. Some time later, Arcee cried for Bumblebee during a memorial service for him. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5}}
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:IDW Arcee mad.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The writers of the Headmasters cartoon now fear for their lives...]]
Arcee was an early test subject of the mad genius [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], after he decided to introduce gender into the Transformers just to see the results. Her fundamental [[CNA]] was altered, giving her a "maddening maelstrom of contradictory sensory input" and causing all other Transformers to sense a fundamental difference about her and inadvertently use feminine pronouns around her, something that she loathes. (It also gave her fangs and permanent lipstick for some unknown reason.)

She didn't meet Jhiaxus' standards and was dumped. Dangerously unstable and driven by an implacable homing instinct towards her creator's experiments, Arcee cut a mech-fluid swath of carnage across several planets in her obsession with destroying everything Jhiaxus created. She was eventually taken down by [[Tyrest Accord]] enforcer [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and incarcerated on the Autobot penitentiary on [[Garrus-9]].

Her [[spark]] was kept separate from her body within the penitentiary, as were those of all prisoners. In this limbo, she found a kind of peace. Unfortunately, when the Decepticons attacked to seize the new inmate [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] (another Jhiaxus experiment), warden [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] freed her as a last resort to stop the attack. She was able to carve her way through the invaders, but not before they left with their target. She headed off to intercept them, with [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] convincing Maximus to allow this. Arcee apparently knows of the [[Expansion]] and Jhiaxus's part in it, and refers to herself as the "servo-wrench in the works". {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

Later, on the [[Decepticon Battle Platform Zuska]], Arcee tortured an unnamed Decepticon until he agreed to tell her where [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]] had taken the [[Combiner|gestalts]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}} She tracked them down, only to find the [[Dead Universe]] Transformers had activated Monstructor and taken him to places unknown, decimating the Decepticons in the process. She agreed to assist the wounded Banzai-Tron in getting to the Monstructor-Six, reasoning it would lead to Jhiaxus... {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

[[Image:SpotlightSideswipe Jhiaxus deathbecomeshim.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Those were the best days of our lives.]]
As Arcee assisted Banzai-Tron and his team in trying to recapture Monstructor, [[Skram]] arrived through a Space Bridge portal with the means to go to where Jhiaxus was. Slicing off his arm and murdering her way through [[Micromasters]], she finally cornered him and was surprised to find he wouldn't die—thanks to coming from the [[Dead Universe]], he was effectively immortal. Which meant she could kill him over and over.

And she lived happily ever after. Jhiaxus? Not so much. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1ArceeProto.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Orange? Where'd that come from?]]
[[Image:Concept-HeadmasterArcee.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Pinkdome.]]
: Despite her being a major character in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]], no actual transforming toy of Arcee in her original cartoon model was ever made. (Maybe it's because she's a pink girl — nah, couldn't be.) Images of a hand-sculpted [[prototype]] have appeared in several Japanese publications, but it appears the toy never progressed beyond that stage.

: The Japanese ''[[Transformers Generations]]'' book shows a piece of concept artwork of the Headmaster [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] car in pink and white labeled "Arcee", a proposal for a redeco of the toy as Headmaster Arcee from "[[The Rebirth]]". (Presumably, then, this was a Hasbro-initiated idea.) The idea does not appear to have gone any farther.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===Beast Machines===
*'''Arcee''' (Mega, 2001)

[[Image:Botconarceetoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Don't underestimate me, I'm more than just a pretty face. Arcee, MAXIMIZE! Don't underestimate me, I'm more than just a pretty face. Arcee, MAXIMIZE! Don't underestimate me, I'm more than just a pretty face. Arcee, MAXIMIZE! Don't underestimate me, I'm more than just a pretty face. Arcee, MAXIMIZE!]]
: The very first true transforming Arcee toy is a [[redeco]] and minor [[Retool|retooling]] of the ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Transmetal 2]] [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], transforming into a malformed mish-mash of machine and organic parts in the form of a large spider. The spider-mode fangs become a grappling weapon for her robot mode which extend on a retractable string. She has a special [[spark crystal]] that changes her [[Insignia|faction symbol]] from [[Autobot]] to [[Maximal]] when rotated. The robot mode also features a spring-powered waist-swivel for "power kick" action. Arcee lacks the [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] toy's additional chest armor, and the oddly-placed holes in her... well, chest, that keep the armor in place.

: Arcee was available only as an [[exclusive]] to [[BotCon 2001]], and along with [[Tigatron]] was the first time since the inception of [[3H Productions|3H]] that they were allowed to use pre-existing characters for convention exclusives. Arcee is also the first convention toy to feature retooling. Preorders received their Arcees with a bonus; the box contained a light-sensitive sound chip featuring voice actress [[Susan Blu]]'s voice saying "Don't underestimate me, I'm more than just a pretty face. Arcee, MAXIMIZE!". These chips are VERY light-sensitive. Many won't shut up to this day. Both she and Tigatron were limited to 1200 pieces.

{{note|Arcee's packaging does not explicitly place her in the Beast Machines toyline; however, her box uses the ''Beast-Machines''-era "Transformers" logo, and the character is placed on ''Beast-Machines''-era Cybertron; by contrast, 2001's other BotCon exclusive, Tigatron, used a box with the ''Beast Wars'' name and Transformers logo.}}

===Titanium Series===
[[Image:Arceetitanium.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Seems like a mercy killing, really.]]
: A 6" transforming Arcee toy was designed and displayed at [[BotCon]] 2007, but [[Titanium Series]] was canceled before its tooling could be completed.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===Binaltech===
[[Image:Binaltech arcee toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Manual tranny.]]
*'''Arcee''' (2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-21'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/gun

:Arcee is a [[redeco]] of ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Decepticharge]] (himself a [[retool]] of [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]/[[Overdrive]]), using Honda's "Pearl White" for the car bodywork. The figure transforms into a "street performance" Honda S2000. Her hardtop roof can be removed for an open-top vehicle mode and used as a shield in robot mode. The engine and driveshaft may be removed and used as a long-barreled rifle (as the toy is Japanese issue and not subject to the same issues that removed the long barrel from the [[Hasbro]] versions of the mold).

: In spite of fan speculation, no retooling has been applied to the mold to enhance character resemblance or make her look less butch.

: A redeco of this toy as [[Paradron Medic]] was originally planned to be released simultaneously (but was canceled), and the robot mode was used as the base model for the non-toy car-form [[Legion]].

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Super Hybrid Model===
*'''Arcee''' (1987)
{{canceledtoy}}

===MC Axis Kit===
*'''Arcee''' (1996)

:This Japanese "garage kit", an unpainted resin model, was made by [[MC Axis (company)|MC Axis]] and was also the first official product of Arcee that got a retail release. Included among its paperwork is a [[MC Axis (pack-in comic)|comic strip]] starring Arcee.

===Super Collection Figure===
* '''Arcee''' (2000)

===Heroes of Cybertron===
* '''Arcee''' (2002)

===MyClone===
* '''Arcee''' (2003)
**''ID number:'' '''MTF005'''

: A tiny "[[super deformed]]" Arcee was created as part of the first wave of [[MyClone]] Transformers in Japan. Thanks to a generic base body, these toys could be disassembled and their parts mixed-and-matched.

===Palisades statues===
*'''Arcee''' (2004)

:Inspired by a [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] pin-up lithograph/poster by [[Rob Armstrong]],<ref>[http://www.dreadforce.com/creators.html The creators list for Jaran Studios' ''Dread Force'' includes this information in Rob's profile.]</ref> this statue features looks-right-at-only-one-angle perspective and a face so flat you'd swear she'd flown into a window. The sculpt is based on the [[Studio Ox]] character model, with its obnoxious shoulder-armor rig.

:It was later repainted into [[Paradron Medic]].

===Robot Heroes===
* '''Arcee vs. Rumble''' (2008)

[[Image:Robotheroesrumblearcee.jpg|right|180px|thumb|She's actually running after Robot Heroes Cheetor.]]
:Part of the second wave of [[Universe (2008 franchise)|''Universe]] [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', Arcee is packaged with [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] as part of the "Generation 1 Series." She is sculpted as running across a patch of mechanical flooring, and she has articulation at the head and shoulders.

{{-}}
===Transformers - Mini Bust===
[[Image:Arcee statue.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Not pictured: Springer and Weirdwolf.]]
* '''Arcee''' (Diamond Select, 2009)

Released by [[Diamond Select Toys]] in 2009, Arcee was sculpted by [[Mark Wong]] of [[Art Asylum]] and limited to 1000 pieces. She is featured packing two of the style of pistol she is commonly seen with and looking off to one side. As is the case in certain [[Continuity|continuities]], she is listed as a member of [[Elita One]]'s [[Female Autobots|resistance group]]. Arcee's tech specs give her the following classifications: STR 5.5, INT 8, SPD 8, END 5, RNK 6, CRG 9, FBL 6, SKL 10.

{{-}}

==Trivia==
[[Image:G1ArceeModelComp.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Extreme Makeover: Arcee Edition.]]
* Arcee had two different [[Character model|character models]] in 1980s ''Transformers'' media. An earlier model served as the basis for her original unproduced toy (seen above), which was also the model used for most of her Marvel Comics appearances and for parts of the episode "[[Only Human]]". Her final model, meanwhile, was used for her appearances in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', the rest of her season 3 appearances, and her Japanese ''Headmasters'' appearances.

* When asked about Arcee's design in an interview, [[Floro Dery]]'s reply was, "Arcee is the naked mechanical equivalent of Princess Leia of ''[[Star Wars]]''."<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref> Well, that answers that question... while raising a whole bunch of others!

* Arcee has the most romantic attachments of any Transformers character: Hot Rod in the movie, Marvel Comics and Dreamwave continuities, Springer after the movie, Chromedome in ''The Headmasters'', and Bumblebee in [[Devil's Due Press|Devil's Due]] continuity. And then there is the weird affection shown toward Daniel in "[[The Rebirth, Part 3]]", but most fans won't read too much into it, for their own sanity. Damn but she got around.

* Arcee's finalized character model was used to make a lot of the background female characters during the movie and season 3. Various Junkion ladies and the [[Paradron Medic]]s share her design, only without the shoulder-thingies, and a [[Cheesecake robot|more "shaped" version of her earlier model]] appeared in "[[Starscream's Ghost]]".

* She also just might be one of [[Rattrap]]'s relatives. In the episode "[[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]", Rattrap says, "What in the name of my great aunt Arcee is going on?". The two actually meet up in "[[Wreckers: Finale Part II]]" and have a very awkward silence at each other.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Autobot/Arcee/arcee.htm Arcee at TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Arcee Arcee's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Headmasters characters]]
[[Category:Martial artists]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:MyClone]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Maximal

2010-04-07T03:52:08Z

125.237.60.114: /* History */

{{factions|autobot|maximal|maximalbm|dinobot}}
:''The Maximals are a faction from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:Maximal symbol.png|right|180px|thumb|Woof woof!]]
Arising from the ashes of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the '''Maximals''' are the descendants (at least in part) of the [[Autobot]]s, controlling [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] under the [[Pax Cybertronia]].

:''Japanese name:'' '''Cybertrons''' (サイバトロン ''Saibatoron'')
:''Polish name:'' '''Maksimale'''

==History==
The exact origin of the Maximals has never been fully explained, nor has the time of their emergence as a faction. [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''The War Within'' depicts a Maximal symbol in Cybertron's prehistory, and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' references Maximal and Predacon conflict before the Pax Cybertronia (thus before the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]). The ''Sourcebook'' also seems to place its versions of ''[[Beast Wars II (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' in this pre-Pax Cybertronia era. Additionally it indicates that Predacons (specifically BB) were being "re-educated" in Maximal prisons during the Great War.

At some point, possibly after the [[Pax Cybertronia]] had restored peace to Cybertron, the [[Maximal Upgrade]] program was introduced. The program emphasized fuel efficiency through downsizing. Many of the surviving Autobots eventually upgraded via bio-tech overhaul and cloistered themselves away, but some few stayed active in Cybertronian society to guide the emerging Maximal faction into the future. The [[Maximal Elder]]s locked away much information about the Great War (and especially the location of [[Earth]] but the Predacons somehow always got info on it) from the young population, fearing it would re-ignite old grudges or inspire [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] insurgents to rewrite history using [[transwarp]] technology.

The theft of the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], which set in motion the "Beast Wars," occurred approximately 300 years after the end of the Great War.

'''Note:''' ''Specific dating for this has been suggested in ancillary material, but in the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon itself this date is fairly indistinct, as 1) there's no way to know when exactly the Great War ended, and 2) it's not clear if those are Cybertronian or Earth years.''

==Physiology==
The Maximals retained many similarities to their Autobot ancestors, and many of the Autobots who underwent the [[Great Upgrade]] basically took on smaller, newer versions of their old bodies. The downsized Maximal body was apparently intended mainly for better fuel efficiency and greater durability. There has been some hinting that this was an offshoot of [[Micromaster]] technology, which had a similar goal<ref name="Departure">[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] states that the [[Maximal Upgrade Program]] will include a Bio-Tech overhaul , the magnification of latent abilities and additional fuel savings making upgraded mechs at least ten times more efficient on page 6 of [[Departure]]. The language is intentionally evocative of [[Pretender]] and [[Micromaster]] technology.</ref>. As was the case with the Autobots before them, Maximal robot modes frequently lack a robot-form flight option, unless a flight mechanism is specifically included or unless the Maximal has an airborne [[alternate mode]].

The greatest and most common innovation of the Maximal era is the development of pseudo-organic Beast Forms, which allow Maximal alternate modes to blend in seamlessly with the organic lifeforms found elsewhere in the universe. This technology, an offshoot of earlier [[Pretender]] tech<ref name="Departure"/>, sheathes the Maximal's alternate form in an artificial organic "skin" and integrates the beast modes instincts into the Maximal's form. While still primarily using [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] for fuel, such Maximals have been shown to be able to eat food like organic creatures, though it is unknown if they require such food to survive or merely as an alternate energy source. The beast mode instincts are integrated to such a degree that they have been able to dominate — if not override — [[Circuits|logic circuits]] on occasion. When Maximals take beast modes, they tend to favor mammals, birds, and fish, though this is not a hard-and-fast rule.

At the time of the theft of the Golden Disk, the technology to adopt such forms was reliant on external mechanisms situated in [[stasis pod]]s and [[CR chamber]]s. They were mainly used for explorers and military personnel, while the general Maximal population retained classic mechanical body forms. Some time after the [[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]] and [[Darksyde]] left the planet, an upgrade was instituted that incorporated [[DNA scanner]]s and the ability to adopt beast forms directly into the mechanical-style bodies of the general populace. This move suggests a likely intent to increase exploration or colonization programs in the near future. In all likelihood the subsequent planetary conquest by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] derailed these plans.

===Variations===
*[[Transmetal]]s - Beast-style Maximals hit by a Quantum surge have been shown to mutate in such a way that their physiology "reverses", so their "beast" forms take on mechanical properties while their "robot" forms become more organic. Often tertiary vehicular modes manifest. Such robots are undetectable to [[Vok]] technology.

*[[Transmetal 2|Transmetals 2]] - Beast-style maximals affected by the Vok's mysterious [[Transmetal driver]] became asymmetrical and monstrous in both forms, each of which incorporates mechanical and organic systems seemingly at random. These types of Maximals tend to possess odd extra "powers" such as healing or telekinesis.

*[[Technorganic]]s - When reformatted by the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], beast form Maximals become an entirely new type of being, merging true organic life and Cybertronian technology in every cell of their being.

==Organization==
[[Image:Bmmaximal.png|left|180px|thumb|Beast Machines era insignia. Whether this was also the pre-Beast Wars Maximal symbol (similar to the Predacons) is unknown.]]
The [[Maximal Imperium]] was the state that the Maximals formed. The term "imperium" would imply an empire, though the Maximals have never displayed any militaristic-expansionist inclinations, something more in line with the Predacons. However, it might be speculated that their exploration programs, referenced in ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines'', were a precursor to an expansion-minded colonization program.

The Maximal Imperium appeared to invest both legislative and executive power in a [[wikipedia:Bicameral|bicameral]] legislature, the Maximal Elders and the [[Maximal High Council|High Council]]. It is unknown what the relationship and division of powers were between the two legislatures, although it appears the Elders were the more senior legislature. Like their Autobot ancestors, the Maximals had a strong belief in [[democracy]], even going so far as to elect their military leaders when unable to communicate with the high command. This could cause problems when there was an even number of voters. Some evidence suggests that the Maximal Elders were more repressive and secretive than strictly necessary. Another powerful political body is the cross-factional [[Bi-Partate Committee for State Affairs]], whose appointed members include both Maximals and Predacons.

The Maximals are by nature peaceful, but the realities of the universe still compel them to have armed forces. An elite force of security enforcers, the [[Maximal Command Security Force]], was also established to help keep the peace. Another special group were the [[Imperial Peace Marshal]]s. Usually the highest rank is [[Supreme Commander]], awarded to Maximals of [[Convoy]] status, who are given an [[Energon Matrix]] linked to the [[Vector Sigma]] supercomputer. The Supreme Commanders answer to the Maximal Elders, and there is some evidence to indicate that the Maximal Elders included former Supreme Commanders.

==Maximal society==
Not much is known about the Maximal-led, post-Great War Cybertron. There does appear to have been commerce ([[holo-chip]]s), entertainment ([[Six Lasers Over Cybertron]]), and industry.

The planetary capital is located in [[Cybertropolis]], a city built over the ruins of old [[Iacon]]. The planet is shared with the remainder of the defeated Predacon faction. Many Predacons feel they are living as second-class citizens under a repressive rule. There is some evidence to suggest that Predacon presence on the planet was minimal but this is not confirmed. Regardless, a relative "Cold War" style peace prevailed, with much distrust simmering on either side. Maximals enforced the peace by means of groups such as the [[Imperial Peace Marshal]]s and the [[Maximal Command Security Force]].

We know that the Maximals focused heavily on exploration. Exploration vessels, filled with [[stasis pod]]s containing newborn [[protoform]]s, would search out new planets and seed them with those protoforms, which would assume modes based on the native lifeforms and collect data. Post-war Cybertron experienced a visible boom in scientific and technological curiosity. Some of this curiosity, however, resulted in monsters such as the seemingly immortal and murderous [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]].

==Notes==
*The "Maximal" faction name came from a desperate attempt by [[Vinnie D'Alleva]] to figure out a new protagonist name that would clear trademark checks and please the design group. He combined the name of a scrapped [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] line, ''Manimals'', with the name of the car driven by the team marketing coordinator, a Nissan ''Maxima''. Manimals + Maxima = ''Maximals''. Ta-da!<ref>[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/BC04interviews.html Botcon 2004 Interview with Vinnie D'Alleva], p1-2</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Beast Era]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars II]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Neo]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Maximals| ]]
[[Category:Timelines]]

Blackarachnia (BW)

2010-04-07T03:50:01Z

125.237.60.114:

{{factions|predacon|maximal|maximalbm|unicron|decepticon|ttautobot}}
{{disambig3|Blackarachnia}}

:''Blackarachnia is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] who changes allegiances with alarming frequency but becomes a [[Maximal]] in the end from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Blackarachniabw.jpg|right|240px|thumb|Hot, poisonous, and deadly. Rawr!]]
A sultry femme fatale, '''Blackarachnia''' is smart, sexy, and dangerous. She's got eight legs, and she knows how to use them. Of the several rebellious Predacons under [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s command, she's one of the very few who can, on occasion, outguile him. Always looking out for Number One, Blackarachnia values her independence and freedom above all else. She would rather be deactivated than be a slave.

Blackarachnia's greatest weakness, other than her overconfidence, is her feelings for the Maximal [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. Something about his heroic demeanor and the kindness he shows her makes her uneasy. She hasn't experienced unconditional love before, and it scares her, though she'll never admit it.

{{quote|Even when I'm good, I'm still bad.|Blackarachnia|"[[Crossing the Rubicon]]"}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Blackwidow'''
:''French-Canadian name (original toy):'' '''Mygale'''
:''French-Canadian name (cartoon):'' '''La Veuve Noire''' (The Black Widow")<ref name=TM2BA>Whether Transmetal II Blackarachnia had different French and Spanish names is uncertain at this point.</ref>
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Hēi Jr-jū''' (黑蜘蛛, "Black Spider") / '''Jr-jū''' (蜘蛛, "Spider", used in ''Beast Machines'' sometimes)
:''Cantonese name:'' '''Alaina''' (雅麗娜 ''Aa Lai Naa'')
:''Polish name:'' '''Arachna'''
:''Portuguese name:'' '''Aracniana'''
:''Brazilian name (Beast Wars only):'' '''Viúva Negra'''
:''Spanish name'': '''Araña Negra''' ("Black Spider")<ref name=TM2BA/>
:''Italian name:'' '''Arachnia'''

==Fiction==
===First wave toy bios===
Working by moonlight, Blackarachnia poses as a double agent. In reality, this is merely a ruse she utilizes in order to lure unwitting Maximals into her darkened den, where she first paralyzes her victim with a poisonous missile. She then proceeds to restrain her victim with her powerful legs, and subsequently sucks their life force dry... kinky. She is capable of converting thermal energy into [[cyber venom]]. {{storylink|Blackarachnia (BW)#Toys|Blackarachnia bio}}
{{note|This comic, along with the on-package [[Bio|bios]] of the first wave of Beast Wars toys, predate the development of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon and its backstory. They seem to present the characters as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with Optimus Primal actually being a new form of Optimus Prime and Megatron being his Generation 1 counterpart, and their battles taking place on present day, [[human]]-inhabited Earth, rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched, the toyline adjusted itself to match that continuity instead, relegating this one to an aborted [[micro-continuity]].}}
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Venus Terzo]] (English), [[Ryōka Yuzuki]] (Japanese), [[Fátima Noya]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:BAintroduction.jpg|left|300px|thumb|My face is up here!]]
Blackarachnia was born from one of the [[Maximal|Maximals']] fallen [[stasis pod]]s. [[Tarantulas]], watching a black widow fight and devour another spider, was inspired. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], observing the slim and attractive Blackarachnia transform and strike a few poses, suggested that he had "ulterior motives behind her beast form selection" but she was a Predacon, and that was what was important. In the battle with the Maximals that followed, she easily defeated [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] with a few well-placed kicks. She was later reported as "missing," though the reasons why and how were never addressed. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}}

She was soon assigned to a mission with [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] to dig under the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal base]] and use a [[sonic emitter]] she had invented to blow a hole into the bottom. She didn't get on well with either of them, but they managed to eventually get to the point where they were ready to trigger the emitter... only for [[Tigatron]] to steal it. By the time they caught up with the Maximal, the emitter was ready to explode, and they could only flee the blast area. {{storylink|A Better Mousetrap}} When [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]'s virus turned [[Optimus Primal]] into a berserker and he invaded the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], Blackarachnia and Terrorsaur battled the other Maximals as they also tried to gain entry. Unfortunately Cheetor slipped past them and was able to rescue Primal, however at least the other Maximals were held off. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}

Blackarachnia was present during the interrogation of Cheetor when the Predacons discovered that a [[temporal probe|Maximal probe]] was flying past the planet, and took part in the battle to destroy the signal array which the Maximals were building. Once [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] was locked into his dino-mode by Tarantualas's [[transformation lock lens]], Blackarachnia delivered the coup de grâce, only to be subsequently blasted off a cliff by [[Rattrap]]. {{storylink|The Probe}} The Predacons staged a deception, faking their own destruction and using signal dampeners invented by Blackarachnia to hide while the Maximals use parts from their ship to repair the ''Axalon''. After being discovered by Dinobot, they pursued him. During an attempt to rush the ''Axalon'', Blackarachnia was blasted by the ship's defenses. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

[[Image:TheSpark Blackarachnia spidermode.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
After Megatron turned [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] into a Predacon using a [[Transmuter (BW)|Transmuter]], Blackarachnia and Megatron were startled by Waspinator's impression of [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]. {{storylink|Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs}} Blackarachnia and Scorponok were dispatched to retrieve the latest crashed stasis pod. They encountered Tigatron, who disabled Scorponok, but was himself paralyzed by Blackarachnia's venom. At the pod, she fought Cheetor at length, but he caught her venom dart and used it to knock her out. {{storylink|The Spark}}

[[Image:The Trigger Blackarachnia chair.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The discovery of a mysterious [[Brigadoon|flying island]] led to Megatron dispatching Blackarachnia and Scorponok to investigate it. Blackarachnia, when she saw the power wielded by the island, resolved to herself that she would take control of it. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}} As the pair reached the obelisk in the center of the island, Waspinator and Terrorsaur arrived, and Blackarachnia tricked them into using their weapons, causing the island defenses to blast them. She then got rid of Scorponok using one of the island's traps, and took control of the island's power herself. Though she started piloting the island toward the ''Axalon'', Tigatron was able to destroy its energy supply, and the whole thing crashed to the ground. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 2}}

She soon attempted to forge an alliance with Tarantulas, flattering him and accompanying him on a mission to secure the latest stasis pod to crash. Unfortunately they were too late to ensure the protoform obtained an arachnid beast mode, and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was born. While Blackarachnia was trying to get the new Predacon under control, Tarantulas made off with the real prize — the stasis pod itself. After the pod was destroyed, Tarantulas revealed to her that the planet was doomed, and she realised he'd intended to use the pod to build an escape ship, but he rebuffed her offer of further help and threw her out of his lair. {{storylink|Spider's Game}}

[[Image:Possession Blackarachnia slags Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|280px|This one frame turned a lot of fans into feminists. She's just that good, folks.]]
A Predacon plan to steal the [[rectifier coil]] from the ''Axalon'' resulted in the Maximals going feral, and Blackarachnia was part of the hunting party which pursued them into the jungle. She was defeated by Dinobot after the Maximals overcame their little problem. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] took control of Waspinator's body and the Predacons were able to conquer the ''Axalon'', the Decepticon took Blackarachnia under his wing as a student and revealed his true intent to overthrow Megatron. After he abandoned her in the Maximal base, leaving her to escape Primal and Dinobot on her own, she took that as a hint to return the favour, and later shot a cluster of energon crystals, blasting Starscream free from Waspinator. She then engaged in some quick talking to get herself out of trouble with Megatron. {{storylink|Possession}}

Tarantulas infected Rhinox with an [[energon discharge virus]], and was later himself incapacitated, leading the Predacons to investigate his lair to see if they could dig up any more of the virus. Blackarachnia was able to find a counter-virus, but while Megatron was attempting a brilliant gambit against the attacking Maximals, Rhinox countered with an almighty fart which left the Predacon forces hanging from a tree. {{storylink|The Low Road}} Some time later, Megatron called a truce when signs pointed to the [[Vok|aliens]] returning. Tarantulas stole a transwarp cell from the ''Darksyde'', leading Megatron to assign Blackarachnia to keep an eye on him. The two spiders attempted to stop Tigatron escaping the Predacon base, but were tricked into being flattened by a boulder by Dinobot. They were the least damaged, however, and dragged the rest of the Predacons back to base. {{storylink|Before the Storm}}

[[Image:OtherVoices2 possessed Blackarachnia.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Blackarachnia offered to help Tarantulas break into the Maximal base to steal a stasis pod. They were able to use one of Blackarachnia's inventions to penetrate the ''Axalon'' shields and overcome Rhinox and Dinobot. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}} As Tarantulas worked to turn the stasis pod into an escape ship, Blackarachnia turned on him, intending to use the pod herself. They were interrupted by Inferno, who slagged Tarantulas, but Blackarachnia was easily able to defeat him in return. She linked to Tarantulas's mind to obtain the necessary information, and successfully completed modifying the pod... only to be captured by the Maximals. Optimus forced her to change the control codes to respond to him, so he could pilot the pod himself and destroy the [[Planet Buster]] weapon threatening the planet. As it happened, Megatron had sabotaged the transwarp cell, and Optimus was unable to eject before impact. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}

While attempting to escape from the Maximal base, Blackarachnia was shocked to discover that her earlier interfacing with Taratulas had resulted in a permanent mind-link between the two of them. Tarantulas was able to force her to take his body with her as she left the base. Though she was intercepted by Tigatron and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], Megatron happened to turn up at that point. He threatened to terminate Blackarachnia, but she talked her way out of it by pointing out the simple fact that Megatron's stock of troops was sorely depleted. Of course, during the inevitable battle, Tarantulas forced Blackarachnia to retreat with his body. {{storylink|Aftermath}}

[[Image:ComingoftheFuzors Blackarachnia downloading.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
Returning to the Predacon base, Blackarachnia interrupted Dinobot stealing the [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disk]]s, but refused Tarantulas's order that she should try to get them back. Instead she repaired him, but discovered that the mind link persisted. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}} While Tarantulas went to help Megatron's latest battle, Blackarachnia dug through the base's computer for information on the Golden Disks and discovered important data, including the access codes to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. she was able to download it while Tarantulas was unconscious, and destroyed the computer. She later told Megatron and Tarantulas that Dinobot had destroyed the computer and the data lost. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

The two spiders were later sent with new recruit [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] to build a refueling station in a cave full of energon. Tarantulas schemed to take over the cave himself and attempted to persuade Blackarachnia to join him, but soon realised she was hiding something from him. When he tried to rip the information from her mind, she cracked an energon cube, the radiation causing them both pain and forcing him to sever the mental link. He threatened to tear her apart, but was interrupted when Rattrap and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] arrived to fight. Silverbolt, much to Rattrap's annoyance, refused to strike Blackarachnia because she was female. In the end, Tarantulas used the battle as cover to fake the destruction of the cave, and the trio had to report their failure to Megatron. {{storylink|Tangled Web}}

When Dinobot attempted to defect back to the Predacons, Blackarachnia suggested he prove himself by fighting with Quickstrike. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} During another alien incursion, Megatron took Blackarachnia and Inferno to the Maximal base, where they were able to overcome Rhinox, the sole Maximal there. Blackarachnia grabbed the alien [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Golden Disk]]. Megatron and Tarantulas colluded to work against the aliens, and when Megatron questioned why, Blackarachnia revealed that she had learned from the mind link that Tarantulas hated the aliens and wanted to destroy them. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 1)}} Though Blackarachnia was rendered unconscious by a blast from the [[Metal Hunter|alien construct]] that appeared, she was reactivated when Megatron took control of the construct and brought the other Predacons aboard. She was one of the Predacons sent out to defend the construct against the Maximals, but Tarantulas managed to infiltrate and destroy it anyway. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}}

[[Image:Blackarachnia fightback.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Spousal abuse!]]
When an energon blast sent her and Silverbolt into the middle of the dense jungles, they were forced to work together. Though attracted to the [[Fuzor]], Blackarachnia was endlessly frustrated by his seemingly idiotic chivalry and need to treat her specially. Megatron, listening in via a [[synch-pulse transmitter]] he'd planted on her, was disgusted by the obvious romance going on. Still Silverbolt and Blackarachnia worked together surprisingly well, saving each other's life in turns, and eventually defeating [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] with the help of Optimus and Cheetor. {{storylink|Bad Spark}}

When the Predacons attacked the valley of proto-humans, Blackarachnia was teamed with Inferno. She did considerable damage to Dinobot before being blasted herself. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}

Blackarachnia took advantage of Silverbolt's obvious interest in her, meeting the Maximal at a secluded location to obtain a [[graviton generator]]. She used the generator to convert a stasis pod into a makeship hoversled, and later overheard Megatron giving a mission to Waspinator. As the Maximals fought their way into the Predacon base, Blackarachnia emerged on her sled to encounter Silverbolt. Silverbolt refused a direct order from Optimus to shoot her, allowing her to leave and tail Waspinator instead. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} Silverbolt eventually caught up with Blackarachnia, who resorted to shooting him in order to try to get the point across that he should leave her alone. It didn't really work, and when the hoversled she was on hit Waspinator, Silverbolt saved her from plummeting to the ground. He subsequently joined her in digging into the side of the mountain they had been heading towards. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:BA Silverbolt Agenda3.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I can walk, you know.]]
Finally they broke through into a huge cavern containing the Ark, and Blackarachnia explained the ship's significance to her companion. While she was keen to take the power for herself, Megatron arrived and knocked Silverbolt offline before caving in the tunnel they'd dug. Having always intended for her to reach the Ark as he knew she had the access codes, Megatron threatened to vape Silverbolt unless she did what he said. Bitterly, she agreed to his demands, reluctantly opening the ship and, while Megatron went on, using the Ark's security system to hold off the Maximals. Megatron took the opportunity to attempt to assassinate [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], potentially erasing the Maximals from history. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

Unfortunately for Megatron, Blackarachnia had originally been a Maximal protoform, and certainly wasn't willing to die for his cause. She activated [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I's]] security nets to force Megatron off the ship. With Silverbolt's help, she got the dying Autobot leader under life support and began the repairs. The Maximals were forced to accept her help, but while the Maximals were occupied with Megatron, Blackarachnia slipped out... only to be trapped by falling rocks, and slagged by Megatron during his escape. Silverbolt cradled her to her chest as she shut down, swearing vengeance until the other Maximals suggested he stop messing around and get her to a repair chamber. With no much other choice, Blackarachnia joined the Maximal ranks. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}} She even spent time on guard duty outside the base with Silverbolt. {{storylink|Deep Metal}}

Blackarachnia quickly showed her usefulness to the Maximals, building a hand-powered [[subaquatic stealth vessel]] that could retrieve Sentinel from the ''Axalon'''s underwater resting place. Rattrap was less than thrilled about having to use the "Predacon beach ball". {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

[[Image:Cutting Edge Blackarachnia kids.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Actually just picking up lunch.]]
She was even less thrilled when she ended up having to escort two human children back to their tribe along with Cheetor, who was exhibiting a boyish crush on her, much to Silverbolt's annoyance. Rattrap was also rather distrusting of her, as earlier he had spied Blackarachnia sneaking some parts from a classified area. But when Megatron's new [[cyber raptor]]s attacked, Blackarachnia showed her good side by defending the children, even taking a hit from Tarantulas for them, which she immediately denied to an impressed Silverbolt by saying she slipped. With the cyber raptors defeated, she informed Cheetor that he was a nice kid - which were two strikes against him, so don't go looking for strike three. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}}

[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] returned from a mission reporting that Cheetor had been destroyed trying to interfere with Megatron's experiment, however the Maximal had secretly brought back the [[Transmetal driver]], a component of Megatron's experiment. Though he tossed it into a pool of lava, Blackarachnia was able to grab it before it was destroyed. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}} She took part in the search for Cheetor, leading Silverbolt to develop jealousy at her apparent concern for their comrade. He later turned up with, it transpired, a new [[Transmetal 2]] body, which Blackarachnia took particular interest in. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

[[Image:ProvingGrounds Blackarachnia wink.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
After Rhinox scanned her and found the [[shell program]] that made her a Predacon, Blackarachnia finally got fed up with Rattrap's attitude and Cheetor's crush, and would have choked/blasted them both if Optimus hadn't intervened. Weary that apparently she hadn't proven herself to the Maximals and thinking that Optimus and Rhinox were planning to force her to remove the shell, Blackarachnia decided to split... which turned out to be a bad decision, as [[Dinobot II]] had been waiting for this moment. Taking turns hunting each other, Blackarachnia got the upper hand but was caught off-guard by Dinobot's power and durability. Fleeing to a mesa, she was found by Silverbolt, who got in a fight with Dinobot and was about to be slagged. Blackarachnia shot him out of the way, then tried to make a deal with Dinobot to take over the Ark and the Predacons, which backfired and allowed Dinobot to stun her, but he was distracted by Silverbolt long enough for the two Maximals to finally defeat him. After an argument between the pair, Optimus arrived to point out that the decision to remove the program had always been up to her. {{storylink|Proving Grounds}}

When Megatron attempted to fire his new [[disruptor cannon]] on the Maximal base, the Maximals prepared for the worst, but the cannon blew up instead. {{storylink|Go with the Flow}}

[[Image:CrossingtheRubicron-newbody.jpg|left|300px|thumb|80% more pointy edges!]]

Seeking more power, Blackarachnia attempted to use the Transmetal driver on herself. Silverbolt, not realizing what she was planning, bailed her out of the contraption. Like every good girlfriend, she began to chew him out, but was cut off as an energy surge made her lose control of her circuits. A security system Tarantulas installed had been triggered by her tampering with her core, and the only way to fix it was to cut the Predacon [[shell program]] loose. Reluctantly, she agreed, especially since this was a very difficult procedure that could lead to her death. With time running out, she passed the Ark's access codes on to Primal in case she didn't make it and shut herself down, leaving herself in Rhinox's care. Rhinox began the operation, but his tinkering tripped an alert in [[Tarantulas's lair]]. The Predacons got wind of what he was doing and mounted an attack on the Maximal base. The Maximals countered their attack, but the power was disrupted by a shot fired by Tarantulas at a critical stage. This apparently killed Blackarachnia.

Distraught, Silverbolt took off to avenge her death, blinded by rage. However, in Silverbolt's absence, Blackarachnia's body attracted the attention of the Transmetal driver, and she was resurrected in a new Transmetal 2 form. She arrived just in time to save Silverbolt from Rampage. Rampage admitted that he liked her new look, but tried to kill her just the same. Surprisingly, Blackarachnia was able to disarm and stun the titanic Rampage, ultimately throwing him over the horizon using her webs. Silverbolt was, of course, overjoyed to see his beloved alive, but Blackarachnia told him to knock off the vengeful hero stuff so she wouldn't have to keep endangering herself with inevitable rescue attempts. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

[[Image:MasterBlaster Blackarachnia beast mode.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]
Some time later, Blackarachnia returned to base to find the doors open. It was the result of Megatron's latest plan as it turned out, which involved Quickstrike taking control of Optimus Primal's body, rendering the other Maximals unconscious and placing them in a cage. Left in Rampage's "care", Blackarachnia was able to use some sort of telekinesis to make a girder fly through the air and disable the Predacon. After dealing with Inferno, she went to release the other Maximals, only to run into Quickstrike and Primal. She freed Primal by disabling Quickstrike's control suit, and subsequently managed to stop the Ark's destruct sequence, which Tarantulas had set in motion, before rescuing the other Maximals and helping fight Megatron off. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

[[Image:Nemesis2-Maximals.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Spot the Mega Class toy!]]

When an object from space destroyed the Predacon base, Blackarachnia realised that the aliens had returned — in this case in the form of the Vok emissary [[Tigerhawk]]. She cut short Rattrap's celebrations by pointing out that when Tigerhawk had finished with the Predacons, he'd probably come for them. {{storylink|Other Victories}} Tigerhawk, in fact, joined the Maximals. When Silverbolt was injured looking for the Predacons, Blackarachnia rode to his aid on Cheetor's back, and the pair took him back to base for repairs. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} After Megatron raised the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' from the depths of the ocean, the Maximals struggled to prepare the Ark for moving. In search of something to make a power link, Blackarachnia grabbed Rattrap's tail-whip, snipping off the end and repurposing it as a power cable. Though the attempt to shift the Ark failed, Rhinox used a shuttle to defeat Megatron. The Maximals subsequently blasted off for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the shuttle. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
{{-}}

====Fast Action Battlers toyline====

{{note|This fiction takes place shortly after the events of ''[[Possession]]''.}}

Blackarachnia eventually met up with several [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s from [[Transformers (2007)|another dimension]]. A battle broke out between the Maximals, Predacons, Autobots and Decepticons. The other-dimensional Transformers eventually returned to their place of origin and the Beast Wars continued as they were. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)#3 million years ago|Japanese Fast Action Battler packaging}}

====Beast Wars: Transformers Video Game====
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the first season of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
{{Note|Blackarachnia is a playable character in the Predacon mode of this game for normal gameplay.}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{Note|Due to the nature of this game, a player may select various individual characters to perform the feats required in every level, and complete the game's narrative. Thus, any playable Maximal can fill the role of protagonist in Maximal Mode, and any playable Predacon can fill the role of protagonist in Predacon Mode. As such, each character's page only lists said character's actions when they fill the role of antagonist during gameplay. To view the various feats Blackarachnia can accomplish throughout gameplay in Predacon Mode, it is told on the pages of the [[Optimus Primal|several]] [[Cheetor (BW)|Maximals]] [[Rattrap|included]] [[Dinobot (BW)|as]] [[Rhinox|opponents]] in this game, as well as the game's main antagonists, the [[Skriix]], wherein Blackarachnia fills the role of the nameless Predacon. To view the plot as a whole view the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)]] page.}}
{{-}}

====Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals Video Game====
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the second season of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
[[Image:N64Blackarachnia.jpg|200px|thumb|I'm... sure she has a nice personality... wait, no. No, she doesn't.]]
{{note|In the the N64 version of ''Beast Wars: Transmetals'', Blackarachnia was a stretched [[palette swap|palette-swap]] of [[Tarantulas|Transmetal Tarantulas]]. As you can see, this didn't work very well. The Playstation version does not stretch out Tarantulas, instead remeshing the model to resemble her Transmetal 2 form.}}
:''Voice actor:'' ? (English), ? (Japanese)

Transmetal Blackarachnia joins her fellow Predacons in distributing various one-on-one beat downs to the Maximals. Eventually, Silverbolt convinces her to defect to the Maximals but she never truly reforms. It is her betrayal at a key moment that eventually assures the Maximals victory in the Beast Wars. Once back on Cybertron, she works as a double-agent between the Maximal and [[Tripredacus Council]] with no loyalty to either side. She often ponders what would have happened if she had remained on the Predacon's team throughout the war. {{storylink|Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals|Beast Wars: Transmetals}}
{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the N64 version of the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages, see the other characters' pages for Blackarachnia’s fate in those outcomes.}}
{{-}}

====IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics====
[[Image:TMblackarachnia.jpg|200px|thumb|No boobs? No thanks.]]
While the Maximals attempted to remove her Predacon shell program, an alternate Transmetal "Vok" body was somehow automatically created (by someone, somehow) in [[subspace]] just in case it was needed. It wasn't, and so it was "sidelined". {{storylink|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

{{note|This is [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] way of "sorta" working her [[McDonald's]] Happy Meal premium toy (see below) into continuity}}
{{-}}
====''Tales of the Beast Wars''====
Blackarachnia made a brief appearance in her Transmetal 2 form at [[Reaching the Omega Point|Omega Point]], being eviscerated by [[Shokaract]]'s firepower. Clearly, she got better as space/time rebooted itself with the destruction of the [[Unicron|Dark Essence]]. {{storylink|Terminus}}
{{-}}
====''Transformers Legends'' anthology====
{{note|This takes place after "[[Master Blaster]]"}}
Not long after Megatron took the original Megatron's spark into himself, he had Quickstrike deliver a device to the Maximal base which amplified the Maximals' aggression. Blackarachnia was attacked by Rhinox before escaping while Silverbolt distracted him. Once Optimus Primal was able to overcome the device's effects and free the other Maximals, they attempted unsuccessfully to capture Megatron in one of Blackarachnia's webs. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

{{note|This takes place during "[[Spark of Darkness]]"}}
Blackarachia was trying to persuade Silverbolt that it was all right for them to resume their romance after Megatron's apparent death, when they were attacked by a strange zombie-like creature. After it zapped Silverbolt, she unsuccessfully tried to attack it in retaliation. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}
{{-}}

====''Binaltech'' (unused)====
As the victorious Maximals travelled forward in time from prehistoric Earth to far-future Cybertron, their shuttle was suddenly struck by a powerful force of darkness. Hurled into the early 21st century, Blackarachnia was forced by Unicron to aid him in his efforts to destroy the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Her spark was placed inside the silver Beta Unit Honda S-2000 Aero Style body intended for the Autobot warrior [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], and her mind was overwhelmed by an evil essence that forced her to do Unicron's bidding.

Still possessing her extrasensory Transmetal 2 powers including telekinesis, Blackarachnia gained several additional weapons courtesy of her new form: a long-range Venom Sniper Gun that fired system-disrupting energy bullets, a defensive riot shield that projected an electromagnetic field from its edge, and the ability to fire strong artificial webs from her grill, exhaust pipe and hands in robot mode.

Blackarachnia was partnered with the newly-created [[Decepticharge]] and dispatched to confront [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] forces on Earth. Finding them in the middle of a [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]-led uprising, the pair put down the rebellion and ordered the Decepticons to defeat [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and destroy the Matrix.

While forced to act as a Decepticon, Blackarachnia's true self remained intact but submerged, struggling to overcome Unicron's control and desperate to correct the warped [[Alternators|Binaltech]] timeline.

[[Blackarachnia (BW)#TriviaBinaltech|''Maybe.'']]

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Venus Terzo]] (English), [[Ryōka Yuzuki]] (Japanese), [[Márcia Moreli]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|300px|thumb|When they say she's all legs, they ain't kidding!]]
When the Autobot shuttle crashed on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the Maximal team was gassed, Blackarachnia's Transmetal 2 powers were stripped away from her, as were her memories. As such, the amnesiac Maximal decided to head underground, distraught and confused. Locked out of her robot mode, she awaited her imminent deactivation...until the other three survivors—an equally disoriented [[Optimus Primal]], [[Rattrap]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]—plunged into her web. Primal made the decision to head underground, and Blackarachnia complied, using her webs to grant them safe passage. However, in her weakened state her webbing was limited, and so the foursome plummeted most of the way down into the chamber of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. She watched as Optimus emerged in his [[technorganic]] form, and she was the fourth and last Maximal to be [[Reformatting|reformatted]], emerging as a pink black widow spider with green markings. When attacked by a squadron of Cycle Drones, she put her technorganic mode to good use, trapping one of the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] in a tangle of web. {{storylink|The Reformatting}}

[[Image:Blackarachniamasterofthehouse.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Nice forehead!]]
Under Primal's tutelage, Cheetor and Blackarachnia relearned the ability to transform, and the Maximals set about finding a new base. Blackarachnia managed to goad Cheetor into accompanying her aboveground to find out what had happened to the residents of Cybertron. They accessed the [[Cybertron InfoCore]], only to find it had been wiped. The Maximals visited the [[Council Citadel]], allowing Blackarachnia to test her new powers in combat, including an ability to fire electrical "stings" through the ground. To her shock, they discovered that the mastermind behind the cleansing of Cybertron was none other than Megatron. {{storylink|Master of the House}} During an attempt to access the [[Cybertron Archives]], she received a vision of prehistoric [[Earth]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. She sneaked off to the spaceport to consult the records of their arrival and was followed by Rattrap. As well as encountering Megatron's new, sentient [[Vehicon general]]s, they discovered that there had been six occupants in the shuttle. Seeking more information, Blackarachnia attempted to access the logs from the shuttle itself, only for Megatron to attempt to access her own mind, and she was only prevented from revealing the location of the Maximal base by Rattrap severing the link. The pair were subsequently rescued by Primal and Cheetor, but Blackarachnia's information reawakened memories of Rhinox and Silverbolt in them all. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

Rattrap's use of a transformation enhancer got the Maximals captured by Megatron for a short time, but during their escape, Optimus reported that [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'s spark seemed familiar. {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} Blackarachnia and crew later discovered the bat-creature [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], who led them to a strange, organic fruit tree. Upon eating the fruit, Blackarachnia began to revert to her instinctual "animal" mind, and it was only thanks to [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] that her feral mind returned to normal, and thanks to Primal that the bat's life was saved and reformatted into a technorganic body. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} After another mission was fouled up by Rattrap's antics during Optimus's convalescence from reformatting Nightscream, the remaining Maximals discussed what they needed to do about Rattrap. Blackarachnia was irritated by Rattrap's uselessness, but Cheetor asserted that they had to cover for their friend. They were shocked to find a while later that Rattrap had overheard them and taken up with Megatron in exchange for weapons. Primal talked Rattrap around, scolding the other Maximals that they undervalued their teammate. {{storylink|The Weak Component}}

[[Image:Revelations3 Blackarachnia closeup.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Later, the group stumbled across one of Megatron's many Transformer junkyards, where the lifeless, [[spark]]less bodies of the city's inhabitants were disposed of. When [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] and Blackarachnia were split up from the battle, the two made an unofficial truce, but when Thrust saved her life and her spark, having strange recollections of doing so before, her mind was set: He was Silverbolt, mutated and made evil by Megatron. She resolved to get her lover back, but didn't reveal to the other Maximals that she believed Thrust was Silverbolt. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} When Cheetor enacted a subsequent plan to try to hack into Tankor, Blackarachnia volunteered to keep Thrust busy. She made numerous appeals to Thrust to try to bring out his Maximal nature, but Thrust was hesitant and was soon bullied into extracting her spark by [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} As her spark rocketed into the darkness, Nightscream fought Jetstorm for it. At the same time, on another plane of existence, Blackarachnia encountered Primal, who calmed her astral spirit down, at the same time allowing Nightscream to restore it and bring her back. She and Nightscream were able to come to Cheetor and Rattrap's aid, but they had found that Tankor was really Rhinox, and their old friend was now siding with Megatron's view of a technological Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse}}

[[Image:Survivor Blackarachnia beast mode head.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
After Nightscream was snatched away by the Vehicons, the other Maximals gave pursuit. Blackarachnia's hesitation in attacking Thrust allowed the Vehicon to pursue Primal and Nightscream, who had discovered a [[fossil cave|cave full of fossils]], proving Cybertron was once organic. {{storylink|Survivor}} When Tankor gained control of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] and "infected" Nightscream and the new orchard with the Key, Blackarachnia quickly found that the [[organic goo]] they'd just discovered was a cure to the [[technomatter]]. While the other Maximals went to get a mole drone, Blackarachnia stayed behind to look after Nightscream, only to be infected by him and temporarily lose her own sanity. The other Maximals eventually returned with a drone and were able to cure her. {{storylink|The Key}}

[[Image:Silverboltjetstorm.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Sorry, your boyfriend was behind door number 2!]]
Taking a vial of the goo, Blackarachnia kidnapped Thrust, trapping him in a web and using the goo to force out his inner personality, in the expectation that Silverbolt would emerge. Instead, she discovered that Thrust was [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], who'd flown to Cybertron from prehistoric Earth. When Jetstorm attacked, another mishap with the organic goop occurred, and for a moment Silverbolt's true personality emerged, sweeping Blackarachnia in his arms. However, as he and Waspinator fought over Blackarachnia, the goo vanished from the both of them, and the Vehicons' minds both returned. Blackarachnia was swiftly rescued by the other Maximals, riding a giant vine created by a catalyst which Rattrap had found. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

Blackarachnia was involved in the battle in Megatron's Citadel, holding off the Vehicons as Primal confronted Megatron within, though she, along with the others, were all overwhelmed by the Key to Vector Sigma and became comatose. {{storylink|End of the Line}} The clashing energies of the Key and the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] restored the four Maximals to life. Entering the Council Citadel, they found that the battle had claimed Primal, Megatron and Tankor. They headed for the Oracle in search of guidance, where they found Optimus Primal floating within, and they convinced him to return to real-space and continue his leadership.

The Maximals returned to the surface to find a [[Grand Mal|giant floating head]] in the likeness of Megatron. {{storylink|Fallout}} Blackarachnia and Nightscream tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate the head. Leaving Optimus to try and contact Megatron's spark, the other Maximals went to find the two remaining Vehicon generals and encountered a strange, organic Transformer named [[Noble]], who changed from a wolf into the dragon-like Savage. {{storylink|Savage Noble}} The Maximals later infiltrated the Council Citadel, looking for information, only to discover that Noble was actually Megatron, trapped in his own organic half. Megatron used [[spark extractor]]s to remove his spark, taking over the huge, flying head and reactivating the Vehicon drone army, which forced the Maximals back underground. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}}

[[Image:Blackarachniasilverboltdarkestknight.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Vamp meets goth.]]
When Rattrap revealed he's created a device he hoped could be used to restore the stolen sparks into new bodies, Blackarachnia "borrowed" it. She managed to force Jetstorm into a large pool of the organic goo, and his body began to change. Scanning a nearby condor skeleton, he awoke in a new form, a purple technorganic bird of prey. Blackarachnia was startled by the change in him. Instead of the lovable, chivalrous knight in shining armor, he was a brittle, haunted bot, tormented by the images of the evil deeds he had done...done by choice. Though he gave up on himself, she never did, urging Silverbolt to forgive his past, prompting him to head to the Grand Mal to confront his old master and rescue Primal and Cheetor. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}}

Blackarachnia continued to assure Silverbolt that things would get better. After Silverbolt inadvertently spread a new, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]-enhanced version of the old [[Hate Plague]], causing dissension in the ranks, he blamed himself, but she and the other Maximals were supportive. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}} Later, when a Maximal spaceship crashed, the Maximals split up to reach it in time. As they did, Blackarachnia confided to Rattrap that she'd found Silverbolt increasingly cold towards her. At the ship, they encountered a strange, alien plant monster, which Primal reformatted, revealing it to be [[Botanica]], a fellow Maximal. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

The Maximals would soon encounter two new Vehicon generals, [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], whose gambit almost defeated them until Botanica stepped in. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} Blackarachnia and Silverbolt were teamed up with Cheetor during a search for the missing sparks. Though Silverbolt was uncomfortable about following someone he still regarded as a kid, Blackarachnia defended Cheetor. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}} The Maximals attempted to infiltrate the Grand Mal to find the missing sparks, only to discover that Megatron was using them to fuel his great ascension. Nightscream's intercession appeared to dispel the Vehicon leader's spark. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

[[Image:Silverboltblackarachniaseedsofthefuture.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Eeek! That smile! Go back to glowering!]]
Once the Maximals had celebrated, Blackarachnia tried to talk to Silverbolt, believing now was the time for them to renew their romance. Silverbolt was not convinced of Megatron's demise, and in fact, he was right: Megatron still lived as a disembodied and depolarized spark. The pair found themselves being attacked by a zombie of pieced-together Vehicon parts, animated by the power of Megatron's spark. Megatron was later trapped in a [[Diagnostic Drone]] by Rattrap. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

Silverbolt, Blackarachnia and Nightscream attacked the Vehicons while the others attempted to secure the sparks in the Grand Mal. They were subsequently able to put Megatron's Vehicon factory out of commission, but the Grand Mal itself was brought down. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral}} Blackarachnia and Silverbolt were able to share a quiet moment before the final battle, and they received a spark power-up from the collective population of Cybertron. However, they were both felled during battle by Obsidian and Thrust, respectively. Their sparks were then torn from them by cycle drones. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}} Though unable to assist physically, Blackarachnia and the other Maximals were able to give moral support to Primal during his final battle against Megatron, which resulted in the sacrifice of both leaders and the reformatting of Cybertron into a technorganic paradise. With harmony restored, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were finally able to be together. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}
{{-}}

====''Universe''====
Shortly after the planet underwent the Great Reformatting, the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] seized the opportunity to attack, believing that the revolutionary change would have rendered the planets' inhabitants confused and docile. Suffice to say, the Transformers were greatly underestimated. Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were successfully able to fend [[Cybertropolis]] from Quintesson invaders. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:Blackarachniaabduction.jpg|right|300px|thumb|She stabbed my basketball, and the speakers to my stereo!]]
One year later, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were chosen to greet a ship of returning Autobot heroes from the Great War. Their welcomes were ignored by the crew, which included [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Roulette]], and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]], when they realized that their home had been transformed into a strange technorganic paradise. Only [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] was unphased, choosing to talk up Blackarachnia and Silverbolt so that he could mug for [[Rook (Universe)|Rook's]] cameras.

[[Image:TFU Blackarachnia vs Rattrap.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Hey, guys, I turned evil again!]]
Their greeting was interrupted by a series of what appeared to be fireworks. Instead, they were beams of energy sent by [[Unicron]] to capture the returning crew, Blackarachnia, and Silverbolt, and bring them to him. When they arrived, a booming voice welcomed them to the [[Pit]], a dimension inside Unicron. Blackarachnia and her fellow captives were painfully smelted down and reformed; only Trailbreaker emerged unchanged. Since she arrived, Blackarachnia had begun to feel a growing anger that she couldn't control. And in this new Unicron-tainted form, she more than welcomed the swarm of creatures that began swarming her group. Overwhelmed, Blackarachnia and the others were herded into the [[Cauldron]] and filed into prison cells. As Blackarachnia protested, she was silenced by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], one of their hosts.

It was revealed to them by the master of ceremonies, [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], that they would be forced to fight fellow abducted Transformers. The loser's [[spark]] would fuel and empower Unicron, whose form had fallen into disrepair. Blackarachnia's uncontrollable rage welcomed this bloodsport, as Silverbolt watched helplessly as she fell under Unicron's evil spell. {{storylink|Abduction}}

Optimus Primal, resurrected by [[Primus]], arrived to rescue the prisoners of the Cauldron, and with help from Silverbolt and Trailbreaker, its captives were set free. But Unicron's grip on Blackarachnia was too strong. She began lashing out madly, even at Silverbolt, and the Fuzor took tight hold of her so that he might swiftly remove her from Unicron's grip. But as the others began jumping through a portal that would lead them to their respective homes across the [[Continuity|multiverse]], Blackarachnia had a moment of clarity. Sadly, she told Silverbolt that Unicron had awakened her ''true'' nature, then bid him farewell and threw him through the portal.

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Closure? Maybe?]]
Soon, she was escorted by Tankor and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] to the center of Unicron, where she was repulsed to meet a familiar face: Tarantulas! {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

Blackarachnia was dispatched to Cybertron's [[Undercity]], where she observed Rattrap for a while. Finally, she made her presence known, stinging him with her cybervenom. She never had liked the vermin, after all. Suddenly, Rattrap was saved by [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]], back from the dead. Blackarachnia was knocked out, and Depth Charge left the weakened Rattrap to fend for himself. As Depth Charge departed, he found himself surrounded by Blackarachnia's [[Piranacon (Universe)|Piranacons]]. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

{{note|[[3H Productions]] lost the license, and so this story was never finished as intended. However, look into the end of ''Universe'' was shown in a comic published by the next licensee, [[Fun Publications]].}}
Much later, Optimus Primal waged one last desperate assault against Unicron, and his [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]] were able to defeat the [[Minion of Unicron|Minions of Unicron]]. As Unicron himself seemed to dissolve below them, Silverbolt carried Blackarachnia with him, saving her from sharing the gruesome fate of her evil peers. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
[[Image:Blackarach24.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Keeping something OUT of her crotch, for once.]]
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Blackarachnia was one of the few Transformers ''not'' to be upgraded into a [[Transmetal]]. As [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and his armies laid seige to the weakened Maximal base, Blackarachnia waited in secret for an opening. When [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] was forced to shut [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] down to let an injured [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] in, Blackarachnia saw her chance and entered the base. Knocking out Airazor and ripping [[Rattrap]]'s arm off, Blackarachnia confronted Rhinox. Rhinox proceeded to pull out a "gun", but instead of shooting her with it, he blasted himself in the head (the "gun" actually being a machine allowing him to enter [[Transwarp space]]). Confused, but seeing no further use for the Maximals, Blackarachnia left the base. As the base collapsed behind her, she was approached by Quickstrike, who didn't like her "interfering" with his business. Not in the mood, she immediately kicked his head off. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

{{-}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM===
Blackarachnia followed [[Reptilion|Reptillion]]{{sic}} in battle against [[Optimus Primal]] and his Autobot forces. She teamed up with [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]] to fight [[Striker]] before being abducted by [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}

===''TransTech''===
[[Image:Scavengerblackarachniaalphatriontranscendent.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Silverbolt would not approve.]]
Though she may appear to be a native of [[Axiom Nexus]], Blackarachnia was brought online in a far different universe. On a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where the Autobots and Decepticons had grown too decrepit to carry on the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], they constructed proxy armies in the form of the [[Maximal]]s and Predacons. As a result from her first moments Blackarachnia knew only strife and combat. Increasingly questioning the orders of her Autobot masters, the breaking point came with the death of her colleagues Silverbolt and Rhinox. She conspired with [[Nightscream (TransTech)|Nightscream]] and together they killed their commander, Optimus Primal.

Joined by the malcontent Predacons [[Immorticon]] and [[Scavenger (TransTech)|Scavenger]], they fled and activated an experimental [[transwarp]] device, hoping to escape Cybertron. Instead, they found themselves in Axiom Nexus. After processing, they were placed in the care of [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]]. He convinced her that the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s who ruled the city were little different from the Autobots under whose yoke she had chafed. Under his tender ministrations, her spark was transferred from her Lowtech body into that of her Transcendent Technomorph [[Blackarachnia (TransTech)|counterpart]], with the authorities of Axiom Nexus none the wiser. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 25|"TransTech" Blackarachnia's profile in Club magazine #25}}

Thus upgraded, she joined Alpha Trion's insurrectionist organization, and was part of the raid on [[Shockwave (TransTech)|Shockwave]]'s laboratory in the hopes of rescuing [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]]. Blackarachnia and her comrades successfully stormed into Shockwave's inner sanctum, where they came face-to-face with the formidable [[Megatron (TransTech)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 5}}

{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
{{anchor|Dx1}}
[[Image:Blackarachniabwtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Post-op Tarantulas.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''D-8'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: Blackarachnia's original toy is a [[redeco]] of the [[Tarantulas]] mold, transforming into a rather generic-looking organic spider. It features a removable spring-loaded launcher hidden in its beast-mode abdomen. It nominally fires the "grappling hook" attached to its abdomen by a string, but its front four beast-mode legs can also be removed and used as ammunition. Like all first-year ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' Deluxes, the robot-mode head has both a "robot" face and a [[mutant head|"mutant" face]]; Blackarachnia is always depicted in fiction using the "robot" one (or a rough approximation thereof).

[[Image:BW-toy BlackarachniaTakara.jpg|right|250px|thumb|She might have an F-cup...or an E.]]

: The [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] release of the toy has numerous color differences from the [[Hasbro]] version, but they are of dubious merit as far as making her more "show-accurate" go. The bright green of the Hasbro version's forearms is replaced with dull silver, while the brighter purple is replaced with a darker, more desaturated purple. Her dark copper paint is replaced with a brighter gold. Her robot-mode facemask is painted gold, which is closer to the show model... but her face beneath is black with gold eyes (instead of gold with black eyes), and she inexplicably gains a new painted-black forehead crest, where the show model has gold.

: This mold was later used to make the [[Tarantulas|"Beast Wars 10th Anniversary" version of Tarantulas]], and the ''[[#BW10J|Beast Wars Telemocha]]'' version of Blackarachnia. It was intended to be used to make [[#UnUni|a second ''Universe'' version of Blackarachnia]], but that toy set was canceled.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Deluxe BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWJVs}}
[[Image:VS8-TigatronBlackarachnia.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Battle of the redecos.]]
*'''Deep Forest Showdown: Tigatron VS Blackwidow''' (VS set, 1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''VS-8'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: In Japan, "Blackwidow" was available both as an individual and in a "VS" pack with [[Tigatron]]. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|BWMcD}}
[[Image:Blackarachniamctm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|She's got a great personality.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Happy Meal, 1997)
**''McNumber'': ??

: Part of the second [[List of Transformers restaurant promotions|McDonald's]] ''Beast Wars'' Happy Meal pack-in, Blackarachnia's "[[Transmetal]]" form rather resembles some sort of dust mite more than a spider, and the robot mode appears to have fallen out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. It has a ''very'' similar transformation to the earlier promotional figure [[Beetle]].

:Like the other two Transmetal Happy Meal figures, Blackarachnia has some metallic-sheened plastic intended to resemble the colored chromed finish of the retail ''Transmetals'' toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Predacon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on McDonald's BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|TM2}}
[[Image:BW-toy BlackarachniaTM2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Covers her privates for great justice/children everywhere!]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Transmetal 2, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-48'''
**''Accessories'': Mandible grapnel-line

: The Transmetal 2 version of Blackarachnia transforms into a large, organic/mechanical, monstrous spider, featuring a grappling hook, switching [[Insignia|faction symbols]] activated by [[#TriviaTM2spark|rotating her spark crystal around]], and a spring-loaded spin-kick action feature. She also has a half-assed "defense mode", bringing the chromed abdomen bits down to cover her chest. Like all larger Transmetal 2s, Blackarachnia has hints of an abandoned "transport" mode, mainly the free-spinning wheels and concealed rockets in the spider-mode abdomen.

: This toy was initially hard to find at retail, as one of the toy's features, a piece of removable chest armor (no, really), was altered slightly, delaying later shipments.

: This mold was used to make the [[BotCon 2000]] [[exclusive]] [[Arcee (G1)#Toys|Arcee]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1999/Maximal/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Beast Machines===
[[Image:Beast Machines Blackarachnia Toy.JPG|right|300px|thumb|She's definitely going to need a big nail file.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 2000)

: An early toy in the ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' line, Blackarachnia transforms into a [[technorganic]] spider. In spider mode, squeezing its pedipalps together raises its central fangs; they were spring-loaded to release and lower, respectively. In keeping with the early ''Beast Machines'' "articulated features" motif, her robot mode head has a multi-piece articulated brow, which can slide up to reveal two extra sets of eyes, as she does on the cartoon.

: This mold was later redecoed to make the [[#UniDx|''Universe'' version of Blackarachnia]], as well as [[Crystal Widow]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Beast Machines Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BMMcD}}
[[Image:Blackarachniamcbm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This is transformed correctly, right? Right?]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Happy Meal, 2000)
**''McNumber'': ??

: As one of ''ten'' toys in the third Transformers McDonald's Happy Meal promotion, Blackarachnia is a super-simplified version of her retail toy, with a coloration closer to the [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] CG model, though more shockingly pink rather than maroon. This toy is designed for the younger set, with softer plastic and no removable parts.

: She is the only [[Beast Era]] character to get two McDonald's Happy Meal toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/McBlackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on McDonald's BM Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWR}}
[[Image:Blackarachniabeastwarsreturnstoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You will pay a lot of money to own this extra-pink girl <strike>doll</strike>action figure.]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Deluxe, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BR-04'''

: Part of the Japanese Toys "R" Us-[[exclusive]] ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Wars Returns]]'' series, this toy is a redeco of the original ''Beast Machines'' Blackarachnia in a more show-like maroon coloration. Reportedly, this toy was limited to 3000 pieces, a full thousand ''less'' than the others in the original assortment. Since she was also the most changed from the US release in the initial batch of toys, this made her considerably harder to get.

{{-}}
===Universe (2003)===
{{anchor|UniDx}}
[[Image:Blackarachniauniversetoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You can pick your faction, and you can pick your girlfriend, but you can't pick your girlfriend's faction.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 2003)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Deluxes, Blackarachnia returned as a [[Decepticon]] and as a redeco of [[#BMDx1|the original ''Beast Machines'' figure]]. However, her forearms were [[Misassembly|mistakenly swapped]], leaving her forearm "spikes" pointing up towards her biceps rather than down near her elbows. She received a Decepticon [[Insignia|faction symbol]] over her [[spark crystal]] as well.

: This mold (with the same swapped-forearms error) was used to make [[Crystal Widow]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Universe Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|UnUni}}
[[Image:Blackarachnia unreleased.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Eyow.]]
*'''Leatherhide Vs. Blackarachnia''' (Halloween Horrorcon value pack, unreleased)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

:In 2004, a group of test-shots made their way onto eBay, among them a [[redeco]] of the original ''Beast Wars'' Tarantulas/Blackarachnia mold in black with silver spider-legs and salmon-colored robot parts. Later, Hasbro's official website checklist featured listings for two ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' "Halloween [[Horrorcon (Universe)|Horrorcon]] Value Packs" that were to be Wal-Mart [[exclusive]]s... which also likely explains why they were canceled. (Wal*Mart had taken a good half-dozen exclusives and released them more-or-less simultaneously, leading to a huge glut. A lot of other ''Transformers'' exclusives were canceled during the ''Universe'' era.) One of the sets was "[[Leatherhide]] Vs. Blackarachnia"... and thus, the mystery spider was confirmed, as the other test-shots in that group lined up with the name listings given in the sets.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
===Beast Wars Telemocha Series===
[[Image:Blackarachniatelemocha.jpg|right|300px|thumb|It almost works!]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-06'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: As part of the ''[[Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Beast Wars Telemocha]]'' line, the [[#Dx1|original Blackarachnia toy]] was ''extensively'' redecoed with a ridiculous number of gold [[paint operation]]s, making her closer to [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] in coloration than the other versions of the mold, but still not quite there. (Her biceps are silver in the show.) All of the [[gimmick]]s of the original toy were retained, though her alternate head didn't receive any paint that wasn't intended to make her nominal head look more show-accurate.

:She came with a DVD containing "The Assassin Virus", the Japanese dubbing of ''Beast Wars'' episode 10, "[[Gorilla Warfare]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Destron/BlackWidow/blackwidow.htm More information on Telemocha Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Binaltech===
[[Image:Blackwidowwildrider.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Honda wouldn't appreciate their car being hot, poisonous, and deadly.]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Binaltech, unreleased)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''BT16'''
**''Accessories'': Engine-rifle, roof-shield

: In 2005, the mold used for ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Decepticharge]] was presented as an upcoming release for the Japanese ''Binaltech'' line. They decided to give the toy an entirely new deco, as the Hasbro toy's deco didn't appeal to their ideal of "real-life accuracy". In robot mode, the toy was given a color scheme based on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia, with the toy's name being changed to "Blackwidow", Takara's name for the character. Though a [[bio]] and story chapter were written to accommodate it into the ''Binaltech'' fiction, and photoshopped images released through an online retailer revealed the intended color scheme, Takara ultimately decided to cancel the toy altogether, as they were fearing that another redeco (in addition to the upcoming ''Binaltech Asterisk'' toys) would be too repetitive. Plans to release this toy as part of a different line were never picked up again.

: This mold was ultimately released in Japan as part of an unexpected ''Binaltech'' continuation, this time as [[Arcee (G1)#Binaltech|Arcee]]. The original version of the mold was used to make ''Alternators'' [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and ''Binaltech'' [[Overdrive]].
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
* '''Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game''' (1997)
:Blackarachnia was one of the 24 beast warriors to receive a battle card representation for the Beast Wars [[Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game|card game]].

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroescheetorblackarachnia.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cute and poisonous.]]
* '''Cheetor vs. Blackarachnia''' (2-pack, 2008)

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]''-branded [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]], Blackarachnia is a simple, yet well-detailed two-inch tall figurine with exaggerated, cartoony proportions. She was only available in a two-pack with [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]].

{{-}}

==Trivia==
[[Image:BWBlackarachniaCardArt.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Dirty girls, make some noise. Move that ass for dirty boys.]]
* Blackarachnia's original Beast Wars card art has her wearing a spike-studded collar... while her chest seems to be leopard-spotted. Kinky.

* Reportedly, Blackarachnia's show model was created after some Mainframe folks had taken the design modeler to a strip club only a few days prior for, um... ''inspiration''. <ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/593687e427efddad Why Blackarachnia Looks Asian] on [[alt.toys.transformers]].</ref>

* Much like her fellow spider [[Tarantulas]], her original beast mode is depicted with ''nine'' eyes rather then eight.

* In the "jovial" Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', Blackarachnia's character underwent a few small (depending on your point of view) changes. Firstly, she had a voice that can only be described as "bipolar". She would switch between her usual sultry, flirtatious voice to a screaming blood-thirsty maniac at the drop of a hat. Another notable change is that, while still a strong female character, she was made less independent and was occasionally prone to ''begging for mercy'' from her enemies, something she never did in the English version. However, this isn't the first time the Japanese have done their best to [[Arcee (G1)#The Headmasters cartoon|"improve" upon a female character]].

* The [[:Image:Blackarachniahappymeal.jpg|artwork]] advertising the Transmetal Blackarachnia toy on Happy Meal Bags was rendered with the toy transformed incorrectly. Her beast mode head isn't flipped down, leaving her organic-looking robot mode chest exposed.

{{anchor|TriviaTM2spark}}
* Even though Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia's toy has a unique faction-switching [[spark crystal]], the feature doesn't make sense in a fictional context. By that point in the ''Beast Wars'' television series, the Transmetal Driver had destroyed her Predacon [[shell program]], making her fully Maximal. (Though, to be fair, it ''had'' happened mere moments previously.)

* Blackarachnia exhibited what appears to be telekinesis not long after gaining her Transmetal 2 form, levitating a steel girder to stop Rampage in "[[Master Blaster]]". The ability only appeared once and was never explained, though it resembles the other strange, almost supernatural powers wielded by Transmetals 2 in the cartoon. Following her reformatting in ''Beast Machines'', Blackarachnia no longer possessed this ability.

[[image:Sourcebook1Blackarachnia.jpg|thumb|200px|Woke up in Vegas next to [[BB#Notes|BB]].]]

{{anchor|TriviaBinaltech}}
* Character and fiction information for the cancelled BT-16 "Blackwidow" toy finally emerged in late 2007 with the release of ''The Transformers Binaltech Stories: Profiles and Technical Specifications'', an unofficial publication by ''Binaltech'' story writer [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] that compiled all then-current ''Binaltech'' information as well as that of the unreleased Blackarachnia and [[Ginrai]] toys. As it was never officially released, this information can be considered [[Pseudocanon|pseudocanonical]] at best.

* Blackarachnia is (strangely) depicted solely using a golden orange version of her Transmetal II body in her IDW ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' profile entry. She received properly colored coverage of all her modes in the trade paperback version.

{{-}}

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Alpha Trion's acolytes]]
[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Minions of Unicron]]
[[Category:Predacons]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Saboteurs]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Transmetals 2]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)

2010-04-07T03:48:22Z

125.237.60.114: /* Characters */

{{disambigr|Battle for the Spark|the online game in the [[Live-action film series|live action film]] continuity|Battle for the Allspark}}

{{nav-BM}}

'''''Beast Machines''''' is a 26-episode cartoon that aired in the US from 1999 to 2000, in support of the [[Beast Machines (toyline)|toyline]] of the same name. It is a direct follow-up to ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', set in the same G1 continuity and featuring many of the same characters. Like ''Beast Wars'', its [[CGI|computer animation]] was created by [[Mainframe Entertainment]].

:''Japanese name:'' '''Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Returns''' (超生命体トランスフォーマー　ビーストウォーズ　リターンズ, Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Returns)
:''French-Canadian name:'' '''Mécanimaux''' ("Mechanimals")
:''Russian name:'' '''Transformers: Beast Robots''' (Трансформеры: Зверо-Роботы, Transformery: Zvero-Roboty)

==Overview==
[[Image:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The Maximals, in a rare moment of Not Running Away.]]
The show follows the adventures of the core ''Beast Wars'' cast upon their return home to Cybertron; there, Optimus Primal and his crew find that the whole planet is abandoned, and the streets are patrolled by mindless [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] serving [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who somehow escaped his captivity.

Worse still, they learn that they are infected with a deadly [[Transformation virus|virus]] that will kill them in a matter of hours. Salvation comes from the mysterious supercomputer known as the Oracle, who sees them fit to complete its mission of a planetwide "reformatting", and turns them into [[technorganic]] warriors, a perfect blend of organic and technological matter.

As the show progresses, Primal and his fellow Maximals learn to balance their technological side with their newly introduced organic aspects, mastery coming in slow stages. Unlike the previous [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|conflict]], where sides had been roughly equal, the four original Maximals were quite outnumbered by their Vehicon enemies, and the battles took on a "guerilla warfare" feel, with the Maximals using sewers and underground levels to their advantage and avoiding surface levels unless for combat purposes. As the show progresses, two brand-new Maximals and a returning face boost their numbers and together, the Maximals eventually turn Cybertron into an [[technorganic]] paradise, though at the cost of their [[Optimus Primal|leader]]'s life.

===Reception===
Controversial even by the standards of other Transformers reinventions (!), ''Beast Machines'' is remembered by some as a series which tried to tackle heavy philosophical concepts, discussing such issues like what it meant to live in an increasingly technological society, the dichotomy between the desires of the individual and the needs of the whole, the inevitability of conflict and inequality in a free society, and the paradox of a living technological world. Story editor [[Bob Skir]] describes the series as a "religious epic novel for television."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAkRF4QBKew Bob Skir interview at youtube.com]</ref> Most of the Transformers [[franchise]] lore about [[spark|sparks]], their abilities, and the mechanism of their life cycle, was introduced or developed in this series.

The series amassed many detractors early on, who complained that core cast portrayals were inconsistent with how these personalities had been established over the years of the preceding ''Beast Wars'' series. Critics also alleged a "hippie" agenda behind Beast Machines, with Optimus Primal becoming an anti-technology guru (throughout season 1, anyway). The show's "epic novel" storytelling structure meant that at times it was forced to tread water, relying on repetitive chase scenes and expository speeches. It was also, at that point in time, by far the most serialized American Transformers cartoon, making it difficult for new viewers to join at some random episode and be hooked in; it didn't help that the series began "in medias res", with many foundational issues deliberately left vague until at last resolution was established in flashbacks in episodes 7-9 (by then, [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] executive [[Asaph Fipke]] had become somewhat notorious for repeatedly assuring fans that "all will be revealed.") Some detractors were so sure the series had [[Ruined FOREVER|ruined Transformers forever]] that they sent death threats to Bob Skir, causing him to cancel a convention appearance in 2000.

The show was and remains the darkest Transformers animated series (even its fans will grant that it almost entirely lacks the humorous, occasionally zany approach of ''Beast Wars'', though this was a deliberate artistic choice), and the most thought-provoking. It is also the final animated entry into the Generation 1 story canon, bringing the events in that universe to a rather conclusive ending (which ''also'' didn't win it many popularity points). If nothing else, the creators had ambitions to do more than [[to sell toys|sell toys]].

Despite all the criticisms, the show continued the high production values of ''Beast Wars'', with solid scripting, excellent voice acting, and CGI that was a considerable step up in quality even from ''Beast Wars''. Mainframe's animators showed their considerable talents in giving highly emotive expression to such alien characters as the [[Vehicon general]]s and even the [[Diagnostic Drone]], which ''didn't have a face at all''. As with ''Beast Wars'', [[Robert Buckley]] provided the series background music, this time creating a stylized electronic music in keeping with the mechanical environment of Cybertron.

With ''Beast Machines'' perhaps not quite living up to Hasbro's hopes, the [[Transtech|followup line]] to ''Beast Machines'' was subsequently scrapped. Hasbro's next foray into animation would be to bring over a [[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|year-old Japanese show]] for consumption in the US, until a [[Unicron Trilogy|new story]] could be concocted. In [[Armada (cartoon)|light]] [[Energon (cartoon)|of the]] [[Cybertron (cartoon)|results]], and with the passage of time, some fans have re-evaluated ''Beast Machines'' more favorably, though the newfound positive reception is still not universal by any means.

==Episodes==
{{note|For a detailed list including airdates and production stats, see [[List of Beast Machines episodes]].}}
===Season 1===
[[Image:Tankor flames.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Tankor, YOU'RE FIRED!]]
Season 1 largely centers on the Maximals' efforts to find out what has happened to them, as they arrive on Cybertron with no memories. In addition to Megatron and the core Maximal cast, three new Vehicon generals are introduced, as well as the new Maximal Nightscream. By the end of the season, Optimus Primal has been driven down a road of extremism, and an apocalyptic confrontation marks the season finale...

#[[The Reformatting]]
#[[Master of the House]]
#[[Fires of the Past]]
#[[Mercenary Pursuits]]
#[[Forbidden Fruit]]
#[[The Weak Component]]
#[[Revelations Part I: Discovery]]
#[[Revelations Part II: Descent]]
#[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse]]
#[[Survivor]]
#[[The Key]]
#[[The Catalyst]]
#[[End of the Line]]

===Season 2: Battle for the Spark===
[[Image:Botanica5.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This freakish, tentacled, multi-limbed creature is one of the kid-friendly good guys!]]
The ultimate face-off at the end of Season 1 is resolved in a most unusual and cerebral manner, setting the tone for Season 2 as Primal realizes his mission is one of balance, not extremism. Silverbolt rejoins the Maximal ranks, a new Maximal arrives from off-world, and two dangerous new generals join Megatron's side as the Maximals search for the lost Sparks of their brethren and battle to regain control of Cybertron.

#[[Fallout]]
#[[Savage Noble]]
#[[Prometheus Unbound]]
#[[In Darkest Knight]]
#[[A Wolf in the Fold]]
#[[Home Soil]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]
#[[Spark of Darkness]]
#[[Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral]]
#[[Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall]]
#[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]

==Characters==
[[Image:Rattrap bm robotmode.jpg|right|200px|thumb|There's a caption under me?!]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of named on-screen characters in ''Beast Machines'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (Most drones are not listed, and neither are incidental flashback characters.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged Beast Machines characters, having appeared in other media.

{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett|Ian Corlett]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] ([[Alessandro Juliani]])
*[[Noble|Savage/Noble]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Botanica]] ([[Kathleen Barr]])
|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] ([[Christopher Gaze]]/[[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] ([[Brian Drummond]])
**[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
**[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
**[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] ([[Patricia Drake]])
|c4=
*[[Oracle (BM)|The Oracle]] ([[Carol Savenkoff]])
*[[Protohuman]]s
|nonumbering=true
}}

==Japanese release==
[[Image:BeastWarsReturnsLogo01.jpg|center|300px|thumb|]]

The ''Beast Machines'' franchise was not initially released in Japan. As such, the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon did not reach Japan's shores until late 2004, where it was retitled '''''Beast Wars Returns'''''. The series was initially broadcast on the satellite-only network MobaHO! - TAKARAND from [[November 6]], 2004, to [[January 30]], 2005. In February of 2005, it was reaired on [[Cartoon Network|Cartoon Network Japan]] and, following that, other networks including Gifu Terebi.

Though the editing was headed up by [[Iwanami Yoshikazu]], the man responsible for the dubbing of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', the ''Beast Wars Returns'' cartoon was not reworked to the same extent as the previous series had been in Japan. While the character quirks exclusive to the Japanese version of the series were retained, and a complete cast reunion from ''Beast Wars'' was achieved, the dub did not strive to be an overblown comedy series as before. Instead, ''Beast Wars Returns'' featured a tone more closely resembling the original English version. This less jovial attitude is reflected in the episode titles, which are no longer goofy and full of self-referential gags, but are almost awkwardly ''serious''.

Given the low-key release of the series, a new theme song was not recorded. Instead, "[[Phat Planet]]" by [[Leftfield]] was retained. Only one original piece of music was recorded for the series, "[[Megatron Ondo]]" by [[Yukio Hibariya]] and partly performed by [[Shigeru Chiba]], created exclusively for Volume 7 of the ''Beast Wars Returns'' DVD release.

Also exclusive to the DVD release of the series was an additional, goofy clip show akin to the silly ones created for the Japanese release of the ''Beast Wars'':

*[[Shock! Of Course We're Doing it! Remix]] ("ドキッ!やっぱりやります!リミックス")

==Home video releases==
===Japan===
[[Image:Geneon BWReturns Volume7 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px|]]
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 1 (2004)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 2 (2004)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 3 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 4 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 5 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 6 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 7 (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[Image:Rhino Beast Machines DVD.jpg|thumb|125px|]]
{{main|Kid Rhino}}
*''Beast Machines: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (2006)

===Australia / New Zealand===
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume Two (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season Two: Volume One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season Two: Volume Two (2007)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
[[Image:UK Beast Machines Season1 DVD.jpg|150px|thumb|[[Transformers (2007)|Their]] tagline. [[Optimus Primal|His]] head.]]
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One — Reformatting (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume Two — Revelations (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season Two (2007)
{{-}}

==Notes==
*[[Mainframe Entertainment]] executive [[Dan DiDio]] explicitly told Bob Skir and [[Marty Isenberg]] to ignore all previous Transformers cartoons when writing ''Beast Machines'', because "''Beast Wars'' was too continuity-heavy". It clearly did not work out that way.
*In the May 2008 "DC Nation" editorial appearing in [[wikipedia:DC Comics|DC Comics]] publications, Dan DiDio recounted that writer [[Steve Gerber]] had once pitched a "wildly original take on ''Transformers''" as part of the development of ''Beast Machines''.
*The theme tune for the show was Leftfield's "Phat Planet". This was also used for a famous Guinness advert. The latter proved a more popular TV slot.
*Apart from flashbacks, visions and such, ''Beast Machines'' takes place entirely on (or in orbit of) Cybertron, thus making it the only television series ''not'' to feature any [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|annoying]] [[Kicker Jones|human]] [[Bud Hansen|companions]].
*[[Simon Furman]] thinks Beast Machines was too dark and serious for being a cartoon show for kids.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=705 SIMON FURMAN Transformers Q&A! It's here! at the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> And trust us: the guy who wrote ''[[Generation 2 (Marvel Comics)|Generation 2]]'' is something of an expert on 'too dark and serious for kids'.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Machines| Beast Machines (cartoon)]]
[[Category:Mainframe]]
[[Category:Television series]]

The Catalyst

2010-04-07T03:42:37Z

125.237.60.114: /* Featured characters */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=12
|image=Catalyst Rattrap vine uhoh.jpg
|caption=Rattrap's crossover into ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' ended on a rather sour note.
|title="The Catalyst"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=December 11, 1999
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]] [[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Steve Sacks]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Rattrap uses a catalyst program to accelerate the growth of the plants at the Maximal stronghold, and Blackarachnia learns the truth about Thrust.'''

:''French title:'' '''Guerre Techno-Organique, Partie II''' ("Techno-Organic War, Part II")
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Le Cataclysme''' ("The Cataclysm")
:''Japanese title:'' 生命の水 (''Seimei no Mizu'', "The Water of Life")
:''Spanish title:'' '''Guerra Tecno-Orgánica, Parte Dos: El Catalizador'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:KeyEnergyStrike.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Now with 500x the iron of normal vegetables!]]
The [[Maximal|Maximals]] have set up a system to keep their orchard supplied with the [[organic goo]] provided by [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and are holding a memorial service for [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], unaware that they're being spied on by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]. Tankor is also spying on [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who asks [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] and [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] what happened to the third of his [[Vehicon general|Vehicon generals]] prior to his apparent death. The [[Diagnostic Drone]] informs Megatron about the discovery of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], and the (decoy) Tankor's subsequent overloading while using it. The Drone suggests attaching copies of the Key to the drones and using them to purge Cybertron of all organic matter. When Megatron asks what it'll do to his beast mode, the Drone says it will be eliminated, and inadvertently begins to repeat Tankor's ramblings about how it will also drive Megatron mad, before covering his blunder. Although suspicious, Megatron orders the key be attached to Aero and cycle drones and tested on a Maximal, much to Tankor's annoyance.

[[Rattrap]] uses the ancient computers to run a planet-wide search for more [[organic goo|organic goop]], but is interrupted by [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], who needs the goo herself to try to turn Thrust back into [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. Rattrap reluctantly lets her take the sample.

Meanwhile, the Diagnostic Drone is taking Jetstorm and Thrust on a wild goose chase on Tankor's orders. Tankor intends to give Megatron a change of heart.

[[Image:RattrapVined.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I've heard of weed killers, but killer weeds?]] Rattrap has had some measure of success, turning up a catalyst program. He returns to the orchard, where the catalyst dramatically increases the plant-growth, and he's carried into the air by vines. [[Optimus Primal|Optimus]], [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] turn up to rescue him from the clutches of the plantlife.

Blackarachnia locates the searching [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] and attacks, seizing Thrust and carrying him off. The Aero drones zap her web line with the keys they're carrying, and she's forced to detach, falling to the ground.

Optimus tells Rattrap to try his experiments on a small scale next time, but the other Maximals think he's wrong and that the fast-growing vines would be a great weapon against Megatron. Optimus goes to commune with the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] while the others clear up.

Up in the city, Blackarachnia knocks out Jetstorm and the Diagnostic Drone before leading Thrust to a more secluded location where she traps him in a web. Dosed with goo, Thrust reverts to his old personality—[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]. Waspinator explains that he got bored on prehistoric Earth and flew back to Cybertron<ref>Some depictions of this story may differ from Waspinator's account, namely video footage</ref>. Blackarachnia is more than a little disappointed that he's not Silverbolt, but they're interrupted by Jetstorm, who knocks the container of goo from Blackarachnia's hand and is dosed with it. Jetstorm's old personality comes out, and this time it's Silverbolt.

Rattrap admits to Cheetor and Nightscream what the spider's up to. Nightscream volunteers to get Optimus, but Cheetor has other plans. Optimus, meanwhile, is having problems accessing the Oracle.

[[Image:BlackarachniaWaspinatorSilverbolt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is the best laser show EVER!!]] Silverbolt and Waspinator fight over Blackarachnia, but they're interrupted by the arrival of aero and motorcycle drones, which neither Vehicon realises they can control. The power of the Keys eliminates the goo, reverting Thrust and Jetstorm to their normal selves, and they order the drones to close in. Fortunately the other three Maximals burst in riding a giant vine, and pick up Blackarachnia, whisking her away to safety.

Diagnostic Drone reports failure to Megatron, but he's been monitoring the situation anyway. The drones zap the huge vine with their keys, changing it to [[technomatter]]. The Maximals leap off before they're infected, but Rattrap announces they have to sever the vines to stop the infection spreading to the orchid and Cybertron's organic core. They race alongside the vine, chasing the infection until it reaches the orchid. Optimus spots the problem and frantically begins breaking vines. He succeeds, and rounds on Cheetor for disobeying orders, before informing him that he believes the Oracle has been tampered with.

Tankor, through the Diagnostic Drone, convinces Megatron to load the Key into all of the tank drones, and muses to himself that it's all thanks to the catalyst program he let Rattrap find.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (2)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (3)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (16)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s
|c2=
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]/[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (6)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (9)
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] (10)
*[[Sonic Attack Jet|Sonic Attack Jets]] (11)
*[[Motorcycle Drone|Motorcycle Drones]] (12)

|h3=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c3=
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (14)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Infernos Parts]] (16) (Flashback)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrikes Parts]] (17) (Flashback)

|c4=
*[[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] (13)
*[[Protohuman]]s (15) (Flashback)

}}

==Quotes==
"And so we pause, to reflect on our departed friend Rhinox, rather than the enemy Tankor he became. For all possibilities exist within our sparks, and each of us is vulnerable to the path of darkness."
:—'''Primal''''s eulogy to Rhinox.

"Your glorious army will shine less brightly without his guiding...can I have his tank drones?"
:—'''Jetstorm''', that greedy son of a...

'''Diagnostic Drone:''' "My scanners indicate a Maximal signature right in this vicinity." 
'''Jetstorm:''' "If it's so close, why can't we-" 
'''Computer:''' "Maximal signature detected." 
'''Diagnostic Drone:''' "What?"
:—The hunt takes an unexpected turn.

"Nooooooo. Doggie-bot not here."
:—'''Waspinator's''' first words when reactivated in Thrust's body.

"You mean I risked everything to save this... this.. this... scrap heap?! Eww!" 
"That mean spider-bot not go steady with Waspinator?"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Waspinator''', the wrong Scott McNeil character.

"Blackarachnia. Oh, dark poison of my heart!"
:—'''Silverbolt's''' first words when reactivated in Jetstorm's body.

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
*During Megatron's conversation with the Diagnositc Drone at the beginning of the episode, his scar switches several times between his left and right eyes.

===Continuity errors===
* Silverbolt and Waspinator seem unaware that they are in Vehicon bodies with drones at their command. This is odd, considering that Rhinox was fully aware (or so he claims) within the body of Tankor, and even more so when Silverbolt feels guilt when he finally returns to the Maximal fold (although these can both be chalked up to the Maximals tampering with their respective programming). Even a few seconds ''before'' Waspinator acts oblivious to his command over the drones, he confesses "Chickbots dig brooding, loner bit!", ''acknowledging'' his role as Thrust. ''Huh?''

===Transformers references===
* [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]'s Beast Wars personalities emerge in this episode, albeit for a few minutes.

===Real-world references===
* None identified as of yet.

===Trivia===
* It seems unusual that Megatron would threaten the [[Diagnostic Drone]] with a [[spark extractor]], seeing as how it doesn't ''have'' a [[spark]] to begin with.
* Palm tree is the most ecological way to time-travel.
* So ''Waspinator'' was able to break through Vehicon programming when facing Blackarachnia but Silverbolt either never was or just didn't, and he ''never did later'' even when his true love was directly appealing to him. This raises worrying questions about either Waspinator or Silverbolt, especially the latter as [[In Darkest Knight|he'll later admit]] how much he loved being a murderous villain...

==Footnotes==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Catalyst}}
[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

The Catalyst

2010-04-07T03:39:16Z

125.237.60.114: /* Featured characters */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=12
|image=Catalyst Rattrap vine uhoh.jpg
|caption=Rattrap's crossover into ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' ended on a rather sour note.
|title="The Catalyst"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=December 11, 1999
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]] [[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Steve Sacks]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Rattrap uses a catalyst program to accelerate the growth of the plants at the Maximal stronghold, and Blackarachnia learns the truth about Thrust.'''

:''French title:'' '''Guerre Techno-Organique, Partie II''' ("Techno-Organic War, Part II")
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Le Cataclysme''' ("The Cataclysm")
:''Japanese title:'' 生命の水 (''Seimei no Mizu'', "The Water of Life")
:''Spanish title:'' '''Guerra Tecno-Orgánica, Parte Dos: El Catalizador'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:KeyEnergyStrike.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Now with 500x the iron of normal vegetables!]]
The [[Maximal|Maximals]] have set up a system to keep their orchard supplied with the [[organic goo]] provided by [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and are holding a memorial service for [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], unaware that they're being spied on by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]. Tankor is also spying on [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who asks [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] and [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] what happened to the third of his [[Vehicon general|Vehicon generals]] prior to his apparent death. The [[Diagnostic Drone]] informs Megatron about the discovery of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], and the (decoy) Tankor's subsequent overloading while using it. The Drone suggests attaching copies of the Key to the drones and using them to purge Cybertron of all organic matter. When Megatron asks what it'll do to his beast mode, the Drone says it will be eliminated, and inadvertently begins to repeat Tankor's ramblings about how it will also drive Megatron mad, before covering his blunder. Although suspicious, Megatron orders the key be attached to Aero and cycle drones and tested on a Maximal, much to Tankor's annoyance.

[[Rattrap]] uses the ancient computers to run a planet-wide search for more [[organic goo|organic goop]], but is interrupted by [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], who needs the goo herself to try to turn Thrust back into [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. Rattrap reluctantly lets her take the sample.

Meanwhile, the Diagnostic Drone is taking Jetstorm and Thrust on a wild goose chase on Tankor's orders. Tankor intends to give Megatron a change of heart.

[[Image:RattrapVined.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I've heard of weed killers, but killer weeds?]] Rattrap has had some measure of success, turning up a catalyst program. He returns to the orchard, where the catalyst dramatically increases the plant-growth, and he's carried into the air by vines. [[Optimus Primal|Optimus]], [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] turn up to rescue him from the clutches of the plantlife.

Blackarachnia locates the searching [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] and attacks, seizing Thrust and carrying him off. The Aero drones zap her web line with the keys they're carrying, and she's forced to detach, falling to the ground.

Optimus tells Rattrap to try his experiments on a small scale next time, but the other Maximals think he's wrong and that the fast-growing vines would be a great weapon against Megatron. Optimus goes to commune with the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] while the others clear up.

Up in the city, Blackarachnia knocks out Jetstorm and the Diagnostic Drone before leading Thrust to a more secluded location where she traps him in a web. Dosed with goo, Thrust reverts to his old personality—[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]. Waspinator explains that he got bored on prehistoric Earth and flew back to Cybertron<ref>Some depictions of this story may differ from Waspinator's account, namely video footage</ref>. Blackarachnia is more than a little disappointed that he's not Silverbolt, but they're interrupted by Jetstorm, who knocks the container of goo from Blackarachnia's hand and is dosed with it. Jetstorm's old personality comes out, and this time it's Silverbolt.

Rattrap admits to Cheetor and Nightscream what the spider's up to. Nightscream volunteers to get Optimus, but Cheetor has other plans. Optimus, meanwhile, is having problems accessing the Oracle.

[[Image:BlackarachniaWaspinatorSilverbolt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is the best laser show EVER!!]] Silverbolt and Waspinator fight over Blackarachnia, but they're interrupted by the arrival of aero and motorcycle drones, which neither Vehicon realises they can control. The power of the Keys eliminates the goo, reverting Thrust and Jetstorm to their normal selves, and they order the drones to close in. Fortunately the other three Maximals burst in riding a giant vine, and pick up Blackarachnia, whisking her away to safety.

Diagnostic Drone reports failure to Megatron, but he's been monitoring the situation anyway. The drones zap the huge vine with their keys, changing it to [[technomatter]]. The Maximals leap off before they're infected, but Rattrap announces they have to sever the vines to stop the infection spreading to the orchid and Cybertron's organic core. They race alongside the vine, chasing the infection until it reaches the orchid. Optimus spots the problem and frantically begins breaking vines. He succeeds, and rounds on Cheetor for disobeying orders, before informing him that he believes the Oracle has been tampered with.

Tankor, through the Diagnostic Drone, convinces Megatron to load the Key into all of the tank drones, and muses to himself that it's all thanks to the catalyst program he let Rattrap find.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (2)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (3)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (16)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s
|c2=
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]/[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (6)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (9)
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] (10)
*[[Sonic Attack Jet|Sonic Attack Jets]] (11)
*[[Motorcycle Drone|Motorcycle Drones]] (12)

|h3=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c3=
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (14)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Infernos Parts]] (16)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrikes Parts]] (17)

|c4=
*[[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] (13)
*[[Protohuman]]s (15)

}}

==Quotes==
"And so we pause, to reflect on our departed friend Rhinox, rather than the enemy Tankor he became. For all possibilities exist within our sparks, and each of us is vulnerable to the path of darkness."
:—'''Primal''''s eulogy to Rhinox.

"Your glorious army will shine less brightly without his guiding...can I have his tank drones?"
:—'''Jetstorm''', that greedy son of a...

'''Diagnostic Drone:''' "My scanners indicate a Maximal signature right in this vicinity." 
'''Jetstorm:''' "If it's so close, why can't we-" 
'''Computer:''' "Maximal signature detected." 
'''Diagnostic Drone:''' "What?"
:—The hunt takes an unexpected turn.

"Nooooooo. Doggie-bot not here."
:—'''Waspinator's''' first words when reactivated in Thrust's body.

"You mean I risked everything to save this... this.. this... scrap heap?! Eww!" 
"That mean spider-bot not go steady with Waspinator?"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Waspinator''', the wrong Scott McNeil character.

"Blackarachnia. Oh, dark poison of my heart!"
:—'''Silverbolt's''' first words when reactivated in Jetstorm's body.

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
*During Megatron's conversation with the Diagnositc Drone at the beginning of the episode, his scar switches several times between his left and right eyes.

===Continuity errors===
* Silverbolt and Waspinator seem unaware that they are in Vehicon bodies with drones at their command. This is odd, considering that Rhinox was fully aware (or so he claims) within the body of Tankor, and even more so when Silverbolt feels guilt when he finally returns to the Maximal fold (although these can both be chalked up to the Maximals tampering with their respective programming). Even a few seconds ''before'' Waspinator acts oblivious to his command over the drones, he confesses "Chickbots dig brooding, loner bit!", ''acknowledging'' his role as Thrust. ''Huh?''

===Transformers references===
* [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]'s Beast Wars personalities emerge in this episode, albeit for a few minutes.

===Real-world references===
* None identified as of yet.

===Trivia===
* It seems unusual that Megatron would threaten the [[Diagnostic Drone]] with a [[spark extractor]], seeing as how it doesn't ''have'' a [[spark]] to begin with.
* Palm tree is the most ecological way to time-travel.
* So ''Waspinator'' was able to break through Vehicon programming when facing Blackarachnia but Silverbolt either never was or just didn't, and he ''never did later'' even when his true love was directly appealing to him. This raises worrying questions about either Waspinator or Silverbolt, especially the latter as [[In Darkest Knight|he'll later admit]] how much he loved being a murderous villain...

==Footnotes==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Catalyst}}
[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]