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Scrapheap (episode)

2011-04-05T07:35:48Z

159.91.114.199: /* Trivia */

{{disambig2|the ''Prime'' episode|the Generation 1 Junkion|Scrapheap (G1)}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 7
|prev=Masters & Students
|next=Con Job
|image=PrimeScrapletsEp7.gif
|caption=Aw, look at the cute little—
|title="Scrapheap"
|airdate=[[February 18]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Optimus and Arcee are trapped in the Arctic, the base is invaded by deadly Scraplets.'''

==Synopsis==
Trudging through the [[Arctic]], [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] locate a huge pod buried in the snow. They take it back to [[Autobot Central Command|base]], where their systems are checked over by [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] asks about the pod, but Ratchet says it can't be opened while it's still frozen. Even as it sits defrosting in another part of the base, the pod cracks open from the inside.

[[Image:Scrapheap-adorableScraplet.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Leprosy was never this adorable. As far as we know.]]

Optimus and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] prepare to travel to the Arctic to look for more clues regarding the pod's origins, and Ratchet gives them some temperature sensors so they can tell when their core temperatures drop to dangerous levels. The kids arrive in time to see them off, and [[Jack Darby|Jack]]'s initially keen on going with them, until he finds out where they're headed. [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s still interested in seeing some snow, but Optimus says the conditions are too harsh. No sooner have Prime and Arcee stepped through the [[ground bridge]] than the ground bridge system goes down. While the Autobots start trying to repair it, Jack and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] start playing [[Generic racing game|video games]], and Raf wanders off. He's playing "being in the Arctic" in a corridor when he stumbles on a tiny, cute metal critter. He plays Fetch with it using a bolt...which it promptly eats. Happy with his new pet, he heads back to the control room, unaware that there's a sparking hole in the equipment behind him.

Ratchet's just dug out a damaged ground bridge component when Raf returns with his find. The Autobots react in terror to the tiny critter. The kids are surprised at the reaction to what the Autobots are calling a [[Scraplet]], but then the creature starts chowing down on Bumblebee, and Raf has to beat it to death with a crowbar. Ratchet's suspicions as to the Scraplet's origin are confirmed when they check the Arctic pod and find it's been broken open—thousands of Scraplets now infest the base.

In the Arctic, Optimus and Arcee find their core temperatures have dropped into the danger zone, but Optimus is unable to contact base to request use of the ground bridge.

[[Image:Scrapheap-Ratchetinfected.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[wikipedia:Botfly|Ro-botflies]]]]

Ratchet discovers that the Scraplets have broken the comm system. Bulkhead's in favor of bugging out, but doing that will mean certain doom for Optimus and Arcee. After hearing Bulkhead's detailed description of what Scraplets can do to a 'bot, the kids volunteer to help. Since the Scraplets aren't interested in eating them, they pair off with the three Autobots, Jack helping Ratchet repair the ground bridge while the others hunt for the Scraplets. Miko and Bulkhead explore the corridors where Raf saw the first Scraplet, and after an embarrassingly girly scream and an encounter with a bunch of overhead cables, Bulkhead is set upon by the little monsters. Elsewhere, Raf and Bumblebee likewise run into a group of the things. Ratchet has meanwhile finished repairing the ground bridge, but it still refuses to function. As he investigates further, a swarm of Scraplets enter the main control room via a vent and begin flying overhead. They attack Ratchet, but Jack uses a nearby fire extinguisher to freeze them off. There are more of the pests flying overhead, however, and as the others return from their search, the Scraplets attack and overwhelm the Autobots.

[[Image:Scrapheap-huddleforwarmth.jpg|left|thumb|300px|And not a tauntaun for miles.]]

While Arcee and Optimus try to keep themselves conscious and functional by talking, the kids manage to eliminate the Scraplets attacking their friends. However, from the sounds elsewhere in the base, it's clear there are many more lurking about. They come up with a plan to send the Scraplets to the Arctic by getting the ground bridge working, and Ratchet works out there must be an [[energon (fuel)|energon]] fuel line breach preventing the system from starting. The three kids take a tool kit and go to fix the breach. They're just finishing when the Scraplets decide it's time for lunch and break into the main control room.

Back in the Arctic, Arcee bemoans the frozen death that apparently awaits her and Optimus, especially after all they've survived so far. Optimus offers what words of philosophical comfort he can, and she says it's an honour to serve with him.

At the base, the kids rush back to the command room and let Ratchet know that the ground bridge is back online. He opens the bridge to the Arctic before collapsing, and Bulkhead acts as bait, leading the Scraplets through. He arrives in the Arctic to see Optimus and Arcee staggering towards the bridge, and the Scraplet horde bursts through behind him. Optimus braces for attack, but the Scraplets rapidly freeze in the air and bounce harmlessly off him.

Back at base, Ratchet supervises repairs on Bumblebee and Bulkhead. He and Optimus pay tribute to the strength of their human allies, but just then Miko spots a spider and runs away screaming.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (6)
* [[Jack Darby]] (7)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (8)

|c4=
* [[Scraplet]]s (9)

}}

==Quotes==
"The Arctic? I've always wanted to see snow." 
"I would invite you to join, Rafael, but the conditions are much too extreme, even for we Autobots." 
"I understand..." 
"But, I will bring you back a snowball."
:—'''Raf''' is snow deprived and '''Optimus''' says things you would not expect a giant alien robot to say.

"Bulkhead, you ''never'' run." 
"Miko, you haven't seen a swarm of these things devour a bot. I ''have''. They pick you apart from the inside out, going for the small juicy bits first, fuse by fuse, circuit by circuit, 'til there's nothing left, and I mean ''nothing''... not even your optics."
:—'''Miko''' gets some nightmare fuel from '''Bulkhead'''.

"I get to be your bodyguard for once. How cool is that?" 
"Raf found the first one here, right?" 
''(lights turn off for a second and Bulkhead screams loudly)'' 
"Did you just scream like a little girl?" 
"No! .... Maybe.... Can we talk about this later?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Bulkhead''' searching, and a more hilarious reversal of roles cannot be found.

"What do you suggest...wait, how about a game? Let's play 'Who Screwed Things Up Back at Base'." 
"Our predicament could be the result of a simple malfunction." 
"Caused by Bulkhead."
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Optimus''' prove that when things go wrong, blame it on Bulkhead.

"Bulkhead may be...too large for this world. But his inner strength is without bounds. One should not be measured by size alone."
:—'''Optimus''' gives us a life lesson while finding a nice way to call Bulkhead fat.

"Ready for the main course? Come and get it!"
:—'''Bulkhead''', king of one-liners.

"I'd invite you in, but the place is a mess."
:—Seriously, give '''Bulkhead''' a crown.

"We're just fortunate that this infestation happened...on a Saturday."
:—'''Ratchet''' finds there's an upside to having human companions.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===

===Continuity errors===
*When Jack, Miko and Raf reach the damaged energon fuel line, the breach on the duct is shown beneath, where the energon is seen dripping. When the kids seal the duct, they are shown doing so only on its side.

===Transformers references===
*To everyone's surprise, these Scraplets behave similar to their [[Scraplet|namesakes]], but are closer in appearance to [[Mecannibal]]s.
*At the episode's conclusion, Bumblebee is hooked up to an "electro-pulse" monitor, a feature of Transformer biology that got its first and only previous mention waaaay back in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]] cartoon episode, "[[Divide and Conquer]]", when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] declared his to be fading.
*Arcee mentions Bulkhead running into power lines shortly after arriving on Earth, which recalls a different [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]'s [[Transformers (2007)|"tingly" encounter]].

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===
* A [[wikipedia:dolly zoom|dolly zoom]] happens when Raf realizes the Scraplet is attacking Bumblebee.
* Ratchet remarks the Scraplet's bites on Bumblebee's are "[[Wikipedia:Black Knight (Monty Python)|just a mesh wound]]".
* The initial search for the scraplets is called a "[[Wikipedia:Aliens (film)|bug hunt]]".

===Trivia===
*A sequence from this episode (from the start of Miko and Bulkhead exploring up to Bulkhead's arm thrusting into the air) was shown to the attendees of [[Toy Fair 2011]] prior to the episode's premiere.
*Raf never did get that snowball. Guess Optimus was too busy dying to scoop some up.
*This is the first, and so far only, episode which doesn't feature the [[Decepticon]]s.
*It is not an error that the Autobots can freeze in the [[Arctic]] but not in space. The idea that being in space will immediately freeze you up like a popsicle is a [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SpaceIsCold lie perpetuated by bad science fiction]. This isn't the [[Fire in the Sky|first time]] [[Megatron (Movie)|it's happened]].
*Bulkhead [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|is not the only Autobot]] with a "girlish scream".

==Home video releases==

==External links==

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Megatron (WFC)

2011-03-30T07:17:17Z

159.91.114.199: /* Prime cartoon */

{{faction|decepticon|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Megatron}}
:''Megatron is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:PrimeMegatron.jpg|thumb|250px|Lord of the [[Dark Energon]] wraiths.]]
The awesomely powerful '''Megatron''' is, in many ways, a fallen hero. He rose up from the oppressed lower working castes of [[Kaon]] to become a champion in the region's illegal [[gladiatorial combat|deathmatches]], cast aside his designation of '''D-16''' and took the legendary name '''[[The Fallen|Megatronus]]'''<ref>Megatron was an abbreviation, so it'd be easier for the masses to chant his name; ''Exodus'', Chapter 3</ref> as his own, he called for an end to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s decrepit [[caste system]] and told the downtrodden that freedom of self-determination was the right of all sentient beings!

But power corrupts and Megatron's Decepticon revolution, like many such movements, ended up becoming a whole new tyranny. Powerful, charismatic, violent, and full of rage for any who would stand in the way of his ambition and drive, Megatron brought Cybertron ''past'' the brink of destruction. Now he and his former brother-in-arms [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] fight on other worlds.

Megatron has been gone for three years, but now he's returned. He's brought the monstrous [[Dark Energon]] to Earth, and quite possibly left his sanity in space.

{{quote|I... am the Dominator, I... am the Destroyer, I am Megatron!|Megatron|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

==Fiction==
===''Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron''===
Megatron nicknamed himself D-16 after the sector of the mine where he performed demolition operations. As a gladiator, in killing others he began to appreciate the value of life, and in between matches he became something of an intellectual, debating the castes with other miners. After bosses requested he lose a few fights, D-16 killed them and took over Kaon and [[Slaughter City]]. After murdering one boss in front of his employees, D-16 declared himself Megatronus, whom he considered the greatest of the [[Thirteen original Transformers|Thirteen]]. After hearing his preaching on the [[Communication Grid]] against the [[Guilds of Cybertron]], the concerned [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] sent [[Bumper (WFC)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (WFC)|Fastback]] to investigate. Megatronus killed them, believing two lives were worthless compared to the millions doomed by the castes Sentinel created.

After a victorious battle with the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s, in which the crowd redubbed him Megatron, the gladiator was contacted by the [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]]ian [[Hall of Records|records monitor]] [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]], and they began exchanging their ideas in intense but friendly philosophical discussions. Megatron encouraged Orion to learn self defense and invited him to visit Kaon, which he did to a warm welcome from Megatron (and from none of his gladiators). By this point Megatron was planning to call his movement the Decepticons, and he had begun sending his followers on a search for artifacts of the Primes, as their discovery would be signs their cause was just. His followers began bombing Cybertron, and Megatron distanced himself from their extremism to gain credibility. Orion and his mentor [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] believed him, but the latter was well aware Megatron might have gained a taste for violence after the attention it earned him. Soon enough, Megatron accepted the gift of a kidnapped [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] from [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]].

[[Image:WFCcomicDecepticons.jpg|thumb|300px|The High Council keeps us subjugated with overlong conversations! They must be overthrown!]]
Alpha Trion organized a hearing for Orion and Megatron with the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]]. They protested involvement in Sentinel's disappearance. When confronted with the phrase "Decepticon", Megatron denied any knowledge of it but accepted his followers' term wholeheartedly, stating deception was necessary sometimes for the corrupt to see the truth. When [[Halogen]] revealed Megatron's followers had been trying to locate the [[Matrix of Leadership]], he declared that Orion should become the Prime that he desperately wanted to lead Cybertron into the new [[Golden Age]], and find it. Incensed, Megatron killed Halogen, and when Optimus prevented the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] from attacking Megatron, the ungrateful gladiator declared Optimus had fallen into the trap of power the High Council had given him. He declared Optimus was no longer his brother (though he would continue to refer to him as such privately), and that the Matrix would be his.

In the subsequent war with Optimus' [[Autobot]]s, the Decepticons took control of eighty-five percent of the planet. Wherever Starscream's [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s aided, they were victorious. Megatron was initially merciful to neutrals, but he let Shockwave take control of [[Tarn]] and torture Autobot sympathizers there. When the [[Praxus|Praxians]], a progressive city-state who were disappointed with the direction Megatron took, allied with the Autobots, Megatron decided he would no longer try to convert followers and launched the first genocide of the war, slaughtering all in [[Nova Cronum]] who would not submit to the Decepticons as they attacked.

As the war dragged into a siege of Iacon, Soundwave's spying bore fruit as he discovered [[Dark Energon]], the essence of [[Unicron]], was aboard [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]]. Megatron forgave Starscream for hiding its existence from him, acknowledging its potentially dangerous nature. To ensure loyalty, Megatron's gladiators stormed the Station slaughtering and maiming Starscream's scientists. He forced Starscream to pick two test subjects to be Darkened, and following an astonishingly successful result, Megatron absorbed some, invigorating him. Soon Darkened Decepticons appeared on the battlefield, but it proved to be an inefficient resource and they would have to flee if a battle was prolonged. Megatron needed more, and even Starscream's activation of the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]] didn't provide enough. Megatron felt he would kill all the Decepticons before he was deprived of Dark Energon and turn rabid.

Fortunately, Soundwave revealed the existence of the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] within [[Teletraan-1]], which required the [[Code Key]]s of Power and Justice to activate it. Starscream recovered the Key of Power, while Megatron and his best soldiers searched for the Key of Justice below the [[High Council Tower]]. Sentinel Prime emerged, to Megatron's surprise. Sentinel confronted him about Bumper and Fastback, and the two dueled. Megatron disarmed and sliced open Sentinel, revealing the Key of Justice within. Starscream made a grab for it, exposing that he had released Sentinel to kill Megatron and take leadership for himself. After fighting Starscream to a standstill, Megatron pardoned him as he found him a better soldier than would-be example, and used the Keys to open Teletraan-1: which activated [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] to fly the Chamber to safety.

The Seekers shot Omega Supreme out of the air, causing him to crash. Optimus's Autobots arrived to fight the Decepticons, but the more they killed them the more Dark Energon left their bodies and empowered Megatron. He was able to knee Omega Supreme and turn him on his back, tearing the Chamber out of his chest. Using the Chamber, Megatron poisoned the [[core]] of Cybertron and Darkened the entire planet. But then the core stopped producing Dark Energon, and Megatron learnt Optimus had gone to the core and received the Matrix. As the Autobots attempted to flee Cybertron via the last [[space bridge]], Megatron used Trypticon to fire on their ships, and used his and Orion's old frequency to criticize Optimus for fleeing. He added he never believed in individual freedom for every Cybertronian, only the illusion of freedom that he as leader would provide and that the Guilds did not. Optimus responded that Megatron had turned his soldiers into addicts and they would turn on him, and used the ''[[Eight Track (WFC)|Eight Track]]'' to board, sabotage and crash Trypticon.

As the Autobots left on the completed ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', the Decepticons fully invaded Iacon. Megatron ordered Trypticon to transform into the ''Nemesis'', boarding it with Starscream, Soundwave, [[Lugnut (WFC)|Lugnut]] and other elite soldiers, leaving Shockwave in charge. He used his old frequency once again to warn Optimus that he would hound him through the stars and finally kill him for the Matrix. He explained they were still brothers, as they were bonded for life despite their enmity. Optimus was just glad his hunt would get him off Cybertron. The two ships entered the last [[space bridge]] together, and when the ''Ark'' emerged, the ''Nemesis'' was gone. ''{{storylink|Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron}}''

===''Exiles''===
{{comingsoon|unreleased|when=September 27, 2011}}
{{storylink|Exiles}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor'': [[Frank Welker]] (English)
[[Image:DarknessRising2-Megsflashback.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Things were very red in those days.]]
At the beginning of the war on Cybertron, Optimus and Megatron were as close as brothers and fought side-by-side... but Megatron's ideals were corrupted by the war, and turned to evil. He and Optimus fought many a battle, such as the [[Battle of Technar]] where Megatron ordered [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] to assassinate Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} Megatron later disappeared into deep space. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}}

[[Image:DarknessRising2-MegatronDarkEnergon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|We can relate. We're just like this with our [[BotCon]] toys.]]
Upon returning three years later, Megatron revealed he had discovered an element called Dark Energon, rumoured to be "the blood of [[Unicron]]": rather than form a Decepticon army, Megatron had become obsessed with using this new element that was said to raise the dead. He asked Starscream if he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to test it, but settled on [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|the corpse of the Autobot Cliffjumper]] Starscream provided, and was pleased with the results, as the undead [[zombie]] ran amok on the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s, killing two in succession. Megatron viewed this as a successful field test, so when the Cliffjumper zombie charged at him, he merely unsheathed his blade and cut it in two. While the Autobots were attacking an energon mine to retrieve Cliffjumper, Megatron was attempting to fathom a way to control the power of the Dark Energon. Upon learning of Optimus's presence in the mines, believing it was not yet time for a confrontation, Megatron ordered the mines blown and the [[Nemesis (Prime)|''Nemesis'']] to depart. He wasn't convinced, however, that Optimus had been killed, and once more began brooding on the Dark Energon.

Being a logical and sane chap, he decided the best way to control it would be to shove some of it ''into his spark''. His armor began to sizzle purple smoke, and his eyes glowed bright purple...{{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} [[Image:darknessrising3_Megatronglowy.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Megatron, you fool! Rave glowsticks aren't candy!]] The "experiment" proved a success, and Megatron felt as though he was connected to Unicron's thoughts. It provided him with the knowledge he needed in order to put his plan into action. Leaving the ''Nemesis'', Megatron headed for the site of an ancient Cybertronian battle on Earth, full of the remains of fallen warriors. He arrived at the same time as Optimus and Ratchet, and after a brief session of goading them, used the Dark Energon fragment he was carrying to raise an army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

[[Image:DarknessRising4-Megatron.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I chew scenery while the zombies chew ''you''.]]
The Terrorcons were under Megatron's full control, by virtue of the Dark Energon he had infused himself with. He watched as the Terrorcons attacked the two Autobots and allowed himself a laugh as they disappeared under zombie piles. Optimus soon broke free, and continued to fight, eventually finishing off the last of the Terrorcons. As Optimus scaled the rock face to where Megatron was standing, the Decepticon leader gloated that this was merely the prelude to the main event, and flew off before Optimus reached him. Back at the Decepticon ship, he discovered that Starscream had been disobeying orders in his absence, resulting in damage to the ship that threatened to derail his plans. After smacking his subordinate around a bit, Starscream managed to quell Megatron's anger by claiming to have a way to get their plans back on course. Neither knew that the Autobots had found Megatron's space bridge plans and realized that he planned to raise a Terrorcon army on Cybertron and bring it to Earth. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

[[Image:DarknessRising5-Megatronsword.jpg|left|thumb|250px|He has to be careful when he wipes.]]
When the Autobots ground bridged to Megatron's space bridge, Megatron launched the Dark Energon to Cybertron, turning all of the dead Transformers there into Terrorcons. He then engaged Optimus Prime in battle and told Optimus he should flee like the other Autobots were. After he discovered that the Autobots were planning on blowing up the space bridge, he went after them, grievously wounding Arcee, but not before the Autobot had turned the space bridge's power against itself. When the Autobots fled (for real this time) he awaited the arrival of his army, only for the space bridge to blow and seemingly destroy both the army of Terrorcons and Megatron. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

[[Image:Masters&Students-Megatronstasis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Well, it's better than just [[Megatron (Animated)|being a head]] I suppose.]]
Through the power of Dark Energon, Megatron survived the explosion, but only barely. Starscream found him floating in space. He barely had the strength to grab Starscream, who ripped the sliver of Dark Energon from him in the hope he'd expire. When Soundwave's [[Deployer (Prime)|drone]] arrived to observe, Starscream was forced to take Megatron back to the ''Nemesis'', where he was placed in [[Stasis lock|stasis]] in the sick bay. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

{{spoiler|Deus ex Machina|April 8, 2011}}
While Starscream was content to allow Megatron to recover (or expire) on his own, the crew of the ''Nemesis'' was dissatisfied with his progress and took a vote to bring in outside help. As such, Starscream was forced to call [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] to facilitate repairs. However, the discovery of an [[Energon Harvester]] lead the Decepticons to put Megatron's recovery on hold. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
:''Voice actor'': [[Fred Tatasciore]] (English), [[Oliviero Corbetta]] (Italian)
[[Image:WFC_Megatron.jpg|thumb|350px|He wants the whole world in his hand.]]
During the early war on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Megatron found reference to an energy source called [[Dark Energon]], which had impressive potential as a weapon, and became determined to claim it for himself. One of the few places it was made was in a station in orbit around Cybertron, guarded by a politically neutral force led by [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. With this knowledge, he took a ship and launched an assault on the station.

The ship was badly damaged in the attack, and so he ordered [[Barricade (WFC)|Barricade]] and [[Brawl (WFC)| Brawl]], piloting it, to ram the station. He and many of his soldiers survived the impact and escaped the core's detonation. They were then confronted by Starscream, who informed them that they would not allow them to take what he had guarded for ten thousand years. After surviving a trap of sentry guns, Megatron, Barricade, and Brawl were reinforced by more of Megatron's troops, and set out on their way to find the station's Dark Energon stores and claim them for the war effort. They encountered significant resistance, but managed to shoot their way through, with directional aid from [[Soundwave (Prime)| Soundwave]]. Barricade noted that the station itself seemed quite primitive; Megatron noted it was very old, and that he intended to modernize it... At one point, the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] confronted Megatron nonviolently, asking him to give up his quest, as Dark Energon would result in only horror, death, and destruction, to which Megatron sneered, "You say that as if it were a bad thing."

Along their way to the Dark Energon, they found that a large portion of the station had been blasted clean off, the debris field traversable but sparse enough to allow easy viewing of Cybertron itself. Soundwave soon found records indicating that a small amount of Dark Energon lost containment and was the sole cause of the destruction, underscoring Megatron's desire for it. When Barricade asked how he expected to control it when no other had, Megatron said that such power was only for the strong, that he was the strongest, and not to question him again.

When they finally reached the storage chamber, and Megatron averted Starscream's destruction of it, he calmly entered into a container full of raw Dark Energon, while Starscream watched and gloated at his imminent destruction...only for him to walk out, not only unscathed, but crackling with power, which he further bestowed upon Barricade and Brawl. A single blast of Dark Energon was enough to destroy an entire company of station security forces, the last line of defense between Megatron and Starscream and his companions.

Jetfire again tried to warn Megatron about the dangers of Dark Energon, but Starscream interrupted, asking to join the Decepticon leader. Megatron asked what Starscream could offer that he could not simply take. Starscream revealed the station's supply of Dark Energon was almost spent, and he knew how to manufacture more—and as luck would have it, there was a dormant [[Energon Bridge]] which could be used to power it. Jetfire retreated to inform [[Sentinel Zeta Prime| Zeta Prime]]; Megatron let him go, seeming pleased by the notion of letting the Autobots tremble in advance of their actions, and sent Starscream, [[Thundercracker (WFC)| Thundercracker]], and [[Skywarp (WFC)| Skywarp]] to activate the bridge.

Megatron repeatedly mocked what he perceived as Starscream's slowness in his simple mission, but the Seeker did what he said he could. With a steady supply of Dark Energon, Megatron launched an attack on Iacon City, intending to take a device called the [[Omega Key]] and use it to enter the Core of Cybertron. This time, he took [[Breakdown (Prime)| Breakdown]] and Soundwave with him. The trio took the less-guarded way in—which, since the Autobots were not complete fools (as even Megatron would admit), still had significant military presence. During the attack, Starscream noted that Dark Energon was proving every bit as potent as Megatron had promised. Breakdown let Megatron know of his misgivings about the Sky Commander; Megatron admitted he was treacherous and untrustworthy, but he had useful talents, and his cunning and ambition was intriguing.

The Omega Key had been taken from its normal resting place, however, by Autobot leader Zeta Prime, and so Megatron took his squad on an assault on Zeta's headquarters. They met Brawl, leading an attack on the doors to Zeta Prime's armory, along the way. Even Megatron's touch of Dark Energon could not breach the vault doors, however, and so he called in bombers. When they were shot down, Brawl suggested they take out the Autobots' air defense guns, after which bombers were called in again; Megatron's troops then held off a massive assault from what seemed like the entire Autobot army while waiting for the bombing run to finally arrive.

After the vault doors were breached, they reached Zeta Prime himself, who had constructed several layers of security while he waited. An invincible energy field protected him, while he could drop portions of the ceiling with pistons to crush anything beneath them, and construct endless holographic clones of himself outfitted for melee combat, which Megatron personally found nauseating. However, his defenses were not without flaw: periodically, the power core would need to disperse waste heat, and Megatron's team survived long enough to destroy it during this stage. Zeta fell, buried under the wreckage of his own defenses, and Megatron took the device he'd carried...which started to make electronic chirping noises. Zeta, with black humor, noted that the device was not the Omega Key. It merely ''activated'' the Key, which would come to them...

Searching for the Key in the skies aboard another ship, Megatron, with Soundwave and Breakdown at the controls, were abruptly confronted by a massive ship, [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]]), who knocked them out of the sky, causing them to crash back in Iacon. There, they played a cat-and-mouse campaign in a desperate attempt to survive the enormous Autobot's vast firepower, though Soundwave noted that the weaponry they bore had little chance of penetrating Omega Supreme's armor. Megatron, for his part, at least contrived to appear unafraid, claiming that if it came to a real fight, the brute wouldn't stand a chance against Megatron's intellect. However, Omega's attacks drove them underground and left them unable to immediately transmit counter to Starscream, who declared Megatron dead and announced he was taking control. Even when they re-established contact, Starscream's aerial forces only briefly distracted Omega, who dispensed large numbers of troops, sucked up Decepticons with a tractor beam, fired weapons of mass destruction, and mined the roads Megatron and his squad were using.

Soundwave, however, had come up with a suggestion—there were weapons emplacements higher up that had the ability to damage Omega Supreme. Taking them from the Autobots was a battle in and of itself, but nothing compared to the fight against Omega Supreme, who could unload entire squadrons of Aerialbots. Nonetheless, Megatron's boldness and tactical acumen finally shot Omega Supreme out of the sky.
Gloating, Megatron found that the behemoth was still not defeated, and indeed was drawing power from Cybertron itself to repair his systems, making him stronger, if anything. However, by corrupting the energon batteries with which he was using to feed himself with Dark Energon charges, they were able to weaken him to the point where they could finally blast away his last defenses and brought him to heel. With Omega Supreme defeated, Megatron went underground, directly to the Core, and corrupted it with a massive infusion of Dark Energon, finally bringing Cybertron itself more completely under his control.

At this point, Megatron was clearly convinced, and for good reason, that he'd won, making propaganda broadcasts extolling his greatness and how he had taken away the Autobots' burdens of "liberty" and "choice". When Starscream was defeated and the Decagon retaken, however, he realized the Autobots were not yet going to roll over for him, and sent a distress signal from Zeta Prime, whom he had kept alive in the Kaon prison camp, in order to provoke a rescue attempt from the Autobots. His old acquaintance Optimus took the bait, and Megatron confronted him, telling him that the war could be over tomorrow if Optimus took the Autobots and left. Optimus refused, so Megatron consigned him and his team to the prisons. When they managed to stage a mass breakout, an enraged Megatron ordered his troops to prevent their escape at any cost, to the point of tearing apart portions of Kaon.

This was not enough, however, and they escaped, journeying to the Core, where they kickstarted the cleansing of Megatron's corruption. Doing so, however, would take the Core millions of years of shutdown, rendering Cybertron uninhabitable. Whether Megatron knew this or not, when he saw the Autobots leaving after Optimus's refusal of his earlier offer, he apparently took offense. His earlier plans of renovating Starscream's station had come to fruition; now, it mounted a powerful superweapon, capable of destroying entire structures in one shot. He had it fire upon the Autobot transports as they left. When a team of Aerialbots attempted to disable or destroy it, he called Jetfire, now one of them, and taunted him about his past. He further mocked them when they destroyed the plasma coolant system without apparently having accounted for backups. Finally, during the attack he came into possession of information on Optimus Prime's location, and ordered Trypticon—the name of the weapon, for it was actually a Cybertronian—to fire upon it.

Trypticon, however, was forced into his natural form and defeated after he crash-landed on Cybertron. Megatron's reaction to this went unrecorded. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (DS)===
Megatron was the Decepticon Leader during the final days of the Great War. After capturing an Autobot facility, and killing a cadet, Megatron revealed his plan to his troops. Megatron intended to conquer Trypticon Space Station, which had the means and power to manufacture Dark Energon: a variant of Energon which greatly increased the stamina and strength of its host. Megatron fought his way through the station to its commander, the Autobot Starscream. Upon Starscream's defeat, Starscream offered his services and the Dark Energon if he was spared. Megatron agreed, and Starscream joined the Decepticons.

After a test run of the Dark Energon in Kaon Prison, Soundwave deduced the element would only kill the host, but Starscream was able to find a way to fix it. Megatron then decided the time was right, and led his army to the inner levels of Cybertron. He was able to activate the uplink to channel energy from the Core of Cybertron itself to Trypticon Station, but he needed the Omega Key to access it once it was shut down with a firewall.

Megatron learned through a recording from Laserbeak that Autobot Leader Zeta Prime had the Omega Key in his possession and had holed up deep within Iacon. Megatron led a full-scale assault on the city, totally devastating Iacon, until he found Zeta Prime at last. After a hard battle, Zeta fell, and Megatron obtained the Omega Key. However, immediately upon taking it, alarms went off, and Iacon itself was shaking. Zeta Prime, despite being mortally wounded, laughed at Megatron's face, saying the Omega Key was only the key to the ''true'' key: the city-sized Autobot Omega Supreme.

Omega immediately attacked the victorious Decepticons, and quickly decimated their presence in Iacon, save for Megatron's team and a few others. By this point, Megatron was absolutely furious at Starscream: Megatron declared it was he who led them to Omega Supreme and the devastating onslaught he carried out. Starscream bitterly retorted even if Megatron killed him, Omega Supreme would still be out for his blood, helping nothing whatsoever. Megatron angrily let it go for the time being, and led his army to battle. His troops' confidence beginning to falter, Megatron declared they would either be kicking themselves for not acting for the rest of their lives, or heroes in a historic event. His men followed him to battle Omega, and the titan fell. Megatron was free to corrupt the Core of Cybertron with Dark Energon, and obtain near-supremacy of Cybertron.

That kind of went downhill when the new Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, extinguished the Dark Energon and destroyed Trypticon Space Station, didn't it?
{{Storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

===''Transformers: Cybertron Adventures''===
:''Voice actor'': Fred Tatasciore (English), Oliviero Corbetta (Italian)

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Generationstoy-CybertronianMegatron.jpg|thumb|right|300px| Fashionably asymmetrical.]]
*'''Cybertronian Megatron''' (Deluxe, 2010)
:*''Accessories'': clear purple missile, fusion cannon

: This toy is based on Megatron's appearance in the video game ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'', transforming into a Cybertronian self-propelled gun. The treads of his vehicle can be positioned in either a vertical configuration like a traditional tank or in a horizontal, hovertank configuration. Megatron's spring-loaded cannon can attach to either arm. He also has an insignia on his back, but unlike Optimus, his is not hidden by kibble. Like [[Soundwave (Prime)|''War for Cybertron'' Soundwave]], his head has a light-piping gimmick that has been neutered by his painted eyes.

: Some units of the figure have Megatron's left internal shoulder strut misassembled, preventing that side of the tank-mode from becoming properly flush to the body when transforming. This can be corrected by unscrewing and separating the outer shoulder structure, flipping the strut 180 degrees, and reassembling the shoulder covering.

: Also, the packaging image for his tank mode is flipped.

: This mold was [[redeco]]ed into ''[[United (toyline)|United]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#United|Megatron Cybertron Mode]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/GenerationsMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Cybertronian Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{--}}
===Prime===
[[Image:Primetoy-MegatronEP.jpg|right|thumb|300px|His jet mode needs a little scarf attached to the robot head.]]
*'''"Entertainment Pack"''' (5 figure gift set, 2011)
: A Deluxe-sized Megatron comes with a similarly-scaled [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] and PVC figurines of [[Miko Nakadai]], [[Jack Darby]] and [[Raf Esquivel]]. Megatron converts from his alien jet mode to his robot mode.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:Tfprimemegatronjet.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Too fast for screen caps.]]
*Megatron's designation as an energon miner was "D-16".<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/play/details.cfm?guid=7fd5ecd9-19b9-f369-1041-a7635be83172 War for Cybertron timeline].</ref> Megatron's original [[Japanese ID number list|Japanese ID number]] was "16". Takara would eventually change the numbering system using a "D" to denote [[Decepticon|Destrons]]. So Megatron's Japanese ID number could retroactively be considered "D-16".
*Optimus Prime's recollections in ''Darkness Rising'' have him and Megatron fighting side-by-side at the start of the Great War. This is the first time a Megatron has been involved in a Great War that he ''didn't'' start, never mind one where he used to be a goodie.
*At a video shown at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, Welker explained his ''Prime'' voice for Megatron would be mostly toned down from his G1 counterpart, to give the character more range.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/san-diego-comic-con-33/transformers-prime---peter-cullen--frank-welker-behind-the-scenes-170264/ Transformers Prime - Peter Cullen & Frank Welker Behind the Scenes] TFW2005</ref> When the show aired, Megatron indeed had a more quiet, sinister version of his voice than the iconic shouty one.
*In ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'', Megatron has multiple glitches when controlled by the computer, among them shrinking (quite hilariously), losing his Fusion Cannon, and having his Tank mode cannon stick straight up (also humorous). He may be the most glitchy character in the game.
*Like the [[Megatron (Movie)|Movie version]], this Megatron will retain an alien jet form as he despises human-created alternate modes.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/botcon-2010-transformers-prime-panel-coverage-170054/ BotCon 2010 Transformers Prime Panel Coverage]</ref> According to Cybertronian Megatron's packaging bio, Megatron often changes his altmode, probably in an attempt to explain why he's a tank in the game and a jet in the cartoon.
*Megatron's scars are difficult to distinguish from his sinewy "nose" lines, but they are most easy to spot on his lips during the final shot of "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]".

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category: Generations]]
[[Category: Gladiators]]
[[Category: Hall of Fame]]
[[Category: Prime Decepticons]]
[[Category: War for Cybertron Decepticons]]

Deus ex Machina

2011-03-23T01:35:28Z

159.91.114.199: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 10
|prev=Convoy (episode)
|next=Speed Metal
|image=DeusExMachina-Screamer grins.jpg
|caption="With this map, I shall find all of the [[Cyber Planet Key|Cyber Planet K]]— wait. Wrong franchise."
|title="Deus ex Machina"
|airdate=[[March 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Bulkhead makes a discovery in Greece, the race is on to recover an Energon Harvester.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] is failing to enjoy some detention when Bulkhead hauls up outside the school, blaring loud music. She takes advantage of an inattentive teacher to sneak out and join her Autobot buddy, who's obliged to act as her getaway car when a teacher approaches. They head for [[Autobot Outpost Omega-1|base]] while Bulkhead tries to explain to Miko that she'll never get into college if she flunks out. Ratchet reports he's found an [[energon (fuel)|energon]] pulse in [[Greece]].

Meanwhile, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] has finally arrived on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] shows him to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s sick bed.

Bulkhead and Miko arrive at an excavation site in Greece, but to her disappointment, he's intending her to research her history report. Bulkhead says the humans have hit an energon vein, but then he spots something Cybertronian in an ancient fresco among the ruins.

[[Image:TFPrime_KnockOutDrill.JPG|left|thumb|300px|Oh, look, there's a dangerous power tool right next to a comatose Megatron... Starscream, wipe that grin off your face.]]

Starscream explains Megatron's condition to Knock Out, who says things would be easier with his assistant, but [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] is on the trail of some energon.

Bulkhead identifies the object in the fresco as an [[Energon Harvester]], but as Miko snaps a picture, they're interrupted by the arrival of Breakdown. Wondering if Bulkhead's new pet plays fetch, Breakdown throws a pillar at Miko. Bulkhead intercepts the pillar and is tackled by Breakdown, who slams him into the fresco, shattering it. The Decepticon races off, but Miko shows Bulkhead the image she snapped of the fresco.

Back at base, [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] confirms that the depicted device is an Energon Harvester. The Autobots are relieved that the fresco was broken, as they think it means the Decepticons won't be able to find the Harvester, but [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] points out that there are photos of the thing online, as the actual Harvester is held in a museum. The Autobots try to contact [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] for help, but he's away on a training retreat. Optimus says they'll have to obtain the Harvester themselves, and Miko volunteers the kids to help.

[[Image:DeusExMachina-fourcons.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Would you say this episode has a...''plethora'' of named Decepticons?]]

[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has found the same photo using Breakdown's description of the Harvester, and Starscream says Megatron's revival will have to wait.

The Autobots move into position around the museum before the kids move in via [[GroundBridge]] on a motorized scissor lift. Miko deals with a security camera by taking a picture of the Harvester and balancing her phone on top of the camera. While they move towards the statue holding the Harvester, Optimus has an encounter outside with Knock Out and Breakdown, the latter of whom fires a missile at the museum. Optimus manages to catch the missile, but Knock Out shocks him with an energon staff. Breakdown barrels towards the museum entrance, with [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] failing to stop him. Bulkhead joins the fight as well, but the disturbance sets off the museum's alarms, alerting the security guard. The kids finally manage to get the Harvester onto their lift platform and head for the exit. Miko, scouting ahead on foot, is caught by the security guard, who whisks her away. Raf and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] run toward a half-open loading ramp door, expecting Arcee, but instead it's Soundwave, who grabs the Harvester and departs. Knock Out and Breakdown spot him leaving and make their getaway as well. Meanwhile, Miko attempts to spin a yarn to the security guard about how she got locked in the museum while researching her history report.

Believing that Starscream will attempt to use the Harvester to gather energon as quickly as possible, Optimus, Bumblebee and Arcee go out attempting to intercept them. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] works on a replica Harvester to return to the museum in place of the stolen one, while Bulkhead realizes that the Decepticons might be intending to go after the energon seam in Greece.

Indeed, Starscream, Knock Out and Breakdown are at the excavation site. When the other two Decepticons attempt to correct him on who's to thank for the Harvester, Starscream demonstrates the device's effectiveness on a hapless [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]], and the pair are suddenly a lot more submissive. While Starscream starts tapping the energon seam, Bulkhead attempts to sneak up behind the Decepticons but clumsily lets them know he's there. He manages to deal with Knock Out and Breakdown until Starscream turns the Harvester on him. Struggling to stay upright, Bulkhead reaches Starscream, smashes the 'Con in the face, and breaks the Harvester. He throws the device into the sky, where it explodes. The Decepticons are about to move in and finish the weakened Bulkhead when the rest of the Autobots arrive and chase them off.

Miko is starting to run out of Greek history to bore the museum security guard with, when Fowler turns up to collect her. The guard is surprised when Fowler points out the replica Harvester in place on the statue. Outside, Miko is reunited with Bulkhead and tells him all about how she's going to write her report on how the Autobots interacted with ancient Greece.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (7)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (8)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (10)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (15)
*A [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] (17)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
*[[Sierra's friend]] (2)
*[[Miko's teacher]] (3)
*[[Jack Darby]] (7)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (12)
*[[Museum security guard]] (16)
*[[William Fowler]] (18)

}}

==Quotes==
"Miko, listen. If you fail high school, you can't go to—uh...uni...kesa...colls...w-wait, what's that word again?" 
"Uh, 'college'?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' tries to give '''Miko''' a lecture on academia.

"Look Miko, before I became a warrior I was a laborer—construction. I can build stuff, I can break stuff, and that's it." 
"I love breaking stuff! I wanna be just like you, Bulk." 
"Aaargh...why would you wanna be like me, when you can be a medic like Ratchet?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' fails to convince '''Miko''' regarding the benefits of education.

"It's about time, Knock Out. I do not enjoy being kept waiting!" 
"Ah, it was a long drive, Starscream. I'm still picking bugs out of my grille." 
"Yes, right, you're one of ''those''." 
"Come again?" 
"Never understood why any self-respecting Decepticon would choose 'automobile' as his vehicle mode when he could have [[flight]]!" 
"I like the way I look in steel-belted radials."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Knock Out''' discuss an infraction of [[Autobot Cars|the]] [[Decepticon Planes|norm]].

"We have a history." 
"''(chuckles)'' And you have a pet. Does it play catch?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Breakdown'''

"You've reached Special Agent William Fowler. I'm currently on an ''intensive training retreat'' and unavailable until Tuesday." 
"I hate talking to machines."
:—'''Agent Fowler''''s answering machine and '''Ratchet''' pull off their own version of a [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] gag.

"[wolf whistles] Sweet rims, 24 gauge... You're ''reeeeeeal'' heavy-duty! Just like my [[Breakdown (Prime)|friend]] here!"
:—[[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]]'s got red cars, '''Knock Out''''s got [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|red trucks]].

"We're already trespassers and thieves. Why not add forgery to the list?"
:—'''Jack Darby'''

"Wait! What are you doing?!" 
"What I do best: ''(grabs Energon Harvester)'' Breaking things!" ''(punches Starscream)''
:—'''Starscream''' is no match for '''Bulkhead''''s sheer awesomeness.

"He's a glutton for punishment." 
''(Autobots arrive)'']= 
"Fight?" 
"Mmm, drive."
:—'''Knockout''' and '''Breakdown''' are prevented from killing Bulkhead.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*When Optimus, Arcee and Bumblebee find Bulkhead lying on the ground, Arcee and Bumblebee's optics are dim, while Optimus's and Bulkhead's are not.
* The newspaper Miko's teacher is holding is once again printed with the "Sports" page on the left instead of the right. It's also the same issue (with the same reverse page order) that Raf was using to make his volcano out of [[Masters & Students|several weeks ago]], despite being a daily.
* The two pages in Miko's open textbook are mirror images of each other.
* It looks like so far animators have not decided yet if Bumblebee's optic sensors should have a central part or not, for they are shown changing their shape through the episode (has also happened [[Convoy (episode)|at least once]] previously).

===Continuity errors===
*The police have the worst response time imaginable. The guard presumably called them right after the Harvester was stolen, yet they never show up. Even accounting for the fact that Fowler would have called them off eventually, it should have only taken them minutes to get there.

===Transformers references===
*The term "Energon Harvester" is similar to the "[[star harvester|star [or solar] harvester]]" from the [[live-action film series]], and the "harvesting" is indeed comparable: energy is pulled into both devices over a distance. But the Energon Harvester is ''much'' smaller and weaker, and true to its name, it is limited to extracting energon.

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===
[[Image:DeusexMachina-godfresco.jpg|thumb|250px|"Nothing is true, everything is permitted."]]

*A ''[[Wikipedia:Deus ex machina|deus ex machina]]'', meaning "god from the machine", is a plot device in which a major conflict is instantly resolved by the uncanny, often unexpected appearance of a character, object, or other form of deliverance. Miko explains this to the museum security guard just before Fowler suddenly walks in and saves her from her predicament. While this is obviously intended to be a ''deus ex machina'' itself, there ''had'' been plenty of foreshadowing, with Optimus even declaring earlier that Fowler was Miko's best hope.
*The god depicted on the fresco is presumably [[Wikipedia:Poseidon|Poseidon]], because he bears his symbolic trident. The soldiers appear to be [[wikipedia:Sparta|Spartan]]s, as their shields bear the [[Wikipedia:Lambda|Lambda]]—which is odd, as their patron god was [[Wikipedia:Ares|Ares]].
*An ancient golden orb that is actually alien technology rather than a magical device of gods? Someone at [[Hasbro Studios]] must've played ''[[Wikipedia:Assassin's Creed|Assassin's Creed]]''—which casts the Spartan shield symbol and Poseidon's staff in a whole new light...

===Trivia===
*The Vehicons "took a vote" to bring in a specialist to help Megatron... against the wishes of their own commander. Starscream has a slippy grip on power.
*Starscream's contempt for Knock Out choosing a non-flight alternate mode is strange, as most of the Vehicons are cars. Did they ''not'' get to choose?
*Some fans have interpreted Starscream's "you're one of ''those"'' line, Knock Out's wolf-whistling appraisal of Optimus's truck mode, the vanity about his appearance, and [[Daran Norris]]'s somewhat campy performance to be clues that Knock Out is [[Transformer romance|gay]]. Moreover, the term "knockout" is commonly used to describe an attractive ''woman''. Make of all this what you will. While very little [[Humanization#Sexuality|robotic sexuality]] of any kind has been evident in ''Prime'' so far, outside of a lightly-implied connection between [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] and Arcee, [[Tidal Wave (Armada)#Energon cartoon|there ''has'' been a canonical gay Decepticon before]]. (Er, presumably there's no message behind only Decepticons being gay...)
*Miko's teacher is reading a copy of ''[[The Jasper Daily]]''. The security guard at the museum is reading the same issue, despite the museum being located in a big city that is obviously not [[Jasper]]. It's also the same issue of the publication that Raf was using to make his papier-mâché volcano in "[[Masters & Students]]."
*There is a painting of [[Big Rocks National Park]] in the security guard's office, as well as a calendar set to March, which handily matches the month this episode first aired. Although on that calendar, March started on a Sunday instead of a Tuesday.
*Knock Out is clobbered accidentally by his partner Breakdown ''twice''. They need to work on their coordination.
*Knock Out is the first (and so far only) ''Prime'' Decepticon to debut after the pilot miniseries and survive the experience. Breakdown might be considered to share that distinction, but technically he debuted ''before'' the cartoon, as he appeared in the [[War for Cybertron games|''War for Cybertron'' video games]] and the [[Transformers: Prime (comic)|''Prime'' comic]] first.
*When Miko takes a picture and puts the cellphone display in front of the security camera, the picture comes out flawless on the guard´s screen. In real life, it would look blurry.
*Soundwave must have some very...[[Female Transformer|feminine]] legs if Jack mistook him for Arcee from the knees down.
*Knowledge of Megatron's condition appears to have been confined to the crew of the ''Nemesis''.
*Initial descriptions of this episode, as well as the one on HubWorld.com's episode-viewing page,<ref name="hubworld">[http://www.hubworld.com/transformers/shows/prime/videos/tfp-deus-ex-machina "Deus ex Machina" viewable on HubWorld.com]</ref> say that "Miko and Bulkhead head to Greece on a field trip to bring back an Energon Harvester." Miko and Bulkhead do indeed go on what Bulkhead calls a "field trip" to Greece, but the Harvester is in an American museum at that point. By the time Bulkhead actually ''does'' go back to Greece to get the stolen Harvester, Miko is stuck in said museum.
*Twice in promotional blurbs for the episode, it was mentioned [[Lugnut (WFC)|Lugnut]] would be in the episode,<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=31247 Comic Book Resources sneak-peek article]</ref><ref>[http://www.allspark.com/content/view/8582/20/ AllSpark.com episode blurb]</ref> an error repeated on HubWorld.com's episode-viewing page.<ref name="hubworld" /> Given how Breakdown acts as a rival for Bulkhead in the finished episode—and the matter of [[Lugnut (Animated)|''Animated'' Lugnut]] having been played up as a rival for [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] in the original ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Cartoon Network]] promotional material—it's possible that Breakdown was meant to be Lugnut at some point in this episode's production.

==Home video releases==

==References==
<references/>

==External links==

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Masters & Students

2011-03-03T08:33:27Z

159.91.114.199: /* Animation or technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 6
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 5
|next=Scrapheap (episode)
|image=Masters&Students-SkyquakePrimefaceoff.jpg
|caption="One shall stand, one-" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime."
|title="Masters & Students"
|airdate=[[February 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[David Slack]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Skyquake battles Optimus Prime, Starscream recovers the nearly dead Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Masters&Students-Nemesisbridgescreen.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] reviews the footage of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself [[Emperor of Destruction]], but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a [[Decepticon]] on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian [[Autobot]]s. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth.

Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the [[energon (fuel)|energon]] deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost [[Decepticon]].

Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Ratch-animator.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This is what happens when you give a giant alien robot sugar.]]
Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an [[energon cube]] to revive him, revealing him to be none other than [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the [[Battle of Technar]]. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]], so the two Autobots transform and fall back.

Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the [[space bridge]] explosion. Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the [[Deployer (Prime)|Minicon]] from his chest to follow his master.

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon [[Scanning|scans]] his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

[[Image:Masters&Students-BeeQuake.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Well, look's like it's time to eject!" "Wait, what about me?!" "...bye!" *Skyquake crashes*]]

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of [[Dark Energon]], which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee [[jet judo|rips pieces out of Skyquake]], sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Megatronstasis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bendy straws slowly sucking the life out of him. Or bendy straws feeding him life. It's confusing.]]

Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the school roof. Ratchet is disappointed.

On board the ''Nemesis'', the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into [[Stasis lock|stasis]], and Starscream ''sincerely'' hopes he gets better.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (4)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?" 
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am ''equipped'' to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, [[Emperor of Destruction]]!" 
[''Vehicons murmur'']
:— The '''Vehicons''' find '''Starscream''' leaves a lot to be desired.

''[Holding up an exhaust pipe]'' "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..." 
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?" 
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
:— '''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' attempt to build a motorcycle

"Air superiority achieved!" 
:— '''Skyquake''' does an impression of [[Omega Supreme (Prime)|Omega Supreme]].

==Notes==
*'''Cameos''': School teachers (voice only)
===Animation or technical errors===
[[Image:MastersandStudents-Skyquakeunderjet.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Fowler's jet has this stuff too, but in gray.]]
*Fowler flies a jet without wearing a jumpsuit, helmet, or oxygen mask.
*Weirder still, Fowler's jet already has Skyquake's arms and legs attached as undercarriage. No wonder Skyquake wanted to scan it.
*Starscream finds Megatron in space because he hears Megatron gasping in pain. However, sound cannot travel in a vacuum. It could be excused as Megatron broadcasting via a radio transmission, but a short time later, Starscream is alerted to the presence of Soundwave's drone by the sound of it flying through space. Even more strange is that when Starscream talks in the explosion site, echoes can be heard.
*Bumblebee's optic sensors look different from the previous episodes, as if they are missing their central part.
*In the first shot when a Vehicon gets Starscream's attention during the latter's speech about the loss of Megatron, Starscream's image on the screen is seen turning in the opposite direction, as if giving his back to a camera. In the next sequence, the image on the screen is seen as if the camera were now at the same angle of the viewer.
* The close-up on Agent Fowler before Bumblebee jumps off his jet is the same used in the sequence where he says "I still got it", only mirrored.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus claims Skyquake can't transform because he hasn't scanned a vehicle mode yet, but why doesn't he still have a Cybertronian mode?
*Soundwave is on the ground when Skyquake awakens, but is suddenly on top of the canyon behind them when Starscream retreats.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream styles himself "[[Emperor of Destruction]]", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
*As described in ''[[Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron|Exodus]]'', Ratchet's model of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has [[Moonbase One|two]] [[Moonbase Two|moons]].

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
[[Image:Masters&Students upcloseandpersonal.jpg|thumb|250px|Seriously, it's not like fans need encouragement at this point.]]
*Starscream is ''very'' touchy-feely with Megatron's body at the site of the explosion. The writers walked right into ''that'' slash plot.
*Skyquake is, up to this point, the only 'bot to have a hand-held gun, as everyone else has guns that are either equipped to their wrists or transformed from their hands.
*Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* This is the first in the series time that shows full intro is used. It has a slight resemblance to WFC game trailer.

==Home video releases==

==External links==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Masters and Students}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

William Fowler

2011-02-18T06:02:28Z

159.91.114.199: /* Prime cartoon */

:''William Fowler is a [[human]] from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:DarknessRising2-Fowler.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Someone buy him a longer tie.]]

Special Agent '''William "Bill" Fowler''' is the type of guy that [[Theodore Galloway]] ''wishes'' he could be. He's the tough-talking, robot-dissing designated liaison between the [[United States of America|United States government]] and the [[Autobot]]s, who's got the guts to face down [[Starscream (Prime)|the Decepticons]] himself. And he doesn't need any military escort! He can pilot his own damn helicopter! And his own damn jet plane! Without a damn flight suit!

Fowler is leery about trusting the Autobots to handle the [[Decepticon]]s by themselves and believes that [[Earth]] can handle its own mess, but for now, while he chews them out and slags them off, he's willing to let them have a chance.

{{bigquote|Pretty big bearings... for a human.|Bulkhead|"[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]"}}
{{TOCclear}}

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ernie Hudson]] (English)
Agent Fowler visited [[Autobot Central Command]] to chew the Autobots off over mass traffic accidents caused by [[Vehicon (Prime)|several]] [[Arcee (Prime)|odd]] [[Bumblebee (Prime)|vehicles]], and then demanded to know if this meant the Decepticons were back. When [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] confirmed this, Fowler stated it was time to "wake up" the [[Pentagon]]; he was notably ''un''impressed by Optimus's claim that only the Autobots could stop the Decepticons, clearly not believing it, but to avoid mass human casualties he agreed to give them a shot at sorting it out.

[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] angrily told Fowler that the Autobots knew how to use appropriate force, but when the agent was gone he noted with respect that Fowler had ''bearings''. Prime noted that Fowler's attitude was due to being afraid for his planet. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

[[Image:DarknessRising3-interrogateFowler.jpg|thumb|left|"This is some nice steel. How about telling me who gave them to you?" "Yo mama."]]

Another explosion had Fowler returning to the Autobot base, but he found only Bulkhead there. When [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]'s guitar gave away the presence of her and her two classmates, he announced he was going to take them into federal custody, but Bulkhead prevented him from phoning his superiors. He stormed out and took off in his helicopter, making a report by radio. Unfortunately, the transmission was intercepted by the Decepticons, who captured him and strung him up by chains. Fowler proved difficult to interrogate, so [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] got out an energon prod to soften him up. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

Fowler was on the verge of breaking and telling Starscream where the Autobot base was, when weapons fire became audible outside the brig. Sensing rescue was near, he became awkward again, provoking Starscream into shocking him into unconsciousness. When he awoke, he was in a dazed, rambling state. The Autobots finally reached his location, only to become locked in a standoff with Starscream, until a random outburst from Fowler caused a distraction, and the Autobots chased Starscream off. Fowler rode back to base in Bumblebee, though his dazed state persisted and he became fixated on pie. Once they reached the base, he was given rudimentary medical attention. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

When the Autobots discovered that the Decepticons were using a radio telescope array in [[Texas]], Optimus suggested getting Fowler to put the installation on high alert, but Fowler was still too out of it to comply. He had recovered enough to cheer the Autobots on as they destroyed Megatron's [[space bridge]], and later thanked them for saving him from the Decepticons, and for saving the world, before he left the base. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

Responding to reports of strange transmissions, Fowler warned other pilots away from the area as he sped there in a new top-secret jet. He came upon the scene of a battle between Optimus, Bumblebee and the Decepticon [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], the latter of whom seized the opportunity to [[scanning|scan]] Fowler's jet. Fowler retaliated by firing on Skyquake, but the Decepticon launched a number of heat-seeking missiles that Fowler was forced to use evasive maneuvers to avoid. He later came to Bumblebee's aid, picking up the small Autobot who had just disabled Skyquake in mid-air and was plunging toward the ground as a result. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

==Notes==
* Which agency Fowler's a Special Agent ''for'' isn't stated; since he specifically refers to the Pentagon as who he'd talk to, he's presumably with a Department of Defense agency like the [[wikipedia:Defense Intelligence Agency|Defense Intelligence Agency]] or the [[wikipedia:Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)|Military Intelligence Corps]].
* The Autobots refer to him as their liaison with "the outside world", though he appears to just represent the United States.
* Fowler must have one ''awesome'' rank if he can decide on his own whether or not the Pentagon is to go on full alert!
* Apparently, Fowler's grandmother made pretty good cookies.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, William}}
[[Category: Cartoon-only characters]]
[[Category: Pilots]]
[[Category: Prime humans]]
[[Category: United States military]]

William Fowler

2011-02-18T05:59:11Z

159.91.114.199: /* Prime cartoon */

:''William Fowler is a [[human]] from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:DarknessRising2-Fowler.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Someone buy him a longer tie.]]

Special Agent '''William "Bill" Fowler''' is the type of guy that [[Theodore Galloway]] ''wishes'' he could be. He's the tough-talking, robot-dissing designated liaison between the [[United States of America|United States government]] and the [[Autobot]]s, who's got the guts to face down [[Starscream (Prime)|the Decepticons]] himself. And he doesn't need any military escort! He can pilot his own damn helicopter! And his own damn jet plane! Without a damn flight suit!

Fowler is leery about trusting the Autobots to handle the [[Decepticon]]s by themselves and believes that [[Earth]] can handle its own mess, but for now, while he chews them out and slags them off, he's willing to let them have a chance.

{{bigquote|Pretty big bearings... for a human.|Bulkhead|"[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]"}}
{{TOCclear}}

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ernie Hudson]] (English)
Agent Fowler visited [[Autobot Central Command]] to chew the Autobots off over mass traffic accidents caused by [[Vehicon (Prime)|several]] [[Arcee (Prime)|odd]] [[Bumblebee (Prime)|vehicles]], and then demanded to know if this meant the Decepticons were back. When [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] confirmed this, Fowler stated it was time to "wake up" the [[Pentagon]]; he was notably ''un''impressed by Optimus's claim that only the Autobots could stop the Decepticons, clearly not believing it, but to avoid mass human casualties he agreed to give them a shot at sorting it out.

[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] angrily told Fowler that the Autobots knew how to use appropriate force, but when the agent was gone he noted with respect that Fowler had ''bearings''. Prime noted that Fowler's attitude was due to being afraid for his planet. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

[[Image:DarknessRising3-interrogateFowler.jpg|thumb|left|"This is some nice steel. How about telling me who gave them to you?" "Yo mama."]]

Another explosion had Fowler returning to the Autobot base, but he found only Bulkhead there. When [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]'s guitar gave away the presence of her and her two classmates, he announced he was going to take them into federal custody, but Bulkhead prevented him from phoning his superiors. He stormed out and took off in his helicopter, making a report by radio. Unfortunately, the transmission was intercepted by the Decepticons, who captured him and strung him up by chains. Fowler proved difficult to interrogate, so [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] got out an energon prod to soften him up. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

Fowler was on the verge of breaking and telling Starscream where the Autobot base was, when weapons fire became audible outside the brig. Sensing rescue was near, he became awkward again, provoking Starscream into shocking him into unconsciousness. When he awoke, he was in a dazed, rambling state. The Autobots finally reached his location, only to become locked in a standoff with Starscream, until a random outburst from Fowler caused a distraction, and the Autobots chased Starscream off. Fowler rode back to base in Bumblebee, though his dazed state persisted and he became fixated on pie. Once they reached the base, he was given rudimentary medical attention. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

When the Autobots discovered that the Decepticons were using a radio telescope array in [[Texas]], Optimus suggested getting Fowler to put the installation on high alert, but Fowler was still too out of it to comply. He had recovered enough to cheer the Autobots on as they destroyed Megatron's [[space bridge]], and later thanked them for saving him from the Decepticons, and for saving the world, before he left the base. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

{{spoilers|Masters & Students|18 February 2011}}
[[Image:Masters&Students-FowlerTopGun.jpg|thumb|right|250px|]]
Responding to reports of strange transmissions, Fowler warned other pilots away from the area as he sped there in a new top-secret jet. He came upon the scene of a battle between Optimus, Bumblebee and the Decepticon [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], the latter of whom seized the opportunity to [[scanning|scan]] Fowler's jet. Fowler retaliated by firing on Skyquake, but the Decepticon launched a number of heat-seeking missiles that Fowler was forced to use evasive maneuvers to avoid. He later came to Bumblebee's aid, picking up the small Autobot who had just disabled Skyquake in mid-air and was plunging toward the ground as a result. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

==Notes==
* Which agency Fowler's a Special Agent ''for'' isn't stated; since he specifically refers to the Pentagon as who he'd talk to, he's presumably with a Department of Defense agency like the [[wikipedia:Defense Intelligence Agency|Defense Intelligence Agency]] or the [[wikipedia:Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)|Military Intelligence Corps]].
* The Autobots refer to him as their liaison with "the outside world", though he appears to just represent the United States.
* Fowler must have one ''awesome'' rank if he can decide on his own whether or not the Pentagon is to go on full alert!
* Apparently, Fowler's grandmother made pretty good cookies.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, William}}
[[Category: Cartoon-only characters]]
[[Category: Pilots]]
[[Category: Prime humans]]
[[Category: United States military]]

Darkness Rising, Part 5

2011-02-13T09:30:38Z

159.91.114.199: /* Featured characters */

{{picsneeded}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 5
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 4
|next=Masters & Students
|image=DarknessRising5-BulkheadMiko.jpg
|caption=Spoilers: the good guys win.
|title="Darkness Rising, Part 5"
|airdate=[[December 3]], [[2010]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Digitalscape]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots race to stop Megatron from raising an undead army on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] imagines in dread what will happen if [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] uses the [[Dark Energon]] to raise an army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and brings them to conquer [[Earth]].

[[Jack Darby|Jack]] arrives at [[KO Burger]] and encounters [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], who muses that her recent loss of a [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|friend]] makes it hard for her to say goodbye to him. The Autobots have pinpointed Megatron's [[space bridge]] in Earth orbit and must use the [[ground bridge]] to reach it, despite the risks this poses. Arcee and Jack arrive back in time for Arcee to join the mission, and Optimus leads the team (minus [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]) through the bridge. They land on the space bridge terminal and look up to see the [[Nemesis (Prime)|Decepticon ship]] moving into position. Megatron observes their presence, but [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] says that [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is locking on to Cybertron's coordinates.

Optimus notes that the ship is damaged, and the Decepticons will be unable to use it to aim the space bridge. Raf reasons that the Decepticons may be using a radio dish array in [[Texas]], but Fowler is still too out of it to alert the array staff to the danger. [[Rafael Esquivel|Raf]] attempts to hack in, but the array's firewalls are too good. Jack thinks they should go on site, and they talk Optimus into letting them do it.

Meanwhile, Megatron sends out the Decepticon forces to attack the Autobots. Battle commences.

The kids ground-bridge to the array and sneak in. In a small, unused room, Raf finds a computer and determines that the Decepticons have also hacked in, but takes the opportunity to download their space bridge plans onto his flash drive. Little do the kids know that [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is in the very next room, plugged into the computer system as well. He aligns the array, which sets the space bridge ready to use, but Raf promptly realigns it. Responding to Starscream's requests to know what's going on, Soundwave taps into the installation's security systems and locates the three kids. While the kids are discussing what the Decepticons could do, Soundwave's tentacle slithers into the room behind them and attacks. As it goes after Raf, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] grabs an axe and strikes at it. She completely misses, and the tentacle strikes her backward before picking up the axe itself. Though the kids believe it's about to attack them with the weapon, the tentacle withdraws. The kids run to the next room, where they found Soundwave has realigned the dishes and used the axe to cut the hard line, making it impossible to undo his work. Miko then takes a cell phone photo of Soundwave. Before Soundwave leaves, he takes a photo of them.

Starscream activates the space bridge, and Megatron physically throws a huge chunk of Dark Energon through. The Dark Energon strikes Cybertron, swiftly covering the planet and turning millions of dead Transformers into millions of Terrorcons. Optimus realizes that the only course of action left to them is to destroy the space bridge. Raf supplies the specs he downloaded earlier, and Ratchet sets about working out a way to do so. As Optimus faces Megatron, Bulkhead, Arcee and Bumblebee go to implement some sabotage.

[[Image:DarknessRising5-Megatronsword.jpg|right|thumb|220px|He can do the ''ultimate'' bird flip.]]

Megatron manages to defeat Prime, but as he raises his sword, Starscream alerts him to the actions of the other Autobots. Optimus takes advantage of the distraction to blast Megatron, but the Decepticon leader transforms and flies off to find Prime's team. Arcee's team has succeeded in rigging the space bridge to blow when Megatron attacks and blasts her off into space. The Autobots jump into the ground bridge, Bumblebee collecting Arcee on the way. Megatron realizes his ship appears to be absent, but before his army of Terrorcons can come through, the space bridge explodes in his face.

A short distance away in the ship, Starscream notes that there's totally no way Megatron could have survived that, and he is leader now.

The Autobots make it back to their base, though Arcee's in a bad way. Optimus announces that there's totally no way Megatron could have survived the space bridge explosion. Fowler thanks the Autobots for saving him, then leaves. Optimus gives a big speech and sends a signal into space to let the galaxy know that Earth is defended by the Autobots.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (6)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
* [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (10)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Jack Darby]] (1)
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Rafael Esquivel]] (8)
* [[William Fowler]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet teeming with humans, I will never forgive you."
:—'''Ratchet'''

"Optimus Prime never disappoints. Unlike YOU, Starscream!"
:—'''Megatron''', burning a disappointing '''Starscream'''

"Surely, Lord Megatron, the Autobots are up to something." 
"Really, Starscream?"
:—'''Starscream''' observes the Autobots and '''Megatron''' lays on the sarcasm.

"I hold no illusions about engaging your army, Megatron. But I might derail its objective...[[Decapitation|by removing its head.]]"
:—'''Optimus Prime's''' [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|solution to most problems]].

"Starscream! Where is my ship?" 
"We would never make it, Lord Megatron! Don't be a fool! Take flight and retreat!"
:—'''Starscream''' fruitlessly tries to get '''Megatron''' to flee the detonating space bridge.

"Decepticons, it is with deep sorrow that I note for the log...Megatron's spark has been extinguished. All hail Starscream."
:—Looks like '''Starscream''' is back to his old self again.

"Without a means of leaving this world, we Autobots take strength in the bonds we have forged with our three young friends - true warriors. If not in body, then in spirit. My name is Optimus Prime, and I send this message. Though we did not choose to be of Earth, it would seem that we are here to stay. If you approach this planet with hostile intent, know this: We will defend ourselves. We will defend humanity. We will defend... our home."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
===Continuity errors===
* The Terrorcons are able to leave Cybertron and pass through the space bridge despite the fact that it's in space. Even accounting for the fact that Decepticon corpses might have flight capabilities, it seems unlikely that every Terrorcon would.
* Despite Megatron being able to ''cut off half of Prime's blade'' earlier in their battle, when Optimus resisted, the other blade was nearly as resistant as Megatron's own blade.

===Astronomical errors===
* The Autobots somehow jump from the detonating space bridge straight into the waiting ground bridge vortex, which is positioned below the space bridge, even though there ''is no gravity in space!'' (Though a possible explanation for this is that the ground bridge creates its own gravity.)

===Transformers references===
* There are two references which are directly related to [[The Transformers: The Movie|the 1986 animated movie]]. First Ratchet says, "Then by all means, let us light our [[darkest hour]]." Later, Optimus exchanges with Megatron: "One shall stand, one shall fall."
* Megatrons have been known to survive space bridge [[Transport to Oblivion|accidents]] and [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|malfunctions]] and even [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|space bridge-related suicide attempts]]. Same goes for standing at ground zero of [[Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2|ginormous explosions]]. Hope Starscream and Optimus don't expect to relax. Megatron doubtless has [[to sell toys|a powerful drive]] to survive and return.
* Optimus's Energon blade and Megatron's hidden fusion cannon blade are references to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)| their movie]] [[Megatron (Movie)|counterparts]].
* Optimus's speech at the end is similar to the ones Movie Optimus gives at the end of both movies.

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===
* Miko tries to use an axe on [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'s tentacle, which is the same tactic Tom Cruise's character tries on the Tripod tentacle in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''War of the Worlds''. Of course, both attempts fail.

* Miko refers to space as "the final frontier". "Space. The final frontier" is the first line of the opening credits of several ''[[Wikipedia: Star Trek|Star Trek]]'' TV shows. ''Prime'' show developers [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]] are also the screenwriters of the current ''Star Trek'' movies.

===Trivia===
* Winged versions of the Vehicons make their appearance here.
* The Decepticons are unable to simply warp to Cybertron thanks to Bulkhead ripping off a vital piece of equipment in the previous episode.
* While it's unlikely anything from ''[[Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron|Exodus]]'' applies to the cartoon, a number of Autobots, including [[Ultra Magnus (Prime)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Omega Supreme (Prime)|Omega Supreme]] and the [[Wrecker]]s, were left behind on Cybertron at the end of that book. Sure hope they weren't around when the Terrorcons came crawling. In a similar vein, [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] is also still on Cybertron at the end of the novel. Granted, it's established fact that the war had continued on other worlds after Cybertron's shutdown, though (as stated by [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] in the [[Transformers: Prime (comic)|prequel comic]]) it's probable that all of them have since moved on to less hostile locales in the intervening years.
* When Starscream tries to convince Megatron to retreat, there is a surprising tone of concern in his voice. Either that, or he's a much better actor than certain other [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscreams]].
* It ''seems'' to take a lot longer for the Terrorcon army to come from Cybertron across the space bridge than it took for the Dark Energon to get there in the first place. [[Wikipedia:Doomsday (Doctor Who)|Must've been the sheer mass of all of them]].
* A short video showing a rehearsal or an earlier take of the confrontation between Optimus Prime and Megatron was screened at both [[BotCon 2010]] and San Diego Comic-Con 2010 <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvW4nsr3ZDo#t=2m53s "Transformers: Prime" panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2010]</ref>. The dialogue was somewhat different, with Optimus referring to battle on an alien world when ordering the Autobots away, and lacking the "One shall stand, one shall fall" exchange.

==Home video releases==

==External links==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Deployer (WFC)

2011-02-13T09:11:05Z

159.91.114.199: /* Prime cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon}}

{{disambig2|the [[Mini-Con|Minicons]] from the ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' continuity|the drones from ''[[Beast Machines (franchise)|Beast Machines]]''|Deployer (BM)}}

:''Deployers are [[Mini-Con|Minicon]]s from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]] [[continuity family]].''

'''Deployers''' are [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'s Minicons that he deploys from his chest. While small by Cybertronian standards, at least one of them is larger than an Earth helicopter.

{{quote|Awww, he's like their daddy!|[[Sideswipe (Prime)|Sideswipe]] has probably read too much fanfic|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]''}}

==Fiction==
===''Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron''===
[[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]], [[Frenzy (Prime)|Frenzy]], [[Ravage (Prime)|Ravage]], and [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] were Soundwave's minions, located in his chest cavity. {{storylink|Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Image:Deployer DarknessRising3.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Hi, I'm Soundwave's [[Breastforce|boobs.]]]]
When Soundwave intercepted a message from [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]], Soundwave released one of his deployers (which was resting on his chest) to bring Fowler to the Decepticon ship. After chasing Fowler's helicopter, the drone grabbed Fowler with his tentacles and returned to the Decepticon base. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}
{{spoilers|Masters & Students|18 February 2011}}
After Soundwave picked up a possible signal from [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], who was previously assumed dead, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] went to investigate. Untrusting of Starscream, Soundwave decided to keep an eye on him by sending the deployer Minicon after him. After finding Megatron, Starscream intended to allow Megatron to perish, but was forced to reconsider when he discovered Soundwave's Minicon watching him. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*The Deployer in the ''Prime'' cartoon deploys from Soundwave in a method more reminiscent of the [[Breastforce]]'s [[Breast Animal]]s than the Generation 1 inspired method used in ''War for Cybertron''.
*The producers intended the Deployer in "Darkness Rising" as a homage to Laserbeak, but declined to say whether it ''was'' him.<ref>[http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/36193/transformers-prime-premiere-report-and-video-clip-plus-season-two-confirmation ToonZone season 1 interview]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category: Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category: Prime]]

Masters & Students

2011-02-13T04:46:07Z

159.91.114.199: /* Animation or technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 6
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 5
|next=Scrapheap (episode)
|image=Skyquakefaceoff.jpg
|caption="One shall stand, one-" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime."
|title="Masters & Students"
|airdate=[[February 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[David Slack]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Digitalscape]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Starscream uses a distraction to find something more intriguing.'''

==Synopsis==
{{spoilers|Masters & Students|February 19, 2011}}
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] reviews the footage of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself [[Emperor of Destruction]], but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a [[Decepticon]] on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian [[Autobot]]s. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth.

Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the [[energon (fuel)|energon]] deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost [[Decepticon]].

Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.

Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an [[energon cube]] to revive him, revealing him to be none other than [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the [[Battle of Technar]]. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]], so the two Autobots transform and fall back.

Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the [[space bridge]] explosion. Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the [[Deployer (Prime)|Minicon]] from his chest to follow his master.

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon [[Scanning|scans]] his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of [[Dark Energon]], which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.

Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the school roof. Ratchet is disappointed.

On board the ''Nemesis'', the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into [[Stasis lock|stasis]], and Starscream ''sincerely'' hopes he gets better.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (4)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?" 
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am ''equipped'' to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, [[Emperor of Destruction]]!" 
[''Vehicons murmur'']
:— The '''Vehicons''' find '''Starscream''' leaves a lot to be desired.

''[Holding up an exhaust pipe]'' "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..." 
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?" 
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
:— '''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' attempt to build a motorcycle

"Air superiority achieved!" 
:— '''Skyquake''' does an impression of [[Omega Supreme (Prime)|Omega Supreme]].

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*Fowler flies a plane without wearing a jumpsuit or oxygen mask.
*Starscream finds Megatron in space due to hearing Megatron gasping in pain, however sound cannot travel in space due to the lack of vibrating air molecules for which sound needs to travel.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus claimed Skyquake couldn't transform due to the fact that he hadn't scanned a jet, but why didn't he have a Cybertronian mode?

===Transformers references===
*Starscream styles himself "[[Emperor of Destruction]]", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
*As described in ''[[Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron|Exodus]]'', Ratchet's model of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has [[Moonbase One|two]] [[Moonbase Two|moons]].

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
*Starscream was ''very'' touchy-feely with Megatron's body at the site of the explosion. The writers walked right into ''that'' slash plot.
*Skyquake is, up to this point, the only 'bot to have a hand-held gun, as everyone else has guns that are either equipped to their wrists or transformed from their hands.
*Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".

==Home video releases==

==External links==

{{epstub}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masters and Students}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Masters & Students

2011-02-13T04:44:32Z

159.91.114.199: /* Animation or technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 6
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 5
|next=Scrapheap (episode)
|image=Skyquakefaceoff.jpg
|caption="One shall stand, one-" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime."
|title="Masters & Students"
|airdate=[[February 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[David Slack]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Digitalscape]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Starscream uses a distraction to find something more intriguing.'''

==Synopsis==
{{spoilers|Masters & Students|February 19, 2011}}
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] reviews the footage of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself [[Emperor of Destruction]], but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a [[Decepticon]] on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian [[Autobot]]s. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth.

Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the [[energon (fuel)|energon]] deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost [[Decepticon]].

Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.

Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an [[energon cube]] to revive him, revealing him to be none other than [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the [[Battle of Technar]]. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]], so the two Autobots transform and fall back.

Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the [[space bridge]] explosion. Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the [[Deployer (Prime)|Minicon]] from his chest to follow his master.

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon [[Scanning|scans]] his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of [[Dark Energon]], which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.

Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the school roof. Ratchet is disappointed.

On board the ''Nemesis'', the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into [[Stasis lock|stasis]], and Starscream ''sincerely'' hopes he gets better.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (4)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?" 
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am ''equipped'' to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, [[Emperor of Destruction]]!" 
[''Vehicons murmur'']
:— The '''Vehicons''' find '''Starscream''' leaves a lot to be desired.

''[Holding up an exhaust pipe]'' "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..." 
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?" 
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
:— '''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' attempt to build a motorcycle

"Air superiority achieved!" 
:— '''Skyquake''' does an impression of [[Omega Supreme (Prime)|Omega Supreme]].

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*Fowler flies a plane without wearing a jumpsuit or oxygen mask.
*Starscream finds Megatron in space due to hearing Megatron gasping in pain, however sound cannot travel in space due to the lack of vibrating air molecules for which sound needs to travel.*

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus claimed Skyquake couldn't transform due to the fact that he hadn't scanned a jet, but why didn't he have a Cybertronian mode?

===Transformers references===
*Starscream styles himself "[[Emperor of Destruction]]", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
*As described in ''[[Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron|Exodus]]'', Ratchet's model of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has [[Moonbase One|two]] [[Moonbase Two|moons]].

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
*Starscream was ''very'' touchy-feely with Megatron's body at the site of the explosion. The writers walked right into ''that'' slash plot.
*Skyquake is, up to this point, the only 'bot to have a hand-held gun, as everyone else has guns that are either equipped to their wrists or transformed from their hands.
*Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".

==Home video releases==

==External links==

{{epstub}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masters and Students}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]