MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Grill (episode)

2012-05-13T02:03:38Z

173.61.88.165: /* Continuity notes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 35
|prev=Nemesis Prime (episode)
|next=Armada (episode)
|image=Grill Fowler sits back down.jpg
|caption=
|title="Grill"
|airdate=[[April 14]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Duane Capizzi]]
|directed by=[[Kevin Altieri]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Agent Fowler has some explaining to do under the threat of military tribunal and Team Prime's termination.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Grill too close private.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Since I joined these bots, I've seen slag that would turn you '''white'''!"]]
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] steps into [[Bryce|General Bryce]]'s office to provide some explanations. Bryce first asks about [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'s recent death, and Fowler clarifies that the body the military have is [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]], though Bryce has trouble swallowing it. Fowler explains a bit about [[MECH]] and wonders if some of MECH's men are special forces like [[Silas]]. Under further questioning, Fowler relates more about the [[Autobot]]s and their war, and his own involvement in helping [[Team Prime]]. Bryce asks him to run through the identities of the Autobots in Team Prime, and comes to the death of [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. Bryce reiterates that all they have to go on regarding Optimus Prime's recent defection to the [[Decepticon]]s is Fowler's report, and the current debriefing is a result of concerns about the potential danger the Autobots pose, with the possibility of a military tribunal later and potentially the termination of Team Prime.

[[Image:Grill Optimus through window.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Hey Sam, you find those glasses ye- Oop. Wrong house."]]
Fowler insists that the Autobots are very careful about protecting [[human]]s, but lets slip about the kids. He quickly covers the mistake by claiming they're civilians working with the Autobots and valuable team members, carefully leaving out the fact that they're minors. Bryce seems mollified, but asks why [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] hasn't been terminated yet, which leads Fowler to mention [[Unicron]]. Bryce decides that Fowler needs a psychological evaluation, though after Fowler clarifies that he didn't say "[[unicorn]]", the evaluation is called off. Fowler also relays how both [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] and [[Airachnid]] have gone rogue, and that the Autobots have gained valuable intel from the former. Though he says Optimus thinks [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] could be converted, Fowler doesn't agree. When questioned about Optimus's recent defection, Fowler is confident that Optimus is firmly an Autobot. He mentions the current Decepticon hunt for ancient Transformer artifacts, and has Optimus himself look through the window and converse with Bryce. General Bryce is convinced and dismisses Fowler.

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in clips from previous episodes.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* ''[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'' (12)
* ''[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]'' (13)
* ''[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]'' (17)
* ''[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]'' (19)
* ''[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]''
* ''[[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]''

|c2=
*''[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]]'' (7)
*''[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]]'' (11)
*''[[Decepticon Miner]]s'' (18)
*''[[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]]'' (20)
*''[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]'' (21)
*''[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]'' (22)
*''[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'' (25)
*''[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'' (27)
*''[[Airachnid]]'' (28)
*''[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]'' (29)
*''[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]'' (31)
*''[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'' (32)

|c3=
* [[William Fowler]] (1)
* [[Bryce|General Bryce]] (2)
* [[Daley|Private Daley]] (3)
* ''[[MECH Surgeon]]'' (6)
* ''[[Silas]]'' (8)
* ''[[MECH Commando]]'' (9)
* ''[[MECH Navigator]]'' (10)
* ''[[Miko Nakadai]]'' (14)
* ''[[Jack Darby]]'' (15)
* ''[[Raf Esquivel]]'' (16)
* ''[[Museum security guard|Guard]]'' (23)
* ''[[June Darby]]'' (24)

|c4=
* ''[[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]]'' (5)
* ''[[Scraplet]]s'' (26)
* ''[[Unicron]]'' (30)
|}}

==Quotes==
"Soldier, too close."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' doesn't like close ups of his face

"It defies all logic, Bill. Dark energon? Then you go on record saying that you believe in magical horses with horns on their heads." 
"What?" 
"Do you deny previously reporting that Megatron helped defeat a unicorn?" 
"Oh? That's what you...? ''Unicron!'' The ultimate evil! Permission to strike this from the record." 
:—'''General Bryce''' makes the second unicron/unicorn joke in 25 years, and '''Agent Fowler''' avoids a psychological evaluation.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Being a [[clip show]], this episode shows bits from virtually every episode of the series up to this point.
* Like Miko in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]", General Bryce mistakes "Unicron" for "unicorn".
* Fowler's dialogue makes a reference to the title of "[[Loose Cannons]]".
* This episode finally explains why Agent Fowler doesn't wear a flight suit.

===Transformers references===
* Fowler notes that Bumblebee got his voicebox torn out during the "[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|war for Cybertron]]".
* At one point, Fowler refers to Nemesis Prime as a "[[knockoff]]".

===Trivia===
* As previously revealed on the package of the Ultimate Opponents Entertainment Pack, [[Silas]]'s real name is Leland Bishop. Newly revealed in this episode is his former military rank of Colonel.
* Aside from all the clips shown in this episode, the only Transformer appearing physically in this episode is Optimus Prime.
* A shot of Airachnid screaming Jack's name from "[[Predatory]]" is played without dialog, presumably to avoid having to pay [[Gina Torres]] an additional fee.
* We finally get an explanation for why Fowler can fly a jet without a flight suit. At some point (most likely before "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]"), Ratchet modified the air pressure regulators in Fowler's jet. Fowler also makes a comment about the jet being a VTOL, which explains the maneuvers it made in "[[Loose Cannons]]".
* Interestingly enough, when Bryce asks Fowler for a headcount of the Autobots, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] isn't mentioned despite Fowler's knowledge of his presence on Earth (he even had a face-to-face discussion with Jackie!). Maybe he thinks he left Earth? That, or he took Jackie's statement of "I'm not one Optimus Prime's people" seriously.
* General Bryce mentions that the "five-stars" are upset. In real life, the [[Wikipedia:Five-star rank#US five-star ranks|five-star rank]] is not currently active in the United States military, being last awarded in 1950.

[[Category:Clip shows]]
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Convoy (episode)

2012-05-13T01:55:22Z

173.61.88.165: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{disambig2|the ''Prime'' episode|the Japanese name and rank|Convoy (rank)}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 9
|prev=Con Job
|next=Deus ex Machina
|image=TFP Convoy highway hijack.jpg
|caption=Ain't it a beautiful sight?
|title="Convoy"
|airdate=[[March 4]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots assist Fowler with transporting a nuclear device.'''

==Synopsis==
The Autobots get an angry call from [[William Fowler|Fowler]]. His plane's been shot down while transporting the hi-tech [[Dynamic Nuclear Generation System]], or the "Dingus", a volatile nuclear device, and he needs help in completing his mission. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] says that using the [[GroundBridge]] to transport it would be too dangerous, so instead they'll have to take it by road. They soon have it loaded into a [[trailer]] which Prime starts hauling, with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] as an escort. Fowler's disappointed he doesn't get to drive. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and the kids monitor their journey from [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]].

Optimus is irritated by Fowler's enthusiasm with the horn. Unknown to any of them, the convoy is being observed by a helicopter. Fowler and Optimus are discussing whether there was any evil on Earth before the Decepticons came, when they spot the helicopter, which Fowler believes is a [[Decepticon]]. Five green sportscars move in on the convoy, but Optimus warns everyone to maintain their cover and stay in vehicle mode. Ratchet's surprised that they're not showing up on his sensors. All is made clear when one of the cars draws level with Optimus's cab, and a masked human aims a gun at Fowler. Optimus orders the other Autobots to use non-lethal force only. Bumblebee knocks one of the cars, flipping it over, but another drives up alongside Optimus. One of the masked goons climbs onto Optimus and starts attempting to sever the trailer. After Prime knocks the car off the mountainside road, Fowler climbs out and grabs the masked goon, but loses him before he can start the interrogation.
[[Image:Prime-Silas.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I want this mission high and tight. I wanna be home for dinner.]]
The fellow in the helicopter makes contact over the walkie and introduces himself as [[Silas]], part of the [[MECH]] organization, who intend to steal the Dingus for their own use. One of the cars pulls up behind Optimus and the MECH goons blow the trailer's back door open, only for [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to jump out in motorcycle mode and flip their car, causing it to explode. While Optimus warns Fowler not to take Silas lightly (due to [[Megatron (Prime)|personal experience]]), Ratchet informs them they're nearing the rendezvous point.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has intercepted the communications, and [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] sends a bunch of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] to join the party.

The Autobots reach the rendezvous point and duck into a rail tunnel alongside a train. Bulkhead seals off the incoming end. A short time later, they and the train emerge from the other end of the tunnel, and Silas continues to follow the Autobots. As luck would have it, the Vehicons take this opportunity to appear and open fire on the convoy. The Autobots avoid getting hit, but Prime's trailer is shaken loose and explodes. The Vehicons transform and move in, forcing Optimus to inform Fowler that they're going to have to break cover to survive. Silas observes the fight and notes that the rumors he's heard of living technology are true. He lets Fowler know that he's aware the Dingus was transferred onto the train while the Autobots were in the tunnel, and the helicopter moves off to intercept the cargo. Unfortunately, while Fowler's giving Optimus the bad news, the Autobot leader takes a tree trunk to the face and falls off a nearby cliff.

The kids have a frantic discussion about a plan B. [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]'s in favor of Ratchet ground-bridging the kids onto the train so they can fight the MECH goons. With [[Raf Esquivel|Raf's]] help, [[Jack Darby|Jack]] and Miko are soon on the train. As the MECH helicopter tries to land on top of the train, Raf flips a point switch to make the train go off along another line. In response, the helicopter's pilot hacks Raf's laptop, causing it to short out. On the second try, the helicopter lands atop the carriage the Dingus is in, and the MECH guys start cutting through the carriage roof.

Not far away, the Autobots continue their fight with the Vehicons. Optimus comes around and sees the train in trouble.
[[Image:Convoy-trainstop.jpg|thumb|250px|More powerful than a locomotive!]]
Miko and Jack grab weapons, which they wave at the MECH guys when the ceiling's opened. Back in the chopper, Silas spots Optimus running alongside and sounds a retreat. As the helicopter heads away, he fires a missile and takes out the track ahead of the train. Due to Raf's laptop being out of commission, Ratchet no longer has the train's coordinates and can't bridge the kids out. They prepare to jump, but Optimus [[Maximum overdrive|zooms past]], grabs the front of the train and brings it to a halt in the nick of time. Hovering in the helicopter nearby, Silas promises that next time the playing field will be leveled. Optimus reports back to Ratchet that the kids and the Dingus are safe, but notes that a new player has entered the game...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (14)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (15)

|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (1)
*[[Jack Darby]] (5)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (6)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[MECH]] goons (10)
*[[Silas]] (11)
*[[MECH Navigator]] (12)

}}

==Quotes==
"Ah-ah, no need, Agent Fowler. I will handle the driving." 
"It's going to be a long trip."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' lets '''Agent Fowler''' in on his no-touch policy.

"Agent Fowler. Is that really necessary?" 
"Oh, don't tell me you're one of them "textbook drivers"."
:— '''Optimus Prime''' isn't very keen on '''Agent Fowler's''' use of the horn.

"How about some radio? You seem like a Nashville sound kinda guy."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' to Optimus Prime.

"That's the one! The 'Con who shot me down! Who is he? Wingnut? Dingbat? Skyguy?"
:—'''Fowler''' shares some awesome Transformer name ideas.

"Gentlemen, stop their engines."
:—'''Silas'''

"Is that so? Tell me, Si, what's the market price for a Dingus these days?" 
"What makes you think we intend to sell it, Agent Fowler?"
:—'''Agent Fowler''' and '''Silas''' discussing the value of Fowler's Dingus.

"After a long road trip, feels good to get out of the car, stretch my legs, and kick some tailpipe!"
:—'''Bulkhead''', the reigning king of one-liners.

"You want me to not only bridge you into a confined space, but one traveling at 90 miles per hour? I can't even count the number of things that can go wrong—mass displacement trauma, twisted limbs, metal burn!... Well, maybe not the last one."
:—'''Ratchet''' to the kids.

"First rule of combat: Never leave the enemy with the spoils."
:—'''Silas'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* While Silas delivers his last line, the straps that cross his chest clip into each other.
* At the beginning of the episode, when Ratchet asks Agent Fowler why Starscream would bother with "such primitive technology" (i.e., the Dingus), a small light can be seen inside his open mouth, as if the light coming from his left optic sensor can be seen through it.
* At the end of the episode Optimus Prime uses all his strength to push back the locomotive carrying the Dingus, but the locomotive turns out without ANY scratches. That's just impossible.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Convoy-kablooie.jpg|thumb|upright|"I used minimal force. That was the minimal force necessary to ensure they ''never bother us again.''"]]
* The Autobots have a curious definition of "minimal force". During the short battle, they run two cars off the road (causing both to flip over) and blow up a third. The latter most likely killed the passengers. It's amazing the others came out unharmed, considering one was hanging out of the sunroof of his car at the time.
**The force could be justified by the Autobots being used to fighting Decepticons; the destructive blows they land on MECH's cars ''would'' be little more than a deterrent to the Vehicons. Even after they identify their pursuers as humans, the 'Bots might just not know how to limit their strength enough to avoid totaling MECH's vehicles.
* On the monitor inside the Autobot base, the fork is shown to be on the right side of the rails. When the scene changes to show the running train, it is shown to be on the left.
* The car in front of Bumblebee disappears after the Autobots begin applying force. There is nothing to show whether Bumblebee took care of the car in the front, or if it was forgotten in the writing of the episode.

===Continuity notes===
*The plane Fowler was transporting the Dingus on is the same one he had in "[[Masters & Students]]". And he's ''still'' flying without any kind of pilot gear on. Dude is ''hard core''.
*Miko makes reference to that episode when she follows up Fowler's comment that he had been shot out of the sky with an "again?"

===Transformers references===
*Optimus's [[trailer]] is adorned with the same paint scheme as his [[Optimus Prime (G1)|''Generation 1'' counterpart]]'s [[Combat Deck|trailer]].

===Real-world references===
* This episode is the first in ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' to feature a reproduction of an actual real-world vehicle: The locomotive depicted hauling the 'Phase II' train is a very accurate model of a four-axle GP series model produced in La Grange, Illinois (Later London, Ontario) by [[wikipedia:Electro-Motive_Diesel|Electro-Motive Diesel]].

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Konvoi'''" ("Convoy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 25|25 November]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Konvoj'''" ("Convoy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 19|19 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Convoglio'''" ("Convoy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hosong Jakjeon'''" (호송 작전, "Operation Convoy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 26|26 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 15|15 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 4|4 January]] [[2012]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 2|2 January]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*The train set piece germinated from [[Alex Kurtzman]]'s desire to have a Train Transformer, which would have been too expensive.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Pb3MeUDdY Roundtable interview with ''Prime'' staff at BotCon 2011]</ref>
*The fact that the Autobots were battling humans rather than Decepticons - a not insignificant twist in the plot - was spoiled by the next-episode preview shown during the Hub's airing of ''Con Job''. What is this, [[Ultra Magnus Dies!!|Japan?]]
*As was previously featured in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]", this episode features an Autobot transforming while carrying a human passenger. Fowler somehow ends up sitting in Optimus's hand rather than inside him, though.
[[Image:JackFireExtinguisherMikoAxe.jpg|thumb|200px|So I married an axe murderer.]]
*On board the train, Jack and Miko each pick a "weapon" of choice to face the MECH goons. Appropriately, Miko happens to take an axe, like she did [[Darkness Rising, Part 5|to face Soundwave's tentacle]], while Jack takes a [[fire extinguisher]], like he did [[Scrapheap (episode)|a couple of episodes ago]].
*When Jack and Miko grab the fire extinguisher and the fire axe to fight MECH, they apparently forget that there is a gun on the floor, dropped by the immobilized soldier. However, neither (presumably) has had firearms training, and it's unlikely that Optimus would appreciate trigger-happy allies.
*Silas' attempt to destroy the Dingus at the end of the episode seems a bit reckless, given its nuclear core. However, there's no indication he's aware of just how nasty that thing going up would be; when the decoy trailer goes up, the MECH pilot merely indicates there's no detectable radiation. If they knew about the five-state irradiation deal, they'd probably be just a ''wee'' bit more on edge and wondering why they weren't dead.
*This episode ''might'' imply that Jack has feelings for Miko. So far, however, it seems to be kinda one-sided. But Miko was seen a few times grabbing Jack's arm.
*This episode may contain human [[death]]. After Arcee jumps off one of MECH's vehicles, it rolls right into another vehicle and the two explode. No humans are seen exiting the vehicles during the accident, so it is likely that they perish in the explosion.
*This episode is the first to feature a human enemy to the Cybertronians (both Autobots and Decepticons). However, they do not meet the leader, Silas, until much later; the Autobots only hear him speak this episode.

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Loose Cannons

2012-03-25T16:48:06Z

173.61.88.165: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 32
|prev=Operation Bumblebee, Part 2
|next=Crossfire
|image=
|caption=
|title="Loose Cannons"
|airdate=[[March 24]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[David McDermott]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''A legendary Autobot returns to Earth to look for a new Decepticon, but Optimus finds that something is not right with the rogue Bot.'''

==Synopsis==
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] calls the Autobots, furious about another fight with possible collateral damage. Though all of them are present at base, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] posits that the fighters may be infighting [[Decepticon]]s. However, a video feed shows otherwise, for the two are an unidentified [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]-like Decepticon—and [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]! Though [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] is thoroughly excited, Fowler demands that the situation be handled pronto.

Outside of [[Omaha]], Wheeljack battles it out with the 'Con. Agent Fowler hovers over the scene and demands stoppage, but is fired upon by Wheeljack. The Autobot is hit in the shoulder, and falls back as Agent Fowler supplies suppressive fire. A [[GroundBridge]] opens up, and the Autobots step out. They aid Wheeljack, and fire upon the Decepticon, who takes cover. Agent Fowler flies overhead, and the Decepticon seizes the opportunity to scan his vehicle. He runs toward a gas station, and Wheeljack aims his blasters at him. Despite [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] and Bulkhead's cautioning, he fires, and the station explodes as the Decepticon transforms and flies off. Though Wheeljack believes that the 'Con—revealed as [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]—rigged it to explode, he is informed otherwise. Though the [[Wrecker]] is eager to give pursuit, Optimus tells him that, while on Earth, it would be wise to respect his authority.

Back at base, Ratchet repairs Wheeljack. He apologizes for the collateral damage, but says that his pursuit of Dreadwing warranted it. He starts into the story of his pursuit. Originally, he was looking for Autobot refugees, but when the one he had found— the former Wrecker [[Seaspray (Prime)|Seaspray]]—is blown to bits by one of Dreadwing's bombs, he made it his mission to track the rogue 'Con down. After several solar systems worth of pursuit, Wheeljack caught up with him on [[Earth]]. Optimus recounts his own knowledge of Dreadwing—he was a captain of a Seeker armada, and [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]'s twin. He also infers that Dreadwing's mission is to pay allegiance to Megatron. Wheeljack is eager to get out and kick Dreadwing's tailpipe, but Optimus reels him in, saying that any action taken against the Decepticons must be carefully planned on this foreign planet. This infuriates the Wrecker, who can't fathom the idea of doing nothing. Agent Fowler walks in and admonishes Wheeljack for nearly blowing their cover, and demands that Prime keep a closer watch on his troops. Wheeljack doesn't take well to being called part of the team, and walks off, followed by Bulkhead. Optimus explains Wheeljack's disregard for authority by his inclusion in the Wreckers, a unit that operated outside of normal command.

Somewhere mountainous, Dreadwing holds a laser beacon that continues into the sky. The ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' arrives, and he boards. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] welcomes his loyalty, but Dreadwing reveals that he was brought to Earth with another purpose as well. He says that he and his twin, Skyquake, shared a split spark, and that he could feel across the galaxy when his brother was released from stasis—and when his spark was extinguished. This information is confirmed by Megatron, and Dreadwing vows to make every Autobot on Earth pay. Megatron avows that they will—eventually, under his terms. He advises the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] to obey him, for his best interests.

As Wheeljack works on his [[Jackhammer (Prime)|ship]], Bulkhead attempts to change his mind about the planet. Wheeljack lists the comrades they'd lost in battle, but Bulkhead takes is as all the more reason that they must stick together. Wheeljack doubts Optimus's integrity, but Bulkhead stands firmly by him. Inside the Jackhammer, a challenge comes through over the commlink from Dreadwing. Wheeljack straps in to meet the 'Con, and Bulkhead gets in as well. They jet off to meet their challenger.

Dreadwing faces off against Wheeljack, both determined to finish their business. They exchange fire, and Dreadwing runs and jumps into a crevice. The Wrecker gives pursuit, and Dreadwing avails him of the "surprises" he's left—proximity bombs, scattered all throughout the crevice. He dodges them with ease, and pins the 'Con against a dead end. Bulkhead reveals himself atop the crevice, preventing Dreadwing from flying off. However, he has one last trick up his sleeve—one last bomb, placed meters from Bulkhead's position. It explodes, burying the two under the exploded cliff face as he flies off.

At base, Ratchet finds Bulkhead's transmission over a thousand miles away. At Optimus's inquiry, he says that no response has been made.

In the crevice, Optimus helps Wheeljack out of a pile of boulders. Though Optimus acknowledges that he cannot force Wheeljack to obey his orders, he reprimands the rebel for endangering the safety of one of ''his'' troops. Ratchet informs Optimus over comm that Bulkhead's signal has moved.

Wheeljack and Optimus fly to Bulkhead's location, a shipping depot. They find him in an unfortunate predicament, strapped to a crate with a bomb wired into his chest. Wheeljack gets to work defusing the bomb, but it proves a challenging prospect, as it is laced with all sorts of failsafes.

Dreadwing looks on, with Optimus in his sights. He receives a transmission from Megatron, and tells his leader that he is pursuing his destiny. Megatron responds by saying that Optimus is not so easily beaten.

Bulkhead tries to stop Wheeljack from continuing his attempts to defuse the bomb. He notices that Optimus is gone, and Wheeljack again deprecates Optimus for fleeing when the situation gets hot.

Megatron allows Dreadwing to continue his plan, out of respect for his deceased brother. He disconnects, and muses to Soundwave that he does not expect him to come back. Dreadwing notices that Optimus is not there anymore, and Optimus chooses to announce himself. He appeals to the Decepticon's sense of honor, saying that his master does not respect chivalry and honor as he and his brother did. Dreadwing refuses the offer of defection, and fires upon Prime, who escapes into the maze of containers.

Bulkhead pleads with Wheeljack to leave, but it falls on deaf ears. He says that the only bot who knows how to defuse the bomb is Dreadwing. Wheeljack remarks on the encroaching blaster fire, when he is delivered an uppercut by Bulkhead. The big bot tears out of his restraints, and runs away from his friend.

Dreadwing continues to spar with Optimus, but loses him from his sights.

Bulkhead runs toward the water, apologizing in advance to the sea life, when Wheeljack jumps out and tries to stop him. He is no match for the huge 'Bot, and is pushed along with him. He appeals to Bulkhead, agreeing with the fact that only Dreadwing can defuse the bomb—and that Optimus knows it as well.

The Seeker slowly searches the dock. Suddenly, he hears a roar, and above him, Optimus comes crashing down on top of him with a shipping crane. Pinned, Dreadwing is forced to listen again to Optimus's proposal to defuse the bomb, which is now standing right beside him. Dreadwing is unfazed, saying that he would rather destroy himself and all three Autobots to avenge his brother. Optimus calls his bluff, and says that they too will die in fire with their brother. He grudgingly accepts, and defuses the bomb. However, not about to leave empty handed, Dreadwing sets off the many bombs he had placed throughout the port, and flies off. Wheeljack wonders who will clean that up.

On the ''Nemesis'', Megatron gloats about Dreadwing's defeat, but seems mildly surprised that the Seeker still lives. Dreadwing, in the wake of his defeat, pledges his total loyalty to Megatron.

At the base, now addressing Optimus as "Commander," Wheeljack apologizes for his misjudgment about him earlier. All the Autobots, sans Ratchet, try to convince Wheeljack to stay. He says he'll explore the planet, to see if it's right for him. However, Bulkhead tells him that he has to have an Earth alternate mode.

Outside, Wheeljack transforms, and drives off into the distance.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (8)
*[[Seaspray (Prime)|Seaspray]] (11) (ship only)
|c2=
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (7)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (flashback) (12)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (flashback) (13)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"Not this again!"
:—'''Agent Fowler''' gets carjacked for the third time.

'''Wheeljack''': You know Wreckers don't call for backup. 
'''Wheeljack''' and '''Bulkhead''': They call for clean-up! 
:—The remaining Wreckers provide an alternative to "Wreck and Rule!"

"I will be quite surprised if we ever set eyes upon Dreadwing again."
:—'''Megatron''' putting his faith into his soldier.

"Sorry, Jackie. It's 'cause I love ya."
:—'''Bulkhead''' shows the tough love.

"Sorry, fishies!"
:—'''Bulkhead''' runs towards water with a bomb attached.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Wheeljack faces Dreadwing in the forest, the scar on his left shoulder (that was inflicted by Dreadwing in their first showdown on Earth) seems to have disappeared. Few moments later it's there again.
*Fowler's jet can hover in flight even though jets cannot hover.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode features the first on-screen use of the term [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]].
* Soundwave shows scenes of Optimus and Bumblebee's fight with Skyquake in "[[Masters & Students]]".
* Arcee references "Masters & Students" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]".

===Transformers references===
* Wheeljack namedrops former Wreckers [[Impactor (Prime)|Impactor]], [[Roadbuster (Prime)|Roadbuster]], [[Rotorstorm (Prime)|Rotorstorm]], and [[Pyro (Prime)|Pyro]]. The first two are traditional Wreckers, and the latter two were introduced as Wreckers in ''[[Last Stand of the Wreckers]].'' Seaspray being a Wrecker is a new addition.
* Wheeljack namedrops the [[Dromedon]] system and the planets [[Maderan]] and [[Sandokan]].
* Dreadwing is referred to as a [[Seeker]].
* Dreadwing references [[Pit|The Pit]].
*Optimus explains how the [[Wreckers]] are a separate team faction from the Autobots.

===Real-world references===
*Fowler compares the activities of the Wreckers to "black ops", a term for covert military operations.

===Trivia===
*Fowler ''really'' needs to stop flying that jet of his around Decepticons who look like they turn into jets.
*Wheeljack finally takes an Earth-based vehicle mode. Seems like he's on Earth to stay.
*Dreadwing's proximity bombs have plates resembling his wings. Perhaps they're his trademark symbol for each location he visits--though it doesn't last when it explodes.
*Optimus didn't look very comfortable in Wheeljack's ship.
{{epstub}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]