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Scorponok (BW)

2010-10-01T18:43:32Z

199.216.41.251:

{{factions|predacon}}
{{disambig3|Scorponok}}

:''Scorponok is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] from the [[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:BWScorponokSticker.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Transforms into a scorpion. Surprise?]]
'''Scorponok'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s personality seems to have two main features: He's dumb, and he's loyal to [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (surprisingly so, considering Megatron's [[Terrorsaur (BW)|other]] [[Tarantulas|crew]] [[Blackarachnia (BW)|members]]), and of those two features, only the loyalty seems to be consistent. He tries to serve Megatron to the best of his abilities, but when [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] is able to outwit you, there's only so much you have to offer.

Scorponok begins as Megatron's [[second-in-command]] on the ''[[Darksyde]]'', though he is insecure about the title and constantly tries to assert himself among the other Predacons who, aware of his shortcomings, generally dismiss or ignore him.

Scorponok's only other real contribution to Megatron's cause is in developing cyber-viruses that he delivers with his [[Cyberbee|cyberbee drone]]. (This is impressive, actually, given his otherwise limited mentality.) However, these generally don't work out as he hoped, and so they've done little to increase his standing in the eyes of the other Predacons.

:''Japanese name'': '''Scorpos'''
:''French-Canadian name'': '''Scorpinor'''
:''Italian name'': '''Scorpionok'''
:''Polish name'': '''Skorpinor'''
:''Latin American name'': '''Skorpicon'''

==Fiction==
===First wave toy bios===
Inhabiting the [[Mojave desert]], Scorponok is suited to the harsh conditions of this arid environment. Described as vicious, this desert attack specialist relies mainly on surprise attacks to overcome his foes. For this task, he possesses three alternatives: launching a robotic bee stored in one claw, his 2-shot missile blast stored in the other; his terrifying tail, which deals poisonous cyber-strikes.{{storylink|Scorponok (BW)#Toys|Scorponok bio}}
{{note|The on-package [[Bio|bios]] of the first wave of Beast Wars toys, predate the development of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon and its backstory. They seem to present the characters as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with Optimus Primal actually being a new form of Optimus Prime and Megatron being his Generation 1 counterpart, and their battles taking place on present day, [[human]]-inhabited Earth, rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched, the toyline adjusted itself to match that continuity instead, relegating this one to an aborted [[micro-continuity]].}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====Fun Publications ''Beast Wars'' fiction====
=====Theft of the Golden Disk=====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brad Venable]] (English)

The Predacon that would be called Scorponok and [[Backslash]] were part of a mission to steal the sacred [[Maximal]] relic, the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]], on behalf of [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]]; in actual fact, "Scorponok" was loyal to [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and in on his plan to take the disk for himself. He was meant to bomb a power plant to aid [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and [[Dinobot (BW)|his partner's]] attack; he was almost caught by a guard but Backslash saved him, berating him for being sloppy. Later on, when Backslash was caught by a guard, "Scorponok" laughed, mockingly referencing what Backslash said early and happily triggered the bombs, killing his alleged comrade. Nice guy. {{storylink|Theft of the Golden Disk}}

=====Dawn of Future's Past=====
[[Image:Scorponokbwdawn.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Looking at him, he was probably called "Scorponok" before the Beast Wars, too.]]
With the Disk in their hands, the thieves were picked up by their other comrades in a stolen ship, newly christened the ''Darksyde''. Soon after leaving Cybertron, the ''Darksyde'' was involved in a space battle with the Maximal vessels ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' and ''[[Chromia 10]]'' and an unidentified Predacon ship. At its conclusion, only the ''Axalon'' and the ''Darksyde'' survived, and both ships passed through a [[transwarp]] portal to an unknown destination. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}
{{--}}

====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Don Brown]] (English), [[Masashi Endō]] (Japanese), [[Bernard Métraux]] (French), [[Sidney Lilla]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:BeastWars1 Scorponok battleready.jpg|thumb|left|280px|OUR MISSILES!]]
Crash-landing on an unknown planet, Scorponok and his peers were forced to take on organic beast modes to shield themselves from the planet's dangerous levels of raw [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. Scorponok took a scorpion as his new alternate mode. When Dinobot furiously berated Megatron for foolishly marooning them on the wrong planet and attempted to attack his leader, Scorponok stood behind Megatron and waited for his cue to fire on Dinobot, sending the traitor far into the distance. Later, Scorponok participated in the first battle between the Maximal and Predacon factions and managed to trap [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor's]] leg under a boulder. However, the Predacons soon succumbed to energon overload. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}}

After recovering in beast mode, Scorponok and the lower-ranking Predacons were wagering who would win the battle between [[Optimus Primal]] and Dinobot until Megatron ordered them to fire on the unwitting combatants. After their shots failed to destroy the Maximals but instead revealed a massive energon cache buried inside a mountain, the Predacons moved out, followed by the Maximals. The two parties confronted each other at the energon cache, and Scorponok fought Dinobot in the one-on-one clashes that ensued. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 2)}}

[[Image:TheWeb Scorponok beastmode.jpg|right|220px|thumb| [http://biosector01.com/wiki/index.php/Vorox Beware my stinger tail!]]]
While Scorponok was later salvaging a mega-cannon, he was surprised by Cheetor. Luckily [[Tarantulas]] distracted the Maximal, giving Scorponok time to hit Cheetor with a missile. Despite asserting that he was second in command and should be giving the orders, Scorponok took Tarantulas's suggestion to scarper before Optimus Primal arrived. He subsequently installed the cannon as part of the perimeter defences for the Predacon base, aided by [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]. {{storylink|The Web}} Scorponok found himself hunting Cheetor again, when the cat somehow teleported into the Predacon base. Cheetor escaped into the ducts, so Scorponok sent a missile in after him, unsuccessfully. A short time later, they found Cheetor messing with the Predacon computer, so Scorponok fired another missile at him, only for it to end up slagging himself and Waspinator giving Cheetor a payback at Scorponok from The Web. {{storylink|Equal Measures}}

[[Image:ChainofCommand Scorponok fail.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]
Scorponok took part in a battle at the [[Standing Stones]], and ended up face-down in the dirt after Cheetor shot him. After Primal went missing, blasted by an [[Vok probe|alien probe]], Megatron sent Scorponok and Waspinator to guard the Standing Stones. As it turned out, Primal wasn't dead, and after he was released from the probe, he blasted all of the Predacons. {{storylink|Chain of Command}} When Terrorsaur mounted a leadership bid and badly damaged Megatron, Scorponok simply had his leader repaired the ''instant'' Terrorsaur wasn't looking. {{storylink|Power Surge}}

After a [[stasis pod]] crashed, Megatron took Scorponok and Tarantulas to attack the Maximal base. While the Predacon leader provided a diversion, the two other Predacons sneaked up on Dinobot, knocking him out. Unfortunately for them, Dinobot had time to activate the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> autoguns, and first Tarantulas, then Scorponok were blasted off the ship. {{storylink|Fallen Comrades}} Scorponok was part of an ambush, enabling the Predacons to steal another stasis pod and bring [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] online. Terrorsaur would later mount another bid to become leader, with [[Rattrap]]'s help, but Scorponok announced loudly and at length that his loyalty belonged to Megatron and he would never follow Terrorsaur. As it turned out, Megatron allowed Terrorsaur temporary leadership, so Scorponok appeared to be happy to follow the new leader's commands, at least until it was proved in battle that Terrorsaur was incompetent as a leader. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}}

Megatron tasked Scorponok with a mission to create a virus for his [[cyberbee]] that would turn Optimus Primal into a coward. Ambushing the Maximal leader and Dinobot as they were on a botanical study near a waterfall, Scorponok managed to have his cyberbee latch onto Optimus when he attempted to help the traitor. Unfortunately, Optimus Primal fired off a shot before going down, dislodging the log Scorponok was sitting upon and sending him over the edge of the waterfall. To greater misfortune, Scorponok had botched the virus, turning Optimus Primal not into a coward, but a fearless, ultra-aggressive berserker. Both Scorponok and Megatron were blown up with the cyberbee when Primal ripped it off and chucked it at Megatron's back. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}

[[Image:TheProbe Scorponok minus claw.jpg|thumb|right|250px|He told me enough. He told me you killed him.]]
Scorponok spotted the Maximals building a communications array, and gave a video of it to Terrorsaur to take back to Megatron. After word came through that the array was to be destroyed, he confronted the Maximals. Primal intercepted his missiles, Rattrap blew his claw off, and then Dinobot blasted him into the distance. {{storylink|The Probe}} He was later (improbably) one of the Predacons who staged a revolt against Megatron. That should have been the Maximal's first clue it was only a mock revolt, as once they'd made the ''Axalon'' space-worthy, the Predacons emerged from hiding and attempted to take their ship. Though he was hit by the ship's cannons during a charge, Scorponok was still able to fire a missile which knocked Primal from the entry lift. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

[[Image:DarkDesigns Scorponok squished.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Yet another day Scorponok would rather forget.]]
After [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] was converted into a Predacon by Megatron's [[Transmuter]], Scorponok found himself assigned to repair the base computer. Unaware that the computer had actually been sabotaged by Rhinox, he was surprised and shocked when the ex-Maximal dropped a pile of heavy crates on him. A spell in a Predacon restoration pool left him ready to extract some revenge, but Rhinox deftly deflected his rage onto Terrorsaur, and the pair had their heads slammed together by Rhinox. Despite all this, he was able to take part in the inevitable fight with the Maximals, during which he was able to take some of his anger out on Dinobot. He ultimately lost the fight and was at ground zero when the Transmuter exploded. {{storylink|Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs}}

Scorponok acted as a lab assistant to Megatron, as his leader created a [[Clone One|clone of Dinobot]]. He was a teeny bit skeptical at the result. {{storylink|Double Dinobot}} When another stasis pod crashed, Megatron dispatched [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and Scorponok to retrieve it. Blackarachnia was disgusted by Scorponok's subservient attitude, and on their way to the pod, she ditched him. Scorponok almost immediately ran into [[Tigatron]], who ended his quest by freezing him. {{storylink|The Spark}}

Scorponok was again teamed with Blackarachnia when Terrorsaur and Waspinator found a [[Brigadoon|weird flying island]]. After they reached the island, Scorponok used a cyberbee to check the place out, but it was intercepted by Tigatron. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}} The two Predacons reached the obelisk at the center of the island and blasted their way in. When Blackarachnia announced the island's power would allow her to defeat even Megatron, Scorponok revealed that he had been sent with her to make sure that didn't happen. Of course, she promptly tricked him into triggering one of the island's many traps, and he fell through the hole that opened up to the ground below. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 2}}

[[Image:Spider's Game Scorponok Inferno.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Looks like someone gave Scorponok...]]
On another occasion, Scorponok was on lookout when he spotted Tarantulas being "chased" by a stasis pod. Megatron ordered he obtain take the stasis pod back to base, so he confronted Tarantulas... only for the pod to blow up, knocking him into some boulders, where a falling rock rendered him unconscious. By the time he recovered, the fight was over, and Megatron ordered him to gather up [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] for repair. {{storylink|Spider's Game}} He took part in a diversionary attack on the ''Axalon'', while Waspinator and Terrorsaur stole the ship's [[rectifier coil]]. Later, once the Maximals had gone feral, he participated on the hunt by carrying Megatron's chair, but was taken down by Cheetor once the Maximals overcame their beast instincts. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}}

In one of his rare successes, Scorponok triggered an energon explosion, apparently taking out a group of Maximals. In reality, he'd simply blinded them, but he didn't find this out until after he'd reported back to Megatron. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}} After [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], possessing the body of Waspinator, helped the Predacons take over the ''Axalon'', Megatron left the [[Decepticon]] in charge of the Maximal base with Scorponok and Blackarachnia as underlings. When the inevitable betrayal occurred, Scorponok put up a token resistance before Starscream blasted him off the side of the ship. {{storylink|Possession}}

[[Image:OtherVoices1 Scorponok and Megatron pose.jpg|left|250px|thumb|So we shall flow a river forth to Thee and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti]]
Scorponok was among the Predacons who were taken out by Rhinox's almighty fart. {{storylink|The Low Road}} After Megatron declared a truce, and Tigatron infiltrated the Predacon base in search of information, Scorponok and Terrorsaur attempted to stop the Maximal from escaping, and ended up colliding spectacularly. Luckily for Scorponok, he didn't have to pursue Tigatron, as the Predacons who did mostly came back on stretchers. {{storylink|Before the Storm}} Scorponok later accompanied Megatron on a mission to an alien construct which had appeared. His toxic sting was instrumental in breaching the construct's wall, allowing Rattrap to get inside and retrieve [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]. Of course, a short time later, Rattrap used one of Scorponok's missiles to dispose of Megatron, shortly before Scorponok himself was blasted by Airazor. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}

[[Image:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Oh, the... robotity?]]
Back at base, Scorponok and the other Predacons monitored the situation with the [[Planet Buster]] which had been revealed high above the planet. Though Scorponok was confident that Megatron would save them, his leader announced that he had someone else in mind to do that. As it turned out, Optimus Primal was the one who piloted a modified stasis pod and blew up the Planet Buster. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}} Scorponok celebrated with his fellow Predacons, but the destruction of the alien weapon had other consequences. A [[quantum surge]] flooded through the base, beginning to mutate their bodies into [[Transmetal]]s. However both Scorponok and Terrorsaur lost control of their hover platforms, crashing into each other and tumbling into the lava beneath the Predacon base, where they perished. No one much noticed, though Blackarachnia pointed out that only Waspinator was present with Megatron when the Predacons arrived at the ''Axalon'' (only to keep herself from getting blasted). {{storylink|Aftermath}}
{{--}}

====IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics====
[[Image:Transmetalscorponok.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
However, Scorponok and Terrorsaur were not actually dead—they were just in stasis lock. They awakened after the Beast Wars ended, finding themselves in Transmetal bodies. Scorponok got shafted, though-his new body didn't have a third vehicle mode like everyone else's. He had hover-fans with which he could fly, though, so that's likely a decent thing. {{storylink|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Beast Wars: Transformers'' video game===
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the first season of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
{{Note|Scorponok is a playable character in the Predacon mode of this game for normal gameplay.}}
Scorponok is reported to be mining energon in a desert area, causing damage to the environment. A lone Maximal investigates, only to be confronted with an onslaught of defenses; automated weapons protecting the arid area include immobile autoguns, automated weapons that arise from the sands to pester the hero with volleys of lasers and blasts, in addition to an array of flying machines and devices that relentlessly open fire on sight on any Maximal that trespasses in Scorponok's territory. Additionally, the area is populated by ravenous beasts, including what appears to be velociraptors! But of all the obstacles to be faced, the most incredible appear to be an automated weapon that FIRES ravenous beasts! Turrets mounted on hillsides dispense snakes to antagonize Maximals who approach it. If all of this wasn't enough, the large amount of energon deposits throughout the area force the lone warrior to revert to beast mode oftentimes. After the Maximal traverses the desert, Scorponok is revealed to be in command of his own personal base! Thus the confrontation between Maximal and Predacon begins: the bout starts with Scorponok standing outside his base, protected by a shield and two autoguns (he'd been saving up for his own little place in the wasteland, obviously), on the opposite side of a canyon from the Maximal. Whilst the autoguns fire, Scorponok also unleashes volleys of his personal arsenal. Once the guns are destroyed, the whole shield program shuts down. Scorponok then begins strafing and firing, but after a few more hits, falls into the canyon. Nonetheless, this is not the end of Scorponok! The Maximal must now confront Scorponok in a close-quarter combat, by following his enemy into the canyon. After a few more blasts, Scorponok collapses (and presumably the Maximal loots his base). {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|Beast Wars: Transformers}}
{{Note|Due to the nature of this game, a player may select various individual characters to perform the feats required in every level, and complete the game's narrative. Thus, any playable Maximal can fill the role of protagonist in Maximal Mode, and any playable Predacon can fill the role of protagonist in Predacon Mode. As such, each character's page only lists said character's actions when they fill the role of antagonist during gameplay. To view the various feats Scorponok can accomplish throughout gameplay in Predacon Mode, it is told on the pages of the [[Optimus Primal|several]] [[Cheetor (BW)|Maximals]] [[Rattrap|included]] [[Dinobot (BW)|as]] [[Rhinox|opponents]] in this game, as well as the game's main antagonists, the [[Skriix]], wherein Scorponok fills the role of the nameless Predacon. To view the plot as a whole view the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)]] page.}}

===''Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle'' video game===
Megatron was capable of summoning Scorponok forth to the battlefield in his attempts to acquire the super-powerful [[energon crystal]]. {{storylink|Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
[[Image:BWtoy-ScorponokMega.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Admit it, you bought this for the bee.]]
* '''Scorponok''' (Mega, 1996/1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''D-2'''
**''Accessories'': Cyberbee drone, 2 missiles

:Scorponok transforms into a fairly organic but highly inaccurate black scorpion. The right pincer contains a small, spring-loaded [[Cyberbee|bee drone]]-type gimmick which can be launched, while his left pincer has a spring-loaded double missile launcher activated by pulling the top part of his claw open far enough to trigger the launcher. His tail also has a spring-loaded "stinging" action activated by pushing forward on a lever halfway up the scorpion tail. All three [[gimmick]]s are available in both modes.

:As one of the first toys released in the [[Beast Wars (toyline)|''Beast Wars'' line]], he features a "[[mutant head]]" gimmick; the halves of his mutant mask clamshell over his robot face from the sides.

: In Japan, Scorponok was initially released without notable changes from the [[Hasbro]] version. Come 1997, he and most of the rest of the show-cast toys were [[redeco]]ed to be more "show-accurate", with wildly varying degrees of success. Scorponok's black plastic was replaced with a charcoal gray, and the connecting red pieces were colored a lighter shade, almost orange.

:One should take care not to stress the pin that holds the cyber bee in his claw, it's fairly frail.

: This mold was later used to make [[Sandstorm (BW)|Sandstorm]] and [[Double Punch]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Scorponok/scorponok.htm More information on Scorponok at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|VsScorponok}}
[[Image:VS2-PolarClawScorponok.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"North Pole Showdown"? Good luck, Scorp.]]
*'''North Pole Showdown: Whiteclaw VS Scorpos''' (Vs set, 1996)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''VS-2'''
**''Accessories'': 2 missiles

: In Japan, Scorponok was available both as an individual and in a two-pack with [[Polar Claw]]. Both toys are identical to their individual releases. It is unknown if the set ever came with the [[Redeco|redecoed]] "show-like" version of Scorponok.

: Amusingly, both toys are packaged in beast mode with their smaller partners deployed, making it look like the fight isn't going so well for Polar Claw.

{{-}}{{anchor|McTransmetal}}
[[Image:BW-toy ScorponokMcD.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Oo oo. C'mon party people. Oo oo. Put your claws in the air.]]
* '''Scorponok''' (Happy Meal premium, 1998)

: Since Scorponok got killed off in order to introduce [[To sell toys|new prod—er, ''characters'']], he was granted a "[[Transmetal]]" toy as part of the second [[McDonald's]] ''Beast Wars'' Happy Meal promotion. He transforms like every other Scorponok, except his shoulders can't go lower than a few degrees from pointing up, meaning all he can do is "raise the roof." It's cast mostly in gauche magenta and "metallic" gold soft-plastics to prevent little kiddies from breaking it. Like the other McDonald's Transmetals, he lacks a third "vehicle" mode.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Predacon/Scorponok/scorponok.htm More information on McDonald's Scorponok at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

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

*'''Beast Wars Movie Coin''' (1997)
:Released only in Japan, Scorponok was one of three characters from Beast Wars to receive a movie coin, the other two being Rattrap and Rhinox.
::*''[http://www.tfmuseum.com/tf-02273.html Scorponok Movie Coin at TFMuseum.com]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:ToyFair96ScorpGriz.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The most effective stealth ever.]]
* Scorponok was first advertised on the back of the [[Optimus Primal]] versus [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] two-pack at the start of the ''Beast Wars'' line with a completely different color scheme. The toy itself was cast completely in transparent orange and blue plastic, which would have made it remarkably fragile at the joints. Another version cast in pink translucent plastic and having the final claw coloration surfaced in 2006, although this could likely be explained by the random plastics used in [[Prototype|test shots]].
** Some early animation test shots included on [[Madman Entertainment|Madman Entertainment's]] Beast Wars Season 2 DVD release show Scorponok in his orange and blue color scheme.

*Scorponok's CGI animation model had an unusual tendency to switch from having yellow-colored optics to red-colored optics at random—sometimes within the same scene of a given episode. Most of the time he had yellow, though.

* Scorponok's pre-Beast form in "[[Theft of the Golden Disk]]" is a [[redeco]] of ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Shortround]], but in "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]" he is based on [[Scorponok (Energon)|''Energon'' Scorponok]], even though the latter story is set immediately after the former, with no real opportunity for him to change bodies in between.

* In the first few episodes, Scorponok's missiles had Maximal [[Insignia|faction symbols]] on them, a Cybertronian equivalent to carving the name of your next victim on your bullets. Many viewers failed to pick up on this symbolism, though, and they were promptly replaced with Predacon faction symbols to avoid confusion.

[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Predacons]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]

Chain of Command (BW)

2010-09-28T14:22:51Z

199.216.41.251:

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=5
|image=Coc getshorty.jpg
|caption=An armed society is a polite society.
|title="Chain of Command"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[September 24]], 1996
|written by=[[Jesse Winfield]]
|directed by=[[Andrew Doucette]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Cheetus]]
}}
'''After Optimus Primal is abducted by an alien probe, the remaining Maximals must decide on a new leader.'''

:''French title:'' '''La Disparition''' ("The Disappearance")
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Disparition'''
:''Japanese title:'' 消えたコンボイ (''Kieta Convoy'', "Convoy Disappeared")
:''Latin-American title:'' '''Cadena de Mando'''
:''Italian title:'' '''Il passaggio del comando''' ("The passage of the command")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''Cadeia de Comando''' ("Chain of Commander")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Chain of Command Standing stones glow.jpg|left|200px|thumb|No wonder Stonehenge is popular.]]
The [[Maximal]]s detect an [[energon crystal]] under the [[wikipedia:cairn|cairn]] in the [[Standing Stones]]. [[Rattrap]] thinks it reeks of 'bait' and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] notes that the [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] on [[Energoa|this planet]] isn't natural, as it does not conform to the planet's geology. The [[Predacons (BW)|Predacons]] attack, putting an end to the discussion. During the battle, [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] purposely fires directly on the buried energon crystal, causing it to destabilize. His prize now useless, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] orders a retreat while the Maximals head for cover as it builds to overload. But instead of a debilitating [[energon wave]], it sends a signal to the stars, depleting the crystal's energy. With the Predacons gone and the energon reduced to dust, the bewildered Maximals return to base.

[[Image:Chain of Command Dinobot probe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You are getting sleepy...]]
Later, an [[Vok probe|alien probe]] emerges from [[Transwarp|transwarp space]] and enters the atmosphere. The Predacons initially mistake it for a [[stasis pod]], but Rhinox immediately recognizes it as something else. Both sides head to intercept it at the Standing Stones. Optimus and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] confront Megatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], but when they transform and begin to battle, the probe puts out an energy burst that renders them unconscious and causes Primal to vanish into thin air.

A disoriented Dinobot awakens in the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'''s [[CR Chamber]] and, seeing three angry Maximals standing over him, momentarily mistakes it for a [[Maximal Torture Chamber]]. The probe, as it turned out, somehow dumped Dinobot, Megatron and Waspinator outside of their respective bases. Believing Primal to be destroyed, Dinobot attempts to take command of the Maximals. Rhinox heads off a fight between Dinobot and Rattrap by insisting on a secret ballot, the traditional Maximal method for resolving such problems.

After the vote results in stalemate, with two votes for each contender, Dinobot giddily rebukes the shortcomings of their peaceful solution. He declares that he will break the tie by force and prepares to attack Rattrap. Before the fight can begin, they are contacted by Optimus Primal, who is ''not'' dead. Primal's body has been digitally stored, but his consciousness remains active within the probe. Optimus puts Rattrap in charge. Dinobot glares at him.

[[Image:Chain of Command Rhinox device.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"How's it going?" "Good, good". "...you just welded your hand to it didn't you?" "Yes, yes I did".]]
Megatron, also believing Primal dead, sends [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and Waspinator to the Standing Stones while the other Predacons attack the Axalon. Dinobot fights Megatron one-on-one, ignoring Rattrap's order to disengage and reset the Axalon's failing [[shield circuitry]]. Rattrap scrambles and is able to restore the shields at the last moment. The Predacons retreat when Dinobot beats Megatron back, and Dinobot apologizes to Rattrap for not following his orders, affirming himself "dishonored". Dinobot's uncharacteristic deference and respect makes Rattrap uncomfortable, and he brushes it off.

[[Image:Chain of Command Maximals probe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Maximals prepare to fight [[Trukk not munky|G1 fanatics]].]]
The Maximals head to the Standing Stones with a device Rhinox has built to attempt to extract Optimus from the probe. The Predacons attack them at the Stones, Rhinox unloading his frustrations on Waspinator when his device malfunctions, blasting him to bits with his chaingun. Waspinator shorts out and comes in contact with one of the stones which activates, revealing the entire Standing Stones site is a single device. The probe opens in response, and Primal materializes. The Predacons retreat before his considerable firepower, but the probe dematerializes before the Maximals can decide what to do with it.

Optimus commends Rattrap on his performance as commander, though Rattrap is more than happy to hand the title back. The Maximals are left wondering what the probe's purpose was, and Rhinox ominously observes the aliens have learned they have the ability to reason... and of their destructive capabilities.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (1)
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (2)
* [[Rattrap]] (3)
* [[Optimus Primal]] (5)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (7)
* [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (8)
* [[Tarantulas]] (9)
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (10)

|c4=
* [[Vok probe]] (11)

}}
==Quotes==
"Hey power down! You're on our side now, remember?" 
"And Maximals don't have torture chambers! Though, you know... I could get behind that idea."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Rattrap''' to Dinobot

"Wait, stand by here! Who died and made you Prime, scaleface?"
:—'''Rattrap'''

"Megatron back! Megatron back! Scorponok alone with Tarantulas and Terrorsaur. Very ''bad!''"
:—'''Scorponok''' loses coherence under pressure.

"I know just how the weakling Maximals will response to Optimus's death. Confusion! Bickering! Recriminations! The perfect opportunity for a surprise attack."
:—'''Megatron''' deals with loss like a true villain.

"Ha ha, great system, your 'democracy.' No mechanism to break a tie!"
:—'''Dinobot''', who's actually a socialist, believe it or not.

"Make a device to extract physical molecular structure from an alien probe? Man, I've gotta be a miracle worker!"
:—'''Rhinox''', channeling Scottie

"You were selfless in putting that shield back online. I ought to have followed your command I... am dishonored." 
"Ehh.... next time."
:—'''Dinobot''' and an uncomfortable '''Rattrap'''

"But why would they want to know? And more importantly, who are they? Friends, enemies, or... something ''more''?"
:—'''Dinobot''', on the mysterious aliens

==Notes==
* The initial fight by the [[Standing Stones]] features shadow, a rare luxury in early ''Beast Wars'' episodes.
* Optimus Primal is reading late at night below the ''Axalon'' when the probe comes down, a rare quiet character moment.
* The Maximals are not entirely convinced Dinobot didn't off Primal himself for the job, as he attempted to 3 episodes prior.
* During the battle at the Maximal base, Megatron tries to gain the upper hand by ramming his face into Dinobot's airborne foot. Megatron clearly fails at this attempt and takes note to dodge easily evadable flying kicks in the future.
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] exhibits his "babbling" personality in this episode as, apparently, being left alone with the scheming Terrorsaur and Tarantulas while Megatron is undergoing major repairs makes him ''extremely'' nervous. Given Tarantulas's dietary habits, this might be understandable...
* This episode features the debut of Rhinox's "Chaingun of Doom" (occasionally called the "Chaingun of Command" after this episode) and possibly the start Waspinator getting utterly butchered in almost every episode.
* It is fairly certain that Rhinox is the one who voted for Rattrap and Cheetor is the one who voted for Dinobot. Rhinox was clearly unpleasantly surprised by the second vote for Dinobot, and when Optimus tells them that Rattrap is in charge, Cheetor is seen visibly annoyed in the background while Rhinox pats Rattrap happily on the back.

===Animation and technical errors===
* If that's a solar eclipse in the opening shot, how come there's light coming from below the horizon?
* During the initial fight, as Waspinator and Terrorsaur swoop up towards Optimus, Terrorsaur's upper body distorts for a fraction of a second before the shot changes.
* Towards the end of the episode, Scorponok remembers that he's a Predacon and adjusts the symbol on his missles accordingly. ''Finally.''
* When Dinobot executes his flying kick, his foot actually passes through Megatron's head.

===Transformers references===
* The episode opens with the [[Planet Buster|second moon]] eclipsing the sun. The moon's unnatural nature will again be mentioned in "[[The Trigger, Part 1]]", and it plays a critical role in the season finale.
* The ongoing [[Vok]] storyline put in its first appearance since "[[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]", it will feature again in "[[The Trigger, Part 1]]". The Vok will not be named until the series is almost over.

===Real-world references===
* Rattrap makes a mention to "B movies," a uniquely [[human]] concept.
* The "Standing Stones" resemble many European stone circles, of which [[wikipedia:Stonehenge|Stonehenge]] is the most famous. Most evidence points to Beast Wars not being set in Europe, however.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Equal Measures

2010-09-28T14:20:15Z

199.216.41.251:

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=4
|image=Equal Measures Cheetor darksyde.jpg
|caption=Later they discovered Cheetor was sitting on the self-destruct button.
|title="Equal Measures"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[September 23]], 1996
|written by=[[Greg Johnson]]
|directed by=[[T.W. Peacocke]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Cheetor]], [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Megatron]]
}}
'''Dinobot manipulates both Maximals and Predacons around a teleporter that Cheetor has unintentionally developed between both bases.'''

:''French title:'' '''Dos à Dos''' (Back to Back)
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Dos à Dos'''
:''Japanese title:'' 時限爆弾転送作戦! (''Jigen Bakudan Tensō Sakusen!'', "Operation: Time Bomb Transfer!")
:''Latin-American title:'' '''Medidas Equitativas'''
:''Italian title:'' '''Pari opportunità per i Biocombat''' ("Equal opportunities for the Biocombats")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''Medidas Iguais''' ("Equal Measures")

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Primal]] watches a bolt of lightning shatter a mountain, revealing a cache of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. Because of the hazardous conditions, he radios to his team to abort their current operation. The storm garbles the transmission, though, preventing the other [[Maximal]]s from receiving it.

[[Image:Dinobotbulliescheetor.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Something we've seen all too often.]]
The mission involves energon monitoring devices designed by [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], who has just gotten done building the last of them. Impatient to get going, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] carelessly plays with one of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]'s projects, a ''time bomb'', and accidentally drops it out the floor hatch... where it's caught by a returning Optimus, who reiterates his order for the mission to be scrubbed. Everyone's clearly upset over the development, not believing the storm to be that severe yet, but Primal is adamant; it'll have to wait until later. Dejected, everyone returns to quarters to wait out the storm.

In Cheetor's quarters, Dinobot meets with the cat-bot and endorses the mission being continued regardless of the danger from the weather and the energon. He points out that Primal clearly treats Cheetor like a child, even though with his speed, the cat-bot could easily outrun the storm and plant the devices before it hits. This appeal to vanity works, and Cheetor sneaks out to complete the mission.

[[Image:Equal Measures Cheetor monitoring device.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This wireless Broadband box is rubbish!]]
In the field, Cheetor plants survey apparatuses in quick succession, but a bolt of lightning causes the cat accidentally to plant one of the posts dangerously close to an energon vein. He tries to remove the device and correct his mistake, but in the middle of his struggle, a second lightning bolt hits, and he finds himself suddenly teleported — onto a control panel in the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]]!

[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] "welcomes" Cheetor and attacks the Maximal, but Cheetor grabs a hover-platform and tries to escape. After being knocked off the platform, Cheetor lunges at Terrorsaur and pushes the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] onto the control panel he'd just arrived on, causing Terrorsaur to vanish. [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] arrive and chase Cheetor around the Predacon base, but lose him in the ventilation shafts.

[[Image:Cheetorsurprised.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Shouldn't have had the vindaloo last night.]]
Meanwhile, Terrorsaur finds himself in the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' command center, where he's given a warm reception by Dinobot. However, the former Predacon is more concerned over how the pteranodon arrived, eventually working out that a freak combination of the survey devices, the storm, and the energon created a transporter link between the two bases. Using this to his advantage, Terrorsaur seems to convince Dinobot into forming an alliance, suggesting they scrap the Maximals, then take over the Predacons and rule together... until Dinobot drops the charade and unceremoniously flushes the Pred out of the ''Axalon'' through a waste disposal unit.

Back at the Predacon base, Cheetor continues to flee while avoiding fire from Waspinator. He sneaks away from the two long enough to hack the Predacons' data files, and determines that both bases sit on a common underground Energon vein, so an explosion at one base would cause a chain reaction that would obliterate both ships. Cheetor is discovered as soon as he downloads this data to a disk.

At the Maximal base, Optimus confronts Dinobot on Cheetor's whereabouts. Dinobot tells him about the link and how the cat-bot has "surely" been destroyed by now, but convinces him that they could use the link to annihilate the Predacon base with the bomb, a plan Primal only agrees to as long as the bomb's timer is set with enough time to allow the Preds to evacuate. Just as the bomb is sent, though, Cheetor tosses the disk with the energon vein data onto the console, transporting both items simultaneously.

[[Image:Crispyterrorsaur.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Would you like me original, or extra crispy?]]
The Predacons finally corner Cheetor, but the bomb has magnetically locked itself onto the Pred console, forcing Megatron to let him go so he can release it. With a few seconds left, Cheetor throws it up to Terrorsaur, who flies it out of the base (and is blown up with it), while Cheetor escapes through the link. The Predacons' errant shots destroy the console instead. Furthermore, his return trip to the ''Axalon'' shatters all of the survey posts he's planted, ensuring the link is severed for good.

Afterwards, Rhinox and [[Rattrap]] congratulate Cheetor's prevention of the Maximal base from being destroyed by their own explosive, while Dinobot is in a bad mood as usual and leaves—though Cheetor apparently didn't tell anyone that Dinobot talked him into the whole thing. Primal still commands Cheetor to take more care to obey direct orders. Cheetor says he will—except when he doesn't—and scampers off, leaving Optimus steamed up with Rhinox and Rattrap to have a jolly laugh. But Optimus figures out Cheetor was funny, and gets in the jolly laugh with Rhinox and Rattrap.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal]] (1)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (4)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (6)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (7)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (8)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (9)

}}
==Quotes==
"Defeating them does not mean we have to ''annihilate'' them. You seem to have trouble understanding that."
:—'''Optimus''' gently chides Dinobot for thinking like a Predacon.

"Shoulda known no Maximal'd be stupid enough to try anything on a day like this."
:—'''Terrorsaur''' underestimates the enemy again.

"Cheetor! Maximi- did that already."
:—'''Cheetor''' forgets that he already transformed.

"He's gone into the vents! You better report this to Megatron." 
"Me?! ''You're'' second-in-command!" 
"So make it an order!"
:—'''Scorponok''' and '''Waspinator''' establish the chain of command.

"Where'd he go?! Where'd ''I'' go?"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' realises he isn't in Kansas any more.

"Think of the cosmic magnificence. Together we'll overthrow these low-grade metal knock-offs you've joined, and then rule the Predacons with two iron fists! NOTHING CAN STOP US!"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' has such naive optimism.

"Hey! What are you doing? We're partners!" 
"In case you had not realized, Needlenose... I am ''not'' a team player." 
:—'''Terrorsaur''', about to get launched over the horizon by '''Dinobot'''

"OK, OK, I'll never do that again! Until the next time."
:—'''Cheetor''' has learned nothing from this adventure.

==Notes==
* Dinobot is kind of a jerk this early on.
* And Cheetor needs obedience beat into him.
* And Rattrap just needs the snot beat ''out'' of him.
* Scorponok's missile coming towards Cheetor has the Maximal symbol on it.

===Technical/animation glitches===
* When Optimus is tossing the time bomb in one hand, it really doesn't move convincingly.
* After Cheetor escapes from the vents, he falls to the ground and his right forehead chevron kind of "twangs" forward. In the next scene he's in, it's back to normal against his head.

===Continuity errors===
* A major plot point is that due to an Energon vein running beneath both ships, the destruction of either Predacon or Maximal bases would destroy the other. This is never mentioned again and frequently contradicted due to the repeated explosions at both. While most of the planet's Energon was stabilized by the start of Season 2 (and thus wouldn't be an issue), the plot of Season 1 episode "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]" revolves around... a massive explosion at the Predacon base. Arguably, either side could have harvested some of the Energon by then to sever the connection between the bases, but details like that were never really confirmed!

===Transformers references===
* When Cheetor appears before him, Terrorsaur greets him thus: "Welcome to the dark side!" The episode script reveals that this was simply Terrorsaur being dramatic. However, because [[fandom|Transformers fans]] can be ''incredibly'' literal, some fans speculatively latched on to the idea that Terrorsaur was welcoming Cheetor to the "''Dark Side''", supposedly giving the Predacon ship/base a proper name.
*This bit of [[fanon]] was made official by the video game ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Beast Wars Transmetals]]''. Years later, the ship's name was further codified by the [[BotCon 2006]] story "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]", which dodged [[trademark]] issues by giving it the intentional misspelling "[[Darksyde]]".
* This is what happens when fans are allowed to run things. Seriously.
* Curiously, at no point has anybody interpreted Dinobot's line as suggesting the Maximal base is meant to be called "Enemy Arms".
* Just before he drops him through the waste disposal unit, Dinobot insults Terrorsaur's beaky (and geeky) beast mode by calling him [[Needlenose]], who was a G1 Decepticon Double-Targetmaster.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1997 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Cheetus' Crisis ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

==External links==
*[http://www.bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasonone/em/emscript.doc The script on BWTF.com]

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

The Probe

2010-09-27T20:18:24Z

199.216.41.251:

{{episode|
|series=BWtoon
|ep=11
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=9
|prev2=Double Jeopardy
|next2=Gorilla Warfare
|image=Theprobetranswarpprobe.jpg
|caption=There's a probe around Uranus!
|title="The Probe"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[October 15]], 1996
|written by=[[Craig Miller]] [[Marv Wolfman]]
|directed by=[[Ezekiel Norton]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Dinobot (BW)#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Dinobot]]
}}

'''As a probe from Cybertron approaches the planet, the Maximals desperately try to make contact with it, but Megatron has other plans.'''

:''French title:'' '''La Sonde''' ("The Probe")
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''La Sonde'''
:''Japanese title:'' 恐怖の新兵器! (''Kyōfu no Shin Heiki!'' "New Weapons of Terror!")
:''Latin-American title:'' '''La Sonda'''
:''Italian title:'' '''La sonda''' ("The probe")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''A Sonda''' ("The Probe")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Theprobeprimaldinorhinox.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The Maximals read spoilers for later episodes of the show.]]
Numerous [[temporal probe]]s are launched from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], programmed to search through time for the missing ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. One pod floats through the rift in space-time created by Megatron and approaches the planet on which the Beast Wars are taking place.

On the planet's surface, Cheetor challenges his teammates to a race home. Rattrap does a commendable job in keeping up with the cheetah, but Primal wins the race by using his flight mode. Primal and Dinobot scold Cheetor for letting his own guard down. Once inside, the four [[Maximals]] meet with Rhinox, who is trying to use the ship's scanners to detect something in space. Rattrap pulls up a visual, revealing that the orbital object is a temporal probe. Rhinox makes an attempt to contact the probe, but it moves out of range before communication can be established. However there's one more chance to get the probe's attention, by duplicating the ''Axalon'''s transwarp signal by the time the probe make its return journey. The Maximals are happy, except for Dinobot.

[[Image:Tflocklens&tarantulas.jpg|right|200px|thumb|An unreleased Tarantulus toy.]]
The next morning, the Maximals begin construction of the signal array they'll use to contact the probe. Although they're in [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] territory, they have Tigatron protecting them. Tigatron detects a tipsy Waspinator and blasts the insect away easily. But by shooting down Waspinator, he makes himself a target of the [[transformation lock lens]], a diabolical machine that Tarantulas has built. Eventually, the device fires a beam that hits Tigatron, trapping him in his beast mode. Without his blaster, Tigatron is ensnared in an energon web. Cheetor arrives to aid Tigatron, but quickly finds himself in the same situation.

[[Image:Theprobedinobot&rattrapagre.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rattrap and Dinobot compare thumb sizes.]]
At the construction site, Dinobot admits that he imagines that upon returning to Cybertron, he'll be persecuted as a Predacon, but Primal assures him that this won't happen. Scorponok, spying on the Maximals, films some footage of the device and sends it to Megatron via Terrorsaur. Once the device is complete, Scorponok begins an attack upon it, but is quickly blasted away before the array can be damaged. All the array needs is a transwarp component, which Rhinox will deliver from the ''Axalon''.

The two cats have been caged inside the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], where Megatron reviews footage of the Maximals constructing their signal array. Cheetor accidentally lets slip that the array is being made to contact a probe. The Predacons rush out of the room, leaving the captives unsupervised. Tigatron begins to swing his suspended cage. Cheetor copies this behavior, and the two cages soon strike each other, knocking their bottom panels open. Tigatron lands on his feet and catches Cheetor, saving him from a lava bath. They then head for the Predacons' restoration chambers to escape the transformation lock.

[[Image:Theprobemegsonprimal.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I would have waited an eternity for this!]]
Terrorsaur attacks the array, but the three Maximals scare off the flier in short order. Dinobot comments that Terrorsaur always was a coward. Megatron agrees, but notes that he still makes a great diversion. He and the two spiders engage the Maximals at closer range, with Tarantulas's device to assist them. Dinobot is locked into his Beast Mode and is defeated with several kicks from Blackarachnia, but Rattrap blasts Blackarachnia over the edge of a cliff. With her out of the picture, Rattrap talks to Dinobot, who is experiencing transformational dysfunction. Rattrap figures out what's wrong -- an instant before the lock lens strikes him as well. The two Maximals are then blasted by Megatron.

Optimus Primal defeats Tarantulas, but is then locked into his beast mode like the others. Nonetheless, he manages to fend off Megatron's next attempt to destroy the array, but is soon subdued. Megatron prepares to end Primal, but Rhinox arrives just in time, sending Megatron flying with a mighty punch. With the Predacons defeated, Rhinox activates the array. He only needs to enter in the code that will allow the array to mimic the ''Axalon'''s transwarp signal and contact the probe. But at the crucial moment, Tarantulas's evil device strikes Rhinox. Lacking fingers in his beast mode, he can't enter the codes and convinces Optimus he has to do it and Megatron stands up. But before Primal can input the codes, Megatron destroys the array.

Megatron prepares to finish off Optimus and Rhinox, but Cheetor and Tigatron arrive, destroying Tarantulus's device and driving off Megatron. But the damage has been done-the probe flies past the planet, uncontacted. Megatron boasts that the war will continue until he wins; the Maximals worry that they may never be rescued.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Rattrap]] (2)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (3)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (4)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (5)
*[[Tigatron]] (7)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (8)
*[[Tarantulas]] (9)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (10)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (11)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (12)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"Don't cats ever get tired of being stupid?"
:—'''Rattrap''' (and later, '''Tarantulas''') to Cheetor

"C'mon, baby, c'mon, give it up for the rat…."
:—'''Rattrap''' has a unique way with computers.

"Well of ''course!'' We wouldn't want to miss our chance to go ''home.''" 
"HEY HEY HEY, what's biting your sensors, Dino''boob?''"
:—'''Dinobot''' and '''Rattrap'''. Rattrap just said "boob".

"You're a Maximal now, and we'll see that you're treated as one." 
"And what makes you think that I ''want'' to be?"
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Dinobot'''

"Whoa, talking about nightmares"
:—'''Cheetor''' waking up to Megatron's Beast Mode head.

"Did we get our signal to the probe? Are we goin' home?!" 
"Not today, Cheetor… But some day."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Optimus Primal'''

==Notes==
[[Image:Theprobefbomb.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Say cheese!]]
*Dinobot's hesitation towards the idea of being rescued is a concept revisited in "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]".
*Tigatron's exclamation of "By the Matrix, what's happening?!" is the first reference to the various meanings of [[Matrix]] to show up in the series.
*On home video, the running order of this episode and "[[A Better Mousetrap]]" are consistently switched.
**The exception is the American [[Kid Rhino]] DVD release of Season 1, in which this episode appears after "[[Double Jeopardy]]". This is particularly noticeable in the presence of the [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] defense system before its introductory episode. However, the [[Madman Entertainment|Madman]] release for Australia has this episode appearing in the proper place.
*Scorponok's black and white POV shot has purple [[Cybertronix]] text on the bottom. It translates to "f**k".
*A more clever use of Cybertronix comes when Rhinox identifies the probe. The text scrolling on the bottom repeats "ceci est un alphabet tres bizarre et je ne comprends rien", French for "This is a very odd alphabet, and I do not understand anything".
*Scorponok can apparently transfer recordings to the little disk bearing the Predacon insignia on his chest. The disk can be detached and taken back to base. Maybe his cyberbees were being repaired at the time?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — New Weapon of Terror ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 4 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Probe}}
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

The Agenda (Part III)

2010-09-24T21:06:00Z

199.216.41.251:

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=39
|image=G1Prime BWMegs.jpg
|caption=Head ''off''.
|title="The Agenda" (Part III)
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[March 12]], 1998
|written by=[[Bob Forward]]
|directed by=[[Asaph Fipke]] [[Colin Davies]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''His plans crumbling, Megatron takes a final stab at winning the Beast Wars and changing history.'''

:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Le Programme 3''' ("The Program 3")
:''Japanese title:'' むか～しむかし (''Muka~shi Mukashi'', "Once Upon a Time")
:''Spanish title:'' '''El Agente (Parte 3)'''
:''Latin-American title:'' '''El Programa Tercera Parte'''
:''Italian title:'' '''Il coraggio di Grifo - Parte 3''' ("Silverbolt's courage - Part Three")
:''Brazilian name:'' '''Os Planos Parte 3''' ("The Plans Part 3")

==Synopsis==
With [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and his [[transwarp cruiser]] backing them up, the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] unleash a full assault on the [[Maximal]] [[Axalon (BW)|base]]. [[Rattrap]] changes to beast mode and jumps onto the back of the transwarp cruiser, where he begins cutting into the ship's hull. On the battlefield, [[Optimus Primal|Optimus]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] are pinned down by the Predacons' firepower, but the autoguns manage to knock [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] from his perch atop [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] and a short time later the larger Predacon runs him over.

[[Image:Agenda 3 Rampage axalon.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Who decided to give the experiment awesome firepower?]]
It's not long before Ravage and Rampage bring down the base's shield, and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] emerges to fire on Rampage. Ravage has [[Tarantulas]] transfer all the cruiser's power into one enormous missile. Before it can fire, [[Rattrap]] bursts into the ship's weapons hold and tosses a pair of magnetic bombs that adhere to Tarantulas's hands. The bombs obliterate [[Tarantulas]], the ship's interior, and Ravage—who faces the onrushing fireball with a stoic cry of "[[Decepticon|Decepticons]] forever!" as Ravage is killed. The cruiser falls out of the sky, coming to rest mere feet from Rampage—who is then blasted by the still-armed missile.

With the cruiser destroyed and his minions out of commission, Megatron flees. Optimus notes that he's not headed back to base, realizes where he's probably going, and orders the Maximals to pursue.

[[Image:Ark BWAgenda1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|OK, remember where we parked.]]
Meanwhile, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] make their way into the caves of the volcano, uncovering the object of Blackarachnia's quest—the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. Blackarachnia explains to Silverbolt that the ship was launched long ago, containing the Autobots' "finest heroes", and was shot down by Decepticons. The ship has members of both factions stored inside, who will awaken in the distant future to re-start the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. Blackarachnia is concerned only with the power it possesses—but Megatron arrives just then, blasting Silverbolt offline and sealing the entrance to the caves behind him.

[[Image:Agenda 3 Blackarachnia codes.jpg|left|200px|thumb|What's it like to see things like Neo?]]
The Maximals arrive hot on his heels, find the sealed entrance, and start digging their way in. Inside, Megatron threatens to vaporize Silverbolt, convincing Blackarachnia to use the access codes to gain access to the Ark (though she vehemently maintains it's only so they'll have some cover in the face of the imminent Maximal attack). The Maximals burst through in time to see the two Predacons sealing the Ark behind them.

Blackarachnia activates the ship's defenses to hold off the Maximals, while Megatron goes to "effect a more permanent solution." Entering the main bridge of the ship, he hovers among the fallen Autobots and Decepticons, eulogizing the Decepticons and cursing the Autobots, until he comes face to face with his intended target—[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], the original [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot|Autobots]], who kept the Decepticons from victory (and therefore left their Predacon descendants in a subservient position to the dominant Maximals). Though the risk is incredible, Megatron decides to carry out [[Megatron (G1)|his namesake's]] instructions, charges his main weapon, and prepares to fire.

[[Image:Agenda3 MegatronOptimusPrime.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Don't worry, we know [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|the drill]].]]
In the caves, the Maximals are pelted by fire from the ship's cannon, until Rattrap manages to force a backblast that deactivates the cannon and shields. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] struggles to open the mighty doors of the Ark. But the Maximals are too late—Megatron unleashes a full-power blast at Optimus Prime's head, destroying it.

A time storm immediately wells up, spreading outward from the Ark and into space. The Maximals find themselves phasing in and out of past bodies—as well as out of existence—as Megatron emerges from the Ark, triumphant.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal]] (2)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (3)
*[[Rattrap]] (6)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (7)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]](10)
|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (4)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (5)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (8)
*[[Tarantulas]] (9)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)
|h3=[[Autobots]]|c3=
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] [Flashback] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (14)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] [Flashback] (15)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (18)
|h4=[[Decepticons]]|c4=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (19)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (20)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (21)
*[[Thundercracker]](1)

}}

==Quotes==
"Decepticons forever!"
:—'''Ravage''''s last words

"What're you looking at?" 
"That star. Well, planet, actually. Venus. It reminds me of you." 
"You mean hot, poisonous, and deadly? Aww, you're sweet." 
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Silverbolt''', with a ref to the former's [[Venus Terzo|voice actress]]

"Stay with the group. When Megatron lands, we'll need all our firepower." 
"Where's he headed, Big Bot?" 
"To the beginning of everything, Cheetor, and quite possibly the end."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Cheetor'''

"I think we're almost through." 
"Then, stand back." 
"Wait, we just—" 
''Silverbolt blows the rocks away'' 
"Uh, never mind. What is it with guys and high explosives?" 
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Silverbolt'''. ([[Michael Bay|Guys]] really don't know either.)

"Aw, man! That ship wasn't built, it was poured!" 
"[[Die-cast]] construction!" [''He [[wikipedia:Breaking_the_fourth_wall|looks at the audience]]''] "It's a lost art."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Optimus Primal''' comment on the sturdiness of the Ark.

"Now I enter these hallowed halls...a conquerer...yesss. Autobots and Decepticons, still frozen in emergency stasis, awaiting the moment, four million years hence, when they will awaken to start the Great War. Hmmm, a Great War, when the Autobots defeated the Decepticons, and thus their descendants, the Maximals, rule we Predacons. Archaic energon [[guzzler]]s! How ''dare'' they? Unwilling though I was to follow my namesake's instructions, it has all come down to this: the ultimate risk, for the ultimate prize. A day of reckoning with ''those'' who made ''us'' slaves!"
:—'''Megatron''' enters the command bridge of the Ark.

"So, we are now face to face, Optimus ''Prime''. In one future, you awaken and become the great leader of the Autobots. But time shall take a different track, now. Computer! All available power to primary weapon! ... And now, Optimus Prime, in memory of the Decepticons...for the glory of the Predacons...for the Cybertron that is rightfully ours—and ''mine''—to rule! ...I unleash the storm of vengeance...''farewell!''"
:—'''Megatron''' rewrites history

"Say goodbye to the universe, Maximals! The future has changed. Yessssss. The Autobots lose! Evil ''triumphs!'' And you...''YOU'' NO LONGER EXIST!"
:—'''Megatron who doesnt know when to stop talking'''

==Notes==
[[Image:Agenda3 opening.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Yes, "Part Eye-Eye-Eye".]]
*Despite every other multi-part episode in ''Beast Wars'' using Arabic numerals in its title (including the first two parts of "The Agenda"), this episode opts for the Roman numeral for whatever reason.
* Megatron, to no one's surprise, is perfectly willing to sacrifice most of his team to defeat the Maximals. Blackarachnia, Inferno, Quickstrike, and Rampage were all originally Maximal protoforms (or, in Rampage's case, the product of Maximal science). If his plan to destroy the Autobots and Maximals retroactively had worked, he would have been left with a team consisting of Waspinator and Tarantulas. (Tarantulas's precise origins are unclear, but he's definitely not a descendant of the Autobots.)
*In any event, Megatron's plan would seem to be [[wikipedia:Temporal_paradox|temporally problematic]], since such a drastic change could've wiped out the Predacons (and himself) just as easily as the Maximals. Small wonder he "was reluctant to follow my namesake's instructions" and regards it as "the ultimate risk". Megatron's ending in the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Beast Wars Transmetals]]'' video game further elaborates on this, stating that with Optimus Prime dead, there would be no [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and, as such, nothing to [[The Transformers: The Movie|stop Unicron from destroying Cybertron]], an act that would wipe out Autobots and Decepticons.
*Apparently, Rhinox is afraid of heights. While sitting on Primal's hoverboard, he looks straight ahead, occasionally looking down and immediately snapping straight up with what looks like pure horror on his face.
*This episode marks the commencement of an ongoing error, whereby [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] is frequently pronounced "Tele''tron'' 1". The issue is resolved with [[Rattrap|extreme subtlety]] in "[[Nemesis Part 2]]".
*The word "suckers" is written on the giant missile in [[Cybertronix]].

===Technical/animation glitches===
* During the opening battle scene, Optimus Primal takes several shots to the chest, leaving it blackened and dented. In the shot of the Maximals watching Ravage's ship explode, his chest is undamaged-and then it goes back to damaged as he talks about why Ravage betrayed them.
* After Ravage's ship goes down and the Maximals decide to chase after Megatron, Optimus transforms to flight mode. His front, back, and upper torso are all messed up, to the point that he has to spin around a few times after transforming. (While this is happening, the scene mostly switches to Rattrap climbing on Cheetor.) Optimus is normal again when he tells Rhinox to "Get on."
* In the first close-up of Megatron's face in the volcano (after he shoots Silverbolt and Blackarachnia), his face is very dark-almost black.
* After Megatron blasts the entrance shut and the Maximals get off and find it covered, for a split second, the colors on Rattrap's wheels (on his back) and his rat legs are reversed.

===Continuity errors===
* This episode called into sudden question the location of the Maximal and Predacon bases. The events of "[[Code of Hero]]" seem to place the series firmly somewhere in Africa, where early Humanity evolved; the templates for the Maximals' beast modes (gorillas, cheetahs, rhinos) would seem to back this up. However, the Ark is traditionally seen to have crashed in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. If this is the case, the Maximals pursued Megatron across the Atlantic Ocean and over an entire continent! Even if the Ark touched down in Africa in this continuity, in "[[Possession]]", [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream's]] spark is ''clearly'' shown landing in the southwest United States. Also, the early humans still appear after any theoretical "crossing of the Atlantic" took place.
* Either way, it doesn't make much sense that the Maximals make ''no'' attempt to shoot down Megatron while he's still on the run, rather than waiting till he reaches his destination. In his defense, Optimus may have thought that they were at a disadvantage during the chase: Only Rattrap is in any position to attack (Optimus and Cheetor being in flight mode and Rhinox probably having enough problems balancing on Optimus's hoverboard), and Megatron would be hard to hit (he's pretty far away, and not presenting much of a target from Rattrap's position). Of course, that still doesn't explain why Optimus doesn't just let Cheetor and Rattrap fly ahead and get a better shot—after all, [[Changing of the Guard|a later episode]] would prove that the espionage expert has pretty good aim even when hitching a flight.
* At the end of the previous episode, Megatron was standing on the "back" of Ravage's ship as it opened fire on the Maximals, but at the start of this one, he's hovering above it as it attacks (of course, it is possible that a few moments have passed, and Megatron simply took to the air).
* Ravage was in his cassette mode in the ship at the end of last episode, but is piloting it from the cockpit in this one. Given the nature of the former mode as essentially [[GEEWUN|fanservice]], this may not be terribly surprising.

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Agenda3-AutobotsonArkattack.jpg|right|thumb|300px|At the time, these guys hadn't gotten any work in a while.]]
*In reference to the strength of the Ark, Rattrap claims, "That ship wasn't built, it was poured!" Primal replies "Die-cast construction. It's a lost art," in homage to the original Transformer toys, which featured some [[die-cast]] parts.

*We get to see the Ark launch from Cybertron, along with a brief glimpse of Optimus Prime, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] moving about, as well as a glimpse of the ''Nemesis'' attacking the Ark.

*The final act features a bonanza of cameo appearances by the original Generation 1 Transformers, including Prowl, Optimus Prime, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], Ironhide, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]].

===Real-world references===
* Rattrap refers to his vehicle mode as Knievel mode, a reference to [[wikipedia:Evel_Knievel|Evel Knievel]].
* When Rattrap's torch goes out and he has to break through the ship with his beast mode's teeth, he calls himself the [[wikipedia:The_Stainless_Steel_Rat|Stainless Steel Rat]].
* During the short fight between Rhinox and Rampage, Rhinox dives through the air firing his guns in a homage to ''[[wikipedia:The Killer (1989 film)|The Killer]]''.
* As Rattrap rides the missile connected with Ravage's ship, he lets out a cowboy yell. This is an homage to Stanley Kubrick's ''[[wikipedia:Dr._Strangelove|Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]]''.
* Blackarachnia refers to Silverbolt as "Jo-Jo", possibly in reference to [[wikipedia:Fedor_Jeftichew|Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Do Love You! ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 8 ([[Universal]])
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Second Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (Universal) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agenda part 3}}
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Transwarp cruiser

2010-09-24T21:04:23Z

199.216.41.251:

:''The transwarp cruiser is a spaceship from the [[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Transwarp cruiser.jpg|right|350px|thumb|[[Furmanism|Like some predatory bird...]]]]
The '''transwarp cruiser''' is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] starship commanded by Covert Agent [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] of the [[Predacon Secret Police]]. The unnamed ship was constructed in secret by the [[Tripredacus Council]].

Designed for stealth and infiltration, she can extend Ravage's full-spectrum cloaking powers to conceal the entire ship from virtually any kind of sensor. Unlike cloaking ships designed by foolish and primitive flesh creatures from other universes, she can still fire her weapons while invisible. The vessel can land directly on the ground or be stored inside space stations. The ship has a [[transwarp]] drive capable of traveling through both space and time.

Her hull construction is capable of withstanding even Rampage's full firepower, and shrugged off incoming laser fire from the Predacon base defenses with ease. It even resisted the focused, high-temperature heat elements of an energon-fueled blowtorch.

The transwarp cruiser's armament inclues two powerful anti-ship laser cannons mounted on her wings, capable of firing smaller, multiple blasts in rapid succession, or a more powerful single shot out of each emitter, though this requires a not-insignificant recharge time after firing. Her secondary armament is a small, multi-barreled anti-personnel laser cannon mounted on her bow.

Two multi-function hatches are mounted on the ship, one dorsally can be configured to deploy high-yield explosives such as a tactical missile. Another, a drophatch, is mounted behind the pilot's chair in the main cabin, and is used to drop troops onto the battlefield.

==Fiction==
===''Beast Wars'' cartoon===
[[Image:Transwarp cruiser2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"No, I'm from Iowa. I only work in outer space."]]

[[Image:Transwarpcruiser cloaked.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Everyone, remember where we parked."]]

After the [[Quantum surge]] collided with the [[Predacon Command Outpost One]], the Tripredacus Council despatched Ravage in their new transwarp cruiser to deal with [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and the rest of the beast warriors, quietly, while they plan their eventual, but distant revolt against the [[Maximal Imperium]].

Ravage's ship saved the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' and her beleaguered crew of Maximals. He revealed to them his supposed intention of capturing Megatron and the other Predacons, in order to secure their help in attacking the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]]. In the ensuing battle, while the Maximals played the role of ground units, the Transwarp Cruiser blasted [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] to pieces after being hit by his missiles, then shot through the ruined hull of the downed Predacon ship. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}}

[[Image:Transwarpcruiser firing.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Nucular wessel.]]

Victorious, Ravage had Megatron imprisoned in the Cruiser's containment cells, where he was held behind energy bars and guarded by two auto-targeting cannons. Ravage briefly considered terminating his prisoner. However, former [[Decepticon]] later turned on the Maximals after learning of Megatron's true mission from a recording of the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

The transwarp cruiser blasted the ''Axalon's'' shields and intended to destroy the Maximal base with all of her weapons at full power and a powerful, implausibly large tactical missile. Unfortunately for Ravage and fellow Predacon Secret Police member [[Tarantulas]], [[Rattrap]] had managed to burn his way through the Cruiser's hull, and detonated two thermal charges inside the engine room, killing Ravage and sending the ship crashing into the ground, where she was finally destroyed by the explosion of the missile. The transwarp cruiser was destroyed by Rattrap. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}
{{--}}

===''Story of Binaltech''===
The cruiser contained a [[Schrödinger's Box|flight recorder]] that housed [[Central Consciousness File X-9|a copy of Ravage's consciousness]] created before his death. This recorder was later found by the [[Intelligence and Information Institute]]. {{storylink|Ghosts of the Past}}

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comic===
The ship's charred remains served as a handy source of salvage for another group of Maximals stranded on prehistoric Earth. {{storylink|The Gathering}}

[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Starships]]

Transmetal

2010-09-24T15:28:42Z

199.216.41.251:

[[Image:Transmetals_Logo.jpg|center|350px]]

[[Image:Aftermath Rattrap Cheetor.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Rattrap admires his grasping forepaws while Cheetor flexes his pecs.]]

A '''Transmetal''' is a [[Transformer]] whose superstructure has been mutated by the [[quantum surge]] during the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]].

The most obvious effect is a mode-based inversion of organic and mechanical composition: A Transmetal's [[beast mode]] is mostly mechanical, and his or her robot mode bears many organic elements, such as [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s furry chest. Transmetallization sometimes also produces a third "mobility" mode, which is essentially the beast mode with some vehicular additions. Examples include [[Rattrap]] as a wheeled rat, [[Optimus Primal]] as a sky-surfing gorilla, and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] as a [[Wikipedia:VTOL|VTOL]]-enhanced [[Wikipedia:Rollerblade|Rollerblader]].

One more subtle effect of Transmetallization is immunity to certain [[Vok]] weaponry that would debilitate a normal Transformer. [[Tarantulas]] hypothesized that this is because Transmetals are closer to being Vok themselves. Additionally, being a Transmetal seems to provide a temporary resistance to the full effects of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s [[Transformation virus|virus]], but at the cost of losing one's Transmetallization.

Later in the Beast Wars, a more advanced "[[Transmetal 2]]" mutation would appear.

==Fiction==
===''Beast Wars'' cartoon===
[[Image:Optimus transmetal.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Brass munky.]]
The Transmetals were created as a result of Transformers being bathed in a quantum surge after the destruction of the Vok [[Planet Buster]]. {{storylink|Aftermath|Aftermath}} All the Beast Warriors who were not "born" from a [[protoform]] on Earth or shielded in a [[CR chamber]] were altered. Why Earth-born Transformers were unaffected by the surge's effects are a mystery, especially considering that protoforms still in stasis pods were affected to various degrees.

The Transmetallized individuals were Megatron, [[Tarantulas]], [[Rattrap]], and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]. [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] were in the middle of their mutation when they fell into lava pits seeping into the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]] and perished. [[Waspinator (BW)| Waspinator]] did not get a Transmetal since he fell into one of Megatron's Pools. [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was Transmetallized in his stasis pod. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} When [[Optimus Primal]]'s spark was transplanted into a fresh new protoform, the resulting form was Transmetal as well. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}} Other protoforms in evidence included [[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]], who was judged "partially Transmetal," {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}} and the [[Fuzor]]s [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]], who displayed the Transmetal quality of immunity to the [[Metal Hunter]]'s weapon. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}} Even a fair bit of time after the surge, [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] was turned into a full Transmetal as he approached Earth in his ship. {{storylink|Deep Metal}}

[[Image:Depth charge tm.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Yep, he's a Transmetal too. That's what happens when time itself gets messed with.]]

Most Transmetals had additional weapons and seemingly enhanced power levels. They were immune to some [[Vok]] weapons and did not show up on Vok scanners—Tarantulas took the view that the quantum surge's effects meant they were "one with [the Vok] now".

Transmetals were possibly immune to the effects of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] radiation. The evidence is scant, since most of the energon deposits on [[Earth]]'s surface had been destroyed or converted to stable [[Energon cube|energon cubes]] by the Planet Buster cannon. However, the Transmetallized Tarantulas was once seen standing beneath an energon cache, completely unaffected. {{storylink|Tangled Web|Tangled Web}} Then not long afterwards, the non-Transmetal [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] suffered energon overload while in a cave containing energon crystals. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics===
[[Scavenger (BW)|Scavenger]] was a Transmetal, despite only existing as a protoform beforehand. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 2}}

===''Beast Machines'' cartoon===
[[Image:Devolvinggas in-action.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Well, that was fun.]]

When the Maximals encountered Megatron's [[Transformation virus|virus]], the Transmetals among them had a strange reaction: Rather than becoming instantly paralyzed, as apparently happened to the majority of Cybertronians exposed, they simply lost their Transmetallization. Primal, Cheetor, Rattrap, and Blackarachnia reverted to their pre-Transmetal beast modes (or, in Primal's case, the form he would have had if he hadn't been "born" a Transmetal). {{storylink|The Reformatting}} They were able to stay mobile, though glitching and amnesic, while Rhinox and Silverbolt immediately succumbed to paralysis. It seems that whatever Transmetal properties had protected Silverbolt from the [[Metal Hunter]] couldn't save him from the virus. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{collist|3|
*'''Transmetals''' (1998–2001)
**''McDonald's''
***[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]
***[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]
***[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]
**''Basic''
***[[Claw Jaw]]
***[[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]]
**''Deluxe''
***[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]
***[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (Fox Kids)
***[[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]]
***[[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]] (Fox Kids)
***[[Ravage (G1)/toys|Metals Jaguar]]
***[[Rattrap|Metals Rattle]] (Puzzle)
***[[Rattrap]]
***[[Rattrap]] (Wal-Mart)
***[[Rattrap]] (Fox Kids)
***[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]
***[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (Fox Kids)
***[[Tarantulas]]
***[[Tarantulas]] (Fox Kids)
***[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]
***[[Tigatron]]
***[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]
***[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (Fox Kids)
**''Mega''
***[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (same toy as Scavenger)
***[[Megatron (BW)/toys|Megatron]]
***[[Optimus Primal/toys|Optimus Primal]]
***[[Scavenger (BW)|Scavenger]]
**''Ultra''
***[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]
***[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]
**''Super''
***[[Optimus Primal/toys|Optimal Optimus]]}}

[[Image:Crosssell-transmetals.jpg|right|450px|thumb|]]

:The initial run of "main line" Transmetals consisted of new toys for existing characters featured in the successful cartoon (budget constraints would mean not all the Transmetal toys would appear in the show.) Later, the subline included two new characters, Depth Charge and Rampage.

:The defining characteristics of the Transmetal line are [[Vacuum metallizing|the chrome-like finish]] featured on much of the toys' surfaces, and [[Transportation mode|semi-vehicular "third modes"]]. Aesthetically, the toys are smoothly contoured, with more bestial features revealed in robot mode.

:Scorponok, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], though also not Transmetal in the show, were given their own Transmetal toys as Happy Meal pack-ins from McDonald's.

:[[Claw Jaw]] and [[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] were redecoed and sold as Transmetals in European markets with a VHS tape, though they lacked the third mode and [[vacuum metallizing]].

==Notes==
* Initial Transmetal toys were not designed with guns, only melee weapons, contrary to the requirements of the animated series (kinda the opposite of the situation with [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and co.'s toys vs. their comic book depictions). As a result, [[Mainframe Entertainment]] was forced to come up with creative solutions to give these characters ranged weapons without diminishing their [[Show-accuracy|toy accuracy]]. Thus, [[Tarantulas]]'s handheld buzzsaw functioned like a gun and the green markings on his shoulders were depicted as missile ports, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s pincer/whip/flail/"whiplash cutlass" thing (read: he's holding his damn tail) gained the ability to stiffen and fire like a cannon (tee hee), as well as his dinosaur arm kibble moving forward to function as shoulder guns, and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s hideous hands were capable of firing energy blasts, usually when placed together and thus temporarily making the halves of his beast-mode head whole, with the zaps emanating from its mouth (a pose impossible to achieve with the figure without unhinging the shoulders from the sides.) In [[Other Visits (Part 2)]], however, he fires only one hand.

: Even more elaborate was the functional reconceptualization of [[Optimus Primal]]'s toy, whose hoverboard thruster/mace launcher was used as a laser pistol. Not content with this rather puny-looking firearm, some clever cove at Mainframe noticed that his shoulder-pad and mace-stowing bracket thing could be flipped over his head (a function of his transformation) and improperly positioned in such a way that the long handles of his dual maces pointed outwards like gun barrels and, with the shoulder-pads positioned over his outstretched fists like trigger-guards, the whole device was re-imagined as something resembling two machine guns mounted on a steadicam harness.

: The only exception to these exotic re-imaginings was [[Rattrap]], who used his tail/whip/spear as intended but also retained his pre-Transmetal gun (albeit with a redeco to suit his new color scheme), despite the fact that the toy did not.

:As an odd point of comparison, the later Transmetal [[Optimus Primal/toys|Optimal Optimus]] was packaged with a rifle, which he never used in the show. Presumably someone decided that his large chest cannons were enough (although they also made them retractable, unlike the toy).

*According to [[Ben Yee]], the Transmetals were originally conceived of by ''Beast Wars'' writers as "absorbing" energon radiation and then needing to discharge that energy later, typically as weapon energy.<ref>[http://www.bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasontwo/badspark/ Ben Yee's "Bad Spark" review]</ref> However, the only time this was hinted at in the series was during "[[Bad Spark]]", when Cheetor "farts" a little energon cloud.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]
[[Category:Transmetals| ]]
[[Category:Technology]]

Tigerhawk

2010-09-23T20:44:25Z

199.216.41.251: /* Beast Wars cartoon */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[[Image:Tigerhawkweaponspecs.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
: Judging from his packaging art, it seems that along with [[Optimus Minor]], [[Sonar (BW)|Sonar]] and [[Scarem]] Tigerhawk was amongst the few Transmetals 2 that was intended to have the strange feature of having access to multiple limbs in robot mode... In this case, a second pair of arms formed by his rear beast mode legs.

: A back-of-the-box graph for Tigerhawk gives technical designations to some of his robot mode parts. In addition to the already-mentioned "hidden wing-tip missiles" and "targeting computer battle visor," they include "[[blast-open thunder torpedoes]]," "ion-charged talons," "[[accelerator beam-turret cannon]]" and "multi-stage deployment wings."

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

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1999/Maximal/Tigerhawk/tigerhawk.htm More information on Tigerhawk at TFU.info]''

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

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

*His motto is "Violence will not be tolerated--surrender or be destroyed." Poor copy-editing or delicious irony? You be the judge!

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

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

*Over a decade after the character was created, [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac Volume 2]] went ahead and declared Tigerhawk to be a [[Fuzor]].

==References==
<references />

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

Other Visits (Part 1)

2010-09-23T20:41:24Z

199.216.41.251: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=32
|image=Other_Visits_1_Airazor_Tigatron.jpg
|caption="I'll never let go, Tigatron. I promise."
|title="Other Visits" (Part 1)
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[February 8]], 1998
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[John Pozer]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''A new alien site and device are discovered, and Megatron intends to have both for himself.'''

:''French title:'' '''Les Visiteurs - 1re partie''' ("The Visitors - Part 1")
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Les Visiteurs 1'''
:''Japanese title:'' え? お花が? (''E? O-hana ga?'', "Huh? The Flower?")
:''Spanish title:'' '''Otras Visitas (Parte 1)'''
:''Latin-American title:'' '''Los Visitantes Primera Parte'''
:''Italian title:'' '''Minaccia aliena - Parte 1''' ("Alien threat - Part One")
:''Brazilian name:'' '''Outras Visitas Parte 1''' ("Others Visits Part 1")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Other Visits 1 Rhinox Dinobot.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Optimus is coming! Quick, look busy!]]
[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] scans all the known alien sites, with [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] playing "back seat computer operator". Both notice a pattern, and Rhinox is concerned, as the next location looks like it is on course with [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor's]] scout patrol. They try to alert the pair but are unable to due to [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron's]] jamming tower. Dinobot announces he and [[Rattrap]] will go to destroy the tower. Rhinox informs the other [[Maximals]] of the danger Tigatron and Airazor are in, so the flyers set off to warn them.

[[Tarantulas]] is repairing his web in his lair, moaning to himself that no one will help him, as "they're all too busy helping Megatron, even that vile..." when he is interrupted by his computer alerting him to the presence of the aliens. He quickly transforms into his motorbike mode and races off.

[[Image:Other Visits 1 Blackarachnia monitor.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Megatron's coming! Quick, look busy!]]
In the ''[[Darksyde]]'', [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] is nearly dozing off on scout duty, as "being loyal to Megatron sure is boring!". This doesn't please the purple guy much, as he happens to be eavesdropping. Suddenly, she notices Tarantulas on the scanners, zipping along at breakneck speed in [[Grid Vaxon]]. At the mention of the spider, Megatron reveals himself, accompanied by [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], and begins giving Blackarachnia orders, with Inferno enforcing his master's wishes. Blackarachnia suggests they follow Tarantulas to see what he's up to, but Megs seems reluctant. Inferno then reports an attack on the jamming tower and asks if he should back up [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]. Instead, Megatron reveals to the spider and Inferno that now is a prime time to get the [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Golden Disk]] back, with only Rhinox guarding the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''.

[[Image:Other Visits 1 Tigatron plant.jpg|left|200px|thumb|A touching moment here, but a different touching in Japan.]]
Tigatron and Airazor are patrolling when, to their delight and surprise, they see a hint of plant life in the form of a drifting seed. They continue to [[Grid Zeiram]], where they discover a clearing full of plant life, an area of natural beauty that wasn't destroyed by the alien attack. Airazor is intrigued by the unique forms of vegetation, so she transforms to get a scan. BIG MISTAKE. Tigatron also transforms. BIG MISTAKE. They both seem to be overcome by it all, and share a brief, cheesy romantic moment. But as the pair cuddle up, tendrils begin to snake up behind them, and suddenly, the two Maximals are entangled. Amidst their screams, they link hands, telling each other that their sparks will always find each other. As they are abducted, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] flies up and tries to rescue them, but to no avail as Tigatron and Airazor get killed. He screams in protest as he realises he has lost them. As he bemoans the Maximals' inability to warn the abducted pair in time, Tarantulas pops up and blasts Cheetor, knocking him out cold. As Tarantulas begins to check out the site, he realises [[Optimus Primal|Optimus]] is coming, so he retreats.

Optimus and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] land in the clearing, and Optimus gets Cheetor back online. He hurriedly asks what happened to Tigatron and Airazor, and Cheetor indicates the plant at fault for their disappearance. At this moment, Rattrap buzzes in, informing the Maximals that he and Dinobot have destroyed the jamming tower. (Actually, Dinobot is still landing a few final blows, which topple the tower on top of Quickstrike and Waspinator.) Upon hearing about the fate of Tigatron and Airazor, all the Maximals head back to base, all deeply moved.

[[Image:Rock 'em an' sock 'em%2C Rhinox.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The incredible, unanticipated Hasbro-Mattel crossover!]]
Optimus com-links Rhinox, who is also shocked by the news, but, being the cool cucumber that he is, goes straight back to scanning the alien abduction and notices two distorted figures in the beam: Tigatron and Airazor. Before he can investigate further, the base alerts go off, and he notices Megatron outside. Rhinox has no time for fun and games, so he literally brings out "the big guns." However, Megatron is merely acting as a diversion while Blackarachnia and Inferno sneak into the base and shut off the defense systems. Big Green realizes he's in trouble and desperately tries to get through to Optimus, but Inferno enters the room, swings Rhinox's chair up to the table, and puts him at gunpoint just as Optimus finally responds. Inferno offers a "Goodbye!" on Rhinox's behalf and simultaneously blasts Rhinox. Blackarachnia rushes for the disk, but Inferno is more hesitant: "The Royalty said we weren't to touch it until..." He is interrupted by Rhinox grabbing him and yanking him back to express his displeasure. Rhinox and Inferno start to rock 'n' sock each other with chin-punches, and Rhinox soon wins by popping Inferno's block off (or at least up). Blackarachnia grabs the disk, but Rhinox menaces her with "The Chaingun Of Doom." He barely has time to threaten her before Megatron appears behind him and lays verbal claim to the disk. Despite his fear, Rhinox quickly readies to smack Megs in the face, but the Pred is too quick; he grabs Rhinox's hand in his claw, rips it off and sends him sprawling. Megatron grabs the disk, pushes Inferno's head back down, then takes his leave.

The Maximals make it back to the base, and Optimus re-attaches Rhinox's arm. The Maximals then have a council. Cheetor is still upset about Tigatron and Airazor, insisting they need to rescue those two. However, Dinobot says they need to stop Megatron before the aliens strike, to which Optimus agrees. They set off for the site where Tigatron and Airazor were abducted.

Megatron is back in the ''Darksyde'', talking about the Golden Disk, but is interrupted by Tarantulas. The spider brags that he is no longer part of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] command, but also reminds his ex-leader that he is Megatron's only chance of surviving the alien attack. Megatron allows Tarantulas to undertake his plan.

[[Image:Other Visits 1 Megatron hunter.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"From here it looks like a giant boob."]]
The Predacons head to the abduction site, where they go about ramming posts into the ground. Megatron questions Tarantulas's motives, but Tarantulas isn't telling. However, due to the fact they shared minds, Blackarachnia knows it is because he hates the aliens. Megatron doesn't mind, since hatred is an emotion he can trust. When the plan is complete, Megatron and Tarantulas have a brief laughing contest which is interrupted by Primal and the Maximals, who transform and prepare to attack. The Predacons also terrorize, ready for battle, when the aliens' beam comes down, causing a halt in the proceedings. All the Transformers stare on in amazement as a [[Metal Hunter|spaceship]] materializes in front of their very optics.

The top of the ship opens, releasing an energon surge, which blasts into everybody.

[[Other Visits (Part 2)|To be continued...]]
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (1)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Tigatron]] (7)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (8)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (9)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (10)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (11)
*[[Rattrap]] (14)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Tarantulas]] (3)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (4)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (6)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (12)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"Sometimes Optimus trusts too much..."
:—'''Rhinox''' to himself over Dinobot's recent activities

"Wherever we go, my Spark will find yours!" 
"A-a-and mine, yours."
:—'''Tigatron''' and '''Airazor''', just before getting sent into space

"We could have warned them. If only that stinking Megatron hadn't..." 
"Well you didn't!" [''blasts Cheetor''] 
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Tarantulas'''

"Say the word, and he will ''burn'', My Queen." 
"Not yet...and for the last time, '''''stop calling me that!'''''" 
"As you command, my...''Ack...''"
:—'''Inferno''' and '''Megatron''' decide to "choke" this title for now.

'''Megatron''': (after all of Sentinel's guns are pointed at him) "I...uh..come in peace?" 
'''Rhinox''':"You're about to leave in pieces."
:—Negotiations between '''Megatron''' and '''Rhinox''' break down.

"Ready to rock and roll, insect?" 
"I don't rock and roll. I buuuuurn."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Inferno''' after knocking out the Maximal defences.

''(laughs)'' "Looks like we will have our little chat after all, Rhinox."
:—'''Megatron''', after the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defenses are deactivated

"You don't wanna try it. The disk!"
:—'''Rhinox''' demands the Golden Disk from Blackarachnia, unaware that Megatron is creeping up behind him.

"It's like I always say: We're all gonna die."''(All glare at Rattrap.)'' 
"I know, I know. 'Shut up, Rattrap.'"
:—'''Rattrap''' contemplates the situation.

"Leave here, Primal! I will deal with this!" 
"Like you did ''last time''? Dream on!"
:—'''Megatron''' fails to get '''Optimus Primal''''s confidence for dealing with the aliens.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*Near the beginning of the episode when Optimus is flying on his gorilla hoverboard, his blaster (which is his thruster in that mode) is pointed down, but there is still a visible jet of flame where it should be.
*During the Maximal group discussion about the alien device, Cheetor's cat head clips into his arm.

===Continuity notes===
* In this episode and many others after the events of "[[Maximal, No More]]", at least one Maximal would express their ill feelings towards Dinobot for what he did. This would continue until "[[Code of Hero]]", where he would redeem himself, albeit at the cost of his own life.

===Real-World References===
*The fight between [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] references Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots, a popular fighting game. This isn't the only time [[Headmaster (episode)|either]]
*Waspinator says he's pinned like an "[[wikipedia:Iron_Butterfly|iron butterfly]]", referencing the 1960s psychedelic rock band that gave the world "[[wikipedia:In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida|In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida]]".

===Trivia===
* The original script called for the alien plant to lure Tigatron and Airazor in with a [[stasis pod]] containing a [[blank]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' — Optimus Lives! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Empreinte D'Optimus (Alliance Atlantis) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Quit! ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 6 ([[Universal]])
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Second Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]