MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Battle of Autobot City

2011-04-07T02:09:10Z

24.142.33.244: /* Notes */

:''The Battle of Autobot City is a battle from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:BattleAutobotCity2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|In ur base, killin ur doods.]]
The '''Battle of Autobot City''' refers to the protracted battle between the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] at [[Autobot City]], the base of the Autobots on [[Earth]], taking place in the year 2005 in one reality. By its end, the leaders of both the Autobot and Decepticon forces were dead or dying, numerous combatants on both sides had been killed, and events were set in motion that would lead to the creation of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and, eventually, the passing of the [[Matrix of Leadership]].

{{bigquote|Let the slaughter begin!|[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Prelude==
The Decepticons had succeeded in driving the Autobot army off [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. However, the Autobots retained staging grounds on Cybertron's two moons and were in the final phase of preparations for their counterassault. All that remained was the transport of a final shipment of [[Energon cube|Energon cubes]] from Autobot City's production facilities. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] dispatched a shuttle to Earth for this purpose, interestingly crewed by most of his command staff.

[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|left|180px|thumb|The future of pratfall technology: the Exploding Banana Peel.]]
Unfortunately for the Autobots, the Decepticon spy [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] got wind of the Autobots' plans and warned [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], ruler of the Decepticons. In a move reminiscent of the Decepticons' boarding of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] on their initial arrival on Earth, Megatron led a sizeable contingent of Decepticons against the small Autobot crew on the shuttle. Heavily outnumbered and outmatched, the Autobots were overwhelmed. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] all perished (or at least were deactivated) in this attack at the hands of Megatron and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]].

Having taken control of the shuttle, Megatron's plan became clear: the shuttle was to be used as a "Trojan Horse", conveying the Decepticons for a surprise attack on Autobot City itself, which Megatron seemed to think would vanquish the Autobots forever. On the other hand, Megatron was never really known for his tactical genius.

{{note|There ''is'' a reason Megatron thought this—the original script makes it clear that Autobot City is, in fact, a massive energy-gathering facility, so if the Decepticons destroy this, the Autobots will be without an energy supply, pretty much crippling their war effort.}}

==The Battle==
===First Phase===
Megatron had calculated correctly in that the Autobot shuttle would not set off Autobot City's automated defences even if carrying a Decepticon crew. It was sheer chance that [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|a small human child]] noted there was a hole in the shuttle and alerted the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], who divined the truth of the situation. Hot Rod opened fire on the shuttle, damaging it to the point that it exploded and went into an uncontrolled crash. His actions also allowed other nearby Autobots, including [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], to realize something was wrong.

With the shuttle's destruction imminent and the Decepticons' cover blown, Megatron ordered his troops to debark and attack immediately. A number of Decepticons transformed to alternate mode, commenced attacks on Autobot City and attempted to pick off those Autobots caught outside.

[[Image:AutobotCitytransforms.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Launch Black Tiger squadron, and prepare the Wave Motion Gun for firing...oh, sorry, wrong anime.]]
The Autobots, though surprised and outnumbered, quickly rallied to the defense. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], commanding the City, ordered [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] to contact Optimus Prime on [[Moonbase One]] to obtain reinforcements, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to [[Transformation|transform]] Autobot City into its battle mode, and [[Blurr (G1)|the only Autobot with an amphetamine problem]] to assist in alerting Autobots as to the attack (if they weren't already clued in by hordes of Decepticons [[Bring the rain|bringing the rain]] right down on their heads.)

Springer and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] delayed transforming the city for as long as possible to try and allow Hot Rod and Kup to get back inside. Eventually running out of time, they began the transformation, offering the city (and its Autobot defenders) greater capacity to meet the Decepticon assault. It also had the added bonus of taking off Starscream's right foot.

Kup and Hot Rod, speeding toward the city, saw that the two [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] were eating through one of the doors, but Kickback was taken across a chasm by the retracting bridge. Using the Insecticon as a springboard, Hot Rod and Kup were able to clear the gap and enter the city (crushing Kickback's head and ramming Shrapnel out of the way in the process) moments before the armored doors closed.

Meanwhile, Blaster did manage to make brief contact with the Cybertronian Autobots, but the signal was cut off by the intervention of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the four henchmen he had with him: [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. However, Blaster evened the odds by putting his own quartet of counterparts into the fight: [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]], [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Rewind]], and [[Eject]].

Unable to penetrate Autobot City's defences by conventional means, Megatron then ordered the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to merge into the [[Combiner|gestalt]] [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The giant robot quickly made his presence felt, penetrating the first line of defences by literally tearing them open, and shattering one attempt by Springer, Kup, Hot Rod and Arcee to put him out of action. But even so, the two sides were so evenly matched that the battle continued over the course of the remainder of that day and throughout the night.

===Second Phase===
{{quote|One shall stand, one shall fall.|Optimus Prime on seeing Megatron|[[The Transformers: The Movie|TFTM]]}}

[[Image:Tftm1986b.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"Will you stop being such a baby about this? Just hold on a second. I can see the splinter. It's right ... there ..."]]
However, the City could not hold out forever; by the next morning Autobot defences had been broken by relentless Decepticon assaults, and the likelihood of a mass slaughter was high. It was at this crucial point that Autobot reinforcements commanded by Optimus Prime arrived. The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were deployed to attack Devastator, with some success, but could not halt the Decepticons' advance into Autobot City.

That task fell to Optimus Prime, who made a heroic solo frontal assault against the massed firepower of the most elite members of the Decepticon army. In tractor-trailer mode, he mowed down Thrust and Shrapnel and nearly Blitzwing, before transforming to robot mode and using his [[ion blaster]] to singlehandedly blast the Decepticons Ramjet, Thundercracker, Soundwave, Kickback, and Dirge, fighting his way to engage Megatron in what he assured the Decepticon would be their final battle.

[[Image:Battleofautobotcity.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"Megatron is responsible for [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Prime's]] [[death]], not [[Hot Rod|me]]!"]]
The battle between the two leaders was brief and intense, but resulted in a seeming-victory for Prime. But Megatron had spotted a gun a matter of yards away from him. Stalling for time with false pleas for mercy, Megatron crawled towards the gun. Hot Rod intervened as Megatron grabbed the gun, trying to overpower the Decepticon leader. But his efforts backfired, as Megatron overpowered the young Autobot, used him as a shield and shot Optimus repeatedly. Tossing aside Hot Rod, Megatron prepared to finish his longtime nemesis off. Prime, however, managed to gather his remaining strength to deal a haymaker powerful enough to knock Megatron off a ledge and into a fall that would prove almost-lethal.

Seeing their leader conclusively defeated in this way broke the Decepticons spirit. Starscream, taking interim command, ordered [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] to transform and ferry the Decepticons away in a general retreat. Unsurprisingly, Starscream appeared ready to leave Megatron to die, but Soundwave carried him to Astrotrain. Gathering up their wounded, the Decepticons fled, leaving the Autobots to similarly gather up their own casualties.

==Aftermath==
[[Image:Optimusg1passingthematrix.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"One of you must take the Matrix."<br>"Not it!"<br>"I wasn't talking to you, Blurr."]]
Large numbers of Autobots and Decepticons had either been terminated or wounded as a result of the battle. [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and maybe [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] were among the casualties, and even the mighty Optimus Prime soon succumbed to his wounds and perished, but not before passing the Matrix of Leadership to Ultra Magnus as his successor, unaware that the Matrix had chosen Hot Rod to become the new [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]].

[[Image:Tftm1986c.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Galvatron, or just plain old TRON?]]
The wounded Decepticons—including the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and Megatron—were thrown out of Astrotrain to lighten the load, where they would later be found by the Chaos-bringer [[Unicron]] and reshaped into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and the [[Sweep]]s.

The [[Unicron War]] would be the next major Transformer battle, its events spinning directly out of the Battle of Autobot City.

{{-}}

==Known participants==
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{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]]
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]
*[[Eject]]
*[[Rewind]]
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]]
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
*[[Grapple]]
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]]*
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]*
{{!}}}
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*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]†
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
*[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]]*
{{!}}}
|nonumbering=true
}}
:<nowiki>*</nowiki> Retroactively included in the battle by the "[[Rodimus vs. Cyclonus]]" comic.<br />
:† Shockwave only appeared in one shot, which may have been an [[animation error]] as he should have been on Cybertron at the time.

==Notes==
[[Image:TFTM-SideswipeRedAlertTracks.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
* The battle is "act 1" of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]].''
* It's unclear how Megatron managed to beat the Autobot shuttle to Earth's [[solar system]].
* Storyboards that have found their way to the public over the years show additional scenes that were scripted and planned, but (in all probability) never animated:
** At the beginning of the shuttle segment, the Autobot shuttle would have been shown dodging through an asteroid storm, thus explaining why they didn't at least detect the approaching Decepticons. Some of this concept made it into the Marvel Comics [[The Planet-Eater!|adaptation of the movie]].
** Hot Rod's adventures outside the city would have been a bit longer and more dramatic. A short scene would also show him getting reprimanded by Ultra Magnus inside the city.
** [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] would have stealthily blasted [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] before getting shot at by Megatron.
** [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and Ultra Magnus would have finally brought down Devastator with a missile barrage. The Constructicons would subsequently [[:Image:TFTM-RedAlertDown.jpg|kill Red Alert]] as the Autobots retreated.
** Several Decepticons would have dogpiled Optimus Prime at the start of his confrontation with Megatron, only for him to trounce them all soundly.
** [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker's]] lifeless body would have been seen as the Decepticons retreated.
* Scenes appearing in the Japanese trailer for the movie show a much larger Decepticon armada than is seen in the final take, footage of Mirage and Bluestreak, and Skywarp being shot down in an approach to Autobot City.
[[Image:ShockwaveBattleAutobotcity.jpg|thumb|250px|Logic dictates that I put in a token appearance.]]
* The same sequence apparently shows Ironhide fighting for the Decepticons, and Rumble flying around prior to being ejected. A generic similar to Dirge but using a standard Seeker model appears in another sequence. Some have suggested that Ironhide was actually a miscolored [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], due to them both having similar helmets.
* Counting characters who were meant to be there, were seen outside, or were killed, the Autobots had Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Springer, Arcee, Blaster, Perceptor, Grapple, Huffer, Trailbreaker, Bluestreak, Windcharger, Wheeljack, Smokescreen, Sunstreaker, Mirage and 4 cassettes - more than enough to counter Megatron, six Seekers, three Insecticons, six Constructicons, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Soundwave and 4 cassettes from inside a fortified position. Being 'outnumbered' or at a 'distinct tactical deficiency' assumes either that the Autobot cast has been trimmed down or the Decepticons brought along a ton of generics.
* The events of "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" imply that [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] was present at the battle, but unable to transform to robot mode because his [[transformation cog]] was damaged. Some fiction suggests that Metroplex is part of (or the same thing as) Autobot City. (All sorts of [[fanon]] ensues from placing these two facts in close proximity. Use caution.)
* The fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron was remade into the commercial of [[Universe (2008 franchise)|2008 Universe]] toyline, with [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] models based on their [[Masterpiece]] toys.
* Okay, we're going to be honest here. The whole point of this battle is [[To sell toys|to off your favorite characters in violent ways, then replace them with newbies who we've never seen before]].
* The ''[[Rodimus vs. Cyclonus]]'' comic book [[retcon]]s [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] into the battle, as well as Tracks and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]].
* Inan early draft script, Powerglide and Warpath were both present at the initial battle of Autobot City. They manage to blow Blitzwing out of the sky and than bomb the triplechanger while he's down. Ouch! Later, during the second attack on the city, they actually attempt to jump Galvatron only to be blasted away. Double ouch!

[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Generation 1 history]]

Trailbreaker (G1)

2011-03-24T23:37:37Z

24.142.33.244: /* American cartoon continuity */

{{picsneeded|appearances in fiction}}
{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambigr|Trailbreaker|the live-action movie-verse Autobot|Trailbreaker (Movie)}}

:''Trailbreaker is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. He is sometimes called '''Trailcutter'''.''

[[Image:Trailbreakerg1.jpg|right|240px|thumb|I may not be fast... but I'm effective and provide soothing relief.]]
It's hard not to like '''Trailbreaker'''. He's a good-humored cheerleader, always ready with a joke or comment to lighten the mood when things get dark. Sadly, Trailbreaker's joking is often a cover for his low self-esteem. His form is the most fuel-consumptive of the ''Ark'' crew, and his vehicle mode is very slow. As such, he feels like a useless drain on their limited resources. The Autobots know better, of course. Trailbreaker's good humor, bravery, and impenetrable [[force field]] are all of great use, but convincing him of that is hard, especially when he begins to mope about his handicaps.

:''Preliminary name:'' '''Guzzle'''[http://web.archive.org/web/20071230210811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41003]
:''French-Canadian name'': '''Glouton''' ("Glutton")
:''Hungarian name'': '''Ösvényvágó'''
:''Portuguese name (Portugal comic):'' '''Pica-Trilhos'''
:''Portuguese name (Brazil comic):'' '''Abre-alas'''
:''Italian name'': '''Tuono''' ("Thunder")
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Kāi-lù Hsīen-fēng''' (開路先鋒, "Trailbreaker")
:''Russian name'': '''Sledopyt''' (Следопыт, "Tracker")

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
Trailbreaker was part of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s original crew, crashing to Earth four million years ago aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''.

Trailbreaker joined a detachment of Autobots investigating robot sightings in Merry Ol' England. After making contact with a young boy named Sammy, the Autobots were caught by surprise when the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] fire-bombed them from the sky. Trailbreaker was blasted before he could activate his force field. Like a freakin' drama queen, he went offline whimpering, "It's no good. Everything's gone... just plain ruined..." {{storylink|Man of Iron (story)|Man of Iron}}

Like many Autobots, Trailbreaker was too low on fuel to join Optimus and the others in what would've been their climactic battle with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s forces, and was taken prisoner without a fight when [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] assumed command of the Decepticons and the ''Ark''. He was revived after [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] reclaimed the ''Ark'', however. When the Autobots went to recover Optimus Prime's head and restore their leader to functionality, Trailbreaker was one of many Autobots caught off-guard by the false Prime created by Shockwave and was shot down before he could raise his force field. {{storylink|Prime Time!}}

''On another occasion, the Dinobot [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] was under the control of a human scientist and attacking the Autobots. Trailbreaker jumped in his path and tried to wrestle the pteranodon to the ground. Instead, he was lifted up and slammed into the cliffside...'cause he never turned on that force field. {{storylink|The Icarus Theory}} During the Dinobot Hunt, Trailbreaker joined [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] in hunting [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] among the sands of the Black Rock Desert. They managed to collect him virtually without a fight once Snarl wandered into a secret military base and unleashed a molecular disintegrator bomb that ended his rampage. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}''

''When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and his future Decepticons arrived in the present, the Autobot chain of command was crippled as Optimus Prime, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and Ratchet vanished and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] was taken prisoner. [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] attempted to rise to command, accepting support from [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], but the Autobots were simply outclassed. Trailbreaker was part of a group of more than a half-dozen Autobots who collectively failed to bring down even one of Galvatron's lieutenants. In desperation, the Autobots turned to Megatron himself (who had quickly been disposed of by Galvatron when he first arrived) as a temporary ally and battlefield advisor. Under the Decepticon's direction, the Autobots staged a trap for the lone future Decepticon [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] in order to weaken Galvatron's power base. Unfortunately, Scourge's enhanced sensors detected the trap almost immediately, and his acid ray nailed Trailbreaker THROUGH a wall before the battle even began. (Too early to have activated that force field, huh?) Scourge was ultimately brought down, but Trailbreaker was left inactive for days until Ratchet was restored to the present and able to repair him. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}''

''Well, he was up and about soon enough, and accompanied Prowl and Jetfire on a mission to stop the Decepticons from accessing a NASA space transmission facility, only to get knocked around helplessly by [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and beaten to the ground long enough for the Decepticons to escape...all because he didn't turn on that slaggin' force field to protect himself. Remember, Trailbreaker? The force field? You're not built for speed or energy efficiency; you were built for power, specifically that one power that makes you ''special'' and ''unique''. Or is it "just plain ruined" these days? {{storylink|The Gift}}''

====Marvel UK future timelines====
''In 2008, Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots taken down and strung up by the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] when they invaded [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}''

===American cartoon continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama]] (Japanese), [[Roberto Alexander]] (Latin American), [[Toni Orlandi]] (Italian)

[[Image:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
Trailbreaker was part of the bridge crew of the ''Ark'' spaceship when it blasted off from Cybertron to search for new sources of energy four million years in the past. When he was awakened in 1984, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] reformatted him so that his alt-mode was a terrestrial Toyota 4WD camper truck. Trailbreaker accompanied his fellow Autobots on their first mission to stop the Decepticons on Earth, a mission that took him to an off-shore oil rig. The Decepticons plundered the rig for energon and destroyed it, leaving it a flaming wreck that endangered its human crew. Trailbreaker used his force field to contain the fire, while [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] used his built-in fire-suppression systems to douse the flames. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

Later, Trailbreaker served as a spy despite his stated function as defensive strategist. ([[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] was apparently busy that day.) He, along with the humans [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], camped out near the Decepticons' headquarters and eavesdropped on their plans to raid the ruby mines of Burma. Their surveillance did not go totally unnoticed, however, as a set of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] spotted the Autobot making his getaway. Trailbreaker summoned the brothers [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] to fend off his pursuer and got the information safely back to Prime. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:MTMTE3 Trailbreaker jogging.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Trailbreaker took up jogging after Sunstreaker made a crack about his weight.]]
Trailbreaker watched [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] fish [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] out of a lake during the mission in [[Burma]]. He volunteered along with all of the rest of the Autobots to attempt to prevent the Decepticons from leaving Earth with the Energon they'd gathered. He fired on the Decepticons as they boarded the [[Victory (G1)|space cruiser]] they'd built. Though the ship still launched despite their efforts, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] brought it crashing back to Earth. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} Trailbreaker was part of a group of Autobots who were lured into a cave by a reprogrammed [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and ambushed by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} He also took part in the assault on an antimatter laboratory when the Decepticons got their hands on an antimatter formula, and was damaged when the lab exploded during the Decepticon withdrawal. {{storylink|Roll for It}}

[[Image:SOSDinobots Trailbreaker in force field.jpg|thumb|left|230px|"I'm trapped in a Fabergé egg! Help!"]]
A team of Autobots, including Trailbreaker, rolled out to give Optimus backup at an ammunition plant, but arrived too late, and found Prime badly damaged. When Prime needed a new [[Cosmitron]], Trailbreaker volunteered for a mission to Cybertron to retrieve a replacement from [[Wheeljack's workshop]]. Megatron had his forces on that planet use [[acid rain]] on the group, but after a pep talk from [[Chip Chase]], Trailbreaker remembered he could use his force fields to protect them. They subsequently returned to Earth and, while the replacement Cosmitron was being installed, helped defend Headquarters against a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} When the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s ran amok during their unveiling, Trailbreaker protected himself from [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]'s [[fire-breath]] with a force field. Of course, this merely deflected the fire onto Sunstreaker. Some time later, Trailbreaker and most of the rest of the Autobots went to the [[Great Falls]] to try and stop the Decepticons from raiding it, and were all captured. They would have been terminated, had Wheeljack not come to the rescue with the upgraded Dinobots. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

Trailbreaker and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] were going for a drive one day, only to find two [[Thundercracker (G1)|suspicious-looking]] [[Starscream (G1)|jets]]. The jets revealed themselves as Decepticons who had come to a nearby refinery to make off with its steel to build a weapon. Brawn and Trailbreaker interrupted them, but Starscream blasted missiles at them, destroying the refinery, and made his getaway. The Autobots reported the incident back to Optimus Prime. Toward the end of the ensuing battle in [[Peru]], Trailbreaker pitched in to fire at the new weapon. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain}}

[[Image:UltimateDoom3 Trailbreaker firing.jpg|thumb|right|220px]]
When the Autobots began studying a meteorite that had fallen to Earth, Wheeljack discovered the sample fragment was highly unstable and summoned Optimus and Trailbreaker to his laboratory. On command, Trailbreaker unleashed his force field around the meteorite to contain the explosive blast. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}} In the aftermath of a Decepticon attack on Headquarters, Trailbreaker took part in cleanup efforts. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} Following Cybertron's arrival in Earth orbit, he and Jazz mocked [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] when the Seeker's was blasted by his own fire, whipped back by the strong winds. Trailbreaker volunteered for a mission to Cybertron to rescue Sparkplug, intending to use his jammer beam to mask their approach. Unfortunately he left it too late, but [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] was able to dodge the incoming missiles. The team arrived on Cybertron, but became separated, with Skyfire, Trailbreaker and Wheeljack left on the surface. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}}

The trio made their way down and arrived in time to rescue Spike and the smaller 'bots from the Decepticons. After a swift retreat, they reached the relative safety of Wheeljack's workshop, where the scientist worked to construct a counter for the Decepticon [[hypno-chip]]s. That done, they rescued Sparkplug, and headed back to Earth in time to liberate the enslaved humans and prevent Megatron from getting away with a shuttle full of Energon. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} Trailbreaker was at headquarters when they discovered that Megatron was still operational and leading the Decepticons. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}}

[[Image:PlagueOfInsecticons Trailbreaker projecting forcefield.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
With the emergence of the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s in [[Bali]], Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who went to investigate. They arrived in time to reinforced the smaller team who'd already found the Insecticons, and the foe, now teamed up with the Decepticons, took off. During the pursuit, [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] used his control beam on Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, compelling the pair to try and ram their fellows, but Trailbreaker used a force field to sever the beam. They eventually reached an oil refinery, but during the battle, Shrapnel harnessed lightning from a storm that had moved in, and zapped Trailbreaker and Wheeljack. Both survived, and Trailbreaker was later able to use his force field to disable the Insecticon clones, rescuing Bumblebee and Spike. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} After Megatron challenged Optimus to a one-on-one duel, Trailbreaker and the rest of the Autobots turned out to cheer their leader on. To their horror, Optimus lost, meaning they'd have to leave Earth forever, but once they returned to headquarters, they used [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to establish that Megatron had cheated, rendering the result void. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

During Sparkplug's demonstration of his latest invention, [[Autobot X]], the creation went wild. Trailbreaker, Ironhide and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] tried to charge it, only to be blasted on their cans. Trailbreaker's force field provided his companions with cover so they could take down the beast. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}} He was on the ill-fated mission to come to the aid of some gold miners, during which [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] was captured by the Decepticons. He subsequently joined the effort to rescue Gears and disable Megatron's [[Solar Needle]]. When they found that Megatron had temporarily reprogrammed [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] to be a happy-go-lucky kind of Autobot, Trailbreaker was the one who voiced what everyone was thinking and said maybe they should just leave him that way. {{storylink|Changing Gears}} He was also on the mission to [[New York City]] when the Decepticons started replacing buildings in an attempt to create a new Cybertron, {{storylink|City of Steel}} and was turned evil by Megatron's [[personality destabilizer device]]. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}}

[[Image:TheImmobilizer Trailbreaker force field.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"And the only side effect is Ratchet's mouth disappears!"]]
Trailbreaker witnessed the demonstration of the [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer]], and protected his comrades with a force field when the Decepticons attacked. Though they managed to steal the Immobilizer, the Decepticons fell into a river and Trailbreaker lightened the situation with a healthy joke. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} He took part in a charity race, though he wasn't the fastest of Autobots, and still managed to outrun Ironhide. When the old timer complained about a weird jolt in his circuitry, Trailbreaker suggested he was making an excuse, but it was actually the effects of Megatron's [[Transfixatron]]. Locked in their vehicle modes, the Autobots were taken to an old ghost town, and it looked like they were going to be destroyed, until the Autobots who'd remained at base turned up to rescue them. Ironhide and Trailbreaker took great delight in smashing the Transfixatron to bits. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}} Trailbreaker took part in the defense of [[Washington, D.C.]] when the Decepticons teamed up with the residents of [[Sub-Atlantica]]. {{storylink|Atlantis, Arise!}}

[[Image:EnterNightbird flying Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|left|260px|In an early example of [[Slogism]], here's Trailbreaker stuck to the roof of a building with a wad of cotton candy.]]
Trailbreaker was also a guard when [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]] revealed his [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], though when Decepticons inevitably attacked, they blasted through the door Trailbreaker was standing in front of, sending him across the room. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}} After an apparently successful attack on the Decepticons at a crevasse, the Autobots found that they somehow had two Optimus Primes. Trailbreaker was one of the proponents of using a series of trials to work out which was the real thing. When that was unsuccessful, the Autobots ended up going on another mission to the crevasse to investigate strange readings, and once again encountered the Decepticons. After one of the Primes apparently destroyed Starscream, Trailbreaker announced that he must be the real thing, because he offed the Decepticons' "number two varmint". As it turned out, that Prime was a phony, trying to lure them into a ravine filled with dangerous [[korlonium crystal]]s, as they discovered moments later when he disregarded a threat to Spike's life. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}}

[[Image:DinobotIsland1 Trailbreaker projects force field.jpg|thumb|right|230px]]
When the Dinobots attempted to demonstrate their newfound "finesse" to the other Autobots, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] accidentally set fire to the Ark, threatening Teletraan I. Thinking quickly, Trailbreaker projected his force field over the Autobot supercomputer, allowing [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] time to extinguish the blaze. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} The Decepticon's pillaging of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] began causing time warps to appear across the world, and Trailbreaker flew to the island by [[jet pack]] to investigate with the rest of the Autobots. After a prolonged battle, the Autobots and Dinobots succeeded in chasing the Decepticons from the island. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

On another occasion, the Autobots were forced to abandon Earth by Megatron aboard a spacecraft set on a course into the sun. After the Autobots discovered they couldn't alter their course, their ship exploded. Trailbreaker cast a massive force field large enough to contain the entire Autobot force safely; from within the field, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] towed the group back to Earth. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}} Trailbreaker was incapacitated by [[Cybertonium]] depletion, as were the rest of the Autobots. They were only saved when Spike, [[Carly]] and the Dinobots brought more back from Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[Image:Trailbreakerdance.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Do a little dance...make a little love... get down tonight... I said get down tonight!]]
Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who arrived too late to prevent the theft of the [[Voltronic Galaxer]]. When Megatron used the device to knock out radio transmissions during a blizzard, Trailbreaker's force fields proved to be a valuable asset, protecting humans and Autobots alike from snowfall. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} He took part in an attempt to defend an [[Electrum]] pool from the Decepticons, {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} and a baseball stadium incident during which Optimus and a number of other Autobots were lost through the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}}

After that, a Decepticon coup by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] resulted in a city being flooded. Trailbreaker used his force field to protect himself and a small group of Autobots from a large tidal wave. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}} He rolled out with the majority of the Autobot forces to rescue [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] from the Decepticons, though it resulted in them all being infected with [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} He was also hanging around Headquarters when the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s were captured, and a group of Autobots disguised as them in an attempt to find out what Megatron was up to. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

{{note|In storyboards for the movie, Trailbreaker's dead body is seen at the end of the Autobot City battle. However, this didn't make it into the final film, leaving his status after the battle up in the air.}}

{{note|In an early draft script for the movie, Trailbreaker survives the two initial attacks on Autobot City and is part of a guerrilla unit led by Blaster on Earth. This just serves to leave his ultimate fate even further up in the air.}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====

When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] sent [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] to raid [[Tokyo]] for energy, Trailbreaker accompanied [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and a unit of Autobot vehicles to defend the city. Trailbreaker didn't perform very well, cowering in fright beneath Menasor's size and taking the [[combiner]]'s humongous fist to the face. Luckily, his pummelling made the perfect distraction for Optimus Prime, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], who drove up a ramp and slammed Menasor and the Seekers directly in their faces, sending them into retreat. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 1}}

As a member of the [[4-Wheel-Drive Brigade]], Trailbreaker accompanied [[Kenji]] and the rest of the team to a crater in Kyushu where Decepticon activity had been discovered. Entering the crater, however, Trailbreaker and the Brigade were caught off-guard by numerous landmines that had been planted by the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. As they sunk toward as steaming pit of magma, the other four members of the Brigade managed to defeat the Decepticons by forming a human pyramid and using their "4-Wheel-Drive Robo Combination Scrumbuster" attack. Trailbreaker, unfortunately (or perhaps ''fortunately''), had to sit that one out because he was escorting Kenji within himself and couldn't transform to robot mode. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3}}

====''Story of Binaltech''====
Trailbreaker was one of many Autobots who suffered from an outbreak of the [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] virus after the Decepticons unleashed it on Earth. He was supposed to receive a new body thanks to the [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]] Institute of Technology, but the Decepticons managed to infiltrate the Binaltech Project. Through the use of [[hypno-chip]]-controlled spies and pawns, Trailbreaker's new body was hijacked and used to upgrade the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] known as [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] instead. {{storylink|Expose All of Evil's Designs!}}

===Marvel Colouring Books===
[[Image:Bumblebeetdr-trailbreaker.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yikes!]]
Trailbreaker, who looks... ''odd'', was captured by the Decepticons under unknown circumstances and put in their special Autobot prison. He and the other prisoners were eventually freed by Bumblebee, after which they struck back against the Decepticons. Trailbreaker projected his force field around some of the villains in order to trap them, and after the battle was won, he and the other Autobots cheered for Bumblebee. Hip hip hooray! {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
Trailbreaker was present under the command of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] at the battle of [[Altihex]] when the Decepticons destroyed a building full of neutral Cybertonians. Unable to save the city, the Autobots helped evacuate civilians before retreating. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1}} When Decepticon Military Operations Commander [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] led a force of Decepticons against the Autobot capitol of [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]], Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who defended the capital. {{storylink|The War Within}}

When Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and Autobot leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] disappeared in an accident with a [[space bridge]], the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Trailbreaker stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. He was part of the group of reinforcements that helped battle the giant [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages|The War Within: The Dark Ages}}

Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission on board the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. After being boarded, the ''Ark'' crash-landed on [[Earth]], where all on board were preserved in emergency stasis. In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the ''Ark'''s computer, Teletraan I, and it repaired all on board.

Eventually, the combined forces of the Autobots on Earth and their human allies were able to capture the Decepticons. In 1999, a ship called the ''[[Ark II]]'' was built to take the Cybertonians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertonians were lost in the ocean, again in stasis lock. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1}} Three years later, Spike Witwicky assisted the US "Defense Ministry" in reactivating Optimus Prime by placing a piece of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] into his chest. Optimus traveled to the remote Arctic shoreline where he'd been found after the crash and used the Matrix to revive Jazz, Mirage, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], Trailbreaker and Wheeljack from where they lay under the waves. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2}}

Shortly afterwards, the Autobots assisted the US military in rescuing the survivors of the Smitco Oil Refinery attack. When Optimus Prime learned the attackers were Autobots and Decepticons under the control of terrorist arms dealer [[Adam Rook]], he asked his Autobots to accompany him to fight for '''Great JUSTICE.''' Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who agreed to come along, stating that Prime only needed to point him in the right direction. Trailbreaker participated in the battle at Rook's destroyed base when [[General Hallo]] double-crossed them and attempted to destroy all the Transformers with a low-yield nuclear weapon. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3}}

[[Image:DW Trailbreaker Devastatorstomp.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Devastator crush puny Autobot... and make scale joke while crushing. Har har har!]]
After the Autobots extricated themselves from the nuke-absorbing hardened virus shell, Trailbreaker helped rescue the captive Autobots Megatron was using to fuel his technovirus. After Ironhide informed the other Autobots of Megatron's imminent attack on [[San Francisco]], they flew there and engaged the Decepticons. Trailbreaker smashed Grimlock in the face with a steel girder and informed the former Dinobot commander that he'd made the wrong choice in leaving the Autobots and was now going to pay. Unfortunately, Superion was taken down by the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], prompting Trailbreaker to join Optimus Prime, Sideswipe and Megatron in a moment of [[dull surprise]], gaping at Devastator as if they had never seen him before. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4}}

As Jazz and the Autobots in [[Canada]] were preparing to deal with the technovirus, Trailbreaker frantically radioed them for backup, reporting that Superion was down. As he was distracted, Devastator attempted to stomp on the Autobot. Trailbreaker caught the foot in time, but was crushed into the pavement. He was later retrieved and placed into restraint by the Decepticons as Megatron attempted to convince Optimus Prime to join his cause to wipe out the humans and rule the universe. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5}} Once Prime managed to free the Autobots with assistance from human firefighters, Trailbreaker resumed his assault on Grimlock by sending him flying with a punch. After Superion sacrificed himself to save San Francisco from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear strike, Trailbreaker called Optimus over when he and Sideswipe discovered the abandoned Grimlock under rubble. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6}}

''While the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] were invading Earth, the Transformers also had to deal with an over-reaching American President who wanted to destroy all the Cybertronians. He offered the Autobots his help in setting up an ambush for the Decepticons, but Prime and his advisors quickly realized the President planned to eliminate all of them. Taking what seemed to be the lesser of two evils at the moment, the Autobots forged an alliance with the Decepticons before travelling to the ambush site. Trailbreaker was among the Autobot soldiers Optimus chose for the battle. He fought against the military forces and apparently survived the attack of the [[deconstructionite]]s relatively unharmed. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

Months later, the united Cybertronian army arrived on Earth, demanding the surrender of all combatant Autobots and Decepticons. Trailbreaker suffered serious injuries battling [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and the Seekers and had to be placed in a [[CR chamber|CR chamber]] for repairs on the flight back to Cybertron. He fought alongside the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew and the various insurgency groups on Cybertron to reclaim Iacon for the Autobots and force Shockwave out of power. {{storylink|War and Peace}} Afterwards, he joined Prowl and the rest of the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s old crew in returning to Earth to work on the construction of a new Autobot City.

===''Universe''===
[[Image:Rattrap legs.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Gah! Someone call an exterminator!]]
Hundreds of years later, Trailbreaker and fellow Autobots [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]] arrived on the newly technorganic Cybertron roughly one year after the defeat of [[Megatron (BW)|this era's Megatron]]. They were welcomed by the surviving members of [[Optimus Primal]]'s band of [[Maximals]], including [[Rattrap]], who offered to share a vintage keg of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's Old Oil]] with the Autobot veteran. Unfortunately, Trailbreaker did not have an opportunity to take Rattrap up on his offer, because immediately afterwards, he and his associates were abducted by [[Unicron]] and teleported to the [[Cauldron]]. There, they were rebuilt against their will into new bodies... except Trailbreaker, because why mess with success? {{storylink|Abduction}}

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|left|150px|thumb|You've got me? Who's got you?!]]
{{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}
[[Optimus Primal]] led the [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]], which included Trailbreaker, into a final fight with the [[Minion of Unicron|Minions of Unicron]] on the surface of Unicron himself. However, as their victory was imminent, Unicron began to dissolve beneath their very feet, and [[King Atlas]] had to carry Trailbreaker and Roulette to safety, through a transwarp portal back to their native Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

{{-}}
===Devil's Due G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity===
[[Image:GIJoevsTF5_Autobots.jpg|thumb|right|200px|]]
Trailbreaker was among the Transformers discovered on Earth by [[Cobra]], and reworked into a piloted death mechanism known as a [[Stinger (Cobra)|Stinger]]. The Transformers were eventually freed, and the Autobots fought both their Decepticon enemies and their Cobra oppressors. During the battle, Trailbreaker and several other Autobots located [[Cobra Commander]] and tried to capture him, but he was protected by Cobra troops in robotic [[S.N.A.K.E.]] suits. Unfortunately, the Autobots underestimated their human opponents, and Trailbreaker was decapitated by [[Storm Shadow]] during the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

This was apparently not as fatal as it seemed, however, as Trailbreaker was up and fighting again shortly afterwards. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MegsOrigin4 Trailbreaker.jpg|left|150px|thumb|I STILL SUPPORT THE RAILING SYSTEMMMMmmmmm!]]
Trailbreaker (along with nearly every other Autobot, apparently) served in the Autobot Security Forces under the command of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. He participated in the battle of [[Kaon]] where the criminal known as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] began a rampage with his army of convicts. Trailbreaker grabbed [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] as the criminal was flying away, only to be kicked off for his trouble, falling to his apparent demise... {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

[[Image:SpotlightKup Trailbreaker.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Mommy told me never to open the door to strangers.]]
Except he survived. Many years later, Trailbreaker was a specialist called in by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to extract a deranged [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] safely from the planet where he had crash-landed. The planet possessed a radiation which was dangerous to Transformers without special protective covering, causing Kup, in his delusions, to believe his rescuers were monsters trying to attack him. Trailbreaker's force fields allowed him to walk on the planet without any protective gear, and his appearance shocked Kup for long enough that he could save the old bot's spark core from meltdown. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

Later, he was one of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s old friends who took time off duty to greet the return of "The Voice". {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

A year later, Trailbreaker had joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s team of Autobots on [[Earth]]. They made a plan to drive the Decepticons off the planet once and for all, but fell into a trap and were defeated by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Trailbreaker and the rest were subsequently dumped on the ruined [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to be finished off by the [[Insecticon swarm]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} His primary role appeared to be playing bodyguard to [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], making sure nobody lynched the guy for being a suspected traitor. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} After the Autobot starship ''[[Trion]]'' crashlanded on the planet, Trailbreaker and the others listened to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]'s story about what happened. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} They proceeded to mingle with the rest of ''Trion''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> crew. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} Trailbreaker later oversaw the process of putting a giant cannon in place on the Autobots' temporary base. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

After the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], Trailbreaker briefly left Earth to serve on the [[Ethics Committee]] meetings at the [[Kimia Facility]], alongside [[Xaaron]] and [[Animus]]. He sat in consideration of [[Ironfist]]'s new invention, cerebro-sensitive bullets that used onboard computers to ensure a killshot to the head with every pull of the trigger. Unlike his fellow committee members, Trailbreaker openly expressed his horror at such a weapon, and his disapproval of its creator. Ultimately, the bullets were banned by the committee under Protocol III of the [[Non-Conventional Weapons Act]], and use of them in future would be deemed a war crime under the [[Tyrest Accord]]. {{storylink|Bullets}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, Trailbreaker was present when Hot Rod announced his plans to abandon Earth and what was left of the war. He chose not to join the Autobot cavalier or his followers. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Trailbreaker could come to Optimus Prime's aid, helping him navigate more quickly through the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Trailbreaker was one of [[Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon forces, in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Trailbreaker toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|If your vehicle mode looks like this, you might be a redneck! You also happen to be indestructible]]
* '''Trailbreaker''' (1984, 2001, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''25'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 "Twin Blasters", 2 missiles, radar scanner, 2 fists (left & right)

: Trailbreaker transforms in a Toyota 4WD Hi-Lux camper truck. In robot mode, both of his lower arms are projectile launchers, able to load and fire either his fists or his projectiles, which consist of two [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum metallized]] silver missiles and two silver "twin blasters". The [[Hasbro]] version of the toy severely weakened the springs [[for safety reasons]].

: This mold was later [[retool]]ed to make [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]].

: In 2001, Trailbreaker was given a short-run reissue (limited to only 1,000 pieces) by Takara as a convention-exclusive item, bundled together with Hoist. Since this toy was never reissued by Hasbro, it remained one of the more elusive reissues by Takara, until his 2008 ''[[Encore]]'' reissue. While the original had a red visor, the Encore reissue was notable for having a blue visor and a [[tampograph|tampographed]] Autobot symbol on his hood/chest.
{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
[[Image:TF2010_Legends_Trailcutter.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Jazz (G1)| A sign]] [[Hound (G1)| of a]] [[Warpath (G1)|deluxe toy]] [[Red Alert (G1)| to come?]]]]
*'''Trailcutter''' (Legends class, 2011)

:Trailbreaker is now renamed "Trailcutter" due to [[trademark]] reasons. He converts into a camper truck (ala his G1 version), but with a front section similar to that of a Cadillac Escalade.

:His head sculpt is essentially the G1 toy's head including the visor with the more humanoid face of the [[character model|cartoon model]]. The same "hybrid" design had been previously used by [[Dan Khanna]] for [[3H Productions|3H's]] [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comics]] and by Hasbro for ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (originally intended as Trailbreaker) and his [[redeco]] [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]].{{-}}

===Other attempts===
There are quite a few Transformers toys that were at one point in their development supposed to be a new form for (or tribute to) Trailbreaker, but so far all of these have become other characters with other names, most likely due to [[Hasbro]]'s inability to secure the [[trademark]].

Trailbreaker's appearance in the [[3H Productions|3H]] [[Universe (2003 comic)|Universe comics]] stems from early plans to release a Trailbreaker redeco of the [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]] [[X-Brawn]] mold as a convention exclusive in 2003. Reportedly, Hasbro themselves also had the same idea for the mass retail Universe Deluxe assortment, but due to the aforementioned reasons, the toy was ultimately given a different deco and released as [[Ratchet (Universe)|Autobot Ratchet]] instead.

Later, a [[redeco]] of the [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]] [[Spy Changer]] [[Ironhide (RID)|Ironhide]] was released as a Wal*Mart exclusive under the [[Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]] banner, a black pickup truck with the distinctive red and yellow stripes from Trailbreaker's original toy. Ultimately, this toy would be released as [[Ironhide (Universe)|Ironhide]] instead.

The next attempt was in the [[Alternators]] line, the toy that would eventually become [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and later [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]]. A [[retool]] of the [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] Jeep Wrangler toy, its head is a cross between the original Trailbreaker toy's helmet and the cartoon model's face, surprisingly similar to [[Dan Khanna]]'s rendition of the character in 3H's Universe comics. A black and white version of a proposed color guide for the unreleased Trailbreaker version of the sculpt was depicted in the Japanese ''[[The Transformers: Binaltech & TF Collection Complete Guide]]'' book.

Finally, the [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]] Autobot [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]] was originally going to be called "Trailbreaker", and the head sculpt was to have more elements from the Generation 1 character's design. These plans were again scrapped, but the character's upgraded form, '''Leobreaker''', retains the "breaker" portion of the name, since "Leohaul" sounds really silly. (The name "Overcast" was temporarily considered, but quickly dropped again.)

==Merchandise==
[[Image:MovieTrailbreaker3DCard.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Admit it. That head peeking up from the truck mode is hilarious.]]
===3D Battle-Card Game===
*'''Trailbreaker''' (2007)

: A 26-point "common" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game|3D Battle-Card Game]]'s "Energon Wars" expansion, Trailbreaker "transforms" into a black pickup truck with a camper shell. He uses the same parts layout as [[Payload (Movie)|Payload]] and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]].

:The Battle-Card may or may not actually represent [[Trailbreaker (Movie)|the live-action movie version of Trailbreaker]], as the design is clearly in the live-action movie aesthetic (and a version of the Trailbreaker character exists in the "movie" universe anyway). The card's listed abilities {{m-}} an Invisible Force Field and a Radio Jammer {{m-}} line up with Trailbreaker's G1 abilities, however, so who knows.

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==Notes==
[[Image:DiacloneTrailbreaker.jpg|thumb|250px]]
* Trailbreaker's mold was originally a ''[[Diaclone]]'' "4WD Hi-Lux", available in three different colors; black, blue or yellow. The blue version was sold by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] in North America as the ''[[Diakron]]'' "DK-3" Car/Robot in [[1983]], seemingly just a few months before the toy would be rebranded as a Transformer.

* Trailbreaker laid some serious smackdown on [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] in the [[Dreamwave Productions]] ''[[Prime Directive]]'' miniseries. He was shown laying the Dinobot commander out with a steel girder, went on to survive being stood on by Devastator, and then resumed kicking Grimlock's skid plate, knocking him off his feet with a single punch, and then leaving him buried in rubble only to be left behind by Megatron. So much for being a liability. Shockwave was incredibly lucky that he didn't face him in the next volume.

* In "[[A Prime Problem]]", [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (the ''real'' one, that is) mistakenly refers to Trailbreaker as "'''Trailblazer'''".

* Originally, ''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' was going to be used in ''Spotlight: Kup'', but Roche put Trailbreaker in after re-looking at the guy's tech spec and thought his power and cheery personality would work better. "It's nice to use a character who gets no love."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIkqheta3GE Nick Roche interview with Moonbase Two]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Trailbreaker/trailbreaker.htm Trailbreaker at TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Trailbreaker Trailbreaker's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Defense specialists]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
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[[Category:Transformers (2010) Autobots]]
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